Archive

IT MAY be a cheaper scheme, but thousands of people can only be relieved and rejoicing that the rebuilding of Frideswide Square is seemingly back on. The current traffic set-up is a nightmare. Granted it is hardly the easiest traffic

A NEW scheme to completely change Oxford’s Frideswide Square could see work on the notorious city centre bottleneck starting by 2013. The redesign of the congested square looked to have stalled in August when the Government rejected a bid for

Gobsmacked by a diner’s insult, katherine MacALISTER is relieved to report on a sublime Michelin-starred delight. It’s not often I’m lost for words – ask my husband. But a recent conversation at a party left me speechless. On discovering

There’s a backstage buzz like never before at the Oxford Playhouse, writes KATHERINE MacALISTER, as the finishing touches are applied to this year’s pantomime Mother Goose. And as few of us know the storyline or can even imagine the characters, give

HAPPY FEET TWO (U) Family/Animation/Comedy. Featuring the voices of Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Pink, Sofia Vergara, Ava Acres, Hank Azaria, Common, Richard Carter, Hugo Weaving, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon. Director: George Miller.

HUGO (U) DJ Shadow plays The Oxford O2 Academy next Thursday with Knock and Tiger Mendoza. Tickets are £19.50 from wegottickets.com Martin Scorsese swaps the mean streets of New York for the wintry boulevards of 1930s Paris

THE newly approved East-West Rail link will make Bicester an even more booming town for business, according to industry leaders. Experts predict the biggest challenge now will be finding room for new and growing firms in the town and say it

South Pacific is shored up by opera megastar Paulo Szot and soap siren Samantha Womack. KATHERINE MaCALISTER takes a dip with the two leads. THE GAL: Did you know Samantha Womack could sing? Me neither. I didn’t

The turntable master starts from scratch with his new album and tour, as he tells TIM HUGHES. WHEN it comes to mixing, sampling and scratching, DJ Shadow is the heavyweight champion of the world. Known the world over for his deck dexterity

TIM HUGHES talks to Irish nu-folk singer-songwriter Fionn Regan about his new album and gig in an Oxford church. THINK you know Irish folk? Well, it may be time to think again, because the Emerald Isle has a new musical hero – and he knows

MORE police officers will be taken under the church’s wing as a scheme to build stronger community links is expanded. Police in Abingdon have been running a ‘Adopt-A-Cop’ scheme for the past year. Officers have formed close links with 17 places of worship

7.45: Emjayz Apple 2, Sergar, Speedy Ali 3, Ammevad Light, Lady Alice, MUNSTER CALL. 8.00: Gortnaskeha Owl, Jolly Gino 3, UPTOWN BUDDY, Outback Casandra 2, Westway Triangle, Primo Zeus. 8.15: Run For Cover, Tiermana Ace, Golden Sand 2, Blue Eyed Jane

11.03: Lingrawn Penny 3, Pennys Lexi, Chapelane Lucy, Wiltshire Zig, IGOYOUGO, Greencroft Teddy 2. 11.19: Aggie Jo, Montos Flash 2, Memories Queen, BLUE PEARL LADY, Fridays Jewel 3, Slashers Dasher. 11.34: BALLYMAC TISH, Knockrour Paddy 2, Turnstile

AT least 200 homes have been left without water after workmen are believed to have struck a water pipe. Thames Water confirmed it had received around 200 calls about the incident in St Johns Road, Wallingford, which happened at about 1pm today.

A WOMAN who sent hand-written cards to the families of fallen war heroes has died aged 91. Mary Gibson, of Cedar Court, Cowley, died at the John Radcliffe Hospital on Remembrance Day, Friday, November 11, after a long illness. Mrs Gibson, nee Weekes

A FLASHER who hugged a woman in the early hours of this morning is being sought by police. The 21-year-old victim was walking home along Bullingdon Road, East Oxford, about 1.50am when a man started walking alongside her. Feeling uncomfortable

HISTORIAN Nick Allen says he is thrilled to be the first to document the history of his church in print – despite being an atheist. The writer has documented the history of Adderbury Church in An English Parish Church: Its Story. He said: “It is a wonderful

