Archive

  • FOOTBALL: City swoop to re-sign Faulkner

    Oxford City give a return debut to striker James Faulkner when they travel to Chippenham in the Southern League's GX Cup preliminary round on Tuesday night. Faulkner, who played for City last season, has rejoined from Basingstoke, and will replace Andy

  • Crunch time!

    One way or the other, Oxford United's Blue Square Premier home game against Cambridge United on Tuesday night could be a defining moment in their season. Boss Darren Patterson knows that, with the U's languishing above the relegation places

  • Carruthers off list

    Oxford United left back Chris Carruthers has come off the transfer list, and Darren Patterson says he's delighted. "He came in to see me and demanded to be taken off the list," Patterson said. "I got the reaction I wanted. That's the response and determination

  • Time for U's to spell out facts

    Newcastle United football fans think they have problems, with an autocratic owner, no manager and poor performances on the field. But they should spare a thought for the loyal supporters of Oxford United, who have been suffering a dismal soap opera

  • United face new crisis

    Oxford United was facing a new crisis amid reports the club was battling to stay out of administration. As rumours spread on fans' internet forums and speculation about the club's financial position grew, bosses declined to make a statement

  • Tributes to 'generous mother'

    A friend of a woman found dead in a house in Banbury has paid tribute to a "generous mother" whose children were her world. The body of Sughra Rani was found at her home in Mold Crescent, last Tuesday. Her husband Mohammed Rashid appeared

  • It's all change on bins

    Households across Oxford are bracing themselves for more disruption as waste collection dates change next month. And Oxford City Council tonight apologised for the confusion that is expected to ensue. The shake-up is needed because waste

  • Two men try to rob cyclist

    Two men tried to rob a cyclist as he pedalled though Oxford last night. The man was cycling along Iffley Road near the junction with Marston Street when two would-be robbers approached him and started a conversation. Then they demanded his belongings

  • Jogger held at knife-point

    Mugger flees empty-handed 5:30pm Monday 22nd September 2008 Comments (0) Have your say » A jogger was threatened at knife-point as he went for an evening run through Oxford. The man was jogging along a path between Ferry Lane in Marston

  • It's all change for bin rounds

    Households across Oxford are bracing themselves for more disruption as waste collection dates change next month. And Oxford City Council tonight apologised for the confusion that is expected to ensue. The shake-up is needed because waste rounds are

  • Tributes to 'generous mother'

    A friend of a woman found dead in a house in Banbury has paid tribute to a "generous mother" whose children were her world. The body of Sughra Rani was found at her home in Mold Crescent, last Tuesday. Her husband Mohammed Rashid appeared at Oxford

  • RUGBY UNION: Late blitz sinks Quins

    Oxford Harlequins 25, Clifton 41 A strong final quarter from South West 1 title hopefuls Clifton eventually saw Oxford Harlequins well-beaten in this see-saw encounter. Quins, who are now bottom of the table, trailed 19-3 in the first half, but were

  • RUGBY UNION: Maudsley stays positive

    Oxford Harlequins' director of rugby Matt Maudsley was in upbeat mood despite their second defeat from two this season. Maudsley said: "I was delighted with the spirit we showed. "With us having to play players out of position and the majority of

  • RUGBY UNION: Chinnor hang on for first win

    Chinnor hung on to win 23-19 at Barking and record their first victory of the National 3 South campaign. The visitors had led 23-6, but there was constant Barking pressure in the final ten minutes. Chinnor's strong bench of Harry Jackman, returning

  • RUGBY UNION: Sayce shines for Wally

    Wallingford made it two South West 2 East wins from two with a workmanlike 28-12 success at home to High Wycombe. After a tense opening quarter, Wallingford's possession and territory was finally rewarded when Johnny Collett set up fellow centre

  • RUGBY UNION: Witney bounce back

    Witney bounced back in style from their opening day defeat to crush Swindon 35-14 in Southern Counties North. Four first-half tries, all converted by Henry Lamb, were the key to the visitors' victory. Flanker Wayne Caffekey was the opening tryscorer

