Archive
-
Date
Witney youth centre gets £750k refit
Community groups are looking forward to using new facilities at Witney Youth Centre once its £750,000 refurbishment is complete next March. One group that is particularly keen to get back in the Witan Way centre is the Listen group for young people with
-
Date
LATEST: Soldier secretly gave birth at Abingdon barracks
A SOLDIER secretly gave birth at an Oxfordshire barracks after managing to hide her pregnancy from fellow troops, it has been revealed. The Royal Logistic Corps private delivered a 6lb baby herself in her quarters at Dalton Barracks, in Abingdon
-
Date
Car crash cuts off electricity
Five homes were left without power tonight after a car crashed into an electricity pole near Oxford. The accident, involving two cars, happened just before 3pm in Foxcombe Road, Boars Hill. A Southern Electric spokesman said the impact
-
Date
Watchdog praises 'improving' Oxfordshire County Council
OXFORDSHIRE County Council has been rated as a three star authority that is “improving well”, according to the Audit Commission. The rating is contained in the public spending watchdog’s annual assessment of unitary councils and county councils in England
-
Date
Bank bans customer for boob joke
A bank has cancelled a customer’s account to “protect its staff” after he made an inappropriate quip to a woman cashier. Alan Jackson-Smyth, 56, spotted a sticker saying £200 on the breast of the cashier’s shirt at the Didcot branch of Halifax
-
Date
Police yet to view football attack tapes
CCTV footage of a group of 50 Oxford United fans attacking an opposition supporters’ coach has yet to be viewed by police, it was confirmed tonight. Earlier this week, the club said it would be providing officers with copies of the recordings, which
-
Date
Curry queen shares memories
Food writer and former actress Madhur Jaffrey shared her memories of growing up in India at a public lecture at Oxford Brookes University. About 130 students, staff and members of the public were at the university’s main lecture theatre on
-
Date
POINT-TO-POINT: Merry pounces aboard Pongo's
Kevin Merry rolled back the years to claim victory aboard Pongo’s Nephew at Dunthrop, near Chipping Norton. The 48-year-old trainer-rider, from Murcott, near Bicester, took a break from the sport around 1996-97 after riding a couple of winners
-
Date
Police hunt Didcot Co-op thieves
A CCTV image has been released by police hunting thieves who stole about £1,700 worth of cigarettes and tobacco from a shop. Officers are trying to identify two men, including the man, pictured, after the items were stolen from the Co-op Store
-
Date
HORSE RACING: Carruthers and Bay chase glory
Rising stars Calgary Bay and Carruthers spearhead the local challenge at next week’s Cheltenham Festival. Calgary Bay, from Henrietta Knight’s West Lockinge stables, near Wantage, is the first to put his burgeoning reputation on the line when he tackles
-
Date
Pupils learn healthy lessons
A mobile classroom helped more than 200 Oxford children to learn about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and the dangers of drug abuse. The Life Education Centres bus visited Larkrise Primary School, in Boundary Brook Road, East Oxford, for a four-day
-
Date
GOLF: Pepperell reaches last eight in Spain
Eddie Pepperell produced a solid showing to reach the quarter-finals of the Spanish Amateur Championship in Seville. The 18-year-old Drayton Park member, who made the semi-finals in 2008, lost out to French international Victor Dubuisson.
