Archive

  • Striker Alex to get another outing

    Alex Fisher, who netted one goal and made another on his debut for Brackley Town in Saturday's 3-0 win over Bromsgrove Rovers, could be involved on Tuesday night when Oxford United send a reserve side to Kidlington for a friendly (7.30). Ryan Semple

  • FOOTBALL: Baird faces fitness battle to tackle City

    Banbury United skipper Andy Baird faces a race to be fit for the Oxfordshire Senior Cup semi-final against Oxford City at Court Place Farm on Tuesday night. The former Wycombe striker limped off with a groin injury during Saturday's Premier Division

  • The wicked racist (good job the dead can't sue)

    Well, 40 years on, comes the deluge. 'Infamous', seems to be the consensus. The Independent thought so (unsurprisingly), the Daily Telegraph thought so too (although it should have known better), even the BBC thought so (although I thought it was meant

  • False rape claim will mean jail

    A 21-year-old woman who admitted making a false allegation of rape has been told she will be jailed. Oxford Crown Court heard today that Amanda Lang, formerly of Carterton but now of Bamber Bridge, Preston, had wrongly accusing Phillip Trowell of raping

  • Dogs sniff out illegal drugs

    A DRUGS dog was used to sniff out illegal substances in Wallingford and Didcot over the weekend in a bid to crackdown on crime. Seven officers descended on five pubs in Wallingford and district on Friday night and four in Didcot on Saturday night to

  • `Psychopathic` lover jailed for attack

    A "PSYCHOPATHIC" lover who tried to kill his girlfriend with a kitchen knife before attacking her family with a meat cleaver was today jailed indefinitely. Luke Wale, 33, stabbed Laura Rose in a drink- and drug-fuelled rage after a row about their relationship

  • Swimmers flex their muscles

    The threat of a grey uprising appears to averted controversial plans to change the hours that over-50s can swim at Oxford's Peers Sports Centre. Swimmers were outraged after seeing a sign at the Littlemore facility that warned Saturday morning hour-long

  • Gang Show takes centre stage

    Oxford Gang Show may have been running for more than 50 years - but it has not lost any of its passion. Tonight nearly 200 performers - aged from eight to over 70 - put on their make-up and donned colourful costumes for the opening show of this year's

  • 'Bond camera' sees hidden weapons

    A James Bond-style super camera that can 'see' explosives, drugs or weapons hidden in clothing or rucksacks has been developed in Oxfordshire. Unlike current airport X-ray machines, which only detect metal, the T-ray camera can pick up explosives, ceramics

  • Ryan 'was a great guy'

    Friends of Ryan Bott have paid tribute to the "charismatic" young footballer who died in a head-on crash that killed seven people. The 20-year-old, from Milton-under- Wychwood, was killed instantly when a car driven by his step cousin Jason Brain crashed

  • HOCKEY: Mandy to the rescue

    Oxford Hawks Ladies fought a rearguard action as they lost 1-0 at Wimbledon in South Clubs' League Division 1. Hawks never looked like threatening and were camped in their own area. Some outstanding goalkeeping from Evelyn Hargraves, and three goalline

  • HOCKEY: Tough ask for Rover

    Rover Oxford Ladies must win their remaining three National North Division matches to avoid going into the England Slazenger League play-offs after losing both away games in their double-header weekened. They were beaten 3-2 at Belper - though gave

  • HOCKEY: Hawks given hard time

    Oxford Hawks found the going tough at Staines on Saturday and suffered a demoralising 4-1 Premier Division 1 defeat. The game followed a familiar pattern. Hawks missed some decent early chances and went behind to a well constructed Staines goal midway

  • New York beats Oxford in poetry slam

    SMART-TALKING poets went toe-to-toe in a trans-Atlantic "slam" on the internet. Oxford Science, in St Clements, hosted the first ever poetry slam between Oxford and New York on Saturday. Both cities competed against each other using a mix of hip-hop

