Archive

  • Bell chimes in new classroom

    The opening of a classroom at a primary school was marked by the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire ringing a 19th century school bell. Ringing the changes The new foundation class at Harwell Primary School was opened by Hugo Brunner, pictured watching former

  • Boys convicted of religious assault

    Two Witney teenagers have been convicted of attacking a man because of his religious beliefs under an anti-terrorism law introduced last year. The 15-year-old boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were given supervision orders at Oxford Crown Court

  • U's accountants get more than creditors

    Accountants brought in to sort out the affairs of Oxford United paid themselves almost twice as much in fees as they raised for the club's creditors. The firm, Kroll, which was appointed to oversee the payment of the club's debts, told creditors they

  • Stoddart confident team can survive

    Minardi boss Paul Stoddart is confident that his team will be on the grid next season as Formula 1 faces a campaign with just ten teams. The Australian is determined the team will not go the same way as rivals Leafield-based Arrows, whose long-term future

  • Family shocked by 'scam' smear

    A family who decorated their house with festive lights for charities after their daughter was diagnosed with cancer have been shocked by claims they were pocketing the cash. Michaela Cusden and her partner Dave Taylor set up the illuminations on their

  • Date check: Choral concert

    The Chipping Norton Choral Society is presenting Bach's Christmas Oratorio on Saturday, December 7, in St Mary's Church at 7.30pm.

  • Review: Oxford Pro-musica Singers

    Derek Jole reviews the Singers' 25th anniversary concert An ever-so-tactful wigging from the Pro-Musica's conductor, Michael Smedley, delivered to a crowded University Church last week, expressed the hope that we would henceforth support not just this

  • Caroline Delfosse

    More than 500 mourners attended the funeral of Caroline Delfosse, wife of Didcot GP Dr John Delfosse. Mrs Delfosse, who was 44, died at the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, on November 23 from a malignant brain tumour which Dr Delfosse said was only diagnosed

  • Fitter convicted after raping cancer victim

    A fitter has been convicted of raping a cancer patient, brutally beating her and hacking out chunks of her hair - after which he returned to the scene to comfort her. Richard Day A jury at Oxford Crown Court unanimously convicted Richard Day, 21, a floor

  • Bulls hope for better

    Banbury will be hoping to turn around a 57-5 defeat suffered only three weeks ago at Market Bosworth when they meet the Leicestershire club at Bodicote Park. The Bulls make one change for Saturday (Dec 14) from the side that finished the match, in their

  • Changes for Chinnor

    Chinnor, struggling at the wrong end of South West 1, are forced to make changes for their tricky trip away to leaders Dings Crusaders. Louw KrugerCentre Louw Kruger has returned temporarily to South Africa to get married, while lock James Borgnis is

  • Hawks buoyant

    Henley Hawks, buoyant after a return to try-scoring form - they blitzed Launceston with six on December 7 - will need to take this form into their match at Esher on Saturday, December 14. The Surrey side are two points behind leaders Hawks, having lost

  • Rugby fixtures for Saturday

    Matches to be played on Saturday, December 14, 2002 ENGLISH NATIONAL LEAGUE Div 2: Esher v Henley. ENGLISH CLUBS CHAMPIONSHIP Powergen South West Div 1: Dings Crusaders v Chinnor. Powergen South West 2 East: Grove v Chippenham, Oxford Harlequins v Amersham

  • Quins' match off after tragedy

    Oxford Harlequins' South West Division 2 East match at home Amersham & Chiltern on Saturday (Dec 14) has been postponed following the sudden death of one of the Bucks club's players. Chiltern have called off all their games this weekend, after their

  • Bus doubles up as grotto

    A double-decker bus has been converted into an unusual Santa's grotto. The bus, part of an exhibition at the Oxford Bus Museum, in Long Hanborough station yard, near Bladon, will be manned by Santa, museum director John Bayliss. Colin Judge, the museum

  • Grange's grand treble

    Damian Grange recorded a hat-trick of victories at the Portcullis LTC, Wallingford, veteran championships. Grange beat Jeremy Burn 6-0, 6-0 to take the men's singles, before teaming up with Steve Gothard to beat Len Albion and Geoff Howarth 6-1, 6-2 in

  • Capital trip

    The French group of the Wantage and Grove Twinning Committee is planning a trip to the Vive la France exhibition in London on Saturday, January 18. Tickets cost £18 and can be booked by calling 01235 223410.

