Archive
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Balancing act for big kids
Some impressive acrobatics were on display as the Big Kids Circus came to Abingdon. The circus, which has set up its big top in Wootton Road, will put on shows every day until Sunday. Ballet, acrobatics and clowns will all be on offer, with the 20 performers
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£12m reservoir takes shape
Thames Water is building a new reservoir near Oxford to hold enough water to fill 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The £12m project will eventually double the capacity of the Beacon Hill Reservoir, near Farmoor Reservoir, and boost the amount
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Growing new crop of talent
A drive to get more young people to start agricultural businesses in Oxfordshire has taken a major step forward. A Fresh Start Academy is now up-and-running through Abingdon and Witney College, with the aim of providing training and mentoring across
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Rail upgrade gets go-ahead
The go-ahead for improvements to the Cotswold Line rail route between Oxford and Worcester was tonight welcomed by rail campaigners. The Office of Rail Regulation gave its ruling yesterday on how much money Network Rail will have to spend on
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Patterson wants more leaders
Oxford United boss Darren Patterson feels he still needs one or two more leaders in the team. The U’s were without former skipper Barry Quinn, and current captain Joe Burnell, in the FA Cup last Saturday, and seemed a bit quiet on the pitch as things
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Memories of ex-U's boss
Denis Smith provides some fascinating insights into his two stints as Oxford United manager in his new autobiography Just One of Seven. Like the novel way striker David Rush managed to pay for a round of drinks at his local pub, and how hard-man
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United geared up for five-in-a-row
Oxford United’s Youth, Community and Education Department have just run a pilot E2E (Entry to Employment) course, which has involved basic IT training and football coaching, and it’s been such a success they’re running another one next week! It’s common
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Pupils learn black history
Students from Oxford studying for the equivalent of a GCSE in black achievement – created by a single white mother – have been handed their qualifications. Sue Funge used her experiences as a mother to her mixed race son Rory to start Going for Gold
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U's prepared for five-in-a row
Oxford United aim for their fifth successive home win against York City on Saturday, but manager Darren Patterson is expecting another testing match. The Minstermen lost 1-0 at Mansfield in a FA Cup fourth qualifying round replay in midweek, but were
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Men ‘had mental health issues’
Three men who broke down the door of a house and threatened the occupants with a rounders bat were yesterday sentenced at Oxford Crown Court. Gary Spiers, 46, Russell Nightingale, 28, and Mark Magee, 39, burst into a house in Farm Close, Blackbird Leys
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Youth club has drugs problem, says report
A report into a popular Oxford youth club has revealed a "major problem" with drug and alcohol abuse. Rose Hill and Littlemore Young People's Project, based in The Oval, Rose Hill, is operated by Oxfordshire County Council and funded by grants from a
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Poppy collecting since 1941
Poppy Appeal stalwart Jean Lloyd began collecting for the Royal British Legion before the Japanese invasion of Pearl Harbour in 1941. The campaigning 83-year-old, whose father and husband were both prisoners of war — the former in the First World War
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We'll oppose flats, say residents
Householders have vowed to continue battling plans to develop a semi-detached house into four flats. People living in Fullwell Close, Abingdon, say that if a proposal to extend the house and convert it into apartments goes ahead on appeal, lives could
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Growing a new crop of talent
A drive to get more young people to start agricultural businesses in Oxfordshire has taken a major step forward. A Fresh Start Academy is now up-and-running through Abingdon and Witney College with the aim of providing training and mentoring
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Eden explored at Brookes
Tim Smit, chief executive and co-founder of the Eden Project, will talk about the inspiration behind the Cornish tourist attraction at a lecture at Oxford Brookes University on November 12. The talk starts at 6.30pm in the main lecture theatre at the
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Karate kids celebrate birthday
A karate club has celebrated 30 years of training in Abingdon. Coach Mike James started the branch of Kyushindo at the Community Centre, in Stratton Way, in 1978. Three decades later and the club still meets twice a week — on a Wednesday
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Mystery of maths
Mathematics was always a mystery. Despite the hair-tearing efforts of Caradoc Williams, a teacher now performing in that great Eisteddfod in the sky, I absorbed nothing of Pythagoras or his chums. All I remember is that in algebra there was a thing called
