Now is it me, or is Quentin Tarantino one of the most over-rated writers and directors working in cinema today? For over fifteen years he's been foisting his b-movie cast off's onto a strangely accepting audience - an audience who seemingly believe his
THE first steps were taken today towards closing Peers School, Littlemore, and turning it into an academy. Councillors voted in favour of closing the school, which is a formal requirement if it is to reopen next September as the Oxford Academy.
A DOZEN Oxford soldiers are preparing to take on the Taliban as they fly to Afghanistan for a tour of duty in the war-torn Helmand Province. The Territorial Army (TA) soldiers are all from 7th Battalion, The Rifles, based at Slade Park Barracks, in
THE manager of the new Carling Academy Oxford has vowed it will be the best venue of its kind in the country. Carl Bathgate, pictured left with assistant manager Joe Roberton, has watched the former Zodiac, in Cowley Road, increase in size to its new
If Government minister Phil Hope was expecting an easy ride when he came to Oxford to discuss the flooding, he was sadly mistaken. He may have got a warm welcome from civic leaders. But the smooth running of his PR exercise came to abrupt halt in
A dozen Oxford soldiers are preparing to take on the Taliban as they fly to Afghanistan for a tour of duty in the war-torn Helmand Province. The Territorial Army (TA) soldiers are all from 7th Battalion, The Rifles, based at Slade Park Barracks, in
A YOUNG conman tricked a couple upstairs while an accomplice stole from their Oxford home. The burglary in Collinwood Road, Risinghurst, happened at about 8.30pm last night. Police said the couple found a young man in the back garden of the property
The first steps were taken today towards closing Oxford's Peers School and turning it into an academy. Councillors voted in favour of closing the school, which is a formal requirement if it is to reopen next September as the Oxford Academy. This means
The manager of the new Carling Academy Oxford has vowed it will be the best venue of its kind in the country. Carl Bathgate, pictured left with assistant manager Joe Roberton, has watched the former Zodiac, in Cowley Road, increase in size to its new
The father of a brain-damaged boy claims staff at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital refused to move a van parked illegally in a disabled bay because it was owned by travellers. Andrew Long, 30, was taking his son Christopher, five, for an appointment
Muggers assaulted a man and stole his bicycle, MP3 player and wallet in Littlemore, Oxford. The victim, who was found on the ground by PCSO Paul Timms shortly after the attack, has no recollection of what happened - but discovered his brown Specialized
Volunteers are needed to work in schools to help children read. The Bicester-based county branch of Volunteer Reading Help is holding two special days at Sutton Courtenay on Friday, October 5, and Friday, October 12, to attract new people. For more
They cycled for six hours a day from Oxford to the south of France and back in all weathers, but three former Magdalen College School pupils say it was worth every mile. Oliver Martin-Robinson, Hal Munby and Camilo Stargardter rode the 2,500km to Biarritz
A blueprint shaping recreation and leisure activities in north Oxfordshire for the next five years has been launched. Cherwell's District Council's new recreation strategy highlights healthier lifestyles and opportunities for young people as two of
There can't be many properties on the market promising home-grown bucketloads of wine. But whoever purchases a cottage near Bampton, in west Oxfordshire, could be toasting their new home with a bottle of backyard vintage. Yew Tree Cottage, at the
A man who put his life on the line to pull a woman from a burning car on the A34 has been honoured with a top award. Thirty-year-old Alex Marshman said he acted instinctively last November when faced with the crash near Milton. Leading firefighters
Magic, mystery and fundraising - as well as blue skies and sunshine - brought out a bumper crowd for this year's Charlbury Street Fair. Among those dressing up for the theme of the 52nd annual event, on Saturday, was Graham Canning dressed as the wizard
Charity fundraisers are hoping to paint Witney town centre pink. The Witney team of Against Breast Cancer is holding its sixth Pink Day and hopes to be even more successful than last year when more than £5,000 was raised. Shops, businesses, pubs and
A man who wants to rear chickens is having his planning application held up by a colony of Great Crested Newts. The amphibians are a rare, protected species and have to be taken into account when someone wants to build something near where they live
