Archive

Date

War Proclamations posted in Oxford

The following notice has been posted tonight in Oxford His Majesty the King having been graciously pleased to order by proclamation that directions be given to the Army Council for embodying the Territorial Forces, all men belonging to the said

Date

Call to alms can save gardening project

AN ENTERPRISING duo selling plants from the gate of their almshouse hope a generous donation can save their gardening project over winter months. Jeane Mason, 64, and Lily Smith, 85, fear their plants could fall victim to the future frost, as they

Date

Watch: 'Free Palestine' march holds up traffic in city centre + Video

MORE then 100 people are taking part in a Free Palestine march tonight. Protesters took to the streets and were seen marching along Magdalen Bridge to Carfax Tower. Traffic along the route is held-up as people walk along the road with placards

Date

Munshi trial: Jury hears murder accused was an "embittered young woman"

A MUM accused of murder was an embittered young woman when she plotted to torch a family home, jurors heard today. Fiaz Munshi, now 38, denies murdering brother and sister Majid, 15, and Anum Khan, eight, in the Magdalen Road arson attack in 1997

Date

Jayden trial: Defence barrister says Ben Blakeley did not mean to kill Jayden

A DEFENCE barrister has said Ben Blakeley did not intend to kill his ex-girlfriend Jayden Parkinson. Delivering his closing speech this afternoon, Richard Benson, QC, told a jury in Oxford Crown Court they must "distinguish between vengeance and

Date

Memory Lane Mailbag:A close call

YOU pointed out that “hardly a week seemed to pass without a dispute” at the Cowley car factories in your article about the engineers’ one-day strike (Memory Lane, June 23). In 1973, the year of your photograph, Oxford City Council wished to name

Date

Memory Lane Mailbag: An own goal can happen to anyone

THE Wheatley School team, that won the Bradbury Cup (Memory Lane, June 30) – I believe it was the Bob Gray Cup – played Bayswater Secondary School, Barton. I played at left full-back for Bayswater in this game and unfortunately deflected the ball

Date

Memory Lane Mailbag:Team shows it's ha'penny-wise

THIS is a picture of the jubilant shove-ha’penny team from the Bakers Arms in Jericho, Oxford, who, 25 years ago, won a crop of awards. In the 1988-9 season, they won the League One title, the Warmington Cup, the Clapton Cup and the Mixed Pairs

Date

‘Fine site’ for an airport

PORT Meadow was once suggested as the site for a civilian airport for Oxford. During the First World War, part of the historic meadow was transformed into a military aerodrome for training members of the Royal Flying Corps. Every morning before

Date

Nibblers were berry honest

MOST people eat a strawberry or two – perhaps even more – when they go to pick-your-own farms. But the guilty could ease their consciences by making a donation in the aptly-named ‘nibble jar’. Proceeds from the jar were given to a Rotary International

Date

Teen singer charmed all those who she met

THE headmaster wasn’t the only one bowled over by Helen Shapiro – the chairman and secretary of the parent-teacher association were impressed too. The teenage singing sensation was invited to the summer fete at Bayswater School, Headington, Oxford

Date

The changing face of Adderbury

Sorting potatoes THESE two women pictured in 1959 had a keen eye for sub-standard potatoes. Those of good quality would pass along the rollers at the village factory and be put into 5lb bags. The advantage of pre-packed goods, it was

Date

Keeping the boss happy

YOUNG Co-op workers met the boss at a dinner to celebrate their success in the organisation’s staff training scheme. They are seen with Arthur Ledger, president of the Oxford and District Co-operative Society, at the Elms Hotel at Iffley, where

Date

Running out of steam

TODAY it is busy and provides some of the most punctual train services in the country. But when this picture was taken in 1967, the railway line from London through Princes Risborough and Bicester to Banbury was under threat. A special train hauled

Date

Jayden trial: Ben Blakeley's co-defendant is his younger brother

TODAY it can be reported for the first time that 17-year-old Jake Blakeley helped his older brother bury the body of Jayden Parkinson. The teenager has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice after he aided Ben Blakeley in hiding his

Date

Rail delays between Oxford and Banbury due to equipment problem

TRAIN passengers are facing 20-minute delays between Oxford and Banbury. According to transport reports, it is due to a problem with line-side equipment. Both First Great Western and Cross Country services are affected. Our top stories

