Archive

  • Hackett the Wanderer

    FORMER Oxford United winger Chris Hackett has joined Wycombe Wanderers on loan from Millwall. The 28-year-old moves to the League One strugglers on an initial month-long deal after slipping out of favour at The New Den. He has also been on loan to Exeter

  • Oxford (Rendell 43, Constable 56), Barnet (Hector 16)

    RYAN Clarke saved a penalty six minutes from time as Oxford United recorded a valuable three points against Barnet tonight. It looked as though goals from Scott Rendell and James Constable would see the U's come from behind to take victory.

  • Oxford United level at half-time

    On-loan Scott Rendell struck his first goal for Oxford United to make it 1-1 at half-time after Michael Hector had given visitors Barnet a 15th-minute lead in League Two at the Kassam Stadium.

  • Student flats to be built on former rail site

    Plans to build hundreds of postgraduate student flats and bedsits have been approved. The University of Oxford has been given planning permission to build 312 flats and bedsits over four and five-storeys at unused former railway land near the station

  • Two changes for Oxford United against Barnet

    Oxford United boss Chris Wilder has made two changes to his starting line-up for tonight's League Two game against Barnet. Oli Johnson and Lee Holmes, both substitutes in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Bristol Rovers come in for Mehdi Kerrouche and Mark Wilson

  • Pub might be lost under house plan

    Campaigners are battling to save a pub by their village green. The Anchor in Stanford-in-the-Vale could be converted into a home after it was sold by pub company Greene King. But Neil Crook, chairman for the White Horse Campaign for Real Ale, said the

  • Teen locked up after 100mph chase

    A teenager involved in a 100mph car chase has been locked up. Gary Woodwards was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Monday, a month after his accomplice was dealt with. As reported in the Oxford Mail in January, 18-year-old Woodwards

  • Disgust as human waste is overflows onto towpath

    Human waste is spilling over a canal footpath and even being dumped in the water because a lack of facilities, boaters claim. They said a canalside disposal point for them to empty their toilet waste has been overflowing for more than a month. And they

  • Graffiti skills are in the can

    YOUNGSTERS were offered the chance to show their colours in a graffiti workshop at a youth centre relaunch party. Wolvercote Young People’s Club lost its funding from Oxfordshire County Council in sweeping cuts last year. But the St Peter’s Road centre

  • Radical change in women’s support

    A SERVICE which has been dedicated to helping hundreds of women overcome drug and alcohol problems will no longer exist after next month. The Oxford Women’s Service has been based in East Oxford for the past four years. In that time,

  • RACE FOR LIFE: ‘Help us to find a cure for cancer’

    YOUNG leukaemia patient Scarlett Clarkson is urging Oxford Mail readers to “walk just five kilometres and help find a cure for my cancer.” The brave seven-year-old was chosen to launch this year’s Race for Life at Oxford’s University Parks

  • Lighting a candle for Syria

    AN OXFORD religious group held a candlelit vigil to call for peace in Syria. Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands left homeless in the Government crackdown on protests. The Oxford Islamic Information Centre organised the event at Carfax

  • Group aims to attract story lovers

    SNIPPETS of people’s lives are being offered up at a new storytelling club at Oxford. The SharkSpark club was launched at The Living Room, Oxford Castle, in January and budding bards will meet again next Monday. Inspired by a similar club in London,

  • Walk to help Rotary charities

    THE Rotary Club of Wantage will be holding its annual sponsored walk on Sunday, March 4. The marshalled walk starts and finishes at Wantage Cricket Club and hikers can choose between a five and 10 mile route. There will be no charge for those raising

  • Local share prices (PM)

    AEA Technology 0.3 BMW 6041 Electrocomponents 243.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 64.25 Oxford Biomedica 3 Oxford Catalysts 56.5 Oxford Instruments 1141 Reed Elsevier 551.5 RM 80 RPS Group 229.4 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley

  • Monday, February 27: Win a spa day for two

    MOTHER'S Day approaches and we've teamed up with QHotels to offer a spa day for two at The Belfry in Oxford. Get the Oxford Mail on Monday, February 27 for your chance to enter this fabulous competition. The lucky winner can treat their

  • Thursday, February 23: Free loaf

    IF you buy your Oxford Mail from Budgens in Peachcroft, Abingdon, on Thursday, you'll get a free loaf of Warburtons bread, while stocks last.

