Archive

  • Residents call for 20mph limit

    Oxford residents took to the streets equipped with speed guns and posters today as part of an international campaign to get drivers to slow down. As part of the 20's Plenty Action Day, members of the Divinity Road area residents' association, in East

  • Baby bashing

    "Woman battered to death with Fisher Price Xylophone" It may sound ridiculous, but this story could end up in the Oxford Mail unless people don't stop picking on Littl'un. She's chubby, there's no denying it, but this week alone I've had: "God, look at

  • Man cleared of raping boys

    A 45-YEAR-OLD man was today cleared of raping young boys. A jury at Oxford Crown Court found Mark Anderson, of Dirac Place, in Didcot, not guilty on seven counts of rape after deliberating for almost nine hours. Jurors could not reach a verdict on

  • Train services 'back to normal'

    Train company First Great Western said services are almost back to normal following a day of disruptions. Problems started at about 6.30am today when a train broke down between Didcot Parkway and Swindon. The line was clear by late-morning but major

  • Road reopened after accident

    The A44 north of Woodstock has been reopened after an accident earlier today, but drivers are still experiencing delays. The road was closed after a blue Mazda MX-5 and a blue VW Polo collided near the junction with the B4437 at about 4.45pm. The road

  • Today's local share prices (PM)

    AEA Technology 106.5 BMW 3076 Electrocomponents 306.25 Isoft Group 36.25 Oxford Biomedica 48 Oxford Instruments 269.5 Reed Elsevier 623.75 RM 188.25 RPS Group 320.75 Oxonica 115 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Man cleared of child rapes

    A 45-year-old man was today cleared of raping young boys. A jury at Oxford Crown Court found Mark Anderson, of Dirac Place, in Didcot, not guilty on seven counts of rape after deliberating for almost nine hours. Jurors could not reach a verdict on

  • Nightmare Song: Opera della Luna

    There are laughs a-plenty in this fast-paced new music-theatre piece from Opera della Luna, written by the company's artistic director, Jeff Clarke, and performed by him and leading patter man Simon Butteriss. Most of Gilbert and Sullivan's patter songs

  • Do the green statistics add up?

    Many supermarkets claim to be green, but how much of that is marketing and how much is ingrained in their overall policies? The National Consumer Council (NCC) carried out research into the environmentally-friendly credentials of the major supermarket

  • Beprepared for April showers

    This month has been particularly dry, with no sign yet of our typical April showers. But, this being Britain, it is bound to rain soon - and when it does Waterwise wants you to be prepared. Despite the hosepipe ban being lifted, the not-for-profit

  • New rules for commercial waste producers

    OCTOBER 2007 will see the introduction of an additional piece of legislation under the European Landfill Directive, prohibiting industrial and commercial waste from going to landfill without prior treatment. The most widely accepted methods will be

  • How green is your shopping?

    Alastair Plum finds out how consumers can change the way supermarkets work with their trolley power Weall know we should be doing a little be more for the environment but sometimes convenience stores can be, well, so convenient. But our shopping

  • How to downsize your bin

    Each year, the average family throws out half a tonne of rubbish. With landfill space running seriously low, we have to ask ourselves what we can do to change our disposable lifestyles. Try setting yourself a limit, such as one sackful a week. Thi

  • The war on waste must start now

    Britain is officially the dustbin of Europe, as it dumps more household waste into landfill than another other EU country. The alarming figures published recently also reveal that if we do not mend our ways, it is estimated we will run out of landfill

  • What a day!

    Oh! What larks! What larks we had! There we were, the other evening, the whole damn lot of us, drunk as lords on tankards overflowing with ale and cider, in our oversize comedy bowler hats, carousing down the streets singing verses from Jerusalem - 'And

  • Crash brings city delays

    MOTORISTS travelling along the Abingdon Road, Oxford, are experiencing severe delays after a collision involving two cars. The collision happened at 11.50am involving a silver Vauxhall Astra and a silver Renault Scenic. No one was hurt in the collision

  • Police hunt escaped prisoner

    POLICE are searching for a man who escaped from police custody at the Churchill Hospital, Oxford, at about 9.30am today. Shaun Anthony Hewitt, 29, was arrested yesterday for a recall to prison after he had breached his licence. He had served a four-year