  • Diabetic took his own life

    A man took his own life days before he was due to have an operation which would have confined him to a wheelchair, an inquest heard. Jason Paul Arthurs, 29, was found lying on the floor of a bedroom in his parents' home at Hamfield, Wantage. He had cuts

  • Discord ahead at music cuts

    Music teaching of children in rural areas is set to suffer after Oxfordshire County Music Service announced it was seeking to make cuts to balance its budget. The failure of a drive to teach more children has prompted the action, which will involve jobs

  • Sir William Mitchell

    Leading international physicist, Sir William 'Bill' Mitchell, has died at the age of 77. Mr Mitchell left Devon in 1943 to study physics at Sheffield and, after a spell with Metropolitan Vickers, was seconded to Bristol University, where he completed

  • Benefits fraudster given discharge

    A Banbury woman found guilty of benefit fraud could have avoided a criminal record if she had talked to Cherwell District Council's investigators, a court heard. Vivienne Saunderson, of Northumberland Court, Grimsbury, was convicted of defrauding the

  • Town aim for five in a row

    Abingdon Town aim for their fifth Ryman Division 2 win in a row when they visit Witham Town on Saturday (Dec 14). They are without Matty Hendra, who serves a one-match ban, and Gary Coyle (unavailable). Chris Harper is out with a groin injury.

  • Hayward set for return

    Oxford City club captain Matty Hayward could make his long-awaited first-team comeback after virtually two years on the sidelines. Julian DarkOut with serious knee injuries, he is in the squad for the trip to Ryman Division 1 North leaders Northwood on

  • Thame eye up old boy Cort

    Striker Wayne Cort could make a shock return for Thame United - just months after he switched to Ryman League Division 1 North rivals Arlesey Town. Thame boss Andy Sinnott had to release Cort from his contract in the summer during a cost-cutting exercise

  • Hellenic squads

    Squads for Saturday's matches (December 14) in the Cherry Red Records Hellenic League . . . Witney Utd (v Kidlington OB, home): Clifford, O'Dell, Border, Haynes, Meddes, Dowling, McDonald, McCullagh, S Dash, Phelan, Henry, Lyford, Lennon, Ranger, R Dash

  • Football fixtures for Sunday

    Matches to be played on Sunday, December 15, 2002 OFA SAM WATERS CUP 3rd round: Chase Finance v Three Pigeons. MORRELLS OF OXFORD SUNDAY LEAGUE Premier Div: Oxford Exiles v Morris Motors, Star Wands v Blackbird Sunday, Star Royal v Rose Hill. Div 1: Oxford

  • Business course accredited

    The Master of Business Administration programme at Oxford Brookes University Business School has been accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA). The accreditation follows the school's receipt of top marks from the Quality Assurance Agency. Simon Williams

  • Area groups lose power

    More planning decisions in Oxford are to be taken by the little-used strategic development control committee (SDCC). City councillors have agreed that major applications, which could be considered to have city-wide impact, should no longer be decided

  • Members of public caught illegal driver

    An uninsured driver from Didcot who ran from the scene of an accident after driving carelessly has been disqualified for 18 months and fined £250. Trevor Dakin, 40, was in collision with a Ford Focus on the A417, near East Challow, on June 3. He claimed

  • Alcohol-free zones help police tackle disorder

    Street drinking bans are helping police tackle street crime and antisocial behaviour in Oxford. The city council used new legislation to introduce the bans in mid-November and Thames Valley Police have used the new powers more than 50 times. Alcohol-free

  • Parents failing to pay for care

    A scheme to charge parents whose children are taken into care is proving difficult to implement. Only three parents out of more than 300 assessed have been made to pay the charges, introduced this year. The move was part of Oxfordshire Social Services

  • Unipart announces rise in share price

    Auto parts and distribution company Unipart, which has its headquarters in Cowley, has announced a three per cent increase in its share price. Independent valuers say the shares are now worth 37p, up from 36p last year. About 2,000 of Unipart's employees

  • Maxwell pension cut fear

    Dozens of people in Oxfordshire are still waiting to hear whether they will be among nearly 1,400 Maxwell pensioners facing a 50 per cent cut in their retirement income. The former employees of Nuffield Press, now in Abingdon, and Pergamon, which is now

  • Sixth form talk is top secret

    The power of mathematics to unlock secret codes was the theme of a talk at Gosford Hill School, Kidlington. Simon Singh with pupil Callie Cook Author Simon Singh, who wrote the bestseller Fermat's Last Theorem, brought one of the few remaining World War

  • Pupils' film to get big screen showing

    Banbury schoolchildren will be watching themselves on the big screen when their own movie is premiered in the town. Harry Prior behind the camera The 90 pupils from Frank Wise Special School in Hornbeam Close are starring in their own film, Frankie Wise

  • Recruitment problems prevent improvement

    Problems in recruiting teachers have prevented the rise in standards from satisfactory to good at Fitzharrys School in Abingdon, according to Ofsted inspectors. The inspectors found the mixed secondary school provided a satisfactory standard of education

