Archive

  • Princess Royal visits Abbey

    THE Princess Royal arrived at Dorchester Abbey tonight to help celebrate the Coming of Christmas at a candlelit service. The event, in its 15th year, is in aid of the charity Hft (formerly the Home Farm Trust), which supports people with learning

  • RAF Benson Merlins 'make difference in Afghanistan'

    RAF Benson’s Merlin helicopters have made a real difference to the Afghanistan war effort, but are “not a guarantee” of troops’ safety. That is the verdict of RAF Wing Commander Nigel Colman, the commander of the base’s 78 Squadron, which is now transporting

  • New helicopters order secures RAF Benson's future

    RAF BENSON will become home to Britain’s new Chinook helicopters from 2012. On Tuesday, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth announced the purchase of 22 extra Chinooks from US aircraft manufacturer Boeing. The first 10 of the heavy-lift helicopters, which

  • Johnson family back in court

    DETAILS of "extraordinarily rare" antiques stolen from stately homes by a notorious criminal family were revealed at a court hearing today. The Johnson clan were jailed for up to 11 years each last year for their roles in stealing from stately

  • Library to get some Strong stuff

    SIR Roy Strong, one of the most colourful chroniclers of high society and the British arts scene, has donated his entire archive to Oxford’s Bodleian Library. The archive consists of hundreds of letters and postcards, some from royal figures such as

  • WIN! Fierce Angel CDs

    WHAT do you give to the music-lover in your life who has everything? How about their most ferocious new dance compilation in the kingdom? Interested? Well read on, because here’s your chance to blag one for free. The Collection is a

  • Public wish troops a happy Christmas

    A MOTHER whose son will spend Christmas fighting in Afghanistan and a retired soldier who spent a Christmas under fire in the Second World War, are among the latest people to send their personal messages to troops serving overseas this festive

  • Murder suspect denies plan to flee UK

    A 43-YEAR-OLD man accused of murder denied attempting to replace a lost passport to flee the UK following Devon McPherson’s death, a jury at Oxford Crown Court heard today. Giving evidence for a second day, Robert Chin, of no fixed address, said he had

  • Tatchell stands down as Green candidate for Oxford East seat

    PETER Tatchell tonight apologised after standing down as the Green Party’s candidate for Oxford East because of brain damage he said was suffered from beatings during his human rights campaigning. Mr Tatchell said his injuries — which he claimed he suffered

  • 'East Oxford parking zone will breach my human rights'

    COMPLAINTS from disabled residents about the impact of new parking controls in East Oxford are being investigated under human rights laws. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has written to Oxfordshire County Council about the planned Controlled

  • Local author

    Adam Jacot De Boinod became interested in foreign words when working as a researcher for the BBC programme QI. For his third book, The Wonder of Whiffling, (Penguin, £12.99) he has moved on to English, listing some of our oddest words and their meanings

  • Car park fall woman dies

    A WOMAN who fell from a multi-storey car park today has died in hospital. Police and paramedics were called at around 12.40pm after a woman in her 40s fell from the five-storey Charter car park, at Broad Street, in Abingdon. She was

  • RUGBY UNION: Alcock lands Waratahs deal

    Former Oxford Harlequins flanker Chris Alcock has been named in New South Wales Waratahs’ Super 14 squad. The 21-year-old was handed a contract for the 2010 season after impressing for Sydney club Gordon in this year’s Tooheys New Shute Shield. Alcock

  • RUGBY UNION: Henley's Smaje out for season

    Henley Hawks scrum half Dan Smaje is unlikely to play again this season after suffering complications with his leg injury. The ex-England under 21 cap, who rejoined Henley last summer, had hoped to be fit again in the new year, but he no longer has a

  • Update: Woman dies after car park fall

    A woman who fell from a multi-storey car park this afternoon has died in hospital. Police and paramedics were called at about 12.40pm after a woman, reported to be aged in her forties, fell from the five-storey Charter car park, in Broad Street

  • RUGBY UNION: Holmes hopes for less stress

    Banbury Bulls player-coach Grant Holmes is hoping for a less stressful weekend as his side bid to end the year on top of Midlands 2 East South. Holmes had to play himself on the wing as Banbury won 27-0 at Peterborough Lions on Saturday and feared he

  • RUGBY UNION: Oxford slip to third

    Oxford ladies slipped to third in the Midlands 1 table after a 14-6 defeat at Worcester 2nd. The visitors arrived in confident mood and two penalties from Felicity Brookes had them right in the match at 7-6 down, but Worcester closed out the win. Oxford

  • Mini revives the Moke spirit

    Details of the latest Mini concept car have been unveiled. The Beachcomber is an open-sided four wheel drive leisure vehicle with a removable roof and will go on display at the Detroit Motor Show in the United States starting on January 16 next year.

