Archive
-
Date
Firefighters climb roof of burning building
FIREFIGHTERS are currently climbing onto a thatched roof which has caught alight in Netherton near Fyfield. At least seven fire engines, three police cars, one fire incident command unit and a fire support unit are at the scene of the fire
-
Date
Man remanded on Banbury murder charge
A man has been remanded in custody charged with murder. Antony Bebbington, 24, of Ruscote Arcade, Longelandes Way, appeared before Banbury magistrates today. He was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Oxford Crown Court tomorrow. Paul
-
Date
Police and firefighters at house fire
POLICE have been called to assist firefighters dealing with a blaze in Netherton, near Fyfield. Thames Valley Police was called at 6.32pm to help deal with traffic issues arising from the blaze in a thatched property. A police spokesman said there had
-
Date
Wind farm 'will not harm historic homes'
FOUR giant wind turbines planned for farmland in north Oxfordshire, would have no significant effect on historic buildings and monuments, an inquiry was told. Today, Bolsterstone, the firm behind a proposed wind farm at Willowbank Farm, Fritwell,
-
Date
Oxford pubs bid to open at 7am
Three pubs in Oxford could open their doors at 7am daily from next month. JD Wetherspoon’s The Four Candles in George Street, The Swan and Castle in Castle Street and The William Morris at the Cowley Centre will all apply to open earlier as
-
Date
Fears voiced over high-speed rail plans
Villagers have voiced fears their lives could be blighted by 225mph trains speeding past their homes on a proposed high-speed rail link between London and the Midlands. Transport Secretary Lord Adonis today announced details of the Government
-
Date
Some rough sleepers moved on
Some rough sleepers have been moved from an area of East Oxford, the city council said. The former Victorian rubbish tip on the banks of the River Cherwell and River Thames at the bottom of Jackdaw Lane, East Oxford, has been used by homeless
-
Date
Wind farm ‘will not harm historic homes’
FOUR giant wind turbines planned for farmland in north Oxfordshire, would have no significant effect on historic buildings and monuments, an inquiry was told. Today, Bolsterstone, the firm behind a proposed wind farm at Willowbank Farm, Fritwell, set
-
Date
FOOTBALL: Witney play waiting game over Tassell
Witney United hope keeper Paul Tassell recovers from a thigh injury in time for Saturday’s home clash with Binfield in the Premier Division. Should Tassell fail to make it, ex-Carterton boss Steve Hale may come out of retirement to help his old club.
-
Date
Fears as high-speed rail route unveiled
VILLAGERS have voiced fears their lives could be blighted by 225mph trains speeding past their homes on a proposed high-speed Rail link between London and the Midlands. Transport Secretary Lord Adonis today announced details of the Government
-
Date
FOOTBALL: Gardner makes Abingdon switch
Abingdon United have boosted their outside play-off hopes by signing former Banbury United and Oxford City winger Jon Gardner. And he could make his first start when they travel to Uxbridge in Division 1 South & West on Saturday after coming on in their
-
Date
Hospital parking fees cause anger
HOSPITAL patients and visitors in Oxfordshire have backed a consumer group’s claim that parking charges are too high and there is a shortage of spaces. Which? said people using hospitals across the UK faced difficulties finding car parking spaces and
-
Date
Cowley cannabis farm raided
A 35-YEAR-OLD man was in custody last night after a police raid in Oxford discovered a room filled with cannabis plants. Police raided a house in Garsington Road, Cowley, shortly before 8am yesterday and arrested the man on suspicion of illegally cultivating
-
Date
Man remanded on stairwell murder charge
A MAN has been remanded in custody charged with murder. Antony Bebbington, 24, of Ruscote Arcade, Longelandes Way, appeared before Banbury magistrates this morning. He was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Oxford Crown Court
-
Date
Three city pubs will bid to open at 7am daily
THREE pubs in Oxford could open their doors at 7am daily from next month. JD Wetherspoon’s The Four Candles in George Street, The Swan and Castle in Castle Street and The William Morris at the Cowley Centre will all apply to open earlier as
