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.)