Archive

  • Investigation under way into farmhouse fire near Banbury

    A FIRE broke out at a farmhouse in Epwell, near Banbury. Crews from Eynsham fire station were called at 8.38am this morning after a fire broke out in the roof of a building on Sibford Heath Farm. No ambulances were called to the scene and crews

  • Girls guided to reach the highest award

    IT IS the highest award a Girl Guide can get and Girlguiding Kidlington has never handed out more than one or two a year. But this year, 10 of the group’s Guides were awarded the Baden-Powell Challenge Award for their efforts teaching and helping

  • From Land’s End to John O’Groats by green power

    AFTER five years in development, an ecocar built by students at Bicester Community College could be heading into the record books. The teacher behind the project said he hoped the vehicle – which is powered by solar, wind and pedal power – could

  • Last orders as Blenheim Tea Rooms shuts up shop

    FOR years Blenheim Tea Rooms was a popular destination for diners from around the globe to enjoy cream teas and cucumber sandwiches. But now the tea rooms and guest house in Park Street, Woodstock, have closed after a drop in takings over recent

  • One lane blocked after three-car crash on the A34

    THREE cars have been involved in a crash on the A34 southbound. The accident is between the Milton Interchange and the Marcham Interchange, with one lane blocked. Ambulance crews were called to the scene at 6.40pm and one patient has been taken

  • Next phase of Bicester's eco-town has been approved

    THE next phase of Bicester's eco-town has been approved.  At a Cherwell District Council planning committee meeting tonight, councillors voted unanimously in favour of the next stage of plans which include 2,000 'much needed' new homes. Our

  • Former Oxford burlesque club to become council offices

    THE former home of Oxford’s burlesque club will be turned into Oxford City Council offices after planning officials unanimously supported the idea. The building in Oxpens Road, which was The Lodge club until January, will now become car park offices

  • Reports of three-vehicle collision in Foxhall Road, Didcot

    THERE are reports drivers are facing delays after a crash in Didcot. Thames Valley Police Inspector Mick Park said they was called at 5.33pm to a three-vehicle collision in Foxhall Road. Our top stories South Central Ambulance Service

  • Councils find a new home after HQ fire

    LEADERS at South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) have finalised a deal on a new home at a business park near Didcot. Milton Park was selected as the preferred location for about 400 staff from SODC and Vale of White Horse District Council after

  • Beer festival rolls out the barrel the medieval way

    CHARLBURY Beer Festival has gone medieval with its 18th celebration of yeast, hops and barley. This year’s festival will be themed around the historic charter, Magna Carta, agreed between King John and his barons 800 years ago on June 15, 1215.

  • College planning new visitor centre near historic meadow

    A NEW visitor centre could be built beside Oxford’s Christ Church Meadow. Christ Church has proposed building the centre, which would provide tourists with information about the college and the meadow. It would be built on the western side

  • Take care choosing name of your street

    BOOTY Lane, Crotch Crescent, Cock-A -Dobby. The British have a long and somewhat chequered history in street names. The people of Barton have the chance to say what those in the new Barton Park Estate should be called. They should seize

  • Phone box library still on cliffhanger

    BOOKS were removed from the shelves of Banbury’s now-famous phone box library as organisations continued their talks over its future. After initial outcry last month, when BT threatened to call time on the scheme, Banbury Town Council made an offer

  • Obituary: Pioneering archaeologist has died at 98

    AN ARCHAEOLOGIST and fellow of All Souls College who was a foremost authority on Roman Britain has died aged 98. Sheppard Frere was former Professor of the Archaeology of the Roman Empire at Oxford University and a respected figure in his field

  • Lack of nightlife bad for business claims councillor

    A LACK of nightclubs has made Witney safer, but is damaging the town’s economy, it has been claimed. The town’s neighbourhood police officer said efforts to reduce antisocial behaviour among drunken revellers have worked. But town councillor

  • Technician welcomes increase in wage levels for apprentices

    HARRY Tims is in the fast lane with a career at car dealer Ridgeway’s Jaguar showroom in Cumnor Hill. The 19-year-old welcomed the hike in minimum wages for apprentices announced by the Government this week. The increase, which comes into force

  • Teen boy has nose broken in attack by two boys in Abingdon

    A 17-year-old boy was assaulted by two teenagers in Abingdon yesterday. At about 1pm the boy was sitting on a bench at the junction of Bath Street and Letcombe Avenue with a friend. Two teenagers on bikes accompanied by a girl approached them

  • Fancy a hot steak, Jeremy, with gherkins?

