Archive

A CALL has been made to keep Bicester Community Hospital open when its replacement is completed because of concerns about winter pressure on bed spaces. Bicester councillor Les Sibley is calling for both hospitals to remain open over the winter

FRESH from his round-the-world tour, Pilot Officer Ted Little parachuted into the Carterton mayor’s Teddy bear’s picnic yesterday. But no sooner had he landed at Alvescot Road recreation ground with the RAF Falcons, he was jetting off again for

THE new headteacher at Millbrook School in Grove has been praised by the head of her teaching union for her ‘real ambition’. Jane Ratcliffe took over running of the primary in April, saying she would steer it out of special measures by getting

AN ELDERLY man has been taken to hospital after a collision with a car in Banbury this afternoon. The collision with a white Ford Fiesta happened in West Bar Street at about 2pm, a Thames Valley Police spokewoman said.  He was taken to the

WE saw Valentino Rossi at his very best at Misano – and what a career he has had. We were at his home grand prix and you can’t get much closer than living 15 minutes down the road. He may be 35 years old, but having witnessed first-hand how

A WRITER who rose from a life in children’s homes to become a respected countryside author of books about Oxfordshire and Warwickshire has died aged 86. Sheila Stewart was a best-selling writer whose own lack of roots inspired her to dig into the

BICESTER’S first woman town mayor – re-elected to the post a further two times – and councillor of more than 20 years has died aged 92. Joan Blackman was first elected to Bicester Town Council in 1976 and five years later was unanimously elected

EMERGENCY road repairs have causing delays on the A40 both ways near Witney this afternoon. Poor condition of the road surface prompted the repairs between the B4022 Witney East turning and the Eynsham Roundabout. Oxfordshire County Council

FOUR girls were approached and followed by a group of men in a black van on their way to school today. The girls, aged between 11 and 13, were walking along Cricket Road, Cowley, when the three men approached them just after 8am, police said.

Sarah Mayhew Craddock explores the latest ideas being developed at Oxford Brookes’ final degree show Every now and again an artwork grabs my attention. I hear about it, read about it, or see an image of it and feel an overwhelming compulsion

Liz Nicholls tucks into a chilli-laden feast that takes her right back to the sun-soaked beaches of Thailand Before responsibilities and proper adulthood put paid to far-flung jaunts, I travelled round Thailand for two glorious winters with my

As the great George Orwell might have said after a night on the tiles in Oxford, “all kebabs are equal – but some kebabs are more equal than others”. Actually, it is unlikely the South Oxfordshire writer, real name Eric Blair, went anywhere near

* One of our favourite contributors The Oxford Pantry in Little Clarendon Street has closed down and shut up shop, which we are very sorry to see because it was such a fabulous kitchenware shop and we loved it. * For anyone who enjoys a good foot

DAVE Bartlett is now the last independent butcher standing in Kidlington after another shop closed. When he opened Bartlett’s Butchers in 1984 aged 23 Mr Bartlett was one of five in the large village. But last remaining rival Dave Woodward,

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AN estate agents is to open in the former Bicester home of an electronics shop that closed after 95 years in the town in July. Fine and Country will move into the former Wadley’s electronic shop in Market Square later this month. It is currently

A FORMER school teacher whose allergy led her to create a range of health-food snacks, said seeing them on supermarket shelves was “surreal”. Steph Croft-Simon’s “Nom” bars went on sale in 80 Tesco stores during the summer and the grocer looks

An Oxfordshire farmer is playing a central role in a trial to improve the yield and quality of oilseed rape. James Price, 35, of Perdiswell Farm near Woodstock, and a Lincolnshire farmer are working with global companies on the crop. Oxfordshire

Starting Up with Vince Hanley @ Jamie's Pizzeria Last week we opened the doors of our new Pizzeria, tucked away in a cosy spot downstairs at Jamie’s Italian on George Street. When we opened Jamie’s Italian six years ago we decided not to put

I am Nick Welford and I’m the chef at Cherwell Boathouse. I have been working there since January 2013. My cooking style is modern British using seasonal and, where possible, local produce. I enjoy working with fish and shellfish, bringing out

4:49pm We've just had a chat with Detective Inspector Steve Raffield. He said: "We have found a number of World War One and World War Two munitions and memorabilia." The police cordon will remain in place for another

Notepad and recorder in hand, Katherine MacAlister tries to unravel a talented Aussie trio who have already wowed 20 million people globally thanks to the YouTube phenomenon It’s hard to describe The Axis of Awesome, a kind of Australian rock band

The Magic Numbers are back – with a new album. Tim Hughes finds out more about a band who still conquer hearts and minds Their distinctive image, rich harmonies and catchy summery tunes made the Magic Numbers one of the country’s hottest bands.

