Archive

Frilford Heath’s Eddie Pepperell is a 300-1 outsider for the Africa Open at East London GC, South Africa, which gets under way today.

MAJOR changes to Bicester town centre roads come into force next month. Work is under way to change St John’s Street to two-way traffic and replace traffic lights with a roundabout at its junction with Queens Avenue. Oxfordshire County Council

A COUNTY councillor is demanding a new primary school is opened by September 2016 for families moving into a new estate in Wallingford. Last year, South Oxfordshire District Council agreed that 555 homes should be built at Slade End Farm, off Wantage

WHEN a small group of Welsh men began meeting at East Oxford’s Cape of Good Hope pub in 1928 to form a choir, they could not have predicted its success. In a year when 1,000 Welsh miners and their families migrated to Oxford for work and the first

Witney Town have folded due to lack of funds. Earlier this month, the cash-strapped Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division club were evicted from the Community Stadium because they were unable to pay the rent. Witney had hoped to groundshare

THE Oxford Mail has been made aware of a flier headed Justice for the Wyatt Brothers appealing for people to sign a Government e-petition. It carries the Oxford Mail logo. This is an unauthorised use of the Oxford Mail logo and the newspaper is not

Am I a recruit to the Chipping Norton set? Perhaps I might consider myself such after two trips in as many weeks to this distinguished coterie’s ‘nosebag’, to employ the unappealing soubriquet sometimes applied to the Kingham Plough. But, of course

It’s St Valentine’s Day — the day that the birds are supposed to begin looking for a mate which makes it the most romantic day of the year. Well it’s certainly the one of the most celebrated days of the year, generating world-wide sales for Valentine

I t’s Valentine’s Day and spring is upon us, or almost! My chickens have perked up; their combs have turned a vivid red and Cocky the Cockerel is busy chasing his four concubines round the coop. They keep retreating to the apex of the chicken house

Mud squelches under our feet and leaves tickle our faces as we search deep into the woods. Birds are singing in the branches overhead, but we’re looking for dragons! Deeper and deeper we go, stepping over fallen logs as quietly as possible until

FOUR STARS   The over-the-top antics of boozy, bucket-making millionaire Roland sometimes dominate the stage to the exclusion of all else in productions of Alan Ayckbourn’s 1979 comedy Taking Steps.  Not so in the well-judged revival, directed

FOUR STARS   The revival under director Roxana Silbert of A Life of Galileo at Stratford could hardly be more timely in a week that has seen the epoch-making resignation of a Pope. Widely considered Bertolt Brecht’s masterpiece, the play focuses

FOUR STARS   Thanks chiefly to the inspired casting of Rupert Everett as Oscar Wilde, a play once considered one of the few failures of its writer David Hare is now recognisable as a work of near genius. The Almeida’s first production 15

Eugene Onegin tells the tale of a selfish hero who lives to regret his rejection of a young woman’s love and his careless incitement of a fatal duel with his best friend. Encapsulating the fragile and turbulent emotions of youth, self-realisation and

Since the release of The 40-Year-Old Virgin, in which Steve Carell had his chest waxed on camera, writer-director Judd Apatow has become synonymous with rumbustious yet touching comedies which explore the foibles of the human condition. Knocked

Comedy POOFS & A PIANO Mill Arts Centre, Banbury Tonight 01295 279002 4 Poofs & a Piano captured the hearts of BBC viewers during their nine-year tenure as the house band on The Jonathan Ross Show. And now you can see them for yourselves

As a famous stretcher of theatrical boundaries, Alan Ayckbourn is a tough task-master for the designers who work on his plays. One of his most consistent artistic collaborators over 40 years has been Michael Holt, a freelancer based in Manchester.

The majority of the county’s Blockbuster video stores have escaped the latest round of closures announced by administrators. Specialist finance firm Deloitte which is handling the Blockbuster administration revealed 164 further stores would close

Today we talk to LYNN LITTLE, deputy mayor of Carterton and repatriation ceremonies liaison officer WHAT I’M CALLED: My name is Lynn Little. MY AGE: You should never ask women that question. Let’s just say I do have a bus pass. WHAT I DO

If you’re a regular at the Oxford Lieder Festival and you can’t wait until October for your annual fix, don’t worry — you don’t have to. Tomorrow sees the launch of the Oxford Lieder Spring series, which runs until June and offers a tasty appetiser

