Skipper Andrew Strauss (pictured) said England’s Ashes-winning heroes have yet to reach their peak after meting out a 3-1 series thrashing to Australia. Success Down Uunder has raised hopes that England – ranked third in the world – can challenge
Oxford United’s League Two game at Stevenage, which was postponed on Boxing Day, has been rearranged for Tuesday, February 15 (7.45). Tickets bought for the original fixture are valid for the rearranged game Supporters who cannot make the rearranged
A CLIMATE change activist from Oxford convicted of conspiracy to commit aggravated trespass after planning to shut down the UK’s second largest power station has walked free from court. Martin Shaw, from Campbell Road, Oxford, was among more than 100
HIS mum feared he would never play guitar again, but Alex Polywka has taken to the stage despite his battle with an inoperable brain tumour. The 17-year-old was left paralysed down the left side of his body after undergoing four hours of surgery to stop
A 23-year-old man has denied three counts of rape. Kenneth Pinkstone, of Kynaston Road, Didcot, appeared at Oxford Crown Court today. He denied the charges which relate to the same alleged victim and which are said to have taken place
Labour candidate Duncan Enright won yesterday's by-election for one of four east ward seats on Witney Town Council. He received 480 votes (66 per cent), beating Liberal Democrat Mark Balaam (123 votes) and Green Party candidate Kate Griffin (117 votes
A 17-year-old suffered smoke inhalation after a suspected arson attack on a cash machine at the Stert Street multi-storey car park in Abingdon. Fire crews were called to the fire shortly after 9.30pm yesterday.
The Oxford Mail’s annual charity run is just 10 weeks away and organisers are calling on fundraisers to get on their running shoes. After the excesses of Christmas and New Year, the OX5 Run gives everyone the chance to get back in shape and
COGGES Farm Museum is to undergo major changes before it reopens this year in a bid to keep the Witney attraction afloat. A trust set up to run the former Oxfordshire County Council facility is looking to run it as a working farm, with a smallholder
THE search is on for a new youth centre in Wallingford after it emerged that it would cost more than £100,000 to repair the town’s existing facility. Last year a £1.2m rebuild was planned for the youth centre in Clapcot Way, including a new children’
This is it, folks, the moment you’ve all been waiting for, when I finally reveal the top 10 Worst Cars in the World Evah! After a year of writing about disastrous designs, motoring mishaps and catastrophic failures, it’s time to pull the cracker on the
Police this afternoon issued more details of a shotgun raid on Barclays Bank in Watlington. Shortly after 2pm yesterday, a man walked into the Barclays Bank in High Street carrying a sawn-off shotgun. He used this to threaten a female cashier in
AEA Technology 5.95 BMW 4973 Electrocomponents 2.77 Nationwide Accident Repair 99.5 Oxford Biomedica 5.55 Oxford Catalysts 72.5 Oxford Instruments 705 Reed Elsevier 531.75 RM 1.6975 RPS Group 2.159 Courtesy Redmayne Bentley
Throughout 2010 car makers have been increasingly eager to show off just how much technology their latest models have wedged in. I’m sure it’ll be exactly the same in 2011 too. Every brand seems to want to boast that it has more unnecessary features
Q. What vehicle do you drive? A. Ford Fiesta 1.4 Zetec 1999. Q. How long have you had it? A. I’ve been driving it for two and a half years. That’s when my first daughter was born and that’s the day when the great Almighty gave with one hand and
LET it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Love it or loathe it, we have had our fair share of it over the past month and once the initial blind panic subsided, most of us (yes, even the women drivers) managed to venture out in our cars. Not every journey
AN aluminium-trimmed dial nestling innocuously between the front seats gives the first real clue to the true nature of Mitsubishi’s facelifted Outlander. The flick-wrist dial is labelled simply 2WD, 4WD and LOCK, but it means that this car,
Labour has won a by-election for Witney Town Council. Duncan Enright took 480 votes to take the East Ward. Liberal Democrat Mark Balaam got 123 votes and the Green Party's Kate Griffin got 117. Turnout was 12.66 per cent. The council had been
11.03: 1 BUILDERS STAR 6-4 fav, 2 Burwood Layla 4-1. (6x5x1). Trainer: A Kibble. Time: 28.15. 11.19: 1 DYSERT DAMSEL 5-2 fav, 2 Barn Owl 4-1. (4x6x5). Trainer: Peterson. Time: 28.08. 11.34: 1 LINGRAWN PENNY 8-1, 2 Royalty 3-1. (2x3x5). Trainer
MONEY raised from a Christmas raffle means a 24-hour phone line providing support for grieving parents can now go online. Mark Roberts, 64, and wife Sarah, 33, from Cutteslowe, in Oxford, run the Grieving Parents Support Group, a telephone
Abingdon United could give a debut to left back Kevin Halliday after signing him from Chippenham Town. He is added to the squad for the Zamaretto Southern League Division 1 South & West trip to Cinderford Town on Saturday. Shaun Wimble (knee injury)
The Russian Ice Stars are back with another of their enormously enjoyable productions which combine vigorous storytelling with some virtuoso skating. Although this is a Russian production, Peter Pan opens appropriately in Kensington Gardens, site of
BUN throwing to celebrate the Royal Wedding will take place from the roof of Abingdon’s museum, a town firm has pledged after winning a contract to refurbish the historic building. Leadbitter, based at Abingdon Science Park, has quashed fears the redevelopment
A MUM has hit out at a learning disabilities charity after a client in its care put their hands around her daughter’s throat in a supermarket car park. Bicester mum Paula Stevens said the woman in her 30s should not have been in a public place
