HE sported a battered Aussie army hat and frayed, stained jeans that strained across his stomach. He was unshaven and his boots could have done with a polish. But it was the logo on his well-worn T-shirt that gave him away: ‘A Tyke at Fairport
THERE cannot be many cars that start out in life as three digits written on a piece of paper. But, if you believe Mitsubishi, that was precisely how the Mirage supermini came into being. The target for the car of emitting 100 grams of carbon
It makes up about half of your body weight, nearly three quarters of the surface of the earth and is probably the only thing in your kitchen that is in liquid, solid and gas form at the same time . . . water. Forget Marmite, water is loved and
A DECISION about whether to redevelop Bicester’s Market Square could be made by the end of the year. Million-pound proposals to pedestrianise the north side of the square and create two-way traffic on the south side were put on hold until the new
FILM screenings are among ideas being considered to bring new life to a Wallingford church. St Peter’s Church, in Thames Street, is used only about 10 times a year. But owner the Churches Conservation Trust this week launched an appeal to find
PLANS for 300 homes proposed by developer Miller Homes for land west of Warwick Road, in Banbury, have been refused by Cherwell District Council. A council planning officer said balls from nearby Drayton Leisure Golf Centre could hit homes and
GROVE Rugby Club has asked for permission to hold its annual bonfire party on Friday, November 8, and to host a junior rugby festival on October 6. Both events are held on the parish council recreation ground next to the club's ground. The
On Tuesday lunchtime I popped out of work to buy a few grocery items at the Tesco Metro store on Magdalen Street. However, I was experiencing difficulty with a Tesco self-service till. The till commanded that there was an “unexpected item in the
UNSURPRISINGLY, Councillor Chris Robins (August 9) tells us that the last Labour Government failures were all Margaret Thatcher’s fault. Well, what were they doing for 13 years? This was followed by Mr Dennis Brown’s complaints about the Coalition
Hello. My name is Max Mason, I live in Oxford, I love Oxford, and – no matter how Mills & Boon it may sound – I love life too. Welcome to my new column; new column, that is, until one or two of you realise I don’t know my adjectives from my
A young man comes in for his appointment clutching a smartly stapled print out from the internet. The print out gives a diagnosis of his symptoms and a recommendation for treatment. Often he says: ‘I bet you hate it when patients come with their own
Families are funny things, aren’t they? I believe I may have mentioned before that I am from Essex stock. But hold fire on the Essex girl jokes, I’ve heard them all. White stilletos, perma fake tan, boy racers and estuary English, I know all the stereotypes
What is it about men and their gadgets? As soon as they have acquired the latest double sprocketed, turbo-charged, fuel-injected gizmo, their best mate has got the quad-sprocketed, super turbo- charged, rocket-powered version . . . with knobs on.
I really believe that we need more police officers on the beat. On Tuesday, August 13, an armed robbery took place in the family-run shop in the village of Wolvercote. As one of the shop’s regular customers, I feel really sorry for the hard-working
DRINKERS who raised £75,000 to buy their local pub have had their hopes dashed after its owner ruled that it was not for sale. The co-ordinator of an 80-strong group set up in June to buy The Crown, in Charlton-on-Otmoor, north Oxfordshire, said
ORIGAMI flowers, nail-painting and charity auctions were a few of the entertaining activities at a village fete organised by teenagers in Wheatley. It was part of the National Citizen Service programme in Oxfordshire, a scheme allowing 60 teenagers
You can never have too many memories . . . well that’s what one of my friends says. However, I prefer, “you can never have too many handbags” and it seems, given recent headlines, that Oprah Winfrey would also agree. If you hadn’t heard, Oprah
Estate agents all over Oxford are smiling again, thanks to some official statistics out this week which confirmed what they could have already told us. It’s official – house prices are rising faster than at any time since the financial downturn
‘Biological clocks’ study ticks me off Last night, at precisely ten minutes to midnight, I freaked out. Every now and then, I remember my age, and then immediately calculate how much longer I have before I need to decide whether married life
The imposing, looming architecture of Christ Church can sometimes be a little forbidding but there’s a bowler-hatted brigade who aim to make it as welcoming as possible. Founded in 1525, the college contains some of the most iconic buildings in
As a nation we are becoming more and more inflexible – and more and more unhealthy. So much of our lives are spent sitting down – we drive to and from work, sit at a desk, watch TV and go to bed – and yet we need flexibile bodies if we are to perform
Country shows are a mainstay of summer life and an opportunity for members of the sometimes isolated farming community to meet friends and acquaintances – and, of course, show off their prize animals. Some shows are massive affairs, like the Royal
I could never be credited with being a trailblazer within the world of technology. In fact, I think the term Luddite has probably been uttered through the gritted teeth of most of the IT help desk bods that I have ever encountered, despite always
While most Oxford students might struggle to fit an evening at the pub around a week’s essay, Samantha Shannon is someone a little different. In fact, think JK Rowling/ Philip Pullman different, as several national newspapers have been keen to
Over the last weeks, at least two articles critical of the proposed development at St Cross College have appeared in the Oxford Mail, but it is impossible from these to understand the rational basis of the criticism. “Horrid” and “because of its modern
AN accident on the M40 Northbound near Lewknor is causing delays of up to 30 minutes. One lane is blocked between junction 6 at Watlington and junction 7 at Thame. More information to follow.
