THE Henry Box School’s governing body has announced that Wendy Hemmingsley will become the new headteacher. She is currently deputy headteacher at Gosford Hill School in Kidlington and will take over at the Witney secondary from September, replacing
COMMUNITY leaders have vowed to permanently clear up a drug-dealing, litter-strewn hotspot. The problem area under Blackbird Leys railway bridge has long blighted the lives of people living nearby. A makeshift path has been trodden alongside
OXFORD’S bus users campaign group has called for an integrated transport hub to avoid potential problems from plans to pedestrianise Queen Street. It comes after Oxfordshire County Council announced it wants to clear buses from the busy city centre
MUSEUM visitors got the chance to get up close to fossils during a special tour. The fossil specimens at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, found by two 19th century fossil collectors Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot, are not usually
Dominic Brown, 39, of Blay Close, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, admitted common assault in Leon Close, Oxford, on December 9. Also admitted committing a further offence while subject to a conditional discharge made on August 17 for theft. Community order
AN Oxfordshire couple celebrating 70 years of wedded bliss have given their secret to a long and happy marriage; a good row every so often. Yvonne and Bruce Balfour don’t worry about the odd argument, as clearing the air every now and then has
IT was lights out for a while this afternoon as an articulated lorry crashed into a lamppost as it pulled out on to Barns Road, Cowley. The driver appeared to be negotiating a fairly tight corner as he attempted to leave a loading area at the Templars
A MAN has been abused and assaulted in a suspected homophobic incident. The 29-year-old victim was kicked, punched and verbally abused by two men near Barclays Bank in Cornmarket Street, Oxford, at 1.38am on Tuesday. He engaged in conversation
FOR years, Jaguar has been firmly off limits for family motorists. If you wanted that dynamic leaping cat logo, it would either have to be on a saloon or sports car – neither of them likely to endear you to a tribe anxious to cram a car with camping
A light aircraft has landed safely at Oxford Airport after developing a problem with its landing gear. Firefighters were called to the airport near Kidlington at 11.52am today after receiving a mayday call from the aircraft. The plane, believed
A light aircraft is currently circling Oxford Airport after developing a problem with its landing gear. Firefighters were called to the airport near Kidlington at 11.52am today after a mayday from the aircraft. The aircraft, which is believed
TWO generations have come together to tell the story of Abingdon in a new book. Judy Stubley, 72, has written a children’s history of the town and 13-year-old Molly Padbury has illustrated it. Mrs Stubley, from Shippon, wrote Sixty Spooky,
A STREET is hoping to create a bit more community spirit out of its problems with vandalism. John Snow Place in Headington has set up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme to help residents tackle some of their problems with antisocial behaviour. Resident
BUSINESSES across Oxfordshire were surprised by a team armed with pot plants hoping to recruit school governors. National charity SSGOSS Governors for Schools launched a recruitment campaign aimed at filling some of the 111 community and foundation
Neil Ashcroft won Didcot Phoenix’s ten-mile club championship after an intensely fought race between the top four riders. Ashcroft won with a time of 22mins 14secs – just two seconds ahead of runner-up Steve Mead. A further two seconds back
WHEN Sir Tony Baldry first enterered parliament, Banbury and Bicester were sleepy market towns, and no-one had even dreamed of ‘Twitter’. But 30 years on, the North Oxfordshire MP is still taking all the changes in his stride, and Tweeting every
Luke O'Brien has turned down the chance to stay at Oxford United and signed a contract with Gateshead. The left back's short-term deal expired at the end of the season but was given a chance to stay on at the Kassam Stadium. O'Brien appreciated
WORK has started on a £300,000 project to create a new space for youngsters at a Witney church. The High Street Methodist Church has been fundraising to revamp its former school building at the rear of the church for two years. The project
Chloe Elliott produced a terrific display at the Aegon Grade 2 tournament in Queenswood School, Hertfordshire. Elliott, who trains at Abingdon’s White Horse Leisure & Tennis Centre, finished third in the nine and under competition – a national
Carterton, of Uhlsport Hellenic League Division 1 West, have named Mark Moss as their new manager. He replaces Martin Wilkinson who has taken over at Kidlington. Didcot Town host Oxford United on Wednesday, August 7 as part of new boss Andy
Henry Purdy helped England get off to a winning start in the Under 20 World Championship. The 19-year-old Leicester Tigers player, from Milton-under-Wychwood, came off the bench as England defeated hosts France. 30-6. Another replacement to
MEMORIES of a firefighter killed while he was out cycling will be in the minds of colleagues as they tackle a 450-mile ride to one of Oxford’s twin towns. A group of 16 cyclists and four support drivers from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service
ALASDAIR Donaldson is really not the ideal guide to his former Oxford college. Visiting New College with the much travelled barrister is a distinctly creepy experience – more than sufficient to put off any undergraduate from staying behind over
North Oxford's victorious team line up after winning Ladies Division 1 in the Oxfordshire Thames Valley Winter League for the fourth successive year. North, who won ten of their 13 matches, pipped Brackley by two points to retain their crown.