Theatre EQUUS Unicorn Theatre, Abingdon March 6-9 at 7.30pm Tickets £8 (concessions £7) from The Bookstore, Abingdon Precinct or online at abingdon-drama- club.com Alan Strang, a seemingly normal 17-year-old boy is referred for psychiatric treatment

Patrick Gale is preparing to be received at New College for dinner, eating at High Table, fresh off the success of his Oxford alumni University Challenge win at Christmas, when we speak. Surprisingly, he is “rather nervous” at the prospect, feeling

A RARE Anglo-Saxon brooch unearthed in Oxfordshire has gone on show in Banbury. The piece of jewellery was found in West Hanney in 2009, has been loaned to the Banbury Museum until April 27 by Oxfordshire County Council’s museum service. The

If you missed seeing Éduoard Manet’s portrait of Fanny Claus at the Ashmolean Museum during the public appeal that saved it from export last year, you can see it now at the Royal Academy. It’s in London until April 14, a key work in the RA’s trailblazing

THE first celebration of tourism across Oxfordshire is to be held in a bid to boost the county’s economy. Visit Oxfordshire has organised its first ever ‘Big Day Out’ next month. It will give hundreds of people the opportunity to visit some

AN OXFORDSHIRE community put on their glad rags for a fundraising panto. Northmoor Players staged the production of Beauty and the Beast this month with the money raised going towards the village hall. Dion McHugh, who played narrator Felix

The possibility of SS Mary and John Primary School moving to one site will be discussed at an open meeting on Thursday, February 28. Currently Key Stage 1 classes are held in Hertford Street and the rest in Meadow Lane. Governors are considering

CONTROVERSIAL plans for 160 houses in Abingdon will be decided on appeal in the latest twist to the Vale’s housing crisis. The Planning Inspectorate will make a final decision on the plan for land off Drayton Road. Vale of White Horse District

A DOCTOR was "on the phone arranging a golf trip" while examining a 14-year-old girl who had been raped, the Old Bailey heard this morning. The unnamed witness, known as Girl 3, told the court a doctor was "completely insensitive" after she told

THAMES Valley Police (TVP) has puzzled campaigners by calling for libraries to receive less money from housing development deals. Force chiefs said libraries should not get cash as part of “section 106” deals between developers and West Oxfordshire

BURGER bar owner Hakan Keskin is to hand over the spatula to staff member Sally Newport after 24 years of keeping Didcot well fed. The father-of-three is taking a break from catering and Keskin’s Snack Bar, in Market Place, has been bought out

MUM Tor Hammond and her two daughters made pirate hats at an Oxford museum’s half-term craft session. Sisters Tess Hammond, five, and Grace, eight, joined the fun at the Pitt Rivers Museum, South Parks Road, on Monday. Mrs Hammond, 38, of Buckinghamshire

A planning supremo who helped Witney double in size has called for the public to participate more in the planning process. Ian Morrow joined West Oxfordshire District Council in 1974 and rose to become head of planning before his retirement last

A DAD is thanking staff at Oxford Children’s hospital who went the distance in taking care of his baby by taking on five extra miles himself. Richard Chinn immediately signed up for next month’s OX5 Run when he heard it raises cash for the Headington

A DRUG addict who once stole the wallet of a 101-year-old war veteran has been jailed for burglary again. Stephen Gillespie, 50, has been a heroin addict for more than 30 years and committed his latest offence due to a “relapse”, Oxford Crown Court

Here at the Old Bailey it's day 19 of the Oxford sex exploitation trial. Girl 3 due to finish evidence before her mum takes the stand. — @Ben_Wilkinson_ 13 February 2013 Girl 3 tells Old Bailey: "I didn't feel able

Ady Holder and Wayne Moscrop were on target as Witney & District FA outfit West Witney booked their place in the semi-finals of the Oxfordshire FA John Fathers Junior Shield with a 2-0 home win against North Berks League side Dorchester.

A MUM last night spoke of her family’s joy after being reunited with their pet dog Duke. Two-and-a-half year-old Duke ran out of the family’s open front door and ended up struggling in the freezing waters of the River Thames. But thanks to

WAITERS raised a glass to the reopening of an iconic restaurant following its £500,000 restoration. Gee’s restaurant, in Banbury Road, opened to customers on Monday after work to its Grade II listed-conservatory was completed. The building

BAKING tins and oven gloves at the ready. The Oxfordshire Bake Off is set to return in October in an event organisers hope will be bigger and better than last year. With the popularity of hit TV show the Great British Bake Off soaring, cooking

