WITH a constant eye on Oxford’s history, it’s less than a fortnight since we revealed the Rev Charlotte Bannister-Parker had become the first female priest-in-charge of the University Church of St Mary’s in its 700-plus years history.

This week, the Rev Kat Bracewell, who a decade ago became the first woman minister of New Road Baptist Church in 200 years, is in the spotlight. She’s leaving.

The ever-smiling Kat is moving to Windsor to lead the town’s Baptist Church. She feels that after 10 years here, it is time for fresh challenges.

Few regulars at Tuesday morning’s tea and coffee session in church gave this former Oxford Ladies Rugby Blue an easy 80 minutes when she broke the news.

Face it, both Oxford and Windsor have attractive Thames river frontages and buildings and parks of great beauty. True, Windsor has the Queen for most weekends, but it isn’t as if she’s likely to pop in on her way to Tesco or help the Baptists hand out the hymn books.

And when it comes to roadworks, scaffolding and acres of plastic sheeting, Oxford currently leaves most places in its wake.

Kat is extremely popular – hence our immediate reluctance to congratulate and wish her well. She does a wonderful job both at the church and around the city.

She’ll be missed.

* THE immaculately dressed, ramrod-straight, elderly chap, sporting a Brigade of Guards tie and speaking with an accent that made David Dimbleby sound like someone from EastEnders, approached one of the city’s street dwellers perched a-top his bags and blankets in George Street.

“What must you not have to be deemed homeless?” he asked.

“Anywhere to live,” the other replied, a baffled expression across his unshaven features.

* IT seems the job’s gone,” Kathy, a trim young woman acquaintance of mine said when turning away from the window of the fudge shop in Broad Street.

“What job?” I asked.

“Someone to learn how to make the fudge. I’ve been tempted to apply, but in weeks I’d have needed a new wardrobe. I’m a fudge addict.”

What self control!

* WHEN Stephanie Tye, New Theatre’s marketing and communications officer, offered fame to anyone volunteering their dog for a role in next Thursday’s production of La Boheme, she expected a wide response.

Not so.

The show must go on and it seems inevitable her own 13-year-old springer spaniel Eddi will be drafted in to play Musetta’s pet pooch. Steph will be there too, suitably clad in 18th-century Parisian attire – in case Eddi acquires devastating stage fright.

I have seen pictures of Steph in earlier ventures before the footlights and can’t help but wonder who will upstage whom.