Archive
-
Date
Fire in Wallingford
Firefighters are battling a blaze at a house in Chiltern Crescent, Wallingford. The bungalow is believed to have caught fire after an explosion in a caravan parked nearby at 6.20pm. Five fire engines were called to the scene after residents reported
-
Date
Man tells of rape trial ordeal
A man accused of raping a 15-year-old girl has spoken of how he is looking forward to "getting on with his life" after being cleared of all charges. Jurors took less than an hour to find Jamie Hall, 25, of Fettiplace Road, Barton, Oxford, not guilty
-
Date
Final preparations for carnival
Final preparations for Oxford's colourful Cowley Road Carnival are being made in readiness for Sunday's event. Organisers are busy painting signs and creating decorations for Oxfordshire's biggest free public event. The Cowley Road Carnival is expected
-
Date
Long lost brother joins author in print
Best-selling novelist Ian McEwan's long lost brother, Oxfordshire brickie Dave Sharp, is finally having his book published - thanks to an article in the Oxford Mail. His biography Complete Surrender tells how Dave, who lives in south Oxfordshire, was
-
Date
Wife attack conspiracy denied
An alleged attacker has denied being paid to "beat up" a woman on the orders of her ex-husband. Lorry driver Everton Bailey told Bournemouth Crown Court his co-defendant, 55-year-old Michael License, formerly of Witney, was his former boss. Bailey
-
Date
End of an era as barracks closes
Thousands of priceless artefacts charting Oxfordshire's military history have been packed up, with the closure of an Oxford barracks. Slade Park Barracks in Headington is closing after 70 years. The barracks housed a rich collection of the county's
-
Date
MP hopes car tax hike is blocked
Oxford East MP Andrew Smith has warned that Labour MPs were prepared to block plans to hike car tax on polluting vehicles up to seven years old. Mr Smith told the Oxford Mail he was willing to vote against changes coming in next April, which could lead
-
Date
New MP quits county cabinet
John Howell, the newly-elected Henley MP, has resigned from his position on Oxfordshire County Council's decision making cabinet - but will retain his role as county councillor for Dorchester and Berinsfield. Dr Howell was also the cabinet member with
-
Date
CRICKET: Trophy semi-final places are up for grabs
Oxfordshire's players can stake a claim to feature in their biggest match of the season by excelling against Cheshire. The Western Division clash, which starts at Alderley Edge on Sunday, pits Oxon against last season's champions. But with their MCCA
-
Date
CRICKET: Kidlington look for Kleinveldt boost
Kidlington are looking to South African all-rounder Rory Kleinveldt to turn their disastrous season in the Home Counties Premier Leaguearound, The 25-year-old, who has played for Cape Cobras in his home country and is contracted to Hampshire, makes
-
Date
FIXTURES July 4
SATURDAY. CRICKET. HOME COUNTIES PREMIER LEAGUE. Div 1: Banbury v Henley, Radlett v Oxford. Div 2 West: Kidlington v Farnham Royal, Thame v Finchampstead. THE OXFORD TIMES CHERWELL LEAGUE. Div 1: Banbury XX v Oxford Downs, Bicester & NO v Horspath
-
Date
Summer relief for parents
Parents in north Oxfordshire, stuck with ideas to entertain their children this summer need look no further. Two organisations are hosting summer activities designed to be fun, and to keep children safe and busy. Super Camps is holding a host of day
-
Date
Your chance to choose road name
A former Lord Mayor, a headteacher and a champion of Pakistani immigrants are among candidates who may be immortalised on an Oxford estate. Oxford City Council has drawn up a shortlist of five people known for their community work who may have new roads
