Archive
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Scores of tyres dumped in Claydon lay-by
CHERWELL District Council enforcement offers want the public’s help after more tyres were dumped in the district. In the latest incident, 125 tyres were dumped in a lay-by on Fenny Compton Road, Claydon. It happened between 7pm on Wednesday, May 31
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Developer wants to build 300 houses on ‘discarded’ site
A DEVELOPER is pursuing a Banbury plan for 300 homes, despite it being removed from a major housing strategy. Miller Homes has submitted a planning application for 300 homes off Warwick Road, above North Oxfordshire Academy. It comes after the site
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10,000 attend Banbury and District Show as entry fee scrapped
THE first free Banbury and District Show has been hailed a massive success. Organisers Banbury Town Council said Sunday’s event in Spiceball Park attracted about 10,000, double its usual gate. Last year’s show – organised by Rotary Club and Round
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HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY: It's far out
SOMEWHERE, in a parallel universe, director Dirk Maggs is explaining at break-neck speed how he has warped the time-space continuum. “And that’s why we open in a prehistoric setting,” he rattles. “Basically, I arranged it so that the baddies have messed
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SCALES OF JUSTICE
People convicted of offences at magistrates' courts around the county recently. BANBURY Christopher Bardon, 24, of Dover Avenue, Banbury, admitted fraud by placing a skimming device over a cash machine and possession of an article for use in
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Plan for 300 homes shocks neighbours
A DEVELOPER is pursuing a Banbury plan for 300 homes despite it being removed from a major housing strategy. Miller Homes has submitted a planning application for 300 homes off Warwick Road, above North Oxfordshire Academy. It comes
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More dog bins could solve Barton fouling problem
MORE dog waste bins could be the answer to solving a problem with dog fouling in Barton. In 2009 Neighbourhood Police in the estate vowed to tackle the issue, even posting graphic posters of dog mess to stop dog owners letting their pets foul in children
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Contest winner to see his work performed at Pegasus
A PLAYWRIGHT will see his new effort performed at Oxford’s Pegasus Theatre after winning an open competition. The Magdalen Road theatre launched the contest last year to find a new play by an Oxfordshire writer. The plan was for the selected play to
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£12m expansion plans for medical centre
RACING legend Jenny Pitman led a double celebration at Oxford’s Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre as work on a £12m research centre reached a major milestone. The former racehorse trainer was there to mark the 10th anniversary of Oxford University
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Solid Rock
ROCK OF AGES (12A) Musical/Romance/Comedy. Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Paul Giamatti, Malin Akerman, Bryan Cranston, Mary J Blige. Director: Adam Shankman. Bow
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One Last Hurrah
It’s a long story with a happy ending... The Wiggles, who have charmed children the world over, are back in Oxford on Saturday, for the last time. And with them will be original member Greg Page (the yellow Wiggle), who has been absent in recent years
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Plan of Attack
TIM HUGHES talks to hot new Oxford band Spring Offensive about their career and their latest gig – in a church THE hallowed space of Oxford’s St Barnabas Church has long echoed to the sound of sweet music. But, until now, it has mostly
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Gee Sharp
KATHERINE MacALISTER mixes music and food It’s official. I’ve managed to resist the irresistible. Atila is his name, and my he’s a handsome chap. But personally I’ve always preferred a drummer (on this occasion Amy Winehouse’s), and my friend
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Labour of Love
Samuel West has a reputation for being difficult to interview, but when discussing his play Close the Coalhouse Door, he turns out to be articulate, honest and even chatty. Here he tells KATHERINE MacALISTER about his life at Oxford, student protests
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Begging For Mersea
MARC EVANS discovers there’s more to the county than fake tans when he enjoys a weekend in Essex I TRIED my best not to mention it. I was determined to avoid going down that route but, in the end, it was our tour guide Ian who brought it
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Scot Free
TIM HUGHES talks to Big Country about their latest tour, supported by a well-known face On the surface it looks like the perfect combination of classic pop and popular culture. Eighties power pop act Big Country are back on the road. And
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Cancer sufferer works with friends to leave legacy
A FRIENDSHIP rekindled at a staff reunion has given a terminally-ill man a new focus to leave a legacy in his name. Steve Blake has set up a fundraising group with former colleagues at Bicester’s Bruce Engineering following the reunion last October.