  • Science week under the microscope

    Science fans are finding out everything from what happens to a marshmallow in a vacuum to how to make slime. Oxfordshire Science Week - part of National Science Week - runs until Saturdaymar 15 across the county, and prosthetic limbs, honey bees, onion

  • Ex-lover jailed for attempted murder

    A psychopathic lover who tried to kill his girlfriend with a kitchen knife before attacking her family with a meat cleaver was jailed today. Luke Wale, 33, stabbed Laura Rose in a drink and drug-fuelled rage after a row about their relationship last

  • RUGBY UNION: Chinnor back on top

    The South West 1 title race took another dramatic turn with Chinnor regaining top spot after beating Bournemouth 38-19. Having performed well against their much-improved visitors, Chinnor left the field to learn of Bracknell's 19-12 defeat at Cleve.

  • RUGBY UNION: Turner off against former club

    Wallingford's 38-3 victory over Grove in Southern Counties North was soured by a red card for lock Mike Turner after the final whistle. Former Grove player Turner was sent off for swearing at the referee at the end of a game in which he had been yellow-carded

  • RUGBY UNION: Major blow for Henley

    Henley Hawks' hopes of avoiding relegation from National 2 suffered another major blow with a 29-18 home defeat to Wharfedale. Realistically they will need to win all their remaining five games if they are to have any chance of staying up. Wharfedale's

  • RUGBY UNION: Bulls' poor spell

    A disastrous 25-minute spell consigned relegated Banbury Bulls to a 29-7 defeat at Syston in Midlands 2 East. Banbury got off to a great start with a try after three minutes. Forwards and backs combined well with flanker Sean Bannister going over

  • RUGBY UNION: Bicester ruin Chippy's day

    Chipping Norton 9, Bicester 10 Bicester edged this tense BB&O Premier Division clash by the width of a post and ended Chipping Norton's 100 per cent league record. A try from hooker James Davies gave Bicester a 10-9 lead with eight minutes of normal

  • RUGBY UNION: Hutchinson hails spirit

    Bicester manager Mike Hutchinson felt his players really rose to the occasion at Chipping Norton. He said: "We knew it was going to be the hardest game of the season and from one to 15 the guys played beyond all expectations. "They all played for

  • RUGBY UNION: Stow stop Gosford

    Gosford All Blacks showed plenty of spirit in their 41-0 defeat at Stow-on-the-Wold in the BB&O Premier Division. Nippy wing Craig Chappell forced his way over for Stow's opening try on 13 minutes. But debutant flanker Jack Clarke replied for Gosford

  • Three charged over thefts from vehicles

    Three men have been charged with a series of thefts from motor vehicles in West Oxfordshire. The five incidents all occurred on Tuesday, February 5 A chequebook, credit cards, chef's knives, cooking equipment, handbags, briefcase, Bibles and shotgun

  • Hip hip for HIPPOS

    A SUPPORT group for mums and dads of disabled children is looking for more members. HIPPOS was set up by parents as a monthly session where they can share advice about living with a special needs child. Now in its second year, the group attracts about

  • Surveyor checks flood risks

    A surveyor has come up with practical solutions for Oxford's flooding problems after getting a close-up view of the city's waterways - by canoe. Mike Hamblett, 51, a former land surveyor, believes a series of straightforward, low-cost projects could

  • Simple solution

    The letter from RC Whitworth, in which he whinges about parking charges and taxes, One cup of tea - eight taxes (Oxford Mail, March 7), deserves no sympathy. How much pollution did he create on his journey to get a cup of tea? He could easily have

  • Turbines will damage Green Belt

    Our small island has been given quite a large quota for renewable energy production by Brussels. To reach this quota, an awful lot of wind turbines will need to be erected. It is inevitable that our countryside and Green Belt will suffer. History

  • Council bloomers

    Just when I thought that our city councillors had at last come to their senses, they go and spoil it all and ask their chief executive to clear up the mess. At the city council's retirees' Christmas party, hosted by the Lord Mayor, John Tanner, he mentioned

