Retired nurses could prove the saviours of Oxfordshire's hospitals this winter if they agree to go back to the wards. Hospital managers have launched a recruitment drive to attract former staff back to help cover the expected crisis. While the battle
Youngsters at a primary school gave thanks for the harvest by donating gifts to local pensioners, writes Peter Barrington. The pupils of St Edburg's primary school in Bicester took fruit, vegetables and tinned food to residents at St Edburg House old
Apollo Oxford, George Street (0870 6063500): today 6, 9.30pm, Sat 2.30, 7.30pm, Stomp. Sun Oct 15, 8pm, Harry Hill. Oct 17-21, Welsh National Opera presents The Queen of Spades (Oct 17 and 20 at 6.30), Carmen (Oct 18 and 21 at 7.15pm) and Orpheus and
Banbury will be looking to the giant frame of Derwyn Jones to turn their season around in their Midlands 1 game at home to Hereford tomorrow (3pm), writes Michael Knox. After missing the early part of the season, during which time Banbury have suffered
Oxford Cheetahs will be hoping it is fourth time lucky when they take on Poole Pirates in a Craven Shield clash at the Stadium tonight (7.30), writes John Gaisford. The rain washed out Saturday's meeting at Eastbourne, the Elite League clash at Peterborough
Big roach continue to be caught on the Linch Hill complex at Stanton Harcourt the latest a cracker weighing 3.5.8. Wantage-based Danny Dance has been trying to catch a big roach from the venue since 1997 and he finally cracked it when he presented maggots
Oxford City assistant manager Andy Lyne is understood to have turned down the chance to take over the hot-seat at Abingdon Town, writes RUSSELL SMITH. The Ryman League Division 3 club made Lyne their No 1 choice after Bob Rayner quit, but the former Witney
Guy Whittingham wasn't surprised by his goal in his first appearance for Oxford United at Swindon last Sunday because throughout his career he's often scored on his debut. The 35-year-old striker showed immediately in the match at the County Ground just
All Sunday fixtures involving Oxfordshire sides ****MORRELLS OXFORD SUNDAY LEAGUE Representative: Oxford Sunday League v West Middlesex Sunday League (Morris Motors, 3) Premier Div: Mansfield Rd v AFC Jericho, Blackbird Leys Sunday v Star Royal, Wheatley
All Saturday fixtures involving Oxfordshire sides ****NATIONWIDE LEAGUE Div 2: Oxford Utd v Wrexham. ****RYMAN LEAGUE Div 1: Leatherhead v Oxford C, Thame Utd v Yeading. Div 3: Abingdon Tn v Arlesey Tn. ****DR MARTENS LEAGUE Eastern Div: Banbury Utd v
Nicola Torgersen has been awarded the Isis Cup for the most improved player in the county. And Torgersen, from Abingdon, celebrated by winning two events at the Oxfordshire Tournament. She landed the B tournament singles after beating Helen Ashdown 21
The Oxford Saints Youth AFC have been invited to take part in the Channel 5/NFL Europe Flag tournament to be held at the National Hockey Stadium in Milton Keynes later this month. Just eight teams from the United Kingdom have been invited to the prestigious
Bill Davis, from Wallingford continued his fine run when he topped the weights on Berks &Oxon match fished on Benson AA's water. His winning bag of 13.4.0 consisted of 5.3.0 of roach taken on the float and 8.1.0 of chub taken on the feeder. Graham
The fantasy of Narnia has never left me. Thirty years have passed since I devoured the tales by torchlight, hiding under my bed covers for fear of being discovered by my parents and to hide myself away in case the White Witch of Narnia should miraculously
Admitting you have mental health difficulties is not easy. Though people may be happy to talk about their physical ailments at the drop of a hat, a stigma still surrounds mental health problems even though at least 30 per cent of the population will have
A millennium exhibition to showcase the work of talented young artists in the Didcot area is being planned. The show, at the Didcot youth and community centre in December, follows the success of the town's annual open art exhibitions in August. Organiser
Oxfordshire is part of a region with the second lowest unemployment rate in the whole of Europe, according to new figures, writes David Duffy. The European statistics agency Eurostat found that the Thames corridor counties of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and
Fifty new jobs have been created by rail company First Great Western in a shake-up of its track and station service, writes David Duffy. The number of on-train staff has risen to more than 450 and all have been put through a new training programme. The
