Archive

  • Two charged after armed raids

    Detectives from Thames Valley Police have this evening charged a man and woman in connection with armed robberies in Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Trevor Hayes, 45, of Leaver Road, Henley, is charged with: Robbery and possession of a firearm with intent

  • Grove Challengers v Summertown Cobras

    Grove Challengers Under 9s have had a slow start to the season and so far have not acquired a single point. Having said that all team members remain just as keen and enthusiastic for every new game. Today was no exception. Red Team were first to

  • Get ready for a flytipping rise

    A MAGNET for flytippers in Cowley could become even worse if the Redbridge dump closes to the public, a community leader fears. The bins at the entrance to the Oxford Retail Park will be more of a mess if plans to only allow trade waste at Redbridge,

  • RUGBY UNION: The numbers game

    Bicester edged a poor match that will live short in the memory. Here is the numbers' game. See Tuesday’s paper for full report. Competition: BB&O Premier Division Score: Gosford All Blacks 5, Bicester 17 Gosford player ratings

  • Abingdon Youth 1 - 0 Cholsey Bluebirds

    The game initially looked in doubt due to the solid pitch and freezing temperatures but both teams had made the effort to turn out and the game went ahead. Cholsey took a bit of time to warm up and get into the swing of the game. There were

  • Tributes to pub barman who died suddenly, aged 22

    A 22-YEAR-OLD Bicester barman who died suddenly was “loved by all”, friends said. Ian North was found dead in his Warwick Court home on Friday by police. Thames Valley Police spokesman Victoria Brandon said officers had been contacted by The Penny Black

  • Oxford United now ninth after drawing with Cheltenham

    Oxford United slipped to ninth in League Two after being held to a 1-1 draw by Cheltenham Town at the Kassam Stadium. It was their first draw in four months. Wes Thomas fired the Robins in front on 26 minutes, but Tom Craddock equalised seven minutes

  • FOOTBALL: Williams is new Didcot boss

    DIDCOT Town this morning appointed Adrian Williams as its new manager. The former Wales international had long spells at Reading and Swindon Town in a 20-year playing career. He has spent time as caretaker boss at Swindon Town as manager at Bedford

  • Craddock brings Oxford United level

    Tom Craddock brought Oxford United level before half-time after they had trailed Cheltenham at the Kassam Stadium. Wes Thomas chipped Ryan Clarke, after a bad mistake from Jake Wright, to give the Robins a 26th-minute lead. But seven minutes later,

  • Cowley's Unipart shows true team spirit

    FOOTBALL-crazy warehouse workers have achieved their goal of supporting young players. More than 200 members of staff at Unipart’s Distribution Centre in Garsington Road, Cowley, Oxford, donated £600 to Oxford Blackbirds Football Club after a series

  • Villagers fight to keep their postie

    VILLAGERS have launched a petition to try to save their postman from enforced retirement when he reaches his 65th birthday next month. Residents in Moulsford, near Wallingford, are being urged to show their support for Michael Maguire, who

  • Burial crisis looming for Bicester

    BICESTER’S only cemetery could be full within 18 months, residents have been warned. A plan to extend the cemetery behind St Edburg’s Church, in Church Street, has been thwarted after an electricity grid cable was found under the proposed extension site

  • Pullman's in the hotseat

    PUPILS in Oxford got the chance to meet one of their literary idols this week. Students at The Cherwell School interviewed Philip Pullman, author of the His Dark Materials trilogy. Pupil Rosie Chalmers, 11, said: “It was really amazing and we even got

  • Join the Big Garden Birdwatch

    The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ Big Garden Birdwatch — the world’s largest wildlife survey — takes place this weekend. Sarah Kelly, Big Garden Birdwatch co-ordinator, said: “Big Garden Birdwatch provides a fun activity for all

  • OLUDENIZ, TURKEY: Aegean Dreams

    PLEASURE seekers have been coming to Turkey’s turquoise coast for a very long time. How long? Well, for at least 3,000 years. The stomping ground of Lycians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, Ottomans and Crusaders, all have rested along this heavenly

