Archive

  • A Soppy Moment

    Littl'un has been moved up from the baby room into the toddler room at nursery full time. She has been spending Mondays in the toddler room and Tuesdays in the toddler room since Easter and was supposed to me making the full time swap at her second birthday

  • New ground hope for Thame

    FOOTBALL: Thame United have been handed a massive boost after gaining planning permission for a £3m ground development outside the town. And if all goes to plan the Hellenic League side, who were founded in 1883, could move into their new home, which

  • Willmott raring to go

    CHRIS Willmott will be reporting back for pre-season with the rest of the Oxford United squad later this month. The experienced centre half, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, has been given a clean bill of health and has been working

  • Councils in line for flood cash

    Three Oxfordshire councils have been invited to claim Government funding to help with the cost of dealing with January's floods. Local government minister John Healey said he was "satisfied" that assistance was justified to cover the cost of repairs

  • House fire was 'a silly prank'

    A teenager accused of starting a house fire by pushing a firework through the letterbox, today told a jury it was a Halloween prank gone wrong. Aspiring professional footballer Lewis Colwell told Oxford Crown Court he lit the rocket while it was in

  • House fire was 'a silly prank'

    A teenager accused of starting a house fire by pushing a firework through the letterbox, today told a jury it was a Halloween prank gone wrong. Aspiring professional footballer Lewis Colwell told Oxford Crown Court he lit the rocket while it was in

  • Roundabout route to success

    A refurbished village playground was officially unveiled today - to the delight of local children. Vale of White Horse district councillor Jane Hanna cut the ribbon to re-open the slides, swings and roundabout in the recreation ground at Marcham, near

  • Post office closures continue

    Brenda Knight has always been close to the post office in Stanton St John - and today she became its final customer. The 81-year-old, who has lived in the village all her life, bought the last stamp from the branch her family ran for 35 years. Elsewhere

  • Festival to fuel recycling effort

    Music festivals aren't always known for their green credentials - but one long-standing Oxfordshire extravaganza is hoping to buck the trend. While Supergrass, the Levellers and Midge Ure hope to wow the crowd at this year's Fairport Cropredy Convention

  • Aerial tribute to wartime pilot

    It was a proud moment for Stephen Harrod when he witnessed the Dakota DC3 fly past in a remarkable act of remembrance. Mr Harrod, 54, from Great Milton, near Thame, joined Polish veterans of a daring World War II secret operation in Poland last week

  • Flood plan speeded up after death

    The prospect of flood defences being built close to where teenager Max Sullivan-Webb drowned has moved a step closer after a study was fast tracked. A scheme to catch flood water in ponds is seen as the best solution to avoiding a repeat of an incident

  • Couple save stricken canoeists

    A quick-thinking couple who saved the lives of two canoeists by hauling them from the fast-flowing River Thames, tonight urged people to respect the river. David and Veronica Taunt were aboard their cruiser moored near Abingdon Bridge when they saw

  • Bypass crash causes delays

    Motorists experienced delays on Oxford's southern bypass this afternoon after a lorry was involved in a collision with two cars. A lane on the road was closed for 30 minutes following the collision between Hinksey Hill and Heyford Hill, while firefighters

  • Aerial tribute to wartime pilot

    It was a proud moment for Stephen Harrod when he witnessed the Dakota DC3 fly past in a remarkable act of remembrance. Mr Harrod, 54, from Great Milton, near Thame, joined Polish veterans of a daring World War II secret operation in Poland last week

  • Couple save stricken canoeists

    A quick-thinking couple who saved the lives of two canoeists by hauling them from a raging stretch of the Thames, tonight urged people to respect the river. David and Veronica Taunt were aboard their cruiser moored near Abingdon Bridge when they saw

  • Author attacks book band plan

    Best-selling Oxford author Philip Pullman is leading a campaign against the introduction of "repugnant" age bands being placed on the cover of children's books. From the autumn, many book covers are due to carry a sign stating they are intended for

  • Plullman slates age band plans for books

    Best-selling Oxford author Philip Pullman is leading a campaign against the introduction of "repugnant" age bands being placed on the cover of children's books. From the autumn, many book covers are due to carry a sign stating they are intended for

  • Rain stops play at 'mudbath field'

    Villagers have been urged to be patient after heavy rain turned a popular park into what has been described as an "alien landscape". Orchard Recreation Ground, off Evans Lane, in Kidlington, is undergoing a revamp as part of a £500,000 project to upgrade

  • Iain completes 1300 mile charity ride

    A cyclist is enjoying a well earned rest at home after a mammoth bike ride across Europe in memory of a friend and work colleague who died of cancer. Iain Forbes finished his 1,300-mile bike ride through Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Belgium and

