THE OXFORD PAPER Thursday, April 26, 2018 No.89
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Weekly leisure guide for in & around Oxford
Fitness fans head over Professor completes six Elated, but many vow Page 3 marathons Page 5 ‘never again’ Pages 12&13 heeels
Your guide for your
Out& About leisure time in & arou
nd Oxfordshire
Dara’s back doing what he does best
A thoroughly great show Meet modern Millie at The New Theatre
City has got its buzz back and it’s boosting business growth By George Welch
SIX months on from the grand opening of the Westgate Centre and Oxford ‘has its buzz back’. The ambitious £440million redevelopment opened its doors on October 24 last year. Nearly six months to the day and Oxford has been hailed as a ‘rejuvenated’ city by a business expert after encouraging new data showed the number of companies in Oxfordshire passed the 40,000 milestone for the first time last month – 8,092 of those are based in the city. Businesswoman Anneli Thomson, who sits on the Oxford Chamber Council, said she is not surprised companies are flocking to a city that has regained its purpose. She said: “Westgate has rejuvenated Oxford as a city. People beforehand had little reason to go into the city centre but now it’s got a real centre again. “Its getting people to go out and explore Oxford again – it’s got its buzz back.” Miss Thomson, managing director of west Oxfordshire-based Sandler Training, a management consulting company in the service sector, has sat on the city’s chamber council for nearly two years. The group helps Oxford businesses on a daily basis to grow. Describing Oxford as ‘vibrant’, she said: “It’s the jewel in the crown of England because we have all sorts of
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Don’t stop them now! Getting down for a good cause: Dozens of people walked the plank to song from Oxford Rock Choir with the High Sheriff Richard Venables MORE than 50 businesses walked the plank to Oxford’s Westgate to raise funds for charity. Backed by the Oxford Rock Choir’s rendition of Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now, the volunteers held a plank exercise for five minutes, raising money for Sugar Smart UK and people in disadvantaged areas of Oxford. The event was part of the High Sheriff’s Corporate Challenge
ASHFOLD SCHOOL A leading independent prep school for boys and girls aged 3 – 13 years set in 30 acres of beautiful grounds on the Buckinghamshire/Oxfordshire borders For more information and to book a place, please contact our Registrar, Fiona Grainge T: 01844 238237 E: registrar@ashfoldschool.co.uk www.ashfoldschool.co.uk
@AshfoldSchool
organised by the new High Sheriff of Oxford, Richard Venables. Mr Venables said: “It was fantastic to see so many colleagues and friends coming together for this challenge which was great fun and I congratulate everyone involved.” The event was one of a range of sporting and cultural activities aiming to raise £150,000 before March 2019.
Come & Play For parents and pre-school children Wednesday 9 May 2018, 10 – 11.30am
Open Morning Saturday 12 May 2018, 10am – 12 noon
Scholars hips available for children jo ining in Year 7
‘The quality of pupils’ achievements and learning is excellent’ ISI