04/07/2014 BBC Oxford News

A reminder of the main story, Rolf Harris is beginning a

Hello and welcome to South Today from Oxford.

All change at the top ` Oxford United replace manager

Gary Waddock with Portsmouth coach Michael Appleton,

Jailed ` the teacher who usdd Facebook to persuade pupils

Fighting to keep free buses ` why parents of these children have

written to David Cameron about plans for school transport.

Is this a masterpiece I tea before me?

A work thought to be by Van Gogh graces a Reading cafe.

It's been described as a seismic shift.

After weeks of speculation, the top tier at Oxford United footb`ll club

has been swept away in with a series of surprise appointments.

In his place comes former Portsmouth coach Michael Appleton.

The business will also be re`structured,

with a new joint owner coming in alongside businessman Ian

They breezed in like a whirlwind, heralding a new era at

There's a new joint owner and a new chief executive

For sports reporters, enough to fill days of back page headlines.

Darryl Eales has worked in high finance and Formula0 `

now it's the high octane world of football that motivates him.

It is has been good years in the business community and fortunately

It is has been good years in the business community and forttnately I

have done OK. `` 40 years. Football has been a massive part of my life.

All agree that owning a ground, either here at the Kassam or perhaps

We have got Oxford United going in the right direction but with the

opportunities that are coming for the stadium environment and Oxford

getting its own stadium, whdther through acquisition or a new

stadium, we have to focus on that. The decision to sack the previous

man was not one that he had made. There will be a new manager on

Monday. It is someone that I have worked

with in the past and whose career I have tracked closely. He understands

that model. He was educated in that model.

There are five weeks until the new season and supporters

whose main priority is seeing their team win will be hoping that

a new chairman, chief executive and manager will be followed by new

A secondary school teacher from Swindon who used Facebook to

incite children to engage in sexual activity has been sentenced to two

Alexander Thomas was found guilty in May.

The court said he'd abused his position of trust

and attempted to groom sixth form pupils who he befriended online.

He was also criticised in court for failing to take responshbility

for his actions, forcing his victims to relive their suffering in court.

30`year`old Alexander Thomas arrived at court having been

At his trial, the jury had heard how he targeted the girls aged 06

and 17 on Facebook when he began working at his school in 2000.

He began by sending one 17`year`old a message

But then the messages quickly became sexually explicit.

One girl sent the PE and business studies teacher photographs

A second teenager sent him a topless image.

With two of his victims sitting only yards away, the court listened

the statements were read out. One the statements were read out. One

girl said that she looked b`ck on girl said that she looked b`ck on

sixth form as a terrible time, another said that she had p`nic

attacks. Another said that the whole experience had left her feeling

sick. We advise strict caution on using

any form of social media. We any form of social media. We

recommend that people do not befriend pupils or their falilies

recommend that people do not befriend pupils or their families on

social media and that they do not make any comments to do with school.

He had been found guilty of five counts of inciting

a child to engage in sexual activity while in a position of trust.

And he admitted to possessing an image of a child.

Thank you for everyone who gave evidence. The sentence handed down

by the judge reflects the sdrious nature of the crimes and the

by the judge reflects the serious nature of the crimes and thd victims

`` and the impact it has had on the victims.

The judge said that this was a very serious breach of trust. These

The judge said that this was a very serious breach of trust. Thdse girls

serious breach of trust. These girls have been left affected in some way.

Police are investigating an attempted murder

A man in his seventies was found with stab wounds at a property

He's currently being treated in hospital where he's said to be

Police have arrested a 56`year`old man.

They say there's no threat to the wider community.

The Prime Minister has joindd the debate about whether free bus

travel to an Oxfordshire school should be scrapped.

Parents contacted David Cameron after Oxfordshire County Cotncil

decided it would be safe for pupils in Cassington to walk to school

Children from Cassington are used to getting

the bus to Bartholomew School in Eynsham, but from September some

may have to walk the two mile journey, alongside the busy A40

The route was classified as unsafe by the county council

for years, but that has been reviewed and reassessed as safe

That means for many the right to free travel will now be takdn away,

I do not think that it is a safe place for the children to w`lk

place for the children to walk along. What will it be like for

walking in the dark at Wintdr? We walking in the dark at Wintdr? We

budget concerns. We are considering budget concerns. We are considering

the safety of our children, we think that is more important.

But parents have been told the pathway is safe for people to walk.

The council say that the accident rate is very low.

One of the parents wrote to his local MP, who is the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister wrote to the leader of the County Council and the

Prime Minister asked that the parents concerns about safety on the

road are taken into consideration when this goes to appeal.

The appeal will be heard later this month. There will be a bus service

available next term, but unless the appeal succeeds, most parents will

have to pay for their children to use it.

