Archive

  • Age is no bar for 100-year-old volunteer charity fundraiser

    AS SHE celebrates her 100th birthday today, Lulu Belcher is still turning out regularly to volunteer for charity. The East Oxford-born centenarian joined the Oxford University Hospital Charity Fund’s team at the age of 94. An active member

  • Fundraisers are in the pink as thousands raised for charity

    A SEA of pink flooded Wantage Market Place as hundreds of runners, walkers and cyclists pounded through the streets. More than 400 adults and children raced 5km or more from Wantage to surrounding villages and back to try to help tackle cancer.

  • Farmers’ market is a big hit with villagers

    AS TESCO reported record £6.38bn losses for the year, retail analysts said the nation’s shoppers were moving away from supermarkets towards independent shops. That appears to be true in Uffington, near Faringdon, where two women set up their own

  • Oars well that ends well at rowing club open day

    A CONSULTANT scientist from Canada may not have seen any bears from the banks or moose in the river, but said he still enjoyed a rowing club open day on Saturday nonetheless. Conrad Bielski 44, went along to the open day at Abingdon Rowing Club

  • Fundraisers to cross Channel

    AN OXFORDSHIRE fundraiser is part of a crew set to row across the English Channel to raise £20,000 for cancer charities. Tennis coach Tom Greenland, from Long Wittenham, is part of a group who have formed a crew named Waves4Hope aiming complete

  • Sorry to see our night bus service being taken away

    I am so sorry to be losing the 12C night bus to Littlemore. We travel home to Littlemore from the city centre about three times a week and it is very well used. If it really has to stop please could Stagecoach consider diverting a No3 (Rose

  • Get bus pass renewals in early or lose free travel

    I write to ring alarm bells for those older residents expecting the renewal of their concessionary bus passes. Do not necessarily expect your new pass to arrive two weeks before expiry date. The system for renewal is woefully inadequate, and you

  • No convenience for those using Westgate buses

    I read your article re the concerns of local traders in Oxford worrying about reduced footfall. Our village, Kennington, is served by the 35 bus which stops in Castle Street, just convenient for people to go into the Westgate Centre and to return

  • Global temperature rise a concern not an ‘illusion’

    We all hope Alan Bourne is right when he says global temperatures peaked in 1998 and climate change was an illusion. No one can reliably predict the weather next week, next year or next century because there are so many ups and downs. However,

  • Council beats Hitler to create city bomb site

    I was going to go to Banbury, but my train got cancelled because of signalling problems. What’s new? So from the railway station, I got the number 5 Blackbird Leys bus which first went past Frideswide Square (roadworks) and a demolished Westgate

  • Hospital managers ‘come down off your pedestals’

    In my lifespan, so much has gone on around the world. All kinds of horrific evil that it’s so hard to believe that any human being could even think of taking part in, groups of terror movements such as ISIS who will stop at nothing to reach their

  • Quartet plan a non-stop trek across the Atlantic

    AN OXFORDSHIRE woman has joined forces with a reality TV star to row the Atlantic Ocean in aid of charity. Gee Purdy, from Milton-under-Wychwood, will tackle the challenge with nurse Lauren Morton, who is currently featuring on Channel 4’s The

  • Time to consider quality of life over economic growth

    In response to the predicted increase of population in Oxford (April 27), Oxford City Council proposes that we should build more homes, in particular in the Green Belt. In economic terms this ‘solution’ concentrates entirely on increasing supply

  • New sensory garden was dedicated nurse’s dream

    A HOSPITAL garden dreamed up by a nurse who died from a brain tumour is being used by patients for the first time. Gail Castle, who passed away in December 2014, drew up plans for the sensory garden at Didcot Community Hospital with colleagues,

  • Apprentices to showcase new scheme

    NINE young people from Oxfordshire are to become ambassadors to help promote apprenticeships across the county. The youngsters who are completing or have recently completed apprenticeships with local firms are the first to join the latest initiative

  • Candidates still have much to do for General Election votes

    There is just one week of campaigning left until the General Election and voters have not got long left to make up their minds. Luke Sproule spoke to our election panel to get their thoughts on the campaign so far and where their sympathies are beginning

  • Parents battle for primary school places

    HUNDREDS of concerned parents have signed a petition calling for more primary school places in Abingdon. Mothers Nicola Rowbotham, Fiona Colcutt and Emma Lonie were horrified when their children were refused places at every primary schools they

  • Freezing temperatures reported this week in Oxfordshire

    TEMPERATURES in the county reached lows of -1.2C earlier this week. South Newington in West Oxfordshire plunged below freezing on Monday night along with nearby Little Rissington. Last night was a warmer affair with temperatures hovering around

  • Tots are kings of the swingers with monkey music

    TOTS across Oxfordshire are monkeying around at a new music scheme in Oxford, Abingdon and Thame. Monkey Music is a pre-school music group for children aged between three months and four years to encourage development and stimulation. The scheme

  • ‘Fantastic’ ex-mayor Chrissie ‘loved by all’

    TRIBUTES have been paid to much-loved former Witney mayor Chrissie Curry who has died aged 66 after a short battle with cancer. Ms Curry served as mayor for two terms from 2006 to 2008 and was a town councillor until her death. She served on

