Archive

TABLE tennis in Barton has scored a straight-sets victory. Barton Leisure Centre has been given two funding awards to develop a new Barton Community Table Tennis Club. The awards, totalling £3,665, allow the centre to buy equipment and train members

THE postmaster suspended after defrauding his own post office wants the branch out of his shop. Vipin Patel, who owns and runs Horspath Stores where the post office branch is based, has also said sorry to all those who have supported him after he admitted

11.03: Mash Mad Tia, Leaseoflife, Lin-grawn Penny, Newhalls Risky 2, OI OI GILLY, Snazzy Sky 3. 11.19: Jacquelines Joy, BURWOOD INDY, Clear Issue 2, Kilcarrig Tiny 3, Captain Tin, Smile On Sveta. 11.34: Geneva Robbie 3, Pennys Castro, PRIMO APOLLO,

THE Gaddafi regime may be in its death throes but a spine surgeon returning to Oxford from a humanitarian mission is worried about ongoing bloodshed. Dr Khaled Aneiba, himself a Libyan who has been working at the Nuffield Orthopedic Centre, has just

ANDREW Ffrench speaks to best-selling novelist David Nicholls about how his tale of a bittersweet romance was adapted for the big screen. LAST year, the Oxford Mail and Waterstone’s chose David Nicholls’ One Day as their Book of the Year

I THINK it was American revolutionary Benjamin Franklin who commented that there were three certainties in life – death, taxes and an annual tour by The Bluetones. That may not be quite right – maybe he didn’t mention taxes – but one thing all lovers

KATHERINE MACALISTER throws caution to the wind to sample some exotic delights at My Sichuan Restaurant. Have I told you how good this chicken is?” Mr Greedy asks. “It’s really unbelievable. “I’ve never had anything quite like it in my life

FINAL DESTINATION 5 (15). Horror/Thriller/Action/Romance. Nicholas D’Agosto, Miles Fisher, Emma Bell, Arlen Escarpeta, Tony Todd, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood. Director: Steven Quayle. Even if you’ve only seen one of the previous

ONE DAY (12A). Romance/Drama. Anne Hathaway, Jim Sturgess, Rafe Spall, Romola Garai, Patricia Clarkson, Georgia King, Jodie Whittaker. Director: Lone Scherfig Based on the best-seller by Oxford Mail Book of The Year winner David

David Walliams had it all. Fame, success and awards coming out of his ears. But it wasn't until the comedian met the love of his life, supermodel Lara Stone, that we began to see a softer side to him, and with it came his new career as a children's author

Ahead of his guest slot at the Crazy Bear Garden Party in Stadhampton this weekend, Boy George talks exclusively to Tim Hughes about his career, hopes, regrets and plans for the future. FOR 30 years, Boy George has been an iconic presence

NASTY does not come naturally to Hannah England, but as she prepares to make her World Championship bow next week, she admits she’s ready for a tough battle in Daegu. The 24-year-old 1500m runner spent an extended spell on the sidelines at the start

John Bradshaw has spent his career as an anthrozoologist, studying the interaction between humans and animals. The demands of academia has mean he has focused on producing countless papers in scientifiic journals. But now he has found himself

A HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN 100 WEAPONS by Chris McNab (Osprey, £25)In his foreword to this great book, Andrew Roberts describes it as a “collector's item.” It is like having the Bible at hand, only this superbly illustrated volume is about war. Simply

A group of earnest scholars may be sighted in Oxford over the weekend of September 24, dashing between Trinity and Merton Colleges. None will be wearing a deerstalker, although a magnifying glass could be in evidence. These are members of the Sherlock

Artist Jamie Lewis, originally from Brightwell- cum-Sotwell, has illustrated The Secret World of Microbes, a microbiology book for school students published by the Society for General Microbiology (SGM) at £9.99. Jamie, who attended Abingdon School, has

AEA Technology 2.8 BMW 4760 Electrocomponents 198.4 Nationwide Accident Repair 87 Oxford Biomedica 6.25 Oxford Catalysts 59 Oxford Instruments 816.75 Reed Elsevier 483.4 RM 91.75 RPS Group 194.2 Courtesy of Rdmayne Bentley, Abingdon

CHERWELL District Council has earned almost £190,000 extra in parking fees and fines in four months. Cherwell District Council increased its charges and made blue badge holders pay from April. Figures obtained by the Oxford Mail show the council has

