Britain is facing a ten-day wintry blast from the North Sea with temperatures plummeting as low as minus 6C, forecasters have warned. The earliest widespread snowfall for 17 years caused disruption across the UK on Thursday with up to 6in (
COUNCILLORS have refused to back a controversial bid to move West Witney Sports Ground after residents’ protests. A West Oxfordshire District Council committee said more information was needed about the town council plan. Witney Town Council agreed
RESIDENTS are celebrating a council U-turn over parking near Oxford Brookes University. Oxfordshire County Council has scrapped plans to limit parking in Cheney Lane and Warneford Lane to 24 hours, with no return within eight hours.
STAFF at Oxford University are waiting to hear the fate of their Cycle to Work scheme, which encouraged employees on to two wheels with the help of a tax break. Like several other employers, the university – Oxfordshire’s second biggest employer with
KATHERINE MACALISTER joyfully tucks into the best meal of the year. It’s exhilarating to have the rug whipped out from under your feet sometimes, taking with it all the mediocre ruminations and lukewarm reviews. Because let’s face it, one
Housewives’ favourite Alan Titchmarsh tells The Guide that retirement is not an option. At a certain age, most keen gardeners might relish the thought of retirement and a chance to potter in the greenhouse and tend their beds and borders.
Connie Fisher is not only the living the dream, but just like Maria in The Sound Of Music, she too has found love, against the odds. She talks to Katherine MacAlister about singing, cake and Trainman. Connie Fisher is desperate to know where
THE AMERICAN (15). Thriller. George Clooney, Violante Placido, Paolo Bonacelli, Johan Leysen, Thekla Reuten, Irina Bjorklund. Director: Anton Corbijn. Based on the novel A Very Private Gentleman by Martin Booth, director Anton
RICHARD BELL gives Thirst in Park End Street the once over... and promises to go back for more. There are some clubs in Oxford that split opinion. A good example is The Bridge, which, while having a great many ardent fans, has just as many
Liverpool band Sound of Guns tell TIM HUGHES why setbacks including a fire at their studio failed to stop them going from strength to strength. PENNY Lane. Can you really think of a better place for a Liverpool band to start off? Okay
KATHERINE MACALISTER finds out why legendary newsreader Sir Trevor McDonald is using his famous voice at a special concert to raise cash for an Oxford hospice. ‘Hello,” Sir Trevor McDonald says in those famously smooth, deep tones and I fully
Michael Praed is still indecently good-looking, albeit now in a silver fox kind of way. But then that’s why he was such a hit in Robin Hood, Dynasty and Riders, and why he’s the male lead in The Sound Of Music. Katherine MacAlister finds out more.
THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNETS’ NEST (15). Thriller. Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyqvist, Anders Ahlbom Rosendahl, Mikael Spreitz, Lena Endre, Johan Kylen. Director: Daniel Alfredson. Judgment day arrives for renegade computer hacker
UNSTOPPABLE (12A). Action. Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Ethan Suplee, Rosario Dawson, Kevin Dunn, Kevin Corrigan, Lew Temple. Director: Tony Scott. For every Elephant Man, there is a Pretty Woman; for every Magnificent Seven
TIM HUGHES talks to iconic 80s band Heaven 17 as they go back on the road to celebrate 30 years. IT is 30 years years since seminal 80s synthpop band Heaven 17 released masterpiece Penthouse and Pavement. And what a different world we lived
A LANDOWNER says police and council chiefs are not doing enough to deter gay sex on his property. Sir Beville Stanier said a recent clear-up of the Oxford-bound A40 near Forest Hill, featured in last week’s Oxford Mail, had not stopped men using his
Cherwell District Council has achieved a 50 per cent waste recycling rate for the first time. The council was ranked 21st out of 349 local authorities, with a recycling rate of 51.36 per cent in 2009-10. This put it second in the South East. Officials
Oxford artists have joined forces to reopen a Victorian shop over Christmas and fill it with homemade art, jewellery and ceramics. The pop-up shop in the historic Twinings building in Summertown, called Flash in the Pan, will be open for a month from
