A game of two halves. Benson got back in to their stride a lot quicker than Drayton after the long lay off and dominated the first period. Despite dictating the game they only had one goal to show at half time, but what a goal it was, with Harry
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has given the green light for Silverstone to stage the 2010 British Grand Prix on a revised circuit layout. The Northamptonshire track won back the staging rights to the race in December after a proposed switch to Donington
HUNDREDS of Oxford Bus Company drivers, engineers and office staff were balloted on a final pay offer yesterday in an attempt to avert strike action. About 400 members of the union Unite were due to vote on whether to agree on a pay offer of 1.2 per
THE stench of death still lingers over Port-au-Prince, a constant reminder to aid workers like Ian Bray of the devastation the earthquake brought a month ago today. “When I walk past buildings that have collapsed, I see people holding their hands over
SIGNS warning litterbugs they face £80 fines if they drop rubbish have been installed across the city. Oxford City Council yesterday unveiled 16 new signs in Oxford to help tackle the litter problem blighting our streets as part of the Cleaner, Greener
COMMUTERS using Thornhill park-and-ride to take buses to London, Heathrow and Gatwick could soon be charged. Oxfordshire County Council is considering introducing a charge to pay for the rising costs of running the site after a 540-space expansion, estimated
A PLAY area in Oxford which had fallen into disrepair has reopened with new equipment. Problems with the play area in Normandy Crescent, Cowley, were highlighted in the Oxford Mail more than two years ago. At the time, the park consisted of little more
LANGUAGE schools fear Oxford’s economy will lose out through tough new Government restrictions on foreign student visas. All foreign students must now be able to speak passable English and, as part of the clampdown, will be banned from bringing family
Manager Chris Wilder said his Oxford United players were deeply hurt by Tuesday’s defeat at Luton, but Saturday’s home game against Histon gives them the opportunity to put that behind them and march on. “We can’t harp on about what’s gone on in the
Histon tend to bring out the best and the worst in Oxford United. Supporters will be hoping it’s the former at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday as the U’s bid to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat at Luton. In the three seasons they have faced each other
Chris Hargreaves was made United’s skipper, in the absence of James Constable, at Luton, but he may get to keep the captain’s armband. It’s something Chris Wilder says he and his staff are thinking about, though no overall decision has yet been made.
Oxford United are looking for a sales and marketing person for their Youth & Community Trust. Applicants should have sales and marketing experience, preferably in professional sport, and a working knowledge of local business, corporate sales and database
Adam Murray will see a specialist on Friday about his troublesome back. The midfielder hasn’t played for a month, since the Tamworth game on January 16. Manager Chris Wilder confirmed: “Muzzer goes to see a specialist on Friday, then we’ll determine
EVEN this harsh weather-conditioned northerner had to concede Wednesday morning was particularly chilly. That fleece waistcoat, so long considered suitable only for the ancient or infirm, came into its own. So it was no surprise to overhear a woman,
For several days, the picture in several channels on our digital television set has been distorted and virtually unwatchable. I am told this is caused by work on the Oxford transmitter in preparation for the (unnecessary and costly) switch-over to digital
I WRITE regarding your article on Mr Foggett and his crocodiles (Oxford Mail, January 26). I thought that at my ripe old age, I had probably come across most surprises, but the idea of being allowed to keep and breed crocodiles in your home – in a purpose-built
David Winkfield (Oxford Mail letters, January 28) wants all political parties to be asked if old age pensioners’ free bus passes are safe in the hands of whoever wins the General Election. That’s fine, but given that there are always limited
I AM replying to Oxford City Council street scenes manager David Walker's comment about flytipping being “a British disease” that “wouldn’t happen on the continent” (Monday’s Oxford Mail). I go to Menorca a few times a year, and there the vans come to
IT WAS astonishing that Labour failed to submit a county council budget (Tuesday’s Oxford Mail letters). Budgets are the one time in the year when all political groups get to say how they would finance the type and level of services they aspire to, in
Recently the Oxford Mail produced a good feature covering the difficulties encountered by small traders in Cowley Road. The Galeria Brasil faces closure, which is a great shame. The unique and individual traders of a community add a colour and a vibrancy
Having been bitterly disappointed as Oxford United seemingly blew a great away win, as I’m sure most supporters were, I was even more shocked by the antics of a minority of moronic Luton supporters. The courts have issued banning orders on United fans
FANCY living next door to a cemetery? According to estate agents John D Wood in Summertown, Oxford, it’s “a superb opportunity to purchase an exciting and unusual project”. But most people might feel a little uneasy about the neighbours
A YOUNGSTER is urging people to stop by for a cuppa and help him repay an Oxfordshire hospital for its support. Ryan O’Connor, 11, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes — the most serious kind — three years ago and since then has been a regular patient
A new Argos shop will open its doors in Banbury tomorrow, creating 25 jobs. The 35,000sq ft store at Banbury Cross Retail Park, in Lockhead Close, is the firm's second shop in the town. Argos also has a shop in Broad Street, but the
A 24-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested in connection with two burglaries at MGJ Jewellers, in St Martin’s Street, Wallingford, on Friday, January 15, and Monday, February 1. The man was later released on police bail until Monday, March 22.
