In recent years, the role of the literary agent has become increasingly important. Editors are unable to spend the amount of time assessing new work as they once did, and view agents as providing a very necessary filter. Indeed, most publishing firms
I played snooker on a dartboard on my first visit to Broadwell's 16th-century pub 18 years ago. No, I wasn't tight the game was a curious hybrid called Dartoball, which was being marketed by a company owned by the Five Bells' landlord Paul Sutton. A
There is something about musical theatre performers that is awe-inspiring and frightening in equal measure. The singing, the dance routines, the constant pearly white smiles where do they get the energy? It is yet more surprising when the actors are
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If you wake up and feel your world is a little jaded, sad or gloomy, then you need a dose of Richard Adams. You must make haste to Burford High Street, where the Brian Sinfield Gallery is exhibiting his work. You have until Saturday, May 6. Richard's
AEA Technology 111.25 BMW 3060 Electrocomponents 268.25 Isoft Group 139 Oxford Bio 29.75 Oxford Instruments 209.5 Reed Elsevier 551.5 RM 195 RPS 190 Torex Retail 93
Based, of course, on Tim Burton's 1990 film starring Johnny Depp, Matthew Bourne's danced version of Edward Scissorhands tells the same story of the outsider with huge scissors instead of hands. Bourne has given us a prologue to show us how this unfortunate
It is 400 years since Chipping Norton received its town charter, and last weekend the Chipping Norton Youth Theatre marked the anniversary with a specially written promenade play' that roamed around the town from the theatre to the town hall and back
Rafael and his friends gave an enjoyable evening at the packed Playhouse. How enjoyable depends on what you expect from an evening of flamenco. While Rafael's own playing is pure flamenco, he had again added extraneous elements. Last year, we had two
It's two years since I last saw the Amadeus Orchestra in action, but I can still remember how impressive these young musicians were. With director Philip Mackenzie still wielding the baton, there was no reason to suppose things would be any different
Having fed a fox from his fingers, young Spider Sparrow (Tom Wainwright) is naturally upset when she and her cubs become the quarry of the local hunt. But such is or at any rate was the reality of life in the country. A farmer for 20 years before becoming
'Oooh" enthuses Queen Helen of Sparta as a young shepherd lad strips off his shirt. Quite a few ladies of various ages all around me in the Coliseum murmured their own appreciation as well. The well-muscled torso duly revealed belongs to former New College
This is getting to be a habit. As at the first night of Thomas Middleton's Women Beware Women at the end of February, the houseful of punters for the eagerly awaited production of Antony and Cleopatra was evacuated from the Swan Theatre just as the play
The remarkable Russian Ice Stars come to Oxford next week with their production of Snow White and DAVID BELLAN talks to the producer Vee Delplidge Every time I have seen the Russian Ice Stars I have been impressed with their artistry. With a cast including
Compton Verney presents a rare opportunity on our doorstep to see some of Van Gogh's finest paintings, writes THERESA THOMPSON Swirling clouds echo the twisted hillsides in the noonday scene. The heat builds up and rises from the yellow waving corn
PETER BARRINGTON looks at the devoted efforts of the Cotswold Rare Plants Group to protect endangered species In the depths of an old limestone quarry in the Cotswolds, a small group of people are intensely scouring the ground for a minute plant with
MORE than 20 of Britain's richest people live in Oxfordshire or have links with the county, according to the Sunday Times Rich List. Top earner in the county was Virgin entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, who lives in Kidlington. According to the paper
As another avian flu outbreak occurs this week, an Oxford scientist's work is contributing to the production of tailor-made drugs on which millions would depend in the event of a pandemic caused by the deadly H5N1 virus Elspeth Garman sits on the floor
BATHING Oxford's oldest building in light in a scheme to transform the city at night has been praised. At the flick of a switch on Sunday, St Michael at the Northgate, in Cornmarket, became the first building to be illuminated in an ambitious plan to
A WOMAN has been accused of making up a claim she had been raped beside a busy road. The 26-year-old will appear before magistrates next month after she was charged on Wednesday by officers with wasting police time over the reported incident on the
The annual summer Charlbury Riverside Festival has been cancelled. The free two-day music event has been called off as it does not have the support of police, and organisers cannot afford to pay for private security. Last year a man claiming to be
Drivers travelling from Swindon to Oxford were held up this morning after a large pig strayed onto the carriageway. The pig wandered onto the Oxford-bound carriageway of the A420 shortly after 9am. Police were called to catch the animal but he ran
