Discover a more personal approach to hearing at this free local open day in Abingdon

Zoe Gater

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Local audiologist Lawrence Hill is putting choice at the heart of better hearing with a free open day this September.

What if better hearing isn’t simply about hearing more, but about finding a sound that feels right for you?

That’s the idea behind Boars Hill Hearing’s Find Your Sound free open day at Frilford Heath Golf Club on Tuesday 15 September 2026.

When people think about hearing aids, it’s easy to assume they all work in much the same way. But different hearing technologies can create surprisingly different listening experiences – and what works brilliantly for one person may not feel right for another.

Some people prefer a natural, open sound that feels as close to everyday hearing as possible. Others prioritise clarity and additional support, particularly in busy or noisy environments.

Boars Hill Hearing’s open day is designed to give local people the opportunity to discover those differences for themselves, with no pressure and no obligation.

Audiologist Lawrence Hill will be joined by representatives from two leading hearing aid brands, Widex and Signia. Visitors can experience two distinctive approaches to sound, ask questions about hearing tests and modern hearing technology, and explore the latest discreet and rechargeable hearing aids.

A limited number of dedicated one-to-one appointments with Lawrence will also be available during the day. These will give visitors the opportunity to trial their preferred hearing technology and talk through their individual needs.

There will also be exclusive offers available through Boars Hill Hearing.

The event is aimed at anyone who is curious about their hearing, considering hearing aids or simply keen to understand more about the technology available today. Loved ones are welcome too – particularly if you’re attending alongside someone who has started to notice changes in their hearing.

And there’s no need to worry about making a day of it without refreshments: the team is asking visitors to let them know if they’re planning to attend, so they can make sure there’s enough coffee and cake to go around.

Find Your Sound takes place on Tuesday 15 September, 9am–5.30pm, at Frilford Heath Golf Club, OX13 5NW.

If you’ve been wondering whether hearing technology could make a difference to everyday life, this could be the perfect opportunity to hear what’s out there – and, more importantly, discover what sounds right for you.

Everything’s free and everyone’s welcome, but RSVP if you can so the team can ensure there’s enough coffee and cake.

Visit boarshillhearing.co.uk/findyoursound.

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Experience Welsh musical magic in Wantage this September

Zoe Gater

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London Welsh Male Voice Choir bring their celebrated sound to Wantage for a special charity concert this September.

Wantage music-lovers are in for a very special evening of music when the renowned London Welsh Male Voice Choir bring their powerful harmonies to the Parish of St Peter & St Paul.

Performing at 7pm on Saturday 12 September 2026, the choir will raise funds for the Ray Collins Charitable Trust, helping support the local community through its charitable work.

And this is no ordinary choir. The London Welsh Male Voice Choir has performed on some seriously prestigious stages, including the Olympic Games Closing Ceremony and events marking the 100-year anniversary of the end of the First World War in Ypres.

More recently, the choir filled the Royal Albert Hall in June – so Wantage audiences can expect a pretty impressive night of singing.

The choir’s repertoire celebrates the rich tradition of male voice choral singing, with the distinctive warmth, power and emotion that have made Welsh choirs famous around the world. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of choral music or simply fancy an uplifting night out, this promises to be a memorable performance.

There’s also an opportunity to hear the choir before the big night, with recordings available on Spotify and plenty of uplifting video clips to discover on Facebook.

Most importantly, your ticket helps support a good cause. All proceeds from the Wantage concert will go towards the Ray Collins Charitable Trust and its work supporting the community.

So, if you fancy an evening filled with glorious harmonies, a touch of Welsh musical magic and the feel-good factor of supporting a local charity, this is one to put in the diary.

Tickets are £20 per person.

For more information or to book, visit eventbrite.co.uk/e/london-welsh-male-voice-choir-in-concert-tickets.

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Sophie Tea’s viral charity shop visit brings millions of TikTok views to Bicester

Zoe Gater

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Zoe Gater

A Bicester charity shop has had a major social media boost after artist Sophie Tea stopped by to transform a second-hand rocking horse for her hugely popular TikTok series.

A Bicester charity shop has gone viral after a visit from one of TikTok’s biggest art stars brought more than two million views to the store.

Artist Sophie Tea, who has more than 1.3 million followers on TikTok, dropped into the Sobell House Hospice Superstore in Bicester as part of her popular charity shop series.

The series sees Sophie hunt through charity shops for pre-loved pieces, give them a colourful artistic makeover and then raffle the finished creations to raise money for good causes.

For her Bicester visit, Sophie settled on an unlikely canvas: a rocking horse, which she picked up for £40 before transforming it with her signature colourful style.

The finished piece was then raffled to her followers, while fans flocked to the shop to meet Sophie, enter the raffle and get items signed.