Former Olympic 400m runner Iwan Thomas will be just one of the competitors at the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Blenheim Triathlon this weekend. Thomas, still the British record-holder at the distance, competes in the male sprint which starts
Oxford City’s Paul Hardy maintained his lead in the race for the Beeline Division 1 Championship by beating nearest rival Oxonian’s club captain Gavin Tillson in the OCRC promoted Open 10 at Witney. Hardy finished in 23 mins 34 secs, with Tillson
Oxford's injured skipper Alex Thompson says his side must maintain their discipline when they host Rochdale Hornets at Iffley Road on Sunday (3pm). The hosts, who will be looking to keep up the good work after Sunday’s 27-22 win against Gateshead
RESIDENTS at one of Oxford’s tower blocks have been unable to use their lifts for four days. This means the 80-odd residents of the Northway tower have had to slog up and down the stairs since Monday. But Terry Gordon, 57, who lives on the
TELEVISION personality Kevin McCloud has been accused of trying to distance himself from an unpopular planning proposal in Oxford. The claims come after only two of the three proposals put forward by Haboakus – a joint venture between Mr McCloud
SATURDAY CRICKET SERIOUS CRICKET HOME COUNTIES PREMIER LEAGUE Div 1: Henley v Banbury. Div 2 West: Falkland v Oxford, Gerrards Cross v Aston Rowant, Great & Little Tew v Farnham Royal. CHERWELL LEAGUE Div 1: Banbury 2nd
North Oxford were on the end of a heavy defeat in their Aegon Team Tennis Regional Open Men’s clash against Maidenhead. Hosts North, lost 12-0 with Chris Brewster the only player to win a set in the South West East encounter. Jack Rooney was
Witney father and son Geoff and Joel Enoch are heading out to Turkey to compete in the European Triathlon Championships in Alanya. Former Wood Green School pupil Joel, 32, who took up triathlon in 2005 while at university, has represented GB at
A CYCLIST only suffered minor injuries after a collision involving a lorry near Bicester this morning. Police officers were called to the A41 near the turning to Ambrosden at around 7.45am. The cyclist was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital
A man who admitted two burglaries has had his sentencing postponed. Simon Allen, of Salford Road, Marston, admitted two break-ins which took place in Headley Way, Headington, on January 18. In a separate charge the 38-year-old has admitted
A teenage cyclist hurt in a collision with a car in Abingdon is in critical condition. The teenage boy suffered head injuries in the accident on Wednesday in Ock Street at 8.30am which involved a silver Mercedes. Also on Wednesday, at about 8.20am
AFTER some comments on the issue I like to clarify that cyclists are only stationary when their wheels are not turning and someone who is not holding on to their handlebars whether stationary or not, is not in proper control of their bicycle. There
A MAN has been ordered to complete unpaid work after he was caught growing and selling cannabis. Stephen Barker, 24, of Tower Close, Abingdon, admitted producing the Class B drug, as well as possessing it with intent to supply. His home was
What is going on at the Brize Norton sewage pumping station at the bottom of Station Road? Once again we have temporary lights reducing traffic to a single lane while up to six giant tankers are in attendance day and night. Station Road, already
I AM writing a book about New Zealanders who flew from Britain in the last year of the war. I am trying to find family or friends of a man called Williamson Charles John Beeson. He was the sole survivor of a Lancaster, shot down over Stuttgart
LOCAL councils regularly get a bad press on these pages for pothole repairs and the like, but congratulations to Abingdon Town Council for organising the Fun in the Park last Saturday. The wife, myself and a number of friends set up ‘camp’ for
THREE Oxford protesters have been told to do 150 hours of community service after a week-long occupation at a gas-fired power station. Daniel Chivers, 34, David Shakespeare, 27, and Claudia Comberti, 26, were among 21 people to admit aggravated
SURELY hospital chiefs get good pay for doing a good job – that is how they keep their job. If everyone that does a good job gets a big bonus then the lads who empty my bins on a Thursday and my postman should get one. Every day, and in all weathers
Three youngsters will make their Oxfordshire debuts in the Western Division opener with Cheshire at Great & Little Tew, starting on Sunday. Batsman Curtly Slatter and seamer Matt Woods get a chance to shine on their home ground, with Aston
THE Magical Book exhibition in the Old Schools Quadrangle offers something for everyone who marvels at the beauty of the hand-written or printed word of years past. The age of some of the exhibits and the magnificent work could prove fatal to those