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In good health
I would not worry too much about going into the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre at Headington, Oxford; it really is an excellent hospital. That's to anyone waiting to go in there, I have just had three weeks on Ward F and the doctors, nurses and cleaning
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Dragged down
The City spivs stand there with their begging bowls asking for compassion. What government has ever shown compassion to miners, printers, the shipbuilders, the steelworkers or the fishermen? Capitalism was never meant to be a casino. This was once a
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Books marked
I was interested to see on TV, also in the paper, that services in the libraries are to be cut due to people, borrowers, or members of the libraries not taking out or renting DVDs and CDs etc. Isn't this because so many people are taking them out free
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M40 back in action after smash
The M40 was back up-and-running today following Wednesday’s traffic chaos. The Highways Agency confirmed both the south and northbound carriageways were operating as normal following the collision between two lorries. A 46-year-old man was killed in
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Garden vandalism dismays grandmother
Vandals have left a grandmother heartbroken after smashing up a communal garden she had spent a year transforming. Yobs stole garden ornaments, ripped up tomato plants and damaged brickwork in an apparently unprovoked attack on the garden in
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Smart way to cut spending
With public spending down and red sale signs emblazoned across the High Street, it seems the credit crunch is hitting women where it hurts — in their clothes budgets. But do not fear. Trade at the country's very first charity shop — Oxfam in
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Chain reaction
My old sparring partner Chris Boswell's constant humorous jibes reference the long-term lack of public conveniences in Oxford city has had a strange effect on city councillors. They are actually talking of rectifying the problem by updating and providing
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Good idea taken too far?
It was surprising to see our county council leader Keith Mitchell in Churchillian mode pledging to defend Oxford city centre. With true British bulldog spirit he vows to stand firm in banning all traffic from the city centre. It would
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Pub hides a dark secret
With villagers enjoying pints by its crackling open fires, it seems like one of Oxfordshire's least frightening places. But beneath its welcoming appearance as a traditional country pub, The Trout in Wolvercote hides a dark secret – a ghostly figure
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Dracula brought to life
Children will tomorrow perform their 'fangtastic' version of Bram Stoker's Dracula. The children have been working into the night all week with professional company, Creation Theatre, on the classic horror to perform to family and friends as
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Neighbour calls for end to seasonal 'pranks'
The neighbour of a family almost killed when a lit firework was pushed through their letterbox has called for youths to cease reckless Halloween "pranks". Patrick Neil had to shelter David Norbrook, his wife and two sons when their home in
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The mystery of maths
Mathematics was always a mystery. Despite the hair-tearing efforts of Caradoc Williams, a teacher now performing in that great Eisteddfod in the sky, I absorbed nothing of Pythagoras or his chums. All I remember is that in algebra there was a thing
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Marathon effort for researcher
Athlete Imogen Simpson-Mowday, from Iffley, battled gale force winds, hail and torrential rain to finish a marathon challenge. Ms Simpson-Mowday came 148th out of 231 women in the Snowdonia Marathon in 4hrs 54mins. The 30-year-old, a
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MG museum is up and running
A museum dedicated to the MG car has reopened in Abingdon. The MG Museum opened on October 25 on the second floor of the County Hall Museum, in Market Place. The small museum, organised by former MG employee Brian Moylan, ran for a trial each weekend
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City boosted by duo's return
Oxford City welcome back their former Oxford United duo of Dave Savage and Jamie Brooks when they travel to Dartford in the FA Trophy second qualifying round tomorrow. The pair were cup-tied last weekend when they lost 1-0 at Eastbourne Borough, but
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FOOTBALL: Peace is seeking ruthless streak
Didcot Town boss Stuart Peace wants his side to be more ruthless in front of goal when they travel to Bracknell in Division 1 South & West. Town created a host of chances against Swindon Supermarine in Tuesday’s GX Cup, only to go down to a 2-1 defeat
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FOOTBALL: Boss Bourne relishing Witney challenge
FTL Futbol Hellenic League Wantage Town boss Richard Bourne is relishing a crack at his former club manager, Andy Lyne, as they host Witney United in the first round of the SBJ Sports Insurance Brokers Cup at Alfredian Park on Saturday.
