A NEW £80,000 police counter service at Wantage Library may only open for four hours a day. Thames Valley Police wants to set up the facility as it shuts its Church Street station and moves to a new £1.13m base to be built at Grove Technology Park.
SCHOOL day memories are being sought for a celebration to mark the 40th anniversary of a popular East Oxford school. Larkrise First School in Boundary Brook Road, opened in April 1972 to take on the infants’ department of Donnington Council
The M40 northbound near Great Milton is now fully open after a lorry crashed into the bridge over the A329 at about 1.45pm. Drivers were delayed as two lanes were closed off while engineers carried out repairs. The road was fully reopened
HEADS up! One of the band's most-tipped to hit the big time this year are heading our way, with a gig at The Cellar, Oxford, on Tuesday. Their name may conjure up images of san Francisco hippies, but Haight ashbury are pure Scot! The
Two lanes of the M40 are shut tonight after a lorry crashed into a bridge on the M40 northbound near Great Milton. The white Scania hit the bridge over the A329 at about 1.45pm and the lanes are off limits while an engineers investigates the damage.
A PLANNED gravel pit is “fatally flawed” because birds could down RAF helicopters, opponents claim. The county’s gravel plan, which includes digging five million tons from fields between Cholsey and Wallingford, were discussed by county councillors on
I was mildly surprised at the extent of the obituary coverage accorded to the Northern Irish comedian Frank Carson following his death on February 22, aged 85. Most would have regarded him, surely, as something of a forgotten figure, harking back to
Welcome to the new look, for one day only, celebrity packed version of Gray Matter. That’s the lovely Katie Price, aka Jordan, above, on her visit last year to the Oxford Union. Below is Bruce Springsteen, otherwise known as The Boss, in concert action
A BANBURY housing development built with the help of young apprentices has been named after the late life coach who mentored them. The Donaldson Court development of 10 one-bedroom maisonettes is named after Connexions worker Julie Donaldson. She was
FAMOUS redheads including Nicole Kidman and Chris Evans are putting their flame-coloured heads together to raise money for Oxford charity the Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS). Other stars taking part include Girls Aloud singer Nicola Roberts
I write this on a date that occurs only once every four years. This is appropriate since it is likely to be at least another four years before I am able to sound off as enthusiastically again about a meal enjoyed in the service of The Oxford Times
I rather enjoy making my own stock for an Irish stew using the bones from middle neck of lamb from which the meat has been filleted. You need a friendly family butcher or a sharp knife for this job. Once you have separated the bones from the meat, it’
Having checked the clock at Carfax, I confidently walked down Queen Street, along New Inn Hall Street and on towards George Street and O’Neill’s Pub & Kitchen. Little did I know that while I was approaching the appointed meeting place, the very
Enter the church of St James the Great in South Leigh and you suddenly find yourself in a place reminiscent of pre-Reformation England. For the walls are covered with paintings that carry you back to the Middle Ages as if travelling on the back
The show must go on for an unconventional drama teacher, who inspires her pupils to chase their dreams during the hottest summer on record, in Marc Evans’s feel good rites-of-passage drama. Set in 1976 Swansea and shot on location in South Wales, Hunky
The paintings in the Woodstock Museum transport one to a bygone Oxfordshire. This is a good moment to revaluate William Turner who has long been under the shadow of his great contemporary J. M. W. Turner. His peaceful View of the River Cherwell
Creation Theatre Company is joining forces with artistic collective The Factory to revive the latter’s flagship production of Hamlet and co-produce a new adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey from Monday in the Norrington Room at Blackwell’s. Blackwell’s
obin Pickering paints places that resonate with him. In this exhibition these places are Cornwall and Venice. The result is a body of work that is evocative, mysterious and eminently empathetic. He works in pastel to capture the interplay between location