And the visit proved to be a win for Sobell House beyond the social media numbers, too. The hospice estimates the shop took more than £500 above its usual takings that day, thanks to the extra footfall.

The resulting TikTok has now clocked up more than two million views and 254,000 likes, putting the Bicester store in front of a huge new audience.

For Sobell House, which provides specialist care for people with life-limiting illnesses across Oxfordshire, that extra attention could make a real difference.

The hospice relies on its charity shops to help raise the millions of pounds needed each year to support its services, so every sale and donation counts.

The Bicester Superstore is open seven days a week, with everything from clothes, books and music to furniture and electricals up for grabs.

So, if you fancy hunting out a pre-loved bargain, you never know what you might find – or who might have transformed it into something rather special.

Find out more at sobellhouse.org.

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Hunt for a literary gem at Stowe Gardens’ Autumn Book Fair

Zoe Gater

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Zoe Gater

From vintage volumes and signed editions to recent bestsellers, bookworms can browse shelves of donated titles at Stowe Gardens this autumn.

Calling all literature enthusiasts, Stowe Gardens is hosting its Autumn Book Fair from 23 October to 1 November, with shelves of donated books to browse at New Inn.

Open from 10am until 4pm, expect a mix of fiction, non-fiction, vintage and collectable titles, from recent bestsellers and well-loved favourites to complete sets, signed editions and rare volumes dating back around 150 years.

Whether you’re after a new read, searching for something unusual or simply enjoy rummaging through a good book collection, there should be plenty to uncover.

Entry to the book fair is free, and every purchase helps support the ongoing care of Stowe’s historic landscape, making it a chance to pick up a literary find while giving something back to this beautiful Buckinghamshire estate.

Entry is free, so no need to book in advance.

For more information, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-berkshire/stowe-gardens/events.

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Woodcote racing driver misses out on Britcar victory after final-lap heartbreak

Zoe Gater

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Zoe Gater

South Oxfordshire racing driver Julian McBride came within a lap of his maiden Britcar Endurance Championship victory at Donington Park before a driveshaft failure ended his challenge.

Woodcote racing driver Julian McBride was denied a potential maiden Britcar Endurance Championship victory after a driveshaft failure struck on the final lap at Donington Park.

McBride, who lives in South Oxfordshire, had battled his way from 20th on the grid to lead the GT class alongside guest driver and British GT ace Phil Keen, only for the Geoff Steel Racing BMW to be forced to stop with less than a lap remaining.

Despite the heartbreak, McBride and Keen were classified fifth overall and second in class after completing 62 of the race’s 63 laps.

It was another impressive performance for McBride, who is competing in Britcar’s premier GT category for the first time this season.

McBride only began racing after suffering a spinal injury in 2011 which left him with permanent disabilities. He made his competitive motorsport debut in 2016, despite having no previous racing experience, and has since become a two-time endurance racing champion.

Starting 20th at Donington, McBride quickly moved through the field before two well-timed Safety Car periods and slick pit-stop strategy kept the BMW in contention.

After completing the majority of the race, McBride handed over to Keen for the closing stages. Keen continued to make progress, eventually taking the BMW into the GT class lead and onto the overall podium.

Victory appeared within reach before the driveshaft failed on the final lap.

“We knew after qualifying that we had more pace than twentieth on the grid suggested, so the plan was simply to stay patient and let the race come to us,” said McBride.

“I was really happy with my stint. We avoided trouble at the start, made good progress and the team executed both pit stops perfectly. That gave Phil the opportunity to do what he does best.

“Of course it’s disappointing to lose a result like that on the final lap because everyone deserved more than the finishing position shows. At the same time, the performance gives us a huge amount of confidence. We know we’ve got the pace to fight at the front, so we’ll take the positives and move on to the next one.”

The result adds to a promising opening season in Britcar’s premier GT category, with McBride having already secured both a class podium and an outright podium during his first four race weekends.

He will now head to Snetterton in Norfolk on 29 August, where he and Geoff Steel Racing will continue their pursuit of a maiden GT class victory.

Away from the track, McBride is an ARDS Instructor, Motorsport UK Level 2 Coach, FIA Disability and Accessibility Commission Mentor and professional speaker.

More information about Julian McBride can be found at julianmcbride.uk.

Image credit © Alex Humphries / Agilita Digital

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The Marlow Murder Club returns for series four – with filming already underway in Buckinghamshire

Zoe Gater

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Zoe Gater

The much-loved UK crime drama has been renewed for a fourth series, with filming returning to Marlow this summer ahead of its 2027 release.

Marlow’s favourite amateur sleuths are back on the case, with The Marlow Murder Club officially renewed for a fourth series and filming already underway in and around the Buckinghamshire town this summer.

