OXFORD MAGISTRATES David Bishop, 20, of Stockham Park, Wantage, admitted possessing cannabis, a Class B drug, in Wantage on August 7. Fined £165 and told to pay a £15 victims’ surcharge and £85 costs. James Boulton, 32, of Wytham Street,
A 22-YEAR-OLD ketamine addict has been jailed after he burgled a house then tried to escape from a police officer who pointed a Taser at him. Christopher Rea, of Green Furlong, Berinsfield, near Wallingford, was jailed for 32 months after he admitted
PUB staff at The Fleece, on The Green in Witney, are old hands at The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on Friday. As manager Helen Sprason explained: “We’ve been taking part for at least five years and really enjoy it. “Proceeds from all the
MACMILLAN Cancer Support’s biggest fundraiser, the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, started in 1990 when a small local fundraising committee decided to hold a coffee morning. People came along to meet and mingle, donating the cost of their coffee
A Volkswagen Golf was driven off by a thief who stole the keys from a Cutteslowe house. The burglary and car theft happened in Southdale Road on Saturday between 6am and 11.30pm. Police appealed for anyone with information to call 101.
Five laptops were stolen in three separate break-ins across Oxford. Two were taken when a burglar got into a house in Magdalen Road, East Oxford, through a ground floor window on Saturday. Between 6pm on Friday and 2am on Saturday, another
Grandmother Christine Wallace from Didcot will put her baking skills to the test on national TV again tonight. Mrs Wallace, 67, named star baker on the Great British Bake-off last week, has made it through to the last eight in the Bake Off from
What a remarkable success for Louise Upton, pictured, in Oxford’s North Ward by-election. It shows Labour candidates can win not only in low-income areas in the city but in some of the highest income areas too. For the ward to choose one Labour
A MOTORCYCLIST has died following an accident in Milton Road in Drayton. The ambulance service was called at 1.57pm to the accident, which involved one motorcycle. A South Central Ambulance Service spokeswoman said the young motorcyclist
A CAMPAIGN to reinstate a post office in Summertown has won the backing of equalities minister Jo Swinson. The MP held a meeting with local councillors and campaigners at the Liberal Democrat party conference in Glasgow at the weekend. Campaigners
THE first King of a unified Wessex and Mercia was given a brisk steam clean this week. The statue of King Alfred the Great in Wantage Market Place was spruced up by Joslin’s Stonemasons of Blenheim. Wantage Town Council contracted the firm
FRESH calls have been made for a council to drop parking fees after Bicester’s only free car park was swamped by cars. Motorists were trapped in the new 526-space car park in Bicester town centre’s £70m redevelopment for up to an hour on September
FINANCE bosses will hold five crunch meetings with residents as they prepare to save an extra £60m. Oxfordshire County Council will be in Oxford, Witney, Wantage, Didcot and Banbury to discuss plans with residents. This comes after it announced
THREE NEW dance classes with an African, Latino and Brazilian twist have began in Cowley. French-born Mamé Yansane will teach a parent and toddler class, an over 50s session, and a special needs class at East Oxford Community Centre, and at the
A look back at the 1907 event and some curious postcards THE series of pictures of an Oxford pageant were always a mystery to John Edgington. They were left to him by his grandmother, Martha Webb, who lived in North Oxford and later North Hinksey
What might Oxford have looked like...? THERE are often pictures of Christ Church in the Oxford Mail, but it was the one showing Debbie Dance, the Oxford Preservation Trust director, and Christopher Lewis, the Dean, inviting people to visit the
SOUTH Oxford adventure playground was just the place to go if you had lots of holiday energy to burn in 1974. Not that Martin Ponting, left, of Marlborough Road, or his friend, Fraser Lindsey, of Vicarage Road, exactly fell into that category.
