Police have again appealed for information about a missing man not seen for more than six weeks now. Malcolm Jones, 54, was last seen at his Bramble Bank house on March 12 when he was seen wearing brown walking boots, a blue rain coat, and carrying
THESE women must have turned a few heads as they set off on a five-mile journey around Wantage, Grove and Challow. Doreen Nicholl, dressed as Bo Peep, was pushed in a wheelchair by Lesley Davies, Ann Alder and Mary Willis in 1982. They were
MOST people would have run a mile when faced with such a gruesome creature, but teenager Sarah Mortimer took it all in her stride. The furry rodent and his friends from outer space had a passion for gobbling up human beings in a monster movie called
THEY’RE used to having wars of words in the council chamber, but fisticuffs? Surely not? But that’s exactly what happened when two councillors fell out over who should be nominated as the next mayor of Oxford. The historic council chamber at
SCOUTS step out at this time of year in their best uniforms to celebrate England’s patron saint. St George’s Day parades have become a familiar sight in Oxford and many other towns and cities over the years. This picture was taken in St Giles
THE number of allotments across Oxfordshire is growing fast with more people deciding to choose the good life by growing their own. With high-profile chefs like Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall making gardening popular, and a national
The serious business for the Winter Quiz League season concluded last Thursday night with the joint running of the Trophy and the Supplementary Cups. The former is designed for the Premier Section clubs together with all the divisional winners
PWDLFAPts York1394012231 Rochdale15843201128 Bury17683271626 Scunthorpe14671211225 Northampton15663161424 Fleetwood15663171624 Chesterfield14653181123 Southend15573171122 Mansfield14644161522 Portsmouth14644182022 Accrington16565171321 Burton15564131221
ONE lane of the A43 is currently closed after a vehicle shed its load of scaffolding. The incident has happened at the southern roundabout of the road’s junction with the M40. Recovery work is currently taking place.
Sir — 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’,
Sir – Forty thousand people commuting into central Oxford each day surely show that the ‘Greater Oxford’ of your headline (April 10) is not just inevitable, but has already been in place for some time. The rural idyll of horse-based transport is
Sir – I read with interest your leading article and letters column recording the likelihood of massive development in Oxfordshire up to 2031 (April 10) and a certain euphoria surrounding the news. We should all be careful what we wish for. 106,000
Sir – The April 10 edition of The Oxford Times raises fundamental issues concerning the future of Oxford and Oxfordshire. The front page reports the CPRE’s fears that a Greater Oxford is inevitable, the thought-provoking editorial entitled Price
Sir – The photograph showing the tranquil green space between the the two buildings of the Wavy Gate development in East Oxford in your recent article created a pleasant impression of what is by any standards an unimaginative and ugly lump of real
Sir – I was interested in the idiosyncratic logic of your columnist Maggie Hartford when she claims in your Oxfordshire Limited Edition April 2014 supplement that the landowners enclosed the commons because they “wanted its inhabitants weaned off the
Sir – In an important feature on depression and mindfulness (Minded to make a difference, April 10), journalist Matt Oliver writes: ‘So, depression is not just an unfortunate blight on society, it is also an expensive one’. As a noun, the Concise
Sir – I write to you on behalf of The Women’s Farm & Garden Association. Our organisation was founded in 1899 by women concerned about the lack of education and employment opportunities for women working on the land. At the outbreak of
Sir – Brigid Sturdy (Letters, April 17) states incorrectly that the planning application for the solar farm close to Charlbury was rejected two years ago by the local planning authority. A proposal was made two years ago, not by Sustainable
Sir – I would like to correct a factual error in Brigid Sturdy’s letter (April 17), and to reassure her and other readers about the proposed Southill Solar Park. Brigid Sturdy said “This is not a new proposal; it was rejected two years ago ...