Theatre Alibi’s uplifting and life-affirming adaptation of Dick King-Smith’s gripping slice of country life, The Crowstarver, makes a welcome return to Oxford Playhouse this week to wring the withers of a new generation of audiences with its depiction
Bawren Tavaziva grew up in Zimbabwe and came to the UK in 1998. Soon he founded his now celebrated dance company, with its unique style blending influences from the dances he saw in his childhood with European contemporary dance. His company came
For more than 20 years these like-minded painters have met to share ideas. The work exhibited at the North Wall has a cohesive, recognisable style, the emphasis being on composition, line and shape, on interpretation rather than on recording. It is interesting
Benjamin Britten’s epic War Requiem is being given a 50th anniversary outing at Oxford’s Town Hall on Monday, under the baton of former BBC Young Musician of the Year Mark Simpson. With around 150 performers, this is sure to be a memorable event — and
FAIRYTALE wedding dresses will float down the catwalk at the Oxford Mail wedding show. Bridal gowns, menswear and mother-of-the-bride outfits will feature in two fashion shows held at Oxford Town Hall as part of biggest wedding show in the region on
A FOUNDATION which helps safeguard the countryside by providing support and cash to community shops has been given £30,000. The Plunkett Foundation, which is based in Woodstock, has helped create and save shops across Oxfordshire and further afield.
Last week’s student production of Ariane Mnouchkine’s play Mephisto (in a translation by Timberlake Wertenbaker) will have come as a surprise to those such as myself who know only the film of the same name. Though both are based on Klaus
The sixth annual Andrew Chamblin Memorial Concert takes place on March 13, and this year features the internationally-acclaimed, award-winning organist Susan Landale, a Professor at the Royal Academy of Music. Although born in Edinburgh, and with a career
Art dealer Fergus Madden is holding an exhibition of mixed media paintings by his son Dominic at his gallery in Stanford Dingley, West Berkshire, over two weekends. The works depict woodland in the region of the village and the exhibition is entitled
Printmaker Caroline Maas is inspired by locations of personal significance, many of which are in Oxfordshire. Others are further afield: in rural Wales or the industrial cityscapes of the South of England. Maas says: “ I love to walk and
Playwright Ishy Din writes of the lives of young Muslim men in the north of England in Snookered in a way only possible to someone with first-hand knowledge of his subject. A former cab driver who has also worked in video shops and restaurants,
TEN historic bells at Magdalen College will ring loud and clear for May Morning after a major restoration project. The oldest of the bells from Magdalen College Tower dates back to 1410. Following the restoration and retuning, White’s of Appleton staff
Two late goals from Danny Edmond earned Banbury United the points in Tuesday night’s Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division fixture against Cambridge City at the Spencer Stadium. Josh Blake was out of luck in the first half, hitting the Cambridge
REDEVELOPMENT of Abingdon’s 1960s shopping precinct has been delayed by two weeks, prompting fears it will not be completed in time to cash in on the Christmas rush. Scottish Widows Investment Partnership aimed to start construction work in the Abbey
A £6.7m scheme to revamp Didcot’s railway station forecourt needs to be completed before phase two of the Orchard shopping centre opens, a county councillor has warned. A £125m extension to the shopping centre is due to open by the end of 2014 with Marks
House building firm Taylor Wimpey, which has been developing sites across the county, has revealed its finances are back in the black. The company, which employs 107 staff working out of its Abingdon Business Park base, made a pre-tax profit of £65.7m
A pub company has vowed to keep the King Alfred’s Head in Wantage open amid ongoing discussions with the landlord. Punch Taverns told the Oxford Mail it was committed to the Market Place pub despite rumours it was to close. A Facebook page
