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Complete the form below to tell us about your First World War news, including stories about your relative's involvement. Your Name: Email Address: Telephone: Address: Post Code:

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BEN Blakeley was today told he was a “cold, ruthless and calculating individual”. At Oxford Crown Court today prosecutor Richard Latham QC said the 22-year-old he had a cunningly plotted how to bury 17-year-old Jayden Parkinson’s body in a Didcot

One of the busiest weekends of the year will bring in visitors to Oxfordshire and give businesses a boost. Andrew Ffrench and Tim Hughes look forward to Oxford’s Cowley Road Carnival, Alice’s Day, the Cornbury Festival and the Yeah Baby! festival ALMOST

BEN BLAKELEY, accused of murdering Jayden Parkison, launched foul-mouthed abuse at the prosecutor as he said Oxford Crown Court this afternoon it should "end the trial today" and he will "accept the years" for his manslaughter charge. Richard Latham

A man had a glass thrown at him on the dancefloor of an Oxford pub. The incident happened at about 10.45pm on Saturday at the Bell and Compass pub in New Road. The victim, a 25-year-old man, was hit by the glass, cutting him but not severly

THE sound of church bells has rung out across the rooftops of Marston for more than a century. But it is not the residents’ tolerance of them that is wearing thin. St Nicholas Church, Elsfield Road, Marston, has been told its six bells had worn

Oxford City face a trip to Hyde United in their Skrill North opener on August 9. They open their home campaign the following Tuesday when Worcester City are the visitors. Meanwhile, City have appointed former Hemel Hempstead and Aylesbury United

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man in his 70s was attacked in Littlemore. Police were called at 8.10am to the scene in Long Wall where the victim was found with stab wounds. He is receiving treatment at hospital

OVER three days in July 150,000 people are expected to visit the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) Game Fair at Woodstock’s Blenheim Palace. They will take part in country activities, including clay pigeon shooting and archery, watch demonstrations

EVEN travelling at five mph, the Honda Civic SR bristles with technology designed to keep you out of scrapes. An array of sensors, a colour camera and warning beeps ensure only the truly idiotic can get themselves into trouble. Increase your

Fans have begun to react to the news Oxford United has a new chairman. At a press conference today, current chairman Ian Lenagan announced businessman Darryl Eales would become the new chairman. Mark Ashton will become the new chief executive

Businessman Darryl Eales will become chairman of Oxford United. In a statement released today, current chairman Ian Lenagan revealed Mr Eales was a new investor and shareholder at the club. Each of the Lenagan Family and Mr Eales now has more

AT the present time, the Crown Prosecution Service is getting a lot of flack and it is richly deserved. As a young detective constable in Oxford City Police, we prepared all our own court papers. If the prisoner was in custody, we had a week in

THE Bank of England states that the economy could get in trouble again due to the swift increase in house prices. Why is this happening? I believe all this country’s economic problems are caused by greed, from big businesses right down to the working

I would like to comment on a statement by Oxfordshire County Council leader, Ian Hudspeth, on the subject of transport. This is because at full council on July 1, I put forward a motion asking the council to investigate whether tram-trains might

WHILE fully appreciating Adrian Taylor’s sense of outrage (June 30), I feel that, whatever the future of the UK in Europe, and I don’t particularly want to get into that one at the moment, bringing back the stocks is something of a non-starter.

IN my letter of June 17 (Labour is operating double standards here) I noted with interest, and a little incredulity, Councillor John Tanner’s request to his Labour colleagues on the county council to vote in favour of divesting out of fossil fuels.

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

THE mother of a seriously-ill toddler, who suffers from seizures dozens of times a week, has called for people to support Oxford’s Helen & Douglas House hospice. Two-year-old Sienna Lyon was born with a rare form of epilepsy and spends several

Speculation over the future of Oxford United's ownership is set to become clearer after the club called a press conference for 2pm today. It is more than a week since news broke over the possibility of a takeover, with two consortiums known to

PUPILS from an Oxford school took part in a 10-mile walk to raise £10,000 for Helen & Douglas House on Wednesday. Every student at Rye St Antony School, ranging from aged three to 18, took part in the citizenship day challenge. The 10-mile

Jaine Blackman drags herself away from the tapas to enjoy one of Sitges' many festivals There are two things you can be pretty sure of getting in Sitges... sunshine and a good party. Actually, make that three and add excellent tapas to the