ALMOST six years after plans to redevelop Bicester’s town centre were first mooted, work has finally begun. This week trees in Bure Place car park were cut down to make way for contractors to begin moving the River Bure from one side of the road to the
Oxford Harlequins director of rugby John Brodley says they are putting maximum effort into this weekend’s double-header. Quins host Chippenham in National 3 South West on Saturday and then visit Grove in the Oxfordshire Cup preliminary round on Sunday
IT was one of the most gruesome episodes in modern history, and one Oxford filmmaker appears to have captured the real story. Director Rob Lemkin’s film Enemies of The People provides first-hand accounts of the genocide by Cambodia’s Khmer
Oxfordshire's Joe Roberts and Dan Blair won silver and bronze medals respectively in the Badminton England under 13 tournament at Stroud. Roberts pipped Blair 21-18 in the semi-finals before losing to Welsh No 1 Tomos Whiteman 21-14. The result saw
Wallingford will be without their regular seven, eight and nine combination when they visit High Wycombe in South West 1 East on Saturday. Openside flanker Mike Chapman, No 8 and captain Ian Jeffreys and scrum half Derek Viljoen are all away
Headington School BC and Hinksey Sculling School finished a creditable second and third respectively at the South of England Indoor Rowing Championships. Using four banks of Concept 2 indoor rowing machines, the event, which was held at the Wheatley
ALCHESTER knocked holders Abingdon out of the Oxfordshire Shield with a 40-3 preliminary round victory. The Bicester-based club will now meet Harwell in the quarter-finals after their comprehensive win under lights at Banbury’s Bodicote Park. Abingdon
KATHERINE MACALISTER compiles a top ten of eateries putting on the ritz (including a special ‘love sausage’... yes, really) to impress lovers this Valentine’s Day. A love sausage made of caviar; sushi with sweet potato hearts and crushed meringue
SARAH MAYHEW finds the beauty of nature perfectly captured in an exhibition of photographs at Oxford’s O3 Gallery. So you think it’s cold outside? Victoria Pearson has journeyed across the North Atlantic Ocean to Iceland to bring her collection
THE WOLFMAN (15). Horror. Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt, Anthony Hopkins, Hugo Weaving, Art Malik, Antony Sher, Simon Merrells. Director: Joe Johnston. Some of cinema’s most iconic creatures including Count Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster
Oxford City boss Mike Ford says his side needs to be more ruthless in front of goal – or risk missing a top-five finish. City have lost only once in their last six Premier Division matches, including a draw against leaders Farnborough and Ford
Dave Gorman – comedian, man of extremes, TV star, documentary doyen and self-confessed nutcase. But then it’s always been about the comedy – which is why Dave dropped out of college and why it’s taken him so long to meet the woman of his dreams. Katherine
Banbury United manager Billy Jeffrey wants to evoke the spirit of their display at Truro at third-placed Nuneaton Town on Friday. It is the first of two successive games against the same opponents. The sides meet again in the Birmingham Senior Cup second
KATHERINE MACALISTER’S feet are tapping in anticipation of Dancin’ Oxford. There really is no excuse. Having tracked down every dance style under the sun and brought them to Oxford for you to try, all you have to do is join in. Yes,
THE truth is finally out about Imogen Heap. The Romford renaissance girl has long attracted the kind of cult following normally associated with grizzled veterans of the music industry, but the world is waking up to this striking, if quirky, singer-songwriter
Tim Hughes talks to Joey Tempest, during the final countdown to this month’s show by epic rockers Europe. TRUE giants of rock, Europe will forever be associated with their rousing anthem The Final Countdown. But there’s more to Europe than
SATURDAY FOOTBALL BLUE SQUARE PREMIER Oxford Utd v Histon. PUMA YOUTH ALLIANCE Under 18 South West Conference: Cheltenham Youth v Oxford Utd. ZAMARETTO SOUTHERN LEAGUE Premier Div: Didcot Tn v Tiverton Tn, Chippenham v Oxford C. Div 1 South &
JANINE Allen Robertson is not your average beauty queen. As well as having looks which have won her a place in this year’s Miss Universe GB contest, the 25-year-old riding instructor from Wantage is studying accountancy, so she can open her
MUMS are being encouraged to ditch TV dinners and takeaways, and rustle up some wholesome homemade fare instead. Parents on Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys have been taking part in family cookery courses, designed to encourage healthy eating
PARENTS’ appeals for action to improve road safety outside Garsington Primary School have borne fruit. One mother described crossing the road at present as a “gamble”, while others said they feared someone would be hurt or killed at the start
THIEVES dressed up as police officers to steal from the pensioners it has emerged. Police are investigating three incidents in Adderbury, near Banbury where men donned blue overalls and stab vests – similar to police uniforms – to dupe pensioners out
Maria-Jose Gago, head of Spanish and director of the A-Level Easter revision courses at Magdalen College School, Oxford, explains why more and more students are looking for help. A-Level exams loom in two months and students are envisaging
