Archive

  • Train journeys disrupted

    TRAIN passengers in Oxfordshire are facing disruption after a signalling failure tonight. The fault, in signals between Reading and Maidenhead, has had a knock-on effect on services in Oxford. A Network Rail spokesman said the problem was reported at

  • Ready, Teddy, go as charity runners take to the park

    FUN runners in fancy dress jogged around the University Parks in Oxford to raise funds for good causes across Oxfordshire. The 10th annual Oxford Fun Run was organised by Oxford Rotary Club. Organiser John Healey said: “About 400 runners have come

  • COMMENT: A fresh fight for sterling campaigner

    Cancer drug campaigner Clive Stone has done so much for other people. He has battled tirelessly to improve access to life-saving drugs when NHS purse strings are often pulled too tight. Mr Stone so impressed David Cameron that the PM

  • Smoke from car blaze slows traffic

    SMOKE from a car fire halted traffic on the A34 southbound this afternoon. Fire crews were called to the blaze between the Abingdon North and Abingdon South junctions at 4:45pm. A black Audi and 20 metres of fence were destroyed in the blaze

  • Local shares (PM)

    AEA Technology 4.4 BMW 5377 Electrocomponents 274 Nationwide Accident Repair 100 Oxford Biomedica 5.9 Oxford Catalysts 95.75 Oxford Instruments 735.75 Reed Elsevier 531.75 RM 136 RPS Group 225.5 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Car fire causes traffic jam

    Traffic has come to a standstill on the A34’s southbound carriageway because of a car fire between the two Abingdon junctions. A black Audi burst into flames at about 4:45pm, and while nobody was injured or trapped, thick smoke has blown across the

  • CHESS: Witney reborn as top club

    By defeating Cowley 1 on April 4, Witney 1 secured enough points to finish ahead of City 1 and secure their first division 1 title for ten years. The club — seemingly in the doldrums in recent times — has been reborn thanks largely to the energy and

  • City win is compensation

    Oxford City 1 defeated Oxford City 2 in the final of the Frank Wood Shield (FWS) by 4 points to 2 — the narrowest possible margin under the handicap system. This was the last match of the Oxfordshire chess season and the victory is some compensation

  • Witney newsagent robbed at knifepoint

    Police are appealing for witnesses following a robbery at a newsagent in Witney. The incident happened at Martins, in Market Square, between 6.55am and 7.05am yesterday. A 51-year-old woman, who works in the shop, was taking the papers from outside

  • Folk festival team looks to the future

    OXFORD Folk Festival will be back next year but it may take a different form. That is the pledge of organiser Tim Healey, who was forced to cancel last month’s festival because of rising costs and the effects of the recession. But Mr Healey, who organised

  • Group performs at Sadler's Wells

    YOUNG dancers’ dreams came true when they stepped on to the stage at London’s famous Sadler’s Wells Theatre. Members of Oxford’s Vera Legge School of Dancing performed at the Islington theatre in front of an audience of 1,500 people. The dancers, aged

  • 16-year-old arrested after Cowley Road sex attack

    A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assaulting a 26-year-old woman in Oxford. The woman was walking along Cowley Road shortly after 2am on Saturday when she was approached by a man who grabbed her and dragged her along

  • Scales of Justice

    People convicted of offences at magistrates' courts in the county recently: Akeem Williams, 18, of Victor Street, Oxford, admitted possession of cannabis (Class B) in Oxford on February 23. Given a 12-month conditional discharge and told to pay £40

  • Work goes on show at castle

    GRAVESTONES, skulls, grassy fields and birds of prey inspired Oxfordshire artists to show off their talents at Oxford Castle. Nine painters, sculptors and photographers were picked from about 100 artists from across the county to display their work at

  • Summertown Eagles v Crowmarsh Youth 7 May 2011

    Result: Summertown 6, Crowmarsh 5 Goal scorers were for Crowmarsh - Jordan Wells, Ben Gaughan, Harrison Todd,Ben Hazell, Harry Brannap Goal scorers for Summertown - Alex Ruston (2), Tommy Bleakley (2), Levi Blinder, Daniel Owen

  • Farage death threat case adjourned

    The pilot of a plane which crashed and injured Ukip leader Nigel Farage during an election day stunt was told by a judge to expect a suspended sentence for making threats to kill. Justin Adams, 46, from Buckland, near Faringdon, was due to be sentenced

  • Yes to AV city vote delighted MP Smith

    OXFORD East MP Andrew Smith said he was delighted Oxford was one of only 10 areas in the country to back political reform — and confirmed he voted yes to the Alternative Vote. Other voters in Oxfordshire rejected switching from the current first past

  • Air show fans on cloud nine

    SUNNY weather and the only Vulcan bomber still flying brought thousands of air show enthusiasts to Abingdon airfield yesterday. Last year, heavy rain meant the show at Dalton Barracks was almost a washout with many aircraft unable to fly in

  • Cancer campaigner faces new battle for treatment

    A CAMPAIGNING cancer sufferer claims to have been handed a “death sentence” after health bosses refused to operate on his brain tumour. Clive Stone, who will pick up an MBE on Wednesday for his contribution to cancer care, has been told his

