Volunteers on standby to help as COVID-19 pandemic restrictions continue

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Hundreds of volunteers are on standby to help Abingdon residents through the COVID-19 pandemic as restrictions continue into the winter.

With more than 3,000 acts of kindness already completed, members of Abingdon Coronavirus community response (ACR) are ready to serve the town again.

The group, which was set up in the Spring, provides neighbour-to-neighbour help with shopping, collection of prescriptions and friendly chats.

It is determined to ensure that no-one is forgotten as lockdown lifts next week. The pledge comes as the Government outlined the tiers that areas fall into as restrictions continue until the New Year.

Julie Kemp-Harper from the group, said: “People feel a bit more prepared and supported as a result of the relationships that were built earlier in the year and better provision by supermarkets and other services.

 “However, there’s also much apprehension about managing over the winter and fresh hardships facing all ages, so we plan to carry on over the coming months.”

The group limits what it offers to what you might reasonably expect a neighbour to do and works closely with other Abingdon support agencies.

Many people have family or immediate neighbours to help them out now,  but said Julie: “That doesn’t apply to everyone. By coordinating volunteers across the town at a neighbourhood level we hope that no one will be left out. Sometimes our volunteers are the only friendly face a resident has seen for several days and those friendly chats are so valuable”.

To request help for yourself or a family member fill out our Support Requests form on our website www.abingdoncommunityresponse.org  or email: abingdoncoronaresponse@gmail.com .

Abingdon man killed during Irish War of Independence – 100 years ago

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Kilmichael ambush
Saturday 28th November marks 100 years since the Kilmichael ambush – an event in 1920 during the Irish War of Independence.

Cadet Philip Noel Graham from Abingdon was one of 17 men from the the Auxiliary Royal Irish Constabulary killed in the IRA ambush.

Sinn Féin had won a large majority in the 1918 general election in Ireland. The growing popularity of independence led to a war with Britain that began in 1919 and ended in 1921 when leaders of Sinn Féin and the British government agreed to set up the Irish Free State.
Kilmichael ambush
Philip Graham grew up in Abingdon and attended Abingdon School. He joined the army at the outbreak of WWI in August 1914 and became a Captain in the Northumberland Fusiliers. He was wounded in France. After receiving a discharge he, along with other ex-servicemen, joined the Auxiliary Royal Irish Constabulary, a unit set up by the British government as they tried to impose order and counter Sinn Féin’s military wing – the IRA.
Kilmichael ambush
Cadet Philip Noel Graham was buried at Abingdon Cemetery on December 4th 1920.

Thank you to the Oxford Journal Illustrated for the first and third picture and biographical details.

New home of the Kingfisher Canoe Club with canoes and sunset

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Stratton Way Square
Recently there has been a piling barge near Abingdon Lock, and it was there again this evening.
Stratton Way Square
The new home of the Kingfisher Canoe Club is taking shape on the land between lock and weir.
Stratton Way Square
Some canoeists were paddling in the surf near Abingdon Weir as the sun went down.
Stratton Way Square
They paddled back towards Abingdon Bridge as the setting sun turned the sky purple and pink.

Land on the north west side of Stratton Way, Abingdon

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Stratton Way Square
There is an area of paved land north west of Stratton Way that is owned by Abingdon -on-Thames Town Council and in Feb 2020 (before Covid-19 struck) there was a proposal that the land be disposed of.
Stratton Way Square
The land has a restrictive covenant in place, and is hemmed in by the underpass, and garden walls and so uses will be limited.
Stratton Way Square
At one time people must have parked their bikes here but that does not happen much as it is off the beaten track.
Stratton Way Square
There are a couple of benches: one on the lower terrace, and an old metal bench in a secluded place, up some steps, at the back.
Stratton Way Square
There is a flower bed at the front that has been recently replanted for the winter.
Stratton Way Square
The first pansy has just appeared.

The land does not give the impression of being a well loved or wanted, and it will be interesting to learn if anybody knows any more about it, or whether anybody does love it.