SPORTING icon Sir Roger Bannister has revealed he has Parkinson’s Disease, just days before the 60th anniversary of his breaking of the four-minute mile barrier. The 85-year-old was today reluctant to dwell on the subject, preferring to concentrate
Ardley United lifted the Oxfordshire Senior Cup for the first time with a comfortable 4-0 win against Kidlington at the Kassam Stadium. Goals from Jon Gardner, Callum Convey, Troy Bryan and Steve Howkins sealed victory for Kevin Brock’s side.
A COMPANY developing the next generation of batteries has taken a major step forward after opening a full-scale production plant. Nexeon, is set to start manufacturing 20 tonnes of batteries a year at its state-of-the-art plant at Milton Park,
VALERIE Busby was overwhelmed by the gratitude of South Koreans when she finally got to pay her family’s respects at the grave of her uncle who died during the Korean War. Mrs Busby, from Bicester, journeyed to Asia to visit her uncle Herbert Clifton
TOE-TAPPING residents are putting their dancing feet to the test in a “Strictly” dance off. They will be swapping their day-to-day suits and shimmying out of their comfort zones for a weekend of ballroom dancing. Professional dancers will join
DEVELOPERS have been asking for views on their plan to build a new solar farm in Banbury. Kronos Solar, a developer of large-scale solar PV farms on green and brownfield sites, have contacted Cherwell District Council to ask what it thinks about
THE INDUSTRIAL heritage of a busy canal was celebrated as a new museum opened its doors. Wantage Silver Band played more than 40 guests into the Sack House Museum, in the Wharf, Mill Street, Wantage. Mayor of Wantage Fiona Roper said: “It was
IT is with some pride that today we offer our readers the opportunity to get poppies free to plant and commemorate those who died in WWI. The 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the Great War falls this summer and across the country there will
THE deaths of Ian Taylor and Gabriel Stocks should surely hit home to people who ignored the closures of flooded paths and roads during the winter. The loss of both men is a tragedy and we do not wish to be misinterpreted as criticising either
MORE than 100,000 people in the UK have Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – 1,950 in Oxfordshire alone. Usually diagnosed when people are in their 20s and 30s, it is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system, which disrupts the flow of information
THE red poppy has long since been the symbol of remembrance of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Every November people wear their poppy with pride in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday. But this year it is even more poignant, being
A CYCLIST has been taken to hospital with head injuries following an incident in Cowley this afternoon. Police were called to Oxford Road at about 3.45pm to a reports of a possible collision and closed off the road. Thames Valley Police spokeswoman
A TEACHER of more than 30 years, who was also a passionate choral singer, has died aged 64. Martin Peters was headmaster of Benson Primary School between 1985 and 2004. He also sang tenor in the Christ Church Cathedral Singers, of which he
A WOMAN who devoted her career to working on humanitarian projects around the world has died aged 52. Josie Buxton was an entomologist, a zoologist specialising in insects, who took a leading role for Oxford charity Oxfam, taking innovative approaches
DISGRACED Tory councillor John Morgan will only have to pay back £5 of more than £154,000 he stole from an elderly Alzheimer's sufferer. At a confiscation hearing today at Oxford Crown Court a barrister for the Crown Prosecution Service said because
AN Oxford University student committed suicide using poisonous gas, an inquest has ruled this afternoon. Andrew Kirkman, 20, a second year at Balliol College, was found dead in a tent in Port Meadow on December 8, three days after his birthday.
