Archive

  • FOOTBALL: Ady's staying with Railwaymen

    Former Reading defender Ady Williams has decided to stay on as manager of Didcot Town, club chairman John Bailey said last night. “We’re chuffed to bits that he’s staying,” said Bailey, who saw the Southern League side relegated on the final day of

  • 2011: Cherwell and South Oxfordshire say No to AV

    OXFORDSHIRE has almost certainly delivered a resounding No to changing the electoral system to Alternative Vote. Cherwell and South Oxfordshire have just declared their referendum results and have followed Vale and West Oxfordshire in a crushing defeat

  • 2011: Vale says No to AV

    THE Yes campaign to change the country's electoral system has suffered its second crushing defeat in Oxfordshire tonight. Voters in the Vale of White Horse district were more than two to one against the Alternative Vote system. The result was No 30,510

  • Grant wins for homeless football team

    TWO football teams featuring some of Oxford’s most vulnerable people have stormed to league success just 12 months after they were formed. FC Streets Revolution won the BOBi Premiership Division A, while sister team The Revolutionaries were runners-up

  • 2011: West Oxfordshire says NO to AV

    WEST Oxfordshire voters have tonight said an emphatic No to switching to the Alternative Vote system for future elections. The district is the first in the county to declare its result of the AV referendum. A council spokesman said 26,749 people voted

  • Fears raised over centre

    FAMILIES have been urged to have their say so key children’s heart services can stay in Oxford. Campaigners were given the chance to voice their concerns about plans to change the face of paediatric cardiac services across Britain. The

  • Former Cowley post office site to be redeveloped

    A FORMER Oxford post office will be demolished and replaced by shops after standing empty for four years. But plans for a pub or takeaway on the site in Upper Bar, Cowley, have been axed. City councillors backed proposals for the former Cowley Centre

  • Call to reverse disabled parking charge

    A SUPPORT worker has called on Cherwell District Council to reverse its controversial decision to charge disabled blue badge holders to park. Stephen Whiting, 42, was fined £80 for failing to buy a ticket just weeks after new parking fees were introduced

  • Police IT systems down

    Police today suffered a systems problem which stopped all staff at the Kidlington headquarters accessing email and certain databases. It is not known what caused the fault.

  • Cyclist's head injuries after van collision

    A CYCLIST sustained minor head injuries after a collision with a van in High Street. The accident happened at about 4.15pm today, causing delays. Police spokesman Craig Evry said: “Medics believed she sustained minor head injuries.” Nobody was arrested

  • Huge drop in UK Mini sales

    Sales of the Cowley-built Mini have taken a surprising fall in the United Kingdom, with bosses blaming the successive bank holidays. Latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveal 2,335 cars were sold in April

  • Film festival to focus on human rights

    CINEMA fans are set to descend on Wallingford as a celebrity-backed film festival kicks off. The five-day film festival, the first of its kind in the town, will focus on human rights issues. The narrator of a documentary film about American death row

  • Local shares (PM)

    AEA Technology 4.65 BMW 5505 Electrocomponents 275.8 Nationwide Accident Repair 100 Oxford Biomedica 5.8 Oxford Catalysts 95.75 Oxford Instruments 7.5 Reed Elsevier 538.5 RM 136.25 RPS Group 225.1 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Lib Dems lose Vale council to Tories

    THE Conservatives today took control of Vale of White Horse District Council from The Liberal Democrats. The Lib Dems went from 33 to 19 seats while the Tories went from 18 to 31 to take control. Labour picked up one seat. The Lib Dems have

  • Canoeing club raises £18k towards Olympic dream

    AN OXFORD canoeing club has launched a bid to train talented youngsters for the Olympics. The Falcon Rowing and Canoe Club on Donnington Bridge has raised £18,000 for a new fleet of kayaks for junior members. It is hoped the new boats will help the

