Poppy Festival on the Market Place

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Poppy Festival
There was the first ever Poppy Festival on the Market Place in Abingdon today – 28th October 2017. Army cadets were out in force to sell poppys, and soldiers from Dalton Barracks came to support the event.
Poppy Festival
Clare organised the event, and brought together many poppy themed stalls, and people.
Poppy Festival
There was a stall selling poppy cakes …
Poppy Festival
A giant poppy was brought into the Market Place to the sound of drum and pipes.
Poppy Festival
This event is at the commencement of the fortnight of the Poppy Appeal leading up to Remembrance Day on 12th November. Homebase donated a waterfall of poppys like the ones first seen at the Tower of London, if a little smaller.
Poppy Festival
The Royal British Legion Riders Branch were there. Vintage cars came later.
Poppy Festival
Thre Titanic house band will be on at the Royal British Legion Club in the evening 8.30 pm,and tomorrow there will be a sponsored poppy run in Abingdon, one of seven being held.

Most Recently opened Take Away and Films for Children at Half Term

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Most Recent Take Away
Abingdon’s most recent takeaway is at the corner of Bridge Street and Turnagain Lane. It opened on 29th September.

This evening felt cooler but the stars looked brighter.

On Nags Head Island there were lights both sides of the bridge. As well as the panoply of lights and flares along the Nag’s Head side, Annie’s at the Boat House was still lit up on the other side.
Most Recent Take Away
Annie has been putting on free films for children during half term and up until 31st October, and has many other Halloween themed activities.

ABINGDON HEALTH WALKS – The history of a local group.

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Thanks to Viv for this history, and to the Skuses for sending pictures of Health Walks over the years …
ABINGDON HEALTH WALKS
When I retired from teaching in 2003 I wanted to help in our local community. I was really lucky; I read an article on Health Walks and their benefits. I love walking and the outdoors, so started the daunting task of recruiting volunteers to help me.

I used the gym at the Leisure centre where I started talking to any individual who enjoyed exercise and admitted to liking walking! I recruited them and we started one walk on a Wednesday morning from the White Horse Leisure Centre in Audlett Drive.

Initially we had one led walk and only 3-4 walkers. Gradually we have grown and grown, so to date we now lead 8 different walks per week as follows:-

Monday and Wednesday mornings at 10.30 am. There are 3 walks a gentle, moderate and a brisk.

On Thursdays mornings we have a first steps walk that is based at Preston Road Community centre. This is 30-45 minutes in length and is the gentlest of our walks
ABINGDON HEALTH WALKS
In October we are starting a Friday morning moderate walk from the White horse Leisure Centre.

Since we started 14 years ago Abingdon Health Walks have grown from one weekly walk with 4 walkers, to 8 walks of varying speeds every week. A typical attendance on any single walk is 10-20 people.

We receive support from the Leisure centre but are not funded in any way. We believe this is our strength- no officialdom. We have around 300 regular walkers on our database. 75 walkers have undertaken training to become leaders or backmarkers.

These committed volunteers also organise coach trips, holidays(3 this year), a picnic, pub walks, evening pub walks and a Christmas party.

Coordinating this Scheme is the most fulfilling activity that I am involved in. The support of the leaders and the group is amazing. The walkers support of each other, whenever there is a need, gives me faith in the people of Abingdon and the surrounding area.

Old rooms – New room – Guildhall Announcement by Abingdon Town Council

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od rooms
OLD ROOMS

Currently the historic rooms of the Guildhall are not available for hire. By 2018, to allow better use of the ground floor and old magistrates court the following has already been given planning permission, and will go ahead:

* Accessible ground floor toilets
* Muniment room for archives
* Add platform lift to give access to the old magistrates court – previously used by the music centre
* Repaving of Roysse Court

The council also intends to open the rest of the building in 2018, but at present there is no disabled access to the Bear Room, Council Chamber or Abbey Room. The council’s proposed way of doing this would involve altering a historic staircase to install a lift. The council have already published a report saying that this staircase has been altered extensively in the past and so can be altered again to allow accessibility. The report also rejects the idea of an external lift. But they have agreed to seek an independent expert who can re-assess their findings.
od rooms
NEW ROOM

The council is currently in discussion with other public-sector partners as to how the Abbey Hall can be used but are not at liberty to divulge these ideas as yet. The council would like to share these exciting ideas as soon as all affected parties have been properly consulted.