Archive
-
Date
Oxford City pushes on with council shake-up
OXFORD City Council is pushing ahead with its biggest ever reorganisation in an attempt to save more than £1m a year. Council chiefs have drawn up detailed plans to merge the council’s two largest operations, City Homes and City Works – and believe the
-
Date
Kate's legacy lives on through music
THE life and work of folk musician Kate Garrett was remembered at a fundraiser to support young female musicians. The Dorset-born musician spent much of her career in Oxford as a member of band The Mystics in the 1990s, then as a solo singer and musician
-
Date
Vigilante teens told: 'Pay up or go to jail'
THREE teenagers involved in a vigilante attack have been given a chance to avoid jail. Thomas West was set upon in Wallingford after boasting of robbing an autistic man in the town, Oxford Crown Court heard. Grace Steele, 18, and Liam
-
Date
For Whom The Bell Tolls
KATHERINE MACALISTER fails to be bowled over despite reports of great things in Hampton Poyle. The Bell landed in Hampton Poyle like Dorothy’s house in the Wizard Of Oz. One day the residents woke up, rubbed their eyes and there smack bang
-
Date
Prank Account
A new book chronicling the misbehaviour of Oxford students through the ages has ANDREW FFRENCH amused. EACH year, when freshers arrive in Oxford to start their lives at university, there is the inevitable backlash from residents who get
-
Date
Life of Brian
Comedian Brian Conley tells KATHERINE MACALISTER why life is one big hoot as he brings larger-than-life character Edna Turnblad to Oxford in Hairspray. There was a bit of a surreal moment recently when my teenage daughters asked if they could
-
Date
Easy Ryder
Shaun Ryder has calmed down - apparently. TIM HUGHES finds out more. IT’s mid-afternoon and Shaun Ryder is just getting up. “Sorry mate,” he slurs in his Manchester drawl, “I was just having a rest.” But then you wouldn’t want it any other
-
Date
Code Red
HOW’S this for an idea? Get all your favourite bands, stick them on a load of stages all a short walk apart – and provide food, beer and interesting entertainment for the enjoyment of punters. Yes, I hear you sigh, it’s called a festival. And
-
Date
Man arrested over rape allegation
A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of raping a 16-year-old girl in Abingdon. Police were called to Stratton Way at 10.15pm on Tuesday and sealed off the Abbey Shopping Centre as part of the investigation. A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion
-
Date
Burglars steal medal
BURGLARS stole a gold medal from a house in Highfield Avenue, Headington. The medal — engraved with the message 20,000 Heures de Vol, Air France (20,000 hours of flying, Air France)— was taken along with a gold watch and mobile phone between 8.10pm and
-
Date
Monkey Business
Intrepid KATHERINE MACALISTER and sons take to the trees at Go Ape. OMG!” My son shrieked. “That was so fast I didn’t even have time to scream!” Welcome to Go Ape where screams are plentiful and speed the norm. And if you have teenage
-
Date
Greed Is Back
WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS (12A). Drama/Romance. Shia LaBeouf, Michael Douglas, Carey Mulligan, Josh Brolin, Susan Sarandon, Frank Langella, Charlie Sheen. Director: Oliver Stone. More than 20 years after Michael Douglas
-
Date
Self Promotion
His sarcasm is sharp enough to strip the flesh from your bones, his humour drier than the Gobi desert and his vocabulary more complex than the MI6 security system. Katherine MacAlister interviews Will Self and emerges intact – just. When
-
Date
As If By Magic
SARAH MAYHEW enjoys a journey down memory lane at Art You Grew Up With. IOWN a lot of books, but I’d say the majority of them are 70 per cent pictures, 30 per cent writing, and I think that my belief that a picture tells a thousand words stems
-
Date
Local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 7.3 BMW 4319 Electrocomps 242.3 Nationwide Accident Repair 103 Oxford Biomedica 9.35 Oxford Catalysts 61.25 Oxford Instruments 541.75 Reed Elsevier 548.25 RM 146.5 RPS Group 191.25 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
-
Date
Rowen Jade: Staunch campaigner for disabled rights
A DISABILITY rights campaigner from Oxford’s Greater Leys estate has died aged 40. Rowen Jade was the chairman of Equality 2025, a body which advises the Government on disability issues, from 2008 onwards. Born Sharon Mace to Bob and
-
Date
Patricia Hobby: Memorial service salutes former Abingdon mayor
FORMER Abingdon mayor Patricia Hobby was remembered as a councillor, a teacher, and a mother at a special memorial service. More than 150 people gathered at St Nicolas Church on Friday to remember the former Northcourt Ward town councillor,
-
Date
Malcolm Brown: Fireman served as a magistrate
A FORMER Oxford magistrate who served for nearly 30 years has died aged 72. Malcolm Brown, from Eynsham, was also a retained firefighter and former chairman of Eynsham Social and Sports Club. He died on September 11 following a long illness and more
