Archive
-
Date
U's accept FA charge
OXFORD United have admitted an FA charge of failing to control players and officials at the final match of the season against Northwich Victoria at the Kassam Stadium on April 26. The charge relates to the melee on the pitch towards the end of the second
-
Date
CRICKET: Oxon Over 50s start with defeat
OXFORDSHIRE got off to a bad start in defence of their ECB 50+ Championship crown, after losing by four wickets to Wales at Oxford Downs yesterday. After their opening match against Gloucestershire was washed out last week, Oxon were looking to start
-
Date
FOOTBALL: Jeffrey commits to Banbury
BANBURY United boss Billy Jeffery has committed himself to the club for the 2009-10 season. Banbury are still awaiting their fate after finishing in the BGB Southern League Premier Division relegation zone, with a number of clubs from around the non-league
-
Date
Geary takes over in Kidlington reshuffle
KIDLINGTON have unveiled former player Gordon Geary as their new first team manager. Geary will be assisted by Keith Appleton, Paul Harwood and Gary Johnson. The quartet replace the outgoing managerial team of Paul Lee, Kelvin Alexis and Matt Hayward
-
Date
Ladykillers
AN ARMY of ladybirds has been drafted in to tackle a costly tree problem in East Oxford. Tree surgeons put the insect, known as the ‘gardeners’ friend’ – along with lacewing larvae know as aphid lions – in trees along Iffley Road. It
-
Date
Comic offering
IT would be wonderful if someone organised a competition for people to write a serious song about Oxford and Oxfordshire – even if the entries were spoofs. I will start by offering I left my heart in Cowley’s Tesco. Stephanie Jenkins, Headington,
-
Date
Second best
I was interested to read that Cambridge has unveiled a new guided busway. I recall a similar scheme being ruled out in Oxford. Why does our Fenland rival always seem to suceed in being progressive while we founder and choke on fumes? G TAYLOR, North
-
Date
Song for the city
FOLLOWING Jeremy Smith’s recent request for a song for Oxford (Man about Town) all I can say is great minds think alike! The 13th Theatre Co is currently developing a musical about Oxford which we aim to produce in 2010. The songs have been written
-
Date
Pathetic excuses
I am somewhat fed up with the daily revelations about MPs’ expenses. Every day it infuriates me more. It is no surprise that the country is in the state it is in, when you look at MPs in general, and listen to the pathetic excuses that they come up with
-
Date
MPs not living in real world
Amid the current hysteria regarding MPs’ expenses, I am more than a little bemused by the underlying assumption of many that if the expenses system is cleaned up it will have to be at the price of increasing MPs’ basic salaries. Why is it
-
Date
Piper at the gates of lawn
NEW College choristers, lay fellows and Oxford residents resurrected a 16th century tradition which it is believed had not been performed for 450 years until yesterday at an Ascension Day service. They attended the service at Bartlemas Chapel, off Bartlemas
-
Date
Man arrested over stabbing
A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a 50-year-old man was stabbed in the stomach near the Oxford Probation Service offices, in Oxford Road, Cowley, on Friday afternoon. He remains in a stable condition in hospital. Officers
-
Date
Star's life 'cut short'
THE family of an Oxford-born actress found dead in her Paris apartment last night paid tribute to the light of their lives. Lucy Gordon, who lived in Oxford until she left school to pursue a career in modelling and acting, died on Wednesday
-
Date
BNP row halts newsletter delivery
ROYAL Mail tonight suspended the delivery of Your Oxford - the city council’s quarterly newspaper - after British National Party leaflets were inserted into the publication and posted through letter boxes. The company said it had a legal obligation to
-
Date
Inquest tribute to 'the epitome of a hero'
