Archive

  • Science facility being underused

    A £400M scientific research facility at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory is running at two thirds capacity because of a lack of Government cash. Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by the Campaign for Science and Engineering (Case

  • Yes, maths can really add up to fun

    WANT your children to be top of the class in maths?Then make it accessible and enjoyable. That’s the message from the head of maths at The Dragon School, in Bardwell Road, North Oxford, after the school was selected by education watchdog Ofsted as a

  • Last orders at local pub

    A historic Oxford pub has shut down two years after the landlady spent £30,000 modernising it. The Osney Arms in Botley Road closed earlier this month – 112 years after it was first built – and could be sold as a going concern or for residential

  • GREYHOUNDS: Thursday's Oxford runners

    7.35: Conduit, Cloyne Oak 2, MAGICAL RIO, Wychwood Boy, Zeagle Zamora 3, Movealong Max. 7.50: BIT VIEW EASY, Last Word Early 2, Call It Mylene, Milton Cooper, Verity Son 3, Scarlett Otara. 8.05: Loughgur Drive, Too Swift Risky 2, Primo Grainne, Cavies

  • Tennis club’s park move put on hold

    PLANS to serve up public land to a private tennis club have been put on hold after the Oxford Mail publicised the plans. Vale of White Horse District Council will now consult residents on the deal which would see Wantage Tennis Club move to Manor Road

  • Young dancers show off their talents

    SOME of Oxford’s finest young dancers showed off their talents at an event called Multiplicity at Pegasus Theatre. The 26 members of Oxford Youth Dance Company put on a series of performances at the theatre in Magdalen Road last Thursday. Gill Jaggers

  • STRIKE: Live blog as it happens

    16.45: The rally is dispersing. 15.37: Gawain Little tells marchers: "This is the most amazing display of strength and solidarity this county has ever seen." 15.21: Between 3,500 to 4,000 people estimated at the rally. 15.18: Marchers

  • No golden egg after mother's U's visit

    Oxford United mascot Olly the Ox had a face-off with an unexpected visitor at the U’s match against Cheltenham. Joining him on the pitch – and challenging Olly to a kick-around — was the Goose from pantomime Mother Goose, performed at Oxford Playhouse

  • Taxi ranks moved, causing confusion

    TAXI drivers in Abingdon claim a rank move by the county council has caused chaos. Cabbies say their six-car rank in East St Helens Street disappeared overnight earlier this month and the two replacement ranks are still not properly signposted. Oxfordshire

  • Passengers: pull out all the stops

    Villagers are being urged to hop on a train to do their Christmas shopping and boost the chances of their station getting a regular Saturday service in future. At the request of the Cotswold Line Promotion Group, trains will make special stops at Ascott-under-Wychwood

  • FOOTBALL: Super Welby bags a brace

    Lewis Welby slammed a double as Northway hammered Watlington 7-0 in Division 1 of the Oxfordshire Senior League. Liam Paul Freeman, Dan Vjestica, Jake Carter, Ant Simpson and Ash Duckett were their other scorers. Second-half goals from Danny Burrows

  • Local share prices (AM)

    AEA Technology 0.65 BMW 4452 Electrocomponents 207.4 Nationwide Accident Repair 68.5 Oxford Biomedica 4.8 Oxford Catalysts 51 Oxford Instruments 995.75 Reed Elsevier 512.25 RM 71.8 RPS Group 185.75 Courtesy

  • FOOTBALL: Hot-shot England is flying the flag

    April England fired a five-timer in St Edmunds' 8-0 win at Highworth Town in the Oxford Mail Girls League's Under 15 League. Sophie Grimson, Anna Jimenez and Sophie Tatford also netted. Jazzmin Alder shone with four goals in Tower Hill Vixens’ 7-1 home

  • Cameron calls for prompt decision on future of Corn Exchange

    THE future of Witney’s Corn Exchange will not be known before February despite the Prime Minister wanting it back open as soon as possible. The Corn Exchange closed on Thursday, November 10, because its heating and ventilation systems were in danger

