Archive

  • Stevenage 0, Oxford Utd 0

    ANOTHER strong and resilient away performance helped bring Oxford United a second successive goalless draw on their travels tonight. And the point pushed them closer the play-off positions in League Two. This first clash in the Football

  • Oxford United held at the break

    Oxford United were drawing 0-0 at half-time in tonight's npower League Two clash at Stevenage. Both sides hit the woodwork in the opening two minutes, while there has been plenty of niggle between the teams.

  • Cyclist attacks driver in North Oxford

    A motorist was punched in the head several times by a cyclist in Woodstock Road, Oxford. The 60-year-old was driving along the road with his wife at 8.25am on Monday, February 7, when a cyclist pulled out in front of him. Police said

  • Family threatened in Upper Arncott armed robbery

    Four masked men armed with a hammer and knives forced their way into a house, threatening a family before stealing their valuables. The robbers knocked at the door of the house in Murcott Road, Upper Arncott, near Bicester, at 7pm on Sunday and pushed

  • CYCLE RAGE: Biker attacks driver on Woodstock Road

    A motorist was punched in the head several times by a cyclist in Woodstock Road. The 60-year-old was driving along the road with his wife about 8.25am on Monday, February 7, when a cyclist pulled out in front of him. Police said he got off

  • Five-vehicle crash causes M40 delays

    Drivers faced delays on the southbound M40 in north Oxfordshire this afternoon after a five-vehicle crash. Queueing traffic is reported after the road was partially blocked due to the crash involving five vehicles, including a lorry. The collision happened

  • Masked robbers threaten 12-year-old girl

    Masked raiders threatened a 12-year-old girl during a robbery at a house in Upper Arncott. Police said four masked men knocked at the door of a property in Murcott Road, Upper Arncott, near Bicester. The men entered the house after the

  • Local share prices (PM)

    AEA Technology 4.7 BMW 5257 Electrocomponents 271.8 Nationwide Accident Repair 100.5 Oxford Biomedica 7.1 Oxford Catalysts 85.5 Oxford Instruments 620 Reed Elsevier 579.75 RM 167.5 RPS Group 212 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Police apologise for mob-handed breath test on disabled driver

    A DISABLED man was left “embarrassed and frightened” after six police officers arrived to breathalyse him outside his home. Simon Lock, 52, said his neighbours in Judds Close watched on as one unmarked and two marked police cars pulled into his driveway

  • NHS gears up to offer extra help to older mums-to-be

    DESPITE battling a series of health problems, 40-year-old Maxine Scragg is having the sixth child she always wanted. She is among women with underlying health conditions who are seen by Dr Lucy Mackillop at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital. Mrs Scragg

  • Batman drops in at Sutton Courtenay nature reserve

    CHILDREN got to meet a real life batman during a talk at Sutton Courtenay nature reserve on Sunday. Wildlife expert Dave Endacott, of Oxfordshire Bat Group, took seven bats to meet children aged eight to 10. Mr Endacott, from East Challow, near Wantage

  • Plea for new Oxfordshire foster carers

    FOSTER carers for sibling groups, older children and children from black and ethnic minorities are urgently needed in Oxfordshire. Oxfordshire County Council needs to recruit 35 new foster carers for children from all over the county in the next year

  • Oxford United helping dads manage emotions, stress and fitness

    FOOTBALL coaches are teaming up with fathers to improve their fitness and mental health. A pilot project by Oxford United Football Club and Oxfordshire Mind is being launched to help dads manage strong emotions, reduce stress and improve their fitness

  • Council refuses motion to get Fairtrade status for Witney

    CAMPAIGNERS have again failed to get Fairtrade status for Witney. Witney Town Council refused to back a motion that would pave the way for the town to get Fairtrade status, saying consumers should make their own mind up about purchases. Supporters say

  • Council drives home the savings

    CRAZY golf, pitch-and-putt and tennis all look set to be saved in Abingdon in the face of cuts. The leisure facilities were listed for the axe in £660,000 worth of savings in Vale of White Horse District Council’s draft budget. Closing them would have

  • HOCKEY: Hawks feel aggrieved

    Premier Division 2 leaders Oxford Hawks came away from Epsom feeling hard done by following their 2-2 draw in the South League. Dave Cresswell opened the scoring on ten minutes and struck again from a short corner to put Hawks two up. Epsom scored with

