Archive

  • Teens told to behave

    Two Banbury teenagers have signed Acceptable behaviour contracts promising they will stop causing a nuisance to businesses and shoppers in Orchard Way Shopping Parade. If the contracts are breached the youths risk an Antisocial behaviour order (Asbo)

  • HORSE RACING: Mason sets up as trainer

    Paul Mason has become the latest addition to the training ranks in Oxfordshire. The 48-year-old former bloodstock agent has set up his operation at Culworth Grounds Farm, Thorpe Mandeville, near Banbury. He worked under his late father Ron, who in 1966

  • 'Babies' turn up to save Bicester's hospital

    MORE than 50 people who were born at Bicester’s community hospital turned out to put their mark on a campaign to save their birth place. Campaigner Les Sibley urged anyone born at the Oxford Road hospital before the maternity unit closed in 1980 to

  • Rain fails to deter egg-rolling crowds

    HUNDREDS of people braved miserable weather to show off their prowess at an Easter egg-rolling competition. Up to 300 people gathered at Oxford’s Shotover Country Park today to take part. Competitions included best decorated egg, fastest

  • Come and see why we oppose probation plan

    STEVE Smith’s letter on the suject of the new probabtion centre (Oxford Mail, April 8) suggests he has not attended any of the meetings of local residents and does not have a grasp of any of the issues involved in creating the centre. Certainly, his

  • Local FA must invest in football

    I READ with interest that Oxford City Council wishes to fork out £175,000 to boost interest in football around the city (Oxford Mail, April 2). But why should it bother spending shed loads of money when there is a local association which is responsible

  • No need to fly any more

    WITH reference to the continuing argument over the necessity for extra runways at our international airports, consider that the world financial collapse has temporarily reduced this requirement, both for business and holiday flights. Once we’re over

  • Appeal to drive out drugs from neighbourhood

    Police have appealed for neighbours to help them stop drug dealers returning to an Oxford street. For years drug addicts and dealers have congregated near a playground and alleyways in Falcon Close, Blackbird Leys. Residents said they feared the problem

  • Hulk-ing effort for OX5

    Two cousins will pay homage to their wrestling hero by wearing fake moustaches for the OX5 Run. Ray Puffitt and Dylan Hills have recruited some of their friends and urged other fans of Hulk Hogan to join them for the five-mile run around the grounds

  • GREYHOUNDS: Friday BAGS results

    11.03: 1 REISK RUBY 9-4, 2 As Time Goes By 5-1. (4x1x2). Trainer: Peterson. Time: 28.08. Farran Giggs (5) 7-4 fav. 11.19: 1 ROOKIES FANTASY 9-4 fav, 2 Smarini Flame 7-2. (3x4x1). Trainer: Peterson. Time: 27.67. 11.34: 1 QUIVERS IVORY 5-2 fav, 2 Roxys

  • Author Faces new challenge for Book

    An Oxford author has appealed to Facebook users to help him with his latest novel. Oxford University administrator Dan Holloway, 37, said he believed he is the first person to write a fully ‘interactive’ book on the social networking website. Members

  • Shop fills post office closure

    Villagers who lost their post office can now send parcels direct from the community shop. More than 1,000 people petitioned the Government not to close the sub post office in Iffley, Oxford, last year. Their efforts failed, and the post office in Church

  • Festival tunes up rising stars

    A music festival which offers aspiring classical musicians the chance to work with international artists is to be held in Oxford for a second time. Last year’s Springboard Festival saw eight musicians handpicked by pianist Melvyn Tan and violinist

  • Holiday romance leads to 60 years of marriage

    A holiday romance turned into 60 years of happy marriage for an Abingdon couple. Liz and Les Bradshaw, pictured with great-grandson Hugh, celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary recently with friends and family. Mr Bradshaw, 84,

  • Illness leads to 'golden' times

    A dose of chicken pox led to a proposal of marriage for one Bicester woman – and now the couple have just celebrated 50 years together. Brian Sansome and Jacqueline Pinney met when they were sweet 16 hanging around on the streets of Ambrosden, near Bicester

  • Council takes advantage of property slump

    West Oxfordshire District Council plans to take advantage of the property market slump by investing a further £8m in commercial premises. Councillors have backed plans to set aside the money as part of the district’s capital programme. Council leader

  • Royal set to visit BMW

    The Duke of York will visit BMW’s Mini Plant in Cowley next week. HRH Prince Andrew will tour the car manufacturer’s plant on Thursday in his role as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment. He will inspect

  • GREYHOUNDS: Stalwart Jenny wins top award

    Oxford Stadium proudly flew the flag at the annual Midland Greyhound aw-ards at the Hilton Metropole Hotel at the NEC on Sunday. Top of the pile was Oxford Retired Greyhound Trust organiser Jenny Hebborn who was presented with a special award for her

