WHEN doctors told Linda Joel she would die without a kidney donor her five children all immediately stepped up. But husband Gary said it was his responsibility and put himself forward for the operation. Diabetic Mrs Joel, from Tower Close, Abingdon,
A blaze at former pub the Cricketers Arms, in Middleton Road, is being treated as arson by police who have appealed for information following the fire at about 11.15pm on Friday. Investigating officer Det Con Rebecca McCamely said: “At this stage it
The trial of Kenroy Ferguson, 26, of Bath Street, Oxford, on charges of attempted murder, actual bodily harm, assault, affray and an alternative charge of wounding with intent, began today at Oxford Crown Court. He denies the charges. The trial was due
The cab of a van parked in Evans Lane, Kidlington, was destroyed in a fire, believed to be arson, on Tuesday at about 4.15am. Fire crews were called to deal with the blaze, which the police are investigating.
TRAVEL agents across Oxfordshire were today fielding calls from travellers anxious about their British Airways flights, after cabin crews voted to strike over Christmas in a row over jobs, pay and conditions. Yesterady, Union Unite announced
Police have released efits of two men who were found burgling a house in Foxcombe Road, Boars Hill, at about midday on Friday, December 4. When a woman confronted the pair they ran off in the direction of Bayworth Lane, dropping a bag containing a games
CCTV cameras were switched on at an Oxford estate for the first time today. The two cameras, in Blackbird Leys Road, Blackbird Leys, and Dunnock Way, Greater Leys, cost £26,000 and are able to rotate 360 degrees. Hundreds of residents called for CCTV
PRIME Minister Gordon Brown congratulated BMW on their new electric Mini after one of them was driven into Downing Street yesterday. The car company provided one of 600 Mini-E cars produced at its Cowley Plant to be used by Government ministers. The
THE Oxford Mail’s annual Christmas film festival for the over-sixties got off to a cracking start today with pensioners queueing to see the hit comedy Calendar Girls. Run with the Phoenix Picturehouse cinema in Walton Street, Oxford, the three-day event
ARCHITECTURE students have been looking at ways an area of central Oxford could be improved. Oxford Brookes University students in the first year of their degree course came up with a range of ideas for Mount Place in Jericho. The students came up with
YOU can see why Callum Fullarton made such a good captain for Cholsey Bluebirds. Undoubtedly brave, optimistic an despite his problems, still thinking of others. Callum really sounds as if he has suffered at the hands of his cruel injury. He describes
A father-of-two says his family can now move on with their lives following the jailing of the lorry driver who caused his wife’s death. Don Kelly and his two boys lost Helen Kelly, 39, following a seven-vehicle accident on the M40 in 2007.
Tomorrow is the last time you can leave an online message for our troops serving in Afghanistan during the festive period. An Oxford Mail reporter will be outside the main entrance to Sainsbury’s, at Heyford Hill, in Oxford, between 10am and midday.