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Direction clear for West
Oxford features large on Sam West’s map. It was here that he decided to finally give acting a go, a strange irony, considering his parents are Timothy West and Prunella Scales, but nonetheless, not a career he had considered until then. Oxford
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Eric White: final return to Appleton
AN APPLETON builder was buried last week at the church where he was christened and married. Eric White, 90, a member of the Whites of Appleton bellhangers family, died on May 22 after suffering a stroke following long stays in Abingdon Community Hospital
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Heather Howes: Artistic mark is left in city
A WELL-KNOWN Oxford stone and wood carver, whose work can be seen around the city, has died at the age of 85. One of Heather Howes’s, nee Harms, best-known carvings is the plaque at Balliol College, Broad Street, marking where the three bishops – Latimer
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Books rescued for giveaway store
A GREEN charity offering free books to visitors has set up in an empty Botley shop. Healthy Planet has taken premises next door to the old Habitat store to run the Books for Free project, which “rescues” books from landfill by giving them away
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School with outdoor learning focus finds site
A SCHOOL where pupils will be taught outdoors half the time has finally found a site to use. Parents are being invited to sign their children up for the new private school near Wallingford, which will focus on outdoor learning. The primary school is
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BioMedica opens £3m drugs plant
PIONEERING biotech firm Oxford BioMedica will develop revolutionary new drugs at its new £3m manufacturing plant in Cowley. The company, founded in 1995 by Professors Alan and Susan Kingsman, from Oxford’s University’s department of biochemistry, has
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Residents cry foul at EF plan
RESIDENTS fighting a 400-student international academy in Headington say the scheme would be in breach of planning rules. Consultation on the scheme, for a private school for international students in Pullens Lane, comes to an end this week. Objectors
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Village gardens' Olympic theme
Despite a wet start to the week, keen gardeners are hoping for a brighter outlook for Steventon Open Gardens. Nineteen gardens will be open on Sunday, and to mark the upcoming Olympics and Paralympics, a best-dressed Olympic scarecrow contest will be
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Ace Centre saved
A long-running Oxford charity has today been saved from closure just weeks before it was set to fold. The Ace Centre in Headington has been provided support for children and adults with communication difficulties for 30 years. It had been set
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Charity lets kids stay on top of their game
COMPUTER games sometimes get a bad press, but disabled youngsters Chloe Streeter and Ella Mitchell have a whole new world of fun open to them, thanks to charity SpecialEffect. Now the girls are encouraging people to dig into their pockets for the Jubilee
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MoD puts famous heritage site on market
AN historic RAF base in Bicester is to go on sale, just as campaigners step up their bid for a heritage centre on the site. A firm representing owners the Ministry of Defence has confirmed RAF Bicester’s flying field and buildings, off Skimmingdish Lane
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Jools Holland to headline 'Poshstock'
HE knows everyone from the meanest Chicago bluesmen to members of the Royal Family. But after playing for the Queen at the Diamond Jubilee concert, Jools Holland’s next stop is Oxfordshire. The rhythm and blues man is headlining Poshstock, as Oxfordshire
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Abingdon man arrested as part of police raids on suspected paedophiles
A MAN from the Abingdon area has been arrested as part of nationwide police raids on suspected internet paedophiles. The 43-year-old was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of possession of indecent images and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity
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Local share prices
AEA Technology 0.2 BMW 4595 Electrocomponents 196.9 Nationwide Accident Repair 65 Oxford Biomedica 2.4 Oxford Catalysts 52.5 Oxford Instruments 1199 Reed Elsevier 483.9 RM 75.75 RPS Group 202.9 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Take tour of county’s recycling and landfill sites
RESIDENTS are being offered the chance to tour recycling and landfill sites as part of Recycle Week 2012. Members of the public can visit Dix Pit at Stanton Harcourt on Monday at 10am. A tour will also take place at Cassington Anaerobic Digester, West
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Power station axe to leave cricket club without home
DIDCOT Cricket Club managers are looking for a new home after it was revealed the town’s power station could close as early as next year. Coal-fired Didcot A was expected to keep generating electricity until 2015 but now looks likely to shut in 2013.
