General

Quarry Velo inaugural ride

TonyOX3

I’ve reported occasionally in Headington Headlines about a start-up cycling club emerging from, well let’s be honest, the bar at The Mason’s Arms in Headington Quarry. Quarry Velo @QuarryVelo as it is called organised the Quarry Roubaix ride a couple of weeks ago as part of Oxford Bike Week – an evening ride around all the sections of cobbled streets in the city centre ending unsurprisingly at The Kings Arms.

A successful end to a highly enjoyable #QuarryRoubaix ride. Many thanks to everyone who came with us. pic.twitter.com/H0BUTEFQyA

— Quarry Velo (@QuarryVelo) June 16, 2015

One of the aims of Oxford Bike Week is to encourage more people to get on their bikes. Quarry Velo supports this, and intends to put on a series of social rides open to any- and everyone. Their first ride — about 20 – 25 miles at a comfortable pace — is next Sunday 5 July. If you’re interested, meet outside Bury Knowle Park opposite Stile Road for an 8.30 start. Lycra is not compulsory! For more details don’t tweet me, tweet to @QuarryVelo.

Changing twitter accounts

TonyOX3

Dear twitter followers and other readers! I’m changing my twitter accounts. This blog has always just been about Headington (mostly) and Oxford (occasionally), but @TonyOX3 on twitter has covered both local stuff and my wider personal interests (aka random witterings). This has been a bit confusing, particularly for me as I’ve been running another personal account at the same time. So from now on @TonyOX3 will just be about Headington and Oxford, and all other stuff will be on my personal account @Acripedes which links to my personal website/blog.

So please, if you’re just interested in keeping up to date with local affairs here in OX3 stay with me here and on @TonyOX3. If you’re one of my followers outside Oxford who doesn’t want to bother with all that stuff, by all means unfollow me here but please follow me on @Acripedes instead. I’d hate to lose touch with you! And of course, you can always follow both.

For the same reason I’ll be unfollowing some people from @TonyOX3 and re-following them from @Acripedes.

Local solicitors Withy King in high-profile pro bono case

TonyOX3

Law firm @WithyKing, who recently took over the Headington firm Edward Pilling solicitors (reported in Headington Headlines 185) deserve credit for taking a pro bono case in the Family Court in Swindon recently. They represented a couple – both with learning difficulties – who had been threatened with their child being taken from them. Under rules introduced by Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling the couple had been denied legal aid. The judge in the case, Sir James Munby P, who is President of the Family Division, railed in the strongest terms against the Ministry of Justice’s “unprincipled and unconscionable” policy. The Guardian has a fuller account of the story and its significance. Those interested can read the full judgement here.