Archive

  • Childcare degrees offered

    People working in childcare are being invited to consider a degree at Abingdon and Witney College. From September, the college will be offering 18 extra places on a part-time Foundation Degree, in partnership with Oxford Brookes University. The move came

  • MG gets a new hq

    The MG Car Club is staying in Abingdon after the council approved its plans for new headquarters. The club threatened to leave the town after more than 75 years if it could not get a new HQ. But members of the Vale of White Horse District Council's development

  • Malcolm Nisbet

    An Oxfordshire prostate cancer sufferer who fought for routine screening for men, has died four years after being diagnosed. Malcolm Nisbet, 62, a television producer, died at the Churchill Hospital on June 6 after a four-year battle against his cancer

  • Ben Pritchett

    One of the oldest surviving members of the Oxfordshire Yeomanry, Ben Pritchett, has died aged 93. Mr Pritchett was the oldest veteran present when the unit celebrated its 200th anniversary in June 1998. Born in 1912 and brought up in Cherwell Street,

  • Louis Frewer

    Louis Frewer, the long-serving Rhodes House librarian and one of Oxfordshire cricket's staunchest supporters, has died aged 99. Mr Frewer was appointed superintendent of Rhodes House Library in 1938, a position he held for 30 years. But to generations

  • Jail looms

    A 40-year-old man faces jail for making and possessing indecent photographs of children. Neil Castle, of Witney Road, Witney, was found guilty on six charges of making indecent photographs and two of possession at Oxford Crown Court yesterday. Castle

  • Help us fight the vandals

    Thieves stole a bronze plaque from the base of the King Alfred statue, in the Market Place, over the Bank Holiday weekend and councillors say this is just the latest in a spate of crimes. Jenny Hannaby, chairman of the council's environmental committee

  • Football: Keeper collects award

    Thame United goalkeeper Steve Smith showed off his handling skills when he picked up the players' player award at the club's presentation night. Midfielder Justin Merritt, who last week left the Southern League Division 1 West club last week, has joined

  • Cricket: Banbury crash out

    Banbury crashed out of the Cockspur Cup with a seven-wicket defeat at home to Knowle & Dorridge in the third round. The Home Counties Premier League leaders were bowled out for 167 off 43.4 overs. And Knowle & Dorridge then strolled to 168-3 off

  • Golf: Dale stars in world trick shot champs

    Magnolia Park professional Jeremy Dale finished a very creditable second in the inaugural World Golf Trick Shot Championship at Celtic Manor. Dale, 40, wowed the judges, but could not quite pip fellow Brit Paul Barrington to the title on Monday. The contest

  • Football: Tom is Ardley's ace of clubs!

    The odds of a golfer shooting a hole-in-one are pretty high on the best of days. But Tom Weedon's ace on the par three 16th at Kirtlington on Sunday must take some beating. The 28-year-old, who describes his handicap as "around 25" and does not belong

  • Bowls: Oxon rally to snatch victory

    Oxfordshire staged a late rally to snatch a thrilling three-shot victory over Berkshire in their Middleton Cup opener at Sutton BC, Lower Earley, Reading. Trailing by 20 shots at 16 ends, Oxon hit back to pick up 11 shots across the rinks on the next

  • Cultural landmark

    Plans have been approved for Didcot's new £6.4m arts centre. The building, which will include a five-screen cinema, will form the cultural hub of Didcot's town centre redevelopment and is set to open in early 2007. But the multi-million pound scheme has

  • County ban for stab accused

    A teenager charged with stabbing a man has been released from custody and banned from the county following a bail hearing yesterday. The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with unlawful wounding with intent following an attack

  • Man is quizzed over 'assault'

    A 56-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault following an investigation into how a pupil received injuries to his back while attending a special school in Oxfordshire. Nigel and Belinda Isle, of Evenlode Drive, Berinsfield, claim their

  • Holiday turns to aid mission

    An Oxford woman on holiday in Thailand was so moved by the aftermath of the Boxing Day tsunami she traded her bikini for a hammer -- and helped build a dormitory and classroom at an orphanage. Sue Norris Housekeeper Sue Norris, 45, who works and lives

