Archive
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Diffuser ruling disappoints some
The controversial diffuser design that was ruled legal by the FIA's International Court of Appeal on Wednesday has understandably drawn mixed opinions from Formula One drivers. Brawn GP used the double diffusers in the first two races of the season
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Dennis moves on
Ron Dennis has brought his 43-year association with Formula One to an end. Confirming a restructuring of the McLaren Group, Dennis has stepped down as chief executive officer of McLaren Racing, passing on all responsibility to team principal Martin
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Diamond couple fluffed their first date
EUGENE and Freda Metcalf have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary. The couple, from Bridle Path, in Charney Bassett, met in Abingdon in January 1947. Mr Metcalf, 81, was due to have his first date with Mrs Metcalf, 80, in the George and Dragon
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ROYAL VISIT: Prince Andrew visits Cowley Mini plant
COWLEY’S Mini plant was given a Royal boost today when Prince Andrew visited the factory. The Duke of York was in Oxfordshire in his role as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. His work involves promoting the UK to
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Double trouble averted
U's skipper Adam Murray says it’s a great achievement by the team that no-one will do the double over them this season. They ended that possibility when James Constable’s late winner saw off Wrexham, the Red Dragons having beaten them 2-0 at the Racecourse
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Hundred Reasons @ the Oxford O2 Academy
HUNDRED Reasons seem to have been making a habit of turning our provincial gig venues into sweaty moshpits for an eternity. On record they are solid, producing four albums veering from pop and stadium anthems to nosebleed screamcore. But it’s live where
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History's on our side
One last effort – that’s what Chris Wilder will be asking of his players in their final away game of the season at Burton tomorrow night when only a win against the champions-elect will do. “It will be a proper game of football,” he said. “ There will
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We deserve a chance says Turley
Billy Turley believes his United teammates deserve to have something riding on the final game of the season, against Northwich, on Sunday week, for all the effort and hard work they have put in this season. “Ever since the new manager’s come in, and
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Council starts legal action over Sutton Courtenay garage explosion
COUNCIL officials have launched legal action against the owners of a garage which was destroyed in an explosion. Oxfordshire County Council is suing Leda Properties, also known as Sutton Courtenay Tyres, for costs after the explosion in January 2008.
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Violent former vicar walks free from court again
A former vicar with a history of violence walked free from court again yesterday – this time for threatening to kill his estranged wife. Christopher Walker, 57, has previously faced court for attacking his wife Rachel and his elderly mother Daphne.
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FABIA: Big is Beautiful says curvy TV sensation
BRITAIN’S Got Talent sensation Fabia Cerra hopes she is striking a blow against anorexia and making women feel more comfortable about themselves. The curvaceous size 18-20 burlesque dancer, who wowed judges on the ITV show at the weekend with her tassle-twirling
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Stiff Little Fingers @ Oxford O2 Academy
If you have never been to an SLF gig, I can highly recommend it! This must have been about the 12th time I have seen the Northern Irish punk band, and I can say they have lost none of their edge. The crowd's energy was present from minute
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We've learned some lessons say Woking
Woking's operations director, Peter Jordan, has defended his handling of the situation on Easter Monday when the start of the game against Oxford was delayed by an hour, but admits lessons had been learned. The Conference have begun an inquiry
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Victim of Roke car crash had a 'special magic'
A 27-YEAR-OLD woman killed in a car crash on Easter Sunday had worked on Madonna’s world tour and the Brit Awards. Tributes have been paid to Alice Rundall, of Lane Farm, Warpsgrove Lane, in Chalgrove, who died when the Citroen ZX she was travelling
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Emergency crews deal with smash
Firefighters freed a woman using hydraulic cutting equipment after her beige Citroen was in collision with a black Renault van near Beckley this afternoon. The emergency services were called to the scene on the B4027 at 2.30pm. Fire