  • RUGBY UNION: Dark Blues' battling win

    Oxford University beat James Bay Athletic Association 20-10 in a physical first match of their Canada tour. The forwards exchanged blows at the very first scrum, but Oxford were not distracted and were soon rewarded with a penalty from fly half Stuart

  • DARTS: Fowler books place in qualifier

    John Fowler won the Oxfordshire play-offs for the World Professional Darts Championships after beating White Lion teammate Grahan Manning. Fowler saw off Neil Russell (Shelley Arms) in the quarter-finals, before accounting for Les Radford (College

  • Labour rallies behind Gordon

    Labour Party activists in Oxfordshire are united behind Gordon Brown who is tomorrow due to deliver a career-defining speech at his party's annual conference in Manchester. Today, the Oxford Mail asked the county's 34 Labour councillors whether

  • Missing patient found ‘safe and well’

    An elderly patient who let himself out of a ward at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford was found safe and well. The man, who is in his 80s, managed to walk out of the ward and wandered the grounds of the hospital for about three hours this morning.

  • Sexy Feast

    When ex-rocker Alex James pulled out of hosting the annual Charlbury street fair, organisers never imagined that a Hollywood legend would step up and take his place. But that is exactly what happened last weekend when Sexy Beast star Sir Ben Kingsley

  • Two tried to rob cyclist

    Two men tried to rob a cyclist as he pedalled though Oxford last night. The man was cycling along Iffley Road near the junction with Marston Street when two would-be robbers approached him and started a conversation. Then they demanded his belongings

  • Mugger flees empty-handed

    A jogger was threatened at knife-point as he went for an evening run through Oxford. The man was jogging along a path between Ferry Lane in Marston and Mesopotamia Walk at 8.15pm last night. A would-be robber threatened him with a knife and demanded

  • Police take bike test online

    Police in Oxfordshire are being assessed on whether they can ride a bike by taking an online exam. Among the questions officers must answer are "Do you wobble when you're riding along slowly?" and "Can you turn left and right on your bike?" Last

  • Today's local share prices (PM)

    AEA Technology 43.5 BMW 2429 Electrocomponents 167.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 130.5 Oxford Biomedica 8.75 Oxford Catalyst 171 Oxford Instruments 232.5 REED 586 RM 168.5 RPS Group 282 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Chipping in to help buy cancer drug

    Cancer patient Andy Crabb said he was overwhelmed by the support of 124 golfers who raised £6,700 to pay for a life-extending drug for three months. The father-of-three, 49, has renal cancer and is one of 24 patients in the county who have

  • Author's family uncovers tapes

    Reel-to-reel tape recordings made 40 years ago by crime novelist Agatha Christie and only recently rediscovered may give details about her life in Wallingford with her husband, Max Mallowan. The couple lived at Winterbrook, which is within Wallingford

  • Help to salute sports stars

    Athletes and sports clubs around Oxfordshire are being urged to nominate people for annual awards to recognise sporting achievement. The Oxfordshire Sports Awards recognise up-and-coming talent, teams, individual athletes and unsung heroes.

  • Soap star to turn on lights

    Banbury Christmas lights will this year be switched on by Oxford-raised soap star Jo Joyner, who plays Tanya Branning in EastEnders. The Cheeky Girls will headline a four-hour live stage programme, which also includes local band Richlife and the Scholars

  • Your green dictator is in the wings

    IT'S OBVIOUS that this country needs a benign green dictator — ME. How long must we trudge from the gaffes to the missed opportunities and fudged compromises of our local and national politicians? On the cycling front, where shall we start? The entire

  • Crime accessory

    It is very encouraging that Dr Alan Barr is working on the large hadron collider, part of the Atlas Project, near Geneva (Oxford Mail, September 11). Can all of us be involved in something a little bit simpler — persuading politicians to behave more

  • Political coffin

    David Lloyd George, the Welsh wizard, introduced the old age pension 100 years ago. His eldest daughter, Olwen, would always say “Thank you, father” when she collected her pension in North Wales. So how does the Liberal Democrats' current leader celebrate

