1944 was a year of contrasts in Abingdon. While the town celebrated the birth of new cultural organisations like the Friends of Abingdon Civic Society and the Abingdon Drama Club, the armed forces were still fighting across Europe and Asia in the Second World War.

The summer of 1944 brought both hope and heartbreak. The successful D-Day landings in June offered a glimmer of hope for an Allied victory, but the ongoing conflict continued to cast a shadow. News of missing, killed, and decorated servicemen featured often in the local news.

At home, the war’s impact was also felt with armed force personnel being billeted in the area, but the privations at home were starting to be reduced. Some street lights had been turned on and the Abingdon Fireguards were disbanded in October. The Home Guard, a civilian defence force, was disbanded in December just as the Abingdon Drama Club was being formed. While the Home Guard’s final parade made headlines, the new drama club received only a brief mention in the North Berks Herald.

The formation of the Friends of Abingdon Civic Society made headlines news in May, as did their purchase of the three cottages in Thame Street in December. This achievement demonstrated a commitment to preserving the town’s heritage. Those cottages were to become the Unicorn Theatre, where the Abingdon Drama Club would perform.

Thank you to The North Berks Herald for the information.