Oxford News
Locals ‘shocked’ as King Charles makes surprise Oxfordshire visit
The King visited Oxford Photovoltaics at Pioneer Park in Yarnton between Oxford and Kidlington this afternoon (Friday, March 27).
His Majesty was shown around what is a leading solar energy innovator and manufacturer founded in 2010, operating in the field of Perovskite-based PV.
Residents had no idea that the King was visiting Yarnton and were excited about the town’s surprise royal visitor.
READ MORE: King Charles in Oxfordshire today for royal visit
Deanna Sharman has lived in the small town for many years and was overjoyed that King Charles had chosen to stop by.
“I’m shocked as I have only just found out that the King is right here in Yarnton, and I think that it is lovely,” she told this newspaper.
“I’ve lived here for a long time, and other than at Blenheim Palace and in Oxford, of course, we haven’t had any royals here in Yarnton before.”
She then laughed and added: “But we could have had someone in secret before, like today, and I wouldn’t have known!”
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The rain was spitting on Friday morning with grey skies overhead, leaving Ms Sharman hoping it would brighten up for the King later on.
“I wish the weather was a bit better through as he seems to always end up wherever it’s raining, he’s always there with a brolly,” she said.
“But no, I’m glad he’s getting around, especially after his cancer and everything.”
Several Thames Valley Police vehicles were stationed outside Pioneer Park as officers kept watch during the special visit as a helicopter flew overhead.
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Another longtime Yarnton resident, who wished to remain anonymous, praised the King for his strong focus on the environment.
“I think it’s cool that the King is here as he’s a very environmentally friendly person and he’s been trying to do a lot for many, many years that people don’t really understand that he’s been doing,” she said.
“It would have been great to know that he was coming, but I understand with security pressures around the King, especially with what’s going on in the world today.”
Despite living in Yarnton since the late 1980s, this was the first royal visit that the resident had observed in the town.
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“I know there have been royal visits to Oxford before,” she added.
“I remember my dad telling me that when Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother opened the Weston Library by the Bodleian Library, the sky broke in the lock.
“My mum used to work at Christchurch, and the late Queen was there too.”
“It is very exciting to have the King here now, and I’m just really pleased that he’s taking note of all the environmental stuff that people are doing to try and save the planet.”
14 pupils from Aureus School in Didcot, Oxfordshire, travelled to Southampton’s Utilita Bowl to watch two ICC Women’s T20 World Cup matches.
They saw New Zealand take on Sri Lanka and England face Ireland.
Rob Hayden, head of PE at Aureus School, said: “The first match was really close, with Sri Lanka hitting a four to win the match in the final over.
“There was a rain delay which delayed the England match by one hour and 30 minutes, but this allowed the group to watch the cricket match under the floodlights, which was a really good experience.
“Having England play well and win, created a special atmosphere at the ground.”
The trip is part of a yearly tradition at Aureus School, which has strong ties to the women’s game through a visiting coach, Queentor Abel of the Kenya Women’s Team.
Mr Hayden said: “We have currently got a coach who comes into school who is a current cricket player for the Kenya Women’s Team, Queentor Abel.
“This showed the students they have a great coach to help them improve.
“We took the group as a trip to inspire the students to play cricket outside of school.”
Aureus School is part of the GLF Schools multi-academy trust.
GK Barry and Reverend Richard Coles appeared on the 24th series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here in 2024.
GK and Rev Coles “struck up the best of friendships” while on the ITV reality show, one they have continued outside the jungle.
ITV axes GK Barry and Rev Richard Coles series
The pair had begun work on a new ITV series themed around life and death.
Speaking to Attitude Magazine, GK said: “We are exploring walks of life from two different generations — one from a gay godly man and a gay ungodly woman.
“There are some depressing bits in there, but one thing about me is that I will make a joke about it.”
A pilot episode for the series was filmed last year.
However, the new series has now been axed by ITV, according to The Sun.
An insider said: “There were high hopes for the project because producers were excited by the dynamic between GK and Richard, not least because it seemed to amuse viewers.
“They enjoyed the idea of the wise older man interacting with the streetwise millennial as they explored some pretty deep subjects.
“But after provisional filming took place, it was decided not to proceed with it as a series — much to the disappointment of everyone involved.”
GK had previously said it had been a “dream” working with Rev Coles on the series.
On Instagram, she said: “Working with you has opened my eyes to worlds I’d never heard of or dreamt of before.
“Some of them have been nightmares, but some of them have been dreams — and today has been a dream.”
ITV has been contacted for comment.
Freeview channel axed 2 years after relaunch
Meanwhile, News UK’s live streaming opinion channel, Talk, has been axed as part of the latest Freeview update.
Talk originally broadcast as TalkTV on channel 237 from April 2022, with 24-hour news and opinion programming.
Its most high-profile programme was Piers Morgan Uncensored, which later moved to YouTube, though Channel 5 continues to broadcast highlight segments.
TalkTV was eventually relaunched as Talk, a visual radio stream, on Freeview channel 280 in April 2024.
The change came after the channel struggled to attract viewers and ran up losses for News UK, according to RXTV.
News UK still operates similar visual streams for TalkSport and Times Radio.
Were you looking forward to GK Barry and Rev Richard Coles’ new ITV series? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.
The 41-year-old pop icon was due to perform at Werchter Boutique festival in Belgium last night, Saturday, June 28, when the event was unexpectedly cut short.
The festival’s committee decided to end the day’s performances early, at 9pm just after a set from Pitbull, due to a weather forecast of ‘severe thunderstorms from midnight onwards at the earliest’ and a government warning.
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Perry wrote on Instagram: “Sadly my set at Werchter Boutique tonight can’t happen due to a government mandated cancellation because of the incoming inclement weather and crowd safety concerns.
“I was backstage at the show in the middle of hair and makeup when this news was delivered, and they gave me no choice.
“I am just as unhappy as you are. Unfortunately this is beyond my control, but the safety of all 55,000 of you always comes first and foremost.”
The performance was due to mark the popstar’s return to the one-day event held in Belgium’s Festivalpark for the first time in more than 15 years.
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Perry added: “I am sorry I can’t change the weather, and even sorrier that all of us can’t be together tonight. I was looking forward to being back after 17 years, I was even gonna wear the same outfit from that 2009 show again. I love you all, and please get home safe.”
It comes just a week before the star’s next scheduled festival appearance, at the brand-new Blenheim Festival in Wodostock, Oxfordshire, where she is due to perform on July 4.
The current forecast for that date is sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-20s.
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