We use some essential cookies to make this website work We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use our website so we can make improvements These cookies allow us to monitor traffic to our website so we can improve the performance and content of our site They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited or how you navigated around our website These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and content They may be set by the website or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly Currently we are not utilizing these types of cookies on our site These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites They do not store directly personal information but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device you will experience less targeted advertising The postponed public inquiry for land at Tanhouse Road is due to start on Tuesday 29 April at 10am in the Council Chamber at the Council Offices A planning Inspector will consider an appeal into two enforcement notices issued by the Council following breaches of planning control by occupants of an unauthorised encampment set up on a field in Tanhouse Road Residents can attend the inquiry to give their views Anyone who wants to speak must arrive before the appeal starts on 29 April at 10am and make the Inspector aware they wish to speak when he asks during his introductory remarks They will need to give their name and may be asked questions about their statement either by the Inspector or the appellant For more details about the public inquiry please visit our website The public inquiry for land at Tanhouse Road has been adjourned until September to allow time for further evidence to be prepared and submitted New dates will be shared as soon as they are confirmed The inquiry is considering an appeal into two enforcement notices issued by the Council following breaches of planning control by occupants of an unauthorised encampment set up on a field in Tanhouse Road More details are on the website Oxted will compete at the Premier Division Finals for the first time as placings went down to the final game of the regular season across the men’s and women’s top flight Oxted men will play at Nottingham Hockey Centre on May 3/4 after edging Beeston at home 3-2 in a fiery encounter while Holcombe fell at Surbiton who racked up their 100th goal of the season earlier this month finished top of their pool with Wimbledon second Both teams had already confirmed their Finals berth as OGs beat Wimbledon 4-2 It means that OGs will play Oxted in the league semi-finals and Surbiton meet Wimbledon for the fourth time this season Three 2024 finalists will return for the 2025 women’s finale with Wimbledon missing out this time as Reading enter the fray Surbiton will take on East Grinstead and Hampstead & Westminster take on Reading Surbiton finished top after beating Reading who lost for the first time away from home With Loughborough beating Clifton Robinsons in a shoot-out on Saturday defeat would have seen the champions miss out on Finals Weekend in Nottingham for the first time since first playing top flight hockey in 2012 Holcombe and Sutton Coldfield were both demoted from the Women’s Premier Division Bowdon and Richmond go down from the men’s top flight Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. The force said it had been in contact with the BBC and received a report against Mr Al Fayed which is alleged to have occurred at an address in Oxted I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Surrey Police are investigating a “non-recent sexual abuse” allegation against former Harrods and Fulham FC owner Mohamed Al Fayed. The force said it had been in contact with the BBC and received a report against Mr Al Fayed which is alleged to have occurred at an address in Oxted A “thorough” investigation has been launched and officers have reached out to the victim to provide them with support A statement from Surrey Police said: “We conducted a search of our records and did not find any allegations made to Surrey Police in relation to sexual offences against Mr Al Fayed prior to the BBC documentary being broadcast “As some of the offences reported in recent media coverage were described as having taken place at his property in Surrey to reach out and encourage these victims to speak to us we received a report of non-recent sexual abuse against Mr Al Fayed which is alleged to have occurred at an address in Oxted “We have launched a thorough investigation into this matter and have reached out to the victim to ensure that they are provided with the appropriate support “We are also liaising with the Metropolitan Police and will continue to do so as they examine reports they have received should there be a connection with Surrey.” Its comes as the Metropolitan Police announced it is investigating 40 new allegations, including rape and sexual assault, against Mr Al Fayed and others between 1979 and 2013. The 40 new allegations relate to 40 alleged victims and are in addition to allegations police were aware of before the BBC’s investigation and documentary, Scotland Yard said. The force said that while it would not be possible to bring criminal proceedings against Mr AlFayed – who died last year aged 94 – it would “continue to explore whether any other individuals could be pursued for any criminal offences”. The fresh claims include of sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape come in the weeks following the airing of the broadcaster’s Al Fayed: Predator At Harrods documentary. A spokesman for Justice for Harrods Survivors, consisting of barristers Dean Armstrong KC, Bruce Drummond, Maria Mulla, and Gloria Allred, previously said that it “now retains 71 clients and is processing a further 220 inquiries”. Mohamed Al Fayed died aged 94 last year (Daniel Hambury/PA) MOHAMED Al Fayed has been accused of using a royal mansion featured in The Crown to rape and sexually assault victims Five women have alleged they were raped by the Egyptian billionaire, who died last year aged 94, and a further 20 female employees claim Al Fayed sexually assaulted them across multiple locations The new documentary - called Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods - hears claims from women who worked at Harrods from the late 1980s to 2000s, after an investigation by the BBC. Female employees allege that assaults were carried out at different locations, including the company’s offices, in Al Fayed’s London apartment, or on foreign trips often in Paris at the Ritz hotel And multiple women have even claimed that the billionaire raped or sexually assaulted them at "Villa Windsor" in Paris's Bois de Boulogne. The lavish 14-room mansion was the home of post-abdication King Edward VIII and his wife Wallis Simpson Al Fayed took out a 50-year lease on the 14-room, 19th century villa and the Egyptian billionaire would go on to rename it the Villa Windsor after completing a £10.4 million restoration back in 1990. Now, one woman named Gemma - who worked as one of his personal assistants between 2007 and 2009 - has claimed Al Fayed raped her at the historic Parisian villa. Gemma described waking up to find him attempting to get into bed with her, adding: "I told him, 'No, I don't want you to'".  