Archive

  • Cycle lane is 'unsafe'

    CYCLISTS and pedestrians in Oxford fear building work which led to a cycle lane and footway near Oxford railway station being narrowed is putting their safety at risk. Work is taking place to extend Oxford University’s Said Business School next to the

  • Leys pub wants your old pictures

    A POPULAR pub in Blackbird Leys is still calling out for memories of the estate to adorn its walls. The Bullnose Morris in Watlington Road reopened earlier this month after a massive refurbishment. It had asked punters to bring in pictures of Blackbird

  • 'I'll fight on to bulldoze house' says property developer

    A MAN who has so far failed to bulldoze a ‘listed’ Headington house has warned his fight is not yet over. Martin Young had applied to Oxford City Council for permission to demolish 29 Old High Street, and build five three-storey terraced houses in its

  • Police officer arrested on suspicion of misusing computer

    A 25-year-old serving police officer based in Oxford has been arrested on suspicion of computer misuse. She was arrested yesterday morning by the Force’s Professional Standards Department on suspicion of computer misuse under the Data Protection Act

  • Singing the joys of a clean sewer

    THAMES Water sewer flushers are trying to strike a chord this Christmas. A group of them, left, have uploaded a version of Deck the Halls to YouTube asking people to treat their drains properly over the festive season. Filmed in a Victorian brick sewer

  • Literary festival promises to be huge treat

    A WORLD-CLASS line-up of authors and public figures will be gathering in Oxford next March for the 2012 Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival. More than 80 events are already available to book with speakers including double Booker-winner Peter Carey

  • Local share prices (AM)

    AEA Technology 0.45 BMW 4364 Electrocomponents 189.4 Nationwide Accident Repair 64.5 Oxford Biomedica 3.1 Oxford Catalysts 53.5 Oxford Instruments 964 Reed Elsevier 505.25 RM 60.75 RPS Group 178 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • June Hall: Pillar of the community

    JUNE Hall, who ran a popular shop in Cowley for 40 years, has died at the age of 84 after battling cancer. Mrs Hall ran the shop in Gaisford Road with her husband John, becoming what many described as a pillar of the community. The shop

  • Eric Heath: Former council chief was a true gentleman

    FORMER Cherwell District Council chairman and executive member Eric Heath has died aged 77. Described as a true gentleman and “great community servant”, Mr Heath, from Bloxham, near Banbury, was a councillor for 11 years. He took on

  • Revamped pub fit for a king

    The story goes that King George III and his entourage were caught in a storm in 1774 and sought refuge in The Sun in Begbroke (of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world......). As it was known as a ‘disorderly house’ until then I can

  • Battery firm gains power

    A FAST-GROWING battery technology firm has signed a deal worth “several millions” with a major car manufacturer to power the vehicles of the future. Scott Brown, chief executive of Nexeon, which employs 45 people at its Milton Park headquarters, said

  • Industrial estate to generate 1,000 jobs

    A SECOND plan for business premises by the M40 at Banbury has been announced, taking the total number of new jobs in the area to 1,500. Barwood Developments Ltd has submitted a plan for six industrial units for land off Overthorpe Road, on the Banbury

  • Debt victims on increase

    OXFORDSHIRE consumer advisers are warning that twice as many people as last year are falling into debt this Christmas. And some are resorting to “payday” lenders – who sometimes charge more than a thousand per cent interest per year for their loans.

  • BAR BILLIARDS: Berinsfield batter Gladiators

    BERINSFIELD reached the semi-finals of the Johnsons Buildbase Oxford League’s Scotland Ash League Cup with a brilliant 4-1 win at Gladiators A, writes PETE EWINS. Phil McFarland (3,770) and Tony Broadway (6,680) put the away side 2-0 up, before Dave

  • DARTS: Oxon ace Smith meets his match in Whitlock

    Missed doubles proved costly for Oxfordshire hope Dennis Smith at Alexandra Palace on Wednesday night. The 42-year-old county ace was given a lesson by last year’s runner-up, Simon Whitlock, who cruised through the first-round tie 3-0, dropping just

  • Carol service draws hundreds to cathedral

    IF THE people who went to Christ Church Cathedral’s carol service weren’t in the Christmas spirit before, they certainly are now. The Cathedral welcomed about 800 people to its annual concert of carols on Tuesday. The service, which was sold out, also

