Archive

  • All change at top of Vale council

    VALE of White Horse District Council has elected Alison Thomson as its new chairman. Ms Thomson, a Conservative who represents Faringdon and the Coxwells, has served on the council since 1999 and takes over from Beth Fleming. Sue Marchant, a Liberal

  • 'Mum in a million' opens new Cowley store

    MORE than 200 people queued to see a “mum in a million” open a new Asda Living store in Oxford. Mum-of-four Keilee Sharkey, from Blackbird Leys, cut the ribbon to the £2.2m store, at Templars Shopping Park, Cowley, on Friday. Mrs Sharkey was crowned

  • Campaigners want bus link restored

    FORMER Green councillor Craig Simmons has criticised Oxford Bus Company for changing a busy route serving East Oxford. Environmental consultant Mr Simmons, who lives in Magdalen Road, said changes to the No 4 service made at the start of the month had

  • Sign up and hit the charity trail

    CHILDREN’S charity the NSPCC has urged people to pull on their walking boots and take part in an annual fundraiser. The charity will hold its Hike Against Cruelty to Kids (Hack) around West Oxfordshire in September. Last year, the first time it was

  • Fewer letters force closure of mail delivery office

    ROYAL Mail will close its Carterton delivery office and move staff to Witney in spring 2012. There will be no compulsory redundancies and staff will be reimbursed for extra mileage incurred, the company said. It also said customers would not be affected

  • Local share prices (PM)

    AEA Technology 4.2 BMW 5144 Electrocomponents 290.4 Nationwide Accident Repair 94 Oxford Biomedica 5.95 Oxford Catalysts 95 Oxford Instruments 744.25 Reed Elsevier 549.25 RM 137.6 RPS Group 241.2 Courtesy

  • Scales of Justice

    People convicted of offences at magistrates courts in Oxfordshire recently: Freyja Snowe, 45, of Warwick Street, Oxford, admitted possessing cannabis (Class B) in Abingdon on September 16. Given a three-month curfew and told to pay £85 costs.

  • Parents have chance to save tiny village school

    PARENTS fighting to keep open a tiny village school believe they have scored their best chance yet to save it, despite a report saying it can be lawfully closed. Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet will vote tomorrow on whether to press ahead with a

  • Hannah has designs on schools fund

    A WHEATLEY school pupil has been selected to design the logo of a new international project. Hannah Schofield, nine, has drawn illustrations that appear on the Commonwealth Countries League Education Fund’s 1000 Schools for 1000 Girls initiative, which

  • Birds use pub ashtray as nest

    A FAMILY of birds has nested in an ashtray outside a riverside pub in Oxford. Staff at the Victoria Arms, in Mill Lane, Old Marston, have become used to the sight of the family of blue tits flying in and out of the metal ashtray on the pub’s outside

  • County 'being held to ransom by incinerator opponents'

    A LEGAL bid to overturn a plan to build a giant Incinerator at Ardley is set to go before the High Court in July. Campaigners fighting to stop the waste burner being built near their village launched a legal challenge to overturn a decision

  • The sky's the limit as granny goes paragliding

    A WHEELCHAIR-BOUND grandmother has taken up paragliding at the age of 85. Disability campaigner Gwynneth Pedler, from Cumnor Hill, fulfilled her ambition at the fourth attempt, with four assistants holding her aloft as the wind lifted her and an instructor

  • Celebs step out to support Silver Star baby unit

    CELEBRITIES, surgeons, mums and children joined together to raise cash – and say thanks – for a hospital baby unit. The fundraisers completed a sponsored stroll around Oxford’s University Parks in aid of the John Radcliffe Hospital’s Silver Star Unit

  • Deering joins Barnet

    Oxford United's Sam Deering has agreed to join League 2 rivals Barnet subject to a medical. The winger made 29 starts and 36 substitute appearances for the U's and scored four goals.

