Archive

  • Police probe into baby's death

    TWO people have been arrested over the death of a baby. The infant was taken to the Horton Hospital in Banbury a week ago with injuries and pronounced dead at Oxford's John Radcliffe today, police said. A man and a woman were arrested

  • Try out city leisure centres free

    RESIDENTS can try activities free of charge at three leisure centres this weekend. The centres in Barton, Blackbird Leys and Ferry, in Summertown, have been updated as part of a £2.2m programme. They are staging the free events to mark

  • College sets up UK's first national school of furniture

    BRITAIN’S first National School of Furniture will be based in Oxford. Oxford and Cherwell Valley College (OCVC) and Buckinghamshire New University in High Wycombe aim to provide specialist furniture-making courses for both apprentices and experts. Chris

  • Missing girls found safe

    Two missing schoolgirls have been found safe and well. Hannah Waters, 16, and Joanna Walters, 15, were reported missing on Tuesday after they were last seen boarding a 280 bus in the centre of Thame heading for Oxford. Both girls were

  • Man charged with raping girl, six

    A 69-year-old man has been remanded in custody charged with raping a six-year-old girl. John White appeared at Oxford Crown Court today charged with three counts of rape between October 1 and October 30. White, of Old Place Yard, Bicester, was remanded

  • Woman hurt in collision

    A woman was airlifted to hospital after a collision in Banbury Road, near Bunkers Hill today. A red Nissan Micra and a black Skoda Octavia collided at about 2.20pm. The woman was cut from her car by fire crews and taken to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital

  • Man jailed for stabbing student

    A 22-year-old man was today sentenced to four years in prison for causing grievous bodily harm after an incident in Oxford where a student was stabbed. Ben Hepburn, of Spooner Close, East Oxford, was given the sentence after he admitted to

  • Injured cyclist’s £2.4m payout

    A STUDENT who suffered severe brain damage when he was knocked off his bike by a car has won a multi-million pound payout at London’s High Court. Hamish McCullough, 34, suffered serious head and brain injuries in 2001, when he was involved in the accident

  • City prepares for Christmas switch-on

    ARTISTS, musicians and a torchlight procession will illuminate the night sky to celebrate the switching-on of Oxford’s Christmas lights. The city centre will come alive on November 26, with a parade, live music, street performances and events at a clutch

  • YouTube plea to catch Oxford rapist

    Police today released a YouTube film as they continue to appeal for help to trace a man wanted in connection with a rape in Oxford. The victim said: “This assault has changed my life. I don’t’ want him to change anyone else’s. "He needs

  • Student cooks get their just desserts

    YOUNG cooks used local produce to create their own dessert recipes for a cookery competition. Seventy pupils from King Alfred’s Specialist Sports College, in Wantage, took part in heats to create an innovative British dessert or cake recipe using seasonal

  • Oxford the Musical to showcase local talent

    THE woman masterminding the first ‘Oxford Musical’ says she hopes to emulate Andrew Lloyd Webber and turn some home grown talent into ‘stars’. Tracey Spokes, the founder and creative director of the 13th Theatre Co – which integrates disabled

  • Stop rapist striking again, says victim

    “HE NEEDS to be caught before he can hurt anyone else like he hurt me.” Those were the words of a rape victim who was attacked while on a night out in Oxford city centre three weeks ago. The 19-year-old today told the Oxford Mail the

  • Bogus police warning issued

    Police are warning people to be vigilant after two burglaries in Oxfordshire where thieves posed as police officers. The first incident happened at 6.20pm yesterday, at the home of a 95-year-old man in Stoneleigh Drive, Carterton. Four men knocked

  • Hamilton blazes way to top

    Lewis Hamilton vowed to give it his all ahead of this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and the McLaren star certainly left nothing out on the track in Friday's practice sessions. Needing a victory to stand any chance of winning his second Formula One

  • Profits soar at Electrocomponents

    Profits at Oxford-based electronics and maintenance products supplier Electrocomponents have more than doubled, latest figures have revealed. The company, based at the Oxford Business Park, recorded a pre-tax profit of £50.5m for the six months to September

  • Local shares (PM)

    AEA Technology 5.25 BMW 4704 Electrocomponents 260.3 Nationwide Accident Repair 100.5 Oxford Biomedica 9.7 Oxford Catalysts 68.5 Oxford Instruments 498 Reed Elsevier 536.75 RM 145.5 RPS Group 222.2 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Bicester development limbo 'drives away shoppers'

    SHOPPERS are being driven away from Bicester because of “limbo” over the town centre redevelopment, a businessman has warned. Mark Felton, who runs electrical appliance store Homegoods, said traders were suffering because of uncertainty about the £70m

