A traditional Celtic ceilidh is being held at Waterloo Farm, Fringford, near Bicester, to raise money for village church restoration fund. The event, on April 23, includes music from band Apricot Pie, a barbecue and bar. Tickets cost £5 each or £12 for
Jo Hewitson and Neil Munt are getting married at the same time as Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles An Oxfordshire couple are getting married at 12.30pm today (Saturday) at the Guildhall, just like Royal couple Charles and Camilla. The similarity
Margaret Woods claims she had no proper heating or hot water Police investigating an attack and burglary at a pensioner's council flat, discovered the 82-year old woman was living there without central heating and hot water. After the incident on March
A large part of the problem of Oxford's air pollution and traffic congestion is because the streets are choked with buses. As far as I remember, this came about when instead of having one bus company providing public transport, we had two. Suddenly we
A man has been charged with causing grievous bodily harn with intent over an alleged assault in Marcham, near Abingdon. Paul Rogers, aged 23, of North Street, Marcham, was remanded in custody to appear before Oxford magistrates on April 15. The charge
I read that Tory county councillors intend to remove on-street car parking charges in Oxford city centre from 18.00 on Monday to Saturday and all day Sunday (Oxford Mail, April 5). Your headline was Gimmick or Godsend? Well, what do you think? They also
With the clock ticking away on the fight to rescue Abingdon's outdoor pool from extinction, campaigners are to ask the owners to lift the May 31 deadline by which time a viable business plan must be agreed. But the leader of the Vale of White Horse District
Wallingford and Brightwell Conservatives have chosen Marcus Harris as their candidate in the Oxfordshire County Council elections on May 5. Mr Harris of Croft Terrace, Wallingford, represents the Didcot Ladygrove ward on South Oxfordshire District Council
Part of the Thames Path in Wallingford is to be closed for 18 months during construction of Oxford University Boat Club's new boathouse. Walkers will be diverted round the back of Chalmore Gardens. Access will be kept open for emergency vehicles and residents
Witney face a crunch home clash against Bletchley tomorrow as they bid to keep their promotion hopes alive in Southern Counties North. Victory is vital for Witney as they chase second spot - which would earn them a play-off place. But Bletchley, who have
A constant cry from the public is to see more bobbies on the beat. We have had frequent indications from senior officers in Thames Valley that this is their aim, yet it is still not happening. Chief Constable Peter Neyroud has succeeded in easing the
The proposal to abolish parking charges in Oxford city centre in the evenings and on Sundays will no doubt be widely welcomed. When they were introduced, there was strong criticism that they would hit church congregations and the number of people going
Witney's mayor has resigned from the Conservative party and plans to stand for election as an independent county councillor in the council elections, which take place on the same day as the General Election. Peter Green, who is a councillor on West Oxfordshire
An accountant was racially discriminated against and unfairly dismissed by an Oxford University college, an employment tribunal has ruled. A tribunal panel in Reading made the ruling against Keble College and criticised it for doing "very little" to implement
Thame's former Methodist Church is to house a new fine arts gallery. Tina Hadley Photography Ltd is opening this month with contemporary fine arts on the ground floor and the portrait photography business on a mezzanine floor. The Victorian building in
MP 'breaks election promise' claims rival Wantage MP Robert Jackson, who defected from the Tories to Labour in January, is breaking a "solemn promise" not to campaign in the constituency, according to his political rival. So far, Mr Jackson has not canvassed
Vandals have caused more than £1,000 of damage by snapping trees lining a footpath next to a school. Ten trees along a pathway, recently named Town Walk East, next to Longfields School, Bicester, were attacked by hooligans on the night of April 3. It
Residents have been betrayed, says Bicester's MP, after Government ministers cancelled a meeting about the future of the town's community hospital. Banbury MP Tony Baldry had organised talks with the minister responsible for community health, Stephen
Frank Candlin, founding principal of the Oxford College of Further Education, has died, aged 93. Mr Candlin, who received the OBE in 1977, was also a best-selling writer and created a journalism course at Cardiff that formed the basis of a national training
