Archive
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Wanted man under arrest
A 19-YEAR-OLD Oxford man named as one of the county's most wanted crime suspects in an appeal by Crimestoppers has been arrested. Steven Sinclair, 19, of Normandy Crescent, Cowley, was arrested by police yesterday, the same day he appeared
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Leukaemia patient tackles marathon of marathons
A MAN who has tackled cancer and won is now about to embark on the ultimate test of endurance, six back-to-back marathons in the blistering heat. Darren Mellor, from Cowley Road, Oxford, was a sports mad 17-year-old when he discovered a lump
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Grand Passion
JEREMY SMITH finds the opulent setting of the Grand Café the perfect antidote to a wet Saturday afternoon. Wandering home, as I do, down Oxford’s High Street after another day of over-achieving, I often find myself staring through the
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A Real Switch-Off
THE SWITCH (12A). Comedy/Romance. Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Patrick Wilson, Jeff Goldblum, Juliette Lewis, Todd Louiso, Thomas Robinson. Originally entitled The Baster, which succinctly sums up the intentions of this
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About Schmuck
DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS (12A). Comedy. Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, Stephanie Szostak, Jemaine Clement, Bruce Greenwood, Zach Galifianakis, Lucy Punch, David Walliams, Kristen Schaal. Forrest Gump’s momma was a wise old bird. “Stupid
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One To Watch - (Part 2)
KATHERINE MACALISTER talks to the very familiar faces starring in Von Ribbentrop’s Watch at the Oxford Playhouse. In a week which sees the last episode of The Bill airing, it’s inevitable that Andrew Paul ends up discussing his role
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Going Cheap
RICHARD BELL attempts to get the pre-drink vibe at The Four Candles in George Street. When things are tough it’s time to reassess our options. We’re not in a recession any more but the times of recession have caused the country a great deal
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King of The Bass
Tim Hughes talks to the man described as the world’s greatest bass player – Mark King. IF at first you don’t succeed… try something else! That’s certainly the message from the man regarded as one of the best musicians of his generation.
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Take a grand tour of city’s treasures
HUNDREDS OF Oxford’s best kept secrets will unlock their doors next week to reveal the city’s hidden charm. Oxford Open Doors returns for its fourth year to merge together ‘town and gown’ and invite local people to see the city through the eyes of a
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Field of Dreams
TIM HUGHES gets set for one last summer blast – at the Arcane festival near Eynsham. THE nights are drawing in and the mornings misty – but the summer’s not over yet. Well, not quiet, anyway. As the festival season grinds to a chilly
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Dear Diary
ANDREW FFRENCH meets an old friend as he delves into aour latest book of the month. * THE BOOK: Adrian Albert Mole was born in the late 1960s and grew up in a quintessentially ordinary town in the Midlands, Ashby-de-la-Zouch,
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Taking Flight
Entertainments Editor Jeremy Smith casts his eye over the Pegasus’s Autumn/Winter line-up as Oxford’s most beloved theatre opens its doors again after a £7.4m 20-month revamp to become one of the South East’s most important - and most vital - venues
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One To Watch - (Part 1)
KATHERINE MACALISTER talks to the very familiar faces starring in Von Ribbentrop’s Watch at the Oxford Playhouse. Oh come on Cassandra!” You can still hear Rodney’s sulky voice following Gwyneth Strong around even today, despite the fact that
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Swift response to bird appeal
SWIFTS in Oxfordshire have been given a helping hand on to the property ladder after volunteers built them new homes. Chris Mason, who runs the Cherwell Swift Conservation Project, has co-ordinated a scheme to help the visiting birds nest, following
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Local shares (PM)
AEA Technology 18.5 BMW 3644 Electrocomps 221.2 Nationwide Accident Repair 84.5 Oxford Biomedica 9.9 Oxford Catalysts 73 Oxford Instruments 359.5 Reed Elsevier 542 RM 131.5 RPS Group 176.9 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Reliant Robin goes up in smoke
Firefighters tackled a burning Reliant Robin in Botley this afternoon. They were called shortly after 1pm to the blaze at West Way, near Elms Parade. Nobody was hurt. A police spokesman said they were not investigating the incident.
