CARNIVAL organisers have issued a plea for cash to make sure at least part of this year's event is still focused on Cowley Road. The committee behind the carnival, due to be staged on Sunday, July 3, have already been told a 40-week scheme
SOLAR panels could help a council create its own electricity. Cherwell District Council wants to put solar panels on five of its buildings, which it hopes would generate enough electricity to run them. So far the technology is being used on one building
THE first lambs of the New Year can mean just one thing – spring is on the way. Hundreds of people visited Foxbury Farm, in Brize Norton, across the weekend to meet the new arrivals at the All About Ewe event. They also learnt all about foot trimming
A PROLIFIC burglar who spent a £1,000 a week on cannabis has been warned of the hurt caused by stealing people’s laptop computers. Robert Richens was jailed for two years and five months at Oxford Crown Court on Friday. The 20-year-old
Drivers heading into Oxfordshire faced delays on the M40 this evening. A crash blocked one lane on the northbound carriageway between junction five at Stokenchurch and junction six at Watlington. Slow traffic is reported in the area.
Thousands of people could have to pay up to six years of water bills following an audit of customers by the UK's biggest water company. Thames Water warned that up to 15,000 of its customers could receive a "nasty shock" following an investigation
MOTORCYCLISTS are needed to take part in a Red Nose Day fundraiser transporting a wedding dress from one end of the country to the other. Banbury Sainsbury’s manager Steve Martin is looking for riders to take part in 100-mile stages between Land’s End
A man was attacked by a gang and robbed in Wantage last night. At about 11.50pm, a 32-year-old man was walking home through Betjeman Park, Wantage, when he was approached by four youths. One of them struck him around the head with a full can of drink
Of the 250-plus wonderful cars on display at the Heritage Motor Centre, almost my favourite — certainly in the top five — was the very first I saw. This was the cream Rover P3 75 from 1948 that stands immediately next to the entrance. You can see
One of Oxfordshire’s greatest treasures must be the Juxon Bible on display at Chastleton House, that lovely and unspoiled Jacobean mansion built in 1603, nestling in a fold of the Cotswolds on the Oxfordshire side of the county boundary with Gloucestershire
That crazy little thing called love complicates a seemingly perfect relationship based on sex in Ivan Reitman’s contemporary comedy of social mores. As the title suggests, No Strings Attached centres on a pair of 20-something professionals who
If you visit the Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock, between now and March 6, be prepared to be shot at, poked in the eye by pencils and threatened by hidden knives and protruding tongues. A visit to Holograms 2 is an experience of the versatility of the
I caught the Oxford Tube to London recently and found myself chatting at the Thornhill park-and-ride to two of my fellow passengers. Clearly of the professional class, they were off to London to stay with a friend. “Marvellous that we can park for up
I was reminded that National Pie Week takes place on March 7 while walking through the Oxford Covered Market. Here among the cafés, butchers and greengrocers you will discover the Pieminister pie shop. It is easily identified by the buzz of customers
By bringing together the work of ten of the county’s abstract artists — some of which is described here — West Ox Arts’ curator Alice Saunders has succeeded in creating a highly original and inspiring exhibition. Each of the pieces works well in its own
t might not appear obvious at first, but each of the oil paintings that Oxford artist Luke Skiffington is exhibiting at the Mary Ogilvie Art Gallery informs and affects the next. Many of his moody pictures take us into the flattened foliage of a world
August Strindberg’s A Dream Play is as difficult for the actors and technical team to present as it can be for the audience to follow. In last week’s excellent student production (so good I went twice), director Griffith Rees admirably fulfilled his
It’s the late 1960s, when telephones still had dials, and — as Greg reminds us — it cost a pre-decimal fourpence to ride on a London bus. Greg has moved into Ginny’s flat, and into her bed. It soon becomes clear he has no experience of living with a girl
