Archive

  • Women invited to join new running club

    A FORMER marathon runner has set up a new club for women wanting to get fit. Linda Davies, 60, has founded the new North Oxford running group after realising many women were embarrassed at the prospect of taking up running, even though they

  • Former directors face jail over £1.65m fraud

    TWO businessmen have been convicted of “cooking the books” of an Oxfordshire business to the tune of £1.6m. Christopher Ford, 47, and Edwin Dayan, 57, put non-existent revenue through the accounts of Witney firm Torex Retail between March and July 2006

  • Home-grown market plan for Leys

    HOMEGROWN fruit and veg could be sold in the heart of an Oxford estate, if one resident’s idea becomes a reality. Families in Blackbird Leys are being invited to show their support for the idea of a new community market. Freelance teacher Leah Owens

  • Mail's Playhouse prize is just the ticket

    COLLEGE administrator Glenn Archibald was grinning from ear to ear after winning a top Oxford Mail prize. Our annual Golden Ticket prize in The Guide enables him and a guest to see any show at the Oxford Playhouse between January and June, in a line-up

  • City council may give young people OAP homes

    HUNDREDS of council homes earmarked for the elderly could be offered to younger people as Oxford struggles to cope with its chronic housing shortage. The move by Oxford City Council to remove age limits on some of its one-bed properties was sparked by

  • Jobless total falls slightly

    The number of people in Oxfordshire out of work and claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance fell by 69 last month to 4,985. The figure is the equivalent of 1.7 per cent of the working population. Marginal falls were recorded by the Office of

  • Macmillan Cancer Support bid

    A CHARITY is looking to sign up 100 businesses to help with fundraising as part of a major campaign. Macmillan Cancer Support has started its 100+ Club in the county to encourage small businesses to drum up £1,000 each this year in a bid to reach a

  • Local share prices

    19/01/2011 pm AEA Technology 6.1 BMW 4875 Electrocomponents 259.8 Nationwide Accident Repair 98.5 Oxford Biomedica 5.55 Oxford Catalysts 69.5 Oxford Instruments 658.5 Reed Elsevier 555.25 RM 165 RPS Group 225.4 Courtesy Redmayne

  • Laptop stolen in Oxford break-in

    Police are appealing for witnesses following a burglary in Chestnut Road, Elms Rise, Oxford. A 26-year-old man returned home to his address last night to find that he had been burgled. Police said sometime between 11.30am and 6.30pm, thieves entered

  • Local share prices (PM)

    AEA Technology 6.1 BMW 4875 Electrocomponents 259.8 Nationwide Accident Repair 98.5 Oxford Biomedica 5.55 Oxford Catalysts 69.5 Oxford Instruments 658.5 Reed Elsevier 555.25 RM 165 RPS Group 225.4 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley,

  • MacLean agrees to stay with Oxford United

    Steve MacLean will stay with Oxford United until the end of the season. The striker's loan ended after Saturday's 2-1 victory over Bradford. And when he threw his shirt into the crowd following the victory, in which he scored, many fans felt he had

  • River Thames taken off flood alert

    The Environment Agency this afternoon removed the flood alert that had been in place on the River Thames in Oxfordshire. The alert had been placed on the stretch of the river from Buscot Wick downstream to Kings Lock, above Oxford.

  • Schoolgirls campaign to stop cemetery vandals

    VANDALS who targeted a baby’s grave have sparked a schoolgirls’ campaign to clean up Didcot Cemetery. Year 11 Didcot Girls’ School pupils Karen Goddard, Frae Elford and Amy Aldworth, all 16, are campaigning against graveyard vandalism as part of their

  • Positive prediction from Oxford Instruments

    High-tech engineering firm Oxford has issued an upbeat prediction for its trading performance over 2011. The company, based at Tubney Woods, near Abingdon, which tripled its pre-tax profits for the last half of its financial year in 2010, said

  • FOOTBALL: Fullerton is the hero

    Joe Fullerton bagged a brace as Hailey beat Brize Norton 5-1 in the fourth round of the OFA John Fathers Shield. Joel King, Harry Trethowan and Alex Bolt also netted.