Singers, drummers and comedians entertained hundreds at a charity concert raising funds for the Oxford African Caribbean Society. The Oxford Variety Show was held at the Old Fire Station in George Street on Sunday and was headlined by MOBO award-winner
Trains. We moan and groan about them – the fares; the overcrowding; never getting a seat; ‘disruption due to engineering works’; ‘leaves on the line’ – the list is endless. But despite all of this they are essential. Disabled people too need to use trains
Craig Hanlon bagged a brace for AFC Hinksey, who booked their place in the last four of the OFA Charity Cup with a 2-1 win at Bletchingdon. Bletchingdon suffered a blow when keeper Adam Peck went off injured to be replaced by midfielder Paul Faulkner
A thrilling comeback from Didcot Casuals proved in vain as they lost their Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup semi-final on penalties. Wayne Jacks’ side looked dead and buried as they fell 4-0 down to South Reading by half-time. But last season’s beaten
Oxford University was today given a donation worth more than £26 million - one of the biggest in the elite institution's 900-year history. The money will be used to set up humanities scholarships for graduate students. The Mica and Ahmet Ertegun
Marston Saints Res edged to a 2-1 win against Yarnton Res in Oxfordshire Senior League Division 2. Keiron Johnston’s penalty gave Marston the lead, but Shane Cooper equalised. Sam Bird then grabbed the winner direct from a corner. Goals from James
Keith Coleman and Peter Clarke hit hat-tricks in Chalgrove’s 7-3 win at Golden Ball in Oxford City FA. Riccy Armstrong was their other scorer, with Matt Emptage (2) and Daniel Watkinson replying. Chris Peck’s treble earned AFC Blackbirds a 5-2 win at
House prices in the county have shown their first annual increase in eight months, latest figures have revealed. Statistics produced by the Government’s Land Registry, show the average price of an Oxfordshire home now stands at £236,842, one per cent
A car crashed into a house near the Oxfordshire Golf Club yesterday, damaging the front wall, a fence and a parked car. The blue Subaru Impreza crashed in Rycote Lane, Milton Common, and the A329 was closed. Police said the house owner called at 10.25am
A teenager has been fined after assaulting a man at a bus stop. Nathan Chalmers punched Jack Hicks to the ground in Stratton Way, Abingdon, last month leaving him with a split lip. Chalmers, 19, of The Square, Abingdon, admitted assault by
A teenager who plunged from a car park roof may have fallen while trying to get a better phone signal, a coroner speculated yesterday. Matthew Measures was also battling depression caused by a skin condition and his AS-Level results when he
YOUNGSTERS learned how to use pedal power to do everything from illuminating light bulbs to making smoothies. The workshop at St Joseph’s Primary School, Headley Way, Oxford, was part of the Tree of Light science and art project, which is linked
Pupils at Oxford Spires Academy will meet a woman who braved Alan Sugar. Melody Hossaini, who appeared on the BBC’s The Apprentice last year, will talk to pupils at the school in Glanville Road next Wednesday, speaking about her experiences and the benefits
PROUD son Gregory Piechowicz has hailed his dad Andrzej a hero after he pulled a neighbour from a flat fire. The 26-year-old praised his bakery worker father after the 54-year-old went into the basement flat in West Street, Banbury, that was filling
YOU might expect curtains to twitch in Blackbird Leys, where 84-year-old Violet Robinson lives with her 21-year-old husband John. But, because ‘toy boy’ John’s age is due to being a Leap Year baby, he can laugh off jokes about liking ‘older
Aaron Barrett scored a late equaliser as Garsington fought back from the dead to draw 3-3 against Horspath in an Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division thriller. It looked over for Garsington when Elliott O’Brien’s double and a Sam Gordon
The funeral of a woman who died in a car crash on the A420 will be held on March 7. Mother-of-two Valerie Ford, 61, of Besselsleigh Road, Wootton, died on January 24 when her VW Passat collided with a Citroen near Botley sliproad. A thanksgiving service