  • Walkers out in force to beat breast cancer

    BREAST cancer survivors were joined by celebrities in turning the grounds of Blenheim Palace into a sea of pink for charity. More than 1,000 people – each with their own reasons for taking part in the event – turned up to join in The Pink Ribbonwalk

  • Stores conned by card fraud

    A con artist has stolen hundreds of pounds from stores in the Witney area using a pre-paid card. Police last night warned shopkeepers and businesses of the scam. They said there had been three incidents involving a woman using a Prime Mastercard, which

  • Local share prices (AM)

    AEA Technology 4.25 BMW 5176 Electrocomponents 290.8 Nationwide Accident Repair 94 Oxford Biomedica 5.94 Oxford Catalysts 95 Oxford Instruments 738.5 Reed Elsevier 552.25 RM 137.5 RPS Group 242 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • COMMENT: Another chapter for libraries

    THE story of our threatened libraries is almost enough to warrant a novel in itself. First, last November, we were told 20 of the 43 libraries in Oxfordshire faced funding cuts in a bid to save £2m. Then in February an extra £450,000 was found

  • Man's life 'saved by smoke alarm'

    A MAN had a lucky escape after managing to put out a chip pan fire at his home. Firefighters were called to the blaze in Abingdon after being alerted by neighbours. Householders living nearby saw smoke coming from the ground floor flat in Caldecott

  • Prince's visit hits a royal high note

    PRINCE Charles proved a hit with parishioners in an Oxfordshire village when he dropped by for a concert. The Prince of Wales visited Bampton to join a celebration at St Mary the Virgin Church, which raised money for St Michael’s Church at Stanton Harcourt

  • Riverside outing picture poses puzzle

    THESE smartly-dressed folk were happy to pose for the cameraman in all their finery. But can anyone tell us anything about the occasion? We know the photograph was taken at Days Lock on the Thames at Little Wittenham in about 1920. But we know the

  • Team triumphed in Aunt Sally final

    THESE were some of the top players in that popular Oxfordshire pub game, Aunt Sally. They represented the Cross Keys at South Hinksey and beat their opponents from the Fox at Sandford-on-Thames 2-0 in the Halls Cup Final at Oxford Town Hall

  • RAF men endured hard times hitchhiking

    BOB Hounslow had some scary moments as he hitchhiked to and from camp during his National Service with the RAF. He recalls: “My friend, Mick Taylor, and I were based at Innsworth, near Gloucester, and had lifts in all sorts of vehicles, from the sublime

  • Final flickers of gas lamps

    THE discovery of a batch of old newspapers brought back memories of the days when gas lamps lit Oxford streets. The newspapers had been carefully laid under flooring in a house and were found as a new carpet was being laid. They were handed to Roger

  • Libraries get a stay of execution

    LIBRARIES in Oxfordshire have been given a stay of execution after it was revealed no cash would be cut from their budgets this year. Under plans unveiled last year, 20 libraries were due to have their funding withdrawn from December 31.

  • School place allocation is still unfair

    I am not a complete idiot. I understand that if a school is full then a school is full. But I am sick and tired of reading figures produced by the likes of Oxfordshire County Council’s former Cabinet member for schools improvement, Michael

  • BBC cut would deprive us of local news

    As John Fray said in last Tuesday’s Oxford Mail, the shutting down of BBC broadcasts from Oxford would deprive the city of its dedicated programmes. But it would also be a great loss to the whole of the South Midlands, which would no longer be locally

  • Town & Gown was a memorable event

    It was great to see a picture of Mike Cleaver presenting the trophies at the Oxford Town & Gown 10k race in aid of Muscular Dystrophy (Oxford Mail, May 16). Mike and myself were racing cyclists in the late 1960s and rode together for many years on the

  • Gareth's an inspiring teacher

    With reference to your article on Gareth Malone (Oxford Mail, May 16), some time ago, we watched the TV programme Gareth Malone’s School for Boys, in which a desperate headteacher had asked him to help overturn the abysmally low reading ability and interest

  • Enter animal art contest

    There are just a few days left to send in entries for Animal Aid’s nationwide youth art and poetry competition. The competition is open to anyone between the ages of 11 and 16. All they have to do is create some artwork, or write a poem, on the theme

  • History is littered with tinpot tyrants

    I cannot say I am surprised by the sacking of Ian Hudspeth from Oxfordshire County Council by its leader Keith Mitchell. Anyone who has the temerity to challenge Mr Mitchell’s dictatorship can expect nothing else. It is a typically puerile reaction

  • A music industry insider shares his experiences

    IT probably sounds a bit pretentious to call myself a music industry insider, but this is how I’ve often been described in my role providing DJs and bands for a spectrum of private and corporate events. We were thrilled my company, Sound Advice, had

  • CRICKET: Horspath battle to salvage draw

    Horspath fought a rearguard action to secure a battling draw at home to Gerrards Cross in Division 2 West. The visitors posted a formidable 289-4 from their 60 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat. Paul Muchall led the way for the visitors

