Archive
-
Date
Rock star hospitalised before concert
A MEMBER of one of Britain's longest-surviving rock bands, The Stranglers, is tonight recovering in hospital after falling ill before the band's Oxford show. Jet Black, 74, has been the band's drummer since their formation almost 40 years ago. Fans
-
Date
SCALES OF JUSTICE: Some of the recent offences at Oxford magistrates' courts
Indigo Chorley, 19, of Westbury Crescent, Oxford, admitted drink-driving in Between Towns Road, Oxford, on November 20. Had 94 milligrams of alcohol in 100ml of blood, above the legal limit of 80 milligrams. Fined £100, a £15 victims’ surcharge
-
Date
DIY drive to boost safety for streets
OXFORD residents are hoping to take road safety improvements into their own hands, despite a £450,000 council scheme to improve roads in the area. Under a new “DIY” project for Headington, signs, pavement markings and traffic calming could all be provided
-
Date
Cancer survivor’s in the pink for charity
PATSY Hall was living in Spain when she was bluntly given the news that she had breast cancer. Offered little support and terrified that she would not see her four-year-old son grow up, she turned to the internet for help and found a lifeline in Breast
-
Date
Scots' skills ease rail commuting crush
An engineering workshop in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock may seem an unlikely place to find the answer to Oxfordshire commuters’ prayers. However, work being carried out there will soon ease the squeeze on busy rush-hour trains serving the
-
Date
Local shares (PM)
AEA Technology 0.27 BMW 5961 Electrocomponents 244.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 63.5 Oxford Biomedica 3.05 Oxford Catalysts 55.5 Oxford Instruments 1188.5 Reed Elsevier 547.25 RM 91.6 RPS Group 232.2 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley,
-
Date
View of the world - from my saddle
Most people who pop out on their bicycle tell their family they’ll be back in an hour or two. But 25-year-old Matthew Blake bid farewell for a whopping four years when he left his home to cycle round the world. Now, after 45,000 miles and 61 countries
-
Date
Wow! How? has all the answers
A FEAST of science was served up at Oxford’s Museum of Natural History. The Wow! How? event, which was part of Oxfordshire Science Festival, took place on Saturday and featured more than 100 volunteer scientists showing off more than 30 different demonstrations
-
Date
School is firing on all cylinders
IT might not look any more exciting than the boiler at any school, but the newly installed equipment at Stadhampton Primary School is in fact a low-carbon biomass boiler, running on wood pellets instead of oil or gas. Stadhampton is the
-
Date
Teens urged to join relaunched youth club
A VILLAGE youth club is coming back to life – three years after it shut. Uffington Youth Club was relaunched last September and is now looking for more members. The club now has an army of 20 volunteers but only 30 youngsters have signed up as members
-
Date
Hosepipe ban for Oxfordshire
A HOSEPIPE ban is set to hit Oxfordshire next month. Thames Water is one of seven companies in south and east England which has announced plans to impose water-use restrictions on its customers from April 5. The decision comes after
-
Date
CHARITY MATTERS: Ball rolling for a well-heeled bash
GEMMA Elms loved to dress up, pull on high heels, and party with her friends. Now, four months after her death from ovarian cancer, the 31-year-old’s friends are organising a fundraising ball to honour her memory. The Killer Heels Ball will take place
-
Date
A chair-ity challenge
A SCHOOLGIRL has launched an appeal to raise cash for a new electric wheelchair to give her more independence. Aarohi Agashe, eight, from Headington, has cerebral palsy and uses a manual wheelchair, which her family bought at a cost of more than £2,000
-
Date
CHARITY MATTERS: Bright sparks smarten up pavilion
ELECTRICITY company workers swapped volts for volunteering to spruce up a junior football club pavilion. The Scottish and Southern Energy power distribution workers were given a day to do a good deed in the community of their choosing. Team leader and
-
Date
Did you play percussion?
