AN Oxford conference and event centre which hosts an annual Christmas meal for the lonely has appointed a new general manager.

Tim King has taken over at The King's Centre in Osney Mead from Michelle Fernandez, who has returned to the United States with her family. The venue is also home to Oxfordshire Community Churches.

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He said: “It is a privilege to be given this opportunity. I hope that in the next few months and years my team and I can take the King’s Centre forward and that we can become a centre of excellence for the conference industry here in Oxford.”

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Mr King was brought up in Zimbabwe and involved in project management and construction.

The King’s Centre describes itself as the largest conference centre in Oxfordshire.