Archive

ABINGDON’S cultural and historical sites will be open to visitors on September 10 and 11 in a celebration of the town’s heritage. The annual Heritage Open Weekend allows visitors free access to properties that are not usually open or normally charge

SIR Terry Wogan, Winston Churchill’s daughter and former Chancellor Alistair Darling and are among the big names heading for the Woodstock Literary Festival. Thousands of book lovers will descend on the town for one of the UK’s fastest growing

A CONTROVERSIAL bid to turn The Bell Inn pub in Hook Norton into a home should be rejected, a council report says. A Cherwell District Council planning officer says the loss of the High Street pub “would result in the loss of a village service”. It

KATHERINE MACALISTER relaxes with a glass of wine or... three at the Summertown Wine Cafe. I expected the Dallas theme tune to start up as soon as we entered the Summertown Wine Cafe one busy Friday night. Because it was as if the 90s

Tony Mortimer of 90s band East 17 tells Tim Hughes why, a decade after the madness of their chart-topping fame, they are in a far better state of mind. EAST London bad boys of pop, East 17 were the antidote to the wholesome boy band image

SMALL and perfectly formed, Arcane has rapidly become one of our best-loved festivals. A far cry from Glastonbury, Reading, or even Truck, it really is minute, but, it seems, the amount of fun to be had is inversely proportional to its size. Calling

ANDREW FFRENCH delves into our latest Book of the Month with Sarah Winman’s first published novel. * THE BOOK: WHEN God Was A Rabbit has already enjoyed extraordinary success for a debut novel and Sarah Winman is being compared to David Nicholls

THE ART OF GETTING BY (12A). Drama/Romance/Comedy. Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Michael Angarano, Elizabeth Reaser, Sam Robards, Rita Wilson, Blair Underwood, Alicia Silverstone. Director: Gavin Wiesen. “Happiness is something

FRIGHT NIGHT 3D (15). Horror/Thriller/Comedy/Romance. Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, Toni Collette, Imogen Poots, David Tennant, Christopher Mintz-Plasse. Director: Craig Gillespie. While we patiently await our annual love bite from The

Eric Carle is a legend. He has sold 110 million books to date and has kept generation after generation of children entranced with his wonderful stories and illustrations. Katherine MacAlister catches up with the octogenarian on the eve of his most famous

RACHAEL O’CONNOR samples the musical summer adventure at The Yard. Tucked away down Pembroke Street sits Modern Art Oxford – which, in addition to being the South East’s leading gallery for the presentation of modern and contemporary visual

OXFORD’S drivers have given a resounding thumbs down to new city centre parking charges. Oxfordshire County Council has reintroduced pay and display fees in the evenings and on Sundays to raise around £600,000 and “protect vital services”. But critics

Lostprophets divide opinion like no other band. They are capable of strutting the stage with glam rock attitude and have perfected the power chord as well as any decent metal racketeers. But their pop credentials are undeniable. It has been ten years

WANTAGE is the latest Oxfordshire town to launch a Nightsafe scheme to combat drink and drug fuelled disturbances. So far eight bars have signed up to the partnership between police and pubs aiming to cut alcohol-related crime through awareness. By

THE new headteacher at Headington School has praised single-sex education and pledged the school will remain girls only. And Caroline Jordan, 49, said she hoped to work on widening participation to gifted local girls and investigate the possibility of

Oxford City's Hannah England came with a flying finish to snatch a superb silver medal for Great Britain in the women's 1,500m final at the World Championships at Daegu in South Korea today. The 24-year-old was seventh coming off the final

RURAL campaigners claim Oxfordshire countryside is under threat from proposals to shake up planning laws. Oxfordshire members of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) say the proposed changes will allow people to build “almost anywhere.” A phrase

A GREEN organisation is turning gold after it bagged a top tourism award. The Chilterns Conservation Board has become one of three businesses in Oxfordshire to win a Gold Award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme which accredits firms operating in

SMALL businesses in Oxfordshire are unconvinced a high-speed rail line will bring economic benefit to their companies, says a business group. The Thames Valley section of the Federation of Small Businesses asked its members what impact the HS2 project

Oxfordshire's Colin Whitehead experienced contrasting emotions at the Bowls England National Singles Championship at Worthing. The Headington bowler blitzed Jim Wilson (Connaught, Essex) 21-1 in the first round. But then he had the misfortune to run

Democrats Club were crowned the Johnsons Buildbase Oxford League Group B champions after a 6-0 win against Royal Standard, who finished their season pointless, writes PETE EWINS. Democrats’ winners were Terry Green (4,340 & 8,020), Billy Hill (4,750

