A FATHER has raised money for the Oxford neo-natal intensive care unit that looked after his two children. Chris Shadbolt of Clanfield, and his friend Dave Newton, cycled across the UK, from Pembroke to Great Yarmouth, on fixed-gear bikes.
CROWDS will be ‘keeping it local’ at Oxford Castle ’s two-day festival this weekend. The event will combine food and drink, arts and crafts, performances and wine tasting. Gordon Piggott, of McCarthy’s fruit and veg in the Covered Market, said
TOLKIEN fans will meet in Oxford to celebrate the 75th anniversary of The Hobbit – and look forward to the movie version of the book. Since Oxford fantasy author JRR Tolkien died in 1973, members of the Tolkien Society have gathered each year in
VISITORS to the Botanic Garden in Oxford are being invited to listen and learn about the chemistry giving plants flavours, colours and medicinal properties. A new audio tour features recordings of students and chemistry lecturers at Oxford University
AN elderly woman was airlifted to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford after her car collided with a lorry in Burford this afternoon. She was taken to the hospital by air ambulance after the crash, which took place at around 2.30pm. The woman
NINE cyclists are hoping to turn pedal power into pounds for two dementia charities by taking on a 230-mile challenge. The group – a determined team of customers from the Strickland Arms in Ducklington – set off yesterday from Ashburton in Devon
OXFORD Castle’s historic stone towers will be rocking tonight as the old prison wing and the ancient crypt are taken over by the city’s most raucous bands. The Oxford Mail’s sister paper The Oxford Times is celebrating its 150th birthday with bands
ALMOST 1,000 cannabis plants were found at a North Oxfordshire industrial estate yesterday. The landlord of the unit at Banbury Business Park, Aynho Road, Adderbury, let police in after another tenant reported smelling the drug at about 10.30am
A 17-year-old girl suffered serious head injuries after she was involved in a collision with a lorry near Yarnton. The accident happened on the A44 near the Budgens garage at 11pm last night. The teenager is seriously ill in Oxford’s John Radcliffe
Last Thursday I began the day with a glass of Champagne in the sun. This uncommon occurrence was a preview to the wines on offer at “Keeping It Local” at the Oxford Castle Quarter this weekend, and one of the stars is the Champagne. When did
RESIDENTS at Didcot’s Great Western Park estate enjoyed a party and barbecue to celebrate the opening of a new play area. More than 100 residents were out in the sunshine when the play area, featuring swings and climbing frames, was officially
A HEADTEACHER is “confident” results at his Bicester school will improve quickly. The move comes after a stark warning by Bicester Community College associate governor Michael Waine who said the school could face “external inter- vention” if
JUST one week remains for charities to put themselves forward for a cash boost courtesy of the Oxford Mail. The Gannett Foundation , the charitable arm of the Oxford Mail’s parent company, is giving away up to £10,000 to charities across Oxfordshire
HYUNDAI has made its name, particularly in Europe, by portraying itself as Captain Sensible. Attractive prices, solid build quality and a warranty designed to make other manufacturers squirm a little have been enough to carve a sizeable slice of
Oxford United have moved quickly to replace Sean McGinty with the signing of Luke O'Brien. The former Bradford left back, who played almost 150 games for the Bantams, replaces McGinty, whose loan spell with the U's was terminated yesterday.
AN OXFORD family feel they have been stung by the city council and a swarm of wasps. When David Morgan reported a wasps nest in the loft of his two-bedroom Lenthall Road council house in Rose Hill, pest contollers told him there was none to be
RESIDENTS will be given the chance to discuss Oxford City Council ’s cycling plans at the next north east area forum. The forum meets on Monday, September 24, from 6pm at Marston Primary School in Copse Lane, Northway. Up for discussion will
A WINE merchant is popping open the Champagne after winning a fourth award this year. The Oxford Wine Company brought home the Regional Wine Merchant of the Year award for the South of England on Tuesday. The prestigious title joins three others
STALLHOLDERS at a struggling farmers’ market in Witney have issued a stark warning to use it or lose it. Witney Farmers’ Market has been hit by falling customer numbers and the amount of stalls has dwindled to about 10. Last year, the market
Didcot Phoenix riders enjoyed success at Newbury Road Club’s ten-mile time trial. Zoe Ludwig-Tantrum was the first lady rider home on the undulating course in 29mins 8secs, while Pete Tantrum, Ian Middleton and Dave Rodger combined to take the
UP TO 30 new jobs are expected to be created in the next year by a new care service in Bicester. Bicester couple Suzzanne and John Elgar have just been given permission by regulatory authorities to start trading as Bluebird Care (Cherwell).
