The Ashmolean Museum was founded in 1683 as the world’s first university museum founded by Elias Ashmole, who gave his extensive collection of curiosities to Oxford University.

I recently visited the first floor of the museum and was astounded by the amount of history, information, and artistry contained within its walls. What impressed me most was not only that I would love to re-visit and take a look at the other floors, but how connected I was to my own humanity. Bringing centuries of human creativity and discovery together in one place can make the past feel vivid, personal, and remarkably alive.

The Ashmolean is far more than a gallery of ancient artefacts and fine art – it is a living archive of human curiosity. As the first public museum in Britain, today its significance is often referred to as ‘crossing cultures, crossing time,’ renowned for its vast collections of archaeological findings.

At the heart of the Ashmolean Museum lies a story that stretches across centuries, cultures, and civilisations. From Egyptian mummies and classical sculpture to Renaissance paintings and contemporary exhibitions, its collections reveal the ways people have sought to understand the world and their place within it, offering a unique journey through history under one roof.

The Arundel Marbles Collection

These remarkable sculptures once belonged to Thomas Howard, one of England’s greatest art collectors during the reigns of James I and Charles I. By the time of his death in 1646, Howard had assembled an extraordinary collection of over 700 paintings alongside sculptures, inscriptions, jewellery, drawings, and furniture, earning him a reputation as one of the most important patrons of art in seventeenth-century England.

Among the marbles on display was a striking statue of a woman posed with her arms held tightly across her body in the classical ‘Pudicitia’ stance, a style commonly used in Asia Minor, now modern-day western Turkey. Dating from the late Hellenistic period between 200 and 1 BC, the sculpture conveyed both elegance and restraint, reflecting the ideals of femininity admired in the ancient world.

Another memorable piece was a marble bust of a woman featuring the distinctive hairstyle of Antonia Minor, the daughter of Mark Antony and niece of Emperor Augustus. Interestingly, the museum notes revealed that the head and bust were created in entirely different periods – the head dating from 41–54 AD, while the bust itself was produced much later, between 1600 and 1750. This unusual combination highlights the long and complex history behind many classical artworks and the ways they have been restored, altered, and preserved over centuries.

Excavations in Rome

For Thomas Howard, collecting ancient art was not simply a hobby, but a statement. The ideals of ancient Rome, particularly gravitas, honour, virtue, and nobility deeply appealed to him, and he surrounded himself with objects from Greece and Rome that reflected these values.

During a visit to Rome between 1613 and 1614, Arundel was even granted permission by the papal authorities to carry out excavations, uncovering several ancient statues. Although, in a twist worthy of an archaeological reality show, later rumours suggested some of the objects may actually have been planted for him to ‘discover.’

One of the most striking statues linked to these excavations was a marble figure of a man wearing a toga, nicknamed ‘Cicero.’ The statue gained its famous identity because restorers in the 1700s added a wart to the right cheek.

Nearby stands a draped female marble statue inspired by representations of Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure and procreation – blending Roman craftsmanship with earlier Greek artistic ideals.

Another portrait bust revealed just how complicated the survival of ancient sculpture can be: the head and body did not originally belong together, and the cut beneath the neck suggested the head had once been attached to an entirely different statue. Ancient art restoration often seemed less like careful conservation and more like an enormous historical jigsaw puzzle with several missing pieces.

The collection also includes a beautifully carved marble throne dedicated to the gods Isis, Osiris, and Anubis by a Greek priest named Archidamos. Originating from Delos during the Hellenistic period, the throne highlighted the mixture of Greek and Egyptian religious influences that shaped the ancient Mediterranean world.

Elsewhere, a colossal marble head of Apollo dominated the gallery. Its nose, mouth, chin, and even sections of the hair had undergone repeated restorations since the 1600s, making it difficult to know exactly where the ancient sculpture ended and later repair work began. Still, the sheer scale of the piece made it impossible to ignore.

Some of the most haunting objects in the museum came from Roman Egypt. The mummy of a young woman from Hawara in the Fayum region featured an encaustic portrait painted on limewood, her hairstyle and jewellery reflecting contemporary Roman fashions. Despite being nearly two thousand years old, the portrait felt surprisingly modern, almost like an ancient passport photo. Nearby were portraits of bearded men painted in the same style.

However, not every object in the collection celebrated power or beauty. A tombstone from Smyrna depicted a mourning woman accompanied by servants, while the names of the dead had been deliberately chiselled away over time.

Another marble sculpture showed Eros, the god of lust, asleep with his torch turned downward. This is a Roman symbol of death used in memorial art, representing a gentle, peaceful passing.

Finally, part of a marble sarcophagus showed two drunken revellers returning from celebrations in honour of the wine god Bacchus. Restored during the 1600s, the scene captured both the extravagance and absurdity of ancient life. It was oddly comforting to realise that even two thousand years ago, people still enjoyed parties a little too much.

Ancient Egypt meets Greece and Rome

The Egyptian galleries at the Ashmolean Museum offered one of the most absorbing parts of the entire museum, tracing three thousand years of history from the earliest Egyptian kingdoms to the arrival of the Roman Empire. Around 3100 BC, Egypt became unified under a single ruler, beginning a cultural tradition that would continue for millennia with remarkable consistency.

This section focused on the rule of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, which governed Egypt from 305 to 30 BC after the death of Alexander the Great. The dynasty was founded by Ptolemy I Soter, one of Alexander’s generals, and ended dramatically with the defeat of Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony by Augustus in 30 BC. From that point onwards, Egypt became part of the Roman Empire. It was strange to realise that figures usually associated with dramatic films and Shakespeare plays were connected directly to the very artefacts in front of me.

The galleries dedicated to burial traditions were especially fascinating. Wealthy Egyptians carefully followed ancient burial rites in the belief that they would secure eternal life after death. Some mummies were wrapped in linen designed to imitate the net of Osiris, the god of the underworld, resurrection, and fertility. Painted portraits placed over mummies often showed individuals dressed according to Roman fashions, reflecting the merging of Egyptian and Roman identities during this period.

One particularly emotive piece was the mummy of a young boy from Hawara in the Fayum region who died before reaching the age of two. Unlike many others, the child had no painted portrait, but his wrappings were carefully arranged to resemble Osiris himself. Small gilded studs still decorated the linen, while nearby CT scan reconstructions attempted to reveal the child beneath the layers. It was difficult not to pause longer at this display because suddenly, history felt far less distant, and far more human.

The museum also highlighted Egypt’s close relationship with ancient Nubia, the region south of Egypt along the Nile in what is now Sudan. Egyptian rulers repeatedly invaded Nubia in pursuit of gold mines and trade routes, but over time the Nubian rulers of the Kingdom of Kush grew powerful enough to conquer Egypt themselves, ruling as the 25th Dynasty between roughly 715 and 657 BC.

One of the standout pieces connected to this history was a granodiorite statue of Taharqa. Depicted wearing an elaborate plumed headdress and holding the crook and flail symbols of kingship, the statue projected authority even after more than two and a half thousand years. Ancient rulers clearly understood the importance of political image.

