VERY few cars genuinely look as if they are about to burst into life when quietly parked on your driveway — but the Astra GTC is one of them. The sleek three-door, with its low, wide stance and rakish lines, positively bubbles with nervous energy
THREE cars have crashed on the A44 at Yarnton, partially blocking the roundabout. Police officers were called to the northbound carriageway at the roundabout near the Yarnton services at 4.35pm. The crash involved a black BMW Sports Coupe,
Former sprinter gave chase to a violent man FORMER sprint champion Dominic Coelho scared off and chased down a violent man he saw stamping on someone’s head. The student – who picked up a police commendation – was on his way home in the early
IT IS a motoring challenge you would normally expect to see in Top Gear. A mammoth 20,000 mile quest from Banbury to Mongolia in an old banger bought for £236 on eBay. But that’s exactly what four friends are planning to do to raise cash for
EAGLE-eyed commuters travelling along Oxford’s ring road might have noticed a difference to the skyline. That’s because changes have been afoot at the Cowley car plant, with the demolition of one of the site’s landmark buildings. Car company
RYAN Williams has thanked Oxford United for making him a better player ahead of his final appearance for the club tomorrow. The winger had made just six career appearances when he arrived on loan from Fulham last summer, but has relished being
Opera Correspondent Stuart Macbeth enjoys two classic Verdi operas - despite the chuckles and snores Ellen Kent's Nabucco set Friday night off with a bang - coloured lights and dry ice transforming the New Theatre's stage into a scene from Ancient
IT remained a secret for almost 75 years – but now a school in Woodstock has glimpsed the past through a forgotten time capsule. Staff and students at the school had no idea of the haul of hidden mementoes stashed away in its walls. Builders
Police from Blackbird Leys are turning from their beats to baking tomorrow to raise money for the Oxford Heart Centre. They will be holding a cake sale and tombola at Templars Square Shopping Centre in Cowley from 10am. The money will go to
Alison Boulton digs beneath the city's dreaming spires A 15 minute bus ride from St Aldate’s can deliver you to a variety of locations, but how about this one? An 130 acre wonderland of towering trees and soft grass; a bluebell wood in full
Italy is well-known as a foodie's paradise but if you want a taste of the really good stuff, head to Puglia, says Chris Wiltshire If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, few places offer more pulling power than plentiful Puglia.
Billy Connolly has had a bad year – first a cancer diagnosis then, within 24 hours, he is told he has Parkinson’s Disease. I am pretty sure my grandfather has Parkinson’s too. He is too stubborn to get tested but I have seen him struggle to pick
Sheena Patterson of Oxford Garden Design discovers a garden language What was an amorous young girl to do in Victorian England, with the chaperone system in operation and no mobile phone available to send secret text messages to her lover?
More than 50 per cent of women feel unsupported in the lead up to the menopause but advice and relief is out there, as expert Eileen Durward explains The menopause is often portrayed as a bit of a joke topic, but for many women experiencing it,
Oxfordshire author Amanda Jennings tells Jaine Blackman about success and that 'pesky' second novel Amanda Jennings is glad that her family is proud and “incredibly supportive” of her writing... but she’d rather they didn’t read some of it.