Date

RUGBY UNION: London Welsh sign Tonga prop

LONDON Welsh have bolstered their pack by signing Tonga prop forward Eddie Aholelei. The 32-year-old joins from Super 15 side Melbourne Rebels and will link up with international teammate, and fellow prop, Taione Vea ahead of their return to the

Date

Maybe they can take a selfie of potholes next

IT was lovely to see the picture (July 10) of county councillors Hudspeth and Nimmo Smith enjoying themselves on the river at Henley – wonderful. So perhaps for their next trip together, they will travel down the London Road, Headington, and take

Date

Well done to all who are improving standards

I AM so happy that Bayards Hill School was open and not closed for the strike, as we all know it is in need of improvement and since the new Head has been appointed a fantastic job has been done. We have had a brilliant sports day with all the

Date

Zebra crossing will cause more problems

PART of the joy of living in York Road has been the proximity of the splendid Windmill Primary School and the beautiful Corpus Christi Church. York Road in term time hosts a procession of children accompanied by parents and grandparents as they

Date

Impressed by good behaviour at fun day

WHILE I appreciate that the Grenadier Guards Football Team received a lesson on how to play the game from Kidlington FC, losing 11-0 at the charity football match and fun day held at their ground on Sunday, July 6, can I congratulate them and say what

Date

When wages are down whole economy suffers

WHAT a disgrace that hundreds of public service workers in Oxfordshire were forced to go on strike. The teachers, firefighters, job centre staff and others have seen their living standards drop by almost a fifth. Yet this Coalition Government

Date

What will happen to the rubble when towers go?

IN all the concerns about when these long-serving towers will be blown up it seems no one has considered what is going to happen to the huge pile of rubble left behind. Are we to expect large fleets of haulage lorries continually transporting the

Date

Traffic can get neither to nor from the station regardless of the route

I HAVE recently had the immense misfortune of having to drive several times via Oxford Station, including navigating ‘Death Alley’ – Hythe Bridge Street – where strangers to our ancient city are herded with their suitcases on to two-foot wide pavements

Date

Monday's letters: What are your fellow readers writing in about today?

Want to give your opinion? Email letters@oxfordmail.co.uk

Date

Munshi "must have known" about house fire plan, court hears

JURORS have this morning been told it is inconceivable Fiaz Munshi did not know about a murder plot to torch an East Oxford home. The 38-year-old denies murdering Anum Khan, eight, and Majid, 15, in the Magdalen Road blaze in 1997. But the

Date

Blakeley prone to losing his temper and resorting to violence, court told

A BARRISTER has described Ben Blakeley as a liar who lost his temper and strangled his ex girlfriend. That was how prosecutor Richard Latham QC described the 23-year-old this morning during his closing speech to a jury in Oxford Crown Court.

Date

Dvorak rarity on the Buxton Festival bill

  Dvorak rarity on the Buxton Festival bill The Jacobin: three and a half stars Orfeo ed Euridice: four stars With a deserved reputation for adventurous programming, the Buxton Festival has turned this year to a rare work by Antonin

Date

Update: M40 reopens after car fire near Thame

THE M40 has reopened southbound between junction 7 at Thame and 6 at Watlington after a car fire closed two lanes. One motorist stuck in the delays said there were tailbacks of about a mile.  For automatic updates see our Live Traffic Service

Date

The shops rekindling our interest in books

WHEN Mark Thornton opened Mostly Books in Abingdon in 2006, he continued to sell the pots and pans the cookware store had left behind. Eight years on, the kitchen utensils at the Stert Street store are long gone. But the father-of-two is constantly

Date

Benefits cheat jailed for four months after claiming £47k

A BENEFIT fraudster has been jailed for four months after claiming more than £47,000 he was not entitled to. Antar Sabbah, of York Avenue, Headington, was given a prison sentence after appearing at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Monday last week.

Date

The Scales of Justice - 22 people up in court

People convicted of offences at magistrates courts in Oxfordshire recently: Andrew Harris, 32, of Lenthall Road, Rose Hill, Oxford, admitted stealing wine worth £14.99 from a Co-op in Oxford on May 4 and two ready meals worth £5.20 from a Co-op

Date

German football result shone light into an otherwise dark week for the soul

I think last week was a bad week – in fact, I know it was: I ran away. And the only thing that kept me sane was the last thing on earth I’d have expected – Germans. I’ll say this, and paraphrase Rudyard Kipling’s poem If into the bargain: ‘if you

Date

Sport reflects something of the joy in God

POOR Brazil. How that humiliating World Cup semi final defeat hurt the great football-loving nation, and how it revealed the importance of footballing success for them. And Roger Federer, how his defeat by Novak Djokovic wounded him, although he

