Back in May 2014, Greene King sold 275 pubs to Hawthorn Leisure, a new operator that was quickly expanding with the help of overseas investment. This winter the two Abingdon pubs that were part of that initial deal –
the Cross Keys
and the Saxton Arms in Abingdon, have boards in the windows to say they are closed.
Abingdon Model Railway show hits town again on 28th February at the Tennis and Leisure Centre.
This year you can see a scale model of Abingdon Station – now a supermarket and a home for the elderly.
You can also see a model of Radley station (with a bit of modellers imagination added) so you could perhaps picture a ride on the bunk from Radley to Abingdon. Radley and Abingdon history clubs are there to tell you more.
Thanks to Mike for the poster and Elizabeth for the pictures.
As Eddie Redmayne has just won an Oscar for Best Actor, for his portrayal of Professor Stephen Hawking – in The Theory of Everything … here is a picture of him with, Mark Chalk Iles, a former student at Abingdon School, whose mum still lives in Abingdon. Eddie and Mark appeared together in the National Youth Music Theatre production of The Ballad of Salaman Pavey at the Globe Theatre in about 1999. Mark is currently appearing in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
The forthcoming Atom Science festival happens in March, and you can pick up leaflets from Mostly Books, or read about it online. The festival will include, among many features, a well illustrated presentation called “Cosmic Quest – From Babylon to Big Bang”.
This Thursday there will be one of Atom’s regular talks at the Kings Head and Bell.
Publishing House, at the bottom of The Vineyard, has gained prior approval to change from offices to residential use, and has now been sold.
It was vacated by Connexions, the agency charged with helping to find young people work, in August 2011, and there has been a To Let sign / For Sale sign outside since.