TRAFFIC is slow in Thame after a crash involving three cars on a roundabout in Thame. An orange Fiat, blue Rover and black BMW were involved in the collision at the junction between the A418 Thame Road, A329 Rycote Lane and Oxford Road, near Lord
Peter Taylor, 53, of Corn Street, Witney, admitted possession of cannabis, a Class B drug, in Langdale Gate, Witney, on December 14. Fined £100, and told to pay a £20 victims’ surcharge and £85 costs. Tony Williams, 33, of Jericho Street, Oxford
A YOUNG plumber has been spared a prison sentence after he was caught dealing cannabis in Oxford. Jordan Gray, of Verbena Way, Greater Leys, Oxford, was arrested on September 25 at around 4pm in Cowley driving a BMW. Charles Ward-Jackson, prosecuting
Cycle couriers were once a familiar sight in Oxford, pedalling between the colleges carrying large sides of beef, fruit and vegetables from the market. The advent of mass catering saw the disappearance of all but one or two cargo bikes, but a revival
WAVES measuring up to a metre high are set to hit a business park near Wallingford. But this has nothing to do with an impending flooding disaster – instead they are being deliberately created at a special new building at the Howbery Business Park
A story about the first men’s colleges at Oxford to become mixed (April 17, ‘Forty years’ co-education’) comes close to suggesting that the presence of women at Oxford before the 1970s was insignificant. While the arrival of women at colleges formerly
That I am able in the article on the left to quote so accurately from Sean O’Casey’s The Silver Tassie owes everything to the fact that I possess a copy of the script. I bought it last week from Blackwell’s in Broad Street, noticing as I did so a ‘
THERE will be plenty of comic capers for the whole family afoot at the Story Museum this weekend. Oxford’s Children’s Comic Festival is to return on Saturday after its successful debut last year. Such was the demand to sign up, tickets for
Sean O’Casey described his wonderful play The Silver Tassie, which I review in Weekend today, as a ‘tragi-comedy’. Much of the (very welcome) humour is supplied by the antics of a pair of old boys, Sylvester Heegan and Simon Norton, beautifully portrayed
Christopher Gray swoops on The Three Pigeons and its restaurant inside a specialist antique shop There is a risk of serious expenditure on a visit to The Three Pigeons at Milton Common, and I am not talking about what you will pay for the first-class
Helen Peacocke calls in on one of the local working farms producing this king of the vegetables Despite the flood waters which covered both the asparagus field and many of the strawberry plants once again, Charlie Gee of Medley Manor Pick Your
Val Bourne on the seeds to create a hive of activity In 2008 the Trials Field at RHS Wisley literally became a hive of activity because one of the beds contained hardy annuals. It was mobbed by insects intent on seeking out the nectar or pollen
If we want to hear this iconic bird's special song, we must take care of our meadows, stresses the BBOWT's Colin Williams The cuckoo, a much-vaunted herald of summer, is calling loudly across Oxfordshire’s meadows this year. But how many of these
A FUN day in Abingdon to raise money to provide a special bike for a three-year-old girl proved a runaway success. Rose Lamb has cerebral palsy, and parents Vicky and Andrew had been aiming to raise £3,500 for a specially adapted tricycle to allow
VILLAGERS who saved their pub for the community have recruited some top talent to run it. Ian Neale, 32, is a former senior sous chef at top-rated Chelsea restaurant Bibendum, and his 34-year-old partner, Lisa Lyne, previously worked as front of
Damon Smith says new movie Pompeii is built on the shaky foundations of a ramshackle script British director Paul WS Anderson (Resident Evil) embraces the hoary cliches of the disaster movie with this unintentionally amusing swords and sandals
Christopher Gray on the play getting rave reviews coming to the North Wall The North Wall is consolidating its reputation as a supplier of the best in new drama with a five-day run next week of the latest play — already the subject of rave reviews
Angie Johnson sees a shocking, funny and moving production of We Will Be Free Low-tech but hi-impact — that’s Townsend Productions’ show We Will Be Free at the North Wall. Sign-posting that the production would be in the tradition of Mummers’ plays
Angie Johnson witnesses some strong performances in Alan Bennett's hit drama This much-loved play by Alan Bennett is a perfect choice for a student theatre company to perform, particularly an Oxford one. It crossed my mind while watching the preview
Christopher Gray enjoys a brilliant revival of a war classic Sean O’Casey’s heart-breaking First World War drama The Silver Tassie is brilliantly revived under director Howard Davies at the National Theatre in recognition — it could hardly be called
Nicola Lisle talks to pianist Stephen Hough ahead of his recital next week ‘They are all little pieces, but all of them pack a certain punch,” is how Stephen Hough describes the programme he has put together for next week’s recital in Oxford.
