Sir – For 10 years I lived and worked in Oxford but in 2010 I left for a new academic post in Boston, USA.

Last week, I returned for the first time and I have been re-acquainting myself with the city. The Oxford Times had been invaluable in helping with this process.

Maybe it takes an outsider to point this out, but your paper reflects perfectly so many aspects of life in the city and county of Oxford — like the new ‘fracking’ threat and a range of planning, transport, environmental and cultural issues.

It rightly picks up on the aftermath of the shocking multiple child abuse case centred around Cowley — how depressing that both here and in the USA, the response to such issues is always an inquiry, a serious case review, a formal apology, etc. Yet those highly-paid officials, ultimately responsible for total failure, never seem to resign as they used to.

More happily, your Weekend listings guide, and lifestyle review is excellent as is the superb glossy magazine, Oxfordshire Limited Edition. I thought the Alice Cooper cover was wonderful, and how ingenious to link an excellent interview with that of Alice’s Day and a fascinating item on the real Mad Hatter. I could go on — but I just wanted to congratulate you on producing such a high-quality regional paper in these economically challenging times, with all the changes in media technology.

Returning to Oxford has been a great pleasure, but the rediscovery of The Oxford Times has added immeasurably to the enjoyment of my family’s visit.

Michael North, The Old Bank Hotel, Oxford