Archive

  • Lady, that's one big insect

    SCHOOLCHILDREN got creative for a special exhibition to mark Oxfordshire Artweeks. All 370 pupils at Manor Prep School in Abingdon produced a piece for the school hall exhibition on Saturday. Organiser Karen Copson, pictured with Emma Read and the nine-year-old

  • Brat Camp wild child turns her life around

    A FORMER wild child teenager whose behaviour shocked TV viewers has marked turning her life around by getting a tattoo of her idol. Jemma Henley, from Oxford, was known for her outrageous behaviour on Channel 4 reality show Brat Camp but is now forging

  • Three women injured in Bicester brawl

    Three women were injured in a park brawl in Bicester. The fight broke out between two groups of teenage women on the road leading from Queens Avenue to Bicester Leisure Centre, between 6.10pm and 6.45pm on Monday night. One woman was left with bruising

  • Man convicted of fraud and theft of £50k

    A FORMER married couple have been sentenced for frauds and a theft totalling almost £50,000. Gholam Sefy conned a vulnerable man out of £38,000 and, with then-partner Jamileh Sobhani, defrauded Cherwell District Council and a number of banks. The pair

  • Winner sets new course time

    RUNNERS from across the UK descended on Blenheim Palace to take part in a charity 7k run. The event raised about £2,500 for St Peter’s Primary School, Cassington, and Woodstock Youth Centre. About 600 racers took part in the event, which

  • Community celebrates building's 10th anniversary

    IT SERVES as the hub of the West Oxford community, hosting everything from playgroups to Buddhist meditation. Tens of thousands of people have used the West Oxford Community Centre, in Botley Road, each year since its launch in 2001.

  • Driving ambition off the track for Williams F1

    The chairman of the Williams F1 team has pledged it will continue investing in technologies away from the Grand Prix circuit. The company, which employs 490 workers at Grove, recently lent its specialist engineering expertise to the development of a

  • Psycho sausage honours Hitchcock film festival

    ONE Oxford eaterie has gone all Psycho over our Alfred Hitchcock-inspired film festival. The Big Bang restaurant in Walton Street has created a sausage modelled on one of cinema’s most infamous serial killers, Norman Bates. The banger

  • Local shares (PM)

    AEA Technology 4.2 BMW 5513 Electrocomponents 285.9 Nationwide Accident Repair 99.5 Oxford Biomedica 5.85 Oxford Catalysts 95.75 Oxford Instruments 742.5 Reed Elsevier 548.25 RM 140.5 RPS Group 234.6 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley

  • Bicester businesses make connections

    BUSINESSES in Bicester are being urged to join a networking event and help raise cash. Organisers are hoping to attract more than 100 firms to the event at Trinity Restaurant, Chapel Street, on Wednesday, May 18. The idea is to meet other business people

  • Cancer victim's son becomes face of fundraising drive

    A GRIEVING son has become the ‘face’ of a national fundraising cancer campaign after losing his mother to the disease. James Felce was picked from thousands to launch a fundraising campaign for the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) because of his support

  • CRICKET: Sad Tetsworth suffer mauling

    OCA League HAPLESS Tetsworth fielded only eight players and were comprehensively slammed by Shrivenham in Division 1 on Saturday. Adam Tucker smashed 137 not out and Mark Whale 104 not out as Shrivenham rattled up 263 without loss, before Ernie Howe

  • CRICKET: Dorchester bounce back with victory

    OCA League Divisions 5-11 DORCHESTER bounced back from the previous weekend’s mauling by Minster Lovell 2nd with a five-wicket win at Freeland 2nd in Division 6. Batting first, Freeland were rolled out for 118 as Lawrence Belcher took 4-31 and Steve

  • CRICKET: Horley in Airey cruise

    OCA League Horley powered to a nine-wicket victory over Stonesfield in the first round of the Airey Cup. Steve Palmer took 5-21 as Stonesfield were skittled out for 94, before Dave Clark (50no) saw Horley to 98-1. Charlbury reached the second round

