THERE are minor delays on First Great Western at Didcot Parkway this evening following a fire on the lines at Swindon that caused signalling problems. Delays of up to six minutes from Didcot Parkway to Swindon and Bristol Parkway are expected.
I’m turning into my mother. No matter how hard I try to stop myself mid sentence I can’t seem to help the words that spill out … “you will never know until you’re a parent” resonates between our four walls just like they did when I was a rebellious
THERE will be a crisis in health funding caused by the ageing population unless urgent action is taken, it has been warned. The number of people over the age of 85 in the county is predicted to increase by 168 per cent between 2011 and 2035, from
THIS is Harry the hedgehog. At about four weeks old, he was found out wandering in a school playground when someone picked him up and handed him in to Steventon Vets last Friday. His case is not isolated. Experts say hot weather is forcing
A touch of a button sends a large colour display screen gliding silently out of the top of the Audi A3’s dashboard. The crystal-clear screen in the top S line specification displays everything from radio and iPod information, to satellite navigation
PIG RODEOS AND SHEEP ATTACKS As one of our pubs in Wolvercote, The Red Lion, plans to introduce pigs to the locals – a run has appered in the garden – it brought back memories of my own pig-keeping days. Together with a group of other community
Are you trying to lose weight and begin another ‘health drive’? Have you been on one before? If so, which one? Heaven knows, there is no shortage of snappily-titled ‘diet’ plans to follow and new ones appear almost weekly. High protein, low
I haven’t seen the new Superman film, Man of Steel, because, for some reason, a man with a rippling chest, the gift of flight, and X-ray vision, has never entirely appealed to me. For one thing, he flies off – a lot. He’s always dashing off to
Grandmother June Weeden could be forgiven for taking life easy with a bit of daytime telly and a cuppa. Instead, the 80-year-old from Kidlington spends most days scanning items on a check-out in one of Oxford’s busiest supermarkets. And she
Are you ready to expose your body on the beach? Well, there’s no need to panic, because I’m here to help. If you follow my advice here on nutrition and exercise you can make a huge difference to how you look. NUTRITION I do not advise crash diets
It’s not often you hear the words ‘free’ and ‘lawyer’ in the same sentence, so a new pop-up legal clinic is being hailed as a godsend for cash-strapped parents. Government changes mean fewer people qualify for legal aid, so advice about the law
Have you noticed how much value most non western cultures invest in age? Many ancient tribes, and other far off clutches of civilisation, appear to be governed by their eldest member, every word of wisdom they utter cherished. Having graced
Sometimes I have to pinch myself to be sure that I am awake and not dreaming – the difference a transplant has made to my life is beyond words. I was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in about 1990 and it got gradually
The Women’s Institute may have been formed to encourage women to dig for victory but nowadays they are just as likely to be learning to mix a mean cocktail ...or knitting a prawn! There’s a new breed of WI-ers: women in their 20s and 30s who are
First impressions count and just as what you wear makes a difference, so does how you smell. But have you ever really thought about how your perfume works? How it influences people around you? Just like Ernest Beaux (creator of Chanel No 5)
Llangollen is famous for its International Musical Eisteddfod (July 9-14), but the area offers enough outdoors fun to have the whole family dancing for joy. Those of us with a head for heights are standing outside with the skipper, peering over
While other people might use their savings to go on a flash holiday or to buy a new car, Kasia Howard used hers to follow a dream. “It has been an ambition of mine for many years to exhibit at Hampton Court and has been worth the sacrifice,” said
So, summer finally bothered to turn up, bouncing into our lives and luring most of us away from our caves. And nothing will dim the highlights of television quite as much as that glorious, blazing ball in the sky. Until, of course, the Wimbledon
One of my greatest horrors in life, aside from my loathing of electric gates, is to be tarred with the middle class brush. I come from a long line of bus drivers, shop workers, plumbers, window cleaners and more recently, in an astounding shove
There’s no need to get in a flap about your hens when you go away for a break... they can go on holiday too. For library assistant Maggie Wainwright has started a boarding service for chickens in her Oxford garden. “Hens are very social birds
AN exhibition from Oxford Pride has lit up the walls of the Nuffield Orthopaedic Hospital. The colourful display of photographs at the hospital in Headington marks the 35th anniversary of the organisation’s adoption of the Rainbow Flag in 1978.