-
Date
Bus shelter delayed for five years
Residents in Marston, Oxford, have been told they will have to wait five years for a new bus shelter. Croft Road resident Michael Haines claimed Marston was at the bottom of the city council's list of priorities. He said: "Barton and Risinghurst are
-
Date
Gearing up for Cornbury
A peaceful country estate in the heart of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds will reverberate to the sound of live music this weekend, as it plays host to thousands of festival-goers. The rolling grounds of Cornbury, near Charlbury, are being transformed - with
-
Date
Death of a monarchy
by Dean Haigh EKATERINBURG: THE LAST DAYS OF THE ROMANOVS (Hutchinson, £18.99) Helen Rappaport Considering Oxford writer Helen Rappaport's credentials as an expert on Russian history and that her past biographical subjects have included Stalin and
-
Date
ROWING: Wallingford trio eye Beijing
Three Wallingford members are among the 11 local rowers to have been named in the British Olympic team. Wheatley's Frances Houghton - in the women's quad - plus Richard Chambers, of Oxford Brookes, and Paul Mattick, of Wallingford, - in the men's lightweight
-
Date
FOOTBALL: Styles set for Witney switch
Witney United are set to sign talented midfielder Andy Styles from FTL Futbol Hellenic League Premier Division rivals Bicester Town. Should he, as expected, put pen to paper, Styles would be the second player to leave Bicester for Witney in the space
-
Date
RSPB attacks eco-town plan
Europe's largest conservation charity, the RSPB, has slammed plans to build an eco-town near Weston-on-the-Green. The charity has slated the 15,000-home Weston Otmoor proposal, which it claims would threaten nearby sites of special scientific interest
-
Date
Campaign to protect High Street
A campaign to counter the "systematic vandalism" of Oxford High Street has been launched by university colleges and businesses. Colleges and traders say life is being made intolerable by the noise and pollution from 2,500 buses thundering along the
-
Date
Writers' homes
OXFORD GUIDE TO LITERARY BRITAIN AND IRELAND Ed Daniel Hahn & Nicholas Robins (Oxford University Press, £30)There is something special about visiting the former home of a famous writer. You get a useful insight into how they wrote their most famous
-
Date
Crowding in
A string of outdoor gigs has acquainted New Zealand's greatest ever band to the vagaries of the British summer. So Crowded House are packing both suncream and umbrellas for their headline appearance at this weekend's Cornbury Festival. "We know we're
-
Date
Today's local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 67 BMW 23.53 Electrocomponents 140.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 129.5 Oxford Biomedica 20.5 Oxford Catalyst 162.5 Oxford Instruments 231.75 Reed Elsevier 572.25 RM 180.25 RPS Group 298.75 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
-
Date
School reunion to celebrate 50 years
While most pupils are gearing up for their summer holidays, one West Oxford school is planning a gigantic reunion. A former Matthew Arnold School pupil is attempting to track down around 500 ex-classmates and staff to take part in a 50th anniversary
-
Date
Cabbages and Kings
It was a salutary learning experience when I ordered a single scoop of ice cream at a relatively new Cowley Road café and shop. The price: £1.95 - nearly two quid for something that it seemed only yesterday had cost a mere sixpence in real, pre-decimalisation
-
Date
Bowling along!