-
Date
Bill Bradley: Former Oxford Radiartors' foreman
AN OXFORD man who worked as a tool room foreman at Oxford Radiators for decades before helping at a special needs school has died aged 79. Bill Bradley died peacefully at home in Marston, Oxford, on September 24. Mr Bradley was born
-
Date
Poor deal
The rate at which the major supermarkets have set about taking over Oxford over the last couple of years is shocking. The planners seem powerless to stop the onward march of Tesco and Sainsbury in particular. Having drawn people out of the city centre
-
Date
Broad support
It is vital that Oxfordshire ensures its broadband services are fit for the 21st century. It is no exaggeration to say that many people could be left behind. The world has changed and continues to change rapidly precisely because high-speed broadband
-
Date
Bayleaf Restaurant
Bangladeshi & Indian Cuisine Now taking bookings for Christmas & New Year Open for Christmas Lunch - Special Menu For more information or to book call: 01865 884401 or 01865 884402 or visit: www.bayleafrestaurant.net 4
-
Date
Journal rental trial
Publisher Wiley-Blackwell, which has its UK headquarters in Cowley, is to allow biotech researchers cheaper access to some of its expensive online journals, normally only held in large academic libraries. The publisher has launched a pilot program to
-
Date
Genzyme launches kidney drug
Pharmaceutical company Genzyme, whose European therapeutics business is based in Cowley, launched a new treatment for kidney disease patients. Genzyme said a team of 30 Oxford employees was directly involved in working on the new product, called
-
Date
Village shops open
Two Oxfordshire villages are celebrating the opening of new shops, after several years without a local store. When Brightwell-cum-Sotwell’s previous shop closed eight years ago, villagers started a long campaign to set up a community-run store
-
Date
The Flowing Well
Christmas at The Flowing Well Enjoy mulled wine by the open log fire and locally sourced home cooked food For more information visit the website: www.theflowingwell.co.uk or call: 01865 735846 Sunningwell, Oxfordshire OX13 6RB
-
Date
4500 Miles From Delhi
Christmas Menu From £18.95 per person Visit the website: www.milesfromdelhi.com/oxford/ For more information and to book call: 01865 244922 41 Park End Street, Oxford OX1 1JD
-
Date
£70m town centre redevelopment faces fresh delay
PLANS to redevelop Bicester town centre could face yet another delay – this time of up to a year. Cherwell District Council is expected to push ahead with a compulsory purchase order (CPO), after negotiations to acquire parcels of land and rights of
-
Date
Malcolm Brown: Former Oxford magistrate
A FORMER Oxford magistrate, who served for nearly 30 years, has died aged 72. Malcolm Brown, of Eynsham, was also a retained firefighter and former chairman of Eynsham Social and Sports Club. He died on September 11 following a long illness and more
-
Date
Rowen Jade: Formerly known as Sharon Mace
A DISABILITY rights campaigner from Oxford has died aged 40. Rowen Jade was the chairman of Equality 2025 from 2008 onwards and chief advisor to the Government on disability matters. Born Sharon Mace to Bob and Janet Mace in Oxford, and growing up in
-
Date
The Jersey Arms
Christmas Party Menu From £14.95 Christmas Day Lunch £55.00 New Years Eve Party With 4 course dinner & dancing to 1.00am £39.95 Stay overnight from only £165 Includes dinner, bed & breakfast for two people
-
Date
Fearless rower Bev is up for a national award
AN OFFICE worker who battled storms to earn a place in the record books has been named one of the most fearless women in Britain. Bev Ashton, 29, from Wantage, joined three other women to compete in the Virgin GB Row, which saw her take on extreme weather
-
Date
Two charged with robbing shops
Two people have been charged in connection with three robberies in Oxfordshire. David Colwill, 23, of Croxford Gardens, Kidlington, and a 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were charged yesterday evening with two counts
-
Date
Rail link's relaunch wins prize
OXFORDSHIRE County Council has won a national award for an event held to promote an enhanced train service between Oxford and Bicester, which has led to a 73 per rise in the number of passengers in just one year. The council and train operator
-
Date
Chiltern's speed-up runs on time
WORK to speed up Chiltern Railways’ trains between Oxfordshire and London is on track, with a new platform at Bicester North station coming into use. The work, carried out as part of the company’s Chiltern Mainline scheme to improve its
-
Date
Proxy sales of alcohol on the up
UNDERAGE drinkers are increasingly persuading adults including their parents to buy them alcohol, police believe. Officers are this month launching a campaign aimed at stopping ‘proxy’ sales of wine, beer and spirits, which they believe is on the up.
