AN OFF-ROAD motor festival which has raised £110,000 for charities is off after the military landowners wanted more money for hire of the venue. Abingdon 4x4 Festival is the Rotary Club of Abingdon’s biggest fundraising event and has been held at Dalton
DIDCOT Railway Centre has applied to carry the Olympic torch aboard a unique 1908 steam train used to take passengers to the first Games held in London a century ago. Steam Railmotor 93 was unveiled to the public in May, after 20 years of restoration
7.45: Crossness 2, Ardmayle Diamond, Kilcarrig Tiny, MEGHANS TEDDY, Wee Secret 3, Pennys Demo. 8.00: Maldini Cullane 2, Tashas Heart, BARNAGRANE COLIN, Milton Cooper, Snipers Awake 3, Whos Topper. 8.15: Ballymac Celia, Champagne Perry 2, Blackatoni
JANET Hambridge clung onto life to see her son marry. Now, a year after she died from lung cancer, her family is to host an event to raise cash for Cancer Research UK and the hospice which cared for her. The fun day on Sunday, August 14, in Blackbird
Cherwell District councillor Carol Steward died this morning. Mrs Steward, who was in her 60s, had battled ill health for almost a decade after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 2004. Leader of Cherwell District Council
AN appeal to expand an in-demand Banbury charity has been given a £10,000 boost. Banbury Town Council has donated the cash to the town’s citizens’ advice bureau. The Cornhill-based charity, which helps people with issues including debt
THE 160th birthday of one of Oxford’s most unusual buildings will be celebrated on Sunday – in rural Buckinghamshire. Rewley Road railway station was rescued from dereliction in the late 1990s by the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre. The Grade II listed
FOUR Oxford parks have been named among Britain’s best open spaces. Bury Knowle Park, Florence Park, Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park, and Hinksey Park have all been awarded “Green Flag” status. Parks are judged against criteria including
THE director of a Gaza-based theatre group has thanked East Oxford theatre Pegasus for giving her young members the chance to tell their stories. A group of young actors from Gaza, Ashtar Theatre flew to Oxford to take part in the Mesh International
The year 1998 was a significant one on the music scene locally, since it saw the start of both Longborough Festival Opera and the Truck Festival. By coincidence each has a strong link with farming. For the first, Martin and Lizzie Graham transformed
Extraordinary how times change, particularly if you are an archaeologist. A century ago when Sir Arthur Evans (1851-1941) was knighted for his services to archaeology at Knossos in Crete, it was perfectly acceptable for a dashing and rich individual
I have been a regular reviewer at The Mill at Sonning Dinner Theatre since the start of its second season, as long ago as April 1983, when I enjoyed a gripping production of Ira Levin’s Deathtrap, which was recently revived in the West End. My
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Paul Collins says that children love making colourful food, and nothing could be more colourful than tomato sauce. Although this sauce can be created from chopped tinned tomatoes, he encourages children to use fresh ingredients and, where possible, pick
Now that the children are out of school, the task of keeping them entertained begins. Paul Collins, an Oxfordshire chef and father of two, says he has the answer. He is prepared to hold a cookery lesson in your own kitchen for up to four children
Recalling the cliffhanger TV series of the 1950s, Captain America: The First Avenger establishes the origins of one of the most popular superheroes from the Marvel Comics stable. Admittedly, director Joe Johnston has an arsenal of state-of-the-art
Student actors return to childhood — to toys and teddies and not a few tantrums — in an engaging new stage adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s children’s classic The Little Prince. Oxford University Dramatic Society’s offering at the forthcoming
Summer Haiku is an inspired title for the show running at Art Jericho, in King Street. A reference to the natural world is expected in the Japanese form of poetry known as haiku, and the work of both artists exhibiting is informed by the natural
Henry Saunders is in a right pickle. His fortunes hang on a new production of Verdi’s Otello in Cleveland, Ohio. But his lead singer, volatile Italian tenor Tito Merelli, hasn’t turned up. “I could sing the role,” suggests downtrodden assistant Max (Damian
Reading that Christopher Le Brun intended to “fill to the brim” the Summer Exhibition (until August 15), my first thought was: “What’s new in that?” How can the show’s ever crowded spaces get any fuller? Yet sculptor and painter Le Brun RA and
