Pope Francis said, ‘the Nativity scene is one of the best ways to remember the real meaning of Christmas.’ The church of Our Lady and St Edmund of Abingdon has a new exterior crèche. The simplicity of the familiar scene has attracted admirers.
It shows the birth of Jesus, with Mary and Joseph, in a stable overflowing with straw, surrounded by shepherds, wise men, and animals.
A new Pizza and Salad Bar opened on St John’s Road, Abingdon, where the car parts shop used to be and next to the laundrette. They will be open from 12pm to 11pm, seven days a week. They also have some dine-in tables.
The business opened its first branch in London in 2016; they have about 130 branches across England, Scotland and Wales.
Half a dozen dedicated pizza businesses and many other businesses in Abingdon sell pizzas. This ‘pizza fad’ (as Mad magazine called it in 1958) shows no sign of fading.
Every Monday morning since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Abingdon Peace Group has stood vigil at Abingdon War Memorial. They stand there between 8:15 am and 8:45am. They stood there this morning in the cold after a light snow.
Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in 2014 and supported separatists in the East of Ukraine.
On February 24th, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. The invasion followed a build-up of the Russian army in 2021 and demands from Russia to stop Ukraine from joining NATO. The west’s dependence on Russian oil, gas, and Ukrainian products has led to inflation and shortages and affected people in the UK more directly than other wars in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Yemen.
Three years ago, I attended the AGM of the Abingdon and District Volunteer drivers when three drivers who had completed over 20 years were honoured with an award. Pat, the treasurer, sent me news of another long service award. She says,
“North Abingdon resident Rosemary Ryder has completed 21 years of voluntary driving for Abingdon and District Volunteer Centre. She has managed to fit in driving for us (while still being able to look after normal life and grandchildren) since joining in March 2001. At the A&DVC AGM in early December at their headquarters at the Baptist Church Centre at 35 Ock Street, Rosemary was presented with an award by Chairman Malvin Drakley.”
They take people to hospitals, doctors, surgeries, day centres etc., where using public transport or taxis is difficult.