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County councillors vote firmly against plans to transform medical care

‘NO’ TO NHS CHANGES TO HEALTH SERVICES Eva Astreinidou: Reporter

Morse creator mourned after death in Oxford

COLIN Dexter, who became as much a part of Oxford as the characters he wrote about, has died aged 86.

The author of the much-loved Inspector Morse series of books passed away at his home in Banbury Road.

His publisher said in a statement on Tuesday: “With immense sadness, MacMillan announces the death of Colin Dexter who died peacefully at his home in Oxford this morning.”

The crime fiction writer behind the series starring the famously temperamental detective shot to fame after the publication of his first book – Last Bus to Woodstock – in 1975.

Over the following 14 years Mr Dexter wrote a further 12 novels about the crossword fanatic, opera-loving detective that sold in their millions.

Continues on page 3

Colin Dexter on the set of spin-off series Lewis in 2006 with actors Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox

OXFORDSHIRE County Councillors have voted overwhelmingly against proposals to transform local health services saying they “strongly object” to the changes.

Health transformation plans from the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning group (OCCG) have yet again been put under scrutiny as councillors met to further discuss the NHS consultation that is under way, with 55 votes against the plans, one vote of abstention and no votes against the objections.

The county council met the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee (HOSC) on Tuesday to further comment on the consultation process and discuss how it is impacting specific areas in the county.

Councillor Yvonne Constance, chairman of the committee, said the councillors involved got ‘more and more excited and determined’ to state their objections, focusing specifically on the lack of detail around changes to adult social care.

She said HOSC sent a letter on March 13 to the OCCG with recommendations, and there will most likely be another formal letter sent through after Tuesday’s meeting to continue discussions.

Continues on page 3

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Regional Weather

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OUTLOOK FOR FRIDAY TO SUNDAY: Some fine and settled weather going into the weekend period with rather chilly northeasterly winds persisting. Feeling warmer in any afternoon sunshine, but some overnight frost is possible.

WEEKEND SUMMARY FRIDAY

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Thousands to march against EU exit plan George Welch: Reporter BUS loads of pro-EU campaigners from Oxford will join tens of thousands of people at a London march this weekend to demand Britain remains in the European Union.

Led by Oxford for Europe, thousands of disgruntled Remainers are expected to descend on Parliament Square to mark the impending triggering of Article 50 and the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome being signed, which established the European Economic Community.

Campaigners from across the country will march from Park Lane to Parliament Square on Saturday, but critics have said it is “virtue signalling”.

Oxford for Europe will be joined by other representatives from the county, including European Movement (Oxford region), Oxford New Europeans, Oxfordshire Green Party, Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats and the Oxford Labour Party.

Oxford for Europe, which expects hundreds to travel from the county, said they are marching “to commemorate the historic achievements of the European Union and to urgently communicate to fellow citizens that Brexit is an unfolding national disaster”.

The group added: “Brexit is not inevitable, and Brexit can and must be stopped.”

Saturday’s demonstration comes after MPs last week voted through the Brexit bill, with Prime Minister Theresa May announcing she intends on triggering Article 50 on March 29 to begin the UK’s process of leaving the EU. Oxford for Europe said: “We are saying that the people have the right to change their minds when facts and circumstances change, when there is new evidence, and when they fi nd they have been deceived.

“The people and their representatives, not the government, must have the fi nal say on any negotiated deal

Protesters in Cornmarket in September Picture: Stand Together: Oxford to leave the EU.” But UKIP Oxford are critical of Saturday’s march, saying the majority of people voted to leave and Remainers should respect the referendum outcome.

A spokesman for UKIP Oxford said: “It’s nice to see Oxford’s students and industrious middle classes taking time out of their busy schedules and patting each other on the back to travel all the way to London to take part in collective display of virtue signalling.

“A majority voted in a free and fair referendum to leave the European Union and so it is only right that Theresa May seeks to enact the wishes of the British people.

“I don’t remember these people protesting when Tony Blair was forming majority governments, affecting major constitutional changes and submerging us deeper into a federal Europe, on 35 per cent of the vote.”

Oxfordshire was the only English county to vote in favour of Remain, as the UK voted itself out of the EU last June.

The county’s 378,608 votes, which

amounted to 56.7 per cent remain and 43.2 per cent leave, represented a 77.5 per cent turnout.

EU control was narrowly rejected in Cherwell, where Brexit campaigners celebrated a 50.3 per cent win.

However, there were convincing wins for Remain in Oxford (70.3 per cent) and Vale of White Horse (56.7 per cent). Remain also won in West Oxfordshire (53.6 per cent) and South Oxfordshire (54.9 per cent).

Councillor Bob Price, leader of Oxford City Council, has warned of “serious consequences” ahead of a potential ‘hard Brexit’.

He said: “The people of Oxford voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining in the European Union, and it has become increasingly clear that the Government’s policy will lead to a hard Exit with very serious consequences for the city, the universities, hospitals, the Mini plant and for many small businesses.”

City council Green Party group leader Cllr Craig Simmons said Brexit is “the most important political decision in a generation” amid his fears of ‘sacrificing’ decades of social and environmental progress at the hands of ‘a hard, right wing Brexit’.

Plea for more prevention funds as child sex abuse offences rise A CHILD protection charity has called for more investment in early intervention for abused children after new figures revealed the number of child sex offences in the Thames Valley area increased by 37 per cent.

According to figures obtained by the NSPCC, the number of child sex offences recorded by Thames Valley Police rose to 2,488 last year - an average of seven a day.

Police recorded crimes against children that included rape, sexual assault, and sexual exploitation – a total of 690 crimes were recorded against children aged 10 and under.

These figures are for TVP’s jurisdiction, which includes agencies in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire as well as Oxfordshire.

The NSPCC has attributed the dra-

matic increase to police forces improving recording methods, survivors feeling more confident in disclosing abuse following high-profi le cases and online grooming becoming a major problem.

To cope with the numbers of children coming forward, the NSPCC has called for specialist training for police investigating online child abuse, effective rehabilitation for child sex offenders, and investment in early intervention services to help children recover.

Last year the NSPCC spoke to 5,605 pupils at 89 primary schools in Oxfordshire about how to stay safe from abuse and who to report it to as part of its Speak Out Stay Safe programme.

The charity’s chief executive Peter Wanless said: “This steep rise lays

bare just how extensive this appalling crime against children has become, claiming multiple victims every hour, some of whom are yet to say their fi rst word.

“Sexual abuse can shatter a child’s life and leave them feeling ashamed, depressed, or even suicidal.

“Now, more than ever, victims need help as soon as possible to help them recover from their ordeals and go on to lead full and happy lives.

“Government must commit funds to early intervention that better help these children who through no fault of their own are enduring so much pain.”

According to the NSPCC officers recorded 55,507 child sex offences nationally last year, an average of one offence every 10 minutes.

Thursday, March 23, 2017 3

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Wheatley firefighters with general manager Ashley Debell and duty manager Josh D’Anger from Park Sports Centre

Firefighters help clean up for charity funds FIREFIGHTERS helped hose down more than 50 cars to raise £600 for charity.

Staff from Better’s Park Sports Centre in Wheatley and eight fi re fighters from the local fi re station worked side-by-side to wash the cars using fi re hoses on March 11.

Local people were asked to donate

what they could, from £5 to £20.

The Fire Fighters Charity supports fi refighters, providing a range of health and wellbeing services from rehabilitation and recuperation, to child and family programmes.

Ashley Debell, general manager at Park Sports Centre said: “We were delighted to get involved with the

charity car wash and show our support for this crucial, local emergency service.

“Not only was it great fun to work alongside the fi refighters, the generosity of Wheatley residents was phenomenal and it’s hugely gratifying to have raised so much money in a relatively short space of time.”

County votes against NHS health changes From front page The consultation on the proposed changes ends on April 9.

Cllr Constance said after that date the OCCG then have to collect evidence, and will hold a board meeting sometime in May. She said: “The status quo cannot go on. Too many people who get taken into hospital stay there for too long, and it is difficult to discharge patients.

There is also evidence that when elderly people stay in a hospital bed for one day that can reduce their mobility significantly.”

Cllr Laura Price, also a member of HOSC, said: “I was glad that the council was so unanimous in its concerns about the plans. They mirror the concerns of the people I represent who are seeing GP services closing and community hospitals under threat at the same time as being told that there will be more investment in primary care and community services.

“Health and Social Care are underfunded – Government should be addressing this rather than forcing local authorities to continue cutting budgets alongside health being asked to make long-term savings in the face of growing demand.”

In February, Oxfordshire County Council called for transparency and further detail about knock-on effects of plans to change primary care.

The county’s cabinet said in a meeting that it cannot support the OCCG’s plans to deal with the funding gap in the region’s NHS, claiming that the consultation, which started on January 16, needed more transparency.

In the meeting, members of the cabinet reviewed the consultation and referred to a lack of forward thinking in the sustainability and transformation plan (STP).

In a post-meeting report, the response was that the plans, which include a change in bed-stock, intensive care services and maternity ser-

Lincolnshire-born Mr Dexter, whose writing also spawned spinoff TV shows Lewis and Endeavour, was given an OBE for services to literature in 2000 and, in 2001, was awarded Freedom of the City of Oxford, where all his Morse stories were set.

Pitch invasion fans banned

OXFORD: A CCTV image has been released after a man had homophobic abuse hurled at him.

DIDCOT: Three Hereford FC fans have received banning orders following a pitch invasion that resulted in the game being abandoned at Didcot Town earlier this month.

An investigation into the incident continues as Hereford fans raced on to the Loop Meadow pitch after the visitors scored an 88th-minute goal to go 2-1 up.

Hereford confi rmed on Friday the bans had been issued and have come into effect immediately, following the Southern League Division 1 South & West clash on March 4.

The club added that investigations were ongoing but did not reveal the length of the bans.

Around 100 people were involved and two 19-year-old men were arrested in connection with the incident and bailed until April 4 and April 6.

Thames Valley Police said three people drove along Park End Street in a car and shouted homophobic abuse at a 29-year-old man and his friends who were out in the street at around 3am on February 15.

The car stopped and a ‘physical altercation’ took place between two offenders and the victim before the offenders drove away, the force added.

The victim was unharmed.

Contact police on 101 if you have any information.

Search after blood found WITNEY: Police have launched a ‘fear for welfare’ investigation after blood was found in Witney.

Officers were called at around 10am on Sunday to Woodford Way car park, Marriots Walk, by a member of the public, who saw blood on the pavement.

Police said they are in the process of conducting enquiries to locate a man who appeared to be injured and was seen in the area around 3am.

Contact police on 101 if you have any information on the incident.

Two charged over car thefts OXON: Two men have been charged following a series of motor vehicle thefts across south Oxfordshire in November.

Simon Robert Parker, 26 of Middle Park Way, Havant, and Edward Victor Butler, 42 formerly of Tangley Walk, Havant, were summonsed by postal requisition on Friday in connection to eight counts of theft from a vehicle.

The charges are in connection with incidents which took place in White Horse Hill, Childrey, Sparsholt Firs, Ashbury, Chain Hill and Blowing Stone Hill on November 3 last year.

Both men will appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on April 18.

vices at the Horton General Hospital could have a significant knock-on effect on other services.

The councillors resolved: “These possible impacts are not covered by this consultation.

“This is a vital issue for local people and is therefore a serious deficiency in the consultation document.”

On the topic of adult social care in the community and the proposals of focusing on care closer to home, they said: “The proposals do not contain the detail we would need about community services for us to have a sensible understanding of their impact on adult social care.”

On Tuesday, a spokesman for OCCG, said: “The CCG is currently seeking people’s views and opinions on the plans for transformation of health services in Oxfordshire. Our consultation will listen to feedback from everyone who gets involved, including councillors from Oxfordshire County Council.”

Author of Inspector Morse dies at his Oxford home From front page His words were transcribed to the screen in the guise of the hugely popular television series starring John Thaw as the cranky inspector between 1987 and 2000.

He made unaccredited appearances in almost all the episodes.

Man abused by group in street

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Thames Water fined £20m THAMES Water has been fi ned a record £20m after pumping nearly 1.5 billion litres of raw sewage into the River Thames.

Yesterday’s punishment at Aylesbury Crown Court is the largest penalty handed to a water utility for an environmental disaster.

The company admitted water pollution and other offences at five sewage facilities in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire in 2013 and 2014.

The spills, which caused the death of more than 100 fish and birds, occurred at four Thames Water sewage treatment works at Aylesbury, Didcot, Henley and Little Marlow, as well as a large sewage pumping system in Littlemore in Oxford.

Judge Francis Sheridan, at Aylesbury Crown Court, said the scale of the problem was such that it must have been known by several managers.

Advice on offer at dementia day OXFORD: An info day on Alzheimer’s and dementia will be held this Saturday as part of a series of events to educate people about the conditions.

Alzheimer’s Research UK will be holding the event to discuss current treatments and the latest research at John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington in Lecture theatre 2, between 10am and 1pm on Saturday.

The event is open to all members of the public.

To book your place visit www.ARUKOxford2017.eventbrite.co.uk

Groups share £1m windfall to boost work in community Eva Astreinidou: Reporter MORE than £1million will be granted to 16 community groups, charities and support organisations across south Oxfordshire to help cover vital costs over a four-year period.

South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) is to provide more than £1million in grant funding to help to ensure that services such as support for disabled people, carers, and the elderly, can continue to be available locally.

The funding will help groups to pay for things such as salary costs, rent and rates, publicity, and transport and utility costs and will help them explore ‘new opportunities of becoming more sustainable’.

The groups receiving funding include Berinsfield Information and Volunteer centre, Community First Oxfordshire, TRAIN, My Life My Choice, Nomad Youth & Community Project, and South & Vale Carers Centre among others.

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amounts were the Chiltern Centre for Disabled Children, with £100,000, Thomley Activity Centre for £97,500, and Age UK Oxfordshire with £93,289.

Cllr Elizabeth Gillespie, cabinet member for grants at SODC, said: “As a council we are delighted to still be in a position to offer this significant funding to these organisations.

“They all play a vital role in providing support services to many people across the south Oxfordshire community and this funding will help to ensure that residents will continue to benefit from these services over the coming years.”

Grant Hayward, of consultants Collaborent, who assisted council officers with workshops for the grants application process, said: “Not only is it good to see the fi nancial commitment from South Oxfordshire District Council, but I have been really impressed with the range of support it has provided to these charities and groups in helping them explore new opportunities of becoming more sustainable and less dependent upon grant funding.”

The groups which have benefitted from the funding PIcture: SODC Penny Thewlis, acting chief executive of Age UK Oxfordshire, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to gain this support from SODC. “The money will enable us to tackle loneliness and isolation and help older

people to love later life throughout the region.”

The council’s grants officers will work with these organisations to ensure spending is appropriate over the four-year grant period.

Chinese lessons to go on timetable at school Eva Astreinidou: Reporter

Language matters to UK’s prosperity

MANDARIN Chinese is a language that ‘matters most to the UK’s future prosperity’ and is becoming more commonplace across school curricula, with Didcot Girls School being among the latest to join the trend.

Pupils at Didcot Girls School will be among 5,000 UK students on track to speaking Mandarin Chinese fluently by 2020, as the school will be one of the fi rst to take part in the Government’s Mandarin Excellence Programme, set to start this September.

The University College London Institute of Education in partnership with the British Council have launched the nationwide programme to help put teaching of Mandarin on the agenda for state schools across the UK. Mandarin Chinese is recognised as one of the most important languages for the UK’s future, and is the most widely spoken language in the world.

The programme provides an opportunity for students to study eight hours of Mandarin Chinese every week, including four hours of classroom taught lessons, with selected

groups of pupils beginning from Year 7.

The programme is open to all secondary schools, but funding to support development is only available for state-funded secondary schools.

Headteacher Rachael Warwick said: “I am delighted that we have been selected as one of the fi rst schools in the UK to deliver the Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP) on the basis of our Outstanding rating from Ofsted and our impressive track record in teaching modern languages.

“We already offer the opportunity for all of our students to study Chinese Mandarin up to GCSE and we run a trip to China each year; the MEP will enable a group of students to study the language intensively alongside a rich suite of enrichment opportunities, including further travel to China. Our team of three Chinese teachers can’t wait to begin the programme.”

School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said acquiring fluency in Mandarin will give students ‘a significant advantage when they enter the world of work’.

Katharine Carruthers, director of the UCL Institute Of Education (IOE) Confucius Institute said: “This programme provides a real boost and unique opportunity for more motivated pupils to reach a very high level of proficiency in Mandarin.

“We are also developing new innovative teaching methods which will benefit the young people on the programme as well as the wider cohort of pupils learning Mandarin Chinese in our schools.

“The Mandarin Excellence Programme will undoubtedly further the UK’s relationship with China at all levels.”

Mark Herbert, Head of Schools Programmes at the British Council said: “Mandarin Chinese is one of the frontrunners when it comes to languages that matter most to the UK’s future prosperity.

“If the UK is to remain competitive on the world stage, we need far more of our young people leaving school with a good grasp of Mandarin in order to successfully work abroad or for businesses here in the UK.”

Thursday, March 23, 2017 5

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Birth horror story used in campaign Samantha McGregor: Reporter

Full list of grants: Age UK Oxfordshire - £93,289 Berinsfield Information and Volunteer Centre - £56,814 Community First Oxfordshire £74,250 FISH Volunteer Centre - £12,000 Home-Start Southern Oxfordshire - £66,706 My Life My Choice - £16,840 Nomad Youth & Community Project - £80,000 Oxfordshire Association for the Blind - £25,000

Oxfordshire Sexual Abuse & Rape Crisis Centre - £52,500 Riverside Counselling Service £65,000 South & Vale Carers Centre £83,508 South Oxfordshire Food and Education Alliance - £94,000 Style Acre - £66,000 The Chiltern Centre for Disabled Children - £100,000 Thomley Activity Centre £97,500 TRAIN - £79,297

A MUM is using her story to help campaigners fight to retain doctorled maternity services at a Banbury hospital.

In a one-minute YouTube video Clementine’s Story, Sophie tells how her low risk pregnancy very quickly turned into a life or death situation.

She has allowed group Keep the Horton General to use her story to support their campaign.

Oxford University NHS Foundation Trust (OUHFT) suspended services last October over concerns about patient safety after problems recruiting “middle-grade” doctors at the hospital.

Nine middle-grade doctors should be in post to run the service safely, but so far the trust has not recruited enough staff.

The suspension has remained in place following two successive quarterly reviews.

In the video Sophie said: “I had a healthy low risk pregnancy and a straightforward labour. However, after Clemmie was delivered things went badly wrong.

“I tore a major blood vessel and lost two litres of blood in the space of five minutes. I was rushed into theatre to be stitched up and to have a blood transfusion.

“A consultant said at the time if it hadn’t been for the swift action of the team and the presence of doctors on site he dreaded to think what the outcome would have been.

“If I’d had to go to Oxford I’m almost certain I would have died in the back of an ambulance. We all need the full services at our local hospital.”

KTHG chairman Keith Strangwood said he hoped the video would help people “understand the reality of the cynical downgrading of HGH”.

He said: “This has been systematic and continuous since the independent reconfiguration panel decreed in 2008 that the OUH should ‘change to

ensure its service remain appropriate, safe and sustainable’ as far as the Horton was concerned.

“We urge people to write to the OCCG without delay and tell them why we must have a consultant led unit at the Horton.”

Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group launched a major consultation in January that will take place in two stages.

Among the proposals are fewer inpatient beds, a central stroke unit in Oxford and a permanent midwifeled unit at Banbury’s Horton Hospital.

To watch Sophie’s video go to https://tinyurl.com/mtodwad

Boy found dead named as investigation goes on Eva Astreinidou: Reporter THE young boy found dead in Faringdon last week has been named as five-year-old Tyler Warmington.

Following the death of the boy at Bromsgrove Cottages on Tuesday, a post-mortem examination carried out on Wednesday revealed the cause of death to be stab wounds to the chest.

A 40-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of murder has been released on bail until April 12.

Senior Investigating Officer, Det Ch Insp, Ailsa Kent of Thames Valley Police Major Crime Unit, said: “We continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.

“You will appreciate that this is a difficult time for his family and we continue to work with them and offer support as the investigation continues.”

The force was called to Bromsgrove Cottages at 1.20pm on Tuesday March 14 and found the child dead on arrival.

Senior investigating officer, Det Insp Dave Hubbard of the Major Crime Unit, confi rmed a murder investigation was launched and the family were informed.

Police are still on the scene in Faringdon Picture: UKNIP LPA Commander for South and Vale of White Horse, Supt Rory Freeman, said: “This is a very shocking discovery and I am aware it may have a very direct impact on the community of Faringdon.

“In light of this incident there will be an increased police presence in the area to provide reassurance and we would advise any members of the community affected by this incident to speak to one of the Neighbourhood Policing Team.”

Dozens of tributes flooded in from

residents of the town on the ‘I live in the town of Faringdon’ Facebook page.

Karen Draper wrote: “News like this is just devastating to a community and will have a resounding effect for a long time to come.

“However, we should all be very proud of our community spirit.

“We have many reasons to take great pride in our little town.

“I truly believe it is how you come through such tragic circumstances that is what counts.

TAKE YOUR CAREER TO THE NEXT LEVEL Bicester Village Job Fair Join Bicester Village at the John Paul II Centre in Bicester on Wednesday 5 April, from 4 pm until 6.30 pm. We are looking for candidates who can bring passion to a luxury, fast-moving retail environment. A number of boutiques and restaurants are seeking enthusiastic candidates who would like a new challenge or are looking to return to work. Retail experience is not essential – but passion is.

For more information and to register, visit BicesterVillage.com/jobfair

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Drugs raids: 9 arrested in latest police crackdown George Welch: Reporter THE major drug crackdown across Oxfordshire has continued with seven arrests in Banbury.

Thames Valley Police (TVP) raided seven properties on Thursday last week as part of Operation Reacher to prevent serious organised crime across the county.

Seven people were arrested in the raids across various locations in Banbury and six have been released on bail.

Four men and two women have been released following the drug busts, with the youngest aged 18 years old.

It comes just weeks after three men from Birmingham were jailed for supplying heroin and crack cocaine in Banbury. Two others are still on the run.

Operation Reacher is part of TVP’s force-wide campaign, Operation Stronghold, which aims to work in partnership to tackle serious organised crime, such as dealing class A drugs.

Neighbourhood Policing Inspector John Batty issued a warning to those involved in serious

organised crime. He said: “This is part of our ongoing commitment to tackle criminals who seek to commit serious crime in Banbury but also across county boundaries.

“We will not accept this criminal activity in Banbury, specifically the actions of drug dealers in targeting vulnerable individuals and properties through which they seek to operate.

“We will continue to do all we can to disrupt and bring to justice anyone who sees fit to engage in such behaviour.”

Following the raids, a 20-yearold man from Coventry and 38-year-old woman from Banbury have been bailed until April 24.

A 36-year-old man and a 29-yearold woman from Banbury have been bailed until April 18 while a 21-year-old man and 18-yearold man from Banbury have been bailed until April 19.

A 37-year-old woman from Witney was released with no further action.

Insp Batty said the raids were triggered by public concerns about drug use in their communities and discarded needles.

He added: “Stronghold is a cam-

Some of the material found at a property in Banbury

paign across Thames Valley Police which seeks to work with partner agencies in order to tackle serious organised crime.

“That is no different in Banbury.

Today’s [Thursday last week’s] work was triggered by reports from the public concerned about drug use in their communities and the associated dangers with discarded needles etc.

“We would ask the public to keep informing us of suspicious activity in their communities, as only with this intelligence will we combat serious organised crime and provide support to those victims who play an unwilling part.”

A total of 19 people were charged following a series of similar drug raids in Oxford, Abingdon and London last month.

■ On March 15, two 23-year-old men from Brent, north west London, were arrested on suspicion of intent to supply class A drugs as part of Operation Stronghold.

The men were arrested following the execution of a warrant at a home in Rookery Court, Didcot.

One of the 23-year-old men has been remanded in custody and the other has been bailed until May 4.

Dog thrown away ‘like rubbish’ in a field A DEAD dog was found wrapped in a black bin bag and dumped in a field in Banbury.

The RSPCA was called on Sunday morning by a member of the public who discovered the body of a black and tan terriertype dog dumped in a field off Ells Lane.

He was fi rst seen on March 14.

RSPCA inspector Rachel Smith, who is investigating, said: “The little Jack Russell terriercross had a large patch of fur loss and some scabs on his neck but,

other than that, seemed to be in a reasonable condition so it’s not clear how or why he had died.

“It’s not clear whether the dog has died in suspicious circumstances or whether he’s died of natural causes and his body has been dumped but I’d like to fi nd out more about the circumstances surrounding his death.”

The microchip information has him registered as a six-yearold called ‘Handsome’ but the contact details on the database are out-of-date.

Insp Smith added: “I’d be really interested to know where this little dog has come from and how he ended up being thrown away in a black bin bag like rubbish.

“If anyone recognises this dog, knows where he may have come from, or saw anything suspicious in the area when the body was dumped then I’d really like to hear from them.”

If you have any information contact the appeal line on 0300 123 8018.

Mayor’s bubbly event raises £600 for her two good causes THAME: A ‘Bubbles, Boards and Creams’ evening raised £600 for Thame mayor Linda Emery’s charities.

Held in The Stables at The

James Figg pub, partygoers had wine, champagne and ice cream.

This year the mayor is fundraising for two charities, The Red Kite Children’s Centre and

Thame Youth.

Frazer Sutherland, of Peach Pubs, said: “Plenty of bubbles were consumed and a fantastic evening was had by all.”

Thursday, March 23, 2017 7

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NEWS

Patients urged to get new GP as surgery to shut doors next week George Welch: Reporter

Officers searched several properties while making the arrests

THE thousands of patients still registered at Witney’s Deer Park Medical Centre have been issued a fi nal warning by a health watchdog to transfer surgeries ahead of tomorrow’s closure.

Healthwatch Oxfordshire last week said it was “concerned” for patients at the Edington Square surgery and this week issued its fi nal reminder, urging those who have yet to transfer to do so.

It is understood that more than 2,000 people have not yet re-registered with another surgery – from tomorrow, those people will be without a GP. Healthwatch’s warning comes after the Oxfordshire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC) voted that the closure represented a ‘substantial change’ last month meaning its fate was left to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

On Tuesday last week – five weeks after the referral – Mr Hunt confi rmed in a letter to the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (OCCG) that he has sought the advice from the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP), who will advise him what services should be included at Deer Park.

But he doesn’t expect a response until April 11.

The OCCG had announced the surgery’s closure in October last year after it failed to attract any sufficient bids when put out to re-tender.

In the letter to the OCCG, Mr Hunt said: “The option to look again at what services should be provided at or in the immediate vicinity of Deer Park Medical Centre is one to be considered by the IRP. I am,

however, satisfied that, based on evidence presented to me, the option to continue the existing service expired some months ago, and that it is not now a safe or practical option.

“I have decided not to make any directions at this time, having regard in particular to the potential risk to patient safety, to unpick the current arrangements for handling the inevitable consequences of the ending of the existing contract.

“I would also like you to consider

“I am satisfied that, based on evidence presented to me, the option to continue the existing service expired some months ago, and that it is not now a safe or practical option”

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt in a letter to the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group

(bearing in mind also the requirements of safety and efficiency) taking no further actions, pending the outcome of the IRP review, that would preclude a future resumption (or re-commissioning) of services at/ on/near the existing site.”

