Archive

  • Council vetoes student flats plan

    PLANS to knock down two buildings in Cowley Road and replace them with a shop, offices and 18 student rooms have been refused. Oxford City Council’s east area planning committee last week rejected the plans saying the development would be “overbearing

  • Volunteers set for play park training

    NEW volunteer helpers will start training at a long-awaited play park at the weekend, ready for its relaunch in the Spring. The Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground closed to the public in December 2009 after financial concerns. But thanks to the tireless

  • Peeping Tom soldier avoids jail term

    A SOLDIER who indecently filmed a teenage girl walked free from court after a judge expressed her frustration at sentencing rules. Private Birendra Limbu, 34, is set to be formally discharged from the army today after he was sentenced at Oxford Crown

  • Inquest: 'plane deaths were accidental'

    THE MOTHER of a teenage boy killed in an Oxfordshire air crash said the RAF had “utterly failed him.” Nicholas Rice spent the last seconds of his life desperately trying to free himself from a doomed aircraft after his tutor was killed in front of him

  • Win place at stage school

    A MUSICAL theatre fan will win the chance to study acting and dancing at an Oxfordshire stage school, thanks to a grant from composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. The £6,110 Andrew Lloyd Webber Scholarship will provide one student with the fees to cover the

  • Local shares (PM)

    AEA Technology 0.3 BMW 5999 Electrocomponents 242.1 Nationwide Accident Repair 64 Oxford Biomedica 3 Oxford Catalysts 57.5 Oxford Instruments 1150.5 Reed Elsevier 548.5 RM 82 RPS Group 231.4 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Sojo, Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford

    ‘Haven’t you been here before?” the beautiful Teresa asks when I remark on what a stunning restaurant Sojo is, particularly deceptive from the outside where it’s positioned surreptitiously next to the backpackers’ hostel. “No,” I muttered shame-faced

  • Warm water is best for clean hands

    Various correspondents to The Oxford Times appear to take it as a personal insult that I once claimed never to have heard of the actor James Corden. Perhaps they think I am having a go at them for their downmarket Gavin & Stacey taste. Perhaps they are

  • Sir Andrew Motion remembers too many fallen in war

    For two decades Trinity College, Oxford, has played host to an annual lecture and dinner given in honour of one of its most famous former students, Richard Hillary, whose exploits as a Second World War fighter pilot are recorded in his book The Last Enemy

  • Natural Worlds: West Ox Arts, Bampton

    Three gifted artists, inspired by nature, have come together to display work in Bampton. Margaret Fitzpatrick was trained in heraldry, hence the meticulous detailing of her botanical watercolours, all of which are enhanced with her innate sense of design

  • Fresh fish you can even catch yourselves

    Although spring is still a month away, those zero temperatures appear to have vanished and I have already seen a bird flying into one of my trees with a beak full of nesting material. I see this period of the year as the perfect time to visit popular

  • Recipe for trout fish cakes (serves 2)

    The fresh trout on sale at Bibury’s little shop at the trout farm is so fresh that it glistens and so tasty that it cries out to be cooked. They do sell ready-made fish cakes too, but I think it is much more fun to make your own. YOU WILL NEED One

  • House Lined up for a Welcome Revival

    So sad, the sight of that strangely beautiful building at 20 St Michael’s Street, Oxford, known as Vanbrugh House, which the city council has left empty for a decade; good news, therefore, that it will soon become part of a 22-room hotel. But why is it

  • The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Safe House

    Adapted from Deborah Moggach’s novel These Foolish Things, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a hilarious and touching comedy about growing old disgracefully. Ol Parker’s warm and witty script provides the predominantly British cast with moments to shine

  • Swallows and Amazons: Wycombe Swan

    The thrilling new stage version of Swallows and Amazons, which enchanted West End audiences over Christmas, is in High Wycombe this week, delighting long-time admirers of Arthur Ransome’s celebrated children’s story, which dates back to 1930, and earning

  • Review of CD by Chisato Kusunoki

    The comparatively routine debut CD of Chopin or Liszt isn’t for German-born pianist Chisato Kusunoki. She has chosen a more unusual mix of Rachmaninoff, Medtner, Scriabin, and Liapunov (Quartz QTZ 2089). Her love of this late-19th and 20th century

  • Lang Lang and the Oxford Philomusica: Sheldonian Theatre

    Pianists don’t come with much more of a stellar reputation than Lang Lang, so it was hardly surprising that his appearance with the Oxford Philomusica was greeted by a full house. I was told before the concert began that the rehearsal had gone exceptionally

  • The Barefaced Night: O' Reilly Theatre, Keble College

    This re-telling of a Scandinavian folk-tale has a lot of emotional depth to it, thanks to a production that makes the most of its few professional performers and its amateur cast of students. Princess Fayra is not happy at court and given to roaming

