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The Team Behind Abingdon Lock

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Frank and Richard

When postcards and Christmas cards arrive addressed to ‘Abingdon  Lock, England’ from locations as far away as Australia, Canada and Europe, there must be a special reason  for this.

 The  team  who oversees Abingdon’s lock, which has been in existence since 1790, go a long way to ensuring  the  people who use  the  lock through out  the  year are greeted with a warm welcome.  One  of  the  volunteer lock keepers whose life revolves around Abingdon  lock is 83-year-old Frank Jordan who is  one  of  five volunteers who assist resident lock-keeper Richard Hawkins in keeping  the  lock operating effectively.

Born and raised in Abingdon, Frank worked in a body shop prep and repair centre in  th e town he loves before he retired in 2012. Although he had known  th e river and  the  lock all his life, like many people living in Abingdon, he had taken  the  area for granted. However, with time on his hands following his retirement, Frank’s daily walks would  often take him along  the  river to  the  lock. He knew  the  lock keeper who was about to retire, who would let Frank assist him occasionally with  the  various duties that are involved in helping boaters through the waterway system. When  the  new lock-keeper Richard Hawkins was appointed, Frank and Richard soon  became friends and Frank was encouraged to join  the  other four volunteers in assisting Richard at  the  lock. Soon  Andy, Brian, Roger, Terry, and Frank overseen by Richard became a companiable  team.

Frank heads to  the  lock each day unless  the  weather gets too bad for him to be outdoors. Part  of  his journey takes him  on  the  river steamer from Abingdon  Marina to  the  lock.  Once at  the  lock, Frank’s cheery disposition  and positive attitude  on  life helps put a smile  on  everyone’s face.

The  small island close to  the  lock has even become  the  venue for ‘Frank Fest’, a party to celebrate not  only Frank’s participation  with  the  lock but  the  other members  of  the  team  too. Originally set up before  the  Covid pandemic by a group  of  boaters who decided that Abingdon needed its own waterways festival,  they came up with  the  name ‘Frank Fest’. This popular event has been posted  online to be held this year  on  Sunday 27th  August and members  of  Abingdon’s Traditional Morris Dancers are supposed to be coming along too; please check nearer  the time if it is going ahead. ‘Frank Fest’ is so popular that T-shirts were even printed with a photo  of  Frank  on  them.

The  team  has appeared  on  numerous television  programmes including  The  Hairy Bikers and with Tony Robinson. In 2016, Richard and Frank hit  the  local news headlines when  they received  the  prestigious Esme Dowling Award for ‘Lock Keeper  of  the Year’, voted for by members  of the  APCO Hotel boats. The  award is for outstanding customer care and performance and is open to all lock keepers  on  the  UK’s in land waterways.  The  following year, Frank received  the  High Sheriff  of  Oxfordshire’s Award for services to  the  community lock. In 2022, headlock keeper Richard was  one  of  three Environmental Agency staff to be nominated for  the  Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in recognition  of  the lives saved at  the  weir and lock.

Let’s raise a glass and say a big thank you, not  only to true Abingdonian Frank but also to  the  other members  of  this award-winning  team who make Abingdon  Lock such a special place to visit.

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