Oxfordshire author Amanda Jennings talks about success and that 'pesky' second novel More than 50 per cent of women feel unsupported in the lead up to the menopause but advice and relief is out there, as expert Eileen Durward explains
Oxford's very own Phoenix is leading the comic revival with stories and fun, writes Alison Boulton I grew up in a house without comics. They were banned – well, except for Look and Learn. Whoever read that? I was too idle... Books were the
Rebecca Moore looks at a new iPhone app that promises to "assist in your dreams" I woke up in the early hours of yesterday morning frantically holding up my bedroom wall because it had warped into a cargo ship that was leaning over into my room
The big questions pop up as Julia Roberts attempts to 'find herself' in Eat Pray Love Last week, amid the serenity of a rainy Spring weekend spent in Summertown, I made a terrible mistake: I watched the film Eat Pray Love on my own with nothing
Mel Giedroyc is hosting another creative show, but this time contestants are armed with pencils, rather than spoons and mixing bowls. She talks about Draw It!, working without her comedy partner Sue Perkins and her love of drumming. Jaine Blackman
Asharp-suited Rupert Everett talking openly and honestly about sex is pretty refreshing. Rupert, you see, is at the helm of Channel Four’s two-part Love For Sale (next episode is on Monday, 10pm) and has just been online to give us a sweeping vista
I’ve known some to pelt – teeth bared, eyes ablaze – propelling any humans that lie in the path of retrieving the rugby ball into a crumpled heap. Believe me I’ve been there; my main position being primarily the human mattress – my back providing
There can be few finer ways to spend a Saturday, than rising at dawn and preparing yourself for a 12-mile run through thick mud with 24 SAS designed obstacles thrown in for good measure. To set the scene, I should explain that in my childhood days
Get fit the Strictly way with new classes created by one of the show's stars. As Jaine Blackman discovers, sequins really aren't necessary... While Strictly Come Dancing may have helped some of Britain’s best-known TV stars lose weight and shape
Forget that old cliché about the cheque being in the post, as of this week, the money is in the mobile. Paym, or ‘pay-em’, as it’s been dubbed, is a quick and easy way to pay for things using a mobile phone. Although it’s not the first mobile phone
I love our Oxford buses. Living in Kidlington I do realise I am spoilt rotten with the amazing frequency of the service and the calibre of the drivers working the route. You do get the occasional grump, but the vast majority of drivers are friendly
TV PRESENTER Linda Barker will lead more than 1,000 women in a stream of pink for the 10th Blenheim Palace Pink Ribbonwalk. The interior designer, known for the BBC design show Changing Rooms and Christmas Cooks, will join women from across Oxfordshire
A MOTORCYLIST died yesterday after losing control and crashing off the road. The 65-year-old from Grove was treated by paramedics but pronounced dead at the scene of the accident on the A329 Newington Road. Thames Valley Police said the rider
IT WAS a sight to behold as a convoy of classic cars left Bicester for the capital. Members of the All Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicles Group met at a former World War Two RAF air base, now Bicester Heritage, before their bi-annual run to
Oxford’s air quality continues to be a problem. This is important given increasing evidence of damage done by emissions to both the environment and human health. Anyone who drives a car or a van can do something to help. Every day we see drivers
May I canvass your readers of a potential outfall from Oxford’s Western Conveyance plan that has not surfaced in the press coverage. The projected increase in volume flow at Sandford Lock will impact on Abingdon’s flood defences in several ways
OUR gardening club has just returned from four days in France, visiting some amazing gardens in Normandy. What struck us so forcefully as we travelled to various locations, was the complete absence of litter, not only at the motorway service areas,
ONLY the crazy would quit their bed hours before dawn, drive more than 30 miles in drizzling rain, risk running into alcohol-fuelled students and police officers anxious to see the end of their shift. Yes, I’m guilty as charged – and wouldn’t miss
Travelling to our excellent local post office at Clifton Hampden last Thursday I was delighted to see several men in yellow jackets by the river bank in Long Wittenham. At last we are having something done about the state of the river and, maybe
With reference to last week’s article about proposed developments in Carterton: I was surprised that Crest were so blatant about taking advantage of the ‘policy vacuum’. These days, developers prefer to appear altruistic and not quite so obviously
PEOPLE passionate about their neighbourhood have begun to set out their priorities to take control of what goes on in their area. Residents in Headington are now making plans for how to tackle planning and transport after securing a neighbourhood
Hell is the only way I would describe the A40 last Friday between Oxford and Witney. The heavens opened and I ran into bumper-to-bumper traffic around noon on my way to lunch at a Cotswold village hosted by two friends, Emma Bridgewater and Matthew
