Review of the year, part one: Worker sacked for tweets, litter signs upset

A SHOP worker was fired by his employer over his social media posts.

Ben Woods, 41, said he was sacked from his job as a wine specialist at Waitrose Henley, off King’s Road, over a series of posts he made on X, formerly Twitter.

Mr Woods claims Waitrose fired him over around 30 posts that they said had damaged the company’s reputation but he has accused the store of impeding his right to free speech.

THE leader of the Liberal Democrats learnt to hobby horse at the launch of the party’s local election campaign at Badgemore Park.

Sir Ed Davey was joined by Oxfordshire’s five Lib-Dem MPs, Freddie van Mierlo, Layla Moran, Calum Miller, Olly Glover and Charlie Maynard.

Leigh Rawlins, from Sonning Common, was also revealed as the Henley South and Sonning Common division candidate for Oxfordshire County Council election on May 1.

Campaigners and activists cheered as Sir Ed learnt to jump over stumps of up to 90cm, tried mounted games, including hooking wooden fish, and dressage by trotting and spinning his horse on grass.

ABOUT 300 bags of rubbish were collected in two hours in and around Henley town centre.

More than 250 people attended the inaugural Great Henley Sack Race on Sunday and items recovered included a gas bottle, half a shopping trolley and a kitchen countertop.

Volunteers were given designated areas and, in addition to Market Place, they collected litter in residential streets, including St Mark’s Road, Station Road and Valley Road.

They used equipment including hi-vis jackets, litter pickers, gloves and bags that were loaned by Henley in Bloom, South Oxfordshire District Council and Wallingford Town Council.

AN elderly woman was left lying on a pavement in Henley for almost three-and-a-half hours with a broken hip while she waited for an ambulance.

Pauline Miller, 83, had been walking to the bus stop near Bodywise health food shop in Market Place on Monday morning when she lost her balance, fell backwards and hit her head outside Pret A Manger shortly before 10.50am. An ambulance did not arrive until after 2pm.

South Central Ambulance Service has apologised for the delay in reaching Mrs Miller but said she was not a priority case.

A MAN told how a red kite snatched bread and hummus, that he was having for lunch, from his hand.

Geof Haigh, 72, was sitting on a bench under a veranda in his garden at home in Whitehills Green, Goring, when the bird swooped. Its long, sharp talons caused a two-inch scratch to Mr Haigh’s hand and brushed the face of Gail, his wife, with its angled wings as it dived down.

This was the third time in five years that a red kite has snatched food from him while he was eating outside.

In the latest incident, Mr Haigh had just taken a piece of bread which he had dipped into a pot of hummus when the bird flew under the veranda, took the bread and made off through a gap in a nearby boundary fence.

RESIDENTS living in a new housing development in Henley were given a “gagging order” to prevent them from speaking out about the project’s next phase.

Contracts issued by Crest Nicholson to residents living in Highlands Park, off Greys Road, include a clause preventing objections to its planning applications for neighbouring land.

The development already comprises 191 houses in its “southern field” and the firm wants to build another
110 homes on the “northern field” as part of its second phase in addition to land for 20 homes to be managed by a community housing trust.

A clause in residents’ contracts says the buyers agree “not to object or cause any objection to be made to any planning application made by the seller in respect of any neighbouring or adjoining land which relates to the development or other residential development”.

AN antique carpet worth thousands of pounds was put up for auction by Henley Town Council.

The Pedestal, an auction house in Stonor, has consigned a large Ushak carpet that was originally in the Mayor’s Parlour in the town hall.

The carpet, which had been held in storage at the town hall, has a guide price of between £10,000 and £15,000.

The council’s finance strategy and management committee agreed to the sale because the carpet was not being used.

The carpet has been identified as a late 19th-century Ushak carpet from West Anatolia in Turkey and measures 606cm by 366cm, which is considered larger than average.

A GIRL handed a petition with almost 6,000 signatures to Downing Street in her campaign to re-open a public footbridge in Henley.

