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SCARY it may be, but this tarantula could be just the thing if you’ve cut yourself. As part of a four-week course on the history of food, Oxford University’s museums and collections education officer, Nicola Bird, took along the spider to reveal

A new, 18-home estate has been recommended for Vale councillors to approve on Thursday, May 29, despite objections. The estate, planned by Blue Cedar Homes, would be built on a green field in Stanford in the Vale, currently used as a paddock.

OXFORDSHIRE’S annual celebration of art has proved as popular as ever, with thousands of people visiting exhibitions around the county. Artweeks, which is the country’s oldest and biggest open studio event, closes this weekend and has seen around

DOGS are not usually welcome dance companions. But guide dogs and white sticks will feature at Oxfordshire’s first dance session for the blind today. Organisers hope the sessions will become a regular fixture for people with sight problems.

TORY MP Sir Tony Baldry has sought assurances from Labour that a school in Upper Heyford near Bicester will be safeguarded if the party wins the next General Election. It follows comments by shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt earlier this

A footballing dad from Didcot tackled a host of celebrities at Fulham Football Club’s Craven Cottage andwon. Fred Swanborough, 32, was part of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust XI who won by a narrow 6-5 margin. The annual Nicky’s Whisper match between

PUPILS at The Batt Primary School in Witney gave hands-on support to one of the teams taking part in the Witney-Le Touquet Twin Town Challenge this weekend. Pupils from Class 2D at the Corn Street school, including, from left, Jamie Hollingdale

TIME is running out to sign up to the Katharine House Hospice Midnight Walk, which will see around 600 people walking through the night to raise money for the hospice in Adderbury, near Banbury. The closing date for applications is next Thursday

OH no, Oxford City. You have not taken the club forward, but backward in appointing Justin Merritt and Enrique Guillen. These two have been tried before – what is going on at the club that it can’t afford to appoint someone who has been through

HE PENNED his first poem as a seven-year-old pupil at Oxford’s The Dragon School. In the decades since, Jon Stallworthy has won many awards for his poetry, books and editing skills. Now Professor Emeritus of English at Oxford University, his

WITH better living standards and medical care, the challenge facing Oxfordshire from dementia is now vast. The county has always had a high proportion of older people and the number of 85s and over is set to rise from 14,683 in 2011 to 39,400 by

A FOUR-CAR crash on the A34 southbound is causing delays before the Peartree Interchange. A collision between a Vauxhall Astra, Ford Mondeo, Fiat Panda and Toyota Yaris happened earlier this afternoon. Police were called at 3.10pm. Spokeswoman

IT’S been a typically-hectic couple of weeks on the county cricket circuit, with plenty of ups and downs on a personal note. Last week, Yorkshire had the big clash against Warwickshire at Headingley. We know at home we are a menacing side and

A COUNCIL has spent £11,000 to rebrand a community hall in an attempt to make it more profitable. Vale of White Horse District Council spent the cash to rename Wantage Civic Hall as The Beacon. It paid Faringdon marketing firm AWM Branding

OXFORD University colleges are known for doing things their own way. And at one time they had their own postal system too, before it was outlawed in 1886. Now a retired professor says his grandfather may have found ‘proof’ that they should

NO ONE who watched the original Audi S1 quattro blast its way through the Welsh forests on the RAC Rally in the mid-1980s will ever forget the sight or the sound. The five-cylinder, 500 horsepower firebreather was a competitive creation that helped

A WOMAN used her high-heeled shoes to crack a glass window at 3.30am when she realised Oxford railway station was closed. British Transport Police has now released CCTV images of a woman they want to speak to about the criminal damage on Saturday

Sir – The Campaign to Protect Rural England Oxfordshire is asking for a public inquiry into the Oxfordshire Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) before it is given Government approval. CPRE understands that a public consultation was originally proposed

Sir – I am writing about the St Giles’ toilets being closed because of ‘health and safety concerns’. Maybe John Tanner can explain the health and safety concerns there are in using the toilets that do not apply when using them as a shop/café

