BEE Gees legend Robin Gibb has revealed how working with his son on a requiem for victims of the Titanic helped in his battle against cancer. Mr Gibb, 62, who lives with wife Dwina in a mansion near St Mary’s Church, Thame, has been undergoing chemotherapy
THE DESCENDANTS (15). Drama/Comedy/Romance. George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, Nick Krause, Matthew Lillard, Judy Greer, Beau Bridges, Mary Birdsong, Rob Huebel, Patricia Hastie. Director: Alexander Payne. Good
Steve Larkin, poet, Hammer & Tongue inventor, royal entertainer, youth worker, university lecturer, prison poet, the list goes on. He is also presenting his own one-man show at the North Wall tomorrow night. Katherine MacAlister meets the man behind
HE’s the real king of New York. A rapper who influenced a legion of innovators, GZA is a genuine street warrior, his only weapons: his acerbic wit and lyrical flow. A founder member of the Wu-Tang Clan, the Brooklyn-born hip-hop star crafts rhymes like
Hospital worker John Wadeson is urging council bosses to keep a close eye on a layby and woodland off the A420 after it became a favourite spot for fly-tippers. Mr Wadeson, 53, a staff nurse at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford, alerted waste contractor
THE GREY (15). Action/Thriller/Horror. Liam Neeson, Frank Grillo, Dermot Mulroney, Dallas Roberts, Joe Anderson, Nonso Anozie, Ben Bray, James Badge Dale. Director: Joe Carnahan. Air transport may well be trumpeted as the safest
A MONSTER IN PARIS (U). Animation/Musical/Romance/Comedy. Featuring the voices of Adam Goldberg, Jay Harrington, Vanessa Paradis, Sean Lennon, Danny Huston. Director: Bibo Bergeron. A giant flea nurtures a passion for music in
KATHERINE MACALISTER puts the focus on schoolboy Jamie Unwin whose pictures are taking the photography world by storm. As soon as Jamie Unwin gets back from school he’s out with his camera. And his efforts are paying off. Coming runner-up
When Peter Sanford was left disabled after a fall at the pub he ran, his life spiralled downwards. In a split second in 2009, Mr Sanford, 44, went from a criminal-chasing landlord to facing the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Then, as his physical
Masala masters, Curry Brothers Tim Hughes and Ed Nix are on a never-ending quest to find Oxford’s finest South Asian restaurants. This week they check out an old classic given a new lease of life. AS cultured types, with a fondness for fine
John “Jack” Field, who has died aged 94, was well known in Oxford’s motor and printing industries. Before joining Cowley’s booming motor industry, London-born Mr Field spent the Second World War in the RAF. As a Flight Lieutenant, he mainly flew Hampden
Former Bicester mayor and “old fashioned gentleman” Arthur Winter has died, aged 82. Mr Winter was a town councillor from 1979 to 1991, served as mayor during 1983 and 1984, and was also council leader. Born in South London, at 18 Mr Winter joined the
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp lost £250,000 in a takeover bid at Oxford United, a court has heard. HSBC executive Alan Hills told Southwark Crown Court today that Redknapp lost every penny as part of a loan to take control of the club.
Busy commuters wanting to get on their bikes have been given a boost with a new service at Oxford train station. Cycle business Bainton Bikes has set up a special gazebo so the hundreds of cyclists who use the station each day can have their machines
The tongues of food fanatics started tingling this week when the sign for Oxford’s first dessert parlour went up. Indulge, in the old BSM shop in Cowley Road, is due to open today selling ice creams, cakes, candy floss and everything else to satisfy
BULLDOZERS will roll into Bicester on Monday to start work on the long-awaited £70m town centre redevelopment. Two of the main car parks will close at midnight on Sunday, to make way for the construction of a supermarket, shops, cinema, multi-storey
MOST children get a week abroad in Europe for their school trips. Not so for a group of pupils at an Oxford college, who will be travelling to Africa to help revamp a deprived school. A group of 20 sixth form and Year 11 pupils from d’Overbroeck’s College
A NEW brochure for Oxford Mail Loyalty Club card holders is packed with valuable discounts. The booklet is being sent out to card holders with their new cards, which are being issued for 2012. There are about 7,000 members of the Loyalty Club, who are
Oxford University began their 2012 fixtures with a 29-10 defeat of the RAF at Iffley Road, captain John Carter scoring the try of the match. The airmen went ahead with a penalty from Phil Thomas, but tries from prop Lewis Anderson and left
A charity bake-off has gained the support of one of the inspirations for the project. Kate Kellaway-Moore is hoping to get about 100 eager bakers to take part in the Oxford Bake-Off, after being inspired by hit BBC2 television show The Great
DUNKIRK veteran Arthur Johns died this month at the age of 93. The Marsh Baldon resident, whose middle name was William and was known as Bill, joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment just before the outbreak of the Second World War. He was sent
