7th October

The Abingdon evening schools commence next week. Despite the rapid advance of education in recent years and the fixing for school leaving at 14 years, most lads and girls can benefit from continuation classes.

A fortnight’s Church mission commenced in Abingdon last Saturday, and terminates Monday next. The Missioner is the Rev. Canon Ragg, the newly appointed Oxford Diocesan Missioner. The Missioner is assisted by several Women of the Diocese and several Oxford Undergraduates. Besides the several services in St Helen’s and St. Nicholas Churches, mission services will be held in the Corn Exchange, and at the factories in the town.

The Abingdon Golf Club held its annual meeting in the Roysse Room, on Wednesday evening last week, when a very satisfactory report and balance sheet was produced by the Secretary, Mr E. Woodbouse. The President presided, and is to present a trophy to the Club to be played for the members. The accounts showed balance the year’s working of £20 17s 4d. The number of members were given as 68. of which number 18 were ladies.

Abingdon Town Football Club went to Banbury where they met Banbury Athletic F.C. in the preliminary round of the English Amateur Cup. and lost by 3 goals to 1.

The Borough Court magistrates present on Tuesday were Councilors H, T. Clarke, R. W. Langford, and Mr J Ricketts, Several landlords public houses made application for extension of hours during the Abingdon Michaelmas Fair on Monday and Tuesday next. The magistrates decided to grant extensions from 2.30 to 4.30 on the afternoons of the fair to those who applied on Friday.

At the Abingdon Cattle Market on Monday the supply of sheep was small but other fat and store stock was well represented.
14th October

The Abingdon Michaelmas Fair was held on Monday and Tuesday this week and was reminiscent of pre-war days as regards its size. The incoming of the traction engines with their strings of lorries and caravans, chiefly from stands in the Culham and Marcham roads, was witnessed by a large number of people. And the rapidity with which the huge stands were erected excited great interest. Most excitement centred around the chair-of-plane, which paid its initial visit to the town, and was staged at the lower end of Ock Street where it found many patrons. The lorries and living vans were stationed in adjacent streets and early on Sunday morning, the showmen were ready. On Monday morning, the children on holiday from schools were earliest abroad to explore the amusements. And shortly afterwards, there was a large influx of country folk and passengers by the Oxford motor buses of which there was an augmented service. Conjuring by an ‘Indian Prince’ attracted a large crowd. And if only the Chancellor of the Exchequer could produce sovereigns by waving his hand in the air as this prince did the national debt would quickly disappear. The usual freaks and monstrosities were hidden behind canvas walls, while vendors of cheap jewellery, gaudy ornaments, and various other articles were prominent. The majority of the stores boasted signs, which conveyed the meaning that they gave something for nothing. But those who parted with their money found this was not so in every case. The switchbacks and roundabouts were kept busy, but money was not so free as formally. The crowds on Monday and Tuesday nights were very orderly. And there were no charges arising from the fair before the bench, which sat on Wednesday instead of Tuesday. Most of the shows and roundabouts remained for the second day, but were roused early on Wednesday morning by the police sergeant with orders to ‘get a move on.’ And as early as 9:30 am the streets have been cleared of the lorries and cleaned of the refuse. The only accident at the fair occurred on Mrs Bird’s roundabout on Tuesday evening. A young lad named Wells was riding on the roundabout when the pole snapped and threw him on the road—having been seen by the Doctor he was allowed home, having received a severe shaking.

A cordial invitation to all ex-Servicemen to attend the smoking concert organised by the Abingdon Branch of the British Legion to be held in the Clubroom, the ‘Barley Mow.’

The rainfall in Abingdon for the past nine months is reported as registered at 22.01 inches, whilst that for the past month was 1.42 inches.

The proceeds of the Abingdon Baptist Church Harvest Festival were given to the furnishing funds of the Baptist Hall, lately acquired. The amount was over £12.

Monday being Michaelmas Fair day, the supply of stock was somewhat short.

