Archive

  • Fire at Pear Tree

    A FIRE broke out in the roof of Pear Tree services this afternoon. The fire in the roof void of the Welcome Break services involved electrical cables. The fire service were called at 2.20pm, and fire engines from Rewley Road, Kidlington and

  • Advice service warns of growing debt crisis

    A CHRONIC personal debt crisis is growing in deprived areas of Oxford, the new manager of an advice service has warned. Clare Charleson said the Agnes Smith Advice Centre in Blackbird Leys, which she took charge of last month, got more than £910,000

  • Unfair dismissal claim rejected

    A DISABLED woman who claimed she was forced to quit her primary school job because of her spinal injury has had an unfair dismissal claim rejected. Administrator Cath Astbury, who worked at Wheatley Primary School, told an employment judge she

  • Four-year-old boy dies after being injured at Bicester Village

    A FOUR-YEAR-OLD boy has died today after being injured in a shop at Bicester Village shopping centre. The boy was in the Hugo Boss store at 8.40pm on Tuesday night and police believe a piece of a shop fitting fell on him, causing serious head injuries

  • Plea to keep Wootton surgery open

    CROWDS packed into a village community hall in Wootton in a bid to save their doctors’ surgery. The future of the Besselsleigh Road surgery in Wootton, near Abingdon, was cast into doubt when an NHS Oxfordshire building inspection branded the building

  • Charity's thanks for Volunteers' Week

    HELEN & DOUGLAS House has been celebrating national Volunteers’ Week and raising awareness of the ways to get involved with the charity. The Oxford hospice, which offers support for children and young adults with life-shortening conditions,

  • Hundreds gather for Oxford Pride parade

    Crowds have started to gather in Cornmarket Street for this year’s Oxford Pride parade. Hundreds of people are expected to march at noon from Ship Street to Oxpens Meadow, off Oxpens Road, for the annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and

  • Drivers stopped in police operation

    A TOTAL of 76 drivers were stopped in Oxford for travelling over the 20mph limit, not wearing seatbelts or using mobile phones during a police operation in St Giles yesterday. All were breathalysed but none failed. Those caught driving over 31mph

  • Binmen injured in accident

    TWO Oxford binmen were treated for suspected spinal injuries after a refuse lorry overturned on the A44. The crash near the Cleveley turn at 2.25pm on Wednesday caused long delays between Woodstock and Enstone. South Central Ambulance Service

  • Man is punched in street attack

    A 29-year-old man was abused and assaulted in a suspected homophobic attack. The victim was kicked, punched and verbally abused by two men near Barclays Bank in Cornmarket Street, Oxford, at 1.38am on Tuesday. Both suspects were described as

  • YOUTH CRICKET: By George! Combe go through

    A remarkable spell of bowling by George Neyroud propelled Combe into the last four of the Ron Maudsley Under 13 Trophy. Neyroud took four wickets for two runs as Bicester & North Oxford collapse from 27-0 to 65 all out. Combe slipped to

  • RUGBY UNION: Exiles planning Jones successor

    London Welsh RFC are planning to act swiftly in naming a new head coach after confirming Lyn Jones had been released from his contract. The 48-year-old wants to move back to Wales for family reasons after two years with the club and is widely expected

  • Couple reflect on the dream that came true

    FOR teenage sweethearts Laura Wilkinson and Matt Hemming, coming out top in the Oxford Mail’s Win Your Wedding competition is a “dream come true”. The young parents, from Ascott-under-Wychwood, are celebrating after winning an exclusive wedding

  • CRICKET: Oxon board issue apology to Aston Rowant

    The Oxfordshire Cricket Board have offered an apology to Aston Rowant CC, following an article in the Oxford Mail. The story (June 5) stated that Oxfordshire had switched their three-day Minor Counties Championship match against Herefordshire to

  • Transit taken

    THIEVES stole a white Ford Transit van from outside a home in Wantage Road, Wallingford, between 7.30pm on Wednesday and 5am on Thursday. Call police on 101 with information, or phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

  • Cyclist injured

    A CYCLIST suffered minor injuries after a collision involving a lorry yesterday 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 in Oxford but

  • Home raided

    THIEVES stole cash and Xbox computer games from a home in Blackthorn Close, Headington. The burglary occurred overnight on Thursday, June 6. The lock on the rear door had been forced open.

