Abingdon Eco Fair

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There were 38 different exhibitors at the Eco Fair at the Guildhall. In front of the entrance Abingdon Carbon Cutters were pressing apples. Nearby a couple of plug-in hybrid cars were on show, one a Go Green Taxi. Then up the steps was a colourful display by Grow your Own Veg – a shared allotment on Peachcroft Farm.

Inside the door of the Abbey Hall were the Friends of Radley Lakes who at the recent OCVA (Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action) award ceremony won the award for the group that had made the biggest positive impact on the local environment for saving two lakes from being turned into huge ash tips.

Green Gym and the Abingdon Naturalists were next to them. Their time will come.

The stage and hall and bar area were all being used. The young band ‘Whats Up Folk?’ played in the bar area as people enjoyed the soup and bread made by the Carbon Cutters.

One of the most colourful stalls was the Nappy fairy with a huge variety of different washable nappies that can be tried out. There was even a stall with bric-a-brac that people were just invited to take – so it did not get wasted. So lots and lots to see and think about.

Autumn in Abingdon

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The liquid amber trees on the Market Place are turning red.

Leaves elsewhere are turning yellow, orange, pink and red – and are particularly striking now the sun is back.

Warmer weather has returned after the rain earlier in the week.
 
Where a dead tree was chopped in St Helens Court there are clumps of toadstalls.
 
The autumn seems to bring a lot of change and a lots of events.

Not only will there be a splash of pink on Saturday October 26th, and Craft Fair, but there will also be an Eco Fair at the Guildhall as one of the Mayoral Events.

Stert Street Turned Around since 2002

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The state of the shops is a regular story in the Abingdon Herald.

In 2001 and 2002 there were concerns about shop closures. By 2003-5 headlines had become more positive with Stert Street doing better. Although there were concerns elsewhere in 2007.

After the opening of the new precinct in the 1970s one of the older shopping streets, Stert Street, did go into decline. In July 2002 there were 9 empty shops. However a delicatessen was due to open in November 2002.

On Saturday some of the town traders were on the Market Place to promote their businesses. Two were from Stert Street: Dream Doors

and Added Ingredients, the delicatessen that opened in November 2002.

That appears to be the turning point for Stert Street. Since 2002 Stert Street has been on the rise. Mod31 opened about the same time, and Finishing Touch in 2003. By 2005 there were 2 empty shops and Stert Street was soon to benefit from the new traffic system with wider pavements and less traffic.

In the last 3 years I cannot remember an empty shop in Stert Street, and so despite difficult trading conditions elsewhere, Stert Street is doing fairly well.

Shop Window Competition Result and Preview of Splash of Pink Saturday

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Thanks to Richard Bahu for sending me some information about this years Splash of Pink in Abingdon.

Abingdon shops have decorated their windows in Pink in support of Against Breast Cancer charity based in Abingdon as part of Breast Cancer awareness month.

Last Friday 18th Dwina Gibb, Patron of the charity and widow of Bee Gees’ Robin Gibb, judged the windows and Smiths Chemist won the cup.

Abingdon museum will for the first time ever be illuminated in pink on Friday 25th evening at 5pm onwards. I will be there for the photo opportunity.

Splash of Pink day is 26th October in the Market Square with fun for all the family including food, mulled wine, music, Morris and belly dancers, Abingdon Community choir, Abingdon Operatic Society, Abngdon dance studio, Abbey Sax, bouncy castle, cake stall including a cake baked by Christine from the Great British Bake Off, face painting, tombolas and raffles.

On 26th Splash of Pink will be hosting Abingdon’s first ever official Guinness World Record attempt “Most bras worn and removed in one minute” from 11.00-14.00. Open to all men and women (over a T-shirt).