As a result, Deer Park is to formally close on March 31 as planned but the last appointments are tomorrow and Healthwatch has said patients must transfer as a matter of urgency.

Rosalind Pearce, executive director of Healthwatch Oxfordshire, said: “Care could be compromised if patients are not registered with a GP.

“One of the easiest things that patients can do to look after their own health and well-being is to be registered at a GP surgery and it is clearly in their interests to register now, before their fi rst choice surgery becomes full up.”

West Oxfordshire District Councillor Liz Leffman has not given up hope, saying there is a chance the surgery could reopen.

She said: “The statement made by the Secretary of State is very confusing.

“On the one hand he is saying that the surgery must close as planned, but on the other has referred it to the IRP so that they can consider if provision is needed.

“It is possible that the IRP could decide that provision is needed in which case there might be the possibility of the surgery reopening.”

The Liberal Democrat candidate in last year’s Witney by-election added: “I do not think the issue will go away, as long as there are new homes being built in west Witney, and a shortage of doctors in the town.”

Deer Park’s Patient Participation Group (PPG) has fought to save the centre and is now also urging people to register at other surgeries.

The group said: “The PPG will re-name, rise from this setback and fight for a resumption/re-commissioning of services at/on/near the existing site.

“We will await the IRP fi ndings then formulate a campaign to get back a surgery to serve the area.”

Patients can re-register with a new GP by visiting the practice or online by visiting their web site.

People who are unsure about the catchment areas of particular surgeries can fi nd more information at tinyurl.com/kgx3bwt

New youth building gets go ahead PLANS to demolish a youth centre and replace it with a “contemporary” building have been approved.

The new home of The Hill Youth and Community Centre will be built in Bretch Hill to the tune of £840,000.

The current building in Dover Avenue is in a poor condition and will be demolished.

Plans were approved by Cherwell District Council’s planning committee last week.

The council, which is contributing £400,000 to the project, chose a modern design for the facility, following a public consultation undertaken in September 2016.

Its hall will be big enough to house a badminton court.

Cllr Colin Clarke, Cherwell’s lead member for planning, said: “The new community centre will be of great benefit to the local residents as it has been designed to meet their needs.

“I am very glad that the community will have the big hall back since they have been prevented from using the existing one for four years due to its poor condition.

“We deliberately chose to build the community centre from scratch because the existing one is too damaged and the refurbishment would not have been cost effective.

“Of course, it will take more time to deliver a brand new building but this is going to be a valuable long-term investment in the community.

“The council has committed to a programme of improving and rebuilding facilities like this because we believe in supporting active lifestyles for residents of all ages.

“I am sure that the new building, with the additional badminton court, is fit for this purpose.”

The new building will have two halls and there will be extra car parking.

Don’t miss out this Easter Book a free initial assessment with our hearing experts today Councillors at the existing building which will soon be replaced with a more modern facility

www.maryharehearingcentres.co.uk Weavers Walk, Newbury, RG14 1AL 01635 523 343

8 Thursday, March 23, 2017

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Thursday, March 23, 2017 9

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NEWS

‘Not possible to establish the cause of fire’ which killed couple at Blenheim George Welch: Reporter THE cause of the deaths for a “polite and cheerful” elderly couple who died in a blaze at their cottage on the Blenheim Palace estate will never be known, a coroner has said.

Donald Thompson, 92, and his wife Dilys, 81, were killed in a fi re which swept through Fisheries Cottage, where they had lived for 48 years, last November.

It is thought the blaze occurred unnoticed in the evening of November 8 before the charred remains of the cottage were discovered at 7.50am the following day by passers-by who then called the emergency services.

The remains of Donald, a retired gamekeeper, were never found and Dilys, a former horticulturist, was only identified by the serial number of a hip replacement discovered in a downstairs hallway.

Carer Noel Douglas, who offered personal care to Donald, visited the home the day before the fi re and described the pair as “polite and cheerful”.

He was the last person to see them.

Their daughter, Annie ThompsonLynch, spoke to Dilys, on the phone at 4pm on Tuesday, November 8 and said her mother “was absolutely fi ne”.

But disaster was to strike shortly

afterwards and it wasn’t until the following morning a member of garden staff from the palace raised the alarm after the fi re had naturally burnt out unnoticed.

There are no properties within site of the cottage which lies to the north of the lakes in the grounds and no passing traffic, meaning there were no witnesses.

This made the emergency services’ investigation into the rampant inferno more difficult, as a forensic scientist revealed they were “not sure when it

started or how long it raged for”.

He speculated that it could have been burning for several hours but that it was “not possible to narrow

“I have to be really satisfied by a cause but what we are talking about here are possible causes”

Coroner Darren Salter

Scientist’s marathon cash helps to boost treatment AN Oxford scientist who lost his grandfather to dementia battled the elements to complete a half marathon to raise funds for charity.

Last month we reported how medicinal chemist Dr Stephen Wren was to pull on his running shoes and run the Surrey Half Marathon for Alzheimer’s Research UK. The 45-year-old dementia researcher, who started running when he turned 40 and has been doing marathons ever since, met his target of under two hours at the event on the country roads surrounding Woking and Guildford, on March 12.

Stephen said: “It was a fantastic day and the atmosphere was brilliant.

“I completed the half marathon in one hour and 46 minutes – not quite my personal best of one hour 39 minutes but I was happy with the result as I was aiming for less than two hours.

“I got totally soaked as it poured with rain but really enjoyed the course.”

After setting an initial target of £300 he has raised a total of £310.15.

Stephen added: “I can’t thank enough the people who have donated to my fundraising page for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Dr Stephen Wren celebrates after completing the Surrey Half Marathon “My grandad had dementia and it was very sad watching him decline.

“This gives me extra motivation to do all I can to find a treatment for the condition.

“It affects so many people – not just those who are diagnosed, but also the people around them.

“It’s such a fantastic cause and dementia research is severely underfunded compared to other major diseases.”

Stephen, a dementia researcher at the Alzheimer’s Research UK Oxford Drug Discovery Institute at Oxford

University, works to find ways of treating dementia by looking at the mechanisms behind the condition.

The institute is part of the wider Drug Discovery Alliance, funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK, which also includes centres at Cambridge University and University College London.

Stephen, who lives in Aylesbury, joined the Institute in June 2015 after the charity inspired him to raise as much money for the disease as he could.

You can still donate to his campaign at tinyurl.com/gu4gkyx

the timescale down at all”.

Designated fi re investigator, station manager at Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service Bob Speakmen said: “The fi re had been so severe the building had burnt itself out.”

The roof and the fi rst floor collapsed in on the ground floor and left the walls in an “unsupported condition”, he added, causing investigations to be delayed by two days due to safety concerns.

One possible cause of the fi re is that hot embers fell from the ash pan of their Rayburn cooker onto combustible material unseen.

Matthew Neilson, a Blenheim Palace Estate property manager for 10 years, said there were no requests from Donald or Dilys to repair the cooker, as they were required to do if there were faults with their home.

Mr Speakman added there could have been “three or four other causes”.

At Oxford Coroner’s Court on

Thursday last week Darren Salter returned a verdict of ‘accidental death’ and said they “likely died due to smoke inhalation and/or burns”, adding the deaths “must have been a great shock” for the family.

“I have to be really satisfied by a cause but what we are talking about here are possible causes,” he said.

As a result, Mr Salter will write to Blenheim Palace Estates “to get some reassurances of the safety of vulnerable residents” and to ensure maintenance on the homes that need it is carried out.

“The extent of the damage is such that it is not possible to establish the cause of the fi re with certainty but there are a number of possible causes including a hot ember falling from the ash pan of the Rayburn cooker and igniting combustible material or heat conducted through the repaired panel on the Rayburn igniting combustible items,” he added.

Their pet dog was never identified.

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‘Student f lats will help with regeneration of city centre’ Eva Astreinidou: Reporter OXFORD’S West End regeneration plans continue as a scheme for more than 500 student flats has been approved.

The £32.5m student housing scheme was approved on Tuesday last week and will mark the start of the redevelopment of a key Oxford city centre site, Oxpens.

The 514-bed scheme off Osney Lane was proposed by Student Castle, which wants to demolish the existing Oxford Business Centre.

The masterplan is drawn up jointly

by Oxford City Council and Nuffield College, who set up Oxford West End Development Ltd to deliver the scheme.

The plans are just one part of the city centre revamp, which will see the whole area of the West End transformed, alongside other pro-

jects such as the Westgate Centre and Frideswide Square.

Dan Lampard, senior director at Lichfields, Student Castle’s agent, said: “We are pleased to secure planning for this development which will mark the start of a vital regeneration opportunity for the city.

“The proposals will enhance Oxford’s historic setting through a sensitive approach to the scale and massing of each block.”

Mr Lampard added: “By providing purpose-built student accommodation the pressure on existing homes for student use is reduced, allowing these dwellings to meet the wider housing market needs of the area.”

There has, however, been a mix of responses as some fear that the massive project will alter historic views and change the city’s landscape.

In December, Debbie Dance, director of the Oxford Preservation Trust, said: “We are surprised and

Osney Lane site, Oxpens masterplan disappointed that this site does not include a substantial element of housing within the mix of uses.

“We are all well aware of the pressure for housing and the call on adjoining authorities to help meet Oxford’s unmet housing needs on the edges of the city.

“It is a site which lies at the entrance to Oxford, running parallel to the railway itself so that it is particularly visible, and the fi rst thing that many hundreds of thousands of visitors and commuters will see as they approach Oxford by train from the London direction.

“The architects have gone to considerable lengths to employ techniques to

Picture: Oxford City Council – West Area Planning Committee) break up the bulk and mass but nevertheless we must question whether it is right to put a development of this size, height and bulk here?”

She added: “This highly sensitive site is within one of Oxford’s protected view cones, Raleigh Park.

“With this as the precedent for the future development at Oxpens, we urge the City Council to take a strong line. Is this the right site for a single development of this nature? We ask that the applicants be asked to design something on an altogether smaller scale, with discreet buildings.”

Councillor Bob Price, leader of the city council, said: “Student Castle have worked closely with the Oxford

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Design Review Panel and city council planners to produce a scheme that does not breach the City View Cones policy and offers a range of different size student apartments.

“It makes excellent provision for bikes and amenity space, with green roofs, and attractive landscaping that will fit well with the wider masterplan for Oxpens.

“This development is the fi rst step in the regeneration of Oxpens. We are planning a new city quarter with modern architecture, high environmental standards and a mix of residential and employment sites.”

It is hoped that the student flats could be occupied by 2019.

Thursday, March 23, 2017 11

THEOXFORDPAPER.CO.UK

NEWS

Lining up plan for station to re-open Eva Astreinidou: Reporter LAND for a new station to serve Wantage and Grove has been set aside in future development plans.

The re-opening of a railway station at Grove has been ringfenced by the Vale of White Horse District Council in its Local Plan Part Two. The document, which outlines future development in the area, was published for consultation on March 9.

In it, the authority has set aside land on both sides of the A338 north of the Volunteer pub and Williams F1 – on and around the site of the former Wantage Road Station.

The Vale is also working with Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) to prepare a new business case for reopening the station which closed in 1964.

In September 2016, councillors agreed to investigate the possibility of re-opening the rail link to support the growth of Wantage and Grove, with OCC voting unanimously to investigate the business case.

At the time, Councillor Bob Johnston, who represents Kennington and Radley, requested that the council should discuss with Network Rail

and the Department of Transport the inclusion of the station in the funding for Network Rail’s next five-year plan, starting in 2019.

The council developed an outline proposal for a station on land next to the A338 on the northern outskirts of Grove, but the proposal was not

developed beyond outline planning consent, which lapsed in 2011.

Now, Vale leader Matthew Barber and a group of MPs are putting together a case for extending the already-proposed East West line which would link Oxford to Cambridge.

The proposal would use existing

railway tracks, and would include new parkway stations at Grove and in Wiltshire at Corsham and Royal Wootton Bassett.

Cllr Johnston told The Oxford Paper: “The idea behind the reopening is to give many thousands of local Grove and Wantage residents access to high quality railway services in the one direction to Swindon, Chippenham and Bristol and in the other to Didcot, Oxford, Milton Keynes and Bedford (ultimately to Cambridge).

“This will improve the opportuni-

ties for work, training and leisure for local residents. Grove to Oxford will be under 30 minutes as opposed to over an hour by car. It is an exciting prospect.”

The MPs are hoping the plans to build around 4,000 houses at the former Grove Airfield site and Crab Hill north of Charlton will help the business case for the station.

The business case will be put forward to Government and if the station is given the go-ahead, it is hoped it would be open by 2024.

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Allwe weask ask is is that that you allow Volunteers at last year’s Thame tidy up RESIDENTS are being urged to join Saturday’s Thame Tidy Up to spruce up the area for the spring.

People can pick-up all the equipment they will need, including litter pickers, hi-vis jackets, recycling and rubbish bags from a stall outside the Town Hall.

Organisers say the event is “a great excuse to get out in the fresh air, get some exercise and do something useful”.

Rosemary Bryant, organiser on behalf of 21st Century Thame, said: “We need as many people as possible to come along to the

Town Hall on Saturday 25th and help us tidy Thame and Moreton.

“Anyone can join in – young or old, individuals or groups, families welcome. Just come along any time between 10 am and 3pm and collect litter pickers, hi-vis jackets, recycling and rubbish bags from the Thame Lions gazebo outside the Town Hall and get litter-picking.

“Thame is a delightful place to live and we need to feel proud of our place by keeping it litter-free.”

Organiser 21st Century Thame, which also founded the tidy-up,

have put together five reasons for people to take part.

These include that those joining in will ‘make a big difference - twenty minutes litter picking can really transform’, that people will ‘feel good’ and it said studies show people are less likely to drop litter in clean areas so helping out will ‘prevent further littering’.

For those collecting litter on the day there will be eight dropoff points around the town where litter can be left and the Fire Service will help with collecting heavy items.

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Second phase of eco town given green light BICESTER: Plans to start work on a second phase of Bicester’s eco town at Himley Farm, off Middleton Stoney Road have been approved.

The development will include 1,700 homes, a retirement village,

employment space, social and community facilities and a new primary school across 90 acres.

Cllr Colin Clarke, Cherwell District Council’s lead member for planning, said: “As well as reducing the impact of development on

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lifestyles.

“There will also be provision for sport, play and education.”

12 Thursday, March 23, 2017

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TAKE YOUR CAREER TO THE NEXT LEVEL Bicester Village Job Fair Join Bicester Village at the John Paul II Centre in Bicester on Wednesday 5 April, from 4 pm until 6.30 pm. We are looking for candidates who can bring passion to a luxury, fast-moving retail environment. A number of boutiques and restaurants are seeking enthusiastic candidates who would like a new challenge or are looking to return to work. Retail experience is not essential – but passion is.

For more information and to register, visit BicesterVillage.com/jobfair

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Thursday, March 23, 2017 13

theoxfordpaper.co.uk

NEWS

Have your say on bus routes WANTAGE: Bus users have longer to have their say on Stagecoach services in Oxfordshire.

Last week, the bus company announced it wanted to hear from passengers to see whether there is a desire for some of its X30 and 31 buses to serve the west side of Letcombe Brook via Brereton Drive, Cane Lane and Denchworth Road.

The consultation deadline has been moved to Friday, March 31, a week on from its original deadline.

Stagecoach said it had extended the time to allow more of Wantage and Grove community to have their say as it really wants to ‘make the right decision for passengers’.

Feedback cards can be found on the X30 and 31 buses.

Comments can also be sent to oxford.enquiries@stagecoachbus. com

‘Most-deserving’ nurse wins national honour at ceremony AN Oxfordshire nurse is celebrating after being named mental health nurse of the year.

Nurse Nokuthula Ndimande, who works on a mental health ward, said she was “in shock” when she was awarded the gong at the British Journal of Nursing Awards on March 10 at Shakespeare’s Underglobe in London.

Nokuthula has worked at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust for the past 17 years and is a modern matron responsible for other staff at the Warneford Hospital in Oxford.

She received the award as she marked 30 years as a nurse dedicated to caring for others.

Nokuthula said: “I’m still in shock.

Being a nurse – that’s what I’m proud of. I’m committed to nursing – I couldn’t be anything else. I love it so much: every day is never the same.”

Over five years, Nokuthula has led research and practice to help reduce the number of times patients return late from leave.

The result is that patient’s attitudes to leave have changed, and punctuality has improved by more than 50 per cent.

Her approach has been widely recognised and has now been adopted across the trust, as well as by Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust.

Consultant Dr Olga-Maria Tsatalou paid tribute to her “exceptional” colleague.

She said: “Nokuthula is one of the most exceptional extraordinary people I’ve worked with. She has dedicated all her life to helping others. I couldn’t think of anyone who could deserve this award more than Noki.

“She is the most modest person I could work with. She is so committed to nursing, so self-sacrificing and committed to patient care and capable of getting things done.

“For Noki to have won this award is one of the most heartening things that could have happened.”

Free health fair WITNEY: Healthwatch Oxfordshire is holding a free event to speak to people about health and care services in the region.

The health watchdog is to hold a fair which will feature more than 15 voluntary groups with stalls at the free event.

Healthwatch staff will also be present to speak to people about their experiences of using health and care services in Oxfordshire.

This event aims to build up a picture of what services are working well and what needs to be improved.

Join the fair at the Corn Exchange on Thursday, March 30 from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

Nokuthula Ndimande with her colleagues at Warneford Hospital and above, at the awards with head of nursing Britta Klinck and director of nursing and clinical standards Ros Alstead Pictures: main, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust; above, British Journal of Nursing

Cycle route plan aims to start a chain of benefits Eva Astreinidou: Reporter CAMPAIGNERS are vowing to break the cycle of poor cycle routes with a potential 366-mile link that could bring £112 million a year in health and journey time benefits and ‘remove the cost burden from health services’.

Oxfordshire Cycling Network (OCN) has launched its plan for a strategic cycle network and is seeking support for its scheme, which could see towns, workplaces and transport hubs linked with safe and direct cycle routes.

According to OCN, the 366-mile network would bring huge economic and health benefits to Oxfordshire people, whilst also cutting air pollution.

They added that people who cycle live longer, and as a result the route would remove a cost burden from the health services.

Robin Tucker, chair of OCN, said: “Our vision is that people of all abilities can choose to cycle anywhere, feeling safe and comfortable.”

Simon Hunt, chair of Cyclox, which promotes cycling in Oxfordshire, said: “All ages, all abilities. These are the four As of best-practice standards for cycling.

The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark – and even Cambridge – have shown that this works. Now let’s bring similar 4A benefits to Oxfordshire.”

Another benefit to the scheme would be shorter journey times, which would reduce congestion on the roads.

Mr Tucker said: “Instead of stopstarting in traffic jams, fretting about where to park, I can bike the five miles from home to Abingdon more quickly and more predictably. Plus, I will have done my exercise for the day.”

The new route would have smooth tarmac, would be at least three metres

wide and separated from busy roads by a green verge. In town, cycle tracks would be separated from both pedestrians and motor vehicles, and would continue across junctions.

OCN calculates that increasing cycling to 10 per cent of journeys in the county compared to 3 per cent today is worth £112 million per year in health and journey time benefits.

The network might take 15 or 20 years to build and OCN’s fi rst estimate of costs is £120 million.

The scheme comes after the rising wave of development and growth in the county, as potential routes need to be safeguarded, and a benefit for developer plans and future funding.

Now, OCN are trying to get further support on the scheme. Campaigners will meet outside County Hall in Oxford on April 22 to urge candidates to pledge their support.

14 Thursday, March 23, 2017

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NEWS

School growth plan approved SCHOOL expansion plans will be set in motion to meet demand following new housing development.

Plans to expand Chesterton Primary School in Bicester and create a more flexible teaching space have been given the green light by Oxfordshire County Council.

The project, which is in response to new housing development in the school’s catchment area, will allow the school to increase its pupil admission number from 20 to 30.

The council’s cabinet member for education Steve Harrod said the school can look forward to a sustainable future.

He said: “I’m very pleased to give the go-ahead to this expansion project, which will not only provide the necessary accommodation to admit more children, but also create an excellent new teaching space for staff and pupils.

“I share the governors’ view that this will secure a sustainable future for the school, while retaining its ethos and village character.

“I look forward to seeing this project come to fruition and to more local families joining the Chesterton Primary School community.”

Cllr Harrod added: “Legitimate concerns over a potential increase in local traffic were raised during consultation, and due consideration was given to these. It was felt the project should be approved in order to secure the school’s future while funding is available, and that these issues could be addressed as part of the planning process.”

Treasure find: coins worth a pretty penny George Welch: Reporter A treasure trove of ‘rare’ and ‘very exciting’ jewellery and coins discovered across Oxfordshire has been confi rmed as treasure by an Oxford coroner.

A total of eight fi nds from across the county since 2015 ranging from the Middle Bronze Age, Iron Age and early Medieval period were heard before Oxford’s Coroner’s Court on Thursday last week.

Anni Byard, the British Museum’s fi nds liaison officer for Oxfordshire, described the fi nds as ‘very exciting’, with her favourite discovery being the ‘rare’ Middle Bronze Age hoard found in Bix. Also part of the collection was an early medieval pendant from Cumnor, a medieval gold fi nger ring from North Leigh and an Iron Age hoard from Checkendon, south Oxfordshire.

Another fi nd included three complete silver coins of Edward the Confessor, dating from 1042-1044 AD, and likely to be part of the same group as

a coin found nearby in 2005.

Bert Day, a Botley metal detectorist for more than 25 years, stumbled upon one of the coins in ‘pretty fi ne’ condition and expects to receive the most cash out of the three similar coins discovered.

The 68-year-old said he was “really chuffed” to have found it and estimated the penny would be valued at around £1,000.

One of Mr Day’s favourite discoveries is a gold Aureus (a gold coin from ancient Rome) about 15 years ago, for which he received about £700.

He added that he hopes to fi nd a posy ring and a gold medieval coin.

More than 30,000 pieces of treasure and artefacts have been found in the county since 2004, with the oldest dating back to 250,000BC. The items were declared as treasure by coroner Darren Salter and will now be sent to be valued.

Once valued, they will be bought by the British Museum.

Half of the cash goes to the person who found them and the rest goes to the landowner.

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1. 3 x complete silver pennnies of Edward the Confessor from Radley 2016 The Portable Antiquities Scheme

3. Anglo saxon gold and garnet stud from Milton-underWychwood 2016 – Oxfordshire County Council 4. Below, Early medieval pendant with glass inlay from Cumnor 2016 - Surrey County Council

6. Iron age hoard from Checkendon 2015 Berkshire Archaeology

‘Every option must be explored before we go down unitary route’ A COUNCIL leader has vowed to “fight” controversial plans to create a unitary authority in Oxfordshire.

Last week Oxfordshire County Council submitted its proposal to the Government to disband all six city and district councils despite strong objections from more than half of them.

County council leader Ian Hudspeth wants to create a single authority which would be responsible for delivering all services.

He claims the move would save tax payers £400,000 a week in running costs for all six councils.

Mr Hudspeth has the backing of South Oxfordshire and Vale of the White Horse district councils, but the proposal has been rejected by Cherwell District, West Oxfordshire District and Oxford City Councils.

Cllr Barry Wood, leader of Cherwell District Council, said: “These are hugely controversial proposals which will affect how every council service is delivered in the future yet those who will be affected most have had their opinions ignored.

“By its own admission, the county council’s open online questionnaire recorded ‘strong disagreement’ with the proposals yet despite this, councillors have forged ahead regardless.

“Before any change is made to council structures or service delivery we owe the public and business

Cllr Barry Wood

leaders the courtesy of exploring every option and respecting their feedback.

“As councillors we are elected to serve and represent the needs of our communities, be it on a town, district or county level.

“If the county council is not doing that now, how can it be trusted to do it in the future.”

OCC leader Mr Hudspeth said: “The Better Oxfordshire proposal puts local government on a sustainable financial footing for the future.

In contrast, choosing the status quo is a decision with real downsides.

“It means continuing to spend money on running six councils, not council services. One council saves £100m over five years – the equivalent of £400,000 per week.”

He claimed a single authority could offer joined up services and work better with other organisations such as the NHS.

All three opposing authorities have raised concerns about increases to council tax to cover the £16 million implementation costs of a unitary authority, as well as the loss of localism and impact on service delivery.

They have jointly invited Sajid Javid, MP and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to discuss alternative options.

Since 2011, Cherwell said it has made £8 million of savings without cutting any frontline services or increasing its rate of council tax since 2009.

It said much was credited to Cherwell’s joint working with South Northamptonshire Council, with one chief executive, one set of directors, managers and council officers.

The district council is concerned the partnership could be threatened if the unitary proposal was approved.

Last month Cherwell launched a petition against the proposals and is encouraging residents and business leaders to continue adding their names until it closes at the end of March.

The petition will be used in discussions with the Government to show residents oppose the unitary model.

To sign the petition go to change. org/p/stop-plans-for-a-unitaryauthority-in-oxfordshire

Thursday, March 23, 2017 15

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NEWS

Reservoir plans could still go ahead after 10-year battle

2. Complete Roman gold inger ring from Kingston Bagpuize 2016 The Portable Antiquities Scheme 5. Medieval gold finger ring from North Leigh 2016 - Norfolk County Council

Eva Astrienidou: Reporter 7. Middle bronze age hoard from Bix 2015 – Oxfordshire County Council

8. Post medieval gold seal ring from Bampton 2015 - St Albans District Council

THE long-running saga surrounding a ‘mega reservoir’ continues after it was confirmed land is still being set aside for the project despite years of opposition.

In the Vale of White Horse local plan part two, the council has set aside around 2,000 hectares of land for a reservoir between East Hanney, Abingdon and Steventon, on the same site which Thames Water attempted to get Government permission to build a reservoir in 2010, but was refused.

The plan, which was published for consultation on March 9, has led to objections from campaign groups, who believe that the reservoir would be detrimental for the environment and would lead to habitat destruction.

The Group Against Reservoir Development (GARD), highlighted studies in 2010 which showed that the proposals for the reservoir would create ‘great environmental damage and habitat destruction’ on and around the reservoir site.

Nick Thompson, the chairman of GARD at the time, said: “Thames Water’s plan for a massive reservoir would destroy vital habitat for some of our best loved wildlife.

“In addition to being very high quality productive farmland which is protected by national planning policy, the site is home to wildlife which should also be protected from the threat of development for the benefit of future generations.

“The proposal for the reservoir is based on artificially inflated demand projections, and it is not necessary.”

The initial £1bn proposal for the reservoir between Abingdon, East Hanney and Steventon was rejected by Government the same year.

But in 2014, the plans resurfaced when Thames Water announced it was still investigating the case.

In December 2016, GARD released a statement saying that if, in 2018, Thames Water’s final plan still features the reservoir, that they would demand a public enquiry.

Speaking to The Oxford Paper on Tuesday, Derek Stork, honorary chair of GARD, said: “The forecasted water shortages for the future are overwhelmingly (more than 90 per cent) driven by the needs of the London area, and it is unacceptable that Oxfordshire’s communities should be blighted for this.”

He added that the group “will continue to oppose Thames Water’s plans for the reservoir and are seek-

ing the support of local councils, MPs, OFWAT and the Environment Agency for views”.