Claudia Fennell, nine, of Wargrave Road, began gathering support in January in a bid to accelerate repairs to the rotting Marsh Lock horsebridge.

The crossing over the River Thames was shut by the Environment Agency in May 2022 following complaints about its condition.

More than 100 defects were found in the deteriorating hardwood, which would need to be replaced in its entirety. Repairs on the bridge were initially expected to take two months but were delayed due to the agency denying responsibility for maintaining it.

Claudia decided to start the petition as part of her “Speaking Out” badge with the 1st Henley Brownies group, which encourages them to stand up for an issue they feel passionate about.

She presented a book outside 10 Downing Street, home of the Prime Minister, with the printed names of all of the individuals who have signed her petition.

LITTER signs that describe Henley as “posh” offended retailers in Henley who say that they make the town look elitist and will deter tourists.

The signs, which measure 13cm by 20cm, have been displayed on posts near litter bins in the town centre.

They depict a stick-man wearing a boater hat who is disposing of a tin of caviar and a glass of Pimm’s in a rubbish bin. The sign reads: “In Henley, we don’t put rubbish in the bin… We dispose of refuse in the designated receptacle… we are posh like that!”

It is one of four designs created by Daisy Smith, the town council’s communications manager, as part of a wider initiative to combat litter. Ms Smith said that the design was intended to be “tongue-in-cheek” after Henley was named as the “poshest town in Britain” by the Daily Telegraph last month.

But retailers have told of their frustration, with some saying that the sign sends the wrong message.

Lorraine Hillier, who runs the Hot Gossip café in Reading Road, said that the sign contributed to clutter in the town and reinforced an existing stereotype about Henley people.

A WOMAN who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer while pregnant underwent a five-hour operation to remove her womb with the baby still inside.

Lucy Isaac, 32, from Sonning Common, said little Rafferty, who is now 14 weeks old, is a miracle after he was “born twice” as he spent two hours outside of her body only halfway through her pregnancy.

At 20 weeks, doctors at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, performed an operation to temporarily remove her womb to remove the cancerous cells.

Rafferty was then “born again” on January 24, weighing 6lb 5oz after Mrs Isaac was in labour for about three hours.

SWIMMING event organiser Henley Swim was forced to close down, blaming publicity about the water quality of the River Thames for a “huge” drop in people entering. The open-water swimming company, founded in 2004 by rowers Tom Kean and Jeremy Laming, announced it was “effectively bankrupt” in an email to entrants and said all of their events this year have been cancelled.

The company ran several events including the Henley Swim Festival, Thames Marathon from Henley to Marlow, the Club to Pub swim from Henley Rowing Club to the Angel on the Bridge in Thames Side and the Selkie Henley Classic along the regatta course.

Henley Swim said efforts to save the business by joining forces with other event organisers had failed, leaving “no option” other than to close down.

According to the Environment Agency, a total of 86 spills was recorded from the Henley Sewage Treatment Works, near the Fawley stream last year, for a total duration of 950 hours.

FORMER Henley mayor Stefan Gawrysiak poked fun at his main rival James Cracknell after he was re-elected to Oxfordshire County Council for a third term saying “a swimmer always beats a rower”.

The Henley Residents Group representative was returned with 52 per cent of the votes — the highest of any candidate — following the local council elections.

The Liberal Democrats won control of the county council for the first time with the Conservatives losing more than half of their seats.

It picked up 12 seats to give a total of 36, out of a possible 69, up from 21 at the 2021 election, giving the party an overall majority.

A WOMAN was left with
30 bites on her body after staying in a Henley hotel room infested with bed bugs.

Sharon Aggarwal, 53, locked herself in the bathroom for two hours after being woken up “scratching and itching” at 3am in a guest room at the Catherine Wheel.

Mrs Aggarwal, an IT worker from the Midlands, often travels to Henley for work and frequently stays at the hotel in Hart Street.

She said: “I woke up at about 3am scratching and itching. I pulled back the covers and I could see something moving in the sheets. I could see about four or five. There were small bugs on the sheets and a bigger one on the pillow.

