Archive

  • Robbers target Folly Bridge Stores

    Police are appealing for witnesses to a robbery at Folly Bridge Stores, Oxford. At about 2pm on Monday, two white men and a black man entered the shop and demanded cash and cigarettes. It is believed they left by running along the towpath and

  • House prices rise

    County house prices have risen for the second month in a row. Statistics for March provided by the Land Registry show the average price of a property in Oxfordshire is £235,723, up 0.3 per cent on February. Nationally, the average price of a home in

  • Arson attack in Bicester

    Arsonists damaged a house and garage in Lawrence Way, Bicester. The fire broke out between 10.50am and 11.10am yesterday behind the home. The homeowner was alerted to the fire by a neighbour. It caused significant damage to the house and garage. Witnesses

  • May D-Day for village school

    A VILLAGE school threatened with closure will find out on Tuesday, May 24, whether it has received a last-minute reprieve. Culham Parochial CofE School has been unable to appoint a permanent headteacher for three years, and, last December, Oxfordshire

  • Comic director on charity walk

    This year Oxford’s Silver Star unit, which has cared for high-risk pregnancies at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford reaches its 40th birthday. Over the years it has helped thousands of Oxfordshire parents. Comedy television producer and In the Loop

  • Special school scores good marks

    MABEL Prichard School, in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, which teaches children with severe learning difficulties, has been rated ‘good’ by Government inspectors. Ofsted said “outstanding levels of care and support” were at the heart of the school’s work, and

  • Rail link handover on track

    CHILTERN Railways is preparing to take over operation of the Oxford to Bicester Town branch line later this month as the first step towards creating a new Oxford to London rail link via Bicester. The company will replace First Great Western from Sunday

  • Show goes on as Picture Palace changes hands

    A MUCH-LOVED independent cinema has welcomed a new owner. And to the relief of the Ultimate Picture Palace’s many dedicated fans, she is not planning to change a thing. In fact, Becky Hallsmith, of East Oxford, was so keen to keep the 100-year-old cinema

  • Sophie wins huge acclaim as Dorothy

    I was in London on Tuesday night to see Sophie Evans, the runner-up in BBC TV’s Over the Rainbow, wowing the London Palladium audience with her sensational performance as Dorothy in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of The Wizard of Oz. She does her

  • Chef's expert guide to butchering a pig

    We were all intrigued when chef Charlie Barr began her demonstration by putting on a chain mail glove and a particularly impressive chain mail apron. It was as if we were turning the clock back to the medieval period. “It’s the law,” she said,

  • Tough decisions for Obama and the Royals

    These have been momentous days for helicopter pilots — one involved in a wedding ceremony witnessed by an estimated two billion television viewers, others in a ‘snuff movie’ seen thus far only by Barack Obama and his 13-strong entourage. On the slaying

  • House prices on the rise

    House prices in Oxfordshire have risen for the second month in a row. Statistics for March provided by the Government’s Land Registry show the average price of a property in the county is £235,723, a rise of 0.3 per cent on the February figure. But

  • The Old Parsonage, Banbury Road, Oxford

    A warm and sunny Sunday on the first of our two extended Bank Holiday weekends. Where better to enjoy lunch than on the terrace of the Old Parsonage Hotel, in Banbury Road? Actually, I thought of somewhere better the moment we arrived and decided

  • Recipe for pork tenderloin in the style of The Fishes

    Charlie Barr, head chef of The Fishes, North Hinksey, describes pork tenderloin as an excellent joint if you are looking for meat that is both tender and tasty and cooks easily. She thought it might be fun for the readers to see how recipes are written

  • The King James Bible and its value to Oxford

    Oxford academics were hugely significant in the translation and production of the King James Bible — celebrating its 400th anniversary this year, after selling more than one billion copies — but I doubt if any of them envisaged the enormous material benefit

  • Water For Elephants and Hanna

    Twilight pin-up Robert Pattinson puts a little colour in his cheeks in Francis Lawrence’s gorgeously framed adaptation of the novel by Sara Gruen about a doomed love affair in a 1930s circus troupe. Water For Elephants is an important barometer

