Archive

  • Police needed on beat

    Sir – 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 family with young children who were subjected to this

  • Cheap parking

    Sir – I am very happy for Christopher Gray (Gray Matter, August 15). He lives close to Oxford station, travels off-peak, and plans his trips online well in advance. However, the train, the fares and the relative inaccessibility of Oxford station

  • Abandon music service plan

    Sir – Reports that the county council is considering outsourcing the county music service will be received with a mixture of incredulity and horror by the thousands of pupils, and their parents, receiving instrumental tuition in schools, music schools

  • Mill poses problems

    Sir – In response to your article on the Wolvercote Mill site, (August 8), the traffic problem is minor to what we at Lower Wolvercote will have to endure. First, the canal/railway bridge is in desperate need of repair or strengthening before all

  • Selfish bin owners

    Sir – This week someone has finally noticed that people are leaving unsightly bins all over the place. Now they have decided that they have to have somewhere to put them, how are they going to make the people use the facility? I live on the Waterways

  • Wriggling mess

    Sir – A two-week wait for food collection seems to create a breeding ground for maggots in brown bins at this time of the year. What is one to do? Bleach them? Salt them? Or leave a nasty wriggling mess for collection by the hapless council staff?

  • Ban city bonfires

    Sir – Can anyone help me? Does this county still have bye-laws? I ask as I am totally fed up with people lighting bonfires during the day. I live in a relatively ‘nice’ area but am constantly surprised and angered by the number of people who think

  • Level-headed reply

    Sir – Your front page (August 15) tells us the new Westgate car park could serve as a flood water reservoir because of the growing danger of extreme flood events. But your lead letter from a correspondent in Woodstock still claims that climate change

  • Missed opportunity

    Sir – John Tanner would have us believe that Labour Party energy policy is against fracking (Letters, August 8). Unfortunately this is not the case. The political party he represents had 10 years in Government to show us their real commitment to

  • Pie-in-the-sky plans

    Sir – John Tanner should get his head out of the clouds and face reality; Oxford would be far ‘Cleaner and Greener’ if the buses were cleaned up and reduced in number. His ‘pie in the sky’ electric car proposals are a diversion away from the immediate

  • Not permanent blot

    Sir – I believe John Nandris is not an architect but must be congratulated on his capture of the language of architects in praising the proposed development at St Cross College (Letters, August 15). He identifies logic in the interlocking crosses

  • Fulsome praise

    Sir – Past and present members of St Cross College will, I’m sure, be grateful to John Nandris of Merton for his fulsome praise for St Cross’s proposed new development (Letters, August 15). Perhaps the opposition who think it “horrid because of

  • Out of keeping

    Sir – We wish to draw your readers’ attention to a planning application by a Devon-based developer to build a three-storey house at the southern end of Middle Way, Summertown, (Oxford City Council ref 13/01886/FUL, 7 Middle Way). We feel that the

  • A to Z of Creation

    ASir – So now, thanks to Ken Weavers (Letters, August 8), we have an ABC of Creation! Creator C created creator B who created creator A, who created the universe with our and all the other innumerable galaxies, our star, the sun and all the hundred

  • International greeting

    Sir – I was interested to read the article in your sister paper the Oxford Mail, about the new assistant head custodian, Debbie, at Christ Church. They never fail to give us a great welcome, and some of the veteran custodians Bill and Ferdie are

  • Dine out for £10

    Sir – Your restaurant critic, Christopher Gray and his companion recently spent £69 each on their three-course dinner (wine not included) at an elegant hotel in the Cotswolds: a meal which he described (Weekend, August 15) as “luxury you can afford

  • Two people hospitalised after crash on A44

    TWO people have been taken to hospital following a crash between two vehicles on the A44 near Lidstone. The ambulance service was called at 5.52pm and the people were taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital. One of them has suffered a severe arm

  • The Scales of Justice

    BANBURY Ian Murray, 23, of Boxhedge Road West, Banbury, admitted assaulting PC Victoria Channon in the execution of her duty in Chipping Norton on July 7 and stealing a Bluetooth kit and vehicle documents in Chipping Norton on July 6. Given a 16