Another memorable feature of the gallery was the collection of funerary stelae, which are carved stone memorials placed in tombs as focal points for offerings to the soul, or ‘ka,’ of the deceased. These inscriptions included names, titles, images, food offerings, and spells intended to sustain the dead in the afterlife. Reading them felt oddly familiar, almost like ancient versions of personalised memorial plaques, except with considerably more references to eternal spiritual nourishment.

What made the Egyptian galleries so compelling was not simply the age of the artefacts, but the continuity of belief they revealed. Across thousands of years, despite invasions, dynasties, and foreign empires, many Egyptian traditions remained remarkably consistent.

Standing among the statues, mummies, and carved inscriptions, it became clear that ancient Egyptians were just as concerned with identity, memory, family, and legacy as people are today.

Early scripture

The ‘Adoption Papyrus,’ written in hieratic script during the reign of Ramesses XI around 1104–1075 BC, revealed just how complex family life and inheritance could be in New Kingdom Egypt. Far from being a dry legal document, the papyrus read almost like an ancient family drama filled with adoption arrangements, inheritance negotiations, and carefully planned attempts to keep property within the household.

If modern inheritance law can already feel complicated, ancient Egypt clearly had its own equally bewildering system. The document records the actions of a childless couple, Nebnefer and his wife Rennefer. In an unusual legal move, Nebnefer formally adopts his own wife as his ‘daughter,’ so that she could inherit his estate after his death, rather than allowing it to pass to other relatives.

After Nebnefer’s death, Rennefer explains that she and her husband had previously purchased a slave woman who later gave birth to three children, likely fathered by Nebnefer himself. Rennefer raised the children and legally adopted them as her own. She then adopted the husband of the eldest daughter, Padiu, who was also, somewhat awkwardly, Rennefer’s brother, ensuring he too could inherit part of the estate. Finally, the document records that Rennefer emancipated the three adopted children and transferred the estate to them and Padiu.

Beyond its complicated web of family relationships, the papyrus revealed something genuinely fascinating about ancient Egyptian society: women in Egypt possessed legal rights. They could own property, inherit wealth, and pass estates on in their own name. In many ways, Rennefer emerges from the text as a determined and capable figure carefully managing her family’s future through legal means. It was strange, and oddly entertaining, to discover that more than three thousand years ago, people were already dealing with inheritance disputes, blended families, and complicated paperwork – proof that human society has always been slightly chaotic, no matter the century.

However, the world’s earliest known writing systems developed around 3300 BC. Bone and ivory tags in tomb U-j at Abydos were inscribed with groups of signs, perhaps representing geographic and personal names, commodities, and numerals. Continuous texts did not appear until several centuries after the invention of the hieroglyphic script.

Egypt’s Earliest Inhabitants

Humans first populated Egypt around one million years ago. The climate was less arid than it is today, enabling plants and animals to thrive in areas that have since become desert.

The fertile Nile Valley was used by hunter-gatherers who produced flint tools. Agriculture first developed around 5500 BC, as settlements moved closer to the River Nile. This was because the River Nile was so dependable that farming did not appear until after this time.

New types of blade technologies appeared around 50,000 years ago, including small flint elements (microliths) set into composite tools.

The city of Akhetaten and the Amarna ‘Revolution’

When Amenhotep IV ascended the throne during the 18th Dynasty, he rejected Egypt’s long-established religious traditions and introduced the worship of Aten, the sun disk, as the supreme divine power.

In honour of this new belief system, he renamed himself Akhenaten, establishing a new capital city under this name, known today as Tell el-Amarna. The city quickly became the centre of an artistic and religious movement that reshaped Egyptian culture.

Although Akhetaten was abandoned only two decades after its creation, archaeologists excavating the site in the 1890s uncovered a wealth of remarkably preserved material that revealed the vibrancy of life during the Amarna Period.

The city’s temples, palaces, and private homes contained elaborately painted pottery, colourful faience and glass ornaments, and architectural decorations that reflected the importance of Aten and the beauty of the natural world. Together, these discoveries provide valuable insight into a brief yet revolutionary era that transformed Egyptian art, religion, and political identity.

The Kingdom of Kush

The Kingdom of Kush emerged as a powerful civilisation in Nubia following the decline of Egypt’s New Kingdom around 1075 BC. Expanding their influence throughout the Nile Valley, the Kushite rulers eventually asserted control over Egypt itself under King Piye, founding Egypt’s 25th Dynasty and ruling from approximately 715 to 657 BC.

During the Napatan Period, the Kushite capital was centred at Napata, but it later shifted southward to Meroe under King Aspelta, marking the beginning of the Meroitic Period, which lasted from 270 BC to AD 350.

Although Kushite society was deeply influenced by ancient Egyptian culture, it gradually developed its own distinctive forms of art, religion, language, and technology. The Meroitic Period in particular became known for advances in metalworking and craftsmanship.

Bronze was the most commonly used metal, though the tin required for its production had to be imported, making bronze objects highly valuable. Iron, an even stronger and more prized material, was also imported into the region.

Archaeological discoveries from the Meroitic cemetery at Faras reveal the sophistication of Kushite artisans, including bronze boxes, bowls, bottles, tools, and decorative items, some featuring Greek inscriptions that reflect connections with the wider Mediterranean world. These objects demonstrate the Kingdom of Kush’s political strength, cultural independence, and technological achievement during one of the most influential periods in northeastern African history.

Faience and Stone Animals

The ‘Main Deposit’ at Hierakonpolis contained many models of animals in faience and stone. Some of the creatures depicted were hunted by the ancient Egyptians, while others feared for their power and destructive force. These models may therefore be associated with the performance of rituals at Hierakonpolis, including the presentation of food offerings and animal sacrifice.

The predynastic Egyptians were inspired by the landscape of the Nile Valley. Animals were popular within art, occurring on a wide range of pottery vessels, palettes and clay models. Their presence as grave goods suggest the belief that they would be recreated in the next life for the benefit of the deceased.

Bone and ivory combs and hairpins, usually decorated with animals, were also often depicted in graves. Below is a section of hair with three bone hairpins and a spoon from a grave containing a female body. Abadiya, grave B378 E.1035-38.

Ancient Cyprus

Ancient Cyprus reveals a rich and complex history through objects that reflect its language, warfare, and connections with the wider Greek world. A limestone block from a monument dating to about 500–300 BC, probably from Amathous, is inscribed in Eteocypriot, an undeciphered local language written in syllabic script. This inscription highlights the cultural diversity of Cyprus in antiquity and the survival of local traditions alongside Greek influence.

Another important artefact is a bronze spearhead from Marion, Agios Demetrios, tomb 2, dating from 400–350 BC. The spearhead reflects the armed conflicts and political instability that affected Cyprus during this period, when rival kingdoms and outside powers competed for control of the island.

The wider story of the ancient Mediterranean and Europe is represented by several remarkable objects and historical developments. The Parian Marble, compiled on the island of Paros in 264/3 BC, is the oldest surviving example of a Greek chronological table, recording significant events from as early as 1581/0 BC. One fragment came to Oxford in 1667, while another was lost during the English Civil War and a third was rediscovered on Paros in 1897.

