Archive

  • Alkaline Trio: O2 Academy Oxford, Tuesday April 15

    IT'S always good to see a band sweat within three songs. You know, that sheen on a bald head or what was an elegantly swept fringe on the first chord now a rather straggly triangle in the middle of the forehead. It rather demonstrates the band

  • Two-car collision at Pear Tree interchange

    POLICE officers have been called to the A34 this evening following a crash near the Pear Tree interchange. Thames Valley Police were called to the northbound carriageway following a two-car collision at around 5.30pm. There are no reports of

  • There's plenty to debate as districts go to the polls

    NEXT month thousands of people across Oxfordshire will be able to have their say on how their councils are run. Three of the county’s five district councils will be holding elections on May 22. This will give people an opportunity to elect

  • FOOTBALL: Oxon Senior Cup date revealed

    The all-Uhlsport Hellenic League Oxfordshire Senior Cup final between Ardley United and Kidlington will be staged at the Kassam Stadium on Thursday, May 1 (7.45pm)

  • My old club crack it after 130-year wait

    Last Sunday, the players and staff of my former Scottish Premier League club St Johnstone cemented their names in the club’s history. For the first time in their 130 years, they reached the Scottish Cup final, with a 2-1 win over Aberdeen, which

  • Morrisons signs agreement to open new store

    MORRISONS have finalised plans to open a store in Wallingford, quashing fears it may pull out because of council demands. The firm has signed a council section 106 agreement – which it had said was “challenging” – covering cash contributions to

  • New sculpture an a-peeling addition for town shoppers

    SHOPPERS gave the nod of approval to a £85,000 sculpture unveiled in Didcot town centre. The Swirl was lifted in by crane at the top of the Orchard Centre steps on Sunday night. Residents and shoppers said six-metre stainless steel sculpture

  • Jobless figure tumbles again

    The number of people signing on the dole in the county has fallen to just one per cent of the working population for the first time in more than five years. Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show 4,361 claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance

  • Smoke alarm alerts mother

    A MOTHER and baby were able to safely leave their home thanks to their smoke alarm. Firefighters were called to Courtington Lane in Bloxham today at 12.54pm after a small fire started when a plastic tray was accidently placed on top of a hot cooker

  • Trio of pilots take off on gruelling marathon effort

    FOR three RAF flight lieutenants running the equivalent of 17 marathons in 17 days, each one of the 448 miles they run will be poignant reminder of loss. For each mile marks each soldier killed in Afghanistan since British forces were deployed

  • Tractor attachments blended in with road

    TWICE yesterday while on country roads, we passed (very carefully) tractors. Obvious enough but attached to the back of these huge workhorses was machinery (possibly mowers) that protruded at least a couple of feet beyond the width of the tractors’

  • Oxford United chief happy to talk, but not sell

    PROSPECTIVE investors are always welcome at Oxford United, but the club is not up for sale. Ian Lenagan receives regular approaches from people claiming to be interested. But while the U’s chairman is willing to hold discussions, he is aware

  • It's little wonder he's a real Town and Gown superhero

    HE may feel too old to pound the streets with other runners but “Wonder Woman” Phil Grant will be cheering on thousands at a city 10k next month. The 50-year-old has always been a regular feature of the Town and Gown event – supported by the Oxford

  • Team worked their magic on our garden

    Team worked their magic on our garden MAY I, through your paper, say a huge thank you for the sterling voluntary work Topiarus Horticulture did at Henry Cornish Care Centre in Chipping Norton. Topiarus Horticulture generously offered their time

  • They got us into this mess in the first place

    MY giddy aunt. John Tanner is regurgitating his socialist nonsense again (April 10). I thought he was going to retire to his allotment 10 years ago to grow codswallop. His comment about David Cameron states: “His Coalition Government has promised

  • Problem of affordable housing will still remain

    I WOULD like to reassure Mr Bruce Ross-Smith (April 11) that neither I personally, nor CPRE as a whole, lack compassion for those struggling in poor housing conditions. If it were genuinely true that only building over the Green Belt would solve

  • Oxford United owner plays down £1.1m deficit

    IAN Lenagan says accounts which reveal Oxford United lost more than £1.1million were disappointing but not surprising. The period covers the 12 months up to the end of June 2013 and a figure of £1,132,990 represents the second successive year the

  • Please provide the service you sign up to do...

    Transport is often an easy topic for a disability column, and trust me I could go on for way longer than 500 words about the transport woes in my life, so today I’ll focus on one night in the life of Niall. It was this Saturday night just gone.