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RUGBY UNION: Chinnor must capitalise
Chinnor coach Jason Bowers says they are not far off holding their own in National 3 South as they prepare for tomorrow’s trip to Canterbury. Bowers’s side are second from bottom and five points adrift of safety, but they have not lost heavily
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BADMINTON: Schutterlin shines
Kathryn Schutterlin made a successful debut as Oxfordshire beat Leicester- shire 9-6 in Division 1 C of the Inter-Counties Champion-ships at Radley College. Singles wins by Schutterlin, plus the Oxford University duo of Ryan Manuel and James Buffam,
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FIXTURES October 31
SATURDAY. FOOTBALL. BLUE SQUARE PREMIER. Oxford Utd v York City. FA TROPHY. 2nd qual round: Dartford v Oxford C. BRITISH GAS BUSINESS SOUTHERN LEAGUE. Premier Div: Banbury Utd v Halesowen Town.
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Caravan loses wheel on A34
Traffic is now easing after six-mile tailbacks on the A34 at Milton, near Didcot, after a caravan lost a wheel. The northbound carriageway was reduced to one lane for about an hour to allow a new wheel to be safely fitted to the vehicle. The incident
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Caravan causes six-mile tailback
Traffic is easing after six-mile tailbacks on the A34 at Milton, near Didcot after a caravan lost its wheel. The northbound carriageway was reduced to one lane for around an hour to allow a new wheel to be safely fitted to the vehicle. The incident
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Burglars target Witney homes
Burglars who climbed in through a window while the residents were at home during a spree in Witney have been described by police as ‘audacious’. The burglars broke into a house in Woodlands Road some time between 11am and 9pm yesterday and stole jewellery
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Octogenarian that can still hit 80
I would like very much to have been on the platform at Banbury station a couple of Wednesdays ago as the 83-year-old steam locomotive Sir Lamiel roared through at the head of a long and heavy train clocking close on 80mph. What a wonderful sight it must
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Spipping the best martinis in London
In this week of James Bond mania (and lousy film reviews if ours is anything to go by) I got into the 007 mood by drinking what is said to be the best martini in London (some say the world) in a setting familiar to Bond's creator Ian Fleming. The location
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Confusing roles in new Dickens
Little Dorrit (BBC1) was the latest in a long sequence of TV adaptations by Andrew Davies of classic novels. This is probably one of Dickens's lesser-known works, so Davies had a hard job to introduce us to a large number of characters and situations.
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Pierre Victoire: Little Clarendon Street,
Pierre Victoire was once a franchise operation of a restaurant chain that — unusually for a French one — grew out of Edinburgh. It has not been part of that group now for a decade, the company having gone spectacularly bust in 1998 after which its founder
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We're still here!