  • U’s shirts help raise funds

    RARE Oxford United shirts have raised almost £2,500 in an auction for the Oxford Children’s Hospital. For the last home game of the season the U’s played in special shirts with the Oxford Children’s Hospital logo. The Football League only allows clubs

  • Runners urged to sign up for event

    FAIRIES, pirates and superheroes are expected to feature in this weekend’s Oxford Fun Run. Runners are expected to don an array of colourful creations for the 5km run around University Parks on Saturday. This year’s nominated charity is Pathway Workshop

  • ON YER BIKE: Hitting the road in harmony with two-wheeled pals

    People definitely talk about their cars as persons and describing your motor as a ‘he’ or ‘she’ is not frowned upon, as far as I know. Boats too, even more so, but bicycles? Increasingly I have heard people describing their bikes while borrowing from

  • Enstone's charity fundraiser really rolls with it

    A BREAST cancer patient with a passion for motorsport was head over heels with joy after rolling her car for charity. Katy Venvell, who only took up racing at the age of 37 after her son died, flipped the vehicle at Standlake Arena near Witney on Bank

  • YOUTH FOOTBALL: White's Radley heroes lift title

    Mike White was a proud man after seeing his Radley Youth team complete the season unbeaten to clinch the Oxfordshire Invitation Youth League Under 16B title – in his last game as manager. White, who has coached the same set of boys since they

  • SCHOOLS' FOOTBALL: Ayris sparks England

    Oxfordshire's Jordan Ayris set up England Under 18s’ first-half equaliser in their 3-2 win over Republic of Ireland in their final Centenary Shield game at Shamrock Rovers. The 18-year-old Bicester Community College striker raced down the left

  • Face in the Crowd winner plans shopping spree

    A SHOPPING trip is in order for one of this week’s face in the crowd winners. Grandmother-of-four Patricia O’Reilly was picked out by our photographer during Saturday’s home win against Lincoln City. Mrs O’Reilly, of Abingdon, was sitting

  • FOOTBALL: Kings Arms in trophy glory

    Kings Arms Wheatley shrugged off their Devenney Cup final defeat by lifting the Upper Thames Valley League's Hedley Toms/Michael Brown Trophy with a 3-0 victory over AFC Hinksey, writes TIM SIRET. Luke Cuff got on the end of a long clearance

  • The Pirates of Penzance previewed: The Oxford Playhouse

    Joseph Papp’s famous Broadway version of The Pirates of Penzance is on at the Oxford Playhouse, in a lively, exuberant staging by Oxfordshire Youth Music Theatre. Directed by Ashley Harvey, with musical direction by Debbie Rose and choreography

  • The Comedy of Errors: Propeller, The Watermill Theatre

    Shakespeare’s shortest and funniest play, The Comedy of Errors, rarely fails to delight audiences. Propeller’s production, delivered with all the invention for which this all-male company is known, supplied two hour of uninhibited joyful good humour

  • Abingdon Music Festival: St Helen's School

    While most of us were enjoying the Royal Wedding and the weekend sunshine, budding musicians of all ages were devoting their Bank Holiday to some serious music-making at the Abingdon Music Festival. Sunday night’s concert featured the cream of the crop

  • Great Expectations: The Oxford Playhouse

    Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations is famously a novel concerned — besides much else — with class. As delivered at the Playhouse last week by English Touring Theatre and Watford Palace Theatre, in a stage version scripted by Tanika Gupta, it

  • Single Form: Duveen Galleries

    For some years I have enjoyed wandering up to the Duveen Galleries when at Tate Britain to see what was in its dedicated sculpture space. Most recently was the sight of Fiona Banner’s decommissioned fighter planes upended, and not so long before that,

  • FOOTBALL: Keeper Peck is the hero

    Adam Peck saved two penalties as Bletchingdon Res retained the Clarendon Cup with a 4-3 shoot-out win against Freeland Res at Kidlington FC to keep up their bid for three trophies. Stuart Hole and Chris Gilkes saw Freeland take a 2-0 lead, only for Luke

  • Popular driving instructor dies suddenly

    FOR 30 years, Jean Williams was a calming presence as she guided learner drivers in Didcot around the streets. Now her family is mourning her after she died from pneumonia, following a chest infection. Mrs Williams, 55, of Icknield Close, died at the

