The team from Duval Inns will walk in aid of Cancer Research UK on Saturday, May 16, starting at The Great Western Arms in Aynho, passing The Highwayman Hotel in Kidlington, and finishing at The Bell at Hampton Poyle.

Expected to take around six hours, the route covers a mix of canal towpaths and public footpaths.

Mark Duval, operations director at Duval Inns, said: “Cancer Research is close to my heart.

“But the sad reality is that my family is just a tiny number of the people affected.

“Many people within our company have been impacted one way or the other, and we want to help make a difference.”

Mr Duval is taking part in memory of his grandmother, Carol Saunders, and celebrating his father Nick’s successful recovery.

The team hopes to raise at least £500 and is encouraging the public to support their efforts through their GoFundMe page, Duval Inns GoFundMe Page.

The walkers include Lauren and Ashley Walton, Nicole Barclay, William Tattersall, Dani Coles, Barney Neal, Jenny Crowie, Alexandra Dumitrache, Harry Leigh, Izzy Millet-Clay, Grace Grossman, Miranda Chaplin, Shirley Chick, and Chris Allen.

Staff who are working on the day will join the walk for parts of the route where possible.

This charity challenge kicks off a wider programme of fundraising events planned by Duval Inns, including their annual summer music event on August 1.

Their GoFundMe page can be found here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/may-charity-walk

Matt Francis will formally succeed outgoing CEO Steve Burgess on September 25, with a short transition period beginning September 1.

John Boyle, chair of trustees at The Oxford Trust, said: “We are delighted to welcome Matt Francis as the next CEO of The Oxford Trust.

“We are confident that Matt brings the vision, sector experience and passion needed to build on the Trust’s 40-year legacy.

“Steve will continue to lead the organisation until 25th September, and we look forward to working with both Steve and Matt during this transition as we prepare to enter into a new exciting period further expanding its mission and impact.”

Mr Francis joins the trust from Oxford Innovation Space, where he was head of science and technology, leading business development across its portfolio.

He is no stranger to the organisation, having previously spent nearly a decade with The Oxford Trust in various senior roles.

During that time, he was instrumental in delivering the £13 million Wood Centre for Innovation and Science Oxford Centre, which opened in March 2019.

He also oversaw operations and supported the growth of early-stage life science and technology companies.

Mr Francis said: “The Oxford Trust has always sat at a distinctive intersection: education and engagement programmes that fire the imaginations of young scientists, alongside innovation centres that help those scientists become the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

“Having spent recent years working across the UK’s science and technology innovation landscape, I return more convinced than ever that its role, independent, mission-driven, and with 40 years of trust built up in this community, has never mattered more.

“With the Aspen Building opening this summer and Oxford’s growing prominence on the national innovation stage, the timing feels significant.

“I look forward to working with the Trust’s brilliant team, trustees and partners to honour the vision of Sir Martin and Lady Audrey Wood and together play our part in what comes next.”

Mr Burgess departs after 13 years at the helm.

During his tenure, he led the purchase and development of the trust’s 18-acre site in Headington, now home to the Linden Building, the soon-to-open Aspen Building, and the Science Oxford Centre.

The board of trustees has planned an official celebration in September to mark Mr Burgess’ contributions, retirement, and the formal handover to Mr Francis.

The trust also operates the Oxford Centre for Innovation at Blue Boar Court in Oxford’s city centre.

The former Top Gear and Grand Tour host lives in Oxfordshire at his Diddly Squat Farm, which he has owned since 2008.

Alongside The Farmer’s Dog pub in Asthall, which he opened in 2024, the Chadlington-based farm stars in the Prime Video series, Clarkson’s Farm.

With four seasons of the show already out and well-received, a fifth iteration is set to drop on June 3 with several new episodes to follow.

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When not behind the camera, Mr Clarkosn writes weekly columns for The Sunday Times, giving his musings and penning car reviews.

In this week’s offering, the 66-year-old has reacted to comments from Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, who has stated that French produce is better than British.

The celebrity farmer, of course, disagreed with the statement but revealed it is not something he does lightly, given his admiration for the Hollywood actress.

Naming her as his ultimate celebrity crush, Mr Clarkson then went on to discuss how nervous he gets when the two cross paths from time to time.

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“You need to understand just how much of a crush I have on Kristin- I see every movie she makes, two or three (hundred) times,” he wrote.

“Whenever we happen upon each other, which does happen from time to time because we have a few mutual friends, I go into a panic.

“Once, I bumped into her during the interval in a theatre and asked, sweatily, what she was doing there. “Er, I’ve come to see the play,” she said. My neck went very hot.”

Mr Clarkson went on to say that the happiest day of his life was when the actress followed him on Instagram, and that the saddest day was when she unfollowed him.