Even though Oxford are older, heavier and taller than Cambridge, their coa-ch Sean Bowden, involved in his 12th Boat Race, is taking nothing for granted tomorrow. For the 155th contest in this historic series, which starts at 4.30pm, the Dark Blues are
Former Radley athlete Hatti Dean is preparing to compete for Great Britain in this weekend’s World Cross Country Championships in Amman, Jordan. Dean, who missed the Inter-Counties Championships due to illness a few weeks ago, said: “I’m pretty nervous
The county’s fire service has become one of the first in the country to land a Customer Service Excellence award from the Government. The accolade, which is valid for three years, was given after a three-day inspection looking at five areas of customer
Defender Damian Batt, has as expected, put pen to paper on a two-year contract. Batt, 24, who was originally signed until the end of the season, said: “It didn’t take me long to decide, because I have enjoyed my time since I came here in January
A burglar who was pinned to the wall by his elderly neighbour after breaking into his house was last night warned he faced a lengthy jail sentence. Gregory McCalium, 23, broke into his neighbour Frank Corti’s house in Queens Close, Botley,
A WOMAN whose face was cut during an armed raid in Botley is hoping to return home from hospital tomorrow. Three men, one carrying a gun and another carrying a knife, forced their way into a semi-detached house in Crabtree Road at about 10.45pm on Wednesday
Allowing heirs to the throne to marry Roman Catholics could make the country increasingly secular and set up a “constitutional crisis”, Oxford Catholic clergy warned. A Bill tabled by Oxford West and Abingdon MP Evan Harris – which would have overturned
While much has been printed about the loss of Wesley Smith and local news, I would like readers to know that after ITV changed over from Central News to Thames Valley Tonight, some of us tried to find out more about events in Oxfordshire by watching the
May I through the medium of the Oxford Mail, say a very big thank you to our paperboy, Henri. All through the wet weather, the snow and ice and every day since, Henri has delivered our paper at the same time every day, without fail. So thank you Henri
You report that it was “disrespectful” to the people of Oxford for the two IWCA councillors not to turn up to the Oxford City Council budget meeting. If you want real disrepect to the city, you should look to the Labour benches: they voted to hike taxes
I would like to appeal to those people who ever took the trouble to write letters to their MPs asking them to support a ban on the barbaric practice of hunting. The Hunting Act has been routinely broken since it came on to the statute book. Hunters
The Government holds the solution to do away with raucous, vulgar and even violent behaviour, which is the result of binge drinking. The answer being, only allow alcohol to be sold in pubs, off-licences, and clubs. Put up the legal age limit to 21 (
A police Inspector has expressed his disappointment that a new estate base for officers in Oxford will not be open until July. Insp Andy Storey said the mini police station, in Blackbird Leys Road, would definitely be built, despite the failure
City of Oxford's Sam van de Schootbrugge hopes to compete in the European Youth Olympics after rewriting the record books and picking up four medals in the British Championships at Ponds Forge, Sheffield this week. The highlight for the talented 15-year-old
City of Oxford had to settle for third place in the final Home Counties League final at Aylesbury. Although second at the halfway stage, City's lack of reserve strength in some areas told. Maxwell finished clear winners with Luton runners-up. City's
SANDFORD St Martin were relegated from Division 1 of the Banbury Indoor League, despite posting a three-wicket victory over Charlbury in their final game. Sandford skitted Charlbury out for just 56, James Risbridger taking 3-15 and Ashley Rump scoring
Oxford Downs have signed up former South African batting prodigy Johann Myburgh as their overseas player for the coming season Myburgh, 28, has played first-class cricket for more than ten years in South Africa and New Zealand. He is now playing for
Oxfordshire will begin their season with a friendly against neighbours Bucks at Aston Rowant. The 50-over game on Sunday, April 19 comes a week before Oxon start their MCCA Trophy Campaign against Bedfordshire at Ampthill Town. Their other group matches
The first Oxfordshire 50+ go-lf competition for the Derek Primett Memorial Trophy will be played at Kirtlington on Wednesday, April 1. The competition is open to anyone aged 50 or over who has either served on the Oxford Times Cherwell League’s executive
A FIREFIGHTER whose grand-daughter died two days after she was born is leading a 25-strong fire service squad in this year’s OX5 Run. Richard Bowley, 49, who is based at Kidlington fire station, is heading the team of Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue
TRADERS in Oxford’s Covered Market are split about a plan to open their shops on Sundays. Earlier this week, we revealed that owner Oxford City Council had agreed to fund a three-month pilot scheme to open the historic market on Sundays.
