ONE lucky bride and groom will win a wedding package worth more than £5,000 at the Oxford Mail’s glittering wedding show. Only couples who go along to the biggest bridal event in the region on Sunday will be able to enter the competition. Knowing that
THE sounds and smells of the farm could soon be wafting their way across East Oxford. Plans are afoot to turn a patch of land that has been used as a car park into a community farm. A group is trying to get as many people on board as possible by holding
CHILDREN, staff and parents at an East Oxford school are celebrating after the school was removed from special measures. And after just over a year in the warning zone, inspectors felt so confident SS Mary and John Primary School, Meadow Lane, had improved
A HOLLYWOOD scriptwriter and author of a new Tarzan novel inspired youngsters at Henry Box School in Witney. On Tuesday Andy Briggs, who also wrote the series Hero.com and Villain.net, spoke to 350 Year Seven and Eight students about his career. Mr
AEA Technology 0.3 BMW 5884 Electrocomponents 251.3 Nationwide Accident Repair 65.5 Oxford Biomedica 3.2 Oxford Catalysts 56 Oxford Instruments 1154 Reed Elsevier 545 RM 81.75 RPS Group 227.2 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
A PROSTATE cancer survivor will run 10 kilometres every day this month in memory of the 10,000 men killed by the disease every year. Simon Lord, 52, from Downside, Cholsey, was diagnosed in 2010 and operated on successfully the same year. He went on
A BICESTER dad has been given the chance of a lifetime to cycle with two sporting heroes. Darren Ball, 40, is one of 10 chosen out of 15,000 Virgin Media staff to join cricket legend Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff and rugby hero Lawrence Dallaglio on a leg
EVERY step of a gruelling 26 miles Heather Wood will be thinking of her hero husband, Warrant Officer Class 2 Charles Wood. Mrs Wood has been in training since last summer to compete in the London Marathon in memory of WO2 Wood, who was killed
STAFF from an Oxfordshire firm spent a day travelling the entire London underground network to raise more than £8,000 for a cancer charity. Workers from marketing agency Purple Frog, in North Weston, Thame, donned luminous green hooded tops
WHEN Ricky Young lined up with the rest of Oxford City Stars ice hockey team at the weekend the match had a particular resonance. The game, in which the team drew 2- 2 against Cardiff Devils 2, was held in memory of Mr Young’s dad, Raymond Young, who
CHIPPING Norton Musical Festival will celebrate its 100th anniversary this month – and organisers hope it will be the biggest event yet. The festival, which runs from next Friday to March 24, is thought to be one of the oldest in the UK.
THE evacuation of 125 Oxford children to Yale in the Second World War when the German threat of invasion was at its height has long been viewed as one of Oxford’s more heart-warming wartime tales. But an author has now raised the prospect that
LEGENDARY reggae DJ David Rodigan returned to his secondary school – with a few words on coping with fame for its latest musical star. Mr Rodigan, 60, visited Gosford Hill to speak about his career in radio over the past 30 years. One student he spoke
ONE Oxfordshire sports fan will have the best seat in the house for the fencing at the Olympics this summer, when he takes his place as a referee. Tristan Hale, 28, from Begbroke, will be the UK’s youngest fencing referee for the Modern Pentathlon competition
POLICE have released a picture of a woman they want to speak to in relation to a theft in a Bicester shop. The woman, who is pushing a child in a buggy, was seen in Marks & Spencer in Sheep Street, Bicester, when a shopping bag that had been left on
THEY might be on a tight budget but it doesn’t stop one group producing stunning art work. Community group Crofters has been decorating old jam jars to use as party lights for its first birthday party. The group, which meet three times a week at Lerwick
HEALTH bosses have promised patients a new electronic records system will be secure. Oxfordshire’s patient files are to be put on a national electronic database called the Summary Care Record that the NHS says will improve care because of quicker access
A 23-year-old woman from the Bicester area died in hospital this morning after a car crash yesterday. The woman, who was driving a silver MG ZR, was involved in a two-car collision in Quainton, Buckinghamshire at about 7.20am. Police said she was
GROVE: A 51-year-old man arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old boy in a Tesco store has not been charged. Police said there was not enough evidence to charge him after the incident at Tesco Express in Millbrook Square
OXFORD: Fans of the 1960s musical Hair are being given ticket refunds after an announcement that a planned revival tour has been cancelled. Organisers said “certain criteria could not be met” and cancelled the show, which was due to play at the New Theatre
A MOVE to create a shared fire control centre for Oxfordshire and Berkshire was closer last night after a bid for £3.6m Government cash was accepted. Fire minister Bob Neill yesterday said Oxfordshire and Berkshire Fire and Rescue Services could have
TO discover your baby has an incurable rare genetic disease must be devastating for any parent. But for Martin Balfour-Allen, the shock of discovering his son Samuel had the life-changing Tuberous Sclerosis was even worse. That is because
