Search ‘Abingdon’ in the Guiness Book of Records and there are now more entries thanks to the longest loom band. Radley College are also in there with the fastest Treadmill 100 miles team run.
There is also Most endangered animal and Rarest reptile. On further investigation this turns out to be `Lonesome George’ the giant tortoise Geochelone elephantopus abingdoni from the Pinta or Abingdon Island in the Galapagos Islands. George died in 2012 of natural causes.
George can now be viewed at The American Museum of Natural History.
They have done a Good Job ‘Preserving Lonesome George’ for future generations.
Sadly the last giant Abingdon-on-Thames tortoise was never the same after its green leafy habitat at 65 Oxford Road was ploughed up.
In the late 70’s and early 80’s Abingdon was also listed for the youngest UK hanging. It’s not been broken but perhaps they don’t have it in the book anymore. Checked online for the details….the youngest child executed in England was John Dean who was convicted of arson at the Abingdon Assizes on the 23rd of February 1629. His age is given in “The Annals of Windsor” as between eight and nine years and he had set fire to two houses in Windsor. It would appear that the judge, Mr. Justice Whitelock, found evidence of malice, revenge and cunning and therefore did not recommend a reprieve for the boy.
Not ‘On Topic’, but worth a read and a bit of reflection re. what The Vale has done to Abingdon.
From the Oxford Mail:
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/13507093.Persistence_pays_for_a_West_Way_campaigner_as_council_is_ordered_to_release_info/
From this afternoon’s Oxford Mail (posted here before there’s any chance of censorship).