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Tory leader taken aback by charity donations after son's death
DAVID Cameron has sent out a heartfelt thank-you to people who donated almost £7,000 to Oxford’s Helen and Douglas House in memory of his son. The Witney MP and Conservative Party leader was delighted to hear that £6,816 had been donated to
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PROBATION CENTRE: Storm brews over Mill Street plan
RESIDENTS have promised a legal battle ahead of a public meeting to fight plans for a probation centre in a quiet Oxford street. The Ministry of Justice is in talks to lease Trajan House in Mill Street for a centralised office as part of sweeping cuts
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Ready for Laruso
BRACE yourself... Sheffield-based five-piece Laruso are on their way. The eclectic rock newcomers are set to take the city by storm when they support the mighty Fightstar at the Oxford O2 Academy on Wednesday. The band come armed
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On your marks for this Sunday's run
BRIGHT sunshine is forecast for the 700 people already signed up to take part in this Sunday’s Oxford Mail OX5 Run in aid of the Oxford Children’s Hospital. The five-mile race around the grounds of Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, kicks off at 10.30am — and
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Quarry scheme 'may put birds at risk'
A major development scheme at an eyesore quarry north of Kidlington has been approved, despite warnings that an important breeding area for birds could be threatened. Shipton Quarry was originally earmarked as one of Britain’s first eco towns, with
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School stages its own X-Factor
Cooper School in Bicester hosted its very own X-Factor- style competition to showcase a host of singing talent. The inaugural Stars event has been hailed a success after more than 35 acts from across the school, in Churchill Road, took part. Eighteen
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Kiosks take council into the country
Villagers will now be able to access council services in their local shop. Cherwell District Council unveiled its first LinkPoint kiosk in Cropredy, as part of a move to bring the council to the countryside. Residents will be able to pay their council
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Disabled workers to take part in charity walk
Disabled workers will walk and run in a prestigious event to help charity. The Pathway Workshop in Dunnock Way, Greater Leys, employs 18 people with a range of disabilities and learning difficulties. The workers, who are aged from 16 to in their 60s
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Bicester hospital campaign tipped off about pilot's tribute
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Bicester’s Community Hospital have uncovered a special wartime tribute to one of the babies born there. Hours after Rod Kemp was born in May 1940, his bomber pilot father Cyril Sydney, known as Bennie Kemp, flew
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Planners back Fewcott wind farm application
VILLAGERS are furious wind turbines twice the height of Nelson’s Column are likely to be built near their homes. Planning officers at Cherwell District Council have recommended the £10m wind farm on farmland between Fewcott and Fritwell, near Bicester
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Diamond couple were bowled over at cricket match
A COUPLE who fell in love at a cricket match 60 years ago have celebrated their emerald wedding anniversary. Eric Spencer, 76, met his future wife Sheila Roberts while playing cricket with work colleagues in Bicester and she was a spectator. Five
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Local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 17 BMW 2299 Electrocomponents 139.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 97.5 Oxford Biomedica 10.25 Oxford Catalysts 47.5 Oxford Instruments 159.75 Reed Elsevier 484 RM 152 RPS Group 166.25 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Artists aim to take over shop windows
EMPTY shops in Oxford city centre are set to come back to life as part of an exhibition aimed at bringing art to the people. For 10 days next month, artist-curators Emily Alexander and Phil Marston, known collectively as Launch, will be taking over three
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'Please help run Cogges museum'
VOLUNTEERS are being sought to fill the posts of chairman and trustees for a new charitable trust that will take over the day-to-day running of Witney’s Cogges Manor Farm Museum. Oxfordshire County Council is looking for people with a range of skills
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Brown trout are back in Thames
BROWN trout are spawning in the River Thames in Oxfordshire for the first time in more than 20 years. The fish have moved into an area of the river near Eynsham that the Environment Agency worked on in 2007 to improve breeding grounds for coarse
