Detectives have sealed off a stretch of the River Cherwell in Oxford after the badly-decomposed body of a man was discovered in the undergrowth, writes Richard Abbott. The fully-clothed body was hauled out of the water yesterday afternoon after a passer-by
Oxford supremo Steve Purchase may have been in America for last Friday's match against Poole, but he still followed the action thanks to the Oxford Speedway Internet site. Results are updated on the site every three heats from all home matches. The service
Oxfordshire's Middleton Cup manager Bob Gilkes was highly delighted as he watched the county thrash Gloucestershire 158-102 in a cup trial at Page Park Bristol. Greg Moon was Oxon's most successful skip, winning 42-9. Other victors were Howard Watts (
Runners at the Oxford Stadium, May 18 7.35: Egans Pride, Muscun Dez 3, Key Time, Aha Bluey, Morris Tara, GWURN LINDAS ACE. 7.50: Kilrush Charly, Security Wizard, New Inn Lovell, VIOLET MIST, Paper Gem, Ballyregan Rob 3. 8.05: MOONROE PAM, Supper Spark
Tomorrow's Oxford bags 12.02 450m A9 Pulleen Lass (Ron Bicknell) Dawns Flame 3 (David Egan) Simply Sandra (David Egan) New Inn Minster (Steve Davis) Mondella Boy (W) (Jim Morgan) BOVEENS TREASURE (W) (Glen Mayhew) 12.16 450m A8 Boyhill Joe (John Annett
Lee Hurst - David Gower's erstwhile team-mate on the irreverent TV sports show They Think It's All Over - brings his own show to the Oxford Playhouse tonight (May 18). After five series of the popular TV programme and four hugely successful nationwide
The golden fields of oilseed rape are a sign that summer is well on the way but for many people they signify little more than a nightmare, writes Zahra Borno. Retired publican George Palmer, of Cockpit Close, Woodstock, says he has started to dread this
A childcare roadshow is touring the county from Monday (May 22). The roadshow has been organised by the Heart of England TEC, in association with the childcare development team at the county council's social services department, the Children's Information
Unbelievable Truth's first single since returning 'home' to Shifty Disco is released on Monday. Agony - the nearest T'Truth have got to a full on rock out - is not part of the Singles Club subscription package, so head to the shops which support local
The south coast's finest export, Toploader, finally made it to Oxford, as part of their recent tour, albeit a few weeks late, writes Mark S. Those still 'up' for a night of guitar 'n' keyboards driven pop tunes, after spending a sub-tropical afternoon
For some bands, the tried and tested 'apprenticeship' of live performances and building a loyal fan base is the way to the top. But there are exceptions, writes Templeton Blake. One such is Orange Can. Founder members, brothers James and Jason Aslett,
Employers who want to maintain a competitive edge in business should be developing a new approach to childcare, according to an Oxfordshire researcher. Steve Laurence, who is on secondment to the Heart of England Training and Enterprise Council from Oxfordshire
From Tony Giles (tngiles@gateway.net ) Hello, My name is Tony Giles. I was born and raised in Oxford and left for the US eleven years ago. I would love to hear from any old school friends. I attended Cowley St John Upper School, leaving in 1982. I usually
Sport England is to look again at the design of a 10m leisure centre after swimmers complained about the original plans. But people who want alterations to the changing and showering areas in the new Abingdon centre are unlikely to get their way, the
Flowers are to be placed on the grave of a young Kiwi soldier more than 80 years after he died in action. It will be the first time that the family of 18-year-old Herbert Knowles has been able to honour his death - thanks to an Oxfordshire man. The teenager
Boat mechanic John Parkinson cursed when he dropped his spanner into the Oxford Canal. But that was nothing to his reaction when he lowered a magnet into the murky water to retrieve it and hauled up an unexploded World War Two bomb instead. The device
Residents have been warned of the risk to health from asbestos in derelict railway huts. Didcot Town Council and the Great Western Railway Staff Association Club have protested to owner Railtrack amid claims that the site in Station Road is a rat-infested
An expert in village shops has warned that we could all pick up the bill for the closure of rural post offices. Helen Datson, who represents Oxfordshire in the National Association of Village Shops, said the cost of travelling further to shop and the
Two devoted sons who claim their mother's body was violated by a needless post-mortem examination have won the right to fight a test case in the High Court. Jeremy and John Holtom claim they were not told of their 67-year-old's mother Jane's death until
One of Oxfordshire's best-known football coaches will play a key role in Kevin Keegan's attempts to steer England to Euro 2000 glory. Malcolm Crosby, the former Oxford United coach and manager, who lives in Cumnor, has been enlisted by England boss Keegan
E-mail your details to our Listings Editor Wendy Broadway (wendy.broadway@nqo.com) THURSDAY, MAY 18: Machine Breakers, Bound by Nothing, The Point, The Plain, Oxford; DJ Mark Fisher, Club Casuals, Remote Control, The Moggs (see joint preview), Kooler