at which point he was kind of on top of me and [I] really couldn't move anywhere "I was kind of face down on the bed and he just pressed himself on me." She told the BBC that after the Harrods tycoon raped her she cried while he got up and told her aggressively to wash herself with Dettol “Obviously he wanted me to erase any trace of him being anywhere near me,” she explains Al Fayed - whose son Dodi was killed in a car crash alongside Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997 - has become known to a new generation through the two most recent Netflix series of The Crown But another alleged victim has claimed that his portrayal as pleasant and gregarious was far from the truth who worked as his personal assistant from 1988 to 1991 said Al Fayed tried to rape her more than once One of those attempts took place at the Villa Windsor where the Egyptian billionaire allegedly tried to force himself on her Sophia claims she had to kick and scream for him to get off people shouldn't remember him like that The lavish interior of "Villa Windsor" boasted 14-rooms of the highest quality Designed by legendary interior designer Stephane Boudin Wallis Simpson soon put her own stamp on the property This included intricate eighteenth-century panelling and "Wallis blue" - a shade invented in 1937 for the Duchess herself, reports Town and Country. And the ornate mansion was also host to treasures like a Venetian Rococo console table and Japanese screen purported to be a gift from Emperor Hirohito The impressive property is adorned with porcelain polished wood and leather and vintage chandeliers The stunning mansion was location for many dinner parties with famous guests such as Marlene Dietrich Elsewhere in the third episode of The Crown Mohamed Al Fayed is shown buying the Duke and Duchess of Windsor’s French home after Wallis Simpson died in 1986 Al Fayed did take out a 50-year lease on the 14-room 19th century villa with the intention of turning it into a museum dedicated to the former King and his wife Following the allegations against Al Fayed Harrods said in a statement to the BBC: "The Harrods of today is a very different organisation to the one owned and controlled by Al Fayed between 1985 and 2010 "It is one that seeks to put the welfare of our employees at the heart of everything we do "Since new information came to light in 2023 about historic allegations of sexual abuse by Al Fayed it has been our priority to settle claims in the quickest way possible "This process is still available for any current or former Harrods employees we have been determined to do the right thing as an organisation while ensuring that such behaviour can never be repeated in the future." MOHAMED AL FAYED was best known as the owner of luxury department store Harrods and father of Princess Diana's boyfriend Dodi Al-Fayed The billionaire died in August 2023 at the age of 94 almost 26 years to the day after the passing of his son Heini Wathen married Mohamed Al-Fayed in 1985 and the couple went on to have four children together; Jasmine Heini and Mohamed's romance began after they were introduced by Mohamed's son Dodi The couple are portrayed by Hanna Alström and Salim Daw in the sixth and final season of Netflix's The Crown In 1954 he tied the knot with Saudi Arabian author Samira Khashoggi The pair split after two years but welcomed son Dodi together in 1955 Dodi is Samira and Mohamed's only child, but Mohamed went on to have four more kids with his second wife Mohamed lived in a house near Oxted with his wife Heini The family estate in Surrey, named Barrow Green Court, is where both Mohamed and his son Dodi are buried His eldest son - Dodi - was killed alongside Diana Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ Passengers travelling on the line from South Croydon to Uckfield can look forward to travelling safely over the Oxted Viaduct for decades to come after a £10.5m upgrade Engineers have been working around the clock to repair and strengthen the Victorian structure since summer 2020 said: “The Oxted Viaduct is one of the most iconic railway structures in the south of England Working on it and protecting such an important part of railway heritage has been a real honour.    “It also remains a vital piece of the operational railway today so while it was great to protect our heritage it was also essential to keep lines open and trains running safely and reliably.    “A massive thank you to our railway neighbours who have had to put up with noise from our work over the past few years.”  said: "This is good news for our customers and for the many admirers of this iconic Victorian viaduct."  which support the viaduct’s weight and allow the bridge to expand in the heat of summer and contract in the cold of winter This element of the work involved lifting the viaduct’s supporting columns before sliding the bearings into place.  Repairs have been made to the brickwork on the supporting columns and arches Steelwork has been cleaned back to the bare metal and then repainted using 12,000 litres of protective paint The old timber bridge deck was also replaced with new easier to maintain materials.  Oxted Viaduct was built in 1881 and the bridge carries two railway lines over the A25 road and the River Eden on the line running from South Croydon to Uckfield.  Photo credit: Network Rail Air Operations team to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years Confidence is high at Oxted after falling short of a Top 6 berth in Men’s Premier Division, reports The Hockey Paper’s Rod Gilmour  Charlie Axford fractured his wrist three weeks before the start of the season and was forced to miss his first game for Oxted at local rivals East Grinstead new signing Axford was on the sidelines and was handed more of a coaching role as Oxted came away from Saint Hill with a 3-2 win in a typically charged derby “It was the anticipation of the first game of the season and both teams thought it was one they could win It was tetchy and got a bit feisty towards the end with a close encounter That win was followed by just one point from a possible 15 which included tough encounters and losses against the current top four in the Men’s Premier Division. However, back-to-back victories have now put Oxted within touching distance of a Top 6 place this month after twice narrowly missing out.  “We had a tough run of fixtures with Wimbledon Holcombe and Surbiton and it wasn’t a fair reflection of our hockey,” admits Axford “We’ve been getting a lot better and improving.” After graduating from University of Nottingham Axford moved down to Oxted and has started a full-time role in marketing for Haier the leading home appliances firm who also sponsor Oxted “Joining the club there was a real sense that this season was going to be one to look forward to and a real high expectation that Top 6 was achievable and the aim,” he adds Axford feels for his former club who currently prop up the Premier Division table “They are a really good group and probably the best university side this year When you look at the Prem table they are struggling and have had a few narrow losses,” he continues “I was one of eight or so who left last season and it’s a big change so hopefully they can start picking up points when traditionally universities improve quicker than other teams That will be something they can look forward to and the results that didn’t go their way are ones to target.” After trialling for the GB EDP and being involved for around 18 months (he played in the European U21s last summer) Axford has put the programme “on the backburner” for the time being “It’s not a closed door and if it’s something I want to pursue in a few years if my hockey is going well I would certainly think about it,” he adds Maddie is currently captain at high-flying University of Nottingham and is set to play for England at the upcoming Junior World Cup in Chile while sister Kate left the 2022 GB women’s squad to pursue a career in athletics “It’s not been long since she started and she’s had some great results There is a lot happening in her running life,” says Charlie November will be a pivotal hockey month for the Axfords.  “The league is better this year in terms of standard with the likes of Cardiff and Southgate coming up,” says Charlie “The fight for Top 6 is closer and more exciting than we hoped and the game against Southgate could end up deciding the sixth spot - it will be a big one.” agrees as his side looks to make inroads on the top flight heavyweights “We have been there and thereabouts and the biggest thing is how we close the gap on the top two or three and what we need to do to get there,” says Giles “Knowing we have been at the top of the bottom six two seasons running we have been pretty similarly poised We are where we expect to be but we hope to push on this time.” After losing out to East Grinstead and Reading in the past two seasons for that Top 6 berth after Christmas Giles says it could come down to goal difference again “The Top 6 is the first half season objective,” he admits “We will be the underdog should we be where we want to be “But we can’t think about the next action and we have to be diligent about one game at a time. It’s an elite mentality that the top teams have and we have to put ourselves in the best position to take points at Southgate.” Website by The MTM Agency We use cookies to make sure you get the most from our website. Learn more Oxted may not be a star-studded squad but are on the cusp of top six place in the Men’s Premier Division, writes Rod Gilmour of The Hockey Paper. As Oxted settled into their new home at Caterham School this season one passage of play won’t be lived down for one team-mate who 'pushed an acorn instead of a hockey ball' during the opening match of the Men’s Premier Division just like many of Oxted’s players may be to the wider hockey community that’s just how the Surrey side like it since they were promoted for the first time after a 23-year journey to reach the Premier Division Oxted are in control of their top six destiny They hold sixth place knowing that two wins from their remaining matches - starting with Saturday’s trip to Hampstead & Westminster - will secure a top berth in Phase 2 when the top flight resumes in February I’m not sure many in English hockey could name any of our players which isn’t a bad thing as we aren’t that high profile,” says Owen Williamson Especially up against the big teams where squads are stacked with star players said the Oxted ‘sales pitch’ when he moved on from Loughborough University was that the Surrey outfit was primarily a family club “Since they have moved to the Premier Division they have always had this feeling of being massive underdogs in the league,” he adds.  This season Oxted moved to Caterham School - where GB captain Zach Wallace is a former pupil - with a similar set up from where they had risen through the leagues Williamson works full-time (at a media agency) which makes life tough during the week for Tuesday and Thursday training “The goal from when we first moved up was to stay in the league,” says the defender “This season we have tried to turn that hope into an expectation in terms of the top six Our coaching staff have tried to shift in that direction introducing GPS and a full-time physio and becoming more professional.” Oxted coach Nick Giles says Williamson is pivotal at the back "He plays at a high-level standard every weekend comfortable when we are pressed and is a coach’s dream," admits Giles “We are pretty good at working out from the back The big thing we have is the belief that we are able to compete We won’t just sit back and defend for the whole game and close ourselves off Owen gets what the club is exactly about and throws himself into everything we want to be.”  Williamson admits that former captain Mark Galloway has left a legacy for the club before retiring at the end of the season and says ‘extremely personable’ current skipper Jamie Batten has carried that on “Mark had been playing for years in the National League and I think he decided it was his time,” says Williamson “He has left a fantastic blueprint for how to balance work He was a brilliant captain when he was here really dedicated and always there to put an arm around you and have a chat about anything.” The defender’s journey has taken in Reading Surbiton juniors (where he attended Kingston Grammar School) and playing at Teddington for one season “Surbiton was a stacked squad and instead of getting the odd game moving to Teddington was a special experience and I was the youngest guy as well,” he recalls Matt Daly was his player-coach at the club “He was a great help,” continues Williamson it can be a weird transition but he was amazing at integrating me into the squad I was the youngest by three or four years and he made sure I got to know the guys there and I owe him a lot.” Oxted missed out on the final day to East Grinstead for a place in the top split league with the clubs playing each other again on the final weekend “The structure is way better than last year,” admits coach Giles “There was a split and you didn’t have much to play for after Christmas That was a little bit frustrating as we weren’t really in danger of being relegated.” with two wins in their last four and Williamson scoring a double in a 4-3 win over Holcombe last weekend “It’s going to be pretty tight going into these last few games,” says Giles “If the teams below have one win then it could become quite level It could be really interesting going into the last game before Christmas." Saturday: Hampstead & Westminster v Oxted Where?A small town at the eastern edge of Surrey Oxted is at the foot of the North Downs and a five-minute drive from the M25 Why now?Are you looking for country views but your boss is increasingly demanding that you show up at the office It’s in the green belt (94 per cent of the Tandridge district is designated as such) yet the fastest train to London Bridge takes only 33 minutes and you can be at London Victoria in 39 minutes Your friends in the wider commuter zone can come for dinner — the drive to Reigate takes about 20 minutes and it’s only slightly longer to Sevenoaks — and A vital project to protect the future of the railway Oxted in Surrey to Uckfield and East Grinstead in Sussex is racing ahead Engineers from Network Rail and BAM Nuttall are working high above the streets of Oxted to refurbish the viaduct that carries the railway across the valley of the River Eden – and the A25 The railway over the structure has been closed for three weekends in June and July to allow certain aspects of the work to be completed the majority of the work will not affect passengers and will continue until at least February next year As well as all the viaduct steel work being grit-blasted back to bare metal and repainted colleagues from BAM Nuttall are also repairing brickwork and replacing the movable bearings that support the weight of the bridge spans These allow the steel to move as it expands and contracts lengthways in the heat of the summer and the cold of the winter without affecting the railway tracks laid on it regional investment director for Network Rail “Thanks to everyone who has had their weekend travel affected over the past few weeks Our viaduct in Oxted is more than 100 years old and like any structure of that age needs maintenance and servicing to keep it safe “Overhauling the viaduct is essential to ensuring we maintain a good level of service for passengers who use this route.” we welcome Network Rail’s major investment to maintain safe travel across this local landmark long into the future We thank everyone who has been affected by these weekend closures for their patience.” Work at Eridge on the Uckfield line is ongoing, with a new bridge being installed to replace the life-expired original. Read more here CloseResidents have been laying floral tributes to 17-year-old Oxted School student Elizabeth Thomas who was arrested on suspicion of her murder has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act South East Today reporter Piers Hopkirk spoke to Marilyn Griffin Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRead descriptionExplore moreNeighbours tributes to stabbed girl 00:01:43Neighbours tributes to stabbed girl 1:43Up Next 00:00:58Boy arrested after girl found dead 0:58Editor's recommendationsMerz defeat 'an obstacle not a catastrophe' Video 00:01:05Merz defeat 'an obstacle not a catastrophe' 1:05Watch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz 00:01:44Watch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz 1:44Watch: Prince Louis steals the show as royals mark VE Day 00:01:25Watch: Prince Louis steals the show as royals mark VE Day 1:25Watch: How Lady Gaga's record-breaking concert almost ended in disaster Video 00:01:21Watch: How Lady Gaga's record-breaking concert almost ended in disaster 1:21'Trump was the game-changer': Three things to know about the Australian election result 00:01:20'Trump was the game-changer': Three things to know about the Australian election result 1:20Prince Harry 'can't see a world' where his family will visit the UK 00:02:54Prince Harry 'can't see a world' where his family will visit the UK 2:54Watch: Key moments from the local elections.. 