20 Years of Dedication: Abingdon Volunteers Honour Judy Hashman (+ Volunteers Needed)

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Abingdon and District Volunteers recently recognised Judy, their dedicated secretary, for 20 years of outstanding service. Sue Stevens, the organisation’s longest-serving volunteer, presented the award.

Abingdon and District Volunteers provide a vital service to the community; transporting people to essential appointments like hospitals, doctors, surgeries, and day centres when using public transport or taxis is difficult.

Do you enjoy driving, helping people, and have some spare time? Abingdon and District Volunteers are seeking more volunteers to join their team. For more information, contact Malvin Drakley, email:malvin@ic24.net.

On the subject of the need for volunteers, Abingdon’s Darby & Joan Club needs YOU! This social club for retired people needs new volunteers to run the club as the current leader is standing down. They meet fortnightly at St Helen’s Church Hall and have a membership of 20-30 people. The club is due to close on 27th February without additional volunteers. The club has guest speakers, entertainment, and tea and coffee, and is a good way for members to get out and meet new people and friends. Please ring Rachel Poole at Age UK Oxfordshire on 0345 4501276 for more information.

St Ethelwold’s Garden – January 2024

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Rather than visit a nature reserve every month, as in previous years, I have decided to pay a monthly visit to St. Ethelwold’s Garden. A dedicated team of volunteers keep this garden thriving! Some are gardening experts. Others are newer. Since December, there has been a notice about Simon, one of the gardening experts, who died. There is a book of remembrance for him inside the house.

This is the view from one of the many seats in the garden and the view back to St Ethelwold’s House, which serves as a spiritual retreat and community centre, as does the garden.

Last week was cold, and there was thick ice on the water butt.

After two windy storms (Isha and Jocelyn), today was sunny and breezy.

There are not a lot of flowers in January. But some of the flower heads from last year have been left and still give a good display.

The first flower of the year was probably the Winter Aconite. They are balled up in the morning or when it is cold but open up to reveal six petals within a frill of leaves by afternoon.

Clumps of snow drops are also flowering. I also saw pink primroses and dutch irises, protected close to a wall. Hose pipes are laid about and help irrigate the garden.

A robin was on the highest spur of leaves above an evergreen, singing away.

A great tit and blue tit were on a tight rope near a peanut holder. They could be the same birds that visit our feeder in West St Helen Street. Our garden is about 80 meters from St Ethelwold’s as birds fly.

Abingdon Events Roundup: Acting, Jumble, Jazz/Folk & Classical

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The Abingdon Drama Club is putting on “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” in April. Go to auditions on January 25th or 30th. You only need to go once!

Donate your unwanted stuff to Fitzharrys’ big sale this weekend! They’ll take good quality items during school hours or 10-12 on Saturday. The jumble sale is on Sunday. No VHS tapes or cassettes, please!

Local musician George Haslam has arranged a concert to help Ukraine. The concert starts on 27th Jan at 8:30 pm at the Royal British Legion on Spring Road. It’s free to enter, but donations are welcome for the Red Cross (https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/workhouseabingdon).

There is a chamber concert with music by Schumann and Ravel at St Helen’s Church on 3rd Feb. The money raised will go to the church and the young people’s charity, Abingdon Bridge.

New Joint Local Plan (preferred options until 2041) Up for Discussion

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Vale of White Horse District Council (VWHDC) and South Oxfordshire District Council have teamed up to create a Joint Local Plan to guide future development in both districts until 2041.

There aren’t any major changes to the development plans for Abingdon compared to the 2031 plan. However, changes are happening nearby at Dalton Barracks. The Ministry of Defence is moving out by 2029, and the plan is to develop the vacant barracks area.

Instead of the 1,200 homes originally planned until 2031, the new proposal is for 2,750 until 2041. The development area will include extra land from the Green Belt, creating a larger area (52 hectares compared to 30 hectares). This is intended to be a Garden Village-style development with a school, local shops, good transport links, and plenty of green space. There is nothing planned for the top of the airfield.

The proposal can be viewed online at https://jlp.southandvale.gov.uk/. (Chapter 8 and AS10 has Dalton Barracks.) A printed copy is also available at Abingdon Library.

There is a drop in event in Shippon at Shippon Church Hall on 24th January between 3pm and 8pm. VWHDC will be there to answer questions and explain the plans in more detail.

The drop in event in Abingdon will be at Pablos on 3rd February.

The joint plan is far more than just building development. In Chapter 9 on town centres, the preferred option is for Didcot to be the principal town centre across both districts, with Abingdon-on-Thames, Faringdon, Henley-on-Thames, Thame, Wallingford, and Wantage within a second town centre tier.