Archive

Yemi Odubade scored twice as a young Oxford United team won 2-0 away to a Royal Navy Under 23 side at Portsmouth in their friendly. The U's included two trialiists at centre back.

Oxford United centre back Luke Foster revealed his relief at learning he only has a one-match ban for his sending-off against Northwich. Because it means he will be available after all for United's trip to high-flying Torquay next Tuesday. That Blue

A MAN from Oxford tonight hailed a bus pass experiment a success, after using his new card to travel to Crewe. Sixty-year-old Roger Jenking, from Joan Lawrence Place, Headington, took more than nine hours to complete the 100-mile journey from Oxford

SOME Oxfordshire schools may close on April 24 after one of the country's largest teaching unions today voted for a one-day strike. The National Union of Teachers (NUT) voted three to one in favour of strike action in what will be its first national

An Oxford man tonight hailed a bus pass experiment a success, after using his new card to travel to Crewe. Sixty-year-old Roger Jenking, from Joan Lawrence Place, Headington, took more than nine hours to complete the 100-mile journey from Oxford to

There is a strong chance' some Oxfordshire schools may close on April 24 after one of the country's largest teaching unions today voted for a one-day strike. The National Union of Teachers (NUT) voted three to one in favour of strike action in what

AN Oxford hospice is in 'total disarray' after burglars broke into its warehouse at Witney and stole a collections van. The thieves caused thousands of pounds damage at the Sobell House charity warehouse, and took the £100 float from the till. The

An Oxford hospice is in 'total disarray' after burglars broke into its warehouse at Witney and stole a collections van. The thieves caused thousands of pounds worth of damage at the Sobell House charity warehouse, and took the £100 float from the till

PRIME Minister Gordon Brown warned troubled train firm First Great Western today that it will lose its contract unless it improves its service. He said: "As far as First Great Western is concerned the company is now required to produce a remedial plan

THE debut album by Oxford band Foals, Antidotes, reached number three in the UK album chart on its first week of release. The Oxford five-piece entered higher in the chart than the new album from Jack White's band The Raconteurs as well as fellow city

OXFORD author Philip Pullman brought the magic of His Dark Materials to Oxford Town Hall for about 700 fans who came to hear him talk. Mr Pullman, 61, was at the town hall to chat about his new book, Once Upon a Time in the North, which focuses on

County Hall was filled with a pungent smell today as Oxfordshire County Council trading standards officers examined a haul of suspect fish. Martin Woodley and his colleagues have collected hundreds of packets of fish from people who claimed they were

A CLOSE friend of a Witney man killed when his car hit a tree on a notorious stretch of Oxfordshire road today paid tribute to him as "a great guy" who got on with everyone. The family of Matthew Melly, 33, also released a short statement about their

Police have hailed the conviction of a 23-year-old man as a major victory in the fight against Class A drugs in Oxford. Triston Lawrence of Nettlebed Mead, Greater Leys, was convicted by a jury at Oxford Crown Court today on four counts of possession

A GRANT of almost £25m has been awarded to an Oxfordshire college to help it build eco-friendly buildings. The £24.8m grant from the Learning and Skills Council is equivalent to 87 per cent of the cost of a £30.5m project to rebuild Abingdon and Witney

A TWO-year-old boy has died after falling into the canal in Banbury. The incident happened near Bankside, south of the town, at about 3.45pm on Sunday. The boy, who has not yet been named, was taken by air ambulance to the John Radcliffe Hospital

Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned troubled train firm First Great Western today that it will lose its contract unless it improves its service. He told the Oxford Mail: "As far as First Great Western is concerned the company is now required to produce

The mother of an animal trainer who was savaged by a tiger has voiced her support for an Oxford brain injury support group celebrating its 20th anniversary this week. Jan Chipperfield has hailed the contribution of the Headway centre in Bagley Wood

A close friend of a Witney man killed when his car hit a tree on a notorious stretch of Oxfordshire road today paid tribute to him as "a great guy" who got on with everyone. The family of Matthew Melly, 33, also released a short statement about their

Archaeologists working in Oxford city centre have unearthed bones that could be more than 2,000 years old. A team of archaeologists has been excavating a site between St Giles and Blackhall Road since mid January - and last week the diggers struck bone

Shrivenham-based jockey Timmy Murphy has ended the speculation over his John Smith's Grand National mount by opting to partner Comply Or Die in Saturday's Aintree spectacular.