    A BEEFEATER restaurant in Oxford has cheekily invited Jeremy Clarkson for a steak. The Top Gear presenter was suspended by the BBC last week after an alleged row about the lack of hot food provided after a day’s filming. Staff at the Beefeater

  • Definitely maybe: cruise ship Oasis is the queen of the seas

    Giles Woodforde takes a trip on Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas In the 1920s and 30s proud cinema owners delighted in adding an extra zero or two to their vital statistics. When they advertised the opening of their latest Ritz

  • Woodstock Barbers are here to stay

    The relationship between a man and his barber is an ancient and extraordinary one, which dates back to 296BC. Traditionally men of influence would be shaved daily by their barbers and it would be part of their lifestyle ritual. Pre-Wilkinson Sword

  • High tide reaches our shores

    A display of coastal work brings the sea inland for Artweeks 2015 and Esther Lafferty dips her toe in the water You can’t get much further from the English coastline than Oxfordshire: however, Oxford isn’t one of the world’s intellectual hotspots

  • Brunch at The Rickety Press

    The Rickety Press doesn’t just have food that tastes great, someone there has great taste in music too. It’s all subjective, of course, but the mix of the Stones, Leonard Cohen, Dylan and Motown that was playing while I enjoyed a late breakfast

  • Nibbles - The Saxon, Carluccio's and more

    * Can new Thai restaurant Thaikhun survive where so many have failed? Thaikhun’s new owners think so and are very excited about the April opening, despite the previous two restaurants, Cleaver and Fire & Stone failing on the George Street site

  • Old charm, new looks and a gastro Tweak

    Starting Up with Luke Champion @ The Hollybush It was a cold and wet evening by the river at the Cherwell Boathouse, celebrating my stepmother’s birthday, when my dad, John, mentioned they were strongly considering putting one of their pubs, The

  • Chef's Special with Mike Potts of Fallowfields

    My name is Mark Potts and I am head chef of Fallowfields, where I have worked for two years. I took over as head chef in October 2014. I first became a chef when I left school. I went to catering college and then a number of Michelin-starred restaurants

  • Film review - Wild Card starring Jason Statham

    Jason Statham’s winding path to the big screen is certainly unorthodox: market stall holder, member of the British National Diving Squad, fashion model for French Connection, stubbled action man with a heart of gold. Since his eye-catching debut

  • Children's author Liz Pichon will be big draw

    Katherine MacAlister talks to children’s author Liz Pichon who is set to appear at Oxford Literary Festival You will be able to spot Liz Pichon from a mile away when she appears at the Oxford Literary Festival on Sunday because she’ll be wearing

  • Acrobatic displays of a friendly sparrow

    Welcome once more to ornithology corner, that popular new part of the Gray Matter service. After my query some weeks ago concerning marauding seagulls around my house, which was so wittily answered in the letters column of The Oxford Times, I turn

  • Stunning showcase for the genius of McQueen

    Let us hear it at the outset, for once, not for the artist – and that, be assured, is what Alexander McQueen emphatically was, not to say a genius – but for the person who has worked tirelessly to lay before us the products of his preternatural talent

  • Odyssey to Thatcher era

    Anita Chaudhuri enjoys a quiet book on 1980s student life that speaks volumes Ananda is a lonely student, aspiring poet and transplanted Bengali living in a sketchy student flat with an assortment of other foreign students in the heart of London

  • New introductions to light up Chelsea

    There is still time to book tickets for the flower show, says Val Bourne, who enjoys visiting in the evening There are still some tickets remaining for this year’s Chelsea Flower Show (0844 338 0338/www.rhs.org.uk) held between May 19 and May 23

  • Thought for the Daley

    Giles Woodforde finds out how nation’s top diver prompted a show on coming out ‘It’s inspired by the ‘pitch perfect’ coming out of Tom Daley,” says Thomas Hescott of the show Outings, which he’s co-written with Matthew Baldwin. “For every cool