Moving house is no picnic. Especially if you’re selling to friends, and want their entry into your house to be as smooth as possible. Every last staple must be hoovered up, and still there are more things to pack. Spiders who had bred peacefully

Oxford white van man (WVM) is a phenomenon, not always pleasant. Hot weather makes him worse. A friend swears he’s frequently targeted by WVM as he rides his bike to his university department. Since promoting cycling is both a university and

Many of us know what having a student debt feels like. Rather than being a constant source of stress and worry about how or when we will finally pay it all back, it’s more like an annoying Aunt whose existence we can usually push to the back of our

I seem to have taken my eye off the ball when it comes to dating etiquette. It’s been so long since I’ve been “on the pull” (by which I mean, of course, becoming increasingly gobby, clumsy and silly with the passing of each drink) that I’m out

An unusual birthday request started a mum on a whole new career. Jaine Blackman reports When Victoria Wills’ daughter asked for a vintage afternoon tea to celebrate her 18th birthday she breathed a temporary sigh of relief. “I was dreading

As Brazil 2014 nears the final in a mere NINE days and tension mounts, it’s time to look at who’s left in... No, not the teams, but the WAGs. With Our Colleen and Alex Curran having hauled their sorry Gucci-clad rears home (er, via Barbados or

LONDON Welsh will open their Aviva Premiership campaign with a home match against Exeter Chiefs on Sunday, September 7. Justin Burnell’s side will be live in front of the BT Sport cameras at the Kassam Stadium as they bid to retain their place

Rebecca Moore questions whether we need to share the gory details about giving birth Pregnancy – it’s everywhere. As though the whole of humanity may never be allowed to forget how they entered this blessed situation we apparently have to be surrounded

The banks, big business and our Government would like to know how you’re feeling. I don’t mean they’re bothered if you’ve got a slight temperature, attack of hay fever, or hangover because you had one too many glasses of rose last night. No, what

It’s the time of year when Oxfordshire’s men transform themselves into chefs. Having been to a few garden parties over the past few weeks I’ve observed a definite pattern of behaviour. Firstly, the BBQ will take place regardless of the weather

So exams are over, well, GCSEs – the appetisers, put in place just to whet the appetite for the half-decade or so of main courses I have yet to come. Just entering the exam era or not, the first course has come to an end: the tedious routine of eat

Glastonbury has come to another squelchy end, kicking off the festival season with an array of golden oldies giving it welly on the main stage. Whether your particular favourite was an exquisitely corseted Dolly or the shaggy whiplash of Metallica

Carnival comes to Cowley Road on Sunday. Jaine Blackman reports on two women who have helped make it happen Danielle Battigelli, executive director of Cowley Road Works, first came across Cowley Road Carnival as an East Oxford resident. But

It has to be said that 3am on a Sunday morning is not an optimum time to be rudely awoken, given that I’ve done my time of getting up to babies in the night. After what seemed like years of middle-of-the-night feeds, I thought those days were gone

I’ve just returned from Finland. Yes, I know what you’re thinking – why her? Why couldn’t it have been me? But sometimes a girl just gets lucky and I’m delighted to say that Finland is a natural haven for those of us over the age of 45. For

Jaine Blackman finds out how one shop is thriving in a challenging market Service and advice have been the key to survival for bookshop owner Rachel Phipps. That and the massive love for literature which prompted her to open a business as she

A MAN has been detained after running between cars on the M40. Police were called just after 9am today after reports of the man running across the motorway between Junctions 8 and 9 near Bicester. A spokeswoman from Thames Valley Police said

Sir – The Oxfordshire Blue Plaques Board has muddled its latest memorial, a plaque commemorating The Countryman magazine and its founder-editor, J W Robertson Scott (Unveiled blue plaque marks magazine, June 26). The plaque has been placed on the

Sir – The Campaign to Protect Rural England, founded before there was effective planning legislation, is a good cause which is in danger of turning into a vested interest. In an area where house prices are already high, it must not become the Campaign

Sir – A leading clinician advised Keep The Horton General (KTHG) that the Oxford University Hospitals Trust is ‘immoral’ in its reporting of the serious issues highlighted in the recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) report ref JR. These should be communicated

Sir – The riverbank in Jericho claimed by the ‘Friends of Castle Mill Stream’ as their private property is unregistered for the simple reason that the Land Registry did not exist on January 24, 1790, when the Oxford Canal Company bought this land from

