Moving between an elite athlete to a husband is a strange old mix. Coming home to my little house in Oxford from the relative highs of the pointy end of the rowing season presents its challenges. From our hotel to the course, to the money invested
FOOTBALL fan Micky Cosier broke his thigh bone in a tough tackle and ended up in intensive care. Then he got a surprise visit from one of his favourite players, Oxford United midfielder Andy Whing, to brighten up his stay at the John Radcliffe
A group of family and friends are taking their fundraising to new heights with a skydive today. Mum Paula Masih-Gill is one of five taking part in the stomach-churning feat for her son Gabriel, 13, who has cerebral palsy. Gabriel’s family is
Hospice Care Week IT STARTED out in 1976 and, as it gears up for Hospice Care Week on Monday, Sobell House Hospice is getting ready to shout about the vital care it provides for the people of Oxfordshire. The purpose of hospice care week is
A TEENAGER who fractured her back and was told that she might never ride again is heading to the Horse of the Year Show. Jemima Perham, from Wallingford, was diagnosed with three stress fractures in her back in 2011. The 15-year-old had to
The Museum of the History of Science in Oxford has appointed a new director. Dr Silke Ackermann will take up her new role on March 1, succeeding previous director Professor Jim Bennett, who retired last year. Dr Ackermann left the British Museum
JUST over a week since the Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning event, money is pouring into the cancer charity from its 1500 loyal fundraisers across the county – among them Petronella Seccombe, who has dished up a whopping £57,000 to date.
ROYAL Mail staff have restored donated furniture to raise cash for Helen and Douglas House hospice for young people in East Oxford. Seventeen managers mended, sanded, painted and varnished to add value to items of furniture at the hospice’s warehouse
A POOR first half proved costly as Southend United inflicted a second successive home defeat on Oxford United. Conor Clifford made the most of a sloppy clearance from Asa Hall to give the Shrimpers a 13th-minute lead. An unmarked Luke Prosser
BOWEL cancer survivor Chris Bray is aiming to show that his diagnosis doesn’t mean that “the end is nigh” by taking on a half marathon. The dad-of-three is to take on Sunday’s challenge to help the cancer charity which supported him. The Chipping
THE SON of the creator of TV puppet show Thunderbirds will take part in a charity walk today for the Alzheimer’s Society. Jamie Anderson, 28, who lives near Faringdon, will undertake the Windsor Memory Walk in memory of his father, Gerry Anderson
JEREMY Clarkson’s wife and manager Francie will join wounded military personnel as they complete a 250-mile bike ride. Francie Clarkson will join the 30 riders on the last day of SR UK (Soldier Ride UK) which will see injured servicemen and women
DARING dads trekked to the top of the tallest mountain in Africa to raise money for a Witney special school. The fathers returned from their eight-day climb up Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro on Tuesday. Karl Harrison, 48, was one of the group of
GUESTS were served up a treat as Barton came together to celebrate the achievements of youngsters on the estate. A dinner party saw 110 people served a four-course gourmet meal cooked by budding chefs aged between 11 and 20 on the estate. The
STAFF from Pepsi have been building an allotment in Wantage for people with disabilities. The soft drinks company agreed to spend 100 hours in total digging up an unloved corner of the village near the primary school. The allotment will be
A group organising a hydropower plant for Abingdon has abandoned plans to create a visitors’ centre. Abingdon Hydro, the group behind the £1m scheme, says it has been told to alter its plans by planning officers. The group originally wanted
OXFORDSHIRE and murder mystery go hand in hand. And now new figures show the genre is the most popular type of book out at county libraries. Local readers’ thirst for crime novels is such that five titles, more than any fiction category, feature
IT’S been trading as a toy shop for 55 years but the changing retail market is forcing a change at a Carterton store. Bosses at Giles Sports, Cycles and Toys Carterton wants to divide the shop into three for each of its three types of products.
