CONTROVERSIAL plans to extend the opening hours of a popular East Oxford music venue should be given the go-ahead, according to officials. The O2 Academy, in Cowley Road, has applied to open an hour earlier every day except Sunday, from 6pm instead of
THE drive to reopen a railway station to serve Wantage and Grove has stepped up a gear. Oxfordshire County Council has increased the priority of the £10m project as part of its strategy for the development of the county rail network over
PARENTS have united in protest against county council proposals to charge their children for bus travel to Wallingford School. Families in Benson and Cholsey are angry that their children are now being asked to pay £240 each a year for bus
A crash between two lorries has closed one lane of the northbound A34. Traffic is queuing from the junction with the B430 back to the Botley interchange. Police said the accident, which occurred at around 1.40pm, was a collision only and no one was
AEA Technology 0.21 BMW 4714 Electrocomponents 201.9 Nationwide Accident Repair 62.5 Oxford Biomedica 2.8 Oxford Catalysts 54 Oxford Instruments 1162.5 Reed Elsevier 481.9 RM 75.4 RPS Group 198.8 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
A familiar, famous face strolling with his son beside the lake at Mark Getty’s idyllic Wormsley estate in the supper interval at Garsington Opera’s Don Giovanni on Monday paused to pass the time of day with us as we picnicked. An observation on sartorial
We were enjoined at The Feathers Hotel in Woodstock last Friday to drink gin out of respect for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on her Diamond Jubilee, she being fond of a drop of the spirit — as was her mother. Dubonnet was the preferred accompaniment
‘You can’t review it purely based on him,” my friend whispered as we discussed the extraordinarily handsome French chef who had emerged to introduce himself at the end of our meal. “Well, it’s lucky that not only did he cook like an angel but he
Imagine sitting in a stylish restaurant overlooking the Atlantic ocean, while enjoying a meal of fresh seafood harvested that very day and cooked by a Michelin-starred chef. Be assured it is a simply glorious experience, but one I doubt if I’d
Odd, when you come to think of it, that Burford should one day have commemorated the actions of someone who beheaded a monarch; and then, just weeks later, celebrated the fact that another monarch has been on the throne for 60 years. First, the beautiful
It’s a hard-knock life for six godforsaken denizens of London in the gritty directorial debut of Ben Drew aka Plan B. Purportedly based on real people and real events, Ill Manors pulls no punches in its depiction of the lengths to which some people
This striking exhibition has drawn artists from round the world who see the Queen with traditional and fresh eyes. For Jacqueline Hammond the future is “twisted but bright”. The Queen (in a moment of privacy) is picking her nose. This irreverent painting
Drishti Dance is a company run by Oxford-based Anuradha Chaturvedi, who perform in the Kathak tradition of northern India. This style formed the main part of the show, but it opened with an example of Bharatnatyam, a traditional dance of southern
The versatility and fearlessness of playwright Helen Edmundson is evident in a CV that includes adaptations of War and Peace (and Anna Karenina for good measure) and a recent play for the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Heresy of Love, telling the
As the curtain rises on 42nd Street, the first thing you see is a row of tap-dancing feet; an appropriate image, as this show is really all about the dancing, and in this production Graeme Henderson’s choreography sparkles and fizzes like the best
In the same way as lines of ink on a page become writing, become a novel, become the reality of a story in the imagination of writers like Robert Harris, and in turn that of the readers, so the lines artist Angela Palmer creates with an engraving
The pun in the title of this exhibition makes reference to both the academic aspects of the city and to the act of donning regalia, insignia, jewellery and other badges or markers that establish an association between the wearer and his or her Oxford.