-
Date
Deputy swaps schools to become head
AN Abingdon deputy headteacher has beaten 36 other candidates to become the new head of one of the town’s comprehensive schools. Susan Tranter is retiring as headteacher of Fitzharrys School in Northcourt Road in December. She has been headteacher since
-
Date
Local share prices
AEA Technology 7.2 BMW 4314 Electrocomps 243.3 Nationwide Accident Repair 105 Oxford Biomedica 9.35 Oxford Catalyst 61.75 Oxford Instruments 546.5 Reed Elsevier 553 RM 146.5 RPS Group 191 Copurtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
-
Date
BAR BILLIARDS: Jones is hero in Vikings victory
Mike Jones racked up a score of 12,250 to secure a 3-2 win for Vikings Club A at GladiatorsA as the Johnsons Buildbase Oxford League swung into action, writes PETE EWINS. Keith Gardner had taken the first game with 8,850, but then Alan Lacey 4,440-3,860
-
Date
BOWLS: Taster day at Oxford
Oxford & District stage a taster day for budding bowlers on Sunday (10am-4pm). The club are also holding a four-week coaching course starting on Sunday, October 24 (10am-noon). Cost is £20. Details from Jean Richards on 01865 321892 or 01865 434688
-
Date
RUGBY UNION: Banbury cruise to title
Banbury won the Oxfordshire Under 13 festival at Wallingford without conceding a single point. In the early stages Banbury beat Oxford Harlequins 40-0, Oxford by 46-0, and Witney 12-0. Banbury met Chinnor in the final and ran out 17-0 victors. George
-
Date
Young gardeners prove winners
The winners of a school gardening competition have been rewarded for their hard work. Witney Schools in Bloom has been running for 14 years and aims to get school children planting flowers and enjoying the outdoors. Each of the 13 schools from around
-
Date
COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Burnett lands silver medal
Simon Burnett, from Tetsworth, won silver in the 100m freestyle final at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Burnett finished just behind Canada's Brent Hayden, who broke the Games record in 47.98 secs. Burnett said: "I don't know how it unfolded
-
Date
GOLF: Results round-up
SHAW GIBBS OXFORDSHIRE FOURSOMES LEAGUE Section 1 Ellesborough 1 (1pt), Frilford Heath 2 (3) (Ellesborough first): B Godwin & J Alison lost to P Dalton & P Richardson 1 hole, R Crisp & C Pearce lost to A Gavrilovic & N Davies 2 holes, L Richardson
-
Date
Running up some cash for research
THEY admit running is not something they would normally sign up for. But 18 members of a church on Oxford’s Rose Hill estate are set to pound the streets to raise more than £1,000 for Alzheimer’s and dementia research. The men and women from White Rose
-
Date
Gold medal stolen in Headington burglary
Burglars stole a man’s gold watch, a mobile phone and an 18ct gold Air France medal in a Headington break-in. Between 8.10pm and 8.45pm on Monday, burglars forced their way into the property in Highfield Avenue. The medal is engraved with the message
-
Date
GOLF: Chippy pipped
Chipping Norton were edged out 4-3 by Castle Royle in a dramatic BB&O Hillman Trophy final at Ellesborough. It went to the last hole of the last match, where Chippy’s Richard Busby just missed a putt, which would have taken it into a play-off. DRAYTON
-
Date
Oxford's students don't always want to slum it
Far from slumming it, many students are prepared to pay hundreds of pounds more for apartments that have been upgraded, according to letting agents. Jonathan Pincott, of Chancellors’ Headington branch, in Oxford, said: “It’s gone crazy this past few
-
Date
Comedian's £1.75m home up for sale
Comedian Mel Smith is the second celebrity in the space of a month to put his home in a south Oxfordshire village up for sale. Best known for his work on a number of hit TV shows including, Not The Nine O Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones, Mr
-
Date
Family home next to top golf course
