BETWEEN April 26 and May 3, the ‘Alps and Spires’ festival will host a largely free programme of events including five concerts, four exhibitions, and even participation by three Grenoble bands in the city’s traditional May morning revels. Around
A WANTAGE shop where traders can try out new businesses for a short period has a new home. The town’s “Flashop” pop-up shop has moved to the former Nonoy’s Oriental Store in Arbery Arcade for a three-month trial. It opened in Mill Street last
YOU can buy them all year round now, but they were once a special treat for Good Friday. Hot cross buns, those spiced sweet buns made with currants or raisins and marked with a cross on top, were a ‘must’ on housewives’ shopping lists in the run-up
THERE was always plenty to do at this playgroup, which held two sessions a day at Blackbird Leys community centre. The picture was taken in 1965 as boys waited their turn to draw pictures on the blackboard.
THIS firm was 21 years old and it was time for a celebration. A dinner for staff and their families was held to mark the anniversary of WIG engineering at Kirtlington. Works manager Paul Juggins is pictured handing company founder Bill Giles a
OXFORD’S civic mace came under close inspection when a party of children from the Park Hospital in Headington visited the Town Hall. The children, aged from eight to 16, were given a special look at the City Plate and other treasures. They are
THE rider would no doubt need a hard hat or crash helmet and hi-viz jacket to repeat this scene today. But in 1965, there were no such health and safety considerations when Pet the donkey was recruited to re-enact the events of Palm Sunday.
A two-week summer playscheme in 1984 ended in style with a street festival. Willow Road was closed for a day of festivities which were enjoyed by many. Sweet-toothed John Jones, 13, and his sister Susan, 15, sampled their home-made cakes.
THESE football fans were cheering on a talented team of schoolboys. It was a rare occasion when the terraces at the White House ground, Oxford City’s former ground off Abingdon Road, was packed with supporters. The picture dates from 1966 when
MICHAEL Cathy appears to be having an uncomfortable ride in Chinnor’s ninth annual donkey derby in 1978. The event was organised by Chinnor Boys’ Football Club and Chinnor Rifle and Pistol Club, which shared the profit of more than £800. There
Pupils at the nursery school were doing a project on buses in 1981, so what better way to learn than to have a ride – on a bus? Teacher Jill Tuffley arranged for all 80 children – 40 at a time – to travel around the village on an Oxford South Midland
PUPILS at Windmill School, Deddington, spent a month on a residential course on the Isle of Wight in 1965. When they returned to school, they put on a display to show parents what they had done during their stay at a holiday centre at Freshwater
CHILDREN show no fear as they clamber on to a high wooden beam – and one is in mid-flight to what is hopefully a soft landing below. This was the scene as children enjoyed themselves at the Woodlands adventure playground at Slade Park, Headington
THAT’S the way to do it! Seven-year-old Fred Miller shows some dainty steps in the world of ballet. Ballerinas Susan Cooper and Mary Prestidge, from Ballet Rambert, visited SS Philip and James School in North Oxford in 1971 with another member
SPECIAL weeks were declared in the early part of the Second World War to raise money for the war effort. The public rallied to support Weapons Week and Warship Week and it wasn’t only the towns that were involved – villages often combined to make
Sir – At first glance I thought this was an April Fool’s day article (City council to abandon light night parade, April 3). I then checked the date — it wasn’t the first of April. Then I thought this might be an ‘archived’ article from the late
Sir – The eye-catching pictures issued at the launch of the county council’s new transport strategy (Report, April 3) appear worringly divorced from its claim that the new policy will be evidence-based. Buses and not trams will remain the basis
Sir – Bus Users Oxford welcomes Oxfordshire County Council’s Connecting Oxfordshire concept but we deeply regret it almost ignores buses. Oxfordshire has the highest per capita bus ridership of any non-metropolitan county, but many Oxfordshire
Sir – Oxford Civic Society welcomes Ian Hudspeth’s analysis that with 85,000 more jobs and 106,000 more homes coming to Oxfordshire by 2031 getting transport strategy right is crucial. We agree that wherever possible jobs and homes should be close
Sir – I find it amazing that Oxfordshire County Council are no further forward than a preliminary discussion regarding transport within and around Oxford. The hoopla last Thursday was about no more than ‘ideas’. Not one concrete proposal was on
Sir – How wonderful to see such visionary, radical proposals for public transport for Oxford (Report, April 3), which not only would develop current needs but also extend to meet future development in industry, tourism and local needs. And how
Sir – Like cycling and traffic one of the perennial letters page discussions is parking. The usual points of throttling local trade or being a rip-off have been well discussed. Oxford parkers may remember a fashion for leaving tickets with time
Sir – It is alarming to read that the owners of Elms Parade fear they may face the draconian step of a compulsory purchase order which would enable Doric to proceed with their plans for the complete demolition and redevelopment of the West Way centre
Sir – The controversial development by Doric Properties at Botley includes a cinema and I see from a recent issue of The Oxford Times that the proposed new Westgate will also have a cinema. I am totally mystified. As a regular cinema goer — usually