AN ARMY of 30 volunteers is now on hand to help a town’s elderly and needy as social care cuts bite. The North East Abingdon Good Neighbour Scheme was launched on Saturday and it’s hoped the scheme will cover the whole town within 18 months. It comes

LIFE is sweet for Katie Christoffers after she turned her back on a scientific career to start her own chocolate business. Ms Christoffers, 33, from Wallingford, worked for six years as a scientist in an Oxford University biochemistry lab, but a growing

THE redevelopment of Oxford City football club’s ground has been given a major shot in the arm thanks to the generosity of the county’s business community. Guests at the Oxfordshire Business Awards gala dinner in June raised more than £3,500, which was

LAST year Nichola Southey was given five days to live following a devastating asthma attack at a birthday party. But now her mum has said she is showing signs of recovery after spending 10 months in hospital. Miss Southey, from Bicester, suffered brain

SHAW GIBBS OXFORDSHIRE FOURSOMES LEAGUE Section 3 Oxford City 2 (3pts), Hadden Hill 1 (1) (Oxford City first): M Hall & P Higgins bt M Partridge & J Roper 4&3, C Marriott & A Higgins bt D Powey & H Morley 4&3, G Soave & M Soave lost to G Hamilton

A FAREWELL party for Oxford sausage restaurant The Big Bang closed part of Walton Street to traffic. More than 350 people enjoyed bangers and mash, music and memories as they said goodbye to the restaurant. Owner Max Mason closed one lane of Walton

SOME may view Max Mason as a shameless self-promoter but you’d have to be pretty po-faced not to raise a smile at his restaurant’s closing event that ‘shut’ part of Walton Street. Pen-pushers at the city council are no doubt unhappy he didn’t apply for

Didcot Conservative Club finished their season on a high note by beating Group A leaders Comrades Club 4-2 at home, writes PETE EWINS. Jenny Florey (4,740) and Dave Tooke (3,050) put Didcot 2-0 in front, before Simon Ellam and Chris Alexander (4,230)

Oxford A won 3-2 at home to Northants A in the Inter Area Cup semi-final first leg. Mark Trafford, Kevin Godfrey and Stuart Florey were on target to give Oxford a narrow advantage for the return match on Sunday, September 4.

It was a real family affair as an Oxford City & County trio gained a dramatic success to lift the Thame Triples Trophy at the Queens Road club. Skip Len Lacey, his wife, Sue, and their son-in-law, Paul Lopez, triumphed 11-9 against South Oxford

Thame beat Shiplake 85-74 in the Oxfordshire Ladies’ Top Club final at Oxford City & County. Thame 85, Shiplake 74 (Thame players first) – Singles: H Westcott 17, M Bullock 21. Pairs: C Walker & D Penn 25, S Blackmore & V Beaumont 17. Triples: J Brooks

Oxfordshire's Mark Sykes saw his hopes of glory in the Bowls England Men’s National Champion Of Champion Singles dashed in the quarter-finals at Worthing. The Banbury Borough bowler went out 21-10 to Chris Higham (Kingsteignton, Devon). Sykes had opened

HISTORIANS have warned Oxfordshire will be left with a forgotten past because of budget cuts to the county’s archive. The Oxfordshire Local History Association (OLHA), which represents more than 3,000 amateur historians, said planned 36 per

HARRY Collins won Frilford Heath’s Junior Gold Medal in thrilling style on his home course. A great par out of the bunker on the last hole saw him pip Harry Wetton (Woburn) to the title by one shot on 147. More than 50 of the south of England’s best

FRILFORD Heath’s Sally Ayres romped to victory in the girls’ 12 and under section of the BB&O Golf Partnership junior event at Mentmore. Ayres (pictured) scored 44 points to win from Bearwood’s Julie Warke, who bagged 32. Danielle Benger (Studley Wood

THERE was a familiar face at the Kassam Stadium yesterday – former striker David Rush. Having not been back to Oxford since he left the club in 1997, Rush has now been at the Kassam Stadium twice in around six weeks. He returned in July to play in the

JOSH McEachran returned to his roots this week – and showed just what it takes to get to the very top. The Chelsea and England Under 21 midfielder returned to his home village of Kirtlington to try and play his part in helping to keep younger

JOSH McEachran has been told by Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas that he is a big part of the club’s future. And that means that the 18-year-old will not be allowed out on loan – for now at least. McEachran broke into Chelsea’s first-team

I WROTE to View Points recently, which was printed (Oxford Mail, August 8) about the man who is no longer being allowed to take his garden waste in a wheelbarrow to Redbridge Recycle depot because it is said to be dangerous, under health and safety rules

