Community Activities at Unit 24 Today

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Today, Unit 24, Bury Street, was busy with three community activities. The Woodcarvers, previously reported, were back again. The Ock Poets gathered in the back room and discussed the work of Fleur Adcock as well as sharing their own work. Abingdon Carbon Cutters held a sewing repair cafe.

Throughout the morning, visitors brought in clothing for small repairs, such as patching, replacing zips and elastic, or adjusting hems. These services were aimed at minor fixes rather than larger projects. Observing the volunteers at work also helped visitors gain insight into sewing techniques, making them more confident in handling simple repairs themselves.

For those with more complex sewing needs, volunteers offered advice on whether specific items could be repaired, and the best approach to fixing them. I asked what was the most difficult thing they’d have to sew and one volunteer said replacing a zip in a multi-layered puffer jacket. Volunteers also provided guidance on simple tasks like sewing on buttons or hemming. For people looking to develop their sewing skills further, One Planet Abingdon offers courses on sewing machine use and other repair techniques. It all helps promote repair, reuse and alteration of clothing instead of disposal.

To find out more about Unit 24, if your community group might use it see https://abingdoncivicsociety.org.uk/activities/unit-24-community-space/.

Abingdon Traditional Craft Fair 2024

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The Abingdon Traditional Craft Fair started today (Friday Nov 1st) at the Abbey Buildings in Abingdon, and will run for Saturday and Sunday.

This annual event brings together artisans from across the region, showcasing traditional crafts. Alison Holmans from The Chicken Run Studio has been in the same spot at the end of the Long Gallery for the last three or four years.

Lots of the artisans practise their craft between customers. Chez Beccy designs and makes colourful items for the kitchen. She was in the lower hall.

As was Emma Baldwin’s elegant stall. Emma was a tutor at Abingdon College and other places.

Martin Wackenier of Devine Times Photography was in the Marquee.

In the Undercroft, Elisabeth Bailey was measuring out the clay for her pottery and on Saturday and Sunday will demonstrating pot making.

Here are some of her creations with one of the many arched windows of the Undercroft.

Also in the Undercroft was Thirzah Bragg who makes Textile art inspired by British history and folklore, and can be seen here embroidering thin sheets of copper.

This is just a small selection of approximately 67 artisans at the Craft Fair. More details are on the official website: https://www.abingdoncraftfair.org.uk/.

St Ethelwold’s Garden – October 2024

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Volunteers at St Ethelwold’s have been clearing and dividing the clumping plants and on the plants stall are Hemerocallis ‘Primal Scream’.

Yesterday, a group of children were in the garden helping during half term to clear leaves. More leaves have fallen since then. This morning was misty with an autumn feel.

Cobwebs were strung on plants and other fixed objects around the garden.

A crow cawed from a perch high up in the biggest tree – now bare of leaves – and then flew away toward the Old Gaol.

A robin came down, first to the mossy wall, and then to the large tree to sing.

St Ethelwold’s House has a seasonal display on the welcome desk with crocheted pumpkins and orange plants and fruit.

Volunteers were cutting up twigs and sorting out compost.

I turned a handful of compost and small creatures crept and crawled back under the surface, preferring to be hidden. As today turns to evening and night, other creatures will appear in the garden’s quiet corners, creatures that prefer the darkness.

How a Bridge Closure changed Abingdon’s Traffic Flow

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The Lodge Hill bridge over the A34 is closed this week (from Sunday, October 27th, to the morning of Saturday, November 2nd). The work to waterproof the bridge includes replacing expansion joints, kerbs, and resurfacing. There are also signs about Asbestos removal. The closure has been planned for half term and aims to minimise disruption and avoid frequent roadworks during the colder months.

Buses and residents are being allowed over the bridge. Cyclist and pedestrians are being led around the work. But a lot of vehicles are trying to go that way and being turned back.

The increased traffic congestion in West St Helen Street and Drayton Road, not typical for a half-term week, is a likely consequence of the bridge closure. Motorists who would normally join the A34 at Lodge Hill are rerouting via the Marcham Road, and slowing the traffic flow from South Abingdon heading north.

However, the unexpected congestion has a bright side. Once the full diamond interchange at Lodge Hill is completed, less traffic will use the Marcham Road route and lessen congestion along Drayton Road and West St Helen Street.

But then if congestion improves, more people will start using the Drayton Road instead of other routes. You can probably never win with so many cars on the road.