  • Verdict in mid-air collision inquest

    AN RAF reservist killed alongside a teenage cadet was "dead before the aircraft hit the ground" following a mid-air crash with a glider, an inquest jury has found. Flight Lieutenant Mike Blee, 62, and Nicholas Rice, 15, died after the RAF training

  • Would-be robber caught with fake gun

    A WOULD-BE robber was found with a plastic gun and a fake beard. Edward Stirling, 44, was found in High Acres, Banbury, with the imitation weapon, a knife, the beard, a balaclava, rope, a hammer and nails, and a number of other items. At Oxford Crown

  • AN UNEXPECTED GUEST: Cast to smoke out the killer

    The little grey cells had to work extra hard on Banbury Cross Players’ latest production due to an unforeseen assailant...health and safety. Agatha Christie’s An Unexpected Guest features copious smoking scenes. But, as director Terry Gallager

  • Pair admit ABH assault

    Kevin Silva and Dale Biddle pleaded guilty to assault at Oxford Crown Court on Monday. Both admitted causing actual bodily harm to Frederick Lawrence in South Bar Street, Banbury, in April. Silva, 31, of Warwick Road, Banbury, and Biddle, 23, of Waller

  • Sports boost as ownership of pitches is changed

    TWO sports pitches will be brought into greater use when they come under the management of Banbury Town Council, bosses say. Hanwell Fields sports ground is to be given to the authority by developer Taylor Wimpey, which has built more than 1,000 homes

  • MP Baldry visits palace

    Tony Baldry MP was a Church of England representative at a Lambeth Palace reception to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The Banbury MP, a church commissioner, joined other faith leaders and Her Majesty at Wednesday’s reception. The Queen’s speech

  • Warriner School sixth-form is backed

    EDUCATION bosses have backed plans for a sixth-form at Warriner School, despite concern over its impact on other schools. Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet last week approved public consultation on the expansion, to take 22 pupils from September

  • Thieves butcher sheep

    Five sheep have been killed by thieves at Aston Rowant Nature Reserve in Watlington. Between Sunday, February 5 and Thursday, February 16, the sheep were professionally butchered and slaughtered and the meat was stolen, leaving behind the skins, feet

  • Young and old film sweet memories

    A FILM shot through the eyes of the young and old will create fond memories for a group of school children and dementia sufferers. Modern Art Oxford paired youngsters and elderly Oxfordshire residents to produce a short film exploring the nature of memory

  • Campaigners' new plan to save fields

    A CAMPAIGN group has threatened to try to turn Ruskin Fields into a town green to stop future development. Friends of Old Headington last night warned it had enough evidence to protect the green space from further development. Last year

  • Henmans under starter's orders

    Henmans solicitors is hosting a special preview night of the Cheltenham race festival. The event will be chaired by Stephen Higgins, managing director of Newbury Racecourse, with twice Gold Cup winning trainer Noel Chance and jockey Dougie Costello.

  • HOCKEY: Banbury's survival hopes dented

    Banbury needed a win at mid-table Spencer to boost their survival prospects in Premier Division 1 of the South League, but they crashed 3-1. Keeper Steve Hicks came in for his debut and was beaten twice before the break, before Matt Bull found

  • Duchess arrives at Oxford Spires

    THE DUCHESS of Cambridge was greeted by cheering children as arrived at Oxford Spires Academy a few minutes ago. The entire school is outside to greet her with banners and flags. Kate has been welcomed by headteacher Sue Croft and is now chatting

  • HOCKEY: Hawks up to fourth after double

    Oxford Hawks recorded a memorable Women's Conference East double header over the weekend, beating both Maidstone and Ipswich 1-0 at home. Maidstone kept Hawks at bay during the first half on Saturday, but there was no respite for them after

  • Children line up to say farewell to Duchess

    CHILDREN are lining up to say farewell to the Duchess of Cambridge. Kate has spent the past two hours at Rose Hill Primary School. Now youngsters are preparing to wish her well as she leaves to head to Oxford Spires Academy. The Duchess, wearing

  • Star dancer shares skills with children

    KYLIE Minogue’s former choreographer led dance sessions at a new performing arts academy in Witney. Tim Noble worked with 40 children at an event held to launch the West Oxfordshire Academy of Performing Arts, at Henry Box School, on Saturday. He joined

  • Weekend bus link wins £14,000 aid

    BIG Society funding from the Government has arrived to keep a bus route running between Watlington and Oxford. In December,five villages in South Oxfordshire linked up to support a month-long trial of weekend buses on route 101, after a similar service

