Archive

Jason Bourton, 33, of no fixed address, admitted causing criminal damage to a window in Fernhill Road, Begbroke, on June 25. Also admitted committing a further offence while subject to two conditional discharges, one imposed on January 29 for

NEITHER the teeth-rattling ride, nor the roaring road noise from the fat tyres were enough to wipe the smile off the face of my young passenger. After a 40-mile evening ride around the winding by-ways of West Oxfordshire, my 19-year-niece Chloe

MUSICIANS are being invited to take part in this year’s Oxford Half Mara-thon’s battle of the bands competition. Runners will be able to vote for their favourite bands lining the route of the 13.1-mile race, which will feature different types of

YOUNGSTERS are hoping to be first past the post in a race they have been preparing for since December. Pupils at Henry Box School, Witney, have built electric-powered go-karts to race against other schools from across the UK. The team of 10

A MUM-OF-TWO with Multiple Sclerosis will swim the English Channel in memory of her late husband. Helen Franklin’s husband Nigel died four years ago after battling cancer for more than a decade. After his passing she decided to take up swimming

MARY EVANS YOUNG (pictured above) explains why she prefers ageing with attitude to polite oblivion. So she’s off to Cropredy... A woman should never reveal her age, apparently. Being a woman of a certain age, in a youth-obsessed culture, I should

Despite drag queens with dollar bills in their bras, Miami is cool not crass, finds KAREN BOWERMAN If beaches could sing and karaoke were classy (bear with me here) then I'm pretty sure Miami’s South Beach would be Karaoke Queen. Her winning number

Head of explosions at Wats.on consultancy, mum of two and spreader of science love... What do humans and bananas have in common? I don’t know about you but last time I checked I didn’t look anything like a banana, yet 50 per cent of our DNA

I have never conformed. I have always had, and still thrive on, an uncoventional path. In fact, let’s go back to 1994, what a hot summer that was. I was a student in London reading French. I remember the humid heat as I was expecting my first baby.

Apparently one of the easiest ways of dealing with the visible effects of the ageing process is to avoid looking in mirrors for a split second longer than in takes just to check that there is no spinach lurking in your teeth. Now this may well

He made his name with Blur, but Alex James’ proudest achievements are closer to home, he tells TIM HUGHES ALEX James grins as he tells me about his day. He has some exciting news, he tells me breathlessly, as he comes in from the fields of

Abbott and Costello are the rather unlikely sounding inspiration for Rick Fink’s 60 years in the butler trade. Growing up in Wantage, the son of a welder and schoolmistress, Rick was fascinated by the films of the comedy duo, especially the bits

REBECCA MOORE dons Tweed and ducks innuendo to see if she can join the growing number of women proving they can handle a weapon as well as any man... When Shirley Florent first took up shooting, she was told two things. Firstly, that she was too

We’ve all been there: a message flashes up on your partner’s Facebook page, and it’s some (beautiful) girl, being obviously flirtatious. Your rational brain calmly tries to explain, but is slapped down by the psycho bitch you suddenly become, screaming

“In Oxford, you’ll meet a nice, educated man who’ll take you to the theatre, and maybe to the opera. He might not be great in bed, but he can learn.” With these words, my mother packed me off to Oxford. I was 25, and certainly not worried about

Open water swimming is growing in popularity.   JAINE BLACKMAN meets a sportswoman who has turned her passion into a profession – and then takes the plunge to see what all the fuss is about... Annie Oberlin-Harris is a swinger and she doesn’t care

Journalist and part-time shepherd Tim Metcalfe explains why he is currently obsessed with wool It’s shearing time down on the farm, with our very woolly Ryeland sheep being relieved of their fleeces. Most shearers don’t enjoy dealing with this

Could you, honestly, give up telly? I'd sooner give up booze, fags, cake... even tea. My name is Liz Nicholls, I’m 33, live in Cutteslowe and I am a tellyholic. I am a mother, until recently a single mother at that, and I am fairly convinced

I don’t think a career in dentistry really ever crossed my mind as a shy 10-year-old. My aspirations were to be part of an orchestra, touring the world, playing to thousands of adoring fans. Eight further years of education and an aspirational

Do you want to be fitter and healthier, and feel more energetic and confident? Well, you can. And now is the time to start – by following the advice I will be providing in this brand new column. My name is Lisa Cuerden. I am a local fitness expert

Whenever I witness anyone sporting a getup so ghastly as to be considered heinous by the fashion world, I am reminded of my own catalogue of sartorial slips. For example, at the tender age of ten I believed being fashionable meant dressing from

