Archive

  • Hunt for man steps up

    Police are handing out photographs of a man on the run in Oxfordshire in a bid to get him back behind bars. Andrew Gallagher, 52, was jailed for two years after launching a campaign of harassment against a mother-of-two in Crowmarsh Gifford

  • It'll be all White for church bells

    Bellringers and volunteers today helped lower bells from their church tower for the first time in more than 200 years for a long overdue restoration. A team from the RAF Transport Department, in Benson, will take the eight bells from St Helen

  • Paedophile ‘will not return to Oxford’

    A paedophile who sexually assaulted young girls over a 25-year period has been told not to come back to Oxford. Malcolm Morton, 61, formerly of Edgecombe Road, Barton, was convicted of a string of sexual offences against children and jailed

  • Burglars snatch OAP's panic alarm

    Burglars snatched a panic alarm from an elderly woman during a break-in to stop her alerting others. A woman heard a noise then spotted four men in her bedroom in Old Field, in Little Milton, at around 8pm. They grabbed her panic alarm pendant from

  • FOOTBALL: Kilpin strikes at the double

    Lee Kilpin was the hero with a second-half double as leaders Bletchingdon twice came from behind to secure a 4-2 home win over Enstone in the Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division. Jack Barrett capitalised on a defensive mix-up to give Enstone the

  • FOOTBALL: Espinosa blasts a hat-trick

    Luis Espinosa hit a hat-trick in North Oxford Res’s 4-2 home win over Rose Hill in their RT Harris Oxford City FA Premier Cup group match. Ray Chola also netted for North Oxford, with Rose Hill replying through Craig Curril and a 40-yarder from Kamen

  • FOOTBALL: Gale blows in for ABK

    Paddy Gale hit a late winner to cap a ABK Res fightback in a shock 4-3 win at Bishop’s Itchington Res in the Banbury District & Lord Jersey FA's Geoff Wilson Cup semi-final. Dan Dennehey fired Division 1 side Bishop’s into an early lead

  • Man admits attack and robbery

    An 18-year-old man today admitted attacking an Oxford University student on a cycle path in Marston. Craig Knowles, of Oxford Road, Old Marston, admitted causing actual bodily harm to Abdul Rehman and robbing and grievous bodily harm with intent to Kentaro

  • Hunt for sex offender steps up

    Police are handing out photographs of a sex offender on the run in Oxfordshire in a bid to get him back behind bars. Andrew Gallagher, 52, was jailed for two years after launching a campaign of harassment against a mother-of-two in Crowmarsh Gifford,

  • New Angles

    THE geometry of skateboarding and the political struggles of Central America are being explored in two new exhibitions from overseas artists at an Oxford gallery. Modern Art Oxford, in Pembroke Street, is staging The Body of Others by Guatemalan

  • Oscar boosts book trade

    Oscar the owl was enlisted by budding entrepreneurs to grab the public’s attention for their book promotion. Oscar, an Asian owl, was guest of honour for a group of teenage business people running a stand at the Young Enterprise trade fair

  • Girls are not birdbrains at selling

    Oscar the owl was enlisted by budding entrepreuneurs to grab the public’s attention for their book promotion. Oscar, an Asian owl, was guest of honour for a group of teenage business people running a stand at the Young Enterprise trade fair

  • This is a job for SUPERWARDEN

    A NEW team of “superwardens” could soon be patrolling the streets. West Oxfordshire District Council wants to create six new community warden roles as part of its proposal to take over all parking enforcement in the area. The new community wardens will

  • FOOTBALL: Hall's helping hand

    Marston's Oxford Sunday League A penalty save from Adam Hall helped Highfield claim only their second Premier Division victory of the season – a 3-0 win over Cold Arbour. Hall saved the spot-kick from Terry Stockford, while Carl Ellis

  • Optician helps 300 in Africa

    An Abingdon optician has returned from a mission to Africa to help restore the sight of hundreds of locals. Lucy Waldron, who works at the Abingdon branch of Specsavers, in Bury Street, travelled with seven other opticians to Burkina Faso, where they

  • Holocaust survivor to speak at Union

    A holocaust survivor was due to speak at the Oxford Union debating club tonight. Eva Neumann, 70, who was born in Czechoslovakia, was deported by the Nazis in April 1944 and sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp, where her mother and siblings

