Six weeks ago a car went through the windows of Sydenhams on Ock Street in Abingdon.
The windows have been repaired and bollards added and a notice added during the work says ‘Sorry for any inconvenience but our customers just cannot wait to get in here even when we are closed’
Empty shelves have appeared in usually well stocked supermarkets in Abingdon. This supermarket in the town centre has sold out of toilet paper and kitchen rolls …
as well as paracetamols and other pain killers.
Some people could be stockpiling long-life food and cold remedies in preparation should they have to spend two weeks at home in self-isolation with Coronavirus. Others may just be stocking up as the shelves are emptying quickly and they don’t want to be caught short.
On Wednesday at Preston Road Community Centre (PRCC) the South Abingdon Partners Network met. This networking event happens about every two months and brings together people active in South Abingdon so that they can explain what they are working on and look at ways of helping each other or using each other’s service. There were over twenty people there. Every two months the makeup of attendees changes.
Here is a quick rundown of some of the groups:
A Job Fair will be held on April 30th. A number of the people had a direct input into that effort so that became one area of discussion and collaboration.
There was quite a lot of talk between the people interested in getting people back to work that for one reason or another needed support, and help when things go wrong.
The Disability Employment Advisor at the Job Centre talked about additional support and funding than can be provided to help people into work. Employers can become Disability Confident employers and take a community lead in giving equal opportunities to people with disabilities.
At Mostly Books, in Stert Street, there was a book reading, and children had dressed up for the event.
At the Bookstore, in Bury Street, children from different years at Thameside School have been coming every day of the week to exchange their World Book Day vouchers, either: for a book from the special display, or they could use it towards another book.
One book in the shop was created with the help of children from Thameside School, Abingdon.
Children worked with artist Korky Paul to make bug pictures for the start and end leafs of his new book ‘Winnie the Witch – Bug Safari’.
Pictures by 28 children are featured in the book.
Next door, W H Smith had 3 for 2 on lots of children’s books for World Book Day.
Abingdon Library are currently running a reader’s challenge, called Bloomin’ Good Books.
Readers of any age are invited to fill in and return a postcard, about a favourite book, to be entered for the prize draw. You can write an account of the book and why you like it. That might inspire somebody else to read that book and reading will grow.
There are six (soon to be seven) charity shops in the town centre that sell second hand books.
The British Heart Foundation had a window display for World Book Day. On the top shelf is fiction, next down is children’s books, next down is adult fiction, and bottom is media. The display changes as people often ask to buy what is in the window.
Abingdon County Museum also sell books – all of them about Abingdon.
Poundland also sells books, as does Waitrose.
So by my reckoning there are twelve shops that sell books in Abingdon Town Centre this World Book Day.