THE county looks set to be bursting with eggs-citement over the Easter weekend with all sorts of eggs-traordinary events. Tomorrow sees the return of the annual Good Friday Walk in Radley, near Abingdon, for the 53rd year. The tradition began
Kevin Pietersen has announced plans to begin his season with Surrey against Oxford MCCU in The Parks. He intends to turn out against Oxford in a three-day match starting on Sunday April 12. Pietersen, hoping to press for an England recall through
AN AGATHA Christie festival, celebrating the best-selling crime writer’s connections with Wallingford and Cholsey, is to take place for the second year running. The novelist lived in Winterbrook House, Cholsey, from 1934 until her death in 1976
ARMY bomb experts have detonated an explosive shell found in a woman's shed. Police and the Royal Logistic Corps bomb disposal squad were called to Elm Close in Wheatley this afternoon after a woman made the discovery. Thames Valley Police
A COUNCILLOR is worried not enough has been done about the traffic for a new nursery in North Oxford. St John’s College has lodged plans with Oxford City Council to build a nursery to cater for 25 children on a site off Bainton Road. It would
A WATER main has burst between Woodeaton and Islip on the B4027. There is no effect to the water supply of nearby houses but there is some minor flooding on the road, Thames Water said. The road is open at the moment but there could be traffic
A WATER main has burst between Woodeaton and Islip on the B4027. There is no impact to the water supply of nearby houses but there is some minor flooding on the road. The road is open at the moment but there could be traffic management procedures
OXFORD United will be backed by their largest travelling contingent of the Sky Bet League Two season at Wycombe Wanderers tomorrow afternoon. More than 1,600 supporters will head across the border to Buckinghamshire for the Good Friday fixture
Election candidates were united in speaking out against increased state control under the coalition Government at a hustings which the Conservatives did not attend. Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green, Independent, Trade Unionist Socialist Coalition
Many people lacing up their shoes for next month’s Pink Ribbonwalk for Breast Cancer Care will have a personal reason for doing so. But Madeline Van Der Wal, who will be walking at the Blenheim Palace for the second time in May, has at least four
Hilary Hibbert-Biles, Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for public health and the voluntary sector, on public health issues Health affects everyone in Oxfordshire at some time in their lives, from babies to the elderly – and the consequences
EASTER barbeques or sunny afternoons with the kids or gardening are looking increasingly unlikely for the holiday weekend. And Good Friday is looking the worst of the four days. Tomorrow the Met Office is forecasting that you'll be waking to heavy
THE developer behind a new care home planned for Cumnor has admitted some neighbours “absolutely hate it”. But the company has promised to try to modify the scheme to mollify locals. People got their first glimpse of the plans, by London-based
THE last train to London Paddington leaves Oxford station at 10.30pm tonight before major improvements works kick in for the Easter weekend. From tonight through to the end of Monday, April 6 the railway will be closed between Hayes & Harlington
ASSISTANT coach Matt Ferguson has left relegated London Welsh after only ten months with the Oxford-based club. Ferguson joined the Exiles in June last year ahead of their Aviva Premiership campaign. While he leaves the club, former England
A RAPIST has been jailed for eight years after attacking a woman in Bicester. Shaun Allman, 24, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Monday after being found guilty by a jury of two counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault. The court
TEN flats could now be built near the A34 at Botley after developers successfully appealed against a council rejection of similar plans. Outline proposals for nine flats, opposite the trunk road, were initially thrown out by Vale of White Horse
Three people were arrested during today's march in Oxford by the English Defence League, police have confirmed. The march began at just before 2pm and about 150 EDL members made their way from Oxford rail station past County Hall before arriving
Want to give your opinion? Email letters@oxfordmail.co.uk
WE ARE grateful to your correspondents for highlighting the need to keep solar panels on the new council homes at Bury Knowle. We have had a rethink and Oxford City Council will now make sure the solar panels will stay and provide renewable electricity
ON A recent trip to Kidlington Market, I bought some spring flowers from Bunkers Hill, a small local nursery. The plants were presented in a biodegradable plastic bag, which will break down into nothing in the environment. If a small business
