Oxford Mail

On this day:

• 'Fifty Shades' gag by PM has guests tied up with laughter

  DAVID Cameron turned 50 shades of red when he was roped in to help launch this year’s Chipping Norton Literary Festival. read more

• Arctic convoys veteran set to celebrate his 100th birthday

  A ROYAL Navy veteran who was awarded an Arctic Star for his services on convoys to Russia during the Second World War is celebrating his 100th birthday today. read more

• Downton Factor returns to town for a sixth series

  STARS from the hit television period drama Downton Abbey were spotted filming at Cogges Manor Farm, near Witney, on Monday. read more

• Fallen First World War soldier's family to remember him at special ceremony

  THE family of a First World War soldier who died in the conflict are preparing to remember him at a special ceremony in Oxford. read more

• VIDEO: Highlights from Oxford United's draw with Morecambe

  WATCH the best of the action from Oxford United's 1-1 draw with Morecambe at the Kassam Stadium. read more

• Loud dresses, chutzpah and exuberant campness from La Traviata:

  Stuart Macbeth respects the adventurous spirit of Ellen Kent's opera company - which overcame civil war to stage a fun version of La Traviata read more

• Wet wipes caused sewage flood in garden

  FLUSHING wet wipes down the toilet nearly led to a family home in Blackbird Leys being flooded by raw sewage. read more

• MICHAEL DUBERRY COLUMN: Only a matter of time before Callum O'Dowda is in the Barclays Premier League

  When I first joined Oxford United, there was one player who impressed me the most. read more

• Pedestrian seriously injured after collision with car used in petrol theft at Heyford Hill

  A pedestrian was left with "serious injuries" after being involved in a collision with a thief's car, police said. read more

• Osney Lock on River Thames closed after fault

  Osney Lock is closed following a fault to the lock gates earlier this morning. read more

• Paloma Faith joins the line-up at Feastival

  DANCE superstars Groove Armada and pop icon Paloma Faith have been announced as headliners for this summer’s Big Feastival. read more

• Rail line north of Banbury to open next week ahead of schedule + pictures

  THE railway line linking Oxfordshire to the north of England will open next Friday, three weeks earlier than expected. read more

• Vote to save the Abbey Meadow Swimming Pool

  OH NO, not again! Surely the Vale district council has learned not to risk closing Abingdon’s Abbey Meadow Swimming Pool! read more

• Use this military land to tackle bed-blocking

  I REFER to your article about military land surrounding Arncott. I would suggest that the appropriate authorities should consider building the accommodation, previously planned to house asylum seekers but cancelled, for the use of patients ready for discharge from hospitals who are either awaiting for appropriate care packages or for their permanent accommodation to be arranged. Such a facility could release hospital beds. Additionally it could also solve the problem of the recently constructed 12-bed hospital, which would appear to be totally inadequate to provide the necessary beds for the existing citizens of Bicester. This is without taking into account the thousands of newcomers which will result from the vast housing developments going on in the area. read more

• Seeking any relatives of the Shackleton family

  I RECENTLY attended a commemoration of the Liberation of Gennep in Holland and I was able to discover that a Richard Alnwick Shackleton was buried in the same cemetery as my uncle. read more

• Westgate developer is blamed for jam after 'ignoring advice'

  LONG delays faced by drivers on Oxford’s ring road yesterday could have been avoided had the county council’s advice been heeded by contractors working on the Westgate redevelopment, it has been claimed. read more

• Use city sites for development before asking for co-operation

  WE WERE not surprised to see that Cllr Elizabeth Gillespie, South Oxfordshire District Council cabinet member for development and building control, is now on record as challenging the Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) figures (Oxford Mail, February 26) The Liberal Democrat groups have raised concerns about the figures at Cherwell, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire district council meetings. read more

• A name change denies existence of town

  WE note with interest your report that Chilton Railways held a public meeting on February 17 to share its plans for the station and to consult on a possible name change. read more

• What about Bicester Garden Town for a name?

  I, TOGETHER with numerous other local residents, welcome the major upgrading of the Bicester to Oxford railway, in particular since once open again it will alleviate pressure on the A41, and in particular the A34 to Oxford and beyond down to the South Coast. read more

• An excellent education is needed for all state pupils

  YOUR opinion article in yesterday’s Oxford Mail is absolutely right: we must aim to provide an excellent education for all pupils the State educates. read more

• Rome is alright as a holiday haven - but not as a home

  Niall Strawson speaks about the difficulties of navigating Rome read more

• Should private businesses contribute to the cost of the flood relief channel?

