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AN INJURED person was rushed to the John Radcliffe Hospital tonight after a lorry was involved in a crash with two cars. South Central Ambulance Service spokeswoman Catherine Morrow said the incident had taken place at 7.46pm on the A4130, at the

WINDY weather has been a worry for the green-fingered across the county as they prepare to open their gardens to the public this weekend. They are hoping the sun will start shining down on them so their plants and flowers look their best for the

A college became the last at Oxford University to agree to admit women tonight in a historic ballot. Trustees at St Benet’s Hall, in St Giles, voted to make college co-educational, 136 years after the first women’s colleges opened. A suitable

OXFORD’S dreaming spires have proved inspiration for literary heavyweights such as JRR Tolkien and Philip Pullman. And the city has proved muse again, this time for first-time author Annie Boon. The writer, from Wantage, spent six years wandering

A SIX-YEAR-OLD boy took to fundraising like a fish to water and raised hundreds of pounds for sick children in a swimming challenge. Harry Snelgrove swam 12 lengths – 120 metres – to raise cash for a Hampshire hospice that had helped friends of

THE city’s biggest street extravaganza may have to be scaled back unless more people pledge their support this summer. Organisers of the Cowley Road Carnival are getting ready for the annual festivities that will run in East Oxford on July 5.

A CAR fire has caused queuing traffic on the A40 westbound between Burford and Witney. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue service was called to the fire at 4.02pm, which has now been put out. One lane was blocked by the car and the fire service but

Sir – This is a warning to those who use the post box outside the old Post Office in Witney. Beware of birds in the trees above. I was just about to post a letter on Sunday morning, when a bird “fouled” my letter from a great height. Fortunately

Major changes must be made to the way Oxfordshire County Council delivers services or they will “wither and die”, a senior councillor warned. Cabinet member for finance, Lawrie Stratford, said the authority had to form partnerships with other organisations

Sir – I enjoyed Chris Gray’s recollection of F.E. Smith (Lord Birkenhead), (Gray Matter, May 28). When the House of Lords was in session, F. E. regularly walked there from the Law Courts in the Strand, stopping at the National Liberal Club in Whitehall

GUESTS from the world of motorsport enjoyed a pit stop at Oxford Brookes as it unveiled a new racing car. The 1964 Formula 1 World Champion John Surtees OBE was on hand to present a car produced by the university’s Formula Student team. The

Sir – I was delighted to read the article on tram trains. I hope that I can remind your readers that myself and my friend councillor John Howson have been banging on about this topic for a long time to anyone who will listen. We even put a

Sir – I would like to thank all those who turned out on Sunday, May 24, to witness The Rifles, the County Regiment, exercise the Freedom of The City of Oxford. I know that I along with my fellow Riflemen from the Royal Green Jacket Association

Sir – I am writing to tell you about our charity, which supports the Churchill Hospital and The John Radcliffe Hospital. The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust is a charity which funds research into cancers affecting young people in the age group 13

Sir – I was wondering if any of your readers could tell me about the bees we experienced in our garden last summer. I was aware that some bees were becoming interested in one of our bird boxes; as the numbers grew they became very aggressive should

Sir – Regarding the comments on setting up a cycle route through Florence Park, I would like to point out that the park is already used as a cycle route, even though it has a by-law, set when the park was built, which prohibits cycling and notices

Sir – Cloud cuckoo land. That is where you will find the planners and councillors who believe the proposed changes at Wolvercote roundabout will make things better. They are proposing that two of the approaches are made wide enough for three lanes

Sir – I would like to express my appreciation of a brave decision made by the Oxford Bus Company. Following the loss of financial support from the county council it would have been very convenient for the company to withdraw the evening and Sunday

Sir – I am so pleased for Abingdon residents that the Vale of White Horse District Council has backed the opinion of more than 2,000 who campaigned to keep the “much loved” outdoor pool open. Compare this to Oxford City Council, who ignored petitions

Sir – David Cameron was right to put climate change back on the agenda with this week’s Queen’s speech. But as the world prepares to reach a global climate deal in Paris later this year, we need local and national action as well as words. Climate