PUPILS from schools all over Oxfordshire took part in this swimming gala at Witney pool in 1976. Schools as far south as Goring and as far north as Banbury sent teams to compete in events for both primaries and secondaries. Each school was
AN influential Oxfordshire charity is using some of the world’s most recognised figures to pressure governments into legalising cannabis. The Beckley Foundation, based at Beckley Park hunting lodge outside Oxford, has said controlling street drugs
LESS than a year ago the Nag’s Head pub was boarded up, sad and unwanted. Now, thanks to the hard work of its staff, the hostelry in Abingdon has won ‘the highest accolade’. It is one of 22 Oxfordshire pubs added to the Campaign for Real Ale
WHEN Radiohead guitarist Colin Greenwood appears on stage, he is probably used to bigger venues than Kennington Village Hall. But on Saturday, the former Abingdon School pupil came to the village to talk about the charity Children’s Radio Foundation
A MUSICAL duo have landed a European grant to expand their fledgling recording studio. Joe Henwood, 20, and Tom Excell, 23, built their studio at Oakley Wood Farm in Benson out of straw bales after realising what it would cost to soundproof the
THREE weeks into the job and Henry Box’s new headteacher has grand plans for its future. Wendy Hemmingsley wants the school, in Church Green, Witney, to be rated outstanding in all areas when it is next inspected in three years’ time. The secondary
ALMOST £60,000 in funding for village halls and community centres has been approved. Oxfordshire County Council will share £59,137 between 11 successful grant applicants. It will go to a variety of projects, including kitchen renovations, wall
THEY’RE off in the donkey race at Bicester’s annual carnival, right. About 10,000 people packed the Oxford Road sports ground for the 14th annual event in 1980. The highlight was the crowning of Miss Bicester, Julie Boczkariw, by actor Paul
CHILDREN played their part in encouraging everyone to spruce up their town. Organisers of Watlington in Bloom in 1988 wanted more traders and organisations to “say it with flowers”. So they invited youngsters to take part in a painting competition
PICTURE 1 Villagers showed a wide range of talents when they staged an arts and crafts exhibition in 1976. Their work, on show at the village hall, included lute making, hurdle making, radio equipment, sculpture and glove-making. Among the exhibitors
A look back at closure of ‘Fairford’ line IT WAS intended to provide a rail link between Oxford and Cheltenham. But the line which stretched from Oxford through Witney to the west never got that far and ended in a field at Fairford. No wonder
THERE was lots of excitement at Youlbury Scout Camp at Boars Hill in 1990. Among those taking part in a Beaver Fun Day were these youngsters who dressed as clowns. As we have recalled, Youlbury is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year
High-flying Wantage Town have been drawn at home to Uhlsport Hellenic League neighbours Abingdon Town in the first round of the FA Vase on Saturday October 19. Milton United travel to Hellenic Premier Division leaders Reading Town, while Oxford
FRED Floate’s five years in the RAF included a spell on Christmas Island when Britain was testing the hydrogen bomb. He was on the remote Pacific island near Hawaii for five months in 1958 when four bombs were set off during Operation Grapple.
PICTURE 1 These pupils were leading the way in a national campaign to persuade more girls to take science subjects and for more science teachers to be recruited. June Regan, 16, left, and Rita Rutt, 18, are pictured in the science laboratory at
RYE St Antony held its first classes on its site at Headington, Oxford, illegally. Planning permission was still being sought when the move from North Oxford to Pullen’s Lane was made. But there was an excuse – war had just been declared and the
INSPIRATIONAL youngster Charlotte Nott will be cheering on her special team of runners at the Oxford Half Marathon. Four Oxford friends, Martin Spackman, Adam Smith, Craig Wiseman and Charlotte’s uncle Aaron Nott are taking on the 13.1-mile route
OXFORDSHIRE’S rivers have a long way to go to reach European standards, officials have said. The Environment Agency revealed that of the 84 rivers in the West Thames area, 66 are failing to achieve a good ecological status. The number of rivers
PRINCESS Anne will be guest of honour at a parade through Didcot by 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment from 11am on Friday, October 4. The Princess Royal will also attend a medal presentation ceremony for the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Task
A SCHEME to tackle crime has seen incidents of reoffending fall by 54 per cent in the first six months of the year, compared to the same period last year. In August, the Oxford Mail reported that there were 82 Oxfordshire criminals on the Integrated
GOLF SHAW GIBBS OXFORDSHIRE FOURSOMES LEAGUE Section 1: Tadmarton Heath 1, Frilford Heath 2. Section 3: Magnolia Park 2, Shrivenham 1. ICE HOCKEY ENGLISH NATIONAL LEAGUE South Div 2: Peterborough 3, Oxford City Stars 9.
