It was all over bar the shouting for Oxfordshire last night as they stood on the brink of a thrashing by Wiltshire in their opening Unicorns County Championship Western Division match at Banbury. Oxon’s makeshift side were staring down the barrel
Firefighters have been called to South Oxford tonight to a fire in some scrubland. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to land near the Redbridge Hollow travellers sire at 10.20pm and put the blaze out. There were no injuries and
THE making of clothes came to life for youngsters with a weaving session at the Pitt Rivers Museum last week. Children got to have a go at weaving both fabric and paper with a variety of simple looms at the workshop. Jess Myring, a genetic
TWO councils are continuing to shift responsibility for repairing a 40ft stretch of wall falling into the road in Wantage. Residents fear the wall, by a footpath in Wallingford Street, might not be repaired for years because of confusion over ownership
LEADERS of a 300-strong Hindu community group are still campaigning to build Oxford’s first Hindu temple – five years after the project launched. Those behind the Oxford Hindu Temple and Community Centre project have been hoping to establish a
COMEDY and science collided in a chat hosted by TV personality Ruby Wax and acclaimed British neurobiologist Colin Blakemore. Visitors to the Sheldonian Theatre were treated to a funny look at the relationship between neuroscience and mental health
TRAINS to and from London have been delayed this evening because of signalling problems. First Great Western has said the problem has affected trains in or out of London Paddington. The delays were estimated to be around 25 minutes.
A MAN has been charged in connection with a crash that saw 100 litres of fuel spill onto the A40 from a damaged lorry. A 53-year-old was charged with five offences following last night's collision on the A40 at Headington. Thomas Scanlon,
National Carers Week begins today and will include more than 60 events across the county until Sunday. To mark the event, Dan Robinson looks at the role of those who devote their time to looking after friends, family members and neighbours LESS
THESE youngsters, all from Abingdon, set out in fancy dress on a trek to raise money for the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre at Headington in 1986. The walkers, accompanied by a dog and two ‘babies’, collected £100 on their journey from Abingdon to
POP star Helen Shapiro gained an unexpected fan when she was invited to a school fete in Oxford. She bowled over not only the pupils at Bayswater Secondary School at Headington but the headmaster as well. Mr K M Gallop was so impressed with
MARGARET Dexter has fond memories of shopping at Cape’s, the popular Oxford store which served generations of families. She particularly remembers a sale in 1959 when she came away with bags full of baby clothes. She writes: “I was expecting
PAUL Stockford always had a companion when he played the piano. Even at the age of three, he had what the Oxford Mail described as a “valiant shot” at playing Johann Strauss’s Tales from the Vienna Woods. His pet budgie, Sweetie Pie, sitting
Pupils at Windmill School built two pedal cars with guidance from technology master Douglas Ward in 1970. A team of six in a blue and white ‘wonder-car’ and a reserve team of nine drivers planned to take the cars to Coventry for a tournament and raise
THESE were the men – and a dog – who protected part of Oxford during the Second World War. We believe this picture of members of the Home Guard was taken at Cowley Barracks. It comes from Barbara Gray, of Osberton Road, North Oxford, who found
Sir – Railfuture Thames Valley and Bus Users Oxford support public demand for a Witney-Oxford rapid transit. A40 commuters endure several miles of daily congestion between Eynsham and Wolvercote and on Woodstock or Banbury Road. The B4044 joins
Sir – It is welcome news that following the Port Meadow flats fiasco Oxford University says it has improved public consultation for its major planning applications. However, the information the University provides in its planning documents remains
Sir – Being a former tenant, now thankfully a mere spectator, I have followed with interest the machinations of the review of rents in the Covered Market. The city council agreed to apply the result of five cases it forced to arbitration to the
Sir – I think Mark McArthur Christie is correct in his suggestion regarding driving in 20mph zones (Report, May 29). Many years ago I was fortunate to attend a driving course run by three ex-police driving instructors from the Hendon police training
