April

GRAND DAY OUT AT WEMBLEY

APRIL dawned bright yellow as more than 33,000 Oxford United fans packed out trains, coaches and cars to cheer on their team at Wembley Stadium. The Yellows took on Barnsley at the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final on Sunday 3. United fans urged their team on throughout the first half and the atmosphere hit fever pitch when Callum O’Dowda’s header hit the back of the net to make it 1-0. But despite thunderous support under the famous arch, United slipped to a 3-2 defeat.

ART DEALER FOUND DEAD

THE following day, Iffley Road was swarming with police officers after a man’s body was found at his home on the corner of Circus Street. By Monday police had named the deceased as art dealer Adrian Greenwood and a murder investigation was launched.

Friends said they were devastated by the news of his death. It was only in the weeks and months that followed that the full story was revealed, and we learned that Michael Danaher, who coveted Mr Greenwood’s rare copy of The Wind in the Willows, worth about £50,000, had travelled to Oxford and then stabbed him 16 times. Danaher, of Hadrians Court, Peterborough, was arrested shortly after the murder.

NEW BISHOP MOVES IN

ON April 12, The Queen officially confirmed Dr Steven Croft as the new Bishop of Oxford.More than a year after the Rt Rev John Pritchard stepped down in October 2014, Dr Croft, 58, embraced his new job, pledging to tackle poverty and renew the appeal of the church to future generations. The former Bishop of Sheffield told the Oxford Mail: “I want to ensure we are present in those new communities as they are created. I am also aware I am moving from one of the poorest dioceses to one of the regions with the greatest prosperity, but there is still deprivation in Oxford and that is something I will continue to raise.”

GLITTERING STRICTLY OXFORD FINALE

THE month had a glittering finale when the Oxford Mail’s own Megan Archer swapped her notepad for a sparkling ball gown to compete in Strictly Oxford 2016. Megan and her partner David Fox were up against leading lights of Oxford and some of the city’s top dancers in the contest raising funds for Vale House care home. But in the end there could only be one winner and the grand prize was taken by Oxford United’s head of performance Dan Bond, who showed his footwork was just as fancy off the pitch.

The 25-year-old, partnered by dancer Katie Douglas, told the 800-strong crowd at the New Theatre he was on cloud nine.

May

TRIBUTES TO ‘SHELLZ’

MAY got off to a tragic start when Oxford resident Sheldon Thomas died in a car crash on Parks Road.

The 30-year-old from Northway, known to friends as Shellz, was driving his black Volkswagen Golf when it crashed into a tree at 5am on the Bank Holiday Monday. Tributes were quickly paid to an ‘honest, loving and humble’ man who would ‘do anything for anyone’.

UNITED’S PROMOTION GLORY

OXFORD United put the seal on a fine season by earning promotion to the third tier of English football for the first time in 15 years. The U’s beat Wycombe Wanderers 3-0 at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday, May 7, to finish second in League Two, securing their place in League One for the following season. More than 11,800 watched as goals from Chey Dunkley, Chris Maguire and Callum O’Dowda secured promotion for the Yellows. Chairman Darryl Eales said it was just the start of great times at the club.

GUERRIERO ‘DESTROYED LIVES’

THE month was less happy for Oxford City, when former director Thomas Guerriero was jailed in America for masterminding a $6.6m investment fraud. The Sun Sentinel in Florida reported that Guerriero – who resigned from his role at Oxford City Football Club in December because of ‘ill-health’ – splashed his ill-gotten millions on his then wife and his mistress, fancy homes and exotic cars, and threatened violence against anyone who crossed him. The 39-year-old appeared at Miami Federal Court on May 13 where Judge Beth Bloom jailed him for 12 years and seven months for ‘destroying people’s lives’.

FATAL POUNDLAND STABBING

ON May 19, Trevor Joyce admitted stabbing Justin Skrebowki to death in Poundland in Abingdon. Appearing at Oxford Crown Court, the 36-year-old of Franklyn Close, Abingdon, admitted to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility but denied murder. He was later jailed for life. Father-of-two Mr Skrebowski, of North Oxford, had been shopping to buy balloons on his wife’s birthday. His widow Gulsen Alkan later successfully campaigned for tighter restrictions on knife sales in many national chains.

GARDENER’S SHOCK DISCOVERY

WEST Oxford resident Charlie Raikes was removing a tree stump in his Mill Street garden on May 21 when he accidentally dug up a First World War artillery shell. After he texted police a picture of the explosive, his street and surrounding roads were quickly cordoned off. An Army bomb disposal unit removed the shell and carried out a controlled explosion in a field outside the city. Mr Raikes, 44, told the Oxford Mail: “I’ll be a bit more careful with my spade in future; I think everyone round here will be.”

June

MOTHER’S AGONY

THE mother of murder victim Kerry Reeves faced her ‘beautiful’ daughter’s killers as she shared her family’s heartache before they were jailed for life. Nicky Reeves spoke about the moments after she discovered her ‘baby’ and ‘best friend’ had been ‘barbarically’ gunned down in Abingdon. Just metres away from murderers Billy Johnson and Charles Noble, Ms Reeves took the stand at Oxford Crown Court to reveal the pain and anguish her family had suffered.

RAID ON ICE CREAM VAN

ON June 2, an Oxford ice cream man announced he might not return to trading after a robbery at knifepoint left him scared for his safety. Karim Bounouara, from Rose Hill, said he felt shocked and angry after a man he thought was a customer jumped through the window of his van, pulled out a knife and stole his till containing hundreds of pounds. The father-of-two said he would not return to the streets until he had installed CCTV cameras in his van.

WEST WAY TRANSFORMATION

THE face of Botley was changed forever on June 15 as the application to transform West Way shopping centre was finally approved. After years of revised plans, community campaigns and a change of developers, Mace’s multi-million pound plans were given the go-ahead by Vale of White Horse District Council’s planning committee, who voted eight-to-three to approve. The scheme includes 261 student flats, a 123-bed hotel, 140 residential flats and a new ‘community hub’ which will be home to Botley Library and Botley Baptist Church.

QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS

TIRELESS charity volunteers, dedicated public service workers and one lady who has organised royal visits to the county were recognised for their hard work in The Queen’s birthday honours list on June 10. Mavis Shepheard, from South Hinksey, has worked behind the scenes for 30 years, allowing thousands to catch a glimpse of Her Majesty and other members of the royal family. The 59-year-old was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order for personal service to the monarchy.

CAMERON QUITS AFTER BREXIT

THE country was rocked as we voted to leave the European Union on June 23. Just 24 hours later, David Cameron announced he was resigning as Prime Minister but promised his constituents they would see him more often. He quit as Witney MP weeks later. Analysis of the voting showed Oxfordshire was the most pro-remain county in the whole of the UK. Oxford City Council leader Bob Price warned that Brexit could have ‘catastrophic results’.