  • Covered Market needs promotion to boost fortunes

    JOHN Partington, owner of Oxford Covered Market’s now defunct Chocology shop, summed up the thoughts of some traders when he landed a barbed parting shot at owners Oxford City Council. Mr Partington – whose rent was recommended to go from £35,000

  • To the manor born for the rest of summer fun at Waddesdon

    One of the biggest, boldest, most majestic landmarks in the south east has its eye on the little people. Just a short trip away towards Aylesbury is the jaw-droppingly beautiful Waddesdon Manor. Built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild from 1877

  • Villagers mount bid to buy village shop

    WOLVERCOTE residents are hoping to buy their village shop after it was put up for sale. The owner, Colin Crozier, has put the freehold of Post Box, in Godstow Road, on the market at £400,000. Members of the Village Shop Project have successfully

  • Priests' 10,000ft leap of faith

    IS it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a pair of priests who are taking to the skies to help raise money for a major redevelopment at an Oxford church. Father Daniel Seward and Brother Oliver Craddock have volunteered to jump out of a plane to raise

  • Tories choose MP Howell to fight Henley seat in 2015

    HENLEY MP John Howell will fight for his seat in 2015 after he was re-selected by Conservatives in South Oxfordshire. Mr Howell, who has held the seat since 2008, has been re-adopted by South Oxfordshire Conservative Association after a vote of

  • Women's mercy mission to rescue battered stray dogs

    FROM Romania, with love. Little puppy Chase is one of many pooches saved by an Oxfordshire family who have started a new charity to re-home battered dogs. Homeward Bound Dog Rescue UK is run by Kelly Hadnutt with help from her sister Emma Noble

  • Girls prep school head is to quit by 'mutual agreement'

    THE head of a top Oxford preparatory school is to step down after seven years at the helm. Andrea Bartlett will leave Headington Preparatory School next month. Caroline Jordan, head of Headington School, said the school’s governing council

  • Cotswolds' character at risk if too much economic development

    THE Cotswolds countryside must be protected from too much development or risk losing its unique character, according to a new member of the body responsible for its conservation. Charles Mathew said the board would “cut its own throat” if it allowed

  • Council cashes in on covenant costs

    OXFORD City Council has been criticised for attempting to charge residents more than £125,000 for removing restrictions from their homes. Many homes around Oxford have covenants on them which prevent the buildings from being altered or expanded

  • Residents complains about slow progress on housing

    A complaint has been made to the Local Government Ombudsman about Vale of White Horse District Council’s delay in granting permission for a 2,500 home estate. Dr Leslie Clyne, of Mattock Way, Abingdon, cited the Vale’s housing waiting list as a

  • Youth club to expand after numbers triple in one year

    ROSE Hill Junior Youth Club is set to expand after seeing its attendance numbers treble in a year. The popular group has been meeting every Thursday during term time at Rose Hill Community Centre in The Oval but from September an extra session

  • FOOTBALL: Super Hinksey stroll on at the top

    AFC Hinksey stayed top of Uhlsport Hellenic League Division 1 East with a 3-0 win at Chalfont Wasps, Jack Dunmall, Kieran Davis and Anaclet Odihambo on target. Milton United went second after thrashing Woodley Town 5-2 at home, with Jamie Newport

  • FOOTBALL: Shot-shy Millers slip to second defeat in a row

    North Leigh were counting the cost of poor finishing and a fragile defence as they went down to a2-1 defeat at Calor League Division 1 South & West new boys Stratford Town on Saturday. The Millers, who lost at Fleet Town in midweek, had a great

  • Right on target for a fun day at the annual show

    PAT Cordery was a real sharp-shooter at an archery demonstration at the Enstone Annual Show on Saturday. The show was opened by Enstone resident, comedian and author Graeme Garden OBE, and included a dog show, children’s races, Aunt Sally, skittles