  • Divided tale becomes clear at final curtain’s fall

    We frequently take the plunge, artistically speaking, at the North Wall, a venue fashioned from a former swimming pool and known for adventurous programming. This was certainly the case on Friday, when Ridiculusmus brought us their startling four-hander

  • All My Sons is finally written but something lacking

    Giles Woodforde feels this production of All My Sons never quite lifts off In 1947, Joe Keller and his wife Kate are living the all-American dream in their sparkling Ohio house. But a very nasty question festers beneath the wholesome surface. During

  • Upcoming highlights - Remi Harris, Mercury and more

    Jazz REMI HARRIS Kennington Village Hall Saturday Tickets £12 from 01584 881564 One of our finest gypsy jazz guitarists, Remi Harris brings his fluid style to this cosy venue. The 26-year-old hails from Herefordshire but channels Romany

  • Soundbites - Judge Jules and more

    * It’s turning out to be a great year for fans of Oxford’s musical legends, particularly those for whom the glory days were the 1990s. First we had former Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes getting everyone very excited with his second solo effort

  • Fighting talk from the hard man of rock JJ Burnel

    Tim Hughes talks to notorious Stranglers bassist JJ Burnel, and finds him delightful This was not supposed to happen. I was supposed to be talking to Jean-Jacques Burnel, strapping bass player with The Stranglers, and a man with one of the most

  • Centenarian remembers Arctic convoys

    Maggie Hartford talks to one of the few remaining veterans of the Arctic Convoys At 100, John Lloyd is now one of only a handful of people still alive who served on the Arctic Convoys, described by war leader Winston Churchill as “the worst journey

  • Touch of TLC brings old pub back to life

    Katherine MacAlister follows the trail of a favourite landlord to his latest country pub restaurant It was a dream coupling, one of my favourite landlords taking on a pub with enormous potential and in need of a bit of TLC. It was akin to Posh

  • The Judge won't budge! Superstar DJ holds court

    By day a showbiz lawyer, but by night one of the world’s leading DJs, Judge Jules tells Tim Hughes about his exciting double life - and passes judgement on dancefloor misdemeanors All rise for the Judge! One of the original superstar DJs, Judge

  • How finding money can be a costly business

    Rosemarie spotted a £10 note lying in the road, which was nice – though not for us. The road in question was in Wootton, at the point where the Abingdon-bound number 4 buses perform a reverse turn before proceeding on their way. We were on one

  • The Eagle has landed

    Christopher Gray gets a taste of Slovakia from a chef bringing the flavours from his home to the fore The Eastern European influence on the catering world is obvious in the front-of-house staffing in our restaurants and pubs — where would we be

  • Writer who changed our tastes in cuisine

    Exploring an exhibition about legendary food writer Jane Grigson, Helen Peacocke finds that a legacy of cookbooks is also a treasure trove in terms of a social history of the English speaking world I am sure I am not alone in admitting my collection

  • Enjoy Easter tradition at Happy Valley

    The BBOWT’s Andy Gunn invites you to a Chilswell Valley family picnic on Good Friday When the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) started work on Chilswell Valley, a nature reserve owned by Oxford City Council on the edge of Boars Hill

  • Film review - Home starring Rihanna

    Damon Smith takes a thrill ride with a Divergent sequel and makes friends with aliens Humans and cute aliens unite to save Earth in Tim Johnson’s entertaining but contrived computer-animated adventure. The new dog performing old tricks on the

  • All colours are green

    Sarah Mayhew Craddock meets a designer who is keen to promote ethical fashion collections The fashion industry is famed for being cut-throat, but the warning, “You’d better watch your back,” has different and equally sinister tones when considering

  • Time to salute the Russians with Burford Orchestra

    Nicola Lisle talks to conductor Andrew Gray ahead of Burford Orchestra’s concert Still riding high after its 60th anniversary celebrations last year, Burford Orchestra launches its 2015 season on Saturday with a mainly Russian programme that includes

  • Passport to extraordinary history at Arthur Brown show

    Taking a break from live shows with The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, the amazingly operatic, progressive artiste extraordinaire brought his An Evening With show to Oxford. This is not your average Cellar gig however. It’s seated, for a start, and

