AN OXFORD landlord has blamed “council jobs-worths” for stopping him opening his pub early on May Morning, after he applied for the licence just 24 hours too late. Nicholas Bassett, of the Port Mahon, in St Clement’s, thought he had applied in plenty
STEVE NICHOLLS will not be the last homeowner to find out that a development he objects to has been approved by a council without him knowing anything about it. Cherwell and Oxford councils are two authorities who have decided to stop sending
HOMEOWNER Steve Nicholls was stunned to learn a house would be built behind his garden fence because council chiefs stopped sending out letters to tell neighbours of new planning applications. The 51-year-old did not know a planning application
Police today appealed for help in tracking down a prisoner who absconded from HMP Springhill in Grendon Underwood. Jarreau Alexander Charles, 24, was serving an indeterminate sentence for false imprisonment and assault when he absconded from prison
ABOUT 500 children at schools across Headington took part in a writing competition organised by campaigners fighting to save the neighbourhood’s library. Fifty prizewinners from Sandhills, Windmill, St Andrew’s and Wood Farm primary schools collected
OXFORD’S much loved outdoor swimming pool will open for the summer season at the end of this month. Gates opening at Hinksey Pool, like the return of cricket to the parks, heralds the start of summer in the city. And this year families can celebrate
A REVOLUTIONARY pill for multiple sclerosis sufferers has been authorised thanks to a successful trial in Oxford. Doctors in the UK will be able to prescribe a drug called Fingolimod to sufferers of the condition from this week. MS, which affects thousands
AEA Technology 4 BMW 5358 Electrocomponents 269.3 Nationwide Accident Repair 102.5 Oxford Biomedica 5.7 Oxford Catalysts 99.5 Oxford Instruments 745 Reed Elsevier 527 RM 149.5 RPS Group 220 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley,
Police are appealing for information after thieves broke into a van in Kidlington and stole a bag containing two starter pistols. Thieves drilled their way through the lock of the Citroen van in High Street sometime between 9.15pm on Tuesday, April
A few days after my train ride to Canterbury, I was heading down through Kent again, this time on the high-speed line for the Channel Tunnel. The exhilarating trip from St Pancras to Brussels was followed by another non-stop run from the Belgian
William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Oliver Cromwell, The Black Prince and Alfred the Great all waited their turn. Lord Hurcomb took precedence in the naming of the steam locomotives built to propel the rail passengers of Britain into the second
A WELL-known Witney garage owner has found a new home in the nick of time, as controversial plans to knock down his business were approved. Station Lane’s Mick Partlett Car Sales has won planning permission for a new site at Two Rivers Industrial Estate
A SOLDIER serving with the Didcot-based 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment has died after an explosion in Afghanistan. The bomb disposal expert died in hospital yesterday. The soldier, who has not been named, was on an operation to clear
MEMBERS of the Scots Guards brought the sound of the bagpipes to the graveside of Lord Wantage to pay their respects. The Guards, due to receive the Freedom of the Town in Wantage on May 21, visited Holy Trinity Church, Ardington, on Saturday, on the
AFTER flying into enemy territory in Iraq to rescue wounded troops, Flight Lieutenant Kevin Harris, based at RAF Benson, received one of the military’s top bravery awards. But the helicopter pilot needed a different kind of courage to support his baby
A TENANT says his life has been “ripped apart” after he was forced to give up his beloved pet dog to avoid eviction. Anthony Cotter handed back Doberman-German Shepherd cross Charlie to the Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary after his lawyers warned him he
When the Queen distributes Maundy money in Westminster Abbey today — with specially minted coins to the value of a penny for every year of her life being given to each recipient — she will be accompanied by children carrying nosegays of herbs.
