Archive

A LAST ditch attempt to stop Wantage’s old police station being turned into flats for the elderly has failed. Renaissance Retirement hopes to demolish the former police station and magistrates’ court on Church Street in the next three months and

A CAR has come off the road on the A420 near Botley Interchange. Inspector Paul Beaney from Thames Valley police confirmed one vehicle had come off the road and crashed into some bushes. He said no one was injured and no other vehicles were

VICTORIA Pendleton is set to take the next step on her journey to ride at the Cheltenham Festival by taking part in her first race under rules on Monday. The dual Olympic gold medallist is in line to partner Lawney Hill’s Royal Etiquette in the

I enclose a picture of staff who looked after Florence Park in Oxford. It was taken in the spring of 1990 and shows them with the winners’ trophy that Oxford was awarded in the 1989 Britain in Bloom competition. Norman Smith, who is seen holding

I recently visited Templars Square at Cowley to see the display of Morris cars from long ago. It was a day full of happy memories for the workers who had helped make them at the Cowley plant. I am sure that if Lord Nuffield (or William Morris

Readers have fond memories of performing with the Jackie Bebbington School of Dancing in Oxford. Although the premises they used were rundown, they enjoyed their first experience of learning to dance and appearing on the public stage. As we

VILLAGERS have warned building a new housing estate on the other side of a major road from East Hanney could be dangerous. Barwood Rockspring East Hanney Ltd has applied for planning permission to build 200 new homes on a field east of the A338

DIDCOT and South Oxfordshire residents are invited to learn new skills, join a new team or take up a hobby at a clubs and societies day in the town. Commerce and community group Didcot First will hold the latest in a series of free events at Didcot

Dr Timothy Bradshaw, Oxford University Theology department IN OUR western societies the churches have lost much credibility in speaking about sex, largely because of abuse of power and trust by priests and ministers. Nevertheless it might be

CAMPAIGNERS are protesting against the possible demolition of a pub that they want to keep as a “place for the community”. The Jack Russell pub, in Marston, closed on October 6 and was promptly sold by brewery Greene King. It has now been bought

A PENSIONER inspired by the bravery of military servicemen and women killed or injured in war is rallying for people to support Kidlington’s biggest ever Help for Heroes fundraiser. The charity’s co-ordinator for the village, Maureen Morris, has

Rev Dr Keith Beech-Gruneberg, Director of local ministry training, Diocese of Oxford I’VE just been watching Songs of Praise. This included a visit to the ‘Jungle’, the camp near Calais which is a temporary home to several thousand migrants hoping

When the Carnival Queen and her party set off on a parade through the city, an unexpected passenger hopped on board. Jimmy Dingle became famous for walking around the city centre in top hat and tails, holding his advertising board. Despite

Justin Linehan, 51, of Sycamore Gardens, Bicester, was convicted of drink- driving in Bucknell Road, Bicester, on Feburary 1. Had 52 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath over the 35mcg legal limit. Fined £300 and ordered to pay a £30 victims’ surcharge

A TEENAGE burglar who left his elderly blind and disabled neighbour “emotionally destroyed” when he stole from her home has narrowly avoided jail. Matthew Waite admitted committing a spate of burglaries during a five-month crime spree through Witney

OXFORD United have work to do on the training ground to solve their unwanted habit of conceding the opening goal, according to centre back Johnny Mullins. Craig Westcarr’s strike inside two minutes at Mansfield Town meant the U’s have fallen behind

THE winners of Friday night’s Oxfordshire derby in the FA Cup preliminary round will face a tough tie in first round qualifying. Wantage Town host Didcot Town kick-off the weekend knowing their reward in the next round is a visit to Ryman Premier

1:03pm We'll leave you with our gallery, which includes an extraordinary range of MApp expressions: http:/

A FORMER actor who has swapped the stage for a career in local politics is to bring youth arts back to Charlbury. Andy Graham, who was elected as Liberal Democratic councillor for Charlbury on West Oxfordshire District Council at the last general

Support for Corbyn’s backing of coal power PARTICULATE airborne pollutants from vehicles and open wood or coal fires etc kill about 50,000 a year in the United Kingdom and more than two million people worldwide. As I have written previously, Ed

Please uphold North Wessex Down’s status IN THURSDAY’S leader (Blenheim battle is indicative of the housing fight gripping county) you write: “There’s people in South and Vale worried about their Green Belt...” However, you fail to mention the

RUN any kind of business in the modern world and people will tell you “go on Twitter.” This is a website, used by about 300 million people. You can plug your products – and reveal the intimate details of your personal life to strangers. Using

ON BEHALF of all unenthusiastic followers of ‘the beautiful game’ who are readers of the Oxford Mail, may I request that no more valuable news space is given to football on the front page until the U’s win a major trophy. On this occasion I will wholeheartedly

HOW I agree with John Tanner regarding your recent coverage of the 70th anniversary of the end of the war against Japan, even if the vast majority of those directly involved would have been in no position to appreciate the commemoration. With respect

BEFORE the elections we were told the economy is on the up, unemployment was falling, and the Tories were ‘doing so well’. So why within six weeks is the economy falling and unemployment figures rising. Funny how things change so quickly! The

READING page two of Thursday’s Oxford Mail, a horror story started to unfold before my eyes. A Stephen King novel? No. A James Herbert novel? No. Then what, you may ask. It was the parking charges for parking in Oxford. Having not been to Oxford

THREE potential buyers for a closed-down outdoor centre for children have left campaigners “quietly optimistic” it could reopen. Oxford Cohousing, Science Oxford and an unnamed care provider have all made bids on the Stansfeld Outdoor Education