Witney Roadrunner John Atyeo was crowned as Oxfordshire's new half-marathon champion after finishing in second place overall at the 23rd White Horse Half Marathon on Sunday. The conditions were ideal for distance running, with a gentle cooling breeze,
Alfredian Rebels booked their place in the final of the Devenney Cup, beating Division 2 side Steventon Sunday 4-0 at Abingdon United. Tom Larman hit a double, with Chris Whitworth and James Organ getting the others. They face Saxton Rovers in the final
Ian Bound smashed the Southfield course record on Sunday - despite driving out of bounds! Competing in Oxford City's Mueller Trophy, the two-handicapper burned up the course with a seven-under par 63. That beat the previous amateur record set by David
Bosses at discount clothing chain Primark have ended confusion over the fate of Oxford's former Allders store by confirming they will open a shop on the site. The new store will occupy the prime location in the city's Westgate Centre, despite an apparent
When housing schemes are prepared these days, crime prevention is one aspect that is given top priority. Alleyways are usually avoided so that criminals have no hiding place. But half a century ago, little attention was paid to such detail, as residents
Nissan's seven-seat Pathfinder 4x4 is set to take on the 'Discovery sector' of the 4x4 market by storm when it goes on sale at the end of March. Priced from £24,000, the Pathfinder was engineered in Cranfield, Bedfordshire and will be built at Nissan's
A mother with ovarian cancer is urging women to be on their guard against the silent killer. Debbie Kuca, 37, of Bridus Mead, Blewbury, near Didcot, had symptoms for three years before doctors diagnosed the disease, which had already spread to other parts
NHS managers have drawn up plans for a £25.6m heart centre at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital, which will almost double the number of heart surgery patients admitted every year. The five-storey building would help cope with an increase in the number
Angry Oxford shop managers and owners have branded Oxfordshire County Council a "disgrace" because of the effects of roadworks on their businesses. The roadworks, in Cowley Road and Between Towns Road, have caused a drop in takings, noise and disruption
Chloe Brown has been banned from begging anywhere in the Oxford city area If this woman is seen begging anywhere in the Oxford city area, she could face up to five years behind bars. That was the warning given by a district judge to serial beggar Chloe
Hundreds of drivers in Oxfordshire who have bought an MG Rover car in the past three years could find their warranties worthless following the collapse of the company. MG Rover, which called in administrators yesterday (Friday), had been offering attractive
Oxford United striker Craig Davies has been called up to train with John Toshack's full Wales squad. Davies, who burst onto the scene at the Kassam Stadium after being given his chance by the Argentine management team, greatly impressed Toshack in two
The Polo Twist, Volkswagen's high-value version of its popular supermini, is now even more appealing to cost-conscious buyers, with a starting price of £8,495 -- a further reduction of £690. Since its launch last year, the Twist has proved very popular
Winter's approach spells bargain time for used car buyers, according to a new survey of used car dealers. It reveals November and December as two key months for snapping up high-quality cars at knock-down prices. Researchers for CAP Black Book -- the
Caravans have been attracting a bad press lately, but manufacturers are still vying to get their cars in front of them as the tow vehicle. Slow and traffic-forming caravans may be, but their numbers are on the increase, with a corresponding boost in business
We are already well into the early stages of a General Election campaign in which crime and policing are likely to be key issues. Not surprisingly, as a Chief Constable, I think it is important that these issues are properly debated. However, I also have
Campaigners repeated calls for a 'no burn' policy in Oxfordshire as the county council confirmed no decision has been taken on the future of waste disposal. Friends of the Earth say building an incinerator to burn rubbish which cannot be recycled or sent
A collectors' toy and train fair featuring a working model railway is being held at Chipping Norton School, in Burford Road, Chipping Norton, on April 17, from 10.30am to 3pm. Entry is 80p for adults and 40p for concessions, and all proceeds go to the
A conference exploring poverty and the Aids crisis in Africa will take place in Oxford. The Oxford Institute of Ageing at Oxford University is hosting the three-day residential conference from April 12-14. It brings together key researchers from Africa
