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Clarion Weekend, 3 April 2026

Clarion Weekend, 3 April 2026
Staff at The Garden in the Covered Market get into the Easter spirit. Photo by Roger Close.

Start your Easter weekend with our round-up of what’s been happening in Oxfordshire – from greyhounds to grocers, pastries to pedestrian crossings, plus books, events, indie media and a selection of April Fools. And speaking of fools…

This week’s top stories

National Raise the Colours founder, Ryan Bridge, was arrested on Tuesday night on Abingdon Road for public order offences. Bridge himself had called the police when an Oxford resident lay under his cherry-picker van. Mobile phone footage from local residents shows Bridge shouting “I’ve been arrested!”.

Bridge and his fellow agitators had returned to Oxford in defiance of Monday’s formal legal notice issued by Oxfordshire County Council requiring them to stop. Footage from the group’s Facebook livestream shows the local resident quietly slipping under the van while Bridge was distracted. (See the videos on our Bluesky feed.)

Thames Valley Police confirmed that they have arrested a 44-year-old man from Bromsgrove on suspicion of causing racially and religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress, in connection with reports of incidents on Abingdon Road. He has been released on police bail: as part of his bail conditions, he is forbidden from entering Oxfordshire.

The dark side of Raise the Colours
Early on Tuesday evening, amid rush-hour traffic, a ‘Highway Maintenance’-branded van was openly stationed on Abingdon Road affixing St George’s flags to lamp-posts. We ask who is behind it – and why the campaign is so controversial. The group, who call themselves Raise the Colours, worked their way along
Oxford ClarionOxford Clarion

Despite the order to desist, RTC Oxfordshire has continued to erect flags on lampposts, and OCC has continued to take them down. We reported earlier this week on cross-party support for OCC’s stance, but perhaps predictably, Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice – a former Oxfordshire resident before he was elected in Skegness (and his partner emigrated to Dubai) – disagreed. Responding to local Conservative leader Liam Walker’s statement, he wrote: “Wet woke Tories don’t like the British flag it seems. Another reason why they will be slaughtered in the May elections.”

There are many more of us than of you: counter-protest at Lush. Photos by Roger Close.

Then on Friday, Oxford residents gathered outside Lush in support of refugees and asylum seekers as a counter-protest to a planned demonstration from ‘the Oxfordshire Patriots’, who were four (4) in number. Signs included “the only difference between you and a refugee is geographical luck” and “love thy neighbour”.

Greyhound racing at Oxford Stadium (image via stadium website).

The future of Oxford Stadium, off Sandy Lane in Blackbird Leys, is in doubt after the broadcaster that streamed its greyhound races pulled out.

SIS Racing’s decision to stop streaming from Oxford, and another stadium in Suffolk, effectively cuts off the gambling income that supports greyhound racing – making the stadium unviable. The company blamed changes to betting duty introduced in the autumn Budget. Mark Bird, of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, said:

“Oxford's closure will be a real loss for our sport and the track will undoubtedly be missed by all its connections. With such a sudden closure, our priority is the welfare of the greyhounds connected to both tracks and we are also concerned for the staff and trainers who will be affected. [Oxford promoter] Kevin Boothby has made a considerable impact on greyhound racing during his time in the sport.”

All upcoming fixtures have been cancelled. Boothby said he was exploring options with another streaming company.

“SIS has faced extreme losses over the last two years, forcing them to reduce their UK fixtures. However, we are in talks with Premier Greyhound Racing to explore a potential contract. Though they are fully committed with existing tracks and schedules, we’ll know more by Tuesday next week.”

Oxford Stadium (not to be confused with the Kassam football stadium) also hosts speedway racing. This week’s speedway events will take place as normal, but the club recognises that the stadium cannot be profitable on speedway alone. Promoter Jamie Courtney said: “I will work closely with Kevin and do what is necessary to ensure the future viability of both Speedway and Oxford Stadium.”

Oxford City Council’s Local Plan envisages building 168 houses on the site without “affecting the operation or heritage interest”. The new housing would be close to the proposed Oxford Cowley Station. The stadium first opened in 1938, closed in 2012, and reopened in 2021 despite a joint LibDem and Green motion at the City Council to oppose it. Both the Scottish and Welsh governments have announced a ban on greyhound racing, and the RSPCA is campaigning for this to become UK-wide.