PARENTS reacted with anger to news that Oxford School’s board of Governors has been removed. The 15-strong board has been told an application to replace it with an interim executive board (IEB) has been approved by the Department for Children
A FATHER-of-two says his family can now move on with their lives following the jailing of the lorry driver who caused his wife’s death. Don Kelly and his two boys lost Helen Kelly, 39, following a seven-vehicle accident on the M40 in 2007. Mr Kelly,
SIX-YEAR-OLD Emily Morris was one of the young visitors at Oxford Children’s Hospital who got the chance to meet Wishy the human postbox. The cheery costume character visited a number of wards at the hospital, which is part of the John Radcliffe Hospital
God bless the Oxford Playhouse (or whatever celestial, divine or heavenly deity you choose to believe in)! Because once again it’s got Christmas all wrapped up. That wonderful expectation, that child-like grasp of make-believe, the colour, the fuzzy
Thames Valley Police today issued photographs of three men they want to speak to in connection with conspiracy to steal offences. Officers would like to speak to Thomas Charles Wheatcroft, 28, of Merrivale Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, Paul Hircombe
ONE of Oxford’s biggest cab companies has been cleared of allegations of racism made against it by one of its drivers. Last month, Oxford City Council investigated an incident at 001 Cars after a driver of Pakistani descent claimed a colleague
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PAT Ayris has challenged Oxford Mail readers to top her Christmas lights. Pat and her husband Tony have pulled out all the stops with their colourful display of illuminations at their home in New Street, Bicester. Pat said: “It looks magnificent. We
CHILDREN across Oxfordshire have been treating parents to their interpretations of the Nativity. Thousands of children have been taking part in the re-telling of the festive story. Among the schools presenting plays to pupils’ families
A LEADING plastic surgeon has warned people not to give cosmetic surgery as a gift this Christmas. Tim Goodacre, a consultant at the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford, said advertising campaigns by budget clinics are stepped up in the run up to Christmas
OXFORD author Philip Pullman has welcomed news that writers are to be excluded from the plans to impose criminal record bureau (CRB) checks on any adults in contact with children. However, Mr Pullman, author of the His Dark Materials trilogy, said the
Patrick Gardner helped himself to a double as Witney & District FA Premier Division outfit Combe squeezed into the fourth round following a thrilling 6-5 victory over Rose Hill. Ali Morris, Adam Fleetwood, Simon Baker and Steve Smith wrapped up Combe
PEOPLE in East Oxford get the chance tomorrow night to quiz council officers over the controversial plans to bring in new parking restrictions. Campaigners for and against a controlled parking zone (CPZ) in the Magdalen Road area will demand answers
VILLAGERS battled it out to have their Christmas tree named best in show. Eleven Harwell organisations decorated real Christmas trees at a competition in the village hall on Saturday, in the third annual fundraiser for Little Pippins Pre-School. The
A THOUSAND people have backed a petition calling for more long-stay parking in Witney. A total of 15 shops have collected signatures from shoppers and employees over the past two months. They want West Oxfordshire District Council to make more long
FAMILIES have been given the chance to have their say on a planned £800,000 community playground for an Oxford estate. More than 200 people visited an information day in Underhill Circus, Barton, to find out more about the plan. Oxfordshire
Faringdon Town kept the pressure on North Berks League Division 1 leaders Saxton Rovers in a 4-1 victory at Drayton. Paul Hulme, Peter Soane (penalty), Derren Harrington and Richard Evans netted with Rob Powell replying. Drayton’s Dan Curran missed
Marcham thrashed North Berks League Division 3 leaders Kintbury Rangers Res 6-1 with a four-timer from Phil Stokes. Will Westell and Kevin Armstrong got the others for the Division 3 side, with Jake Shearsby replying. Other scorers Berks & Bucks Junior
HOLLYWOOD has come to Wantage with the opening of a cinema for young people. The cinema is thrilling movie fans who can enjoy freshly popped popcorn while sitting on large beanbags at the Sweatbox, on the King Alfred School east site, in Springfield
ELDERLY people will receive regular visits from police officers as part of a new initiative offering reassurance to the vulnerable and crime victims. Abingdon police have picked 24 pensioners to take part in the newly-launched Vale Elderly
Sam Donaldson helped himself to a hat-trick in KEA’s 5-1 mauling of Fenny Compton in the Premier Division. Donaldson opened his account with an excellent finish, before Andy Berry doubled their advantage. Although Graham Reeves pulled a goal back, Donaldson
FC Chequers pulled off a shock as they beat Premier Division side Brize Norton 3-0 to book their place in the semi-finals of the Fred Ford Cup. The Division 1 outfit went through with strikes from Steve Foster, Dan Hardwood and Kevin Davies. They will
A David Jennings hat-trick helped Cowley Crusaders reach the second round of the RT Harris Oxford City FA's County Junior League Cup with a 6-1 thumping of Fairview. Ricky Anderson, James O’Brien and Andew Payne completed their tally.