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Picture a rail route
Train operator Wrexham &Shropshire, which links Banbury with Telford, Shrewsbury and North-East Wales, is inviting photographers to enter a contest to illustrate its 2011 calendar, which will raise money for charity. W&S wants to see creative
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Choir seeking new voices
Singers are needed to stretch their vocal chords and take part in an autumn performance. Rehearsals are due to start on Monday, September 13, for Poulenc’s Gloria and Coleridge-Taylor’s Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast. The piece will be performed at St Mary
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Ernest Souch: Iconic photographer
THE Oxfordshire photographer responsible for an iconic advertising campaign has died, aged 81. One of the pictures Ernest Souch, the official photographer for Morris, was best known for was of a rolling Mini – which was used as the basis for a Kodak
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Jean Hall: Parish councillor who championed local festival
JEAN Hall, 85, a former Goring parish councillor who championed Goring Festival, has died. Mrs Hall, left, served on Goring Parish Council from 1988 to 1998 after moving to the village in 1964 when her husband Rod was appointed university liaison
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Mark Thomas: Popular solicitor
A POPULAR south Oxfordshire solicitor, who served the local community for more than 30 years, has died suddenly, aged 78. Mark Thomas, right, who served as a senior partner of Hedges Solicitors from 1985 to 1996, died on Saturday, July 31, in Oxford.
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Mike Willis: PM's pub landlord
THE Prime Minister has paid tribute to a West Oxfordshire landlord. David Cameron recalled the “many happy memories” he had of Mike Willis, former landlord of his local pub, The Tite Inn, in Chadlington. Mr Willis, 67, died in Katharine House hospice
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Robert Russell: A wave pioneer
Robert Russell was an early pioneer of wave power and ran the Hydraulics Research Station, near Wallingford, for more than 15 years. He joined the research station in his twenties with an engineering degree from King’s College, Cambridge. The Station
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Fun day helps Pakistan effort
HUNDREDS of people in Banbury joined a family fun day to raise money for flood victims in Pakistan. Sunrise Multicultural Project hosted the event at Fairway Methodist Church on Saturday, August 28. Asian food was on sale and activities included a
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Show produces the goods
MOUTH-watering cakes, flowers and vegetables – including a giant marrow – took pride of place at Banbury’s annual horticultural show. Scores of people flocked to the fourth annual Banbury Flower and Produce Show, in Market Place, on Sunday, August 22
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FIXTURES September 3
SATURDAY. FOOTBALL. NPOWER LEAGUE TWO. Oxford Utd v Morecambe. FOOTBALL LEAGUE YOUTH ALLIANCE. South West Conference Cup: Hereford Utd v Oxford Utd. ZAMARETTO SOUTHERN LEAGUE. Premier Div: Didcot Tn v Banbury Utd, Swindon Supermarine v Oxford City
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Computers stolen from Ruskin College
Police are appealing for witnesses after a burglary at an Oxford college, where thieves stole a number of computers. Between 5pm on August 27 and yesterday, thieves forced their way into Ruskin College in Dunstan Road, Headington, and stole 15 new
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Fairport's Cropredy Convention @ Cropredy
Can it really be 30 years since this all began? How many hours have I enjoyed the entertainment provided on this hallowed field? For 51 weeks a year Cropredy is just another small unassuming north Oxfordshire village. But for one week
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Business support services – partnership over perseverance!
Business support services – partnership over perseverance! I didn’t really know where to begin when it came to looking for a Solicitor or an Accountant and I certainly didn’t understand Commercial Insurance. There seemed to be hundreds of possible
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Charities urged to apply for grants
CHARITY projects across Oxfordshire are being urged one last time to grab their chance to get thousands of pounds for their good causes. The Oxford Mail’s parent company’s Gannett Foundation is looking to help charities with grants of up to £50,000.
