Lesley sent me a picture of the ‘brilliant display of flowers at Roysse Court.’
There is a vibrant red blue and orange display at the front
with more whites and blues in the planters and hanging baskets behind.
The area has only just been refurbished with new slabs and planters and grass so this is the first time it has been seen in full bloom.
In 1966 you could have had a house built in three weeks using components from the Cowley Concrete Abingdon plant. Cowley Concrete was once an important company in Abingdon, located down the Radley Road.
Do you live in a street like this made from Cowley Concrete? If so Elizabeth would like to hear from you. In Abingdon Library, she has put together a display of some of the buildings and flyovers made from the Cowley Concrete Abingdon plant.
That includes the garage in Botley. Elizabeth is also interested in hearing from former employees at the plant to find out what it was like working there. If you can help, visit the display at the library and leave your contact details.
This afternoon I took this picture of a bridge made at the Cowley Concrete plant in Abingdon. The bridge opened a large recreational area to the people of Abingdon.
It was given to the town by H.G. Mullard, former Mayor and Freeman of Abingdon , and Mrs E M Mullard, Justice of the Peace, ‘In appreciation of a happy life spent in Abingdon.’
Abingdon-on-Thames Visitor and Community Information Centre has moved to Roysse Court.
There are lots of visitors this weekend in Abingdon. Most have come with caravans or with scooters and tents. I don’t know how many need to visit the centre to ask for information.
The caravans can be seen on the other side of the River Thames on the Cricket Field.
The scooters have come for the 2019 Oddballs Rally at Abingdon Rugby Club.
At the Oddballs Rally there are oddball stalls selling oddball parts. There are large white marquees where bands play oddball music which leads to a lot of oddball dancing and bouncing around.
I took this picture the morning after when there was a relaxed campsite feel with occasional announcements from the P.A. about buying raffle tickets. Money is raised for charity at the Oddball Rally. Some people were relaxing, others had gone off on their scooters, or walked into town by the River.
Earlier this year there was graffiti on the Abingdon underpass mural which has now all been cleaned away or touched up.
Behind Henry VIII is Thomas Pentecost, the last Abbot of Abingdon, who with his twenty-four monks received pensions after surrendering the Abbey to the King. Unlike the Abbot of Reading who was imprisoned and executed for not being so obliging – who became a martyr.
Facing them through the tunnel is the cleaned up St Edmund of Abingdon, and a picture of The Egyptian Vase coming to this town. I cannot remember what that story was all about.
The mural starts with pre-history, runs down one wall, and then back along the other.
It end in modern times with mummers, morris dancing, and town crying.