  • Library cuts may force sculpture garden to close

    LIBRARY campaigners fear a North Oxford sculpture garden could be mounting its last Artweeks exhibition, if the branch closes as a result of county council cuts. The Turrill Sculpture Garden, which is in the grounds of Summertown Library, in South Parade

  • Thong Rangers do their bit for meningitis tot

    MOST charity fundraisers would walk away if they were asked to push heavy concrete blocks in a wheelbarrow almost 20 miles from Didcot to Oxford. But the Thong Rangers, who dress in thongs for their charity stunts, have set themselves the arduous task

  • A meeting of modern art minds

    Glenn D Lowry, director of the world-famous Museum of Modern Art in New York paid a visit to Modern Art Oxford on Wednesday. Dr Lowry is visiting Oxford this week in his role as the first Humanitas Visiting Professor in museums, galleries and libraries

  • Pool plan faces new scrutiny

    THE controversial Oxford City Council plan to build a £16m swimming pool in Blackbird Leys is to be reviewed. Planning permission for the complex, which would be sited next to the existing leisure centre in Pegasus Road, was granted by the Labour-run

  • Agencies’ name changes cause state of confusion

    CONFUSION reigns over the future of two Oxfordshire estate agency branches, because of a rebranding exercise. Four branches of long-established Oxfordshire estate agency Buckell & Ballard, in Headington, Cowley, Wallingford and Bicester, have been rebranded

  • Alworths store saved

    The Didcot branch of failed department store Alworths will re-open after most of the UK branches were snapped up by discount retailer Poundstretcher. Administrator Neil Bennett of finance firm Leonard Curtis said: “We had a lot of interest in the business

  • TENNIS: Charlbury issue plea

    Charlbury LTC are looking for new members – especially juniors. The club are holding coaching sessions, starting on Monday and welcome new faces to turn up. Contact John Werner on 07825 381725 or email johnwerner@hotmail.co.uk.

  • The Wizard of Oz: The London Palladium

    A packed house at the London Palladium gave a standing ovation to Sophie Evans at the end of her sensational debut as Dorothy in the hugely enjoyable production of The Wizard of Oz. Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, who produces the show with Bill

  • Local share prices (AM)

    AEA Technology 4.4 BMW 5457 Electrocomponents 271.8 Nationwide Accident Repair 100.5 Oxford Biomedica 5.75 Oxford Catalysts 95.75 Oxford Instruments 743.75 Reed Elsevier 539.75 RM 141 RPS Group 222.7 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • U's last fixture is all-ticket

    Saturday's match at Shrewsbury is all-ticket. And Oxford United supporters have been warned that parking at their Greenhous Meadow Stadium is strictly by permit only. No parking is allowed in roads in near the ground. Oxford supporters

  • Jobs under threat as DIY chain folds

    More than 80 jobs in the county’s branches of the Focus DIY chain are under threat after the business collapsed. Administrator Ernst & Young was called and has launched a hunt for a buyer for its stores including those in Didcot, Wantage and Witney

  • 'Yob' driver avoids jail sentence

    A ‘YOB’ who ran over a man who tried to stop him from speeding has avoided a jail sentence. Unemployed Michael Kitchen, 20, was charged with dangerous driving after running over the man’s foot in The Leys, in Witney, last July. Kitchen

  • Turner a Shrews legend

    Graham Turner is a Shrewsbury legend. The 63-year-old returned to the club as manager last June, 26 years after leaving the club he guided into the second tier of English football back in the 1970s. A former England youth international, he played as

  • Wilder reflects on 'a satisfying season'

    Oxford United bring down the curtain tomorrow on an enjoyable first season back in the Football League. Their 46th game is a first visit to Shrewsbury’s Greenhous Meadow. A terrific atmosphere is guaranteed from a near-capacity 9,000 crowd, with the

  • Family flees suspected arson attack

    A COUPLE are counting the cost of a suspected arson attack at their Bicester home on Tuesday. James Dutton was working on his car in the front of the house in Lawrence Way at about 11am when a neighbour shouted that plumes of black smoke were

