6th May
A very successful rummage sale was held on Saturday afternoon last in the newly-built Church Rooms to aid the Abingdon Boy Scouts.

On Wednesday evening last week, the Hendred Black Crow Minstrels gave a creditable entertainment in the Corn Exchange to aid the new motor fire pump for the Abingdon Fire Brigade. A good audience much appreciated a lengthy programme.

The Abingdon Railway Station clock is still missing. The case against a man alleged of removing the clock on Easter Eve was dismissed last week at the Borough Court on insufficient evidence. The police are still making enquiries to know of the clock’s whereabouts.

13th May
The Mayor of Abingdon this week has represented the Abingdon Chamber of Trade at the National Chamber Trade annual conference at Margate.

The Abingdon Cricket Club is experiencing great difficulties getting an 11 to play this season’s cricket. One meeting had been held and another fixed for next week to reinstate the Club.

The Abingdon Free Churches commenced a series of united services last week, when the preacher was Mr Webber, of Oxford, and the service was held in the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Ock Street; there was a good attendance.

On Monday evening, a fire broke out at a cottage in the Abbey, Abingdon, tenanted by W. Hartwell, and considerable damage was done to the building and contents. The prompt action of Firemen Andrews, Challenor and Gibbens, assisted by the police, soon got the fire under control and prevented it from spreading in the thickly populated neighbourhood.

At the Cattle Market, the day’s heat was so severe that three of the pigs penned for sale had to be slaughtered in the market.

At the Abingdon Rural District Council meeting last week, the Inspector reported 32 cases of scarlet fever. Dr Sisam stated that the cause of the outbreak around Hinksey Hill was caused by milk supplied by a dairy which had become infected by the cowman, who had previously had members of his family ill. The cowman had stopped work, and the disease had abated. The doctor had seen the cows and the milking appliances and saw no reason for stopping the supply.

20th May
The Abingdon Cricket Club was fixed to play Oriel College, Oxford, on the home ground, on Saturday last, but the College could not play. However, a match was played between the Town club and the local Grammar School, the former making 82 for all the wickets and the school 112 for eight wickets.

The unemployment returns for last week by the Abingdon Labour Exchange were men 185, women 5, boys 2 – short time men 62, women 120, girls 4.

The Abingdon Baptist Church Women’s Society have subscribed £1 5s 6d and forwarded the sum to the Save the Children Fund (Russian Famine).

The statutory May Fair was held in the Bury on Saturday last. There were not as many paraphernalia as heretofore, the younger generation especially enjoyed themselves.

The Abingdon Borough bathing place is to be opened for this season on Sunday. Certain hours are free, others exclusive for ticket holders, and others for a fee.

The Abingdon Sub-Committee of the War Pensions Committee held their final meeting in the Roysse Room last week when the thanks of the meeting were given to Mr T. Skurray, the Chairman, and others. The members were afterwards entertained to tea by the Chairman.

At the Borough Police Court, Alfred Trigg, labourer,  of Thames Street, was summoned for assaulting Elizabeth Giles on Sunday, May. 7th. The complainant said she walked out with the defendant’s lodger, and when she was standing in the street, the defendant came and slapped her in the face. The defendant was fined 10s and bound over for 12 months. Elizabeth Giles and her daughter (the above complainant) were summoned for assaulting Emily Trigg, the Wife of the defendant in the previous case. Fined 10s each and bound over for 12 months.

27th May
The funeral took place at the Abingdon Cemetery on Wednesday afternoon last week of Mrs Langford, wife of Mr Stanley Langford, a partner in the firm of Messrs Langford and Sons, corn and seed merchants, Abingdon. The deceased died after a short illness following an operation at the early age of 37 years. The first portion of the burial service was said in St. Helen’s Church, when there was a large gathering of friends and sympathisers, and many beautiful floral tributes were sent.

Last week, the death occurred at Abingdon of an old inhabitant, viz, Matthew Townsend, of 63, West St. Helen Street, at 73 years. For over 60 years, he followed the occupation of a boat haulier on the river Thames, beginning at ten and only retiring about two years ago. In years past, he used to bring coal from Nuneaton to Benson.

The Abingdon Cricket and Football Club annual meeting was held last week. The Mayor presided, and the financial statement showed that accumulated deficits made £128 6s 2d, chiefly through the cricket section finance. It was decided to alter the name to “Abingdon Town Sports Club,” and a committee was formed to draw up rules for the different sections of the Club.

The River Thames must surely be infested with otters to an alarming extent. A few days ago, a full-grown specimen was found on the railway near Marcham Bridge by Radley platelayer with the forepart of its head smashed. It had undoubtedly been caught by a passing train and thrown clear.

Thank you for the extracts to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive.

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