CAMPAIGNERS rebuilding a burnt out West Oxford community centre say it will now be bigger and better thanks to a large cash prize. Plans to create a cycle path between Dean Court and Eynsham also won a £6,250 grant after picking up a high number of votes

Stars of television show Britain’s Got Talent will be seen in the raw as Oxford marks the coming of Christmas tomorrow night. Vocal group Out of the Blue will take to the stage in St Giles to entertain crowds as part of the city’s Christmas

Oxford University captain John Carter today named seven Blues in his pack to face Cambridge in the Varsity Match at Twickenham next week. Carter has gone for experience up front, with another two forwards, who appeared in last year’s victory

STAFF at Oxford’s Ashmolean have revealed an even bigger scheme is on the horizon after 9,000 people visited their new Ancient Egypt galleries at the weekend. The £5m galleries showcasing the museum’s world famous collection opened to the public on Saturday

A CRASH between an Army truck and a red Land Rover Defender on the A34 this morning caused delays. The collision, which happened at 9.24am, took place on the northbound carriageway between the Wytham turn and the Peartree roundabout. No one was

Comrades Club are the new Section 1 leaders after beating Premier outfit Didcot Conservative Club 4-1 at home as only one point separates the top three teams, writes PETE EWINS. Simon Ellam (5210), Dave Barnes, Chris Alexander and Chris Storch were

FRILFORD HEATH Ladies’ November Stableford: 1 S Russell 38, 2 H De’ath 35, 3 S Simms 33. OXFORD CITY Medal No 12 – Div 1: 1 S Greenwood 77-13=64, 2 M Paddick 77-11=66, 3 P Higgins 71-5=66. Div 2: 1 N Harbert 82-19=63, 2 R Davies 82-15=67, 3 R Busby

Pete Dempsey top-scored with 13 dolls as North Oxford Conservative Club beat Gin’ll Fix It 6-0 in the Kidlington Indoor League. However, the match was much tighter than the scoreline would suggest, with the two teams separated by just one doll

Laura Watkins collected five trophies at Bicester’s ladies’ presentation night. The Oxfordshire player received the Bradbury Cup, Dean Salver, Humphris Trophy, Ladies’ Winter Trophy and the Phipps Pairs with Carly Bosher. ROLL OF HONOUR Bisque Cup:

BANBURY Under 13s were runners-up in the match-day tournament at Northampton Saints, losing a tight final with Old Northamptonians 5-0. They won all four of their pool games, beating Cambridge 7-5, Wellingborough 22-5, Kettering 22-0 and Huntingdon 15

PAUL Jegou led home White Horse Harriers in the second round of the Wessex League at Hudson’s Field, Salisbury. Jegou finished second in his 22nd race on the Wiltshire course Veteran John Peake produced a solid performance to finish eighth. Results

OTHER EYNSHAM 10K RESULTS (top 200 only) Eynsham Roadrunners: R Storey 35.59. Witney Roadrunners: J Young 36.52, D Swann 38.44, N Moglia 40.37, C Ellis 40.58, G Hunter 41.50, E Kay 42.10pb, G Le Good 42.54, J Cardy 43.38, P Ainslie 43.35, J Whelan

AEA Technology 0.785 BMW 4799 Electrocomponents 210.4 Nationwide Accident Repair 68.5 Oxford Biomedica 4.85 Oxford Catalysts 50.75 Oxford Instruments 986.75 Reed Elsevier 526.75 RM 72 RPS Group 189.75 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley,

A restaurant owner is celebrating after two of his restaurants were shortlisted for the prestigious British Curry Awards. Angur Miah was delighted that The Dil Raj in Abingdon was in the top ten and The Vine and Spice in Long Wittenham was shortlisted

Rocketing energy bills mean eco-properties, designed to keep heating costs low are becoming more popular with househunters. Fieldside is a newly-built house with several green aspects including above-average insulation. Developers Brookes Cavendish

A 17th-century Georgian townhouse in the Market Place, Faringdon, was once the home of the town grocer. And the property, which is above what was the grocery store and is now a florist, has a trapdoor in the sitting room which allowed the occupants