A GRANT from the Big Lottery fund is giving young mothers in Didcot the chance of a brighter future. Leading pro-life charity LIFE has been awarded £292,000 to finance its care and housing work throughout the UK. This includes supporting the
A TEENAGER battled night terrors, sleep walking and an eating disorder after suffering abuse about her weight when she was competing in international gymnastics at the age of 13. Four years on, Amber-Lauren Ballantyne-Styles has moved into art
PUPILS at Carterton Community College finally have a new library after a four year gap without the facility. For the past year, headteacher Niall McWilliams and governors have been working on re-establishing the library. And the £50,000 facility
FOOTBALL NPOWER LEAGUE TWO Burton Albion v Oxford Utd. BLUE SQUARE BET NORTH Harrogate Tn v Oxford City. EVO-STIK SOUTHERN LEAGUE Premier Div : Banbury Utd v Chippenham Tn. FA CARLSBERG TROPHY Prelim round : Abingdon Utd
TWINS Edith and Imogen Langford, from Harwell, collected three titles in the season-opening Oxfordshire Under 21 Restricted tournament at Bartholomew School, Eynsham. Edith won the women’s singles, and teamed up with sister Imogen to take the women
In Thursday’s edition of The Guide, the Oxford Mail’s weekly entertainments supplement, we wrongly stated that the price of a ticket to see Midge Ure and Ultravox perform at the New Theatre Oxford next Saturday was. £3.50. The real price of a ticket
SEAN Rigg is attempting to avoid thinking about failing to score so far this season as he hopes to break his duck for Oxford United at Burton Albion tomorrow. The winger has not scored since netting against the U’s for Port Vale on the final
Two platinum wedding rings were stolen by burglars who ransacked a Station Lane home. A rear window was forced open and thieves also stole a laptop and a white gold ring at about 6.30pm last Friday. Call police on 101.
A 20-year-old has been given a conditional discharge for possessing cannabis. Scott Fitzgerald appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court yesterday and admitted having the Class B drug on March 21. Fitzgerald, of Alice Smith Square, Littlemore,
A LOCUM doctor has pocketed tens of thousands of pounds in NHS pay while suspended for the past three years, pending investigation of patients’ sexual misconduct allegations. Dr Yenugula Rao Srinivas, pictured, was suspended from working for the
MIDDLE class women shoplifting wool have contributed to the demise of a independent haberdashery in Oxford, it was claimed last night. Port Meadow in Jericho will be close down this month after 22 years of selling wool after being hit by a spate
Banbury United owner Jed McCrory feels the club’s first Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division win of the season is just around the corner. Ahead of tomorrow’s home game with Chippenham, he admitted that new boss Edwin Stein, who took over following
Didcot Town caretaker manager Gary Elkins says his side have to be more clinical in front of goal, starting with tomorrow’s FA Trophy preliminary-round tie with Paulton Rovers. While he was pleased to triumph at Windsor in the FA Cup , he felt
A nursery assistant kneed her boyfriend in the groin before hitting him with the heel of her shoe. Korine Forbes was sentenced by Oxford magistrates yesterday after admitting common assault. The 21-year-old attacked Callum Spencer in New Inn
Striker Steve Basham believes that Oxford City have got a good chance of continuing their impressive start to life in the Blue Square North when they travel to Harrogate Town tomorrow. Having drawn 2-2 at home to Altrincham last weekend, where
IT IS a tired cliché to compare players’ careers to a roller-coaster, but it is an appropriate description considering the dizzy highs and desperate lows experienced by Dave Langan. The Irishman will be remembered by Oxford United supporters of
NORTH Oxford completed a double by winning the top men’s and women’s divisions in the OLTA Wilson League. But they failed to make it a clean sweep, finishing third in mixed Division 1. Virgin Active will win this title if they defeat fourth-placed
CYCLISTS have called for better safety measures after figures show deaths and injuries have more than doubled in the past decade. Some 58 cyclists were killed or seriously injured in Oxfordshire in 2011 compared to just 27 in 2001. Lisa Harker