00:01:32Watch: Key moments from the local elections.. 1:32Watch: Reform by-election win raises questions for Labour and Tories 00:01:11Watch: Reform by-election win raises questions for Labour and Tories 1:11Russell Brand's court appearance explained.. 00:00:50Russell Brand's court appearance explained.. 0:50Ros Atkins on.. What's in the US-Ukraine resources deal 1:23Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election 00:01:18Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election © 2025 Country & Town House.All rights reserved For those who want the best of both worlds Anna Tyzack finds space to breathe and a quick commute in Surrey For Londoners looking to move to the sticks while keeping their desk in town the area surrounding the town is 93 per cent green belt ‘You never have to go far for a picturesque country walk,’ says Stuart Routledge of Jackson-Stops in Oxted woodland and farmland to explore as well as the wide-open spaces of Chartwell Situated off the main road on the edge of the chalky North Downs, Oxted is easy to miss. ‘People don’t tend to come here intentionally – they’ll be heading to Sevenoaks, Reigate or Dorking, but once they see the Tudor buildings, cricket pitch and cinema they fall in love,’ maintains Robert Leech ‘Many of those who left London during lockdown regret moving so far away,’ he adds one can be back home within an hour of having lunch in Mayfair.’ Best Restaurants in Mayfair which also has a 41-minute direct link to London Bridge is probably the major selling point for commuters – but according to Stuart the town isn’t a boring commuter hub each with thriving independent shops and boutiques as well as cafés serving proper coffee ‘I mourned my London blow-dries when I moved here from London but there are decent places to go for beauty and hair,’ agrees Kirsty Merritt a public relations specialist who moved to Oxted several years ago with her husband and daughter a monthly farmer’s market and a Saturday artisan market For city breaks and ski holidays Gatwick is just 20 minutes’ drive away ‘At weekends you can walk the dogs on the North Downs Way with views to Ashdown Forest,’ says Robert who recommends the Barley Mow at Tandridge and the Haycutter at Broad Oak Green as perfect post-walk lunch spots School House Magazine Spring/Summer 2022 Those with younger children are well catered for Families can choose between a house on the outskirts of the town light-filled properties have gardens of up to an acre; or find an even larger home around the pretty villages of Nutfield While some date back to the 18th and 19th centuries the majority were built in the ’20s and ’30s The Best New Properties on the Market Now House prices in the area still appear reasonable to those selling up in the capital ensuring it’s not just families but also country-loving young professionals who are relocating here The exodus during lockdown pushed values up Average house prices in the town were more than £700,000 last year while detached houses sold for more than £1.1 million For a four- or five-bed property with several acres near a popular village buyers can expect to pay more than £1.75m while houses with more than five acres and amenities such as pools stables and tennis courts tend to cost more than £3m Robert expects the market to continue bubbling this year due to a short supply of family houses and high demand from those still desperate to leave the capital While many London-leavers have reported niggling regret after taking the plunge families seem only to grow fonder of Oxted as they get to know it ‘It’s a town of two halves as it’s divided by the railway; people usually discover one side before they buy and are then delighted to find the other once they’ve moved in.’ who is a leader at the Oxted Ladies Run Club believes it perfectly suits anyone with a desk (or life) in London who also craves the green space and fresh air of the countryside Oxted feels modern and vibrant with its own unique identity and a brilliant community of women.’ DATE NIGHT Steve Drake’s Sorrel in Dorking won a Michelin star within a year of opening. sorrelrestaurant.co.uk A BLUEBELL WALK Explore Peter Rabbit woods on Limpsfield Common, which in spring become a carpet of bluebells. nationaltrust.org.uk A SHOPPING SPREE Browse clothing and homewares at Number 44 Station Road East or watches and bespoke jewellery at Paul James SPA DAY The Coach House Spa at Beaverbrook overlooking the Surrey Hills offers individual treatments and two pools. beaverbrook.co.uk DAY OUT WITH THE FAMILY Godstone Farm is an immersive day out, where children can meet rabbits, piglets and cows as well as pile into the indoor play barn. godstonefarm.co.uk A 15th-century farmhouse with a grand, vaulted reception hall with beams and a minstrel gallery, plus five bedrooms, a cinema room and a self-contained staff annexe. Surrounding the house are landscaped formal gardens by designer Roger Platt, with a Victorian-style greenhouse. Available through John D Wood for £5,000,000 An impressive five-bedroom country residence amid seven acres of established gardens and grounds. With a modern feel and generously spaced living areas, amenities include a detached garage with studio, tennis court, swimming pool, stables and helipad. Available through Jackson-Stops for £3,395,000 Perfect for young professionals, the apartments in Courtyard Gardens, off the high street, feature one or two bedrooms and outdoor terraces with views over the North Downs. There’s also private parking alongside the feature, landscaped, central gardens. Available through The Berkley Group, from £457,500. The Isle of Man / Faversham / Bath Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Subscribe to Country & Town House in print or the app to make sure you get the very best of property Country & Town House is an introducer appointed representative of Wealthify Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Country & Town House acts as an introducer appointed representative for the purpose of promoting Wealthify products and introducing customers to Wealthify Oxted has provided the 21-year-old with the biggest win of his career on three occasions: in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster last September and then in the Group Three Abernant Stakes at Newmarket before Saturday’s breakthrough at the highest level. Roger Teal’s four-year-old was up with the pace from the off and took over from Golden Horde, the 2-1 favourite, a quarter of a mile out. Fallon’s mount had soon quickened into a decisive lead and Frankie Dettori – who had so many great battles with Fallon Sr in the past – could not get any closer than a length and a quarter away on Sceptical at the line. Read moreFather and son had walked the course before one of the few British Group One contests Kieren Fallon never won “He said to keep it simple,” Fallon Jr said make sure you’re well balanced going into the Dip and as soon as you feel ready let him go and see what you’ve got underneath you “I’ve had such good support from Roger and the owners It shows what a good horse he is and I was just a passenger on a very good horse “I always remember what my dad says at the back of my mind He’s very proud and he’s helped me a lot this year He was going to move to America but he’s stuck around to look after me and I can’t thank him enough.” Kieren Fallon paid tribute to the trainer William Haggas as another important figure in his rapid rise up the ladder “He’s got so much confidence,” Fallon Sr said “I wish I’d had half his confidence when I was riding “William has done so much with him behind the scenes he’s sent him to Australia and he’s sent him to America He’s doing everything to get him to where he needs to be at Like all British racing since its resumption on 1 June the Group One card played out in front