Gill Oliver talks to an eminent Oxford University archaeologist and author about his career Plenty of children enjoy digging in the dirt but not all of them go on to carve an illustrious career out of it. Step forward Barry Cunliffe, one of
REG LITTLE tells the story of a landmark county hotel and restaurant as it undergoes its biggest refurbishment ever If you wanted to chart the full extent of the Crown and Thistle’s sorry decline, you have only to turn to Margaret Thatcher. The
Assistant editor of BBC Oxford WILL BANKS on being local What does ‘local’ mean to you? Your street? Your village or town? Maybe it’s more a state of mind — familiar faces, the chip shop round the corner or the number three bus. To me, local
Back in 1975, John Carey wrote a wonderfully stinging article that was published under the title ‘Down With Dons’. The same year he was appointed Merton Professor of English Literature in Oxford, so his attack was in effect an inside job, and he carried
The latest long-playing gramophone record by vintage party animals The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band goes down very well indeed with Tim Hughes The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band Party Seven Jump Steady Over the
MORE THAN 20,000 people are expected to sample some of Oxford’s finest food at the fourth annual Foodies Festival. There will be 150 food and drink stalls at the festival in South Park, on Headington Hill, from Saturday, August 24, to Bank Holiday
A HOUSING developer hopes to use a legal loophole to get permission to build hundreds of new homes in a village. Cala Homes has applied for outline planning permission to build up to 200 homes, a village hall/shop and public open space on about
CREATION Theatre is preparing to go once more unto the breach as it puts on its latest summer production at Oxford Castle. Last year, Oxfordshire’s largest theatre producer found itself in financial difficulties after the summer’s wet weather turned
NEW “watch your speed” signs have been posted on lampposts in a Bicester road where hundreds of motorists have been fined. The move comes after the Oxford Mail revealed a huge rise in drivers being fined for speeding in Middleton Stoney Road during
A TOP marksman who became a national hero after winning his country’s first ever gold medal said his late mother inspired him to win the title. Simon Henry, 42, who works at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, won two silver and one gold medal in
Wilderness Festival Cornbury Park, Charlbury Aug 9-11 AS first encounters go, it was memorable but, for this festival, far from remarkable. I have just pitched my tent at WIlderness festival, and am walking with friends
Festival REWIND Temple Island Meadows, Henley Tomorrow-Sunday Weekend tickets have sold out. Sunday tickets are £55 adults, £27.50 children, from rewindfestival.com Oxfordshire’s bumper summer of festivals
AS the week closes, heads are hopefully also clearing after a double-festival weekend which saw more than 35,000 music-lovers enjoy their own perfect August weekend. Calmer of the two was Fairport’s Cropredy Convention, with the usual ranks
If you want your festival to be about the music, think Reading, says Tim Hughes For most of the year, Little John’s Farm is an innocuous patch of ground — home only to a few dozen cows. But for one weekend a year it is home to possibly the world
THE future ownership of an Oxford meadow is due to be settled next month. Ownership of Warneford Meadow – now designated a protected town green – is due to be transferred from the Department of Health to Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, which
AN OXFORDSHIRE village has seen its only pub brought back to life by a greengrocer from Oxford. The Extraordinary Hare in West Hendred, formerly the Hare, closed in July last year but has now been brought back from the dead by Botley greengrocer
IF YOU don’t know this face already, you probably soon will. Actor and comedian Otto Baxter, who has Down’s Syndrome, gained national notoriety in 2009 when his quest to lose his virginity was the subject of BBC3 documentary Love, Lust and Las
Tim Hughes talks to original Cockney Rebel-turned-respectable squire Steve Harley ahead of Rewind On stage, Steve Harley is the embodiment of the happy-go-lucky rock star. So it comes as a huge delight to find the private man is every bit as engaging
ISLAMIC group Ahmadiyya Muslim Association has taken to city buses to spread its message of peace and to mark its 100th anniversary. Adverts on the side of 25 buses in Oxford have messages which read ‘100 Years of Promoting Peace in the UK’ and
Toby Webster and Kieran Davis return for AFC Hinksey at Penn & Tylers Green in Division 1 East tomorrow. Julian McCalmon could also return from a back injury. Callum McMahon is set to miss out, while new signing Ryan Curtin is on holiday
THE family of a man killed in an explosion is appealing for help to keep his beloved horse alive. Ian Simpson, from Horspath, was killed when he cut into an empty oil drum and it blew up in July last year. The 48-year-old was well-known in