  • The Quiz League: Romantic angle to questioning

    Last Thursday saw the latest instalment in the series of Tabletops, which runs intermittently throughout the season. On this occasion, 20 of the county’s finest teams assembled at various pubs in pursuit of the Mary English Valentine’s Memorial Trophy

  • A team effort for Ox5

    A TEAM of women from Oxford company Amey are bringing their trainers to work to get fit for this year’s OX5 Run. The five-mile race around the park at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, takes place on Sunday, March 25, and the team from Amey is pounding the

  • £2.5m mansion to be made out of straw

    THE lesson learned in the fairy tale of the three little pigs is that straw is not the best material to build a house with. However, an Oxfordshire landowner is hoping to build a £2.5m mansion near Faringdon made out of 25 tonnes of hay. Yet any future

  • RUGBY UNION: Abingdon bag derby victory

    League round-up ABINGDON dominated from start to finish in their 45-0 thumping of Faringdon in the BB&O Championship. With the forwards winning good ball for the backs to utilise, tries flowed readily. Hooker Liam Cook (2), wings Paul Rynhardt and

  • Biker's identity yet to be revealed

    The 52-year-old motorcyclist killed in a road accident near RAF Benson on Sunday morning had yesterday not been formally identified. The Wokingham man died on the A4074 after a collision with a car. A spokesman for Oxford Coroner’s Court

  • Bungalow fire

    Firefighters were called to extinguish a blaze in the roof of a bungalow and in a neighbouring annexe at 9.20pm on Sunday. Fire engines from Didcot, Abingdon, and Wallingford, attended the incident in School Lane, Harwell.

  • Burst water main repaired

    Thames Water yesterday completed the repair of the burst 24-inch water main which flooded South Hinksey. Work was completed at 11.30am and South Hinksey was last night being supplied with water via the repaired main. The company will now be shifting

  • Dawkins hits back at slavery claims

    FORMER Oxford University professor Richard Dawkins has defended himself from a “surreal smear” that his family fortune derives from the slave trade. The Sunday Telegraph said one of his direct ancestors, Henry Dawkins, accumulated 1,013 slaves in Jamaica

  • RUGBY UNION: Grove blunt Aylesbury

    Cup round-up GROVE reached the Southern Counties Intermediate Cup final after a 26-14 victory over Aylesbury at Cane Lane. With the wind behind them, Aylesbury took a second-minute lead with a try in the corner from Liam D’Almeida, converted by Gary

  • MOTORSPORT: Wurz handed Williams role

    Grove Formula 1 outfit Williams have turned to former driver Alex Wurz to act as a mentor to Bruno Senna and Pastor Maldonado this season. The 38-year-old Austrian, who competed in 69 F1 races, said: “This is a great initiative by Williams and highlights

  • Husband admits attacking wife

    A 64-year-old Littleworth man has admitted attacking his wife after discovering she was having an affair. Christopher Whiting appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday for assaulting Julie Sarvari-Whiting in the village near Faringdon on December 9 last

  • RACING: Festival fever at Tiddington

    Tiddington Cricket Club host a Cheltenham Races Preview Evening on Thursday (7.30pm). Jockeys David Bass, Harry Skelton and Andrew Thornton together with journalist Andrew Barr are the guests. Tickets priced £10, to include a buffet, from Nick Pykett

  • Councils run up £4m CCTV cameras bill

    OXFORDSHIRE'S councils spent more than £4m on 426 CCTV cameras between 2007 and 2011, new figures have shown. Civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch used Freedom of Information legislation to obtain the figures. The county council spent £418,614

  • RUGBY UNION: Campbell seals it

    South West 1 East WITNEY earned their first victory of 2012 with a 15-7 home success over Reading Abbey. The hosts had more control than the scoreline suggests, but struggled to finish chances. Witney’s pressure yielded a penalty, which fly half

  • RUGBY UNION: Miles's boot proves decisive

    Southern Counties North TOM Miles’s boot earned Alchester a 9-6 victory over basement boys Marlborough, who remain winless. Alchester had more dominance than the scoreline suggests, but various errors and infringments in the wet and

  • Judge criticises police over handling of burglar's arrest

    A JUDGE has criticised Oxford police officers for restraining a burglar in an “excruciating way” that led to him biting a constable. Craig Ralphs, who has more than 140 previous convictions, clamped his teeth on the inner thigh of an officer