Another wow-factor statue is the cast of a bronze statue of a man from about 470 BC, based on the original statue recovered by divers near a shipwreck off Cape Artemisium on the island of Euboea in the years 1926 and 1928.

European Prehistory to AD 100

The earliest inhabitants of Europe were not modern humans. Earlier homininis occupied Europe intermittently from around 1.8 million years ago, while Homo Sapiens, the direct ancestors of modern people, probably first arrived only about 40,000 years ago.

Below is a skull from 1.8 million years ago, of the earlier homininis.

Whether you visit the Ashmolean Museum for the art, the history, or simply the chance to pretend that you understand abstract pottery, what you see, read, and hear will leave you feeling inspired and connected to a world so visually different, but so meaningfully the same. If you can make the journey, I would highly recommend it.

For more information, visit: https://www.ashmolean.org/

But this historic site is one of Oxford’s oldest landmarks.

I recently visited, and learned much more than I had expected about Oxford’s rich history, which blends medieval might with later penal gloom, wrapped up in a surprisingly entertaining package.

General Knowledge (for your next pub quiz!)

Oxford Castle was built shortly after the Norman Conquest, by Norman Baron Robert D’Oyly, around 1071. Its purpose was to keep the locals in line and remind citizens who was in charge. Constructed as a classic motte-and-bailey castle, it features earth works, timber defences, and later, stone upgrades.

Naturally however, it didn’t take long for drama to unfold. The legendary feud during the Anarchy – a 12th century civil war, meant that the Empress Matilda, the granddaughter of William the Conqueror, besieged here in 1142. She was hiding from her cousin who had taken to the English throne – King Steven of Blois. At the time, Oxford wasn’t just another medieval town, it was briefly stated as the capital of England, making it a symbol of national power.

Once the King had found out about Matilda’s whereabouts, he and his men surrounded the castle, awaiting Matilda to run out of food and surrender. Rather, Matilda famously escaped, by sneaking out at night, wrapped in bed sheets that matched the December snow. She walked backwards, away from the castle, so that her footprints would look as though she were still inside it, escaping to her freedom.

St Georges Tower: Climb if you dare!

The surviving St. Georges tower is one of the oldest parts of the castle, predating the Norman takeover, linking back to Saxon Oxford. The winding stairs were purposely made. Each one of them is a different size and shape, so that attackers that entered the tower would trip and fall onto their own sword.

That being said, if you do visit the castle, do not overestimate the strength of your knees.

At the top of the tower, keep an eye out for a carved cross. Over time, many of them have crumbled, however the castle has rebuilt one to look like an exact replica from back in the day.

What’s interesting is that the crosses at each point of the tower serve for no religious purpose, but rather protection. They were designed for the shaping of a bow and arrow, whilst hiding the bowman behind it, therefore protecting them from any outside battle – a clever warfare advantage.

From fortress to prison: A career change

By the 18th century, the castle transitioned into a prison – because apparently, if your fortress isn’t terrifying enough, you can always add inmates.

Prison life was harsh, and inmates were subject to manual labour such as tread-wheels and stone-breaking. Below is the remains of one of the labour activities where inmates would walk around in a circle for hours on end, pushing the water wheel around.

The point? None, as once inmates stopped pushing, all of the water that they had travelled to the castle, would flow back down again. What remains is the footprints of the inmates that did this job, as shown by the dents in the floorboards.

Prison cells were cramped and very cold, with three to five inmates per room and no soft furnishings. Think less boutique hotel, and more stone boxes with regrets.

Prison deterrents included public executions and humiliation. Prisoners were beheaded on the nearby mound, conveniently acting as a viewing platform, because nothing says community like a good execution.

Public humiliation included the pillory or stocks. People’s heads and arms would be placed into these, and society could throw whatever they wanted over you as a punishment for misbehaving.

Later, this evolved, and the misbehaved ears would be nailed into these devices so that they could not avoid whatever was thrown at them. In regards to freedom, the misbehaved would be handed a knife to cut their own ears off or guards would do it for them. This showed people that you are, or once were, a criminal – a long form version of public shame.

Collapse, Rediscovery, and a Cryptic Surprise!

Over time, much of the castle’s original structure has fallen into disrepair. Large sections were demolished, and in the 18th century, workers stumbled upon a long-buried crypt that had been hidden for centuries.

The crypt was used for religious purposes. When people had passed away, their bodies were given to the monks inside of it. However, these bodies were not disposed of for a very long time.

Today, the crypt carries the reputation of being one of Oxford’s most haunted spots. Visitors have reported strange sounds, cold drafts, and the unsettling feeling that someone is watching.

This crypt used to lay under St Georges chapel, and at the time of rediscovery, had partially collapsed. The builder, working on a tight budget, reused the fallen materials such as stone and rubber to patch it up. The ‘builders’ also expanded the crypt, for its original state would have been very small. The result? A wonderfully uneven, chaotic structure that somehow still stands.

This job was prisoner labour, and so much of the design there was made by inmates themselves.

Prison life through the ages

As time went on, prison conditions evolved . . . but not always for the better. The Victorian period was particularly grim. Strict discipline, isolation, and relentless labour made it arguably the harshest period for inmates.

Oddly enough, if you had money, prison wasn’t so bad! Wealthier prisoners could afford better food, bedding, and significantly better degrees of comfort.

Prisoners were obligated to have three meals a day, their own cell, and also had access to healthcare, long before the NHS existed. There was even a hospital ward – and somewhat ominously, a padded cell for those deemed ‘unwell.’

These luxuries were in some cases preferable to the outside world, and so many people, including children, started committing petty crimes so that they could spend a few weeks having filling meals and a bed to sleep in.

So steal a loaf of bread, and suddenly you’re a part of Oxford’s long and stored penal history.

Pints behind bars: the female wing re-imagined!

One of the more unexpected twists in the site’s long history is the old female prison wing – which today, has traded shackles for ciders.

What was once a section of Oxford’s Castle and Prison, is now a Wetherspoons pub, specifically known as ‘The Swan and Castle.’ The same walls that echoed the clank of cell doors, now hosts the clink of pint glasses.

There is something oddly fitting about it though. The space has gone from confinement to conversation, from punishment to pub lunches. If nothing else, it proves that Oxford has a talent for reinventing its past, preferably with chips on the side.

Lights, camera, incarceration . . .

The castle closed its prison doors in 1996, and in more recent years, the castle has opened its eyes to the world. It has found a second life as a filming location as its atmospheric corridors and historic architecture have made it a natural choice for film and television.

Featuring films and programmes such as ‘102 Dalmatians,’ ‘Bad Girls,’ and ‘The Bill,’ big names including Brad Pitt, Glenn Close, and Gerard Depardieu have all stepped in front of the camera here, adding to Oxford’s reputation as a creative hub.

Final Thoughts and Information

Today the site is far more welcoming than its past. Guided tours bring its stories to life, often with a dose of humour which balances out the darker history.

Ticket prices range from £15–£20, and also include a student deal, though it is best to check latest prices on their website at: https://www.oxfordcastleandprison.co.uk/

Oxford Castle and Prison isn’t just a place where history sits quietly – it looms, creaks, and occasionally gives you goosebumps. From a Norman stronghold, to royal escapes, and a Victorian prison full of ghostly whispers, it offers a layered, slightly eerie glimpse into England’s past.