2.18: Helenas Joan 2, Tom Joes Flyer, HARE CONDITIONED, Larkhill Tiger, Shelbourne Thesa, Ballysimon Rose 3. 2.37: Springville Jet, Springville Scan 2, MISSING JEWELS, Camblin Major, Zax Roman 3, Fair Good Hah. 2.57: Glenduff Cindy 3, Scootalong Holly

The Bell Grove caused a huge upset by knocking out favourites Saxton Rovers 5-4 on penalties in the Autotype UTV League's Devenney Cup semi-final after the tie finished 3-3 after extra time, writes TIM SIRET. Keeper Craig Payne was Bell's hero with

Two goals by Leon Nikitenko brought Mansfield Road a shock 2-1 victory against Barton United in the Martson's Oxford Sunday League's President's Cup semi-final, writes GEOFF BOWER. Fielding their strongest team of the season, Mansfield Road had several

Cholsey United got back to winning ways in the Reading Sunday League Premier Division with a 4-1 victory at Woodley Saints to keep their promotion hopes alive. Woodley opened the scoring, but late in the first half were reduced to ten men. Cholsey

Vale of White Horse Under 15s ran out 3-1 winners over Cheltenham in the Hobbs Cup semi-final at Milton United. Despite dominating the first half, Vale failed to make the most of their superiority. Richard Taylor did give them the lead on the half-hour

Blewbury Endowed CE Primary School triumphed in the Vale of White Horse Under 11 girls' six-a-side tournament. They beat hosts Our Lady's (Abingdon) 1-0 in the final. In the semi-finals, Blewbury scraped past All Saints (Didcot) 1-0 on penalties after

Cholsey and North Kidlington will do battle in the final of the Oxford United Under 9s five-a-side tournament. In the semi-finals played at the Kassam Stadium before United's 1-0 defeat by Northwich Victoria on Saturday, Cholsey pipped John Henry Newman

Adam Barker bagged a double as Slade Farm United marched into the semi-finals of the Banbury Charity Cup with a 4-1 crushing of Wroxton Sports. But they did it the hard way after Slade keeper Dan Smith had gifted Wroxton the lead when he spilled a free

Having had a good spell of training, I can see trouble ahead. I am off to a conference today. I am full of good intentions of getting up and using the pool but also full of dull certainty that I will be up boozing until 2am and then feel rubbish for a

AFC Hinksey booked their place in the final of the RT Harris Oxford City FA County Junior Cup with a 4-1 win against ten-men AFC Woodfarm. Woodfarm were hit with a double blow after only six minutes, with Neil Hanlon sent off for foul and abusive language

An event bringing thousands of women in Oxford together is under threat after its funding was slashed for the first time in its 19-year history. Oxford International Women's Festival attracted up to 8,000 people to dozens of different events over two

Oxford author Philip Pullman brought the magic of His Dark Materials to Oxford Town Hall for about 700 fans who came to hear him talk. Mr Pullman, 61, was at the town hall to chat about his new book, Once Upon a Time in the North, which focuses on two

Foals's debut LP Antidotes reached number three in the UK album chart on its first week of release. The Oxford five-piece entered higher in the chart than the new album from Jack White's band The Raconteurs as well as fellow city favourites Supergrass

The new project board set up to look into the future of Witney's troubled Cogges Museum is sifting through ideas to make it a more viable proposition. After a bumper Easter weekend, things are starting to look up for the museum, which operates at an

When Albert Fulkes asked Ann Mills to dance, little did he realise that they would be spending the rest of their lives together. The couple met at Brett's School of Dancing, above what is now Boswells in Broad Street, Oxford, and have gone on to enjoy

Andy Mahon hit a hat-trick as Premier Division title-challengers Garsington Sports battled back to win 5-4 against Enstone in the Oxfordshire Senior League. The result sees the second-placed side move to within three points of leaders Rover Cowley.

