Clarion Weekly, 18 April 2025

This week’s top stories

The £75m Blavatnik School of Government on Walton Street, designed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, has been closed after an unexpected air strike by a hostile seagull. Events including a Heat Pump Summit were rescheduled so that repairs can take place.

A spokesperson said: “The Blavatnik School of Government remains closed while work is undertaken to repair the glass panel on the roof, which was damaged by a seagull dropping a stone onto the glass. We hope the building will be open as normal again soon.”

A Clarion correspondent subsequently shared this video of a seagull on the roof of the Blavatnik, reporting that multiple seagulls had been playing with pebbles on the glass roof “like basketball”, passing and dropping stones loudly for a week. The Telegraph, BBC News and ITV News picked up the story (and video), with seagull expert Julia Gould telling the Telegraph “I would say it’s natural for gulls to drop shellfish to try to break them, so this may be an extension of that behaviour” – while an Oxford University maintenance manager suggested “the gulls thought the stones were actually eggs, and that by cracking them they might get some yolk”. Though we did enjoy this rather more lurid hypothesis by user ciaran668 on Reddit:

“The seagulls think the glass is ice, and they see the little people under the ‘ice’ and think they're fish. And the seagulls are hungry. So they do what they would normally do, which is drop rocks on the ice to smash it, so they can eat the fish under it. Basically, what you have is remnants of the dinosaurs trying to break windows to eat people. And trust me, if a seagull could fit you in its mouth, it would definitely eat you.”

Vaccine manufacturer Moderna has received approval to start producing mRNA vaccines at its new Harwell centre. The “onshore” facility is designed to make Britain more prepared in the case of a pandemic, ensuring a supply of 250 million vaccine doses for the NHS and UK public. Now that the Medicine & Healthcare Regulatory Agency has granted the firm the required manufacturers’/importers’ authorisation, the Harwell site’s first product is expected to be a Covid-19 vaccine to support the NHS vaccination programme.

“This significant achievement marks a major step forward in our mission to establish end-to-end mRNA manufacturing capabilities in the UK,” said Moderna’s Darius Hughes. “It brings the company closer to ensuring a reliable, onshore supply of mRNA vaccines within the UK.”

Oxford’s hospital chiefs have appealed to the public to “choose your health services wisely over the long weekend”. They are urging non-emergency callers to use NHS 111, pharmacies, the Minor Injuries Units in Abingdon, Witney, and Henley, and online resources. A handy list of links includes pharmacy opening hours and NHS advice.

Around the city

• Protesting farmers returned to Oxford city centre last Friday, once again playing an off-key version of Darude’s Sandstorm. 10 tractors were parked on St Aldate’s as part of the Farmers To Action rally. The rally moved on to Banbury later in the afternoon.
• Oxford Town Hall will fly two new flags this year. The Windrush flag will be flown on 22 June (Windrush Day) and the Black History Month flag will be flown in October. They join 35 other flag-flying commitments, including Europe Day (9 May) when the flag of the Council of Europe is flown. In the next month, flags flown will include the Earth Day flag (22 April), the Cross of St George (23 April), the Polish flag (3 May, Polish Constitution Day), the Union Flag (6 May, Coronation Day, and 8 May, VE Day), the European flag (9 May) and the City flag (16 May, election of new Lord Mayor).
• The Iffley Road Sport Centre is to install 272 solar panels on the swimming pool roof, which is expected to reduce the centre's annual carbon emissions by 19.25 tonnes and provide 25% of the pool's energy needs. The new system is alongside efforts to manage energy consumption including LED lighting.
• Local residents took rapid action after intricate, antisemitic conspiracy theory graffiti appeared in the Littlemore underpass, repeatedly painting over it despite attempts to reinstate the graffiti. ODS, the City Council’s direct works arm, added a thick coat of white paint on Thursday, which was quickly adorned with “Reject Antisemitism” and “All you fascists are bound to lose” by locals.
• And finally... do you want to see some police horses patrolling Blackbird Leys, before having an afternoon nap? Of course you do.