During the winter, New College Choir broadcast Mozart’s Requiem live, as Oxford’s contribution to Radio 3’s Mozart-fest. Though we in the congregation sat in the college chapel while the performers were out of sight in the ante-chapel, the experience
Just five months after their last appearance at the Holywell, the Oxford Trobadors made a welcome return and once again enchanted with their songs and instrumental pieces inspired by the Occitan language of the 12th- and 13th-century troubadours. A mixture
This is the first season in which The Outer Space Company and Newington Nurseries have collaborated to showcase work by local artists. The collaboration has been so successful that it will be repeated next year. The cleverly designed garden rooms and
Walk into the North Wall Arts Centre and you are immersed in blue light. This exhibition, pieced together by hand from multiple triangles of dyed and lacquered tissue paper, has been created for this gallery by Gabby O’Connor, an Australian who
The impetus for this exhibition was the bequest to The Oxford Museum of the History of Science by an eccentric polymath called Ellen Ann Wilmott (1858-1934). Included are two of her turning lathes and her own woodwork — plus the evidence of her reputation
Having missed Alwyn Mellor’s acclaimed performance as Isolde at Grange Park last month (a problem with her voice obliged her to hand over singing duties to Susan Bullock on the night I attended), I was pleased to find her back in full-throated form as
The Truck Festival, now in its 14th year, would seem to be heading into a new era, with the festival stretching over three full days and the layout of the Steventon site redesigned. But, thankfully, festival organisers Robin and Joe Bennett have
AS THE sun rose over the plain, the city sheriff rode out on horseback to round up cattle. Not a scene from a John Ford western, but what happened on Oxford’s Port Meadow earlier this week when the Sheriff of Oxford held the annual inspection to check
BANBURY’S mayor and consort helped mark the one-year countdown until the start of the London 2012 Olympics. Alastair Milne Home and his wife Gill, pictured in the main canoe, took to the water at Woodgreen open air-pool, Banbury, to celebrate
THE expansion of RAF Brize Norton is causing people in Witney to be squeezed out of the rental market, estate agents have said. West Oxfordshire Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) last night said it could cause an “enormous amount of damage” to communities
IT may have taken several generations of children, but Tackley Pre-School finally have a permanent purpose-built home after 20 years. The village pre-school’s new building has finally been opened and is ready for its first intake in September. For nearly
HORSPATH 2nd seamer Andy Cummings refused to be downhearted after missing out on a ten-wicket haul. Cummings took the first nine wickets in Horspath’s six-wicket victory over Challow & Childrey 2nd, but saw a tenth chance dropped. “It
RHIAN Todd carried her bat, but could not save Oxfordshire from a 24-run defeat to Cornwall in Division 5 South & West of the ECB Women's County Championship. Opener Todd made 48 not out as Oxon chased 161 for victory before falling short on 136 at Oxford
THERE will be a few more magnificent men in their flying machines swooping over Oxford thanks to a new Spitfire academy. The academy was launched yesterday at Oxford Airport, in Kidlington, when its first four students enrolled. The
A MAN who punched a bouncer and brandished two hammers outside an Oxford pub was jailed — and then released 45 minutes later after a judge changed his mind. Harold McFarlane, pictured, had been sentenced to a year in prison by Recorder Sandeep Kainth
John Weller smacked a six in his 16-dolls to help Premier Section side George to a 3-0 win at Section 1 team Garsington Sports Club A, writes ANDY BEAL. Steve Walton (5-5-5) provided good support as the George racked up 95 dolls in a 30-27,
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THE Taylor brothers spoke of their pride after appearing together for Gloucestershire in a Clydesdale Bank 40 clash against Nottinghamshire. Jack and Matt, who hail from Great Tew, took five wickets between them as Gloucs lost by 19 runs at Cheltenham
Jamie Perkin and Chad Keegan were the stars of the show as Oxfordshire recorded their first victory of the season with a 163-run triumph over Dorset at Dean Park, Bournemouth. Perkin followed up his first-innings 122 with an unbeaten 107 as Oxfordshire
ONE of the major routes in and out of the city has become a no-through road for the next five weeks. Iffley Road is closed between The Plain and Temple Street until Thursday, September 1, as part of a 10-month Oxfordshire County Council
It’s a big claim, but the next few words you read are going to do over 100,000 people a favour. Why? Because I’m about to answer the number one question every single Australian who has ever lived in this country is asked on average once a week. The question