Sir – As a young professional living in Oxford, I was dismayed to read the attitude these political leaders are taking to increasing the supply of housing.   The average house in Oxford costs over ten times the UK median wage, which leaves buying

Sir – It was a great honour to be invited to attend, as the only available representative this year from a Bomber Command (BC) 630 Squadron Association veteran, on two important anniversary days in the life of Denmark on May 4 and 5. My son acted throughout

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

Sir – By now most people are aware that the summer of 2014 marks the start of four years of commemoration of the First World War. This is about commemoration, not celebration; a recapturing of memories on all sides of the conflict. For the first

Sir – Mr M. Hugh-Jones (Letters May 15) suggests that anyone educated in this country should have heard of Bach or St Matthew. If indeed they had heard of the latter it might be more to do with an educational system that gives a particular religion

Sir – Alan Roberts asks about pictures of the organ at the Regal, Cowley Road (Letters, May 15). The reason it is so difficult to find a picture is that the organ only lasted at the Regal for less than a year. The pipe chambers were located under

Sir – The feature on Oxford cinemas (We live in a city of cinemas, First Person, May 15) lists a total of four, including a city centre Odeon. In fact we have two establishments where “Oscar Deutsch Entertains Our Nation”, making the total five

Sir – Thank you, Mr Lenagan, for seeing sense and listening to fans like me by reinstating the under-11 prices throughout the ground. You have reassured me that the club listens to its fan base and is again worthy of recognition for what it does

Sir – Looking ahead to National Family Week (May 26-June 1), it’s important to remember that one in three families with dependent children is affected by separation. Recent polling by Relate, the UK’s leading relationship organisation, found

Sir – Roy Partridge tries to make sense of the flooding problem, describing the silting up of the Thames and the apparent need to dredge it (Letters, May 15). Flooding markedly increases the silt load in the river. The source of the silt is

Sir – The proposal by the Government to make all new vehicles be fitted with automatic braking systems is a good idea at the concept stage, but will, if it becomes law, be used by some drivers to speed in built-up areas. Surely a more workable

Sir – I read, with interest and amusement, Mr Clarke’s letter (May 15) concerning booking a GP appointment. If his surgery has ‘same day’ appointments, they are very lucky. Our surgery no longer offers this facility, but one may speak to one of

Sir – It is a little while since we heard from Mr John White so it came as no surprise to see his letter (Aid not just Christian) on May 15.  I think most would agree with him that aid is to be applauded, whoever gives it. He somehow makes

Sir – In your edition of May 1 you reported that there are plans for a major music and arts festival to be held in South Park in September. I suspect we are mostly forgotten by the authorities who take bookings for South Park. What they fail

TRAFFIC is building on the A41 Southbound in Bicester and the A34 Western By-Pass Road in Wolvercote. Drivers are facing delays and there is large volume of traffic as drivers head out for the Bank Holiday weekend. There are delays on the A41

Sir – On Saturday afternoon I took two nine-year-old boys to Hinksey Pools so they could swim and l would spectate. I was shocked when I was told I needed to pay £13.50. When I queried this amount l was told that I needed to pay for an adult swim

Today's letters Want to give your opinion? Email letters@oxfordmail.co.uk

Sir –  I would like to thank everyone who joined us to celebrate the first anniversary of our monthly Mini meetings at H Cafe, Berinsfield. We welcome both classic Minis and modern Minis, so if any of your readers with Minis would like to join

May is scams awareness month, and the Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) and other advice agencies are out spreading the message: spot scams — stop scams. The message in many cases is simple: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is! A typical

A BEAUTICIAN wants the owners of a dog which nearly killed her terrier prosecuted under new laws before it attacks a child. Trisha Fitzsimmons, from Grove, was out of the house on Saturday when her 14-year-old terrier Megan was attacked. Her

Commuters parking dangerously on narrow village roads will only be taken seriously once there is an accident, Radley residents have warned. Villagers have been complaining about Radley railway station passengers parking in village roads since December

