Archive

  • Dance date

    The Royal British Legion is holding a poppy dance at the social centre, in Brown's Lane, Carterton, on November 6 between 8pm and midnight. Tickets cost £4.50.

  • Bazaar held

    A community group which has given more than £157,000 to an Oxford cancer unit since 1990 is holding a Christmas bazaar. The Kennington Cancer Fund will be hosting the event at the Kennington Village Centre on November 6 from 10am to noon. For details

  • Music performed

    Music by Haydn, Finzi and Crusell will be performed by an oboe and string quartet at St Nicolas' Church in Abingdon on November 7. The concert, called Interlude, has been organised by Abbey Chamber Recitals. It will start at 3pm. Tickets can be reserved

  • Plans go on show

    Oxford students will be showing their plans for the redevelopment of Witney. The urban design students from Oxford Brookes University have been thinking up new uses for land north of Welch Way, including the vacant Marriotts Close site, and will be showing

  • We are paying for pension windfalls

    SIR -- Martin Broderick is right to call for Government pensions to be made a General Election issue (Oxford Mail, October 28). But seeing that Oxfordshire council tax payers are likely to have to fork out yet more for local government pensions, this

  • Scheme targets district towns

    Shopmobility aims to grow Shopping in Abingdon for disabled people could be made easier if a pilot Shopmobility scheme gets off the ground -- and similar projects could open in Botley, Faringdon and Wantage. People who need support getting around town

  • October 29: Plenty still to be done

    Protesters against plans for the asylum centre near Bicester have fought an excellent campaign. Backed by Cherwell District Council, they could have done nothing more to protect the interests of thousands of people in the area. They have spent many hours

  • November 1: Your county needs you

    The poppy appeal is as familiar a part of our annual routine as Christmas. Most of us cannot remember a year when we did not spend part of November -- at school, at work, at the shops -- without that delicate paper badge of pride pinned to a lapel by

  • Tennis: Henman humbled by useful Youzhny

    Oxfordshire's Tim Henman admitted Russian Mikhail Youzhny was just too good for him after his defence of the Paris Masters Series ended with a straight-sets defeat in the third round. The 30-year-old British No 1, who lives at Aston Tirrold, near Didcot

  • A Narrow Escape by Faith Martin

    Although A Narrow Escape is Oxfordshire author Faith Martin's first police thriller, she has been writing novels for many years now. Her real name is Jacquie Walton, and she spent the first six years of her working life as a secretary at Somerville College

  • The Grudge (15)

    According to The Bible, evil begets evil. This notion, that from bad seeds blossom poisoned fruit, is at the core of the American remake of Takashi Shimizu's cult horror Ju-On: The Grudge. Interestingly, rather than transplant the original story to some

  • Golf: Dominant Frilford see off title rivals

    Frilford Heath took a big step towards retaining their Shaw & Co Oxfordshire Foursomes League crown with a vital victory away to their nearest rivals Burford on Saturday. The 2- success ended Burford's chance of topping Section 1, but Frilford can

  • Frday Novernber 5: Isn't it our fault too?

    There is something depressingly inevitable about today's warning of another big hike in council tax, at least six per cent and maybe more. After all, it's been racing ahead of inflation for years and there is no sign that will change. But there won't

  • Raring to go

    An Oxfordshire rally crew are making final preparations for the first Lombard Revival Rally. Alastair Barnes, of Harwell, and Simon Ayris, of Witney, who are taking part in a Vauxhall Astra, set themselves a goal from the outset to purchase, build the

  • Bad Santa (15)

    Eccentric indie filmmaker Terry Zwigoff, who made Crumb and Ghost World, has an early festive present for you here that won't be forgotten in a hurry. Bad Santa guzzles down the spirit of Christmas by the bottle full and regurgitates it as a foul-mouthed

  • Workmen cut off power

    More than 1,800 Didcot homes and businesses lost their electricity supply after building site workers accidentally cut a power cable. Traders were forced to close early after the power went off at 2.50pm on November 3. Workers from Taylor Woodrow, the

  • Pay up for planning errors, panels told

    Area committees may have to cough up thousands of pounds if they refuse planning applications which are later won on appeal. Oxford City Council is fed up with having to pay out appeal costs because area committees have gone against the advice of planning

  • Camera sites must be justified

    Every speed camera across Oxfordshire will have to be fully justified under new guidelines published by the Government. The Department For Transport (DfT) has for the first time published national guidelines which the Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership

  • fllw-up on school crossing protst hyryyry

    Heady heye ayd hyry heady herye and hyry Crnmarket leadyy to cme foyyry hey Repaving firm 'was not the best choice' Senior county council officers chose a company to repave Cornmarket Street against professional advice because of concerns about cost,

  • Open land build plans supported

    Plans to build thousands of new homes in Oxford's Green Belt are being backed by the South East's regional assembly. Seera has come down firmly in favour of extending Oxford as the most effective way of tackling chronic housing shortages. But it says

  • Football: Mooney back to his roots!