  • We are making good progress

    Your report on Oxford City Council's recent assessment by the Audit Commission (Oxford Mail, February 28) only tells part of the story. A balanced view is that we are improving, but have a long way to go on value for money, particularly in relation

  • On Yer Bike

    THE most common reason for not cycling in Oxford is poor road surfaces, according to a Cyclox survey in February. I'd expected complaints to be dominated by the weather, cycle routes that end just as you most need them, or feeling intimidated by traffic

  • Solar so good, it wins award

    A university building in North Oxford has scooped an award for environmentally-friendly design from the city council. The Ruth Deech Building in Woodstock Road was presented with the David Steel Sustainable Building Award. Forming part of St Anne's

  • Reprieved museum gets spring clean

    About 50 volunteers turned out at Cogges Farm, in Witney, to give the recently- reprieved attraction a spring clean. Members of the public scrubbed, painted and tidied their way around the museum at the weekend. It had been threatened with closure

  • Woman faces jail over false rape claim

    A 21-year-old woman who admitted making a false allegation of rape was warned she faced jail. Oxford Crown Court heard Amanda Lang, formerly of Carterton but now of Withy Grove Crescent, Bamber Bridge, Preston, had tried to pervert the course of justice

  • Man's jaw broken in attack

    A MAN was smashed across the face with a bottle and suffered a broken jaw during an assault in Banbury last night. A man and a woman - both in their twenties - were walking through the grounds of St Mary's Church at about 8.15pm when they were approached

  • Man attacked outside pub

    A 41-YEAR-OLD man needed eight stitches after an attack outside a pub in Witney at the weekend. He received a head wound and heavy bruising after the assault outside the Robin Hood pub in Hailey Road at 8.45pm on Saturday night. He was taken to the

  • Boy injured outside school

    A BOY who was in collision with a car outside Church Cowley St James' Primary School in Cowley this afternoon has been taken to hospital. The boy, who is believed to be about ten or 11-years-old, was injured at about 3.30pm. Police and two ambulance

  • Man attacked outside pub

    A 41-year-old man needed eight stitches after an attack outside a pub in Witney at the weekend. He received a head wound and heavy bruising after the assault outside the Robin Hood pub in Hailey Road at 8.45pm on Saturday night. He was taken to the

  • Cab drivers protest at licence fee rise

    Taxi operators in west Oxfordshire are complaining about plans to increase the cost of their licenses by more than the inflation rate. West Oxfordshire District Council, the licensing authority, is recommending a ten per cent rise in the annual fee

  • Old Gaol homes plan attacked

    A developer has been criticised for re-designating houses already under construction as affordable homes under a deal to redevelop Abingdon's Old Gaol. Cranbourne Homes was given permission to build 14 houses on the site of Abingdon's old ambulance

  • Boy in traffic accident

    Paramedics have been called to treat a boy who was knocked down by a car outside a Cowley school this afternoon. The boy, who is believed to be about ten or 11-years-old, was injured at about 3.30pm. Police and two ambulance crews attended the scene

  • Man attacked with bottle

    A man was smashed across the face with a bottle and suffered a broken jaw during an assault in Banbury last night. A man and a woman - both in their twenties - were walking through the grounds of St Mary's Church at about 8.15pm when they were approached

  • Today's local share prices (PM)

    AEA Technology 70.5 BMW 2642 Electrocomponents 170.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 136.5 Oxford Biomedica 25.5 Oxford Catalyst 155 Oxford Instruments 192.5 Reed Elsevier 623.75 RM 210.5 RPS Group 300 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • A brief book tour

    I had a very enjoyable meeting last week with Colin Shone, the manager of Waterstone's in Oxford, who is helping the Oxford Mail to launch a new book club. Discounted copies of Getting Rid of Matthew by Jane Fallon are now available at the store in Broad

  • Stabbing case dropped

    A 45-year-old man accused of carrying out a stabbing in Didcot walked free from court today after the case against him was dropped. Ping Zhong, of Park Road, Didcot, denied wounding with intent and unlawful wounding before prosecutors at Oxford Crown