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Have you seen man wanted over Blewbury robbery?
Police are trying to trace this man after a taxi driver was robbed in Blewbury. The driver picked up the man in Didcot and took him to Woodway in the village at about 2.30am on Sunday, August 15. He refused to pay the fare, and produced a Stanley-type
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GOLF: Results round-up
SHAW GIBBS OXFORDSHIRE FOURSOMES LEAGUE Section 1 Chipping Norton 3 (4pts), Ellesborough 0 (0) (Chipping Norton first): S Allen & C Heslip bt R Crisp & J Allison 2&1, M Johnson & M Stanton bt J McCaferty & P Cuthbert 3&2, A Johnson & S Kench bt
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Plan for museum falters
PLANS to attract visitors to a museum by building a medieval-style extension have been delayed by up to two years because volunteers have been unable to get funding. And the former project manager in charge of the scheme at Wallingford Museum has cast
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Tea dances prove a hit in Woodstock
MOST people could be forgiven for hanging up their dancing shoes when they hit 60. But members of the Woodstock Social Club have no such plans. This week the group, which meets twice a week at the club premises in Oxford Street, celebrates six years
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ATHLETICS: Fernandez sparkles in Galway
Abingdon Amblers’ Paul Fernandez finished 13th for England in the IAU 50K World Trophy final in Galway. Fernandez took more than five minutes off his previous best time to record 3hrs 13mins 1sec. Clubmate John Oliver came 38th out of the 242 finishers
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BAR BILLIARDS: Vikings out to plunder
Vikings take on Bletchingdon Club in the Oxfordshire final of the All England Team Championship at the Horse & Harrow, Hagbourne next Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Oxford & District League’s Old Un’s and Young Un’s annual challenge match is at the Vikings
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Lifelong fans find cash in their attic for United
TWO lifelong Oxford United fans have raised more than £1,000 for their beloved team’s 12th Man fund by selling match programmes. Workmates Michael North and Richard Hanna spend hours before and after games voluntarily selling the past programmes outside
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COMMENT: Every little helps
THE 12th Man fund continues to provide a profitable link between fans and Oxford United. You may look at Michael North and Richard Hanna’s efforts and believe that the £1,000 they have raised makes little difference to Chris Wilder’s transfer war chest
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BOWLS: Sharman falls in last 16
Carterton's Paul Sharman reached the last 16 of the Bowls England National Singles Championship at Worthing before bowing out 21-19 to Reading’s Jon Stradling. Sharman had opened his challenge by defeating Newmarket’s Liam Botten 21-15. He then edged
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BOWLS: Headington eye more cup glory
Headington and Carterton will do battle for the Oxfordshire Bowling Association’s Hawker Cup at Oxford City & County on Sunday (10am). In the semi-finals of the county’s double fours competition, Headington beat Banbury Borough by four shots
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GOLF: Boyd impresses
Oxfordshire's Gary Boyd finished 14th in the Johnny Walker Championship at Gleneages after holding the joint lead at halfway. Boyd, from Banbury, carded rounds of 67 and 68 to share the lead on nine-under-par after 36 holes. But a 74 and 76 saw him
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GOLF: Studley's tour date
Studley Wood will host the final event of this year’s Jamega Pro Tour next Monday and Tuesday. Around 100 players are expected to take part in the tournament, with Epsom’s Dan Brooks leading the rankings.
