A WOMAN has been left devastated after her cat was savaged and killed by a dog in Oxford. Deborah Hughes, who suffers from ME, said her three-year-old cat, Henry, had been the reason she got up each morning. Henry was mauled to death by a large dark
SUMMERTOWN residents are about to get their fourth supermarket after Sainsbury’s took over two empty shops. Shoppers visiting the parade in Banbury Road will soon be able to choose between the Co-op, Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
ANYONE looking to shift a few extra pounds after Christmas can join the Shotover Country Park Boxing Day walk. The walk has been organised by GO Active at Oxford City Council and will take walkers to one of the most spectacular views of the city. The
ON Christmas Eve 1874, Oxfordshire witnessed its worst ever Rail disaster when a train derailed at Shipton-on-Cherwell killing 34 passengers – six of them local. Debbie Waite and Brian Sperrin report. Christmas Eve 1874 – and while the county
TWO more people arrested in the probe over the alleged misuse of the police computer system have been released on bail. The pair, a 25-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, were arrested in Birmingham yesterday and have now been released on
HOMES across Oxfordshire have been turned into twinkling winter wonderlands for Christmas. Philip Christopher, of Wytham Street, Oxford, has been putting lights on his house since 1976. The 60-year-old, who attends Kennington Methodist
ARSONISTS destroyed a shed and a single storey garage in Littlemore today. Firefighters were called to the property in Bampton Close, off Sandy Lane today, shortly before 3am to tackle the blaze. Thames Valley Police is investigating.
MORE than 180 members of the public were spoken to and 42 people searched in a pre-Christmas sweep of Oxford city centre. Thames Valley Police’s Operation Bauble saw four people arrested, as 22 officers and staff hit the streets to ensure Christmas
Cerys King recorded a brace of wins as Bicester Blue Fins stormed to victory in the third and final round of the National Arena League at Bromsgrove. It followed their first-round victory at the same venue. King triumphed in the under 15 girls’ and
A FORMER Didcot school teacher will have plenty of reasons to celebrate tomorrow as he marks his 100th birthday. Retired geography teacher William Dent Robinson, a resident of Blewbury for 70 years, was born in Leicestershire on December 25, 1911. He
BURGLARS targeted two homes in Abingdon. Police are appealing for information about the pre-Christmas burglaries, which they believe are linked. Burglars prised opened the side door of a house in Appleford Drive between 5pm and 8pm on
COACH Martin Carter, of Devils Muay Thai Gym in Wantage, saw two of his fighters enjoy success at the Woking Fight Night. Max Gannicott, 14, took on the reigning English and British junior champion, Kareem Shah, from Woking, in his debut fight. Against
Abingdon event rider Giles Blanchard laid the foundations for a successful 2012 by taking part in a recent British Equestrian Federation (BEF) England ‘Excel Talent Programme’ performance camp. Blanchard, whose long-term aim is to represent Britain at
A WOMAN who taught hundreds of children over four decades at an Oxford primary school celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday. Family and friends raised their glasses to Sybil Howes, a former teacher at SS Mary and John Primary School in Hertford Street
Two Oxford trainers face a preliminary investigation after their runners showed improved performances on Saturday. The Bob Hannan-trained Price Tag opened at 5-2 before going off at 4-6 favourite when trotting up in an A8 grade, winning by four lengths
The new training complex, at Wormighall, near Thame, where Johnny Mayo is based has now been completed and is described “as out of this world” by the Oxford handler. The kennels will now house 100 greyhounds. The complex offers facilities for retired
True to form, we’ll try a Boxing Day yankee, with the Maurice Massey trained Shared Time leading the way in the 12.15. Bright Mac looks the part in the Moss and Jones Boxing Day classic, while Majestical Jojo can double up for Nick Colton. This leaves
PEOPLE convicted of offences at magistrates’ courts recently: Jon Harrison-James, 22, of Taston, Chipping Norton, admitted possessing ketamine (Class C) and driving while unfit through drugs in Charlbury on October 4. Fined £140, a £15 victims
Forum B reached the third round of the Oxford & District Association’s Aubrey Hughes Handicap Shield after beating Gladiators A by nine points. Gladiators’ Kevin Giles, Paul Knight and Dave Gardner were given a 120-point start and kept up the
COWLEY Conservative Club A edged out New Club 4-3 in a thrilling Gentworks Atox Cup round one clash. Arthur Coakley (+40) won his two games 75-50 and 75-68 against New Club’s Dave White (+20). The second two were shared by Cowley’s Dick Hashman and
THESE pictures show how tough it was in Sutton Courtenay’s Christmas Charity Match on the Appleford Reach South of the Thames, with seven of the 23-strong field failing to weigh in. Vice-chairman Trevor Martin caught two chub, pictured (right), on the
OXFORD A took a giant step towards retaining their Midland League Veterans Division 1 title with a 9-1 victory over Nottingham A. Karl Bushell got Oxford off to a good start with a five-sets victory over Tim Sheppard. Alan Cherry and