  • Local share prices (AM)

    AEA Technology 4.75 BMW 5434 Electrocomponents 276.1 Nationwide Accident Repair 100 Oxford Biomedica 5.9 Oxford Catalysts 95.75 Oxford Instruments 747.5 Reed Elsevier 533.75 RM 137.5 RPS Group 226.1 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • RESULTS: Greyhounds 07/08

    SATURDAY’S RESULTS 7.45: 1 CONDUIT 4-1, 2 Kingsbrook Ciara 5-2 jt fav. Trio: (3x5x4).Trainer: Peterson. Time: 27.53. Westway Star (4) 5-2 jt fav. 8.00: 1 LADY LARNACH 9-4 jt fav, 2 Orior Ben 3-1. Trio: (5x1x2).Trainer: Mayo. Time: 27.17. Absinthe

  • Red Nose Day: Local groups welcome cash boost

    TODAY the Oxford Mail can unveil the dozens of county charities who have won a slice of £50,000 in Comic Relief cash. We teamed up last month with Comic Relief to offer organisations the chance to get their hands on the money to mark Red Nose Day. More

  • RESULTS: 07/08

    Football NPOWER LEAGUE TWO Shrewsbury Tn 3, Oxford Utd 0. UHLSPORT HELLENIC LEAGUE Supp Cup final: Kidlington 3, Purton 0. OXFORDSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE Premier Div: Adderbury Park 4, Garsington 3; Enstone 1, Stonesfield 2; Marston Sts 3, Mansfield

  • Red Nose Day: Brownies are celebrating

    THERE were cheers all round at one Brownie group this week, as they celebrated receiving £500 from the Red Nose Community Cash fund. The Seventh Headington Brownies, based in Wood Farm, will spend the money on new sports and arts equipment. Unit leader

  • Red Nose Day: Food bank welcomes grant

    A FOOD BANK dedicated to providing supplies for families in distress said its £1,000 grant comes at the perfect time. The Community Emergency Food Bank, based in St Francis Church in Hollow Way, said the number of people using their service had recently

  • CRICKET: It's agony for Oxon

    Teenager Matt Taylor made a sensational entry into Minor Counites cricket with three wickets in the first two overs for Oxfordshire against Herefordshire at Colwall on Sunday. But, Oxon, who twice built up apparent winning positions, were kicking themselves

  • CRICKET: Thame’s batsmen collapse

    Thame Town suffered a heavy 126-run defeat against newly promoted hosts Burnham in their opening Division 2 West clash on Saturday. Good spells from Sam Lachlan (2-43) and Will Rooney (2-25) helped reduce Burnham to 80-3 at lunch after they

  • CRICKET: Paceman Arif takes five, but Oxford fall just short

    Fast bowler Usman Arif made a superb debut and so nearly guided Oxford to a victory over High Wycombe in a rain-shortened Division 1 match at Rover Cowley. Usman, who joined from Beaconsfield, returned 5-24 in just eight overs to have Wycombe hanging

  • CRICKET: Spinners get Banbury off to a winning start

    Banbury spun their way to a six-wicket victory over Welwyn Garden City to get their Division 1 campaign off to a flier. Spinners Jimmy Phillips and Luke Ryan each took four wickets as the hosts bowled Welwyn all out for 172 after asking them to bat

  • MAN ABOUT TOWN: Seeking solace in the words of a comic genius

    It’s funny isn’t it, who and what we turn to when we feel at our lowest ebb. This week, after spending 20 minutes trawling through comments left on our website referring to one particular story – an article about a £1,860 away day for city council

  • Fine ones to talk...

    GREEN Party councillors are the last people who should be giving lectures on financial management at Oxford City Council (“Council denies hoarding cash, Oxford Mail, May 2) . Readers may remember earlier this year, the Green Party laughably claimed the

  • Source of pride

    THE Oxfordshire ACF/ Corps of Drums were among 30 musical detachments to attend the six day National Cadet Music Concentration held at Altcar Camp, near Southport, during the Easter holidays. Cadets of all standards attended, from beginners

  • Aerial heroics

    I WRITE in response to GL Rendell’s letter (Oxford Mail, April 20), concerning the issue of parachutes in Lancasters. To the best of my knowledge, and I have this from Ken Knott himself, the one crew member of the Lancaster who didn’t wear a parachute

  • Schools meals came with added skills

    THIS team was creating school dinners with a difference. The meals were not for pupils but for customers prepared to pay for their lunch. Peers School at Littlemore, Oxford, had set up a catering unit for pupils to learn about the trade. They prepared

  • Picture of 'Queens' poses puzzle

    WE KNOW very little about this picture A handwritten note on the back says: “Festival of Queens ‘60”. The photograph comes from a collection belonging to John Brucker, of Yarnton Road, Kidlington. He believes it was taken during his time as a teacher

