WORK to start building the first phase of Bicester’s 5,000-home eco town has been delayed for a third time. Developer A2Dominion which has planning approval to build 393 eco homes, a pub, business centre and shops, confirmed it now hoped to start
THE Church of England’s longest-serving vicar has celebrated a career spanning six decades. The Rev James Cocke marked the 60th anniversary of his ordination at an event attended by the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Rowan Williams.
The Feathered Nest Country Inn has been named tourism pub of the year by VisitEngland. The pub, in Nether Westcote near Burford, won the accolade at the national awards for excellence. It also won gold at Tourism South East’s Beautiful South
A deadline for bids to bring faster broadband to rural Oxfordshire has been extended. Organisations which want to receive cash from the Rural Community Broadband Fund to extend fast services to more rural areas now have until June 17 to apply.
TWO weeks and more than 200 miles after they set off, two riders have completed a Civil War-themed odyssey across England. Dianne Godfrey, 64, right, and her 52-year-old sister Jo Morgan wore full period costume as they travelled from a battle
DRUG-dealing and anti-social behaviour are rife under Blackbird Leys railway bridge, fed-up residents living nearby have said. A rough, litter-strewn path has been trodden under Blackbird Leys Road, alongside the railway line, allowing access between
A TEENAGE girl told police she was raped in Headington. Police have this afternoon appealed for witnesses after the incident. Officers said shortly before 9pm last Tuesday, a 17-year-old girl was allegedly approached by a man in an alleyway
ORGANISERS of a Standlake Primary School reunion are trying to find more pupils from the class of 1960. So far 50 former pupils have signed up to attend the reunion at the school on June 29 from 11am to 1pm. Earlier this year, the Oxford Mail
THIS cat was more than just a best friend. For a 13-year-old boy from Stanford in the Vale, unable to leave his house because of a rare medical condition, his moggie Midnight was his lifeline. Now, the cat’s disappearance has sparked a village-wide
A WEST Oxfordshire farmer is proving that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. For a second year, James Price, 34, has been using fertiliser made from West Oxfordshire residents’ food waste on his crops. He buys nutrient-rich “digestate
SPENDING more than £100,000 on allowing the Olympic Torch to pass through Oxford last summer was “great value for money”, council leader Bob Price said. He said the event attracted thousands of people and has led to a huge uptake in sports.
THE county’s libraries are looking for volunteers to encourage children to read over the summer holidays. Oxfordshire County Council needs as many helpers as possible to support the Summer Reading Challenge – a scheme that encourages children to
THAME Town secured their first win of the season in a thrilling finish to their Cherwell League Division 1 match at Buckingham Town. The visitors put themselves in command through Matt Higgs (5-26) and Sam Lachlan (4-46) as Buckingham were rolled over
AN unusual combination of Daleks and dancing helped revellers celebrate 60 years of Bicester’s Highfield Social Club. The club, in George Street, celebrated its diamond anniversary over the weekend, with a Doctor Who convention and Dalek show,
VISITORS made a splash when Oxford Canoe and Kayak Club opened its gates to the public. The club held an open day on Saturday, and newcomers flocked to its base beside Donnington Bridge, Oxford on the Thames. Club member Matthew Webb said:
COUNCIL and university officials have defended an all-expenses-paid trip to Switzerland for city planners assessing the controversial Blavatnik School of Government scheme. It comes after a freedom of information request confirmed Oxford City Council
Greene King ODDA PAUL Oakley produced an amazing three ton-plus finishes in one match, but could not prevent his Cowley Workers side losing 5-4 at home to league newcomers Izi Bar in a remarkable Premier & Section 1 contest. Oakley’s stunning
A fire at Raymond Blanc’s flagship restaurant Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons did not affect guests, bosses said. Firefighters were called to the two Michelin-starred restaurant and hotel in Church Road at 12.54am yesterday. Crews reported a small
GRAHAM Flower rode his luck with an unbeaten 63 as Cumnor 2nd recorded their first win of the season with an eight-wicket demolition of Abingdon Vale 2nd in Division 5 of the Cherwell League. The visitors were all out for just 126 against Gus Shrimpton
A woman was cut free after a four-car crash on the A34 near Weston-on-the-Green. Paramedics, police and firefighters were called after the smash at about 12.30pm yesterday. The southbound carriageway was partially blocked for several hours