Headington C lifted the Oxfordshire Bowling Association’s Hawker Cup with a 47-34 win over Banbury Borough A in the final at Oxford City & County. It was the first success in the county’s double fours competition for the Headington club since 2008, having

Oxfordshire Ladies lost 116-94 to Hampshire in a friendly at Cove, Farnborough. Oxon won on two rinks and drew on one other, with victories for skips Cyndy Lee and Carol Pearson. Hampshire 116, Oxfordshire 94 (Hants skips first): B Plumpton

Hagbourne are though to the Division 1 final of Berkshire Kennet LX League following a 51-43 victory over Suttons, from Reading, in the semi-finals. In the over 60s’ final, Hagbourne will play Desborough A at Wokingham on September 11. Wallingford face

Headington A remain on course to repeat last year’s double after squeezing past Carterton 66-63 in the Oxford & District League Cup semi-finals at South Oxford. With the league title already in the bag, they will now face Oxford City & County A in the

TONGAN international Will Hafu made a guest appearance for Bicester during their 47-22 friendly victory over Southam. Hafu, who is looking at contracts with London Scottish, Welsh and Irish, scored a try during a fine display. Bicester coach Alec Smith

Drayton Park reached the Shaw Gibbs Oxfordshire Foursomes League Knockout Cup semi-finals winning 2-1 at Bicester. In the last four, they will be away to Badgemore Park or 2010 runners-up Tadmarton Heath, who play on Sunday. Darren Morton and Tim Gannaway

IN A matter of weeks, a North American weed has carpeted a stretch of the River Ray. Low water flows have aided the Azolla’s growth and in the past four weeks a 150-metre stretch of the river, in Islip, has been covered in the floating water fern.

MYSTERY surrounds the death of an 81-year-old woman who was found collapsed on the side of the busy A420 near Faringdon. Police have launched an investigation and appealed for witnesses in an effort to find out how she died. The pensioner was taken

WHEATLEY kick off their season on Saturday by hosting Thames Valley Police in the Dale Gostick Memorial Cup (3). This annual fixture remembers Gostick, a Wheatley player, who was killed in May 2008 while serving with the Royal Marines in Afghanistan.

OXFORD Harlequins Under 17s are looking for new players to bolster their ranks. Coach Paul de Lange said: “Considering we are the only under 17 side in the city, there must be players out there.” For more information, contact team manager David Hodgson

Darren Elliott warmed up for the new English National League season in style, smashing five goals as Oxford City Stars beat their second string 15-1. It was the perfect preparation for the new campaign, which gets under way this weekend. A thrilling

Wines from the new world of Spanish winemaking – these are wines with ultra fresh fruit and crisp, clean flavours that really sing. Modern wines like this are far removed from the old tired and semi oxidised styles that were around ten or more

WITNEY are targeting an improvement on their impressive debut season in South West 1 East. With utility forward Jez Hicks starting his second spell as captain, they want to push on from their fifth-placed finish in the 2010-11 campaign. This might be

A MOTORCYCLIST injured in a crash has questioned whether short prison sentences are enough of a deterrent after the man responsible was released from jail after three months. Biker Gareth Jenkins spoke out after reading in the Oxford Mail about the early

Oxfordshire finished second in the South of England Under 20 Inter-Counties Championships at Tilsley Park, Abingdon. Peter Barnshaw (Abingdon Amblers) was the host county’s only winner in the 400m hurdles, clocking 56.60secs But a solid display, with

LEAD thieves have struck at a church for the third time in a week, stripping it of all its precious metal. They raided St Mary’s in Warkworth, near Banbury, late on Tuesday or in the early hours of Wednesday. But unlike thefts on Friday and Saturday

BRIZE Norton Jets picked up their first win of the season as they beat Bucks Phoenix 63-31 in the South Region League. The first quarter saw Jets take a 14-5 advantage, with some turnovers in defence from Claire Adams, Annabelle Bottomley and Kirsty

A woman who died after being found at the side of the A420 was not hit by a car, a post-mortem has revealed. The 81-year-old woman, who was found near Faringdon on Tuesday afternoon, died from head injuries. Her death is not being treated as suspicious

A SUNSET ceremony was held in Wootton Bassett last night to mark the end of military repatriations through the town. The Union flag was lowered down the flagpole and blessed before being rehoisted and raised in Brize Norton today. The

YOUR letters page on Monday (August 29) was remarkable in having so much that I agree with. The letter from Vim Rodrigo really hit the nail on the head with his comments about street parking. I remember the time when I only knew two people who owned