Tim Hughes indulges in the spectacular line up at Oxford's Folk Weekend With big musical events it’s the little, unexpected things that often stay with you. And last weekend’s Folk Weekend Oxford was no exception. The line-up was spectacular
Tim Hughes talks to Tigran Hamasyan, a pianist with a haunting, inspiring sound Dreamlike, mesmerising and emotional, Tigran Hamasyan is a one-man musical revolution. Fusing the traditional music of his native Armenia with cool jazz and improvised
Anne James reflects on the work of nine Oxford and Grenoble artists Part of the celebration of 25 years of Oxford and Grenoble’s town twinning is an outstanding exhibition by six artists from Grenoble and three from Oxford. This year’s exhibition
L ast Tuesday I celebrated my three-year annivers-ary at the UPP. Three transformative years that have seen an incredibly rapid deployment of digital equipment to cinemas, our own building restored, and my own life completely turned around! The
Katherine MacAlister moves on from a bad first impression when she talks to Alister McGowan ahead of his star turn in Pygmalion We didn’t get off to the best start, Alistair McGowan and I. I mention how much has changed since we last talked
Flavia Cacace talks about leaving Strictly and marrying former contestant Jimi Mistry Dynamic flute-playing Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson explains why his latest work harks back to a hero of the 1970s Esther Lafferty is excited
Tim Hughes delves into a world of Soho sleaze for a new exhibition by Oxford photographer Marc West Immaculately-turned out, the transvestite pulls on a cigarette, while prostitutes ply their trade, insomniacs sip coffee in an all night cafe, and
* Lots of top foodie goss for you. The Living Room Bar and Restaurant, one of Oxford’s best, high gloss party destinations is closing on Tuesday for good and being replaced by The Slug & Lettuce. So this will be The Living Room’s last weekend.
If there’s one word to sum up this diminutive Botley Road takeaway, it’s ‘ambitious’. It may look like a standard Chinese takeaway, but no... this is a United Nations of Far Eastern cuisine. To a point. The menu boasts dishes from Korea, Japan
Tim Hughes and Ed Nix are curry brothers - on a mission to find Oxfordshire's finest South Asian cuisine. This week they return to an old haunt to find out if it's as good as they remembered Loylu Miah is a cheery soul. With bright eyes and a ready
A PARACHUTE display by the RAF Falcons in Witney today has been cancelled due to poor weather conditions. The display team, based at RAF Brize Norton, was due to begin its 2014 performance season with a jump above The Leys recreation ground.
It seems as though the ink has had no time to dry since I last put pen to paper – but the last few weeks have flown by. We had a really lovely Valentine’s Day with plenty of “Loving Feedings” (to misquote the Righteous Brothers’ lyrics) and very
A 30-YEAR-OLD Oxford man is due in court this morning charged with kidnap and rape. Christian Perera, of Samphire Road in Blackbird Leys, was arrested after a 19-year-old woman was attacked in a country track in Stoney Lane near Watlington on Monday
Atomic Burger's Mystery Chef provides his recipe for this week's Chef's Special CALIFORNIAN HOT BBQ CHICKEN SALAD A fresh and light salad for the summer combining classic Sunshine State flavours and demonstrating the Californian approach to
POLITICIANS these days seem to be getting younger. And with many criticising MPs for being career politicians, perhaps it seems a good idea that they get as much practice in as possible. But Ed Turner, the deputy leader of Oxford City Council
I am writing to ask Oxford United to explain why they have ‘moved the goalposts’ with their ‘rebranding’ of season ticket prices next season – eg South Stand Lower now being spun as ‘club’ level prices. For a team which has provided such woeful
THE tragic death of the popular teacher at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds must raise the question of returning to severe punishment for pupils violating the rules of school education. It seems the perpetrators have no sense of right or
Your recent headline about Frideswide Square will spread alarm and despondency, and not just among those who regularly pass through it on their ways to and from work. Experience shows that congestion here rapidly spreads to the whole region. Why has
CAN England be given the same status as Cornwall? The reason I ask is that whenever I have to complete an official form, and it asks my nationality, English is not there. When I asked if England had ceased to be a country, I was told they only put
A NEW supermarket should be built in Botley Road, despite concerns it could increase Oxford’s “severe” traffic problems, planning officers say. Waitrose is planning a new 24,500 sq ft store, by demolishing the former MFI building. Oxford City
PEOPLE are being invited to have their say on proposals for the future of Temple Cowley Pools. The campaign group hoping to buy the Temple Road facility is holding an exhibition of its plans for the site on Saturday at Templars Square. It hopes