PUPILS at St Barnabas School in Jericho, Oxford, were keen musicians. We published one picture of the school’s percussion band (Memory Lane, November 28). Now it’s the turn of another group of young music makers, with triangles and tambourines. The
-
Date
Loyalty to royalty got girls the boot
TWO girls’ loyalty to royalty backfired in a spectacular way. Victoria Cox and Claire Mather, both eight, went to Oxford railway station to wave goodbye to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh when they visited the city in June 1983. But the two friends
-
Date
Busy days on the ‘Bladon beat’
IT WAS known as the ‘Bladon Beat’. After wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill was buried at Bladon in 1965, thousands of people descended on the village to see his grave, leading to severe traffic congestion, particularly at weekends. Oxfordshire Police
-
Date
Pub closure ends an era
THE Crown & Thistle pub at Headington, Oxford, owed its success largely to the Lee family, who ran it for a total of 82 years. As we reported, the pub in Old Road shut its doors on New Year’s Eve after the Greene King brewery decided it was no longer
-
Date
Going Dutch
THERE were plenty of smiles and waves before they left. But the ‘holiday’ for this party of young people wasn’t going to be all pleasure. Indeed, very little of it was going to be pleasure. They were pupils at Bayswater Middle School in Barton, Oxford
-
Date
Church set to celebrate milestone
WHEN this church first opened the unsinkable Titanic was about to set sail, the Republic of China had just been founded and King George V was on the throne. Now, 100 years later, SS Gregory and Augustine Roman Catholic Church in Woodstock Road, Oxford
-
Date
SCALES OF JUSTICE: Some of the recent offences at Banbury magistrates' courts
Nicholas Davies, 33, of RAF Brize Norton, admitted assault by beating in Witney on December 9. Fined £500, a £15 victims’ surcharge and £85 costs. Told to pay £100 compensation. Daniel Jones, 23, of Orchard Road, Ardley, admitted drink-driving in Banbury
-
Date
Suspected arson
A HOUSE was partially damaged in a suspected arson attack off the Green Road Roundabout yesterday. Firefighters were called to the fire, in a communal bin area on London Road, at 2.40pm and sent 15 firefighters from Rewley Road and Slade. The fire
-
Date
Car catches fire
A CAR caught fire close to a fast food restaurant. Firefighters were called to the blaze near McDonald’s behind Lockheed Close, Banbury, at 3.51am on Saturday. A crew from Banbury Fire Station put out the fire, which was not thought to have been started
-
Date
‘Untouchable six’ jailed for 22 years
SIX members of a criminal drugs gang who “saw themselves as untouchable by the law” have been jailed for a total of 22 years. Police swooped on the gang in March last year, seizing £350,000 of drugs and £50,000 in cash from properties in Oxfordshire
-
Date
Teens held after racist attack
THREE teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of a racist attack. A 24-year-old man suffered a broken hand in the incident at about 3.15am on Sunday in People’s Park, Banbury. Two boys, aged 16 and 17, and an 18-year-old man were arrested on Thursday
-
Date
Conductor gives passers-by a surprise
VISITORS to an Oxford landmark found themselves part of a silent human orchestra. Professional conductor Anthony Weeden waved his baton at passers-by in the grounds of the Sheldonian Theatre yesterday for a piece of performance art. Artist Tamarin Norwood
-
Date
Assault denied
Two men have appeared in court charged with a Christmas Day assault. Sam Lynn and John Crehan denied unlawfully wounding Darron Allen in Faringdon. The pair appeared at Oxford Crown Court on Friday and a trial date of May 30 was set. Crehan, 30, of
-
Date
Drunk man hauled off train
A drunk 42-year-old man was pulled off a train at Didcot Parkway. The man was arrested by British Transport Police at about 1.30pm on Friday after the train manager raised the alarm. The man, who was on a Cheltenham to Paddington service
-
Date
Kitchen alight
A kitchen fire took hold in a Cowley house. Firefighters were called to a blaze in a cooker hood in White Road at about 6.30pm on Friday. A fire service spokesman said crews from Rewley Road and The Slade quickly put out the flames.
