BLOXHAM’S annual music festival promises to be bigger and better this year, and has added an extra day to prove it. Self-professed purveyors of high-octane folk rock Leatherat will be headlining one of the four stages on Saturday, and it is very
Cash, a laptop and computer equipment were stolen from a home in Wolsey Road, Cutteslowe, Oxford, on Wednesday between 7.45am and 3.45pm. Thieves forced open a rear conservatory door to gain entry to the house.
LIVING without supermarkets for a year would be enough of a challenge for many families. But six months into their task, the Pughs from Faringdon are upping the ante by trying to live on a pound a day for a week. Ian and Rebekah Pugh, who live
A 75-year-old man fell into a stream and drowned probably because of his “confused” state, a coroner said. The body of divorced John Bellamy was found off Washford Glen, Didcot, on March 2. Friend Hannah Bennett said his behaviour was “unusual
A MAN who became “obsessive” and angry after drinking alcohol has been jailed for threatening behaviour and assault. David Reid, of Green Hill, Greater Leys, Oxford, was sentenced to 12 months behind bars at Oxford Crown Court yesterday. The
TWO men accused of a £500,000 drugs conspiracy have been cleared after a judge decided there were “shortcomings” in the police investigation. Mark Johnson, of Weymann Terrace, Cowley, and Michael Krah, of Stowford Road, Barton, Oxford, walked free
THIS personal trainer is trying to round up a record-breaking number of runners to take part in this year’s Oxford Town and Gown run. Since 1995 Barry Grinham, owner of fitness firm Prime Energy, has been running the 10km race, which raises money
F amous first in Lewes and next in Brighton, Bill’s is now becoming a restaurant name widely recognised across the country. Well, at least in those parts of it whose residents — and that includes temporary student ones — are not exactly careful with
OXFORDSHIRE'S award-winning mustard-maker Bruce Young has a busy summer ahead and he couldn’t be happier. Next weekend he kicks off his food festival ‘tour’ at the Witney Food Festival (May 18). Bruce is delighted. As he sees it, festivals such
The tulips are a little late this year, but worth the wait. Most of mine are randomly planted in oak half barrels, with blends that contain oranges, black and pinks. I have a mixture of April Triumphs and later May-flowering single lates, doubles and
LUKE McCormick has become the first of the dozen players released by Oxford United last week to join another club. The 29-year-old has signed a one-year deal at Plymouth Argyle, where he made more than 150 appearances in his first spell in Devon
Rarely does a political interview on TV make history. Many are quickly despatched to oblivion, sometimes to the relief of those concerned, no doubt. But the series of interviews between ex-President Richard Nixon and David Frost broadcast in 1977 have
Nicola Lisle meets Oxford guitarist Manus Noble It’s quite an eerie feeling, entering your former home for the first time in several decades. But that’s what happens when I go to meet local guitarist Manus Noble, who by coincidence lives in an
Her victory on X Factor saw the nation fall in love with this strikingly beautiful and powerful-voiced singer. But Leona Lewis would have been a star anyway – with or without the TV talent show. “I have always known what I wanted to do – and
Oxfordshire Artweeks continues to engage, surprise and delight as it enters its second week. A week in which South Oxfordshire showcases its talented folk and in which Oxford City’s artists and craftspeople continue to demonstrate skills across a wide
In the captain’s log from the 1960s TV series, James Tiberius Kirk brazenly split an infinitive as the crew of the Enterprise embarked on a five-year mission “to boldly go where no man has gone before”. The three screenwriters of Star Trek Into
Miles Kane tells TIM HUGHES about his new album and tour and much more besides Relaxed and happy, Miles Kane is having a good time. But, then, isn’t he always? At home in London at the start of his tour, and with a new album under his skinny belt
Former Man at Work Colin Hay reveals his serious side. And, as Tim Hughes discovers, it is a million miles from Down Under WE still know him as the voice of one of Australia’s most iconic bands – Men at Work. But Colin Hay is at pains to prove
A COWLEY shopkeeper who ran a well-known business for more than 30 years has died at the age of 81. Grahame Hopkins took over the family business of Hopkins of Cowley – which was an ironmonger and hardware store based in Hollow Way – in 1962.