Oxford United’s new midfielder Paul McLaren says he has joined Oxford United because he wants to start enjoying his football again. McLaren’s recent time at Tranmere had frustrated him. “Things didn’t work out. “I had two really
Oxford United manager Chris Wilder is urging his team to show more consistency. The U’s have blown hot and cold over the last few months, with winning runs, losing runs, and a mix of exciting performances and no-shows, with the last two games
An overturned lorry today caused delays on the A43 at the Baynards Green roundabout. The accident left the southbound A43 partially blocked causing delays to traffic. There are reports that a lamppost has also been damaged and may need to be repaired
AEA Technology 6.5 BMW 4957 Electrocomponents 274.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 99.5 Oxford Biomedica 5.45 Oxford Catalysts 72.5 Oxford Instruments 713.25 Reed Elsevier 530.25 RM 167.5 RPS Group 217.6 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley,
WANTAGE Town chairman Tony Woodward has confirmed his club have applied for promotion to the Zamaretto Southern League. Wantage, second in the Uhl-sport Hellenic League Premier Division, are the only Oxfordshire side seeking the step up. Ardley United
WITNEY United defender Jack Smith has left to join Southern League side Gosport Borough. Struggling Witney face a daunting trip to high-flying Wantage Town tonight in the Premier Division. Witney will also be without Tom Smith and Vinny Byfield, but
A BRAWL on New Year’s Eve which started in an East Oxford nightclub could have been pre-planned, managers said. It comes as owner of The Regal in Cowley Road revealed he had pulled the plug on “urban” events for the forseeable future until there was
The Cowley-built Mini has achieved its highest ever market share since it was launched almost ten years ago. Latest figures show a total of 4,774 cars were sold in December, compared to 3,859 in the same month last year, a rise of more than 23 per cent
CHAMPION Russian ice skaters have turned an Oxford theatre into a wintry Never Never Land. Peter Pan on Ice began last night at the New Theatre in George Street and runs until Sunday. The classic J M Barrie tale has been adapted for a specially-built
SATURDAY. FOOTBALL. NPOWER LEAGUE TWO. Aldershot v Oxford Utd. ZAMARETTO SOUTHERN LEAGUE. Premier Div: Didcot Tn v Chippenham, Evesham v Oxford City, Swindon Supermarine v Banbury Utd. Div 1 South & West: Cinderford Tn v Abingdon Utd, North Leigh
North Leigh manager Mark Gee says his side must get out of the blocks quickly as they play their first game for six weeks, against Almondsbury in Division 1 South & West. The big freeze and no scheduled fixture on Monday put paid to their hopes of playing
MARK Janes has hit back at claims by Oxford City boss Mike Ford that he joined Abingdon Town because it was the “easy option”. Janes, 22, said his work as a self-employed painter and decorator meant he was unable to give his full commitment to training
A MAN who said he was sexually abused by a Scout leader in the 1960s has denied fabricating the claims to blame someone for his own difficult life. Roger Franklin, 66, of Ashdene Road, Bicester, denies four counts of indecent assault between March 1968
THE widow of a Bicester soldier killed in Afghanistan wept as his body was repatriated to the UK. Warrant Officer Class 2 Charlie Wood’s wife Heather stood at the side of the road in Wootton Bassett wearing his medals with pride. British Legion members
IT doesn’t get a lot better for Oxford United’s travelling fans than the thrilling win at Torquay on Monday. So can the U’s repeat that kind of performance on their travels again at Aldershot tomorrow? United did win 4-3 away once in
Jack Midson says he owed a debt of gratitude to Oxford United teammate Harry Worley for his remarkable hat-trick at Torquay this week. The striker, coming in from the cold to make his first start for the U’s since September 28, borrowed a pair
I JUST had to write in response to the proposal to close down the Redbridge recycling centre in Oxford. We, as a community in a large city, are constantly told that we must recycle, behave responsibly ecologically and commit to being responsible
HAVING read the article about nuisance dog owners (Oxford Mail, December 30), I feel compelled to write to complain about the disgusting state of the pavement along Grenoble Road, in Greater Leys, Oxford. I parked my car in this road before the football
LAST month, the Oxford Bus Company provided the Sweet Memories senior citizens’ club with a low-floor, easy-access bus and driver for the day, so all our 80 members could have their special Christmas lunch with all their friends. The bus made four journeys
I AGREE with Mrs LD Hewson’s letter (‘Hospital Heroes’, ViewPoints, December 15, 2010). I called the emergency services on Sunday, November 12, 2010, at about 8am. They were at my house in less than 10 minutes. I was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital
THE expression on Philip’s unshaven face should have been a warning. It was too early in the day for his regular intake of cans of lager to have mellowed this former soldier whose address is anywhere he can find a place to lay his head. “I see you’re
A robber walked into Barclays Bank, in High Street, just after 2pm yesterday and demanded staff put cash into a bag, before leaving with an unknown amount of money. Police believe he was carrying a sawn-off shotgun, and was wearing a balaclava and a
I AM afraid I have to disagree with Steve Chandler about waste collections in Oxford (Tuesday’s ViewPoints). As I write this, on January 4, we have not had our green bins collected since the December 8 and judging by the amount of overflowing bins and
YOUR review of the past year (Oxford Mail, December 31, 2010) reminds us of the tragic fact that, in November, Oxfordshire County Council proposed to save £155m by 2015 by cutting such valuable facilities as libraries and youth centres.
