Monthly Archives: November 2011

Abingdon Remembers – 13th Nov 2011

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Abingdon Remembers 2011
A second and much larger remembrance ceremony (compared with the Armistice Day ceremony) took part at the war memorial today. A lot of the people who take part, both service people past and present, and dignitaries, attend a church service at St Helen’s Church beforehand.

Abingdon Remembers 2011
The ceremony was again very well attended and very moving.  But as a member of the public, to get a place, you now have to get there quite early. People were standing back along the High Street able to hear the music and see the parade but missing out on the quieter prayers and poems.

Abingdon Remembers 2011
During the ceremony wreathes are laid by dignitaries and clubs and societies, and after the ceremony many people choose to place their poppy or a small cross next to the memorial. If you did miss the cermony I have more images and some of the words and music on a short video. Music was played by Abingdon Town Band, and the Last Post and Reveille was sounded by Alison Rich, their principal cornet player  …

Oxford Comedy Deathmatch perform at Comedy Abingdon

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Can I say thankyou to the people who organised this third Comedy Abingdon event at the Unicorn Theatre.
Oxford Comedy Deathmatch
For anybody who remembers ‘Who’s Line is it anyway’ the format was similar. Two teams from Oxford Comedy Deathmatch were improvising suggestions from the mainly Abingdon audience.
Oxford Comedy Deathmatch
In this round the chap on the right is being interviewed about the Catford traditional of spoon playing. He describes how a Catford spoon player helped defend the London Borough of Catford against intruders from the neighbouring borough who come doing the Lambeth Walk.
Oxford Comedy Deathmatch
Two members of the audience were helping here to move the actors as part of another scene.
Oxford Comedy Deathmatch
Oxford Comedy Deathmatch will be back again at the Unicorn Theatre from 14th-17th December for an improvised pantomime.

It’s for Charity.

Different classic panto improvised each night.

Tickets £8 / £6 from www.ocdimprov.com & at the door. “Book before December for discount and feel all organised.”

Remembering 11/11/11

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11/11/11
Last time I visited Abingdon Library I picked up a book of poems called Winter of the World and then got 4 more books on the same theme – mostly about WWI. The self service receipt had a curiously symmetrical number for the return date, and 2 days ago I got a reminder by email. So I will remember 11/11/11 as will a lot of other people for a more significant reason… hostilities formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.
11/11/11
There was a two minutes silence in the library, and many other work places.
11/11/11
From those books the one I would most recommend is “Behind the Lines – revealing and uncensored letters from our war-torn world” by Andrew Carroll. It is back there now.
11/11/11
There was also a 2 minutes silence at the war memorial. Most of the people were standing on the Bath Street pavement so are not in this shot.

Tesco planning decision and Tasting Day

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Last Friday I went round most of the shops north of the town centre to do a short survey on Fairtrade. But what really concerned some local shop owners was that Tesco were creating  two new  convenience stores (from pubs without the need for planning permission)  in an area that already has a number of locally run convenience stores, some fairly new.
Turkey Tesco Combo
The planning applications for the second Tesco Express at the Ox Pub was under discussion this evening by the district council planning committee. By now they will already have decided whether to give the go ahead for the new Tesco signs, changes to the building, and the ATM. They have no power to decide whether a pub can become a shop or not.
Turkey Tesco Combo
On my travels I was pleased to visit Mak Wines, at Peachcroft,  whose prices are cheaper then Tesco, and they do Fairtrade wines.
Turkey Tesco Combo
I also saw that there is to be a Turkey Tasting Day this Saturday at Peachcroft Farm…
Turkey Tesco Combo
I hope the Turkeys get lots of nice nibbles.