The Abingdon Peace Group gathered at St Ethelwold’s House on Sunday afternoon to celebrate 43 years of campaigning for peace. The event was attended by past and present members of the group and friends from other peace groups nearby.
A display of photos, leaflets, and newsletters from the group’s history gave a glimpse into the group’s work over the years. A few of the people in attendance had been involved with the group since its early days.
One of them, Sally Reynolds, the group’s secretary, was presented with a Pax Christi Peace Award, which celebrates the work and commitment of peacemakers in the UK. Sally said she received the award on behalf of the group and thanked everyone for their support over the years.
The group also held a vigil at 8:15am on Sunday morning, the time the bomb exploded over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. This vigil was held in memory of the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and to call for a world without nuclear weapons.
The event also included a tribute to Mike Bloom, the group’s chairman and editor of the newsletter, who died a few days ago. His loss will be deeply felt by the Abingdon Peace Group.
