5th June 1920
On Monday last the Abingdon Police had another field day in Abingdon for holding up motor cars for the production of licenses, and Mr Asquith, journeying from his Sutton Courtenay residence, was held up, but it proved to be blank, as the late Premier promptly produced his license.

The G.W.R. Company in their reply to the Abingdon Town Council’s suggestion that the Sunday trains on the Branch should be re-commenced, state that the circumstances did not admit of the facility being afforded.

The Abingdon Town Council has granted another £50 towards the equipment of the Local Museum of Natural History and Antiquities in the County Hall.

The Abingdon Bathing Place was re-opened for the sesion on Sunday last. The floods during the winter having destroyed a portion of the island on which the dressing boxes were built, only a portion of the island can be used at present.

12th June 1920

The Abingdon Railway Slate club members had an outing to Blenheim Park, Woodstock, on Sunday last. The journey was made by brakes, and supplies for luncheon and tea were taken with the party. The day was greatly enjoyed.

The Abingdon branch the C.E.M.S. has through lack of interest of the majority of its members, suspended its active working sine die. (Church of England Men’s Society)

The report of the Abingdon Free Library has been issued and shows satisfactory use being made of the reading and lending department. During the year ended March 31, the period the report covers, 14.304 volumes were issued from the lending department.

19th June 1920

The graded supplies at Abingdon Cattle Market on Monday last were 4 beasts and 56 sheep, 24 of the latter being allocated to Oxford. Calves met a fast trade and realised up to £l7. Supply pigs was rather short, some strong stores made up to 47s.

At Abingdon Borough Police Court: J. H. Hammond, Trinity College, Oxford; Nellie Alden, Eastwick Farm. Abingdon, and F. Hugging, butcher, Southmoor Road, Oxford, were each fined 10s for failing to produce motor licenses when requested by the police.

26th June 1920

Roysse School Founder’s Day took place on Friday last, when the usual service was held in St Helen’s Church, and a wreath placed upon the Founder’s (John Roysse) tomb. A reception of parents and friends was afterwards held at the school, and a cricket match between past and present, the former winning by only one run. On Saturday the usual regatta was held ou the river, where the prizes were distributed by the Lord Lieut of the County (J. H. Benyon, Esq.)

The June Fair was held as usual in the Abingdon Market Place on Monday last, but only a few small stalls and miniature roundabouts were erected.

There was a large attendance at a Council meeting in connection with the Unionist Association of the Abingdon Parliamentary Division, the business being to consider the replacement for the sitting MP, Brig-Gen Wigan, D.S.O.. Mr Arthur T Loyd was selected and in his acceptance speech said: I must thank you very sincerely for the great compliment you have paid me by this selection. Believe me, it is an honour I appreciate very highly, and I also appreciate the great responsibility which attaches to the position in which you have placed me. I must confess I am an extraordinarily bad politician, for I suffer from an awkward inability to say one thing and mean other (applause). Probably I shall get the better of it, but if I betray a disposition to say what I mean and try to do what I say l am going to do, I hope you will put it down to inexperience (laughter and applause) …

Thank you for the extracts to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive. The picture of Mr Asquith about to drive his car is from The Graphic also on the British Newspaper Archive. The Wills’s cigarette card is from a private collection.