Sir – Although Professor Graham Lee, having set off for the Arctic, may be uninterested in replies to his prominent letter (March 27), your readers may well be. When asserting the effect of volcanoes on the earth, he confusingly includes CO2 in his
Sir – I agree with the sentiment expressed by Ian Scott (Letters, April 3) at the inappropriate photograph of Christopher Gray at the Oxford Literary Festival (Report, March 27). You normally publish one or two photographs of him each week, including
Sir – You’ve done it again (Report, April 3)! Five photos to illustrate “the most prestigious” literary festival: Alan Titchmarsh, Ian McEwan, Michael Morpurgo, Philip Pullman, and . . . a member of the public. But not just any member. Clearly, Gray
Sir – Not only do we have the luxury of living in a mostly delightful city but we are also blessed by a letters column second to none — I refer of course to The Oxford Times — letters from Prof Lee (climate change) and Jan Kowal (Doric–Botley) (March
Sir – Wilfully or not, Charles Bidwell (Letters, April 3) has been selective in his reading of my letter. I wrote that, “If the present trend continues, North Oxford will become an exclusive ghetto for the mega rich,” not that it already is. He
Sir – Charles Bidwell is agitated over the proposed ‘Mansion Tax’ and asks how North Oxford residents are going to pay it (Letters, April 3). By moving house, Charles, as many council tenants have been forced to do — some have even been obliged
Sir – Council leaders dispute locations for 100,000 extra houses in the county over the next 20 years. Oxford city has an adopted plan, so claims it needn’t build any extra houses. Instead, other districts must absorb Oxford’s share as well as their
Sir – Those who believe in God believe that God is infinite. To suggest that God would not be interested in this planet on the grounds of how small it is in comparison with the rest of the universe, as Dane Clouston does (Letters, March 27), misses
A PENSIONER who went missing after going to the garden centre has been found safe and well. Basil Pratley, 74, was reported missing by his wife on Saturday after he failed to return to his Milton-Under-Wychwood home after leaving to visit a garden
OXFORD United bounced back to form in style with a 2-0 win at Plymouth Argyle on Saturday. It was the first win under head coach Gary Waddock and saw the U's return to the Sky Bet League Two play-off places with four games remaining. Watch
I HAVE watched the debates on television between Nigel Farage and Nick Clegg and no one has asked what right did Tony Blair have to speak for the whole nation, and take us into the EU? I don’t understand why we were not given a referendum to see if
YOUR story about the Christmas celebrations in St Giles being cancelled this year raises a serious concern. It seems that the tipping point were the objections made by the University and various colleges. Does this now confirm that the minority
David Cameron says we must be freed from unelected bureaucrats in Brussels dictating to elected parliaments but his own Government is imposing just that on counties up and down the land. Disarmingly called ‘local enterprise partnerships’, these
I THINK the Government’s new pension policy in allowing pensioners not to have to put most of their pension pots into annuities is brilliant. The miserable half a per cent yield from annuities is laughable. Well done, this Government. Hard
The eye-catching pictures issued at the launch of the county council’s new transport strategy (April 3) appear worryingly divorced from its claim that the new policy will be evidence-based. Buses and not trams will remain the basis of the city’
Oxford Civic Society welcomes Ian Hudspeth’s analysis that with 85,000 more jobs and 106,000 more homes coming to Oxfordshire by 2031 getting transport strategy right is crucial. We agree that wherever possible jobs and homes should be close together
THE former chairman of a Bicester diving club has been jailed for two years for having sex with a 15-year-old girl the day before she turned 16. Steven Allport, 43, of Eden Close, Bicester, admitted engaging in sexual activity with a child and
OXFORD MAGISTRATES Alexandru-Stefan Todirisca, 32, of no fixed address, admitted shoplifting footwear worth £199.94 from TK Maxx in Templars Square Shopping Park, Towns Road, Cowley, Oxford, on March 3. Given an eight-week prison sentence suspended
11:33am Many thanks for all your contributions, you may like to peruse our #oufc photo gallery from Saturday: http://t.co/r30obUOYdU — @OxfordMailOUFC 14 April 2014 11:33am
For a while now, I’ve thought myself tedious, but last week I had it confirmed. Slipped though my letter box when I returned home last Friday was a thick, glossy and colourful brochure entitled ‘Pondkeeper’ – 100 pages of, I guess, pure pond porn to
WHAT do you do if you are asked to be a godparent to the child of your friends or family? The first thing is to be pleased to be asked. It is a vote of confidence in your loyalty and sanity. Recent research commissioned for the Church of England
YESTERDAY Christians celebrated Palm Sunday. It’s always a picturesque event — many churches have processions where people wave palms and sing. But what’s it all about? And what might it mean today? Palm Sunday commemorates the day when Jesus Christ
PARKING spaces have been created on Oxford’s Wood Farm estate in the latest bid to improve the area. Oxford City Council built the 16 spaces at a cost of £135,000 as part of its Great Estates project. The scheme aims to improve communal areas
GARY Waddock hailed an outstanding display from Oxford United as they bounced back into the play-off places with a 2-0 win at Plymouth Argyle. It was a richly-deserved result for a side which had triumphed just once in their previous ten games.
