Oxford News
Disgraced Cotswolds gymnastics coach finally quits as boss
Debra Courtenay-Crane has formally quit being a director of Bourton Gymnastics Club, a post she had remained in since December 2024, according to official records.
Companies House says she ceased to be a director on Wednesday, March 25.
Sources previously told us that the club is telling parents that Mrs Courtenay-Crane had been “doing admin at Bourton on a voluntary basis”.
Suzy Marshman, director of the club, said in January: “Debra has no involvement at Carterton Gymnastics Club, and she formally resigned from Bourton in November 2025, although to reiterate she never coached or worked from site at Bourton Gymnastics.”
READ MORE: Disgraced ex gymnastics coach set up new club
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READ MORE: Gymnastics pupil ‘humiliated’ by disgraced and banned coach
Bourton Gymnastics Club is a sister site to the one in Carterton, the website says, where records show she remained a director until August 2025.
Mrs Courtenay-Crane was dismissed from coaching gymnastics in July 2025 after British Gymnastics said there were safeguarding concerns found.
She had been chief coach at Carterton Gymnastics Club near Witney, having founded it some three decades ago.
A parent whose child attends the Bourton gym previously told us: “No one from the club has told us anything about Debra’s ‘retirement’ from Carterton.
“It’s clearly concerning that the management seem to think that they can remove Debra from Carterton and continue on at Bourton without acknowledging the situation that transpired with British Gymnastics.”
Debra Courtenay-Crane
Another concerned parent told us: “Surely if you’ve been struck off as you’re a risk to children then you should not be able to open another club that puts you in the same environment.”
One former gymnastics pupil said she felt “humiliated” during her training under Mrs Courtenay-Crane in Carterton in the 2000s aged around three years old until she was nine.
The woman, now aged 25 and asked for anonymity, previously said: “Being shouted at, sat on and humiliated were so normalised that I just thought that’s what competitive gymnastics entailed.
“Even now, as an adult, I experience a lot of anxiety about making mistakes, and I’m not sure I’ll ever fully overcome that.”
Mrs Courtenay-Crane has so far remained silent on the controversies, not responding to our enquiries for a comment.
Mrs Courtenay-Crane, from Oxfordshire, was a decorated coach having received the southern region winner of the BBC Sports Personality Unsung Hero Awards in 2019.
The coach had mentored thousands of young people across well over three decades, while building a successful adult squad in the meantime.
Oxford News
Aureus School girls were inspired by Navy’s women’s day
Three Year 10 pupils from Aureus School in Didcot travelled to London for the Royal Navy International Women’s Day event, held on HMS President during Careers Week and designed to showcase opportunities within the Royal Navy and beyond.
Students Antonia Pop, Ellie Swan and Tilly Mulvey are all taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme.
Ellie Swan said: “It was fantastic to see the possible career paths within the Navy.”
Rob Hayden, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award manager at Aureus School, accompanied the students to the event.
He said: “During the day, students had talks from individuals within the Navy and from guest speakers, including Hannah Botterman, who last year won both the Rugby World Cup and the Six Nations with England.”
He said: “Students also had the chance to network with the speakers and other attendees.
“The event showed the students a wide range of inspirational females within the Navy and other careers.”
Aureus School, part of the GLF Schools multi-academy trust, says its vision is focused on ‘cultivating ambition’ and ‘high standards for all’.
Headteacher Kirsty Rogers says the Didcot-based co-educational comprehensive has undergone a ‘transformative journey’, creating a community where students feel a strong sense of belonging. She emphasises inclusivity, high expectations, and a broad curriculum that encourages ambition, resilience and respect, supported by dedicated staff and diverse extra-curricular opportunities.
Oxford News
Ryanair launches two new routes in significant move
The flights mark a major boost to the airport’s connectivity ahead of the budget airline’s record Summer 2026 schedule.
The new routes form part of Ryanair’s expanded Glasgow programme for Summer 2026, which will see the airline operate over 100 weekly flights across eight routes.
The new double-daily London Stansted service further strengthens Glasgow’s access to the English capital, while the launch of the Warsaw service enhances Glasgow’s international offering.
Jonathan Ford, portfolio manager at AGS Airports, said: “It’s fantastic to see Ryanair’s new services to London Stansted and Warsaw take off today.
“The double-daily Stansted route offers even more flexibility for business and leisure travellers heading to and from England’s innovation corridor, while Warsaw provides a valuable new link that expands the international connectivity available to our passengers.
“These launches mark the start of what will be a record summer for Ryanair at Glasgow, and we look forward to welcoming even more travellers through our doors.”
Last month, Ryanair launched its 2026 plan for Glasgow with 10 routes, including holiday hotspots like Lanzarote, Palma de Mallorca, and Tenerife, as well as city break destinations like Barcelona and Pisa.
The budget airline will also operate extra frequencies on its Alicante, Faro, Pisa, Malaga and Murcia routes.
The new schedule is underpinned by Ryanair’s two Glasgow Prestwick-based aircraft.
Oxford News
Drug driving arrest carried out in Oxfordshire market town
Thames Valley Police said it stopped a vehicle yesterday evening (Saturday March 28) after noting it had defective lights in Woodstock.
The car “smelt of cannabis” and following a “positive drugs test” the police arrested the motorist.
READ MORE: Investigation launched as unidentified Toyota ‘hits’ pedestrian near Uni Parks
A positive drugs test (Image: TVP)
A spokesperson for the the roads policing unit said they “stopped a vehicle this evening with defective lights in Woodstock”.
They added: “The vehicle smelt of cannabis. The driver provided a positive drug wipe and was arrested.”
Driving under the influence of drugs (drug driving) is a criminal offence and if found guilty, the driver could face an automatic driving ban, a hefty fine, and potential prison time.
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