OXFORD Carly Billingham, 22, of Lakefield Road, Littlemore, Oxford, admitted stealing four cheques worth £1,400 in Oxfordshire on December 20, 2010. Given 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and told to pay £85 costs. Gary Buckel
FOR more than 30 years an action group has campaigned for the rights of pensioners across Oxfordshire. But facing a dwindling number of members and nobody to take on the role of secretary the Oxfordshire Pensioners’ Action Group (OPAG) is at risk
AN OUTDOOR production of Shakespeare’s Henry V is waiting in the wings at Oxford Castle. Oxford-based Creation Theatre’s production runs from August 17 to September 14 at Oxford Castle Unlocked’s courtyard. And the theatre company is keeping
AFTER a battle between two councils spanning more than a decade, this summer could spell the end for an empty housing block branded an “eyesore” Oxfordshire County Council, which owns Marywood House in Wood Farm, Oxford, has revealed it will soon
A DRUNKEN man who waved a large kitchen knife in a street fight in Oxford has been spared a prison sentence. Martin East, 26, of Weyland Road, Headington, was arrested after being seen in the street near his house with the weapon on the evening
Sir – As I was the object of criticism in three letters last week, I would like to claim the right of reply. Much of the tirade against me concerned my choice of modern buildings which I commended as respecting their situations. I agree that
Sir – Dr Alan Russell (Letters, April 25) cannot have been present at the Congregation debate in 1985. There was no ‘shrill hatred’ of Margaret Thatcher. Only sadness that such a brilliant woman and undoubtedly great politician could nevertheless
Sir – Both Christopher Gray (Gray Matter, April 11) and Chris Koenig (The History Man, April 18) seem to think the only reasons why Oxford University’s Congregation, by a large majority, voted down the Hebdomadal Council’s proposed honorary DCL to
Sir – Mrs Thatcher’s death reminds us of many things, including the damage she did to our countryside and villages, as well as her achievements. Consider just one action — the sale of council houses. Council houses were built — sometimes in awkward
Sir – With the row over the Port Meadow blocks still unresolved, the Magnet proposal looks like being Oxford’s next major planning controversy. Exciting as the idea of a science discovery centre might be, the site at the corner of New Road and
SADDLE SORE but determined, father-of-four Andrew Bacon is hoping he’ll stay the course in the upcoming Pink Ribbonride. Mr Bacon from Stonesfield near Witney has signed up for the 26-mile route of the Pink Ribbonride, which takes place on May
Sir – I would like to thank your correspondent Mr Beckingham (Letters, April 18) for allowing me the opportunity to clarify my views on the Carterton East development. I fully understand that the residents of Brize Norton are strongly against this
Sir – If a Timelord were able to whisk the whole of the University of Oxford, and its colleges, to say Swindon, there would be no views left in the city worth preserving. If the many groups now objecting to anything that the current University
Sir – Your correspondent, Nigel Clarke, (Letters, April 25) suggests that the tower of St Barnabas (1869) is not exactly a dreaming spire. It is not, and moreover, Matthew Arnold was using this phrase in 1865, before some of our familiar spires
Sir – Roger Moreton (Letters, April 18) reassures visitors that they will 'scarcely notice the new flats', when walking on Port Meadow from the Walton Well Road approach. Unless he — and others — continue in the same direction and leave the meadow
Sir – Before steaming ahead irrevocably with developing our landscape to solve our ‘housing crisis’, we must stand back. The UK houses one per cent of the world’s population, on only 0.05 per cent of the land, so we are 20 times more densely populated
Sir – Oxford had one of the loveliest and liveliest covered markets in England. Now it is rather chilling to walk into the Market from the Golden Cross, past the three large shops that have been left empty. The first entrance off the High sports another
Sir – I read with interest your story last week about the micro-hydro project that is to be built at Osney Lock. I also read it with concern, as every angler and naturalist who lives along the length of the Thames, knows these micro-hydro projects
Sir – For my citizenship project, I had to choose a charity and create a campaign and raise awareness. Because I wanted to try and make a difference closer to home, I chose a local charity called The Oxford Food Bank. The Oxford Food Bank is
Sir – Do we pay rates in vain towards local road mending? Repair and inspection is abysmal, bordering on the lazy. I was even told that markings around holes to be mended had worn off before work began. This was not rectified, so holes were left