  • Video-link to court

    Marek Hnida, of Fettiplace Road, Barton, appeared at Oxford Crown Court via video-link from Bullingdon Prison yesterday, facing one count of conspiracy to commit robbery and possession of a stun gun. The 31-year-old was remanded to appear before

  • Bullfinch suspect rebailed

    A man arrested as part of Operation Bullfinch on suspicion of child sexual exploitation in Oxford has been rebailed for the fourth time. The 29-year-old was arrested on suspicion of trafficking for the purposes of child sexual exploitation on December

  • Teenagers released after assaults quiz

    Police have released two boys who were arrested after a series of sexual assaults in Oxford. No further action was taken against a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old after they answered police bail on Saturday. Officers said the victims, who were

  • Hustings planned

    AN ELECTION hustings will take place at St Hugh’s College, Oxford, on Friday. The college hosts the event from 7pm to 8.30pm and hopes students will attend. It will include candidates forom the Oxford West and Abingdon constituency, with those

  • School lands a £25,000 award

    A PRIMARY school in Chinnor has been awarded £25,000 for improving theresults for underprivileged children. St Andrew’s Primary School became the Thames Valley’s regional finalist in ensuring that children from low-income families met and exceeded

  • Rebail in fraud case

    A woman arrested in connection with an alleged £6m fraud at the Mini plant in Cowley has been rebailed for the third time. The 46-year-old woman has been released until May 26. It comes after Johannes Franken, of Fockbury Road, Dodford, Bromsgrove

  • Young actors are rising to the challenge

    THESE drama students have been busy developing a punishing piece of physical theatre. Dressed as soldiers, the 14 students from the Oxford College of Drama are studying a foundation course in musical theatre. They took to the boards at Sansomes

  • Festival's stamp of success

    AVID collectors got a closer look at hundreds of stamps at the first Banbury Festival of Stamps for years. The event coincided with a year of celebrations of philately – the study of stamps and postal history – in the UK, with the London 2015 International

  • Summer venue for Pooh Sticks

    THE FIRST ever World Pooh Sticks Championships to be held in the summer will kick off at 2pm on Sunday, June 7, organisers have announced. A total of Six rotary clubs are now collaborating to organising the event at Witney’s Langel Common, which

  • Raiders take coins

    A large amount of Cash and commemorative coins were taken from a Summertown house in a burglary. The theft happened in Lucerne Road between about noon on Wednesday, April 8 and 11.30pm on Friday, April 17. Burglars caused damage inside the

  • Man appears in court over murder

    A 34-year-old man has appeared before Oxford Crown Court accused of the murder of a man found stabbed in Barton. Rafal Stawski, of Mayfair Road, Oxford, spoke only to confirm his name when he appeared in court via video link yesterday morning.

  • Assault is denied

    A man is in custody awaiting trial after a cyclist was attacked in Station Road. Two men were said to have kicked Tomasz Gumulka in the head on March 24 as he was on his way home from work. Police said the attackers also stamped on Mr Gumulka

  • Charity takes care of unwanted animals

    SOMETIMES, when you’ve had a difficult start in life, all you need is a little bit of love. And That’s exactly what staff at Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary hope homes across the county can provide for the influx of kittens and cats they’ve had as

  • Candidate digs deep into villagers campaign against quarrying

    VILLAGERS fighting plans for a sand and gravel quarry on the banks of the Thames won the backing of their Conservative parliamentary candidate yesterday. John Howell, who is standing for the Henley constituency, met campaigners in Clifton Hampden

  • SCHOOLS' FOOTBALL: Oxfordshire on song to keep upt title bid

    Oxfordshire Under 14s kept alive their hopes of winning the South West Counties competition with a 2-0 victory over Dorset at Shaftesbury Town. Oxon squandered numerous chances before taking the lead five minutes before half-time when Chris Mortimore

  • SCHOOLS FOOTBALL: Kaylem Patterson's denied in controversy

    City of Oxford College’s Kay- lem Patterson found himself at the centre of controversy as England Under 18s lost 1-0 to Republic of Ireland, whose victory at Sligo Rovers saw them capture the Inspiresport Centenary Shield. Patterson, who came on

  • FOOTBALL: Barton's slip ends title race

    AFC Jericho were crowned Critchleys Upper Thames Valley League Premier League champions without kicking a ball after closest rivals Barton United lost 8-5 at Blackbird Rovers. Marlon James bagged a four-timer for the home side, with Yasine Lamzini

  • FOOTBALL: Black Swan settle cup double

    Black Swan lifted a trophy for the second weekend in a row as they beat The George 4-2 after extra time to win the County Junior League Cup. The George twice led at Kidlington, thanks to a brace from Ricky Anderson. But the Oxford City FA Supplementary

  • Colour-coded crackdown cuts cycle thefts at station by half

    AN innovative CCTV scheme has led to a fall in thefts at Oxford Train Station. British Transport Police (BTP) recorded only 18 thefts in 2014 compared to nearly double the previous year. Officers have designated colour-coded areas across the

  • Pupils and staff delighted as school gets new classrooms

    PUPILS in Cowley are happily ensconced in four new classrooms after five years of temporary classrooms at their school. St Christopher’s CE Primary School officially opened its new building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by children’s illustrator