The Deputy Bag Man of the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers is giving up Beer and Coffee and will be only drinking water for the next two weeks to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat institution. He has managed the first day, but it is going to be a tough challenge. Sponsorship will encourage him to last the next two weeks with no beer or coffee – H2OOnly.
In February 2008 this blog reported that Bee and Lark have flown. Two shops had closed in the same week: the Busy Bee (West St Helen Street Newsagent), and the Eben Lark (Furniture and Furnishings – now the Art Lounge of The Lounge Cafe).
The Eben Lark is returning to Abingdon – descending into the Busy Bee’s old shop in West St Helen Street.
The Friends of Abingdon had organised a series of walks for this Bank Holiday Monday. The rain continued to fall thoughout the day, but it did deter the folk of Abingdon.
Martin Smith, leading the Boundary Walk, said that it is the first time he remembered it ever raining on a Boundary Walk.
Eleanor Dangerfield, leading the Ock Valley Walk on behalf of the Green Gym, said that they had been very lucky with the weather for Green Gym events up to now. Rain was a rarity.
Wispy and Hattie are used to walks in all weathers.
On the St Helen’s Walk, local historian Judy White told people about some of the history of the buildings surrounding St Helen’s Church. Part of St Helen’s Mill, behind her, was used as a church school by St Helens from the 1830s before the Bury Street School was built.
There was also an 8 mile waterside walk, and an Old Abbey walk.
Thanks to The Friends of Abingdon, and Pat Bryden in particular, for organising all those walks.
The traffic island near Abingdon Business Park looks rather plain during the winter months, and then the weeds seem to take over, but as May is followed by June the island is transformed with a prolific display of wild flowers.
Corn poppies, ox-eye daisies, and blue cornflowers are particularly abundant. They need minimal maintenance, and make lots of pollen for the butterflies and bees.
Just beside that same roundabout there is a board advertising the Truck Festival. It is a festival that has been happening for about 15 years.
The Truck Festival takes place within Hill End Farm, Steventon, about three miles from Abingdon. About 5000 people attend and so it is on a friendlier more manageable scale than some music festivals. Barnival signs have appeared round the countryside to baffle those of us who are not in the know, but I gather it refers to the barn stage.