  • Red Nose Day: Witney Wolves Rugby Club

    A RUGBY club for children with special needs said the £1,000 they received from Comic Relief was “amazing”. The Witney Wolves, based at Witney Rugby Club, is a special needs tag rugby team for boys and girls aged seven and upwards. They

  • Red Nose Day: The BK Luwo Group

    FOR many women coming from abroad and settling in the UK, life can feel isolated and confusing. But one Oxford organisation aims to bring those women together to develop life-long friendships, support and fun. BK Luwo is a group of about 15 women

  • Red Nose Day: Bicester widows

    SECRETARY of the Bicester Widows group, Rita Mechen, knows how hard it can be to lose your partner. She said: “It takes a lot of courage for a widow to go out and meet people on her own.” The Bicester Widows, set up four years ago, aims

  • 'Strongest ever' business awards shortlist revealed

    JUDGES of the Oxfordshire Business Awards said they have produced the strongest list of finalists in the competition’s history. After weeks of deliberation, the awards comittee has produced a shortlist of 39 companies across 13 categories, with the

  • Three women injured in Bicester fight

    Police today appealed for witnesses following a fight in Bicester in which three young women were injured. The incident happened in the road leading from Queens Avenue to Bicester Leisure Centre, between 6.10pm and 6.45pm yesterday.

  • CRICKET: Darley is Vale's star

    MP SPORTS CHERWELL LEAGUE Divisions 6-10 MATT Darley’s 4-8 helped Abingdon Vale 2nd defeat Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts 2nd in Division 6. Darley and Henry Pickford (3-18) ensured Nondies were dismissed for 108, Chris Day making

  • CRICKET: Smith salvo proves in vain

    MP SPORTS CHERWELL LEAGUE Division 5 Left-armer Neil Smith took 6-43, but it was not enough to propel his Tiddington 2nd side to victory at Banbury 3rd. The home side finished on 231, with Julian Briggs (55), Marc Rorich (46) and Ernest Murrey

  • Local share prices (AM)

    AEA Technology 4.4 BMW 5464 Electrocomponents 282.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 100 Oxford Biomedica 5.8 Oxford Catalysts 95.75 Oxford Instruments 738.75 Reed Elsevier 542 RM 140.25 RPS Group 221.5 Courtesy of Redmayne

  • HOCKEY: Stalwart Biggs is honoured

    Oxford Hawks celebrated the opening of their two new pitches on Saturday. The day included two games against Oxford High School and Magdalen College School, both contributors to the project. These were followed by a training session for the club’s younger

  • CRICKET: Davies hat-trick sets up victory

    MP SPORTS CHERWELL LEAGUE Division 4 Neil Davies produced a devastating spell of bowling to take 7-34 – including a hat-trick – as Wallingford were rolled over by Chearsley for only 79. The hat-trick came from the first three balls of the 20th

  • Woman robbed by knife raider

    A WOMAN told police she was robbed at knifepoint in the town centre. The 51-year-old, who works at Martin’s newsagents in Market Square, was taking the papers from outside the backyard when she was approached from behind. The attacker put his hand over

  • Inquiry to be held into election 'fiasco'

    AN inquiry will be held over last week’s South Oxfordshire District Council elections after authority leader Ann Ducker labelled it a shambles. Mrs Ducker, the leader of the Tory-run council, said an investigation was needed after problems with the distribution

  • DARTS: Oxfordshire clinch promotion to top flight

    Oxfordshire clinched their place in the top flight of British darts for only the second time in their history after a thrilling last-game victory over Bedfordshire at the weeklend. They went into their final Division 1 fixture of the Rileys British Inter-Counties

  • HOCKEY: City giants set to merge

    Two of the city’s biggest clubs are to merge to form Oxford Hockey Club. City of Oxford and Rover Oxford took the decision to join forces at separate meetings last week. And the move has been rubber-stamped ready for the merger to take place for the