A family home close to a golf course could be the dream home for anyone who enjoys a round or two on the fairways. Cherry Trees, which was refurbished and extended five years ago, is right next to Frilford Heath Golf Club, near Abingdon, and set in landscaped
-
Date
Georgian character near Woodstock
A Georgian house packed with character features stands in half an acre of grounds including a lawn, vegetable plot and greenhouse. The Walk in the village of Wootton, near Woodstock, includes flagstone floors, sash windows and original wooden shutters
-
Date
'Dragon' opens spa
Duncan Bannatyne, star of TV’s Dragons’ Den, dropped in to open his latest investment — a £350,000 spa in Banbury. The spa, the 30th in the Bannatyne Spa chain, has created eight new jobs and is an extension to the existing Bannatyne’s Health Club in
-
Date
RACING: Longsdon's delight at terrific treble
Charlie Longsdon was basking in the glow of one of his best days on a racecourse after landing a 154-1 across-the-card treble. The 34-year-old handler sent out Songe (11-4) and Rey Nacarado (100-30) from his Hull Farm Stables, near Chipping Norton,
-
Date
GOLF: Pepperell edged out in Egypt
Eddie Pepperell finished runner-up in the Egyptian Amateur Championship after losing out to England teammate Jack Senior. The 19-year-old Drayton Park member was pipped by Senior (Heysham) at the first play-off hole. Both players finished the 54-hole
-
Date
Depot moves to Adderbury
Gifts, gadgets and bicycle trade supplier Tradewinds UK has moved into new premises on the Banbury Business Park. The company has taken 2,095 sq ft at Somerville Court, after relocating from Lombard Way in Banbury. Agent David Williams of Meeson Williams
-
Date
Picker Institute moves
The Picker Institute Europe, a not-for-profit charitable organisation, has relocated its central Oxford office to the Minns Business Park, Botley. Working with patients, professionals and policy makers in healthcare, the institute is designed to gauge
-
Date
Gurkha to be repatriated
The repatriation of a British soldier killed in Afghanistan will take place tomorrow. Rifleman Suraj Gurung, from the 1st Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles, died on Saturday while on foot patrol in Helmand Province when a suicide bomber detonated himself
-
Date
Charity Santas count down to Christmas
FIFTY Father Christmases flooded Oxford’s University Parks yesterday to promote a truly ‘Santastic’ cause. Anyone visiting the parks would have been rubbing their eyes – and checking their calendars – at the sight of the festive figures jogging in the
-
Date
Taxi driver denies sex assault
A TAXI driver sexually assaulted a drunk woman passenger as he pulled up outside her house, Oxford Crown Court was told. Choudry Saleem rubbed her thigh after telling her “young girls shouldn’t go out getting drunk, they never know what could happen
-
Date
RACING: Case's Hennessy plan for Dance
Banbury trainer Ben Case plans to aim stable star Dance Island at next month’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. The seven-year-old gelding was among around 20 horses the handler paraded in the indoor school at his Wardington Gate Farm stables, near Edgcote
-
Date
RUGBY UNION: Paterson brace can't save Angels
Jess Paterson scored two tries as Witney Angels opened their South East West 2 campaign with a 22-10 defeat against Guildford Ladies at Hailey Road. Both Paterson’s tries came in the first half to give Angels a 10-5 half-time lead. Guildford came on
-
Date
Focus on Harvey in Porsche finale
The final battle of the 2010 Porsche Carrera Cup GB takes place this weekend at Brands Hatch, with Oxfordshire driver Tim Harvey the hot favourite to win having led the championship from the very first race of the year. Harvey, driving for
-
Date
Union warns of council job losses