“There were bites on my neck and my arm. It sounds gross but I squashed one and blood popped out, so I knew it had been biting me. I went and hid in the bathroom until about 5am, got myself ready and left.”

Wetherspoons apologised and offered a reimbursement for her stay.

RESIDENTS across the Henley area celebrated the 80th anniversary of VE Day with snapshots of what life was like during the Second World War.

Three days of events took place in Henley to commemorate the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945.

One involved more than
140 schoolchildren who dressed in wartime clothing and assembled on the steps of the town hall.

THE new mayor of Henley pledged to try and help residents who are struggling with the cost of living.

Tom Buckley has said he wants to do as much as he can for families struggling day to day in Henley.

He said: “There are families in Henley who do not have the wealth other families have. There are schools in Henley that are financially struggling as we have an imbalance of children here.

“It’s very important that we acknowledge that we have a poor part of the town.”

Councillor Buckley was speaking at the mayor-making ceremony held at the town hall, which was attended by about 100 people.

HENLEY Royal Regatta hopes to achieve total gender parity on the water by 2026.

Chairman Richard Phelps wants equality in events across the board. There are currently 16 men’s and 11 women’s events. Mr Phelps was inspired to follow in the footsteps of the Paris Olympics, which celebrated full gender parity on the field of play last year.

Mr Phelps spent three months meeting with coaches and rowers of clubs worldwide to collate data and gather opinions. He added: “Our job is to find the most practical, emotional and pragmatic avenue.”

A RECORD 374 children took part in the Great School Run at Stonor Park.

Children and pupils from
55 nurseries and schools participated in races held for pupils from Nursery to Year 6.

Open women’s and men’s races were also held for parents and secondary school students to join in.

Shiplake College was presented the Mayor’s Cup for the first time by Mayor Tom Buckley. It is awarded to the school with the highest portion of the student population participating.

The event was organised by Rupert House School in collaboration with Education Henley, an alliance of teachers set up to encourage collaboration between local schools.

A WOMAN driver escaped unhurt after her car hit a traffic sign in Henley town centre.

Her Mini Cooper struck the 3m directional sign at the bottom of Gravel Hill as she was driving round the town hall from Market Place at about 7.30pm.

The bonnet and front bumper of the car were damaged, the sign was left at a 45-degree angle and a bollard was squashed. A large amount of oil leaked from the car.

Eyewitnesses said the driver left the scene in a friend’s car. All three emergency services were called to the scene.

YOUNG people living at the YMCA in Henley are struggling to afford to move on.

The 31 rental homes in Lawson Road, which opened in 2000, provide supported accommodation for 18- to 34-year-olds who are homeless or have a housing need.

Residents can stay for up to five years and the organisation offers reduced rents for specific types of housing.

Finance and development manager Lisa Grant said the housing was badly needed but tenants struggled to afford to move on.

She said: “The point we’ve always made is that while Henley has a reputation for being very wealthy — and it is — you’ve either got money or you haven’t.

“Some say that our rates are quite low but that’s because our policy has always been to encourage people to work. The major issue is that there is just no move-on accommodation. There is nowhere to go that young people can really afford.”

A PROPOSED relief road in Watlington was delayed by the possible presence of a rare species of crayfish.

Oxfordshire County Council is seeking to convene an extraordinary meeting of its planning committee next month after the £19.3 million bypass scheme missed consideration this month when additional ecological data was sought.

The Watlington relief road aims to provide an alternative route and direct access to the B4009, on either side of the town, without the need to travel through the historic, narrow centre.

The delay to the project stems from concerns that white-clawed crayfish, an endangered native species, may inhabit Chalgrove Brook, which runs through the town.

A PORTRAIT of the King by a Henley artist is to be hung at Clarence House.

Bill Mundy took about
100 hours to complete the 30in by 28in picture of Charles III. It shows the King smiling while dressed in his coronation robes and crown.

Mr Mundy, 88, was sent a photograph of the painting to Queen Camilla who was said to have liked it so much that she asked for the original. He obliged and has since learned that it will be hung at the couple’s London residence.

