A CONSULTATION event will be held tomorrow on Tesco’s plans for a major new warehouse near Didcot. It wants to open a centre to distribute goods ordered online at Milton Hill, between Abingdon Road and Featherbed Lane, west of the town, creating
A JUDGE praised a former thief and drug addict for making “wonderful” progress and staying out of trouble. Judge Mary Jane Mowat said the probation report on Paul Arnold, 37, was one of the finest she had seen. He admitted stealing a handbag
ONE in five visits by care staff to the elderly and frail is for 15 minutes or less in Oxfordshire – about double the national average. Questions were being raised last night about whether the home visits were long enough to provide the proper
JURORS have been reminded of the evidence of a young woman who told the Old Bailey she had been raped and violently sexually abused from the age of 11. Summing up the Oxford child sex exploitation trial for a fourth day, Judge Peter Rook this morning
FAMILIES a got a once-in-a-year opportunity to walk amongst rare and beautiful flowers in West Oxfordshire. Fritillary Sunday took place at St Bartholomew’s Church in Ducklington over the weekend and attracted about 1,400 people. The event,
HUNDREDS of staff and students are planning to give a pint of blood in memory of a “cheeky” young man “with a big smile”. Family and friends of Liam Treacy, 18, of Fritwell, near Bicester, were left devastated when he was killed in a road accident
TIMES have certainly changed since Roger and Margaret Belson first stood together at the altar of Dorchester Abbey. They were married on June 11, 1955, and on Sunday the couple, of Rumbolds Close, Benson, Wallingford, renewed their vows after almost
A DECISION is set to be made on a controversial Morrisons supermarket plan for Wallingford next month, as town councillors back the scheme. South Oxfordshire District Council’s planning committee will be asked to make a decision on the Hithercroft
PRIZE pets vied to be the top dogs at a fun show at SS Mary and John Primary School in Meadow Lane, Oxford. Bank Holiday Monday’s event was organised by the Friends of Aston’s Eyot and around 200 people came to take part in classes and show off
THREE soldiers killed when a bomb hit their armoured vehicle in Afghanistan will be returned to Oxfordshire tomorrow. The bodies of Corporal William Savage, 30, and Fusilier Samuel Flint, 21, both of 2nd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland
It is my job to express an opinion. I think it’s great to be opinionated, to have likes and dislikes. I often ask for one too. I get friends and colleagues to critique this column. It’s mostly good, but recently I have got some flak for the ‘date
FROM marmalade-making to trampolining, Jane Stillwell’s Artweeks Taster exhibition is a light-hearted, sometimes off-the-wall look at what inspires some of the artists taking part in this year’s Artweeks festival. Mrs Stillwell, from Great Rollright
Adam Philip scored the winner as Slade Farm United completed a four-trophy haul with a 2-1 comeback win over Bishops Itchington in the Banbury Charity Cup final at Easington Sports. Watched by a Bank Holiday crowd of around 120, Slade went behind
ROSEMARY Alexander was just 42 with three young children when doctors told her she had breast cancer. Now she is taking part in Saturday’s Pink Ribbonwalk fundraiser at Blenheim Palace to show the disease can and must be beaten. Mrs Alexander
FORMER Witney RFC and Oxford Cavaliers RL prop Darrell Griffin has joined Salford City Reds from Leeds. Griffin, 31, has been on loan for two months and agreed a three-and-a-half-year deal.
The Local Enterprise Partnership has appointed a new chief executive. Nigel Tipple has been chief executive of the Camborne Pool Redruth Urban Regeneration Company in Cornwall for the past six years. He will join the LEP on June 1.
