Archive
-
Date
FOOTBALL: Ex-U's star Billy is new Banbury boss
Banbury United have appointed former Oxford United midfielder Billy Jeffrey as their new manager. Jeffrey, 52, who replaces Keiran Sullivan, who quit last Saturday following a 5-0 drubbing by Chippenham, will officially take over on Tuesday
-
Date
Red Nose Day: County capers raise charity funds
Kevin McEneaney’s face may have been red but other bits of his body were almost blue as he shivered in a bath to raise money for Comic Relief today. Mr McEneaney began a 24-hour extended dip in a bath outside the Black Horse pub, in Banbury Road, Kidlington
-
Date
Red Nose Day: Roll of Honour
Among those raising money in Oxfordshire for the Comic Relief charity on Red Nose Day today were: Outset Nursery, in Keble Road, Bicester, raised £100 after children paid to wear pyjamas. Amy Wyatt and Bonnie Pinder, of Specsavers
-
Date
Pupil poets put on a performance
An X-Factor-style poetry event helped pupils at a Woodstock school gain confidence performing in front of fellow classmates. Yesterday, 166 Year Eight pupils at the Marlborough School read out their favourite poems from a selection they had been studying
-
Date
Update: Hertford College fire 'suspected arson'
Police are investigating a suspected arson attack on an Oxford University college. Fire crews were called to deal with a small fire in a rubbish bin in the basement of Hertford college in Catte Street at 4.49pm. Three engines were dispatched and the
-
Date
Women of all nations unite
WOMEN and children from an Oxford estate have been taking part in colourful events as part of the city’s annual International Women’s Festival. Two events were held on Thursday at Rose Hill Primary School and at Rose Hill and Littlemore Children
-
Date
Man About Town
WHO says banks don’t care? They may have brought you, I, and the rest of the country to the brink of financial ruin, but that doesn’t mean they’re heartless, money-grabbing fat cats. Far from it indeed, as was brought to my attention this week when,
-
Date
229 cyclists snared in police clampdown
Police have caught 229 cyclists riding on pavements, jumping red lights and cycling without lights on their bikes in Summertown during a three-month-long safety crackdown. Anyone caught without lights was offered the chance to cancel the £30 on-the-spot
-
Date
Thief left his name at scene of burglary
A PROLIFIC criminal who left a scrap of paper with his name in a house he was burgling escaped a jail sentence after the judge said previous spells in prison had not deterred him. Vigenzo Granito was described as having a “formidable” record of dishonesty
-
Date
Leys traders welcome plans for CCTV
Traders on an Oxford housing estate have welcomed news CCTV is to be installed at troublespots for the first time. Oxford City Council’s south east area committee and Oxford Safer Communities Partnership have pledged a total of £26,000 to install
-
Date
Drug smuggling lorry driver gets three years
A lorry driver who hid up to £600,000 of drugs in his truck was jailed for three years today. Gerard Mooney was caught by police officers on the M40 in Oxfordshire after buying 5kg of amphetamine and 2kg of cannabis in France. The married
-
Date
School's production a success you can bet on
Gambling, girls and a touch of Broadway glamour were on offer as an Oxford school put on a production of Guys and Dolls. A cast of about 30 boys and girls from D’Overbroeck’s College, in North Oxford, took over Keble College’s O’Reilly Theatre
-
Date
Firefighters tackle Hertford College fire
Firefighters are currently in attendance tackling a fire at Hertford College in Catte Street, Oxford. Oxfordshire fire and rescue service was called at 4.49pm after reports of a fire. More details to follow.