Ahead of his appearance at Blenheim Literary Festival, Katherine MacAlister catches up with globetrotting celebrity chef Ken Hom I’m a very lucky man,” Ken Hom tells me more than once and I can’t say I disagree with him. After all, he’s talking

Edward Clarke ponders the function of poetry on a rare visit to the pub I’ve just returned from five weeks in Italy. It’s not that I’m particularly rich or leisured, just that my wife’s Italian and there’s no work for me in Oxford in August. She

Drug campaigner Charlie Rigby tells us his story and aspirations Addiction is something I know all too well. It cost me my marriage and almost my family. I’d always been an addictive person, spending every waking moment running my business, but

Tom Campbell employs his lavish comic gifts to especially good effect in a chapter of his new novel The Planner dealing with a book launch. Actually, it’s a double book launch (to save money) featuring works as incompatible as the serious opera and

A BRONZE Age cemetery could scupper plans for a 160-hectare gravel extraction pit on the Thames. Aggregate and waste disposal firm Hills wants to develop the site between Clifton Hampden, Appleford and Long Wittenham. It says five million tonnes

A PUB that has been closed for more than two decades needs council intervention to re-open it, according to a resident who wants to take it over. The Unicorn, the only pub in Great Rollright, near Chipping Norton, above, has remained boarded

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. On Sunday it will be exactly 100 years since the first appearance

Maggie Hartford talks to the owner of Faringdon House about her fascinating new book A horse drinking tea in a drawing room furnished with grand antique furniture. A flock of doves dyed in rainbow colours. A man riding naked in the grounds of a

Helen Peacocke speaks to the foodie who has unveiled her first cookery book There was a time when cake-making only took place when times were good and ingredients plentiful, or there was something special to celebrate such as birthdays, weddings

Christopher Gray is delighted to dine not once but twice at The Magdalen Arms near the Pegasus The Magdalen Arms in Iffley Road has always been a convenient watering hole for patrons of the next-door Pegasus Theatre. It has been a convenient and

A woman who suffered with eye cancer as a baby is set to take on an African trek to help youngsters with the condition. Iffley’s Abby White co-founded Daisy’s Eye Cancer Fund in 2005 to support young children suffering with retinoblastoma.

BODLEIAN Library researchers in Oxford are to uncover secret notes left behind by an artist on his paintings. Scientists will deploy special imaging techniques to reveal pencil sketches underneath 18th and 19th century Austrian botanical illustrator

Ben Vanheems of BBOWT explains how back gardens can become valuable refuges as habitats come under pressure elsewhere You would have to be an exceptionally early riser to witness the official start of autumn, which this year occurs when the equinox

Damon Smith enjoys this cinematic trip to the famous Oxford institution The class war degenerates into foul-mouthed tirades and stomach-churning violence in Laura Wade's robust adaptation of her own coruscating stage play. Posh originated at the

Angie Johnson on a production of the Jules Verne classic by Oxfordshire Theatre Company and Chipping Norton Theatre Oxfordshire Theatre Comp-any’s long track record of touring excellent theatre across our county pooled with The Theatre’s growing

Will they get it? This was the worry of a fellow critic concerning the Chinese audiences at which this excellent Shakespeare’s Globe production is aimed (along with others in Russia) after last week’s warm-up run at Aylesbury Waterside. Would people

Giles Woodforde savours super acting in adaptation of Khaled Hosseini’s best-selling novel Amir and Hassan are boyhood friends, so close that they could easily be affectionate brothers. Growing up in the 1970s, they particularly enjoy seeing films

Set in the far-flung locations of a well-to-do suburb in Pakistan and a council estate on a Scottish island, Sudha Bhuchar’s new play at the Pegasus Theatre is an intriguing story of the love between Glasgow girl Suzy and British Asian Farhan that

Laura Ashby tells Nicola Lisle about Music at Oxford’s season There’s a new hand on the tiller at Music at Oxford. Former chief executive Simon Courtenay-Taylor retired in May, after seven years at the helm, and the organisation is now in the capable

It’s that time of year again. There’s a slight chill in the air, the nights draw in... and the eagerly awaited nominations are announced for the annual Mercury Prize. The only real award that most serious music fans take any notice of, the Barclaycard

With The Levellers, Athlete and Massive Attack, On Blackheath turned out to be a perfect festival with which to end the summer On Blackheath South East London September 13-14 In a crowded market place is there really

