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THE Oxford Mail continues its review of the year today, picking up in April with the following three months seeing lockdown restrictions, local elections and royal visits.
On Monday 5, it was reported that the body of 19-year-old Oxford Brookes University student Richard Okorogheye had been found in Epping Forest.
Mr Okorogheye left his family home in west London on the evening of March 22, and was reported missing two days later.
The case of the business and IT student, who had sickle cell disease, gathered national attention.
Four days later, Buckingham Palace announced the death of Prince Philip, the longest serving consort in British history.
Oxfordshire paid tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh, who died aged 99 at Windsor Castle.
On April 12, businesses welcomed customers back as the country took its next step on the roadmap out of lockdown.
Non-essential shops, pubs, restaurants, gyms and hair salons reopened after nearly four months of being closed.
Reopening at the Port Mahon. Picture: Ed Nix
MAY
On May 7, it was revealed class downsizing and even school closures could occur after research by the Oxford Mail found nearly 2,000 primary school places were vacant across Oxfordshire.
Oxfordshire County Council said the number of vacancies was down to the falling birth rate in the area.
Local elections saw Labour sweep the board for Oxford City Council, while the Conservatives lost nine seats on the county council.
Most went to the Liberal Democrats, who even won an unexpected victory in Woodstock, the seat which had been held by the council’s Conservative leader Ian Hudspeth.
Conservative candidate Matthew Barber was elected as Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner.
May 21 saw an announcement that the statue of Cecil Rhodes would not yet be removed, despite an independent recommendation which said it should fall.
The Cecil Rhodes statue. Picture: Ed Nix
JUNE
Plans to transform Broad Street into a pedestrianised public square took another step forward.
The city council applied for permission to close the street from the county council, which is responsible for roads in the city.
City council deputy leader Tom Hayes said: “With a beautiful meadow and some flower power, we can bring Broad Street back to life.”
Prince Charles drove an electric car off the production line at the Mini Plant Oxford on June 8, as the factory celebrated 20 years of modern Mini production.
After his test drive, His Royal Highness described the Mini Electric as ‘silent but deadly’ and praised the factory for its sustainability efforts.
In the context of a greener future, the Prince also made reference to his new born granddaughter, Lilibet.
The month also saw Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at Oxford’s Jenner Institute and Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, honoured with a damehood.
Rounding off this segment of the review was the news campaigners had waited almost a decade for.
After closing in 2012, it was announced that Oxford Stadium – the city’s home of greyhound and speedway – would reopen.
Kevin Boothby secured a 10-year lease from stadium owner, Galliard Homes.
