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80s singing legend backs village bid to save UK pub

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The former Spandau Ballet legend is supporting the campaign to save The Rose & Thistle in Haddenham, near Thame.

So far, the crowdfunding campaign, entitled The Rose & Thistle Reborn, has raised more than £65,000.

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The village hostelry has been selected as the Oxford Mail Pub of the Week.

Singer Tony Hadley (Image: Ashendon Community Pub Society)

Mr Hadley, who enjoyed a string of bestselling hits with Spandau Ballet, including Gold, True, Communication, and Lifeline, said: “I am wholeheartedly, absolutely supporting the community of Haddenham in trying to get The Rose & Thistle back open again.

“It’s a fantastic little pub – I have been there many times in the past. We have to preserve our village and small town pubs.”

The singer urged people to buy shares to back the crowdfunding campaign.

The Rose & Thistle in Haddenham (Image: The Rose & Thistle Reborn)

The crowdfunding campaign says: “The Rose & Thistle is an iconic pub in the heart of the conservation area of Haddenham, by the village green and opposite St Mary’s Church – a place that has hosted countless meals, celebrations, conversations and chance encounters over the years.

“Tragically, Rose & Thistle closed in 2019 and, while the current owners had hoped to reopen, it is now for sale and at risk of being sold to developers and converted to a residential property. And once a pub is turned into a house, it’s almost impossible to bring it back.

“We’re not here to be alarmist – but we are being honest: this is a time-limited opportunity. If we do nothing, we may lose the pub for good. We need your help to stop it from being last orders at The Rose & Thistle.”

The campaign is moving forward by selling shares in the pub. For more visit crowdfunder.co.uk/p/rose-and-thistle-community-benefit-society

The project has formed a Community Benefit Society (CBS) called Haddenham Community Public House Limited (HCPH).

The society said in a statement: “HCPH has the sole intention of buying the Rose & Thistle premises and leasing it to a professional pub landlord who will operate the business according to the team’s vision.

“To make this a reality HCPH aims to sell community shares, using the funds raised to buy, refurbish and reopen the pub. Shares will be £1 each with a minimum investment of £100 and a maximum of £100,000 per person.”

The pub sign for the Rose & Thistle (Image: Contributed)

Members of the Oxford branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) have highlighted the bid to reopen the pub.

In 2024, Mr Hadley backed the Ashendon Community Pub Society as it raised £549,494 to save its village pub, the Hundred of Ashendon, as a community asset near the Oxfordshire border.

The gastropub had been closed, having previously appeared in the Michelin guide before the efforts of the community as well as support coming from places as far as the USA and Japan.





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Red Arrows cancel UK displays as team is stranded in Canada

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Known for their incredible routines in the sky across the world, the team plans to return to the UK from North America next week, but “poor weather” has prevented them from getting home on time from Canada so far.

This means their displays at three events in the UK have been cancelled.

Red Arrows cancel summer displays at key events

Updating fans on Instagram, the Red Arrows said: “Due to a prolonged period of poor weather in the north-eastern regions of Canada, the team’s return from a tour of the United States was postponed last week.

“It is now anticipated this Atlantic crossing will be able to begin again from late next week based on more favourable conditions.”

They said due to this, they will not perform at the following airshows:

  • Airbourne: Eastbourne International Airshow
  • Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
  • Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week

While the Red Arrows won’t be there, the team promised the appearance of other RAF aircraft and reassured visitors that the three events would go ahead without them.

Visitors can look out for the Typhoon Display Team and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) at Eastbourne (August 14-16).

A flypast over the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on August 15 will now go ahead with a C-17 Globemaster and two Typhoon jets part of the performance.

The BBMF will do flypasts at Lyme Regis’ events on August 21 and 22.

Wing Commander Sasha Nash, Officer Commanding RAF Aerobatic Team, said: “We are very sorry the Red Arrows cannot participate at these events and we are grateful to organisers and communities for their understanding.


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“Every effort is being made to ensure the Red Arrows can recommence the busy display season as soon as possible.

“However, safety is the only factor that will determine the timing of the team’s return from Canada.”

Have you seen the Red Arrows perform before? Tell us where you saw them in the comments below.





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Harley Davidson crash – Motorists told to avoid rural road

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The crash was on the B4015 Clifton Hampden Road, which was closed between the A4074 and Chiselhampton Village.

Thames Valley Police has confirmed the road will be closed for several hours and motorists are being told to avoid the area.