OXFORD City Stars coach Richie Hargreaves is confident that his side have the beating of Bracknell Hornets in the first leg of the play-off quarter-final at Oxpens tomorrow (6.15 pm). Games between the teams have been close this year with Bracknell having
Fieldside won the Gent-works Oxford & District League’s Simonds Cup for the third consecutive year with ing a 4-0 win over Riley A, writes DAVID WHITE. In a repeat of last year’s final, Karl Walker beat James Stone in the opening frame and this was
The first meeting in aid of the Speedway Riders’ Benevolent Fund takes place at Sheffield tomorrow (3.30pm) – much to the delight of former Oxford promoter Bernard Crapper, writes ROBERT PEASLEY. Crapper’s involvement with the Fund dates back many years
Police will be running a campaign to educate motorway drivers about lane discipline after several incidents of road rage aimed at drivers occupying the middle lane. Most evenings during April and June, all overhead electronic road signs between
OXFORD United officials unveiled their first new advertising banner after brokering a profit-sharing deal with stadium owner Firoz Kassam. Football bosses said the 40ft banner for Papa John’s pizza company would secure them a slice of cash that they
TEENAGERS were confronted with graphic images of knife wounds at an anti-gang youth conference. More than 140 people attended the Knife or Life event, which was run by 25 young people from Blackbird Leys in a bid to raise awareness of the dangers of
Dick Hashman played a starring role as Cowley Conservative Club A won the competition named after him for the third time. In the final of the Oxford & District League’s Hashman Shield, Cowley beat Headington Conservative Club A 2-1. After Headington
There was a night of joy as Oxford Brookes Eagles retained their Southern Conference Under 18 League title with an 87-67 victory against Cambridge Cats. This is a remarkable ach-ievement by Eagles, who are in only their fifth year in the National League
Three men were arrested after a fight in a Benson pub's car park early today. Police were called to the Crown, in High Street, shortly after midnight. Officers believe the fight, which involved a group of 10 people who fled by car and on foot towards
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Mine's a double! That was the order of the day for Drink Up Zorro after he sent his eight strong syndicate, the One for the Road Racing Club into ecstasy following his gutsy victory in the £8,000 William Hill Pall Mall decider on Tuesday. He returned
Richard Yeates, basking in the success of Freedom Emma, has more talent to unload after taking in Emma’s litter sister Inspired By as well as proven open racers Bank On Black and Alfi Sparra from Matt Dartnall and Julie Luckhurst respectively. All trainers
THE Terry Kibble-trained Reenview Paddy was the subject of a Stewards’ Inquiry after winning an A9 contest in 27.17 by over six lengths. His previous best was 27.92. THE Oxford Owners Association monthly awards meeting is on Thursday, April 2.
Residents will be asked their views on what they believe local police should be tackling as a priority this year. During April, officers and PCSOs will be asking people to complete a survey. Officers will be in Sheep Street, on Monday and Tuesday, April
Police are appealing for witnesses after a house was burgled in Manor Road, South Hinksey. Between 3.15pm and 7pm on Tuesday, thieves forced their way into the house through a rear ground floor window and stole a laptop, television, camera
Intrigued by Nick Hornby's selection of 40 titles for a special Waterstone's table, I picked out Stasiland by Anna Funder. The book won the BBC Four Samuel Johnson Prize in 2004 and focuses on what life in East Berlin was like before the fall
A RECENT rise in the number of burglaries in the Botley area has prompted police to call for vigilance by householders. Between noon and 1pm on Tuesday, March 17, a resident of Eynsham Road saw a man carrying a rucksack away from a house. It was later
A video of pranksters trapping Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson in a portable toilet has become something of an internet hit. YouTube clip The footage, shot at a classic car rally on the Spanish island of Mallorca earlier this week
Three men were arrested after a disturbance outside The Crown pub in High Street, Benson. The arrests followed a report that a man had been injured in a fight in the pub car park just after midnight last night. A group of about ten people were involved
Oxford United defender Damian Batt has signed a two year deal with the Blue Square Premier club. Batt, 24, was originally given a short-term contract, but he has done so well that U's boss Chris Wilder decided to hand him a permanent deal.