SCORES of jobs could be lost if two councils forge ahead with proposals to share senior staff, a union has warned. Next month, Cherwell District Council and Towcester-based South Northants District Council are due to decide whether to share a chief
-
Date
RUGBY UNION: McKeen eyeing up World Cup place
While his teammates enjoy the delights of freshers’ week, Oxford University back-row forward Stan McKeen is bidding for a place in the World Cup next year. The 28-year-old is playing for a Canada development side in the Americas Rugby Championship in
-
Date
We say ‘No’ to budget inn
BUSINESSES across Banbury have joined forces to condemn proposals for a budget hotel in the town. They say building a Premier Inn and separate Beefeater pub on land owned by Kraft General Foods, in Southam road, will sound the death knell for many traders
-
Date
After a wait of 171 years, school has a hall
FOR the first time in its 171-year history Launton C of E Primary School has a school hall. And pupils have wasted no time in making the most of it. Opened this term, the building is used for school assemblies, PE activities, singing
-
Date
Cornbury Festival on the move 'to stay independent'
CORNBURY Festival will move to a new venue after the estate’s owner struck a deal to stage rival annual events, its organiser said. The Oxford Mail reported last week that the festival could be on the move. But Hugh Phillimore, who is behind the seven-year-old
-
Date
Student housing fight goes to court
OXFORD City Council is part of a consortium asking for a judicial review of a Government decision that landlords wanting to turn family homes into student bedsits do not need to get planning permission. The councils claim the Government
-
Date
Nurture nature
The Royal Botanic Garden at Kew has just sent out a press notice explaining that one in five of the world’s plants is under threat of extinction. This is a highly depressing statistic, especially because in 2002 the figure was said to be one in eight.
-
Date
Get out and go wild
Getting into bats Bats are peculiar creatures — they have a habit of doing things that they never should. They will go into hibernation during the autumn, but sometimes you can still see one flying on Christmas Day. There is still so much to learn about
-
Date
Oxfordshire win opening match
The first match of this season’s inter-county Chiltern Cup took place last Saturday at Magdalen College School. The Chiltern Cup is the first division of the Chiltern Leagues and limited to players with an ECF rating of under 200. Oxfordshire, Hampshire
-
Date
CRICKET: Umpires dispute threatens youth funding in Oxon
Oxfordshire umpire Mick Warren is at the centre of dispute which threatens the funding of youth cricket in the county, writes MICHAEL KNOX. Warren, is secretary of the International Institute of Cricket Umpiring & Scoring, a training organisation
-
Date
Mini sales fall
Sales of the Cowley-built Mini fell in the UK by more than 12 per cent in September, latest figures have revealed. Statistics from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show 7,567 cars found buyers compared to 8,634 in the same month
-
Date
The knowledge store
A business estate on the edge of Swindon may seem an odd place to find Oxford University celebrating an historic moment for one of its greatest institutions. But university vice-chancellor, Prof Andrew Hamilton, will be marking a new chapter in the 400
-
Date
All Together Different: Pettits House, Great Milton
All Together Different is a great title for a collaborative exhibition, in a unique location, making a contribution to a rather special charity, Calibre (Talking books for the blind) The artist Caroline Meynell came up with the concept of inviting a
-
Date
Plea issued over A44 death crash
Police today appealed for witnesses to a fatal collision on the A44 near Begbrooke. Shortly after 2.45am, a blue Vauxhall Astra was in collision with a pedestrian on the A44 near to the Langford Lane traffic lights, close to London Oxford Airport.
