BARGAIN hunters flocked to Oxford to take advantage of large discounts in the Christmas sales. Some chains including PC World and Currys opened on Boxing Day but for many stores, including M&S and Next, their sales started on Wednesday. The city's
A LORRY driver killed in a pile-up on the M40 near Banbury before Christmas was named today. Mr Charanjit Singh, 36, of Wexham Road, Slough, was killed on December 21. The accident happened in freezing fog at about 9.15am when four lorries collided
AEA Technology 95 BMW 2929 Electrocomponents 294.25 Isoft Group 54 Oxford Biomedica 40.25 Oxford Instruments 252.25 Oxonica 147.5 Reed Elsevier 563.75 RM 193 RPS 272.5 Torex Retail 49.75
The multitude of festivals and customs celebrated all over England are chronicled in The English Year, by Steve Roud (Penguin, £30), winner of the 2004 Katharine Briggs Folklore Award. Some are quite bizarre and others downright cruel, while many are
The trouble with 11-year-old Dawn Buckle is that nobody ever noticed her. The lollipop lady didn't notice her; even her own family didn't notice her. Which is why she was a good choice for a spy. Dawn Undercover (Bloomsbury, £6.99), by Anna Dale, is a
Glam rockers Slade are always remembered for Merry Christmas Everybody, but their musical legacy was much greater than that. With their unforgettable hairstyles and scarf-waving brand of rock balladry, the Black Country boys were never fashionable or
Born In Death (Piatkus, £10) is Nora Roberts's 23rd thriller, written under the pen-name J. D. Robb. Set in 2059, it sees tough homicide lieutenant Eva Dallas tackling her most daunting enterprise yet. Hosting a childbirth class for her heavily pregnant
The year 2006 will go down as one of major upheaval among Oxfordshire businesses, many of them major employers. Top of the list, although not unexpected, was the sale of Blackwell Publishing for £572m to American rival John Wiley & Sons in November.
Thieves stole more than £1,500 of tools from a DIY store in west Oxford. The gang broke into the Botley Road branch at around 3am on Saturday through the outdoor and garden supplies yard at the back of the store. They stole 22 Wickes own-brand four-piece
A lorry driver killed in an accident on the M40 has been named as 36-year-old Charanjit Singh. Mr Singh, of Wexham Road, Slough, was killed on December 21. The accident happened in freezing fog at about 9.15am when four lorries collided on the M40
VAL BOURNE on the delights of hybrid hellebores The gardening year turns once the shortest day is out of the way, and hellebores are one of the biggest treats to come. However, many gardeners automatically think of the Christmas rose (Helleborus niger
HELEN PEACOCKE admires a new exhibition showing important recent acquisitions by the Ashmolean Museum It may not be the largest exhibition ever staged at the Ashmolean Museum, but Recent Acquisitions of British Drawings and Watercolours certainly
Police are appealing for help in catching a man who walked into an elderly woman's home in Wallingford, searched her bags and demanded to know where money was kept. He left after the 72-year-old woman, who lives in St John's Road, told him no money
Whatever your New Year resolution it is time to make science fun says MIKE DENNIS What are your New Year Resolutions? To be better informed, to think about a healthy diet, to do more with your children or even that you should have more fun? Science
PETER BARRINGTON looks at ONCF'S important role Farmers and landowners on the chalk downlands of the Ridgeway are being encouraged to restore grasslands to revive flora and fauna. Changes in farming have led to a decline of some species, but thanks
POLICE are appealing for help in catching a man who walked into an elderly woman's home in Wallingford, searched her handbag and demanded to know where money was kept. He left after the 72-year-old woman, who lives in St John's Road, told him no money
THIEVES stole a large quantity of power tools, worth about £1,500, in a raid on the Wickes DIY store in Oxford. Thieves broke into the Botley Road branch at about 3am on December 23 through the outdoor and garden supplies yard at its rear. Police
Welsh sport is all rugby, rugby, rugby, isn't it? So what was Marc Evans doing playing baseball in Pembrokeshire? And was he more like Babe Ruth or Ruth Madoc? I've got some bad news, son," my dad said, ominously. "Your cousin's been researching the
Hello and welcome to yet another year of the good, bad and ugly from our elected representatives. And by small way of recognition, The Insider proudly presents the second, annual alternative honours list. The Do As I say, Not As I Do Award: KEITH
It's a great temptation to grab a supermarket trolley, dash around the aisles and do all your shopping in one go. It is a chore that can be done at these one-stop shops, saving valuable time in our hectic lives. Yet, in giving unqualified support to
While watching an episode of Robin Hood on BBC TV, the evil Sheriff of Nottingham was heard to say to a group of poor villagers: "If you do not pay your taxes, you will be punished accordingly." They were all then marched off to the dungeons. Which
I write to express serious concern over the city council's reduction of the frequency of refuse collection in the streets of North Oxford. While I fully support and am implementing recycling measures with the help of containers supplied by the council
A NEW super-posh version of the Mini is to make its world debut next year at the North American Motor Show in Detroit. BMW describes the Mini Convertible Sidewalk, which has 16-inch wheels, leather seats and steering wheel, as "a car for the true enthusiast
Local share prices on December 28 were as follows: AEA Technology 95 BMW 2929 Electrocomponents 294.25 Isoft Group 54 Oxford Biomedica 40.25 Oxford Instruments 252.25 Oxonica 147.5 Reed Elsevier 563.75 RM 193 RPS 272.5 Torex Retail 49.75
THIEVES stole a large quantity of tools in a raid on the Volvo Truck and Bus Centre at Souldern Gate Garage, near Bicester. Police said the burglary happened sometime between 6pm on Boxing Day and 8am yesterday. Det Sgt Stephen Haddock, investigating
ARSONISTS set fire to a van in Foxwell Drive, near Oxford's A40 Northern Bypass last night. Fire crews were called to the incident at 9.45pm and Thames Valley Police have been alerted. No one was hurt in the incident.