A CHEF has been banned from every pub in Oxfordshire and can no longer come into the city at night after admitting a string of drunken street attacks. Bobby Thomas, of Meadow View Road, Kennington, narrowly avoided jail but was handed a three-year antisocial
Conor Ingram’s hat-trick fired Oxfordshire to a 4-1 win over Kent in the ESFA Under 16 Inter-County Trophy semi-final at Milton United. Keeper Christian Law-rence came to Oxon’s rescue early on, racing off his line to block a shot, before Yassin Elouahaki
Sean King grabbed the winner as Hailey stretched their lead at the top of the Witney & District FA Premier Division to six points with a 2-1 comeback success at home to North Leigh A, writes Anthony Barlow. Lewis Hathaway had given North Leigh the lead
Phil Hedges smashed a four-timer to lead Crow-marsh Gifford back to the top of North Berks League Division 1 with a 6-1 home win against Wootton & Dry Sandford, writes Phil Annets. Andy Allum and Liam Currell also scored, with Tom Srawley netting for
I am trying to find Rosemary Cox (née Afford) who used to own ‘The Laundry Basket’ launderette, in Rose Hill. I am Jill Gallagher (née Allen) and we went to Northfield School together. I have had no reply from the above address for a couple of years
Popular veteran Ollie Magern has been retired by Oxfordshire owner Roger Nicholls. The 14-year-old won 13 of his 59 starts, including the 2004 Feltham Chase at Kempton and two renewals of the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby. Trained for nearly ten years
A TOTAL of 11,000 properties were plunged into darkness for an hour after a high voltage network fault. Businesses and homes in Witney, North Leigh, Ducklington and Standlake were affected on Monday night.
I read that Prime Minister David Cameron thinks it’s a good idea that, due to people living longer, they could work well into their 70s before they claim their pension. I would say that there are thousands of people, even today, who die before they
RESIDENTS face weeks without road access to their homes as major sewer works start in North Hinksey today. A rolling road closure of North Hinksey Lane will shut sections of the road until late April while Thames Water carries out the next stage of
SOMEWHERE, somehow the people living off North Hinksey Lane got the idea Thames Water was going to put in a relief road as part of the work on its flood alleviation scheme. Thames Water vehemently denies it ‘promised’ such a plan but the villagers said
In reply to the letter “Passing buck over shop”, (Oxford Mail, February 22), I must agree with Mr MacAllister that in such difficult financial times that people will go for what they perceive as best value for money. It is freedom of choice that we,
GILES SPORTS WITNEY YOUTH LEAGUE Easington Sports sealed the Under 14 C League title with a 3-0 victory over Cumnor Minors. Jack Harper, Dan McLean and Matt Mika scored their goals. In the A League, Owen Blackford bagged a double in Garden City’s
AFC Hinksey came out on top in the clash of the Critchleys UTV Premier League’s top two as they beat Rover Cowley 3-1 in the Devenney Cup quarter-finals, writes TIM SIRET. The margin of victory would have been wider for the visitors but for
I am writing in reply to Larry Sanders’ letter “School fight got results” Oxford Mail (February 24). I would like to point out that none of Mr Sanders’ comments relate directly to how children are actually taught to read and write in our schools. All
AN ENGINEERING firm was ordered to pay £85,000 after one of its workers was left with life-threatening 60 per cent burns when he drilled into a high voltage cable. The 63-year-old was part of a team working on a series of ground investigations for the
A 37-year-old Abingdon mother went on a shoplifting spree. Louise Ponting stole clothes and DVDs totalling £235 from Primark, Marks & Spencer, Gap, HMV and British Homes Stores in Oxford on October 20. All the items were recovered. Ponting, of Geoffrey
I was interested to see Liz Leffman’s ambition is to “take on David Cameron in the Commons” (Oxford Mail, February 23). I think she is going to have to sort out her political priorities a little more clearly. In the last General Election, Mrs Leffman
Name: Henriette, but my family and friends just call me “Jette” (pronounced: ‘ye-ta). AGE: 33 WHAT I DO: I run a community project called Free Cakes for Kids. It’s a service to families who find it difficult to provide a birthday