REGARDING this week’s story that Oxfordshire could get scheduled Europe flights (March 30), Oxfordshire county councillor Ian Hudspeth and London Oxford Airport head of development Tony Farmer , pictured right, should read the comments of the county
LIKE a fool I have again allowed myself to be persuaded to put my name forward for election to Horspath Parish Council on May 7. Last Thursday I went to the council offices in Abingdon to collect a nomination form and duly filled it in along with
WHY do the two locally-based, square-jawed, megabutch, alpha male, ‘enfant(s) terrible(s)’ TV personality Jeremys (what on earth must have been going through their parents’ minds?) simply not take over each other’s former jobs? DAVID DIMENT Riverside
I AM forever reading about people and animals being chased, attacked and killed by ‘dangerous dogs’, the latest being a seven stone Rottweiler which was shoved out of a car in Porthcawl in South Wales and chased a terrified man who was forced to scale
MY experience is not so good as Ray Holton (March 23). I passed through Frideswide Square several times recently. The traffic flow is greatly improved as it was some years ago when there were mini roundabouts prior to Oxfordshire County Council putting
April sees some fantastic fun and interesting events where film is concerned; whether it’s catching the latest action with local film makers or hammering a battered piece of metal to a silent movie. Here’s a taste of some events and news worth knowing
Alison Boulton meets the founding director of Oxford University’s Martin School Professor Ian Goldin, director of Oxford University’s Martin School says: “This could be our best century ever – or our worst.” Just back from meeting the world
Sir – I am sure that many of your readers would like to know your policy on the publication of photographs of your reporter Christopher Gray. The frequency of such photographs has raised comments in the past on the basis of their superfluity but
Sir – ‘But’ is a convenient word to start a paragraph with. And I write this as an appreciation of Professor Roy Harris – (Obituary, March 26) – who elevated linguistics beyond artificial classroom teaching. John Offord Bicester
Sir – Two weeks ago you published a letter from me about the city council’s inability to answer simple questions about the size of the Northern Gateway development. Last week, a letter from Prof Batchelor pointed out a huge discrepancy between
Sir – Some people are unfortunately trying to score party political points by claiming that Bob Price and other city councillors care nothing for the welfare of the children at Phil and Jim School, because we delayed a decision on the new footbridge
Sir – Mr Weavers says (Letters, March 26) that Stephen Fry’s stance to suffering is no more satisfactory than Rowan Williams “mysterious”. I don’t see the relevance of the word satisfactory. I suppose I could consider my belief that I will have
Sir – I refer to the article Roundabout is dangerous (March 19). The article highlights what is a very poor design at the Abingdon Road/Southern Bypass roundabout and this is defended by the county council as being determined by the “geometry of
Sir – We are grateful to your correspondents (March 26) for highlighting the need to keep solar panels on the new council homes at Bury Knowle. We have had a re-think and the city council will now make sure the solar panels will stay and provide
Sir – Yesterday, as she was getting out of her car in Summertown, my friend was approached by a ‘respectable’, middle-aged woman who told her to go back to her ‘own country’. My friend, who was born and brought up in Britain, is honestly one of the
Sir – I am surprised at the sparsity of your report on future gravel extraction in Oxfordshire (March 26). I firstly need to declare that for more than 30 years, I have lived in the most excavated part of West Oxfordshire, which has suffered from
Sir – The western link road from the A40 to the A44 should be built and open way before any buildings are completed at Northern Gateway – completion before construction starts on site would minimise major congestion during the construction phase –
Sir – In his engaging piece (Quad Talk, March 19) on the curious workings of the elections for Oxford University’s professor of poetry, Seamus Perry reflects “the university has leapt into modernity and embraced online voting and the result is in the
Sir – Dr Whall of the CPRE states in her letter (March 26), that all the proposed new park-and-rides would be in the Green Belt – if I am not mistaken some of the existing ones are already in the Green Belt on the edge of Oxford, so is it not better
Sir – Walking and cycling improve health. Car exhausts contain noxious gases and soot. Many patients live within walking or cycling distance of the Headington hospitals. Many more are within walking distance of a bus stop on a hospital route.
