Deputy Picture Editor Richard Cave takes his pick of the week’s best photographs and tells us why he reckons they make the grade The main picture here is a great one from Jon Lewis at a radio and electronics rally in Didcot. His high vantage
THE Abingdon Lions Club raised £2,000 with their annual Christmas float for the Abingdon Bridge charity. Frank Allen, John Prior and Ron Skinner presented the money to the charity last month. The proceeds were raised in the group’s annual Christmas
BIRTHDAYS are usually a time for cake, family and relaxation. But a senior library assistant at Oxford University’s Bodleian Library has instead decided to set himself the ultimate challenge. Simon Salome-Bentley of Leafield, West Oxfordshire
MORE than 70 villagers paid tribute to their local postmaster who has stepped down after more than 20 years. Gurmit Dhendsa retired from Harwell Business Centre Post Office after 23 years last Friday. But he was not aware that dozens of his
A SIX-year-old boy had died 10 days after a road accident in Watchfield. Police have said the boy, who is from Faringdon, died this morning at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. The boy was injured In a collision with a white Audi Q5
Last week’s crisis may have only cost firms and councils £7m compared with the £40m estimated cost of the January deluges, mainly because Botley Road remained open, as Sophie Scott, Emma Harrison and Alex Wynick report THE cost of the floods
PLANS for two major developments for Oxford’s Botley Road area have not been affected by flooding, according to developers. Despite Botley Road flooding last month and being threatened by rising water levels again this week, both Doric – which
Three outstanding goals saw Oxford United claim an emphatic victory over Mansfield Town today and stay in the Sky Bet League Two automatic promotion places. David Connolly and Nicky Wroe scored superb individual efforts, and Deane Smalley converted
THE IMAGE of a giant poppy will be created in flowers this year as Witney marks 100 years since the start of the First World War. The display near Langdale Gate is to be sown in to the red and white remembrance symbol by Witney Town Council garden
A teenager who was stabbed in Oxford has now died. The 17-year-old was stabbed repeatedly on Thursday night and has died in hospital this morning, according to Thames Valley Police. Police issued a statement this afternoon saying the victim
There is still no news on my racing front yet. However, I am proud to have the continued support of nutrition and supplement company, MyProtein. I am also proud to be a BRDC Rising Star again this year, for the third year running. Most of you
A CHARITY which offers support to Armed Forces veterans has been nominated for a charity of the year award. The Remount Charity, set up by Neville Barton in 2008, offers training courses to help veterans to cope with life after returning from military
Stunning 25-yard strike from James Constable forces Alan Marriott into a fine diving stop oufc 1, mtfc 0 — @OxfordMailOUFC 15 February 2014 A minute to go before the end of normal time here. Crucial United see this
Police officers arrested a 20-year-old man last night in connection with a stabbing in Oxford. The man was arrested by officers from a house in Evesham Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, on suspicion of attempted murder. He is in custody
OXFORD’s chapels regularly ring with choir music – but Wednesday was a little different. Luka Gadeliya and Christina Eshba travelled from Moscow to give a concert at Queen’s College, Oxford University. Mr Gadeliya plays the organ, and Ms Eshba
BICESTER’S shopkeepers will undergo training to help them be better prepared if the “unthinkable happens” and terrorists attack the town. Later this month shops will be given a lesson in what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. It comes
A NEW disabled football team has won £7,950 in funding from Sport England. The Wallingford Town AFC club, which launched in January, will use the cash to buy kit and equipment. Club chairman Richard Prunier said: “This money is vital to the
VILLAGERS in South Oxfordshire have installed a new defibrillator after raising nearly £3,000. Residents of Sydenham near Thame have converted a disused telephone box in the centre of the village into the home of the life-saving equipment.