Sir – Forty-five years ago, I and others campaigned against “beauty contests” because of their exclusive focus on women’s bodies, especially their breasts. Clearly we made little impression: ironically, a competitor has now been excluded from the
Sir – Oxford City Council has been scourged and crucified for apparently not realising that the Cowley Road Passion Play is a religious event (Report, April 17). This is unfair. Many of my non-Christian friends, and a few of my Christian ones haven
Sir – My father was a coalface miner aged 20 when the First World War started in 1914. Like so many of his former soldier colleagues, he wished to serve King and country from home and abroad in the trenches. He gained gallantry and campaign medals
Sir – The far-sighted traditional preamble to the Constitution of the UK Liberal Party (not the Liberal Democrats) calls for “Liberty, Property and Security” for all. The Inheritance Tax exemption should not be increased to £1m. The ownership of
Sir – Your letter from J Pearse (April 17) misses the information on why the strip patching has taken place on the A361. Every year in Oxfordshire we do a planned surface-dressing, often called “chip and tar” to both give an improved wearing
A FUMING Gary Waddock slammed Oxford United’s “losing culture” as their faint play-off hopes evaporated amid a tame surrender to Accrington Stanley. Although results elsewhere meant even a victory would not have been enough, the 2-1 defeat only
Wantage Town can clinch the Uhlsport Hellenic League tonight after their match away to Abingdon Town was given the go-ahead. There had been concerns that the Culham Road pitch would be unplayable after recent heavy rain, but Abingdon contacted
A MAN has been rescued from the River Thames in Abingdon this morning and detained under the Mental Health Act. Thames Valley Police were called to Abingdon Bridge at about 9am after concerns were raised about the 20-year-old’s welfare. Spokeswoman
OXFORD United's hopes of reaching the play-offs were snuffed out by a 2-1 defeat at home to Accrington Stanley on Saturday. Ryan Williams pulled a goal back after the visitors had gone ahead through Kayode Odejayi and James Gray, but it could not
RE: the letter from A Green, Banbury Road, Oxford: take off your rose-coloured glasses. Gordon Brown sold off the gold to finally pay off our war loan to the USA. A Green does not mention Cameron’s brilliant sale of the Royal Mail – cost to taxpayers
I WOULD like to thank the Electrical Services Street Lighting team from the county council offices in Speedwell Street for their fabulous efforts in getting the street lights working again in Harlow Lane outside St Nicholas’ School, Old Marston.
TODAY marks the start of Multiple Sclerosis Week and, as the local branch of the MS Society, we wanted to highlight both this condition and the difficulties many people have in accessing the treatments they need. There are 100,000 people with MS
A JUDGE has jailed four building contractors for “mindless, drunken fighting” in Oxford city centre. Jack Lawrenson, Martyn Twist, Neil McManus and Rory Owens all admitted affray and assault in Gloucester Green on April 26 last year. Nigel
People convicted of offences at magistrates' courts in Oxfordshire recently: Daniel Foulks, 28, of Whitecross, near Abingdon, was convicted of driving at a speed in excess of the 30mph speed limit in Mabley Way, Wantage, on October 10. Fined
THE politician’s answer to solutions to the UK debt problem: Cut foreign aid – answer? Too complicated. Bring back rent controls, saving £20bn per year in housing benefit – answer? Too complicated. Enforce the empty homes law, thus housing
REGARDING public transport in our cities and towns (ie buses), the answer is not trams, as has been suggested on and of for some years on your letters pages. No, we must go back to the past, trolleybuses. Yes, more or less silent, no fumes and
Recent reports of Witney Town Council banning the media from attending meetings and trying to gag councillors from speaking to them makes it sound more like a freemasons’ meeting. Have these people forgotten who elected them and whose interests
11:32am Pweep! That's the final whistle for today. Some very interesting points raised, as always, so many thanks for all your contributions. — @OxfordMailOUFC 28 April 2014
TRAFFIC on the A34 near East Ilsley has been slowed after an accident blocked one lane on the northbound carriageway. The incident occurred between High Street, East Ilsley, and the A4185. Further details are not yet known. Thames Valley Police
A selection of pictures showing how Upton changed through the years. In the first picture, circuit steward Frank Morse opened the new Methodist Church in 1957. About 150 people attended the ceremony, including local church leaders. A dedication
UNION leaders held a conference in Oxford to discuss problems in the motor industry. Thousands of car workers were on short time when the Transport and General Workers’ Union called the meeting in 1960. The delegates included some well-known
PAUL Burgess and his friends used their initiative – and a little criminality – to enjoy films at Oxford cinemas. He recalls: “We had a wooden cart and when we were short of money, we would go around the houses collecting old newspapers, rags and
Here’s how it goes. One week away, totally clear of email, texts and mobiles...so what do I choose to entertain and comfort myself? Well, the Famous Five (and I read four of them last week, one after another, so I know what I’m talking about).