  • Review of Commotio's CD In the Heart of Things

    Commotio’s latest recording — their fourth — is, quite simply, stunning. This exploration of the choral music of Francis Pott sees the choir in typically adventurous mood, eschewing the standard choral repertoire for lesser-known fare and, as always,

  • Rosalind Miles: Jacqueline du Pre Building

    The Jacqueline Du Pré Music Building at St Hilda’s College is a highly suitable setting for Rosalind Miles’s portraits of musicians and their music. She explains that her approach was inspired by the time she spent helping at a musicians’ retreat

  • Teechers: Burton Taylor Studio

    ohn Godber’s spirited late eighties play-within-a-play gets a kinetic airing in this student production. Sixteen-year-olds Salty (Alex Sheppard), Hobby (Kaiya Stone) and Gail (Sarah Illingworth) are putting on an end-of-year play, as a final goodbye

  • Lettice and Lovage: Watermill Theatre, Newbury

    ‘We come now to the Tudor staircase,” intones Lettice Douffet. She then unfolds an amazing tale about Queen Elizabeth I, who, she says, nearly fell down it when she visited the house, but was saved by a gallant gentleman. The gentleman in question was

  • Serious Money: The Oxford School of Drama, Pegaus Theatre

    Serious Money, Caryl Churchill’s ruthless examination of the ‘greed is healthy’ financial world of the late 1980s, still has a powerful impact, despite today’s more general understanding of the tendency for disgraceful behaviour by bankers and other speculators

  • The Oxford Trobadors: Holywell Music Room

    It was wonderful to see the Oxford Trobadors back in action last weekend, with a mixed programme of new songs and old favourites. This seven-strong ensemble, formed in 1998 by baritone/guitarist Denis Noble, takes its inspiration from Occitan, a medieval

  • Guercino: A Passion for Drawing, the Ashmolean Museum

    You know you are in for something special when you get a frisson of pleasure the moment you see the first pictures in a show. Guercino is one of the great names of 17th-century Italian art. Though his name is not one of the best known, almost forgotten

  • Botley woman to be extradited on kidnap charges

    A MUM-of-three from Botley will be extradited to the USA to face charges of kidnap, the High Court has ruled today. Eileen Clark, 54, fled to Oxford with her children after her divorce in America in 1998. She was arrested at home in July 2010 and

  • Searches continue for missing woman Joanna Lake

    The police helicopter has today been used to search for missing woman Joanna Lake today as officers become increasingly concerned for her welfare. Ms Lake, 58, was last seen by a friend at her home in Pudsey Close, Abingdon at about 3.15pm on Monday

  • Cropredy festival announces all-star line-up

    NEW wave legends Squeeze and singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading will join Fairport Convention at this year’s Cropredy music festival. The festival – which runs from Thursday, August 9, to Saturday, August 11 – has also put its tickets on sale early because

  • Gipsy site extension raises fears

    PLANS to extend a Bloxham gipsy site have raised fears about pressure on schools and the countryside. Scrap metal firm Smiths of Bloxham has applied to add 16 extra pitches to the 20-pitch site between its site and the caravan park. The plans also involve

  • Dance festival is blazing a trail with smart phone app

    A MOBILE phone app is leading dance fans to four sites so they can see performances specially recorded for the Dancin’ Oxford festival. The festival, featuring more than 30 events at venues across the city, started on Saturday and runs until

  • Alice event offers some wacky racing

    THE 150th birthday of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland will see a wacky race on the eve of the Olympic torch visit to Oxford. As the eyes of the world turn to the city, hundreds will gather for a “madcap Caucus Race” in Merton Field, next to Christ Church

  • Tracksuit appeal over Littlemore rape

    A man wearing an Oxford United tracksuit could hold the key to finding who sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl. The teenager was walking along Sandy Lane West, Littlemore, when she was attacked on Saturday night. Det Sgt Ian Wood said: “The victim

  • YOUTH FOOTBALL: Costley fires Ducklington into final

    Tom Costley hammered a hat-trick as Ducklington reached the Giles Sports Witney Youth League's Under 15 Knockout Cup final with a 4-2 win at Bicester Town Colts. Connor Peacock also netted for Ducklington, with Charlie Miles and Lewis Garcia the Bicester

  • GIRLS' FOOTBALL: City have the edge

    Oxford City Under 13s ran out 3-2 winners at home to Kidlington Under 13 in the Oxfordshire FA Under 14 Girls Cup with goals from Lara Althorp, Lauren Page and Shelley Knight.

