Oxford News
93-year-old care home resident has fulfils long-held wish
Dennis Minns, who lives at Sanctuary Care’s Watlington & District Residential and Nursing Home, recently received the Sacrament of Confirmation in a special service led by the Bishop of Dorchester, the Rt. Revd Gavin Collins.
Surrounded by family, friends, residents, and members of the church community, Mr Minns described the day as deeply meaningful.
The ceremony was organised with the help of Revd Val Kearney, who regularly leads Communion at the care home.
Mr Minns, a retired RAF Flight Lieutenant who served for 25 years, spent much of his life travelling with his late wife Monica and their children.
His son David, a retired priest, delivered the Gospel reading during the confirmation.
Mr Minns said: “A new life and new friends.
“The Bishop spoke like an old friend and it was a lovely occasion, which will be remembered for a long time.
“I was encouraged by my friends from the start, and I’m so pleased I listened.
“Much praise must go to the staff for organising everything—and the Bishop approved of the cakes.”
Julie Cooper, home manager, said: “Dennis is a wonderful reminder that it’s never too late to do something that is deeply meaningful.
“His enthusiasm and courage have inspired everyone at the home.”
The celebration included afternoon tea, home-made cakes, and live music.
Sophie Bevan sang Ave Maria, and musician Rick Griffin, who plays at the home’s monthly Songs of Praise event, also contributed to the occasion.
The man, in his 50s, was reported as being injured at The Slade just before 1pm on Saturday (April 11).
Thames Valley Police confirmed he was taken to hospital and that a 48-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident.
Nigel Savill, aged 48, of The Slade, Oxford, has now been charged with one count of section 20 grievous bodily harm without intent.
He is due at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.
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An eyewitness said they spotted around seven police cars, one critical care unit and an ambulance in the area near the junction with Wood Farm Road.
Photos from the scene show multiple emergency vehicles and someone being put into a police car.
Police said on Saturday afternoon that a scene watch was in place while investigations continue and they have appealed to the public for information which may assist them.
A police spokesman previously said: “The force was contacted by the ambulance service at 12.55pm to report a man with injuries in The Slade.
“The man in his 50s has been taken to hospital.
“A 48-year-old man from Oxford has been arrested on suspicion of assault and is currently in police custody.
“If anyone has any information or footage from the area and has not already spoken to the force then please speak to an officer at the scene, call 101, or leave any information via our website, quoting the investigation reference number 43260175531.”
Voters across Oxford will go to the polls on Thursday, May 7, to elect councillors to represent wards covering the city.
Oxford City Council has a portion of seats contested in most years, with successful candidates serving four‑year terms.
With 48 councillors in total and two in each of 24 wards, half the seats, equating to one councillor per ward, are elected every two years.
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Poll cards are being issued to registered voters, confirming their polling station and reminding them of the date of the election.
On election day, polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm, with counting expected to take place overnight or the following day.
The results will determine the political makeup of Oxford City Council for the coming two years.
The full list of candidates is below.
Barton and Sandhills:
- Mike Rowley – Labour and Co-operative Party
- Tariq Saeed – Green Party
- Paul Rogers – Liberal Democrat
- Vernon Porter – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Felix Peter Bloomfield – Reform UK
- Boris Fedorov – Workers Party
- Chaka Artwell – Independent
Blackbird Leys:
- Lubna Arshad – Labour and Co-operative Party
- Indigo Haynes – Green Party
- Alexandrine Kantor – Liberal Democrat
- James Morbin – Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
- Kornel Schesztak – Reform UK
- Fay Lana Sims – The Conservative Party Candidate
Carfax and Jericho:
- Alex Hollingsworth – Labour and Co-operative Party
- Sushila Devi Dhall – Green Party
- John Orrell Howson – Liberal Democrats
- Harriet Georgia Sophie Dolby – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Vittorio Peter Cuneo-Flood – Reform UK
Churchill:
- Susan Woolford Brown – Labour Party
- Ines Carmen Wilhelm – Green Party
- Peter Charles Coggins – Liberal Democrat
- Tim Patmore – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Michael Sakkalli – Reform UK
Cowley:
- Michael William Boyd – Labour Party
- Edward Mundy – Green Party
- George Busby – Liberal Democrat
- Andrea Louise Stephenson – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Ian Szwajca – Reform UK
- Ajaz Ur Rehman – Independent