Oxfordshire's Jordan Ayris hopes to be restored to England Under 18s’ starting line-up against Scotland in the Centenary Shield at Inverness Caledonian Thistle tomorrow (7.35pm). The 18-year-old Bicester Community College striker, who scored England’
Oxford City Under 11s and Vale of White Horse shared the spoils 1-1 in their County League game at Barton Recreation Ground. Lochie Craig ran on to a pass over the Vale defence to slot through keeper Tom Taylor’s legs to give Oxford a fourth-minute lead
Because the date of the Greek Orthodox Easter is based on a modified Julian calendar and the Western world uses the Gregorian calendar, festivities such as Christmas and Easter seldom occur at the same time. But this year the two dating systems
Banbury United secured the Oxford Mail Girls League Under 10 League title with a 2-0 victory over Chinnor. Tia Williams opened the scoring before half-time, and Ceirah Bell sealed the spoils. Josephine Taylor’s hat-trick helped Chinnor
Rosemary Barron’s Flavours of Greece (Grub Street, Press, £18.99) includes a glorious mix of recipes, many of which call for basic ingredients that can still be found growing wild alongside country footpaths. This simple omelette uses the slender young
AEA Technology 4 BMW 5301 Electrocomponents 271.4 Nationwide Accident Repair 102.5 Oxford Biomedica 5.7 Oxford Catalysts 99.5 Oxford Instruments 744.5 Reed Elsevier 528.75 RM 148.5 RPS Group 219 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley
THERE was “an extremely strong possibility” that a tiny screw found at the home of farm labourer John Cooper came from a gun used in the murder of an Oxfordshire couple, a jury heard. Gerard Elias, prosecuting, said the double barrelled shotgun
Nuffield Arms won the RT Harris Oxford FA Premier Cup after beating favourites Cowley Crusaders 3-2 at Rover Cowley. Goals from Paul Bough and a header from Dave Jennings appeared to put Crusaders in the driving seat. However, that sparked
Money makes the world go around but it can’t buy you love or a flawless update of the Oscar-winning 1981 comedy Arthur, starring Dudley Moore as the eponymous billionaire and Sir John Gielgud as his long-suffering, strait-laced butler. Director
As has been often observed, The All New Original Tribute to the Blues Brothers is not so much the “smash hit musical” that it’s styled but really a two-hour concert. It’s no less a smash hit for that, though, with some of the greatest music of
WITNEY & DISTRICT FA HANBOROUGH moved to the brink of the Premier Division title after a 3-2 win over Witney Royals, writes Anthony Barlow. Richard Rouse bagged a double, with Craig Johnson adding a third goal. Steve Brasier and Jamie Kennedy replied
Travelodge Hotels has appointed Gerald Lawless as a non-executive director. Mr Lawless, who is chairman of the Dubai-based hotel management company Jumeirah Group, will join the board of the Thame-based company on May 3. Prior to joining the Jumeirah
The story, as told by an elegantly dressed curator at the beginning of the demonstration of the Ethometric Mueseum, is that Ray Lee was able to salvage and repair the last remaining examples of ethometric instruments in the world, many of which
HANDBELL ringers Alan and Gay Cooper struck a chord with the great British public after appearing on Britain’s Got Talent. The couple have become overnight stars after capturing millions of hearts with their musical love story and passion for bellringing
Heyford Athletic were crowned Banbury District & Lord Jersey FA Division 1 champions after they were held to a 1-1 draw away at Bardwell. Needing a point to seal the title, they went ahead early on when Mark Byrne fired in, only for Jonathan Crosthwaite
The X Factor’s Niki Evans heads the cast in the role of Mrs Johnstone as the hugely popular musical Blood Brothers returns next week to the New Theatre, Oxford. Written by Willy Russell, the legendary Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale
Drug company Oxford Nutrascience has signed an exclusive licensing and distribution agreement with one of Brazil's largest pharmaceutical firms. Under the terms of the seven-year agreement, the business based at the Begbroke Science Park will supply
Vienna Festival Ballet is in fact an English company — one of those admirable ensembles that tirelessly tours to bring ballet to smaller venues in this country and abroad. It was founded and is still run by the internationally known Austrian dancer
When printmaker Rahima Kenner asked sculptor Martin Smith to exhibit with her, she rightly judged their work would be satisfyingly complementary. Kenner draws her inspiration from the writing of 13th- century Arabic poet and polymath Ibn Arabi, and his
Unveiled two years ago, Opera della Luna’s impish take on the first full-length G&S opera still fizzes and sparkles with breathtaking energy, as the company demonstrated at Chipping Norton Theatre last weekend. In true OdL style, the production —
Oxfordshire won the Bluefin Under 16 South and West Counties Championship after defeating Devon 2-0 in the final at Newton Abbot. Julius Muraga (Kidlington Youth) had already forced Devon keeper Ryan Rickard to save at his feet before he rounded two
Mark Eynon, the director of the Newbury Spring Festival, positively radiates enthusiasm for his job, even though he’s been picking the Newbury programmes for the past 12 years. But nothing pleases him more than finding a talented new name. “I’m particularly
Eight singers in the choir or a cast of thousands? Arguments will probably continue until the end of time about the ‘correct’ number of singers to use in Bach’s St Matthew Passion. For their performance in the University Church, Sospiri went for a choral
Charlie Longsdon’s best season of his burgeoning training career has been capped with a new sponsorship deal for his Chipping Norton stables. With three days of the 2010-11 campaign left, Longsdon has racked up an impressive 44 winners and