  • Police appeal over missing woman

    A 58-year-old woman has gone missing from her home in Abingdon. Joanna Lake was last seen at her home in Pudsey Close at around 3.15pm on Monday. Anyone with any information can contact the police on 101 quoting the reference URN 605 21/2.

  • GIRLS' FOOTBALL: Alder slams a towering trio

    Jazzmin Alder hit a hat-trick in Tower Hill Vixens’ 8-1 win at Kennington in the Oxford Mail Girls League Under 15 Division. Chrissi Hadjiyianni bagged a brace, with Robyn Coburn, Suzy Halsey and Carla Wood also netting as Charlotte Chewings

  • COMMENT: Do what's right

    SO THE city council has pledged extra cash for youth and education projects in its £24m budget. But as the inevitable political fallout takes place, perhaps our councillors might like to remember that first and foremost, this should not be about political

  • City council pledges more cash for youth projects

    THE city council pledged extra cash to youth and education projects as it passed its £24m budget. Oxford’s Labour-run city council also earmarked cash for advice centres and services to support people battling benefit cuts as its proposed budget was

  • Pancake Day pandemonium

    THREE bishops in Oxford and hundreds of school pupils in Wallingford celebrated Pancake Day yesterday. The Bishops of Oxford, Dorchester and Reading served free pancakes to passing shoppers outside St Michael at the North Gate church in Cornmarket Street

  • Queue jumpers get a police ticking-off

    Drivers queue jumping during the morning rush hour in Oxford’s Botley Road were warned yesterday. Police ticked off motorists illegally using the park-and-ride lane and told them they would be fined. They warned about 50 drivers for jumping the queue

  • FOOTBALL: Deadly duo bag trebles

    David Conder and Dan Smith helped themselves to hat-tricks in Garsington Res’ 9-2 mauling of Adderbury Park Res in Division 2 of the Oxfordshire Senior League. Sam Webb, Richard Morgan and Steve Skyrme wrapped-up the rout, with John Danby and Tom Jacobs

  • KATE IN OXFORD: Things we learned about the Duchess yesterday

    1 According to four- year-old Ben Butler, the duchess is a fan of children’s TV show Ben 10. Ben discovered this after Kate complimented him on his Ben 10 T-shirt. 2 Her new dog is called Lupo – Italian for wolf. She told pupils at Rose Hill that she

  • FOOTBALL: Kings reign at Jericho

    Kings Arms Wheatley ruled the roost with a 3-1 win at Critchleys Upper Thames Valley League Division 1 opponents AFC Jericho in the Devenney Cup quarter-final, writes TIM SIRET. The Premier side led 2-0 through Francis Mapplethorpe and Shaun Jacob.

  • FOOTBALL: Brooks bashes Hinksey

    Ryan Brooks scored twice as Oxford Yellows won their heavyweight battle at AFC Hinksey 4-2 to reach the last four of the Oxfordshire FA Sam Waters Sunday Cup, writes TIM SIRET. In this all-UTV League Premier Division clash, Yellows got off

  • FOOTBALL: Berinsfield batter Sams

    Berinsfield stormed into the semi-finals of the OFA John Fathers Junior Shield with a resounding 10-0 thrashing of Sams United, from Division 2 of the Banbury & District Lord Jersey League. Brian Rawlings and Ian Marshall both scored twice

  • FOOTBALL: Cholsey run ends

    Cholsey United’s great run in the Berks & Bucks Sunday Junior Cup came to an end when they lost 5-4 after extra-time to Burghfield in a thrilling fifth-round tie. The sides were locked at 2-2 after 90 minutes, but Burghfield edged it in an eventful last

  • KATE IN OXFORD: 'She seemed such a genuine person'

    JUST a few years ago their lives looked like they were spiralling out of control. But yesterday two young people from Blackbird Leys sat in front of the Duchess of Cambridge at Oxford Spires Academy and told her how a local charity had given

  • Desperate travellers

    JOHN Tanner claims “people come from all over the world to use Gloucester Green toilets”. They must be pretty desperate by the time they get here! PETER McCUMISKEY Upper Road Kennington

  • My mind just boggles

    Toilette (French), Inodor (Catalan), Wc (Croatian), Zachod (Czech), Banyo (Filipino). Just a few translations for the illustrious councillor John Tanner to have put into print for the new tourist guides to Oxford. So visitors to this great city will

  • White elephant could signal way to the loos

    OXFORD is well-known as a tourist destination, with its dreaming spires, its historic colleges, its fascinating museums and its preposterous councillors. Now (Loo revamp to cost £420,000, Monday’s Oxford Mail), councillor John Tanner unveils a new attraction

  • Lost bus service was vital

    I HAVE just heard that the Octabus dial-a-ride bus, which takes my 97-year-old mother out once a week, will cease to operate from next month (yesterday’s Oxford Mail). The excellent and caring driver, who has looked after her so well, will be made redundant