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BOWLS: Mills marvels into first final
Witney Mills have reached the Oxford & District League Cup final for the first time. The newly-crowned Division 2 champions booked their place in the decider of the competition, sponsored by S&J Timms Cleaning Services and Frances Baker, of
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Local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 18.5 BMW 3596 Electrocomps 219 Nationwide Accident Repair 83.5 Oxford Biomedica 9.6 Oxford Catalyst 73 Oxford Instruments 360 Reed Elsevier 537.25 RM 130.75 RPS Group 177 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Angler drowned after epileptic fit
AN EPILEPTIC angler died after falling into a popular Oxfordshire fishing lake. No-one saw 22-year-old Andy Montague enter the icy water at Trow Pool in Bucknell, near Bicester, on February 12, but it is believed he suffered a fit on the bank. Oxfordshire
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GOLF: Sambrook seals title
Guy Sambrook won his first Tadmarton Heath club championship after holding off pre-tournament favourite Liam Robinson by two shots. Sambrook, who is Tadmarton’s Foursomes League captain, led after round one with a level-par 69. The blustery wind made
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'Cost of parking is killing city's trade'
CAR parks are losing £700,000 in takings as drivers stay away from Oxford. Oxford City Council has seen an 11 per cent fall in car park usage on last year – but shoppers and businesses say the authority only has itself to blame after driving out motorists
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Sticky fingers at the Jam Factory
KIDS in Oxford got their hands messy this summer in a series of art workshops to bring out their creative side. The Jam Factory in Park End Street is to start an after-school programme because the summer events proved so popular. Organiser Natalie Smith
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Speed cameras save lives
County council leader Keith Mitchell’s response to the increasing criticism of his policy to get rid of speed cameras in the county (Letters, August 25) entirely ignores the legitimate safety concerns of the police and public about the decision. Cameras
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Solution to pool problem is seating
IN Chris Buratta’s recent article in the Oxford Mail, Ian Smith, from the City of Oxford Swimming Club, says “the Blackbird Leys option meets the requirements. It is necessary for us.” When planning permission was given for the university pool
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Please help find Bed Ted
I AM writing in the hope that you might be able to help my little two-year-old girl who lost her favourite teddy – which goes by the name of Bed Ted! We stayed in the Four Pillars Hotel in Abingdon Road, and mislaid Bed Ted somewhere along
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Great day out was well organised
Joy of joys, someone has organised the most fantastic event in Oxford. I am talking about the Oxford Foodie’s Festival that took place in South Park over the weekend. We were greeted at the gate, there were many tents and stalls, the atmosphere was wonderful
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True cost of camera cuts is death on the roads
COUNTY council leader Keith Mitchell asks for one good reason why he should not scrap speed cameras. Well, ROSPA offers a hundred such reasons, because that is the number of lives that they suggest speed cameras save nationally each year.
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Strict rules of old on police uniform
I WRITE with reference to the letter by David Youd (Oxford Mail, August 18), regarding police uniform. I agree it was always strictly recognised and enforced to be correctly dressed at all times, including approved head gear. I do remember in the distant
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The Insider: A weekly update from the corridors of power
THERE was a first day of term feel to County Hall this week when councillors met to discuss controversial plans to turn Oxford School into an academy. The move, opposed by many parents, has been driven through to improve standards at the
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Striker Tom can give U's a lift
Chris Wilder believes Tom Craddock’s arrival will give Oxford United just the lift they need as they bid for their first league win tomorrow. The 23-year-old striker, who joined Oxford from Luton on transfer deadline day, has scored consistently throughout
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Major step taken in town development
A ten-year project to create 3,330 new homes in Didcot made a major step forward this week. Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey started groundwork preparation at the Great Western Park development west of Didcot and will begin building the first 220 homes next
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Family's tribute to Mark Trinder
“HE always put a smile on our faces” — that is how a motorcyclist killed over the Bank holiday weekend was remembered by his family. Mark Trinder was thrown off his black and yellow Suzuki into a hedgerow while travelling along the Thorney
