Archive

  • Burglars raid OAP's house

    An 82-year-old woman had her jewellery stolen from her home while she was out. The burglars grabbed 24 pieces, including alexandrite rings and earrings, a tanzanite pendant, a Mozambique garnet pendant and an amethyst ring on September 22. Police believe

  • Police want to talk to Witney flasher

    This is the man police want to quiz after a dog walker was flashed at as she walked along a footpath. A man exposed himself to the 41-year-old woman on September 20 at about 2.50pm near to the Roman villa, East End, Witney. Anyone who

  • Man rescued after being trampled

    A man was airlifted to hospital after being trampled by a horse in Leafield, near Witney, today. At around 12.20pm, the man was crushed by a horse at the stables in the village. He was flown to the John Radcliffe Hospital by the air ambulance. Spokesman

  • Scheme to let children play safe in the street

    Children will be taking over an Oxford street today as a scheme to help them reclaim roads launches in the city. A recent Play England survey discovered nearly half of parents thought it was too unsafe to let their children play out alone. The Playing

  • New scheme benefits traders

    Shops and businesses in Wantage and Grove are being urged to sign up for a new loyalty card scheme before next month’s deadline. The town’s Chamber of Commerce, Vale of White Horse District Council and Wantage Town Council are promoting the project after

  • County house prices rise slightly

    House prices in Oxfordshire rose slightly last month, latest figures have revealed. Statistics released by the Land Registry show the average price achieved for a home in the county increased to £236,081 — up from £235,867 in the previous month

  • County house prices rise slightly

    House prices in Oxfordshire rose slightly last month, latest figures have revealed. Statistics released by the Land Registry show the average price achieved for a home in the county increased to £236,081 — up from £235,867 in the previous month

  • heapest at Tesco? Not by a mile

    ‘I expect you’re getting free food these days after the big plug you gave them.” The speaker was John Power, the one-time Mr Big of West Oxford politics, addressing me as I pedalled away, bike basket loaded to the brim, after another successful shopping

  • A rollicking show remembered

    The production by the National Theatre of One Man, Two Guvnors, which I review today on Page 43, brings back memories of the Cambridge Theatre Company’s rollicking revival of Goldoni’s The Servant of Two Masters, the play on which it is based, at the

  • The Appleford Kitchen & Bar

    We liked the Appleford Kitchen & Bar the moment we walked through the front door to be greeted by the smiling proprietor Michelle Marriott and the sight of what was clearly a dog basket by the front door. “Who does that belong to?” asked Rosemarie, even

  • When Philip went too far for Perry

    People in Oxford are tremendous writers of letters to newspapers, a fact that readers of The Oxford Times have weekly cause to celebrate. I celebrate, too, despite the brickbats I regularly receive. It is always better to be criticised than ignored

  • Local share prices (PM)

    AEA Technology 2.35 BMW 4727 Electrocomponents 194.8 Nationwide Accident Repair 95.5 Oxford Biomedica 5.4 Oxford Catalysts 59 Oxford Instruments 823 Reed Elsevier 504 RM 99.9 RPS Group 166.8 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Stewart Milne profits rise as jobs axe falls

    Timber frame housebuilder Stewart Milne has seen its fortunes improve despite announcing job losses. The company, which employs 119 workers at its Witney plant announced a pre-tax profit of £406,000 for the year to June 2011, up from £140,000 last year

  • Recipe for filled baked squash

    Whilst I have listed ingredients for this recipe they are but suggestions, as this dish is a celebration of harvest and all it brings, which fluctuates according to weather conditions, or the amount of vegetables shared between neighbours. The main ingredient

  • Hits and misses of the harvest of 2011

    When I was asked to compile a list of dates by which certain crops would be ready to harvest, I had to admit that this was no longer possible. Adverse weather conditions this year have really affected the rhythm of growth that we once took for granted

