Oxford News
Disgraced Cotswolds gymnastics coach finally quits as boss
Debra Courtenay-Crane has formally quit being a director of Bourton Gymnastics Club, a post she had remained in since December 2024, according to official records.
Companies House says she ceased to be a director on Wednesday, March 25.
Sources previously told us that the club is telling parents that Mrs Courtenay-Crane had been “doing admin at Bourton on a voluntary basis”.
Suzy Marshman, director of the club, said in January: “Debra has no involvement at Carterton Gymnastics Club, and she formally resigned from Bourton in November 2025, although to reiterate she never coached or worked from site at Bourton Gymnastics.”
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Bourton Gymnastics Club is a sister site to the one in Carterton, the website says, where records show she remained a director until August 2025.
Mrs Courtenay-Crane was dismissed from coaching gymnastics in July 2025 after British Gymnastics said there were safeguarding concerns found.
She had been chief coach at Carterton Gymnastics Club near Witney, having founded it some three decades ago.
A parent whose child attends the Bourton gym previously told us: “No one from the club has told us anything about Debra’s ‘retirement’ from Carterton.
“It’s clearly concerning that the management seem to think that they can remove Debra from Carterton and continue on at Bourton without acknowledging the situation that transpired with British Gymnastics.”
Another concerned parent told us: “Surely if you’ve been struck off as you’re a risk to children then you should not be able to open another club that puts you in the same environment.”
One former gymnastics pupil said she felt “humiliated” during her training under Mrs Courtenay-Crane in Carterton in the 2000s aged around three years old until she was nine.
The woman, now aged 25 and asked for anonymity, previously said: “Being shouted at, sat on and humiliated were so normalised that I just thought that’s what competitive gymnastics entailed.
“Even now, as an adult, I experience a lot of anxiety about making mistakes, and I’m not sure I’ll ever fully overcome that.”
Mrs Courtenay-Crane has so far remained silent on the controversies, not responding to our enquiries for a comment.
Mrs Courtenay-Crane, from Oxfordshire, was a decorated coach having received the southern region winner of the BBC Sports Personality Unsung Hero Awards in 2019.
The coach had mentored thousands of young people across well over three decades, while building a successful adult squad in the meantime.
The coffee dispenser at the Headington Waitrose is out of order and not for the first time according to reports, leaving customers disappointed they can no longer access their free cappuccino or flat white using their Waitrose card.
The Headington News said: “The Headington Waitrose free coffee machine is out of order again today (Saturday 29 August).”
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The notice on the machine at the store in Old High Street says: “The coffee machine is currently out of order. Apologies for the inconvenience.”
The issue is not a universal problem – coffee machines at other Waitrose stores are working well.
The Waitrose chain, owned by the John Lewis Partnership, restored its free coffee offer in January 2025.
Following outrage over the withdrawal of the offer during the pandemic, the company told the nine million members on its My Waitrose loyalty scheme they would again be entitled to a complementary americano, cappuccino, latte or tea once a day regardless of whether they bought anything – as long as they have their own reusable cup.
In a statement, Waitrose said at the time: “Some of our My Waitrose members like to have the free coffee before they shop or during the shop, rather than afterwards, so we are just offering a bit of flexibility in response to customer feedback.”
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There were queues at coffee stations and complaints from customers that the offer was attracting the “wrong type of shopper” when Waitrose introduced the perk in 2013.
In 2017, it cracked down on ‘freeloaders’ by forcing members to buy something before pouring themselves a free hot drink.
The scheme was scrapped during the Covid crisis, but reintroduced in November 2022 – again for customers making a purchases. This is no longer a requirement.
Thames Valley Police has launched an investigation after a pigeon was killed in a wildlife crime incident in Plover Drive, Oxford, at around 6.50pm on August 24.
The force said that two teenage boys used a catapult to knock a pigeon from a tree before the bird was attacked by three smaller terrier-type dogs that were with them.
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Descriptions of the two boys have been released with the first described as wearing a black sleeveless vest, dark-coloured bottoms, black trainers with white soles.
In addition he had a black-and-white flat-peaked cap worn backwards and was believed to have been carrying a catapult.
The second was reportedly wearing a light-coloured T-shirt and blue jeans, with brown, medium-length hair.
He was also seen carrying an unidentified item.
A spokesperson for the police said: “We are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed this incident or who may recognise those involved from the descriptions above.
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“We would also like to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from the Plover Drive area between 6.30pm and 7pm on 24 August that may assist our investigation.
“Wildlife crime has a real impact on our communities, and we take reports of offences against wild animals and birds seriously.
” If you have any information, please contact the force on 101 or report online, quoting reference 43260448136.”
Following the incident in North Way, Barton on Monday, August 17, Thames Valley Police said it wanted the public’s help to locate Oxford local Arthur McDonagh.
The force warned the public not to approach the 33-year-old, but instead to call the police if they see him.
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On Tuesday, August 18, a spokesperson said: “Thames Valley Police is appealing for the public’s help to locate Arthur McDonagh, aged 33, from Oxford.
“He is wanted in connection with a serious assault that happened in North Way, Barton, yesterday (August 17).
“Arthur is known to frequent the Garsington area.
“If you have any information about his whereabouts call 101 or make a report online, quoting reference 43260426989.
“If you see him, do not approach him, but instead call 999.”
Well over a week on, the police has revealed that Mr McDonagh remains at large.
The spokesperson said today (Saturday, August 29): “Arthur McDonagh remains outstanding; our enquiries are ongoing to locate him.”
During the incident emergency services were called to Barton Village Road at about 11.10am.
The force closed North Way to the junction with Edgecombe Road while officers carried out their enquiries.
A damaged white pickup truck was left in the middle of the street, surrounded by broken glass and with what appeared to be blood splattered on the rear right-hand side.
The white pickup truck could be seen behind the police cordon.
There were multiple reports of different weapons being used during the assault, but Thames Valley Police confirmed that they do not believe an axe, bat or machete were used in the attack.
But police declined to say what weapon they do believe was used in the assault.
The force confirmed a man was taken to hospital for treatment, and that he was in a stable condition, and they thanked the local community for their support.
Following the incident, Mike Rowley, Labour councillor for Barton and Sandhills, said his thoughts were with the victim and praised local officers for their response.
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He said: “My thoughts are with the victim as the incident sounds horrible.
“I am in touch with the police, but I’m not expecting any updates yet as their priority is finding the offender and making sure there aren’t any further offences.”
Appeals for public help in finding individuals by the police can relate to suspects, witnesses or others who may have vital information in relation to the incident.
They do not mean the person is to blame nor do they imply guilt.
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