  • Rogue trader told to pay back £22,000

    A ROGUE trader who preyed on the elderly has been fined £22,000 in the first case of its kind in Oxfordshire. William Connors, who lives in a caravan at Gypsy Lane, Greenacres, Slapton Road, Leighton Buzzard, was fined £18,000 by Oxford Magistrates’

  • BOWLS: Brown's four in county triumph

    A SIDE skipped by AJ Brown triumphed in the Oxfordshire qualifying round of the English Short Mat Bowling Association National Fours competition at the Regal Centre, Wallingford. Brown’s rink of Geoff Cross, Tim Cross and Gareth Davies needed an extra

  • GOLF: Club results

    NORTH OXFORD Lee Jackson’s Chistmas Texas Scramble: 1 J Hill, R Simpson, A Dachtler & N Oxendale 54.0; 2 A Spokes-Symonds, J East, R Southgate & A Peters 56.2; 3 J Wyatt, N Goldsworthy, A Wood & G Davies 56.6. Nearest the pin (11th): J Wyatt

  • AUNT SALLY: Wilkins shines to sink Yellows

    Phil Wilkins hit a six in his 13 dolls as Garsington Sports Club A beat Yellows 5-1 in the Gladiator Beer Seller Wednesday Night Indoor Lea-gue. RESULTS Gladiator Beer Seller Wednesday Night League: Garsington Sports Club A 5, Yellows 1; Team Monarch

  • Recycle trees in Southern Oxon... but only with a brown bin

    PEOPLE in southern Oxfordshire wanting to get rid of their Christmas trees have to put out their brown gardening bins on the street – even if they are completely empty. Waste collection chiefs at South Oxfordshire and Vale of White district councils

  • RUGBY UNION: Wallingford hold charity match

    Wallingford players will scrum down to raise funds for the Sue Ryder – Nettlebed Hospice on Christmas Eve. The are hosting an internal match to support the charity, with kick-off 2pm at the Hithercroft. Wallingford RFC president Nick Castle said: “The

  • About-turn as Hammers recall Hall

    Striker Rob Hall has been recalled from his loan spell by West Ham United – just days after agreeing to extend his spell with Oxford United. Earlier in the week, the 18-year-old frontman, who has scored six goals in 11 appearances, agreed to extend his

  • ICE HOCKEY: Stars crash to Chieftains blitz

    Oxford City Stars have now gone 12 games in English National League South Division 1 without a win following a 10-3 home hammering by title-chasing Chelmsford Chieftains. Stars got off to a fantastic start when South African Cameron Birrell

  • ROWING: Chambers brothers eye Olympic spot

    Brothers Richard and Peter Chambers boosted their chances of competing together at London 2012 after excelling in Great Britain’s second assessment trials at Boston. Richard, the elder of the Oxfordshire pair, won the lightweight men’s singles, while

  • RACING: March in tune to claim victory

    Radetsky March gave Mark Bradstock’s Letcombe Bassett stables, near Wantage a boost ahead of Carruthers’ crack at the Welsh National on Tuesday with victory at Ffos Las yesterday. The eight-year-old, a 10-1 chance, made all the running in the

  • RACING: Long Run back to his best - Waley-Cohen

    Owner Robert Waley-Cohen believes Long Run is back to his best ahead of his bid to retain his William Hill King George VI Chase crown at Kempton on Boxing Day. The six-year-old gelding was beaten by Kauto Star on his reappearance in the Betfair Chase

  • ATHLETICS: Jegou claims Hooky crown

    WHITE Horse Harrier Paul Jegou held off the challenge of James Bolton to win the Hooky Christmas Canter and end the year on a high. Jegou took the lead once the 12k multi-terrain race went off-road and finished 15 seconds clear of defending

  • Time to Rally for Oxford-built Mini

    MINI rally cars will make a historic return to Monte Carlo despite concerns over the future of the world championship. Banbury motorsport firm Prodrive said it missed a deadline to enter the January race because it was waiting for issues with the race

  • Local share prices (AM)

    AEA Technology 0.43 BMW 4441 Electrocomponents 189.3 Nationwide Accident Repair 64 Oxford Biomedica 3.1 Oxford Catalysts 53.5 Oxford Instruments 952.25 Reed Elsevier 508 RM 60.8 RPS Group 176.5 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Gifts give homeless helping hand

    HOMELESS people in Oxford will be a little warmer at Christmas thanks to donations from city residents. The Gatehouse has been appealing for gifts of essential items such as socks, pants and hats to hand out. Yesterday volunteers gathered at the homelessness

  • May the force be with U's!

