Monthly Archives: June 2022

Yesterday the rainbow flag. Today the Abingdon flag.

Yesterday the rainbow flag was flying over the County Hall in Abingdon, and today the Abingdon town flag is flying.

This afternoon there was a thanksgiving service for Jeanette Halliday at St Nicolas Church. Jeanette died on 17th April 2020, at the start of the first Covid lockdown. Back then, only 8 people were allowed at the South Oxfordshire Crematorium to accompany Jim Halliday, her husband. So this more public memorial was long overdue.

The rainbow flag could almost be a tribute to Jeanette, as could the town flag for one of Abingdon’s most colourful ex-Mayors.

The music at Jeanette’s thanksgiving service was sublime. It began with the Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams, followed by a solo sung by Jeanette’s granddaughter, then some Elgar on piano, and ended with Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison. The Town Clerk, Nigel Warner, gave a eulogy of Jeanette as a public servant who took up and fought cases for local people. Jim Halliday spoke about a person who loved life and travelling.

The town clerk before Nigel Warner was Brian Tonkin. His funeral will be this Tuesday. Brian Tonkin’s name is still to be found on many officially named notices. Brian was the town clerk when Jeanette was Mayor (1998-9). He was also the chairman of the Abingdon Town Football Club.

(Thank you to the Abingdon Herald/ Oxford Mail for the picture. This ex-press picture is available from eBay.)

Road Closure – plastic and bark chip diversions in place

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Abingdon Cub Reporter Newcomer has discovered a new road closure. The road runs from Abingdon Bridge to Abingdon Lock. The road was cracked and potted, and the edges were uneven and caused ankle inversions and so maintenance was needed.

As a diversion there is a plastic track through a wheat field, for vehicles,

and a track with bark chipping, for pedestrians.

Radley Lakes – June 2022

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The new parking area at Radley Lakes has been laid out with racks for 12 bikes and spaces for 9 cars, 3 of those requiring blue badges for drivers with disabilities. The area is protected by lego-style block barriers.

A new map displayed near the new entrance is also available on fold-out leaflets.

When I visited today there were clouds and a brief shower. This view is of the largest lake, Thrupp Lake, where there were swans, geese, moorhens, ducks and ducklings. Swallows flew low over the water – too fast to photograph.

But I did photograph the first Oystercatcher (for the Abingdon Blog) on one of the small islands,

and a Heron perching on a branch with two other herons on the ground (youngsters learning the skills of a Heron).

Walking around one of the smaller lakes, in the restored gravel workings, the algae looked brown and swampy,

but there were lots of exciting wildflowers along the perimeter path.

Aldi A34 View

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Good progress is being made on the new Aldi Store off the Wootton Road in Abingdon – seen here with the A34 behind the trees.

Only Aldi contractors are allowed on site, but by the end of the year, Aldi shoppers will buy fruit, nuts, chocolates, milk, wine, and bread at Aldi prices. Tesco and Sainsbury have an Aldi price match on a range of products, which is a good advert for their rival supermarket.

Here is a view from the A34 towards the new North Abingdon houses over the Aldi roof.

Many people’s only view of Abingdon is this fleeting glimpse from the A34 of houses, an industrial unit or two, and now an Aldi in Abingdon.