ON Thursday, August 4 at about 10.30am, my wife was knocked off her bike by a taxi driver parked near a junction on double yellow lines. As she overtook, he jerked open his door to get out of his car, knocking both her and her bike on to the road. He

WITH reference to the rather sad article on IVF (Oxford Mail, July 18). While I understand cuts need to be made (though seldom are they made where they should be, ie, NHS managers, etc) to say couples can always adopt rather than have IVF is often easier

I WRITE hoping to contact people who live, or who lived at Cutteslowe Estate during the 40s, 50s and 60s, who have any old photographs (with, or without people in them) with the Bottom Reck Swimming Area, near the Bridge Point. I need them for a film

KATHERINE O’Connor was crowned Oxfordshire ladies’ champion of champions with a dominant display. O’Connor (Tadmarton Heath) finished nine shots clear of her nearest challenger Laura Watkins (Bicester) after carding a fine 69 at The Oxfordshire

I FEEL very upset and angry to hear Mr Cameron’s remarks concerning fatherless families. He suggests that it is the lack of a father figure in the home which produces young teens without a sense of right and wrong. What an ill-informed

READING (Oxford Mail, August 8) the case concerning Sanjay Sarkar and his battle to clear his name following a false rape claim against him, no man arrested for rape should have his name all over the papers until such time as he is found guilty. The

At a time when we are about to be charged to park to visit Port Meadow and Cutteslowe Park, I would like to thank my local farmers for giving us beautiful and well-maintained fields and paths to walk across. Farm subsidies cost us tax payers a matter

MR Wickham-Jones (Letters, August 10) wants us to remember the bombing of Hiroshima and Dresden. Evidently he does not want us to remember the German bombing of London and Coventry, or what the Japanese did in Nanking, or the German concentration and

I CAN’T understand if Water Eaton Park and Ride is free, why do cars park at the end of Harefield Road, obstructing people coming into the road or going out? They always park near the end of the road, while some cars also park halfway on to the path.

THERE was a lovely event for families connected to RAF Brize Norton at the weekend, but organisers blocked us from covering it. It seems that families connected to the military are not allowed to speak to the press. But here’s a philosophical and political

SEVEN hundred people have signed a petition opposing the introduction of horse-drawn carriages in Oxford city centre. It has emerged the petition was organised by the animal rights group PETA (The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), which alerted

ORGANISED gangs and opportunist thieves are stealing scores of catalytic converters from cars in the county. The latest statistics released by Thames Valley Police show the number of thefts in Oxfordshire has risen from seven in 2009/10 to 92 last year

NEIGHBOURS are demanding clarity over Oxford University’s intentions for the former children’s hospital site in Headington. The university is hoping to buy the Park Hospital site from Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. But the plot

AN OXFORDSHIRE village is in mourning for a man responsible for producing some of the best British comedy programmes. John Howard Davies was the director and producer of hit programmes such as Fawlty Towers, Monty Python, The Good Life, The Fall and

OXFORD United chairman Kelvin Thomas is full of praise for the attitude taken by the Oxford United squad so far this season. And he is optimistic that their professional approach can reap rewards. Despite a disappointing start to the season with defeat

TEENAGERS were screaming with delight this morning as they ripped open their GCSE results. Youngsters from across Oxfordshire are gathering at secondary schools to learn how well they have done. Nationally teenagers achieved record GCSE

YOUNG offenders in Oxford believe community work is the best way to pay for their crimes as the Government unveiled plans to toughen up on community service. Justice ministers yesterday warned offenders not jailed would have to work four

THERE is great merit in forcing criminals to repay the community by putting in some good, solid work — as they were doing at Shotover Country Park this week. The Government yesterday unveiled a heavily structured programme for the jobless criminal, where

The redevelopment of Oxford City football club’s ground has been given a major shot in the arm thanks to the generosity of the county’s business community. Guests at the Oxfordshire Business Awards gala dinner in June raised more than £3,500

Sixteen years have passed since Danes Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg, Kristian Levring and Søren Kragh-Jacobsen formed the Dogme 95 Collective with a view to forcing cinema back to basics. Among the tenets of the Bretheren's manifesto were an insistence

Sir – One of the privileges of age, Christopher, (Party time as I become a sexagenarian, Gray Matter, August 18) is to have a more altruistic outlook on life — so I am looking forward to more you, you, you and a lot less Me! Me! Me! Dave Horner, (Age

