Monthly Archives: January 2013

Gravity Defying 1960s design on Ock Street

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Gravity Defying Hardware Shop
F Knight & Son, on Ock Street, have a modern looking building in the 1960s sense of the word modern. Earlier the building was used by Ballards who, if I remember rightly, traded in agricultural and garden machinery, and then changed to Ballards top end of the market car sales.
Gravity Defying Hardware Shop
According to the name scratched into the girders the shop was built by a local builder, J Drew and Son.

Knights is a shops used by tradesmen and the general public for buying tools fixings, electrical, plumbing and decorating supplies.

Monday Morning Snowfall

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Monday Morning Snowfall
It was one of those Monday mornings when I could not find the car. I cut through the gap near the church and was surprised to find the car was not in the parking area by the River Ock.
Monday Morning Snowfall
Returning along St Helen’s Close, I cast an eye over West St Helen’s Street Carpark, before finding the car two doors up from our house, in West St Helen’s Street – covered in snow.

I suspect Alzheimer’s is a bit like that – as stronger memories take over from the more immediate past.

Blessing of the Waters of the River Thames

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Blessing of the Waters
This morning St Helen’s Church began their 10:30 am service on St Helen’s Wharf. The service was the “Blessing of the Waters & festival of the Baptism of Christ”. The Blessing of the waters is an ancient tradition but this could be the first time it has been done beside the River Thames in Abingdon.
Blessing of the Waters
The service began with the congregation gathered on the wharf. They were then joined by the officiants and choir processing with the cross.
Blessing of the Waters
The Rector then greeted everybody… “Dear Friends in Christ, we gather today to celebrate the Baptism of Christ…”
Blessing of the Waters
After a hymn, some prayers, and bible readings, water was brought up from the River Thames and poured into the holy water bucket and then carried back to the church for the rest of the service.

Evening Wedding Fair

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Evening Wedding Fair
Last night the there was a wedding fair at the Guildhall. Local businesses taking part included Frend & Co the jeweller, Added Ingredients, and Pure Marie (est 1936). Thanks to them for the picture. They said the wedding fair was very well organised and they enjoyed taking part.
Evening Wedding Fair
The Guildhall is promoting itself as a wedding venue, and by the spring, when the architect has put together the first set of drawings we will see how it could offer a cinema. Marie used to be located next to the Regal cinema in Abingdon.