One of Oxford University's most acclaimed classics scholars, Prof Oliver Lyne, has died of a heart attack at the age of 60. Prof Lyne Prof Lyne, who was Fellow and Tutor in Classics at Balliol College for more than 30 years, enjoyed an international reputation
An Oxford historian accused of being a Russian spy has died age 91. Jenifer Hart, who was born in 1914, was a fellow in modern history at St Anne's College and known for her liberal principals, serious-mindness and commitment to education for women. Mrs
Shock figures from a survey on school pupils suggests not enough is being done in the war on drugs. If the figures are to be believed, 11 per cent of Year 13 pupils have tried hard drugs such as cocaine, crack and heroin. Perhaps you would expect figures
The turnaround in the finances of the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust has been truly amazing. Alarm bells began to ring when the deficit soared to £40m at the start of the last financial year. Now just 12 months later, it has been trimmed to a respectable
Calls to follow the lead of Oxford and make West Oxfordshire a Fairtrade district have been rejected by councillors. Liberal Democrats on West Oxfordshire District Council put forward a motion asking the council to use fairly-traded goods and encourage
North Oxford look to have a tough draw in the 2005 KIA National Club League, after the draw was made this week. North are one of eight teams in the East Group, but have Queen's Club, London and Winchester among their opponents. However, they have been
Kazuo Ishiguro says of his most recent novel that "the reader is on a sort of parallel journey" with the diffident 31-year-old narrator Kathy. Like her, one slowly realises the truth about her life and that of her friends Tommy and Ruth; they are clones
Redefield A are poised to take Division 1 titles in both men's and mixed doubles. Redefield's men recorded a 5-4 victory over leaders Abingdon A and need nine points from their final match to become champions. Gosford Hill A regained the overall lead
Thame A and Abingdon A were neck-and-neck for much of last year in Men's Division 1 of the OLTA Wilson Inter-Club League - and they carried on from where they left off when the 2005 season got under way. Last year just one point separated fourth-placed
Relegation-threatened Oxford City could be boosted by the return of Robin Antonowicz for tomorrow's crucial trip to high-flying Yate, should he respond to intensive treatment on a toe injury. The centre back, who has missed City's last three games, is
A woman born with spinal defects has overcome her condition to start a successful dog grooming business. Karen Wood, of Avocet Way, Bicester, has endured hours of operations for curvature of the spine and other congenital problems, but already has 300
Henley Hawks face one of their toughest tests in recent weeks when they travel to Plymouth as their bid to escape relegation from National League 1 reaches a critical stage of the season tomorrow. Hawks are now only one point behind relegation rivals
BICESTER Town manager Tim Fowler says his side will keep on fighting, despite knowing they will definitely finish in the bottom four of this season's Premier Division. With six games left, starting with tomorrow's visit of Slimbridge, Town cannot catch
FOOTBALL COCA-COLA LEAGUE TWO Oxford Utd v Notts Co. SOUTHERN LEAGUE Premier Div: Banbury Utd v Grantham Div 1 West: Clevedon v Brackley, Thame v Rothwell, Yate Tn v Oxford City. RYMAN LEAGUE Div 2: Ware v Abingdon Tn. FOOTBALL LEAGUE YOUTH ALLIANCE SOUTH
Banbury MP Tony Baldry said he was confident he would be cleared of allegations that he used his position as chairman of a major Commons committee to further his own financial interest in a West African diamond firm. Mr Baldry, chairman of the Commons
Woodstock Harriers' ultra-marathon man Dominic Croft recorded a resounding victory in the Anglo-Celtic Plate International Road Race in Dublin, completing the 62-mile course in 7hrs 23mins. Croft beat the opposition by an astonishing three miles to earn
There was some sparkling action as the summer track and field season opened at Radley's Tilsley Park on Sunday. With temperatures soaring towards 70 degrees, there was a definite feel-good factor around the stadium, with a number of notable early-season
OFA Sam Waters Cup - Highfield completed the first stage of their attempt to win four competitions this season when they lifted the Sam Waters Cup final with a 4-0 stroll against South Stoke at Court Place Farm. The Bicester club, who celebrate their
Six Bells Kidlington fought back to level with Premier Division rivals Mansfield Road, only to lose 5-2, writes GEOFF BOWER. The home side were 2-0 up at the break through a Fred Marlin strike and an own goal. Although Bells equalised, an individual strike