-
Date
Business rates relief
SMALL businesses in Oxfordshire have welcomed the start of a year's break from paying business rates, but advisers are warning that some companies have not registered for the temporary exemption. Several thousand businesses are being sent revised bills
-
Date
A wonderful new venue
Given the dream commission of designing the Waterside, a brand new theatre for Aylesbury, architect Norman Bragg drove over to look at the site. “As I first made my way there,” Norman said, “I was struck by the beautiful countryside of Aylesbury Vale
-
Date
The Red Shoes: Oxford Playhouse
‘There was once a little girl who was very pretty and delicate, but in summer she was forced to run about with bare feet, she was so poor, and in winter wear very large wooden shoes, which made her little insteps quite red, and that looked so dangerous
-
Date
Electric motors woo investors
The automotive industry is buzzing with continual news about electric vehicles, hybrid technology and most recently cars powered by gas turbines. It has taken years to come to the fore, but finally designers have been forced to realise that given our
-
Date
AEA Technology buys US rival
HARWELL-based environmental consultancy AEA Technology has snapped up US rival Eastern Research Group for £60m in cash and shares. The company aims to win more orders in the US to offset Government spending cuts in its home market. The company, which
-
Date
Herbal tea venture
A PAIR of teenage entrepreneurs are introducing a taste of Morocco to the UK after spotting a gap in the market. Rosanna Bucknill, 15, and Alice Derbyshire, 14, are launching their business, Ecoteaco, on Sunday in the village hall at Northend, near Watlington
-
Date
RUGBY LEAGUE: Griffin keen on England future
Darrell Griffin is looking to establish himself with England after being selected for the Four Nations series in Australia and New Zealand. The 29-year-old Huddersfield Giants prop, who hails from Witney, flies out to Auckland tomorrow as part of England
-
Date
ICE HOCKEY: Stars left frustrated
Oxford City Stars had a disappointing weekend, picking up just one point from their two matches in South Division 1. Stars shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw at Cardiff Devils, but then crashed 7-1 at home to Chelmsford Chieftains a day later. In Cardiff
-
Date
THE INSIDER: Sartorial faux pas
The age of austerity has already hit the Cameron household, it would appear. Witney MP and Prime Minister David Cameron was a guest on ITV’s This Morning when cameras picked up he was wearing a sock with a large hole in it. As he says, “we are all
-
Date
Attack on poor
Baroness Warsi’s attack on Ed Miliband (Monday’s Oxford Mail) is astonishing. If the Tories really represent “hard-working, fair-minded people” why is their June budget and VAT rise hitting the poorest people in the country the hardest and why are they
-
Date
Blighted by gridlock
which planet do the traffic planners live on? Traffic calming has now taken place on all roads leading into Wallingford, so you rarely see cars exceeding 30mph. However in St Nicholas Road, with a school and two T-junctions, there is nothing, with the
-
Date
Sainsbury's plans to open Cowley Road store
TRADERS in Oxford’s Cowley Road fear for their futures after supermarket giant Sainsbury’s unveiled a plan to open its first store in the street. The new supermarket, at Tyndale House, would be just across the road from a Tesco Metro store.
-
Date
Mother criticises alcohol study
A MOTHER last night criticised new research suggesting it was not damaging for mums-to-be to drink a small amount while pregnant. Julia Brown, from Stonesfield, claimed it “muddied the waters”. Researchers at University College London studied more than
-
Date
ATHLETICS: Duo swoop for national titles
OXFORD City’s Steve Male and Stewart Thorp secured national titles in the British Masters 10-mile Championships at Oldbury Power Station, Bristol. Male won the vet 45 category and finished second in the race with a time of 54mins 19secs in wet and blustery
-
Date
ICE HOCKEY: Facing off for new era
OXFORD City Stars’ Cameron Fray (pictured) faces off in an historic match against Bracknell at Oxpens Road. Fray plays for Oxford’s under 10s, and the match was the first at this age for more than a decade. In recent seasons, Oxford’s juniors have been
-
Date
Sacrificial lamb