    Tommy Mooney is gunning for his old club Southend tomorrow - and hoping he can carry on his good record at Roots Hall. Oxford United's leading scorer, who got back on the goal trail against Cheltenham last week, was with the Essex club for less than a

  • Smoking bans have hit trade and jobs

    SIR -- City councillor Susanna Pressel says that a public smoking ban has not affected bar and club trade in New York or Dublin (Oxford Mail, October 25). New York has lost 7,500 jobs in the hospitality industry, and the leaders of that industry are suing

  • Gadgets fight crime

    Police are testing pocket-size computers designed to give officers more time on the beat. The technology allows officers to access vital information on the move -- saving time. PC Simon Feist approves of the move Until now they had to radio in for the

  • Water words

    A talk called Feet, Water and Wheels is being given by Alun Jones to Witney Historical Society at the Corn Exchange, Witney, on November 16, at 7.30pm.

  • Review: Trouble at Mill

    Restaurants are a bit like dating. You know as soon as you walk in the door whether it's all been a terrible mistake, but by then it's too late and you have to sit through the meal anyway. The Ock Mill in Abingdon was the date from hell. From the moment

  • Acquitted

    A former district councillor has been cleared of all charges of downloading pornographic images of children from the Internet. Tim Horton Tim Horton walked free from Oxford Crown Court on November 5 after a jury found him not guilty of 36 counts of making

  • Bereaved families welcome review

    Families, MPs and support groups have welcomed plans for a review into high death rates among babies treated for heart problems at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital. The Department of Health has announced further work is being done into statistics revealed

  • REVIEW: Finn Brothers/Minnie Driver, New Theatre, Oxford

    We all like a bargain, so when you get a Hollywood actress turned singer thrown in for free at the Finn Brothers' concert, everyone's happy. As the opening act to Neil and Tim Finn, of Crowded House fame, Minnie Driver proved her talents don't just lie

  • Special brew to mark charter

    A special beer will help Wallingford celebrate the 850th anniversary of the granting of the town's charter next year. The ale, being brewed by the Rebellion micro-brewery, based in Henley, will have an 850 logo and be sold throughout the year. Oliver

  • Rugby: Wallingford up for cups

    Wallingford have a busy weekend of cup action ahead, as league rugby takes a break, writes MICHAEL KNOX. Tomorrow, Wallingford, having won their replayed tie with Farnham Royal, visit another Bucks club, Chesham, in the third round of the Powergen Junior

  • November 3: Testing time for patients

    Most of us have experienced the anxiety of having a health test at some point in our lives. But no-one should expect to have to go through more by being told they have osteoporosis, only to find out later they haven't. Worryingly, this is what happened

  • Cul-de-sac suffers spate of burglaries

    Residents say their town centre cul-de-sac has become a burglary blackspot. They are worried by a string of break-ins, the latest occurring while a couple were watching television. Basil and Jane Fry's bungalow in Church View, Carterton, was hit by burglars

  • New listing

    Thame's war memorial in Upper High Street, which was unveiled by former Prime Minister David Lloyd George, has been officially declared a Grade II listed monument. The town council will apply for grants to refurbish it.

  • Hockey: Rover edged out in 11-goal spectacular

    Rover Oxford missed a golden opportunity to record their first South Regional League win of the season, when going down 6-5 to second-in-the-table Henley in an amazing game. With four enforced changes through injury, Rover took the lead through Greg Horne

  • Badminton: County crash against Staffs

    Oxfordshire went down 8-7 at home to to Staffordshire in Division 1B of the Inter-County Championships. There were three wins apiece for Chris Gibbins and David Buckingham, but the women failed to win a point. On adjacent courts at Radley College, Oxfordshire

  • Decision time

    Councillors will decide next week whether to take their fight to stop an asylum accommodation centre outside Bicester to the House of Lords. Cherwell District Council's executive board had been expected to make a decision on Monday night, but the matter