  • CRICKET: Ryan’s terrific haul is in vain

    Luke Ryan claimed a superb six-wicket haul, but finished on the losing side as Banbury were beaten by ten runs at Harpenden in Division 1. Winning the toss and batting first, Harpenden posted 259 all out, despite seven of their batsmen failing

  • RESULTS: 21/22

    SERIOUS CRICKET HOME COUNTIES PREMIER LEAGUE Division 1 High Wycombe 299-6 (61 ovs, J Benning 110), Bishop’s Stortford 134 (42.1 ovs, D Blacktopp 77). High Wycombe 25pts, Bishop’s Stortford 3. Harpenden 259 (58.5 ovs, B Frazer 80, R Damiano 66,

  • The changing face of Bicester

    A CLASSROOM opened at Cooper School in 1988 to help pupils arriving from primary school. It was intended to make the move less scary. Divisional educational officer Joan Crouch, who cut a red ribbon to open it, is seen in the first picture with two of

  • Birthday party brings old classmates back together

    JEFF Samways’s 60th birthday party doubled up as a school reunion. Former classmates turned out to wish him well and share memories of their days at Fitzharry’s School, Abingdon, in the 1960s. They broke off briefly to have their photograph taken at

  • CRICKET: Super Laudat is Oxford saviour

    Stuart Laudat was the star of the show as Oxford edged past Welwyn Garden City by two wickets on Saturday to go top of Division 1. With wickets falling regularly around him, Laudat’s knock of 70 in 75 balls, plus a cameo innings of 47 from

  • RESULTS: Greyhounds 21/22

    SATURDAY’S RESULTS 7.35: 1 CARE CHOICE 3-1, 2 Gangster Express 2-1 fav. Trio: (1x2x5). Trainer: Bicknell. Time: 27.84. 7.50: 1 PHILANIMO BILL 5-2, 2 Harlequin Haley 7-2. Trio: (4x6x3). Trainer: Massey. Time: 27.12. Malbay Elite (2) 6-4 fav. 8.05: 1

  • Check your health insurance card

    REGARDING the letter about renewing the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) (Oxford Mail, May 19), anyone who received their European Health Insurance card years ago should carefully check the expiry date before travelling to an EU country. Renewing

  • United’s owner hails Thomas influence

    Oxford United owner Ian Lenagan said he ‘could not speak highly enough’ of the job Kelvin Thomas has done at the club. Lenagan lavished praise on United’s chairman at the club’s end-of-season awards dinner on Saturday night. And the

  • Thousands attend Christians' 'Love Oxford' event

    CHRISTIANS were told to be bold about their faith as they gathered in Oxford to celebrate their religion. The sixth annual Love Oxford festival at the weekend featured discussions, music, children’s activities and prayer. Thousands of people flocked

  • Night of honours

    Alan Hodgkinson admitted to being humbled by his recognition award. Oxford United’s goakeeping coach received the award from main sponsors Bridle Insurance for his contribution to both the club and football in general. “I have been

  • Teenager recovering after Abingdon stabbing

    A TEENAGER was last night recovering after a stabbing in Abingdon. The 17-year-old boy was taken to hospital after the incident in Northcourt Road. Two teenage boys were arrested after the incident. Last night, one was charged with causing grievous

  • COMMENT: Welcome news for Westgate

    HEADLINES over the past few months have been dominated by cutbacks. We have seen cuts to jobs, public services and private investment. So the news plans to redevelop Oxford’s Westgate Centre are moving forward could not have come at

  • Revived Westgate Centre revamp could include cinema

    CINEMA screens could be the star of the show at the new Westgate Shopping Centre, the Oxford Mail can reveal. A £330m redevelopment of the ageing centre has been on hold in recent years as developers assessed its viability after the economic

  • SCHOOL CONTEST: Time running out to enter

    TIME is running out for schools wishing to enter our “School Build SOS” competition and have a chance of winning a £7,500 revamp. The Oxford Mail launched the contest earlier this month and the application form will be printed for the final time on Wednesday

  • Tour Performance at the Pitt Rivers Museum

    Have you ever wonder what inspires a person to create an object? Veronica Cordova is studying Contemporary Arts at Oxford Brookes University. As part of her research she is doing a tour-performance at the Pitt Rivers Museum on 27th May. If interested