Sir – We should all welcome the proposal to replace the polystyrene packaging used for fast food with biodegradable materials. Banbury Road, just north of Oxford city centre, is littered on a constant basis by people who finish their meal on their

Sir – City council leader Bob Price declares that Port Meadow is “untouchable” (Is Green Belt set to be breached for homes? The Oxford Times, online, June 24). That’s priceless, coming after his city council has already ruined Port Meadow with

Sir – Wantage and Grove still want a rail station. When Connecting Oxfordshire visited Wantage, on June 25, residents strongly reiterated support for a Grove rail station. This has been Oxfordshire policy since at least 2001 and will remain so.

Sir – Last week’s letter from North Oxford councillors, complaining about Bob Price’s refusal to agree to the substitution of the Aristotle Lane level crossing with a disabled access bridge unless British Rail provide South Oxford bridges with disabled

Sir – Did you work at the Ordnance Depot in Bicester? If you did work there, you are one of the 135,000 soldiers, ATS or civilians who who laboured long and hard and with great skill and invention to make sure the what was needed to fight the war was

Sir – One of the worst traffic snarl-ups in Oxford has to be in Headley Way and Marsh Lane in the mornings and evenings, when staff and patients go to and come from the John Radcliffe Hospital. The traffic backs up all the way from the JR to the A40

Sir – While agreeing with Paul Surman in many ways (Letters, June 26), I think it would be rather drastic to withdraw state funding entirely from religious schools, and to close them down would cause unnecessary disruption and unsavoury reactions.

Sir – I refer to the story in last week’s edition suggesting that a congestion charge was being considered for Oxford. It being Wimbledon at the moment, the phrase ‘you cannot be serious’ springs to mind. Oxford is already one of the most inaccessible

Sir – I was pleased to see the article City is named best achiever in last week’s paper. But why only three square inches on page 26? The award highlights success not just in one local authority department or project but right across the organisation

Sir – The message on a holiday postcard from Norway began “How could I have come without your address!”. I then looked at the address, which simply read “Janet Redfern, Wheatley, Oxford, England”. The card was posted on June 23 and arrived four

Sir – I am chairing the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry which is getting under way in St Helier. The origins of the inquiry lie in the investigation at the former children’s home Haut de la Garenne which your readers may remember from the widespread

Sir – I am writing to you and your readers to remind everyone in the local area to donate any unwanted household items to British Heart Foundation (BHF) Furniture & Electrical stores in the South East. South East BHF Furniture & Electrical

“WOULD you like a haircut, Sir?” It’s not a question I’m asked too often – in fact not for the past 40 years or more – owing to an absence of natural thatch. But Kenza, a smiling young hairdresser standing outside a New Road salon, was speaking

Bill Heine recounts the anguished tale told by Thomas Harding about the death of his son Thomas Harding witnessed the violent death of his 14-year-old son Kadian. They were cycling in the Wiltshire Downs. Kadian told his dad “It’s so beautiful

PRISON authorities have been criticised after two men hanged themselves in their cells only months apart. The unlinked suicides of two Bullingdon inmates were examined at Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court this week. The mother of prisoner Paul Roberston

Sir – I was not surprised to read the letter by David Block of Stadhampton about his experience at the Thornhill park-and-ride site (June 5). I use the car park regularly and have also found the staff to be welcoming, helpful and friendly. Their

Charlie Methven says the first priority of his consortium, should they take over Oxford United, would be to clear the debt and invest in the playing squad. Although it would appear Methven’s group of Oxfordshire businessmen may not be front-runners

COUNCILLORS last night agreed to start discussions with a college over major development in the Green Belt south-east of Oxford. Oxford City Council has long-held ambitions to develop the land south of Grenoble Road which it owns, together with

THE battle for control of Oxford United intensified last night as one of the groups hoping to take over the club confirmed they had submitted a formal offer. But it remains to be seen if the bid by a group of Oxfordshire businessmen, led by Charlie

WE can understand chairman Ian Lenagan’s reticence to say too much at the moment as he weighs up whether or not to sell Oxford United. It is a commercial deal, at the end of the day, and worth millions, and he must protect his interests. But

THE timing for parents protesting about the A40 being sanctioned as a safe route for children to walk to school couldn’t have been better, if that is the right word. An hour after they left the area there was a crash in which a woman driver had