A NEW police sergeant for Oxford’s Barton estate hopes to provide medicine to cure the estate’s criminal ills. Sgt Martyn Williams joined Barton, Risinghurst and Sandhills neighbourhood team at the end of last month and hopes residents will see
Again I have watched the national news from the comfort of my home and again my heart goes out to the individuals and family who are enduring this torture that mother nature has no plans in ending. I couldn’t begin to imagine having every comfort
A SCOUT leader has discovered a cache of newspaper articles in her hut about an Abingdon Scout leader’s war zone mission but does not know how they got there. The cuttings found in Devon are all about Kathy Chalmers who, in 1993, went on an aid
Mickey Lewis is hoping for a perfect birthday present today – three points from his Oxford United side. The U’s caretaker manager oversees his fifth game in temporary charge at home to Mansfield this afternoon, looking to extend his unbeaten start
NEIGHBOURS say they have been left shocked after a teenager was stabbed repeatedly in his Oxford flat. The 17-year-old, from Fairacres Road, Donnington, was last night in hospital after the attack on Thursday evening. Saturday update:
A FARMER told the Prime Minister yesterday the floods will hit incomes in the agriculture industry for the next two years. David Cameron was given a tour of Cote Lodge Farm, near Bampton, yesterday afternoon where he met Tim Hook and saw the impact
THE parents of Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe are understandably proud that their son’s distinguished war record will now be seen by the thousands of visitors attending Blenheim Palace’s exhibition on the First World War. But Mrs Thorneloe, head guide
DREDGING has become the buzzword of the moment. What caused the floods? Not enough dredging. What is the answer? More dredging. Perhaps six weeks ago many people did not even really know what it was. But the long-voiced fears of farmers about
Michael Raynes is still not ready to make his Oxford United comeback against Mansfield Town today, but Alfie Potter, Ryan Williams and Sean Rigg are all vying for places on the bench. The U’s injury crisis is showing signs of improvement, although
Thieves smashed a side window to get inside a house in Abingdon and made off with electrical goods. The break-in happened in Clematis Place on Wednesday at some time between 10am and 8pm. Anyone with information is urged to call Dc Shane Hedges
OXFORDSHIRE'S accident and emergency departments have again missed a target to treat 95 per cent of patients within four hours. The latest statistics, published by NHS England yesterday, show Oxford's John Radcliffe and Banbury's Horton General
A BMW was stolen from outside a house in Benson and later found burnt out in Purley-on-Thames. Police said burglars stole the car keys and laptops after breaking into the property in Westfield Road between Monday and Tuesday. Anyone with information
DIVERS will be drafted in to help search for missing Eynsham grandmother Jackie Gulliford once river levels have dropped, police say. Mental health patient Mrs Gulliford has not been seen since she left her Hawthorn Road home a month ago on January
OXFORD could always be a potential terrorist target, the city council leader has warned. Bob Price made the comment after a suspected letter bomb was sent to the Oxford Army careers office and six other military recruitment bases across the country
WHEN Mary Tame was asked what she would like for her 100th birthday, the former headmistress knew how to kickstart the celebrations, with a ride in a motorcycle sidecar. Mrs Tame, from Dorchester, was taken on a lap of honour of her village yesterday
A BARRISTER has told a jury a young former boxer only had a “platonic relationship” with a 15-year-old girl. Clinton Townsend, a former member of the Oxford Boxing Academy, is on trial at Oxford Crown Court accused of having sex with two young
COMMUTERS have taken their last train ride on the Bicester to Oxford line for at least two years. The last train left Bicester Town station for Oxford just before midnight yesterday ahead of £130m of work to upgrade the line and completely rebuild
OXFORDSHIRE & NORTH BUCKS COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS FABIAN Whitbread was the star of City of Oxford as they began the defence of their county championship team title at Bletchley. The 21-year-old laid down the gauntlet with a decisive win in
Jeff Sykora and Mason Wild return for Oxford City Stars’ English National League Division 2 Cup Group 2 match at home to Bristol Pitbulls tomorrow (6.15). Stars, who have a 100 per cent record, need only a point to win the group. Bristol could
Police want to speak to this couple after an elderly man had £2,500 taken from his coat in a distraction theft. The images were released yesterday after the cash was taken in Headington on December 4. Anyone who recognises the man or woman
A stranger punched and kicked a 40-year-old man police say may have been begging. The assault happened in New Inn Hall Street in the city centre at about 5.25pm on Sunday and the victim was treated at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital for a cut
IT WILL bring the community back together. That was the verdict of Rose Hill residents viewing final designs for the estate’s new community centre as it was revealed that construction could begin in April. Plans have been on display in the