-
Date
Fashion chain job fears ease
Fears over the future of several hundred jobs at the Oxfordshire headquarters of fashion firm Mosaic, which owns the Oasis and Warehouse chains, have been eased after a financial overhaul. The deal is expected to save 8,700 jobs, including those at the
-
Date
GREYHOUNDS: Thursday's Oxford runners
7.45: Pennys Missing, Rookies Hawk, Noo And Boo 3, Reenview Paddy, Clashduff Fame 2, Start Again. 8.00: Springville Rio 2, Clomantagh Tiger, Cumnor Lass 3, Geneva Spin, Collie, Stormy Lauren. 8.15: Springville Jet, Blackthornstream, Smooth Henry 2,
-
Date
CRICKET: Smith records rare feat on SOA Tour
A large group of South Oxfordshire Amateurs cricketers and their families left the cold British winter for the warmer climes of Cape Town in South Africa for a two-week tour. The results – two wins out of ten matches – may not be much to write home about
-
Date
Fate of city square plans up in air
A £100m plan to create a new city centre gateway area at Oxford’s Frides-wide Square has been put on ice, after the firm behind the project went into administration. The news has come as a blow to Christ Church college, which owns the site and hoped
-
Date
BAR BILLIARDS: Oxford storm to title triumph
Oxford Ladies reeled off a hat-trick of wins to claim victory in the five-a-side championship at Didcot Conservative Club, writes PETE EWINS. Oxon opened up by beating Bucks 4-1. Jenny Abbott (2,150), Pauline Withey (4,040) and newcomer Melissa Standbridge
-
Date
ICE HOCKEY: Stars on song for play-offs
Oxford City Stars started their run towards the English National League Division 1 South play-offs with an 8-4 win over Haringey Greyhounds in North London. Having already clinched third place and a play-off spot, Stars opted to give some well-deserved
-
Date
AUNT SALLY: Latest results
Kidlington Indoor League – Triples Competition: P Dempsey, R Busby & R Townsend 2, S Smith, D Leopold & T Denton 1; A Surman, I Goodgame & A Goodgame 2, N Brock, S Butler, K Quinnell 0; P Allen, E Gordon & P Sawyer 2, B Williams, J Brown & D Richens 1
-
Date
Wallingford children's centre gets new look
A children's centre and youth club could built under one roof as part of plans to transform youth services in Wallingford. Families have welcomed Oxfordshire County Council’s plans for a £1.2m facility on the site of the dilapidated youth centre in Clapcot
-
Date
Kidney swap gran to do parachute jump
Transplant patient Suzi Macfarlane will celebrate the first anniversary of her husband-wife kidney swap by jumping out of an aeroplane – and she wants supporters to join her. The 43-year-old hospital worker from Cowley, Oxford, received a life-saving
-
Date
Oxford student found dead
A 20-year-old student has been found dead in his Oxford college. The body of John Ddungu was found at Lady Margaret Hall at about 5pm on Friday. Police, who released the details today, are not treating the death as suspicious and an
-
Date
Children learn healthy lessons
A MOBILE classroom helped more than 200 Oxford children to learn about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and the dangers of drug abuse. The Life Education Centres bus visited Larkrise Primary School, in Boundary Brook Road, East Oxford, for a four-day
-
Date
Back of beyond in Scotland
‘Is that in Scotland?’ asked the man at Stagecoach in Inverness, when I asked in vain about winter buses from Durness (‘Scotland’s Far North-West’ the brochures proudly proclaims). While arranging my trip to Britain’s northern coast (‘the back
-
Date
It's a mad world
Tony Blair wins a $1m peace prize and Gordon Brown is tipped to become the saviour of world banking. The world really has gone stark raving mad. NORMAN V ROPER Stow Avenue Witney
-
Date
New Inn Hall Street to get revamp
A £625,000 scheme to create a shared space for all road users in an Oxford city centre street is about to get under way. The West End Partnership will start work on Monday to transform New Inn Hall Street, following the completion of the £2m
-
Date
NHS trust should learn its lesson
The loss of a baby midway through pregnancy is something most of us find unimaginable. Kelly Williams, from Littlemore, was four-and-a-months pregnant when she lost a baby son that she had named Mennis Lee. Naturally, she wanted to bury the foetus and
-
Date
U's are so generous
I would like to thank all the Oxford United fans who attended the Torquay match on Saturday, for their generous support for new Oxfordshire charity, SpecialEffect. A total of £540 was collected for the appeal to create a computer games suite
-
Date
Atomic energy is a bad choice
The Oxford Mail expressed concern that the local, and perhaps national, Green Party might be split over the question of nuclear power (February 24). On the contrary, I think a healthy debate on the subject is very timely. It appears that James Lovelock