  • COMMENT: Burglar was on trial, not the police

    POLICE were too rough in their handling of a burglar following his arrest. So said Judge Jane Mowat, sitting at Oxford Crown Court, as she sentenced said tealeaf, one Craig Ralphs. Judge Mowat told Pc Kern Langley and an unnamed colleague

  • RUGBY UNION: Henley are dominant

    National 2 South HENLEY Hawks defeated Launceston 28-5 with a dominant display at Dry Leas, which kept them in the promotion race. Launceston defended well and frequently slowed the ball down, but only breach-ed Henley’s 22 in the final minute. Hawks

  • Duchess welcomed by cheering crowds

    THE Duchess of Cambridge has been welcomed to Rose Hill Primary School with a posy from pupils. Abi Adu Boateng, ten, and Aleksander Besevic, 11, welcomed the Kate to the school. Teachers said the pupils were nervous and excited.

  • Duchess arrives

    THE Duchess of Cambridge has just arrived in Oxford. Kate is being greeted by crowds at Rose Hill Primary School. The Duchess is wearing a tan coloured coat. She is in the city in her role as patron of The Art Room charity.

  • Parents' badminton marathon aimed to save school pool

    THE school swimming pool was likely to close because of lack of cash to maintain it. So there was only one thing for it – for parents and staff to raise the money themselves. And so it was that 11 volunteers embarked on a 50-hour badminton marathon

  • Jury still out

    An inquest jury was sent home last night without reaching a verdict in the case of a mid-air collision. Flying instructor Mike Blee, from Abingdon, and teenage air cadet Nicholas Rice, from Reading, lost their lives when their plane was involved

  • RUGBY UNION: Chinnor march on in title bid

    Chinnor 35, Exmouth 3 CHINNOR underlined their National 3 South West title credentials with a clinical home victory over Exmouth. Their in-form Devon visitors came closer than the scoreline suggests, but they could not match Chinnor’

  • RUGBY UNION: Quins suffer triple blow

    National 3 South West OXFORD Harlequins’ 38-15 defeat at Old Patesians was part of a triple blow to their survival hopes. With relegation rivals Amersham & Chiltern and Old Redcliffians both winning, Quins are now six points adrift of safety. Quins

  • School needs to improve

    I am writing in response to the letter about Larkrise Primary School in East Oxford from Catherine Goodwin (Thursday’s Oxford Mail ViewPoints). She says that both her sons attend Larkrise and are very happy and well educated there, and disagrees with

  • Heartfelt thanks to snow plough workers

    I JUST wanted to thank the snow plough people for their prompt action during the recent snow. I live in Greenridges in Headington and as soon as we have a fall of snow, the whole area becomes housebound. Unless you have a 4x4 it can be very difficult

  • On Yer Bike: Seeing the light about riding around in the dark

    About a year ago I bumped into an old friend at an art show opening night. Not as posh as it sounds, it was a pop-up show that Oxford Cycle Workshop hosted at their premises in Magdalen Road before it closed, and they became Cycle Oxford. Dom Scholfield

  • Wright warns of ace McLeod

    Jake Wright says that he knows Oxford United’s defenders must be on their guard tonight as they face the top goal-scorer in npower League Two. Barnet forward Izale McLeod has scored 17 league goals and 21 in all competitions this term, and was again

  • Mini van makes a concept comeback

    IT WAS the mainstay of many small businesses in the 1960s and 70s, but the Mini van could be set for a comeback. A concept Mini ‘Clubvan’ will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month, with bosses describing it as “a compact van for

  • 'Their lives won't be worth living'

    PENSIONER Edith Parsons fears cuts to transport for the elderly will stop her friends going to their social club. Mrs Parsons uses the Dial-a-Ride service get to her weekly social club at the New Marston Pastoral Centre in Jack Straws Lane, Oxford.

  • FOOTBALL: Boss Ford feels for Benjamin

    Oxford City manager Mike Ford has expressed his sympathy to Declan Benjamin after the midfielder was denied a hat-trick against Swindon Supermarine – by the referee. The former Oxford United youngster had scored twice to put City in the driving

  • RUGBY UNION: 'That's a big five points'

    JASON Bowers felt his Chinnor side came on strong in their victory over Exmouth. Head coach Bowers said: “We were a bit rusty in the first half and took a little bit of time to settle into our patterns. “Once we did that, we looked as good as we have

  • Council leader has a heartless attitude to smokers

    YOUR Comment on Keith Mitchell (Thursday’s Oxford Mail, We prefer a maverick to a PR dummy) ends with the view that maverick Mitchell is in some way good for the health of democracy. It could, however, be hoped that our political leaders might at the

