State school applications to Oxford University have fallen following last summer's controversy over the Laura Spence affair. Despite a late surge of applications, official figures show demand from the state sector has dropped to 54 per cent from 56 per
A community's four-year wait for new playground equipment is almost over, after councillors agreed to grant 23,750 for new slides and climbing frames, writes Roseena Parveen. The Thames View recreation ground in Rose Hill, Oxford, was stripped of its
Oxon & North Bucks, having been promoted to Division 1, were relegated in this year's competition at Ponds Forge, Sheffield. Following a number of withdrawals from the team originally selected, Oxon & North Bucks finished in 17th place - the highest
Winger Josh Jones scored a sparkling hat-trick of tries as Chinnor cruised to a 44-7 win over High Wycombe in the South West Division 2 East. The Australian pounced first after 15 minutes when he latched on to a crossfield bomb and outstripped the cover
Oxford Hawks' recent poor run in English League Division 2 continued as they lost 3-2 at newly-promoted Ipswich. Hawks started Sunday's game the slower of the two teams and, as has been apparent this season, appeared vulnerable on the break. They conceded
Henley's hopes of earning a dream Tetley's Bitter Cup tie away to mighty Leicester died when Otley's James Lofthouse kicked a penalty goal five minutes from the end to earn his side a thrilling 26-24 victory in Saturday's third round tie. The lead changed
Banbury United will be looking to extend their four-match unbeaten run by recording their first home win of the season in the Dr Martens League Eastern Division when they take on Ashford Town tonight (7.45), writes Russell Smith. Midfielder Jon Corbett
Promotion-seeking Thame United FC has lodged plans for a major redevelopment of the club. United, currently top of the Ryman League Division 1, wants to sell its Windmill Road ground to Bedford-based Wilcon Homes Ltd for housing. It will then use the
The 100th anniversary of the death of the great playwright and wit Oscar Wilde is being marked in Oxford with a 'Wilde 100' festival, organised in close conjunction with his old college, Magdalen, writes Chris Gray. Its central feature is major new production
Wallingford stayed top of the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Division 1 table with this home victory with a tension-packed finale. Outside half Alastair Reay made space to cross for a try and then set Henry Venners free in his own 22 for a fine individual score
Despite being reduced to 14 men following the sending-off of centre Anthony Cope, Oxford Harlequins romped to a handsome 42-25 victory over Southern Counties North bottom club Drifters at Horspath Road on Saturday. Cope received his marching orders just
A new paint-your-own pottery studio in Burford is holding a special skribbleadoodle day. Designaway are teaming up with a TV cartoonist to invite kids and adults to scribble on a ceramic plate before the cartoonist transforms it into a fun design. There
Digital you've got to dig it all. From music to movies, telephones to television, the world is going digital crazy but it is a situation that does not suit everyone, writes Dave McManus. Many of us have objected to the BBC spending our licence money on
Photographers will have a chance to capture the magic of restored steam locomotives at night. The Great Western Society's annual photographers' evenings will be held at Didcot Railway Centre on Friday and Saturday. The centre will stay open until 10pm
Oxford Brookes University today launched a range of Web-based courses for small and medium scale non-food retailers, writes David Duffy. The courses, run with the support of partners from Oxfordshire's public and private sectors, are being offered free
Affordable housing, skills shortages, traffic congestion and planning guidance were all thrown into the melting pot this week as business leaders gathered to drive ahead the economic future of Oxfordshire, writes David Duffy. With unemployment in the
A charity worker has warned that pensioners will rise up in protest against plans to increase bus fares in Oxford. Mary Daniels, of Age Concern, said council plans to charge half fares for tickets could harm elderly people's health. At the moment, senior
State school applications to Oxford University have fallen following last summer's controversy over the Laura Spence affair. Despite a late surge of applications, official figures show demand from the state sector has dropped to 54 per cent from 56 per
Budding novelist Ivan de Nemethy bombarded a former school friend with more than 1,000 threatening faxes including one featuring drawings of bombs, writes Andrew French. De Nemethy, 55, of Squitchey Lane, Oxford, plagued Chris Bowra when the pair fell
Youngsters can try rugby without fear of being flattened by a tough tackle. West Oxfordshire District Council is introducing tag rugby to its sports programme for those put off by the rough and tumble of the game. Weekly tag rugby sessions will take place
Hannah Jacobs is lucky to be able to walk today. The eight-year-old spent six weeks in bed after a swimming accident at the sports centre in Oxford Road, Kidlington, which left her seventh vertebrae crushed. Doctors said if the injury had been just one
Members of the union Unison staged a demonstration outside Oxford Town Hall for an hour yesterday as part of their "Keep our Leisure Centres Public" campaign. The protest was ahead of a key meeting of the city council's leisure services committee, which
