Monthly Archives: March 2017

South Abingdon Children’s Centre Celebration

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South Abingdon Childrens Centre
This afternoon there was a party to celebrate the work of the South Abingdon Children’s Centre.
South Abingdon Childrens Centre
The Children’s Centre has been a place where children up to five, and their familes, can find a variety of activities, play, information and support from professionals working in a wide range of fields.
South Abingdon Childrens Centre
At the party were Morris Dancers, and staff, Carbon Cutters, and volunteers, along with many familes that have used the facilities.

South Abingdon Childrens Centre
The Children’s Centre opened about sixteen years ago as a replacement for the Family Centre on Saxton Road. It is recognised that there has always been the need for such a place in this part of town to give children a good start in life.

Budget cuts mean that the County Council are now strictly targeting families at risk, and Children’s Centres across Oxfordshire are closing.
South Abingdon Childrens Centre
It is yet to be seen how the South Abingdon Children’s Centre will find new life. The Green Man recited a poem about new life from old, and the phoenix rising from the ashes. The future could be as a part of Caldecott School with a charity group running part of the premises. That is still being worked on.

Abrail 2017

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Abrail 2017
At the Tennis and Leisure centre in Audlett Drive this evening (Friday) the first exhibitors were starting to set up the. Abingdon Model Railway Show which hits town fully tomorrow.
Abrail 2017
This is a big show with twenty different railway layouts, and a lot of trade stalls for anyone interested in modelling. The crowded picture above is from 2009.

Before, During and After photos of Old Gaol

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Old Gaol
Brian worked in the Bridge Street Offices before the Old Goal re-development. His office window was furthest left on the top floor overlooking the backwater toward the Chandlery.
Old Gaol
He has sent a before, during and after photo of the Old Gaol taken from the Abingdon bridge. This was prompted by a comment that Newcomer made a few days ago.
Old Gaol
Brian used to look out on Grebes, Moorhens and an abundance of other wildlife.

Queen Victoria

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Queen Victoria
In 1887, the British Empire celebrated Victoria’s Golden Jubilee on 20th June 1887, and a statue of Queen Victoria was presented by Edwin Trendell, and unveiled in Abingdon by Lord Wantage two days earlier.

The pedestal, of Portland stone is about seven feet high; the statue of Sycilian marble, nearly eight feet high, making the monument about fifteen feet high.

On her head Queen Victoria has a small crown with a veil. In her right hand she holds a sceptre, and in the left, instead of the more usual globe, she holds a lotus blossom to signify the Imperial reign in India. She wears a heavy  velvet cloak with a lighter satin dress, and a sash as Sovereign of the Order of the Garter, a company of up to 24 Knights and lady companions.
Queen Victoria
The statue is to be found in the Abbey Gardens in Abingdon, about 50 yards from the original and more prominent position in the Market Place.