Discover Black Oxford

Karen Neville

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Join the inaugural Black Heritage Bus & Walking Tour with an expert guide

Take a one-of-a-kind journey back in time and into the present to discover the rich narratives of Black scholars who have made a lasting impact in academia, law, politics, and the arts.

Walk the paths they walked and explore the spaces where they exchanged ideas, nurtured their intellects, and made a difference, with expert insights from the friendly and skilled tour guides.

The highlight of the tour on August 10th, September 14th and October 5th, 6th, 12th and 13th, will be the engaging bespoke live commentary curated by author and historian Pamela Roberts, who’ll breathe life into the stories she so meticulously researched and studied, all while enjoying spectacular views of Oxford from the comfort of the bus.

Pamela is an award-winning creative producer, historian, and published author. She produces creative projects utilising archival or academic information, making projects accessible to the wider public by removing barriers of accessibility or academic jargon to present and bring untold stories to life via theatre, media, literature, lectures and tours.

The author of Black Oxford: The Untold Stories of Oxford University’s Black Scholars, her work as Founder and Director of Black Oxford Untold Stories has raised the profile of many black scholars at the University of Oxford.

Learn more about Black Oxford at blackoxford and book a tour at Oxford Bus & Walking Tour- Black Oxford Untold Stories

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Head to FredFest

Round & About

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Laura Hubbard invites us to FredFest, a local music festival at Wantage Town Football Club

Bring your friends and family to FredFest and enjoy even more top bands including BRIT nominated Toploader, amazing tribute acts and some of the best local artists around!

In addition to Toploader you can be ‘dancing in the moonlight’ to King Awesome, Hope & Glory, Thunderbird, Tom Set Johnson, Vicky Jackson (Pink Tribute) and more on Saturday, 3rd August.

While you’re there, head to the beer tent for drinks and refreshments or try one of our many gourmet food trucks for something delicious to sink your teeth into – everything will be on site.

There’s plenty to keep the kids happy too, with an inflatable assault course, bouncy castle and slides and much more.

Our fundraising team is busy getting everything ready to welcome you through the gates at the football club to make this year’s Fredfest unforgettable. Fundraising is hugely important as we improve facilities at the football club and bring them up to various FA standards. Fredfest plays a big part in sustaining our future. We have better changing facilities, water supply and safer site access etc, but we have bigger plans for the club to support our players and the community.

We’re working towards as all-weather solution for our pitches, which will serve our junior and adult teams at the club as well as ensuring our long-standing commitment to providing facilities to local people, community groups and schools. The ball is in motion for our 3G pitch, thanks to the success of funds raised after our first Fredfest music festival, in 2019.

Book tickets at FredFest 2024

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Award-winning carer Semu Sithole

Karen Neville

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Home care worker Semu Sithole cherishes working with people and helping them through her role with Countywide Caring

“The most fulfilling thing I can do” is show Semu Sithole, Home Care Worker at Countywide Caring, Wallingford, describes her work.

She says: “Being a carer to me is just not a career and how much I do, it is an amazing feeling I get when I provide hope and reassurance to those in need and seeing the difference it makes to their lives.”

And Semu clearly has made a difference to many lives being awarded the Newcomer to Care Award.

She arrived in the UK from Zimbabwe early in 2023 and despite suffering a personal loss in her home country she remained committed to providing compassionate care, embodying the spirit of empathy for which she has now been rewarded.

She explains. “The support of a carer improves someone’s quality of life and makes them feel valued as an individual and person. I get fulfilled when I leave someone clean, happy, comfortable and with a smile on their face and them looking forward to another day.”

Semu herself has received great support from Countywide Caring management team and staff which she says is “second to none and has contributed greatly to me being great carer”.

Countywide Caring Registered Manager Heidi Kennedy describes Semu as “the kind of person you would like to have more of in your workplace” adding: “The clients regularly request to have her for their visits, they feel very safe with her due to her calm approach and the kindness in how her care is delivered.”

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Join the Garden Party in Didcot

Karen Neville

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Celebrate events & activities in open community spaces at Didcot Garden Party this month

Didcot Garden Party is returning throughout the summer holidays to bring exciting events and sports activities to Cornerstone Arts Centre and local parks in the town.

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils are bringing lots of free activities for families and young people until August 31st. Head to the courtyard at Cornerstone for the launch of this year’s party from 10am to meet the ‘naughty flock of sheep’, join The Crew on a voyage into the unknown and dance the day away to live music with DJ Strange.

All the events at Cornerstone will be taking place outside in the centre’s decorated courtyard during the six-week period. Enjoy music from the acoustic Funkinsteins (2nd), the Flamenco Thief on 23rd, theatre with Quentin Blake’s Mrs Armitage on Wheels, 3rd and find out more about your community at the Communities Come Together Day on 17th.

