Local News
My injured wife needed ‘step-down’ bed
A FORMER mayor has criticised the axing of seven NHS beds in Henley after he was left on his own to care for his wife after she was injured in a fall. Barry Wood, 81, said he felt inadequately supported when his wife Jeni, 78, was discharged from the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading where she had...
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Students curate tours on ‘takeover’ day at museum
EIGHT students from The Henley College “took over” the River & Rowing Museum in Henley for a day. They took over the roles of project manager, curator, events and social media managers on Friday last week and were then given tasks by the museum staff which related to their job and they had a...
My life fell apart after I quit rowing but going to gym helped me recover
A FORMER Olympic rower says he has been brought back from the brink by a Henley gym. Alex Partridge, 43, won two Olympic medals with the Team GB eight, a silver in 2008 in Beijing and a bronze at London 2012. He also won three world championship gold medals. However, he struggled to find structure i...
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Charities excited by return of Living Advent Calendar
THE Henley Living Advent Calendar returns on Sunday. The annual event, which began in 2011 and is supported by the Henley Standard, comprises performances in different locations across the town on 24 days, like an Advent calendar. Each night will be in aid of a different charity and these include th...
Families forced to leave island
FAMILIES have been told to dismantle their rented plots on a river island in Shiplake which they have used for decades. Shiplake Lock Island, which has been home to a number of seasonal plot-holders since Edwardian times, is to be leased out by the Environment Agency. The campsite was closed by the ...
Musician plays from heart for disabled charity night
A MUSIC night raised about £5,500 for the Chiltern Centre for disabled young adults in Henley. More than 100 people attended the event at the Bottle and Glass Inn in Binfield Heath on Saturday. It was held inside a restored barn within the grounds of the restaurant and guests were keen to get out o...
Boy walks in footsteps of war hero and rugby star ancestor
IT was a special moment for the family of a boy from Binfield Heath, who was a mascot for the England rugby team. Ollie Ewens, six, was one of four to be selected to walk out on the pitch with the players ahead of the match with Australia as part of the autumn series of fixtures on November 9. He is...
Pub’s dinner among UK’s best
A PUB owner “nearly burst into tears” after finding out its roast dinner was ranked one of the best in the UK. The Plough in Shiplake Cross has ranked in the top 50 Best Sunday Roasts in The Good Food Guide, announced on Wednesday last week. Judges rated the warmth of staff during service as “...
Teaching assistant leaves school where she had wedding reception
A TEACHING assistant is leaving the school in Henley where she held her wedding reception. Tracey Urwin, from Gainsborough Road, worked at Badgemore Primary School for 18 years, looking after children from all age groups. Mrs Urwin, who was a pupil at the school, also worked very closely with those ...
Hopper bus service to be extended
THE Henley Hopper bus service will be extended to five days a week from the spring. The service, which is subsidised by the town council, currently runs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9am and 2pm. But the authority has now agreed to spend a further £70,000 in its next budget to exten...
Festival and late shopping night
THE Henley Christmas Festival will take place tonight (Friday). The town council, which organises the annual event, is providing a host of family attractions. Many of the town centre shops and businesses will be open late and have special offers for the night. The festival will run from 5pm to 9pm a...
Henley College teachers walk out over pay
TEACHERS at The Henley College went on strike yesterday (Thursday) in a row over pay. Dozens of members of the National Education Union were expected to join a picket line outside the gates, off Deanfield Road, throughout the day. The college remained open and students had been told that they were e...
Demand for food parcels falls . . . for now, says community group
THE Henley food bank is continuing to hand out food parcels despite a recent fall in demand. Nomad, the youth and community group which supports children, young people and families, as well as run the food bank from the d:two centre in Market Place, held its annual meeting on Monday. Over the past y...
Charity sports day (and night)
A SCHOOL in Henley was spurred on by celebrity messages during a 24-hour “Sportathon”. Teachers, pupils and parents from Rupert House school in Bell Street raised nearly £4,500 for the BBC’s Children in Need appeal after participating in 24 hours of sporting activities last week. The children...
Girl wins Mayor’s card contest
A GIRL’S drawing of Santa Claus on a boat on the River Thames surrounded by swans has won this year’s Henley Mayor’s Christmas card competition. Clemmie O’Hanlon, seven, was one of more than 100 children who entered the contest. Her bright blue design features Henley Bridge in the background...
'I'm more than able': Glastonbury Legends slot to be headlined by Rod Stewart
Sir Rod Stewart will play the Glastonbury Legends slot in 2025, it has been announced.
Driver remains in life-threatening condition after A34 crash
A Fiat driver remains in a life threatening condition almost a week after a serious crash on the A34 near Didcot.
Two bathing sites rated as having 'poor' water quality
Environmental charity Thames21 is calling for urgent action to clean up Oxfordshire swimming sites after the Environment Agency rated two as 'poor'.
Train delays and cancellations due to signal problems
Train passengers have been warned to allow extra time for their journeys today after two major faults on the Chiltern Railways network.
Almost 30 flood warnings issued for Oxfordshire with further rain expected tonight
Dozens of flood warnings are in place for Oxfordshire as the aftermath of Storm Bert continues to affect the county.