A LONG-held ambition to recycle half the city’s rubbish is “no longer possible” because of Government rules, according to city council officers. The authority already has the worst recycling rate in Oxfordshire and earlier this year a £1m funding
MORE than 100 people gathered at Donnington Community Centre for an annual charity football match in memory of a local paramedic. Friends and family of Shaun Kavanagh, known to his family as ‘Del Boy’, have held the event since 2004 and have raised
A CONTROVERSIAL bid to build houses on part of a closed pub’s former car park has returned. Goldacre Developments wants to build two, three-bedroom detached homes by The General Elliot in Manor Road, South Hinksey. It was the pub’s car park
STEVE Green was the star as South Oxfordshire Amateurs enjoyed a successful tour of the West Country. The Horspath batsman scored two of the five centuries made by SOA as the tourists secured five wins. Green opened with 100 not out in an exciting
A WIN over Lancashire was the highlight of Oxon Under 11s visit to the Taunton festival. The youngsters suffered two defeats, a winning and a losing draw. But they saw off the Red Rose county by three wickets. Lancashire batted first and Oxon
Oxford West and Abingdon MP Nicola Blackwood has explained her reason for voting with David Cameron on Syria. Ms Blackwood, right, who voted last thursday in favour of potential military action, told the Oxford Mail: “On Thursday night I voted
A MAJOR drive to recruit more apprentices is paying off with more Oxfordshire applicants being matched with employers than any other area of the south east. Oxfordshire County Council and the National Apprenticeship Service have been supporting
ROSE Hill Primary School pupils will not feel the cold this winter because of the continuing work to upgrade its heating system continues. Builders have been busy at the school fitting two boilers, radiators and piping for the central part of the
DESIGNS for new affordable homes to be built in Botley go on show this week. The £900,000 housing co-operative scheme is the first of its kind in Oxford and only the second in the county. The aim – by the volunteer-run not-for-profit company
A HERITAGE group is hoping to work with Oxford University to create a pathway linking two community spaces in Wolvercote. Oxford University is hoping to get planning permission for 190 homes on the former site of the Wolvercote Paper Mill.
A £300,000 bid to replace the village’s Girl Guide building is struggling, prompting a renewed call for public support. The five-year campaign has so far raised £75,000 as leaders battle to win major grants from national charities. The organisation
ONE hundred new chairs have arrived at Barton’s St Mary’s Church as the building prepares to become the new home for local community groups. The wooden church hall next to the Bayswater Road church will have to be abandoned next year because it
RUNNERS who need an extra training boost before they take on this year’s Oxford Half Marathon have the chance to join three training runs. Up and Running, in Headington, has organised 5km, 10km and 15km runs on Thursday evenings in the weeks leading
THE intense stare of the artist at work is unmistakable. Ten-year-old Sophie Rawlings from Shilton was painting a heart on her mum’s face at a charity summer fete in North Leigh, near Witney. As well as face painting there was fancy dress,
STEAM rail enthusiasts in Didcot are preparing a bid for £4m of heritage lottery funding to build a new visitor centre. In 2009 Network Rail agreed to give the Great Western Society a 35-year-lease for its home next to Didcot Parkway rail station
THOUSANDS of people are expected to descend on Blackbird Leys park on Saturday for the largest Leys Fair ever. Final preparations are being made for the return of the event following a two-year break. Organisers say the free day out will have
James Styring, Cyclox chairman SOME Australian friends have just visited. In a brief 24 hours we packed in the best of Oxford: a lunchtime picnic punting from Magdalen Bridge, a few hours in the Natural History Museum and Pitt Rivers, an evening
THERE is a need to stop the bad choices that regularly occur with both Oxford city councillors and Oxford county councillors’ decision making. This can be rectified by filming and broadcasting the process, allowing easy, open access to the public
