Progress continues on the building on Marcham Road – once rumored to be a KFC, but which is really accommodation for elderly people.
Over the road, McDonalds is having alterations made and is closed for the week.
Meanwhile on the corner further alterations are being made by Oxfordshire County Council – possibly to make the footpath / cycleway safer. It narrows at this point and is raised about two feet above the height of the road below.
There were nearly 400 boats taking part throughout the day in this year’s Abingdon Spring Head of the River (or time trial). This is an early season event rowed upstream over 2000 M from Culham to Abingdon.
Boats came from all over England and Wales, but the vast majority came from places on the River Thames …
Oxford, Reading, Maidenhead, Wallingford, Henley, Marlow, Putney … even Abingdon.
The event is organised by Abingdon Rowing Club and so most of the Abingdon rowers are marshalling in one way or another.
Unlike the dragon boat racing, which will be on September 8th, the rowing crews dress in club kits, and have to carry their own boats.
There is some entertainment beyond the rowing: The Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers were there for a second year. There was also a beer tent to keep them happy between dances.
Today Walk.About.Abingdon – a new company specialising in guided walks around historic Abingdon-on-Thames – did a pilot walk for a mixture of visitors and local people.
There was a French Market in town, and a Craft Fair at the Old Abbey Buildings, so that added a different flavour to today’s 1.5 hour tour.
The aim of the company is “To share the beauty and history of Abingdon-On-Thames with as many people as possible”.
They will be on BBC Radio Oxford on Monday talking about the new venture (7:20am I think – but cannot be sure).
The hoarding came down earlier in the week and the smartened up ex Post Office is ready when Wetherspoon choose to move in. I can’t see Abingdon among the ‘new pubs opening soon’ on the Wetherspoon website which says “We recruit for our new pubs six to eight weeks before they are due to open. ” So could still be months rather than weeks but we will see.