CITY of Oxford’s Emily Wood qualified for the British Championships and Commonwealth Games trials when competing in the 200m breaststroke at the Derventio Excel February Festival level 1 gala in Sheffield. The 14-year-old produced a qualifying
Magdalen College School pupil Sarah Adams won’t be putting her feet up this half-term – she’ll be competing in the English Championships in Bormio, Italy. The 16-year-old sixth-former, who lives in Kidlington, is part of England’s development squad
THE parents of the highest ranking British Army officer killed in Afghanistan spoke of their pride at seeing his boots and uniform displayed at an exhibition on the Great War. And they told of their hope that it may serve as a reminder of the ongoing
COMEDY group the Oxford Imps delivered a showstopping tenth anniversary performance. The show on Thursday featured improvised sketches by members and set pieces by former “imps.” Canadian Thomas Toles, 22, – pictured second from left – joined
Tom Bristow will start for London Welsh at Cornish Pirates tomorrow after rejoining the club on loan from Leicester Tigers (3.45). Bristow, who made 33 appearances for Welsh last season, replaces Nathan Trevett at loosehead prop. The match,
GLOUCESTER Green in Oxford was filled with dancing protesters on Valentine’s Day yesterday as feminists gathered in defiance against violent relationships. The Oxford Rising protest, part of the national One Billion Rising campaign, saw scores
THE producers behind city band Foals have won a Brit Award for their work. Flood (Mark Ellis) and Alan Moulder won UK producer of the year at the Music Producers Guild (MPG) Awards on Thursday night for the 2013 album Holy Fire. It means they
YOUNGSTERS joined in Valentine’s Day fun for a good cause at a fundraising cake sale for Breast Cancer Awareness. The pre-schoolers from the Sandfield Day Nursery in Headington dressed in bright pink and red T-shirts to sell cakes. Sofia Billard
A NURSE who tried to smuggle a Nigerian baby into the UK with her husband is facing being struck off. Barton couple Gladys Effa-Heap and Dr Simon Heap were each handed 12-month suspended jail terms and told to do unpaid community work last year
CAMPAIGNERS have dismissed council changes to a controversial budget cut to services for the homeless. Oxfordshire County Council is planning to cut £1.5m from the current £4m homelessness services budget, as part of plans to save £64m over the
Forum B held British Rail to a draw to stay clear of the two relegation places in Division 1 of the Oxford & District Association. Fraser Harris was clearly Forum’s man-of-the-match. His maximum included the scalp of BR’s Ray Powell. Bicester
OXFORD University’s Museum of Natural History reopens today with a programme of activities to entice visitors in. The ‘Dawn ’til Dusk’ event follows a 14-month closure of the museum in Parks Road to allow for a £2m restoration project on its leaky
GENTWORKS OXFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE ANDY Toole produced the league’s best break of the week, but it could not save his Witney A side from defeat away to Riley A in Premier & Division 1. Premier club Riley already had a winning 4-1 lead
NEW Club scraped a 2-1 victory by the narrowest possible margin in the Gentworks Oxford & District League. Playing at home to Cowley Conservative Club B, New Club trailed when David White (+40) went down 200-176 to the visitors’ Jack Woods
Seb Jewell says there has been a greater buzz around London Welsh this week after their stellar victory over Rotherham Titans. The Exiles roared back to the top of the Greene King IPA Championship with a 47-16 hammering of Rotherham at the Kassam
THE Oxford Canal came to the rescue again last week, enabling clubs to stage matches while the county’s rivers were over their banks. Kidlington AS’s Harry Par-sons Trophy match on the New Bridge section of the canal produced some decent weights
Oxfordshire's Barney Lewis will be going for glory in Bormio, Italy, when he competes in the English Championships, which start tomorrow. Last year, Lewis, 18, won the under 18 title and now he is aiming to do it again in the under 21 men’s category
A FORMER nuclear physicist and Mastermind contestant says people who were trying to help him out of poverty have hit a brick wall. Martin Cresdee was discovered last year after living in squalor for five years with a mental disorder. His plight
Former Oxfordshire batsman Rob Williams starred with 56 not out as Preston Capes edged out Cropredy by 12 runs in Division 1 of the Banbury Indoor League. Williams and Tom Wilkins (33) led Capes to 141-5 from their ten overs. But Luke Cherry
THE Oxfordshire branch of the GB Pike Anglers Club hold their next fish-in on Wednesday, February 26 at Farmoor Reservoir 1. The match is bank fishing only from 8am-5pm. There is a limit of two rods and only sea deadbaits and rubber lures over
A MUM watched in horror as a purple rash covered her son’s body. Bridget Hopwood, from Judges Close, Kidlington, first thought her son Louis, nine, had meningitis when he was rushed to the Oxford Children’s Hospital five years ago. But doctors
PRIME Minister David Cameron took a break from discussing floods to reopen a popular pub in West Oxfordshire. Owners and customers at The Swan in Ascott-under-Wychwood put five years of campaigning, legal disputes and fundraising behind them as
FUNDRAISERS from the Play2Give organisation are now accepting entries for an annual boy’s football tournament to raise money for the Oxford Children’s Hospital. There are spaces available for teams in the under-nines and under-10s tournaments for
