Outside the town centre, the displays of festive lights round the estates and roads of Abingdon looks as impressive as ever. Probably more so than previous years.
The Abingdon Court Care Home has a very fine display
I could have chosen one of about a dozen houses to feature from Saxton Road – as usual.
The same applies to the Ladygrove Estate where there are lots of houses outlined with twinkling displays.
The Saturday before Christmas has come, and gone, and it was a rainy day.
Large puddles formed in a number of places on the town’s roads.
Unlike previous Saturdays, I did not see any fairs or markets. So it was a pleasure to look in at Eileen on bath Street, where Pervin, International Harpist, was playing Festive music for the customers. I gather she plays every year at Eileen in Sumertown, then Eileen in Abingdon, as a seasonal special.
There was also champagne and chocolates.
The Abingdon Mummers were giving their Traditional Performance round the pubs of Abingdon on Thursday night.
Church in Abingdon Carol Singers, collecting for ‘Christian Aid’, were on the Market Place the next morning for the Farmer Market.
The Farmer’s Market is, as you might expect, predominantly food,
and an alternative to supermarkets for those who can get to the town centre on Fridays.
The Abingdon Town Flag above the County Hall is flying at half mast out of respect for Keith Hasnip, the Mayor of Abingdon for the year 2004-5. He passed away yesterday, at the age of 84
Keith lived in Abingdon for nearly sixty years, and was a teacher at Abingdon School for 40 years, and Head of Modern Languages. The languages came in very useful during twinning visits. He also served as a Governor at Carswell School.
(Thanks to the Town Crier for the picture above.)
Keith had a great interest in history, and with Audrey, his wife, organised Heritage Open Day, and made it the event it is today. He was also Chairman of the Museum Committee, and in 2004 organised a successful fundraising campaign to buy the Anglo-Saxon ring seen above which was found in Abingdon.
All our sympathy to Audrey and family.