Legal Aid, which is the provision of advice and representation in court to people who cannot afford to hire a lawyer, was established by the Labour Government in 1949 and revered as one of the principal pillars of the Post-War Welfare State. Legal
MOST of us throw bottle tops and wrappers away, but Witney pupils have been turning their school litter into jewellery. Wood Green School pupils Sophie Raven, Samatha Hicks, Jessica Showan and Freya Green started their upcycling business as part
Esther Lafferty is excited by the many and varied artworks - and artists - on show for this year's Oxfordshire Artsweeks event Are you sitting comfortably, coffee in hand, luminous marker pen ready? Because Oxfordshire Artweeks kicks off this
Dynamic flute-playing frontman Ian Anderson explains to Tim Hughes why his latest work harks back to a hero of the 1970s It’s early 1972. The Americans are busy destroying Indochina, Nixon has returned from an historic visit to China and, at home
Flavia Cacace talks to Katherine MacAlister about leaving Strictly and marrying former contestant Jimi Mistry Bubbly, happy, articulate, enthusiastic, Flavia Cacace is a far cry from the monosyllabic girl I interviewed three years ago when she
FOUR STARS What is visible music? At it’s worst it’s the ludicrous man who stood at the side of the stage during a Rambert performance, and waved his arms about to “interpret” the music for those in the audience who were deaf. But if the aim is
TWO men died in treacherous floodwaters that swept across Oxford in January, separate inquests were told yesterday. Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court heard how Gabriel Stocks, 47 from Wheatley, and Ian Taylor, 73, right, from West Oxford, died within
TWO golf club owners who were jailed over the extension of their course are returning to court to battle with Oxfordshire County Council. The Wyatt brothers face having their assets taken away in their dispute with the local authority. Waste
A MAN who hid from police in an airing cupboard has been cleared of possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply. Devon Nelson, of Rose Hill, Oxford, faced four counts of possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply on
Nominations are open until May 19 to join the council of governors for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, in one of its 23, three-year, posts. The governors appoint board members, the chief executive and auditors and review major reports and plans
A thief has stolen a banner made by volunteers to advertise their Canal Heritage Day at the weekend. Project manager for the Oxford Canal Heritage Project Maria Parsons, designed and securely fastened it to Hythe Bridge on Sunday. But it was
There were traffic delays yesterday morning after a series of incidents around the county. Firefighters were called to the M40 after a car caught fire on the northbound carriageway between junctions six and seven at 8.50am. Meanwhile police
Five men have been fined after being convicted of poaching. The men were charged with entering a field off Church Road, Cholsey, in October last year. George Bradford, 25, and Jason Bradford, 42, both of Foster Street, Walsall, Patrick Connors
HE was a familiar sight at hundreds of Oxford United games over the years, known for his distinctive trilby and white coat. And George Bateman’s family and those at the club have paid tribute to the stalwart supporter who has died aged 96.
A 19-YEAR-OLD woman was raped and sexually assaulted on a country track near Watlington. A 30-year-old man was last night in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of rape and sexual assault following the incident in Stoney Lane at about
Wheatley Park School will today become an academy. It means the school will be directly funded by central government and independent of the control of education authority Oxfordshire County Council. Parents were consulted about the change in
Five British service personnel killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan will be repatriated on Tuesday. They have been named as Captain Thomas Clarke, Army Air Corps; Flight Lieutenant Rakesh Chauhan, Royal Air Force; Warrant Officer Class 2
CHILDREN as young as 12 have been given specialist drug and alcohol treatment, figures have revealed. And nine-year-olds have been give support because of their “drug misusing” parents. Information obtained by the Oxford Mail shows that 67
OXFORD Saints ran in three touchdowns to continue their bright start to the season with a 19-6 win at Lincolnshire Bombers. Coming a week after opening the campaign with a 34-6 win on the road against Sandwell Steelers, the second successive win
A SMALL section of St Clement's Street in Oxford has been cordoned off by police after a man was found unconscious. Police spokeswoman Lucy Billen said police were called just after 6.45am after the man was discovered unconscious in the street.