THE decision to hand over Abingdon’s Tilsley Park sports complex to Abingdon School has been welcomed by athletes. Vale of White Horse District Council took the decision because the park is too expensive to run. The council currently pays Soll
SIR STEVE Redgrave was a good sport when Oxfordshire secondary school students tried to teach him some new tricks. The five-times Olympic gold medal-winning rower visited King Alfred’s School in Wantage on Wednesday afternoon. He watched the
OXFORD sixth formers are celebrating after getting some of their best results ever in the International Baccalaureate (IB). St Clare’s, in Banbury Road, North Oxford, celebrated its best IB results yet, while Headington School, which has only offered
A COUNCIL has been pulled up for the second year for not having a basic accounting system in place. An audit showed Cherwell District Council did not use a purchase order, which agrees amount and cost, authorising an item to be bought, in 77 per
PLANS to bring an East Oxford pub back to life have been unveiled by a consortium of businessmen. Former Oxfork boss Drew Brammer and former Rusty Bicycle manager Fraser Nicolson have teamed up and hope to take on the running of the former Chester
Hammer thrower Emma O’Hara and middle-distance runner Christian Von Eitzen were relieved after justifying their favourites’ tags by winning gold for Oxfordshire at the English Schools’ Track & Field Championships. O’Hara, 18, from Larkmead
TWO women have received minor injuries following a three-vehicle crash on the A34 southern bypass this afternoon. An ambulance was called at 2.12pm and the women were treated at the scene. The accident happened near Manor Road/Parker Road and
Abingdon GC came third in the Southern Region Team Championship at Milton Keynes. The club’s top team of India Weller, Kara Jones, Alice France, Poppy Smith and Lucy Prower received individual honours in addition to the team bronze medal. Highlights
FIVE months ago, Simon Cruden’s family gathered around his hospital bed and were told to fear the worst. But the 32-year-old from Oxford Road, Kidlington, was given a new lease of life and has abandoned his wheelchair and got back to work.
Thames Water is seeking the cause of a water leak in Walton Street. Repair crews first attended the scene, near Lloyds pharmacy, at 10pm on Tuesday. Spokesman Craig Rance said: “Our leak-detection team dug down to the pipe on Tuesday evening
THAMES Valley Police says that axing Oxford’s custody cells and moving the entire suite to Abingdon will “improve efficiency”. But officers have admitted transport issues have to be resolved as they could end up “shuttling” the city’s troublemakers
Preparations are being finalised for the Oxfordshire County and Thame Show, which takes place tomorrow. The show was not staged last year over fears it could clash with the Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Show spokesman
A convicted rapist who was banned from Didcot and admitted breaching a restraining order and will be sentenced on Monday. Paul McLaughlin, 51, formerly of Kynaston Road, Didcot, and now of Clarks Row, Oxford, was made subject to the order on July
AN academic who claimed she was victimised by her Oxford University colleague has had her case quashed yet again. Judge Peter Clark, sitting at the Employment Appeal Tribunal in London, has dismissed Dr Cecile Deer’s latest claims against the university
A £5.5m extension to the specialist baby unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital is due to open for use on July 29. Building work at the Headington site started in May 2012 to double the number of intensive care cots in the neonatal intensive care
The sentencing of a 23-year-old who admitted stealing £380 in cash from a home has been adjourned. Liam Pipkin, of Brome Place, Barton, admitted burglary of a home at Donnington Lodge in Iffley Road, Donnington, on March 14 this year. The case
VOLUNTEERS will be shown how to spot tell-tale signs of child grooming techniques like those used by the gang in the Operation Bullfinch trial. An anti-trafficking campaign day will be held tomorrow at the King’s Centre in Osney Mead, West Oxford
Burglars used a pair of garden shears from the back garden of a house to force open a front window in Adderbury Road, on Wednesday night. A stereo, mobile phone, laptop, wallet, two DVD players and a projector were stolen. A set of car keys was
A 21-year-old Oxford woman was arrested for allegedly assaulting a paramedic during the Cowley Road Carnival on Sunday. The paramedic was attacked during the procession along the road. The woman has been bailed by police until August 10.