* The ‘individually Italian’ Zizzi has a new menu for you to try at its restaurant in George Street. As well as updates to its classic choices such as pizza and pasta, you also can chow down on alternatives such as pollo al prosciutto (chicken
KATHERINE McALISTER revels in the eccentric setting of Jane’s Tea Gardens for a memorable lunch Wander up a dusty track in Kirtlington, towards the quarry, past endless ramblers, campers, cyclists, holiday-makers, lovers and tourists, and eventually
The title In the Midst Of Crackers is now a brilliantly ironic one for Reginald D Hunter’s latest tour, considering the furore surrounding his recent gig for the Professional Footballers’ Association. The black American was reported to have used
* George Orwell's unnerving dystopian masterpiece 1984 arrived at the O’Reilly Theatre in Keble College yesterday, and continues to be performed every evening until Saturday. Produced by the Oxford theatre company Rough Hewn, the nightmarish parable
KATHERINE MacALISTER talks to Prodijig’s Alan Kenefick about winning Sky 1’s Got to Dance, being in Riverdance, and his new show Footstorm Alan Kenefick is living the dream. Having fantasized about creating his own Irish dancing show, even as a
KATHERINE McALISTER has an Absolutely Fabulous moment when she comes face-to-face with singer Rita Ora at the launch of a new pop-up shop at Bicester Village It was an experience I will never forget. Not just interviewing Rita Ora, the country’
A COUNCILLOR who held the joint record for long service in Grove parish will be remembered at a memorial service on Saturday. Sheila Cotton, former chairman of Grove Parish Council, died after a long illness at the age of 84. Amongst her long
JURORS have this afternoon retired to consider their verdicts in the trial of nine men accused grooming and sexually abusing vulnerable young girls in Oxford. The seven men and five women of the jury were sent out by the judge after hearing nearly
LOVE can be hard to find, and it can be even more difficult when you have a learning disability. But a dating service for young people with special needs is going from strength to strength, and has even led to wedding bells. Mates ’n Dates
A JUDGE has told jurors to treat an alleged child sex victim's evidence with care. The unnamed complainant known as Girl 5 claims she had sex with four of the nine men accused of running a child sex exploitation ring in Oxford. And summing
A SELECT group of entrepreneurs and companies are preparing for the biggest night on the county’s business calendar. After sifting through almost 350 entries, judges at the Oxfordshire Business Awards have drawn up the shortlist of individuals
COUNCIL chiefs hope to reinvigorate markets across West Oxfordshire as Witney’s Market Square prepares for a £40,000 revamp. West Oxfordshire District Council has completed a review of markets and hopes to increase district turnover from an estimated
THESE teenage entrepreneurs are hoping their budget blend of beauty products can catapult them to success. The year 10 students from Our Lady’s Abingdon will be battling it out tonight at the county finals of the Young Enterprise Awards. Their
TWO masked robbers have held up a Cowley newsagents at gun point. The men entered Hackett’s in Garsington Road at about 6.55am today and demanded money from a member of staff, before producing a gun. <<9/5>> They stole cash and
Café Aloha, Botley 15% off your food bill Monday – Saturday. Must be booked in advance and use of card stated. Excludes drinks. Maximum 2 persons based on three courses per person. Traditional and stylish décor provides a mixture of a sophisticated
Oxonian's Paul Allday and Mat Rowley set personal bests in the ten-mile Veterans Time Trials Association fast course at Tring. Allday completed the course in 22mins 26secs, taking 22 seconds off his previous mark, while Rowley was home in 20mins
A BANKING error left an Oxford man living in a tent, until the Oxford Mail got involved. Earlier this year former soldier Darren Johnson won a place on a city and regional planning degree at Oxford Brookes University. He hoped to use the course
IT MIGHT not be the Tate or the National Gallery but this Oxfordshire vineyard is set to host a large exhibition of sculptures. As part of Oxfordshire Artweeks, Bothy Vineyard in Frilford Heath has become home to about 200 sculptures by some 30
FORENSICS teams have been sent to Cowley this morning. Police have cordoned off an area by a shop on the corner of Garsington Road and Phipps Road. It is not yet clear what the incident is but officers in forensic gear are on the scene.