  • Local share prices (AM)

    AEA Technology 4.2 BMW 5797 Electrocomponents 281.3 Nationwide Accident Repair 101.5 Oxford Biomedica 6.1 Oxford Catalysts 96 Oxford Instruments 735.25 Reed Elsevier 546.75 RM 148 RPS Group 228.3 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Artweeks will be the best ever

    It’s the work of photographer Pam Sandhu-Dickens that appears on the cover of the Artweeks brochure this year. Pam’s striking picture of scissors cutting through strips of colour was one of many works judged by Michael Stanley, the director of

  • Man arrested over tower block fire

    A MAN has been arrested after a suspected arson attack in Northway. A woman in her 30s was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation after fire broke out near a flat in Plowman Tower at about 12.05am on Sunday. A 29-year-old

  • Inspector Morse set for TV comeback as young man

    AUTHOR Colin Dexter has confirmed ITV plans to make a prequel to long-running series Inspector Morse. The legendary Oxford detective inspector will soon return to screens after an 11-year-absence. The one-off drama will focus on Morse’s early years,

  • The Oxford Brookes Fine Art Degree Show

    The quest for knowledge is inspiring in science and in art. Leonardo didn’t distinguish between the two; he experimented in every way possible. I was delighted that many of the 35 artists who will be exhibiting in this year’s Oxford Brookes University

  • Dragon's Den star shares business skills at college

    DRAGONS’ Den personality Peter Jones is set to help the next generation of entrepreneurs by opening branches of his business academy in Oxfordshire. The multi-millionaire star of the BBC TV show will offer youngsters a chance to study a BTEC Diploma

  • AUNT SALLY: Gordon ends 22-year wait

    Greene King Oxford & District League ALEX Gordon finally ended 22 years of heartache as he hit his first ever six in Kidlington Sports’ 2-1 win over The Woodman in Section 2, writes ANDY BEAL. Woodman won the first leg 21-17, but lost the next two

  • FOOTBALL: Stanley is hat-trick hero

    A late hat-trick from Tom Stanley enabled Drayton Res to come back and beat Benson AFC Res 3-2 in the Nairne Paul Trophy final at Abingdon United. Benson dominated until Kris Ray suffered a broken ankle in the 70th minute. Pete Ashman scored

  • CRICKET: Rowant edged out

    Persimmon Village Cup HORSPATH edged out Aston Rowant by four runs in the battle of Oxfordshire’s leading village clubs. The pair, who will clash in Saturday’s Home Counties Premier League opener, were unlucky to be drawn against each other in round

  • Hybrid buses take over park-and-ride services

    A £5M fleet of hybrid electro-diesel buses is being launched on Oxford’s park-and-ride routes. The Oxford Bus Company is replacing its existing park-and-ride fleet with 17 new 73-seat hybrid double-deckers. They will go into service over the next few

  • FOOTBALL: Crown eyeing title hat-trick

    Crown & Thistle stayed on track for the treble after winning the RT Harris Oxford City FA Couling Cup with a 5-1 victory against Golden Ball. Goals from Rui De Garces (2), Craig Dean, Jim Smith and Ben Green sealed victory for Crown & Thistle, who won

  • FOOTBALL: Brown bags four for Wallingford

    Jordan Brown hit four goals in title-chasing AFC Wallingford’s 5-1 win over Faringdon in Division 1 of the North Berks League, wrties PHIL ANNETS. Wallingford trailed to Robbie Harrington’s goal before Brown’s four-timer, alongside a Ben Chadbone

  • Scholarships up for grabs at top retail course

    Independent retailers can win a chance to learn from industry leaders at the Oxford Summer School retail management course. Marco Capello, chairman of Liberty, Beverley Aspinall, managing director of Fortnum and Mason and Tony Wheeler, managing director

  • Unworthy comments

    PRIME Minister David Cameron allegedly believes the state should be more reluctant to support alcoholics, other drug addicts and the obese, some of whom, it has been reported, he deems responsible for their own plight. Firstly, some schools of thought