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Torch tickets
Tickets to the city’s huge Olympic Torch celebration event in South Park are now available to anyone in the county.
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Funeral dates
The funeral of Rhys Roberts, who died in a car crash on the A4130, will be held today. Mr Roberts, 21, of St Anne’s Court, Didcot, and Jack Varney, 19, of Station Road, Didcot, died in the crash at Hadden Hill on May 28. Mr Roberts’ funeral is being
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Sanders to run for county council seat
City councillor Gill Sanders has been selected to fight the Cowley and Littlemore county council by-election for Labour. Mrs Sanders, a former Lord Mayor of Oxford, is a city councillor for Littlemore ward. The Conservative candidate
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COMMENT: Plan will bring many benefits
OXFORD University’s desire to create a new science park in Headington will bring many benefits. The institution’s importance as a local employer should not be underestimated and this new development, which could eventually accommodate 3,000 workers,
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Rail enthusiasts mark pioneering Royal journey
Didcot Railway Centre volunteer Beth Gillham dressed up as Queen Victoria to encourage steam train enthusiasts to visit the centre. Yesterday marked the 170th anniversary of the first Rail journey ever taken by a British monarch, when Queen
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BOWLS: Headington hot-shots sink Shiplake
Headington recorded a massive 88-shot victory in a 6-0 home whitewash of Ship-lake in Division 1 of the Oxford & District League, sponsored by Yarnton Nurseries. Mark Charlett posted the highest rink score of the night with a 38-9 success in the 129-
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BOWLS: Campion shines in Oxon triumph
Skip Caroline Campion’s 20-shot victory proved crucial as Oxfordshire Ladies edged past Middlesex 115-111 in their opening Johns Trophy game at South Oxford. Campion’s four of Ann Spearman, Annie Gilkes and Donna Knight triumphed 30-10 to help Oxon take
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ATHLETICS: Depleted Radley in treble tonic
A DEPLETED Radley team made it three wins in three matches in their Southern League Division 2C match at Woking. Missing a number of first-choice athletes, including Osman Muskwe, who was competing in the South of England multi-event championships, Radley
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BOWLS: Battling Oxon's double delight
Oxfordshire dug deep to make it two wins from as many Middleton Cup outings with a 121-109 victory over Middlesex at Bush Hill Park BC, Enfield. Oxon, who had thrashed Hampshire in their opening game, won on four of the six rinks to take the
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ATHLETICS: Jubilant Jégou in rich vein of form
WHITE Horse Harrier Paul Jégou recorded his second Multi-terrain Marathon victory in five weeks in the South Downs Marathon. The 553-runner race, which starts at Slidon College near Arundel and follows the South Downs Way to Queen Elizabeth Park near
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FOOTBALL: City poised to lose two key players to League clubs
By Nick Farrant. Oxford City goalkeeper Jason Mooney and defender James Clarke have been invited for trials at npower League 1 outfits Tranmere Rovers and Yeovil Town. It is a blow for City manager Mike Ford, who was hoping to have both of them in his
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ATHLETICS: Fernandez storms to Otmoor hat-trick
PAUL Fernandez secured a hat-trick of victories in the Otmoor Challenge half-marathon – setting a cou-rse record in the process. The Abingdon Ambler, pictured, beat his 2011 winning time by almost two and a half minutes, coming home in 1hr 14mins 50secs
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Cyclists should obey the law
OH TO be a cyclist in Oxford. Many things have been said but they have everything going for them. Thousands of pounds spent on cycle lanes throughout the city and yet many ride two abreast and on the pavements. Boxes are put in the road at traffic lights
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Shun Olympic sponsors' runners
I WOULD like to see a list published of the names and achievements of those privileged bearers who will soon carry the Olympic Flame through Oxfordshire and the distance and location of their particular participation. The crowds that will gather to cheer
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Keep our nose out of Syria
FOREIGN Secretary William Hague is talking about giving arms to the rebels in Syria. He also states that there could be an intervention by British military but on a larger scale than was the case in Libya. Why is this small island always first to poke
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Council call handling is improving
