More than 25 cars have had tyres punctured in a spate of criminal damage over three nights in Bicester. Vehicles in Orchard Way and Kennedy Road were targeted overnight on Tuesday, April 24, between 11.30pm and 5.30am. The following night, cars parked
The repatriation will take place tomorrow of Guardsman Michael Roland, a father of baby twins, who was killed less than a month after arriving in Afghanistan. Guardsman Roland, 22, from Worthing in Sussex, was shot by insurgents last Friday
THE city’s Christian festival Love Oxford is taking a break for a year. For the past six years, thousands of worshippers have gathered together for the Love Oxford festival. Last May, for the third year running, the service was held in South Park, with
A FLOOD alert on the Ginge Brook in the Steventon and Sutton Courtenay areas has been lifted by the Environment Agency after water levels fell overnight. Alerts remain in force on the following watercourses in Oxfordshire: River Thames
My first memory of the Luna Caprese in North Oxford was the sight of a celebrated (and rather large) local restaurant critic stuck in the spiral staircase leading down to the loo. From around the same time, about 1974, remains the flavour (after
It’s a brave man that takes on one of Oxford’s landmark pubs, strips out the ‘character-building’ decor, removes the £2.50-a-pint beer tariff, brings in a new chef and cleans the plate glass window at the front so that people can actually see in and out
A week or so short of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee it is instructive to consider who has been her favourite prime minister during her long and eventful 60 years on the throne. Sir Winston Churchill, perhaps? Harold Macmillan? John Major? All Tories
Because Alex Mackay believes taste is everything when it comes to cooking, he goes into great detail on how to season your food in his book Everybody Everyday. These are just a few of the many hints on seasoning you will find in the early chapters
Thanks to Oxfordshire-based chef Alex Mackay, I have discovered a superb new cookery book that ticks all the boxes. His previous book, Cooking in Provence, was a winner at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards — his latest book, Everybody Everyday
I suppose the original grumpy old man was a Roman. His name was Horace and he said that, as a general rule, things get worse from generation to generation. I often find myself in agreement with him. Not so at Kelmscott, though, that remote village by
It’s not surprising that the classic Cole Porter musical Anything Goes is firmly back on the menu in this Titanic anniversary year — the storyline features the passengers on a transatlantic crossing, and there’s even a mention of icebergs in the script
Traders in Wallingford are stepping up their opposition to Morrisons’ bid to bring a supermarket to an industrial estate on the edge of the town. Last week it emerged the supermarket giant was planning a mid-sized supermarket and petrol station on the
More than 20 years after Beauty and the Beast became the first animated feature to contest the Oscar for Best Picture, Disney's “tale as old as time” returns to multiplexes in a glorious new 3D print. Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise’s fairytale still
Actor and Russian expert Richard Attlee, who plays Kenton Archer in the long-running radio soap The Archers, is the writer and star of Love on the Tracks. Inspired by the short stories of Anton Chekov, the play focues on three passengers thrown together
‘Anyone could do it,” says the Vicomte in bored tones. The Marquise de Merteuil has suggested that her former lover the Vicomte should relieve innocent young Cécile of her virginity, now that she has left convent school. The Vicomte rejects the idea,
A Night at the Opera . . . the title conjures up images of palatial opera houses, with glittering lights, sumptuous costumes and lavish sets. Well, St Mary’s Church in Kidlington might not quite match up, but last Saturday members of KAOS and the
Fingernails. They are vital to a guitarist, who cannot play without nails of exactly the right length. This was one of the many pieces of information imparted by Craig Ogden during his Sheldonian recital for Music at Oxford. He went on to hilariously
Just a few houses down Pembroke Street from Modern Art Oxford stands a huge, dilapidated building, not much in keeping with the surrounding architecture. It’s been empty for a long time, and served for many years as a Post Office sorting depot. Now it