  • FOOTBALL: Cool Townsend is spot-on for Spartan

    Spartan Rangers reached the semi-finals of the Witney & District FA's Fred Ford Cup as they saw off Hanborough 5-4 on penalties after a 3-3 draw. Matt Townsend bagged a brace before he hit the winning penalty. James Clarke got their other scorer, with

  • FOOTBALL: Wootton's title bid gets a booster

    Wootton & Dry Sandford boosted their North Berks League Division 1 title hopes with a 3-1 win against leaders Lambourn Sports. Liam Griffin missed a penalty for Wootton, before they went ahead with a successful spot-kick from Dave Hum-phreys

  • FOOTBALL: Blossom double caps five-star display

    Lee Blossom bagged a brace as Bardwell stormed to a 5-1 victory at Bloxham in Banbury District & Lord Jersey FA Division 1. Blossom headed home a corner to set Bardwell on their way, only for Bloxham to level when Dean O’Connell put through his own net

  • FOOTBALL: Gardner on song

    Women's football Chinnor Ladies crushed Carterton 7-0 in Division 3 of the Thames Valley Women’s League. Hayley Gardner led the way with a hat-trick, and there was also a brace for Natalie Eustace. Charlotte Cairns and Harr-iot Davis completed the

  • There is a real buzz at St Christopher's Primary School

    IT is every school’s worst nightmare to be put into special measures by Ofsted. Why then is there now such a positive buzz around St Christopher’s C of E Primary in Cowley? Eighteen months after being declared inadequate by Government

  • FOOTBALL: Hinksey stroll on

    Hinksey stayed on track for the Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division title with a 2-0 win at Stonesfield. Stonesfield bossed the first half, but were denied by the woodwork, with Nick Higgs’s corner hitting a post and Dominic White heading the

  • FLOOD ALERTS: Latest river updates

    FLOODING caused some disruption to traffic overnight. The A329 around Thame, near junction 7 of the M40, was closed off, due to flooding from the nearby River Thame. It was opened again early this morning. A spokesman from the Environment Agency said

  • FOOTBALL: Thieves wreck Eynsham's win

    Eynsham Res were counting the cost after thieves raided their dressing room during a 3-1 comeback win at OUP Res in Division 2 of the Oxfordshire Senior League. Paul Salmon gave OUP the lead, with Will Morris firing in a close-range leveller

  • Fall in numbers signing on the dole

    The number of people in Oxfordshire out of work and claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance fell by 69 last month to 4,985 or 1.7 per cent of the working population. Marginal falls were recorded by the Office of National Statistics in all districts of the county

  • FOOTBALL: Carterton clock up deadly dozen

    GILES SPORTS WITNEY YOUTH LEAGUE Carterton ran riot as they crushed Bloxham 12-1 in the Under 13 A League. Lewis Smith, Mahir Atlam and Tom Harvey hit doubles, with Josh Knibbs, Jack Davies, Dan Towsend, Jack Pritchard, Jack Cameron and Ryan Lewis

  • Police cut station opening hours

    Police said today that 'due to staffing issues', the Station Duty Office opening hours at Bicester Police Station had changed. Today, tomorrow and Friday, Bicester Police Station will only be open from 9am to 5pm. A police spokesman said: "We apologise

  • SCHOOLS' FOOTBALL: Cheney keep Wembley dream alive

    Cheney (Oxford) kept their Wembley dreams alive by winning the npower Football League Under 13 Girls Cup regional south area final for Oxford United at Wycombe. Molly Lygo-Jackson’s golden goal gave Cheney a thrilling 1-0 victory over Wycombe in the

  • SCHOOLS' FOOTBALL: Mid Oxon owe it to ace Liam

    Liam Botcherby was Mid Oxon’s hero with a dramatic winner in a 2-1 extra-time victory at Wolverhampton in the ESFA Under 15 Trophy fourth round. His strike five minutes from the end of extra-time at Goodrich Sports Ground set up a clash away to Brierley

  • SCHOOLS' FOOTBALL: Thatcher smashes hat-trick

    George Thatcher hit a hat-trick in Vale of White Horse Under 15s’ 5-1 win over Luton in the Hobbs Cup first round at Milton United. After a goalless first half, Vale, with the wind at their backs dominated the second period, and Ollie Thomas gave them

  • COMMENT: Inn-spiring pair

    FLORENCE Fowler and Tony Abarno have received a true reward for their hard work in turning around the Magdalen Arms in East Oxford. There is much doom and gloom in the pub trade at the moment. We wouldn’t want to see every local turn into a gastropub