  • For Art's Sake with Chris Dobrowolski

    Two lifetimes of memories and one family car as Chris Dobrowolski takes journey from Mussolini to Elvis All Roads Lead to Rome is a true, one-man performance about my car. It’s a very ordinary Triumph Herald 1200 estate, bought by my dad, brand

  • Dragons to House dinosaurs at Oxford Literary Festival

    The Oxford Literary Festival, which starts on Saturday, has a stellar line-up of more than 500 speakers from 20 countries. The highlights include Philip Pullman, Alan Bennett, Amitav Ghosh and Judith Kerr, and we have hand-picked five intriguing events

  • Funnyman Tony Hawks rides into town

    Katherine MacAlister talks to Tony Hawks ahead of his appearances at the Oxford Literary Festival and Glee Club Tony Hawks, the eternal bachelor, famous comedian, notorious TV personality and successful author, best known for his off-the-wall projects

  • Memories of Joyce

    I WAS reading all these letters about the No.8 bus service with fond memories of the service. I used to live at the bottom of the Abingdon Road just before it terminated in Canning Crescent and I used to travel to school on it to St Joseph’s in St

  • Answers to the No.8 bus all come along at once

    YOU have had a few replies to the request for information about the number 8 bus but, I thought I’d add my small contribution. The family home was in Ferry Road and the No 8 was our only local bus, which went from Marston village through central

  • We're such a trendy lot

    BICESTER Railway Station is going to be renamed Bicester Village when it reopens in September - sounds trendy being named after the designer outlet, doesn’t it? What about London Oxford Airport, which is actually based in Kidlington, and Oxford

  • Television programme shows daily battle with the vandals

    READERS may have seen last Sunday’s television programme Great Canal Journeys on Channel 4. Starring Timothy West and Prunella Scales the programme documents their love for the nation’s canals – including the historic Oxford Canal. The programme

  • And a big thank-you

    MY thanks to all of your readers who responded to my letter (March 11) about the route of the No. 8 bus in the Sixties. Apart from the replies to the Oxford Mail (which I have been following, from afar, online) I am still getting letters by post

  • Let’s be honest John . . .

    JOHN MADEN (March 11) claims that immigration in the UK will lead to “considerable swathes of greenfield sites” being encroached on to accommodate people coming here and asks what the Green Party would do. Mr Maden could start by being more honest

  • Shameful situation in the NHS must not continue

    YES it’s true that poor housing and deplorable levels of pay is a major barrier to recruitment at the Oxford University Hospitals Trust (£100,000 a day to keep NHS in staff, March 16) and much of the blame for the pay issue rests with central government

  • Why we all need to hear local election candidates

    Maybe it’s me, but one of the most depressing ideas of last year – widely circulated and made fashionable – was Russell Brand’s nihilistic view that engagement in conventional politics is useless and we should all forget about voting or participating

  • Irish eyes smiling at St Patrick’s day prize

    THERE’S a lot to be said for the luck of the Irish. Imagine celebrating your birthday on St Patrick’s Day after winning more than £3,000 on national TV. Ryan Gallacher, 24, found the pot of gold at the end of his rainbow after scooping the

  • Roundabout roadworks set for approval

    FINAL approval for roadworks at two major North Oxford junctions is expected to be given this morning. Oxfordshire County Council has proposed the £9m overhaul of Wolvercote and Cutteslowe roundabouts to improve traffic flows. It would see

  • Launch of cricket season is first sign of summer

    IT’S a sure sign that summer is on the way at last. The new cricket season got under way at Oxford University Parks yesterday as an MCC Universities inter-squad match took place ahead of the first official fixture – a one-day friendly against Leicestershire

  • Video: Weston library ready for business

    OXFORD’S new £80m Weston Library throws its doors open to the public for the first time on Saturday. But here is an early glimpse of what will await visitors arriving at the Blackwell Hall, the vast 15.5m-high entrance foyer. It has been created

  • Westgate car park demolition as revamp underway

    LARGE chunks of the Westgate’s multi-storey car park have now been cleared away as demolition of the 1970s structure continues. Work at the site began in late February, kicking off the £440 million redevelopment of the shopping centre. It will

  • RACING: Cathy Gannon out of luck on comeback

    There was no fairytale return for Wantage-based jockey Cathy Gannon as she made her comeback at Chelmsford City yesterday after being sidelined since November 2013. The 33-year-old rider, who had been out of action with a persistent shoulder injury