  • Frustration as flood repairs delayed again

    An elderly couple are appalled after discovering work to fix a broken culvert under their home has been delayed yet again. Pensioners Terry and Dilys Cale, of Upper Road, Kennington, said they had suffered years of stress and uncertainty since the discovery

  • Update: Rail services return to normal

    First Great Western train services between Oxfordshire and London should be back to normal tomorrow. A special timetable is in operation today on many of FGW's routes due to the effects of the heavy snow yesterday. An FGW spokesman said

  • Burglars target elderly women

    Police are appealing for witnesses after two elderly villagers' homes were burgled last night. At about 8pm a woman at a house in Old Field, Little Milton, heard a noise and then noticed four men in her bedroom. They said that they were looking for

  • Death crash: 'Weather not to blame'

    Snow and ice was not to blame for a crash thatkilled a lorry driver in Oxfordshire. A lorry and BMW X5 collided on the A420 at Southmoor at about 3.45pm yesterday following hours of snow and freezing temperatures which caused problems across

  • FOOTBALL: Royals depose Kings

    Autotype UTV League Prolific striker Jimmy Deabill cracked a four timer in Kidlington Royals 6-0 Division 1 win at Goodlake Arms and helped his side go top. Steve Litton and Tim Wyatt were also on target. Kings Arms Wheatley lost top spot after a

  • Today's local share prices (PM)

    AEA Technology 18 BMW 1608 Electrocomponents 133 Nationwide Accident Repair 99.5 Oxford Biomedica 6.75 Oxford Catalyst 68.5 Oxford Instruments 160 Reed Elsevier 519.75 RM 165.5 RPS Group 131.25 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • FOOTBALL: League rivals reach final

    The OFA Sam Waters Cup final will be an all Marston’s League affair with both remaining sides winning their respective semi-finals, writes GEOFF BOWER. Oxford Yellows came from behind at home to OUP Wanderers to win 3-1 with a fine second-half

  • FOOTBALL: Duo hit trebles

    Liam Woods and Luke Higgins hit hat-tricks as Wallingford Wanderers thrashed AC Winnersh 10-1 in the Berks & Bucks Junior Trophy fifth round. Martin White, Sam Elkins, Ben Strudley and Dave Norris also scored.

  • Funeral for former councillor

    The funeral of former Chipping Norton town councillor Graham Birks is due to place tomorrow. Mr Birks passed away at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford on Saturday, January 24, after losing a two-year battle with cancer. His funeral will take place

  • FATAL CRASH: Weather not to blame

    Snow and ice was not to blame for a crash which killed a lorry driver in Oxfordshire yesterday. A lorry and BMW X5 collided on the A420 at Southmoor at about 3.45pm following hours of snow and freezing temperatures which caused problems across the county

  • Plans to widen May Day celebrations

    Maypoles, Morris dancers and traditional entertainment could be coming to East Oxford under plans to extend the city’s May Morning festivities east of Magdalen Bridge. For the past three years, Magdalen Bridge has been closed in the early hours

  • Precinct’s new manager plans changes

    The firm managing Abingdon’s outdated Bury Street precinct is trying to revive it by bringing in big-name businesses. Scottish Widows — which took over the lease from Threadneedle in December after a promised redevelopment of the centre stalled — is

  • College support for jobless

    Free courses are on offer to the unemployed to help them get a new job. Abingdon & Witney College, in Northcourt Road, Abingdon, is offering free courses in maths and English for those on benefits, which includes JobSeekers’ Allowance. Those who are

  • Arrests follow clampdown on wildlife killers

    Police have dealt a blow to gangs who were terrorising Oxfordshire farmers by ramming cars into rabbits and deer for kicks. Up to a dozen people have been arrested for offences related to trespass, criminal damage and the illegal killing of animals following

  • Loan secures at-risk social club

    Members of a 90-year-old social club say its future is secure for another nine decades after a mystery donation saved it from folding. The cash-strapped Eynsham Sports and Social Club was due to close for good last weekend, but it was thrown a lifeline