  • Planners against hotel beds boost

    A MAJOR planned hotel expansion looks set to be blocked despite claims of high demand for tourist accommodation in the city. Bosses at the Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel in Abingdon Road want to build an extra 57 bedrooms. The scheme would

  • Pride celebration aims for 'colour'

    ACTIVISTS have been busy preparing to make today’s Oxford Pride celebrations through the city the best ever. Stalls and attractions were set up next to Oxford Ice Rink in Oxpens Road for the annual celebrations. A parade will leave Cornmarket

  • COMMENT: Compromise is needed to boost city hotel spaces

    PLANNING policy must, of course, be king, but it is a pity from the commercial front that Oxford City Council looks likely to turn down another attempt to boost hotel room numbers off the Abingdon Road. Oxford Spires Four Pillars wants to erect

  • Burglars steal pain relievers

    SIX boxes of pain relief medication have been stolen from Didcot Community Hospital. The theft happened on Monday, June 3, at 3:11am when an office inside the Woodlands Road building was broken into from the rear.

  • ANGLING: Rose is top of ton-up quintet

    Dorchester AC’s annual outing proved one to remember as no fewer than five anglers caught more than 100lb of fish from Boddington Reservoir in Northamptonshire. Rod Rose led them home with 156.14.0 of carp, followed by Lee Edmonds (146.10.0) and

  • Two Out of Three Ain't Bad.

    The Oxfordshire Drama Network Festival held every year at this time in the wonderful Unicorn Theatre in Abingdon is always worth a visit. This year we went on the Wednesday night to see three short plays presented by local groups and adjudicated

  • RACING: Butler charged over steroids

    Newmarket trainer Gerard Butler has been charged by the British Horseracing Authority over his use of the drug Sungate, which contains a banned anabolic ster-oid. Butler, who trained at Churn Stables at Blewbury, near Didcot, for nine years up

  • MARTIAL ARTS: Sumaiya, 8, is black belt

    Sumaiya Chowdhury has become Oxford Karate Academy’s youngest junior black belt in the club’s 39-year history – at the age of just eight. The Oxford Junior High School pupil has been training three times a week for five years under chief instructor

  • SAILING: Crapper in top 20

    Retired Witney fireman Martin Crapper saw his reunited team finish 20th out of a fleet of nearly 1,500 boats in the JP Morgan Asset Management Round The Island Race (Isle of Wight). Crapper, 57, together with Oxfordshire’s former chief fire officer

  • MOTORSPORT: Plato is fired up for big mission

    Oxford's Jason Plato is fired up for one of his favourite circuits tomorrow as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Championship rolls into Oulton Park. Plato is the second most successful BTCC driver around the Cheshire track, with his seven wins, just

  • MOTORSPORT: Powell dedicates victory to her team

    Chipping Norton’s Alice Powell dedicated her F3 Cup win at Brands Hatch to her team after having to compete in a spare car. It saw the 20-year-old Oxfordshire racer stay at the top of the standings. Powell’s weekend started badly, blowing a

  • SCHOOLS CRICKET: Ali helps Spires to hit heights

    Usman Ali put in a great all- round performance as Oxford Spires Academy overcame Wheatley Park in the Oxfordshire Under 15 League. After top-scoring with 27 not out in the Spires total of 77-8, Usman then took 3-8 as Wheatley Park were bowled

  • ANGLING: Perfect time to get the kids fishing

    It's a great time of the year to be an angler, writes Gerald Stratford. Sun from morning to night (well, this week, anyway!) and virtually all species are on the feed. Now is the time to take young anglers and beginners out on the bank, although

  • Eamonn's Scottish success

    Oxford specimen hunter Eamonn Deeley travelled up to Scotland to fish Loch Awe, hoping to break his duck of a 20lb pike from across the border after many years of trying. And he succeeded with this cracker of 20.6.0, which was one of 34 pike caught

  • Now that's what we call lightening the load

    IT was lights out for a while yesterday afternoon when this 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 it attempted to leave a loading area

  • Mixed response to new Morrisons store bid for Headington

    SUPERMARKET chain Morrisons looks set to move to Oxford. Managers have applied for a licence for a store in Headington. The firm has made a bid to sell alcohol from 6am to midnight, seven days a week, at the former Blockbuster shop in London

  • BOXING: McDonagh misses out

    Berinsfield ABC lightweight Mark McDonagh was pipped on a majority points decision by Thame & Aylesbury’s Sam Fitzgerald at his home club. It formed part of a team match, which saw Oxon, Berks and South Bucks beat Beds, Herts and North Bucks

  • MOTORSPORT: Raikkonen bids to storm back

    Lotus driver Kimi Rai-kkonen is focused on getting back in the fight for the Formula 1 title at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal tomorrow. The 33-year-old Finn saw the gap to championship leader Sebastian Vettel increased from four to 21 points