  • Breakdown leads to long rail delays

    THOUSANDS of train passengers have been hit by major delays after a train broke down between stations at Didcot Parkway and Swindon. The problem was first reported at 6.37am today and affected services to South Wales, London and Bristol. A spokesman

  • Harvey holds on to title lead

    OXFORD racing driver Tim Harvey maintained his early championship lead with a fourth and a second place at the spectacular Rockingham Speedway during rounds three and four of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB over the weekend. Harvey was racing for Red Line

  • Train delays hit thousands

    Thousands of train passengers have been hit by major delays after a train broke down between stations at Didcot Parkway and Swindon. The problem was first reported at 6.37am this morning and affected services to South Wales, London and Bristol. A

  • Shedding some light on the situation

    And another thing!!! I know I sometimes sound like a grumpy old whinger, but there are so many infuriating things that contribute to the poor state of our planet. One is retailers' blithe disrespect for energy. I often pass through Banbury at night,

  • Today's local share prices (AM)

    AEA Technology 106 BMW 3057 Electrocomponents 306.75 Isoft Group 36.25 Oxford Biomedica 48.25 Oxford Instruments 262.5 Oxonica 120 Reed Elsevier 625.25 RM 189 RPS Group 321.5 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • The Oxford Times named UK's best weekly paper

    The Oxford Times was last night named regional weekly newspaper of the year in the 2007 Newspaper Awards - completing a unique hat-trick of awards. The award, made at the Park Lane Hilton in London, is the third major award won by the newspaper in the

  • Minister rules out second unitary bid

    The Government has ruled out giving Oxford a second chance to become a unitary authority. Local Government Minister Phil Woolas, in an interview with the Oxford Mail, said there were "no plans" to ask the city to make a second formal bid to run all

  • Marching on to net Chox cash

    A five-man team from a city building company is planning to walk 55 kilo- metres in a day to help raise thousands of pounds for the Oxford Children's Hospital. Dave Robertson, 42, regional director of Johnsons Buildbase, is striding out across the

  • Classy Banbury too hot for City

    Banbury Utd 2, Oxford City 1 FORMER Thame United striker Jon Gardner hit the second-half winner from the penalty spot as Banbury United battled back to retain the Oxfordshire Senior Cup in an entertaining clash at the Kassam Stadium last night. In

  • Questions that need answers

    We can be thankful that the accident outside Pegasus School at Blackbird Leys, Oxford, was not more serious than it was. Children scattered just in time yesterday when a car ploughed through the school fence and hit a tree, close to where they were

  • It doesn’t add up

    So the city council says that lone working at night at the park-and-ride car parks will provide more staff at busier periods yet, at the same time, it admits that staff numbers have been reduced through 'natural wastage'. Well, wastage certainly comes

  • Strange sight on my doorstep

    I do love nature and it is so wonderful to see our native creatures come out of hibernation. Only this week, I saw the Lesser Spotted Liberal Candidate and the Common Crested Conservative. I really need to follow up on these wonderful creatures. Where

  • 'Girlfriend was the real killer'

    A man accused of beating a window cleaner to death blamed it on his girlfriend. John Beckley, 42, denies murder after the body of Roy Helm was found with 20 rib fractures and a damaged liver at a flat in St Nicholas Road, Littlemore, in August last

  • Man convicted of child sex crimes

    A 44-year-old man has been found guilty of a string of sex offences against young boys. A jury at Oxford Crown Court took less than four hours to find Trevor Baker guilty of six rapes, three serious sexual assaults and three indecent assaults yesterday

  • 'Sex slave' rapist jailed

    A man who raped and assaulted a woman and treated her as a 'sex slave' has been jailed today. A jury at Oxford Crown Court found Karl Stoute, 20, guilty of three rapes, two counts of causing actual bodily harm and one of causing a person to engage in

  • ATHLETICS: Radley suffer in curtain-raiser

    Radley got off to a disappointing start to their track and field campaign as they finished seventh out of eight in their traditional curtain-raiser, the Alpha Beta Trophy meeting at Lee Valley. With a combination of high-quality opposition and unavailability