Around the county

• A diverse coalition of faith, civic, and community leaders from across Oxfordshire gathered last Thursday evening to combine an Eid celebration dinner with discussion of greater interfaith understanding and cooperation. Attendees included HM Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire; the Bishop of Dorchester; Oxford City Council leader Cllr Susan Brown; and representatives from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and other faith communities. The evening began with a brainstorming session exploring ways for different faith communities to increase awareness of each other's practices and traditions. Imam Hussain, founder of the Oxford Foundation and Deputy Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, said: “This gathering represents our shared commitment to building bridges and trust to create a harmonious community where all faith practices are respected and understood.”
• Abingdon resident Duncan Bhaskaran Brown has set a new world record for non-stop Morris dancing at over 11 hours. He began his feat at 5am on Saturday in the town’s market place, with the record being broken at about 4pm. Morris dancing is rich in history and tradition, and there happens to be a pub nearby (the Punchbowl). The attempt supports local charities One Planet Abingdon and the Abingdon & District Volunteer Centre, and Duncan welcomes support on his Justgiving page.
• Former Banbury MP Victoria Prentis has been given a peerage in Rishi Sunak’s Resignation Honours list. She called it a “huge privilege” and promised to focus on “the law and the countryside, and to continue to support justice for Ukraine” in the Lords.
• A crackdown on uninsured vehicles in the Thames Valley has led to a raft of other driving convictions including 254 for people speeding or using a phone, 96 for seatbelt offences or no MOTs, and 69 for drug-driving, drink-driving, outstanding warrants and so on – all within just six months. Thames Valley Police has been using number-plate recognition cameras to automatically identify uninsured cars, backed by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau. TVP’s Doug Murphy said “While not all road users are criminals, all criminals use the roads.”
• A “Real Housewives of the Cotswolds” reality TV show is being lined up for the Oxfordshire town of Charlbury, according to national newspaper reports. The Daily Mail and the Times say that “Princess Beatrice’s best friend Gabriela Peacock” and fashion journalist Plum Sykes are among those on board. The Mail, however, reports that the Bull Inn in the town and nearby Soho Farmhouse and Estelle Manor have all refused to be involved, while staff at the Bell Inn said: “They started searching for a pub in which to film the pilot around Charlbury, but there's nowhere that will have them.”
• Oxfordshire wine drinkers are more likely to be short-changed than beer drinkers. Plain-clothes Trading Standards officers visited 10 pubs, finding that 75% of the glasses of wine were “short measured” but all the pints of beer were fully topped up.
• 94% of children applying to start primary school in Oxfordshire next year have been offered a place at their first-choice school, down fractionally on last year (94.6%). Over 99% have been given a place at one of the four schools they named on the application.
• Business leaders and politicians from across Oxfordshire are set to meet at Blenheim Palace next month to draw up a plan for a “resilient, inclusive and sustainable economy”. Speakers include Dominic Hare, chief executive of Blenheim Palace; Calum Miller, MP for Bicester and Woodstock; and Dr Laura Gilbert, head of AI for Government at the Ellison Institute. Also speaking was Caroline Green, chief executive officer of Oxford City Council, who said: “We live in interesting times of challenge and change, but it's also a time of exciting opportunities with the Government's announcement of the Oxford Growth Commission – a perfect time for the Oxfordshire Business Summit to bring our best business leaders together.”
• An Oxfordshire housing association is a finalist in a top sustainability award. Platform Housing Group has been shortlisted in the Landlord of the Year category in the 2025 Unlock Net Zero Awards, which aim to celebrate positive climate action. Their entry included stopping fossil fuel heating of new homes; use of electric vans; and staff donating time to community projects such as community gardens & rewilding. Platform owns and manages around 50,000 homes across Oxfordshire and the Midlands, including social & affordable rent and shared ownership homes.

County election news

• Next Wednesday (5pm) is the deadline to appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf or apply for free photographic ID. The same deadline applies for anyone who wants to register to vote anonymously – for people who believe that their safety, or that of someone in their household, could be affected by having their name and address listed on the electoral register.
• Oxford’s cycle campaign Cyclox has been interviewing politicians from each party on how to make things safer for cyclists and pedestrians. In a modern take on the traditional hustings, they’ve published videos with Matthew Barber (Conservative), Andrew Gant (LibDem), Emily Kerr (Green), and Brad Baines (Labour).
• With under two weeks to polling day, here’s our primer on the issues – if it helped you make up your mind, or you think it might help others, do share it.
• We’re still eager to see what leaflets you’ve received. Snap a photo with your phone camera and email it to news@oxfordclarion.uk.