IT was probably unplanned, but what a cunning juxtaposition of attitudes to wildlife (July 18), where on one page the immensely rich and privileged Duke of Marlborough holds forth on those activities which he deems are “an integral part of the English
WITH respect to your article ‘Judge lenient on thief beater’ and your ‘WE SAY’ column headed ‘Part-time judge made right decision’, (Oxford Mail, July 15) the conclusion would seem to be that it is acceptable to be “a cocky and self-satisfied burglar
WHAT a wonderful nostalgic picture of the residents of Cranham Street, Jericho (Memory Lane, Oxford Mail, July 18), the occasion being the celebration of the 1951 Festival of Britain. In the write-up, it says the Festival of Britain had two
CARS are a waste of space. Oxford receives 80,000 commuters per day, 9.3 million other visitors per year and numbers keep rising. In 1991, 54 per cent of road trips into central Oxford were by car, 27 per cent by bus and 11 per cent by bicycle
OXFORD Downs captain Darryl Woods has received a one-match ban after walking on to the field to question an umpiring decision. Woods will miss Saturday’s MP Sports Cherwell League clash with Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts – unless he appeals
THE future of BBC Oxford has been secured in what campaigners are calling a “victory for the people of Oxfordshire”. Plans to move TV operations from Banbury Road to Southampton to save money sparked anger in May. But in an email to BBC staff on Monday
AT present, individuals acquitted of criminal charges are able to claim back reasonable out-of-pocket legal expenses. The previous Government made proposals seeking to remove this established right as a cost-cutting measure. Members of the current Government
I AM writing regarding your article Greyhound Racing: Trainer Wills suspended (Oxford Mail July 9). By failing to disclose details of the disciplinary matter which resulted in Ian Wills’ suspension, the dog racing industry confirms the shroud
A TEENAGER who won the fight of his life is preparing for his next bout. Sam Haines, 18, of Foxhall Road, Didcot, went to the doctor before Christmas last year with a pain in his neck and pins and needles in his hands. He was diagnosed
FORMER Oxfordshire paceman Jack Brooks has continued his rapid progress with a call-up to the England Lions squad. The 27-year-old strike bowler is in a 12-man group to face Sri Lanka A in a four-day match at Scarborough, starting on Tuesday. Brooks
Chris Wilder hailed the contribution of supersubs Alfie Potter and Ryan James after they helped Oxford United to a 2-0 victory over Birmingham City at the Kassam Stadium. Championship side Birmingham had looked in command, but the introduction of the
THIRTEEN-year-old Maisie Norton is battling cancer for the second time in her short life. But she is fighting it with help from her young friends who say she is the “bravest girl” they know. Maisie was at Millbrook School in Grove when she was first
Oxford United stretched their unbeaten run of friendlies to six matches with a hard-fought 2-0 victory against Championship side Birmingham at teh Kassam Stadium on Tuesday night. Second-half goals from new signing Ryan James and winger Alfie Potter
SAM HAINES is obviously a brave lad. He’s fought off cancer and is now going to step into the ring with a 6ft 2ins, 17-and-a-half stone railway worker for a charity boxing bout. It’s not what most of us would do, but Sam has won the
A NEW hospital ward has been opened at the John Radcliffe Hospital for patients fit enough to leave, but with no where to go. Social services last night said it was starting to cut the number of people blocking hospital beds in the county.
IT would be churlish not to at least welcome an improvement, no matter how slight, in the bedblocking situation in the county. After all, our scrutiny of this important issue last month saw the county councillor in charge, Arash Fatemian, take
A TEENAGER was raped at the Truck music festival, it emerged last night. A 15-year-old girl said she was sexually assaulted at the site between 2am and 2.30am on Saturday. The three-day event at Hill Farm in Steventon attracted about
CHILDREN showed they really gave a hoot at an event for charity at St Gregory the Great School in Cowley. The charity football tournament and fun day was organised for the Oxford Children’s Hospital by grateful dad Amber Ghulam. He helped plan the
OXFORD’S first city poet has spoken of her excitement at taking the new role. Kate Clanchy was appointed last week after councillors voted in favour of having a City Poet at its full council meeting. Ms Clanchy, 46, said: “I am looking
COMMUTERS and bus companies in Oxford have hailed the first 48 hours of the new joint-ticketing system a “great success”. The £10m scheme means return tickets can be now used on both Stagecoach and Oxford Bus Company services. The new tickets, smartcards