Sir – Figures I have obtained from the district council offices show that in the recent election for the European Parliament, voters in Oxford City cast their votes for the main parties as follows: Labour 30 per cent, Green 22 per cent, Conservative
THE FAMILY of a man killed 10 years ago has this morning made an emotional appeal for information. Father-of-two Kevin Lavelle, 29, died after he was struck across the head with a dumb-bell in a fight at the Cricketer’s Arms pub in Banbury in June
Sir – During the election a number of EU citizens I spoke with had been very surprised and shocked to be refused their vote in the EU poll. It seems possible that on various key websites some key information about new processes for registration was
Sir – Councillor Ian Hudspeth is not the only person who is concerned about the lack of progress in providing Oxford with a new station with a ‘fully-integrated bus terminus’ and the desire for a development that will be a ‘great gateway’ into Oxford
Sir – Oh how refreshing to read Helen Peacocke’s balanced article about vegetarianism (The week to enjoy vegetarian cuisine, Weekend, May 22) after many years of Christopher Gray’s restaurant reviews. Perhaps Mr Gray should borrow some of Helen
Sir – The report on the return of the Greyfriars to Oxford for the first time in 500 years (May 22) suggested that the medieval Franciscan friary was in Iffley Road. Oxford’s original Franciscan Friary was actually in St Ebbe’s. Before the Westgate
Sir – Doric’s latest campaign is to attempt to orchestrate a level of support for their unpopular proposals. It’s interesting to note that they are asking for support for their development, referring to the jobs, community facilities, cinema
Sir – My heart goes out to Didcot residents for the way they have been treated regarding plans for phase one of the Didcot Gateway (Letters, May 15). Consultation on development apparently means telling us what they have already decided, asking
Sir – My car broke down late Thursday night at Thornhill park-and-ride and I told the two lady parking supervisors that I would outstay my time limit while awaiting the AA. They not only agreed charmingly to the free extension but ten minutes
Sir – I was appalled to read (Report, May 29) of the golden handshake of £29,000 given to the Oxfam former head of counter-fraud when he resigned in November 2011. He has since been jailed for defrauding Oxfam of £64,000. An Oxfam spokesman said
Sir – This Volunteers’ Week it is time to 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
Sir – I should be pleased if you would add my wholehearted support to the sentiments expressed by Mr M. Havinden (Letters, May 29). The front-line medical service I have received through the NHS system has been second to none. This includes the
Sir – We want to make it clear that the Liberal Democrat group on Oxford City Council deplores the calls for Nick Clegg to resign following the disappointing local and European election results. Going into Government instead of opting out was a
Sir – I am asked by a visually impaired and disabled friend to re-rake up the problem of the bollards at Tower Hill cemetery, Witney. It seems that during the week, an appointment can be made to have the offending articles ‘dropped’ to allow car
Story box: Want to give your opinion? Email letters@oxfordmail.co.uk
A LORRY trailer has overturned after a collision on the A34, causing delays and bus route diversions. One lane has been closed northbound between Abingdon North and the Hinksey Hill Interchange. The collision happened at about 1pm. Several
OXFORD United has announced that a permanent singing section will be included in the Kassam Stadium’s East Stand next season. The announcement follows talks between the club and fans group the Yellow Army over the scheme to boost the atmosphere
A cyclist exposed himself to a woman sitting on a Banbury park bench. Police said the man slowly cycled past the woman, who is in her 40s, and touched himself inappropriately. The sex crime happened in the Bridge Street park at about 7.50pm
London Welsh have signed former England fly half Olly Barkley for the 2014/15 Aviva Premiership season. Commenting on joining London Welsh, Barkley said: “I’m really looking forward to being part of what looks to be a great coaching team and a
