Page 4 - Abingdon News

4 January 2015
Abingdon News
The biennial sponsored walk for boys and staff raised an astonishing £39,800 to be
shared between three charities: Blue Skye Thinking, Emmaus Oxford and AGAPE. The
lower and middle school boys walked ten miles from Day’s Lock in Dorchester back to
Abingdon along the Thames Path while the sixth formers walked 14 miles from Benson.
Eight boys paddled the 10miles; upstream, battling wind and water flow!
Sponsored Walk
and Paddle
CCF
The CCF conducted this term’s
Remembrance Parade with self-
discipline and professionalism.
They have had a full term of activities
with training at Longmoor Camp in
Hampshire, the Army section at St
George’s Barracks, Bicester and the
RAF section had a Field day at RAF
Odiham including a ride in a Chinook.
The CCF also celebrated its centenary
at Abingdon School with a dinner,
welcoming back former staff and OAs.
Paralympian inspires
the Lower School
This year’s Be the Best You Can Be
programme was launched to the Lower
School by Paralympian Talan Skeels-Piggins
who encouraged the boys to never give up.
Talan told how he overcame a motorcycle
accident that left him paralysed from the
chest down, to compete in the Giant Slalom
at the 2010 Winter Olympics, become IPC
European Champion in Alpine Skiing, and to
be the first paraplegic in the history of motor-
racing to compete against able-bodied
motor cycle racers. Quite an inspiration.
Boarding Life
There is never a dull moment in boarding
life at Abingdon. From the induction days
and Longridge Activity Centre that herald
the start of term to the delights of Thorpe
Park and socials with St Swithun’s School,
St Mary’s and Westonbirt. The activities
timetable is full and varied, even including
an opportunity to hone bingo skills with
residents at the Old Station House in
Abingdon.