Tim Hughes talks to The Corrs band member who just lives for performing Sharon Corr can’t hide the excitement she feels at having stepped out of the shadow of her multi-platinum selling family band, and forging her own musical career. “This is

Katherine MacAlister rounds up some of the best highlights at the Blenheim Palace Literary Festival The Blenheim Palace Literary Festival 2014 programme is so packed with goodies, it’s hard to know where to start, featuring writers and public figures

THAMES Water has apologised to a couple from a village near Chinnor who complained that raw sewage was left in the open near their home for more than eight months. Carolyn and Stuart Rivett, of Emmington, wrote to chief executive Martin Baggs on

Theatre director Ramin Gray explains the inspiration behind his production of Blind Hamlet which is on at The North Wall A few years ago in Edinburgh I came across Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour’s beguiling play White Rabbit, Red Rabbit

Katherine MacAlister talks to professor, paleopathologist and presenter Alice Roberts ahead of Blenheim Palace Literary Festival Dr Alice Roberts wrote her latest book The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being — Evolution And The Making Of Us — on maternity

TODAY millions of Scots will cast their vote on whether they should go it alone for the first time in hundreds of years. And while Oxfordshire residents can do nothing but look on, the decision will not be without its impacts on the rest of the

I AM writing regarding the use of the name Isis used by a jihadist terrorist group in the Middle East. Fortunately, we here at Isis Removals have yet to receive any negative feedback in the regard to the name Isis. The citizens of Oxford naturally

I AM writing concerning the letters that appeared on Friday, September 12. The letters show good and bad in the Oxford Mail and our community. Elise Benjamin may be a professional politician but she speaks for all of us when she says “groups like

I AM writing to set the record straight concerning a building site which was the subject of a story that you published on your website under the headline “Developer’s house is 7cm off the planning blueprint”. In 2013 we granted permission for the

AN annual breast cancer fundraiser that sees Witney turned pink could be axed unless more volunteers are found. Organisers of Witney in Pink Day said this October’s day of street collections could be the last. The event – in its 13th year –

OON September 12, Bob Rivers berates Jonathan Saunders for giving credit to Russia for its contribution in the defeat of Germany. One might not like Russia but, its effect on World War Two was massive. Had Hitler not invaded Russia, I think that

I AM extremely concerned about the number of rescue dogs coming into the UK from abroad, especially Romania. We surely have enough dogs in Britain that need homes (ask Battersea Dogs Home). There is a concern that many of these dogs have not

WAR munitions discovered this morning at a home in Bicester may have been plundered by illegal metal detecting at heritage sites. A 35-year-old man is currently being held by police on suspicion of theft from heritage and protected sites after

A STRANGE new atmosphere seems to have descended over Oxfordshire County Council – one of mutual respect and friendship. At this week’s cabinet meeting members of the council’s Labour opposition couldn’t find a bad word to say about any of the items

A £60,000 skate park in Oxford that took more than two years to complete has been covered in graffiti, some of it obscene. Vandals have spray-painted crude drawings and phrases over the skate park in Fry’s Hill Park in Greater Leys. Blackbird

Under the new Immigration Act 2014 which comes into force in December landlords have to ask prospective tenants to produce evidence of their permission to be in the UK before granting them a tenancy. The Home Office has produced lists of acceptable

CALLUM O’Dowda has all the attributes to progress and play at a higher level, according to Oxford United teammate Johnny Mullins. The 19-year-old, from Kidlington, has hit a rich vein of form, scoring his first U’s goal in their 1-1 draw at Exeter

MIDSOMER Murders creator Anthony Horowitz joined an Oxford school to help celebrate its 150th birthday. Mr Horowitz visited Summer Fields prep school, Summertown, on Tuesday afternoon and met some of its pupils. He didn’t miss the opportunity

9:18am Shocking statistics about the state of decay in our children’s teeth We have more on the volunteers in Oxford being given a vaccine to try to halt the march of Ebola  A schizophrenic woman

11:15am Shocking statistics about the state of decay in our children’s teeth  We have more on the volunteers in Oxford being given a vaccine to try to halt the march of Ebola A schizophrenic woman

DRIVERS are facing delays at the A34/A4130 Milton interchange near Didcot due to work on a new gas main. The work, which began on September 9, has closed the outside lane on the roundabout and one lane of the dual carriageway section of the A4130

ALMOST one in three Oxfordshire five-year-olds has tooth decay, new figures have revealed. Oxfordshire County councillors will meet this morning to discuss children’s oral health, with five-year-olds in some areas suffering much worse levels of

