Abingdon Town got off to the worst possible start in their match with Ashford last night, when first-choice keeper Jason McLaughlin's car broke down on the way to the match. Luckily, reserve keeper Jonny Beames was on hand to play between the sticks for
Postal workers in Oxfordshire could go on strike again. They say that an independent review of staff-management relations - promised after an eight-day strike in February - has not taken place. Union leaders have walked out of talks with the Royal Mail
Husband and wife teachers Rob and Susan Pearson have become heads of two schools a few miles apart. Rob became head of Bure Park primary school, Bicester, when it opened just over a year ago. And now about a year later Susan has been appointed head of
Burglars have targeted a cancer charity shop, making off with money from the safe. Manager Beverley Watt was horrified when she arrived for work at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund shop in Wallingford on Monday morning and saw the mess. Intruders had
Frankie Dorrian has a slight knee injury and may miss Wantage Town's game with Harrow Hill. SATURDAY'S LINE-UP Wantage Tn (v Harrow Hill, away) from: Winter, Grey, Kennedy, Jones, Bedwell, Broad, Goddard, Burke, Roberts, Dorrian, Spiero, Roche, Eltham
Banbury West End maintained their 100 per cent record in the National Club League, despite only drawing 3-3 with Cardiff. With Cardiff just edging the final doubles rubber, which was played in pouring rain, to level the match score at 3-3, the referee
A father and daugher dominate west Oxfordshire's new cabinet. Barry Norton, pictured left, was elected unopposed as the leader as the district council moved into a Cabinet-led system. Barry NortonMr Norton, who lives in North Leigh, has chosen five fellow
Rover Oxford Ladies underwent their final preparations for this weekend's round of Inter-League play-offs with a training session run by former Great Britain player John Shaw. With just one question mark over the fitness of skipper Lorraine Furney, who
Henley Hawks will be aiming to erase the memory of a nightmare at Exeter on Wednesday, when they entertain champions Leeds Tykes in their last National League Division 1 game tomorrow (3). Hawks, without seven first-choice players, crashed 41-8 at Exeter
Banbury West End maintained their 100 per cent record in the National Club League, despite only drawing 3-3 with Cardiff. With Cardiff just edging the final doubles rubber, which was played in pouring rain, to level the match score at 3-3, the referee
Headington angler Roy Barber set a new lake record by landing a 30lb 8oz pike from States Lagoon, near Stanton Harcourt, during a British Pike Championship qualifier. And the monster fish was 52-year-old Barber's second 30-pounder of his angling career
AFC Wallingford will be attempting to win their first major cup competition for more than 40 years when they take on derby rivals Didcot Town in the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy final at Chesham United tomorrow (3). Wallingford's last significant cup
Husband and wife teachers Rob and Susan Pearson have become heads of two schools a few miles apart. Rob became head of Bure Park primary school, Bicester, when it opened just over a year ago. And now about a year later Susan has been appointed head of
A 24-year-old man who was late for work died after losing control of his car as he tried to overtake on an Oxfordshire road, an inquest heard. Niall O' Sullivan was travelling along the A4421 Finmere to Bicester road on his way to Oxford Airport when
Oxford City had double reason to celebrate after both their men's and ladies teams recorded victories over Abingdon in the top divisions of theWilson Inter-Club 3-Pair League. Lucy Collinson, partnered by her sister Kate, won all three matches for Abingdon
Alice's son goes missing on a corrupt Italian island. The utter terror and anguish of losing a child is powerfully conveyed and provides the emotional charge for the book. Alice's search around Santarosa's back streets is every bit as awful as Oxford
The monuments and image of Ramesses II were to be found in every corner of the Egyptian empire and death merely enhanced his reputation. He was a role model for all subsequent pharaohs, many of whom adopted his name, but his cult outlasted the dynasties
Good, clean fun here, as the tailor of the title, Harry Pendel, a charming British ex-con who weaves his soothing magic on his customers in Panama City, from the Panamanian president to the general in charge of the US Southern Command. Harry, desperate
