BLUR’S Alex James has spoken of his “exhilaration” at getting the band back together to headline a show to close the Olympic Games. The bassist, who lives in Kingham, near Chipping Norton, will take to the stage with his bandmates in London’s Hyde
HOW tall is your hollyhock? Well, Sandhills resident David Ward thinks his is taller. The keen gardener from Merewood Avenue has been growing hollyhocks for four years, and his latest specimen is more than three metres high. He said: “There
Unsigned musicians are being invited to compete for the chance to take the limelight at The Big Feastival. Alex James this weekend launches his Big Feastival Live and Unsigned search for band to win a slot on the main stage. To be considered,
A TOP police officer has pledged she will not take officers off the streets of Oxford’s Blackbird Leys estate, despite changes to the city’s policing arrangements. Chief Inspector Cecilia Agger from Thames Valley Police visited Blackbird Leys Parish
The 48-year-old man killed in a garden accident was Ian Simpson. Emergency services were called to College Way, Horspath, shortly before 8pm last night. His family said Mr Simpson had beed cutting an oil barrel in half to make a brazier when
ALTHOUGH the ‘staycation’ in Britain looks set to be all the rage among penny-pinching families this summer, some of them might raise an eyebrow when they consider a ‘five-star caravan holiday’. A contradiction in terms, no? I glumly envisaged
AN online forum for parents of children with a rare condition caused by drinking while pregnant has been launched in Oxfordshire. Julia Brown founded the Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Trust after her adopted daughter Niamh was diagnosed.
SCORES of volunteers turned out to help improve their local parks as part of a community project this week. Love Parks Week saw Oxford residents working on open spaces across the city with the assistance of skilled gardeners. Founded by national
A TEACHER is to climb the highest mountain in Africa to raise money for charity, despite fracturing her spine in a horse riding accident. Nicole Issitt, a primary school teacher at Barley Hill in Thame, is setting off for Mount Kilimanjaro on August
A VOLUNTEER has founded a friends group to raise money for East Oxford hospice Helen and Douglas House. Kathleen Harper, who works at the hospice’s charity shop in Didcot, is hoping to carry out fundraising activities and raise its profile.
They say heroes always go the extra mile – something which nine-year-old Freya Melrose aimed to prove this month. When the Manor School pupil set out on a charity cycle ride, she hoped to raise £100. But the Didcot schoolgirl smashed her target
AN OXFORD pub rings out to the sound of a rather unusual instrument every other Monday night. Oxford Ukulele are a group of about 40 enthusiasts dedicated to the mini guitar, made famous by the entertainer George Formby. The group gather to
STABLES and a barn in Bury Knowle Park could be turned into homes as Oxford City Council prepares to sell the buildings off. The buildings are more than 150 years old and are currently used by the council for storage. Under the council’s plans
Oxford Brookes University 's Peter Chambers and his brother, Richard, a former Brookes student, were in the Great Britain boat, which advertised their claims for gold with a stunning success in the men's rowing heats at Eton Dorney today. Peter
A TALENTED Bicester dancer has been selected to perform with a professional ballet company. Annabelle Clifton will play one of Aurora’s eight friends in a production of The Sleeping Beauty at Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury, for three performances
Six students from Can Do Martial Arts, now based at their full-time dojo in Abingdon, achieve their karate black belts in Bath. Jasper Laidlaw, Dylan Richards, Richard Knipe, James Ritson, Tom Randle and Emma Quinn were the successful sextet, under
People have two weeks to nominate police men and women who have helped their communities. Police officers, Police Community Support Officers, volunteers and special constables are all eligible for the community policing awards. The deadline
A 25-year-old was taken to hospital after he was punched in the face on the dancefloor at the Chapel Nightclub, Banbury, last Saturday, police said yesterday. A 23-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm
Football fans will get a sneak preview of life behind the scenes at a top Premier League club when Arsenal’s interactive roadshow comes to Oxford’s Bonn Square. The Gunners on the Road interactive centre arrives next Saturday between 9.30am-5.30pm
YOU don’t often get the chance to look down at the stars, but a new mural allows you to do just that. Artist Mark Bridger, pictured, painted The Eternal and Infinite Universe on the floor of the Ark-T youth centre in East Oxford. The painting
NOTORIOUS student night Fuzzy Ducks is coming to an end, much to the delight of East Oxford residents. And neighbours are hopeful a relacement night being run in conjunction with Oxford Brookes University Students ’ Union will cause fewer problems
BANBURY’S Louise Bell won a major class at the Longines Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead, Sussex. Riding Into The Blue, she triumphed in the Leeman Family Supreme Working Hunter Championship. HAZEL Offord, from Wendlebury Gate Stud