-
Date
Rough sleepers move from East Oxford beauty spot
ROUGH sleepers have moved from an overgrown beauty spot in East Oxford, the city council said. The former Victorian rubbish tip on the banks of the Cherwell and Thames at the bottom of Jackdaw Lane, East Oxford, has been used by homeless people
-
Date
CABBAGES & KINGS: Worlds apart across street
IN distance terms, Lush, the handmade cosmetics shop, and the Brand Centre, which sells leisure clothes bearing those more sought-after labels, are only yards apart, facing each other as they do in Cornmarket Street. But that’s all they have in
-
Date
Good fishing
In response to John Gaisford’s superb photo of a kingfisher in the city (Oxford Mail, March 10), I am pleased to say that they are not as rare as he thinks. Some people in West Oxford see them regularly – at least once a week, so keep your eyes open
-
Date
Switch them off
WHETHER parking, or travelling by bus, or even walking past, one cannot fail to notice all the lights which are on day and night at the Westgate Car Park. As an individual building, there are probably more lights on than any other in Oxford. Surely
-
Date
Royal refusal
l FURTHER to the report by Liam Sloan about Lisa Liddell’s family relationship with Alice Liddell (Oxford Mail, March 3): Alice was a favourite of Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) who wrote down the Alice In Wonderland story for her after a trip with
-
Date
Petrol puzzle
Over the past few weeks we have all noticed the increase in the price of petrol and the variations all over the country, with prices ranging from £1.10 to £1.18 per litre. But what amazes me is the differential between Sainsbury’s at Kidlington (114.9p
-
Date
Speeding trouble
THE NEW 20mph speed limit in St Giles seems to be causing problems, in that most drivers have decided not to obey it, choosing instead to drive at 25mph, or more, on occasions. I regularly drive a volunteer to the JR Hospital at 7.30am and on my return
-
Date
Oxford cabbie cleared of dangerous driving in Regal incident
A TAXI driver was today cleared of dangerous driving after he pulled away from an Oxford nightclub with a woman clinging to his car. Private-hire driver Mohammed Alam drove off from the Regal, in Cowley Road, as Rebecca Sugden reached through
-
Date
Keep students off our sports pitches
I AM angry! Over the past few months I have seen university rugby, hockey and lacrosse teams, with their special goalposts and markers using Meadow Lane public sports playing field, mostly during the wet weather. They churn up the ground
-
Date
In-form Clarke defends his record
Goalkeeper Ryan Clarke (pictured) says he and his defenders will need to be at their best from now until the end of the season if United are to get the success they want. Clarke pulled off two stunning saves to earn the U's a 1-1 draw at Cambridge
-
Date
Away kings will make it tough for United
While manager Chris Wilder is looking for a vastly improved performance from Oxford United on Saturday, they could have had easier opponents than Kettering Town. The Northamptonshire outfit, who drew 1-1 with the U’s at Rockingham Road at
-
Date
Volunteer medic saves heart attack victim's life
A VOLUNTEER medic has been praised for saving a man’s life after he had a heart attack. Ali Smith was at a friend’s house drinking tea when she got a message that a 65-year-old man was in cardiac arrest in nearby Stadhampton. She found
-
Date
Rivals set for game of leapfrog
The next two weeks in the race for automatic promotion from the Blue Square Premier are going to seem strange. That’s because the top two are never playing on the same day in the league. Stevenage are involved in their two-legged FA
-
Date
Callum lands award
Callum O’Dowda from Kidlington will be presented with the Kevin Durham Memorial Cup before United’s game tomorrow. It is presented each year to Oxfordshire’s most promising schoolboy, aged under 15. O’Dowda is a midfielder or striker, who is quick
-
Date
Just the ticket for young carers
Oxford United striker Matt Green and midfielder Ashley Cain visited the Oxford Young Carers (OYC) project this week and enjoyed a kick-about followed by a question and answer session with some 8-11-year-old young carers. The players presented the
