Archive

  • London Welsh 27, Bristol 8

    LONDON Welsh upset the formbook in devastating style to inflict a potentially decisive defeat on Bristol at the Kassam Stadium last night. The Exiles would have taken any sort of victory, but roared back with real style after a slow start.

  • Plan for splash park moves a step closer

    PLANS to create a community splash park are one step closer after a £75,000 cash boost. The money, awarded by landfill tax grants body Wren, will help transform facilities at The Leys Recreation Ground in Witney. More than £150,000 has been

  • Putting disabled first with enchanting Fairytale Farm

    THIS Sleeping Beauty is the latest attraction at a farm set up to be fully accessible to disabled visitors. The interactive diorama on Fairytale Farm’s “enchanted walk” was unveiled this weekend along with a scene from Hansel and Gretel. Children

  • MOTORSPORT: Bianchi delight at Marussia point

    Marussia’s Jules Bianchi could not hide his delight at a ninth-placed finish that earned the Banbury-based team their first points in Formula 1. The celebrations were ecstatic at the far end of the Monte Carlo pitlane as the minnows finally registered

  • Ladders causing delays on A34

    A SET of ladders is causing traffic delays on the A34. The equipment is partially blocking the A34 southbound between the A4183 Oxford Road and A415 Marcham Road junctions. Our top stories:

  • Update: Missing Benson man and daughter found safe and well

    POLICE have confirmed missing Benson dad and his three-year-old daughter have been found safe and well in Didcot today.  Benson man Ewan Powell, 42, and daughter Tanith had been missing since Saturday when he visited her at home in Worcester.

  • High-speed shape of things to come

    MEET the new face of express train travel in Oxford, Didcot and the Cotswolds. This is the nose of the IEP trains which will operate Great Western high-speed services between Oxfordshire, London, Bristol and South Wales from 2017. Construction

  • Road signs are ‘not working’ at roundabout

    A SECOND councillor has joined calls for warning “rumble strips” to be installed on the approach to a Bicester roundabout. Catherine Fulljames says planned road signs are a waste of money and raised painted lines should be added to the A41 approach

  • No easy answers to big housing question

    WHEN Graham Steinsberg’s Radley home burnt down 18 months ago, he had to apply for planning permission to rebuild it. His application was almost refused because the plans contained one new corridor. Vale of White Horse District Council planning

  • Road closure plan branded as ‘absolutely disgraceful’

    NETWORK Rail has warned three communities in the Vale of White Horse of further road closures as part of its electricification scheme. But county and Wantage town councillor Jenny Hannaby yesterday said she would pressurise the company to put in

  • Brendan’s prepared for his Queen’s Scout Award

    BRENDAN Cahill has certainly lived up to his Scout’s Honour after being presented with the Queen’s Scout Award. The 25-year-old, from Headington, started working for his award – the highest scouting youth award possible – seven years ago aged 18

  • This is an accident waiting to happen...

    WITH mind boggling incompetence, the local authorities failed to consider the health and safety of cyclists when they decided in their wisdom to allow all traffic to use the cycle lane in Gloucester Street. Any council would have placed signs for cyclists

  • Developments couldn’t have been predicted

    YOUR editorial (Move is smoke and mirrors to make group seem prudent, May 21), implies that some deal has been done behind the scenes to write off our predicted overspend and that this has involved an additional call on the public purse. This is simply

  • Disgrace the way a top player has been treated

    THANK you, Mr Lenagan, for letting us know your intentions for the future of OUFC. It’s a disgrace the way he has treated James Constable over this transfer business. If he’s that hard up, sell us to someone who wants to take us forward. His tightness

  • Indication of electorate realising futility of vote

    ONE questions the reason seven people found the aspiration to become a public servant in the role of local councillor to represent the Oxford Churchill ward at the election of May 22, 2014. The previous county council election (May 2, 2013) showed

  • How can a non-league team offer better terms?

    SHAMBOLIC is the only way to describe the departure of Beano (James Constable) to Eastleigh. How is it that a non-league team can offer him better terms than Oxford? I fully appreciate he wasn’t the most prolific of scorers, however he scored

  • New bid made to develop former employment site

    A FRESH bid has been made to replace East Oxford employment land that was lost two years ago. A developer has applied to demolish the remaining part of the former Travis Perkins builders’ merchants in Collins Street for offices and 31 flats.