Debuted in 1999, Nikolaus Lehnhoff’s Parsifal has, in age, acquired something of the mythic sheen of the Grail itself. Returning to English National Opera after lengthy international touring, its legend arrived by way of vanguard — swathing the opening
Why is Flemish composer Philippe Rogier so widely ignored? It’s a question that continued to puzzle throughout Magnificat’s wonderful exploration of his music last Friday, for these are pieces that deserve to be aired much more frequently. So hats off
AEA Technology 5 BMW 5150 Electrocomponents 268.9 Nationwide Accident Repair 98.5 Oxford Biomedica 6.5 Oxford Catalysts 87 Oxford Instruments 615 Reed Elsevier 560 RM 160.25 RPS Group 200 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
Mapdance is a company of 15 female dancers formed from recent graduates. Both by training, and also physically, they are a varied selection, but they blend well in this enjoyable show. Funding has enabled them to commission work from four quality choreographers
Artist Sophie Baker was inspired by a story from the 1920s of a woman who set up home where her car broke down while she was driving through Utah. Baker emulated her by camping in the remote wild frontiers of the American state and thereby gained inspiration
Britten and Brahms make an unlikely pairing. Britten disliked Brahms’s music, although he periodically re-read his scores to check he hadn’t missed something. The contrast between their musical personalities was clearly illustrated in the Heath Quartet
POTENTIAL lifesavers are hoping to smash a world record for the largest first aid class and raise thousands for a new ambulance. Volunteers from St John Ambulance are aiming to teach 1,000 people lifesaving skills, in just half an hour. Participants
PEOPLE concerned about the air quality in Witney are being urged to have their say on plans to tackle the issue. This is the final week people can voice their opinion on West Oxfordshire District Council’s air quality management for the town. The draft
Police are extending their appeal for help in tracing a 41-year-old woman who has been missing for a week. Petra Sinclair, who has friends in Oxford, was dropped off near the High Wycombe bus station by her partner at about 11.25am on Tuesday and was
FOR Placi O’Neill, binge-eating anything she could lay her hands and then immediately making herself sick became second nature. The 38-year-old would gorge on crisps, sweets and chocolate and then immediately make herself vomit. The problem, which began
THE rhythms of hip hop beats and classical music will help Oxford come alive over the next month following the launch of the fifth Dancin’ Oxford festival. And organisers promise there will be something for everyone with events taking place
The front page of the Oxford Mail on Saturday epitomised the lazy thinking of the all-powerful motoring lobby whenever there is a challenge to its freedom to do whatever it chooses – in this case, to drive faster than the speed limit. “Waste of money
LABOUR city councillors have been accused of snubbing local democracy to attend a slap-up dinner with Gordon Brown. Some Labour members were not going to attend a council meeting last week, forcing it to be called off with just a few days notice
Greene King Oxford & District Association Winter League MEN’S RESULTS Premier & Section 1: Bicester Town FC 4, Angel 5; Peachcroft SC 6, Rileys A 3; Rileys C 7, Goodlake Inn 2. Section 2: Chequers A 2, Cowley Workers SC 7; Masons A 0, Kidlington Green
The explosions of ordnance and rat-tat-tat of small arms fire that punctuate the compelling, superbly acted production of Journey’s End reach a shattering climax in the final moments of the drama, obliging members of the audience at the Oxford
Plans for an Incinerator at Ardley, near Bicester, have been approved. The Secretary of State for Local Government and Communities Eric Pickles confirmed waste firm Viridor can build a 300,000-tonne annual capacity incinerator at Ardley
COMMUNITY leaders have called for action after an investigation revealed a stark difference in ambulance response times across the county. Government targets say ambulance trusts must send medical help to the most serious emergencies within
BB&O round-up OWEN Wells scored four tries as Littlemore beat Abingdon 48-10 in Division 1 South. Abingdon scored tries at the start and end of the first half, but Wells (2), Dean Andrews and Jake Dawson touched down in between, debutant Frank
Oxfordshire Youth were edged out 9-8 by Middlesex at Rileys, Cowley. The under 18s lost 6-3 with their wins coming from Simon Allmond, Matt Clarke and man-of-the-match Ryan Bull, who posted the average for the age group for several years with 29.47.
