An initial post-mortem examination on the body of a 15-year-old who died at the weekend has proved inconclusive. Martha Ferback died on Saturday after suffering a cardiac arrest in Hinksey Park. A Home Office pathologist opened an initial examination
DIDCOT: People in the town and surrounding area have been taking part in a survey to choose facilities at a new leisure centre. The £15m centre will be built on land north east of the town owned by Reading University, as part of a 2,000-home development
Kathleen McCann, 26, of Station Caravan Park, Station Approach, near Banbury, admitted stealing clothing and household items worth £583.50 from Matalan in George Street, Banbury, on June 24. Given a two-year conditional discharge and told to pay a
James Maughan, 51, of Middle Ground, Wheatley, admitted stealing 550l of diesel from the A418, near Middle Ground, Wheatley, on May 23. Community order made with 90-hour unpaid work requirement. Told to pay a £60 victims’ surcharge and £85 costs.
THREE teenagers have been charged with sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy between May and June. An unnamed 17-year-old is accused of raping the boy and will appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on August 7. Another unnamed 17-year-old boy and
THOUSANDS turned up to the first day of the annual Art in Action festival at Waterperry Gardens, near Wheatley, on Thursday to see sculptors, painters, musicians and more display their work. Art in Action has been held annually in the gardens since
OXFORD United have re-signed Johnny Mullins after agreeing an undisclosed fee with Rotherham United. The 27-year-old has signed a three-year deal in a move which is likely to be hugely popular with supporters. Mullins was a big hit during a
A DRIVER is in a life-threatening condition in hospital after his car collided with a van near Kingston Bagpuize. Emergency services were called to the A420 at Tubney at around 2.20pm today to the collision, which involved a black BMW car and a
FOR months harvesters have been lugging rucksacks of unused fruit about to give to needy communities in Oxford. But with growing demand, Abundance Oxford is now building a bike trailer to take the weight off their shoulders. Abundance Oxford
THE man behind the plan to build a new 30,000-home town south of Oxford has had to submit his fourth application to build two shops and 24 flats to try to meet a conservation officers’ demands. Planning consultant Ken Dijksman of Newbury-based
AFTER years of watching gliders circling their nursery, youngsters finally got to see one close up. About 30 three and four-year-olds from Bubbles Pre-School, in Holm Way, Bicester, went on a specially organised visit to Bicester Glider Club on
DIALLING 999 last year, Alexandra Williams didn’t know if her husband would survive. But thanks to surgeons, anaesthetists, doctors, nurses, porters and an army of other behind-the-scenes staff, he pulled through. Nick Williams was rushed to
A CAMPAIGN against plans to build homes in the garden of an East Oxford pub has been launched. Some members of the Iffley Fields Residents Association (IFRA) have raised concerns about proposals by Woodchester Estates for the Chester Arms in Chester
A COUPLE who run a reptile rescue centre in their own home are so inundated with animals they are building a second outhouse in their garden. Steve Mills and his partner Nikkie Almond share their home in Hamfield, Wantage, with 34 lizards, 44 snakes
A YOUNG man who slashed his uncle with a Stanley knife outside an Oxford pub has been jailed for two years. Dean Lewis, of Falcon Close, Blackbird Leys, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday for the attack last September. The 21-year-old
DID you meet an American airman based in Oxfordshire, fall in love and live happily ever after? That was the question the New Theatre, Oxford, posed as it prepared to stage the musical, Save the Last Dance for Me. The families of four couples
MEET the Welcome Bed Endowment Fund Committee. The group with this grand-sounding title was set up at the Travellers’ Welcome Inn in Lower Cross, East Hagbourne, near Didcot. Its purpose was to raise £250 to buy a bed for servicemen and women
THE Oxford Holiday Orchestra kept music alive during a quiet period of the year. Members of the City of Oxford Youth Orchestra feared they would get rusty if they didn’t practise or perform during the long summer vacation. So musical maestro
FOUR sixth-formers, who clocked up hundreds of hours helping others, were the finalists for a community service award. Julie Clack, Clare Williams, Sara Cox and Irene Tracy, of Gosford Hill School, were interviewed for the Frank Wise Memorial Award
THERE was no lack of buyers at this sale. Customers in their smart hats were keen to open their purses and spend money at the numerous well-stocked stalls. A doll looked like being the next purchase when our picture was taken at what was described
