Archive
-
Date
ANGLING: Another Linear record-buster
Wayne Wilson proudly displays the new Gaunt's Lake and Guy's syndicate record carp of 43.0.0 at Linear Fisheries' Stanton Harcourt complex. Wayne only recently joined the syndicate and caught the big mirror on his third trip. He was using Dynamite
-
Date
Menaces to society
Drug dealers in Oxfordshire who thought they were off the hook had better watch out. Those who believe that police are concentrating their efforts on urban areas could have been lulled into a false sense of security. Yesterday, officers raided drug
-
Date
ANGLING: Hard graft for Kidlington on Cherwell
It was quite a different story from last week on the Branson's Meadow stretch of the Cherwell where Kidlington staged their Green Road Social Club-sponsored Open on Sunday. The nine matchmen found a river that was still quite pacy but was getting clearer
-
Date
ANGLING: Farmoor's new best brownie
Farmoor II regular Brian Parrott has claimed the venue record for the biggest brown trout at 14.8.0 while fishing from a boat. The fishery near Oxford is fishing brilliantly at the moment, with boat sport best of all. The fish are generally 30-40
-
Date
ANGLING: Big carp bonanza for Cliff
Spending 36 hours on the side of a lake in freezing conditions is not everyone's cup of tea, but that's what Bedford carper Cliff Kemp did when he tackled Richworth Linear's Brasenose One at Stanton Harcourt. Landing a couple of decent carp in these
-
Date
ANGLING: Poor returns are a mystery
I was chatting to Kidlington's Alan Middleton and North Oxford's John Coleman about their match results from last weekend, writes Andy Webber. In the Kidlington match on the Cherwell, which is well known for producing a lot of decent chub, not a single
-
Date
Villages targeted in police drugs war
Police stormed two houses in sleepy Oxfordshire villages today and seized what is believed to be thousands of pounds worth of cocaine. It was the second time in 10 days police have swooped in south Oxfordshire and officers have warned anyone involved
-
Date
Cogges slashes season ticket prices
Cogges Manor Farm Museum at Witney is slashing its season ticket prices in a bid to get more visitors through the gates. It is the first definite move by the museum, which has been making losses of £250,000 a year, to find ways of becoming viable for
-
Date
Tennis centre plans on show
A PUBLIC exhibition of the plans for an indoor tennis centre at Oxford University's Sports Ground, in Iffley Road, will be held at Oxford University Rugby Club's pavilion on Monday, from 2.30pm to 8pm. The deadline for people living in the area to
-
Date
Family project suffers grant blow
A PLAY centre that helps vulnerable children is calling for a rethink after being turned down for Oxford City Council funding for the first time in 25 years. The Donnington Doorstep Family Centre is a free family drop-in centre, which has been open
-
Date
Feuding families clash in street
A LONG-RUNNING dispute between three East Oxford families has escalated to fights in the street. People living in the area said they fear the feud has got out of hand after an incident when a 57-year-old man needed eight stitches in a cut to his head
-
Date
Tennis centre plans on show
A public exhibition of the plans for an indoor tennis centre at Oxford University's Sports Ground, in Iffley Road, will be held at Oxford University Rugby Club's pavilion on Monday, from 2.30pm to 8pm. The deadline for people living in the area to give
-
Date
Family project suffers grant blow
A play centre that helps vulnerable children is calling for a rethink after being turned down for Oxford City Council funding for the first time in 25 years. The Donnington Doorstep Family Centre is a free family drop-in centre, which has been open since
-
Date
Feuding families clash in street
A long-running dispute between three East Oxford families has escalated to fights in the street. People living in the area said they fear the feud has got out of hand after an incident when a 57-year-old man needed eight stitches in a cut to his head
-
Date
One-stop shop for family services
