Archive

  • Masked gang attack two men

    Two men suffered broken fingers and cuts to their faces when they were attacked by three men wearing balaclavas in Littlemore. The victims, aged 31 and 21, were leaving a home in St Nicholas Road at about 3.30am on Monday when they were attacked by men

  • Council magazine is scrapped

    The delivery of quarterly magazine The Didcot Dynamo has been stopped to save taxpayers thousands of pounds a year. Didcot Town Council leaders took the decision because they feared rising postal costs would leave them facing larger bills. And with

  • Fast food traders hit out at new £2.6k fee

    Recession-hit fast-food traders have hit out at new council rules that will cost them up to £2,600 per year. They said the move – aimed at stamping out rogue traders outside the city centre – was overkill and would hit profits. Oxford City Council this

  • Tribute to twins

    Wallingford couple Sharon and Gavin Robinson are hoping to raise thousands of pounds for charity after the loss of their baby twins. But the Robinsons are also preparing to pay out £6,000 themselves in the next few months for IVF fertility treatment

  • Cyclists reunited with bikes thanks to police

    A CYCLIST has been reunited with his bike weeks after it disappeared from outside a friend’s home in East Oxford. And the police are now urging anyone else who has had their cycle stolen, including the ones above, to contact them. Balliol

  • Oxford United reject Pirates' Constable offer

    OXFORD United have rejected a bid for top scorer James Constable from Bristol Rovers. The Pirates tabled a formal bid for the 27-year-old, but the club confirmed it had been turned down. U's chairman Kelvin Thomas said: "Over the past

  • University reveals more details of plans for hospital site

    OXFORD University has revealed more details of its plan to redevelop a 28-acre site in Headington. The plans could see the 126-year-old former Park Hospital building knocked down and the site redeveloped. Five plots within the site, which sits next

  • Sliding doors speed up commute

    LIFE got a little easier for commuters using Chiltern Railways’ locomotive-powered silver Mainline trains on Monday with the launch of the first set of coaches fitted with sliding power doors, instead of old-fashioned manual ‘slam’ doors.

  • Constable rumoured to be a Bristol Rovers target

    OXFORD United are reported to have received a bid for top scorer James Constable. The 27-year-old striker is rumoured to be on the radar of npower League Two rivals Bristol Rovers. Constable, who has scored 80 goals for the U's, turned

  • Schools launch campaign to help cut traffic

    CALLS have been made for more children to walk or cycle to school in Wantage to avoid traffic problems as the town’s population grows. Some 2,500 homes are planned for Grove Airfield and 1,100 more at Crab Hill in east Wantage under Vale

  • Olympic torchbearer a shining light for pupils

    PUPILS at Abingdon School were given the chance to examine one of the famous Olympic torches first hand with a visit from one of the school’s alumni. Matthew Hill is a former pupil at the school and gave a motivational talk to pupils at the school following

  • The show must go on - except when it can't

    Some readers of The Oxford Times are likely to be wondering why there is no review today of Shared Experience’s high-profile production of Mary Shelley, which opened this week at Oxford Playhouse. The reason for this is simple, if a little surprising

  • Longer to reign over us, please

    The Queen has her value for being, if nothing else, a provoker of amusing anti-monarchist polemics. A good example of this is to be found in a recent article in the student magazine Cherwell concerning the decision by the junior common room at

  • Gee's, Banbury Road, Oxford

    My enthusiasm for Gee’s — indisputably Oxford’s best restaurant — will be known to regular readers of this column. The quality of its food, the charm and efficiency of the service and the unique atmosphere supplied by its conservatory setting make it

  • Child sex kidnap plotter detained at psychiatric hospital

    A MAN who plotted to snatch a child off the street for sex has been detained for public protection under the Mental Health Act. Anthony Baker registered on Flirtomatic.com and struck up a conversation about child pornography with another user

  • Local shares (PM)

    AEA Technology 0.21 BMW 5001 Electrocomponents 204.9 Nationwide Accident Repair 68.5 Oxford Biomedica 2.65 Oxford Catalysts 54 Oxford Instruments 1167.5 Reed Elsevier 487.2 RM 75.1 RPS Group 206 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Celebrate the Jubilee with the great taste of British cheese

    For more than 160 years Paxton & Whitfield has supplied the monarchs of Great Britain with the finest artisan cheese and food products, including the most popular of all — Stilton. It was Queen Victoria who granted the firm its first Royal Warrant in

