Police are still investigating an alleged rape at an Oxford hotel. A 39-year-old woman claims she was attacked at the Express Holiday, in Grenoble Road, in the early hours of Sunday morning. She told police she met two men in The Bridge nightclub, in
Author Philip Pullman called for councillors to support a campaign to make Witney a Fairtrade town as he opened a market for the ethically-produced products. The writer spoke out as he opened Saturday’s market at the Langdale Hall, in Market Square.
CAMPAIGNERS fighting library funding cuts in Oxfordshire have welcomed a move by councillors to look at an innovative London project which kept branches open. Senior members of Oxfordshire County Council are due to visit Hillingdon, in the west of London
Burglars ransacked a home before driving off in the owner’s Porsche 911. They stole a “substantial amount” of cash, a black Dell Inspiron laptop and a handbag before taking the £67,000 sports car following the raid at the home in Scholar Place, at about
THE finishing touches are being put to the top trophy for the West Oxfordshire Business Awards. A shortlist of 22 finalists, in eight categories, was drawn up from 80 entries. The winners will be named at Eynsham Hall on Friday, with
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TELEVISION’S Sybil Fawlty gave a comedy masterclass to actors and students to support Oxford’s Creation Theatre Company. Actress Prunella Scales was on hand to advise six actors how to perfect their delivery of Shakespeare monologues in front of a paid
OXFORD'S Bus Users’ Forum will meet tomorrow at Oxford Town Hall, in St Aldate’s. County council cabinet member Ian Hudspeth will be on the forum panel, along with managers from the Oxford Bus Company, Stagecoach, Thames Travel and Arriva. The meeting
The Times was this week introducing its online readers to a dangerous addiction. I mean the game of bridge. It cannot be claimed, though, that this was being done without a full warning. Bridge expert Andrew Robson, writing in Monday’s newspaper, supplied
I hesitate to waste time on the matter of the missing comma (alleged) raised in the letters column last week by Michael Moorey, of West Hendred. But since he has picked nits, I shall too. Mr Moorey claims that by omitting a comma from ‘diet old boy’,
It was a pleasant surprise to discover, nearing the end of a first-class Sunday lunch at The Abingdon Arms, that it had been cooked by a chap I have known since he was not long out of short trousers. Little did I realise 35 years ago, when Mark
Today’s photo shows the dish of tenderloin of Gloucestershire Old Spot, served with caramelised apple tart, red cabbage and chorizo potatoes, which I enjoyed when I dined at the Trout at Tadpole Bridge. It was simply delicious. When cooking tenderloin
When I plan a day out, the dog comes too, and as our days out comprise a dog walk and a pub lunch, I must first find a dog-friendly pub that will allow my Border collie Pythius-Peacocke to place his paws under the table. This is not always
In March 1950, Harwell scientist Klaus Fuchs (below) was convicted at the Old Bailey of passing secrets of British atomic and hydrogen bombs to the Soviet Union. His trial took less than an hour-and- a-half, during which time he quietly pleaded guilty
In July 2003, former UN weapons inspector Dr David Kelly died after a high-profile appearance before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee to answer questions about the so-called ‘dodgy dossier’ of evidence about weapons of mass destruction. On the other
This was one of the most unusual and stimulating shows of the fifth Dancin’ Oxford festival. The French company Retouramont was founded by Fabrice Guillot, a professional rock climber. Guillot was fascinated by the variety of movements he observed as
A FOOD supply company has been told to pay a fine and costs totalling £62,000 over an accident which left an Abingdon man paralysed from the neck down. Lorry driver Neil Cooper, 28, was crushed by a metal roll cage as he was unloading a delivery from
This is a substantial body of work, more than 120 pieces in all, made by 37 members of the Oxford Printmakers, with subject matter as diverse as the range of printing techniques used. In her etchings, Flora McLachlan uses the deep mysterious blacks
Food, wine and opera . . . it’s a potent mix, and last Friday’s opera gala, held to mark the 25th anniversary of the Oxford León Association, was a suitably splendid affair. With tables laid out, restaurant-style, in the magnificent main hall, this was