AEA Technology 0.33 BMW 5397 Electrocomponents 218.3 Nationwide Accident Repair 60 Oxford Biomedica 3.12 Oxford Catalysts 50 Oxford Instruments 918.75 Reed Elsevier 542.75 RM 68.5 RPS Group 204.3 Courtesy of Redmayne
Prescient indeed was Toby Blackwell. Faced with a continuing loss at the book-selling business founded by his grandfather and determined to keep the “family name over the door”, he moved the goalposts. He announced he would follow the John Lewis model
White Horse Harrier Paul Jegou has retained his senior men’s title in the Wessex Cross Country League. Jegou cannot be overhauled in the standings after triumphing in round three at Ham Hill, Stoke sub-Hamdon, Somerset. The 37-year-old crossed the line
TEENAGERS are learning to improve their business skills by running a book shop in Burford School. Five students have been ordering in books, organising events and managing the store, which opened in the school’s library yesterday. Its 14-year-old managing
OXFORD City Council will stop the universities moving into new buildings until fewer than 3,000 of their students are living in private city homes. It comes as the latest annual survey shows the numbers of students living outside university accommodation
No one would benefit if Oxford City Council and the universities fell out over student accomodation. And doubtless no-one wants to. Which is why it is heartening to see both the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes are making every
THE Brasserie Gerard restaurant in George Street, Oxford, has been put on the market after its owner, Paramount Restaurants, went into administration in November. Agent Fleurets is inviting offers for the leasehold of the eaterie, which has 70 covers
Deddington captured the Banbury Indoor League’s Neil West Memorial Cup with a 2-0 win over Chipping Norton in the final. Steve Arthurs led the way for Deddington, including hitting sixes in a 2-0 victory over Banbury in the semi-finals and a 2-1 defeat
Hook Norton teenager James Martin was thrill-ed to notch his first winner with an easy victory aboard Trifollet as the curtain came down on racing at Dunthrop, near Chipping Norton. Riding the seven-year-old mare, owned by his parents Andy
Oxford City Stars 2nd crashed to a 7-4 home defeat against Wightlink Tigers in English National League South Division 2. Joe Oliver, Sam Broughton, James Clarke and Marlon Williams netted for Stars, who slip down to eighth.
Vikings are now just a point behind leaders Kennington at the top of the Premier Section in the Johnsons Buildbase Oxford League after a 4-1 home win over Didcot Conservative Club, writes PETE EWINS. Alan Lacey (3,660), Mike Jones (7,430), Alan Oliver
REDINGENSIANS have offered to assist Chinnor financially when the promotion rivals replay their National 3 South West clash at the Reading club on February 11. The original match on December 17 was abandoned after 58 minutes with Chinnor leading 17-5
A MAJOR new perimeter road to ease traffic problems is being promoted in a new blueprint for the future of Bicester. Cherwell District Council commissioned consultants WYG to look at how the town could expand over the next 20 years. One idea put forward
THE Oxford author who wrote about becoming a matador has had his appearance at a bookshop today cancelled after threats from animal rights protesters. Alexander Fiske-Harrison says he has received at least 20 threats, including ones on his life, since
“Speech is only free at certain times of the day it would seem.” A sad but probably shrewd assessment of the realities of being invited to speak on a contentious subject, especially one as guaranteed to polarize emotions as bullfighting. Few would say
Banbury's two main clubs have amalgamated with immediate effect to “provide the best possible standard of cricket within the town”. Members of Banbury and Banbury Twenty voted on the union – which will see the new club field five senior teams
DANCERS are bending over backwards to provide a spectacle for city arts fans. Paulette Mae, Anja Meinhardt,and Ana Barbour are rehearsing for a show at East Oxford’s Pegasus Theatre for the Dancin’ Oxford festival. Ms Mae, 29, of North Oxford, said
TWO drivers were killed in separate smashes two hours apart on Oxfordshire roads. A woman was pronounced dead at the scene after a red Citroen C4 and a blue Volkswagen Passat collided on the westbound carriageway of the A420 at the Botley/Farmoor sliproad
I CAN only echo Ken Roper’s remarks about lost and missing parcels (Oxford Mail ViewPoints, January 13 and 23). I have been waiting for an item which I ordered on December 1, and in all honesty I have given up any hope of seeing it. Also, the idea
YOUR report (Oxford Mail, January 19) on Cherwell School’s decision to become an academy in what appears to be a gold-rush, which in fact may offer little more than fool’s gold – Government documents make it clear that there must not be any “financial
