Peter Ayres, 52, of Iffley Road, Oxford, admitted shoplifting four suntan creams, one pair of swimming pants and two children’s cardigans valued at £82 from Boots in Oxford on March 7. Given a 12-month conditional discharge and told to pay £25 costs
NEIGHBOURS of a derelict pub in South Oxford say the Tesco-owned site has become dangerously run-down and is attracting street drinkers. They are demanding the supermarket giant clears the land and pushes ahead with its new grocery store immediately
Banbury MP Sir Tony Baldry has welcomed plans to reform the UK’s social care system to help carers. The Conservative co-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Carers Group, said the Social Care White Paper would help carers. This includes
THE DVLA is to close its Oxford office, the Government has confirmed. The city centre office in Cambridge Terrace will shut down on October 31 next year with the loss of 10 jobs. The DVLA will close 39 regional offices to save £26m with the loss of 1,213
He stood guard outside Oxford’s Radcliffe Infirmary for more than 150 years. The 6ft Triton, holding aloft his shell in the centre of a fountain, was always at its most spectacular in the depths of winter when the fountain froze. But
Tennis legend Tim Henman got back on court to celebrate the 10 years of an Abingdon sports centre. The £10.3m White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre in Audlett Drive marked the milestone on Thursday. There was a training session with
IT is the last chance for gardeners to have a chance of getting their pride and joy counted in this year’s Oxford in Bloom. The deadline for entries is Monday and organisers are appealing for anyone considering entering to get their forms back ready
ABOUT 200 people have taken part in a march against public sector cuts this morning. The protest, organised by the Trades Union Congress, saw campaigners march from Manzil Way in East Oxford to Broad Street in the city centre. Union officials estimated
OXFORD will experience an extraordinary phenomenon tomorrow when hundreds of rainbows appear at Merton Field, near Christ Church Meadow. Spreading some much welcomed colour after the recent rain, the Rainbows are not a meteorological wonder
Children got to see a gold medal up close when Olympic swimmer Duncan Goodhew dropped into a Bicester school. Mr Goodhew, named deputy mayor of the Olympic village, took morning assembly at St Mary’s School, in Queens Avenue, to tell youngsters
AFTER having the honour of carrying the Olympic torch, Witney teacher Emma Cuthbertson brought it to school to share the moment with her pupils. Pupils from Madley Brook School in Cedar Drive came out to support their year six teacher when she carried
THE father of late cancer fundraiser Jake Spicer has been using his Olympic Torch to light up the lives of seriously-ill children. Michael Spicer was one of four MINI Oxford workers to take the flame through the plant on Monday. Mr Spicer
Thai boxer Max Gannicott enhanced his reputation with a dominant victory over Liam McGrandles in Birmingham. The 15-year-old, of Devils Mauy Thai Wantage, outfought the Midlander over five rounds with no body or head guards. Gannicott, who has been
Oxfordshire’S intermediate girls’ heptathlon team struck gold at the Midland Schools’ Multievents Championships at Milton Keynes. Maike Chapel (Cherwell, Oxford), Hayley Perrin (Bartholomew, Eynsham) and Jess Daniels (Icknield Community College, Watlington
Didcot Barramundi’s Ollie Ripley braved very choppy conditions to win the junior title at the South East Regional Open Water Championships in Southsea. The 13-year-old swam three laps around a wave-lashed 2km course in a time of 35mins 14 secs to finish
Francesca Claydon, from the Flying Solo Club, shone in the British Trampoline Championships at the Birmingham NIA. The 18-year-old, from Wantage, who has had an excellent competitive season on the national circuit, finished sixth in the Over 19 National
Incessant rain meant many matches had to be switched or were cancelled, but Tackley AC were undaunted, recording one of the best returns from the Oxford Canal for many a year. Ten members contested their King’s Arms Shield match at the Rock of Gibraltar
Oxfordshire long jumper Simi Fajemisin admitted she surprised even herself as she leapt to silver at the Aviva English Schools’ Track & Field Championships in Gateshead. The 14-year-old Headington School pupil recorded a personal best of 5.93m in the
THE Olympic Torch excitement lit up many people’s lives and, wherever it travelled to, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all those who had the opportunity to be a part of it. Blackbird Leys was an amazing idea, considering all the past stigma