IN response to Sushila Dhall’s letter (Oxford Mail ViewPoints, May 29), we’d like to apologise to the caller who was unable to get through to our system. Oxford City Council introduced one telephone number where people can have the majority of their
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Lord Mayor Elise will be a hard act to follow
WE now have a new Lord Mayor of Oxford and I’m sure Alan Armitage will do a good job. However, I have to say that he is going to have a hard job to follow our previous one, Elise Benjamin. In my opinion she did an amazing job while in
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THE INSIDER: Justice in full flow as courts spring a leak
Oxford Crown Court might play host to watertight alibis, but the building’s roof appears to be rather more porous. As the rain lashed down on Monday, a security guard was dispatched to two of the four courtrooms to put out buckets to catch rainwater
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Medical centre is a jobs boost
Nearly 3,000 people will be employed in a new medical research centre proposed by Oxford University in Headington. An outline planning application to develop the 28-acre Park Hospital site, including a multi-storey car park, is soon to be submitted.
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UEFA must tackle racism
FOLLOWING the recent reports of Dutch players being racially abused prior to Euro 2012 even kicking off, Michel Platini and UEFA are, as usual, simply papering over the cracks. As a player for France, brilliant as Platini then was, the now UEFA president
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First class care at the John Radcliffe Hospital
after several awful experiences of the John Radcliffe Hospital when my mum has been a patient, my faith has been restored. Mum had to go into the JR suddenly and from the moment we arrived on the Level 6 Surgical Emergency Unit we were treated amazingly
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OUP expansion plans approved despite concerns
THE expansion of the Oxford University Press building in Walton Street has been given the go-ahead despite heritage concerns. It took just 15 minutes for members of Oxford City Council’s west area committee to agree the proposal in principle at a meeting
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GOLF: Club results June 14
NORTH OXFORD. Men’s Club Championship (36 holes) – Scratch: 1 J East 71+68 =139, 2 B England 71+73=144, 3 C Powell 73+72=145. President’s Putter (36 holes nett): 1 J East (5) 66+63=129, 2 B England (6) 65+67=132, 3 C Powell 67+66=133. Diamond Jubilee
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GOLF: Chippy cruise past Tadmarton
Chipping Norton made home advantage count when they swept to a 3-0 victory over Tadmarton Heath in the first round of the Shaw Gibbs Oxfordshire Foursomes League KO Trophy on Saturday. However, two of the matches went to the final green with
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GOLF: East is king of the North
Jake East is the new North Oxford men’s club champion after two magnificent days of golf last weekend. The five-handicapper, who started as a junior at the club, not only bagged the main Scratch Prize, but also won the President’s Putter for the best
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O2 Academy bid for longer hours thrown out by councillors
A MUSIC venue in Cowley Road will not be able to open later after plans were refused by Oxford City Council. The O2 Academy had applied to stay open for an extra four hours until 4am on Bank Holiday Sundays and open an hour earlier, at 6pm, every day
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Banned pitbulls seized by police
OXFORD: Two pitbull dogs have been seized from a house in Wolvercote. Police took two dogs from a home in Ulfgar Road at the end of May which, after tests, were confirmed to be pitbulls. The breed is banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act and they can be
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Oxford United handed home tie with Bournemouth
Oxford United have been handed a home tie with AFC Bournemouth in the first round of the Capital One Cup. The U's will host the Cherries on Tuesday, August 14 at the Kassam Stadium. United were certain to face a team higher up the Football League pyramid
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GOLF: Smiling Simon is new Hadden Hill caoch
Simon McGreal, who has just returned from a 12-year stint in the United States is Hadden Hill’s new PGA professional coach. Teaming up with N1Golf, the Lancashire-born pro aims to help the members of the Didcot-based club to “unleash the golfer
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Hosepipe ban is lifted
GARDENERS, sports clubs, and farmers were today celebrating as the county’s hosepipe ban was lifted. After two months of turbulent weather, Thames Water has announced it is today removing water use restrictions on more than 8.8m homes.