Try a free badminton taster session on 10th and 31st at Didcot Leisure Centre, join Fusion Fest on the 10th and celebrate the global cultures in our communities and tuck into a special foodie event at Cornerstone on 30th.

If you fancy getting active then there are a variety of ways to get involved all for free. Whether you fancy junior bootcamp, giving skating and scooting a go, family yoga or badminton, just turn up and give it a go. Aged 4-12 and want to join a dancing session? Pre-booking essential.

Full details of all these events and more, dates and venues on the downloadable brochure at Didcot Garden Town.

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Cowley road eatery launches breakfast menu

Ellie Cox

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Ellie Cox

An Oxford restaurant is launching a new South Indian breakfast menu as it continues to expand its offerings after a successful launch earlier this year.

On Saturday, Dosa Darlings, located on Cowley Road, served traditional South Indian breakfast options from its brand new menu for the first time.

The restaurant will continue to offer breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 12 noon going forward. The menu features breakfast dosas, including Masala Dosa, Ghee Dosa, and Egg Dosa, alongside Idly, a savoury rice cake, and Pongal, a dish made of rice and lentils. Also on the menu is an Uttapam, a thicker type of dosa served with toppings, a Chennai Omelette, and Egg Podimas.

Breakfast goers at Dosa Darlings will also be able to order from a selection of breads, such as Poori Masala or Stuffed Paratha, as well as Goodness Bowls including overnight oats and Kesari, and a variety of hot drinks, smoothies, and fresh juices of the day.

Michael Raphel, owner of Dosa Darlings, which recently also extended its opening hours to seven days a week, said: “South Indian breakfast is truly delicious and we’re very excited to give the people of Oxford the chance to enjoy it and perhaps sample some dishes for the first time.

“We’ve been embraced by the community and are delighted that the success of Dosa Darlings is continuing.”

The breakfast menu launch comes just a few months after the restaurant first opened its doors in February. In June, the business opened a new alfresco dining area. Dosa Darlings, part of the JM Socials restaurant group, offers guests a flavourful adventure that seamlessly marries authentic Kerala cuisine with a contemporary twist.

Its eclectic main menu offers everything from traditional curries and biryani dishes to authentic Indian desserts such as Rasmalai, Halwa, and Pongal. The main highlight is the dosa, with flavour combinations including masala, dates and almond, and even blue cheese and truffle. The cocktail list is also diverse, featuring signature drinks like the Old Fashioned Connoisseur (whisky, galliano, brown cacao, the bitter truth wood, aged in coffee barrels), the Spice Me Up (Earl Grey tea, cinnamon, star anise, lemon zest, orange zest infused tequila, clarified using milk punch technique), and the Eternal Secret (gin, malibu, homemade curry leaf syrup, lemon, coconut soda). Additionally, there are delicious mocktails, including the Mirchi Madness (pineapple juice, fresh red chillies, lemon and coconut syrup).

To encourage customers to try a South Indian breakfast this summer, Dosa Darlings is offering guests a 25% discount of breakfast throughout July. To make a booking, email [email protected] or call 01865 602040. For more information on Dosa Darlings, visit Dosa Darling.

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Take a seat on the HelloBench

Karen Neville

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Give a warm welcome to the HelloBench – reset a while, chat and beat loneliness with the new initiative in Woodley & Wokingham

Sit down and have a chat – that’s the simple invitation going out around Woodley and Wokingham in a bid to combat loneliness and help people to make connections.

The initiative called HelloBench will see plaques placed on benches in parks, town precincts and shopping areas inviting you to ‘sit down and have a chat’ and encourage people to ‘get us all talking to each other”.

One of those behind the project is Aliya Musa. She explains a little more about the idea: “Loneliness and depression are close bed fellow and here in Woodley and Wokingham, a grass roots initiative is growing to get us all talking to each other, maybe a little bit more.

“To scoop up those of us, who find it not so easy to start a conversation. It’s for people who for whatever reason find themselves on the margins. Maybe you spend quite a lot of time on your own at home, maybe you are a new mum, maybe someone who works from home, maybe you’re retired. No matter your age, if you’re lonely perhaps you haven’t even noticed it creep up on you.”

In 2018, the Government published a strategy to combat just this problem and many organisations, both central and local government, have been investing in and implementing programmes to reduce the stigma around loneliness. The 2023 Campaign to End Loneliness report acknowledged the effect Covid had on the issue and believes people need to be more connected.

There are already programmes to combat loneliness in the local community with over 50s clubs, ‘chatty tables’ in cafes, lunch clubs and outreach programmes, many of which were set up during the Covid lockdown and continue and others which Aliya concedes have fallen by the wayside adding there’s always room for more.

Friendship benches or buddy benches are not a new idea and many already exist in schools.