SATURDAY'S derby clash will be the first time Swindon have visited Oxford for a decade. But U’s fans will be hoping the break will not alter their strong home record in the fixture. United have won four of their last five home games
OXFORD: The John Radcliffe’s Professor Fiona Powrie has been awarded the 2012 Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine. The internationally recognised prize is awarded annually for outstanding biological research with implications for the future of medicine
OLI Johnson is relishing the chance to take on a team with plenty of ambition this weekend after being frustrated by bottom-half sides in recent weeks. The U’s’ last four games at the Kassam Stadium have come against struggling opponents who have set
OXFORD University host their Cambridge counterparts in the women’s Varsity Match at Iffley Road tomorrow. The Dark Blues will be out for revenge after losing 22-0 in last year’s clash at Grange Road. The action begins with the second team match at 11am
Manager Richie Bourne is looking for greater commitment from striker Danny Seaward as Abingdon United bid to post their first win of 2012 when they visit Thatcham Town in Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West. Seaward, who joined
Mike Ford believes that leaving striker Felipe Barcelos out could reap dividends in the long term for Oxford City’s Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division promotion charge. The Brazilian star sat on the bench as City swept aside Arlesey
Witney Town have signed Ducklington striker Craig Mays, and he comes into the squad for the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division game at home to Thame United tomorrow. Midfielder Ben Rearden is also added as relegation candidates Witney bid to bounce
POINTS rather than bragging rights are the priority for Oxford United midfielder Mark Wilson in tomorrow’s clash with Swindon Town. The midfielder’s CV includes appearances in fiercely contested Middlesbrough-Sunderland and Doncaster-Sheffield United
CHARACTERS from the world of fiction sprang to life yesterday as Oxford was flooded with young Harry Potter, Where’s Wally and Batman lookalikes. Hundreds of children across the city arrived at school dressed as their favourite characters to mark World
SWINDON boss Paolo Di Canio says that being beaten at home by Oxford in August was the catalyst for their season. The 2-1 defeat remains Town’s only home loss of the campaign, but their manager said that it has helped shape their season. “We destroyed
OXFORDSHIRE manager Nick Cole praised their Town and Gown blend ahead of Sunday’s National Under 20 Championship clash away to Dorset & Wilts. Having won their opening South Region A match against Bucks, Oxon know victory at North Dorset RFC will see
ONE of Oxford’s biggest drug dealers was snared by an undercover police officer dressed as a delivery driver. Clifton Bullock was caught after a package of cocaine from Costa Rica to his Headington home was intercepted at East Midlands Airport. A police
CLIFTON Bullock would appear to have been left entirely at his liberty to carry on drug dealing for months. The investigation over drugs from Costa Rica may have been complex, but police have some explaining to do over why there were no charges
Boss Chris Wilder confirmed yesterday that Oxford United skipper Jake Wright would almost certainly miss Saturday’s game with his back injury. “Jake is really struggling,” Wilder said. “And he could be struggling for a few weeks to be honest
ONE of the defining aspects of our city is our beautiful waterways. For the majority of boaters living on the Oxford Canal and the Thames it is a largely relaxed and idyllic lifestyle, away from many of the stresses of land-based residents. But, as
A NEW crackdown has been launched against boaters illegally mooring in Oxford. Members of the city’s boating community last night said the new strict regime was unnecessary and would force boaters out of Oxford. The crackdown was launched after Oxford
MICHAEL Duberry says he loves the banter between supporters on Twitter, and believes it’s good for the game. A number of players have been punished by the Football Association for comments they have made on the social-networking site. Duberry thinks
JOHN Macallister’s long-winded letter (Oxford Mail, February 22), deriding those in Marston who wish to have no truck with Tesco, is beyond contempt. Contrary to his assertion that it will be a Tesco supermarket, it is to be a Tesco Express. As far
Ed Miliband is right about the damaging changes to our health service (Oxford Mail, February 27). In Oxfordshire, the Tories and Lib Dems are breaking promise after promise. To quote PM and MP for Witney David Cameron: “So I make this commitment to
IN view of the recent water rationing threat, I decided to buy a water butt so I could water my garden plants. Twice in one week I tried to purchase one after searching online, and found Homebase had a reasonably priced one available. On arrival to
THE story ‘I’m better off on benefits’ – Mum criticises ‘broken’ system, (Oxford Mail, February 28), encapsulates all that is wrong with the benefits system and modern society. I had sympathy with Ms El-Kority’s predicament until I analysed her story
DO Abingdon councillors live in Cloud Cuckoo Land? I was born and bred in Abingdon 71 years ago. Changing the name to Abingdon-on-Thames would not make much difference. It might bring in a few tourists to see the river, but when they went to the town