University and research

• Monty the Donkey once again led the Palm Sunday procession into Christ Church. Oxford’s joint foundation of college and cathedral is celebrating its 500th anniversary this year. Monty was born in 1998 and is a dapple grey gelding donkey, living in a donkey sanctuary in Wallingford. He arrived at the sanctuary via a home in the Banbury area because the owner was losing the use of their field.
• Professor Helen Laville has been confirmed as the new Vice-Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University. Professor Laville is currently Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Kingston University. She said “I am honoured to have been appointed to this role, and have been inspired by the commitment of staff and students to the mission and values of the University.”
• An Oxford University spin-out promises clean tidal energy from a new design that “mimics the way dolphins swim”. Porpoise Power’s installations use a fin that moves up and down in the tidal stream, rather than traditional turbines. They say four underwater tidal farms, each 30km x 30km, could cover the UK’s baseline electricity. Energy costs are forecast to be similar to offshore wind, but with a more predictable supply. Professor Adrian Thomas, co-founder and Professor of Biomechanics, said: “Our design that works in far more tidal conditions than traditional turbines – without causing harm to the surrounding environment. This is about working with nature, not against it.” The company is now preparing for pilot deployments at UK tidal sites; CEO John Kennedy said they wanted to make tidal power “a real contender for reliable, affordable clean energy”.
• Oxford may have lost the Boat Race (again) but Vice-Chancellor Irene Tracey saluted the losing crews’ determination. “I’m so impressed by our Oxford crews for their commitment and hard work. Their gritty and skilled performances today are evidence of the dedication of our student crews and the coaches and support teams. Next year!”

Walking and cycling

• Crowds gathered on Sunday for DJ Dom Whiting’s drum and bass ride around Oxford. For 1hr30 of DnB mayhem among the dreaming spires, head over to this YouTube recording. (Though nothing will ever top the time that ITV4 celebrated Bob Jungels winning a stage of the Tour de France with ‘Junglist Massive’. We’ll miss their Tour coverage.)
• Woodstock and Chipping Norton are set to have their new walking & cycling plans signed off after Easter. Both draft ‘LCWIPs’ (Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plans) are recommended for approval at an Oxfordshire County Council meeting next week.
• Love walking and working with volunteers? A dream job has come up at Oxfordshire’s National Trails office: the volunteer and project co-ordinator for the Thames Path and Ridgeway. “The role involves working in scenic farmed countryside along the rural Thames Path, from the source in the Cotswolds to the edge of London, as well as along the Ridgeway in the chalk hills of the Chilterns and North Wessex Downs National Landscapes.” More details here.

Oxfordshire politics

Parliament was in recess this week, albeit recalled for a debate on British Steel. You might have thought our MPs would take the opportunity for a well earned break, but no one appears to have told them that. We have had a string of press releases this week from MPs of both political flavours – too many, in fact, to report on all of them here; so here’s a digest of their week, what's been said and highlights from what we've spotted.

• Banbury MP Sean Woodcock flagged up ONS earnings data published this week, saying the average worker in Cherwell has experienced a £1,263.15 real terms pay-rise over the last year. He said: “We know the cost of living crisis Labour inherited isn’t over for families in Banbury – but these figures show Labour’s plan for change is starting to put more money in the pockets of working people.” He said that the council tax levied by LibDem/Green-controlled Cherwell District Council at an average of £2,095 was higher than the typical Labour council at £1,587. (Though we would note that neighbouring, Labour-controlled Oxford City’s Band D council tax is £2,554 vs Cherwell’s £2,486. Demographics are a thing!) Here's his weekly round-up.
• Oxford East's MP Anneliese Dodds was back in Parliament to vote for the British Steel (Special Measures) Act. She asked Oxford people to add their voices to a consultation on a new National Cancer Plan. Locally she celebrated the new zebra crossing outside St John Fisher School.
• Oxford West & Abingdon MP Layla Moran dropped in on the world-record Morris dancing in Abingdon (see above). She commiserated with the Oxford rowing teams on their loss to Cambridge. Further afield, she suggested Britain should join France in recognising a Palestinian state this year.
• Calum Miller in Bicester & Woodstock hosted this week’s Ed Davey photo opportunity, tucking into burgers at a beef farm near Bicester, just a few days after sampling the beers at Little Ox brewery in Freeland. (Sometimes we think we’re in the wrong job.) In non-culinary news, he criticised Government cuts to the Adoption & Special Guardianship Fund, saying it had “let down adoptive families and misled Parliament”.
• Henley & Thame MP Freddie van Mierlo has also been on the food trail, visiting Cornfield Bakery in Wheatley. They spoke to him about “the growing challenges faced by small businesses… maintaining a balance between offering affordable products to our customers, paying our fantastic team a fair wage, supporting local suppliers, and ensuring the sustainability of the business”. Meanwhile, in other artisan bread-related news…

• Charlie Maynard, MP for Witney, met publicly with the town’s ‘MP Watch’ group – a rather unusual initiative originally set up to challenge previous MP Robert Courts on climate issues, but which has continued since the election. Topics included “British Steel, BMW Mini, the Witney Rail project and truth in politics”. He also spotlighted rural crime issues, particularly farm equipment, livestock theft, and damage from illegal hare hunting.
• Olly Glover, MP for Didcot & Wantage, spoke up in Parliament about the lack of support for parish and town clerks – the paid employees, often working solo with little support, who keep parish and town councils running. Wallingford town councillor Steve Holder called his intervention “a small win for local councils like ours”. The MP also raised the issue of potential US tariffs on pharmaceutical imports, saying: “Pharmaceutical industry jobs are especially important here in Oxfordshire, with Milton Park in my constituency being a crucial hub for pharmaceutical innovation. It is vital that they are protected.”