Rover Cowley extended their lead at the top of the Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division with a 2-0 victory against Bletchingdon. Dean Forbes gave them the lead on five minutes with a superb curling shot following good work from Paul Spittle
Jamie Appleton smashed a second-half hat-trick as Chesterton defeated Garden City 4-2 to reach the semi-finals of the Under 18 Knockout Cup. Despite twice taking the lead through Jamie Wilkins and Jamie Gardner, City had no answer to Appleton’s
Oxford City Blues hit top form in their Midland League double-header in the Youth Conference Alliance – beating Ipswich 6-1 and then Wycombe Wanderers 9-3. It took them 39 minutes to get off the mark against Ipswich, Pablo Haysham putting them in front
Chalgrove booked a fourth-round clash with last season’s finalists, Oxford Yellows, in the Sam Waters Cup after a 2-1 win at Woodstock Wanderers. Ricky Armstrong hit the winner from the penalty spot. Matthew Howitt had given third division Chalgrove
John Mills’s treble saw Kennington United stroll into the fourth round of the Berks & Bucks Junior Cup, with a 6-1 win at home to Misfits (Theale) Reserves. Rob Cattell, Mark Druce and Kieran Lewis netted as well. Wallingford Wanderers won an all-UTV
Giles Sports Witney Youth League BEN Wright slammed a four-timer as Carterton ran out 13-1 winners over Old Woodstock Town in the Under 13 C League. Jack Summerfield added a hat-trick, and there were also doubles for Liam Aspey and Lewis Oakey. Will
Liam O'Callaghan sma-shed a hat-trick as Autotype UTV League Division 1 leaders Barton United won 7-3 away to Kidlington Royals. Dean Simms, Julian McCalmon, Jelroy Constant and Andrew Mazey all netted for Barton, with Kieran Saunders, Jack Quainton
Ducklington posted their biggest ever win in Division 3 of the Thames Valley League as they thrashed Bardwell 22-0. Nicola Warner opened the scoring with two goals inside the first ten minutes, then Emma Proctor’s bagged a brace to double the lead.
OXFORD MAIL GIRLS LEAGUE Anna Jimenez led the way with a four-timer as St Edmunds saw off Cholsey Bluebirds 6-4 in a Under 13 A League ten-goal thriller. It was 3-3 with five minutes to go before St Edmunds took control. Sophie Tatford and Sophie
LAST time I wrote about the excellent new cancer centre we have in Oxford, with all its new technology. While this is good news for those with most cancer types, many of us with rarer cancers can only be treated with drugs. There are no other options,
Police today appealed for witnesses after the bowls pavilion in Waddesdon was set on fire. Officers were alerted to the fire at 9.27am on Sunday by Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and it is believed the fire was started overnight between Saturday
Banbury Young Homelessness Project has been given a grant by the Gannett Foundation, run by the Banbury Cake’s parent company, for £3,140 for its five-a-side football team, which has started playing in a local league. Jenny Harris, head
A WOMAN who has devoted her life to her village church has been recognised for her efforts. Dawn Castle lives in Epwell, just a few yards from St Anne’s Church. She was nominated for a competition run by the Church of England and Country Life magazine
A WOMAN who dumped two vehicles in a Banbury car park has been ordered to pay a total of £1,235 by a court. Donna McCooke, of Dover Avenue, Banbury, failed to turn up at Banbury Magistrates’ Court, and was found guilty of two counts of unauthorised dumping
Higher petrol prices pushed inflation upward for the second month in a row in November, official figures have revealed. The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose to 1.9% last month from 1.5% in October, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
Plans to replace the governing body of Oxford School, in Glanville Road, have been approved by the Government. Oxfordshire County Council applied for an interim executive board in September and has now been told they can install a new board, ousting
Police this afternoon released E-fits of two men they want to speak to in connection with a burglary at a property in Foxcombe Road, Boars Hill. At aboutmidday on Friday, December 4, two men were found inside the house by the occupant’s mother, who
The body of the 100th British serviceman to die in Afghanistan this year has been repatriated to the UK. The C17 Globemaster plane carrying Lance Corporal Adam Drane, 23, touched down at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire, this morning. L Cpl