A 23-YEAR-OLD man who repeatedly hit his girlfriend over the head with a metal vacuum cleaner tube has avoided jail. John Watson, of Highworth Place, Witney, drew blood in what a judge described as a “nasty” assault on Rosemary Temple on December
OXFORD’s new Covered Market champion, Mary Clarkson, says in the Oxford Mail (June 5) that she would like to stagger the rent increases to Covered Market stallholders to try to avoid future problems with future rent increases – which, in short, is
NIGEL Payne, Planning Inspector, need not advocate a review of the Green Belt in Oxfordshire (June 5). There are more than 5,600 empty homes in Oxfordshire. There is also an undetermined number of empty or derelict offices, shops and industrial
The Independent Advice Centre, Wantage, provides very valuable support to local residents in many areas (advice on a wide range of topics, volunteer transport for the elderly and infirm and a Good Neighbour Scheme). It is held in high regard by
OXFORD MAGISTRATES 1. Ann Rooney, 28, of Field Avenue, Oxford, admitted stealing meat and cleaning products worth £37 from Swift Co-op Ltd on Banbury Road, Kidlington, on March 6. Also admitted committing a further offence while subject to a conditional
THE huge proposed structural changes to many listed buildings and bridges has been ill thought-out. Why can’t Network Rail electrify the rail tracks by adding a third ‘rail’ midway between the already-in-place routes? The London Underground
Why is everyone who votes UKIP so often assumed to be right wing? And why are members of the Liberal Democratic Party described so often as Liberals? It is members of the EU-sceptic Liberal Party – www.liberal.org.uk – who are Liberals. I voted
WHEN in merry mood, I sometimes respond to unexpected telephonic calls armed with a selection of foreign poetry and the like. Imagine my frustration when, the other day, I lifted the receiver only to hear a recorded, female, North American voice
FREELAND’S football and cricket pitch is set to be renamed to commemorate a groundsman who died last year. Les Hole died on November 30 after a collision with a lorry at Smiths of Bletchingdon’s Burford Quarry. The playing field, used by Freeland
I am constantly amazed by how people apply for jobs nowadays. Actually, no that’s wrong, I’m constantly amazed by the ‘Mission Statement’ that everyone seems to include. Now a Mission Statement, in case you didn’t know, is where you describe in
David Patterson, Oxford Sea of Faith ‘Don’t mix politics and religion” say many people. And in a way, they’re right. None of our religions should be allowed advantages: political or cultural power, possessions or wealth, or the ability to impose their
June has begun. Some look to exams or college balls. Jewish friends will celebrate Shavuot and Muslim friends will be getting ready for the start of Ramadan. Sikh brothers and sisters will be remembering with great sadness the 30th anniversary of the
Several roads will be closed in central Oxford because of the Race for Life charity run on Sunday, July 13. Oxfordshire County Council is closing roads around the University Parks where the race will take place. Race for Life sees thousands
OXFORDSHIRE’S Lawrence Clarke went second in this year’s UK 110m hurdles rankings after finishing third at the FBK Games. The 24-year-old, from Christmas Common, recorded a season’s best time of 13.41secs at yesterday’s IAAF World Challenge meeting
AN UNEXPLODED bomb from the Second World War was unearthed by a woman planting a tree in her back garden on Saturday. Initially Janet Moores, above, threw it to one side dismissing it as a bit of plastic found in her garden in Green Road,
A FINE innings from Jonny Cater could not prevent a depleted Oxfordshire side from struggling on the opening day in their Unicorns County Championship Western Division match against Wiltshire at Banbury yesterday. Cater hammered 92 as the hosts
MORE than 100 people took part in Saturday’s Oxford Pride parade, celebrating the city’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities. The parade set off from Ship Street shortly after noon, before making its way through the city centre
WHAT a fitting tribute to nine-year-old Thomas Laurie who died in February from a rare genetic premature ageing condition. Yesterday’s Rainbow Run, the first held by Helen and Douglas House, saw University Parks awash with colour. A large number
Helen and Douglas House set to benefit as hundreds get splattered for charity IT was a sight to behold as 700 runners were covered in powdered paint in a multicoloured Rainbow Run. They were bombarded as they ran through University Parks on the