  • Tall stories about the Bard of Avon

    Long ago, when the world of mass tourism was relatively young, I used to act as tour guide for rich Americans, driving them about in an old Humber Imperial bought for the purpose. In those days — and I am talking here of the late sixties and early

  • Abduction and What's Your Number

    When 16-year-old Taylor Lautner was cast as lovesick Jacob Black in the first Twilight film, media attention focused on Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart and their sizzling chemistry. Then Lautner gained 30 pounds in muscle to convincingly portray

  • Holmes and Watson: The Farewell Tour, Mill Arts centre, Banbury

    Who murdered the Prime Minister’s ‘floozie’? Is it possible that the evil Moriarty didn’t die after all in that tussle with Sherlock Holmes at the Reichenbach Falls, and returned to carry on with his life of crime? Or was there somebody else just as sinister

  • Sancho: An Act of Remembrance: Burton Taylor Studio

    Having fortified himself with the first of several sips of brandy, Ignatius Sancho carefully settles himself into position. “One is sitting for one’s portrait,” he announces in the most upper crust of accents. The painter is Thomas Gainsborough, the year

  • Preview of Old Time Music Hall, Exeter Hall, Kidlington

    ‘The thing about Old Time Music Hall is that you always bring smiles to people’s faces. It’s for people aged five to 105.” So says Barbara Denton, who has been staging, and performing in such shows in and around Oxford since 1986. “If my mother were

  • The Wild Bride, Oxford Playhouse

    The innovative and singular Kneehigh theatre company return to Oxford with a rather grown-up adaptation of an ancient story, sometimes known as The Handless Maiden but known here as The Wild Bride. Expectations are high after they previous wowed

  • The Jungle Book: Oxfordshire Theatre Company

    The swish Memorial Hall in Stanton Harcourt played host to the first performance of Oxfordshire Theatre Company’s new show, an engaging musical enjoyed by an audience of all ages. OTC’s Jungle Book is different to the Disney film because this first-rate

  • ART2 2011: Banbury

    Banbury Museum’s community and family friendly ethos is helped by its convenient access, through the TIC, in Castle Quay shopping centre. With its views over the canal, it is an attractive location. The museum hosts the Graduate Art Show of Oxfordshire

  • A Sentimental Journey: The Mill at Sonning

    Though the Watermill’s hugely entertaining show about Doris Day takes its name from her first big hit, A Sentimental Journey, there is nothing in the least bit sentimental about this clear-eyed study of a remarkable show-biz life. The biggest screen

  • John Hounam Revisited: Said Business School

    I felt compelled to revisit the Said Business School’s Art Gallery, when I realised that my so-called review of John Hounam’s work last week said very little about the vibrant paintings on show, but filled the space with rants about the absence

  • Family history

    Oxfordshire Family History Society is holding an open day on Saturday, from 10am. All are welcome to visit and find out how to trace their family tree at Marlborough School in Woodstock. Car parking and refreshments are available.

  • Patient views

    The next meeting of the Berinsfield Health Centre patient participation group takes place tomorrow. The group, which meets at the Fane Drive centre twice a year, will gather at 8pm. Members will discuss proposed NHS reforms and issues around the centre

  • Bid to get on the map

    A bid has been made to officially recognise a footpath which links established routes in Cuddesdon. The footpath would link four footpaths in Cuddesdon and Denton, near the River Thame. Oxfordshire County Council is consulting on the

  • Wildlife awake for night-time visit

    Most of us have wondered what happens at the zoo once everyone goes home. And families found out when the Cotswold Wildlife Park, near Burford, opened its doors at night for the first time. It was an opportunity to see nocturnal animals wide awake.