  • RUGBY: Mission impossible for Oxfordshire

    Oxfordshire will need to defeat Dorset & Wilts by an improbable 84 points or more in their final County Championship Shield Pool 3 match at Bournemouth on Saturday to reach the semi-finals. Oxon, who didn’t play this week, just about stayed

  • COMMENT: Heartwarming idea

    THE aim of Wantage charity Festival Spirit to take youngsters with disabilities to enjoy a music festival – such a rite of passage for most teenagers – is truly heart-warming. Jody Dickinson is blind, partially deaf, and suffers from epilepsy and a

  • CRICKET: Youngsters lead the way for Kingston

    MP SPORTS CHERWELL LEAGUE Division 3 Youngsters Matthew Warner and Damian Wiskin shone for Kingston Bagpuize, who beat Bledlow Village by 58 runs. Warner made 63 and Wiskin 30 in Bagpuize’s 197 all out, Mark King taking 5-30. Warner (3-34) and

  • MOTORLUX - Motor Dealership

    32-38 Newbury Street Wantage Oxon OX12 8DD Tel: 01235 770030 Email: rshepherd@motorlux.co.uk Web: http://www.motorlux.co.uk/

  • Tikka's off the menu as chefs battle for curry prize

    IT MAY be Britain’s favourite dish, but chicken tikka masala was strictly off the menu at the Indian Chef of the Year 2011 contest. Instead, top curry chefs from across the country created a range of innovative dishes to show just how far the

  • Young and old help out in garden

    THREE-YEAR-OLD Penny Pritchard was one of the youngest gardeners who took part in a plant swap session and planting workshop in East Oxford. The workshop was held at Barracks Lane Community Garden on Saturday and more than 50 gardening enthusiasts attended

  • SEX ATTACK: Teenager arrested

    A PASSER-BY chased off a sex attacker who pulled a woman into a secluded area and molested her. The 26-year-old victim was walking along Cowley Road early on Saturday when the attacker grabbed her and dragged her under a staircase at the rear of Baby

  • Ask the Vet: Why is my guinea-pig not getting better?

    Our pet guinea-pig has been on three different courses of antibiotics recently but he still has a bladder infection. There is still blood in his urine. Why is it not getting better? A Mitchell, Wallingford Most simple bacterial bladder infections

  • Time to come clean over council budgets

    So Ed Turner, the deputy leader of Oxford City council, says it is “rubbish” to suggest that Labour is hoarding money ready for spending spree just before the local elections next year (Oxford Mail, May 2) However, what are the facts? Thanks to Green

  • No mention of enterprise partnership

    YOUR report ‘Call for enterprise zone in Oxfordshire’ (Oxford Mail, May 3) was notable for the disappointing absence of any mention of the fact that the county recently became one of the first in the country to host a Local Enterprise Partnership

  • Take a good look at the eyesore we have to live with

    As regards Sue Lygo’s Letter ‘Live and Let Live’, (ViewPoints May 2), how nice of her to visit this area of St Peter’s Road to give her opinion of the area in which I have lived for 70 years. I would suggest that instead of a fleeting visit in her car

  • Speechless at referendum vote

    So the referendum is done and the turkeys have voted with depressing enthusiasm for Christmas (Saturday’s Oxford Mail) . What can I say? I can’t. I’ll leave it to Nietzsche. Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain. GL Samson,

  • Strange reluctance to reveal police figures

    The police keep extensive records on crimes committed. Yet when challenged to demonstrate the effectiveness of CCTV cameras on the Cowley Road (Thursday’s Oxford Mail) they declined on grounds of cost. How strange. Could this be because the figures

  • On Yer Bike: Tweed Run turns back time

    WE WERE walking near Spitalfields Market in East London when our path was blocked by a cavalcade of hundreds of tweed-clad cyclists. They weren’t just wearing tweed jackets, but the full 1920s monty: deerstalker hats, trousers tucked into long

  • CRICKET: Charlesworth sees off Tiddington on his own

    MP SPORTS CHERWELL LEAGUE Division 2 Abingdon Vale all-rounder Graham Charlesworth took 7-50 and then hit an effortless 79 not out as he effectively beat Tiddington on his own. Put in to bat, the hosts made a decent start thanks to Jon Talbot