ONE of the UK’s most decorated soldiers, who died trying to disarm a Taliban bomb in Afghanistan, was hailed as “the epitome of a hero” today after an inquest into his death. Warrant Officer Gary O’Donnell, 40, of the Royal Logistic Corps, based at Vauxhall
-
Date
Pile-up causes A34 delays
A crash involving four cars tonight caused major delays on the A34 in Oxfordshire. One lane of the northbound carriageway was closed and queueing traffic built up due to the collision before the B430 near Weston-on-the-Green. Reports
-
Date
Cabbages and Kings
THE civic enforcement officer was eyeing a well-polished grey BMW parked outside a hardware shop in Cowley Road where the pavement seems to be at its narrowest. Suddenly a bicycle, heading in the direction of the city centre, sped between the
-
Date
82-year-old burgled in Summertown
Police are appealing for witnesses after a burglary in Middle Way, Summertown today. At 4am, a 82-year-old man was woken up to the sound of a thief entering his bedroom. Seeing that the man had woken up, the thief said: “Sorry mate, wrong house,”
-
Date
CRICKET: Sabin's still a key man
Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 1 Banbury captain Ian Hawtin says opening batsman Andrew Sabin is a key player despite dropping him for tomorrow’s home clash with Potters Bar. Oxfordshire’s new recuit Damian
-
Date
CRICKET: Brooks backs 'boring' tactics
Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 2 West Thame Town captain Rob Brooks admits being pragmatic may be the way forward, although it goes against his nature. Brooks, whose side host Falkland tomorrow, likes to play attacking cricket
-
Date
RUGBY UNION: Oxon final bid is long shot
County Championship Plate Oxfordshire face an uphill battle to reach the final when they take on Durham at Darlington RFC on Saturday (2). Not only are Durham unbeaten, but some of Oxfordshire’s players can only make the 230-mile trip on the morning
-
Date
CYCLING: Elzinga shines
Oxford University CC’s Jesse Elzinga stormed to victory in Didcot Phoenix’s 25- mile Open Time Trial on the Cumnor to Faringdon course on the A420. He recorded a time of 55mins 13secs to take first prize. Didcot Phoenix filled the top three positions
-
Date
SPORT CALENDAR: Action for the week ahead
SATURDAY CRICKET SERIOUS CRICKET HOME COUNTIES PREMIER LEAGUE Div 1: Banbury v Potters Bar, Oxford v Tring Park. Div 2 West: Aston Rowant v Reading, Thame Tn v Falkland. THE OXFORD TIMES CHERWELL LEAGUE Div 1: Banbury XX v Buckingham, Horspath
-
Date
Local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 15.75 BMW 2260 Electrocomponents 156 Nationwide Accident Repair 90.5 Oxford Biomedica 10.75 Oxford Catalysts 47 Oxford Instruments 143 Reed Elsevier 505.75 RM 170 RPS Group 184.25 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
-
Date
Costume designer premieres collection
A costume designer for stage and film is set to premiere her collection at Banbury Museum until June 14 before taking it on a national tour. Kate Plumtree’s work includes costumes for West End musicals such as Wicked and The Lion King, films such as
-
Date
A former mayor's manor
The home of a former Sheriff and Mayor of Oxford is on the market for the first time since it was built in the 1920s. The house in Hill Top Road, Oxford, was constructed by councillor William C Walker OBE, a director of Oxford-based builders Benfield
-
Date
Japanese rock band invited to perform at namesake school
A JAPANESE rock band has been invited to perform at the school it took its name from. Heavy rock act Abingdon Boys School chose its name after hearing how the members of Oxford’s most famous group, Radiohead, met at the school in Park Road in the 1980s
-
Date
Hundreds flock to college farm open day
HUNDREDS of people enjoyed a day out on the farm as Abingdon and Witney College staged its countryside careers open day. A large number of courses were demonstrated on Saturday at Common Leys Farm in Hailey, near Witney. Students taking part set up
-
Date
Circus rolls into town