  • County's fracking fighters on Balcombe's picketlines

    ABOUT 60 protesters from Oxfordshire have been part of the fight against fracking in West Sussex. The campaigners from Oxford No Dash for Gas travelled down to Balcombe to join the picket lines as a first step against the controversial energy extraction

  • FOOTBALL: Didcot are hit by late goal agony

    Didcot Town were denied their first win of the Calor League Division 1 South & West campaign after conceding a late equaliser to draw 1-1 with high-fliers Cinderford Town at the Draycott Engineering Loop Meadow Stadium on Saturday. With the

  • Corsets on parade

    Thirty-four corset makers, models and enthusiasts attended a two-day corsetry conference in Oxford this weekend. The international gathering was organised by Eynsham corset designer Julia Bremble, 44, who runs online shop Sew Curvy. On Saturday

  • Supermarket protest calls for lads mag ban

    Campaigners urged Tesco shoppers to join their calls to ban “lads mags” in Cowley Road, Oxford, on Saturday. Five people, including Deborah McIlveen, left, and Jane Alexander, collected more than 50 signatures as part of Saturday’s national day

  • It's Mullins the Magnet for Oxford United!

    JOHNNY Mullins says his new nickname is ‘The Magnet’ after the defender struck another crucial goal for Oxford United. After netting the winner in the U’s previous home game against Bury, he buried a 96th-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw against

  • Road shut overnight

    THE A34 southbound exit slip road north of Abingdon will be closed overnight on Thursday. The Highways Agency will be repainting road markings between 10pm and 6am. Alternative routes will be signposted.

  • House sales tax alert

    FEW home purchases in Oxfordshire will avoid stamp duty by 2018, according to a new report. The tax is applied to all homes sold for more than £125,000. The Taxpayers’ Alliance said its research showed 99 per cent of sales in South Oxfordshire

  • Policeman gets role helping homeless

    A NEW police officer is on the beat in Oxford to tackle homelessness. Pc Simon Collins, who has worked in West Oxfordshire and Oxford since his police career started in 2001, is the new homeless liaison officer for the city. His role will include

  • Woman injured as caravan crashes off the A34

    A WOMAN was taken to hospital and two others suffered minor injuries after a caravan and car crashed off the A34. The accident happened on the northbound carriageway, near the turn for Islip, just after 2.15pm on Saturday. The woman’s injuries

  • OAP condemns ‘wicked’ thief who took savings

    A DISABLED pensioner has hit out at a thief who stole hundreds of pounds from her while she was out in her mobility scooter. Sylvia Neatham, 67, who has suffered a heart attack and two strokes, had taken money out of the bank to buy a computer

  • Results: August 24

    OCA LEAGUE Division 1 E&W Hendred 167 (J Briggs 49, M Baring 47, S Richardson 5-27), Garsington 178-3 (Y Williams 95, D Prosper 35). Hook Norton 211-7 (T Lunel 47, C Belcher 42), Charlbury 217-4 (B Geeson-Brown 100no, T Nash 32no).

  • Results: August 24

    CHERWELL LEAGUE Division 1 Great Brickhill 46-1, Buckingham Town – abandoned. Oxford 2nd 97 (L Finch 40, L Mason 7-47 inc hat-trick), Horspath 98-1 (R Eason 45no). Leighton Buzzard Town 152-8 (T Light 33, J Kempster 3-20), Banbury 2nd

  • Firefighters tackle blaze at city centre hairdressers

    A FIRE at Toni and Guy hairdressers in George Street early this morning has caused damage to the front and inside of the shop. Four fire crews were called at 4.05am and extinguished a fire burning in the ceiling area of the hairdressers. Specialist

  • Results: August 24

    SERIOUS CRICKET HOME COUNTIES PREMIER LEAGUE Division 1 Banbury 246-8 (50 ovs, L Sabin 103), Harpenden 231-9 (50 ovs, D Blacktopp 58, J Pankhurst 51). Banbury 25pts, Harpenden 6. Slough 132 (27.2 ovs), Henley 100-3 (17 ovs). Henley won