This weekend

• Oxford’s concert calendar largely takes a breather for Easter.
• Today (Good Friday) many of the city’s churches have an “hour at the cross” service in early afternoon. On Saturday evening look out for Easter Vigil services. Sunday morning is, of course, one of the two biggest festivals of the church year. The University Church then has an Easter Carols service on Sunday at 3.30pm and Choral Evensong at Christ Church rounds off the day at 6.05pm.
• Dividing Lines, Connecting Spaces at the North Wall Arts Centre has its last day on Saturday (19 April). This exhibition includes work by six local artists looking at themes of division and connection in Oxford, and hopes to bring greater understanding of the issues residents face – as well as suggesting some solutions on how tensions can be eased, connections established, and the city improved for all.  

Dates for your diary

• The Rocky Horror Show, Mon 21–Sat 26, at the New Theatre. We were going to throw in an election reference (will it be “a jump to the left” or a “step to the right”?) but frankly you already know what you’re getting here.
• Blessing the Beer: On St George’s Day (Wed 23), the vicar of Charlbury, Fergus Butler-Gallie, will be leading a ‘Parish Ale’ ceremony in the churchyard and then processing via the town’s four pubs. 6pm at St Mary’s Church.
• Oxford Fine Press Book Fair, Sat 3 & Sun 4 May: The biennial exhibition of beautiful printing and bookbinding returns to the Examination Schools.
• Oxford May Music Festival, Fri 2–Mon 5 May: Music, science and the arts meet in creative harmony at SJE Arts. Programme & tickets.
• Queer Planet, Sat 3 May: Gay giraffes, intersex snails, and drag king Bi-Curious George on the outrageously true sex lives of animals. At the University Museum of Natural History.
• Telling Our Stories, Sat 3 May: Exploring Oxford’s Muslim & migrant women’s histories at the Old Fire Station.
• Kyoto Prize lectures, Tue 6 & Wed 7 May: A choreographer, a physicist, and a geologist are coming to Oxford as winners of the Kyoto Prize, Japan's equivalent of the Nobel Prize. Registration for their free public lectures at the Blavatnik School of Government is open to all (except seagulls).

Oxfordshire’s independent media

• The Oxford Sausage visits North Hinksey, on the hunt for traces of a road built by John Ruskin and Oscar Wilde. (We've checked the date: it’s not an April Fool.)
• Daily Info chooses Oxford’s finest pub gardens. (Pssst – the Medley!)
• Bitten Oxford visits the family-friendly Yellow Submarine Cafe in Witney. (They have a branch on Park End Street in Oxford, too, which compensates for the absolute impossibility of finding a decent coffee at the station…)
• Ox in a Box has “the mother of all toasties” at the Cheese Shed in Nettlebed.

Notes from Clarion HQ

Your Clarion writers have been wrestling children and other holiday commitments this week so it’s a slightly shorter newsletter than usual. We weren’t expecting “seagulls attacking the Blavatnik” to be the latest Clarion story to go viral (following ‘driver crashes car into a tree on Iffley Road’, ‘Imran Khan stands for Chancellor’, and ‘Eynsham EV charging station refused’), but it’s a cracker of a story. Literally.

Last year, Townsend Theatre Productions brought their one-man play Behold Ye Ramblers to the Old Fire Station, telling the story of the Clarion movement, its founder Robert ‘Nunquam’ Blatchford, and the Sheffield Clarion Ramblers who pioneered the right-to-roam movement. They’ve now released the delightful soundtrack on Bandcamp. In their words:

“Here are the songs and stories from the one person show by Neil Gore, directed by Louise Townsend, that serve as a big ol’ reminder that standing up (and marching out) for what you believe in will never go out of style.”

Here’s our guide to traffic-free cycling in Oxfordshire if you’re looking for something to do this weekend. Alternatively your chosen political party would doubtless love some help with leafletting… Have a lovely Easter weekend.