A CIRCUS will return to West Oxfordshire for the 10th time tomorrow. Jay Miller’s Circus will be at the Leys Recreation Ground, in Witney, until Sunday, May 31. Circus owner Jon Miller promised this year’s show would not fail to impress. Mr Miller,
-
Date
Birthdays' workers fear for jobs
Workers at two Oxfordshire greetings cards stores have been left fearing for their jobs after their company was taken into administration. About 20 staff at the Birthdays shops in the Templars Shopping Centre, Cowley and the Castle Centre, Banbury, face
-
Date
Celebrity chef cooks lunch for contest winner
CELEBRITY chef Gregg Wallace cooked up some lunchtime delights for a lucky couple. Frances Slade, 71, entered an online competition to submit a recipe and compete for a chance to get it cooked for her. She sent in her own recipe for belly pork casserole
-
Date
180 cyclists brave rain and wind for King Alfred
CYCLISTS kept their spirits up despite heavy rain on the annual King Alfred bike ride. About 180 people, aged between 15 and 65, saddled up and set off on their route from Wantage to Winchester on Sunday. The challenge was to cycle from the King Alfred
-
Date
Kidlington boys' home to be rebuilt
A CHILDREN’S home for troubled boys is set to be rebuilt at a cost of £1.4m. Oxfordshire County Council has pledged to rebuild Thornbury House in Kidlington. The new building will be built on land next to the existing home in The Moors, which dates
-
Date
City council pledges to pay 'a living wage'
COUNCIL workers are to be guaranteed “a living wage” under a deal hammered out by Oxford City Council and unions. The council’s executive board has pledged to pay all employees at least £7 an hour from September. The £7 minimum payment — dubbed the
-
Date
Plan for student rooms over car park to go ahead
A SCHEME to build student homes on stilts above an Oxford car park has been approved. Oxford City Council’s executive board discussed the future of the open air car park off St Clement’s Street, near Magdalen Bridge, on Wednesday. The council had invited
-
Date
Student artwork to go on display
AN array of students’ artwork is set to go on public display. Fine art students from Oxford and Cherwell Valley College, in Broughton Road, Banbury, have been working on paintings, sculptures and videos for the exhibition. Their work will go on display
-
Date
75 drivers caught in speed checks
More than 75 drivers were caught breaking the law during police checks in south Oxfordshire. During a two-hour check in The Street, Crowmarsh Gifford, yesterday 23 drivers were issued with Fixed Penalty Notices for exceeding the 30mph speed limit.
-
Date
120 take part in karate competition
SCORES of karate students have been showing off their fighting skills at a Banbury tournament. Hosted by Banbury Shukokai, the biannual tournament saw 120 students taking part aged from five upwards. The championship took place at the Chasewell Centre
-
Date
Oxford Brookes graduation art show
This Saturday, the Graduate Art Show at Oxford Brookes University opens its doors to the people of Oxford for you to see what has engaged the minds and hearts of the 31 leavers. I was curious to see if Brit art still holds sway or whether there is a wind
-
Date
Bomb expert was "a hero"
AN Oxfordshire bomb disposal expert who was killed in Afghanistan was today hailed as the "the epitome of a hero” at an inquest into his death. Warrant Officer Gary O'Donnell, 40, of the Royal Logistic Corps, died as he approached an explosive
-
Date
Spiderman star found dead
Young British actress Lucy Gordon has been found dead in her Paris flat after apparently committing suicide. The Spider-Man 3 actress was found dead at the 10th arrondissement apartment on Wednesday, two days before her 29th birthday. A police spokesman
-
Date
Burglars target 83-year-old
Police are appealing for witnesses after a burglary in Pigeons Close, Wantage, at 4pm yesterday. While gardening in her front garden, an 83-year-old woman was approached by two white men saying that they had lost their football in her back garden.