THE Summertown parade of shops might not be the most attractive part of the handsome Victorian suburb of North Oxford – but it is very much the heart of the area. So local people could be excused for being alarmed at proposals for a large development
North Leigh assistant boss Terry Merriman says they must stop shipping so many goals to feature in the promotion picture. While putting away chances at the top end has not been a problem for the Millers, who start their campaign at home to Merthyr
Here's our editor's picks for what is essential reading in our leisure section The Guide: Can I get a Rewind - the lowdown on the 1908s nostalgia-fest in Henley Ole! meet the don of tapas Omar Allibhoy
Shot-shy Thame United will be without James Faulkner when they travel to fellow Uhlsport Hellenic League Ardley United for tomorrow’s extra preliminary round tie determined not to be the bridesmaid. The former City striker is getting married as
New Didcot Town boss Andy Wallbridge is keen to prove himself as he takes charge of his first Division 1 South & West match tomorrow. Wallbridge was appointed in May and admitted he can’t wait to test his managerial skills at a higher level
Memories of the Oxford Canal are being sought as part of a major drive to get more visitors using the 222-year-old waterway. Oxford City Canal Partnership wants help with its £65,000 project for an Oxford Canal Heritage Trail. It is hoped the
ONE lane of the northbound A34 is closed after three vehicles were involved in a crash. A coach and two cars were involved in the collision at around 11.30am. Thames Valley Police was called to the scene approaching the roundabout on junction
CHENEY School is preparing to challenge two exam boards over what it described as “scandalous” marking. For the fourth year running the school in Cheney Lane, Headington will send English literature papers back to exam board AQA for remarking.
Banbury United boss Edwin Stein is looking for his Premier Division side to push on after the disappointing finish to the last campaign. Although Stein steadied the ship having taken over in September 2012 when the Puritans were in the bottom three
NATIONALLY the proportion of A-Levels awarded top grades has fallen for the second year amid a rise in students taking science and maths, official figures show. In total, 26.3 per cent of entries scored an A or A*, down from 26.6 per cent last
A RECORD 47 pupils from Magdalen College School will be going to Oxford or Cambridge universities this year. That means more than a third of the 129-strong year group will be off to Oxbridge. Headteacher Dr Tim Hands said: “We are absolutely
GABRIEL Naughton got an A* grade in Latin A-Level and a place at Oxford University after learning the ancient language on Skype. The 18-year-old student at Didcot Sixth Form College took lessons outside school time with teacher Giles Dawson, of
TWO Oxfordshire state schools will be sending their first pupils to Oxbridge in September. At St Gregory the Great School, Oxford, Hannah Everett and Anna Pinpiro have secured places at the prestigious universities. Hannah Everett, 18, will
Oxford City boss Mike Ford feels his side are better equipped this time around when they kick off their second season at this level at home to Harrogate Town tomorrow. While retaining most of the squad that finished tenth, Ford has added eight
AN Oxford University college has paid tribute to a reservist soldier who died during SAS selection training in the Brecon Beacons. Corporal James Dunsby, of the Royal Yeomanry, died in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, on July 30 following
A teenager has transformed two Bs and two Ds into straight As. After disappointing AS-Level results, Philip Gray, 18, from Bostock Road, vowed to do better in his final exams. Philip, a pupil at Larkmead School, picked up three As, securing
Figures from Oxford University indicate children from private schools with the highest grades are more likely to be offered places at Oxford than state-educated pupils with the same grades. Statistics from 2010 to 2012 showed those with three A
TWO teenagers who came to Oxford’s Cheney School from war-torn Afghanistan have celebrated landing university places. Jamshid Shahin and Maria Ghafoor are both going to Kent University after getting their grades yesterday. Jamshid, 19, came
A Blackbird Leys teenager who abandoned a possible career in football to go back to school is on his way to university. Dale Ghanem, 19, left the Reading Football Club Academy to return to the sixth form at St Gregory the Great School. He picked
SERIOUS CRICKET HOME COUNTIES PREMIER LEAGUE OXFORD will go top of Division 2 West if they win at leaders Gerrards Cross tomorrow as the league reverts to its 50-over format. Having beaten Falkland last time out and seen fellow Oxfordshire
SERIOUS CRICKET HOME COUNTIES PREMIER LEAGUE BANBURY captain Jimmy Phillips is not getting carried away, despite his side’s stellar recent form. Five successive Division 1 victories have taken Banbury, who visit Slough tomorrow, to second in
Oxfordshire club cyclists have been in record-breaking form this week. Didcot Phoenix’s tandem pairing of Nick Druce and Steve Luck recorded a time of 20mins 20secs to shatter the long-standing club tandem time trial record over ten miles.
