This is the state of the town centre at the end of 2008 (press on image for a bigger version and if it that looks grainy press again the (+) magnifying glass or whetever resize icon appears in your browser). (Alternatively https://www.abingdonblog.co.uk/images/abingdon2007.gif is last year’s map and https://www.abingdonblog.co.uk/images/abingdon2008.gif is this year’s. )

Red is a vacant shop premises that was occupied at the start of the year.
Yellow means change of ownership.
Green is a shop that was vacant at the start of the year which is now occupied.

Change in 2007 (10 red, 6 green, 5 yellow) – Net Loss 4
Change in 2008 (13 red, 10 green, 8 yellow) – Net Loss 3

Pending, but not shown here, are the imminent closure of Woolworths and Halfords, and possibly Adams who have gone into administration today, and the opening of the Co-op, including the move of the Post Office.

Not suprisingly, given the state of house sales after the credit crunch, estate agents have been merging offices.

Hodsons have closed their smaller lettings office in High Street, and concentrated at their Ock Street Office.

Bucknell and Ballard took over Adkins, and closed their Bath Street Office, to put all their operations in the High Street office. Charles Lawson have been ‘closed for refurbishment’ , operating more from their Oxford office, but are still using the shop front to display properties.

Elsewhere, also on the way out, Klick closed earlier this month, when the parent company went into receivership. It was also a goodbye earlier in 2008 to Jennifer Gerrard Gallery, de Paaw, Poldeli, Cargo, Birthdays, and Stead&Simpson.

On the positive side, Local Roots opened, as did Londis, the Thai Orchid Oriental Supermarket, and recently: Ask, Coffee Republic, Sweets and Chocolate, and the Honey Pot.

Of the movers: Outdoor Traders moved into larger premesis, as did Scrivins (previously known as Russel Caulton). Cafe Zeko expanded. Centre Stage moved from Bath Street to Coxeters, and Faulkner Photography moved from Coxeters to Lombard Street.

(Let me know any mistakes or omissions. This does not get proof read except by you)

This first picture of a degradable Tesco plastic carrier bag was taken on the 10th November 2008. It had got trodden into a pathway.

Six weeks on, and the bag is looking thinner. Degradable plastic bags have chemicals added to make them break down over time. Its not quite the same as bio-degradable, but who’s to know the difference?

This narrow boat got stuck on the shoal on the wrong side of the buoy, but with a bit of rocking and then pushing with a pole they managed to get out of trouble.

Canoeists were tempted by the Boxing Day white water at Abingdon Weir…

The guy with the beard looks to be there in case his companion gets into difficulties

For a moment he watches closely…

but then the other canoeist rights himself.

The Abingdon MG Works centre web site says: “Blow away the cobwebs with the 14th annual Boxing Day Run starting from Abingdon Market Square. £5 per car – 50 car limit.” The rally reached that limit.

I met a couple from Little Rock, Arkansas, photographing the cars. The man was originally from Abingdon, and his wife was from the States, and they were over here to visit his parents over Christmas. They had been photographing the river when they saw a number of vintage cars converging on Abingdon. On closer inspection they met the owners of this car who he knew from days gone by.

The MG works web site continues ‘a chance of taking to the lanes of Oxfordshire with hoods down where possible. Classics (like horses and some people), enjoy this chance to get a bit of winter air rather than being couped up in the garage with dehumidified air being pumped into plastic preservation chambers, or whatever the ‘collectors’ do with them while they themselves sit in front of the fire dreaming of the accrued value.’

Not all the MGs were vintage but it is always good to see them all in Abingdon , the spiritual home of the MG car. The more recent ones were made in the factories of Cowley and Longbridge.