A THIRD man charged in connection with the fatal stabbing of Connor Tremble, right, in February will appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court today. Bradley Jones, 21, of New Road, Bledington, near Chipping Norton, was charged with perverting the course
MORE than 5,600 homes have been sitting empty in Oxfordshire – more than enough to clear the city’s housing waiting list in one fell swoop. The Oxford Mail has obtained figures revealing there were 5,616 empty homes across the county in March –
A BOY who was out cycling with friends along the A420 near Southmoor has died. It is understood the 12-year-old, who is believed to be a pupil at Matthew Arnold School, was riding along the dual carriageway at about 4.30pm on Saturday when he was
MEET the Dangerous Brothers, better know as father and son David and Sam Scott who, along with 20 other brave souls jumped into Queenford Lakes, Berinsfield, yesterday morning to raise money for homeless charity Crisis. Some wore revealing mankinis
IF local authorities in Oxfordshire have a guilty secret it is the number of homes that are left empty for long periods without being put to good use. Now the extent of the problem has emerged, with more than 5,600 empty homes in the county, including
PENSIONER Bail Pratley is still missing this morning. The 74-year-old was last seen leaving his home in Milton-under-Wychwood pm Saturday morning to go to a garden centre sale. He was reported missing by his wife and police are appealing for
JOHN Sheridan slammed Plymouth Argyle’s performance as he acknowledged Oxford United deserved maximum points. The Pilgrims started the game just one point behind the U’s, but they now face an uphill struggle to make the play-offs after limply slipping
THE under-threat Radley Walk has been saved by three volunteers – including the grand-daughter of one the men who started the Good Friday event half-a-century ago. The 12.5-mile walk from the village to Oxford and back again had been held every
THE decision to close Temple Cowley Pools will be discussed today. Campaigners have submitted a petition to Oxford City Council asking it to work with them to keep the facilites in Temple Road open. Under the council’s constitution, petitions
SAHARA Osborne-Ricketts believes few other teams will approach the season with as much confidence as Oxford United when their FA Women’s Super League campaign gets under way tonight. The U’s entertain London Bees at Abingdon United’s Northcourt
10:43am Don't miss today's Oxford Mail for these and many more top stories Vacant properties outnumber those on waiting list as 5,600 homes lie empty in the county Dangerous Brothers and the other brave
KINGSTONE PRESS CHAMPIONSHIP ONE York Knights 16, Oxford RL 24. SOUTHERN CONFERENCE Sheffield Hallam 80, Oxford Cavaliers 18.
OXFORDSHIRE WOMEN’S CUP Final: Oxford City 0, Mansfield Rd 3. OXFORD MAIL GIRLS LEAGUE Under 13 League Cup: Kidlington 0, Banbury Utd 1. Under 15 Blue League: Kingham All Blacks v Stonesfield Strikers pp. Under 16/17 League: Chinnor
Tom Melledew hit a hat-trick as Wantage Town took advantage of Ardley United not having a game by thrashing hosts Holyport 6-0 to go top of the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division by two points. Richie Claydon triggered the goal spree, flicking
Oxford City boss Mike Ford felt his side’s gruelling run of games has left them physically and mentally exhausted as they went down to a heavy 6-0 defeat at Gainsborough Trinity in Skrill North on Saturday, writes MATTHEW BRUCE. That was City’s
London Welsh came on strong to record a comfortable 45-7 victory over Jersey at the Kassam Stadium. Already sure of a play-off place, the Exiles ran in six tries as they maintained their push for top spot with a bonus-point win featuring two tries
Vale of White Horse District Council’s scrutiny committee will meet on Thursday at The Beacon, formerly Wantage Civic Hall, from 7pm.to consider areport on how the controversial Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) was created. The SHMA,
Radiohead guitarist Colin Greenwood has announced he will join a charity triathlon at Blenheim Palace in aid of leukaemia charity Scarlett’s Dragons. The guitarist, who lives in Oxford, tweeted : “In a moment of madness I've agreed to enter a triathlon
HE is best known for his work on comedy shows The Vicar of Dibley and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, but scriptwriter Paul Mayhew-Archer is tackling a new topic. Three years ago, Mr Mayhew-Archer was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease
ENGLISH NATIONAL LEAGUE South Div 2: Basingtoke Buffalo 3, Oxford City Stars 9 (Oxford are champions).