PARKINSON'S UK has praised Sir Roger Bannister for revealing that he is suffering from Parkinson's Disease. Chief executive Steve Ford said: “An inspiration to so many, Sir Roger Bannister is a much-loved sporting legend and we are saddened to
BOTH Gary Waddock and Chris Wilder have gone out of their way to deflect attention away from the technical area and on to the pitch at Sixfields tomorrow afternoon. The build-up to the final game of the season began the minute Wilder swapped high-flying
6:01pm Here's something to get you in the Bank Holiday mood. It's our Oxford Mail tune of the week and it comes from Steve Morano. We like the smooth country style - and Steve's cool flat cap! If you are an Oxfordshire artist
WAYNE Brown has hailed the hard work put in by Ryan Clarke after the goalkeeper picked up the two major end-of-season awards at Oxford United. The club’s No 1 was not in a position to pick anything up 12 months ago, as he recovered from double
Talking of barminess, the forcing of a village cricket club to ban sixes from being scored at one end of the ground, because of a neighbour’s complaints, is a real googly. Britwell Salome Cricket Club had been playing at the ground for about 25
Ardley United's Kevin Brock saluted his players’ professional attitude after their 4-0 win against Kidlington in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup final at the Kassam Stadium last night. It was the perfect response to being pipped to the Premier Division
THERE is no justice.” Those were the words from Audrey Pagett yesterday when she learned that crooked John Morgan would only have to pay back a token £5 of the £154,000 he swindled from her elderly sister-in-law, and it is hard to disagree. Morgan
TOP Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has claimed he did not use racist language during filming. The Daily Mirror reported he used the “n word” while reciting a version of the nursery rhyme “eeny, meeny, miny, moe”. It was said to have been edited
GARY Waddock admits it is sad to see former club Wycombe Wanderers at risk of relegation as they look to Oxford United for a favour. The U’s could have a say in which club falls out of the Football League tomorrow. If they beat Northampton
A cyclist was been taken to hospital with head injuries following an incident in Cowley yesterday 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
A CYCLIST studying at Oxford University has told a jury he was “shocked” after accidentally hitting a researcher with a bike lock. Luke Wilmshurst, of Banbury Road, Oxford, denies causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage during a violent
Protester Phil Ball has been charged with trespass after he and other Greenpeace protesters were arrested in Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, when they tried to prevent the first oil from the Arctic coming to the market in Europe. Mr Ball was arrested
WHILE the centre of Oxford was packed with revellers for May Morning, youngsters in Blackbird Leys were enjoying their own celebrations. More than 1,000 children from the Blackbird Academy Trust joined the event in Blackbird Leys park. They
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 yesterday reluctant to dwell on the subject, preferring to concentrate
A BURGLAR has been jailed for stealing £400 from a 70-year-old man in a “very well-planned” break-in. Adam Kupka, of Field Avenue, Blackbird Leys, admitted one count of burglary carried out on November 13 last year. The 26-year-old broke into
Today is the first day of the firefighters’ strikes, but the assistant chief fire officer says there will be no risk to Oxfordshire residents. Fire Brigade Union (FBU) members will walk out from noon to 5pm today, 2pm- 2am tomorrow and 10am-3pm
Oxfordshire are waiting on the fitness of Richard West as they prepare for Sunday’s Group 4 clash with Staffordshire at Stone. The Banbury all-rounder went off injured in Oxon’s 59-run victory over Berkshire last week, but hopes to recover in time
Defending champions Westbury have boosted their squad as they seek to defend their OCA League Division 1 title starting tomorrow, writes David Quinn. Power-hitter Pete Rymer returns, while Dan Willett is added to their much-vaunted bowling attack
RELATIVES of an elderly Alzheimer’s disease sufferer who had £154,000 stolen by a former Conservative councillor have described their disgust after learning he only has to repay £5. Last year John Morgan was jailed for five years after he was convicted
Abingdon Town are quitting the Uhlsport Hellenic League after more than 50 years and are expected to play in the North Berks League next season. The Hellenic’s general manager Brian King confirmed last night that the Culham Road club had officially
Oxford City will take their time in looking for a new manager. Managing director Colin Taylor said that the club have already received a number of applicants since news of Mike Ford’s departure was announced on Wednesday evening. And it is
Mark Jones eased to victory in the Burford to Lechlade round of the Oxford Beeline Time Trial League. The Drag2Zero rider completed the ten-mile course in 20mins 42secs to finish 47 seconds clear of Rich Harrison (Oxford City). Mid Oxon’s Eamonn
