TRADERS have hit out at Wantage councillors for refusing to let Costa Coffee have four outside tables on its land. Wantage Town Council said putting the tables and 12 chairs in Victoria Cross square would block access to the Arbery arcade.
In days gone by, children, the elderly and even Oxford dons would swim in the county’s waterways unencumbered and sometimes un-clothed. But the passion for outdoor swimming dried-up with the emergence of indoor pools. Now, open water or ‘wild’ swimming
THE A4142 is blocked following a collision involving two vehicles. Drivers are facing delays following the crash on the A4142 Southbound between A40 London Road and Beaumont Road. The collision is also affecting traffic heading towards Cowley
LARGE-scale factory farming could spell disaster for the countryside, an author has warned. In his new book Farmageddon, co-written with The Sunday Times political editor Isabel Oakeshott, Philip Lymbery has claimed that Britain faces a wave of
PUPILS will take part in a 24-hour music marathon to raise money for instruments at Cholsey Primary School next month. The four to 11-year-olds are pitching in with parents, teachers and musicians for the challenge from 2pm on Thursday, April 3
LAST Saturday, Oxford United unveiled Gary Waddock as their new head coach and he took charge of his first game away to Southend on Monday evening. I can see why United chief Ian Lenagan appointed him as the man to succeed Chris Wilder because
LEADERS at a rowing club set up to involve youngsters from all backgrounds fear they could be grounded unless it finds £18,000. Hinksey Sculling School has to raise £18,000 to buy a boat by July to continue to bring the “elite” sport to city youngsters
When a small group of friends got together in 2012 to talk about setting up a cat rescue charity, they had little idea of the scale of the project they were about to take on. So, as Sunshine Cat Rescue prepares to celebrate its second anniversary
CYCLISTS from Didcot are preparing to ride more than 50 miles along The Ridgeway in memory of 10-year-old road crash victim Freddie Perry. Richard Williams, Zak Corderoy, Rick Field, Jason Major and Tim Powell are setting off on Saturday at 7.30am
A HOSPICE is aiming to set the world record for the longest conga during its midnight walk fundraiser. The Adderbury-based Katharine House Hospice’s eighth midnight walk will leave from Banbury Cricket Club at the stroke of midnight on Saturday
FIVE STARS Poet and playwright Lemn Sissay could have been born to adapt Benjamin Zephaniah’s 2001 teen novel Refugee Boy for the stage. The book is about Alem, a 14-year-old Ethiopian-Eritrean boy’s turbulent passage through the British care system
FIREFIGHTERS were called to a house fire last night in Magdalen Road, Oxford. There was a severe fire in an upstairs front bedroom, but nobody was injured. Two people managed to escape the house and crews arrived at about 10.20pm. Watch
RW Tucker (March 20) makes great play of the fact that the late Bob Crow lived in a council house and berates him for his lack of concern for those living on council housing lists. Surely more fitting recipients for the correspondent’s ire would
SO the arbitrator’s arguments are flawed (March 25) regarding their findings on the Covered Market rent increases. How strange. Would the city council be saying this if all their points had been agreed? It seems to be the case with our city
The Royal Mint is to issue a new £1 coin, in 2017, shaped with 12 sides like the old threepenny bit. The question is will it be worth as much then as the old, beloved coin – perhaps enough to buy, for instance, a second-class stamp? Better
With only a few days to go before the deadline for comments to the Vale on Doric’s plans for the Botley centre, 427 responses have been posted. I’m certain the number will increase by the time the guillotine falls. This blows out of the water the
THE county council has bid for an £835,000 ‘Cycle City Ambition’ grant from central Government, for a scheme at The Plain roundabout in the city centre. We are opposed to this scheme as it will give longer, less-reliable bus journeys on most of
So, the Westgate is to go ahead (with fewer parking places). I heard that this will bring in vast revenues and bring back to Oxford those who go to other towns to shop. Will it? Have they asked why the out-of-town shoppers do not shop in Oxford
YES says Trevor Johnson, landlord of The Talbot Inn in Eynsham and The Yeoman in Freeland From my perspective as a landlord, with the beer escalator abolished and no increase in duty on ordinary cider and Scotch whisky and with beer duty cut by
