This article was found in the Oxford University and City Herald in 1830.
That was in the days before the railway brought over a thousand people from Oxford to the pleasure fair. That was probably also before the pleasure fair had entertainments like boxing, photography, roundabouts, switchbacks, shooting saloons, and ‘fish and chip’ vans.
Organised by local Charity Against Breast Cancer, the town was touched with pink today with balloons in shop windows, bras tied round the pillars of the County Hall …
and a lot of stalls and activities going on the Market Place.
Part fund raiser and part raising awareness, you could look through microscopes at slides showing healthy and cancerous ducts. Against Breast Cancer funds groundbreaking research to improve detection, treatment and increase survival after breast cancer diagnosis.
Mr Hemming’s Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers provided some of the entertainment, and invited people to join in the last dance. They welcome new dancers, men and women, and you can go along on Monday 16th October at 8 pm to the Royal British Legion on Spring Road to have a go, and any Monday after that.
The Crown and Thistle were there providing burgers. Among their upcoming events is Royal Blood, a murder mystery evening on 10th November.
There were various stalls where you could win prizes such as a lucky person who won on the wine or water game.
Mr Muddle provided an enthralling magic show for the children and adults.
Member of Abingdon Operatic Society were there to sing some songs from their upcoming show Sister Act starting 24th October. Tickets are on sale.
There was lots more …
The Vale of White Horse District Council has announced it is intending to build Council housing in place of Old Abbey House in the centre of Abingdon.
Using financial contributions from the nearby Old Gaol, where there was no social housing, the council plans to redevelop the former council offices at Old Abbey House.
The proposal for Council Housing on the site will help provide homes for local residents on the Council’s own waiting list.
This is subject to getting formal approval from the council, and planning permission.
The Regal Evesham together with the Friends of Abingdon will be showing films in the Unicorn Theatre from November.
The plan is to show new release films – probably starting with Paddington 2 and then the new Murder on the Orient Express and the new Star Wars. After Christmas there are some new British films coming out and they also hope to show the occasional classic film and some special events.
This is a trial cinema for a few months over the winter. The operators are keen to establish a permanent base in Abingdon but that won’t be long term in the Unicorn.
This evening saw the start of the new season of films with the ABCD Film Society in Abingdon who show their films at the Abbey Centre on Audlett Drive. Their first film was Arrival.