DOUBTLESS to the satisfaction of the Government hierarchy, the issue of Maria Miller has gone very quiet – but several questions remain unanswered. Is she to pay back the rest of the £40,000 over-claimed expenses or be allowed to get away with

Relationships may not be her strong point but give heartbroken Katie Price a break, says Rebecca Moore For innocent tweeters last week, a storm hit Twitter. There was no warning, no set-up – no foreplay at all. All we received, suddenly and unavoidably

In a sleepy area of Argentina the biggest, and I mean BIGGEST, dinosaur discovery is under way. Scientists are unearthing, as we speak, a whole new species of dinosaur. Just like the birth of a new baby, the name has not yet been decided, but we

It's hip to be square this season. Jaine Blackman reveals the pieces to put on your check-list of essentials this summer If stripes feel too straight and you’re not dotty about spots, checks are the prints you need to, er, check out this season

If ever there was a glittering masterclass in how not to let your bitchy resting face get caught on camera, it’s the Baftas. The awards ceremony gig for most industries is about well-earned recognition… and (hopefully unfilmed) tipsy joy. Pity

Jaine Blackman talks to Oxford woman Wan Janmee about taking on an exhausting TV challenge in the wilds of New Zealand Five weeks in a motorhome in New Zealand might sound like heaven but not when TV producers are dreaming up hellishly difficult

When I was told I was being moved to this Page 3 slot I couldn’t resist grinning. It made my day, my week – maybe even my year. After all, it's not often that you get to have one of your wildest fantasies fulfilled, even if you hadn’t actually

Nowadays, mornings don’t often go by without the tweeting community decorating the walls of twitter with ‘#SoTired’. How else would we know of our friend’s existence? Going out? Facebook is eager to know your evening plans; twitter is rendered

With a fantastic range of half-term events on offer, Liz Nicholls looks forward to a truly magical time Do you believe in unicorns? You will, after you see Danyah Miller’s show. A one-woman performance, based on Michael Morpurgo’s book of the

I HAVE noticed recently that Oxfordshire County Council’s contractors have been frantically trying to keep up with the never ending potholes that keep reappearing on London Road in Headington. Most of these potholes are regularly patched up, only

I am writing regarding Paul Marlow’s letter (May 21) about the neighbourhood bash in Barton celebrating a 100th birthday. I am disgusted and astonished that somebody could be so nasty towards this kind, elderly lady who supports her local area’

IN 1949, I was doing my basic police training at Eynsham Hall. At 8.30am, on the morning parade, we were all ordered to attend the main hall at 7pm, minus our tunics and left sleeve rolled up. We did so and found the floor had a large number of

AS A member of the cross-party city council group established to secure the future of the Covered Market, pictured, I want to reassure people that, contrary to a petition organised by Liberal Democrat candidates, the city council has not rejected the

YOU report that Doric, the company behind the controversial £100m development in Botley, has signed an agreement with construction company Mace. This gigantic sum is a reminder, if one were needed, of how grotesque the mismatch is between Doric

IT was disappointing to see misinformation circulated in East Oxford recently about “Blackbird Leys Pool, which the council is building without any insulation”. I’m happy to reassure readers this isn’t the case. To quote the plans the city

Port Meadow is paradise. Well, so a recent Facebook entry read. It’s also a Site of Special Scientific Interest on account of its Iron Age burial area and, in fair weather, a favourite weekend and evening walk. In these late spring days, when the

Writing is a precarious occupation. Whether you’re writing the blurb on the back of a cereal packet or the next Booker Prize winner, it’s anything but certain, even after a spectacular success. But once a writer, always one: watching, listening

I opened the paper to be met by the beaming grin of Claudia Winkleman accompanied by the happy headline: ‘Claudia takes over as Strictly Dancing host’. Finally! I exclaimed, nearly falling off the kitchen chair with glee. The BBC have finally realised