  • RUGBY UNION: Seaside success

    Abingdon Under 16s completed a successful season by claiming the Challenge Cup during a festival at Portsmouth RFC. Despite losing their first game to Lichfield, a draw against Darlington, in which flanker James Gaisford dislocated a shoulder, saw them

  • ATHLETICS: Hails lead the way in marathon scorcher

    Witney Roadrunner Phil Hails defied the blistering temperatures as he finished an impressive 114th at Sunday's Flora London Marathon. With elite and part-time runners dropping like flies, Hails maintained a steady pace to cross the line in 2hrs 38mins

  • Exclusive peek at new cinema

    The big screen is finally coming to Didcot next week, as the town's new £4.5m cinema prepares to show Spring blockbuster Spider-Man 3 as its first film. The doors of the Cineworld multiplex in the Orchard Shopping Centre will open to members of the

  • RUGBY UNION: Hawks hit by £18,000 deficit

    Henley Hawks have revealed they are well short of their own financial targets with the last nine months showing a loss of £18,000. The National 2 outfit believe other sides in the league are facing similar problems, but are appealing for members to

  • FOOTBALL: Cassington are the history-makers

    Witney & District FA Cassington clinched promotion to the Premier Division for the first time in their history as they demolished Hanborough Res 12-0 in Division 1. Dave Cooper hit a four-timer, while Dale Cox bagged a hat-trick. Carl Osgathorpe

  • First big store deal at development

    The first major store has been announced for a controversial new shopping development. Retail giant Debenhams will be a major occupier of the Marriott's Close site in Witney. The company will open one of its Desire by Debenhams shops, specialising

  • FOOTBALL: Goal-hungry Brill crush Wheatley

    RT Harris Oxford City FA Brill United lifted the Doug Hobbs Cup with a 6-0 thrashing of Division 1 rivals Wheatley United at Rover Cowley. Ben Moses broke the deadlock, before Dave Champ made it 2-0. After the break, Phill Goffe, Moses's second,

  • Marching on to net Chox cash

    A five-man team from a city building company is planning to walk 55 kilo- metres in a day to help raise thousands of pounds for the Oxford Children's Hospital. Dave Robertson, 42, regional director of Johnsons Buildbase, is striding out across the county

  • FOOTBALL: Wootton's nap hand silences Lambourn

    North Berks League Wootton & Dry Sandford Res lifted the Nairne Paul Cup with a crushing 5-1 victory against Lambourn Sports Res at Wallingford. Underdogs Wootton, who lost 1-0 to Grove Rangers Res seven days earlier in the North Berks League Cup final

  • United for hospital

    When Darryl Simpson was diagnosed with stomach cancer last October, things looked bleak. But six months on, the 41-year-old from Manor Drive, Horspath, has just finished treatment and, thanks to the support of his community, has raised more than £11,000

  • BILLIARDS: Riley on song to lift first trophy

    Riley captured their first Oxford & District League trophy by upsetting Fieldside 5-0 in the Stephen Reiss Cup final at Cowley Conservative Club. The Division 2 basement boys took advantage of the Division 1 side being without their two leading players

  • London runners celebrate big day

    It was one of the toughest London Marathons in its history, but there are many people in Oxfordshire looking back with pride at their efforts on Sunday. The memories of their amazing achievements will last far longer than the soreness in their legs

  • RUGBY UNION: Griffin is top dog

    Gosford All Blacks captain Eugene Griffin was named the club's player of the year at their annual dinner/dance. The flanker excelled in a disappointing season, while Kyeran Clutton was awarded clubman of the year and Doug Joines scooped the young player

  • FOOTBALL: No old pals act

    York City manager Billy McEwan says he is not looking for any favours from his good friend Jim Smith for the Minstermen's critical final match against Oxford United this Saturday. It's a game York may have to win to qualify for the play-offs, although

  • FOOTBALL: Classy Banbury too hot for City

    Former Thame United striker Jon Gardner hit the second-half winner from the penalty spot as Banbury United battled back to retain the cup in an entertaining clash at the Kassam Stadium last night. In truth, City would have been dead and buried had it

  • Show the flow

    The Victorian fountain in the middle of The Plain roundabout, Oxford, could be restored as an attractive gateway to the city centre. It is the third attempt to bring back into use the Victorian fountain, which was built in 1899 and has been dry for

  • A34 closures

    DRIVERS using the A34 south of Oxfordshire are being warned to expect delays while signs are put up by the Highways Agency. The road was shut southbound from the Beedon junction to the M4 interchange between 10pm and 6am today and again on Friday.

