DROWNING. About nine o’clock on Thursday evening, several young men were walking along the towpath on the Oxfordshire side of the river when one noticed something pass in the centre of the water. He called Mr F T Buckle of 55, East St Helen Street, assistant to Mr Bottrell, who was on the landing stage and rowed out and recovered the body of a boy named Arthur Bevis of No 1 , Court 7, West St Helen Street. Artificial respiration was tried by a number of willing volunteers for about an hour and a half. Dr Scott, however, pronounced life to be extinct. An inquest will be held.

BOROUGH POLICE COURT. Four Abingdon lads, Bert Taylor, Sidney Elleton, Frank Carter, and Daniel Dix of West St. Helen Street, were summoned for playing football in the street on April 26th. Each pleaded guilty and was discharged with a caution.

FOOTBALL. On Saturday, the Abingdon Minors met Wantage on the R.A.F. ground in Milton in the final of the North Berks League, and were victorious, winning by four goals to nil. The Abingdon Church School team played Northbourne at Radley on Saturday in the final of the Berks Elementary Schools League. The Abingdon boys lost by one goal to nil.

DISTRICT NURSING.—The Abingdon District Nursing Association will be affiliated with the Berks County Nursing Association, providing increased benefits. Two nurses from the Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Institute will be working with the local association, which has now been formed on a Provident Society basis for sick nursing benefits.

MAY FAIR.—The May Fair was held on Monday, giving the Market Place the appearance of the Michaelmas Fair, with roundabouts and other attractions. The fair closed by order at 11 p.m.

CRICKET SEASON.—The Abingdon Cricket Club commenced the season on Saturday when they hosted St. Edmund’s Hall, Oxford. After declaring for nine wickets, the town team lost by two runs.

BAPTIST CHURCH.—The recent rummage sale held on behalf of the Church Renovation Fund raised £15 8s. 9d.

GOLF CLUB.—The Abingdon Golf Club, with links at Shippon, has been honored with the presentation of two challenge cups by the new Abingdon alderman, Mr. A. E. Preston. One of the challenge cups dates back to George III (1815) and is a handsome fluted cup. The gifts are highly appreciated by the members.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.—The annual meeting of the congregation of this church was held in the schoolroom, The Square, Abingdon, on Thursday evening, with the minister (Rev. C. H. Gill) presiding. The meeting was preceded by a tea. The report of the Ladies’ Working Party, given by Miss E. Cox, and the report of the Sunday School work, by Mr. W. P. Gillingham, testified to activity and success. The report of the London Missionary Society showed that £16 19s. 6d. had been subscribed. The financial statement by Messrs. J. H. Gillingham and J. A. Greenwood showed an increase in the weekly collections. Mr. Greenwood (church secretary) mentioned that their pastor (Rev. C. H. Gill) had received an invitation to the pastorate of Morley Congregational Church, which the reverend gentleman then accepted.

EARL OF ABINGDON. The Earl of Abingdon, High Steward of Abingdon and heir presumptive to the Earl Lindsey, will receive many congratulations on Sunday when he will attain his 86th birthday, which will be spent at his Oxfordshire residence, Wytham Abbey. The founder of his family was Sir Henry Norris, who was created Lord Norreys by Queen Elizabeth for his services as British Ambassador to France from 1572 until 1597. Lord Abingdon, despite his many years, is very active and makes frequent visits to London during the season.

ABINGDON. MUNICIPAL ELECTION.—The vacancy on the Town Council has been caused by the elevation to the bench of Councillor A. E. Preston. There was only one nomination – Mr. A. E. Woodley of 33 Bostock Road, Abingdon, who is accordingly elected. Mr. Woodley belongs to the Berks and Bucks Football Association and is also the treasurer of the local branch of the Y.M.C.A.

WHITSUNTIDE. Whitsuntide was duly observed on Sunday at the churches of St. Helen, St. Michael, and St. Nicolas, each of which was tastefully decorated. There was a large number of communicants at the several early celebrations of the Holy Communion. The preachers during the day were the parochial clergy.

CONCERT AT THE UNION. A splendid program of music, etc., was given at the Abingdon Union to the inmates on Wednesday last. The concert was arranged by Mr. J. Sandalls, an old member and humorous entertainer at the Abingdon YM Social Club and popular concerts of the past. On this occasion, he was assisted by Misses Ivy Page, May Sandells, A. Broughton, E. Spiles, and W. Howard, as well as gentlemen performers. Miss Williams presided at the piano.

RACING SUCCESS. The first race of the Abingdon Flying Club, under the rules of the National Homing Club (PIgeons), was held this month. From a race flown from Salisbury, Mr. J. Hemming of Ock Street secured first place with a velocity of 994 yards per minute, and the third place at 979 yards. The second place was secured by Mr. A. H. Dockarty’s bird at 966 yards. The following week, in a race flown from Bournemouth, Mr. Hemming secured first and second places, with velocities of 1,004 and 1,092 yards per minute, respectively.

FOOTBALL. NORTH BERKS FOOTBALL WINNERS. Here is a list of the winners in various North Berks football competitions last season:

Berks and Bucks Mid-Week Cup: Reading Wanderers
North Berks Junior Cup: Abingdon Juniors
North Berks Charity Shield: Didcot R.A.O.C.
North Berks Memorial Cup: Wallingford Minors
North Berks League Division I: Abingdon Town
North Berks Junior League: Jointly held by Drayton and Childrey
North Berks Minor League: Abingdon
Abingdon and District Schools Cup: Abingdon Church of England School
Abingdon and District Schools Shield: Northbourne School

The Borough Council decided that a sum not exceeding £300 should be lent to the Fire Brigade to complete the purchase of the new fire pump which has been under trial.

The Borough Council resolved that the Governors of Christ’s Hospital be informed that the idea of taking over the Park and Park Roads did not commend itself to the Council.

The Railway Company to be asked to control the nuisance caused by mud and dust being carried from the Station Yard into Stert Street.

The vacancy for the Town Clerkship to be advertised at a salary of £300 per annum with offices supplied by the Corporation. Applicants to be qualified solicitors who can engage in private practice if it does not interfere with official duties

Thank you for the news extracts and adverts from the Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette in the British Newspaper Archive. Thanks to Chat GPT for removing some errors from the text generated from the newspaper archive. Council news is from Liversidge’s Borough Council records. The picture of the New Fire Pump in 1923 is from The Abingdon Fire Service by John Hooke.