Your weekly guide to what's on in and around Oxfordshire. Next update: May 12. Send your entries to Wendy Broadway (wendy.broadway@nqo.com). FRIDAY, MAY 5 Restore, plants, crafts and card shop: Restore, Manzil Way, off Cowley Road, Oxford, open weekdays
Sweeping changes transformed Oxfordshire as Labour suffered some of its worst defeats at the hands of the Tories in local council elections. Labour lost its 20-year grip on Oxford and there was humiliation for council leader John Tanner, kicked out by
West Oxfordshire College and Abingdon College want to join forces by the autumn term of next year. But there will be a consultation period first, with the final decision resting with Government Education Secretary, Mr David Blunkett. The merger has been
One of the biggest - if not THE biggest - catfish reported in the county has been caught from a local water. Young Stephen Lawrence, from Great Missenden, Bucks, was one of several youngsters who took part in a recent teach-in for youngsters hosted by
Banbury West End made it two wins out of two in the West Midlands division of the National Club League with a 6-0 whitewash away to Sutton Hard Courts. Colin Bennett, playing at No 1, set West End on the way with a 6-0, 6-1 drubbing of Mark Growcott.
When I was a child one of my favourite ways of passing the time was by playing with insects in the back garden. I was never short of creepy crawlies and was always intrigued by the number of different sorts I could find, writes Zahra Borno. With the benefit
A father-of-three, who set out to create the largest collection of pornography on the Internet, has been jailed for three years. Andrew Croft, 30, earned thousands of pounds from his trade, using a computer at the lawyers' office where he worked. He amassed
Dean Parisot's fond lampoon of sci-fi series like Star Trek should even have the most ardent Trekkie smiling in self-recognition. Less aggressive and mercifully less scattershot than the Airplane! spoofs, the film actually borrows its premise from the
While his acting career, frustratingly, keeps stalling in such cinematic backwaters as Arlington Road and Mission to Mars, Tim Robbins's reputation as a director continues to burgeon, writes David Parkinson. Eschewing the intense intimacy of his acclaimed
Drivers will be urged to slow down during a month-long speed blitz in Oxfordshire. Police officers will carry out surprise checks on roads where serious crashes and injuries have occurred. The crackdown is part of the Thames Valley Safer Roads Campaign
Motorbike enthusiast Andy Winterbourne rode 3,000 miles across a desert in intense heat to became the top British rider to finish a gruelling event. Andy, 35, of Ashfield Lane, East Hanney, came 31st in the Rallye Optic 2000 Tunisie on a 600cc Yamaha
A village school has been praised for making big strides in raising standards. Inspectors congratulated Freeland CE Primary School for its high quality of teaching. Standards in the core subjects of English, maths and science were well above average by
DENIS Smith has a summit meeting with his chairman Firoz Kassam today and surely should be given what he wants, writes Jon Murray. That is a manager's contract, for a start, and the minimum of a two-year deal the least he deserves after keeping Oxford
An Oxford undergraduate will be taking part in an international scientific research project this summer after winning a NatWest Environmental Fellowship. Rita Shaw, a second year physics student at St Hilda's College, will be joining volunteers with the
An Oxfordshire college of further education has won cash from the Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) after being chosewn as being top of the class for good practice. The council nominated Abingdon College, in Northcourt Road, Abingdon, as a template
Former primary school teacher Jane Williams has gone to the top of the class after swapping her blackboard for a keyboard. Jane, 24, of Chinnor, left teaching to pursue a career in information technology. She signed up for a course run by distance learning
FUEL company Esso, which is closing a major research centre in Oxfordshire, is to sponsor a problem-solving project for schoolchildren before it leaves. The company has agreed a 3,000 grant to fund the Ourselves in the Environment project. Year Nine pupils
A village school has been praised for making big strides in raising standards, writes David Horne. Inspectors congratulated Freeland CE Primary School for its high quality of teaching. Standards in the core subjects of English, maths and science were
Oxfordshire was well represented at the UK Carpets Challenge Shield Tournament, held at Crowmarsh, Berks. Seven of the ten finals were contested by Oxfordshire players and James Franklin was awarded the best player of the tournament after appearing in
PAUL Tait, Mark Watson and Joey Beauchamp will again be missing through injury, but Oxford United look to be otherwise at full-strength for their final Division 2 game of the season at Millwall tomorrow. Denis Smith is expected to name a side similar
United could have loads of local derbies next season after securing their second division survival. With Swindon Town relegated from Division 1 and Northampton on the verge of automatic promotion from Division 3, they could have Swindon, Reading, Wycombe
Oxford United are advising supporters wanting to attend Monday's Mike Ford Testimonial at the Manor to buy tickets before the weekend if they can. Although people will be able to pay cash at the turnstiles on the night to stand on the terracing, tickets