  • Preparing to throw the jubilee cakes

    Throwing buns from County Hall in Abingdon as a way of celebrating Royal and national events —including, of course, next week’s Diamond Jubilee — is a tradition at least 250 years old. The first recorded chucking of ‘cakes’ as they were then called

  • Prometheus and Snow White & The Huntsman

    More than 30 years after Ridley Scott proved that in space, everyone can hear you scream — loudly — the Oscar-nominated director returns to the science-fiction genre and the ultimate deep space killing machine: Alien. Unfortunately, a decision has been

  • David K. O'Hara double bill: the Jericho Tavern

    Since their first collaboration in July last year director James Savin and playwright David K. O’Hara have been popping up at various Oxford venues. On Monday and Wednesday they were upstairs at the Jericho Tavern with two one-act plays. Finland, the

  • Posh: The Duke of York's Theatre, London

    At first glance — and, indeed, at second and third — it looks exactly like that picture. You know, the one that David Cameron and Boris Johnson are anxious we shouldn’t see any more and try to forget all about. Indeed, the Prime Minister is said

  • Boxing coach was a big hit

    Tributes have been paid to a volunteer boxing coach who has died aged 37. Friends and family of father-of-three Phillip Panadher said he believed in the sport’s power to inspire younger people. Mr Panadher, of Kenilworth Way, Bretch Hill, Banbury, was

  • Pupils set their sights on future studies

    THESE Oxford primary school children are yet to sit their Key Stage Two tests. But this week they have been setting their sights much further to the future with a special event at Oxford Brookes University. The university has been working with six city

  • Failure to declare partner proves costly

    A 47-YEAR-OLD Banbury woman has been ordered to pay back almost £25,000 she illegally claimed in benefits. Tracey Herdman failed to declare her long-term partner was living with her three days a week at her home in Woodgreen Avenue. She pleaded guilty

  • Mail trio going over the edge

    If we can do it, so can you.The Oxford Mail is sending three intrepid reporters over the edge of the John Radcliffe Hospital to help raise money for pioneering research. Despite a combined fear of heights, hospitals and getting up early on a Sunday morning

  • Monday, June 4: Ice-cream offer at MUMU's Geletaria Cafe

    IT'S getting hot out so ice cream is the order of the day. In Monday's edition we have a voucher where if you buy a scoop of ice cream at Mumu's Geletaria Cafe in Little Clarendon Street, those generous chaps will throw in another one for free. An offer

  • Thursday, May 31: Prometheus goody bag

    PROMETHEUS is one of year's most anticipated releases and we have teamed up with 20th Century Fox to offer you one of three exclusive souvenir goody bags. Get Thursday's Oxford Mail to be able to enter.

  • Thursday, May 31: BBQ Party at the Fishes

    AHHH, the summer might finally be here and what better way to celebrate than with a BBQ party for you and nine chums at a great Oxford pub? Get Thursday's Oxford Mail to enter our competition for just that at the Fishes in North Hinksey.

  • Bats back on agenda as rail link inquiry resumes

    RESIDENTS opposing Chiltern Railway’s £130m link between Oxford and London met at the Kassam Stadium yesterday for the reopening of the public inquiry. The inquiry into the scheme – known as Evergreen 3 – to create a fast Oxford-Bicester-London service

  • Vale 'left vulnerable to developers'

    TIME spent pursuing a controversial planning policy which was abandoned last week has left the Vale of White Horse vulnerable to developers, opponents have warned. Vale of White Horse District Council hoped to formally relax planning rules to allow more

  • Oxfringe goes from strength to strength

    COMEDY, music, literature and dance will take over the streets of Oxford from today when the Oxfringe festival begins. The festival, which began with just two events in 2007, will run across the city for the next fortnight. It features 130 performers

  • CRICKET: Lanham battles on

    Abingdon Vale 3rd XI captain Ben Lanham is set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering a nasty injury in his side’s draw with Cumnor 3rd in Division 7 of the Cherwell League. Lanham put down a tricky chance off Dave Mitty, who top-scored for 73

  • School to become Witney's first academy

    A 350-year-old Witney school is set to become the town’s first academy tomorrow. Staff at Henry Box School in Church Green hope the change will allow them to bring in more staff and have more money to spend on teaching resources. As part of the change

  • Jewellery inspired by historic Oxford

    AN exhibition of jewellery inspired by the history, architecture and famous figures of Oxford has opened at the O3 Gallery in Oxford Castle. Pieces inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Inspector Morse will feature at the exhibition, which