THEY began one year ago with the aim to cut carbon in Oxford’s Rose Hill and improve the environment. Now the Rose Hill and Iffley Low Carbon group is celebrating its successes over the past year with its first birthday today. It is among the
First of all I’d like to apologise to Professor Robert Bartlett of Scotland’s University of St Andrews. When I made reference yesterday to how ‘modestly attired’ you were and got jeered, what I actually meant to express was how comfortable, relaxed
ABINGDON pupils designed T-shirts in memory of schoolgirl Leah Graham. A competition was held to support Leah’s Legacy, a cystic fibrosis charity set up after the 17-year-old died from the genetic disease last October. Winner Lucy Sharrock,
Niall Strawson contemplates his fit-for-summer body Recently there has been a hint of spring in the air, not quite sunbathing weather, well at least not top-off sunbathing. But it got me thinking about the ‘summer body’. Let’s not be under
GARY Waddock urged Oxford United’s players to judge themselves after admitting he had concerns over both ends of the pitch following Monday’s defeat at Southend United. A third successive 3-0 away reverse, all against promotion rivals, increased
A DRIVER was caught speeding in fog at 84mph in a 30mph zone. Edward Hembrow, 29, was speeding along Cuddesdon Road, Horspath in his Mercedes E250 at about 8.30am on January 21 when he was caught on a police video camera. Pc Steve Moses said
DRIVING in fog at 84mph sounds even more dangerous than driving while on the phone or driving and brushing your teeth. Edward Hembrow was lucky he didn’t kill someone in Horspath, but drivers who were stopped in Cowley yesterday using the phone
CAMPAIGNERS have fought a long-standing campaign to save Temple Cowley Pools in Oxford so it is not surprising that they want to register the site as an asset of community value. The pool is undoubtedly valued by the local community so it has a
THE mother of a Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan who was conned by a fraudster has warned others not to get taken in by such “ghastly” crooks. Yesterday, Gary Sheehy of Chetwynd Mead, Bampton, avoided jail and was ordered to carry out unpaid
MEMBERS of the United Nations met at an Oxford school yesterday to debate the deepening crisis in Ukraine. However, it was not the likes of Barack Obama at Oxford High School, but teenagers taking part in a Model United Nations General Assembly
IT was a fitting end to 10 years of fundraising to support the city’s two hospices. That was the view of the organisers of Childish Things as the annual New Theatre show was held for the final time last night. Stars once again turned out to
Treasured items from the University of Oxford’s Chinese collections have gone on show in Hong Kong. They are part of an exhibition, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Maritime Museum and Bodleian Libraries, entitled Mapping Ming China’s Maritime
Diet during pregnancy could affect a baby’s risk of brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease, new research has shown. The study is to be presented at the Alzheimer’s Research UK conference in Oxford’s Saïd Business School today. Researchers
Alan Jarvis, who is based at Twyford, near Bicester, plans to appeal against the British Horseracing Authority’s decision to reject his request for a full training licence. The BHA’s licensing committee announced yesterday that the 75-year-old
A WITNEY man was found hanged just a week before Christmas. Sam Kiff, 25, took his own life on December 18 last year, Oxfordshire Coroner[s Court was told yesterday. He was living at his girlfriend’s house in Station Road at the time of his
THE number of beds at Didcot Community Hospital are to be halved in a move described as “dreadful” by a town leader. Health bosses are to axe eight extra beds brought in last November to deal with demand over the winter. A further four will be
ENDEAVOUR star Shaun Evans has reveal-ed the TV series about the young Inspector Morse could end because of the wishes of Oxford author Colin Dexter. Mr Dexter, who wrote the Inspector Morse novels, has said there should be no remakes of the Morse
Just four points separate the top seven teams in the Oxford Mail Youth League's Under 12 Spring A League. But Harwell & Hendred stole a march on their rivals to go clear at the summit. They defeated Crowmarsh Youth, who are third, 4-2 to
Ellie Larkin’s dazzling double strike inspired leaders Oxford City to a sparkling 4-1 triumph over Didcot Casuals in the Oxford Mail Girls under 15 league. City took the lead on 12 minutes through Lauren Page, who rounded the goalkeeper before