On Tuesday, CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) Oxfordshire trustee and water advisor Professor Richard Harding said: “The proposed reservoir would be colossal and have a devastating impact on the environment and local communities as well as losing valuable farmland. At this point, we do not see good evidence to justify such a scheme.”

A spokesperson for the Vale said: “Thames Water is yet to make a convincing case for the need for a reservoir.

In the meantime we remain opposed to this proposal.

“Vale of White Horse District Council has safeguarded this land for a reservoir in its Local Plan 2031 - this is to ensure that new development doesn’t prevent the potential new reservoir.

“If Thames Water did bring plans forward for a reservoir then there would be wide public consultation.”

The Vale’s local plan part two is currently under consultation and comments can be made until 5pm on May 4.

To read and comment on the draft version of the Local Plan 2031 Part Two and find out how to make comments at www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/LPP2

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NEWS

Support The Oxford Paper’s charity of the year – Play2Give Andy Baker presents a cheque to Headway at the Headway Christmas party in December for a record amount of money raised in 2016

THE OXFORD PAPER and

Charity of the year 2017

The Headway Oxfordshire football team with their runners up medals from last year’s P2G charity tournament last July

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Play2Give Didcot-based Play2Give is our charity of the year for 2017 with its funds going to Oxford Children’s Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire who are aiming to equip a new gym to help patients’ rehabilitation

New gym will help patients improve in leaps and bounds Eva Astreinidou: Reporter

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CHANGING and transforming lives both young and old is Play2Give’s ongoing mission and this year the charity hopes to garner support and raise funds to help equip a rehabilitation gym for those affected by brain injuries.

As P2G marks its 10th year in 2017, the charity’s £10k in 10 appeal is growing to help fund and equip a neurological physiotherapy gym at Headway Oxfordshire’s site in Kennington.

Headway, whose activity and rehabilitation centre was redeveloped last summer after a £200,000 campaign, is now focusing on raising its fi nal £30,000 to equip the gym.

The Neurological Physiotherapy Gym will be the fi rst of its kind in the voluntary sector in Oxfordshire, and has the potential to see others gain access to its equipment so that the whole community, besides those with brain injuries, can benefit from specialist custom-made machines specifically for those with disabilities and poor mobility.

P2G has already raised over £4,570 for Headway, but its aim is to have raised £5,000 or more by the end of this year.

The timing coincides with five years of support Andy Baker, P2G’s founder, has received since he was referred in 2011 due to his brain injuries.

Andy, 28, suffered brain injuries at birth, and sustained a head injury aged eight, after being knocked over in the playground at school.

He also underwent brain surgery aged 12 at the Radcliffe Infi rmary in Oxford.

Speaking on behalf of Headway Oxfordshire, the charity’s CEO, Jamie Miller, said: “Play2Give and in particular, Andy Baker as an individual, really demonstrates the very essence of the potential of rehabilitation and community integration.

“Andy’s incredible positivity and moti-

vation to continue to overcome his own personal challenges medically whilst at the same time, supporting local charities to help others, is simply fantastic and amazingly inspiring.

“At a time when health and social care services are being drastically cut across our community, Andy knows fi rst hand, just how vital Headway Oxfordshire’s services are to those affected by brain injury across Oxfordshire.

“It’s through his efforts and the efforts of our other supporters and volunteers, that we are able to continue to provide these services. Everyone at Headway Oxfordshire thanks you and salutes you Andy and the P2G team. Keep up the fantastic work!”

“My life has been changed so much by Headway and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without them”

P2G founder Andy Baker

Andy said: “I wouldn’t have come on as much in leaps and bounds it has to be said without the fantastic support and care I’ve received from Headway in the last five years.

“They are absolutely brilliant, and a vital lifeline to people like myself who, although living with brain injuries of many kinds, support us so well and the families and carers.”

His mum is his carer, and he added that Headway have given her much-needed support as well.

He said: “They do so much, and it’s so specialised.

“Without Headway, the 450 they support each year simply wouldn’t have their lives changed so much, and it’s massively important people keep on supporting the charity so that Headway can continue its wonderful work in Oxfordshire”

“Just £10 can make a massive difference, and this new gym and the hi-tech equipment it will bring, is going to be the best it can be, but the remaining £30k is essential to be raised. My life has been changed so much by Headway, I’ve gained a lot of confidence and don’t think I would be the person I am today without them!”

Andy, whose ongoing neurological symptoms have worsened over the past few months, remains focused as ever to keep on changing lives for charities close to his heart, like Headway.

Life for Andy, who officially opened the Sainsbury’s Local store on Wantage Road in Didcot last December, hasn’t been the easiest, and living life with a brain injury brings many challenges.

However, Andy’s zest for life, energy and passion for fundraising continues to amaze.

Over the years P2G has gone on to raise more than £55,200 and many local charities throughout the county have benefited from its tireless work.

The likes of the Footsteps Foundation in Dorchester-on-Thames, to SpecialEffect in Charlbury and Heads Up, to many others, have benefited from the excellent initiatives and events that P2G have been involved in.

Today, its key charities are Oxford Children’s Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire.

The Paediatric Eye Fund, a fund within the Oxford Eye Hospital of the JR, has benefited from the charity’s work, with money raised to help fund research into debilitating childhood eye diseases.

Funds for the PEF were raised by the charity through fundraising parties, ‘superhero’ spinathons, collections, head shaves and waxes, chilli-eating contests and much more including proceeds through a year of support that Sainsbury’s Didcot provided to Play2Give over a year.

To donate to the charity’s 10-year appeal, visit tinyurl.com/zksd8xx

Thursday, March 23, 2017 17

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NEWS

Campaigners hit back at ‘mad’ developments Eva Astreinidou: Reporter AN action group opposing a mass development plan in Crowmarsh is warning that the housing development could be recommended for approval.

The action group are pushing back on developments planned in the area, which include the multi-phase development off Benson Lane and initial plans to build 80 homes in Newnham Green.

The latter was refused by South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) on March 13.

Now the group is warning that a multi-phase residential development in Crowmarsh, proposed by Bloor Homes and Hallam Land Management, is set to start with 150 houses, to be followed by two subsequent phases, which would add a further 300 homes.

The Crowmarsh Residents Action Group (CRAG) has learned that the major housing development application to the east of Benson Lane, Crowmarsh could be recommended for approval.

Philip Tremayne, from the campaign group, said: “The sustainability of Crowmarsh is being brought into question by the sheer size and disproportionate nature of the proposed

developments.

“However, it appears that the local planners feel this is a good idea.”

He added that SODC has taken it upon themselves to ‘circumvent the planning process’, saying they are challenging elected councillors to vote against their own local plan if they feel that the proposals are inappropriate for development. He said in essence, the developers are in fact writing the local plan.

“The sustainability of Crowmarsh is being brought into question by the sheer size and disproportionate nature of the proposed developments”

Campaigner Philip Tremayne

He concluded: “SODC are clearly operating in an underhand and arrogant way that brings into question the relationship between the planning department and developers.”

He said at a consultation meeting the representatives at Bloor Homes/ Hallam Land Management responded

to questions about phased development of the Benson Lane site by saying ‘that is how development is done’.

He added that phases 2 and 3 would bring a further 300 new houses to the village, doubling its size and area, meaning that none of these houses would be affordable to the younger members of the community.

Speaking on the multi-phase development, campaigners have previously said the primary school in the area cannot accommodate any more pupils, that the roads are not fit for existing traffic, that there is an ‘already swamped’ medical centre, and that the development would ‘eat up’ a valuable greenfield site that is home to protected species.

The campaign group protested against the multi-phase development on Monday, as the Planning Committee made a site visit to the Benson Lane site.

A spokesman for SODC said: “Our planning team make recommendations on planning applications based on their merits, in line with policies in our development plans and national guidance.

“The fi nal decision on this case will ultimately be made by the democratically elected planning committee.”

There is also another proposal for a

Plan shows the 150 homes planned for Benson Lane in Crowmarsh

further 100 houses on the other side of the village at Newnham Manor, off Old Reading Road, by developers Avent.

Referring to the Newnham Manor proposal, Mr Tremayne said: “The community favour this proposal as it would integrate into the community better with some affordable houses,

is not a phased development and includes an area of brownfield land.

“Newnham Manor is the lesser evil.”

Bloor Homes and Hallam Management were not available for comment.

A decision is to be made on March 29 at a planning meeting in Didcot.

Thursday, March 23, 2017 19

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NEWS

Have your say on homes plan

Joyce Turner from Banbury at the Royal Voluntary Service and Prudential UK First Time for Everything art event at the Cornhill Centre, Banbury

Joyce Turn-er’s her hand to art OVER 60s would try their hand at ballroom dancing, woodwork, boxercise, bolero, and acting, if they were given the chance.

New research by Royal Voluntary Service, the older people’s charity and Prudential UK, reveals 62 per cent of over 60s in the South East would be keen to try a new activity, but 20 per cent say there aren’t enough opportunities for older people to take up activities in their local area.

As a result, Royal Voluntary Service has joined up with Prudential UK to launch First Time for Everything, a year-long

campaign giving older people across the UK the opportunity to try something new for free in their local community.

Local activities will take place at the Royal Voluntary Service Cornhill Centre in Banbury throughout 2017, with activities including international dancing, art and an Easter event.

David McCullough, chief executive of Royal Voluntary Service, said: “Staying active and socialising are important at any age but when you’re older, they are crucial to keeping fit and well.

“Ageing is no barrier to trying new activities.

“There are significant numbers of older people who are not engaged in social activities and for whom loneliness and inactivity are a real problem.

The campaign aims to improve quality of life for older people by providing a range of stimulating new social activities.”

Guy Dunlop, Executive Director at Prudential UK, said: “We are delighted to be starting a partnership with Royal Voluntary Service and launching First Time for Everything.

Staying connected with people and learning new skills are key ways we can all age well.”

Directors at under-fire trust quit ALL of the non-executive directors at a crisis-hit NHS trust have resigned.

The interim chairman announced on Thursday last week that the four remaining nonexecutive directors at the heavilycriticised Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust have resigned.

Alan Yates said the trust has completed a review of its mental health and learning disability services and details of its fi ndings will be published this week.

As a result, Jon Allen, Malcolm Berryman, Judith Smyth and Trevor Spires have all quit.

Tracey Faraday-Darke stepped down earlier this month, meaning the trust must now recruit five new non-executive directors.

Mr Yates added: “My colleague non-executive directors have offered me their full support in the development of the future strategy of Southern Health over the last few months.

“It is clear to us all that the Trust leadership will need to

Interim chairman Alan Yates look quite different if it is to meet the needs of patients and service users, as well as its stakeholders in the future.

“As a consequence, four nonexecutive directors have this week [last week] jointly offered their resignation from their posts so that the governors can, with my help, recruit to the need for all five new non-executive directors.”

The Trust is also to recruit a

new chairman.

Southern Health, which offers support to people with mental health challenges and learning difficulties, made the headlines repeatedly last year following investigations into the deaths of people under their care between 2011 and 2015.

The Trust failed to properly investigate the deaths of more than 1,000 people in its care and this month has become the fi rst ever to be prosecuted by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) over safety.

The group accepted responsibility in June last year for Connor Sparrowhawk’s death after the 18-year-old drowned in a bath at Slade House in Headington, one of its Oxford facilities, in July 2013.

The prosecution relates to an incident from December 2015 when an unnamed patient suffered serious injuries during a fall from a low roof at the trust’s Melbury Lodge site in Hampshire, the CQC said.

VALE of White Horse residents are being asked to have their say on the housing plans to help accomodate 15,000 houses in Oxfordshire and its own allocation of 2,200 homes in the area.

Oxford City Council is unable to accommodate all of the housing it needs within its own area and nearly 15,000 houses need to be planned in the neighbouring Oxfordshire authorities.

To meet this demand, South Oxfordshire District Council has to acommodate 4,950 homes, while Cherwell District Council has been given 4,400 to fit in, West Oxfordshire District Council must take 2,750, and the Vale of White Horse District Council will accommodate 2,200. The city council will still take on 550 houses.

The Vale’s new Local Plan Part Two, which outlines how the council will be able to accommodate its given share, was published for consultation on March 9.

Part two of the local plan sets out policies and locations for housing for the Vale’s proportion of Oxford’s housing need up to 2031.

Representatives are now rolling out a series of drop-in exhibitions and meetings to discuss the plans with residents.

The Vale adopted part one of its local plan, which outlined plans to build 20,560 homes and explained where the main housing sites in the district could be built and identified the infrastructure that needed to support them, in December last year.

In total, this means the housing target for Vale will be 22,760 homes, should Part Two be adopted.

Now, residents have a chance to influence how decisions are made on local planning applications.

Councillor Roger Cox, cabinet member for planning at the Vale, said: “The consultation provides residents with the opportunity to input into the way planning decisions are made. This will ensure we deliver high quality homes where and when they are needed.

The best way to find out what is proposed is to attend one of the public events.”

The Vale has worked with other Oxfordshire authorities through the Oxfordshire Growth Board, over the past few years, to identify how ‘unmet’ housing need for Oxfordshire should be apportioned between the authorities neighbouring the city of Oxford.

The plan includes policies for sites such as the Didcot Garden Town, and the reservoir at East Hanney.

The next drop-in exhibitions will be on Saturday at the Barn, Vale and Download Museum in Wantage from 10am, and April 5 at the Cornerstone in Didcot, from 1pm.

Residents can read the draft of the Local Plan 2031 Part Two and find out how to make comments at www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/ LPP2 The deadline for comments is 5pm on May 4.

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NEWS Pupil James handles a baby chick for the first time

Activities help pupils to hatch interest in science AN Oxford special school celebrated British Science Week with a range of engaging activities, from chick hatching to computer coding.

Learners at LVS Oxford, a special school for children with autism in Begbroke near Oxford, enjoyed celebrating all things science last week with hands-on activities involving chicks, computer coding and penguin counting.

The youngsters were given 10 eggs in an incubator with instructions to follow so they could give the eggs the best possible chance of hatching out in the classroom.

The school’s webcam provided a live link to the incubator so learners could check progress from home, whilst LVS Oxford’s residential students did temperature checks and topped up the water.

After 24 hours, seven chicks had been born and the remaining three hatched the following night.

The school said it wanted to encourage pupils “to learn about science in an interactive way and also work together and become comfortable around animals, with all the sensory challenges that brings”.

Students were able to understand the various aspects of looking after animals, such as feeding,

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watering, daily bedding changes and checking on their behaviour.

Class 2 student Emma Farley said: “It has been amazing to see how fast the chicks have grown and how lively they are now, compared to when they had just hatched out.

“I’ve loved being able to come into the classroom and hold a chick for a while, it’s really calming and they often fall asleep on my lap which is really cute.”

The LVS Oxford Science Week then moved from cute and cuddly to computers and coding.

Student Tom Martingale-Morris said: “I thought computer coding would be really hard, but once I got into it and understood how it all worked I had great fun.

“I’m looking forward to doing more coding in ICT lessons at school.”

Head of School Louisa AllisonBergin added: “Our British Science Week activities have really awoken the curiosity of our learners in many positive ways.

“Trying new things and having new experiences can be hard for young people with autism, but through careful planning and thoughtful delivery we’ve seen a huge amount of excitement and enjoyment around our special science activities this week.”

Eva Astreinidou: Reporter A DIDCOT engineer had the chance to grill the House of Commons on the UK’s plan for the nuclear landscape and what impact Brexit would have on the industry.

Tamsin Jackson was chosen to represent the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) at this year’s Voice of the Future, in front of the House of Commons Science & Technology Committee, on Wednesday last week.

Tamsin, 29, works at the Culham Centre for fusion energy and helps clean the waste from the reactors, with the aim of protecting the surrounding environment.

She was chosen to attend the event after submitting a question about the impact of Brexit on nuclear regulations.

Organised by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB), the event saw school students through to early-career scientists and engineers pitch questions to politicians and policy makers.

Tamsin asked: “Withdrawing from the EU will also mean withdrawal from the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). What impacts are foreseen as a consequence of this?

“What new legal framework is anticipated to cover nuclear safety regulation or the import of radioactive isotopes for medical and research

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on engineers’ agenda Tamsin Jackson spoke at the Voice of the Future

purposes? How might the funding currently provided to UK nuclear research by Euratom be replaced?”

Jo Johnson MP, Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, said: “For the time being, we are still very much members of the European Union with the rights and obligations that come with

being full members. We’re able to participate all the EU decision-making to make sure the interests and views of our researchers and Institutions are properly reflected in.

“Longer term, our relationship to EU programmes will be subject to wider Brexit negotiations. But we’ve been very clear as a government that

we value our European research partnerships and our collaborative structures.”

Claudia Flavell-While, director of Policy at IChemE, said: “This year was the fi rst time we asked our young members to compete for a place at this event. We were inundated with applications, and the range of questions was fantastic.

“It’s a clear indication of how important policy is to the young chemical engineers who will be helping to solve global problems in the not so distant future.

“Brexit was, unsurprisingly, a popular topic to question MPs on. However, Tamsin was chosen because her question brilliantly linked the wider issue of Britain exiting the EU to a very real challenge in nuclear policy and safety, and will certainly impact on our members working in the nuclear space.”

Dr Stephen Benn, the Royal Society of Biology’s (RSB’s) director of parliamentary affairs, said: “This is a unique event – in no other part of Parliament is the normal select committee format completely reversed so that MPs, the Minister and the Shadow Minister have to answer questions rather than ask them.

“It is important that policy makers use reliable evidence in their decisions, and today’s young scientists and engineers will be a vital part of this in the future.”

Science festival tests links with community A FESTIVAL bringing together scientific institutions and the local community vows to bring the historic town of Abingdon into the forefront of global science and technology.

ATOM Science & Technology Festival joins up scientific institutions and companies, schools, local retailers and the community, in an eclectic mix of science-based events across five days, from March 22 to March 26.

This year the festival has returned to the town where it was first conceived.

Through a varied programme of talks, presentations and hands-on activities, the festival promises to inspire children, and offer grownups a ‘glimpse of the exciting breakthroughs’ happening locally.

James White, founder of the ATOM Festival, said: “One of our ideas is to try and build a bridge between the

applications of science and technology. To show that there is a continuum between research and how that can lead to significant technologies.”

A lecture on alien life by TV and radio science broadcaster Professor Jim Al Khalili of the University of Surrey is also on the programme for Friday.

The physicist is promoting a new BBC Four documentary on March 28 titled ‘Gravity and Me: The Force That Shapes our Lives,’ where he and fellow scientists carried out a series of experiments that reveal how the rate at which we age and the speed at which we move is affected by gravity.

Dog walkers encouraged to ‘scoop the poop’ OXFORD: Oxford City Council has launched a campaign to encourage Blackbird Leys’ dog owners to clean up after their pets.

City councillors, officers and parish councillors will be joined by local volunteers over the next two weeks in speaking to dog walkers and giving out free dog poo bags.

The aim of the campaign is to

encourage responsible dog ownership to make Blackbird Leys’ and Greater Leys’ parks and opens spaces a cleaner environment for everyone.

The campaign was launched on Monday after complaints about fouling in parks and open spaces, notably Blackbird Leys Park and Gillian’s Park.

Report fouling, dangerous and lost and stray dogs at oxford.gov.uk/dogs

26th March 2017 Mothering Sunday Mothers travel for half price when accompanied by children under 5 years of age.

Councillors Mark Lygo and Pat Kennedy with the mosaic, Pat provided some of the funding

Mosaic pieces together history A COLOURFUL community mosaic celebrating the rural roots of Wood Farm was unveiled on Atkyns Road last week.

Located adjacent to the Wood Farm Bakery, the montage showcases the rural history of the area depicting ancient oaks, circling kites and an inquisitive fox.

The mosaic was created by the Workers’ Education Association (WEA) in collaboration with a team of local residents with help

from a £2,485 grant from Oxford City Council.

The city council’s communities team worked in partnership with the WEA to consult local people on the design and to recruit volunteers to create the mosaic.

Additional funding for the project was provided by Councillor Pat Kennedy and the creation included artistic direction from local mosaic artist Clare Goodall.

Cllr Kennedy, board member for

young people, schools and skills at the city council, said: “I’m pleased to have been able to contribute in a small way to this fantastic project and I would like to thank all of the people involved.

“This has been a real community venture and the fi nished mosaic looks great.”

The mosaic is the third created in the last year following on from projects in Greater Leys and Littlemore.

22 Thursday, March 23, 2017

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Two charged with burglaries WANTAGE: Two men have been charged in connection with aggravated burglaries in Faringdon and Bampton.

Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police, Edward Checkley, 36, of London Street, Faringdon, has been charged with one count of aggravated burglary of a dwelling with intent, one count of aggravated burglary, one count of possession of a fi rearm and one count of possession of a fi rearm whilst committing a schedule 1 offence.

Gareth Curtis, 34, of Anson Drive, Watchfield, has been charged with one count of aggravated burglary of a dwelling with intent, one count of aggravated burglary, one count of possession of a fi rearm and one count of possession of a fi rearm whilst committing a schedule 1 offence.

The charges are in connection with burglaries on Radcot Road, Faringdon on March 1, and one at Station Road, Bampton, on February 19.

Checkley and Curtis will appear at Oxford Crown Court on April 7.

Fire caused by pan left on hob WITNEY: Fire crews put out a blaze that broke out at a three-storey block of flats, warning against the danger of leaving items on the cooker hob.

Fire crews from Witney and Bampton were called just before 3pm on Thursday last week to reports of a smell of burning.

The fi re was caused by an item being left on a hob that had been left switched on when the occupier went to work.

Incident Commander Crew Manager Chris Rowe said: “Luckily nobody was hurt and damage was kept to a minimum.”

Have your say on local plan LONG WITTENHAM: Long Wittenham Parish Council has developed and submitted the Neighbourhood

Plan to South Oxfordshire District Council.

Once adopted, the plan will give residents a say in how their community grows and develops over the coming years.

There is now an opportunity to comment on the plan during a consultation period running until April 28.

To comment on the plan, complete the online survey at: survey.southandvale.gov.uk/s/LWconsultation.

Alternatively, you can email planning.policy@southoxon.gov.uk or send the response by post to: Planning Policy, South Oxfordshire District Council, 135 Eastern Avenue, Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 4SB.

Museums up for awards OXFORD: A museum and a volunteer in the city have been recognised in the yearly Museums + Heritage Awards.

Now in their 14th year, the awards have shortlisted an individual in Oxford for volunteer of the year, and have also recognised the Pitt Rivers Museum and the University of Oxford for their recent ‘Out in Oxford’ exhibition.

Aaron Lee, a Museum of Oxford volunteer, was announced as a candidate for the volunteer award.

The winners’ ceremony will take place on May 17 at 8 Northumberland Avenue, London.

Chance to quiz Thame council THAME: The annual town meeting is offering residents an opportunity to ask questions, meet councillors and receive updates.

This year’s Annual Town Meeting will be taking place on Tuesday at 7.30pm in Thame Town Hall.

There will be a presentation from Thame Town Music Festival, and representatives from the Red Kite Family Centre and Thame & District Day Centre.

The agenda can be viewed on the Thame town council website.

For more information call the town council on 01844 260495.

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Evie Tinegate from Thame and her Parson Russell Terrier Ava, far right, won third at Crufts

Terrier Ava helps owner Evie rustle up a prize IT proved to be a day to remember for an Oxfordshire schoolgirl after her three-year-old Parson Russell Terrier Ava put her best paw forward to help her claim a prestigious prize at Crufts 2017.

Ava was one of 22,000 happy, healthy dogs at Birmingham’s NEC for the world’s largest show on March 9, competing alongside Thame owner Evie Tinegate in the Young Kennel Club’s Handling competition for 12-16 year olds

and finishing third.

Presented by the Kennel Club, this year’s Crufts marked the 126th edition of the show, which attracts dogs and owners from all over the world as well as thousands of visitors over the course of the four days.

And after enjoying their own moment in the spotlight, Bloxham School pupil Evie could not be more delighted with Ava’s performance in the West Midlands after

they walked away with third place.

“I feel great because I never expected this at all,” said 13-yearold Evie.

“It was a really tough class and there were loads of good handlers involved, so being there with less experience makes this feel even better.

“Ava is really hard to describe but she’s amazing when you need her to be and when it matters to you she’ll always deliver.”

Get Smart4Life from van with digital inclusion tips OXFORD City Council has launched a project to help residents brush up on important digital technology skills.

The city council and its tower blocks repairs project contractor Fortem are running the Smart4Life Day, a free event from March 21 to 29, to encourage local residents to develop their digital technology knowledge.

A van equipped with state of the art digital technology will park at each of the tower blocks across the city where residents can receive guidance on a variety of skills.

Residents will have an opportunity to familiarise themselves with using the internet, using Microsoft Word, setting up email accounts, sending an email, searching for jobs and creating a CV, as well as using apps on phones.

The Smart4Life van was at Evenlode Tower on Tuesday before moving on to Windrush Tower on Wednesday.

Foresters Tower will have its turn from 10am-1pm on Tuesday next week and Plowman Tower will follow the next day at the same time.

Councillor Mike Rowley, board

The fully-equipped van ready to go out on the road member for housing, said: “The Smart4life Day is a great initiative by Fortem and an example of the social value contribution they’re making to our communities beyond the wonderful work they’re doing in repairing the tower blocks.”

Mick Williamson, managing director at Fortem, said: “Supporting local

communities is at the heart of our business so we’re excited to have our Smart4Life vans in operation in Oxford.

“They’re a great way of promoting digital inclusion for people of all ages and have proved to be extremely helpful to residents at our branches across the country.”

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NEWS

MP’s praise for the role of science in care, treatment and diagnosis George Welch: Reporter THE role of science and technology was lauded at the John Radcliffe Hospital last week to mark Healthcare Science Week.

Oxford West and Abingdon MP Nicola Blackwood met clinicians and patients at the Headington hospital on Friday to discuss the role science and technology plays in healthcare.

Last week was Healthcare Science Week, a national outreach week aiming to raise awareness of the work that scientists do in the NHS. Over the course of the week Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust hosted a series of events and information stands at each of the John Radcliffe, Nuffield Orthopaedic, and Churchill Hospitals.

This was to offer people the opportunity to speak to representatives from across the sector, including genomics, physics, engineering and immunology.

Ms Blackwood, who is also Minister for Public Health and Innovation, met a trainee clinical scientist at the Churchill to discuss her work in Radiotherapy Physics and cancer research.

Ms Blackwood said: “Healthcare Science Week is a fantastic initiative, not only does it highlight the truly life

Nicola Blackwood, second from right, was full of praise for those she met last week at the John Radclifffe changing research that we can see having a direct impact on patients’ lives, but it also helps to inspire the scientific workforce of the future.

“Not everyone immediately realises the impact scientists have on our NHS, and so events like these in our local hospitals are crucial to show the role

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science plays in patient care, diagnosis and treatment, and ultimately placing our NHS on a more sustainable footing.”

Celebrate city’s unsung heroes OXFORD City Council is inviting residents to nominate unsung heroes in the volunteering community who ‘make a difference to the lives of so many’.

The Lord Mayor of Oxford, Councillor Mohammed Altaf-Khan, is inviting nominations for the annual Certificate of Honour Awards that celebrates the invaluable work of Oxford’s voluntary community.

Oxford City Council want help to fi nd the unsung heroes ‘whose compassion and dedication make a vast difference to the lives of so many’.