Stewart Donald believes Oxford United are at a ‘critical stage of their history’. And that is why he has decided to back Charlie Methven’s consortium in their takeover bid of the club. The wealthy businessman, whose company Bridle Insurance

THE KEY FIGURES METHVEN CONSORTIUM CHARLIE METHVEN has close links with U’s chairman Ian Lenagan, having worked in an advisory role with Oxford United’s board. He is fronting the group of Oxfordshire businessmen who have made a formal offer

A cyclist was taken to hospital after a collision with a car in West Way, Botley. Police were called just after 6pm on Wednesday to the crash opposite Travis Perkins. A 23-year-old man was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, but there was no

A 20-year-old man has been charged with sexual assault. Ashley Clare, of Colemans Hill, Oxford, was charged by Thames Valley Police on Friday, June 27, but they only released the details yesterday. The charges relate to an assault involving

A funfair will be held tonight in Oxford Road Playing Fields in Eynsham from 6-9pm ahead of the 68th village carnival tomorrow. Up to 3,000 are expected to attend the carnival, which will be launched with a performance from the Eynsham Morris group

A firm developing an on-the-spot cancer detection test has won a £50,000 grant. The test, which can detect bone and breast cancer by scanning chemical compositions, has been designed by Cobalt Light Systems, at Milton Park. It was judged to

WHILE the tug-of-war continues over Oxford United’s long-term future at boardroom level, there is a danger the day-to-day business is being harmed. It is just five weeks until the season kicks off at home to Burton Albion and as it stands the first-team

Police are still hunting for a paedophile from Headington after he failed appear in court. Abdelouaheb Delhoum, pictured, of Ivy Lane, was convicted of two counts of sexual assault on a child under 13, three counts of inciting a child under 13

FRIENDS of Liberty Baker gathered last night in Witney to release 50 balloons in memory of the schoolgirl who was killed on Monday morning. A pupil at The Henry Box School, Liberty, 14, died when she was struck by a blue Citroen car which mounted

MUD pies were order of the day for Ducklington Primary School pupils celebrating International Mud Day. The youngsters got seriously mucky at the Hill End Centre, near Farmoor, as they recreated an Iron Age mudhouse and made mud pies. Luke

Lloyd Belcher is on standby to make his Oxfordshire debut as captain Luke Ryan battles to be fit after a neck spasm. The 15-year-old Horspath spinner would become Oxon’s youngest player if he features in the Unicorns Counties Western Division clash

Jimmy Phillips has urged Banbury to stay focused despite their Home Counties Premier League Division 1 title chase being held up by the wet weather. Three wins from their opening three matches saw Banbury open up a decent lead, but since then they

Great & Little Tew’s Ashley Hubbert has won his battle to get fit for Sunday’s last 16-tie in the Davidstow Village Cup at Avon & Somerset champions Ashbrittle. Hubbert suffered a severe gash to a leg during Tew’s victory at Parley in the

Chinnor's new signing Daz Oliver says his first priority is to cement a place in the National 2 South side’s line-up. The giant lock was brought in following a recommendation to coach Matt Williams by fellow RAF serviceman Andrew Tibbatts, who

HE has spent most of the last year in and out of hospital away from his schoolfriends. And yesterday, nine-year-old Finlay White, who started the Oxford Mail’s OX5 Run in March, showed his Ducklington Primary School classmates around the Kamran

Oxfordshire boosted their qualification hopes with a dramatic 12-run victory over Wales at Port Talbot Town in Division 4 of the ECB 50-Plus Championship. Wales looked set to chase down Oxon’s 222-8 when Mike Hayden and Stephen Powell propelled

Saturday CRICKET SERIOUS CRICKET HOME COUNTIES PREMIER LEAGUE Div 1: Aston Rowant v Tring Park, Burnham v Henley, Oxford v Gerrards Cross. Div 2 West: Dinton v Great & Little Tew, Horspath v Shipton-under-Wychwood. CHERWELL

4:05pm A man had a glass thrown at him while standing on the dancefloor of the Bell and Compass pub in Oxford 3:31pm Man arrested on suspicion of attempted

An inquest was opened and adjourned at Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court yesterday into the death of Christoph Gabor. Mr Gabor, 41, of The Hyde, Abingdon, died on June 24 in Abingdon. The inquest was adjourned until November 18. Our top stories