S OXON: A former member of staff at the Oratory School near Woodcote has been arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing pupils throughout the 1980s. The man, in his 50s, was arrested in West Sussex yesterday. The offences are alleged to have happened

Mark Gaul netted a four-timer for Bletchingdon as they thrashed fellow Oxfordshire Senior League side Yarnton 8-0 to reach the semi-finals of the Oxfordshire Charity Cup. Ben Foster (2), Stuart Wellburn and Todd Parker-Hunt sealed the rout for

Craig Pitson bagged a brace as Horspath fought back from 4-0 down to secure a home draw with Oxford Irish in an eight-goal Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division thriller. Goals from Tom Gaughan (2), Padraic Folan and Piers McGlynn appeared

FORMER civic leaders last night claimed there had been a “massive collective failure” in the building of student accommodation blocks near Port Meadow. Five former Lord Mayors of the city have welcomed talks between the city council and Oxford

JUST a few minutes past midnight on his 17th birthday, Mark Bradley hit the roads of Oxfordshire for a drive. And just three days later the car enthusiast passed his driving test. Mark had only been legally allowed to drive on public roads

OXFORD: Hundreds more Christmas trees were recycled in the city this year. The city council received 2,571 trees at its collection points, 375 more than last year. The trees are being turned into about chippings which will be used as mulch

TEN RAF Tornados tore through Oxfordshire’s skies as they left Brize Norton yesterday. The aircraft, which had travelled from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, had been grounded in the county for several days because of bad weather here and across the

OXFORD: Firefighters were called to a flat in Temple Cowley after a blaze broke out in the insulation of a cavity wall. Three fire crews were called to Silkdale Close at about 6pm on Monday and isolated the electricity supply to at the flat before

MANAGERS at Kidlington food wholesaler Savona say they are in talks with staff over possible redundancies. Managing director Ken Knowland said members of the 70-strong workforce at Oxonian Park were being consulted, although would not reveal why

HUNDREDS of Army and RAF personnel from Oxfordshire will be sent out to Afghanistan in April, it was announced yesterday. They will include about 300 troops from 3 Logistic Support Regiment, based in Abingdon, and members of 11 Explosive Ordnance

Freeleigh Parnell and Mollie Dyer both scored twice as Didcot Girls School battled to a 4-3 home win over Kings’ School (Eastleigh) in the ESFA Girls’ Under 13 Cup quarter-finals. They are now away to the winners of Tanbridge House (Horsham) and

I would like to express my thanks to all those who have donated to CLIC Sargent’s work supporting children and young people with cancer. Gifts forwarded to us from funeral directors in Oxfordshire don’t just commemorate those who have passed but

VALE of White Horse Schools Under 14s lost their 100 per cent record in the Vale Cup when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Stroud at Milton United. In a competition played on a league basis, Joe Webber opened the scoring midway through the second

I OBJECT to the tone of Mr R Lee’s letter about UKIP (ViewPoints, February 8). Mr Maden is a very sincere person. I too am a member of UKIP. I may be wrong in my beliefs but I am entitled to be. I object to Lee calling me a crank and a plank.

MANY thanks to ViewPoints and the Oxford Mail for publicising the concerns of the local community regarding the recent proposed alterations to Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry. Also, credit must go to parishioners and the congregation for

Abigail Haynes fired a hat-trick as Kidlington recorded a 7-0 victory away to Carterton in the Oxford Mail Girls League Under 13 Division. A fine first-half display saw the hosts leading 4-0 at the interval, before a further three strikes wrapped

PEOPLE turned out in fancy dress on a James Bond theme for Wallingford’s annual pancake race. The Shrove Tuesday celebration is organised by John Houston, who runs South Moreton Boxing Club. Mr Houston said: “We called this year’s event The

IT IS always open season on the letters page of the Oxford Mail to criticise the party in Government, which unfortunately includes the language of the football hooligan by saying that an MP got a “right kicking” in a television debate. But what

I TOOK my three children into Oxford earlier this week to visit the Museum of Oxford at the Town Hall. Well, what a let down! It was just two rooms with a few dreary exhibits in cabinets. For a city with such a varied and prestigious history, the

Adam Greenaway fired in four goals as Saxton Rovers moved three points clear at the top of North Berks League Division 1 with an emphatic 8-1 win at Sutton Courtenay, writes PHIL ANNETS. Frankie Haines claimed a hat-trick and Tom Butler scored