Cutteslowe and Sunnymead:
- Nancy Lynn Cartwright – Labour Party
- Andrea Schiavi – Green Party
- Laurence George Fouweather – Liberal Democrats
- David John Cunningham – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Michael William Andrews – Reform UK
Donnington:
- Ralph Amory Noble – Labour and Co-operative Party
- Rosie Rawle – Green Party
- Graham Roderick Jones – Liberal Democrat
- Simon James Bazley – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Anna Marie Avila Taylor – Reform UK
- Saqib Faradoon – Independent
Headington:
- Emily Lygo – Labour Party
- Neil Doig – Green Party
- Christopher Stephen Frederick Smowton – Liberal Democrat
- James Peter Jackson – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Sandhya Sunkara – Reform UK
Headington Hill and Northway:
- James Taylor – Labour Party
- Sam Alston – Green Party
- Eleonore Rebekka Vogel – Liberal Democrat
- George Edward Silvanus Robinson – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Tenson Jacob – Reform UK
- Agnieszka Kowalska – Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
- Nasreen Majeed – Independent Oxford Alliance
Hinksey Park:
- Siobhan Ann Lancaster – Labour Party
- Hannah Scott – Green Party
- Rick Tanner – Liberal Democrat
- Amy Olivia Campbell – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Geoffrey Brian Ager – Reform UK
Holywell:
- Awab Ramadan Yahia Kazuz – Labour Party
- Alfie Davis – Green Party
- Ian Corthan Bearder – Liberal Democrats
- Harry Richardson – The Conservative Party Candidate
Littlemore:
- Tiago Corais – Labour Party
- Tamsin Sky Tristram Blaxter – Green Party
- Liz Wood – Liberal Democrat
- Daniel Stafford – The Conservative Party Candidate
- James Charles Baker – Reform UK
- David Stares – (no description listed)
Lye Valley:
- Stephen Douglas Harwood – Labour Party
- James Richard Harry Thorniley – Green Party
- Maria Bourbon – Liberal Democrat
- Gary William Dixon – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Jakub Zagdanski – Reform UK
Marston:
- Charlotte Louise Vinnicombe – Labour Party
- Kate Josephine Robinson – Green Party
- Andy McKay – Liberal Democrat
- Duncan Valentine Hatfield – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Richard Lewin – Reform UK
- Emily Frances Scaysbrook – Independent Oxford Alliance
Northfield Brook:
- Trish Elphinstone – Labour and Co-operative Party
- David Newman – Green Party
- Rosemary Anne Beatrice Morlin – Liberal Democrat
- Paul John Sims – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Dianne Copestake – Reform UK
Osney and St Thomas:
- David Calonge – Labour Party
- Lois Knight Muddiman – Green Party
- Harry Roy Morgan – Liberal Democrats
- Louis Watteau Williams – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Rose-Marie Wheeler – Reform UK
Quarry and Risinghurst:
- Chewe Edgar Munkonge – Labour Party
- Stephen Robert Hurt – Green Party
- Kai Ruediger Zolleis – Liberal Democrat
- Edmund Charles Annandale Johnstone – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Cristina Parau – Reform UK
- Alison Kahn – Independent Oxford Alliance
Rose Hill and Iffley:
- Edward Owen Turner – Labour Party
- Luke Barbanneau – Green Party
- Geraldine Anne Coggins – Liberal Democrat
- Suresh Lal – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Prudence Mary Prior Dailey – Reform UK
- Zack Iqbal – Independent Oxford Alliance
St Clement’s:
- Thomas Ayudthaya Boyd – Labour and Co-operative Party
- Ahalya Bala – Green Party
- Pippa Hitchcock – Liberal Democrat
- Vinay Raniga – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Martin Young – Reform UK
St Mary’s:
- Toby Stephen William James – Labour Party
- Emily Jane Elisabeth Kerr – Green Party
- Richard Whelan – Liberal Democrat
- Gloria Croxall – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Paula Jane Macfarlane – Reform UK
Summertown:
- Freda Janet Wolfenden – Labour Party
- James Hewett – Green Party
- Katherine Sarah Miles – Liberal Democrats
- Christopher David Edward Fox – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Fee Yin – Reform UK
Temple Cowley:
- Joseph Robert McManners – Labour Party
- Heather Laura Stallard – Green Party
- Tony Brett – Liberal Democrat
- Patricia Gwendoline Mary Jones – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Michael Sargent – Reform UK
- Saj Malik – Independent
Walton Manor:
- Louise Upton – Labour Party
- Zelalemawee Asheber – Green Party
- Joanne Louise Bowlt – Liberal Democrats
- Penelope Anne Lenon – The Conservative Party Candidate
- David Charles Lincoln – Reform UK
Wolvercote:
- Bev Humberstone – Labour Party
- Cristina Palamini – Green Party
- Elizabeth Asabea Abena Turkson Wood – Liberal Democrats
- Paul Dean Morris – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Stuart David Jolley – Reform UK
- Richard Peter Garbutt – Independent Oxford Alliance
The latest announcement from the airline, which is based in Dubai, comes after Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary warned UK travellers to book their summer holidays “as quickly as you can” to avoid rising costs, due the recent Middle East conflict.
