NORTH BERKS AGRICULTURAL SHOW – By rotation, this year’s Society show will be held in Abingdon, on a formal invitation from the Abingdon Corporation. This has been done, and the show will be held in Abingdon in September next.

THE OFFICE OF TOWN CLERK – The vacancy in the office of town clerk of Abingdon, consequent on the present Town Clerk’s resignation, is to be advertised. The terms are that he shall reside in Abingdon, the offices to be provided by the Corporation, and the salary to be £350.

BRITISH LEGION – On Monday evening, the Mayor presided at a well-attended meeting in the Roysse Room, Borough Buildings, held to reorganize the local branch of the British Legion.

CHOIR ROBES SUPPLIED — St. Helen’s Church choir boys have been supplied with new choir robes through the efforts of Mr. Morris of Clock House and other church workers. The material was bought from the Hawkins Trust fund, which provides church necessities.

COUNTY BENCH — On Monday, before Messrs. W. Docker Drysdale, W. Hayes, and E. Green, John Wigley of Church Street, Didcot, was fined for not having collars on two dogs bearing the name and address of the owner.

FREE CHURCH SERVICE — At the Free Church’s midweek service last week, Rev. C. H. Gill, pastor of the Congregation Church, was the speaker. Rev J. P. Morris, Baptist Minister, took the opportunity to express gratitude for his work at the Free Church services and to wish Mr and Mrs Gill success in their work at Morley.

DEMONSTRATION FAILS — having recently acquired a new pump, Abingdon Fire Brigade invited the townspeople to witness a demonstration of its powers in the Nag’s Head Meadows near Abingdon Bridge on Wednesday night. The Mayor and Mayoress attended, and there were many interested townspeople. However, the pump trial was unsuccessful as it could only draw in the water but not eject it. Every effort was made to get it to work but without avail. Therefore, the planned demonstration had to be postponed.

THE LATE MR. GIBBENS – The death of Mr Joseph Gibbens, of the firm Gibbens & Son, saddlers and harness makers, Broad Street, occurred on Tuesday morning at his residence. He collapsed suddenly after talking to his son and passed away. He had been in poor health for some time and had been attended by Dr Challenor. He was a staunch churchman and a well-respected member of the local Conservative Party. He served on the Executive Committee of the North Berks Association. He was 76 years old.

AN ADDER, 28 inches in length and over three inches in girth, claimed to be a record in this country, has been killed near Abingdon.

MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH JAMES, of Abingdon, have celebrated their golden wedding. They are both receiving the old-age pension. Mr James worked in the building trade for 60 years, and his wife worked for many years in Mssrs Clarke’s clothing factory.

PERCY SOWLES, the landlord of the “White Hart,” Faringdon, has been fined £5 for giving a drink to a constable while on duty. The constable found a window open after midnight at the hotel and called attention to it. He was asked inside, and the defendant invited him to have a glass of ginger wine.

MAINTENANCE ARREARS: James Pugh, whose address was given in Abingdon and who was described as a professional footballer playing with Manchester United last season, was summoned at Abertillery Police Court, Monmouthshire, on Wednesday, in respect of his maintenance arrears due to his wife, Ivy Valetta. The Magistrates’ Clerk said that the defendant had written him a letter stating that he was out of work but expecting to get employment at any time now, promising that if his wife waited awhile, he would wipe out the arrears and keep up his payments.

BAKERS AND CONFECTIONERS’ ASSOCIATION. At the recent election of members of the Association of Master Bakers and Confectioners, Mr G. F. Palmer, of Stert St., Abingdon, was again elected on the roll of the Association. Mr Palmer has been a member of the Board of Guardians for over sixteen years.

The Abingdon district of the Pearl Assurance Company Limited successfully won the challenge cup for the best branch increase in 1922. Abingdon district won the prize by an increase of £1,586 8s. 10d., with High Wycombe being second with an increase of £1,390 10s. 1d.

BOROUGH BENCH. William J. Ruddock and Sarah Ruddock, husband and wife, fishmongers of Ock Street, were summoned for assaulting James Hemmings, cycle dealer, 125 Ock Street. The case arose out of a quarrel concerning tales about Mrs Ruddock. During an argument, Ruddock struck Hemmings. Mr Murphy, a solicitor, appeared for the complainant, and Mr A. Walsh for the defendants. The bench dismissed the summons against Mrs Ruddock and fined her husband 10s. and 7s.6d. costs.

ABINGDON. SKIFF REGATTA.—Arrangements have been now made sufficient to issue a list of the events for the Abingdon skiff under the rules of the A.R.A. and B.R.A. on Saturday, July 14th. Sir Mortimer Singer, K.B.E., J.P., of Milton Hill, is the patron, and the Mayor of Abingdon is the president. There are ten events, and Mr F. Stevens, Radley Road, is the secretary. A concert party and a band are included in the programme.

Thank you for the news extracts and adverts in the British Newspaper Archive from the Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette, North Wilts Herald, Berks and Oxon Advertiser.