  • Post axe: Then there were six

    Brenda Knight has always been close to the post office in Stanton St John - and today she became its final customer. The 81-year-old, who has lived in the village all her life, bought the last stamp from the branch her family ran for 35 years. Elsewhere

  • Collision on bypass

    Motorists experienced delays on Oxford's southern bypass this afternoon after a lorry was involved in a collision with two cars. A lane on the road had to be closed for 30 minutes following the collision between Hinksey and Heyford Hill, while firefighters

  • Marine's death shocks villagers

    Dozen of tributes to an Oxfordshire soldier killed in an explosion in Afghanistan surround Great Haseley village war memorial. Lighted candles, flowers, photographs and notes dedicated to the memory of Dale Gostick, 22, have been left by friends and

  • Author sets up book cover protest

    Best-selling Oxford author Philip Pullman is leading a campaign against the introduction of "repugnant" age bands being placed on the cover of children's books. From the autumn, many book covers are due to carry a sign stating they are intended for

  • Festival goers urged to boost recycling

    Music festivals aren't always known for their green credentials - but one long-standing Oxfordshire extravaganza is hoping to buck the trend. While Supergrass, the Levellers and Midge Ure hope to wow the crowd at this year's Fairport Cropredy Convention

  • Residents urged to join crime fight

    Police have appealed for more people to help them cut crime in Woodstock. Officers want residents to sign up to the area's Neighbourhood Action Group (Nag), which feeds back priorities local people would like the police to tackle. The town currently

  • Rugby star at dinner for cancer centre

    World Cup-winning rugby star Lawrence Dallaglio scrummed down to help raise tens of thousands of pounds for the new Oxford Cancer Centre. The former Wasps and England player, whose mother was recently diagnosed with cancer, was at Wadham College to

  • Councils' staff levels rise

    The army of employees at councils across Oxfordshire is growing, new figures show. The headcount at Oxford City Council alone has risen by 19 per cent in 10 years, with staff numbers now within touching distance of 2002 levels when 75 employees were

  • PC named student officer of year

    AN OXFORD police officer has been named the Thames Valley Police Student Officer of the Year. PC Matthew Sulley was nominated by his colleagues and supervisors for his enthusiasm, hard work and for being on par with officers of at least double his

  • Today's local share prices (PM)

    AEA Technology 82 BMW 2919 Electrocomponents 155 Nationwide Accident Repair 141.5 Oxford Biomedica 23.25 Oxford Catalyst 170 Oxford Instruments 238 Reed Elsevier 620.75 RM 209.25 RPS Group 323.25 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Obstinate refusal

    Ian Hudspeth, the county council's cabinet member for transport, explains at some length the reasons for the delay in providing a rail station at Kidlington on the main line to Birmingham ( (Oxford Mail, June 2). Unfortunately, this does not really

  • Nowhere to park

    I am responding to the article about parking in St Mary's Road, East Oxford, Drivers flout parking rules (Oxford Mail, June 2). Workmen in the two council vans in your photograph spent six hours fixing my daughter's boiler. They had to carry all their

  • Spoiling tactics are not helpful

    The annual meeting of the New Marston (South) Residents' Association in Oxford could not understand why some people continue to criticise the renovation of New Marston Scout Hall. The internal improvements, finished last year, were paid for by half

  • AUNT SALLY: Latest results

    GREENE KING OXFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE Premier/Section 1: White House A 3, Red Lion A 3; Three Pigeons 3, New Club A 0; Gladiators A 1, Garsington Sports 2; George A 3, Woodman 0; Cricketers B 3, Kings Arms 0. Section 2: Turners Arms 2, Plough 1; Tiddington

  • On Yer Bike

    This column is supposed to be about cycling. Well, today it's about pedestrians - just don't anyone tell the editor! We're all pedestrians - whether we are just walking or wheeling (if you have a wheelchair) to the shops, getting out of your car or

  • AUNT SALLY: Pigeons swoop with 95 sticks

    Three Pigeons hit a massive 95 dolls in their 3-0 win at home to New Club in Section 1, writes ANDY BEAL. The Pigeons triumphed with leg scores of 30-22, 32-19 and 33-19. Three players hit a six, with Dave Townsend (5-4-6) and Neil Lyon (6-4-5) top

  • CRICKET: Marcon shows Oxford depth

    Oxford's strength in depth was illustrated by their impressive eight-wicket victory over Reading in the ECB Cockspur Cup. Despite fielding just five first-team regulars, they cruised home in the third-round clash, which was played at Challow & Childrey

  • CRICKET: Dark Blues wide of mark

    It was billed as the Twenty20 University Match, but so wayward was Oxford's bowling in The Parks on Friday night that it was more like a Twenty-four20 contest. The Dark Blues delivered 23 wides, contributing 39 runs to the tally of 50 extras, which