A WOMAN died in hospital after choking on a large prawn, an inquest heard yesterday. Sri Lankan-born Thaiyalnayaki Sivasomasundram, 80, was visiting relatives in High Street, Woodstock, in December last year when she began choking on a large prawn
CHINNOR director of rugby Matt Williams says he can’t wait for the new season to come around. Williams steered Chinnor to safety on the final day of the National 2 South season after they beat Exmouth and London Irish Wild Geese lost at Ampthill
OXFORD City’s men completed a title double in the Oxfordshire Road Relay Championships at Abingdon RFC. But it was Alchester’s veteran ladies who produced arguably the best performance. City provided the first two men’s teams home, with the
New stillness sessions are being run weekly in Oxford city centre, for those needing a moment of stillness in their lives. You may be interested but not too sure what a stillness session entails. Trevor, one of the facilitators of the sessions
The last three matches of the season’s Four Nations Chess League will be played this weekend. If Oxford 1 garner three points from a possible six then the team will have done enough to remain in the 1st division for another year and can consider
DOWNTON Abbey has brought prestige, glamour and tourists to the village of Bampton – and has helped keep paid staff at the village’s library. Production company Carnival – which has told villagers it will return next year for a sixth series – has
For many, the rail bridge on Botley Road represents the ultimate barrier to cycling in Oxford. The cycling group Cyclox believes so and anyone who has passed beneath the bridge on a bicycle may well be inclined to agree. The narrowness and
3:33pm A coroner has ruled that Oxford University student Andrew Kirkman killed himself by using toxic gas 12:42pm Check out our May Morning picture
A WOMAN was taken to hospital last night after a crash on the B4030 at Enstone. A fire service spokeswoman said this morning there was only one vehicle involved and a woman had been freed before firefighters arrived on the scene just after 6pm.
JUST half a point separates the top two in Section 1 of the Johnson Buildbase Oxford League, writes PETE EWINS. Chasers Berinsfield closed the gap with a 5-0 win at home to Masons B. Craig Mace (13,610) and Geoff Mace (9,040) were on song,
BULLDOZERS have finally rolled onto farmland at North West Bicester to start building the UK’s first eco settlement. Work on the Bicester eco town is now under way almost five years after the Government chose Bicester as one of four sites to pioneer
Combat played a crucial part in the canon of Stanley Kubrick and his most potent statement on its brutality and futility is being reissued in cinemas to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War. Now regarded as one of the finest films about
When he puts his mind to it, Lars von Trier is one of the world's finest film-makers. But something happens to his artistic judgement when he sets out to shock rather than provoke. Despite the furore that greeted its release, Nymphomaniac, Volumes
A SCHEME to help the unemployed back into work has been safeguarded by an EU grant of £292,000. Oxford City Council’s welfare support team had its funding cut by the Department for Work and Pensions this year. But now the team, which provides
A consultation on whether the £100m planned revamp of West Way shopping centre in Botley will be given planning permission will remain open. Developer Doric Properties wants to knock down West Way shopping centre, Elms Parade shops and Field House
SOMETHING wicked this way comes to one of Oxford’s colleges this summer. Creation Theatre, Oxford’s largest theatre production company, has announced its staging of Macbeth in the gardens of Lady Margaret Hall. Chief executive Lucy Askew said
A CYCLIST studying at Oxford University hit a researcher over the head with a bike lock during a violent argument, a jury heard yesterday. Luke Wilmshurst, of Banbury Road, Oxford, was a masters student at the time and denies causing actual bodily
TIM Stephens and Luisa Chantler Edmond won two events apiece as Team Oxfordshire finished fifth in their opening UK Youth Development League Midland Premier 1 fixture at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium. Stephens (Oxford City) pulled off an under
A MAN injured in a pub fight in Witney was yesterday in a stable condition in hospital. The man, in his 30s, is being treated at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford after suffering head and body injuries in the attack at the Red Lion in Corn