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Time to cash in rental value of your property
Landlords should capitalise on high demand for rental properties as the housing sales market continues to slow, according to a letting and management agency. If your property is on the market but failing to sell, Bluestone’s Jenny Stone’s advice is to
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Campers move on from riverside beauty spot
TENT dwellers living on a former Victorian rubbish tip have moved from their campsite after the landowner obtained court orders to evict them. People have been living in tents at Aston’s Eyot, an overgrown beauty spot on the banks of the River
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COMMENT: Ducking the issue
IT is important to keep Key Stage One results in perspective – they are no guide to the long term academic outlook of each seven-year-old. But Oxfordshire County Council is thumbing its nose at the parents of 6,600 children in its refusal to even discuss
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Capital place to move to
Oxford is a popular destination for househunters who want to move out of London. One example is retired community doctor Dr Elaine Confedra-Levine, who has recently swapped her central London home for an apartment in Banbury Road. She said: “While one
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Plenty of space in family home near Wantage
Five bedrooms, a conservatory and two more reception rooms make The Nut Hatch an ideal home for a family who want plenty of space. The sitting room of the detached property in Grove has windows on three sides, a brick-surround fireplace with a ‘living-flame
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Pure Bliss! A luxury flat in Chippy
Luxury leisure facilities including an indoor swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, gym and tennis and courts are included with a ground-floor apartment that is part of an iconic building. The grade II-listed Bliss Mill in Chipping Norton, was converted
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County below average in writing tests
One in five of the county’s seven-year-olds failed to meet the expected levels of writing this year. Seventy-nine per cent of the 6,600 pupils at 236 schools who took Key Stage 1 tests reached the Government’s level two or above guidelines
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County kids lag behind in writing tests
ONE in five seven-year-olds is not meeting the expected levels of writing as Oxfordshire’s Key Stage One results fell this year. Only 79 per cent of the 6,600 pupils at 236 schools who took their tests reached the Government’s Level Two or
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Drivers flout 20mph limit
Drivers are still ignoring Oxford’s controversial 20mph speed limits 12 months after they were introduced, a speed check has shown. The survey, conducted in Morrell Avenue in East Oxford yesterday, discovered 128 out of 157 vehicles – 81 per cent
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Drivers still flout 20mph limit a year on
DRIVERS are still ignoring Oxford’s controversial 20mph speed limits 12 months after they were introduced, an Oxford Mail speed check has shown. The survey, conducted in Morrell Avenue in East Oxford yesterday, discovered 128 out of 157 vehicles – 81
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The Longest Winter
The Longest Winter Meredith Hooper (John Murray, £20) While Scott was engaged in his fateful race to the South Pole, another group of six men, known as the “eastern party”, were struggling to survive in a man-made ice cave after they rescue ship, the
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Voyage round my father
In his long, distinguished writing career Michael Frayn has dipped his quill in the inkwell for many genres. He is most famous as a playwright, creator of the intelligent but commercially triumphant farce Noises Off and probing morality play Copenhagen
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Cycle shop 'dream'
CYCLE businessman Stuart Meanwell is poised to realise a 20-year-old dream of opening a large bike shop in the historic heart of Oxford. Mr Meanwell, owner of Bike Zone in Market Street, also runs Summertown Cycles. Now he is converting the former Maltby
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Ibn Saud: The Desert Warrior
IBN SAUD: THE DESERT WARRIOR by Michael Darlow & Barbara Bray (Quartet, £25)The beauty of this book, which presents the legacy of Ibn Saud, is that it travels beyond the life of Saudi Arabia’s founder to create a portrait of a nation’s history that
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Churchill's Finest Hour
It is easy to think that everything that could be said about Winston Churchill’s role in the Second World War has already been put into print in the thousands of books that have been written about him. Historian Max Hastings has, however, come up with
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Woman suffers smoke inhalation after Marston fire
AN elderly woman was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation after a small fire broke out in Marston last night. Fire crews were called Church Lane at 8.33pm to flames coming from a first floor window, involving a pillow.
