Oxfordshire County Council has appealed for people to make their views known on the way it is transforming the city centre. In Queen Street the number of buses has been reduced, new benches and cycle racks have been created and a new surface has been
Police are warning that a pair of burglars are preying on elderly pensioners and distracting them in their homes to steal cash and jewellery. The homes of three pensioners – in New Yatt, Witney; Girdlestone Road, Headington, Oxford; and Oxford Road,
PARK users claim they have been “kept in the dark” about plans to build a wind turbine in North Oxford. Oxford City Council has revealed it is ready to dispose of part of Cutteslowe Park to make way for the green energy turbine. Three months ago the
A SELECTION of superheroes yesterday staged two protests in Oxfordshire in a bid to gain more rights for fathers. The New Fathers for Justice campaigners demonstrated in Oxford and Witney. The group began protesting at Oxford Combined
SAINSBURY’S has unve-iled plans for a multi-million pound extension to its Heyford Hill store on the Oxford ring road. It said the extension would create up to 50 new jobs for the area, as well as adding more than 10,000sq ft of extra space. David McElhannan
TWO of Oxford’s biggest shopping centres have joined forces to help clean up the city’s streets. Managers at the Westgate and Clarendon centres last night vowed to step up efforts to clear up their areas by deploying two teams of cleaners and
THE judge who heard Oxfordshire nurse Benjamin Geen’s murder trial should have left it open to the jury to find him guilty of manslaughter, a barrister argued yesterday. Geen, right, of Orchard Way, Banbury, was jailed for life in May 2006
FOURTEEN men from Oxfordshire have appeared in court accused of being involved in a pub fight. The men were arrested after a fight at the Moon Under Water pub, in Cheltenham, on February 7. All 14 appeared at Gloucester Crown Court yesterday
Such is the strength of feeling over the much-publicised closure of public toilets by Oxford City Council that hardy souls who came to speak and watch events at Monday’s city council meeting brought along their own lavatory seats to wave at their elected
A FRIEND recently sent me a copy of the Oxford Mail item on Agatha Christie, where the current owners were unaware that she had lived in their house. However, I feel her home in Devon, overlooking the River Dart, is the one deserving of a blue plaque
AFTER the latest invasion of Didcot Power Station by the climate clowns, it’s obviously no good asking what security they have – it’s plain that they have none. If terrorists were to take out a couple of power stations in the UK, it could cause mayhem
THE backing of Teflon Tony for the post of President of Europe is a farcical error. Why compound his past failings and foist them on to the whole of Europe? He was responsible for the 24-hour drinking law, which has proved to be so very catastrophic
THANK you to the staff of Boots the Chemist, at Templars Square, Cowley, and a woman customer who tended to my wife when she was taken ill in the store on October 28, and to the paramedic and ambulance crew and staff at A&E, John Radcliffe Hospital, for
JUST a quick line to say how surprised I was to find that in Templars Square shopping centre, I couldn’t find a shop that sold poppies. I eventually got two at the Coventry Building Society in Between Towns Road. They were putting up the Christmas
AS GRANDPARENTS of Richard Sale (‘Why Me?’, OxfordMail, October 31), we would like to express our view that the combined time and three-year ban he received, along with photographs published – where other faces were blurred – appears too harsh. What
I WAS most interested in Mr John Wilson’s letter (Oxford Mail, October 27), more so in his statement that this country has not declared war on Afghanistan. He is probably correct that this war is illegal, but countless other wars are in the same boat.