A POTHOLE in Kidlington which is forcing drivers to swerve into the middle of the road has still not been repaired despite weeks of complaints. The defect in Bicester Road was reported to highways chiefs on April 5, but the only response so far
DAN Swindells’s magnificent 133 not out propelled Witney Mills to an astonishing one-wicket home win over previously unbeaten East Oxford in Cherwell League Division 4. The visitors made 225 all out from 47.3 overs, Ali Shah hitting 39 and Mursaleen
OXFORD Downs 2nd seamer Steve Roberts ripped through Long Marston to take 8-39 and reduce the hosts to 174 all out. Stephen Moss (57) starred for Marston, but Roberts’s efforts proved in vain as Downs crumbled to 120 all out against Philip Jackson (
MARK Strong took 5-39 and Zia Hamed 3-40 to help Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts overcome Aston Rowant 2nd by the narrowest of margins in Division 3 of the Cherwell League. Nondies were defending 147, of which Pablo Mukherjee contributed 50, while
COUNTY council workers in Whitehouse Road, Oxford, can’t blame their bosses for the potholes pictured right as maintenance falls to Oxford City Council. While the county council is responsible for the vast majority of Oxfordshire roads, the city
WITNEY Swifts 2nd captain Josh Grant marked his 21st birthday in style, his century helping his side to a 148-run victory at Minster Lovell 3rd in Division 9 of the OCA League. Grant smashed 109 and youngster 15-year-old Redd Pratley 76 in Swifts’ 247
Oxford United’s Wayne Brown is running a camp for young goalkeepers tomorrow. The session, which will be taken by the U’s goalkeeping coach, is aimed at children aged 7-16 of any ability. It is being held at the club’s training ground at Roman
Kingstone Press Championship One OXFORD RL were edged out 40-34 in a pulsating clash with London Skolars at New River Stadium. The visitors came off worse in a match that featured 13 tries and saw Oxford’s Brett Robinson and Skolars’ James
OXFORD RL head coach Tony Benson was left frustrated by their high-scoring defeat at London Skolars. Benson’s men have now lost three close enounters this season to go alongside three victories. He said “It was another game we should have won
OXFORDSHIRE County Council has admitted it is struggling to always meet its 28-day pothole repair target, due to the number of damaged roads being reported. In a spot survey, the Oxford Mail found six of the 10 defects reported by us to Oxfordshire
To their great credit, Far From The Madding Crowd ‘B’ (Oxford City) posted two victories during the recently completed winter season, their first. Last Thursday, they should have opened their account for the summer campaign as they had defending
It’s the sort of thing that only happens to other people – I’ve become a MAMIL. I didn’t even know what a MAMIL was until months after the term had done the rounds of the internet chat forums. Middle Aged Man In Lycra. That’s me. Or is it?
Please can someone explain to me why we have to pay a booking fee at the Playhouse each time we buy a ticket? If we buy a ticket and go straight into the theatre what is the booking fee for? Is it to avoid paying tax? If the extra money
There is an ongoing reluctance by Oxfordshire County Council to repair and make good the severely damaged London Road in Headington. Apparently, it is investigating the possibility of expanding this road and does not intend repairing it until decisions
Oxford City triple jumper Nathan Douglas (pictured) continued his comeback from injury with victory at the Bedford International Games. Douglas, 31, triumphed with a leap of 16.53m – 17cm ahead of second-placed Julian Reid (Birchfield Harriers)
Oxfordshire were knocked out of the MCCA Trophy last night after Cornwall beat Bedfordshire by 56 runs. That result saw Cornwall leapfrog Oxon and take the second qualifying spot in Group 1. Oxfordshire’s hopes had been left hanging by a thread
ENGINEER Michael Powell, 68, is to put in a claim for compensation from the county council for damage to his Mercedes 270. He said he was left with a £170 bill after a suspension spring snapped when he hit a pothole in Denchworth Road, Grove, on May
THE EU is vital for our environment. Within the last weeks David Cameron has only published legislation on an EU referendum because of agitation by his own unruly backbenchers but, ultimately, it is right to give people a say on our membership
AT times we all make mistakes, either personally or on behalf of an organisation. Sudden decisions are more vulnerable. For example, a police officer often has to decide instantly whether to make an arrest or not. Later, with time to review
CUMNOR confirmed their status as favourites to win Cherwell League Division 2 when they swept to an easy win at Abingdon Vale on Saturday. Their 43-run victory was even more comfortable than the scoreline suggests, as Vale never looked like coming close
Police are appealing for help in tracing a dark-coloured car seen after a burglary at a bank. The break-in happened in the early hours at the Barclays branch in Milton Park, near Didcot, but nothing was taken. Officers are urging anyone who