  • Help to salute sports stars

    Athletes and sports clubs around Oxfordshire are being urged to nominate people for annual awards to recognise sporting achievement. The Oxfordshire Sports Awards recognise up-and-coming talent, teams, individual athletes and unsung heroes. This

  • Grand job

    It would be nice to read a bit more about our wonderful young paralympians who work so hard to get fit to lead a normal life, let alone do the grand job they did in Beijing. Well done to them all and their trainers and carers. MARY STIFF Corunna Crescent

  • They won't agree

    The argument between those with religious beliefs and atheists is one that, although mildly interesting, is never going to result in one side convincing the other. I prefer to work out whether each genuinely believes their own views or whether their

  • Slush fund sweetener

    Liberal Democrat councillors naively complain (Oxford Mail, September 17) that the Tory-controlled county council has failed to spend a large grant from the Government, despite the existence of many deserving projects on which it could have been

  • Soap star to turn on lights

    Banbury Christmas lights will this year be switched on by Oxford-raised soap star Jo Joyner, who plays Tanya Branning in EastEnders. The Cheeky Girls will headline a four-hour live stage programme, which also includes local band Richlife and the Scholars

  • Rip-off in reverse

    I counted eight trading standards officers recently at the Kassam Stadium car boot. Surely they weren't all looking for new replacement yellow jackets? A better question is — what exactly are they looking for? Well, here is a clue. You are not allowed

  • Union decline

    In reply to Michael Holder's letter, Alive and well (Oxford Mail, August 13), my contention is that unions worldwide have declined since 1970. I don't argue this as good or bad, but provable from available information. Where are unions in Russia,

  • Long wait for a water meter

    In March, we applied for a water meter from Thames Water. We were told that it could be about three weeks before we got one as they had a backlog. Someone came within a few days and duly marked in blue where the meter would be. We waited until May,

  • Getting into Position

    Just over 34 weeks to go, not long to go now, Bump and I have been to the midwife today, everything is in the right place and progressing well, apparently Bump is manoeuvring herself into position for her imminent arrival, this doesn’t surprise me as

  • 200mph bikers aim for record

    A pair of speed-mad bikers have joined an elite group to have ridden their machines past 200mph — and are now going full throttle for potential world records. Barry Beadle and Ben Szucs, who run Eagle Motorcycle Services, in Church Green, Witney, clocked

  • Author's family uncovers recordings

    Reel-to-reel tape recordings made 40 years ago by crime novelist Agatha Christie and only recently rediscovered may give details about her life in Wallingford with her husband, Max Mallowan. The couple lived at Winterbrook, which is within Wallingford

  • Yellow peril

    Year after year, we receive Yellow Pages. Why not have a small booklet with additions and omissions, saving money and paper? On no account dispose of old volumes in ordinary newspaper recycling as the yellow colour is not compatible. JOYCE GASCOIGNE

  • DARTS: County get off to a flier

    Oxfordshire kept up last term's tremendous form as they returned from Middlesex with an 11-6 victory on Sunday in their first inter-county match of the season. The under 18s, with several new players among the line-up, won 6-3 thanks to victories from

  • Stage stars

    Four dance-mad girls from a school in Oxford have been chosen to take part in a thigh-slapping musical at the New Theatre. Connie Brady, 10, Isobel Brook, nine, Hannah Crook, nine, and Amy Paddick, 10, all attend the Vera Legge School of Dancing.

  • Supermarket shuts city shop

    Supermarket chain Sainsbury's is closing one of its Oxford stores. The company has announced it is ending its relationship with petrol company Shell and will be pulling out of its forecourt site in London Road, Headington. The supermarket chain

  • Anger over water work delays

    Work to reroute a water main in an Oxford street has forced residents to park their cars in a field and use wheelbarrows to get their shopping to their front doors. People living in Cavell Road, East Oxford, said their waste bins had not been emptied

  • Academic attempts Everest skydive

    A daredevil university lecturer is helping to set a new world record — by taking part in the world's first skydive near Mount Everest. Martin Preston, who lectures in anatomy and clinical studies at Oxford Brookes University, makes the jump

