Coronavirus – the shutdown in Lucca , and Abingdon’s twinning to Lucca through John Jones

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shutdown in Lucca
Twin town Lucca is in emergency isolation, like the rest of Italy, until 3rd April at least, because of the Coronavirus. Council offices are operating but not open to the public. The Mayor has had the virus (or at least that is how google translate renders Vista la positività del sindaco ai test sul Coronavirus … The famous medieval walls are closed to avoid gatherings. To go to work or move for health reasons a self-certificate is needed to be presented to officials overseeing the emergency. There is an absolute ban on movement for those under quarantine or who have tested positive for coronavirus.
shutdown in Lucca
If everything returns to relative normality by the end of June then the 23rd summer festival in Lucca will be headlined by Paul McCartney. This event looks very big. Bob Dylan performed in the first Summer concert in 1998, and The Rolling Stones in 2017.
shutdown in Lucca
Lucca is a bigger place than Abingdon. The town twinning with Lucca happened because of Mr John Jones. He wrote a history of the City in Italian and English.
shutdown in Lucca
As an officer in the Royal Artillery Mr Jones served in Italy in World War II, and took part in the liberation of Lucca in 1944. He loved the City and returned many times and became an unofficial ambassador, and an honorary citizen of the City. Giacomo Puccini was born in Lucca and Mr Jones loved his Operas. His early attempts to speak Italian, in a not very comprehensible but very charming way, made him many friends.

In Abingdon he became a well known local politician. He was Mayor of Abingdon in 1966, and Chairman of the Vale of White Horse in 1989, and became a Freeman of the town of Abingdon. In 1986 he was given the O.B.E by her Majesty the Queen.

He organised the twinning with Lucca in 1972. He was also honoured in twin town Colmar, in France, and Schongau, in Germany, for furthering European understanding.

Coronavirus – the social shutdown begins in Abingdon

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The day after the PM told the nation to avoid unnecessary contact and travel, and to stay away from pubs and theatres, the social activity shutdown has begun.

Most of the churches in Abingdon will be closed next Sunday.  The Methodist church said ‘It is with sadness that we recommend that worship services in Methodist Churches are suspended for the time being in line  with Government guidance.’ The Archbishops of Canterbury and York are also calling for Church of England churches to put public worship on hold  and become a ‘different sort of church’.
the social shutdown
At Preston Road Community Centre we met tonight and decided that this evening’s Bingo would be the last for a while. This did mean giving the Easter egg prizes away in one go rather than between now and Easter. But to compensate for that the Preston Road Jackpot of £200 will be won this evening.

A lot of the groups meeting at the community centre have already decided to stop meeting. That includes U3A, and the twinning society. The food bank will continue to operate but with social distancing measures.

The VWHDC (Vale of White Horse District Council) have announced the closure of:

  • Community-based leisure events and activities at their arts centres involving older and vulnerable people
  • All formal council meetings until the end of March have been postponed 

the social shutdown
The voluntary sector is very dependent on retired volunteers, many over seventy.

Oxfam cannot handle new donations because of reduced volunteers, and are likely not to open from tomorrow because they have not enough staff.
the social shutdown
British Heart Foundation cannot handle donations for similar reasons. They will also have closures when they do not have enough volunteers.

The town centre was busy on Monday with the Market in town. It was quieter today, Tuesday, but people were still stocking up on essentials. Items running low included: eggs, flour, pasta, long life milk, disinfectant, toilet rolls, paracetamol, tinned fruit and tinned vegetables. Waitrose got a delivery of toilet rolls but it was gone in 44 minutes. A similar thing happened at Savers.
the social shutdown
Chemists have run out of hand sanitisers and face masks.
the social shutdown
The two town centre surgeries are checking people before they go into the waiting room to ensure they do not have a fever or any symptoms.

The roads were quiet with people from Miele and other Abingdon companies increasingly working from home from today.

Ladybirds Wake Up on a Sunny Day

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Ladybirds Waking on a Sunny Day
Near St Helen’s Church a group of Ladybirds were looking for food on a Comfrey Plant.
Ladybirds Waking on a Sunny Day
They had woken up from their group hibernation.
Ladybirds Waking on a Sunny Day
Forsythia was in flower nearby.
Ladybirds Waking on a Sunny Day
Walking along the Ock Valley Walk there were many blossoms and tiny leaves.
Ladybirds Waking on a Sunny Day
Celandine flowers grew up among the young nettles and ivy.