  • CRICKET: Nondies boosted for top-flight return

    MP Sports Cherwell League Division 1 preview Oxford and Bletchingdon Nondescripts have made several excitings signings as they prepare for their first top-flight campaign since their merger in 2002. Mark Strong will again captain

  • COMMENT: Sentencing must show consistency

    THE death of teacher Ellie Bongers and her young son Joseph is an absolute tragedy. Sally Rundle, the 72-year-old woman whose dangerous driving resulted in their deaths near Tackley last year, will no doubt also carry the heavy burden of guilt for the

  • Oxford Castle marks five stylish years

    IT WAS once the last place on earth anyone in Oxfordshire would want to spend the evening. But five years since its multi-million pound transformation, Oxford Castle, formerly the city’s jail, has become a top tourist destination and stylish night spot

  • Death crash pensioner spared jail

    A PENSIONER who drove on the wrong side of the road and hit a car, killing a teacher and her young son, has been spared jail. Sally Rundle’s Renault Clio ploughed head-on into Dr Richard Gipps’ Ford Ka on the A4260 at Tackley, north of Kidlington

  • Bus info please

    I would like to thank Louisa Weeks of the Oxford Bus Company for acknowledging concerns about the loss of the number 4 service from Rose Hill to the station (Oxford Mail, letters, May 2), though she does not explain why the change is to be permanent

  • POINT TO POINT: Royal can rule again

    Start Royal, from Alan Hill’s Aston Rowant stables, could bid to tighten his grip in the race to be crowned the season’s top young horse at Kingston Blount, near Chinnor, tomorrow (2pm). The seven-year-old tops the standings after recording his fourth

  • Put costs into perspective

    IT has been claimed that the Royal Wedding Bank Holiday may have cost the economy £50m, but let’s get things in perspective. How much has this Coalition cost the economy? Millions, in fact billions, to bail out Ireland; billions bailing out Portugal,

  • Ex-Olympics stars watch U's

    Next year, at London 2012, we will see the first Great Britain football sides to play in the Olympics since the Games of 51 years ago. Members of that last team, from Rome in 1960, will be taking in the Shrewsbury Town v Oxford United npower League

  • Man guilty of hospital rape on student

    A MAN has been convicted of raping a woman in a toilet at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital. Jurors at Oxford Crown Court took about an hour to unanimously convict Ian Joseph yesterday afternoon. The 44-year-old, who has a history of

  • CRICKET: Shirazi leaves Banbury

    Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League preview Division 1 IT is a case of four in, two out at Banbury, who are targeting a top-three spot. Oxfordshire opening batsman and medium pacer Damian Shirazi has left to join Lymington, while seamer

  • CRICKET: Oxford eye title bid

    Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League preview Division 1 OXFORD hope to mount a title challenge after last season’s creditable third-place finish. Jason Harrison’s side have added Buckinghamshire paceman Usman Arif to their ranks, with fellow

  • CRICKET: Horspath dedicate season to Stobart's memory

    Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League preview Division 2 West HORSPATH will play their maiden Home Counties Premier League season in memory of first team manager Jonathan Stobart. Stobart, who died in March, was a key man during Horspath

  • Roads to ruin

    Rodney Rose, Cabinet Member for Highways and transport for Oxfordshire County Council, appears not to be carrying out his responsibilities, judging by news stories in this newspaper. This is coupled with highway and footpath repairs which

  • Swimming ahead

    I WAS so pleased to see your story about the new 50-metre pool to be built at Didcot. This is fantastic news. I am a member of the City of Oxford Swimming Club and we need to do 50m lengths for our galas, meets and other events. Lots of people want

  • Indecent proposal

    was intrigued to read the letter from Alaric Rose et al (Oxford Mail, April 29). But what they did not tell you is that two of the signatories (Alaric Rose and Doug Williamson) are Cherwell district councillors representing the ward in which the proposed

