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                    In this first clip are the opening remarks and a question about whistleblowers In this second clip he discuss Jeremy Hunt, the NHS and the Russia and Ukraine crisis

A NATIONAL campaign group has branded an uncontested election in Oxfordshire a “mockery of democracy”. There is only one candidate standing in the Cherwell District Council seat of Otmoor at Thursday’s elections. Conservative incumbent Tim

FREE computer lessons are being offered to Barton jobseekers to help boost their CVs. Barton Community Association has begun offering the Wednesday evening classes as part of its Learn 2 Earn scheme. The open sessions started on Wednesday,

A shop in Wolvercote has been taken off the market for the foreseeable future. The Post Box in Godstow Road was for sale and a community group had attempted to buy it to make sure it was saved. But after the group was unable to reach a deal

IF you go down to the park today, you may hear cries of “checkmate” from concentrating chess masters. A concrete chess table has been installed in Bury Knowle Park. And local councillors, who paid for the table through their ward funds, hope

TOE-TAPPING toddlers have blown away examiners by getting a 100 per cent pass rate in their first dance exams. Forty-two pupils at community dance school Lil Tapz had their first exams in tap and ballet in April. The group, based at Rose Hill

JUST over a year ago, doctors told Megan and Jon Chapman their unborn baby had a 50 per cent chance of surviving. Now, having survived an operation to move several of her internal organs, baby Jess has beaten all the odds. Jess was born with

VISITORS marvelled at a teenage magician during a special late-night opening of Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum. Sebastian Walton, who won The Magic Circle’s Young Magician of the Year award last April, joined the Magic Museums at Night event on Friday

After running her family farm near Banbury for three decades, Catherine Vint is witnessing an increasing trend of people wanting to buy meat directly from farmers to ensure its origins. Mrs Vint, 58, who raises Aberdeen Angus cattle, sheep and

A WITNEY bus driver retiring after 32 years says he will miss his passengers. Bob Stannard, 68, will retire on Saturday, May 31, but says he hopes to still see the people he has come to know around the town. He said: “They’re a great bunch

A SCHEME to buy land for new leisure pitches on the edge of Didcot has been criticised as poor value for money by Conservative councillors. Labour-controlled Didcot Town Council last month agreed to spend more than £1m creating the pitches on 25

When I arrived at Oxford Brookes in 2010 it was a very different university. I started my studies in September of that year, and began at an institution that was about to undergo a transformation that would see it come to be a new place. Anyone

HUMPTY, the iconic doll from the children’s TV show Playschool, has fetched more than £6,000 at auction. The 53cm-high egg-shaped toy was sold at Bonham’s Auction House in Kidlington today to a private buyer for £6,250. The hammer went down

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MATT Bevans will be staying at Oxford United for next season after the club activated a clause in his contract. The 20-year-old's initial deal was set to expire this summer, but contained the possibility of a 12-month extension, which has been

10:22pm And to round it all off, he talks the future of his leadership with the Liberal Democrats and human rights and homophobia before his wrap-up remarks 10:16pm

The Met Office has issued a weather warning as a band of heavy rain is expected to sweep across parts of the county on Thursday morning. The yellow warning will be in place from 3am until 7pm on May 22. Scattered heavy showers, with the risk

11:30am Severe weather warning as heavy rain set to hit Oxfordshire 10:52am Don't forget to check out today's Oxford Mail for these and many more top stories

A WOMAN was taken to hospital after a two car crash in Abingdon. She was taken by ambulance to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford with suspected leg and neck injuries, after being treated at the scene. South Central Ambulance Service was

I am writing regarding the question in the paper (May 12, page 5), what do do with used cooking oil? It’s easy. Put it in a cup when used and let it get set, then chuck it. That’s what to do. S PEACOCK Cornish Road Chipping Norton Today

I am writing concerning the Witney Festival of Food and Drink. A big well done to all the team who put the Witney Festival of Food and Drink together on Saturday. What a fantastic event for the town to be really proud of. Local producers and retailers

Roy Partridge (May 16) tries to make sense of the flooding problem, describing the silting up of the Thames and the apparent need to dredge it. Flooding markedly increases the silt load in the river. The source of the silt is the soil, which is

A RACE with a difference took place at the Caterham F1 track. School pupils wowed their families with their pedalling skills at the weekend. The youngsters took part in an event to improve their cycling skills at the Leafield Technical Centre

MORE members are desperately needed by Blackbird Leys Parish Council to prevent it being shut down. The parish councillors are elected representatives who volunteer to meet regularly to discuss issues of concern for the residents of the Blackbird

There is a big new shiny French superstore in town and its selling bikes. If you ignore junk mail and generally have a knack for filtering useless adverts out of your life then you may have missed the fact Decathlon “the sports megastore”, yes they

I am writing concerning knife crime after the incident where a teacher, Ann Maguire was fatally stabbed at school by a pupil. Ann Maguire I still feel that we are not getting the message through to young people that knives can kill.

