JAYDEN Parkinson was buried in the grave of her ex boyfriend's uncle, a jury has heard. Ben Blakeley admits killing the 17-year-old on December 3 last year and burying her body in his uncle's grave in a Didcot cemetery. The 22-year-old has
A PROFESSOR has been honoured with a lifetime achievement award after dedicating more than three decades to economic research at the Univeristy of Oxford. Economics professor Sir David Hendry, 70, was recognised for his contribution to the field
A parachutist based at RAF Brize Norton hit an 82-year-old spectator as he came into land during a display over Weston-super-Mare beach. The accident happened at around 1.20pm on Sunday on Marine Parade as the parachutist from the RAF Falcon display
A MAN was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries after a crash this afternoon. Police officers and paramedics were called to the A4130 at around 4pm after car and a motorbike were involved in the smash between
DESPITE the fact that Oxford has no mines, the city was one of the biggest supporters of the miners during the 364 days they were striking. Thousands of miners in Wales, Yorkshire, Scotland and Kent went on strike after the Government announced
THE student nurse who put all the patients’ false teeth in a bowl to clean them wasn’t the only one to cause mayhem in Oxfordshire hospitals. Nurse Dorothy Holloway recalls how one junior destroyed almost all her ward’s thermometers – and got her
IT WAS a proud night for the Rosser family as 500 young footballers attended their end-of-season awards evening. For without Tony Rosser, wife Cherry and sons Tim, Rob and David, their club probably wouldn’t have existed. Summertown Stars FC
Main picture: Children gained an early appreciation of rhythm and rhyme at ‘Music with Mums’ sessions at the village hall in 1983. Mums were invited to join in as the youngsters sang the Grand Old Duke of York, accompanied by the clatter of saucepan
THESE were the days when industrial strife was common in the motor industry. Hardly a week seemed to pass without a dispute, or the effects of one or more, disrupting production at the Cowley car factories. This picture was taken in November
THE slip road of the southbound A34 at Kidlington has been closed following a collision. It involved three vehicles at the Kidlington junction of the dual carriageway. The incident has meant that Stagecoach’s S5 service is unable to serve its
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A JUDGE has this morning thrown out a bid by a man to claim he was the rightful owner of a North Oxford home worth more than £1m. Abbey Folami had claimed he bought 17 Warnborough Road in 2007 and was trying to evict the tenants in a legal wrangle
THE owner of a South Oxfordshire hazardous chemicals recycling depot that was the scene of a blaze at the weekend has apologised to residents. Grundon Waste Management Ltd labelled it as a “relatively small fire” caused plumes of thick black smoke
THE prosecution has started opening its case in the trial of the man accused of murdering Jayden Parkinson. Ben Blakeley, of Christchurch Road, Reading, denies murdering the teenager on December 3 last year, but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter
UP to 20 llamas and alpacas have escaped and are running around on the B471 at Whitchurch, near Pangbpurne. Motorists are advised to stay clear of the area while the animals are rounded up. Traffic updates will be posted automatically
I think every England fan is feeling disappointed about the World Cup 2014 campaign. Two games and two defeats make it a miserable tournament for England and the fans. After the Uruguay defeat there was just a slim glimmer of hope that we could
A 17-year-old has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice following the death of Jayden Parkinson just as the trial was about to get under way this morning. He is on trial at Oxford Crown court alongside Ben Blakeley of Christchurch
I WAS pleased to see Scott Seamons’s letter (June 18) indicating some city council interest in and progress with housing on brownfield sites. He did not, however, indicate any change of council policy towards ensuring empty properties and brownfield
I FEEL compelled to stand up for those council workers who no doubt work under very tight budgets and yet make valiant efforts to beautify our towns. The response of Councillor Lynda Atkins to the appearance of the castle flower planter in Wallingford
THE £6.4m changes to the Kennington and Hinksey Hill roundabouts, as well as bridge repairs, are a year behind schedule and already 40 per cent over budget. To be fair to the county council the ‘hamburger’ roundabout and the new slip road to the