A pensioner has lost her purse with all her benefit money in it. She has no recourse to funds to pay her bills.’ ‘A man and his partner have been sanctioned from benefits for four weeks. No job, no home. Staying with relations or in a tent.’
WE the people have been invited to discuss, by heavyweight politicians and celebs, whether we are a ‘Christian Country’. David Cameron, Jack Straw, 50 atheists and TV sofa experts have joined the scrum, for and against. The atheists say that
CUSTOMERS are turning into decorators as a Blackbird Leys pub gets a fresh lick of paint from volunteers. The Blackbird, in Blackbird Leys Road, is having its exterior renovated with the wood being repaired and repainted. Six volunteers, all
A 39-YEAR-OLD man has been charged after a man was taken to hospital following a pub fight. David Hopkins, of Milton-under-Wychwood, is due to appear at Banbury Magistrates’ Court this morning charged with grievous bodily harm with intent following
SPEED cameras are catching over 50 per cent more drivers in Oxfordshire than they did five years ago, with one bringing in £1,173 every day in potential fines. Today the Oxford Mail can reveal which cameras catch the most motorists and how many
IT’S astonishing to think that speed cameras across Oxfordshire have generated a potential £13m in fines over the past five years. But even though the devices have been around in the Thames Valley since 1992, some drivers still haven’t caught on
Information based on data released by Thames Valley Police under the Freedom of Information Act. Some locations are estimates because the information supplied did not include an identifiable specific site. Click on each camera icon to see
5:37pm Police have this afternoon renewed their appeal to help find missing Witney man Malcolm Jones 3:34pm One lane of the A43 at Ardley is closed after
A COLLAPSED manhole at the Cutteslowe Roundabout is causing traffic delays. Emergency repairs have closed one lane on the westbound carriageway of the Elsfield Way A40. Queueing is reported to be back down the Northern Bypass.
RYAN Williams says there are no regrets over comments he made saying Oxford United could not miss out on the Sky Bet League Two play-offs. The Australian winger was interviewed at the end of February, when the U’s sat fourth in the table and with
PLATFORM One at Oxford railway station was more crowded than ever as 420 Oxfordshire Brownies gathered to catch a private train to London. The girls, aged six to 16, were on their way to join celebrations for their movement’s 100th anniversary
A FOUR-YEAR-OLD girl who was run over in Cowley, was in a serious condition in hospital last night. The girl, who has not yet been named, was on her bike when she was in collision with the red Hyundai on Between Towns Road at 10.50am on Saturday
A YOUTUBE video featuring Muslims in the city dancing along to Pharrell William’s hit single Happy has had 1.5 million views. The video, entitled Happy British Muslims, features three girls dancing along Parks Road. It was directed by a Muslim
FORMER Abingdon School pupil Toby Jones will play Captain Mainwaring in a new film of the BBC comedy Dad’s Army. The actor, from Charlbury, will be directed in the film by Oliver Parker, who also directed him in the two St Trinian’s movies where
SINGERS and musicians taking part in Folk Weekend Oxford did not let the rain dampen their spirits. Morris sides, singers and bands gave spirited performances in venues across the city, including out in the open air at Oxford Castle. This festival
Mike Ford paid tribute to the retiring Steve Basham and Chris Willmott after the pair made their final appearances in Oxford City’s 1-1 draw with Bradford Park Avenue in Skrill North on Saturday, writes MATTHEW BRUCE. The City boss said: “They’
A WOMAN has been taken to Oxford's John Radcliffe hospital after a motorbike collision. Thames Valley Police said they were called to the incident in Church Hill, Tackley, at 7.34am. A spokeswoman said it was not clear if any other vehicles
OXFORD Castle was stormed by an army of folk musicians at the weekend. Morris men, ceilidh dancers, storytellers and a whole plethora of violinists, guitarists and singers swarmed through the city for this year’s Folk Weekend Oxford. The merry
THE closure of a road in central Oxford is likely to cause 10 weeks of traffic disruption, it has been warned. Oxfordshire County Council has agreed to close George Street from Sunday, May 11, while a construction firm carries out work to a building
UNICORNS TROPHY KARL Penhale’s five-wicket haul fired Oxfordshire to a 59-run victory over reigning champions Berkshire in their Group 4 opener at Bicester & North Oxford CC. The Aston Rowant seamer’s spell of 5-22 from 6.3 overs proved
Wantage Town will be crowned Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division champions and secure promotion to the Calor League if they win at bottom club Abingdon Town tonight – provided the game goes ahead with waterlogging threatening the fixture.