Digital dictation systems firm Lexacom has moved into new headquarters in Banbury. The business, which works across the healthcare, legal, financial services and property sectors, has taken the whole of East Court at Hardwick Business Park — totalling
Farmland prices are still rising despite challenging economic climate and pressure on farm incomes, according to agents Carter Jonas. The sluggish economy and appalling weather conditions have put real pressure on farm incomes. However, prime arable
As the economy continues its volatile recovery from recession, Thame has seen its office market buck the general trend of lower take-up levels over the last year. Thame Park Business Centre, a mixed business park of office units and industrial
STUDENTS at Abingdon and Witney college are gearing up for a move into a state-of-the-art new home. Work has started on the construction of a £741,000 purpose-built teaching block on the Abingdon campus which will house pupils on the Advanced Engineering
Interior architects’ firm Monteith Scott has completed a design project as part of a £5.5m state-of-the-art office and production facility for advanced composite experts, CTG. The new 120,000 sq ft Composite Centre of Excellence in Banbury, will
The Oxfordshire County Council Energy & Environment Award: Polythene UK, Witney; Nicholsons Nurseries, North Aston; Mapledurham Estates, Mapledurham The Oxford Brookes University Innovation Award: Oxford Gene Technology, Begbroke; Earth Save
OXFORD United are celebrating after winning two awards. The club won the inaugural Johnstone’s Paint Pot Challenge and also scooped the League Two programme of the year prize. United’s players were the most accurate at chipping balls into an
OXFORD RL assistant coach Martin Roden urged his players to be more disciplined after their 23-22 home victory over Hemel Stags. The dramatic win inflicted a first defeat of the Kingstone Press Championship One season on Hemel and kept Oxford in
THE first person Alex Ferguson saw when he arrived at the Manor Ground in November 1986 was Mick Thorne. The lifelong Manchester United fan from Botley waited for the squad to arrive so he could welcome Ron Atkinson’s successor. He said: “He
OXFORDSHIRE’S Henry Purdy has been called into the England Under 20 squad for the IRB Junior World Championship. The 18-year-old Leicester wing, from Milton-under-Wychwood, did not make the original selection for June’s tournament in France.
DAN Hamilton smashed the course record as he cruised to victory at a hot Chalgrove Festival 10K. The 21-year-old Abingdon Ambler completed the undulating course in 33mins 21secs to beat the previous mark by more than 90 seconds. Eynsham Road
Engineers, entrepreneurs, pioneers and marketeers — all these and more are represented among the individuals and firms shortlisted in the Oxfordshire Business Awards. Judges deliberated long and hard after sifting through almost 350 entries — a
THE future of an Oxford pub will be discussed this afternoon. The Chester Arms, in Chester Street, Iffley Fields, has been closed since July. Oxford City Council refused planning permission for it to become a house in November last year.