Science Minister Lord Sainsbury was today opening a new building for an Oxfordshire company which has grown to become one of the world's leading suppliers of high-power pulsed lasers, writes Maggie Hartford. Exitech at Hanborough Park, Long Hanborough
Painless injection company Powderject has signed a 24m agreement to lease part of its new vaccines factory to a US biotech company, writes Maggie Hartford. Powderject, based at Oxford Science Park at Sandford, said it had negotiated a better deal after
A fast expanding company has been given a 12m investment boost, writes David Duffy. Achilles Group, of Milton Park, near Abingdon, links customers from more than 500 organisations in the utilities, rail, oil, gas and public sectors and their 15,000 suppliers
No-one embodies the transformation of the British jazz scene quite like Courtney Pine we've got to add an OBE to his name since the New Year's Honours list, writes Tim Metcalfe. The saxophonist heads a new generation of innovative musicians who, over
When Alan McGee announced his departure from Creation Records, to set up his new, Internet-based outfit, Poptones, the record industry was left in a state of shock, writes Templeton Blake. After all, with McGee at the helm, Creation had become one of
There's nothing like having your preconceptions blown sky high. Say the words 'French band' and most people think of groovy Gallic house, chilled moog music and very little else. Well Phoenix are a French band. But they don't sound like any 'French band
With the release of their highly-acclaimed third album, Science and Nature, earlier this year, The Bluetones are back in the public eye. Constant touring, coupled with high-profile festival appearances at T In The Park and The Carling Weekender in Reading
TV station bosses have managed to pull the plug on an Internet hate campaign directed at them, writes Mark Templeton. The Oxford Channel was subjected to abusive e-mails and phone calls after a web site was set up asking people to have a go at the station
A businessman has vowed not to sell land to a firm hoping to store nuclear waste in one of Oxfordshire's most picturesque villages. Reviss Services, a partly Russian-owned off-shoot of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, is currently based at Harwell Laboratory
Supergroup Radiohead are celebrating after their new fourth album reached number one in the US album charts. Kid A, which also entered the UK chart at number one on Sunday, sold 207,000 copies to knock Let's Get Ready by rapper Mystikal off the top spot
Social service chiefs were today ordered to investigate how they review child protection cases. Government performance figures for Oxfordshire gave the department just one out of five for the way it scrutinises child protection. Cases should be reviewed
Thousands of leaflets will be delivered to villagers asking for their views on traffic problems, writes Paul Warner. Kidlington Parish Council wants to take some traffic responsibility in the village, including painting of double yellow lines, away from
An Oxfordshire couple are on the verge of West End stardom after their musical won rave reviews from London critics. Despite only playing in the tiny 78-seat New End Theatre in Hampstead, Roll Over Jehovah! is winning praise from audiences and reviewers
Shocking new figures reveal that one in nine people across Oxfordshire are living in poverty that's 67,000 in all. Now the worst-hit pockets have been identified to help agencies target their help where it is most needed. Another report shows the plight
ABC Magdalen Street, Oxford (0870 3339063) Dinosaur, PG, Fri and Mon to Thurs 1.45, 4, 6.25, 8.45pm, Sat and Sun 12.45, 3.25, 6.05, 8.45pm. ________________________ ABC George Street, Oxford (01865 251998) Billy Elliot, 15, daily 2.15, 5.15, 8.20pm. Nutty
Friday, October 13: Stories by Starlight: Start 6.45pm, finish 8.15pm. Suitable for adults and children. Meet in car park on the Plain, Shotover Country Park, at top of Old Road, Headington. 1 adults, 50p. children. Further information 01865 715830 (Oxford
Friday, October 13: Archie, Pavilion, Wheatsheaf, off High Street, Oxford; Railway Inn, Culham: Gilad Atzmon with the Denny Ilett Quintet. 01367 710593. Open night, Oxford Folk Club, Port Mahon, St Clement's, Oxford; Pleasure Beach, followed by Sonic