of empty stands when nearly 40,000 spectators would normally have been expected over the course of the three-day July Festival for a sport that urgently needs its fans to return From Sunday 5,000 people – including racing professionals spectators and staff – will be allowed at meetings with facial coverings obligatory for all attendees and social distancing rules in operation which hopes to admit some annual members to its big meeting this month which is still selling tickets for Ebor Festival in August are among the many British tracks that may take encouragement from the news This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media A man from Surrey convicted for running schemes to help criminals launder their cash is wanted by the National Crime Agency after he failed to turn up to a sentencing hearing a 68-year-old Jamaican national from Oxted played a leading role laundering money for organised criminals and was arrested in July 2020 He offered services that helped criminals blur the origins of their cash by using multiple companies to filter payments and eventually pay them an income that would appear legitimate to outsiders Cash was moved across a network of bank accounts On some occasions Lenn Mayhew-Lewis used companies registered overseas and operated them under the guise of investment platforms Emails and phone messages analysed by NCA officers showed he could produce fake documents such as investment records and bank statements to make payments appear more plausible On at least one occasion he also helped a client purchase a company that was used to fraudulently obtain a bounce back loan After failing to appear at a sentencing hearing in March 2023 Mayhew-Lewis was sentenced in his absence to five years for money laundering and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest Last week [17 July] he received an additional nine months for perverting the course of justice after operating a scheme that helped criminals evade speeding offences Mayhew-Lewis was assisted by businessman Simon Gamble who allowed his car rental company Denby Cars to be used they offered non-existent jobs where they provided criminals with proof of employment and monthly salary payments to make cash payments into personal accounts appear non-suspicious The father and son were sentenced on 5 July to five years and two years six months respectively Pictured: Mayhew-Lewis with Simon and Laurence Gamble all of the men involved were arrested in March 2020 on the same day as the Tawiah organised crime group - who used their services and were sentenced to 71 years in prison was already serving 18 years in jail when he was sentenced to a further 25 last year He gave instructions to couriers from prison to deposit cash into various business accounts at separate banks The accounts were registered to companies where Mayhew-Lewis or people he had dealings with were listed as directors The group liaised with Tawiah and other criminals on how much salary to pay into various accounts – sometimes for the benefit of their partners and family members was another criminal who used the group’s services He was convicted in 2020 after his car was stopped by police and evidence of Class A drug production was found at his house in Bushey A payslip was recovered there which showed his employer as one of those owned by the men.  Myles-Harris was part of a wider organised crime group who were collectively sentenced to more than 156 years from the NCA’s International Corruption Unit said: “Mayhew-Lewis enabled criminals to profit from serious and organised crime and circumvent the systems in place which would have alerted authorities “He and others who help launder the proceeds of crime are also profiteering from the exploitation and violence that so often comes with the likes of the drug trafficking trade “Mayhew-Lewis has been on the run since March this year If anyone has information that could help us locate him please contact the NCA or Crimestoppers anonymously.” there was a cash seizure of £475,000 at Heathrow Airport in July 2017 Officers found text messages on the cash courier’s phone detailing conversations with Mayhew-Lewis about bribing officials in Africa No evidence of bribery offences was ever obtained but officers identified he was laundering money on behalf of organised crime groups involved in the drugs trade he was arrested by West Midlands Police in 2019 and found to be transporting eight kilos of gold worth around £250,000 he was also sentenced to 10 months in prison for contempt of court This was related to multiple breaches of a pre-charge restraint order placed upon him following his arrest by the NCA in July 2020 Mayhew-Lewis was charged in August 2022 and found guilty following a trial at Southwark Crown Court in January 2023 A warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to appear for his sentencing hearing Anyone with information on his whereabouts can contact the NCA on 0370 496 7622 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 Visit the NCA timeline on Twitter In a sport where the major prizes are so often won by the super rich Oxted and the team behind this season's surprise package have provided a wonderfully different story he didn’t cost the earth at the sales and he isn’t ridden by a superstar jockey yet the stars have aligned this season in propelling the 4-year-old Oxted and his connections into the sports very top tier little did connections know that such a partnership was to provide a springboard for Group 1 glory in 2020 Despite the disrupted start to this year, Oxted reappeared in the Group 3 Abernant Stakes a race consistently contested by the sport’s great sprinters The 2020 renewal was no different with a number of Group 1 performers lining up Oxted continued his great rise up the ranks with a win that was to set the tone for what was to come his biggest success to date in the Darley July Cup Relatively unfancied at 14-1 it appeared to be a tough ask for the gelding but he stood up to the challenge magnificently Throughout the race Oxted looked the best horse and he came away from the pack winning the race in very authoritative style Following the race his trainer Roger Teal said: “I think I’m going to pass out This has been the dream since Doncaster and it has come true.” The win emphasised the bond between Oxted and Fallon which has only blossomed since the pair were first matched together in a handicap at the July Course last August and it is something Teal feels has helped sprinting’s latest star enjoy such a meteoric rise “I had a lot of people asking why is he still on him and why are you using an apprentice in a Group One he gels with this horse and when you have a bond like that We backed him and the kid came good,” said Teal Oxted has yet to re-appear following his maiden Group 1 success, however Teal feel’s his stable star is ready for his next big challenge, the Group 1 QIPCO British Champion Sprint Stakes Teal said: “He looks amazing and is still keeping his coat He’s training really well and seems to have that mojo back and we’re really happy with him at the moment.” “We’ve always been happy to compete with the best We’ve always danced the dance with the big boys and we’ve come out on top a few times and that’s where we want to be.” The progressive sprinter is well-fancied for the big race this Saturday and will go up against the impressive winner of the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock in September in Dream of Dreams Young Cieren Fallon Jr was effusive when it came to discussing his mount “I’m very lucky to be in this position with a wonderful horse Mr Teal and the team have done a brilliant job to get him where he is today and I’m looking forward to it “He’s got to go in as one of the favourites after what he’s done this year he’s beaten most of his rivals in the Sprint category already He’s only had two runs this year so will be going into the race fresh It’s not really ground dependant but if we get quick ground his chances will be better.” Tune into the ITV main channel this weekend to see if he can add yet more