l From the end of February this year to the beginning of January next year, we will have had only three full meetings of Oxford City Council where all councillors can put motions to be discussed, and ask questions. The New Labour Group on the council
AN Oxford pub is urging people to improve their knowledge of bangers as part of British Sausage Week. The Chequers Pub, in High Street, is well known for its variety of unusual types of sausages, which include Venison, Juniper and Gin, and Scottish Game
A SOLDIER who was told he would never walk again after being shot in the back in Iraq has conquered Africa’s highest mountain. Jonathon Le Galloudec, from Eynsham, was one of several injured soldiers who reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro to raise
A TALENTED tennis coach who lost part of his leg after a motorbike crash now plans to ski for his country. Oxford Brookes University student Josef Metelka, 23, had his left leg amputated below the knee after a car and his motorbike collided in Twelve
Somersby, from Henrietta Knight’s West Lockinge stables, near Wantage, earned a quote of 16-1 for the Arkle Trophy after making a winning debut over fences at Warwick on Wednesday. The five-year-old romped home by 14 lengths in the Commscope And Anixter
ABOUT 15,000 pensioners in Oxfordshire will be better off this winter following a change to the pension credit scheme, according to the Government. On Monday, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced that the tax threshold on savings will
AN Oxfordshire soldier who braved a hail of bullets in a bid to save a dying comrade has been saluted as an “amazing person”. Private William Johnson, who grew up in Bampton, near Witney, was a member of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
A POPULAR Oxford school hopes to be able to take every local child if it expands its intake by a third. Consultation started this week on increasing the Year One intake at St Nicholas Primary School, in Marston, from 45-a-year to 60.
A LONG-SERVING Oxford magistrate and priest has died aged 73. Former parish priest for South and New Hinksey John Davis passed away after years of battling diabetes on Saturday, October 24. More than 100 people packed into St John the Evangelist Church
A VILLAGE is mourning the loss of Norman Painting, the actor who played Philip Archer in radio show The Archers for almost 60 years. It is understood that Mr Painting, who played Ambridge farmer Phil Archer, was found at his cottage in Warmington, near
A park has been named as the best in central England. Staff and councillors have been celebrating after Garth Park, in Bicester, won the London and Central England region in Britain’s Best Park 2009 awards. Judges from the competition visited earlier
A PENSIONER who died with a plastic bag secured over his head was still grieving over his wife’s death in 2007, an inquest heard. Carlos de Oleza Russinol De Zagranada, who had lived in Oxfordshire since escaping General Franco’s fascist Spain in the
Oxford University prop Will Johnson will take time out from their Varsity Match preparations to help USA qualify for the World Cup. The 25-year-old, who won his first two caps this summer, has been named in the US squad to face Uruguay in Montevideo
Matthew Stanley, aged six, receives his most-improved player certificate from England fly half Danny Cipriani and Wasps teammate, prop Tom French (right), after attending the Premiership club’s CoacHclass camp at Wallingford RFC.
Banbury Under 12 A shared the title with the hosts at Macclesfield’s ‘floodlight tournament’. They reached the final with victories over Harrogate (15-0), Crewe (15-0), Doncaster (10-0) and Monmouth (5-0) before being held 5-5 by Macclesfield. Banbury
A TEAM of ghosthunters descended on a charity shop following reports of spooky goings on. Staff at the British Heart Foundation shop in Sheep Street, Bicester, claimed to have heard whispers, seen a strange mist and even arrived at the store
JOHN Lovett, right, owner of Oxfordshire Ales brewery, and his head brewer Steve Goryll toast success after signing a deal to export their beer to America. Its Pride of Oxford brew won the Best Golden Ale category at the 2009 World Beer Awards earlier
Steve Hill admitted to having mixed emotions after watching his Oxford University side lose an exciting match to Saracens. The Dark Blues led 21-8 at one point and were still 28-25 ahead with six minutes to go before going down 39-28 to a late blitz.