A new library has been set up in Oxford but there isn't a book in sight. Instead of leafing through novels and encyclopaedias, users will be able to check out a far more action-packed directory. People who use Oxford City Council's new sports equipment
There aren't many teenagers who can say they have made their Oxford United debut at Swindon's County Ground but there were two this season in Sam Ricketts and Jamie Brooks. Ricketts made his full debut at right back and gave an accomplished performance
Leading goalscorer Mickey Marshall looks set to miss his first game of the season tomorrow, when Bicester Town entertain Peppard in their Complete Music Cup preliminary round replay. Marshall has failed to complete the last two matches with a leg injury
The media would have you believe that managing England is the job no-one wants. Don't you believe it. Managing Oxford United is the job no-one wants, apart possibly from the current caretaker Mike Ford, writes Jon Murray. Cheltenham boss Steve Cotterill
Friday, October 13: Jaqueline du Pr Music Building, St Hilda's College: Christine Rauh (cello) with Riiza Hayashi (piano). Hindemith, Beethoven, Bach, Schumann. 7.30pm. 01865 798600. The Mill Theatre, Banbury: Drum Orchestra. 01295 279002. Railway Inn
TV station bosses have managed to pull the plug on an Internet hate campaign directed at them, writes Mark Templeton. The Oxford Channel was subjected to abusive e-mails and phone calls after a web site was set up asking people to have a go at the station
Abingdon Drama Club presents a world premire performance of Bob Larbey's latest play Sand Castles tomorrow night at the Abbey Centre in Abingdon, writes Chris Gray. Bob says of Sand Castles: "It's about chaos on a British beach and full of strong characters
Sir Derek Jacobi will be appearing at the Oxford Playhouse from Monday in Hugh Whitemore's controversial new play God Only Knows, which is a Triumph Proscenium production. Hugh Whitemore's credits include a considerable number of television plays and
"The truth is that you prefer animals to people," Polynesia pronounces in an authoritative voice. As Polynesia is a parrot and speaks, courtesy of modern electronics, in the ringing tones of Dame Julie Andrews (no less), you'd better believe her, writes
Didcot Phoenix's Les Lloyd was the top local finisher in the Super Series cyclo-cross season opened at Oxford School. The 49-year-old was fifth, 4 mins and 36 secs behind winner Stuart Bowers (1 hr 3 mins 15 secs). Lloyd's nephew and Phoenix clubmate,
All Saturday fixtures involving Oxfordshire sides ****ENGLISH NATIONAL LEAGUE Div 1: Henley v Exeter. ****CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP Midlands Div 1: Banbury v Hereford. South West Div 2 East: Olney v Chinnor, Witney v Stow-on-the-Wold. Southern Counties North:
Skulduggery, with a husband trying to murder his wife and some stolen jewels, make up the Victorian thriller Gaslight. The play by Patrick Hamilton is the latest offering by Charlbury Amateur Dramatic Society, and will be staged from October 19 to 21
It was her portrayal of Kate in the cult film, Breaking Glass (first released in 1980) which saw Hazel O'Connor shoot to fame, writes Eddie Grimstead. Chart success followed with singles such as Eighth Day and the number one hit single Will You. The album
TV station bosses have managed to pull the plug on an Internet hate campaign directed at them. The Oxford Channel was subjected to abusive e-mails and phone calls after a web site was set up asking people to have a go at the station. Channel 6 bosses
Two families are seeking substantial High Court damages against Oxfordshire Health Authority over separate claims of alleged medical negligence. Solicitors acting for local youngster, Martin Black, of Cromwell Way, Kidlington, have filed a writ in the
Thousands of leaflets will be delivered to villagers asking for their views on traffic problems. Kidlington Parish Council wants to take some traffic responsibility in the village, including painting of double yellow lines, away from Oxfordshire County
The Football League have been sympathetic to Oxford United and granted the second division's basement club permission to de-register Guy Whittingham to enable them to sign a second player on loan, writes Jon Murray. Whittingham, who had played just one
Ashmolean Museum (01865 278015: Tues-Sat, 10-5, Sun 2-5. Exhibitions: until Nov 5, Arthur Evans and Knossos; until Nov 19, Edward Ardizzone, RA (1900-1979); until Nov 26, Persian Steel. Gallery talks 1.15pm Fridays and Tuesdays. Ashmolean Treasures Tour