The initiative was launched on July 13th, two days after World Loneliness Day. HelloBench benches will all be labelled clearly and marked on Google maps which you’ll be able to find on the Facebook page. Aliya says: “The hope is that even if one or two people are helped each week on these benches – that’s a worthwhile hello.”

She issued a special thanks to Vicky Cooke, owner of Vammahs Print and Design who has provided the signs for the benches and a banner on T-shirts on launch day last month.

More benches are welcome and if anyone in the locality, wants one in their area, just get in touch, support is available to make that happen. Visit HelloBench – Facebook for more details.

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Eighties fun at The Lexicon

Karen Neville

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Enjoy an 80s style roller disco rink, follow the sticker trail and take your seat for top class sporting action this summer at The Lexicon

Embrace the retro colour and music vibes of the 80s with a fabulous roller disco at The Lexicon this summer holidays.

The roller disco will open every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until September 8th, with bookable 30 minute sessions throughout the day.

Sensory-friendly sessions, featuring quieter music and dimmed lighting will also be available at 11am every day the rink is open.

The Summer Sticker Trail is open to everyone guiding you around the town centre, searching for 10 huge old-style stickers placed in shop window. Not only is it a fun, free activity but there is also the chance to win one of five £200 gift cards from The Lexicon.

The sports screen on The Avenue will remain until September 8th, showing live screenings of Wimbledon, The Olympics, and the Paralympics at a temporary sports terrace located opposite Pandora.

There’s plenty of tables and chairs, so grab your favourite snacks and drinks, perhaps a couple of friends, sit back and enjoy the sporting entertainment.

For younger visitors, The Gruffalo, Paddington™ and Bluey & Bingo will all be visiting The Lexicon this summer. Meet The Gruffalo on 5th, Bluey & Bingo activation on 12th and Paddington™ story narration, 19th.

The character visits are free, but space is limited, so booking is required.

Another free favourite is also back this summer with The Lexicon Summer Proms on Saturday, 7th September, from noon to 7pm.

Sue Boor, head of marketing at The Lexicon, says: “We hope that the range of activities that we are running throughout the school holidays will appeal not only to children but also to adult visitors to the town centre, whether rolling skating, watching sport, listening to local entertainers or following the trail.”

Susan Halliwell, chief executive of Bracknell Forest Council, added: “There’s lots going on at The Lexicon this summer to encourage people to come along, get active, be entertained and explore our wonderful town centre. I hope as many people as possible come along and enjoy the fun.”

For more information and booking details, please visit The Lexicon Shopping, Bracknell, Berkshire.

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Affinity Water’s eco garden competition winners

Round & About

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Well done to Sam Proctor of Amersham’s Chiltern Garden Design and other local stars in Affinity Water’s competition

Sam brought her debut show garden to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May, to much acclaim. The Water Saving Garden was designed to highlight the urgent need to save and reuse rainwater, a cause inspired by Chiltern chalk streams.

After the show, the award-winning garden was generously offered in a unique competition by the garden’s sponsor, Affinity Water, open to be won by a community garden or local initiative that’s beneficial to people and planet.

Three entries were shortlisted for consideration by the judging panel, all of extremely high merit. The winner is Iver Environment Centre, run by charity Groundwork South which delivers inspiring ecology-based learning to primary local school pupils. They also run volunteering programmes for skills development and to improve mental and physical health for young and old alike.

Iver Environment Centre will incorporate The Water Saving Garden into an educational water garden to inspire people to learn about pollinators, plants and changing weather patterns. Together with Holmer Green-based Castle Landscapes, who built the garden at RHS Chelsea, the team worked with volunteers to install the show garden to be enjoyed and looked after by the centre’s 8,000 visitors and volunteers per year.

Honourable mentions also go to the runners up Stony Dean School in Amersham, and Watford & Three Rivers Trust in Watford, which had strong entries to the competition and both do really beneficial work helping local people with significant needs.

Sam tells us: “Chiltern Garden Design offers a bespoke garden design service to homeowners, offering everything from conceptual design and planning to detailed design, bespoke built-in furniture, outdoor lighting design, planting design, irrigation, aftercare and more. We were honoured to have been able to create our first show garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year, for which we received a bronze medal. Our passion is bringing people joy through creating beautiful gardens that suit them and their family’s needs.

“My wish is that humanity wakes up and gets together to find solutions to the climate crisis coming down the track before it’s too late.”

Sam, 51, lives with her husband Nigel, an award-winning photographer, and moved to Bucks from Manchester. “We love Nena in Amersham as well as the Grocery for brunch and coffee. Gershon & Sons in Old Amersham and No.2 Pound Street in Wendover are both fabulous for a bit of cheese indulgence. No 1 High St in Wendover is a lovely moochy shop for gifts and treats. We were so sad that Drop in Old Amersham has recently closed – great wine and company were always to be found there and we wish James all the best for his next venture.

