CHILDREN will take the reins as a bank holiday tradition returns to Bampton. The West Oxfordshire village hosts its annual Donkey Derby on Monday, with parents placing bets as jockeys as young as eight race around Stanford's Field. Don Rouse,
AN Oxford Spires Academy student managed a clean sweep of straight 9s in her GCSEs - despite going on 'strike'. Star pupil Linnet Drury's incredible results have left her unsure of what to do at A-Level, but she is intending to continue attending
SCHOOLGIRL Abigail Smith had to overcome more than most to get her clutch of top GCSE grades. The Larkmead pupil was suffering from Lyme disease, which can cause flu-like symptoms and is life-threatening if left untreated, when she sat her exams
The farm is ready, the stages are set and some of the biggest stars of music and food are ready to roll up to Oxfordshire’s last big music festival of the summer. Rock star and celebrity cheesemaker Alex James will tomorrow throw open the gates
A WITNEY woman who ran a bouncy castle hire business has been banned from being a company director for tax offences, four years after her husband was disqualified for similar reasons. Hannah Mears, 35, was the director of inflatables firm Darkfell
It is among the world’s best restaurants, gracing every list of perfect places to eat on the planet. This summer the two Michelin-starred Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons celebrates its 35th birthday – and leading the celebrations is the man
A 21-year-old charged with an assault which left a man in a critical condition in hospital has appeared in court. Toby Smith of Saxton Road, Abingdon, was charged with one count of Section 20 grievous bodily harm on Wednesday and appeared in Oxford
Ten year-old Olive Hoover has a dream. She desperately wants to be a beauty queen – and is willing to travel to achieve her ambition. Her family are willing to go along for the ride – literally – and with Olive’s sight’s set on the ‘Little Miss
TRAVELLERS remained at a recreation ground at least 24 hours after being asked to leave. Four caravans were still at Burford Recreation Ground when Oxfordshire County Council visited this morning, despite being told to leave by midday yesterday.
A HEADTEACHER experienced the other side of GCSE results day as he endured a nervous wait to find out how his daughter fared. Rob Shadbolt, of Wood Green School in Witney, is used to congratulating and comforting dozens of pupils on results day,
A DELIGHTED Oxford Academy student did not hang around after getting his GCSE results today. Hours of achieving a 7, six 5s and a 3, Ben Davis, 16, started a maintenance apprenticeship with BMW at midday today. ALSO READ: Syrian refugee who
A SYRIAN refugee who only arrived in Oxford three years ago has done Oxford Spires Academy proud. ALSO READ: Syrian refugees - Oxford's thriving community thank city Ftoun Abou Kerech, 16, came to the country with no English but now boasts
BRISTOL Rovers have warned supporters not to bring "any items that may incite hatred or abuse" ahead of Oxford United's visit on Saturday. The statement does not name Matty Taylor, but the striker will be the centre of attention in his first return
A DAYS-old kitten was found with its umbilical cord still attached after a hotel guest heard the animal crying for help. Cygnet, who is being fostered by the Blue Cross rehoming centre in Burford, had a lucky escape after he was discovered outside
A GROUP of travellers have reportedly moved in to a car park in Bicester's town centre. Nearby residents have reporteded seeing about six caravans pull up late last night. The encampment has taken over space in Claremont Car Park, which sits
A RESTAURANT has applied for planning permission for new signs and banners which it has already put up. Kingswell Hotel And Restaurant on Reading Road, Harwell, has sent photographs of its two banners, one sign and a lantern on the grass by its
DOZENS of cyclists are set to descend on a Cotswold pub for an annual biking bonanza. Around 100 riders are expected to meet at the Five Alls at Filkins next Saturday, August 31, for the yearly Filkins Sportif. The annual event, which began in
RADIO listeners across the nation will gain an insight into Oxford life in 1926 next week – thanks to The Oxford Times. Presenter James Naughtie and several historians leafed through a copy of the newspaper from May 7, 1926, for the next episode
AN INSPIRING university tutor who taught a host of famous names has died, aged 83. Roy Park was a tutorial fellow in English at University College Oxford for almost a quarter of a century, gaining a reputation as a driven but admired academic.