Few can have failed to notice that 2012 marks the centenary of the sinking of the ‘unsinkable’ Titanic with the loss of more than 1,500 lives. Among the many events being held to commemorate the anniversary, it’s hard to imagine a more moving and enjoyable
It’s a musical paradox that has long struck me: Anton Bruckner’s symphonies, especially the later ones, were conceived on the grandest, most extended scale. Yet his 30-odd church motets are models of compression, although they are still full of harmonic
All 42 students whose work will be on show at the Headington Hill campus of Oxford Brookes University between May 12 and 19 are worthy of mention. I recommend you visit the exhibition website to access their names and examples of their work and
Two youngsters from Woodstock have been crowned champion K’Nex builders. Woodstock Primary School pupils Sam Press and Jude Boag-Matthews were named Midlands Making K’Nexions Champions 2012 last week. The competition was organised by
There are an incredible 450 exhibitors taking part in this 30th anniversary year of Oxfordshire Artsweeks but there are also four talks. The Art Forum, now in its tenth year, is organised by Summertown Artweeks to bring a serious art debate to
This beautifully crafted performance comes highly recommended. Actor James Clarkson has been touring it for two years, delighting audiences with the intimacy of the performance in the confined space of a church and its pulpit. The script is drawn
Handel composed his Dettingen Te Deum in anticipation of a grand service at St Paul’s Cathedral. In the summer of 1743, King George II led his army to victory at the Battle of Dettingen — the last time an English Monarch personally fought in the field
Oxford University students are playing out a passionate tale of love, deceit and debauched trickery with a production of Dangerous Liaisons this week. The adaptation of the 18th century French novel is at the Oxford Playhouse from today
COUNCIL bosses are urging developers to ditch plans for more than 70 flats opposite Didcot Parkway Station so a hotel can be built there instead. South Oxfordshire District Council leader Ann Ducker said officers were working on a ‘masterplan’ for the
Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors is as reliable a supplier of laughter as anything on the stage. With identical twins as masters and another pair as their much-put-upon servants it offers a significant ratcheting up of the capacity for comic confusion
ROADS bosses have abandoned a move to make Abingdon town centre a 20mph zone despite approving the scheme two years ago. And headteachers who want the low-speed zones outside their schools say the news is disappointing. Oxfordshire County
SHOPKEEPERS in Abingdon’s precinct have warned some traders might not survive to see the centre’s £4m redevelopment completed. Scaffolding and hoarding went up around Abbey Shopping Centre last month and work will not finish until the autumn. And shop
HUNDREDS of people have turned out to see the Duchess of Cornwall in Thame today. Camilla is attending a freedom parade for forces personnel from nearby RAF Halton as their Honorary Air Commodore. Union flags have been draped across
I HAVE to be honest, seeing the Osmonds, the actual Osmonds, step out onto the stage in the flesh just didn’t quite have the same jaw-dropping impact that watching them burst into synchronized, twirling, white jump-suited action on TV had 40 years ago
CHURCHES would get “adequate” compensation for having to pay VAT on alterations, Banbury MP Tony Baldry was told in the Commons. Mr Baldry, who is a Church Commissioner, asked the Treasury what impact the controversial change would have on listed places
VOLUNTEERS celebrated a year of being at the heart of the community at the weekend. The Sandford-on-Thames Community Market has run every Saturday for the past year, after being set up by local action group Talking Shop. It is hoped enough money will
AFTER nearly 110 years sizing up the people of Wantage for new shoes, the Bailey family is shutting its shop in the market place. It’s the end of an era for Geoffrey and Marie Bailey, along with daughter Helen Hook who has been in charge of the day-to-day
BICESTER’S tennis club has netted a lasting legacy from the Olympics in the form of new all-weather courts. The club won a £30,000 grant from Sport England as part of its Inspired Facilities Fund, which celebrates the London 2012 Games.
