May morning activities in Oxford

May Morning in Oxford’s historic centre is a traditional celebration of the coming of Spring with dancing, singing and revelry of many different types – some going back into history and some with a more modern character.

Celebrations start at 6am with the Magdalen College choir singing Hymnus Eucharisticus from the Great Tower. Hymnus Eucharisticus was composed in the 17th century by a Fellow of Magdalen and has been sung every year from the Great Tower on May Morning at this early hour as the sun comes up.

This year Magdalen Bridge will be open to pedestrians and closed to traffic from 3.30am until 9am to enable everyone to enjoy the singing in comfort and safety. The bridge will re-open to traffic as soon as it is safe to do so between 8.30am and 9am.

There will also be May Morning events and activities taking place across the city including Morris Men dancing in Radcliffe Square, Catte Street and Broad Street.

Many bars and restaurants across the city will open for breakfasts including eateries in the city centre, Jericho and East Oxford.

Cafes that will be open for breakfast include, Rose Café, The Grand Café, Quod, Oxford Rendezvous, QL Sandwich Bar and Queen’s Lane Coffee House all in the High Street.

Café Coco in Cowley Road and G&D’s in St Aldates will also be open for breakfast as will the Turl Street Kitchen in Turl Street, The Buttery in Broad Street, Tick Tock, Cowley Road, The Nosebag,

Pubs that will be celebrating May Morning include The Bear, Turf Tavern, The King’s Arms, The White Horse, Port Mahon, Cape of Good Hope, and Angel and Greyhound.

Bars that will be opening include the Kazbar on the Cowley Road and All Bar One on the High Street.

The Story Museum will also be open from 9am on May Morning serving refreshments to celebrate the opening day of their new exhibition Other Worlds, which runs until May 27.

Artists and writers will be taking over the building with a collection of strange, surreal and intriguing new stories, which visitors will be able to immerse themselves in as they wander through dusty corridors and empty spaces.

Other Worlds will transform the home of the future Story Museum (still in its dilapidated state but due to open in 2014) into a giant compendium of stories.

More than 25 collaborations between writers and visual artists from all disciplines will be turning words into worlds; artist Anita Klein has created an angelic presence in the entranceway; a periscope will be disappearing up into an attic and lost objects are starting to turn up in mysterious places; a forest of strange towers will be making its way to The Story Museum; children’s illustrator Korky Paul is dallying with a dinosaur; and words are cooking up a storm in Room 28.

Other Worlds participants have all donated their time and support to make room for stories because they have all been inspired by The Story Museum and its vision.

Entry is £3 per person (under 2’s go free). Full opening times and information here

The Magdalen choir will be singing at a Eucharist held in the College Chapel at 9.15am, which anyone can attend.

The Truck Store on the Cowley Road will be open from 6.30am and will have three local bands playing.

For more information about events and activities happening in Oxford on May Morning visit Daily Info’s website

Wall at 29 Old High Street sparks more controversy

The house and wall on 13 April

Residents in Old Headington have been contacting us about the changes thaty have been made to the front wall of 29 Old High Street

David has contacted council officers for an urgent briefing on what action the City Council will take in response

Some residents feel the materials used in repairs to the wall are out of keeping in the Old Headington Conservation Area.

UPDATE: an enforcement officer is on site 11.00

North Place improvements

In response to requests from tenants, we have asked council officers to make a site visit to North Place on Friday afternoon to assess whether the following improvements can be made:

  • a sign to show that parking is for residents only
  • a second disabled parking space to be marked out
  • a bench to be installed

Ruth will be there from 14.00

Planning applications week ending 9 April

Four applications this week. They are on properties in Lime Walk, Headley Way, St Andrew’s Road and Windmill Road.  Please click on the Planning Applications tab on the top menu bar for more details

Please note that last week’s application 12/00660/FUL for the erection of dwellings on land rear of 82, 84, and 86 Windmill Road has been called in and the decision will be made by East Area planning committee

Date set for next Ward Focus meeting!

Our ward focus meetings are normally held in months when there is no area forum. We book the venues in advance so arranged for Focus meetings in March and May. Since then, the area forum has been postponed from its expected date in April.

So the next Headington Ward Focus meeting will take place on Tuesday 15 May at the Headington Baptist Church in Old High Street from 6.00-8.00 pm

If you haven’t yet been to a Ward Focus meeting, you can expect to join a crowd of people from your area eager to discuss local issues and make suggestions for ways in which we can improve our area.  We give you the opportunity to call councillors to account if they’ve promised something but not delivered! 

Come along and give it a go! You won’t be disappointed!