Building work at a North Oxford children's centre which is next to a local primary school is now well under way. The £458,000 project, alongside Cutteslowe Primary School, will mean a range of new services for children aged under five and their families
-
Date
Golf buggy driven into pool
TOP Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson once famously drove a Rolls-Royce into his home town swimming pool for a stunt. Now someone has touched bottom gear by driving a golf cart into it. Organisers of The Lido at Chipping Norton are not best pleased
-
Date
PCSOs praised for cracking crimes
Two Police Community Support Officers who are now becoming full police constables have been rewarded for spotting a burglar fleeing the scene of a crime - who later admitted he carried out a further 35 break-ins. Ben Hughes-Martin and Alex Locke received
-
Date
Classroom project doesn't drag-on
Chinese New Year proved an inspiration for pupils at Woodstock Primary School. Four- and five-year-olds in the foundation stage class paraded through the town with their own dragon to the Chinese Chef Imperial restaurant. Teachers stopped the traffic
-
Date
Pubs count cost of smoking ban
The ban on smoking in public places is taking a toll on the pub trade in Witney. But there are other factors, including cheap alcohol on sale in supermarkets and steep rises in the cost of energy. Two pubs in the town - The Plough, in High Street,
-
Date
SCHOOL SPORT: Chippy hit by Burford backlash
Burford Under 16s bounced back from a narrow defeat by Farmor's (Fairford) to beat Chipping Norton 19-5 in the Floodlit Cup at Stow-on-the-Wold RFC. Right wing Ben Egan, flanker James Silver and No 8 Jordan Harwood crossed the Chipping Norton line,
-
Date
College unveils 102-flats plan
AN OXFORD college is planning to create extra housing for its graduate students. Exeter College wants to provide 102 student flats on its site in Iffley Road, East Oxford, and is planning a major development which would see some of the buildings on
-
Date
SNOOKER RESULTS & TABLES
OXFORD RESULTS Prem Div: Fieldside A 4, Witney C 2; Riley D 1, Witney A 5. Div 1: Green Road Club A 4, House Club B 2; Riley C 4, New Club A 2; Woodstock A 4, Riley E 2. Div 2: Cowley Con A 0, Morris Motors A 6; Thame C 4, Rodney House A 2; Witney
-
Date
SCHOOL SPORT: Oxford College are on the ball
Oxford & Cherwell Valley College's Football Development Centre have secured a £1,000 sponsorship deal - following publicity in the Oxford Mail about two of their successful students. Marcus Folan, of Oxford civil engineering firm M Folan Contracting
-
Date
Author wants war loss tales
Oxford author Julie Summers is appealing to women who were widowed during the Second World War to help her with her new book. After the war, more than four million servicemen and women were demobbed and came home to live in austere peace-time Britain
-
Date
High school is going Oriental
Teachers at an Oxford school where pupils learn Mandarin have welcomed plans by one of the country's biggest exam boards to introduce a new GCSE in Chinese. Pupils at the independent secondary girls' school Oxford High School, in North Oxford, begin
-
Date
BILLIARDS: Legend is no more
Harry 'The Kid' Kidner, who played for New Club, Wheatley, for more than 50 years, has died aged 94. The funeral is on Monday, February 18, at Oxford Crematorium at noon. Oracle won their ninth consecutive game with a 2-1 success against Morris Motors
-
Date
BILLIARDS: Mander is hero for New Club
Alan Mander (+70) hit a break of 41 as New Club beat Ashton 3-0 in the Oxford and District League. Alan King (+40) defeated Pete Fenn (+50) 200-179, while Dave White saw off Terry Chambers (-10) 200-177. Alan Mander completed the whitewash with a
-
Date
Flats plan will rejuvenate site
An Oxford University college is planning to create extra housing for its graduate students. Exeter College wants to provide 102 student flats on its site in Iffley Road, East Oxford, and is planning a major development which would see some of the buildings
-
Date
ICE HOCKEY: Stars seeking home comforts
Oxford City Stars will be looking to shake off the disappointment of missing out on the league play-offs, when they entertain Solihull Barons in the South Cup tomorrow. Last weekend's results saw Cardiff pip Stars to second spot, so it's the Welshmen