THE Musicians’ Union Ball brought together many of Oxford’s finest musicians. Some of the trombonists were rehearsing for the event at the Pressed Steel social club in Cowley during 1970. A dozen bands were planning to take part, but, for non-musicians
IT WAS widely thought of as the most central and delightful rendezvous in Oxford. The Cadena Cafe in Cornmarket Street was a popular place for shoppers, workers and visitors for more than half a century. They ate, drank and relaxed as an orchestra
THE Girls’ Brigade got a welcome boost with a £5,000 gift from Barclays Bank, handed over at its base in Didcot in 1990. Members and leaders in smart uniforms looked on as Stuart Forte, manager of the bank’s town branch, presented the money to
WHEN the village church tower needs saving, you have to do what you can, whatever your age. Children at Culham Parochial School put on their shorts for a sponsored relay run around the village field in 1979. Their run was held to launch an
MEMBERS of Headington Women’s Institute in Oxford decided a celebration was in order when the branch reached its 42nd birthday in 1960. In preparation for their anniversary celebration, a huge cake was baked and decorated. Then the honour of
MODEL aircraft enthusiasts had plenty to delight them at a packed St James’s Hall in Cowley, with 60 radio-controlled models – worth more than £5,000 – at a show in 1978. The show, organised by the Oxford Model Flying Club, included Spitfires,
THESE young performers were looking pleased with themselves – and quite rightly so. Horspath Girl Guides, with the help of the village Scouts, Cubs and Brownies, had just staged their annual show, to great acclaim from an audience of family, friends
MINOR COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIP Western Division Wales MC 239 (72.5 ovs, R Evans 69, S Grifiiths 55, T Baker 44, D Thomas 37, F Vainker 3-44, L Ryan 3-46), Oxfordshire 118-3 (41 ovs, L Sabin 63no).
OCA LEAGUE Division 1 Westbury 205-9 (S Stoop 45, G Judd 32, O Evans 4-51), Broughton & NN 93 (J Tilcock 37, T Young 3-17, R Rowling 3-41). Chadlington 197-4 (R Ingram 43, S Handley 37no, D Harding 34), Shrivenham 203-2 (C Taylor 83no,
Demonstrators set up a make-shift food bank outside the Oxford branch of the HSBC bank, in Cornmarket Street on Saturday. Dayne Salts, and his colleagues were protesting about what they say is unethical behaviour by banks over paying UK taxes.
IN the wild the dog and the snake are usually enemies. But in Katy Bell’s Didcot living room Chopper and Gooch the dogs are best buddies with Cesar the snake. On warm summer days, Miss Bell leaves Cesar’s tank open, and he will slither out
SERIOUS CRICKET HOME COUNTIES PREMIER LEAGUE Division 1 Banbury 215 (55.3 ovs, C Haupt 102, N Hawkes 61), North Mymms 190 (54.2 ovs, S Snell 82, R Carter 42, R West 3-24). Banbury 25pts, North Mymms 6 (1pt deducted). Burnham 377-2 (59 ovs
A dazzling century from Damian Shirazi completed a routine victory for Aston Rowant in their all-Oxfordshire Division 2 West match at Great & Little Tew on Saturday. Shirazi scored an unbeaten 104 as the visitors raced to a seven-wickets success
Major delays were reported on the trains in Oxfordshire yesterday after engineering works between Oxford and Didcot Parkway stations over-ran. The work had been due to finish by 8am but the track was closed until about 11am. First Great Western
Children will today have a chance to show their support for Abingdon’s Lindsey Russell’s bid to become the next Blue Peter presenter. Ms Russell, 22, right, was one of 20,000 applicants to get through to the final three in a televised contest to
THE countryside is increasingly at risk from inappropriate development caused by inadequate planning policies, a weakening of local democracy and a focus on short-term economic growth regardless of the environmental consequences. The Government
THERE has been a lot of discussion recently about extracting gas and oil by the fracking process. Oxfordshire apparently does have some reserves below our surface. However I have been told that in the US, which has been doing this type of extraction
AS my campaign moves on to get improvements made to Witney’s high street pavements, it is the responsibility of Oxfordshire County Council who are, and have been, aware of the problems for a long time yet fail to do any worthwhile repairs. To date
IT seems to have taken forever but the lighting for Croft Road recreation ground, in Marston, is finally going to be installed. City councillor for Marston, Mick Haines, pictured, is a community campaigner who has been fighting to get this lighting
IT would be remiss of me not to mention the weather... After all, for the last eight days or so I have existed in a permanent pool of grateful sweat. Gratefully grateful in fact. For if there is one thing I truly worship, it’s a sunny morning.
