Mayor Making

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The Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers were dancing in the rain as the people arrived at St Helens Church, the venue for the Mayor Making this year. This is the annual ceremony where the Mayor of Abingdon is elected.
Mayor Making
The outgoing Mayor. Councillor Helen Pighills, gave 4 Mayors awards to people in the commnity at the ceremony. They were:

  • Jenny Berrell, Curator of the Abbey Buildings 1987-2016 (above left)
  • Flt Lt Joan Smith who headed the Abingdon  Air Cadets from 2004-2016 (above right)
  • Neil Porter who organises the Abingdon Air and Country Show
  • Staff and volunteers of the Barns Cafe, Northcourt.

Mayor Making
The new Mayor is Councillor Alice Badcock (right). Her family has a very long history in Abingdon, She went to Caldecott and Larkmead School. Since coming onto the council Alice has created and organised Music in the Park, as well as many of the events during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Mayor Making
She is seen here talking to the last of a very long queue of people who came to the Mayor Making. The new Deputy Mayor is Councillor Jan Morter alongside.

Chance to see Mercury Crossing the Sun from North Abingdon

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Mercury
Abingdon astronomical society are holding an observing event to watch Mercury crossing the face of the Sun. The transit starts at 12:12BST and ends at 19:40BST on 9th May 2016.

Abingdon Astronomical Society will have a number of specialist telescopes for viewing the Sun, giving you several different views of our nearest star. So do go and join members of the society at the Abingdon United Football and Social Club on Northcourt Road to enjoy this rare astronomical event. In the event of bad weather there will be no observing, so please check their website www.abingdonastro.org.uk/aas_blog in case of cancellation.

(Picture taken at Clubs and Societies Day of the Abingdon Astronomical Society stall with Mercury transit image superimposed)

River Closed – Police Incident

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River Closed
At Abingdon Lock boats were not being allowed through from Oxford as there was a police incident at Culham Reach.
River Closed
So boats were allowed to go to Oxford but would not be allowed back again until the restriction was lifted. Both river and footpath were closed just beyond Abingdon Marina while the police, fire, and environment agency searched the river.
River Closed
It meant there were very few boats coming through Abingdon today.

Market Place at 11am today – Day of Dance

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Day of Dance
Les Badcock led out the Mr Hemmings Traditional Abingdon Morris Dancers on their day of dance today. This is always held on a nearest Saturday to the birthday of former Abingdon Morris dancing legend Tom Hemmings who kept the Abingdon Tradition alive in the mid 19th century.
Day of Dance
Teams included Summertown Morris, a women’s side from Oxford.
Day of Dance
Ashnah, American Tribal Style Belly Dancers from Abingdon on Thames.
Day of Dance
Morris Dancers from Adderbury Village, just south of Banbury;
Day of Dance
Borderline from Arborfield, south of Reading,
Day of Dance
and Windsor Morris – a female side dancing in the very bouncy style of the nineteenth century Cotswold villages of Badby and Brackley.Day of Dance
Near the Market Place were also members of the Britain Stronger In Europe campaign. There could well be a lot of In Out In Out campaigning in the weeks to come.