Oxfordshire's reliance on Henley players this season means they have to make a host of changes for their Tetley's Bitter County Championship match against Sussex at Banbury tomorrow (Saturday, May 6), writes Michael Knox. At the same time, Henley themselves
Saddlers Arms upset defending Premier and Section 1 champions George A by beating them 2-1 as the new Morrells Oxford and District League season started in traditional weather cold and rain. Mick Berry scored 15 dolls for the victors, while Phil Adams
Tomorrow's Oxford card 7.35 450m A8 Curvey Kate (Terry Atkins) Boyhill Joe 3 (John Annett) SHEWHODARESWINS (David Egan) Mint Ora (Tony Magnasco) Simply Sandra (David Egan) Burwood Lena (W) (Jim Morgan) 7.50 450m A8 Distant Hill (Ian Wills) Boyhill Holly
Your guide to football, cricket, rugby, tennis, greyhounds, bowls and speedway for the week ahead. ****************SATURDAY, MAY 6*************** FOOTBALL NATIONWIDE LEAGUE Div 2: Millwall v Oxford Utd. RYMAN LEAGUE Div 1: Maidenhead Utd v Thame Utd,
Experts in Oxfordshire were today hoping they had exterminated a "Love Bug'' which brought companies and governments across the world to their knees. Network Associates of Oxford and Abingdon-based Sophos began work on antidotes to the virus as soon as
Every emotion was on show as candidates went through the highs and lows of the democratic process in Oxfordshire. Labour suffered humiliating defeats as Tony Blair was sent his clearest warning yet that voters were unhappy. The Prime Minister will look
Thame United's valiant promotion challenge in Ryman League Division 1 is over, writes RUSSELL SMITH. Maidenhead United, who Thame visit tomorrow, clinched the third promotion place with a 1-0 home win over champions Croydon last night. An own goal five
There is the unmistakeable influence of underrated French film-maker Jean-Pierre Melville on Jim Jarmusch's off-beat indie, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, writes David Parkinson. It's 20 years since Jarmusch made his directorial debut, with Permanent
Everywhere you look at the moment, there's a film featuring Ralph Fiennes. First there was Onegin, then The End of the Affair and, now, this week, there are two more - Sunshine and The Miracle Worker, writes David Parkinson. Sunshine has already won seven
Love-rat James Hewitt is among the guests pencilled in for a speaking slot at the Oxford Union this term, writes Richard Abbott. The former lover of Princess Diana, who spilled the beans about their relationship, is among a wide-ranging list of speakers
An indication of Oxford supermodel Laura Bailey's current fame is that getting an interview with her is harder than squeezing into a pair of size eight jeans, writes Katherine MacAlister. But then the 27-year-old model, actress, columnist and would-be
WORKERS at the Cowley car plant are the best in Europe, according to new research. A survey by Warwick Business School into car production times shows that the figures for the critically acclaimed Cowley-built Rover 75 saloon top the European league.
Experts in Oxfordshire were today hoping they had exterminated a "Love Bug'' which brought companies and governments across the world to their knees. Network Associates of Oxford and Abingdon-based Sophos began work on antidotes to the virus as soon as
Oxford University is teaming up with Manchester United in a new drive to recruit more state school pupils to Oxford. The University is hoping to benefit from the glamour surrounding the Treble-winning giants of English football by laying the Brideshead
The RSPCA is appealing for the owner of an American red-tailed hawk to get in touch after the bird was found in a garden. The bird of prey was seen by a couple at their home in East Hagbourne, near Didcot, during the Easter weekend. The following day,
A teenage football fan has been banned from football matches for a year after admitting using threatening behaviour after a derby match. Emmett McGovern, of Lytton Road, Cowley, Oxford, was drinking in the Britannia pub in Headington when trouble flared
A rowing club has been left swimming against the tide after the cancellation of a popular regatta. Wallingford Rowing Club stands to lose up to 15,000 after being forced to call off the town's regatta last weekend for the second time in three years. Its
The Tories regained control of Cherwell District Council after taking seven seats from Labour and the Liberal Democrats. The Conservatives claimed seats mainly in the Banbury and Bicester areas, and now have 33 councillors. Labour have 12, Liberal Democrats
It was the Tories' night in West Oxfordshire as they took 11 of the 17 seats up for grabs and gained control of the district council for the first time in 11 years. Labour were almost wiped out, losing five seats and being left with just two councillors
Labour lost control of Oxford City Council for the first time in 20 years and lost a leader too. The party's poor performance means the council is now hung after the Lib Dems gained five seats. They now match Labour with 21 councillors. The Greens gained
Your guide to the movie programmes at cinemas in Oxfordshire and surrounding counties between May 5 and 11. Next update: May 12. ABC MAGDALEN STREET, OXFORD (01865 251998) Pokmon, PG, Sat and Sun only 12.30, 2.45pm. Erin Brockovich, 15, Sat and Sun 5,
Your weekly guide, during the spring and summer months, to gardens opening their doors to the public. SATURDAY, MAY 6 Sutton Courtenay: Eight gardens open, flower festival in 12th century church. Cream teas. 2-6pm. Part of village millennium celebration