Sir – Lord Segal (Times Past, May 21) was a noted Labour politician who had an important role in establishing the NHS and so his statements ought to be regarded with respect and he was certainly on target when calling for the development of the city

Sir – I read the proposals for transport in Oxford with some alarm. It seems that the ‘Ken Livingstone’ approach to traffic management is alive and well here. This is the idea that by infuriating motorists as far as possible they will stop using

Sir – I refer to your article Sounding Off, and Johnny Hinkes letter (May 28). Concerning the picture of buskers with Mark Thomas, that seems good because not an amplified, or instrument connected to an amplifier is in sight. Concerning Johnny

Sir – There was an important difference between the two leading columns on May 28 The first extolled the advantages of the proposed redevelopment of Osney Mead including the potential of hundreds of new jobs. The second, claiming the existence

Sir – Matt Oliver’s article (Thursday, May 14, Nearly 300 homes could be built on playing field, subject to negotiations refers to Oxford City Council’s Diamond Place Draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). Although this explains that the

Sir – I was on holiday in Catalunya by coach and only discovered the local election results on May 18. Here in Oxfordshire, they were what I expected, but I was amazed to learn that nationally the four million UKIP voters had only got one MP, while

Sir – There are currently two competing attempts to establish a Free School in Oxford – one led by Toby Young’s West London Free School, emphasising grammar and languages (not the much needed science, technology and mathematics), the other led by Cherwell

You hardly need to have advanced too many years to remember a time when photography was something reserved for holidays and special occasions. If you fancied yourself as the next David Bailey, it might be that you would pack an extra reel with

Alison Boulton meets the National Trust head who has lived in Oxford for 40 years For most of her local journeys around Oxford – a city Dame Helen Ghosh has lived in for more than 40 years, including her time as a student – Helen believes in pedal

William Poole asks if grade inflation or hard work is the reason for more first class degree results I met a man recently who claimed to have gained a fourth class degree. That’s an impressive achievement if true – these days we only award

Ahead of the city’s Pride parade at the weekend, Richard Howlett focuses on a new gay night a ‘new’ type of gay night in Oxford It started as a throwaway comment. A friend suggested that we organise our own gay night, after a somewhat deflated

I have lately been having something of a jag – as mentioned here more than once – on the works of Arnold Bennett, whom I consider to be a most unjustly neglected novelist. Among my recent delights has been the rediscovery of his Clayhanger trilogy

There has been a noticeable increase over recent months in the number of photographs of steam trains appearing in the two newspapers I read, The Times and the Daily Telegraph. They make a welcome change, in the case of the second, from studies

A McDonald's has been robbed for the second time in two days. At 12.50am today, a man entered the McDonald's in Oxford Road, Benson, and demanded staff open the safe. A member of staff gave the man some cash before the robber stole more cash

A former broadcaster and writer, who was chairman of Oxford-based charity Oxfam, has died aged 88. Mary Cherry, who lived in the city, was an agriculture journalist for the BBC World Service and chairman of Oxfam from 1989 to 1995. She took

PEOPLE living with dementia are taking over the airwaves in a new radio play featuring them speaking about their memories. The play features members of an activities club for people with dementia in Carterton recounting their childhood and adolescence

An Oxford speedway racer, who established himself as one of the city’s leading riders in the 1960s, has died aged 83. Danish champion Arne Pander rode for the Cheetahs between 1959 and 1968 and was the team’s first international star. Before

HOARDS of tourists, shoppers and businesspeople can make Oxford a pretty hectic place sometimes. But right in the city centre hides an Oasis of calm and tranquility – Inner Space. Situated in busy Broad Street, the walk-in meditation centre

Matt Oliver talks to the baking star who is to open the Blenheim Palace Flower Show It is only in its third year, but already the Blenheim Palace Flower Show has an enthusiastic endorsement from Mary Berry. “From what I have heard it’s like

What murder suspect Jed Allen did with £100 hours before his death could help trace his last steps, police say. Officers are still trying to work out the final movements of Allen, who was subject to a massive manhunt after three people were found

It's a good thing I’ve never really enjoyed the summer break because all holidays have been cancelled this year, but for a great reason. It’s a real honour that the Yamaha factory team considered me to ride for them in the prestigious Suzuka eight-hour