A couple who met in a farming community and moved to Witney for work are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. Ronald and Alma Harding walked down the aisle together at the village church in Aldsworth, Gloucestershire, on March 29, 1958. They

Cyclist Iain Forbes is preparing for his retirement next month by gearing up for a mammoth bike ride. He is leaving his job as a global accounts director for an international firm to pedal 1,200 miles in a month. And he's also thinking big in his

It was love at first sight for a young bank worker when she clapped eyes on the handsome stranger she was to spend a blind date with. And 50 years on and the couple have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Gladys Mary, known to friends and

Oxford Mail Girls League Carterton booked their place in the semi-finals of the Under 13 League Cup with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over Kidlington . The match finished 1-1 after Carterton's Jade Pitts equalised the opener from Lauren Hawtin.

AEA Technology 71 BMW 2834 Electrocomponents 192 Nationwide Accident Repair 130.5 Oxford Biomedica 22.5 Oxford Catalyst 159 Oxford Instruments 187.25 REED 663.75 RM 197.75 RPS Group 328.75

Life begins at 20 for children in seven busy Oxford streets after residents secured a 10mph speed limit cut. Residents in Wytham Street, South Oxford, and six offshoot roads are celebrating after Oxfordshire County Council agreed to reduce the speed

Hundreds of people are expected to attend the Oxford Mail's latest wedding fayre this weekend. The event will be held at the Oxford Hotel in Godstow Road on Sunday, between 11am and 4pm. Rachel Legg, exhibitions manager for the Oxford Mail, said:

Rachel Catling's last-minute strike kept up Oxford City's unbeaten record in the Women's Southern Region Premier Division as they pipped Bracknell 3-2. The leaders were trailing 2-1 with two minutes to go, but battled on for all three points after Steph

Motorists will not be fined if they are snapped by CCTV cameras if they are parking illegally in Oxfordshire. Since Monday, councils have had the power to use CCTV cameras to catch cars parked on double yellow lines or overstaying in parking bays.

One of Oxfordshire's smallest village primary schools is celebrating a £150,000 grant - worth more than £3,000 per pupil. The funding comes in the same week that Wootton- by-Woodstock CofE Primary School received good reports from Ofsted and Diocesan

A family is furious with British Telecom after their business was forced shut for the first time in 87 years when the phone line went down. Bellinger's Service Station in Station Road, Grove, lost an estimated £30,000 over the Easter weekend because

Girl Guides are gearing up for a fundraising mission which will secure their future for the next 100 years. Didcot Guides are aiming to raise £10,000 to buy a 99-year lease on their headquarters in Laburnum Grove, Didcot. The purpose-built base is

A cash boost of nearly £25m has been awarded to an Oxfordshire college to help it build eco-friendly buildings. The £24.8m grant from the Learning and Skills Council is equivalent to 87 per cent of the cost of a £30.5m project to rebuild Abingdon and

A two-year-old boy has died after falling into the canal in Banbury on Sunday. The tragedy occurred near Bankside, south of the town, at around 3.45pm. The boy, who has not yet been named, was taken by air ambulance to the John Radcliffe Hospital

The fundraising work of an Oxford pub, which has raised more than £1,100 for a breast cancer charity, has been praised by a former sufferer. Staff at the Britannia, in London Road, Headington, staged a variety of events throughout March to collect cash

Eynsham ran riot with a 14-0 victory at Highfield Juniors as they moved another step closer to the Under 15 B League title. Although they remain three points off top spot in second place, Eynsham have three games in hand over leaders Grendon, and did

Bampton Town booked their place in the last four of the Witney & District Senior Cup with a 5-0 victory over Cassington. Jason Trinder, Darryl Kew, Kevin Southwood, Steve Godfrey and Ian Steele fired Bampton through. A double from John Smales and

Wootton & Dry Sandford boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation from North Berks League Division 1 and ended Drayton's title aspirations with a 3-1 win. Adam Brooks, Tom Srawley and George Casserley were on target for Wootton who moved seven points

A 23-year-old man was today convicted of drug dealing after a trial at Oxford Crown Court. Triston Lawrence, of Nettlebed Mead, in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, denied four counts of possession of Class-C and A drugs with intent to supply and one charge

A COURT today ordered a 51-year-old woman to pay back £635,755 she took from a vets. Susan MacDonald, of Duffield Close, Abingdon, appeared at Oxford Crown Court for a Proceeds of Crime Application hearing. Judge Christopher Compston ordered

A 23-year-old man has been convicted of drug dealing after a trial at Oxford Crown Court. Triston Lawrence, of Nettlebed Mead, in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, denied four counts of possession of Class C and A drugs with intent to supply and one charge of