Jaret Reddick is serious about being the singer of one of the last of the 'funny' pop-punk bands. In a genre that burst to prominence with headliners like blink-182 knocking out as many poop jokes as fast-paced three minute tunes, it's all got a bit
-
Date
Win tickets to Cornbury Festival
THE waiting will be over for thousands of music lovers this weekend, with the start of Cornbury Festival. The festival takes over the scenic Cornbury estate, near Charlbury, for Saturday and Sunday. While lovers of rock, folk and pop will be looking
-
Date
Burger worker charged
A restaurant worker has been charged with making up a knifepoint robbery. Police have charged Andrew Stennings, 28, of Sherwood Place, Headington, with perverting the cause of justice. The charge follows an allegation that two men tried to rob Gourmet
-
Date
Cavaliers back to full strength
RUGBY LEAGUE: Oxford Cavaliers expect to be at full strength as they aim for revenge against Redditch Ravens in their RL Conference South West & Midlands League clash at Marston Ferry Road on Saturday (2.30). Ravens prevailed when the sides met at Redditch
-
Date
Abingdon duo dig deep
TENNIS: Jackie Hummel and Joy Browning had to dig deep to see Abingdon A home against Mapledurham A in Ladies Division 2 of the Wilson OLTA 2-Pair League. The Abingdon first pair were taken to a tie-break in their opening set against Penny Wall and
-
Date
Carluccio's luxury picnic hamper
DAY IN THE COUNTRY: Sitting in the pouring rain eating our picnic didn't put us off in the slightest. I mean what did you expect? This is England for God's sake. And it rains in the summer - hard. Wimbledon and Glastonbury wouldn't know what to do
-
Date
Gritty City hit back to draw
TENNIS: Oxford City and Oxford Sports fought out a thrilling 4.5-4.5 draw in Ladies Division 1 of the Wilson OLTA 3-Pair League. And City probably felt the more relieved at the end to get a point as they trailed going into the final round. Cressida
-
Date
The Corner Club, Turl St, Oxford 01865 200404
Leopardskin carpet in the meeting room, horsehair in the bar and Regency-style decor in the restaurant? That's what I call eclectic. The club, formerly QI and now owned by A Curious Group of Hotels, is a labyrinth where lead crystal charm is blended
-
Date
New World Summer Reds mixed case , £79
New World reds tend to be richer than their Old World counterparts and therefore often seem to fit better with the warmer days of summer when their relative ripeness really shines. Try this mouthwatering collection for perfect seasonal drinking. The
-
Date
Meet the parents!
DEAR JESSICA: I'm going to spend a long weekend with my parents. What wine do you suggest I bring to get me through endless hours of game shows, programmes about the good old days' and crossword puzzles? Romy Smith, Henley JESSICA UNCORKED: I'm
-
Date
Do you know how much you drink?
Three people have asked me how many units of wine I drink a week in the last four days: the osteopath, the dentist and my friend who popped round for supper. I suspect my average consumption is something like a bottle and a half to two bottles a week.
-
Date
Twice as nice
Those dulcet Scottish tones take me right back to the first time I saw The Proclaimers on Top Of The Pops, wearing tight black Levi jeans and singing I Would Walk 500 Miles, the crowd whipped up into a foot-stamping frenzy. Amazingly, 21 years later
-
Date
Big hair disco at The Cellar
Big Hair Disco - another indie night, but with some resplendent eighties music thrown in for very good measure. Why should you come here though? I'll compile a list for you. Ready? Here goes... 1. It's £1.50 a pint. 2. It's only £3 to get in after 11
-
Date
Woodcote is Oxon village of the year
Woodcote has won this year's Calor Oxfordshire Village of the Year - run by Oxfordshire Rural Community Council. District winners were Deddington, East Hendred, Hailey and Woodcote, while Blewbury, Fritwell, Stanford in the Vale and Shipton under Wychwood
-
Date
Thousand set for Moonlight Stroll
Nearly a thousand walkers will march their way to a bumper result for charity at the second Oxford Moonlight Stroll on Saturday night. The Sobell House Hospice Charity has signed up 960 people to the night-time stroll through some of the city's most
-
Date
HANCOCK (12A)
With great power comes great responsibility... not that bona fide superhero Hancock (Smith) cares. The eponymous protagonist of Peter Berg's all-action adventure is another victim of our celebrity-obsessed times, turning to the whisky bottle to cope
-
Date
THE MIST (15)
Writer-director Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile) delves once more into author Stephen King's twisted imagination for a skin-crawling thriller about a small town under siege from bloodthirsty creatures. On paper, this sounds
