Abingdons Got Talent – 2010

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Abingdon's Got Talent
This was not the year when the dancers won top prize although they brought a lot of colour…
Abingdon's Got Talent
and entertainment to the final of Abingdon’s Got Talent.
Abingdon's Got Talent
This is the view from up on the County Hall roof.
Abingdon's Got Talent
The judges were the same as in the auditions apart from the introduction of Geraldine Peers from BBC TV News. Geraldine has supported this event for the three years it has happened.
Abingdon's Got Talent
The winner in the 17 and under category was this singer.
Abingdon's Got Talent
And this young lady won the over 17s group, which also means the chance to spend 3 hours in the recording studio and produce a record.
Abingdon's Got Talent
There followed a few group pictures of organiser, judges, compere, and winners.

This was not the only talent performing in Abingdon today.  At the NET (young peoples centre) was the very well organised NET Fest with different performance areas – like a mini Glastonbury.  No pictures I’m afraid, athough I expect some will soon appear on the NET’s website.

There were also some good performances in the Abingdon Drama Club production of  ‘An experiment with an air pump.’

Prelude to a Swan Upping

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I see from the royal website, www.royal.gov.uk, that this year’s Swan Upping – the census of the swans on the The River Thames – starts on Monday 19th July, departing from Sunbury Lock and ends at Abingdon, Oxfordshire on Friday 23rd July. That’s us.
Swans on River Thames getting out of way of boat
There seemed to be a lot of swans on the river this morning in Abingdon. Nothing like the old days of course, before the Canada Geese came and took over, but drifting through Abingdon Bridge I counted about ten.
Swans going under Abingdon Bridge
Once the swans have swum under Abingdon Bridge, they have escaped the clutches of the swan uppers who stop at the bridge.
Swans collecting her young
This mother, with her late clutch of two young ones, was just practising her escape route before next Friday.  She gathered the cygnets together one side of the bridge…
Swan with two young on back
then emerged  safe and sound, unweighed and untagged, on the other side.

Of Dylsexia and Art

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Bhajan Hunjan
The Vale Council usually manages to get major builders to put some of their money into a local arts project to give a bit more character to the new housing area. In the case of  the Tanneries estate, off the Drayton Road, there is paving of ‘polished and sandblasted red and black granite‘  showing plants and animals found on the neighbouring Ock Valley walk.
Bhajan Hunjan
It has been created by the artist Bhajan Hunjan with the help of children from the Unicorn School – Abingdon’s very own school for children with dylsexia.

The Unicorn School says on it’s website, in their section about art,  ‘Pablo Picasso was dyslexic!’

Green Pastures

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Thanks to Sue for sending this picture…
Sea Cadets
8 Cadets from Abingdon joined with other cadets from Oxford, Milton Keynes and High Wycombe to form a team from Ox & Bucks district, taking part in the Area Paddlespprts Regatta at Reading. Pictured are the Abingdon team (plus team dog, Rosco). Some are going on to the national final.

The Sea Cadets were one of Patricia Hobby’s charities. The boxing club gym fund was the other. Sue and her daughter – one of Pat Hobby’s Mayoral Cadets – were at Pat’s service yesterday at the crematorium.

It was a family service but the family had given an open invitation to friends and colleagues of Pat to join them. The retiring collection was for Pat’s charities.

One of her two sons gave a tribute to his mother. He said that Pat was a very determined lady. Their father died unexpectedly and she had to be mother and father to her two boys from very early on. Pat did everything in her power to give them a good start in life, along with all the other children she taught in Abingdon.

During her year as Mayor Pat also showed great determination. She had not let on how ill she really was and carried on with her duties.

Shephering Geese
I accompanied her to the air and country show, and we walked around saying hello to so many stall holders, and saw some ex pupils. It was cold, and we were making our way back, not before time, when she stopped to watch something that made her laugh… the sheep dogs hurding geese.

At the service yesterday, her other son read The 23rd Psalm… The Lord is My Shepherd …

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
For thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me…