  • CRICKET: Murray shines with super ton

    Opener Ned Murray hit a superb century as Horspath announced their arrival in Division 2 West by getting the better of a draw at Oxfordshire rivals Aston Row-ant on Saturday. Heavy rain overnight and in the morning led to the start being delayed by more

  • Red Nose Day: The winners

    1st Barton Guide Unit £5007th Headington Brownies £500Adderbury Youth Club £500ACKHI £1,000artisjustaword £1,000BK. LUWO £750Barton United Football Club £1,000Berinsfield Information and Volunteer Centre £1,000Bicester Good Neighbour Scheme £1,000Bicester

  • Camera grips

    IT HAS been a while now since the speed cameras were turned back on, or were they even put back on? It could be a big con – because I, personally, haven’t heard of anyone being caught – and you always hear about it. I also can’t really see how the police

  • Common sense

    I, TOO, was saddened to see people celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden, and I commend Esther Hyman – sister of Miriam Hyman, who was killed in the London bombings in 2005 – for speaking out on this. As your reporter pointed out in the article last

  • Libraries are not just for the middle class

    I DO NOT know on what grounds James Westerhouse, in his defence of cuts to libraries, (On the Spot, Oxford Mail, May 4) seeks to call me either middle-class or a “deficit denier”, but he is wrong on both counts. Mr Westerhouse obviously was not at the

  • Boxing central to family life

    WHEN Douglas Horwood showed promise as a young boxer, his whole family became hooked on the sport. They travelled all over the country to tournaments, supporting him and making many friends. His sister, Christine Horwood-Middleton, was reminded of those

  • The changing face of Standlake

    MEMBERS of the village youth club directed their enthusiasm to helping others in 1968. They organised their annual fete and decided to give all the profits to the British Red Cross Society diamond jubilee anniversary fund. In the first picture, from

  • Pub ladies enjoyed brewery outing

    THE women who ran our pubs weren’t always stuck behind the bar or in the kitchen. Many of them enjoyed a good social life. At times, trips would be organised to breweries to show them how the beer they and their menfolk sold was made. But there were

  • Wantage Tramway engine back on the move

    THIS is another photograph of Jane (or Shannon), the steam locomotive that ran for many years on the Wantage Tramway between the town and Wantage Road station, on the Didcot-Swindon railway line. It was taken in 1969 when she was being moved from the

  • Hitchcock film festival off to a thrilling start

    IT WAS almost a sell-out screening for the start of the Oxford Film Festival yesterday when fans of Alfred Hitchcock crowded into the Phoenix Picturehouse in Walton Street. They watched a double bill of The Lodger – a 1927 silent film that was the scare-meister

  • One of Silver Star's first users thanks baby unit

    IN 1970 she was among the first women to give birth at a small specialist high-risk pregnancy unit at the back of the old Radcliffe Infirmary. The clinic, which was pioneering better methods of treating high blood pressure in pregnancy, had just been

  • New search starts for city bail hostel

    THE Government is looking for a new location for a bail hostel after plans for one in Headington fell through amid an outcry from residents. The Ministry of Justice last night confirmed it was looking for another property in the city after the landlord

  • COMMENT: A right to know

    The big question: where to go? The Ministry of Justice has told the Oxford Mail it is looking for another property in the city to set up a half-way house for crooks and suspects. A Bail Accommodation and Support Service (Bass) venue would house criminals

  • Archbishop 'uneasy at bin Laden's death'

    The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, expressed unease at the way al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden died. He spoke after visiting Emmanuel Church in Bure Park, Bicester, to bless the foundations of a new church building. Dr Williams, said yesterday

  • Hindu festival is a riot of colour

    AN Oxford park erupted in a riot of colour yesterday as hundreds of people celebrated a Hindu festival. Revellers threw powdered paint at each other in Oxford University’s Merton College sports grounds to mark the arrival of spring and “brighter colours

  • Blaze on industrial estate

    Firefighters are tackling a blaze this morning on the Osney Mead industrial estate in West Oxford. A blaze broke out in a portable building at the front of the Alden Press in Osney Mead at 8.20am. Ten firefighters from Rewley Road are fighting the

  • U’s boss is already planning for next season

    Boss Chris Wilder warned his players to expect a hard fight to get into Oxford United’s team next season, because he’s planning to bring in some strong recruits in the summer. The U’s ended their first season back in the Football League in 12th place

  • Cyclists urged to join fundraising rides

    CYCLING enthusiasts will cross the country on a series of epic charity bike rides. Rolland Law, who works at Dentons Cycles, High Street, Witney, has roped in friends and workmates to complete the endurance tests. Mr Law, 26, hopes to get more of Oxfordshire

  • Anger at delay in developing eyesore Wood Farm site

    RESIDENTS have branded a derelict building on Oxford’s Wood Farm estate an “eyesore and complete waste of space”. Marywood House, a former home for people with learning disabilities in Leiden Road, has been empty since Oxfordshire County Council

  • Tasty treats help Japanese quake victims

    A JAPANESE hospital worker held a cake sale to help children affected by the earthquake in his home country. Takeshi Kashima, who works in the histopathology department at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, was keen to help when he saw the events unfolding