Today we talk to Eddie Blaze, general manager at Emmaus College, an independent charity WHAT I’M CALLED: Eddie Blaze. MY AGE IN YEARS: 43. WHAT I DO: I am the general manager at Emmaus Oxford, which is an independent charity. We are a community
SHOULD congratulations be given to the county council highways department for its recent, very intense mowing and strimming of the grass verges and cutting down several rare species of flowering plants on the verges by the Cassington, A40 traffic lights
Banbury will look to end Henley’s four-match winning streak when they visit the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 1 leaders tomorrow. Henley are 19 points clear thanks to their 100 per cent record. But Banbury captain Jimmy
Ian Crosby praised Oxford’s strength in depth after opting to leave out Oxfordshire seamer Tom Geeson-Brown for tomorrow’s Division 2 West trip to Falkland in the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League. Captain Crosby admitted he and director
CHANGES to the design of Oxford’s new £35m science discovery centre have not gone far enough, according to campaigners. The height of the Magnet building was reduced by two metres and gaps included in the building to allow views of the Castle Mound
PROFESSOR Simon Horobin obviously, correctly affirms that language changes – take note, Peter Unsworth, Oxford’s answer to Noam Chomsky. However, accents aside, do we necessarily “accept that people have different ways of pronouncing words”, in
I AM tired of hearing constant criticism of the NHS staff. Over the last few weeks, due to an accident to my wife, I have spent a great deal of time in A&E departments, and I must say the care and attention she received was first-class even
Hannah England pronounced herself well pleased with fourth place in the 1500 metres at the Golden Galaevent in the Olympic Stadium, Rome, last night, writes Stuart Weir. The race was won by Abeba Aregawi, the Ethiopian-born Swedish athlete in a
A CITY community leader has agreed with a Government minister who said grooming gangs could not use cultural differences as a defence for their crimes. Police minister Damian Green said he was not prepared to accept mitigation that some child abuse
A road was shut for nearly three hours yesterday after a car overturned and firefighters worked to free a trapped man. The A4130 was closed from about 1pm to 3.50pm after the crash near the Cholsey Roundabout. Police spokesman Rhianne Pope
PUPPETS made out of hoovers and feather dusters will take families on a recycling adventure this weekend. Oxford puppeteers Hannah Rhodes, left, and Emma Boor will be giving the puppets a hand at the Pegasus Theatre in East Oxford. Their musical
A BANK cashier who became a gambling addict has avoided jail despite helping himself to £32,600 from customers' accounts. Jonathan Woodward, of Windrush Valley Road, Witney, was handed an 18-month suspended sentence after he admitted six counts
Michael Duberry is prepared to drop out of the Football League to keep playing following his exit from Oxford United. After 50 appearances in two years with the U’s he was one of a dozen players released by the club at the end of last season.
A 40-year-old man is due in court this morning after being charged with attempted child abduction. Mihai Lacatusu, of Asquith Road, Rose Hill, Oxford, has been charged following an alleged incident involving a nine-year-old girl on Wednesday.
London Welsh have confirmed that head coach Lyn Jones has left the club to become director of rugby at Newport Gwent Dragons. The 48-year-old, who was unable to keep London Welsh in the Aviva Premiership this season, said he would stay with the
LED Zeppelin famously sang about the Stairway to Heaven – but Plowman Tower residents would much rather take the lift. The issue, however, is a serious one because Oxford City Council has a duty to maintain its social housing: an obligation it
AN 81-YEAR-OLD man and his two sons were yesterday questioned by police investigating child sex exploitation after a raid on their Oxford guest house. More than 60 police officers were involved in the swoop on the Nanford Guest House in East Oxford
A MUM spoke of her horror at learning a man had tried to grab her daughter. Police were yesterday questioning a 40-year-old man on suspicion of attempting to take a child after the alleged incident in Rose Hill, Oxford. Nine-year-old Chloe
OXFORD is in the middle of a massive housing crisis, but Kevin McCloud’s ambitious plans are not necessarily the answer that we’ve been looking for. It was naive of Mr McCloud – unsurprisingly absent from the planning meeting on Wednesday – to
MORE than £62,000 has been spent by Oxford city councillors on community projects over the past year. Each of the 48 city councillors gets £1,500 a year to spend in the communities they represent – a total of £72,000. The city councillor to
