Museum at Night

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Museum at Night
Abingdon County Hall Museum stayed open late tonight as part of Museums at Night 2014 – an annual UK-wide festival encouraging visitors into museums, galleries and heritage sites by throwing their doors open after hours and putting on special events.
Museum at Night
Music created a great atmosphere on a warm Friday evening. The Amity Wind Ensemble performed in the sessions hall, and a fine pianist played in Buns in the Basement.
Museum at Night
Under the arcade, the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers and Vale Islanders encouraged everybody to join in the dance. Museum revelers mixed with Friday night revelers near the punchbowl.

The late opening proved popular – attracting about 300 visitors, many of them new to the museum, and there was always a queue to go on the roof.

Choose Abingdon AGM 2013/14

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The Choose Abingdon AGM took place on Wednesday in the Council Chamber of the Guildhall. The music from a band downstairs in the Roysse Room was overwhelming at times – part of a Guildhall promotional event trying to attract community groups to the Guildhall. There was also bell practise at St Nics. So speakers sometimes laughed and waited a few moments until they could be heard above the noise. THEY WERE REPORTING BACK ON WHAT HAD BEEN GOING ON LAST YEAR.
Put the flags out
The year began managing projects that came out of the government’s High Street innovation fund. You may remember that Abingdon wasn’t chosen as being in the top 6 schemes by Mary Portas but was given money anyway. That money was put towards projects like:

  • ByBox locker
  • Events Programme
  • Loyalty programme enhanced with new digital technology.
  • Community shop programme
  • Working with the Town Council on a second year of flags to emulate the popular Jubilee display

Put the flags out
Long standing projects such as community gazebos and Local Excellence Market carry on. Also Choose Abingdon continue working with festivals like the Cycling Festival.
Annual Parish Meeting
A sub group run by James White created the new Atom Science Festival. This was a great success and plans are to make it even bigger next year.

But at times Heather Brown, the one paid employee, was overstretched. That is why the Good Living Event was cancelled this year, and not all the Christmas programme went ahead. There were not enough Helping Hands. They need more Hesters.
Annual Parish Meeting
Up to now Choose Abingdon has been dependent on public funding from councils. It could change from a partnership of councils into a Business Improvement District (BID) by next year. Local businesses will be balleted on that idea in October / November. A BID would be be paid for out of business rates and so be more of a business partnership.

Conscientious Objectors’ Day

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Conscientious Objectors’ Day
May 15th is Conscientious Objectors’ Day, when Quakers, and Peace Campaigners remember the men who refused to take up arms.

One such man was Roland Caudwell ( 1880-1982). He will be remembered by some in Abingdon as the retired builder who lived at 52 Thesiger Road. He will be remembered by others as a Deacon at Abingdon Baptist Church. There are earlier pictures of him serving as a soldier in the Boar War where he looked after the horses. But during World War I, he had become a man of conscience who refused to fight or kill, and is listed as a Conscientious Objector.

In 1916 he was Clerk of the Abingdon Quaker meeting. Like many Quakers (or Friends) he held pacifist beliefs. He was exempted Military Service at a tribunal in July 1916 not only on grounds of conscience but also because he was a farmer – a reserved occupation.
Conscientious Objectors’ Day
Mr Caudwell reached the grand age of 101, and there are reports of him as a centenarian in the Abingdon Herald. The reports say that he made hundreds of blankets for Oxfam.

Christian Aid Week 11 – 17 May

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Christian Aid Week 11 - 17 May
On the Market Place last Saturday there was a Christian Aid stall to mark the start of Christian Aid week. Many houses will also receive a Christian Aid collection envelope through the door.
Christian Aid Week 11 - 17 May
Over half the Income of Christian Aid comes from this one week in the year, held during May since 1957. It is an opportunity for the Churches to work together, and provide assistance in places like Sudan and Syria where there is a great need.
Christian Aid Week 11 - 17 May
There was also a European School stall on the Market Place that same day. As well as the St Nicolas School Fair this coming Saturday, and the chance to try out bowling at Abingdon Bowling Club, there is also a May Fair at the European School. They have a Pupils Art Exhibition in The Chapel, and outside there will be activities for all the family, including circus skills, a giant slide, games, art & craft and the usual stalls you would expect.