GREENE KING IPA CHAMPIONSHIP London Welsh 64 (tries Scott 3, Stegmann 2, Tincknell, Vella, Quill, Kirwan, Trevett; cons Ross 6, Davies) Nottingham 12 (tries Walker, Jarvis; con: Jarvis) LONDON Welsh will face Leeds Carnegie in the play-offs
CALOR LEAGUE North Leigh 1 (Bell 73) Paulton Rovers 1 (McCootie 85 pen) NORTH Leigh had Wayne Turk sent off as they were pegged back to a draw by promotion-chasing visitors Paulton Rovers in Division 1 South &
Ardley United kept alive their dreams of a treble with a 2-1 home win over Highworth Town in the Uhlsport Hellenic League's Bluefin Sports Challenge Cup semi-final. Kevin Brock’s side are two points behind leaders Wantage Town with both clubs due
Oxford City 1 (McEachran 18) Bradford Park Avenue 1 (Marshall pen 79) Former Oxford United stars Steve Basham and Chris Willmott ended their careers in frustrating fashion as Oxford City were held to a draw at home to Bradford Park
Rugby League Conference League South: Leicester Storm 44, Oxford Cavaliers 30. Cricket UNICORNS TROPHY Group 4: Oxfordshire 224 (49.2 ovs, C Keegan 58, A Blanchard 36, L Ryan 31, T Nugent 4-43, R Williams 3-41), Berkshire 165 (41.3
UHLSPORT HELLENIC LEAGUE Bluefin Sports Cup semi-final: Ardley Utd 2, Highworth Tn 1. Premier Div: Ascot Utd 1, Wantage Tn 2; Shrivenham 5, Binfield 0; Wootton Bassett Tn 3, Kidlington 4. Div 1 West: Easington Spts 1, Shortwood Utd 5; Old
Firefighters were called to Clinton Cards in Bicester yesterday after a light fitting in the shop’s ceiling caught fire. Firefighters tackled the small fire after being alerted at 3.22pm by a member of staff. No-one was hurt.
More than 35 firefighters were called to a tower block in Wood Farm, Oxford, after an alarm went off. The six fire engines, two special appliances and two ambulances surrounded Foresters Tower shortly after noon on Saturday. The crews sealed
OXFORD MAIL YOUTH LEAGUE Under 10 Spring A League: Bure Park Jun 1, Abingdon Yth Greens 1. B League: Bardwell FC 0, Horspath Yth Lions 0; Cumnor Minors 3, Kidlington Yth 2. C League: Botley Boys 4, Hinksey Park Black 1; Summertown Stars Quarks
JAMES Beattie was thrilled to win at Oxford United and felt, barring some defensive mistakes, his Accrington Stanley side could have won more comfortably. Kayode Odejayi and James Gray were on target for the visitors and although Ryan Williams
Health bosses will this week discuss their strategy for 2014-2019. The Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, responsible for county NHS spending, has proposed reducing accident and emergency activity by 10 per cent over the next five years,
GREENE KING IPA CHAMPIONSHIP London Welsh 64, Nottingham 12. SSE ENGLISH CLUBS CHAMPIONSHIP National 1: Tynedale 14, Henley 14. National 2 South: Chinnor 32, Exmouth 12. Midlands 2 West play-off: Crewe & Nantwich 18, Banbury
OXFORDSHIRE YOUTH INVITATION LEAGUE Under 16 A League: Tower Hill 2, Kidlington 0; North Leigh 2, Milton Utd 0. B League: Hook Norton 2, Horspath Yth 3. C League: Grendon Rgrs 0, Bardwell Yth 14; Florence Park 11, Charlbury Tn 3; Marston Saints
CRITCHLEYS UTV LEAGUE Devenney Cup final: Abba Ath v Forest Hill pp. Alan Alder Cup final: Cowley Marsh Eagles v Freeland Yeoman pp. Div 2: North Oxford Cons Club 5, Woodstock Wands 4; Standlake Garage 4, Abingdon Exiles 5; Sutton Wands
A MAN in his 60s was rescued from a blaze by firefighters who found he did not have a smoke alarm fitted in his home near Wallingford. Firefighters were alerted to a bedroom fire at the house in West End Street, Cholsey, at 10.30pm on Friday.
