When a colleague suggested I drop by at Saffron, a north Oxford restaurant that styles itself as Indian-French, I was intrigued. Would curried frogs' legs be on the menu, alongside l'escargots vindaloo? Due to a mix-up with my friend, I sauntered into
Financial 'detectives' are to be called in to investigate how Oxfordshire County Council mislaid £1m in a mystery bank account. How the Oxford Mail revealed the news on March 4 Council leader Keith Mitchell has revealed he intends to commission financial
Consultants are compiling a database of more than 10,000 trees in Oxfordshire in a bid to prevent accidents caused by rotting trees blown over in high winds. A fallen tree in Wentworth Road, north Oxford Last weekend the UK was battered by gales and 36
A man tried to stop his best friend causing a drunken disturbance at an Abingdon kebab van and killed him with a single punch. Stuart Potter, 21, was jailed for nine months on March 22 for the manslaughter of 25-year-old Anthony Finn. The friends had
A Didcot woman was buried in a cemetery on the site of her first home in the town. Auria 'Nori' Rouse, of Park Close, died aged 73. She was buried in Didcot cemetery -- formerly the site of temporary post-war homes where she and her husband first lived
National League 1: Henley Hawks suffered their most crushing defeat of the season when conceding nine tries in a 55-0 thrashing away to Plymouth Albion. Such a defeat was certainly not on the cards after recent performances by the Hawks, which included
We welcome any police initiative that will reduce domestic violence. If intervention at an early stage saves just one life, then the effort required to build up a dossier of information will be worthwhile. But the problem will be in acquiring that information
More than 100 people have been made redundant by one of Thame's biggest employers. The Elliott group which makes portable cabins is closing its manufacturing plant and offices in Rycote Lane, Thame. The company has put a gag on employees talking to newspapers
Tim Henman remained upbeat despite going down in straight sets to Roger Federer in the final of the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells last night. The British No 1 from Oxfordshire went into the Masters Series decider able to boast six wins in seven previous
Market towns in Oxfordshire could be in danger of losing their character, according to a new survey. The Campaign to Protect Rural England carried out the study last year in 120 market towns and found a "creeping blandness". The pressure group investigated
Rover Oxford clinched promotion from South League Division 1 after stuttering to a 2-1 home win over relegation strugglers Aylesbury. With leaders South Bucks beating Rover's closest rivals, Mill Hill, 4-1, the Oxford side cannot be caught in second place
JENNY Pitman, horse racing's most famous lady trainer, has joined the owners' ranks at Oxford Stadium. Pitman became known as the Queen of Aintree after becoming the first woman to train the winner of the Grand National when she saddled Corbiere to grab
Oxford Silver Machine 47, Arena Essex Hammers 46 OXFORD Silver Machine must pull out all the stops if they are going to reach the next round of this year's Elite League Knockout Cup, writes LEON HILL. New boys Arena Essex made them battle all the way
A teenager who falsely accused a man of raping her after having sex with him outside her parents' home has been jailed for six months. Clare Newson, 19, claimed Andrew Grindle had raped her after they had sex against a wall in Horsham Close, Banbury,
Banbury Utd 3, Oxford City 1: Banbury United will meet Oxford United in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup final after they beat Oxford City last night at Thame's Windmill Stadium. An early free kick was driven over by Banbury's Chris Jackson before City's Neil
Professional tournament golf returns to the The Oxfordshire this summer, when the course host a leading event on the European Seniors Tour. The Mobile Cup, whose last two winners have been Bernard Gallacher and Carl Mason, will be held at the club, near
At the beginning of Declan Donnellan's production of Othello for the Cheek by Jowl theatre company (Oxford Playhouse until March 27)) Othello and Desdemona stand motionless before the audience while Brabantio rants about the trials of fatherhood and virtually
We can have little sympathy for Clare Newson, the 19-year-old girl jailed for falsely accusing a man of rape. While one of her neighbours described her actions as a 'stupid mistake', the Oxford Mail sees it more as a wicked fabrication that not only caused
