Archive

  • West Ham Utd 1 (Parker 90+3), Oxford Utd 0

    Oxford United suffered an unbelievably cruel Carling Cup exit at West Ham tonight. They matched their Premier League opponents for the whole of their second-round clash, only to see Hammers skipper Scott Parker snatch a winner eight seconds from the

  • United holding Hammers at the break

    Oxford United were holding West Ham United to a 0-0 draw at hlaf-time in tonight's Carling Cup second round clash at Upton Park. The U's had to withstand plenty of pressure, but went close through Asa Hall just before the break.

  • Oxford Canal shut after body found

    THE Oxford Canal is closed tonight north of Kidlington after a body was found in the water. Police were called to the canal at Shipton-on-Cherwell shortly before 11am after boaters made the discovery of what is understood to be a woman in the water.

  • Cole and Potter start for Oxford United

    Mitchell Cole and Alfie Potter were given starting roles for Oxford United in their Carling Cup tie at West Ham tonight. The team was otherwise as expected, with Ben Purkiss at right back, and the same midfield three that has started the season

  • James puts his oar in for charity

    AN AMATEUR rower is hoping to raise £1,000 for a cancer charity after rowing 125 miles to London from Lechlade. James Severin, 23, from Reading Road in Wallingford, pictured, covered the distance in five days working for up to 13 hours a day. Mr Severin

  • Lake victors make impressive mark

    AFTER a hard-fought battle to save their lakes, it was all hands on deck as the people of Radley helped build a new community shelter. The water lily-shaped structure marks the first step in the redevelopment of Radley Lakes. The area, a former gravel

  • Pub best place for chatting, finds research

    PEOPLE spend more than two months a year just chatting – with the humble pub the best place to spark up a conversation. New research by Oxford-based academic Dr Theodore Zeldin reveals one third of Brits are chatterboxes, who believe humour and honesty

  • Man remanded on golf club murder charge

    A man charged with the murder of 32-year-old Chris Varian at the weekend has been remanded in custody. Jonathan Limani, 33, from Rycote Lane, Thame, appeared before Oxford Crown Court today and was remanded to appear before Oxford Crown Court on

  • GCSE RESULTS: County pupils’ all-time record

    STUDENTS across Oxfordshire were all smiles last night after scoring the best GCSE results in the county’s history. The percentage of pupils who gained five A* to C grades including English and maths – considered the most important statistic

  • District schools celebrate GCSEs

    “THE best ever” was the reaction of one Witney school as it recorded record high GCSE passes. On Tuesday’s results day, 99 per cent of pupils left Wood Green School, in Woodstock Road, with five or more A* to G grades, while 21 young people

  • Local share prices

    24/08/2010 pm AEA Technology 18.5 BMW 3399 Electrocomponents 206.7 Nationwide Accident Repair 87.5 Oxford Biomedica 9.15 Oxford Catalyst 80 Oxford Instruments 350 REED 518 RM 130.25 RPS Group 173.2 Courtesy Redmayne Bentley

  • Baby girl for Cameron family

    David and Samantha Cameron have announced the birth of their fourth child, a girl. Downing Street said both the baby, born weighing 6lb 1oz, and the Prime Minister's wife were "doing very well". "The Prime Minister and Mrs Cameron are delighted to announce

  • Cameron thrilled by baby girl birth

    David Cameron said the birth of his fourth child, a baby girl born early and delivered by Caesarean section, was "absolutely thrilling, really exciting". The Prime Minister's wife Samantha went into labour in the early hours and gave birth at the Royal

  • Honours even with West Ham

    West Ham and Oxford United have met twice before in the League Cup. The first occasion was in 1986-7 when Oxford were the holders. They were beaten 1-0 at Upton Park in the fourth round. But the U’s gained revenge with a 2-1 victory over the Hammers

  • Breakdown hits rail travellers

    A broken down train hit rail travellers through north Oxfordshire today. Delays of up to 45 minutes were reported on First Great Western and CrossCountry services between Oxford and Banbury due to an earlier broken down train at Heyford. The breakdown

  • Cat trick conman steals 85-year-old's wallet

    Police are appealing for witnesses after a distraction burglary at the home of an 85-year-old man in Bampton yesterday. At about 2pm a man called at the door of the man's home in Main Street and said he believed he had run over the man’s cat. The

