Archive

  • Pedal power will help pupils get to Peru

    SIX teenagers from Bicester Community College are cycling about 1,000 miles to fund a school trip to Peru. Max Beedell, Georgia Down, Robyn Williams, Bethan Rand, Dowie Higginson and Katrina Myers are cycling 166 miles each to achieve their goal

  • Slinky new convertible has BMW’s roofless efficiency

    IT is rare for a convertible to look as good with the roof up as it does with the roof down. BMW’s new 4 Series is one of the few with real road presence. Lower, wider and longer than the outgoing 3 Series Convertible, it looks for all the world

  • Family shock at suicide of gardener, 57

    A GARDENER found hanging at his Kidlington home was described by his cousin as a proud man. Paul Bethell, 57, was discovered by a friend on Friday, May 2, along with a suicide note, an inquest at Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court heard on Wednesday.

  • Loss of his beloved lurcher inspired artist’s latest work

    OVER the years countless dogs have walked with their owners through Port Meadow. But it was Jericho artist Rory Carnegie who decided to photograph them for a series set to be shown at an international festival, Photography Oxford. He will display

  • Search for Cowley flasher

    A FLASHER exposed himself on a Cowley cycle path in front of a 45-year-old woman. The man - who police have described as black and in his late 20s - struck on the path between Barns Road and the Ambassador Avenue Retail Park. It happened last

  • Brothers at arms in an MP’s family tree

    WITH about five-and-a-half million men serving during the First World War, Britain truly as a nation at arms. The result is that a century on, almost every UK household has a story of patriotism, heroism and sacrifice from the conflict. To

  • Woman rushed to hospital after collapsing in Witney

    AN ELDERLY woman has been rushed to hospital in a life-threatening condition after falling ill in Witney. South Central Ambulance Service said it was called to Church Lane at about 10.40am to reports a woman had suffered a “medical emergency”.

  • MOTORSPORT: Dual-winner Plato calls for changes to the rules

    Jason Plato has played down his hopes of challenging for the British Touring Car Championship title, despite securing two wins at Snetterton, claiming his MG is nearing the end of its development curve, whereas the rear-wheel drive BMW still has more

  • Old stables bid to house church’s growing ‘flock’

    A SMALL evangelical church is opening its fourth place of worship in Oxfordshire to accommodate its growing membership in the county. The Plymouth Brethren, which has 233 county members, hopes to convert a disused leather workshop in Long Wittenham

  • Tots go down to the woods for a spot of ‘fishing’

    THIS little scuba sweetie explored an underwater world in woodland near Didcot. Berks, Bucks and Ox Wildlife Trust transformed its Sutton Courtenay nature reserve into an aquatic adventure by putting fish, crabs and lobsters in trees. Youngsters

  • Doors opening on some of the city’s best kept secrets

    IT WILL soon be time to unlock hundreds of doors and reveal the secrets of Oxford’s most famous buildings and companies. Oxford Open Doors celebrates the city’s heritage next month and the public is invited to visit sites across the city and universities

  • Le summer Paris style

    Summer sunshine may bring holidays out of town but for many the hot days of summer are spent here, in Oxford. Having just passed through Paris on my way home from the mountains, I saw with admiration how imaginatively this reality was met. Staying

  • Finally getting my red carpet moment

    Rebecca gets down with the kids but doesn’t manage to grab herself a movie goodie bag Some of us will never get to schmooze with the A-listers. Some of us will never get to walk the red carpet. Some of us just have to resign ourselves to the

  • Getting fit to drop in Canada

    Karen Bowerman and the girls head to Canada to get fit for the slopes at boot camp. It seemed like a good idea at the time.... It’s 2am British time and I’m trying to “centre my body through slow, easy, breaths”. Today I got up at dawn. I flew

  • I've had enough armchair sport

    So here we are in early August and finally there appears to be a very narrow window of relief from sport. It started back in June with the build up to the World Cup and since then it's been a fairly relentless season of Wimbeldon, cricket and all

  • Family saga for the county set

    Jaine Blackman meets an author who has made Oxfordshire the prime location for her trilogy of love and intrigues Intrigues are intrigues,” says Shirley Hook-Pattison discreetly when asked if she has first-hand knowledge of some of the escapades