As Monte Carlo revs up for the Formula 1 Grand Prix on Sunday, David Mercer visits Monaco It may be known as a playground for the rich and famous, but the arrival of one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors still caused ripples of excitement across

In a world obsessed with celebrity, where the pertness of Kim Kardashian’s rear end is afforded almost as many column inches as the 200 missing school girls abducted by Boko Haram in Nigeria, the incredible story of Stephen Sutton has shone out this

I learned to drive in central London, where after about a thousand lessons and three attempts, I finally passed my test. Some of my family and friends maintain I never really got the hang of it but that’s a different story. Looking at how the

A MAN has died after he was found unconscious in Deddington High Street in the early hours of this morning. Thames Valley Police said the man, who is thought to have been in his late 60s, appeared to have fallen into an area in front of a basement

James Constable says he has not given up all hope of becoming Oxford United’s record goalscorer. The 29-year-old ended a six-year spell with the U’s when joining Conference Premier side Eastleigh this week. The striker leaves United frustratingly

EDDIE Pepperell made an early start this morning to complete a tidy opening round at the BMW PGA Championship. Storms at Wentworth yesterday disrupted the schedule at the European Tour's flagship event and meant the Abingdon golfer could only complete

IT CAME as a surprise and a pleasure to be invited to a banquet – for ducks – although the invitation was offered more out of maternal despair. Four-year-old Jed was armed with two stale sliced loaves and was making sure every crumb counted as

THE end of the Ashmolean Museum’s 330th birthday celebrations is at hand. The oldest public museum in the world has changed faces many times over the years, but it’s purpose has remained constant: to tell us the stories of our hopes, aspirations

A DILAPIDATED building which has been hit by vandals on Oxford’s Wood Farm estate is to make way for housing. Plans for the former Marywood Hostel – empty for 15 years – feature 24 apartments and accommodation for people with learning disabilities

FIREFIGHTERS had to rescue a four-year-old boy from a 30-foot high roof on in Wood Farm. Young George Groves climbed onto the roof of his home after he became stuck in a bathroom on the top floor. When he was unable to open the bathroom door

An 89-year-old woman died after choking while being fed at a care home. Dorothy Rawlings, a retired secretary, was being fed by a carer at the Brookfield Christian Care Home in Greater Leys on May 19 when she suffered swallowing difficulties and

FORMER Oxford United player Dave Langan has sold several of his awards for £2,640. They included the 57-year-old’s Oxford United Player of the Year award for the season 1984/85, which was sold for £80 – £20 less than the estimate. The former

3:55pm Turn out in Oxford city was 37 per cent for the district council and 38 per cent for the European elections. Those Euro elections are coming in on Sunday night. 3:52pm

4:32pm Tailbacks on A34 after four-car crash 2:19pm Bank Holiday getaway traffic causes delays in Bicester and Wolvercote

THREE-year-old Oliver Nevill led the way at a woodland nature hunt. Nearly 80 children attended the Forest Tots drop-in play session and Oliver clearly loved going on the outdoor adventure. He was joined by his nanny Helen Daffern. Forest

A GARDEN city for Oxfordshire has been proposed again, this time by planning minister Nick Boles. The minister suggested the idea to Wantage MP Ed Vaizey in response to his call for an “urgent review” over Oxfordshire’s housing target. In a

WE would encourage Oxford City Council to look at the traders’ proposal to cut parking charges during part of the day to try to entice more shoppers in while we wait for the revamped Westgate. The future once the revitalised centre is completed

ONCE again the people living near Abingdon, Steventon and East Hanney will feel the trepidation that there may once again be a chance they will find a new ‘garden city’ on their doorsteps. Planning minister Nick Boles lobbed in that particular

Chinnor have snapped up former Exeter, Bristol and Cornish Pirates centre Junior Fatialofa as their new player-coach. The 33-year-old New Zealander, who is director of rugby Matt Williams’s first signing of the close season, will head up Chinnor