OXFORD MAIL GIRLS LEAGUE CHARLEY Hamilton fired a double hat-trick as Carterton reached the Under 16 League Cup final with a 12-0 victory over Summertown St-ars. Hamilton was well supported by a treble from Ella Butler, while Laura Jones, Steph Bent
FREE parking in Abingdon and Wantage has been hailed a success by council bosses after figures appear to show a spike in visitor numbers. But town traders yesterday said a rise in footfall was yet to translate into a rise in profits. Vale of White Horse
WEST Oxfordshire District Council is showing a keen sense of maintaining Witney’s local identity with its plan for the town centre. It eschews out-of-town retail units and is planning to add to the town centre with a cultural quarter and to protect
Goalkeeper Eddie Cavanagh was Vale of White Horse’s hero with two spot-kick saves in a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win over Swansea in the ESFA Under 15 Trophy quarter-final at St Helens. With the tie finishing 1-1 after extra time, Jared Jones
LUKE Cuff scored twice as Kings Arms Wheatley saw off nine-man Oxford Yellows 4-1 in the only Critchleys UTV Premier League fixture, writes TIM SIRET. Cuff’s double strike before half-time sandwiched an equaliser from Daniel Warne for the Yellows
I WAS saddened to read of the city council’s plan for the strip of land alongside Foxwell Drive on Northway estate. The intention is to forge a new road through from the proposed Barton housing project. I lived at Meaden Hill from the very early 1950s
We often hear negative stories involving footballers and football clubs so I wish to bring some good news. I recently wrote to Oxford United asking if my stepson could spend a match with their press team as he is interested in becoming a sports journalist
NEW shops, a cultural quarter and protecting the town’s heritage have been picked as priorities in a blueprint for Witney town centre. Extra stores in the Woolgate Shopping Centre and Welch Way are part of the future vision. West Oxfordshire
BEATRICE Carr was never expected to reach her 14th birthday. Bea, who lives with her mother Joanna Swindells Carr in Marston, Oxford, was taken to East Oxford hospice Helen House in September 2009 for end-of-life care. An asthma attack
Twins arrested over the death of Denis Witney have been rebailed until April 5. The 29-year-old women were arrested on suspicion of murder after Mr Witney, 39, was found dying in St Clement’s Street, East Oxford, on November 9. Wayne Cattell, 36, of
A 31-year-old man admitted breaking windows at his father’s house and assaulting his stepfather. Rikki Brackett appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court yesterday and admitted committing the offences over the weekend. Brackett smashed his father Eamon’
A three-car crash in Cowley Road, Oxford, caused delays yesterday morning. The crash happened near the junction with James Street at 7.40am. No one was injured.
IT WAS an evening of unrepeatable experiences at the first music night for hospice fundraiser Childish Things. Jamie Cullum performed a never-before-seen duet with Eliza Doolittle. And he then joined beat box champion Beardyman on stage for an unrehearsed
James Constable will be fully focused on Oxford United ahead of the derby clash with Swindon – and will not be getting caught up in all the hype surrounding him and the game. The U’s leading scorer bagged both goals as Chris Wilder’s side
IT was the graffiti tag that caused more than £20,000 of damage across Oxford and sparked numerous police appeals. But Charlie Silver, the only man charged with daubing the tag ‘Soak’ across buildings in the city, walked out of court yesterday with a
ROSE Hill mum-of-four Regina Asante found out she was suffering from high blood pressure after visiting a new health bus on the estate. She was one of 20 residents given a 15-minute appointment to see an NHS nurse when the bus visited The Oval. There
REGISTRATION is now open for the Oxford Half Marathon and Oxford-based charity Helen & Douglas House has been named the event’s charity partner. Up to 6,000 runners are expected to hit the streets on Sunday, October 14, after the first event
FAMILIES in Wood Farm flocked to a “safe space” created to give people somewhere to go on the estate on a Friday night. The gathering at Wood Farm Children’s Centre was part of Holy Trinity Church’s outreach work in the area. About 60 people enjoyed