Perhaps it’s no coincidence as Mike Skinner decides he’s had enough of being the Streets, two of his protégées have stormed the charts. Both Professor Green and tonight’s occupant of the O2 Academy, Example, were signed to Skinner’s short-lived record
Ever one for challenges, often to do with location or technical matters, Alan Ayckbourn set himself a more unusual one in 1978’s Joking Apart. This was to build a successful play around a truly contented couple — characters generally thought hopelessly
This is without doubt the most bizarre show I have seen. The company of 15 women, none of whom weighs less than 15 stone, comes from Perm in Russia. It was founded with the intention of showing that you don’t have to be thin to dance. Rightly realizing
George and Weedon Grossmith’s 1892 novel Diary of Nobody, translated to the stage at the Royal&Derngate Theatres, is a treat that should on no account be missed. How perfectly the action plays amid the gilded opulence of the Royal, whose opening in 1884
Ever since the Sex Pistols imploded, the word punk has become so stretched it’s fraying at the edges. Bands who play tiny pubs, football stadiums and kids TV shows all proudly describe their music as a variety of punk, with the original days of safety
Duruflé’s Requiem has never quite achieved the widespread recognition of Fauré’s masterpiece, on which it was modelled, but last Saturday night the choir of The Queen’s College made a case for a more frequent airing of this evocative and richly-textured
‘One comedy and one tragedy. But which is which?” writes Propeller’s director Edward Hall in the programme for the company’s Richard III and The Comedy of Errors. So there’s fun in store, is there, as the stage’s most unapologetic villain murders his
‘I would fain die a dry death,” says Gonzalo as he stumbles ashore at the beginning of Shakespeare’s Tempest. There is little chance of anyone dying a cosy dry death in this new production from Cheek by Jowl’s Russian company: not only is everyone wringing
‘I went through the sixties,” a laid-back Neil Innes told his audience at Arlington Arts Centre last Friday. Then he added with a grin: “I’m going through them again now.” The passing of time was a major theme as this exceptionally talented entertainer
IT wasn’t the weather for wearing thongs but a team of charity fundraisers from Didcot braved the cold to raise money for bereaved children. Ten members of the Thong Rangers running team and Thong Rangerette Carla Howes collected about £1,000 from drivers
REMAINS dating back thousands of years have been uncovered on the site of Didcot’s Great Western Park housing development. Archaeologists have uncovered a host of fascinating artefacts during a dig on the site as work begins on the 3,300-home development
FASHIONISTAS will have one last chance to enjoy the glamour of Oxford Fashion Week after seven days of festivities drew to a close. The “encore” Style Show will be held at Oxford Town Hall on March 19 with proceeds going to charity Macmillan Cancer Support
Sean Freaney has been found guilty of murder. A jury at Oxford Crown Court has found Freaney guilty of killing girlfriend Lisa Consterdine. The 51-year-old had denied strangling Miss Consterdine at their home in Purslane Drive, Bicester
FOR smokers starting the arduous journey towards quitting today on National No Smoking Day, Kathleen Woodall has one piece of advice: “You are not alone”. The 58-year-old has first hand experience of the struggle to kick the habit. She and husband James
Masked men wielding a gun and machete robbed a house in Cutteslowe last night. They threatened five men at the house in Wyatt Road and demanded money at about 7pm before the incident spilled out onto the street. The robbers fled the
CHRISTIAN values run through every aspect of Oxford's St John Fisher Catholic Primary School. Its motto, Let all you do be done in love, underpins its ethos, and staff pride themselves on the caring, friendly atmosphere. Yet as a Catholic
SINGING has long been the key part of St John Fisher’s curriculum, and the school has recently been awarded Youth Music’s Sing Up Gold award. The work, led by Year Five teacher and Key Stage Two music co-ordinator Grainne Archer, saw every
Didcot Casuals reached the final of the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup with a 3-1 win against Hellenic League Division 1 East outfit Woodley Town. Paul Powell gave Didcot a first-half lead with a superb solo effort. Victory was sealed by second-half