  • ICE HOCKEY: Masteleriu is released by Oxford

    Romanian international Zsolt Masteleriu has been let go by Oxford City Stars. The signing of the experienced 26-year-old defenceman last summer had been hailed by the club as sending a strong message to the rest of English League South Division

  • BAR BILLIARDS: Trafford clinches place in semi-final

    Mark Trafford marched into the semi-finals of the Johnsons Buildbase Oxford & District League’s Men’s Individual Cup, writes PETE EWINS. The Kennington player comfortably defeated Headington Conservative Club’s Sid Ponting on aggregate to reach

  • Talking shop helps villagers

    Abi Johnson was a newcomer to Sandford-on-Thames when she and others started up Talking Shop. With small children, she found it wasn’t easy to meet other people.  There was no school, no shop, no post office – the places where one can usually go

  • Your say is wanted on Bicester’s bid for garden city status

    FEARS have been raised that the views of people in Bicester could be ignored as the town embarks on a major scheme to become a garden city. At a meeting last Thursday Cherwell District Council leader Barry Wood has called for more public engagement

  • Parky at the Pictures (In Cinemas 19/3/2015)

    There is no DVD column this week, as we have chosen instead to welcome back BFI Flare for the 29th edition of the London LGBT Film Festival. Running between 19-29 March at BFI Southbank, the UKs longest-running screen event for lesbian, gay, bisexual

  • Mental health charity's good work lands its £30k cash boost

    THOUSANDS of pounds awarded to a mental health charity for its “impressive” work will help it continue to support hundreds of people across Oxfordshire. East Oxford’s Restore is one of nine nationwide winners of a GSK Impact Award, which recognises

  • Parky at the Pictures (In Cinemas 19/3/2015)

    Dramatic nuance is in short supply in several of the pictures on offer this week. In fairness to Xavier Dolan, the 25 year-old Quebecois wunderkind has never shied away from over melodrama in his previous four features: I Killed My Mother (2009); Heartbeats

  • Hospital car parking needs review

    Anyone who has visited Oxford's main hospitals recently will be thankful that Sir Peter Morris has spoken out about the car parking situation. Sir Peter, for many years a distinguished Nuffield Professor of Surgery in Oxford, expressed his sympathy

  • BOWLS: Oxon make big changes to Middleton Cup squad

    Oxfordshire have made sweeping changes to their Middleton Cup squad after their unsuccessful campaign last year. They failed to reach the later stages last season after finishing third of the five teams in South Group Section B. Manager Steve

  • AUNT SALLY: Hooky beat Wroxton to win shield

    Hook Norton captured the Banbury Indoor League’s Handicap Shield with a 2-1 win over Wroxton Heath in the final. Six Bells’ Roger Goodall will face North Oxford Conservative Club’s Pete Dempsey in the Kidlington Indoor League’s singles final.

  • Health warning for Britain over air pollution today

    BRITAIN has been placed on a health alert because a potentially dangerous cloud of air pollution is blowing over the country. Experts said the smog could cause fatal asthma attacks and have warned the elderly and those with health problems to be

  • Treasure trail guides students into ancient world

    ANCIENT treasures are being placed around an Oxford school to lead children’s imaginations through classical history. East Oxford Community Classics Centre launched the project on Friday to give youngsters a glimpse into Roman times and beyond.

  • Government delivers Budget with some pre-election sweeteners

    THE Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, yesterday delivered an election Budget that was both business friendly and designed to appeal to lowincome earners. Mr Osborne said: “Our goal is for Britain to become the most prosperous major economy

  • RUGBY: Oxford’s juniors in double county cup triumph

    OXFORD RFC enjoyed a superb cup double as the under 13s and 14s were crowned county champions at Henley’s Dry Leas base. The under 13s beat Henley 32-17. Dan Kelly (2), Guss Miller, Charlie Atkinson, Alfie Becket and Will James scoring. The

  • Police vow to stop a suburban boom of summer drug abuse

    SYRINGES left in the street and youngsters taking drugs in parks as warmer weather hits will be tackled, police have promised worried residents. Police said they were playing a long game to crack down on drug use in South Oxford, through “covert