OXFORD City athlete Hannah England yesterday backed the decision by UK Athletics (UKA) to appoint Neil Black as performance director in the wake of Charles van Commenee’s decision to step down as head coach. Black has been involved with Britain
A GAP in midweek fixtures has been very welcome for Oxford United this week as they attempt to regroup after a hectic start to the season. Saturday’s 4-2 defeat at home to Exeter City was United’s eighth game in 26 days, which has stretched a squad
CHINNOR head coach Jason Bowers is relishing the selection headache he finds himself with this season. Wings Tristan Corpe and Pip Seymour, plus prop Joe Winpenny return to the squad for tomorrow’s National 2 South trip to Bournemouth, while Tom
A MUCH-LOVED 17th Century hotel and pub in Abingdon has been bought by a chain for £1.6m. The Crown and Thistle in Bridge Street has been sold to Oakman Inns, and will temporarily close in January for a £1.4m overhaul. It is expected to reopen
IN just 10 weeks the family of Sergeant Lee Davidson were expecting him to return home for the birth of his daughter. Yesterday, they were laying single red roses on his hearse. Sgt Davidson, 32, of The Light Dragoons, was killed in Afghanistan
THE majority of Oxford United supporters want to know more about Jim Rosenthal’s resignation from the board, according to a poll on the Oxford Mail website. Hundreds of people had their say online after the popular television sports presenter
I REALISED that schoolchildren have to carry so much in their backpacks because too many subjects are on the school curriculum. Surely a more thorough teaching of the basic subjects such as maths and English should be on the agenda first. I
WE WRITE in regard to your story Stores will not open by Christmas (Oxford Mail, August 30). The shops will be open for Christmas! Is your paper trying to put the whole town out of business? Your story quotes two (only) precinct ‘traders’ that
TONY Williams (Oxford Mail, September 6, Letters) is right to be concerned about parking and other aspects of future development in the Summertown shops but I urge him not to despair of residents being heard on these issues. On November 6 at
Up to 14,000 prospective students are expected to descend on the city today to find out more about studying at Oxford University . Visitors are being asked to use park and rides rather than driving into the city but heavy traffic , delays and
AN explosion of colour and scent helped a crop of gardeners scoop awards at the annual Oxford in Bloom presentation last night. Prizes of up to £100 were dished out in a range of categories including most beautiful container, best commercial display
IT IS quite a while since I reported that the squashed remains of a dead bird were on the pavement in Beaumont Road in Headington Quarry. The remains are still there – so much for John Tanner’s cleaner Oxford. KEN HILL Trinity Road Headington
AstonisHing isn’t it? Peek beneath the surface of this city and what do you find? Middle-class women stealing wool. Why, if Jericho shop owner Azize Stirling hadn’t exposed this crime – one of the reasons she’s closing after 20 years of business
In AN era when fears for the National Health Service are constant and unsettling, it is interesting to hear the views of someone who has worked at the ‘coal face’ of the NHS for nearly 40 years. Dr Leszek “Les” Blazewicz, whose career saw him serve
A MOTHER of two who survived a rare liver cancer is to feature in a national advert she hopes will inspire people to raise cash to help beat the disease. Alison Stone, 43, who lives in Stonhouse Crescent, Radley, near Abingdon was diagnosed with
OVER the past two or three years, Tesco Stores Ltd has acquired two sites in Oxford. One in the Abingdon Road after a public inquiry and one at Marston, also after a public inquiry in which the planning inspector ignored a local petition of 4,000
I STATED in a previous letter, Mr Limmer, that I would one day like to visit the planet you reside on. I have changed my mind. Let’s deal with the famous Ryder report you continually mis-quote. Sir John Ryder was tasked in 1975 with identifying
I HAVE noticed a growing number of people are putting large stones or tree trunks on the grass verges, beyond the pavements outside their homes. If emergency services were required, these objects would hinder and delay their response. If in
I HAVE only myself to blame. I chose to ignore police advice and pleas by councils to stop giving money to people who beg in the streets of Oxford. My only excuse is that a child was involved and when it comes to little ‘uns, I’m a pushover.
