Abingdon Library (fiction and children’s) to re-open


All of Abingdon Library has been closed since Thursday because of flooding from the flat roof after the heavy rains, but it will re-open on Wednesday, 9th November, at 9am.

There will be Rhyme Time at 9:30 and 11:00

Fans of the bestselling spy thriller Slough House series will meet the author Mick Herron on Thursday, 10th November.

I am not sure about going upstairs at the library yet. The upstairs (non-fiction) library has been closed for longer. That means Abingdon has had to survive on fiction and children’s books for over a fortnight. If we carry on much longer, I don’t know what will happen.

A tour round the Abbey buildings during the Abingdon Traditional Craft Fair


The annual Abingdon Traditional Craft Fair was held from Friday 4th, to Sunday, the 6th of November, in and around the Abbey Buildings.

The craft stalls were arranged in seven locations. The usual route involves entering through the Unicorn Theatre, where seats had been cleared.

There were craft stalls upstairs in The Checker.

The largest, most picturesque, space is the Long Gallery, upstairs.

Downstairs the route follows the lower gallery.

The outside ground at the front and the garden at the back had craft gazebos and a large marquee with refreshments.

Finally, there is the undercroft, where there was a potter, some spinners and a weaver, and craft stalls. The craft fair has been an Abingdon fixture in November since the 1970s. Any profits help the upkeep of the Abbey Buildings.

Remember, remember / The fifth of November


The 2nd Abingdon Scouts organised a community fireworks display behind Long Furlong Community Centre in Abingdon this evening. The 2nd Abingdon Scout Group was founded in 1922 and was first known as 2nd North Berks Scouts. They moved to their present location off Farm Road in the 1960s.

It had been raining before the firework display and a large crowd waited with umbrellas. The Abbey Brass Band played music. There was a BBQ with hot dogs and beefburgers, and canteens with hot drinks provided by the scouts. Then came the countdown for the fireworks.

During the display, the rain stopped but started soon afterwards.

It was good that the annual display coincided with November 5th, Guy Fawkes Night. “Remember, remember / The fifth of November / Gunpowder, treason and plot.” The only bonfire was one filmed and shown on a screen along with adverts for sponsors and the scouts.

There is more information about the scouts at https://2ndabingdonscouts.org.uk/.