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Oxfordshire Warm Homes grant helps busy family save

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Katie Gamble, a single mother of three from Witney, was supported by Oxfordshire County Council and the Welcome the Warmth programme, part of the government’s Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme.

Funded by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, the scheme offers free energy-saving upgrades such as insulation, solar panels, and heat pumps.

Ms Gamble said: “I have three teenagers and a very busy household, so our energy use is high.

“When the cost of living increased, our bills really shot up, which was so difficult.”

She learned about the scheme through her work at the council and decided to apply.

She said: “The process was simple. I applied online and heard back from the team quickly.

“They did an amazing job. I still can’t believe it was completely free.

“There is no way I would have been able to afford it otherwise.

“I would encourage anyone to check if they are eligible because it could make a real difference.”

Through the scheme, Ms Gamble received solar panels and a battery system at no cost.

Laura Gordon, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for environment and economy, said: “With energy costs still a concern for many households, this scheme can help people cut costs and make their homes warmer and more efficient before the colder months return.”

Those interested in the scheme can find out more or check eligibility by visiting the Welcome the Warmth website or calling 0800 038 6775.





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Oxford News

New update after Jeremy Clarkson’s cancer diagnosis

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The former Top Gear host, 66, shared the news in the latest episodes of the fifth season of his series Clarkson’s Farm and said the disease is “aggressive” but had been discovered early.

“I’ve got cancer,” Mr Clarkson told farm manager Kaleb Cooper and land agent Charlie Ireland during discussions about harvest planning.

The TV presenter said he expected to be “fine” but would be out of action “for a while”, before revealing in the final episode of the series that he had undergone an operation to remove part of his prostate.

In a new update, farm manager Kaleb Cooper told the Daily Mail that his boss’s spirits are “high”.

Kaleb Cooper and Jeremy Clarkson on Clarkson’s Farm series five. (Image: Prime Video)

Mr Cooper told the newspaper: “He is good. The spirits are high, which is good.

“If anything like this happens to any of your friends and you just said to my best mate, you’ve gotta be supported through that whole journey.

“And that’s where I’ve been, I’ve been right by his side and his spirits are really good, so thank you.”

He added: “He’s strong-minded, he’s got a strong mind on him, which is good.

READ MORE: Lisa Hogan breaks silence on Jeremy Clarkson cancer diagnosis

“And the message about catching anything early is quite important.

“That’s the main thing, but you’ve gotta keep checking, you know what I mean, it’s all these things, you know, people can sit there and say I’m busy, busy, busy.

“But actually sometimes you’ve gotta go I’m gonna just have to check and see if I’m OK.”

Speaking from a hospital bed at the end of the season finale, Clarkson revealed he had experienced complications during treatment.

He said: “We started season five with me in a hospital bed and here we are at the end of season five and I’m back in a hospital bed.”

The 66-year-old reflected on the future of the show.

Clarkson added: “What I wanted to say was if this is all successful, I’ll see you for season six, and if it isn’t, I won’t.

“Take care, everyone.”

Irish actress Lisa Hogan, who has been dating Clarkson since 2017, shared a photo to her Instagram story of the presenter sitting on a garden chair whilst using a camera.

Over the snap she wrote “back at the farm”, marking her return to their home after enjoying day two of the races at Royal Ascot in Berkshire.

Hogan also posted a screenshot of charity Prostate Cancer UK’s Instagram post thanking Clarkson for sharing his diagnosis and treatment on the Prime Video programme, saying it would raise “vital awareness”.

The Dublin-born actress wrote: “Thank you for all the support today.”





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Laurence Fox came out to ‘agitate’ Oxford Union protesters

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Mr Fox was invited along with controversial ultra-nationalist figure Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, and Jacob Rees-Mogg to the historic debating society.

The invitation of Yaxley-Lennon, who was recently briefly arrested under counter-terrorism law, caused massive backlash and widespread protests on the night of the society debate, Wednesday, June 17.