The Issue debate concerning the cuts to funding of projects in the voluntary sector, particularly pre-schools and children’s centres, has hopefully continued to keep this important matter in the public eye. Cumnor Pre-school Nursery, a pre-school setting
-
Date
Issues for action
In my opinion there are two major things which this country must address if it is ever to stop its downward slide. 1. We have to stop school league tables. This is only a back-door way of bringing back the old grammar schools, but instead of doing
-
Date
Processed foods shortening lives
When I was at senior school, in the early 1960s, we had school dinners that were of variable quality but generally pretty good. Two major differences to today though: 1. You had two choices – eat it or leave it. 2. Processed food usually meant tinned
-
Date
Burglars target village businesses
BURGLARS broke into five businesses in Kidlington and stole cash and a computer, causing large amounts of damage. The first burglary happened over night between Saturday and Sunday when thieves broke into the Kidlington Recreational Trust Social Club
-
Date
Estate agent charged with fraud
A CITY estate and lettings agent has been arrested and charged with fraud and money laundering following a probe by police and trading standards officers. Zulfiqar Hussain, of Kenilworth Avenue, East Oxford, will appear before Oxford Magistrates’ Court
-
Date
The Hemlock Cup: a life of Socrates
There is something faintly demonic about the Minoan figurine that first sparked Bettany Hughes’s interest in Greek civilisation. The so-called ‘snake goddess’, found in Crete in 1903 by archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, stands at just over a foot
-
Date
Modernism: A Very Short Introduction
MODERNISM: A VERY SHORT INTRODUCTION by Christopher Butler (OUP, £7.99) Writers of an Oxford University Press Very Short Introduction have a difficult task on their hands, and this is no exception. Giving a concise explanation of modernism
-
Date
COMMENT: Naked ambition
THE ladies of Networking Women originally got together to get themselves well known. Well with their nude calendar they have certainly achieved that. The group has created the 15-month calendar and are hoping to raise money for the Breast
-
Date
COMMENT: Supermarket battle lines are drawn
OXFORD is certainly one of the battlegrounds in the supermarket war at the moment. The announcement of Sainsbury’s plans for Tyndale House in Cowley Road, almost directly opposite Tesco, comes hard on the heels of their plans to have a store
-
Date
Businesswomen strip for charity calendar
A GROUP of businesswomen have “done a W.I.” and posed naked for a calendar to raise money for a breast cancer charity. Echoing the success of the Rylstone Women’s Institute in North Yorkshire, the ladies of Networking Women, who meet in Witney
-
Date
Man dies in A44 crash
A 23-year-old man died in a road accident near Begbroke early today. The man, from Begbroke, died when he was hit by a blue Vauxhall Astra shortly before 3am. The incident happened at the junction of the A44 Oxford Road with Langford
-
Date
Man dies after crash on village road
A 23-year-old man died in a road accident at Bladon earlier this morning. The man from Begbroke, near Kidlington, died when he was hit by a blue Vauxhall Astra shortly before 3am. The incident happened at the junction of the A44 Oxford
-
Date
COMMONWEALTH GAMES: Oxford archer Simpson wins gold medal
Oxford archer Nichola Simpson helped England to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi today. Simpson, from Marston, Nicky Hunt and Danielle Brown won gold in the women's team compound event, beating Canada 232-229 in the final
-
Date
Parky at the Pictures (In Cinemas 7/10/2010)
The Few have rightly been lauded on the big and small screen during this 70th anniversary of both the Battle of Britain and the Blitz. However, the most unusual tribute to those who did their bit to withstand the Axis comes in the puppet form of
-
Date
Parky at the Pictures (DVD 7/10/2010)
Despite taking European art cinema by storm in the late 1920s, Luis Buñuel drifted into the wilderness following his 1932 documentary, Las Hurdes.. Having been hired by Mexican producer Oscar Dancigers for the ultra-cheap entertainments, Gran Casino
-
Date
Puzzling decorations
Sir – I am puzzled by the illuminated decorations which the council hangs in Cowley Road, mainly in autumn. If they are supposed to indicate that the area is predominantly Muslim (which it isn’t), why do they come down for two-thirds of the year?