-
Date
Man held after cyclist stabbed
A 30-year-old man was this morning arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a cyclist was stabbed in Cowley, Oxford. The 50-year-old victim walked into Oxford Probation Service, in Oxford Road, last Friday afternoon, with a wound to
-
Date
CYCLIST STABBING: Man arrested
A 30-year-old man was this morning arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a cyclist was stabbed in Cowley, Oxford. The 50-year-old victim walked into Oxford Probation Service, in Oxford Road, last Friday afternoon, with a wound to his belly
-
Date
Local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 15.5 BMW 2276 Electrocomponents 155.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 91.5 Oxford Biomedica 10.75 Oxford Catalysts 47 Oxford Instruments 143 Reed Elsevier 514.25 RM 172 RPS Group 182.5
-
Date
Youth service axed from probation centre plan
Plans to house the county’s Youth Offending Service alongside a new “super probation centre” in Oxford have been ditched, it has emerged. Oxfordshire County Council had been planning to relocate its youth crime prevention service from its current base
-
Date
Dog's view of pubs
It’s no secret that food writer Helen Peacocke shares her life and cottage with a tri-coloured border collie named Pythius and insists on giving him the dignity of a surname – hence Pythius-Peacocke. Those who have worked alongside Helen know only
-
Date
THE PHILOSOPHER AND THE WOLF
THE PHILOSOPHER AND THE WOLF Mark Rowlands (Granta, £15.99) As the title suggests, this book grew out of the decade that Rowlands spent in the company of a magnificent wolf. He named the wolf cub Brenin, having bought it on a whim, from an
-
Date
Rise and fall of industrialist
STONE’S FALL Iain Pears (Jonathan Cape, £18.99) Iain Pears is best known for his unlikely bestseller The Instance of the Fingerpost, an intellectual whodunnit which explored the murder of a 17th-century Oxford don. This time the Oxford writer tackles
-
Date
Aboriginal remains returned to Australia
Oxford University has returned three separate sets of aboriginal remains to Australia. The items, brought to the university in the 19th century, are three skulls and associated lower jaws, and were kept in the Museum of Natural History in Parks Road
-
Date
Man rescued from flat fire
Fire crews helped a man to safety after a fire started in the bedroom of his flat in Oxford last night. The man was taken to hospital following the accidental fire at his home in Ashurst Way, Rose Hill, shortly before midnight. A spokesman for Oxfordshire
-
Date
Gearing up for AirTanker
ANYONE driving west along the A40 from Oxford recently will have seen the yellow signs directing construction traffic to the AirTanker site at RAF Brize Norton. The signs are good news for Oxfordshire’s economy, confirming that the county is on the receiving
-
Date
RM buys school furniture firm
AN OXFORDSHIRE furniture design business has been sold to school computer supplier RM in a £2.69m deal. Isis Concepts, in Tetsworth, produces the Newton chair, which promises to end schoolchildren’s backache — and transform classrooms. It is run by
-
Date
Taste of Russia
WORK has begun on the creation of Oxford’s first Russian restaurant under the watchful eye of young entrepreneur Victoria Tsoy. Moscow-born Ms Tsoy, 24, said: "It's going to be a lot of work, but there is a demand." The menu will feature traditional
-
Date
Wilder: We're on the way
Chris Wilder believes the quality of his four recent signings is evidence of how Oxford United are determined to keep improving. Although the U’s enjoyed a stunningly successful second half of the season, which almost brought them a place in the Blue
-
Date
History round-up
Wavell Adrian Fort (Cape, £25) Churchill’s fire-eating, empire-loving command embraced many generals. The trouble with Wavell was that he was too much of a gentleman, with huge responsibilities in wartime Asia that would have defeated
-
Date
Tormented
Tormented (15), directed by Jon Wright, is a tongue-in-cheek horror set in a British comprehensive school where a gang of abusive students gets its just desserts at the hands of a most unlikely avenger. Not a demented dinner lady, fed up with gripes about
-
Date
New mayor pledges to unite
IRISHMAN James Porter pledged to devote himself to uniting communities after he was sworn in as Bicester’s new mayor. Keen archer Mr Porter has nominated Katharine House Hospice, in Adderbury, and Serv, a team of biker volunteers who deliver blood between
-
Date
Blackbird Leys to get new £7m pool
A £7M swimming pool will be built in Blackbird Leys as the centrepiece of a major overhaul of Oxford’s aging leisure facilities. Plans to build an indoor water park with slides and a wave machine next to the leisure centre on the estate have been dropped
-
Date
Wildlife of our rivers
Otter spotting During the 1970s, otters were on the brink of extinction in England, but thanks to cleaner rivers, the banning of harmful pesticides and the hard work of conservationists, they are making a welcome return to our waterways. BBOWT is working
-
Date
Good news for leisure
Good news! At long last. Amid the doom and gloom some positivity as Oxford City Council rubberstamps a multi-million pound plan for leisure centres across the county. The cornerstone of the project could be a new competition pool at Blackbird Leys.
-
Date
Wild garlic
You may discover clumps of wild garlic in a wood, growing alongside the bluebells, or find it has entered your allotment or garden uninvited. It can be invasive – but it can also prove a very useful ingredient in salads, stirfrys or even sandwiches.