OXFORDSHIRE’S men finished runners-up in Group 7A in the AEGON Summer County Cup at Beckenham. They sandwiched 9-0 wins over Shropshire and Isle of Man around a 7-2 defeat by Northumberland, who topped the section. Oxfordshire’s women lost
Oxford City Stars will kick-off the season with a trip to Swindon Wildcats in National League Division 2 on Saturday, September 8. Stars’ first home game will be against Invicta Mustangs at Oxpens Road on Sunday, September 23 (6.15pm). The
THE passing of Fuzzy Ducks will be celebrated by some and mourned by others. Residents of East Oxford will hope the change puts an end to some of the late-night disturbances they suffer in the streets surrounding the venue. And they will take heart
Three women were left “upset and shocked” after a man flashed at them in a town nature reserve. The incident happened about 8.15pm on Wednesday night in a quiet area on the Bure Park estate. The man is described as white, aged between 20 and
Oxford Boxing Academy open their doors to the public as part of their end-of-season celebrations tomorrow (1-5pm). Coaches will be on hand at the club at Saxon Way, Northway, to talk about classes at the academy. Presentations will also be
HORSPATH Hammers went top of the BCTG Elite League after inflicting a first defeat of the season on leaders Birmingham Monarchs with a 92-86 victory. Hammers' success was more comfortable than the final score indicates as they gave away
CANINE Commander, a winner on his debut, is expected to follow up in the the A2 over 450m at Oxford Stadium tonight. TONIGHT’S RUNNERS 7.35: Primo Caloona 3, Newtown Scott, Meenala Harry, DUNBOLG IMPACT, Crown Of Thomas, Vicenza. 7.55:
County boys round-up OXFORDSHIRE Under 16s fell to a heavy 118-run defeat away to Northants in their first match of the season. With several players making their county debuts, Oxon will have learned valuable lessons from this match as they
County girls round-up OXFORDSHIRE emerged from a busy period of three games in five days with two wins and a defeat to keep their hopes alive in the ECB Under 17 Girls County Championship. Oxon were beaten by Hampshire at Tiddington on Sunday
Club round-up THREE girls helped holders Banbury get off to a flying start in the Oxfordshire Under 17 Championship. Banbury defeated Sandford St Martin by 86 runs in their Group A clash, with Jack Briggs (75no) and Kieron Scott (57no) firing
WALLINGFORD came out on top in their own NGG Sports mixed tournament at the Hithercroft. Organised by local residents Tim Chamberlain and Nicholas Golding, the event attracted 14 teams from as far as London, Burton and Lewes. Wallingford won
HERE She Is gave trainer Terry Atkins another big winner a sparkling with victory in the £500 BAGS SIS Sweepstakes Trophy at Oxford Stadium yesterday. The 6-1 shot was six and a half lengths clear of Terrydrum Terry, with 9-4 favourite Ninis Boy
THE Oxfordshire Masonic fishing charity event was held again at Farmoor Flyfishers’ Darlow Water where 15 youngsters from two special schools, Kingfisher Abingdon and Fitzwaryn Wantage, got a first taste of trout fishing, aided by nine helpers
EMILY Nisbet, from Stanford in the Vale, bounced back from a disqualification to reach her second final in the British Gas National Age Group Championships held in Ponds Forge, Sheffield. In the heats of the 200m individual medley, the 12-
Police investigating the death of a 48-year-old man in Horspath do not believe it was suspicious. Officers were called at 7.50pm last night to a property in College Way, after a report a man had suffered
Oxford United have finalised their squad numbers for the new season. Everyone who played for the U’s last season will remain the same, with the only changes coming with the five additions to the squad. Permanent signings Michael Raynes and
WATER flooded on to a street in Kidlington yesterday due to a burst water main, the second in the county this week. Thames Water was alerted to the leak on Oxford Road near the shops shortly after 6am. Engineers were on scene an hour later
12:28pm Satch and Nash win from Italy to qualify for Wednesday's semi-finals. 12:24pm Satch and Nash lead from Greece. 12:22pm
Kimi Raikkonen feels Lotus are heading in the right direction as they go for glory in the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest tomorrow. The flying Finn, who took a two-year sabbatical before returning to the sport with the Enstone-based team this
Chipping Norton’s Sean Walkinshaw bounced back from rolling his car in qualifying to post the best result of his Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship career with a hard-fought eighth place at the Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire. After an
THERE are at least three potential buyers of Oxford Stadium waiting to pounce, according to former Shelbourne Stud manager Bryan King. King, a leading light on the greyhound breeding side, who lives locally, said: “Three interested parties could
Under 17 boys OXFORDSHIRE Under 17s produced a superb display to beat Berkshire on first innings at Radley College and move a step closer to the ECB County Championship Division 3 title. Chasing down a daunting total of 283, Oxon got over the
Match fishing ROACH dominated the fourth round of the Oxford Super League , fished by 45 anglers on the Medley stretch of the Thames. The river had dropped 18 inches from the previous week and cleared a lot, but still had a decent flow.
