Oxford News
Deep Purple rock legend’s mansion and gardens open to public
The Springs Resort & Golf Club in North Stoke near Wallingford reopened three years ago following a multi-million pound refurbishment.
Formerly owned by legendary Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan, the resort – part of the Talacre-based Darwin Escapes portfolio – is one of the major employers in the region with more than 70 staff and 500 members.
READ MORE: New Deep Purple album features dynamics of 1970s
The rock star’s guitar-shaped swimming pool is no more, but manager Ben Scholes said in 2024 renovations and new facilities – including the 1893 spa and Ridgeway Restaurant – have proved incredibly popular with visitors from across the UK and beyond.
Originally from Flintshire, Mr Scholes said earlier the historic former 19th century manor house is one of the local area’s “hidden gems”.
“We are of course recognised for our first-class golfing facilities and are incredibly proud to have one of the best courses in the South-East, but following a period of significant investment the Springs has grown to become a high-quality holiday destination,” he added.
“Our restaurant is exceptionally busy throughout the week and the spa complex, which also features a sauna, steam room and hydrotherapy pool, has attracted many visitors to the resort.
“And with more living space now on-site – the 19 luxury self-contained Alder Lodges, in addition to bespoke rooms in our boutique hotel – we are able to accommodate more guests than ever before.”
Mr Scholes added: “This in turn has led to us creating jobs, doing more to support the local economy and provide part-time and seasonal jobs in this picturesque rural area.
“The Springs is one of Oxfordshire’s hidden gems, but our reputation is now spreading across the UK, which will have a positive knock-on effect for the region.”
Sir Michael Caine and renowned contralto Dame Clara Butt are among the other famous faces to have visited North Stoke.
“The major USP we have is this beautiful part of the world, and as a result we are now getting more bookings for weddings, corporate events and hospitality packages,” said Mr Scholes.
“Even to the locals we are considered remote, so for us to now be bringing in people from across England and other parts of the country is heartening.”
He added: “People come here to get away from it all, on the banks of the River Thames surrounded by wildlife and nature.
“We are thrilled with how things have progressed since the redevelopment and how well our new facilities and luxury offering has been received nationwide and here in the community, but we won’t rest on our laurels – this is just the beginning.”
Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan bought the mock Tudor building in 1973 for £100,000 and invested £443,000 of his own money into its restoration.
It was sold in 1995 to Svenia and Paul Franklin who ran the hotel until they left in 2014.
Last month the Deep Purple frontman said the new album Splat! is returning to the “dynamics, the balance and the fun” of the music the band made in the early 1970s.
The group, formed in 1968, will release their 24th studio album on July 3.
The band has teamed up with renowned producer Bob Ezrin, who has worked with Kiss, Pink Floyd, Lou Reed and Alice Cooper for the new music, described as “the heaviest Deep Purple album in many years”.
Ian Gillan said: “Gillan said: “Where we are now with this incarnation of Deep Purple feels very much like a very ‘now’ version of Deep Purple as it was in the 70s.”
He added: “I have to say, now we are very much back in with material that is compatible with Highway Star, Smoke On The Water, Lazy – the dynamics, the balance, and the fun of the music we made from ’69 to ’73. Deep Purple is in a great place right now.”
The UK’s Met Office has revealed the storm names for 2026/27, selected from more than 40,000 public suggestions.
The scheme is run in partnership with Met Eireann in Ireland and KNMI in the Netherlands, and the list starts each year in September to reflect the beginning of the autumn storm season.
This storm season includes names such as Austen, Boelo and Chloe and each has a story behind its nomination.
Staying safe during a thunderstorm
Names were submitted in honour of children, pets and even characters like Shaun the Sheep, as well as in memory of loved ones and meteorological trailblazers.
Under naming conventions used for storms in the North Atlantic, the list runs alphabetically, missing out Q, U, X, Y and Z.
Chloe, the third name on the list this year, was nominated more than 120 times.
One suggestion came from the mother of a five-year-old described as being “fascinated by the weather” who can also “create a storm by herself” when tired.
Other names have similarly personal backstories.
Finn was put forward for a two-year-old described as “wild and a force to be reckoned with”, while Ivy was nominated in honour of a nine-month-old Labrador puppy affectionately called “the absolute destructor”.
Nicola was suggested as a tribute to a mother who has “weathered many a storm and only come out stronger”.
Some names reflect a wider cultural reach.