  • CRICKET: Hawtin's unlucky break

    Oxfordshire and Banbury captain Ian Hawtin will be out for at least six weeks after fracturing his right elbow. Wicket-keeper Hawtin, 45, picked up the injury while working in the loft at his new house in Kirtlington. Hawtin said: “I fell down getting

  • Local shares (AM)

    AEA Technology 0.21 BMW 5018 Electrocomponents 203.8 Nationwide Accident Repair 68.5 Oxford Biomedica 2.9 Oxford Catalysts 54 Oxford Instruments 1169.5 Reed Elsevier 487.8 RM 75.25 RPS Group 212 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • CRICKET: Cumnor win Village thriller

    Cumnor reached the Yorkshire Tea Village Cup’s Oxfordshire semi-finals after a dramatic four-run victory over Cropredy. The hosts managed to defend a below-par total of 139 all out and will now entertain Oxford Downs. Only 19-year-old James Lee mastered

  • Electoral differences

    At the polling station on May 3, the chap who handed me a ballot paper couldn’t repress a wry smile and a chuckle, when I remarked to myself “Oh, I’ve forgotten my glasses, but it won’t matter, they’re all the same”. Mick Haines and Marston voters scored

  • Residents go for DIY decorations to mark Jubilee

    A HISTORIC Abingdon street has been covered with Jubilee bunting and Union Flags by its own residents after they claimed it was “ignored” by the council. Abingdon Town Council has spent about £4,300 on decorations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

  • RACING: Cross puts Candy in Derby picture

    It's 15 years since Wantage trainer Henry Candy has had an Investec Derby runner – but he’s back in the Classic picture with Rugged Cross at Epsom on Saturday. The 67-year-old master of Kingston Warren stables came agonisingly close to glory with his

  • Spanning city streets

    You said in a report about Pembroke College’s new bridge (last Wednesday’s Oxford Mail) that it was believed that the last bridge built over an Oxford city centre street was the Bridge of Sighs 100 years ago. In the early 1970s, my company (Hignell

  • Cyclists' example?

    I wish to refer to the photograph of Richard Mann, of Cyclox, in Friday’s Oxford Mail, relating to plans to tackle accident blackspots. For someone with a concern for cyclists and their safety, I find it strange that he is wearing dark clothes, no cycle

  • Firefighters tackle blaze at coal merchants

    Firefighters tackled a blaze at a coal merchants where thousands of pounds of coal and wood was stored. They were called to the fire at A E Prentice in Souldern, near Bicester, shortly before 8pm on Monday night. No one from A E Prentice was available

  • Strange clothing choice

    I read with interest the front page story (Friday’s Oxford Mail) about Oxford City Council’s plans to spend up to £840,000 to improve safety to cyclists over the next four years. I also observed the photographs of city councillor Colin Cook (‘a keen

  • 'Two families have had their hearts ripped out'

    THE family of a “happy go-lucky” teenager killed at an accident blackspot near Didcot have said they are “devastated” by his loss. Jack Varney, 19, and Rhys Roberts, 21, were killed in a crash on the A4130 at Hadden Hill, during the early hours of Monday

  • Rent demand was disgusting

    I was horrified to read your front page report (last Wednesday’s Oxford Mail), stating that the League of Friends volunteer cafe at the John Radcliffe Hospital was going to be sent a bill for £25,000 in rent by the hospital trust. I worked at the Radcliffe

  • A taste of tradition

    JESTERS Tom and Freddie Fletcher were among hundreds of pupils from Witney primary schools who got a taste of tradition. More than 400 pupils from The Batt Primary School and St Mary’s Infant School danced around a May Pole in Church Green yesterday.

  • AUNT SALLY: Townsend's joy with high fives

    Paul Townsend (5-5-5) smash-ed off 15 dolls as Three Pigeons won 3-0 at home to New Club A to stay unbeaten at the top of the Greene King Oxford & District League Premier Section, writes ANDY BEAL. He was supported by Neil Lyon (4-5-5) with 14 dolls

  • MAC THE KNIFE: Economic shock therapy as sun shows up at last

    Far be it for me to tell the Chancellor of the Exchequer how to solve the current economic crisis, but the sunshine has got to help. Oxford has been empty save for the odd, wet, depressed looking foreign exchange student wondering why they bothered ever

  • Disillusioned by Derren

    I bought my son and his partner tickets to see Derren Brown in his Svengali May tour at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre. These tickets were bought at the beginning of January, so that I could secure front row tickets, which I successfully did. The show