-
Date
Leys cannabis farmer walks free from court
A man who was caught cultivating cannabis walked free from court today. Phillip Pledge — who has a history of drug offences — was caught with 49g of skunk cannabis in April last year. Cathy Olliver, prosecuting at Oxford Crown Court,
-
Date
Unlicensed canal boats get beached
Illegally-moored boats are being removed from the Oxford Canal as part of a British Waterways’ crackdown on owners who do not have licences. Five craft have been removed from the water, with another two due to be lifted out. The owners
-
Date
Eco-film set to break records
Green campaigners from Oxfordshire who have invested in a new eco-film are hoping to help break a world record at its premiere in Oxford. The Age of Stupid, starring Pete Postlethwaite, is being show in 64 cinemas across the country tomorrow night and
-
Date
Witching hour near for movie-makers
The final touches are being put to an ambitious project that aims to get young disabled people into mainstream film. Witch Way?, a modern day fairy tale about a child-eating witch, was filmed in woods near Sunningwell last weekend, and is ready to be
-
Date
Oxford bid for NHS 'super trust' fails
A bid by Oxford’s main hospitals to form a ground-breaking academic super trust with Oxford University has been rejected by the Government. Health officials and medical academics were hoping to launch a new era in healthcare by becoming one
-
Date
Tony's raring to run at 73
FORMER Cowley car worker Tony Baker still has plenty of drive — he’s competing in this year’s OX5 Run at the ripe old age of 73. Mr Baker, from Garsington, Oxford, completed the five-mile run around the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock last year
-
Date
Pool plan will save us money
THE Liberal Democrats are delighted that Fusion is considering opening a gym at Barton Pool. It is what we proposed as a ‘spend to save’ initiative a year ago: gyms make money and pools (usually) lose it. Our proposal was turned down by the new Labour
-
Date
Save our dreaming spires
AN ANCESTOR of mine was one of the founders of Oxford’s Radcliffe Infirmary. His name was on the panel in the boardroom. Another of my ancestors founded the Botanical Gardens – the first in the world. And when I joined Worcester College, I discovered
-
Date
We miss Wesley
TO all those people who miss ITV news’s Wesley Smith: so do I – and I only watch BBC news now. I would add my name to any petition to get him back. M COOK, Rippington Drive, Marston, Oxford
-
Date
Thank you for stroke coverage
HAVING undergone one myself at the beginning of the year, may I express my gratitude for your coverage of strokes, a subject often neglected in the media in comparison with other illnesses. I was fortunate in so far as my own experience was relatively
-
Date
Suspects bailed after footprint burglaries
Three men arrested on suspicion of burglary after police followed footsteps left in the snow have been bailed pending further inquiries. Burglars in Chipping Norton stole charity boxes and alcohol from The Co-op store, and broke into florists Flowers
-
Date
Home handbag snatch
Burglars snatched a handbag from a woman as she was sitting at home watching television. Police are appealing for witnesses after two break-ins in North Drive, Harwell, near Didcot, on Tuesday Detectives believe burglars broke into a shed and stole
-
Date
Underage alcohol
A shop was caught selling alcohol to children during a police undercover operation. Police tested six licensed premises in Botley Road, Oxford, between 6pm and 9pm on Wednesday. A member of staff at Westgate Stores was fined £80 for selling alcohol
-
Date
FOOTBALL: Banbury name Jeffrey as new boss
Banbury United have appointed former Oxford United midfielder as their new manager. Jeffrey, who was a great servant to United throughout the 1970s, making more than 300 league appearances, comes to the Spencer Stadium with a wealth of non-league
-
Date
Tickets
TICKETS Season Tickets Adult Season £62 Concessionary Season* £57 Under 14’s Season £38 Day Tickets Friday Night £15 Friday Night Concessionary* £13 Friday Night Under 14’s £6 Saturday All-Day £39 Saturday All-Day Concessionary* £33
-
Date
Family fun at the castle — and much more
FREE dance displays and children’s activities are among the attractions at Oxford Castle over the weekend. For modest fees you can climb the 11th-century Castle Mound, explore the historic prison buildings and crypt, and ascend St George’s
-
Date
Sing Sing Sing
The sixth annual Oxford Folk Festival will see a Saturday filled with song, as for the first time ever the team has invited a host of young singers from local schools to perform at the festival. Choirs from 14 Oxfordshire schools will perform at Oxford
-
Date
The View from the Bar
[Disclaimer – Please note that the views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of your bartender, and nothing whatsoever to do with his employer or hotel!] OK, I admit it, I’m new to this town….another piece of alcohol soaked jetsam
-
Date
Playing at the festival
Kate RusbyMaking her Oxford Folk Festival debut, Kate Rusby has been a star of the folk scene for many years. Her angelic vocals and traditional ballads, to say nothing of her legendary inter-set banter, have endeared her to folk fans everywhere
-
Date
Events at a glance
FRIDAY Town Hall — Main Hall 8pm: The Dhol Foundation + The Afropean Choir + Jack Harris £15/£13(cons). Includes admission to Cornbury Stage events below. Cornbury Stage, Town Hall (in the Old Library) 8pm: Tandara Mandara
-
Date
Now we are six!
