St Helen’s Bells ring again as church reopens

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St Helen’s Church reopened last Sunday for the first service since the lockdown. So today was the second service.
St Helen's Bells
There was social distancing in the bell tower, with 5 bell ringers wearing face masks, and only using five bells. The other bell ringers watched from outside because there was not room inside.

The church opening was organised with covid-19 safe rules in accordance with government and Church of England requirements. There was a separate entrance and exit. Hand sanitiser was used on the way in and out. People sat 2 meters apart. There were 25 people in the congregation (that number could increase in weeks to come). People had pre-booked and left their contact details for track and trace. People were expected to wear face coverings unless there were good reasons not to. Doors were kept open so that there was fresh air blowing in. People could only socialise outside the church. There was organ music but as yet no singing under government Covid-19 church regulations. The service was shorter than usual.

Here is a short video of the five bells heard from the churchyard. Organ music through the open door can also be heard from the churchyard at the end of the service.

Sunshine, inflatables and big boats on the River Thames

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Lots of Boats
We are at the height of the summer holidays. Thursday was hot. Friday was hotter. Today, Saturday, was milder but there was sunshine.

Somebody told me the Aldi had a special offer on inflatables. On the River Thames in Abingdon people are paddling about in inflatable canoes and on paddle boards, more than ever.
Lots of Boats
There are lots of larger boats moored in the meadows above and below Abingdon Bridge this evening.

Some are moored closer to the bridge than the notices allow. Others cannot find a place.
Lots of Boats
The new owners of the Nags Head have spaced tables further apart this year, and cater for the boaters as well as town people.

Happy 100th Birthday

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Thank You to Tony for this piece …
Betty Gordon
Betty Gordon raised a glass of bubbly to thank neighbours, friends and carers who had come to wish her a happy 100th birthday at her Abingdon home. They all observed strict social distancing outdoors and cheered as Betty, with obvious delight, cut the cake and showed her birthday card from the Queen.

Other cards came from friends far and wide. Neighbours had provided balloons and streamers, scones and cupcakes and a pile of presents including smoked salmon for breakfast and a T-shirt saying “Betty, the wee Scottie” with a picture of a Scottie dog.

Betty was born on 21 July 1920 in Caithness on the northern tip of Scotland. She remembers walking to primary school through snow that was knee-high. ‘That made me tough,‘ she said. She lived with her parents in Edinburgh after that but when her father died her mother went to London to find work. Betty stayed on at school until she was 16 then went to join her mother in London. She loved looking after children, and had a job with one family for seven years, stopping only when her own son was born.

Betty and her husband Charles moved to Abingdon from Kennington in 1978. They attended St Helen’s Church and did Scottish Country Dancing. They had a son who was tragically killed in a car accident at age 18. For 10 years Betty nursed Charles who had Alzheimer’s disease, pushing him to church in his wheelchair until he died in 1997. Betty then moved to St Nicolas Church which was closer to her home. She helped as sacristan from 2006 to 2012. In 2015 she suffered several strokes and could no longer go to church.

Coffee and counting at Abingdon Market Place with John Betjeman

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Abingdon Market Place this Morning
Today I had my first coffee and croissant on Abingdon Market Place since the start of the lockdown. When I sat down, the outside seats at R&R, Costa, and Throwing Buns were in sun; and the seats at Java were in shade.
Abingdon Market Place this Morning
I noticed the usual queue outside the National Westminster Bank – a very popular bank. Pablos Lounge have reopened this week.
Abingdon Market Place this Morning
I started a survey of face masks to see what was the most popular colour: 3 blue, 1 pink, 1 black and counting … then noticed a man with a Black Sabbath T Shirt taking a selfie in front Abingdon County Hall Museum.
Abingdon Market Place this Morning
The doors of the museum appeared to be open but, looking later, I discovered that was only the outer doors. In the interim, the museum are publishing some lovely pictures of exhibits on Abingdon Museum on Instagram.

I flicked through a book, purchased at the British Heart Foundation, and edited by John Betjeman and John Piper, called ‘Murray’s Berkshire Architectural Guide‘

At one point it says, ‘Despite the fact that the huge industrial city of Oxford is only six miles away, Abingdon remains resolutely Berkshire. Not even the presence of the MG motor works and a large, noisy aerodrome kills the essentially market and country quality of this meadow-set, river-bordered, old brick town.’