Houses have been evacuated in Cogges Hill Road following a barbeque fire. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue was called to a house in the road just after 1pm today as the barbecue, which used a gas cylinder, was “completely engulfed” in flames. Area

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POLICE divers are searching part of the River Thames at Sandford Lock. They were called to the area near the Kings Arms pub at about 12.45pm.  DC Boschell at the scene has told our reporter Martin Elvery they are doing a "short search

A laboratory had to be evacuated after a chemical leak last night. Students at the Clarendon Laboratory in Parks Road noticed a noxious smell at about 10pm and the building was evacuated. Fire crews from Oxford City station, along with a specialist

A FORMER Abingdon School pupil is cycling from Budapest to London in memory of his teacher’s son Skye Hall. Clym Buxton got behind the cause when the five-year-old son of the school’s director of sport Andrew Hall died last August as a result of

TWO brothers have set themselves the challenge of cycling 280 miles from Grove to Land’s End in August. The pair, who live in Main Street, Grove, have been training for the past few months and are hoping to raise money for the Oxford branch of

OXFORD-BASED independent commercial property firm Meeson Williams Phillips has been acquired by national property consultancy Bidwells. The nine-strong Meeson Williams Phillips team moved into Bidwells’ offices in Seacourt Tower, Botley, this week

BIG-NAME brands and a series of attractions including a beach and an F1 simulator are among plans to bring more shoppers back to Cowley’s Templars Square shopping centre. Bonmarche opens on June 16, while Game is coming “imminently” and recruiting

I HAVE noticed recently that the lights in the new parking section at Thornhill Park and Ride are switched off late at night. I understand the need to save electricity but I think it would be possible to install some motion activated lights in

ALTHOUGH one may have hoped and imagined that such activities were already covered by the law of the land, I am glad that “persistent and aggressive begging” and “street drinking in circumstances which endanger public safety” are to be included in

I WAS puzzled by Oxfordshire County Council’s idea of limiting parking on A40 laybys to 30 minutes, in order to tackle the use of layby toilets for sex (May 21). I’ve never had sex in a layby toilet (am I missing something in life?), but presumably

A “CHARMING” burglar who tried to get into a woman’s bedroom while she blocked the door with her body was sentenced to 40 months in prison. Andrew Adams, 27, was sentenced for two burglaries in Oxford on May 6 at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday and

Jaine Blackman can’t make up her mind over Berkoff’s novel about a serial philanderer As you may gather from the title Sod The Bitches!, actor, author, playwright and theatre director Steven Berkoff’s first novel – like much of his work – is not

Katherine MacAlister passes an old favourite place to eat to sample what may become a new one It takes a lot for me to drive past The Milk Shed. A massive human endeavour actually. But that’s exactly what I did, hands gripping the steering

Wendy Tobitt takes a look at what’s in store during the Oxford Festival of Nature The Oxford Festival of Nature this week and next is encouraging hundreds of people to explore their local river banks, lakes, woods and commons, discovering places

* Oxford heroes Ride cement what has been a triumphant comeback tour with a headline set this Sunday at the Field Day festival. IT has been a long time in the waiting, but Oxford indie-rock heroes Ride are to make their first UK festival appearance

Dr Lewis Owens, author of the play Like a chemist from Canada. Shostakovich, Isaiah Berlin and Oxford on the visit of the famous Soviet composer Dmitry Shostakovich to Oxford University Ten years ago, with the help of Henry Hardy (Isaiah Berlin

As Garsington Opera launches its season, Stuart Macbeth meets some of the stars I’m on way to see Garsington Opera rehearse for their forthcoming season. So far it’s not what I had expected. For one thing I’m crossing a concrete flyover in

Gill Oliver returns to the stunning coastline area to take in its jaw-dropping views, fresh seafood and relaxing atmosphere Strolling along the stretch of white-gold sand known locally as ‘Gylly’ beach, I was trying to remember how long it was

After 25 years, Cowley Road stalwarts Cocos and Aziz are staying ahead of the game. Katherine MacAlister discovers why It's been a year of celebrating and reminiscing on Cowley Road as two of its oldest and most popular restaurants Cocos and Aziz