-
Date
KUNG FU PANDA (PG)
Mark Osborne and John Stevenson's computer animated comedy does exactly what it says on the tin, spinning a familiar story of triumph against the odds around a rotund bear with a passion for martial arts. Jack Black is perfectly cast as the voice of
-
Date
Death crash teen still in hospital
A teenager injured when a car collided with a group of pedestrians leaving one of them dead, remains in hospital today. Ben Thompson, 18, was seriously injured after the incident involving a black Renault Clio on the A338 between East Hanney and Frilford
-
Date
Animal liberty
I suspect Edward Sanderson (Oxford Mail, June 30) is indulging in a little bit of hypocrisy when he talks about liberty for living creatures. What he means is liberty for fluffy bunnies or pretty little foxes, although liberty for one is mutually exclusive
-
Date
Prompt action
I wrote criticising the state of Marston Ferry Road, Oxford, after the grass had been cut (Oxford Mail, June 26). In fairness, I should point out that the rubbish thrown out by drivers was quickly cleared. Well done! CARL BUTTERWORTH Iffley Road
-
Date
Let's celebrate NHS successes
It is good to know that Oxford will have some celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the NHS, and that the Lord Mayor, Susanna Pressel, will launch a book, to be available at the Town Hall tomorrow for several weeks, for people to insert their good
-
Date
Teen arrested after crash
A teenager is in police custody after a stolen car was found crashed and on fire. Police and fire crews were called to the A44 near Enstone at 4.20am today after a red Peugeot 206 was found on fire in a ditch. The car was reported stolen from Neithrop
-
Date
Concessions win MP's car tax vote
Oxford MP Andrew Smith last night voted with the Government on its planned car-tax hike for the most-polluting vehicles - despite speaking out against the scheme. The Government averted a potential Labour rebellion on the issue by agreeing to take another
-
Date
Air ambulance marks 10,000th mission with call
The Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance, which was established in 1999, reached the remarkable landmark of having flown its 10,000th mission in June. The RAF Benson based emergency helicopter passed the magic number of missions when it was called
-
Date
College history not short of controversy
As Magdalen College celebrates its 550th year, CHRIS KOENIG tells the story of its foundation Three bishops of Winchester founded colleges at Oxford. They probably had the funds as during the Middle Ages their home city was Europe's richest bishopric
-
Date
Flourishing flora
VAL BOURNE enjoys the wild beauty of the Japanese Alps I have just come back from lecturing in Japan, the home of the heated toilet seat and hand driers that actually work. I have been speaking very slowly in short bursts for nearly two weeks
-
Date
Hunt to protect the dragons
On the 25th anniversary of British Dragonfly Society, a five-year Dragonflies in Focus project has been launched, writes ELIZABETH EDWARDS In Oxfordshire, we are now seeing species of damsels and dragonflies once chiefly seen on the south coast
-
Date
Flood barriers go on display
PEOPLE in a high flood risk area of Oxford will have the chance to check out new flood protection equipment tomorrow. The Environment Agency has spent £180,000 on flood barriers stretching more than 400 metres in a bid to protect homes on Osney Island
-
Date
Out of the ashes of the old . . .
GILES WOODFORDE visits the site of the new £112.8m Royal Shakespeare Theatre auditorium emerging in Stratford It looks as if a bomb has hit it, or there has been a very major fire. Look upwards at the façade of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in
-
Date
Favourite 'son' returns
NICOLA LISLE talks to Oxford's most popular pianist, Jack Gibbons, as he heads to the Holywell for his 21st summer season Twenty years ago, a young Jack Gibbons played two Chopin concerts at the Holywell Music Room, which were so successful that
-
Date
'Festival nothing if not eclectic'
The Henley Festival features a music opportunity for youngsters, as well as an array of exciting events, writes NICOLA LISLE After a spectacular 25th anniversary last year, this year's Henley Festival could have been an anti-climax. But artistic
-
Date
Return to university offers new avenues
Many people are taking a master's to start a fresh career, writes LUCY TENNYSON After 16 years in general management, Ian Pendlington, 46, was looking for a new direction. He had moved into business consultancy, as he wanted to spend more time
-
Date
How do you get off a non-stop flight.....?