A motorcyclist and an 84-year-old man were still in hospital last night after separate road accidents earlier this week. The pensioner suffered a head injury in a collision with a car in Gainsborough Green, Abingdon, on Monday evening and the motorcyclist
CHINNOR landed six trophies in the Oxfordshire Mini and Midi Festival at Witney RFC. The Thame-based club led the way, winning the Under 12B bowl, Under 11A shield, the Under 10B shield and bowl, plus the Under 9A cup and bowl. Henley Hawks
OXFORD City’s Jade O’Dowda has gone top of the UK under 15 girls’ pentathlon rankings. O’Dowda won the first four disciplines at the Woodford Combined Events Open en route to an outdoor best 3,049 points. The 14-year-old’s victories came in
OXFORDSHIRE Ladies got off to a disappointing start in the Middle England League, losing 105-98 against visitors Warwickshire. Despite picking up only four points the scoreline was close, helped by a 26-shot win by Jeanette Berry’s rink of Carole
ENVIRONMENT Agency bosses have been looking into the issue of safety at locks along the River Thames. The agency’s lock house study group has been comparing locks which are manned by a resident lock-keeper and those which are not. Data compiled
OXFORDSHIRE County Council yesterday denied stopping a woman from returning to work after complaining her boss overlooked her for a promotion. Elishia Meade, a former social inclusion officer, claims she was bullied by co-workers and was signed
THE medical director of the body which decides where most NHS cash is spent will not return to her post, it was confirmed last night. The Oxford Mail yesterday reported Dr Mary Keenan had gone on a secondment to carry out technology research with
A TEACHER who worked at schools across Oxford for more than 30 years has died aged 84. Herman “David” Munday was deputy headteacher at Blackbird Leys County Primary School and Bayswater Middle School and a teacher at New Marston County Primary
MIKE Ford’s spell at Oxford City is over after eight years. The club announced in a statement last night that Ford, who joined City in 2006 and became their manager in 2009, would not be in charge next season. It read: “Following a directors
ABINGDON Under 15s celebrated winning the Oxfordshire League Division 2 title with a tour to Holland. Despite suffering a number of injuries and losing other players to county calls, Abingdon won all ten matches and so gained promotion to Division
(senior men unless stated) OXFORDSHIRE ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS MEN Senior: 1 Oxford City A (D Bellinger 16.56, E Mezzetti 18.33, A Burgess 17.42, M Marshall 18.06, N Jones 18.06, M Robinson 17.43) 1.47.06; 2 Woodstock Harriers A (D Cantwell
AN ACADEMY trust set to open the county’s first “space school” has expressed an interest in running a secondary school in Grove. Aspirations Academy Trust, which runs Banbury Academy, met Grove Parish Council this month to discuss plans. The
Oxford United’s final fixture of the season against Northampton Town at Sixfields on Saturday will be a 7,400 sell-out. United, who sold their allocation weeks ago, will be backed by 1,360 fans against the Cobblers, who are managed by ex-U’s boss
ARDLEY United boss Kevin Brock is backing his side to banish the blues against Kidlington in tonight’s all-Uhlsport Hellenic League final at the Kassam Stadium (7.45). On Monday, Ardley’s Premier Division title dream ended as Wantage Town won the
BANBURY Bulls Under 16s made it two wins from three matches on their tour to France. The Oxfordshire side opened up with a 14-7 victory at Toulouse TOAC, with George Grieve and Jake Dew scoring their tries, Jack Taylor converting both. Next
A MAN who admitted assaulting a baby has been spared jail by a judge at Oxford Crown Court. Ben O’Donovan, of Park Road, Banbury, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm and assault by beating. Nigel Ogborne, prosecuting, said the child
A SUPPORT worker who has cared for thousands of sick youngsters retires today after more than 25 years. Kate Barber, of Kidlington, has provided countless hours of support to families and children suffering from cancer. The grandmother-of-four
12:41pm Check out our picture gallery of May Morning 8:36am Mayday:Magdalen Bridge has now reopened after this mornings festivities.All services will
A DAD whose dreams of footballing stardom were thwarted by injury will tackle a host of celebrities in a charity match. Fred Swanborough’s six-year-old son Freddie was first diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that causes breathing