A BURGLAR who broke into the farm where he worked as "revenge” for what he claimed was bad treatment has been jailed. Darren Herron, 21, of St John’s Close, Didcot, was handed a two-year prison sentence on Thursday by a judge in Oxford Crown Court
DON’T waste money on thrilling days out without first sampling the thrill and delights involved in a journey from Caversfield to Bicester. First, the heart-stopping moment of crossing the A421. After the inevitable five minutes spent on judging
I SOMEHOW lost the PO card enabling me to collect my pension credits. Fair enough, silly me. Having reported this to the relevant authority and provided my rather eccentric passwords, I was assured that it would be cancelled forthwith and I could
23 cases heard recently at Oxford and Banbury magistrates' courts. Andrew Callen, 48, of Luther Street, Oxford, admitted stealing beef joints worth £40.99 from Sainsbury’s in Oxford on May 23. Community order made with drug rehabilitation requirement
THE explosive demolition of Didcot Power Station will begin early in the morning of Sunday, July 27, it has been announced this morning. Three of the iconic cooling towers will be brought down on that day in under a minute with a controlled explosion
7:01pm Update: A man has been taken to hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries after today's A4130 crash. 6:04pm A4130 closed and air ambulance
LONDON Welsh have today announced the signing of former England Under 20 hooker Koree Britton. Britton ended last season at Aviva Premiership champions Northampton, having also made 17 top-flight appearances for Gloucester. The 22-year-old,
10:37am See these top stories from today's Oxford Mail: +++ Council has to step in over truancy at two schools, despite them being academies +++ The hot weather is what caused the dramatic fire at the Grundon waste
TEENAGERS are celebrating after their fledgling company won through to the finals of a national business competition. Toucan, run by 13 girls from Oxford High School, specialises in luxury clothing accessories – including scarves and welly socks
At the recent Interfaith Friendship Walk in Oxford, my wife and I visited the Central Mosque. We were shown round by a delightful and humble member of the Muslim community. After we had asked him many questions he confessed “I am not a very religious
My awareness of social and political injustice dates from the 1980s. Unemployment was running at four million and UB40 had a hit song called One in Ten. A couple of lines from the lyrics that hit me hard were, ‘Nobody knows me, but I’m always there
OKAY, here’s the deal... I will happily buy £10 worth of first class stamps, and even throw in breakfast, if someone can properly and clearly explain to me how the city’s central post office in St Aldate’s works? I haven’t visited this post office
FELIPE Barcelos says he will be a different and better player after his experience in Italy last season. The 22-year-old striker has rejoined Oxford City 12 months after leaving the Conference North side to embark on an adventure at Serie D side
HANNAH England led Great Britain to fifth place in the European Team Championships over the weekend. The Oxford City athlete also came fifth in her 1,500m race in Braunschweig, Germany. Ironically, her husband, Luke Gunn, occupied the same
HOT weather caused a massive blaze at a South Oxfordshire hazardous chemicals recycling depot at the weekend, fire bosses said. Oily rags ready for disposal were ignited by 21C temperatures at Grundon Waste Management Ltd, Ewelme, near Benson,
TODAY’S report that Oxfordshire County Council is intervening over pupil absences at two city academies raises worrying questions about moves to give schools greater independence. The mantra for giving schools academy status – freeing leaders from
A SPECIALIST council team is tackling high absence rates at two city secondary schools, despite them being academies. Oxfordshire County Council has confirmed it is sending in a school improvement officer to St Gregory the Great Catholic School
Councillors say the Corn Exchange in Market Place will re-open by the end of the year despite a funding setback. Witney Town Council’s bid for £1.8m funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund was rejected on Thursday. The bid was part of plans to revamp
A parachutist based at RAF Brize Norton hit an 82-year-old spectator as he came into land during a display over Weston-super-Mare beach. A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said both were taken to hospital yesterday, but neither suffered serious
Councillors will be asked to make a decision tomorrow on plans for 28 homes in North Oxford. Shanly Homes has applied for planning permission to build the 22 houses and six flats with 40 parking spaces in Elsfield Way. An Oxford City Council