honours to his glittering CV The opening weekend of the month plays host to Newmarket’s Guineas Festival and then we’re straight into the crucial Derby Trials Here’s a look at all the Premier Racedays in May Bygones are Banished He finished just seven winners behind Harry Cobden 12 months ago despite spending six weeks on the sidelines following a fall in the Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle at.. Born to be a Jockey The young rider is the latest member of one of jump racing’s most prominent families to make his mark on the sport By 2023-01-27T10:32:00+00:00 Phil Myers was talking to Lilith Foster-Collins Store: Morrisons OxtedStore manager: Phil MyersOpened: 1996Size: 25,000 sq ftMarket share: 32.69%Population: 88,156Grocery spend: £2,518,525.83Spend by household: £70.05Competitors: 18 Nearest rivals: Aldi 6.6 miles, Asda 10.0 miles, Co-op 0.2 miles, Iceland 5.9 miles, Lidl 4.4 miles, M&S 5.3 miles, Morrisons 3.6 miles, Sainsbury’s 0.2 miles, Tesco 4.1 miles, Waitrose 0.2 miles For more info visit www.caci.co.uk/contact Notes: Shopper profiling is measured using Grocery Acorn shopper segmentation competition) is within a five-mile radius.For CACI’s shopper segmentation of the other stores we visited this week see the online report at www.thegrocer.co.uk/stores/the-grocer-33 What has been your career trajectory at Morrisons I’ve worked at the company for 27 years now I started as a checkout colleague back when I was 16 in my local shop I’ve worked my way up through many positions and I’ve been a store manager for the last 15 years I was actually in the Oxted store as a store manager three years ago then I went off to another store and I came back at the beginning of November last year which has changed the layout across the shop and we’ve got new café in place Could you tell us a bit about Morrisons Oxted The shop itself is quite key to the community –there aren’t very many shops around of this size so we get a lot of people that use us as their regular store We have a customer base of very regular shoppers here I have a really strong management team and there’s always lots of hellos and good mornings from customers Could you tell us about the new wave of price cuts In the current climate where cost of living is affecting everybody I think everybody will be over the moon that prices are being cut across the store with the 1,000 price locks that we’ve put in place from this Monday We’re getting some really good customer feedback on the prices that we’ve dropped across the store on some key lines that people buy every day Our range of alcohol-free lines has increased massively over the last couple of months and we were able to open up sections with the refit to be able to offer more of those products We’re getting some really big success there you can tell what’s failing and what’s not And the alcohol-free sections are definitely something people are looking at more We’ve done such a massive job with our community We do a grab bag for a local food bank and we’ve been growing that since the beginning of the pandemic We started with three food banks that we were supporting: it’s now grown to seven and we’ve also got three community fridges does an absolutely fantastic job keeping the grab bags going and the Oxted store is one of the highest on grab bag donations from customers We are one of the best out of 500-ish stores Another of our successes was the way we planned and executed Christmas: we were very We’ve run an Amazon operation during the year and that has really taken off A customer can go online and order Morrisons products through Amazon and then that’s delivered via Amazon drivers It’s given our customers a different avenue to shop with us Over the next year we’d be looking to grow that offer because that’s another avenue our customers want Sign in to comment on this article Site powered by Webvision Cloud Learn moreExplore related questionsDiscover more about the topics that matter most Browse our suggested questions or ask your own to find out more Fans' Favourites is a weekly feature in the Racing Post Weekender in which we talk to those closest to racing's most popular horses and find out why they tug on our heartstrings. This week's subject: Oxted Having the chance of a crack at Group 1 glory is the dream for every trainer but to break through the barrier and achieve that is a difficult challenge The road can be long and winding and there might be bad days along the way but trainer Roger Teal found in Oxted a horse who could take everything in his stride and has twice reached that pinnacle "The dream is still alive," says the Lambourn trainer who believes Oxted’s career can still feature plenty more success although the six-year-old has been on the sidelines for a year with a tendon injury he picked up following his July Cup third at Newmarket last year The son of Mayson was primed and ready for his debut at Doncaster in November 2018 but Teal wasn’t sure what he was going to get until jockey Liam Keniry filled the trainer with excitement as he returned on Oxted who had run well to finish fifth behind Dazzling Dan "It was the very last day of the season and I'd told Liam that Oxted was a nice horse but very green and backward," Teal says "After the race Liam came over to me and was full of praise and said 'I think you’ve a 90-rated horse here' "We let him down in the winter and brought him back to run at Salisbury over 7f Then we went to Newbury and came second to Khadeem in the Listed Carnarvon Stakes." the first Group assignment for the Lambourn-trained Oxted came with a return to his local track Newbury for a clash with older horses for the first time in the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes It was his hardest test to date and he finished sixth to Germany's Waldpfad before heading back to Doncaster where he came last of four to Tabdeed in a 6f conditions race Things started to improve over the rest of his three-year-old campaign and that is when Teal started believing something special was going to happen "We had a bit of a setback [at Newbury and Doncaster] as he went a little bit weak on us because I think he started to grow again "We went to Newmarket for a handicap and after a bad start he did well We finished strong in second to Dazzling Dan again and that’s when I decided to aim him for the Portland at Doncaster," Teal says The Newmarket run was the first occasion on which Cieren Fallon partnered Oxted "I told Cieren he would keep the ride for the Portland but a few days before the race he went from claiming 5lb to claiming 3lb and I didn’t know what to do We stuck with him and Oxted went on to win the Portland the first three-year-old to do so in almost 20 years,” Teal says I thought we had a July Cup horse because it was a good performance and he was quite high in the weights that day." The following spring Oxted again delighted his connections by claiming his first Group victory in the Group 3 Abernant Stakes at Newmarket Teal had his eyes firmly set on a first Group 1 in the July Cup using the Abernant for more Newmarket experience followed by a run at Royal Ascot a difficult call had to be made before Ascot where Oxted was entered in the Platinum Jubilee and King's Stand and Teal admits it was his son and assistant Harry who played a big part in the decision "Harry knows Oxted inside out and said just before Ascot that he was not 100 per cent "It was a big call because with a stable like ours you want these days out but I spoke to the owners and said Harry wasn’t happy "After missing Ascot he came right and after his last workout before the July Cup Harry said 'he wins Harry kept telling me he would win and it was unbelievable It was great to see the horse backing up my confidence in him being a Group 1 horse," Teal says The length-and-a-quarter win over Sceptical and the favourite Golden Horde was a landmark moment for the trainer who was tasting Group 1 success for the first time and it gave Teal the appetite for more things didn’t go quite to plan in the Group 1 Champions Sprint at Ascot in October 2020 when Oxted