  • Reward for recovery of Land Rover

    A farm worker is offering a £1,000 reward to help track down his stolen 4x4, after admitting he left the keys hidden in the vehicle. Chris Pocock made the appeal for information after his insurance company refused to cover the loss because he had stowed

  • Two men charged with nightclub thefts

    Two men have been charged with theft after four people had their mobile phones stolen in ava and Ignite club in Park End Street. Abdeslem Ouchikh, 29, from Barton Road, Headington, and Mehdi Ifrene, 28, from Tilehouse Close, Headington, hav both been

  • Ice cream business is about to start hotting up

    BUSINESSES in Oxford hope to reap the benefits of an Indian summer over the next few days after a dreary couple of months. Sun worshippers in the city were warned to get their ice cream and sun hats at the ready with temperatures set to sizzle. Today

  • FOOTBALL: Freeman slams six

    TOWER Hill thumped local rivals Brize Norton 10-0 in Division 1 of the Thames Valley Women’s League. Tower were 2-0 up after seven minutes with a double from Lisa Freeman. Karen Slatter netted a third, before Leane Walker made it 4-0. Freeman completed

  • COMMENT: Just in time

    We are so glad the sun has deemed us worthy enough to make an appearance this summer... just. It has been a pretty drab few months for businesses who usually rely on tourists. Probably the last thing on visitors’ minds in July and August was ice cream

  • FOOTBALL: Referee Sian gets UEFA call-up

    OXFORDSHIRE referee Sian Piret has been called up by UEFA to officiate in an international tournament which starts tomorrow. The 30-year-old, from Marston, who is the county’s senior female match official, will act as an assistant referee in Group 7

  • FOOTBALL: Mudge takes over as Didcot boss

    Didcot Town have appointed former Windsor & Eton boss Dave Mudge as their new manager. It follows the departure of Francis Vines following their 5-2 drubbing by Poole Town. Last season, Mudge guided the Stag Meadow outfit to a play-off position, only

  • FOOTBALL: Battling Hinksey roar on

    AFC Hinksey needed extra time before winning 4-2 at Rover Cowley in the Critchley's Upper Thames Valley League's Hedley Toms/Michael Brown Trophy first round, writes TIM SIRET. Carl Bloomfield’s early opener for Hinksey was cancelled out by a late equaliser

  • FOOTBALL: Oxford ref Sian gets call-up for UEFA tournament

    Oxfordshire referee Sian Piret has been called up by UEFA to officiate in an international tournament which starts on September 29. The 30-year-old, from Marston, who is the county’s senior female match official, will act as an assistant referee in Group

  • Marsh strikes winner for Oxford United Res

    Tyrone Marsh scored a cracking winning goal as Oxford United’s Reserves beat Southend 2-1 in Tuesday night's Totesport.com Combination North Division clash at Didcot Town. The U’s youth team player showed great composure to chest down Asa Hall’s through

  • Cogges link ‘will slash pollution’

    AN AIR quality expert claims the proposed Cogges Link Road will “substantially” reduce pollution in parts of Witney town centre. Paul Taylor, a fellow at the Institute of Air Quality Management, spoke at a key public inquiry into the scheme, which reopened

  • Coroner: PM’s friend died of natural causes

    A SENIOR Tory who was found dead in a toilet at this year’s Glastonbury Festival died of natural causes, a coroner ruled yesterday. Christopher Shale, 56, who was a friend of Prime Minister David Cameron, was found dead in a backstage VIP area at the

  • FOOTBALL: Wood’s double ends Bampton’s hopes

    GILES SPORTS WITNEY YOUTH LEAGUE JACK Wood bagged a brace as Tower Hill booked their place in the second round of the Under 14 Knockout Cup with a 4-0 win at Bampton. Calum McGinness and Redd Pratley scored their others . Carterton Colts defeated

  • Inquest: Stroke patient choked to death on bun

    AN 81-year-old dementia sufferer died after suffocating on a bun fed to him by his family, an inquest heard. Retired film editor Bryan Tilling, from Harwell, was fed the bun by daughter Janice while he was a patient at the Churchill Hospital on February

  • Sort out the UK first please

    This Coalition was voted into office to run the country and we have a lot of problems with debt, the economy, unemployment, etc. We can’t afford to be fighting in wars like Afghanistan and Libya. Now David Cameron wants the United Nations to take action

