Monthly Archives: July 2017

Next Generation Car Park Ticket Machine

Carpark Ticket Machine
A next generation ticket machine has appeared at the Civic Car Park in Abingdon. As well as the new £1 coin it will also be able to take contactless payments, and Chip and Pin cards. So motorists staying more than the two hours free parking have lots of options including paying for their parking via the Connect Cashlesss mobile phone app.

The new machine even opened the coin slot when I made a movement nearby. I have not heard it speak yet but would not be surprised if it has that capability.

The week ahead: sales, school holidays, swan upping, and wasps

the week ahead
There are a lot of clothing sales in Abingdon at the moment, as seen here at New Look.

Next door Valentina, part of Bury Street since 2014, has recently closed.

Thomas Cook have ‘Summer 2018’ advertised, as well as last minute deals for this year.
the week ahead
“Schools Out for Summer!” this Friday. That coincides with the arrival of the Swan Uppers in Abingdon.

Also this week will be a chance to start collecting the first blackberries before the wasps get them.

Oxfordshire Play Association – Play and Activity Day

Thanks to Ray for this report …
Made in Abingdon
Hundreds of people attended this event that offered a wide range of the activities all free to the public. Things started off a little damp for setting up but the weather improved making it great afternoon.
Made in Abingdon
The pictures are from the Abingdon Vineyard stand that offered the Smoothie Bike, Sumo Wrestling, Splat the Rat and other similar sideshow games. We managed to get the local PCSO’s on the Smoothie Bike but not into the Sumo suits! Many of the kids from the Youth Club that the church has run for nearly 10 years helped to set up and enjoyed the day. Another attraction was the motor cycle group who let the kids sit the bikes and have the odd rev of the engines.

This was the third successful year for the event on South Abingdon that really doesn’t see too much activity compared with the rest of the town. The event is organised and run by the Oxfordshire Play Association who do a fantastic job in Play work training and providing events like this.

November 4th 1908 – Postcard from Abingdon

Made in Abingdon
At the recent open day at the Abbey Buildings some visitors bought along this postcard. I am not sure it can tell us a lot about Abingdon but they very much wanted to return the postcard to the place where it originated, to help tell a story.
Made in Abingdon
It was posted in Abingdon on November 4th 1908 at 9. PM. The postcard was to Miss A Thorpe living at 253 Banbury Road in Oxford. The writer Gert, and her sister Emily, signed the postcard. Gert said they had just arrived safely in Abingdon at 8:25 and would write a letter later.

So can anybody add any more to the story?