led a furlong out before finishing fifth to Glen Shiel He ran an absolute scorcher but that heavy ground found him out and he got tired in the last 50 yards," Teal says "There were times when things didn’t go to plan and with sprinters you need to have a bit of luck sometimes." After a disappointing trip to Saudi Arabia in February 2021 Oxted attempted a repeat in the Abernant but he was beaten three-quarters of a length into second by Summerghand "Ryan Moore rode because Cieren was unavailable and he got into an argy-bargy match at half way he came back and was very apologetic and hard on himself "We then went for the Duke of York and Cieren wasn’t fit so Ryan took the ride again Starman and Nahaarr were drawn the other side to us and Ryan came in and was again quite critical of himself He said 'I should’ve just let him run' and he was disappointed," Teal adds Everything fell into place at Royal Ascot though as Oxted landed a second Group 1 in the King's Stand confirming he was one of the best in the sprinting division Even when you have one it’s very hard to land a Group 1 race "To do it twice shows it wasn’t a fluke when he won the July Cup To do it in the King's Stand was magical He beat horses like Battaash and King's Lynn; he didn’t beat a bad field," the trainer says An attempt to repeat his July Cup heroics fell short three weeks later as Oxted finished a length and a quarter back in third behind Starman but Teal knew from the moment the race was run that something didn’t seem right "We knew he had a chip in his knee but we always monitored it and it never seemed a problem that day when he hung badly in the July Cup I knew something wasn’t right "We did an MRI scan and the chip had moved in between his joint and it was causing him some discomfort "Everything was going smoothly after it was taken out and he was moving better than he ever had in his life He was on course to return but stumbled one morning on the gallops A few days later we realised he’d done a tendon." Oxted has continued to undergo rehabilitation with the hope of one day returning to Teal’s Windsor House yard He’s with Fiona Marner at Windmill Stud and on a water treadmill twice a day They’re keeping him active without too much pressure "We'll keep scanning him so we can hopefully get him back in one piece next year." Teal is aware that even if Oxted does make a return next season at the age of seven the work to try to get him up to speed to compete in big races will be challenging "The hardest thing will be getting him back and keeping him sound He enjoys what he does and sprinters can be hard on themselves "The good horses always give you more and they’re the ones who are prone to injuries A trainer's hardest job is keeping a horse fit "He's been missed this year but maybe it’s a blessing in disguise I just wish he was around because he would set the standard with Starman retiring." Teal is not ready to throw in the towel just yet He’s a gelding and he doesn’t have a stud career to go to you’d never be able to take away what he's done we can get him back and have some more good days." Sire De Grugy: 'The whole racing world acknowledged us - it was special' Trueshan: 'He can quicken after a long way and just power away, it’s relentless' Denman: 'He could pick you up and chuck you out the box or take your arm off' Desert Orchid: 'People thought it was an act of lunacy to run over three miles' Sign up to receive On The Nose Published on 7 August 2022inFeatures Copyright © 2025 Spotlight Sports Group Limited or its licensors It might have become something of a white elephant but the pre-training monorail system at Kingwood Stud – or at least part of it – is back in business thanks to Group 1-winning trainer Roger Teal's son Harry Unveiled in front of luminaries including Sir Anthony McCoy and Martin Pipe in 2017 easily visible from the road by anyone entering Lambourn on the B4000 allowed riderless horses to be loosely tethered to a spacious cabin where a 'driver' would sit and control the speed It was the brainchild of Turkish businessman Mehmet Kurt who christened his pride and joy Kurtsystems and pioneered the technology for it in his homeland in the 1990s Kurt bought Kingwood Stud from Fiona Marner in 2011 and his investment in Lambourn was described at the time as a huge vote of confidence in the area by former Newbury MP Richard Benyon Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing Already a subscriber?Log in Published on 6 March 2024inPostcard from Lambourn Oxted scored three goals in the last 14 minutes to overturn a two-goal deficit and beat the University of Durham in a thrilling game at Maiden Castle in the Men’s Premier Division They had trailed Durham heading into the final quarter thanks to goals from Raunaq Rai and Jack Stubbings but two goals from Peter Friend – the second coming just two minutes from time – drew Oxted level they fought to bag a winner and found it in the final minute as Nick Giles scored to give his side their second win of the season as they emerged 3-2 victors Old Georgians were also victorious for a second time in 2021/22 as they put five goals past the University of Exeter to move to the top of the table on goal difference taking advantage of the absences Hampstead & Westminster and Surbiton as they were in EuroHockey League action Sam Ward added to his double from their first game by scoring four this time round following on from James Tindall’s strike in the 14th minute Exeter had the last say though with Patrick Hunter scoring in the final minute to ensure it finished 5-1 Brooklands MU produced a stunning comeback of their own to deny East Grinstead a first victory of the season in a 3-3 draw East Grinstead were 3-0 ahead at half-time courtesy of goals from Jamie Wallace Louis Gittens – the third consecutive game in which he’d scored – and a brilliant strike from Luke Emmett Felix Tully and David Flanagan saw Brooklands take a point back up to Manchester Surbiton and Oxted on six points with their second win in as many weeks as they beat Holcombe 2-1 Goals from Evan Kimber and Sam Hooper were enough to win the game for Wimbledon despite Jake Owen’s 61st minute goal setting up a grandstand finish Cardiff & Met doubled their goal tally this time round as they beat City of Peterborough 10-1 in Division One North University of Nottingham were almost as ruthless in front of goal as they beat Deeside Ramblers 8-1 while Bowdon beat University of Birmingham 5-3 Loughborough Students recorded another impressive win as they overcame Sheffield Hallan 4-1 a result replicated by Cambridge City in their victory over Olton & West Warwicks Brighton & Hove scored a dramatic winner just 14 seconds from full-time to beat Havant 5-4 in a scintillating game in Division One South only for Havant to claw themselves level in the 69th minute But Jack Jones struck in the dying moments to give Brighton their first win of the season Reading made it two wins from two as they beat Teddington 6-2 while Southgate and Oxford Hawks registered maiden victories this season as they beat Team Bath Buccs (3-1) and Old Cranleighans (2-0) respectively Old Loughtonians and London Edwardians continued their perfect starts to the Conference East season with 3-1 victories against London Wayfarers and Bromley & Beckenham respectively Indian Gymkhana overcame Wapping 5-4 in an absorbing game to register their first win of the season with Richmond also tasting victory for the first time as they beat Spencer 6-3 There was also a maiden win for West Herts as they beat Hampstead & Westminster 4-2 Harborne were made to work hard for their second win in the Conference Midlands as they battled their way past Harborne in another 5-4 classic ahead of Barford Tigers on goal difference after they also recorded successive victories by beating Loughborough Town 4-2 Harleston Magpies also have an unblemished record after also winning for a second time Lichfield remain unbeaten after beating Cambridge University 3-1 while University of Birmingham 2s recorded their first points of the season with a goalless draw at home to