Oxordshire bnced back from their ECB Cup defeat with an excellent victory on first innings against Buckinghamshire in the ECB County Championship at Milton Keynes. Despite a showery two days, only a handful of overs were lost to the wet weather, and
Cheney School enjoyed a double success in Oxford Cricket Club’s Chance to Shine competition. They won the secondary schools’ boys’ eight-a-side hard ball and the girls’ eight-a-side kwik cricket tournaments. Cheney’s boys defeated The Oxford Academy
Travis Green took 4-22 as Didcot beat Blewbury by nine wickets in the only Oxon Under 17 competition game to survive the rain. His spell helped restrict Blewbury to 111-5 before Sam Couldrick (48no) and Karl Johnston (45no) saw Didcot home. RESULTS
THERE’S something that I find increasingly irritating about the present Government and that’s the habit of ministers repeating, ad infinitum, that all this country’s financial problems are the result of what the last Government did and they are now clearing
HOW many times have we been told that something needs to be done about reading standards? The definitive answer is to use a standard phonetic method of teaching reading in all primary schools. We all know that the brain scans words as a whole and recognises
New trainer Dave Lee can get off to a flying start when he tracks his first runners at Oxford Stadium tonight, writes JOHN GAISFORD. The 65-year-old Essex-based handler is fancied to strike with Fleetwood Sue in the A3. As Lee arrives, Nick Colton signs
A 33-year-old man has appeared in court charged with holding up a post office at knifepoint. Daniel Tuckey is alleged to have threatened a 70-year-old female member of staff at Littlemore Post Office on June 26 before making off empty-handed. Tuckey
The A415 was closed yesterday morning after electricity cables fell on to the road. The road was blocked from about 2.45am until noon. Southern Electric spokesman Justin Smith said about 50 customers were left without power until repairs took
On Saturday, June 30, we had a very sad incident when my daughter’s little dog, Lucy, was hit by a car on the Drayton Road, and was killed. She had escaped from someone’s garden – my daughter was visiting them – and when she realised Lucy had gone,
AN ELDERLY driver was taken to hospital after a two-car crash on the A4095 yesterday. Police were called at 3.45pm to Upper Campsfield Road, near Bladon, after a Volvo and a Saab collided and went into ditches. The Saab driver was taken
A 37-year-old man has admitted having cannabis and amphetamines. Jaroslaw Szulc was found with 50g of amphetamines and 27g of cannabis in his car in December. At Oxford Crown Court yesterday he admitted two counts of possessing Class B drugs. Szulc,
A 15-year-old girl was raped in Abingdon's multi-storey car park. The incident happened on level seven of the Charter Way car park between 4pm and 4.45pm on Tuesday, July 3. The crime was reported on Friday, July 6, but police only released
Family and friends raised their glasses yesterday to a former landlord who took charge of a string of Oxford pubs. Nick Burden, former landlord at The Bullnose Morris in Blackbird Leys and The Britannia in Headington, died from liver failure aged 59
A NUMBER of Oxfordshire rivers and brooks are now on flood alert due to the recent heavy rain. The latest alert, issued last night, applies to the River Windrush, including Burford, Asthall, Minster Lovell, Crawley, Witney, Ducklington, Rack
Horspath Hammers’ thoughts will be with team manager Robyn Carter when they take on Wednesfield Aces in the semi-final of the British Team Championship in Hull tomorrow (11am). Carter is in Oxford’s Churchill Hospital where he is being treated for cancer
In a home-town special, stay-cationer Rebecca Moore lasts 36 hours in Oxford's Castle quarter It felt as if none of my protests – albeit based on laundered medical records – would work. ‘I’ve a pathological fear of confined spaces’ I explained. “And
Labour has won a by-election for the Cowley and Littlemore Oxfordshire County Council seat. Gill Sanders won the seat after the election on Thursday and replaces Labour’s Sarah Hutchinson, who stood down. Mrs Sanders had 1,606 votes,
The Met Office issued an amber warning for heavy rain in Oxfordshire yesterday afternoon including the possibility of flash flooding. The Met Office website said: “The public should be aware that given saturated ground across many parts, localised
Oxford United will “strive for excellence” in a new era launched by owner Ian Lenagan yesterday after Kelvin Thomas stepped down as chairman. Far-reaching changes have been made to the club’s sports science department, while U’s boss Chris
Parents were celebrating last night after the Government approved two free schools in Oxfordshire. Tyndale Community School for children in East Oxford and Heyford Park Free School, in Upper Heyford, could both open in September 2013.