  • FOOTBALL: Gregory fires five in goal bonanza

    Ryan Gregory led the way with a five-timer as Easington Sports raced to a 15-1 home win over Ducklington in the Giles Sports Witney Youth League Under 14C League. Rhys Hamblett scored four times, with Danel Fowler, Daniel McClean and Jamie

  • FOOTBALL: Defiant Rover retain record

    Rover Cowley made it four wins from as many games in the Critchleys Upper Thames Valley League Premier Division with a 2-1 home victory over Oxford Yellows, writes TIM SIRET. Piers McGlynn blasted a penalty over the bar for Yellows, before

  • FOOTBALL: Cholsey roar on

    Alex Fletcher blasted a hat-trick as Cholsey United crushed fellow Critchleys UTV League side Saxton Pirates 9-2 in the Berks & Bucks Sunday Junior Cup third round. Jamie Newport, Martin Dawson and Lee Dixon both bagged braces for the hosts. Cholsey

  • FOOTBALL: Luke shines in late flourish

    Luke Beauchamp scored an injury-time winner as Bletchingdon fought back from a goal down to beat Stonesfield 4-3 in an Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division cracker. It looked all over as Tim Wyatt and Mike Phipps gave Stonesfield a 2-0 lead. But

  • Posting early for Christmas as Castle Market opens its doors

    WHAT do you want for Christmas? Little Kiana Rahimi and Emily Graydon certainly know as they have already sent their letters to Father Christmas. Other youngsters will be able to join the four-year-olds in posting their letters when Oxford Castle’s

  • COMMENT: Keep on digging

    SO THE idea is to knock down everyone’s back fence and create a kind of communal allotment? In principle, it sounds innovative and well-meant, but it’s almost certain some in the East Oxford community where it has been proposed will be firmly

  • Plan to pool gardens to create giant city allotment

    NEIGHBOURS in East Oxford are being urged to tear down their fences and join their back gardens together to create a communal park. Six people have been working with Green city councillor Matt Morton to draw up a masterplan for the block of

  • Missing Abingdon woman found dead in Thames

    A 75-year-old woman who went missing on Saturday was found dead in a gravel pit last night. Valerie Adams, of Townsend, was found at about 8.15pm and her family has been informed. Police are not treating the incident as suspicious.

  • Stores face police underage booze test

    FIVE Witney stores failed a police test purchase operation after selling alcohol to two 14-year-old girls. They include three Tesco stores, on the Cogges estate, and in Ducklington Lane and Fettiplace Road. The Midcounties Co-op in Madley Park also

  • FOOTBALL: Stanley strike end Didcot's home drought

    ALEX Stanley’s 25-yard strike earned Didcot Town a 1-0 victory over Bridgwater Town and their first home Evo-Stik Southern League success in eight months. Stanley’s goal came after 18 minutes of the Division 1 South & West clash and was set up by debutant

  • Royal Mail lost parcel

    I am writing to moan about the Royal Mail compensation limits. Thank you Post Office. Some time ago I thought I would do my bit for Help for Heroes, so I decided to make some pens to give to the injured troops that are recuperating in this country.

  • No need for adjectives

    I read a small article in the Oxford Mail on Tuesday, November 22. The report sadly described how a 17-year-old was arrested for stabbing a man, aged 62, in Headington. A serious story, of course, and I hope the victim makes a full recovery. However

  • New head of struggling school is aiming high

    THE new headteacher of one of Oxfordshire’s most struggling schools has said pulling the school out of special measures is not enough. Joseph Rubba, who took up the post at Thameside Primary School, Cotman Close, Abingdon, in September, said he planned

  • THE DISABLED SPACE: Urgent plea to cyclists

    Imagine the inability to communicate, the daily plight of terrible mood swings, being totally unable to care for yourself and having no freedom with mobility... Sounds awful, right? Well, this is the reality of head injuries and as I found out, accidents

  • VOLUNTEER VOICE: Four decades assisting with St John Ambulance

    Today we profile Jackie Trinder, 60, from Dorchester, who volunteers with St John Ambulance Jackie Trinder, who is unmarried, is a first-aider and treasurer and fundraises as well. For her work she was given Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action