UK femtech company developing ‘smart IUD’ to monitor the uterus in real time. (Photo via Verso Biosense.)

“Darling, can we move rooms? My uterus has lost wifi connection.” Oxfordshire tech company Verso Biosense is developing a sensor-equipped ‘smart IUD’ designed to collect data from inside the uterus, which could transform fertility research & help women who have experienced unsuccessful IVF cycles. The device measures key physiological indicators including temperature and oxygen levels within the uterus, generating continuous data that researchers hope will shed light on one of medicine’s least understood organs.

CEO Kate Rowley says the technology aims to address a long-standing gap in women’s health research. “Despite the enormous impact on half the global population, the uterus remains a ‘black box’ in many areas of medicine. Continuous monitoring could provide insights we’ve never had before.”

Building long-term data sets could ultimately help researchers better understand a range of conditions including endometriosis, PCOS and menopause. Verso Biosense is based at Milton Park, UK’s largest single ownership innovation community, with 280 life science and tech companies. (This one was so sci-fantastical that when we received it we saved it to put out on April 1, but it failed to take off on our Bluesky channel – perhaps demonstrating that, as Rowley alludes, no one is interested in uteruses. But we care that Oxfordshire is leading the way in this tech!)

Gatineau pop-up at University Church; Kelpie Coffee at Castle Mound (a reason to visit Castle Mound! We hope they don't mind we've pinched their photo); Oriel rowers.

Around the city

  • The Oxfam Bookshop on St Giles’, Britain’s first, has earned a reprieve. Oxford City Council has refused permission for landlords Regent’s Park College to turn it into a graduate common room, pointing out that the Local Plan prioritises retail, entertainment, and office uses in the city centre. Planners also queried Regent’s Park’s assertion that the location would be a much better common room than their current one. Several Oxford residents had objected to the proposed change of use, describing it as a “much-needed bookshop which contributes to Oxford’s distinctive character”.
  • Kelpie Coffee, born out of a coffee truck in Hinksey Park, is to open a second bricks and mortar store on the Abingdon Road. Their first is in Castle Mound and opened at the beginning of March. Locations feature Proof Social pastries. The Abingdon Road outlet is due to open on 18th April.
  • Industry magazine The Grocer says Waitrose on the Botley Road is Oxford’s best grocery retailer. They carried out a mystery shop on availability, cleanliness and staff friendliness (though given that it includes Carterton and Witney in Oxford, we do slightly question their methodology). They say tourism in the city is thriving thanks to a combination of walkability and culture. Sainsbury’s on Heyford Hill took second place thanks to a “fairly modern” interior, while Tesco in Cowley was marked down for its “Essex barn” architecture and a “terrible” experience for pedestrians.
  • Summertown’s French bakery, Gatineau, has opened a pop-up outside the University Church in the city centre. Founded by Hervé Gatineau in 2007, it sells cakes, pastries and coffee. The former Vaults & Garden cafe at the church relocated over the road to King Edward Street after a long legal battle.
  • Oxford Mutual Aid have launched an emergency crowdfunder to pay for urgent emergency repairs to their operational HQ. They say that until funds can be secured to fix urgent fire, structural and sanitation issues, they will remain closed “to ensure the safety of all our community”. Read more about Oxford Mutual Aid and Oxford's hidden food emergency in our guest article.
  • Tuesday was International Transgender Day of Visibility, marked by Oxford City Council flying the flag from the Town Hall.
  • 48 alumni from Oriel College together with current students and staff will row across the English Channel, in an attempt to raise £1m for the college’s boat club and to mark Oriel's 700th anniversary. The oldest alumnus rowing is 75. An all-women crew will complete one of the rows.
         Funds will set up an endowment to keep rowing free for students, securing the long-term success of rowing at the college. Oriel rowers won two gold medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, and half of last year's men's Boat Race crew were Oriel. (Fewer people have rowed the Channel than climbed Everest.) Channel rower Roz Lawson said: “I never expected to row, but at Oriel in 1987 almost every person in my year gave it a go. I’m so pleased to hear that the endowment would maintain Oriel’s commitment to free rowing for all students – I would never have started rowing if I’d had to pay.”
  • Wicked star Cynthia Erivo will receive the inaugural Icon Award from the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative at Oxford's Schwarzman Centre. The award will support two scholarships, one at the University of Southern California and one at Oxford, to support students entering the entertainment, film and media industry. Erivo will appear in Oxford at an event on 5 May, in conversation with Dr. Stacy L. Smith of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative in the newly opened Schwarzman Centre, which is set to “bring Erivo’s unique perspective on storytelling and entertainment to Oxford for the first time”.