I WISH to register my protest in the strongest terms about the proposed parking charges at the Godstow Road car park, Wolvercote. I object to the scheme, wearing, as it were, three hats. The first is as a normal motorist, who likes to take his 96-

YOUR article (August 29) describing the intended prosecution by the RSPCA of a member of the Heythrop Hunt, was surprisingly brief in content, given that David Cameron has ridden with the Heythrop and that the accused is a friend of his. I recognise

I AGREE with Michael Wenham (Oxford Mail, August 23) that there is strong evidence for belief in life after death. The two great faiths commanding the allegience of millions, originated through paranormal events. Muhammad founded Islam through his

I feel that anyone advocating, whatever their tragic grievance, capital punishment, ought to be shot, albeit metaphorically. Never a day goes past without my being revolted by the fact that society allows to live those who, with total legal impunity

HERE’S a photograph of Log Man. He’s a garden ornament that’s a one-off, you can’t buy one because I made him. Log Man was taken from my garden this week so if you see him in a car boot sale or in a garden you will know he is stolen property. What

Hannah England has nothing to lose today in the biggest race of her life. The Oxford City athlete will compete in the final of the women’s 1,500m at the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea at 12.55pm. And following a thrilling semi-final

Chiltern Railways is to introduce an airline-style “premium economy” class on services linking the UK’s two biggest cities. But executives using the firm’s new business zone will still have to pay for their food and drink, as well as forking out an extra

CHINNOR look like being genuine title contenders in National 3 South West after strengthening their squad over the summer. Having made eight signings and with no significant departures, Chinnor should have more competition for places than ever. And

OXFORD Harlequins have signed 15 new players and seen seven leave after a summer of transition for the National 3 South West club. This will be their final season playing under the Quins name before the newly merged Oxford club takes to the field in

SUMMERTOWN definitely does need a post office. David Williams (Oxford Mail, August 24) does not appear to know that the last branch to close in Summertown did so, not because there was insufficient demand but because Martins sold their shop to Costa

Is the Priime Minister going grey? That was the whispered question among journalists gathered at BMW Mini to see the two millionth car roll off the production line yesterday. Some thought it was the just the light in the Cowley plant; others were not

BANBURY’S Mini World Rally Championship team are hoping for another top placing as they head for Strasbourg and their fourth event of the year, Rally France-Alsace this weekend. The team are keen to capitalise on their third place in Germany for Spaniard

The transfer of repatriations of fallen troops to a new RAF base in Oxfordshire is due to be marked with an official handover ceremony. After four years, ceremonies will return to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on Thursday. They were moved to RAF Lyneham

A teenage girl was hit with a hammer and a cricket bat in an attack outside Templars Square shopping centre. The 19-year-old was treated at the John Radcliffe Hospital for minor injuries after being allegedly confronted by two other girls at 3.51pm on

DAVID Cameron drove Cowley’s two millionth Mini off the BMW production line yesterday, as he hailed the plant as a “British manufacturing success story”. The Prime Minister, who said he had not driven for more than a year, only drove the car 20ft, but

Police searching for convicted sex attacker Graeme Jarman are following up hundreds of leads in a bid to find him. Jarman, 47, who moved to Oxford in 2002, slept rough in the city until he robbed a woman at knifepoint in Wallingford. He is now wanted

A MAN has been convicted of plotting to snatch a child off the street for sex after depraved conversations over the internet with a stranger. Anthony Baker registered on Flirtomatic.com in an attempt to chat to women. But after the 21-year-old failed

DETECTIVES should be praised for nailing two despicable individuals in Anastassios Papas and Graham Cochrane. They face a total of 12 years behind bars for trafficking women into Oxford from Eastern Europe for the sex trade. We applaud

SEX trafficking is one of Oxford’s back-street problems, a charity said last night. The warning comes as two men yesterday began a combined 12 years in jail for illegally controlling prostitutes in the city. Oxford Community Against

Sir – I come from Oxford but have lived in the South of England for the past 40 years. I visited Oxford for the day and was so disappointed to find that I was visiting another ‘clone’ city centre in that the majority of the shops are chains. Where have

Sir – Rather than trade insults with Dan Mitchell (Letters, August 18) who describes those of us troubled by the overcrowding of our city as graceless, arrogant and self-important, might I plead for courteous, rational discussion of the matter. Martin

Sir – September 11, 2011, is the tenth anniversary of the destruction of the Twin Towers in New York. This event affected people throughout the world and continues to affect the lives thoughts and feelings of many. Oxford Council of Faiths (OxCoF) cannot

