Archive

  • Olympic 'honour' for gold medallist

    TWO decades after winning gold at the Paralympics, Beverley Gull is heading to London 2012. The 55-year-old former champion swimmer has been chosen as a volunteer for the summer Olympics and Paralympics. The Games hold a special place in Mrs Gull’s

  • Who's the star?

    Doctor Who actor Matt Smith is appearing in a new BBC film about the 1948 Olympics, inspired by a book written by Oxford author Janie Hampton. The Austerity Olympics, which vividly recalls what happened when the Games last came to London, was published

  • RUGBY UNION: The numbers game

    Oxford Harlequins grabbed a vital bonus-point victory in a dramatic match. Here is the numbers' game. See Tuesday’s paper for full report. Competition: National 3 South West Score: Oxford Harlequins 38, Old Redcliffians 34 Oxford

  • Youth jobs on agenda

    The number of jobless young people on Oxford’s estates has prompted fresh action from city councillors. A special committee has been set up to tackle the issue and will meet for the first time on Monday. The supporting young people into education,

  • Showcase of scientific minds

    Have these youngsters got the X-factor? That is what they came to find out at Begbroke Science Park, near Oxford, on Thursday. They were taking part in the Innovation Showcase, which gives schoolchildren the chance to show off their ideas in front

  • Sign up to help us hit £100,000 goal

    RUNNERS are being urged to make the 10th anniversary OX5 Run the best yet by meeting the ambitious target of raising £100,000 for Oxford Children’s Hospital. So far, more than 600 people have signed up to take part in the five-mile race around the grounds

  • Finnley’s story helps hospital

    THEY are memories of joy but also of deep sadness. When Finnley Froude was born 12 weeks premature, his parents Luke and Gemma did what many families do, by shooting video of their newborn son. But Finnley died from an infection, aged just 18 weeks

  • Wrestling with risks of TV science

    HE has wrestled alligators and grown a four-metre-long tapeworm in his stomach. Yesterday TV presenter Mike Leahy faced the pupils of Burford School. He was talking to them about filming science programmes and some of the risks he faces during experiments

  • SWIMMING: Learning curve for Murphy

    Didcot Barramundi’s Alex Murphy (16) is hoping the experience of competing in the 2012 Olympic trials this week will stand him in good stead. Murphy was in the 100m breaststroke, where he recorded a time of 1min 5.1secs. “It was a great competition

  • SHOOTING: Rivers lands first senior title

    DAN Rivers produced a devastating display to win his maiden senior competition at the first attempt. The 20-year-old saw off his more experienced rivals to land the British Open Championship at the Bisley National Shooting Centre. Rivers

  • Pay repat respects

    A Long Meritorious Award was given to Joy Blake, from Faringdon. A member of the Royal British Legion, in the three years to September last year, Mrs Blake, pictured, organised 107 repatriation services in Faringdon, which saw people gathering at Folly

  • Doctor campaigned to help minorities

    The winner of the Special Posthumous Award was Dr Shaila Srinivasan, who was nominated by the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Tim Stevenson for her tireless work on behalf of the Oxfordshire Ethnic Minority Business Service. Dr Srinivasan died from pancreatic

  • Awarded are a credit to the county

    WITH a 92-year-old ‘stalwart’ of his community, a veteran police officer and a brave, ‘firefighting’ teenager who saved his village hall among their number, the winners of this year’s High Sheriff of Oxfordshire Awards were a truly impressive bunch

  • 'Age can't stop me from being involved'

    Colonel Dick Stuckey, 92, from Adderbury, received a Helpfulness in the Neighbourhood Award. Nominated by his parish council as: “An unsung hero”, Col Stuckey, above, became involved with his community after a distinguished military career. He has worked

  • How radicalism changed world

    PEOPLE power is the basis for a new exhibition on Oxfordshire’s struggles, past and present. The county has a vast, radical history spanning from the 17th century Levellers, who defied Cromwell and paid the ultimate price, to cute, placard-waving toddlers

  • Morgan starts for Oxford United at Bradford

    Dean Morgan comes straight into the Oxford United starting line-up for his debut as Chris Wilder’s side look to strengthen their promotion credentials at Bradford City. The forward, who signed on loan from Chesterfield on Thursday, replaces

  • Village primary is told to improve

    A PRIMARY school which fell below the Government targets last year has been issued with an Ofsted notice to improve. Stonesfield School, near Witney, was criticised for declining achievement, particularly in maths. The school, which has 134 pupils,

  • Scholarship honours 'inspiration'

    Colleagues of a much-loved Oxford teacher hope a scholarship set up in his memory will help young city students achieve great things. Chris Mathieson, director of studies at the Oxford Tutorial College, passed away suddenly at the age of 56 in December

  • Ringing out for jubilee

    A NEW church bell to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will be hoisted into place this weekend and will ring out for centuries. Villagers in Steeple Aston have collected their new tenor bell after raising £20,000 in just six months to fund it.

