In January 1962 British Rail announced the closure of the Abingdon – Radley branch line which had been loosing £5000 per annum since diesel trains were introduced. A public meeting was set up in February to oppose this.
In June 1962 My Raymond Hemmings was elected Mayor of Ock Street.
In July 1962 Mayott House was opened as the new Berkshire County Council old people’s home.
In October 1962 Abingdon Corporation voted to replace the Corn Exchange by a new assembly hall outside the central development area, but estimated costs for the new hall had risen from £50,000 to £60,000 so there was a lot of debate.
Alderman James Candy had become the Mayor of Abingdon in May and in October launched an appeal for the World Hunger Campaign to raise £3,000.
The Christmas 1962 front page of the North Berks Herald for Abingdon led with “Abingdon’s Christmas – Bright, Cheerful and almost white“, which followed the Mayor round as he visited a number of places on Christmas day including the Warren Hospital on Bath Street where two babies were born on 25th December, Mayott House,
and Dr Barnardo’s Home in Caldecott House.
Back then Dr Barnardo’s was described as the largest family in Abingdon.
A few days earlier the home hosted a carols by candlelight in the floodlit grounds.
The Mayor also hosted an old people’s party a few days earlier attended by 200 people. The newspaper says only 50 of the 200 people took advantage of the coaches provided. Not that much has changed. The Mayor still usually does some Christmas day visits, and hosts a party for over 70s which people enjoyed this year.
Other late 1962 news included a By-election in Caldecott ward won by Labour who became the largest party on the Abingdon Borough Council. The Labour Party claimed it was the first time a party had included Christmas Greetings, including holly, on election literature.
(All this information comes thanks to archives of the North Berks Herald, for Abingdon, held at Abingdon Library.)
A very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year to everyone
I hope you, your family and all your readers have a lovely Christmas.
Great history lesson, thank you very much, plus I was born in the August of 62.
wonderful memories but can anybody help answer a question that has bothered me for years!! does anyone remember a coffee bar/cafe in Ock Street in the late 60/ early 70’s where Hodgesons estate agents.
Merry Christmas all
sorry re; above anybody remember the name of it.
That is very interesting, but was the Warren Hospital in Bath Street? I thought it was in Radley Road.
Happy Christmas to all.
Dolly, I think it was called Yugo’s Snack Bar. I went there in my teens but can’t recall much about it.
those were the days when the Labour party ruled! Who were the leading lights then- Ted Staniland?
Here is a link to some more Abingdon shops & businesses in 1963
Abingdon Shops, Businesses in 1963
The Warren Hospital was in Radley Road. As you came up Norman Avenue to the Radley Road junction, it was on the opposite side of the road and slightly to your left.
A large red brick building, of which no photographs appear to exist, it was a General /Maternity hospital. A mortuary was behind.
My mother took me there when I had an accident as a child as we only lived 100yards away.
Lived in Caldecott house from 1964 -1971 wene it was demolished. Such a shame to see such a grand house destroyed it could tell many a story.