Most of us have cut back on holidays, clothes and eating out but the one thing we can’t axe is the weekly grocery shop. Breakfast cereal, bread, butter, teabags and all the other items we use daily are essentials, since we are too busy working

A BURGLAR was jailed for three years yesterday after stealing electrical items. Michael Gallagher, of Clarks Row, Oxford, admitted the burglary in Woodstock Road on Thursday, May 16. Cathy Olliver, prosecuting, said the 32-year-old broke into

GROVE parish councillors want to see a new secondary school built in the village, with an emphasis on science and technology. The agreement, made at a meeting on Wednesday night, comes after Oxfordshire County Council held two public consultation

RACING between pubs in wheelbarrows, Morris men dancing in the street and an eight-foot robot – it must be the Eynsham Carnival. The carnival, now in its 67th year, is the biggest event in Eynsham’s calendar and will see about 2,000 people descend

TRANSPORT experts have unveiled plans to improve one of the busiest routes into Oxford. Oxfordshire County Council is planning major roadworks at the top end of London Road, in Headington, to tackle congestion. To achieve this the authority

AFTER raising £30,000 for children’s charities, Abingdon’s family music festival Yeah Baby! is back for its fifth year. Culham Laboratory contracts manager James Phillpott launched the festival in 2009 to fundraise for Oxford Children’s Hospital

Tim Hughes is daunted by the sheer weight of talent - and madness - on offer at the Glastonbury Festival Glastonbury Festival Worthy Farm, Somerset IT’s the greatest live music event on earth; a three-day spectacular covering

FOR some of Oxford’s ancient colleges, 50 years is hardly a time span worth emptying the wine cellar to celebrate. But half a century is a long time in the existence of an Oxford state school. Being able to mark a 50th birthday while on the

Carnival tops bill for Oxford's weekend of sound, writes Tim Hughes Rio de Janeiro has its samba parades, New Orleans its Mardi Gras and the Spaniards have that strange thing where they chuck tomatoes at each other. Here in Oxford, meanwhile, we

A PLAN to create a new hotel at a Banbury town centre “eyesore” could scupper a scheme for 40 affordable homes. Slighte Ltd wants to convert boarded-up Crown House into a 73-bedroom hotel and is bidding to knock down part of neighbouring 18 Bridge

FOSSILS, dodos and dinosaurs have been popping up in unexpected locations around Oxford. For the first time, the Oxford University Museum of Natural History has sent 12 of its top specimens out into venues ranging from Oxford Central Library to

PEOPLE in Witney can now pick up a programme for the town carnival taking place next month. Copies of the programme have been printed and are being distributed to shops and firms around the town. The carnival takes place on The Leys on Saturday

A CHAIR inspired by a teenager’s love for The Beano comic has won a national furniture design competition. Josh Simms, 14, from Witney, was the overall winner of the Make It! schools awards, beating thousands of pupils from 600 schools. He

THOUSANDS of people in and around Wantage are set to benefit from an improved free advice service. Wantage and Didcot MP Ed Vaizey opened a £60,000 expansion to Wantage Independent Advice Centre (IAC). The first floor expansion and overall

Alastair Thomas played the leading role as Oxfordshire defeated Staffordshire by six wickets in their ECB 50+ County Chanpionship Group 4 clash at Milford Hall. The Thame Town batsman hit 73 not out, including 11 fours, to see the visitors home

A CHARITY has pleaded for funding to help continue a series of “life-changing” military reminiscence sessions. Age UK Oxfordshire ran six pilot meetings at Rymans Court sheltered housing in Britwell Road, Didcot, for old soldiers to socialise,

COULD you offer a home to these kittens found in a dumped sofa in Witney? The tiny cats were taken to the Blue Cross Burford rehoming centre after being found in Tower Hill last month. They were discovered after being heard meowing and have

Oxonian's Malcolm Rose has beaten the club’s longstanding 25-mile record. The previous time of 53mins 22secs was set by Mick Bowen in 1984. Bowen, the club’s president, had been the record holder since 1957 when he first set a new best. But

A free beginners knitting group has been set up by Age UK Oxfordshire. The sessions are every Monday, 12.30pm-1.30 pm at the charity’s shop in St Clements Street, Oxford. Participants are asked to bring their own wool. Contact Sue Snelders

Residents will be able to have their say on plans to tackle congestion in Ducklington Lane, Witney. Oxfordshire County Council hopes to improve the Ducklington Lane/Station Lane junction by adding new lanes to the approaches. Traffic light movements