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Two hurt in 'celebration'
TWO members of Oxford University staff were injured by an “out-of-control” student celebrating the end of exams. The officials were said to have received bruised ribs and a black eye after the ‘trashing’ incident in Merton Street. Students often spray
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Burglary plea
OXFORD: A 24-year-old man has admitted burgling a North Oxford house. Gezim Loka was due to stand trial at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday but changed his plea to guilty. He took jewellery, a camera and a hand-held games console from a
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People taken to hospital after college gas leak
TWO people have been taken to hospital following a suspected gas leak at an Oxford college. South Central Ambulance Service said it was called at 6.22am to St John’s College in St Giles. A further eight people were advised by the ambulance
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Democracy leader will accept honour
DEMOCRACY leader Aung San Suu Kyi was under house arrest in Burma when she was awarded the Freedom of the City by Oxford City Council 15 years ago. Her son, Kim Aris, picked up the rare honour on her behalf, from then Lord Mayor Bill Baker, on December
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Henman helps out young stars
ENGLAND’S last great tennis hero Tim Henman has been making a comeback in Oxford. But the former tennis star was not warming up for a return to the turf of Wimbledon’s Centre Court, instead offering expert advice to a trio of promising young
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COMMENT: Game to play on
IT MAY not be strawberries-and-cream weather, but Tim Henman’s presence in Cowley this week served as a reminder that Wimbledon is just around the corner. Retired for five years yet still a youthful 37, it is clear the Aston Tirrold resident and four-time
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Festival towers above others
It’s not only the Queen who is celebrating an anniversary this year. Boarstall Tower, the magnificent Grade I-listed gatehouse to the long-demolished Boarstall House, has reached its 700th birthday. Owned by the National Trust and an important site during
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Wines for pasta, £78
Wines for pasta mixed case offer for June. Special discounted case price £78 (normal price £92.79). There are a number of wines from outside Italy that can go well with pasta but somehow Italian and Sicilian wines just work that little bit
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Leaders needed for health walks
Kennington Health Walkers are a friendly bunch, mostly retired people aged over 50. The group started in 2003 with just one walk leader and six walkers, which has grown in number to over 70 people, many of whom turn up to walk every week. The point of
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ROWING: Quiet life suits Oxford's Andy Triggs Hodge
By Ed Mezzetti. Andy Triggs Hodge may be one of the biggest names in world rowing, but he is happy to have a low profile. Although Triggs Hodge won Olympic gold in the men’s four at Beijing, he is never besieged by autograph hunters
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Man in dock accused of seizing ex-nun
ARMED police swooped on a man suspected of imprisoning a former nun and breaking her nose. Kojo Ritchie appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court charged with causing actual bodily harm, false imprisonment and two charges of criminal damage.
