Evening Walk by the River Thames in Abingdon

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Evening Walk by the River Thames in Abingdon
We walked out this evening along St Helen’s Wharf in Abingdon. The wharf was in shadow apart from where a low wall let the sunlight through.
Evening Walk by the River Thames in Abingdon
Along Wilsham Road we saw the first fast moving rowing boat we had seen since the start of the lockdown.
Evening Walk by the River Thames in Abingdon
It was a Sunday evening and there were not many cars parked – just the usual line of fibreglass boats with tarpoulines.
Evening Walk by the River Thames in Abingdon
At Abingdon Marina a parent swan was guarding three cygnets. They were all busily preening themselves and not posing for the camera. Preening is a bird’s way of grooming its feathers to keep them in the best condition.
Evening Walk by the River Thames in Abingdon
A lot more boats were moored at the Marina.
Evening Walk by the River Thames in Abingdon
We walked round the Marina Park and looked across the River Thames to where Swift Ditch ends. There is an elegant wooden bridge put there for the Thames Path.

Abingdon Footpath 1 Revisited

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Abingdon Footpath 1 Revisited
The footpath starts off near Allparts on the Ashville Trading Estate. The red line on the map, taken from https://footpathmap.co.uk, shows that a lot of its length is through houses.
Abingdon Footpath 1 Revisited
After the electricity substation on Byron Close, the footpath heads between the back garden fences of Byron Close and Ely Close.
Abingdon Footpath 1 Revisited
It then opens up a little as the path skirts fields. I have seen it overgrown on some occasions but this year it looks well cut back and walkable in all but one place.

I was sent an email at the start of the lockdown saying that the path had been blocked by a fence. I walked the path for the first time this evening. It is a little dangerous to clamber over one obstacle.
Abingdon Footpath 1 Revisited
There used to be a dogleg route round the foundation of a WWII shelter. The path has been blocked at this point before and opened up again at the insistence of Oxfordshire County Council. The email is asking for pressure to be put on Oxfordshire County Council so that it is opened again.
Abingdon Footpath 1 Revisited
The footpath appears to follow closely the towpath of the old Wilts and Berks Canal and passes another WWII Pillbox.
Abingdon Footpath 1 Revisited
At the far end is Mill Road.

Beth Fleming

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Volunteering
This photograph from Easter 2007 shows members of Abingdon Baptist Church about to give out Easter eggs.

We got news yesterday from Revd David Fleming (on facebook) that Beth Fleming ( in the centre of the picture), died in intensive care with complications following Covid-19.

Many of you will remember that she became the Chairmum of the VWHDC (Vale of White Horse District Council) in 2010-11. Married to David, she had four children, and took a degree as a geochemist. She had run all sorts of breakfast clubs, and scout troops, and toddler and baby clubs over the years – some at school, some at Abingdon Baptist Church where David was the Minister. She put family before self and showed what a mother should be, welcoming many into her extended family. This was good training for getting involved in Abingdon local politics and becoming the chairmum of the district council. Her genuine concern for other people helped her win her council seat.

She was a great support to David as a Church Minister.  She met him as a teenage member of Cemetery Road Baptist Church  and saw the potential in him to be a minister long before he knew himself. As chairmum, David became her escort in turn.

After leaving Abingdon David and Beth have been at Limbury Baptist Church in Luton for several years.

Our thoughts are with David and family.