SIX teams will go for glory in the OURFC Invitational Sevens at Iffley Road on Saturday (11am). The field has been reduced to two groups of three after Leicester Tigers and London Welsh were late withdrawals. Oxford University face Worcester
DAVID Bruce and Jude Craft triumphed in round one of the Mota-Vation Series at Charlton-on-Otmoor. Running in the colours of first-claim club Highgate Harriers, Bruce clocked 20mins 59secs for the 4.1-mile course. This saw the doctor, from
HIGHWAYMAN Dick Turpin and angry publicans have demonstrated against high pub rents and beer prices ahead of a Witney publican’s eviction. The event was prompted by plans to evict Simon Moore, who says he has been unable to pay bills at The Chequers
OXFORDSHIRE were left frustrated by a 17-12 defeat to Eastern Counties in the National Under 20 Shield final at Coventry RFC. Martin Moran’s men had three players sin-binned and saw captain Jack Horwood held up from the final play. But Eastern
CHRIS Dettmar enjoyed an emphatic victory in the Richmond Park Marathon, breaking the course record in the process. The 43-year-old Headington Road Runner completed the 26.2-mile trail course in 2hrs 35mins 51secs, coming home more than 21 minutes
What was your first job and what did your responsibilities include? I was a newspaper boy delivering evening newspapers when I was 14. How much was in your first pay packet and what did you spend it on? Probably a few pounds for a week’s work
Once you have made the decision to become a DIY investor, and manage part or all of your investments, then one of the first choices you must make is whether to be a ‘passive’ or ‘active’ manager of your portfolio. As a passive investor your life
Going short is a strategy beloved by traders and spread bet afficionados who suspect a company’s shares will fall in value. Assume that a share price is currently 100p, a bearish spread better may ‘sell’ the stock (which he doesn’t own) in anticipation
WEIRD and wonderful work by students and staff across Oxford Brookes University is being celebrated at Pegasus Theatre this week. The annual week-long Brookes Festival at the theatre in Magdalen Road, East Oxford, showcases work from people in
SPECULATION linking Oxford United manager Chris Wilder to the Sheffield United job eased yesterday. The 45-year-old was made the 1-10 favourite by two bookmakers on Tuesday, but the market changed to make Motherwell manager Stuart McCall, another former
“HAD Ferguson’s men played the way Evans’ players did and won 2-0, the new United boss would have been heralded as the new Old Trafford saviour.” That was John Ley’s assessment in the Oxford Mail of Oxford United’s win against a Manchester United
Oxfordshire Academy’s first official match away to Sussex ended in a six-wicket defeat at Blackstone, near Hove. Skipper Richard Cook won the toss and elected to bat, but Oxon were reduced to 29-2. Vishane Perera and Shabbaz Alam then shared
N OBODY should doubt the desire of all involved to do something about our outdated and unloved Westgate Centre. A bright, modern development packed with the best in retail – including John Lewis – is what we have been promised for years. But
IN REPLY to Saskya Huggins’ comments (ViewPoints, May 3) about the Osney Lock hydropower scheme. Low shear Archimedean screw design can never be “fish friendly” when the terms of licensing for these types of generators have included conditions
IN regard to your report regarding Cottsway Housing Association (May 1), as a leaseholder with Cottsway as my landlord, I have had my problems with them. New charges would appear on the service bill ‘caretakership’ for an example, with no such
I AM shocked and angry as what right do people say Witney doesn’t want gay marriage? I know for a fact that we want it because of all the comments I have received praising me for supporting it. I assume people are stuck in the old days. This
OXFORD City bagged three of the six titles on offer at the Oxfordshire Road Relays in Abingdon. City won the senior men’s and ladies’ races and were also joint winners of the under 13/15 girls’ category after a dramatic dead heat with Banbury Harriers
A TEENAGER risked his and other motorists’ lives by driving the wrong way on the A34 during a police chase. Nineteen-year-old Joseph Holden, who admitted dangerous driving, drove the wrong way around a roundabout before “bouncing along” the embankment
Luke Ryan believes Oxfordshire’s start to their MCCA Trophy campaign bodes well for the rest of the summer. Oxon have beaten Devon and Bedfordshire by one wicket in their opening Group 1 matches without managing to play consistently well. And
Great & Little Tew snatched defeat from the jaws of victory to go down by one run in an amazing finish at Dinton in the Home Counties Premier League Twenty20 first round. Chasing Dinton’s 139-7, Tew arrived at the final over on 138-3. But