  • Watch out for hidden costs of your holidays

    I’ve been doing some thinking about the cost of going on holiday. Actually, the true price of two weeks in the sun is often sunburn, dodgy tummy or a marital bust-up, but that’s not my point. In terms of cold, hard cash, once you start totting-up

  • Crossing the line is (sometimes) right and funny

    Comedy, much like sex, is a matter of taste. The sensible attitude seems to be that if everyone’s grown up and enjoying themselves without hurting anyone, then they can pretty much crack on. But the question of taboo is often raised and people

  • Rise of the big spenders

    Young women in Oxford are now more likely than men to see their finances deteriorate to such an extent that they fall into personal insolvency, according to new figures. Jaine Blackman asks why Women still face battles in many areas of life to

  • Pick up the litter... even other people's

    Walking the dog through South Parks, the early morning dew soaked my trainers. I didn’t care – or even notice. It was glorious. An upward sweep of mown grass, softly yielding underfoot. The dog darted hither and thither. She followed a scent path

  • I'm not lazy, I'm REALLY lazy

    I’ve done it. I’ve joined the gym. This isn’t the first time, of course. It’s not even the second. You remember that awful film where Julie Roberts played the Runaway Bride? That’s like me, only with treadmills. I run away from treadmills.

  • Plant the seed of garden love

    If you like gardening, the chances are the seed was sown when you were a child. I used to garden with my mother and I just loved it. It’s something that’s in my blood. One of my earliest memories is planting nasturtium seeds all the way

  • Complex case of research to trace autism

    Watching my children grow and develop their own personalities has been an incredible experience. They have defied my belief that what I do as a parent will have a lot of impact on the people they are. Sure I have made some genetic contributions and

  • Lorry fire near Fresh Direct in Bicester

    A LORRY caught fire in Bicester near Fresh Direct in Bainton Close.  Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service said they were called to the scene shortly after 9am to reports that a refrigerator unit was on fire inside the lorry.  A spokeswoman

  • Something must be done over pavement parking

    I was interested to read Sandy Slack’s letter (July 23) pointing out what a bad idea it is to propose car parking on the pavement in Corn Street. I’d like to endorse her opinion because I live in Highworth Place, just around the corner where pavement

  • This is all being done to boost parking revenue

    I agree with Jenny Shepherd’s view of the NHS hospital’s parking strategy (August 1). Patients are having to wait at least an hour after their appointment before being seen by a doctor. My belief is that this is done to boost car parking revenue

  • I think that ambulance shifts are far too long

    With regards on your article on the 12-hour shifts in the ambulance service I totally agree that this should happen. I worked in Oxford for many years within a related profession and Oxford has some of the best paramedics I have known.

  • Post Office service is just getting worse and worse

    In a low-key issue of leaflets at our Post Office, plans have been drawn up to reduce the service, leaving a remaining till next to the grocery counter of the shop, with no privacy. The public have been given just three weeks in August to make

  • Good local journalism still alive and kicking

    HATS off to the team behind the Oxford Mail’s special supplement to mark the anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War. It was a first class example of local journalism at its best and a tribute to months of dedication and hard work behind

  • Will Raymond Blanc really stand up for poor? Maybe

    Can we still use the phrase ‘pot calling the kettle black’ or does that contravene the rules of political correctness? Maybe. I ask because the latest local example of this involves a man called, strangely enough, White, or as most of us know him,

  • If only the world’s disputes could be handled like this...

    YOU don’t expect a turf war in down-town Broad Street. Or do you? On a sunny day, with more guides than you’d find bookies per acre at Ascot, I suppose it could lead to furled umbrellas at 10 paces as each strives to corral the most visitors. It

  • Wright refreshed after summer of upheaval at Oxford United

    THE sweeping changes at Oxford United this summer have transformed the atmosphere in the camp, according to skipper Jake Wright. It is five weeks since a takeover was announced which installed Darryl Eales as chairman. Mark Ashton was brought

  • Appleton banks on market changes

    Head coach Michael Appleton is banking on exploiting a changing transfer market as he continues his hunt to strengthen Oxford United’s attacking options. The club have brought in five players in as many weeks since Appleton was appointed as part

  • COMMENT: Review after minor failings is welcome

    AFTER some of the bunglings recently exposed, it is a little reassuring that there was no incompetency by officials identified as being responsible for the death of little Sarah Dahane. Yet still some minor failings in the overall monitoring of

