Sports & Leisure - Abingdon on Thames Town Council

Sad news regarding the cancellation of the 2020 Michaelmas and Runaway Fairs

The Abingdon Michaelmas and Runaway Fairs will not take place this year. The difficult decision to cancel was taken by Abingdon Town Council after much deliberation at a Council meeting last night (9^th September 2020).

Working closely with the organisers, Bob Wilson Funfairs Ltd, in consultation with the Showmen’s Guild; and taking advice from other regulatory bodies, concerns remain about the impact the fair could have on the town, given the anticipated size of the crowd and the risk that poses to public health.

The disappointing news follows in the wake of the recent cancellation of St Giles’ Fair in Oxford, Witney Feast and the Thame Fair.

Abingdon Town Council would like to thank everyone involved for their efforts in trying to find a way to allow the Fairs to go ahead and looks forward to working together next year for successful outcome for 2021.

The Mayor of Abingdon, Cllr Charlie Birks, said: “It is frustrating that in such an unsettling and unpredictable time, our much loved and historic autumn fairs such have been added to the list of events cancelled this year but protecting large numbers of people in open spaces is challenging and complex, even when there is no pandemic to take into account. We know that the situation regarding the pandemic is ever changing, with the government announcing further restrictions yesterday. We are deeply disappointed to have to cancel the Fairs, it is a blow for the town and for the showmen whose livelihoods have suffered so much. All parties worked hard to see if the Fairs could proceed but we have come to the reluctant conclusion that we had to cancel this year. We hope the Fairs return to their rightful place in our town’s life in 2021.”

Notes for editors:

The Abingdon Michaelmas and Runaway Fairs are hiring (or “mop”) fairs which have their origins in the labour problems which prevailed after the Black Death pandemic of 1348/9.
The right to hold the Fairs is now consolidated in the Oxfordshire Act 1985 where it is stated in section 38 that “subject to the provisions of this section, the Town Council shall continue to hold the fairs customarily held in the town at the commencement of this Act” and this includes the Michaelmas Fair (or Hiring Fair) on the Monday falling first before 11^th October and on the following Tuesday and the Runaway Fair on the Monday next following the Michaelmas Fair.
This year the relevant dates would have been: Michaelmas Fair 5^th and 6^th October and Runaway Fair 12^th October 2020.
The requirement to hold the Fairs is contained in local legislation. However this legislation is itself subject to the overarching requirements of primary (national) legislation , pertinent in this case being public health requirements and the Coronavirus Act 2020.
The last time the Fairs were cancelled was during the Second World War, 1939 to 1945.

Issued by the Town Clerk, 10th September 2020.

Abingdon Museum Blog

We are pleased to announce the launch of the museum’s Blog!
The first blog post will be published on 8th May 2020, as a contribution of the museum to mark VEDay75.
The new blog section will be updated often and available on the menu bar located on the left side of the Museum Homepage.

Museum Family Indoor Activities

On this page you’ll find activities, games and quizzes for all the family.

MUSEUM JIGSAWS

Try out our our online museum jigsaw puzzles featuring photos from our museum collection and views here: https://www.jigsawplanet.com/AbingdonMuseum

MUSEUM CROSSWORDS

Test your knowledge with some mixed crossword created by our museum volunteer Bob!

Crossword no.1 (download the PDF here) – Check the answers.
Crossword no.2 (download the PDF here) – Check the answers.
Crossword no.3 (download the PDF here) – Check the answers.

A Crossword on the Museum’s collection.
Download the printable PDF version here.
Check the answers.

Abingdon Museum Crafting Crew

Abingdon Museum’s crafting crew creates live sessions for children to make art & fun objects from recycling and bits and bobs around the house. You can view their craft video sessions following this link: https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/abingdon-museum-youtube-channel

Christmas Craft for Adults

2D Christmas Tree – a fun Christmas craft project for adults from leftover wrapping paper.

Click the image below, follow step by step instructions and have fun creating your own artwork!

Christmas Craft

This year Abingdon Museum Crafting Crew can’t be at the museum doing Christmas Craft with you all as usual.
However, this year we are all getting used to new ways of doing things and so here are some Christmas Craft ideas for you to try at home.
Click the image below, follow the instructions and have fun creating your own artwork!

October Half-term Actvity: Aboriginal Art
Abingdon Museum Crafting Crew has put together a new craft activity to try at home during October Half-term. Each one has a name, a picture, a list of items you’ll need and some instructions. Click the image below, follow the instructions and have fun creating your own artwork!