RAF Brize Norton, in Carterton, has installed new astro turf to replace old and under-used tennis courts. The multi-purpose facility, next to the officers’ mess, was opened by Group Captain Eddie Cole last Thursday. He said: “This facility

HEALTHY living was promoted during a day of activities at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. The main hospital’s Level 2 corridor was filled with stalls while information and advice was handed out at wards and departments. Nutritionist

AS the NHS celebrates its 65th birthday today, the Oxford Mail and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust have teamed up to find your hospital heroes. The Oxford Mail Hospital Heroes awards launch today to recognise the work of staff across Oxfordshire

ONE woman who embodies the care and dedication of NHS staff is Ria Betteridge, last year’s Nurse of the Year for the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre. Mrs Betteridge, from Deddington, was nominated by colleagues as part of the hospital’s internal awards

AS the NHS celebrates its 65th birthday today, the Oxford Mail and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust have teamed up to find your hospital heroes. The Oxford Mail Hospital Heroes awards launch today to recognise the work of staff across Oxfordshire

Oxford coach Tony Benson is confident his side will bounce back when they host second-placed Oldham Roughyeds at Iffley Road on Sunday. Oxford were stunned 20-18 at home to basement boys University of Gloucestershire All Golds last week. Benson

Virgin Active jumped to the top of Ladies’ Division 1 with an impressive 3-1 win over third-placed Cholsey in the OLTA Wilson League. Goring’s relegation concerns were heightened with a 4-0 defeat to Banbury Ladies. Oxford City claimed their

Radley College’s boys and Oxford High’s girls came out on top in the Aegon Schools year ten county finals. Radley beat Our Lady’s Abingdon to set up a final against St Birinus, Didcot, who had seen off St Edward’s. The singles saw Radley take

Residents of Eynsham who are interested in taking an allotment are being invited to apply for plots. The village’s allotment association has a number of plots available and no waiting list for the first time in many years. For more details

Four new bike stands have been installed in Church Street, Charlbury, outside the Rose & Crown pub. It is hoped the move will both encourage residents to bike into the town centre and persuade passing cyclists to spend time in the town.

Horspath hammered Aston Rowant by ten wickets to reach the Bernard Tollett Oxfordshire Cup semi-finals in surprisingly easy fashion. Chris Watling hit 56 not out in Rowant’s 106-6, with debutant 14-year-old left-arm spinner Lloyd Belcher taking

FOR 58 years, Elspeth Woolcott dedicated her life to nursing. The mother of six and grandmother of 17, from Jericho, is thought to be one of the longest-serving nurses with a career that spanned six decades. She started nursing at 17 and now

Residents of Ascott-under-Wychwood will have the chance to have their say about proposals to improve the recreation ground at an event tomorrow. The parish council is staging an exhibition outlining ideas for new facilities from 4pm to 7pm at the

A PLAYGROUP described as ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted inspectors is being taken over by a popular Oxford family centre based in the same building. Donnington Playgroup, which has 22 children, was given the rating in March, the results of which have just

A SERIAL burglar who stole £20,000 of “irreplaceable” jewellery from an elderly couple has been jailed. Colin Matley and Michelle Bramham, both of Braithwaite Close, Banbury, admitted carrying out a break-in on March 19 this year. The couple

A BLACK TIE birthday celebration attended by hundreds of young people ended with a party goer being struck over the head with a Champagne bottle, a jury heard. Around 200 people were invited to Jemmetts Farm in Thame to celebrate siblings Sophie

Chloe Elliott flew the flag for Oxfordshire at the Grade 4 Wimbledon Week tournament held at Virgin Active. Players from all over southern England were in attendance, but it was the nine-year-old who stole the show. A member of Abingdon’s White

Oxfordshire's boys impressed as they finished second in their Aegon Under 12 County Cup group. Playing on home ground at the North Oxford club in Summertown, their campaign began badly with an 8-0 defeat to pre-event favourites Middlesex. The

Oxford University wrapped up victory by an innings and 186 runs in the Varsity Match at Fenner’s yesterday. Following on 431 runs behind, Cambridge University were bowled out for 245 in their second innings. Tom Elliott top-scored with 101

London Welsh head coach Justin Burnell said his three latest signings were a signal of the club’s ambition. Prop Cai Griffiths, lock Rob Andrew and scrum Ollie Frost were announced yesterday as Welsh prepare for their Greene King IPA Championship

Linsey Smith will make history tomorrow when she plays in Aston Rowant’s Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 2 West match at home to Cove. The 18-year-old left arm seamer, who is part of the England junior women’s set up, is believed