MICHAEL Appleton admitted Oxford United rode their luck after a “rubbish” start, but was pleased with another gritty comeback to earn a 1-1 draw at Mansfield Town. The visitors had chances to win the game following Kemar Roofe’s equaliser from

OXFORD City general manager Justin Merritt felt his side deserved better than a 2-1 defeat at Havant & Waterlooville in Vanarama National League South on Saturday, writes MATTHEW BRUCE. It was City’s first taste of defeat this season, but their

WHILE it’s promising to see packed blood donation sessions it is slightly disheartening to hear of people being turned away. The Oxford Mail was very proud to have made some difference earlier this year when we launched our campaign to get 2,000

SCHOOLS are not exempt from the savage cuts we’ve seen to public services and are having to think up ways to save cash. One of Oxford’s biggest state schools, Cheney, has taken its own bold move to do just that. Instead of offering four A-Levels

A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving after a crash in Witney this morning. Thames Valley Police said they were called at 7.23am after a car collided with a white van, with both vehicles then crashing into a parked car. The

ONE of Oxford’s biggest state schools has restructured its sixth form to cope with funding pressures. Cheney School, which had 725 students in its last year, is set to offer three A-Levels, instead of four, to the majority of its pupils ,offering

A BAKER will be retiring after nearly 30 years of making cakes for special occasions across Oxfordshire. Lynn Hawkins opened Cake Expectations, in Botley Road, selling equipment and specialist cakes in May 1986. After 29 years of cake-making

THE warm, soft crackle as you drop the needle onto the record, the hiss of anticipation – there’s no doubt that vinyl has a magic to it. But there’s something even more magical about discovering the dusty jacket of that elusive LP tucked in the

HELPING people near and far was the aim for teenagers in Littlemore who gave up their summer to volunteer. The group of 10 has spent the past four weeks on the National Citizen Service, a scheme which gives young people the chance to learn new

THE Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for rain for most of Oxfordshire. Heavy rain is forecast for later today and the yellow weather warning is in place until 10pm. A yellow warning is level 2 on a scale of 1-4 with 4 being the

DANNY Rose praised Oxford United for keeping their discipline in a fractious finish to the 1-1 draw at Mansfield Town. Referee Ben Toner gave out nine bookings, two-thirds of which went to the home side in a clash which grew increasingly fiery

9:03am Crawley Road in Witney closed both ways due to a collision 

BUSINESSES have welcomed longer hours of work at Frideswide Square, adding they are keen for the transformation to be finished so things can get back to normal. One restaurant owner whose eatery is based right next to the busy roadworks in Frideswide

DONORS in Oxford said they have been turned away from sessions despite NHS calls for more people to give blood earlier this year. After it was revealed that 6,798 people complained to the NHS nationally in 2013-14 about not being able to give blood

LUKE Coulson’s phenomenal 30-yard strike proved in vain as Oxford City were beaten 2-1 at Havant & Waterlooville in Vanarama National League South, writes MATTHEW BRUCE. City trailed at the break to Adrian Clifton’s goal, but appeared to have

BANBURY missed the chance to take control of the Division 1 title race as they suffered a ninerun defeat to new leaders High Wycombe. They are now nine points adrift in third, while victory would have seen them top the table ahead of former leaders

HEADINGTON’S oldest GP surgery could get a £1.1m expansion to deal with ever-increasing patient numbers and demands on family doctors. The Manor Surgery in Osler Road is one of Oxford’s biggest practices, with about 14,500 patients. Now the

MORE than 350 people celebrated a toy and train fair’s 30th birthday at the weekend. The event held at the Exeter Hall in Oxford Road, Kidlington, offered visitors the chance to browse items for sale at more than 70 stalls. A Bassett-Lowke

SHOP managers in Oxford city centre have complained about sewer repairs taking longer than expected. Businesses in Cornmarket Street have been suffering from noise, dust and bad smells for several months since the work began directly outside their

NORTH Leigh opened up a threepoint lead at the top of Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West with a tense 1-0 win over Taunton Town. Both teams headed into the match on maximum points after four games and Morgan Williams scored the

GREAT & Little Tew’s lead has been cut to 14 points after they were beaten by six wickets at promotion rivals Gerrards Cross in Division 2. The visitors, who could have sealed promotion, were dismissed for 150, Daniel Hampton taking 3-35, before

A FISH count that will see the creatures counted and stunned in the River Cherwell has been praised as a boost to habitat in Spiceball Park. The survey will use electric shock treatment to stun fish within the 75-yard stretch of the river and will

ANACLET Odhiambo scored two late goals as Kidlington secured a 4-2 victory at Brimscombe & Thrupp in the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division. The visitors were 2-0 up at the break after Tommy Castle’s penalty and a Lewis Brownhill effort

SKY BET LEAGUE TWO Mansfield Tn 1, Oxford Utd 1. VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Havant & Waterlooville 2, Oxford City 1. EVO-STIK SOUTHERN LEAGUE Div 1 South & West: AFC Totton 1, Didcot Tn 3; Cinderford Tn 3, Banbury

IT’S still summer but one couple have already put out an appeal for their annual Christmas Shoebox collection for Eastern Europe. John and Margaret Willemsen, of Grove, have been collecting shoeboxes for the Link to Hope charity for the past 14

OXFORD doesn’t have much in common with the Himalayas – the highest peaks are the dreaming spires. But next month people in the city will get an insight into Nepal from the man who led the first successful expedition up Everest’s deadly south-west