  • Clean-up makes tidy sum

    Schoolchildren and city council officers joined forces for a big tidy-up in East Oxford in an event which also raised money for charity. Twins Emily and Megan Hart, 13, organised a litter-pick and clearing up of Barracks Lane and the surrounding area

  • Clean-up makes tidy sum

    Schoolchildren and city council officers joined forces for a big tidy-up in East Oxford in an event which also raised money for charity. Twins Emily and Megan Hart, 13, organised a litter-pick and clearing up of Barracks Lane and the surrounding

  • DARTS: Super Jukes is hero for Swan

    Jon Jukes finished the season unbeaten as Original Swan lifted the men's Premier League crown for the first time after a 6-3 win against Section 1 leaders Shears Wantage. Wins from Peter Rouse and Tony Leone saw them ease into a 2-0 lead, only for the

  • Academic attempts Everest sky dive

    A daredevil university lecturer is helping to set a new world record — by taking part in the world's first skydive near Mount Everest. Martin Preston, who lectures in anatomy and clinical studies at Oxford Brookes University, makes the jump

  • Supermarket shuts filling station shop

    Supermarket chain Sainsbury's is closing one of its Oxford stores. The company has announced it is ending its relationship with petrol company Shell and will be pulling out of its forecourt site in London Road, Headington. The supermarket chain said

  • Anger over water work delays

    Work to reroute a water main in an Oxford street has forced residents to park their cars in a field and use wheelbarrows to get their shopping to their front doors. People living in Cavell Road, East Oxford, said their waste bins had not been emptied

  • Soggy summer dampens Oxonica sales

    The poor summer added to the woes of loss-making high-tech company Oxonica, which is struggling for survival. Oxonica's sun lotion additive Optisol saw sales fall to £41,000 from £264,000 because of poor weather in the UK. Chief executive Kevin Matthews

  • September: the same old fresh start?

    It is the start of a new school year and everywhere there is talk of beginnings. New staff, new pupils, new syllabuses, new facilities: the discussion in the staffroom and at home over dinner is of potential and good intentions. Refreshed by several

  • Do you wobble when you cycle?

    Police have defended the force's decision to put their officers through online cycling assessments. Thames Valley Police is also sending ‘mystery shoppers’ to visit police station reception desks to assess customer service. Officers will take

  • Chandlings welcomes new headmistress

    As a parent, one of the most important decisions you will ever be required to make is which school will best suit your child. It is not a choice to be made lightly and while recommendation from other parents is obviously important, every child

  • Birthday

    This week it was my birthday!! not a special one or anything but certainly had me thinking about the future and what it is about to bring For the last few years my birthday has always been a drunken one!! one year i went on a 18-30 holiday

  • From jazz to jungle

    From jazz to jungle Last month, 20 pupils from schools around Oxfordshire attended Jazz @ Leckford Place - four days' worth of tuition, improvisation and culminating in a public concert. Jazz @ Leckford aims to introduce younger players to

  • Q: Do you wobble when you cycle?

    Police have defended the force's decision to put their officers through online cycling assessments. Thames Valley Police is also sending ‘mystery shoppers’ to visit police station reception desks to assess customer service. Officers will take cycling

  • Early days for early years provision

    At the end of last term the nursery and reception classes at Christ Church Cathedral School were inspected by OFSTED. The provision in all areas - quality and standards of education, children's achievement and enjoyment and organisation was judged

  • Bartholomew is best in county again!