  • Charity cycling fans pedal off into yesteryear

    HARDLY dressed for the occasion, these cycling enthusiasts have set off on a 420-mile cycle to Scarborough from Wantage Market Place. The group, from the national Camping and Caravanning Club (CCC), are raising money for cycling charity Sustrans

  • Caterham F1 racing team "not for sale" - Fernandes

    MORE than 350 staff at the headquarters of the Caterham Formula 1 motor racing team are breathing a sigh of relief after their boss insisted the business is not for sale. Tony Fernandes was said to have put the Leafield-based organisation on the

  • Spike in phone call credit card hoaxes

    THERE has been a spike in scam calls in Bicester, as three people nearly became victims of fraud. Three people from the Bicester area all received suspicious calls yesterday, where the caller claimed to be working for the police, a bank or a fraud

  • Broken-down lorry cleared from A34 Western Bypass

    A BROKEN-down lorry that was blocking a slip road on the A34 Western Bypass Road has been removed. The northbound lane of the entry slip road at Wytham Lane was blocked because of the vehicle earlier today.     

  • Cycle ‘divas’ pedal to Paris for hospice

    MEMBERS of staff at Helen & Douglas House are going above and beyond the call of duty for the East Oxford hospice. The “Douglas Divas” will cycle 300 miles from London to Paris for the children’s hospice, which helps terminally ill children

  • RUGBY UNION: Exiles coach says fans can swing final

    LONDON Welsh head coach Justin Burnell says the Kassam Stadium crowd can be worth a converted try when they take on Bristol tonight (7.45). The Exiles are expecting an attendance of betweeen 4,000-5,000 for the Greene King IPA Championship final

  • LONDON WELSH: Robinson confident of going up

    FORMER England and Scotland coach Andy Robinson is one of the best known faces in British rugby. Having become Bristol’s director of rugby in February 2013, his big-spending side are now favourites to return to the Premiership for the first time

  • COMMENT: Aiming for a positive out of tragedy

    HOPEFULLY the single Jayden’s Smile, written following the tragedy that befell young Jayden Parkinson, will raise money for the charity set up in her name. Her former school counsellor has written the tune, with the last line about “our angel dancing

  • COMMENT: Oxfam should get every penny back from this thief

    IT would be naive to expect fraudster Edward McKenzie-Green to have a shred of dignity or integrity and pay back the £29,000 golden handshake he took when he slinked out of Oxfam. Yesterday McKenzie-Green, Oxfam’s one-time head of counter fraud

  • Wednesday, May 28

    7:21pm The Benson man and his three-year-old daughter have been found safe and well in Didcot today 4:52pm Garsington Road in Cowley is partially blocked

  • FOOTGOLF: The new craze hoping to sweep the nation

    GENTEEL golf and rowdy football may appear to have little in common, but a new sport is hoping to change that. Footgolf, which combines the two historic games, has spread quickly in the USA and aficionados hope for a similar impact on these shores

  • London Welsh skipper seeking new career highlight

    TOM May says leading London Welsh back into the Premiership would be among the highlights of his career. The former England international has played in the top flight with Newcastle and Northampton, as well as for Toulon in France. But Welsh

  • Four-car collision in Banbury Road, Bicester

    FOUR cars were involved in an accident on the Banbury Road in Bicester last night.  The cars - a Citroen, a Chevrolet, a Renault Clio and a Seat Ibiza - were involved in the collision just before 6pm. Both police and ambulance attended the

  • Sex assault victim's DNA found on defendant's nails

    AN EXPERT witness has said the probability of DNA found on a man’s fingernails not coming from a girl accusing him of sexual assault is one in a billion. The complainant alleges she was the victim of sexual assaults by two men after she woke up

  • Young visitor brings museum masterpiece to life

    CHILDREN recreated a famous portrait at Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum on Bank Holiday Monday. They were photographed sitting in front of Edward Manet’s 1868 Portait of Mademoiselle Claus while wearing a similar dress and hat to that worn by the woman

  • Stegmann: London Welsh cannot afford slow start again

    SEB Stegmann says London Welsh must not repeat the poor starts which almost proved costly against Leeds when they face Bristol tonight. The 25-year-old back described the semi-final second leg of their 60-58 aggregate win over Leeds as “one of

  • Rape claims denied

    A 26-year-old accused of six counts of rape has denied all the charges against him. Lewyn Rudge, of Valentia Road, Headington, also faces five counts of causing actual bodily harm in relation to two women between April 2009 and January last year

  • Historic sex charges

    A 72-year-old man has appeared at Oxford Crown Court charged with historic sex offences. Rodney Smallman, of Erica Close, Banbury, faces 10 counts of indecent assault on a male person and six counts of gross indecency. The offences are alleged

  • Girl band seek a spot in BGT’s grand finale

    Two county teenagers will perform on tonight’s Britain’s Got Talent semi-final. Renetta Eagle, 19, from Headington, and 16-year-old Ebony Cantwell, from Grove, are two-thirds of girl group REAformed. The trio, completed by Alexis Economou,