-
Date
Triumph tastes trifle sour
She was only hours away from securing a place in both the history of Oxford and English poetry, but Ruth Padel was feeling anything but triumphant. Padel, the great-great-grand-daughter of Charles Darwin was preparing for the election, from
-
Date
Meadow memories
Sir – As you have reported from time to time, SENDRA (St Ebbes New Development Residents’ Association) and other local residents have submitted an application to the county council for this meadow to be registered as a Town Green. For those unfamiliar
-
Date
Danger to young minds
Sir – I was delighted to read in your columns that the ladders used to retrieve books in the Bodleian have been banned by the Health and Safety Executive. This method of book retrieval has been used for 400 years without incident, and it is clearly
-
Date
Don’t throw out barrel
Sir – A big thank you to The Oxford Times and others for exposing the bad-apple MPs who have played the system on expenses. But most MPs, including as far as I can see, both Oxford members, have not made outrageous expenses claims My advice to Parliament
-
Date
Change is badly needed
Sir – As the scandalous events in Parliament over recent weeks have shown, the UK is in urgent need of a process of electoral reform, whereby our Government better reflects the wishes of the general population. Though less than half of the population
-
Date
Disappearing mail
Sir – Since January we have suffered a series of “lost” mail that has been sent to us. The missing mail mainly had one thing in common in that they were birthday cards, three with vouchers or cash in them for my children. At the beginning of last week
-
Date
More volunteers needed
Sir – It is Volunteers Week, June 1-7, and as a charity that relies on volunteers, I wish to pay a special thank you from the Royal British Legion to the volunteers in Oxfordshire who have helped make the Poppy Appeal so successful. The 2007 Poppy
-
Date
Outgoing mayor's final tribute
AS Pauline Liddington’s mayoral year came to a close, she had just one more job to do. That was to honour Bicester’s unsung heroes by presenting the annual good Citizen Awards. Eight people received awards this year for their dedication to a host
-
Date
Vegetables look as pretty as a picture
Eynsham resident Graham Rice is not a chef. He does not own a restaurant or even rate himself as a dedicated foodie – yet he shops for fruits and vegetables with as much care as someone who considers fresh food to be of utmost importance. Graham is an
-
Date
Create virtuous circle
Sir – Although the results of your experiment (New 20mph limits ‘unsafe’, May 14) are not statistically signifcant, there is a more fundamental reason why this test of the effect of slower speeds on driving in urban areas is misleading and unhelpful
-
Date
'Like an ice cube’
Sir – Pall Mall consultants have published a report on Brookes University’s plans for new buildings on Headington Hill. It can be read a www.brookes.ac.uk/spacetothink/docs/ pre-app-consultation.pdf Rex Knight, clerk to the governors of the university
-
Date
Baseless opposition
Sir – Almost every town or city that uses trams also operates buses. Robert Sephton’s claim that “running a mixed system brings its own complications” (Letters, April 23) is groundless. Mr Sephton doubts that one tram could replace two or three
-
Date
Leave it to agents
Sir – With regards to recent national media coverage about a licensing system for landlords letting out residential property, I am fully supportive of such a system. However, in view of the fact that many landlords are frustrated sellers and not “professional
-
Date
Skimping on training?
Sir – The other day I was nearly knocked off my bike by a Control Plus warden on a scooter executing a manoeuvre with more enthusiasm than skill. I noticed that the rider was riding on L-plates, which means that he had not been fully trained to use
-
Date
No conspiracy
Sir – After reading Reg Little’s article (May 7) I feel obliged to defend the actions of Oxfordshire PCT, the Health Protection Unit and the Oxfordshire education department. In my view they handled the recent H1N1 flu case at Sandhills Community
-
Date
Take note of wishes
Sir – It is splendid news that the ORH NHS Trust is taking on board the wishes of patients to provide specific male and female lavatories and showers. Patients have also told us that they would appreciate the words “Male” and “Female” on the doors.