-
Date
'Silent victims' in police spotlight
Hundreds of "silent victims" of domestic, racial and homophobic abuse are going unreported. Police are trying to encourage more victims of hate crime and domestic violence to come forward. Officers estimate up to 40 per cent of hate crimes - racist
-
Date
Safety message is in black and white
Pupils from All Saints Primary School in Didcot dressed in black and white to mark their safer start to 2008. The 400 youngsters wore black and white clothes to celebrate their new zebra crossing outside their school in Tamar Way, Ladygrove. Each child
-
Date
Charity needs riders
A charity that helps children who have physical and communication difficulties is looking for volunteers to get involved in a charity bike ride. The Ace Centre, based in the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, in Windmill Road, Headington, is looking to raise
-
Date
Bend it like... Claire
A student at Oxford United's football academy is a step closer to making it in the top flight of the women's game. Claire Marsh, 16, who plays in goal, has made it through to the final round of trials for a place on the Arsenal Ladies squad. Claire
-
Date
Mum's in the running
Other-of-three Joanna Buddin has signed up to raise hundreds of pounds for the Oxford Children's Hospital by taking part in the OX5 Run. The run takes place at Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock, on Sunday, April 6. Last year, the run raised more than
-
Date
Charlie and the Cowley factory
One of the greats of the silent film era, a world-famous conductor and Oxford's top orchestra came together for a ground-breaking performance at the Cowley car factory. Charlie Chaplin's film, Modern Times, was screened at the BMW Mini factory yesterday
-
Date
No respect
So Oxford University scientists are to launch a £1.4m research project to examine whether young criminals, including murderers, behave better in prison if they are fed vitamins and other nutritional supplements (Oxford Mail, January 29). I can see the
-
Date
Noses in the trough
From what I read in the press and hear on the radio, our honourable MPs appear to be making 'capital' out of their expense accounts. First homes, second homes, offshore accounts, trustee accounts, nepotism, you name it, and you will find they have dabbled
-
Date
Health progress
General satisfaction with GP services is high, but significant numbers of patients consistently tell us that improving access to GP services should be a priority for the NHS, GP hours row 'may split NHS' (Oxford Mail, February 5). This includes not
-
Date
Utopia at last
What a wonderful idea of the Archbishop of Canterbury! What's all the fuss about? It's the best idea for years: 1 Chop thieves' hands off - they can't steal a third time 2 Rapists - can't re-offend 3 Murderers - execution 4 Ban alcohol 5 Legalise
-
Date
Dumping ground for everything
Well done to Vanessa Chambers for highlighting the constant dumping of unwanted things in the East Oxford area (Oxford Mail, February 6). This has happened for as long as I can remember. Anything that is unsavoury to the rest of Oxford gets dumped
-
Date
Bus passenger numbers fall
Fewer people used the the Oxford Bus Company in Oxford in December, bosses have admitted. They blame a drop in the number of Christmas shoppers in the city centre. Director and general manager Louisa Weeks said: "The five months leading up to December
-
Date
Ferrari in the driving seat!
Vitto Ferrari produced a brilliant display for Vikings A as they held a strong St James A side to a draw in the Oxford & District Table Tennis Association. He saw first defeated Jason Tustain by 13-11 in the decider, before getting the better of Roger
-
Date
Tae Kwon-Do trio graded
West Oxfordshire Tae Kwon-Do club now boast three new black belt students, with Jo Webb, Rachel Lisk and Adam Carlin all passing their 1st Dan gradings. With more than 100 licensed students training locally, the club is now in its fifth year, having
-
Date
Plea for help after man's death
