Archive
-
Date
Blenheim Horse Trials cancelled
Blenheim Horse Trials has been cancelled for the first time in its 19-year history. The decision was taken following the dressage phase, after further very heavy rain had fallen on already very muddy ground. The horse trials are Oxfordshire's
-
Date
Father jailed for killing friend
A father who killed his friend because he believed he was making sexual advances to his daughter was today jailed for two-and-a-half years. James Crain, 53, was convicted of manslaughter by a jury at Oxford Crown Court after a two-week trial. His
-
Date
Hair consultant faces jail over sex assaults
A married hair consultant who sexually assaulted customers in his clinic was tonight facing jail after being convicted of a string of offences. Praminder Mankoo, of Oakley, near Thame, was convicted at Oxford Crown Court of one charge of indecent assault
-
Date
Evans set for United debut
Evans set for United debut Oxford United boss Darren Patterson wrapped up the signing of midfielder Paul Evans on Friday night He joins the U's until the New Year, and is set to make his debut at Kidderminster. The 34-year-old Owestry-born
-
Date
Burnell named new U's captain
Joe Burnell has been appointed Oxford United's new captain. He takes over from Adam Murray, who stepped down at the start of the week, and will lead the U's out for the first time at Kidderminster today. And skippering a side is nothing
-
Date
EQUESTRIAN: Ruth has the edge at Blenheim
Ruth Edge wowed the judges to go into the lead after yesterday's second day of dressage. Edge oozed class on board her British Open winner Mayhem III to land six penalties clear of the field on a score of 30.2. Chasing Edge is young rider Laura Collett
-
Date
Father jailed over fatal punch
A father who killed his friend because he believed he was making sexual advances to his daughter was today jailed for two-and-a-half years. James Crain, 53, was convicted of manslaughter by a jury at Oxford Crown Court after a two-week trial. His
-
Date
Elvis addicts celebrate golden milestone
There have been been no Suspicious Minds for one Oxfordshire couple, who put the success of their 50-year marriage down to the music of Elvis. Jean and Jack Knight, of Sandford Lane in Kennington, who celebrate their golden wedding anniversary tomorrow
-
Date
Porn sentence prompts fears
Child protection campaigners fear paedophiles could blame medication for their crimes after the controversial sentencing of sex offender Phillip Carmichael. Carmichael was granted an absolute discharge at Oxford Crown Court yesterday despite admitting
-
Date
Incinerator 'is not dangerous'
The firm behind plans to build a large waste incinerator have hit back at claims the waste burners are "potentially lethal". Dr Dick Van Steenis, a former GP and House of Lords adviser, presented data at a public meeting in Ardley on Wednesday which
-
Date
Sex 'predator' facing prison
A married hair consultant who sexually assaulted customers in his clinic was tonight facing jail after being convicted of a string of offences. Praminder Mankoo, of Oakley, near Thame, was convicted at Oxford Crown Court of one charge of indecent assault
-
Date
Student pressure saves course
The Oxford Academy has vowed to run a course for six pupils who were turned away from the school because of a lack of a teacher. The former Peers School pupils arrived at the academy on Monday expecting to continue with their national diploma in health
-
Date
Pigging out
A HOG roast, special church services and all the fun of the fair will return to The Leys in Witney next week at the annual Town Feast. Hundreds of people are expected to make their way to the historic fair, which has featured in the town's calendar
-
Date
300 caught not wearing seatbelts
A week-long clampdown on drivers who fail to wear their seatbelts caught 300 offenders. The initiative included police operations in Banbury, Bicester, Kidlington, Abingdon and Oxford — and there are more ad-hoc spot checks planned for this weekend.