  • FOOTBALL: Woodward is treble star

    Oxford Mail Girls League Cloe Woodward fired a hat-trick as Kidlington defeated Bardwell 6-0 in the Under 12 League. Woodward put Kidlington 1-0 ahead at the break, Rachel Newman scored a second and Zoe Chung bagged a brace. Two more from Woodward

  • Magdalen Arms wins a Michelin accolade

    A pub in East Oxford has been recognised in the world’s leading food bible. The Magdalen Arms, in Iffley Road, has been awarded a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide 2011 for serving “good food at reasonable prices”. The award is seen

  • Inbetweeners stars head to county for Comic Relief

    The stars of cult TV comedy The Inbetweeners are heading to Oxfordshire as part of a ‘rude road trip’ for Comic Relief, visiting the UK’s most naughtily-named places. Stars of the C4 show will visit 50 places, including Tinkerbush Lane in Wantage

  • A34 slip road to close for six nights

    Workmen will resurface the northbound exit slip road at the A34 Botley Interchange over six nights, starting tonight. Work will be carried out between 10pm and 5.30am and on Friday night work will begin at 10.30pm. During the closures, drivers will

  • Magdalen Arms wins a Michelin accolade

    A FORMER ‘spit and sawdust’ boozer in East Oxford has been recognised in the world’s leading food bible. The Magdalen Arms, in Iffley Road, has been awarded a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide 2011 for serving “good food at reasonable prices”. The

  • Cowboy builders stole £900,000

    SIX people in Oxfordshire fell victim to a gang of cowboy builders who have been convicted of fleecing homeowners across the South of more than £900,000. Mark Dixon, 43, of Down Hatherley, near Gloucester, Nicholas Harris, 45, of Upton St Leonards, near

  • SCHOOLS' FOOTBALL: Buchanan's brace in vain

    Jack Buchanan’s second-half double failed to save Vale of White Horse Under 11s from a 3-2 defeat away to Sutton in the County League. Trailing 3-0 at half-time, Vale rallied after the break and Buchanan pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after

  • Local share prices (AM)

    AEA Technology 6.1 BMW 4949 Electrocomponents 262.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 98.5 Oxford Biomedica 5.6 Oxford Catalysts 69.5 Oxford Instruments 648.5 Reed Elsevier 560.75 RM 164.5 RPS Group 226.6 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Anger over delay for renal unit

    A CAMPAIGNER has accused health bosses of dragging their feet over proposals to build a satellite kidney dialysis centre in Banbury. Miranda Berry, 51, has been lobbying NHS officials for almost three years to build a renal centre in North Oxfordshire

  • Watch out for street wardens

    STREET wardens across Cherwell have been given new powers to dish out fines as part of a clampdown on litterbugs. Previously the wardens, who patrol areas in Banbury, could only warn people. But as part of new measures by Cherwell District Council to

  • Mother’s shock at ‘swearing’ toy

    A MOTHER has said she was “horrified” when a toy she bought for her daughter started to swear at them. Leigh McPherson, 20, from Banbury, bought a “My Pal Violet” cuddly puppy from Asda as a present for her daughter’s first Christmas.

  • 'Gypsies set car on fire' wife of top Oxford cop was told

    A SENIOR policeman accused of an arson attack told his estranged wife he believed a group of gypsies had set fire to his car. Chief Superintendent Jim Trotman told his wife that he had been at a pub with friends and had parked his car in a

  • Bosses defend plans for Horspath wind turbine

    ENERGY bosses who want to build a 410ft wind turbine in Horspath have defended the plans. Partnerships for Renewables (PfR) was criticised by villagers who claim the structure will tower over their homes and dominate the area. More than 100 people packed

  • Blackbird Leys' human pin cushion is a real horror

    THE idea of stabbing yourself with pins for a living would make most people shudder with horror. But for unemployed van driver Anthony Walls it’s a job he cannot wait to start. Greater Leys resident Mr Walls has left life behind the wheel to star as

  • SCHOOLS' FOOTBALL: England call delights Ayris

    Bicester Community College’s Jordan Ayris can’t wait to represent his country after being selected for the England Under 18s squad. The 18-year-old striker earned his call-up after impressing in a series of trial games. “I was pleased,” he said. “It

  • Sunseekers plan Charlbury solar farm

    PEOPLE living near the planned site of Oxfordshire’s first major solar energy farm have welcomed the idea. A total of 27,000 panels could be used to generate power for the National Grid on a 38-acre site at Cornbury Park, near Charlbury, the home of

