Monthly Archives: January 2014

Church in Abingdon sings the hymn tune ‘Abingdon’

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Today the United Service of the Church in Abingdon was held at Trinity Church. This is an annual celebration for the 14 member churches.

In the foyer, and round the church, were displays from a number of projects supported or closely connected with the Church in Abingdon, such as the Street Pastors.

Rev’d Richard Bittleston led a short service and also played piano. Richard will be leaving Trinity in the summer, at which point Trinity and All Saints will be getting a new joint minister. The number of ministers are being reduced in these days of declining church attendance in some of the more traditional churches.

The final hymn was to the hymn tune Abingdon. A recording from my phone can be heard here.

Closing Down Sale at Abingdon Fashion

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Abingdon Fashion are having a closing down sale, and will be open on alternating Saturdays until they have sold most of the remaining stock – or the lease comes to an end.

The shop started as a way of people selling second hand clothes, but since being renamed as Abingdon Fashion they have been selling new clothes for women and children.

Service of Thanksgiving for Leslie Argyle 1927 – 2014

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At Trinity Church this morning was a Sevice of Thanksgiving for the life of Leslie Argyle. Leslie had been a member at Trinity since the Primitive Methodist Chapel, in Ock Street, closed and joined forces with Trinity in 1945. He also worked for over 40 years at Trotman’s Bakery, and when that was taken over by Holmes, he joined Day’s Bakery in Edward Street. He used to bake communion bread for Trinity and the “sheaf of corn” bread for harvest.

He had a love of traveling, walking, music and dancing and joined the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers in 1951 and was elected as Mayor of Ock Street in 1980. (Thanks to Andrew who teaches piano and singing at Abingdon Piano School for the first two pictures. Andrew was taught Morris Dancing by ‘Les’ .)

The coffin was brought in to the accompaniment of Harry Knight on accordion playing “The Girl I left behind Me ” – The Old Marching tune of The Berkshire Militia.

There were 21 other Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers following the coffin. Icknield Way Morris, and Bampton Morris, were also represented in the congregation.

The hymn “Lord of the Dance” followed a performance of “How D’you do Sir” by the Morris Dancers.

Consultation on New Pelican Crossings for Ock Street and Marcham Road

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A notice has appeared this week about a proposed new pelican crossing. The new crossing was suggested by the developer who wants to build 160 houses in a field bordering South Abingdon.

When the planning inspector overturned the decision of the Vale of White Horse District Council, and allowed those houses, he did stipulate that traffic mitigation measures be put in before the houses were built. So, if allowed, these crossings will be funded by the developer.

The scheme would involve adding a pelican crossing 25 metres from the end of Ock Street. The intended effect of this is to make it easier for vehicles turning left out of Drayton Road.

Then the existing Pelican Crossing at the other side of the double mini roundabout, put in for students going to Larkmead School, would be moved 60 metres further along the Marcham Road. I believe a barrier would be put in place at the existing crossing, with a gate – to allow access to the MG Park.

This proposal would increase the number of crossings along Ock Street and Marcham Road from 5 to 6.

Any objections should be made by 7 February 2014 by email to Anthony.Kirkwood@Oxfordshire.gov.uk

or my post to:
Anthony Kirkwood
Road Safety Engineering Team
Oxfordshire County Council
Speedwell House
Speedwell Street
Oxford
OX1 1NE

The decision is likely to be made on 27th March.