  • SCHOOLS' FOOTBALL: St Andrew's claim crown

    St Andrew’s Primary School, Headington, were crowned Oxfordshire champions in the English Schools’ FA Schools’ Cup at Our Lady’s Convent, Abingdon. They came out on top in the four-team seven-a-side tournament on goal difference from Cumnor. St Andrew

  • Seven vehicles in A34 pile-up

    A crash involving seven vehicles is causing delays on the A34 near Oxford. One lane is closed on the A34 Western Bypass northbound between the Botley Interchange and Peartree Interchange. The emergency services are attending to an accident

  • FOOTBALL: Brize cruise to victory

    Brize Norton cruised to an impressive 5-0 victory over Marlow Town in the Thames Valley League. Cheryl MacLennan, Amanda Townsend, Claire Johnson and Katie Round scored to put Brize out of reach in a one-sided first half. Although Marlow defended better

  • YOUTH FOOTBALL: Holders sent crashing

    Oxford Blackbirds sent reigning champions Banbury United crashing out of the Under 15 competition with a 5-0 success. Tom Farrell scored the only goal of the first half as Blackbirds edged ahead at the break. But an own goal from a corner at the start

  • GIRLS' FOOTBALL: Tower record first success

    Millie Harris was the star of the show as her goal gave Tower Hill Vixens their first victory of the season with a 1-0 success against Wantage in the Under 11 League. Karolina Sikorska laid the ball into the path of Harris, who curled home

  • YOUTH FOOTBALL: Abingdon extend run

    Abingdon United extended their unbeaten Youth Conference League run to five matches after a 3-2 victory at Hitchin. Despite being without three regulars through injury, Abingdon went ahead on 20 minutes. Good defensive work from Rob

  • YOUTH FOOTBALL: Weedon stars in cup win

    Four goals from Tom Weedon secured a 5-0 victory for North Leigh against Garden City in the Giles Sports witney Youth League's Under 14 Knockout Cup. Josh Burnham hit the other as the A League side saw off their B League opponents. Strikes

  • Date set for Maureen Christian's funeral

    The funeral of former Oxford city councillor Maureen Christian, who died on Friday night aged 82, is to take place on Saturday, February 14. Labour city councillor for Headington Hill and Northway Mrs Christian will be cremated at a family-only

  • Thieves take angling equipment

    Burglars stole £1,000 worth of angling equipment from the porch of a house in Banbury. Police are appealing for witnesses after the break-in at a house in Windrush between 8pm and 11.30pm on Friday. Dc Jane May said: “The occupants of the house were

  • Witness appeal over sex assault

    Police are renewing appeals for witnesses after a woman was sexually assaulted near Grove. The 27-year-old woman was walking by herself along the A338 at 3am on Sunday when she was attacked. A man sexually assaulted her, causing severe

  • Update: Latest on school closures

    The cold weather meant that dozens of schools in Oxfordshire were closed today: Ace Centre Nursery, Chipping Norton Bardwell Special School, Bicester Barley Hill Primary, Thame Bishop Carpenter Primary School, Banbury

  • All aboard for day out

    All aboard for a great day out! By the look on their faces, members of the Cowley Workers Social Club in Oxford were looking forward to their annual outing, write Richard Cook and Tyrone Steele. Some of the 160 pensioners who joined

  • The changing face of Oxford

    The sun shone for the first of Oxford City Council’s Fun in the Parks events in 1984. Activities included dancing, live music, clowns, jugglers, a giant inflatable and face painting. Darren Timms and Lloyd Best are pictured getting into the spirit of

  • Marathon effort raised £1,000

    It's a surprise that these hardy folk were looking so cheerful and wide-awake. They had just completed a 24-hour marathon darts session and raised £1,000 for good causes. More than 20 players, most of them seen here in a picture sent in by Mrs K McKay

  • In picture on band's names

    It didn't take long for readers to identify four of the five musicians in our mystery picture (Memory Lane, January 5). The photograph appeared in the Oxford Mail in 1963 alongside an article highlighting the problems facing Oxford youth clubs, but group

  • Tough time in trenches

    German machine gun fire during the First World War couldn’t stop soldier George Webb celebrating his 25th birthday. His diary entry for April 19, 1915, read: “Received several parcels and letters at 3.30 in morning, relieved by Royal Berks at 8. Sandbag