  • Case review: Toddler’s death ‘wasn’t preventable’

    THE death of a toddler – who police believe was murdered – could not have been prevented, an investigation has found. But the serious case review into the death of 20-month-old Sarah Dahane, pictured, published yesterday, has said lessons should

  • In search of peace

    In the 1920s, Oxford was full of poets, and most of them seemed to know each other. Among the most battle-scarred was Robert Graves, whose precarious mental condition meant that he was allowed to ‘live out’. First he stayed with John Masefield

  • Friday, August 8

    1:36pm Woman rushed to hospital after collapsing in Witney 10:31am See today's top stories from the Oxford Mail: +++ We couldn't save her: Authorities

  • East Oxford Disco Shed crowned best 'normal shed'

    A DISCO shed from East Oxford has come top of its category in the national Shed of the Year competition. The shed, which is equipped with turntables, lights and a smoke machine, was named as the best 'normal' shed. It is owned by Paddy Bickerton

  • Cows on the loose

    Four cows were on the loose in central Oxford early yesterday morning. Police officers were called at 4.04am to Abingdon Road, where they found four cows by the Head of the River pub. Police officers called the RSPCA and contacted the porter

  • M&S food hall opens

    Marks & Spencer’s food hall was open yesterday after being shut for two days due to reports of a sewage leak. But shoppers were still complaining of a lingering sewage smell. The Queen Street store’s cafe and toilets were closed from 2pm

  • Museum’s reunion a real tribute to the human spirit

    NEARLY 70 years since the Oxfordshire Yeomanry liberated the Nazi concentration camp Bergen-Belsen, its survivors met one of their liberators again. At Woodstock’s Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum 11 survivors met 96-year-old Gilbert King, who was

  • Weather warning as fans head to county festivals

    FESTIVAL-goers at Cropredy, Wilderness and Supernormal could be in for a wet weekend after the Met Office issued two severe weather warnings. All three events are set to be hit by heavy rain, with Wilderness and Supernormal in for the worst of

  • Headington shark is given creative kudos

    OXFORD: The iconic model of a shark stuck in a roof has been included in an online list of creative sculptures. The 25ft fibreglass shark, pictured, in Headington’s New High Street, came 24th out of 25 on the list published on themindunleashed.org

  • Riley backs Oxford United to upset the odds

    JOE Riley says Oxford United should embrace being dark horses in Sky Bet League Two after Michael Appleton’s side were not rated among the favourites for promotion. Bury, Luton Town and Portsmouth lead the way in the betting markets on the eve

  • Runner-up honour in black student awards

    A theology student has been named as one of the country’s top black students. University of Oxford student Tyrone Steele, from Cowley, was ranked second in the Rare Rising Star Awards, which recognise the achievements of the top 10 black students

  • Repairs to close lock

    Abingdon Lock will be closed from November 3 to December 19 for repairs. As part of a £1.8m programme of repairs this winter along the Thames, the Environment Agency (EA) will be inspecting and re-sheeting the lock gates. Thames engineer Barrie

  • CRICKET: Title-chasing Horspath are set for crucial spell

    HORSPATH captain Will Eason says they now face a key stage in their Division 2 title push. Eason’s side are just three points behind leaders Reading as they prepare for tomorrow’s trip to Dinton. “The next couple of games are going to be crucial

  • Sky is no limit as company expansion creates 100 jobs

    A ROCKET-building firm based in Oxfordshire is expanding and creating 100 jobs. Reaction Engines Limited is developing the revolutionary Synergetic Air-breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE), which allows aircraft to fly into Earth’s orbit from conventional

  • BOWLS: Title delight for City & County four

    An Oxford City & County team have been crowned national champions. The quartet of Myra Lewis, Donna Knight, Gail Gilkes and skip Katherine Hawes won the Bowls England Women’s National Fours Championship at Royal Leamington Spa yesterday.

  • BOWLS: Title delight for City & County four

    An Oxford City & County team have been crowned national champions. The quartet of Myra Lewis, Donna Knight, Gail Gilkes and skip Katherine Hawes won the Bowls England Women’s National Fours Championship at Royal Leamington Spa yesterday.