Nuffield Arms reached the RT Harris Oxford City FA's Premier Cup final with a 3-1 win against Golden Ball, Lee Smith bagging a brace. Wayne Smith got the other for Nuffield who face Cowley Crusaders in the final. Crusaders booked their place with
A HOST of Oxford’s pubs, clubs and shops do not cater for wheelchair users, a disabled student has claimed. Zoe Hallam, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, has listed what she said are among the best and worst premises for disabled people in the city
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CALLUM Cheal’s late strike put Oxfordshire into the final of the South West Counties Youth Championship Bluefin Cup after a 1-0 win over Gloucestershire. It was justice for Oxon, who were forced to replay the match after leading 3-0 at half-time when
UPPER THAMES VALLEY LEAGUE Yellow Eagles came from behind to reach the quarter-finals of the Ridgeway Cup with a 3-1 win away to Division 3A rivals King & Queen Wheatley, writes TIM SIRET. After the hosts had taken the lead, Eagles
A 14-year-old girl was assaulted in an alleyway near Cattle Market car park in Thame. She was walking towards the Lee Park housing estate at about 9pm on Monday, February 28, when a man started following her. The attacker is described as having dark
Witney & District FA side North Leigh A dumped Freeland A out of the Fred Ford Cup to reach the semi-finals with a 2-0 victory, writes Anthony Barlow. Jason Lonsdale fired North Leigh in front, Tom Townsend also on target. Charlbury Town eased into
Luke Bolley scored a four-timer to help Witney Vikings to a 12-3 victory over Banbury Town Colts in the Giles Sports Witney Youth Under 15 League. Jamie Mariani and Jack Scott added doubles, with Sam Cross, Craig Keylock, Ashley Mills and Lewis Cooper
Global sales of the Cowley-built Mini rose by more than 19 per cent in February, according to latest figures from parent firm BMW. A total of 16,045 cars were delivered to customers worldwide, compared to 13,444 for the same month last year. And sales
The Bridge nightclub, in Oxford, has had its closing time reduced by a hour every night for three months, following a licence review by Oxford City Council. The Bridge has lodged an appeal against the decision.
Mid Oxon will be at home to Liverpool in the ESFA Under 15 Trophy semi-finals after the Merseysiders beat East Northumberland 3-0 at Ashington FC on Saturday. The other semi-final is between South London and Dacorum. Dates and venues have yet to be
POPPY Appeal supporters in Oxfordshire look set to smash last year’s fundraising total. So far £422,710.90 has been raised in the county since September, and there is still another six months to go. The figure is just £13,000 less than was raised in
SOME labelled the £50 fine for a man who burned poppies an insult to those killed or wounded serving in Britain’s military. It seems a little glib to point out that Emdadur Choudhury is able to make a protest within the bounds of the law in
The jury in the murder trial of Sean Freaney is expected to begin considering its verdict today. The 51-year-old denies strangling girlfriend Lisa Consterdine at their home in Purslane Drive, Bicester, in the early hours of March 1 last year. Judge
BORDER agency officers swooped on a car repair workshop in Oxford yesterday. Five men were arrested following the raid on the Airport Garage in Glanville Road, East Oxford. Three Afghan and two Pakistani nationals were arrested for a variety of immigration
Abba Athletic reached the semi-finals of the Banbury District & Lord Jersey League's Mid Oxon Cup with a 2-1 comeback victory against Division 1 high-fliers FC Naranja. After a goalless first half,Naranja broke the deadlock, when Nick Price squeezed
A SPARKLING performance has been promised for the diamond anniversary of the Oxford Gang Show. Last night the curtain went up at the New Theatre for a week-long stretch of the popular variety show, which has run for six decades in the city. About 6,500
Your editorial comment on the application for a sex entertainment licence for premises in Pennyfarthing Place misunderstands both Government and city council policy. Both the previous government and the current coalition have placed great emphasis on
I READ with deep concern the proposed vicious cuts to the maintenance of day centres. I am nearly 89 and I really look forward to having a day out at the club in The Slade. Have the executives really looked at all the options to keep all of the pensioners
Imagine for a second if you can, that you’re a 39 year old single female in 2011. What is the greatest question a complete stranger could ask you that would make your week (ruling out that complete stranger being one David Tennant saying: ‘I’ve ditched