The trial of a family accused of cruelty at the animal sanctuary they ran is due to continue at Bicester Magistrates’ Court today. Angela Russell, 44, her father, brother, three children, niece and carer all deny 16 charges of animal welfare offences
Trading standards are warning people to be on the lookout for fake Wonka chocolate bars containing bogus golden tickets, like those in Roald Dahl’s Charlie and Chocolate Factory, after one was sold in an Oxford shop. Terri Bonham, an Oxfordshire
BRITAIN’S Ambassador to Indonesia has been summoned by the country’s government to explain why a separatist group has opened an office in Oxford. Mark Canning met Marty Natalegawa, the Indonesian minister of foreign affairs, who expressed “strong
THE Witney Music Festival bowed out with a bang on bank holiday Monday and promised to be back even bigger next year. Thousands of people descended on the town for a week of free performances which culminated with shows at Marriott’s Walk and Cogges
Joe Bandrowski clanged off a sensational 16 dolls (4-6-6) for Masons Arms B as they demolished Pheasant Inn 3-0 in Section 5 of the Greene King Oxford & District League, writes ANDY BEAL. It is very rare for someone to hit a double sixer outside
HEALTH officials have admitted a ban on smoking at Oxfordshire’s hospitals has failed to stub out the problem. They are reviewing the situation as a “matter of urgency” after receiving complaints about staff and other people lighting up, despite
Ben Foster netted a double as Bletchingdon strolled to a 3-0 win at Adderbury Park in the Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division. Mark Gaul gave the third-placed visitors a first-half lead which was doubled by Foster’s first goal though there
Stonesfield lifted the Oxfordshire Senior League President’s Cup for the second time, following a 2-0 victory against Oakley United at Abingdon Town on Bank Holiday Monday. It was doubly sweet for boss Marc Jordon, in his first season at the helm
YOUTH FOOTBALL TOWER Hill secured an Oxfordshire FA Youth Cup double after taking the under 14 title. Having already won the under 16 cup with a 2-1 victory over Oxford Blackbirds, Tower’s under 14s saw off Oxford City on penalties. The
SCHOOLS' FOOTBALL OXFORDSHIRE Under 16s were pipped 2-1 by Somerset in the South West Counties competition semi-final at Clevedon Town. Somerset looked the better side in a goalless first half, and they took the lead soon after the break when
Barriers on a train crossing which was the scene of a fatal accident earlier this year failed yesterday. The barriers at Yarnton had to be controlled from the trackside after they were damaged at 2.40pm after getting caught by a van ladder. Engineers
Jewellery and electrical items were stolen from a property in High Street, Upton, after burglars gained entry through a window between 9.30am and 11am last Thursday. Anyone with any information can contact the police on 101 or call Crimestoppers
THAMES Water customers are being consulted on whether they would like to have a water meter installed in their homes. The company has announced plans to install another 500,000 water meters, increasing the proportion of homes with a meter from
Spandau Ballet singer Tony Hadley will feature at the opening ceremony of the town’s Music in the Park in Elms Park at noon on Sunday, although he is not due to sing. The event will feature eight hours of entertainment, combined with real ale tents
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL OXFORD United Ladies boosted their South West Combination title hopes with a 2-1 home victory over Keynsham Town. The result means Oxford will be champions if they win their remaining matches. Two headed goals from leading
A NEW wetlands centre will be created at an Oxfordshire lake which campaigners fought to save from being filled with waste ash. The Earth Trust, which manages the Radley Lakes site, has been given planning permission for the new £750,000 centre
JOE Heffernan’s long-range effort gave Childrey Youth a 1-0 victory over Oxford City in the Under 15 League Cup final at Wantage Town. A tight game was settled by Heffernan’s fine second-half strike as the A League basement side celebrated victory
OXFORD United are expecting Adam Chapman to leave this summer by turning his loan at Mansfield Town into a permanent move. The 23-year-old midfielder played 11 games, scoring four times, after moving in March to help the Stags win the Blue Square
DANCERS dressed in ball gowns to rehearse dramatic woodland art in Christ Church Meadow. The artistic endeavour due for World Environment Day on June 5, heralds the joys of nature and aims to make people stop and think about the world around them
I wonder if the readers of the Oxford Mail are aware that the UK still exports live animals. Animals exported live to the continent endure hours tightly crammed into hot lorries, often with little access to food or water. The journey can often
IT IS now clear that the major political parties have no sense of urgency, nor the ability to deal with the impending ecological crisis and seem to be able to ignore all graphic illustrations of the sad deterioration of the natural world. Fisheries
THE swimming season has just started at Hinksey Pools and, weather permitting, many people will be expecting to visit and use this popular venue. One would think that some form of priority should have been given to the toilet facilities within the
IT IS regrettable that Michael Clarke wishes to close down efforts to question and try to encourage negotiations to reverse the current despicable decline of democracy in standards applied in local planning. In his letter (Put planning issue to
WE welcome the lively debate taking place in the pages of your newspaper about our proposed building. We believe it is a beautiful, well-considered building but we respect the views of those who disagree. We have made strenuous efforts to be
