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Abingdon Town Council crest with grey background

Museum closed Tuesday 19th July due to hot weather

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Due to the expected high temperatures, we are keeping the museum closed tomorrow Tuesday 19th July. We will be open again on Wednesday 20th July. Keep cool, and we will see you then!

 

Abingdon Town Council crest with grey background

Abingdon backs the Lionesses in Euro 2022

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The County Hall museum is flying the St George’s Flag to show Abingdon’s support for England in the European Women’s Football Championship which kicks off today at Old Trafford when England take on Austria.  The flag will be flown for the duration of England’s participation in the tournament, so it will hopefully remain up until the final on Sunday 31 July.

Abingdon Town Council crest with grey background

Vacancy for Town Clerk/Chief Executive

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The current Town Clerk of Abingdon-on-Thames, Nigel Warner, will retire from his position later this year.  The vacancy for Town Clerk/ Chief Executive will be advertised in July 2022.  Please visit this website at a later date for further details.

Abingdon Town Council crest with grey background

We are recruiting – Committee Clerk

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The town council is looking for an enthusiastic and committed person to join our small team.  You will be responsible for ensuring comprehensive management of all town council and committee meetings, including publishing agendas, attending meetings and drafting minutes.  You may be a specialist or interested in developing an expertise in governance and meetings.

You can find out more here.

Abingdon Town Council crest with grey background

Brian Tonkin Town Clerk 1985 – 2000

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The Town Flag is flying at half-mast on Tuesday 28 June to mark the funeral of Brian Tonkin, Town Clerk of Abingdon 1985 to 2000. Brian died on 21 May at the age of 81.  Brian and his wife Averil lived in a care home in Faringdon and Brian had been poorly for some years.

Brian was very well known in Abingdon.  He worked at the Vale of White Horse DC before being appointed Town Clerk in 1985 and retired in 2000.  He was active in the town including with Abingdon Town FC and the Rotary Club.

On 23 June Brian’s wife of 58 years, Averil, passed away at the age of 82 and so they had a joint funeral.  Averil was also very active in the town including in the Inner Wheel.

Brian and Averil are survived by his daughter Faye, son Lee and grandchildren.  Any cards/ letters may be sent via Edward Carter Funeral Directors, 107 South Avenue, Abingdon. OX14 1QS. Any donations in Brian’s memory to the RNLI.

Brian and Averil will be fondly remembered by all who knew them for their humour and their love of Abingdon; they will be greatly missed by all who knew them.

Abingdon celebrates the Platinum Jubilee in style

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Abingdon residents enjoyed four days of events to mark the Queen’s 70 year reign, with both the Platinum Jubilee Meadow Festival and the Bun Throw drawing huge crowds – over 20,000 people.

The Platinum Jubilee Meadow Festival at Rye Farm Meadow welcomed over 15,000 people over three days to enjoy music, performances, activities provided by local groups, plus lots of food and drink.  The weather was mostly great and the event went off without a hitch.

The Bun Throw saw 7,000 residents stretching to catch one of the 5,000 buns specially prepared by Millets Farm and thrown off the roof by the Mayor, Cllr Andy Foulsham, Town Councillors, Layla Moran MP and a range of invited guests, including representatives of the emergency services.

As well as these events organised by the town council, residents held a range of street parties across Abingdon.  The town did Her Majesty proud with all the celebrations planned, set up and run by staff and volunteers from a range of organisations.

Read more about what happened here.

Platinum Jubilee Meadow Festival – Wednesday cancelled

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Everyone has been working hard on the Platinum Jubilee plans for next week but unfortunately last week there was an illegal encampment comprising 17 traveller caravans on site.  The travellers have now left but a significant amount of time was lost for the site to be prepared and this has meant that it has been necessary to cancel the Wednesday evening event.  However we are pleased to confirm that we are on course to open the Festival at 11am on Thursday 2 June.

This was a difficult decision to take but the town council needs to ensure that the site is up and running for everything which is planned for the other days of the week and we look forward to as may residents as possible joining us.

Further updates will be added to the website as soon as possible.

Platinum Jubilee bunting races ahead with help from across the community

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The Abingdon Bunting Brigade have been toiling away to prepare wonderful festival bunting for the event at Rye Farm Meadow and they are collecting a steady stream of completed sections, all of which will be used to brighten up the event.

Groups which have joined in include the Guides, Scouts, a swimming club, the Rock Choir and residents of Bridge House Care Home.

Organiser Kay O’Regan said ‘This is exactly what we hoped for when we set this project up and we are delighted to officially welcome the whole team to the Bunting Brigade!’  Chantelle Merritt, the Lifestyle Coordinator at Bridge House said, ‘The residents absolutely loved making it and are very happy to have been part of a community project.’

There is still time for people to get involved and the Bunting Brigade’s facebook group has all the details.

Come along to the Platinum Jubilee Meadow Festival to admire the handiwork of your friends and neighbours.  You can find out more here: Platinum Jubilee Meadow Festival 1-4 June 2022 – Abingdon on Thames Town Council

Platinum Jubilee Meadow Festival wristbands available from TUESDAY 17 MAY

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If you’re planning to pick up your #Abingdon Platinum Jubilee Meadow Festival wristbands next week please don’t come in on Monday 16 May as unfortunately they’re still in the post to us! They’ll be available from Tuesday 17 May and the information centre will be open from 10 to 4.
Abingdon Town Council crest with grey background

Why is the European Flag flying from the County Hall Museum

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The flag flying from the County Hall Museum today (May 9) is the European flag, which was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1955 and which is flown on ‘Europe Day’ each year on May 9 to celebrate peace and unity in Europe. The Council of Europe was set up by the UK and other countries in 1949 to uphold human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe.  It originally had nothing to do with the European Union but the EU now uses the same flag, which has become a symbol for the whole of Europe.  There have always been 12 stars on the European Flag, regardless of the number of members of either organisation.

The town council flies a range of different flags through the year to mark a wide range of events, including the Union Flag for major national and royal occasions, St George’s Cross to mark St George’s Day (23 April) and more recently the flag of Ukraine, which was raised in solidarity with that country while it is at war.

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