Saturday 3rd January 1920
The Abingdon Town Council Street Lighting Committee have commenced electric street lighting by placing electric lamps on the G.W.R. gates, corner of Park Road, and on the Square.
At the Oxford City Police Court last week, Albert Turner Wiltshire, of St. Thomas, Oxford, formerly of Gaol Yard, Bridge Street. Abingdon, was sent to prison for three months for neglecting his five children. It appeared from the evidence that the mother died at Abingdon last year, at which time the defendant was employed in the Labour Corps, working on land at Newbury and coming home week-ends. Defendant, after his wife’s death, broke up the home, left his children at the Abingdon Workhouse, having been taken there through illness. When the defendant was demobbed he was summoned for neglecting to support his children, and eventually took his children out of the Union and went to Oxford, giving up his job at Abingdon where he was earning £3 9s 4d per week, and drew out-of-work donations for 18 weeks. They were all living in a common lodging house in High Street, St. Thomas, Oxford, and found in a filthy state by Miss Hatch, of the Oxford Refuge Home. The children’s ages range from 13 to 5 years, three boys and two girls. Defendant’s excuse was that he could not get a house.
The Slate Club sharing out meeting at the Abingdon Railway Inn (G.W.R. Station Road) took place last week, ‘when a capital dinner was catered by the landlord. The amount received as members’ shares was 4s 6d each. Members present gave a subscription to the Abingdon Cottage Hospital.
Saturday 10th January 1920
United prayer meetings have been held at Abingdon on four evenings this week, the opening one being St. Helen’s Church, where, with permission of the Bishop of Oxford, Nonconformist ministers took part. The other three evenings the intercessions were held at the Congregational Chapel
The scholars of the Abingdon Wesleyan Sunday School gave a capital entertainment last Thursday evening at the Wesleyan Schoolroom in aid of St. Dunstan s Hostel for the Blind and the School fund. There was a large and appreciative audience.
The number of interments in the Abingdon Cemetery during the past year was 82 which is 57 less than in 1918 during the influenza epidemic.
Saturday 17th January 1920
The Abingdon Women’s and Men’s Unionist Associations held a social evening in the Corn Exchange on Wednesday evening. The hall was tastefully decorated, and there was a large attendance. J. F. Downing presided. Brigadier-General Wigan, the Member for the Abingdon Division of Berks, gave an address.
The gale of Sunday and Monday last swept over the town doing considerable damage to chimney stacks, roofs, telephone wires, trees, etc.
The Abingdon Pavlova Leather Works Club met a team from the R.A.F. at Milton at Abingdon on Saturday last,in the second round of the Berks Charity Shield Competition. After a close and good game the scores were Pavlova 2 R.A.F. 1. There was a good number of spectators notwithstanding the inclement weather.
Mr King, of Edward Street; Abingdon, country postman for 31 years between Abingdon and Kingstone Bagpuize has been awarded the Imperial Service Medal, and friends in hie postal district have subscribed and sent him a cheque for £11.
The Abingdon Girls’ Club, a very flourishing institution, held its New Year party on Wednesday in last week in the Corn Exchange, which had been gaily decorated. About 160 were present and the programme included music, songs, refreshments, dance, etc., and a very enjoyable time was spent.
Last week a thief entered through an unfastened window at the Abingdon Vicarage, and stole an overcoat, in the pocket of which were a pair of gloves and a 10s Treasury note. The theft took place in the afternoon during the temporary absence of the inmates of the Vicarage.
An accident befell P.C. Owen, of the Abingdon Police Staff, last Thursday whilst riding his bicycle in the High Street. On passing the Lion Hotel gateway, Mr Wilkinson of Wantage, came out on his motor cycle which collided with the constable, who knocked against the Wantage motor bus, which was passing at the same time, having a narrow escape of being ran over. The constable sustained a severe fracture of the wrist.
A handsome pair of altar candlesticks have been presented to St. Helen’s Church, Abingdon, by Miss Hyde, a former resident, in memory of her late sister, who was the donor of the fine reredos in this Church.
Saturday 24th January 1920
The Abingdon Dramatic Society gave an entertainment in the Corn Exchange on Wednesday to a crowded house. The programme consisted of the play ” The Ghost of Jerry Bundler,” a variety entertainment, dances, and farce, Leave it to me.”
Last week an Abingdon angler, fishing in Appleford Reach, was successful in landing jack which weighed 10 1/4 lbs.
The graded supplies at Abingdon cattle market on Monday last were two butchers beasts and 54 sheep, all of which were allocated to local tradesmen.
A lecture on Profitable poultry keeping was given in the Roysse Room on Monday afternoon by Mrs A. C. Rawson to the members of the local branch of the National Utility Poultry Association.
The Culham Old Boys’ Club held a re-union dinner at the Roysse Room on Thursday evening in last week, to welcome the return of their comrades from the war. The company numbered about 70, and Mr L. Evetts, headmaster of Culham School, presided. After the dinner and complimentary toasts the company paid silent tribute to the memory of their fallen comrades in the war, whose names were read out by the Chairman.
Saturday 31st January 1920
The Abingdon Comrades of the Great War held another their successful whist drives at their Club Rooms, Ock Street, on Thursday evening, when nearly 100 were present.
The graded supplies at Abingdon Cattle Market on Monday last were 18 beasts and 108 sheep, 6 of the former being allotted to Reading and 35 of the latter to Wantage.
The Abingdon Division of the Berks Constabulary held a reunion dinner last week at the Roysse Room, under the chairmanship of Supt. Foster, their respected head. A few friends were also present, and about 50 sat down to an excellent repast served by Mr G. Hathaway. The Chief Constable telephoned a message of regret for being unable to join the company, and wishing them a pleasant evening. Supt. Foster, in welcoming those members who had returned from the war, spoke of the difficulties attendant on their absence. The evening proved very enjoyable.
Thankyou for the extracts to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive. Adverts came from the North Berks Herald.
