Headington Headlines #4

TonyOX3

Here is my weekly round-up of news for the week 14 – 20 March.

Members of the Barton, Risinghurst and Sandhills neighbourhood policing team received an award for their efforts in tackling anti-social behaviour, drug-dealing and speeding vehicles.

A new cancer research centre opened in the Old Road Campus building. It is a partnership between the University of Oxford, Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust and Cancer Research UK.

The Oxford Biomedical Research Centre held an Open Day in the West Wing and Children’s Hospital on Thursday to show research at the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals in partnership with the University of Oxford.

A blue plaque to John Henry Brookes (he of the University) was unveiled at 195 The Slade. In the same week Oxford Brookes were knocked out of University Challenge by the University of York.

But congratulations to Headington School scullers – Victor Ludorum at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head held at Dorney on 18 March.

Regulars at the Red Lion in Old Marston raised £20,000 as a loan so that landlady Diane Berry can take a 3 year tenancy.

It was announced that the Oxford Centre For Islamic Studies on the Marston Road will finally open next year. It is part of Oxford University.

Active topics this week on Headington & Marston e-democracy forum:

  • Marston Road Mosque
  • Area Committee (Planning only) meeting last Thursday

I try to cover news from the OX3 postcode in Headington and out as far as Barton, Sandhills and Risinghurst (see map). To feed into next week’s summary you can comment on this article, or tweet either with the hashtag #ox3 or @mentioning @TonyOX3.

Headington Headlines #3

TonyOX3

Here is my weekly round-up of news for the week 7 – 13 March.

The death was reported of Duncan Nicholls, Head of Science at Cheney School, who lived in Ash Grove, Headington.

The closure of Barton sub-post office had more coverage in the press and BBC.

New Polish shop “Euro Food” opened in the former internet café on London Road.

A man from Headington appeared at Winchester Crown Court charged in connection with the drugs raids on 1 March.

@OxfordCity announced a project to provide new homes and state-of-the-art community facilities in Northway. Part of the development group will be Hab Oakus, the development company of Kevin McCloud, presenter of the TV series Grand Designs.

@OxfordCity – Free Swimming Lessons for over-50s start at Barton Leisure Centre on 17 March.

Consultation on the Play Barton scheme began. Read Oxford Mail article on this and three other proposed play areas. Have your say on the Barton scheme on Monday 14 March, between 3pm and 7pm at the Play Shop on Underhill Circus.

Active topics this week on Headington & Marston e-democracy forum:

  • London to Paris Cycle Ride for the Big Issue Foundation
  • Bus Users’ Forum 10th March
  • Headington Library under threat of closure
  • Changes to planning consultation process

I try to cover news from the OX3 postcode in Headington and out as far as Barton, Sandhills and Risinghurst (see map). To feed into next week’s summary you can comment on this article, or tweet either with the hashtag #ox3 or @mentioning @TonyOX3.

Oxford Tweetup

TonyOX3

I went to my first tweetup yesterday evening, organised by the indefatigable @beccachaplin and hosted by @Fratellis Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria in the Cowley Road. I didn’t quite know what to expect, or how different the real people would be from the way I’d imagined them.

I arrived a few minutes after 7:30. Some were already there and by 7:45 about 14 people had arrived. Our drinks orders came to the table, then the food started. And went on. And on. Allegedly divided into starters and main course there was: antipasti and mushrooms (two sorts) and cheese things and pizza slices and meatballs and crab and more pizza slices and penne and macaroni cheese and more pizza slices. And probably other stuff too, but I wasn’t taking notes.

But what about the people? All I can say is that everyone I spoke to (and I’m sorry I didn’t manage to speak to everyone there) was interesting and friendly. Some already knew each other but there were several newbies too and I don’t think anyone could have felt left out. I tried to take some photos on my phone but the background lights were too strong and I only got shadows and silhouettes.

The evening wound up about 10:30 – quite early, but it was mid-week.

Thanks again to @beccachaplin for organising and @Fratellis for hosting the tweetup. Thanks to @pj_kent for taking the register, and to @smacula for my copy of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime” by Oxford author Mark Haddon, given out as part of World Book Night.

At the tweetup: @antoinesque @barnthebarn @beccachaplin @bluebobfox @candy_pop @fallen_light @graemehunter @joolsteare @lumpygrumpy @oxsox @pj_kent @rogeraskew @sarahpru @scepticalgeek @smacula @theradicallight @tonyox3.