The concepts of multiple intelligences and multi-sensory learning have on the one hand passed from fashionable educational theory into daily mainstream classroom practice and on the other have begun to look in many cases less like revolutionary
With fewer university places available this year and following the introduction of the A* grade at GCE, there is now more pressure than ever on A-Level students to get the grades they need to secure a place at university. The Easter holidays
At this time of year pupils all across the country, having taken their mocks, are planning their revision for the real thing in the summer term. This is the culmination of all their hard work begun when they first started school. Some pupils
Rail delays of up to an hour, alterations and cancellations are expected this afternoon after a person was hit by a train between London Paddington and Reading. Services through Maidenhead and Burnham area are disrupted. Services from London Paddington
Stimulating teaching across a broad curriculum encourages curiosity, questioning and investigation and a zest for intellectual exploration and discovery. Girls value the opportunity for discussion and research, in and outside lessons, and at
Cherwell College has been running Easter courses for more than 25 years. The courses are very responsive to a student’s varying needs — as you would expect from a college offering its year-round students individual tuition as the main method of
School holidays account for about a third of the year. With the short summer term and examinations impending, students are often struck by a sense of panic: two years of notes staring menacingly at them, syllabuses not completed, topics not
When Ofsted inspectors visited Headington’s Foundation Stage last year, they returned a verdict of ‘outstanding’, concluding: ‘The quality and standard of the nursery education is outstanding. Staff sensitively encourage all children to become
Police arrested a 25-year-old man following a stop check in Barton, Oxford. Police said that at about 12.30pm yesterday, officers spotted 'something suspicious' in a vehicle that drove past them in Fettiplace Road. The vehicle pulled over a little
A 25-year-old man was arrested for possession of an iron bar in Barton yesterday. At about 12.30pm, officers spotted something suspicious in a vehicle that drove past them in Fettiplace Road. The vehicle pulled over a little further down the road, and
Porsche has unveiled a hybrid-powered Porsche 911 GT3 developed with the Grove-based Williams F1 team. The sports car, which will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show, uses an energy storage system originally developed for use in Formula
The number of people who lost their homes soared to a 14-year high during 2009, figures have showed. Around 46,000 people had their property repossessed during the year, the highest level since 1995 and 15% more than in 2008, according to the Council
A man from Carterton has been charged with six theft offences. Simon Robert Parker, 18, of Briary Way, has been charged with the following offences, which all happened on October 6, 2009. Shoplifting at Asheridge Food Stores, Chesham Making off
MEN posing as police officers targeted elderly residents in an Oxfordshire village stealing a total of £630. The men were wearing blue overalls and stab vests — similar to clothing worn by police officers — and used a stolen or fake police identity card
I am just about to embark on a new book about colour and it’s a little terrifying because colour is such a personal matter. It not only varies from individual to individual, but different gardening cultures have totally different ideas. The Japanese love
The sounds of birds and children Throughout the year the Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education Centre (SCEEC ), pictured below, is buzzing with the songs of birds mixed in with the excited voices of the many schoolchildren who visit the centre. But
Walkers on the towpath of the Oxford and other canals are being asked to log their sightings of kingfishers in a national survey beginning in March. Kingfishers have been chosen as the special focus of the overview being taken by volunteers for the British
The 33rd Kidlington Congress took place last weekend and saw 174 players battling it out in three sections. In the bottom section — for those with a grade of 145 and below — Alan Heath from Milton Keynes triumphed. He beat Banbury’s Nathan Manley in the
Graham Diprose says: “Jeff Robins and I discovered, by chance, we both owned books with some of Henry Taunt’s pictures of the Thames and in the summer of 1998, as I took my boat up river, I began looking for the exact viewpoint of the old image.” That
This is the festival’s fourth year, and it’s been so successful that it looks set to be a permanent feature to brighten up the gloomy period between new year and spring. Dancin’ Oxford’s principal sponsors are Arts Council England, Oxford City Council
Valentine’s Day . . . I am not one for grand romantic gestures but I am surrounded by people who seem to be very much enjoying the experience of falling in love; the effect of which is that even I am softening to the idea of some compulsory romance.