Date

Students' satirical swipe at Education Secretary goes on stage in Edinburgh

WHAT would Britain be like if Education Secretary Michael Gove became Prime Minister? That is the question students from St Edward’s School, in North Oxford, are trying to answer in a comedy play, Who’s Afraid of Michael Gove?, they will take to

Date

Why it’s important to talk to one another about our fear of dying

I WORK as a chaplain in a hospice. When I get to know someone I will often ask a question about what this time is like for them, as life is coming to an end, and sometimes people tell me about their fears. It seems very important to me that we can

Date

Tinchy Stryder takes Astonbury in Aston Rowant by storm

HE’S normally used to performing in front of thousands on the big stage. But for one night only on Saturday, Tinchy Stryder was seen at a more intimate gig. The rapper headlined the Aston Rowant cricket club fundraiser on a farm in Crowell,

Date

Injured person cut free after two-car collision

A person had to be freed from wreckage after a two-car crash in Bloxham at about 11.30pm on Friday. Firefighters, police and paramedics were called to the scene on the A361 and the victim was freed from their vehicle and taken to the Horton Hospital

Date

Appleton hails Josh Ashby as Oxford United youngster makes big impression in friendly win + match highlights

MICHAEL Appleton reserved special praise for Josh Ashby after the teenager finished off an impressive week by scoring the winner for Oxford United on Saturday. The highly-rated midfielder, who signed his first professional contract in February,

Date

Delays on the A420 after four-vehicle collision at Littleworth

THREE cars and a van have been involved in a collision on the A420 Littleworth. It happened about 9am between Barcote Lane and Buckland Road near the turning for Tadpole Bridge.  Police are directing traffic and the fire service are on the

Date

Moonlight strollers rise and shine for Sobell House Hospice

A HOSPICE which provides care for terminally ill patients will benefit from a fundraising midnight walk. Walkers followed the nine-mile route for this year’s Oxford Moonlight Stroll from St Edward’s School into the city before returning to the school

Date

Battle of the best of British at Blenheim Palace Saturday event

RECORD crowds saw Napoleonic infantry skirmish and a Spitfire flypast as the Battle Proms marked its tenth anniversary at Blenheim Palace on Saturday. A 6,600-strong crowd watched the New English Orchestra play military-inspired pieces to mark

Date

Update: Lines reopened but delays continue on First Great Western trains between Oxford and London Paddington

TRAIN lines have reopened but there are still delays on First Great Western services between Oxford and London Paddington this morning after a signalling problem.  A number of trains were cancelled including the 9.31am Oxford to London Paddington

Date

007 Goldfinger Aston Martin drives too hard a bargain

A bid of £320,000 was not enough to win the Aston Martin thought to be responsible for the iconic brand bcoming the car of choice for James Bond. Talks are now thought to be ongoing between the 1955 Aston Martin DB 2/4’s owner and the highest bidder

Date

CRICKET: Oxfordshire's delight as victory books final spot

OXFORDSHIRE reached the Minor Counties knockout final for the first time in their history after a dramatic turnaround against Wiltshire at Bicester & North Oxford. Luke Ryan’s men ended up winning yesterday’s semi-final by 105 runs to set up

Date

'We must spend it!' Just £15k of £362k pot of Oxford City Council cash for improvements across city used

ABOUT £15,000 has been spent from a £362,000 pot of council cash for cycling improvements in the city, the Oxford Mail can reveal. A council boss said transport staff did not have time to approve projects aimed at making roads safer. Oxford

Date

Police search high and low for missing Andrzej

A 52-year-old man was last night still missing in Witney following a police search over the weekend. Polish man Andrzej Jedryka was reported missing at 12.30am on Saturday and police had said they were concerned about his welfare because of his

Date

CRICKET: Rowant suffer heavy loss

ASTON Rowant fell to a crushing 131-run defeat at the hands of High Wycombe in Division 1. After inserting their rivals on a green wicket with good conditions for swing bowling, Rowant were soon up against it as Gavin Baker (51) and George Russell

Date

CRICKET: Manley's the hero as Banbury win last-over thriller

BANBURY maintained their position at the top of the Division 1 table with a sensational two-wicket victory over lowly Gerrards Cross on Saturday. Going into the final over, both sides could have won the game with Banbury needing 12 runs and Gerrards