And if you do hear footsteps in the crypt . . . well it’s probably just another visitor

. . . probably.

In this corner of Oxford, a university education is the norm. Many residents hold not just one degree, but two or more. For the children who go to school here, the university has a constant presence, from the colleges of St Hugh’s and Wolfson, to the blue plaque marking the home of one of Oxford’s most famous fellows, J.R.R. Tolkien.

This is North Oxford Central, where 60% of residents aged 16 years or over have an undergraduate university degree or higher, according to the 2021 England and Wales Census.

It’s rare for an area to be so graduate dense. Outside of London, only seven other areas across England and Wales have such a high proportion of university graduates.

This is also an affluent residential area, and the streets become quieter and more leafy the farther north you wander. The neighbourhood has a high concentration of selective independent schools, and around 35% of residents aged 16 years and over in North Central Oxford are employed in the education sector, whether teaching at the university or at local schools, according to 2021 Census data.

It’s little surprise, then, that many parents choose to send their children to one of the area’s numerous schools, many with the hope that their children will go on to university, whether in Oxford or elsewhere.

Is university still worth the price tag?

University graduates are entering an increasingly tough job market. Figures released in February by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that unemployment among 16–24 year olds climbed to 16.1% in the final three months of 2025, the highest rate since 2014. In real terms, graduate salaries have dropped to an average £26,500 in 2024, down from £30,000 in 2007, according to the ONS’s Labour Force Survey.

Increasing numbers of graduates have recently voiced frustration with the student loan system, with many claiming that the long-term impact on take-home salaries was not fully made clear, and that monthly deductions add to financial pressures from a weak labour market and high living costs.

Plan 2 loans apply to students in England who started university between September 2012 and July 2023. Under the scheme, the interest rate is set by the current Retail Prices Index (RPI) plus 3%, depending on earnings. In practice, this has meant the interest accrued each month outweighs monthly repayments for many borrowers.

Many school-leavers in north Oxford might be expected to go to university. But when a degree no longer guarantees career stability or strong earning prospects, alternative pathways, such as apprenticeships, are attracting more attention.

Are apprenticeships a solution?

The government announced reforms to the apprenticeship system in December 2025, including 50,000 additional training places. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also dropped the target set by former Labour PM Tony Blair to send 50% of children to university. He instead set the aim for two-thirds of young people to gain higher-level skills, through university, further education, or a ‘gold standard’ apprenticeship, before turning 25.

Apprenticeships allow young people to earn a salary while gaining qualifications, avoiding the debt that comes with a university degree. In north Oxford, less than 1% of residents have completed an apprenticeship, lower than the national average of 4.4% in England and Wales, according to the 2021 Census.

Paul Jones, Apprenticeships Director at Oxford Professional Education, an apprenticeship provider based in north Oxford, welcomed the increased government investment.

‘It is absolutely right that both pathways [university and apprenticeships] are available to young people.’

But Mr Jones cautioned that a focus on younger people could disadvantage adults seeking to up-skill or retrain. Some common misconceptions still surround apprenticeships, with many people assuming that apprenticeships are intended only for 16–18 year olds.

‘This is not the case,’ he said. In fact, those aged 25 and over are the most common age group to take up apprenticeships.

He acknowledged that apprenticeships still carry a stigma, partly due to the assumption that they are limited to trades rather than professional qualifications, a belief which is inaccurate.

He added that the best choice of pathway for school-leavers depends on the skills, interests and career goals of each individual.

For students in Oxford, the choice between university and apprenticeships is theirs to make.

Hosted by local women, the programme will focus on not only the success that women have achieved, but also the obstacles that women have faced, including political, trade union, and employment rights. Exhibitions and workshops will feature topical talks and performances.

The programme typically runs for two weeks in March, and is the perfect chance to connect, share stories, and be inspired in a welcoming atmosphere. There will be something for everyone to get involved with!

Below is a list of some of the events taking place:

Saturday 1st March, 11am – 4pm: ‘All about her day:’ A day to celebrate women, with lots of music, dance, food, and creative workshops.

Tuesday 4th March, 5:30pm: ‘Dorothy Hodgkin memorial lecture.’ This lecture commemorates 80 years since Dorothy Hodgkin’s revolutionary determination of Penicillin’s structure.

Thursday 6th March, 6:30pm – 9pm: ‘Dancin’ Oxford.’ A safe and welcoming space to celebrate and party!

Saturday 8th March, 5:30pm: ‘Suffragette.’ The International Women’s screening of Sarah Gavron’s historical drama will feature a short introduction by Dr. Katherine Bradley, followed by a Q&A.

For more information, visit https://oiwf.org/

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Debutots Oxford and Surroundings are running inclusive, no-pressure activity sessions to join different generations together in care homes.

Each session aims to build valuable connections between children and their ‘grandfriends,’ a term coined by the group. Classes are centered around a new story each time, and include storytelling, dramatic play, music for reminiscence, gentle movement, and opportunities for interaction and play between the two generations.

Regular weekly, fortnightly, and monthly sessions are held in local care homes around Oxford, Kidlington ,and Abingdon, ran by Martine, the owner of Debutots Oxford and Surroundings.

The highly acclaimed and multi-award winning innovative project is part of a nationwide franchise network. Since its inception in 2018, 83 care homes have been involved, and an estimated 8000 residents have taken part.

Studies have found that for older adults, regularly interacting with children leads to enhanced wellbeing, an improved sense of purpose, confidence, self-worth and acceptance, and cognitive benefits like stimulated memory.

For children, these interactions help their emotional and social development and can lead to early literacy development and improved classroom behaviour.

One parent commented, “I have attended several Debutots intergenerational sessions run by Martine with my three year old at a local care home. These sessions have been so wonderful.’

“Martine structures them around storytelling and play, and it allows the little ones to make a really special connection with their ‘grandfriends,’ demonstrated by the fact that the room is always filled with smiles and laughter.

“Martine is an empathetic and engaging communicator and storyteller, and she runs the activities expertly to create a lovely inclusive environment for generations to enjoy each other’s company!”

Sessions are open to groups of children from nurseries, preschools, and primary schools as well as individual children bought by their parents, caregivers, child-minders or nannies.

Sessions are also free, but require booking ahead of time. News about these sessions can be found on Instagram @debutotsoxfordandsurroundings and on facebook under ‘Debutots Oxford and Surroundings.’

Care homes who would like to include this in their lifestyle/activities programme are invited to reach out to Martine on martine@debutots.co.uk.

The Netty, on St Giles’ Road in Oxford, is located in two suites, found underground in the middle of a busy road.

It keeps certain original features such as the tiled floor, yet brings a fresh, cosy, and modern touch of patterns and blush pinks topped with clean wooden finishes. A much different appearance to its historical look!

The site was bought by Oxford business owner Gwyn Harries-Jones back in 2011, but developmental plans never proceeded, leaving it a lone time capsule for 11 years before The Netty came to be.