Sir – After recently attending a mid-afternoon appointment at the John Radcliffe, (and, by an adroit manoeuvre, managing to park within 15 minutes), I came back to my car at 5.30pm to go home. Not only were the roads out of the hospital choked
Sir – Your editorial on hospital car parking (March 19) is well-argued as usual, but wrong. Car ownership rose from 8,000 cars for the wealthy in 1900, to 2.5 million in 1934 following mass production, and 28.7 million at the end of 2012 (DVLA statistics
Sir – So the airport at Kidlington is hoping to expand its services by hosting flights to western European destinations, backed by Oxfordshire County Council, with the promise of ‘economic growth’. What has economic growth brought us? One thing
Sir – Re last week’s front-page headline County could get scheduled Europe flights, councillor Hudspeth and London Oxford Airport head of development Tony Farmer should read the comments of the county council’s own strategic environmental assessment
Sir – Your uncritical coverage of plans to bring large commercial jets into Oxford Airport (March 26) is surprising given the history of failure in recent years. The airport’s ‘scheduled services’ webpage still talks optimistically about flights
Sir – Your leading article (March 26) clearly seeks to strike a balanced view about the proposed expansion of Oxford Airport, and rightly so. However, in trying to do so, it dangerously underestimates the threat to our beautiful town from expansionist
Killing predators is not the only way, explains Stuart Manwaring It is estimated that there are over 24,000 over-wintering cormorants in England. Over 14,000 of them come inland. Why do they come inland though? A cormorant can happily take between
OXFORD University Women's Boat Club have thanked the RNLI for rescuing them when they got into trouble on the Thames. The team was training for the upcoming Oxford and Cambridge Women's Boat Race at Chiswick yesterday morning when strong winds
FIVE outlets at Bicester Village remain closed this morning after Carluccio’s was engulfed in flames yesterday. The Village was evacuated and did not reopen until 1pm after yesterday's blaze ripped through the Italian restaurant. Kurt Geiger
ON MONDAY night, BBC’s Panorama aired ‘DIY Justice’, which detailed the problems that many parents, family members, family lawyers, the courts, and other professionals have experienced since the cuts to civil legal aid were brought in on April 1, 2013
A guardsman whose busy life in the army meant he had to miss his baby son crawl for the first time has been honoured for his 15 years’ loyal military service. Colour Sergeant Robert Owen, from Bicester, was presented with a long service medal by
PEDESTRIANS have demanded council action over the repeated breakdown of a £50,000 rising bollard barely two months after it came into operation. Cherwell District Council installed the rising bollard on the Kidlington High Street on February 9
Just call him the Easter Bunny. Wantage charity champion Ray Collins led a team who collected 816 Easter eggs and treats for the elderly and vulnerable across Oxfordshire. Mr Collins, who manages Peter Ledbury Electricals in Grove Street, was helped
Guy Carter looks a happy man – and no wonder, having just picked up the £7,500 Jeremy Mogford Prize for Food & Drink Writing, for the second consecutive year. His repeated success astonished guests at the presentation party at Jeremy’s Quod
As hot author heads for Oxford, we read her talked-about debut. Her first novel’s position, as one of the biggest debuts of 2014, was a well deserved accolade for Oxford graduate Jessie Burton’s writing, such was its page-turning beauty in The
Christopher Gray uncovers a great deal to love about a renamed and revamped inn There are so many nice things to say about The Pointer, in Brill, so many unusual features to its mode of operation, that it’s hard to know where to begin. So – seizing
Giles Woodforde hears how an audio tour about radical thinkers was made Turn off Oxford’s George Street and walk past the front of the Odeon, towards Friars Entry and Beaumont Street. Just after the Oxford Fish and Chips shop, you’ll see a plaque
Christopher Gray is glad to welcome back an extravaganza of bad taste numbers The Producers carries the sub-title A Mel Brooks Musical, as well it might since the wise-cracking New Yorker is, in terms of the writing, almost its only begetter.
My 13-year-old friend, Masako, suggested going to see Return To The Forbidden Planet, the sci-fi space musical based on The Tempest; a spurious premise for a show, it seemed, and not one that particularly appealed on a wet, windy Monday night.