THE identity of a man accused of raping one of the Bullfinch trial victims and molesting another teenager is being kept secret by magistrates. The 26-year-old appeared before Oxford magistrates yesterday accused of rape and sexual assault after
THE man accused of holding police at bay during a 12-hour siege in Kidlington was yesterday remanded in custody. Daniel Rodriguez, 38, appeared before Banbury magistrates accused of five crimes in relation to the stand-off in Morton Avenue on Tuesday
Ashley Rump leaves his post as Oxfordshire Cricket Board’s cricket development officer today after two years in the role. The 28-year-old, who lives in Oxford and plays for Charlbury CC, is moving on to become regional officer for England Golf.
ECB 50+ County Championship Oxfordshire moved a step closer to qualification from Group 4 with a comfortable six-wicket win against Herefordshire at Eastnor. It means Oxon have now won five of their six games, and sets them up nicely for next
Club Cricket Conference Cup Richard Cook’s superb century couldn’t prevent Aston Rowant from bowing out with a 22-run defeat at home to Waltham in a high-scoring third-round tie. Cook hammered 107 off 95 balls, but Rowant were bowled out for
A 20-YEAR-OLD man appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday charged with burglary with attempt to steal. Nothing was taken in the break-in at Winterbourne Close, Bicester, on July 3. Gary McFarlane, of Hazel Grove, Bicester, will next appear
A SCHEME to give top teachers property loans to attract them to deprived areas was approved by Oxford City Council’s executive board on Wednesday. The scheme will give loans of 15 to 40 per cent of the property with a value up to £75,000. A
OXFORDSHIRE Fire and Rescue Service has warned of the dangers of gas barbecues after two fires in Witney over the weekend. One was caused by placing coal briquettes on a gas barbecue and the other by a faulty cylinder connection. Witney Fire
A COUNCILLOR has warned an inquiry that ‘we are in real trouble’ over the number of cars estimated at Oxford’s first free school. City Councillor Roy Darke raised his concerns over transport issues at the proposed Tyndale Community School.
Nathan Douglas will bid to complete a fine turnaround in the men’s triple jump in the UK Championships at Birmingham this weekend. The Oxford City athlete has been beset by injuries of late. Although he managed to gain selection to the 2008
Oxfordshire’s Matilda Mutavzdic won the Penny & Sinclair Championships. The Grade 3 regional event attracted top players to Oxon from all over the country. But it was Oxford’s Mutavzdic, the No 4 seed, who triumphed in the under nine event,
Steve Davis has signed for a second spell at Abingdon United and will return to the Uhlsport Hellenic League club as captain. Davis has also played at Hungerford Town and Wantage Town. Manager Paul Noble said: “He’s a massive signing for us
Wysdom House made history to win Burford School’s one-day equestrian event. It is believed to be the first time a state school has held such an event. Zoe Sheehan and Verity Carpenter, who train for junior England teams, were among the pupils
I AM writing to you in order to make you aware of the fantastic work two local, Oxford-based businesses have been doing with St Gregory the Great School, Oxford. It was the decision of the owners of Premier Lettings and Management and Cafe Aloha
CITIZENS of Howard Street (Cowley Road end) rise up. Ask your councillors Mohammed Abbasi, Sajjad Malik, or are they Shah Jahan Khan or Helen O’Hara? to take action over the serious pothole in your road. PAT ROSS Bowness Avenue, Headington Oxford
MANY people know the old Chinese whisper where ‘Send reinforcements, we’re going to advance’ changes to become ‘Send two and fourpence, we’re going to a dance’. It seems that Elaine Bennett and Derrick Holt, have been playing this game too. At
Bus Users UK, Oxford Civic Society and Oxfordshire Unlimited want public transport to meet needs identified by impartial professional research. People who want to remove buses from more of central Oxford and cram them into fewer streets further
Olympic champion Alex Gregory is among several Oxfordshire rowers included in the Great Britain team for the final World Cup of the year in Lucerne this weekend. Henley resident Gregory returns to the team after missing the last World Cup at Eton