  • Renault set to unveil new car

    The Enstone-based Mild Seven Renault Formula1 team will unveil their 2003 world championship challenger at the Lucerne Culture and Convention Centre, in Switzerland, on January 20. The track launch will follow at the Paul Ricard circuit, in the south

  • Benoldi could get Minardi hot-seat

    Former Arrows driver Enrique Bernoldi could be snapped up by Formula 1 team Minardi as their No 1 driver for next season. The Brazilian, who missed the final five races of last season because of the Leafield-based outfit's cash problems, would bring in

  • Review: Martin Souter

    Hugh Vickers enjoys a performance by harpsichordist Martin Souter at the Ashmolean, Oxford The Friends of the Ashmolean hosted another concert in the Tapestry Gallery by the harpsichordist Martin Souter. This time, however, Souter played not only the

  • Inquest opens on Nathan

    An inquest into the death of 12-year-old Nathan Monaghan, who went missing after falling into the River Thames last month, was opened and adjourned on December 13. Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Gardiner heard that Nathan, of MacKenzie Avenue, Milton Heights

  • Derek Robinson

    The funeral of one of Britain's top scientists, Dr Derek Robinson, who led nuclear fusion research at Culham Science Centre in recent years, takes place on December 14 in his home village of Appleford, near Abingdon. Dr Derek Robinson Dr Robinson, who

  • Ron Marshall

    Ron Marshall, a manager of Abingdon Marina who had twice retired before going back to work, has collapsed and died in his office at the age of 67. Ron Marshall Former seaman Mr Marshall, 67, of East Street, Didcot, was responsible for security and the

  • Homes planned

    Cala Homes Ltd wants planning permission to build seven terraced houses and six flats on land at Littlemead in Aston Road.

  • Co-op plans demolition job

    The Oxford, Swindon and Gloucester Co-op has applied for planning consent to demolish the Kyldane Fieldsports shop at the Spendlove Centre and build a store to relocate from Sheep Street, Charlbury.

  • RAFA thanks supermarket

    Members of the Witney branch of Royal Air Forces Association have presented a plaque to Sainsbury's supermarket to thank it for its assistance during Wings Week. Every year in September the branch, which has around 110 members, sets up a stall outside

  • Two men killed as cars collide

    Two young men, aged 18 and 20, have died in a car crash near Witney. They were in collision with another car on the B4022 Charlbury road, at the junction with the turn to Poffley End in Hailey. Roy Philip Bicker, 20, of Lancutt Road, Witney, and Dominic

  • Hard work pays off for care workers

    Two care workers have been honoured for their work at an Oxfordshire old people's home. Head of care Cindy Machell and night sister Karen Clews at Cotswold Home, in Bradwell Grove, Burford, were both highly commended in the Care Awards 2002, in London

  • Chips are up for Teasel

    Border terrier Teasel is safely back at her home near Charlbury after being found on a motorway hard shoulder by a lorry driver heading for Kent. Mrs Potter, with Teasel Teasel was soon reunited with her owner Sarah Potter, as previously she had been

  • Animal rights activist jailed for bombing

    An animal rights activist has been jailed for five and a half years for his part in firebombing an Oxfordshire meat factory, causing £40,000 worth of damage. David Blenkinsop, 36, of Broadhurst Manor Road, Horstead, West Sussex, admitted possessing, and

  • 'Fortunate' family look forward to festive meal

    A family of six people with a combined age of 480 years are looking forward to spending Christmas together. Russell and Christine Yates will be sitting down for Christmas dinner with all four of their parents. The three couples all live in the same village

  • Two injured on A420

    Two people were taken to hospital after a crash involving a car and two lorries on the A420 near Pusey. Firefighters from Kidlington, Faringdon, and Oxford contained 400 litres of spilt diesel and made the road safe.

  • Help for orphans

    The Methodist Church in Wantage is hoping to brighten up the lives of Romanian children. The congregation is collecting gifts for the Campulung orphanage in Romania as part of its Christmas appeal. The church is hoping to send the orphans gifts such as

  • Hockey fixtures for Saturday

    Matches to be played on Saturday, December 14, 2002 MEN SOUTH LEAGUE Premier Div 1: Wimbledon v Oxford Univ. MBB&O Regional: City of Oxford v Sunbury, Newbury v Banbury. Div 1: Bicester v Amersham & Chalfont, OMT v Rover Oxford. Div 2: Abingdon

  • Feathers ruffle Park to take over at top

    Banbury's Feathers B are the new leaders in Division 2 of the Five Disciplines Badminton League after slaughtering previous pacesetters The Park 139-72. Hayley Davies shone in the full three disciplines and Ian Tustain and Bob Minor remained undefeated

  • Asylum site review rejected

    A landowner and housing developer have failed in a High Court bid to force the Government to carry out environmental checks before an asylum seekers' accommodation centre can be built near Bicester. David Orchard, who owns land between Buchanan Road and

  • Temple 'against guidelines'

    Objectors to a proposed Sikh temple in Banbury said Cherwell District Council would contravene Government guidelines on open space if it granted planning permission. They said the council would also contradict its own stated policy on the sale of land

  • Redknap back for Banbury

    George Redknap has recovered from a sore leg in time for Banbury United's Dr Martens League Eastern Division home clash with St Leonards. Jason Allen is back for Saturday's game after missing Tuesday's match with flu.