Banbury captain Jimmy Phillips is not getting carried away with their start to the Division 1 season. Phillips’s side, who visit Tring Park tomorrow, have won their first two matches to lead the table by 14 points. But he stressed: “There is

FLOODING caused shops in Witney to shut after a sudden downpour. Drains overflowed as the rains hit at 1pm yesterday. Manager at Clarks shoe shop, Lucy Webb, said: “The drains outside the shop have flooded. The water had come right up to the

A WOMAN told police that a 26-year-old man who faces six charges of rape treated her like a “punch-bag”. Lewyn Rudge, of Valentia Road, Headington, denies the charges in relation to two women, as well as five charges of causing actual bodily harm

AN OXFORDSHIRE cat home is having kittens after receiving a catastrophic number of unwanted litters. Blue Cross Burford says it has taken in a record 40 kittens already this year, three times as many as the same time last year. The reason,

A BURNING dinner was mistaken for a house fire in Blackbird Leys. Two fire crews, from Slade Park and Rewley Road, went to the house in Juniper Road after a neighbour heard the smoke alarms sounding and noticed the smell of smoke. No one was

An 84-year-old man died in hospital almost two weeks after being hit by a car, an inquest heard yesterday. Raymon Martin, a retired butcher of Palmer Place, Abingdon, was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, after the accident on April

EXOTIC animals have already started appearing on Cowley Road in preparation for this year’s Cowley Road Carnival. At a workshop at East Oxford Community Centre on Wednesday, artistic carnival supporters were decorating flags and banners which will

Oxford University will look to defend their title when they host Cambridge in the shortest version of the game - the Varsity Twenty20 match - today (3.30). The Dark Blues triumphed in 2012, the last time the match was played in The Parks, while

Liz Bamber led the way as Oxfordshire over 40s won their opening Division 2A match 6-4 against Scotland West in the Senior County League. Despite being eligible for the over 60s team, the Bampton player got them off to a good start by winning the

Saturday CRICKET SERIOUS CRICKET HOME COUNTIES PREMIER LEAGUE Div 1: Harefield v Aston Rowant, Henley v Gerrards Cross, High Wycombe v Oxford, Tring Park v Banbury. Div 2: Great & Little Tew v Falkland, Horspath v Cove, Reading v Shipton-u-Wychwood

THE family of a man crushed to death by a block of limestone said they hoped lessons will be learned after his employer was convicted of corporate manslaughter. David Evans was working as a stonemason’s mate on a building site in Moulsford, near

Oxford RL visit Hemel Stags for the first time since losing at Pennine Way in last season’s play-offs. The Stags edged a tight game 30-26, and there has been little to choose between the sides so far this season. Oxford sit one point below

Oxfordshire will need to hit the heights against Surrey at Grove tomorrow if they are to secure a Twickenham final spot (3). That ics the message from head coach Craig Burrows, who admits Shield holders Surrey are favourites for the semi-final

Justin Burnell says London Welsh’s play-off final against Bristol cannot come around soon enough. The Exiles host Bristol at the Kassam Stadium on Wednesday night (7.45) in the first leg of their Greene King IPA Championship final. And having

Malcolm Evans starred as Oxfordshire made it two wins from two in Group 4 of the ECB 50+ Championship with a 136-run drubbing of Herefordshire at Challow & Childrey. The visitors never looked like chasing down Oxon’s imposing 45-over total

A 28-YEAR-OLD burglar is on the run after breaching the conditions of his prison release. Thames Valley Police want to take Lee Doyle back to prison after he breached the terms of his parole licence. Doyle was jailed for 32 months in February

A guide dogs roadshow will be held at Kidlington Baptist Church on Thursday, June 5. The event aims to inspire visitors and let them learn about the work of guide dogs and how individuals and offices could help raise money for the Guide Dogs charity

CHILDREN dressed up in their pyjamas to fundraise in memory of a popular North Oxford primary school teacher who died from cancer. The toddlers enjoyed a morning of games and music at the pyjama party for Angela Clare, who died in January.