Oxfordshire Cricket Board's Wilf Bennett Trophy Matt Maule smashed a blistering century to set Tiddington on the way to a crushing 158-run win at Abingdon Vale in the second round. He hammered 111 as Tiddington rattled up a formidable 215-5
Oxfordshire batting star Lloyd Sabin is away on holiday and misses Banbury’s trip to Welwyn Garden City in Division 1 tomorrow. The 19-year-old opener is unavailable just days after hitting a career-best 155 in Oxon’s five-wicket defeat by Shropshire
AN inquest has been opened and adjourned into the death of a teenager living in a Headington health assessment unit for adults with learning disabilities and mental health problems. Connor Sparrowhawk, 18, of Wharton Road, Headington, died at the
THE Oxford Union has confirmed that it invited English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson to speak. The leader of the far right group was asked via Twitter to address the debating society. Union spokesman Robert Natzler said it was not affiliated
Oxonian members are in the form of their lives. After breaking the club’s 29-year-old 25-mile time trial record, Malcolm Rose could be forgiven for thinking he would hold it for some time. But after only one week, Matt Rowley knocked an enormous
Oxford RL make a long trip north tomorrow looking to bounce back after two successive defeats. Tony Benson’s side take on Gateshead Thunder bidding to get their season back on track. Oxford have slipped to sixth in the table, but are only two
Carterton’s Ella Mead won a gold and a bronze at the Oxfordshire County In and Out of Age Levels Competition in Abingdon. Competing at level 3OA, Mead’s best discipline was vault where she scored 12.20 points, in a total of 41.70. Evie Daft
Faringdon's Tina Fletcher triumphed at this year’s St James’s Place Wealth Management Barbury International Eventing and Show. Fletcher produced a great display aboard Hello Annie, treating spectators to a display of speed and accuracy in the Verdon
WHEN the champion wrestler ‘Killer’ Kowalski went over to a vegan diet in the 1950s, someone asked him where he got his protein from. His reply was “all the biggest and strongest animals on earth are vegetarian; elephants, horses, cattle, etc. None
EVERYONE, or almost everyone, in Oxford is delighted that at long last there will be a John Lewis store in the Westgate centre. On the financial front, there is a bit of a puzzle. The Labour administration have set aside £3.3m or so for ‘temporary
The city council, both directly and through a development partner, is ‘consulting’ on proposals for two major city centre developments: The Westgate Centre and car parks, and Oxpens/the West End. These two large areas (over 20 acres) lie next to
SO the National Health Service is losing money due to overseas visitors failing to pay. The answer is simple: no treatment until they provide proof of insurance or a valid credit card. I understand that in America you will not even be put in an
IN Our View (Oxford Mail, July 10), you mention that “The 600 signatures on a petition opposing the plan (to cancel free bus transport) is not a huge number”. In fairness, the petition was only launched fewer than 48 hours before your article,
PERHAPS it was the sleep-starved, dawn mercy trip to Heathrow, followed by an uncanny ability to head east instead of west along the M25 on the return – thus adding 50 miles to the journey – that led me to ponder the ridiculous. No, I wasn’t daydreaming
Saturday CRICKET SERIOUS CRICKET HOME COUNTIES PREMIER LEAGUE Div 1: Welwyn Garden City v Banbury. Div 2 West: Aston Rowant v Farnham Royal, Harefield v Great & Little Tew, Oxford v Cove. CHERWELL LEAGUE Div 1: Banbury 2nd
PAUL Hartley was impressed with Oxford United’s work ethic as they drew with his Alloa Athletic side on Wednesday night. The former Hearts and Celtic midfielder, who won 25 caps for Scotland, felt the Wasps fully deserved their 90th-minute equaliser
One lucky Oxford Mail reader will be able to pick up £350 with our Loyalty Card rollover tomorrow. Each week we have £50 to give away to a Loyalty Card holder and it has now rolled over to be worth £350. Loyalty Card holders should check tomorrow
CHRIS Wilder believes the progress made by Oxford United in pre-season has been significantly boosted by the lack of injury problems so far this summer. There have only been minor issues since the squad returned from their summer break three weeks