Bosses at independent used car dealer Thame Service Station are celebrating after winning a top award. They picked up Car Dealer magazine’s Independent Dealer Website of the Year honour after impressing judges with the site’s approachable style and clear
A national organisation for TV and audio equipment installation and service companies has moved to Garsington. The National Organisation of Installation & Service Engineers (NOISE) is a trade association for the consumer electronics service industry
POLICE have gone into the Radcliffe Camera to evict students staging a protest against higher education changes. Officers have been seen going into the landmark and pulling students out. It is understood police got into the Camera through
A woman who had £500 stolen from her in an Oxfordshire bank has advised other customers to be vigilant and praised the police officers that helped return the cash. Police said Helen Reenan was putting the money into an account in Barclays Bank in Abingdon
Banbury-based Aston Martin Racing has launched a new Vantage GT4 for 2011. The new V8-engined racing car takes design inspiration from Aston Martin’s V12 Vantage road car, giving it enhanced aerodynamics and increased downforce. It also
AEA Technology 5.15 BMW 5060 Electrocomps 268.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 95.5 Oxford Biomedica 9.55 Oxford Catalysts 62.75 Oxford Instruments 590.5 Reed Elsevier 526.25 RM 158.5 RPS Group 233.3 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
A BLETCHINGDON youngster became the county’s answer to the Karate Kid this month after winning a string of judo competitions. Luke Williams, seven, won a bronze award at the Annual Open Judo Championship in Southampton, and a gold award at a competition
BICESTER’S MP has rebuffed an open plea from the boss of a schools sports scheme to get its funding reinstated. Tony Baldry MP said schools should decide whether to fund the North Oxfordshire School Sports Partnership rather than it getting money direct
As you stroll through Warburg Nature Reserve, near Henley, this winter you may be surprised to find a few animals that are larger, furrier and woollier than you would normally expect to see. Warburg is one of several reserves managed by the Berkshire
Last week’s main picture showed two famous non-dig gardeners — Charles Dowding and Ramsay Shewell-Cooper. However, the no-dig movement began in America. It was pioneered by Ruth Stout (1884-1980) who gardened in Kansas. She advocated using a thick
The triumphant strains of Parry’s Blest Pair of Sirens are wafting towards me. It sounds gorgeous; pure, vibrant and clear. This is the Headington Singers limbering up for what is surely their most important gig to date; a celebratory concert to mark
Rapunzel is being held prisoner in a tower by a wicked enchantress, but there are no knotted sheets conveniently to hand when rescuers arrive. Instead she must lower her golden tresses so that the rescuers can climb up to her. “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let
With devilish glee and nasty cackles the Ugly Sisters are passing Cinderella’s invitation to the ball backwards and forwards in front of Cinderella’s nose. Each time the Sisters tear the invitation into even smaller pieces. However is Cinderella
SATURDAY FOOTBALL FOOTBALL LEAGUE YOUTH ALLIANCE South West Conference: Bournemouth v Oxford Utd. ZAMARETTO SOUTHERN LEAGUE Premier Div: Banbury Utd v Leamington, Didcot Tn v Cambridge City, Oxford City v Chippenham. Div 1 South & West: Almondsbury
CELEBRATE THE ARRIVAL OF THE FESTIVE SEASON Christmas Light Night has become a regular fixture in the Oxford Christmas calendar, attracting more than 20,000 revellers last year. Highlights of this year’s event, which takes place on Friday
CIVIC leaders have paid tribute to former Oxford politician and health campaigner Tom Richardson. Mr Richardson, former chief officer of Oxfordshire Community Health Council, Labour Party leader on Oxfordshire County Council and industrial relations
A BUS driver has been suspended after refusing to allow a schoolboy to board his bus home. Cherwell School pupil Luke Middleton was asked to leave an Oxford Bus Company service to Kidlington when his new ‘key’ card flashed up as stolen on
MORE than 60 businesses have teamed up in Wantage to share information on crime in the town. Police have launched a Business Watch scheme to email traders about suspected shoplifters, crime trends and successful prosecutions. The scheme is designed