Cllr Altaf-Khan, said: “Volunteers are critical to the wellbeing of our city and play a major role in achieving the positive aims we all hold for our families, friends and wider community.

“From voluntary participation in local activities to personal care of family, friends or neighbours, the act of volunteering stimulates a sense of community in a city that is constantly growing and diversifying.”

All nominations will be considered by a panel of independent judges.

Nominees do not have to live in Oxford, but the service and support they provide must be carried out within the city.

The closing date for nominations is 4pm on Wednesday April 12.

This year’s winners will be invited to an awards ceremony hosted by the Lord Mayor at Oxford Town Hall in May. To submit a nomination visit www. oxford.gov.uk/certificateofhonours

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‘Encouraging’ discoveries made on new research into pancreatic cancer EXPERTS at Oxford University could be on the path to making a breakthrough into research on pancreatic cancer.

A team of researchers at the university say they have made encouraging new discoveries about how pancreatic cancer develops, which are likely to lead them to the discovery of a new biomarker – or an indicator of the severity – of the disease.

Pancreatic cancer currently kills one person in the UK every hour and, according to Pancreatic Cancer UK’s recent analysis, is set to be the fourth largest cancer killer by 2026.

But this Oxford research is a leap in the right direction because the biomarker could in the future lead to a test to diagnose pancreatic cancer earlier.

Eighty per cent of people with pancreatic cancer are not diagnosed until the disease is at an advanced stage, when there are few treatment options and just five per cent of people will live for five years or more after diagnosis with the disease.

More than 115 people are diagnosed with the disease each year in Oxfordshire.

The researchers have discovered that a particular protein seems to play a role in driving the early stages of pancreatic cancer development,

Professor Eric O’Neill Picture: Pete Jones suggesting the protein could be a biomarker for the disease.

The Oxford team will now attempt to understand the exact function of the protein in the hope it could result in a test to diagnose the disease earlier.

PhD student Asmita Thapa is leading the research, under the supervision of Professor Eric O’Neill.

Asmita was recruited after being awarded a Future Leaders Fund award of £100,000 from Pancreatic

Cancer UK in 2016.

Professor O’Neill said: “We’re thrilled to have made such important preliminary progress in understanding the mechanisms that lead to pancreatic cancer tumour growth.

“Pancreatic Cancer UK’s Future Leaders Fund award has allowed us to bring in a bright young student to work alongside us and help us make significant advancements which could eventually transform patients’ lives by giving them the chance of living longer with their disease.”

Leanne Reynolds, head of research at Pancreatic Cancer UK, said: “Over the last decade pancreatic cancer has only received one per cent of the cancer research budget, despite the fact five and 10 year survival rates have barely improved since the early 1970s.

“We are absolutely committed to transforming the future for people with pancreatic cancer by funding the research pioneers of tomorrow.”

The research project will continue for another three years.

“We’re thrilled to have made such important preliminary progress”

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Professor Eric O’Neill

Memorials to Eva Astrienidou: Reporter OXFORDSHIRE war memorials have been included in Historic England’s pledge to protect 2,500 memorials by 2018, to mark the centenary of the First World War. In commemorating the important date, the year 2018 will see the Headington Quarry, New Marston, Old Marston, Oxford, and Abingdon war memorials listed under the protection of Historic England.

Built by communities in the years following the confl ict, these memorials are a reminder of the sacrifices and loss the First World War brought about.

The protection ensures the memorials are in good condition and properly recognised by listings.

Karen Bradley, Culture Secretary, who leads for the Government on First World War commemorations, said: “The First World War was of utmost importance and significance in our country’s history.

“Nearly 900,000 Britons lost their lives and the centenary commemorations provide an opportunity to pay tribute to those who sacrificed so much.

“Local war memorials are important reminders of the bravery of those who served and integral to honouring their memory.

“I encourage everyone to visit their local war memorial to learn more about their community’s connections to this pivotal point in our history.”

Roger Bowdler, director of listing at Historic England, said: “Researching, recording and recommending up to 2,500 more war memorials for listing

Christmas opening date heralded for superstore

How the Banbury Waitrose will look

Samantha McGregor: Reporter WORK to build a new supermarket in Banbury started this week and the store is expected to be open by Christmas.

Waitrose announced work began on Monday at the 1.44 hectare site on surplus land next to the Jacobs Douwe Egberts factory in Southam Road.

It comes after developer Barwood Capital and Waitrose fi nalised the construction programme.

Banbury councillors have welcomed the development, but one raised concerns about an increase in traffic on Southam Road due to the supermarket.

The single-storey store will have a 27,500sq ft shop floor area and 220 car parking spaces.

Foundations are due to be laid this spring and the frame and roof

are expected to be built in July.

Waitrose say the new store will create 140 jobs and recruitment will start this summer.

Waitrose director of property Nigel Keen, said: “We are now in a position to get started and are that bit closer to realising our long-standing ambition to have a branch in Banbury.

“It takes time to put together projects like this, but it’s important we get everything right so we can deliver a quality food shop, which can make a positive contribution towards the town’s future.”

Plans for the store were approved by Cherwell District Council in November 2015.

At the time concerns were raised due to the store’s out-oftown location and fears it would be detrimental to trade in the town centre.

Labour group leader Cllr Sean

Woodcock said: “I think it is great for Banbury that Waitrose want to come here and provide greater choice to shoppers.

“I am though worried about traffic on the Southam Road, which is already a choke point, and would like reassurances about how this will be managed.”

Cllr Kieron Mallon, Banbury Town Council leader, said: “The fact that a business with the reputation of Waitrose has the confidence to open a store on the edge of our town centre has to be great news for the town and its rural hinterland.

“This will, we hope bring in new shoppers to Banbury who traditionally would have gone elsewhere, who will explore what else Banbury has to offer from small independents in the Old Town to edge of town centre supermarkets such as Waitrose.”

Thursday, March 23, 2017 25

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NEWS

go on protection list

‘Rat activity’ prevents a food storage area from being used AN Indian restaurant has been temporarily stopped from using a food storage area and cellar due to rat activity.

Environmental health officers from South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) visited The Star and Garter, in Wellington Street, Thame, on March 9 to carry out an unannounced routine food hygiene inspection.

During the inspection the officers found rat droppings and damage to the structure of the rear storage area and cellar.

The officers served a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice to prevent the restaurant using the affected area until the problem had been resolved, and sufficient measures taken to prevent it.

The Star and Garter was also

Memorials at Headington Quarry and in Abingdon town centre, right, will be listed under the protection of Historic England

ordered to pay the council’s £1,443 costs. The officers returned on March 13 and were satisfied that the business had taken steps to remove the risk to the public by carrying out improvements.

On March 14 Oxford Magistrates’ agreed that there was no longer an imminent risk to peoples’ health.

SODC continues to work with the business to help it improve its compliance with food safety and hygiene requirements.

Cllr Tony Harbour, cabinet member for food and safety at SODC, said: “Food premises have an obligation to ensure they protect against potential pest problems.

“If they fail to do this they could put customers’ health at risk and we would have no alternative but to take immediate action.”

Gospel choir’s CD to help charities over the next five years is a major task but one that Historic England is proud to undertake. These memorials will gain a place on the National Heritage List for England to tell the story of this country’s sacrifice and struggle.”

This comes as part of a wider partnership between Historic England

and the War Memorials Trust, Civic Voice and the Imperial War Museums to help communities discover, care for and conserve their local war memorials.

The programme is providing up to £2million in grants for war memorial repair and conservation and hundreds

of workshops to teach people how to record the memorials and put them forward for listing.

The organisation’s goal is to see as many war memorials as possible in a fitting condition for the centenary, so that they ‘remain cherished local landmarks for generations to come’.

DIDCOT Community Gospel Choir has released a CD to raise money for four charities close to members’ hearts.

The CD, entitled One Moment in Time, was professionally recorded at St Peter’s Church, south Didcot, last year and features 12 tracks.

The 70+ choir members were polled on what good causes should benefit and chose various charities

ranging from the national Maggie’s Centres (the Oxford Maggie’s is at the Churchill Hospital), to Helen & Douglas House and Style Acre to the Didcot-based Balsam Family Project.

The CD costs £10 and has been distributed among those four.

It can be bought from didcotgospel@gmail.com or at the choir’s spring concert on April 1 at 6.30pm at St Peter’s.

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Out & About

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ENTERTAINMENT

At the cinema with Damon Smith Another Mother’s Son (12A)

Remarkable chapter of history on modest scale Ronan Keating as Harold and Jenny Seagrove as Louisa Gould in Another Mother’s Son Picture: PA Photo/Vertigo Timed for release on Mother’s Day weekend, director Christopher Menaul’s well-intentioned drama pays tribute to one unsung hero of the Second World War, who risked her life for a tortured stranger.

While friends turn on each other to curry favour with German invaders, the self-sacrificing matriarch remains stoic in the face of barbarity.

“If we’re not better than them, what are we fighting for?” she rages, eyes twinkling with defiance.

As scripted by Jenny Lecoat, great niece of the story’s valiant heroine, Another Mother’s Son is a solid portrait of one of the first recipients of Her Majesty’s British Hero of the Holocaust Awards, who found her voice on 1942 Jersey, the only home territory to fall under Nazi rule.

It’s a remarkable page from history recreated on a modest scale

by Menaul, who evokes the period with a colour-bleached palette to reflect the gloom of the islanders’ plight.

Jenny Seagrove delivers a measured performance as the maternal protector, who is delighted to hear

British planes flying overhead and goads one Nazi commandant, “Don’t let me keep you from your packing.”

Her bravado is tragically misplaced.

Abandoned by Winston Churchill, Jersey becomes a prison under the control of the Third Reich.

British citizens who were not born on the island are despatched to Germany, while prisoners of war arrive by the boat load to build a hulking concrete wall to repel allied counter attacks.

Grocery store proprietor Louisa Gould (Seagrove) doles out rations to neighbours and family including her brother Harold (Ronan Keating), sister Ivy (Amanda Abbington) and brother-in-law Arthur (John Hannah), who covertly monitors communications to the Germans through the local post office.

A Russian POW called Feodor (Julian Kostov) escapes and seeks refuge under Louisa’s roof.

One of her sons, Ralph, has recently been killed in action and the grief-stricken mother tearfully welcomes Feodor as a surrogate, christening her guest Bill.

“You don’t know anything about him,” Arthur spits. “Some of them are convicted criminals!”

Louisa cannot bear to cast out the POW and she teaches him English in the hope he can avoid suspicion.

The matriarch believes wholeheartedly in the goodness of fellow islanders and cannot bear to think that neighbours like busybody sisters Lily (Gwen Taylor) and Maude (Joanna David) might report Bill to the Nazis.

Louisa’s trusting nature could be the downfall of everyone she holds dear.

Another Mother’s Son has flecks of humour and tugs heartstrings to the gentle tempo of composer Mario Grigorov’s melancholic score.

Every frame is sincere, but the film is light on tension and character development.

There is no doubting the real Louisa Gould’s selflessness and gallantry in a time of unimaginable bloodshed.

However, her remarkable story merits a broader and richer canvas than director Menaul can muster here.

Make mum’s day with a trip back to stately splendour

Design the perfect day out with the opening of a ‘Made to Measure Home’ at Upton House and Gardens Upton House and Gardens near Banbury is travelling back in time to 1927, the year the house was purchased by Lord Bearsted.

From this weekend, visitors will be invited to walk in the Bearsteds’ footsteps and witness the before and after of their renovations, as Upton becomes ‘A Made to Measure Home’.

Visitors will be fi rst to follow the new tour and see how the Bearsteds re-designed Upton to create the perfect modern country house: a place to relax, host guests and throw parties.

To celebrate 90 years to the day that the family bought Upton, and to open the new presentation, the fi rst 90 visitors at Upton on Saturday will be invited to be part of our opening ceremony.

Displays throughout the property

will provide an exciting exploration of the history of the 1920s and the fashionable trends of the period, which the family were keen to follow in their designs.

On the Saturday there will be music throughout the afternoon in the Picture Room to create the atmosphere of the era, performed by local pianist Jay Riley.

The purchase of Upton House gave Lord Bearstead a worthy location to showcase his world class art collection.

The launch weekend is a superb chance to see the stunning paintings and porcelain he bought over his life time, displayed together in his former home.

On Sunday, visitors may choose to combine a visit to the new house presentation with the Mother’s Day

Thursday, March 23, 2017 29

theoxfordpaper.co.uk

ENTERTAINMENT

La Strada

Oxford

entertainment OXFORD PLAYHOUSE, OXFORD

The story of wide-eyed Gelsomina, who is sold by her penniless mother to Zampano, a travelling sideshow strongman, unfolds as they journey through the Italian countryside performing for their keep. Their perilous road trip leads them to a ragtag travelling circus where they meet Il Matto, the tightrope walker, who rekindles Gelsomina’s spirit with a new found confidence.

RUNS TO: Sat, Mar 25

Oxford’s entertainment highlights To promote your event please email events@taylornewspapers.co.uk

Songs for the End of the World

Warpaint

Hedda Gabler UNICORN THEATRE, ABINGDON

The beautiful, newly married Hedda Gabler dreams of taking her place in society. In 1890 the only way this can happen is through men and she ruthlessly manipulates the men in her life.

George Bernard Shaw described her as ‘having no . conscience’. She continues to fascinate.

RUNS TO: Sat, Mar 25

O2 ACADEMY, OXFORD

LA-based four-piece Warpaint return to British shores as they continue to support their third album, Heads Up. Tue, Mar 28

Sonic Boom Six CORNERSTONE ARTS CENTRE, DIDCOT

Join musician and theatre maker Dom Coyote as he explores the line between epic theatre and raucous gig with artists from Kneehigh and Little Bulb Theatre.

Sat, Mar 25

PICTURES: Above and below, National Trust

O2 ACADEMY, OXFORD

Blackberry Smoke

Didcot Film Club: When Marnie was There CORNERSTONE ARTS CENTRE, DIDCOT

Didcot Film Club meets on the last Wednesday evening of the month at Cornerstone. The film club shows the sort of films you won’t see in mainstream cinemas including Hollywood classics, foreign language films and British independent films.

Wed, March 29

The AC/DC Experience

Fri, Mar 24

Black Comedy,

O2 ACADEMY, OXFORD O2 ACADEMY, OXFORD

Afternoon Tea. This delicious afternoon tea includes dainty sandwiches, a selection of delicious cakes, a scone and tea or coffee, accompanied by a glass of prosecco.

The Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea will be held in Upton’s vintage kitchen: Iris’ Tea Room. Places are limited for this special treat, so it should be booked in advance.

The garden will be bursting with spring flowers so visitors will be able to have a stroll around the grounds which Lady Bearsted worked hard to make her own.

The Pavilion Restaurant will also be open over the weekend, serving delicious seasonal food and fresh baking while the shop has a whole range of new stock, relating to the 1927 ‘Made to Measure Home’ theme, including books and mementos.

The gardens, shop and restaurant will be open 11-4. The house will be open by timed ticket from 1-4: collect your timed ticket on arrival.

Normal admission prices to the property apply. Timed tickets for the house will be picked up on the day on a fi rst come fi rst served basis.

The Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea on Sunday is £15 per person and can be booked online.

Details of all events, opening times and dates are on the website.

For further details call 01295 670266 or go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ uptonhouse

OXFORD PLAYHOUSE, OXFORD

An opportunistic young sculptor prepares for one of the most important evenings of his life.

Tonight, he is to meet both the militaristic father of his fiancée and a millionaire arts patron who could make his career. Throw a couple of neighbours, excessive amounts of furniture moving and an unexpected visitor into the mix and you have the perfect recipe for a rip-roaring farce.

Fri, Mar 24 - Sat, Mar 25

With a brand new fifth studio album, Like An Arrow, Blackberry Smoke are back touring the UK and Europe. It’s the follow-up to 2015’s hugely successful record, Holding All The Roses, which took the top spot on the both the UK Rock Chart and the US Country Chart.

Mon, Mar 27

Incognito

Pulled Apart By Horses CORNERSTONE ARTS CENTRE, DIDCOT

Circa Waves O2 ACADEMY, OXFORD

Don’t miss indie rockers Circa Waves as they embark on their biggest headline tour to date. The band are set to play a string of unmissable live shows in support of their eagerly anticipated second album, Different Creatures.

Sat, Mar 25, 6.30pm

Arguably Britain’s best AC/DC tribute band, The AC/DC Experience authentically cover all eras, giving explosive versions of classics such as Highway to Hell, Back in Black, Thunderstruck, Hells Bells, You Shook Me All Night Long, T.N.T and many many more.

Thu, Mar 30

O2 ACADEMY, OXFORD

Mon, Mar 27, 7pm

Mi Flamenco is an international flamenco company with artists of the highest calibre, bringing quality and entertaining performance to UK audiences and beyond. Their new creation, Incognito, is a show with all the spirit of authentic, pulsating flamenco, intertwined with the unexpected.

Fri, Mar 31

30 Thursday, March 23, 2017

News/Advertising Call 01235 511700

ENTERTAINMENT

Roger McGough and Little Machine

What’s on in Oxford

Three

Letters To Myself

OXFORD PLAYHOUSE, OXFORD OXFORD PLAYHOUSE, OXFORD CORNERSTONE ARTS CENTRE, DIDCOT

Roger McGough’s new show with Walter, Steve & Chris of LiTTLe MACHiNe features a fine selection of vintage, classic and surprising poems set to music. It’s a gala gig that’s making waves!

Sat, Apr 1

The Jesus and Mary Chain

Created from letters written by real people, Letters to Myself is a heart-warming and humorous look at the best advice we never had.

Taking a trip down memory lane, it is recognition of our shared regret and a celebration of our daily triumphs.

Tue, Apr 4

12|16 Young Company

Three singing actors weave together famous tales, which all feature the elusive number three!

Watch as these flamboyant players burst from their wagon of forgotten fables to re-tell such stories as Rumpelstiltskin, Goldilocks and Grimm’s Three Wanderers. These classic stories are brought to life with a flurry of original sing-a-long songs, live music and inventive storytelling. Jump on board the cleverly crafted wagon of fairytales in this spellbinding new musical play.

Sat, Apr 8

Caro Emerald O2 ACADEMY, OXFORD

Following their 1998 release, Munki, The Jesus And Mary Chain fans can look forward to their long-awaited new record, Damage and Joy. The Scottish alternative band will also be supporting the forthcoming album with a tour this spring.

Sun, Apr 2

Abigail’s Party

OXFORD PLAYHOUSE, OXFORD

Amanda Abbington stars in Mike Leigh’s undisputed classic, Abigail’s Party. Directed by Sarah Esdaile (Talking Heads, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof), this new production of Mike Leigh’s legendary play is as hilarious and horribly compelling as ever.

Mon, Apr 3 – Sat, Apr 8

Mallery Knox

Peter Smithson with Jay Berry in The Sinodun Players’ production of Outside Edge at the Corn Exchange Wallingford

PLAYHOUSE, OXFORD

The 12|16 Young Company is a focused and fun introduction to theatre. Meeting once a week during term time they explore and learn theatre making and performance skills. This Spring, the company will work towards a performance as part of the Young Players’ Festival called We are Now Here, We are Nowhere.

RUN TO: Tue, Apr 4

Jigsaw Stage Productions: Made in Dagenham

THE BEACON WANTAGE

Inspired by a true story and based on a hit movie, this is an uplifting new British musical comedy about friendship, love and the importance of fighting for what is right.

Wed, Apr 5 – Sat, Apr 8

NEW THEATRE, OXFORD

Speaking from the recording studio, where she is working on a new album, Caro said “A new year, new songs, a new show, a new tour.

I can’t wait to come over to the UK again.” Since the release of her 2010 multi-platinum debut album ‘Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor’ Caro Emerald has fashioned her own niche. Gorgeous and stylish, Caro blends retro jazz with sampling and modern pop to create her signature sound.

Sat, Apr 8

Mr Fox’s Fables

Tigertailz O2 ACADEMY, OXFORD

In just five years, Mallory Knox have firmly established themselves as pillars of the British rock movement. Breaking free of the restraints that bound them over the first two albums – inexperience, self-doubt, a restricting reverence to their heroes and a reputation as rock’s latest nice guys – their latest album Wired documents a journey of self-discovery for the band.

Tue, Apr 4

O2 ACADEMY, OXFORD

Returning to Oxford to take the stage at the O2 Academy, Tigertailz will follow up their scorching sold out show in 2016 with a select few dates April. The glam metal titans will focus on other projects this year instead of playing live, so be sure to catch them this time around.

Fri, Apr 7

OXFORD PLAYHOUSE, OXFORD

This workshop will use physical theatre techniques to explore Roald Dahl, one of our greatest ever story-tellers.

Using Roald’s stories to create a short performance inspired by his work, you’ll perform your creations on the second day for family and friends.

Mon, Apr 10

That’s just not cricket! It must be Outside Edge

By James Richings What could be more English than a game of cricket of a sunny afternoon?

Into this quintessential mix add the lives of nine people.

Based on the popular play Outside Edge written by Richard Harris in 1979, Outside Edge meshes the lives of Roger, Miriam, Kevin, Maggie, Bob, Ginnie, Dennis, Alex and Sharon.

It’s a glorious summer Saturday afternoon and an important local cricket match is under way.

But while Roger, the team captain is trying to keep his men focused on the game, there is slow-burning meltdown among their wives and girlfriends in the kitchen.

Concentrating on how many runs they need to score, all the cricketers can hear are squabbles from nearby which is putting them off their game.

Will it get resolved and will Roger’s team win the match?

Peter Smithson from Goring, who will play Roger in the production at Wallingford Corn Exchange said: “My character is an organised controlled total male chauvinist pig who relies on his wife but won’t admit it.

“All that is important to him is winning. He loves his wife but not so much as when he’s trying to win a game of cricket.”

Performed by the amateur dramatics group Sinodun Players, this is the volunteers’ fi rst production since their successful Rapunzel in

January.

The Players’ adaptations of wellknown plays, stories and fairy tales have proved to be incredibly popular, but this show has a lot of importance to Peter.

Peter played the same character in the same production but with a different theatre company 17 years ago.

His fi rst run as Roger back in 2000 was only the second time he had ever been on stage and was his fi rst lead role.

The experience whetted his appetite for more and has since clocked up 68 roles since with several local societies including Sinodun Players, Goring Gap Players and Chiltern Players.

“After nearly 17 years and with more experience, I’m hoping to do far more justice to the role than when I fi rst played it,” Peter said.

“It is a very funny play with characters people can defi nitely relate to.

I’m really looking forward to playing Roger again – I can still remember the lines from the fi rst time!”

Director Gloria Wright added: “The amount of laugher from the cast at our fi rst read-through bodes well for this play and I know audiences will enjoy it as much as they did when we fi rst performed it.

“We have a great cast and a fantastic set design and we’re looking forward to introducing it to a new generation of theatregoers.”

The play runs from Wednesday March 29 to Saturday April 1 at 7.45pm and tickets cost £10.

Thursday, March 23, 2017 31

theoxfordpaper.co.uk

ENTERTAINMENT

Mike + The Mechanics

What’s on in London

All Time Low

Parkway Drive – Unbreakable Tour

Disney on Ice 100 Years

Big Guns

WEMBLEY ARENA, LONDON

ROYAL ALBERT HALL, LONDON

Mike + The Mechanics return to the Royal Albert Hall in 2017 as part of their nationwide Word of Mouth Tour.

Sun, Mar 26

Grab your Mickey ears and get ready for the ultimate Disney experience when Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic skates into a city near you.

Wed, Mar 29 – Sun, Apr 2

Mac DeMarco

Teenage Cancer Trust: Olly Murs

Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall returns in 2017, with Olly Murs kicking off a week of special events for the charity.

Mon, Mar 27

THE YARD, LONDON

O2 BRIXTON, LONDON

Since bursting onto the scene in 2003, All Time Low have become a bona fide worldwide sensation. The band’s last album, Future Hearts, was released in 2015 and went to the top of the UK and US album charts upon release.

Fri, Mar 31

O2 ACADEMY, BRIXTON

Supporting the deluxe edition of fifth album, IRE, metalcore

Big Guns is an unsettling new play from Nina Segal, directed by Dan Hutton that holds a mirror up to our relationship with contemporary violence: the feeling of it being dragged towards us.

RUNS TO: Sat, Apr 8

Ne-Yo

O2 ACADEMY, BRIXTON

ROYAL ALBERT HALL, LONDON

five-piece Parkway Drive return to the UK for a new tour, alongside special guests Asking Alexandria.

Taking their craft as musicians and songwriters to another level, IRE reflects the band’s newfound musical depth and urgency in frontman Winston McCall’s vocal deliverance.

Sat, Apr 8

Performing his biggest London headline show to date, Mac DeMarco comes to O2 Academy Brixton. The landmark show follows an appearance at Glastonbury festival, minialbum Another One and two intimate London dates that sold out in less than two hours.

Wed, Mar 31

O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON,

Join us at our vintage tea party

LONDON

Award-winning Tanzanian afrobeat superstar Diamond Platnumz supports Ne-Yo, showcasing his unique sound to UK audiences.

Fri, Apr 7

Join us for tea, cakes, Lindy Hop dancing and a tour of our stunning show apartments as we celebrate our 40th anniversary From the opening of our very first retirement development in October 1977, we have enriched the lives of tens of thousands of older people and their families. To celebrate this milestone, we are delighted to announce Royal Voluntary Service as our charity partner for 2017.

Heron Place Nurseries Road, Kidlington, Oxfordshire, OX5 1FU 29th March 2017, 2pm – 4pm We will be fundraising on the day and all money raised will go directly to Royal Voluntary Service to support them in their valuable work.

Please feel free to bring friends and family along, to enjoy the event; we look forward to seeing you there!

Call us on 0800 882 1451 to join our celebrations or visit mccarthyandstone.co.uk/heronplace

Royal Voluntary Service. Registered charity number 1015988 (England and Wales) and SC038924 (Scotland).

LP-SE-OP-RL-3143-TP

32 Thursday, March 23, 2017

News/Advertising Call 01235 511700

FEATURE

Be a S ta r

B a ke

Be ar Sta

a Cake

Chocolate an d marmalade fondant, salte caramel, hone d marmalade ycomb by Mar k Greenaway This recipe is

delicious serve d with some ho shop bought stu memade ice cre ff. At the restau am or even so rant we serve white chocola me of the this dessert wi te, these are op th macarons an tional but delici d burnt ous extras. Se rve s six.

Ingredients for salted marmala de caramel P 300g caster sugar P 100g butter P 20g sea salt P 80g Mackay s Orange, Lemo n and Ginger P 200ml doub Marmalade le cream Method Place the suga r in a heavy ba sed pot and sti brown. Add the r over salt and stir tho roughly. Add the a medium heat until golden incorporated.

Mix in the cream butter and ma rmalade and sti r until

B ak e

Be a S ta r

a Cak e

B a ke

a Cake

Sunken Chocol ate Cake

by Rick Stein

ke d Hazelnut Ca Chocolate an er

by Brian Turn

Ingredients Serves 8

Ingredients

P 225g (8oz) bu tter P 225g (8oz) go od quality plain chocolate, bro P 50g (2oz) gro ken into piece und almonds s P 60g (2Âźoz) plain flour P 6 medium eg gs, at room tem perature P 50g (2oz) lig ht soft brown sugar P 175g (6oz) ca ster sugar P Icing sugar for dusting P Double cream , to serve Tak

@=2E6 P @K 52C< 49@4 P 688D K6=?FED P @K 8C@F?5 92 6 4@776 P E3DA DEC@?8 82C P @K 42DE6C DF >@?5D P @K 8C@F?5 2= C:4@E ;2> P @K D:6G65 2A @=2E6 P @K 52C< 49@4 6C FEE P @K F?D2=E65 3 > 4C62 P E3DA 5@F3=6

en from Rick Stei

nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Food Heroes published by BBC â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and Books.