Oxford Folk Festival is entering its sixth year - and raring to get going again. This year the roster of artists at the Town Hall is headlined by the incredible Kate Rusby, rated by The Guardian 'the most beautiful voice in England'. A multi-award-winning
-
Date
BOXING: Flynn secures national title
Jordan Flynn became Berinsfield’s first ever National schoolboy champion after beating Hayden Rush on points in the class 1 42 kg final at Dagenham. Flynn’s reward is to be picked to wear the England vest in the three-nations schoolboy tournament in
-
Date
MOTORSPORT: Ditched duo are seventh
Didcot-based co-driver Jonathan Sargeant and his driver Rob Price survived sliding into a ditch to come seventh in their class at the Malcolm Wilson Rally in the Lake District. The second round of the Round 2 of the BTRDA Forest Rally Championship consisted
-
Date
SWIMMING: Aust lands double after family tragedy
Chris Aust won two gold medals at the Oxfordshire & North Bucks Championships only days following the death of his father. Nigel Aust, the coach at Kidlington Gosford SC, died in the week before before event which was held in Aylesbury. His son won
-
Date
SWIMMING: City pair are honoured
City of Oxford Swimming Club's Lindsay Powell and Sam van de Schootbrugge have been honoured at a presentation for sporting achievements by the Vale of White Horse District Council at the Guildhall, Abingdon. Van de Schootbrugge was awarded a certificate
-
Date
SWIMMING: New club formed at Thame
There is a new swimming club in Oxfordshire following the formation of Thame SC. Based at Thame Leisure Centre, the club is affiliated to the Amateur Swimming Association and will provide competitions and training for children up to 18-years-old. The
-
Date
Hospital patient goes missing
Police have appealed to the public for assistance in finding a hospital patient who has gone missing. Matthew Powell, 30, was reported missing at about 8.40pm yesterday by staff at the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford, where he was being treated.
-
Date
BASKETBALL: Eagles soar to victory
Oxford Brookes Eagles completed the treble over Haringey Warriors with a comprehensive 91-45 victory in the Southern League. Following narrow victories in the two earlier games, Eagles were expecting a stern test, they cruised home.
-
Date
ANGLING: Drennan make national final
Congratulations to Oxford Drennan for coming second last weekend in the regional semi-final for this year’s Angling Times Winter League. Their performance secured a place in the final, which will take place on the River Nene in Peterborough in June.
-
Date
ANGLING: Mick out on own at Benson!
Mick Marriott claimed victory at the Benson Invitation on the Thames at Benson – because he was the only one that turned up! Marriott invited himself to the match and sat on peg 17, weighed in 27.0.0 in total. He caught bream to 5lb 8oz, roach to 1lb
-
Date
GREYHOUNDS: Pall Mall's top tip in big shock
There was plenty of drama as the 2009 William Hill Pall Mall got into its stride with the first round heats on Thursday. Pre-race favourite Deanridge Fury went out after a shove from Angie Kibble's Hillcross Orion, who qualified in second spot behind
-
Date
CRICKET: Phillips is star turn
Jimmy Phillips was the star of the show with 3-15 as Banbury thrashed Sandford St Martin by six wickets in Division 1 of the Banbury Indoor League. Sandford were shot out for just 60, with Phillips taking 3-15 and Liam Manley 2-19. In reply, Craig
-
Date
GREYHOUNDS: It's now so hard to bag a winner
Bags meeting chiefs are so concerned at the downturn in betting turnover that they have summoned racing managers from all participating tracks to attend a seminar next Thursday. The BAGS board will be seeking the views of those who grade the races to
-
Date
GREYHOUNDS: Take Positive step towards victory
The Maurice Massey-trained Positive Step will have to live up to his name in tonight's A1 at Oxfordwhere he is taken to come out on top in a field of mainly fast finishers. TONIGHT’S RUNNERS 7.45: Rookies Hawk, Stouke Miller 3, Reenview Kate, Burwood
-
Date
TABLE TENNIS: Forum A close in on title
Forum A continued their march towards the Oxford & District League Division 1 title as they cruised to a 7-3 victory over Vikings A. Fraser Harris was in fine form to join Karl Bushell in recording a maximum. Forum B did a similar job on Vikings B,
-
Date
SNOOKER: Riley keep up pressure
Riley B joined Fieldside on points at the top of the Gentworks Oxford & District Snooker League Premier Division after a 3-3 draw with Riley A. Dave Bough defeated Chris Stone in two closely fought frames to put the B side 2-0 up, but Andy MacBryan fought
-
Date
BILLIARDS: Thame have edge against leaders
Thame A produced a shock as they opened up an unassailable lead against Division 1 leaders Riley A in the Buildbase Oxford & District Billiards League. With Riley having only two players available, it was agreed that the third game will be played this
-
Date
POOL: Oxon crowned county champs
Oxfordshire landed the EBPF National County title after beating tournament favourites East London in the final at Selsey. In the group stages, Oxon started reasonably well, but lost 14-12 to West Berkshire, despite Kevin McIlroy achieving maximum points
-
Date
Hats Off To Nosh
PAUL STAMMERS finds that the Britannia's efforts to raise its reputation are paying off. WHO’D have thought headgear could prove so controversial? There’s a stern red sign by the bar at the Britannia warning that, on police advice, nobody
-
Date
Pitch Battles
ANDREW FFRENCH talks to the author of a book that aims to tell the shocking truth about football violence. WHEN Dominic Utton was just eight years old, his dad, a Southampton fan, took him to an away game at Leicester City. On the way to the ground
-
Date
Top Dog
MARLEY & ME (PG) Comedy/Drama/Romance. Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Eric Dane, Alan Arkin, Kathleen Turner. Director: David Frankel ANIMAL lovers will go bow wow wow for David Frankel's comedy-drama about one man’s journey of self-discovery
-
Date
Texan Tales
Hollywood star Owen Wilson on what it’s really like working with children and animals in his latest film. OWEN Wilson has made sure his latest movie is a real family affair. Not only do the Texan actor’s parents appear in new film Marley & Me,
-
Date
Long May It Reign
KATHERINE MACALISTER goes behind the scenes to find out all there is to know about the musical Singin’ in the Rain before it opens at Oxford’s New Theatre. HOW THEY MAKE RAIN: ANSWERED by company manager Gareth Akhurst. l How do you produce rain
-
Date
Curl Power
KATHERINE MACALISTER talks to actress Liza Goddard about life, love and her latest stint on stage in Life and Beth. IF YOU are pottering around the Pitt Rivers Museum next week and bump into someone resembling Liza Goddard, don’t be surprised.