John Brodley feels he can look back on his first year as Oxford Harlequins director of rugby with great pride. Brodley replaced Matt Maudsley last October and took charge of Quins for the first time in their 34-14 home victory over Chippenham. That
Police today appealed for help after a 17-year-old girl had her finger broken in a bag snatch in Bicester. At about 10pm on Saturday, the girl was standing with a friend outside Bicester Town Football Club in Oxford Road, when someone approached her,
Alice Hadfield scored a hat-trick of tries as Oxfordshire’s under 15 girls defeated Muiddlesex 39-27 at Wallingford. No 8 Izzy Collis bagged Oxon’s opening try, with prop Zsofia Raphael and lock Lizzie Peach also crossing over. Centre Hadfield ran in
TRADERS in one of North Oxford's most picturesque shopping streets have welcomed the completion of a £45,000 revamp. Earlier this year, Oxfordshire County Council agreed to pay £20,000 to improve pavements in North Parade, and Oxford City Council's north
The Bicester Business Awards are being revived after a gap of seven years thanks to energetic work by organisers. The awards were last held in 2003 and have previously been presented by Olympic athlete Kriss Akabusi and Falklands veteran Simon Weston
Five men and one woman have been charged following an assault in Moor End Lane, Thame. Lisa Cook, 34, of Webster Close, Thame, has been charged with common assault. Stuart Pritchard, 20, of Marston Road, Thame, Jeffrey Robinson, 42, of Webster
Oxford Mail Cross Country League Steve Frear emerged victorious in stormy conditions to take the senior men’s honours in the opening round of the 2009-10 season at Ascott-under-Wychwood. Although the rain had eased from the atrocious early-morning monsoon
Oxford City’s Hannah England capped an encouraging 2009 season with an ‘On Camp with Kelly’ Excellent Achievement Award. England began 2009 by winning silver in the 1500m at the Aviva UK Indoor Championships, earning her selection for the European Indoor
Tadmarton Heath were crowned Shaw Gibbs Oxfordshire Foursomes League Section 1 champions after a dramatic final day. They had trailed The Oxfordshire by half a point going into the final round of matches. But Tadmarton’s 3-0 victory over Burford and
Tommy Chester aced the par-four fourth hole at Shrivenham Park for the second time, but could not save the hosts from the drop in the Shaw Gibbs Oxfordshire Foursomes League. The 41-year-old five-handicapper used a driver to conquer the 258-yard hole
SHAW GIBBS OXFORDSHIRE FOURSOMES LEAGUE Section 1 Burford 0 (0pts), Tadmarton Heath 3 (4) S Hopkins & D Henderson-Sowerby lost to I Manning & L Robinson 4&3, J Lally & A Purdy lost to O King & G Sambrook 2&1, J Wilks & A Barnett lost to S Hallam &
OXFORDSHIRE’S Premier team suffered a nail-biting three-shot defeat against Surrey after they finished level on points in their English Short Mat Association Inter County Competition Group 3 clash at Bisley. The two counties ended the match on 20 points
RICHARD Wojciak bagged a brace as Oxford City Stars beat Cardiff ENL Devils 7-4 in English National League Division 1 South. Cardiff went in front when Ricky Deacon slotted past Oxford netminder James Scaife, but Mark Krater hit back moments later, his
STEVE Arthurs came within an ace of a magical maximum with 17 dolls as Deddington whitewashed George 6-0 in the Banbury Indoor League at General Foods. Arthurs reeled off 5, 6, 6 to steer Deddington home. RESULTS Banbury Indoor League: George 3, Tysoe
Mark Trafford produced a stirring comeback to beat Ian Moss in the Johnsons Buildbase Oxford & District League's men’s individual competition. Moss, who plays for Vikings, took the first leg with 8,080 – including a break of 7,770.
7.35: Bagatelle Hail, Miss Emily 2, Stouke Thunder, Black Gizmo, ARDMAYLE BID, Start Again 3. 7.50: Steeple Rd Di 3, STRIKE AWAY ALLY, Ardmayle Chelsea 2, River Ruby, Dance Roxy, Quivers Legend. 8.05: Tourna Tomo 3, Ferryforth Best, Droman Eva 2, Tell
AEA Technology 30 BMW 2875 Electrocomponents 152.8 Gladstone 25.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 80.5 Oxford Biomedica 13.75 Oxford Catalysts 55.5 Oxford Instruments 236 Reed Elsevier 472.8 RM 149.75 RPS Group 198.2 Courtesy of Redmayne
Managers and staff at an Oxford University spin-out company are celebrating after triumphing in a prestigious competition. Oxitec, which which has developed a safe and sustainable approach to control mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue Fever and Malaria
Far be it from me to get involved in local politics and planning, but just this once I’ll stick my oar in and say – Carterton Town Council, you have GOT to get Tesco to open a store in your neighbourhood (Oxford Mail, Oct 28). For all the obvious reasons
A crash caused delays today on the M40 in north Oxfordshire. The incident blocked two lanes of the southbound carriageway between junction 11 at Banbury and junction ten at the Cherwell Valley Services. Traffic was reported as back to
If you are looking for a perfect venue for a Christmas Party with a difference, nothing can match the atmosphere of Waddesdon Manor. For Further Information or to Book a Party please call 01296 653243 Website: www.waddesdon.org.uk
We were talking in the interval at Kes at the Oxford Playhouse on Monday about Mickey Rooney, who is soon to be playing Baron Hardup in Milton Keynes Theatre’s pantomime Cinderella. Giles Woodforde will be interviewing him for Weekend soon. It is curious
The death last week of Norman Painting, who played Phil Archer in Radio 4’s The Archers, naturally made me think about the two occasions when I spent any length of time in his company. The last occasion was in 1993 when I visited him at his home
Tuesday’s edition of Today – to which I have returned after finding Wogan’s repeated references to his coming retirement tiresome in the extreme – offered much to irritate, as reporter after reporter talked of the Government’s “selling off” of banks.