A WOMAN was left with a black eye after she was grabbed and sexually assaulted by two men in an Oxford churchyard. Police said the 18-year-old was walking through St James’ Cemetery between Beauchamp Lane and Church Hill Road, Cowley, at about
WHEN Sonia Gill walks through Rose Hill, few people take much notice. But when the 27-year-old is in India, she is mobbed by an adoring public. For the past five years, Miss Gill has been leading a double life, splitting her time as a Bollywood
TRAINS between Oxford and London could be delayed today after signalling problems caused disruptions over the weekend. First Great Western ran a reduced service between Reading and London Paddington yesterday, with ten trains cancelled due to signalling
A 29-year-old woman has appeared in Oxford Crown Court accused of stealing about £5,500 from a private jet aircraft company. Grace Folan, of Bowood Court, Oxford Road, Kidlington, pleaded not guilty to three counts of theft from Hanger 8 Ltd between
The prosecution is due to open its case today in the trial of man accused of murdering 17-year-old Jayden Parkinson. Ben Blakeley, of Christchurch Road, Reading, denies murdering the teenager last December, but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter
Great & Little Tew suffered their third successive heavy defeat with a 153-run thrashing at Finchampstead to hit rock bottom in Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 2. Following a seven-wicket reverse against leaders Reading
Banbury were knocked off the top of Division 1 of the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League when a disastrous batting collapse led to their five-wicket defeat at Burnham on Saturday. It was their first loss of the campaign. After choosing
Anupam Sanklecha displayed his all-round talents to help Shipton-under-Wychwood to a 14-run victory at Dinton in Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 2. The Indian star played the pivotal role in Shipton’s success with a half-century
Robbie Eason and Jimmy Phillips hit half-centuries as Horspath beat Chesham by seven wickets to regain the winning thread and go second in Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 2. Chasing Chesham’s 218-9 after the visitors had won
Division 1 Great Horwood 154 (C McStraw 34, M Shepherd 4-24), Chadlington 108 (D Armitage 3-32, S Hunt 3-54). Charlbury 117 (N Khan 5-28), Cowley Internationals 121-3 (A Shah 43, M Sadiqi 34no). Westbury 237-5 (T Gurney 90, S Willett 46
Great & Little Tew stormed into the last 16 of the Davidstow Village Cup with a comprehensive 121-run victory away to Dorset champions Parley yesterday. But the gloss was taken of their success by a serious injury to Ashley Hubbert. The
Jonny Cater once again carried Oxford-shire’s batting line-up as they had the worse of the opening day of their Unicorns Counties Championship Western Division match with Devon at Banbury yesterday. Cater, who top-scored with 92 in their opening
RECORD numbers defied the heat to take part in the fourth annual Run Jericho yesterday. About 400 adults ran a 10km race from St Barnabas Primary School and back while 250 children ran a one-mile route around closed streets. The 10k runners
Division 1 Gerrards Cross 133 (52.2 ovs, J Hoddle 43, K Penhale 3-21, W Morrick 3-53), Aston Rowant 134-4 (37.4 ovs, T Morgan 42, C Watling 31). Banbury 112 (52 ovs, C Haupt 41, A Malik 3-21, A Zia 3-32), Burnham 116-5 (25.1 ovs, A Zia 46,
Division 1 Cumnor 175 (I Williams 79, B Taylor 5-26), Banbury 2nd 133 (A Sabin 30, D Warner 4-45). Oxford 2nd 167 (A Price 51, B Stafford 3-33, W Platts 3-40), Buckingham Town 167-9 (S Brunning 37, A Price 5-44, A Clough 4-49). Wolverton
ANDY Triggs Hodge believes there is still more to come from the men’s four crew after their gold medal at this weekend’s second World Cup meeting in Aiguebelette, France. The Oxford man stroked his Great Britain boat of Henley’s Alex Gregory, Mohamed
HOTEL bar supervisor Liam Walker is proud to be organising the first Armed Forces Day event at the repatriation memorial site. Despite having no military connection, the 24-year-old has organised Saturday’s event at a memorial garden in Norton
Vishane Perera hit a splendid 97 as Oxford made it back-to-back Division 1 wins in the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League on Saturday with a 70-run triumph over Harefield. Captain Ian Crosby elected to make first use of a green-looking
Aston Rowant made short work of visitors Gerrards Cross, winning the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 1 game by seven wickets, after chasing down 134 for victory. Having won the toss on a pitch with a green tinge, Rowant made
THE names of 20 soldiers who died in the First and Second World Wars were read out at as part of a remembrance project. The latest Turning the Pages ceremony was held at the Military Chapel, Christ Church Cathedral, St Aldate’s, on Saturday.
