Eddy Webb and Brian Kemp, from Travis Perkins’ Chipping Norton branch on Station Road, completed 200km running and cycling challenges by undertaking 100km each to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society – the business’ chosen charity.

Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer and one in three people born today will develop dementia in their lifetime. Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading dementia charity – providing help and hope to everyone affected by dementia.

Eddy, 32, set himself the extraordinary challenge of running 100km in a day, which is roughly the same as running from the Chipping Norton branch to Bristol city centre while Brian took to the Cotswolds hills on his bike to complete his 100km on challenging terrain.

Setting off at 5am, he completed his task in 14 hours. The yard manager at Travis Perkins Chipping Norton did the first 80km around the local area before heading back to his branch to complete the final stretch in front of suppliers, customers, family and friends.

Brian Kemp cycled 100km over six hours (Image: Travis Perkins)

Meanwhile Brian, 56, who is the branch manager, started his cycling challenge at 7am, completing the 100km cycle in six hours, arriving back at the branch mid-afternoon.

Speaking after completing his run, Eddy said: “I have run a long way before, but when I set myself this challenge, I knew how difficult it was going to be, and it certainly did not disappoint from that perspective.

“I felt completely exhausted after it, but ultimately it was for a great cause in Alzheimer’s Society, and it ended up being such a good day for everyone at Travis Perkins Chipping Norton.

“I am so grateful to all those who supported both Brian and me throughout the day.”

Brian said: “Chipping Norton is a tough place to cycle at the best of times because of its hilly nature, but a 100km ride was very challenging. I am pleased I managed to complete it, and my overriding feeling is of pride that everyone at the branch pulled together to raise a great amount of money for charity.”

Travis Perkins is part of Travis Perkins plc and is the UK’s largest supplier of building materials to the building and construction industry.

Featuring a network of more than 550 branches, it supplies thousands of products and materials, including a tool hire service, to trade professionals and self-builders across the nation.

You can donate to Eddy and Brian’s charity fundraiser on their JustGiving page.

Green Gates Care Home, located on Hernes Road in Oxford, welcomed a variety of animals from Farms2ewe, including lambs, a pony, goats, chickens, guinea pigs, and baby chicks.

Residents and staff enjoyed interacting with the animals in both the home’s lounges and gardens, offering opportunities for petting, cuddles, and learning fun facts from the visiting farmer.

Sharon Lamb, home manager at Green Gates, said: “Interacting with animals play such an important part of our residents’ lives.

“They all love giving our animal friends a cuddle and learning lots of new fun facts.

“You could see the happiness and excitement on everyone’s faces, it was a truly heartwarming experience.”

Many residents reminisced about childhood pets and shared stories about their love of animals, with the visit prompting laughter and conversation throughout the day.

Margaret Buchnan, a resident at the care home, said: “It’s the best activity we have ever done.”

Relatives and staff also expressed their delight at the event.

A relative named Vivienne said: “It was wonderful to see and lovely that everyone got involved.”

Farms2ewe is a family-run mobile farm based on the Wessex Downs near Newbury.

The company has been providing animal therapy visits to care homes for many years, bringing all the fun of the farm to people of all ages across the region.

Cakes of Curiosity, based in Oxfordshire, took home the title for Cakes and Sweet Treats at the Guides for Brides Customer Service Awards 2026.

The annual awards, hosted by one of the UK’s leading wedding planning platforms, celebrate outstanding customer experience across the wedding industry.

Winners are chosen based on real reviews, service excellence, and consistent delivery of exceptional service.

Cakes of Curiosity was selected from hundreds of businesses nationwide for its high ratings and glowing feedback.

Nikita Thorne, head of strategy at Guides for Brides, said: “Couples are entering the wedding planning process more informed and more discerning than ever before, and they expect genuine care, clear communication and consistency at every touchpoint.

“This year’s awards have highlighted just how many businesses are rising to meet that expectation.

“From our winners and highly commended recipients to every finalist, we’ve seen a shared dedication to going above and beyond for couples, creating experiences that feel personal, seamless and memorable.”

Cakes of Curiosity stood out for their commitment to delivering a seamless and supportive experience for couples, reflected in consistently high review ratings and glowing feedback from real weddings.

One couple said: “We booked Cakes of Curiosity for our wedding cake after meeting Melanie at a Wedding Fair as we knew there would be no one better for our special day and Melanie proved us right in every possible way.

“Every single tier looked absolutely stunning and tasted even better than we could have imagined.

“Melanie even perfectly catered to our gluten-free guest by creating him his own mini cake, which tasted just as amazing as the main event!”

“She made the whole process feel so special and the time, care and attention to detail Melanie puts into her work is unmatched.

“Choosing Melanie as our cake maker was without a doubt one of the very best decisions we made for the entire wedding.”

Cakes of Curiosity said: “I can not fully explain what winning this award means to me. I work incredibly hard to combine exceptional craftsmanship with a consistently attentive and professional service.

“I understand that choosing a wedding cake is about more than just design and flavour – it’s about trust, reassurance, and feeling supported throughout the journey.

“Above all, I genuinely care. Each cake is created with passion, pride, and a commitment to excellence, treating every wedding as if it were my own.

“I’m absolutely thrilled that this has resonated with my wonderful couples.”