Archive

  • More girls get contraceptive

    THE NUMBER of schoolgirls in Oxfordshire who have been given a controversial contraceptive implant has risen by 50 per cent in three years. In 2009, 46 girls under the age of 16 were implanted with the powerful mix of hormones, designed to alter their

  • Oyez! Oyez! town crier contest coming

    ANYONE who had forgotten that 2012 is the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will get a very loud reminder. Oxford will host a town crier competition on Saturday, July 2, with 13 large-lunged competitors arriving in the city from across the UK including

  • Sit-in protest over NHS reforms

    CAMPAIGNERS against a radical shake-up of the NHS staged a sit in at the county’s primary care trust headquarters today. NHS Oxfordshire offices in Cowley were occupied by about 20 people protesting against the NHS and Social Care Bill. Police tried

  • Housing block plan delayed

    CITY councillors delayed a decision on the redevelopment of a derelict social housing block after confusion over financial contributions. Plans for Grantham House in Cranham Street, which was previously used to house the elderly, have been deferred because

  • Flats battle like ‘groundhog day’

    WEST Oxford residents have described having to fight off two bids to build student flats in their streets within a matter of weeks as “groundhog day”. Plans to turn Innovation House in Mill Street into 100 student flats were turned down at Oxford City

  • Extra help for clearing out green waste

    USERS of the garden waste scheme in the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district council areas can leave out an extra bin in the next two weeks. The service is available for customers of the councils’ paid-for brown bin service. Extra waste

  • Cogges gets its animals back for March opening

    VISITORS to Cogges Manor Farm in Witney will be able to pet 80 new farm animals when it reopens this season. It is the first time the tourist attraction has had livestock since volunteers took control. The new animals, including sheep, pigs, goats and

  • Wheeling in . . . Kia Soul 1.6 CRDi ‘2’ Auto

    FOR some people a compact car that is practical, economical and reliable is just not enough. Some demand a liberal dash of personality. It is for those demanding folk that the fun-to-drive Kia Soul was created. Designed to have the charm

  • Students are revved up at science fair

    SCHOOL students have been showing off their science skills. They were taking part in a fun-packed fair at The Cherwell School in North Oxford where pupils displayed their science projects. They ranged from a working motor to the maths behind Pokemon

  • Local shares (PM)

    AEA Technology 0.26 BMW 6087 Electrocomponents 265.3 Nationwide Accident Repair 62 Oxford Biomedica 3.1 Oxford Catalysts 50.5 Oxford Instruments 1236 Reed Elsevier 544.75 RM 88.25 RPS Group 241 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Protesters against NHS and Social Care bill stage sit-in

    CAMPAIGNERS against a radical shake up of the NHS are staged a ‘sit in’ at the county’s primary care trust headquarters. The offices of NHS Oxfordshire have been occupied by groups protesting against the NHS and Social Care Bill. Members of Oxfordshire

  • British Grand Prix ticket sales off to flying start

    Silverstone announced today that ticket sales for this year’s British Grand Prix have got off to a flying start. About three-quarters of tickets have already been purchased - up 10 per cent on the same period last year. Several grandstands

  • Call to reject waste changes

    A WASTE firm which admitted breaking planning rules over delivery hours must not be allowed to operate for longer, a council report says. The owners of Ferris Hill Farm, in Sibford Ferris, near Banbury, previously admitted taking double the amount of

  • Sixth form college creates Oxford don's study

    SCHOOLS often go to great lengths to help their pupils win places to study amid Oxford’s dreaming spires. But one sixth-form college in London has gone even further – creating a replica of an Oxford University don’s study to help Oxbridge candidates

  • Oxford United sign Montano

    Oxford United have completed the loan signing of Christian Montano from West Ham United. The 20-year-old striker has scored eight goals in 18 Football League starts on loan at Notts County, Swindon Town and Dagenham and Redbridge this season

  • Heartbreaking tale of wartime loss

    WHEN Albert Parker started delving into his family’s past, he had no idea what he would find. What he discovered was the heartbreaking tale of a woman struggling through the loss of six of her children and her first husband, constantly struggling

  • Dental voucher scheme offers free check-ups

    HEALTH bosses have launched a dental ‘voucher’ scheme to encourage people to get their teeth checked. It comes after some patients said the reason they did not go to a dentist was because it was too expensive. Throughout March, people can apply for

  • 'Age of youth is passing'

    A FALLING birth rate coupled with rising longevity is likely to make the 21st century the last century of youth, according to an Oxford University professor. Prof Sarah Harper, director of the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, says UN estimates