  • All-action playtime in St Ebbe's

    There was never a dull moment when children in St Ebbe’s, Oxford, came out to play. Bows and arrows, hop scotch, tig, tennis with battered rackets, roller skating – you name it, the youngsters of the Friars did it. These pictures were

  • Police chief had high profile

    When Clement Burrows was appointed Chief Constable of Oxford in 1956, his starting salary was less than £30 a week. He was paid £1,450 a year and was promised he would receive annual increments of £50 to a maximum of £1,600. The salary

  • Today's local share prices

    AEA Technology 19 BMW 1581 Electrocomponents 131 Nationwide Accident Repair 99.5 Oxford Biomedica 6.6 Oxford Catalyst 68.5 Oxford Instruments 160 Reed Elsevier 511.25 RM 165 RPS Group 127.25 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Tom Morris: Former city engineer

    Tom Morris, former city engineer for Oxford, has died aged 97. Mr Morris started out his career in local government with the Oxford Corporation in the 1940s, then went to work for other local authorities. He was deputy city engineer at Bath, and was

  • Dr Robert Lyall Lucas MBE: Fellow of Keble College

    Dr Robert Lyall Lucas MBE, a fellow of Keble College, and curator of the University Parks for many years, has died aged 81. Born in Bedford on February 20, 1927, Dr Lucas died on January 5. He attended Bedford School before becoming an undergraduate

  • Tony Cooper: Accountant

    An Oxfordshire accountant who was one of the founder members of the Isis Rotary Club has died aged 53. Tony Cooper was the second secretary of the philanthropic organisation that was set up by Oxford business leaders in 1985. Mr Cooper, a former pupil

  • Vivian Ridler CBE: Former Printer to the University

    Former Oxford University Press Printer Vivian Ridler CBE, who rose to become the president of the British Federation of Master Printers, has died aged 95. Mr Ridler, who worked at OUP for 30 years and held the post of Printer to the University

  • Denis Manners: Folk music enthusiast

    Denis Manners, widely known in Oxfordshire as ‘Mr Folk Music’, has died aged 89. Mr Manners, pictured, was one of the organisers of the original Towersey Festival of folk music and dancing, which is now in its 45th year. He lived in Towersey for many

  • Doreen Stewart: Long-serving Bicester councillor

    A minute’s silence was held at a council meeting for former Bicester East councillor Doreen Stewart, a staunch Conservative, who died earlier this month. Described as a free spirit and fiercely independent, Mrs Stewart, 75, worked tirelessly for

  • Gerald Shirley: Freeman of Oxford

    Retired Botley solicitor Gerald Shirley passed away peacefully aged 72 at Sobell House hospice on January 11 following a short illness. The former Magdalen College School pupil was well known among the parishioners of St Michael’s Church in Cumnor and

  • Eric Smith: Former chief inspector in Witney

    A former chief inspector of Witney police has died aged 92. Eric Smith was described by family, friends and colleagues as “a gentleman and a gentle man”. Mr Smith passed away at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford on January 3, after suffering pneumonia

  • Burglars steal fishing equipment

    Thieves stole angling equipment worth £1,000 from the porch of a Banbury home. Between 8pm and 11.30pm on Friday, thieves stole the equipment from the porch of a house in Windrush. Det Con Jane May said: “The offenders stole fishing equipment,

  • Power station strikers return to work

    Fifty workers have gone back to work this morning following a one-day strike at Didcot Power Station in support of national protests against the use of foreign labour. RWE npower, the firm which owns the plant, said the strikers were all contractors

  • Museum looks for home win

    VISITORS to Wallingford Museum are being encouraged to look deep into the history of their own homes and share their discoveries as part of a new exhibition to be launched in March. ‘Raising the Roof — Wallingford’s Homes and Their Families

  • Crash causes A34 delays

    A pile-up led to delays on the A34 near Oxford today. The crash involving four vehicles blocked one lane of the southbound carriageway near South Hinksey. Reports say a car is facing the wrong way in the outside lane with two other cars and a lorry

  • 'Help find this man'

    The frightened victim of a stalker spotted on the run in south Oxfordshire last night begged for him to be caught. Andrew Gallagher, 52, was jailed two years ago after police found a handgun, bullets, chloroform and duct tape at his caravan