In a statement on Friday (April 10) Emirates said: “Following the partial reopening of regional airspace, Emirates is operating a reduced flight schedule.
“You can check our latest flight schedules for upcoming flights and book seats to travel.
“We continue to monitor the situation, and we will develop our operational schedule accordingly.
“We would like to thank you for your understanding and patience.
“The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority and will not be compromised.”
Emirates adds that before you travel: “Please continue to check your flight status, even after you have checked in.
“You can also review the latest operational updates on emirates.com.
“Make sure your details are up to date to receive notifications and check your email for changes or cancellations to your flights before travelling to the airport.”
Emirates is operating a reduced flight schedule to over 100 destinations.
New Bookings
Customers can check our latest flight schedules and book at https://t.co/A2RdND1Gjr . To provide further peace of mind, customers who make new bookings will also be offered one complimentary… pic.twitter.com/0pXSv4jrcp— Emirates Support (@EmiratesSupport) April 10, 2026
The airline advises: “If your travel plans have been affected, we’ll do our best to rebook you on the next available Emirates flight.
“This applies to most disrupted tickets, including journeys connecting beyond Dubai.”
Customers booked to travel between February 28 until and including May 31 can either rebook on an alternate flight or request a refund.
Emirates continues: “To provide further peace of mind, customers who book flights from 2 April will also be offered one complimentary date change, across all cabins.
“Please note, changes must be within ticket validity, and fare difference fees may apply.”
Find out more information about what you can do when it comes to changing your Emirates flight via the airline’s travel updates page online.
Major airline with flights from UK increases fuel surcharges
The latest air travel update from Emirates comes as Air India announced it was increasing its fuel surcharge on domestic and international flights this week.
These revised fees came into effect for UK flights on Friday, although the airline assured passengers who have already booked tickets will be unaffected by the change.
Air India said: “For the avoidance of doubt, tickets that have already been issued prior to the above times will not attract the new surcharge unless customers seek date or itinerary changes that require a recalculation of the fare.
“Air India will review its surcharges periodically and make appropriate adjustments as the situation requires.”
Air India usually operates more than 60 weekly flights between India and the UK, connecting cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Amritsar to London (Heathrow and Gatwick) and Birmingham.
Air India group announces revised fuel surcharges on domestic and international routes.
Read more here: https://t.co/piFcCaA0jJ
— Air India (@airindia) April 7, 2026
UK airline cancels flights due to ‘huge rise in global cost of fuel’
Prior to Air India’s announcement, UK airline Skybus ceased all flights between Newquay Airport and London Gatwick from April 3, partly due to the “huge rise in the global cost of fuel”.
In a statement published by multiple news outlets, including ITV, Skybus managing director Jonathan Hinkles said: “The huge rise in the global cost of fuel following the conflict in the Gulf, coupled with a significant drop in new passenger bookings since mid-February’s announcement of the planned closure of the PSO air route, forms an insurmountable barrier to the service continuing through April and May.
“At a time of great economic uncertainty and steps being taken to conserve energy worldwide, it is neither environmentally nor economically sound for us to continue flying with vastly reduced passenger numbers.”
The last flight operated on April 2 and all passengers who have had upcoming journeys cancelled will be refunded, according to the airline.
Have you faced any flight disruption over the last few weeks? Let us know in the comments below.
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