-
Date
Police appeal for information on stolen jewelery
Police have appealed for information after items of jewelery and silver were stolen from a house in Christmas Common, Watlington, in south Oxfordshire. The items are believed to have been stolen between 6.30pm on Monday, September 8, and 8am yesterday
-
Date
'Good Samaritan' steals bag from car
A bag was stolen from a car parked in South Parade, Summertown, earlier today after a thief, posing as a good Samaritan, reported a problem with the rear of the vehicle. The thief knocked on the car window and as the driver got out of the vehicle
-
Date
Firefighters swap hoses for sponges
Firefighters are giving up their time to get busy with buckets and sponges tomorrow to raise funds for injured colleagues. Crews from across Oxfordshire are taking part in a charity car wash day in return for donations to the national Fire
-
Date
Bus-ted
Message to Oxford's Labour Council on the OAP bus-pass fiasco: don't blame the pensioners, blame your own Government. I have long called for a nationwide concessionary bus scheme — long before Labour were converts to the cause. But a real national scheme
-
Date
Cyclists need road testing
Today I saw one of those most rare Oxford sights; a cyclist looking behind them before moving out, who waited until there was sufficient space and signalled correctly. It seems that cyclists do not engage their brains in our city, adopting a somewhat
-
Date
Today's local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 45.5 BMW 2263 Electrocomponents 170.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 132.5 Oxford Biomedica 9.7 Oxford Catalyst 171 Oxford Instruments 239 REED 599.5 RM 175.25 RPS Group 276.75 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
-
Date
Video website dedicated to estate
Computer screens across the world could soon be buzzing with real-life tales from an Oxford estate. Calvin Goodgame said he intended to train citizen journalists to shoot, edit and upload their own videos to a YouTube-style website dedicated to Blackbird
-
Date
GREYHOUNDS: Hondo's in a hurry
Hondo Mac, who has run his heart out in finishing runner-up to the likes of Bomber Blue and Isle Of Tara recently, can get his head in front when he takes on a good class top grade line-up in the A1 at Oxford on Saturday night. SATURDAY NIGHT'S RUNNERS
-
Date
Celebrating 70 years.
This October the Playhouse will be celebrating 70 years of being situated in its Beaumont Street home. With much celebrating to be done everyone here is working frantically hard preparing for the star-studded gala nights and other such fantastic events
-
Date
Consumed by wave of movie rage
The Electric Chair — not a subject to generate a feel-good mood. And until last week, it would have put me in an angry sulk too. But then I went to the cinema and over the space of two hours, realised it might not be such a bad idea after all. Obviously
-
Date
GREYHOUNDS: Burglar closes in on century
Glenroy Burglar takes another step nearer the magic century when he competes in his 97th race in Saturday night's meeting at Oxford Stadium. Trainer Gilly Hepden and the connections will spoil him rotten when he reaches his hundred. Hepden has been
-
Date
GREYHOUNDS: Stadium launch 1p dining offer
Oxford Stadium are launching an unbelievable offer in a bid to get the crowds back. With a number of tracks struggling for punters, the British Greyhound Racing Board are launching a national advertising campaign offering entrance and a meal for just
-
Date
Bookworms wait for library to open
Book lovers and web surfers have finally been given a re-opening date for their local library, bringing an end to weeks of uncertainty. Parents and children had been left scratching their heads over the continued closure of Botley Library, Oxford, which
-
Date
Torrential rain hits Monza
Torrential rain battered the historic Monza circuit to virtually wash out first practice for Sunday's Italian Grand Prix. As thunder and lightning boomed and crackled overhead, the drivers and pit crews, as well as fans and photographers, were
-
Date
On A Carousel
I was left rather crestfallen by the news that the Bodleian Library's book depository is not going to be built next to the Oxford Mail offices in Osney Mead. It would have been nice to have an eight million volume bookstack next door, but local
-
Date
TENNIS: St Hugh's success
SEB Rey and Lillie Owen, from St Hugh's, Faringdon, claimed singles' titles at the National Prep Schools Tennis Championships. Rey edged out Marc Huttman, from St Anthony's, London, 7-6 to become the under 14 boys' champion at Queenswood School, near
-
Date
Burnell is U's skipper
Joe Burnell is Oxford United's new captain. The former Wycombe and Northampton midfielder has captained every club he has played at. He leads the team out for the first time at Kidderminster tomorrow. Boss Darren Patterson said: "Joe is a great
-
Date
Thieves dig up copper cables
Police this afternoon appealed for information after copper cabling was dug up and stolen from the side of the A415 in Culham. Crime reduction adviser Mark Bradfield said the theft happened on Tuesday. He said: “There have also been other occasions