  • Man jailed for sex slave attacks

    A RAPIST who treated a woman like a sex slave has been jailed. Karl Stoute was told he will spend at least six and a half years in prison after being convicted at Oxford Crown Court yesterday. It took jurors less than three hours to find the 20-year-old

  • Speed alert

    COMMUNITIES will be taking to the streets of Oxford today to demonstrate their support for 20mph speed limits. The 20's Plenty Action Day will feature action in Headington Quarry, Divinity Road, Mill Street and Iffley. Pupils from the Headington Quarry

  • Girls rescue horse in river

    HARRY the horse had a lucky escape after being rescued from a river. The 27-year-old, which belongs to Elaine Barrett, of Pinnocks Way, Oxford, fell over in Seacourt Stream in North Hinksey Lane on Saturday, and was unable to get out. A specialist

  • Jury told: 'Accuse not to blame for killing'

    A MAN accused of beating a window cleaner to death blamed it on his girlfriend. John Beckley, 42, denies murder after the body of Roy Helm was found with 20 rib fractures and a damaged liver at a flat in St Nicholas Road, Littlemore, in August last

  • Teacher dies after crash

    AN OXFORDSHIRE schoolteacher has died after being injured in a crash at a wildlife sanctuary in Dubai. Diana Parker, who had been living and working in Dubai with her husband Michael for the past four years, died reportedly from a heart attack at the

  • 'Bullets were raining down'

    Twenty five years ago today (April 25, 1982) Britain rejoiced when a squad of marines and special forces recaptured South Georgia in the Falkland Islands. Three weeks previously, the islands had been invaded by the Argentinians, who, claiming it as

  • Teacher dies after crash

    A schoolteacher has died after being injured in a crash at a wildlife sanctuary in Dubai Diana Parker, who had been living and working in Dubai with her husband Michael for the past four years, died reportedly from a heart attack at the John Radcliffe

  • 'Big boobies' sold for charity

    For many years, people have wondered what became of the great art treasure The Fallen Madonna With The Big Boobies. The Oxford Mail can now reveal the painting, made famous by the television sitcom 'Allo 'Allo, has been found - in Thame. The painting

  • Lucky escape

    Children narrowly escaped being hurt yesterday after a car ploughed through a metal fence into a school playground. Seven children were sitting on a bench at Pegasus Primary School, in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, as the silver Fiat Punto crashed through

  • FOOTBALL: Curran is hero for Berinsfield

    Teenager John Curran was the hero for nine-man Berinsfield as he hit the winning spot-kick in their 5-4 penalty shoot-out win against Haddenham in the final of the Ben Turner Cup at Worcester & Bletchingdon. Berinsfield had cruised into a 2-0 lead,

  • Feeling hot, hot, hot

    To cut a long story short, I finished Sunday's London Marathon. But that wouldn't make much of a blog entry, so here is the full story. I knew it was going to be a hot day so wore a cap and drunk as much water and Lucozade as I could on the route. What

  • Feeling hot, hot, hot

    To cut a long story short, I finished Sunday's London Marathon. But that wouldn't make much of a blog entry, so here is the full story. I knew it was going to be a hot day so wore a cap and drunk as much water and Lucozade as I could on the route. What

  • Car crashed just feet from pupils

    CHILDREN narrowly escaped being hurt after a car ploughed through a metal fence into a school playground. Seven children were sitting on a bench at Pegasus Primary School, in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, yesterday as the silver Fiat Punto crashed through

  • RUGBY UNION: Three clubs fill this year's team

    THREE clubs dominate my Oxford Mail team of the season with each providing four players in the starting XV. Witney, Wallingford and Henley Hawks have all had successful seasons at their relative levels, which this team recognises. All players have