    Oxford United defender Michael Duberry looked far from fearsome as he dressed as Princess Leia from Star Wars at the players’ Christmas party in Bournemouth. The dress code was ‘famous women’. Striker James Constable went as Serena

  • Council meeting's agenda 'overloaded'

    RESIDENTS’ groups claim key decisions determining the shape of Oxford for decades to come were rushed through a pre-Christmas council meeting overloaded with too many issues. A meeting of the full city council agreed plans to build 1,200 homes

  • COMMENT: Too much on agenda

    LOCAL democracy is a lot like justice. Not only must it be done, it must be seen to be done. Oxford City Council had an understandable wish to square away a lot of important issues before the end of the year, but officers and politicians should have

  • Regulars proud of pub

    I AM writing as a regular customer and on behalf of many others regulars of the Old Anchor Inn, Abingdon, to express my shock and disgust at the nature of the review which was published in The Guide (Oxford Mail, December 8). I understand that reviewing

  • Getting your meaning

    MAKE no mistake (RW Tucker, Oxford Mail ViewPoints, December 12) I understood what you meant first time. However, if you succeed in selling the Bishop’s robes (which you won’t) the money can be used by the church to pay widows, and orphans,

  • Plan for A40 is plain daft

    HOW daft can our councillors get? They want to turn the A40 into “a landscaped city street” (Oxford Mail, December 15) with pedestrian crossings across this wide road and a reduction of the speed limit to an unrealistic 40 mph. The A40 is one of our

  • LARGER THAN LIFE: All sorted for the big day

    SO JUST just a few more sleeps to the big day, and everything that makes up a modern day Christmas is coming together. Our X-Factor champions have been crowned, the January sales have started and the Christmas tree has already shed half its needles.

  • ATHLETICS: We'll be a good team, says Mara

    MARA Yamauchi is relishing racing alongside Paula Radcliffe at the London 2012 Olympic marathon. The 38-year-old Oxford athlete and former world marathon champion Radcliffe have already been named in Britain’s team for the 26.2-mile event. Yamauchi’

  • RUGBY UNION: Egerton called up by London Welsh

    Oxford University scrum half Sam Egerton was a surprise late inclusion in the London Welsh squad who drew 24-24 with Leinster A in the British & Irish Cup. Egerton, who turns 20 next week, came off the bench after 72 minutes to help the Exiles secure

  • U-turn on extra youth club hours snubs young people

    IN SPRING this year I was very pleased when the Rose Hill community was awarded about £1,000 to provide extra opening hours at what was then known as Rose Hill Youth Club over the Christmas period. This was a result of collaboration between the then

  • Feeling the chill

    HOW old do you have to be not to understand that 0C is freezing and that 32F is the same? Most people just use common sense, and when they’re cold, they’re cold; when they're hot, they’re hot and when they’re fine, they don’t need anyone to tell them

  • Thank you for Poppy cash

    I WOULD like to thank all those who helped to make this year’s Poppy Appeal in Witney such a success. From all the helpers who collected, the Army cadets for giving up their Saturday to help us with the street collection in the town and the cafés which

  • Disappointing decision on carriages plan

    I AM most disappointed that Oxford City Council voted against having horse-drawn coaches to carry tourists around (Oxford Mail, December 20). It denies us the pleasure of seeing the cabinet member for a Cleaner, Greener Oxford following them around the

  • THE INSIDER: Strange choice of target

    TWO very different political titans died this week: in North Korea, the brutal megalomaniac Kim Jong-Il, and in the Czech Republic, playwright president Vaclav Havel, right, who twice destroyed totalitarianism, first in words, and then in deeds

  • Grant is knockout news for Oxford boxing academy

    A GRANT from Sport England revealed today means an Oxford boxing school can have a permanent home for the first time in 39 years. Oxford Boxing Academy has been given £46,000 from a Sport England fund which allows it to buy the Saxon Youth

  • RUGBY UNION: Chinnor wait for ruling

    CHINNOR are still waiting to learn whether they can challenge the result of Saturday’s abandoned match at promotion rivals Redingensians. The National 3 South West clash was called off after 58 minutes following long delays surrounding the serious leg

  • RUGBY UNION: Seasonal cheer for injured Prinsloo

    Chinnor have rallied round to ensure broken-leg victim Ken Prinsloo is looked after over Christmas. Prinsloo broke his left fibula and dislocated his ankle in Saturday’s National 3 South West clash at Redingensians. With his leg in plaster, his family