Abingdon 100 years ago – March 1920

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Saturday 06 March 1920
Abingdon 100 years ago
The Cattle Market was re-opened on Monday for fat stock only, under the Restriction Order for Foot and Mouth, and the supply was twelve beasts and 45 sheep, which were allocated to the town.

The Rev. Charles Deal, for over 10 years Minister of the Baptist Chapel, Ock Street, Abingdon, who has resigned, and is taking up work near London, preached his farewell sermon to a large congregation on Sunday evening last.

The coal shortage was referred to at the Abingdon Council meeting last week. It appeared that the amount of coal allocated the town was about 1,800 tons short of the maximum, and it was stated that last Thursday there was scarcely any coal for sale in the town.

From the proceeds of a recent concert given in the Corn Exchange by the Abingdon Choral Society, £6 has been given to the Cottage Hospital, and £5 to the local Sanatorium Comforts Fund.

At the County Bench on Monday, Mrs A. Hedderley, of Wootton Farm. Abingdon, was fined 5s for allowing two bulls to stray on the highway.

Saturday 13 March 1920

Abingdon 100 years ago
Plans for the Abingdon War Memorial have been exhibited in the Roysse Room during the past and present weeks for inspection by the townspeople, who are asked to write their opinions on slips provided. There are three designs —one by Mr J. G. T. West, architect, of Abingdon, appointed by the Council, which is estimated to cost £500 ; one Mr C O. Wright, art master of Roysse School, Abingdon, estimated to coat £1,850 ; and the other by Mrs Councillor E. Reynolds, a probable cost of £300.

ln the Saturday League matches the Abingdon Town Club beat Steventon by 14 goals to nil.

The Arts League Service gave a capital entertainment in the Abingdon Corn Exchange, on Wednesday evening last week. The audience although not a large one, highly appreciated a refined, artistic and pleasant evening

The annual boat race between the past and present, scholars of Abingdon Roysse School came off in the Culham Reach on Wednesday, and resulted in the Old Boys being defeated by two lengths.

The Abingdon Pierrot Troupe ‘The Cheerios’, gave a capital entertainment in the Corn Exchange, on Thursday evening in last week, in aid of the local Cottage Hospital. There was crowded house and the performers received enthusiastic reception.

Saturday 20 March 1920

Abingdon 100 years ago

A sale of work was held in the Abingdon Wesleyan Schoolroom Thursday in last week, to clear off a debt of about £80 on the Circuit Fund. The receipts came to over £100. The Mayor presided at the opening ceremony, which was performed by Mrs H. T. Clarke, of Waste Court, Abingdon.

At the Abingdon Post Office last week a roll of honour tablet was unveiled and dedicated, bearing the names of employees who served in the war, and four who lost their lives. The tablet is of carved oak, and was unveiled by the Mayor and dedicated by the Vicar. The frame is of ornamental carving, surmounted with the Abingdon Borough Arms in green and gold. The tablet is placed in the public department ol the Post Office.

At the Borough Police Court Tuesday, Mrs Clara Vretch, proprietress of the Queen’s Hotel, Market Place, Abingdon, was fined 7s 6d for allowing her dog to be in the street unmuzzled.

Saturday 27 March 1920
Abingdon 100 years ago
The Abingdon Ivy ” Lodge of Oddfellows’ balance sheet for the previous year just published show a total amount of funds in the adult branch of £4,505, there being an increase of £183 during the year. In the juvenile section the total fund is £249, the increase for last year being £14.

 The Abingdon Cottage Hospital have arranged for another annual house to house collection in Abingdon and the neighbouring villages by a committee of ladies

In aid of the National Life Boat Institution an Oxford undergraduate party gave a theatrical entertainment on Wednesday evening in last week, to a large and appreciative audience at the Abingdon Corn Exchange.

At the Abingdon Rural District Council meeting at the Guildhall, Abingdon, on Monday last ,Mr H. Weaving presiding, the Surveyor’s estimate for road repairs during the ensuing year amounting to £9,605 9s was passed

William M. Grundy, headmaster, Roysse School, Abingdon, was fined 7s 6d under the Dog Muzzling Order (to prevent Rabies)

On Wednesday, Harry Dixey, an old Abingdon man of 72 years was charged with absconding from the Abingdon Workhouse, on March 15th from which date he had been wandering about, and was arrested in Wootton road. Defendant was before the Court a month ago on a similar charge and cautioned. The Bench now committed him to seven days with such hard labour as the defendant was certified able to perform.

Thankyou for the extracts to the Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette on the British Newspaper Archive. Picture of cattle weighing machine and Oddfellow lunch from Oxford Journal Illustrated. The notice of the War Memorial and animal circus came from the North Berks Herald.