Famous American movie star Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is in Tokyo to shoot a lucrative commercial for a popular Japanese brand of whisky. Scarlett Johansson in Lost in Translation Despite constant attention from his host, the obsequious Ms Kawasaki (Akiko
So I'd been told to dumb down, stick to the budget, some of the restaurants I was going to were too upmarket, and the column was meant to search out good meals for reasonable prices, not smart food for poncey prices. So off I went to Petit Blanc. Although
Pay-and-display parking will be introduced in Oxford's Broad Street next month. Earlier this month, county councillors agreed to switch from free parking to pay-and-display. At the moment, drivers can park free for 30 minutes, but 24 spaces, including
A registered blind man who admitted starting a fire in his flat after an argument with his girlfriend has been jailed for three years. Stephen Turner, 50, had pleaded guilty to arson and being reckless as to whether life was endangered after starting
A support group for families affected by the retained organ scandal has hit out at a judge who ruled some parents would not be allowed compensation. Members of Legacy Faborio said it was disappointed at the outcome of the High Court case brought by 2,139
Two new call-handling centres have dramatically improved the speed Thames Valley Police answers telephones. One of the most common criticisms of the force is that phones are not answered, or callers are passed from one person to another when they try
Two disabled pensioners have launched a campaign to make their town safer for wheelchair users. Wheelchair user James Falkous, from Otwell Close, Abingdon, said he could not get to the shops in the town's Peachcroft parade because the kerbs each side
"CAMBRIDGE must have been working really hard. I expected them to be half a stone a man heavier," said Steve Royle, Oxford University's rowing director, after Tuesday's Boat Race weigh-in, writes MIKE ROSEWELL. The scales revealed a single pound difference
I was upset to learn about the troubles Aron Whitehouse, of Ferry Road, New Marston, Oxford, is experiencing (Oxford Mail, March 13). It is not fair that Aron's devoted parents should have to push him to the top of the road to meet his transport because
This is another of Paul Auster's complex, compulsive books -- part detective story, part ghost story; a tale within a tale within a manuscript. Sidney Orr (appropriately named) is recovering from a serious illness. One day he wanders into a new small
CCTV cameras will be on the move across Oxfordshire in a bid to improve community safety. Thames Valley Police, in partnership with councils, has been given funding from the Government Office for the South East for two mobile CCTV vans to help fight crime
From the Marcia Blaine Academy of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie to the May of Teck Club beloved of The Girls of Slender Means; from the Maud Long Medical Ward, the home to a cantankerous group of elderly inmates in Memento Mori, to the surprisingly worldly
Four Banbury pupils who have pioneered a community peacekeeping scheme are to pass on their knowledge. Girls aged 14 and 15 from Drayton School, plus two members of staff, will be in Winchester to perform a role play on restorative justice before an audience
Two guides from Abingdon have won Baden Powell Challenge certificates -- the highest award a guide can achieve. Joanne Mould and Katie Young, both 15, are members of 1st Radley Guides. They received their awards from the Thames District Commissioner Elizabeth
Councillor Don Seale tells us that social services' spending has increased for the next financial year (Oxford Mail, March 23). Lovely, perhaps this means that any moment I will receive a call to tell me that my package of care for our disabled son can
Peter Blair Denis Bernard Noone is an unlikely name for a music icon. But back in the 1960s, he packed out venues across the land, graced the covers of magazines, attracted crowds of screaming girls and his songs were known by millions. The reason you
Wallingford mayor Betty Atkins has praised people in the town for supporting their threatened hospital. Mrs Atkins told the annual town meeting: "The support of the people of Wallingford has been superb." She added: "They have attended meeting after meeting
Two Londoners who met during the war near Wallingford have just celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary. John and Margaret Browne loved the area so much they never returned to London. The couple met while he was serving in the RAF at Benson and she
South West 1: Oxford Harlequins dug deep to secure a crucial point in their fight against relegation when they drew 7-7 away to fellow strugglers Keynsham. With a strong wind blowing across the pitch, but slightly in Quins favour in the first half, the
