Charity at home and further afield

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The Abingdon Foodbank is in urgent need of supplies. Donations at Tesco Extra go to the national organisation Fareshare, and those at Aldi and Lidl go to Neighbourly. So if you want to be sure you’re helping the people of Abingdon, use Waitrose, or the Co-Op in West St Helen’s St, or the North or South Abingdon foodbanks. Read more about donation times and what they most urgently need at https://abingdon.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/.

To help support local foodbanks, food larders and community fridges, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils are inviting community food groups to apply for a grant of £2,500 for essential supplies.

To help fight global poverty, there was a Christian Aid stall on the Market Place on Saturday. The stall was run by members of the town’s churches.

River Ock in Abingdon – May 2023

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A Kingfisher can sometimes be seen as a blue flash, but then is hidden by all the foliage that has grown in May. A heron is much easier to see.

I have not seen any ducklings on the River Ock, but a goose and goslings grazed on the grass in front of Mill Stream Court, beside the Ock.

Falls of white hawthorn blossom are alongside the River Ock. This wood pigeon was eating the little flowers.

Somebody asked me if there was a bench on the walk, and I told them there were three. Cow parsley had surrounded two of the benches but a mower then cut back the path borders.

I am beginning to notice fish in the River Ock during May. That could because fish are most likely to spawn in May.

Damson flies, and butterflies fly about among the many nettles that now border the River Ock.

Further out of town, where the River Ock meanders through fields,

ten alder trees were planted by Abingdon Carbon Cutters last October as part of a church twinning eco event. Seven of the ten alders are still alive this May.

Celebrating local heroes on the The National Cycle Network

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Local heroes are being celebrated nationally with steel effigies and benches next to the National Cycle Network. The project is in recognition of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee year and had funding from the Department for Transport.
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The heroes chosen in Abingdon are Mieneke Cox, the St Helen’s Church archivist and Abingdon museum curator who left a legacy of books about Abingdon.
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The second effigy represents a local volunteer/community group member – one of many who give their time to improve Abingdon’s environment.

Abingdon Air and Country Show – 2023

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Abingdon Air and Country Show
The Abingdon Air and Country Show was called off in September last year because of the death of the Queen two days before the event. This year there was a full show with a two-hour flying display at the end. The day was fine with blue sky.
Abingdon Air and Country Show
The display included among others the Titans Display Team ,
Abingdon Air and Country Show
a Bronco,
Abingdon Air and Country Show
and Westland Helicopters.
Abingdon Air and Country Show
Information about RAF Abingdon was provided in the programme (price £2) and in a tent. Somebody found a lot of booklets called The First Fifty Years of RAF Abingdon and gave them away for free. RAF Abingdon used the airfield until it was transferred to the army in 1992.
Abingdon Air and Country Show
As well as the airshow and static aircraft, a young motorcycle display team, with ages ranging from 6 to about 16, rode over ramps and in interweaving patterns.  Musicians played in one marquee, and craft makers displayed artifacts in another marquee. There were lots of stalls, and a fun fair.
Abingdon Air and Country Show
WWII re-enactors, including the Oxfordshire Home Guard, guarded their pitches.
Abingdon Air and Country Show
Hundreds of classic cars were parked near the display area, and at the other end were lorries, and some small traction engines.

The event, as well as giving lots of people a good day out, supports local charities and good causes. Thankyou to the organisers, and volunteers, for another wonderful show.