  • May sense prevail

    SO at last there has been an outbreak of common sense in Oxford over May Morning. The heavy-handed and expensive security measures imposed by the councils and police in recent years were removed, nobody did anything too dangerous or silly, everyone had

  • We have much to learn from different cultures

    I thought that I would like to share with readers something that happened to me this week. While weeding in my garden, a lovely Pakistani lady, who lives nearby, and who I always exchange greetings with, was walking past my house with a package that

  • Bishop does his bit for coffee producers

    THE Bishop of Oxford served cappuccinos, lattes and Americanos to people in the city to raise awareness of small-scale coffee farmers in Nicaragua. The Rt Rev John Pritchard’s stint as a barista at AMT Coffee in Cornmarket Street yesterday

  • Butler loses sacking claim

    A BUTLER yesterday lost a bid for damages from a multi-millionaire over allegations he was sacked for serving dinner an hour early. A Reading employment tribunal rejected Francisco de Sousa’s claim that he was fired by a furious Kevin Cash for serving

  • Constable aims to spoil reunion

    JAMES Constable returns to his old club Shrewsbury Town for the first time tomorrow insisting he has nothing to prove – but desperate to do well. Oxford United’s 17-goal top-scorer was let go by the Shrews three years ago. Supporters, from both clubs

  • Royal Salute

    “IT WAS really hard, really emotional. But I came here to be proud of him... I am so proud to be his wife.” Those were the words of Heather Wood, who collected the Elizabeth Cross in honour of her soldier husband Warrant Officer Class 2 Charlie

  • CRICKET: Taylors get Oxon call-ups

    MCCA Trophy THE Taylor brothers, Jack and Matt from Great Tew, could team up for Oxfordshire’s Group 3 clash with Herefordshire at Colwall on Sunday. Gloucestershire-contracted Jack, 19, is again named in Oxon’s squad, with his appearance dependent

  • County council leader survives leadership election

    A LEADERSHIP challenge was mounted against Oxfordshire County Council leader Keith Mitchell, we can reveal. The leader of the Conservative administration at County Hall managed to retain power during a secret ballot of the Tory group last

  • COMMENT: The beginning of the end?

    OXFORDSHIRE County Council chief Keith Mitchell is a bit like marmite — either a strong leader or he leaves a nasty taste in the mouth. He has given long service to Oxfordshire but there was clearly a mood for change among some of his Conservative colleagues

  • Examination Schools clean-up gets top marks

    A LAYER of black soot from years of traffic pollution has been wiped off one of Oxford’s most iconic buildings. More than 25 professional workers helped to clean and repair the main Limestone facade of Oxford University’s Examination Schools building

  • City pupils on first UK schools exchange

    IT’S school, but not as youngsters in Oxford know it. With an 8am to 5pm timetable, daily school exercises, medal ceremonies, mass singing, and an initiation into the Communist Party, a week of lessons at Ma Wang Dui Primary School in Changsa, southern

  • 2011: Cherwell councillors elected this morning

    HERE are the list of winners from the Cherwell District Council elections. Yarnton, Gosford and Water Eaton - Michael Gibbard (Conservative) elected Kidlington South - Neil Prestidge (Conservative) elected Kidlington North - Alaric Rose (Liberal Democrat

  • 2011: Lib Dem leader falls in Cherwell too

    THE Liberal Democrats have lost their leader in Cherwell in a result mirroring the bad night the party suffered in neighbouring West Oxfordshire. Conservative candidate Lynn Pratt defeated sitting Lib Derm leader Nick Cotter in the Bicester

  • 2011: Bad night for Liberal Democrats in West Oxfordshire

    THE Liberal Democrat party has tonight lost almost half of its councillors in West Oxfordshire. Three Lib Dem wards fell into the clutches of the majority Conservative party, shrinking the number of non-Tory councillors to just four out of the 48. Amongst