Club matches: Lee Gillett landed a conversion with the last kick of the game to earn Littlemore an exciting 19-17 victory over American touring side Dartmouth RFC. The tourists, from New England, were leading 17-12 until the last minute when Littlemore
When it comes to making sure her children attend school, Patricia Amos is a failure. She is paying the penalty - behind bars again, this time for the transgressions of her 15-year-old daughter, Jackie. Oxfordshire County Council claims that her previous
We rolled along on the crest of a wave once again as The Gang - members of Oxford's Cub, Scout and Guide groups - joined together to provide entertainment for the general public, in the form of a variety show. Many songs, energetic dances, and comic sketches
Never judge a book by its cover applies as much to best-selling author Joanne Harris as her novels. She is as enigmatic as they come, at odds with the fluidity and warmth of her writing. Joanne Harris While her written tone is engaging, her vocabulary
A Cabinet minister will be grilled on the 'war on terror' at an event based on the BBC's Question Time programme to be held at an Oxford school. Pupils at Oxford Community School organised the event that will feature a panel of guests including Oxford
OXFORD Devils go into their final National Conference game of the season against Colchester United at the White Horse Leisure & Tennis Centre tonight (6.45pm), having already reached the play-offs. Their opponents, who are backed by the second division
District councillors have moved to ensure Oxford and Cherwell College can transfer some of its courses to Bicester as quickly and easily as possible. Cherwell District Council broadly approves the move to establish motor sport and other engineering courses
OXFORD City Stars return to English National League play-off action tomorrow (6.30), aiming to put last week's defeat against Invicta behind them. Player-coach Dan Prachar had some harsh words in training this week as they prepared to face English National
Police are urging people to be vigilant after a spate of arson attacks on cars. Since January, vandals in Bicester have set fire to 12 cars -- eight of them in the Glory Farm area last month. In the same period last year there were six incidents. Earlier
Cardiff experience FOOTBALL-MAD youngsters from Our Lady's Primary School, Oxford revelled in their big day out at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium - despite being beaten by a last-gasp goal in the Kellogg's Frosties Cup final. Representing Oxford United,
Detectives in Bicester are hunting a conman who duped a man into handing over almost £1,000. The 64-year-old victim was befriended in Bicester by a man outside the Somerfield supermarket at 1pm on Tuesday (March 23). The conman then escorted him back
Tributes have been paid to classical musician Vilem Tausky CBE, who contributed to a popular music festival. Mr Tausky, who was blind and deaf, died last week aged 96, in a London nursing home. He and his wife Margaret had lived in Rose Cottage in Chinnor
American college administrator William Arthur Ward once noted: "The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." Mona Lisa Smile Mona Lisa Smile is a syrupy tale of scholarly ambition
Travis McGowan spent a very fruitful winter Down Under, and is upbeat about the new season. "I had a reasonably successful Aussie season, finishing fifth in the Australian Championships, which is pretty much what I aimed for," he said. McGowan, who has
Primary school pupils are to get lessons in waste recycling. Children at St Leonard's Primary School in Banbury will be shown how to use Cherwell District Council's three-bin rubbish disposal system by staff who run the Wild Waste Show -- a touring classroom
A campaign has been launched to cut heart deaths in north Oxfordshire. GP practices in Kidlington, Bicester and Banbury are handing out bookmarks and credit card-sized advice sheets about the symptoms of a heart attack and what to do. The three-month
Darrell Bellinger was left disappointed after a mix-up in results led to him being re-placed second overall in the Under 20 men's race at the Reebok Challenge cross country series. The Oxford City athlete was initially announced as the overall winner
Radley's Lucy Boggis set a new UK age-group points record when lifting the AAA Under 17 National Indoor Pentathlon title in Cardiff. Boggis amassed a huge 3,590 points, beating the old mark, set in 1999 by Aileen Wilson, by eight points. The feat was