Pity the poor writer who has to review Stewart Lee. Even those who love him, get a ribbing — along with his adoring audience. The fate of those who don’t measure up doesn’t bear thinking about; their fate being a merciless, if hilarious, teasing –
German composer Louis Spohr was one of the most popular composers of his day; so much so that Gilbert mentioned him in The Mikado, with the title character singing about “Bach interwoven with Spohr and Beethoven.” But while Bach and Beethoven remained
Charli XCX is on good form. “I don’t want to go to school... I just wanna break the rules!” she bellows, to the delight of her predominantly young audience. Full of teenage girls, and some boys, the singer’s fans were hooked from the moment her
A short run at the Ashmolean, Love Bites: Caricatures, by James Gillray, marks the 200th anniversary of the death of the British caricaturist known for his bitingly humorous political and social satires. All 60 works featured are from the New College
As artists prepare to welcome the world, Esther Lafferty, executive director of Oxfordshire Artweeks, says it’s a treat It’s arrived: juicy, rich and plump and full of fresh art to explore and discover. I’m talking about the Oxfordshire Artweeks
Katherine MacAlister discovers why ‘TV’s nicest man’ prefers touring smaller venues to doing arenas Alan Carr is excited. Having been fine-tuning his new show for the past three years, TV’s campest comedian and chat show host is now ready and raring
I have been several times to Daylesford in Kingham so I know it’s good and was keen to revisit. We arrived early and had time to mooch around the gorgeous organic food shop, nibbling away on the numerous samples of cakes and cheeses before buying
Katherine MacAlister is relieved to find problems have been ironed out at a village favourite It wasn’t a great success, my first visit to The Crown in Woodstock. In fact, it was a massive anticlimax, because having been shut for several years
Chef's Special with Jun Li at Sojo Jun Li, 40, is currently SoJo's Head Chef, joining the team nearly three years ago. He hails from Shanghai and is married with a teenage daughter. He started preparing simple home-cooked dinners for his family
Tim Hughes talks to Michael Ball about his excitement at sharing his new album Michael Ball is everyone’s favourite West End star. And the reason? He knows what his fans like – and they, in turn, like him. “I sort of understand what an
It was distressing to read in The Times last week of the Woodland Trust’s belief that more than 500 of Britain’s ancient woods are under threat of development, double the number in peril three years ago. Readers can no doubt guess one major reason
In a week dominated by the news of an act of mass murder in the French Alps, it was a pleasure and a privilege to be present at an event as life-affirming as the appearance by Miss Jessye Norman at the FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival. The great
Reg Little talks to Anthony Sattin on his biography of a young man destined for legend Anthony Sattin travelled far in his search for Lawrence of Arabia. He journeyed to dangerous corners of the world and braved rough terrain to follow in the footsteps
Helen Peacocke meets a Londoner whose new life in the country turned into a thriving pork business As you drive along the winding lane to Todenham Manor Farm, near Moreton-in-Marsh, you would be forgiven for believing you were going the wrong way
Val Bourne pines for lovely magnolia to blossom in springtime and be reminder of lost Cotswolds garden I’m pining for my old garden in Hook Norton, because it had – and hopefully still has – a huge Magnolia x soulangeana that made April and early
The urgent plight of our UK marine population is highlighted by Erin Murton of the Wildlife Trust for Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire, who asks for the public’s help Last month’s Budget included the very welcome news that more than 834,000 sq km of
Anne James visits a display of world-changing artistic works This exhibition, drawn from the truly fabulous collections the Bodleian holds, has been perfectly orchestrated to celebrate the opening of the Weston Library in Broad Street. Formerly
Nicola Lisle talks to Sholto Kynoch about the Oxford Lieder’s Spring Song Weekend You’ve heard of the Budget bounce? Well, Sholto Kynoch – founder and artistic director of the Oxford Lieder Festival – is hoping for a Schubert bounce. Still
Jazz Troyka The Spin at The Wheatsheaf, Oxford Tonight £12/£10conc/£6 student on the door A real treat for jazz fans, in the shape of Kit Downes (keys), Josh Blackmore (drums) and Chris Montague (guitar) – aka Troyka. All great artists