Tiddington sprang the big surprise in the National Village Cup first round with a 58-run home defeat of former dual champions Shipton-under-Wychwood. Nick Pykett led Cherwell League Division 2 side Tiddington to 227-7 off their 40 overs with a
WHAT a lovely man Sir Ben Kingsley is. The Oscar-winning actor and Oxfordshire resident was so touched by the story of nine-year-old meningitis sufferer Daisy Pashley he organised a screening of his latest movie, Iron Man III, for her benefit in Witney
I HAVE used the NHS regularly this year and, generally speaking, the NHS is marvellous and works well. The support staff are usually good and diligent. My problems are with the administrative staff – who have not a clue how to administer – and
ON Saturday, May 4, you published full results of the recent Oxfordshire County Council elections. I have used my pocket calculator and found some interesting figures. In West Oxfordshire, the Tories got just 43 per cent of the votes cast but
FAR from wanting to fix the problems of the A34, Oxfordshire County Council plans to make them worse by encouraging local traffic to use the trunk road. They have a scheme in the background to encourage commuters from the new houses at Great Western
THERE is a lot in the media about rape and other sexual offenders. The female victims are not named, so surely it’s only fair for the suspect to be treated the same until convicted. It used to be innocent until proved guilty but now it seems
I APPLAUD the initiative taken by Woodstock Town council to commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, in planting a tree. As the widow of a former mayor of Woodstock, Alan Gray, I am writing to ask where were the schoolchildren, alleged
MAY I thank all those who came out to vote in the local council elections last week. Millions of people over the centuries have given their lives for the right to vote in free and fair elections but we tend to take democracy for granted. More
I WONDER how much of the Conservatives’ loss of support in the recent election is due to their intended massacre of our badgers, due to take place very soon. No person who has the slightest concern for our wildlife would ever consider voting for
WE'VE all heard of paper candidates, but you would think the Green Party would want to save paper. It could have saved lots on the ballot during last week’s elections in Sonning Common, where prominent Oxford politician Craig Simmons was standing
HENLEY Hawks director of rugby Mike Poulson heaped praise on his side after they emphatically clinched the National 2 South title at Dry Leas, writes MATTHEW BRUCE. Hawks thrashed title rivals Worthing Raiders 55-27 in their final match of the
RESIDENTS across Oxfordshire have reported seeing a green-tinged meteor flash across the evening sky last night. The "fireball" shot over England and Wales in a northerly direction at around 9.45pm yesterday. Experts believe the meteor might
Crime reporter Ben Wilkinson is at the Old Bailey this morning Judge Peter Rook is close to finishing his summing up of the case after five days. Jurors in the #Oxford child sex exploitation trial have retired to consider their verdicts
A MAN knocked down by a car in Cowley Road, Oxford, has given a description of the driver, who fled on foot. The suspect was an “Afro-Caribbean male, about six feet tall with dreadlocks, and wearing a grey top”. The car, a silver VW Polo, was
A DOG owner handed cash to an animal sanctuary to look after his pets days after the RSPCA raided and closed it down, a court heard. Didcot resident James Luker told Bicester Magistrates’ Court he had paid around £2,000 over a year to Crunchy’s
HOLLYWOOD legend Sir Ben Kingsley has spoken of the honour of meeting an “extraordinary” nine-year-old who dreams of becoming a Paralympic athlete. Daisy Pashley, who lives in Over Norton, near Chipping Norton, lost part of all four limbs after
HUNDREDS of people are expected to attend the Memorial Garden at Carterton for today’s repatriation ceremony for three soldiers killed by a bomb blast in Afghanistan – Corporal William Savage, 30, Fusilier Samuel Flint, 21, and Private Robert Hetherington
BAIL conditions for the former president of Abingdon Chamber of Commerce – who is facing sex offence charges – were varied at Oxford Crown Court yesterday. Paul Townsend, of Hadland Road, is not to contact witnesses and not discuss the case except
BOTH of the city’s universities have hit out at the proposed new city council charge that threatens the Westgate Shopping Centre development. They say Oxford City Council’s community infrastructure levy (CIL) will put off developers from building
SIR Alex Ferguson is a one-off whose achievements will not be repeated, according to Alan Hodgkinson, who spent eight years working at Manchester United. The 71-year-old Scot stunned the football world yesterday by announcing his 26-year spell
LONDON Welsh lock Kirill Kulemin was due to appear before a RFU disciplinary hearing last night charged with punching in their final Aviva Premiership match. Kulemin has been cited for allegedly striking Worcester’s Chris Jones in Saturday’s clash