Headington Roadrunners senior men's sealed an exciting victory over Witney Roadrunners in the Oxfordshire Road Relays Championships at Hook Norton. The team kicked off their road race season as they finished the cross country campaign, by battling back
Autotype UTV League: Wootton RBL kept up their title challenge as they thrashed Bell Grove 10-2 in Division 2. Kevin Kogel and Richard Chilvers led the way, as the pair bagged four-timers, while Paul Richardson and Paul Empson were also on the mark. David
Morrells of Oxford Sunday League: Hot-shot Michaes Herbert bagged a brace as Division 2 leaders Nelson steamrollered Division 1 outfit Northway 6-0 in the quarter-final of the League Cup. Keiron Powell also netted a double for Nelson, with Anaclet Odhiambo
Sculptures featuring prosthetic limbs made and used by landmine victims in Cambodia will be at the centre of a special exhibition in this year's Oxfordshire Artweeks. Organisers have promised this year's 23rd annual event will be the biggest and best
Di Sutton led a trio of Frilford Heath golfers into the semi-finals of Oxfordshire Ladies' Bronze Championship at Huntercombe. Sutton, who plays off 21, collected the Bronze Medal after producing the best qualifying round of the 51 competitors, representing
Despite their self-deprecating name, indie-pop darlings The Ordinary Boys are an extraordinary band. One smitten music critic described them as combining the mod-pomp of Paul Weller, the wit of Oscar Wilde and the cynical detachment of Graham Greene -
Two Oxfordshire brothers have invested £2m in their chain of garage forecourt stores to counter the big supermarkets' entry into the market. Robert Fraser, 55, said: "We are meeting the competition from the big multiple retailers before it arrives." He
Leading businesses, including motor racing team Williams F1, say they will be forced to move if a major housing development in an Oxfordshire village goes ahead. They have joined forces to fight plans to create hundreds of new homes and two new roads
Traders have welcomed plans for a new retail guide which aims to attract shoppers to Oxford. City centre management company OX1 hopes to launch the shopping directory in July. Chief executive Bill McCardle said the move was in response to requests by
The delicious smell of Alex Mackay's cooking hit me as soon as I opened his front door in Wheatley. His dining room table groaned under an abundance of beautifully-prepared simple fare, from roasted red peppers to asparagus with freshly-grated parmesan
Red and yellow cards similar to those used in football matches will be shown to motorcyclists by police who see them riding dangerously. Thames Valley Police have launched a new initiative called Safer Rider to reduce the rising death toll of motorcyclists
More than £4,000 was raised at a charity fashion and hair show organised by Oxford stylists whose lives have been touched by cancer. Staff at Popham hair salon in Summertown said they were so impressed by the amount raised that they were considering organising
Billy Connolly is to perform two special shows in Oxford next month and they promise to be among the most emotional nights of his career. The comedy legend will appear at the New Theatre on April 19 and 22 in what are likely to be his only shows in England
Recommendations made in a report into a series of apparent suicides at Oxford's mental hospitals will not be made public. Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare Trust launched the inquiry last summer following three deaths in two months at Warneford and Littlemore
Mass killings by terrorists or Governments are deplorable. I agree with David and Irene Gill (Oxford Mail, March 15) that the ones who suffer are the innocent. It is becoming apparent, with the bomb blast in Madrid on March 11, which killed more than
The sentence handed to the smirking Albanian pictured on your front page (Oxford Mail, March 16) was an utter disgrace. He was probably laughing all the way back to London to claim another handout from the Government and plan another crime spree. Once
The modernised Westgate shopping centre in Oxford will not be ready until 2010 if talks on transport links drag on, says its owner. Richard Cable Richard Cable, development director of Capital Shopping Centres, issued the warning after county council
Have we gone stark raving bonkers? For stealing money from parking meters on three occasions, Albanian Vasile Bondor gets three weeks' holiday, is waited on and addressed as 'Sir' (Oxford Mail, March 16). In my day, a lad stole a watch from the 'big house
Oxford has long been one of Europe's most recognisable movie locations. Thanks to the likes of Iris Murdoch, CS Lewis and -- of course -- Harry Potter, in recent years it has also become one of the busiest. Many of us have become almost blasZ about stumbling