DRIVERS are expected to face delays this morning as major work begins on the Kennington roundabout in Oxford. It will be closed between 10-4pm while the work to create a 'hamburger' style roundabout is carried out. The £6m scheme will also
7:35pm Delays on trains to and from London Paddington due to signalling problems 2:50pm The family of Kevin Lavelle, who was killed 10 years ago at a
Horspath left Dinton shell-shocked with an awesome display of explosive batting to pull off an unlikely three-wicket win at the Recreation Ground and go second inDivision 2 of the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League. Shahbaz Ali was the
An unbeaten half-century from Tim Morgan guided Aston Rowant to a hard-fought seven-wicket victory over visitors Oxford in a rain-shortened Serious Cricket Home Counties League Division 1 match on Saturday. Although, they got home with just one
Oxford was the seventh most visited city in the UK, according to new figures. Organisation VisitBritain revealed more than 16.7 million foreign people came to the UK in 2013. A total of 456,000 people visited Oxford last year, making it the
A car was swarmed by hundreds of bees at the Cowley Retail Park yesterday afternoon. Far from being fazed by the buzzing insects, witnesses saw the driver get into his car and drive away as normal. He was later seen at the park’s Tesco petrol station
FIRE officials have praised the bus driver who saved his passengers by getting them out of the vehicle when it caught fire. A Brookes bus caught fire on the A40 between Wheatley and Headington just before 4pm on Friday. Fire crews from Wheatley
MATT Sharp and Emma Pallant stormed to victory at Blenheim Palace yesterday. The Great Britain internationals came out on top in the tenth anniversary of the two-day 2014 Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research-sponsored event in Woodstock. Sharp
Veteran spinner Shaun Miller was the star of the show as Shipton-under-Wychwood upset the formbook to beat high-riding hosts Finchampstead in a shortened Home Counties Premier League Division 2 match on Saturday. Miller returned the superb figures
People had a chance to taste the best of British wine at a festival at The Oxford Union, in Frewin Court, over the weekend. Among the 100 award-winning wines on show at the English Wine Festival was wine from Bothy Vineyard, in Frilford Heath.
VETERANS gathered at the RAF Harwell Memorial Stone from where the fallen comrades they remembered and honoured left British soil to fight in D-Day. More than 350 people attended Saturday’s service, which took place at the stone marking the end
A MAN has been arrested following last night's collision on the A40 at Headington. Police said a red Astra was involved in the collision with two articulated lorries at about 7.30pm on the southbound carriageway heading east. The lorry's fuel
Division 1 Charlbury 124 (J Hornsby 36, S Hicks 35, S Hunt 4-42), Chadlington 128-2 (S Hunt 71no). Cowley Internationals 241-7 (H Nasser Khan 63, H Sadiqi 42), Shrivenham 180-9 (A Bowles 57no). Hook Norton 122 (T Lunel 35, N Wilkins 3-29
Division 1 Burnham 228 (43 ovs, A Zia 119no, C Chibhabha 3-33 D Ogden 3-35), Harefield 200 (43.2 ovs, C Chibhabha 64, S Macey 43no, H Gandam 5-37, A Zia 3-23). Slough v Banbury – abandoned. Tring Park 166 (41.3 ovs, W Jones 42no, G Singh
Division 1 Banbury 2nd 168-7 (E Smith 62, J Ramandan Pulle 3-40) Wolverton Town 171-9 (K Lampard 87, O Wright 4-34). Cumnor 140 (M Lake 33, H Ackland 31no, S Jones 31, J Parish 3-23, W Platts 3-33), Buckingham Town 141-7 (S Brunning 53, C Thompson
AN OXFORD school wants its 100th birthday celebrations bolstered by members of the local community joining its new choir. Headington School begins its centenary celebrations in September and has set up a new choral society to make up its Centenary
HUNDREDS of people descended on to playing fields to enjoy an annual community fete that organisers declared “the best so far”. Organisers said that Sunday’s Risinghurst and Sandhills Community Fete saw more than 600 adults and children stop by
Oxford's Jason Plato moved up one place in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champion-ship standings with three top-four finishes in the fouirth round at Oulton Park on Sunday Driving his MG KX Clubcard Fuel Save car, Plato recorded one third and
Great & Little Tew came off second best in their Home Counties Premier League Division 2 top-of-the-table battle away to leaders Reading on Saturday. In a match reduced to 34 overs per side after morning rain, the hosts triumphed by seven wickets