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Flood relief channel plan threatens new site for school
A £100M flood relief channel to protect Oxford could threaten plans to build a new school. The Environment Agency is consulting about a scheme to build a 2km channel west of Oxford to divert flood water away from the city, right. But
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POINT-TO-POINT: More Trouble is set to go again
More Trouble, who had the rare distinction of running twice at Kimble last Saturday and winning at the second attempt, could be in action again at the Vale of Aylesbury with Garth & South Berks Hunt meeting at Kingston Blount tomorrow. The eight-year-old
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RUGBY: Chinnor in need of miracle
Chinnor need a miracle if they are to avoid relegation from National 3 South at Kinsey Road on Saturday. In their last game, Chinnor, who need at least a point to stay up, are playing runaway leaders London Scottish, who will be trying to complete
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BADMINTON: Wantage edge in for league crown
Wantage clinched the Division 1 title in the Wallingford Mixed League by the skin of their teeth. Both Wantage and Wind-rush finished on 28 points, so the title was decided by individual wins. Wantage won 75, while Windrush tallied 691
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FOOTBALL: Let's raise the roof, says boss Billy
Banbury United boss Billy Jeffrey is looking for fan power to help roar his relegation-threatened team to victory against BGB Southern League Premier Division play-off chasers Merthyr Tydfil at Spencer Stadium on Saturday. When Jeffrey took
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FOOTBALL: Injury forces Horsell to miss the run-in
Wantage Town’s Matty Horsell will miss the remainder of the season after he picked up an ankle ligament injury in the midweek victory at Bicester Town, writes Kieren Bushnell. Liam Ilsley also misses Saturday's FTL Futbol Hellenic League Premier Division
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ROWING: Freeman shines in trials
Alice Freeman, of Wallingford, who was a reserve in Beijing, but ended up rowing in the women’s eight in the final, showed she has used the winter well by finishing second in the pairs at the final Great Britain trials in Belgium, writes Mike Rosewell
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RACING: Cheka withdrawn from Guineas
Eve Johnson Houghton, who trains at Blewbury, near Didcot, admits to being gutted at having had to scratch The Cheka from the 2,000 Guineas, writes Russell Smith. She was very sweet on the three-year-old’s chance in the first Classic at Newmarket on
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CRICKET: Oxon try out new seamers
Oxfordshire will give two new seamers a chance to shine when they host Buckinghamshire in a friendly at Aston Rowant on Sunday (11). Oxford’s Richard Gilbert and Banbury’s Jamil Faruq are both included for the 13-a-side match, which comes a
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CRICKET: Brooks out to make his mark
Jack Brooks made his mark in pre-season training with Northamptonshire, but now he is determined to shine on the field. The 24-year-old seamer joined Northants on a one-year contract in the autumn following an impressive season for Oxford and Oxfordshire
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Plea for science
THE CANON: THE BEAUTIFUL BASICS OF SCIENCE Natalie Angier (Faber, £9.99) Science is generally perceived as for children or scientists only. Children are obliged to study science at school; science museums are full of the whoops of excited children
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CRICKET: New cup competitions for Cherwell
The Oxford Times Cherwell League opens up on Saturday with a two new cup competitons. Banbury Twenty have received a bye after 31 teams entered the Senior Cup, with the pick of the ties pitting Challow & Childrey against Oxford 2nd. The Junior Cup
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Burglars attack Abingdon homes
Police are appealing for witnesses after a spate of burglaries in Abingdon. Between midnight and 3.24am on Saturday, offenders broke into a house in Longmead and stole some electrical items and the keys to an orange Peugeot Expert van, which they also
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FIXTURES: April 17
SATURDAY. FOOTBALL. PUMA YOUTH ALLIANCE. Under 18 South West Conference: AFC Bourne-mouth v Oxford Utd. BRITISH GAS BUSINESS SOUTHERN LEAGUE. Premier Div: Banbury Utd v Merthyr Tydfil, Oxford City v Cambridge City
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Unacceptable argument
Sir – During the county council monthly meeting on April 7, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member, Roger Belson was asked by a member of the public to bring alternatives to incineration for waste management to a full council meeting.