-
Date
Baldry to give pay rise to charity
BANBURY MP Tony Baldry, above, has pledged to give away his near £1,000 MP’s pay rise. Mr Baldry, who records show earned £111,914.96 for private work between July last year and last month on top of his basic MP’s salary of £64,766, said: “We didn’t
-
Date
Calls to tackle Leys 'flood risk'
FAMILIES who fear a brook could flood their homes have called on experts to get to the bottom of the problem. Residents in Field Avenue, Blackbird Leys, at the corner of Bulrush Road and Lobelia Road, watch the Northfield Brook nervously when
-
Date
New buses set gold standard
More environmentally friendly Buses will replace a Stagecoach fleet in west Oxfordshire. Twelve new gold vehicles, with engines that meet strict green Government guidelines, will replace 16 old-design blue and white buses. There are already
-
Date
Local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 23.25 BMW 2958 Electrocomponents 197.8 Gladstone 34 Nationwide Accident Repair 91.5 Oxford Biomedica 11 Oxford Catalyst 60.5 Oxford Instruments 240 Reed Elsevier 509.75 RM 168.75 RPS Group 179 Courtesy of Redmayne
-
Date
Wood Farm groups welcome community centre cash boost
COMMUNITY groups are to benefit from extra space at the new Wood Farm School and Community Centre development, it has been revealed. A £125,000 cash injection from Oxford City Council will be used to increase floor space for a range of groups and organisations
-
Date
Button predicts 'belter' of a season
Jenson Button believes this season in Formula One will be "a belter" and that Michael Schumacher will prove he can still compete at the age of 41. Button lifted the drivers' crown last year with Brackley-based Brawn GP, but has since joined his predecessor
-
Date
RUGBY UNION: Chinnor sign young star Elder
Chinnor have signed England Under 18 and Wasps Academy wing/centre Chris Elder ahead of Saturday's National 3 South West clash with Chippenham. Elder, who started in England’s 28-12 victory over Italy last week, goes straight into the squad for the match
-
Date
FIXTURES March 12
SATURDAY. FOOTBALL. BLUE SQUARE PREMIER. Oxford Utd v Kettering. PUMA ALLIANCE. Under 18 South West Conference: Swindon Tn v Oxford Utd. ZAMARETTO SOUTHERN LEAGUE. Premier Div: Didcot Tn v Bashley, Bedford v Oxford City, Halesowen v Banbury Utd
-
Date
BADMINTON: Oxon reach national finals
Oxfordshire Over 60s have reached the Veterans Inter-County League’s national finals. Having beaten Berkshire and Buckinghamshire twice, Middlesex once and drawing with and losing to Warwickshire, Oxon needed a win to top the Midlands section. Away
-
Date
ROWING: Isis seek third win
Oxford and Cambridge have named their Isis and Goldie crews for the Boat Race warm-up on April 3. Like the Oxford Blue Boat, Isis will be looking to win their third consecutive race. The sole crew member who has tasted victory in this
-
Date
POINT-T0-POINT: My Way heads for Kingston Blount
My Way De Solzen, a dual Cheltenham Festival winner, could make his point-to-point debut at the Oxford University Hunt Club meeting at Kingston Blount, near Chinnor on Saturday. The ten-year-old, who was trained by Alan King to win the 2006
-
Date
A smart way to boost Wantage shops
A SCHEME to give Wantage’s shops a makeover has been launched. Traders are being offered grants of up to £5,000 towards the cost of refurbishing their business facades after shoppers complained about stores looking unkempt. Each business will be able
-
Date
New Stagecoach fleet sets gold standard for West Oxon
MORE environmentally friendly Buses will replace a Stagecoach fleet in west Oxfordshire. Twelve new gold vehicles, with engines that meet strict green Government guidelines, will replace 16 old-design blue and white buses. There are already
-
Date
Attempted break-in in Cassington
Police are appealing for witnesses after a man attempted to break into a house in Cassington. At about 3.10pm yesterday, a white man aged in his twenties, called at an address on The Green. The occupant took a while to answer the door and a
-
Date
Pothole repairs cause A40 queues
Pothole repairs on the A40 between Witney and Eynsham led to delays for drivers today. Workmen with stop-go boards controlled traffic both ways, leading to long queues either side of the works.