READ MORE: Tommy Robinson in Oxford – live updates as city braced

Laurence Fox at protestLaurence Fox was seen ‘agitating’ the crowd protesting outside the Oxford Union (Image: Callum Stove)

Those opposed to the agitator’s attendance, from a coalition of groups including Oxford Stand Up To Racism, were further riled up by the unexpected appearance of Mr Fox on the street where they were protesting.

With St Michael’s Street closed to all pedestrians and fenced off by security personnel, the protesters gathered at both ends, on Cornmarket Street and New Inn Hall Street.

At about 6pm, before the debate began at 8.30pm but long after the protests had begun, Laurence Fox emerged from the back entrance of the Oxford Union, Frewin Court, wearing a tuxedo.

He proceeded to ‘agitate’ and provoke the crowd, according to an eyewitness, filming them on his phone, shouting and waving.

Laurence Fox at protestLaurence Fox was seen ‘agitating’ the crowd protesting outside the Oxford Union (Image: Callum Stove)

READ MORE: Tommy Robinson protestors clash in Oxford in tense scenes

One witness said: “He was recording the crowd and taunting them, but they started shouting him out.

“Shortly afterwards they began blocking the entrance.”

Police blocked a clash between the protesters outside Frewin Court shortly after the right-wing actor was spotted, between supporters of Tommy Robinson in the dozens and anti-racism protesters, who numbered up to hundreds of people.





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Tommy Robinson protestors clash in Oxford in tense scenes

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The controversial figure is in the city this evening for a debate at the Oxford Union society – but his arrival has been met with rage.

Police can be seen dividing the two groups up as they shout and chant at one another.

Hundreds of people are in the city centre this evening to express their views one way or another.

Robinson arrived in a blacked-out Mercedes van, while opposing debtor Jacob Rees Mogg was seen getting out of his Jaguar XJ for the debate.

Liz, at the anti-Tommy Robinson protest, said: “I couldn’t not come. It’s outrageous that Oxford Uni has invited these people here.

“It’s going to cost us the taxpayer £80k in policing, it’s inviting the far right into town.

Liz 78, (left) Pauline (right) 77 OxfordLiz 78, (left) Pauline (right) 77, both from Oxford (Image: Stephanie Bell)

“We were hoping the Raising the Flags people had stopped. I’m all for equality and democracy., these people aren’t, and I don’t want to live in a city or country where something is tolerated that is getting us near to the views of that we’ve not seen since 1930s Germany and Italy.

Pauline, stood alongside her, added: “I’ve been fighting racism and fascism in Oxford since the 1970s and they’ve never had a foothold.

“I’m horrified that this fascist speaker has been enabled by various institutions tonight.

“What he says is divisive, racist and inciteful for others to riot. Previously this kind of event has influenced people to attack mosques.”

Student Aisha, 19Aisha (Image: Stephanie Bell)

Nineteen-year-old student Aisha said: “I’m a Muslim student and from an immigrant family, and I’ve been involved in activism my whole life.

“The reality is that Tommy Robinson and all his supporters are the Nazis of the new age, and we need to stand up now, before we become complicit.”

Carol Wing said: “We’re here protesting that the Oxford Union elite debating club for the elite have invited Tommy Robinson to a debate that ‘the west should be suspicious of Islam’.

“Everywhere he goes, he fuels division, he fuels hate, we do not want this in Oxford.

“We have petitioned for them to not have this debate and they have refused to cancel it, so we’re here the only way we know how, to make a lot of noise.”

Hayley, 39, from Oxford: “I don’t agree with racism, everyone bleeds the same.

“I like Tommy Robinson’s character he says it how it is. I’ve got half Albanian kids. Everyone is entitled to free speech, we’re all equal.”

Jack, who says he’s in his 30s: “I’m standing here today due to recent events, there’s a two tier society that victimises native British people.

“The two tier system privileges non native people over native British people. We want equality under the law.

“Why shouldn’t Tommy Robinson speak under freedom of speech? Tommy Robinson is standing up to the system.”





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