Oxfam opened their first Abingdon shop in the High Street in 1969. They have been in their current Stert Street shop for over thirty years, after moving from over the road. They would be glad to hear from anybody who has volunteered at any of the three shops to arrange a reunion.
For Chinese New Year (Tuesday, 5 February) a lovely window display was put up in the Community Free Space by the Oxfordshire Chinese Brush Painting Group, many of whom live in Abingdon. The display is still there a week later.
Anybody interested in one of the oldest and most beautiful of artistic traditions in the world can join the group.
The Ashmolean museum in Oxford has a dedicated gallery for Chinese paintings with changing exhibitions. It currently has a centennial exhibition for the Hong Kong artist Lui Shou-Kwan. Then the Oxfordshire Chinese Brush Painting Group will have an exhibition at Oxfordshire Artweeks.
The Chinese display is likely to be the last in the Community FreeSpace’s present premises. FreeSpace has been in its present location for over 5 years, but because a commercial tenant has been found for that unit, it will shortly be moving, probably to the empty unit next to the British Heart Foundation shop. The space is provided rent free by the Shopping Centre landlords and is managed by the Friends of Abingdon to provide a “free space” for community groups and not-for-profit organisations to demonstrate and promote their activities. If all goes to plan there will be another spectacular window display in the new premises at the end of February.
The UK voted to leave the EU on 23rd June 2016. Abingdon voted to remain but had to go with the majority view. The alluring ”Take Back Control” slogan of the leave campaign won the day.
The two year process to leave the EU was triggered on 29th March 2017. There followed lengthy negotiations between various UK Brexit secretaries (who resigned one after another) and Michel Barnier (for the EU). An agreement was brokered between the UK government and the EU involving the UK paying a £39 billion divorce settlement – not a subject mentioned in the leave or remain campaigns.
On 9th January 2019, the House of Commons, including the Abingdon and Oxford West M.P., Layla Moran, voted against the agreement for a variety of reasons. Layla Moran wanted a People’s Vote. Brexiteers and the DUP MPs said they did not like the Northern Ireland backstop. Since then parliament and the government and the EU have been going round in circles, not re-negotiating the backstop.
People campaigning for a People’s Vote were on the Market Place yesterday in Abingdon. The People’s Vote say ‘ When it becomes clear there is no Parliamentary majority for any Brexit option, the only way forward will be a People’s Vote.’
On the other hand Leave means Leave campaigners say, ‘The Government must chuck their Chequers proposal – which if delivered would amount to Brexit in name only – and instead seize the opportunities of a World Trade Deal.’
Both sides are still working hard to influence pubic opinion and politicians as the clock runs down towards March 29th 2019.
Just over a week ago the builder handed back the keys to Abingdon Baptist Church after an extensive re-ordering of the interior.
Last Sunday church members returned to worship there, and today (9th February 2019) there was a special re-dedication service.
The church building downstairs was packed, and the large balcony almost full of people.
On the civic side there was the Mayor of Abingdon, Chairman of the Vale, and Councillors, two of whom are church members.
There were ministers and people from other Abingdon churches, and past baptist ministers including Revd. David Fleming who now serves in Luton. David Fleming spoke about the early vision of reordering the church. Revd. Dr Paul Goodliff, and the present minister, Revd. Steve Millard, then described how the plans had come together and been carried out.
To re-dedicate the church, and give an address, was Revd. Lynn Green – General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. She remembered being a student minister at Abingdon Baptist Church around 1992-3. She said a church could be like the Tardis in Doctor Who. It may look old fashioned and irrelevant on the outside, but inside it was bigger and so much more amazing.
Back in 2015 the outside of the church was painted from sky blue to the grey colour required by English Heritage. Solid doors were replaced with glass doors to make the building more open.
The church then closed in 2018, and builders brought a digger to dig out the old floor and baptism pool.
During that process some old bones were discovered. The police were interested until they turned out to be 200-year-old Abingdon baptists. They were reburied after an archaeological investigation.
The church building has been made into a space that can be used for future generations, and the community. The floor and the stage, and baptism pool were remade. Walls were made good so the big crack is gone. Pews were replaced with more comfortable flexible seats. There are some cinema style seats in the balcony – the best seats in the house. The interior is now bright and light. Lots of new cables have been laid to allow the latest and future technologies.
After the re-dedication service, tea and coffee and cakes were served.