SO the Green Party candidate for the Oxford North ward, Sushila Dhall, claims in her election leaflet that the city council, or at least the Labour side, are planning for chain stores to move into the covered market. The traders say this is misleading
AAH, so now we know – the recent legislation about tail-gating and lane two hogging on the motorway was brought about by Ken Roper’s recent letters. I wondered where the wisdom of this came from. All I can say is more power to his writing elbow
IT is reported that British and Austrian researchers have artificially produced a human brain the size of a pea. One does not wish to be a spoilsport, but it so happens that nature (or ‘God’, if preferred) has been naturally achieving this exploit
SO COUNCILLOR Chris Robins (August 26) resorts to political soundbite language about rolling around in clover. Although some may regard reducing the top rate of tax from 50 per cent to 45 per cent as reducing tax contributions from those who can
BRITAIN’s Prime Minister and Witney’s MP, David Cameron, has paid the penalty for seeking a mandate from parliament on military involvement in Syria before the United Nations weapons inspectors filed their report. But despite what he said after
AS a former member of Her Majesty’s late-lamented Armed Forces, I am relieved to learn that we are now unlikely to be dragged into another war, as we were as a result of lies told us by Tony Blair. The reports of chemical weapons being used in
Musical BLOOD BROTHERS New Theatre, Oxford Monday-Saturday, Sep 14 Box office: 0844 871 3020 Written by Willy Russell, Blood Brothers tells the moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks
Hotfoot from a three-week stint at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Oxford-based theatre company Idle Motion are back on home territory for their first performance at Oxford Playhouse. The group, which is composed principally of former pupils
A HUSBAND and wife team were a force to contend with at the Ardley and Fewcott annual flower and produce show. Keith and Stella Brogdale, from Leach Road in Bicester, clocked up eight first prizes between them at the show on Saturday. The annual
IT may look like hard work, but it was all for a good cause. The 2013 Oxfordshire Charity Strongman Event took place in Banbury on Sunday. The event was hosted at EP Gym in aid of Oxfordshire Playbus, a mobile recreational facility for children
RUBBISH collected from around Oxford was transformed into homemade musical instruments at the Pitt Rivers Museum’s big summer event. A recycled junk orchestra was set up as part of the Need Make Use day held outside the Oxford University Museum
THE annual Wychwood Forest Fair was held on Sunday. It took place at Foxburrow Wood near Witney to raise money to plant trees at the site, as well as for conservation projects across west Oxfordshire. The family event, which traces its roots
HERE’S a pair who were digging this year’s Salford village fete. The West Oxfordshire village held its annual event on Saturday. It featured a dog agility competition, a dog show and a whole range of other events. Stuart Timms had a go
NOBODY else seemed to have a chance against seven-year-old Megan Pike at the Wootton-by-Woodstock village flower show and fun day. Megan scooped first prizes in the children’s running race, egg and spoon race, golf, and third prize in the vegetable
A TRANSPORT planning expert from Oxford Brookes University has said Oxfordshire County Council is addressing Headington transport issues in a “back-to-front” manner. Peter Headicar, a reader in transport planning in the Department of Planning at
THERE is nothing like the kindness of strangers to restore our faith in human nature. So we are pleased to report that is does happen. Just ask pensioner Sylvia Neatham, who had £770 she had withdrawn from the bank to buy a computer stolen by an
WHEN a thief pinched hundreds of pounds from disabled pensioner Sylvia Neatham she no longer felt safe in her own town. But her faith in humanity has been restored after a stranger came forward to help after reading her story, that was featured
Ian Menter is Professor of Teacher Education, Department of Education, at the University of Oxford The city of Oxford is indeed fortunate to be home to two of the world’s leading universities – one ancient and one modern. Given the city’s reputation
A MAN who was eating a sandwich when he knocked down and killed an Eynsham cyclist has been given a community order. Paul Brown, 30, admitted causing the death of father of two Joe Wilkins by careless driving and was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court