  • Cyclists leave competition standing

    Pedal power beat petrol power in yesterday's Commuter Challenge as cyclists took on cars and a bus to race along two 12-mile routes along the A40 from Witney to Oxford. Four cyclists, two cars and a passenger travelling on Stagecoach's 100 double-decker

  • Beds to close in NHS debts crisis

    Campaigners who thought they had seen off plans to close community hospitals in Oxfordshire have reacted with anger to news that beds are to be closed at five of them. For the next year, 37 beds will close in a bid to save £25m. Six will be closed in

  • Let's be patient over roadworks

    In response to your article, Traffic scheme is dangerous (Oxford Mail, June 1), I, too, have been disrupted by the temporary inconvenience in Cowley Road, Oxford. I attended the 'Cowley Road Matters' shop and feel that everyone had the opportunity to

  • Wracked by crime

    I thought it might be rude not to respond to those correspondents who joined the debate on ID cards. There was plenty of crass scaremongering with talk of Orwellian nightmares and the like, together with comparisons with other countries which already

  • Where's our money gone?

    Trading Standards officers have asked police to investigate allegations of "theft and deception" against the organisers of the doomed Andrea Bocelli concert in Oxford. Sally Wolff Promoter Vipco officially scrapped the opera show yesterday, a week after

  • Is it real or a fake?

    A ban on making or selling replica firearms will leave officers in Oxfordshire with more time to deal with life-threatening incidents involving real guns, say Thames Valley Police. Chief Constable Peter Neyroud has welcomed legislation proposed by the

  • Bypass needs a 50mph limit

    My deepest sympathy goes to all families of those caught up in the tragic accident on Oxford's Eastern Bypass. Richard Dix and his team from the county council need to travel this stretch of road every day for a week. They would soon see how dangerous

  • Maurice Wiles

    The Rev Prof Maurice Wiles, Regius Professor of Divinity for 21 years and a Canon of Christ Church, Oxford, has died, aged 81. As Regius Professor of Divinity from 1970-91, he represented the moderate liberal wing of theology in the Church of England.

  • In a ferment over festival

    Beer and pre-schools don't usually mix -- but they will make a potent brew at Wallingford. The annual Blues and Beer festival based on the Regal Centre will raise money for the Rainbow Pre-school at Wallingford and for Crowmarsh Pre-school. Children from

  • Bowls: County star Prew in England call-up

    Oxon's Alan Prew has been called up to represent England in the British Isles Team Championships in Northern Ireland from July 4-6. County teammate Nick Welsh, meanwhile, has been selected for a final junior international trial this Saturday. The pair

  • £300 stolen in purse snatch

    A shopper is warning people to be on their guard after her purse containing £300 was stolen from underneath her nose. Childminder Carol Ainsworth, of Cypress Gardens, Bicester, was in Shaw Trust charity shop, in Sheep Street, with two children. Her purse

  • Football: Town trio quit in leasing row

    Abingdon Town have been left in turmoil after the management team of boss Nobby Hayward, director of football Paul Lee and first-team coach Kelvin Alexis quit after just one season. It is understood the decision centres around a row over the leasing agreement

  • June 9: Goodwill in abundance

    Early six months after the tsunami, the world has moved on and news of the catastrophe has largely disappeared from our TV screens and newspapers. So it is good to be reminded that the effects of the Boxing Day nightmare are still widely felt. Sue Norris

  • You've got to be in it to win it

    There is still time to sign up for the chance to win £1,000 in the first Oxford Children's Hospital Lottery draw. About 650 people have already joined the game, hoping for a chance of victory in the maiden contest on June 17. Organisers have been drumming

  • Football: I'll fight for my place - Mackay

    Dave Mackay says he is determined to fight for his right back place at Oxford United following the arrival of Lee Mansell. Mansell joined the U's from Luton Town on Tuesday, Brian Talbot's fourth signing since taking over as manager. And Talbot has indicated

  • Speedway: One-man machine just fail again

    Arena Essex 47, Oxford 46: Despite an imperious maximum from Greg Hancock and a-paid 12 total from Jesper B Jensen, Oxford narrowly failed to overcome a rejuvenated Arena Essex outfit on their own patch last night. Essex welcomed back their No 1 Mark