A MAN was hit while he sat in his car in a queue of traffic in Bicester. The man was sitting in a red Land Rover in Chapel Street between 2.30pm and 3.30pm last Friday. He was in a queue of traffic and when he got to the front he was punched in the
A driver was punched in the face by a pedestrian while he sat in his car in traffic. The man was sitting in a red Land Rover in Chapel Street, Bicester, between 2.30pm and 3.30pm last Friday (Dec 22) when he was assaulted. Police released the details
Arsonists set fire to a van in Foxwell Drive, Oxford, near the city's A40 Northern Bypass last night (Wed). Fire crews were called to the incident at 9.45pm and Thames Valley Police have been alerted. No-one was hurt.
More than 50,000 parking tickets were handed out in Oxfordshire in 2005-6 - costing motorists an estimated £1.25m. The 50,517 parking tickets issued for street parking offences were an increase of 1,983 on the previous year. It means that every day
Footie fans enjoyed a parking free-for-all in residential streets for Oxford United's home clash against Woking on Boxing Day because of a council mix-up. Although the game started at 3pm, Oxfordshire County Council thought it was an evening game and
Shoppers are being told that local independent shops are for life and not just for Christmas. In the build-up to Christmas, many people used their local stores to buy fresh veg and meat in preparation for the festive season. In Cowley Road, Oxford
Police have warned they will come down hard on anyone inventing fictitious robberies after a rise in the number of claims. They issued the warning after giving a woman an on-the-spot fine over one bogus claim. They are currently investigating two other
The family of a man killed in a car crash near Witney have spoken of their grief.o Paulo Dos Santoscorr, of Banbury, died when the van he was driving and a double-decker bus collided on the A415 outside Cokethorpe School, near Ducklington, a week ago
Police believe missing woman Maria Pereira may have lelft the UK. Mrs Pereira, 43, rom Nettlebed, has not been seen since a service at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Henley on Sunday, December 3. Officers say she may have travelled back to India,
Holiday activity schemes for children in Oxford that have been credited with reducing criminal damage and arson are to benefit from a 25 per cent rise in funding. An analysis of crime rates in Blackbird Leys, Barton and Wood Farm during this year's
A scheme which encourages Oxford children to take responsibility for their communities by tackling litter and vandalism will be relaunched in the New Year. Oxford City Council was forced to suspend its junior street warden programme earlier this year
Bargain hunters flocked to Oxford yesterday to take advantage of massive discounts in the Christmas sales. b Some chains, including PC World and Currys, opened on Boxing Day but for many stores, including M&S and Next, their sales started yesterday.
Shoppers with cars may be out of favour with Oxford City Council which wants to hike charges at the Westgate car park on Saturdays, but Abingdon is making it easier to park in the town that day. Parking arrangements in the town's multi-storey car park
A resource centre which has helped families for more than a decade is to be made homeless within weeks. The Down's Syndrome Oxford Resource Centre has been told that it must leave its home at the Park Hospital in Headington by January 13, because the
When Queenie Cooper was born, women had yet to win the right to vote, the Liberal Party was in power and Joseph Thomson won the Nobel Prize for Physics after discovering the electron. Mrs Cooper celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday (Weds), but can
Christmas is all but over and if your mind is turning to a New Year's resolutions, why not think about a greener way of life starting with that tree in the corner of your living room? It is traditional to take down your Christmas tinsel and baubles
FOOTBALL fans enjoyed a parking free-for-all in residential streets for Oxford United's home clash against Woking on Boxing Day because of a council mix-up. Despite a record-breaking crowd arriving on time for the 3pm kick-off, the county council thought
DISABLED pupils from Banbury's Frank Wise School received the red carpet treatment at the premiere of their latest film. The youngsters, all severely handicapped, starred in Three Wise Men, the third feature-length movie made by the school. The Odeon
CHILDREN at Windmill Nursery in Middleton Cheney performed their nativity play outside the school building for the first time. Staff and toddlers at the nursery converted an open barn into a stable using straw and props, and the children, aged two to
A NEW training facility in Banbury is offering fast-track qualification opportunities to people who work or want to work in the construction industry. Vision Training Services has been established in response to the skills shortage in the town and the
Forum A continued their domination of Division 1 with a 10-0 rout of Bicester A. Karl Bushell, Greg Boone and Fraser Harris all posted maximums. Andrew Flint was the only maximum man for Forum B as they saw off two-man St James A 7-3. In Division
Headington Roadrunner Steve Kimber (pictured) can take a big stride towards retaining his senior and overall men's titles, if he wins the third round at Radley College on Sunday. Kimber has proved a class above in the first two rounds, winning both.