  • Crime does seem to pay

    I wonder how many people read on Tuesday (Oxford Mail, The Scales of Justice)? Almost invariably I skip over this regular page. However, I glanced at it this time and read the second entry. Having attended many court hearings over the years, in a professional

  • Driver lucky to be alive

    Reading the piece on the rail crossing accident, I was struck by the advert on the TV (“Should have gone to Specsavers”). Perhaps then he might not have broken his arm. Lucky to be alive, don’t you think? MJ EVERETT Upper Road Kennington

  • Stop these cuts now

    David Cameron has now admitted that despite draconian cuts to our public services, which has included the sacking of tens of thousands of hard-working employees, the national debt has increased and will continue to increase. We are constantly told that

  • Shambolic ride left passengers in tears

    First Great Western Trains – what a complete and utter shambles you are! How people who have no option but to use your ‘service’ daily cope with the frustration, I shall never know. A few figures to portray my experience of using your trains on November

  • Lakes will open after £70,000 grant

    AN OXFORD beauty spot will open to the public in spring 2013 after scooping a £70,000 funding award. Wolvercote Lakes, which were bequeathed to Oxford Preservation Trust by Viv Kirk seven years ago, cover an area of more than eight acres alongside

  • Duo back in the groove for United

    TOM Craddock and Anthony Tonkin played 90 minutes yesterday as Oxford United went down 4-0 to Coventry in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the Sky Blues’ training ground. Craddock has managed only ten minutes of first-team football this season, while

  • Railway employee cleared of sex assault

    A TICKET inspector who touched a train passenger’s leg has been cleared of sexual assault. First Great Western employee Jamie Broad admitted touching the 18-year-old woman’s leg and putting his arm around her on a train between Oxford and Didcot on June

  • Bridle still committed to Oxford United

    MAIN sponsors Bridle Insurance have reassured Oxford United fans that they are as committed as ever to the club – despite becoming majority shareholders at Blue Square Bet South side Eastleigh. “We’ll be involved with Oxford for as long as they want

  • Pickets set for day of action

    OXON: More than two thirds of Oxfordshire’s schools will be fully or partially closed today in the biggest public sector strikes for 85 years. Last night, 158 schools had announced they would close today and a further 52 will only be open to

  • Thomas: It's a balancing act for Oxford United

    OXFORD United chairman Kelvin Thomas says that managing the expectation levels at Oxford United will always be one of his most difficult jobs. A run of seven wins and three draws from 11 games saw Chris Wilder’s side climb to third in the npower League

  • Unsung hero of the buses honoured at last

    FOR more than 60 years Arthur Pearson has worked hard to serve thousands of bus passengers across Oxford. Yesterday, the longest-serving member of staff at Oxford Bus Company was recognised for his efforts at a national bus awards ceremony.

  • Boy lands lead role in stage show

    FOR most nine-year-olds, watching classic Christmas cartoon The Snowman is the closest they will ever get to flying with the character. But tonight, the magic will come alive for Joseph Darcey-Alden when he soars above a West End stage in an adaptation

  • Patients waiting too long in A&E

    Some patients are waiting up to four times longer than they should be before they are seen in Oxford's hospital emergency departments. It comes as the Oxford Mail can reveal patients have also waited up to a total of seven-and-a-half hours at the John

  • COMMENT: A&E delays call for some urgent action

    Awaiting an operation or procedure you’ve been mentally and emotionally preparing for is bad enough. But when it’s out of the blue, often in painful circumstances, it’s shocking that people could be left to wait over an hour before even being assessed

  • Children raise roof in festive singalong

    YOUNGSTERS from across Oxfordshire united to sing their hearts out for a good cause. Pupils from 19 primary schools took turns to sing carols and then raised their voices together for a finale of Tree of Light and Christmas on the Beach at Waikiki at

  • £6m to build link road ruled out

    COUNCIL leaders in South Oxfordshire have ruled out spending up to £6m to build the Harwell link road and help create 8,400 jobs in a new Enterprise Zone. Earlier this year, Science Vale UK, including Harwell Oxford and Milton Park, became one of 10