BB&O Premier Division ALCHESTER boosted their title hopes with a 22-0 victory at second-placed Slough. They now lead Slough, who have two games in hand, by 12 points and are five points away from guaranteeing promotion. It was 0-0 at half-time, with
COMMITTED fundraiser Andrew Baker is again throwing his weight behind the OX5 Run – despite being too unwell to compete himself. Mr Baker, of King Walk, Didcot, has been in and out of hospital since the age of 12, when he had brain surgery
AEA Technology 5 BMW 5093 Electrocomponents 267.4 Nationwide Accident Repair 99 Oxford Biomedica 6.7 Oxford Catalysts 87 Oxford Instruments 625 Reed Elsevier 556.75 RM 163.5 RPS Group 202 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
A FORMER army warrant officer has been jailed for spying on a teenage girl as she undressed. Neil Parry used a camera with a telephoto lens and a camcorder to record a 16-year-old girl. The 42-year-old, who was based at Shrivenham Defence Academy on
Kevin Middleton starred as Section 1 side the Angel (Bicester) bounced back from two heavy defeats to record a 5-4 win over Premier team Bicester Town Football Club. Graham Manning, Andy Thomas and Andy Douglas gave Bicester Town a 3-0 lead
Banbury stayed top of Division 3A of the South Clubs’ League with a 4-1 win over Hampstead & Westminster. Tash Nunneley stole the show with a classy hat-trick. Sadie Lapper opened the scoring before Nunneley got her first, after good work at a short
National 2 South Henley Hawks made it three straight wins with a 27-12 home success over Shelford. Shelford took an early 6-0 lead thanks to two penalties from fly half Thomas Dann. Henley hit back with a penalty from fly half James Comben and the
South West 1 East Witney suffered fresh heartache by letting slip a 14-3 lead to lose 17-14 at home to relegation-threatened Bletchley – their eighth straight loss. The game began promisingly for Witney, who took the lead with a Henry Lamb penalty
A PENSIONER has been banned from angling competitions for the good of his own health after collapsing twice in two days. Norman McLelland, from Launton, near Bicester,whose fishing team is called the Coffin Dodgers, suffered a heart attack
Charlie Longsdon is hoping his decision to save Minella Boys for the totesport.com Eider Chase at Newcastle on Saturday proves the correct one. The Chipping Norton trainer believes four miles and a furlong on heavy ground will play to the nine-year-old's
MORE than 50 young people turned up for some half-term hip-hop in Oxford. The Dancin’ Urban masterclass was held at Barton Neighbourhood Centre yesterday and attracted 54 dancers aged six to 25. Dance teacher Emma-Jane Greig said: “It was amazing, there
Our guinea pig chews sores on himself. Why? We’ve taken him to the vet for this before and he did skin scrapes but found nothing. We were told to bathe him in a sulphur shampoo (Seleen) once a week, but it does not seem to cure it. Is there anything
Reg Marshman, a stalwart of Witney Amateur Boxing Club, has died following a lengthy illness. He was 90. He is credited with reviving the club during the 1970s when it didn’t have a gym. A former publican – he ran the Griffin Inn in Newland – he boxed
National 3 South West Chinnor pipped Weston-super-Mare 20-19 in a thrilling match at Kingsey Road. The home side battled back from 19-5 down to clinch a bonus-point victory with a 77th-minute try from wing Pip Seymour. Having edged out Weston 25-
I WRITE regarding the letter Snow laughing matter from Ken Roper (Oxford Mail, February 9). It is absurd to suggest that residents should not clear snow from paths and driveways for fear of being sued. If someone wants to clear snow and
I AM the local editor for the Netmums website in Oxfordshire and would like to urge Oxford Mail readers to take part in our Netmums Real Parenting Save Our Children’s Centre campaign. All around the UK, and right here in Oxfordshire, children’s centres
Soon to be just a logo, the NHS will never be the same again if we allow the Government’s Health and Social Care Bill to go unchallenged. Taxpayers’ money will be handed over to large corporations who will run things just like in the US, for the profit
Mark Taylor, of the New Alliance, highlights the coming census on March 27 (Oxford Mail, February 10). The census is used to plan local services and allocate funding for those services. An accurate estimate of those living or staying in the area is therefore
Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond has defended the show, but admitted its stars could be "naughty" and "outspoken". Hammond, 41, and co-presenters Jeremy Clarkson and James May were forced to apologise after a string of insulting remarks about
TURNING Culham’s European School into a state-funded academy would have put pupils’ education at risk, an expert close to the failed project said. Maurizio Fantato, vice-chairman of The English Trust for European Education, said hasty preparations for
Oxford City are set to give a return debut to former Abingdon United defender Richard Peirson when they travel to Bashley in the Premier Division tonight. It was during his first spell at City in the late 1990s when Peirson, 34, famously headed the equaliser
Southern Counties North Grove's promotion hopes took a hit with a 20-10 defeat at Milton Keynes on a muddy pitch they felt should have been declared unfit to play. The visitors started strongly and went ahead with a 14th-minute penalty
What an incredible waste of money it is for Parliament to be discussing whether prisoners should be allowed to vote or not. Talk now is of referring each individual case to the courts and contesting it with the European ruling. Withholding from prisoners
I read with interest your feature Frolics in the Forest (Globetrotter, February 12) for I too have been to Center Parcs at Longleat. It was something I had always wanted to do but the idea was pushed to the back of my mind. Then, in 2006, my parents
I read with interest the article by Witney reporter Tom Jennings in last Tuesday’s Oxford Mail (Police say sorry for mob handed attack). Last summer, during the World Cup, my friend was giving me a lift home from a pub in Oxford in his new car when
Dave Cresswell and Ted Bennett both smashed hat-tricks for Oxford Hawks on Saturday. Their trebles came as Hawks hammered Ashford (Middlesex) 8-0 in Premier Division 2. The emphatic win was a good way to christen their new shirts, which
Oxford 5, Wootton Bassett 31 Oxford can count themselves unfortunate to have lost this Southern Counties North clash by such a margin. Wootton Bassett showed why they are challenging for promotion with a strong finish, but for large parts, they were
ALAN Hancock was more than happy with Oxford’s efforts against Wootton Bassett. Oxford’s head coach said: “I couldn’t believe the scoreboard had them so far ahead at the end. Looking at it, I’m gobsmacked. “I’m happy with the performance. I’m literally
PARKING your car, recycling garden waste, tackling rat infestations and playing sport will all cost more after Oxford City Council agreed a £9m cuts package last night. Charges for scores of services will increase above the rate of inflation
A military crane parked in an Oxford street has attracted a barrage of criticism from angry neighbours. They say its appearance is the last straw in a long-running battle over a fleet of vehicles parked outside their homes. Nicholas
Today the Oxford Mail reveals the stark difference in ambulance response times across the county. The Government has said ambulance trusts must send medical help to the most serious emergencies within eight minutes of a 999 call. But our report shows
Residents in Wolvercote are angry over the arrival of a large armoured vehicle in their street. It comes amid a court battle between the city council and the crane’s owner over a number of other vehicles. The residents say the appearance of the vehicle
Signalling problems today caused delays for rail travellers in north Oxfordshire. Delays of up to 30 minutes were reported on First Great Western services between Bicester Town and Oxford due to a signalling problem at Islip. First Great
Paul McLaren feels Oxford United are starting to click – at both ends of the pitch. Their 3-0 win at Morecambe was a third clean sheet in a row away from home. And it was a match in which all three goals came from midfield, with Asa Hall hitting a double
CASH to help people in Oxfordshire be part of the Government’s much-heralded Big Society is now up for grabs. Anyone can ask for funding and bids for slices of a £600,000 pot are now being taken as Conservative-run Oxfordshire County Council
COCOA farmers from Africa are heading to Oxford to reveal why Fairtrade products are so important to their lives. Harriet Boatemaa and Fatima Ali will discuss how being part of the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative in Ghana has improved conditions for