A woman who claims she brought her three children here from America

to escape an abusive husband nearly 20 years ago, has been extradited

US citizen Eileen Clark started a new life in Oxford back

But her former husband conthnued to pursue the case through the US

After losing her final appe`l here, she will now face trial accused of

Legal campaign group Liberty called her forced return a perfect example

A group of 19 clergymen and women are due to be ordained at a big

People from across Oxfordshhre, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire will

gather at Christ Church Cathedral to attend the special service.

Churches like St Nicholas in Old Marston will then host the new

deacons, giving them on`the`job experience as they continue

It will be special because the Bishop of Oxford will be there. He

Bishop of Oxford will be thdre. He will say some words and when he lays

hands on us, we become more reverent slightly and we were before. We will

all be ordained as deacons to work all be ordained as deacons to work

ask your ribs in churches. `` to work as deacons.

Tens of thousands of people will be in Oxford this weekend for one of

The Cowley Road Carnival, which is now in its 14th ye`r,

celebrates local music, dance and community groups.

Adina Campbell has been to meet some of those who'll be taking p`rt.

They have been rehearsing for months in the basements. But they will soon

be performing in front of hundreds of people. Young Women's Music

Project, based in Oxford, ddcided of people. Young Women's Music

Project, based in Oxford, decided to Project, based in Oxford, decided to

produce this song about the Nigerian schoolgirls were recently khdnapped.

I think that the Young Women's Music Project is aiming to inspire

I think that the Young Women's Music Project is aiming to inspird young

They need to see a young black They need to see a young bl`ck

They need to see a young black Muslim woman having a voice.

We try using lots of differdnt We try using lots of different

instruments. They will be one of many groups

hoping to impress the people They will be one of many groups

hoping to impress the peopld at They will be one of many groups

hoping to impress the people at the hoping to impress the peopld at the

festival. Thousands of people attended the Cowley Road Carnival

last year, the biggest free events in the calendar. It will kick off

here at two p.m., featuring many groups and bands. The main band will

be closed until nine p.m., to make way for the activities throtgh the

way for the activities through the day.

# Oh happy day # Oh happy day #.

And there will be plenty of singing by the manual church gospel choir.

They have `` manual. `` this church singing group. They have been

singing group. They have bedn together for a year.

There is a real sense of colmunity. We all from different walks of life.

The festival costs thousands of pounds to put on. The organhsers

hope that this year will be better than ever.

BBC Radio Oxford will be live from the carnival with a special

programme this Sunday. You can hear coverage then. And we will have the

weather soon. I will be back at 10:25 p.m.. Goodbye.

Concerns have been raised about safety standards on a level crossing

in Poole. Network Rail says the pedestrianised High Street has by

far the highest risk crossing in the region. But despite the incident

rate, there are no plans to change it. Nor is it on the list of level

crossings to be closed. Paul Clifton reports.

25,000 April a day walk across the railway here. You do not have to

watch for a long to spot people racing the following barriers. ``

people. This is the highest risk crossing in the region. Warning

signs are clear and, for people in a hurry, there is a bridge. The

crossing is controlled by CCTV cameras. There is plenty of footage

like this. It is monitored by a signalman 60 miles away in

Basingstoke. Not an easy task. Network Rail would be happy to close

it given the high risk of the crossing, however, it would not be

feasible without an access for all the rich and would involve

compulsory purchase and a htge time compulsory purchase and a htge time

redevelopment. This woman works in the High Street and was caught last

month between closed barriers. The metal piece of the Gateshead to be

on the neck. I carried on and looked back and a lady with a pushchair was

stuck on the white part of the date. Some zero dragged her out. Recent

incidents include people deliberately lifting the barriers,

drunks playing chicken with the trains and a motorised wheelchair

which got stuck on the tracks. It is our highest area of risk on the

railway. We do not have unddr railway. We do not have unddr

percent control of it. We rely railway. We do not have under

percent control of it. We rdly on percent control of it. We rdly on

members of the public to listen to warnings and understand risks and

take them seriously. Network Rail has closed 800 crossings in five

years. It plans to close 500 more. But here, Network Rail says there is

little more it can do. People will be red traffic lights, it says,

little more it can do. People will be red traffic lights, it s`ys, so

why do they not obey the red lights at level crossings? Now let's get

the sport. The Fletcher family have been part

of the furniture at Pinewood judo club in Berkshire for generations.

In Glasgow, two siblings will be going for gold, in the latest of our

Commonwealth Games profiles I've been to meet Ben and Megan Fletcher`

on the judo mat. Judo returns to the Commonwealth

Games in Glasgow and these two siblings are ready to go for glory.

Then and Megan Fletcher have siblings are ready to go for glory.

Then and Megan Fletcher havd judo siblings are ready to go for glory.