Due to drainage problems with their ground, Slough attempted to play their Division 1 home match with Banbury at the St Catherine’s College Ground, Marston, Oxford. The league had given Slough permission to seek a new venue. so that the game could
A man accused of planning to sell cocaine will go on trial in August. Dridan Meta, 33, of Denton Close, Dean Court, was arrested in March during raids by police and charged with two counts of being concerned in supplying cocaine, a Class A drug
A man is accused of burgling a student’s room at Christ Church college. Graham Woollett, 39, of Clark’s House, Oxford, will appear at Oxford Crown Court under the Early Guilty Plea scheme on August 5. Woollett appeared at Oxford Crown Court
Rock star Colin Greenwood was one of the thousands of participants at the 10th Blenheim Palace Triathlon this weekend. The Radiohead bassist was a member of Scarlett’s Dragons, a team which raised more than £100,000 for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research
OXFORD taxpayers will fund renewable energy projects around the county as part of a £2.3m deal. The money is set to be loaned to a community-based social enterprise called Low Carbon Hub to fund solar panels for schools and businesses around Oxfordshire
GREAT & Little Tew hammered Cumnor by nine wickets in a one-sided Davidstow Village Cup Oxfordshire final. Joe White's unbeaten 69 led hosts Tew to 129-1 and victory in exactly 21 overs after a disciplined bowling display had restricted Cumnor
A 40-YEAR-OLD has avoided a prison sentence for causing death by careless driving after a crash on the A34. Steffan Leach, of Cherwell Drive, Birmingham, crashed his Mercedes Sprinter van into a Porsche Carrera on the southbound carriageway of
AN ELDERLY man was swindled by two conmen in Chipping Norton. He was visited by the men at his home in West Street at about 4pm last Monday. The conmen posed as cleaning products salesman before entering the man’s home and stealing cash from
A 23-YEAR-OLD man has been fined after admitting possessing cocaine for “social” reasons. Samuel Stephens of Corn Street, Witney, was found in possession of the Class A drug when he was arrested on September 17 last year. He pleaded guilty
ROADWORKS in George Street look set to continue for longer than expected, causing extended misery for motorists. The closure of the city centre street had been expected to end this week. Construction firm ISG Ltd needs the street closed while
MOST weddings feature plenty of pastel dresses and groomsmen in black tie, but Iffley couple Chloe Horner and Tom Sharp decided to buck tradition by having a fancy dress wedding. Guests arrived at the ceremony at Grove House eco-home in Iffley,
TWO court cases - including one where three people were allegedly assaulted - had to be dropped after a prosecution lawyer failed to turn up. The independent lawyer had been hired by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) but did not appear at Oxford
EILEEN Cameron-Kirby was looking for a new art medium to enhance her photography, and she might just have found it. Mrs Cameron-Kirby, a keen amateur photographer from Temple Cowley, joined others at a free printing workshop at Modern Art Oxford
WE’RE pleased to hear that Adrian Foster, who heads the Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service, has personally apologised to those involved in two court cases that had to be dropped. But we hope he does more than that in making sure it doesn
YOUNG people in Blackbird Leys have received almost half a million pounds in funding from the Big Lottery Fund. The Leys Community Development Initiative (CDI), which helps young people aged between nine and 25 on the estate, has been awarded £499,078
THIS 11-year-old cycled from Wallingford to Paris in memory of his best friends’ dad. Lukas Hemlschrott-Bowden set off on his 246-mile odyssey on May 29 with his dad Ian and they reached Paris four days later. He has already raised £2,000 for
THE NUMBER of social housing tenants set to benefit from energy-saving insulation work has dropped by 90 per cent. Changes to how projects are funded means that only 990 homes have been recommended to benefit from home improvements such as insulation
RYAN Clarke is positive over his rehabilitation from a foot operation this summer after overcoming far more serious surgery last year. The 32-year-old will miss the first pre-season of his career after going under the knife to correct a problem