Find out how to make all these tasty treats â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all for a good cause â&#x20AC;&#x201C; go to bowelcancer.org.uk/ be-a-star, -bake-a-cake

Be a Star Sweet Potato Brownies

by Deliciously Ella Ingredients Makes 10 brownies P 500g of sweet potatoes (about 2 medium) s P 100g of ground almond P 100g of ground oats P 12 medjool dates ted coconut oil P 2 tablespoons of mel cacao P 6 tablespoons of raw maple syrup P 6 tablespoons of pure P a pinch of salt Icing: nut oil P 2 tablespoons of coco syrup P 1 tablespoon of maple o P 2 tablespoons of caca ond butter P 2 tablespoons of alm

Be a S ta r

B ake

a Ca ke

Lemon merin gue cupcakes

by Eric Lanlar d

B a ke

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a Cake

B ak e

a Cak e

ke by Gennaro

ate ca Pear & chocol

Contaldo

ga grandma makin remember my re fruit to your s in Italy and I mo ke g ca din to d ad de of en ad at way d this Fresh fruit is oft apples. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a gre well together an this one using olate go really similar cake to and dark choc ar Pe . ren ild for ch diet especially oon tea. cake for aftern makes a lovely

Ingredients Makes 12 muffin s Preparation tim e: 20 minutes Cooking time: 15â&#x20AC;&#x201C;20 minutes For the cupcak es: P 100g (3½oz) unsalted butte r, softened P 100g (3½oz) golden caster sugar P 1 vanilla pod, split P 2 eggs P 100g (3½oz) self-raising flo ur, sifted P finely grated zest of 1 lemon P 75g (2žoz) ready-made or home-made P lemon curd

Ingredients 6 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8 servings P 3 eggs sugar P 150g caster d d butter, softene P 85g unsalte flour, sifted ing ais lf-r se 0 P 30 nilla pod P seeds of 1 va t into d, cored and cu ele pe , ars pe 3 P chunks ly broken ocolate, rough P 75g dark ch ks into small chun on all unwaxed lem P zest of 1 sm icing sugar P a little sifted meter tin 20cm in dia P 1 round cake you have if m tto bo se with a loo tter and with a little bu one, greased f paper roo ep as gre th lined wi

For the merin gue: P 2 egg white s P 100g (3½oz) caster sugar

Recipe taken from Home Bake by Eric Lanlard pub

by Mitchell Bea lished zley Š photog raphy, Craig Rob ertson

For decoration r (superfine) suga P 100g caster butter d lte sa un p P 1 tbs ed very thinly P 2 pears, slic ersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;) icing (confection ted sif le litt P a l) sugar (optiona

Recipe taken from

ilion), an Bakery (Pav Gennaroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Itali Jones cake image: Dan

Thursday, March 23, 2017 33

THEOXFORDPAPER.CO.UK

FEATURE

B ake

Be a Star

a Ca ke

cake Lettuce, walnut and raisin ers Pet ndi

by We Ingredients P 200g, plain Flour P 2 tsps, Baking Powder P 1/2 tsp, Bicarbonate of Soda P 1/4 tsp, Salt P 1 tsp, Ground Mixed Spice P 1/2 tsp, Ground Cinnamon P 200g, Light Brown Sugar P 150 ml, Vegetable Oil P 3 med Eggs P 2 tsps, Vanilla Extract P 140g, Iceberg Lettuce (finely shredded) P 100g, Raisins P 60g, Walnuts (chopped) P Icing sugar to decorate

Be a S ta r

B a ke

a Cake

Chocolate and Or ange Soufflés with Grand Marnier sa

by The Hairy Biker uce s This is a classy num ber. Dark chocolate and orange are a favourite combo and you cou ld also make these with orange-fla voured choc.

You’ll need four 150 ml ramekins or six smaller ones.

In just a few weeks’ time families, friends and colleagues will be baking their favourite cakes for Bowel Cancer UK’s fundraising campaign Be a Star, Bake a Cake.

Brian Turner, Eric Lanlard, Tom Aikens, the Hairy Bikers, Gennaro Contaldo, Deliciously Ella, Mark Greenaway, Tom Kitchin and Rick Stein have all whipped up their favourite recipes for the campaign for the nation to bake.

This year Bowel Cancer UK, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, is hoping more people than ever will hold a bake sale during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month in April and raise as much money as possible to help fund vital research and lifesaving work to stop bowel cancer.

More than 44 people die from bowel cancer every day in the UK, it’s the nation’s second biggest cancer killer.

However, it shouldn’t be. It’s treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early.

Steph Mills, Community Fundraising Manager at Bowel Cancer UK says: “Whether you’re a whiz in the kitchen or if baking sends you into a tiz, our celebrity chef supporters have

Be ar Sta

B ak e

Be a Star

a Cak e ing

heese Topp

h Cream C

t Cakes wit Mini Carro chin

by Tom Kit

a recipe for you. Test your soufflé skills with a delicious Chocolate Orange Soufflé by the Hairy Bikers, make your chocolate brownies less devilish with Deliciously Ella’s sweet potato brownies or if you’re after indulgence, Tom Aikens chocolate cake will satisfy your sweet tooth.

“Then hold a cake stall, coffee morning or afternoon tea and invite your friends, family and colleagues to make a donation and sample the delicious treats.”

French pâtissier Eric Lanlard says: “I’m supporting Bowel Cancer UK’s Be a Star, Bake a Cake campaign as I’d like to raise awareness to stop bowel cancer – every 15 mins in the UK someone is diagnosed with bowel cancer – let’s get baking and help spread the word!”

British chef, Brian Turner CBE, says: “Cook up a storm this April for Bowel Cancer Awareness Month! Treat your friends, family and work colleagues to your favourite homemade cake and raise awareness of bowel cancer. Go for it!”

Your bake will make a real difference – sign-up here: bowelcanceruk.org.uk/ be-a-star,-bake-a-cake

4 - 6 servings P 25g butter, soften ed, for greasing P 1 tbsp caster sug ar, for dusting P 150ml whole mil k P 100ml double cre am P 150g dark chocol ate, broken into pieces P grated zest of 1 ora nge P 3 large eggs, sep arated P 75g caster sugar P 15g cornflour P 15g plain flour P 10g cocoa

Topping: eam cheese P 270g cr ted ng sugar, sif ici 0g 23 P r, softened salted butte seeds un 0g 16 P d pod, split an of P 1 vanilla 1 teaspoon scraped, or ct vanilla extra t and grated opped carro P Finely ch ish fin to st ze orange Recipe from THE HAIR Y BIKER Dave Myers, published S’ CHICKEN & EGG by Si King and

by Orion in hardback at £22, eBook £12.99. Photography credit: Andrew Haye s-Watkins

Celebrity chefs and their recipes: • Brian Turner – Be a Star, Bake a Cake Cupcakes • Eric Lanlard – Lemon Meringue Cupcakes • Tom Aikens – Chocolate Cake • Hairy Bikers – Chocolate Orange Soufflé • Gennaro Contaldo – Pear & Chocolate Cake • Deliciously Ella – Sweet Potato Brownies • Mark Greenaway – Chocolate Marmalade Fondant • Mark Geenaway – Sticky Toffee Pudding Cupcakes • Brian Turner – Chocolate & Hazelnut Cake • Tom Kitchin – Carrot Cake Cupcakes • Rick Stein – Sunken Chocolate Cake • Wendi Peters – Lettuce, Raisin & Walnut Cake

B a ke

a Cake

Chocolate Cake

by Tom Aikens Ingredients

Ingredients s ke Makes 12 ca r for greasing tte P A little bu n flour P 190g plai g powder poons bakin P 1½ teas ate of soda on rb ca bi on P ½ teaspo cinnamon nd ou gr on P 1 teaspo on freshly P ¾ teaspo eg grated nutm nut cated coco P 95g desic medium eggs e ng P 4 free ra getable oil P 135ml ve n sugar ft dark brow ed P 190g so carrots, grat ed el pe P 400g

Ingredients

Grand Marnier sau ce P 300ml orange juic e P juice of ½ lemon P 100g sugar P 2 tbsp Grand Ma rnier

Bake up a storm

Makes one 8” cake P 240g unsalted butter P 240g 70% chocolate P 83g cocoa powder P 175g egg yolk P 245g egg white P 200g caster sugar + 15g for icing

y: Marc Millar

Photograph

Photography of Tom Aikens

’ chocolate cake: David Griffen

34 Thursday, March 23, 2017

News/Advertising Call 01235 511700

FEATURE The elegant surroundings of Blenheim Palace have been named as the UK’s best stately home venue for a wedding.

The UK Wedding Awards – hosted by hitched, Perfect Wedding and You & Your Wedding - has revealed the Woodstock palace as the winner as voted for by a panel of industry experts.

Recognising the very best of the UK’s bridal industry, the UK Wedding Awards, in its second year celebrates all aspects of the wedding industry, focused around five key areas - fashion, venues, suppliers, travel and gift lists - with 22 categories from fabulous venues to beautiful dresses, incredible jewellery to dream honeymoons.

Zoe Jobson, Immediate Media Weddings Publisher, responsible for the voting publications, says: “We are delighted at the level of engagement The UK Weddings Awards have generated – both inside the wedding industry with an incredible level of entries and among brides and bridal-party members who voted in staggering numbers.

“Our aim was to celebrate and showcase the excellent companies and individuals who make the wedding experience such a memorable one for thousands of UK couples – and we’re thrilled to recognise their commitment, creativity and exemplary service as we announce the winners list.”

Blenheim Palace named best stately home for a wedding

Palace also named as most desirable location for ancient oak trees Oxfordshire is home to the greatest single concentration of ancient oaks in the UK and a new book out in May tells their story.

Ancient Oaks In The English Landscape combines history with

science to tell the fascinating story of how ancient oaks have shaped the English landscape.

In his four-year research, botanist, Aljos Farjon discovered that the greatest single concen-

tration of ancient oaks is in part of the Blenheim Palace estate in Oxfordshire. In that one former deer park alone he found 112 ancient oaks which started growing before the year 1600.

Dr Farjon takes us all the way back to the Norman conquest to explore how a very special series of circumstances created a unique abundance of ancient oaks in England.

Sobell House welcomes in the spring at Adwell House The garden of Adwell House will be open to the public next month for the second time, in aid of Sobell House.

To mark the beginning of spring, Tom Birch Reynardson and his wife Imogen are kindly opening the garden of Adwell House near Thame. Visitors are welcome to come and enjoy the beautiful landscape, and admire the Springtime daffodils, on Sunday April. 2 Proceeds from the event will be donated to Sobell House as the hospice continues to strive towards its target of raising an additional £4m over four years to expand its services.

The garden of Adwell House, with its perfect lawns and impressive array of ancient trees, has been developed by many generations of the Birch Reynardson family and spans over around 15 acres.

Friends and family can enjoy beautiful spring colours including a sea of daffodils where the Birch Reynardson’s have planted about 30,000 daffodils with 300 different varieties over the past three years.

The proceeds from the event will go to supporting the hospice, which provides specialist palliative care and support to approximately 3,000 adult patients and their families each year across the county.

Dominique Cadiou, Head of Fundraising at Sobell House, said: “For the second year running we’ve been fortunate enough to invite our supporters and the wider public to come and admire the beautiful gardens at Adwell House.

“We’re delighted that the Birch Reynardson’s have opened the gardens once again to raise money for Sobell House and help us to raise

public awareness about our plans.

“We are investing £9m to grow the level of end of life care that our team offers. Last year we had £5m already in place and we set out to raise an additional £4m. The fundraising has been going well and we’re excited about what this year can bring. Events like these will really help us move closer towards our target.”

Tom Birch Reynardson said:

“We’ve had a personal experience with Sobell House and seen for ourselves the level of care for the dying and the bereaved that the hospice offers. Their approach to palliative care is second to none.

“There is an increasing need for hospice care in Oxfordshire and Sobell House’s plans for expanding their services are ambitious and

require local support.

“I hope the sun comes out for us and we have a great turn out to support the hospice.”

The gardens at Adwell House will open on Sunday April 2 from 2pm to 5pm. Entry is £5 on the day and all proceeds will go to Sobell House. For more information visit http://www. sobellhouse.org.

Thursday, March 23, 2017 35

theoxfordpaper.co.uk

FEATURE

Step back in time for the American classics In the heady throws of a new relationship, your surroundings are oblivious. So on this rainy Thursday evening, we didn’t want or need anything too intense.

Luckily, we rocked up to the perfect establishment to match our teenage-like, giddy mood. It felt like we were in a classic American rom com, grabbing a late night burger post Prom.

Walking into The Oxford Blue Smoke House, we were transported straight to the 50s. Elvis on the jukebox, platters adorning tables and hard shakes all over the shop…

I was gutted my cheerleading outfit was in the wash.

Sam was our server for the evening and made us feel so at ease he even joined our table for a drink.

Considering it’s the honeymoon period, this spoke volumes about how awesome the team are.

We kicked off with Espresso Martinis (£7) which were up there with the best I’ve tasted. For the main event, Sam suggested we try their best seller, a fitting 50s classic Corn Dog (£6) which was stupidly moreish. Encased in sweet brioche,

The Oxford Blue Smoke House 32 Marston Street, OX4 1JU

Rating: 9/10

Camilla Brown finds her perfect date at this smokin’ venue slightly charred on the outside and bursting with quality sausage inside, we devoured it within two shakes of a lamb’s tail. We also shared the salt and pepper squid (£6.50), which I can only compare with Pringles… once you popped, you really couldn’t stop.

For mains we knew it was going to be a meaty affair… however, there was too much to choose from. I always think less is more on a menu, it shouldn’t feel like Year 9 homework.

Luckily, Sam was on hand to show us the colossal out door Smoker and recommended a couple of Combos (£16.95 each) one was beef brisket, pulled pork and burnt

ends while the other was baby back ribs with a side of chilli cheese and sweet potato fries. It was meat sweat city.

The burnt ends were so tasty I’d return for those alone, but luckily the rest of our vegetarian’s nightmare didn’t disappoint. The ribs fell off the bone and proceeded to melt in the mouth, and there were some pretty euphoric noises due to our ‘pimped carbs’ paired with the surprisingly delicate beef brisket.

We tackled both Combos until there was no room left, but after being persuaded by Sam to try their famous White Russians (£6.95), we found the energy (thanks, vodka) to devour the dreamiest chocolate and peanut butter brownie (£5) I’ve ever encountered. We left full, giddy and wondering what decade we were in.

Always a good sign.

If you want to escape the gastro pubs in Oxford and aren’t a vegetarian, then this place is for you.

Blogger and baker to the stars, Georgia Green has the perfect cake for Mother’s Day (www.georgias-cakes.co.uk) Georgia’s Ombre Cake For the cake: 250g butter 250g caster sugar 250g self raising flour 200g eggs (about 4) 1tsp vanilla extract For the buttercream: 500g icing sugar 150g softened butter 60ml milk 1 vanilla pod Pink food colouring To decorate (optional): Fresh fruit macarons Meringue kisses White chocolate shards Strawberries Flowers To make the cake, melt the butter then mix together with the caster sugar. Add the eggs and mix

through, then the flour and vanilla until incorporated.

Divide equally into two sixinch cake tins and bake at 180C for 30-40 minutes, until they are cooked through.

For the buttercream, beat together the icing sugar, butter and milk and add the seeds from the vanilla pod. Keep beating until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Once the cakes have cooled, cut into two layers so you have a total of four layers of cake.

Put the first layer onto a cake board or plate with a little buttercream underneath so it doesn’t slip.

Pipe or spread some buttercream onto the layer of cake and sandwich another on top. Repeat until you get to the last cake, being sure to turn the final layer upside down, so the top is the flat part from the cake tin.

Smother buttercream over the whole layered cake and scrape

away the excess (this is called crumb coating). Refrigerate or freeze for 20 minutes until the buttercream has hardened.

In a separate bowl, mix a couple of heaped tablespoons of buttercream with some food colouring to get a dark colour. Spread a thin layer of the coloured buttercream around the bottom of the cake.

Add some more white buttercream to the coloured one to make a lighter shade, and spread it on the cake just above the layer you just did. Repeat until you get to the top, where you want to spread white buttercream on the top layer and the top of the cake.

Use a scraper or palate knife to go around the cake, smooth out the sides and you should achieve the ombre effect.

Even out the top of the cake so it’s flat and decorate with fruit, flowers and sweet treats, or however you like!

36 Thursday, March 23, 2017

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FEATURE

Around Oxford You have been sending us your pics of Oxford. Send your comments, pictures and opinions to alex@theoxfordpaper.co.uk

@EMILYRGMOFFAT

@OXFORDBREWERS

@DOBRZYCKITOMASZ

@MIKEY_GREEN74

@THEHAZARDOFLUCE

Thursday, March 23, 2017 37

THEOXFORDPAPER.CO.UK

FEATURE You may not be aware that Monday is national paella day! So, don’t miss out on this delectable temptation – get yourself to a Spanish restaurant and tuck in. Ole!

5

of the best...

Places to enjoy paella day The Kazbar 25-27 Cowley Road,OX4 1HP A complete Mediterranean theme – you will find something that takes you back to the blue waters of the sea. Weekends are busy – and you can’t book large groups – so a little wait may be in order, but worth it.

1 Arbequina 74 Cowley Road, OX4 1JB A real taste of Spain – you may be disappointed that the sun isn’t shining as bright as it does on the equator when you come out of this restaurant.

@STAYINBICESTER

2 Al-Andulas Tapas

3

10 Little Clarendon Street, OX1 2HP A huge range of tapas and friendly staff make this place a must visit when you are in town. On occasion they have flamenco – so grab your partner and start clapping.

@OXHRF

Mezzeto

4

67 Walton Street, OX2 6AG Located on Walton Street in Jerico, this small tapas restaurant has a great buzz about it and serves delicious food.

Cafe Tarifa 58-60 Cowley Road, OX4 1JB

5

@OXFORDSHEARS

A friendly smile, beautifully hand-made food, and delicious cocktails at Café Tarifa.

Do you have a favourite restaurant?

Share it with us at alex@theoxfordpaper. co.uk

38 Thursday, March 23, 2017

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PUZZLES

SUDOKU

DOUBLE CROSSWORD

CODEWORD Codeword is the crossword puzzle with no clues. The number in each square corresponds to a letter. Work out the words in the grid using the letters provided. Fill in these known letters first, then use skill and judgement to work out the others.

Cryptic Clues: Across

Down The flavour from

WORDWHEEL

Quick Clues: Across

You have 10 mins to find as many words as possible using the letters in the wheel. Each must use the hub letter and at least 3 others. Letters may be used only once. You cannot use plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. There is at least one 9-letter word to be found.

A L

A E

first in a game of

CLOCKWORD

KAKURO

The solutions from 1 to 12 are all six-letter words ending with the letter L in the centre. Moving clockwise from 1, the letters in the outer circle will spell out the name of a former England footballer.

12

11

1 2

10

L

9

3

7 1.

2.

3.

4.

Door Involve Excite --- Tower, Parisian monument 5. Expose 6. Spade

4

5

19

14 23

13

17

13

THE CLUES: 73561 gives a boy’s name; 236962 gives a boy’s name; 7385964 gives a boy’s name.

7

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

O

8

SUDOKU:

CODEWORD: 1=Y, 2=G, 3=S, 4=R, 5=D, 6=W, 7=M, 8=C, 9=V, 10=P, 11=J, 12=N, 13=X, 14=L, 15=K, 16=Z, 17=A, 18=Q, 19=I, 20=O, 21=B, 22=U, 23=F, 24=T, 25=E, 26=H. WORD WHEEL: CALLOUSLY.

6 13 13

8

12

32

5

7

11

24

21

13 23

4

11

14

6

11

6

33 22 13

11

12

15

9 13

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

14 14

7. Lodging house 8. Introduce gradually 9. Evergreen tree 10. Go on a journey 11. Soup flavour 12. Average

6

4

T

8

5 8

3

3

18

7 8

4

SUDOKU: CLOCKWORD: 1 Jumper, 2 Answer, 3 Yonder, 4 Neuter, 5 Eraser, 6 Tender, 7 Orator, 8 Repair, 9 Valour, 10 Indoor, 11 Larder, 12 Letter.

ICE SKATER: Jayne Torvill.

SPLIT DECISION

Each number from 1 to 9 represents a different letter.

Solve the clues and insert the letters in the appropriate squares to discover a word which uses all nine letters.

3

Each horizontal block of squares must add up to the number in the shaded square to its left, and each vertical block must add up to the number in the shaded square above it.

17 16

15

NINER 2

Fill in the white squares with the numbers 1 to 9.

17

5

6

3

SUDOKU

No number may be used more than once in any one block.

4

8

2

DOUBLE CROSSWORD: Cryptic: Across: 1 Lying-in-state; 7 Eager; 8 Knave; 9 Rag; 10 Stainless; 11 Lethal; 12 Chaser; 15 Separates; 17 Aim; 18 Erica; 19 Adage; 21 Nevertheless.

Down: 1 Lower classes; 2 Gig; 3 Norman; 4 Taking his; 5 Trade; 6 Measurements; 7 Eight; 10 Staircase; 13 Slake; 14 At last; 16 Price; 20 Ale. Quick: Across: 1 Cartographer; 7 Minus; 8 Stain; 9 Err; 10 Committee; 11 Potent; 12 Centre; 15 Impatient; 17 Old; 18 Liana; 19 Leash; 21 Unanswerable.

Down: 1 Contemptible; 2 Own; 3 Resume; 4 Pestilent; 5 Exact; 6 Independence; 7 Merit; 10 Constrain; 13 Tooth; 14 Fellow; 16 Plain; 20 Air.

I

D O

1

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

B

V

Down

How you rate: 15 words, average; 20 words, good; 25 words, very good; 30 or more, excellent.

1

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

9

Cross out one of the two letters in each divided square to reveal a completed crossword grid.

NINER: COUNTRIES

R W A T R

F

A

O

L

R B

R

D

U D

U D

C

E

L

P

D

E

S

I

I O

K

L

E C

M E

R

T

D

S

D P T Z H

SPLIT DECISION:

KAKURO:

7 2

7 5

3 6 6 7 8 3 5 7 6 9 2 5 2 8 3 5 9 1 3 1 7 5

G 9 5 3 8 7 9 7 4 6 7 5 8 6 2 1 4 6 7 3 4 1 7 9 5 4 6 5 4 1 6 3 3 4

N

A M

W I

E S

O M N

A O

E A

D

E R L

L

Y

Thursday, March 23, 2017 39

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Thursday, March 23, 2017 43

NEW PRODUCTS FOR THIS SEASON Excellent range of paving and accessories Newly laid products in the display area, please call in to see Tel: 01865 300252 Email: info@minsterpaving.co.uk www.minsterpaving.co.uk

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theoxfordpaper.co.uk

THE GEORGE HOTEL High Street, Wallingford OX10 0BS

Tel: 01491 836665 Fax: 01491 825359 email: info@george-hotel-wallingford.com

Mothering Sunday Sunday 26th March Treat mum to a Special Lunch at The George Hotel 3 Courses £24.95 • 2 Courses £19.95 Children under the age of 10 half price Book early to avoid disappointment

Happy Mother’s Day!

www.georgehotelwallingford.co.uk

46 Thursday, March 23, 2017

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48 Thursday, March 23, 2017

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Business

Contact Alex Iszatt with your business news and stories at alex@theoxfordpaper.co.uk

Cheers! Oakman Inns toasts more success at Publican Awards A pub chain with three inns in Oxfordshire has been rewarded for its work in the community.

Oakman Inns which was recently named in the Top 10 in the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to work for has scooped further awards at last week’s Publican Awards in London.

The company was named Best Community Pub Operator – where the winning company has demonstrated that it has a successful pub estate of community focused pubs an award they have won for a third time in four years.

Their Oxfordshire pubs – The Old Post Office in Wallingford, The Blue Boar in Witney and The Crown & Thistle in Abingdon – have supported local charities, sport and development programmes for the young, and sponsored their local rugby football club teams, for which they have created and sponsored the annual Oakman Cup, a mini’s rugby festival for over 400 primary school children.

In the aftermath of the Italian earthquake that destroyed much of Amatrice last year, the pubs held a 72 hour #EatForItaly fundraiser donating the net price of pizza and pasta dishes to the Italian Red Cross raising a total of over £20,000.

Each pub donates 25p per dish from each pork belly dish sold from their menu to help the Woodland Trust continue their conservation

projects for future generations.

Oakman’s CEO and Founder, Peter Borg-Neal, was also awarded Business Leader of the Year 2017 which was voted for by the Publican Awards’ fi nalists and judges from a shortlist of six of the most admired senior business executives in the pub trade.

Mr Borg-Neal said: “To win the Best Community Pub Operator for the third time is a tremendous reflection of the commitment we show as our business to the communities we operate in and everybody in Oakman Inns should be incredibly proud.

“Whilst we thought we had a good chance of repeating our victories of 2014 and 2015 in this category I had no idea that I was in the running for Business Leader of the Year.

“The last winners of this award are Mike Tye, Ian Payne and Rooney Anand. To be even mentioned in the same breath as leaders like these is deeply fl attering. I am surprised, delighted and humbled in equal measure.”

The company, which started with its fi rst pub in Tring in 2007, and now operates multiple sites across eight counties in the Home Counties and the Midlands, employing over 600 people, was also nominated for Best Pub Employer for 500+ employees – a category they have won twice before.

In their 26th year, The Morning

Advertiser’s Publican Awards are the pre-eminent accolades of the UK Pub industry.

They were hosted by Jonathan Ross, and recognise the best in every aspect of the pub industry – from the smallest, family-owned pubs, to the best brewing pub companies and late night operators – and this year saw a record number of entries.

The team at The Old Post Office in Wallingford, above, the courtyard at The Crown & Thistle in Abingdon and below, staff at The Blue Boar, Witney

A total of 73 finalists were shortlisted in the 18 award categories, and each finalist went through a rigorous – and often secret - judging process, which included headquarter and site visits by judges, mystery shoppers, research and finally a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style grilling from a panel of leading industry experts.

“This is a tremendous reflection of the commitment we show to the communities we operate in” CEO Peter Borg-Neal

Thursday, March 23, 2017 49

theoxfordpaper.co.uk

BUSINESS

Hotel puts best foot forward for Oxford with walking tours

Brian McNamee, chair of Didcot TRAIN, David and Caroline Pryor, directors of Pryors Taxi, Lydia Hasley who nominated Didcot TRAIN and Alice Dore, detached youth worker for Didcot TRAIN with the cheque

Taxi company donates £1,000 to improve life for area’s young people A taxi company has celebrated the launch of its new Facebook page by giving £1,000 to a local charity.

Pryors Taxis based on Mereland Road in Didcot, asked residents to choose a local charity to give the cash to and were thrilled to receive nearly 400 nominations for local charities and voluntary organisations.