-
Date
LA murder case postponed again
The case against a couple accused of killing an Oxford man in Los Angeles last year has been postponed for a second time. Angela and Michael Sheridan are alleged to have punched Roderick Poole before the 45-year-old was stabbed after a dispute
-
Date
Motorsport company sued over equipment
A motorsports company from Oxfordshire has been served with a High Court writ claiming £120,000 worth of equipment has not been returned to its supplier. Walkinshaw Performance Ltd operates from Broadstone Hill, Chipping Norton, and is owned
-
Date
Writ served on motorsport firm
A motorsports company from Oxfordshire has been served with a High Court writ claiming £120,000 worth of equipment has not been returned to its supplier. Walkinshaw Performance Ltd, operates from Broadstone Hill, Chipping Norton, and is owned by Tom
-
Date
TENNIS: Naylor crowned champ
Oxfordshire's Charlie Naylor captured the ten and under boys' singles crown at the British Junior National Championships at the West Hants Club, Bournemouth. The ten-year-old, from Drayton, near Abingdon, claimed the title with a 4-1, 5-4 (7-4) win
-
Date
CRICKET: Final set to go indoors
Heavy rain over the last week is set to drive the Oxfordshire final of the Lord's Taverners Under 14 Cricket Cup between Magdalen College School (Oxford) and Warriner (Bloxham) indoors. A winner must be found this month as the county have to put forward
-
Date
KAYAKING: Madi in national joy
North Leigh youngster Madi Barnicoat captured a brace of titles at the National Sprint Regatta at the National Water Sports Centre, Nottingham. The nine-year-old, who trains at Longridge Canoe Club under Ollie Harding, won the girls' under 10 1000m
-
Date
HOCKEY: City seeking new players
City of Oxford are holding an open afternoon on Sunday to try and find new members. It takes place at Oxford Brookes University from 1.30-4.30pm and is open to anybody 14 and over. Players are asked to bring shin-pads and a mouth guard, hockey sticks
-
Date
WEIGHTLIFTING: Watson to fly England flag
Didcot teenager Ben Watson has been selec- ted by England for the Commonwealth Youth Games in India next month. The 18-year-old St Birinus School club member is just one of three English lifters who have been called up for the Games at Pune, near Mumbai
-
Date
One river on flood watch
One river in Oxfordshire was today on flood watch. The catchment of the River Ray, near Islip, is the only river in the county covered by a flood alert. Earlier flood watches on the Evenlode, Windrush, Cherwell and Thame have been lifted.
-
Date
Californian mixed case, £81
The unique Californian microclimate holds the secrets to its wines. With vineyards stretching along its coasts, sea mists roll inland to rest the vines overnight and then burn off with the morning sun, allowing the vines to warm up — ideal
-
Date
A quick guide to wine terms
In the last two weeks I have written the descriptions for more than 400 different wines. My brain aches. I have run out of adjectives and I look about as fresh as my rather dog-eared thesaurus. The biggest problem I find with being so heavily
-
Date
Pledge to stranded holidaymakers
The manager of the MidCounties Coop's travel division pledged today to help Oxfordshire customers affected by the collapse of the XL Leisure Group. Tens of thousands of holidaymakers have been left stranded after the UK’s third largest tour
-
Date
Pledge to stranded holidaymakers
The manager of the MidCounties Co-op's travel division pledged today to help Oxfordshire customers affected by the collapse of the XL Leisure Group. Tens of thousands of holidaymakers have been left stranded after the UK’s third largest tour operator
-
Date
Volunteer for MS team needed
A BANBURY mother spent five years suffering pins and needles up an down her body, sudden falls and chronic fatigue before doctors diagnosed her illness. Now 20 years on Millie McCormick is chairman of the Banbury branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society
-
Date
Banbury doctor swims Channel
A DOCTOR from Banbury was part of only the eighth double act ever to swim the English Channel Hamish Reid, 27, teamed up with university friend Dominic Jones, 26, who lives in London, for the gruelling swim in memory of his aunt. The pair
-
Date
Today's local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 45.5 BMW 2292 Electrocomponents 171.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 132.5 Oxford Biomedica 9.8 Oxford Catalyst 171 Oxford Instruments 237.25 REED 598.75 RM 174 RPS Group 275.5 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
-
Date
£10k raised in Kayleigh's memory
A COUPLE who launched a £10,000 appeal in memory of their daughter are celebrating after smashing their target. Karen and Neil Hancox were left devastated after their daughter Kayleigh was stillborn in November, 2007. In tribute to her they set up
-
Date
Family fights for changes to cycle law
THE family of a teenager who was knocked over by a cyclist and later died of her injuries have taken their fight for justice to Parliament. Rhiannon Bennett, 17, was knocked over by cyclist Jason Howard, 36, in Buckingham in April, 2007. She died six