  • CRICKET: Launchbury and Marcham denied

    Matt Launchbury totally dominated Marcham's innings against Cumnor in round one of the Bernard Tollett Oxfordshire Cup. But his 122 not out in their 169-7 was not enough as Cumnor won by nine wickets. Andrew Robertson (65no) and Graham Scott (57no

  • CRICKET: Lett century in vain

    Opener Robin Lett hit a superb century for Oxford UCCE in their BUSA Championship semi-final against Cardiff UCCE at Usk - but it proved in vain as they went down by three runs in a thrilling finish. Lett smashed 120 off 133 balls, including 16 fours

  • CRICKET: Oxon hammered

    Oxfordshire were well beaten by a much stronger and more experienced Devon side in their ECB Women's County Championship Division 5 South & West match at Bovey Tracey. The final result of a 233-run loss was indebted to a 283 first-wicket stand between

  • McGovern is star attraction

    Former Nottingham Forest, Derby County and Leeds United icon John McGovern was guest of honour at the 55th Hellenic League presentation night, held at the Oxford Centre. McGovern charted his career and talked about his career-long connection with the

  • What a difference ...

    a week makes.... Last week I ran the eight mile Boars Hill route in torrential rain and flood condition - today it was positively equatorial conditions with the searing heat and cloudless sky. I headed out today expecting a gentle jog to help me recover

  • Club pitches in for quake appeal

    A Chinese bartender is helping to organise a fundraising event in aid of fellow countrymen affected by last month's earthquake. Niko Lee, 25, of Gypsy Lane, asked managers at The Bridge nightclub in Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford, if they could support

  • Children have scary time

    CHILDREN at a school in Bicester worked hard to make two scarecrows for the Open Gardens and Scarecrow Trail which took place in Stratton Audley, at the weekend. Around 60 pupils aged between four and five at Glory Farm School in Hendon Place, Bicester

  • A34 slip road reopens

    Highways Agency bosses have now reopened a slip road on to the A34 outside Oxford. Drivers suffered heavy delays this morning after line-painting work at the Botley interchange over-ran because of the hot weather. There were heavy tailbacks after

  • Boy punched by would-be robber

    Police are looking for a man who punched a boy twice in the face during an attempted robbery. The 14-year-old was walking his dog in Rongrove Park, off Azalea Avenue, in Kidlington, at 6.50am last Tuesday, while listening to music on his mobile phone

  • A34 slip road reopened

    HIGHWAYS Agency managers have reopened a slip road on to the A34 outside Oxford. Drivers suffered heavy delays this morning after line-painting work at the Botley interchange over-ran because of the hot weather. There were heavy tailbacks after contractors

  • Boy attacked in park

    POLICE today released an e-fit of a man wanted in connection with an attempted robbery of a schoolboy in Kidlington. At 6.50am last Tuesday, a 14-year-old boy was walking his dog in Ron Groves Park just off Azalea Avenue, whilst listening to music

  • Oxford Instruments' trading boost

    Buoyant bosses at hi-tech firm Oxford Instruments say they are avoiding the effects of the credit crunch. Chief executive Jonathan Flint said the company's focus on key areas such as the environment had meant the business was being driven by clients

  • Canal death denial

    A 22-year-old woman has denied helping an alleged killer. Tammey Crain, of Springfield Avenue, Banbury, pleaded not guilty at Oxford Crown Court to assisting an offender in the case of a Banbury man found dead on a canal boat last September. James

  • Flood cash bids invited

    THREE Oxfordshire councils have been invited to claim Government funding to help with the costs of dealing with January's floods. Local government minister John Healey said he was "satisfied" that assistance was justified to cover the cost of repairs

  • Invite to apply for flood cash

    Three Oxfordshire councils have been invited to claim Government funding to help with the costs of dealing with January's floods. Local government minister John Healey said he was "satisfied" that assistance was justified to cover the cost of repairs

  • Burglars steal jewellery

    POLICE are appealing for information after jewellery, worth about £4,000, was stolen by burglars who broke into a house in Great Coxwell. The raid happeneed between midnight on June 3 and 5.30pm on June 5. Det Con Chris Leech, based at Abingdon

  • Passport scam student walks free

    A 27-year-old student who admitted using a fake passport to enrol at Oxford Brookes University has walked free from court. Oxford Crown Court heard Nigerian Ashley Campbell of Oxford Road, Cowley, used the passport last September because he could

  • Roadworks over-run causes delays

    DRIVERS suffered heavy delays this morning after line-painting work over-ran at Oxford's Botley interchange - because of the hot weather. There were heavy tailbacks after contractors kept the slip road to the northbound carriageway of the A34 shut after

  • Line-painting delays on A34

    Drivers suffered heavy delays this morning after line-painting work at Oxford's Botley interchange over-ran because of the hot weather. There were heavy tailbacks after contractors kept the slip road to the northbound carriageway of the A34 shut after