A new Oxford University website chronicling life on Crete over 5,000 years has proven a hit in Greece. Nearly ten per cent of the users logging onto the Sphakia Survey Website, which is produced by a team at the university, are in Greece. The survey is
Keeping fit is all part of the daily routine for the cast of Naked Flame, which is being staged at the Apollo Theatre, Oxford, this week. This bawdy play is described as a cross between The Full Monty and the television firefighting drama London's Burning
A watchdog group will debate the town's major issues at a meeting next month. Banbury Civic Society has already expressed its opposition to controversial traffic calming measures planned for South Bar, Horsefair, and North Bar. The society said most people
Cycling enthusiasts have been urged to raise money for leukaemia victims by taking part in a Big Bike Ride. The Oxford event is being organised by the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust and has three courses offering something for keen cyclists of all ages
Kilted crusader Steve Duffy sprinted into action when he saw two youths acting suspiciously late at night on a Banbury estate. He gave chase through streets on Cherwell Heights - despite being handicapped by his kilt, sporran and heavy brogues. The 40
Former Cumnor seamer Simon Cook gave Middlesex the edge over Derbyshire in their CricInfo County Championship Division 2 game. The first day had been completely washed out, but Cook made up for lost time with 3-53 as the home side finished a stop-start
Cycling enthusiasts have been urged to raise money for leukaemia victims by taking part in a Big Bike Ride. The Oxford event is being organised by the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust and has three courses offering something for keen cyclists of all ages
Sarah Jane Courage, of the Falkland Arms pub, Great Tew, was presented with a Cask Marque award for the high standard and ex- pertise of the care given to the pub's real ale. Sarah Jane CourageThe top award in- volves two unannounced visits to the pub
Staff at the Oxford branch of City stockbroker Cazenove are set to receive a one-off windfall worth at least half their annual pay packets, plus bonuses. The firm is giving shares worth thousands of pounds to all its staff after deciding to end 177 years
Husband and wife teachers Rob and Susan Pearson have become heads of two schools a few miles apart. Rob became head of Bure Park primary school, Bicester, when it opened just over a year ago. And now about a year later Susan has been appointed head of
Oxford's Sikh community has gained support from an Oxfordshire MEP during her recent flying visit to the city. Green MEP Dr Caroline Lucas met Sikh representatives and lent her support to a project to build a new Sikh temple, a Gurdwara, in Oxford. Pritam
A disabled man died from head injuries after falling out of his wheelchair as he left Stringfellows nightclub, an Oxford inquest heard. Terry Bott, who suffered from Spina Bifida, toppled out of his chair as he negotiated a stone step at the front entrance
A pensioner was taken to hospital with suspected heart failure after workmen quoted £14 for a job and then demanded hundreds of pounds. Oxford police are warning householders to be on their guard after reports of a group of travelling workmen visiting
A major improvement scheme for Oxford's main shopping street finally has a start date, after the city and county councils settled their differences on financing the work. Discussions between officers have taken place over the past few weeks to finalise
Burglars have targeted a cancer charity shop, making off with money from the safe. Manager Beverley Watt was horrified when she arrived for work at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund shop in Wallingford on Monday morning and saw the mess. Intruders had
Oxford East MP and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Andrew Smith has criticised a decision to deny permission for a new commercial radio station in Oxordshire. Mr Smith said: "Speaking as constituency MP, I think it is a pity that on this occasion, the
A scheme has been unveiled to encourage more people to cycle or walk into Oxford instead of using their cars. Oxfordshire County Council wants to improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists along the Oxford Road between Horspath and the eastern ring
Campaigners are celebrating a success in their battle to save Oseney Court. It has emerged that a new day care facility for the elderly will be built on the site in Botley Road, Oxford, under the terms of its sale to a housing association. While the decision
One of the biggest days in Cowley's history passed largely unnoticed at the car plant, while the Oxford Mail was denied the chance to take a photograph of the historic moment. The new Mini went into production yesterday with BMW hosting a press conference