Plans to speed up the closure of a Ministry of Defence base near Bicester could threaten frontline supplies, union leaders have warned. Staff at the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) base at Caversfield learned last week the site could close in just
An Oxfam charity shop has had to shell out £600 to replace smashed windows. The shop, in Witney's Market Square, was targeted at the weekend - the fourth time since February. Spokesman Sally Lee said: "You accept that, if you are in a town centre,
News item: "Iran has hanged 17 men for 'various drug offences'." An official is reported to have said: "We in Teheran don't want our prisons overcrowded by these vile persons." What a pity that the official is not a High Court judge in England! JOHN
Laugh, I could have cried! I deplore the judgement of Didcot Power Station managers over their plan to fill Thrupp Lake at Radley with ash, but I must admire their ability to tell jokes with a straight face. Their first joke was that "there'll be hundreds
I note (Oxford Mail, September 7) that the county council's traffic decisions committee has rejected the plea by private hire drivers to use bus lanes. To allow them into the bus lanes, like their hackney cab counterparts, would benefit all other road
Muggers assaulted a man and made off with his bicycle, mp3 player and wallet in an attack in Littlemore. The victim, who was found on the ground by PCSO Paul Timms shortly after the attack, has no recollection of what happened - but discovered his brown
AEA Technology116.75 BMW2937 Electrocomponents237.25 Isoft Group68.25 Nationwide Accident Repair155.5 Oxford Biomedica37 Oxford Instruments240 Reed Elsevier611.25 RM189.25 RPS353.5 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
Nutmeg is a very lively six-month-old Jack Russell looking for an active home with new owners who have got plenty of time to devote to her. She came into us as her elderly owner could not cope with her. She has a lot of energy and loves going for walks
This lovely looking chap is Tom who sadly came into The Blue Cross as a stray. We have no history on him other than what we have learnt while he has been at the centre. Tom is a very sweet but wary cat that can take time to get to know you and adapt
MUGGERS assaulted a cyclist and made off with his bicycle, mp3 player and wallet in an attack in Littlemore. The victim, who was found on the ground by PCSO Paul Timms shortly after the attack, has no recollection of what happened - but discovered his
Small shops are fighting back against the threat of chain stores in Witney town centre. They say there is a future for them in the town, despite another local business, Stokes Bakery in Corn Street, deciding to shut in Novem- ber. They are backed
Residents in an area of Oxford told police of their priorities for tackling crime and antisocial behaviour at a public meeting. People living in Headington South, Quarry and Wood Farm gathered at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre to discuss problems in
Tourism in Oxfordshire suffered after TV pictures of the July floods were beamed around the world, according to a new report. The number of visitors to the UK fell by eight per cent during the month, compared to July last year. In a flood recovery
A road in Oxford remains 'ownerless' despite council work to improve it. Pullens Lane, off London Road, Headington, serves Oxford Brookes University and Headington School. But no-one - private organisation or public body - has taken responsibility
Parish councillors want a former NHS property in Cholsey, near Wallingford, to be developed for community use. They say Celsea Place should be developed for community use in conjunction with the village's Fairmile Hospital housing project, to integrate
More than 26,000 people have visited the Stella Vine show at Modern Art Oxford, making it one of their most popular exhibitions to date. The exhibition, which opened at the Pembroke Street gallery on July 17, features Ms Vine's most controversial works
Countryside-lovers were transported back in time for a test of historic rural skills. More than 50 ploughmen - and women - headed to Appleford, near Didcot, to take part in a ploughing match, using only vintage equipment. Spectators were treated to
Boris Johnson has taken a break from his campaign to become London Mayor to reveal his favourite word - "carminative". The Henley MP is one of more than two dozen Parliamentarians to have taken part in a bid to find the UK's best-loved word to raise
BLUR bassist Alex James is to become associate editor of The Spectator. He will contribute a fortnightly column to the political magazine. "Alex's writing is brilliant and his superb autobiography is one of my books of the year," said editor Matthew