An RAF doctor will not face further action after a tribunal ruled he wrote misleading medical reports for a pilot who later died in a plane crash with a teenage passenger. Dr Douglas Wyper, who was based at RAF Benson, assessed Mike Blee as fit
CRITCHLEYS UTV LEAGUE Runaway Division 1 leaders Freeland Yeoman put struggling Sporting Headington Academicals to the sword with an emphatic 7-0 home win. A hat-trick from Tom Gerken and a Danny Taylor brace were complemented by goals from
GILES SPORTS WITNEY YOUTH LEAGUE Eynsham defender Jay Revill gave himself an early birthday present with his first hat-trick in an 11-1 win against Hook Norton in the Under 12 Blue League. Revill, who will be 12 on Friday, has been with the
NORTH BERKS CUP ROUND-UP HOLDERS Long Wittenham Athletic will get the chance to defend the trophy after a hard-fought 2-1 semi-final victory at home to Kintbury Rangers, writes Phil Annets. The all-Division 1 tie went to extra-time after Charlie
TEACHERS will march through the centre of Oxford today as schools across the county close due to strike action. This morning 95 schools in the county confirmed they will be affected by the strikes. Twenty-three schools have are reported as closed
Morning. Today's news first up is of course the teachers' strike. Ninety-five schools are reported as either closed or partially closed today. Here's our list of full closures, partial closures and those that are open... We also
A PRODUCTION of Peter Pan will hit a city stage this week with an amazing array of props – not from Neverland, but the humble skip. Props mistress Nathalie Soanes said she was at first daunted with the list for the production by Headington’s Lime
AN OXFORD primary school which was told it needs to improve has been warned it is not making sufficient progress. Bayards Hill in Waynflete Road, Barton, was visited by Ofsted on December 5 . The report cited low attendance and pupils’ behaviour
Authors Philip Pullman, pictured, and Mark Haddon have signed an online petition against Government restrictions on books being sent to prisoners. The Oxford novelists have joined a call on Ministry of Justice minister Chris Grayling to review
A MILESTONE moment was reached yesterday as an 11.5-tonne steel screw was lowered by crane into the Thames at Osney Weir. The 4.3m-long Archimedean screw is the central part of the Osney Hydro scheme – the first community-owned hydro scheme to
MIDLAND COUNTIES YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP OXFORDSHIRE Under 16s suffered semi-final agony after a 2-1 defeat away to West Riding in the League Cup. The match at West Riding’s Leeds HQ saw Oxon equalise after a controversial early goal, but they could
NORTH BERKS LEAGUE IT’S all change at the foot of the Division 1 table after Crowmarsh Gifford’s 3-1 home win over Faringdon Town lifted them off the bottom. Tim Holtom hit a double alongside a Ben Chalmers strike while Richard Evans netted
A man has been accused of verbally attacking three teenage girls. Paulo Gomes, 25, has been charged with using threatening and abusive language following an incident at Templars Square shopping centre. Gomes, of no fixed address, has been bailed
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Temple Cowley Pools have applied to make the site an asset of community value. Save Temple Cowley Pools now has six months to find the cash to buy the site, which Oxford City Council is hoping to sell for £1.5m.
WITNEY & DISTRICT FA Wayne Moscrop and Chris Hirons bagged a brace apiece as Premier Division leaders West Witney stormed to a 6-1 win at defending champions Hailey, writes Anthony Barlow. Kev Lewis and Tony McLemen completed the rout –
Vale of White Horse Under 14s face an anxious wait to see if they’ll be crowned Vale Cup champions following a agonising 2-1 defeat by Southampton at Milton United. Needing a draw to lift the cup, which is played for on a league basis, Vale led
Nine-man Riverside pulled off a stunning 3-2 victory over Launton Sports to reach the final of the Oxfordshire Charity Cup. They had goalkeeper Ryan Davies dismissed for handling outside the area in the first half. And in the final period Colin
SOUTH & WEST COUNTIES YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP OXFORDSHIRE Under 18s reached the Mick Parry Cup final after a penalty shoot-out victory over Dorset at Kidlington. Jack Evans (Oxford City) scored the winning spot-kick to give Oxon a 5-4 victory
Oakley United’s march at the top of the Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division continued with a magnificent seven without reply at Chalgrove. Keiron Schmidt opened the scoring with an effort that flew in off the underside of the crossbar.
