Oxford News
Blenheim Palace digitises centuries-old archive collection
The project has brought to light more than 200 documents and revealed fresh detail about life in the villages of Wolvercote, Cutteslowe, and Godstow.
The archives date from 1616 to 1836 and include deeds, correspondence, wills, a land survey and inventories relating to property and land.
Claire Scott, archive assistant at Blenheim Palace, said: “This project has revealed an extraordinary range of material that sheds light on centuries of life in Wolvercote, Godstow and Cutteslowe.
“Being able to catalogue and digitise these documents for the first time has opened up stories that were previously hidden in uncatalogued boxes, and we’re delighted that the Wolvercote History Society and the wider community can now explore them in detail.”
Following funding secured by Wolvercote Local History Society through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), the documents have been made accessible to the Society.
Highlights from the collection include 1710 deeds for the Manors of Wolvercote and Godstow, records from Wolvercote Mill, and a 1731 land survey listing tenants and field names.
Notices of distress, including a record of a forced auction from 1831, are also among the newly accessible documents.
The Wolvercote Local History Society plans to continue researching the collection and will share its findings with the community.
Michael Daniell, volunteer archivist at Wolvercote Local History Society, said: “We really appreciate the generous co-operation of The Blenheim Archives and the public funding that has enabled the cataloguing.
“This now makes it possible for anyone to dig deeper into the history of Wolvercote and Cutteslowe.”
Oxford News
Oxfordshire hairdresser to aim for LOréal Colour Trophy
Izzie Adams, a stylist at Idlewild Hairdressing in Abingdon, will compete at the L’Oréal Colour Trophy Grand Final on July 6 after impressing judges at the regional semi-final in Bristol.
Her winning look combined ‘deep berry and jewel-toned reds’ with a sharp, glossy bob, earning her praise for both technical skill and creative flair.
Mark Creed, director at Idlewild Hairdressing, said: “We are incredibly proud of Izzie’s achievement.
“Reaching the Grand Final of the L’Oréal Colour Trophy is a testament to her dedication, skill, and creative passion.
“We are thrilled to see her talent recognised at such a high level, and we cannot wait to cheer her on in London.”
The grand final will be held at the O2 in London and is expected to draw an audience of more than 2,000 industry professionals and guests.
Guests will enjoy fine dining and a series of catwalk shows before the national winner is announced.
Idlewild Hairdressing is encouraging the community to show their support for Ms Adams as she prepares to represent Oxfordshire on the national stage.
The salon group is known for its precision cutting and creative colouring.
It prides itself on delivering ‘bespoke styles that embrace the latest industry trends’ through a team of skilled and passionate professionals.
Oxford News
More details emerge as crews rush to fire at RAF Fairford
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service first said: “We are responding to a fire in a commercial building in the Fairford area.
“Residents are advised to keep their doors and windows closed due to smoke from the fire.”
MORE: Several crews fight inferno at RAF Fairford
The Ministry Of Defence said immediate details from RAF officials suggested no RAF persons were involved in firefighting activities.
The fire was inside the wire in an old disused building at the RAF base currently being used for the US military.
Photos and videos shared on Facebook show a building on fire claiming it’s the commissary building at the base.
MORE: Motorcyclist airlifted to hospital with ‘serious injuries’ after collision
A Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue spokesperson has since confirmed: “We were called at 1.52am this morning to reports of a fire at RAF Fairford. Fire engines from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service attended and were supported by neighbouring fire and rescue services.
“The fire involved a single-storey industrial storage building. It was brought under control safely and there were no casualties.
“Crews remain at the scene this morning as a precaution and to ensure the incident is fully resolved. Fire investigation is ongoing and the early indication suggests the cause of fire was nothing other than accidental.”
The US Air Force has also been contacted for more information.
Oxford News
Faith and society debated at Cheney School in Oxford
The panel discussion took place at Cheney School in east Oxford on April 16, and explored the topic The Role of Religion in Public Life.
It was part of the Agora series, which features regular talks on literature, science, politics, democracy, and more, and is organised by Dr Lorna Robinson, director of The Iris Project, a charity that brings ancient languages and cultures into UK state schools and communities.
Dr Robinson said: “It was a fascinating discussion at a time when many questions are being asked about religion and public life in the UK, and we were very grateful to each of our panellists for giving their time to explore these issues, and to model respectful discussion as a mode for reaching greater understanding.”
The panel featured journalist Shaista Aziz, Steven Croft, the Bishop of Oxford, author and broadcaster Maajid Nawaz, YouTuber Alex O’Connor, and philosophy academic Dr Joshua Sijuwade.
It was chaired by David Gimson, head of higher attainment at Cheney School.
Each panellist shared personal perspectives on faith and the public sphere before taking questions from an audience of 170 sixth-form students.
Topics covered included women’s dress and modesty, gender roles in Christianity and Islam, the reliability of scripture, science and religion, and comparisons between French, American, and British approaches to religion in society.
While the panel agreed on the value of pluralism, there was respectful disagreement over issues like the ordination of women and the interpretation of religious texts.
After the discussion, students continued conversations with the speakers in a more informal setting.
The event received very positive feedback from students.
One student said: “I really enjoyed the discussion style, having multiple people with different views and areas of expertise all able to share opinions and argue their side in a respectful way.
“This works really well and would be great to see how it would go with other subject matter.”
Another student said: “I really enjoyed this. I think the topic was brilliant as it is so applicable to everyone’s lives.
“I know a lot of people found the discussion really interesting and it was so nice being able to talk to the speakers further afterwards.
“Thank you for getting such amazing speakers too.”
Cheney School is a large comprehensive secondary school, in a very diverse area of east Oxford.
The Iris Project promotes learning about the ancient world through national schemes, projects and events.
It also operates the Rumble Museum at Cheney School, the first school museum to be awarded full Museum Accreditation by the Arts Council Museum Accreditation Scheme.
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