CRITCHLEYS UTV LEAGUE Premier Div: AFC Jericho 7, Zubry Oxford 1; Barton Utd 4, Oxford SSC 6, Exeter Hall v Oxford pp. Div 1: Railway Wheatley 2, Freeland Yeoman 3; Sporting Headington Academicals 5, Iffley Harriers 5. Div 2: Checkendon
GREENE KING IPA CHAMPIONSHIP Nottingham 19, London Welsh 46. SSE CLUBS CHAMPIONSHIP National 1: Henley 6, Rosslyn Park 6. National 2 South: Shelford 19, Chinnor 24. South West 1 East: Cheltenham 24, Witney 41; Grove 30, Windsor
OXFORD MAIL GIRLS LEAGUE Under 10: Summertown Stars 4, Kidlington 1. Under 11: Highworth Tn v Carterton Tn pp; Quarry Rov 2, Oxford City 2; Stonesfield Strikers v Wantage Girls pp; Tower Hill Vixens 13, Kidlington 0. Under 12: Crowmarsh
OXFORD MAIL YOUTH LEAGUE Under 10 A League: Abingdon Tn 0, Harwell & Hendred Yth 7; Didcot Casuals 4, Marston Saints 2; Kennington Ath 1, Didcot Tn Yth Red 1; Summertown Stars Wanderers 2, Oxford City Whites 0. B League: Horspath Yth Lions
OXFORDSHIRE INVITATION YOUTH LEAGUE Under 16 A League: Didcot Tn 2, North Leigh 1; AFC Newbury 3, Tower Hill 3; Abingdon Utd 3, Milton Utd 2. B League: Hook Norton 3, Deddington Tn 1; Horspath Yth 2, Childrey Yth 2; Cholsey Bluebirds 1, Banbury
We took part in this under the auspices of the local YMCA earlier this year in support of local farmers whose land and olive trees had been threatened. In the course of our nine-day stay, our group of 40 internationals based in Bethlehem had four sessions
FA CARLSBERG VASE 2nd qual round: Abingdon Tn 3, Hook Norton 1; Brimscombe & Thrupp 3, Shrivenham 0; Chinnor 2, Bedfont & Feltham 3; Fairford Tn 0, Kidlington 4; Milton Utd 1, Bedfont Spts 0; Westfields 3, Thame Utd 0. UHLSPORT HELLENIC
Good morning everyone and welcome to our weekly discussion on all-things Oxford United. So, the unbeaten record has gone, but what did you think about Saturday’s performance – was it down to Chesterfield simply being a better side? We’re here
Oxford City manager Mike Ford admitted to being frustrated after seeing his side beaten 1-0 at Vauxhall Motors in Skrill North, writes MATTHEW BRUCE. After falling behind in the third minute, City looked the better side, and Ford said it was a
ENGINES revved up and roared across the track as the national motocross finals took place in Oxfordshire. Around 300 riders took part in the Red Bull Pro National Motocross Finals at Culham Park, between Abingdon and Clifton Hampden. Among
PLANS to outsource the county’s music service to a private company have been questioned by a leading group of councillors. The county council’s new education scrutiny committee has asked the cabinet running the authority to report back on plans
My opinion as an imam and Islamic scholar is that the niqab is one of the old Islamic and cultural traditions and is an acceptable practice for those who wish to wear it. It is, however, not a compulsory part of Islamic law. Rather, it exists as a
Vauxhall Motors 1 (Kosylo 4) Oxford City 0 Oxford City dropped to the foot of the Skrill North table with defeat at Vauxhall Motors on Saturday, writes MATTHEW BRUCE. City, who gave a debut to new signing, former Oxford United
Nottingham 19 (tries Styles, Harrison; pens Jarvis 3) London Welsh 46 (tries Kirwan, Crane, Stegmann, Mama; cons Ross 4; pens Ross 6) London Welsh made it two wins from two in the Greene King IPA Championship with a bonus-point victory
North Leigh ran rings around a stunned Taunton in a 3-0 win to make it eight goals in two Calor LeagueDivision 1 South & West games. The visitors hit the ground running, taking the lead after just five minutes. Kieran Sanders crossed to
Didcot Town had Pablo Haysham and Joel Meade sent off late on as they were thrashed 4-0 at home by Bishops Cleeve in a one-sided Calor LeagueDivision 1 South & West game. On an afternoon they will want to forget, the Railwaymen were already
Leon Simpson was the star as Banbury secured their third Calor League Premier Division win in a row on Saturday to move up to sixth spot. The 6ft 8in stri ker scored a brace as Edwin Stein’s side edged Hitchin Town 2-1 in a fiercely-contested match
THIS year’s Blenheim Palace Literary Festival came to an end yesterday with the appearance of historian Peter Snow. Mr Snow appeared at the historic palace to talk about his new book When Britain Burned the White House, about the War of 1812 that
OXFORDSHIRE’S ambulance service has launched a review into the sacking of a volunteer who broke the speed limit on his way to an emergency. Godfrey Smith had volunteered for the South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) for 15 years until July, when
PRIVATELY-run cells for the inebriated or ‘drunk tanks’ are being proposed in a bid to relieve the police of such duties. On top of a fine, the detainees would be expected to pay for the expense incurred – the figure of £400 is being bandied about
George Noble needs to get his facts straight regarding access to the electoral register (Letters, September 17). The full version of the Register of Electors may be looked at by anyone under supervision. It is a legal requirement for such access
ONCE more we read of a police operation in Oxford for the purpose of ticketing and ‘educating’ the low-hanging fruit, usually those miscreants using their mobile phones and for not wearing seat belts. Using a mobile phone at the wheel, albeit at
FA Carlsberg Vase Abingdon Town, still seeking their first win in the Uhlsport Hellenic League, marched on with a 3-1 home win over Hook Norton in the second qualifying round. All the goals came in the second half, with Gavin Jones firing Premier
Uhlsport Hellenic League Ryan Brooks hit a hat-trick as Ardley United added to bottom club Abingdon United’s woes with a 4-1 away win in the Premier Division. He opened the scoring after 24 minutes, only for Graham Edney to level just before-half-time
Shirocco Star, who finished runner-up in the Epsom and Irish Oaks last season for East Ilsley trainer Hughie Morrison, has been retired after picking up an injury on her latest start at the Curragh.
