Monthly Archives: May 2017

Jazz at the Abbey

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Jazz at the Abbey
At the Long Gallery of the Abbey Buildings there has been a Jazz Festival for the last two days.
Jazz at the Abbey
Events were well attended, and the event brought lots of visitors into Abingdon, and into the Abbey Buildings. The new Mayor, Jan Morter, and her husband, were very much at home watching the Oxfordshire Youth Big Band. Both work with young people musically.
Jazz at the Abbey
The more mature Funk Bake – pictured here, had a strong driving beat.
Jazz at the Abbey
As with most jazz. the band would start playing the same riff together, and then each of the players would take it off in their own direction – improvising. The music is never the same twice. Unlike Gregorian Chants …
Jazz at the Abbey
The monks on their way back from the Abbey Church might have taken some time to appreciate the sound of jazz. The 2017 audience, who came from far and wide, loved it.

Local school bags help from stores

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Thanks to Rosemary for this …
Trinity Learning
Caldecott School is asking local shoppers to support their project to provide a new sensory garden for their pupils. They’re hoping to convert an old courtyard in the centre of the school into an attractive and welcoming outdoor space that can be used as a quiet seating area for children at break and lunchtimes, a calm area for mentoring, as well as an outdoor classroom, with opportunities for science, art and literacy.

The children are very much at the centre of the project. The school council organised a survey to find out the type of seating, planters and water features that the children would like and they’ll be able to contribute their own artwork in the form of a huge mosaic. Now local stores have stepped in to help.

Caldecott’s garden project was one of the good causes in Waitrose’s Community Matters project in April and will be one of Tesco’s Bags of Help causes throughout May and June. They’re hoping that Tesco’s customers in Abingdon and Wantage will give them enough votes to ensure they will be able to create the garden.

Mind Jazz Air and Country Bowls

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Mind Jazz
There is a lot going on this weekend in Abingdon. Mind in Abingdon are taking part in arts weeks. They will be open for the public this Saturday (13th May) from 10 am to 4pm. That is as well as all the other artweek venues.
Mind Jazz
The exhibition is called Life Journeys. My wife has already been, and liked the painting above.
Mind Jazz
The Abingdon Jazz Festival is also on Friday and Saturday. Book Tickets from www.abingdonjazzfestival.org.uk.

The Abingdon Air and Country Show is on this Sunday with a three hour flying display as well as all the other ground displays.
Mind Jazz
In the Community Shop this week and Saturday the Abingon Bowling Club are encouraging people to try their hand at bowling.
Mind Jazz
Get any of your bowls within the yellow square at the far end, and you did better than me.

Abingdon Bowling Club also have taster sessions on Friday 19 May from 5pm and Saturday 20 May from 10am.

New Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames for 2017/18

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Mayor Making
The Mayor Making began in a non-traditional way – Mr Hemmings Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers have now been joined by some young ladies.
Mayor Making
For the second year in a row the ceremony took place at St Helens Church, and Reverend Paul Smith began and ended the Mayor Making with some prayers.
Mayor Making
Abingdon Town Band played music before, during and after the ceremony.
Mayor Making
The new Mayor is Jan Morter – a well known councillor, and music teacher in these parts.
Mayor Making
Alice Badcock, the previous Mayor, is seen here with some past Mayors (from left to right) … Lorraine Oates (2007-8), Alice Badcock(2016-17), Julie Mayhew-Archer (1997-8), Helen Pighills(2015-16), Jeanette Halliday (1998-9). And behind them Duncan Brown(2010-11) with child, and Samantha Bowring(2013-14).
Mayor Making
The new Deputy Mayor is Margaret Crick – a very hard working councillor.
Mayor Making
Nigel Warner, our excellent Town Clerk, officiated, and is seen here watching as Margaret signs the oath of office.
Mayor Making
The Mayor Making is conducted as a ceremonial Council Meeting, where: Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Committee Chairs and Vice-Chairs, for the next year, are all voted in.
Mayor Making
At the end everybody was invited to the South Aisle for a drink. This is the official photographer who will send pictures to the papers and post some on The Abingdon Facebook page.