Oxford City boss Mike Ford has praised the contribution of midfielder Declan Benjamin and says there is still more to come. Since he returned after a two-game absence, Benjamin has helped City to a 4-2 win against Boston United and last weekend
The trial of a 21-year-old Swindon Town fan accused of defacing Oxford United ’s pitch has been postponed. Liam Jones was due to stand trial at Oxford Magistrates’ Court yesterday, but the case was adjourned until January 7. The initials STFC
NOMINATIONS for the 2012 Oxfordshire Sports Awards open today. And it is a chance for you to make a difference by identifying the local sporting heroes who you believe should receive recognition for their excellent work over the year. Backed
A period drama will be filmed in the city centre over two Sundays next month. Catte Street will be closed off between Broad Street and Radcliffe Square on Sunday, October 21, between 7am and 7pm. Merton Street will be closed between Oriel Square
THE final blueprint for the future of Oxfordshire’s health and wellbeing has been put before the public by the county’s new health taskforce. The Health and Wellbeing Board was set up earlier this year to improve the lifestyle, achievement and
MORE than 150 patients queued to thank a “wonderful” GP who retired after never taking a day off sick in 37 years. They streamed down the drive of a former surgery in Wootton, near Abingdon, to thank Dr Leszek ‘Les’ Blazewicz, 65. The Boars
OXFORDSHIRE’S Jack Brooks is set to leave Northants after four seasons at the County Ground. The 28-year-old England Lions bowler could announce his departure today. The former Tiddington and Oxford seamer progressed to Northants via Minor
OXFORD United are looking to recruit a new signing before tomorrow’s trip to Burton Albion after terminating Sean McGinty’s loan deal. A free agent with several years of Football League experience has been training with the squad this week and
A PAINTING found in Oxfordshire is thought to be a lost Turner worth up to £50m. Artist Christian Furr, from London, bought the painting from a county estate and is now having it verified by auction house Sotheby’s. He believes the painting
A CAR salesman and an unemployed carpenter have appeared in court charged with raping a woman in an Oxford park. Julio Dos-Santos, 28, and Takudzwa Hunda, 26, are alleged to have had sex with a 20-year-old woman against her will in Headington’s
ROGER McGough opened The Blenheim Literary Festival with a selection of his newest poems. The Liverpool performance poet was reading extracts from his latest book, As Far As I Know, at an event in The Orangery at the palace on Wednesday evening
PLANS to build a boatyard on an island in the Thames have been approved despite fierce opposition. A 20-mooring boatyard will be built on historic Brandy Island, which used to house a brandy distillery, north of the village of Buscot near Faringdon
“MERCILESS” thugs left a mentally ill Blackbird Leys man for dead after robbing him of £20 cash. Abdul Adan, 21, and Michael Edwards, 25, attacked schizophrenic Kirk Smith,34, in his Balfour Road home. Adan hit himwith the butt of an army knife
INTERNATIONAL charity trips, free golf club membership and Champagne are all within Oxfordshire MPs’ published financial interests. The House of Commons updates the records, which detail MPs’ monthly outside earnings. Previously, they only
THE POWER to help save the planet is in the hands of Oxford residents after a new battery recycling scheme was launched. The city has become the final area in the county to offer battery recycling collection alongside household rubbish and recycling
MORE THAN 275 new care home places for the elderly in West Oxfordshire are set be granted planning permission next week. Richmond Care Villages hopes to build 185 units in Witney, while IBIS Healthcare and Cottsway Housing Association have applied