It's been a long time since my last entry, partly because so much has been going on but mainly because we have a new system and I couldn't figure out how to use it! In the last six weeks or so Littl'un tore a hole in her chin, had to have it
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Happy fifth birthday for farmers' market
Five years ago, local organic farmer Shadiya Kingerlee launched the weekly Wolvercote Farmers’ Market with the aim of setting up a market that would support the principles of organic production and sustainable farming. It was a brave move, particularly
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Sorry Bond: Bourne does it better
Agent 007 returns, all guns blazing, in Quantum of Solace, action-packed follow-up to Casino Royale, set in the immediate aftermath of the blockbusting 2006 film. The film opens with a spectacular car chase through the historic streets of Siena, in Tuscany
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The Times BFI London Film Festival;
The Times BFI London Film Festival always excels itself where foreign-language cinema is concerned and the French Revolutions strand at the 52nd edition is particularly strong. Agnes Jaoui's impeccable comedy of political, domestic and cinematic manners
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Pumpkin and pasta recipe
As you can buy a decent-sized pumpkin for under £2 at the moment, it’s a vegetable that should be taken seriously given today’s increasing food costs, even if your main aim is to carve it for a Halloween party tonight. By retaining the flesh you have
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Victor Spinetti: The Oxford Playhouse
Victor Spinetti has been performing since the late 1950s. When I first became aware of him, in 1964, he was already a fixed point in the second class of the entertainment firmament; he had been picked up by Joan Littlewood and many will recall his sergeant
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Elizabeth Watts: Jacqueline du Pre Music Building
During the recent Oxford Lieder Festival, Ian Partridge urged the students in his master class not to neglect song. Elizabeth Watts’s concert at the Jacqueline du Pré building last Friday would have thrilled him. She is an award-winning young singer with
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The Sound of Murder: Mill at Sonning Dinner Theatre
The Sound of Murder, the latest offering at the Mill dinner theatre, is a clever and well-crafted thriller. It keeps audiences guessing about every new twist of the plot while supplying a good measure of wit to accompany the excitement of the action.
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Giles Underwood: Holywell Music Room
According to programme notes, Wilhelm Stenhammar (1871-1927) was “the most outstanding musical personality of his time in Sweden". — a fact that speaks volumes either of the insularity of British musical awareness or (if one were feeling less charitable
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Oxford Art Society: Said Business School
I often play a game with myself when viewing work by members of the Oxford Art Society. On entering the show, I go straight to the centre of the room and allow my eyes to travel over the wide range of work on show; then, having selected a dozen or so
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Gareth Lochrane: The Spin
t’s difficult to light fires with a flute. With its soft tenuous sound it does not rip through the airwaves like other wind and brass instruments and is thus less obviously suited to the muscular jazz environment. This is no doubt why it is usually just
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Aida: English National Opera, London Coliseum
As a callow (and callous) undergraduate, I used my dissertation to tear a strip off Verdi for presuming to toy with the little-understood history and culture of ancient Egypt for the sake of creating fashionably exotic opera. The only problem was, I’d
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Flashdance: Milton Keynes Theatre and touring to Oxford
The new musical Flashdance will set thousands of toes tapping during a three-week run at the New Theatre over Christmas. This week I enjoyed a preview of what's in store as this entertaining tune-packed show — developed, of course, from the film of the
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Seventy Not Out! Oxford Playhouse
Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for . . .” The usual method of requesting applause isn’t quite the style of Gyles Brandreth, the urbane and jovial compère of Seventy – Not Out! But this being the second of two gala evenings celebrating
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Liberty: The Oxford Playhouse
Glyn Maxwell's French Revolution verse drama Liberty appears to have been effectively "guillotined" — as one arts commentator put it — by the bad reviews it received two months ago on its opening at Shakespeare's Globe. The prediction of a happier future
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Dozen arrested in hare coursing clampdown
Twelve people have been arrested in the past week on suspicion of illegal hare coursing in Oxfordshire, police said today. Yesterday five people were bailed by police after they were arrested near Nettlebed on Tuesday night. Police also arrested three
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M40 'back to normal'
The M40 was back up and running this morning following yesterday’s traffic chaos. THe Highways Agency confirmed both the south and northbound carriageways were operating as normal following a collision between two lorries. A 46-year-old
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M40 UPDATE: Carriageways reopen
The M40 was back up and running this morning following yesterday’s traffic chaos. THe Highways Agency confirmed both the south and northbound carriageways were operating as normal following a collision between two lorries. A 46-year-old
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Today's local share prices
AEA Technology 33.75 BMW 1539 Electrocomponents 143.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 112 Oxford Biomedica 5.9 Oxford Catalyst suspended Oxford Instruments 185 Reed Elsevier 548 RM 158 RPS Group 143.25 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Young Sam signs up for United
MIDFIELDER Sam Deering is determined to cement his place in the Oxford United starting line-up after signing his first professional contract. The 17-year-old, from east London, who has been given a 2-year deal, made an impressive debut against Burton
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Ex-U's boss Denis reveals all!
