Over the summer, people were advised to be cautious about non-essential travel in and out of the city as Covid rates soared and a Wantage vicar staged a shocking climate protest.

July

People living in Oxford were advised not to travel to stop the spread of Covid-19 as cases in the city reached their highest levels since the start of the pandemic.

The city was declared an ‘enhanced response area’, like Birmingham and Greater Manchester, and was given rapid additional support by the Government including increased testing and help to maximise vaccine uptake to tackle the ‘unprecedented’ number of cases.

While there was no ban on travel - and those with plans to travel were not being told to cancel their arrangements - people were being asked to be cautious about non-essential travel in and out of the city to help stop the spread of the virus.

Oxford’s cases of Covid were firmly in the top ten in the entire country having risen particularly rapidly during late June and early July.

On a lighter note, West Oxfordshire native Jeremy Clarkson revealed that building his dream home at the centre of Diddly Squat Farm had run into difficulties.

He claimed he had to wait six months for items such as curtains because of shortages due to the pandemic.

In his column for The Sun, Jeremy wrote: “Curtains? Nope. There’s a six-month wait for those too!”

His old house was blown up by his The Grand Tour co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond in an incredible stunt for the show, and he began work on the new one which he has now moved into in 2019.

The TV presenter explained that even buying a sofa proved an uphill struggle.

He wrote: “I went last week to buy a sofa, imagining that there’d be no supply problem with cushions.

“But oh dear, how wrong I was. It turns out that there’s a nationwide shortage of feathers thanks to a supply problem with China.”

He added: “The upshot is that soon I’ll move into my house where I shall spend the next two years sitting on the floor, reading old books by candlelight.

“And then using a ladder to go upstairs to bed.

“Unless there’s a ladder shortage as well. Which there probably is.”

August

Wantage vicar Tim Hewes sewed his lips together as part of a protest outside the offices of a global media company owned by Rupert Murdoch.

Revd Tim was photographed in London holding a sign that read ‘Murdoch - the most destructive man in the history of the planet?’.

The 71-year-old was also jailed in March for 14 days for gluing himself to furniture at the City of London Magistrates’ Court.

In a statement published by Christian Climate Action, the Christian arm of Extinction Rebellion, he said: “I have sewn up my lips to demonstrate the terrible havoc Rupert Murdoch’s actions have reaped upon the world and to make this visible.

“Climate science and truth has been muted, those who suffer are not being heard.”

After two hours Revd Hewes ended his protest and removed his stitches.

In the same month, a dog that had been missing for almost two months was found safe and well.

Roly the Springer Spaniel was stolen out of his owner’s van in a Sainsbury’s car park in Worcestershire.

The car of the individual believed to have stolen the dog was later spotted that day in the ‘Oxford area’.

But 76 days after going missing, Roly was reunited with his worried owners, Peter and Stephanie Wolfe.

Mrs Wolfe said: “He was found by a member of the public, who had seen Roly’s Facebook page and poster.

“He was convinced it was Roly.”

The dog then had his microchip checked by a vet, who confirmed it was in fact Roly.

She added: “When he saw us, his whole body was wagging his tail and rolled over for his tummy to be tickled; he was so pleased to us.”

September

UK drivers hit out at a “pathetic” change to Sainsbury’s petrol stations with customers saying they “won’t buy fuel there again”.

Sainsbury’s started charging for services that were previously free taking drivers by surprise at forecourts across the UK.

The supermarket giant introduced a 30p charge for air while the offer of free water was replaced by screen wash, for £1.

Contaminated drugs were thought to have caused several deaths in the county as Public Health Oxfordshire sent out an alert for contaminated heroin.

Two men were found dead outside Abingdon BP garage in the early hours.

Emergency services were called to Vineyard after reports that two people had suffered a medical emergency.

Police said the men, who were both in their 40s, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Public Health Oxfordshire Drug and Alcohol Team sent out an alert the day before warning drug users of a contaminated batch of heroin.

A close friend of Jennifer Wong, 32, who tragically died in a cycle crash in Headington paid tribute following her death.

Jennifer, who was PA to Pro-Vice Chancellor of Oxford Brookes Professor Linda King, was killed in a collision with an HGV mounted crane at the junction of Headley Way and London Road.

Oxford University alumnus Cynthia Hass said: “She was an amazing friend. Jennifer Wong was a light for everyone that she touched.

“She was like family, she cared about everyone and always made sure that people were taken care of.

“She was one of my closest friends, my housemate, and an angel in some of the hardest of times.”

Miss Hass, who moved to France, said she lived with Miss Hong in Oxford during lockdown where they spent lots of time bonding together.

She described her beloved friend as an adventurous person with many hobbies who always thought of others before herself.