I took a five-day holiday in Istanbul earlier this month. It was the first time I had been in Turkey since 1986, when I joined friends on a gulet cruise out of Bodrum. This was too long away, I quickly realised on return. Here is my kind of country –
Like Dick Whittington, The Theatre at Chipping Norton has prospered on its journey over the past 35 years – since founders John and Tamara Malcolm obtained planning permission to create it in 1974. As with Dick, whenever disaster loomed – in the shape
Opera Anywhere’s festive double bill, directed by Mike Woodward and Amy Standish, was a heart-warming affair, with two pieces that emphasised the Christian values of generosity and hope. Amahl and the Night Visitors has been in the company’s repertoire
Woodstock Music Society continues to go from strength to strength, as Friday’s performance of Bach’s technically demanding Mass in B Minor amply demonstrated. It would be easy for such a large choir to become a little ragged around the edges, but the
Festive music greeted me as I walked towards the Oxford Castle’s market with its colourful stalls and fine ice sculptures. It was all part of Oxford’s Festival of Light – the night the Christmas lights were turned on and galleries and museums stayed openlate
I have to start this review with a confession. Jubilate! completely caught me out on Saturday night with their early start time of 6.30pm – yes, I know I should have doubled checked! – and when I arrived expecting a 7.30pm start I found that it was the
Self-taught artist Salma Caller, who now lives in Oxford, was concerned when she first walked into The North Wall gallery and confronted all that white space. Had she brought enough pictures? Would they fill the space? She need not have worried. Her
A driver who died in a crash on the M40 at the weekend has been named. David Warters, 41, died after his white Ford Transit van was involved in a collision with a lorry on the southbound carriageway on Saturday at 5.30pm. The crash occurred
After hugely popular Christmas concerts at the Holywell Music Room in the past three years, Eclectica! is this year making two consecutive appearances. So there is a good chance that everyone can get to hear this fascinating jazz/classical ensemble.
Three years ago, New College Choir recorded Handel’s Messiah with the Academy of Ancient Music for the Naxos label. The CD was unusual, for not only did boys replace the chorus sopranos, they sang the soprano solos as well. “We’re basically trying to
Whoever muttered about never working with children or animals might have reconsidered his opinion had he seen the touring production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. This colourful, cute and frequently amusing yarn, originally penned by Ian Fleming
Make as much noise as possible – that’s the message from the Hexagon this year, and they’ve even got a selection of merchandise to help you raise the decibel level. Not that you’ll need much help, as the cast of Cinderella do a good job of exhorting the
A DRIVER who died in a crash on the M40 at the weekend has been named. David Warters, 41, died after his white Ford Transit van collided with a lorry on the southbound carriageway on Saturday at 5.30pm. The crash occurred between Junction Six at Lewknor
Fire crews were called to Evans Lane, Kidlington, early today after arsonists set a van alight. The cab of the van was destroyed by fire in the incident at 4.15am. Thames Valley Police were alerted to the incident by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue
A wicked fairy is creating havoc at the Wyvern Theatre where families are enjoying a fairytale pantomime with a feast of traditional ingredients.Within seconds of the opening of Sleeping Beauty, Carabosse, played by television soap star Lorraine
The Oxford Playhouse maintains its reputation for top-quality panto with a colourful, tuneful and exuberantly entertaining production of Jack and the Beanstalk. Under the practised hand of writer/director Peter Duncan, who has had charge
FIRE crews were called to a Evans Lane in Kidlington during the early hours of this morning after arsonists set a van alight. The cab of the van was destroyed by fire in the incident at 4.15am, and Thames Valley Police have been alerted by Oxfordshire
Police today warned van owners to be on their guard after a spate of vehicle crimes in the last week. Officers said van owners, especially on farms and industrial estates, should ensure they empty their vans of tools and goods overnight. Between