  • Gridlock warning for Bank Holiday

    Roads could be gridlocked this Bank Holiday weekend because 52 per cent of people are planning a trip, a survey has suggested. Friday will be the busiest day, with 25 per cent taking the day off and many others leaving work early, a poll by car

  • West Ham's a proper club - Melville

    Oxford United’s former West Ham player Andy Melville says the Premier League outfit are “a proper club” who do things right. Former Wales international defender Melville was at Upton Park from 2004-2005 but admitted: “I haven’t been back since. “I

  • Medieval fair brings history alive

    LOCAL dignitaries were sent to the stocks and pelted with wet sponges at a Medieval Fair to raise money for Wallingford Museum. Hundreds packed into the Kinecroft on Saturday to try their hand at medieval crafts, including spinning, basket-making

  • Branson abandons record bid

    Sir Richard Branson has been forced to abandon his attempt to set two world records by kite-boarding across the English Channel. Strong winds and a choppy sea made it unsafe for him to proceed with the 24-mile crossing and he turned back after

  • Twins' clean sweep in GCSE exams

    TWINS Krishan and Jai-hin Patel are celebrating scoring a clean sweep of A*s in their GCSE exams, gaining 10 a piece between them. The 16-year-old, from Old Marston, in Oxford, both attend the city’s independent boys’ school Magdalen College

  • GCSE: Twins score clean sweep

    Twins Krishan and Jai-hin Patel are celebrating scoring a clean sweep of A*s in their GCSE exams gaining 20 between them. The brothers from Old Marston got ten A*s apiece in the tests. The 16-year-old twins both attend the independent

  • Stuffed tiger's head stolen

    Police are appealing for witnesses after a stuffed tiger’s head was stolen from the garden of a property in Chipping Norton. Between 11.59pm on Saturday, August 14, and 10am on Sunday, August 15,, thieves entered the rear garden of the property and

  • Formula 1 technician to cross Sahara in vintage car

    HE’S been part of a double World Championship winning F1 team but Renault technician Mark Owen says the task of driving an 86-year-old car through some of the world’s most hostile terrain will be an even greater challenge. The 53-year-old

  • CRICKET: Swinbrook storm to cup glory

    Swinbrook landed the Steve Dixon Memorial Cup as they eased to a 65-run victory over Chesterton in Sunday’s final at Eynsham. Batting first, Swinbrook scored 182-8 as Alex Snow made 56 and Lee Price took 4-31. In reply, Graeme White hit 57 for Chesterton

  • Too costly to send out polling cards

    A TOWN council is refusing to send out polling cards to constituents for an upcoming by-election to save money. Woodstock Town Council will save approximately £1,000 by not sending the cards to its 2,000 residents for the election on Thursday, September

  • Cole hopes to land Hammer blow

    Oxford United winger Mitchell Cole has special reason for wanting to do well tonight. He was at West Ham for the best part of ten years, until being released at 18. Signed from Stevenage in the summer, Cole, 24, is likely to be among the Oxford United

  • Burglar detained for thefts in city

    A TEENAGER who committed three burglaries in Oxford in a week and tried to steal a bicycle in the city centre has been sent to a young offenders’ institution for 15 months. Dayne Smith, 18, of Reedmace Close, Greater Leys, Oxford, admitted at Oxford

  • Burglars target homes in Cogges

    Police are appealing for witnesses following a series of burglaries in Witney over the weekend. Between 9am on Friday and 1.25pm on Sunday, burglars broke into a property at Hollis Close, Witney and stole a television, laptop and handbag. The second

  • Girl raped at party, court told

    A 14-YEAR-OLD girl was raped in a portable toilet at a busy birthday party, a court heard yesterday. In a video interview played to jurors at Oxford Crown Court, the alleged victim said she was forced to perform a sex act on two men in Gagingwell, near

  • CRICKET: Shrivenham stay on track

    OCA League - Divisions 1-4 Shrivenham maintained their challenge for the Division 1 title when they edged past Marcham by three wickets on Saturday. Batting first, Marcham were shot out for 128 as Adam Tucker took 4-12 from 12 overs. Matthew Pearcey

  • CRICKET: Price's 6-17 not right as Chesterton lose out

    OCA League - Divisions 5-10 Great Horwood 2nd’s Gary Lee scored 80 to help his side to a 78-run victory over Chesterton in Division 5. Horwood posted 180 all out, despite 6-17 from Trevor Price. Chesterton then fell to 102 all out in reply. Minster