WHEN a handful of friends set up a singing group in 1985, they never thought it would go beyond that. But next month the Headington Singers celebrate their 25th anniversary with a special concert. And the 90 members, comprising men and
AEA Technology 5.4 BMW 5029 Electrocomps 268 Nationwide Accident Repair 95.5 Oxford Biomedica 9.55 Oxford Catalyst 64 Oxford Instruments 590.5 Reed Elsevier 527.25 RM 154.5 RPS Group 228.2 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
NORTH OXFORD November Medal – Div 1: 1 S Newstead nett 67 (cb), 2 I Booth 67 (cb), 3 O Marsden 67. Div 2: 1 C Beauchamp 65 (cb), 2 M Wathes 65 (cb), 3 N Dollard 65. Div 3: 1 B Watson 59, 2 J Willis 67, 3 J O'Sullivan 68. November Midweek Stableford
Florence Park BC are looking for new members for next season. Contact Ann Fulkes on 01865 721381.
A 42-year-old woman and a 23-year-old woman were arrested in Oxford in connection with an Eynsham burglary. Officers carried out the warrant shortly after 7am on Tuesday at an address in Horspath Road. Inside the property officers recovered a number
A 19th-century house that was boarded up and scheduled for demolition has won a coveted conservation award. Ivydene, a detached Gothic building in Iffley Road, was designed in 1884 for a tailor who owned a shop in St Aldates. After being used as university
Alan Goodgame’s brace of sixes helped Gin’ll Fix It earn a 3-3 draw against Galacticos in the Kidlington Indoor League. Goodgame (2, 6, 6) racked up 14 dolls, and was well supported by Roger Goodall with 13. Steve Arthurs (5, 5, 5) rattled off 15 dolls
A 19th-century house that was boarded up and scheduled for demolition has won a coveted conservation award. Ivydene, a detached Gothic building in Iffley Road, was designed in 1884 for a tailor who owned a shop in St Aldates. After being used as university
A house where the founder of a leading animal charity lived for more than half a century is up for sale. The detached property in Blandford Avenue was built in the 1950s for Margaret Gray who helped set up the Oxford Animal Sanctuary in Stadhampton.
An eco house near Bicester was designed by a world expert on energy-efficient housing. The Spinney in Middle Barton was built by Professor Mark Gorgolewski in 2001 and includes a roof made of recycled rubber and slate, timber cladding and many other
Iffley and the surrounding area is popular with families because it has a village feel but is well connected, according to one agent. Suzanne Webb, of Breckon & Breckon, said: “Iffley is a city centre village and it’s a really pretty place to live. You
MORE than 20,000 are expected to join tomorrow’s Christmas Night Light celebrations, which will see Oxford lit up for the festive season. City centre streets will be filled with performers, traders and musicians from 4pm to 11pm. A lantern
A WITNESS yesterday told a jury that a teenage murder suspect was definitely the person who fatally stabbed a man outside an Oxford nightspot. Monica Thomas told Oxford Crown Court that victim Blayne Ridgway told her: “What, you think man don
Jackie Thompson marked a highly successful year by sweeping the board at Hinskey Heights’ 15th anniversary and presentation dinner. Thompson won seven of Hinksey’s 13 titles, including the ladies’ club championship for an impressive eighth successive
Jake Anderson ran in four tries as Banbury Bulls Under 13A won 80-0 at Kenilworth. William Bradbury (3), Josh Hughes (2), Jack Briggs, William Beament, Aaron Taylor, George Grieve and Charlie Mallock completed the try tally. Anderson (2), Jack Taylor
RESIDENTS of an Oxford estate were last night asked how to spend a £450,000 windfall to improve facilities. The money comes from developer Taylor Wimpey, which is building 254 new homes in Rose Hill to replace 103 post-war prefabricated houses
Banbury Bulls coach Grant Holmes pulled no punches after his side lost 20-17 to Worcester Wanderers in Midlands 1 West. Holmes said: “To be blunt, I put our poor start down to the player’s lack of commitment to put in the hard work at training. “We
Independent housebuilder Banner Homes was awarded Bronze in the Best Medium Housebuilder category at the 2010 What House? Awards. Judges said the company offers “breadth of product and value for money of the volume housebuilders, while matching, or surpassing
