West Side Story at the Amey Theatre (Abingdon School)

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West Side Story is a reimagining of Romeo and Juliet, set among rival gangs in New York. With music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, it includes well-known songs such as America, Tonight, and Somewhere.

This week, the youth theatre company DIY Theatre Co, based in Sunningwell and Oxford, collaborated with musicians from Leiden (Netherlands), dancers from Grenoble (France), and actors from Bonn (Germany) – three of Oxford’s twin towns.

After rehearsals at Trinity Church, the international cast brought West Side Story to the Amey Theatre for final rehearsals, and performances on the 22nd and 23rd of August, including a Matinee.

The young performers gave strong and enthusiastic performances in both acting and dance, supported by a live band who were excellent.

The production brought together young people from across Europe, not only to stage a demanding musical but also to build links between the towns involved. The audience were enthusiastic and gave the cast sustained applause.

Fishing Line Traps Heron in Mill Stream

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On the morning of 13 August, a heron — a familiar visitor to the mill stream by Thames Street — was heard calling persistently from around 7:30 am. It soon became clear that the bird was in distress, unable to move far or leave the water.

The RSPCA arrived at the scene around 10:00 am and, seeing the bird’s condition, called in the fire service. Firefighters entered the water and lifted out the exhausted heron, which by then was too weak to resist.

The RSPCA said a fishing hook was lodged in the bird’s wing, with line trailing into the lilies and holding it fast.

Thanks go to G for the photograph and to J for passing on the story.

Remembering John and Jane Blacknall – 400 Years On

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A special service was held at St Nicolas Church this Thursday evening, 21 August, to remember John and Jane Blacknall, who both died on this day in 1625 during an outbreak of plague soon after King Charles I came to the throne.

John Blacknall left money for the upkeep of St Nicolas Church and to help the poor of the town. A tradition of leaving bread on his tomb for those in need was re-enacted at the service.

The Blacknall monument, which shows John, Jane, and two of their three children, was put up by the Blacknall charity in their memory.

The monument has been carefully restored for the 400th anniversary of their deaths, thanks to donations from the legacies of the late Doreen Barnes and the late Andrew Birks.

Father Paul Smith led the service, with a sermon by the Bishop of Dorchester, Gavin Collins. The service used words from the early 1600s, including the King James version of the bible, and music by composer Orlando Gibbons, a contemporary of John Blacknall who also died in 1625, sung by a choir.

In his sermon, Bishop Gavin spoke about John Blacknall’s generosity, reminding the congregation that the good things we have are given by God are to be shared with others.

The Old Anchor’s return

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The Old Anchor Inn has reopened. The “To Let” sign has gone, and the much-loved riverside pub is back in use. Sitting by the Thames, the Old Anchor is a familiar sight in paintings and photographs, and its return is good news for Abingdon.

Well worth popping in to raise a glass to the Old Anchor’s return.

On the first evening, the pub was packed, and the new landlord was pleased to see so many people. To encourage local custom, there’s an offer of 10% off food and drink for anyone living within three miles who signs up to the loyalty scheme.

At the moment, it’s drinks only, but a meal wagon will be arriving soon, and the kitchen will follow. The back room and garden are open, and well decorated, and the pub felt much bigger than I remembered.