Saturday’s Football for Abingdon teams included a match on the Town ground between Abingdon Town F.C. and Culham College Students in the North Berks League. The match was clean and well contested, but the home team eventually won by 3 to 1. The Pavlova team on their ground met Sutton Courtenay in Berks and Bucks Junior Cup, the Pavlova winning by 9 goals to 3.
21st October

The second (or run-a-way) Michaelmas Fair was held on Monday last, when the Market Place was filled with stalls, the chief attraction being the Chair-o-planes and Wilson’s Switchbacks.

The Abingdon branch of the Farmers’ Union held their monthly meeting at the Lion Hotel, Abingdon, on Thursday evening last. Mr Pullen presiding. Several new members were elected, bringing the number up to 130 members. The question of wages was discussed, and the meeting agreed to a weekly wage of 25s per week till the end of next month. The high charges for thrashing corn were also debated, the price being 50s per day. It was decided to ask for a revision of the charges on a basis of 40s per day including two men. The enforcement of the Rookery Act, of 1918, which allowed farmers to enter rookeries to destroy rooks was strongly supported, and it was resolved to petition the Executive Council on the subject.

A mental defective youth named Cecil Glover, an inmate of the Abingdon Union, was allowed to visit Abingdon Fair in the charge of a warder with three other inmates, when Glover absconded, but was soon found. He was brought up Friday in last week at the Borough Court, the magistrates sending him back to the Workhouse pending being sent to a home.

Mr J. Roff, Spring Road. Abingdon, for 16 years superintendent of the Abingdon Wesley Sunday School and formerly nearly 20 years in the Oxford circuit, has been awarded by the S S Union with a Diploma of Honour, in recognition of his valuable S S work.

28th October

On November 1st four members of the Town Council terminate their present period of service and speculation is rife as to whether any fresh faces will be seen around the Council table on Mayor-choosing day.

The Mayor (Councillor Claude Rippon) at the request of a large number of townspeople agreed to be nominated as Mayor of Abingdon for a second year. In politics the Mayor is Conservative.

At the Abingdon Police Court on Thursday last, Frederick Innes, of Shippon Abingdon, was brought up in custody for being drunk and disorderly in the Market Place the previous day. The accused said he was a war pensioner and had had shellshock. On promising to leave the drink alone he was discharged.

The Abingdon Rural District Council at a meeting last week, decided to reduce the roadmen’s wages from 30s per week to 25s ,viz, 2s 6d per week from Oct.2lst.and another 2s from the following week.

The Mayor of Abingdon opened the winter programme of the Abingdon Literary and Debating society at the Social Club room, Ock Street, on Monday, with a very interesting lecture on ‘Self-preservation amongst butterflies and moths.’ There was a good attendance.

At St. Helen’s Church, Abingdon, on Thursday in last week, the interesting marriage took place of the Rev. Lionel A Howe, of Brattlebury. Lincs, and Miss Hebe Morland. only daughter of the late Major G. Morland, of Abingdon, and grand-daughter of Alderman J. T. Morland, Abingdon, who gave the bride away. The Church was nicely decorated for the occasion, the service was choral, and there was a large congregation

At the County Bench on Monday, Harry Wigley farmer, Long Whittenham, was fined £1 in each case for failing to deliver a movement order in respect of 40 and 17 pigs, and was also fined £2 in each case for removing them contrary to the Swine Fever Regulations. The pigs had been removed from the Reading Market

At the Borough Police Court,, George Young, of 3 Start Street, Abingdon, was charged with using his dwelling house for the purposes of betting, and William Higgs, for abetting the defendant. The Court was crowded, both defendants being well-known in the town. The police made a raid on the premises and found betting slips and monies etc. The Bench, after a lengthy hearing, convicted them in both cases, Young being fined £20 and Higgs £5, including costs.

Thank you for the extracts to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive.

Adverts and the story of the fair are brought to you with help from the Nork Berks Herald.