Many landlords are paying more tax than they need to, according to property experts. Under the Government’s Rent a Room scheme, anyone can earn earn up to £4,250 a year tax-free by letting a furnished room or rooms in their own home. Another area often

Oxford City Stars picked up a much-needed English National League South Division 1 point in a 2-2 draw at home to Bristol Pitbulls after an 11-0 battering the previous night at Cardiff Devils. Nothing went right for Stars from the opening drop of the

A medieval carved stone arched window is one of the first things seen by visitors to Easter House near Burford. Set in the garden wall, it is at the entrance to the gravel driveway of the Cotswold stone cottage. Easter House in Taynton

OXFORDSHIRE athletes had to play second fiddle at the Eynsham 10K where both winners came from outside the county. City of Norwich’s Nick Earl claimed the men’s honours, clocking an impressive 32mins 3secs in blustery conditions. Regular Oxford Mail

OXFORD City’s Steve Male and Alchester’s Samantha Usher were confirmed as Oxfordshire men’s and ladies’ Grand Prix Series champions after the Eynsham 10K. Male, who finished sixth and second vet 40 in 33.54, held off James Bolton (Woodstock Harriers)

THE latest soldier to be repatriated into Brize Norton today was a rising star and outstanding marksman who joined the Army as a boy cadet. Rifleman Sheldon Steel, from 5th Battalion The Rifles (5 Rifles), was killed in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan

McCarthy & Stone is inviting retired people to view the remaining apartments at its Dove Court development, in Faringdon, this weekend. The open house event will take place tomorrow, from 2pm to 8pm and on Saturday, from 11am to 4pm.

OXFORD Harlequins head coach Tevita Vaikona has set his sights firmly on survival after taking increased control of the team. Vaikona, whose role now includes selection, is confident Quins have the players to stay in National 3 South West, but says they

OXFORDSHIRE’S economy took an estimated hit of £5m yesterday as public sector strikers closed schools, shut council services, and caused hospital appointments to be cancelled. Across the county, 211 out of 291 schools were either fully or partially closed

FORMER Radley athlete Hatti Dean said she had not been sure what to expect after winning the McCain Liverpool Cross Challenge and European trials. The 29-year-old, who held off Gemma Steel in a close finish at Sefton Park, missed a month of

PAUL Fernandez (pictured) helped England to the vet 35 team bronze medal in the British and Irish Masters' International cross country event at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow. The Abingdon Ambler finished 19th, clocking 26mins 48secs for the slippery two-lap

I DON’T know much about badgers, but I feel very sad when I walk along the Thames adjacent to Cripley Meadow. Where there was once a thriving wildlife corridor there is now land scraped bare, like a building site, and the few remaining trees cut back

IN reply to Bob Johnson’s assertion that, after the Second World War, French Nazi collaborators were given a hard time (Oxford Mail, November 21), I would add that quite a few were made presidents or premiers of France. Is that what he means by getting

I WRITE in reply to Roger Tucker (Oxford Mail, November 18) who asks for justification for the “lavish robes worn by bishops”. If you take a look at those entering the presence of the Queen at Buckingham Palace, you will see they are correctly dressed

FOLLOWING yesterday’s public sector strike, which saw workers taking action across the UK, I’d just like to say thank you to: * The teachers who taught me so much more than reading and writing; * The paramedics who safely took me to hospital

THIS is just a note to encourage the re-naming of Abingdon to Abingdon-on-Thames, as mentioned in the Oxford Mail this week. As a resident of Oxford, I welcome the refreshing image the new name would give to Abingdon. I hope the subsequent preparations

I NEVER fought for a free French republic, but at present my face says otherwise. I look even stranger than I normally do. Your husband, brother or father might do too! For the whole of November I have been challenged, facially. The end result is

CHINNOR could face two of their own players after they were drawn at home to Oxford Brookes University in the Oxfordshire Cup semi-finals. Star No 8 and Brookes student Liam Gilbert has played in their two victories so far – against Oxford University

CHERWELL League chiefs announced a staggering financial turnaround at their annual meeting at Bicester & North Oxford CC. Following a change of hierarchy at the extraordinary general meeting in January this year, the new team – led by chairman Clive