  • Boys' legs broken in railing collapse

    MOTHER-of-two Marie Carlucci has spoken of her shock after both her sons’ legs were broken in an accident involving a metal fence. Mrs Carlucci, 33, of Wallingford, wants to warn other parents to stay clear of the railing that fell on her sons

  • Cuts undermine Oxfordshire's 'Big Society'

    CUTTING public spending has undermined Oxfordshire’s Big Society, according to those on the volunteer frontline in our county. Speaking in London yesterday, Prime Minister David Cameron said the concept of empowering residents to run services

  • Local share prices (AM)

    AEA Technology 4.8 BMW 5295 Electrocomponents 269.8 Nationwide Accident Repair 100.5 Oxford Biomedica 6.75 Oxford Catalysts 85.5 Oxford Instruments 621.75 Reed Elsevier 579.75 RM 167.5 RPS Group 210.8 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • RUGBY UNION: Cooke stars in derby

    BB&O leagues Try braces from Sean Cooke and Joe McAneaney helped Alchester beat Bicester 36-12 in their BB&O Premier Division and Oxfordshire Shield quarter-final double-header. Bicester No 8 Dan Spencer stretched over from a tapped penalty, scrum

  • RUGBY UNION: Grove slip to fourth

    Round-up Grove slipped to fourth in Southern Counties North, despite winning 27-12 at Broadmoor Staff. Wootton Bassett’s bonus-point win over Windsor saw the sides swap places. Grove managed tries from fly half Tom Clipsham and lock Paul Miles, while

  • Radiohead go out on a limb with new album

    OXFORD band Radiohead are to release their new album on Saturday, but only as an online download. The city’s most famous rockers have again bypassed major record labels by announcing The King Of Limbs will be available via thekingoflimbs.com

  • DARTS: Super Oxon finish with a flourish

    Oxfordshire finished in style to win 20-16 at Gwent and get their Rileys British Inter County Championship Division 1 title bid back on track. Leaders Oxon hit the buffers on their previous outing when they went down 23-13 away to Hampshire. And the

  • Doc signs up to run OX5 Run for Oxford Children's Hospital

    THREE hundred people have signed up to take part in this year’s OX5 Run, but that needs to double if Oxford Children’s Hospital is to reach its fundraising target. The ninth OX5 Run will take place at Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock, on Sunday, March 20

  • Botley land sale aims to kickstart precinct revamp

    A TWO-ACRE site has been put up for sale to create a new shopping quarter in Botley. Vale of White Horse District Council wants to sell a site next to West Way Shopping Centre to tempt developers and major retailers to help regenerate the

  • Drink and drug fuelled knife threat

    A DRUNKEN man who tried to rob a charity volunteer at knifepoint and planned to burgle the bike shop he worked at has been jailed for two years. Benjamin Grossmann had drunk lager, cider and wine, and tried to smoke a piece of heroin, before arming himself

  • HOCKEY: Banbury stay two points clear

    Banbury Ladies stay two points clear at the top of Division 3A of the South Clubs' League after a 2-1 win over fourth-placed Staines. One down at the break, Banbury hit back with Sadie Lapper levelling a minute after the restart, dribbling along the

  • Man about town: When it comes to romance, our city has it all

    YES, it’s Valentine’s Day. And, in Oxford, you really should shoot yourself (or at least move to Swindon) if you really can’t think of anywhere to express your true feelings. After all, while this may not be Paris, it’s not Milton Keynes or Hastings

  • Fuelling debate

    PETROL substitute at 19p a litre (Oxford Mail, February 1)? You must be joking! Once it came onto the market, the chancellor of the day would immediately tax it at the same rate as petrol. Being a ‘non-pollutant’ may well be a selling point, but

  • Road to confusion

    Years ago when I was a young copper walking the beat in Oxford (yes, it’s hard to believe but policemen used to walk on patrols once and even speak to people), there was a man at the highways department who lived in, and knew, the area. Invariably the

  • More than books

    I am writing before the county council makes its decision to cease the funding of various libraries around the county. My local library, in Kennington, is one of those under threat. While I realise the county council must make tough decisions to