Sitting uniquely in the middle of Oxford City Centre, visitors will be steps away from the University of Oxford and a 13 minute walk away from the Thames River, giving the hotel convenient access to attractions, shops, and bars.

Hotel manager Ana Pinheiro previously told the BBC, ‘I would say it is one of the strangest places in Oxford to stay…but it is a very nice experience if you are willing.’

Most students will move back home after graduation, and very few are lucky enough to call Oxford their permanent home. So make the most of this beautiful city whilst you can. Although cliché, go sightseeing, explore the city, and appreciate its beauty. Oxford is a city of history and culture, brimming with things to do and see. Go to a museum, try a new coffee shop, go on a canal walk, visit the botanical gardens; the list of things to do is endless.

Here are my 5 things you must see before departing Oxford:

1. Sandy’s Piano Bar: the ambience here is incredible, grab a drink and listen to some great music.

2. Nepa Coffee and Food; Nepa has the best homemade banana bread in Oxford. Grab this and your drink of choice, and go for a walk around the city, admiring the architecture, walking the canal front and the Christ Church gardens.

3. Go to a show or comedy night in Oxford. The city is brimming with arts and culture, with shows, movies, and standup on your doorstep; you can’t miss it!

4. Visit the Oxford Botanical Gardens. Students get free entry when they bring their student ID. This free activity is beautiful, although small; you could spend multiple hours just watching time go by and appreciating the wide variety of nature.

5. Wander around Jericho: this trendy neighbourhood is beautiful with many hidden gems; the residential streets are lined with international food spots, delis, bakeries, and tasty coffee shops. Grab a pastry and coffee and wander through its streets, appreciating its neighbourhood charm.

Make a semester bucket list of places you want to visit, eat at, walk to or explore. With a place like Oxford, that list will be long. I guarantee that this gives you something to look forward to each week, and a break from your strenuous studies. You won’t regret this, but you will regret not seeing more of Oxford once you leave.

2 - Lock in and take your studies seriously

For some students, this will be their last semester and holds the most weight academically. With exams approaching and dissertation and major project deadlines creeping up, you are at your academic climax. You still have time to turn this around if you’ve struggled before. You have time to push that grade from good to excellent. Don’t quit now when you’re so close to the finish line.

For some, this will just be their last semester for first and second year, but this does not mean it’s not important; your grades still matter, and the things you learn will impact your final years. Stay in routine, and your grades will reflect your effort.

Getting ahead of your assignments early in the semester will make the end of the semester easier. As the summer heat hits and days become longer, you will want to socialise more and fill your days with fun. By getting organised early on and starting the assignments when given to you (if possible), you can relieve panic and stress at the end of the semester. Whilst being guilt-free as you enjoy Oxford, nightlife, and your friends as the semester comes to an end.

You are paying for this degree, so every lecture you miss costs you. You will be missing the chance to speak to lecturers face to face, ask queries, and absorb the information they are providing you. The price you pay for your degree should be enough to convince you to try your best. With the added living fees of accommodation, food, social life, and other activities and living expenses, you should make the most of every part of your university experience. At the core of this experience is our studies, so make studying fun and finish your degree.

3 - Utilise what Brookes provides you

Oxford Brookes offers students a wide range of sources, societies, activities, events, and more. Although universities focus on your studies, there is so much more to offer with your time here. Brookes has a plethora of societies to join, from podcasting to marketing to baking and dance; there is a society for everyone. So take your pick. Learn some new skills and gain experience, find a new hobby, and make new friends along the way. The union societies are a great way to socialise and pad up your CV with extracurriculars, cultures, languages, arts, and more. You can get a taste of everything whilst at Brookes.

The union also hosts weekly events, whether it’s bingo, pottery painting, or a bake sale, there is always something fun going on. Keep up to date with Brookes’ social life by following @brookesunion on Instagram. These fun events offer a nice break from your studies and a stress-free environment to meet new people and have fun with friends.

Join a sport, whether professionally or for fun; there is a wide variety to choose from. With the opportunity to make new friends, learn and sharpen your athletic skills, and be part of a team, these social settings have lots to offer. Attend the weekly ‘Fishies’ club night and blow off some of the academic stress, enjoy the themed socials where you meet new people, go on fun adventures, and make endless unforgettable and possibly embarrassing memories.

Sit in on a guest lecture and learn a new perspective. You have all these academic sources in the palm of your hand; utilise these before your time runs out. Or simply appreciate the space the university has created for its students. Go to one of its many cafes, the Yard, or The Sports Bar. With one last semester on campus, before summer or graduation, utilise your time here and the available resources.

5 - Have fun

For lots of students, this will be their last semester at Brookes. As this chapter comes to a close and you enter a new stage of life, you will miss the freedom university has given you. For some, they will go home for the summer and miss their university friends. Some will go back to part-time jobs or summer internships and catching up with friends and families. Some will miss the lively city and the perks of university. Cherish this time whilst you can and fill it with joy; go out, meet up with friends, go clubbing, or out for drinks. Make the most of your time together; go for coffee or simply study together, because for some, this will be the last year living in the same city before moving on from Brookes.

Although this semester holds the most academic weight, don’t lose yourself in the process. Don’t sacrifice your friendships and social life. Balance is key – find those moments of fun to motivate your studies, reward your hard work, and enjoy this last semester. You don’t want to look back and think, ‘all I did was study, I grew apart from my friends, and had no fun.’ You can still excel and have fun, so look back on this semester with a smile, thinking of all the incredible memories you made as you had the best semester ever. And for some, the best last semester ever!

Bring on summer and graduation…

A band built on friendship

Frontman Jamie, who sings and plays guitar, describes bedd as “just friends who like getting together to make music.”

Some members have played together for years; others reconnected after childhood. All are based in Oxford, from East Oxford to nearby towns, meeting weekly in rehearsal rooms to drink coffee, improvise, and simply play.

“It’s one of the only times adults get to play,” Jamie says. “When we’re kids, we play freely, and music lets us do that again.”

How a song begins — and changes completely

Jamie’s writing process is loose and instinctive. Songs often begin as rough sketches on his phone—a guitar progression, a line hummed into the mic, chords filmed to remember finger patterns. But once the track enters the studio, it can transform completely.

“That’s the fun,” he says. “You start with a guitar song and end up removing the guitar entirely. One song on the album, Walkie No Talkie, started on guitar and became a fully synthesiser-driven track.”

These moments of accidental discovery, he adds, are the ones that feel like gifts.

Why ‘bedd’?

The band name has a surprising origin. At first, Jamie simply liked the word “bed.” But when the group decided to spell it with two ds, bedd, he learned it had a second meaning.

“In Welsh, bedd means ‘grave’,” he explains. “And I thought…wow. That fits. The grave is the final bed. And the mood of our songs, the introspection, the darkness and beauty—it all lined up.”

Do Not Be Afraid: A message to oneself

The band’s debut album carries a gentle but firm title: Do Not Be Afraid (Released on the 31st of October.)

“I’m not telling people what to do,” Jamie says. “It’s more of an instruction to myself—to stop being scared, to let go of fear, and live more. We all get caught up in anxiety. These songs try to turn away from fear and towards love.”