Poker jargon is all around us. Phrases such as ace in the hole, call one's bluff, high roller and pass the buck, all come from the game of poker and punctuate our speech every day. But according to new research, poker is not just making its mark on
I was at Classic FM's concert at the Royal Albert Hall on Thursday night. It was a great occasion with some fabulous music. Among the stars that night was a stunning performance of Carmina Burana by Ivor's Choir from Blackbird Leys in Oxford. They
Almost 200 people are seeking compensation for asbestos-related illnesses contracted in Oxfordshire's factories in what their solicitor calls a health time bomb. Many worked at Oxford's Cowley car factory, at the UK Atomic Energy Authority site at Harwell
It is proving difficult to convince the Healthcare Commission that heart surgeons at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford are doing a good job. The unit was forced to defend its reputation 18 months ago after simplistic statistics were wrongly used
After a dreary weekend, it was so uplifting to come across the amusing electoral manifestos (Oxford Mail, April 18). Here we are again, at election time and guess what, ALL parties are promising to put Oxford right if you "vote for us". I have read
A nurse has been kicked out of the profession for sleeping in a patient's bed while on duty at an Oxford hospital. David Jones, 60, tucked himself up in a patient's bed and slept for hours, leaving two unqualified colleagues to care for 17 mental health
West Oxfordshire District Council has refused to back a new campaign to scrap tolls on the Swinford Toll Bridge. At a full council meeting yesterday, councillors rejected a motion to lobby the county council and MP David Cameron to get rid of the 5p
Former Renault F1 test and development driver Franck Montagny will join Leafield's Super Aguri F1 Team as their third driver for the forthcoming European Grand Prix. Montagny has previously travelled with the team to the Bahrain and Malaysian Grands
AEA Technology 111.25 BMW 3117 Electrocomponents 271.25 Isoft Group 139 Oxford Bio 29.5 Oxford Instruments 209.5 Reed Elsevier 550 RM 194.25 RPS 193.5 Torex Retail 93
AEA Technology 111.25 BMW 3117 Electrocomponents 271.25 Isoft Group 139 Oxford Bio 29.5 Oxford Instruments 209.5 Reed Elsevier 550 RM 194.25 RPS 193.5 Torex Retail 93
Oxford is the top place to invest in property outside London, according to TV experts. Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer, pictured, described the city as "investor heaven", because of its winning combination of large numbers of students, young professionals
Oxford Cheetahs 47, Coventry Bees 43: Basement boys Oxford Cheetahs upset the applecart again by savaging reigning Skybet Elite League champions Coventry Bees with a superb display at Oxford Stadium last night. Just as they had toppled leaders Reading
Autotype UTV League: Keeper Adam Spurrett was the hero for Jackass Inn as his spot-kick save secured a 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory over Saxton Rovers in the Devenney Cup final at Wantage Town. The result ended Saxton's hopes of winning the cup for
Ben Moses bagged a brace as Nelson moved a step nearer the Premier Division championship with a 7-2 midweek thrashing of Star Wanderers. John McMahon, Liam Gurdev, Dean Simms, Mark James and Craig Hambridge were also on target as they took a four point
Long Hanborough and Warborough & Shillingford will meet in the second round of the npower Village Cup after contrasting wins. Hanborough cruised to an 90-run success over Uffington, after half-centuries from Steve Wood (65no) and Matthew Busby (62).
Oxfordshire warmed up for this weekend's action with an exciting five-run victory over Oxford at Rover Cowley last Saturday. Skipper Ian Hawtin was the top-scorer in Oxon's moderate total of innings of 156-5 in 50 overs. But this proved enough, as
Wolvercote's Peter Buchta and Sunningwell's Stuart Pownceby are through to the quarter-finals of the ABA Novice Championships after claiming their respective Home Counties titles at Marlow. Pownceby was quicker into his stride against James Nugent,
West Oxford BC are on the look-out for new members. Club secretary Pauline Claridge said: "Anybody, aged from nine to 90, is welcome to come and have a go on one of our open evenings on May 8, 15, and 22, starting at 6.30pm. "Just bring a pair of
Never are people more innocently employed than when they are making money, maintained the 18th-century wit and lexicographer Dr Johnson. Curiously enough, I saw what he meant this week at a jamboree thrown at Sir Richard Branson's Kidlington home for
POSTAL regulator Postcomm is warning Oxfordshire businesses to gear up for major changes in charges scheduled for delivery this summer. Under the new system, Pricing in Proportion, due to be introduced on August 21, both the weight and the size of
A RARE moment of sunshine at an otherwise uninspiring Oxford City Council meeting this week came during an impromptu Labour Party history lesson from Independent Working Class Association leader Stuart Craft. Mr Craft, a disgruntled former Labour supporter