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Sunny outlook for solar
If something sounds too good to be true . . . well, you know the rest. The aphorism springs to mind when you hear about those kind people offering to provide and install solar panels — providing us with free electricity — for no money at all. Isis Solar
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Good Book Guide relaunched
BOOK lovers' magazine The Good Book Guide is to close its Chalgrove office. It went into receivership at the end of July, but has been bought by Blackpool entrepreneur Graham Holmes. Order processing for the monthly magazine’s 4,500 customers will now
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No Way Down
No Way Down by Graham Bowley (Viking, £18.99) The gods were certainly angry on K2, the second highest mountain in the world, the day 29 climbers sought to reach its summit. They were a mixture of the professional and those who should not have been
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Oxford United fringe men miss chance to impress
Some of Oxford United’s fringe players failed to grab their chance, boss Chris Wilder said in the aftermath of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy defeat at Aldershot. It was a much-changed team, to give several of those who have mainly been subs a starting
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Drivers desert the city
Stay-away motorists are adding to Oxford City Council’s mounting financial worries, with a big drop in car park use costing the council hundreds of thousands of pounds. Empty spaces at the Westgate and other city council car parks have left
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Parky at the Pictures (In Cinemas 2/9/2010)
Two films guaranteed to feature in the end-of-year Top10 go on general release in a week that also sees the revival of one of the masterpieces of 1960s European cinema. What a shame, therefore, that a couple of indifferent British horror flicks have to
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Parky at the Pictures (DVD 2/9/2010)
It's 75 years since Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers made their most glorious musical, Top Hat (1935). But if Dorothy Jordan hadn't decided to marry RKO boss Merian C. Cooper, the most famous partnership in musicals history might never have been forged.
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Parking woes
A fall in revenue in the city’s car parks can hardly be a surprise to the city council. Efforts have been made in a co-ordinated way for years with the precise intention of persuading people to leave their cars at home and travel into the city
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Charity's worth
What is the value to Oxfordshire of the Oxford and District Sports and Recreation Association for the Disabled (Oxsrad)? Far in excess of the £48,000 for which it could be wound up, we would argue. The charity, which provides sporting facilities for
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Old Gaol developer 'only firm' to offer council money for site
ABINGDON landmark the Old Gaol is expected to earn Vale of White Horse District Council about £4m, the Oxford Mail has discovered. Last week, it was announced the Vale received a £2m downpayment for selling the site to Cranbourne Homes with more cash
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Tuning in
Good news this week from Arqiva, the company responsible for carrying out work on the television mast at Beckley, which says that thousands of viewers could get their reception back by the end of the month. Preparations for the digital switchover and
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ex-straw-dinary scarecrows invade village
AN ‘ex-straw-dinary’ array of story book characters have appeared around a village as it holds its annual scarecrow competition. And if scarecrows lack brains, their creators certainly didn’t, with 29 artistic entries on display around East Hendred,
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A sideways look at wine lovers’ favourite films
As a technology luddite, today is my ultimate nightmare. After endless procrastination I am replacing the battle-fatigued PC with a Mac and, despite the fact that the man who has the job of easing me through this process swears blind it is easy, I have
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It's Classic blood and guts
You might recognise Harry Sidebottom from Ancient Discoveries on The History Channel (presenter, not artefact); or perhaps you read Ancient Warfare (OUP, 2004). But most likely you’ll have heard his name in conjunction with the bestselling
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Argentina offer, £83
In the past Argentina was known for quantity rather than quality, and was ranked as the world’s fourth largest producer of wine. Quality though, has risen at an impressive speed and today it is easy to find some really great bargains from this
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Safe alternative
Sir – If the railway bridge at Redbridge is to be closed to traffic for five months (Report, August 26), I hope the engineers will make provision for cyclists. On the way into Oxford from Wootton and Boars Hill it offers the safe alternative to the
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Polluting habits
Sir – I have just returned home from house sitting to my home in Canal Street, Jericho. It’s 6am on Bank Holiday Monday. As I approach Canal Street I walk into a barrage of fumes. Diesel. The air is thick with them — like the industrial revolution,
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Tips for tourists
Sir – Further to the letter from Paul Hughes (Chaotic city centre, August 12), I offer the following instructions to all visitors to England and particularly Oxford: When walking on public pathways make sure you walk at least two or three abreast.