I read a passage from a speech by an American businessman the other day. His name is Lee Iacocca and he is the guy who rescued the Chrysler Corporation from its death throes, so he knows a thing or two. It read, “Am I the only guy in this country who's
-
Date
Oxon house prices start to fall
HOUSE prices in Oxfordshire have finally started to tumble, with experts reporting a marked slowdown in activity in the last few weeks. According to Government statistics, more than £3,000 was cut from the average price of a property in the county between
-
Date
Park poised for expansion
DEVELOPERS are to invest millions of pounds in new buildings at Milton Park business park near Didcot, despite the credit crunch. MEPC, which owns the 250-acre park, is to pump £6m into a new 39,000 sq ft innnovation centre for start-up and early-stage
-
Date
Takeover move sparks worries
THE Oxfordshire employees of publishing group Informa are anxious about their future following a £3.4bn approach from private equity buyers. Informa's subsidiary Taylor & Francis publishes dozens of academic journals, and books under the Routledge imprint
-
Date
ATHLETICS: Radley miss out in tense battle
Radley's A team were just three points away from a Southern Women's League Premier Division victory as they made the relatively short trip to Perivale. They were pipped at the post by Colchester, but produced plenty of encouraging performances to secure
-
Date
Two firms in patents fights
A SECOND high-tech Oxfordshire company is embroiled in a legal battle over patents. Gene therapy specialist Oxford BioMedica is defending a case brought by Bavarian Nordic, in the US, claiming that the system employed in Oxford BioMedica's therapeutic
-
Date
ATHLETICS: City duo lead the way
Victories from Ellie Clarke-Jacques and Imogen Kempton in the 800m for under 15 girls led Oxford City to second place in their latest Southern Women's League Division 1 meeting in Basingstoke. Melissa Hawtin won the senior women's 1500m, while Sarah
-
Date
ATHLETICS: Boden smashes course
Witney Roadrunner Lazloe Boden was the overall winner at the Cheltenham Circular Challenge Marathon. Boden clocked 3hrs 51mins 16secs - beating the course record by more than 15 minutes. OTHER RESULTS FARNBOROUGH FLIER 12K Kidlington: J Finnigan
-
Date
ATHLETICS: In-form Chown bags a sprint double
Luke Chown continued his magnificent season as he claimed a 100 and 200m sprint double and broke the club record in both events at the Southern Men's League Division 3 West meeting in Bournemouth. Chown clocked an impressive 10.9secs in the 100m, easing
-
Date
ATHLETICS: Kimber second at Thame
Steve Kimber had to settle for second place at the Thame CPM 10K on Sunday. Run over a new course, the race attracted around 900 runners and conditions were near perfect. Richard Burgess-Gamble (Barnet & District) won the race in 32mins 11secs, with
-
Date
ATHLETICS: Harriers kids are record-breakers
Records tumbled for White Horse Harriers in the second round of the Oxfordshire Junior League at Tilsley Park. Harriers set 12 club records across all the age groups. Charlie Harrison (under 9 boys) took two records, throwing the cricket ball 27 metres
-
Date
ATHLETICS: Veterans grab silver medal
Oxford City were second in the vet 50 category at the National BMAF 10K Road Championships at Loughborough. The trio of Richard Grant, Stewart Thorp and Roy Treadwell put in a fine display, with Treadwell winning the vet 60 individual category in 37mins
-
Date
Man cleared of rape
A JURY yesterday took less than an hour to clear an Oxford man of raping a 15-year-old girl. Jamie Hall, 25, of Fettiplace Road, Barton, was found not guilty of one charge of rape, one of sexual assault and two of sexual activity with a child. Before
-
Date
Who's in the House?
Daddy and Lexie are in the new playhouse - still in their pyjamas. Don't know who is most excited about it.
