Community News

There’s so much to look forward to in October, from Oktoberfest, Halloween, the clocks going back, and, for the country’s Hindu diaspora, Diwali.

Leading housebuilder Barratt and David Wilson Homes is inviting property seekers to two exclusive mortgage advice events at its Oxfordshire developments.

The City of Wolverhampton Council will be celebrating the achievements of young care leavers as it marks national Care Leavers Week which starts next Monday (28 October 2024).

The Three Counties Agricultural Society – organiser of the UK’s premiere agricultural event, the Royal Three Counties Show – is hosting a brand-new special, one-off event on 21 November 2024 at Three Counties Showground, Malvern to discuss the future of farming and to share expert tips and practical solutions for succession planning.

The name Shapurji Saklatvala may not be one that leaps out of the history books to most people.

A key milestone for “Connection Stage One” of the East West Rail project has just been reached after a test train successfully completed its first run between Oxford and Milton Keynes.

Network Rail worked with its partners at Chiltern Railways to operate the first train over the newly rebuilt section of the line between Bicester and Bletchley as part of testing on the route. This work brings the rail line a step closer to reopening to passengers for the first time in nearly 60 years.

Departing from Oxford station at 9.43am, a Chiltern Class 168 train made a full journey along the line, travelling via Bicester, Winslow and Bletchley before arriving at Milton Keynes Central at 10.25am. The journey along the entire route took 42 minutes to complete, with the train reaching the full line speed of 100mph on several sections of line.

Christian Irwin, Network Rail’s Director of Capital Delivery, said: “This is a huge milestone for the East West Rail project. 

“I am incredibly proud of the partnership between Network Rail, our East West Rail Alliance supply chain partners, the DfT, EWR Company and Chiltern Railways, in successfully completing the construction and entry into service of the new railway between Bicester and Bletchley. The running of our first test train today is a huge achievement and brings us one step closer to restoring train services between Oxford and Milton Keynes for passengers."

Rianna Stanwell, Programme Director at Chiltern Railways, said: “I am delighted that Chiltern will be running the first series of test trains between Oxford and Milton Keynes.

The book festival featuring writers of South Asian heritage returns for its eighth year as the DESIblitz Literature Festival is now on, taking place in venues across Birmingham until November 2.

Working parents who are eligible for funded childcare are being reminded to use their code if they have applied for it.

Former Eastenders star, Ricky Groves, is set to join the cast of ‘The Little Mermaid’, which will be at Stourbridge Town Hall to raise funds for The Mary Stevens Hospice in the West Midlands town.

Passengers across the North West are being urged to check their journeys this weekend and tie down any loose items in their gardens ahead of a named storm which was expected to arrive in in the early hours of this morning.

Tributes are still being paid during this Black History Month, to Alford Gardner, one of the last surviving Windrush pioneers, who recently passed away.

André Williams, a 32-year-old from Houston, Texas, in the U.S., recently paid off the mortgage for his mother, Tracy, as a way to express his deep gratitude for her unwavering support throughout his life.

During this ongoing Black History Month, it was announced that a blue plaque commemorating poet, actor and activist Benjamin Zephaniah has been unveiled in his home city.

The powerful voices of young people were heard at a major council meeting last night.

Bhai Sahib Professor Mohinder Singh OBE KSG, a founding member of the ECRL (European Council of Religious Leaders), attended the ECRLs Annual Meeting held from September 16 to 18, 2024, in Oslo, Norway.

Tributes to Alex Salmond continued to be paid across the political spectrum following the death of former Scotland's First Minister and ex-SNP (Scottish National Party) leader Alex Salmond, who collapsed and died suddenly at an event in North Macedonia.