  • CRICKET: Middleton stars in vain

    MP SPORTS CHERWELL LEAGUE - Div 5 Mark Middleton took 8-26 from 18 overs – but finished on the losing side. Challow & Childrey 2nd were restricted to 100-9 by leaders Great & Little Tew 2nd, Kevin Taylor taking 4-15. Justin Parker’s 35 then proved

  • CRICKET: Bicester's reign lasts one week

    MP SPORTS CHERWELL LEAGUE - Div 4 Bicester & North Oxford’s reign at the top lasted only one week as they were walloped by Wallingford and so slipped to third. Trevor Spindler (3-34) and Alan Bowman (3-38) did much of the damage as Bicester were bowled

  • CRICKET: Downes downs Downs' dream

    MP SPORTS CHERWELL LEAGUE - Div 3 Oxford Downs 2nd could have blown their promotion hopes after a five-wicket defeat to Bledlow Village. James Barrett was out one ball short of his century in Downs’ 199, Ryan Chapman taking 3-30 and Matt Bolton 3-

  • Fans bid farewell to stock car racing legend

    VETERAN stock car drivers gathered at Oxford Crematorium yesterday to pay tribute to the fastest man in Blackbird Leys, ‘Dangerous’ Don Evans. While millions of viewers watch the battles between two stock car driving families in a new BBC docu

  • CRICKET: Eager Eason

    MP SPORTS CHERWELL LEAGUE - Divs 6-10 Alex Eason made 135 as Horspath 3rd closed in on the Division 7 title with a 133-run victory over Oxford 5th. Horspath 3rd now need just three points to finish top, while their seconds, who had a week off, need

  • CRICKET: Nondies made to wait

    MP SPORTS CHERWELL LEAGUE - Div 2 Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts are still one win away from the title after drawing at Banbury 2nd. The visitors’ 188-7 was thanks in part to Stuart Wood (35) and Ian Mead (32). Jimmy Phillips took

  • A decade of Daeda's Wood

    DEDDINGTON residents have celebrated a decade since they built up a wood from scratch. Part of the Woodland Trust’s Woods on your Doorstep project, the community has spent ten years, planting, weeding and pruning trees that stand on a site that was previously

  • Morris dancers sign off after 30 years

    IT WAS the final curtain for Witney’s only morris dance side – and the second in Oxfordshire to welcome women dancers – as they performed their last jig. Queen Emma’s Morris, which has been performing in the town for 30 years, has called time on the

  • Grant boosts affordable housing

    A COUNCIL has been given a £1.35m grant to boost affordable homes. The Homes and Communities Agency has approved the cash to help fund 24 energy-efficient homes — 17 for social rent and seven for shared ownership. Properties, including one bungalow,

  • CRICKET: Challow can still stay up

    MP SPORTS CHERWELL LEAGUE - Div 1 Challow & Childrey are still clinging to hopes of avoiding the drop after playing out a thriller against likely runners-up Shipton-under-Wychwood. Shipton amassed 252 all out despite seeing their innings reduced by

  • COMMENT: Reaching out to flood victims

    WE are happy to print today details of the efforts being made to help flood victims in Pakistan, funded by generous people in Oxfordshire. Yesterday it was announced Britons had donated more than £29m and there was criticism other countries

  • Council launches gum campaign

    RESIDENTS were shown just how much trouble discarded chewing gum can cause. Cherwell District Council say it has to clean up thousands of pieces of the sticky stuff across Banbury, Bicester and Kidlington. But in a bid to tackle the problem head-on,

  • Vicar of Dibley star to open fete

    VICAR of Dibley actor James Fleet will officially open Katharine House Hospice’s fete on September 4. Mr Fleet, best known as Hugo, will open the Adderbury-based hospice’s first fete since 2004, for what promises to be a fun-filled afternoon. There

  • Flood aid from Oxford put to work in Pakistan

    Money collected in Oxford is being put to urgent use to help people affected by the Pakistan floods disaster. So far more than £13,000 has been raised in the city and sent directly to one of the worst-hit regions to buy equipment, food and

  • It's their fault

    CHRIS ROBINS’S letter (Mail, July 16) exposes Labour isolation. In frustration he levels accusations against bankers. But did any Labour spokespeople protest against an increasingly convoluted global financial system? The critical condition of this

