Oxford News
Culham apprentice named Advanced Apprentice of the Year
Thomas Dominguez Walker, an assistant cybernetics engineer at the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) in Abingdon, won the honour at the 18th Nuclear Skills Awards.
The ceremony, which took place in Manchester on March 12, celebrates talent across the UK nuclear sector.
Mr Dominguez Walker was recognised for his technical ability, positive attitude, and work ethic during his Level 3 apprenticeship.
He said: “At the end of my apprenticeship, I was nominated by my group leader for the NSAN Advanced Apprentice of the Year.
“I’m proud to have that recognition, and being selected is genuinely exciting and a fantastic opportunity.
“Getting to this stage takes sustained dedication, developing technical capability and building the soft skills that make projects and collaboration succeed.”
During his apprenticeship, he contributed to the Robotics and AI Collaboration (RAICo), which is accelerating the deployment of robotics and artificial intelligence in nuclear decommissioning and fusion engineering.
He also supported research and development projects focused on developing solutions to robotics and AI challenges.
Mr Dominguez Walker added: “For me, that’s meant commitment to my apprenticeship studies, delivering on UKAEA and RAICo projects, and actively supporting others.
“My qualifications have been challenging and rewarding, giving me recognised qualifications and practical experience.
“I hope winning the award encourages others to consider an engineering apprenticeship and see what they can do.”
His training included 18 months of three-month placements across UKAEA, and a further 18-month placement at RACE, UKAEA’s centre for Remote Applications in Challenging Environments.
He spent a year working directly with RAICo.
James Ferrand, principal engineer and group leader at UKAEA, said: “Thomas has been an absolute pleasure to work with and manage over the last few years.
“He has really impressed me and built a fantastic reputation for his attitude to work.
“He has been excellent in picking up new technologies, striving to learn more both about the technology and where his work fits into the wider picture.
“I personally hold him as an example of the perfect apprentice for others to strive towards.
“Many congratulations, Thomas.”
During his apprenticeship, Mr Dominguez Walker earned a Higher National Certificate – a qualification equivalent to the first year of a university degree – achieving distinctions throughout.
Now employed full-time at Culham, he continues to work on RAICo projects.
He also volunteers at events promoting apprenticeships and engineering careers.
The Nuclear Skills Awards are organised by the National Skills Academy for Nuclear (NSAN) and Cogent Skills.
They showcase the excellence and achievements of individuals and companies across the nuclear sector.
Uma Ali Sheikh has been named and shamed by the government in a new list published by the government department.
Information is published by the agency when a person or business has made at least one deliberate default on more than £25,000, according to HMRC.
The list is updated every three months before the information is removed after a year.
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Uma Ali Sheikh was investigated by HMRC and charged a penalty for either deliberate errors in his tax returns or a deliberate failure to notify a liability to tax.
The 50-year-old is listed as being a landlord based at Apt 4604, The Torch Tower, Al Sharta Street, Dubai Marina in Dubai.
HMRC says that between April 6, 2014 and April 5, 2019, he did not pay £261,252 worth of tax.
He subsequently paid a penalty worth £137,333.77.
His nationality is listed on Companies House as being British, meaning he is an expat.
Thames Valley Police had been investigating a report that a man committed indecent exposure at around 3pm on August 29 in Headington.
The incident happened in Cox’s Aly near the junction of Gladstone Road.
The offender was last seen walking towards Gladstone Road and is described by police as white, slim and around 5ft 10ins tall.
He had a baggy royal blue tracksuit on – with white stripes running up the sides – and has fair hair, police said in an earlier appeal.
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Police had issued an appeal at the time of the offence looking for witnesses or people with information.
However, seven months later, not enough evidence has been provided to find the culprit.
A police spokeswoman said on Monday morning (March 30): “This case has been filed, pending further information coming to light.”
Indecent exposure, a sexual offence, can see a punishment of up to six months in prison or a fine imposed by the court.
Offenders can also be put on the sex offenders register list, but in most cases this is if the victim is under 18 years of age.
Depending on its seriousness, cases can go to trial in crown court.
Police constable Edward O’Reilly previously said: “If anyone has any further information and witnessed this incident, we would also ask them to get in touch.
“If you have information, please call 101 quoting the reference 43250442508 or you can provide information on the online reporting pages.”
Food, beer and flower stalls attracted lots of shoppers to the Market Place on Saturday.
The local excellence market is held about six times a year, running alongside the regular Monday market.
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Among traders selling to shoppers were Abingdon Distillery, food and drink supplier Barbury Hill from Steventon, Natural Bread Company in Oxford, and Authentic Desi Food from Oxford.
The town council said in a statement: “Local excellence is a market at which local food producers, craft workers and retailers sell their goods in Abingdon Market Place.
“The market gives Abingdon shoppers the chance to sample foods, beers and crafts from Oxfordshire and nearby.
“The market starts at 9am and finishes at 2pm, sometimes later.
“Held on occasional Saturdays through the year, it is very popular with people who are at work all week and miss out on our weekly markets on Monday, or the local farmers’ market on the third Friday in the month.”
Rachel, who works at Abingdon Distillery, said it was a big year for the company as it looks forward to its Single Malt Oxfordshire Whisky going on sale in the autumn.
The next local excellent market is expected to take place on Saturday, May 30.
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