Health and social care will be discussed at a meeting next week. The Oxfordshire adult health and social care partnership board will meet on Thursday at County Hall in New Road, Oxford, at 3pm. The board is made up of officers and councillors
Welcome to an overcast Kassam Stadium, where Oxford United will be taking on Southend United in an hour's time. Team news is expected shortly, but as always you can get in touch with us throughout the afternoon, either by tweeting us @oxfordmailoufc
A RETIRED RAF Squadron Leader is set to come to the rescue of a village which lost its Post Office in June. Retired RAF engineer Mike Powell has offered to run the facility from the tea rooms run by Dorchester Abbey. Dorchester-on-Thames lost
Oxfordshire Family History Society is holding a public talk about its Oxfordshire DNA project. The project is trying to collect the DNA of as many Oxfordshire residents as possible to build a database which will help people map their family tree
Firefighters have been dealing with an incident in West Oxford this morning. Fire crews were called about 11am to Ferry Hinksey Road, off Botley Road, following a suspected diesel spill involving a vehicle in a parking area next to Oatlands Road
New transport schemes are to be approved at a county council meeting. County council cabinet member for the environment David Nimmo Smith is meeting officers on Thursday to approve various schemes. He will rule on plans to remove a parking
A BICESTER shop worker beat hundreds of his peers to reach the final three in the National Apprenticeship Awards. Kaine Parker, 21, a retail assistant at Bicester Village, beat 1,600 other applicants to reach the final three in the 2013 awards.
WITH a packed timetable of lessons and games, it’s more nine-to-five than MI5 these days for pupils at Abingdon School. But 60 years ago there was one pupil whose Italian family broke that mould. When Gil Pontecorvo failed to make it back to
Steve Nicholls, of Banbury Gunsmiths, took the £700 first prize in the A final of the Dynamite Oakfield Summer Matchmen on Swallow Lake. Nicholls caught heavily towards the end of the match close in on corn with plenty of larger carp to 9lb from
Oxfordshire's Zak Corderoy claimed the Dunlop Aprilia Superteen Challenge title with a round to spare. The 14-year-old, from Blewbury, near Didcot, cannot be overhauled in the 125cc series’ standings after picking up two victories from two races
THE 17th century French philosopher René Descartes once said: “I drink therefore I am” — at least that’s probably what he meant to say. If you Kant work out what life is all about and you fancy discussing it over a pint and a Plato chips a new
THE line-up has been announced for next month’s Audioscope Festival. The mini-festival is one of Oxford’s longest-running, and this year takes place at The Jericho Tavern, Walton Street, on November 23. It has been going since 2001 and has
Murder most foul! TV's Karl Howman stars in The Mousetrap Chip off the block: Hot Chip star teams up with Steel band legend Outta space! Oxford's Flights of Helios set controls for art gallery. Read - and listen -
Are you using the right contraception? Find out what's on offer and where to get advice What does your lipstick say about you? Discover the messages you're sending Live well for less - tips to save cash and sort out your finances
What is happening to the Thames – the fishing is getting better and better! Everywhere I fish I’m catching roach and their getting bigger. I’ve had fish up to 1lb 8oz – and I will put my head on the block and predict two-pounders this winter
The St Birinus School Swimming Club, Didcot, excelled at the Oxfordshire Secondary Schools’ Relay Competition at Abingdon School. They won the freestyle and medley categories in the junior and intermediate age groups. St Birinus’s teams consisted
Sean Walkinshaw is eyeing up a podium spot at Monza this weekend, despite never having visited the Italian track. The 19-year-old, from Chipping Norton, is confident of continuing his excellent recent form which has delivered ‘Copa’ points finishes
Ashton made a flying start to the new season in the Gentworks Oxford & District League with a 2-1 home win over Section 1 rivals Riley A. Pete Fenn (+60) edged out Malcolm Bough (+20) 200-189 to put Ashton ahead. Lewis Moss (-10) levelled
Former Lord Mayor Elise Benjamin has been named the Green Party spokesman for business, innovation and skills. The new national role will mean Ms Benjamin, an Oxford city councillor, will speak on various issues on behalf of the party in the run-up