  • Read between the lines

    I was amazed to read such strong, emotive language from council leader Keith Mitchell regarding the library cuts protesters. I was then amused to read on the Oxfordshire County Council website that, in his free time, Mr Mitchell enjoys “reading avidly

  • benefits came from cutting staff

    John Gould (Oxford Mail, January 28) is absolutely right when he says “managers must take their share of council cuts” and I can assure him they are. Between July 1 2010 and March 31 2011, nine senior posts have already been deleted with another three

  • FOOTBALL: North Leigh ordered to play it again

    North Leigh chairman Pete King says the club will take it on the chin after being ordered by Zamaretto Southern League chiefs to replay their Division 1 South & West match against Bridgwater. The original game, on February 1, was abandoned on 76 minutes

  • HOCKEY: Wallingford maintain perfect record

    Wallingford kept up their brilliant 100 per cent record at the top of Premier 1 of the Trysports 3 counties League. They continued their storming run by chalking up their 15th win in their 15th match, beating promotion rivals Wycombe 2nd 1-0 at the Hithercroft

  • Be more friendly

    HAS anyone noticed how unfriendly and grumpy many bus drivers are in the Oxford area? Years ago you were more often than not greeted with a cheery ‘hello!’ or ‘good morning!’ by bus staff. These days many drivers can hardly be bothered to make eye contact

  • National identity

    Prime Minister David Cameron stated in a speech attended by world leaders, that the UK’s longstanding policy of multiculturalism was a complete failure and partly to blame for fostering Islamist extremism. This is what some people have been saying

  • RUGBY UNION: Five-try Henley up to sixth

    National 2 South Henley Hawks climbed to sixth in the table with a 31-10 bonus-point victory at Hinckley. Hawks scored the first try when wing Tommy Haynes dived over out wide and fly half James Comben converted. However, they lost No 8 Matt Payne

  • Backgrouind music is a nuisance

    I WRITE regarding the nuisance of television background music. The continual addition of exceptionally loud soundtracks to documentaries and plays has been well commented on, yet the TV pundits still insist on inflicting it on us. Recently

  • We still need donors

    I would like to thank all our blood and platelet donors for making a special effort to give blood during the severe winter weather and over the festive period. We never take the generosity and commitment of our volunteer donors for granted and appreciate

  • A close-run thing

    BACK in January, we were given to understand the postal service was back to normal. So how could the following be explained? I was waiting for an appointment to go to the John Radcliffe Hospital for an important issue, so I rang the hospital on January

  • Mapping the worse

    I WRITE with regard to the new revised flood risk maps issued by the Environment Ministry for Witney which they say are down to “better computer technology” (Oxford Mail, February 8). I have to say that it’s very hard to understand how changes in computer

  • Not an 'accident'

    WE NEED to stop talking of ‘accidents’, and to talk instead about crashes. When someone ploughs into previously stopped traffic, then they were, by definition, driving too fast or too close. Simon Pollock, Speedwell street, Oxford

  • Fight for libraries is a community effort

    County council leader Keith Mitchell (Oxford Mail letters February 7) still does not get the point about libraries. The people who have come out in such numbers to show support for their local libraries in defiance of his axe are not “glitterati” unconcerned

  • Mother of train death victim tells of losing 'her rock'

    THE mother of a popular charity fundraiser found dead after being struck by a train last night spoke of losing “her rock”. Steve Couchman, of Morton Avenue, Kidlington, was found dead on the railway tracks at Sandy Lane level crossing, between

  • Woman critical after Radley road accident

    A 63-year-old pedestrian was in a critical condition in hospital last night after she was involved in a collision with a van in Radley. The woman was at the junction with Pebble Hill in Kennington Road at about 4.30pm on Sunday when the accident

  • Legion members prepare for another repatriation

    Members of the Royal Legion are expected to pay their respects when the bodies of two servicemen killed in Afghanistan are brought to the John Radcliffe Hospital on Thursday. Private Lewis Hendry, from 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, and Private

  • Many motorists 'running on empty'

    An increasing number of drivers are "running on empty" due to high petrol and diesel costs. Breakdown service Green Flag reported a 40 per cent increase in the number of fuel-related call-outs in the second half of January, compared with the same

  • RUGBY UNION: Hastings praised

    Chinnor head coach Jason Bowers was full of praise for his players’ efforts against Hartpury. He said: “I felt we were competitive throughout the game, I couldn’t fault our effort. “Adam Hastings was outstanding and from one to 18, they played well.