Skipper Phil Gilchrist is convinced Oxford United will give someone a hiding soon - if they can just get that all-important first goal. The U's battered Woking during the second half of their Boxing Day game in front of a record 11,065 attendance, but
HUNTING supporters were out in force as the traditional Boxing Day meetings took place in Oxfordshire and across the country. The Bicester with Whaddon Chase Hound Club was one of more than 200 hunts keen to keep the tradition alive. The hound club
MORE than 100 people went to Broad Street in Oxford last Friday to see the lighting of a candle to mark the final day of the Jewish Festival of Lights. A candle had been lit on the tallest menorah in Oxford - a nine-branched candlestick - every day
Select your town to find the Chemist opening times for 1 April 2007 - 31 March 2008. Abingdon Banbury Bicester Chipping Norton Didcot Henley Oxford Wallingford Wantage Witney
HUNDREDS of walkers from across the country will descend on Banbury today to take part in a gruelling 50km night trek. The 39th annual Tour de Trigs Walking Competition gets under way this evening from Blessed George Napier School in Banbury. The
PUPILS at a village primary school are to re-stage a procession that marked the opening of their school 40 years ago. Youngsters in Bodicote will walk though the village just as children did in 1967 when Bishop Loveday School opened its classrooms for
BANBURY MP Tony Baldry has accused a Government minister of incompetence over immigration issues. Mr Baldry aimed his attack at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and Home Office minister Liam Byrne MP after he admitted not deporting failed
RESIDENTS at The Hawthorns, the sheltered housing scheme in Oxford Road, Banbury, were given an early Christmas treat when pupils from nearby Grange County Primary School called in to share season's greetings. Year Two children and teacher Louise Price
MUM Jane McCaffery celebrated Christmas in a new home after more than three years on the housing waiting list. Jane, 36, a nurse, says that moving into Oxford Citizens Housing Association's new development in Marshall Road, Banbury, was a dream come
NORA Palmer, a former stalwart of Deddington Church and teacher at St Mary's Primary School in Banbury, has died, aged 92. Her husband, Canon George Palmer, was vicar of Deddington from 1963 until he retired in 1978. Mrs Palmer played a prominent
POLICE believe missing woman Maria Pereira may have travelled to Bahrain or India. Mrs Pereira, 43, has not been seen since a service at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Henley on Sunday, December 3. Officers say she may have travelled back to India
There was Christmas joy for young Nicole Hunt, who helped her Drayton E side to a welcome 5-5 draw with RAL E in Division 4 of the Didcot & District League. RESULTS Div 1: Drayton A 4 (K Bushell 3), Didcot A 6; Crown 7 (G Donovan 3), Abingdon B 3; Crown
Chris and Andy Allum were both on target as Wallingford Athletic bounced back from their surprise loss at East Hendred to come from behind and beat Faingdon Town in North Berks League Division 1, writes ANDY WELLS. Faringdon took the lead from a deflected
Dedication is vital if you are to achieve sporting success and this is a quality Eddie Pepperell seems to have in abundance. The 15-year-old, from Abingdon, has had an excellent 2006, including victory in the Frilford Heath Gold Medal and defending
A 20-YEAR-OLD man has been remanded in custody charged with stabbing a woman on Christmas Eve. Christopher De Banks, of Celandine Place, in Greater Leys, is accused of stabbing of a 20-year-old woman in the arm in Cuddesdon Way, Blackbird Leys shortly
A FATHER who lost his son in a car crash is organising a Ride for Life'. The trip will see Bob Paterson and colleagues Owen Pates and Steve Jordan cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats from June 1-18, giving school talks along the way about seatbelt
A MAN has been charged with robbing a taxi driver in Oxford during the early hours of Christmas Day. The driver had a jacket containing a mobile phone, Bluetooth headset and cash stolen during the incident at Nettlebed Mead, Greater Leys, at 1am.
A NEWLY-FORMED vandalism hit squad is taking to the streets of Bicester in search of graffiti, litter and criminal damage. Armed with checklists, digital cameras and sturdy walking boots, the team of police officers and council officials will patrol
PARENTS opposed to plans to reorganise schools in Abingdon took their protest to County Hall in Oxford and handed over a petition signed by 1,640 people. The Dunmore Action Committee also delivered a 50-page report at the education offices in Macclesfield
AN OXFORD hospice due to star in a BBC2 documentary is hoping television publicity will help make up for this year's £1.4m fundraising shortfall. Helen House for children and Douglas House for young adults missed this year's target of £4m by a third
