On Sunday afternoon, the Abbey Brass played in the Abbey Gardens. The concert involved the training band followed by the main band. There was shade under the trees for the band and the audience.
The recently re-opened Abbey Meadows Outdoor Pool, nearby, has been getting full over recent sunny weekends.
Thrupp Lake also attracted outdoor swimmers. At least they were not bombing about on jet skies as this is supposed to be as a wildlife haven.
Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette © Successor rightsholder unknown (Digitised by https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Saturday 06 July 1918
Mr J Chivers, draper High Street, Abingdon, has received official information that his eldest son, 2nd Lieut. H. Chivers, A,S.C., has been accidentally killed in France. He leaves a widow and two children.
Pte Frank Gilbert Tarry, East Yorks Regt., son of Mrs Tarry, East St Helen’s, Abingdon, is posted as missing.
Saturday 13 July 1918
Pte. Walter Green, 44, a driver in the A.S.C. Remount Depot at Bristol, of West St. Helen Street, Abingdon, was kicked by a horse on July 3rd, and died the following day in the Hospital. Deceased had only joined up about fortnight, and in the A.S.C. a little over a week. He leaves a widow and several young children, and had one son killed in a flying accident a short time ago.
Saturday 20 July 1918
Sec-Lieut. P. L. Howard, Royal Berks, son of Arthur Howard, chemist, Caldecott Road, is reported missing.
France’s National Day was celebrated in Abingdon on Friday last, when the town was gay with flags. In the evening there was demonstration in the Park, and a procession through the town. The proceedings terminated by the band playing the French National Anthem, and God Save King.
Saturday 27 July 1918
Pte. George Wiggins, Royal Berks, of Ock Street, who was reported missing on August 22nd 1917, is now officially assumed to have died on that date.
A shrine has been erected in the Vineyard, Abingdon, near the Malthouse, and was dedicated by the Vicar. The shrine is the gift of Lady Norman, of Stratton House, Abingdon, and is made from wood and metal from H.M.S Britannic.
Pte. Frederick Giddings, R,.E., Mayotts Road, Abingdon, formerly employed by Mr Stroads, painter and previously posted as missing has now been officially reported as having died in Germany. He leaves a widow and two children.
(The A.S.C (Army Service Corps) was the Logistics Regiment of their day. Two of the Abingdon army deaths were from the A.S.C. – both accidental.)
Mr Hemmings Day of Dance took place on Saturday, and attracted ten different teams, and so was one of the biggest ever – even bigger than the World Cup quarter finals. Les Badcock, the leader of the Mr Hemmings Traditional Abingdon Morris Dancers, does a lot of the organising, and helped put together this big event.
It took place on the same day as the Yeah Baby charity music festival, so there was a lot happening in town. and it was hot, hot, hot and the dancers were glad to find a bit of shade at the Abbey Gateway.
The troop in green are The Oyster Girls, a clog dancing side all the way from the Isle of Wight. They crossed the sea to be here. Many thanks to them.
Dancers also found a cool shady area under the old County Hall. Pictured here are Masons Apron, a group originally from the Masons Arms in Headington, who have migrated to Long Hanborough over time.
Mr Hemmings Traditional Abingdon Morris Dancers was formed in 1978, with local men who had previously danced with the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers.
In the last two years the Mr Hemmings group has opened up to women.
Another group on the day were the Garston Gallopers from East Garston in the valley of the race horse – a sport followed by Royalty.
Other groups included Bampton, Lepton Morris, Three Horse Shoes Morris, Ashnah American Tribal Style Belly Dancing, Mabel Gubbins: Rapper sword dancers and Stroud Morris. Stroud Morris are pictured above in the green and red jester tights – the green is for the hills, and the red for the famous red Stroud cloth.
P.S I have just requested my internet host to add a SSL certificate onto this site in moving with the times. The internet host will have to migrate it to a different server to make that work. If there are any problems in the migration the blog will move temporarily to twitter @abingdonblog.
The 10th and final Yeah Baby Free Music Festival was on the Market Place this morning and afternoon. It was also Mr Hemmings Day of Dance (report later) and England beat Sweden 2-0 in the world cup quarter finals to reach a semi final match against Croatia or Russia. One of the Yeah Baby singers sang Three Lions before the game. We are still dreaming (video above).
On Friday there had been a non school uniform day in many schools in Abingdon to raise money for Yeah Baby. They paid £1 each for the privilege and got entered in the draw on the Market Place.
The Abingdon-on-Thames Fire Service were there to show their support.
Round the Market Place were stalls including beer, cakes and a balloon race.
There were bands and children’s entertainers on the main stage.
Those who would like to support the event but were unable make it because of the morris dancing or football can donate £5 by texting BABY to 70456.
All the money goes to Helen & Douglas House, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), and the Amber Phillpott Trust – a trust set up to research a cure for leukemia with the help of Birmingham University. Amber Phillpott was the daughter of musician James who organises the event with friend Leon.