NEARLY 2,000 players descended on Oxford RFC last weekend for the county mini and junior festival. This meant 137 teams took part and more than 4,300 people visited the club's Hinksey ground. The festival was last played at Oxford in 1999 and since
Never are people more innocently employed than when they are making money, maintained the 18th-century wit and lexicographer Dr Johnson. Curiously enough, I saw what he meant this week at a jamboree thrown at Sir Richard Branson's Kidlington home for
FRILFORD HEATH Ladies' April Medal: 1 S Purcell-Smith 88-17=71, 2 S Simmons 82-8=74 (cb), 3 C Pearce 84-10=74. NFPCC Ladies Golf Classic qualifier: 1= A Gowing & S Russell 40pts, 2= E Sadler & D Phipps 39. CHIPPING NORTON Senior's Medal Div 1: 1
BEGINNERS can make use of free coaching sessions at Southfield and Hadden Hill thanks to £200 grants from the BB&O Golf Partnership. The 'taster' lessons are for would-be players of any age. Sessions at Hadden Hill are today from 10am to 11 and 6.30pm
IMRAN Faruq and Tom Stibbs' stirring comeback sealed Waterstock's 2-1 victory at Rye Hill in Section 4 of the Shaw & Co Oxfordshire Foursomes League. The pair won the last three holes of their match against Colin Parsons and Kevin Moggridge to take
MARTIN Harris upstaged a host of international rugby stars when he landed a hole-in-one at The Oxfordshire. Harris, general manager at the club near Thame, surprised his colleagues with his ace on the 15th hole during The Oxfordshire's 'Friends' day
NHS watchdogs are to continue an inquiry into heart surgery at an Oxford hospital, despite publishing patient survival rates today which show no cause for alarm. Surgeons at the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Headington, have welcomed the Healthcare Commission's
Work has started on a memorial garden to commemorate the lives of three teenagers killed in tragic circumstances. Thousands of pounds for the garden have been raised by friends and family of Eastern Bypass crash victims Liam Hastings and Josh Bartlett
A woman has been accused of making up an allegation that she was raped beside a busy road outside of Oxford. The 26-year-old will appear before magistrates next month after she was charged yesterday with wasting police time over the reported incident
Oxford is the top place to invest in property outside London, according to TV experts. Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer, described the city as "investor heaven", because of its winning combination of large numbers of students, young professionals and
It was a close call, but campaigners have won their fight to stop a phone company erecting a mast in their community. Oxford City Council refused Vodafone permission to build a 10m mast outside Humphris Garage, Rose Hill, in October, but the phone company
Police are offering a £100 reward in the search for youths who slashed the tyres of 22 cars and scratched three of them in north Abingdon. During last Friday night-Saturday morning, two youths vandalised cars parked in Boxhill Road, Sellwood Road and
Five town mayors have united in a campaign to secure the future of community hospitals in south Oxfordshire. Alison Rooke, of Abingdon; Colin Daukes, of Didcot; Lynda Atkins, of Wallingford; Julia Reynolds, of Wantage; and Ian Reissmann, of Henley,
Didcot's long-promised arts centre is set to open its doors in autumn 2007. But the lengthy delays to the project will cost the taxpayer an extra £1m. The centre's future was thrown into doubt last month, when negotiations with its preferred contractor
Residents have attacked a decision to grant planning permission to build 21 new homes between two schools. They said it was a "travesty" to allow the demolition of 75 and 77 Northcourt Road, in Abingdon, to make way for the development. At a planning
When a passer-by found this lost-looking tabby cat wandering the streets around Bicester, he seemed just like any other stray moggy. But when the cat was scanned for a microchip by RSPCA staff, they discovered he had come on a much longer journey than
A taxi driver was flabbergasted when he opened his front door to discover his lawn had been dug up. Richard Barlow, of Osborne Close, Kidlington, was going out for his morning paper when he discovered that cable company ntl had been at work on his property
An Oxford woman suffering from cancer will have to go without a life-enhancing drug because the NHS has been told not to prescribe it. Erythropoietin, a drug used to treat anaemia - a shortage of red cells in the blood resulting in tiredness - in cancer
Villagers in Marcham, near Abingdon, have begun a campaign to improve safety on an S-bend in Packhorse Lane. But Oxfordshire County Council's highways department has said the road does not have a bad accident record and improvements would not rate as
A village pond has been transformed from a dead, silted up, leaky eyesore into an eyecatching community attraction. The recent makeover means the pond's former ugly concrete edges have gone, leaving a clean circular stretch of water with a diversity
Prison Service officials are unable to say how many foreign criminals have been released from jails in Oxfordshire without being deported. Home Office officials could not say how many of the 1,023 offenders freed in the UK without consideration for