MORE than 2,500 people have died in the latest outbreak of Ebola and it is rated by Barack Obama no-less as a threat to global security. Scientists are working to come up with a vaccine and let’s hope they succeed. But the real heroes have

PARENTS have a multitude of responsibilities to their children. They do not start and end at keeping them fed, clothed, warm and turning up to school on time. Caring for their teeth is a key life skill, yet it appears too many of the parents in

A MUM-of-two from Oxfordshire was the first person in the world to be injected with an Ebola gene yesterday as part of a city-led battle against the deadly virus. She was one of 60 people who will be given a trial vaccine for the virus in the coming

A VINTAGE aircraft owned by a Oxfordshire man crash-landed because of pilot error. The 1941 Tiger Moth, registered to John Brychan Steel of Great Rollright, was badly damaged after turning upside down on a runway on May 3. A report by the Air

A father who was missing for six months was found hanged in a Norfolk woods, an inquest in Oxford heard yesterday. Malcolm Jones, 55, was last seen at his home in Bramble Bank, Madley Park, Witney, on March 12. His body was found in woods near

Wines from the new world of Spanish winemaking – these are wines with ultra fresh fruit and crisp, clean flavours that really sing. Modern wines like this are far removed from the old tired and semi oxidised styles that were around ten or more

Education charity Reading Quest, which supports mostly disadvantaged youngsters falling behind with literacy and numeracy, is going from strength to strength a year on from winning the Working Together prize at the annual Oxfordshire Charity and Volunteer

A knife-wielding man who police fired a Taser at when he scaled a signal gantry at Banbury Station on Monday was still in a stable condition in hospital yesterday. The man fell from the gantry at about 2pm, following a five-hour stand-off with

Oxfordshire's men came within a whisker of a clean sweep of rink wins as they beat Worcestershire 131-100 in a friendly at Chipping Norton. A 22-21 defeat on the last end for Alan Hall’s four denied them a full house. Chipping Norton’s John

Oxford City Stars suffered a brace of defeats on the opening weekend of the English National League South Division 1 season – despite having an incredible 99 shots on goal. A 9-7 reverse at Invicta Dynamos on Saturday was followed by a 7-3 loss

Guidebooks on Oxford, and indeed in many a feature appearing The Oxford Times, have made much of Oxford’s hidden treasures. While this has added to the mystique and romance associated with city of dreaming spires, it also means that visiting Oxford

A 22-year-old man admitted assault by beating and affray on the first day of his trial at Oxford Crown Court. Damien Davies, of Barton Village Road, Barton, yesterday pleaded guilty to committing both offences on February 28 this year. He has

Two cars were involved in a crash in North Oxford yesterday. The A40 Elsfield Way in Cutteslowe was blocked westbound following the accident. Traffic had to queue between Jackson Road and the Cutteslowe roundabout, causing delays. Thames

More than 10,000 pupils and members of staff have passed through Headington School’s gates since they opened in 1915. Luckily, though, staff didn’t have to cram them all in for a party to celebrate the school’s 100th year yesterday. The oldest

Vikings A and Bletchingdon Club received their Oxford Summer League trophies at the annual presentation night. Vikings were Group A champions, while Bletchingdon took the Group B crown. TONIGHT'S MATCHES  Gracie J’s League Cup preliminary

PAUL Fernandez and Michelle Pank powered to dominant victories at the Finstock 10K. Fernandez (Abingdon) won by more than two minutes, while Pank (Alchester) took the ladies’ title by double that margin. England ultra marathon international

Headington B went undefeated to chalk up a record-breaking success in the Summertown Trophy at Banbury Chestnuts. The Headington quintet of Mark Charlett, Jason King, Nathan Lewis, Ian Henwood and John Philpott, who was on the winning side for

A combined Banbury Borough and Bloxham side took the Oxfordshire Ladies Top Club title with an aggregate shots win over Shiplake at Oxford City & County. With the singles, pairs, triple and fours shared 2-2, the Borough & Bloxham side came

Many local club players will want to add a dynamic new twist to their opening repertoire for the coming season — but few will be able to commit much time to study. In such a situation it’s probably not advisable to look for a new wrinkle on move

The by-election for Quarry and Risinghurst will take place today. The election was triggered by the resignation of former Labour city councillor Laurence Baxter, who has moved to the Czech Republic to work. Labour, the Lib Dems, Greens and

Four adult friends with various learning disabilities moving in together in Wantage will be the subject of an ITV documentary tonight at 7.30pm. Against the Odds: Tonight, will follow the fortunes of Mark Ebsworth, 43, who has Down’s Syndrome,

It's taken a while, but Oxford United's 3-1 win against Accrington Stanley on Tuesday night finally got their 2014-15 season under way. Fans were beginning to wonder where the first win was going to come from. But they should spare a thought for the

A WOMAN who lived near Faringdon died from a “once in a million” complication due to prescribed medication, an inquest heard yesterday. Christine Beck, 67, was found collapsed in a ward at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital on Sunday, March 30.