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Burglars attack homeowner
Three men burst into a house and attacked the homeowner during a burglary. Police are appealing for witnesses following the attack at a house in High Street, Wallingford, at about 10.20pm yesterday. Two black men and an Asian man forced
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Man faces sex order breach charge
A 53-YEAR-OLD man accused of going on the run and failing to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register has appeared in court. Andrew Gallagher, of no fixed abode, was charged with breaching a restraining order and breaching the Sex Offenders’ Register
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Mother's fatal condition 'undiagnosable'
A pregnant policewoman whose twins were delivered after her death suffered massive blood loss, a coroner has heard. Pc Sarah Underhill, 37, collapsed and then died at Oxford John Radcliffe Hospital last October. Her twins James and Hannah were delivered
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Man accused of Sex Offenders' Register breach
A 53-YEAR-OLD man accused of going on the run and failing to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register has appeared in court. Andrew Gallagher, of no fixed abode, was charged with breaching a restraining order and breaching the Sex Offenders’ Register when he
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Design firm at Milton Park
Audio visual specialist Design Integration has moved to Oxfordshire, taking space in Milton Park’s new purpose-built science campus. Design Integration, which employs 11 staff, specialises in providing audio visual equipment including boardroom and conferencing
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Green as can be
The second highly-sustainable office building at Howbery Park, Wallingford, is almost completed. The ground and first floors of the 40,752 sq ft building, now named Kestrel House, will be occupied by civil engineering and envrionment consultancy HR Wallingford
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Premium position
The former headquarters of Windrush Frozen Foods has been put on the market. Deer Park House in Witney is a two-year old, premium quality building in is own landscaped environment on Range Road, the main thoroughfare of Windrush Park in Witney. Finished
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The last bookshop?
What to do with that redundancy money? Opening a bookshop vies with that little tea shoppe in the West Country as a hopeless second-career dream for white-collar workers looking for an early exit from the rat race. Each month the bookselling industry
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County hotter than Majorca
OXFORDSHIRE was the hottest place in the country yesterday as temperatures topped those in Majorca. On the hottest day of the day of the year so far, the mercury at Benson rose to 21C (69.8F) at 4pm. The average for this time of the year is about
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More than skin deep
It has been a question that has puzzled the male population since the dawn of time — one that most would say just does not have an answer. Pondering "what women want", in terms of romance, gifts, or even TLC can bring even the most ardent suitor
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Antiques stolen from pensioner's home
Burglars stole antiques and valuables from a pensioner’s home. Police are appealing for witnesses after a break-in at an 80-year-old woman’s home in Haseley Road, Little Milton, late on Friday night. They stole two boxes of silver spoons, an antique
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Training growth
In light and airy offices above the ancient Guildhall in Chipping Norton, a British company is doing deals and servicing household names all over the world. Howard Sears founded Cobent to fill a gap in the market for affordable systems that can arrange
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Brighton calling
Business travel is understandably one area where companies can cut back in these troubled times. After all, it doesn’t look good when the executives jet off for a conference in Los Angeles, while the rest of the workforce come to grips with fears about
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New Mini Convertible
For all the recent trials and tribulations at the Cowley Mini plant, sometimes it is easy to forget that the core product is an excellent car. The ‘new’ Mini is, in fact, almost eight years old. But after its facelift phased in last year, it remains
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Crunch time for divorce
With the property market still uncertain, businesses still failing, unemployment rising and many homeowners with mortgages in negative equity, there is certainly an impact on anyone contemplating a divorce. Divorce rates have fallen to their lowest levels
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Taste of Andalucia
It takes a canny businessperson to see a trend and move in at the right time. Restaurateur Mel Tanyeri, who previously ran the Meltz sandwich bar in Bonn Square, has taken over the tapas bar in Little Clarendon Street, previously called La Plaza
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Be ready to invest in shares
As interest rates have plummeted, so investor demand for bond funds has soared. According to several reports, upwards of £1.5bn has been invested into these funds every month since December. Among concerned investors, they appeal because they provide