A school is celebrating its 140-year history with a reunion of former pupils. Staff and present pupils at Our Lady's Convent School in Oxford Road, Abingdon, will exchange stories about the school during a picnic in the grounds on Saturday. A reunion
A second school earmarked for closure has been praised by watchdogs. Milham Ford School for girls - set for the axe under the shake-up of schools in Oxford - was told it showed an "evident commitment to continued improvement". The Ofsted inspection was
Chief Education Officer Graham Badman answers his critics over planned changes to Oxfordshire schooling The front pages of the Oxford Mail on May 11 and 13 and accompanying editorials present a somewhat partial and inflammatory view of the consequences
Oxford United have made contract offers to defenders Steve Davis and Jon Shepheard which leaves only Mark Watson and Phil Whelan, of the club's out-of-contract players, who have yet to be offered new deals. Manager Denis Smith has also offered a full-time
Oxford City chairman Mick Woodley has shot down reports that Luton Town have made a 30,000 offer for striker Dwaine Strong. The pacy 19-year-old forward has attracted interest from a string of Football League clubs following a series of impressive performances
Oxford-based Arsenal defender Martin Keown put on a brave face after the Gunners disappointing defeat to Galatasaray in the UEFA Cup final last night. Reflecting on yet another match decided by penalties, Keown said: We have to move on now. We have got
Hadden Hill marked their tenth anniversary celebrations by completing an unprecedented double in Berks, Bucks and Oxon competitions. Five days after Richard Lee and Leon Beer had lifted the BB & O's Amanda Scratch Salver, Hadden Hill tasted more success
Aussie Mark Lemon is back with Oxford Cheetahs in place of Roman Povazhny, writes Leon Hill. The popular rider returns to the club which bought him back to the British speedway scene in 1996 when he was a key player in their line-up. The Oxford promoters
Star Royal completed the first half of a likely double, when they defeated Cherwell Lions 4-3 in a cracking League Cup final at Oxford City, writes Geoff Bower. The Morrells Oxford Sunday League Division 1 champions-elect, who raced into a 4-1 lead, held
Oxford supremo Steve Purchase may have been in America for last Friday's match against Poole, but he still followed the action thanks to the Oxford Speedway Internet site. Results are updated on the site every three heats from all home matches. The service
Stadhampton-based Newington Nurseries are preparing a rare Amorphophallus peonifoilus plant, which will be on display at next week's Chelsea Flower Show. The plant, commonly known as Mr Stinky, is expected to be at its peak during the show, growing at
Peterborough Panthers have signed Peter Karlsson and Brett Woodifield, dropping Andre Compton (who has gone to Newcastle) and ex-Cheetah Glenn Cunningham (who is reportedly going to Belle Vue). Poole have brought back Alun Rossiter and are expecting Aussie
People in need of relaxation are being invited to unwind at a stress-busting meditation session. The Baha'i community of south Oxfordshire is offering to help people in the Wallingford area escape the stress of modern living, by setting up a special tranquillity
The hour-long musical spectacular which will form a major part of the finale to Oomf!, Oxford's Own Millennium Festival, is close to completion, writes Emma Henry. The man behind the music, Oxford-based professional composer Nick Bicat, has handed over
SALES at booming hi-tech company Bookham Technology, which has created 168 new jobs this year, have soared five-fold, writes Maggie Hartford. Pre-tax losses rose to 8.1m from 3.3m, but the company said this reflected strong investment in product development
Remote Control have come a long way in a mere 12 months, writes Pookie Hudson. Firm favourites on the hip Camden circuit, the band's striking image is a collision of the New York Dolls and T-Rex - while, musically, the band waves two-fingers in the direction
Mark S looks ahead at the musical week in Oxfordshire THURSDAY, MAY 18: The Kooler at The Bullingdon, Cowley Road has Club Casuals (fronted by Georgina Turvey and Toby Slater) glam-rockers Remote Control, and The Moggs (see preview) on offer. And don't
Residents are refusing to accept defeat in their bid to stop a 24-hour Stagecoach bus depot being built on their doorstep. Cherwell District Council's planning committee rejected plans for the 6m depot at Langford Lane, Kidlington. But the bus company
The former headmaster of a school for children with behavioural difficulties strenuously denied allegations that he abused three boys in his care. Oxford University graduate Dr Alfred Reeves, 62, admitted kissing pupils on the forehead or the cheek while
Baby Daniel Ward can melt hearts when he bats his eyelids, writes Victoria Owen. But less than three months ago a brain tumour prevented him closing his eyes at all. The 11-month-old has neuroblastoma, a vigorous cancer that spread from his kidneys, leaving
A reward is being offered for the unsolved hit-and-run death of a groom's best friend following a wedding party, writes Paul Warner. Graphic designer Christopher Oulds, 36, of Hailes Gardens, Bicester, was killed after walking home following a wedding