Pastor Maldonado admitted Williams had performed poorly in final practice for tomorrow’s race. Maldonado and teammate Valtteri Bottas finished 17th and 18th respectively at the Korea International Circuit in Yeongam, continuing a disappointing
In less than two years since taking up the game seriously, 12-year-old Victoria Coll, from Abingdon, has risen to the dizzy heights of tenth-ranked English player in her age category. It was back in July 2012 that Coll first came to national attention
Oxford City Stars will bid to make it five wins from five when they visit Haringey Racers in English National League South Division 2 tonight (5.15). Reigning champions Stars have scored 34 goals in their four matches so far and hammered Wightlink
Mini sales in the UK rose by more than 10 per cent in September. Latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show 10,382 cars left dealer forecourts, compared to 9,419 for the same month last year. A total of 40,264 cars
A Fellow of St Catherine's College who was a world authority on Chinese art has died at the age of 96. Prof Michael Sullivan, whose collections were exhibited many times in the Ashmolean Museum, died on September 28. Museum director Prof Christopher
MORE than 500 jobs could be created when millions of pounds of European cash is ploughed into the Oxfordshire economy. The Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has revealed what it wants to do with the £17.2m of funding it was awarded through the
MOST little girls enjoy a relatively carefree childhood. But meningitis survivor Charlotte Nott, five, has just undergone her 21st operation in less than three years. The Cowley youngster, who had the lower parts of her limbs amputated after
Kimi Raikkonen reflected on a positive day’s practice, despite crashing his Lotus car into the barriers at the Yeongam circuit. The Finn had no ill effects from his crash at the end yesterday’s first practice session, when he lost control through
Tindaro gained his biggest success to date for Paul Webber’s Mollington stables, near Banbury, with a thrilling victory at Fontwell yesterday. Sent off a 4-1 chance, the six-year-old led soon after the last fence in the Fuller’s London Pride Handicap
GREENE KING IPA CHAMPIONSHIP LONDON Welsh will have an all new front row when they visit Rotherham Titans at Clifton Lane today (3). Props Nathan Trevett and Peter Edwards line up alongside hooker Andy Titterell as three of six changes made
GREENE KING IPA CHAMPIONSHIP SEB Jewell says there is as much frustration as there is celebration in the London Welsh squad, despite winning their first three matches. The Exiles lie one point and two places behind leaders Rotherham, whom they
GREENE KING IPA CHAMPIONSHIP LONDON Welsh head coach Justin Burnell is not getting too carried away by today’s top-of-the-table clash at Rotherham. The Exiles and the Titans are the league’s only remaining unbeaten sides after three rounds.
Southend United manager Phil Brown is hoping his side can make the most of Oxford United’s patchy home record today and end their winless run. Like their hosts, Southend won their first three games, but have picked up just two points from their
TWO teenage robbers have been sentenced in Oxford Crown Court for stealing a 15-year-old’s mobile phone. Tony Nichols, 18, of Valentia Road, Headington, and Callum Ochiela, 19, of Chatham Road, Oxford, were sentenced yesterday. The pair stole the
A FORMER Oxford police commander has been given control of a major counter terrorism unit. Brendan O’Dowda has been appointed assistant chief constable (ACC) for the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit and Counter Terrorism Unit. The new
A STUDENT who almost ran over a police officer and was caught with £50,000 worth of drugs and a knuckleduster has been jailed. Joshua Johnson, 27, was arrested on June 16 while driving his Lexus between Abingdon and Didcot on the A34. Richard
The trial of five men accused of accepting “suspicious” cables and lead from two undercover police officers continued at Oxford Crown Court yesterday. The defendants, from TR Rogers and Sons, in Nuneham Courtenay, deny attempting to conceal, disguise
NEW father Paul Birkbeck returned home from Afghanistan to see his miracle baby son. He was one of 120 returning soldiers who came back to Dalton Barracks on Thursday night after a six-month tour. The 3 Logistic Support Regiment flew in to
THOUSANDS of people joined Princess Anne on the streets of Didcot to welcome home Army bomb disposal experts. Families and friends were reunited with their loved ones from the town’s 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment and the UK-wide Search