Approximately one billion Valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending day of the year behind Christmas. Try this mouth-watering selection to impress your loved one. The Wines for valentine's case
POLICE are investigating claims by an Israeli politician he suffered anti-Semitic abuse, while a pro-Palestinian demonstrator was injured in a collision with a ministerial car. Protesters and members of the Oxford Union heckled Israeli deputy
OXFORD city centre has withstood the recession better than other shopping centres, according to a survey for the British Property Federation. Just eight per cent of shops are vacant, compared to a national average of 12.4 per cent, according to figures
STUDENT Jake Holdsworth couldn’t find a part-time job, so he has set up his own business, selling radio-controlled helicopters. He got the idea after his father was given one as a present, and found it expensive to send off for spare parts after crashing
OXFORD'S position as Britain's second biggest publishing industry hub has been cemented with two major expansions. Publishing Technology, which supplies software enabling publishers to go online, has expanded into new offices in Oxford, while the world
CLEAN fuel company Oxford Catalysts is to build a pilot plant in Brazil to demonstrate its technology to convert waste gas into liquid fuel. Petrobras, Brazil’s national oil corporation and the largest company in Latin America, will fund the installation
Robin Dunbar greeted The Oxford Times with remarkable equanimity, considering that it was his umpteenth media interview. He's been on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, in the Daily Mail and — according to Google news — 110 other publications worldwide
It’s a year on from the dark days of depression when 850 agency workers at BMW’s Cowley Mini plant received their marching orders — and managers at the German company are once again upbeat about the progress of the little car. Worldwide sales slumped
SEEING FURTHER ed. Bill Bryson (Harper Press, £25) The photo on the back flap of the dust jacket – Bill Bryson photographed with Isaac Newton’s death mask in the Reading Room of the Royal Society — is eminently suitable. For the book is subtitled
Oxford United could receive a massive boost if the Football Conference decide to throw Chester City out of the Blue Square Premier. Chester’s players, who went three months without pay until receiving a week’s salary last week, refused to get on the
Sir – I am writing to you regarding the Temple Cowley pool. I believe it is a very important amenity for Cowley and East Oxford. The building is not in a great state of repair, but enlarging the Blackbird Leys site is not the answer. I have heard people
A TEACHER has been suspended from an Oxford college following allegations pupils were shown pornographic images on a mobile phone. Oxford and Cherwell Valley College (OCVC) last night confirmed the staff member, who worked at the Blackbird
THE scenes that surrounded the talk by Israel’s deputy foreign minister do no-one any credit. We are strictly impartial in this matter – but there are disturbing allegations and counter-allegations that one man suffered injuries after a collision with
CROWN Estate, the new controlling interest in the Westgate Shopping Centre, is a ‘fresh pair of eyes’ when it comes to looking at redevelopment. It should proceed properly and thoroughly – yet the lack of a timetable, combined with talk about
PLANNING officers say Oxford Brookes University has done enough to satisfy the city council’s objections to plans to redevelop its Headington campus. City councillors rejected the university’s £150m scheme to transform its Gipsy Lane site in September
A 14-YEAR-OLD threatened to kill his neighbour as part of a campaign of violence and intimidation he waged in East Oxford. Sandeep Kumar, of Saunders Road, also shot a Police Community Support Officer with a ball-bearing gun and threw eggs
Sir – I was very surprised to read that a ‘best baguette’ competition had been organised (Report, February 4). Surely baguettes are the least admired of bread, originally being baked three times a day because of their short plate life. Nowadays they
Sir – It’s three times since Christmas that I’ve read pieces quoting Louisa Dean of Oxford City Council, in her occupational role as spokeswoman, referred to as spokesman! It seems incredible in the 21st century that such a misguided tradition of journalism
Sir – It is, regrettably, an indisputable fact that the hunting fraternity are determined to restore their primitive sport to legality by the election of a Tory Government and they will use whatever means at their disposal to bring that about. Expect
Sir – I hesitate to invade your columns with regularity, but the report on Oxford Brookes intention to employ its police support officers (February 4) to ensure responsible behaviour of its students left me with a real sense of déjà vu. During my time