-
Date
High-speed rail link route confirmed
Super-fast trains travelling up to 250mph are set to run along edge of Oxfordshire on a new high speed Rail network announced by the Government today. The new High Speed 2 rail line linking London to Liverpool via Birmingham is will follow
-
Date
Robber attacks man in Oxford and takes car
Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was assaulted in Oxford and his car was stolen. At about 7.15pm yesterday, a 27-year-old man was walking back to his car in Kingfisher Green, Greater Leys, when he was approached by a man who demanded
-
Date
High-speed rail link route confirmed
Super-fast trains travelling up to 250mph are set to run along the border of Oxfordshire on a new high speed rail network announced by the Government today. The new High Speed 2 rail line linking London to Liverpool via Birmingham is will follow along
-
Date
Professionals from capital drive market
PROFESSIONALS opting to live in Oxfordshire but continue working in London are driving the luxury end of the rental market, according to an expert. Gareth Gould, lettings manager for Summertown-based agents Kemp & Kemp, said: "A lot of the clients
-
Date
Child heart surgery stays suspended at John Radcliffe
CHILDREN’S heart surgery will remain suspended at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital until at least August. An independent review into paediatric cardiac surgery at the JR following the deaths of four babies after surgery is not likely to be
-
Date
Station poses Green Belt threat, say campaigners
A NEW railway station, a 1,000-space car park and a waste recycling plant are posing a threat to the Green Belt north of Oxford, campaigners claim. Planning permission has been given to a 1.6-hectare waste centre between Oxford and Kidlington
-
Date
End of the road for Berinsfield biker cafe
THE future of a popular bikers’ cafe is in doubt after it was forced to close due to money troubles. Landlord Sean Harris shut the H Cafe, near Berinsfield, on Monday after racking up “substantial” debts. The 42-year-old, from Benson, had been landlord
-
Date
Thames Valley Police crime-solving rated 'poor'
The performance of Oxfordshire’s police has been rated ‘fair’ by Government inspectors. Thames Valley Police is ranked in the lower half of 42 forces across England and Wales in a report released by Her Majesty’s Government Inspectorate today. Inspectors
-
Date
Police donate £6,000 to motor project
Police have donated £6000 to the Trax Motor Project in Oxford. Chief Supt Brendan O’Dowda visited the Oxford charity based at Red Barn Farm, in Woodstock Road, yesterday where he handed over the cheque at a special ceremony. The money donated to
-
Date
Simon Rae and Charlotte Edwards
A duo with local links will be appearing at Oxford Literary Festival on March 23 in Winning the Ashes: Living the Dream, in Fiction and in Fact. Author Simon Rae, from Bampton, and England cricket captain Charlotte Edwards, who works as a coaching ambassador
-
Date
Spellbound by Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
For the second time in as many years, Scandinavian cinema comes up trumps with a stylish and invigorating thriller guaranteed to have audiences teetering excitedly on the edge of their seats. In 2009, we were spellbound by the coming of age story Let
-
Date
Joanna Trollope in high spirits
Joanna Trollope is thrilled. The Other Family, her latest novel about the tangled emotional and financial mess when two families quarrel over a musician’s inheritance, has just hurtled to the top of the bestseller list. “It was on sale for three days
-
Date
Joanne Harris's new book set to shock fans
Joanne Harris shot to fame with the film of her sensuous, romantic novel Chocolat, and some of her fans may well be taken aback by her latest offering. Blueeyedboy is told in the form of a weblog, apparently written by a serial killer. She said: “My
-
Date
Hardeep Singh Kohli has naked ambition
There were so many questions I wanted to ask the “nearly naked chef” Hardeep Singh Kohli, like why naked? How naked is nearly? What about hot oil spillages? Does he keep his turban on? And how responsible is Celebrity Masterchef for all this? Luckily
-
Date
A cinematic sentence
SHUTTER ISLAND (15) Thriller. Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Sir Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Max von Sydow, Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson, Jackie Earle Haley. Director: Martin Scorsese. The lunatics are taking over the asylum, or that
-
Date
Fun Lovin' Criminals are still the original gangsters
AFTER going AWOL for five long years, New York’s finest are back on the block – and fighting fit. The sharp-suited band, whose soul and funk-infused street-smart rock provided a Manhattan-flavoured soundtrack for the mid-90s, have been out
-
Date
Here come the girls...
