Oxford News
Oxfordshire set for election after sitting councillor dies
Margaret Crick, who served on the Abingdon Town Council and was a former mayor of the town, died on Friday, July 10.
Now, it has been announced that an election looks likely following the politician’s passing.
A public notice from Abingdon Town Council signed by town clerk Cherie Carruthers was issued today (Wednesday, August 19).
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It read: “Public notice is hereby given that due to the death of councillor Margaret Crick, a vacancy exists in the office of town councillor for Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council’s Dunmore Ward.
“The vacancy will be filled by election if, within fourteen working days of the date of this notice, any ten local government electors for the said town/parish ward submit a written request to the Returning Officer, Vale of White Horse District Council, Abbey House, Abbey Close, Abingdon, OX14 3JE.
“In computing these fourteen days mentioned above you disregard a Saturday or Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a bank holiday or a day appointed for Public Thanksgiving or Mourning.
“If no such request is made the vacancy will be filled by co-option by the Town Council.”
A statement on Abingdon Town Council’s website shortly following Ms Crick’s death said: “It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of Councillor Margaret Crick, who passed away on Friday (July 10).
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“Margaret had been in poor health in recent months, but nevertheless, her passing has come as a great shock to all her friends and colleagues at the Town Council and in the wider community of Abingdon.
“Margaret was first elected to the Town Council in May 2011 and has represented the Dunmore ward continuously since then.
“During her time on the Town Council, she served on many committees, including the Environment, Amenities and Infrastructure committee, the Planning committee, and the Museum sub-committee.
“Margaret also served as Mayor of Abingdon from 2018 to 2019.
“She was also elected to the Vale of White District Council in a By-election in September 2014 and served as a District Councillor until she stood down in May 2023.
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“It is a measure of the respect that she was held in by her fellow councillors that she was elected as Chair of the Vale for four successive years from 2019 to 2023.
“Margaret was a hardworking and dedicated councillor, building up a great deal of knowledge about Abingdon, and particularly her Dunmore ward.
“She was very keen to see a cinema remain in Abingdon and was particularly pleased that the Council had recently ensured this would happen.
“Margaret was also a passionate defender of the green belt. She was generous with her time with residents, councillors and staff.
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“She brought great warmth and personality to meetings.
“She had an incisive and enquiring mind, not afraid to ask difficult questions but always tempering this with her caring and generous spirit and her great sense of humour.
“Margaret leaves two sons, David and Michael. Our thoughts go out to them and her wider family at this very difficult time.
“Margaret will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.”
Oxford News
Luxury Cotswolds hotel poaches TV chef from world’s best
HYLL has named David Kelman as its new executive chef, bringing an experienced culinary figure to oversee the food offering at the recently opened 17th-century manor house hotel in Charingworth, near Chipping Campden.
Mr Kelman joins the business from Estelle Manor in Oxfordshire, which was recently named as one of the world’s best hotels.
He arrives with more than 20 years of experience working at a range of well-known country house hotels and hospitality venues across the UK.
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David Kelman has been appointed executive chef at HYLL. (Image: Jake Balston)
Originally from North Wales, he has held senior roles at Bodysgallen Hall, Lower Slaughter Manor, Wyck Hill House, Ellenborough Park, Cowley Manor, Thyme and Burford Garden Company.
He is perhaps best known for his time as executive head chef at Ellenborough Park in Cheltenham, where the Beaufort Dining Room achieved three AA Rosettes.
During his tenure, he also won several industry awards, including Best Chef at the Taste of Gloucestershire Awards and Chef of the Year at the Cotswold Life Food & Drink Awards.
A recognised figure within the hospitality sector, Mr Kelman represented Wales on BBC programme Great British Menu in 2014.
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HYLL in the Cotswolds. (Image: Newsquest)
He has cooked for members of the Royal Family, including Queen Elizabeth II and the then Prince of Wales.
He has also competed internationally as part of the Welsh National Culinary Team.
At HYLL, which welcomed its first guests in September 2025, Mr Kelman will lead the hotel’s food operation, creating menus focused on seasonal ingredients and produce sourced from the Cotswolds and neighbouring counties.
His cooking philosophy places a strong emphasis on high-quality ingredients, close partnerships with local suppliers and delivering dining experiences inspired by the surrounding area.
The appointment strengthens HYLL’s leadership team as the hotel continues to build its reputation within the Cotswolds hospitality sector.
Oxford News
Clarkson’s Farm star quits show and buys £1.7m farm
The Daily Mail has revealed that Harriet Cowan – who quickly became a fan favourite during her brief spell on the Amazon Prime series – has purchased a new farm.
The 25-year-old from Derbyshire joined the cast in the fourth season of Clarkson’s Farm, which was released on Prime Video across May and June last year.
She temporarily stood in for long-time cast member Kaleb Cooper as he toured, helping Jeremy Clarkson at Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington, Oxfordshire.
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She left midway through the series once her help was no longer needed, but became popular with viewers despite her short time on screen.
Now it seems she’s branching out on her own at her new 100-acre property in rural Derbyshire, where – the Daily Mail says – she is planning on setting up a home with fellow farmer boyfriend James Booth.
The premises are near to her family farm, where she learned her trade, with the paper saying it was on the market for £1,765,000.
Its previous owner sadly died last year, leading to the sale, which is reportedly almost complete.
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Since her time on Clarkson’s Farm, Ms Cowan has seen her media presence grow so that she now has millions of followers across several platforms.
Recently, she told The Telegraph that some viewers have been asking for her hand in marriage.
She said: “I must get about a thousand DMs a day and probably 50 per cent are just men being like, ‘I wish I could marry you.’ But it’s all fun and games.
“The other 50 per cent are young girls seeing me farming and thinking, ‘I’d like to do what she does.’ And they’re who I do it for.”
Oxford News
Oxford students in debt as student loan fails to cover rent
Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University students can apply for maintenance loans yearly to cover their rent.
However, a new analysis has revealed that even the maximum loans cannot cover students living in Oxford.
The analysis which covered 32 university cities, revealed Oxford is one of 17 where the maintenance loan does not cover the average rent.
Instead, students living in Oxford are £113 short each week.
Cities leaving students even worse off is Bristol, Guildford, Bath and London.
Oxford is one of the most expensive university cities to pay rent in (Image: Supplied)
Meanwhile, the cities leaving students with extra money leftover after paying their rent is Sheffield, Plymouth, Swansea and Lincoln.
The maximum means-tested loan is set at two rates: £14,135 for students living away from home in London, and £10,830 everywhere else.
Average weekly rents on the My Student Halls platform range from £138 in Sheffield to £427 in London, a spread of more than three times.
A standard UK undergraduate maintenance loan is calculated to cover a 30 to 39-week academic year, depending on your course and year of study.
My Student Halls founder, Dan Roberts, has advised students to check the contract lengths when booking if they want to save money.
He said: “Half the contracts on our platform are 51-week lets, not the 44 weeks people assume, so students are paying rent through the summer whether they are living there or not. On a £300 room, that is over £2,000 of difference, and it rarely gets mentioned when people compare headline weekly prices.
“If your loan is your main income, look for properties with 44/45 weeks in the contract. If you’re not planning on spending your time there in the summer, this will save you a LOT of money in the long run.”
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