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Antiques stolen in Lttle Milton burglary
Burglars stole antiques and valuables from a pensioner’s home. Police are appealing for witnesses after a break-in at an 80-year-old woman’s home in Haseley Road, Little Milton, late on Friday night. They stole two boxes of silver spoons, an antique
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Surgery in a spin
Silk was first discovered by the Chinese around 3000BC. From the very beginning, its main use has been in textiles, but there is some evidence of early warriors using it to sew up their battle wounds. For centuries silk has been used for sutures because
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Bike shops buck recession
Those of us who are regular cyclists have always known it — cycling is good for our health, good for our temper as we pedal away our aggressions and now — more importantly than ever — good for our bank balances. It appears a growing number of people
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New home makes couple's dream come true
A young couple have been able to buy their dream home by taking advantage of keen prices and sales initiatives. Rach and Dave Strzeleki had been living in Middlesbrough but decided to buy a home at Ducklington, near Witney. However, with the difference
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More women needed
Recent efforts to establish a networking event for women entrepreneurs in the science and technology sectors have highlighted the scarcity of women business leaders in high-tech Oxfordshire. Compared to their male counterparts, senior women business
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Treat in store
Volunteers fed up with a lack of facilities in their village are planning to set up their own community shop. People in Ewelme, near Wallingford, will open a not-for-profit store and tearoom in May. Villagers claimed opening the shop in defiance of the
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Kelly's eye for the handsome headmaster
St Edmund Hall was not a popular destination for Oxford entrants from Westminster School during John Rae’s headmastership. Perhaps this reflected its status as far from the smartest Oxford college; perhaps it had something to do with the reputation
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Easing stress
A little stress in our lives is a good thing — it motivates us and helps us do our jobs and run our lives as effectively as possible. But too much can cause problems. There is little hard scientific fact, but for many years stress has been recognised
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Dr Rae makes trouble from beyond the grave
A remarkable exposé of the dirty dealings that have given public school pupils an unfair advantage in winning Oxbridge places is mischievously offered from beyond the grave by John Rae in his newly published volume of diaries, The Old Boys’ Network (Short
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Local share prices (AM)
16/04/2009 AEA Technology 16.75 BMW 2261 Electrocomponents 138.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 99.5 Oxford Biomedica 10.75 Oxford Catalyst 47.5 Oxford Instruments 160 Reed Elsevier 483.5 RM 155 RPS Group 166.25 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley
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Co-op flies the flag for British produce
I admit being surprised to discover that the vegetable section of the freezer in my local Co-op was filled with frozen peas in a packaging I had not noticed before. The words “Grown By Us, Britain’s Largest Farmer” dominated the pack. The red tractor
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Earning their bread
How often has it been said that England lost part of its charm when rural life started to change, younger people found work away from the farming communities and the economic landscape of the countryside changed irreversibly? Up until the first half
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Entrepreneur's dream
When Andrew Rickman started his own business 21 years ago, using the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, he named it Bookham Technology after his home town in Surrey. Having made his millions from Bookham, he has named his next venture after his new home
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Swimming for babies
Having spent eight years as an NHS physiotherapist specialising in orthopaedics, it's no surprise that Saz Sunthareswaran was keen to start swimming with her baby, Sophia, as soon as she could. Both mother and baby loved the lessons so much that Ms Sunthareswaran
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Go with the flow
The answer to future energy problems for many of us may be on our doorstep, or at least not far from it. An Oxfordshire company has teamed up with British Waterways to oversee the building of 25 small-scale hydro power plants which will produce enough
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Building firm that helped shape the city
Nothing new about the general exodus of businesses from city centres. Take for instance Oxford’s oldest firm of builders, Knowles and Son. It moved to Osney Mead Industrial Estate in 1966, after joining a consortium with several other long established
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In the Loop
‘He did not say ‘unforeseeable’. You may have heard him say that but he did not say that. And that is a fact.” The Minister for International Development, Simon Foster MP, has dropped a right clanger. In an unthinking moment, and on national television