A social club facing eviction from its headquarters has run into further trouble with the news that its business rates could soar by 500 per cent. Kidlington Recreational Trust hired solicitors to evict its tenant, Kidlington Social Club, from its Yarnton
Witney Town could field only ten men as they were thumped by Dr Martens Eastern Division high-fliers Newport last night. Witney, who had played the previous night, were hit hard by work commitments and fell a goal behind as early as the eighth minute,
Campaigners are celebrating a success in their battle to save Oseney Court. It has emerged that a new day care facility for the elderly will be built on the site in Botley Road, Oxford, under the terms of its sale to a housing association. While the decision
Oxford City Council has promised to clear up the area around Martyrs' Memorial in St Giles after the Lord Mayor complained it was being used as a builders' dump. Engineers completing roadworks in the area are believed to be the culprits, leaving waste
Housing officials waited almost a week before telling council tenants they could have been exposed to potentially lethal asbestos. Initial tests revealed no traces of asbestos but residents now face a wait until next week to see if a further study shows
Nature lovers are being encouraged to head for the great outdoors this weekend. After weeks of foot and mouth restrictions people are finally being invited back into the countryside. Oxfordshire County Council's senior countryside ranger Anthony Roberts
The Bodleian Library in Oxford has come under renewed fire over its pay-as-you-enter visitor plan. An exhibition opened this week as part of a public consultation exercise to explain why Oxford University wants to cut a doorway into the library's 400-
Construction has started on a new diabetes centre which will support 15,000 patients a year. The ground-breaking ceremony for the Oxford Centre of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (Ocdem) took place yesterday. Promising the best possible patient
Government inspectors are due to visit Oxfordshire's major hospitals to see how patients are being treated. Although the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) was due to make an inspection within the next four years, the assessment has been brought
Oxford City had double reason to celebrate after both their men's and ladies teams recorded victories over Abingdon in the top divisions of theWilson Inter-Club 3-Pair League. Lucy Collinson, partnered by her sister Kate, won all three matches for Abingdon
The leader of the Conservative group on the Vale of White Horse District Council, Terry Cox, is standing down after 12 years. He is handing over to Melinda Tilley, who represents Kingston Bagpuize and Southmoor. Mr Cox, the councillor for Island villages
South Oxfordshire District Council has agreed its final ideas for boundary changes district-wide and is sending them to Whitehall. The council rejected the Boundary Commission's suggestions and is now putting forward its own ideas. Deputy leader Robin
A former soldier's campaign to have a Union Flag and commemorative plaque returned to a church has run into opposition. Leonard Henton has said the flag and plaque, now in Dorchester Abbey, should be returned to Oxford. He argued that they were the only
AFC Wallingford will be attempting to win their first major cup competition for more than 40 years when they take on derby rivals Didcot Town in the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy final at Chesham United tomorrow (3). Wallingford's last significant cup
Sarah Jane Courage, of the Falkland Arms pub, Great Tew, was presented with a Cask Marque award for the high standard and ex- pertise of the care given to the pub's real ale. Sarah Jane CourageThe top award in- volves two unannounced visits to the pub
The uniform days are over for Carterton bobby Pc Bill Smith. He hung up his policeman's gear yesterday after 14 years in the force, 12 of them in his home town of Carterton as a shift and community beat officer. Pc Smith, who is 55 today, said: "I am
Students joined staff, police and council youth workers to give a public park a spring clean. The clean-up focused on The Dell area of Carterton, which has been hit by the problem of burnt-out cars and young people finding drugs in recent months. Sixty
South Oxfordshire District Council has agreed its final ideas for boundary changes district-wide and is sending them to Whitehall. The council rejected the Boundary Commission's suggestions and is now putting forward its own ideas. Deputy leader Robin