A CORONER is appealing for help from people in Oxfordshire in tracing the next of kin of 51-year-old Richard McCronin, who died recently in Bournemouth. Mr McCronin, who was born on January 5, 1956, was confirmed dead at his address, Flat B, 73 Southcote
-
Date
Hawkes swoops at death
A six off the penultimate ball sent Charlbury spinning to a four-wicket defeat by Preston Capes in Division 1 of the Banbury Indoor Cricket League. With Rob Garrett making an unbeaten 28, Charlbury posted a challenging 107-3. But Preston Capes scraped
-
Date
Today's local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 79.5 BMW 2632 Electrocomponents 188.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 120 Oxford Biomedica 25.25 Oxford Catalyst 144 Oxford Instruments 182 Reed Elsevier 585.25 RM 209 RPS Group 269.5 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
-
Date
Boxing duo storm into last four
Both Oxfordshire contenders are through to the semi-finals of this year's NACYP championships after impressive victories at Southampton. Oxford Boxing Academy bantamweight Jordan Ottwell, 17, shrugged off flu to get the better of Fisher Downside rival
-
Date
'Police tax' up by four per cent
Thames Valley Police Authority has increased its share of the council tax bill by four per cent for the coming year. The increase means the authority now charges £144.76 to the average band D council tax payer, up from £139.19 last year. The authority
-
Date
GREYHOUNDS: Wallis can make mark
WALTHAMSTOW handler Mark Wallis holds the key to Tuesday's opening heats in the Ian Pattinson Trafalgar Puppy Cup, judging by the trial times posted in the last few days. His Seanis Lad clocked an impressive 26.96secs, while Lockdale Diamond returned
-
Date
Value for Money mixed case, £47
This week's mixed case is a collection of well-made wines that are a good match for a wide range of foods and can also be drunk on their own or with light snacks. These are great value wines for everyday drinking that won't break the bank. The Value
-
Date
Beware of wine bargains
After a hard day's shopping in the sales my dad would always ask: "So, what have you spent today?" to which my mum would always reply: "Today, I've saved you . . ." We are a family of sale lovers and bargain-hunters. I don't think we're alone in the
-
Date
Crime in Vale 'lowest in force'
CRIME has fallen by more than 17 per cent in the Vale of the White Horse in the past year, latest figures show. Chief Insp Phil Littlechild, the Local Police Area commander, said: "We are working hard in the Vale to achieve and maintain these good
-
Date
Policing costs rise 4%
THE cost of policing Thames Valley is set to rise by four per cent next year. This represents a rise in the cost to the average band D council taxpayer of £5.57 a year. The increase will enable Thames Valley to recruit an extra 21 police officers
-
Date
Two jailed for robbery
TWO people were sentenced at Oxford Crown Court for a robbery in Oxford in August 2007. Andrew Puddephat, 24, of Osney Mead, Oxford, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment and Joanne Moriarty, 24, of Estover Way, Chinnor, was sentenced to 18 months
-
Date
Green firm powers bright results
A company specialising in solar garden products has unveiled a shining set of financial figures. Bosses at Smart Solar, based at Worton Park near Cassington, say 2007 was a record year for the company with turnover rising by 38 per cent to more than
-
Date
Pan I Am @ The Cellar
Emerging from the smoke-filled stage like a phoenix from the ashes, the slight silhouette of the boy who wouldn't grow up casts an eerie reverence throughout the subterranean surroundings. Having teased fans with just four new tracks so far on MySpace
-
Date
Second arrest over rape
A second teenager has been arrested in connection with a rape in Oxford on Saturday night. A 14-year-old boy was arrested yesterday on suspicion of the rape and robbery of a 19-year-old woman in Between Towns Road, Cowley, at about 8.30pm. He is still
-
Date
Museum slashes season ticket prices
Cogges Museum at Witney is slashing its season ticket prices in a bid to get more visitors through the gates. It is the first clear move by the museum, which has been making losses of £250,000 a year, to find ways of becoming viable for the future.