  • Craddock hands over penalty duties at Oxford United

    Oxford United striker Tom Craddock says he won’t be stepping up to take any penalties from now on after his row with midfielder Peter Leven during the 2-0 win against Northampton Town. The pair, who travel to training and room together, clashed after

  • COMMENT: Charlotte's remarkable spirit

    DON’T the photos of Charlotte Nott once again display a spirit that will not be conquered by the loss of most of her limbs to meningitis. Our county has really taken Charlotte to its heart. We hope today’s pictures and story prove to all those who have

  • Two men sought over club glassing

    THESE are the pair detectives want to speak to after a man was glassed in the face at an Oxford nightclub. The 44-year-old victim needed 26 stitches to his cheek after being attacked at 1.25am in The Cellar nightclub, Frewin Court, off Cornmarket Street

  • Oxford's 'brave angel' Charlotte is battling back

    THIS TIME last year, little Charlotte Nott’s parents feared the worst. The three-year-old had been struck down with an aggressive form of meningitis and doctors were not sure she would pull through. But now, just 12 months on, and the

  • UPDATE: Woman escapes injury in A34 crash

    A woman driver escaped injured after crashing her car into a tree on the side of the A34 near Didcot this morning. The accident happened at 8.10am on the northbound carriageway between the Milton and Marcham interchanges. Thames Valley

  • Jacko lookalike jailed for £75,000 bank fraud

    BY DAY Amar Clement was the trustworthy bank worker at NatWest in Oxford and out of hours he was a Michael Jackson impersonator – but both were facades. Clement, left, who describes himself as “the closest lookalike on the planet”, is now starting a

  • A34 lane closed after crash

    ONE lane of the A34 at Milton is closed after a car crashed this morning. Initial reports are that a car has hit a tree and one lane northbound is closed.

  • Wines add to Christmas spirit

    As families come together over Christmas lunch, a flight of wine and champagne that chimes with a traditional turkey feast is a successful recipe to capture the holiday spirit. Glass in hand, a champagne breakfast is a ritual in my house, and a marvellous

  • Helping young people avoid homelessness

    BYHP supports young people to build independent lives, by helping them to gain life and work experiences which will help them to avoid homelessness and support themselves. Charlie is 21 years old. From a young age she had witnessed her father

  • UPDATE: Suspected broken leg in B480 crash

    IT is believed no one has been seriously injured in the crash that has closed the B480 Cuxham Road this morning. Police spokesman Craig Every said there are only reports currently of a man suffering a broken leg. A red Volkswagen Golf and silver Peugeot

  • Exploration from the living room

    The beauty of ice-capped mountains in the Antarctic ideally introduces a selection of books for Christmas. The Roof at the Bottom of the World (Yale, £25) is Edmund Stump’s panoramic canvas of a region of the world that few people have the chance to visit

  • B480 closed after two vehicle crash

    THE B480 Cuxham Road is closed both ways this morning after a crash. Two vehicles collided and the road is closed between Monument Road in Chalgrove and the A329 in Stadhampton.

  • Why not Waitrose?

    Sir – I note from Tom Jennings’s article on the old Fox and Hounds pub (December 15) that you use the ‘Tesco’ brand in the headline to describe the company. You don’t appear to do this for other organisations — are you on commission? Martin Reed,

  • Too young

    Sir – Tourist surveying roadworks in St Clements: “Tell me, little lad: are the main thoroughfares into Oxford always in this state?” Little lad: “How should I know? — I’m only 13.” Adrian Williams, Headington

  • Underhand scheme

    Sir – May I bring to the notice of residents local to the Templar Road Estate in North Oxford, the intention for Oxford City Council to allow the demolition of several sets of city council-owned garages in the area. The city council has at no time, to

  • Return to sender

    Sir – There are going to be lots of people this Christmas who will be disappointed that they have not received Christmas cards from friends and relatives. I know this because I have been getting their Christmas cards, Christmas cards addressed to people

  • Wake-up call needed

    Sir – Even if, as county council leader Keith Mitchell said (Library groups to seek legal advice, December 15) “We (the council) have worked very hard to make sure we fully comply with all the legal requirements”, is it not pathetic that only one option

  • Tiny tail wagging dog

    Sir – I am afraid Mr Hall has been economical with the truth concerning the Bodicote footpath diversion (Letters, December 15). The county council had to incur the expense of a public inquiry because a dozen residents of Bodicote and Bloxham (which