During a visit to Oxfordshire this week the Education Secretary pondered the pace of reform and how to respond when policy did not appear to be working at every school. Michael Gove, touring schools in Abingdon in the week of the county council
STAFF at Frank Cooper Ltd worked hard making marmalade and preserves, but also enjoyed a varied social life. This picture, sent in by Stuart Hickman, of Curtis Avenue, Abingdon, shows staff on a coach outing. Mr Hickman’s parents, Mary and
CHARITIES helped by the Oxford Mail have spoken of the importance of local media as we launch a campaign to shape the paper’s future. Later this month we will hold a series of focus groups for you to tell us what you like, what you dislike and
MAY celebrations have been part of Oxfordshire life for many years, as these pictures from the Oxford Mail archives show. Many schools had a tradition of electing a May Queen and encouraging pupils to dance around the maypole. East Oxford School
PUPILS at the village primary school presented two nights of Victorian music hall in 1973. Boys appeared in colourful waistcoats and high collars and with sideburns and moustaches, and the girls in long dresses and large hats. In the picture immediately
DERRICK Holt remembers the 100-year-old Scout hall at New Marston, Oxford, as a classroom and as the wartime headquarters of air raid wardens. Born in James Street, East Oxford, he moved with his family to Ferry Road, in 1927, the same year that
THESE were some of the top dancers in Oxford. They were members of the Michael and Ann School of Dancing in Oxford and took part in a Latin American and ballroom dancing contest in 1964. The world Latin American dancing champions, Laird and
THOSE who lost their lives in the two world wars were honoured at a Turning the Pages ceremony in Oxford. The names of 20 men from the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars were read out from the
EFFORTS to create a skate park in Oxford began 25 years ago. There was the a 12-year campaign by the Oxford Wheels Project to provide better facilities than the wooden ramps at Meadow Lane, in East Oxford. Now the vision has become a reality
THE repatriation of three soldiers killed when a bomb hit their Mastiff armoured vehicle in Afghanistan last Tuesday will take place on Thursday. The bodies of Corporal William Savage and Fusilier Samuel Flint, of 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment
FORMER Conservative cabinet member Jonathan Aitken will address the Oxford Union tomorrow. Mr Aitken will speak at the historic debating society at 5pm. In 1999 he was convicted of perjury and perverting the course of justice and was handed
CRICKET MINOR COUNTIES CRICKET ASSOCIATION TROPHY Group 1: Bedfordshire 262-6 (50 ovs, S Stubbings 94, R Keogh 60, A Reynoldson 50no), Oxfordshire 266-9 (49.4 ovs, L Sabin 80, R Kaufman 68, R Keogh 3-29, A Reynoldson 3-47). ECB WOMEN’S
Lyn Jones said London Welsh’s first bonus-point victory of the season had been well-earned. The Exiles’ head coach had called for a final push against Worcester and got what he asked for in a 33-22 win. “We are delighted to finish the season
London Welsh 33, Worcester 22 If this was to be London Welsh’s Oxford swansong, they at least gave their supporters plenty to cheer at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday. The Exiles scored four tries, earning their first bonus-point victory of
IT’S taken two of us two weekends, slaving from dawn-to-dusk like frontier pioneers with hammers, tacks and a powerful electric screwdriver, and we now have a wooden edifice in the back garden of which we’re rather proud. The packaging boasted
I’m sorry, but I really must take issue with Frankie George (ViewPoints, May 1). Where does Frankie live? First off, road safety has nothing whatsoever to do with footprints, carbon or any other kind. His comment ‘yes there are a few rogues
THE Government has rolled out Universal Credit Benefit on trial in Ashton-under-Lyme in the North West. It wants everyone to be ‘online’ computer-wise. The problem is that there are five-million people in the country who are not online. Some
Gordon Ross said London Welsh’s final day 33-22 victory over Worcester was a fitting reward for their Aviva Premiership season. Although relegated, Welsh contributed much in their debut top-flight campaign, winning five matches and going close
I ate a beetroot salad last Wednesday. Not perhaps something to write about; after all, what’s exciting about beetroot? But that’s not the way my stomach felt. Indeed, as far as my internal organs were concerned, I might just as well have swallowed
SINCE the passing of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the media has been a frenzy of diverse opinions of her morals, values, policies and of her actions taken. The most interesting anecdote I heard was told by the BBC presenter Andrew Neil