Mark Bradstock is concerned that sticky ground could hinder Carruthers’ chances after giving his stable star the go-ahead to tackle Saturday’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. The seven-year-old got the green light to take on the likes of Denman in the
So, the knives are out for district councillors, to judge from both a news article and the leader in Monday’s Oxford Mail. My wife became a Vale of the White Horse district councillor in May 2007 and was told by her sponsors that the post was as rewarding
Wallingford director of rugby Martin Moran says they must get ten points between now and Christmas. Moran, whose men are second from bottom in South West 1 East, feels they can no longer just expect to come good. “It is a bit of a scramble at the moment
DISABLED drivers are set to lose their free parking at council car parks in Bicester and Banbury. Cherwell District Council is reviewing its parking system and plans to scrap free parking for disabled blue badge holders, increase the hourly rate for
POLICE say plans to build on an Oxford car park risk creating a new crime hotspot. They say the plans for 141 student flats on stilts over the St Clement’s car park, near Magdalen Bridge, would add to high levels of crime and antisocial behaviour. The
HOW good it is to see that our hard-pressed councillors are at last waking up to the real world – we have South Oxfordshire District Council conservative leader Ann Ducker calling for the number of councillors to be reduced. Now we have the only Labour
When badgers were finally protected under law in 1992 the Government was responding to the biggest ever mailbag on any issue in the country at the time. But English badgers are again under threat by the Coalition’s latest plan to allow the killing of
I READ the Oxford Mail edition of November 19 and saw that president-in-waiting, John Tanner, is at it again. He can never resist any chance to express his view of abolition of the monarchy, this time using the forthcoming wedding of Kate and Wills
Now that the road works in the High Street, Headington, etc. are complete, will Stagecoach reinstate the No 7 through bus service from Barton to Kidlington which they stopped three years ago? Stagecoach used the excuse that roadworks caused serious
THE COUNTY council is paying out £300-odd pounds a week for damage done to cars by the potholes Oxford Mail (November 19). Well, what can you expect? They have had all the summer to fill the holes and they still haven’t all been repaired. But don’t
IT’S great to see Oxford City Council has our health and well-being at heart. The powers that be at the Town Hall, in conjunction with NHS Oxfordshire, has launched a series of weekly walks across the city, each one instructor-led. These health strolls
On Wednesday 17th November, Burford School played Chipping Norton School in the U15’s District Rugby Final. The weather made for some very difficult conditions, but both teams played some outstanding rugby in what was a very closely contested match
Oxford University’s England Under 20 flanker Jamie Gibson looks like missing the Varsity Match for a second year running. The highly-rated London Irish player was ruled out of the 2009 clash due to injury and this year is recovering from a broken leg
Rose Hill has been handed £450,000 to improve facilities and best of all, residents can decide how to spend it. Great. Let’s just hope everyone does get involved in the decision-making. For as life-long Rose Hill resident Tracey
A 160-YEAR-OLD primary school faces closure because it cannot find a headteacher, the county council claimed last night. Since it opened its doors in 1850, Culham Parochial School has offered a Church Of England education for children from
Cyclists' hopes were raised by the election of Britain's first cycling Prime Minister — even if Witney MP David Cameron did tarnish his green image when we discovered that his car followed close behind with his briefcase. His fellow Oxfordshire MP Boris
Sharon Dogar found writing her latest book Annexed “particularly demanding”. This is not surprising, since she was trying to describe the horrors of the Holocaust to teenage readers. It would be difficult enough if she had stuck to the facts, but she
Doubtless, most people will find the demonstrators’ actions perplexing. A hundred students, protesting against the Government’s plans to raise tuition fees, storming Oxford University’s historic Radcliffe Camera, only to tussle with security guards and