A court has ordered a 51-year-old woman to pay back £635,755 she stole from a vets. Susan MacDonald, of Duffield Close, Abingdon, appeared at Oxford Crown Court today for a Proceeds of Crime Application hearing. Judge Christopher Compston ordered

Our MP, Andrew Smith, stated verbally and in writing that he was vigorously opposing the closure of Grandpont post office in Oxford, but voted in the House of Commons to support the closure of post offices. Will he please explain his actions? E HENDERSON

So the Government wants to ban all tobacco advertising, right down to corner shops and supermarkets selling cigarettes from under the counter. The thinking behind this 'out of sight, out of mind' policy is that it will deter young people from smoking

In response to your article about East Oxford Community Social Club, Group ordered out due to cannabis (Oxford Mail, March 26), we know that many of our members use the drug - we do have reggae nights after all. But we believe most of them have the

Thank you for highlighting the embarrassing and disgraceful state of the Oxford Eastern Bypass (Oxford Mail, March 7). The Oxford ring road is beginning to look more like the outskirts of Cairo in Egypt, acceptable there, but not here. What must visitors

A jury has retired to consider a verdict on cousins accused of being behind a £15,000 drug-dealing ring. Triston Lawrence, 23, of Nettlebed Mead, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, is on trial on four counts of possession with intent to supply Class A and C drugs

01/04/2008 AEA Technology 68.25 BMW 2801 Electrocomponents 185 Nationwide Accident Repair 132 Oxford Biomedica 22.75 Oxford Catalyst 159 Oxford Instruments 186.5 REED 655 RM 199.75 RPS Group 323.5

Runners and sponsors are being sought for the annual charity fun run and walk organised by the Oxford branch of the Parkinson's Disease Society. Taking place at Cutteslowe Park, Oxford, on Saturday, April 12, the event includes a three-mile race starting

The tickets are printed, the posters are out, rehearsals continue and the production dates for Ladies’ Day get ever nearer. Just to remind readers, they are April 24th, 25th and 26th at Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor Village Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets are

The person hit by a train between Banbury and Oxford yesterday as she used an unmanned crossing has been identified as a local woman pensioner. British Transport Police were called to Tackley station, near Bicester, about 3.15pm after the woman was hit

THE secretary of an Oxford golf club said he was relieved a fire last night did not cause major damage. Fire crews were called at 7.20pm to Southfield Golf Course, in East Oxford, after three trees were set alight. Colin Whittle, secretary of the

Victims of a smash and grab in Thame have estimated thieves got away with £55,000 worth of stock. Police are still appealing for witnesses after a gang used a stolen tractor to ram their way inside Thame Showground on Saturday night. Thame Showground

VICTIMS of a raid in Thame have estimated thieves got away with £55,000 worth of stock. Police are still appealing for witnesses after a gang used a stolen tractor to ram their way inside Thame Showground on Saturday night. Thame Showground said thieves

The secretary of an Oxford golf course said he was relieved a fire last night did not cause major damage. Fire crews were called at 7.20pm to Southfield Golf Course in East Oxford after three trees were set alight. Colin Whittle, secretary of the

Drivers will be sent on an education course if the get caught committing motoring offences in Oxfordshire. His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent was set to launch The Young Driver Scheme today. The scheme allows anyone aged under 25 to take a

A WOMAN who lied that a teenage soldier had raped her was yesterday jailed for 12 months. Amanda Lang told police she was attacked near bushes in an isolated area of RAF Brize Norton by Lance Corporal Phillip Trowell - when the pair had consensual sex

YOUNG drivers will be sent on an education course if they get caught committing motoring offences in Oxfordshire. His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent was set to launch The Young Driver Scheme today. The scheme allows anyone aged under 25 to

THE person hit by a train between Banbury and Oxford yesterday was an elderly woman using a crossing across the track. British Transport Police were called to Tackley station, at about 3.15pm after the woman was hit by the 7.33 CrossCountry service

A LOVING message has been laid at the scene of a crash. The 33-year-old man died after a silver Vauxhall Astra collided with a tree on the Minster Road, between Brize Norton and Minster Lovell, near to the junction with the A40 at 8.50pm on Saturday

The person hit by a train between Banbury and Oxford yesterday was an elderly woman using a crossing across the track. British Transport Police were called to Tackley station, near Bicester, about 3.15pm after the woman was hit by the 7.33 CrossCountry