  • FOOTBALL: Banbury's cup cheer

    BANBURY United reached the Evo-Stik Southern League’s Red Insure Cup semi-finals after a 2-0 victory at Hemel Hempstead last night. Hemel wasted two early chances and were then made to pay when on 50 minutes, Simeon Williams fired home from Danny Edmond

  • KATE IN OXFORD: 'I couldn't stop shaking'

    Pupils at Oxford Spires Academy jumped at the chance to meet with the Duchess. Tray Sam said he couldn’t stop shaking after sharing a few words with her. The 15-year-old said: “She came up to me and said it must be really cold out here. I said it was

  • FOOTBALL: Bekele ruled out for rest of season

    Kidlington Old Boys are likely to be without defender Alex Bekele for the rest of the season after he suffered a serious knee injury in their Oxfordshire Senior League Division 1 clash with Riverside. It happened in the second-minute of stoppage time

  • FOOTBALL: Hailey trio see red in cup defeat

    Hailey had Dean Mayes, Carl Austin and Sean Evans all sent off as they lost 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out against Witney Royals in the first round of the Witney FA Senior Cup. Joey King put Hailey ahead, but Jamie Kennedy’s goal sent the tie into extra

  • The Disabled Space: Adapting to a new habitat

    As A self-confessed animal geek, er... I mean conserv-ation biologist, I am an avid BBC wildlife fan. I recently found myself watching a series called Super Smart Animals. I was somewhat sceptical but among the usual cast of dolphins and chimps were

  • Thank you for support

    I WOULD like to thank everybody who contacted me in response to my request (Oxford Mail, February 13) for old British coins and foreign coins, also all the people who sent me used postage stamps. This is an ongoing appeal, so please continue to forward

  • Passing buck over shop

    IT IS a favourite pastime these days to blame somebody else for something of your own making. Your story of the call for a boycott of a new Tesco store in Marston (Monday’s Oxford Mail) tops the bill for passing the buck. The ridiculous claim by the

  • Time to pull the chain

    WHILE conceding that councillor John Tanner must constitute a priceless gift for local journalists, I do wonder whether even he really stated that he “would like people to come to Oxford to use our toilets” and “It is an international toilet. People come

  • Ton up up for Mini

    The number of countries in which the Cowley-built Mini is on sale has passed the 100 mark. The full range will go on sale in Jordan with a branch in the centre of the capital, Amman. The move follows a new sales record being achieved in the Middle East

  • Constable hails Oxford United hero Clarke

    JAMES Constable hailed goalkeeper Ryan Clarke after his late penalty save gave Oxford United a vital 2-1 win over Barnet last night. Goals from Scott Rendell and Constable had put the U’s ahead after they fell behind to a Michael Hector strike. But

  • KATE IN OXFORD: Pupils so proud to welcome Duchess

    HUNDREDS of well-wishers lined the streets to give the Duchess of Cambridge a right royal welcome on her first visit to Oxford. The crowds waved banners and flags and offered the Duchess posies of flowers. Kate, 30, visited Rose Hill

  • COMMENT: Making the best possible impression

    KATE Middleton. The Duchess of Cambridge. Or, to put it more accurately, our future Queen. And what an extraordinary first impression she made with her visit to Oxford yesterday. For some it is easy to criticise the role of our Royal Family in this

  • KATE IN OXFORD: Jaydn has brush with royalty

    HE MAY be a yellow’s supporter, but Jaydn Proffitt will surely love orange for the rest of his life after his royal art class. The seven-year-old was one of a group of children to enjoy a painting session with the Duchess of Cambridge, who

  • A34 drivers warned about fire

    Drivers on the A34 are being warned about a fire causing visibility problems in Chilton, near Didcot. Firefighters are tackling the blaze this morning in fields close to a farm after 500 tonnes of timber was set alight. A spokesman for

  • Crash in Bladon injures man

    Paramedics are at the scene of a crash near Woodstock this morning. The accident involving two cars happened at 7.45am on the A4095 between Bladon and Long Hanborough. A spokesman for South Central Ambulance said: “Our staff are still

  • Charity champ has an Olympic mission

    HIS gruelling fitness challenges over the past six years have raised more than £30,000 for Oxfordshire charities. But this year Wantage fundraiser Ray Collins has set himself an Olympic task. The charity champion hopes to raise at least

  • Relatives will never forget 'a true hero'

    A 21-year-old airman killed in Afghanistan has been described as a “true hero” ahead of his repatriation to RAF Brize Norton tomorrow. Senior Aircraftman Ryan Tomlin, from 2 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment, was killed on Monday last week, during his