Date

CRICKET: Oxford on the end of a hammering

OXFORD were on the end of a hammering in their Division 1 clash at home to Henley. The hosts went down by ten wickets in a one-sided encounter and slip from fourth to seventh in the table. After choosing to bat, Oxford lost wickets at regular

Date

CRICKET: Centurion Cater hails Oxfordshire spinners

JONNY Cater was quick to credit his spin-bowling teammates after his century helped Oxfordshire book their place in the final of the Unicorns Counties Knockout Trophy. The Banbury wicket-keeper batsman made an excellent 101 not out in Oxon’s 263

Date

Swan census starts

AN annual 12th century tradition of counting swans in the River Thames is due to start today. The five-day census of swan upping was due to start in Surrey and end at Abingdon Bridge at 5pm on Friday. As part of the census, the Queen’s Swan

Date

Space mission lift-off

COUNTY space scientists have helped launch two satellites that are now sending back information on asteroids. The satellites were launched last week by scientists based at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Harwell to gather data including temperature

Date

Puma flies in for its first time but it was bye-bye to the Merlin

HELICOPTERS from the village RAF base made their first and last appearances at an airshow on the weekend. The RAF’s Puma MK2 chopper, launched last year after a £260m upgrade, was shown to crowds at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford

Date

Pink walkers can be proud of their effort

UNIVERSITY Parks were awash with a sea of pink yesterday as hundreds of women did their bit for Cancer Research. There were countless touching stories from those taking part including 15-year-old Sarah Davis who was running in memory of her mum

Date

Spirits soar as community unites for academies fete

A SUMMER fete was held to bring a community together after three primary schools became academies. Falconry, dog stunts, go-kart racing, choir singing and vegetable contests delighted crowds at Blackbird Academy Trust’s summer fete and show at

Date

Monday, July 14

3:44pm Jayden trial: Blakeley's co-defendant is his younger brother Jake 2:46pm London Welsh sign Tonga prop 2:45pm

Date

RESULTS: July 12

Division 1 Great Brickhill 124 (A DeBeer 40, M Mannering 4-15, D Warner 3-52), Cumnor 125-6 (J Dale 43no). Thame Town 152 (S Lachlan 41no, W Rooney 41, W Taylor 39, J Gear 4-32, W Platts 4-64), Buckingham Town 153-6 (A Pearson 60, S Myatt 30

Date

To spend or not to spend is the question for councils

TAXPAYERS’ money of course has to be spent very wisely. And authorities should be doing all they can to ensure it goes a long way. That’s why it’s right for Councillor Bob Johnston to be warning that an opportunity to save millions on the much-needed

Date

World Cup questions of the day: Who was the player of the tournament and who was the villain?

Date

Call for joined-up thinking over £123m flood channel

A CHANCE to save millions on the £123m Oxford flood alleviation channel could be missed if agencies cannot work together, it has been warned. The Western Conveyance, which received a £26m Government grant last Monday, would divert the Thames from

Date

Firefighters across Oxfordshire stage two-hour strike

FIREFIGHTERS across Oxfordshire staged a two-hour strike this morning. Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) walked out between 6am and 8am over plans to change pensions and the retirement age of firefighters.  It's part of a series of strikes

Date

Driver arrested after hunt

A 24-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested on suspicion of being drunk in charge of a vehicle after a police hunt in Radley on Saturday night. Thames Valley Police were called to the village at about 10.30pm to reports of a car being driven erratically

Date

End in sight for five fit fundraisers

AFTER running the Town and Gown 10k, the 12k Cornbury Monster and doing the 19-mile Cycle4Life, the end is in sight for five fundraising fitness fanatics. Darren Davies, 44, who runs Gladiator Fitness UK in Marston, assembled the group to get them

Date

Meeting to discuss hospital inspection

THE chief executive of the county’s hospital authority will address councillors about a critical inspection of Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital this week. On Thursday Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust’s Sir Jonathan Michael will speak to the

Date

Cycling for fair trade

A PAIR of fairtrade-supporting cyclists took part in a bike ride around the county. Alison Merryweather-Clarke and Sue Campbell were among many people cycling around Oxfordshire’s fairtrade centres for the “Tour de Fair”. The pair from the

Date

Artists from around world sketch city perspectives

People from across the globe came together for a three-day sketching event held in the city this week. More than 30 people joined the art workshop at George Street’s Old Fire Station to sketch various city centre locations. Worskshop participants