The six-part series will premiere in 2027 on UKTV’s free streaming service U and U&DRAMA, bringing Samantha Bond, Cara Horgan and Jo Martin back as crime-solving trio Judith Potts, Becks Starling and Suzie Harris.

Based in Marlow, the hit crime drama has turned the Buckinghamshire town and its riverside surroundings into one of TV’s most recognisable murder-mystery settings.

Series four promises more twists, suspicious deaths and local intrigue, beginning with a body discovered in the river which becomes linked to the Marlow Amateur Dramatics Society and a local Hollywood star.

The new series will also feature an adaptation of Robert Thorogood’s bestselling novel Murder on the Marlow Belle, alongside two brand-new mysteries.

Later storylines will see the amateur sleuths investigate a suspicious death at a wake and the bizarre murder of a vineyard co-owner found drowned in his own wine.

Alongside Bond, Horgan and Martin, Natalie Dew will return as DI Tanika Malik, with Holli Dempsey, Phill Langhorne and Tijan Sarr also reprising their roles.

Written by The Marlow Murder Club creator Robert Thorogood and Amy Reith, the fourth series will once again combine cosy Buckinghamshire scenery with plenty of dark deeds, family secrets and amateur detective work.

The new series is expected to arrive on U and U&DRAMA in 2027.

Image © UKTV/Robbie Gray

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Free wildlife sessions launch at Testwood Lakes Nature Reserve

Zoe Gater

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Zoe Gater

Families can discover the wildlife of Testwood Lakes Nature Reserve through a new programme of free weekly sessions, with pond dipping, meadow sweeping and birdwatching on offer.

Families and local residents can get closer to nature this summer as Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust launches a new programme of free Nature’s Knock-in sessions at Testwood Lakes Nature Reserve near Totton.

Taking place every Sunday from 10.30am to 12pm, the drop-in sessions invite visitors of all ages and abilities to explore the 150-acre reserve, discover local wildlife and take part in hands-on activities with the Trust’s ranger team.

Activities will change with the seasons and could include meadow sweeping to uncover crickets, grasshoppers and beetles, pond dipping and visits to the reserve’s bird hides, where visitors may spot oystercatchers, lapwings and black-headed gulls.

Binoculars, spotting scopes and wildlife identification guides will be available, with rangers on hand to help visitors make the most of their wildlife discoveries.

“Testwood Lakes is a fantastic place for people of all ages to explore, and Nature’s Knock-in is all about helping more people discover the wildlife on their doorstep,” says Lewis Clark, Seasonal Ranger at Testwood Lakes Nature Reserve.

“We want local residents to come and experience Totton’s hidden haven for wildlife, try something new and enjoy spending time outdoors.”

Visitors can simply turn up on the day and follow signs to the Education Centre, where details of the week’s activity will be available. The sessions are free to attend, with accessible parking and toilets available on site.

Set on the edge of Totton, Testwood Lakes is home to lakes, wetlands, meadows and woodland, supporting a wide variety of wildlife throughout the year.

Nature’s Knock-in at Testwood Lakes Nature Reserve takes place every Sunday from 10.30am-12pm.

Find out more via the Testwood Lakes Facebook group.

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Steam engines and stargazing are coming to Wiltshire this September

Zoe Gater

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Zoe Gater

Crofton Beam Engines is hosting its final steaming weekend of 2026, followed by a special evening of steam and stargazing on Saturday.

Crofton Beam Engines near Marlborough is gearing up for its final steaming weekend of 2026, with two separate celebratory events.

On Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September, visitors can see Crofton’s historic beam engines in action, including the 1812 Boulton & Watt engine – the oldest working beam engine in the world still in its original location.

The weekend will also feature a visit from showman’s engine Verity, alongside children’s trails, crafts and a miniature canal and lock system. The Old Smithy Tea Room will be open for drinks and cake.

The daytime steaming event runs from 10am to 4.30pm, with the Engine House open from 10.30am.

Then, on Saturday evening, Crofton will host a separate Evening Steaming and Stargazing event, running from 6.30pm to 10pm.

The beam engines will run into the evening, with reduced lighting in the Engine House creating an atmospheric glimpse of Crofton during its Georgian heyday.

Local astronomers will also have telescopes available, weather permitting, while astronomer Richard Fleet will give two presentations exploring our journey through the Galaxy and beyond.

Tickets for the evening event cost £10 for adults, with under-16s going free. Annual steaming passes are not valid for this special event.

Find out more at croftonbeamengines.org.

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Wiltshire Wildlife Trust photography competition returns with new prize and exhibition

Zoe Gater

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Zoe Gater

Wildlife photographers of all ages can enter Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s 2026 Photography Prize this August, with a new award and public exhibition of the best images coming to Langford Lakes this winter.