RAIL bosses have been invited to explain to Wolvercote residents how the area will be affected by the rebuilding of the Oxford to Bicester train line. Both Network Rail and Chiltern Railways as well as Oxford City Council planning officers have
IT MAY look like an old banger to untrained eyes, but this week, at 30 years young, the Austin Montego became a modern classic. The Montego, built at British Leyland in Cowley, now the BMW Mini plant, was launched on April 25, 1984. Yesterday
FORMER Chipping Norton mayor Jan Meek said reaching Mount Everest base camp was a “sobering” experience because of the avalanche which killed 16 people. The 69-year-old returned to England on Tuesday after the 14-day expedition, which she is using
A MAN in his 20s was rushed to hospital after a fight at the Red Lion pub in Witney. The brawl broke out shortly after midnight on Saturday. Police and ambulance crews were called at 12.34am to reports that a man has been seriously assaulted
AN OLYMPIC horserider is to give a masterclass at Oxfordshire’s biggest sporting event. Carl Hester MBE, who rode to a gold medal victory with Britain’s dressage team at the London 2012 Olympics, will give demonstrations with other trainers at
SCOUTS, Cubs and Beavers paraded on a disused runway to celebrate St George’s Day. The groups, from Banbury and Bicester, marched at Heyford Park, Upper Heyford, for the first time yesterday, carrying flags and banging drums in a “festival of Scouting
RESIDENTS turned out in force to have their say on Oxford’s Technicolour tower block designs. More than 250 people gave their views on how the five tower blocks should look. The consultation events have been held as part of Oxford City Council
CALOR LEAGUE Banbury Utd 1 (Talabi 72) Cambridge City 5(Chaffey 7, Dawkin 29, Burns 45, Beech 60 pen, Brighton 83) BANBURY United completed the worst defensive season in their 80-year history by conceding five goals for the third Premier
CALOR LEAGUE Mangotsfield Utd 0 Didcot Tn 2 (Dutton-Black 79, Woodley 88) DIDCOT Town finished the season in 12th place after an excellent 2-0 win at Mangotsfield in Division 1 South & West. Second-half goals from Josh Dutton-Black
RYAN Clarke has been named as Oxford United’s player of the season by both the club’s supporters and his fellow players. The goalkeeper, who has not missed a minute of competitive football in this campaign, collected the awards before kick-off
BMW Minis hold their value better than any other brand of car, new research has revealed. The car, made in Cowley, came top out of 34 manufacturers surveyed by industry guide Glass’s, with an annual depreciation of just 16.4 per cent. Andrew
A PARISH council is seeking legal advice over a judicial review after plans for 45 homes were approved on appeal. Earlier this month, planning inspector Ian Radcliffe backed plans by the trustees of the Norman Collission Foundation to demolish
IT WAS a perfect pastoral springtime scene — in the centre of Oxford. Our photographer Neil Braggins caught this family of geese strolling through Oxpens Meadow on Thursday morning. He said: “I don’t know how often a mother goose has a brood
NEARLY £200,000 has been handed over to help fund the construction of a primary school in Bicester’s new eco-town. It comes as lead developer A2Dominion today starts work on access and infrastructure before beginning construction of the first phase
PUBS and clubs have been recruited in the drive to tackle child sex grooming in Oxford. Police in the city have started to train bar staff to spot the signs of vulnerable girls being sexually exploited. The first training session – held on
A FIVE-YEAR-OLD boy is to have the honour of firing the starting pistol for thousands of runners in Oxford next month. Harry Barnley, who has muscular dystrophy, will be joined by big brother Jack, seven, to start next month’s Town and Gown 10k