THE Insider is always intrigued to watch young Oxford University students to fathom the source of their wisdom. Watching them struggle to use a ticket machine at the railway station, or open the glass doors at the Bodleian Library is always an education
JOHN Carter said the encouragement of others played a key role in his decision to stand for a second year as Oxford University captain. And having become the first player in 44 years to be re-elected, the 30-year-old back-row forward is relishing
Everyone should have a nemesis. It shouldn’t be confined to the pages of a comic or the big screens of our cinemas. It can enter our lives at an early age. He or she was the kid who appeared so similar but was always a tad smarter at school, quicker
WEST Oxfordshire District Council’s planning process is the biggest sham in local politics. The entire procedure is totally loaded in favour of the applicants, as the council has proved beyond doubt. They don’t listen to people’s objections and concerns
I WONDER what Oxford United fans thought of the advert in last week’s Oxford Mail, advertising the Reading Youth Academy? While I’m sure in these hard times we’re all in, (apparently), the Oxford Mail must take revenue from wherever possible but what
I am unclear about the legal basis on which a private company can demand “fines” from people parking on private land (Monday’s Oxford Mail). When a driver parks on a public highway subject to restrictions, the law permits the local authority to issue
WITH reference to your article about Woolworths staff having more compensation (Monday’s Oxford Mail), I knew about this from the news but what has made me mad, and probably a lot of my other work colleagues, is that we are not going to get any part of
A GOTHIC-style Victorian villa in north central Oxford has been extensively renovated. This house in Banbury Road, was designed in 1870 by Frederick Codd, who is described by Tanis Hinchcliffe in her book North Oxford, as probably one of the most interesting
A DEVELOPMENT of four semi-detached town centre properties combines a modern feel with traditional Cotswold stone exterior, according to agents. The houses of Finsbury Gardens, in Chipping Norton, due to be completed this month, include solar panels
The rights to graze six cattle, two horses and 10 geese on Port Meadow come with a cottage in Godstow Road. Anyone who buys the one-bedroom property automatically becomes a Wolvercote Commoner and also qualifies for fishing rights. Wolvercote residents
NEW GCSE data released today has shown huge differences in how well schools support pupils of differing abilities. For the first time, the Department for Education has published data showing how youngsters performed in their GCSEs compared to expectations
SELF-proclaimed Cowley boy-turned England footballer, Martin Keown, beamed as he officially opened a new £2.1m sports complex yesterday. The Community Arena at Court Place Farm in Marston, Oxford, will transform sport in the city for generations, boasting
Two new four-storey homes in Blandford Avenue are designed to reduce energy bills to virtually zero. Photovoltaic roof tiles produce solar electricity, the water is heated by solar panels and an air source heat pump recirculates air around
THE amount of money two people traffickers have been ordered to pay back by a court has been described as “paltry” by campaigners. Anastassios Papas and Graham Cochrane, who operated the Fun Girls in Oxford escort agency, appeared at Oxford Crown Court
THE RESULTS of an investigation into the state of an Oxfordshire animal rescue centre could take months to be made public, the RSPCA has said. The charity’s officers continued to work at Crunchy’s Animal Rescue in Longworth, near Abingdon, yesterday,
Oxford United will not have a fourth stand in place for the visit of Swindon Town in March – because it is not commercially viable. The U’s sold out of their ticket allocation for the derby fixture in mid-November. But after discussions with various
A FAMILY of 10 is getting paid more than £26,000 annually in housing benefit alone, as Oxford’s bill spirals to £80m a year. The family’s payout – the highest in the city – was uncovered by the Oxford Mail as the Government battles to bring
Anyone who has ever taken the guided tour of Blenheim Palace will remember the life-size statue of Queen Anne, beautifully carved out of a solid piece of Carrara marble by Jean Michael Rysbrack, gazing regally down the 180 feet of the Long Library. Some
As perhaps the only Oxford University-educated bullfighter in history, Alexander Fiske-Harrison is not a man easily scared. The fact his talk at Blackwell’s in Broad Street scheduled for today led to “a credible threat” from an animal rights extremist
Sir – Having read the lead article City wants 500 homes and hotel at Oxpens (January 19) and the related hagiography on page 35 about David Edwards (executive director of regeneration) I was intrigued by the lack of any reference to biodiversity, or established
Sir – “Extinction” is an emotive word and in his piece about the scarcity of hen harriers in England (Country Matters, January 12), Liam Creedon has taken the RSPB’s line that these birds are nearly extinct and all because of gamekeepers. Not so. There