ALMOST 100 protesters stormed Oxford University’s historic Radcliffe Camera yesterday during student demonstrations against the Government’s plan to raise tuition fees. Students from Oxford’s universities, colleges and schools jumped over
RETAILERS are cashing in on the Christmas shopping rush by opening so-called 'pop-up shops' which will vanish after the festive season. The trend is being taken up by everyone from large retailers such as Witney-based Past Times, which has opened more
Battleground Prussia by Prit Buttar (Osprey, £20) For an Abingdon doctor to write a book — and a tour de force at that — on the last days of the Reich in Prussia is a bold move. I have known only one other medical doctor to achieve fame in
Just Words is a collection of pieces by Headington Writing Group — ten people who meet monthly, often writing to a specific theme. Copies are available in CoCo Noir in Headington or by emailing info@readingquest.org.uk. Proceeds go to Reading Quest
THE GOLDEN MEAN by Annabel Lyon (Atlantic, £14.99)Aristotle’s concept of the Golden Mean refers to the virtuous point of balance between extremes. Lyon’s intriguing novel is ostensibly the story of Aristotle and his pupil Alexander the Great, who struggle
Catherine Robinson, who led the campaign to have the Trap Grounds declared a Town Green, has joined forces with neighbour Liz Wade to publish a book in aid of her latest campaign — to restore the war memorial at St Margaret’s Church in north Oxford.
The earliest widespread snowfall for 17 years looked to be taking hold after parts of the country were blanketed in white. Up to 4ins (10cm) of snow settled in north-east Scotland and northern England overnight, with accumulations also reported in
SEVENTY students continued to occupy the Radcliffe Camera this morning in their demonstration against higher education reforms. And a protest spokesman said they would stay at the historic building in the centre of Oxford until the University
ELECTRIFICATION of the railway route between Oxford, Didcot, Reading and London was confirmed this morning by the Government. The plan was first announced last year by the former Labour government but a final decision was put on hold by the coalition
Oxford United’s players are hoping their stunning win at Chesterfield this week can be the turning point in their season. The 2-1 triumph at the B2net Stadium knocked the Spireites off the top of League Two and turned the formbook upside down. More
The idea of a tax on visitors to Oxford is unlikely to go down well with everyone in these bleak economic times. Just imagine the response of tourists being presented with a hotel bill, which includes an additional charge to help maintain Oxford
Police say plans to build on St Clements car park risk creating a new city crime hotspot, as it emerged that car parks in Headington and East Oxford could also face development. Police are unhappy with the designs for housing for 141 students
Adult animation has made great strides in recent years, with films like Persepolis and Waltz With Bashir (both 2008) showing how serious themes can be tackled in cartoon form. However, Fernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal and Tono Errando's Chico and
The Criterion Collection is the finest initiative in DVD's short history. Available online for use in multi-region players, the series includes numerous landmarks in world cinema, as well as less-vaunted titles that nevertheless deserve a second
Oxford City Council’s desire to allow development on its own car parks in Summertown, St Clements and Headington does appear to smack of desperation. The question we ask is whether it is desperation to raise some cash or is it desperation to find available
Sir – I wonder if I am alone in finding the present temporary arrangements at Redbridge a great improvement on the previous normal ones, when regularly the traffic signs were frequently ignored. Perhaps the county council might conduct a survey. Raoul
Sir – P. Hornby (Letters, November 11) speculates as to why Oxford Fellows don’t attend their college chapels. These chapels, and their way of worship (involving much beautiful music) were created in the days when dons couldn’t marry, had to subscribe