FORMER Oxford United boss Denis Smith, one of a select few to have managed teams in more than 1,000 matches, says Matt Elliott was the best signing of my managerial career. During the first of two stints in charge of the U's, Smith bought Elliott for
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Cycling conundrum
First this week, the mysterious disappearance of Oxfordshire County Council's cycling strategy. But was there ever one in the first place? This week, The Insider has been struggling to get to the bottom of how important cycling is to the people at County
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Spurious puff
Sir — I don't think I have ever read a more spurious self-aggrandising puff than Christopher Gray's coverage of the 70th anniversary celebrations of the Oxford Playhouse, and its history written by Don Chapman (Weekend, October 24). Why should he
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See the light
It never ceases to amaze us how many cyclists are caught by the autumn police operation at Magdalen Bridge. The operation is as predictable as the clocks going back — an event it always follows. Traffic officers have probably got the date of the 2009
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Unpalatable
Reading Barry Groves' diet will make many people shudder. Nowadays it's certainly unconventional to preach that full fat diet can keep the weight off. It seems to have worked well for the 72-year-old who claims to be as fit as a butcher's dog having
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Government warning over GP payments
A scheme to pay Oxfordshire doctors for not referring patients to hospital must not compromise GPs' duty of care, the Government has warned. The Department of Health has written to the Oxfordshire health trust behind the controversial incentive
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'Put High plans on hold'
A £3M improvements package for the High Street, Oxford, should be put on hold say campaigners, following proposals to cut bus numbers by half. Oxfordshire County Council has drawn up costly plans to resurface the road, which is damaged under
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Feeling the pinch
Sir — Even though we’re enjoying some of the best weather of the whole year, today marks just two months until Christmas Day! The festive period can be a very expensive time of year, and we at the Legal Services Commission are urging people to start
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Raising recycling rate
Sir — We normally take the collection of household waste for granted until our bins are forgotten or changes proposed. Jacqueline Jones noted in her letter (October 24) that the Vale of White Horse District Council is negotiating a new contract for
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Don't forget cyclists
Sir — The removal of buses from Queen Street is crucial for Oxford and cutting traffic in Broad Street long overdue. Cyclox therefore welcomes “Transform Oxford”, the county council’s plan for a pedestrian-friendly city centre — as long as it doesn’
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Cheerful photos
Sir — Please, please give us some respite from the unbridled over-exposure of Christopher Gray in the Weekend section. There are far too many cheerful photos of him; usually at least two each week sometimes even three — this week one above the
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Talented musicians
Sir — I would like to bring to the attention of your readers Dyslexia Awareness Week (November 3-9), which this year is focusing on encouraging organisations to provide publications in alternative formats. Dyslexic individuals who read by viewing or
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Creating more space
Sir — Gerald van Dam, of Eynsham, (Letters, October 24) lists what he thinks has been forgotten in the Summertown shopping area enhancement, now nearly complete. He thinks that the pavements are too wide. But in fact most of the eastern side belongs
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Significant space
Sir — I was delighted to see your coverage of our bid to protect Oxpens Meadow by declaring it a town green. Our bid has been delivered to Oxfordshire County Council who will consider it in the coming weeks. We are passionate about protecting
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Adapt to cold road conditions
When bad weather strikes in this country it inevitably causes chaos. Quite simply, we cannot cope with it. Invariably, drivers are quick to look for blame — but don't want to blame themselves. But usually the weather is not to blame, rather the inability
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University rethinks £500m plan
Oxford University has submitted a radically revised master plan to create a £500m campus on the Radcliffe Infirmary site. Much of the large hospital site between Woodstock Road and Walton Street has now been reduced to rubble. And as some of the remaining
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Waste harassment
Sir — In response to councillor Tanner's latest letter in your newspaper, asking for people's views on rubbish and recycling, may I relate my tale. I live on a street in East Oxford, between Cowley and Iffley Roads. It comprises of terraced houses
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Road to Damascus?