  • Ping! serves up exciting sports challenge

    POP-UP ping pong tables are returning to Oxford. Venues are being invited to host the second Ping! Oxford table tennis event after its success last year. The event runs from July 12 until September 7 and places have the opportunity to keep

  • Angel Jayden remembered in song written from heart

    JAYDEN Parkinson’s former school counsellor has written a song in the teenager’s memory. Jayden’s Smile will also raise money for the charity that Jayden’s mum Sam Shrewsbury is setting up for domestic abuse victims. Jayden Parkinson

  • AUNT SALLY: Sixers galore as Bells ring up big victory

    SIX Bells C Kidlington extended their undefeated start to the Greene King Oxford & District League season as half their team bagged sixes in a 3-0 win at Rose Hill Club A, writes ANDY BEAL. Alan Goodgame (5-6-5) led the way with 16 dolls.

  • RACING: Bridie stars for Channon

    Bridie Ffrench (9-2) continued West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon’s winning run with victory at Leicester yesterday. It followed his double at the Midlands track on Monday with Kickboxer and Highlife Dancer.

  • Web petition launched for West Way support

    The developer behind the £100m West Way, Botley, proposals has started an e-petition for supporters to sign. Doric Properties said it hoped people in favour of the scheme would show support in the run-up to its final submission of planning documents

  • You call this a holiday?

    ATTACHED to a heavy ball and chain and decked out in a prison outfit, it’s not the usual way for a schoolboy to kick off a half-term holiday. But Freddie Cooke had the chance to become a Victorian prisoner at Oxford Castle yesterday afternoon.

  • Hospital asbestos exposure led to the death of doctor

    A DOCTOR from Wallingford died after years of exposure to asbestos when he was a medical student, a court heard. Andrew Lawson, 55, who died from the cancer mesothelioma in February, contracted the disease as a consequence of training at Guy’s

  • POINT-TO-POINT: Ravethebrave stars to shock Gwanako

    BERKS & BUCKS AND STAFF COLLEGE & RMAS DRAGHOUNDS Ravethebrave claimed a notable scalp by slamming Gwanako to spark a treble for Aston Rowant trainer Alan Hill at Kingston Blount, near Chinnor, and tighten his grip on the Connolly’s Red

  • LONDON WELSH: Stedman out for more this time around

    OLLIE Stedman would love to experience promotion first hand after being a spectator with Newcastle last year. The London Welsh No 8 was part of the Falcons squad who won the Championship in 2013, but did not feature in the play-offs. Stedman

  • Inquest: woman had anxiety

    A 33-year-old mother-of-two who hanged herself in Shotover Country Park had a history of depression, Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court has ruled. Liladebi Sunwar, of Chillingworth Crescent, Oxford, “took her own life,”, said assistant coroner Peter Clark

  • GBH sentence deferred

    A 22-year-old man who was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent has had his sentencing adjourned. Aamir Arfi, of Middleton Road, Banbury, was convicted after a trial at Oxford Crown Court last month of carrying out an attack

  • Playing generation games over 100 memorable years

    THEY may be four generations apart but love bonds these two together as they each mark their special birthdays. Beatrice Johnson cuddles great-great-granddaughter Phoebe Justice as she celebrated her 100th birthday on Monday. Mrs Johnson, known

  • Should all five- to seven-year-olds get free school dinners?

    The decision to offer free school lunches for all pupils in reception and Years 1 and 2 of state funded schools was announced by Nick Clegg, the deputy Prime Minister, at the Lib Dem Conference in Glasgow last autumn, and comes into force with the

  • Newey agrees new deal with Oxford United

    TOM Newey is hoping to make up for the disappointment of missing out on the play-offs with Oxford United by signing up for another season. After taking time to consider his options, the 31-year-old, who was out of contract this summer, has agreed

  • Hanging around with a super hero

    THIS year’s Harwell Village Feast was “England at its best”, according to visitors. The annual village fete saw hundreds of people enjoying fairground rides and games despite persistent rain. Among them was six-year-old Tommy Vereker, who didn

  • CRICKET: Brock shines as Tew reach county finals

    Great & Little Tew beat local rivals Shipton-under-Wychwood by three wickets to book their place in the Oxfordshire final of the Davidstow Village Cup. They will now face either Tiddington or Cumnor on June 8 after their match was washed out

  • Gastro pub fails test

    A village gastro pub at Fyfield near Abingdon has been told it needs to urgently improve its hygiene. The White Hart was given a zero star food hygiene rating out of a possible five stars by Vale of White Horse District Council after its April

