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The Bicester School take part in Town & Gown 10K event

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A total of 160 students and 35 staff members took part in the Town & Gown 10K, marking the school’s largest and most inclusive showing yet, with a further 20 volunteers supporting the day.

The event, organised by Muscular Dystrophy UK and sponsored by Bidwells, raises funds and awareness for the charity while bringing together schools, businesses, and the wider community.

Participation from The Bicester School began in 2022 when a member of staff took part and set out to bring state school students to the start line the following year.

Since then, involvement has increased each year.

Sarah Masterson, PE teacher and assistant SENCo at The Bicester School, said: “For me, effort and belief are everything.

“The Bicester School demonstrated the power of both participation in sport and competition, with Edward Styles winning the Junior 3K race in an outstanding time of 9:55.

“We showed that when people work hard and believe in one another, extraordinary things can happen.”

This year’s record turnout reflected the school’s commitment to inclusion, equality and widening participation, with efforts made to remove barriers and ensure as many students and families could take part as possible.

Year 10 student Amelia said: “I have loved being able to work with other teachers to help prepare for the Town and Gown.

“It’s been nice working on craft projects beyond the normal academic subjects and as a team.

“It is great for building on transferable skills in communication, leadership, organisation and time management too.”

The school’s Ambassadors of Change, a student leadership group, played a key role in promoting the event and encouraging involvement.

Their motto, ‘Together we have it all,’ was displayed on high-visibility jackets worn by supporters on the day.

In addition, the student neurodiversity ambassadors helped design and produce running kits for the event.

The school’s attendance was further supported by Blackstones Plumbing & Heating, helping to ensure a strong and visible presence throughout the event.

Headteacher Sam Knowlton, who is also executive director of school improvement at Activate Learning Education Trust, said: “We are incredibly proud of every student, member of staff and volunteer who represented The Bicester School at this year’s Town & Gown event.

“What makes this achievement so special is not just the number of people involved, but the sense of community behind it.

“We are committed to ensuring all young people feel they belong and have access to opportunities like this, regardless of background or circumstance.”

With its largest-ever team taking part, the school’s turnout embodied its wider ethos of community, opportunity and support for every young person.





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Crime & Safety

Bicester yob attacked three police officers, court told

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Nathan Stear, of Market End Way, Bicester, appeared at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, May 15.

The 21-year-old is charged with two counts of assault by beating and one count of section 20 grievous bodily harm against three police officers in Banbury on January 27.

He pleaded guilty to the offences.

READ MORE: Didcot Sainsbury’s thief faked rib fracture before escape

In committing these offences, Stear is in breach of a suspended sentence which he received last year for breaching a restraining order against an ex-partner.

This was a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years.

Kelly Purcell-Chandler, mitigating, said: “He was surrounded by four officers.

“There was no intention to cause any harm at all. He is very remorseful for the injury caused.

“This was a blip. He has worked on himself in custody.”

It was agreed to adjourn the sentencing to June 12 for a pre-sentence report.

Judge Maria Lamb said: “There is no indication whatsoever that this will be anything other than immediate custody.”





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Oxfordshire bakery has hundreds of pounds worth stolen

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Naimee Reed, owner of ‘Bakes by Naimee’, which operates across north Oxfordshire, has been left disheartened after seeing stock go missing in a matter of weeks.

The honesty boxes are placed across the area selling homemade sweet treats, cakes, and brownies.

The baker first noticed stock go missing over the last month, but in the last two weeks alone, more than 80 bakes have been taken without payment, totalling £360.

READ MORE: Oxfordshire activists prepare protest this weekend

One of the honesty boxesOne of the honesty boxes (Image: Bakes by Naimee)

Mrs Reed said: “As a small business, losses like this have a huge impact.

“Every bake is made with time, effort, ingredients, and care, and I work incredibly hard to keep these boxes stocked for you all.

“I’m honestly really disappointed that this needs to be addressed. Please remember that honesty boxes only work when people are honest.”

Naimee with an occasion cakeNaimee with an occasion cake (Image: Bakes by Naimee)

She added: “It’s incredibly disappointing to see a small number of people take advantage of a system built on trust, especially when the vast majority of customers are so supportive and respectful.”

As a result, Mrs Reed will now be adding additional security cameras to be installed inside the boxes themselves.

She has been running her baking business for more than eight years, specialising in bakes goods such as cookies, rocky roads and blondies, along with occasion cakes for birthdays, weddings and christenings

Mrs Reed has one bake box in Brackley, one in Bicester and one in Heyford, as well as a trailer for events.





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Bicester fire heroes remembered during memorial service

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Friends and family members congregated at St Edburg’s Church for an invite-only service on Friday night (May 15) to remember the lives of three heroes who died in the blaze which engulfed Hangar 79 on the heritage site last year.

(Image: PA / Facebook)

Firefighters Martyn Sadler and Jennie Logan, and businessman Dave Chester, lost their lives during the incident on Friday, May 15.

Around 326 people, including Bicester firefighters, members of Bicester Rugby Union Football Club, and Oxfordshire county councillors, entered into the nave to the bellowing of organ music.

Another 20 people joined the service online via Zoom.

As they gathered to take their seats in the pews for the 45-minute service, they passed two decorated firefighter honour guards who held large flags.

Opening sentences were uttered by Rev Peter Wright, who led the service, including Bible passages from John and Matthew, one of which read: “blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

READ MORE: Bicester remembers fallen firefighters one year on from fire

Before a prayer of remembrance, O God, Our Help in Ages Past was sung, with angelic voices seeping through the stained glass windows into Church Street.

Chief fire officer Rob MacDougall addressed the congregation before the poem As We Look Back by Clare Jones was read.

Three candles were lit in St Edburg's Church, Bicester, during the memorial service to mark the Bicester Motion fire anniversaryThree candles were lit in St Edburg’s Church, Bicester, during the memorial service to mark the Bicester Motion fire anniversary (Image: Newsquest)

As three candles were lit in the sanctuary, the roll of honour was read before another hymn and Bible readings.

The service continued with a sermon by Rev Peter before mourners reflected while listening to The Lark Ascending, a 1914 composition by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Prayers of thanksgiving were echoed with amens before the congregation said The Lord’s Prayer.

READ MORE: Bicester Rugby Club raises thousands to honour victims

The final minutes included an act of commitment, commendation and blessings to make a “commitment to live lives of service, courage, and compassion”, in memory of the well-loved three Bicester people.

As the grieving collection exited the church to a cold May sunset, they embraced one another and collected packets of sunflower seeds.

Rev Peter Wright who led the service (Image: Newsquest)

Speaking after the memorial service, Rev Peter shared a few reflections from the memorial service.

He said the botanical token of remembrance symbolises energy, life and a positive future.

He added: “We hope that later in the summer, as those sunflowers come up all over Bicester, people will remember Martin, Jennie and Dave.”

The service, which took months of preparation, was a joint effort between the clergy and families.

“It was important that we didn’t just let this day go past as if nothing had happened”, he said, “The community needed the opportunity to come together and acknowledge what has happened.”

He encouraged the community to “not dwell in the past” but to “look forward to a future, sadly without them, but where we are carrying them with us in memory and in the example that they left us.”





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