  • ON YER BIKE: London hire bikes are a capital idea

    Just back from a day out on the Barclays Cycle Hire bikes in London, I’m feeling rather smug. Smug because only the biking cognoscenti are out on them this month, and I felt like something of a pioneer cruising around on the hulking bike. Those in the

  • Put aid first

    WITH all the bad publicity given to Pakistan over the past year, it is gratifying to see politics put to one side, and people pulling together to raise money for the victims of its floods. G HUSBAND North Oxford

  • Follow France

    IT SEEMS that, once again, the UK has to pander to an alien minority, with regard to laws allowing the wearing of the burka. I am not in favour of the EU and its laws, but in France the burka is banned. That law should also apply to us. Crash

  • Meet the Searchers

    Julie Webb joins a friendly group of folk involved in researching history projects at the Museum of Oxford. It is being increasingly recognised that the sudden transition from employment in a convivial and stimulating job to a retirement that

  • GCSE: Oxford Academy says record year

    THE Principal of Oxford Academy today praised his pupils for another “record year” in GCSE exam results. Mike Reading said results have now improved to 63 per cent five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C and 32 per cent five or more at grade A

  • Church minister held in US on child sex charges

    A FORMER Oxfordshire magistrate is being held in prison in the US accused of sexually abusing children. The Rev Robert Dando, a senior minister from Worcester Park Baptist Church, in south-west London, was visiting a family friend in Fairfax, Virginia

  • DARTS: New base for Oxon at Rileys

    The Rileys club in Between Towns Road, Cowley, will be the home of Oxfordshire county darts for the next four years. A match stage has been specially constructed to conform to British Darts Organisation League rules. The existing six-lane Darts Zone

  • Ed gets my vote

    I shall be voting for Ed Miliband in Labour’s leadership election. We are spoilt for choice with our five candidates. But to my mind Ed will tackle climate change, is committed to voting reform and will not get us involved in more foreign wars. Ed

  • ASK THE VET: Don't skip your dog's vaccines

    Q There are a lot of rumours that Parvovirus is back? How can we be sure our dogs do not catch this? Anonymous A Parvovirus is a very nasty disease of dogs. It causes a severe infection of the stomach and guts and results in vomiting

  • CRICKET: Horspath are champions

    MP SPORTS CHERWELL LEAGUE - Graham Scott's Match of the Day Horspath were crowned champions of the MP Sports Cherwell League for the first time in their history after they beat Cumnor by 101 runs on Saturday. The result was never in doubt once Ned

  • DARTS: New base for Oxon at Rileys

    Florence Park CC Ladies A sit proudly at the top of the Greene King ODDA Summer League with a handsome 16-point lead. The unbeaten leaders not-ched their tenth win in ten outings as they triumphed 9-0 at Team Berry. Defending champions Nuff-ield Bar

  • FOOTBALL: Ford throws down Bell challenge

    Oxford City boss Mike Ford has thrown out a challenge to Mark Bell – get yourself fit. The winger, who scored 20 goals to earn them promotion two seasons ago, was plagued by a pelvic injury last season, but Ford feels he is ready to get back

  • Help trace friend

    I AM trying to trace a friend of mine who moved back to Abingdon in the 1980s. The person was Gillian Evans (Gill) and is probably aged in her late 40s or possibly 50s. Gill had previously lived in Abingdon, and I think that she worked for General Accident

  • Cycle path designs need a full review

    Thank you for reporting the faded cycle lane markings on pavements in Woodstock Road, Oxford (Oxford Mail, August 16). In recent years, half-a-mile of markings between Blenheim Drive and First Turn have become so faded that they have contributed to

  • Council has no plans to levy workplace parking charge

    OXFORDSHIRE County Council says it has no plans to charge people to park at work. A number of councils, including Leeds, York and Bristol, have expressed an interest in charging employers who offer workplace car parking. Oxfordshire County Council had

  • Master weavers of Witney

    Nicola Lisle looks back on the golden era of blanket-making in Witney. July 19, 2002, was a sad day for Witney. This was the day that Early’s Witney Mill, the last of the town’s famous blanket factories, closed its doors for the final time, bringing

