OFTEN unable to express his feelings, brain damaged Ben Whymark is finding his voice thanks to the magic of art. The seven-year-old contracted meningitis aged 16 months and suffered damage to the frontal lobes and the back of his brain. The
POLICE are to set up shop in a Cowley shopping centre to warn people about fraudsters targeting the vulnerable. Thames Valley Police will hold the awareness event at Templars Square on Wednesday between 9am and 4pm to highlight recent courier frauds
NATURE lovers in Oxfordshire are being encouraged to camp outside and get closer to nature with an event organised by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. The RSPB’s Big Wild Sleepout, which is on Saturday, June 21, will give the public
Oxford Golf Club are staging an event this week to boost the campaign to save Oxford Stadium. The future of the stadium at Cowley, which used to host speedway and greyhound racing, is under threat to be used as a site for housing. The ‘Save Our
A CYCLIST has been taken to hospital after a bike and a car collided in Oxford this afternoon. The collision was at the junction of Parks Road and Banbury Road at about 5pm. A man in his 30s was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital by ambulance
TRAINS running through Oxfordshire have been disrupted by a “trespass incident” near Reading. It means inter-city and stopping services between London Paddington and Reading have been suspended while the trespasser is dealt with. There is currently
JOSEPH Chamberlain couldn’t be sure that his wartime message to his wife would reach its destination. The fact that it did arrive at the correct address was due to an unknown Good Samaritan and the goodwill of the GPO, the General Post Office.
NO WONDER these Aunt Sally players were in happy mood. They were members of the team at the Globe pub in Jericho, Oxford, and they had just become the 1992 Section 7 winners in the Aunt Sally League. The picture comes from Debbie Simms, whose
Parents staged a 24-hour darts marathon at The Grapes pub in 1990 and raised more than £1,000 towards a new building for the village playgroup. A fundraising committee had set a £20,000 target to replace a dilapidated building behind William Fletcher
THESE men, proudly posing behind an array of trophies, had clearly had a successful year. Members of the Pressed Steel Rifle Club at Cowley appear to be attending an end-of-season celebration. The pictures come from Pat Ayers, of Bassett Avenue
THE A40 has long been the scourge of commuters who live in West Oxfordshire and work in Oxford. Even though action plans have been suggested by successive Oxfordshire County Council administrations, no major changes have been made in at least four
A CARTERTON man will not go to prison after being found with cannabis in his pants. Jonah Miles-Collett appeared at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply. He was found with 40g of cannabis in his
DR HARRY Carpenter was kept busy attending numerous school and church centenaries during his 15 years as Bishop of Oxford. The man responsible for this heavy workload was one of his predecessors, Samuel Wilberforce. Dr Carpenter explained:
TRAFFIC was severely delayed on the A40 this afternoon as police talked a man down from a bridge. Thames Valley Police was called to the fear for welfare incident above the Northern Bypass near Marston shortly before 4pm. Police spokeswoman
Jack Casley one of the great servants to football in Oxford, helping both Oxford United and Oxford City during close to 60 years in the game, has died at the age of 88. He was the first professional footballer at Headington United, joining the
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AN AMBULANCE response service admitted to a serious disclosure of thousands of staff members’ data. South Central Ambulance Service, which covers Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Hampshire, said the breach had occurred on its website
READING the letter by Chris Stevens makes my blood boil about Oxford Utd Ladies and other women’s teams. They have as much right as the men to have the headlines in the Oxford Mail. He goes on to say he has a keen interest in local football
DOES the BBC really have to show so many violent film clips that just demonstrate it’s OK to punch another human being? Mark Kermode, presenter of film review on BBC Breakfast, was positively enthusing about the violence in a clip from the film Wolverine
ONCE again, we’ve had a city council election by the first-past-the-post system. Once again, we have a large Labour majority, 33 out of 48 seats, and no Conservatives. The injustice of this is obvious. In previous years, I have tried to analyse
OXFORD MAGISTRATES Sophie Blakemore, 37, of Northmoor Road, Oxford, admitted speeding at 76mph in a 50mph zone on the M40 on November 13. Fined £335, told to pay a £33 victims’ surcharge and £65 costs. Licence endorsed with six points.