Across the album, he hopes listeners recognise their own emotions—the heaviness, the humour, the hope.

Favourite tracks, influences and the sound behind bedd

Jamie’s personal favourite is Walkie No Talkie, a track that “wrote itself” and came together with ease.

Among the band’s influences are The Cure, Dinosaur Jr., Slowdive, Ride, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and within the band, musical tastes collide: rock, shoegaze, electronic, DJ culture.

This mix creates tension in the sound—noisy, atmospheric, and layered—which is something Jamie treasures.

A Christmas single with a twist

Just weeks after the album release, bedd have already shared a new single: Count the Days, a self-described “traditional Christmas song about not believing in Christmas and feeling a bit depressed.”

Jamie jokes: “Obviously it’s going to be Christmas Number One.”

What Jamie wants people to take away

When asked what he wants to tell listeners, Jamie pauses, then says simply:

“Try to have fun. Love people. Let the people you love know that they’re loved. Ignore the hate as much as you can. Life is difficult, but it’s also beautiful. If music can help us enjoy it together, that’s everything.”

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At just 22, James Taylor has been appointed Oxford City Council’s new Champion for Events, Live Music and the Nighttime Economy. One of his key ambitions is to revive the Cowley Road Carnival — the decades-old parade that drew thousands of spectators annually but has taken place only once since 2019 due to the pandemic.

‘I feel comfortable saying it was a nationally acclaimed event,’ he says.

The former Oxford Brookes student and metal music fan says he was approached for the role by a senior councillor who recognised his passion and knowledge of the sector.

‘Why don’t we make you the guy on this?’ he recalls being told. ‘You clearly know what you’re talking about.’

The post, which is unpaid and undertaken alongside his councillor duties, has two key elements. The first involves meeting with anyone hoping to run events in Oxford or enter its live music or nighttime sectors, helping them navigate the ‘red tape’ that often slows progress.

The second is more strategic: working with the council to develop policies that encourage people to create what Taylor calls ‘lovely things’ that enrich the city’s cultural life.

Reflecting on his nearly five years in Oxford — he grew up in Bromley — Taylor says the city, which produced such bands as Radiohead, Foals, and Supergrass, once had a far larger nighttime economy.

‘We still have quite a lot of good stuff, but it’s certainly seen a decline since Covid.’

His view echoes an August report by the Night Time Industries Association, which found that 26 per cent of UK towns and cities that had late-night venues — such as bars and nightclubs — in 2020 now have none. In Oxford, several long-standing sites — including The Cellar, Atik, and The Purple Turtle — have closed in recent years due to redevelopment plans and rental disputes.

Taylor, who has held the Champion role only since 6 October, says progress is already being made. Meetings with venue operators are under way to hear their concerns and determine how the council can help.

‘I can’t promise anything,’ he says. ‘But I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t think we could come out of this with, at the very least, more venues and things to do. I want people to be able to be someone somewhere.’

Despite it being “ruled” by students from its two universities, Oxford has stepped up its game, providing many community-building opportunities created by its engaged residents.

From local business concepts, student-led ideas to family-owned businesses, Hybrid discovers what Oxford has to offer in a series of new features!

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Do you have any event recommendations in Oxford? Leave them below!

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Thames Valley Police are appealing for help to trace a wanted man. Kevin Walls, 45, is wanted in connection to an assault, criminal damage and threats to kill.

He is known to frequently be in the Didcot area, particularly towards the town centre and visits betting shops. He is sometimes also around the Cowley area.

He went to the residence of a victim, who is in her forties, where he assaulted her which resulted in injuries consistent with actual bodily harm. Walls also stabbed the sofa with a kitchen knife, creating damage. The victim was not hospitalised but had injuries. This occurred on Tuesday 4 November at around 7.30pm.

A description can be found here.

In October the Government announced £120m of funding to re-open the Cowley Branch Line. The Cowley line will connect residents in southeast Oxford to the city centre in less than 10 minutes.

Two new stations at Cowley and Littlemore are expected to open by 2030, initially with two trains per hour, increasing to three by 2040.

OxRail 2040: Plan for Rail proposes a further three stations at Begbroke, Wantage & Grove, and Ardley.

Railfuture, which campaigns for better rail services across the UK, said they were supportive of the plans.

A council spokesperson said: “All new stations will be subject to consultation, discussion and approval by the relevant local planning authority”.

A new rail line for Witney?

Oxfordshire County Council has been investigating the feasibility of a new railway line between Carterton, Witney and Oxford. A study published in 2023 predicted that this could offer significantly reduced journey times:

• 23 minutes from Carterton to Oxford

• 16 minutes from Witney to Oxford

• 11 minutes from Eynsham to Oxford

However the construction costs to build the railway line were estimated at between £700 and £900 million. The council said that such funding would need to come from the Government.

As part of OxRail 2040, Oxfordshire County Council said it will identify deliverable plans for faster travel options in West Oxfordshire by 2030, which may or may not include rail.

David Richardson, Media Officer at Railfuture Thames Valley, said there was “a long way to go” on this project, and that a tramway may prove to be an alternative to a new railway line as it would be cheaper to build and operate.

Beyond the five new stations, the plans include the completion of the East West Rail project, which is expected to link Oxford and Cambridge by 2038, alongside upgrades to Oxfordshire’s 23 existing train stations.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “This is not simply a wish list. We have credible routes for the delivery of each of the proposals in OxRail 2040”.

Oxfordshire’s railways go electric

The plan envisions a zero-carbon rail network, through the building of new overhead line electrification, which is expected to be completed by 2037.

This “Electric Freight Spine” will enable rail freight to operate electrically, while providing charging infrastructure for battery-powered passenger trains.

The Oxfordshire Metro

The “Oxfordshire Metro” is the council’s vision for a fully integrated transport network. It is expected to bring together rail, bus, walking, and cycling, and aims to offer travellers more frequent and better coordinated public transport.

Oxford Station, which serves over 6.5 million passengers a year, will be transformed into a “landmark station” by 2037.

A major project is already underway at Oxford to increase capacity through the building of a new platform. Network Rail has been heavily criticised by residents and businesses for the disruption caused by the long-term closure of Botley Road. The road is set to reopen in August 2026.

Councillor Roberts said of OxRail 2040: “.... Success in delivering these aims will depend on the government, the rail industry and our local communities collaborating with us and playing their part.”

The museum will charge a £4 and a concession fee of £2, which would be applied for Blue Light card holders and students. Free entry would be granted to the schools from Oxfordshire, carers, children under five, volunteers for the museum and so on.

The Oxford City Council revealed one of the reasons they took the plunge is that the “pay as you can” system was no longer effective. However, the changing model could be a solution to gather multiple data, for instance, the characteristics of visitors, which helps to engage the wider community.

This year marked the 50th anniversary of the opening.

“We’re planning a year-long public programme of exhibitions and events to celebrate Oxford’s history and bring new voices into our collections.” said the Museum of Oxford.

It has not been reflected on the official website yet; however, those who wish to visit the Museum of Oxford should check if the site will be updated.

Alex Pawlak, 37, the creator of the app and a freelance product designer who works for multiple large companies, gave Hybrid the behind-the-scenes with his various endeavours: language, time, and technology issues.