-
Date
Today's local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 15.5 BMW 1804 Electrocomponents 126 Nationwide Accident Repair 105.5 Oxford Biomedica 6.6 Oxford Catalysts 56.5 Oxford Instruments 135 Reed Elsevier 495 RM 169.5 RPS Group 148.75 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
-
Date
Abingdon residents fear new estate would add to flooding
PLANNING bosses are being urged to think again over plans for 1,500 new homes close to a flood plain. Action group Save Abingdon From Expansion (Safe) has formed to fight the Vale of White Horse District Council’s proposal for the housing
-
Date
City estate residents urged to help shape police priorities
NEIGHBOURHOOD police officers are urging householders to join a public meeting tomorrow night, after stepping up patrols across Oxford’s estates. The meeting, at Risinghurst Community Centre, Kiln Lane, from 7pm, will give people living in
-
Date
The Insider
WE all know the world car manufacturing industry is in an abominable state at the moment, but was there really any need to illustrate that fact with a hairy snowman? The picture, below, taken at the recent Geneva Motor Show where the new Mini
-
Date
Headington parish hall marks its 50th anniversary
MORE than 100 people gathered for a birthday tea to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Headington Parish Hall. The hall in Dunstan Road was opened by the Bishop of Dorchester, the Rt Rev DG Loveday, after members of the public raised £7,000
-
Date
Anglo-Japanese concert
SCHOOLS from Abingdon and Japan will come together to perform a symphonic extravaganza. On Monday, March 23, the Sheldonian Theatre, in Oxford, will be the setting for the Anglo-Japanese concert. Orchestras from Abingdon School and Tokai Gakuen High
-
Date
Hundreds sign Witney Woolies site petition
A PETITION with more than 800 names urging councillors not to allow a former Woolworths to become a restaurant has been handed in. Hundreds of traders and residents have put pen to paper since the petition started in Witney last month. The Manny Davidson
-
Date
Headington pensioners tell council: 'Leaf it Out'
PENSIONERS have become so disgusted with the state of their overgrown gardens they have formed a group to clear up the mess. Residents living in the warden-controlled flats in North Place, Headington, Oxford, are now regularly clearing garden
-
Date
Inspiring Boars Hill view wins protection
Walkers will be able to enjoy fields overlooking Oxford’s dreaming spires, thanks to the Oxford Preservation Trust. The trust has bought the 10-acre site linked to 19th century poet Matthew Arnold,from All Souls College, Oxford. As well as offering
-
Date
Boss plans marathon journey for Africa
COMPANY boss Andrew Fairbairn plans to walk, row and cycle almost 1,200 miles from the Scilly Isles to the Shetland Islands in just 25 days. The 51-year-old Rotary Club member hopes to raise thousands of pounds to send disabled African children to school
-
Date
RUGBY UNION: Bulls' relegation fear
Banbury Bulls may be one win away from the Oxfordshire Cup final, but they are not yet safe from relegation in the league. That is the view of player-coach Grant Holmes (below), whose side have had an indifferent campaign in Midlands 3 East
-
Date
RUGBY UNION: Chinnor set for nail-biting time
Chinnor could be left biting their nails for a fortnight after they play their final National 3 South match of the season. That is because Lydney, their most likely rivals in avoiding the second relegation spot, will still have two games left. Chinnor
-
Date
RUGBY UNION: Oxon's late agony
Oxfordshire suffered late agony in a 14-13 defeat to Dorset & Wilts in their opening National Under 20 Championship South West Region A match. The hosts led 13-7 until the final minute at Chipping Norton before visiting captain Mike Pope
-
Date
RUGBY UNION: Oxford's tough test
Oxford University’s 27-12 victory over the Penguins International XV on Tuesday was all the more impressive when you consider the quality of opponents they faced. Penguins fielded Wasps’ new signing, New Zealand lock Marty Veale, plus teammates
-
Date
RUGBY UNION: Hicks in double setback
Bicester No 8 Jon Hicks remains in Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital as he recovers from a serious leg injury. Hicks is out for the season after breaking a leg and dislocating an ankle in their 44-17 defeat at Marlow. It is hoped Hicks will be released
-
Date
RUGBY UNION: Wallingford in RFU award
Wallingford were named southern region winners in the RFU’s Mini and Youth Seal of Approval Clubs of the Year awards. The scheme is a method of examining, maintaining and improving the provision of rugby in the mini and youth section of a club. Leadbitter
-
Date
ATHLETICS: Champion Kimber is four-midable!