-
Date
Mini concept heads for Paris
The wraps are set to come off what could be the latest addition to the Mini range. The Crossover Concept will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show on October 2 and will be a larger, four wheel drive car aimed at the leisure market. Described by
-
Date
Report crimes by email
People are being asked to complete a short online questionnaire about how they would like to report incidents to the police. The Control Rooms and Enquiries Department (CR&ED) will soon be introducing an e-communication service which will allow people
-
Date
Hamilton cool as race hots up
Lewis Hamilton feels his ice-cool composure will stand him in good stead for the heat of battle in this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix. Hamilton is refusing to let the events of Sunday’s controversial race in Belgium have any effect on his preparations
-
Date
Porn teacher is 'blameless'
Campaigners reacted with concern after a retired teacher was told by a judge he was blameless for downloading 7,466 child porn images. Former deputy headteacher Phillip Carmichael admitted downloading the indecent pictures and videos — but blamed
-
Date
New £3m museum for Woodstock
A £3m museum to tell the story of Oxfordshire's military history looks set to be built in Woodstock. It will be created on a site behind the Oxfordshire Museum in the centre of the town, bringing to an end months of anxiety about where valuable
-
Date
Eco-town 'to bring 15,000 jobs'
The proposed eco-town near Weston-on-the-Green would create up to 15,000 new jobs, the Government will be told. The developer has set out how jobs will be created at the planned Weston Otmoor settlement near the A34 in its final bid presentation
-
Date
Grandparents proud of Theo
A proud grandfather is beaming with joy after his soccer sensation grandson Theo Walcott became the toast of England. But former Carterton mayor Joe Walcott then admitted he had been forced to miss his grandson's finest footballing moment.
-
Date
Child porn teacher is 'blameless'
Campaigners last night reacted with concern after a retired teacher was told by a judge he was blameless for downloading 7,466 child porn images. Former deputy headteacher Phillip Carmichael admitted downloading the indecent pictures and videos
-
Date
Our hero
We would like to think Oxfordshire played a part in Wednesday night's terrific win for the England football team in Croatia. Arsenal's teenage sensation Theo Walcott, who honed his prodigious skills in Carterton, was the star of the show in Zagreb,
-
Date
U's hopeful on Evans
DARREN Patterson is hopeful of signing the vastly experienced former Wales midfielder Paul Evans. The 34-year-old, who made a name for himself when he was at Brentford by scoring some spectacular long-range goals and free-kicks, trained with the U's
-
Date
Withdraw the drugs now
There will be many people today who feel sorry for Phillip Carmichael, a man whose life has been ravaged by drugs he took for Parkinson's Disease. The 58-year-old former primary school teacher, who has suffered from the debilitating disease since 1996
-
Date
Creation attracts help
THE Creation Theatre Company’s appeal is drawing a diverse cast of fundraisers as it fights for survival. Oxfordshire's largest theatre production company has received a major boost in its bid to stay afloat after receiving pledges worth £42,000
-
Date
School staff taste training
A unique training kitchen designed to improve the skills of the county's dinner ladies has opened at an Oxford primary school. The facility at Rose Hill Primary School, which is the only one in the country to be run by a local authority, was unveiled
-
Date
German makers open their books
German manufacturers are determined that well-heeled British motorists will ride out the credit crunch in comfort and style. Audi has just opened the order books for its latest A6 line-up, which goes on sale in the UK soon, with saloons costing from
-
Date
Harsh facts
Sir — Mrs Harper, the Oxford Deputy of the board of British Jews, in her letter (Difficult situation, September 5) decries the visit of Oxford teenagers to a Palestinian refugee camp and its coverage in The Oxford Times. She criticises the report
-
Date
God does not cheat
Sir — Sentimentalists like Richard Dawkins and several of your correspondents dismiss religion, because they cannot believe that a benevolent Creator would allow the pain and misery that dominate our world. They pooh-pooh miracles and then demand
-
Date
Work stops for funeral
The funeral of the building site worker who died in an accident at Marriotts Close, Witney, is being held today. The development company, Simons Construction, is stopping work on the town centre site for the day as a mark of respect for 28-year-old
-
Date
Whither Westgate
We are all anxious to hear what the new timetable is for the Westgate redevelopment. We have little doubt that the scheme will go ahead — we just wonder when that is going to be. The construction industry, like many industries, is facing a tough period
-
Date
Poisoned chalice