One of the delights of any Fringe Festival is the amount of variety you can jam into an evening out. Bearing this in mind, I went down to the lovely Simpkins Lee Theatre (at Lady Margaret Hall, in North Oxford) to sample this venue’s wares — and
Fran Houghton, from Wheatley, was named in the women's quad when the British rowing team for the Olympics was announced in Windsor today. Houghton and Debbie Flood, silver medallists alongside Kath Grainger in 2008, are joined in the quad by
The long-abandoned print works of the Northampton Chronicle and Echo newspaper supplies an atmospheric venue for the Royal and Derngate’s gripping updating of Euripides’ gory drama The Bacchae. Returning to two plays he worked on during his student
Don Giovanni’s catalogue of conquests — including, of course, the famous “mille e tre” in Spain — is removed from Leporello’s fat little book and reproduced as a computer print-out in Garsington’s modern-day staging of Mozart’s great opera. So
‘If you don’t enjoy this then you’re officially the curmudgeon of the millennium,” declared The Scotsman after Out of the Blue wowed the Edinburgh fringe audiences. Having just seen a sneak preview of the group’s forthcoming concerts at the New
A 15-year-old girl has been reported missing from Cowley in Oxford. Yasmina Nazir was last seen at her grandmother’s home in Bailey Road at 11pm on Sunday. It is believed she could have used public transport and may now been in the Dewsbury
The repatriation of two servicemen killed in Afghanistan is due to take place tomorrow. The plane carrying Corporal Michael Thacker and Private Gregg Stone will land at RAF Brize Norton at about 1.30pm on Thursday, June 7. The cortege will pass the
Police have reminded cyclists of the importance of protecting their bikes. They held a free bike marking event from a mobile police station in Broad Street. It involved engraving the owner’s postcode into the frame of the bicycle and attaching a tamper-proof
KEEN photographers are urged to send in their iconic photographs of Oxford to go on display in the Town Hall. Images are sought to hang in St Aldate’s Chambers’ new customer services centre as well as its meeting rooms and at locations in the historic
THE OLYMPIC flame is continuing to ignite the county’s enthusiasm. Air cadet volunteer Mo Merchant, 70, is one of a handful of county residents given the honour to carry the torch. Mrs Merchant is due to take her turn on Tuesday, July 10, in Nettlebed
Councillors embroiled in a planning row with a Witney sports club have organised a meeting in a bid to “build bridges”. It has been Witney Town Council’s policy to sell West Witney Sports Ground to developers to fund new facilities across town for about
Well-known town character Frederick Edwards has died, aged 96. Mr Edwards passed away on Sunday, May 27, at Abingdon Community Hospital. The Second World War veteran was known for his work in the Special Constabulary, as a foster carer who took in more
Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell will address the Oxford Union on Monday. The singer, also known as Ginger Spice, will discuss her time in the chart-topping girl group as well as appearing as a guest judge on TV talent show The X Factor.
Patients are still spending thousands of days in hospital unnecessarily, despite top-level assurance the problem would be in decline by now. In an interview with the Oxford Mail last year, Dr Stephen Richards – the man tasked with tackling
The three millionth engine to be produced at BMW’s Hams Hall plant near Birmingham will be used in a Mini destined for the company’s latest global market. The 1.6 litre four cylinder petrol engine will be delivered to the Cowley works before being installed
SHOPKEEPERS in Abingdon’s precinct say a cut in business rates may not be enough to help them to survive redevelopment work. Traders in the Abbey Shopping Centre have been offered a five per cent reduction while work on a £4m revamp takes place. Last
A NEGLECTED backyard at an Oxford community centre will be transformed into a outdoor haven thanks to a cash boost. Volunteers are needed to help clean up the yard at East Oxford Community Centre after a £500 grant was secured from the city council.
