Archive

  • Events

    Your guide to events in and around Oxfordshire, between July 7-13. Updated every Friday. Send your entries to listings editor Wendy Broadway (wendy.broadway@nqo.com). ****************** FRIDAY, JULY 7 Restore, plants, crafts and card shop: Restore, Manzil

  • News: Wife-swapper in bank scam

    A man who swapped wives with his best friend turned to crime to finance the two families, writes Rebecca Smith. Stephen Eddershaw, 52, swapped Lai Yi for Sonthaya Briggs, and then forged his wife's signature to get 8,300 in loans. Mrs Eddershaw now lives

  • Meningitis alert at school

    Schoolgirls have been alerted after a classmate was struck down with meningitis. The sixth former at Oxford's Headington School, who recently took her A-levels, was hit by the bug while in Amsterdam. Her friends were immediately given antibiotics and

  • Watersport: Belcher extends lead

    Jet Sport racer Simon Belcher, from Faringdon, won the third round of the British Championships at Stewartby Country Park, Bedfordshire, to his extend his overall lead. The defending champion, Belcher won both races in the Pro 785cc class with an incredible

  • Rowing: Brookes denied double by Yale

    Oxford Brookes University are celebrating after winning the Visitors Fours Cup at Henley Royal Regetta. But they were denied a double when their eight crew in the Temple Cup narrowly went down to Yale University by two-thirds of a length in the final.

  • Speedway: It's gone pear-shaped for Lemon

    Oxford Cheetahs' out-of-touch Australian Mark Lemon is hoping to put his nightmare time at Cowley behind him when his team visit Peterborough in their Elite League encounter tonight (July 7, 7.30pm). Lemon has been beset with injuries and mechanical problems

  • Cricket: Varsity game may switch from Lord's

    More than 150 years of tradition could come to an end when Oxford and Cambridge players take to the field for the University Match at Lord's next Tuesday. There is a real danger that this could be the last match of this historic series to take place at

  • Cricket: Clark ruled out by England call-up

    Classic Press Cherwell League Preview BANBURY Twenty batsman Dave Clark misses the home game against Buckingham in Division 1 - because he's been called up to play mixed hockey for England, writes KEITH CAMPBELL. Clark is set to miss a number of weekends

  • Help at hand to kick weed

    Hard-up smokers who want to quit could get a bit of help thanks to a new 149,000 service. The Oxfordshire Smoking Cessation Service plans to offer smokers a week's free supply of nicotine patches to kickstart their efforts. Oxfordshire has been allocated

  • Shot in the arm for unit

    Witney Minor Injuries Unit was judged runner-up in the NHS Nye Bevan Awards for excellence. Staffed by emergency nurse practitioners seconded from Oxford's John Radcliffe casualty department, the centre gives fast-track treatment to people with small

  • Inquest hears of Olympic hopeful's death

    An Olympic hopeful died when his mother lost control of her car on a motorway, an inquest heard. Oxford student Thomas Llewellyn-Usher, who was in the middle of the selection process for the Great Britain rowing team, was asleep in the back seat of his

  • Football: Watson expected next week

    Defender Mark Watson is expected to return to sign his new deal with Oxford next week. This has prompted speculation that he may be playing for Canada in their World Cup qualifier this month.

  • Review: Don't Dress for Dinner, The Mill at Sonning, to Aug 5

    The rules of French farce are followed faithfully - or should that be unfaithfully? - in Don't Dress for Dinner at the Mill at Sonning, writes Roy Cooper. Errant husband Bernard, played by former TV heart-throb Patrick Mower in a perfomance that hits

  • Rugby: Cavaliers seeks lift

    Oxford Cavaliers bid to stop the rot when they visit West London Sharks in the Rugby League Southern Conference tomorrow. Oxford's play-off hopes have been rocked by successive defeats by Crawley Jets and North London Skolars. Cavaliers, who lost their

  • Angling: Course for juniors

    Tony Gee, who recently achieved his coaching award from the Professional Anglers Association (there are only 100 in the country), will be hosting a junior teach-in which will include how to tackle up, at Wheatley Bridge next Tuesday from 6pm, lasting

