Two bells have appeared on the pavement outside St Nicolas Church. They are cemented in to the pavement and are not designed to ring.
They are there for pedestrian safety. ‘Bell Bollards‘ are shaped to ensure that vehicles, however big, mounting the pavement will be deflected back onto the road. They will also ensure delivery lorries do not stop on this part of the pavement.
Congratulations to the Town Crier magazine on reaching their 60th Edition. It dropped onto our doormat three days ago and has some interesting local news, and a very short What’s on section saying ‘ depending on government guidelines events may differ from those normally taking place at this time of year. You are advised to check the Abingdon Town Council website for the latest information on events.’
Spring Road Cemetery now has sheep grazing and they look to be an interesting and inquisitive breed.
The magazine also has three pages dedicated to organizations that are helping during the Pandemic:
* Vale of White Horse Community Hub (01235 422600)
* Abingdon Coronavirus Community Response
* AbiMeds
* Abingdon Community Fridge
* Abingdon Food Bank
* Abingdon Good Neighbour Scheme
* Citizens Advice Abingdon
* Oxfordshire Mind
* Age UK Oxfordshire
* The Abingdon Bridge
* Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Services
The Town Council has erected two new notice boards, one in front of their Roysse Court Offices
and the other, with two sides, on Bath Street.
Hundreds of volunteers are on standby to help Abingdon residents through the COVID-19 pandemic as restrictions continue into the winter.
With more than 3,000 acts of kindness already completed, members of Abingdon Coronavirus community response (ACR) are ready to serve the town again.
The group, which was set up in the Spring, provides neighbour-to-neighbour help with shopping, collection of prescriptions and friendly chats.
It is determined to ensure that no-one is forgotten as lockdown lifts next week. The pledge comes as the Government outlined the tiers that areas fall into as restrictions continue until the New Year.
Julie Kemp-Harper from the group, said: “People feel a bit more prepared and supported as a result of the relationships that were built earlier in the year and better provision by supermarkets and other services.
“However, there’s also much apprehension about managing over the winter and fresh hardships facing all ages, so we plan to carry on over the coming months.”
The group limits what it offers to what you might reasonably expect a neighbour to do and works closely with other Abingdon support agencies.
Many people have family or immediate neighbours to help them out now, but said Julie: “That doesn’t apply to everyone. By coordinating volunteers across the town at a neighbourhood level we hope that no one will be left out. Sometimes our volunteers are the only friendly face a resident has seen for several days and those friendly chats are so valuable”.
To request help for yourself or a family member fill out our Support Requests form on our website www.abingdoncommunityresponse.org or email: abingdoncoronaresponse@gmail.com .
Saturday 28th November marks 100 years since the Kilmichael ambush – an event in 1920 during the Irish War of Independence.
Cadet Philip Noel Graham from Abingdon was one of 17 men from the the Auxiliary Royal Irish Constabulary killed in the IRA ambush.
Sinn Féin had won a large majority in the 1918 general election in Ireland. The growing popularity of independence led to a war with Britain that began in 1919 and ended in 1921 when leaders of Sinn Féin and the British government agreed to set up the Irish Free State.
Philip Graham grew up in Abingdon and attended Abingdon School. He joined the army at the outbreak of WWI in August 1914 and became a Captain in the Northumberland Fusiliers. He was wounded in France. After receiving a discharge he, along with other ex-servicemen, joined the Auxiliary Royal Irish Constabulary, a unit set up by the British government as they tried to impose order and counter Sinn Féin’s military wing – the IRA.
Cadet Philip Noel Graham was buried at Abingdon Cemetery on December 4th 1920.
Thank you to the Oxford Journal Illustrated for the first and third picture and biographical details.