  • Update: Bus services running

    Oxford Bus Company has said its services are running normally today, despite icy conditions. The firm said local City routes, Park and Ride, Espress London buses and the airline to Heathrow and Gatwick, were back on track. A spokesman

  • Update: Rail services hit

    First Great Western has warned there will be short notice changes and cancellations on some routes this morning because of the weather. The 8.06am from Oxford to London Paddington has been cancelled. The 8.23am from Bicester to Oxford

  • United snap up ace Clist

    Simon Clist said last night he was thrilled to have joined Oxford United on transfer deadline day, because these are exciting times. The 27-year-old midfielder signed for the U's from Forest Green Rovers for a nominal fee, on a two-and-a-half-year

  • UPDATE: Train services hit by weather

    First Great Western has warned there will be short notice changes and cancellations on some routes this morning because of the weather. The 8.06am from Oxford to London Paddington has been cancelled. The 8.23am from Bicester to Oxford has been cancelled

  • UPDATE: Oxford Bus Company services running

    Oxford Bus Company has said its services are running normally today, despite icy conditions. The firm said local City routes, Park and Ride, Espress London buses and the airline to Heathrow and Gatwick, were back on track. A spokesman

  • HOCKEY: Hibbert throws Rover a lifeline

    Rover Oxford fought back superbly to earn a vital 2-1 win over Firebrands in the Slazenger Engalbnd League's Women’s Conference West. The victory takes them away from tenth place, which brings automatic relegation at the end of the season.

  • HOCKEY: Fogden stars in thrilling victory

    Oxford Hawks Ladies kicked off the second half of the season with a hard-fought 4-3 win at home to Wimbledon in Division 1 of the South Clubs Women's League. Wimbledon took a seventh-minute lead but Hawks responded positively with Helen Smith

  • HOCKEY: Lewis on song with hat-trick

    Rover Oxford Ladies 2nd kept up their push for the Trysports 3-Counties LeaguePremier 2 title with a 6-2 win over Wokingham. Jane Lewis notched a hat-trick, with Alex Sharpe, Hattie Taylor and Kelly Skinner also scoring. Other scores – Prem 2: City of

  • HOCKEY: Hawks lacking sufficient guile

    Oxford Hawks slogged out a 1-1 draw with South League Premier 1 bottom club Brighton in a game they should have won. Brighton relied heavily on a route one approach. However, Hawks were not able to convert a barrage of short corners and didn’t show

  • DARTS: Shelley go storming on at the top

    Premier Section leaders Shelley Arms C made no mistake at home to Section 1 opponents Berinsfield Community Centre B, running out 6-3 winners in their Ladies Winter league encounter. The visitors took the opening game when Sam Moore defeated Paulette

  • FOOTBALL:Merritt is keeping his focus

    Oxford City manager Justin Merritt says he will not be drawn on a potential play-off push, despite their fabulous run of form in the BGB Southern League Premier Division. City produced a superb display to win 2-0 at runaway leaders Farnborough

  • UPDATE: LATEST SCHOOL CLOSURES

    The cold weather has meant the following schools will be closed today: Bardwell Special School, Bicester Barley Hill Primary, Bishop Carpenter Primary School, Bishopswood Special School, Brightwell-cum-Sotwell School

  • ALERT: Help find this pervert

    THE frightened victim of a stalker spotted on the run in south Oxfordshire last night begged for him to be caught. Andrew Gallagher, 52, was jailed two years ago after police found a handgun, bullets, chloroform and duct tape at his caravan

  • Shops fail alcohol sting

    Supervisors from two shops face prosecution and a worker at a third store has been fined in a police operation targeting the sale of alcohol to minors. Teenagers went into premises with undercover police in Marston, Barton, Headington and Wood

  • Shops fail booze 'sting'

    Supervisors from two shops face prosecution and a worker at a third store has been fined in a police operation targeting the sale of alcohol to minors. Teenagers went into premises with undercover police in Marston, Barton, Headington and Wood

  • Cold snap: Travel update

    Motorists are being advised to take extra care on Oxfordshire's roads this morning due to the risks of snow and ice, especially on untreated minor roads. Council council gritting crews have been working overnight to lay salt on main roads and