THE impact of higher university tuition fees have yet to be seen, Oxford Brookes University vice chancellor Janet Beer has said. She spoke about the reforms, that allow fees up to £9,000, at the end of her term as chairman of a higher education
A SWORD owned by a former Prime Minister is one of the eye-catching exhibits coming up for sale at an auction house near Kidlington. Bonhams are selling 150 Victorian and Georgian swords, including a sabre owned by Lord Grenville, who was Prime
TRANSPORT chiefs are planning major changes to one of the main routes into Oxford. London Road in Headington could be widened and bus lanes extended as part of plans by Oxfordshire County Council . The proposal, for the stretch between Headington
British windsurfer Bryony Shaw has endured a tough year battling illness but does not believe the setback will keep her off the London 2012 podium. The 29-year-old,who grew up in Oxford, is the only British woman to have won an Olympic windsurfing
OXFORDSHIRE donors have helped boost blood stocks by a third ahead of the Olympic Games. There were fears donations would fall this summer due to a “perfect storm” of events, including the European football championships, Diamond Jubilee and Olympics
SWIMMERS were warned last night they risk their lives if they jump from river bridges. Hot weather has seen some people plunge into the Thames to cool off. But two months ago Hussain Mohammed jumped from Donnington Bridge with tragic consequences
CITY council staff have received bonuses totalling more than £340,000 after hitting a £4.2 million savings target. The authority has given more than 1,000 of its 1,200-strong staff a “partnership payment” of up to £416 each for their help in reducing
The newest member of Oxford United’s coaching staff has set his sights on making the squad the “fittest, fastest and strongest” in the division. Alasdair Lane has been brought in this summer as United’s full-time strength and conditioning coach to
A CHARITY railway centre will open tomorrow without one of its historic train carriages after it was destroyed in a suspected arson attack. About 45 firefighters from eight stations battled the blaze at the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway
Oxfordshire awoke yesterday morning to a cacophony of clanging bells, marking the 12 hour countdown to the official opening of the 2012 Olympics. Church bells rang out, motorists honked their horns, cyclists tinkled and hand bells shook across
Passengers on the Oxford Tube bus service to London faced delays because of Olympic traffic yesterday. Tube drivers reported changes to traffic light phasing, favouring traffic on routes from the Park Lane area, where Olympic officials are staying
THE spectacular ceremony to kick off London 2012 culminated with a young Oxford rower lighting the Olympic Cauldron. Oxford’s Cameron MacRitchie was chosen by Sir Steve Redgrave to be one of seven young athletes to light the cauldron in the centre
LEMURS were lapping up ice lollies as summer finally arrived. Chris Kibbey, head of primates at Cotswold Wildlife Park, said: “It is important to ensure our animals don’t overheat. As well as providing them with plenty of shade and making sure
A woman seriously hurt in a crash on the Northern Bypass in Oxford earlier this week was yesterday in a stable condition in hospital. The woman was travelling in a red Fiesta Zetec when the car left the road and hit a power box at about 7.50am
Richard and Peter Chambers want to make history for more than just family reasons when they begin their London 2012 campaign today. The past and present Oxford Brookes University students will become Britain’s first brothers to row in the Olympics
A WASTE firm has been awarded the £275m contract to build and operate an incinerator at Calvert. FCC Environment, formerly Waste Recycling Group, has waste sites across the country including a landfill and recycling centre near Witney. FCC
AS the skyline at Oxford’s Radcliffe Observatory Quarter gradually changes, artist Weimin He is there to capture each significant alteration. The 48-year-old is employed by Oxford University to sketch building work taking place at the site off
EVERY August for the past 60 years, a group of men have come together in a ferocious battle between Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Eight people from Tiddington, near Thame, take part in a tug o’ war competition with their counterparts in nearby
Seacoast United Phantoms 1 Oxford United 1 OXFORD United extended their unbeaten run in pre-season to four games, but had to settle for a draw after conceding late on against Seacoast United Phantoms. The U’s were utterly dominant in the opening