  • World’s first Big Data Institute given go-ahead

    A MULTI-MILLION pound research centre at Oxford University’s Old Road Campus has been approved by planning officials. The £45m Big Data Institute – thought to be the first of its kind in the world – will allow researchers analyse large amounts

  • Oxford United singing section set for debut

    TOMORROW marks the first game for the new singing section in the East Stand. Oxford United have designated 100 seats in Block 18 rows V, W, X and Y as the Yellow Noise section. The aim is to get vocal supporters to be more concentrated and

  • CRICKET: Rowant snap up Kazmir to boost survival hopes

    ASTON Rowant have signed leg spinner Tahir Kazmir from Henley as they seek to avoid relegation from Division 1. Kazmir makes his debut in tomorrow’s derby clash at Oxford as one of four changes to the side. Harrow School batsman George Reid

  • RUGBY UNION: Ex-Hawk McNally out to make a mark with Welsh

    PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY JOSH McNally says he has not just come to make up the numbers as he prepares for his first London Welsh match at former club Henley Hawks tomorrow (3). The second row joined Welsh this summer after some eye-catching displays

  • Middleton Road in Banbury closed due to collapsed sewer

    MIDDLETON Road in Banbury is closed this morning due to a collapsed sewer.  Stagecoach has said that its B7, 200 and 500 services have all been affected. They will be diverted via Concorde Avenue. A spokesman for Thames Water said: "We're sorry

  • Dismay as London Road work delayed to January

    WORK on resurfacing Headington’s London Road will now not take place until early next year. Oxfordshire County Council had planned to do the work over the summer over concerns about the state of the road. But while work to extend the bus lanes

  • Stardom is dancer’s one direction

    A PERFORMING arts student aims to show why his group are called the ‘One Direction of dance’ when their audition airs on television this weekend. Headington teen Jaih Betote will put his best foot forward on Got To Dance when it is shown at 8pm

  • FOOTBALL: Ardley chief Stacey has designs on title quest

    Ardley United chairman Norman Stacey says he can’t wait for the season to start as the club looks to win the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division title for the first time. Last season they were beaten to the crown by Wantage Townby two points

  • FOOTBALL: New boys Wantage ready for journey into unknown

    Wantage Town assistant boss Andy Lyne says consolidation is the aim when they take a trip into unchartered waters, starting with tomorrow’s home baptism against Taunton Town. Last season, Wantage were promoted to the highest level in the club’s

  • FOOTBALL: City boss Merritt putting faith in Spanish imports

    Oxford City’s general manager Justin Merrit is hoping that a mixture of experience and Spanish flair will help fire them to success in the new season. Over the summer, Merritt and head coach Enrique Guillen have brought in a number of new signings

  • Couple deny robbery

    A man and a woman denied carrying out a robbery with a hunting knife. Jane Daglish and David Fannon, both 19 and both of Quinton Place, Coventry, are accused of robbing Robert Benfield in High Acres, Banbury, on April 29 this year. They are

  • Fourth plan rejected

    A developer has had its fourth attempt to develop the sports pitch in William Morris Close, Cowley, rejected. The most recent application, from Cantay Estates, involved building seven homes on the parking area rather than the pitch itself.

  • RUGBY LEAGUE: Oxford keeping their promise

    KINGSTONE PRESS CHAMPIONSHIP ONE HEAD coach Tony Benson said Oxford RL were closer to becoming a local team as they prepared for Sunday’s trip to London Skolars (2). The Iffley Road-based club were one of three sides introduced by the Rugby

  • Court bid to recover drug dealer’s profits

    A confiscation hearing was held in the case of a drug dealer who had £87,000 of drugs and three banned weapons. Sean Flaherty of Territorial Way, Headington, was jailed for seven years in March after he admitted possessing cocaine and MDMA with

  • Funeral parlour expansion agreed despite concerns

    A COWLEY funeral parlour will be extended, despite concerns from neighbours that new equipment will be too noisy. Planning officials unanimously approved the plans for S & R Childs Funeral Services to extend its Oxford Road branch by 25 per

  • Anti-bullying film benefits from the Hollywood touch

    WHEN Sam Johnson wanted to make a film about bullying he didn’t have far to turn for expert advice. The 26-year-old’s uncle is Simon West, who directed Hollywood blockbusters Con Air, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and The Expendables 2. And Mr West