Experienced seamers Chad Keegan and Daniel Rowe return for Oxfordshire’s Minor Counties Championship Western Division clash with Shropshire at Banbury, starting on Sunday. The duo, who have played more than 60 first-class matches betwen them, replace

Host club Falcon took the plaudits as more than 300 competitors took to the Thames. The Oxford Midsummer Marathon, the biggest event in the club’s calendar, saw a wide range of competitions from under tens all the way to elite seniors. Races

SCHOOL pupils were thrilled when they got the chance to hold a piece of rock from the moon. They were enjoying a special science session at Oxford High School with 17 other year five and six pupils from St Nicholas’ Primary School in Old Marston

OXFORD: The new Sainsbury’s store in Cowley has created 135 jobs. The store is opening in the former B&Q unit in Templars Shopping Park at 9am on July 17. Among the staff moving in to the 18,000 sq ft site are some who used to work at the

CHILTON: Commuters on the southbound A34 faced delays after a horse box broke down near Chilton yesterday morning. Delays of about 15 minutes were reported because one of two lanes was blocked near the Chilton Interchange at around 7.30am.

I MUST praise the treatment I received at our wonderful Nuffield Orthopaedic Hospital at the weekend. Being paralysed on my left side from a stroke in 2001 I have to use my right side limbs for everything. Since February I have experienced chronic

FUTURE headteachers at schools in Oxford’s most deprived areas could be given help to pay for their mortgages. The difficulties of filling senior posts in schools in Oxford’s most disadvantaged areas has become so serious that Oxford City Council

The corner site of Little Clarendon Street and Walton Street, lauded by local residents as a familiar and much-loved Victorian landmark, is now sympathetically restored and reshaped into much-needed student accommodation plus ground-floor retail space

It’s official – I’m almost the worst driver on the road and a menace to all other road users. At 64, I find myself with six points on my licence, which without the invitation to attend a speed awareness course, would total nine points. This is

OXFORD: Burglars stole two laptops, a computer, jewellery, a camera and a sports bag from a house in Rose Hill. Police are appealing for information following the burglary in Dashwood Road, which happened between 8.45am and 6pm on Wednesday.

OXFORD: No date has been set for work to correct a resurfacing blunder in Botley Road. Thames Water has patch up a stretch of the road with the wrong materials after repairing a burst water main, and now must do the work again in the next three

OXFORD: Demolition of the derelict Fox and Hounds pub, to make way for a supermarket, began yesterday. Tesco spokesman Beth Greenhouse confirmed contractors were pulling down the building at the corner of Abingdon Road and Weirs Lane, above, but

WITH Didcot’s population steadily increasing, South Oxfordshire District Council, alongside the county council and developers, is working on a number of infrastructure and facility improvement projects to ensure that the town can meet the needs of

ON reading of the difficulty some house owners have getting dwelling insurance on their properties in a potential flood area, I have an idea. Why not have a sinking fund (not an intended pun) as some leaseholders have on their properties? The

KENNINGTON: An 18-year-old was robbed of his mobile phone at knifepoint. He was walking along Kennington Road in the village between 2.45am and 3.30am on Wednesday when he was approached by a man riding a bike. The cyclist drew a knife and

KIDLINGTON: A motorcyclist suffered minor injuries in a collision with a car. Police were called to the collision between the Honda motorcycle and Daihatsu car on the A4260 Banbury Road, at about 5.20pm on Wednesday. One patient, believed to

OXFORD Stadium looks set to be officially given special status as a heritage asset. A report before the city council executive next week strongly recommends approval for adding the Sandy Lane stadium to its Heritage Asset Register. The move

THERE was something a-foot among the scaffold poles partially obscuring the front of the magnificent Rhodes House. To be precise it was an inch short of five feet – a diminutive woman, fighting with two large wheeled suitcases, a backpack and the

SOMEONE recently wrote and moaned about the delay in waiting for an ambulance. This was unfair. Why not praise the vast majority of occasions when they get it right? Due to an ongoing medical problem, I have to go to the Churchill Hospital

OXFORD City Council is certainly pulling out all the stops in its battle to prevent Oxford Stadium being pulled down and replaced by houses. Next week it looks likely to put the stadium on its Heritage Asset Register as a further level of protection

THOUSANDS of music-lovers are making their way to a stately home today for the start of the county’s first major music event of the summer. Cornbury Festival, which gets under way at noon, sees scores of bands playing a series of stages on the