    In this summer's examinations, Bartholomew School was once again the highest performing state school in Oxfordshire at generating the all important core examination results for its students. More than 73 per cent of all students gained the

  • Feathered friends

    Nature has long played a role as a source of inspiration for innovation. Five hundred years ago Leonardo da Vinci’s flying machine designs were inspired by nature. His keen observational approach to fusing art and natural history provided some of

  • Gladiators cut a fine picture

    These jolly folk were taking part in a play, but what was it and how many of the cast can we name? All we know is that they were members of the theatre group at the Gladiator Club in Iffley Road, Oxford, in the early 1950s. The picture was sent in

  • Fancy dress fun at school

    We’ve seen plenty of pictures in recent months of Headington Secondary School, Oxford — better known as Margaret Road School. Today it’s the turn of its neighbour — Headington Junior School. The picture was taken in the late 1940s when

  • Reason still unknown for 1950s celebration

    Thanks to two readers, we have managed to piece together most of the names of the people in the picture of the street party at Cutteslowe, Oxford (Memory Lane, July 28). Ann Spokes Symonds started the ball rolling by asking if anyone could recall the

  • Clear goals pay off

    Times change in the world of work and nowadays it could be argued there are more opportunities than ever to run a business. More women in particular are taking the opportunity to set up and run their own companies, breaking through traditional stereotypes

  • Nostalgic film shows by Jericho residents

    Past and present residents of Jericho, Oxford, can take a trip down memory lane at their own cinema show. The Phoenix in Walton Street has agreed on Sunday to show two nostalgic films of the area. The first, to be shown at 11am, highlights the memories

  • Queen of hearts

    Over the centuries hearts have become the universal symbol of love and romance. The image of the heart is universal, so when Diane Skeer was looking for a starting point for her new jewellery company, it seemed an automatic choice. She set up Internet-based

  • Going loco over trains

    These boys were on a mission — to collect the numbers of as many steam locomotives as they could.o They were on a trainspotters’ outing organised by the Oxford City Locomotive Club. The picture was taken just before they started a tour of the March

  • Dog's dip was couple's inspiration

    Caroline and Jan Paul Harding were at their wits end trying to think of a name for their new design and marketing company. Mrs Harding explained: "We had lots of ideas, but they all seemed to be taken already when we searched the Internet. Then one

  • The Rads have swish party

    Cheers! We're having a great time. That seems to be the message from these young men, who were attending the annual apprentices' dinners in Oxford in the early 1960s. Apprentices from Morris Radiators in North Oxford — 'The Rads' — and other firms

  • All in the delivery

    Delivering a speech at any event, whether it be business or a social occasion can be fraught with difficulties. Even the most confident and experienced of speech makers can get it horribly wrong at times, either by misjudging the audience, the material

  • Keeping them rolling along

    It is a fact that more than 60 per cent of Rolls-Royces built since the first one glided onto British roads in 1904 are still roadworthy. Of course one of the reasons is the quality of the engineering that has gone into these majestic cars over generations

  • Robot has the cutting edge

    Reproducing yesterday with tomorrow's technology seems to be the avowed intention of an Oxfordshire stone importer who says his business remains rock solid despite the freeze-up in the building trade. Now Rob Parker, 48, owner and managing director

  • Today's local share prices (AM)

    AEA Technology 43.5 BMW 2406 Electrocomponents 168.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 130.5 Oxford Biomedica 8.75 Oxford Catalyst 171 Oxford Instruments 233.75 REED 586.75 RM 168 RPS Group 285.75 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Picking a winner for selling on

    It is now more important than ever to keep an eye on the potential used value of a car when buying a new one. Future resale value is a pertinent subject when the country is suffering an economic downturn and drivers are faced with increasing motoring

  • High academic expectations

    Burford School was founded by charter in 1571, and has been maintained continually since that date. The school was developed as a county school from 1929, when the foundation admitted girls. In 1957, the school moved up the hill to its present

  • Success for every child

    It is essential that every child feels that they are achieving success in some area of school life. The educational philosophy at Summer Fields is to provide a breadth of education, endless opportunity and bags of encouragement that allows every boy to

  • Week 25

    Very exciting times this week. Mum and me went shopping for Prams and car seats!!! I have found the one I like from Mothercare it is a silvercross 3d which I have been told is a good make. The best thing is mothercare do a plan where you can have

  • Missing man found safe

    An elderly man who let himself out of a ward at the Churchill Hospital in Headington has been found safe and well, police have confirmed. The man - in his 80s - managed to walk from the hospital and wandered the grounds of the hospital for