CR Marks Kirtlington substitute Steven Brock is recovering in hospital after suffering a triple leg fracture during their Autotype UTV League Ridgeway Cup final against Wheatsheaf Didcot. The incident caused the match, at Wantage on Sunday, to be abandoned
There are just a few weeks left before nominations close for this year's Bicester Town Council good citizens awards. The awards scheme is run to recognise people who have made a contribution to the community. There are two age groups -- under 16 and adults
Oxford City made a triumphant return to the top flight with a whitewash victory over Chipping Norton at Southfield in the Shaw & Co Oxfordshire Foursomes League on Saturday. City, promoted to Section 1 this season, won three tight matches, the closest
Didcot's efforts to attract tourism have been dealt two fresh blows -- signposts for tourists will be taken down and, instead of new public toilets, the town will get second-hand loos from Wallingford. The green signposts which cost £6,000 to put up in
Physiotherapist Rachel Marffy is limbering up to treat some of the tens of thousands of runners competing in this month's London Marathon. Married mother-of-four Mrs Marffy, 44, of Aston Upthorpe, near Didcot, works as a physio at The Park Club Physiotherapy
A Ministry of Defence worker has escaped a prison sentence after being found guilty of trying to kiss a 14-year-old girl. Alejandro Carrasco was spared a jail term yesterday, (April 8) despite refusing to admit he was guilty, after being convicted of
Hundreds of Oxfordshire residents said goodbye to the Pope at services across the county, while others watched the funeral on television yesterday. The Black Swan, in Crown Street, east Oxford, was expecting many members of the city's Irish community
Oxford City Council is unsure about whether to apologise for its part in the Cornmarket Street repaving fiasco. The project -- a joint scheme with Oxfordshire County Council -- was abandoned after a catalogue of problems including Stenoak, the specialist
Frenchman's Creek looks as if he is ready to nose in on the action in the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree tomorrow. The 11-year-old gelding, pictured with trainer Hughie Morrison at his East Ilsley stables, near, Wantage, is a 50-1 chance for the
Land Rover has announced that the all-new Land Rover Discovery 3, which goes on sale from November 1, will be priced from £26,995 to £46,995. Gideon Hedley, at Hartwell Land Rover, said: "We have no doubt that the Discovery 3's market-leading combination
Women will become the driving force for any expansion in the new car market, according to research commissioned by General Motors. Collette Dunkley, Vauxhall's UK communications director, said the study suggested a 40 per cent increase in female new car
The decision to move Britain's main motor show back to London after an absence of almost 30 years is aimed at re-establishing the British show as a world-class event. After being staged every two years at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre (NEC
With reference to your article, New footpath proves a route to confusion (Oxford Mail, April 1), was this an an April Fool's joke? This footpath/cycle path has been on all West Oxfordshire District Council's local plans since the 1990s, with pedestrian-controlled
You report that the Ferry Sports Centre in Summertown, Oxford, has reopened after a £3.4m refurbishment (Oxford Mail, April 5). I expect that past pupils of the nearby Cherwell School in Marston Ferry Road are chuffed to bits at this news. After all,
Labour is determined to build in the South East and change the face of Oxford by building in the Green Belt (Oxford Mail, April 1). The Government has set up the unelected South East England Regional Assembly (Seera) in Guildford. This will soon take
I and my friends fought the 1997 General Election to achieve a Labour MP for Wantage; a goal which Robert Jackson's change of heart and party has achieved. I do not expect perfection from MPs or Governments. When we elect an MP, we get an ordinary person
A country pub near Abingdon has closed its doors at short notice. The Harcourt Arms Hotel, in Nuneham Courtenay, which is owned by the Wellington Pub Company, stopped trading late last week amid claims rent had not been paid. It is the only pub in the
I write in support of Christina Townley who portrayed Oxford city centre as a disgrace (Oxford Mail, March 22). I have lived and worked in Oxford for 50 years and a considerable amount of that time in the city centre. I was proud of the city and its history
Two crashes involving lorries caused rush-hour tailbacks on Oxfordshire's roads for the second day in succession. As reported in the late edition of yesterday's (Thursday) Oxford Mail, both crashes took place yesterday morning (Thursday) on the M40, reducing