Sam Hollingshead says Tiddington can make up for their Davidstow Village Cup exit by gaining promotion to Cherwell League Division 1. The 24-year-old seamer has enjoyed a wicket-laden season so far, although it was his batting that took centre

AT the beginning of June, I sent three letters to authorities responsible for Kidlington High Street. Only one officer responded. He was from the (county) highways department. The district council and the police have so far ignored me. The

There are serious problems facing both sides in the dispute over the flats in Roger Dudman Way and their intrusive effect on the view from Port Meadow, and it is difficult to see an easy way out. I would like to make a constructive suggestion which

A COUPLE of days ago, I sent the following email to Traffic.Consult@oxfordshire.gov.uk who are asking for comments on the proposed new charges at Thornhill car park. May I respectfully suggest that your readers might also like to send their comments

OXFORD: Four men have been bailed for a third time following a fight inside a takeaway. Two 19-year-olds were assaulted at Kebab Kid, in George Street, on April 26. One victim suffered a fractured eye socket. The four men were bailed until

OXFORD: Police in Blackbird Leys are to remain on the estate permanently. Thames Valley Police confirmed yesterday that it is weighing up two options for a home for the neighbourhood officers and PCSOs. The force will either stay in its current

OXFORD may be landlocked, but if you go down to the city centre today you could still get a taste of the seaside. Oxford Castle Quarter is now host to its very own beach, after 24 tonnes of sand were dumped next to The Big Bang restaurant.

TRANSPORT chiefs have been asked to go back to the drawing board with plans to shake up home to school transport. The county council’s education scrutiny committee yesterday called on the cabinet to review plans to withdraw free transport from

Whisper this, but for a while it looked like one-time wild child Subaru might be reaching for motoring’s equivalent of a pipe and slippers. With the demise of Banbury’s all-conquering Prodrive-run Subaru Rally World Team, the age of whale-tail

Asa Hall is determined to hit the ground running at Oxford United after an unsuccessful move to Shrewsbury Town. The 26-year-old has joined on a six-month loan, returning to the club he left just over a year ago. But the midfielder is already aiming

OXFORD: A 34-year-old man is to face court accused of two burglaries in Oxford on the same day. Lewis Measey, from Champion Way, Oxford, is to appear before Oxford Magistrates’ Court on July 19. The first burglary was at a flat in Bishops Court

A MAN who pointed a shotgun in the face of a charity collector who knocked at his door slipped 25p in her tin when he realised his mistake. David Holmes wasn’t expecting any callers. But pointing his shotgun at the NSPCC collector landed the 31

THAMES Valley Police took to the internet to spend the day running a 24-hour “tweetathon”. The force used social networking site Twitter to let its followers know about all recent burglaries reported. As well as the tweets, assistant chief

Tom Newey said it was an easy decision to sign for Oxford United as soon he heard manager Chris Wilder’s plans for next season. The defender signed a one year deal yesterday, although it is understood there is a commitment to review it midway through

FOUR new care homes could be created in Oxfordshire to provide places for 20 vulnerable children and teenagers in the wake of the Bullfinch child abuse scandal. Oxfordshire County Council is set to spend £7m on the homes from its capital budget

OXFORDSHIRE County Council and Thames Valley Police, failed the young victims in the horrific Bullfinch case in many ways. No matter what the serious case review of both organisations uncovers, it is accept there were failings. However, it

THE teenage nephew of a former champion racehorse trainer was found in his room at the prestigious Cheltenham College having taken his own life, a coroner was told. Jack Bowlby was 16 and died just a day after he decided to put himself back on

THE first pictures of the next generation of the Oxford-built Mini have been unveiled. The “spy shots” were picked up by photographers while the new car was being filmed for an advertising campaign in the United States. While parent company

A GROUP of young dancers from across Oxfordshire has been chosen to take part in an adaption of Swan Lake. The group of 17 was chosen by the English Youth Ballet from more than 240 hopefuls. They will appear in three performances of Tchaikovsky

COMMUNITY campaigners are claiming victory after it was announced a masterplan is to be drawn up for the development of a derelict Oxford boatyard. The Jericho Wharf Trust is currently locked in negotiations with administrator PwC over the purchase

FLORENCE Samuels screamed loud enough to rattle windows when she was handed the telegram saying her son was missing, presumed dead. It was the anguish of a mother who had lost her son at war, but in fact Warrant Officer Norman Samuels was busy

OXFORD MAGISTRATES JASON BOURTON, 33, of no fixed address, admitted causing criminal damage to a window in Fernhill Road, Begbroke, near Oxford, on June 25. Also admitted committing a further offence while subject to two conditional discharges,