A LANDLORD will pay £2,450 after admitting he failed to safely maintain an East Oxford home. Oxford City Council said Asim Ali’s House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) was found in a poor state of disrepair when it was checked in a routine inspection
AN ADVENTURER has set himself the challenge of a life-time spending up to 12 months on top of a floating iceberg. Alex Bellini is no stranger to epic challenges and hopes his latest feat will encourage people to change attitudes about global warming
THIS Volunteers’ Week, make a difference to the lives of older people in Oxfordshire. Researchers say loneliness can be as harmful for our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and doubles the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s. As many as 1,400
ANDREW Smith, reflecting on the high number of children in Oxford being educated privately, makes the important point: “It’s not like you can’t get a good education in the state sector here, and have to go private” (‘Everyone here has something to
WITH all the ongoing rhetoric about housing growth and railway transport improvements going on, could there be a hidden agenda which Oxford and its surrounds could be being planned as another overspill area for London? MRS ANNIE SMITH Cromwell
I am writing concerning the HS2 and Chilterns story (‘Standing in the way of our natural beauty’, May 30). I think that the HS2 Rail Link should be cancelled immediately as those whom we least trust, politicians, are in favour of it. If those in
IT IS always encouraging to see the city council willing to correct misleading information and of course we naturally welcome the additional information provided by Councillor Rowley (Letters, May 23) in relation to the new pool being built at Blackbird
Oxford is an amazing city in many ways, not the least of which is the vibrant tradition of inter-faith tolerance and respectful relationships. It’s not only between faiths but also between denominations of the same faith, for example the Oxford
A CHARLBURY-based charity is facing international demand after it posted videos online of those it has helped. SpecialEffect adapts video game systems so they can be used by people with physical disabilities. Chief executive Dr Mick Donegan
Fortunately I can both walk and run across the county of Oxfordshire, but ask me to walk down George Street while eating or drinking and it’s simply impossible. I mention this only because last week while seated at my favourite table in O’Neills
GARY Waddock is hoping the wait for Oxford United’s first signing of the summer could be over in the next few days. While there have been plenty of signings completed across Sky Bet League Two in the four weeks since the end of last season, United
ABINGDON’S Eddie Pepperell produced a superb display to record a top-six finish in Sweden this weekend. But the Frilford Heath ace, who went into yesterday’s final round in Malmo as joint leader with Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, was left to reflect
QUEUEING traffic has been reported on the A420 at the Botley interchange due to a broken-down lorry. One lane has been closed on the eastbound A34 Western ByPass Road carriageway, on the approach to the roundabout.
A CONSULTATION exercise, to find out the local reaction to a major development in Summertown, has now closed. Oxford City Council is planning a retail-led development on the Diamond Place car park and is compiling a planning document which will
CITY councillor Bob Price will be re-confirmed as the leader of Oxford City Council next week. The Labour councillor for Hinksey Park, pictured, was elected last year for a four-year term. His continuing role will be confirmed at the annual council
DRIVERS caught flouting Oxford’s 20mph zones by as little as 4mph will now face a £100 fine and three points on their licence. Thames Valley Police will start ticketing motorists breaking the limit this month and will offer a new £95 speed awareness
SAFETY campaigners in Oxford celebrated five years ago when 20mph zones were brought in across the city following a £250,000 investment by the county council. But the celebrations fell flat when campaigners realised that the zones were not being
Oxford Golf Club in Hill Top Road will play host to a charity golf day on June 5. Some 13 teams of four people are expected to take part and QPR boss Harry Redknapp has donated the trophy he won at Oxford Stadium in 2007 as the winner’s trophy.
