Father and son Simon and Howard Grater are starring in two musicals, write Jonathan Gunning and Peter Barrington.

Simon, 43, is appearing as Hank in Calamity Jane at the Oxford Playhouse next week and Howard, 13, is the Artful Dodger in Oliver! next April.

"It is a coincidence but the first time I was in an amateur operatic society show in Bath I was Oliver in the Lionel Bart musical," said Simon, of Green Lane, Arncott.

Simon has been in the musicals Kiss Me, Kate and Fiddler on the Roof with Bicester Choral and Operatic Society.

Howard, a pupil at Cooper School, Bicester, has been keen on the theatre for years as he has been going to the Stagecoach school in Oxford since he was seven.

While Simon has been rehearsing, his other main leisure activity rugby has taken a back seat. He is captain of Bicester Rugby Club and captain of their veterans' team.

"I have not played for a few weeks because of rehearsals," said Simon, general manager for a refrigeration company in Bicester.

Meanwhile, a father and son are revving up for a charity race described as 'the toughest rally in the world'.

Richard Sumner, 52, and his son Paul, 28, of London Road, Wheatley, will set off from Land's End on December 2 on 'Le Jog' Motoring Challenge, hoping to make it to John O'Groats by December 5.

They aim to drive the 1,650-mile road and forest route in three and half days with just one overnight stop in Carlisle.

During the run they will be raising money for The Antony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust.

The pair, both members of Oxford Motor Club, will compete against 120 other rally crews, some driving cars dating back to the 1920s.

As the rally is strictly for historic and classic vehicles, their Saab 96 V4, made in 1974, will be one of the newest vehicles in the event.

Richard, who will be navigating for most of the trip, said: "We bought the car in August especially for the rally, but the next day it caught fire!

"We will just be happy to finish anything else will be a bonus."

Area manager for the charity, Anna Spencer, said: "The money raised by Richard and Paul will pay for more Oxfordshire volunteers to be tissue-typed and put on our bone marrow register."

If you wish to sponsor Richard and Paul, call Anna on 01865 875577