The experienced storytellers of The Birmingham Stage Company certainly know what it takes to please a young audience. After recent sell-out Oxford Playhouse performances of George’s Marvellous Medicine and Danny the Champion of the World, they
AREA committees in Oxford have been scrapped despite public opposition. The controversial plans to downgrade the meetings – which deal with neighbourhood issues, planning applications and grants to community groups – were approved by Oxford City Council
COUNTY council leader Keith Mitchell yesterday warned the public still did not realise the full extent of cuts facing Oxfordshire, as another series of money-saving measures were voted through. The council’s cabinet yesterday backed cuts to youth work
Long Wittenham Athletic lifted the North Berks League’s War Memorial Cup as they beat Division 4 opponents Berinsfield 2-0 in the final at Wantage Town. Second-half goals by Tim Barton and substitute Ellis Cooper won it for the Division 2 side in front
BURGLARS broke into a Royal Mail delivery office before fleeing with parcels and letters – including children’s Easter presents. Raiders targeted the East Oxford Delivery Office in Ledgers Close, Littlemore, and got away with an undisclosed amount of
AS PORTFOLIO holder for safer communities I am writing in response to an article and editorial (Oxford Mail, April 7) about the launch of Oxford City Council’s new Community Response Team. I would like to take this opportunity to allay any fears your
YOU asked ‘Are street parties a good way of celebrating the Royal wedding (The Issue, April 12)?’ John Tanner may call himself a republican, but how about living under Robert Mugabe (president), Laurent Gbagbo (ex-president), Colonel Gaddafi (failed
PRIME Minister David Cameron is on record as stating that the proposed introduction of the alternative vote would be undemocratic, even though he himself was elected as leader of the Conservative Party using AV. Isn’t this a touch hypocritical? Likewise
Dane Pask scored a great four-timer as Saxton Rovers thrashed Crowmarsh Gifford 7-1 to retain their outside hopes of the Division 1 title, writes Phil Ann-ets. Paul Churchouse, Danny Parry and Kyle Allsworth also netted as Saxton returned to winning
Kidlington Old Boys reached the Ben Turner Cup final after they edged to a 4-3 win against Oxford University Press in a seven-goal thriller, writes Brian Kirk. Trailing 2-0 to goals from Kane Adams and Tony Skinner, OUP hit back to lead
Cholsey United completed a brilliant double with a 1-0 win over Blacks Head Bletchingdon in the final of the Ridgeway Cup at Abingdon United. Having won Division 3B, they lifted the cup with a second-half header from Andrew Allum. It
A PROTESTER was thrown out of a council meeting after hurling insults. Owen English called members of Oxford City Council a “disgrace” and shouted “this is not democracy” after he was told he couldn’t read out a question. Lord Mayor John Goddard adjourned
WHEN reading the article (Gentleman of the sky, Oxford Mail, April 6), I was puzzled as to why the flight engineer was handing the pilot a parachute when all RAF pilots used a combined chute and harness. They then sat on their chutes while in the aircraft
I AM surprised that the Labour group on Oxford City Council is set to abolish area committee meetings and replace them with area forums that would meet quarterly (Oxford Mail, April 13). Considering that the Labour Party heralded area meetings as a
ABOVE and beyond our council taxes, Oxford City Council is now asking us to pay £35 for a brown wheelie bin which will be, after May 3, the only straightforward way we will be able to dispose of garden waste. This is a stealth green tax, deeply hostile
LAST weekend 11 million people in this country sat down to watch one single TV show – 10 million, nine hundred and ninety nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine of them probably loved every minute it. Then there was me... Maybe it was because I
JOHN FATHERS OXFORDSHIRE JUNIOR SHIELD IT was a bittersweet day for Jemal Thomas as Thame Town beat Deddington Town 4-0 in the final at Kidlington FC. Thomas came off the bench to score Thame’s final goal, but then broke and dislocated his left ankle
A YOUNG couple said it was “a dream come true” to claim the top prize in our Win Your Wedding competition last night. Jamie Leach and fiancée Kate Harvey beat off competition from 33 other couples to get their dream wedding, worth £12,000, at Oxford
Two Wembley successes and two magnificent achievements – but just which is Oxford United’s greatest day? Promotion back into the Football League in May came almost a quarter of a century after the U’s lifted the Milk Cup in 1986. And
CONTROVERSIAL decisions nationally should not affect the Lib Dems’ reputation in Oxfordshire, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg claimed last night. The Liberal Democrat party leader praised local party councillors as he toured a top research centre at
Britain is set to be engulfed by another spell of glorious barbecue weather over the Easter weekend - as forecasters predict one of the hottest Aprils on record. Sunseekers enjoyed the hottest day of the year so far on Tuesday, with temperatures
JUST a few days ago, families had been choosing bedrooms and looking forward to celebrating the Royal wedding in their new council flats. But now their dream homes have been turned into a water-damaged mess by thieves, just days before they were due
STAFF at an Oxford hospice were given 70,000 special reasons to celebrate this month. Sobell House Hospice has received £70,951 from the Big Lottery Fund to pay for a new minibus driver over the next three years. The minibus service will bring terminally-ill
AFTER flying into enemy territory in Iraq to rescue wounded troops, Flight Lieutenant Kevin Harris, based at RAF Benson, received one of the military’s top bravery awards. But the helicopter pilot needed a different kind of courage to support