Date

Bench plaque taken off by ‘childish’ city council

COUNCIL bosses have been accused of “childish” behaviour for removing a bench’s plaque just days after the seat was installed. Independent Oxford city councillor Mick Haines was shocked to have the plaque returned to him by post. It was accompanied

Date

Watch: Highlights of Oxford United's pre-season friendly at Farnborough Town

Courtesy of Farnborough's Youtuve channel Oxford boss Appleton praises Josh Ashby as a real talent And read David Pritchard's match report

Date

CRICKET: Super Sanklecha does it again for Shipton

A five-wicket haul from Anupam Sanklecha and a fine knock of 70 from Calvin Dickinson steered Shipton-under-Wychwood to a six wicket win at home to Falkland in Division 2. Last week, Sanklecha captured five wickets in Shipton’s 69-run victory against

Date

CRICKET: Pat's all-round show leads Horspath home

Dynamic all-rounder Pat Foster powered Horspath to a seven-wicket win over Finchampstead in Division 2 at the Recreation Ground. The former Durham MCCU seamer took 4-64 as Finchampstead were bowled out for 235 after being put in to bat, before

Date

CRICKET: Matt's high fives move Great Tew off bottom

Matt Woods took five wickets as Great & Little Tew recorded an 88-run victory at Chesham to move off the foot of the Division 2 table on Saturday. The success sees Tew leapfrog their rivals and provides a first win in five matches. Chasing

Date

RESULTS: July 12

Division 1 High Wycombe 291 (63.5 ovs, A Duncan 71, J Benning 69, G Baker 51, G Russell 43, M Hammond 5-78, A Muttitt 3-59), Aston Rowant 160 (42.1 ovs, W Morrick 39, J Smith 34, L Bethell 33, G Harper 6-40). Gerrards Cross 257-4 (64 ovs, D

Date

Botley Road sewer repair work finishes five days early

WORK to repair sewers in Oxford's Botley Road has finished five days early. Temporary traffic lights have been operating since Tuesday and motorists faced delays as a result. They were due to be in place until Friday but yesterday workers finished

Date

Thousands get in the pink for race to combat cancer

CANCER was given a kicking yesterday as more than 5,300 women ran, jogged, and walked their way through University Parks to raise cash to fight the disease. The Race for Life event in Oxford is expected to have raised more than £350,000 for research

Date

Protesters fight to stop housing plan

CAMPAIGNERS have called plans to replace a community centre with flats an “insult to the people of Cowley”. They gathered at the site in Barns Road, Oxford, on Saturday, against a proposal by the city council to build 40 flats. Protesters were

Date

Sex allegations against sacked surgeon false

A SURGEON is in line for a NHS payout after he was sacked over false allegations he sexually harassed two young trainee doctors. The consultant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was dismissed in 2012 after two young doctors said he made sexual

Date

Capture tower swifts and you could feature in exhibit

A FLOCK of birds nested in an iconic museum tower has provided the inspiration for a wildlife photography competition. Snappers are invited to submit their shots of swifts to Oxford University Museum of Natural History’s wildlife photography exhibition

Date

‘Free parking is needed’ in town revamp

COMMUNITY leaders have called for free parking as the final plans to complete Bicester’s £70m town centre regeneration were approved. Cherwell District Council has given the go ahead to a £6.5m five-storey civic building, which will house its Bicester

Date

RESULTS: July 12

Division 1 Great Horwood 230-9 (G Davies 56, K Grant 4-31), Garsington 234-5 (C Woodward 61, D Prosper 49no, A Robertson 44, C Wharton 43). Minster Lovell 204 (C Tinsley 60, E Dunn 42, L Day 34, T Rothwell 3-25), Hook Norton 93 (C Dare 45,

Date

Rethink over size of wharf’s proposed community centre

A COMMUNITY centre which is part of plans for a redeveloped Jericho Wharf could be scaled back after fears were raised about views of a church. English Heritage (EH) has said the proposed centre is too large and will block views of the neighbouring

Date

Garden tribute to class teacher

CHILDREN, teachers and family members commemorated an Oxford primary school teacher who died aged 39 by opening a peace garden. Angela Clare, known by her maiden name of Miss Sloan to children, taught year one pupils at St Aloysius’ School, in

Date

Temporary road fix is branded potty

A WOMAN has accused Oxfordshire County Council of “wasting money” by filling in potholes just five weeks before her street is set to be entirely resurfaced. Olive Minett, of Corn Street in Witney, spotted workmen patching up her road last Wednesday