Inaugural Poppy Ball in Abingdon

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The inaugural Poppy Ball took place this evening at the Hilton Hotel, Abingdon.

Organised by Clare Oldfield on behalf of the Abingdon Royal British Legion Club, the event brought together local musical talent and community spirit in support of the Poppy Appeal.

On arrival guests saw a vintage military jeep and a rare 1945 ambulance — of only around 20 known to exist.

Guests were welcomed by re-enactors from The Redline Home Guard, a historical group dedicated to honouring the men of Berkshire and Oxfordshire who volunteered to defend Britain during the Second World War.

Inside the ballroom, tables were decorated with poppy arrangements created by the Abingdon Flower Club.

Music was provided by Abingdon SwingTime, a 20-piece swing orchestra.

Their music had guests on the dance floor twirling around and doing under arm turns.

A raffle with prizes donated by local businesses, together with a secret auction for a specially donated picture, helped raise funds for the Poppy Appeal.

The Abingdon Monk Finds a Woodland Home

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While exploring Abingdon’s green spaces, I also discovered where the Abingdon Monk has been retired. The wooden monk once stood on the roundabout near Fairacres and Tesco. After toppling over once, it was propped back up with a splint,

but when it fell again it was found to be too rotten to repair. There was a split running from head to side.

Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council has now given the monk a new purpose as a bug hotel, placed among the naturally decaying tree trunks at Boxhill Wood. The sculpture was originally created for a Britain in Bloom project, commissioned by Abingdon Town Council and sponsored by the Abbey Press. People used to dress it up for festive and other occasions.

There has been talk of a replacement. Other towns have their own wooden monks (including one in Cirencester), but for now there is no Abingdon monk.

Healthy Abingdon – New “Green Spaces” Website Pages

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Healthy Abingdon — the group behind the annual HealthFest on the Market Place — have added a new section to their website all about Green Spaces in Abingdon. The aim is to encourage people to enjoy local parks and open areas to boost both physical and mental wellbeing.

Today I visited Boxhill Woods by the River Stert.

There are currently 13 green spaces featured on the site. Each one includes a map, directions, a short description, photos, and links to health walks that connect them. More spaces will be added soon.

The organisers say: “We still have more to do, but are giving you a chance to see what we’ve done so far and to share your comments or ideas to help us improve.”

The project is funded by Active Oxfordshire, who aim to make it easier for people to discover and enjoy local green areas.

You can explore the new pages at: https://www.healthyabingdon.org.uk/green-spaces

The week ahead in Abingdon

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The week ahead in Abingdon brings fireworks, remembrance, concerts, and a local football derby.

Thursday 6th November
Chris Fox brings his mix of folk guitar and live looping to the Unicorn Theatre, joined by Wednesday’s Wolves. The Unicorn always makes a good setting for folk concerts.

Friday 7th November
There’s history in the Roysse Room, where Gareth Howell gives the final talk in his WWII series – 1945: The End of the Third Reich. Please book your tickets at the Museum Reception
or online at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/abingdon-museum (+0.84 booking fee applied)

Under the floodlights at The Northcourt, Abingdon United take on Milton United in a local derby. It’s part of the Combined Counties League Premier Division North, a league made up of clubs from Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and west London and west Surrey.

Saturday 8th November
The St Michael’s Christmas Fair runs from 10am to 2:30pm with crafts, books, cakes, a raffle, live music, children’s stalls, and those famous bacon butties. Proceeds support church funds and Emmaus Oxford.

As darkness falls, there’ll be fireworks behind Long Furlong Community Centre. Gates open at 6pm, and fireworks start somewhere between 7:30 and 7:45. It’s a family-friendly evening organised by the 2nd Abingdon Scouts, complete with a BBQ and hot drinks.

Other displays will be happening around the town: some at schools, one at the Nags Head, and a big event at Dalton Barracks next week.

Abingdon & District Musical Society perform Mozart’s Requiem and Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 1 at St Helen’s Church on Saturday evening.

Sunday 9th November

On Remembrance Sunday, there will be the traditional parade from the Guildhall to St Helen’s Church for the 10am service, and then the parade on to the War Memorial for the act of remembrance from 10:50am.

A smaller gathering will also mark Armistice Day on Tuesday 11th November at 11am beside the War Memorial.

On Sunday afternoon, the Pavlova Wind Quintet join Glynne Butt on piano at St Michael’s for Mozart and Glinka.