Oxford News
Care home celebrates a year of monthly friendship events
Charlton Lodge in Wantage opens its doors on the second Wednesday of each month for a friendship café, welcoming older people from the surrounding community to join residents for conversation and activities.
Each session runs from 10.30am to 12.30pm and offers visitors the chance to take part in arts and crafts and learn new skills while enjoying refreshments.
The first anniversary of the café was marked with a special event.
Twenty-two guests attended the celebration, enjoying tea, conversation, and homemade cakes.
Carla Kell, home manager at Charlton Lodge, said: “We are dedicated to making a positive difference in our community, and we believe no one should ever feel alone.
“Creating strong support networks is vital and our friendship café is designed to do just that, offering a welcoming space where people can relax, connect, and enjoy each other’s company.
“As we celebrate the event’s one-year anniversary, we’re looking forward to reflecting on the past 12 months and sharing conversations over a cup of tea and a slice of cake.”
The friendship café is run in partnership with Dementia Oxfordshire.
Charlton Lodge is a Care UK home offering residential, dementia, and respite care.
To find out more information about Charlton Lodge, please call 01235 330 416, or email mark.young@careuk.com or visit careuk.com/charlton-lodge.
Oxford News
South Moreton Primary School delivers strong performance
South Moreton Primary School was described by inspectors as a place where ‘pupils enjoy learning and their time together’.
The school was awarded a ‘strong standard’ judgment in each of the seven areas that Ofsted review.
Cheryl Sánchez, headteacher at South Moreton Primary School, said: “This report is a moment of huge pride for our whole school community. We are absolutely thrilled.
“Our school is built on a strong ethos of community and inclusion, and it’s wonderful to see the inspectors also see the warmth and positivity that runs through everything we do.”
The Ofsted report commended pupils as ‘confident, articulate and curious,’ noting that they benefit from ‘rich opportunities to experience the world’.
Early years provision was described as a ‘joyful and harmonious space,’ where children develop strong foundations in reading, writing, mathematics and communication.
Inspectors also highlighted the inclusive nature of the school’s curriculum and routines, as well as the professional curiosity and focus demonstrated by school leaders.
The school is part of the Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust.
Sharon Mullins, CEO of the trust, said: “Achieving a strong standard is something that any school should take huge pride in – but to do it in every judgement area is quite a rare achievement under this new framework so far.
“We don’t do what we do for our children because of Ofsted, but it is lovely that the relentless effort of the team at South Moreton have been recognised by them.”
Oxford News
Liam Gallagher has Roman temple next door to £4.2m Cotswolds mansion
The Oasis singer was rumoured to have bought a mansion near Cirencester in December last year, having previously rented it for £19,000 a month ahead of the band’s comeback tour.
During the summer, it was reported that Mr Gallagher and his fiancée, Debbie Gwyther, had been phoning around high-end estate agents to buy a new mansion in the Cotswolds.
Mr Gallagher himself confirmed earlier this year that he’s purchased Dockem House in the village of Coates over the Oxfordshire border.
READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson to make member of public millionaire this month
Now, The Sun has reported that the musician’s new pad is next door to a Roman temple and that he’s a fan of history, making it a perfect match.
The five-acre estate is near Hailey Wood Camp, which dates back to 100AD, and has been buried since the 1980s.
Historic England said that the complex is rare and that only “a number of temple complexes [in the UK] have similar double-ditch enclosed areas”.
The Sun added: “Seven lead ‘curse tablets’, which Romans used to ask the Gods to jinx an enemy, were reportedly found there.
READ MORE: Cosy Cotswolds pub named among UK’s best and up for national award
“Previous owner, World War I hero Major William Daubney, was the first to identify Hailey Wood Camp, an underground temple complex dating between 100AD and 400AD.
“The complex is centred on a square enclosure with other smaller buildings scattered around it and has been buried since the 1980s after the site was plundered for ‘coins and other metal objects’.”
A fan of history, Mr Gallagher was recently asked by a fan on the social media site X what the first thing he does on holiday.
The singer responded: “I unpack and hang up all my clothes in alphabetical order, then I go find out some local history, then I get on the p**s.”
Oxford News
BBC legend names new presenter for Strictly Come Dancing
The wildlife TV star has hosted the BBC’s Springwatch nature show for 14 years, having previously worked on The Really Wild Show and Wide Awake Club.
She recently finished as runner-up on ITV reality show Dancing on Ice, competing last year with professional partner Mark Hanretty.
Michaela, who supports Oxford United through her son, who works at the club, recently had an exclusive chat with the Oxford Mail.
READ MORE: Wildlife TV legend reveals Celebrity Traitors and Strictly ambitions
Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan of Springwatch. (Image: Michaela Strachan / X)
Another beloved dance show, which, like Springwatch, is a BBC icon, is Strictly Come Dancing, with the competition programme running since 2004.
Strictly is now without a presenter after both hosts, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, departed last year.
With speculation rife over who will host the programme later this year, this newspaper asked Ms Strachan who she would like to see take on the job.
After being suggested with hosting it herself and long-time contributor Chris Packham, the 60-year-old laughed and said: “Can you imagine Chris Packham presenting Strictly!
READ MORE: Michaela Strachan praises Jeremy Clarkson over Clarkson’s Farm
La Voix (left) and Aljaz Skorjanec during the results show of Strictly Come Dancing. (Image: Guy Levy / BBC / PA)
“Oh my god, that would be worth watching.
“I think La Voix would be brilliant, that’s who I would back. I don’t know whether they would get it, but I think that would be really good fun if La Voix did it.
“I really enjoyed watching La Voix on Strictly last year, so that would be the obvious choice.
“There are some choices that have been talked about that are very obvious, and you think no, come on, let’s push the boat out. Let’s get to somebody different.
“I’d like to see them go out of the box, and it would be highly entertaining.”
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