He said: “I’m French and my parents were coming one time, and I thought they could use the app to learn about the city when I don’t have time for them.”

Alex’s partner is Japanese, and he wanted to reduce the anxiety of not only her family but also Japanese people who struggle in an unfamiliar city, and the difficulty of the language barrier.

The app is free and available in English, French, and Japanese with reading and audio. Users can check interesting buildings while walking around, but also see some tours, such as the Oxford colleges tour and the historic pubs tour.

The application users can also use an audio version, which enables them to walk around the city while listening to the highlights of the buildings with geo-location. He explained why he focuses on the audio-guide aspect.

Alex added: “The app was thought firstly to be an audio guide because I want to be able to look with my eyes at the architecture of the building while learning about its story. Using multiple of our senses at the same time.

“At this stage, we even forget about our phones, which is great since most of us are looking at our phones for hours during the day. I believe a good design uses technology but can make it disappear for the user.” He added the original point of view as a product designer.

The struggle for language

He said he struggled to translate other languages: “ I don’t speak Japanese, so I had to find people to help me to see if it was working, if it was good Japanese or not. I asked my wife, and she could tell me some words.”

“I think also it’s because Oxford has a specific English language, like the building, they say it in a way. When you translate it from written English, it’s not the same Katakana* they’re going to use it, because they should have a British accent, right? So, I think that was one of the struggles.”

Towards a world where everyone can build apps

He also continued that there is a difficulty on the technical side.

“ ⁠I always tried to learn coding* before, but I never could put together a full project. I would be stuck sometimes, either in the course or making a personal project. AI helped me overcome those barriers.”

“For example, for development, AI knows what I’m good at when creating an app and what I’m most likely not good at.”

He emphasised: “More and more people can develop thanks to new AI tools.”

“I didn’t do the development before, and thanks to AI, I can do it now.”

He added: “I think learning how to code can be intimidating, it makes me think of the first time someone learns how to cook and is afraid of burning the food. Now with AI, we can ask why we failed and understand by ourselves. This helps a lot with the impostor syndrome when we start learning a new subject.”

The challenges will continue

After he developed Oxford City Guide, he had other challenges to overcome.

“Sometimes I would have a bug, and the college wouldn’t show, or it would show in the wrong place, for example. So I had to check manually. Everything was right. It took some time at one point. “

“I need to have proper and deeper feedback, trying to ask people how they use the app, that’s something I should be doing to understand what works, what doesn’t, and what I need to change to make it better.”

This app will be updated with some functions, too, he said.

“I think a lot of people come from very different backgrounds in Oxford, and there could be a lot more languages that I could integrate into the app.”

He added: “When I built it, because I was here for like 3 years. Some people ask me, Do you have this on the app? And I sometimes would be like, No, I don’t, because so far, there are like 100 points for now. I want to increase it to about 700.”

If you’re interested in using Oxford City Guide application, we welcome some feedback in the comment section.

*Katakana…one of the two sets of syllabic Japanese script. Katakana is used to write scientific terms, official documents, and words borrowed from other languages.

She is amongst the hundreds who walked at the march on Sunday, November 16, on a day when temperatures dipped across the UK after battering rains of Storm Claudia. Nevertheless, the 2.6 miles march began at Templars Square in Cowley, and culminated at Bonn Square in Oxford’s city centre.

Participants in the march could be seen carrying posters and banners for multiple causes related to anti-racism, including migrants and refugees, Islamophobia, and antisemitism. They chanted slogans as a volunteer drummers group played at different intervals of the march.

The poster invite for the unity march included 16 organisations such as Women Against the Far Right, Stand up to Racism Oxford, Student Action for Refugees Oxford, Unite the Union, Fire Brigade Unions among others. Banners and flags of Oxford Green Party, Oxford Labour Party, North Oxfordshire Socialist Alliance were also seen in the march.

Jo Barber, 39, shared she is participating in the unity march “as a celebration of art and city of sanctuary. This is a march for everyone– we welcome refugees, support the trans and the LGBTQ community, disability rights– many of the good things that are happening in the world. It’s basically a response to all the fascist forms that’ve been going on recently. We know a lot of people are scared ... so we created this event.. the sample bands, drummers, all day, good people and organisations, they’re coming out, women, to march.”

Amarjit shares “I was a student here many years ago, and I think Oxford is a very special, unique place that should be at the forefront of multiculturalism and intelligence, and to counteract and show a presence alternative to the far right.

“I was a student of German language and Literature here in the 90s. The dangers of the rise of the Far Right rhetoric is real. The tech billionaires such as Elon Musk are adding to this through their rabble rousing platforms such as X.

“It’s very easy to divide people when there’s a cost of living crisis.. as you can see, on Cowley Road, a lot of shops have closed… people are obviously struggling.. and it’s prime pickings for the far right.

“We just wanted to show a peaceful display. The unity of what Oxford as a city of sanctuary represents.”

The College said in a statement to Hybrid: “Lord Mandelson informed St Catherine’s College that he has decided to step back from public life.

“The College has accepted his resignation as an Honorary Fellow.”

The resignation was confirmed by the College earlier this week, almost two months after Manchester Metropolitan University stripped Lord Mandelson of his honours. The University announced its decision to revoke his honours in September, a day after he was dismissed from his role as UK ambassador to the US.

Lord Mandelson was chancellor of the Manchester Metropolitan University between 2016 and 2024. The honours that were withdrawn include an honorary doctorate and a commemorative medal.

Sir Keir Starmer’s dismissal of Lord Mandelson came after further revelations about the extent of his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

St Catherine’s College is one of the largest colleges at Oxford University, and is where Lord Mandelson studied as an undergraduate. He received the honorary fellowship in 2018.

Lord Mandelson ran to become the Oxford University chancellor in 2024, however the role went to Lord William Hague.

The college offered no further comment on the resignation.

There is ongoing speculation about who might be appointed as the next ambassador to the US.

Oxford bus company has introduced bus route and service changes around Oxford city, aiming to provide more frequent and faster services.

The changes apply from 9^th November and are in response to the new temporary congestion charge.

Overall, the changes work towards faster journeys at peak times of the day, extended operating hours into the night or evening, and better links to key employment areas and hospitals in East Oxford.

Service 5, 5A, 8, 15 and 300 have become more frequent, and these services along with X3, 11, 400, 500, H2 and ST2 will be faster during peak times.

Services 3 and 3A have extended beyond Westgate shopping centre to the rail station, restoring direct links to Littlemore, Rose Hill and Iffley Road.

A new service, 20, will be operating to every 40 minutes on week days between Rose Hill, Iffley Road, Morrell Avenue, Brookes University, JR Hospital and Marston Road.

The U5 service will be replaced by the 100’s revised route which runs between Oxford city centre, Cowley Road, Hollow way, Wood Farm, Roosevelt Drive and Brookes University to JR hospital.

But campaigners from Oxon 4 buses believe more can be done to improve both connectivity around Oxford and reduce congestion. They are calling for Network Rail to include a bus station in their plans to redesign Oxford rail station.