  • INDOOR CRICKET: Crump sees off Hooky

    An unbeaten 43 from Ashley Crump helped Charlbury to a six-run win against Hook Norton in their top-of-the-table clash in Division 2 of the Banbury Indoor League. Charlbury posted 122-3, thanks to Crump and Liyanarachi Bimalka (27no) and they held on

  • TABLE TENNIS: Oxford vets unbeatable

    Oxford Veterans boast a 100 per cent record in Midland League Division 1. The A team have beaten Nuneaton A 6-4, defending champions Nottingham A 7-3 and Birmingham A 10-0. Captain Karl Bushell has won eight out of nine, with Andy Misseldine (6/6),

  • SNOOKER: Yarnton win it the the death

    Yarnton RBL A became the first team to beat Oxford Union this season with a sudden death 4-3 success in the first round of the Gentworks Oxford & District League Buildbase Plate. It looked all over as Yarnton stormed into a 3-0 lead, only for Oxford

  • ICE HOCKEY: Stars in waiting game

    Oxford City Stars are hoping Andrew Sturmer will recover from illness in time for tomorrow’s home clash with English National League South Division 1 leaders Wightlink Raiders. Stars will be aiming to build on last weekend’s 3-0 victory against Bristol

  • United players make surprise hospital visit to sick young fan

    FOR Oxford united fan Keeley Gomersall, having to spend extensive periods of time in hospital is simply part of life. The 10-year-old was born with a bone deformity and has just endured another operation – this time to have a metal frame fitted

  • Bicester drug dealer jailed after bar arrest

    A DRUG dealer caught in the act at in a bar has been jailed for two years. Liam Green was seen acting suspiciously by doorstaff at G’s Bar in Bicester, on December 20, 2009. When police arrived, the 26-year-old was found with 11 wraps of crack cocaine

  • SWIMMING: Chung leads way for super City

    City of Oxford ace Alex Chung won his first gold of the season with a personal best of 38.08 seconds in the 50m breaststroke at the level two meeting in Aylesbury. Chung, 13, a Wheatley Park student, was one of 300 swimmers taking part in the event.

  • ANGLING: Hallett does it again

    Littlemore piker Tony Hallett (above) last appeared in these pages in November with a pike of 22.3.0, and this week he’s back again with an even bigger fish weighing 25.7.0 from the same pit. He spent a seven-hour session on the water and this was the

  • ANGLING: Pike trials at Farmoor

    Farmoor are opening their two reservoirs for another pike fishing experiment. Both Farmoor I and II are well known for their quality trout fishing, but there are also massive pike present, albeit few and far between. Previous pike trials have produced

  • TABLE TENNIS: Rutherford lead the way

    Rutherford stayed at the top of Division 1, beating lowly Vikings C 10-0. Second-placed Vikings B kept up the pressure by thrashing Forum A 9-1. It was three apiece for Pavel Jaskolski and Jingyu Sun again, but Alan Cherry chipped in with two wins for

  • Change of heart means village pub stays as it is

    LEAFIELD locals are celebrating after finding out their village pub has been saved. A campaign group, set up to save the Fox Inn, which was due to be converted into a house, with the pub rebuilt on a smaller scale on the site, said it was delighted with

  • City ice rink to reopen

    Oxford Ice Rink is to reopen following a major refurbishment. The rink, in Oxpens Road, will be reopened on Wednesday by Barbara Gatehouse, who, as a city councillor, opened the rink 26 years ago. More than £700,000 has been spent on the rink, with

  • SCHOOL SPORT: Hawtin six-timer sunk by Swords

    Melissa Hawtin missed out on a sixth successive win at the Oxfordshire Schools’ Cross Country Champion-ships as she finished runner-up to Headington’s Beth Swords at Radley College. Hawtin, from Gosford Hill, had won twice at both junior and intermediate

  • ANGLING: Littlemore switch pays dividends

    Littlemore's match was switched to Stable Lake due to the high water on the Thames and it proved a wise move for most of the nine anglers. Brian Hutchings claimed top spot and the Golden Peg with 50.13.0 of carp and bream taken on the pole and maggot