  • Parachute points

    I WOULD like to clarify a point made in the letter by GL Rendell (Oxford Mail, April 20). I can’t recall all the detail of the Gentlemen of the sky (Oxford Mail, April 6), GL Rendell, refers to in his letter, which, in the main, he has got

  • March of time

    I READ of numerous demonstrations and protest marches. I am irresistibly reminded of an old Middle Eastern proverb: ‘The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on’. DAVID BARNARD, Cherwell Avenue, Kidlington

  • Woman tells jury she was raped at hospital

    A WOMAN has told jurors she was raped in a toilet at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital. The university student, who was 21 at the time, said she was attacked in the West Wing of the Headington hospital on October 30 last year. Ian Joseph, 44, who denies

  • Police must tackle cyclists

    WHAT a laugh! We read that £96,000 has been spent by Thames Valley Police on a leaflet (Criticism over £96,000 leaflet cost, Oxford Mail, April 22). It is funny because Andrew Smith, MP, was informed by the local area commander, Supt Amanda Pearson,

  • Making a fuss

    MARTIN Roberts complains (You Say) that politicians are planning to shut libraries. Well, why not? Many of them are objects of sentimentality rather than genuinely popular amenities. It’s like post offices and pubs – people vote with their feet as

  • Sassy & Single: The day the capital forgot its rules

    I WENT to London last week for a wedding. You might have heard about it. According to the groom it was ‘supposed to be a small family affair’, and I guess it was, to someone who probably uses the word ‘millions’ fairly often in his day to day life.

  • FOOTBALL: Super Hinksey's double delight

    Hinksey completed a league and cup double as the Premier Division champions lifted the Oxfordshire Senior League's President’s Cup with a 1-0 victory against Garsington at Kidlington FC. An Aaron Armstrong own-goal was enough to seal victory for Hinksey

  • FOOTBALL: North Leigh champions

    North Leigh A are the Witney & District FA Division 1 champions, writes Anthony Barlow. Captain Jason Lonsdale bagged a brace, while Michael Pratley netted the third goal as they saw off Brize Norton 3-1 in their final game of the season. Mark Sollis

  • Hall targets top-seven place for Oxford United

    Midfielder Asa Hall says a top-seven place will be Oxford United’s target next season, and should be well within their means. The U’s have enjoyed a solid first season back in the Football League, and will finish between ninth and 13th, depending on

  • Alternative Vote is no joke, says comedian Eddie Izzard

    COMEDIAN Eddie Izzard rode into Oxford yesterday in an attempt to ignite interest in voting reform. Tomorrow voters will have their say on whether the UK should replace the first past the post election system with the alternative vote (AV).

  • CRICKET: Horspath pipped in twenty20 clash

    HARD-hitting from Nilesh Patel and Ed Barnett fired Thame Town to a four-wicket victory over Horspath in round one of the Home Counties Premier League Twenty20 competition. Patel smashed 38 off 13 balls and Barnett added 24 as Thame reached

  • COMMENT: Have your say on AV

    THE real AV issue that will be tested tomorrow is more likely to be apathetic voters. But as unsexy as the whole voting structure for future elections may appear, it is crucial in Oxfordshire more than other places that people have their say

  • COMMENT: Justice must be seen to be done

    There is some interesting reaction to the death of Osama bin Laden in today’s Oxford Mail. Has justice been done? Surely, in the west, that means some sort of verdict from a trial based on evidence. The dancing in the street in Washington

  • Developer picked for new Barton homes

    A DEVELOPER has been chosen by Oxford City Council for its biggest housing development since Greater Leys was built. The council has named Grosvenor Developments as its preferred bidder to build 1,000 new homes west of Barton. The decision is subject

  • Smallholders fear fowl play as livestock goes missing

    A SMALLholder is convinced her animals are being watched by a hungry thief after five baby chicks were stolen. Jenny and Francis Pine keep ponies, ducks, chickens and guinea pigs at their house off Horspath Road, Oxford. The couple claim they have been

  • Get some help from 'compost corner'

    OXFORDSHIRE’S very own “master composteers” are on hand to advise bewildered gardeners on all things compost. To celebrate Compost Awareness Week, the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership is running compost surgeries at recycling centres across the county.