Then and Megan Fletcher have judo in Then and Megan Fletcher have judo in

their blood. In the latest of a long line of stars to emerge from

their blood. In the latest of a long line of stars to emerge frol the

line of stars to emerge from the Pinewood judo club in Berkshire.

Then is 22 and a recent gold medallist. His sister, Megan, funds

are training by working part`time. Then competes in the under 100

are training by working part`time. Then competes in the under 000 kilo

Then competes in the under 100 kilo class and Megan in the under 70s.

The pair bounce off each other while on the roads during competitions.

Being family helps. It is great. Especially more recently as we are

going away together it is good to have someone, obviously all your

team`mates are with you, but I never get as nervous with anybody else. If

somebody is also a good judo player and goes away with you and watches

how you fight, it is like living with your coach, almost. Thhs club

with your coach, almost. This club has produced champions like this one

in 1992. Overseeing them was the club sends a until his death earlier

this year. `` teacher. He w`s a club sends a until his death earlier

this year. `` teacher. He was a man of not many words. There was a lot

of stuff we did at the club that is ingrained in you as a Pinewood

player. He always expected xou to do player. He always expected you to do

your best and train hard. Those are the things ingrained in you. He

didn't need to say anything. He would be proud of us. They light not

say it, but he would be protd and want us to do well and represent the

club. The siblings are aiming high in Glasgow. I want to be on the top

the podium and it will not be easy. But I believe I can do it. We both

could. We could both get medals Very good luck to them.

Southampton have turned down an offer from Liverpool for defender

Dejan Lovren. The offer falls well short of the 20 million pounds which

has been reported. Meanwhile Saints fans were handed a small boost today

amid unsettling times the team unveiled its new first team shirt

today, which revealed a rettrn to the traditional red and white

striped shirt design. Jay Rodriguez, James Ward`Prowse and Jose Fonte

were chosen to model the shirts, which go on sale on the 19th July.

They respect elation that C`llum Wilson might move a step closer.

Three T20 games are in play now including Sussex, Surrey and

Hampshire. Follow them on local radio. Meanwhile Michael Carberry

has signed a new three year contract extension at Hampshire. The 33 year

old has committed his future at the Ageas Bowl until 2017 and s`id he

sunflowers and the French countryside, but probably not

Reading. In a roundabout wax, though, the town may have granted

one of the artist's last wishes With his talents largely

unrecognised, just before hhs death in 1890, Van Gogh said he wanted to

see his work hung in a cafe. Fast forward 124 years and that's what

happened to a painting thought to be by Van Gogh. Nikki Mitchell has the

We're already seeing rain in some western parts. That will spread its

weak Easter. It could be he`vy at weak Easter. It could be heavy at

times. `` eastwards. We will see some dry periods developing in

western areas. Some heavy btrsts, as western areas. Some heavy bursts, as

you can see. A wet start to the day tomorrow. Gradually, clearing

western areas. Clothes will follow but that will start to break up to

allow sunny spells to develop. Highs of 21 Celsius. `` clouds. It is hit

and miss, some areas could dscape the showers but there will be some

heavy showers. Tomorrow night, it turns quiet and the showers will die

away. It will be a lot cooler tomorrow night. More comfortable for

sleeping. Sunday is a day of showers and sunshine. A similar picture for

Monday. Showers could be on the heavy side, even the odd rulble

Monday. Showers could be on the heavy side, even the odd rumble of

thunder. Pretty unsettled phcture heavy side, even the odd rulble of

thunder. Pretty unsettled phcture as we head through the next few days.

There are few events taking place. This event is all about ste`m.

There are few events taking place. This event is all about steam. It is

This event is all about ste`m. It is taking place in Guildford. Gates

open at 10am. In Wisden, the taking place in Guildford. Gates

open at 10am. In Wisden, the steam rally is on. Further inform`tion is

online. As we look ahead to the weekend, unsettled conditions. Rain

in the morning, clear in the in the morning, clear in thd

afternoon, following that, sunshine and showers. Thunderstorms will be a

possibility. Thank you. It's all about words on the street

in Winchester where the 40th Hat Fair takes place. The street theatre

festival started today so here's a little taste of what's happening

over the weekend. MUSIC PLAYS

It is our 40th year. We are proud we can claim the title of the

longest`running speed arts festival in the UK. `` Street. We have people

from all over the world comhng in the UK. `` Street. We have people

from all over the world coming to from all over the world coming to

perform here this weekend in Winchester. You do not have to pay a

penny! I love a Hat Fair. There is so much going on there. Go to

Winchester and fine out! That is so much going on there. Go to

Winchester and fine out! Th`t is all Winchester and fine out! Th`t is all

from us. Have a great weekend. Good night.