I CAN assure you that the incorrect use of an apostrophe in the notice announcing the temporary disablement of my website (The Insider, December 30)is entirely down to 123-reg.co.uk who host the site. This is one of a number of failings and, when I can
ONE in 10 secondary schools is now an academy, according to Government figures. The Department for Education has announced there are now 407 academies in England, which is double the number open in May last year when there were 203. As semi-independent
THE principal of Oxford’s new academy has pledged to create the city’s best school as an £8m revamp plan was also unveiled. Oxford Spires Academy opened yesterday in the buildings of the former Oxford Community School, with pupils wearing new purple
SUE CROFT, the principal at the new Oxford Spires Academy, is certainly laying down the law for how she expects the reborn school to run. Oxford Spires has replaced the former Oxford Community School in the east of the city in what was a hugely
Oxford Harlequins will give a debut to new signing Chris Tuatara when they host Cleve in National 3 South West tomorrow (2.30). The former Samoan junior rugby league international starts at inside centre as Quins look to get 2011 off to a flier
HEALTH bosses last night insisted there were sufficient stocks of flu vaccine despite admitting some GPs’ surgeries were rationing the jab. Last night NHS Oxfordshire, the county’s primary care trust, refused to say exactly how many Oxfordshire
THE message about flu and the vaccine is the right one: Don’t panic and use common sense. But once again we find ourselves less than reassured that NHS Oxfordshire is doing all it can to properly manage a public health issue. It refuses to say how many
Britain is braced for more snow with large parts of England and Wales set for as much as 10cm. The worst-hit places will be higher ground as a fresh band of rain, sleet and snow showers moved across the country. But this latest spell
THE Swift has always been the chirpy young cockney sparrow of Suzuki’s range. With a cheeky grin upfront, low insurance ratings, fuel-sipping engines and light, nippy zip-about-town handling, it never seemed to have a care in the world.
More than two million cars were sold in the UK last year, 1.8% more than in 2009, a new report has shown. However, the motor industry expects to face a difficult few months because of the "extremely challenging" economic conditions, it added.
The number of motorists caught drink-driving in the Thames Valley over the festive period this year has risen. Between December 1 and January 1, 261 drivers were arrested for driving with excess alcohol, compared to 257 in the same period in 2009.
UHLSport Hellenic League WANTAGE Town chairman Tony Woodward has confirmed his club have applied for promotion to the Zamaretto Southern League. Wantage, who are second in the UHLSport Hellenic League Premier Division, are the only Oxfordshire
UHLSport Hellenic League WITNEY United defender Jack Smith has left to join Southern League side Gosport Borough. Struggling Witney face a daunting trip to high-flying Wantage Town tonight in the Premier Division. Witney will also be without Tom Smith
Police are appealing for information after an armed robbery at a bank in Watlington. Shortly after 2pm yesterday a man walked into Barclays Bank, in High Street, carrying what is believed to be a sawn-off shotgun. The man demanded a
OXFORD United are fending off clubs interested in taking Jack Midson following his hat-trick at Torquay. U’s boss Chris Wilder says the centre forward is not leaving, and he’s in the happy position of now having very strong competition for
A YOUNG mother revealed how a New Year’s resolution led to an amazing six-stone weight loss. Jenni Lee, 26, vowed to shed the bulk of her size 20, 16-and-a-half-stone weight last January as a New Year challenge. Now she is a svelte size
A TALKING newspaper is set to go digital thanks to thousands of pounds from the owners of the Oxford Mail. Didcot, Abingdon and Wantage Talking Newspaper (Dawn) received £6,848 from our parent company Gannett through its charitable foundation