BURGLARS escaped with stolen computers after breaking into a house. Police are appealing for witnesses after the burglary in Poplar Road, Botley, in Oxford, some time on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Burglars stole two laptops - a 12-inch screen
Burglars escaped with stolen computers after breaking into a house. Police are appealing for witnesses after the burglary in Poplar Road, Botley, in Oxford, some time on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Burglars stole two laptops - a 12 inch screen
Blur bassist Alex James is to become associate editor of The Spectator. He will contribute a fortnightly column to the political magazine. "Alex's writing is brilliant and his superb autobiography is one of my books of the year," said editor Matthew
WHEN it comes to wowing an audience, singing sensation Tiana Kingsley- Bio abov , has plenty of experience - even though she's only seven. The junior songbird, who is a pupil at St Michael's CofE School in Marston, Oxford, has been performing in public
A failed bid for Oxford-based Blackwell Publishing led to a windfall of more than £30m for the parent company of rival journals business Taylor & Francis. Informa, which owns Milton Park-based T&F, had bought the Blackwell shares in 2002, when a family
Postal workers union leader Bob Cullen has pledged to keep fighting for his members despite ending up in hospital. The 58-year-old suffered an acute angina attack after an incident on Friday as he escorted sacked worker and fellow union official Steven
AEA Technology 118.5 BMW 2932 Electrocomponents 238.75 Isoft Group 68.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 155 Oxford Biomedica 37.5 Oxford Instruments 240 Reed Elsevier 611.75 RM 188.75 RPS Group 352.25 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
PARENTS who fail to strap their children safely in their cars now face an even bigger fine. More than 200 parents were fined in the 12 months since a new law enforced the need for children to be belted-up in booster seats. Now a range of new penalties
Parents who fail to strap their children safely in their cars will soon face an even bigger fine. Today's Oxford Mail reveals more than 200 parents were fined in the 12 months since a new law enforced the need for children to be belted-up in booster
Now is it me, or is Quentin Tarantino one of the most over-rated writers and directors working in cinema today? For over fifteen years he's been foisting his b-movie cast off's onto a strangely accepting audience - an audience who seemingly
Banbury Bulls came agonisingly close to their first Midlands 2 East win of the season before losing 13-12 at home to Syston. The game swung from end to end in the first half, with wing Adam Walsh having Bulls' best chance, but it was still 0-0 at half-time
Chipping Norton went top of the BB&O Premier Division after a 28-10 victory at Bicester with a performance full of fierce-tackling and well-drilled play. Chippy only led 11-5 at the break, but powered to victory thanks to three second-half tries.
Oxford Harlequins staged a fine comeback to defeat Reading 27-18 in South West 1 and record their first ever victory at Holme Park. Trailing 18-8 at the break, Quins emerged fired-up and scored 19 unanswered points. Featuring five changes from the
Witney ran in eight tries to rout Swindon 58-10 at home in Southern Counties North. Their opening try saw centre Carl Strutt cleverly find Louie Collins, who finished superbly. Swindon hit back with a penalty, but remained second best in the loose
Grove coach Neil Osborne hailed his side's forward effort after they overpowered Wallingford at Cane Lane. Osborne said: "We were dominating in the scrums and put their lineout under a lot of pressure. "We were also more determined at the break down
MECHANIC Ian Quinton and first aid trainer Sarah Curtis dropped everything to be among the army of volunteer helpers when flooding struck Oxfordshire in July. And when a young man received an electric shock in the flood water, it was Mr Quinton and
A CAR fire in the early hours of Saturday is being treated as suspected arson. Firefighters were called to Crown Square, Wheatley, at 2.30am. The flames were extinguished before the fire could spread to other cars parked nearby, but the vehicle
FIRE crews were called to Napier Road, Cowley, after arsonists set fire to a van. No one was hurt in the incident at 11pm on Sunday night. In a separate incident, firefighters attended a car fire in Barracks Lane, East Oxford, at 11.55pm the same night
