Dementia Aware at the Craft Fair

4 Replies


There was a Craft Fair at the Old Abbey Buildings last weekend and again this weekend. (Thurs 7th – Sun 20th AND Thurs 24th – Sun 27th October 2013)

As well as all the crafts there are usually some community action and charity stalls.

One of those stalls was run by a young lady who works at Abingdon Court Care Home. She is part of the Purple Angel initiative to make people and shops dementia aware.

That person before you in the queue who seems a little unsteady and is struggling to find the right change, or struggling to keep up with the checkout speed, may not be drunk. Shops can get some short training and a certificate to make them Dementia Aware. You can message the young lady on Facebook Page Abingdon dementia action alliance and she will get in contact. Some local shops have already done the training.

Abingdon Marathon 2013

Leave a reply


There were 747 runners started in the Abingdon Marathon at 9am this morning. The course has not changed much in recent years.

It starts at Tilsley Park. Goes to Radley, and then Abingdon Town Centre, then twice round a circuit of South Abingdon, Drayton, Milton, and Sutton Courtenay, before returning to Tilsley Park.

Refreshments were provided for spectators, at the bottom of Preston Road, by the supporters of one runner, running for the charity Bliss – ‘working to provide the best possible care and support for all premature and sick babies and their families.’

There were lots of ways to encourage the runners.

Hooters and clapping,

and notices saying ‘Come on Daddy.’

The leading two runners , 473 Ben Fish, from Blackburn Harriers,

 and 1037, Matthew Bennett from Southampton AC, opened up quite a gap on the rest of the field

Coming in on 2:26:53 and 2:26:59.

First lady runner I saw running in was, 210, Lucy Hodgson from Newquay Road Runners, but I’ll have to check that.

More pictures on the Abingdon Blog Facebook . Congratulations to the organisers and all the marshalls for an excellent event.

Alzheimer’s Society Guildhall Charity Sale

3 Replies


The Alzheimer’s Society Guildhall Charity Sale is always worth a visit. It usually coincides with the Craft Fair which was also on today.

I hope the society made lots of money to help support their Abingdon Day Centre. It was 50p to get in and there were lots of stalls.

I won some Uncle Ben’s rice on the tombola, bought a giant poster of Father Christmas, some books, marmalade,

lots of English apples,

and something from this final picture. Last year we got a working sewing machine from the same event.

Signs of Costa Expansion

17 Replies


The extension to Costa, into what was Jessops, on Abingdon Market Place became more evident with the erection of a new sign. Work has been going on inside for some weeks.

Costa not only has an Abingdon outlet on the Market Place, but also in the Esso Filling Station on Marcham Road, and in a couple of convenience stores where, I can now reveal, those giant coffee cups contain bricks.