THE number of children being referred to the police in Oxfordshire because of emotional abuse has almost trebled in the last year. A total 81 county cases were referred to Thames Valley Police by child abuse charity the NSPCC in 2013/14, up from
THE man hoping to save Oxford Stadium has told the developer to name its price. Galliard abandoned its attempt to demolish the stadium and replace it with 220 homes earlier this month and put the stadium up for lease. But Nick Budimir has been
BLENHEIM Palace has revealed it has raised more than £10,000 for two military charities through a First World War exhibition. A Great Estate At War marks the centenary of the First World War, with extracts from war diaries of Oscar Guest, one of
A 16-year-old boy, a 22-year-old man, and a 39-year-old woman have been arrested over two burglaries. The trio from Oxford were arrested on suspicion of burglary after jewellery and cash were stolen from homes in Azalea Walk, Banbury, overnight
Tools have been stolen from a business in the town. Up to four burglars broke into TVE Hire and Sales in Audlett Drive between 10pm last Monday and 3am on Tuesday. They got into the back yard and moved an external security camera, getting into
A groundbreaking ceremony will take place this week for a major development at a North Oxford college. Lady Margaret Hall will begin construction work on two new buildings at the front of the college — the Clore Graduate Centre and the Donald Fothergill
Airey Cup 1st round Westbury 157 (T Wilson 40, U Rafi 5-14, M A Khan 3-23), Oxenford 112 (G Judd 5-26, C Harper 3-20). Broughton & North Newington 46 (A Armitage 4-12, M McStraw 3-10, J Wilkins 3-16), Great Horwood 48-2. E & W Hendred
Division 1 Twyford 216-8 (K Hussain 56no, T Hussain 32, S Khari 32, S Jones 3-29), Cumnor 177 (A Morteza 67no, B Asal 4-42, Z Hussain 3-42, M Stanway 3-43). Great Brickhill 148-9 (M Baker 51, G Morris 31, S Hart 3-24, O Murray 3-25), Banbury
PROTESTERS marched through Oxford city centre to campaign against the use of fossil fuels. The Fossil Free Future demonstration started in Radcliffe Square on Saturday morning and marched its way to Bonn Square. Speakers at the event included
ABINGDON woke up to the sound of revving engines yesterday as the annual Ride of Respect took to the road. About 3,000 bikers gathered at the town’s Dalton Barracks at 9am and rode to Carterton to raise money for charity. As the bikers paraded
COUNCIL workers were called to Cutteslowe Pavilion in North Oxford over the weekend after complaints about sewage. Oxford City Council was alerted following reports that sewage was leaking from the pavilion. Workmen were on site on Saturday cleaning
THOUSANDS of bikers got a warm welcome yesterday when they arrived in Oxfordshire for the Ride of Respect. The annual event is going from strength to strength and is an eye-catching way of raising funds for servicemen and women, and their families
Division 1 Aston Rowant 127 (47 ovs, J Smith 44, N Ferraby 32, H Gandam 3-27), Burnham 128-5 (30.5 ovs, H Gandam 68no). Banbury v High Wycombe – abandoned. Gerrards Cross 91 (47.2 ovs, D Maddinson 3-20), Tring Park 92-5 (30 ovs, K Dutch
ARSENAL legend Martin Keown said Oxford’s Cowley Road was “ahead of its time” in promoting multiculturalism as he watched footballers from across the world in a tournament yesterday. The former England player presented trophies at the Bar Aroma
6:16pm Cyclist in hospital after collision with car 6:11pm Person on line causes rail delays 4:53pm
FIREFIGHTERS were called to a fire at the back of a Co-op in Banbury last night, thought to be an act of arson. A spokesman said the blaze, put out by one fire crew, began in a plastic flower display at the Queensway branch at around 11.24pm.
OXFORD were comprehensively beaten by Slough in their Home Counties Premier League Division 1 clash on Saturday. Ian Crosby’s side were bowled out for 144, some 129 runs short of their target. After asking their hosts to bat first, Oxford were
Shipton-under-Wychwood failed to build on a tremendous start as they lost by 26 runs at home to Amersham. The result means the hosts are propping up the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 2 table having failed to win a game.
OXFORDSHIRE County Council will probably not know until the autumn whether it will get most of the money towards a £125m flood relief channel around Oxford. Deputy leader of the council Rodney Rose has said Oxfordshire will most likely have to
Bicester Leisure Centre was evacuated after contractors set off a gas alarm. Members of the public were asked to leave the Queens Avenue leisure centre at around noon on Saturday when an alert for chlorine gas was triggered. It transpired it was
A teenager has been released without charge after being arrested over the robbery of a 12-year-old boy. The 17-year-old was arrested on suspicion of robbing the boy in Meadow Lane near Donnington Bridge in March. He answered bail on Thursday
Organisers of the Twin Town Challenge have revealed that more than £100,000 was raised by the charity event. It saw 50 teams driving cars worth £500 or less travel from Witney to its twin town in France, Le Touquet. On the way, drivers visited
BRITISH tennis hero Tim Henman scored yet another ace as he opened some new courts. The former world number four opened the new courts in Dorchester-on-Thames on Saturday. After carrying out his official duties the former Dragon School pupil
AN OXFORD poet is proving you are never too old to fight a war of words. David MacArnold, 62, better known in poetry circles as “Davy Mac”, will wield his wit at the National Poetry Slam Final, to be held underneath London’s Royal Albert Hall.