Sir – I am writing as I take great offence at David Cameron’s remarks at the youth club Base 33 in Witney. His thoughts and words are sexist and at the very least archaic, as it has been proved through research into this very “area” that children from

Sir – Congratulations to your correspondent George Armstrong (Letters, August 11) for his ability to demonstrate such ignorance towards cyclists in a few short sentences. Permit me to enlighten him. Cyclists will use the cycle lanes when they are usable

Sir – Dave Horner (Letters, August 25) will be disappointed in his plea for less “Me!, Me!, Me!” from Christopher Gray. In Gray Matter, August 25, the writer refers to himself no fewer than 19 times (8 ‘I’s, 7 ‘my’s and 4 ‘me’s). Dr Brian Atkins, Eynsham

Sir – Were you in Bomber Command, during the Second World War? Testimony Films is producing a new documentary for Channel Five to honour the sacrifice of Britain’s Bomber Boys during the war. Almost 50 per cent of the Bomber Boys who flew in the war

Sir – I recently returned from holiday to discover that the street lights on my estate were being replaced. This all sounds fine except, other than the fact that the lamp posts are made from green painted steel instead of concrete, the actual lamps appear

Sir – Over the last few weeks you have printed many letters protesting at the huge numbers of students from language schools outside Oxford who are continually blocking the pavements at Carfax, particulary on Saturday afternoons, and generally getting

Sir – To control tourist density in their centres, magnetically interesting cities like Cambridge and Oxford now clearly need to implement exceptional measures that will benefit visitors and residents alike. This need is obvious from the informative

Sir – Oxfordshire County Council has shown a continuing inability to get to grips with the problem of delayed discharges. Recent Government figures show that Oxfordshire is again the second worst performing local authority area in the country. The problem

Sir – It would detract immeasurably from the quality of life of the people of Headington and north-east Oxford if the car park next to Waitrose were lost to housing. The commercial prospects of the local shops would also be severely affected. I recently

Sir – The trouble with extending the HMO scheme is that it is charging good landlords a great deal of money for being good and responsible enough to sign up to the scheme, whilst failing to penalise and seek out the bad landlords who will dodge registering

Sir – It is devoutly to be hoped that the objections being raised over Oxford University’s plans (Report, August 11) for two new research centres to be built on what is popularly known as the Old Road Campus (ORC) can be resolved, for the importance to

James Constable rejected the chance to join League One side Bournemouth on transfer deadline day. The Oxford United striker travelled south to hold talks with the Cherries yesterday, but the two parties could not reach an agreement over a permanent deal

A new book tells how Kathleen Foster was robbed of her childhood. The theft, we learn, took place on one of the most infamous days in world history, December 8, 1941. For on the day that the Japanese bombers struck at Pearl Harbor, Mrs Foster’s education

I have just had a visit from a rather earnest young man, who represents a particular winery in the UK. I will, for now, not be commenting on the wines but I was amused at his dubiousness that the two girls who are the next generation of the estate he

Despite Hollywood's enduring hegemony, many still look to France to set cinematic standards. Historians designated Paris the birthplace of the projected moving image, even though shows to non-paying audiences had been given in several other cities before

Duncan Jones suggested with Moon (2009) that he cared enough about science fiction to deliver it from the Hollywood blockbuster merchants who seem to think that dressing up a futuristic or dystopian tale with an abundance of special effects qualifies

Oxford University’s attempts to build a controversial new campus at Old Road in Headington have been successful. Its fate was decided last night at a meeting of the city council’s planning review committee after the original approval earlier this month

ANYONE walking through Millets Farm yesterday will have seen a lot of babies flailing their arms in the air. Far from being a call for help, this was a summer party where babies could sing and sign. The Sing and Sign programme encourages early communication

OXFORDSHIRE County Council does not know how many volunteers will be needed to staff its libraries if a planned reorganisation goes ahead, campaigners have warned. The council is still consulting on its new masterplan for Oxfordshire’s 43 libraries,

A REALITY TV show will see pampered youngsters put through their paces by staff at an Oxfordshire animal adoption centre. Staff at the Blue Cross will appear in BBC Three’s Young, Dumb and Living Off Mum, which features workshy young adults used to being

Few people realise that inside every prison in the country there is an Independent Monitoring Board (IMB), a group of ordinary members of the public doing an extraordinary job. They monitor the day-to-day life in their local prison and ensure that proper

Sir – I read with considerable sadness the report last week of the proposal to remove some of the trees from The Park Hospital site to make way for yet more University buildings. I started work at The Park Hospital for Children in 1958, not long after