Headington Roadrunner Steve Kimber landed the senior and overall men’s titles for the fourth successive season as he won the final round at Clanfield on Sunday. Kimber needed only a top-five finish at the Woodstock Harriers-hosted last round, but he
-
Date
ATHLETICS: City youngsters steal show
Oxford City’s juniors wrapped up three team triumphs out of four age groups after the final round of the Oxford Mail Cross Country League at Clanfield. The under 13 girls’ team of Beth Hawtin, Imogen van Zyl, Elissa Clarke and Mya Walker secured the
-
Date
ATHLETICS: Hawtin sisters set to fly flag for Oxon
Team manager Paul Kelsey feels that the flying Hawtin sisters represent Oxfordshire’s best hopes for honours in the junior events at the CAU Inter Counties Cross-Country Championships at Woollaton Park, Nottingham on Saturday. Oxford City athletes Melissa
-
Date
ATHLETICS: Harrier Briscoe is denied by injury
Injury robbed Frances Briscoe of a shot at the ladies’ crown in the final round of the Oxford Mail Cross Country League at Clanfield on Sunday. The White Horse Harrier, who had missed the English Championships the previous week, held a one-point lead
-
Date
ATHLETICS: Jegou eyeing Wessex crown
White Horse Harrier Paul Jegou boosted his chances of winning the Wessex League senior men's title with a third-place finish at Ham Hill near Yeovil in Somerset. Jegou, who recorded a time of 35mins 50secs over the undulating course, takes a three- point
-
Date
Photography firm snaps up new staff
A school photography business is on track to double its turnover and create ten new jobs over the next year. Ward-Hendry Photography, which was launched in 2004 by husband and wife team Michael and Sarah Ward-Hendry from their garden shed, specialises
-
Date
Oxford University student found dead
A 20-year-old student has been found dead in his Oxford University college. The body of John Ddungu was found at Lady Margaret Hall at about 5pm Friday. Police, who released the details today, are not treating the death as suspicious
-
Date
Soldier gives birth in secret
A soldier who gave birth to a baby at Abingdon's Dalton Barracks tried to keep it secret. The 20-year-old Royal Logisitic Corps soldier is understood to have hidden her pregnancy before giving birth to a 6lb baby, which she tried to conceal
-
Date
Welcome to the House of Ill Repute
Galway-born torch singer Mary Coughlan emerges from the shadows with an album which will stand up as one of the very best of her career to date. She has cast her meditative eye over 13 songs of joy, sadness, mischief and melancholy; and has delivered
-
Date
Pair charged with wine store raid
Police have arrested and charged two men with robbery in relation to an incident at Whittalls Wine Store, in Thame, on February 20. Jonathan White, 24, of Van Diemans Road, Thame, and Jason Morgan, 28, of Cotteslowe Road, Aylesbury, were released on
-
Date
Sounds from the Motownship
Afrobeat is hip at the moment – even U2 have tinkered with the style briefly on their new album. But Africa Got Soul, a new CD released on Prestige Elite records this week (March 2) is the real thing. Abavuki is a group of young musicians
-
Date
Local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 15.5 BMW 1784 Electrocomponents 124.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 105.5 Oxford Biomedica 6.6 Oxford Catalyst 56.5 Oxford Instruments 134 Reed Elsevier 496.75 RM 167 RPS Group 148.75 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
-
Date
Men fined for crossing rail tracks
Three men were given £80 on-the-spot fines by British Transport Police after crossing the tracks at Oxford rail station yesterday. Sgt John Angell, of British Transport Police, said the three men were travelling from Birmingham to the South
-
Date
Railway yobs fined