  • ROWING: Chambers brothers off to flier

    Former Oxford Brookes University duo Richard and Peter Chambers sealed a comfortable heat victory on the opening day of the World Championships in South Korea. The GB pair, who originate from Coleraine, Northern Ireland, won their lightweight double

  • FOOTBALL: Banbury can't hold on as Henry cleans up

    Banbury United let slip a 2-1 lead in the dying minutes as their went down to an agonising Calor League Premier Division defeat on Saturday. Trailing 1-0, Adeyinka Talabi’s penalty and a Juliano Menezes strike saw the Puritans go ahead with ten

  • RUGBY UNION: Welsh are held to a draw

    London Welsh let slip a 13-3 lead to draw 16-16 against Llanelli Scarlets in front of a crowd of 1,253 at Oxford’s Kassam Stadium yesterday. Report and pictures in tomorrow’s Oxford Mail.

  • CRICKET: Banbury edge thriller to secure dream Oval trip

    ECB National Club Twenty20 Banbury are off to the Kia Oval for the national finals following a nerve-jangling three-wicket win at Peterborough Town yesterday. Chasing Peterborough’s 107-7 in the regional final, Banbury scrambled home with three

  • CRICKET: Ton-up Sabin stars as Banbury post victory

    Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Opener Lloyd Sabin hit a superb century to set Banbury on the way to 15-run win over Harpenden in Division 1. Sabin made 107 from 123 balls with eight fours and two sixes as Banbury rattled up 246

  • CRICKET: Henley are champs

    Henley clinched their fourth Division 1 title by beating visitors Slough on run rate. Slough were bowled out for 132, and Henley had reached 100-3 when rain prevented any further play. It is Henley’s first title since 2010.

  • CRICKET: Rowant stay in the hunt

    Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Aston Rowant kept alive their outside Division 2 West title hopes with an 86-run victory in a rain-affected match at home to Dinton. Nick Ferraby hit 86 and Damian Shirazi 52 as Rowant made 197-3

  • CRICKET: Oxford hammer Harefield to close in on title

    Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Oxford took a giant stride towards the Division 2 West title with an 84-run victory over Harefield at Roman Way. With second-placed Gerrards Cross losing at Cove, Oxford are 31 points of the pack

  • Morris memories

    Former employees of Morris Motors in Oxford are invited to join in a trip down memory lane tomorrow. The event will be held at 2pm at Nuffield Place, the former home of William Morris, Lord Nuffield, in Nettlebed, near Henley.

  • Five days of music

    Up to 10,000 people are today enjoying the last day of Oxfordshire’s oldest, and longest, music festival. Towersey Village Festival, near Thame, has been a Bank Holiday fixture for 49 years. The five-day event began on Thursday with a set by

  • Floral festival finish

    A three-day flower festival at the three Otmoor churches finishes today. The festival started at St Mary’s church in Charlton-on-Otmoor on Saturday, with the theme “life of our Queen.” It then moved to St Andrews at Oddington where the theme

  • Pub space bid is 'go'

    The Red Lion pub in Blewbury has been told it is going to the moon. Pub landlords Matt Wardle and Kerry Tombs invested £200 in a project to send thousands of tiny, personalised craft to the stars. The Pocket Spacecraft company has now confirmed

  • Colourful charity day

    An afternoon of music, singing and dancing was held yesterday in Wheatley in aid of The Soldiers’ Charity. The Waterperry Gardens Military Colour event included music from the Scots Guards Association Pipes and Drums and the Abingdon Military Wives

  • Guitar star's date under clocktower

    Guitar-plucking crooner Newton Faulkner will be giving an unusual performance in Witney today. The Devon singer-songwriter will play songs from his new album Studio Zoo under the Woolgate Centre Clocktower from 1pm. He will then be signing

  • Why promises on leaks give residents a sinking feeling

    IT started as a small leak from the road but quickly threatened to destroy the entire ground floor of the Keys’ home in Abingdon Road, Drayton. Owners Janet and Cliff Keys said despite calls to Thames Water on Sunday, July 21, it took several hours