  • Fixtures: The week's sporting calender

    SATURDAY FOOTBALL COCA-COLA LEAGUE TWO Southend Utd v Oxford Utd. FA TROPHY 1st round: Banbury Utd v Yate Tn, Cirencester Tn v Thame Utd, Oxford City v Brackley Tn. RYMAN LEAGUE Div 2: Ilford v Abingdon Tn. FOOTBALL LEAGUE YOUTH ALLIANCE SOUTH CENTRAL

  • 'Refugee plan will affect us'

    A warning that Banbury could suffer the knock-on effects of a centre for asylum seekers has come days after Cherwell District Council failed in its bid to prevent the refugee camp being opened near Bicester. Kieron Mallon, a member of Banbury Town, Cherwell

  • Athletics: Haarer geared up to make title defence

    Headington Roadrunner Pete Haarer is expected to put up a robust defence of his men's title as the Oxford Mail Cross Country League season gets under way at Ascott-under-Wychwood on Sunday. Haarer, who romped to the title last season with a round to spare

  • Athletics: Beerling back in groove with third spot

    Mark Beerling was back to something resembling his best as he finished third in the senior men's race at the Chiltern Cross Country League second round meeting at Oxford's Shotover Park. The Oxford City athlete was the star of the show for his club as

  • Football: Abingdon sweat on trio

    Abingdon Town boss Nobby Hayward could be without three players when they travel to eighth-placed Ilford for tomorrow's tough Ryman League Division 2 encounter. Luke Beauchamp (knee), Neil Hanson (groin) and Danny Wise (ankle) are struggling with injuries

  • Football: City are gearing up for Brackley battle

    OXFORD City manager Andy Sinnott is relishing plotting the downfall of old club Brackley Town when the Southern League Division 1 West sides battle it out in tomorrow's FA Trophy first-round clash at Court Place Farm. Sinnott, who was first-team coach

  • Football: Didcot set for Concannon boost

    GLS Hellenic League: Didcot Town striker Ian Concannon has declared himself fit for tomorrow's trip to Chipping Norton Town in the Premier Division. Concannon has been out of action for three weeks after an emergency appendix operation, but is raring

  • Join the online hunt for treasure

    Ghosts of Albion is an exciting nationwide treasure hunt run online by BBC Cult, the arm of the BBC that provides web support for programmes such as Dr Who, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Bagpuss. And we've got one of the key clues. Chris MaslankaVisit

  • Review: A Catholic Education

    You may think you know Oxford-- but how much do you really know about the city's coolest new music? Okay, the world loves Radiohead and Supergrass, and millions of others have rocked along to the county's Goldrush and Winnebago Deal. But what about Autochtone

  • Shooting from the lip

    It's been two years since comedian Lenny Henry last toured this country -- and as the title of his new show explains, he has So Much Things To Say. In this bravura, wide-ranging act, he covers a huge expanse of territory from parents, love, sex and reggae

  • Simon wins safari

    A JEEP safari through the wilds of Africa is the prize won by Simon Lisemore, the sales manager of the Varsity Chrysler and Jeep dealership at Shipton-on-Cherwell. Mr Lisemore, who heads the sales team at the dealership, will be joined by other top-performing

  • Real ale: White Horse gallops away with honours

    Oxfordshire's newest brewery, White Horse, based in Stanford in the Vale, had cause for a double celebration recently. Only weeks after it was launched, the brewery's first beer, Oxfordshire Bitter, won two prestigious awards. The Society of Independent

  • Bus service avoids axe

    People power has saved a well-used bus service between Didcot and Oxford from being axed. The X47 service, formerly the 107, which links Didcot, Long Wittenham, Clifton Hampden, Berinsfield and Oxford, was set to finish on Saturday. But several hundred

  • Plea from Pc saves beggar from prison

    A man caught breaking an antisocial behaviour order (Asbo) by begging on the street, has avoided being sent to jail following the intervention of a policeman. Michael Finn, 27, appeared at Oxford Magistrates' Court yesterday, expecting to go to prison

  • Beware this loss of democracy

    SIR -- In your otherwise excellent coverage of my speech at this week's meeting of Oxfordshire County Council (Oxford Mail, November 3), I would make one small correction. It is not so much the Green Belt issue which I fear could have people taking to

  • Cyclists should pay for licence

    SIR -- I agree with Stephen Purves's suggestion of levying a road fund licence on cyclists, Time to make cyclists pay (Oxford Mail, October 30). A cycling test goes hand-in-hand with a road fund licence. Then, perhaps, road sense would be instilled in

  • Student grants left in shambolic state

    Sir - My daughter started a four-year pharmacy degree course at the University of Nottingham last month. We had applied for her student loan in May 2004, but heard nothing. After repeated and expensive phone calls, she was finally told on September 16