As somebody once told me, progress will start to be seen at the Abbey Shopping Centre in August.
Most of the framework for the new fashion shops was put up today.
Remaining shops, including Thomas Cook, the travel experts, are open as usual – protected by scaffolding and hoardings.
While at the Fairacres Trading Estate I saw a couple of helicopters on low training flights over Argos and Beales. They seem to come down low at this point before heading back to RAF Benson or wherever they come from.
Beales have been advertising a Closing Out Sale for some weeks. I am fairly sure that Closing Out is something quite different from a Closing Down sale. I gather it means the end of some product lines rather than the end of the store.
The Rugby Sevens is on this Saturday and we are invited. The last time there was a blog report on this particular event was way back in 2009.
Here is what was said …
It was the 53rd running of the Abingdon Rugby Sevens pre season tournament. The first tournament in 1956 was held to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the town receiving its Royal Charter.
Abingdon RFC can be seen here in Black with Emerald / Gold chestband against Blue Boar in Navy Blue and White hoops. There were 16 teams in all.
Gary Linneker was quoted this week in the Radio Times as saying “Parents shouting at kids from the touchline is my pet hate.’ I wonder what he would have made of this scene.
I was very impressed watching the Kamikaze Sevens from south Wales. They seemed to be the Harlem Globe Trotters of the rugby world.
There was also the Cheeky Ladies rugby team. They started life at Newcastle University. Their aim is to make rugby look more sexy.
After six months of negotiations with Spirit pub company a lease agreement was finally signed on 1 August 2012. Dushan Salwathura, currently Landlord of The Broad Face in Bridge Street, is to be the new Landlord of the Nags Head.
The Nag’s Head refurbishment plan had been ready for weeks and, following the hand over of the keys,
clearing up began.
Currently the grounds are a closed area to the public for health and safety reasons and Salters steamers are having to find elsewhere to disembark their passengers.
Local tradesmen, tree surgeons and garden clearers set to work creating a safe place for customers to enjoy the island before the actual pub opens in October.
It is hoped that The Bridge Café, Bar and Grill in the beautiful riverside gardens will be running by the end of August with porta-loos available.
Meanwhile work will continue on the interior and exterior with Qi-Decorators – a Simon House community project supported by A2Dominion , under the supervision of their workshop tutor, Mike Higgins. Mike said “this is an ideal opportunity to integrate the newly skilled workshop members into the outside workplace and this experience will be a valuable exercise in helping them gain further employment.”
Week one has been full on with the lovely weather helping to speed up the stripping out process.
The team discovered what could be an 18th century fireplace in the lounge area, and what could be 16th century interior window apertures. Dusham would love to get hold of some pictures of the public house in days gone by.
All the ceilings, walls and wood panelling have now been prepped.
Next week will see the flooring, stripped, prepped and finished in traditional walnut stain.
The scaffolding will then go up and renovation of the outside will follow.
I asked Dushan if he had managed to watch the Olympics, but he said he had been far too busy. The Nags Head was his Olympics.