  • Water plans 'don't go far enough' say campaigners

    THAMES Water has been accused of being “seriously unambitious” in its plans to cut leaks and usage. The firm – which hopes to hike bills by £29 to an average £483 by 2020 – fears a major water shortage by 2040 and is consulting on a five-year draft

  • Yours Faithfully: When we walk together, we talk together

    COUNCIL of Faiths, Faith Forum, Roundtable of Religions; and many more variations on the theme. What do our names mean? What are they for? Who are they aimed at? All across the country groups go by different names, but try to achieve one thing

  • Archbishop wrong to give up RSPCA rule

    MY WIFE and I are outraged by Justin Welby’s abandonment of the role of vice-patron of the RSPCA. Former Archbishops of Canterbury have courageously supported this magnificent organisation which has done so much to fight cruelty to defenceless

  • Top earners are 'rolling in clover'

    IT IS possible to argue that Labour ought to have raised the top rate of tax to 50 per cent earlier than they did. I am, however, a little surprised to see Ian Cummings (Letters, August 16) appearing to make that suggestion. Nevertheless, however

  • Will shops let me defer payments?

    I HAD to laugh at the cheek of Thames Water (Oxford Mail, August 13): not only do they increase our bills for something they get for free from the sky, but they defer their Corporation Tax because they reckon they need the cash to invest. I wonder

  • MOTORSPORT: Smith goes off at Brno

    Oxfordshire’s Bradley Smith saw his involvement in the Czech MotoGP Grand Prix finish on lap three as he crashed out while in seventh place. The race at Brno was won by championship leader Marc Marquez. Smith’s Monster Yamaha Tech 3 teammate

  • FOOTBALL: Sloppy City pay the price as Hednesford cash in

    Three second-half goals were enough to sink Oxford City as Skrill North leaders Hednesford Town eased to a 3-0 home win at Keys Park on Saturday. The result means City, who gave a debut to Frenchman Adam Maabdi, have yet to win a game this season

  • GOLF: Pepperell finishes off the pace

    Frilford Heath’s Eddie Pepperell finished joint 28th on ten under par in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. Englishman Tommy Fleetwood held his nerve to win the tournament in a play-off with Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher and Ricardo

  • CRICKET: Tew walloped by Waghela

    Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Great & Little Tew are still seeking the win that will ensure the Division 2 West status following a 76-run home defeat by Reading. But Andy Harris’s side have a 35-point cushion over second-bottom

  • Idea of outsourcing county music service should be abandoned

    REPORTS that the county council is considering outsourcing the county music service will be received with a mixture of incredulity and horror by the thousands of pupils, and their parents, receiving instrumental tuition in schools, music schools, orchestras

  • Words are smokescreen to hide poor design

    I believe John Nandris is not an architect but must be congratulated on his capture of the language of architects in praising the proposed development at St Cross College (Oxford Mail, August 16). He identifies logic in the interlocking crosses

  • Leaving bins out should be an offence

    THIS week someone has finally noticed that people are leaving unsightly bins all over the place. Now they have decided that they have to have somewhere to put them, how are they going to make the people use the facility? I live on the Waterways

  • Solar power schemes are a sin

    YOU couldn’t make it up. The taxpayer, at a time of austerity, is being asked to fund four huge blocks of expensive panels to catch the sun’s energy (Oxford Mail, August 17). And where are they to be placed? Right on top of, um, huge blocks

  • Local results: August 24

    OXFORDSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE Premier Div: Adderbury Park 2, Marston Saints 0; Chalgrove 1, Horspath 3; Launton Sports 4, OUP 0; Oakley 2, Bletchingdon 1.

