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New operator revealed as Oxford university gives up facility

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Brookes Sport announced in December that it will cease using the Harcourt Hill Campus sports site near Botley from April 2026 as part of its so-called ‘Oxford Campus Vision’.

Within this context and the “significant” fall in numbers using the campus site, the university said, that from April 1, a number of facilities would no longer be available.

The grass pitches will still be available and the 3G pitches can be block booked via the university after April.

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After reports of a potential deal with a third-party operator, The Brookes Sport & Active Wellness Team has now revealed that fitness business Mind Over Matter will manage the facility.

A spokesperson for the company said: “We can confirm that a third-party provider will be utilising the indoor sports facilities at Harcourt Hill, subject to final contractual confirmation, which we expect to be completed in the coming days.

“We are pleased to share that, from April 1, 2026, the indoor fitness facilities will be operated by Mind Over Matter Fitness Centre.

Harcourt Hill campus (Image: Oxford Mail)

“They will offer a range of activities, including gym access, fitness classes, racquet sports, wellness sessions and community activities.

“Please note that these services will operate independently from Brookes Sport and existing Brookes Sport memberships will not provide access to the new Mind Over Matter facilities.”

Megan of the Mind Over Matter Team said she was “excited” to be taking over the centre.

On the business’ website, she said: “Mind Over Matter Fitness Centre replaces Harcourt Hill Brookes Sport and aims to build upon the services and community which already exists here. 

(Image: Supplied)

“I have worked for Brookes for many years in several different roles including personal trainer, fitness instructor and as a nutritionist in the Functional Food Centre.

“Mind over Matter has been running as a fitness business for 13 years and we are excited to be taking over as we feel it has great potential for the local community.

​“The Mind Over Matter Team are looking forward to offering you an inclusive and friendly environment where you can access range of fitness and health services.”

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This latest announcement by Oxford Brookes comes as it continues to wind down its operations at Harcourt Hill.

All remaining teaching and library services moved from Harcourt Hill to the Headington Campus for the start of the 2025/26 academic year.

And as of October 27 last year, the Harcourt Cafe is no longer operating as a walk-in catering service.

Accommodation continues to be provided during the 2025/26 academic year and will continue into the 2026/27 academic year.





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Three-bedroom house in Wallingford on the market for £500k

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Listed at £500,000, the property is situated on Wood Street in the centre of the town. According to the listing, renovation and extensions have added ‘contemporary living’ alongside the ‘character’ of the building’s origins.

The double bedrooms have fitted wardrobes (Image: In House, Wallingford via Rightmove)

The ground floor has an open-plan kitchen and living area. Features here include an island bar, integrated Everhot range cooker, Hotpoint fridge drawers, a freezer, and Bosch dishwasher. The space also benefits from triple aspect double glazed windows and spotlights.

An archway leads to a separate dining room, which has bi-fold doors opening onto a west-facing rear garden. According to the listing, the garden has raised planting beds, a mature hedge border, a paved patio, and artificial lawn. There is also a side access gate and further storage.

There is a modern kitchen (Image: In House, Wallingford via Rightmove)

Additional ground floor spaces include a utility room and a cloakroom. From the kitchen, access is available to a cellar. The cellar is equipped with power and lighting.

On the first floor, there are two double bedrooms with fitted wardrobes and a third bedroom suitable as a study or home office. A modern family bathroom includes a bath with rain effect shower, a vanity unit with basin, and a Velux window.





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Jeremy Clarkson preparing for death amid health concerns

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The former Top Gear and The Grand Tour presenter lives in Oxfordshire, where he runs Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington and The Farmer’s Dog pub in Asthall, near Burford.

More recently he has become known for starring in Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon Prime, which documents his time running the 1,000-acre farm.

He has been a vocal supporter of the UK’s farming industry regularly highlighting the issues the sector is facing.

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In addition, in late 2024 he marched in London as part of a protest against a new 20 per cent inheritance tax on farms valued over £1 million from April 2026.

With the tax about to come into force, Mr Clarkson has revealed he has been making plans for his death in his latest The Sunday Times column.

It comes as he has previously revealed that he underwent emergency heart surgery last year at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital after suffering pains.

Jeremy Clarkson arrives at the farmers’ protest in London (Image: Supplied)

Since then, he has been on a new, healthier diet, which has resulted in a noticeable weight loss.

In the column, he reflects that if you’re a farmer and die after April 5, the children will have to “sell up” due to the new policy.

With this in mind he said he’s hoping to “hang on until the Labourites have gone” in the hope the policy will be reversed.

He also revealed that he has been preparing for his death, including looking into his will, his donor card and what might happen if he is incapacitated.

Mr Clarkson said: “All I can say is that I ‘would wish not to be in a vegetative sate’ and that I would ‘prefer it if no heroic efforts’ were made to bring me round after a prolonged deprivation of oxygen.”

Luke Hawes at the farming protest (Image: Andy Ffrench)

Farmers have continued to protest the inheritance tax changes since they were announced.

In 2025 in Oxford, local farmers launched a noisy protest involving tractors.

They parked large tractors outside Oxford University’s Examination Schools where the two-day Oxford Farming Conference was being held.

Farmers in tractors sounded horns outside the conference but did not block the High Street as police monitored the peaceful protest.

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Luke Hawes, a beef and arable farmer at Oakley, near Thame, said the protest was a show of unity from farmers.

He added: “The policies the Government is coming up with are not sustainable, particularly the inheritance tax policy on agricultural property and business property relief.

“My father is 81 and owns the family business, which is valued at about £6m.

“But if he dies within seven years of handing it down we could be hit with a massive tax bill.”





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MP reveals mockery of northern accent at Oxford University

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Luke Charters, MP for York Outer, told GB News that he was teased by tutors while at university and asked if he was drinking a mug of gravy by other students because of his broad northern accent.

Mr Charters became the Labour MP for the area at the last election having previously worked at the Bank of England and in the fintech industry.

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He studied philosophy, politics and economics (PPE) at Mansfield College, Oxford, from 2013, graduating in 2016.

The 30-year-old told Chopper’s Political Podcast there were older tutors who mocked him for the way he spoke.

Oxford University (Image: Other)

On at least one occasion a fellow student asked him whether he was drinking a mug of gravy or a mug of tea.

Mr Charters added that he was advised to water down his accent if he wanted to get a good graduate job or do a Master’s.

“They’re not going to understand you,” he was apparently told.

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Classism and accent discrimination has been a regularly discussed topic at Oxford University in recent years.

It was around the time of Mr Charters’ graduation that St Hilda’s College first introduced a ‘class liberation officer’ to support working class students.

Several years later the principal of Somerville College, Jan Royall, controversially suggested octopus be removed from the college menu as it did not foster an inclusive atmosphere.





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