OXFORD Hawks ladies looked sharp and determined as they defeated Swansea 3-2 in their opening friendly at Banbury Road North. Hawks took the lead when Briony Anyon scored from a short corner. Emily Court crossed for Lex Thomas to make it 2-
A rucksack containing a mobile phone, passports, travel documents and a handbag were stolen from a parked car. Police say the theft from the dark grey Audi on Saturday is the third such incident in Watlington Hill, Christmas Common, South Oxon,
A petrol thief has taken more than £300-worth of fuel from service stations in the Banbury area. Police are seeking the driver of a stolen silver Nissan Micra which has made off at least three times from garages without payment, taking more than
THE People’s Supermarket has been hit with another financial blow over unpaid business rates. The Cowley Road co-operative missed its deadline to pay its rates to Oxford City Council for August and September. The council has now told it it
THE owners of a Kidlington hair salon were left shocked after being burgled and hit with a bill for £1,750 in damage. Claire Ring and Norman Davies, who own Central Hair and Barbers in Oxford Road, realised the shop had been broken into after their
OXFORD University has unveiled its plans to redevelop a site in East Oxford and turn it into a “world leading” school of art. The university already uses the site in Bullingdon Road as part of the Ruskin School of Art but says it is no longer fit
BICESTER took on Buckingham in three 40-minute games for the Kirk Nokes Memorial Cup, Buckingham winning 108-42 on aggregate to claim the silverware.
Oxfordshire embark on a new Premier Division campaign this weekend when they travel to take on Kent. A big plus is the capture of one of the world’s top female youth players, Casey Gallagher, who is an England Youth international and reigning European
Izi’s Bar stay on course for the Greene King ODDA Summer League Premier title after a comfortable 7-2 victory at home to Peachcroft Social Club. The Witney side took all six singles before the visitors gained some consolation with a 2-1 pairs win
CUTTESLOWE: A £300,000 revamped pavilion in Cutteslowe will be officially opened tonight. Renovated changing rooms, official rooms, new windows, doors and five new public toilets were among the improvements of the top pavilion in Cutteslowe Park
THE police helicopter was called out to search for thieves after a break-in at Witney's B&Q store. Officers were called by a member of staff at about 10.25pm on Sunday to the Thorney Leys store after the alarm went off. Police said they
A FORMER mayor of Chipping Norton who served on all three tiers of local councils has died. Rob Evans, 64, joined Chipping Norton Town Council in the early 1980s and became the town’s mayor in 1995. He served on Oxfordshire County Council between
FOR the last three years schoolboy Adam Sokoli has endured intensive chemotherapy in his battle against cancer. And today he’ll be proudly wearing his uniform on the first day of the new term at Wolvercote Primary School, celebrating being given
HENLEY Hawks were outgunned 45-5 by London Welsh in Saturday’s warm-up at Dry Leas. The Exiles held sway in the set scrums, were effective in mauls and difficult to contain when driving from quality line-out possession. Hawks took a shock lead
OXFORD will travel back in time to the 1960s when filming starts on the second series of the Inspector Morse prequel Endeavour. The ITV drama made its debut in 2012 starring Shaun Evans and Roger Allam, and the full first series was screened earlier
GARSINGTON: Power tools have been stolen from a car parked in Elm Drive. The thefts happened between 7pm on Friday and 9.20am on Saturday. Call 101.
OXFORD: A spate of thefts from cars has taken place across Blackbird Leys and Littlemore. Tools were stolen from four cars in as many days. The first car targeted was a Citroen Relay between 4.30pm on Thursday, August 22, and 7am on Friday,
SEVEN schemes which will boost the number of affordable homes across Oxford are set to get the go-ahead tomorrow. Almost 90 properties are included in the proposals – the biggest one being plans for 48 homes on land at East Minchery allotments.
IT symbolises the problem of a relationship between two people. But the Henry Moore sculpture which was unveiled at the Ashmolean Museum yesterday is part of an exhibition showcasing the work of two great artists with a close relationship.