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Missing woman sparks police search
A MISSING woman has sparked a police search. Alison Cox, 40, is diabetic and needs regular medication. She was last seen in the Littlemore and Cowley Road areas of Oxford on Saturday. Police have said they are growing increasingly
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The Long and Whining Road (Simantics, £8.99) by Simeon Courtie
In The Long and Whining Road (Simantics, £8.99), Simeon Courtie, a broadcaster with the British Forces radio, tells the story of the year his family spent away from their home in Bodicote, near Banbury, in a VW camper van. “Our aim was to drive
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A Secret Woman by Rose Solari
A SECRET WOMAN by Rose Solari (Alan Squire, £15)Solari’s background as a poet — with two published collections, Difficult Weather and Orpheus in the Park — and her research on the divergence between British and American poetry in the 1950s are reflected
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Special moment
Sir – Five kestrels are nesting on our house adjacent to open fields. We have noisy children and cars and a cat. The young birds are not scared of me but I always look away when the dad and mum go into the box otherwise they wait for me to go. We are
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Rethink pool decision
Sir – It seems to me that the MoD has it very wrong in withdrawing the public access to the swimming pool in Ambrosden. The MoD has stated that the increase in the number of troops relocating to Oxfordshire will result in the time available for public
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Simplistic formulae
Sir – We read with great dismay Brian Wilson’s letter which attacked the League of Friends and their volunteers (Letters, May 31). Mr Wilson obviously has a dismal view of volunteering and likes to visualise everything in terms of simple economic equations
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Justified criticism
Sir — Further to Paul Hornby’s letter, (June 7), we fully endorse his suggestion of a ‘higher planning authority’ than that at present prevailing. Hornby mentions Bill Bryson’s satirical criticisms of modern Oxford, particularly a certain structure
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Desperate shortage
Sir – I would like to reply to your article about the proposed housing off Grenoble Road. I think the leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, Ann Ducker, must be living in a different world if she thinks that there is no proof about the need for
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Peace shattered
Sir – Re: Appropriate sites (Letters, May 31). Peter Collins, chairman of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, seeks to encourage the building of 2,500 houses at the former Grove airfield. Just because it’s an old airfield that makes it all right does
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Act of respect
Sir – Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee was a wonderful opportunity for the whole community to come together in celebration here in Middle Barton and across Oxfordshire and the whole nation and commonwealth, but I wonder if other readers noticed
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Poll victory is testament to popularity
At the Tal Memorial — the strongest chess tournament of the year — it’s great to see Oxford University graduate Luke McShane being given a chance to take on the World’s best players. Luke won an online poll to gain his place —a testament to his popularity
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Child crime
It is welcome that police are committing a serious sum of money to prevent the exploitation of children but there should be a question over the timing. The force — which is under significant financial pressure, it must be remembered — is setting aside
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Space race
A report on how the rise in the number of academies could see more county children turned away from popular primary schools makes worrying reading. Under Government reforms, academy schools would no longer be obliged to provide extra places if their
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Marine zones aim to protect hidden habitats
I’m fascinated by the immense wealth of colourful wildlife in the coastal shores and on the seabed around our islands, because it’s hidden most of the time beneath the waves, clinging to rocks and buried in sandbanks and mud. On World Oceans Day last
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Time to party
Sir – Your leader comment, (June 7) is spot on. Street parties, even wet ones, are a great way to strengthen neighbourhood ties. Thousands of residents enjoy street events in Oxford every year. This year with the Queen’s Jubilee, the Olympics and Car-Free
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Benign power source
Sir – Abingdon Hydro’s project to generate hydroelectricity from the weir now has an Environment Agency licence. At local events, most recently Fun in the Parks, we have been pleased to find strong support. It will be environmentally benign, but the
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Jobs saved at waste firm
More than 30 jobs have been saved at a waste management firm after it was bought out of administration. The future looked bleak for the 33 workers at Chilton Waste Services based at Chilton, near Didcot when it went into administration last month.