WALTER Carter just updated his Facebook status: “Imagine wars being fought in the sky… that would be a thrill.” Walter is a fictional 19-year-old private in the Territorial Force living in Clapham, South London, exactly 100 years ago. He was
Two luxury homes converted from a former World War II bunker have been snapped up within a week of going on sale. The two-bedroom properties on the former RAF base in Caversfield went on the market in May at £440,000 each. The bunker, built
A man appeared at Oxford Crown Court charged with rape. Tilal Mahdi, of Friars Street, Hereford, is accused of conspiracy to rape a girl under 16, conspiracy to indecently assault a girl under 16 and a further serious sexual offence. The charges
WALTER Carter just updated his Facebook status: “Imagine wars being fought in the sky… that would be a thrill.” Walter is a fictional 19-year-old private in the Territorial Force living in Clapham, South London, exactly 100 years ago.
COUNCIL bosses are to offer £250,000 to help buy an under-threat East Oxford social club. Oxford City Council plan to put the cash towards the £1.25m asking price for the freehold of The Gladiator Club, Iffley Road. Bosses said the club and
ABOUT 4,000 people turned out at Oxford’s Florence Park for a festival to celebrate its 80th anniversary. Visitors enjoyed live music, a dog show and sports demonstrations while children took part in games and activities at Saturday’s event.
FASHION retailers have outlined plans to take over the city centre shop vacated by music chain HMV. The music store closed for the last time on Wednesday after occupying the site in Oxford’s Cornmarket Street since the 1980s. A planning application
THE news that county hospital chief executive Sir Jonathan Michael is keen on more seven-day working is welcome and long overdue. As peoples’ expectations of the NHS rise alongside healthier lifestyles and advances in medical care, the health service
WANTAGE residents can “regain control” of their town and decide how it will look in 20 years. The town council has put aside £40,000 to create a Neighbourhood Plan, and wants residents and business owners to take the lead on it. The document
A WATLINGTON school is aiming to create a sixth form because it believes pupils are “unfairly disadvantaged” by having to travel elsewhere in the county. Icknield Community College, in Love Lane, at present takes pupils up to Year 11. Those wanting
THOUSANDS turned out to enjoy the sunshine at Woodstock’s Carnival on Saturday. It was opened by the Mayor of Woodstock, Councillor Julian Cooper and included 26 stalls, a Punch and Judy show, a First World War Jeep and a classic Mini. A parade
SEVEN-DAY working is among the actions being taken by hospital bosses to address waiting time concerns. Hospitals chief Sir Jonathan Michael said he hopes sites like the John Radcliffe will meet national targets within three months. Waiting
DRUIDS and pagans celebrated the summer solstice by watching the sun rise over Oxfordshire’s ancient Rollright Stones. Sue Small, 67, from Abingdon, pictured above, was among those who visited the Neolithic stone circle, in Little Rollright