Sir – I was delighted to have my letter attacked (January 12) by Graham Smith. I have clearly hit a nerve, although I cannot tell whether I am selfish because I don’t want what he wants or vice versa. His point about the section of ring road being “de-trunked
Sir – I must take issue with the chairman of the Oxford Civic Society (Letters, January 12) about his wish to see the A40 northern ring-road become a “boulevard”, which is, I fear, an evocative name to mask the inevitably soulless character of the thoroughfare
Sir – Last week’s armed robbery of a bank in Oxford along with the latest crime figures which identify big rises in robberies and street crime surely bring into question the Government’s 20 per cent cut to police funding. This is one area which all reasonable
Sir – Praise in Gray Matter (January 12) for the late Michael Dummett’s charming and quirky little book, Grammar and Style (Duckworth, 1993) was welcome indeed. However, Michael Dummett’s most important non-technical philosophical work was (is) On Immigration
Sir – Unlike Vernon Porter (Letters, January 19) I have found it easy to do most of my food shopping at the Co-op in Summertown for at least 20 years. It is convenient for me for shopping with a bicycle which the large out of town supermarkets are not
Sir – According to Liam Creedon’s article One wet spring could lead to extinction (Country Matters, January 12), Jeff Knott, the RSPB’s bird of prey officer, believes that one wet spring or a fire at the wrong time of year could result in the hen
Sir – Your report (January 5) regarding the planned private redevelopment of Grantham House in Jericho described it as a redundant local authority sheltered-housing facility. It had been put on the market by Oxford City Council for £2.75m and was sold
Sir – Various correspondents discussing the West Barton proposals have used grandiose, pedantic or extreme language to put their case. I hope to add a little common sense to the debate. The A40 is a wide dual carriageway which bears a lot of traffic
Sir – While it is good to know that the county is now looking into the provision of a new rail station with four through platforms, I am amazed that a site to the north of the existing station is being considered. When Arup looked into the possibilities
Sir — Your editorial Right Track (January 19) is on the wrong track in supporting the county council’s proposal for a complete rebuild of Oxford station. This would be vastly expensive and disruptive and is unnecessary. The unacceptable bottleneck is
Sir – Having requested and received information from Thames Valley Police on the number of penalty tickets issued in Oxford for cycling offences, I am struck by the lack of any consistent effort to curb the many breaches of the law which occur daily
One in four people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives — so Mental Health First Aid training could be extremely useful for helping others, or maybe even to help yourself. Mental Health First Aid is a nationally accredited
When it comes to reviewing the protection of our most important habitats and species, the Chancellor George Osborne is focusing on the wrong targets for the wrong reasons says MATT JACKSON, the head of conservation policy at the Berks, Bucks and
Sir – I was disappointed by Mr Farr’s response (January 12) to my letter comparing French TGV services to our own ‘Rip-Off Rail’. I can only assume that he has largely taken the TGV services to Disneyland: it is my understanding that, on these trains
AN ECCENTRIC Faringdon supermarket has inspired a new village pantomime, 14 years after it closed. Carter and Son, which dated back to 1850, served generations of shoppers from the town and surrounding villages until it was taken over by Budgens in 1998
Oxford 1 garnered 2 points from 4 in rounds 3 and 4 of the Four Nations Chess League last weekend as I predicted a fortnight ago — but I got little else right! I thought Cheddleton 1 would prove too strong — but Oxford rose to the occasion and defeated
In the 1930s, the British Documentary Movement was renowned throughout the world for its lyrical treatment of reality. Eight decades later, having become better known for televisual than cinematic actuality, this country is again acquiring a reputation
Ever since the studio system was established in the late 1910s, it has been one of the fail-safes of the Hollywood business model that movies are usually made with a target audience in mind. However, since the home entertainment market became more important
OXFORD residents struggling with winter fuel bills are being offered advice to make sure they are getting all the help available. The Citizens Advice Bureau has teamed up with Oxford City Council to offer quick checks of benefit entitlements so residents
AN OXFORD biologist who has devoted her career to better understanding the human gut is to receive a prestigious international prize worth nearly half-a- million pounds. Prof Fiona Powrie will receive the 2012 Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine, awarded