  • Oxford Utd do their bit for Charlotte

    MORE than £2,000 has already been bid for special Oxford United shirts to raise money for meningitis victim Charlotte Nott and the local charity helping her live life to the full. During Saturday’s game against Rotherham United, the U’s will wear unique

  • Chance to honour Oxford's conservation stars

    CONSERVATION heroes will be recognised in the annual Oxford Preservation Trust awards which are now open for entries. Projects that protect the city’s buildings, enhance the natural environment and help the community connect with the environment have

  • Burford School wins praise from Ofsted

    SCHOOL inspectors say standards at Burford School have improved in the last three years. Ofsted inspected the school in February and found it to be good, an improvement on its satisfactory report in 2009. The inspectors said: “The headteacher provides

  • College's library set to expand

    MAGDALEN College has submitted plans to extend its grade II listed library. Magdalen says the library, once home to Magdalen College School, is “no longer fit for purpose”, with insufficient space for books and library users. It is applying to build

  • COMMENT: Count blessings

    It’s so easy to take the 21st century for granted, isn’t it? Yet just 100 years ago, life for the ordinary man and woman was a daily fight for survival. No wonder Albert Parker of Bicester claims, after researching his family tree: “It is unbelievable

  • RUGBY UNION: Witney targeting three wins in a row

    WITNEY will target a third straight win when they host Marlow in South West 1 East tomorrow. Centre James Ellwood and flanker Josh Rihan are added to the squad. Lock Richard Haire and centre James Lamb drop out. Henley Hawks, Chinnor and Oxford Harlequins

  • Woman agreed to sex, says rape accused

    A MAN accused of rape told jurors yesterday the sex was consensual and he and the woman shared a joke afterwards. Mark Just, who denies two charges of rape, is on trial at Oxford Crown Court. Describing his encounter with the 22-year-old woman near

  • Wilder: Oxford United fans have key role

    CHRIS Wilder has urged Oxford United supporters to recreate the atmosphere from their promotion season two years ago as the side attempt to make the most of their remaining home games. The U’s have six of their last 11 fixtures at the Kassam

  • SPORT CALENDAR: March 17-23 fixtures

    SATURDAY FOOTBALL NPOWER LEAGUE TWO Oxford Utd v Rotherham. EVO- STIK SOUTHERN LEAGUE Premier Div Stourbridge v Oxford City, Swindon Supermarine v Banbury Utd. Div 1 South & West: Bideford Tn v Didcot Tn,

  • Man charged with drugs offences

    A 33-year-old man from Drayton Road, Abingdon, is one of 19 charged after police drugs raids in the town and West Berkshire. Ian Dobson appeared on Wednesday at Reading Magistrates’ Court facing two charges of conspiring to supply controlled drugs. The

  • Duberry driven to claim first promotion with Oxford United

    MICHAEL Duberry goes into the final weeks of the season with more motivation than most in the Oxford United for one simple reason – the veteran has never won promotion. Now into his 19th season as a professional, the 36-year-old has racked up more than

  • Leader is keeping quiet on contest

    OXFORDSHIRE County Council leader Keith Mitchell has refused to comment on the upcoming leadership election. Mr Mitchell is stepping down in May. Councillors David Robertson and Pete Handley have so far thrown their hats into the ring for his job.

  • FOOTBALL: Elkins back as Didcot first-team coach

    GARY Elkins is back at Didcot Town as first-team coach for a second time. The former Fulham, Wimbledon and Swindon Town defender took on the same role at the npower Loop Meadow Stadium five years ago after joining Didcot the previous season as reserve

  • FOOTBALL: Forinton eyeing Banbury return

    STRIKER Howard Forinton is set to return to Banbury United for a fourth spell. Manager Ady Fuller has put in a seven-day approach with Daventry Town for the 36-year-old former Birmingham City forward – and is hopeful the move will be tied up by Tuesday

  • Hall out to maintain Oxford United goalscoring streak

    ASA Hall wants to double his goalscoring tally for the season in the remainder of the campaign after finding his shooting boots for Oxford United. The midfielder had scored just once by the end of February, but has two goals in the last

  • No more cash for yellow lines

    TRANSPORT bosses have run out of cash to fund new double yellow lines. Oxfordshire County Council says the transport department is out of money because of a squeeze on finances. It comes after residents in Headington hit out at a string of “confusing

  • Listen out for youth drama in Oxford

    YOUNG actors are using theatre to address mental health issues in a new play previewed at an Oxford school. The Oxford Youth Theatre Company, based at Pegasus Theatre, Magdalen Road, performed The Listeners for pupils at Oxford Academy yesterday