JT/FOX Oxford Cheetahs' speedway promoter Vannesa Purchase is urging her team to be more ruthless when they take on last year's Elite League runners-up King's Lynn at Oxford Stadium tonight (7.30). In two of the three home meetings so far this year, Cheetahs
A 79-year-old woman has had her bag snatched by a thief on a bicycle. The man cycled up to her as she was walking through St Edburg's churchyard, Bicester, at 4.15pm on Tuesday. He made of with her brown handbag, which contained a purse, cash, bank card
North Leigh have an opportunity to complete the double over Cherry Red Records Hellenic League Premier Division champions-elect Swindon Supermarine at Eynsham Park tomorrow. Six wins in the last eight games has seen the club move into the top eight in
Campaigners objecting to 1,400 homes being built on farmland believe the Ministry of Defence has backed their argument. Junior Defence Minister John Spellar has told Bicester's MP Tony Baldry that all the town's future housing could be built at the former
Local fast man Nik Gardiner once again donned his new Timetrial.co.uk racing colours to good effect, scoring a convincing win in the Oxford City Hilly 28.5-mile event. With only a slight breeze to hinder his progress, Gardiner scorched round in one hour
Thame United boss Andy Sinnott is still fuming after his side's 1-0 defeat in "farcical" conditions at Bishop's Stortford on Tuesday night. The result, combined with midweek victories for fellow high-fliers Bedford and Braintree, leaves United with it
Best-selling British and American writers, including Lindsey Davis, Paul Doherty, Peter Lovesey, H.R.F. Keating, Manda Scott and Lauren Henderson have contributed new stories with a wide range of sleuths, settings and crimes. By Ed Maxim Jakubowski (Headline
Keane makes us feel at home with the Anglo-Irish country gentry, decaying great houses and their hidebound, narrow-minded owners; the repeated round of hunting and fishing, gardening and churchgoing. Behind the gates of Temple Alice, the aristocratic
Like many good books, this is written backwards. The middle-aged Linda and Thomas meet at a literary festival for the first time for 26 years. At their previous meeting in Africa, both had just married for the first time. They began an affair that resulted
Oxford City, whose game at Staines was postponed last night due to a waterlogged pitch, travel to Wealdstone in Ryman Division 1 tomorrow. The game with Staines has been rescheduled for Sunday (3) and has been switched to City's Court Place Farm ground
Rover Oxford Ladies underwent their final preparations for this weekend's round of Inter-League play-offs with a training session run by former Great Britain player John Shaw. With just one question mark over the fitness of skipper Lorraine Furney, who
Oxford City had double reason to celebrate after both their men's and ladies teams recorded victories over Abingdon in the top divisions of theWilson Inter-Club 3-Pair League. Lucy Collinson, partnered by her sister Kate, won all three matches for Abingdon
AFC Wallingford hit 13 goals without reply past Cranleigh in the Courage Combined Counties Premier Division last night. It made it a staggering 24-0 double, having beaten their luckless Surrey opponents 11-0 away from home earlier this season. Ian Concannon
AFC Wallingford will be attempting to win their first major cup competition for more than 40 years when they take on derby rivals Didcot Town in the Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy final at Chesham United tomorrow (3). Wallingford's last significant cup
A supermarket distribution centre stepped in to help an animal adoption centre after hearing its donations had fallen by 50 per cent because of the foot and mouth crisis. Asda staff in Didcot delivered more than 1,000 cans of assorted pet food and bags
South Oxfordshire District Council has agreed its final ideas for boundary changes district-wide and is sending them to Whitehall. The council rejected the Boundary Commission's suggestions and is now putting forward its own ideas. Deputy leader Robin
A 55-year-old man gassed himself to death in his car. Peter Chatterton's body was found in his garage by his wife on the morning of February 11. An Oxford inquest heard yesterday how he had been prescribed medication for anxiety and had attempted suicide
Construction has started on a new diabetes centre which will support 15,000 patients a year. The ground-breaking ceremony for the Oxford Centre of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (Ocdem) took place yesterday. Promising the best possible patient