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Manufacturing boost for Biomedica
Pioneering biotech firm Oxford BioMedica plans to develop revolutionary new drugs at its new £3m manufacturing plant in Cowley. The company, founded in 1995 by Professors Alan and Susan Kingsman from Oxford’s University’s Department of Biochemistry,
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Theatre sessions for shy and retiring
Oxford Playhouse has a long history of providing activities for the young – now there are workshops for the over-60s, discovers Nicola Lisle If you’re over 60 and looking for something to do this summer, the Oxford Playhouse has the answer. Its
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Oxford college cordoned off
POLICE, ambulance, and fire crews are currently outside St John’s College in St Giles, Oxford. It is believed a fridge inside the college has leaked potentially poisonous gas and the college has been evacuated. The Oxford Mail is awaiting more
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Ludicrous suggestion
Sir – Although my letter about the Trap Grounds (May 31) focused attention on a hole in the fence, the Friends of the Trap Grounds (FOTG) persist in raising irrelevant wildlife issues (Letters, June 7). The ‘derelict urban’ Town Green (Hambler 2004)
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Bat-friendly speed
Sir – If the trains are slowed to a bat-friendly speed through the tunnel, how much will that add to the journey time? David Bradnack, Oxford
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Shameful situation
Sir – The last Labour Government commissioned the Hampton Report in 2004 and accepted all its recommendations for a new set of rules for areas of regulation and enforcement in this country. Philip Hampton was a corporate businessman and the report Implementing
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I hope riders return
Sir – With respect to Nigel Clarke’s letter (Time to tax cyclists, June 7) it’s difficult to know where to start, since his proposal is based on a series of false assumptions. First, there is no such thing as ‘road tax’ that taxes ‘road users’ — there
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Respect cyclists
Sir – Nigel Clarke asks for a “road tax” on cycling (Letters, June 7). One presumes he thinks he pays one for his car? One also wonders if he still pays window tax, as that too, has been abolished for quite some time. What motorists actually pay is Vehicle
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Many useful roles
Sir – J. Williams’ letter (Unavoidable choices, June 7), asks for more clarity on the roles that gypsies and travellers perform within our society, which relate to their need to travel from place to place, where their services are required. Their work
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Boogie-woogie royalty
It seems he knows just about everyone from the meanest Chicago bluesmen to members of the Royal Family. Out of all the stars jostling for positions behind the Queen and Prince Charles on stage at the Jubilee concert, none perhaps looked quite as
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Parky at the Pictures (In Cinemas 14/6/2012)
It all seems to be going right for Mads Mikkelsen at the moment. Shortly after being named Best Actor at Cannes for his performance in Thomas Vinterberg's The Hunt, he landed the role of Hannibal Lecter opposite Hugh Dancy's Will Graham in a new American
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Parky at the Pictures (DVD 14/6/2012)
Considering that The Artist swept the board at every major ceremony from Cannes to the Oscars, it may seem a little perverse to feel sorry for its creator, Michel Hazanavicius. At the height of the awards season, seemingly every news outlet carried a
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The friendships of birds
A new way of analysing the “social networks” linking birds to each other has been tested on great tits in Wytham Woods, Oxford. Researchers at Oxford University have been using a new way of analysing data to automatically identify periods of intense
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Iconic bomber will take to the skies again
An iconic American bomber that starred in a series of blockbuster films will soar again at an airshow in Oxford later this year. The last remaining Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress in Europe – ‘Sally B’ – will take to the skies for Fly to the Past at Oxford
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A40 trial means trade is passing us all by
Businesses on Oxford’s Risinghurst estate have said they are suffering as a result of trial junction changes on the A40. Last month, Oxfordshire County Council began a trial closure of the right turn from the A40 on to Collinwood Road. It was prompted
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Buy-out saves recycling jobs
MORE than 30 jobs have been saved at a waste management firm after it was bought out of administration. The future looked bleak for the 33 workers at Chilton Waste Services based at Chilton, near Didcot, when it went into administration last month.