HE stood on the top step of the Clarendon Building, an imposing if somewhat tubby figure. Probably in his late 60s, immaculately dressed in a suit and sporting a regimental tie, a satisfied expression spanned his ruddy face. Like a latter-day Roman emperor
THE South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) has been awarded ‘foundation status’, giving it greater control over how it runs. SCAS provides emergency ambulance care in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Hampshire. As a Foundation Trust, SCAS
OXFORD Harlequins’ season starts with tomorrow’s visit of Weston-super-Mare, according to manager Steve Chadbone. Having won just once in 2012, Quins are nine points adrift of safety in National 3 South West, with six matches to play. Tomorrow’s clash
I WANTED to suggest that some of the problems with unemployment could be solved by offering the jobs which traditionally ask people to sign the 48-hour opt-out to two people. Employing someone without a job would lessen the load for the person who would
THE Health and Social Care Bill returns to the House of Lords and the future of the National Health Service could be in the hands of members of the Upper House. Although GPs, surgeons, health visitors and other health organisations have warned that the
Having visited various European cities, I can’t help thinking that an Oxford equivalent in France or Germany would be light years ahead of what is fast becoming a very mediocre city. There would be a tram or light railway service, plus clearly-separated
SATURDAY. FOOTBALL. NPOWER LEAGUE TWO. Oxford Utd v Swindon Tn (12). EVO-STIK SOUTHERN LEAGUE. Premier Div: Arlesey Tn v Banbury Utd, St Albans v Oxford City. Div 1 South & West: Sholing v Didcot Tn, Thatcham
Land for 500 homes could soon be available for development in Carterton, it was announced yesterday. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation told West Oxfordshire District Council about 200 homes are needed for military personnel, while the remaining
BEAMING four-year-old Ellie Roberts-Day welcomed her beloved dog Ruby home three months after she went missing. The King Charles spaniel vanished from a friend’s neighbour’s garden in Great Haseley, near Thame, on November 29. Despite posters offering
PLANS for three developments in Oxford backed by TV presenter Kevin McCloud have been delayed after residents raised concerns. The property expert, who hosts Channel 4’s Grand Designs, wants to build 109 flats and homes at city council-owned sites in
A DISTRAUGHT teenager last night fought back tears as she described her terror at being grabbed by a sex attacker in the street. The 17-year-old spoke out as detectives issued an e-fit picture of the suspect believed to be behind the attack. The girl
A BUS driver was attacked and robbed by two passengers as they boarded the Number 5 bus in the city centre. The driver of the red double-decker Oxford Bus Company service to Blackbird Leys was picking up passengers at a stop near the post office in St
CHRIS Wilder believes Oxford United are “pretty unique” in terms of the passion and togetherness shown right throughout the club. The U’s manager has been in charge for more than three years and has led the team from Conference strugglers to
A 74-year-old driver of a cement mixer lorry arrested over the death of 34-year-old cyclist Joanna Braithwaite has had his bail date extended. The man, who was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after the collision in Woodstock
An 18-year-old was knocked unconscious during an attack at a bus stop in Magdalen Street, Oxford. The teenager was waiting for a bus at about 11.45pm on Tuesday when a stranger attacked him. The victim was treated at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital
More than 2,000 people are expected to take to the streets of Oxford today and tomorrow for the annual spring clean of the city. A total of 122 community groups and schools have responded to the OxClean 2012 appeal for volunteers, who will take part
Michael Duberry says he will relish Saturday’s derby clash – because he hasn’t got many big occasions left as a player. The 36-year-old admitted he knew the Oxford-Swindon rivalry was fierce, but it wasn’t until he stepped onto the pitch at
SEVEN people were treated for smoking inhalation after a kitchen fire in a block of flats last night. Eleven people were evacuated from the three-storey block of flats in Washford Glen in Didcot's Ladygrove estate. Two were taken to the John
For the five children of Rabbi Eli Brackman and his wife Freidy, 30, Passover is a seven-day holiday in which they will eat delicious food, learn stories of how their ancestors fled slavery, and observe time-honoured traditions. Jews celebrate the Feast
A RACE which brings together the two sides of Oxford is starting a new fundraising mission after collecting over £1m for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. The Oxford Town & Gown 10km run celebrated its 30th anniversary last year and runners circling some
THEY come from a time of classic movies and classic posters. A “time capsule” of cinema history is to go under the hammer at an Oxford auction house when more than 750 original film posters from the 1950s and 1960s go up for grabs in a sale billed as
POLICE searching for missing Abingdon woman Joanna Lake have found a body in a stream. Ms Lake, 58, has been missing since a friend last saw her at her home in Pudsey Close on February 20. Last night a police spokesman said a woman's