St Albans Timperley did the double over Wakefield in the Conference North as their men emerged 4-2 victors just a couple of hours after their women beat the same team 4-3 That was Timperley’s second win of the season but they sit third in the table behind Belper and Didsbury Northern on goal difference as they beat University of Durham 2s (2-0) and Alderley Edge (3-0) respectively Having seen their game postponed last week Doncaster and Leeds began in perfect fashion as the former overcame Beeston 2s 2-1 while the latter thrashed Preston 4-0 the University of Bristol made it two wins in as many weeks as they beat Fareham 5-2 Clifton Robinsons also achieved that feat as they emerged 4-2 winners away to Cardiff University while Ashmoor (3-2 against Isca) and Plymouth Marjon (2-1 against Cheltenham) picked up their first wins of the season University of Exeter 2s drew 1-1 with Chichester Click here to download a full list of scorers from today's games. For full fixtures, results and tables from across the country, click here Oxted and Brooklands MU played out a dramatic eight-goal draw as the race for a coveted top-six spot further heated up in the Men’s Premier Division Both sides are right in the hunt to be on the correct side of the post-Christmas split and this 4-4 draw could yet prove decisive Brooklands raced into a 2-0 lead as Andrew Jackson netted twice in the opening five minutes but goals from Mark Galloway Peter Friend and Nick Giles turned things back in Oxted’s favour Leo Watton levelled matters at 3-3 with a 43rd-minute strike from a penalty corner before Sam Driver put Oxted on top once more only for there to be late drama when captain Peter Flanagan snatched a draw for Brooklands with a 70th-minute goal It means Oxted are sixth in the Men’s Premier Division four points ahead of Brooklands one place below Wimbledon and Old Georgians all recorded big wins Surbiton clocked up a 5-1 triumph away at Beeston with Ben Boon David Goodfield and Rob Farrington finding the net for the visitors before Sam Apoola grabbed a consolation for the hosts Five was also the magic number for Old Georgians who won 5-0 on the road at Hampstead & Westminster James Tindall got the ball rolling with a goal after 12 minutes and Tom Carson double the advantage before half-time Ed Carson and Ashley Jackson scored within three minutes of each other and Tom Carson’s second goal rounded things off Wimbledon had to work harder for victory on coach Karl Stagno’s return to his old club East Grinstead but Ed Horler’s second-half double gave them a 4-2 win It had been 2-2 at half-time when Ian Sloan and Peter Scott’s early goals for the Dons were cancelled out by Benjamin Mackey from a penalty corner and Jamie Wallace from open play University of Exeter’s wait for a first point of the season goes on after Holcombe recorded a huge 7-2 triumph as Nick Bandurak scored twice in the first five minutes and Barry Middleton also netted early to set Holcombe on their way Loughborough Students stayed perfect atop Division One North as they made it seven wins from seven this season by thrashing Deeside Ramblers 9-2 The Students now have 33 goals to their name but that’s still four less than second-placed Cardiff & Met who found scoring easy but stopping their opponents less so against Sheffield Hallam as they edged to a 5-4 victory University of Nottingham kept up the pressure in third with a narrow 3-2 win away at Olton & West Warwicks while Bowdon thrashed City of Peterborough 8-1 and nothing could separate Cambridge City and University of Birmingham in a 1-1 draw Reading maintained their 100 per cent record in Division One South but they left it late requiring a 69th-minute goal to win 3-2 away at Southgate Havant’s wait for a first point of the season goes on after they narrowly lost 2-1 to Old Cranleighan while the battle of second vs third ended 1-1 between Team Bath Buccs and Canterbury A draw was also the result between strugglers Brighton & Hove and Oxford Hawks – with 2-2 the final score – while Sevenoaks lost 3-2 to Teddington and drop to fifth Old Loughtonians extended their lead atop the Conference East as they battled past London Edwardians 3-2 Edwardians stay fourth despite defeat but Loughtonians’ advantage was increased because Richmond were held to a thrilling 4-4 draw by Hampstead & Westminster 2s that wasn’t the only 4-4 draw in the division as West Herts and London Wayfarers also scored eight goals between them while Spencer’s recent good form came to an end with a 2-1 defeat to bottom side Indian Gymkhana and Bromley & Beckenham suffered a heavy home loss The two unbeaten sides at the top of the Conference Midlands remain so as both Harborne and Barford Tigers recorded away wins while the Tigers bested St Albans 3-0 and they opened up an even greater gap on third-place Harleston Magpies who fell to a third straight loss at the hands of Loughborough Town – 2-0 Bedford and Khalsa Leamington contested the most entertaining game of the weekend as they drew 4-4 while a solitary goal for Cambridge University was enough for them to beat University of Birmingham 2s 1-0 Belper remain top of the Conference North as they came from a goal down to beat Wakefield 3-1 on the road They failed to extend their advantage over the teams in second and third however as Timperley downed Preston 3-0 and still unbeaten Didsbury Northern ended a run of three successive draws by getting back in the win column – 3-1 over University of Durham 2s Doncaster were 2-1 victors over Leeds in a Yorkshire derby and Alderley Edge experience the joy of six by beating Beeston 2s 6-2 There are currently just six points separating the top seven sides in the Conference West and there were goals aplenty in the latest round of action University of Bristol are still top of the pile but their lead has been cut to just one point after they drew 2-2 with fellow student side Cardiff University while Ashmoor jumped to second by winning a thriller 4-3 away to University of Exeter 2s Isca drop to third after their 2-1 defeat at Cheltenham in what was the hosts’ first win of the season while Clifton Robinsons stay fourth after a 3-3 draw with Plymouth Marjon and Fareham closed the gap by triumphing 3-1 over in-form Chichester A vital project to protect the future of the railway from Oxted in Surrey to Uckfield and East Grinstead in Sussex continues with important bridge repairs and a new lick of paint Since summer 2020 we've been working on a major refurbishment of the 140-year-old Oxted Viaduct which carries two railway lines over the A25 road and the River Eden The work will keep passengers moving safely over the structure long into the future engineers will be blast cleaning and repainting Oxted Viaduct and carrying out extensive repairs to the steelwork Colleagues from BAM Nuttall will also repair brickwork and replacing the movable bearings that support the weight of the bridge spans Passengers travelling on Saturday 13 – Sunday 14 and Saturday 20 – Sunday 21 March are advised to plan ahead and allow more time for their journeys No trains will run between South Croydon and East Grinstead / Uckfield and customers will need to use alternative services between London and Purley Customers should use local buses to and from Sanderstead or use nearby Purley Oaks station Customers should also use local buses to and from Riddlesdown passengers are also urged to minimise travel Those who do need to travel by rail are urged to plan ahead and check whether their route is affected by the upgrade works taking place “Our viaduct in Oxted is more than 100 years old and like any structure of that age Overhauling the viaduct is essential to ensuring we maintain a good level of service for passengers who use this route.” we welcome Network Rail’s major investment in the future of the line while maintaining this prominent local landmark If you do need to travel over the next two weekends when work is under way Please check alternative travel details on our website Please also remember ‘hands-face-space’ – wash your hands wear a face covering and keep your distance.”