A GIRL was sexually assaulted in a park in Long Hanborough yesterday evening. Police spokeswoman Hannah Williams said the girl was approached by a man in the park off Roosevelt Road and attacked. One of the girl's friends alerted people near
ASTON Rowant lost their final eight wickets for just 28 runs in a five-wicket defeat at Burnham in Division 1 of the Home Counties Premier League on Saturday. The loss means Wes Morrick’s side are still looking for their first win of the season
A COUNCILLOR has been elected to a role overseeing one of the most important rail developments Oxfordshire and its neighbouring counties have seen in decades. County councillor Rodney Rose, the deputy leader of Oxfordshire County Council, has been
A TEENAGER who spat in the faces of a woman and her 19-month-old daughter has avoided jail after admitting assault. Joshua Derosa, of St Nicholas Road, Wallingford, pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault and was sentenced at Oxford Crown
THE new, cut-price designs for the revamping of Abingdon Guildhall will be revealed tomorrow night. Abingdon Town Council, which owns the building, is planning a £3.4m facelift for the 1960s hall to include a new 110-seater cinema and a cafe with
Oxford’s Andrew Triggs Hodge led Great Britain to gold in the men’s four after a blistering performance in Belgrade yesterday. Partnered by Alex Gregory, George Nash and Mohamed Sbihi, the British crew led from start to finish to take victory in
Zoe Shipperley was part of the England’s women team that lost 2-1 to the United States in their opening match in Holland leaving them little margin for error in Group B. Penalty corner strikes from Paige Selenski and Kelsey Kolojejchick put the
Great & Little Tew’s bowlers ripped through Horspath’s batting to secure a 55-run home victory in Division 2 of the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League on Saturday. With the match being reduced to 45 overs a side after the start was
MOST people would settle for finding the perfect house, but now one family has the chance to buy an entire hamlet. Little Rollright, a picturesque Cotswolds hamlet near Chipping Norton, is on the market for £18m by estate agent Savills. It
A MAN accused of perverting the course of justice following sex assault allegations has denied threatening a pregnant teenager. The complainant alleges she was sexually assaulted after she woke up in a house in Cowley Road, Oxford, on December
THE Headington Festival returned bigger and better than ever, running over both Saturday and Sunday for the first time in its history. Thousands of people descended on Bury Knowle Park for Headington’s biggest community event The festival was extended
CHILTERN Railways has been nominated for five awards in this year’s Railway Industry Innovation Awards. The projects nominated include its rail replacement bus service during the current project to rebuild the Oxford-Bicester Town line to create
THE two Oxfordshire councils with the best recycling rates in the country have extended their contract with Biffa until 2024. Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire district councils signed the deal for domestic waste collection this week. In
MOTORING robots are usually in the minds of car enthusiasts and designers. But now the 1,000 robots from Oxford’s Mini Plant have been used to inspire movements of a different dimension. Youngsters from the Pegasus Theatre-based dance group
PEOPLE over the age of 40 are putting their lives at risk by not getting free health checks. Fewer than half of the county’s 40 to 74-year-olds are attending the NHS checks, latest figures show. The county council, which is now responsbile
Hannah England finished 12th in the 1500m Prefontaine Classic IAAF meeting at Eugene, USA on Saturday. The Oxford City athlete crossed the line in a season’s best of 4mins 7.40secs as she continued her build up towards gaining a place in the Commonwealth
BLACKBIRD Leys city councillor Rae Humberstone has said the estate can benefit from his new role as the Sheriff of Oxford. He will take over from Mohammed Abbasi, who will be Oxford’s Lord Mayor, on Monday, June 9. Mr Humberstone, 64, said:
Lynn Little has been re-elected as mayor of Carterton for a second term. Summing up her first term, she picked out the Christmas lights switch-on last November as a highlight. In a message to residents, Mrs Little, who is married to Rod and
OXFORD’S first city councillor from a Bangladeshi background has spoken of her pride at being elected. Farida Anwar became a councillor for Headington Hill and Northway last week, winning a majority of nearly 300. The Headley Way resident has