-
Date
Grey-haired parents
Sir – Where have the young parents gone to? As a resident of some fours years in North Oxford/Jericho I am still amazed at the apparent ages of parents with young children. The grey-haired ladies accompanied by hirsutely challenged partners, who have
-
Date
No need to be bored
Sir – There are those who look forward to retirement with pleasure and excitement. However, there are also those of us who view retirement with misgivings: what is there to do all day? What is there to do? I visited my local sports and community
-
Date
English Wine Week mixed case, £94
In celebration of English wine week, try this mixed case of delicious English wines produced in Oxfordshire. The English Wine Week mixed case costs £94 and includes three bottles each of the following four wines. Crispin 2007, Brightwell
-
Date
Older people should not suffer
Sir – I am amazed to read in your newspaper of the comments by Keith Ludeman (Report, May 7) that his bus company feels that they are giving a “blank cheque” to pensioners concerning using their very valued bus pass. Does he not realise from a compassionate
-
Date
Youth football club shocked as coach dies
FRIENDS last night paid tribute to a children’s football coach who they said gave 100 per cent to everything he did. Clive Pratley, of Brambling Way, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, was found dead about 3.50pm on Monday in a car parked in a layby near
-
Date
Murder victim named
A man murdered in broad daylight in East Oxford has been named by police. Devon Delroy McPherson, 43, of Divinity Road, died after he was stabbed in the neck shortly before midday on Monday following an argument with a man in Ridgefield Road.
-
Date
MURDER UPDATE: Victim named by police
A MAN murdered in broad daylight in East Oxford was last night named by police. Devon Delroy McPherson, 43, of Divinity Road, died after he was stabbed in the neck shortly before midday on Monday following an argument with a man in Ridgefield
-
Date
Rail chief opens station car park
CHILTERN Railways chairman Adrian Shooter drove his classic car down a ramp to cut a ribbon and officially open the operator’s first decked car park. An extra 160 car parking spaces have been added to Bicester North Station after prefabricated modular
-
Date
Night at the Museum 2
History is brought vividly to life with a dazzling array of computer-generated effects in Night at the Museum 2 (PG), a soulless exercise in digital might over emotional substance and subtlety. Directed once again by Shawn Levy, who is aided and abetted
-
Date
Despair at university
Sir – It is interesting if you go round the streets of Headington and Marston sampling opinion about Brookes’s expansion plans in general and its proposed Gipsy Lane Headington horror show in particular. Do the executives and planners care that they
-
Date
Know your onions
Onions are obviously edible, but they also produce highly decorative flowers and, if you’ve ever let a leek or an onion go to seed, you’ll know all about this family’s sculptural charms. Some varieties are specifically grown for their flowers. But they
-
Date
Secret reports
Once again Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust finds itself under fire over the release of information. A report of inspectors who visited Oxford Community Hospital and found ‘shocking’ conditions has only come to light following a Freedom of Information request
-
Date
Votes danger
It is not often that we have cause to agree with Labour city councillor John Tanner. Nor do we publish many of the blatantly political letters he routinely sends to the Press. This week, Mr Tanner sounds positively statesmanlike in his call for us all
-
Date
£7m Oxford pool planned
A NEW £7m swimming pool is set to be built in Blackbird Leys as the centrepiece of a major overhaul of the city’s leisure facilities. The earlier idea of building an indoor water park with slides and a wave machine next to the leisure centre
-
Date
The beauty of woodland
On a damp and dismal December day a large number of people, armed with garden spades and wrapped in warm and water-proofed clothing against expected rain, gathered on a sodden field. They surveyed a huge collection of bamboo canes dotted seemingly haphazardly
-
Date
Preview: Garsington Opera 2009
At London’s Jerwood Space, Garsington Opera rehearsals are in full swing. I am watching the men’s chorus being drilled for Fidelio, and can’t help thinking that the glorious sound they are making bodes well for the forthcoming season. In
-
Date
Fears over Blackbird Leys-style isolated settlement
THERE are fears Bicester could end up with a Blackbird Leys-type estate on the edge of the town if an eco-settlement gets the go ahead. On Tuesday night a public meeting heard that the development would not be integrated with the town but would stand
-
Date
Say a hurrah for up-and-coming English wines
It is my birthday tomorrow and this year it has fallen on a particularly good day. For the first time in years and years I will not be celebrating my relentless maturing at the annual London Wine Fair. Hurrah! Second, it has fallen on a Friday. More hurrahs