In the £1.9 million contract to redesign the station, a multi-storey car park, cycle hub, office and hotel were all suggested, but a bus station wasn’t mentioned.

Oxon 4 buses argue that “better public transport, and seamless connection between different forms of transport, will be key to reducing congestion in and around Oxford.

“A combined bus/rail interchange would bring more people to the station area, increasing the value and development opportunities of everything around that site, whether part of Network Rails development or others nearby, and increasing the potential number of rail passengers – a win-win.”

The project has just been awarded some £211,000 by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The restoration effort started in 2019, when Kilsby’s previous owner donated her former home to Jericho’s Living Heritage Trust. One day, the boat is envisioned to serve the local community as a floating stage, creative space, and transport vehicle.

The new funds will help to finance the next 2.5 years of work, including the restoration of Kilsby’s stern and the installation of an electric motor.

The requirements the restored boat has to fulfil are manifold: “It needs to operate in an environmentally sustainable way,” explained 42-year-old Sophie Stanley, who volunteers on the project since 2020.

It needs to be accessible for people with any type of disability. It has to be operational as a passenger vessel.

“It needs to be able to host arts and heritage activities,” said Ms Stanley. And: “It needs to look like it looked in 1912.” The volunteers want to modernise the boat while restoring its historical features.

They aim to preserve the local heritage. Jericho lies adjacent to the Oxford Canal, which has long been home to a community of live-aboard boaters.

Peter Stalker, the Treasurer of the Jericho Community Association, said that Kilsby is “a reminder about the roots of the communities that we now have.

“It’s like making sure that there’s an electric current moving along the wires, still,” he said.

The boat’s illustrious history started more than 110 years ago, as documented on the project website.

Kilsby was commissioned in 1912 as part of a fleet of 24 unpowered narrowboats at £190 each. She was used as a cargo boat, first drawn by horses and then by other, engine-powered ships.

In 1934, Kilsby even served as the birthplace of a child. Later on, she was turned into a mud boat and helped in the dredging of waterways in the Manchester area.

Kilsby was likely turned into a home in the 1970s, when its owners at the time installed a wooden cabin on deck. In the 80s, she arrived in Oxford.

That is also where the boat fell into the hands of her long-time owner and inhabitant Helen McGregor. The actor and writer moved onto Kilsby in 1993 and lived on her for almost three decades, moored in the city centre.

By 2019, Kilsby had fallen into disrepair: she was leaking, rotting, and now uninhabitable. And when Ms McGregor decided to donate her boat, the work began.

Kilsby was painstakingly moved to Tooley’s Boatyard in Banbury, where she was stripped down and cleaned. The boat was dry-docked to reinforce and blacken the hull.

Meanwhile, volunteers had also been fundraising, brainstorming about Kilsby’s future purpose, collecting feedback, and pursuing creative projects.

Now, Kilsby still lies in Banbury; capital restoration works are due to be completed by the end of 2026.

But even before Kilsby is fully restored, the effort has borne fruit. “Community projects bring people from different walks of life together,” said Ms Stanley. “It is fulfilling.”

She is a boater herself. “It has connected me more meaningfully with the history of how I live,” she said.

Student organisers are partnering with Choose a Challenge, which works with students, universities, and charities to offer a series of charity fundraising challenges each year.

Jemima Honeyborne, 20, and Ludovica Cannizzo, 22, are the Challenge Leaders for the Machu Picchu trek. In August, they will take a group to Peru to raise money for Amnesty International.

The group will hike the Salkantay Trek, a popular alternative to the Inca Trail. A six-day trek, it is considered more physically challenging than the Inca Trail, reaching a higher altitude of 4,630 metres. They will climb between 12 and 22km each day.

Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is facing criticism about overcrowding and tourism mismanagement. The Peruvian government currently limits admissions to 4,500 daily visitors, or 5,600 during peak season, and permits must be booked well in advance during busier months due to high demand.

Earlier this year, the New 7 Wonders of the World organisation said that Machu Picchu could be removed from its list over concerns about mismanagement. In September, a protest from residents relating to tourist infrastructure disrupted a passenger train service and left 900 tourists stranded.

Peru is one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in Latin America, and 49% growth in inbound leisure travel spend is forecast for the country between 2025 and 2030 (WTM Global Travel Report, 2025).

Jemima and Ludovica are both frequent travellers and have previously travelled solo. Discussing solo travel, Ludovica said: “If you pick the right country… if you feel ready for it, it’s the best experience.”

Jemima added: “It’s very freeing”.

The organisers of the Everest Base Camp trek, Tom Coward, 19, and Willow Christie, 19, will embark on a seven-day hike to the South Base Camp in Nepal.

The South Base Camp is situated at a height of 5,364 metres. Before the climb, students will spend time in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, which the organisers say will be a highlight of the trip.

The Everest trek, taking place in September, will raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. As part of their fundraising efforts the group will also complete the 3 Peaks Challenge, which involves climbing the three highest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales within 24 hours.

Choose a Challenge determines both the destination and charity, and students choose the challenge which most appeals to them.

Challenge Leaders, Tom and Willow, think that the physical demands of the climb, and the achieving the fundraising target, will be impressive to future employers. Tom, who took part in a similar trek to Ciudad Perdida, or the “Lost City”, in Colombia last year, said: “A lot of teamwork and communication is involved”.

30,000 to 40,000 people climb to Everest Base Camp every year. In August, Nepal opened up 97 other mountains, offering free permits to encourage climbers to consider other peaks and alleviate the pressures on Everest caused by overcrowding.

Tour operators employ local guides to accompany travellers on such climbs, and sometimes porters who carry tourists’ baggage and equipment up the steep slopes. However there have been calls for improved working conditions for such workers, particularly in Peru.

From the Choose a Challenge website: “All of the guides, porters and support staff that represent Choose a Challenge are paid a fair wage, and we operate with strict limits on how much weight they are each permitted to carry”.

Both groups are still accepting sign-ups from students. The next information meetings will take place at the end of the month:

• Everest Base Camp: Thursday 27th November, 6-8pm. Location: to be confirmed via Instagram (@everestforbrookes)

• Machu Picchu: Thursday 27th November, 6-7pm. Location: to be confirmed via Instagram (@brookesmachupicchu2026)

29-year-old Brittany Miller, from Oxfordshire, has been forced to apologise, after admitting she had previously lied about being diagnosed with cancer.

@brittanyhmiller @brittanyhmiller ♬ original sound - Brittany

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A video posted on Monday 10th November, showed her admitting this and how she said “something to someone within my immediate circle in confidence”.

The post was highly emotional and she mentioned how she “didn’t do this with malicious intent or to scam people” and that she “did this out of desperation”, to “keep the people” in her life “close to her”.

The mother-of-two said she had “extremely bad mental health”, when the incident occurred in 2017. After material surfaced and went viral on the app, she faced criticism. It showed that Ms Miller had a fundraising page claiming diagnosis with gastric cancer.

Miller admitted to lying and said it came from “one stupid sentence that I deeply regret”. She linked the actions to mental health struggles that were ongoing at the time.

She amassed a large following on TikTok, with over three-and-a-half million people engaging with her content. It consists of lifestyle and food content.