Oxford United will assess Dave Kitson’s fitness today amid concerns he may miss tomorrow’s game at Torquay United. The striker was forced off with a shoulder injury against Bury last weekend and it remains a problem. He will be examined before
A teenager charged with raping a man at Oxford train station has had the date for his next hearing changed. Daniel Allen, of Fleetham Gardens, Lower Earley, Reading, faces two charges of rape and two of causing another to engage in sexual activity
The People’s Supermarket in Cowley Road has decided it will need to sell more fresh food to safeguard its future. Between a 50 per cent and 70 per cent drop in footfall since May means that the co-operative may have to close. General manager Dan
A TEENAGE girl told police she was forced to take diazepam tablets by a man who had sexually assaulted her, a jury heard. Jamie Gardiner, of Colwell Road, Berinsfield, is on trial at Oxford Crown Court charged with administering a noxious or poisonous
RETIRED John and Maureen Baker were drifting off to sleep when they heard a “horrendous noise”. And to their horror they discovered a car had ploughed through their garden fence and smashed into their conservatory. The Bicester couple got out
MINOR COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIP LUKE Ryan is already looking to 2014 as Oxfordshire complete their Western Division by taking on Devon at Sidmouth. Oxfordshire’s captain feels there is reason to be optimistic about the future, even if they can
Harrison Ridge won the 14 and under boys’ Grade 3 event at the Yonex Open at White Horse Leisure & Tennis Centre, Abingdon. The No 2 seed beat top-seeded Jake Penny 6-2, 6-3 in the final. Ridge was joined by fellow Oxfordshire players Asha
Saturday FOOTBALL SKY BET LEAGUE TWO Torquay Utd v Oxford Utd. SKRILL NORTH Oxford City v Harrogate Tn. CALOR LEAGUE Premier Div: Banbury Utd v Chippenham Tn. Div 1 South & West: North Leigh v Merthyr Tn, Shortwood
Five competitors from Oxfordshire schools just missed out a medal when representing Great Britain in Lithuania. Joel Cooper, Matthew Carter and cox Ian Middleton, all from Abingdon School, plus Oli Knight and stroke Titus Morley, both from St Edward
A man has avoided jail after he beat a 13-year-old boy unconscious. James Butler attacked the teenager in South Bar, Banbury, because he believed the group he was with had thrown an orange at his van. The 21-year-old, from Southend-on-Sea,
A driver thought to be speeding at 49mph was among 70 stopped by traffic police in St Giles on Wednesday. The driver was reported to the court along with another clocked travelling at 35mph with four children not wearing seatbelts in the car and
A major project to upgrade the railway line from Oxford to Bedford via Milton Keynes will not get cash from Oxford City Council, the authority confirmed last night. The East-West Railway Joint Delivery Board met in Aylesbury to agree £50m to get
A power cut hit about 90 Risinghurst residents for more than eight hours yesterday. Southern Electric said less than 50 properties were affected because of a fault at a sub-station, but it had to cut power to another 40 homes to fix the problem
Kingstone Press Championship One Oxford RL coach Tony Benson has urged his players to bounce back from the loss to Hemel Stags, and start to gain some form ahead of a potential play-off push. Benson’s side visit the North Wales Crusaders Glyndwr
London Welsh head coach Justin Burnell says they are itching to get going ahead of tomorrow’s opening friendly at Chinnor (2.30). It will be the first time Burnell has led the Oxford-based Exiles in a match as they prepare for the new Greene King
North Oxford’s men compiled a 3-1 win over Abingdon to go top of Division 1 in the OLTA Wilson League. The win puts North two points clear of Banbury B, and keeps them in with a chance of winning the men’s, ladies and mixed top divisions this season
Shotover & District (Exeter, 10 sent 159): 1 K Shipperley 1460; 2, 6, 7 T Irving 1459, 1416, 1400; 3, 4, 8 D S R Wiggins 1440, 1433, 1395; 5, 13, 14 P Wells 1420, 1333, 1332; 9 P Cox 1387; 10, 15, 17 Sherman & Wells 1372, 1325, 1264; 11, 12
Oxfordshire over 55s men maintained their 100 per cent record in Division 1A of the British Seniors’ Inter County Championships with a 4-1 win over Cheshire at Abingdon. The team of captain John Brewster, Jon Merrifield, Alex Templer and Mark Taylor
PLANS to use a new underground car park in Oxford to alleviate flooding in the city have been welcomed by victims. The Westgate Alliance – which is behind plans for the new Westgate Shopping Centre development – has offered its proposed car park
