Fun Flowers and Fitness – This Coming Saturday in Abingdon

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With summer holidays behind us, Abingdon comes alive with a weekend of events. There is the annual Fun & Music in the Park organised by Abingdon Town Council.

The Abingdon Horticultural Society have their Autumn Show – a chance to admire displays of flowers, fruits, and vegetables, and crafts.

The Abingdon Healthfest 2024 is a free event (Saturday, 7th September, 10 AM – 2 PM, Abingdon Market Place). It offers a chance to connect with nineteen local organizations promoting health and well-being. See https://healthyabingdon.org.uk/healthfest2024.htm.

Mapping Abingdon’s Benches

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Recognising the value of benches for walkers, and walking as part of a healthy lifestyle, Healthy Abingdon, have created an interactive map showing all the benches in Abingdon. The map is available on the Healthy Abingdon website under benches (https://healthyabingdon.org.uk/benches.htm). With a few clicks, people can locate the nearest bench, allowing them to find a place to rest or plot a route.

The map also acts as a record of the distribution of benches across Abingdon, which is far from uniform. Parks, riverbanks, and the town centre are well-endowed with benches. The new Abbey Fields development (above) also has fifteen benches along its walkways as well as several picnic tables.

Amongst the benches, a few stand out. Some benches are dedicated to people, such as the one for Audrey Hasnip outside the Guildhall unveiled in April 2021. Audrey was the Mayor of Abingdon from 1999-2000, and a long-standing geography teacher at John Mason School as well as doing various other voluntary roles such as singing in St Helen’s choir.

The longest seat (I’m not sure it is bench) is round a tree near the charter. It could hold around 48 people simultaneously.

Abingdon Honours Local Hero and Gears Up for Poppy Appeal

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This photo is a reminder of June and the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. There was the unveiling of the Abingdon Royal British Legion’s bar, named after 20-year-old Abingdon airman Ray “Bunny” Belcher, one of the first casualties of D-Day. Club members, in vintage dress, hosted a cream tea party for veterans and raised £500 for the Poppy Appeal through badge sales and donations. Pictured are veteran paratrooper and poppy collector Alan Calver, and club member Lou Hayden (photo by Geoff Smith).

Now, Clare Oldfield, organiser of the Abingdon Poppy Appeal, sets her sights on the October 24th Poppy Appeal launch. She is looking for passionate volunteers to join the team, raising vital funds to support the Armed Forces community.

Clare also mentions that the RBL bar is not just for ex military people. It is open seven days a week and welcomes everyone. Enjoy activities like darts, pool, snooker, Aunt Sally, crib, and music nights.

Contact abingdon.poppies@gmail.com to volunteer or learn more.

Sunny September Day at Abingdon-on-Thames

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Temperatures soared to about 28 degrees Celsius today, making it a warm start to September.

Earlier this week, Frank spotted the Canal Boat Diaries crew passing through Abingdon Lock. The lock was busier today. I was interested by a narrowboat, called Helios, powered entirely by the sun.

There were free cooking apples on offer at the lock. I took three and after cutting out the bad bits had the equivalent of two.

The Mill Stream swan family has expanded, and now number two adults and nine cygnets. I wonder if the five cygnets spotted without a parent last week have joined them.