A nomination from Lydia Halsey for Didcot TRAIN won the prize draw. Director Caroline Pryor said: “We have worked closely with Didcot TRAIN in the past and feel they are a very worthy winner.

“We are delighted to enable them to give Didcot youngsters such an exciting and challenging experience.”

Didcot TRAIN proves support for young people and strives to improve the life opportunities of children and young people in Didcot and surrounding areas by empowering them to make informed decisions, attain stability and become integrated members of society.

Lydia is one of Didcot TRAIN’s young ambassadors, a programme that develops young people to lead their peers and become an active voice within their community.

Brian McNamee, Chair of Didcot TRAIN said: “We were excited when we heard that Lydia’s nomination won in the charity prize draw and our very thankful for the donation from Pryors, which could not have come at a better time.

“We have recently received an opportunity to take several young people on a residential trip to the south of France. The donation will fund the purchase of new passports for the young people who have not had the chance to go abroad before.”

Fellow director at the well-established taxi company, David Pryor, fellow Director at Pryors said: “All the nominations received were very worthy but special mentions should go to Play2Give and Charity Secret Santa, who received the highest number of nominations.

“Both Andrew Baker from Play2Give and Courtney Hughes from Charity Secret Santa are two young people from Didcot that the whole town can be proud of.”

One of Oxford’s most charming boutique hotel celebrates the year of literary heroes with tours of hidden Oxford.

Vanbrugh House Hotel, a boutique hotel nestled in the heart of Oxford, has partnered with long time Oxford resident Isabella Underhill, to celebrate the Year of Literary Heroes by offering bespoke walking tours of hidden Oxford this spring.

David Robinson, General Manager of Vanbrugh House Hotel says: “With the weak pound, the UK is set to be an incredibly desirable holiday destination this year, both for UK residents looking to explore a different city on a ‘staycation’, and for visitors coming from overseas.

“We want to show people the best of Oxford with our bespoke walking tours and encourage them to explore more of what the city has to offer.”

Take a guided stroll around the city that inspired renowned authors such as J.R.R Tolkien and C.S. Lewis to write their bestselling novels, and visit the hallowed halls of worldfamous Oxford University, where scenes from the acclaimed Harry Potter movies were fi lmed.

Isabella Underhill, a graduate in

History of Art and Italian at University College London, has an extensive knowledge and passion for the city and its University.

Isabella says: “Oxford is an incredibly walkable city and a guided tour is the best way to explore and experience its many hidden secrets.

“Many literary heroes have wandered the city of dreaming spires; I can take people to their favourite pubs, to places that inspired their writing, and of course guide them around Oxford University, where some of these much-loved authors studied.”

The bespoke walking tour also features a brief overview of some of the city’s key historic landmarks such as The Bodleian Library, The Ashmolean, The Radcliffe Camera and Radcliffe Square.

Vanbrugh House Hotel, part of the Splendid Hospitality Group portfolio, is a boutique townhouse hotel with 22 bedrooms, each unique in design and all featuring an en-suite rainfall showers.

B&B at Vanbrugh House Hotel starts from £165 per room per night.

Visitw w w.vanbrughhousehotel. co.uk or call 01865 244 622 to book.

Health food brand launches equity crowdfunding campaign Africa-inspired health food brand Aduna has launched its first crowdfunding campaign – a £300,000 convertible equity raise on Seedrs, to fund the business’ next phase of growth.

The business was founded

by Andrew Hunt after he completed a MBA from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

Aduna’s multi-award winning range of African superfood powders and energy bars are sold in 2,000 stores in 18 countries.

In the UK, the company supplies over 1,000 retailers including Holland & Barrett, Ocado, Whole Foods and Planet Organic.

In 2016, Aduna achieved its first two profitable months and revenue surpassed £1m. Aduna will use the funds to launch a major new product range and to

increase its distribution in the UK and overseas.

Founded in 2012 by British social entrepreneurs Nick Salter and Andrew Hunt, Aduna’s mission is to bring the natural vitality of Africa’s ancient ingredients to consumers around the world, while creating sustainable livelihoods for small-scale producers.

Aduna’s products are made from African superfoods, marketed through multiple mainstream food and drink categories including to date, superfood powders for boosting smoothies, food and drinks, and energy bars made from cold-pressed fruit and nuts, with no added sugar.

Andrew Hunt says: “Twenty five per cent of the world’s botanical species originate from Africa, yet less than one per cent of what

you find on shelf. This, combined with the health and wellness sector’s insatiable appetite for exciting, new natural ingredients, presents a huge untapped opportunity.

“Aduna identifies Africa’s most nutritious natural ingredients and transforms them into delicious health foods, driving category growth for our retail partners.

“By sourcing directly from small-scale producers, we create sustainable livelihoods for rural households: we are a business driven by profit and purpose.

“This new raise is an opportunity for investors and customers to be part of Aduna’s future success, while making a meaningful contribution to the lives of women in some of the most remote parts of Africa.”

50 Thursday, March 23, 2017

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BUSINESS

Law firm hooks angling lawyer A family lawyer with a passion for freshwater angling has joined Royds Withy King in Oxford as a partner.

Andrew Nellist specialises in complex divorce cases, acting for clients with significant assets which often include businesses, trusts, investments, properties and pensions in the UK and abroad.

He joins Royds Withy King from Hedges Law, also based in Oxfordshire.

Andrew said: “My aim is to fi nd pragmatic solutions and achieve the best possible outcomes for my clients.

I am looking forward to becoming part of a progressive fi rm with a very positive culture and a clear vision for the future. I am keen to play my part in helping to make Royds Withy King’s Family team the ‘go to’ lawyers in Oxford, not just for divorce work, but for cases involving children and the raft of other family-related issues we deal with.”

Andrew is a member of Resolution, the Solicitors Family Law Association, whose members are committed to trying to resolve disputes in a nonconfrontational way. His expertise in family law, fi nances and pensions is recognised through his Resolution accreditations.

Manager for new £18m John Lewis store at Westgate John Lewis has taken the next step toward opening its fi rst ever shop in Oxford today by announcing the appointment of long-standing Partner Julie Blake as Branch Manager.

Julie will be responsible for the overall success of the 120,000 sq ft shop, which represents an £18m investment in Oxford by John Lewis.

As branch manager of John Lewis Oxford, Julie will lead around 300 local Partners (staff), including sales assistants and specialist advisers.

Julie has been with John Lewis for over 30 years, having started as an A-level management trainee at the retailer’s Reading department store.

She later went on to spend time as General Manager, Selling at John Lewis’ flagship Oxford Street store, where she was responsible for seven selling floors as well as the PR, Marketing and Visual Merchandising for the branch.

Julie has been at the helm of many John Lewis shops, undertaking the role of Branch Manager at John Lewis Watford, John Lewis Solihull and most recently, John Lewis At Home in Newbury.

Commenting on her new role, Julie said: “As someone who works in the surrounding area, I’ve been following the plans for John Lewis Oxford very closely.

“I am beyond excited to be appointed Branch Manager for our fi rst Oxford shop and to play a role at Westgate Oxford, which is set to become a spectacular retail and leisure landmark in this iconic city. I began my own career with this business and I can’t wait to start building a fantastic team of new Partners

to deliver the outstanding customer service that John Lewis is known for.”

John Lewis Oxford will begin accepting job applications for Section Managers in April and other roles to follow.

John Lewis Oxford will open alongside other shops at the £440m Westgate Oxford development on October 24 2017.

Branch manager Julie Blake, right, is looking forward to the new store opening later this year Picture: LDA Designs/ Westgate Alliance

A new jewel in high street crown A family-run jewellers has relocated to Oxfordshire with the help of funding from NatWest.

TT Jewellers has successfully moved from Northamptonshire to Abingdon thanks to £142,000 from the bank.

Owner Tho-Thanh Nguyen, known as TT, now has big hopes for further expansion, including hiring more staff and building an online presence.

TT Jewellers is a unique high street feature in Abingdon. It sources gem stones from all over the world, rather than buying in mass produced items.

This means all of the pieces the shop sells are exclusive to it, giving added value and meaning for customers.

TT founded the business in 2002 after family connections in the jewellery business encouraged him to launch his own shop. He started out with a tiny store, and now, thanks to NatWest, is a high street presence in the town.

TT runs the business with his wife, and says that it’s not only what it sells that’s important, but how it’s presented too.

He explained: “Because of how we source our stones, no two of our pieces are the same, and we hand-wrap them so as to present them in the nicest way possible.

“We want our new customers in Abingdon to feel like the jewellery they buy is special, so we try hard to imbue everything we do with a personal touch.

“Unlike some of the other big high street banks, NatWest understands small businesses; what their needs are, and what they care about. Our business owes a lot to them and it’s safe to say we wouldn’t be where we are today without their support.”

NatWest Relationship Manager, Abdul Sadek, said: “It is great to see TT Jewellers thriving in Abingdon.

Since moving here they’ve gone from strength to strength and I’m looking forward to seeing them continue to grow in the future.”

Tho-Thanh Nguyen, owner of TT Jewellers and NatWest Relationship Manager Abdul Sadek at the new shop in Market Place, Abingdon

Thursday, March 23, 2017 51

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BUSINESS

Netball teams get added bounce thanks to sponsors

Jets take off with developer’s help A netball team has been given a boost by a housebuilder which has taken on the sponsorship of its kit.

The Royal Jets Netball Club in Thame has the support of Bellway Homes, the award-winning developer behind the nearby Hampden Gardens development.

The growing netball club is based less than a mile away from the new development, which is due to launch tomorrow.

The Royal Jets club has been established for two years and caters for all abilities, attracting local girls aged between 14 and 18.

The club is run by dedicated volunteers and is a brilliant way for young girls to keep fit and get involved in local sport.

The club play league matches every Thursday in Wendover and train Monday evenings at Lord Williams’s School. Although a young and relatively new team, they have already had a very successful start to the year and show great promise; with four of the girls also competing at county level.

Steve Garton, Sales Director at Bellway Thames Valley said: “We’re delighted to be the sponsors of the Royal Jets Netball Club and to have provided them with a smart new kit for the rest of the season.

“At Bellway, we believe that it’s as important to build communities as well as houses and it is a pleasure to get involved with local clubs such as

the Royal Jets. We’re pleased that they gave us the opportunity to help and we wish them all the best for the rest of the season and beyond.”

Coralie Bourke, who helped set up the Royal Jets Netball Club said: “We were very grateful when

Bellway agreed to help with this sponsorship. As a new club we have limited funds and sponsorship will help to support the team and make a real difference.

“They are a delightful group of young ladies; great fun, with loads

of enthusiasm and dedication. They are very pleased with their new dresses and on behalf of everyone involved with the club we’d like to thank Bellway for their generosity and look forward to playing in our new kit for the rest of the season.”

Science park’s netball club nets new kit An Oxford netball club has been treated to new team kit thanks to its sole sponsor, The Oxford Science Park.

The Oxford Science Park netball club has 26 players and was formed in 2002. Today it has members from businesses across the Park including: Amey, and a range of jobs across Oxfordshire from school teachers, doctors and civil servants to people working in fi nance, publishing, media and marketing.

The Park has sponsored the team since the beginning, helping to get setup with balls, posts and have the netball lines painted on the courts, to now with the new dresses.

The club plays in the Oxfordshire Netball League and has two teams: Alphas and Betas, which play in both the summer and winter leagues. The teams both practice and play once a week. Recent match results include: Alphas winning their game 40-36 in the Premier Division, and Betas, in the First Division, also winning 37-30.

Clarissa Macgregor, club kit secretary, who works for an Oxford estate agency, said: “We are a lively and friendly netball club and are grateful for sponsorship. Being sponsored by The Oxford Science Park is really helpful for our profi le and team kit.

“For us it’s all about being supportive to each other. Our members play up and down the two teams where necessary, and we focus on player

development with a number of members training to become umpires and coaches.

“Our club continues to go from strength to strength and we’re excited to be wearing our new kit.”

Piers Scrimshaw-Wright, Managing Director, The Oxford Science

Park added: “We are delighted to continue to sponsor the netball club in providing them with their new kit.

We are committed to supporting worthy recreational causes in our local community. We recently refreshed our brand and logo, so it made sense that the club had new netball kit. It

looks very smart and we wish them all every success as they head into the Oxfordshire Netball Summer league season.”

New members are always welcome. For further information, visit the club’s website: http://ospnetball. org.uk/

Partner on list for women in business award

Whitley Stimpson’s Val Buzzard has been shortlisted for a Banbury Women in Business (BWIB) Award in the category of Business Women of the Year.

The Awards recognise the achievements of professional business women in the town and the winners will be announced at the BWIB annual conference on 21st March 2017.

Val was nominated by Sara Cross, accounts manager at Spratt Endicott and is one of only three business women shortlisted in the category.

Val joined leading accountancy and business advisors, Whitley Stimpson 20 years ago and became the firms first female partner in 2001. In 2016 Val became a fully registered Trust and Estate Practitioner, attaining the STEP diploma in Trusts and Estates (England and Wales). As well as working in this area she is also audit compliance director for the firm, and particularly enjoys working with charities. Val also provides specialist advice to international organisations setting-up in the UK, in addition to offering her expertise to UK companies operating overseas.

Director, Jonathan Walton said this week: “Since joining Whitley Stimpson, Val has gone from strength to strength building up her client portfolio.

We are very proud of Val being nominated for her first award and wish her the best of luck.”

Sara Cross, accounts manager at Spratt Endicott explains: “It is very comforting to know that as our firm grows and meets new challenges – Val is ahead of the game providing friendly and professional advice on the multitudinous changes in legislation that we face.”

The Business Woman of the Year Award is sponsored by Jamie Briggs Removals and Storage. The category was open to a woman working at any level within an organisation who has gone beyond the call of duty to benefit their organisation through their efforts.

52 Thursday, March 23, 2017

News/Advertising Call 01235 511700

Property

Bill Cooper, co-author of The Oxford Property Blog and managing director of Martin and Co, Oxford

‘Flipping’ Heck Oxford Property Values Rise by £68.19 a day Investing in Oxford buy to let property is different from investing in the stock market or depositing your hard-earned cash in the Building Society. When you invest your money in the Building Society, it is considered by many as the safe option. But, the returns you can achieve are awfully low (the best 2-year bond rate from Nationwide is a whopping 0.75% a year!). An alternative investment is the Stock Market, which can give great returns, but unless you are able or willing to be on the phone every day to your Stockbroker, you will most likely invest in stock market funds - making the investment quite hands off meaning one always has the feeling of not being in control.

However, with buy to let, things can be more hands on. One of the things many landlords like is the physical nature of property - the fact that you can touch the bricks and mortar. It is this factor that attracts many of Oxford’s landlords – they are making their own decisions, rather than entrusting them to city whizz kids in Canary Wharf playing roulette with their savings.

I always say investing in property is a long-term game. When you invest in the property market, you can earn from your investment in two ways. When a property increases in value over time, it is known as ‘capital growth’. Capital growth, also known as capital appreciation, has been strong in recent times in Oxford. Whilst the value of property does go up as well as down (just like shares do) Oxford has enjoyed consistent year on year

increases since 2006. Rental income is what the tenant pays you - hopefully this will also grow over time. If you divide the annual rent into the value (or purchase price) of the property, this is your gross yield, or annual return. Deducting any mortgage and other costs such as maintenance and/ or letting agent fees gives you the net yield. Over the last 5 years, an average Oxford property has risen by £124,450 (equivalent to £68.19 a day), taking it to a current average value of £490,800 (based on all properties sold registered in the Land Registry).

Gross yields start at around 4% a year, but can reach double digits’ percentages for larger properties that have a licence to be a house of multiple occupation (HMO) However, something I haven’t spoken of before is the more specialist area of flipping property to make money. (flipping - buying a property, carrying out some minor cosmetics and re selling it quickly). I have seen several investors recently who have made decent returns from this strategy. For example: VË# jË#Þw ÁaË ÜjÄÍ Áˬ? aËÌÔ å^åååË for a 2 bed apartment on Cheney Lane in January 2015. It appears some cosmetic work was done to the property and it was resold a few months ago (November 2016) for £360,000 a 24.14% return before costs (or compound annual return equivalent of 12.29% AER) http://www.rightmove.co.uk/ house-prices/detailMatching.html ?prop=42804441&sale=89070732& country=england VË Í jÁË#Þw ÁaË ÜjÄÍ ÁËzË ¬¬jaË a lovely 3 bed semi on Croft Avenue, Kidlington, paying £330,000 in May 2015 and selling it again after some doing some cosmetic works for £422,500 a few months ago (December 2016) … 28.03% return before costs (or equivalent 16.52% AER) http://www.rightmove. co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching. html?prop=45863565&sale=890711 91&country=england This demonstrates how the Oxford property market has not only provided very strong returns for the average investor over the last five years but how it has permitted a group of motivated and active landlords to become particularly wealthy.

In my article next week I will introduce the proprietary model I have developed to help landlords and property investors to plan their returns – understanding how to optimise a portfolio for both capital growth and rental yields. For more insight into the Oxford property market visit www.OxfordPropertyBlog.co.uk

It’s time for a spring clean outside for sale success The evenings are getting lighter, the clocks spring forward this coming weekend and we’re seeing increasing amounts of sunshine. That can only mean one thing: spring has well and truly sprung!

And it’s now that we turn attentions to spring cleaning and giving our outside spaces a little TLC. Having a well-presented home which showcases it in its very best light not only provides a personal sense of pride, but for anyone who has considered a house sale this spring, kerb appeal and interior attention to detail is an absolute must – especially in a market where demand remains high and sales are being achieved quickly.

So, here’s our checklist of what you need to consider when you don those rubber gloves and dust down the lawnmower.

First impressions count. There’s no

denying that the first view of a property can impact on what the potential purchaser thinks once they’ve passed the threshold so don’t deny due care and attention to your garden or outside space.

A garden path should be clear of leaves and other garden debris; lawns should be neatly mowed and gardening equipment needs to be stored out of sight. And don’t forget that a fresh lick of paint and clean windows will also help to give your home some added sparkle and kerb appeal.

Once inside, you don’t want to over-power your viewers. The smell of baked bread or freshly brewed coffee are both age-old tips, but in this better weather you simply can’t beat some fresh air! So, throw open some windows and doors to freshen your home before a viewing.

If it’s a particularly bright (and warm!) day, then patio doors can be

left open whilst the viewing takes place in order create additional illusions of space and bringing the outdoors inside.

Spring is also a time for new beginnings and, therefore, an ideal time to let go of all the clutter that you may have accumulated over the years.

Simply, a neat, tidy home will make rooms seem larger and allow viewers to imagine themselves setting up residence there themselves.

Andrews offers free, no-obligation property consultations where you can discuss how to best present your home with a local market expert, or pop in and meet the team in one of our five branches across Oxfordshire. www. andrewsoline.co.uk

5 tips for your bathroom floor When choosing bathroom flooring, there’s much more to consider than just looks; more than any other room, we need to consider the floor’s practical qualities, and whether it can withstand the wear that will be thrown its way. Read on and ensure you’re fully versed in the options available to you!

TIP 1: Is my floor waterproof?

Crucial in a bathroom environment, you need your floor to withstand the splishing and splashing that will likely take place. There are a number of floors on the market, namely laminates, that claim to be ‘water resistant’.

TIP 2: What other practical qualities does my floor hold?

There are other practical credentials you might want to consider when picking your new bathroom floor. For instance, how slip resistant is this underfoot installation? Equally, does your floor comprise an easy-wipe surface for simple maintenance?

TIP 3: Are we opting for a wood or stone look?

Now on to the interesting stuff: the flooring’s aesthetic. Researching a floor’s practical qualities is very necessary, but ultimately as homeowners, we care most about looks!

When selecting between wood and stone, consider not only the nature of the room, but also the nature of your home as a whole. Are we looking for a clean and contemporary choice from Stonemark? Or something with classic charm from Luxury Woods?

TIP 4: How much space do I have to cover?

This is an often-overlooked aspect when selecting a floor. If you’re tight on space (like many bathrooms will be), then you’d be best suited looking to smaller plank or tile dimensions, which will help to make the room appear bigger than it actually is. If you’re lucky enough to own a large, open bathroom area, then perhaps a bigger plank will work; just make sure to consider this in your decisionmaking process, and order your free samples fi rst!

TIP 5: Does my bathroom lack colour or inspiration?

With bathrooms generally being smaller spaces, it’s important we don’t try and overload on colour or pattern. This said, it does depend on the fi xtures and fittings that are already in place. If your room feels a little bit bland, then opt for something with punchy colour or zany pattern; if a series of shades are already present, however, consider a cleaner effect underfoot, with whites, creams and greys just some of the neutrals available in the Leoline portfolio.

Attractive mews property in a charming historic village An exquisitely designed converted mews house located in this tranquil historic village of Dorchester-OnThames. The property is fi nished to a high standard with modern conveniences and stylish period features, the property is offered unfurnished and is situated over 3 floors. Located in the heart of this historic village with a thriving community and offering local amenities. The village is well placed for a variety of state and independent schools in the area and has easy access for Oxford, Reading and Abingdon. Finished to a very high standard with stylish period

features including flagstone flooring and benefiting from underfloor heating. The property has a spacious entrance hallway with a wet room and a spiral staircase leading to the fi rst floor. The fi rst floor has a master bedroom with an en suite bedroom an open plan kitchen, dining and living area also a separate utility room. On the second floor is a spacious second bedroom. The property benefits from allocated parking.

To book a viewing contact selling agent Martin&co Lettings Abingdon on 01235 524300 or vist abingdon@ martinco.com

Thursday, March 23, 2017 53

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Martin & Co specialise in selling Oxford homes quickly, and at full market value SOLD IN 2 WEEKS

Cowley

SOLD IN 3 DAYS 100%

Trinity Court

FOR SALE

Botley SOLD IN 1 DAY, 105% OF ASKING PRICE

Cumnor

FOR SALE

Cumnor Hill

FOR SALE

Empress SOLD, 100% ASKING PRICE

Eynsham

Eynsham

FOR SALE

Greater Leys

SOLD 1 DAY

Headington SOLD IN 4 DAYS

Headington 4 DAYS IN MARKETING

FOR SALE

SOLD

Woodman Court SOLD 100% ASKING PRICE

Jericho

FOR SALE

Kirtlington

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

Oxford City Centre SOLD IN 8 DAYS

Sandhills

FOR SALE

Friars Wharf

FOR SALE

Hollow Way

Marston

Cowley

3 bed duplex apartment Awaiting professional photography

Look-out for our valuation days in your area, or call us to request a valuation for your home.

Martin & Co Oxford 31 Woodin’s Way • Paradise Street • Oxford OX1 1HD

01 865 812110 e: oxford@martinco.com www.oxford.martinco.com 01993 708638 01295 701773 01235 524300 Witney office Banbury office Abingdon office SUPERIOR SERVICE | SUPERIOR RETURNS | SAFE & SECURE HOMES

Letting • Sales • Investment

54 Thursday, March 23, 2017

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NEW SHOWHOMES Heyford Park has, and continues, to evolve around its growing community. With its open spaces and rolling country views, spacious homes and family friendly facilities, residents receive everything they would expect from modern country living.

Marketing suite open daily

3 - 6 bedroom homes

The CGI is of The Crawford and The Wentworth. We reserve the right to vary the specification. Details are correct at time of print, March 2017. Terms and conditions apply.

Thursday, March 23, 2017 55

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Andrewsonline.co.uk

Trying to plan your next property move?

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talk.

Our Property Consultations are a great way to get expert property advice. With no obligation whatsoever.

Book your free Property Consultation today.

Abingdon

Sales 01235 888 393

Lettings 01235 535 660

Twitter: @Andrewsonline Facebook: /Andrewsonline #nextmove

Andrews Q1 Property Weekly 340x270.indd 1

06/01/2017 2:48 pm

56 Thursday, March 23, 2017

News/Advertising Call 01235 511700 GOLD GOLD

south east estate south east agency estate agency

2016 2016

me dium agenc y me dium agenc y

CHILDREY A beautifully restored detached 500 yr old Grade II Listed cottage, formerly the village Smithy, full of character and period details.

Attached unconverted barn, EPC Rating Exempt

ABINGDON A newly converted & extended stunning detached house, 2500 sq. ft. of accommodation, village location. EPC Rating C.

£850,000 Wantage office 01235 772670

£695,000 Abingdon office 01235 526907

DRAYTON An extended five bedroom detached family home nestled in a small no through road and tastefully presented throughout.

Conveniently located within short drive of Abingdon, Didcot and the A34.

EPC Rating D £589,000 Abingdon office 01235 526907

ABINGDON This well-presented three bedroom bungalow sits on approx. 1/4 acre plot in the sort after village of Sunningwell, which has been thoughtfully extended, with rooms boasting flexible usage throughout, and stunning landscaped gardens to both the front and rear. EPC Rating D. £499,950 Abingdon office 01235 526907

GROVE Detached family home situated in a pleasant cul-de-sac location.

Kitchen with separate utility space and cloakroom, two reception rooms and a conservatory. Four bedrooms, en-suite. NO ONWARD CHAIN. EPC Rating C £375,000 Wantage office 01235 772670

ABINGDON-ON-THAMES This charming Victorian house is situated within walking distance of Albert park and within 1 mile of the town centre and retains many original features including sash windows and striped wooden floors. EPC Rating D. £350,000 Abingdon office 01235 526907

WANTAGE A beautiful period home situated in a premium location within walking distance to the market place. With well presented and flexible accommodation and a sizeable rear garden. EPC Rating D.

WANTAGE A four bedroom detached home in a popular cul-de-sac location. Ground floor cloakroom, master bedroom with en-suite shower room, family bathroom, garage & driveway parking. EPC Rating C

GROVE A substantial semi detached home with a recently fitted kitchen, a ground floor cloakroom, conservatory and versatile additional reception room. EPC Rating D

£350,000 Wantage office 01235 772670

£315,000 Wantage office 01235 772670

£299,950 Wantage office 01235 772670

Abingdon 01235 526907 Burghfield Common 0118 983 1201 Didcot 01235 818 371 Goring on Thames 01491 873456 Henley on Thames 01491 412345 Maidenhead 01628 566188 Pangbourne 0118 984 5333 Reading 0118 958 7979 Shinfield 0118 988 5000 Sonning Common 0118 972 4242 Twyford 0118 934 4433 Wallingford 01491 833323 Wantage 01235 772670 Woodley 0118 969 3969

Thursday, March 23, 2017 57

theoxfordpaper.co.uk

All property matters We take care of all your property matters, and all property matters to us no matter how big or small.

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking to move, contact Davis Tate...

Abingdon 01235 526907 Burghfield Common 0118 983 1201 Didcot 01235 818 371 Goring on Thames 01491 873456 Henley on Thames 01491 412345 Maidenhead 01628 566188 Pangbourne 0118 984 5333 Reading 0118 958 7979 Shinfield 0118 988 5000 Sonning Common 0118 972 4242 Twyford 0118 934 4433 Wallingford 01491 833323 Wantage 01235 772670 Woodley 0118 969 3969

58 Thursday, March 23, 2017

News/Advertising Call 01235 511700

More than just lettings...

