Mrs Page of Burford, on a visit to her relatives at ‘The Laurels’, Spring Road, Abingdon, was driving her car from High Street into West St Helen Street and, in turning into Lombard Street, noticed a horse and cart standing outside the Barley Mow and in trying to avoid the cart the car swerved into the pavement and crushed two little children against the wall – a boy named Drew, son of Mr Drew, West St Helen Street, and the little daughter of Mr E MacIntyre, of Thames Street. The boy sustained a crushed thigh and the girl a bruised face, and both were taken to the Cottage Hospital. The boy was detained, but the girl was allowed home.

Mrs Christiana O’Connell, who celebrated her 100th birthday last July, has died at her home in Abingdon, Berks. She had resided in Abingdon for 70 years. She was the keeper of the Vineyard Lodging House for over 50 years and was the mother of 17 children, only four of whom survived her.

On Saturday. February 3rd, a hockey match was played at Abingdon between the Wallingford Grammar School 1st XI (girls) and St. Helen’s, Abingdon, 1st XI. The game resulted in a victory for the Grammar School by 2 goals to 1.

On Tuesday afternoon, the funeral took place in Appleford churchyard of a little boy named Harry Prior, aged 4 years and 8 months. He was the youngest of a family of eight children of Mr Harry Prior, who has worked all his life on the Manor Farm and is a native of Appleford. The boy died on Saturday of diphtheria at Abingdon Hospital. Two brothers, aged 9 and 7, are still there, the elder being seriously ill. Harry was an engaging little fellow and is much missed in his home.

A reader the other day expressed surprise that there was such a thing as a feminine Oddfellows’ Lodge at Abingdon. Incredible as such a Lodge seems, even in these days when women are fast coming into their own, it is not so unusual as it looks. Oxford, too, has made provision for women in the Charlotte Toynbee Lodge.

The ‘Loyal Ivy Lodge’ of Oddfellows, Abingdon, had dinner on Thursday evening at the Lodge Room, Station Road. Bro. A W Morland presided. He was supported by the Secretary (Mr A Staniland) and several officers. A musical programme enlivened the evening’s proceedings.

After being in constant employment for over 64 years at Messr. Clarke and Co’s clothing factory, Mr George Matthews, a highly respected townsman, has retired in his 78th year. His fellow workers have made him a presentation with their best wishes.

A team of players from the Abingdon Y.M. Social Club, consisting of Messrs. R. Perrin, W. Rutty, S. Leach, W. Moore, J, Maltby, and Dickenson, spent Thursday evening last at billiards with the local police at their billiard room. The players for the police were P.S. Painter, P.C. Franklin, Appleton, Haines, Goddard, and Rogers. The games were singles for 100 up, the Social winning each of the games.

An election of a representative on the Board of Governors of the Radcliffe Infirmary for the area comprising Abingdon, Isley and South Morton has occurred. Mr C.C. Johnson of Abingdon was elected.

Several school boats were practising on the Thames at Abingdon when one of them, handled by boys from Captain Fox’s School, Sutton Courtney, got into difficulties. A four belonging to Abingdon Grammar School went to its assistance. Both boats were swamped, but all the occupants swam for land. When near the bank Bertie Steele, age 14, one of the Grammar School lads, fell back exhausted and was drowned. Dragging operations have been carried out without success.

The report that Supt W Foster was able to present last week at the County Brewster Sessions Court was of a very good character. It stated that the number of licensed houses in the division was 54, of which 41 were fully licensed. The division’s population was 9,849 (1911 census), meaning there was one licensed house for every 186 of the population. No charge of drunkenness had been brought during the whole year.

On Tuesday before the Mayor Councillor C Rippon and Councillor H T Clarke, Robert Brind(27) of Abingdon, working at the Didcot Depot, was brought up to receive judgement to which he pleaded guilty to stealing a bicycle with a value of £12. The bicycle had been stolen outside the White Horse Inn on Ock Street. The prisoner’s father expressed his great upset at his son’s position, which he attributed to the war. He had been wounded four times and had shell shock. His wife was in the cottage hospital, and the prisoner had to look after the child and work at the depot. The Bench bound him over in his father’s security and placed him under a probation officer for three years.

Thank you for the news extracts from the Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette, Oxfordshire Weekly News, Berks and Oxon Advertiser, North Wilts Herald (Berkshire News). The Morris Dancers are from Reynolds’s Newspaper. The school steeplechase from The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News. All in the British Newspaper Archive.