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David Byrne: New Theatre
It is rare these days that genuine rock royalty visits Oxford – unless you count running in to Thom Yorke in Waitrose, of course. So David Byrne’s gig at the New Theatre was always going to be a special occasion. And it was. This slickly choreographed
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The Blenheim Singers, Exeter College Chapel
On April 3 the Blenheim Singers, in Exeter College Chapel, made a powerful contribution to Oxford Passiontide music this year with T’was For Thy Sake, a well-chosen group of fairly modern English pieces, put into perspective by a 17th-century masterpiece
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Death and the King's Horseman, National Theatre
In the wake, as it were, of the King’s death, Elesin, Horseman of Oyo, is expected to commit ritual suicide and cross over to The Other Place. Elesin (Nonso Anozie) chooses a ceremonial bride, and begins his preparations. Drums beat, women sing
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Light touch gives stylish air
You may think me ungrateful but there is something a bit Groundhog Day about visiting wineries. Isn’t it just another set of presses, fermentation tanks and barrels? I’ve had barrels likened to wombs, seen presses stroked with the sort of affection
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A Last Belch for the Great Auk
A birdwatcher and a model are forced to confront their prejudices about one another in David Halliwell’s off-the-wall comedy A Last Belch for the Great Auk. Reginald Armitage, an ornithologist studying the long extinct Great Auk, sub-lets the flat of
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Hot Flush, The New Theatre, Oxford
I am sure there was a cumulative hot flush when an enthusiastic audience of ladies – with the odd brave gent – enjoyed a one-night-only performance of a musical aimly firmed at ladies of a certain age. Hot Flush! stars comedy stalwart Lesley Joseph, best
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Effective idea
When it comes to running a successful small business, one colour Suzanne Mansell avoids is being in the red. It is a philosophy which has served her well in the decade since she launched Effects Interiors, a specialist provider of bespoke decorative
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Sycamore Gallery, Enstone
Will Taylor and his wife Hazel opened the doors of Sycamore Gallery, Enstone, last October, and it’s already proving a great success, attracting art lovers from all over the county. Before opening, Will and Hazel spent months visiting artists’ studios
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The Winter's tale, Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
The admirable new production of The Winter’s Tale at Stratford’s Courtyard Theatre marks the debut of a 44-strong Royal Shakespeare Company ensemble which over the next two-and-a-half years is to stage 14 classical and contemporary plays. Judging by
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Tina Turner NIA, Birmingham
For the last couple of decades ad men, politicians and other assorted reprobates have been using the song Simply the Best to promote their nefarious interests. Shame! Because it really does sum Tina Turner up in a verse. Simply the best, better than all
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Hilliard Ensemble/Chilingirian Quartet: St Barnabas Church, Oxford
The Hilliard Ensemble is well known for combining contrasting works in imaginative ways. Its latest project, a collaboration with the Chilingirian Quartet, brought together Gesualdo’s Responsoria in Parasceve and Haydn’s Seven Last Words from the Cross
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Private Lives: OFS Studio, Oxford
Noel Coward’s popular comedy showcasing a vicious battle of the (s)exes gets its dark heart exposed this week at the OFS by the new ElevenOneTheatre production company. Two newlywed couples, (Amanda and Victor, Sybil and Elyot) are staying in the same
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An Inspector Calls: Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, and touring
It seemed an odd coincidence that twice within a week I should have seen plays that began with the wanderings of a lone little boy and later featured a disintegrating set. First was The Winter’s Tale at Stratford, reviewed elsewhere; five days
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Messiah: St Andrew's Church, Oxford
Is Handel’s Messiah an oratorio, or is it a hugely popular piece of musical theatre with the strongest of religious storylines? Either way, should the composer have been gazing down on this performance, he would surely have been delighted to see and hear
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City hospital leads way
MOTHER-of-three Michelle Kelly has been given a new lease of life thanks to a new transplant service being offered at Oxford. Mrs Kelly, 46, received a bowel transplant after a successful eight-hour operation at Oxford’s Churchill Hospital. Oxford has
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He's where he belongs
THERE are too few adjectives to describe Bernie McDonagh, the shameless coward who smashed into the back of a car on the M40, killing a passenger and fleeing the scene. He had been drinking, had taken drugs, was driving a stolen van and had been released
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Why do we like violence?
