The Oxford Union has apologised after advertising a colonial "reparations debate cocktail." A poster for the cocktail, which cost £2.50, showed a slave's hands in chains above the caption which said: "The colonial comeback." The cocktails were
FOOTBALLERS will tomorrow lace up their boots to boost the coffers of the county’s biggest street parade. Organiser of the Cowley Road Carnival are busy preparing for this summer’s festival, which will take over the busy East Oxford thoroughfare
Three people have been injured in a crash on the M40 between junction six for Watlington and junction seven for Thame. The accident, involving a van and a lorry, happened on the northbound carriageway at about 3pm. The northbound carriageway
AUCTIONEERS Bonhams is closing its Oxfordshire sale room, making 17 staff redundant. The final auction at the branch in Shipton-on-Cherwell, near Kidlington, will be on September 30. Although the office will remain open and continue to offer
ORGANISERS of the county’s biggest visual arts festival said times are changing for troubled artists hit hard by the country’s economic crisis. About 100,000 visitors admired artwork at about 400 exhibitions across the county during Oxfordshire
More than 250 environmental activists are now camped near Didcot Power Station. The protesters are taking part in three days of events designed to highlight a need to move away from the use of fossil fuels. On Monday they are due to take part
A PICTURESQUE Oxfordshire village is “under siege” from housing developments, campaigners have warned. Chilton near Didcot lies in the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and should not have housing built there at all,
A LONG-TERM epilepsy sufferer has warned others after wrongly being lumbered with more than £200 of fines and prescription charges from an NHS fraud office. Banbury resident Jenna Morris has been exempt from prescription charges since she was diagnosed
A BLOOMING display of flowers ranging from roses to hydrangeas have brightened an Oxfordshire church as it celebrates its 900th anniversary. St Mary the Virgin Church in Shipton-under-Wychwood is marking the milestone with a series of events, including
Oxford United’s pre-season preparations have been boosted by the confirmation of a training camp and a match in Austria. And they look set to be well supported, with fans booking flights within minutes of yesterday’s announcement. The trip
A man arrested as part of Operation Bullfinch on suspicion of child sexual exploitation in Oxford has been released without charge. The 29-year-old was arrested on suspicion of trafficking for the purposes of child sexual exploitation on December
DOZENS of floral tributes have now been left outside the Didcot home where a family were murdered. Bouquets, cuddly toys and messages flank the Vicarage Road home paying tribute to Jan Jordon, 48, partner Philip Howard, 44, and daughter Derin Jordon
A CHARITY fundraiser hopes she will finally be hopping over the finishing line in a world record-breaking attempt. Jenni Davies from Witney wants to break the world record for longest distance travelled on a space hopper today in an eight-hour
A woman arrested in connection with an alleged £6 million fraud at the Mini plant in Cowley has been rebailed for the fourth time. The 46-year-old woman has been released until June 30. It comes after Johannes Franken, of Fockbury Road, Dodford
A JUDGE has said we will never find out why an arsonist started a series of “devastating” fires in South Oxfordshire, as he sectioned him under the Mental Health Act. Yesterday it was described as “miraculous” that no one was killed or seriously
A BUSINESSMAN who started a fire that forced people to jump from windows has been told he will receive a long prison sentence for his “appalling” crime. Martin Nganga was yesterday convicted of arson with intent to endanger life on January 29 last
BRADLEY Smith made a strong start with the fifth fastest time in practice ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello yesterday. The Forest Hill MotoGP rider has fond memories of the circuit after winning 2009’s 125cc race. Smith hit the ground
A pollution-reducing device was stolen in just nine minutes from a vehicle in Osney, police said. Officers said a catalytic converter was taken from a vehicle in Osney Mead on Sunday between 10.27-10.38pm. Catalytic converters contain small
Oxford runner Bonnie van Wilgenburg is taking on a punishing 85km (52.8 miles) challenge today when she represents Great Britain at the IAU World Trail Championships. Van Wilgenburg, of Somerville College, Oxford, is part of the 12-strong British
Matt Luff is set to undertake one of the most gruelling ultra-marathons in the world when he competes in the 90km (56 miles) Comrades Marathon in South Africa on Sunday. The 33-year-old, from Barton, has run 1,600km in training for the trek from
A man arrested after a teenager’s bike was stolen has been released without charge, police said. The bike, belonging to a 16-year-old boy, was stolen from outside the Natwest bank in Market Place, Abingdon, on March 23. A 23-year-old, of no
OXFORDSHIRE has been named as the most innovative part of the UK, beating old rivals Cambridge into second place. Companies in the county were ranked best at researching and creating new products and services by independent research institute the
Oxfordshire were involved in a thrilling tie against Suffolk in ECB Women’s County Championship Division 3 at Long Melford. Chasing Suffolk’s 178-6, Oxon’s last pair had matched their hosts’s total when captain Samantha Moore was caught off the
Oxford-based instructor Kat Hill won double gold at the BJJ British Open last weekend in Coventry. Coming hot on the heels of her success at the London International Open and English Open, Hill emerged victorious in both the featherweight and open