  • Giovanardi retains BTCC title

    Mat Jackson and Tom Chilton shared the victories in the final three rounds of the 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent. But the day belonged to Italy's Fabrizio Giovanardi who, for the second year running

  • Encouraging confidence and intellectual exploration

    Consistently judged by Ofsted as outstanding, the early years at Rye St Antony School give a secure, supportive and stimulating environment in which pupils are nurtured and valued and helped to become enthusiastic, confident and independent learners

  • Adventure, fun and just a touch of nonsense

    Adventure, fun and just a touch of nonsense Browsing through a second-hand bookshop recently I noticed a series of books called, uninspiringly, The Grey Books for Children. At the end of the row was a huge thick book entitled The Bumper Grey Book

  • Free exhibition to help get on the property ladder

    Oxford residents looking to get onto the property ladder are invited to attend the HomeBuy Show in Oxford. The event on October 2 at Oxford Town Hall, will feature independent financial advisors who will conduct free affordability assessments for low-cost

  • Abingdon invests in a bright future

    Abingdon invests in a bright future Abingdon begins the new academic year with a great sense of excitement as October 4 sees the opening of an exceptional new sports centre which will enhance the already extensive opportunities available at the

  • Bratt fights back in France

    Will Bratt managed to convert a disappointing qualifying run ahead of the tenth and 11th rounds of the 2008 FIAT Spanish Formula 3 Championship into a top ten points-scoring finish at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in France. The weekend

  • Missing man found 'safe and well'

    An elderly man who let himself out of a ward at the Churchill Hospital in Headington has been found safe and well, police have confirmed. The man - aged in his 80s - managed to walk from a 'secure unit' and wandered the grounds of the hospital for almost

  • New focus on knife crime

    Police in Oxfordshire are to ditch the process of filling in time-consuming forms to try to spend more time tackling knife crime. A pilot scheme will see people handed a "feedback card" instead of a form after they have been stopped by police

  • Play areas to share £2.5m

    Children will soon be able to celebrate playtime when work starts to renovate 55 of the Oxford's most run-down play parks in a £2.5m project starting in November. Today we can reveal which sites will be modernised and when the work will be carried

  • Patterson under pressure

    Oxford United boss Darren Patterson says he's well aware that he is precariously hanging on to his job at the moment. And tomorrow's televised home game against Cambridge could be critical to his future. Saturday's 2-1 defeat to table-topping

  • Play areas are a vital ingredient

    There is no doubt that children have had a rough deal in Oxford. Lack of investment over the years has allowed many of the city's play parks to fall into disrepair. Play equipment in some areas has had to be removed after being deemed unsafe. But

  • Revealed: 55 play areas to share £2.5m

    Children will soon be able to celebrate playtime when work starts to renovate 55 of the Oxford's most run-down play parks in a £2.5m project starting in November. Today the Oxford Mail can reveal which sites will be modernised and when the work will

  • New bid to beat purse snatches

    Purse chains will be distributed to stop purse thieves by the neighbourhood policing teams for Didcot, Henley, Thame and Wallingford. On Thursday, September 25, between 10am and noon the teams will be outside all the main supermarkets in the

  • Vauxhall unveils 60mpg Astra

    Vauxhall has launched its first Astra ecoFLEX with a 1.7 turbo-diesel engine producing CO2 emissions of just 119g/km and combined fuel consumption of 62.8mpg. The new model, which is available in Hatch, Sport Hatch and estate guises, falls into the

  • Cold comfort

    Wolvercote Wildlife Watch Group will demonstrate how animals use hibernation to see them through the winter. On Saturday, October 11, the group will show children aged eight to 13 how animals and insects prepare for the cold weather. The event takes

  • Evening with Morse author

    Inspector Morse creator Colin Dexter will be at the Players' Theatre in Nelson Street, Thame, at 7.45pm on Sunday, October 5. He will perform An Audience With..., the latest in a series of highly successful one-man shows staged by Thame Players

  • Foodbank may have to expand

    A foodbank providing meals for struggling families may have to expand because of the credit crunch, its founder said. The Community Emergency Foodbank has given parcels of food to more than 200 people since its creation in April. It provides three