Crime & Safety
Praise for King Charles stripping UK international rugby player of MBE
Earlier this month, it was announced that Stuart Hogg, who captained Scotland being capped 100 times, was stripped of his MBE.
The 33-year-old was given a community payback order back in 2024 after pleading guilty to a domestic abuse charge.
It comes after King Charles stripped award-winning UK composer Jan Latham‑Koenig of his OBE in 2025.
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The London-born composer built an international career with posts at major opera houses and orchestras, and was known for his work with ensembles including the London Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Over the years, he has collected a string of honours, among them the Gulbenkian Fellowship and Russia’s Golden Mask award in 2014 for a production of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde.
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to music and UK/Russia cultural relations.
Oxford city councillor Susanna Pressel has stated appropriate action is being taken in a statement issued to this newspaper.
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She said: “It’s good that people like this are having their honours taken away from them. I don’t think there is any way of preventing it from happening. It seems to be hard to predict who will do something wicked. I suppose it shows that there is good and bad in everyone.
“I certainly don’t think that the honours system should be scrapped. About 99 per cent of recipients thoroughly deserve to be recognised for the amazing and public-spirited things they have done for our society, and for helping to make the world a better place.”
Latham‑Koenig also appeared regularly in Oxford, including conducting the Oxford University Orchestra in an “Evening of Wagner” at the Sheldonian Theatre in Michaelmas 2019, and returning for other university‑linked concerts in the city.
In 2024, he admitted a series of child sex offences after sending sexual messages and an explicit image to an undercover police officer posing online as a 14‑year‑old boy, and was given a suspended prison sentence at Southwark Crown Court.
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On August 1, 2025, an official notice in The London Gazette confirmed the King had directed his OBE “shall be cancelled and annulled” and that his name be erased from the order’s register, formally removing the honour.
In Hogg’s case, he was banned from approaching or contacting his estranged wife, Gillian Hogg, for five years after he admitted a single charge of domestic abuse.
In November 2024, he admitted to shouting and swearing, tracking her movements, and sending her messages, which were alarming and distressing in nature.
Sheriff Peter Paterson sentenced Hogg to a community payback order with one year of supervision when he appeared at Selkirk Sheriff Court for sentencing in January last year.
He was also handed a five-year non-harassment order and was arrested again on Thursday, February 12, 2026, but released without charge.
Cherwell District Council is working alongside Banbury Town Council and the Quays Consortium to prepare a formal expression of interest for the new national competition, which aims to celebrate the cultural and heritage contributions of towns across the country.
David Hingley, leader of Cherwell District Council, said: “I’m proud to confirm that alongside our partners we will be submitting an expression of interest for Banbury to be recognised as the UK Town of Culture 2028.
“This competition is our opportunity to show the rich, diverse and historic heritage that makes Banbury so special and unique, and to leave a lasting legacy for the future.
“From our outdoor market, thriving community initiatives, popular festivals, grassroots arts and wellbeing projects, to youth sporting programmes, culture is already at the heart of Banbury, and this bid will help us shine a spotlight on the town, its people and its stories.”
The UK Town of Culture 2028 winner will receive £3 million to deliver a six-month programme of cultural events and activities.
Banbury’s expression of interest will showcase its distinct identity and outline how the programme could broaden resident engagement, increase access to arts and heritage, and involve communities in shaping the design and legacy of the programme.
The council is engaging with partners such as Banbury Museum, The Mill Arts Centre, cultural organisations, businesses, and community groups to strengthen the bid and realise the town’s cultural ambitions.
Helen & Douglas House, which cares for terminally ill children and their families, launched its revamped clothing store on March 12.
The updated shop was opened by BBC Radio Oxford presenter Adam Ball and joins the charity’s refurbished homeware shop, which reopened last September and occupies the other half of the unit.
Baljit Dhindsa, head of retail at Helen & Douglas House, said: “We are delighted to unveil the refurbished space, which has been thoughtfully redesigned to create a brighter, more modern shopping environment while continuing our commitment to sustainability.
“The new layout allows us to showcase an even wider selection of clothing and accessories, with improved displays and more space on the shop floor.
“We have also enhanced accessibility within the shop, including adding an additional accessible fitting room to ensure a comfortable experience for all our customers.”
The reimagined boutique-style shop features a contemporary, urban-inspired design with vintage touches and improved backroom facilities, allowing for increased donations and more efficient sorting.
Proceeds from the store directly support Helen & Douglas House’s hospice care in Oxford and in people’s homes.
Ms Dhindsa said: “When you buy something from our shop for £5, this could pay for arts and crafts materials for local terminally ill children to make Mother’s Day cards whilst staying at the hospice in Oxford.
“Our spring collection is now in store so do pop in to checkout our great range of clothing and accessories and take a look at the wonderful transformation of our shop.”
Cotswold Wildlife Park was established by John Heyworth on the Bradwell Grove Estate and opened on Good Friday, March 27, 1970.
It began with 341 animals and has since grown to house more than 1,500 animals across 250 species.
A spokesperson for Cotswold Wildlife Park said: “We hope you’ll join us in celebrating 56 wonderful years of Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens and we’d like to thank our visitors for their loyal support over the years.
“We must thank them for all their support for more than half a century.”
From its early days on a shoestring budget, the park has expanded to include giraffes, which arrived in 2010 for its 40th anniversary, and rhinos such as D’ora, named during its golden jubilee year in 2020.
George the Aldabra giant tortoise is the park’s oldest and only original resident.
To mark the 50th anniversary, keepers made him a special cake during the lockdown.
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