It would be great if you could send in photos of any Artwork of yours and we can put them onto the museum website!

MUSEUM QUIZ

Ready to test your knowledge?
This quiz is about the Bun Throwing celebrations! Download the printable PDF version here.

COLOURING ACTIVITY

We’ve uploaded some colouring sheets, have fun colouring the museum and its collection.
Download the printable PDF version here.

If you like to find out more about the objects visit our collection online here https://ehive.com/collections/4128/abingdon-county-hall-museum

Mr Hemmings Hat and other curiosities

Celebrating 100 Years of Abingdon’s Museum Collections

2020 marks the centenary of the formation of the first museum committee. Come and find out out who began the museum and how it has developed through the years.
Why do we collect certain things and others?
What is the strangest object we have?

Location: Sessions Gallery, Abingdon Museum

Time: 10am – 4pm Tuesday – Sunday

Admission: Free

Plan your visit: This gallery is located on the museum’s first floor up 37 steps and is not lift accessible.

The Bob Frampton Prize – Winners Announcement

Bob Frampton and Mayor Charlie Birks congratulate Ruth Hunter, Chloe Johnson and Alice Le Tanter Gioanni as this years winners of the bob Frampton Prize. They are all equally different and original entries that thoughtfully reflect on the serious issues the prize addresses. Due to Covid 19 pandemic we are not be able to host a ‘live’ presentation of the awards this year but look forward to next years event and hope that you will make entries for the 2021 Bob Frampton Prize once the new theme is announced.

The Winners’ Entries:

A drawing by Alice

An artwork by Ruth

A poem by Chloe

Abingdon Environmental Activity Notice Board

Do you have an interesting Eco event coming up?
Do you have a local ‘environmental news’ story that could be shared?

Leave an A4 or smaller sheet with details at the gallery reception desk and we will try to make space on the board for you.

Exhibition – The Abingdon Fair… a medieval tradition?

The history of Abingdon’s fair tradition from the Middle Ages and its evolution into the longest street fair in Europe.

Every year Abingdon’s streets are closed for the Michaelmas Fair for two days in October, and once again the following week for the one-day ‘Runaway Fair’ But where does the street fair originate?
This exhibition traces the roots of the fair back to the Middle Ages, when multiple fairs were held in Abingdon. It follows the history through the centuries and takes a closer look at the origin of the Michaelmas Fair as hiring fair.
The exhibition also shows the more recent development of fairground rides and other attractions such as fortune tellers and boxing booths, and looks at the lives of the people that host the fair, the show people.

Come and experience the fun of Abingdon’s fair, past and present.

Location: Sessions Gallery, Abingdon Museum

Time: 10am – 4pm Tuesday – Sunday

Admission: Free

Plan your visit: This gallery is located on the museum’s first floor up 37 steps and is not lift accessible.

Aspects of Abingdon, through the eyes of artists and photographers.

Over the centuries, many artists and photographers have chosen views of Abingdon as the subject of their work. Some were local artists depicting their home, others came from further afield and took aspects of Abingdon to a wider audience. This exhibition reveals a changing and sometimes imagined townscape.

Location: Sessions Gallery, Abingdon Museum
Time: 10am-4pm Tuesday – Sunday
Admission: Free, donations gratefylly received
Plan your visit: This gallery is located on the museum’s first floor up 37 steps and is not lift accessible.

AAAHS Talk days at Abingdon Museum

Every third Saturday of the month

Come and listen to local experts talk about interesting topics at the museum.

Every third Saturday of the month, three talks will take place around the museum galleries. Each talk wil last 30 minutes and will be about different subjects about Abingdon’s history or chosen objects in the museum collection.

Please check the museum events programme for themes and times for each talk day.

Next talks day will be announced in September 2019.

Coronavirus Update

This information forms part of the Town Council’s dedicated webpage on the coronavirus. However it should not be used as a substitute for government advice.

The latest government advice may be accessed by clicking here. During the pandemic advice has changed frequently as the crisis has progressed and you are advised to check this page regularly.

Our services

Abingdon Town Council is working hard to maintain its usual services during this difficult time.

The Abingdon Town Council offices in Roysse Court are currently closed to the public, however staff are still working, and you can contact us at enquiries@abingdon.gov.uk or by calling 01235 522642. Normal office hours remain Monday to Friday 9 am – 5 pm. The Visitor Information Centre is available by email at this time at information@abingdon.gov.uk.

Abingdon Museum is currently closed to the public, but have worked hard to find ways for you to explore and enjoy the Museum while it is closed. Please browse the Museum’s pages on the website for information, activities, and a virtual tour.

