Santa Harry Holman is hanging up his red suit and looking forward to a well-deserved lie-in next Christmas Day, after 22 years of special deliveries. Mr Holman, 74, of Cutteslowe, began visiting the family home of Maureen and Pasqual Bruno in 1982, at
OXFAM, the Oxford-based aid agency, is preparing to ship 25,000 food parcels to Sri Lanka following the earthquake that caused a tidal wave to swamp large parts of Asia, killing thousands. Phil Esmonde, Oxford resident and head of Oxfam in Sri Lanka said
Sir -- Absolutely disgusting, that is my verdict on the issue of the heavy cost of empty homes and the high level of homelessness in Oxford (Oxford Mail, December 22). I live on Rose Hill estate and, yes, I see it every day. Houses boarded up for months
A father whose birthday fell on Christmas Eve had an even greater cause for celebration over the holiday -- the birth of a new son on Christmas Day. Christophe Thessiu, 37, was at the bedside of his wife, Marta, at the Chipping Norton Hospital on Christmas
Campaigners say they feel cheated by planners who allowed a new development for the elderly in Oxford to go ahead without provision for a day centre. When Osney Court closed in Botley Road in 1999 residents began a campaign to ensure that the replacement
Pressure to bring thousands more criminals to justice has forced police to embark on a major cell-building programme to lock people up. The Government has imposed a national target of 1.25m offences "brought to justice" by April 2008 -- meaning the total
Sir -- Recent stories you have published suggest to me that the judiciary is worse than useless, and the police have their hands tied behind their backs and cannot operately properly. Courts which hand out community order and fines will never give victims
The South East Asian earthquake disaster will have no doubt sobered the minds of all of us enjoying a family Christmas at home in Britain this year. While many holiday makers escaped our cold festivities in their thousands by jetting off to hotspots such
Nightclubbers have helped raise thousands for children's hospitals across Britain, including Oxford's new centre. Park End nightclub raised more than £3,400 through three charity nights held on Bank Holiday Sundays throughout this year -- and hopes to
Hi-tech putty holds the key to preventing widespread flooding in Oxfordshire. County council emergency planners have purchased an innovative new product that is designed to reduce damage during periods of flooding. Flood Sentry is a flexible waterproof
A teenager left disabled after a vicious attack in Oxford must raise £2,000 for a motorised wheelchair before he can attend a special college. Family and friends are helping Stephen Taylor, 19, get the cash to buy the wheelchair so he can take up his
Sir -- One of your readers questioned a remark that The Phantom of the Opera had not been filmed before (Oxford Mail, December 18) Surely anyone over 60 will remember the classic 1943 version starring Claude Rains, if not the atmospheric original made
