Nursing assistant Eileen Naughton is set to run the marathon to raise awareness and funds for the charity Children With Cancer UK.

Mrs Naughton works on the Major Trauma Ward at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and part time at Chilton Garden Centre.

Passionate about supporting children diagnosed with cancer, Ms Naughton’s efforts will contribute to the charity’s mission of funding life-saving research.

She began her charitable running journey in 2008 and has since competed in various marathons, raising more than £38,000 for several charities.

These include Children With Cancer, the Oxfordshire Oesophageal and Stomach Organisation, and the Meningitis Trust.

Her motivation to run also stems from personal loss.

She became familiar with the distressing reality of a cancer diagnosis after her mother died from oesophageal cancer in June 2018.

Mrs Naughton has said she has been training since December and has clocked up more than 100 runs totalling more than 588 miles.

Anyone wishing to support Ms Naughton can make a donation via the Enthuse fundraising website.

Ms Naughton’s unwavering commitment to charity work serves as an example to others.

From moving heavy plant trolleys at the garden centre and netting Christmas trees in December to running half-marathons in Reading and Wokingham in preparation, she is dedicated to making a difference.

Dating back to the mid-17th century, Holcombe House in Deddington on the way to Banbury has served various roles within the community over the last century.

Originally a private residence, it became Holcombe House Prep School in 1920, which ran for 15 years until its closure in 1935.

In 1945, the building was bought by Charles and Gertrude West, who operated it as a guest house.

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Holcombe House in Deddington. (Image: Savills)

After the war, it became a hotel and continued as such until its closure in 2011.

The current owners first came across Holcombe House – then known as the Holcombe Hotel – while renting in the village and walking their children to school.

When the hotel shut and planning permission was secured for its conversion into three dwellings, they recognised the potential for a family home.

They bought the property in 2012 and set about a comprehensive restoration project that would see it transformed.

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Holcombe House in Deddington. (Image: Savills)

The renovation was completed over nine months and saw the house taken ‘back to its bones’, removing post-war additions, and reinstating original architecture.

Lifting tiles in the entrance hall revealed the original Hornton stone floor, while lost Georgian details were reintroduced following meticulous research by the owners.

Among the most dramatic transformations is the kitchen and dining space, which once comprised two industrial kitchens with a timber lean-to washing-up area.

The area has been opened up, French windows installed, and light brought in to create what is now the heart of the home.

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Holcombe House in Deddington. (Image: Savills)

Holcombe House offers seven bedrooms across its first and second floors, including a principal suite with a roll-top bath, double sinks and a separate shower.

Rooms on the ground floor feature sash windows, open fireplaces, exposed timbers and high ceilings, while there is a utility room, larder, store and workshop.

The first floor accommodation consists of three of the seven bedrooms, including the principal bedroom with a bathroom.

There are two further double bedrooms and a family bathroom, along with a gym and home office.

On the second floor are four bedrooms, two of which are en suite, including an open-plan playroom area that could also be used as a study for older teenagers.

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Holcombe House in Deddington. (Image: Savills)

Outside, the rear garden provides a peaceful space of mature planting, stone walls and a raised lawn, with pedestrian access to parking for up to six cars.

The property also includes a completely separate commercial unit with its own entrance, currently used as a hairdressing and beauty salon.

Sophie Gannon from estate agent Savills Banbury said: “Holcombe House is one of the most elegant and charming homes to come to market in Deddington for many years.

“The owners have not only revived its historic character but transformed it into a bright, warm and exceptionally versatile family home.

“Properties of this scale and provenance are extremely rare in the heart of the village, making its sale a truly special opportunity.”

Oak Taverns bought The Red Lion in Yarnton from Admiral Taverns in 2023, after a community buyout scheme failed to raise sufficient funds.

Thame-based pub company Oak Taverns owns a number of other pubs across Oxfordshire including The Crown in Marcham and The Cross Keys in Wallingford.

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The Red Lion in Cassington Road is the Oxford Mail Pub of the Week.

Landlady Jess Dixon said it is now vital for pubs functioning as community hubs to welcome families with young children, as well as older regulars.

She told the Oxford Drinker, the magazine run by the Oxford branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale): “Considering children under 14 were prohibited from entering public houses prior to 1995, and pubs only being allowed to make their own policies from 2003 due to changes in the licensing act, it’s not really surprising that children in pub environments can be a bit of a divisive topic.

The Red Lion in Yarnton (Image: Oxford Drinker)

“Being a village pub means: families, and lots of them! It can be quite entertaining at times when you’ve got small children demanding a straw with their apple juice, paired with older gents just trying to get a relaxing pint in across the bar.

“Acting as a community hub with such a wide range of ages is good fun whilst simultaneously feeling like solving a public relations-themed Rubik’s cube. How can we create a welcoming environment for all, that also fits the vibe we want to create?

“Some opt for high chairs on demand and play sets in the garden, others opt for Fruit Shoots and a game of Jenga (all very low noise activities of course).”

Ms Dixon said live music being staged at the pub was a good way of uniting the community – including a band playing at its annual beer festival next month.

The Red Lion in Yarnton (Image: The Red Lion)

She added: “One thing I’ve found always works to maintain the family melting pot status quo is a good old event in the garden, with some live music and a few garden games.

“We’re really lucky to have a Yarnton village band full of people of all ages that kick off our annual May beer festival, and really sets the tone for the day.

“I know not every pub may be fit for a family-friendly lifestyle, but if it is, there’s nothing quite like watching people of all ages enjoy a sunny pub garden with a fresh pint or J2O in hand.”

Oak Taverns also runs The Rose & Crown in Charlbury, The Swan in Faringdon, The Red Lion in Chinnor, and The Angel in Bicester.