CHERWELL LEAGUE Division 1 Oxford Downs 217-9 (J Ellwood 98, S Myatt 3-30), Buckingham Town 220-7 (B Laycock 46no, C Price 41, R Large 36). Great Brickhill 279-5 (G Davson 139, D Aris 56, W Rooney 3-72), Thame Town 247-9 (W Sutcliffe 105
Oxfordshire recovered from a poor start to take the honours on the first day of their Western Division match against Wales MC at Abergavenny yesterday. The hosts won the toss and soon prospered with a century opening stand. But their innings
Oxford's season of frustration reached a new peak on Saturday when Farnham Royal’s last pair batted out the final nine overs for a draw. This was Oxford’s fourth successive Division 2 West draw – the second with the opposition nine wickets down
Andy Whing had good reason to be cheerful following Oxford United’s draw on Saturday. Taking on Birmingham City had an extra edge for the midfielder, who is a passionate fan of their rivals, Aston Villa. The 28-year-old was born in the city
Chris Wilder hoped Oxford United’s supporters will have been encouraged after watching his players stand up to a Championship side. It was the first time the majority of the home fans will have seen United this summer, and they should have gone
THOUSANDS of music lovers descended on the tiny village of Steventon for a weekend of music and partying. It was the second year Truck Festival has been organised by the team behind the Y Not Festival in Derbyshire and, for the second year running
Paul Cole, who trains at Whatcombe, near Wantage, reeled off a sparkling treble at Ripon on Saturday with Complicit (5-2), Silverheels (8-1) and Kuantan One (7-1).
Banbury snatched a dramatic 25-run victory from the jaws of defeat in their Division 1 match at home to North Mymms on Saturday. The hosts, having been bowled out for 215, were staring down the gun barrel, as their opponents cruised to 178-4.
Oxford City crushed Didcot Town 4-0 in a one-sided pre-season friendly on Saturday at Draycott Engineering Loop Meadow Stadium. City were clinical in front of goal with a second-half brace from Will Green adding to early goals from Adam Learoyd
On Saturday, July 6, the 16.31 Oxford to Paddington train was so full when it left Oxford that it would probably have made the top 10 overcrowded trains of all time. Once again, the rail companies have failed to understand both the shifting patterns
I WOULD like to ask how can the infamous traffic chaos on Abingdon’s Drayton Road be improved? The answer: build 160 additional houses on the Drayton Road (July 18), above. Secondly: How can the morning rush hour traffic be ‘alleviated’? Answer
SO Catherine Bearder does not want a referendum on our continued membership of the EU. This does not surprise me, as she is part of the EU gravy train which takes much of the money that countries like the UK are paying into the EU coffers every year
THERE are delays of up to one hour on the First Great Western service between London Paddington and Bristol due to a signalling problem between Didcot Parkway and Swindon.