The Oliver Twist links that thread their way through Rebecca Gowers latest novel The Twisted Heart are something that she stumbled across while researching Victorian detective literature in Oxford’s Bodleian Library. Since the research was
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Haven for wildlife
The British canal system is unique, according to Stuart Fisher. And he should know, having travelled all of it by kayak. His book, Canals of Britain (Adlard Coles Nautical, £25), is, astonishingly, the first complete guide to be published since
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Young adult novels
The most recent book by Linda Newbery, The Sandfather (Orion £6.99), features 13-year old Hal, who has a fight with his best friend and is excluded from school for a week. Sent to a seaside town while his mum is in hospital, to stay with an elderly
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What recession?
HERE is a conundrum. Everywhere you read of companies and individuals in financial trouble. Unemployment figures in Oxfordshire are growing at one of the fastest rates in the country — admitedly from a low base — but look around and everywhere people
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Batteries bound for space
DOZENS of batteries developed in Oxfordshire are orbiting the earth in spacecraft engaged in ground-breaking research. The latest battery is in GOCE (Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer), which will orbit the earth for two years
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Property companies merge
ESTATE agency Carter Jonas, which has an office in Summertown, has merged with historic property firm Dreweatt Neate. Mark Charter, head of the Summertown office, said: “With additional offices, resources and expertise across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire
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Police woman's inquest to start
An inquest is starting today into the death of Thames Valley Police officer Sarah Underhill who died while pregnant with twins. The neighbourhood officer from south Oxfordshire died aged 37 at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford on October 5 last year
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Cricket pitch on slopes of Everest
A PLASTIC cricket pitch made by an Oxfordshire company is on its way to Mount Everest to play the sport's highest-ever match. A 50-strong expedition is on its way to Gorak Shep, a plateau 5,165 metres (17,000 feet) above sea level, close to Everest Base
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Pressure's on Burton - Clist
Oxford United’s most recent goalscorer, Simon Clist, reckons all the pressure’s on Burton in Friday night’s televised promotion battle. The 27-year-old midfielder, who netted a superb second goal in United’s 2-0 win at Woking on Easter Monday
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Election ploy
TRANSFORM Oxford, Oxfordshire County Council’s grand scheme to pedestrianise the city centre, is likely to go through on a nod and a wink next week. Work will start in June on the £1m project despite the fact the plans have the support of
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Flood fears
We can understand the anger of residents in Abingdon who have learned that no further work will be done to protect their homes from floods. Despite carrying out a £110,000 feasibility study into different schemes to reduce the risk of future floods,
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Clean street
It was with little surprise that we report this week that the county council plans to push ahead with its two-stage pedestrianisation of Queen Street. As we reported last month, Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach said that if the county council were
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Unflattering colour
Sir – Further to Paul Hornby’s letter (April 9) criticising the new police uniform, I am more worried about the change from dark navy blue to black. Black shirts have unfortunate connotations and for at least a quarter of all women black is an unflattering
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Beautiful safe place
Sir – Everyone at Oxford University was appalled at the brutal attack on one of our students, and relieved that the perpetrators were jailed (Teens jailed for brutal attack on student, April 9). As the Superintendent of University Parks, I would just
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Useless shelter
Sir – As Cumnor Parish Council were the instigators of the urbanisation and infilling of layby 245262 on Cumnor Hill, it is not surprising that they think it a good idea (Letters, April 9). This is a small matter, but enlightening how local authorities
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Dumbing down radio
Sir – Further to my earlier letter complaining about the narrowing down of our local TV viewing options, I fear that, to some extent, the same is happening with radio. Until recently there were numerous independent local radio stations dotted around
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Damage to industry
Sir – Your leaders (April 9) are complementary. The second leader ‘Right Reward’ highlights the cost of providing high quality leadership for public services. Your first leader ‘LSC shambles’ highlights the much higher cost of failure. Whilst paying
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Indignity for offenders
Sir – On the matter of the proposed use as a probation centre of the redeveloped Trajan House, at the end of Mill Street, there are numerous and important objections, as raised by members of our close-knit community. However, we might also like
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Undesirable plans
Sir – Do people and their communities really matter? In recent days I have heard that the people of Mill Street, Oxford are to have the probation offices of Banbury, Bicester, Abingdon and Cowley combined in a mega-centre at the end of their residential
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Burlesque TV routine prompts complaints to Ofcom
A TV PERFORMANCE by a curvaceous burlesque dancer from Oxford has prompted dozens of viewer complaints. Last night, 39 people had complained to media regulator Ofcom about a dance by Fabia Cerra, 35, from Greater Leys, on Britain’s Got Talent
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Bad news for whom?