  • Missing man last seen in Littlemore on Saturday

    A 49-YEAR-OLD man, who was last seen in the Littlemore area, has been missing since Saturday. Police are appealing for information about David Morgans, who was last seen on Saturday April 12 at 3pm. They have released a picture of the 6ft 2in

  • Waddock's appointment gives chairman a boost

    GARY Waddock’s appointment at Oxford United has given chairman Ian Lenagan renewed optimism for the future after a testing time spent searching for Chris Wilder’s replacement. The U’s owner came under more scrutiny than at any other time during

  • Those behind Passion play deserved so much better

    PREVENTING the Passion play planned for the Cowley Road is exceptionally short-sighted and does little to erase an image of clipboard-holding council killjoys. Actors marching up Cowley Road portraying those last harrowing moments of Jesus’ life

  • Bid to find UK buyer for Iron Age mirror

    AN Iron Age mirror unearthed near Didcot could be taken out of the country unless £33,000 is found to buy it. The item, pictured right, was discovered near the town by a metal detector enthusiast and has been sold to an anonymous overseas buyer

  • Level crossing failure at London Road in Bicester

    DRIVERS are being warned to be careful at a level crossing in Bicester which is broken this morning. Traffic lights at the London Road level crossing between Priory Road and Mallards Way are reported to be stuck on red, but the barriers are still

  • FOOTBALL: Costar saves the day as Sharks hit back for point

    LIAM Costar scored a late equaliser as Headington Sharks fought back from 2-0 behind to draw 2-2 with Faringdon in the Oxford Mail Youth League Under 14 Spring League. The visitors went ahead through Ronnie Platt and doubled their advantage when

  • Delays on A420 due to broken-down lorry

    A BROKEN-down lorry on the A420 near Botley has closed one of two lanes Eastbound. Traffic is building up between the B4044 and the A34 Botley Interchange behind the incident.

  • Wednesday, April 16

    11:52am Don't miss today's Oxford Mail for all these and many more top stories... Crucifixion? You'll need a permit for that Passion play! May Queen crown passes from mum to daughter Documents

  • Vehicle fire on the M40 between Thame and Watlington

    A VEHICLE caught fire on the M40 in Oxfordshire earlier this morning. The blaze happened northbound between Junction 6 at Watlington and Junction 7 at Thame. Motorway traffic cameras are showing there are no long delays.  Updates will

  • Pals play football in memory of young crash victim Matty

    YOUNGSTERS will gather tomorrow to play a football match in memory of their friend Mateusz Kucinski. The 12-year-old cyclist died after he was involved in a collision with a car on the A420 near Southmoor on Saturday afternoon. Friends are

  • Spanish queen to visit

    Queen Sofia of Spain will visit Oxford later this month. She will meet members of Oxford University’s Spanish sub-faculty and will visit Exeter College in Turl Street on Tuesday, April 29. Queen Sofia, pictured, is daughter of the penultimate

  • Care home nurse is cautioned for threat

    A care home nurse has been cautioned after threatening to cut the daughter of a quadriplegic patient “into little pieces”. Greta Muvuti, who worked at Merryfield House Nursing Home, in New Yatt Road, Witney, had denied making the threats during

  • May Queen crown passes from mum to daughter

    THIRTY years ago, Elinor Everest proudly paraded through Eynsham as her primary school’s May Queen. In just over two weeks time, her daughter Imogen, 11, will continue the family tradition. Each year, one lucky girl in her final year at Eynsham

  • Plans approved

    A proposed link between Oxfordshire County Council and Hampshire County Council has taken a step forward. Yesterday Oxfordshire’s cabinet approved plans to look into the business case for moving back office education and customer service jobs to

  • Sexiest vegan coup

    Gareth Lloyd from Oxford has been named as the UK and Ireland’s sexiest vegan man. The 27 year-old artist from James Street in East Oxford won the title of sexiest male and will take home a Lake District hotel stay. Results were announced yesterday

  • Baton bearers for Games announced

    Sport heroes from Oxford will carry the Queen’s Baton ahead of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. The city council has selected four people from Oxford to take part in the relay, which arrives in Oxford on Friday, June 6. Ian Warland, 50, Juliet

  • Brothers discover the ‘bear’ necessities at museum

    CHILDREN celebrated their heroes from fiction yesterday at the Story Museum’s new exhibition. Brothers Alexander Laird, eight, and Will, 10, donned a mix of costumes in rooms themed around characters selected by authors such as Children’s Laureate

  • ‘Documents are forged and people don’t exist’

    A BARRISTER acting for the tenants of a £1m-plus North Oxford house has said a Nigerian claiming to be its owner is really a front man for someone else. John Clargo made the claim during an eviction hearing yesterday at Bicester Magistrates’ Court

  • FOOTBALL: West Witney celebrate retaining crown in style

    Newly-crowned Witney & District FA Premier Division champions West Witney celebrated retaining their title with a 5-0 home success against Chadlington, writes Anthony Barlow. Goals from Chris Bowles, Chris Hirons, Ian Sparkes, Stefan Reed and

  • FOOTBALL: Almond and Keeble keep Oakley on title track

    OXFORDSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE OAKLEY boosted their Premier Division title hopes with a 2-0 victory at second-placed Hors-path. The win put Oakley nine points clear of Horspath, with third-placed Mansfield, who have three games in hand, now likely

  • FOOTBALL: Chinnor title hopes ended

    CHINNOR’S slim hopes of retaining their Oxford Mail Girls League title were ended with a 3-2 home defeat to Moretonville in the Under 16/17 League. Despite starting brightly, the hosts found themselves three goals behind early on to a strong counter-attacking