The Abingdon Cemeteries remain open, but social distancing should be maintained at all times.

The Monday Market and the Farmers ‘ Markets continue to operate but for stalls selling essential items only.

Council action

Emergency funding is available to assist the work of groups who are supporting the community. The Council has established a £20,000 Emergency Fund to support the work of groups who are helping the community at this time by way of grant funding. For more details on how to access this fund please contact Nigel Warner at nigel.warner@abingdon.gov.uk or call 01235 522642.

By law the Council only financially assist organisations and not individuals.

Our decision making during this emergency

Meetings of the Council and its committees are currently taking place as virtual meetings via the platform Microsoft Teams. These meetings are open to the public and details are on the Meetings 2020/21 page.

Useful external website links and information

INTRODUCING ABIMEDS

Prescription delivery

The AbiMeds team has produced a useful information sheet about ways in which vulnerable people can get medicines delivered to their home. This can be found here.

During the current lockdown AbiMeds will be operating a limited, targeted service during this lockdown. There will be a telephone service advising on obtaining long-term delivery to anyone who calls in and a limited prescription delivery service on Fridays but this will only be available to those in the government’s Clinically Extremely Vulnerable category. All of Abingdon’s pharmacies offer some form of delivery service now but AbiMeds will provide a back-up for those in the CEV category if they have been unable to set up prescription delivery with their pharmacy.

Their phone number will be as before: 01865 818351, Monday to-Friday 9 am-4 pm.

Also, for one-off prescription needs, Abingdon Community Response team will be providing general coverage through neighbourhood volunteers in Abingdon

NHS: information can be found here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Public Health England has also produced a range of material to support the Stay Home, Save Lives’ campaign which is free to download and use. Public Health England is updated each day.

Vale of White Horse District information can be found here: Council:http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/news-events/coronavirus-covid-19-information

Oxfordshire County Council information can be found here: https://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/coronavirus-information-from-the-governm…

https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/council/coronavirus-covid-19/volunteering

Information of what to do if coronavirus affects your work, benefits or travel can be found on the Citizens Advice website: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/health/coronavirus-what-it-means-for-y… also the www.gov.uk

A website put together by Healthy Abingdon to assist can be found here: http://www.healthyabingdon.org.uk/coronavirus.htm

Local Support Groups/Advice

A local support group has been set up via Facebook called Abingdon Corona Virus Community Response to organise a network of area contacts to help vulnerable people with shopping, picking up prescriptions etc.

The group says:

“If you need any support (food/medicine/friendly chat/dog walking/info/ etc) or would like to kindly volunteer your support please email: abingdoncoronaresponse@gmail.com’’

NOTE: Please don’t send support requests or offers via PM on Facebook as the organisers cannot keep up with the volume of messages. Please use the email above to ensure your request or offer will be recorded and responded to effectively.

A website has also been created to provide information about all the support available within the Abingdon community during the Coronavirus outbreak. This can be found at http://www.abingdoncommunityresponse.org/

A new website has also been launched by Oxfordshire Community Voluntary Action (OCVA) called Oxfordshire All In https://www.oxfordshireallin.org/ to support groups across the county helping people in response to Covid-19.

Age UK Oxfordshire – advice, information and support for older people.

AgeUK Oxfordshire, has launched a new, free of charge telephone support service offering advice and assistance to older people concerned during this time. For more information visit www.ageuk.org.uk/oxfordshire/

Managing mental Health

The effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic can really affect your mental health, but it’s important to reach out if you are struggling and there are many organisations available to help you manage your mental health now and in the future. We have put together some information and contact details for organisations that can assist with this. Please access it here.

Public Health England have launched the Better Health – Every Mind Matters campaign which is designed to support the nation’s mental wellbeing with the encouragement that “When things aren’t so good out there, make inside feel better”.

The key message is to encourage people to create a free NHS-approved ‘Mind Plan’.

Oxfordshire Association for the Blind (OAB) – advice, information and support for anyone with a visual impairment.

OAB are not running any face to face services and their resource centre is closed. They will be providing telephone and email support for anyone who has a visual impairment, providing a listening ear and trying to help with any solutions at this time.

Contact details: Tel: 01865 725595 / 07936 341444

info@oxeyes.org.uk

www.oxeyes.org.uk

Thames Water

Thames Water run a priority service for people in vulnerable circumstances and a flexible payment scheme during this difficult time, which you can find here: Http://Thameswater.co.uk/extrahelp

Flood alert Thames river levels and any flood warnings please see Environment Agency information.