FIREFIGHTERS last night warned emergencies should be reported by calling 999 – and not by emailing the control room. It came after a passer-by reported a fire in a row of garages by sending an email to Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. The
A COLD winter brought a ‘shameful’ rise in deaths across Oxfordshire, Age UK Oxfordshire has claimed. The Oxfordshire register for births and deaths recorded 1,460 deaths in the county from January to March this year. The figure is up by 146
CONGRATULATIONS to 11-year-old Yasmeen Khan. The St Andrew’s Primary School pupil managed to whizz through 202 books in just nine weeks. Now her impressive reading skills have earned her a much-deserved award. What a role model for all those
Eddie Pepperell has followed his stellar performance at Wentworth by qualifying for next month’s US Open. The 22-year-old enjoyed the best tournament of his career with a tie for sixth place at the BMW PGA Championship on Sunday. Then yesterday
FOR some schoolchildren it can be a struggle to get through one book. But 11-year-old bookworm Yasmeen Khan breezed through up to six books a day as part of a challenge that saw her clocking up an impressive 202 books in just nine weeks. The
ADAM Tucker plundered a sensational 172 not out as Shrivenham had a field day at Hook Norton in Division 1 of the OCA League on Saturday. Tucker’s huge knock was backed up by Conor Taylor’s magnificent 132 as Shrivenham amassed 368-2 from their 45 overs
A FAMILY with a disabled son has relived the terrifying night they were attacked in their Oxford home. George Mackenzie, 52, from Priors Forge in Cutteslowe, has told how three teenagers forced their way into his house, punched him repeatedly in
PARENTS say they are worried about their children playing outside alone following an attempted abduction in Oxford. A young boy was playing outside in Overbrook Gardens, in Blackbird Leys, when he was approached by a man at about 11.45am on Sunday
An inquest is due to open today into the death of a pensioner in a crash near Benson on Saturday. The pensioner, 86-year-old Geoffrey Catliff, from Berrick Salome, near Benson, died after his Vauxhall Corsa was involved in a collision with a lorry
Part of a dual carriageway was closed yesterday after trees knocked down a power line. Initially the right-hand lane of the eastbound A40 was closed from 1.40pm near its junction with the B4027, near Wheatley. The whole carriageway was then closed
A COCKTAIL of potentially lethal chemicals burned a cleaner after he poured a mixture of cleaning products into a sink. Hazard teams were called to Ivy Lane in Oxford at 2.42pm yesterday to deal with the incident. A resident had attempted
POLITICIANS trying to manage the issue of potholes must feel like they are walking through a metaphorical minefield. The problem is, in some cases, the road ahead actually looks like one too. So when the county council launched its new “report
An article in Saturday’s Oxford Mail said Abingdon’s annual family fun day was due to take place that day. The popular Fun in the Park event in the Abbey Grounds is this coming Saturday. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
A crash between a car and a motorbike caused delays for drivers yesterday morning. The smash, happened on the A44 near the Pear Tree Roundabout, North Oxford, at about 10.30am. No-one is believed to have suffered serious injuries.
AFTER years of delays, work is finally due to start on Bicester’s £5m community hospital within a fortnight. A groundbreaking ceremony for the long-awaited development has been set for Friday, June 7. It will mark the official start of construction
A book of condolence for slain soldier Drummer Lee Rigby has been set up at a church in the village. Anyone can leave a message of condolence to Drummer Rigby at St John’s Rooms at St John the Baptist Church. Drummer Rigby was killed last Wednesday
TREES and shrubs have been planted in a busy Oxford alleyway to make it more pleasant for residents. The footpath between Havelock Road and Maidcroft Road that leads to Cowley Centre was known for graffiti and antisocial behaviour, but has been
A WEST Oxfordshire secondary school has won £1.2m of Government cash to improve lighting and insulation across its buildings. Burford School, in Cheltenham Road, Burford, will spend half the cash installing energy-efficient lighting to 75 per cent
A DISCOUNT store had a visit from a children’s television presenter as part of a fun day to raise money for the charity Cancer Research UK. Staff at Family Bargains in Limborough Road, Wantage, donned a range of silly costumes and took part in
For many years the people of Oxford have been waiting for the redevel-opment of the Westgate Centre. Now, at last, it seems work might actually start. Oxford City Council’s David Edwards outlines the proposal – a massive new car park with 1,100