Thame Farmers Auction Mart; artist's impression of the café building in Middle Barton.

Around the county

  • Heyford Park might have been dropped from the Government’s New Towns programme, but the North Oxfordshire newbuild on a former airfield is still getting Government support. Cherwell District Council will next week sign up for £500,000 of Government funding “to test the strategic case for large-scale housing development”, including transport and other infrastructure. Cherwell stresses that the planning application for 9,000 new homes is still being considered on its own merits: “the funding supports policy development and feasibility testing and does not commit the Council to any particular planning decision or development outcome”. Work would be carried out over the next year.
  • Thame Farmers Auction Mart is on the move. Planning permission has been granted for it to relocate to a new state-of-the-(m)art site on the outskirts of town, with the dual aim of securing the future of one of the South East’s most important livestock markets and alleviating congestion in the town. Richard Roff, Mart chairman, said: “Once planning conditions are resolved, this will secure the future of livestock trading here when other markets have closed. Thame was awarded its Market Charter in 1215, and it is wonderful that livestock sales can continue while removing congestion, noise and smell in the town centre.” A number of alternative uses are being considered for the existing town centre site, which is owned by South Oxfordshire District Council. (We wrote about the long history of markets in Oxfordshire in this long read.)
  • Over £200,000 taken from criminals has been awarded by Thames Valley Police to 47 community organisations, to fund crime prevention activity. Police & Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber said: “I'm delighted that we can award funds taken from criminals, and use it to support hard-working organisations to reduce crime.” The Community Fund, jointly managed by the PCC and the Chief Constable, is created from the proceeds from the sale of items seized from criminals that cannot be returned to their rightful owners.
         Youth support charity The Abingdon Bridge was awarded £4,000. Funds will support a youth mentoring programme aimed at stopping exploitation and offending, using lived experience and trusted relationships to intervene early – breaking cycles of harm and exploitation. The West Oxfordshire Levellers Rugby League Club were awarded £800 to develop anti-knife and anti-drugs messaging, plus work with teachers to tailor their programme for younger players, so they feel more informed about dealing with negative behaviours. In-Spire Sounds were awarded £7,000 for targeted, music-led early intervention to prevent violence, exploitation & offending through their 'Positive Pathways' project, using music-making & mentoring to build resilience, challenge harmful behaviours & support positive choices.
  • A North Oxfordshire pub which was threatened with closure is now proposing to build a community café as well as reopening the pub. The Fox Inn, in Middle Barton, plans “a beautiful mini delicatessen, offering a traditional butcher’s selection, fresh eggs, a daily bakery, and serving Illy coffee”. After pub company Stonegate closed the pub, villagers attempted a community buyout but were unable to raise enough. Instead, the pub was sold to a Gloucestershire millionaire, also redeveloping a village pub near Moreton-in-Marsh. A planning application is with West Oxfordshire District Council.
  • Site set-up work continues at the Kidlington dump, with a base layer of aggregate now laid to support the heavy vehicles that will be taking the waste away. The Environment Agency has also installed thermal probes in the waste piles to monitor temperatures and any fire risk.
  • Wallingford and Watlington have thrown their hats in the ring for the UK Town of Culture 2028 programme, joining Henley and Banbury. The judging will be chaired by Sir Phil Redmond, best known as producer of Grange Hill, Brookside and Hollyoaks, with a shortlist announced later this spring. The winner will be awarded £3m.
  • Industrial action is to take place at Oxford University Hospitals, including the John Radcliffe, from Tuesday 7 April until 7am on Monday 13 April. This is part of an ongoing dispute between resident doctors and government. Patients with rescheduled appointments will be contacted directly by the hospital.
  • Oxfordshire firefighters say they would strike if asked. A ‘consultative ballot’ by the Fire Brigades Union saw a 94% vote for industrial action (on a 71% turnout) against Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service’s plans to reorganise the county’s fire provision. FBU General Secretary Steve Wright said: “We will do all we can to stop these cuts from happening. If that means moving to a formal ballot for strike action then that is what we will do.”
  • Grants of up to £25,000 are on offer for community projects to reduce the impact of flooding in Oxfordshire. Last year, Oxfordshire County Council funded nearly 40 schemes, including surface drainage improvements; natural flood management schemes; water pumps; installation of timber dams; and flood sensors. (We wrote about flooding in Oxfordshire in 2024.)