-
Date
Better use of rail cash
Sir – In the October edition of a well known railway magazine, a former executive director of the Strategic Rail Authority points to the possibility of achieving many of the benefits of the proposed new high-speed line from London to Birmingham by
-
Date
Momentous research
Sir – Bill Clinton in his video message to those gathered at the Examination Schools to mark Leonard Blavatnik’s £75m gift for the establishment of an Oxford University school of government (Feature, September 23) can, in the light of Sir Richard
-
Date
No punishment
Sir – The front page story of your September 30 issue was depressingly familiar, not least in the official attitude expressed by Anne Gwinnett of Brookes University. On all such occasions, Dr Gwinnett mentions the ‘procedures’ which Brookes has at
-
Date
More control needed
Sir – I was very disappointed by Dr Gwinnett’s response to Elizabeth Mills’ letter re recent student noise in our streets. Having lived in East Oxford for almost 50 years now, I think I can say that, on the whole, we are a pretty tolerant lot. We
-
Date
Touchy subject
Sir – Stephen Goldby (Letters, August 26) is absolutely right. I should not have been resting my hand on the Ram of Amun and certainly would not wish to encourage others to do so. Sculpture can indeed be damaged by touching and we do have a ‘no-touch
-
Date
Less is more
Sir – In response to South Oxfordshire District Council’s public consultation in regard to their Core Strategy Review, keeping the housing figures stipulated in the South East Plan under the aegis of ‘filling a need’ is no longer relevant or economically
-
Date
Obtrusive development
Sir – It was reported in The Oxford Times (September 30) that the city council is expecting a full planning application for the Horspath wind turbine in March 2011. However, CPRE Oxfordshire understands that it is important to obtain a full year's
-
Date
Very naughty person
Sir – We are rightly exhorted to recycle as much as we can (most recently by councillor Tanner as reported in your issue of September 16). Because I recycle all my compostable rubbish, I do not have an enormous amount of general rubbish; nor would
-
Date
Ambitious plans
Sir – I would like to take the opportunity to inform all members and friends of Didcot & District Archaeological Society that all future meetings of the Society will take place at Northbourne Community Centre, High Street, Didcot, on the second Wednesday
-
Date
Better partnerships
Sir – Clearly with restricted funding for the delivery of Oxfordshire’s next Local Transport Plan there needs to be some better partnership working. If the city council were to encourage the Northern Gateway development land to be used for car-free
-
Date
High-rise sum
Sir – Perhaps the city council will take the opportunity afforded by your columns to deny the report that it has accepted a substantial sum as a deposit from the developers who are proposing to erect a high-rise block on the site of St Clements car
-
Date
Democracy is a farce
Sir – Your story Party near village keeps city awake (Report, September 23) was an excellent example of police and local councils working together for the detriment of the local community. Together they provide evidence that democracy is a farce, played
-
Date
Burning desire
Sir – I enjoyed Chris Koenig’s article Destroying ideas remains hot topic, (Past Times, September 23) on the organised burning of Milton’s work in the Bod’s Old Schools Quad in the 17th century. After reading this informative piece, I also stumbled
-
Date
Unpleasant invention
Sir – Howard Stapleton, the inventor of the mosquito device that he claims deters youths from behaving anti-socially, is looking for a new Oxford site to locate his equipment. Let’s be clear, this is an acoustic weapon that targets children, including
-
Date
Day of shame on buses
Sir – Friday, October 1, was a day of shame for the company which runs the number 300 park-and-ride buses between the city centre and the Pear Tree car park. It was a day of heavy hard rain, and it began badly enough with one bus being left out of
-
Date
Traders' anger over 'supermarket wars'
PLANS to open another Sainsbury’s store in East Oxford have shocked traders, who fear rivalry between supermarket giants in the city is spiralling out of control. Only eight weeks after Sainsbury’s submitted plans to open a store on the Plain
-
Date
‘Help us find 52 things to do’
WRITERS, poets, artists and photographers are being encouraged to help create a new tourism book to showcase the Vale of White Horse. Business interest groups have teamed up with the district council to ask local people help fill the book – called 52
-
Date
Army officer returns to Afghanistan to train police
AN ARMY officer who has fought in the world’s toughest war zones is back in Afghanistan to train policemen. Lieutenant Colonel Adam Griffiths, from Fernham, near Faringdon, is leading a team of soldiers responsible for training and mentoring Afghan policemen
-
Date
‘Help our children to enjoy outdoors’
A SCHOOL for children with special needs is appealing for outdoor play equipment to help youngsters learn. The playground at Mabel Prichard Special School on Oxford’s Blackbird Leys estate was extended over the summer – but there is no money left to
-
Date
Wines can still be exhilarating
Readers of this column will know in what regard I hold The Wine Society (www.thewinesociety.com). I enjoy their tastings and am always pleased at the impressive number of high-scoring wines on show. So I let my upwardly-drifting eyebrows
-
Date
'Student ghettos' fear sparks fight
RESIDENTIAL areas of Oxford face being overwhelmed by a planning “free for all” that could see hundreds of family homes homes converted into houses of multiple occupation (HMOs), it has been claimed. Oxford City Council fears that Government
-
Date
Wines for Autumn, £77
As the nights start to draw in we turn to wines for warmth and comfort — these rich ripe wines go very well with a wide variety of autumnal foods and can also be enjoyed equally well on their own because of their smooth velvety texture. The Wines for
