Radio Abingdon

According to the news this morning, a wi-fi router has been installed in Abingdon museum, so that visitors to the town centre can surf the internet for free.

The museum itself has a coffee shop, and you should also be able to get a signal in the precinct and towards the river.

If you don’t have a laptop, then don’t forget that you can access the internet at the library.

Abingdon community groups and shopkeepers are fighting back against recent negative media publicity. They want to publicise the wide range of shops available in the compact town centre. As well as the usual chains, Abingdon has over 40 independent shops including: gift and home decor shops, delicatessens, bookshops, a patisserie, a haberdashers and fabrics shop, a wool shop, children’s clothes and nursery equipment shops, florists, a stationers, outdoor and sports shops and many others. Parking in town is easy, with most car parks offering up to 3 hours for £1 and there are plenty of cafes and restaurants in which to recover from the shopping.

To encourage people to check out what is available over 30 shops and restaurants are running a “Spring into Abingdon” promotion from 17 to 31 May. Shoppers making purchases at participating shops and restaurants during this period will be able to enter a draw: top prize is £250 of shopping vouchers, with smaller prizes totalling at least another £250.

The start of the promotion coincides with Abingdon’s Spring Festival on Saturday 17 May: starting at 10.00am in the Market Place there will be plant stalls, entertainment and Morris dancing and the launch of the annual “Abingdon in Bloom” competition.

Entry cards will be obtainable from participating shops – which will be easily identified by posters in their windows.

“Spring into Abingdon” is an independent initiative but is supported by the Abingdon-on-Thames Chamber of Commerce.

Don’t forget that the Abingdon Air & Country Show 2008 is taking place on 4th May.

Attractions on the ground include the Dr Who Daleks & Tardis, tank rides, children’s amusements, Farms 4 Ewe (a mobile farm with a range of animals), crafts fayre, trade stalls, flight simulator and 150+ vintage & classical vehicles, including Police Club, Jaguar, Morris Minor, MG & Subaru clubs and ex-military vehicles.

Around 70 aircraft are expected for the static aircraft & aircraft fly in (weather permitting) – from general aviation types, ex-military to an RAF Hawk and the return of the United States Army UH60 Blackhawk helicopter.

The 3-hour flying display is to include:

WW2 Spitfire & P40 Kittyhawk, Gnat and Hunter Jets, Pembroke ex-RAF Comms aircraft, aerobatics from a Silence Twister & Steen Skybolt, Swifts Glider Display team, RN Lynx helicopter & RAF Tucano, RAF Chinook helicopter & Douglas DC6 (if serviceable in time which could be replaced at short notice by a DC3 Dakota).

Most of these will be on the ground too…

Pleasure Flights in a historic DeHavilland Dragon Rapide or an EV97 will take place during the morning and after the Flying program.

Hot Air Balloons will launch at the end of the day (weather permitting).

Gates open at the Barrow Road entrance (southern gates) to the airfield at 10am until approximately 5 / 5.30 pm.

There will be limited AA signs for directions to the show.

Public admission on the gate are:
Adult £10
Child 5-15yrs £5
Senior Citizens £5

Under-5s get in free and car parking on-site is also free.

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Emma and Pete go to the Abingdon clubs and societies fair at the Guildhall, and talk to some of the people there.

Mary tells us all about the Abingdon Country Market, which takes place every Friday in the Royse Room.

Penny explains how Abingdon charities work together, Colin explains what goes on at the local branch of Toastmasters International and David invites us all to visit 35 Ock Street.

Ivan from The Abingdon & District Model Railway Club tells us about their latest project and we learn about korfball from the Abingdon Korfball Club.

And finally Emma talks about an upcoming event – the Rare Plants Fair on May 24th – and the Spring Into Abingdon shopping promotion.

To get in touch, send an email, leave a comment on the show website or come and say hello in Facebook.

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Emma and Pete introduce themselves and introduce Radio Abingdon – a new internet radio show for residents of, and visitors to, Abingdon in Oxfordshire (UK).

Radio Abingdon is all about the local community and we’re looking for people who want to come on the show and talk about their involvement in local community groups, sporting activities or events. Maybe you’ve had a great day out in Abingdon, or eaten in a local restaurant that you’d like to review. Or you want to send in a report from the latest match. Whatever you have to say, send us an email at studio@radioabingdon.com and let us know.

If you’ve got an event coming up that you’d like to publicize then let us know – you don’t have to be on the show yourself if you don’t want to, we can read your events listing out for you. Maybe you’ve got an Abingdon-related blog or website that you’d like us to link to.

To get in touch, send an email, leave a comment on the show website or come and say hello in Facebook.

Welcome to Radio Abingdon, an internet radio show for the local community of Abingdon in Oxfordshire.

Tell your story, advertise your community event, publicize your local website.