Monthly Archives: March 2020

Changes noticed today

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Changes noticed today
Three new planters have been placed along Broad Street as part of Abingdon in Bloom.
Changes noticed today
They all say Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council 2020. The Town Council has ordered twelve new planters and basket trees.
Changes noticed today
The last day for H Samuel in Abingdon will be 14th March.
Changes noticed today
In Abingdon Library a new keyboard has appeared with earphones. People will be able to play music from the music books before taking them out, and and only they will hear.

It is world book day on 5th March. This is a chance to encourage children to read for pleasure with lots of schools taking part. OECD Research in 2002 showed that reading enjoyment is more important for children’s educational success than their family’s socio-economic status.

Cleaning Business moves into Abingdon Shop

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Cleaning Business
Beclean Abingdon have been providing cleaning services in Abingdon since 2015 and have now become more visible with a shop at 6 The Square, Abingdon, which opened on 27th February. This shop was previously Art and Stuff.

The shop will sell their professional materials, and also allow people to enquire about their domestic and commercial cleaning services. There is more information on their website http://www.beclean-abingdon.co.uk/.

Municipal Buildings, Abingdon

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Municipal Buildings
The first of the month is Theme Day at City Daily Photo and this month’s topic is Municipal Buildings
Municipal Buildings
Staff of the Vale of the White Horse District Council (VWHDC) first moved into the new red brick HQ, Abbey House, over the weekend of 27th-28th July 1991. Before then the 251 staff had been housed in five locations in Abingdon town centre: Old Abbey House (previously called Abbey House), The Charter, Bridge Street, Bath Street and Roysse Court. Staff brought with them 3,500 containers, 900 filing cabinets, and 140 items of computer equipment. The Abbey House in Abingdon was officially opened, some time later, by the Duke of Kent on 30th November 1992.
Municipal Buildings
Abbey House continued as the HQ of VWHDC until 2013 when staff moved in with colleagues from South Oxfordshire District Council at their offices in Crowmarsh Gifford. The reason given was that the two councils increasingly worked together and shared core staff.

VWHDC then decided to let part of the ground floor of Abbey House and the whole of the first and second floors to Oxfordshire County Council. Abbey House continues as joint accomodation for both councils with a help desk for both. However both councils have their HQs elsewhere.

In January 2015 the Crowmarsh Gifford offices were extensively damaged by an arson attack. Abbey House was used for some emergency services, and even Old Abbey House was used a little. The VWHDC staff then moved to temporary offices at Milton Park.

The decision has recently been made to rebuild the offices at Crowmarsh Gifford. Last month designs went on display.
Municipal Buildings
Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council was in another Municipal building, Old Abbey House, for many years. That building has been mostly empty since they left in 2014. There has not been a lot of news about what VWHDC will do with it. Before the local elections in 2019 there were plans for it to be used for Social Housing. That was when the Conservatives were in charge. But I am not aware of any new announcements by the new Lib-Dem administration of its new use.
Municipal Buildings
The Town Council is now in Roysse Court.

March 1st – St David’s Day

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If Trinity Church is anything to go by, a lot of people here in Abingdon have Welsh roots and still mark March 1st – St David’s Day – in some way. Some people may pin a daffodil or a leek to their clothes as these are symbols of Wales.
St David's Day
The Local Excellence Market was held yesterday in Abingdon. It was smaller than usual but vibrant. On the fruit and veg stall were lots of leeks. Most were as straight as those you might get at a supermarket. Others had grown with a distinct curve.
St David's Day
I came away with a very fine curving example. One traditional meal on St David’s Day is Cawl. It is a soup that is made of leek and other locally grown produce.