Police are warning someone could die or suffer serious injuries after a spate of arson attacks, writes Paul Warner. The Southwold Community Centre, in Holm Square, Bicester, was the latest to be targeted by arsonsts when it was torched in the early hours
Jenson Button believes he can challenge for the World Championship but not until 2003 at the earliest. The 20-year-old Brit reckons he will not be in a position to battle for the drivers' crown until he is back behind the wheel of a BMW-powered Williams
Oxford's most famous busker has been threatened with prosecution from council bosses who object to him selling his CDs on the streets. Flute-playing Frei Zinger, 49, of Peel Place, south Oxford, won a lucrative recording contract a year ago when a talent
Concerned parents and residents are rushing to have their say on the future of an Oxford school, writes Madeleine Pennell. As many as 60 people may want to speak at a special meeting about proposed changes to the status of the joint Anglican and Catholic
A performance of immense character gave Oxford University their fifth successive win at Bristol last night - their best start in 15 years. Come the Varsity match on December 12, Oxford coach Steve Hill may well look back and say this was the game that
Abingdon Town have suffered a major blow with the deduction of three points for fielding an ineligible player, writes Russell Smith. The Ryman League slapped the penalty and a small fine on Town after Darren Beckett, who had just been signed from Brackley
Club scores from the weekend Aylesbury 2nd 25, Banbury Ex 1st 5 (try Deeley); Kenilworth 3rd 0, Banbury Lions 24 (tries L Davies 3, D Baker; cons Haynes 2); Banbury Wands 38 (tries Sims 3, Chapman, Johns, Montanaro; cons Graham 3, Corze), Milton Keynes
Oxford was holding its breath today for the man who could be the saviour of beleaguered United. Joe Kinnear, the former Wimbledon manager signed up by chairman Firoz Kassam, didn't make it to the Manor yesterday as originally billed. But he is due to
Oxford City Stars lost 5-4 to Telford Royals in a pulsating but bad-tempered English Cup game at Oxpens, writes Colin Kirby. Anyone feeling short-changed by the Tyson/Golotta fight would have got their money's worth. No fewer than ten players were thrown
Police have issued a warning after a large number of fireworks were stolen. The fireworks, some of which are 12in in diameter, were taken from a farm in Shiplake near Henley bet- ween Friday and Saturday. They are in boxes labelled with the manufacturers
Oxfordshire's County Championship match against Bedfordshire at Cowley Community Centre went down to the last game, with the home side losing out 19-17. Oxon Ladies' B started off well with a 4-2 victory, but the Men's B team could not get going and went
Oxford soaked up long preriods of pressure to secure a 23-7 victory in this tough Bucks, Berks and Oxon Division 1 derby. Littlemore's frustration at not turning possession into points boiled over in the last minute when prop Carl Wright was sent off
Poor defending at line-outs led to Banbury's Midland Division 1 defeat at Kenilworth. Two of the Kenilworth tries came direct from line-out takes near the Banbury goalline, as they took a 22-6 first-half lead. Their tries came from Kiwi prop Hookey Wilson
Oxford Devils, with Todd McNeil making his debut, totally demoralised a talented Westminster Warriors team with a 99-71 National League victory at Oxford Brookes SC. Devils who also had Steven Riley back from injury, always looked under control, even
A gap in the league programme allowed Oxford Hawks to entertain Rover Oxford on the new pitch at Banbury Road North and a final scoreline of 4-0 to the visitors reflected their superior finishing. The game started with an early chance for Hawks through
Art for art's sake is a noble concept but unless you expect your artists to starve in garrets, a little money comes in useful, too. Which is why Southern Arts' Year of The Artist project or Yota is based on financial practicalities. Each year, Southern
Author Colin Dexter presents Fiona Hooper, from the Dowty Group, with a prize of a luxury weekend for two at a Heritage Hotel, after she won a treasure hunt held for conference agents at The Bear hotel in Woodstock, which is owned by Heritage Hotels,
Motor dealer Johnsons Honda is in the final stages of building its second Oxfordshire dealership which is due to open next month, writes David Duffy. The new 2m investment in Langford Lane, Kidlington, will be part of the Oxford Motor Park, opposite Oxford
Businesses in Oxfordshire are teaming up with motor racing boss Jackie Stewart in a new drive to combat business crime and improve community safety, writes David Duffy. The three times Formula One world champion is backing the Thames Valley Police Community
A supermarket chain may abandon its plans for a town centre store following difficulties buying the land needed. Waitrose wants to build a new superstore on the Gateway and former Total garage sites in Wallingford. However, it has not yet been able to
MP Robert Jackson has called for greater help for holidaymakers who become victims of violence overseas. The calls follow concerns that British tourists assaulted abroad are left in a "legal vacuum". He said many got a raw deal both overseas and when
Skateboarders are a step closer to getting a long-awaited area. Five companies have been asked to put in tenders by the end of this month for the facility in Thame. Once an order has been placed, the steel-on-wood equipment will be set up on the new recreation