  • GREYHOUNDS: Hillcross the one to watch

    Lleading trainer Angie Kibble can add to her tally with Hillcross Orion in a red-hot A1 event over 450m at Oxford Stadium on Saturday night. Any one of the six runners can lay claim to victory. TONIGHT’S RUNNERS 7.35: UNIQUE VINTAGE, Crownville Cosmo

  • GREYHOUNDS: Kibble leads the way

    Angie Kibble, runner-up in last year's Champion Trainer chase, is leading her old adversary Ian Wills in this year's championship after the first three months. Kibble has sent out 68 winners so far with Wills on 60 and Paddy Curtin 58. CHASING PACK

  • Roxie's Review

    Pub: Isis Farmhouse, The Towing Path, Iffley Lock, Oxford, OX4 4EL Contact: 01865 243 854 or 07973 801297 Opening hours: Fri 12-11, Sat 1030 - 11, Sun 1030 – 8 Dog friendly: Yes, "We accept friendly dogs as long as they are on a lead

  • ANGLING: Concerns over Channel plans

    In last week’s Angling Times, there was an article headlined ‘Relief Channel Fears’, following news that the Environment Agency have produced a consultation document over proposed plans to protect more than 5,000 properties around Oxford from flooding

  • ANGLING: Angie's a ghost-buster!

    Linear regular Angie Lawley, who travels down from West Bromwich in the West Midlands to fish the Stanton Harcourt complex, landed ‘The Big Ghostie’ on her last visit to St John’s Lake. It weighed 29.10.0 and was part of a 14-fish catch which included

  • ANGLING: Bob makes most of island peg

    Beehive AC kicked off their new season with a bumper turn-out of 22 at Lower Court Farm for the Beehive Cup first leg and the Charity Shield. Although an early frost made for a slow start, once the sun came up the fishing got better. Bob Alder drew

  • TABLE TENNIS: Title joy for St James

    ST James staged a sensational finish to the season to win the Oxford & District League Division 1 title. Trailing Forum A, St James needed to win their final three games – and win them well – to take top spot. An 8-2 win over Bicester A gave them hope

  • In the thick of it

    Don’t just think of chocolate as a nibble, it can be a tasty tipple as well and Oxford has a few choices where you can imbibe in this rich beverage. Any good guidebook directs visitors to one location for the absolute best hot chocolate in

  • Roxie's Review

    Pub: The Old Bookbinders Ale House, 17-18 Victor Street, Jericho, Oxford OX2 6BT Contact: 01865 553 549 or matty@oldbookbinders.co.uk Opening hours: Mon - Thurs 5pm - Midnight, Fri & Sat 12pm - Midnight, Sunday 12pm – 11pm

  • SNOOKER: Eynsham seal cup success

    Eynsham B, from Division 2 of the Gentworks Oxford & District Snooker League, snatched a 4-3 victory in the final of the Buildbase Cup after an epic clash with Premier Division outfit Riley B. The top-flight side were conceding 32 points handicap a

  • BILLIARDS: Fieldside's Atox Cup hat-trick

    Fieldside won the Oxford & District League's Atox Cup for the third consecutive year after thrashing Riley A 5-1 in this year’s final. The result was never in doubt with Fieldside in total command of the opening four frames. Paul Robinson (scr) was

  • CYCLE SPEEDWAY: Hammers edged out

    Horspath Hammers unleashed their youngsters in the British Junior & Youth League at Southampton – with all bar one of their 18 riders reaching the Grand Prix finals. Hammers came second to regional champions Exeter, just missing out on victory by four

  • BOXING: Red-hot Robert on winning streak

    Robert Evans’s unbeaten record and quest for trophies continues after the opening round of this year’s ABA Senior Championships, staged at Adams Park, home to Wycombe Wanderers FC. After claiming successive national Novice titles in subsequent seasons

  • SCHOOL SPORT: Wantage in netball glory

    Wantage C of E Primary School are celebrating their success at the Wantage Area High 5 Netball tournament. The school won Section A with victory over Uffington, and will now take part in the Vale District High 5 tournament in Abingdon on April 29.

  • GYMNASTICS: Duo earn regional selection

    Two youngsters from Abingdon GC have earned regional selection after producing excellent displays in the South Region Setwork Gymnastics Competition at Basingstoke. Nathan Sutton, who finished fifth in the under nine age group, and Ben Goodall, who was

  • CRICKET: Fixture plea

    Risinghurst CC are looking for pre-season friendlies on April 25 and 26, as well as May 2, 3, 9 and 10. Contact Graham Drummond on 01865 767555 or 07722 048597.