-
Date
FOOTBALL: Letcombe take 11-goal pasting
Depleted Letcombe were routed 11-0 away to Rayners Lane in Uhlsport Hellenic League Division 1 East. The visitors travelled with only 11 players and had keeper Danny Joyce as an outfield player. Hat-tricks were scored by Lawrence Yaku and Ryan Upton
-
Date
Song festival creates a real buzz
CHIPPING Norton Music Festival is in full swing and featured a day of choral singing over the weekend. The Town Hall was full of voice on Saturday, with nine primary school choirs performing in the morning and seven senior choirs in the afternoon. The
-
Date
HORSE RACING: Longsdon hopes Paintball hits Cheltenham jackpot
CHIPPING Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon has his fingers firmly crossed Paintball will get the chance to run for a £75,000 bonus at Cheltenham. The five-year-old put connections in line for the cash boost from Paddy Power for any horse winning the Imperial
-
Date
FOOTBALL: Witney net first win of 2012
Struggling Witney Town enjoyed their first win of 2012 in the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division with a surprise 2-1 success at Slimbridge. Witney’s goals came from Andy Younie and Tom Austin after Michael Bryant had given Slimbridge a first-half
-
Date
Youngsters show off the X Factor
AN X FACTOR contestant brought star appeal to a celebration of talented young people in care. Diana Vickers, who finished fourth in the ITV talent show in 2009, was the guest of honour at the Celebrating Children event in Barton, Oxford, on
-
Date
FOOTBALL: Abingdon lose as Seaward departs
Abingdon United, who released striker Danny Seaward before the game, suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Wimborne - one of only two teams below them in Division 1 South & West of the Evo-Stik Southern League There was a welcome return for
-
Date
FOOTBALL: Odhiambo nets disputed winner
A disputed goal just after half-time from Anaclet Odhiambo proved decisive as Didcot earned themselves a rare home win against fellow Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West strugglers Clevedon. In a game of few chances, one goal was always
-
Date
FOOTBALL: Leaders sink the champs
Oxford City Nomads went three points clear at the top of the Uhlsport Hellenic Premier Division with a comfortable 3-1 victory away to reigning champions Wantage on Saturday. Nomads showed just why they are top of the table by dominating the first half
-
Date
Oxford United face battle to keep hold of star Holmes
SEVERAL clubs have joined Oxford United in the race to sign Lee Holmes on loan from Southampton. The 24-year-old’s one month spell at the Kassam Stadium expired after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Bradford City. Holmes has been a big hit with the U’s, scoring
-
Date
FOOTBALL: Late sucker-punch ends North Leigh run
North Leigh’s brilliant run came to an end when they lost at home to runaway Division 1 South & West leaders Bideford on Saturday. Having won ten of their previous 11 games to move within sight of the play-offs, North Leigh were confident of extending
-
Date
Race is on for new County hall chief
County Hall's veteran deputy leader and a Carterton backbencher are the first to publically throw their hats into the upcoming council leadership contest. Oxfordshire County Council leader, Conservative Keith Mitchell, will step down from
-
Date
Red card killed us - Morgan
NEW signing Dean Morgan felt Damian Batt’s red card was crucial as he ended up on the losing side in his first appearance for Oxford United. Batt was sent off five minutes before half-time at Valley Parade and the U’s went on to lose 2-1 against Bradford
-
Date
Thanks to the clean-up team
On behalf of Old Marston Parish Council, I would like to thank the team of volunteers who joined us as part of the OxClean event, giving up two hours of their free time to pick up litter from one end of Old Marston to the other. Between us we collected
-
Date
FOOTBALL: Banbury edged out in dour clash
A goal three minutes into first-half injury time sent Banbury to a 1-0 defeat at home to Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division play-off contenders AFC Totton in a desperately tight game. Ryan Moss’s near-post flick from a left-wing cross
-
Date
FOOTBALL: City see off close rivals
Oxford City strengthened their challenge at the top of the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division table with an important 2-0 win over promotion rivals Chesham United on Saturday. A first-half penalty from Steve Basham and an injury – time second
-
Date
A high price for toilets
WOAH there, Miss Helen Watkins! Don’t pick on me specifically. You may recall I am not the only one who reckons 50p is way over-the-top to use the loo. Good on you if you are willing to cough up. No offence meant to Mr Tanner – he’s probably a jolly
-
Date
50p can add up quickly
RE (Oxford Mail, March 1), Helen Watkins says she doesn’t mind paying 50p to use the toilets. If she suffered prostate problems or was on water tablets then she might not be so keen. I can use the toilets four times an hour sometimes, which works
-
Date
MPs having a drink on us
MPS have recently, led by David Cameron, lambasted cheap drink available to the poor Joe Public. But just one moment – the House of Commons bars are heavily subsidised by taxpayers; £5.8m last year and, as far as I know, smoking is still allowed in
-
Date
Academies are a bad idea
It’s with good reason that John Tanner (Academy policy is challenged) raised a question in Cabinet to Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement, Melinda Tilley, about moves towards sponsored academy status which is being proposed
-
Date
Repatriation date for six fallen servicemen