  • DARTS: Oxon youth face Kent test

    Oxfordshire Youth face a trip to Kent on Sunday, March 16, at the One Club, Northwood Road, Tonbridge. Play is scheduled to start at 6pm. OXON SQUADS Under 18: O Highton (capt), L Bower, M Burns (HJ & CS Pollard), A Stockford, G Tizzard (Plough East

  • DARTS: Three Tuns too hot for Shelley

    Three Tuns A kept up the pressure at the top with a 5-4 victory at Shelley Arms in the Oxfordshire Super League. Nigel Russell and Steve Foster (pictured) got them off to a good start with 3-0 victories in the first two legs. Ray Pape was taken to

  • State of road is an 'abomination'

    Cracked and crumbling pavements in an Oxford road have angered residents. People living in Nicholas Avenue, Marston, are frustrated pavements in surrounding roads have been resurfaced while they have had to make do with repairs. Ron Cooper, 78, who

  • Park bids for green flag status

    An Oxford park has been given a £10,000 grant to buy new welcome signs and revamp its pavilion to help bring it up to a nationally-recognised standard. The money is part of a 10-year management plan for Florence Park, to make it eligible to receive

  • Body found at rear of shop

    The body of a man was found at the rear of a shop in Bicester at the weekend. On Sunday morning, a member of the public found the man, aged in his 40s at the back of Clark's shoe shop, next to Superdrug, in Sheep Street. The member of the public contacted

  • Body found behind shop

    The body of a man was found at the rear of a shop in Bicester at the weekend. On Sunday morning, a member of the public found the man, aged in his 40s behind Clark's shoe shop, next to Superdrug, in Sheep Street. The member of the public contacted

  • Police seek hit-and-run witnesses

    POLICE have renewed their appeal for witnesses following a hit-and-run incident in Bicester last month. At about 7.40pm, on Sunday, February 17, a white van collided with a 21-year-old man, as he crossed at the traffic lights outside Bicester Community

  • Storms: Power back on

    Electricity has been restored to the vast majority of 1,000 homes near Didcot after stormy weather brought down power lines this morning. Residents in Blewbury, Aston Tirrold and East Hendred suffered the power cut before 7am, after the high-voltage

  • Neighbour disturbs burglars

    BURGLARS were disturbed after a neighbour saw them creeping around a house. Police are today appealing for information after a break-in at a house in Marlborough Gardens in Faringdon between 2.45pm and 3pm on Thursday, February 28. A neighbour heard

  • Power restored to storm-hit homes

    Electricity has been restored to the vast majority of 1,000 homes near Didcot after stormy weather brought down power lines this morning. Residents in Blewbury, Aston Tirrold and East Hendred suffered the power cut before 7am, after the high-voltage

  • Hit and run appeal renewed

    Police have renewed their appeal for witnesses following a hit-and-run incident in Bicester last month. At about 7.40pm, on Sunday, February 17, a white van collided with a 21-year-old man, as he crossed at the traffic lights outside Bicester Community

  • Skilift please

    I went swimming again on Friday. Again I enjoyed ploughing up and down the pool time and time again but this was less of a coaching session and more overall fitness which left me pretty exhausted at the end. Swimming has this way of creeping up on you

  • Teenager wins at Crufts

    A teenager has won won a junior prize at this year's dog show Crufts. Amy Sadler, 17, of Thorpe Mandeville, near Banbury, won the Kennel Club's Rebecca Pointer for her obedience work with sheepdog Thorper's Big Ben.