  • RUGBY UNION: Twickers tonic

    For the second year running, the Nomura Varsity Match provided eight tries and cracking entertainment. This time, Cambridge were worthy winners after withstanding Oxford’s first-half onslaught and then putting the Dark Blues to the sword in the second

  • GOLF: Binning misses out

    Oxfordshire ladies champion Jane Binning could not recover from a nightmare first round as she missed the cut at European Tour qualifying school in Spain. The 27-year-old Frilford Heath member shot an 18-over-par 91 on La Manga’s South Course, then followed

  • Biotech firm goes to market

    BIOTECH company Summit, which has spent the past 12 months struggling for survival, has received City backing for a £8.2m share offer. During the past year it has slashed its workforce at Milton Park, near Abingdon, from 100 to 25, and sold the rights

  • GOLF: Reynolds strikes again

    Chipping Norton president Graham Reynolds (pictured right) certainly seems to save his very best for the bigger occasions. Reynolds achieved the second hole-in-one of his lifetime at Henley in the BB&O Pro Am last week. His ace came at the seventh hole

  • GOLF: Duo drive in

    Kirtlington welcomed their new club and junior captains into office. John Barr, a retired training manager for Land Rover, takes over as the club captain. And Sam Chick, a year 11 student at Marlborough School in Woodstock, is the new junior skipper

  • Calling Jane Austen fans

    Scanning the supermarket notice-board, a familiar face caught my eye: a rather serious-looking woman wearing an empire-line dress and frilly cap. This famous portrait of Jane Austen – thought to be by her sister Cassandra – illustrated a poster advertising

  • Young people in Leys invited to Christmas lunch

    YOUNG people on an Oxford estate with no-where to go on Christmas Day have been invited to a charity dinner. Volunteers from the Leys Community Development Initiative will be holding a Christmas lunch for any young person away from home this

  • Bad pub-licity

    I WAS so pleased, to see the excellent points of view on The Cross Keys pub in Witney, which refused to serve a group of soldiers in uniform (Oxford Mail, December 2). Now I say to the people of Witney, would you like to be seen entering the Cross Keys

  • Keep subway tidy

    I AM very pleased to see that city councillor John Tanner is very keen on keeping Oxford’s city streets clean, and hope that the Headington shopping centre subway can be maintained to the same standard. So many people use the subway and want to keep

  • A dung deed

    WITH reference to recent cases in the Oxford Mail about fines for litter dropping, I would like to ask what is done about horse riders. They must know when their horse has ‘been’, but never clear it up. People can be fined for not cleaning up after

  • The plane facts

    I WISH to thank the Oxford Mail for publishing my photograph of a crashed aircraft and to all the kind people who contacted me and solved my question of the whereabouts of the crash site. From your replies the site was at Wootton, near Woodstock. Best

  • Quo no go

    I WAS planning to go to the New Theatre with my daughter, recently, to see Status Quo. She rang me from London to say she had heard the concert was cancelled and could I ring the box office to confirm. However, all I could get was ‘number not available

  • The Motor Mouth

    Four-wheel-drives; who needs em? There I was enjoying my favourite country lane, accompanied by AC-DC on the stereo, when I came face to face with a three litre, twin turbo, fuel injected dreadnought driven by a small toff wearing a multi-coloured

  • Green conspiracy

    A RELIGION is haunting mankind – global warming. It contains the usual paraphernalia of religion: pantheon, rites, punishments, salvation and mysteries. An eco-theology with ersatz messiah (Obama), high priests (like Gore) and lower order priests (snoopers

  • Illuminating view

    I DO not wish to appear to be paranoid, but the Christmas lights in the city centre, especially those in Cornmarket, appear to be more Islamic than Christian. You will look in vain for any Christian symbol but there are Islamic symbols aplenty; the

  • Blame congestion on school bus rule

    P Porter-Jones (Oxford Mail, December 14) pointed out that our roads are very much less busy when they are free of school traffic. I’m afraid the problem was created largely by those who decided that children who live less than three miles from the secondary

  • Earth attack

    THE planet is a living organism under attack by a particularly virulent disease known as humanity. Its attempt to defend itself is pathetic. It can only hit back with earthquakes, tsunamis, flash floods, landslides, hurricanes, tornadoes and volcanic

  • Flood of gratitude

    ON behalf of the residents and tenants of Bullstake, we would like to thank everyone for the installation of the flood barriers now erected. This is a huge reassurance to us all. Also a big thank you to Better Homes and Oxford City Council, for keeping