It may have relinquished its status as the only remaining exclusively female college at Oxford University, but St Hilda’s is as keen as ever to fly the flag for women. With more high-achieving alumni in the arts and media world than you can shake a stick
-
Date
Architectural disorder at Ovada Art Gallery
With Modern Art Oxford closing for six weeks, Ovada and Launch Collaborative’s curatorial group have taken up the reins with a new exhibition called Architectural Disorder at Ovada art gallery in Oxford’s city centre. Rainbow-coloured thread, razor-sharp
-
Date
Ricky Tomlinson gets it off his chest
Who’d have thought it eh, Ricky Tomlinson is a morning man. Up bright and early after a big breakfast he’s on a roll about politics, comedy and of course The Royle Family before I can even draw breath, and it’s only 9 o’clock. “Oh yes kid, I’m old-fashioned
-
Date
Reining champions
SEXY, vibrant and lurid, New Young Pony Club were the sassy cheerleaders of the technicolour nu-rave scene. Never knowingly understated, their brash shows and disco-electro-pop have made them a live favourite. Now, they are returning to Oxford – three
-
Date
Zone defence
GREEN ZONE (15) Action/thriller. Matt Damon, Khalid Abdalla, Greg Kinnear, Brendan Gleeson, Jason Isaacs, Amy Ryan, Yigal Naor. Director: Paul Greengrass. When American and British forces withdraw completely from Iraq – a strategy that seems unthinkable
-
Date
Focusing on young readers
Book-mad children — and those who need a bit of encouragement — will find plenty to interest them at the festival. Top billing goes to Philip Pullman, who will host two events where young readers can ask him about Lyra and Will, Yorek Byrnisson, Lee
-
Date
Festival hosts ‘lost Booker’
As well as presenting a glittering line-up of the authors of this year's 'must-reads', the 2010 Oxford Literary Festival has scored a major scoop. Festival-goers will be able to mix with news reporters to hear the announcement at 2pm on
-
Date
Broken Hearts Club @ Baby Love, King Edward Street, Oxford
This particular night produced something of a mixed response in me; sadness at finding out that one of my favourite nights, Narcissists, was no more, while at the same time being enormously excited about Oxford’s newest night that will...ahem..
-
Date
No Prompt is a Prescription for Suicide..................
As rehearsals progress for our April production of The Female of the Species, my eye has turned to productions staged by other groups in the area. So last night six of us ventured unto the Abingdon Unicorn Theatre to see ’Prescription for Murder
-
Date
Get out and go wild
Local sites for local wildlife Working at BBOWT for the past five years has given me a chance to get proactive about wildlife protection. As conservation officer, much of my time is spent ensuring wildlife is protected from harmful development, and safeguarding
-
Date
Literary feast
OXFORD Literary Festival is now a nine-day wonder, but the roll-call of star names on the programme means this year’s celebration of books will be remembered for at least 12 months. The festival is now in its 15th year, and boasts 400 speakers
-
Date
Tomatoes: A taste of summer
Home-grown tomatoes are one of the best things about growing your own and I normally choose well-established varieties like ‘Alicante’, ‘Shirley’ and ‘Sungold’ for my unheated greenhouse. I rarely raise my own plants from seed because tomatoes hate the
-
Date
Spice girl
OUR friend Holly reckons she’s got the curry business all sussed. And we believe her. Knocking back a cold pint of Cobra, the feisty photographer explains how Indian restaurants have taken a direct hit since the pub opening hours were relaxed
-
Date
A City versus Cowley season
In the Oxfordshire Leagues it has become a City versus Cowley season. In division 4 City 5 have leapfrogged City 4 and Cowley 4 and are close to securing the title. At the top of division 3, City 3 and Cowley 3 are at loggerheads and division 2 sees City
-
Date
Sherlock Holmes celebrated twice
I joined the Sherlock Holmes Society of London aged 14. A year later, I wrote to my distant relative, the great Basil Rathbone, introducing myself in expectation of numerous autographs and old Universal Studios deerstalkers. He died three days
-
Date
The Ministry of Fear: Oxford Playhouse
It’s 1942, and blacked-out London is illuminated only by incendiary bombs. But in Graham Greene novel The Ministry of Fear some bizarre characters manage to continue living their surreal lives nonetheless. There’s the hapless Arthur Rowe, who some would
-
Date
Wines for the Gold Cup, £96
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is open to horses aged five years or older. The race takes place this year on Friday, March 19, during the Cheltenham Festival. In case you may feel in the mood to celebrate your winnings (or maybe even drown your sorrows) here
-
Date
Join this club for some of the best wines on offer