ABINGDON TOWN CENTRE

1 BED

ABINGDON

R AP ETIR AR EM TM E EN NT T

3 BED

MODERN & VERY LARGE, 3 DOUBLE BEDROOM apartment located in the heart of Abingdon TOWN CENTRE. The property benefits from gas central heating ALLOCATED PARKING and 2 BATHROOMS £275,000

2 BED

ABINGDON

A MODERN 2 double bedroom APARTMENT with 2 bathrooms. It also includes a good sized modern kitchen, located above a wedding shop with private access and paved garden. £249,950

One bedroom APARTMENT in this popular RETIREMENT development, with views over the immaculate well maintained communal gardens.

£145,000

3 BED

ABINGDON

A 3 Bedroom semi-detached HOUSE situated close to ABINGDON town centre. The property is offered in an immaculate condition. The property offers off street parking.

Internal viewings advised! £290,000

Martin & Co Abingdon 8-10 West St. Helen Street • Abingdon • Oxfordshire • OX14 5BL

01235 524300 www.martinco.com • abingdon@martinco.com

More than just lettings...

ABINGDON

2 BED

ABINGDON TOWN CENTRE

FU RN IS HE

D

1 BED

A SELECTION OF ROOMS AVAILABLE IN THIS LOVELY PROFESSIONAL HOUSE SHARE - ALL BILLS INCLUDED. Located in NORTH ABINGDON and walking distance to the bus stop with excellent bus links. FROM £595 PCM

3 BED

BESSELSLEIGH

A semi DETACHED period COTTAGE, set in an attractive RURAL area within the private estate and a working farm close to ABINGDON. The property is ideally located for good access to OXFORD and ABINGDON. £1,175 PCM

Martin & Co

let a property every...

MODERN, light & airy 2 DOUBLE BEDROOM apartment located in the heart of Abingdon TOWN CENTRE offered on a FURNISHED basis.

£975 PCM

3 BED

NORTH FAWLEY

This modern and spacious 2 bedroomed SEMI-DETACHED COTTAGE is located in a RURAL village of NORTH FAWLEY. The property is located just 5 miles to the town of WANTAGE. PETS CONSIDERED! £1,200 PCM

Martin & Co Abingdon 8-10 West St. Helen Street • Abingdon • Oxfordshire • OX14 5BL

01235 524300 www.martinco.com • abingdon@martinco.com

Isn’t it time you switched agents?

minutes. *

*7 minutes has been calculated using the total number of lets Martin & Co completed in 2012 divided by a 312 day year (52 weeks x 6 working days per week) and a 9 hour trading day (our office opening hours).

Thursday, March 23, 2017 59

theoxfordpaper.co.uk

Recruitment

To place a recruitment advert contact Tara on 01235 516917 or tara@taylornewspapers.co.uk

Make the most of your skills on your CV A CV ought to demonstrate all of your skills. Ideally, you will be able to link your key skills to workplace experience, but if this is not possible then try to cite ways in which you have used them outside of employment situations.

Most key skills fall into one of three categories: • Transferable skills. These are skills which have been acquired in one setting but can be used in many different sorts of businesses.

• Job-related skills. These skills are specific to a certain line of

employment or trade and may require you to have received training to perform.

• Adaptive skills. These sorts of aptitudes are sometimes less obvious and harder to quantify because they rely on personality traits rather than learning.

Everyone has transferable skills even if they don’t recognise them as such. Sometimes, your current employer won’t make it obvious that the skills you have acquired with them are transferable because they don’t necessarily want you to realise how employ-

able you are elsewhere.

Typical transferable skills you may already possess are: • Reading or writing related skills. This means being able to digest written information and present it in written form as well.

• Computer skills. If you have aptitude with computers and common office programmes then consider this to be a transferable skill.

• Management experience. If you have managed people before then you could transfer this experience to benefit another type of employer.

• Commercial skills. People who can negotiate and handle figures like turnover and gross profit often possess the sort of business acumen which is sought after in many organisations.

• Deadline success. Being able to work to deadlines is something that doesn’t happen in all jobs, but if you are used to it then this is a key transferable skill desired in many companies.

• Of course there are other types of transferable skill. Think of them as aptitudes that can function equally well in multiple industrial

sectors. Mention them in your CV as you have picked them up throughout your employment history.

TAKE YOUR CAREER TO THE NEXT LEVEL Bicester Village Job Fair Join Bicester Village at the John Paul II Centre in Bicester on Wednesday 5 April, from 4 pm until 6.30 pm. We are looking for candidates who can bring passion to a luxury, fast-moving retail environment. A number of boutiques and restaurants are seeking enthusiastic candidates who would like a new challenge or are looking to return to work. Retail experience is not essential – but passion is.

For more information and to register, visit BicesterVillage.com/jobfair

© Bicester Village 2017 03/17 3627

Wanted

Home Carers in Oxford Support Workers in Witney & Oxford Hourly rate from £7.84 to £10.15 (extra at weekends) Call 01865 744174 or email info.ox@1st-homecare.com www.1st-homecare.com

Part of the Johnston Quarry Group in North Oxford

TWO BANKER MASONS

required for immediate start SELF EMPLOYED OR EMPLOYED

5 Axis Mill/CnC Operator

HOME CARERS WANTED in Oxford City.

Own Car essential. www.acquirecare.co.uk

01865 338050 To place a recruitment advert contact Tara on 01235 516917 or email tara@taylornewspapers.co.uk

5 A XIS MILL /CNC OPER ATOR REQUIRED FOR IMMEDIATE START. WOULD SUIT MASON OR SECOND YEAR TRAINEE ALL TRAINING WILL BE GIVEN, INCLUDING FINAL YEAR APPRENTICESHIP IF REQUIRED

Call Maurice on

07786 171 513

or maurice@buildingstone.co.uk

60 Thursday, March 23, 2017

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OXFORD PAPER

Classified Pages Soft Furnishings

Garden & Furniture

NATHAN corner unit with display shelves and CPD in good condition £35 ono, 01865 803704

FREE to collect. Old fly lawn mower still works but has seen better days great for long grass, 01235 553950

WICKER and Cane table with shelf and two chairs. Ideal for conservatory or kitchen. £25 Buyer collects. £25 Tel: 01235 833662

ELECTRIC rotary lawn mower with box god condition £15 01235 835608

Trades Services

PHILLIP BALL

Decorating (Quality Service) since 1978

• Interior Exterior • Domestic, Commercial • General maintenance For Free Estimate Call:

(01235) 529 256 Mobile:

07860 864459 phillipball@phillipball.co.uk or visit www.phillipball.co.uk

Household Items 3FT single divan base good condition £5 buyer collects, 01865 326502 DVD/CD player with remote control and start lead. Hardly used £25 ono 01865 803704 UPRIGHT vacuum cleaner good working order tools bags, extra long hose included for stairs, elecrolux hake £15 01865 391773 CREDO Debanair Spin Drier, as new, cost £190, sell £40. Seen Working. Tel. 01993 778827 REEBOK RE3000 Cross Trainer, good condition, price £60, Tel 01993776572 INDOOR “hostess” trolly with adjustable height and two trays. As new £15. Tel. 07950 719003

CALLER gas heater blue flame delonghi £30 ono after 4, 01865 371426

To Book a Classified Display Advert

Please call 01235 511700

Vehicles

COLLECTION of about thirty hard back romance books ideal book stall £20 only, 01865 340878 after 4pm

WHITE PVC double glazing window 1.5H x 1.93W 25mm latest spec Top air vent £20, 01235 531389

21 years service to the motorist

COMICAL framed photos of len hutton and dennis compioton. won at lords ideal cricket collector fitted pounds only. 01865 340878 after 4pm

100 DVD offers. 1 stone snick £8, 4 pains of huckings glass 36/36 £8, 01235 817112

For Sale & Wanted

VOLVO specialists in Witney

D&A AUTOS

GENUINE the times newspaper dated sixth august nineteen thirty six. £10 only, 01865 340878

Newland, Witney

WROUGHT iron gate painted black 70in high 28in wide £30, 01235819757

Sales Service Repair MoT

A small jack for caravan or trailer £5, 01865 736034

For Classified Lineage Advertising either fill in the coupon or go online www.theoxfordpaper.co.uk

VINTAGE bronze and rosewood cutlery. 8 place settings six servers plus condiments set. Total 75 pieces only £20, 01235 553950

CARAVAN accessories awning battery water pump also wheel locks digital arial with break electrical lead and more, 01865 863528 ECHO petrol hedge cutter 24” blade HL1500 good starter £40, 01865 863528

Mobility

5HP fly rotator briggs start ton engine very good condition 3.5 HP merry tiller very good condition.

01993 850866 evenings

Ability Matters Oxford Approved Motability Dealer Great Finance Deals Available Wheelchair Hire from just £20 per week!

332 Abingdon Road, Oxford, OX1 4TQ Tel: 01865 242 500

HARD wood exterior door frame mid mahogany colour, never used £20 ono, 01865 750087 BUREAU, solid rose wood, excellent condition, £90. Tel. 01865 763851 G Plan suite in excellent condition consists of 2 x 3 seater Settees,1 x Armchair, 1 x Recliner Chair, and One Footstool. fabric cover is Mayflower Stone and the covers are zipped for easy removal £200 ono but will sell pieces individually. Tel 01865 863383.

BUREAU, solid rose wood, excellent condition, £90. Tel. 01865 763851 TWO small easy chairs, newly upholstered, £45. Six dining chairs, extending table, vgc, £85. Tel. 01295 730410

01993 700545 www.da-autos.co.uk SET of four 15” alloy wheels and tyres 4 stud holes 185/55/15 tyres £20, 01235 815827 LAND rover alloy wheels 16 inch tyres four £100 07849079051 RED off road bicycle, full suspension, 18 speed shimano new tyres, lovely condition cost £150, sell £60.

Tel. 01295 710454 TWO new tyres, Arrowspeed 195/60/15 inc. £27 each. Mondeo size. Fly lawn mower. Used only once £45. Football goals dvd £5. tel. 07719 111 860

RUBBER wood dining table, 106cm round, four brand new leather chairs, £85 ono. Tel. 01235 531883

WANTED: Morris Marina, parts wanted, F&R mudflats, halogen H4 headlights, velour headrests, chrome wheel trim rings, alloy wheels, radio. Tel. 07598 938918

GARAGE bench, carpenter made, solid wood, L6ft H3ft D2ft, underneath shelf, very heavy, £50. buyer collects. Tel. 01235 201655

CAR tyre. Goodyear 195/50/R15, new spare £15. Also Golf GTI wheel and tyre 205/55/R16 £15, plus scissor jack £5. Tel. 07950 719003

Classified Advertising

CHARGES: Private & Trade Accommodation, Antiques & Collectables, Business Services, Computers, Garden Furniture, Household Items, Mobility, Soft Furnishings, Trades Services, Vehicles for Sale 5p per letter (inc VAT) (minimum 12 words) Family Announcements, Personal, Public Notices, Recruitment 10p per letter (inc VAT) (minimum 12 words) for all categories except Under £50 Free Ads DEADLINE: Tuesday 12 noon including Bank Holidays Need more than 35 words? Then call us for a GREAT DEAL on Classified Display Advertising PLEASE CALL 01235 511700

BASEBALL cap printed joseph and amazing colour dream coat. three pounds only, 01865 340878 after 4pm COLLECTION of silver plated teaspoons from al around the world. £80 only, 01865 340878 after 4pm COLLECTION of riders digest story books. About thirty, £25 only, 01865 340878 after 4pm WOODEN rocking horse flat seat excellent condition £25, 01235 810234 TWENTY four antique type teapots with stand still boxed £60 only, 01865 340878 after 4pm JOHN Lennon album life with the lions on USA apple label £30, 01189 667940

BRAND new pair gents cotswold ranger wellingtons size 11 etrxa strong. Cost £80, sell for £25 bargain. 01865 374163 PLAYPEN with adjustable floor height to make cot as new must be seen £30, 01993 778827 NEW born baby knitted coats £2 each as new, 01993 705932 STANCH stairlift. Good condition straight pail 13’ 7” £300 for quick sale, 01235 814115 HOCKEY skates used twice since sharpening made by CLM. Size approx 8/9 £30, 01235 211910 NEW born baby knitted coats hats and mitts £1 each. Various colours, 01993 705932 BRAND new cat litter tray with cover. RRP £18 sell for £8, 01865 875639 FOUR extending builders across £40, 01235 525929 LADIES brown real suede coat fur collar size 12 full length 32” cost £80, never worn, £20, 01865 873137

STANNAH Active 4-wheel walking aid, walking stick holder, seat, room for bag. £65. Cost more than double. Hardly used. Tel. 01865 770878

Under £50 Free Ads

GENTS brown real suede coat fur collar chest size 38 “ length 36” never been worn £20, 01865 873137 BASEBALL cap printed with Honda £2, 01865 340878 after 4pm GRIMES fairy tale book, £3, 01865 340878 after 4pm

A small electric oil filled radiator never used£10, 01865 736034 LADIES cycle 18 gears Apollo VGC hardly used £80 ono, 01235 815407 LADIES full length Danni Mac quilted lining dark mushroom detachable fur collar. Size 16 worn once only £75 new £10, 01865 374163

MOUNTFIELD mower, power drive with Suzuki engine plus spare engine. Little TLC needed £12. Tel: 01865 891271 TWO kitchen / bar stool, cushioned seat. H 26”, w 10”, £25 for the two.

Buyer collects. Tel; 01235 812060 NEW maxwell dvd+rw disc packs 25 discs each pack £5 each six packs available 01865 751674

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TWO small mud guards for small trailer £5. Four step ladders aluminium, £6, 01235 817112

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Motors Epic Volvo that’s a dream to drive

By Tony Yates If you have ever driven a Volvo you will know only too well the stigma that used to surround the owner of such a vehicle.

And how many people will assume the only reason you bought one was because you were either a painter and decorator, over the age of 65, or you fi nd watching the ‘Time Team’ on TV one of the most exciting events since the birth of the baby Jesus.

Well none of the above is actually true of course and it’s all a bit of a red herring if I’m being honest, because buying a Volvo right now will probably be the best decision you are ever likely to make now or at any time in the future.

Power and Efficiency The V90 I have on test is powered by a 1969cc diesel engine that has 190hp and 400Nm of torque.

Fuel economy comes in at around 62.8mpg (combined) with CO2 emissions of 119g/km, along with a top speed of around 140mph.

This is a big car though and I felt that the engine needed a bit more power to help give it some sprint appeal.

But if you select the ‘dynamic’ driving mode things start to feel that little bit more exciting and the V90 picks up its pace, but without having a massive effect on fuel economy.

On the Road I expected nothing but the best and I was not disappointed.

The V90 does not roll and scamper around like a scalded cat – it just glides.

It’s actually like driving around on air – it’s

‘Cold war’ brews between neighbours over poor parking Parking is an emotive subject at the best of times, whether that’s how much it costs, its availability or the size of the space when you eventually fi nd one, but ask a motorist about someone else’s parking skills and you’ve reached a whole new level of angst.

While the vast majority of motorists are satisfied with their neighbours’ parking a significant minority of 14% describe their neighbours’ parking is ‘poor’ or ‘appalling’ (4% – appalling). The top issue for the aggrieved who are often busy waging their own ‘cold wars’ is the selfish way their neighbours park, with six in 10 (62%) citing this as the reason they chose the words ‘appalling’ or ‘poor’.

The other big gripes in the RAC Insurance Home Parking Survey were: 41% being annoyed about neighbours parking in the street when they have the space to park on their own drives; nearly a third (31%) complaining they had been blocked in by neighbours parking across their drives; and more than a quarter (27%) who were unhappy about cars being left with their fronts or rears sticking out from the kerb.

To make matters worse, for threequarters (73%) the ‘appalling’ and ‘poor’ parking behaviour takes place every day and for a quarter (26%) it has even led them to falling out or not speaking.

And, 6% of the upset category say they have applied the ‘taste of their own medicine’ approach by deliberately parking their car badly to annoy

their neighbour. This usually involves parking right up against their neighbour’s bumper to make it difficult to get out (32%) or parking right outside their house where they normally park (29%).

RAC Insurance spokesman Simon Williams said: “Parking is a very sensitive issue, particularly when it’s outside your own home as it brings out the ‘Nimby’ in everyone. The moment someone parks selfishly people’s hackles are going to be raised, whether that’s parking in the street when they have the space to be able to park on their own drive or parking so close that it makes it almost impossible to get out.

“The overwhelming majority of people we surveyed described themselves as considerate parkers claiming they always leave plenty of space when they parallel park in the street and are careful to make sure they park squarely between the lines in a car park.

“These people are inevitably going to be far more sensitive to their neighbours’ parking habits and, if these poor practices recur on a daily basis, a ‘cold war’ might begin with neighbours not speaking or blatantly ignoring one another. And this can easily escalate into a full-on argument and all-out ‘Neighbours at War’ television scenario.

“The answer has to be for every motorist to take a little bit of extra time to think about how their parking might affect their neighbours and fellow drivers.”

that good.

The grip levels are also another part of the V90 that work so well, because Volvo have once again built a car that feels epic on the road and so sure footed that even the most over enthusiastic driver would struggle to get it out of shape.

The new V90 also delivers cutting-edge Pilot Assist semi-autonomous drive technology, which for me is the most advanced standard safety package on the market today and includes Large Animal Detection and Run-off Road Mitigation – which is yet another feature keeping you safe.

Safety and Technology Some of the standard equipment in the V90 includes; Sensus Navigation, voice-control system, City Safety including pedestrian, cyclist and front collision warning with fully automatic emergency braking.

Plus, there’s Pilot Assist and adaptive cruise control, run-off road protection – it automatically tightens the front seatbelts should the car inadvertently leave the road – LED headlights with active high beam, two-zone climate control with ‘Cleanzone’ air-quality system, eight-inch active TFT crystal driver’s information display, 17-inch alloy wheels (18-inch on D5 PowerPulse versions) and Volvo’s in-car infotainment control system, which is basically a nine-inch touch screen control panel and where the majority of functions are accessed.

To Sum Up The V90 is simply epic – and why we should all consider owning one.

Price model as tested: £43,075 including options

Vauxhall urges customers to buy now and beat the tax man

Vauxhall is encouraging customers to buy in March from its best-selling range of passenger cars to avoid next month’s Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) increase.

The updated road tax measures will provide a big shake-up of the existing system, with the revision of the vehicle tax bands affecting everyone buying a new car from April 2017 onwards. Big savings can be made across the award-winning Vauxhall range if you buy now before the new rules come in to force.

Based on four years of ownership, the Corsa SRi 1.0i Turbo (90PS) Start/ Stop ecoFLEX in three-door hatch body style will go from £60 (zero VED in the fi rst year, subsequent years at £20 standard rate) under the current regulations to £560 on the 1st April.

If you’re in the market for one of the best compact family cars on the market, the Astra SRi 1.0i Turbo (105PS) Start/Stop ecoFLEX in five-door hatch body style sees a VED hike of £500, where you would pay £60 under current VED regulations.

For customers looking for a compact SUV, the new regulations mean a Mokka X Active 1.6 CDTi (110PS) Start/Stop ecoFLEX FWD model will see VED increase by £500 to £560.

These savings are in addition to Vauxhall’s Sales Event which runs 17th to 21st March 2017, where you can get that new Vauxhall you’ve always wanted plus a great deal more. As well as beating the taxman, you can get £500 spending money and 20 per

cent off genuine Vauxhall accessories. And that’s on top of our already great offers already available.

“We don’t want our customers to be caught out on VED come 1st April,” said Leon Caruso, Vauxhall’s Retail Sales Director. “Not only can they beat the tax hike if they order in March, but customers can also take advantage of our great fi nance offers, making their new Vauxhall even more affordable.”

62 Thursday, March 23, 2017

News/Advertising Call 01235 511700

A NEW ERA FOR DRIVING. Introducing a new luxury estate that offers a spacious and relaxing environment. With intuitive features like Pilot Assist and Voice Activation Control, it’s the The Volvo V90.

Human Made.

£379

per month* From On Personal Contract Hire The new V90 D4 Momentum.

Initial rental is £4,548, 8,000 miles per annum, with a 36-month agreement.

Excess mileage charges apply.

FIND OUT MORE AT JOHNSONS OF OXFORD

Johnsons of Oxford OX2 0HP www.johnsonscars.co.uk/volvo Tel: 01865 566 255 Official fuel consumption for the new V90 D4 Momentum, in MPG (l/100km): Urban 54.3 (5.2), Extra Urban 68.9 (4.1), Combined 62.8 (4.5), CO2 Emissions 119g/km. MPG figures are obtained from laboratory testing intended for comparisons between vehicles and may not reflect real driving results. *Important Information: Johnsons of Oxford is a trading style of Johnsons Cars Ltd who is acting as an introducer. Contract hire provided by Lex Autolease Ltd, trading as Volvo Car Leasing, SK3 0RB. 18s and over, subject to status.

You will not own the vehicle and it must be returned in good condition to avoid further charges. Excess mileage charges 18.54p per mile. Subject to availability at participating dealers for vehicles registered 01/01/17 to 31/03/17. Not available with other promotions. Johnsons Cars Ltd (Firm Reference Number: 512460) are an Appointed Representative of ITC Compliance Ltd, and are authorised & regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (their registration number is 313486) and are permitted to advise on and arrange General Insurance contracts. Registered Name: Johnsons Cars Latd, Registered Office: Johnsons Cars Ltd, Empire Court, Albert Street, Redditch, Worcestershire B97 4DA. Registration No. 3716766. VAT Registration No. GB927551606.

Thursday, March 23, 2017 63

theoxfordpaper.co.uk

01865 326666 cars@lodgehillgarage.com www.lodgehillgarage.co.uk Lodge Hill Garage, Oxford Road , Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 2JD. Opening times: Mon–Fri 8.30–5.30, Sat 9–5, Sun 10–4.

MG GS 1.5T GS EXCITE – NEW CAR SAVING OVER £2000 £15,495.

Small cars 14 14 CITROEN DS3 1.6 E-HDI DSTYLE PLUS 5 DOOR, white, fsh, 37k,

.............................................................................. £8,695

14 14 TOYOTA YARIS 1.3 VVT-I TREND NAV 5DR, white with full black leather, fsh, 31k ............................................................................ £8,495 15 65 VAUXHALL CORSA 1.4 DESIGN 5 DOOR, met grey, 13k 1 owner ................................................................................ £8,495 12 12 FORD FIESTA 1.4 ZETEC TDCI 5DR, blue,1 owner,fsh, 19k ...........................................................................................£7,495 14 64 VAUXHALL CORSA 1.3 CDTI SXI ECOFLEX, met grey, fsh, 18k ................................................................................£6,995 14 14 PEUGEOT 208 1.2 ACTIVE 5DR, met grey, fsh, 41k ......£6,995 14 64 CITROEN C3 1.4 HDI VTR PLUS 5 DOOR, red, fsh, 21k, ........ £6995 11 11 MAZDA 2 TS2 AUTO, met silver, fsh, 48k ........................£5,995 11 11 FORD FIESTA 1.4 TDCI ZETEC 5DR, met black, sh,

MG GS EXCLUSIVE 1.5 DCT – EX DEMO SAVING OVER £3000 £17,695

10 59 FIAT 500 1.2 LOUNGE 3 DR, white, fsh, 56k ................£4,995 05 55 MINI COOPER 1.6 3DR, Black, sh, 87k......................... £3,495 08 08 FORD KA 1.3 STYLE CLIMATE 3DR, 1 owner, fsh, Yellow ................................................................................ £2,295

Estate 12 12 MERCEDES C200 CDI BLUEEFFICIENCY SE, met get with full grey leather, fsh, 38k ....................................................... £12,995 13 13 VAUXHALL INSIGNIA 2.0 CDTI TOURER TECHLINE, met blue, fsh, 66k ......................................................................£8,995 13 62 VAUXHALL ASTRA 1.6 SRI, white, fsh, 38k ...................£7,995

7 Seater / MPV 13 62 MAZDA CX-5 D 2.2 SPORT MANUAL 5DR, white with full black leather, fsh, 73k.......................................................£12,995

16 66 MG GS 1.5T EXCLUSIVE AUTO PETROL, white with full black leather, 2300 miles, ex demo ..........................................£17,695 12 62 AUDI A4 SE 2.0 TDI SALOON, black, fsh, 50k.............£12,495 12 62 VOLVO V40 D2 1.6 SE LUX DIESEL 5 DOOR, met black, fsh, 88k 1 owner ....................................................................... £8,495 13 63 ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA 1.6 JTDM 2 LUSSO 5DR, red, fsh, 1 owner, 48k ...................................................................... £8,495 12 62 VAUXHALL INSIGNIA 2.0 CDTI 5DR AUTO, met blue with full cream leather, sh, 79k.........................................................£7,495

12 62 FORD GALAXY 2.0 ZETEC TDCI 7 SEATER, met silver, fsh, 48k ....................................................................................£12,495

10 10 LEXUS IS220D SE 2.2 DIESEL SALOON, black, fsh, 76k £6,495

12 62 VAUXHALL ZAFIRA 1.6 EXCLUSIV, red, fsh, 63k ........ £5,495

09 09 FORD MONDEO 1.8 EDGE TDCI DIESEL 5DR, blue,

4x4

60k ......................................................................................£5,995

08 58 FORD KUGA 2.0 TDCI ZETEC 5DR, met silver, sh, 51k £8,295

13 63 CITROEN C1 1.0 VTR 5 DOOR, white, fsh, 18k ............ £5,695

06 56 KIA SORENTO 2.5 XE CRDI AUTO,met blue, fsh, 78k .................................................................. £4995

14 14 CITROEN C1 1.0 EDITION 5 DOOR, red, fsh, 32k ...... £5,695

Others

SH, 75k ................................................................................£3,995 10 59 AUDI A3 2.0 SPORTBACK TDI SPORT 5DR, met blue, fsh, 138k ................................................................................... £3,995

NEW MG 3’S AND GS IN STOCK, PLEASE CONTACT US FOR DETAILS

64 Thursday, March 23, 2017

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Thursday, March 23, 2017 65

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Banbury Road, Tackley

Tel. 01869 331441

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THE LAW HAS CHANGED ...

DO YOU HAVE THE CORRECT GAS?

We can now offer R1234YF car air-con recharge and service Is your car 2013 or newer? If so, you will need the correct gas.

As of the 7th September 2016 we are able to offer R1234yf refrigerant re-gassing, or a car air-con recharge as sometimes known at our Wheatley Car Centre Branch.

This gas is compulsory for new cars from 2013 all be it has been around since 2010, although some manufacturers are still refusing to use this, notably Mercedes who are not happy with the flammable nature of the gas, which in turn means not many companies offer the re-gassing service for cars using r1234yf. But due to the amount of cars we sell we have needed to be able have this service onsite so we can now offer this service to our customers.

A common question is why the old, r134a gas found in most cars today, is being replaced?

It’s driven by environmental concerns as the new gas is more environmentally friendly.

So, for ALL your re-gas and service needs please contact our Wheatley Car Centre Service Department, tel. 01865 874046 opt 2 V www.wheatleycarcentre.co.uk

66 Thursday, March 23, 2017

News/Advertising Call 01235 511700

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SALES OPENING HOURS 08:30-19:00 Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday | 08:30-21:00 Tuesday and Thursday

Thursday, March 23, 2017 67

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68 Thursday, March 23, 2017

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SPORT

Lowe wants to hit new highs with Williams

Rookie Stroll ‘excited’ by debut

F1 FORMER Williams engineer Paddy Lowe says he wants to bring success back to the team he worked for in the 1980s upon his return as chief technical officer.

Lowe re-joined Williams on Thursday last week, taking overall management responsibility for the engineering operation at their Grove base.