Oxfordshire star Melissa Hawtin suffered the disappointment of missing out on an international call-up at the ESAA Sainsbury’s English Schools’ Cross Country Championships at Stanford Hall, Kegworth, in Leicestershire. The 16-year-old, from
The decision to extend the length of bouts for this year’s ABA senior championships has been backed by a former finalist. The world’s oldest amateur boxing competition has been staged over four two-minute rounds for most of the last decade, but this
Horspath Hammers aim to add to their opening day away victory at Poole when they host British Team Champions Wednesfield at the Village in their first home match of their British Premier League season on Sunday(2). Hammers should be unchanged from the
The recent sunny weather seems to have brought out the even sunnier blooms of daffodils of all shapes and sizes, from dwarf varieties in rockeries and containers, to taller, louder, more robustlooking types bringing a burst of yellow to beds and borders
Switch off the television, put that video game on hold and head out into the garden to enjoy the great outdoors. Whether you want to simply chill out with a good book, play an outdoor game or enjoy a barbecue, the al fresco lifestyle will have much appeal
While you're sowing all your annuals, don't forget to add some calendula (pot marigolds), nasturtium and borage, which you can add to salads and drinks in summer for both flavour and colour. The lovely orange and yellow nasturtium blooms and calendula
Karl Bushell retained the Warner Cup for most wins in Division 1 – for the 20th time – after his maximum helped leaders Forum A boost their title hopes with a 6-4 win against St James in the Oxford & District Association. Teammate Greg Boone won two
A popular match venue used by many Oxford-shire anglers has prod-uced a massive pike of 40lb 10oz. Boddington Reservoir, just over the border in Northamptonshire, is more famous for its big bags of carp, but it produced the fish of a lifetime for 50-
If you are growing tomatoes this year and you want to add some exotic-sounding types to your menu — doing your bit for preservation at the same time — a host of endangered tomato varieties are being championed in a new campaign. Whippersnapper
A stretch of the Thames near Cassington popular with anglers for many years has been changed forever after a major tree-cutting programme designed to encourage wading birds. The length of the river, around half a mile long, was rented by Morris Motors
North Oxford AS fished their first match of the close season on the Oxford Canal at Wolvercote Green, where the 14 anglers struggled with a downstream wind which made presentation awkward. Pegged in the middle of the green, Dave Scott-Picton finished
One of the simplest ways to add ambience to a room is to use mood lighting controlled by dimmers. Whether it is changing a kitchen from workplace to intimate dinner location, or a living room from family gathering area into a sanctuary for the adults,
Go trendy and cool in the kitchen this spring with one of the latest eye-catching kitchen styles. Bold colours, cuves and texture are refected in the latest kitchen ranges with brightly-coloured appliances and accessories adding the finishing touches
Theresa May, the Conservative shadow secretary for work and pensions, has visited the county’s first job club. She talked to job seekers about what they thought of the club and other issues such as unemployment, training, benefits and setting up a business
Loss of habitat and climate change is having a major impact on British butterflies, accordingrto one of the largest butterfly farms in the UK. The Stratford Butterfly Farm is calling on gardeners to help halt the decline of these beautiful insects by
NEIGHBOURS have claimed a decision to grant planning permission for six homes will ‘rip the heart’ out of an Oxford conservation area. Oxford City Council’s strategic development control committee (SDCC) voted to allow three houses and three flats to
Oxford West and Abingdon MP Evan Harris today described the ban on Catholics marrying the monarch as “outrageous discrimination”. In a debate tabled by Mr Harris, MPs were today urged to change the 1701 Act of Settlement. Mr Harris said
Browns brasseries in Oxford and Cambridge will be competing against each other today and across the weekend, to see who can out-drink the other with specially designed 'Oxbridge' cocktails. Browns have created three 'Oxbridge Blue' cocktails