-
Date
Boy, 14, held over Cowley rape
A SECOND teenager has been arrested in connection with a rape in Cowley on Saturday evening. The 14-year-old boy was arrested yesterday on suspicion of rape and robbery on a 19-year-old woman. He is in custody. A 16-year-old boy who was originally
-
Date
Cogges museum cuts season prices
THE Cogges Manor Farm Museum at Witney is cutting its season ticket prices in a bid to get more visitors through the gates. It is the first definite move by the museum, which has been making losses of £250,000 a year, to find ways of becoming viable
-
Date
Today's local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 79 BMW 2685 Electrocomponents 187 Nationwide Accident Repair 120 Oxford Biomedica 26 Oxford Catalyst 144 Oxford Instruments 181 Reed Elsevier 586.25 RM 210.5 RPS Group 272.5 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
-
Date
Golf buggy driven into pool
Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson once famously drove a Rolls Royce into his home town swimming pool for a stunt. Now someone has touched bottom gear by driving a golf cart into it. Organisers of The Lido at Chipping Norton are not best pleased because
-
Date
Man held in drugs raids
A MAN has been arrested following drug raids on two homes in south Oxfordshire today. A team of 14 officers pounced at houses in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell and Benson at about 7.30am. A 34-year-old man from Greenmere, Brighwell-cum-Sotwell, has been arrested
-
Date
Two homes searched in drugs raids
A man has been arrested following drug raids on two homes in south Oxfordshire this morning. A team of 14 officers pounced at houses in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell and Benson at around 7.30am. A 34-year-old man from Greenmere, in Brighwell-cum-Sotwell,
-
Date
Computer games burn up energy
CLINICALLY obese children at an Oxfordshire school are playing computer games to lose weight. Pupils at Gosford Hill School in Kidlington have taken up playing Nintendo Wii - the latest computer console craze - as part of activities at a breakfast club
-
Date
Mosque prayer plans reviewed
SENIOR officials at Oxford Central Mosque are going back to the drawing board over plans to broadcast a call to prayer from its minaret. A new management committee has been elected at the mosque, in Manzil Way, off Cowley Road, and has moved to reassure
-
Date
Loan stars attracting interest
OXFORD United believe they can hang on to their best players, even if their contracts don't have long to run. Striker Matt Green, who impressed greatly in last Saturday's 3-0 win over Histon, is on loan until the end of the season from Championship
-
Date
Roadtest: Impressive appeal
UP to now you would have had a better chance of getting Gordon Ramsay to stop swearing on camera than persuading your granny to buy a Subaru Impreza. The mere mention of the Impreza name instantly conjures up huddles of young street racers drooling
-
Date
Is the piano your forte?
YOUNG hopefuls aiming to impress with their talents will take to the stage at an Oxford primary school this week. Pupils from New Marston Primary School will be competing to win the top prize in a talent show organised to raise money for the school
-
Date
Historian looking for war widow tales
OXFORD author and historian Julie Summers is appealing to women who were widowed during Second World War to help with her new book. After the war more than four million servicemen and women were demobbed and came home to take up life in post-war Britain
-
Date
Help needed
DORCHESTER'S museum is in need of volunteers for everything from designing displays to welcoming visitors. The museum, which includes the Cloister Gallery display inside the Abbey, looks at Dorchester's 6,000 years of history. Anyone interested
-
Date
Carnival vote under way
A TOTAL of 172 people have so far voted on the theme for this year's Cowley Road Carnival. For the first time, members of the public have been offered the chance to help choose from three themes, masquerade, dance the world on Cowley Road, or games
-
Date
Crossing the aerial bridge
THE battle for Afghanistan is being fought on the ground - on the rocky mountains and and among the choking desert dust. But the operation would not be possible without those risking their lives in the air. Transferring troops and equipment from Britain
-
Date
Fast for aid
OXFORDSHIRE residents are being urged to take part in a special collection in aid of aid agency Cafod. Catholic church groups across the county will be holding collections for Cafod's Lent Fast Day appeal today. Last year, donations from the county
-
Date
End health lottery
Oxford Brookes law lecturer Richard Ramsey is fortunate to be married to a Danish national. It means he was able to take advantage of the Danish health system and get access to a life-prolonging drug to treat his cancer. It is shocking that access to
-
Date
The waste race
So now we know. It is a straight race between Sutton Courtenay and Ardley to see who gets Oxfordshire's first incinerator for rubbish that cannot be recycled. Of course, this is a race that neither village will want to win. And there will be those,