  • Student in fake passport scam walks free

    A 27-year-old student who admitted using a fake passport to enrol at Oxford Brookes University has walked free from court. Oxford Crown Court heard Nigerian Ashley Campbell of Oxford Road, Cowley, used the passport last September because he could not

  • Police mark 40th birthday

    POLICE colleagues who together served a total of 168 years in Oxfordshire helped mark the 40th birthday of Thames Valley Police. The force celebrated the milestone at a former police training base, at Eynsham Hall, near Witney. Around 500 dignitaries

  • 999 crews hit by fuel costs

    AMBULANCE managers in Oxfordshire have reassured patients a financial review due to rising fuel costs will not affect its service. South Central Ambulance, which covers Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Hampshire, is reviewing its spending on staffing and

  • Mobile home must come down

    A BUSINESSMAN who put a mobile home on his roof without permission has been ordered to take it down. The mobile home was winched on to the flat roof of a two-storey building at the junction of Oxford Road and Cleveland Road in Cowley. It was described

  • Two rescued from River Thames

    TWO men were hauled from the River Thames after their canoe capsized and they were carried downstream by the strong current. Their wooden vessel split as it hit Abingdon Bridge side-on at about 8.30pm on Sunday. Boaters David and Veronica Taunt

  • PO axe falls

    SUB post offices at Combe and Upton traded for the last time yesterday as the programme of closures rolls on. The post offices at Grandpont, Oxford, and Godstow Road, Wolvercote, Stanton St John and Wytham all close today. Ardington, Childrey and

  • 'Teens caused firework arson'

    TWO teenagers set fire to a house by putting a lit firework through the letter box on Halloween, a court heard yesterday. Jamie Matthews, 19, and Lewis Colwell, 18, deny arson with intent to endanger life following the blaze in Ramsay Road, Headington

  • Killer's ashes 'buried near Woodstock'

    ROCK and country star Steve Earle surprised Oxford fans by telling them he had buried the ashes of a convicted killer near the city. During his packed show at the Carling Academy Oxford, in Cowley Road, on Saturday, the US star said he had visited the

  • Traffic scheme: Shortcomings highlighted

    Traders have reacted angrily to findings of an independent report, comissioned by Oxfordshire County Council, which points to shortcomings in the Abingdon Integrated Traffic Strategy (Abits). Thousands of drivers have endured traffic jams in the town

  • DARTS: Preben brings home bacon!

    Shears Wantage ace Preben Krabben won the men's singles title at the first attempt after beating Railway Club's Tim Tricker 2-0 at the 82nd Greene King ODDA winter league finals night at Rover Sports & Social Club, Roman Way. In a cracking final, in

  • Coach Milsom slams Swindon

    Jordan Milsom, who is returning to Oxford United as their new conditioning coach, admitted his switch to Swindon Town 12 months ago was a "big mistake". Milsom was very popular with the players at Oxford and helped to improve their all-round stamina

  • Future issues

    THE organisers of the North Hinksey Parish Plan hold their annual meeting today at Seacourt Road Community Room at 7.30pm. The plan, set to be completed in December, is aimed at shaping the village's future over the next ten years.

  • Axing wardens ‘a big mistake’

    TWO street wardens have been axed from north east Oxford in a decision branded "a big mistake" by a local headteacher. Marston and Northway lost out after the city council cut its stock of warden positions from 17 to 15. Two of those roles had been

  • Nursery’s plea for time rejected

    A NURSERY which has to move to make way for a £30.5m college redevelopment is still on a knife edge about its future. Abingdon and Witney College confirmed it was sticking to its July 4 deadline for the Abacus nursery to be off its Witney campus site

  • Young dancers in world championships

    EXCITEMENT is building among nine young dancers from Oxford who are set to represent England at the world Hip Hop dance championships. The children, aged eight to 13, have been selected to perform as part of the 150-strong England squad at the International

  • Abingdon traffic scheme: We got it wrong!

    Highways chiefs were last night forced to admit their £3.1m scheme to ease traffic problems in Abingdon is not working. Traders have reacted angrily to findings of an independent report, comissioned by Oxfordhsire County Council, which points to shortcomings

  • £500,000 windfall for centre

    FRESH life is set to be injected into a crumbling village hall, thanks to a grant of almost £500,000. Wootton and Dry Sandford Community Centre, in Besselsleigh Road, Wootton, near Abingdon, has been given a grant from the Big Lottery Fund's community

  • 'I buried killer's ashes near city'

    Rock and country star Steve Earle surprised Oxford fans by telling them he had buried the ashes of a convicted killer near the city. During his packed show at the Carling Academy Oxford, in Cowley Road, on Saturday, the US star said he had visited the