It is no surprise to see Oxford City Council attempting to get its boundaries changed to include the expanse of land off Grenoble Road earmarked for major new housing development. Its intentions are to speed up a development that it believes is vital
-
Date
Brookes should move
Sir — Your letter columns are full of complaints about Oxford Brookes University, most recently about the traffic congestion it produces, although we have also heard a lot about the pressure it creates on accommodation and how it threatens green spaces
-
Date
Road not needed
Sir — I find it quite amazing that Oxfordshire County Council wants to waste money, destroy such a valuable asset as Witney's front garden and encroach on the Windrush floodplain in order to build a road that is not needed. The simple answer is to
-
Date
Brilliant theory
Sir — Mr Surman writes (August 29) 'all humans are descended from apes, and to suggest otherwise is inexcusable'. The word 'descended' suggests humans are of a lower order than apes, so perhaps 'ascended' would be a better word — after all humankind
-
Date
Wales Rally GB entries open
Entries open for this December's Wales Rally GB (4th - 7th) today with 120 places available for professional and amateur crews. The Cardiff-based event has, measured by the number of entries received, long been the most popular event in the
-
Date
Importance of forests
Sir — In view of your report Global goings on in local woods (September 5), one wonders why on earth the University of Oxford has abolished its Forestry Institute — an internationally renowned centre for research and teaching, whose graduates are now
-
Date
New bangers
Sir — Perhaps Peter Collett won't believe me when I say that Stagecoach have got rid of their "old barges" only to replace them with new bangers on the 20/A route from Oxford-Charlbury-Chipping Norton which give you far more bangs to the minute and
-
Date
Peerless pool
Sir — Your columns often, and most usefully, provide opportunities for correspondents to alert readers to failures or inadequacies in the provision of services. May I draw your readers' attention to a service that is working well but seems to be almost
-
Date
Love of learning
Sir — Your obituary of Michael Broadway (August 29) mentions briefly his career in teaching, a career which in fact spanned half a century and demonstrated to colleagues and students alike a gift for inspiring others which marks out the great teacher
-
Date
Education is vital
Sir — Reading your double-page spread on record GCSE results across Oxfordshire, it occurred to me how much we take our access to education for granted. Seventy-three million children worldwide aren't in education. Almost half of those live in conflict-affected
-
Date
Cut risk of flooding
Sir — I am sure everyone around Oxfordshire affected by the floods in 2000, 2003 and 2007 feels sorry for the residents of Wales and the North East of England who have suffered from the recent severe floods and the sad loss of life, but it could so
-
Date
Time to agree routes
Sir — Local walking groups have long been raising concerns about the future routes of well-used paths from Warneford Meadow and Barracks Lane on to the Churchill site, particularly after the construction firm concerned not only encroached on the wildlife
-
Date
New take on tackling dementia
Oliver James famously got in touch with Peter Mandelson's hidden emotions a few years back in a memorable television interview. Mandelson was a guest on Dr James's television series The Chair, and when questioned by the celebrated psychologist about
-
Date
Cancer patients' showdown with chiefs
Cancer patients won the chance to question Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust over its policy of not prescribing the life-extending drug Sunitinib — but left empty-handed. Yesterday, 10 campaigners representing Justice for Kidney Cancer Patients
-
Date
Author of delays
Sir — You report the Radcliffe Hospitals Trust’s efforts to shift a couple of public paths which interfere with its plans for the new cancer centre at the Churchill Hospital (Report, September 5). Its spokesman is quoted as saying that ‘it would be
-
Date
Cleaning up
Sir — Steve Squire (Letters, September 5) asks what initiatives are planned to complement litter blitzes such as the Big Clean Up, and in Oxford, the Oxclean: Spring Clean. We agree that more is needed. OxClean is an Oxford Civic Society initiative
-
Date
Peaceful future
Sir — As children in Oxford returned to school after their summer break, I was shocked to hear that 72 million children around the world are still denied basic primary education. More than half of these kids live in countries affected by conflict,
-
Date
Police reshuffle roles
Four out of five of Oxfordshire's police commanders will be replaced following a reshuffle of Thames Valley Police. Officers in Oxford, the Vale of White Horse, south Oxfordshire and west Oxfordshire will answer to new bosses after the force announced
-
Date
£720 car could raise £50,000
A rare 1930s Lagonda sports car bought for just £200 by Oxford peer Lord Berkeley is expected to fetch up to £50,000 at an auction on Saturday. That's the good news. The bad news is that Lord Berkeley — Oxford-based chairman of the Rail