CHILDREN’S author Steve Cole gave children at Headington’s Rye St Antony School a crash-course in creative writing. The creator of Astrosaurs and Cows in Action taught pupils they could create their own stories and characters by “mashing” ideas

George Leonard was a Lance Bombardier with the Oxfordshire Yeomanry when he entered the concentration camp at Bergen-Belsen in April 1945. As he reveals to André Singer in the harrowing documentary, Night Will Fall, his unit was prompted to investigate

OFFICIALS are starting work on a new bid for millions in Government funding to help boost growth in Oxfordshire. Negotiations have started on a new round of funding for a series of schemes which will give the county’s economy a helping hand.

PEGASUS theatre in East Oxford reckons it has uncovered a gem in its latest production. Theatre company Dumbshow will perform its adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel The Pearl tonight and tomorrow. Set in a Cornish fishing village, the show

FIONA Bunn will compete for England at Saturday’s British and Irish Junior Mountain Running Championships. The Abingdon AC member has been named in England’s Under 17 A girls’ team for the race at Glendalough, Ireland. Bunn is a real running

NO Oxford United fans were shown a ‘red card’ last season and the good behaviour has been helped by several troublemakers having been previously banned, it was claimed last night. The team ranks fourth in League Two for the number of banning orders

CHINNOR have signed back-row forward Jake Parker on loan from Greene King IPA Championship club Cornish Pirates. The 23-year-old played 80 minutes for Pirates against Yorkshire Carnegie (formerly Leeds) on Saturday. But he will drop down to

DEFENCE coach Ollie Smith admits it has been a testing start to the season, but is backing London Welsh to put things right. The Exiles lie bottom of rugby’s Aviva Premiership table after losing 52-0 to Exeter and 53-26 to Bath. Welsh visit

A BARRISTER read the lyrics to the Shaggy hit It Wasn’t Me during his closing speech in a £1.3m drugs conspiracy trial. Michael Roques, prosecuting, told the jury Shorne Ross had been caught “red-handed”, just like the cheating boyfriend in the

A man killed in a house fire probably died from smoke inhalation, a coroner said yesterday. An inquest was opened into the death of Christopher Butler, 55, who was found after a blaze at his home in Wilsdon Way, Kidlington, on Friday, September

A MAN from near Banbury who rescued a neighbour from a fire is among life-savers who will be honoured for their bravery by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service tonight. Clint Walther, of Mill Lane in Shenington, will be presented with a commendation

A PARANOID schizophrenic who stabbed her mum to death was killed by a blood clot while being treated in a psychiatric unit. Kauthar Silvera was sectioned under the Mental Health Act after she admitted knifing her mother Vittoria Baker, 52, at her

(senior men unless stated) FINSTOCK 10K Top 10: 1 P Fernandez (Abn, V40) 34.15, 2 P Wileman (Whh) 36.22, 3 R Storey (Eyn, V40) 37.25, 4 T Lock (Wit, V40) 37.57, 5 M Pearce (Hed) 38.18, 6 N Coupe (unatt) 38.23, 7 S Pritchard (Ban, V40) 38.52

OXFORDSHIRE’S health watchdog is to start carrying out new spot checks on care homes across the county to make sure patients are being cared for properly. The county’s official health and social care watchdog, Healthwatch, which aims to help people

IT WAS a celebrity affair at Helen House and Douglas House as Rev and Pirates of the Caribbean star Tom Hollander officially reopened the Oxford children’s hospice. The actor cut the ribbon at the hospice in Magdalen Road, East Oxford, on Monday

OXFORD’S most famous library will reopen one of its main buildings on Monday after a £78m facelift which saw even the chairs being overhauled. The Weston Library, formerly the New Bodleian in Broad Street, will reopen after being closed for three

A MAN who was “heavily intoxicated” died after falling into a cellar window, an inquest heard yesterday. Roger Callow, 67, was found lying face-down in a gap outside a property in New Street, Deddington, near Banbury, in the early hours of May