THE repatriation of six servicemen killed in Afghanistan will take place this Thursday. Sergeant Nigel Coupe, from 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, and Corporal Jake Hartley, Private Anthony Frampton, Private Christopher Kershaw
-
Date
A last Tally-ho of the season for hunt
The last hunt of the season in Bicester has taken place. The Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase, pictured, set off from Barrus in Launton Road on Saturday. Karen Clarke, from Barrus, said: “We’ve been very strong supporters of the hunt and have hosted
-
Date
Strength of scepticism
Many thanks for allowing me, on February 20, to notify your readers about Think-Week 2012. Our nine separate offerings achieved average attendances of well over 130 per event – which, I guess, compares favourably with the great majority of church services
-
Date
They get skate park, we get stuck in traffic
I was pleased to read in the Oxford Mail on Thursday that residents of Blackbird Leys are going to get a skate park but, at the same time, note the residents of the Old Marston estate are left to suffer in traffic chaos on a daily basis. Surely traffic
-
Date
MAN ABOUT TOWN: Geeks of all types are welcome here
I am writing today’s column at approximately 76 miles an hour. And sitting opposite me is as near perfect a specimen of geek as I think I’ve ever spotted. I mean that in no derogatory way. After all, I’m a geek too, though a mere bystander compared to
-
Date
MOTHERING SUNDAE: Hidden perils that lure me in
Occasionally I feel the need to warn the children of hidden perils in the world. For them, it might be strangers in hedgerows or on online forums. For me, it’s bookshops that are best avoided. Whatever the state of my bank balance, stepping
-
Date
COMMENT: Leader's poll must give public insight
Next month Oxfordshire County Council will elect a new leader. But that vote, the debates ahead of it and, perhaps, the names of those involved, will not be open to the county’s residents. Instead, the decision, with huge implications
-
Date
Drugs arrests
TWO people have been arrested after 21 bags of cannabis were seized. A 17-year-old and a 21-year-old were arrested after a car and property search in Wootton Road, Abingdon, on March 2. The pair have been bailed until April 12.
-
Date
Forum to create more equal East
RESIDENTS from East Oxford have been invited to the city council’s East Area Forum to discuss how to tackle inequality across Oxford. The forum will take place on Monday, March 19 at 6.30pm at East Oxford Primary School. City councillors will be attending
-
Date
Wilder unhappy as ten-man Oxford United beaten at Bradford
OXFORD United’s players have been given today off to recover from what manager Chris Wilder described as the “hardest week” of his time in charge. But United’s boss admitted a lot of it was self-inflicted after seeing his side again have to play the
-
Date
Village landmark destroyed in blaze
A HUGE fire has destroyed a historic thatched barn that was the centrepiece of a south Oxfordshire village. Residents in Denchworth, near Wantage, described the blaze, that started shortly before 3am yesterday morning, as “horrific”. They watched as
-
Date
‘Now’s perfect time to remodel station’
THE electrification of the Oxford to London rail route is an ideal opportunity to remodel Oxford station, according to the boss of train operator First Great Western. Mark Hopwood, the firm’s managing director, said: “There are a lot of things coming
-
Date
County council cuts 'on track'
SAVINGS are on track, Oxfordshire County Council finance bosses have said. Some £51.3m of the £54.3m needed to be cut this financial year has been achieved, according to councillor Jim Couchman. Cuts include less cash for road maintenance and fewer
-
Date
Biker killed in lorry crash
A 36-YEAR-OLD motorcyclist has died after colliding with a truck and being thrown into a hedge on the A417. The man’s black Honda motorcycle and a white Isuzu truck collided as the truck slowed to turn right into a farm on Saturday. Police were called
-
Date
Council tax bills are in the post
COUNCIL tax bills for the 12 months from April are currently being posted to householders. And Oxfordshire residents will see no big rise as the three authorities whose precepts represent the majority of the bill have all frozen their share. Oxfordshire
-
Date
Bid to find seizure rescue 'Good Samaritans’
A TEENAGER with epilepsy who passed out in an alleyway after a seizure wants to thank the ‘Good Samaritans’ who helped her. Agnessa Dale, 15, was found unconscious in Charlbury after a five-minute trip to the shops. A mystery man and
-
Date
Three car crash on M40
DRIVERS on the M40 are being delayed after a three car crash. Ambulance staff were called at around 7.20pm to the motorway near to Junction Seven for Thame. Three men, whose ages were unknown, were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
-
Date
We’ll keep on fighting store
CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to fight on if plans for a Sainsbury's Superstore in Chipping Norton resurface. The rejection of a controversial Sainsbury’s was heralded as “a triumph for common sense” by the campaigners who opposed it. West Oxfordshire District
-
Date
Mistletoe kiss led to golden wedding
When Sue and Terry Gristwood first met as teenagers they weren’t particularly interested in each other. But on Saturday, the Oxford couple celebrated 50 years of marriage after a unexpected kiss under the mistletoe on New Year’s Eve brought them together
-
Date
Sanctuary urgently needs horse homes
A BURFORD animal sanctuary has received an “unprecedented” number of abandoned or unwanted horses. The Blue Cross in Shilton Road finds homes for about 10 horses a month but has been asked to take in double that number over recent months. The centre