CRITCHLEYS UTV LEAGUE Ridgeway Cup: Woodstock Wands 0, Northway Res 3. Premier Div: AFC Jericho 4, Cowley Marsh Eagles 1. Div 1: Iffley Harriers 5, Sporting Head 2. Div 2: Black Swan 7, North Oxford Con Club 0; Checkendon Exiles 4,
Openers Damian Shirazi and Lloyd Sabin shared a century partnership to set Oxfordshire up for a two-wicket win over Bedfordshire in their warm-up match at Aston Rowant yesterday. Chasing Bedfordshire’s 265-9 off 50 overs after winning the toss
Justin Burnell was a far happier man at full-time than at the interval of London Welsh’s victory over Jersey. The Exiles’ head coach was frustrated with how his side were contained early on, but in the end was able to reflect on a job well done
Former district councillor for Chipping Norton, Patrick McHugh has died aged 72. It is understood he was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, from his Chipping Norton home last Sunday, April 6. His funeral will be tomorrow from 2.15pm
WATER voles are undermining plans for a new housing estate in a West Oxfordshire village. Developer West Waddy wants to build 38 homes on a farmer’s field outside Aston near Bampton. But villagers, 90 of whom have signed an online petition
SCRIPTWRITER Paul Mayhew-Archer has a wonderful sense of humour as fans of The Vicar of Dibley know only too well. But now he is having to grin and bear it after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Not surprisingly, Mr Mayhew-Archer is
CALLUM O’Dowda was thrilled to take his opportunity with both hands as a disappointing week for the teenager ended on a high. The 18-year-old was among the Oxford United side which lost on penalties to Hellenic League side Kidlington in the Oxfordshire
SAY HELLO to the new Miss Oxfordshire. Amelia Watt was crowned at Witney Lakes on Friday night for a second time after a year-long break. The 24-year-old who lives in James Street, East Oxford, said: “I was completely overwhelmed. I struggled to
RESIDENTS blighted by anti-social behaviour in Oxford have been handed a new tool to help fix the problem. The Community Trigger scheme, launched in the city earlier this month, means an independent panel will consider cases if no action is taken
GREENE KING IPA CHAMPIONSHIP London Welsh 45, Jersey 7. SSE ENGLISH CLUBS CHAMPIONSHIP National 1: Henley 22, Loughborough Students 11. National 2 South: Bournemouth 56, Chinnor 19. South West 1 East: Oxford Harlequins 64, Newbury
OXFORD MAIL YOUTH LEAGUE Under 12 Spring B League: Grove Chall 0, Abingdon Utd 3. Under 13 A League: Horspath v Didcot Tn pp. Under 14 A League: Purley Jubilee 1, Banbury Utd 2; Crowmarsh v Eversley & California pp. B League: Kidlington
UHLSPORT HELLENIC LEAGUE Premier Div: Abingdon Utd 1, Highmoor Ibis 3; Ascot Utd 3, Oxford City Nomads 1; Binfield 2, Shrivenham 1; Holyport 0, Wantage Tn 6; Newbury 3, Abingdon Tn 4. Div 1 West: Easington Spts 2, Lydney Tn 2; New College Swindon
Banbury United dropped to fourth from bottom of the Calor League Premier Division after a 2-0 defeat at Hardenhuish Park on Saturday. Already safe from the drop due to their midweek win against Biggleswade Town, Banbury started brightly. And
Morgan Williams and Mark Bell scored doubles as North Leigh boosted their Calor League Division 1 South & West play-off hopes with a thumping 7-0 victory at the basement boys. The result saw Mark Gee’s side move within three points of fifth-placed
Didcot Town increased their unbeaten run in Calor League Division 1 South & West to seven matches with a hard-fought 2-0 victory at the Draycott Engineering Loop Meadow Stadium on Saturday. It certainly wasn’t a game for the purists as both
COUNCILLORS will decide today whether to grant planning permission for a 250-home development off Swinbrook Road, in Carterton, despite 11 objections. West Oxfordshire District Council's lowlands area planning sub-committee will meet at the council
A PENSIONER from Milton-under-Wychwood who went out to visit a garden centre did not return home, according to police. Thames Valley Police officers are appealing for the public’s help to trace Basil Pratley, 74. He was reported missing by
Developers hoping to revamp West Way shopping centre in Botley are due to submit extra planning documents next month. A planning application was submitted to Vale of White Horse District Council in December by developers Doric Properties. But
AN annual migration of Minis from Oxford to Birmingham took place at the weekend showcasing 100 vintage city-made cars. The convoy left the Cowley Mini plant at 8.30am on Saturday for the Pride of Longbridge rally in Birmingham, which remembers
COUNTY FRIENDLY Bedfordshire 265-9 (50 ovs, D Blacktopp 105, M Weightman 36no, K Penhale 4-41), Oxfordshire 266-8 (49 ovs, L Sabin 58, D Shirazi 54, C Watling 38no, T Brett 3-42).