  • Top Spot for Edward

    BRIZE NORTON: Foxbury Farm Shop’s Old Spot Banger has been awarded Gold at the Three Counties Sausage and Pie Competition. Made by 19-year-old butchery apprentice Edward McInroy, the judges awarded the sausages 98 per cent meaning he overcame stiff competition

  • Santa's Grotto

    Bring the children down to visit Santa at Castle Quay’s grotto! The grotto will be at Forge at tooley’s, on Wednesdays through to Sundays until 20 December, then open Saturday 20 - Friday 24 December 2010 Also Santa will be out and about

  • Double awards joy for Parveen

    Talented business woman Fozia Parveen has scooped her second major award in a year. Ms Parveen, who runs Bicester-based sign language company Signs4Life won the Shell Livewire Grand Ideas Award. She said: “You never know when you will come into contact

  • Santa's Grotto

    Every weekend in December and daily from Sunday 19 - Friday 24 December 2010 11.00am to 3.00pm Visit Santa in his special Grotto in our Gift shop For more information visit: www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk

  • MY WHEELS: Citroen AX

    Q. What vehicle do you drive? A. Citroen AX – I honestly have no idea what year. I suspect sometime in the 1890s. It’s old. Q. How long have you had it? A. The car doesn’t actually belong to me. Strictly speaking it belongs to my girlfriend Nicky

  • LADY DRIVER: All joking aside...

    Jokes about women drivers are a bit unfashionable these days, along with those about the mother-in-law. However, despite a move towards more sophisticated comedy we are still running the risk of being included in a stand-up routine. Why? Because according

  • THE WORST CARS EVAH! Austin Maestro

    After the excruciating embarrassment of the Allegro, things could not get any worse for British Leyland. But that did not stop bosses continuing to confound motoring sensibilities with models that would never have made the drawing board in the design

  • THE CAR'S THE STAR: Ford Bronco

    Usually when it comes to writing this article, I can’t stop a huge smile stretching across my face as I find inventive new ways to link my film car to... well anything really. Maybe I could relate the latest Ferrari to Jess Ennis or the managers at Citroen

  • WHEELING IN: Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRDi

    WHILE the ‘i’ range of small cars has been packing Hyundai dealers with eager buyers for the past year, it was a much bigger beast that first put the Korean car maker on the map. In 2006, the firm rolled out the Santa Fe, a big, beefy 4x4 with a competitive

  • Vettel sets the pace

    Sebastian Vettel's last-ditch attempt to win the Formula One world title today began with an explosive performance in first practice for Sunday's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Vettel has to finish in the top two to stand any chance of claiming

  • Man exposed himself in Littlemore

    Police are appealing for witnesses after a man indecently exposed himself to a woman and her 16-year-old daughter in Oxford. The 46-year-old woman was walking along St Nicholas Road, Littlemore, at 8.45am yesterday, when the incident happened.

  • New drive to attract Midsomer Murders tourists

    TOURISM officials have launched a website to promote the areas where ITV’s Midsomer Murders series is filmed, in a bid to capitalise on its success. South Oxfordshire District Council said visitmidsomer.com had been set up in response to the

  • Windfarm branches out into solar power

    THOUSANDS of solar panels will be visible from The Ridgeway if a new energy scheme gets the go-ahead. Farmer Adam Twine is planning to install the panels next to five 50m wind turbines which were installed on his land in the Vale of White Horse two-and-half

  • Go on the run for heart research, United squad urges

    OXFORD United players have swapped their football boots for running shoes in bid to help tackle killer heart disease. Each year hundreds of Oxfordshire people die as a result of heart problems, many of which could be solved by leading a healthier

  • WI college hosts world's biggest jam festival

    THE Women’s Institute may have moved on over the years, but the simple art of jam making still lies at its heart. So much so that this month they are hosting the world’s biggest jam festival at WI HQ at Denman College, Marcham, near Abingdon, during

  • Missing schoolgirls found safe

    Two missing schoolgirls from Thame have been found safe and well. Hannah Waters, 16, and Joanna Walters, 15, were reported missing on Tuesday after they were last seen boarding a 280 bus in Thame town centre heading for Oxford. A spokesman

  • Man charged with Stonesfield burglary

    A 20-year-old man has been charged with a burglary in Stonesfield, where a car was stolen. Graham Crutch, of Longore, Stonesfield, was charged on Tuesday in connection with the burglary, in Greenfield Road, on November 1. Crutch has been charged

  • Police issue new alert on timeshare firm

    Police said today that they were continuing to investigate a timeshare firm which has links to Oxfordshire but is based in Spain. Officers are issuing a renewed warning to timeshare owners not to fall for the scheme, which is being operated