A PUB is to re-open under new management following refurbishment.

The Little Angel pub in Remenham will be run by Ted Docherty, who already runs the Crown in Playhatch and the White Hart pub in Nettlebed.

He took over the lease in April from Matt Dockray, who was forced to leave by owner Brakspear for “failing to perform”. He had run the business for three years.

LEANDER Club in Henley is providing training to its athletes and staff on sexual consent following allegations against its male rowers.

In a letter to members, the rowing club said there is “more to be done” after being accused of failing to properly investigate sexual assault and harassment allegations.

Female rowers at the club staged a walkout last season over the club’s handling of the allegations. In addition to refusing to use the club’s gym at the same time as the men, they wore white ribbons on their kit to support the fight against abuse and violence against women in the sport.

Leander has said it was committed to continuously reviewing its safeguarding measures and ensuring that these are updated so that they remain “fit for purpose”.

THE Mayor of Henley is calling for people to get involved with “futureproofing” the environment to help wildlife.

Tom Buckley was speaking following the launch of the fifth annual Great Big Green Week, which began with a festival in Market Place.

It was the first in a busy programme of events running in the town until Sunday as part of a nationwide celebration of action on climate change.

The events have been organised by Greener Henley, an environmental campaign group, in collaboration with Henley Town Council and Oxfordshire County Council.

A SOLDIER from Harpsden realised his childhood dream when taking part in Trooping the Colour.

Max Martin, 24, from Woodlands Road, is a member of the Second Battalion of the Coldstream Guards and carried the new colours of King Charles III at his birthday parade.

More than 1,000 soldiers and 200 horses from the Household Division carried out complicated battlefield drill manoeuvres to a programme of music, composed and arranged specially by the Coldstream Guards.

RESIDENTS queued out the door of the YMCA Pavilion to get their items mended at the inaugural Henley Repair Café.

Dozens of people brought in household items, clothing, electrics, kitchen appliances, garden tools and more to be repaired by one of the 20 volunteers.

The café was taken up as a project by David Stephenson and his wife Deb Brookes, who approached Henley Town Council with the idea earlier in the year.

POTHOLE repairs in a 100m-long lane in Henley cost nearly £2,000 in the last year.

Bell Lane, off Bell Street, is frequently blighted by potholes and has cost Oxfordshire County Council more than £4,000 in maintenance since 2021 according to figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request by the Henley Standard.

Between June 2024 to 2025 the county council spent £1,908 repairing 18 potholes on the gravelled lane. In the previous year, it spent £1,533 fixing
21 potholes.

A TREE in Fair Mile, Henley, which is the site of a gravestone for a marmoset monkey was felled due to safety concerns.

Henley Town Council cut down the red maple near the entrance to the Rupert House School playing fields because it was found to be rotting inside.

The tree is also the site of a gravestone for a monkey which died nearly 90 years ago.

A WOMAN who led the
1st Henley Guides for almost
30 years said she was shocked when she found out she had received a British Empire Medal in the King’s Birthday Honours.

Gill Chappell, who led the unit from 1995 until it disbanded in 2023, has been recognised for services to young people. She said: “It’s nice to be recognised for what I did. I was astonished. Shocked is the overriding emotion.”

CAMPAIGNERS were furious after a new report found that the majority of heavy goods vehicles were not using Henley as a short cut.

Oxfordshire County Council, the highways authority, carried out a study over two days in September where it collected data using 35 automatic number plate recognition cameras.

The HGV Analysis Report, which has been leaked to the Henley Standard, found that while most were more than 18 tonnes, they were local to the area.

As a result, the council officer which put together the report stopped short of recommending an environmental weight limit.

A MAN who has raised more than £60,000 for charity at Henley events with “Lily the Duck” will not return to the river this year.

Timothy Dodd-Wilson has been told he can no longer collect and he is disappointed that his chosen charities will now miss out.

Mr Dodd-Wilson, a tree surgeon from Wargrave, lost both of his parents to cancer.