Gof Smith’s campaign to get back his job still hangs in the balance. But it seems that health officials may be about to see sense. The decision to dismiss him sparked an outcry after he lost his role for speeding to a call. Hundreds of people
NOAM BLeichher’s letter (September 19) supporting the introduction of technology that forces cars to follow speed limits is a great idea. Unfortunately it is unfeasible as car manufacturers would not make their vehicles this way as it would harm
AS historians and members of the University, we were very pleased to see that the University’s Vice-Chancellor endorsed the recent Oxford Preservation Trust Oxford Open Doors programme on its website, and that he rightly commended the University and
TOMORROW the East Area Planning Committee meet to decide the fate of the Barton build. Housing is a priority. Roy Darke (chairman) and Michael Crofton-Briggs (head city development) agreed to my request to amend wording within the proposal to 40
I’m getting jowly... There, I’ve said it. Around the neck, under the chin and on the cheeks. And it marks I guess that last great boundary of middle age; after all, once the folds set in, it’s frankly all over bar the coffin. Indeed, I
A group of former pupils at John Mason School met over the weekend, 50 years after they first started at the school. The former pupils, who started at the Wootton Road school in 1963, met at the Boundary House pub in Oxford Road. John Mason
TOM Newey thought Oxford United got what they deserved as their unbeaten run ended. Leaders Chesterfield won the game through Ritchie Humph-reys’s volley, but they carved out a host of other chances to win the game more comfortably. United
RYAN Clarke admitted the man-of-the-match award for an excellent individual performance meant little as Oxford United went down 1-0 to Chesterfield. The goalkeeper produced his best display since returning from double shoulder surgery to keep the
CHRIS Wilder criticised Oxford United’s self-belief as they lost in the league for the first time this season. Ritchie Humphreys scored the only goal of the game at the Kassam Stadium to give Chesterfield a seventh win in eight Sky Bet League Two
UP TO 200 people went to Yellow Army Day to boost its 12th Man Fund. A six-a-side match, barbecue, auction and disco were held at Oxford United’s training ground in Roman Way, Cowley, on Saturday. Treasurer Trevor Lambert said the event raised
NEARLY one in seven children in Oxfordshire County Council’s care have gone missing in the past year, it has been reported over the weekend. The news comes after a gang of seven paedophiles were jailed for a total of 95 years as part of Operation
COMEDIAN Jason Manford will appear at the New Theatre tonight after criticising the venue’s owners. Mr Manford last week attacked Ambassador Theatre Group for its high booking fees and ripping customers off. He will appear tonight and tomorrow
TRIBUTES and flowers have been left after the death of a 23-year-old man found unconscious in Hinksey Park, south Oxford. Police officers yesterday concluded there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. Last night, the man
THEIR faces said it all: first terror and then relief as, two by two, they lowered themselves 100ft over the side of a hospital. In total, 159 people took part in the abseil down the women’s centre at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital yesterday.
THE economic crisis has taught us all a little bit about the need to squirrel away money for a rainy day. But today’s revelations about the money some schools are leaving in their reserves has rightly raised concerns. Council officials say
THE amount of money held in school reserves instead of being spent on pens, paper and classroom essentials has risen more than 250 per cent in two years. Concerns have been raised about whether schools are spending enough on pupils’ education after
IT started with a head-butt. Yet for police patrolling in Oxford, it was a pretty quiet night. Thames Valley Police are conducting alcohol-related operations this week, including a 12-hour Tweetathon, to warn people of the dangers of booze.
IT started with a head-butt. Yet for police patrolling in Oxford, it was a pretty quiet night. Thames Valley Police are conducting alcohol-related operations this week, including a 12-hour Tweetathon, to warn people of the dangers of booze.
THE county’s police and crime commissioner says a £1,830 investigation into his expenses was a waste of time. Anthony Stansfeld said officials had been right to investigate it – but said the probe had only been carried out because of false claims