Walking and cycling

  • A new toucan (pedestrian/cycle) crossing is proposed for Bicester Road on the southern edge of Kidlington, linking new developments to the cycle track on the opposite side of the road. Consultation is open until 24 April.
  • Separately, on the northern edge of the village town, Langford Lane – which gives access to several trading estates – could see its speed limit cut to 30mph. OCC says that the lack of any buffer between footway and road makes it unsafe at higher speeds.
  • The Oxford ring road cycleway is set to be improved at the entrance to Mini Plant Oxford. Oxfordshire County Council is planning to install a continuous cycleway and pavement over the turn at Gate 5. A consultation is open until 24 April.

This (long) weekend

Too many Easter events to mention! As ever, head over to Daily Info for the fullest listings of what’s on in and around Oxford. Meanwhile, a few that caught our eye…

  • Peace Trail, Fri, Flo's in the Park. Celebrating Eid, Pesach and Easter in Florence Park. (Flo's will then be closed for 4 weeks' refurbishment from 13 April.)
  • Dine’n’Devour, Fri–Sun. Touring food market comes to Broad Street.
  • Oxford Community Passion Play, Sat, Bonn Square. The story of Easter told by local actors and a gospel choir.
  • The Boat Race, Sat, City of Oxford Rowing Club. Live TV coverage and pizza. The women's race starts at 14.21 followed by the men's race at 15.21.
  • Choral Eucharist of Easter Day, Sun 11.05am, Christ Church Cathedral. The biggest communion service of the year at Oxford’s cathedral, preached for the last time by the retiring Bishop of Oxford, Steven Croft. (Every church in Oxford will have an Easter Day service, of course – check noticeboards or Daily Info.)
  • Oxford Jazz Kitchen Quartet (£), Sun, Rose & Crown (North Parade). Outdoor jazz 'inn' the courtyard of the eccentric North Oxford pub.

This week

  • The Oxford Growth Commission, Tue, Worcester College. How, where, and why should Oxford grow? What would it mean to develop Greater Oxford? Hosted by Oxford Civic Society.
  • The Hounding (£), Thu, Daunt Books. Xenobe Purvis and her story of wild girls in 18th-century Oxfordshire.
  • Resisting Nazism (£), Thu, Blackwell's. Twelve stories of resistance.
  • Musica Medievalis (£), Fri, St Nicolas' Church, Abingdon. Hurdy-gurdy, citole, portative organ, and bladder pipe.

April Fools

Kudos to the organisations around the ’shire who pranked us all on Wednesday. You all spotted that our rainbow coloured cycle lanes weren’t real. (What gave it away…?) Here are some of our favourites:

Oxfordshire’s independent media

Books

  • Hamadryad, Dr Lorna Robinson. The natural world is in crisis, droughts dessicate London, and the newly elected Green Party (we hear a goodly chunk of our readership pricking their ears up…) must make drastic changes. Eco-fiction and dystopian fantasy, underpinned by ancient Greek and Roman myths, religion and ideas. The third book from Oxford museum director and novelist Lorna Robinson.
  • Defending Oxfordshire, Mike Osborne. A new recounting of Oxfordshire’s military history, from prehistoric hillforts and Roman towns to WW2 airbases and nuclear research sites.
  • Silence – A Literary History, Kate McLoughlin. An exploration of what is left unsaid in 1200 years of English literature, by a Professor in English Literature at Harris Manchester College. Quad writes that it examines “books that are written about silence; books where there is a great big secret hanging over everything like a ghost (step up, 19th-century long novel); and of course mystical or nature-struck silences”.

Notes from Clarion HQ

There’ll be a little less Clarion in your inbox for the next couple of weeks. The Easter break means more calls on our volunteers’ time, and all things being equal, less news! We’ll be back in your inboxes this time next Friday. Enjoy your Easter weekend.

Images by Roger Close.