Sir — In recent years councillor Keith Mitchell has generally presented himself as the motorists' friend. Recently he has allowed his fellow councillors to promote a 20mph limit throughout Oxford, and come out in favour of a Paris-style cycle hire
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Push ahead
Sir — The county council's Ambitious proposal to pedestrianise city (Report, October 24) has already, inevitably, attracted negative comment. I suggest there are two basic issues which critics do not face. The first comes from a failure to address
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Irritated cyclist
Sir — I agree with Vernon Porter (Letters, October 24) that a 20mph limit may not be ideal on some main roads, but on others, narrower, at least in part, and perhaps more congested than the Banbury and Woodstock Roads, there is still a case for
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Good spokes
Sir — Dr Pritchard is right (Letters, October 24): Oxford’s transport needs better integration, and a bigger, better rail and bus interchange should be its hub. People have bemoaned Oxford rail station’s inadequacy ever since the 1850s. A combined
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Unnecessary muddle
Sir — I can't see how the pedestrianisation of virtually all the central streets will work, but then I'm not on the same intellectual level as the geniuses who designed Frideswide's Square. Normally one might expect planners to first work out if
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Sudden chill brings chaos
Council and highways managers insisted they had done all they could to deal with this week's sudden cold snap. Gritting trucks drove out ahead of schedule as motorists were caught off guard by the freezing conditions on Tuesday night and Wednesday
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Set free at last
Barmaid Linda Cox is one of a dozen women in Oxford to be allowed to join one of the city's oldest societies. Today, 12 women will be joining the Oxford Freemen, after they voted unanimously that women could be fully admitted for the first time in
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Developer 'committed' to eco-town
The developer behind proposals to build an eco-town near Weston-on-the-Green says it remains fully committed to delivering the scheme. There is mounting speculation that only two of the ten eco-towns promised by the Government will get to be
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The future of cardiac treatment
Gordon Brown had driven to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital to bring home his dying mother. Mrs Connie Brown was close to losing her fight against cancer, and had also suffered a series of strokes. But it was to be Gordon who was to end up
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Survey backs 20mph limit across city
People in Oxford overwhelmingly back the idea of 20mph speed limits, a survey published today shows. The county council ordered the consultation after proposing to spend up to £300,000 on installing 20mph signs on residential roads in Oxford and some
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Public back 20mph limit
People in Oxford back the idea of introducing 20mph speed limits across the city. The results of a survey published today show that almost two-thirds of residents taking part want Oxford to become largely a 20mph city. It means a 20mph
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Only the best
It makes sense for the county council to have a rethink about its immediate plans to carry out repairs to the High Street, Oxford. As one of our correspondents said this week, we are happy to wait two or three years for work to take place if we are
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Popular play area closes
A children's play area has been closed after a dispute between an Oxford college and Oxford City Council. The play area in the Angel and Greyhound Meadow in St Clement's looks to have become a victim of an impasse in negotiations between the council
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Lorries crash in cold snap despite early gritting
Council and highways bosses insisted last night they had done all they could to deal with the sudden cold snap. Gritting trucks drove out ahead of schedule as motorists were caught off guard by the freezing conditions on Tuesday night and Wednesday
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'Hammy' crime author gets cameo in Lewis
The cast and crew of hit TV drama Lewis were joined by a very special extra as they returned to the scene of many a famous Morse investigation. Filming of episode four of the programme's third series, they used the Randolph Hotel, in Oxford's