FRILFORD Heath held on for two tight victories to end The Oxfordshire’s 100 per cent start to the Shaw Gibbs Oxfordshire Foursomes League. Joe Richardson and Dave Breslin led the way by taking the opening match 2 & 1 against Alex Stubbs and
THE DEVELOPERS behind Oxford’s new Westgate Centre last night warned the scheme may become “unviable” because of a planned new charge. The Westgate Oxford Alliance Limited Partnership warned that it may no longer be able to do the redevelopment
FORTY triallists will battle it out for a place in Oxfordshire’s Middleton Cup squad this season. In a change to the selection process, they will play in three trial games before the final squad of 30 is chosen. Following an internal trial
HEADINGTON Conservative Club confirmed runners-up spot in Section 2 of the Johnsons Buildbase Oxford League despite losing 4-1 at home to Gladiators B, writes PETE EWINS. The Johnson family shone, with Grant (2,990), Mark (2,120) and dad Reg (2,230
HEADINGTON A stayed on course to lift the Oxford & District League Cup for a fourth successive year with a 78-57 win at Oxford City & County A in the quarter-finals. In a repeat of the final of the last two years, Headington came out on
JURORS were yesterday reminded of the evidence of a young woman who told the Old Bailey she had been violently sexually abused from the age of 11. Summing up the Oxford child sex exploitation trial for a fourth day, Judge Peter Rook recapped what
OXFORD CITY Janet Tassell Trophy (stableford): 1 J Ryan 37pts (cb, 2 L Halsey 37, 3 G Chapman 36. Foursomes over 14 holes: 1 H Pennick & D Torgersen 25pts, 2 L Godwin & T Gruber 24, 3 J Glover & J Tavinor 23. NORTH OXFORD
OXFORDSHIRE ladies have had a mixed start to their Middle England League programme. They opened up with a 118-108 victory over Warwickshire at Welford on Avon, before being pipped 113-112 by Leicestershire at St Margaret’s, Birstall. Oxon’s
It's endlessly frustrating that British audiences get to see nigh on every piffling outing made by the latest pouting Hollywood pin-ups but have to make do with only the occasional release featuring some of the world's finest actresses. Since she made
Cineastes in this country have had to wait a long time for Carl Theodor Dreyer's The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) to arrive on disc. But this silent masterpiece is finally available on DVD and Blu-ray and one can only hope that it is quickly followed
OXFORD city councillors last night ignored the authority’s own planning guidelines to approve plans for the Blavatnik School of Government building. Oxford University’s plan to redevelop part of the former Radcliffe Infirmary site, off Walton Street
A SPECIAL meal will be held next week to highlight the problems faced by thousands of Oxfordshire residents who can’t eat foods many of us take for granted. About 6,000 county people have coeliac disease, an intolerance to gluten, a protein found
ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners have scattered hundreds of thousands of seeds to give the county’s bee population a polination boost. Members of Oxford Friends of the Earth are warning that the city must do its bit to prevent a decline in the UK’s bee
EIGHT businesses and 14 households have been given a £170,000 boost thanks to a Bicester scheme aimed at saving energy. In January, Cherwell District Council launched its green deal initiative to make properties more energy efficient. The first
JACK Dunmall scooped a brace of awards at Kidlington’s end-of-season presentation evening. He was named players’ player and manager’s player of the year. Other awards – reserves players’ player: R Nuzi; manager’s player: M Thomas; under 18
Advice from two figures, from the distant and not so distant past, will have brought little post-election comfort to David Cameron. With Lord Lawson urging departure from the European Union, the former Oxfordshire County Council leader Keith Mitchell
In these tough times for pubs, and so many of them in Oxfordshire being transformed into homes and Tesco Express stores, villagers in Great Milton will surely be the toast of beer drinkers this week. Their village has seen three pubs go in recent
You can vote for your choice of finalists for the Oxford Mail's Win Your Wedding competition 2013, including direct from this page on your smartphone. On Wednesday, May 8, we published a special supplement listing all the entrants in this year's competition
FOUR STARS As a critic mightily impressed, as many others at Stratford weren’t, by director Maria Aberg’s eccentric take on Shakespeare’s rarely seen King John, I am delighted to see her building on this success 12 months later with a near-flawless
Oxfordshire has well over 3,000 charities and community groups and tens of thousands of volunteers, and they all deserve recognition. Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action (OCVA) is asking you to shout about the work of voluntary sector groups