  • Feeling hot, hot, hot

    To cut a long story short, I finished Sunday's London Marathon. But that wouldn't make much of a blog entry, so here is the full story. I knew it was going to be a hot day so wore a cap and drunk as much water and Lucozade as I could on the route. What

  • Saucy sitcom pic sold for charity

    FOR many years, people have wondered what became of the great art treasure The Fallen Madonna With The Big Boobies. The Oxford Times can now disclose the painting, made famous by the television sitcom 'Allo 'Allo, has been found - in Thame. The painting

  • Minister rules out second unitary bid

    THE Government has ruled out giving Oxford a second chance to become a unitary authority. Local Government Minister Phil Woolas said there were "no plans" to ask the city to make a second formal bid to run all the services instead of some being controlled

  • Bring on the dancing girls

    Hurrah! Duncan Fletcher’s gone, I’m not pleased from a cricketing perspective you understand. He’s a top coach and most definitely moved English cricket out of a dark age. It was just his miserable demeanour that got to me, which seems a superficial judgement

  • Bring on the dancing girls

    Hurrah! Duncan Fletcher’s gone, I’m not pleased from a cricketing perspective you understand. He’s a top coach and most definitely moved English cricket out of a dark age. It was just his miserable demeanour that got to me, which seems a superficial judgement

  • Bring on the dancing girls

    Hurrah! Duncan Fletcher’s gone, I’m not pleased from a cricketing perspective you understand. He’s a top coach and most definitely moved English cricket out of a dark age. It was just his miserable demeanour that got to me, which seems a superficial judgement

  • Park rats to be snared

    HUMANE rat traps are to be laid out to deal with vermin infestation near an Oxford play park. Residents, businesses and councillors have raised concerns about the numbers of rats in the grassed area in Manzil Way, off Cowley Road, which is near to a

  • Thousands join Race for Life

    ABOUT 8,500 women are expected to take part in this year's Race for Life in Oxford. The Race for Life is a women-only, 5km race, raising money and awareness for research into cancer. In Oxford in 2006, a third race had to be laid on to cope with the

  • F3 newcomer shows his class

    BANBURY driver Mike Meadows scored a deserved national class victory in the first of a brace of British F3 races at Donington Park on Sunday - and followed up with a second place in race two, despite suffering front wing damage. It was a change of fortunes

  • Games hall use is under review

    STUDIES into how to redevelop an underused games hall in East Oxford are being carried out. But initial plans to turn East Oxford Games Hall, in Collins Street, into a four-storey block of up to 20 flats have been criticised by Oxford city councillors

  • Rowers win £10,000 repairs grant

    ROWERS are celebrating after being awarded up to £10,000 towards mending their landing stage. Thanks to the grant from Oxford City Council's east area committee and contributions from five Oxford University colleges, the City of Oxford Rowing Club,

  • Town plans blitz on litter

    PEOPLE are being urged to do their bit to help their local environment by taking part in community clear-ups around Witney during April and May. Witney Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG), West Oxfordshire District Council and Thames Valley Police have

  • Sex infection rate soaring

    SEXUAL health experts are concerned that rates of syphilis across Oxfordshire have increased tenfold in six years. They are targeting gay men, who are the most affected by the disease, in a bid to reduce the number of cases. Syphilis can go unnoticed

  • Figure of Jesus stolen from church

    A 4ft-high statue of Christ was stolen from an Oxford churchyard. Parishioners at St Thomas the Martyr Church, in Becket Street, were devastated when they discovered the figure, depicting Jesus on the cross, had gone missing. But police believe the

  • Council gets tough on fly-tipping

    A PINK dolls' house dumped at the side of the road was just one of the unusual items tossed aside by fly-tippers. The child's toy was part of 63 tonnes of waste dumped in West Oxfordshire in the year to March. Other items thrown away include a car

  • Fun day for families

    FAMILIES will be able to explore the outdoors during a creative play day held at Harcourt Arboretum on Friday, April 27. The day's activities will be run by Fiona Danks and Jo Schofield and are based on their recent book, Nature's Playground, which