  • FENCING: Abingdon fencers land gold

    ABINGDON School won gold in the British Schools Team Fencing Championships at Brunel University. The trio of Jack Dawson, William Johnson and Ben Schneider claimed victory in the under 16 Epee event. The school’s two under 18 teams also performed well

  • BADMINTON: Oxon secure Shires title

    OXFORDSHIRE Under 13s finished top of the Shires League rankings after collecting a sixth straight win. Having already beaten Hampshire, Avon, Berkshire, Northants and Worcestershire, Oxon saw off Dorset 15-5 in their final match at Bartholemew School

  • Oxford United's Batt happy for brother at Crawley Town

    DAMIAN Batt insists the pleasure of seeing his brother playing again outweighs the fact the striker is turning out for Oxford United’s promotion rivals Crawley Town. Shaun Batt was on the sidelines for more than 18 months with a cruciate knee ligament

  • Team litter blitz was rewarding

    ON Saturday, March 3, I joined the Old Marston OxClean team picking up litter in Marston from 10am-noon. It was rewarding to be part of a team made up of different members of our community, all contributing for a better local environment. May I take

  • It is a small world

    In Cabbages and Kings, the author noted the difficulty overseas visitors have in seeking directions. A few years ago, in the centre of Bombay (sorry, Mumbai), I enquired the way to a certain bank from an elderly Indian gentleman dressed in a dhoti,

  • Disgusted over Remploy

    HOW many times have we heard this so-called coalition going on about getting disabled back into work? Then you read that the Government is going to shut 36 out of Remploy’s 54 factories, which is going to put 1,500 disabled people out of work. Remploy

  • CRICKET: Shipton sign trio

    NEW boys Shipton-under-Wychwood have made three signings as they prepare for their Home Counties Premier League debut. Pace bowler Johnny Gurney, wicket-keeper/batsman Chris Oliver and batsman Olly Clayfield have joined the west Oxfordshire club. Captain

  • Pupils take pride without prejudice

    DAPPER teens donned their finery to enjoy tea – Jane Austen style. Pupils from Headington School, Oxford, sported 19th costume for a Pride and Prejudice tea party. Yesterday’s treat saw them re-enacting scenes from the book, which they have been studying

  • Give Temple Cowley area a small pool

    I AM 82 years old and have been using the Temple Cowley Leisure complex since it was built in the 1930s. Oxford City Council executive board member for leisure services, Van Coulter (Oxford Mail, March 5) is correct in saying that the complex is past

  • Destruction of the NHS

    CONGRATULATIONS to Oxford’s family doctors for speaking out against the disastrous Health and Social Care Bill. They will inherit a fractured health service facing big cuts and they will be ‘advised’ by an exceptionally powerful, probably outsourced

  • Judicial review over pools an unproductive move

    I AM surprised at Peter Wilkinson’s comments (Letters – Better way to deliver new swimming pool, March 7). Not only does he misunderstand the role of a judicial review, its limits and a very low prospect of productive outcome, he misunderstands

  • School deserves high praise

    I AM writing to say how pleased I am with my son’s primary school, SS Mary and John in East Oxford. Recently Year Six has spent a week doing SATS exam papers and my son came home each day bubbling with a new-found enthusiasm for maths and English. Indeed

  • CABBAGES & KINGS: The mystery of the anonymous cold caller

    THERE I was, feet on the sofa, watching the umpteenth repeat of a Midsomer Murder, determined to solve how Inspector Barnaby could walk from Thame Buttermarket, through an alley and emerge outside Henley Town Hall, when the phone rang. “I understand

  • RACING: Waley-Cohen seeks repeat Run in Gold Cup

    Owner Robert Waley-Cohen has set his heart on winning a second Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup with Long Run today. The seven-year-old gave Waley-Cohen, who lives at Edgehill, near Banbury, his greatest success when landing chasing’s blue riband

  • Mini shift change creates 150 jobs

    THE Cowley Mini plant is creating 150 new jobs after workers agreed a new shift pattern. A ballot on two proposed patterns led to a majority vote in favour of the workforce doing three 11-hour shifts in a row and then having two days off in between.