ANOTHER new shop is coming to Didcot's Orchard Centre. It was announced yesterday that Sports Direct will open a new 9,000sq ft unit at the site this autumn. ALSO READ: Quirky stationery chain to open in town Andrew Berger-North, from Hammerson
A VILLAGE care home has been slammed by health inspectors over staffing levels and ‘unsafe’ medicine practices after a visit prompted by anonymous concerns. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has now downgraded Stowford House Care Home in Shippon
THE company that built Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital more than 40 years ago has reached a mammoth milestone in the county. BAM Construction, which is also behind the ongoing Northgate House development by Jesus College in Cornmarket, has now
A LIFELONG reader of the Oxford Mail has revealed she still owns a copy of the paper from the year that it was founded. Barbara Tuffley, 94, from Wolvercote, said the paper, dated December, 12 1928 – a broadsheet at the time and priced at one penny
A HAIR salon which uses infrared heaters and compostable towels has been nominated for a national award for its eco-friendly ethos. Anne Veck Salon in Bicester is in the running to win ‘Salon Design’ of the year in the National Beauty Federation
And so it was time last Wednesday to be a birthday boy again (my 68th, since you ask) – one day ahead of The Princess Royal, to whom I used to be compared. This was in the matter of our uncontrollable hair, a problem now solved in my case by no longer
In a terse review of what was probably the first performance of Measure for Measure – for King James I at Wilton House – his kinswoman Arabella Stuart observed “ridiculous it was”. This is a verdict with which few have disagreed in the years since
PUNTERS can enjoy a cool drink on the banks of the River Windrush this Sunday. A host of ales, ciders, wines and more will be available at the Minster Lovell Beer Festival and Village Day in Wash Meadow. Read also: Punters pour through gates for
POLICE are on the hunt for these two men. Thames Valley Police want to speak to them about the theft on an elderly woman. The incident happened back in February 2 between 3.30pm and 4pm. The victim, who is in her eighties, was flagged down
AN ARREST warrant has been issued for a trainee probation officer accused of conning the National Probation Service out of more than £5,000. Magistrates issued the warrant without bail for Martins Orobato, 28, of Bennett Crescent, Oxford, after
THE Oxfordshire Sports Awards are back for 2019. And from today you can nominate those individuals or teams who you feel deserve recognition for their work and achievements over the past 12 months. The 13th year of the awards will take place
THE Oxfordshire Sports Awards are back for 2019. And from today you can nominate those individuals or teams who you feel deserve recognition for their work and achievements over the past 12 months. The 13th year of the awards will take place
CHINNOR have appointed Ben Manning as their club captain for the 2019/20 season. The back-row forward, who has made more than 100 appearances over five years with the Thame-based side, takes on the role for the upcoming National League 1 campaign
Jean-Claude Carrière is one of the unsung heroes of postwar arthouse cinema. Since teaming with comic maestro Pierre Etaix on the 1961 short, Rupture, the 87 year-old screenwriter has amassed almost 150 credits in working with some of Europe's finest
In his four films to date, Reading-born director Peter Strickland has been to Hungary for Katalin Varga (2009), Italy for Berberian Sound Studio (2012) and a continental neverland for The Duke of Burgundy (2014). Now, he returns home for the first
NATHAN Douglas says it would be a bonus to match a national record this weekend as he eyes qualification for the IAAF World Championships. The 36-year-old is among six Oxfordshire athletes competing in Birmingham. Victory at the British Championships
If you thought you could not afford to move up from a family hatchback to a sports utility vehicle then MG might have the answer. For less than the price of a Ford Fiesta, the five-seater MG ZS offers neat, contemporary styling, a remarkably classy
WOODSTOCK Harriers’ James Bolton made it five Oxfordshire Road Running Grand Prix victories in a row when winning the Alchester 5k. The vet 40 runner led from the start to triumph in 16mins 3secs. Witney RR landed the men’s team prize, thanks
WEST Oxford Democrats Club and Donnington played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in the Oxford & District League, writes PETE EWINS. Richard Garrett put second-placed Democrats into the lead, before Dave Tooke levelled for the visitors, who are third.
MARK Sykes has been made available for a loan move away from Oxford United in the first half of the season. The 22-year-old’s only appearance so far this campaign has been in the Carabao Cup. He was not involved in the first-team squad for
LAYLA Moran has kept her job in the Liberal Democrats' shadow cabinet, the first picked by the party's new leader, Jo Swinson. Ms Moran, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, retains her education portfolio but has also been given responsibility for
DIDCOT is Oxfordshire's sexiest town, according to a new 'sex map'. The town's 26,920 residents spend more on their sexual pleasure than anywhere else in the county. The Lovehoney Interactive UK Sex Map allows users to search for a city, town
USING some park and rides in Oxford has been made easier after the county council struck a deal with a business that helps motorists to pay without cash. RingGo already works at Oxford City Council's three park and rides but is now operating at
THE county council has insisted a new park and ride in Eynsham is needed – despite worries from some authorities that changes should be made to a plan. The council wants to spend £32.6m on the new park and ride and an eastbound bus lane on the A40
EXPERTS in preventing fraud will meet in Oxford next month when a special conference is held at the Town Hall for the fourth time. The Annual Fraud Conference will be held to share best practice, knowledge and experience to prevent and detect public
CONSERVATIVES are ‘aghast’ after Liberal Democrat and Green opponents delayed a critical development meeting until October – and said it could see Oxfordshire lose nearly £500m in government funding. Last week, South Oxfordshire District Council
GCSE Maths probably seems like a distant memory, but if you cast your mind back it was a pretty big deal at the time. All those numbers! And fractions, and probabilities, and x and ys and graphs. You might have aced the exam and gone on to
OXFORD MAGISTRATES’ MARTIN HEATH, 32, of Hardwick Park, Banbury, admitted possession of a controlled Class A drug, namely cocaine, on Tuesday, May 14, in Banbury. Fined £150 and ordered to pay £30 victim surcharge plus £85 court costs. GARY SELLWOOD
SPRAWLING underground chambers which house the historic collections of Oxford University's world-famous museums will need urgent repairs after water started to leak through the ceiling, the university has revealed. Heads of the Radcliffe Science
A MAN who repeatedly stabbed his ex-partner 15 times in a 'brutal and ferocious' onslaught has denied trying to kill her. Prosecutors said yesterday that the shocking act of violence outside the Co Op in Headington took place as the victim clung
A SHOPPING centre has turned into the most spectacular car showroom in Oxford this week. The Cowley Classic Car Display has taken over Templars Square, with petrolheads young and old flocking to see the nine cars on display. Every vehicle in
TWO Oxfordshire apprentices have spoken about how pleased they are to have pursued an alternative path after finishing their GCSEs. As teenagers around the county pick up their results today, the two youngsters are encouraging others to consider
A DIDCOT-based Trust will run a new primary school in Wantage. Work has now begun on the renamed institution promised as part of the 1,500-home Kingsgrove development. St. Modwen, the developer behind the new build, has commenced construction
TWO friends who are made redundant from an Oxford car plant go on a road trip along the A40 in unique new play which premieres at the Covered Market tomorrow night. The latest production by Oxford's Creation Theatre sees the team performing at