  • ‘We’ll keep pitches open’ vow officials

    SPORTS officials have promised to help Oxford football teams play all their matches this season after a row over pitch closures. Footballers had been worried they would not be able complete all their fixtures by the end of the season due to a backlog

  • Petrol thief is sent to prison

    A 24-year-old man was jailed for 18 weeks by Oxford magistrates on Thursday after admitting stealing fuel. Karl Barrett, of Old Abingdon Road, Oxford, was charged with three counts of making off without payment of fuel worth £369, driving while disqualified

  • GREYHOUNDS: Classy Emma is worthy winner

    Freedom Emma being crowned ‘Bitch of the Year’ at the GRBG National Greyhound Awards at the Hilton on Sunday was thoroughly deserved. The Oaks winner was always a leading fancy for the title after landing the bitches classic and what an emotional night

  • Faringdon OAP gets 16 years’ jail for sex attacks

    A PENSIONER is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison after being jailed for “vile” sexual abuse of children over a 17-year period. George Prior, also known as Fred Smith, was sentenced to 16 years in prison at Oxford Crown Court yesterday

  • GREYHOUNDS: Shelley eyes return to form

    The Nick Colton-trained Danielles Shelly, without a win since the turn of the year, can improve on her second place behind Pats Cash last time out and land the A1 over 450 metres at Oxford Stadium tonight. TONIGHT’S RUNNERS 7.35: Scatty Oscar, Bit View

  • TROTMAN TRIAL: 'Car fire claims don't add up'

    FORMER Oxford police commander Jim Trotman would have been “unbelievably stupid” to set fire to his own car after revealing problems in his personal life, a court heard yesterday. Chief Superintendent Trotman is accused of setting fire to

  • Oxford letting agent is fined £2,000

    AN Oxford letting agent has been fined £2,000 for failing to keep a rented house in good repair. Oxford Letting and Property Management Ltd, of Cowley Road, pleaded guilty to three offences at Oxford Magistrates’ Court yesterday. It comes as Oxford

  • Ultimate Picture Palace cinema could be sold

    OXFORD’S last independent cinema could be sold after its owners admitted running the screen had left them exhausted. Philippa Farrow and Jane Derricott said they are considering putting the Ultimate Picture Palace on the market because of family

  • Oxford primary school rebuild is back on

    MULTI-MILLION-pound plans to rebuild a run-down Oxford primary school have been brought back to life in the face of swingeing Government and council cuts. Oxfordshire County Council has found £6.6m to create a new building for Bayards Hill

  • COMMENT: Now it's game on

    HUNDREDS of local footballers will be delighted to read Oxford City Council’s vow to ensure they will be able to complete their season. Amateur leagues feared games put off because of the foul winter weather would not be played because the

  • Former hotelier on child porn charges

    A former hotel manager has been charged with possessing and distributing child pornography. Chris Melton worked at the White Hart in Dorchester-on-Thames, where he was arrested as part of a Metropolitan Police investigation last March. The 25-year-old

  • CRICKET: Rebels insist they are listening

    Rebel executive members of the MP Sports Cherwell League have denied they have turned a deaf ear to clubs. They have sent out the message as they bid to overthrow chairman Clive Ricks at an extraordinary general meeting at Rover Cowley Sports & Social

  • COMMENT: School rebuild shows good sense in hard times

    FOR the second time this week we are happy to see a local authority displaying common sense in these financially-straitened times. Earlier this week Oxford City Council decided to protect its funding for debt services, at the expense of several

  • Cheltenham fear Mac attack!

    OXFORD United’s opponents today, Cheltenham Town, will not enjoy seeing Steve MacLean on the home side’s teamsheet. The 28-year-old Scot has been a nemesis to them in the past. He smashed a hat-trick for Scunthorpe against Cheltenham in a 5-2 win back

  • FOOTBALL: Didcot close to new boss

    Didcot Town chairman John Bailey says they are close to making a decision on their new manager. But he said following talks with the prospective new boss last night, that the club still cannot make an announcement on who that is likely to be. Bailey