I was delighted to read that our country cousins would be happy to pay for parking at Thornhill Park & Ride on their way to London (Mail letters, November 24). If the charge were a modest £5 per day, the councils (city and county) would not

THERE are three reasons for wars in the Middle East and North Africa since 2001: oil, gas and the protection of the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency. In August 2001 the US State Department was in direct negotiations with the Taliban in Afghanistan

JOHN Kelly must be very petty-minded to complain (Oxford Mail, November 29) that the Lord Mayor rode to repatriation ceremonies on a bicycle and wore “scruffy” clothes. The Lord Mayor saves constituents’ money by cycling instead of using the

* BACK in the day, the Oxford Union was graced by the likes of Winston Churchill, Richard Nixon, Robert Kennedy, and Albert Einstein. This year, the line-up has been Jordan and Hanson. That’s Austerity Britain for you. Does anybody even remember

Unions have hailed a strike by up to two million public sector workers as “historic” as they angrily rejected claims by the Prime Minister that the biggest walk-out in a generation had been a “damp squib”. David Cameron told the Commons that the “irresponsible

EVEN the lock keepers were on strike. Boaters were left to navigate their own way along the Thames, as a small group of GMB members who man the locks joined the 6,000 strong protest yesterday. They were symbolic of many other professions hardly associated

A TEENAGE motorist who died in a car crash was “driving just a little too fast for her own capabilities” on a wet road, a coroner ruled. Oxford High School student Olivia Jefferies’ Peugeot 107 veered into an oncoming car in Adderbury on June 12 and

WHEN Steve Dancer first met his future wife Sarah at a barbecue she didn’t think he was her type. But crucially – medically in this case – he is exactly her type. Now they are preparing for surgery to donate one of Mr Dancer’s kidney’s to his sick wife

OXFORD University captain John Carter revealed he had a sleepless night as he settled on his Varsity Match team. Carter, who will officially announce his starting XV and eight replacements at Twickenham today (12.30) ahead of next Thursday’s match, said

TOM Craddock says that he cannot wait to get back to playing first-team football again after coming through 90 minutes for the first time this week. The Oxford United striker picked up a knee injury in pre-season that has ruled him out of all football

IT’S not just Santa that 25 criminals will be worrying about coming into their homes this Christmas with the launch of this year’s Badvent campaign. Over the coming three-and-a-half weeks we will be featuring 25 faces police want your help

When Barbie gave me a very attractive little book called Compost: the natural way to make food for your garden I know she meant it very kindly. But I read here: “The only rules are to make sure that you have approximately equal volumes of paper

Every Christmas, a giant Lights of Love Tree is erected at the Churchill Hospital, covered in lights in memory of loved ones who are no longer with us. On Saturday, December 10, at 3.30pm, Sobell House Hospice Charity will be holding a memorial

Sir – Instead of wasting so much time, effort and money on “rebranding” Abingdon with the twee appendage “on Thames”, perhaps we could maintain the free school transport for our children. As it is apparently deemed safe, by our councillors for 11-year-olds

Sir – Jim and Margie Campbell deserve our congratulations for developing the idea that those who can afford to do so pass on their winter fuel allowance to those who are not so fortunate (Letters, November 24). But there are a range of universal benefits

Evergreens make winter bearable, and, if they are clipped, they can really add structure when so much is in decay. I’m currently appreciating my chirpy box chickens and box roundels which comfort me greatly on grey, cold days. In my old garden at Hook

From bats to badgers, otters to owls, your local wildlife is out there making the most of the dark. GILES STROTHER, of the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust, steps into the moonlight to explore what the county has to offer after nightfall Looking

Sir – If Christopher Gray is to venture into matters ecological (Gray Matter, November 24), rather than sticking to his comfort zone as trainspotter, gourmand and solipsist, can I suggest that he carries out some research and gives the matter some thought

Sir – It is noted in The Oxford Times (November 24), that the county highway planners have discussed creating a single controlled parking zone covering the whole of Oxford. It is hoped they will spare a thought for surrounding villages, that are already

Sir – I write concerning the article by Christopher Gray last week, in which he suggested that declines in small birds are due to birds of prey. This is a common reaction to the sight of a bird being killed by a sparrowhawk but there is compelling scientific