  • Wilder upbeat despite Oxford United's missed opportunity

    A POSITIVE Chris Wilder was quick to try and lift his players after Oxford United needed a last-gasp equaliser against Wycombe Wanderers. The home side played for almost the entire second half with a man advantage after Charles Dunne was sent off

  • Constable's all smiles at the end of busy week

    JAMES Constable admitted it had been a hectic week with the birth of his first child, but the striker never considered missing Saturday’s game, writes DAVID PRITCHARD. The 28-year-old was back in training on Friday, a day after becoming a dad,

  • Swarm of bees causes buzz online in 'freecycle' advert

    MOST people use “free-cycling” websites to get rid of an old kettle or pick up a second-hand chair – not to offload a swarm of bees in their garden. But Rosie and John Marshall initially didn’t know where else to turn when bees nested in a branch

  • Comment: Bees giveaway makes buzz online

    THE first item ever sold on eBay was famously a broken laser pen, proving from the outset that people online would always be interested in any sort of a “bargain”. But even given that start for the e-tail giant, who would have thought that you

  • Match of the day

    An Oxford United fan proposed to his girlfriend in front of more than 7,000 supporters at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday. Robert Davies, 18, got down on one knee at the side of the pitch and popped the question to Aaliyah Nicholls, 17 during half-time

  • School transport charge decision delayed again

    A DECISION on whether to charge bus fares for parents who don’t choose their nearest secondary school will be deferred again. In July, Oxfordshire County Council delayed a decision on whether to save £340,000 by charging for some home-to-school

  • Other results: August 24

    Rugby Union Friendly: London Welsh 16, Llanelli Scarlets 16. Golf SHAW GIBBS OXFORDSHIRE FOURSOMES LEAGUE KO Cup 2nd round: Witney Lakes 1, Drayton Pk 2; Tadmarton Heath 3, Badgemore Park 0.

  • Fruitful festival for food fans

    FOOD fans descended on South Park’s Oxford Foodies Festival to tickle their taste buds from Friday to Sunday. More than 15,000 visitors to the show saw celebrity chefs like Sophie Grigson and stocked up from county suppliers. The Bangkok House

  • Comment: Cut in speed limit is delivering right results

    THE reduction in minor crashes in Oxford since the introduction of 20mph zones is certainly welcome news. There was a great deal of scepticism before their introduction four years ago with questions raised, quite rightly, about whether the roads

  • 20mph limit makes roads safer

    OXFORD’S streets have seen a sharp drop in the number of accidents since 20mph zones were brought in. Comparing the 46 months before and since the controversial zones were rolled out to all but the main arterial city routes, there has been a fall

  • Town council to meet

    A full meeting of Didcot Town Council is set for September 9. It is due to start at 7.30pm at Didcot Civic Hall in Britwell Road. An agenda about what the meeting will discuss is to be published the week before the meeting.

  • Fun day nets funds

    A sponsored fun day raised money for Blackbird Leys FC yesterday. Youngsters took part in a sponsored walk, bike or scooter ride round the estate to help the club pay its pitch fees. The club has to pay Oxford City Council about £1,300 a year

  • Get married in a barn

    Worton Park has won retrospective permission to create a wedding venue. The owners applied to change the use of the North Barn from agricultural use to mixed use for both agricultural and as a civil ceremony and assembly venue. The barn will

  • Costa's bid to move into empty Jessop's

    The Costa coffee shop in the Market Place, Abingdon, is planning to extend. The shop would take over the Jessops store next door which has stood empty since January. Jessops – the national camera chain – went into administration last year and

  • Historical conference

    The Wallingford Historical and Archaelogical Society is marking its 40th anniversary on October 5 with a full day conference is to be held to celebrate at the Methodist Church Centre in St Leonard’s Square. The conference – called Wallingford:

  • Fire crews save people from loo seats, swings and trees

    MORE than 250 people have had to be rescued from awkward and embarrassing situations by the county’s fire service over the past five years. Eighty times Oxfordshire firefighters have had to remove rings, while there’s been another 17 occasions

  • Reunion joy for Zambian and teacher 57 years on

    RATHER than being forced into an arranged marriage at 15 years old, Rosemary Mumbi was smuggled out of her Zambian village by her mother. Instead she went to her country’s first ever girls secondary school in 1956, where she was taught by a Christian