Katherine MacAlister chats to a co-founder of Idle Motion ahead of their return to the city Kate Stanley is nervous about coming back to Oxford, even though she co-founded and runs Idle Motion, a hugely successful theatre company. There is

Oxford heroes Ride cement what has been a triumphant comeback tour with a headline set this Sunday at the Field Day festival. The indie-rock band, who only confirmed their reunion in November, have already delighted fans on a UK tour which began

The legacy of The Drifters is a long one but, as Tim Hughes discovers, their soulful brand of R&B remains as popular as ever They are one of the world’s greatest vocal groups, with a string of hits and a history going back 60 years. And, amazingly

I WAS delighted to read the article on tram trains on Monday. I hope that I can remind your readers that myself and my friend Cllr John Howson have been banging on about this topic for a long time to anyone who will listen. We even put a motion

I COMMUTE between junctions 9 and 8a of the M40 twice a day, five days a week and have never seen an accident, despite your story (June 1) that accident numbers are on the increase. It is obvious that the people of the Bicester Traffic Action Group

YOU have to be bold and road savvy to use a bicycle in Oxford, I’ve been told. I saw such a person; a middle-aged man, kitted out in hi-vis gear and a helmet. Undaunted, he sailed across the Speedwell Street junction and up St Aldate’s, scattering

DO UNION members get asked where cash goes? (June 1) Worth an answer before anyone should believe that the trade union political funds are not accounted for, which they most definitely are. Trade union accounts are published and open to annual

OXFORD MAGISTRATES Martin Rendell, 24, of Prestwick Burn, Didcot, admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress in White Leys Close, Didcot, on April 26. Sent to prison for eight weeks

Mike North discusses the recent refurbishment of his Michelin-starred pub and restaurant The Nut Tree in Murcott which he runs with his wife Imogen Imogen and I were fortunate enough to buy the freehold of The Nut Tree Inn, Murcott in 2006.

To celebrate British Flowers Week, florists choose five of their favourites and offer advice on how to grow them. Hannah Stephenson reports I’ve always found that buying flowers is so much less rewarding than growing them myself. When I see a beautiful

Marc Evans enjoys a taste of East London chic, and a formidable late breakfast, at the Andaz Liverpool Street Forgive me for starting at the end, but chronology was never my strong point. Brunch is now my favourite meal of the day. I didn’t

Giles Woodforde goes behind the scenes at the Oxford School of Drama It doesn’t immediately strike you as a powerhouse, but that’s what it is. The Oxford School of Drama (OSD) sits in an idyllic rural setting just outside Woodstock, its Cotswold

David Bellan enjoys the spins and twists of three performers at the peak of their physical – and artistic – abilities Bromance is the title of the debut show by a group of three physical performers whose company goes by the name of Barely Methodical

Three hearty cheers for the SatMatCo or, to spell out its full monicker, the Saturday Matinee Company. This is a newly launched Oxford-based outfit designed to bring us drama, direct and unadorned, in a short, sharp burst on Saturday lunchtimes

The Royal Shakespeare Company's main-house production of The Merchant of Venice comes at the same time as the next-door Swan Theatre is airing Christopher Marlowe's The Jew of Malta, which in many ways supplies the template for the play, specifically

Nicola Lisle looks forward to a real musical treat at a choral concert Four of the best composers in the world,” is how Duncan Saunderson sums up the programme for Summertown Choral Society’s forthcoming concert. And with Handel, Mozart, Verdi

Tim Hughes talks to Goldfrapp’s Will Gregory about his new project celebrating the art and science of the synthesizer - The Moog Ensemble He is known the world over as one-half of groundbreaking electro-pop duo Goldfrapp, but for his latest project

R&B The Drifters New Theatre Oxford Tonight Tickets £28.90-£75.90 from atgtickets.com The ever-evolving, constantly renewing American vocal group return for a trip through their 60-year history under the leadership of the talented Michael

Theresa Thompson looks at exhibitions of science and the senses This is a really exciting time for the museum,” said Professor Paul Smith, director of Oxford’s Museum of Natural History. He was talking about not only the museum being on the