  • ROADS: Ice causing problems still

    ICY conditions have caused problems for drivers this morning. A large section of the road to Horspath - around where it turns from Horspath Road to Oxford Road - is currently shut due to ice, following a crash at 6.14am. One car crashed off the road

  • SASSY & SINGLE: Doorknob knocked my confidence

    I HATE it when I do this, but I’ve decided to write about something that I know is going to offend someone. So, before I start, let me just apologise to any member of the female race who is lucky enough to be one of those handy-lady types who manage

  • FOOTBALL: Janes is Barton saviour

    Mark Janes hit a late double as Barton United maintained their unbeaten record in the Autotype UTV League with a 3-3 draw against Kings Arms Wheatley, writes TIM SIRET. Both sides went into the Premier Division clash without a defeat, but things looked

  • Fears for youth

    The end of 2010 brought with it worrying reports that the number of unemployed 16- to 24-year-olds had increased by 28,000 in three short months, bringing the total number to 943,000. This figure shines a glaring torch into the faces of hundreds of thousands

  • Calling all Lindars

    l The Lindars family came from Chipping Norton in 1600, then most of them moved to Tetsworth in the 1700s, where they have lived until quite recently. Four of us are getting together and thought it would be a nice idea to have a Lindars reunion, so

  • Shopper's warning

    To all users of large Supermarkets: beware. Earlier this month. I bought a few items from a store in Oxford. Several items saved money if bought in pairs and the receipt showed the individual savings. However, other items showed a lowered individual

  • Displaying disregard

    With all the talk of cuts, it’s interesting to see once again that both government and council cuts are aimed at those in most need and least able to afford them, and not those who caused the problems in the first place – the bankers and politicians

  • Do not blackmail us over library closures

    EARLIER this month, about 300 Botley residents turned out to attend a meeting about the proposed closure of their library. Keith Mitchell graced us with his presence and we were given the hard sell about volunteer community libraries. Apparently, a

  • River Thames on flood alert

    The River Thames has been placed on flood alert. The alert - the lowest level issued by the Environment Agency - covers the river and its tributaries from Buscot Wick down to Kings Lock, above Oxford, including Buscot, Kelmscott, Radcot, Chimney

  • Peer in court over housing claims

    A CONSERVATIVE peer cheated the public out of £11,277 by falsely claiming that he lived in the Oxford home of a distant relative, a court was told. Lord Taylor of Warwick allegedly exploited the House of Lords’ expenses system by registering the house

  • Foul-mouthed toy strikes wrong note

    A MOTHER was shocked when a cuddly toy she bought for her baby daughter started to swear at them. Leigh McPherson, 20, from Banbury, bought a My Pal Violet cuddly puppy from an Asda store as a present for her daughter’s first Christmas. It was supposed

  • Police close A4130

    Police today closed the A4130 at Hadden Hill, near Didcot, after a number of crashes. The road was closed both ways due to an accident and ice between the B4016 Broadway and the Long Wittenham Road. Police report there are several accidents

  • Oxford United light the way at new ground opening

    Oxford United beat Thame United 3-1 in front of a bumper 1,382 crowd celebrating the official opening of the Hellenic League club’s £3m ASM Stadium at Tythrop Way. Jack Midson set up Matt Green to fire United ahead after 18 minutes, but

  • County to have just one rubbish dump

    OXFORDSHIRE could be left with only one tip for general waste as the county council attempts to change attitudes to dumping rubbish. County Hall has already unveiled plans to cut the number of dumps from eight to five in Oxfordshire. But now, under

  • COMMENT: Wishful thinking

    OXFORDSHIRE has made great strides over recent months with recycling rubbish. But we fear the rather draconian “behaviour-changing” approach of only having one dump for general waste will reverse many of the gains made. Why has recycling improved in

  • Fauzy joins Lotus Renault GP

    The Enstone-based Lotus Renault GP team have named Fairuz Fauzy as a reserve driver for the 2011 season. The 28-year-old Malaysian joins the team with a wealth of motor sport experience, including significant Formula 1 mileage gained during practice

  • 'Tax the banks to fund debt advice'

    DEBT advice centres need financial help too. That’s the message from Oxfordshire County Council, which has called for a tax on banks to pay for services helping people battling with financial problems. As the number of people in Oxfordshire seeking