Big organisations who keep small firms waiting for their money could be named and shamed under proposed changes. And government departments might consider a company’s record on late payment before awarding lucrative contracts. These suggestions
Tom Newey felt the hard work put in during pre-season is beginning to pay off as Oxford United drew 1-1 with Birmingham City. The U’s rose to the challenge provided by the Championship side on Saturday, producing their best performance in pre-season
SEVEN hundred homes in Abingdon and businesses, including the Tesco Extra superstore, were affected by a power cut on Saturday. The store, off Marcham Road, was closed from about 8am to 9am. Scottish & Southern Electric spokesman Sam O’
A MAN in his 30s has been found dead at a business in Bicester. Police officers were sent to Deans Court on Saturday, after concerns were raised for the man’s welfare. Thames Valley Police pokesman Craig Evry said: “Officers were called to
HOMES narrowly escaped flooding in Abingdon Road, Drayton, after a water main burst yesterday morning. Firefighters were called by Thames Water shortly before 7am to help pump away water in the road. Crews were on the scene for about three hours
LITTLE Charlotte Nott was all smiles with proud dad Alex on Saturday as she showed off her new prosthetic blades at the Kassam Stadium. Five-year-old Charlotte, who lost the lower part of her arms and legs after contracting meningitis as a baby
WORK to build a new £7.2m swimming pool has started in Blackbird Leys. Contractors Willmot Dixon moved on to the site last week, a year later than planned, after a lengthy legal battle. The new centre, which will include three pools, will form
WORK has started at last on the construction of the new swimming pool at Blackbird Leys after a year of delays. It is of course the democratic right of campaigners to fight against the building at the facility and the closure of Temple Cowley Pools
DOZENS of tributes have been paid to Martha Fernback. Within hours of her death, three separate Facebook groups were set up in her memory. By last night, one had almost 2,000 ‘likes’. Messages included one from her mother, Anne-Marie Cockburn
ABOUT 100 grief-stricken teenagers and adults gathered last night in Hinksey Park to release balloons in memory of Martha Fernback, the tragic schoolgirl who died after taking what she believed was Ecstasy. The 15-year-old collapsed and stopped
IT IS too soon for moralising or criticising the choices made by Martha Fernback. But if it emerges that a drug is the factor that led to this 15-year-old schoolgirl to lose her life then we hope it strikes a chord with many teenagers across this
The Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted to hospital in the early stages of labour and is "progressing as normal", Kensington Palace has said. Kate Middleton travelled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing of the hospital with the Duke
A CONSULTATION on the future of Didcot Wave swimming pool closes at 5pm today. Residents can complete an online questionnaire on their views about leisure facilities in the town. South Oxfordshire District Council wants to close the pool after
FINANCE matters will be discussed at a full council meeting tonight. Cherwell District Council will meet at Bodicote House in Banbury from 6.30pm. Among other things, the council will discuss spending and review the past year. There will
A BATTLE to breathe new life into a part of the old Morris Cowley station yard looks to have been won. Plans to build four storage and distribution units at the site, next to the Cowley branch line off Watlington Road, have been approved. Building
THE family of a teenager who died after jumping from Donnington Bridge have shared memories of their son as they warned others against the activity. Hussain Mohammed was 15 when he died on May 25 last year. He jumped into the Thames to cool off
An Oxford University DPhil student has been named the UK’s top black student in a ceremony at the House of Commons. Melvin Mezue of St Hugh’s College, who is studying neuroscience, won the 2013 Rare Rising Stars award for his achievements in academia
A new display is to be featured at Oxford University’s Bodleian Library to mark the centenary of the arrival of writer Aldous Huxley as an undergraduate. The display, entitled The Condemned Playground: Aldous Huxley and His Contemporaries, celebrates
THE two longest-serving members of staff at Gateway Primary School in Carterton both said farewell last week. Headteacher Elaine Roberts and teacher Janice Wilson both joined the school 20 years ago. Mrs Roberts, 58, is taking early retirement
THERE is only one week left to comment on the Oxpens masterplan. Oxford City Council is hoping to completely redevelop the area along Oxpens Road to provide housing, student accommodation and a hotel. A masterplan has been drawn up which has
OXFORD council house tenants are being asked to have their say on the service they receive. Tenant and leaseholder involvement taster sessions will be held on July 26 and 29 so the council can engage with people who live in its homes. Both
ON first inspection this looks like an everyday map of the London Underground. But look closer and you will see it is actually an anatomically correct map of the human eye. The painstaking artwork entitled Map of the Retina has been created