What did you think? I thought it was alright. We went right to the top. The whole place was massive but empty so there was no atmosphere. It did not help that the toilets were right at the top either because it was so smelly we had to move downstairs

Chef's Special with Tonia Buxton, author of Eat Greek for a Week A qualified nutritionist, Tonia Buxton takes a new approach to Greek cooking. With over 50 recipes from Tzatiki to Souvlaki, this book provides seven-day eating plans, which are

Starting Up with Ollie Halas @ Circus Sauce When it comes to bohemian al fresco dining, Circus Sauce is the ultimate gastronomic experience. Rolling into towns and villages, Circus Sauce is the UK’s only travelling restaurant and accompanies

Catherine Bearder MEP for the South East region and former Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council member Human rights are fundamental to everyone in Oxfordshire. It’s about challenging the power of government, councils and

In the premier league of festivals, little Wychwood is far from being either the biggest, best-known, or beautiful. But it can lay claim to being among the best-loved in the land. Over the course of its 11 year history it has attracted a loyal

SIXTH formers could attend anti-sexism classes if equality campaigners get enough support for their project. Pilot sessions have already been held with about 25 students at St Edward’s School, Oxford, thanks to organisers of The Good Lad Workshops

A COLLAPSED hole has closed Walton Street between Richmond Road and Worcester Place. Driver David Hearn, 51, from Jericho, drove into the hole yesterday at about 7.30pm while on his way to a Quaker meeting in Faringdon. He and passenger, Jonathan

Graham Scott has reaped the reward for years of hard work after being promoted to the Premier League’s select group of referees. The 46-year-old was informed of his elevation this week, and will effectively replace Chris Foy in the 17-strong band

An Oxfordshire medical firm has won an industry award for its diabetes pen needle tip that encourages more frequent needle change. Woodstock company Owen Mumford won the international Red Dot Award in Product Design for its Unifine Pentips Plus needle

MURDERED Jayden Parkinson’s mother says she is “absolutely livid” after killer Ben Blakeley seemingly celebrated that he will not spend an extra day in prison for bottling a man. Blakeley was seen punching the air in apparent celebration after

ONE dog bit off more than he could chew after he swallowed a spoon during dinner. The family of one-year-old Maximus were feeding lamb to the dog – and were stunned when he took the cutlery with it too. The Shar Pei was rushed to Bicester Vets

Fire investigators and police are working to determine how a blaze started in a school building yesterday morning. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was called at 11.19am to St Birinus School, in Mereland Road, where there was a fire

A severe weather warning has been issued for heavy rain for Oxfordshire tomorrow. The Met Office warns that thunderstorms are likely to unleash “intense downpours” and said “frequent lightning could prove to be a hazard”. It said: “The public

THOUSANDS of people in Oxford are still living in shared houses below the minimum standards despite a council crackdown. Inspectors have discovered cockroach infestations, damp, electrical hazards and poor fire safety in some of the homes across

HEADINGTON A continued their fine early-season form to defeat Carterton 5-1 and return to the top of Division 1 in the Oxfordshire League, sponsored by Bridle Insurance. Big wins for the rinks led by Howard Watts and Ian Snowdon saw Headington,

4:13pm McDonald's in Benson robbed for second time in two days by someone armed with baseball bat 2:55pm Houses evacuated in Cogges Hill Road following

Abingdon's Eddie Pepperell believes the thrill of qualifying for his first Open Championship will help him through a fourth successive tournament this weekend. The 24-year-old tees off at the Nordea Masters in Sweden today off the back of his highest-placed

Oxford United are understood to have spoken to former Scunthorpe United goalkeeper Sam Slocombe about a possible move to the Kassam Stadium. The 26-year-old made 115 appearances for the Iron after joining from local side Bottesford Town in 2008

The soon-to-be vice chancellor of Oxford University sparked an online furore after saying America “overreacted” to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Speaking at a London conference, Professor Louise Richardson claimed the attack provoked such a response

HEAVY barriers have replaced temporary traffic lights and cones after reports exasperated drivers were throwing them off the road. Drivers in Kennington apparently got so fed-up with a eight-month road closure of Bagley Wood Road they started moving