  • Don't call people stupid

    OXFORDSHIRE County Council leader Keith Mitchell says he is happy that the county’s local government pension fund is profiting from stupid smokers. I disagree with the idea that smokers should subsidise the council’s pensions. And where on earth have

  • Villagers are right about dangerous road

    I fully agree with Antonia Rayson (Friday’s Oxford Mail ViewPoints) about the plight of Crawley residents because of the heavy traffic through the village. Drivers, like myself, who use the road every day, understand their problem. I have phoned the

  • Learn from the Japanese

    AT least 10 years ago, Japan decided that low interest rates were the answer to their woes – slump, unemployment. Result? Low expenditure by the Japanese increased unemployment, with no end in sight even now. Seeing this was a complete failure, the

  • Free Wi-Fi for commuters

    COMMUTERS at Oxford Railway Station will be able to get free Wi-Fi access from next month. First Great Western has announced it will be providing passengers with free Wi-Fi access at 23 stations, including Oxford. Once the installation has taken place

  • Crowds gather for glimpse of Duchess

    CROWDS are already gathering in Rose Hill ahead of the Duchess of Cambridge's arrival. More than 50 people are waiting outside Rose Hill Primary School. David and Marietta White have travelled from Barton to catch a glimpse of her arrival

  • Club counts cost of pavilion arson

    THE future of a village cricket club is hanging in the balance after its pavilion was destroyed by a suspected arson attack. Police are investigating yesterday morning’s blaze at Eynsham Cricket Club in Cassington Road, which they believe was started

  • Tonight's the night - Rendell

    Scott Rendell is confident that tonight can be the night he gets off the mark for Oxford United. The striker has started the last two games, but has not found the net despite having a couple of chances. However, the on-loan Wycombe man

  • Jail threat for fake passport woman

    A 58-YEAR-OLD woman has admitted lying about her identity for nearly 30 years. Nina Raymont took out a passport in a false name in 1982 and then used the fake ID to fraudulently claim benefits. She also illegally used her assumed name in court. Raymont

  • No arrests over attempted rape

    DETECTIVES have yet to make an arrest over the attempted rape of a 17-year-old girl in Littlemore. The teenager was walking along Sandy Lane West when she was grabbed by a man near Bampton Close at about 7.50pm on Saturday. Anyone who was in the area

  • Frideswide Square revamp plans 'a deathtrap' warn cyclists

    CYCLISTS last night warned Oxford’s Frides-wide Square would become a death trap if new plans go ahead. Neither of the two final options for the congested square’s revamp include any cycle lanes. Cycle campaign group Cyclox last night

  • Drivers warned of A34 resurfacing

    ONE lane of the southbound A34 at Botley was due to be closed last night for resurfacing. The Highways Agency said the southbound exit slip road at the interchange would also be closed between 10pm and 6am.

  • School flies flag for Royal Visitor

    EXCITEMENT was mounting yesterday as Oxford prepared for today’s visit from a very special Royal guest. The Duchess of Cambridge, inset, will be in Oxford to visit two projects run by the Art Room project, based at Rose Hill Primary School and Oxford

  • Council is 'killing small businesses'

    Traders have hit out after being threatened with hefty fines if they refuse to remove advertising signs. Cherwell District Council has fired off letters and photographs to shops across Bicester, Banbury and Kidlington warning them to remove advertising

  • Popular club finds new home

    A popular before and after school club has been saved from the axe after finding a new home. The Dashwood Out of School Care Club has reopened in The Dupuis Centre at St John The Evangelist Church in Dashwood Road, Banbury. Managers feared the 13-year-old

  • Insight on life under Nazis

    Student actors are telling the true story of a revolutionary theatre company during Hitler’s rise to power in Germany. Mephisto, produced by Oxford University student company HeartSleeve Productions, opens at the Playhouse tomorrow and runs until Saturday

  • No apology for bipolar 'insult'

    A councillor has refused to apologise to a bi-polar sufferer for “accidentally” attacking his condition. Richard MacKenzie, of Witney, said that he had been “very hurt” by the comment and questioned why he had not received a personal apology. The 32

  • Cherwell council to repay thousands in parking fines

    CHERWELL District Council will repay more than £11,000 in parking fines after criticism from an Ombudsman over changes to its parking charges last April. The council was reprimanded for failing to do enough to publicise the charges for blue-badge holders