Gardeners are being asked to 'do their bit' for wildlife by feeding birds, insects and mammals. The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust is launching a gardeners' challenge this weekend at Hurrans Garden Centre in Banbury. The trust
A 91-year-old woman died from multiple fractures after she slipped while being hoisted from her nursing home bed, an inquest heard. Phylis Prew died 12 hours after the incident, which happened as she was being moved to a commode by care assistant Gayle
Keeping fit is all part of the daily routine for the cast of Naked Flame, which is being staged at the Apollo Theatre, Oxford, this week. This bawdy play is described as a cross between The Full Monty and the television firefighting drama London's Burning
Oxfordshire's friendly with Banbury tomorrow has been called off because the north Oxfordshire club's ground is too wet. The county's next game is the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy (formerly NatWest Trophy) first-round clash with Huntingdonshire
JT/FOX Oxford Cheetahs' speedway promoter Vannesa Purchase is urging her team to be more ruthless when they take on last year's Elite League runners-up King's Lynn at Oxford Stadium tonight (7.30). In two of the three home meetings so far this year, Cheetahs
Phil Gray is out for the rest of the season as he undergoes surgery on his troublesome knee injury. Oxford United's Northern Ireland international striker has been playing with the injury for a number of weeks, but now needs an operation. Phil Gray is
Helen has a secret and it's one that not even her husband, children or family know about - her hair has been falling out gradually for the past four years and she now wears a wig. She has integration hair, pulling her own hair through holes in the wig
Hi-tech company Oxford Instruments has reported a record order book after a restructuring programme that involved 150 job losses, writes Maggie Hartford. The Eynsham-based company said orders for the year to March 31 totalled £199m, compared with £169m
A pensioner was taken to hospital with suspected heart failure after workmen quoted £14 for a job and then demanded hundreds of pounds. Oxford police are warning householders to be on their guard after reports of a group of travelling workmen visiting
A father and daugher dominate west Oxfordshire's new cabinet. Barry Norton, pictured left, was elected unopposed as the leader as the district council moved into a Cabinet-led system. Barry NortonMr Norton, who lives in North Leigh, has chosen five fellow
Pop star George Michael has been told he can build a "pool lounge" at his Oxfordshire riverside home, despite protests. South Oxfordshire district councillors swept aside objections from local pressure groups and allowed the lounge, bar, gym and kitchen
A social club facing eviction from its headquarters has run into further trouble with the news that its business rates could soar by 500 per cent. Kidlington Recreational Trust hired solicitors to evict its tenant, Kidlington Social Club, from its Yarnton
A disabled man died from head injuries after falling out of his wheelchair as he left Stringfellows nightclub, an Oxford inquest heard. Terry Bott, who suffered from Spina Bifida, toppled out of his chair as he negotiated a stone step at the front entrance
A former soldier's campaign to have a Union Flag and commemorative plaque returned to a church has run into opposition. Leonard Henton has said the flag and plaque, now in Dorchester Abbey, should be returned to Oxford. He argued that they were the only
North Leigh have an opportunity to complete the double over Cherry Red Records Hellenic League Premier Division champions-elect Swindon Supermarine at Eynsham Park tomorrow. Six wins in the last eight games has seen the club move into the top eight in
Phil Gray is out for the rest of the season as he undergoes surgery on his troublesome knee injury. Oxford United's Northern Ireland international striker has been playing with the injury for a number of weeks, but now needs an operation. Phil Gray is
Henley Hawks will be aiming to erase the memory of a nightmare at Exeter on Wednesday, when they entertain champions Leeds Tykes in their last National League Division 1 game tomorrow (3). Hawks, without seven first-choice players, crashed 41-8 at Exeter
Thame United boss Andy Sinnott is still fuming after his side's 1-0 defeat in "farcical" conditions at Bishop's Stortford on Tuesday night. The result, combined with midweek victories for fellow high-fliers Bedford and Braintree, leaves United with it
Abingdon United have Jason Maciak back in contention for a place at home to Almondsbury Town in the Cherry Red Records Hellenic League following his knee injury. Missing will be the unavailable Kai Ridley. SATURDAY'S LINE-UPS Abingdon Utd (v Almondsbury