  • Mystery of the man behind our city’s first newspapers

    Mark Davies attempts to shed some light on the life of the man who published the forerunner of The Oxford Times. W hen the Oxford businessman William Jackson died on April 22, 1795, the following obituary appeared in the city’s only newspaper

  • Alice in Waterland

    Author and historian Mark Davies follows in the footsteps of Charles Dodgson and his young companions on the trips along the River Thames which inspired a famous book. The Oxford English Dictionary’s definition of ‘wonderland’ is, unambiguously

  • COMMENT: Inner beauty

    COMPETITIONS such as Miss England are often derided as reinforcing the myth of perfect bodies to young women. How refreshing it is that Miss Oxford, Camilla Chia, is entering despite having a prominent scar on her stomach. She says: “It doesn’t matter

  • GCSE: Wheatley Park delight at results

    Wheatley Park headteacher Kate Curtis said she was delighted at today's GCSE results. The school was put under special measures last year but saw 59 per cent of its pupils gain five or more A* to C grades including maths and English today. That figure

  • Oxford’s forgotten sons and daughters

    People can be forgiven for having a general impression that Jewish life in Oxford began in the mid-19th century. The much-neglected truth is vibrant and exciting, as Linora Lawrence reveals. If, one day in 1150, you had gone shopping and were

  • Seat of learning

    Most visitors to Oxford want to visit the university’s many historic colleges, with their beautiful grounds and stunning architecture. One of the great strengths of Oxford is that each college is so different, and they all have their individual

  • Beauty queen Camilla bears scar with pride

    MISS Oxford Camilla Chia is determined to prove to Miss England judges that beauty is more than just skin deep. Sporting a three-inch scar across her belly button as a result of life-changing stomach surgery, the 21-year-old has already overcome bigger

  • Rush-hour traffic grinds to a halt

    RUSH-HOUR traffic came to a standstill yesterday after a collision between a lorry and a pedestrian at a south Oxford roundabout. Police were called at 6.43am following the accident at the Kennington roundabout. The Southern bypass was closed in both

  • MURDER: Grisly details emerge

    A RESTAURANT manager killed at a leading Oxfordshire golf club was decapitated, it has emerged. Yesterday the shocked family of Christopher Varian paid tribute to the 32-year-old who “would not hurt a fly”, while work colleague Jonathan Limani

  • Branson targets two world records

    » Sir Richard Branson is to attempt to set two world records today when he kite-boards across the English Channel to celebrate his 60th birthday. The Virgin entrepreneur, who has a home in Kidlington, hopes to become the oldest person to cross

  • Schools celebrate GCSE records

    A school placed in ‘special measures’ has recorded its best GCSE results. Wheatley Park School, which was given the sanction by Ofsted in September, saw 59 per cent of its pupils gain five or more A* to C grades including maths and English.

  • GCSES: 'Failing' school gets record results

    A SCHOOL placed in ‘special measures’ has recorded its best-ever GCSE results. Wheatley Park School, which was given the sanction by Ofsted in September, saw 59 per cent of its pupils gain five or more A* to C grades including maths and English today

  • It's Hammer time for Oxford United

    Chris Wilder says every one of his players will have to perform to his maximum if Oxford United are to stand any chance of pulling off a Carling Cup upset at Premier League West Ham tonight (7.45). The Hammers may not have registered a win yet this season

  • Volunteers needed

    WALLINGFORD VOLUNTEER CENTRE We urgently need more volunteer drivers Could you help? To enable us to meet the number of requests received each week we urgently need more volunteer drivers, particularly those willing to drive clients to appointments

  • Vintage cars on parade to help troops

    VINTAGE car owners enjoyed an exotic barbecue by the Thames as they raised £1,800 for Help the Heroes. The Ox and Berks Morris Minor Club met at the Radley College Boathouse on Sunday for a barbecue featuring ostrich, springbok and boar meat, plus live

  • Police keep tabs on crooks' 'calling cards'

    POLICE claim figuring out the “calling cards” of burglars in Oxford is helping drive down crime. Officers in the Priority Crime team in Oxford have been keeping close tabs on 30 well-known burglars, taking notes on the way they break into houses, the

  • Actress Susan Hampshire puts home on market for £1m

    ACTRESS Susan Hampshire is selling her 17th-century converted barn set in grounds of one-and-half acres near Thame. Warren Barn in the village of Little Haseley has been put on the market for £1.15m with the TV and film star and husband Sir Eddie Kulukundis