When it bounced on to the scene, the bold, bulging bodywork of the latest Nissan Micra looked futuristic – six years on it is still one of the most innovative, modern and visionary shapes on the road. Let’s be honest, not everyone was wowed
David says: ONE glance at the front of the Suzuki Swift is enough to produce a grin. It’s a chirpy little charmer with an engaging blend of muscular good looks, Japanese quality and European-inspired driving dynamics. It’s also Suzuki’s
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Husbands and wives whose marriages have broken down are continuing to live together, often in the mistaken belief that they cannot afford to get divorced. Withy King Solicitors, which is home to one of Oxfordshire’s largest and longest-established family
Employment lawyer Jason Cowley of Witney-based Lee Chadwick & Co LLP provides an insight into how to think differently when dealing with the challenging business environment. Credit crunch, redundancies, lay-offs; things we are all hearing about in
Whether you want legal advice on marital matters, employment issues or buying a house, it is available from solicitors around the county. Some of the leading solicitors are featured here, but you can obtain further information on finding a solicitor
Thames Valley Police will be introducing a new uniform for all operational officers in January 2010. The Chief Constable’s Management Team has decided to replace the white shirt, black tie, office trousers and helmet with a black shirt, black
Gordon Brown and Buckingham Palace have discussed plans to scrap the ban on heirs to the throne marrying Roman Catholics and to give royal daughters an equal claim to the throne, a Downing Street source has said. The Prime Minister was said
Oxford West and Abingdon MP Dr Evan Harris is today calling for wide-ranging changes governing the monarchy. The Liberal Democrat MP has put forward a Private Member’s Bill fighting what he claims is anti-Catholic discrimination. In proposals to be
Marcus Gronholm is looking forward to his WRC comeback at Rally Portugal, following a successful pre-event test in his new Banbury-built Prodrive Impreza World Rally Car. “I have the same feeling I had when I last drove competitively nearly
I know, you expected news of spring bulbs and magnolia flowers! But its not every day you welcome a larger than life penguin into the Garden. Peter Penguin is the reduce, re-use and recycle champion from the Midcounties Co-op who has been helping
Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton finished a lowly 16th on his return to competitive Formula One action as the Grove-based Williams team suggested they could be a force this new season. With the cars sporting newly-designed front and rear
THE abnormally high level of sick leave at Oxford City Council shows no sign of abating. Each of the 1,300 staff, many of whom enjoy the perks of working for a public sector employer, are claiming an average of 12 days off each every year on
MARK McArthur-Christie has hit the nail on the head. He has singled out Oxford’s Oxpens car park as being baffling to understand, with its plethora of signs and notices. Poor use of language and jargon are bywords for many council services
DAMIAN Batt says he is determined to put one over his former side – and give Oxford United’s play-off bid a massive lift at Stevenage tomorrow. The right back, who has been offered a permanent two-year contract with United, played nine games
SHE may not have a driving licence, but 16-year-old Alice Powell is getting ready to race into the record books. Alice, from Chipping Norton, will become the youngest driver to compete in the Michelin Formula Renault UK Championship next month
RACING driver Will Bratt made his long-awaited track return at Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit by rejoining his former Formula Renault UK team Apotex Scorpio Motorsport during an official championship test session. Agreeing to run with the
OXFORD City Council has appointed 15 senior managers as so-called “attendance tsars” as part of a new push to cut the number of sick days taken by staff. Between April and December, the authority’s employees took an average of 9.35 sick days
Armed raiders stormed a family home in Oxford, smashing a man across the head with a gun and slashing his wife’s eyelid with a knife. Last night, the three men, one carrying a gun and another carrying a knife, who forced their way into a semi-detached
Labour has held on to Headington Hill and Northway, comfortably beating the Conservatives in a city council by-election. Roy Darke polled 548 votes, beating Tory candidate Marc Borja into second place with 443 votes. Liberal Democrat