  • Concerns over election organisation

    DAVID Buckle, the Vale of White Horse District Council chief executive, urged people to vote (Oxford Mail, May 3), but in the same article states “there is no guideline for when voting cards have to be sent out and in theory I could send them out the

  • Many were involved in anti-road campaign

    Many congratulations to Penelope Glen on being elevated to High Sheriff of Oxfordshire. However, Sam McGregor’s report on this (Oxford Mail, April 27) ends by giving the impression that the SOS Roads campaign of the early-to-mid 1990s, with

  • OXFORD AUDI - Motor Dealership

    2 Oxford Road, Kidlington, Oxfordshire, OX5 1AA Tel: 01865 853400 Email: oxfordaudisales@ridgeway.co.uk Web: www.ridgeway.co.uk

  • Celebrations at youth club amid fears of closure

    SEVENTY pensioners gathered at Wolvercote Young People’s Club for their annual party, amid fears county council cuts could make it their last. Young people who use the club had raised £200 for food and entertainment through a sponsored community

  • VW - Motor Dealership

    265-279 Iffley Road, Oxford, OX4 4AHTel: 01865 242241Email: vwoxfordiffleyrdsales@ridgeway.co.ukWeb: www.ridgeway.co.uk

  • Farage death threat man faces sentence delay

    The pilot of a plane which crashed, injuring UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage during a stunt on the day of the General Election last year, has been told by a judge to expect a suspended sentence for threatening to kill the politician.

  • COMMENT: Compromise is called for

    THERE is always a sharp intake of breath when people at the sharp end of the public sector threaten to strike. Take today’s story about teachers being balloted over industrial action against proposed changes to their pensions. The unions are forecasting

  • CRICKET: Miller's spell is decisive

    MP SPORTS CHERWELL LEAGUE Division 1 LEFT-ARM spinner Shaun Miller proved virtually unplayable as 2010 runners up, Shipton-under-Wychwood, got off to a winning start at Bletchley Town. Miller took 6-35 in a 20-over spell that also featured eight

  • CRICKET: Nondies' attack shines on top-flight return

    MP SPORTS CHERWELL LEAGUE - MATCH OF THE DAY Division 1 newcomers Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts did enough to suggest they will easily cope with the step up in class by handing out a 99-run hiding to Oxford 2nd on Saturday. Nondies were particularly

  • Teachers threaten strike over pension changes

    TEACHERS voting on whether to strike over pension changes have predicted every school in Oxfordshire will be affected and the majority could have to close. Three teaching unions are balloting for industrial action over Government changes to

  • Man acquitted on rape charges

    A MAN has spoken of his relief and desire to get on with his life after being cleared of three charges of rape. Kenneth Pinkstone, who denied the charges, was acquitted by jurors at Oxford Crown Court yesterday, following a week-long trial. The 23-year-old

  • Workers axed at Mini plant

    EIGHTY agency workers at the Cowley Mini plant have been axed and shifts shortened as part of a major shake-up. Bosses say the move comes in an attempt to meet “the different ordering patterns of customers” in the car’s markets around the world

  • Sordo to drive Mini WRC at Cornbury

    Mini WRC team driver Dani Sordo will appear at The Rally Show at Cornbury Park this weekend to demonstrate the new Mini World Rally Car. The Spanish driver will be heading straight to Oxfordshire from Sardinia, where he clinched a superb sixth

  • Team all set to make sure Town & Gown fundraiser runs smoothly

    WHEN it comes to making sure the Town & Gown race is a success, Atkins transport has got it covered. Atkins, based in Milton Road, Drayton, is part of a multi-national company, but the staff have taken Oxford’s annual race to their hearts, doing all

  • It's the end of the road for U's striker Midson

    Jack Midson’s Oxford United career is over. But fellow striker Steve MacLean may yet have a future with the club. The Scot is returning to his parent club Plymouth Argyle following his loan spell at Oxford, but manager Chris Wilder may