  • Angling: Thames turns up rare grass carp

    Two great grass carp both weighing over 30lbs have been reported from the Thames. The two big fish, weighing 37.0.0 and 36.0.0, were taken several months ago, but the captors, Ian Valseca and Bill Newman, decided not to report them at the time because

  • Cycling: Duo go into the record books

    Tandem duo Sara Dean and Howard Waller set a new national record in their 25-mile time trial on the A34. The Oxford City mixed duo stopped the clock at 49 mins 8 secs, eclipsing the 12-year-old national record by 30 seconds. The time trial was the culmination

  • Cricket: Shipton set for Welsh mission

    Shipton-under-Wychwood set their sights on Lord's once again when they travel to Usk on Sunday in the last 32 of the Wadworth 6X National Village Championship. And they have resisted the temptation to change a winning side and keep faith with the 12 men

  • Movie clips

    The plot, stars and key facts about movies on current release. BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE (Cert 12, 98 mins) FBI agent Malcolm Turner (Martin Lawrence) is used to going undercover to get the bad guys, often donning elaborate costumes to ensnare his prey. Following

  • Online learning for staff

    A new online learning system to deliver electronic courses to 10,000 employees has been launched by the Unipart Group of Companies. The system, The Virtual U, is a development of the Unipart U - the company's own corporate university which has been delivering

  • Science company expands

    A LANDMARK contract has been agreed for a major new building at the Harwell International Business Centre, writes David Duffy. The 32,000 sq ft building for AEA Technology, which will be used for offices and training, will be owned and operated by UKAEA

  • Channel 6 taken off the air

    TV company The Oxford Channel has gone off the air. Staff have been laid off as the new owners make plans for the future of the station, based in Woodstock Road, Oxford. The channel was taken over earlier this week by the Milestone Group, which describes

  • Planners urged to put travellers site elsewhere

    Land near schools and a disabled sports centre is not the suitable place for a temporary travellers site, according to a councillor. Oxford City Council's lone Tory member, Cllr Barbara Burgess, urged the planning committee not to choose the site at Marsh

  • Merger of schools outlined to parents

    Parents, teachers and residents raised concerns over merging two schools in a 2.5m project. Oxfordshire County Council plans to combine Wantage Infants and Juniors. The project, on the juniors' site in Newbury Street, would be funded by the sale of the

  • Bid to stamp out late letters

    Royal Mail has apologised to residents at Cumnor Hill, Oxford, who say they have to wait until 2.30pm for their "morning" post. For nearly two years people living in Arnold's Way have had to put up with late deliveries because of an overtime arrangement

  • Anxiety centre set to close

    Patients are set to lose access to the UK's largest anxiety centre when Oxford researchers leave for a new London base, writes Victoria Owen. The team of eight psychiatrists, based at Warneford Hospital, Headington, is leaving a specially-built centre

  • Review: American Movie

    Following on the heels of One Day in September, another exceptional documentary arrives at the Phoenix this week, amid what many critics reckon to be a renaissance for the genre, writes David Parkinson. Although some have dismissed it as a cruel swipe

  • Exhibitions

    Your guide to art and museum exhibitions in Oxfordshire from July 7-13. Updated every Friday. Send your entries to listings editor Wendy Broadway (wendy.broadway@nqo.com). Ashmolean Museum (01865 278015: Tues-Sat, 10-5, Sun 2-5. Every Thursday during

  • Gardens

    Gardens open this week under the National Gardens Scheme. ******************** SUNDAY, JULY 9 Beech Court, Horley, near Banbury: many fuschias, vegetable garden; goldfish ponds. 2-6pm. Admission 1.50, children free. Teas. Wheelchairs welcome. Charlbury

  • Students to take trip of a lifetime

    Students are all set to depart on the challenge of a lifetime to the island of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. The 19 youngsters from Wheatley Park School, who will be accompanied by teachers Caz Atkins and Roger Kerr, have spent the 18 months raising

  • Schools merger outlined to parents

    Parents, teachers and residents raised concerns over merging two schools in a 2.5m project. Oxfordshire County Council plans to combine Wantage Infants and Juniors. The project, on the juniors' site in Newbury Street, would be funded by the sale of the