  • All about women

    A celebration of all aspects of being a woman in Oxford is about to draw to a close. More than 40 events have been held as part of the 23rd Oxford International Women’s Festival, this year on the theme of equality and diversity. They

  • Free green tips to keep bills down

    More workshops are planned to help Bicester householders find out how to reduce their carbon footprint thanks to a £58,000 Government grant. In a joint initiative by Grassroots Bicester, BioRegional, Cherwell District Council and Oxford Brookes University

  • Club clocks up companionship

    GREAT-gran Jean Dyer used to feel lonely, sitting at home watching her neighbours from her window. But thanks to the work of a local charity, the 73-year-old from Greater Leys, Oxford, says she now feels happier than ever. The Leys CDI Clockhouse Project

  • Quality of education is priority, heads say

    PARENTS and students could see new buildings and enhanced curriculums at West Oxfordshire’s new academies. But the headteachers at Bartholomew School, in Eynsham, and Chipping Norton School said there will be no rush to ring in the changes. The schools

  • COMMENT: Big shoes to fill

    IT’S fair to say that Pc Paul Phillips was always looking for trouble. But not any more. After nearly 30 years as the scourge of football hooligans in Oxford, he is retiring from Thames Valley Police. He does so in the knowledge that he’s done a fantastic

  • Football officer off to his final fixture

    OVER the past 30 years he has become as much a fixture at Oxford United matches as the club’s most loyal fans. But today will be the last time football officer Pc Paul Phillips watches over a United match before retiring from Thames Valley Police. Having

  • Prescriptions petition grows

    OXON: More than 1,500 people have signed a petition against a proposed ban on gluten-free prescription food. In January, the Oxford Mail revealed NHS Oxfordshire was considering a ban on food prescriptions to cut costs. The authority said it spent £350,000

  • Priest jailed for sex attacks on children

    A PAEDOPHILE priest was yesterday branded shameless by a judge as he jailed him for 22 years for sexually abusing young boys. Alexander Bede Walsh a priest at St John the Evangelist Church in Banbury from 1999 until 2004, was convicted last

  • MOTORSPORT: Speedy Sean's away to a flier

    Sean Walkinshaw made an encouraging start to the Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship pre-season at Donington Park by posting the fastest time – just half a second outside the lap record. The 18-year-old Cheltenham College student, from Chipping

  • MOTORSPORT: Struggling Powell talks of quitting

    Promising racing driver Alice Powell says she is thinking of giving up the sport due to a lack of money. The 19-year-old, from Chipping Norton normally races in the UK’s Formula Renault Championship but is struggling to find sponsorship for the new season

  • TABLE TENNIS: Bicester narrow gap on Vikings

    The Oxford & District League Division 2 showdown between the two top teams was an anti-climax as Bicester B thrashed leaders Vikings D 8-2. Vikings could only muster two players and paid a heavy price as Bicester completed an easy win to close to six

  • GREYHOUNDS: Owners seeking better payouts

    Oxford Stadium’s racing office is to review the way prize money is allocated at Sandy Lane following complaints from owners and trainers. The amount winners receive is dependant on the grade their greyhounds compete in, with all other five runners handed

  • Flasher in court

    OXFORD: A flasher has appeared in court to alter part of his sentence. John Bustin performed a sex act in front of a 37-year-old woman and her 20-year-old daughter in Cowley, Oxford, in September 2010. The 38-year-old, of Coleridge Close, Cowley, was

  • Tributes paid to true hero of the skies

    A FIGHTER pilot who battled Nazis over the skies of Britain has died at the age of 93. Flight Lieutenant Richard Jones, of Witney, fought in the Battle of Britain, a conflict in which pilots had a life expectancy of just a week. The

  • RACING: Calgary waits for National

    Calgary Bay is to wait for the John Smith’s Grand National on April 14 after all rather than go for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday. Henrietta Knight, who trains the nine-year-old at West Lockinge, near Wantage, revealed earlier this week that

  • Flats considered

    OXFORD: Plans to convert a former Jericho sheltered housing block into flats and houses should be approved, a council report says. City council planning officer Steven Roberts said the plan for boarded up Grantham House was “sympathetic” to the area.

  • Radio host off to world role

    OXFORD: BBC Oxford presenter Joel Hammer is leaving to take up a new role at the World Service. Mr Hammer, 35, who has been presenting the 5am to 7am breakfast radio show for the past four-and-a-half years, will start his new role in Salford, Manchester

  • Teacher training courses axed

    OXFORD Brookes University has cancelled art, music and religious education teaching training courses after the Government reduced the number of places available. Last night mum-of-one Rebecca Herreros, 40, said she had been forced to put her teaching

  • COMMENT: True heroes must never be forgotten

    THE death of Richard Jones at the age of 93 robs us of yet another of the incredibly brave band of men who saved us from certain invasion by the Nazis. That’s not over-dramatising the contribution of the pilots and ground crew who fought the Battle of

  • GREYHOUNDS: Merson versus McCoy in charity match

    The Injured Jockeys Fund meeting at Oxford Stadium in August is gathering pace, with a football match between the Sky Sports presenters and a Jockeys XI also taking place to raise funds. Alex Hammond, Paul Merson and Matt Le Tissier are already

