There goes the Bride – ADC


This play – written by Roy Cooney in the 1970s – was performed by the Abingdon Drama Club at the Unicorn Theatre.

The father of the bride gets a bang on the head on the wedding day of his daughter. What had been his business idea – to come up with an advertising campaign for a bra company – is transformed into reality when only he starts to see the 1920s girl who was supposed to front the campaign. Things turn to utter farce as he lives out his dream with his devoted 1920s flapper girl, and tries to explain it to the people who cannot see her.

Polly, the 1920s flapper girl is in all the publicity shots. The father of the bride was very funny but may have occassionaly lapsed into doing a John Cleese. Mr Babcock the angry confused red-faced millionare father-of-the-groom, was a great foil standing open mouthed at the madness that follows. It was also good to see Eileen Bagsaw as Daphne. Eileen has helped out in every school production at Larkmead over the last 30 years or so.

Saxton Road Community Centre


On this spot once stood Saxton Road Community Centre, and across the way the Family Centre. The Community Centre eventually had to be demolished. It was not in a safe state. It was never the most beautiful of buildings, but it was cheap and rough and ready – which was what was needed.

It is where our daughter went to playgroup, and I remember many times waiting outside with other mums or dads for cubs or brownies to finish. After it closed, there were no more cubs, brownies, scouts or guides in South Abingdon. However the family centre found a new home in Caldecott Road.

The well kept flats for elderly people at Lady Eleanor Court is behind. In the next year or so they are going to have most of the kitchens replaced.