As a strong supporter of road safety and general common sense among young children, it concerns me greatly that those who should know better (some of their parents) show total disregard for their children’s safety. North Oxford Primary School gives

SCRUTINY is key to improved performance and so it is heartening to see John Radcliffe Hospital publishing its staffing figures. It is very early days with the first month’s statistics being the only ones currently available. We must take the

NO parent should outlive their child. Only those who do can adequately describe the numbing pain of their death. So it is impossible to imagine how the family of the six Hirons boys who marched off to fight in the First World War coped with the

AS the country gears up to commemorate the start of the First World War, one Oxfordshire family will remember its heroes. A century ago, Keziah Parker watched her six sons and husband Felix go to war, but only one of her sons returned unscathed

ALMOST 60 staff shifts in the county’s hospitals were below the “minimum safe” level in March, new figures have revealed. Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust must now publish their staffing figures every two months. They show how for March

Gary Waddock admitted Oxford United had been hit by a double blow after it emerged Ryan Clarke and Andy Whing require operations which are expected to rule the pair out of pre-season. Clarke, United’s player of the season, will go under the knife

The trial of a man charged with six counts of rape will begin at Oxford Crown Court tomorrow. Lewyn Rudge, of Valentia Road, Headington, also faces five counts of assault causing actual bodily harm, allegedly carried out against two women between

BUSINESSES in Headington could be awarded up to £15,000 for eco-friendly transport projects on their property. Oxfordshire County Council wants to hear pitches for schemes to reduce congestion in the area. The money comes from a £5m pot set aside

A NEW Slug and Lettuce pub will open at Oxford Castle after a £230,000 revamp of The Living Room. The venue will reopen tomorrow ahead of a VIP reception on Friday, May 30. The pub will be open until midnight Mondays to Wednesdays and until

THE fire service was called to a bonfire which had spread to a garden fence in West Oxfordshire. A crew from Charlbury attended the small fire in Shipton Road, Ascott-under-Wychwood, at 7.45pm on Sunday. The fire had spread to six garden fence

OXFORDSHIRE Young Farmers have their tractors at the ready for their annual rally and county show this weekend. But working in the fields is tough work, so luckily help will be at hand at this year’s event. Scrummy cakes and cups of tea will

A burglar stole alcohol after forcing their way through the back door of a Cowley home. Thames Valley Police said the booze was taken during the Crowell Road break-in overnight on Friday, May 16.

Police are concerned about a missing 43-year-old man who has not been seen since Saturday evening. Andy Lever, pictured, was last seen by his family in Portway and police believe he may have driven his blue Ford Ka to Cambridgeshire. Thames

EDDIE Pepperell was encouraged overall following an eventful Spanish Open which saw the Oxfordshire golfer experience plenty of highs and lows. The Frilford Heath golfer finished in a season’s best share of 24th place in Girona, but at one stage

A SUPERMARKET apologised yesterday after a mannequin was dressed as a slave in the shop entrance to publicise a film. Shoppers were greeted by the unusual sight yesterday morning when they entered Sainsbury’s at Heyford Hill. It was to mark the

NORTH Leigh’s Elliott Osborne-Ricketts was the big winner at their end of season awards night. The midfielder, who scored six goals as the Millers finished seventh in the Calor League Division 1 South & West club’s players’ player, was named

Seb Jewell said London Welsh cannot not let their dramatic victory over Leeds Carnegie go to their heads as they chase a Premiership place. Jewell and his Exiles teammates were jubilant after securing a last-gasp 60-58 aggregate win in the Greene

TOMMY Castle won three awards at Uhlsport Hellenic Premier Division side Kidlington’s presentation evening. The winger scooped the players’ player, manager’s player and the leading scorer awards. OTHER AWARDS Reserves – manager’s player

Justin Merritt is predicting exciting times lie ahead for Oxford City after he was appointed as the club’s general manager. Merritt, 39, was previously in charge of City and helped them to promotion via the play-offs to the Southern League Premier

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD ZAC Norris’s late try earned Oxfordshire a 29-26 victory over Dorset & Wilts at Witney RFC and sealed their progress into the semi-finals. Oxon needed just a point to top Pool 3 and clinch a last-four spot, but