Got a great wildlife shot sitting on your camera roll? Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s annual Photography Prize is returning this August, giving budding and experienced photographers the chance to showcase the natural world on their doorstep.

Entries opened on Saturday 1 August 2026 and close on Monday 31 August, with photographers invited to submit their best images capturing Wiltshire’s wildlife, landscapes and natural environment.

There are categories for Under 18s and 18 and Over, with this year’s competition also introducing a brand-new Wild View Cameras Sponsor’s Choice Award.

Every photograph entered into the main competition will automatically be considered for the new award, with Wild View Cameras choosing their favourite image from the entire pool of entries. The winner will receive a £100 Wild View Cameras voucher, regardless of their age category.

The main category winners will also receive £100 vouchers, while four runners-up will each receive £50 vouchers.

And there’s another reason to get snapping this year, as the competition’s best images will be displayed publicly for the first time.

A special exhibition featuring the top photographs will run throughout November 2026 at the Brockbank Centre at Langford Lakes Nature Reserve, giving visitors the chance to see Wiltshire’s wildlife through the eyes of local photographers.

The competition will be judged by a panel bringing together expertise in wildlife photography, conservation and visual storytelling.

The judges include Wiltshire-based wildlife photographer and filmmaker Nick Upton, Wildlife Trusts Communications Manager Daniel Laverick and South West-based environmental communicator Emily Weatherburn, also known as Wildlife Emily.

The Trust is also looking for a member of its own community to join the judging panel. Members interested in applying can contact the Trust by Wednesday 15 July for more information.

Becki Mckinlay, Director of Fundraising and Engagement at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, said: “We were absolutely delighted with the incredible standard of last year’s entries, which really showcased the passion the people of Wiltshire and Swindon have for its local nature and wildlife.

“The quality was so exceptional that two of the submitted images made it onto the front covers of our magazines. With the addition of the new Wild View Cameras Sponsor’s Choice Award and our upcoming exhibition at Langford Lakes this November, we cannot wait to see how our community captures the spirit of Wiltshire’s wildlife this August.”

Last year’s winning images featured on two Wiltshire Wildlife Trust magazine covers and were also used to create a special set of postcards for new members.

Entries for the 2026 Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Photography Prize open on 1 August.

Full entry details and the submission portal will be available via the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust website.

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Michael Rosen launches new GWR reading campaign with Little Library at Reading station

Zoe Gater

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Zoe Gater

Young readers in Reading are being encouraged to swap screen time for story time this summer, with a new Little Library at Reading station and a special visit from much-loved author Michael Rosen.

There’s a new reason to pack a book for your next train journey, as Great Western Railway (GWR) launches a summer reading campaign with some help from much-loved children’s author Michael Rosen.

Michael joined young book enthusiasts on a GWR train from London Paddington to Reading for a special storytelling session, helping launch the railway’s new Adventures in Reading campaign.

As part of the initiative, free Little Libraries have been installed at 10 stations across the GWR network – including Reading, Didcot Parkway, Swindon and Westbury – giving families the chance to pick up a book, swap an old favourite or leave a finished story for another reader.

The campaign has been launched following GWR research into children’s reading habits during the school holidays. The research found that children spend an average of 11 hours a week watching TV, using tablets and phones and gaming during the summer, compared with around three hours reading.

Half of parents surveyed said that, without the routine of school, reading struggles to compete with other holiday activities. One in five also reported that their children experienced a noticeable dip in reading confidence by September – something the research has dubbed the ‘September Stumble’.

GWR hopes its Little Libraries will make it easier for families to keep stories part of their summer routine.

GWR Head of External Communications Dan Panes said: “The summer holidays should be full of adventure, but our research shows that children’s reading levels can take a real hit while they’re away from the classroom.

“By putting Little Libraries at our stations, we want to make reading a seamless part of the summer travel experience. And honestly, where better to kick off a journey toward better literacy than right here at Reading station?”

Michael Rosen said: “Stories have the power to transport children to completely new worlds, whether they are sitting at home or travelling on a train. It’s vital that we keep that spark alive over the summer months.

“GWR’s Little Libraries are a wonderful, practical way to put books directly into the hands of young travellers, ensuring the magic of reading doesn’t stop when the school gates close.”

The Reading Little Library is part of a network also found at Didcot Parkway, Exeter St Davids, Gloucester, Penzance, Plymouth, Swindon, Truro, Westbury and Worcestershire Parkway.

Books available include favourites such as We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, alongside Barking for Bagels, Rigatoni the Pasta Cat and Snow White and the Seven Bears.

So, if you’re catching a train from Reading or one of the other participating stations this summer, why not pick up a story for the journey? You might even find a new favourite along the way.

Image © GWR

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