A PENSIONERS' leader has accused Oxford City Council of incompetence after learning hundreds of its members had not received passes for the free national bus service which begins today. Bill Jupp, the Oxford branch secretary of the Transport and General

Billy Turley will have competition next season to keep him on his toes. Oxford United manager Darren Patterson says during the summer, he intends to bring in another senior keeper, who will challenge Turley for the No 1 jersey. Regarded as one of

Oxfordshire stayed on course for promotion to the top flight of the BDO Inter-counties Championship with victory over Dorset at the Lord Nufflield Club, Cowley. The A teams were the heroes as Oxon had to come from behind for a 23-16 triumph. It was

With three weeks remaining, Chinnor FC remain on course for the Oxfordshire Super League title as they maintained their six-point lead over Three Tuns A with a hard-fought 5-4 win away to in-form White Lion. Alan Syphas set the visitors on their way

The battle for the Greene King ODDA Ladies Section 1 title was only decided on the final night of the season as Quarry Gate C recorded a comfortable 7-2 win over their D team. Second place went to Berinsfield Community Centre B after a titanic struggle

It will be 'all aboard' for pensioners today as the new 'go anywhere' bus passes are introduced. But as with most bureaucratic exercises in Britain, not everyone will be able to benefit. It appears that some people have still not got their passes.

Amanda Lang fully deserves the one-year jail term she was handed at Oxford Crown Court yesterday. She also deserves Judge Julian Hall's description of her lies - "wicked". Lang falsely claimed she had been raped and kept up the pretence for months

RESIDENTS are invited to attend the annual meeting of Wantage Hospital League of Friends, on Thursday, April 24, in the Ridegway Suite, at the Civic Hall. Sarah Merritt, a crime reduction officer, will address the meeting, which starts at 7.30pm.

A BOOK store chain has closed one of its two Oxford branches with the loss of six jobs. The Works went into administration after its profits dropped by 34 per cent last year. Accountants Kroll said the Westgate store was one of 85 stores to close

PROTESTERS pitched up at the Westgate shopping centre, Oxford, with a pirate ship, inflatable sharks and a samba band on Saturday. Campaigners opposed to the multi-million-pound redevelopment were celebrating delays to work, which could set back the

DIDCOT town will be shaken not stirred at Christmas when James Bond moves in. The 15th Christmas Street Fair will have a 007 theme to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Bond creator, Ian Fleming. Bond cars, girls and look-a-likes and

YOUNG people to be proud of who live in the Vale of White Horse will be honoured at a special lunch. Residents of the area can nominate individuals to attend the district council's celebratory lunch on Saturday, April 26. It will recognise successes

A pensioner's leader has accused Oxford City Council of incompetence after learning hundreds of its members had not received passes for the free national bus service which begins today. Bill Jupp, the Oxford branch secretary of the Transport and General

HUNDREDS of prospective pupils and their parents pitched up at the Kassam Stadium to find out what Oxford's first academy has in store for them. The new uniform - complete with shirt, tie, blazer and trousers - as well as a logo were unveiled, following

A woman who lied that a teenage soldier had raped her was yesterday jailed for 12 months. Amanda Lang told police she was attacked near bushes in an isolated area of RAF Brize Norton by Lance Corporal Phillip Trowell - when the pair had consensual sex

POSTAL workers sacked during an industrial dispute have won back their jobs at Oxford's main sorting centre. Communications Workers Union (CWU) official Steven Gill, and his colleague John Doran, appealed against their sackings last summer. The

A NEW film charting the lives of women living with incurable breast cancer features an Oxfordshire woman first diagnosed with the disease more than 20 years ago. Dr Ann Fingret, 74, from Swinbrook, near Burford, said she hoped the DVD would give

PUPILS past and present got together at an Oxford school to mark its 150th anniversary. Former pupils met their modern-day counterparts and shared memories of their school days at North Hinksey Primary School, in North Hinksey Lane. Among those

ANN Turner met the love of her life when he came to do some building work at her aunt's house. After four years of courtship, including many outings to the Oxford dog races, she and John Townsend walked down the aisle at Witney's St Mary's Church.

Oxford United are appealing for fans not to wear their replica club shirts this weekend - because the kits are too distracting for players. Boss Darren Patterson said many of his squad have been confusing fans wearing yellow replica U's shirts for team