“We have spent many happy evenings at the Queens Head in Chesham, and enjoy a walk down to the Crown, the Swan or the Elephant & Castle in Amersham old town for a drink or a bite. The Griffin and Hawkyns Brasserie in old Amersham are both lovely for special dinners, as well as Brazils in Chesham. An honourable mention to The Drawing Room in Chesham which is quirky and fun, and actually where Nigel and I had our first date!

“We love Heritage Day in Old Amersham and are looking forward to introducing friends from outside the area to its delights this year.”

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Dench and Blumenthal support OxTrail

Karen Neville

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OxTrail host Sobell House Hospice has collaborated with famous names to create a very special sculpture as part of the trail

The herd of more than 130 oxen have taken over Oxfordshire on the OxTrail and one of those attracting attention is Postb-ox.

The very special calf-sized sculpture features signatures and messages from celebrities, musicians, actors and authors.

The incredible art collection, made up of 31 large oxen sculptures and 107 mini oxen, has been unveiled. Each of the large oxen is uniquely decorated and place in key locations in the city, with the smaller oxen in mini herds throughout the county.

The large oxen have been designed by international and UK artists – including children’s illustrator Korky Paul and author David Melling. One of the community-lead mini-herd is causing quite a stir.

Decorated with the doodles, scribbling and signatures, the oxen are patterned in postcards from some of Oxfordshire’s famous residents and friends including notes from Dame Judi Dench, Heston Blumenthal, Mel Geidroyc, Peter Gabriel, Radiohead and Prue Leith.

Families can explore the city and spot the oxen in and around the county, following the trail using the app or map. For those hunting for Postb-ox, it can be found in the out-patients window at Sobell House Hospice on the site of the Churchill Hospital in Oxford.

Around 85 schools and community groups are taking part in OxTrail as part of the mini oxen sculptures too, which will be displayed libraries, hotels and community spaces.

And keep your eyes peeled for the ‘mini-mini oxen’ which can be found in the windows of the Oxford Story Museum, and other specially designed mini oxen including two from noted interior designer Annie Sloan CBE.

The OxTrail art will be on display until the end of August. On Friday 13th September the sculptures will be auctioned off to raise money for the hospice. Postb-ox will be up for auction too, along with a scrapbook containing all the original notes and drawings from the celebrities.

For more information on OxTrail head to https://oxtrail2024.co.uk/

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Disraeli delights at Hughenden Manor

Liz Nicholls

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Liz Nicholls

Myths & Mythmaking, the new exhibition at Hughenden Manor until autumn, explores how Victorian Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli created his own living legend. Katy Dunn of the National trust tells us more

A new exhibition at Hughenden Manor has opened which explores how Victorian Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli carefully curated his own image and used Hughenden as stage and backdrop for creating his own legend.

Benjamin Disraeli was described as ‘the most potent myth-maker in British history’ by his biographer, Lord Blake. New interpretation at Hughenden Manor explores how Disraeli carefully cultivated his public identity and used the Manor as the setting for shaping his personal narrative.

Despite humble beginnings, Disraeli boldly claimed grand Iberian and Venetian ancestry. He went on a Grand Tour to the Mediterranean and Ottoman Empire and styled himself as a Byronic figure when he returned. Then, as his political ambitions increased, he remodelled himself again to join the ‘squirearchy’. Owning land was essential to his rise within the Tory party.

Hughenden was more than just a home, it was a country seat to bolster his political image, allowing him to present himself as a member of the establishment and serious political thinker rather than an opportunistic dandy. When he was finally ennobled in 1876, he chose as his title, Earl of Beaconsfield, the name of a fictional character in his first novel, Vivian Grey, written 50 years earlier.

Rob Bandy, House and Collections Manager at Hughenden said: “Benjamin Disraeli was Queen Victoria’s favourite prime minister. He was probably one of the wittiest, most engaging, most human, most fascinating characters of the Victorian period. He curated his own public image and became his own creation. His political climb was stratospherically successful and when he became Earl of Beaconsfield, it was poignant for him as after half a century, it was a literary destiny fulfilled.”

As an author, politician and public figure, Disraeli was both comfortable and accomplished at storytelling. He was an avid reader, immersing himself in literature from ancient Nordic myth to the Classics. This is reflected in his library and writings, but also extends beyond the page to Hughenden’s manor, garden and parkland.

As visitors explore, the myths Disraeli wove into fabric of the estate are revealed. From the Aesops fables depicted on the library ceiling to the German Forest he created in the grounds, every manipulation was designed to contribute to his personal image. The exhibition also explores contemporary parallels in the way that we curate our own story on social media.

Myths and Mythmaking is now open at Hughenden 11am-4.30pm

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