A £1M project to protect hundreds of homes in Kennington from flooding has been completed. A new 900mm drain has been installed by Thames Water and will carry water from Kennington Road to the Hinksey Stream. A drainage pond, with walls reinforced
A FORMER headteacher of a boarding school at the centre of sexual abuse allegations has “stepped aside” from his position at an Oxford hall. It follows allegations that Father Francis Davison failed to act on reports of sexual abuse that were made
Two men snatched a handbag containing £100, keys and a passport from a 22-year-old woman in Headington at 11pm on Saturday, in North Way. Police said one of the robbers was white, over 6ft tall, and wore a black hoodie and blue jeans. The other suspect
Hannah England was happy after coming fourth in the 1500 metres at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow last night, writes Stuart Weir. The 26-year-old Oxford City athlete said: “Fourth place in the world is amazing. “I feel I backed
Former Radio Oxford presenter Tim Bearder has been selected as the Lib Dem candidate for the North Ward by-election. He will be fighting to hold the ward vacated by former Lord Mayor Alan Armitage, who has moved back to Scotland. Mr Armitage was
THEY may be top of the pile with a 100 per cent league record, but anyone who thinks Oxford United are resting on their laurels ahead of tomorrow’s visit to Torquay United is sorely mistaken. A hunger for improvement runs deep throughout the players
WHEN Kyle Edwards’s father died two weeks before his first exam, he “didn’t even consider” abandoning his A-Levels. Yesterday the 18-year-old Oxford Spires Academy pupil was celebrating after achieving the grades he needed to go to university.
USING a basement of the proposed Westgate car park as a manmade ‘emergency’ flood plain is an ingenious plan and has merit. Since 2007, flooding has been an all too worrying factor for this city. We need to be aware that building on land without
SEAN Rigg believes Rickie Lambert’s goalscoring debut for England shows everyone in the lower reaches of the Football League what can be achieved. The Oxford United winger began his career alongside Lambert at Bristol Rovers. A long apprenticeship
WE celebrated yesterday the successes of thousands of youngsters who achieved all they hoped and, in some cases, more than they dreamed of with their A-Level results. But for all those who were celebrating, there was a significant number who met
A LESS hectic fixture list in the opening weeks of the season has been welcomed by Oxford United manager Chris Wilder. The Capital One Cup tie at Charlton Athletic earlier this month was United’s only Tuesday game until the second week of October
MICKEY Lewis shows Oxford United’s squad how it’s done during the open training session this week. The players were being timed over short sprints and the U’s assistant manager, who has clearly been watching the World Athletics Championships in
A BICESTER pub has undergone a £360,000 refurbishment – some of the cash being sunk in a new attraction. Builders digging foundations for an extension to The White Hart, in Sheep Street, found “debris started disappearing into the hole”. They uncovered
A MAN who caused a crash on the A40 near Witney which killed a passenger and badly injured another driver has been jailed for 18 months. Andrew Myers, of Hazelwell Crescent, Stirchley, Birmingham, was sentenced yesterday after he admitted causing
TOP film director Richard Curtis will bring some Hollywood glamour to the exclusive screening of his new movie in aid of an Oxford cancer charity. Mr Curtis, famous for rom coms including Notting Hill, Bridget Jones’ Diary and Four Weddings and
Ladies, when will you learn? A pair of tights rammed under a mini-dress that you would just as likely wear to The Bridge nightclub – a work outfit does not make. I pity the male members of our office who are regularly accosted by women wearing the
Divorce can be tough enough with the kids, the house and the money to sort out. Now, according to divorce lawyers, more and more couples are fighting over the family pet. Ursula Rice, of Summertown-based solicitors and mediators Family First
I RECENTLY read with amazement about the chap who was charged by BT over £24 for one call using their directory enquiry services. Gone are the days when you used to be able to pick up the phone at home or in a local phone box and ask the operator