KINGSTONE PRESS CHAMPIONSHIP ONE OXFORD booked a play-off place by finishing sixth after a 30-30 draw against London Skolars in their final regular season game at Iffley Road. Tries came from captain Alex Thompson, Matty Hadden, Kenny Calladine
BANBURY United are looking to get back winning ways as they travel to bottom of the league Hinckley United tonight in the Premier Division, writes MATTHEW BRUCE. The Puritans have lost their last three matches, but manager Edwin Stein believes
ABINGDON: Improvements to the custody suite in Abingdon will take place as it prepares to hold prisoners arrested in Oxford when the cells at St Aldate’s police station are closed. A tender exercise is currently being carried out before building
S OXON: Traffic was backed up for 15 miles on the M40 southbound yesterday morning after a collision between two cars. Police were called at 6.55am to an accident near junction 6 at Watlington between an Audi and a Ford Fiesta. Thames Valley
OXFORD: Two men are wanted following an assault in Oxford in the early hours of Saturday morning. At about 3am, a 24-year-old man was sat on a wall in Hythe Bridge Street when he was approached by the pair. One of them was verbally abusive,
THE Oxfordshire were happy to get their name back on the map after hosting the biggest professional event for five years. And it is hoped the club, near Thame, will become a regular stop on the EuroPro Tour in future. The WPT Championship was
EDDIE Pepperell was involved in a surprise U-turn after incorrectly believing he had missed the cut at the ISPS Handaw Wales Open. The Frilford Heath golfer finished his second round at lunchtime on Friday. Stuck at four-over par he expected
OXFORD United’s bright start to the season has been recognised with nominations in both the monthly divisional awards. Chris Wilder has been shortlisted for the Sky Bet League Two manager of the month prize. The U’s boss has guided his side
OXFORD: A 31-year-old man has denied concealing criminal property – a BMW X5. Kudazi Mukono, of Rippington Drive, Marston is alleged to have concealed the car at his address from November 16 to 19 last year. He was granted unconditional bail
A MAN who attacked his ex-partner’s new boyfriend sent him a parcel of stuffed toys, creams and bandages to apologise. Paul Wood of Colemans Hill, Headington, punched Peter Murphy in the face and bit his thumbs during the attack on April 23.
IT IS a proud moment for any parent. Yesterday, baby penguin Earl tentatively took his first steps at the Cotswold Wildlife Park as father Dale and mother Yogi looked on. Earl was born on July 9 but until now has remained in his nest box. He
OXFORD: Four men suspected of robbing a man in East Oxford have been released without charge after answering police bail on Saturday. The men, aged 19, 21, 24 and 25, had been arrested after a 32-year-old man suffered a broken jaw and had his mobile
S OXON: A 64-year-old Blewbury man yesterday pleaded not guilty to nine charges of sexual offences. Michael Robinson, of Bessel’s Way, Blewbury, is accused of eight charges of sexual assault on a female and a ninth of exposure. The complainants
OXFORD: A man in his 50s was hit by a double-decker bus on Magdalen Street. South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) sent a crew to attend at 3.45pm on Friday, August 30, but the man did not require hospital treatment. A spokeswoman for SCAS
OXFORD United have put their faith in the squad’s young players to fill gaps in the first team after the transfer deadline passed last night with no late additions. It ensured the squad was not weakened by any of their key assets making 11th-hour
Sir – Today a number of people in Oxford and Abingdon will be travelling by minibus to Aldermaston and Burghfield, near Reading, to join hundreds of others from all over the country who are camping there for two weeks. They will be using their
Sir – As the end of the results season approaches, I would like to congratulate all those students who have successfully passed an examination this summer. Although we hear the most about ‘A’ levels and GCSE pass rates, there are many other qualifications
Sir – Everyone at Meningitis UK/Meningitis Trust was touched to read that Charlotte Nott, five, who lost her limbs to meningitis and septicaemia, has received prosthetic legs thanks to Oxford United and fans (Report, July 25). Meningitis can strike