EMOTIONS ran high as soldiers were reunited with their loved ones yesterday after six months in war-torn Afghanistan. Wives and children were waiting at St David's Barracks, near Bicester, as the men from 23 Pioneer Regiment arrived home after a gruelling
TONIGHT, parents and children who use a play area in Headington, Oxford, will make a plea to save it from being axed. Over the coming months the fate of 14 city playgrounds will be decided. Oxford City Council will consider a range of options for
PARENTS are still putting their children's lives in danger by failing to ensure they are safely buckled up in the car. Jane Barber, mum of Josh Bartlett, who was killed in the Oxford eastern bypass crash which claimed four lives two years ago, last
It is astonishing how many people still don't bother to belt up in their cars. The Government spends thousands of pounds on TV and newspaper advertisements. Thames Valley Police mount regular roadside checks which are given full media coverage. Yet
The professionals received widespread praise for the way they tackled the flooding emergency in Oxfordshire in July - and rightly so. But we should also acknowledge the excellent work done by many volunteers. The dedication they showed alongside their
Oxford United say they will not rush back their injured strikers - even though they need them fit as soon as possible. Scottish striker Gary Twigg's (pictured) hopes of being fit for Thursday's Blue Square Premier game at Histon have been dashed, by
Grove 32, Wallingford 24 Grove ended Wallingford's 21-game winning streak in the league with a workmanlike victory that preserved their own unbeaten home record. Wallingford were never going to go through a Southern Counties North season without
A FOOTBRIDGE crossing the railway lines on Osney Lane, Oxford, has been closed for repair and refurbishment. Work to the bridge is due to be completed by mid-November, at a cost of £500,000, and will involve the replacing part of the bridge. As well
THE first steps to close Peers School, Littlemore, could be taken today when councillors meet to discuss its future. There are plans in place to transform the school, in Sandy Lane West, Littlemore, into the city's first academy in a £30m project which
TWO football fans arrested after trouble flared at an Oxford United match have been released without charge. Both men were arrested by police outside the stadium after Oxford United's 3-2 defeat to Aldershot Town on Saturday. One of the two men was
A COMMUNITY group is on the hunt for volunteers to help commemorate an Oxford estate's 50th anniversary in a unique way. Blackbird Leys hits its half century this year and the Leys Learning Community wants residents to produce a special mosaic depicting
FORMER mayor John Donaldson has made a surprise donation to the Banbury Young Homeless Project. Mr Donaldson, whose year in office ended in May, distributed the mayor's charity fund between local causes before he handed over to councillor Kieron Mallon
ROYAL Mail employee Melvyn Hodgetts is rescuing postmen's bicycles from the scrapheap to give them a new lease of life in Africa. The firm has sent its 10,000th bicycle to Ghana in a recycling programme that sends former delivery cyclesand spares from
A crash which happened at the entrance to a west Oxfordshire village has boosted a campaign to get a traffic calming chicane removed. One of the cars involved in the collision on September 10 ended up with a broken axle. Bampton resident Bill Govier
A BICYCLE which was accidentally sold by a charity shop worker while its owner browsed the store has been returned. Staff at the Katharine House Hospice shop, in Wesley Lane, last week appealed for the return of the cycle, which had been left among
A CHARITY ball in memory of a murdered nursery assistant will go ahead at the Kassam Stadium. Becky McGlone, 23, from Bicester, was strangled by her ex-boyfriend in August 2005. Her brother Richard McGlone feared Becky's Ball, a celebration of his
PLANS to restore a Victorian fountain at The Plain roundabout in East Oxford have moved a step closer. But the question over whether or not to get waters flowing again through the fountain, which was built in 1899 and has been dry for more than 60 years
Parents are still putting their children's lives in danger by failing to ensure they are safely buckled up in the car. Jane Barber, mum of Josh Bartlett, who was killed in the Oxford bypass crash which claimed four lives two years ago, last night branded
Parents and children who use a play area in Headington, Oxford, will make an impassioned plea tonight to save it from being axed. Over the coming months the fate of 14 city playgrounds will be decided. Oxford City Council will consider a range of