I confess that this week’s column landed on the editor’s desk somewhat later than anticipated; the excuses are long-winded and not interesting but I happen to think that most things happen for a reason. I had in mind quite another article than the one
-
Date
THE END OF THE PARTY: RISE AND FALL OF NEW LABOUR by Andrew Rawnsley
THE END OF THE PARTY: RISE AND FALL OF NEW LABOUR Andrew Rawnsley (Viking, £25)These pitiless revelations about New Labour’s record in Government since 2001 are disturbing, even horrifying at times, and it is not surprising that Andrew Rawnsley’s book
-
Date
Chopin by Adam Zamoyski
CHOPIN Adam Zamoyski (Harper Press, £12.99) Fryderyk Chopin was born in March, 1810, to French parents in Poland. To coincide with this important anniversary, Zamoyski has republished his 1979 biography with a new title and a claim that
-
Date
Cautious welcome on science funding
OXFORD scientists gave a cautious welcome to a Government bid to reform physics and astronomy funding, but said there was ‘no hope’ for jobs and research projects hit by cuts. Brian Foster, Professor of Particle Physics at Oxford University, welcomed
-
Date
Opening doors
Many of Oxford’s charms are hidden away behind high walls and some are seldom, if ever, open to the public. On March 30, Oxford Preservation Trust will hold a meeting in the Divinity School at the Bodleian Library to entice owners and managers
-
Date
Police performance rated 'fair'
Thames Valley Police's performance was today given an overall 'fair' rating, but poor for solving crime. The force was graded as fair in three categories - Local Crime and Policing; Protecting from Serious Harm; and Confidence and Satisfaction
-
Date
Children's heart ops stay suspended
Children's heart surgery will remain suspended at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital until at least August while baby deaths are investigated. The independent review into paediatric cardiac surgery at the JR, following the deaths of four children
-
Date
Traditional pigs 'make perfect pie'
A HERD of traditional Oxfordshire pigs is behind the success of a new giant pork pie which has sold out at local farmers' markets. Chef Paul Bellchambers was so impressed with the pork sold by Jane and Mark Cooper at markets in Wallingford and Wolvercote
-
Date
ROWING: Dark Blues fourth indoors
WITH the Reading Head falling to the weather, Oxford University rowers had to content themselves with competing in the inter-university Ergometer Relay Race in aid of the Lord Snowdon Award Scheme, writes Mike Rosewell. The Oxford crew including Dutch
-
Date
Pub and roadside cafe close
THE future of a popular bikers’ cafe is in doubt after it was forced to close due to money troubles. Landlord Sean Harris shut the H Cafe, near Berinsfield, on Monday after racking up “substantial” debts. The 42-year-old, from Benson
-
Date
Wolf Hall author to speak
Wolf Hall was the publishing phenomenon of 2009, and is on course to be this year’s as well. Hilary Mantel, author of what is likely to become the best-selling Booker prizewinner of all time, says that the new paperback edition has been launched
-
Date
UP AND DOWNSTAIRS by Jeremy Musson
UP AND DOWNSTAIRS Jeremy Musson (John Murray, £25) Even today we are fascinated by big country houses, set in their beautiful gardens and vast estates. They provide a link with the past, with perhaps the greatest nostalgia reserved for
-
Date
Long may they prosper
Sir – Once again, I have to write to you to mount an impassioned defence of Mr Gray in the face of his detractors. His superb wit as a columnist and his perceptive critiques of restaurants are beyond compare. The residents of the city of
-
Date
Royal bad luck
Sir – Reg Little opens his history of the New Bodleian (Feature, March 4) with a description of the “highly embarrassing moment” when the King, having been presented with the key to ceremonially unlock the new building, was unable to do so. I remember
-
Date
Oxford United boss lays down law after shock defeat
Angry boss Chris Wilder says it’s now time for Oxford United to show what they’re made of after the team’s dismal display and shock 2-1 defeat by Hayes & Yeading. Top scorer James Constable seems certain to return to the attack against
-
Date
Clean-up thanks
Sir – Could I say an enormous thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who helped to spring clean Oxford last weekend. The Civic Society’s Oxclean campaign, with the support of The Oxford Times, is making a real difference. I did my bit in my Littlemore
-
Date
Historic match
Sir – Given the four whole pages that your sports editor allocated last weekend to coverage of a motley collection of association football matches, fixtures and results, I find it both surprising and disappointing to find, in contrast to the BBC
-
Date
One-sided perspective
