Weekly round-up: Five stories you may have missed

8 hours ago

Xhabu the gibbon was born with stunted growth and he was cross-eyed

Monkey Haven A black gibbon in a large grassy enclosure. It has shiny black fur and a grey muzzle. Both its brown eyes are pointing to the centre of its face. — Xhabu the gibbon was born with stunted growth and he was cross-eyed

The discovery of a 101-year-old Radio Times in a church stool and the death of a much-loved gibbon at a rescue centre were among our most read stories this week.

We have picked five articles from the past seven days in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Dorset, Berkshire and Oxfordshire to keep you up to date.

Century-old Radio Times hidden inside church stool

Steve Hopkins found the newspapers amongst the padding inside a church stool

Caty Mills Steve Hopkins holds open the 101-year-old copy of the Radio Times in his hands as he reads it in the yard of his vintage business. He is surrounded by plant pots, mirrors and other items. He has white hair and a blue short-sleeved shirt. — Steve Hopkins found the newspapers amongst the padding inside a church stool

A 101-year-old copy of the Radio Times has been discovered in a church stool that was being refurbished.

Furniture restorer Steve Hopkins found the well-preserved edition after removing the cover on the kneeling stool at his workshop in Wimborne, Dorset.

Mr Hopkins, who runs Middle Barn Vintage store, said: "I took the cover off and in amongst the wadding were all these newspapers from early 1924, all in really good condition."

He said the newspaper adverts of the era were a particular eye-opener, including "cigarettes that will make you healthier if smoke 60 a day".

School bans smartphones in favour of 'brick' phones

Head teacher Louise Cowley introduced the ban amid concerns smartphones were too disruptive

A smiling Louise Cowley in front of bookshelves in a library. She has long fair hair and glasses. — Head teacher Louise Cowley introduced the ban amid concerns smartphones were too disruptive

A secondary school in Oxfordshire has banned smartphones for Year 7 to 11 pupils and will only allow basic "brick" phones from September.

Oxford Spires Academy's head teacher said the move would create a "calmer, more focused environment".

Several schools in the south of England are bringing in similar measures for younger pupils to prevent them from accessing the internet, apps or cameras.

The Department for Education said about 97% of schools were restricting phone use in some way, with many head teachers now exercising their right to implement complete bans.

Champion jockey Murphy fined £70k for drink driving

Oisin Murphy appeared at Reading Magistrates' Court

PA Media Oisin Murphy, a man with short dark hair and wearing a blue suit, walking along a pavement next to a row of parked cars. He's wearing a suit and looking at the camera. — Oisin Murphy appeared at Reading Magistrates' Court

Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has been fined £70,000 for drink driving after crashing his car into a tree.

Murphy was arrested after his Mercedes A Class left the road in Hermitage, Berkshire, at about 00:05 BST on 27 April.

He pleaded guilty at Reading Magistrates' Court on Thursday to driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol.

The 29-year-old was charged by postal requisition on 19 June - the day he rode two winners at Royal Ascot.

Couple to tear down log cabin after local uproar

The owners agreed to remove the building after an outcry

East Hampshire District Council The exterior of a large wooden cabin with four floor-to-ceiling square openings along the front with windows and doors removed revealing a dark, bare interior. — The owners agreed to remove the building after an outcry

A couple have been forced to tear down a log cabin after local residents were "appalled" by the impact it had on a national park's landscape.

Owners Andrew and Deborah Melbourne, built the fully insulated structure on their land, west of Lovedean Lane in Waterlooville.

East Hampshire District Council investigated the build on behalf of the South Downs National Park Authority and found it had broken planning rules.

Local councillor Sara Schillemore said residents would be "thrilled" after the Melbournes agreed to remove the building.

Charity 'heartbroken' after death of 'beloved' ape

The gibbon was recovering after he suffered a stroke in 2023

Monkey Haven Xhabu the gibbon. The black ape can be seen sat on some grass in his enclosure staring off into the distance with a thoughtful look in his eyes. — The gibbon was recovering after he suffered a stroke in 2023

A primate rescue centre has said it is "utterly heartbroken" in a tribute to a "beloved" ape which has died aged 28.

Xhabu was one of the first animals to be saved by Monkey Haven in Newport on the Isle of Wight 19 years ago.

"Xhabu was more than just an animal in our care - he was family," said Don Walser, the charity's founder, who expressed how much he would be missed.

The gibbon bravely battled to recover from a stroke, but the strain on his body finally became too much, the centre said in a social media tribute.

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