If it is the case, as Anthony Powell puts it in the title of the tenth novel in his Dance to the Music of Time sequence, that ‘Books Do Furnish a Room’, then the maxim can be seen to apply just as well to bars and restaurants. The results of house
Pumpkin and beer go so well together that brewers such as the Witney-based Wychwood Brewery actually make a pumpkin beer for the autumn. It is so popular that it sells out quickly, but pumpkins don’t roll out of the shops quite so rapidly. There
One of the endearing things about the many different brews of real ale that have been produced over the years are the names they are given – most of which come with a fascinating story. Take Old Speckled Hen, for example. This brew dates back 30
When asked what he thought of western civilisation, Mahatma Gandhi famously replied: “I think it would be a very good idea.” And 40 years ago, when writing the book to accompany that highpoint of British television, the series called Civilisation (BBC
Truth is certainly stranger than fiction in Grant Heslov’s new black comedy, The Men Who Stare at Goats, inspired by Jon Ronson’s non-fiction best-seller of the same name. Prefaced by a disclaimer – “More of this is true than you would believe
Sniffily reviewed by many critics, the giant wide-screen film of The Sound of Music went on to become one of the biggest box-office hits of all time. Much more recently, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s last musical hit the headlines again when Andrew
‘Why did you have to come here?” is the underlying question put by a war-exhausted community trying to cope with an unexpected arrival. The American pilot has crashed, is injured and has been brought to apparent safety by the Farmer, a simple man with
It takes a good deal of resistance to avoid a plethora of puns, when reviewing A Shocking Exhibition. Dale Johnson, the temporary exhibitions officer at the Banbury Museum, greeted me with “No charge”, so the weakness is contagious. Advertise this exhibition
Oxford audiences are too polite to emit audible groans on such occasions, but some people must have been disappointed when they arrived at the Holywell: Christopher Maltman, due to sing Schubert’s Die schöne Müllerin in the Oxford Lieder Festival, was
There is much that can be said about the aesthetic effect of songs in a known language as opposed to those in a language where no sounds have any linguistic meaning. In the latter case, the listener is left to judge the music as music only and the emotions
Toyota confirmed they are pulling out of Formula One with immediate effect for financial reasons. The announcement was made at a media conference in Tokyo by Toyota Motor Corporation president Akio Toyoda. A statement read: "Toyota Motor Corporation
Three weeks ago, Canadian stand-up Stewart Francis warmed up the New Theatre audience for a few minutes while Ricky Gervais preened himself. Last Sunday, Francis returned to Oxford with his own show and his own warm-up. This is his first UK tour, but
If you watched the television serialisation of Jane Austen’s Emma, you probably have a vivid picture of the kind of society in which many of the samplers on display in Witney Antiques were made. Regular readers of my features in Limited Edition know that
Like the test cards that used to be a familiar sight on TV screens when there was nothing to broadcast, radio interval signals used to fill the airways. These short musical sequences, a global phenomenon of signals typically played before or during
The affecting sight of a kestrel carving through the air having been so memorable a part of Ken Loach’s award-winning film Kes, theatregoers are bound to feel slight disappointment at a stage version of the story – from Barry Hines’s 1968 novel
Some innovative artists have come together to display their work in Bampton. Crabby Taylor lives and works in Chipping Norton. Her hand-built raku (Japanese pottery technique) and smoke-fired vessels are fired in the open air giving each piece unique
Police today warned people to be on their guard after three distraction burglaries in Oxfordshire yesterday, where the offenders claimed to be from the water board. At about 12.10pm, two men called at a house in New Yatt, near Witney. They both entered
RIVER users have warned that new £200,000 moorings planned for Wallingford will not be fit for purpose unless the design is changed. South Oxfordshire District Council, which is funding the project, has submitted a planning application to build