  • Oxford United address disciplinary record

    IMPROVEMENTS are needed in Oxford United’s discipline but they are not a dirty team, according to Chris Wilder. The squad were reminded of their responsibilities this week in the wake of Damian Batt’s red card in the 2-1 defeat at Bradford City last

  • RACING: Paintball setback for Longsdon

    Chipping Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon admitted to being “gutted” after Paintball missed out on a crack at a £75,000 bonus at Cheltenham today due to a bruised foot. The five-year-old sprang a 20-1 surprise in the Paddy Power Imperial Cup at Sandown

  • FOOTBALL: Quartet back to boost Abingdon Town

    Abingdon Town hope to be boosted by the return of four players for the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division game against Kidlington at Culham Road tomorrow. Captain Dan Warne, Julian McCalmon, Lance Williams and Keiron Davis are in the frame to

  • Woman charged with murdering Denis Witney

    A 29-year-old woman has been charged with the murder of Denis Witney. Joanne Moriarty, of Mortimer Road, Oxford, was charged yesterday and will appear before Oxford Magistrates’ Court today. Mr Witney, 39, was found dying in St Clement's

  • Passing doctor helps treat injured motorists

    A PASSING doctor helped paramedics and fire crews as they battled to free two people trapped inside wrecked cars on the B4035. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a two vehicle head on collision at Tyne Hill just outside Swalcliffe

  • Sailor rescued in yacht drama

    A FORMER senior council officer, who left her post with a £110,000 pay-off to go on a round-the-world yacht race, has been winched to safety after being injured at sea. Cath James has spoken of her terror after being flung from her cabin in high seas

  • Sex assault arrest

    A 25-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested over allegations he sexually assaulted a 44-year-old woman in Bure Park, Bicester. He is accused of touching the woman inappropriately at about 2.50pm on Wednesday. Last night, the man remained in police custody.

  • University campaign hits £1.25bn

    OXFORD University’s fundraising campaign, Oxford Thinking, has passed its initial target of £1.25bn. The university has defied the economic downturn to reach the milestone in less than eight years. It is the fastest time such a sum has ever been raised

  • Venue told to keep it down

    A COWLEY Road Jamaican restaurant has been ordered to turn the music down by council bosses after complaints. The Hi-Lo has lost its licence to play loud amplified and live music for up to three months or until sound proofing is fitted. It will instead

  • Wilder lines up a new loanee

    A replacement loan signing for Lee Holmes could be completed by Oxford United today. U’s boss Chris Wilder has been forced back into the loan market after being unable to keep the Southampton player for longer than a month, which expired last weekend

  • FOOTBALL: Ford seeks redemption

    MIKE Ford will be looking to learn from his own mistakes as he takes his Oxford City side to Premier Division promotion rivals Stourbridge tomorrow. City lost at home to the West Midlands club last month, and Ford admitted he got it wrong on that occasion

  • Oxford's Clarendon Centre grows to ‘defend itself’

    A £6M REVAMP of Oxford’s Clarendon shopping centre, unveiled last night, will bring fashion chain H&M to the city centre. Shopping centre bosses revealed the plans – which will see the centre’s size increased by 10 per cent – were prompted

  • Pupils get stuck into a taste of salsa

    YOUNGSTERS took to the floor to impress salsa judges with their steps, spins and twirls. The competition was the culmination of months of dance practice as 160 children took part in the third inter-schools salsa challenge. Children from Pegasus and

  • COMMENT: It's a show of confidence in the high street

    In light of the fact shoppers will have to wait until 2017 for the refurbishment of Oxford’s Westgate Centre, and the news that Banbury may not get its own out-of-town shopping centre, we should be grateful popular clothes chain H&M is coming to

  • United predict £210,000 loss

    OXFORD United are expecting to lose just over £210,000 in their latest set of accounts, according to forecasts announced to supporters at a forum last night An unexpectedly high number of loan deals due to injuries to first-team players played

  • Banbury retail park plan ‘should be rejected’

    PLANS for a massive retail park off the M40 at Banbury should be refused, a council report has recommended. The plan for the Wildmere Industrial Estate, off junction 11, would damage the town centre, a Cherwell District Council planning officer said.

  • Moving With The Times: The Oxford Times App

    For 150 years The Oxford Times has been Oxfordshire's first choice weekly newspaper. Times (including The Oxford Times) change and now, in 2012, we have unveiled the newest way for you to read your favourite weekly paper - our App for the iPad

  • Campaigners celebrate as weir plan is postponed

    CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating after Environment Agency bosses “postponed” plans for a new weir on the Thames near Appleton costing more than £2.5m. The structure is one of the last hand-operated paddle and rymer weirs left on the river and a fierce campaign

  • Villagers facing 'worst phase' of roadworks

    VILLAGERS are bracing themselves for the worst of sewer works which will close off the only road to their homes and pub. Work is running behind schedule and all vehicle access to North Hinksey Village, including The Fishes pub, is expected to be cut

  • Dance Turn

    CHOREOGRAPHER Paulette Mae is bringing her first evening of dance to Oxford as part of the Dancin’ Oxford festival. Her work, inspired by living out of a suitcase and flat-sharing, will be performed at the Old Fire Station, George Street, tomorrow night