  • MOTORSPORT: Plato joy at change in luck

    Jason Plato could not hide his delight after a remarkable change in fortunes saw him on the winner’s podium at the opening British Touring Car Championship race at Brands Hatch. Four days before the race, Oxfordshire ace Plato did not have a race, but

  • WEIGHTLIFTING: Green lands 12th title

    Martin Green claimed his 12th title at the British Bench Press Championships in Bradford. Green, from Didcot, competed in the 100kg bodyweight class and lifted 235kg. It was a wide-margin win for Green, with second place managing only 1971/2kg. Although

  • WEIGHTLIFTING: Trio fly the flag

    Three weightlifters from the St Birinus School club at Didcot flew the flag for England in style with victory in an international team event in Barcelona, Spain. The trio of Eddie Chambers, Robert Green and Josh Cox all set personal bests to come out

  • Appeal for crash witnesses

    Police have appealed for witnesses after a man's Volkswagen Polo crashed into a set of traffic lights in Summertown yesterday. Officers were called to the crash near Finders Keepers estate agents at 4.30pm. The driver, a 73-year-old

  • Blue sky thinking with a reggae legend

    IT’S impossible to overstate the importance of reggae star Horace Andy. While mention of the mild-mannered singer’s name over here might, at best, raise a curious eyebrow, in his native Jamaica it is met by gasps of awe and hushed respect.

  • Cabbages and Kings

    THE last time Clive had experienced such a difficult division of loyalties was 50 years ago when, during an impromptu debate among 15-year-old boys in his public school quad, he had to choose whom he would prefer to take home to mother – Marilyn

  • Horrid Henry is a wicked show

    “STEPHEN Tagg says he acts like an eight year-old most of the time anyway, so Horrid Henry isn’t a hard part to play. But don’t be fooled. Horrid Henry is no ordinary boy, and playing him three times a day takes stamina. But Stephen,

  • S.E.X@Lava Ignite, Oxford

    THERE are few clubs in Oxford that I actively try to avoid, and I’m afraid to say that Lava Ignite is one of them. But honestly I couldn’t tell you why. My duty however, as fearsome and dedicated club reviewer, has brought me once more to the terrifying

  • Fe-nix Nights with the new Girls Aloud

    SHE’s desperately trying to sound cool and collected, but Ayshan Kemal finds it impossible to hide her excitement. As a quarter of pop’s next big girl group, Fe-nix, she can’t believe her luck. “I’m so lucky to be able to write my own

  • A34 crash teenager still seriously ill

    A TEENAGER critically injured in a crash on the A34 near Oxford that killed a teenage girl was still seriously ill in hospital last night. Joe Robinson, 18, of Thame, was injured when a Toyota Yaris he was a passenger in left the carriageway

  • Daft and furious

    Turbo-charged and haphazardly plotted as the title suggests, the fourth instalment of the street-racing franchise welcomes back original cast members Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. The bronzed beefcakes put the pedal to the metal under the direction

  • Body-swap comedy reycles old storyline

    “If that boy were an apple, he’d be a Delicious!” coos a smitten, female student as Zac Efron’s teen dreamboat struts through the hallways of 17 Again. For the next hour-and-a-half, Burr Steers’s body-swap comedy bows down at the altar of the

  • Out of this world

    ET’s phone home from the Nevada desert in Andy Fickman’s special effects-laden reworking of the Disney adventure Escape To Witch Mountain. The best part of 30 years after the original, this slick and sprightly revamp ticks all the boxes with

  • Huge NHS obesity bill might make you choke

    THAT Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust has budgeted £695,000 to treat obesity this financial year will amaze many — especially when the figure was just £88,000 two years ago. The eight-fold increase is further evidence we are getting fatter and

  • Play area revamp is a good start

    AFTER much fanfare, the first Oxford play area to be been refurbished under a £2.5m city wide programme has officially opened. Botley Road Recreation Ground became the first to be spruced up — and opened yesterday in time for the Easter holidays. It

  • Wilder: We still believe

    BOSS Chris Wilder has told sceptics not to write off Oxford United's play-off chances just yet. The U's manager believes nothing much has altered following the midweek 0-0 draw at York – except that Oxford now have to win all four remaining Blue Square

  • NHS bill to tackle obesity in Oxfordshire soars

    FIGHTING obesity in Oxfordshire this year is set to cost the NHS nearly eight times as much as it did just two years ago, figures have shown. Oxfordshire NHS Primary Care Trust earmarked £88,000 to fight obesity in 2007 — but this year it has

  • Bus users want cross-Oxford link reinstated

    BUS users have called for the reintroduction of a popular cross-Oxford service which was withdrawn because roadworks were causing too many delays. Passengers in North Oxford want Stagecoach to reinstate the old No 7 service, linking Kidlington