Drayton’s relegation fears increased as the North Berks League Division 1 basement boys went down to a 2-1 defeat against Harwell International, writes Phil Annets. Tom Baptie and Mike Yardley found the net for Harwell, with Dan Curran replying from
Senior executives who benefit from generous company car schemes and owner-directors who run their luxury cars through the company are to be hit with a new income tax charge after April 6. Under new rules coming in on April 6, the P11D tax paid on
Charlton United upset the odds as the Division 1 club reached the Oxfordshire Senior League's President’s Cup semi-finals with shock 1-0 win at Premier Division Kennington. The visitors took the lead on ten minutes when Chris Hancock shot home
WHY does the European Court of Human Rights say that child molesters can apply after 15 years to have their names taken off the sex offenders’ register? These criminals should be on the register for life, because the children they molested have to live
This is the first time I have written to the Oxford Mail, but after the fantastic service we had at the newly refurbished Red Lion in the city centre I felt that everybody needs to know about it! My partner and I had taken our 11-month-old son to get
I WOULD like to add my two penneth to your story Parking Misery (Oxford Mail, February 24). Those who are using the streets of Old Marston as a car park have no consideration whatsoever for the residents, and many have no regard for road safety. As
IT would be a sad day for St Ebbe’s church, as well as for the performers, if The Lodge lap dancing club was closed because of objections on moral grounds from some members of the congregation (Licence bid is pole axed, Oxford Mail, March 4). When the
OFA Sam Waters Cup Holders Oxford Yellows’ saw their hopes of making four finals in a row end with a 2-0 loss to UTV League rivals AFC Hinksey, writes Tim Siret. Yellows, who won the trophy last season after losing the previous two finals, could not
Didcot Casuals clinched the Oxford Mail Girls league Under 11 title following a 6-0 victory over Wantage. First-half goals from Freeleigh Parnell and Holly Porter settled early nerves and Didcot took control in the second period, with Shannon Barrett
A 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of breaching a ban on keeping animals. Police and RSPCA officers went to a house in Giles Road, Littlemore, yesterday lunchtime. A Staffordshire bull terrier was also seized after a warrant was issued
A COUNCIL which is closing down its pest control service is battling a flea infestation at its headquarters. Ironically, staff at Vale of White Horse District Council’s office in Abbey Close, Abingdon, noticed the pesky invaders, just as the authority
OXFORDSHIRE’S hospitals are reducing the number of patients who are stuck on the wards despite being well enough to leave, it emerged last night. The Oxford Mail reported in January that non-urgent operations were being cancelled at Oxford’
PARENTS have been urged to monitor their children’s online lives after a man seduced a 13-year-old girl on Facebook before meeting her in a hotel. Kier Luke, 36, communicated with the teenager through the website and phone texts before they went to
DETECTIVES have launched an investigation after a woman told police she was raped by two men in an Oxford hotel. The 39-year-old has said was attacked at the Holiday Inn Express, at the Kassam Stadium, in the early hours of Sunday. Last night, officers
A WOMAN reported to police she was raped in an Oxford hotel on Saturday after meeting the men in a city centre nightclub. Police have arrested two men and released them on bail while their investigation continues. Does this interest
The organisers of the Truck music festival, which takes place at Hill Farm every July, have unveiled the first bands to make it onto this year’s line-up. Acts confirmed include folk-rock act Bellowhead, pictured, former Super furry Animals
Oxfordshire footballer Jordan Ayris is still buzzing after making his international debut for England Schools Under 18s against Northern Ireland. The 18-year-old striker, from Bicester, played the full 90 minutes in the 2-0 Centenary Shield defeat at
HARDCORE cyclists are to push themselves to the limit by pedalling non-stop for 24 hours for Comic Relief. Three regulars and the landlord at the Black Horse in Banbury Road, Kidlington, will slog it out on static ‘spinning’ bikes, which have