OXFORDSHIRE County Council has admitted it did not fulfil some planning requirements relating to the £20.5m Cogges Link Road. James Mawle, who owns land needed for the scheme, has alleged work started unlawfully and will file legal papers to the High
Eddie Edwards hit the night’s only six as Premier side Three Pigeons slayed the Gladiators 2-1 in appalling conditions for the opening week of the Greene King Oxford & District League season. Edwards (4-6-3), Kevin Giles (5-4-4) and Neil Lyon (3-5-5)
VANDALS have damaged a historic part of the Witney Corn Ex-change facade, stopping it being unveiled as part of the Jubilee celebrations. Workmen have been carrying out repairs worth £72,000 to the front of the building in Market Square as
Two men were jailed yesterday for burgling the Oxford Union, in Frewin Court, off St Michael’s Street. Marrion Cobraretti, 38, of Toot Hill Butts, Headington, and Richard Mitchell, 36, of no fixed address, walked into the Union building on
A young Oxford United reserves side went down 3-1 to Stevenage at Didcot Town on Tuesday night in their final Combination game. United trailed on the half-hour mark to a Rob Sinclair goal and went 2-0 down when goalkeeper Alan Julian converted
Beth Hawtin hit a hat-trick as Kidlington sealed the Oxford Mail Girls League's Under 15 League title with a 5-0 victory at Chinnor. Liv Gardner and Zoe Taylor also netted. Milly Foxcroft scored Tower Hill Vixens’ only goal in a 7-1 defeat against Woodley
This image shows the person police would like to speak to after a man exposed himself in Horsefair last month. The incident happened on Thursday, April 19, some time between 9.30pm and 9.50pm. A 21-year-old woman was at the road crossing near Peoples
DEFENCES built to prevent devastating floods like those seen in Oxford five years ago have kicked into action. Environment Agency staff yesterday highlighted their improved flood defences as they keep a close eye on water levels on the River
OXFORD CITY FA ROSE Hill completed a league and cup double with a dramatic 5-4 victory at title rivals Chalgrove. Having already won the County Junior League Cup, Rose Hill had a one-point lead over Chalgrove ahead of their decisive Premier Division
CRITCHLEYS UTV LEAGUE CHRIS Stringer bagged a double hat-trick as Sutton Wanderers dented King & Queen Wheatley’s Division 2 title hopes in an 11-goal thriller, writes TIM SIRET. The midfielder scored three times in the opening 12 minutes and another
Oxford United will return to the United States this summer for a pre-season tour. Following on from a successful trip last year, the U’s are again warming up for the new season with a visit to Seacoast United in New Hampshire. United chairman Kelvin
It promises to be quite a momentous two days for the county next week with two representative sides going for national glory. Oxfordshire take on Dur-ham in the ESFA Under 16 Inter County Trophy final at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground on Tuesday
SHANE Northcott headed in just before half-time to seal Marcham Reserves’ 2-0 victory in the Nairne Paul Trophy final against Shrivenham A at Abingdon United on Saturday. In conditions more akin to winter than spring, Division 3 side Shrivenham
THE abstract and religious sculptures of a former nun will go on display as part of Oxfordshire Artweeks. Sister Bridget Mary, 81, lived in St Mary’s Convent in Wantage for nearly 50 years and now lives in Middletown Grange Care Home in Hailey, near
Wantage trainer Henry Candy’s hopes of allowing Amour Propre to make his comeback in Saturday’s Pearl Bloodstock Palace House Stakes at Newmarket look as if they could be scuppered by rain. Significant downpours have seen the going ease to soft ahead
WITNEY & DISTRICT FA DAVID Wheetman scored the winner as Hailey Res lifted the Jack Busby Cup with a 2-1 extra-time comeback victory against Hanborough Res, writes ANTHONY BARLOW. Rob Keylock volleyed home from a corner to put Hanborough ahead. Hailey
MANY people will view Dr Julia Gasper’s comments about homosexuality as beyond the pale. However we do live in a society that claims to value freedom of speech and opinion. Her comments have provoked outrage, but surely death threats
AUTHORITIES deserve a lot of credit for a successful May Morning yesterday. The change to opening Magdalen Bridge yet having the sides of the bridge barricaded off with security is significantly more sensible than a previous approach.
THE race to win the Division 1 championship goes on after leaders Crowmarsh Gifford stumbled to a 4-3 defeat at home to Long Wittenham Athletic, writes PHIL ANNETS. Goals from Brad Davies, Matt Saunders, Andy Taylor and Andy Sutherland won the game for
IT ought to be common knowledge that money circulates. Yet from what I can gather, it is either not known, or ignored, or denied for political reasons. Much Tory propaganda exploits this ignorance by, for instance, implying that welfare benefits damage
YOUR editorial (Drivers must look at their own behaviour, Oxford Mail, April 23) sends out a good message. We at Oxfordshire County Council take every accident very seriously and we look into all probable causes. Should road defects be responsible,
I just wanted to say a massive thank you to the Oxford Tube. Not only for the fab service provided on the London Marathon weekend but also for offering all runners free transport between Oxford and London on both the Saturday and Sunday of the marathon
I read with interest the letters from Martin Russell and David Fogden (ViewPoints, April 24) and agree that while food is important and certainly very relevant to a restaurant visit, a feature on basic boozers such as the recently-refurbished Grapes