From congratulations on a “job well done” to shock and disappointment, Oxford United fans yesterday had their say on news of Kelvin Thomas’ departure. As the announcement was made official at a press conference at the Kassam Stadium, supporters
Business leaders and sponsors of Oxford United were surprised by the departure of Kelvin Thomas. And while they paid tribute to the success Mr Thomas has achieved during his time as chairman of the club, there was an element of uncertainty
Kelvin Thomas stepped down as Oxford United chairman yesterday, declaring himself “immensely proud” of his achievements at the club. Mr Thomas, 39, is replaced by Ian Lenagan, the club’s owner, who becomes the new executive chairman.
ONE OF Oxford University’s first Aboriginal students is holding an exhibition of self portraits at the Pitt Rivers museum. Christian Thompson, 34, was awarded Australia’s Charles Perkins scholarship, and is now studying for a PhD in philosophy and fine
A TEACHER died in a car crash on the way to work because she became disorientated in thick fog, an inquest heard yesterday. Emma Weston from Chesterton near Bicester, rounded a sharp bend and strayed on to the wrong side of the road.
Preliminary discussions have taken place between Oxford United and London Welsh over the possibility of jointly purchasing the Kassam Stadium. The two clubs will share the ground from this season as tenants of the Firoka Group, which owns the stadium
A CARE home has been criticised by a watchdog for failing to investigate minor injuries and bruises. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) gave Coxwell Hall Nursing Home and Mews in Faringdon a formal warning notice following an unannounced inspection in
Chris Wilder has been given a larger playing budget to recruit cover to deal with ongoing injuries to key players. The Oxford Mail reported yesterday Michael Duberry was ruled out for pre-season with a neck injury, but the U’s have question
THE ground-share with London Welsh presents an opportunity for Oxford United, but new executive chairman Ian Lenagan expects teething problems. There remains a host of logistical questions surrounding the arrangement, which was only confirmed
Big changes have taken place at Oxford United’s training ground this summer, but if they can have even half the impact of similar steps made by Wigan Warriors it will be money well spent. Ian Lenagan, who owns both clubs, has a clear view
A man was taken to Oxford‘s John Radcliffe Hospital with a back injury on Thursday night after the car he was travelling in crashed into a ditch on the A34. The accident happened at about 9.10pm on the northbound road between the Abingdon
A detective who wrote a damning report on the way his colleagues investigated a child’s death has been criticised for making “extraordinary assumptions based on hearsay”. Robert Krykant, from Abingdon, claimed he was victimised and harassed
A CARE home has been criticised by a watchdog for failing to investigate minor injuries and bruises. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) gave Coxwell Hall Nursing Home and Mews in Faringdon a formal warning notice following an unannounced inspection in
To her neighbours, Esme Gibb looks like an ordinary grandmother, pottering around her Cowley garden. But little do they know the pensioner was once the youngest British competitor at the 1948 Olympic Games in London. Mrs Gibb, nee Harris
Hannah England said she was happy to be back racing despite finishing last in the Aviva London Grand Prix last night. The 25-year-old Oxford City ace recorded a time of 4mins 14.45secs on her comeback from an Achilles injury in the Diamond League meeting
Oxford United have unveiled their new kits for this season. The all-yellow home strip marks a change from last season, when it included navy blue shorts and socks. It will be officially unveiled this morning, along with the new away
Expressions of disappointment at the departure of Kelvin Thomas as head of Oxford United are not surprising as the 39-year-old was a rare breed as a chairman. Usually chairmen of football clubs leave their post under a financial cloud or
ELEVEN people were evacuated from a printing press warehouse in Bicester after a fire. The blaze started shortly before 10pm on Thursday in a printing machine at Benham Goodhead Print, BGP, in Launton Road. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service sent
AN Oxford pub has reopened after a £74,000 revamp. The Seacourt Bridge Inn, in Botley, was closed last Monday for a complete refurbishment inside and out. The work has seen the pub fitted out with new furniture, signs and lighting. Tracy Dennell, pictured
Many of us may be hating the rain and the mud, but this little worm is not one of them. Enjoying meeting slimy inhabitants in the garden was four-year-old Toby Smith-Peace, pictured. He is just one of the creatures greeting children at the Farmhouse
More than 700 people have signed a petition calling for a skate park in Oxford. Young people, their parents and campaigners will present the petition to North Hinksey Parish Council on Thursday. Youngsters want the council to fund a
A PRIMARY school desperate to win £7,500 of improvements has got the entire community behind it. Bampton Primary School’s plans for a revamp of its outdoor area for reception-aged children is among those shortlisted for this year’s Leadbitter