  • CRICKET: It's semi-final time in Barbados quest

    ASTON Rowant continue their Barbados bid when they host Reigate Priory in Sunday’s Club Conference Cup semi-final (1.30). The winners of the competition, now known as the Barbados & Smile Group Travel Cup, will represent the conference in a

  • ROWING: Dark Blues’ European triumph

    OXFORD University’s women’s lightweight quad secured a gold medal in Rotterdam. Representing Great Britain, the crew of Becky Lane, Sophie Philbrick, Ellie Backhouse and Sarah Robinson were victorious at the European Universities Games. They

  • TENNIS: Bamber on song with Cognac win

    OXFORDSHIRE LTA president Liz Bamber justified her No 1 seeding by taking victory at an ITF seniors event in Cognac, France. Bamber, from Bampton, won the over 60 ladies’ singles crown with a 100 per cent record. France’s Helene Giraudon was

  • Well, not everyone is born to be a lion tamer

    CHILDREN spent yesterday clowning around at a one-off circus skills session at the Cornerstone Arts Centre, Didcot. Instructor and professional circus performer Roslyn Walker said: “I’m here as part of the summer project that they’re running. They

  • Civic chief calls for unified housing policy from councils

    CALLS have been made for Oxfordshire’s warring councils to create a unified plan for expanding Oxford. Oxford Civic Society chairman Peter Thompson said the latest dispute between Oxford City Council and South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC

  • Council delays policy on how it will gag elected members

    COUNCILLORS have delayed a decision on introducing a new media policy that could gag elected representatives from speaking to the media. Witney Town Council’s new communications and media working party met in private on Monday to discuss the Department

  • Chef died from toxic level of anti-depressants

    A CHEF who died after being found at the bottom of stairs in an Oxford home for people with mental health problems had toxic levels of an anti-depressant in his system. Sun Hei Lam, 54, was discovered at about 2pm on April 22 by support worker,

  • Man rebailed over shooting incident

    A 22-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder has again been rebailed by detectives investigating a shooting in Blackbird Leys, Oxford. The Oxford man was arrested in July of last year after a woman in her 40s suffered a gunshot

  • Care home told to be safer over medicines policy

    A KIDLINGTON care home has been warned it must improve the way it deals with medicines or face further sanctions from a health watchdog. A Care Quality Commission (CQC) report of the May inspection at Heathfield House nursing home – which provides

  • FOOTBALL: Concannon is setting sights on play-off push

    Didcot Town joint manager Ian Concannon is targeting a play-off challenge. They have brought in a number of impressive signings as they look to build on last term’s form, starting with tomorrow’s Southern League Division 1 South & West visit

  • ‘Fire service will cover all emergencies despite strike’

    THE county’s fire service will respond to every emergency call during the latest firefighters’ strike, a top fire officer has said. Assistant Chief Fire Officer Simon Furlong made the comments ahead of planned industrial action. Firefighters

  • Sale is for Rosy

    A garage sale in Kidlington later this month will raise money for a charity which supports ill children in Oxfordshire. Funds raised will go to charity Respite Nursing for Oxfordshire’s Sick Youngsters (Rosy). The charity offers nursing to terminally

  • RUGBY LEAGUE: Cavaliers quit league

    CONFERENCE LEAGUE SOUTH OXFORD Cavaliers have quit the league with immediate effect due to an injury crisis and a lack of players. The announcement comes after Cavaliers’ A team quit the West of England Premier League earlier this season for

  • Work to start this year on A34 ‘hamburger’ at Milton

    WORK on turning a busy interchange on the A34 near Didcot into a ‘hamburger’-style roundabout is set to start this year. Last year Oxfordshire County Council was given £5m by the Government towards the £10.6m scheme at the Milton Interchange.

  • Cash-strapped shoppers go wild over foraging for food

    A MAP of places to pick wild fruit in Oxford is proving a hit with shoppers tackling a surge in food prices. The online Oxford Wild Food map has been viewed more than 34,000 times since 2010. Anyone can click on the Google map, created by Rose

  • Memorial stone to honour fight against fascists

    PLANS to build Oxford’s first memorial to the city’s Spanish Civil War volunteers have been unveiled. The International Brigade Memorial Trust (IBMT) has applied to Oxford City Council for a memorial in Bonn Square. The two metre by one metre