Oxford City missed a chance to cash in on one of their games in hand at the foot of the Skrill North table when they were well beaten 4-0 away to Leamington last night. They shipped four goals for the second game in succession, following Saturday
Novellist Joanna Trollope has donated her handwritten manuscripts to Oxford’s Bodleian Library to ensure her works stay in the UK. The donation includes research notes, letters, and drafts of her 18 novels and short stories. Miss Trollope,
A WOMAN who posted a ‘selfie’ image of her battered face after being attacked at a nightclub had last night raised more than £9,000 for the Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre. Oxford University student Jeanne Marie Ryan, 29, posted a #nomakeup
Eight men were arrested at 5am yesterday morning by police investigating Class A drug dealers. The suspects, aged between 23 and 50, were arrested as police carried out drugs raids on five address in Oxford and one in Abingdon. Seven Oxford
A PERSON died after being hit by a train at the Roundham crossing in Kidlington yesterday. The incident happened just before noon and shut the railway lines between Oxford and Banbury for about two hours. British Transport Police had last night
A PENSIONER accused of 17 counts of rape has gone on trial at Oxford Crown Court. Terry Haynes, of Mathews Way, Abingdon, denies the charges and has also pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of indecent assault and two attempted rapes. The 69-year-old
THE family of one of the longest-serving supporters of speedway in the city hope to spread his ashes at Oxford Stadium if it is saved from the bulldozers. Norman ‘Nobby’ Hall, died on Sunday at the age of 71 after a long battle with Parkinson’s
Contractors will today carry out three controlled blasts at the base of one of the Didcot A Power Station cooling towers. Coleman and Company has begun demolition works at the site and will conduct the tests to see how many explosives will be needed
FOUR young men from Bicester have been unanimously found not guilty of kidnapping. The group walked free from Oxford Crown Court yesterday after a five-day trial. They are Mohammed Hussain, 22, of Marigold Walk; Liam Hutchison, 20, of Leach
VOLUNTEERS have marked half a century of raising cash to support Oxford’s Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre. The League of Friends of the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (NOC) celebrated the milestone at the Windmill Road hospital on Monday. They have
The George moved closer to securing the runners-up spot in the Oxford City FA after a 7-3 win against Masons Arms. Andy Paine, from the spot, and a brace from Adam Jedrysiak put George in command before Masons pulled one back when Chris Webb’s
Conor McDonagh bagged two goals as North Leigh came from behind twice to see off Calor League Division 1 South & West promotion rivals Mangotsfield at Eynsham Park last night. There were three goals in the first ten minutes, McDonagh levelling
EARTH Trust Farm in Little Wittenham has welcomed the arrival of spring as lambing season gets in full flow. Dan Marriott, of Little Wittenham Lamb farm, has been delivering the newborns. Military wife Louise Davidson, 39, whose husband is
THE heads of Milton Park and Harwell Oxford science centres welcomed the Budget last week as a boost to businesses. Chancellor George Osborne announced tax incentives for businesses would be kept for three more years. Businesses moving into
ABINGDON traders will be asked to pay for efforts to market the town to shoppers. They will be asked to vote on whether a Business Improvement District (BID) should be set up in the town. They would pay one to four per cent extra in business
LEO Williams had a peer into the future at the Oxfordshire Science Festival at the weekend. The Abingdon resident called in at the town’s Market Square on Saturday to see the ATOM! fair, one of the closing events of this year’s festival. He
YOU might think advanced mathematics is a rather joyless and serious subject, but one Oxford University professor is looking to the funny side. New College maths and science professor Marcus du Sautoy is back for the third series of a TV show that