-
Date
Lovely view
Sir - In these days of climate change, I am surprised that the Bod intends to use van transport for their books . . . this will seem a bit old-fashioned in the future - whether or not the repository itself is in the right place and gets planning permission
-
Date
Safety message hits home
"I ALWAYS thought if you had hold of the steering wheel you would be OK." That was the justification Wantage truck driver Dave Pitts used to give for not wearing a seatbelt. But after seeing graphic images of the consequences of not buckling up,
-
Date
Mitsubishi hots up Lancer
MITSUBISHI is unveiling a range of cars at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The Prototype-S will follow in the footsteps of the Concept-Sportback show car to preview the shape of the forthcoming Lancer Sportback. When launched later in the year, this
-
Date
Suffocating city
Sir - Why should Bruce Heagerty (Letters, January 25) be surprised at the response from Michael Crofton-Briggs? Since the departure of our city architect there has been no one to stand up to central government and save our city from being suffocated
-
Date
Jack in the Green
Sir - While walking up at the Uffington White Horse yesterday, it came to my knowledge that the beautiful Plane Tree in Norfolk Square that I spent the night in has been cut down. Unfortunately, now that I'm working as a solar panel installer, I don't
-
Date
Preserving taste
Sir - We were greatly interested to read Helen Peacocke's article on the origins of Frank Cooper's marmalade (Weekend, February 1). It is true that this Oxford' brand is a symbol of the city known around the world and part of our important industrial
-
Date
Palace goes back in time
THE Victorians are coming to Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock, when the new season opens tomorrow - and on hand to start it off is professional actor Kevin Hicks. He has been rehearsing his part as a strict Victorian schoolteacher, ready to give
-
Date
Writing off debts
Sir - On page seven of your paper (February 8) you report the refusal of the city council to give our allotment association a rent-free year to make some amends for the two floodings in five months that destroyed all our crops, damaged beyond repair
-
Date
Endless mishaps
Sir - I was interested to read the article about letters (February 1), for the last 18 months I have had endless mishaps with the letters I have entrusted to the Royal Mail. I have given up complaining to the Royal Mail, who say that nothing gets
-
Date
Life is loads better
HELPING to make motoring life loads better in 2008 are two people/cargo carriers from Cadillac and Citroen. The first Wagon, or small estate, model in Cadillac's illustrious history has just gone on sale in Britain. The BLS Wagon gets an impressive
-
Date
Twingo given extreme cut
Anyone who fancied a Renault Twingo, but thought the city hatchback a tad pricey, will welcome the new entry-level model, the more accessible £7,500 Extreme. Funky and feisty, the latest starter Twingo even undercuts the starter Fiat 500 by £400,
-
Date
Where can I sit?
Sir - Yesterday I had cause to use Oxford Railway Station. There was not a single seat in the concourse. There was, however, a notice indicating that pregnant women (who could provide the appropriate documentation) would be allowed a seat on a train
-
Date
Wii wands zap child obesity
Clinically obese children at an Oxfordshire school are playing computer games to lose weight. Pupils at Gosford Hill School in Kidlington have taken up playing Nintendo Wii - the latest computer console craze - as part of activities at a breakfast club
-
Date
Smarter look
Citroën's boxy, van-derived Berlingo Multispace started the trend for cheap-and-cheerful people carriers ten years ago, and this summer sees the latest model hit Britain's shores. Some 50,000 Berlingos have sold in Britain since 1998, and fans will
-
Date
Offensive imagery
Sir - I read the article (Limited Edition, February) with dismay, as your reporter heaped stereotype on prejudice to produce an image of Northern people as arrogant, obnoxious, selfish, stupid morons. Though, we all admit that a North/South divide
-
Date
Homes show
Easter Sunday falls on March 23 this year - the earliest Easter since 1913 - and many British motorhomers will be readying their vehicles for the first long break of the year. If you do not own one, but want one, then to see the latest models all
-
Date
Nuisance factor
Sir - Our multicultural society has embraced the Muslims and their religion but I wish to protest that their call to prayer is now to be heard across Oxford. Oxford is a historic city and embracing should not come to mean being overpowered by. It
-
Date
Arrant nonsense
Sir - My incredulity when I read (February 1) the arrant nonsense spoken by Mr Charlie Cleverly about the Central Mosque's plan to broadcast a call to prayer, was only topped by my astonishment that Radio 4's Today programme then went on to give him
-
Date
Walk in harmony
