Monthly Archives: May 2014

European School in Culham, May Fair and Art Exhibition

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May Fair and Art Exhibition
At the European School in Culham, yesterday, there was a May Fair run by the Parents Association, with the added attraction of a Primary School Art Exhibition in the chapel.

The sun shone all day, and there were some excellent bands playing while people were served with BBQ food, and candy floss. There was also the chance to try out things like pottery and circus skills.
May Fair and Art Exhibition
Even a chance to try some other languages. The second hand book stall had boxes divided into English, French, German, Dutch and Italian, and the parent selling the books spoke French and English and German interchangeably.
May Fair and Art Exhibition
The art exhibiton had some interesting and lively art. I was interested to see that Uffington is spelt with an H in French, as in Huffington Post.
May Fair and Art Exhibition
There was a stage with spoon puppets, surrounded by programmes – designed by the children for different shows.
May Fair and Art Exhibition
Portraits cut out and stuck on bright pieces of paper worked very well as did a lot of the projects.
May Fair and Art Exhibition
My favorite project had to be Quasimodo with all his parts described with appropriate adjectives: les pieds déformés , la bouche malodorante …

P.S. The European Elections are on Thursday 22 May 2014 with polling stations opening between 7am and 10pm.

Abingdon Bowling Club Open Weekend

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Abingdon Bowling Club Open Day
Abingdon Bowling Club had their annual open day on Friday Evening and Saturday Morning. This allowed people to come and try the game, and if they like come back and play some more.
Abingdon Bowling Club Open Day
On the near side (of the second picture), two of the more experienced players show how it is done. The game is very simple to start with, but can become a complex strategy game to the better players.
Abingdon Bowling Club Open Day
Abingdon Bowling Club celebrated their centenary last year. The first bowling green in 1913 was thought to be have been in the south west corner of Albert Park. Now they are established in the South East.
Abingdon Bowling Club Open Day
Their first known match was against Witney on June 20th 1914, with a return game in July 1914, when a brake (forerunner of a coach) was hired to take the team to Witney.

There is to be a centennial rematch against Witney Town on Saturday June 21st 2014, from 2:30pm. But times have changed, and the game will not be followed by a Smoking Concert.

Museum at Night

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Museum at Night
Abingdon County Hall Museum stayed open late tonight as part of Museums at Night 2014 – an annual UK-wide festival encouraging visitors into museums, galleries and heritage sites by throwing their doors open after hours and putting on special events.
Museum at Night
Music created a great atmosphere on a warm Friday evening. The Amity Wind Ensemble performed in the sessions hall, and a fine pianist played in Buns in the Basement.
Museum at Night
Under the arcade, the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers and Vale Islanders encouraged everybody to join in the dance. Museum revelers mixed with Friday night revelers near the punchbowl.

The late opening proved popular – attracting about 300 visitors, many of them new to the museum, and there was always a queue to go on the roof.

Choose Abingdon AGM 2013/14

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The Choose Abingdon AGM took place on Wednesday in the Council Chamber of the Guildhall. The music from a band downstairs in the Roysse Room was overwhelming at times – part of a Guildhall promotional event trying to attract community groups to the Guildhall. There was also bell practise at St Nics. So speakers sometimes laughed and waited a few moments until they could be heard above the noise. THEY WERE REPORTING BACK ON WHAT HAD BEEN GOING ON LAST YEAR.
Put the flags out
The year began managing projects that came out of the government’s High Street innovation fund. You may remember that Abingdon wasn’t chosen as being in the top 6 schemes by Mary Portas but was given money anyway. That money was put towards projects like:

  • ByBox locker
  • Events Programme
  • Loyalty programme enhanced with new digital technology.
  • Community shop programme
  • Working with the Town Council on a second year of flags to emulate the popular Jubilee display

Put the flags out
Long standing projects such as community gazebos and Local Excellence Market carry on. Also Choose Abingdon continue working with festivals like the Cycling Festival.
Annual Parish Meeting
A sub group run by James White created the new Atom Science Festival. This was a great success and plans are to make it even bigger next year.

But at times Heather Brown, the one paid employee, was overstretched. That is why the Good Living Event was cancelled this year, and not all the Christmas programme went ahead. There were not enough Helping Hands. They need more Hesters.
Annual Parish Meeting
Up to now Choose Abingdon has been dependent on public funding from councils. It could change from a partnership of councils into a Business Improvement District (BID) by next year. Local businesses will be balleted on that idea in October / November. A BID would be be paid for out of business rates and so be more of a business partnership.