Hottest Ever Local Excellence Market

6 Replies

I missed the Local Excellence Market ten days ago. Thankyou to Abingdon-on-Thames Chamber of Commerce for this report and look ahead …
Local Excellence Market
We had 33 stalls for what was probably the hottest excellence market we’ve ever had. We were joined by a number of regular traders, as well as some new faces. Due to the heat our regular chocolatier and candle maker didn’t join us, but we welcomed Heidi Parker who designs and makes lampshades to order and is based in Abingdon.
Local Excellence Market
Hunnybunnys were here with their buggy wraps, ready for winter.
Local Excellence Market
The Hampshire Gluten Free company were back with a wide range of Gluten Free Products.
Local Excellence Market
Local artist Christine, who is one of our longest standing traders was one of many trying to stay cool throughout the day!

Next is our summer craft market on 27th July, all organised by the Abingdon on Thames Chamber of Commerce.

We are also looking for local bands, groups, singers, or performers of any kind to join us on stage and / or in the Christmas Extravaganza Parade. Anyone interested can get in touch by emailing events@abingdonchamber.co.uk

Nicki’s second book published

1 Reply

second book
After the success of her bestselling first book, The Last Chance Hotel, Nicki Thornton was back at Mostly Books, on Saturday, signing copies of her second book –The Bad Luck Lighthouse. The book is a sequel and is part magic and part detective story.
second book
Nicki and Mark Thornton were previously the owners of Mostly Books. The first book came as a result of winning the Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition 2016.

If you look at Nicki’s blog you can see the first book has been translated into several languages including a Russian version.

Northcourt Centre Open Afternoon

1 Reply

Northcourt Centre
The Northcourt Centre in Abingdon had an open afternoon for community groups who use the centre to show off their activities. Drastic Plastic were doing craft activities, reccyling plastic into art works.
Northcourt Centre
like these elephants with trunks made from milk bottle handles.
Northcourt Centre
Inside you could make cranes from squares of paper on the Abingdon Peace Group stall. You can see how on this youtube video. Back in 2010 featured on this blog 1200+ crane were made at the Community Shop in Abingdon to send to Hiroishima, where they were displayed.
Northcourt Centre
There were lots of other displays and performances by users of the centre, including the Abbey Quilters.

Mr Hemmings Day of Dance

13 Replies

Day of Dance
The annual Day of Dance today in Abingdon was hosted by Mr Hemmings Traditional Abingdon Morris Dancers. Their invited guests were Armaleggan and Ashnah.
Day of Dance
Armalleggan are a rowdy stick bashing Border Morris side who practise in Cumnor.
Day of Dance
Ashnah are tribal style belly dancers, and come from Abingdon.
Day of Dance
The day is organised by Mr Les Badcock – a life long Abingdonian.
Day of Dance
The day had a family feel with quite a few children of members following the event. There were occasions when everybody could join in the dance and the children loved that.
Day of Dance
The Day started at Annie’s Tea Room and ended at the Royal British Legion car park. They also danced at the Broad Face, the Market Place twice, the Black Swan and Brewery Tap.
Day of Dance
The Mr Hemmings dancers have been encouraging ladies to join in for two or three years, and this year there was also one or two younger dancers.

The day of dance used to be on the Saturday nearest the birthday of the original Mr Tom Hemmings in early May. The move to early July happened in 2017.