  • Preposterous plan

    Sir – I hope that the Government will understand that the proposed changes to the boundaries of Parliamentary seats are preposterous, and will deeply unsettle our city’s traditional links. The proposal for the extension of North Oxford eastward, for

  • Popular capitalism

    Sir – I very much understand how upset residents of the Leys are at the suggestion that they should be moved into the Henley constituency. But I would just like to say that they will be very welcome if it happens. Henley has been a safe Conservative seat

  • Separating traffic

    Sir – What planet do Oxford’s planners live on? I assume that they do not live on one of those graceful boulevards that already exist on the ring road, like Sunderland Avenue, around the Green Road roundabout or along the edge of the southern bypass in

  • No wonder people drive

    Sir – The current public transport system does not make me feel welcome in my native city. The success of joint ticketing on the buses is clear from the number of buses now seen in the city marked ‘sorry bus full’ and the huge numbers of people waiting

  • Free vote on prayers

    Sir – May I add my support to Melinda Tilley and Jerry Patterson who leave the council room when prayers are being said (Report, December 8). What has being a traditionalist to do with this function? Why is the Vale the only district council

  • Different approaches

    Sir – I write with regard to your article (December 8) about local authority action to tackle council tax fraud. The crux of the story is that councils across Oxfordshire have called on those making incorrect claims for single person discount to come

  • Christian tradition

    Sir – In response to Christian prayers being described as ‘inappropriate’ by a minority (Report, December 8) I would like to point out that what has made our nation great for so long, has been the fact we have been a God-fearing nation that honours

  • Parky at the Pictures (DVD 22/12/2011)

    It's never easy selecting the best DVDs of the year. There have to be eligibility rules and they can be pretty arbitrary. For starters, no title has been considered from within a boxed set - even though this rules out the various Kenji Mizoguchi, Yasujiro

  • Solar energy engages public

    Sir – Brian Wallis, of Middle Barton, (Letters, December 15) presents a well-argued case for the revision of feed-in-tariffs for energy generation from domestic solar panels. It is true that recent Government payments to householders who generate electricity

  • Flawed concept

    Sir – On the whole few would argue that the planning process has failed Oxford in the last 50 years in that it has not managed to preserve, enhance or create a better city than that which existed before. One has become used to poor planning

  • Contradictory scheme

    Sir – On Monday, Oxford City Council sent out for consultation a revised version of the Barton Area Action Plan which is deeply contradictory. The council in effect threw out the planners’ previous preference for trying to treat the A40, a

  • National traffic affected

    Sir – I was pleased to see that your editorial (December 15) questioned the wisdom of interfering with a national arterial traffic route in order to gain a mere 1,200 extra homes for Oxford. I’m not going to question the need for the homes

  • Parky at the Pictures (In Cinemas 22/12/2011)

    The documentary film has been put to many uses over the last 117 years. But, whether promulgating, persuading, provoking or propagandising, it's most consistent purpose has been to elucidate. Occasionally, however, a subject eludes the grasp of even the

  • SCALES OF JUSTICE: Banbury Magistrates' Court round-up

    Rafal Matwiejczyk, 31, of Hastings Close, Banbury, admitted criminally damaging a window in Banbury on October 20 and assault by beating and theft of a mobile phone in Banbury on October 19. He was also admitted breaching a conditional discharge by

  • They're banging the drum

    MUSICIANS young and old visited East Oxford Community Centre to bash out some African rhythms at a beginners’ drumming class. Monday’s session was hosted at the Princes Street centre by instructor Kim Gajraj. Among the visitors were Michael and Toni

  • Council faces expensive bill to reopen Corn Exchange

    WITNEY Town Council faces a bill of up to £1.5m to reopen the dilapidated Corn Exchange and the building could be shut for 18 months while work is carried out. But the council has admitted it has “limited resources”, with just £190,000 in its public

  • BADVENT: Suspect sought over street brawl

    WITH just three days left before Christmas police officers are hoping for a tip-off that will lead them to Nasir Akhtar. Our Badvent Day 22 suspect is a 24-year-old man from Oxford who police have questions for after a brawl outside a supermarket

  • SCALES OF JUSTICE: Oxford Magistrates' Court round-up

    Luke Kitchener, 20, of Loyd Road, Didcot, admitted possessing cannabis (Class B) in Didcot on November 4. Fined £100, a £15 victims’ surcharge and £85 costs. David Oram, 24, of Courtenay Road, Wantage, admitted possessing cannabis (Class B)