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Long-term help needed
Sir – All the faith communities in Oxford are deeply concerned about the suffering people in Pakistan (Report, August 19). As chairman of Oxford Council of Faiths I have contacted all the communities represented on the council with details of how
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Laudable achievements
Sir – It is depressing and interesting to see the way we are repeatedly suckered into misinterpreting the data available on schools. The implicit assumption is that the position of a school in some kind of ranking can be treated as a measure of the
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Pattern for the future
Sir – My letter suggesting that volunteers could avoid the closure of libraries in these straitened financial times drew two replies. On August 19, Mr Winterbottom agreed with me, last week, Sylvia Vetta says that volunteers cannot run libraries
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Better experience
Sir – I see that one of the Oxford Bus Company’s “significant improvements to bus services” later this year will be fewer buses, “to give a better pedestrian experience”. Roger Moreton, Oxford
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Rules of the road
Sir – We have the Highway Code which provides rules of the road and encourages consideration for other road users. Wouldn’t it be a good idea if we had similar rules for use of pavements? Of course rules are not rules unless enforced in every case
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Legacy of distrust
Sir – It is reported that if Viridor fail to get planning permission for their incinerator at Ardley, the county council is now contracted to pay £6m compensation (Report, August 12). This fact will not influence the independent planning inspector
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Ill-advised crusade
Sir – Thank goodness Oxford City Council’s plans for a wind turbine in Cutteslowe Park have been put on hold — due to the potential effect on radars at local RAF stations. Without this impediment Oxford City Council was willing to press ahead with
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Reasons for closure
Sir – The hour has come and no longer will the ancient ironmonger grace the alley off The High. No longer will we be able to say ‘Don’t worry, we will be able to get that at Gill’s’. It is claimed the shop has to close because of lack of custom. This
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Raise speeding fines
Sir – In spite of the expostulations of petrolheads and certain members of the motoring lobby, the evidence appears to be that speed cameras can help to reduce road deaths and injuries. Speed can kill. Breaking the speed limit is a crime.
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Expensive consequences
Sir – I am writing to express my strong opposition to the closure of Temple Cowley Pools. Whilst I live close to and use the Ferry Centre predominantly (attending classes at Temple Cowley once or twice a week) and so will not be seriously affected
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Pool could be saved
Sir – Closing Temple Cowley Pool would be a shame. Before a final decision is made it would be worth looking at the neighbouring area. There is the potential to create a healthy living centre for local residents on this site. There is poor use of space
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Strangely silent
Sir – I am on record in your columns in claiming that the county council’s decision to end speed cameras in Oxfordshire was not based on financial grounds, but was done to suit the wishes of rural Conservative councillors who travel to Oxford for
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Pool built for galas
Sir – In Chris Buratta’s article (August 19), Ian Smith of the City of Oxford Swimming Club says “The Blackbird Leys option meets the requirements. It is necessary for us”. When planning permission was given for the University pool in Iffley Road,
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More questions
Sir – Oxford City Council’s publication of spending information for the year 2009-2010 is welcome, as is deputy leader Ed Turner’s willingness to provide details of any transaction on request. I suspect he will be a busy man, as the 28-page ‘Spend by
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Digging history of Oxfordshire stone
When an open day was staged at the old Rock Edge quarry in Headington, about 400 Oxford people turned up to find out how volunteers maintain the site on their doorstep. Home owners in the vicinity of the quarry were leafleted in advance and responded
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Alstroemeria are worth the effort
If there’s one plant I’ve failed with more than any other over the years, it’s the alstroemeria, and yet you see vigorous swathes of this almost everlasting flower gracing walled gardens of large houses. I have seen hundreds of sun-shot coral-silk