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Police said: “The B4015 Clifton Hampden Road, Oxfordshire is currently closed following a serious collision. The B4015 is closed between the A4074 and Chiselhampton Village whilst officers investigate a serious collision.

“This closure is anticipated to be in place for a number of hours – please avoid the area and find an alternative route.

“If you were on the B4015 around 07:50 this morning, Sunday 9th August, and witnessed the collision, or a Harley Davidson Motorcycle in the moments leading up to the collision, please contact Thames Valley Police quoting reference 43260411339.”

The road re-opened at around 11.25am.





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Truck Festival 2026 at Hill Farm, Oxfordshire ‘was best ever’

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A record crowd of 27,500 people descended on Hill Farm, Steventon, near Didcot, for four days of live music and dancing from an impressive bill of big name stars and up-and-coming acts.

Organisers have now finished tidying up the site, which for rest of the year is a peaceful mixed arable and dairy farm.

While always a sell-out event, this year’s festival attracted a record crowd – with families of young children making up much of the increased numbers. They joined a friendly crowd made up of everyone from enthusiastically partying teenagers to veteran artists and festival-goers and volunteers serving up treats to revellers to raise money for local charities and good causes.

Truck Festival, Steventon, 2026. Picture by Tim Hughes

They enjoyed an array of rock, pop, country and dance acts including indie-rock bands The Maccabees, Two Door Cinema Club, The Wombats, The Vaccines and The Cribs.

Also playing the hallowed Truck Stage were Bobby Gillespie’s dance-rock band Primal Scream, fans’ favourite Kaiser Chiefs and The K’s. Among the best-known bands were iconic rabble-rousing rockers The Libertines who delighted the Sunday night crowd with a punchy, poetic set of familiar tunes – bandmates Carl Barât and Peter Doherty bonding over their songs having healed their much-publicised supposed rift.

Truck Festival, Steventon, 2026. Picture by Tim Hughes

The best-loved section of the festival for lovers of the Oxford music scene was the so-called Veterans and Virgins stage, which featured bands and artists who had played previous Truck Festivals along with new talent making their debut.

The stage is curated by brothers Robin and Joe Bennett of the band The Dreaming Spires, who set up the festival in 1998 as a birthday celebration for Robin – now a Green councillor on South Oxfordshire District Council.

While the brothers no longer run the whole festival, they continue to attract international and local artists to their popular stage as well as performing.

Robin, who launched his own solo act at the festival on the Sunday, said: “It has been a really good one this year. The sun has helped and everyone seems happy. We have had some great music.”

Truck Festival, Steventon, 2026. Picture by Tim Hughes

Robin was joined by charismatic Guatemalan/ Los Angeles rocker ‘Y’ on drums, guitar and vocals. He said: “It was the best one yet. It’s a great festival. You find new friends and always meet old friends – it’s like that first sip of wine. It’s Truck-tacular!”

Festival organisers said: “It’s hard to think of a Truck Festival weekend that has left us so delighted and full of joy than this one. From the moment gates opened on the Thursday, that atmosphere which makes Truck so special has shone bright and has made this year one that’s going to sit as the biggest and best Truck in festival history.

“Looking out across the festival site under stunning summer skies, we couldn’t help but feel emotional and grateful for the love and support that Truckers have showed us this year.”

A highlight was a surprise appearance by Supergrass star Gaz Coombes, from Wheatley, who joined the Oxford Symphony Orchestra as a special guest.

Fellow artist Nick Fowler, who lives near Wantage, also joined the orchestra – as well as making a number of other appearances on guitar throughout the weekend.

He said: “I have been going to Truck since 2003 and this was the best one yet. Having Gaz Coombes join the Oxford Symphony Orchestra was unbelievable – and the audience reaction was amazing. What a moment!”

Hill Farm’s Richard Binning was among those helping to feed punters at the Feel Good Food Hall, in which volunteers from charities and local good causes served everything from corn on the cob and steak sandwiches to Thai curry and macaroni cheese – with proceeds going to their respective organisations.

Truck Festival, Steventon, 2026. Picture by Tim Hughes

Richard follows in the footsteps of his farmer father, Alan, who, for many years, manned the grill with Didcot Rotary Club members, serving bacon butties, burgers and chips.

Richard joined volunteers dishing up steak sandwiches. He said: “This has been a great year. The weather makes a difference and the atmosphere has been fantastic.

“Having volunteers raising funds for good causes is what makes Truck Festival so unique. There is nothing else like it.”





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