Police today appealed for witnesses after a burglary at a house in Banbury. At about 1pm on Monday, thieves forced their way into the house in Woodgreen Avenue, Bretch Hill, and carried out a search of the property. Items stolen in the break-in
A WOMAN who shed three stone has finally been able to fulfil her lifelong dream of throwing herself out of a plane. Lucy Brown always wanted to take part in a skydive, but she told she was too big. Novice jumpers must be accompanied
BANBURY’s residents will be treated to some home-grown talent at this year’s Christmas lights switch-on. Singer Rosie Samaras, 12, will perform two songs after winning a ten-minute slot at the event. Rosie, pictured right, was one of 21 budding singers
LOCAL people will be able to give their view on plans to regenerate the town’s canalside area. Cherwell District Council will host a public exhibition in Castle Quay on November 14, between 9am and 5.30pm, for people to see the proposals. Last month
FUTURE plans for the Horton Hospital could see beds on the children’s ward cut. Oxfordshire PCT confirmed its plans for the next decade, which could see fewer children staying overnight at the Banbury hospital. At the moment there are 14 beds available
AEA Technology 30 BMW 2843 Electrocomponents 152.9 Gladstone 25.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 80.5 Oxford Biomedica 13.75 Oxford Catalyst 55.5 Oxford Instruments 237 Reed Elsevier 471 RM 152.5 RPS Group 204.7 Courtesy of Redmayne
Budget hotel chain Travelodge has cut 15 staff from its head office in Thame, at the same time as announcing the opening of seven new hotels. Shakila Ahmed, a spokesman for the company, which is owned by investment group Dubai International Capital,
A campaigner for father’s rights has attempted to scale the roof of Oxford Magistrates’ Court. Roger Crawford, 60, a member of Fathers 4 Justice launched a protest this morning. Mr Crawford, from Meppershall, in Bedfordshire, was dressed as superman
The Government is seeking urgent talks with General Motors after the car giant's dramatic decision to scrap plans to sell Vauxhall, a move welcomed by union leaders. The GM board decided after a six-hour meeting in the United States not to go ahead
Burger chain McDonald’s plans to hire a street cleaner in a drive to spruce up Oxford’s litter-strewn streets. The new post, organised by McDonald’s franchise owner Carl Room, will involve three-hour street patrols every day to target rubbish
Abingdon United took the honours in last night’s Zamaretto Southern League Division 1 South & West local derby by seeing off Oxfordshire rivals North Leigh 3-1 at Northcourt Road. Andy Slater’s side looked sharp from the off and went ahead on 13 minutes
Banbury United’s FA Carlsberg Trophy hopes ended with a 3-1 defeat in last night’s second qualifying round replay against Godalming Town at Spencer Stadium. Jason Taylor, who scored in Saturday’s 1-1 draw, netted Banbury’s equaliser after they had
Sam Deering staked a claim for a place in Oxford United’s starting line-up on Saturday by scoring one of the goals in a 4-0 behind-closed-doors win away to Leicester City. The U’s warmed up in style for the FA Cup first-round tie at home to Yeovil and
A climate-change activist who scaled Didcot power station’s 200-metre-high chimney was due to appear in court today. Despite vowing to stay up there for a week, the protesters changed their minds at 4am last Wednesday. The four female and five male activists
A new national chain dubbed ‘son of Woolworths’ will launch its first store in Didcot tomorrow. Alworths will open in the old Woolworths store in the Orchard Centre, Didcot, at 10am. The occasion will be celebrated with a launch party featuring live
TODAY we urge our readers to honour fallen soldier Olaf Schmid. It is right to pay tribute to the bravery and courage of Staff Sgt Schmid, 30, who made safe 64 bombs during his time in Afghanistan. One wonders how many soldiers’ and civilians’ lives
If the strength of feeling surrounding the threatened closure of Oxford’s public toilets was unknown before, the picture today is crystal clear. Oxford City Council, which is not flush with cash, wants to save £50,000 by closing seven conveniences. But
RESIDENTS have been urged to kick up a stink – and fight to save seven Oxford toilets from closure. Toilets in Knights Road, Blackbird Leys, Castle Street, Littlemore, Woodstock Road, South Parade, Barns Road and Headington Hill Park are now