Drawing on the wondrous archives of the British Pathé newsreel, the Year to Remember collection provides a compelling chronicle of world history from the 1930s to the 1980s. Each three-disc set focuses on the decade's key events, but they also cover the

Sir – At a time when we are about to be charged to park to visit Port Meadow and Cutteslowe Park I would like to thank my local farmers for giving us beautiful and well-maintained fields and paths to walk across. Farm subsidies cost us tax

Sir – Cassandra Barrington-Harness’ letter (August 11) gives an opportunity to remind people of the ‘Open Doors’ weekend (September 10-11) in which, of course, Oxford University and the colleges will be participating. In the same spirit, they provide

Sir – We would like to warn your readers of a major hazard associated with the new garden waste bags that the council requires us to buy. As any gardener knows, a garden refuse bag has to be wide and short for cuttings and weeding, rather than long and

Sir – I enjoyed reading Christopher Gray’s article (August 11) on the merits of train travel versus coaches. I am also a self-confessed train spotter, but I take issue that between Oxford and London the train is ‘cheaper, quicker and more comfortable

Sir – The excellent Chris Koenig (Report, August 18) writes impartially on the pros and cons of the new rules regarding HMOs (Houses of Multiple Occupation). These rules will mean that landlords will pay high fees if they wish to let their property to

Sir – Oxford City Council is to be congratulated on introducing the new licensing scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), which will come into force early next year. A couple of letting agents are quoted in The Oxford Times as saying that the

Sir – I’m a keen cyclist, and over the past few months you’ve published several of my letters extolling the virtues of cycling, for which I’m very grateful. However, I’m slightly concerned that I may have come across to some of your readers

Childhood acquired brain injury (ABI) has a devastating and life-long impact on the child and their whole family. Bones can mend and scars can heal but a brain injury stays with you for life and has an affect on everything you think, feel and do. An

My friends arrived for lunch the other day carrying a bottle of bubbly. How nice! I was even happier to see that the bottle in question was Duval Leroy Fleur de Champagne Premier Cru (£28.49 www.waitrosewine.com) — very much a favourite of mine and one

Sir – Readers should be aware that the county council’s consultation on proposals for the library service has been running for over two months, and will close in less than seven weeks. In the meantime, details of the ‘workshops’ promised at the outset

Sir – The bicycle is far and away the most sensible means of getting around in this town, and I use it whenever I possibly can. But in recent correspondence I do find it amusing that the reaction of those superior cyclists, who cannot deign to share

Sir – Bus fares probably are too high. With a 40 per cent share of the market to the city centre, and heavy restrictions on car parking, buses are in a monopoly position. The bus companies have matched their prices for years, and while a new operator

Sir – Gosh! Until I read Dan Mitchell’s letter (August 18), I had thought that sainthood was dead. But I cannot hope to emulate his saintly attitude towards tourists. When elbowed off the Magdalen Street pavement by a gaggle of fizzy-drink-sipping

Sir — If the new Old Road university medical buildings are approved after the call-in (Report, August 11) there will be knock-on effects well beyond the immediate vicinity. The planning conditions understandably include funding a controlled parking zone

Sir – Lovely Headington Hill Park is slowly being degraded. First the council stopped locking the park at night; then the council sold the park keepers’ houses. There is no longer any presence in the park when trouble occurs. Now the council

Sir – ‘Whoever has the brief for tourism in Oxford’, writes your correspondent Tony Cross (August 11) needs to ‘face up’ to the ‘gross overcrowding’ of the city centre in summer. Actually there appears to be no council officer or committee specifically

BANBURY charity Habitat for Humanity will be challenging visitors to Greenbelt Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse to help build a home in four days this weekend. It is seeking 1,235 festivalgoers to put their name to a brick and build a mock house, with

A “SECOND chance” project to help school under-achievers punch their weight and gain sporting qualifications begins in Blackbird Leys next month. The course, funded by Oxford Academy, will give school-leavers the chance to gain a boxing coaching BTEC

This year’s British Championships were, amongst other things, a showcase of young British talent. Bicester Club’s Marcus Harvey has had a fantastic year and seen his BCF grade rise over 30 points to 212 — but for once the 15-year-old was not the

A MAJORITY of people have told Oxfordshire County Council they want a controversial cycle lane put in Iffley Road. Thirty out of 53 people consulted by the council welcomed the 700m southbound lane to be put in between The Plain and Bullingdon Road.