THE family of a vulnerable man, who starved to death after his benefits were cut, have donated the money he was wrongly refused to charities. Cathie Wood hopes to prevent others ending up in a similar situation to her late brother, Mark, so has

MEMBERS of the public are invited to find out about diabetes, and research into the rapidly growing condition, at Oxford's Churchill Hospital. The event, Unravelling the Mysteries of Diabetes, will take place at the Oxford Centre for Diabetes,

THE Oxford Festival of Nature will be held around Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park next month. The festival kicks off with a talk about hedgehogs at 6pm on Friday, June 6, at Cutteslowe Community Centre, followed later by a bat walk. At 5am on

PARKING chiefs have pledged that a new residents’ parking zone in North Oxford will be introduced by the end of the month. The controlled parking zone (CPZ) in Cutteslowe was approved in February after a series of delays but has not yet been introduced

WOLVERCOTE businessman Carl Keeble lost his flowing locks of hair for charity on Saturday. Mr Keeble, who runs the Post Box, in Godstow Road, was raising money for Oxford-based hospice Sobell House and for Cancer Research UK. He said: “I have

More than 250 people waited more than four hours in A&E in the seven days to Sunday, May 11, new figures show. In total, 253 out of 2,489 people waited more than four hours to be admitted, discharged or transferred at Oxford’s John Radcliffe

BRDC FORMULA FORD CHAMPIONSHIP JORDAN Albert and Diego Borrelli’s best performances of the season were the highlight of a tough weekend for Chipping Norton’s SW Racing at Brands Hatch. Britain’s Albert finished sixth and Venezuelan Borrelli

STUDENTS are making a noise about the “catastrophic” impact a diverted bus route could have on their exam results. The Oxford University students said the increased noise and bustle in Beaumont Street – as a result of the closure of nearby George

SHAW GIBBS OXFORDSHIRE FOURSOMES LEAGUE Section 2 Cotswolds Club 2 (3), Chiltern Forest 1 (1) (Cotswolds scores first): P Schofield & C Dyer lost to N Taylor & Smith 6 & 4, A Johnson & D Howlett bt R Sponder & Mardon 4 &

More than 500 noise complaints were made in 2013, West Oxfordshire District Council has revealed. Out of 513 reports, 113 were made in evenings or weekends. The council has highlighted the figures to promote Noise Action Week, which started

SCHOOLGIRLS have proved they really are “worth it” after being picked by cosmetics company L’Oreal to learn about the science of beauty formulations. The 30 Oxford High School students have been scientifically analysing shampoo and other cosmetic

GREENE KING ODDA SEAN Holly pulled off a brilliant 13-dart leg to power into the Oxfordshire Winter League men’s singles final. The Kidlington Green player hit 140-100-85-136 and double 20 in the decider to beat clubmate Tim Tricker 2-1 in

A LORRY driver has been fined after admitting breaking a road weight limit. Oxfordshire County Council Trading Standards team said John Johnson drove his large Mercedes heavy goods vehicle – with a weight of up to 26 tonnes – on the B4015 from

A JURY in the trial of a karate instructor accused of sexual crimes against two girls has been told the case hinges on their evidence. Darren Lymer, of Anson Close, Marcham, near Abingdon, denies two counts of sexual activity with a child and one

FORMER Oxford United manager Mark Wright has urged people to help look after needy children. The former England defender was visiting the city yesterday as part of Foster Care Fortnight, to raise awareness for the lack of foster carers. Fostering

DEPUTY Prime Minister Nick Clegg, right, was due to face a grilling from 150 Oxfordshire residents today. The Oxford Mail is hosting the special question-and-answer session so readers can put their questions directly to the Liberal Democrat leader

A LONG-RUNNING dispute over whether a Travelodge hotel can be built in Abingdon Road, Oxford, has been resolved, after planning permission was approved. Government planning inspector Alan Wood has given approval for the 83-bed hotel near the Redbridge

Oxford Cavaliers picked up their second win in a row in Conference League South to move up to third after seeing off lowly Bristol Sonics 44-18 at Oxford RFC. The home side broke the deadlock on 12 minutes when stand-off Andy Winfield ghosted through

Oxford RL overcame South Wales Scorpions 40-24 at Iffley Road to claim their fourth Kingstone Press Championship 1 victory of the season, moving them up to fifth in the table. Captain Alex Thompson led the way with two of their six tries while

KEEN motorcyclists revved up their engines for a 100-mile course across Oxfordshire. More than 120 people took part in the first Ride the County event on Saturday to raise funds for the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance. They raised