  YES. read more

• George Baldock has mixed emotions as late goal gives Oxford United valuable draw

  A LATE equaliser from George Baldock saw Oxford United come from behind to draw 1-1 with Morecambe, but the full back admitted it still felt like two points dropped. read more

• 9 essential Bullfinch stories to know

  Here are all the main stories collated in our special report into the Serious Case Review of the Bullfinch scandal read more

• FOOTBALL: Wharton's late winner puts Oxford University Press into final

  CRAIG Wharton netted a late winner as Oxford University Press came from behind to beat Heyford Athletic in the semi-final of the Oxfordshire Charity Cup. read more

• FOOTBALL: Captain Dan Fraser is spot-on in victory

  CAPTAIN Dan Fraser bagged a brace of penalties as Marston Saints overturned a two-goal deficit to beat Broughton & North Newington 3-2 in the Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division. read more

• Chief Constable admits that force failed victims but says it has improved

  CHIEF constable Sara Thornton yesterday refused to accept responsibility for the failings within Thames Valley Police. read more

• This was an honest review, says Hudspeth

  THE leader of Oxfordshire County Council said “everyone was open and honest” about the failings exposed by the Serious Case Review. read more

• Campaigner calling for heads to roll

  A CHILD safety campaigner last night accused Joanna Simons and Sara Thornton of lacking integrity for refusing to take personal responsibility for Oxfordshire County Council and Thames Valley Police’s failings. read more

• County council chief executive says she will not quit early

  JOANNA Simons has resisted calls for her resignation and refused to say if she would take a pay off when she leaves Oxfordshire County Council. read more

• Community leaders give views on report

  LEADER of Oxford City Council Bob Price said child abuse victims were “badly let down” by organisations which should have protected them. read more

• Building trust to get justice for victims

  IN the wake of Operation Bullfinch it was decided that a new team was needed to focus specifically on Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE). So in November 2012, Oxfordshire County Council, Thames Valley Police and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust jointly set up the Kingfisher Unit. read more

• MP calls for a public inquiry into failures to protect girls

  CALLS for an independent inquiry into the Bullfinch child abuse scandal and police and social services’ failings were growing last night. read more

• Evidence of gang's organised abuse was ignored for years

  CHILD protection authorities feared an organised gang of paedophiles was prostituting vulnerable girls four years before Operation Bullfinch was launched – but nothing was done. read more

• Asian community leaders tell of shock as scandal unfolded

  COMMUNITY leaders in East Oxford and Cowley have spoken of their shock at the child sexual exploitation scandal which unfolded on their doorstep. read more

• PM promises action to tackle 'abuse on an industrial scale'

  MILLIONS of pounds to support hundreds of potential sexual exploitation victims in the county was announced yesterday as Prime Minister David Cameron called for concerted action to tackle the problem. read more

• Gang put their victims through 'sheer torture'

  DURING a four-month trial at the Old Bailey a jury heard how the Bullfinch gang raped, prostituted and sexually abused young girls in Oxford Opening the case in January 2013, prosecutor Noel Lucas QC said: “This case concerns the sexual exploitation and corruption of children.” read more

• FOOTBALL: Sharp-shooter Cody Davies fires hat-trick in Minster Lovell success

  CODY Davies hit a hat trick as Minster Lovell recorded a fine 5-2 victory over Witney Royals in the Witney & District FA's Premier Division, writes ANTHONY BARLOW. read more

• FOOTBALL: Hipkiss and Appleton sparkle for Kidlington Hawks

  Polly Hipkiss and Katie Appleton struck hat-tricks as Kidlington Hawks won 9-0 at Harwell & Hendred to make the semi-finals of the Oxford Mail Girls League Under 13 League Cup. read more

• FOOTBALL: Great comeback by Tower Hill Ladies

  Tower Hill Ladies moved up to third in the Southern Region Women’s League Northern Division 1 table with a thrilling 3-2 victory over New Forest. read more

• FOOTBALL: Kennington Under 12's clinch cup glory with shoot-out victory

  Kennington Athletic lifted the Oxford Mail Youth League Under 12 Knockout Cup, beating Florence Park Blue on penalties after a nervy 1-1 draw at Abingdon Town, writes Paul Lyon. read more