Sir - Before your readers believe that Oxford is a hotbed of religious tension (Report, February 1), I would like to alert them to the fact that local dialogue already exist between faiths. This city hosts a completely unique and highly popular annual
-
Date
Crucial message
Sir - John Goddard writes that many households do not have the means to compost kitchen waste and that ways of dealing with it need to be found before the county composter starts working in 2009. He might be interested to know that many allotmenteers
-
Date
Green school joins clean-up
OXFORD Community School can this week claim to be the county's greenest and most eco-friendly secondary school. First it became the first secondary school in Oxfordshire to earn a green flag eco-award. And then it immediately offered further evidence
-
Date
Ambiguous advice
Sir - John Goddard, leader of Oxford City Council, exhorts us (Letters, February 8) not to use plastic bags. Perhaps he should look at his own city council website, which tells us to "place food waste in securely tied off plastic bags" as well as
-
Date
Only if asked
Sir - I would like to support councillor John Goddard's thoughts in his letter (February 8), especially in the clause ".... far too many plastic bags are accepted by us as shoppers every day". It goes further than that. I suggest that one reason why
-
Date
In denial
Sir - There was a certain irony in the juxtaposition of your lead story (February 1), in which you reported Oxfordshire's new education chief as saying that some headteachers are 'in denial', with the tone of your two correspondents, Messrs. Lane and
-
Date
Pathetic arsenal
Sir - I read with interest the article regarding schools in Oxfordshire and comments made by education chief Janet Tomlinson. This is a subject for which I feel some passion, owing to my current position as a trainee teacher in the region. I have
-
Date
Chance to voice village concerns
POLICE Community Support Officer (PCSO) Sue Jones and PC Jim Mullan will be holding a beat surgery in Long Crendon tomorrow. The event will be held at Long Crendon Library between 10.30am and 12.30pm and is an opportunity for members of the public
-
Date
Complex reasons
Sir - I welcome coverage of Oxfordshire schools' attainment and am happy to respond to your challenge over my comments that the reasons for our schools' poor performance are complex. You contrast this with Professor Bob Moon's view that the solution
-
Date
Preserving primates
Professor Simon Bearder's fascination with monkeys and apes has taken him on an unlikely path. It began in South Africa, where for years he dedicated himself to studying and radio tracking the behaviour of bushbabies, taking a break only to study
-
Date
Proposed hall labelled 'fortress'
OXFORD Brookes University has unveiled plans for a major development in Marston Road to house up to 338 students. The proposed accommodation will be built around a courtyard dominated by a water feature crossed with bridges. The university says the
-
Date
Play area opens
A PLAY area which features recycled materials has opened at a county school. Pupils at Chilton Primary School, near Didcot, are celebrating the completion of a year-long project to build the outside area. The school's eco co-ordinator, Derek Dodd
-
Date
Compact move for The Oxford Times
THE Oxford Times is to switch from a broadsheet to a compact format from March 7. Changes will affect the news, sport, jobs and classified sections. The property section will remain broadsheet. Editor of The Oxford Times Derek Holmes said: "This is
-
Date
Eco-town 'could destroy wildlife'
WILDLIFE is under threat on a site near Kidlington where developers want to build an eco town, a local trust has warned. The company behind proposals to build around 5,000 homes in a self-sustained community at Shipton Quarry, pictured, is still waiting
-
Date
World debut for Pullman book
PHILIP Pullman's new book will be given its world launch at the 12th Oxford Literary Festival next month. Mr Pullman will be opening the window into Once Upon A Time In The North, the long-awaited prequel to the His Dark Materials universe. It will
-
Date
Hush money
STUDENTS stayed silent for an hour to raise more than £200 for charity. Pupils from two tutor groups at Abingdon and Witney College took on the challenge of the Big Hush to raise cash for Macmillan Cancer Support. Clare Cook, the charity's fundraising
-
Date
Mosque prayer plans to be reviewed
Senior officials at Oxford Central Mosque are going back to the drawing board over plans to broadcast a call to prayer from its minaret. A new management committee has been elected at the mosque, in Manzil Way, off Cowley Road, and has moved to reassure
-
Date
Prepared to pay
Sir - I was astonished to read your second negative story in a month Headaches over free bus travel about the introduction of free bus travel for British pensioners. This must be one of the best developments introduced by any government in many years
-
Date
City hospice gets £10,000 windfall
A top executive of one of the country's biggest banks has presented pioneering East Oxford hospice Helen and Douglas House with £10,000. Hospice founder Sister Frances Dominica was named Woman of the Year in a Barclays-sponsored awards in October 2007