Bicester Blue Fins kept up their superb form by winning seven gold medals at the second weekend of the ASA South East Regional Championships in Portsmouth. Lottie Wynne-Jones was in blistering form, claiming victory in all three long-distance events
LLOYD Smith was denied a knockout but still recorded a unanimous points win after a dominant display against Ashley Rosenberg at Gravesham ABC, Kent. The Berinsfield lightheavyweight had to be on his guard against the Hornchurch fighter, who looked
HE’S a celebrity chef with a ferocious reputation. But when Marco Pierre White met fans in Oxford this week, he was all smiles. The Michelin-starred kitchen wizard called in at his new Oxford restaurant for the first time since its opening in February
THOUSANDS of children have been delving into the fictional world of literature at this year’s Bookfeast Festival. Earlier this month Oxford Museums hosted more than 2,000 school children as they met with 18 authors including writer of the award-winning
CHIPPING Norton driver Sean Walkinshaw returns to the country of his birth next weekend when the Blancpain Sprint Series makes its annual visit to Zolder, Belgium. The 21-year-old, who was born in Brussels, and teammate Craig Dolby will be aiming
TWO pensioners flooded out of their home in Normandy Crescent have been given just £25 a week by Thames Water to cover their expenses. William and June Hillier were driven out of their Normandy Crescent home after a water main running behind the
Harry Smith starred with a rapid 84 as Oxfordshire Academy posted an impressive seven-wicket victory against Berkshire 2nd at Datchet. The KFP-sponsored Academy fielded two debutants in James Fitzjohn and Max Mannering, both of whom were part of
A leaf blower and a jet washer were stolen from a primary school over the half-term break. Thieves broke a window at St Swithun’s CofE Primary in Grundy Crescent, Kennington, between last Saturday and Tuesday. Police spokeswoman Lucy Billen said
Sending three Chinook helicopters from RAF Brize Norton to Nepal, where they were denied entry, cost £1m, it has been reported. The helicopters were dispatched last month to help with relief efforts after two earthquakes left thousands dead.
Pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor will be appearing on stage at this summer’s Big Feastival with rock band The Feeling. The Strictly Come Dancing finalist will appear at the West Oxfordshire festival of music and food on August 30. They join headline
RAIL companies through Oxfordshire have promised to keep customers updated during a proposed rail strike next week. Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members will hold a 24-hour strike from 5pm on June 4 and a 48-hour strike from 5pm on
Oxfordshire slipped to a 63-run defeat against Somerset in the Seevent 60+ County Championship at Midsomer Norton. Somerset made 277-7 off their 45 overs with Graham Poulton (98) and John Thackray (58) leading the way as Steve Partington took 3
POLICE and fire service staff could share office buildings under new plans put forward for “blue light” services in the county. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, part of Oxfordshire County Council, proposed the move as a fresh way to save cash
A RELAPSED drug addict who threatened a shop owner with a craft knife has been jailed for 30 months. Andrew Lennon, of Lucy Faithfull House, Speedwell Street, Oxford, was sentenced on Thursday at Oxford Crown Court after he admitted one count of
PROTESTERS started to descend on Didcot yesterday ahead of a demonstration against government plans to build 30 new gas-fired power stations. The arrival of the first wave of Reclaim the Power demonstrators in South Oxfordshire came as demolition
A MAN found dead at his Headington home died of natural causes, a coroner ruled. Oxford’s Coroner’s Court heard Colin Raworth was found dead at Alison Clay House, in New High Street, on January 15. Pc Sean Clayton-Chance said in a statement
A TEENAGER has failed in a bid to stop his homeless family from being rejected for social housing by Oxford City Council. The sixth-form student, referred to as SD, appealed to the High Court after the council refused an application he made for
EAMONN Deeley was awe-struck when he caught this magnificent specimen on a trip to Loch Awe in Scotland. Fishing with float ledgered trout in three feet of water, Deeley caught this 21-pound pike on a 30lb braided main line and size eight hooks
AFFORDABLE housing for workers at one of the county’s hospital trusts is one of its biggest issues as it battles staff shortages, a chief nurse has warned. Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust operates the Warneford Hospital in Headington and all
THE historic buildings of Oxford Castle Quarter were lit up for a breathtaking display by French aerial dancers – and that was just the rehearsal. Performers from six-strong troupe Compagnie Retouramont fought off the cold on Thursday night to
Captain Gus Miller starred in Oxfordshire Under 13s’ 66-run friendly victory away to London Schools. Miller hit 81 off 83 balls, with 11 fours and one six, as Oxon rattled up 180-7 off their 40 overs. He shared a 130-run stand for the third
Tariq Rahim’s hat-trick helped Abingdon Vale maintain their winning ways with an emphatic 93-run victory over Minster Lovell B in the Oxfordshire Under 13 League. Rahim took 3-2 as the visitors were restricted to 40-5 after Vale amassed 133-3 in
SOME horses across the county need loving homes, an animal charity has said. Staff at Burford-based charity Blue Cross are looking for residents to provide homes for 30 horses and ponies. The animals were rescued by the RSPCA and taken in to
ONE woman is hoping to stitch together her community by hosting a monthly craft market for charity. Nathalie Bamber, of Bicester, hopes to bring pictures, posters, cards and materials together under one roof to raise funds for The Batthula Trust
