Ethiopian Papier Mache Cow on Abingdon Market Place

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Christian Aid Cow
I was suprised to see a large cow at the Christian Aid stall on Abingdon Market Place yesterday. The message is that Christian Aid can provide cows to vulnerable women in Ethiopia – just £150 is enough to buy a cow and a more promising future.

The cow had been made with 2 A frames, and chicken wire, overlaid with papier mache.
Christian Aid Cow
The cow was also to be seen in Abingdon Baptist Church this evening for the Church in Abingdon Christian Aid service. It was made in the garage of a member of the Baptist Church, and will now be retiring to Wales to join a zoo of papier mache animals.

As this is Christian Aid week houses in some areas may have received a Christian Aid envelope. There are fewer collectors compared to 25 years ago when most houses in Abingdon got such an envelope. But of the £13,000 raised in Abingdon for Christian Aid last year, £9,000 still came from house collections.

Mr Hemmings Day of Dance 2015

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Mr Hemmings Day of Dance 2015
On 9th May 2015, Mr Hemmings Traditional Abingdon Morris dancers hosted their annual day of dance in Abingdon.
Mr Hemmings Day of Dance 2015
This always takes place on a Saturday nearest the birthday of former Abingdon Morris dance legend Tom Hemmings who kept the Tradition of Abingdon Morris Dancing alive in the mid-19th century.
Mr Hemmings Day of Dance 2015
Mr Les Badcock, the bagman of the Mr Hemmings Dancers, brings together many varied dancing styles and colourful dancers for the day of dance.
Mr Hemmings Day of Dance 2015
From Ashnah who do American Tribal Style Bellydance ….
Mr Hemmings Day of Dance 2015
to the Hook Eagle Morris who black their faces, carry big sticks and are in the tradition of Border Morris.

Also on the list to attend were: Borderline Morris, Hazzaz, Mabel Gubbins Rapper, Old Speckled Hen, and Stroud Morris Dancers.

The groups performed on the Market Place either side of lunch, and outside the pubs of Ock Street and the town centre in the morning and afternoon. Most of the groups can be seen dancing together in this video …

Town Council Election Results

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Town Council Election Results
The count for Abingdon Town Council took place this morning in the large sports hall at the Vale of White Horse Leisure Centre.
Town Council Election Results
Angela got elected as an independent after a lot of hard work, and help from volunteers. She is with Helen from the same ward who got elected back, and will become the Mayor at the Mayor Making on Wednesday.
Town Council Election Results
At the count were some of the Labour people. Left to right are Natalie who stood in Caldecott, Ray who helps organise the local party, and Mike who stood in the Abbey Ward.
Town Council Election Results
Both Monica and Sandy Lovatt were re-elected for the Conservatives.
Town Council Election Results
Julie Mayhew-Archer (24 years on the council) and Lesley Legge (20 years) did not stand this time. They have been two of the most effective councillors in all that time.
Town Council Election Results
I also stood in Caldecott Ward and would like to thank the 1000+ people who voted for me. It was not quite enough. Alice and Mike Badcock, Sam Bowring, and Neil Fawcett got 1200+ and have been elected to serve the ward.

The results of the elections for Abingdon Town Council has resulted in:
10 Conservatives
8 Liberal Democrats
1 Independent

The full results can be seen at http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/java/support/Main.jsp?MODULE=ElectionSubParish&NAME=Abingdon&TYPE=RESULTSLIST

For a more personal blog about my election experience see 2015-election.blogspot.co.uk.

Conservatives Winning Here in Abingdon in 2015 Election

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Votes Counted So Far
The Oxford West and Abingdon parliamentary constituency was considered very marginal during the election campaign. People got lots of political material through the door. There were also the posters …
Votes Counted So Far
Nicola Blackwood, the Conservative candidate, had the biggest posters.
Votes Counted So Far
Anybody looking at garden posters beforehand would have thought that Layla Moran, of the Liberal Democrats, was winning here. There were hundreds.
Votes Counted So Far
The Labour Candidate, Sally Copley, asked  Labour voters, who had previously voted tactically for the Lib-Dems, to vote with their heart and return to Labour. But, anecdotally, some went even further tactically and voted Conservative. They considered Scottish Nationalism an even greater danger to the UK.
Votes Counted So Far
UKIP had a quiet campaign here in Abingdon, but quite a few people took their UKIP leaflet and stuck it in their window to show support.
Votes Counted So Far
There were areas where Green Party supporters went wild.
Votes Counted So Far
During the elections it was amazing to see such queues at polling stations. Thanks to Mike for this one at Trinity.
Votes Counted So Far
When all those votes were counted, Nicola Blackwood, of the Conservatives, increased her majority from just over 100, to almost 10,000.

The Conservatives went on to win 8 or the 10 Vale of the White Horse District Council (VWHDC) seats in Abingdon. Conservatives have won 29 of the 38 VWHDC district council seats, and the Lib-Dems 9.

Town Council results are counted tomorrow.