The Ashmolean Museum will today launch a public campaign to raise the final £60,000 needed to save for the nation a major work by the painter JMW Turner. The High Street, Oxford (1810), right, has been on loan to the museum from a private collection

OXFORDSHIRE made a flying start to their Middleton Cup campaign with a resounding 135-103 win over Buckinghamshire at Waddesdon. The emphatic victory in the South Group Section B opener saw Oxon pick up 19 points to the hosts’ three. Oxon led

There's a Latin American feel to the four films under review in this weeks DVD column. As befits a master of `slow cinema', Lisandro Alonso has steadily been building a reputation for elliptical, enigmatic pictures, in which narrative plays a tertiary

THE MANAGER of a Kidlington fish and chip shop has warned it may have to shut if a proposed new takeaway opens in the village. Mauro Braiotta, manager of The Rainbow chip shop in High Street, admitted the shop was already struggling for business

It has taken a while for mumblecore to start exerting its influence on the American mainstream and it will be interesting to see how many of this fiercely independent coterie's big names manage to resist the temptation of sacrificing creative control

OXFORDSHIRE Under 25s have started the season in fine style. As well as qualifying for the regional finals of the White Rose National Double Rink competition for a third successive season, they also won the opening Junior Home Counties League fixture

PLANS to ban “persistent begging” in Oxford by the city council have been criticised by groups that support homeless people. They say the proposed Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), which looks to stop antisocial behaviour in the city centre

THE county councillor in charge of education across Oxfordshire has said the authority needs more control to help turn around failing schools. It comes after the Government unveiled plans to force all schools graded ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted to convert

A DRIVER was lucky to escape without more serious injuries in a crash involving a lorry and a van. There were major delays yesterday morning on the A34 around Abingdon following the crash shortly before 6.30am. It happened on the northbound

THEY are known for roaming the earth more than 125 million years ago. But locals and tourists in Oxford had a surprise trip back in time when a dinosaur head went through the city. The iguanodon head was carried from the Museum of Natural History

An 18-year-old man has been charged with attempted grievous bodily harm on a 22-year-old man in Sinclair Avenue, Banbury, on January 21, said police. Leon Cole, of Alma Road, Banbury, was released on bail to appear at North Oxford Magistrates’

A MOTORIST who performed a handbrake turn and cut across three lanes of traffic has been jailed for dangerous driving. Aiman Ahmed, of Newland Road, Banbury, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court to a total of 16 months’ imprisonment for two counts

ABINGDON United hope to name their new manager before the end of the week as part of a host of changes at the club. United parted ways with Gary Ackling, assistant Andy Lyne and coach Rob Wytchard last month after escaping relegation from the Uhlsport

TARA Kafke continued her fine form since returning from a 24-month injury lay-off to win two events in the Southern Athletics League for Radley AC. The 26-year-old claimed the 200m and 400m titles in the Division 2 West match at Plymouth as Radley

OXFORDSHIRE Ladies got off to a solid start in their Johns Trophy campaign at Flemming Park, beating the Isle of Wight by 47 shots and picking up 18 points. Oxon led throughout and cruised to a 142-95 victory, winning on four rinks. They face

AN OXFORD-BASED slam poet hopes to give his career a boost with a little help from investors. Leeds-born artist Steve Larkin has lived in the city since 2002. During that time he has founded the successful slam poetry night Hammer and Tongue, which

HEALTH service bosses have been criticised for allowing a disused building in Jericho to languish for almost three years. The former Jericho Health Centre, on the corner of Cranham Street and Walton Street, closed in July 2012 when its services

STEVEN Sheard saw off Kennington teammate Mark Trafford to retain his Johnsons Buildbase Oxford & District League men’s individual title at Gladiators Club, writes PETE EWINS. A 2-0 victory sealed a fifth title in six years for Sheard.

NEW Banbury MP Victoria Prentis has spoken candidly about her first two weeks representing the constituency in the House of Commons. Ms Prentis, who grew up on her family’s farm in Aynho near Banbury and until recently worked as head of the government

A BIOLOGY teacher at an East Oxford school has been named one of the the top teachers in the country. Simon Bayliss, who teaches at Oxford Spires Academy, has been selected as a finalist in the Pearson Teaching Awards. He is one of 67 teachers