  • Man disappears with daughter, aged three

    A MAN was last night missing with his three-year-old daughter. Ewan Powell from Benson, was last seen at his daughter Tanith’s home in Worcestershire on Saturday morning and Thames Valley Police said he was last spoken to on Monday. The force

  • ‘No regrets’ says Lib Dems’ sole MEP after poll disaster

    BRITAIN’S only Lib Dem MEP said she is “disappointed” at her party’s poor performance in this week’s European elections but regrets no part of the party’s campaign. Oxford’s Catherine Bearder was re-elected as an MEP for the South East region in

  • CRICKET: White effort proves all in vain

    Great & Little Tew had reached 118-5 from 15 overs when their Home Counties Premier League Twenty20 first-round tie at home to Chesham was washed out. Joe White had hit 39 off 21 balls and Curtly Slatter was 27 not out when the rain came down

  • CRICKET: Williams leads the way as Garsington move to third

    Garsington made the most of the inclement weather to move up to third in Division 1 of the OCA League. Only three games in the entire league beat the showers, two of those matches coming in the top flight. Garsington’s home clash with Chadlington

  • Cast get their teeth into a classic tale

    Vampire tales are set to captivate visitors to this year’s Oxford Fringe as the story of a Transylvanian legend is staged. Produced by Reverend Productions, Bram Stoker’s classic Dracula opened yesterday and will run until Sunday, June 1, at the

  • CPRE welcomes subsidy axe for big solar farms

    PROPOSALS to axe a subsidy for large solar farms have been welcomed by countryside campaigners. The Government has said from April 2015 it wants to stop solar farms of capacities above 5MW from joining the Renewables Obligation (RO) scheme, which

  • Leys computer courses safe after council deal is agreed

    AFTER being evicted from their base and having to shut down for a month, a community computer service has been saved. Leys Information Technology Zone (Litz) had to leave the area’s community centre at the end of April, after rent wrangles with

  • CRICKET: Majestic Max opens Horspath clubhouse

    Horspath celebrated the grand opening of their new clubroom on Saturday night. Club stalwart and secretary Max Eason, known for his majestic square cuts during his playing days, performed a different cut by snipping the ribbon to cheers from around

  • Cash incentives increase in bid to reduce bed-blocking

    CARE firms will get extra cash payments under the latest council plans to keep the elderly out of hospital. Oxfordshire County Council expects to spend more than £100,000 a year as part of efforts to tackle problems such as bed-blocking. It

  • Second pub sold in deal with firm

    ABINGDON’S Saxton Arms has been sold to newly-formed pub giant Hawthorn Leisure. Greene King has sold the pub in Saxton Road – along with Ock Street’s Cross Keys, as reported in the Oxford Mail earlier this month – as part of a £75.6m national

  • Charity coins it in from bridge’s funds donation

    BANK holiday drivers donated more than £1,000 to a mental health charity in Wilcote, near Witney. Every Bank Holiday Monday the owners of the Swinford Toll Bridge, part of the B4044, give control of the bridge to a charity so the toll fare of 5p

  • Banner will capture essence of historic Oxford

    A NEW Oxford banner designed by residents will celebrate city architecture, academia and evolution. Professional London banner maker Ed Hall helped design the standard with Oxford residents in a workshop at Modern Art Oxford on Sunday. He is

  • CRICKET: Perkin's early blast sets up Oxford victory

    Jamie Perkin hit 93 off 96 balls as Oxford reached round two of the Club Conference Cricket Cup with a 39-run success at Valley End. The opener’s fine knock, which contained eight fours and five sixes saw the visitors post 224-8 off their 45 overs

  • CRICKET: Whittell in fine debut for Rowant

    Will Whittell starred on his debut as Aston Rowant beat Chingford by eight wickets in their Club Conference Cricket Cup first round clash. A below-par fielding display from the visitors saw the Essex side reach 208-7 off their 45 overs. In

  • Crowning glory for Rebecca and her attendants

    REBECCA Singleton, 14, will be the face of this year’s Eynsham Carnival after being chosen as Carnival Queen. The Bartholomew School pupil will lead processions at the annual village event. She will take centre stage at Eynsham’s 68th carnival

  • Action plan to help cut town’s air pollution

    TRAFFIC restrictions to cut air pollution in Wallingford could be back on the cards six years after they were first proposed. South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) has to cut pollution to meet European Union guidelines. Wallingford, Watlington

  • Mother calls on GPs to find out about tumours

    A MOTHER is urging GPs to wise up on the symptoms of brain tumours after struggling for more than a year to get her son’s cancer diagnosed. Cheryl Davis battled GPs and hospital staff to get her son Miles – who was five at the time – to get a brain