St Ethelwold’s Garden – November 2024

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While some of us have put away the lawnmower for the year, the volunteers at St Ethelwold’s continue clearing and replanting the garden in late November.

The peace pole (added early in 2024) stands near the flooded River Thames, a symbol of tranquillity in turbulent times.

There is usually a robin or two to be heard in the garden and if you are lucky they can be seen as well.

Can you believe it? Roses still blooming in late November!

Less surprising are the dried seed heads kept as much for their beauty as to reseed next year, like this honesty.

Today and tomorrow two hundred trees (already allotted) are being given out from St Ethelwold’s Garden as part of a tree growing initiative. They include: Hazel, Hawthorn, Wild Cherry, Wayfaring Tree, Spindle, Birch, Crab Apple, French Maple, Guelder Rose, and possibly others.

This weekend, there will be wreath-making workshops (already booked up). These festive creations will incorporate aromatic dried oranges and limes. All proceeds from the workshop will go towards an accessible toilet at St Ethelwold’s. The profits from the monthly coffee and cake events during 2024 also supported this project. However, in December the proceeds will go to the Abingdon Food Bank and Crisis at Christmas to help those in need at Christmas.

Abingdon 100 Years Ago – November 1924

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Municipal Elections — Nominations were received for the Borough election. Three of the four retiring members, Messrs. F. Gibson, J. T. Tate, and J. D. Godfrey offered themselves for re-election. Mr. C. H. Colston decided to retire.

The result was:
K. J. Cooper: 1,123 votes
J. D. Godfrey: 1,095 votes
J. T. Tate: 961 votes
F. Gibson: 774 votes
D. E. Trotman: 728 votes
Messrs. Cooper, Godfrey, Tate, and Gibson were therefore declared elected. A large crowd assembled to hear the result, and the poll was the highest recorded in several years.

Accident — On Sunday afternoon, a motor-lorry belonging to Messrs. Stevens and Co. of Oxford, driven by Frederick Pyne of Bournemouth, was travelling from Oxford to Bournemouth. While approaching the Market Place, it collided with a motor-cycle and sidecar driven by Mr. J. W. Gerring, of Swinburne Road, Abingdon, who was crossing from East St. Helen’s Street into Stert Street. Both the motor-lorry and the motor-cycle were badly damaged, but no one was seriously injured.

The Vicar’s departure — The Vicar of Abingdon, Rev. H. A. Kennedy, preached his farewell sermon at St. Helen’s Church on Sunday. The Vicar, who is exchanging livings with the Rev. C. S. Fleet of St. Germans, Cornwall, has received £322 from the church councils representing St. Helen’s, St. Michael’s, and St. Nicolas as a token of the parishioners’ appreciation of his work in Abingdon.

In addition to this gift, he has received other tokens of goodwill: a library chair from the children and teachers of Bury Street and Queen Street Schools, a kit bag and flash lamp from the mistresses, boarders, and day girls of St. Helen’s School, and an address from the Free Church Council. At the Vicar’s request, a public presentation was not held, as he felt the strain would be too great.

The new Vicar, Rev. C. S. Fleet, is expected to arrive in the parish around the 20th. In the meantime, Rev. Sitwell, Rev. Theodosius, and Rev. Liddiard of Bayworth Manor will carry on the parish’s work.

Football — Abingdon Town drew with Caversham St. Andrew’s on the latter’s ground in the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup competition. Abingdon Pavlova played Reading B.W.I. on the latter’s ground in the same competition, but the game was abandoned 15 minutes before full time due to bad light. No goals were scored.


Election of the Mayor — The election of Mayor took place at a meeting of the Borough Council held on Monday, presided over by Councillor C. Rippon. On the proposal of Mr. Gibson, seconded by Mr. Thatcher, Mr. J. D. Godfrey was elected Mayor for the ensuing year. Councillor C. Rippon was elected Deputy Mayor on the proposal of Mr. Godfrey.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Godfrey expressed gratitude for the honour bestowed upon him, assuring the Council of his dedication to the role. Mr. Godfrey, who has been a member of the Council for three years, is a sculptor by profession and serves as chairman of the local Master Builders’ Federation and the newly-formed Social and Welfare Council.

Mayor’s Banquet — After a lapse of several years, the Mayor’s Banquet was held in the Council Chamber last week. The Mayor (Councillor C. Rippon) hosted the event, entertaining the members and officials of the Corporation. Major R. G. C. Glyn, M.P., and the Mayor and Sheriff of Oxford were also in attendance.

Football — Abingdon Town defeated Caversham St. Andrew’s on Saturday in a replay of the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup competition. Abingdon Pavlova, however, lost 5–1 to Reading B.W.I. in the same competition.

Remembrance Day — A service was held at the War Memorial in the Square, attended by the Mayor and members of the Corporation. The service was conducted by the Revs. J. K. Sitwell, N. E. Dando, J. H. Liddiard, and J. P. Morris. The two-minute silence was observed, followed by the sounding of the “Last Post.”

A large crowd gathered for the occasion, which included members of the Fire Brigade, Territorials, the O.T.C. (Roysse School), scholars from local schools, Boy Scouts, and Girl Guides. A designated area was reserved for the relatives of those who fell in the war. The Salvation Army provided the music for the hymns.

Board of Guardians (Workhouse) — Mr. H. W. Weaving presided at the fortnightly meeting of the Abingdon Guardians on Monday. The new Vicar (the Rev. C. S. Fleet) was appointed chaplain.