A woman treated for serious burns after a house fire in Barton on Wednesday, pictured, remains in hospital. Firefighters were called to Bernwood Road early in the morning after a fire spread from a caravan to a house. Police officers are investigating
Oxford's Hannah England may be setting her sights on a return to the World Championships next month – two years after she won 1,500m silver in Daegu – but is refusing to predict a medal repeat in Moscow. However, the 26-year-old says she is in
A burglar who stole wine and drugs from a house and a chemist’s is due to be sentenced on Monday. Anthony Martin, of Prince Street, Ryde, Isle of Wight, appeared in court yesterday but the case was adjourned. The 34-year-old admitted two burglary
IT feels like we’ve been waiting forever for summer to arrive. So when it finally came at the weekend it was no surprise that residents, visitors and businesses in Oxford made the most of it. Traders are now preparing for another boom this
OFFICIALS yesterday admitted the man who fled an unlocked Littlemore Hospital ward is still a prisoner serving a sentence for stabbing his former lover. Ian McLean left the mental health hospital on Sunday night and initially police and Oxford
MICHAEL Raynes admitted he was amazed to see so many Oxford United fans make the 380-mile trip to watch them in midweek. About 30 away supporters were at the Recreation Park to see the U’s share a 1-1 draw with Alloa Athletic. Many have stayed
THE leader of Oxford City Council has admitted “nowhere near” enough affordable homes are being built in the city. It comes as the authority announces it is spending £60m over the next eight years on building up to 1,000 homes for the thousands
ALL lines are now open again between Oxford and Birmingham New Street following a broken down train earlier today. The train had broken down in Warwickshire, meaning there had been delays of up to 40 minutes. Residual delays are still expected
Preparations are being finalised for Didcot Town Fayre at the weekend. The fayre, organised by the town council, will take place in Edmonds Park off Park Road on Saturday from 12 noon to 5pm. There will be an arena tent where groups and clubs
PEGASUS Theatre is gearing up for its summer showcase called Jamboree: A Hungry Heart. The event at the theatre in Magdalen Road, East Oxford, is made up of performances from various groups including dance. Kiera Smith, 12, said: “At first
PRE-SCHOOL pupils in Grove chose to raise money for rescued reptiles on their sports day. Children at North Drive Pre-school took part in egg and spoon and sack races during Wednesday’s event. Proceeds from their fun and games will go to Lenny
Metal thieves have stolen a grille from a parked car. The Fiat Punto was targeted in High Street, Thame, between midnight on Monday and midnight on Wednesday. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.
An event to showcase the Cleaner, Greener Oxford campaign will be held on Saturday July 20 at South Park. The campaign aims to improve the cleanliness of Oxford’s parks. Advice will be given to people on how to dispose of litter correctly.
More than 850 people have now signed a petition against changes to home-to-school transport. The county council wants to save £340,000 by withdrawing free transport from families that don’t select the nearest school for their children. The
MOTORISTS face a summer of travel disruption as hundreds of roadworks are planned. Oxfordshire County Council’s travel disruptions website lists 52 pages of roadworks – more than 500 entries – from now to September 1. Some of the work is relatively
TWO major projects risk damaging Oxford’s identity and worsening its delicate transport network, heritage campaigners have warned. The Oxford Civic Society (OCS) said the proposed £400m Westgate development has not taken into account the planned
Marc West kets up close with an exhibition with rock portraits - and their subjects: Rock Portraits 90/94 @ Art Jericho In the early 1990s, Oxford’s Jericho Tavern placed itself firmly on the musical map as the venue that played a major part in
Oxford University’s lightweight rowers just failed to beat a crew comprising four Olympians in a special race at Henley. Keir MacDonald, Maximillen Von Berg, Kristopher Blake and Benjamin Bronselaer took to the water to take on a high-profile team