The passing of Baroness Thatcher has certainly sparked off praise and also invited disparaging comments of her years as head of government. Councillor David Williams summed up her term as the Prime Minster who started the self-interested society
Having given a respectable time for her family to deal with their sad loss, I now feel that some truth can be penned about the Thatcher legacy. It stands as a text book to show how not to behave in public office at any level of politics. The
AS A dog walker, I am now wondering if it is time to completely stop the production of all glass bottles and jars. Nine out of 10 of the walks I have done, even those across open fields (obviously sticking to designated footpaths) have been either
LUKE Ryan steered Oxfordshire to a nerve-jangling one-wicket victory over Bedfordshire at Bicester & North Oxford yesterday. Oxon’s captain hit the winning runs with two balls to spare as his side stumbled over the finish line in this Group
GORDON Ross urged London Welsh to keep hold of head coach Lyn Jones as they seek a return to the Premiership. The experienced former Scotland international was in no doubt as to the best ‘signing’ his club could make in the close season. Asked
OXFORD United will be represented by manager Chris Wilder and several players at a benefit match for Mitchell Cole tomorrow. Jake Wright, Alfie Potter, Damian Batt and Harry Worley are all due to attend the game between a Stevenage XI and a Mitchell
ARMED police were called out after reports that a man was carrying a gun in Bicester town centre. Thames Valley Police spokesman Lucy Billen said that it turned out to be a false alarm. Officers were ordered to investigate reports that a man
OOHs and aahs filled the air as classic planes swooped through the sunny skies over Abingdon yesterday. Thousands basked in glorious weather as Dalton Barracks hosted the annual Abingdon Air and Country Show. Many had turned out specially to
PLANS to redevelop three Oxford community centres by building more than 100 homes on the sites have been supported by council planning officers. They have recommended Oxford City Council members approve the plans for Cowley and Northway. Grand
HEAD coach Lyn Jones has strongly hinted he would leave London Welsh if they do not stay in Oxford. Welsh ended their one-year Aviva Premiership stay with a 33-22 win over Worcester Warriors at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday. The board – none
OXFORDSHIRE'S top hospital boss got a £32,500 bonus last year, a newspaper reported yesterday. The Sunday Times said Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust chief executive Sir Jonathan Michael got the payment on top of his £217,000 salary in 2011
The A34, which snakes its way through the Oxfordshire countryside, is a motorway in all but name and construction. Connecting the South Coast to the Midlands and beyond, it takes a thundering 79,000 vehicles a day. Most towns and villages along
THE A34 has been branded “one of the worst roads in the country” as it’s revealed more than 1,800 collisions on the Oxfordshire stretch have claimed 56 lives over almost two decades and left thousands injured. Records dating back more than 30 years
THE Conservatives are set to stay in charge at County Hall after Labour refused to form an administration. The Tories lost their majority on Oxfordshire County Council on Friday after taking 31 of the 63 seats in Thursday's elections. Labour
WELL done Preston Likely for doing what onlookers seemed incapable of when a toddler climbed on to a hotel roof. The 42-year-old scrambled up a drainpipe to save the two-year-old until fire crews arrived. His bravery secured the child’s safety
THIS dramatic picture shows a heroic man saving a toddler who had climbed on to the roof of an Oxford hotel. Preston Likely, 42, shimmied up a drainpipe after the two-year-old climbed a ladder on to the roof at the Tree Hotel, Iffley, at about
EVEN more young people will be able to reap the benefits of a Witney theatre company as it expands to neighbouring areas. To mark its eighth anniversary, Abdabs Youth Theatre is launching groups in Carterton and potentially Eynsham. Founder
ELDERLY residents and staff at a care home were thrilled to listen to their charity single, which will raise funds for Contact the Elderly. Ferendune Court care home staff members Mark Nutt and Vanessa Pryor recorded the song, called See Yourself
PRIME Minister David Cameron spoke movingly about his son Ivan, who died in 2009 from a rare disease, as he launched a new £90m initiative in Oxford that could revolutionise drug treatments. He attended the opening on Friday of the Li Ka Shing
NEW housing at RAF Brize Norton will help bring families coping with husbands or wives serving overseas closer together. Prime Minster and Witney MP David Cameron visited the 42 homes, which were completed last month, to meet the first residents