Sir – I am sure many of your readers with an interest in education will be as saddened as I am to see The Oxford Times uncritically publicising one parent’s campaign against the headteacher of Rose Hill Primary School (School threat to sue mother
-
Date
Safety is top priority
Sir – I would like to clarify the situation regarding the Friday night sessions held at the Sweatbox youth centre in Wantage. Firstly, I don’t believe we should be breathalysing young people wanting to attend an event at a youth centre. If they appear
-
Date
Council knows best
Sir – You note (Report, March 4) that most people exceed the 20mph speed limit. I’m not sure this is interesting or surprising — many people routinely exceed speed limits. If you stand on the Woodstock Road in Oxford on a Friday night (limit 30mph),
-
Date
Dismay at lack of school places
Sir – I have recently become a community governor of Wolvercote Primary School, Wolvercote is still a genuine village with a strong sense of community and it thrives. It is socially, racially and generationally mixed, socially harmonious and
-
Date
Earthy interest
Sir – Readers who enjoyed Julie Webb’ s splendid piece in Oxfordshire Limited Edition (March 2010) on the new local geological display in the University Museum of Natural History may be interested in the activities of the Oxford Geology Group. Go to
-
Date
Head in the sand
Sir – My sympathies go to Samantha Barson who has problems with a child being bullied at an Oxford school. We had a similar experience ten years ago, at a different Oxford school, right down to attempts to intimidate the parents to prevent them from
-
Date
Radical solutions
Sir – The potential to redesign the whole of the West End of the city gives scope for some radical solutions to some of Oxford’s problems. Firstly, a superb theatre and concert hall could be built on the site of the Westgate multi-storey car park with
-
Date
Creative thought needed
Sir – Residents, students, and workers in Oxford need to be aware that the controversial proposal to massively commercially expand the Westgate shopping centre is back, after its planning permission lapsed this month, because all Capital Shopping has
-
Date
Undiminished status
Sir – Chris Koenig, in his welcome reflections on Isaiah Berlin (Remembering an Oxford Genius, Weekend, February 25), refers to “the heated debate going on (for instance in The Times Literary Supplement and the New York Review of Books) about Sir Isaiah
-
Date
Riding roughshod
Sir – Having read through the notes of the Oxford Core Strategy examination procedural meeting held at Oxford Town Hall on February 9, and attended previous meetings, there is only one thing to say to the inspector about the Northern Gateway: No! The
-
Date
Respect 20mph limit
Sir– In your issue of March 4 you quote the chairman of the Oxford Group of the Institute of Advanced Motorists as saying that every piece of evidence in his possession shows that 20mph speed limits do not save lives. If he is seriously interested in
-
Date
Man charged with murder
A man was charged with murder last night following an incident in Banbury. Antony Bebbington, 24, of Ruscote Arcade, Longelandes Way, is in custody and will appear before Banbury magistrates this morning. The victim has been formally
-
Date
Fears over new Oxford rail station
A new railway station, a 1,000-space car park and a waste recycling plant are posing a threat to the Green Belt north of Oxford, according to campaigners. Planning permission has been given to a 1.6-hectare waste centre between Oxford and Kidlington
-
Date
Parents fail to get choice of school
EDUCATION bosses last night said they were reviewing how school places were allocated, following complaints from parents. Last week, we reported how the proportion of children winning a place at their first-choice school had fallen.
-
Date
Young people keen to offer hand
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now) is a charity run by student volunteers from Oxford and Oxford Brookes Universities. It was set up in 1988 by a small group of students who offered tennis coaching to children with special needs. KEEN has come
-
Date
Biker cafe a real loss
THE potential loss of H Cafe, the popular haunt for motorcyclists in the summer, will be a blow for the county. Setting aside the minority of idiots who would race along the A4074, the cafe was a real magnet for bikers from across the county and neighbouring
-
Date
Elephant centre destroyed
An elephant research centre run by Oxford scientists has been destroyed by flooding in Kenya. Members of the Oxford team based in the Samburu National Reserve are all reported to be safe after floods surged through their camp last week.
-
Date
Memories of the swinging sixties
Few were the drinkers at his pub in Charlbury who knew anything about Roy Flynn’s hard rocking past. As London’s best known club owner, he had just about seen and done it all. Once he banned Keith Moon for dancing naked on his dancefloor and on another