  • Thousands expected as town honours St George

    WALLINGFORD will celebrate St George’s Day in style on Saturday. More than 1,000 people are expected to flock to the town for the seventh annual event. The town centre will host live music, Morris dancing, Punch and Judy, face painting and

  • Oldies but goldies as group from Seventies roll in again

    THE Who sang they hoped they’d die before they get old, but these Oxford rockers think that’s crazy. Blues-rock three-piece Steamroller were the first band to play a famed city venue and returned there at the weekend to celebrate its 40th birthday

  • Car tyres slashed

    Car tyres have been punctured and let down in a spate of incidents in Charlbury. Police have said three vehicles had tyres slashed in Market Street in the early hours of last Thursday. Cars were also targeted in Jeffs Terrace and Nine Acres

  • FOOTBALL: Nicholls hat-trick leaves Dorchester in title limbo

    Leaders Dorchester completed their North Berks League Division 1 campaign with a 3-2 victory at Long Wittenham Athletic – and must now wait to see if they are champions. Callum Bowler and Lewis Monaghan netted for Wittenham, but Josh Nicholls hit

  • Ride back on track

    An Oxford couple who had their bicycles stolen will set off today on a charity ride after buying new machines. Daniel Smith and Carly Heywood, from East Oxford, will set off from Buckingham Palace for the 250-mile ride to Notre Dame in Paris.

  • £59m road projects included in budget

    Oxfordshire County Council agreed yesterday to include £59m of transport improvements around the county in its capital programme. The schemes are part of the City Deal which was signed by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in February. It was

  • Woman hurt after car smashes into store

    A car crashed through the glass front of a Co-op store yesterday, leaving a woman injured. Bassett Avenue, Bicester, was closed both ways after the accident at the shop there, which happened at about 11.45am. The woman in the Co-op was taken

  • DJ ‘knew I was only 15 before sex encounter’

    A TEENAGE girl has told a jury the 40-year-old woman she allegedly had sex with knew she was just 15 before the encounter took place. The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was giving evidence at Oxford Crown Court yesterday, in the trial

  • FOOTBALL: Hero Herman doubles up as Northway lift cup

    NORTHWAY Res overcame Division 2 rivals Woodstock Wanderers 3-0 to claim the Critchleys Upper Thames Valley League's Ridgeway Cup at Abingdon Town’s Culham Road, writes TIM SIRET. Both clubs are locked together in a promotion fight in the league

  • FOOTBALL: Five-star Sweeney is Charlton's hero

    OXFORDSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE DAN Sweeney fired a five-timer as Charlton battled back to win 5-1 at Division 1’s new basement boys Northway. Kyle Pullen put Northway ahead, but Sweeney then took centre stage. North Oxford climbed off the bottom

  • Consultants get another £150k from NHS group

    MANAGEMENT consultants will get an extra £150,000 from taxpayers after a contract was extended to help the NHS find savings. Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (OCCG) signed a £344,560 deal with Deloitte for November to January that will

  • Policy is an affront to free democracy

    THE draft media policy proposed by Witney Town Council that would ban councillors from speaking out without written permission should concern everyone who values democracy. You may consider a town council pretty small beer but the principle is

  • Town councillors may face ‘outrageous’ gagging order

    COUNCILLORS who were democractically elected in Witney could be banned from speaking to the press without getting written permission first under the town council’s new media policy. Witney Town Council, criticised over banning the press from parts

  • Traders licking their lips over new restaurant

    TRADERS say a new 220-seat restaurant in Wantage Market Place would be a boost for town business. The Wildwood restaurant chain has applied for planning permission to open in the Shoe Zone shoe shop and the former Blockbuster Video store, which

  • Foodbank gets help to give families a happy Easter

    FAMILIES in Bicester facing tough financial times will get an Easter treat thanks to local firms. For the second year running recruitment firm Plus One Personnel asked businesses to donate chocolate eggs for Bicester Foodbank. Last week 60

  • FOOTBALL: Upsets earn Wallingford and Westminster the glory

    Underdogs Wallingford Town Res came from behind to beat Faringdon Town A 2-1 in the North Berks League Cup final. Chris Wills put Division 4 side Faringdon ahead from the penalty spot, but goals from Barry Primmer and Charlie Lee won the Cup for

  • FOOTBALL: Evangelinos clinches it for Banbury

    A SPLENDED 67th-minute goal from Nick Evangelinos earned Banbury all three Calor League Premier Division points with a 1-0 victory from their trip to Weymouth last night. Anderson Pintio had been denied by the woodwork in the 20th minute as Banbury

  • Welsh welcome new first aid match unit at Kassam

    ONE of the teams based at the Kassam Stadium has welcomed news that a new first aid unit will be based there on match days. St John Ambulance is to set up the unit dedicated to providing first aid at the Grenoble Road stadium during sporting events

  • FOOTBALL: Moss seals it as Barton avenge loss

    OXFORD CITY FA BARTON United gained revenge on Masons Arms with a 3-0 win at Quarry Recreaction Ground. Jamie McCuaig, Shane Roche and Leighton Moss scored for Barton, who lost to Masons earlier in the season. Kevin Cox and Robert McMahon