  • Renault F1 team stays on track after deal

    MORE than 500 workers at the Oxfordshire headquarters of the Renault F1 motor racing team are breathing a sigh of relief after it was confirmed the team will be competing next season. Luxembourg-based investment firm Genii Capital has bought 75 per

  • Local share prices (PM)

    AEA Technology 27 BMW 2878 Electrocomponents 166.3 Gladstone 29.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 79.5 Oxford Biomedica 11.25 Oxford Catalysts 54.5 Oxford Instruments 203.5 Reed Elsevier 488.15 RM 160.5 RPS Group 215.25 Courtesy

  • Renault F1 will race again

    More than 500 workers at the Oxfordshire headquarters of the Renault F1 team are breathing a sigh of relief after it was confirmed the team will be competing next season. Luxembourg-based investment firm Genii Capital has bought 75 per cent of the Enstone-based

  • ATHLETICS: Sikes takes the honours

    Michelle Sikes took the ladies’ honours at the Andy Reading 10K. Sikes, from the Oxford University Cross Country team, crossed the line in 37mins 09secs. Nearly 450 runners took part in the event, which used chip timing for the first time. The men’

  • Avatar

    It’s been 12 years since James Cameron became king of the world with the Oscar-winning Titanic. The tragic love story between Kate Winslet’s socialite and Leonardo DiCaprio’s scallywag aboard the doomed ocean liner shattered box office records and countless

  • ICE HOCKEY: Rampant Stars rout Redskins

    OXFORD City Stars made light work of Str-eatham Redskins as they cruised to a 12-1 victory in Division 1 South of the English National League. Alan Green fired Stars in front with his first home goal since returning to the club, and Grant Bailey

  • The Ashmolean Dining Room

    Not least among the many glories of Oxford’s superbly renovated Ashmolean Museum is the splendid restaurant that has been created on its top floor. With wide picture windows on two sides, it commands stunning views over the city; there’s plenty to gawp

  • BAR BILLIARDS: Gardner digs Gladiators out of hole

    GLADIATORS A stunning Premier Section outfit Didcot Con Club to book their place in the semi-finals of the Scotland Ash League Cup, writes PETE EWINS. The Section 2 side fought back from 2-1 behind to snatch a dramatic 3-2 victory, thanks to wins from

  • AUNT SALLY: A family affair in Sports' success

    THE top of the table clash in the Gladiator Beer Seller Wednesday Night League saw Garsington Sports A come out 5-1 winners over newcomers Kidlington Sports with leg scores of 18-18, 19-16, 22-17. Steve Greenough led the way with 14 dolls (4, 5, 5) for

  • BOWLS: County stay in the hunt

    OXFORDSHIRE’S Premier side stayed on track for glory in the English Short Mat Association Inter-County Competition with a hard-fought 30-10 (203-142) victory over Wiltshire at Wallingford. But they had to do it the hard way before pulling away in the

  • Pawel Althamer and Miroslaw Balka: Modern Art Oxford

    It’s usually the Upper Gallery of Modern Art Oxford that changes its guise so dramatically that it sometimes takes your breath away. This time the surprise hits you the moment you enter the ground floor, which has been completely transformed by Pawel

  • Arabian Nights: RSC, Courtyard Theatre, Stratford

    We all love a story at Christmas – that of the Nativity perhaps more than any other. At Stratford this year, however, festive fun is being supplied by tales even older, and inspired by different religions and culture. These are the stories – some thrilling

  • Honk!: Royal&Derngate, Northampton

    Honk! was originally titled The Ugly Duckling or The Aesthetically-Challenged Farmyard Fowl, and was commissioned by the Watermill, Newbury, in 1993. Since then, there have been some 3,000 productions worldwide, the latest at the Royal. “Our image just

  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Royal&Derngate, Northampton

    Do you want to take part in the panto? Then the Derngate is the place for you. Pantogoers there positively revel at the chance to make themselves heard – and rather like singing in the bath, your contribution sounds all the more impressive for echoing

  • Woman injured in car park fall

    A WOMAN has been taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after falling from a multi-storey car park. Police and paramedics were called to Broad Street, in Abingdon, shortly after 12.30pm today. It is believed the woman had fallen from Charter

  • Aladdin: Wycombe Swan

    Hold on tight . . . Wycombe Swan’s Aladdin is a breathtaking, rollercoaster of a ride, thanks largely to some stunning 3D effects, which will have you dodging imaginary but very lifelike bats, spiders and other equally unsavoury creatures, as well as

  • Woman 'critical' after car park fall

    A woman has been taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after falling from a multi-storey car park. Police and paramedics were called to Broad Street, in Abingdon, shortly after 12.30pm today. It is believed the woman had fallen