A WOMAN who said she was sexually assaulted by two men has been accused by a barrister of not being able to keep her story straight. Yesterday the complainant – who was pregnant at the time of the incident – was cross examined in Oxford Crown Court

Alex and Beth Simmons dropped just five games in four sets as Oxford City beat Cholsey 3-1 in Ladies Division 1 of the Oxfordshire Wilson Summer League. RESULTS Ladies Div 1: Oxford City 3, Cholsey 1; Virgin Active 4, Banbury 0; Wantage 1,

People of all ages turned out to make the most of free tennis sessions at courts across Oxford last weekend. Boosted by the warm weather, it was the first of four Great British Tennis Weekends to be held this summer. Katie Leppard, chair and

OXFORD CENTRAL (Carentan, 6 sent 62): 1, 2, 3 Mr & Mrs V Hall 1308, 1307, 1297; 4, 5, 6, L Wheeler 1288, 1257, 1238; 7, 11, Mr & Mrs R Ward 1237, 1175; 8, 9, K Shipperley 1228, 1192; 10, 12, 13, D Fellows 1186, 1170, 1101; 14 Mr & Mrs

Rich Harrison ruled the roost to win the Harwick 10 time trial in testing windy conditions. The Oxford City rider (pictured) clocked 22mins 19secs, ahead of Oxonian’s Malcolm Rose (22.31) and Tom Yeatman (Micky Cranks), who crossed the line in

MAGIC tricks and entertaining illusions are the themes of a new show. Magicians Rhys Morgan and Rob West will take their tricks back to the Victorian era for their Parlour Tricks performance. They met while studying science at Oxford University

A LABOUR councillor has been suspended by the party over a tweet that compared Tory policies to the Nazi treatment of Jewish people. Mark Cherry a county councillor for Banbury Calthorpe, was criticised after the tweet appeared on his timeline

THOUSANDS of voters across Oxfordshire went to the polls yesterday to choose their councillors and MEPs. European elections were held across the county while in Oxford, West Oxfordshire and Cherwell there were also district council elections.

POLICE have released a new photograph of missing man Andy Lever in a bid to trace him, as concerns for his welfare grow. The 41-year-old has not been seen since he left his family’s home in Portway, Banbury, on Saturday. Officers believe Mr

OLYMPIC Gold Medallist Jessica Ennis-Hill is calling on residents to join this year’s Oxford Half Marathon. The London 2012 heptathlon star has launched a new series of national running events, which will include the city’s half marathon. Sponsored

Oxfordshire's Eddie Pepperell shot four birdies in a row after having to wait almost three hours to play in the first round at Wentworth yesterday. The Frilford Heath professional, who showed his liking for the course with a tied sixth-place finish

A TRADERS’ chief has urged Oxford City Council leaders to consider introducing cut-price parking for shoppers to encourage more trade in the city centre during the day. Rescue Oxford spokesman Graham Jones said he was putting forward the proposal

OXFORD South Slavic Society will hold a benefit concert for flood victims in Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia at St Antony’s College, Woodstock Road. The concert at 9pm tonight will feature Balkan-inspired gypsy-punk five-piece, The Balkan Wanderers.

BROKEN pottery and recycled materials helped create mosaics to celebrate an 80th birthday. Residents of Florence Park, Oxford, attended sessions with artist Clare Goodall over a six-week period to make the displays. They were unveiled at Florence

CONSULTATION on major redevelopment in Summertown ends next week. Oxford City Council has earmarked the Diamond Place car park and Ewert House for a retail-led development as well as parking. It is putting together a planning document setting out

A SPECIAL school is taking “effective” action in re-energising staff and strengthening leadership after it was told to improve. John Watson School in Littleworth Road, Wheatley, was visited by Ofsted in November 2013 and was given the level three

WHEN the Olympic Torch came to Oxford two years ago, table tennis player Simon Price made sure he joined the crowd to see it pass through the city. Yesterday he said he was delighted to be taking part in a similar celebration, after being chosen