Two players hit four-timers as Red Lion Islip won 6-5 in a Critchleys Upper Thames Valley League Division 1 clash switched to their ground from Didcot Casuals, writes TIM SIRET. Jimmy Deabill’s four-goal salvo for Red Lion was matched by Didcot

Kerb appeal. It’s a phrase you hear a lot, especially on TV’s Location, Location, Location. Well in my never-ending house hunt, I spent a lunchtime last week flitting around the streets between Cowley and Iffley roads with a letting agent. You

OXFORD University take on the Royal Navy at the United Services Ground, Portsmouth tonight (7.15) after the Iffley Road pitch was deemed unplayable. The Dark Blues, who are looking to build on their 24-13 victory over the Army, next play at home

Rookie trainer Harry Whittington was relieved after Fourovakind came up trumps at Uttoxeter to give him his first winner since taking out a full licence. The eight-year-old, from Whittington’s Sparsholt stables, near Wantage, was sent off the evens

REGARDING the rat infestation in Cardinal House (January 25), as a former tenant, and living there for 11 years, I had rats in my flat. They used to come up through the toilet. We also had a lady of 90 who encountered a rat in her kitchen. We trapped

Breaking news, ‘Willy Carson found in sausage roll.’ Oh yes, the jokes are coming in thick and fast: “My doctor advised me to watch what I eat, so I’m off to the Grand National”, or “what’s the fuss, for years we’ve been told we were eating too much

Minster Lovell moved into second place in Witney & District FA Division 1 with a 4-1 win at Hanborough Res, writes ANTHONY BARLOW. Nathan Harris, Nathan Bowles, Craig Sallis and Steven Burke scored for Lovell, who have now won all eight of

Buying a home is the single most important financial transaction in anyone’s lifetime. Oxfordshire property prices remain high, and, more often than not, that purchase is made with someone else. It is surprising to lawyers how many people,

Traffic is now returning to normal on the A34 after a crash earlier this morning.   A lorry crashed into a silver Peugeot on the northbound carriageway just before the turn off to the Pear Tree interchange at around 8.45am.   The car was

JOSH Dennis smashed a six-timer as Drayton Wasps beat St Edmunds 9-4 in the Oxford Mail Boys League Under 13 C Division. Nick Webster bagged a brace and Harry Darley was also on target in an impressive away display. Michael Brooker (2), Anton

BUSINESS owners in Wantage were told to expect up to 1,000 mourners at a traveller funeral in town yesterday, but only a quarter of that number attended. Police told pubs and other businesses to expect hundreds of mourners in a large procession

JUST three weeks ago, residents hit out when it looked like public toilets across the Vale would close. But now council chiefs have announced that loos in Abingdon, Botley, Faringdon and Wantage are instead in for a quarter of a million pounds

MODERN Art Oxford director Michael Stanley took his own life at the house of one of his colleagues after a lengthy battle with depression. He was found hanged from a tree in a Jericho garden wearing a dinner jacket, an inquest has heard. Mr

OXFORD: About 130 cases of a gastrointestinal illness have been reported at Mansfield College since its ball was held on Saturday, February 2. The Health Protection Agency has been working with Oxford City Council and Oxford University to investigate

THE CHAIRMAN of governors at a secondary school plunged into special measures last night said he and his colleagues were committed to helping it improve. Oxfordshire County Council wants Education Secretary Michael Gove to sack the governors of

The Old Bailey is today due to hear evidence from the mother of an alleged child prostitution victim. Nine men are on trial at the London court accused of running a child sex exploitation ring in the city. The unnamed witness, known as Girl

An ITV spokeswoman has confirmed the seventh series of Lewis won’t be the last. The final episode of the series, which is filmed in the county, aired on Monday. ITV spokeswoman Kate Bain said the detective show’s star Kevin Whately, pictured

A BAD night for Oxford United was compounded with the news Justin Richards could be out for the rest of the season. On the field, the increasingly fragile U’s went down 2-1 at home to Fleetwood, which extended their winless run to five games.

OXFORD Sports and Social Club will close on its 90th anniversary after BMW announced it was taking back the site in Roman Way. The decision also means Oxford United will be forced to find a new training ground. A range of sports clubs based

THE impending closure of the Oxford Sports and Social Club will be a sad point in the history of this city. Yet it is also a sign of the times and in many ways, while it is regrettable, perhaps it is better that the decision to close is being prompted

THE nuns who converted to Catholicism under a new scheme created by Pope Benedict XVI last night said they would be “eternally grateful” to the retiring Pontiff. The 85-year-old Benedict stunned the world when he announced on Monday he was unable