Oxford News
BBC TV legend gives insight into ‘end-of-life’ plans
The presenter has hosted the BBC’s iconic Countryfile programme for 25 years, having initially got the gig back in 2001.
Born and raised on his family’s Bemborough Farm in the Cotswolds, Mr Henson has become one of the country’s best‑known farmers onscreen.
Away from television, the 60‑year‑old runs Cotswold Farm Park near Guiting Power, where he welcomes thousands of visitors each year.
READ MORE: Adam Henson praises Jeremy Clarkson after meeting him at Cotswolds pub
Cotswold Gate home manager Angelika Ziomek with Adam Henson. (Image: Newsquest)
Mr Henson had an exclusive chat with the Oxford Mail this week at Porthaven’s Cotswold Gate care home in Burford.
The TV star was visiting to give a talk about his life with dogs over the years, and stopped to sign books afterwards.
Praising the care home, the 60-year-old remarked at how he loved the place and joked to the audience that he needed to put his deposit down to join.
In the talk with this newspaper afterwards, Mr Henson added: “It’s an absolute joy.
READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson in tears as he’s forced to say ‘hard goodbye’
Adam Henson giving the talk at Cotswold Gate in Burford. (Image: Cotswold Gate)
“I’ve driven up to the one in Derbyshire in the past as well as the one in Cheltenham, and then this is my second visit here.
“This one is just 20 minutes from home, and coming through Burford is gorgeous.
“The home is beautifully capped and decorated, and I was sitting in this room that has amazing wallpaper, thinking ‘I’d quite like this in my house’.
“The interior design of these places is so lovely, and I’m getting to an age when I’m starting to think about my end-of-life, and where I’ll go and what I’ll do and what it’s going to be like.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson wins fight to cut down tree at £3.8m Oxfordshire manor
Cotswold Gate care home in Burford. (Image: Newsquest)
“I’m hoping my children will be rich enough to pay for me to go into a very nice home like this!
“It’s a gorgeous place, and to be welcomed at the door was lovely, and everybody’s been so helpful, getting me cups of tea and all the tech work [with the talk’s presentation].
“So, you know I’m not just saying it, but it’s pretty faultless really.”
Mr Henson also complimented the crowd, appreciating the small-style venue, which made for a more personal event.
READ MORE: Mary Berry talks turning 91 after finding ‘joy’ at retirement home
Adam Henson has been on BBC’s Countryfile for 25 years. (Image: Joe Giddens / PA)
“They were a really lovely audience, we had some laughs and some very good questions,” he said.
“It was quite intimate because there weren’t too many people in the room, so it’s quite engaging and, catching people’s eyes, you know you’re getting a reaction.
“You’re interacting with everyone around you in the room rather than when you’re speaking to hundreds of people, so it was lovely.”
We will have more articles coming out from this interview over the weekend and throughout next week on both the Oxford Mail and Witney Gazette.
Oxford News
All holidays cancelled due to collapsed UK travel company
On the Content Ltd was a private limited company that was officially dissolved via a strike-off on April 14, 2026.
The business was originally incorporated on November 24, 2022, and operated with directors Anna Louise Cole and Roma Cots Cole.
The Chipping Norton-based company was involved in travel agency activities, according to Companies House.
The most recent accounts it filed shows the business had just £40 in its bank, down from around £14,000 the year before.
READ MORE: Electric car company collapses into administration with £56m debt
At the financial year ending March 2025, the accounts also show On the Content Ltd had trade debts of £12,396 and owed £215 in tax.
On the Content is not the only Oxfordshire travel company to close in recent weeks.
The Padel Travel Club Limited, which operated from a Henley address, organised padel‑themed breaks and training camps in the UK and overseas.
The business was incorporated in February 2023 and has since been removed from the Companies House register following a voluntary strike‑off, with the final notice of dissolution published in late May 2026.
And Set Sail Cruises Ltd, registered to an address in Bicester, was formally dissolved on March 17, 2026, after a strike-off process, meaning it no longer exists as a legal company.
The travel agency was incorporated on February 4, 2024 and listed its main activity as “travel agency activities”.
Oxford News
Oxford – Prosecutors to decide if sexual assault case will continue
Zion Zion, of Bierton Road, Aylesbury, was due to appear at Oxford Crown Court over a video link from hospital on Monday, June 15.
The 65-year-old is charged with two counts of sexual assault which relate to an incident in Oxford on January 7, 2023.
Zion has refused to co-operate with the proceedings so far and did not appear over the video link.
READ MORE: Busy classic car show in sunshine attracts villagers
Due to his refusal to co-operate, Zion is unrepresented.
During a previous court hearing, not guilty pleas were entered on the defendant’s behalf.
A trial date was previously given for November 22, 2027.
On June 15, the court heard an expert’s report had concluded Zion was not fit to plead.
The case will next be heard on August 17 to decide if the case will continue.
Oxford News
Oxford congestion charge hits hospitality hardest, survey shows
Oxfordshire County Council today (June 15) published a long-awaited report by Survation Ltd on the impact of the controversial congestion charge on 300 businesses across the city.
It presents a survey carried out by Indiefield on businesses in postcodes from OX1 to OX4 between April 30 and May 15.
READ MORE: Oxford: Elderly woman hospitalised after ‘attempted robbery’
The survey found that the most common pressure reported by businesses was rising costs (69 per cent), while economic uncertainty and transport or travel costs followed closely as key pressures, reported 61 per cent of businesses.
The impact of the congestion charge on Oxford’s businesses has been revealed in a new survey (Image: Oxfordshire County Council)
The survey found shop-front businesses, including retail, hospitality and tourism, were most likely to report the congestion charge has had a negative overall effect at 47 per cent compared to 24 per cent for other business types.
Shop-front businesses were similarly most to say to the charge has decreased customer numbers (58 per cent versus 18 per cent), made deliveries or servicing more difficult (57 per cent versus 33 per cent), and increased operating costs (43 per cent versus 33 per cent).
Across business types, 39 per cent said deliveries or servicing has become more difficult and more businesses have reported customer decreases (29 per cent) than increases (21 per cent).
However, overall, most businesses in Oxford said they are performing well (72 per cent) and 79 per cent of businesses who gave a view on their performance compared to a year ago said they are doing the same or better.
READ MORE: 15 caravans set up ‘unauthorised encampment’ in Oxford park
The council’s survey indicated that nearly half of businesses (48 per cent) reported no noticeable effect from the congestion charge, while 30 per cent reported negative impacts and 22 per cent positive.
Spend in Oxford’s suburban food and beverage destinations has gone down more than average with comparable cities, and businesses with mobile or transport-intensive operations reported sharper pressures on their trade, particularly around costs and travel.
More businesses in Oxford reported customer decreases (29 per cent) than increases (21 per cent) (Image: NQ)
Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for transport, said: “This new data gives us an evidence-based picture of how businesses are faring in the city.
“There are many challenges affecting businesses at this time, and data can help us understand what is having an impact.
“While it’s great that nearly 80 per cent of businesses who gave a view on their performance compared to a year ago said they are doing the same or better, it is clear that many are feeling significant pressures due to a number of local and national factors.
“There is still more to do to improve travel in and around Oxford and help keep the city moving.
READ MORE: Police cordon off Oxford road amid ‘suspicious package’
“The traffic filters trial, from autumn, is one way we’ll further reduce traffic.”
It’s the first monitoring report on the impact of the temporary traffic scheme on businesses to have been published by the council, after it was initially promised that data would come out in January.
The temporary congestion charge has been in place on six roads in Oxford since October 29, designed to help reduce traffic while Botley Road remains closed and the traffic filter trial is delayed.
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