THE M40 was reopened at about 10.30pm last night following the severe lorry fire. More than 20 tonnes of hay on the back of the articulated lorry had caught fire just before the flyover at Junction 11 at Banbury.  Fire crews were called to

SUPPORTERS trust OxVox have reiterated their request for all parties involved in takeover talks to be open with fans. Details have emerged about the plans fronted by Charlie Methven, but neither Mark Ashton’s group nor U’s owner Ian Lenagan have

Oxford Airport hosted a training exercise on Tuesday in which emergency services responded to a mocked-up major incident where a light aircraft collided with a stationary helicopter, pictured. A total of 32 Oxfordshire and airport firefighters

A man was seen headbutting a woman on the corner of London Road and Windmill Road in Headington. The incident happened at about 10am on Tuesday, June 24, but Thames Valley Police only released details yeterday. They believe a number of people

‘I AM proof that the law works,’ a journalist due to be sentenced today for phone hacking told the Oxford Union. Neville Thurlbeck appeared in a debate on press freedom at the university debating society. The former chief reporter at the News

A POLICE operation to stop speeding motorists caught three drivers every two minutes breaking a 20mph limit – racking up a potential £20,000 worth of fines. Police were stationed at St Giles and Morrell Avenue to catch the speeding. A total

PARENTS walked their children along the A40 to highlight the dangers if their free school transport is cut. About 30 people took part in the walk from Bartholomew School to Cassington from 3pm yesterday. Just an hour later a collision between

Chinnor's new signing Daz Oliver says his first priority is to cement a place in the National 2 South side’s line-up. The giant lock was brought in following a recommendation to coach Matt Williams by fellow RAF serviceman Andrew Tibbatts, who

A partnership has been launched linking the Oxfordshire Cricket Board (OCB) with Magdalen College School (MCS). The benefits of the arrangement will also strengthen the ties between the OCB and Sussex, who have worked together for the past 12 months

PLANS to build a park-and-ride in Bicester as part of a package of measures to ease traffic congestion have been delayed. Oxfordshire County Council has confirmed the £3.5m facility, off the A41 at Vendee Drive, will not be ready for this Christmas

THE prosecution case in the murder trial of Fiaz Munshi has come to a close. The 38-year-old is on trial at Oxford Crown Court accused of murdering eight-year-old Anum Khan and her 15-year-old brother Majid, in Magdalen Road, East Oxford, in the

A PETITION asking to redraw plans for The Plain roundabout in Oxford as been delivered to Oxfordshire County Council. The council has put together proposals to make the busy roundabout more cycle-friendly. It is planning to spend more than

MURDER accused Ben Blakeley described yesterday how he killed former girlfriend Jayden Parkinson. Blakeley, 22, became emotional as he gave his first public account of what he says happened on December 3 last year. Jayden’s family and friends

A TRAIN passenger suffered a bad cut to his finger during an argument with a second man. British Transport Police (BTP) is appealing for witnesses to the incident on the 8.30pm Bristol to London train last month. The man was hurt between 9.10pm

OXFORD City Stars have added their support to the idea of a potential new sporting venue at Water Eaton. Oxfordshire County Council leader Ian Hudspeth confirmed this week informal talks had taken place with Oxford United over moving from the Kassam

The Parks pitch was the winner as the four-day-clash between Oxford and Cam-bridge drifted to a dull draw. Set 321 to win in a day and a bit, the Light Blues ground their way to 195-4 dec, before the sides agreed to pull stumps early and call it

Horspath completed the semi-final line-up of the Bernard Tollett Oxfordshire Cup with an eight-wicket victory at home to Aston Rowant last night. In their delayed quarter-final, Rowant were bowled out for 130, having scored 96 from the first ten

An adult beginners scheme has been launched in Oxfordshire. The Tennis Xpress programme is aimed at people who have never played before, or haven’t played in a while. During the six-week course they will be taught how to serve, rally and score

A MOTHER has told how her daughter is scared to go out alone after a man chased her and school friends and demanded sexual favours from them. The three teenage girls were forced to hide in a bush for safety after they were shouted at by De Jesus

A FORMER Grenadier Guard has organised a charity football match between soldiers serving in the regiment and his local team. Peter Brooks, 78, is drumming up support for the match between the 1st Battalion of the Grenadier Guards and Kidlington