Literary and Debating Society — Mr. Oswald Couldrey gave an address on “Indian Gods” in the Roysse Room on Monday evening. Mr. A. C. Hyde Parker presided.

Transfer of Lock-Keeper — Mr. Robert A. Chivers, the lock-keeper at Abingdon, has been given a similar position at Whitchurch, near Reading. Mr. Chivers is the holder of the bronze medallion of the Royal Life-Saving Society, which he received last year for his knowledge of rescue work, and was awarded the Royal Life-Saving Society’s certificate in 1913. On two occasions, he has rescued persons in danger of drowning: once at Iffley in 1909 and again in Abingdon last year. He has been in the service of the Conservancy since 1909.


Fascist Meeting — A meeting was held in the Roysse Room, presided over by Mr. J. C. R. Gardner. The meeting was held to explain the aims and objectives of the British Fascisti. A large number attended, and eight new members were enrolled.

Football — Abingdon Town played the Biscuit Factory team at Reading on Saturday in the Reading Senior League and sustained a defeat by 4 goals to nil. Abingdon Pavlova lost to Newbury Town by 2 goals to 1 in an amateur cup-tie at Abingdon. St. Michael’s Albion played a friendly match with Abingdon Grammar School on the Albion’s ground and lost by 6 goals to 3.

Women’s Constitutional Association — Lady Norman presided at a meeting held in the Roysse Room on Tuesday afternoon of the Women’s Constitutional Association, when Mrs. Rolleston, C.B.E., spoke on “The Lesson of the Elections.”

Borough Court — On Tuesday, before the Mayor (Mr. J. D. Godfrey) and Messrs. N. Paul, J. Ricketts, R. W. Langford, and A. W. Morland, an Abingdon woman summoned Harry James Painton, of No. 4, Court 7, St. Helen’s Street, a labourer, for the maintenance of her child. After consideration the bench made an order for the defendent to pay from the date of the hearing 6s a week until the child attained the age of 14.

Christmas Bazaar — A Christmas Bazaar was held in the Hut, Northcourt, on Thursday in aid of a Christmas party for the Women’s Institute and Northcourt children. The bazaar was opened by Miss Daniells.

County Bench:

Charles Bowyer and his wife, Alice Bowyer, of Besselsleigh, were summoned by Inspector J. H. Smith of Oxford, on behalf of the N.S.P.C.C., for neglecting their children, aged three years, two years, and nine months respectively. Inspector Smith stated that the children were in a dirty condition, poorly clothed, underfed, and the house was in a filthy state. The children had been removed to Abingdon. The Bench made an order for the children to remain in the Poor Institution for one year, with the parents to pay 5s. a week for each child.

Major Glyn’s Namesake – When the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Ball, of 54, Spring Road, who was born on polling day, was baptised at St Michael’s Church, he was given the name of Ralph. Major Ralph Glyn, M.C., the new M.P for Abingdon is to be the godfather.

Thanks to the Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette, and Reading Standard on the British Newspaper Archive and to the North Berks Herald microfilm in the library.  The adverts come from these publications except for The Abingdon King Dick Spanner which was in the Clarion. Thanks for helping correct some errors in the OCR text to OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com.

The River Takes Over: Images of the River Thames near Abingdon

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Abingdon Weir looks fully open as high flows of water from Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire make their way along the River Thames by Abingdon.

The River Thames has risen dramatically over the past 24 hours. After breaching the bank near Abingdon Bridge, much of the water now bypasses the usual route, flooding the cricket field instead of curving around by St Helen’s Church.

Not only the cricket field but also the football ground finds itself underwater as the unbound River Thames takes over.

Some cars have been caught out by the sudden inflow of water to Rye Farm Carpark.

The water has risen to submerge the step of the stone building used by West Waddy Architects. Their flood gate shows the water level. It is still below the level reached in January 2024.

Yesterday, I praised the flood wall’s success in safeguarding St Helens Mill. Today somebody was pumping water over the wall away from the mill.

At sunset, the floodwaters look calm, reflecting the sky and trees near the Abbey Meadow pool.

But the river itself is anything but calm, overflowing the path to Abingdon Weir.

Unprecedented Flooding hits South Abingdon in 2024

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The rainfall in Abingdon between Saturday 23rd November and Sunday 24th November was 48.3 mm, with the heaviest fall of 5.5 mm between 6 pm and 7 pm on Sunday.

The Vale of White Horse, where the River Ock and its tributaries converge, may have had even heavier rainfall. The flooding peaked at 1.48 meters between 3:30 AM and 9:15 AM on Tuesday, November 26th. This is higher than the flood levels of September and January. The unprecedented three floods in a year are due to climate change, where once-in-a-century events are becoming more frequent.


The flooding in Mill Paddock looks more severe than September 2024, but less severe than the January 2024 flood, which was exacerbated by the flooding of the nearby River Thames.

The road flooding in Healey Close is worse then September and January.

The flooding on Chaunterell Way appears to be as severe as it was in September.

This area, including parts of Nash Drive and Orpwood Way, is the most severely affected.

Medlicott Drive has road flooding, and some residents have sandbagged their driveways.

With Chaunterell Way flooded, this road became the only way out of the estate. To prevent water washing towards garages and houses, residents patrolled the road to slow down traffic.

On the other side of Drayton Road, there is road flooding, and possibly property flooding in Tower Close.

The River Ock has also flooded the gardens in Meadowside.

The demolition of the footbridge and construction of a wall near St. Helen’s Mill has so far protected it from flooding. However people upstream are still looking for solutions as their lives are devastated by flooding again.