A three-vehicle crash caused traffic delays yesterday morning. The crash, involving a red Nissan, a silver Ford Focus and a blue Peugeot van, closed one lane of the northbound A4142 Eastern Bypass between the Cowley and Horspath junctions at about
THE English have a proud history of teaching other nations how to play our sports so they can beat us at them. Now a group from Oxford whose members love the pub game Aunt Sally are exporting the county sport. An 11-man team from Cowley has
NO enforcement action will be launched when students occupy the Castle Mill development, Oxford City Council has revealed. Students are being moved into the buildings in Roger Dudman Way, despite the fact requirements of the planning process have
Part of a road was blocked yesterday morning after a lorry spilt its load of rubble. The blockage was on the flyover above the A34 at the B4027 Islip turn off. Police were called at 8.57am but as it did not cause any incidents, officers handed
First Group will have to pay £32.5m to continue to run the Great Western line, which connects Oxford with London and the south west, for two more years. The figure has been revealed after it was confirmed a new agreement had been reached days on
Firefighters were called to an equipment blaze at an industrial estate in Bicester yesterday. Two crews from Bicester fire station were called to Chaucer Industrial Estate in Granville Way at 1.16am to a fire in a waste paper product and hydraulic
PRISON officials were left stunned when an armed robber knocked on the door and asked to be let in. Timothy Stern, right, who was serving time for robbing an Oxford betting shop, escaped from a minimum-security prison near Bristol and asked to
IT was back to school for grandparents of the youngest pupils at Cutteslowe Primary School, Oxford, yesterday. They got to see how their grandchildren were settling in as part of the school’s grandparents’ day. Among them was Corinna Redman, who
Chris Wilder wants to see more from his attacking players at the Kassam Stadium today as Oxford United attempt to find a way past Southend United. While the U’s have averaged nearly three goals a game on their travels this season, a record only
GOING to jail is no laughing matter. Or it shouldn’t be, anyway. Timothy Stern – who, as we report today, walked up to a prison in the county and asked to be let in – may have made us think differently. He was not happy about being holed up in
YOU wait years and years for an airport, and then two plans come along at once. The people of rural south Oxfordshire are probably scratching their heads this morning as they digest the news that another group wants to get the bulldozers out to
A SECOND plan to build an airport which would wipe out two villages has been submitted. The £30bn proposal would see the villages of East and West Hanney swallowed up by the airport on land between the villages and Steventon. It follows another
Spending and budgets will be discussed by Cherwell councillors on Monday night. Cherwell District Council’s executive will meet at Bodicote House, Banbury, at 6.30pm. The group will discuss the council’s budget strategy and other items, like
A post mortem was due to be carried out last night after the body of a woman was found in a layby. The woman, believed to be in her 70s, was found by a member of the public in a layby off the A361 near Burford Golf Club just after 7am on Thursday
A STATUE of a Catholic saint was found burning at a North Oxford church. A priest discovered the statue of St Anthony of Padua ablaze inside the Oxford Oratory St Aloysius Church in Woodstock Road early on Wednesday morning. The blaze is believed
BUILDING work is to start at Rose Hill’s new £3m community centre in January after it was given the go-ahead by councillors. Once built, it will include a community centre, social club, advice centre and youth club. The existing sports pavilion
A Dell laptop was stolen from a home after burglars broke in through an insecure back door in Abingdon. The burglary happened between 3.15pm and 4pm in Pebble Hill, Radley, on Thursday. Call police on 101 if you have any information.
A HOSPITAL chief admitted it had a “difficult year” amid a massive re-organisation of the NHS. Dame Fiona Caldicott said the “far reaching” shake-up of April 1 was still “bedding down and having an effect”. Funding decisions then passed from
HOLLYWOOD action hero and star of The Expendables Randy Couture was shown around Oxford by travel and tourism students. The 50-year-old retired wrestler visited Oxford and Cherwell Valley College in Oxpens Road on Thursdayand took a tour of the