  • ‘Church stymied Pullman films’, says actor

    A HOLLYWOOD actor who starred in the movie inspired by Oxford author Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy says the Roman Catholic Church “scared off” film producers. The film The Golden Compass, starring Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig and Eva Green

  • Oxford author is UK's third best seller of decade

    A GROUND-breaking book by Oxford author Mark Haddon has been named the UK’s third best-selling novel of the decade. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time was the top novel by a British writer in a list compiled by the Bookseller

  • Musician gives school a classy concert

    A MUSICIAN whose work has featured on the hit TV show CSI: Miami popped into an Oxford school to give a free performance. Richard Walters, 27, who grew up in Yarnton but recently moved to France with his girlfriend, swapped audiences in Parisian bars

  • Job fears as Vale council plans multi-million pound cuts

    COMMUNITY grants and youth work are under threat in the Vale of White Horse after the district council unveiled multi-million pound proposals to cut its budget. The council has also agreed to raise car park fees and cut five per cent of its workforce

  • Carterton artwork chosen for international exhibition

    A PIECE of public artwork in Carterton has been selected for an international exhibition. The Carterton Lily Pond mosaic, part of the Tower Square refurbishment carried out last year, will be included in the Mosaic Arts International 2010 exhibition,

  • Renault to stay in F1

    Renault have confirmed their intention to remain in Formula One for the foreseeable future. However, as expected, they are to sell a large stake of the Enstone-based team - understood to be 80 per cent - to Genii Capital, a Luxembourg-based

  • Local share prices (AM)

    AEA Technology 27 BMW 2851 Electrocomponents 165.25 Gladstone 29.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 78.5 Oxford Biomedica 11.25 Oxford Catalyst 54.5 Oxford Instruments 203.5 Reed Elsevier 491.35 RM 162.75 RPS Group 213.7 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley

  • BT apologise for phone faults

    BRITISH Telecom has apologised after thousands of Oxfordshire people were unable to use their telephones this morning. A fault at a phone exchange in Abingdon left people across South and West Oxfordshire unable to make or receive calls. The problem

  • 'Brain damaged' Tatchell stands down as Green candidate

    PETER TATCHELL today stood down as the prospective Green Party candidate for Oxford East, claiming brain injuries suffered from beatings during his human rights campaigning. Mr Tatchell was selected as the Greens candidate for the seat in April

  • Pool set to reopen

    A SWIMMING pool in Abingdon is due to reopen on Saturday. The main pool at the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre has been closed since a pipe was fractured in early November. Leisure centre managers will test the pipe when the pool is refilled to

  • Spiceball opens

    The new Spiceball Leisure Centre in Banbury was opened to the public yesterday. Cherwell District Council portfolio holder for environment, recreation and health, George Reynolds, welcomed the first users. He said: "Spiceball is open

  • Three wanted over thefts

    THREE men wanted for a string of thefts, including a raid on a gaming machine in Oxfordshire, have been named by police. Police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of Thomas Charles Wheatcroft, 28, of Southsea, Paul Hircombe, 43

  • Fundraiser for threatened club

    THE threatened Marston Royal British Legion Club is holding a children’s Christmas party on Saturday. The club, which owes more than £37,000 to HM Revenue and Customs, has been granted a stay of execution so it can trade over the crucial Christmas period

  • Murder accused: 'I'm no killer'

    The defendant in a murder trial told jurors “I’m not a killer” as he gave evidence yesterday. Robert Chin, 43, took the witness stand at Oxford Crown Court, where he denies fatally stabbing Devon McPherson — also known as Wycombe Jay — in East

  • 'Reject' Jack on a mission for Oxford United

    Oxford United striker Jack Midson is expecting some stick at Cambridge on Friday night, but he hopes to answer it as he has done in the past – with a goal. The former Histon star had an impressive record in derby matches for the village team against

  • Keep the parents informed

    ONE thing remains constant at Oxford School these days – uncertainty. Today the Oxford Mail reveals that the school’s entire board of governors has been swept aside to be replaced by an interim executive board (IEB). It’s not that long ago since eight

  • MURDER TRIAL: Suspect says 'I'm not a killer'

    THE defendant in a murder trial told jurors “I’m not a killer” as he gave evidence yesterday. Robert Chin, 43, took the witness stand at Oxford Crown Court, where he denies fatally stabbing Devon McPherson — also known as Wycombe Jay — in East

  • Didcot boy stays optimistic despite need for hip op

    A young footballer whose sporting dreams were ended by a rare medical condition is staying optimistic despite the prospect of spending Christmas in hospital. Three years ago, Callum Fullarton , who turns 15 this week, was regularly winning man of the