The Mental Health Trust (OBMH) says
“Abingdon Clock House is the base for the South Oxfordshire Child and Family Clinic… Our multidisciplinary team provides care for children and adolescents under 18. The team includes Community Psychiatric Nurses, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers and Occupational Therapists.”

This wing on the left has an Oriel window beneath which are three moulded faces and the words “The Beaconsfield” over the door. It was at some stage the local HQ for the Conservative Party. The faces are profuiles of Disraeli. Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire was the home constituency of Benjamin Disraeli who became The Earl of Beaconsfield. Beaconsfield got used as a popular road and building name as a result in the Late Victorian Era

The largest part of the building to the right once served as the grand family house to one of the Tomkins Family. Previous Tomkins family buildings covered in this blog are Twickenham House, Stratton House, the Maltings and Almshouse. If I remember rightly this building has a small plaque saying:

Lloyds TSB Private Banking Limited.

I’m not a sure what that is all about. Lloyds TSB have two public banks with the usual trading logo of the Black Horse nearer the centre of Abingdon. But on this their biggest building they are very very modest. Perhaps it is because its a listed building.

This blog is coming full circle. At the start of the year a post showed this light taken down. Here it is about to go up again.

Walk around Abingdon, and you’ll see not everybody goes through this rigmarole. There are houses that keep their Christmas Lights up all year, all ready for the day when they can be turned on again.

The Red Cross shop in West St Helen Street has been in Abingdon for over 15 years, and I cannot remember it looking as good or as well stocked as recent months. And the Brazilian manageress is really friendly.

But compare it to other charity shops in town and look at the cards and there is one big difference. The Red Cross shop has not got any Christmas Cards.

A little way away the Oxfordshire Headquarters of the Red Cross can be found in Colwell Drive next to Mac Donalds in Abingdon. There are a fleet of ambulances round the back, and inside are offices and storage for all sorts of wheelchairs and walking frames and things to to be used for loans. The Red Cross does not only look after people in war torn countries but does a lot near at home. This building will be staying…

…but the shop has not been making enough money and will be closing on about December 9th. This window picture was taken a few weeks back. The word ‘Unconditional…’ and a cuddly toy behind saying ‘I Love You.’

It is not the only shop to be closing as this is a strategic decision coming from the National HQ (our regional HQ is not to blame). Possibly a wise financial decision looked at from seventy miles up there, but not from down here.

It was a frosty morning, and cold enough for ice to have formed on puddles. A slight mist hung over the water, as can be seen looking towards the bridge.

The autumn colours seem really good this year, particularly in the early morning sunshine.

And looking towards Abingdon Bridge, the new lights can be seen showing through their covers. Once they are uncovered, and the system (with computerised queue counting) is fully operational we shall see how well it works. For people coming from Dorchester and Culham it will mean queueing outside town rather than into town.