Abingdon’s Mayor 2021-2022

Leave a reply


At the annual meeting of the Council this evening (19th May) Councillor Cheryl Briggs was elected Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames for the civic year 2021-2022.

Cheryl will be Abingdon’s first Mayor from the Green Party (as far as I know).

The meeting was held behind closed doors because of Covid-19 safety regulations.

Councillor Charlie Birks was the outgoing Mayor and served for 2 years from 2019-2021. Mayors in Abingdon normally serve for one year but Charlie showed great dedication and agreed to serve for 2 years because of these unprecedented times.

(Picture above shows Caroline Lucas and Cheryl Briggs after a meeting in the Brewery Tap in January 2019. Picture thanks to Helen.)

Abbey Fish Ponds – May 2021

2 Replies


The pools in the Abbey Fish Ponds nature reserve have grown green shoots.

Sedge and reeds grow straight up from the watery ground.

The stream that runs down the middle has green plants in the water as well as the banks, including what could be Iris shoots.

This view shows the bridge over the stream as seen from the high path running across the middle of the nature reserve.

There are hawthorns blossoming in May.

The first leaves to appear in clumps from the floor of the woodland areas have now produced their cuckoo’s pint.

There are many birds singing throughout the day .

Art on the Workhouse Estate (Abbott, Thesiger and part of Oxford Road) until 23rd May

Leave a reply


As part of Artweeks, 20 households on the Workhouse Estate have created artwork, and displayed it in front gardens as part of an arts trail, celebrating that we are all living ‘under one sky’ even during the social and physical distancing of lockdown. The trail is available at https://www.popupartscollective.co.uk/workhouse-arts-trail

Clare Davis, a local artist, has organised the event, and is seen here with the Mayor. There is also a more formal exhibition in Clare’s studio and garden at 30 Abbott Rd.

There were silk flags billowing freely in Boxhill Woods that have also been moved to Clare’s garden, out of harms way.

There is a range of people who have taken part – individuals of all ages, but also families –  involving lots of work by children.

You can see more and book a visit to Clare’s studio at https://www.artweeks.org/festival/2021/pop-arts-collective. It runs until 23rd May.

Thankyou to the Workhouse Correspondent for these pictures.

Poem made of snippets from the 1994 Trinity Toddler Group diary

2 Replies

(This is another possible poem for the proposed book – Ten Poems about Abingdon – to be published in October 2021.)

We will make a weather book with snow on the front,
frost and rain inside, sunshine on the back.
We will make a cotton wool and toilet roll snowman,
Sing Incy Wincy Spider in January.

We will make toilet roll birds with flappy wings.
Teddy bears’ pancake day, Biscuits with sprinkles.
NO CRAFT on the day that it snows.
Sing the wheels on the bus in February.

We will make paper cup faces with cress hair,
Mothering Sunday cards with doilies and daffs,
yoghurt pots with chickens and straws.
Sing two little birds in March.

We will make paper blossom on branches with eggs,
Easter Cards with fluffy chicks,
a house and garden from catalogue cut-outs.
Sing Hickory Dickory Dock in April

We will make butterflies out of all-coloured scraps,
rainbow streamers for ABINGDON ALIVE,
smiley face plates saying LETS BE FRIENDS.
Sing What a friend we have in May.

We will make round and round the garden on a plate
with Teddy Bears on split pins,
fishes from gold and silver milk bottle tops.
Sing two little rabbits in June.

We will make a clock face with moving hands,
sandcastle, spade, bucket, boat with sails.
At Teatime Praise on the lawn
sing the wise man built his house in July

We will make Mr Men shapes: round – happy, noisy, and clever;
oval – nosey and bumpy; square – strong and grumpy.
We will put felt vegetables in a basket for harvest.
Sing Old McDonald had a farm in September.

We will make roundabouts with horses on card,
squirrels with a big pile of nuts in October.
We will make a night sky – black paper, shiny stars,
fireworks and rockets that whoosh in November.

We will make a doily angel and baby Jesus
and Mary and Joseph from playdough.
Everybody will have a part this year.
Sing The Calypso Carol in December.