  • MOTORSPORT: Walkinshaw is thwarted

    Sean Walkinshaw came close to two points finishes during the European F3 Open at Germany’s Nurburgring. The Chipping Norton driver was on course for a pair of top- four Copa Class results. However, avoidance of a collision in round five and

  • WOMEN'S & GIRLS' CRICKET: Chloe Hills double up

    Banbury have two players called Chloe Hill in their side and both shone as the club marked their entry into the ECB Womens League with an eight-wicket victory at home to Northants side Horton House in Midlands Division 2. Horton House struggled

  • YOUTH CRICKET: Dominant Banbury top group

    Banbury clinched top spot in Oxfordshire Group B in the ECB Under 15 Club Championship when half-centuries from Jack Briggs and Brad Taylor helped them to an 87-run victory over Great Tew B. They join Group C winners Oxford Downs in the quarter-finals

  • Defender O'Brien calls it a day at Oxford United

    The prospect of first-team football was key to Luke O’Brien’s decision to turn down Oxford United in favour of non-league Gateshead. The left back’s short-term deal with the U’s expired at the end of last season. Although O’Brien was offered

  • ANGLING: Tench does the trick for Mick

    Two plump tench gave Mick Sear (pictured) victory in the latest round of Sutton Courtenay AC’s Short Memorial Series on Phil’s Lake. He caught one on a waggler with red maggot and the other on feeder and red maggot for a winning 14.2.0. Steve

  • Man charged over attempted child abduction

    A MAN accused of an attempted child abduction has been remanded in custody by Oxford magistrates. Mihai Lacatusu, of Asquith Road, Rose Hill, Oxford, has been charged following an alleged incident involving a nine-year-old girl on Wednesday.

  • Bicester court is to remain open

    BICESTER Magistrates’ Court is no longer set to close. The court in Queens Avenue had been earmarked for closure in April this year but HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) announced yesterday that it would stay open because of an increase

  • Claim of sexual discrimination thrown out

    A MOTHER who claimed she lost her job on a Boots beauty counter because she left work to look after her sick child has had her case thrown out by an employment judge. Anna Golonka, who lives with her police officer partner in Trent Road, Didcot

  • Guest house open for business again after police raid

    A BUDGET hotel at the centre of child sex allegations was open for business again yesterday. The Nanford Guest House in Iffley Road was closed on Thursday following a police raid. Owner Jeremiah Cronin was bailed until September following questioning

  • Emergency landing drama at airport

    A plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Oxford Airport yesterday after developing a problem with its landing gear. Firefighters and paramedics assembled on the runway after a distress call was sent out shortly before noon. The light

  • Dance date for the Duchess

    THE Duchess of Cornwall is to visit Oxford for a gala performance of Strictly Confidential, a new show written by Craig Revel Horwood, host of BBC show Strictly Come Dancing. The Duchess is President of the National Osteoporosis Society and Mr

  • Scrabble ace in world record bid for children's charity

    FOR most people a game of Scrabble can take hours. Taking time to create a word from seven letters, the decision of where to place it on the board and the inevitable squabble over whether the word is in the dictionary. But Scrabble expert and

  • COMMENT: Praying for Jack

    THE trauma that Martin and Nicola Berry are going through following the horrific injuries suffered by teenager Jack Taylor will strike a chord with every parent. It is every parent’s worst nightmare and we know they will have been hoping for his

  • Bike crash victim, 14, fighting for his life

    THE family of a teenage cyclist left fighting for his life after a collision with a car last night spoke of their devastation at his injuries. Jack Taylor, 14, was cycling to school when he was involved in a crash with a silver Mercedes in Ock

  • CRICKET|: Samiullah sets it up for OXon Under 15s

    A brilliant innings by Aadam Samiullah helped Oxfordshire Un-der 15s get their ECB Cup campaign off to an excellent start with a 69-run victory over Shropshire at Stonesfield. After winning the toss, Oxon reached 269-5 from their 50 overs.

  • Oxford United Ladies' Stanley in GB call-up

    Katie Stanley is dreaming of taking on Brazil next month after being called up to Great Britain’s women’s under 23 squad for the World University Games in Russia. It is the first time an Oxford United Ladies player has gained international recognition

  • Rose Hill plans to go on show again

    ROSE Hill residents will have a final chance to view the plans for the estate’s new £3m community centre next week. A series of public exhibitions is being run by Oxford City Council at Rose Hill and Donnington Advice Centre and Rose Hill Community

  • Friends join cancer survivor for Blenheim Palace Triathlon

    A YEAR after being diagnosed with leukaemia, Sarah Argles is taking on a triathlon to raise money for cancer research. The 30-year-old, from East Oxford, will take part in the Blenheim Palace Triathlon with two friends, Fiona Slater and Sharlene