Oxford's Jozef Metelka is looking to repeat his success on the road after winning three medals at the World Para-Cycling Track Championships in Mexico. The 27-year-old Beeline rider claimed a gold and two silvers for his native Slovakia at the event
GREENE KING IPA CHAMPIONSHIP ALEC Hepburn will miss London Welsh’s play-off campaign after receiving a five-week ban. The front-row forward has been suspended following his sending-off for a tip tackle during the Exiles’ final regular season
THE centenary of the First World War is grabbing people’s imaginations and boosting numbers attending a poignant remembrance service. Organisers of the Turning the Pages ceremony say attendance at their quarterly memorial events is increasing as
EVERY morning, the entrance to Witney Community Primary School in Hailey Road is usually cluttered with cars as parents drop off their children. Normally the school’s 200 pupils arrive for classes with as many as 50 cars clogging up the nearby
Oxford United Women were subjected to a 9-2 humbling at Bristol Academy in their Continental Cup debut last night, writes Matthew Bruce. Two goals from Spanish international Laura Del Rio and a third from Natalia Pablos Sanchon gave the hosts a
OXFORD Rugby League must improve if they are to make it three Kingstone Press Championship One wins in a row at Oldham on Sunday. That is the message from head coach Tony Benson as his fifth-placed side face the Roughyeds, who are third. “They
OXFORD CENTRAL (Exeter 9 sent 78): 1, 4, 5 K Shipperley 1700, 1670, 1667; 2, 6, 7 L Wheeler 1678, 1640, 1625; 3 M&M R Ward 1673; 8, 14, 17 M&M V Hall 1623, 1393, 1142; 9, 10, 11 R Clarke 1620, 1618, 1607; 12, 15 M Kelly 1543, 1380; 13,
A 30-year-old man appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court yesterday accused of kidnapping and raping a teenager. Christian Perera, of Samphire Road in Blackbird Leys, was charged after the 19-year-old woman was attacked in a country track in Stoney
STEM cells taken from bone marrow could be used to treat heart disease by injecting them into damaged tissue, early results show. Stem cells are cells in the body which have not yet specialised and can become any type. Oxford University scientists
A 23-year-old man arrested on suspicion of robbing a Littlemore newsagent’s with a knife has been rebailed by police. The Oxford man was arrested after the raid at Littlemore News in Cowley Road in February which saw shopkeeper Vijaya Bandara Karunaratne
Lifelong Oxford United stalwart George Bateman died after having difficulties with his food at a care home, it emerged yesterday. An inquest was opened at Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court after Mr Bateman died last Thursday at Manor House care home
IT WAS almost like the man in control of the rain was a fan of May Morning. Thousands of revellers gathered on Magdalen Bridge in the drizzle yesterday morning ahead of the traditional welcoming of spring. But just minutes before the choir
A woman had a lucky escape after her car landed upside-down in a roadside ditch yesterday morning. The woman’s blue Toyota Aygo came off the Brize Norton slip road off the A40 by Witney at about 7.50am. Thames Valley Police said they attended
A FIRM that produces personal protective equipment has been fined after a worker’s hand was crushed in an unsafe machine. Minster Lovell company JSP Ltd was fined £4,000 at Oxford Magistrates’ Court after the incident in January last year.
FASHION and dance students from City of Oxford College took over a charity shop to sell clothes and their own items to raise money for Helen & Douglas House hospice. The students competed with each other to sell at the charity’s vintage clothing
Oxford Sports have had a fortnight to savour – both off court as well as on it. In the last fortnight, the club have seen their men’s and ladies sides win the top divisions of the Thames Valley Winter League. Coupled with more glory in lower
WORK on a hydro-electric scheme to power 18 homes on the Blenheim Palace estate is due to start on later this month. The £180,000 project, being carried out by Dorchester-based Hallidays Hydropower, will use an Archimedes screw turbine at Bladon
AN OXFORD University student left a note for police warning them his tent was filled with lethal gas, an inquest heard yesterday. Andrew Kirkman, 20, a physics and philosophy student at Balliol College, took his own life in a tent on Port Meadow
VILLAGE cricketers have been left stumped after being told they cannot score a six from one end of their ground, because they say a neighbour has threatened legal action. For more than 30 years, village players at Britwell Salome Cricket Club have
GROVE had more to celebrate than Chinnor after their respective Oxfordshire veterans trophy victories at Kingsey Road. Chinnor captain Steve Bridges is pictured receiving the Cup from Oxfordshire RFU president Ken Bumpass (inset) after his side
Saturday FOOTBALL SKY BET LEAGUE TWO Northampton Tn v Oxford Utd. UHLSPORT HELLENIC LEAGUE Bluefin Sports Supp Cup: Bracknell Tn v Brimscombe & Thrupp (Wantage Tn, 3). BERKS & BUCKS FA JUNIOR CUP Final: Penn &
A FATHER has told of his anger at a delay in repairs to the roof of his housing association home after several tiles fell from the property smashing on the ground outside his front door. Darren Hadland said about 10 tiles had fallen to the ground