Shoppers were entertained by hundreds of singers as 45 choirs and singing groups gave performances across Oxford city centre. Sing Christmas was part of Oxford City Council’s Christmas in Oxford celebrations and aimed to unite communities by inviting
An IT firm is running a series of workshops to help firms better understand the threat to their business from computer hackers. Experts at CI-Net baseed in Kidlington will demonstrate how easy it is to access hacking tools from the Internet and show
Sir Richard Branson's love of Formula One resulted in one of the world's richest men today throwing the full weight of the Virgin brand behind one of the sport's new teams. Manor GP, one of four new marques who will help make up an expanded
OXFORD: Chris Hope, who heads up the catering team at legal firm Manches, has been named the Catermasters Chef of the Year. Mr Hope took the title after a “cook off” competition arranged by the workplace catering specialist in which he went up against
A woman was grabbed by a passenger in a car as she walked home in Bloxham. At about 1am on Sunday, a 26-year-old woman was walking through the village on the main road (A361). As she approached the war memorial, a small dark car stopped next to her
Police today appealed for witnesses following an arson in Banbury. At about 11.15pm on Friday a fire started in the Cricketers Arms in Middleton Road. Det Con Rebecca McCamley said: “At this stage it is not known how the fire was started but we
Police are appealing for information after a burglary in Segsbury Road, Wantage. Between 3pm on Thursday and 3pm on Sunday, thieves forced open a rear ground floor window and stole a computer monitor, Pentax camera and some foreign currency, including
A crash involving two cars and a motorcycle caused delays on the A420 today. The collision, which happened near Kingston Bagpuize, closed lane of the eastbound carriageway and led to queueing traffic. No details of any injuries are yet
The mother of a schoolgirl killed in a road smash said she had forgiven the woman who caused the accident. Charlotte Hill, 13, died when Magdalena Ochnio’s Toyota Avensis ploughed into the back of a Ford Ka on the A34 slip road in Kidlington
A MAN has been jailed over the death of a Charlbury woman in a road accident. Mother-of-two Helen Kelly, 39, of Sturt Road, died after a crash on the M40 involving two lorries and five cars. Paul Allen, 46, of Brynfa Avenue, in Welshpool, Powys, pleaded
COMMUTERS at Appleford are celebrating after a number of daytime services to Oxford and London were reinstated this week. The station had fallen victim to cuts in May and was left without a train from 11am to 5pm after First Great Western deemed
Oxford United had the luck of the draw again yesterday when they were pull-ed out of the hat to face Blue Square South side Woking at home in the second round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy. The tie, which sees United facing their former midfielder
Nobody could condemn Sally Kent from feeling bitter towards the woman who caused the car crash that killed her daughter. Young Charlotte Hill died after a collision on the A34 slip road in Kidlington last year. Magdalena Ochnio was cleared of causing
MORE than a million passengers face Christmas travel misery after British Airways cabin crew announced a 12-day strike in a bitter row over jobs, pay and working conditions. The union Unite has announced a walkout from December 22 to January
Blackbird and Greater Leys gets CCTV today. It is perhaps surprising in the era of Big Brother that the city’s biggest estates have avoided the gaze of cameras for years. Shopkeepers have said the issue has raised its head on and off for the past 20
A LEGAL bid was launched yesterday to recover some of the millions of pounds gained by a notorious criminal family who raided a string of stately homes. The group, all part of the notorious Johnson traveller family, were jailed for up to 11 years each
THE mother of a schoolgirl killed in a road smash last night said she had forgiven the woman who caused the accident. Charlotte Hill, 13, died when Magdalena Ochnio’s Toyota Avensis ploughed into the back of a Ford Ka on the A34 slip road in
SHOPKEEPERS and neighbours on an Oxford estate are celebrating the end of a 20-year wait for CCTV. Two cameras outside Top Shops in Blackbird Leys Road, Blackbird Leys, and in Dunnock Way, Greater Leys, go live today. They will be hooked