  • Theatre

    Your guide to theatre, musicals and dance in Oxfordshire from July 7-13. Updated every Friday. Send your entries to listings editor Wendy Broadway (wendy.broadway@nqo.com). ************************************ Oxford Playhouse (01865 798600): Fri and

  • Cricket: Home Counties preview

    Bicester and North Oxford entertain Luton Town in a relegation battle. With Bletchley doomed, Bicester occupy the other relegation position, with Luton only just above them. So, a second victory would do Darryl Woods's team a world of good. Oxford will

  • Bar Billiards: Demos in fightback

    Democrats have taken an early lead in Group B of the Oxford Summer League, after a fine win at Newcomers Bullnose Morris in which they went behind. The home side took the opening game, but Demos showed their experience to go 3-1 ahead at the end of the

  • Cricket: Banbury bank on risk

    Home Counties League news Neil Megson is prepared to risk all to lead Banbury to the Premier Division title this season, writes Michael Knox. Under his leadership, Banbury, who visit Basingstoke and North Hants tomorrow, head the table, having won six

  • Motocross: Top riders on track at Culham

    The demanding Culham circuit, near Abingdon, prepares to stage its first major international event when it welcomes the world's elite for this year's British 500cc Motocross Grand Prix this weekend. And the riverside venue provides the nation's motocross

  • Music

    Your guide to classical and other concerts in Oxfordshire from July 7-14. Updated every Friday. Send your entries to listings editor Wendy Broadway (wendy.broadway@nqo.com). ************************************* FRIDAY, JULY 7 Garsington Manor: Mozart

  • Weekend fixtures

    Sport in Oxfordshire, July 9-15 ----------------------- SATURDAY, JULY 9 CRICKET: HOME COUNTIES LEAGUE Premier Div: Basingstoke v Banbury, Bicester & N Oxford v Luton Tn. Western Feeder: Oxford v Wolverton Tn. CLASSIC PRESS CHERWELL LEAGUE Div 1:

  • Online learning for staff

    A new online learning system to deliver electronic courses to 10,000 employees has been launched by the Unipart Group of Companies. The system, The Virtual U, is a development of the Unipart U - the company's own corporate university which has been delivering

  • Encapsulating a village

    A time capsule is to be buried today (July 7) at the Methodist Church grounds in Minster Lovell. It gives villagers a chance to share their hopes for the future. The ceremony starts at 7.30pm.

  • Meningitis alert at school

    Schoolgirls have been alerted after a classmate was struck down with meningitis. The sixth former at Oxford's Headington School, who recently took her A-levels, was hit by the bug while in Amsterdam. Her friends were immediately given antibiotics and

  • Shopping centre sold for 80m

    One of Oxford's major shopping centres has changed hands in an 80m deal. A subsidiary of the Nat West Bank's staff pension fund has sold the Clarendon Centre to a newly-created partnership set up to invest in the centre. The 150,000 sq ft centre has just

  • Golf club pays tribute to young cancer victim

    A golf club is joining the fundraising drive in memory of a young cancer victim. About 9,000 has already been donated to a special cancer ward at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital, where Jason Broome was a patient for six years before his death last August

  • Minister may order tax cut

    Local government minister Hilary Armstrong will tell Oxfordshire County Council later this month whether she will intervene to stop big increases in council tax next year. the council's chief executive, treasurer and the leaders of the main parties to

  • A snip at 2.4m

    Oxford's Ashmolean Museum has spent 2.4m on a painting by Titian, a record auction price for a portrait by the master. The Portrait of Giacomo Doria, bought at Christie's, came from the collection of the South African diamond magnate, Sir Harold Wernher

  • Missing student is safe and well

    Child prodigy Sufiah Yusof has been found safe and well, but is refusing to let her family know where she is. The 15-year-old,missing since June 21, was tracked down by police to an Internet cafe in Bournemouth after a tipoff from staff. She spent the

  • Rugby: Need a coach?

    An experienced rugby coach, who has worked at Allied Dunbar Premier Division 2 level with Coventry, is after a club to work at. Clive Davies has recently moved to the area and can be contacted on 01869 243340.

