Oxford News
Victoria sponge auction raises money for Ukraine convoy
Organised at Thame Farmers Mart, the fundraiser aimed to support medical supply deliveries and the evacuation of injured soldiers.
Market shareholder Peter Dunn is among the volunteers set to drive the convoy, marking his second trip to the war-torn country.
Leaving for Lviv, around 1,300 miles from his Milton Keynes farm, on April 11, Mr Dunn expressed gratitude towards the enthusiastic bidders who competed for the cake baked by Charlotte Baxter, Thame Mart office and accounts manager.
The funds, amounting to a total of £1,862 with adjunct donations, will contribute to vehicle logistics, spares and medical kits.
This is the 59th convoy that has been sent to Ukraine with the 4×4 vehicles delivered directly to the army workshops in Lviv.
Auctioneer Simon Draper played a pivotal role in orchestrating the spirited auction where the cake amusingly changed hands three or four times.
Mr Dunn said: “We buy the vehicles and the 15 in this convoy will bring the total number of 4x4s sent to Ukraine from this area as part of Driving Ukraine to over 100.”
“We load them up with workshop gear and for this trip we are also putting the funds raised towards four medical ruck sacks and two large critical incident medical kits, for front line.”
The convoy’s three-day journey to Lviv will cross through France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, and Poland via the Channel Tunnel.
With 183,000 miles under its belt, Mr Dunn’s trusty Land Rover Discovery is ready for the journey.
To return home, Mr Dunn and his companions will rely on a combination of taxis to the Polish border and a flight from Krakow to Luton.
Driving Ukraine, in partnership with Olney Ukraine, is responsible for organising the trip.
Mr Dunn expressed gratitude for the generous support and donations for the venture, which even includes a special aid box from Towcester Vets including animal and human medical kits.
Thame Farmers Mart’s goodwill does not end with the cake auction.
The market is already gearing up for yet another auction to support Driving Ukraine’s noble cause.
This time, a pack of wormer provided by Barkers Animal Health will be under the hammer.
Supporters have pledged £1 per mile, as the market looks to gather enough funds to purchase a recovery truck for retrieving and repairing frontline-damaged vehicles.
Thame Farmers Mart conducts regular livestock sales on Wednesdays (prime sheep and cull ewes and rams) and Fridays (store cattle and sheep).
More information can be found at www.thamemarket.co.uk.
Readers wishing to make contributions or become sponsors can contact 07738 005133 for further details.
Oxford News
Dubai based Uma Ali Sheikh avoided paying HMRC £260,000 tax
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.
Oxford News
Oxford alleyway indecent exposure case shelved by police
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.
(Image: Newsquest)
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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.”
Oxford News
Customers buy food at town’s local excellence market
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.
Dan Smith, who runs Barbury Hill, selling cheese (Image: Andy Ffrench)
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.
Rachel from Abingdon Distillery selling gin (Image: Andy Ffrench)
“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.”
Nawaz Hussain from Oxford selling samosas (Image: Andy Ffrench)
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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