Sir – Prepare for bad news on Green Belt (Report, April 2). Bad news for whom? For young people who can’t afford to move out of their parents home because Oxford’s high land prices result in astronomic house prices? For residents hoping it doesn’t
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Threats to Green Belt
Sir – The report, Prepare for bad news on Green Belt (April 2), described well the many and serious threats that Oxford’s Green Belt faces, including the impending threat to the Green Belt south of Grenoble Road, and at Wheatley and Berinsfield
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Absurd bus system
Sir – I support Dr Ian East (Letters, April 2), who opposes filthy stupid buses damaging our magnificent city and university. Buses are ruining Oxford with noise and air pollution, and with congestion due to their sheer numbers and the ludicrous
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Pets prove a winner for patients
Pets As Therapy, the largest charity of its kind in Europe, continues to bring comfort, companionship and healing to over 126,000 patients every single week. However, it could not do this without the help of registered volunteers and their pets. Since
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Where there is a will
Sir – The concerns regarding a tram system in The High, voiced by Robert Sefton last week, are unfounded. Yes, it seems very likely two tracks would be needed, especially given the rise we must now expect in the demand for transport in and out of
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No alternative
Sir – Robert Sephton claims if Oxford had trams, “for most of the time, there will be two almost unbroken lines of trams, causing tailbacks extending beyond the centre of town” (Letters, April 9). My experience of trams in 25 cities in ten countries
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Use the four-stop rule
Sir – Just over a year ago I helped publicise the new national bus card for seniors. I have no regrets about this. The scheme means that poorer, older people can get out more — thus, in a small way, mitigating the effects of the recession — and more
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Flexible clean and quiet
Sir – In response to Dr Ian East’s letter (April 2), I did not suggest that the historic architecture of Oxford is less worthy of protection that that of cities in France, but I said that trolley buses could run under battery power for short distances
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Transform Oxford set for go-ahead
The pedestrianisation of Oxford’s busiest shopping area is set to be given the go-ahead next week. A major public consultation showed that fewer than four in ten people support Oxfordshire County Council’s plan to pedestrianise Queen Street
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Quarry plan approved
A MAJOR development scheme at an eyesore quarry site near Kidlington has been approved — despite warnings that an important breeding area for birds could be threatened. Plans had earlier been drawn up to turn Shipton Quarry into one of Britain’s first
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Otto has a revealing adventure
A MAN with Down’s syndrome who launched a public appeal for a girlfriend is to speak about his first visit to a strip club. Otto Baxter, right, hit the headlines last month when he spoke about how he wanted to lose his virginity. Now the 21-year-old
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Celebrity obsessed sex note pest banned
A MAN obsessed with celebrities has been banned from contacting a string of Hollywood stars after bombarding a former Big Brother winner with sexually explicit letters. Mark Taylor, 46, of Old Marston, Oxford, was ordered not to contact Hollywood
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Flood plan 'threat to city school'
A NEW £100m flood relief channel to protect Oxford could threaten plans to build a new school in the city. The Environment Agency is consulting about a scheme to build a 2km channel from near the Botley Road to Sandford Lock. But a report to Oxfordshire
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Local man in thick of it all
You know that bit in Notting Hill where Julia Roberts invites Hugh Grant to a hotel and he discovers that he’s in with the press pack (minus Horse & Hound, of course) and instead of getting to curl up on the sofa with her he has to bluff his
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Death crash driver jailed
A BANNED driver who fled the scene of a crash while his victim lay dying in the wreckage was jailed for seven years yesterday. Bernie McDonagh was driving a stolen Ford Transit van with fake number plates when he crashed into the car Ross Shears