Sir – May I make a suggestion concerning the siting of future development(s) for the proposed “Health Valley Science Park(s)”. These were reported (November 18) as a hub for developing healthcare technology. Don’t banish the development(s) to outside
Sir – Don Manley (Letters, November 11) asks what is going on, concerning Beechcroft Road having become a DIY Street. In the same issue of your newspaper, you tell the remarkable story of how Christopher Gowers’ recovery from a terrible shock was helped
Sir – We are concerned that the photo-montage of Oriel College’s proposed student accommodation blocks within the Bartlemas Conservation Area which featured prominently in your article (November 18) failed to represent a true picture of the threat
Sir – My thanks to Chris Koenig for his article (Weekend, November 18) on the beginnings of Oxfam. My father Dick Milford was indeed Oxfam’s chairman for very many years, from the first committee meeting in 1942 — and was returning to Oxford for meetings
Sir – I hope Oxfordshire County Council will reinstate road safety cameras next April. Good evidence informed each camera’s installation, so their withdrawal was false economy. Some extremists are not satisfied. They want dwindling police resources diverted
Sir – I should like to make your readers aware of an imminent change in the law regarding the use of herbs and similar products for the treatment of medical conditions. From next April, many herbs will become unavailable except by prescription from a
Sir – I applaud Verity Hunt’s pursuit (Letters, November 18) of an acceptable standard in the provision of public toilets in Oxford. But I cannot agree with her that “Access to public toilets is a basic human right, particularly in towns and cities.”
Sir – Ted Dewan (Letters, November 18) appears to answer my concerns (Letters, November 11) about the new ‘DIY’ Beechcroft Road by putting me in the mad-driver brigade. This won’t do. I am not a ‘self-righteous’ driver or cyclist who needs to be taught
Sir – The unhappy expression on councillor Michael Waine’s face in last week’s edition is understandable; he was a distinguished primary headmaster, the city’s Key Stage One results must cause him professional disappointment as well as political disquiet
Sir – Congratulations to your reporters Reg Little and Chris Buratta for the excellent report on the performance of city schools (November 18), despite the initial refusal of the cabinet member for school improvement. Councillor Waine attempts to pass
Sir – Your balanced piece about the Florey Building (Feature, November 4) shows while some may not like the building many others (including its users and luminaries such as Lords Foster and Rogers) definitely value it, which is why it is listed
Sir – Your response to the news that Year 2 pupils’ test results for Oxford schools are a few points lower than usual (Report, November 18) is a perfect example of how to generate more heat than light. And the response of councillor Waine does nothing
FRIENDS of a student whose body was found in an Oxford stream are bidding to fulfil his lifelong ambition to have heavy metal officially recognised as a religion. Pals of Matthew Jones want 10,000 people to join a Facebook campaign and then back an official
TWELVE people are losing their Jobs as Oxfam moves one of its Bicester warehouses to Milton Keynes. The Launton Road Industrial Estate warehouse, which houses imported craft products destined for the charity’s shop, has been in the town for
AAA-NORCAP is a charitable organisation supporting adults affected by adoption. AAA-NORCAP provides assistance to adopted adults and their relatives who may be experiencing distress as a result of adoption, particularly around the time of reunion between
Bordeaux is the world’s best known wine region and it holds a special meaning for us in the UK, originally for historical reasons and the ease of shipping wine across the Channel from the Gironde river. It is from here that some of the world’s most famous
The key objective of my recent holiday was to get some ‘r and r’ and come back feeling less knackered then when I went. Mission not accomplished, and I have come home with a host of ailments that make my 97-year-old grandmother look sprightly. All of
The Youth Speak competition, a national public speaking competition run by The Rotary Club of Witney and held in The Corn Exchange, Market Square, Witney on Wednesday 25th November was won by students from Burford School. They beat off stiff competition