RILEY B pulled off the shock of the first round by beating Thame A 5-1 in the Gentworks Oxford & District League’s Simmons Cup. Second from bottom in Division 1, Riley proved too good for the section’s runaway leaders. The first two frames were shared
ACORN Angling tackle shop in Didcot finished runner-up in the Anglers’ Mail best tackle shop awards in London and the South East for 2011. Apollo 11 Angling Centre in Milford, Surrey, took top spot. The angling weekly said: “This well-stocked shop with
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to get their village bus service back have taken their cause to the internet. They have put a video online showing the dark and unpaved walk from Ardington to the busy A417 Reading Road where they now have to flag the X32
TRAIN services between Oxford and Didcot will be suspended from tonight for an extended Christmas and New Year break, due to a major track renewal project. While most people are tucking into Christmas meals and visiting their families, Network Rail engineers
Berinsfield ABC’s Niamh McGuckin is a national champion after capturing the schoolgirls’ 42kg title (aged 13 years) in Manchester. With a determined, focused and courageous display, she outpointed Jordon O’Don-oghue, from the Swindon-based Walcot ABC
Match fishing THERE weren’t many fish caught in the Kidlington AS Wise Alderman Christmas Trophy, but the top three all captured some fine specimens. An excellent turn-out of 27 anglers had to struggle on a low, clear Cherwell, and there were 12 blanks
A SMART phone app created by an Oxford grandmother has been selling in the hundreds. Avril Lethbridge designed the app for iPads and iPhones based on her own manners and etiquette card game called Nice Bear, Naughty Bear. The former teacher, 79, who
SEX offenders who have preyed on two women in Oxford are the most wanted of all our Badvent suspects. Behind Badvent door day 24 is a flasher who exposed himself to a woman in a store in Cowley Road. At about 5.15pm on August 12, a man walked into the
When you are a ski beginner and keen not to have many onlookers as you master the fundamentals, there’s a case for avoiding the crowds in busy, trendy haunts such as Whistler, Val d’Isere or Chamonix. Well at least, that’s how it seemed to this new kid
Oxford first-team coach and captain Jason Harrison has resigned from the club after five successful years at the helm. The 39-year-old former Middlesex batsman’s arrival at Roman Way in 2007 from High Wycombe was heralded as a coup. And he made an instant
THOUSANDS of Oxfordshire flood victims could see insurance premiums triple in a year’s time, a campaign group has warned. Flood insurance for those living in high-risk areas is currently subsidised by people living in low-risk areas, but the scheme runs
HOMELESSNESS on Oxford’s streets this Christmas is worse than 12 months ago, according to a city charity. Oxford Homeless Pathways (Oxhop) warned hostels are full to bursting, waiting lists are longer and more people are being forced to sleep rough.
YOUNG mum Jasmine Parker spent most of last Christmas wired up to a dialysis machine. But this year she will be celebrating her “best Christmas ever”, after her own mum gave her the gift of a new life. Miss Parker, 21, received a kidney
The Bishop of Oxford called in at South Abingdon Children’s Centre and handed out tasty chocolate Christmas treats. The children aged under five and their parents were given a pack of Fairtrade chocolate decorations to hang on their Christmas trees.
ARDINGTON villagers have made their case for a bus service brilliantly. Petitions and campaigns can raise an issue. But anyone who watches the video of Will Smith making his way to the bus stop on the Reading Road is left in no doubt
We hope Jasmine Parker and mum Diane have a fantastic Christmas. Last year mum really did give the best present ever. Now they are looking forward to a special day together at home with all the family. It is a heart warming tale
Michael Duberry could end his two-month injury nightmare when Oxford United take on AFC Wimbledon at the Kingsmeadow Stadium on Boxing Day (12.15pm). The former Chelsea and Leeds centre back has not played since the U’s 2-1 win against Port
SIX years after fox hunting was banned, Oxfordshire’s hunts will be stage traditional Boxing Day meets. Huntmasters say despite the ban, the seasonal gatherings are still as popular as ever. Thousands of people are expected to turn out at meets in
A HEARTBROKEN little girl will go to sleep tonight hoping Father Christmas will bring her lost dog back home to Little Milton. Ellie Day wants nothing else but to be reunited with her King Charles spaniel Ruby, who escaped from a garden in Great Haseley
NEARLY 10,000 gift-filled shoeboxes from Oxfordshire are on their way to bring Christmas joy to children in Belarus, Bosnia and Romania. Nancy Jenkins, 65, has been volunteering for Operation Christmas Child for the past six years and said it was her
SIX years after fox hunting was banned, Oxfordshire’s hunts will be stage traditional Boxing Day meets. Huntmasters say despite the ban, the seasonal gatherings are still as popular as ever. Thousands of people are expected to turn out at meets in
