Crime & Safety
Oxford’s first black mayor is announced by council
The Labour city councillor for Quarry and Risinghurst will carry out a wide range of civic engagements during 2026/27, from leading Oxford’s Remembrance service to school visits and charity events.
Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council, made the announcement at the full council meeting on Monday night.
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She also announced that Louise Upton will be the deputy Lord Mayor of Oxford, and Linda Smith will be the Sheriff of Oxford for 2026/27.
Mr Munkonge and Ms Upton’s civic roles are subject to their re-election in May.
Mr Munkonge, who has represented Quarry and Risinghurst for the past 11 years, said: “I am deeply humbled and truly honoured to be chosen as the next Lord Mayor of Oxford.
“Having had the privilege of representing the people of Quarry and Risinghurst for the past 11 years, this moment carries great personal and civic significance.
“As the first black Lord Mayor of our city, I stand on the shoulders of those who paved the way, and I hope to be a source of inspiration for future generations.
“Oxford is a city of remarkable history, diversity and opportunity, and I am proud to serve a community that continues to inspire and lead.
“I look forward to championing our communities, supporting local charities, and representing Oxford with dedication, integrity and pride throughout the coming year.”
Mr Munkonge grew up in Zambia. He moved to the UK in 2003 and then to Oxford, to be closer to his wife, in 2008.
He holds an MBA from Oxford Brookes University, graduating in 2012, and works as an admin officer for an Oxford-based charity.
Mr Munkonge has chosen Sobell House and St Theresa to be his Lord Mayor’s charities for 2026/27.
The three councillors will be sworn in at the traditional mayor making ceremony in Oxford Town Hall in May.
The ceremony will see the outgoing mayor, Ms Upton, officially step down and hand over their chains of office to Mr Munkonge.
The bells of Carfax Tower will then be rung by the Oxford Society of Change Ringers to commemorate the ceremony.
The Lord Mayor generally carries out more than 300 engagements each year. These cover a wide range, from Royal visits to community group meetings and charity events.
The first recorded mayor of Oxford is Laurence Kepeharme, 1205-1209.
Mayors’ names stretch in an unbroken line until 1962, when the dignity of the Lord Mayor was granted to Oxford by the Queen.
The rural crime police found and recovered a red Ducati Monster in the Cane End area of south Oxfordshire, close to Reading.
According to officers, the bike was involved in an incident last month where it failed to stop for blue lights and made off in a “dangerous” manner having crashed into a police van.
It was found on Wednesday evening, May 13.
The Ducati Monster is a popular motorbike made by the Italian manufacturer since the early 1990s.
Some 350,000 Ducati Monsters have been produced since the model’s introduction in 1993, making it the best-selling and longest-running motorcycle in Ducati’s history.
Its often credited in the motorbike world as being the one that ‘saved Ducati’ due to its popularity and cheap development costs
The Rose & Crown in Ratley, a village new Banbury on the northern tip of the Cotswolds AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), shut down unexpectedly ahead of the festive period in December 2024, due to personal circumstances, according to the owners.
The village pub and restaurant, 10 miles north of Banbury, is now set to be reopened under new owners after more than a year on the market.
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In a statement released to introduce themselves, new owners Dee and Norm Knight-Barrett said: “We wanted to reassure everyone that we intend to reopen The Rose & Crown as a traditional British ‘pie and pint’ pub.
“There is quite a bit of work to do internally in particular the cellar and kitchen.
“We want to offer the best beers and pies that we can so we need to carry out some upgrades. We will keep you posted with regard to progress so please bear with us.
“We are looking forward to meeting you all and making lots of new friends.”
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The new owners revealed the plans include theme nights, pizza, curry and barbecues, live music, a pool table and sports games, and has invited further suggestions from the village.
The property is a grade II listed, detached building which is believed to have operated as a pub for more than 250 years.
No opening date has yet been announced and works to renovate and refresh the venue are ongoing.
Green Templeton College’s long‑running Management in Medicine Programme has been shortlisted for the Empowering People Award.
The university‑wide awards celebrate outstanding contributions across Oxford’s collegiate community, with nearly 170 entries submitted across 13 categories this year and more than 1,000 individuals nominated.
Shortlisted as one of the five nominees in the Empowering People category, the Management in Medicine Programme is recognised for empowering medical students and healthcare professionals to develop their management and leadership potential.
The programme helps those working in and around healthcare build the skills and knowledge needed to navigate today’s complex health and care systems.
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Programme lead Dr Nicholas Hicks said: “This recognition reflects the commitment of everyone who contributes to the programme, including our speakers, participants and colleagues across Green Templeton and the wider university.”
The Management in Medicine Programme offers workshops, seminars and a shadowing scheme focused on healthcare leadership, service improvement and the practical challenges facing NHS and other health organisations.
The Management in Medicine team will present their work at the Vice‑Chancellor’s Awards Showcase at the Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities on Tuesday, June 2.
The winners and highly commended nominees will be announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday, June 4.
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