  • Angling: Perks wins cup

    Eighteen anglers contested Littlemore's Roy Arnatt Cup match on the Thames at Sandford, with Gerald Perks emerging the winner. With just half an hour of the match remaining, Gerald had only 6lbs of bits but then banked two tench over chopped worm to boost

  • Cricket: Dark Blues' duo find some form

    Oxford Universities' John Claughton and Byron Byrne completed half-centuries against Oxfordshire A in The Parks yesterday. Their partnership of 116 helped the Dark Blues to 207-6 in reply to Oxfordshire's 141 on the first day of the two-day match. Pick

  • Review: Twelfth Night, New College Garden, until July 15

    A Chilly evening with more than a hint of rain, a lot of pollen in the air and the threat of biting insects - this was the first night of the City of Oxford Theatre Guild's production of Twelfth Night in the garden of New College, where it runs until

  • Rugby: Venner stays at Henley helm

    Mark Venner is to captain Henley Hawks for a second season. Venner brought plenty of experience to the role last season as Henley finished in mid-table in Allied Dunbar Premiership 2. He skippered his previous club, Weston-super-Mare, immediately prior

  • Angling: Orchid pair lifted

    The two biggest carp known to be present in Orchid Lake at Marsh Pratley's Dorchester complex were both caught last week. The big common, weighing 36lb, was taken by bailiff Rob Hinton, and the big mirror, weighing 37lb, by Adrian Furber. Several mid-

  • Preview: Yiddish season at the Phoenix

    The Phoenix, Oxford, is screening a season of Yiddish films, but, unfortunately, no preview tapes were available, writes David Parkinson. However, this continues the cinema's recent bold programming policy, which is only to be commended. There is also

  • Cartoon doctor helps heal with laughter

    Children will soon be chuckled back to health by a pioneering new doctor who has started work at an Oxford casualty department, writes Victoria Owen. Cartoon character Dr Rad, along with his colleague Nurse Cliffe, have been brought to life to support

  • Show day for funds

    Fundraising at John Watson School, Wheatley, is being boosted this weekend by vehicle enthusiasts hosting their annual show. The school for children with severe learning difficulties in Littleworth Road has been named by UK Street Vans as its nominated

  • Mayor is set to make a mint

    The Mayor of Woodstock, Ian Lenagan, is set to become a multi-millionaire next week when his computer software company floats on the London Stock Exchange. Mr Lenagan, who has an interest in three pubs in the town and lives at The Black Prince, Manor

  • Family escapes house fire

    A mother told today of her family's narrow escape from a fire at their home. The 50-year-old woman woke up after smelling smoke and ran downstairs to find flames in the kitchen of her home in Woodstock Road, Oxford. She woke her 22-year-old son and 11

  • Cyclist makes a grizzly discovery

    Cyclist Rob Dabreo, who is pedalling around the world for charity, had a narrow escape when he was chased by a grizzly bear. Rob, 34, of Oxford Road, Cowley, set off on his mammoth trip last month. He explained: "I was in Yukon, Canada, cycling along,

  • Use airbase for refugees, says Tory

    A former airbase should be used to house asylum seekers, according to a Tory councillor. Douglas Spencer, a district councillor for Bicester West, has expressed concern that some asylum seekers are jumping the housing queue in the area, and that using

  • Drive to clear sordid square

    A radical redesign of Bonn Square in Oxford city centre is being proposed to force out alcoholics, drug dealers and junkies, writes Nick Evans. The square has been a problem area for the police and city council for many years. Last year's successful Operation

  • 'Fee cut shows OTS has failed'

    Critics say that a plan to cut parking charges is an admission that the controversial Oxford Transport Strategy has failed, writes Nick Evans. They say many drivers now prefer to travel to Cheltenham, Milton Keynes or Swindon to shop, rather than pay

  • Films

    Your guide to cinema programmes and times in Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties from July 7-13, 2000. Updated every Friday. Send entries to listings editor Wendy Broadway (wendy.broadway@nqo.com). ******************************* ABC Magdalen Street

  • Sport: United eye City's keeper

    Oxford United's search for goalkeeping back-up has taken them far and wide, but they are also looking at one right on their doorstep - Oxford City's Alan Foster. The 24-year-old goalkeeper, who arrived at Court Place Farm from North Leigh, greatly impressed