* It's all going lupine-loopy this week, with two wolfish acts hitting the Cowley Road. On Saturday we have the exhilarating Wolf Alice, fronted by singer Ellie Rowsell, at the O2 Academy, while Wednesday sees the even more rapacious Turbowolf rocking
Before Turbowolf hit Oxford, Tim Hughes takes tea with their hard-rocking frontman As frontman of the rock band Turbowolf, you might expect Chris Georgiadis to be a bit of an beast. After all, their music is a mad melange of crunchy riffs, tight
Theresa Thompson enjoys a fabulous forage through the Ashmolean’s British drawings exhibition Dipping into one of its treasure troves – a fabulous collection of drawings, watercolours and prints, considered one of the best in the world – the Ashmolean
Asmolean curator Colin Harrison tells Stuart Macbeth why a new exhibition of drawings is not to be missed It was Colin Harrison’s job to trawl through the 10,000 British drawings and watercolours at The Ashmolean to choose work for its new exhibition
Starting Up with Emma Collen @ The Jericho Kitchen Cookery School For those of you who are not familiar with Slow Food, it is an international movement that was founded in 1986 by Carlo Petrini, to counter the rampant homogenisation of the local
Damon Smith says that Russell Crowe’s first film as director shows some promise In front of the camera, New Zealand-born actor Russell Crowe has enjoyed both critical and commercial success since coming to the fore in 1997, as a brutish detective
Energetic, swaggering and twitching with attitude, there is definitely something feral about Wolf Alice. Don’t be taken in by their good looks and easy-going nature, this is a band with snarl, bite and a rapacious appetite for rock. “I’m in
Ahead of his one-man show, Tweedy tells Katherine MacAlister how making people laugh turned into the day job of his dreams Tweedy the Clown always knew what he wanted to be, despite the bemusement of his parents. Having his own one-man show, as
POLICE have had a “limited” response to Monday’s appeal for more information about a murder 20 years ago. Nasreen Akhtar, 29, was strangled at her home in Cobden Crescent, Grandpont, on March 30, 1995. The mother-of-four was found dead by her
THE fifth phase of road closures at The Plain roundabout come to an end today. Access from Iffley Road has been closed since Monday, March 23. Work on the next phase of the scheme will begin on Tuesday. For four nights from 7.30pm to 5.30am
A GOVERNMENT minister backed calls for a “cycle hub” at Oxford railway station with double the number of bicycle spaces planned. Baroness Kramer, Minister of State for Transport and Liberal Democrat peer, said “more imaginative” solutions were
SHEEP hurdles were stolen from a farm near Witney, police said. Six hurdles, used in competitions, were stolen from a farm in Middle Town in Hailey. Police said that the theft took place between 4pm on Friday, March 20 and 4pm on Monday, March
A MAN accused of raping a woman in a flat in Headington has appeared at Oxford Crown Court. Catalin Horhota, of no fixed address, faces charges of rape and attempted rape on September 20, last year. He also faces two further charges of sexual
MICHAEL Appleton has challenged his Oxford United squad to banish their relegation concerns for good with a strong showing over the Easter weekend. A 2-1 victory against Carlisle United on Saturday eased drop fears around the club, by opening up
STAFF reopened their funeral parlour yesterday after a devastating arson attack in January forced it to close. The Howard Chadwick funeral parlour in Crowmarsh Gifford was one of several buildings in the village near Wallingford that went up in
HEAD coach Craig Burrows struggled for words after Grove were crowned Oxfordshire champions for the first time in their 43-year history. Fly half and man-of-the-match Roger Sevier landed a dramatic 78th-minute conversion to seal a 24-22 victory
AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into racist and homophobic comments posted on the Facebook page of an Oxford UK Independence Party parliamentary candidate. Pressure group Hope Not Hate claimed Alan Harris, the UKIP prospective parliamentary
OXFORD MCC Universities give first-class debuts to five players in their opening three-day game of the season against Worcestershire, which gets under way in The Parks today (11am). Batsmen Luke Webb – who has played for Dorset and is a member
A NEW stand will be used for the first time when Oxford City host Boston United at Marsh Lane on Saturday. The club have erected a new 180-seater covered stand, which will allow them to compete in the Vanarama North play-offs, if they qualify.