  • COMMENT: Brilliant beginning

    WHAT a great start to our drive to see 100 apprentices recruited across Oxfordshire within 100 days. With pledges to create 59 positions made on the first day, the campaign is already flying high. Apprentices could bring real benefits

  • RUGBY UNION: Chinnor lose unbeaten home record

    Chinnor 10, Hartpury 36 The scoreline may not be too flattering, but Chinnor can be proud of their efforts in this National 3 South West clash at Kingsey Road. Already reporting 16 injured players and five unavailable, they lost another

  • RUGBY UNION: Ten-try bonanza

    National 3 South West Xavier Andre and Chris Tuatara bagged hat-tricks of tries as Oxford Harlequins crushed Barnstaple 64-5. Wing Andre notched tries one and two, fly half Jeff Stewart converting the latter. Banstaple’s Joe Wearne bagged a try,

  • RUGBY UNION: Chadbone's happy to win

    Oxford Harlequins captain Simon Chadbone accepted his side had been worked hard by Witney. He said: “We knew the conditions would suit them massively and they were always going to come out of the blocks the way they did. “We weren’t going to panic.

  • RUGBY UNION: Quins tops in mudbath

    Witney 8, Oxford Harlequins 17 WIitney emerged with great credit from a battling display, but it was Oxford Harlequins who reached the Oxfordshire Cup semi-finals. It was never going to be a classic, flowing match on a mudbath at Hailey Road, especially

  • Oxford lettings agent denied £157k fraud

    A LETTINGS agent has denied withholding more than £150,000 in deposits and rent from tenants and landlords. Zulfiqar Hussain, who ran Charles Lawson (Lettings) Limited, appeared in court yesterday to enter pleas to 18 charges. The 43

  • Children put hearts into library plea

    CHILDREN stepped up their protests against proposals to cut funding for Oxford libraries ahead of today’s crunch county council budget meeting. In Old Marston, 10-year-old Rowan Todd, of Horseman Close, wrote a letter to council leader Keith

  • Wilder warns U's to expect tough battle at Stevenage

    Chris Wilder says his Oxford United team can expect fiercely competitive opponents when they take on their old Conference rivals, Stevenage, at the Lamex Stadium on Tuesday. It’s the first battle this season between the two teams promoted

  • '£50,000 spent to tell council staff their jobs are gone'

    CASH-STRAPPED council bosses are today expected to cut libraries, youth centres and care home places, spent £50,000 on management consultants to help them make savings. Armed with personality tests, the consultants were drafted into County Hall to help

  • Oxford children get a chance to touch a rainforest

    CHILDREN are being invited to get their hands-on a landmark museum display. Pupils from all of the county’s schools are being invited to touch, smell and explore the 10 vast rainforest tree stumps on display at the Oxford University Museum

  • Sporty schoolgirl back on form after therapy

    WHEN sports enthusiast Katie Burrows was told she had a rare spine condition, she said her world fell apart. The pupil from Cheney School, Oxford, enjoyed nothing more than playing rounders, and running in school sports lessons against her classmates

  • Vale and South Oxfordshire council workers agree pay freeze

    STAFF at two of Oxfordshire’s district councils will have their pay frozen to save taxpayers about £650,000 a year. Anyone earning more than £25,000 a year at South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse councils will not get a pay rise in the 2011-12 financial

  • Bicester playground appeal lands cash boost

    CHILDREN in Bicester are celebrating after a £1,000 donation moved their school’s playground appeal closer to its target. Moto, the operator of Cherwell Valley Services, on the M40 at Ardley, near Bicester, donated £1,000 from its Moto in the Community

  • Patients flag up flaws at Oxford hospital

    MANAGERS at Oxford’s Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre have pledged to make improvements after patients raised a series of concerns about services. A report by Oxfordshire’s official health watchdog said patients were concerned about cancelled operations,

  • COMMENT: Damning report must be the last

    ONCE again we are reporting failures at our main hospitals. Just weeks after the organisation that runs the John Radcliffe and Horton hospitals was found to have serious failings by the Care Quality Commission, the Parliamentary and Health