Shaun, selected following a public vote, was included as part of a collaboration with Aardman, the studio behind Wallace and Gromit, to help raise awareness of storm preparedness.
Scattered showers moving eastwards this afternoon, some heavy and perhaps thundery ☔
Turning drier and fresher in the west, with sunny spells ⛅
Cloud and rain returning to the northwest later 🌧️ pic.twitter.com/0s2Je7rraP
— Met Office (@metoffice) August 31, 2026
The list also honours figures in meteorological history.
Met Eireann chose Austen in tribute to Austen Nagle, the first director of the Irish Meteorological Service as it marks its 90th anniversary.
Evelyn was selected in honour of Evelyn Murphy, the first woman to present weather forecasts on Ireland’s national broadcaster, RTE.
Why are storms named?
The scheme began in 2015 and aims to improve public awareness and response in the face of severe weather.
Last year, four names were used from the list, reaching Storm Dave in April.
The UK was also affected by three additional storms named by other European meteorological services: Benjamin, Claudia and Goretti.
The Met Office said names are reviewed for pronunciation, potential meanings across different languages, connections to public figures and any risk of controversy.
When is a storm named?
A storm is named when it’s expected to cause medium or high impacts in the UK, Ireland or the Netherlands.
Wind is the primary consideration, but significant effects from rain or snow are also taken into account.
Met Office confirms storm names for 2026/27
This year’s names, and the country they came from, are:
- Austen (Ireland)
- Boelo (pronounced Boo-loh) (Netherlands)
- Chloe (UK)
- Dano (pronounced Dah-noh) (Netherlands)
- Evelyn (Ireland)
- Finn (UK)
- Gwendolyn (Netherlands)
- Heather (Ireland)
- Ivy (UK)
- Jade (Netherlands)
- Kilian (Ireland)
- Laoise (pronounced Lee-sha) (Ireland)
- Miriam (Ireland)
- Nicola (UK)
- Olaf (Netherlands)
- Phelim (Fay-lim) (Ireland)
- Ruban (UK)
- Shaun (UK)
- Theo (UK)
- Vesna (Vehs-nuh) (Netherlands)
- Wende (Vhen-duh) (Netherlands)
Holly Clements, Met Office head of warnings and guidance, said: “For more than a decade, storm naming has helped us communicate the risks from severe weather more effectively.
“A named storm provides a clear focus for forecasts and warnings, helping more people understand the potential impacts and take action to protect themselves, their families and their property.”
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Eoin Sherlock, Met Eireann head of forecasting division, said: “We know that naming storms makes it easier for people to track important and up-to-date forecast and safety-related information as we can see from the levels of traffic and activity through our website and across social media platforms during storm events.
“2026 marks the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Irish Meteorological Service and we are proud to be able to recognise some of the significant contributors to our history in the list of storm names this year.”
Which names would you add to the list of storm names? Let us know in the comments below.
Charlie Matthews appeared at Oxford Crown Court on August 27.
The 25-year-old is charged with two counts of rape.
The allegations are said to have taken place in Oxford in April and October 2021.
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The complainant for both counts is the same woman.
Matthews, of Langney Road, Eastbourne, pleaded not guilty to both counts.
A trial date, with a time estimate of four to five days, was set for August 21, 2028.
Judge Ian Pringle KC said that this is some seven years after the offences are alleged to have taken place.
The judge said: “Unfortunately, that’s the situation.”
Matthews was released on bail, with the condition not to contact the complainant.
Islandfarm Viscount is a 13-year-old gelding from Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell near Wallingford.
He took the top title at the 2026 Donkey Breed Society National Championship Show, held on August 22 at Pickering Grange Equestrian Centre in Coalville.
He is the offspring of East Lodge Bryony, a donkey left to the sanctuary by the late Alex and Sue Horn.
Mr Horn was a respected figure in donkey showing and won numerous awards during his lifetime.
Viscount has built an impressive record of his own, with championship wins at the Mid Somerset Show and the New Forest and Hampshire Show.
He was named Reserve Champion at the Ellingham and Ringwood Show, placing just behind stablemate Perehill Magical Moments.
Both donkeys qualified for the national finals, where Viscount claimed the Senior Gelding Class and went on to be named British Champion Gelding for the fifth year in a row.
He then competed against other class winners and took home the Supreme Champion title and trophy.
Perehill Magical Moments earned her place at the finals after wins at the Heckinton Show and Ellingham and Ringwood.
At the national event, she won the Senior Mare class and was named Reserve Mare Champion.
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