-
Date
Fresh Faces
RICHARD BELL is too cool for school as he enjoys the bands on offer at You!Me!Dancing! at the O2 Academy. GETTING down with the kids can sometimes be a difficult thing to get right. Knowing what to wear, knowing that ‘washed’ is actually slang
-
Date
Young Guns
Mod punks The Rifles come back to Oxford with all guns blazing. TIM HUGHES finds out more. THEY just can’t stay away. It’s only a few months since they were last here, but East End young guns The Rifles are heading back to finish the damage
-
Date
Ready, Steady, GO!
WHAT does a bespectacled young singer-songwriter from Wembley have in common with Frank Sinatra? The answer – they both lived in the same house. Though, obviously, not at the same time. Honey-voiced Londoner Gary Go had no idea
-
Date
Three hurt in Campsfield disturbance
Three people were injured in a disturbance at Campsfield House Detention Centre, in Kidlington, involving 45 detainees, it has emerged. Thames Valley Police said three men were taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford, following the
-
Date
Firefighters tackle city centre car blaze
Firefighters have been called to a blaze in Oxford city centre this morning after a car caught fire. Fire crews from Rewley Road station attended the incident in Gloucester Street at 8.45am and found the car well alight, according to a spokesman for
-
Date
'Minor' disturbance at Campsfield House confirmed
Detainees were involved in a disturbance at Campsfield House Detention Centre in Kidlington yesterday. It is not yet known how many detainees were involved in the incident at the Langford Lane centre, where about 200 detainees are housed. Robert Hall
-
Date
Firefighters become fatfighters to help move the obese
Firefighters in Oxfordshire have become fatfighters — having been called out on numerous occasions help lift and move obese patients. Fire and rescue services across the country have been called out at least 1,784 times across England in the past five
-
Date
Family want answers after St Aldate's road tragedy
The family of a pensioner killed at city centre roadworks have described the death as an “accident waiting to happen”. The body of Fred Carter, 75, was discovered at the junction of St Aldate’s and Speedwell Street, in Oxford, where Oxfordshire
-
Date
Adam's a happy Chap!
ADAM Chapman will turn down offers from League One and League Two clubs to stay at Oxford United next season. The on-loan teenager, who has excelled in midfield since joining the U’s from Sheffield United, is keen to stay at the Kassam Stadium next season
-
Date
Oxford's didgeridoo fans aim to found orchestra
In A city more famous for the likes of Radiohead, Supergrass and May morning choristers, the sound of the didgeridoo is about to take centre stage. Oxford Cycle Workshop director Dan Harris, 30, is launching Oxford’s first didgeridoo orchestra
-
Date
Care home failed to report deaths
A CARE home has been told to improve after it failed to tell a Government watchdog that half of its residents had died and the heating had broken. The Commission for Social Care Inspection launched a probe into the Crown Care Home in Harwell, near Didcot
-
Date
No more secrets please!
THE selective nature of what incidents the police choose to release to the public is worrying. Today the Oxford Mail can reveal that officers used a 50,000 volt stun gun during an incident in Blackbird Leys in November – and then kept it secret until
-
Date
Bike riders take heed
HOW many times each day do you see a cyclist in Oxford jump a red light, cycle on the pavement or weave in and out of traffic? The answer, most probably, is frequently. Oxford is a cycling city. And while the vast majority of those on two wheels obey
-
Date
Oxford's secret police strike again
POLICE shot a man with a 50,000 volt stun gun and did not tell the public for more than three months, the Oxford Mail can reveal. Oxford East MP Andrew Smith has criticised Thames Valley Police for failing to reveal the Taser gun was fired in his constituency