A FAMILY in Kidlington welcomed a new baby girl that now extends their family to five generations. Mother Danielle Collaire gave birth to baby Amelia at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington at 3.51pm last Thursday. The newborn becomes
NEW captain George Messum has pledged to dedicate himself to making history at Oxford University. The No 8 featured for the Dark Blues in their record-breaking fifth successive Varsity match victory over Cambridge in December, after coming to Oxford
Coneygree, the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, is to parade at the Betfair Lambourn Open Day tomorrow. Trained by Mark Bradstock at Letcombe Bassett, near Wantage, the eight-year-old will also make a special appearance before racing at 11.30am
More than a decade ago council, heritage and university leaders gathered at the Bodleian Library to show their support for a newly-published study, Broad Street: The Plan. Hailing the Broad as “one of the great urban spaces of Europe,” the carefully
FRANCIS Habgood said he was focused on “protecting the vulnerable members of society” in his first day as chief constable of Thames Valley Police. The former deputy chief constable replaced Sara Thornton yesterday after she took on the new role
HOME Secretary Theresa May refused to confirm if the Operation Bullfinch scandal will be part of a parliamentary inquiry into historical child abuse. The minister spoke during a visit to Abingdon Police Station yesterday and said it was up to an
FORMER police chief constable Sara Thornton is being given £252,000 in her new role as the head of the National Police Chiefs Council. Ms Thornton, who officially stood down as head of Thames Valley Police on Tuesday, took up the new role yesterday
Such is the versatility of Québecois director Jean-Marc Vallée that dramatic changes of scenery have become the norm. Since debuting with the award-laden serial killer saga Black List (1995), he has made a Western (Los Locos, 1996), a revenge thriller
In July 1942, Heinrich Himmler, the Reichsführer of the Schutzstaffel (SS), wrote to his wife Margarete: `I am travelling to Auschwitz. Kisses, your Heini.' There was no mention of the fact that he was on his way to inspect the newly installed gas
REFORMED Oxford rock group Ride had fans suspecting an April Fool’s joke yesterday, after announced an intimate hometown warm-up gig. The Oxford band, who confirmed they had reunited late last year, will play one of just three warm-up shows worldwide
LOWER charges for water and sewerage services came into force this week, but Thames Water customers will see one of the smallest savings. Average water bills will only fall by £3 in Oxfordshire because households are helping to fund the construction
CHINNOR’s Under 15 and 17 sides are celebrating after both teams won silverware on Sunday. The Under 15s were crowned Oxfordshire champions after beating Witney 19-5 at Kingsey Road. More success came in the National Under 17s South West Divisional
DIDCOT Conservative Club lead Section 1 of the Johnsons Buildbase Oxford League by one point, with a game in hand. This comes after they won 3-2 at home to Premier team Vikings Club. Dave Tooke (6,000pts) put the home side in front with a win
WOODSTOCK Harriers’ James Bolton continued his impressive form by storming to victory at the White Horse Half Marathon in Grove. Just a week after coming second at the Banbury 15, Bolton completed Sunday’s 13.1 mile course in 1hr 14mins 32secs.
CONSTRUCTION work on a new Waitrose store in Botley Road is set to begin later this month. Builders will move onto the site in two weeks time and construction work will begin on April 27. The demolition of the former Halfords and MFI building
CHIPPING Norton’s Martin Shepherd won his third Oxfordshire indoor singles title with a 22-14 victory over clubmate John Cox in the final at Oxford City & County. The match was all-square at 8-8 after ten ends, before Shepherd edged in front
TWIN brothers from Rose Hill said making a movie for a popular children’s TV show has left them wanting more from the silver screen. Eleven-year-old Josh and Kai Mattinson were part of a five-strong team who wrote, directed and starred in their
DONATING blood went from being a pain to a pleasure at the opening of the newly-refurbished Oxford Donor Centre. Based at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington, the centre is a permanent place where people can donate their blood. It reopened