  • Bridge tragedy

    I would just like to say how saddened I am at the sad death of the young boy who drowned at Donnington Bridge on Friday. The reaction of the students on Saturday made me proud to be part of Oxford University. The boat club captains held a meeting and

  • RUGBY UNION: London Welsh looking for boost from Oxford fans

    London Welsh managing director John Taylor said they remain “very hopeful” of playing in the Premiership in Ox-ford next season. Speaking ahead of the Championship final second leg against Cornish Pirates at the Kassam Stadium, the Wales and

  • LIFE LESSONS: Kevin Game, fundraiser for Sobell House

    WHAT I’M CALLED: Kevin Game. MY AGE: 38. WHAT I DO? Fundraiser for the Sobell House Hospice Charity, which offers care and support for people throughout Oxfordshire affected by terminal illness. I knew nothing about hospices

  • THE DISABLED SPACE: I'm sure Kirsten Dunst winked at me

    Holidays…we all need them and love them. I have just got back from a trip to the south of France. I was in the millionaire’s playground of the Cote D’Azur, specifically Cannes during the film festival. This is a VIP event only… everyone had lanyards

  • 'Mother-in-law tried to kill me' murder trial told

    A MAN accused of murdering his wife and mother-in-law claimed in court he was the one being attacked. Ensar Gol took to the witness stand at Oxford Crown Court yesterday to speak in his own defence. Gol denies murdering 28-year-old wife Michala and

  • Take out hellish lumps

    Now that the county council has passed the application for 20 lorries to pass down Bayswater Road in Barton every day for 10 years, to and from the old Woodeaton Quarry, the subject of the speed humps crops up again. There’s an easy answer to this: take

  • Great to see Top Gear star Clarkson go green

    So miracles do happen! I have just been watching Countryfile on BBC1 and apparently Jeremy Clarkson has acquired a farm. I always thought of him as the enemy of wildlife with his craze for fast cars and his (probably) impulsive remarks on his TV motoring

  • Belinda's flying high after big Mail contest win

    LUCKY Belinda Collis will be able to visit her family in New Zealand to show off her new baby after winning an Oxford Mail competition. We teamed up with airshow Fly to the Past to offer readers the chance to win a pair of round-the-world tickets – and

  • Controversial plan to record all taxi conversations dropped

    CONTROVERSIAL plans to record all conversations in Oxford’s taxis have been dropped after an outcry. Oxford City Council this week agreed to reconsult on plans to demand cabbies install cameras. But licensing boss Colin Cook said future plans would

  • Team with a difference tackles the Beautiful Game

    THEIR enthusiasm and dedication to football was written across every face. But until now there has been one obstacle to stop them playing their beloved game. That has been removed thanks to Oxford City FC, who have welcomed a new team to their Marsh

  • COMMENT: Soccer team tackles a big issue bravely

    JAMES CATCHPOLE, the man who has set up a new football team for amputees, says the deepest wound when you lose a limb is the mental one. Whatever anyone says, we are a body-conscious society and the loss of a leg or an arm would deeply affect many.

  • Wood Farm woman's death still a mystery

    MYSTERY still surrounds the death of a 25-year-old woman found dead in Wood Farm. Jade Parr was found by paramedics in a flat in Territorial Way after a member of the public alerted them about 8.35pm Sunday night. Police are not treating the death

  • Community united in grief for teenager

    OXFORD’S Muslim community came together yesterday to offer special funeral prayers for a teenager who drowned in the River Thames. The ‘Janazah’ prayer was held at Central Oxford Mosque, Manzil Way, yesterday afternoon to remember 15-year-old Hussain

  • Abingdon Road crash causes major jams

    A three-car crash in Abingdon Road yesterday morning caused tailbacks back to the Kennington Roundabout. The police and ambulance service were called to the accident near Vicarage Road at about 9.30am. A man and woman were injured and one had to be

  • COMMENT: Police action vital

    WHILE remembering that anyone arrested yesterday is absolutely innocent until proven guilty, it is heartening to see police tackling the scourge of metal theft. It has gone from petty pilfering to an industrial scale problem, with seemingly anything

  • 'He will be missed'

    A former semi-professional footballer who became an ‘exemplary’ Army captain, will be repatriated to RAF Brize Norton tomorrow. Captain Stephen Healey, 29, from 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, was killed on Saturday when his vehicle hit an improvised

  • Primary bids for a trim trail in Schools SOS competition

    THE first entries for the Oxford Mail contest which will see one school win a £7,500 makeover are beginning to come in. For the fourth time, we have teamed up with Abingdon-based construction company Leadbitter to offer one primary school £7,500 worth