Three men were given £80 on-the-spot fines by British Transport Police after crossing the tracks at Oxford railway station yesterday. Sgt John Angell, of British Transport Police, said the three men were travelling from Birmingham to the South Coast
-
Date
Second University Challenge team row
A second Oxford college’s team was this morning embroiled in another row over fielding an ineligible contestant in University Challenge. Charles Markland, 23, has revealed he had transferred from Christ Church to Balliol College halfway through last
-
Date
Flood Watch on one river
A Flood Watch is in place today for an Oxfordshire river following heavy rainfall last night. The River Ray from Shipton Lee to Islip, near Kidlington, has been placed on Flood Watch by the Envronment Agency, which means that flooding of low-lying land
-
Date
Wilder hails his gale-force U's
Chris Wilder saluted the character of his Oxford United side as they bounced back in style by registering their biggest away win of the season last night. In appalling conditions, with a gale-force wind made worse by driving rain, the U's dug deep to
-
Date
University Challenge row deepens
University Challenge became embroiled in more controversy after it emerged that a previous winning team had fielded a contestant who was not a member of the college he was representing. Charles Markland, 23, revealed he had transferred from Christ
-
Date
Star casts doubts on future of Lewis
The star of hit TV drama Lewis has hinted ITV cutbacks have put question marks over the popular drama. Kevin Whately, who plays the title role, cast doubt over the future of the Inspector Morse spin-off during an interview with BBC radio presenter
-
Date
Wintry weather returns
Ice, rain and sleet is again forecast for Oxfordshire, but highways managers say they have enough grit for main roads. According to the Met Office, minimum temperatures will drop to -2C tonight and zero tomorrow night. Heavy snowfall
-
Date
Lewis actor casts doubt over TV drama's future
The star of hit TV drama Lewis has hinted ITV cutbacks have put question marks over the popular drama. Kevin Whately, who plays the title role, cast doubt over the future of the Inspector Morse spin-off during an interview with BBC radio presenter
-
Date
Ice, rain and sleet on the way
ICE, rain and sleet is again forecast for Oxfordshire, but highways bosses say they have enough grit for main roads. According to the Met Office, minimum temperatures will drop to -2 Celsius tonight and zero tomorrow night. Heavy snowfall
-
Date
Crunch hits cop drama
THE recession, it seems, knows no bounds. With private and public sector companies tightening their belts, few areas of our lives remain untouched by the world’s financial troubles. Last night it emerged that Lewis, the popular detective drama, could
-
Date
Motor boost
AT LAST, some good news concerning the Cowley-built Mini. After a turbulent few weeks in which BMW, the car manufacturer has shed hundreds of jobs, a new generation of Mini launched yesterday at the Geneva Motor Show. The John Cooper Works car, which
-
Date
Major city developer goes into administration
THE company behind controversial plans to develop Jericho Boatyard and a £100m regeneration of Frideswide Square has gone into administration. News that Castlemore Securities — the owner of Spring Residential — has become the latest major developer to
-
Date
ROWING: Oxford name five Olympians
Oxford University have named five Olympic rowers for the Boat Race against Cambridge on March 29. Olympic silver medallist Colin Smith occupied the key stroke seat in the GB eight in Beijing, but Croatian Ante Kusurin takes the spot for Oxford. Smith
-
Date
FOOTBALL: Faulconbridge double boost City
Craig Faulconbridge fired a double as Oxford City held on for a valuable 2-2 draw at Tiverton Town in the BGB Southern League Premier Division on Tuesday night. The game was in doubt right up to kick-off due to waterlogging, but it eventully went ahead