  • Hunter gets nod for U's

    Roy Hunter will make his Oxford United debut at Bristol Rovers tomorrow - joining a team still buoyant from dumping Swindon out of the Cup. Manager Ian Atkins will be without midfield duo James Hunt and Dave Savage, who are suspended after collecting

  • Quarry in swoop to sign Odhiambo

    Quarry Nomads have snapped up former Abingdon United and Carterton Town striker Anaclet Odhiambo. He goes straight into the squad for Saturday's Hellenic League Division 1 East clash at home to Rayners Lane (Dec 14). Manager Derek Beesley has also been

  • Henry rejects Chippy bid

    Cherry Red Records Hellenic League preview: Striker Carl Henry has set his sights on helping newly-formed Witney United to league success after rejecting a move to fellow Division 1 West side Chipping Norton Town. Carl HenryHenry, who has only played

  • Football fixtures for Saturday

    Matches to be played on Saturday, December 14 NATIONWIDE LEAGUE Div 3: Bristol Rov v Oxford Utd. RYMAN LEAGUE Div 1 North: Northwood v Oxford C, Tilbury v Thame Utd Div 2: Witham Tn v Abingdon Tn. DR MARTENS LEAGUE Eastern Div: Banbury Utd v St Leonards

  • Top role

    Rameen Firoozan has been appointed managing director of Berkeley Homes (Oxford & Chiltern), at Abingdon. Mr Firoozan was formerly managing director of Laing Homes in Surrey. Prior to that he spent 10 years with Barratt Homes. He takes over from Gavin

  • Hytec jobs saved

    An information technology business has been bought out by two of its directors, saving the jobs of 25 staff. Hytec Information Security, based at Eynsham, has been taken over by David Bryant and Alan Hunt who rescued it from administration. Hytec was

  • Company suffers financial setback

    Transport and property management company WS Atkins has seen its finances slip into the red. But the firm, which employs 300 staff at its Eynsham branch, said the £2.5m loss was better than the £5m it had predicted in October and that a recovery was now

  • Call for broadband

    Residents in Goring are calling for broadband access to speed up Internet communications. Pressure group Broadband 4 Goring has compiled a list of 450 people who want the faster service. It is trying to ensure that at least three-quarters of them lodge

  • Sell-off bears fruit for firm

    A bumper sell-off of subsidiaries by AEA Technology is beginning to bear fruit, according to the company. The science company, based at Harwell, has sold most of its nuclear businesses and is concentrating on rail and the environment. Turnover for the

  • Top-shelf magazine thief fined

    An unemployed man has been conditionally discharged for attempting to steal two top-shelf magazines from a petrol station in Didcot. Gary Ritson, 21, of Edwin Road, Didcot, hid the magazines under his jacket at the Shell filling station in Broadway. But

  • Members of public

    caught illegal driver An uninsured driver from Didcot who ran from the scene of an accident after driving carelessly has been disqualified for 18 months and fined £250. Trevor Dakin, 40, was in collision with a Ford Focus on the A417, near East Challow

  • Asylum site review rejected

    A landowner and housing developer have failed in a High Court bid to force the Government to carry out environmental checks before an asylum seekers' accommodation centre can be built near Bicester. David Orchard, who owns land between Buchanan Road and

  • Top-shelf magazine thief fined

    An unemployed man has been conditionally discharged for attempting to steal two top-shelf magazines from a petrol station in Didcot. Gary Ritson, 21, of Edwin Road, Didcot, hid the magazines under his jacket at the Shell filling station in Broadway. But

  • Glasses raised to brewing library

    When it comes to satisfying a thirst for knowledge, few libraries in the world can hope to rival Oxford Brookes University. The university is toasting the opening of the world's biggest brewing library, containing more than 3,600 books and journals about

  • Refurbished pub

    offers free beer Free beer is up for grabs at a party to celebrate the re-opening of an Oxford pub. The Marsh Harrier pub in Marsh Road, Cowley, Oxford, celebrates its re-opening on December 14 after a £74,000 refurbishment. The doors open at 8pm and

  • Hunter gets nod for U's

    Roy Hunter will make his Oxford United debut at Bristol Rovers tomorrow - joining a team still buoyant from dumping Swindon out of the Cup. Manager Ian Atkins will be without midfield duo James Hunt and Dave Savage, who are suspended after collecting