  • St Anne's building wins award

    A UNIVERSITY building in north Oxford has won an award for environmentally friendly design from the city council. The Ruth Deech Building in Woodstock Road was presented with the David Steel Sustainable Building Award by the Lord Mayor and by the leader

  • Bounty - bright and active

    This striking young cat is Bounty, who came into the centre due to his previous owners having a new baby, and hence not having enough time for him. Bounty is confident cat that is exceptionally bright and active. He loves to play, whether it be on his

  • Gay researcher accuses University of discrimination

    A lesbian Oxford University academic's research contract was not renewed because of her sexuality, a tribunal has been told. Dr Caitlin Evans claimed that she was also discriminated against and harassed because she was homosexual. The hearing heard

  • Widow's anger at postal service

    THE widow of a former postman who is still waiting for a Mother's Day card to arrive has described Oxfordshire's postal service as "the worst it's ever been". Diana Gough, whose husband Desmond worked at the Becket Street depot for 42 years, contacted

  • Gun pair jailed

    TWO men whose tyre on their speeding car was shot out by police have been jailed for a total of 11 years after admitting possessing a gun. Oxford Crown Court heard officers from the Metropolitan Police and the Serious Organised Crime Agency shot at

  • Cameras track county's drivers

    TENS of thousands of drivers are being secretly followed by a major network of CCTV cameras on the county's roads. Droivers are not being told where they are. Police have 31 fixed police Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, which collect

  • Gang Show set to wow audiences

    SINGERS, dancers and performers sent out a message after their final rehearsals last night - they are ready to wow the audience. Hundreds of Scouts and Guides are taking part in the Oxford Gang Show at the New Theatre in George Street, Oxford, which

  • Bishop received death threat

    THE Bishop of Oxford was sent abuse and a death threat calling for his beheading after backing a s Muslim call-to-prayer in Oxford. The Rt Rev John Pritchard told a meeting discussing the issue he had received a bundle of "extraordinary mail" containing

  • Parents pay tribute to caring son

    "EVERYONE liked him. It is always the nice ones that go." Those were the words Valerie Hornsby was clinging to through the tears as she and Richard Bott tried to make sense of the death of their son Ryan in Friday's crash in Gloucestershire that claimed

  • Car tyres catch fire

    Firefighters had to move two gas cylinders after a fire broke out amongst 100 car tyres in Abingdon yesterday. The blaze spread to an electricity substation in Wootton Road at about 3pm, said a fire service spokesman. Fire crews from Abingdon and

  • Update: Storms cause power cut

    More than 1,000 residents near Didcot were left without electricity this morning after the storm battering Britain damaged power lines. Residents in Blewbury, Aston Tirrold and East Hendred suffered power cuts before 7am after a high-voltage line was

  • Storm brings power cut and fallen trees

    More than 1,000 residents near Didcot were left without electricity this morning after high winds damaged power lines. Residents in Blewbury, Aston Tirrold and East Hendred suffered a power cut before 7am after a high-voltage line was damaged in Cholsey

  • Darren will carry the can

    Oxford United boss Darren Patterson said he took full responsibility for his team's dismal display on Saturday. The U's crashed to their heaviest home defeat since slipping into Non-League as play-off chasing Burton beat them 3-0. United gifted the

  • Gang show: scouts and guides take to stage

    Singers, dancers and performers sent out a message after their final rehearsals yesterday- they are ready to wow the audience. Hundreds of Scouts and Guides are taking part in the Oxford Gang Show at the New Theatre, in George Street, Oxford, which

  • You are being watched

    Tens of thousands of drivers are being secretly followed by a network of CCTV cameras on Oxfordshire's roads. But you are not allowed to know where they are. Police have 31 fixed Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, which collect data

  • Death of 'caring young man' shocks parents

    "Everyone liked him. It is always the nice ones that go." Those were the words through the tears Valerie Hornsby was clinging to as she and Richard Bott tried to make sense of the death of their son Ryan in a head-on crash in Gloucestershire that claimed

  • RESULTS: March 8/9

    FOOTBALL BLUE SQUARE PREMIER Oxford Utd 0, Burton Albion 3. BRITISH GAS BUSINESS SOUTHERN LEAGUE Premier Div: Corby Tn 2, Banbury Utd 1. Div 1 South & West: Didcot Tn 5, Newport IoW 0; Hillingdon Boro 1, Abingdon Utd 2; Oxford City 1, Godalming