  • Catch a streetcar for passion at the Playhouse

    THEATRE-GOERS can get ready to be transported back to 1940s New Orleans, as A Streetcar Named Desire opens at the Oxford Playhouse. The Tennessee Williams’ play, which opens next week, tells the story of southern belle Blanche Dubois, who arrives to

  • Leader wants to cut number of councillors

    COUNCILS are considering cutting the number of councillors to save money. South Oxfordshire District Council’s leader Ann Ducker wants to get rid of 40 per cent of councillors and said many were no longer involved in the day-to-day running of the council

  • FOOTBALL: Williams boosts Headington

    Headington Amateurs will bid for an 11th straight league victory when they host lowly Hook Norton in Division 1 West on Saturday. Aaron Williams should return after missing out through illness last week, but Ollie Zaja is suspended and Adam Simmonds

  • FOOTBALL: Clanfield on a mission

    Clanfield aim to reach the third round when they entertain high-flying Wessex League outfit Bemerton Heath Harlequins on Saturday. Harlequins are second in their league and have a sound record in the competition. Clanfield have beaten Warminster Town

  • Local share prices (AM)

    AEA Technology 5.3 BMW 4616 Electrocomps 262.9 Nationwide Accident Repair 100.5 Oxford Biomedica 9.65 Oxford Catalyst 68.5 Oxford Instruments 509 Reed Elsevier 530.75 RM 145.25 RPS Group 221.7 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Creighton set to join Wrexham on loan

    Oxford United defender Mark Creighton is set to join Conference club Wrexham on loan until January. The centre half travelled north for talks with Wrexham boss Dean Saunders and the paperwork was expected to be completed today.

  • ARMISTICE DAY: A poignant moment of reflection

    THOUSANDS of people across Oxfordshire came to a standstill yesterday to pay tribute to servicemen and women killed in battle. High streets, shopping centres and offices fell silent at 11am so people could pay their respects. The Lord

  • ARMISTICE DAY: Regiment remembers lost comrades

    THEY perform one of the most dangerous jobs in Afghanistan and have lost friends and comrades in the line of duty. The men and women of 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal, the Royal Logistic Corps, defuse bombs which account for more than 80 per

  • CRICKET: Abingdon School lads join county academies

    Four Abingdon School pupils have been selected to join the Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire junior academies. Daniel Matthews, 15, from Chinnor, has been training within the Gloucestershire Gladiators Junior Academy while Max Mannering, 13, from

  • RUGBY UNION: Quins captain gets three-weeks ban

    Oxford Harlequins captain Simon Chadbone has been banned for three weeks after punching an Exmouth player. Prop Chadbone had already been suspended for two weeks by his club, but an RFU disciplinary hearing on Wednesday night added on a further week.

  • FIXTURES November 12

    SATURDAY. FOOTBALL. NPOWER LEAGUE TWO. Rotherham Utd v Oxford Utd. FOOTBALL LEAGUE YOUTH ALLIANCE. South West Conference: Swansea Yth v Oxford Utd. ZAMARETTO SOUTHERN LEAGUE. Premier Div: Didcot Tn v Truro, Oxford City v Hemel Hampstead, Windsor

  • Rotherham boss Moore knows the score

    Ronnie Moore is widely regarded as one of the greatest Rotherham United managers of all time. That’s quite an accolade, when one considers that others to have managed the Millers include Danny Williams, Tommy Docherty, Ian Porterfield, Emlyn Hughes,

  • United fans face trip to Sheffield - not Rotherham

    Oxford United break new ground tomorrow when they play at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield for the first time. For their players, and supporters, it will be very much like their visit to the International Athletics Stadium in Gateshead last year.

  • Glad tidings

    WHAT a pleasure it was to read (Oxford Mail, October 30) about Ron Cook’s windfall win in the Lottery. We have had so much doom and gloom for so long. It was a real lift to see someone had benefited from the Lottery and someone who is happy to share

  • FOOTBALL: Red-card Jack gets a warning

    Oxford City manager Mike Ford says Jack Ashton has to learn from his mistake after his sending-off against Cir-encester Town or he won’t last long at Court Place Farm. City were leading 1-0 on Saturday in control when the former Banbury United

  • Railway connections are value for money

    Paul Withrington (The Issue, Tuesday’s Oxford Mail) displays a very cynical attitude towards Chiltern Railways’ proposed Oxford-London link. Chiltern Railways is a well-respected and profitable company, run by hard-headed businessmen. They would not

  • Wallets only stretch so far

    SARAH, our village postie, would never describe herself as a weak and feeble woman. Several sacks of letters and heavy parcels are nothing to her. But she could be forgiven for hiding her ready smile as the pre-Christmas deluge of countless catalogues

  • United lifted by new faces

    It will be very much a new-look Oxford United that takes to the field at Don Valley Stadium tomorrow. Chris Wilder has been busy in the transfer market for three weeks, but it’s only now that all his work has come to fruition all at once. And it’s the