UKIP successes have led Ed Miliband to make three major speeches apologising for Labour’s immigration policy. Will he also apologise for Labour’s hidden policies which made the NHS ripe for privatisation? LARRY SANDERS Green Party Cllr (retiring
Forest Hill lifted the Alan Alder Memorial Trophy in just their second season in the Critchleys Upper Thames Valley League with a surprise 2-0 win over Rutherford Lab in the final at Abingdon Town, writes TIM SIRET. The underdogs outplayed their
A HIT-AND-RUN driver who dumped his car and fled on foot after a man was knocked down in Cowley Road was still at large last night. The victim, who is believed to be local and in his early 20s, was left with head injuries and is being treated in
WEST Oxford is losing another amenity. A few years ago, the Chinese takeaway was sold and the building reverted to a house. Then the doctors’ surgery went from West Oxford Community Centre. The Osney Arms pub has been closed and now the excellent
A collective noun for a group of clowns is apparently a “pratfall”. This is quite apt already but I’m writing to the Oxford English Dictionary to suggest a better one, a “Farage” of clowns. The images of Nigel on every news broadcast with a
They say that if you really want to spring clean properly you should pretend that you’re moving house. That’s the only way to properly motivate yourself to get rid of all your junk, paint all the bits that need it, clean, polish, declutter and
OXFORD MAIL GIRLS LEAGUE DIDCOT Casuals sealed the Under 12 League title after a 0-0 midweek draw at rivals Brackley Town. Casuals cannot be overtaken as Brackley have completed their programme. Molly Wiggins hammered a hat-trick as Kidlington
FC Hollybush clinched the Witney & District FA Division 3 crown with a 2-1 home win over title rivals Carterton Rangers, writes Anthony Barlow. Goals from Paul Dray and Dave Cooper’s lob made up Hollybush’s tally, with Carterton replying through
Long Wittenham Athletic, winners of the first North Berks Cup back in 1908, saw their name etched on to the trophy for a record 15th time, after a 3-2 comeback win over Didcot Casuals, writes PHIL ANNETS. A first-half Fletcher Hoey goal and Lawrence
The recent death of Margaret Thatcher brought to mind one of her longest lasting legacies which is the demise of the social housing stock. By that I mean housing stock owned by local authorities. Since the 19th Century, council houses were built
DRIVERS have been facing delays on Oxford’s Botley Road this morning after a coach broke down near the railway station bridge. The Jeffs coach single decker pulled over to the side of the road close to the junction with Roger Dudman Way. Traffic
Sir Alex Ferguson will retire as Manchester United manager at the end of the season. The 71-year-old has won 13 league titles and two European Cups during his 26 years in charge at Old Trafford. "The decision to retire is one that I have thought
MANAGERS were drafted in to fill gaps left by striking workers at Oxford’s main post office yesterday, according to union members. Members of the Communication Workers Union held a strike to protest against pay and the closure and franchising of
JENNY Hughes uses a leaf blower to change the expression on her face and entertain children at a science workshop. Ms Hughes, 29, from Wantage, runs Bright Sparks Science, based at Harwell Oxford innovation centre, which stages workshops for pupils
A broken-down transit van caused delays for commuters in yesterday morning’s rush hour. The van broke down in the nearside lane of the southbound A34 at the Peartree interchange just before 7.30am.
Actor Sir Ben Kingsley was due to visit a cinema last night to help raise funds to fulfil a nine-year-old’s dream. Daisy Pashley, who lives near Chipping Norton, lost the lower parts of her legs and arms after contracting meningitis and now hopes
OXFORD City Stars have turned down promotion because playing at a higher level next season would be too much too soon. Stars put together a stunning 14-game winning run to claim ice hockey’s English National League Division 2 South title last month
CHRIS Wilder was made the favourite to take over at Sheffield United by two bookmakers yesterday. The Oxford United boss was a 20-1 shot on Monday, but was cut as short as 1-10 with Bet Victor yesterday afternoon. Wilder, who accepted a new
A SCHEME to transform one of Oxford’s busiest roundabouts has been revealed. The £835,000 project will see all lanes approaching and leaving The Plain roundabout in East Oxford narrowed in an attempt to slow traffic and make conditions more cyclist-friendly
THERE will a howl of complaints about the changes planned for The Plain roundabout and they will come from car drivers. Oxfordshire County Council is looking at narrowing the busy eastern junction to make it safer for cyclists and encourage people
LIKE him or loathe him, Keith Mitchell makes some salient points in his online missive to David Cameron following last week’s local elections. The Conservative party lost overall control of Oxfordshire County Council and Labour even seized the
OXFORDSHIRE Artweeks is in full swing after the sun shone on a colourful launch. A circus parade and street band transformed Kennett Road, Headington into a cacophony of sound and colour to launch the month of creativity. Jazz band Horns of
DISABLED access to one of Oxford’s libraries may finally get under way four years after being given planning consent. Oxfordshire County Council attributed the delay to having to draw up a scheme acceptable to English Heritage, but the government
THEY are more used to hosing down burning buildings and rescuing people from dangerous situations. However, firefighters from Bicester Station, in Queens Avenue, turned their hands to car washing on Bank Holiday Monday. The team, with help from
The countdown is on for the greatest celebration of rock in the land - Reading Festival WITH the sun finally out, as well as the line-ups, thoughts are turning to the summer festival season. And none will fire the rock-lovers’ imagination quite
