Italian Market this weekend. Local Excellence Market last.

4 Replies

French Italian Market
The French Market that usually visits about this time of year appears to have stopped coming to Abingdon.
French Italian Market
Instead there was a visit from a new Italian Market on Friday and Saturday. But the attraction of Parmigiano Reggiano, prosciutto, salame, olives, extra virgin olive oils and much more failed to bring in the crowds to Abingdon Market Place – on a grey couple of days.
French Italian Market
Last weekend The Local Excellence Market had a better time of it with Abingdon’s Own Patisserie Pascal being one of the stall holders.

This year’s Grand National and the Abingdon Betting Shops

7 Replies

This year’s Crabbie’s Grand National race will take place today (5th of April) at 4:15 p.m. at Aintree Racecourse, and is one of the high points of the year for Abingdon’s Betting shops.
Grand National
The two Ladbrokes in Abingdon (Bath Street and Stert Street) have notices reminding people to “Gamble Responsibly: Set you own limits and stay in control.“.
Grand National
Stan James say “Get Lucky. Best Odds Guaranteed.”
Grand National
In the empty premises next door a notice says that William Hill have applied for a License under the Gambling Act 2005 to trade there, so they could well be competing for the Abingdon trade in next year’s Grand National.

I read The Guardian tips for the race which were all quite amusing to read. The last was for Swing Bill which is not strongly fancied … “Has had a couple of stabs at this race and not been good enough. Now he’s 13 and likely to be slower than ever. Would be a most surprising winner.“

River Ock Catchment Partnership and SAFAG

6 Replies


The EA catchment map for the River Ock shows how it is enlarged through the influence of a dozen or so brooks including: Sandford Brook, Frilford and Marcham Brook, and Childrey Brook. Those brooks have winded their meandering way through villages and agricultural fields, under bridges and over weirs until flowing between the houses at Abingdon and into the River Thames .

The Introductory Steering Group  Meeting of the River Ock Catchment Partnership was held recently comprising members of local nature, wildlife, flood societies and the Environment Agency and chaired by the Freshwater Habitats Trust.

SAFAG (South Abingdon Flood Action Group), with Malcolm Moor, as chair were invited to share their ideas for introducing flood control measures through selective planting and creating retention ponds to hold back floodwater throughout the catchment.

Grants are available to landowners from the Forestry Commission for creating woodland which meets certain criteria, including the recently added objective of reducing downstream flood risk.

Clubs and Societies Day – Third and Final Part

Leave a reply

The best thing about Clubs and Societies Day is the chance to get so many useful people in one room. The things you learn …
Clubs and Societies Day
On my rounds I discovered that The Vale Islander 17th Century Dancers would like some more men to help balance numbers.
Clubs and Societies Day
At the Abingdon and District Twin Towns Society we got talking to a passing native of Virginia who was interested to know where Abingdon Virginia was. It is near the Blue Ridge Highlands if that helps. It helped him
Clubs and Societies Day
Kennington and Abingdon District Disabled Swimming (with scouts banner behind) use the pool at Radley College. I also learned that Oxford BSAC Scuba Diving Club have a Try Dive programme at Radley College, and Oxford Naturists have skinny dipping sessions at Didcot Wave.
Clubs and Societies Day
35 Ock Street, the Church Centre, with a cafeteria and meeting rooms has open day all days but Sunday for coffee or light lunch. They also have a social group for over 50s with talks called “Back to 35.”
Clubs and Societies Day
Then finally Hydro Power from Abingdon. Their planning got a little delayed by the flooding, and they are wondering whether those two months were exceptional, or will it become typical of water levels in future. They now think the share offer will be autumn, with construction next year.