Sir – As a frequent driver along the A420 between Oxford and Swindon I have become increasily baffled by the policy and decisions of highways in terms of repairs/resurfacing and ‘improvements’. The most recent of which was to resurface a two-mile
Sir – To add insult to injury the hateful student blocks at the Castle Mill site are a blaze of lights every night although they are not yet occupied. Viewed across the sea of darkness of Port Meadow from Wolvercote they look like a glitzy floundered
RACING track promoter Harry Findlay declaring his hand as a potential saviour for Oxford Stadium is, on the face of it, very good news for campaigners. Speedway and dog racing fans, backed by Oxford City Council and local MP Andrew Smith, have
Sir – I’m astonished that, at a time when the Liberal Democrat/Conservative Coalition Government is forcing local councils to make massive cuts in essential services, the local Liberal Democrats should be urging even more cuts in order to bring back
Sir – I often go to Summertown to classes at Ewert House and then always go to the Oxfam shop and often to the bank, the bookshop and other shops. I use the printing facility. It may be that at present — with the economic problems we — and much
Sir – After the car, it is the turn of the buses. What will be next? Probably the pedestrians. They have the temerity to clutter the pavements and even walk down Cornmarket. In doing so, they are causing a nuisance and impeding the cyclists. They
Sir – It is good to see Cherwell District Council react to the support in the National Planning Policy Framework for self-building by allocating space in the large development planned for the edge of Bicester. The ambition to have 1,000 plots might
Sir – In an otherwise ordinary and innocuous piece on childhood nostalgia (Gray Matter, August 8), Mr Gray has inserted an irrelevant and spiteful attack — the worm at the core of the apple — on the Guardian newspaper, “the hectoring, lecturing “Grauniad
Sir – In an otherwise ordinary and innocuous piece on childhood nostalgia (Gray Matter, August 8), Mr Gray has inserted an irrelevant and spiteful attack — the worm at the core of the apple — on the Guardian newspaper, “the hectoring, lecturing “Grauniad
Sir – No change given is the first notice motorists read as they park their cars. This is followed by the cheeky remark over-payment accepted. Supermarket self-service areas have proved that the technology has been with us sometime for machines to
Sir – As Oxfordshire’s councils have announced a huge increase in the collection of litter this summer, surely it is now time for local and central Government to come up with a strategy to combat this blight on our communities and countryside?
Sir – I read with interest in the August edition of Oxfordshire Limited Edition about Richard Wheeler’s book on Oxfordshire churches. I have long had a passion for churches, how many bells (which I used to love to have a ring at — I miss my ringing
Sir – I sympathise with F. Boyce and his injury after a trip on the paving stones in Oxford (Letters, August 15). Has anyone done a survey of the uneven paving in the city recently? While waiting for a bus in Magdalen Street last week, I saw approximately
OXFORD Stadium could have a new saviour as one of the UK’s biggest professional gamblers has revealed that he wants to buy it. Speaking exclusively to the Oxford Mail, millionaire racing track promoter Harry Findlay said he had the team in place
FRILFORD Heath ladies won the Oxfordshire Ladies Presidents Trophy for the first time since 2009. Their team of Jane Binning, Andrea James, Kate Evans, Annie Gowing, Sally Ayres and Iona Smith beat Henley 3-0 in the semi-final at Studley Wood.
DRAYTON Park youngsters finished first and second in the latest event on the BB&O Nike Future Tour. Nick Elmey shot a two-over round of 72, which included an eagle at the par four eighth, to win the tournament at Henley. It moved him up
SHAW GIBBS OXFORDSHIRE FOURSOMES LEAGUE Section 1 Oxford City 1 (1pt), Frilford Heath 2 (3) (City scores first): G Hoult & S Tabor lost to P Clements & T Morgan 4 & 2, M Hall & P Higgins bt D Breslin & T Dutton 4 & 2
GEMMA Harris is a woman who knows all about lows. Her partner was murdered, and her son was diagnosed with autism seven years after she first tried to convince doctors of his condition. However, the fearless campaigner is ready to experience