Sir – It was a shock to see such prominence given to destructive views expressed by Christopher Gray. He began with a sincere account of distress at seeing a sparrowhawk kill a blackbird in an Osney garden. Anyone can understand how he felt; few can

Sir – I feel that a terrible injustice has been done regarding the John Radcliffe Hospital. I recently spent about five days in the hospital after I had collapsed at home. I am 92 and my wife nearly 90. I could not get up and we called the ambulance

Sir – It was with a mixture of disbelief, anger and shame that I read (Report, November 17) that Oxford City Council plans to record all conversations in taxis licensed by the council. Campaigners are, indeed, right to describe such a plan as ‘a staggering

Sir – I cannot believe that plans to improve the rail link from Oxford to London via Bicester, and indeed, links to Milton Keynes and Bedford, are to be further delayed by a few bats in a short tunnel where trains already run (Report, November

Sir – In July, the city council consulted on its Sites and Housing Development Plan Document (DPD) which allocates sites for development for housing, employment and other uses in Oxford. The city allocated 100 sites for potential development, a third

Sir – Congratulations to Drayton Construction and the county council’s highways staff for completing the first phase of rebuilding Iffley Road much faster than originally planned. And special thanks for making sure that heavy lorries could still access

Sir – Following Chris Koenig’s article (November 10), I am writing about aspects of the reduction to the Feed in Tariff for solar pv installations which will affect community energy projects. Transition Eynsham Area is working with the new Oxfordshire

A new training centre designed to give young jobless people a chance of running a real business has opened in Witney. The Synolos Centre in Corn Street is already working with ten 16-18-year-olds who have left school and failed to find a job. Director

Sir – The correspondence regarding Thornhill park-and-ride (Letters, November 24) implies that Thornhill is provided for use by London commuters. When Thornhill and Redbridge were originally built there was no parking charge and were designed to encourage

As a teenager Laurie Pycroft made headlines across the globe with his stand in support of animal testing for research at Oxford University. Whatever your views on animal testing, it was difficult not to admire the courage it must have taken

As Christmas approaches, so does my frantic search for meaningful gifts, which I usually solve by giving everyone a cookery book. As there is now a great collection of cookery books for children, and re-prints of classic oldies such as The Constance

Published in Oxford on paper gleaned from responsible sources Kids Cook the World by Sean Mendez (New Internationalist, £9.99) provides families with a chance to have fun in the kitchen and travel through the world’s cuisines at the same time.

Martin Scorsese swaps the mean streets of New York for the wintry boulevards of 1930s Paris for this Oscar-tipped first foray into family films and 3D. Hugo might revolve around the exploits of a pre-teenage boy and deal with themes of childhood innocence

In 1985, Nanni Moretti won the Special Jury Prize at the Berlin Film Festival for The Mass Is Ended. Despite being an avowed atheist, he also starred in this wry satire on contemporary Italian attitudes to morality and faith as a newly ordained priest

Before it was hijacked by the peddlers of effect-laden blockbusters, science fiction was one of Hollywood's more thoughtful genres. Nowhere else were the big questions of existence tackled with such ingenuity and accessibility. But once George Lucas ventured

Resistance is futile . . . Christmas and all its associated pleasures (and occasional frustrations) are just around the corner. Wine racks are, I expect, being stocked in readiness and I thought it might be an idea to identify some occasion appropriate

Sir – Although I have not any real vested interest in the car parking debate, I feel I must put my head over the parapet in support of others, than the county brigade and their sympathisers (Letters, November 24). The suggestion that all car parking

AS A teenager, Laurie Pycroft made headlines across the globe with his support for animals being used in research at Oxford University. In a strange irony, the boy who supported animal experiments has at 22 ended up turning himself into a human guinea

Sir – The Oxford Fieldpaths Society and the Oxfordshire Area Ramblers recognise that a constructive response is required to the swingeing cuts to the budget of the Countryside Service of Oxfordshire County Council in order to avoid further deterioration

ABINGDON’S Guildhall could be transformed into a profitable community venue with a cinema in a million pound revamp. Abingdon Town Council was handed the Grade II-listed building with £1.2m for improvements after a deal with Vale of White Horse District