SOUTH & WEST COUNTIES YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Oxfordshire Under 18 2, Dorset 2. OXFORDSHIRE INVITATION YOUTH LEAGUE Under 16 A League: Tower Hill 1, North Leigh 3. B League: Deddington 3, Childrey Yth 1. Under 17 A League: Kennington
Gainsborough Trinity 6 (Young 24, Margetts 27, 54, 56, Roberts 53, Toner 81) Oxford City 0 Oxford City’s five-game unbeaten run in Skrill North was brought to an emphatic end as they were crushed at Gainsborough Trinity on Saturday, writes
AN American was subjected to an anti-Semitic rant just because he was taking too long to choose some cheese in a north Oxford shop. Igor Goldkind said he was picking out dairy in the North Parade grocery store when another customer became impatient
RESIDENTS can now enter the Oxford in Bloom competition. The free competition is open to all residents, schools and businesses in Oxford, and there is a special category for under-16s. People can enter their gardens, balconies or planters,
THREE pilots from RAF Brize Norton will run 17 marathons in 17 days for charity. Flight Lieutenants Rob Platt, 37, Tom Mountney, 31, and Graeme Hunt, 38, will run 448 miles in total to mark the number of soldiers who have been killed in Afghanistan
NEW councillors have been elected to replace jailed Wantage member John Morgan. Two by-elections were held to replace Morgan, who was forced to stand down from his Wantage seat for Vale of White Horse District Council and Wantage Town Council.
THEY may not have crossed the finish line with Olympian Mo Farah but each Oxfordshire runner deserved their London Marathon medal. Dozens of challengers from across the county joined around 36,000 competitors to finish the gruelling 26.2 mile run
PEOPLE can get messy and raise funds for a good cause with Oxford’s first Rainbow Run event. Runners are being invited to take on a 3km course at University Parks on Sunday, June 8 for Helen and Douglas House hospice for children and young people
A MENTAL health boss pledged to improve care for people with schizophrenia and psychosis. Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust’s Stuart Bell spoke at the first National Psychosis Summit for NHS leaders on Thursday. He told the London event: “
ASHMOLEAN museum director Professor Christopher Brown will be awarded the Freedom of the City of Oxford to mark his retirement. The Lord Mayor of Oxford will present him with the ceremonial scroll at a ceremony in Oxford Town Hall in July. The
SHAW GIBBS OXFORDSHIRE FOURSOMES LEAGUE Section 1: Frilford Heath 1, The Oxfordshire 2. Section 2: Studley Wood 3, Cotswolds Club 0. Section 3: Buckingham 3, Magnolia Park 0. Section 4: Shrivenham Park 3, Rye Hill 0.
AN OXFORD tattoo artist has given Palm Sunday a whole new meaning. To celebrate the day yesterday, Curly Moore, of Lionel’s Tattoo Studio, Cowley Road, offered three free palm tattoos to clients. So many people put their names forward that
Bus passengers are being reminded that roadworks in the Pegasus Rd area of Blackbird Leys will cause diversions for the Oxford Bus Company City 5 service from today. As a result of the repair work in different streets there will be different diversions
A long-running court battle over ownership of a £1m house in North Oxford is scheduled to return to Bicester Magistrates’ Court today. Nigerian Abbey Folami, 46, says he is the rightful owner of 17 Warnborough Road, after he bought it for £108,000