  • BOXING: Berinsfield duo get in the groove

    Welterweight Joe Fisher collected the first of two wins for the Berinsfield gym on their travels during the week when he outpointed Dean Botean at Hanwell. But the 23 year-old southpaw had to rally after his rival – from the host gym – just

  • BOXING: Usher looks for repeat

    Daza Usher will face seasoned veteran Jason Nesbitt when he has his second professional assignment at the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon on Friday, March 23. And the 28 year-old Bicester light welterweight is relishing the prospect of theforthcoming

  • Hire education from Apprentice star

    APPRENTICE finalist Claire Young was in Oxford yesterday teaching youngsters how to get hired not fired. She was giving a talk on enterprise at The Cherwell School, North Oxford, after a team of business studies students ‘won’ her by raising enough money

  • Developers eye up village sites

    DEVELOPERS are clamouring to build thousands of homes in villages across the Vale, it was revealed last night. The full picture of where builders are eyeing up land emerged yesterday as planners move to relax rules on development to plug its housing

  • Fit to drop at Alberta ski boot camp

    PERSPIRING, snow-caked and slightly bewildered, I thought the altitude was playing tricks on me. Tracy Garneau, our guide and extreme marathon runner, had promised us a “quick and scenic” descent from a cliff top with a spine-tinglingly beautiful view

  • SNOOKER

    Thame A won the Gentworks Oxford & District Snooker League’s Buildbase Cup after a thrilling 4-3 victory over Fieldside in the final. GENTWORKS OXFORD & DISTRICT SNOOKER LEAGUE. Premier & Div 1: New Club A 3, Riley B 3; Witney A 3, Witney E 3; Thame

  • CRICKET: Terrific Tew stay on track

    Great & Little Tew stayed on course for the Division 1 title in the Banbury & District Indoor League after seeing off Sandford by 38 runs. Matt Woods (29no) and Curtley Slatter (28no) led Tew to 130-3 from their ten overs, Sandford replying

  • ANGLING: Silver lining as small fish bite

    CONDITONS could not have been much worse for matchmen last Sunday morning – cold, wet and windy, plus some snow flurries, but a few hardy souls decided to brave it. And those in North Oxf-ord’s fixture on the Thames at Godstow found it worthwhile, with

  • Twitter warning

    OXFORD: The Football Association has written to a Swindon Town player over a Twitter comment apparently made after Saturday’s game with Oxford. Alan McCormack, who played against United in his side’s 2-0 defeat, has a profile on the website and a tweet

  • Court cash order

    OXFORD: A man found with £21,000 of cocaine has been forced to pay back £450. Sarfraz Ali was jailed for four and a half years last month but was back at Oxford Crown Court yesterday for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing. The 30-year-old, of East Field

  • Group of boys hurt young girl

    WANTAGE: A girl, 14, had her head banged against a wall by a group of teenage boys in Market Place. The girl was walking in an alleyway next to Costa Coffee between 4.30pm and 4.40pm on Tuesday when she was involved in what police describe as “a verbal

  • Dad weeps after being cleared of rape

    A FATHER-OF-THREE wept tears of joy after being cleared of rape yesterday. Waad Namek was acquitted of two counts of rape by jurors at Oxford Crown Court. The 36-year-old always denied abusing a Romanian woman at his flat in Owens Way, Cowley, in October

  • Baking up a storm for queen of cakes

    SCHOOL bake sales can be forgiven for sometimes featuring tables of misshapen and soggy creations, and perhaps the odd bit of egg shell. But at one Oxfordshire school it was a different story when one of the UK’s most respected – and most formidable

  • Dial-a-ride service reduced by cuts

    DIAL-A-RIDE cuts will provide the “best and most widely available service” within limited funds, a county council boss said yesterday. The number of buses for the door-to-door service is to be slashed after district councils removed or cut cash. The

  • 'We will fight this attack on lifeline'

    Pensioners and disabled people will be trapped in their homes under plans to more than double day centre fees, it was warned last night. Oxfordshire County Council is looking at raising daily fees from £10 to £25 at its seven centres, including Oxford

  • Wilder's out to reel in top clubs

    Impressive performances against two top sides this week has given Oxford United’s players belief automatic promotion is still within their grasp. The U’s beat npower League Two leaders Swindon Town 2-0 last Saturday, while Shrewsbury Town

  • New group says bottoms up to fatherhood

    THE world of parenthood can be something of a minefield for new fathers. So to help navigate it – over a friendly pint – one Oxford man has set up a group aimed at giving new fathers and dads-to-be a chance to share their experiences.

  • Fashion week will go with a bang

    THE eyes of the fashion world will once again turn to the city this year for Oxford Fashion Week. The event takes place during the first week of November – including Bonfire Night – and promises to be the biggest to date. Shows will include a red carpet

  • Towpath project paves way for canal restoration

    A £1M PLAN to link Oxford and Bath via a network of towpaths could pave the way for a historic canal to be fully restored. The Wilts and Berks Canal Trust hopes to restore forgotten stretches of path within five years. In all, the Towpath Challenge