  • Derelict land is still useful

    Marywood House in Leiden Road has now been boarded up and looking derelict for seven years or more and no houses or flats built on it. This valuable piece of land could be used to the advantage of local people. Perhaps a library, swimming pool and

  • Many famous stutterers

    I enjoyed your article 'I don’t stutter at all if I’m singing' about Chris Charlesworth. Mr Charlesworth touches upon a phenomenon that has existed since there have been records of man: people who stammer can sing fluently. Some experts suggest that

  • We must save the NHS

    If anyone was in any doubt as to the nasty Tories’ (and Lib Dems’) policies, then look no further than the Health and Social Care Bill affecting the NHS and going to the House of Lords soon. No less than two Freedom of Information requests have found

  • FOOTBALL: Reds claim Vixens spoils

    OXFORD MAIL GIRLS LEAGUE Tower Hill Vixens Red secured club bragging rights with a 3-0 victory over their Blue side in the Under 11 League. Ellie Smart hit the bar for the Blues early on, but Marianne Hauer’s double and one from Isabelle

  • FOOTBALL: Meggie's fab five

    OXFORD MAIL GIRLS LEAGUE MEGGIE Crawford led the way with a five-timer as St Edm-unds demolished Swindon Spitfires 13-1 in the Under 15 League. Spitfires hit the post early on, but St Edmunds, from Abingdon, roared into a 5-0 half-time lead. Alice

  • Sassy & SINGLE: Celebrities have just lost their fascination

    I had one of those moments on the weekend where I realised I’m an idiot. Actually I used a few stronger words than that, but generally they all had to do with being taken for ride, scammed and blinded by people whose job it is to find suckers just like

  • Unusual constituency plans

    It was weird when the Abingdon constituency was combined with North Oxford, thus skipping South Oxford. But the proposal to combine Radley with Henley, which are many more miles apart, is bizarre. Will the successful candidate be allowed expenses

  • Our roads cannot take any more new housing

    I read with dismay in your paper last week that our local council, West Oxfordshire District Council, is considering yet more housing in our area. More than 2,500 new homes are being proposed by developers in Carterton and nearby villages. I do hope

  • Taste of the tropics wafts into Oxford

    A TASTE of the tropics is set to breeze into Oxford this winter. The production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific will be at the New Theatre in December. Starring Samantha Womack, who plays Ronnie Branning in EastEnders, it features a cast

  • 'I never saw cyclist I hit' death crash driver tells jury

    A DRINK driver who fatally hit a teenage cyclist told jurors the first thing he noticed was his windscreen suddenly smashing. Jonathan Ashworth denies causing the death of 18-year-old Tom Kahl by careless driving while over the alcohol limit. The 55

  • Celebrity chefs promote Oxford as gastro-city

    OXFORD is known worldwide for its university and dreaming spires. But now a group of celebrity chefs and culinary experts are hoping to make the city known for its food as well. Those signed up to the new group include celebrity chef Raymond Blanc,

  • 'We are worth it' say cancer campaigners

    CANCER campaigner Clive Stone last night said the fight was worth it after starting to take the drug he spent years battling for. The 63-year-old started taking Sunitinib, a life-extending drug for kidney cancer patients, last month. It came after a

  • COMMENT: Drugs need more research

    What is value for money? Or, it seems, who is worth the money? Medical journal The Lancet featured 37 cancer specialists who have criticised the use of life extending drugs for cancer sufferers. They claimed dishing out the drugs was a drain on finances

  • Football tournament to help mental health charity

    THEY say it’s the universal language, now football aims to unite sides and combat the homeless stereotype. The first-ever Oxford Social Inclusion Cup will bring together dozens of football teams, many of them made up of homeless players.

  • Drive to get county involved in sport as Olympics loom

    SPORTING heroes don’t just have to be the people playing the sport. That’s the message from a new scheme which piloted at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford on Monday. The county became the first in the country to take part in Sport Makers