MANY of us will echo the experiences of Timothy Oates (Oxford Mail ViewPoints, April 24) with delays or cancellations of appointments or specialist consultations, of tests or treatment, before getting relief. Attacks on the NHS, often privatisation under
Fine for David Cameron to tell Oxfordshire County Council leader-elect Ian Hudspeth that he and his colleagues “could do better” on education (Saturday’s Oxford Mail). Also fine for Mr Hudspeth to confirm that “education would be one of his top priorities
THE rising price of petrol and diesel is a national disgrace and the blame has to fall on the Government for the extortionate tax added. Oil companies and fuel retailers have many expenses to get fuel to the pumps while the Government reaps the high
What I’m called: Pc 1427 Paul Phillips My age: 48. What I do: I am due to retire in June after serving with Thames Valley Police for 32 years, 30 of which have been based at Oxford and Cowley. Where I live: I am originally from Berkshire but
A FORMER BBC Radio Oxford breakfast presenter has helped save a newborn baby’s life in her new career as a 999 operator. Shabina Akhtar, 38, gave lifesaving phone advice to a frantic couple whose baby had stopped breathing. The Hampshire parents
APRIL showers; there is no denying that we are definitely experiencing them. Indeed, I think despite the supposed drought everyone is getting hacked off with the squally showers and soggy aftermath. It’s weird that I always find myself writing about
Two mobile phones and a handbag were stolen at The Cellar nightclub at the weekend. A 23-year-old man had an iPhone 4 stolen and an HTC phone was taken from a 20-year-old woman’s bag. A purse containing cards, cash and keys was stolen from a 20-year-old
OXFORD East MP Andrew Smith raised concerns that plans for a temporary relaxation of Sunday trading hours during the Olympics could become more permanent. As MPs voted through the changes, Mr Smith sought a promise from Government that the move to suspend
CRIMINALS seem to be hedging their bets in the search for loot. A topiary bear has been stolen from a house in Teasel Way, Carterton, after thieves pulled up in a van and grabbed it from a front garden. Police said on Tuesday, April 17, at around noon
TIGHT security to stop May Morning revellers jumping off Oxford’s Magdalen Bridge was last night hailed a success. Officials said no-one was reported to have jumped from the bridge as 4,000 people gathered for the centuries-old tradition to welcome in
A SOCIAL worker told a mother he would write a good report on her if she served him tea and beer naked, a tribunal heard yesterday. Shaun Stanley allegedly told the woman, in her 30s, that her dressing gown might accidentally fall open as they
A man and a baby were rescued from an overturned car by firefighters in Merton Street, Banbury, at 4.30pm yesterday. A woman had already been rescued from the car when the fire service arrived. The man and baby were left in the care of paramedics.
A SERIAL burglar who targets student properties has admitting striking again. Jason Callaghan admitted two charges at Oxford Crown Court yesterday. The 39-year-old, who has numerous previous convictions, took a laptop from a student’s room at St Edmund
COMMUTERS were confronted by gridlock in and around Oxford yesterday morning as incidents around the city caused long delays. Broken-down vehicles caused problems in Banbury Road and the A40 North Way at rush hour. There were delays of up to an hour
A CYCLIST is being treated by paramedics after a collision on the Wootton Road roundabout in Abingdon. The cyclist was injured at about 8.30am and ambulance crews are still at the scene. The cyclist is believed to have been in collision with
Michael Duberry says it would be unforgivable for Oxford United to end the season on a low note this weekend, with qualification for the play-offs still a possibility. The U’s wrap up their npower League Two campaign away at Port Vale on Saturday. To
A CANDIDATE in tomorrow’s city council election has received death threats after linking homosexuality and paedophilia. Dr Julia Gasper says she is too scared to leave her house and is under police protection after her comments – which also
A CAR on fire near Cokethorpe School in West Oxfordshire has caused traffic delays this morning. Police were called at 7.04am to reports of a car leaving the A415 and crashing into a ditch. The silver Peugeot 406 caught fire and the road was
STANDPIPES could return to UK streets if the country is hit by a third dry winter in a row, environment secretary Caroline Spelman has warned. Mrs Spelman said that while it was "most unlikely" that drought-affected areas such as Oxfordshire would
A SMALL community in Witney has banded together to put up a permanent reminder of two much-loved former neighbours. Roland and Mary Wilcock were among the first people to live in Woodlands Road when the homes were built in about 1960. For years they
TREES came down in Banbury’s parks as residents battled the weekend storms. Two large trees by the war memorial in People’s Park came down overnight on Sunday and were removed the next day. A cherry tree was also damaged and had to be removed. Banbury
OLD girls from a boarding school near Chipping Norton will have a chance to sleep in their old school beds at a special reunion. This year marks 20 years since Kingham Hill School first started to take female pupils. The school itself dates back to