-
Date
Traffic delays in Banbury following smash
There were traffic delays in Banbury this morning following a single-vehicle accident. Before 7am, the eastbound carriageway of Hennef Way was blocked at the junction of Southam Road, but the road has now been cleared. A spokesman for South Central
-
Date
Lunch with the ladies of the No. 1 agency
On a perfect weekend for parties in the garden, I was lucky enough to be invited to two such events. The first, on Saturday, was a well-managed celebration in the beautiful grounds of Magdalen College, marking the 550th anniversary of William of Waynflete's
-
Date
Disarming our violent society
Are you worried that knife crime is increasing in Britain? Many newspapers make you think that it has risen dramatically, but Channel 4 recently reported that murders in England and Wales involving knives have actually dropped from 243 in 1995 to 212
-
Date
Some win, some lose from the smoking ban
Just a year ago, all pubs in England followed Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland by calling time on smoking on the premises. In one fell swoop, pubs became free of the smoke and fug created by cigarettes, pipes and cigars. Tables and bars are no longer
-
Date
Courgette salad with lemon recipe — serves four as a side dish
We call them courgettes, but they are called zucchini in Italy, the US and Australia. They are a member of the marrow family and if left unpicked will go on growing to a gigantic size. However, they really are best if harvested when six to 8in long and
-
Date
Kung Fu Panda and Hancock
Mark Osborne and John Stevenson's computer animated comedy Kung Fu Panda does exactly what it says on the tin, spinning a familiar story of triumph against the odds around a rotund bear with a passion for martial arts. Jack Black is perfectly cast as
-
Date
The Visitor, Death Note: The Last Name, My Winnipeg and Chop Suey
Sixty-one year-old Richard Jenkins has made more than 50 movies since debuting in Lawrence Kasdan's Silverado (1985). You probably wouldn't know him by name, but he's become a familiar face in films by the Coen and Farrelly brothets and such TV outings
-
Date
Love's a Luxury: The Mill at Sonning
An evening of uproarious fun - that, in a nutshell, is what we have here. The Mill at Sonning is famed for its high-energy comedies but Love's a Luxury, by Guy Paxton and Edward V.Hoile, is one of their very best productions. Set in an affluent country
-
Date
Cunning Little Vixen: Longborough Opera
With its statues of Wagner, Verdi and Mozart on the roof, and its grand staircase in the foyer, you'd scarcely guess that Longborough Opera House was once a farm barn. But barn it was, with "the rough lick marks on the back of the green exit door the
-
Date
Oxford Harmonic Society: Keble College
Temporarily displaced: as reported in last week's Oxford Times, the Sheldonian Theatre has closed until November, so Oxford Harmonic Society needed a new concert venue. Keble College Chapel was the brave choice. Brave? Keble's multi-coloured brickwork
-
Date
Russell Watson
There was an emotional welcome for Russell Watson last week at the New Theatre, Oxford, where he appeared as part of his comeback tour, just eight months after undergoing surgery to remove a second brain tumour. After his last appearance in Oxford was
-
Date
And Then There Were None: The Oxford Playhouse
And Then There Were None began life as an Agatha Christie thriller with an entirely different title. Delicately crafted, it was one of the most popular books she ever wrote and one of the most technically clever. A group of guests is invited to spend
-
Date
Robert Mitchell's Panacea, The Spin
As the keyboard player of choice for Norma Winstone, Steve Colman and Courtney Pine, Robert Mitchell has to be good, but it was a surprise to discover at the Spin just how good and how different. As a member of the F-IRE collective and leader of his own
-
Date
Dictators
An away match at Barrow to start the season would be gruelling enough on a Saturday. Oxford United fans face the prospect of a 500-mile round trip to a Friday night match - all because of the demands of TV. TV bosses are becoming too dictatorial.
-
Date
Consult - or risk the wrath
It is inevitable that in this hi-tech age, schools will embrace the latest techniques to disseminate information. Some parents are expressing concern that a new computer system being introduced by Oxfordshire County Council into schools is yet another
-
Date
Fans cry foul over U's 1st game
A 460-mile, 12-hour round trip to watch Oxford United's first game of the season on a Friday night has left hundreds of fans resigned to watching on TV while others take a day off work to follow their heroes. United found out yesterday they will kick-off
-
Date
On-line eye on school pupils
Thousands of parents will soon be able to check if their children are at school thanks to a hi-tech 'Big Mother' computer system. Mothers and fathers will also be able to view their children's grades and whether they have handed in their homework or