He moves to Williams from current Formula One constructors’ champions Mercedes, where he was executive director since June 2013 and helped lead the team to record dominance in the drivers’ and constructors’ world championships.

The 54-year-old started his Formula One career with Williams in 1987 as a control systems engineer, working with Sir Patrick Head and Adrian Newey.

In his six years with the team he helped pioneer the active suspension system that took Nigel Mansell to the 1992 world championship before moving to McLaren in 1993.

During his 29 years in the sport, Lowe has contributed to 158 race wins, seven drivers’ championship titles and five constructors’ championship titles, making him one of the leading engineers in the Formula One paddock.

Commenting on his appointment, Lowe, who will also join the company’s board of directors and take a shareholding in the Williams Group, said: “I’ve always had a deep respect for Williams – my fi rst team in Formula One. “It is a huge honour to return in this leadership position and to have the opportunity to become a shareholder.

“I am extremely motivated to play my part in bringing success back to the team.

“The vision for the future set out by the Williams board is powerful and has compelled me to join an organisation committed to building on its unique legacy and to reaching the pinnacle of Formula One once again.

“I’m looking forward to this exciting new phase to my career.”

Lance Stroll will become the second-youngest driver to start an F1 race on Sunday Picture: Williams Martini Racing

F1 George Welch: Reporter THERE are no signs of nerves from rookie Williams driver Lance Stroll as he prepares for the season opener of his debut season.

The 18-year-old Canadian will become the second-youngest driver to start in F1 when he takes to the grid for the Grove-based team in Melbourne on Sunday.

The part-street circuit layout of the Melbourne grand prix circuit pro-

vides an interesting fi rst challenge of the 2017 season for drivers, with the late start time and setting sun making visibility tricky as the race unfolds.

But for Stroll, he is itching to just get out on the track for the very fi rst time.

He said: “I am really excited for Melbourne. It’s going to be quite an experience being my fi rst ever grand prix.

“It’s a new track and I have never been to Australia. I am just really looking forward to it all and very excited to get started.

“I can’t wait. I have driven the track

in the simulator and I have seen some videos, and onboards. It looks quite tricky.

“I will just take it as it comes, push as hard as I can, enjoy it and look forward to the weekend.”

Racing alongside Stroll for the fi rst time will be the far more experienced Felipe Massa, who is making his second debut for Williams having rejoined the team just months after announcing his retirement from the sport.

And the 35-year-old Brazilian believes Melbourne is “the perfect place to get started”.

He added: “It’s quite a tricky track

though. It’s half racetrack, half street circuit, so it’s defi nitely not easy.

“It’s good to have a difficult challenge at the start of the season though – I’m just really looking forward to getting started.”

All three Oxfordshire teams – Williams, Renault and Hass – have this month pounded round the Catalunya track near Barcelona to test their machines as they prepared for Sunday’s race, the fi rst of 20 races.

But missing from the grid this year will be Banbury-based Manor, which folded in January after its parent company Just Racing Services collapsed.

Baker believes his gridiron side can rise to any occasion American Football PROUD Oxford Saints Women boss Adam Baker believes his side has a bright future after the second round of their fi rst ever full contact tournament.

The Saints followed up their win and loss in the fi rst round of the 5 vs 5 Sapphire Tournament in Ports-

mouth at the end of last month with another win and defeat in round two, in Peterborough on March 11.

Oxford beat Peterborough Royals 26-19 before being thrashed 60-25 by Wembley Stallions to give them a 2-2 record, leaving Baker with plenty to ponder but even more to be optimistic about.

He said: “The women showed real grit and toughness. We played well for

a team in which every player played both sides of the ball.

“I am excited to expand the squad and see what we can do with a larger team. The future of the Saints is to become a contender.

“I am proud of our 2-2 record for now but I can see a brighter future.”

Travelling with a small team due to injuries and absences, Oxford had eight healthy players, who gathered

lots of game time and valuable experience, despite less relief available on the sideline.

MVPs for round two went to Megan Brown (defence), Heather Bignell (offence) and Josie McInerney (team).

Meanwhile, the men’s side continued their preparation for next month’s league opener with a humbling 42-0 pre-season defeat at Farnham Knights on Sunday.

New boy Smith vows KTM ‘won’t be left in the dust’ MotoGP BRADLEY Smith has set himself a target of scoring a MotoGP point in his race debut with KTM this weekend, after a largely satisfactory fi nal pre-season test in Qatar.

Unlike teammate Pol Espargaro, Oxford-based Smith was content with his progress over the three days and is optimistic about the weekend’s season opener.

Although the updated engine KTM had brought to the test will be shelved for the fi rst race, improvements were made in other areas, namely electronics and a chassis – the fi fth riders have tried this the pre-season.

Smith fi nished 21st in testing – the top KTM racer – and while he was 2.021 seconds off Maverick Viñales’ stellar pace, the 26-year old is focusing on securing a point-scoring fi nish.

“At this moment I’m realistic just because of the amount of time we’ve had on these bikes and on the project,” Smith said on Sunday.

“I would still like to challenge myself to score a point here. That would be ‘mission accomplished’.

“If I could just scrape one point that’d be fl ipping amazing.

“I’m still optimistic. The bike is consistent over the 19 laps at the moment. I’ll just work my butt off to score one point.”

After representing Tech3 at both Moto2 and MotoGP since 2011, Smith, alongside his Yamaha teammate Espargaro, joined new team Red Bull KTM for their debut season.

And Smith, who fi nished sixth in the 2015 championship, believes he has joined the right team to progress his career.

He said: “I fi nished sixth in the world championship. I battled for the

top satellite place. It didn’t make me happy. Of course, it did at the time but it accomplished that goal.

“And once you do that you look at how do I go to the next step.

“KTM is my chance to go to the next step. When it will ever get to [the level of] where I want to go is down to what we do in the process and how we work.

“Again, I’m thinking long game on this one. We’re a lot closer than I thought we were going to be. OK, we’re sat at the bottom. But we’re sat at the bottom super close.

“We’re super close to boys that have been here for two or three years on machines that are tried and tested around a place like this. We have to be pleased with what we’ve done.

“We can smell them. We can see them. We’re not going to be left in the dust. We’re not going to be making our own party at the back of the grid. “

Bradley Smith in action in Qatar

Picture: Gold and Goose

Thursday, March 23, 2017 69

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Jones: we need goals Oxford City George Welch: Reporter THERE may still be seven games to go but Oxford City’s boss is already preparing for next season.

With survival looking a certainty Mark Jones has admitted his midtable Hoops need to strengthen over the summer if they are to compete further up the National League South table next year.

Speaking after Saturday’s narrow 2-1 defeat at East Thurrock but before Tuesday night’s 6-1 hammering at league leaders Maidenhead United, Jones said: “We need to keep going as best we can until the end of the season.

“Then we need to sit down as staff and as a club to look at where we want to go and put a plan in place which will hopefully see us moving up the table next season.

“We need to add some more quality to the team, there’s no question about that.”

In particular, the former coach under Justin Merritt’s regime pointed to a blunted forward line as an area requiring urgent improvement.

Jones added: “Our goalscoring form over the last couple of months isn’t great.

“There aren’t many games where we have scored more than one goal and that needs to change if we want to be challenging at the top of the table.”

A rare mistake from Hoops stopper Craig Hill paved the way for two second half East Thurrock goals on Saturday.

Hill received a seemingly routine back pass but dallied on the ball and was dispossessed by Femi Akin-

Banbury United have won their last five matches Picture: E A Barson Photography

Puritans on a winning roll Banbury United

Jefferson Louis grabbed a late consolation goal Picture: Michael Allen wande, leaving the striker with the simplest of fi nishes on 54 minutes.

Scott Heard put the hosts 2-0 up nine minutes from time with a low shot, but City midfielder Sammy Khawaja scored a minute later to give Jones’ side some hope.

Khawaja should have equalised in stoppage time but the academy product could only fi re wide.

The Hoops, who have scored just seven goals in their last nine matches, fell to their fi rst back-to-back defeats under Jones’ stewardship on Tuesday night when they were hammered 6-1 at table-toppers Maidenhead.

With Ebbsfleet thumping Bishop’s Stortford 8-0 on Tuesday, the Magpies held on to their one point lead at the top thanks to fi rst half goals from Jack Parkinson (6) and Dave Tarpey (33, 36) and second half strikes from Harry Pritchard (57) and Jordan Cox (76, 89 p).

Jefferson Louis did score a late consolation in the 86th minute with the score at 5-0 but it meant little on a night Jones and his players will be keen to forget.

Jones will expect better from his players when they host play-off chasing Poole Town at Court Place Farm on Saturday.

UNITED turned on the style with two goals in each half during an impressive 4-0 victory at Chesham United on Saturday.

The win, coupled with the Puritans’ 2-0 victory over the same side in north Oxfordshire the previous week, all but ended Chesham’s play-off hopes.

But United’s own play-off charge continued in spectacular fashion as they picked up their fi fth win on the trot.

First half goals from Ricky Johnson and Luke Carnell put Mike Ford’s side in a commanding position and things only got better in the second half at The Meadow stadium when Johnson netted his brace and Sam Humphreys added extra gloss to the scoreline in injury time.

With fi fth place Merthyr Town losing 3-1 at table toppers Chippenham Town, the Puritans’ latest win leaves

them level on points with their Welsh rivals – outside the Southern Premier League play-offs only on goal difference.

The fi rst 20 minutes were uneventful but Banbury would make the allimportant breakthrough in the 24th minute when a Tom Winters free kick from the left was headed into the net

by Johnson.

Just four minutes later it was 2-0 when Carnell nodded home a corner from the right by Winters from six yards out.

Chesham still had their fair share of the game but fell 3-0 behind with 15 minutes to go when Johnson beat the home custodian from 12 yards.

Humphreys completed the rout a minute into injury time when he fi red home from 10 yards.

The Puritans hope to sneak into the play-off spaces when they travel to 17th placed Stratford Town and Merthyr host struggling Cambridge City on Saturday.

Greens can’t make it a magnificent seven Kidlington KIDLINGTON’S seven match unbeaten run came to a frustrating end in a 4-2 defeat at Barton Rovers on Saturday.

The fi nal scoreline arguably flattered the home side and the scores were level until midway through the second half, when Kidlington were reduced to 10 men.

It was business as usual when Kiddy forward Lewis Coyle curled in

a shot from edge of box just before the half hour to give Julian McCalmon’s side the lead.

But they were pegged back less than 10 minutes later when Barton midfielder Scott Sinclair equalised.

The ‘Mighty Rovers’ took the lead for the fi rst time through skipper Steve Gentle’s header on 56 minutes, but they too were pinned back, despite Kiddy keeper Sam Warrell seeing red after a rash challenge 10 yards outside his box.

Despite being down to 10 men the

Greens took the game to their hosts and were rewarded when Anaclet Ohiambo shot home in the 66th minute to make it 2-2 with his 26th goal of a prolific season.

Parity was only short lived however as Elliott Bailey fortuitously poked home a rebound to edge Rovers back into the lead just a minute later.

Probing for an equaliser, the Greens were fi nally picked off on the break when Sinclair scored his second of the afternoon with four minutes remaining.

Millers trampled by runaway leaders Bulls North Leigh HAPLESS North Leigh were swept away 4-1 by runaway league leaders Hereford as the Southern Premier League-bound side extended their lead at the top to 13 points.

The Millers were brushed aside in their fi rst ever visit to Edgar Street on Saturday despite an encouraging performance and taking a shock early lead.

John Brough’s side didn’t look overawed by the substantial crowd or the occasion as centre back Matt Sysum calmly headed a corner past

the keeper from close range to silence the home crowd on three minutes.

But the lead lasted a mere seven minutes before man of the match right back for Hereford, Jimmy Oates, threaded a ball through to ex-Millers and Didcot Town striker John Mills who fi red beyond stand-in keeper Lewis Clayton.

Despite a fairly even fi rst period, Hereford centre back Mark Preece bundled home a free kick from close range to give the Bulls a half time lead.

And the reformed Football League club didn’t look back as they dominated the second half in front of more

than 2,400 fans. Pablo Haysham, another former Didcot striker, fi red in a free kick to make it 3-1 on 68 minutes.

Leigh threw caution to the wind in desperation but fell further behind right at the death when winger Tristan Plummer converted a penalty he had won.

But the Millers put an end to their six match winless run with an emphatic 5-2 win at Shortwood United on Tuesday night to lift them three places to ninth.

Leigh face another two away games as they travel to Bideford on Saturday and Bishops Cleeve on Tuesday.

Adam Learoyd scores the equaliser

Picture: Roger Neal

Weakened Didcot let it slip Didcot Town ERROR-PRONE Didcot Town were unable to record back-to-back victories as they handed Barnstaple Town a 2-1 win on Saturday.

The Railwaymen pulled into north Devon on the back of their fi rst win of 2017 but were weakened by an enforced five changes.

Goalkeeper Leigh Bedwell, playermanager Andy Ballard, Louis Joyce and the suspended James Organ didn’t travel, while the injured Sam Barder was deemed only fit enough for the bench.

George Jeacock had the best chance of the fi rst half for the visitors when he broke the offside trap but his shot was well saved by Steve Oliver.

Almost immediately, Diddy fell behind after another mistake, this time when Sam Elkins brought down Steve Holland in the area.

Striker James Blake stepped up and fi red his shot past Harry Whitehead to give Barnstaple the lead shortly before half time.

It was the fourth game in a row and fi fth game in the last six that Didcot have faced a spot kick.

The hosts started the second half brighter and James Mayne saw his header come off the crossbar, but it was Didcot who found the back of the net next when captain Adam Learoyd headed home from a 69th minute corner.

Barnstaple found themselves back in front with 10 ten minutes remaining when Whitehead’s throw out fell into the path of Lee Francis who lobbed the stranded keeper.

It was a pivotal goal as the hosts held on, condemning Town, who host Yate Town on Saturday, to their sixth defeat in eight games.

VË8? Í?~jË0 Ý ËMj?ÍËM ÍÍ ËW ÖMË Bridgwater Town 1-0 on Saturday.

70 Thursday, March 23, 2017

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Oxford United 2

Steve Dyer who lost his battle with cancer last week, with son Steven

Kane Hemmings 42, Chris Maguire 75

Bolton Wanderers 4

Felipe Morais 4, Mark Beevers 23, Chey Dunkley (og) 60, Josh Vela 94

Chris Maguire’s free kick gives United a second goal against Bolton Wanderers

Tribute to lifelong fan Steve A TERMINALLY ill Oxford United fan who was last week given a squad number has died.

Ardent U’s supporter Steve Dyer, a fan all his life, has touched the hearts of all Oxford fans with his story.

Mr Dyer, who was given four months to live when he was diagnosed with bladder cancer in November 2015, died on Thursday evening last week.

United honoured Mr Dyer on Tuesday last week by naming him on the official team sheet until the end of the season.

And, just hours before his death, the Football League agreed for his name to be on the official Checkatrade Trophy matchday programme next month.

The club added that they were “sad-

dened” by the news and managing director Greig Box Turnbull paid his own tribute.

He said: “It is very sad news.

Steve was an inspiration to everyone because he stayed so positive and fought so hard right to the end.

“Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

“I had the honour of meeting Steve several times and he will be sadly missed by everyone at the club.”

Last season, the 60-year-old travelled home to Oxford from his home in America so his son could see the U’s at Wembley last season.

He then bought two season tickets for 2016/17 and donated them to Helen & Douglas House hospice so that youngsters could benefit from them and use them each week.

Marvin Johnson smashes the ball towards goal

Conor McAleny has a shot blocked on Tuesday night

MD to leave at season end OXFORD United managing director Greig Box Turnbull has announced he will leave the club at the end of the season.

The 42-year-old joined the board 12 months ago following chief executive Mark Ashton’s departure in December 2015.

The former Daily Mirror journalist will retain his position as a trustee of the Oxford United Community Trust next season.

He will remain in his post until the end of the season to ensure a smooth transition and to assist with planning for next season, the club said on .

Chairman Darryl Eales said: “Greig has done an excellent job for the football club and I am grateful for his significant contribution.

“We have fi rmly established the club in League One, taking it to the next level both on and off the pitch and Greig has played a big part in this progression.

“Greig has become a good friend and I am delighted that he is staying on as a Trustee of the charity.

“We all wish him well for the future and seeing him around the club in a regular basis.”

Box Turnbull, a U’s fan, said it has

SONG SUGGESTIONS NEEDED OXFORD head for Wembley on April 2 for the final of the Checkatrade Trophy.

But before Michael Appleton’s side take on Coventry City, the club have been set a very different challenge.

This year Wembley officials have asked for three songs from

Greig Box Turnbull joined the U’s a year ago been an “honour and a privilege” to represent the club he “loves”.

He added: “Much has been achieved in many areas of the club over the past 12 months, especially building a more professional infrastructure able to cope with the progression of the club on the pitch.

“I will be leaving the club in a stronger place and in an excellent position to continue the amazing progress over the past couple of years.

“I have a great relationship with Darryl and Michael Appleton [U’s boss] and wish them and all of the staff every success in the future.”

each club to be played should that side win. And that’s where you, the fans, come in.

Suggestions so far have included Yellow by Coldplay, Slade’s My Oh My, and Cum on Feel the Noize.

You can make your suggestion on the club’s Facebook page at tinyurl.com/kdprkgm

Thrilled to be named for Irish honour YOUNG defender Canice Carroll missed out on the Ireland Under-17 International Player of the Year award at the ‘Three’ FAI International Football Awards on Sunday.

The Oxford United right back, who has made one appearance for the club, lost out to West Ham United defender Declan Rice. Jayson Molumby, of Premier League hopefuls Brighton and Hove Albion, was also nominated.

Carroll, who turned professional in August 2015 and made his United debut earlier this season, graduated through the Oxford United academy and has been capped for Ireland at under-17, under-18 and under-19 levels.

Carroll said before the ceremony on Sunday: “I’m thrilled to be nominated for this award and I’d like to thank everyone at the club, from the academy and youth team to the fi rst team management.

“It’s a great honour to be nominated.”

Canice Carroll made his debut for Oxford against Macclesfield in the Emirates FA Cup in December Picture: Steve Daniels Meanwhile, there was better news for former Yellow Callum O’Dowda, who won the Under-21 International Player of the Year.

The Kidlington man, who signed for Championship side Bristol City for an undisclosed fee believed to be around £1.25 million last summer, beat Everton midfielder Harry Charsley and West Ham’s Josh Cullen to the prize.

O’Dowda took to Twitter to tweet

his thanks.

He said: “Thank you everyone for your congratulations.

“I hope tonight marked one of many milestones ahead in my Ireland career.

“So grateful for everyone who has helped me in my career so far.

Focus now moves to Friday! [when Ireland host Wales in World Cup qualification]”.

Thursday, March 23, 2017 71

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United leave it late to Iron out creases

All pictures: Steve Daniels

Phil Edwards touches in for the second goal against Scunthorpe

Josh Ruffels, above, makes a run towards goal and below, John Lundstram fires home United’s equaliser on Saturday

ON loan full back Phil Edwards scored a stoppage time winner as Oxford United scraped past out of form Scunthorpe United 2-1 on Saturday.

Visiting striker Paddy Madden gave the Iron a 12th minute lead at the Kassam Stadium, but the U’s fought back with skipper John Lundstram levelling on 52 minutes before Edwards deflected in the winner in the 91st minute.

Madden curled in a right-footed shot from 14 yards in a scrappy first half on a bobbly pitch.

While a full stretched Simon Eastwood was beaten, his opposite number Luke Daniels was not tested in a first half made more difficult for both teams by swirling winds.

But a spirited second half performance from the U’s saw United snatch maximum points with three minutes or less remaining for the fifth League One home match this season.

Oxford levelled terms through a fine team goal seven minutes into the second half.

Curtis Nelson sprayed a raking ball out to the left where Joe Skarz pinged just as good a cross in to the box to find Lundstram, who half-volleyed the ball home against his former club for his first of the season.

Less than five minutes later and the U’s skipper nearly doubled his tally for the afternoon and the season with an almost-perfectly placed curling effort that ricocheted off the bar. Daniels got up quickly to thwart Joe Rothwell’s tame rebound.

At the other end, Madden reminded the U’s why the Iron,

Oxford United 2 John Lundstram 52 Phil Edwards 91

Scunthorpe United 1 Paddy Madden 12

despite now only winning once in their last 10 matches, haven’t been lower than fifth in the table this season as Eastwood had to beat out a drive and a header from the everdangerous striker.

However, the U’s have been one of the league’s form teams since the turn of the year and nearly snatched the win with two minutes of normal time remaining, but a superb pointblank stop from Daniels kept out Liam Sercombe’s volley.

Nevertheless, Scunthorpe’s defence, under severe pressure by this point, failed to hold out and, following a corner, Nelson drove a low 14-yard shot across goal for Edwards to touch home a minute into injury time for United’s first win at home following three successive defeats.

Nelson, still looking for his first league goal for the club, claimed the winner but, after some post-match deliberation, Edwards, on loan from Championship Burton Albion, was awarded his fifth of the campaign.

■ During the game a minute’s applause was held for lifelong Oxford United fan Steve Dyer who last his battle against cancer – see facing page

SkyBet League 1

GP

GD

PTS

1

Sheffield United

38

30

78

2

Bolton Wanderers

38

26

72

3

Fleetwood Town

38

19

68

Midfielder in England youth set-up

4

Bradford City

39

16

66

5

Scunthorpe United

39

20

64

6

Southend United

38

11

60

INFLUENTIAL midfielder Ryan Ledson could miss a potential play-off final if he is called up to the England Under20s World Cup squad this summer.

The former Everton youngster, who had to tear himself away from his boyhood club in search of regular football last summer, will miss four Oxford United matches having received an England call up for a mini tournament.

Manager Paul Simpson will lead his team out against arch-rivals Argentina, hosts South Korea and Guinea for the Under-20 World Cup in May. As a warm up, the Young Lions are to head to France for a minitournament.

Ledson, back in the international fold for the fi rst time since September, will be looking to impress to secure his place on the fl ight to Asia this summer.

But the 19-year-old’s personal success has come at a cost as he missed United’s games against Scunthorpe United and Bolton Wanderers and will be absent for the clashes against Northampton Town on Saturday and Bury on Tuesday.

The Scouser, who has represented

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

his country at Under-16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 levels, will return in time for the Checkatrade Trophy fi nal against Coventry City on April 2 for the fi rst of a potential double visit to Wembley this season.

But Ledson, who has scored once in 28 appearances for the U’s this season, could face a club v country dilemma as England’s Under-20 World Cup group matches start against Argentina on May 20 – the same day as the League One play-off final.

“We’ll have to just wait and see what

happens,” he told the BBC this week.

“If we do get to the play-offs and the World Cup overlaps, then me, the club and the FA will have a decision to make and it will be in their hands.”

United are currently ninth and five points off the play-offs and have been in fi ne form since the turn of the year.

With the chance to play three other nations set to join them at the World Cup in Korea this summer, new boss Simpson is eagerly anticipating a week of discovery, and he takes charge of the team for the fi rst time tonight.

He added: “We want to develop players all the time and we want them to have a winning mentality as well, to get into the habit of winning games consistently.

“But winning will not be the be all and end all in France, it’s about assessing the dynamic between the players, and also between the players and the staff.”

England face Portugal tonight (Thursday), France on Saturday and Senegal on Tuesday over a seven-day period as preparations for the summer’s World Cup intensify.

7

Millwall

37

9

8 9

60

Bristol Rovers

39

0

57

Oxford United

38

5

55

10

Rochdale

37

4

54

11

Walsall

39

-2

53

12

Peterborough United

39

0

52

13

AFC Wimbledon

38

3

51

14

Northampton Town

39

-6

49

15

Charlton Athletic

39

3

47

16

MK Dons

38

-1

47

17

Bury

39

-7

45

18

Gillingham

39

-16

45

19

Oldham Athletic

39

-12

44

20

Shrewsbury Town

38

-12

43

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------21

Port Vale

37

-17

41

22

Swindon Town

39

-19

36

23

Chesterfield

39

-26

33

24

Coventry City

39

-28

29

72 Thursday, March 23, 2017

Sport

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MORE SPORT INSIDE:

■ Football ■ F1 roars back this weekend ■ Moto GP ■ American Football

Kane Hemmings heads in Oxford’s first goal after a close shave Picture: Steve Daniels

More pictures and Scunthorpe report – pages 70&71

United outclassed in thriller George Welch: Reporter A DEFIANT Oxford United gave as good as they could against red-hot Bolton Wanderers in a cracking game at the Kassam on Tuesday.

The U’s missed an opportunity to move within two points of the League One play-offs with this 4-2 defeat but, after a slow start, the U’s fought bravely against the Trotters.

A bundled fi rst half Kane Hemmings goal and a perfect second half Chris Maguire free kick kept Oxford in the contest but Michael Appleton’s side were narrowly outclassed on the night by a team who have now scored four goals in their last three away games.

It was a nightmare start for United as

Bolton took the lead in next to no time.

Simon Eastwood was forced into a fantastic low save from a Gary Madine header, but the ball fell kindly to Felipe Morias who confidently thumped the ball into the top right corner.

Everything the former Chelsea trainee touches has turned to gold since signing for Bolton in January, racking up two goals and eight assists in 10 games for the visitors.

United, who started with Marvin Johnson up front in the hope he would get in behind Bolton’s back three, struggled to get going early on.

And just as United thought they had found their feet midway through the fi rst half, Bolton doubled their lead through another rebound.

Morias – involved again – had a central free kick tipped onto the bar by

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Eastwood and another man in white – this time defender Mark Beevers – was fi rst to the rebound to score on 23 minutes.

This was United’s 53rd game of the season, two more than any other English side, so it wasn’t surprising that Oxford struggled against a solid Bolton Wanderers looking for an immediate return to the Championship.

But there was no sign of tiredness once the U’s were thrown a lifeline three minutes before the break.

Further up the pitch than expected, left back Joe Skarz connected with a Hall cross. Ben Alnwick, off his line, got finger tips to the defender’s header but needed David Wheater to nod the ball onto the crossbar. But the danger wasn’t cleared and Hemmings was there to bundle home his first goal in

nine games.

It wasn’t pretty but it was pretty effective from Hemmings, who gave United hope with his 15th of the season.

Despite the U’s bossing second half possession, Phil Parkinson’s side were always a threat with the impressive Eastwood thwarting Chris Long twice, fi rst from an acute angle on 53 minutes and, a minute later, from 20 yards.

And on 60 minutes, the Trotters poked their noses further ahead in humiliating style for Oxford defender Chey Dunkley, who, from a Bolton long throw, headed the ball into the bottom corner of his own net under pressure from Madine.

The second half exploded into life with 20 minutes remaining when Johnson cracked a sensational strike

from 30 yards, via a slight touch from Alnwick, against the inside of the post before bouncing clear.

There was another moment of sheer brilliance five minutes later when Maguire perfectly dispatched a free kick from the D perfectly into the top right corner to give the hosts renewed hope.

Just two minutes later and the hosts should have had a penalty when sub Conor McAleny was clipped in the box – but the Everton loanee was booked for diving by referee Ross Joyce.

Bolton dug deep as they absorbed Oxford pressure before Vela fi nished off United in the 94th minute.

United remain five points off the play-offs and travel to Northampton Town on Saturday before hosting Bury on Tuesday.