  • Lock the council's loos

    Access to public toilets is a basic human right, particularly in towns and cities. Payment for public toilets is surely already included in the taxes we pay. I would, however, be prepared to pay up to 50p to use a public toilet, subject to the following

  • Tough penalties

    IN connection with the admittedly legally, ethically and practically tricky area of whether prisoners should get the vote, P Howard (Oxford Mail ViewPoints, November X) laments the passing of the robust regime to which he was subjected when incarcerated

  • Support adoption

    As an adopted person, I know how important it is for a child to have the love, support and family life my adoptive parents gave me and my sister. So I would like to thank everybody who contacted the British Association for Adoption & Fostering to find

  • Where were you?

    Monday’s Oxford Mail reported that hundreds of people welcomed the seven RAF men on their March for Honour, passing through Oxford to raise £1m along with the Army, Navy and Royal Marines for the British Legion Poppy Appeal, dedicated to those killed

  • Unaffordable idea

    The Issue in Tuesday’s Oxford Mail asked should a second Oxford-London rail link be built? The answers for and against provided some strong and mostly true views from each camp. Taking neither an anti-rail or road view, however, I think a more pragmatic

  • 50 firefighters tackle blaze

    Fifty firefighters from across Oxfordshire and Berkshire fought a blaze at a country house through the night. Firemen pumped water from West Challow’s village duckpond to help stop the fire spread through the empty property, saving it from being destoryed

  • Drinker denies Asbo breach

    A STREET drinker denied breaching his antisocial behaviour order (Asbo) less than four weeks after he was handed the order. Leslie Belcher, 49, above, of Magdalen Road, East Oxford, was handed the Asbo order at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on October 15

  • Pensioner finds burglar in her room

    AN ELDERLY woman was woken by a man who had broken into her house and crept into the bedroom. The woman was asleep at home in Monmouth Road, off Abingdon Road, when the man walked in at about 9.30pm on Wednesday. He said he had noticed her house was

  • Students condemn fees protest violence

    STUDENT leaders in Oxford last night condemned violent protests which marred a demonstration over planned university fee increases in 2012. On Wednesday, 50,000 protesters marched through the capital, including about 500 university students

  • COMMENT: Don't be sidetracked by violence

    THE violence seen in London two days ago was deplorable and cannot be condoned in any way. But the protest in general, by students arguing against the raising of a cap on university tuition fees, should start to be listened to by the coalition government

  • 50 firefighters tackle blaze

    Fifty fire fighters from across Oxfordshire and Berkshire fought a blaze at a country house through the night. Firemen pumped water from West Challow’s village duckpond to help stop the fire spread through the empty property, saving it from being destoryed

  • Webber: I'll be back

    Mark Webber is convinced he will have another shot at the Formula One world title next year after confirming he is to remain in the sport. Speculation has been rife since last week in Brazil after Webber's outspoken remarks that he had been

  • Red Bull: No team orders

    Sebastian Vettel continued to tease as the debate again raged over whether he will aid Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber in Sunday's title-decider in Abu Dhabi. For the final pre-race press conference of the season yesterday involving the drivers, the

  • UPDATE: £4m Lottery winner is a true survivor

    AN Oxford United fan who has twice cheated death was dealt another lucky hand when he won more than £4m on the National Lottery. Graham Tustain survived a motorbike crash which left him in a coma for 13 weeks, and then a serious car crash.

  • COMMENT: Good for Graham

    YOU would have to have the hardest of hearts to begrudge the Lottery win of Graham Tustain. He has twice survived serious road accidents, so we hope Saturday’s Lucky Dip win brings him happiness for the rest of his life.

  • Futcher and Maclean join, Creighton on way out

    OXFORD United boss Chris Wilder made a double swoop yesterday to land tall defender Ben Futcher and prolific scoring striker Steven Maclean. It completed one of the busiest weeks of transfer activity the club have been involved in for many years, following

  • County beauty queen joins sleep-out for the homeless

    MISS Oxfordshire will be among more than 100 people sleeping rough tomorrow to raise money for the city’s homeless population. Alice Christian has signed up for the annual Oxford Sleep-Out, being held in St Clement’s churchyard. And

  • Singer designs one-off Mini Cooper

    MUSIC icon Paul Weller has turned his talents to designing a special one-off edition of the Mini Cooper. The car, built at the Cowley plant and hand-painted by Mini craftsmen, is finished in bold pink and brown stripes with a single silver

  • Splinter risks close play frame

    A WOODEN climbing frame in a new £40,000 village playground has been caged off for three months after a child got a splinter. Steventon Parish Council fenced off the oak structure in the park off St Michael’s Way after Zak Roberts, nine, got a 1cm splinter