Sir – I feel compelled to write to you following my return trip from Witney RFC to home. At two points on this journey I was at risk of a serious accident because of the incompetent driving of others. One incident involved a white van driver who came
Sir – The prestigious Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre is supported by volunteers who form the NOC Network Steering Group and the Patient Liaison Group. What’s the difference between the two? The PLG is closely involved in patient care through inspections
Sir – We read Professor Monaco’s letter (December 24, 2009) with great interest and naturally are pleased to learn that there was an architectural competition for the design of buildings on this site. However, we are appalled that the outcome of the
Sir – The Warneford Hospital wishes to get permission to demolish a building a few decades old and rebuild on a cricket pitch which has been in constant use for 100 years. Who thinks this is a good idea? People at the planning department are recommending
Sir – With regard to the ongoing waste and recycling dilemma, could someone explain to me why it is the end user ie the householder, who is dumped on with the problem and not those organisations who are the source of the mountains of paper, plastic,
Sir – On Monday last week, I spent 25 minutes in the queue in the Post Office in St Aldates before I got to one of the three officials at work. Surely there must be plenty of trained post office workers who lost their jobs when local post offices were
Sir – I love walking past that old Victorian building at the corner of Walton Street and Little Clarendon Street and seeing the 2/6 tea on offer (Report, February 4). However, it does seem that for several years no one has been able to find a long-term
Sir – I don’t know whether the subject has been raised before, but has a trick been missed by the Highways Agency or the body responsible for road planning in the construction/rebuilding of the A34 bridge over the A40? Surely this this would have been
PLANNING officers say Oxford Brookes has done enough to satisfy city council objections to the university’s plans to redevelop its Headington campus. Oxford city councillors controversially rejected the university’s £150m scheme to transform
Sir – As an 80-year-old, who has lived for the past 35 years in West Oxfordshire, had a home in South Oxfordshire (mostly then in Berkshire and Oxford city during the Second World War, I read The Oxford Times with interest — particularly the letters
Sir – I would like to take up John Simms’s excellent point about the routeing of London coach traffic (Letters, February 4). Rather than make coaches go a very long way round to arrive at the Thornhill park-and-ride, I would suggest that every
Sir – John Simms (Letters, February 4) is absolutely right about the buses going to London and to the airports. But he does not go quite far enough. These buses do not have to start out from Gloucester Green at all. They can start and finish at the
Sir – I am a member of the Temple Cowley User Group. We were not aware of the council’s meeting of January 13 to decide the future of Temple Cowley Pools — despite the fact that they and Fusion know of our group and have always been able to contact
Sir – A really good bus service is one of the major advantages of living in Oxford and those who do not understand this have not experienced the inadequacies of public transport in many British cities, or have never tried living without the advantage
Sir – Your readers should watch out! The Thames Valley Police are about — and they are after your money. Last year they put out a leaflet to thousands of households in the area saying, in effect: “We do what you ask.” They claimed that we asked them
We welcome the Crown Estate’s pledge to produce a quality development for the Westgate Centre. It does, however, appear that the scheme is facing several years of delay. Working parties are to be set up to see what people want out of Oxford city centre
We remain unconvinced about the logic of wind power in Oxford following our investigation, published in this week’s newspaper, into the two wind turbines proposed for the outskirts of the city. The principle of wind power is not at issue. In the right
The Crown Estate this week pledged itself to creating a high-quality shopping centre in Oxford, after exchanging contracts with Capital Shopping Centres to buy the Westgate. The company said its role in transforming Regent Street, London, showed
How many wind turbines must one city have, before you can call its energy policy green? Well, as Bob Dylan famously sang, the answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind. For wind strength is the next crucial test facing Oxford City Council,