AEA Technology 0.21 BMW 4747 Electrocomponents 200.3 Nationwide Accident Repair 62.5 Oxford Biomedica 2.9 Oxford Catalysts 54 Oxford Instruments 1159.5 Reed Elsevier 476.3 RM 75.4 RPS Group 205 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
OXFORD City hope they can continue to reap the rewards of a scheme offering footballers the chance to gain professional experience, top-level coaching and sport qualifications. Trials for the course are being staged in the city this month. The Oxford
SHAUN Smith is the new boss of Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division club Abingdon Town after he quit as manager of Division 1 East outfit Milton United. Smith, who was at The Heights for two seasons, takes over from Chris Fontaine, who left to take
BANBURY’S 16-year-old all-rounder Josh Megson enjoyed encouraging Gloucestershire 2nd XI debuts in two forms of the game. Seamer Megson took 1-35 from 13 overs in the first innings and claimed 1-52 from 13, plus 10 not out in the second of
Alan Surman starred with a six in his 15-doll haul as Six Bells C won 2-1 at Kidlington rivals Red Lion B in Greene King Oxford & District League Premier & Section 1, writes ANDY BEAL. Six Bells came from behind after losing the first leg 35-25 to take
WHAT I’M CALLED: My name is Matthew Blake but I’m more often referred to as ‘the Bike Guy’. MY AGE? 25. WHAT I DO? Between April 2008 and this April, I spent four years cycling around the world, visiting 61 countries on five continents, clocking
Wantage’s schools are right to promote cycling to school (Oxford Mail, May 30), but there is only so much the schoolchildren can do. Surely nobody would deny pupils should be encouraged to walk or cycle, for their own independence and social contact
Minor Counties Championship OXFORDSHIRE captain Richard Kaufman accep-ted they had a lucky escape after rain earned them an unlikely draw against Berkshire at Henley yesterday. Berkshire were left stranded on their lunchtime score of 134-2, just 27
JUBILEE celebrations across Oxfordshire were hailed a blazing success as four days of parties drew to a close last night. Hundreds of street parties saw neighbours come together across the county to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with
HOW do babies get into your tummy mummy?” my four-year-old daughter asked nonchalantly on the way to school. Not again, I sighed. There are many benefits to having four children but having to repeat the facts of life over and over again until
Once again Banbury did us proud and pulled out all the stops to show what a patriotic and spirited town we are all lucky to live in. Thanks must go to a huge number of people who had the vision and will to make our Jubilee celebrations such a resounding
There can be little doubt that Magdalen is the most attractive of the Oxford colleges. Many of the buildings are of different vintages but they all seem to blend well together, with the library, in particular, being one of the best bits of Victorian
The John Radcliffe Hospital League of Friends have yet again behaved magnificently in the face of suddenly being expected to pay a £25,000 annual rent for their cafe by the hospital trust (Oxford Mail, May 23). The League has just donated £54,000 for
UNTIL a few years ago I was a great goer to and giver of parties. Whatever the occasion, it was an excuse for a party. Dinner parties, supper, tea parties, barbecues, you name it I gave it. Going to parties was great fun too but, for me, the joy
DRAGON boat teams competed on the moat at Broughton Castle near Banbury to raise thousands of pounds for charity. Banbury Rotary Club staged the races at the castle on Monday. Twenty-one teams of 11 competitors took part in the racing
A DECISION to ban a right turn near Oxford’s Botley interchange could prompt a McDonald’s to become a drive-through restaurant, according to residents. County council cabinet member for transport Rodney Rose is tomorrow expected to approve the decision
NINE-YEAR-OLD Matthew Waller studied stunning x-rays of animal and human skeletons at Science Oxford. The pupil at St Birinus Primary School in Dorchester visited the science education centre in St Clement’s Street, Oxford, yesterday with his father
SEAN Rigg is hoping the move to Oxford United will take his career to the next level after admitting to needing a new challenge. The 24-year-old turned down a contract offer from Port Vale and approaches from two other clubs to become United’s first
A CANCER sufferer who fought a successful campaign for life-extending drugs is facing his third battle for treatment. If Clive Stone is turned down again, he faces having to pay privately for a procedure which is routinely given to NHS patients elsewhere
JLS star Marvin Humes is reported to be getting married at Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock. The 27-year-old singer is engaged to Rochelle Wiseman, 23, a member of pop group The Saturdays. It is understood that the couple’s wedding will take place next
VISITORS to Oxford Castle got a close look at birds of prey yesterday. Sandra Jones, who runs Fir Tree Falcony in Warmington, near Banbury, brought an Indian eagle owl and a kestrel. Mrs Jones, 62, also brought a barn owl, harris hawk and a white-faced
THREE men, including two Americans, died after their car crashed into a tree and rolled down an embankment. Police were last night liaising with American Embassy staff after the three men died when their estate car crashed off the A4074 dual carriageway
THERE are some problems that just do not seem to go away. And bedblocking is one of Oxfordshire’s worst examples. We keep hearing high-level assurances that the problem will be improved. Indeed, the Oxford Mail has given a significant amount of space
GREAT Britain’s London 2012 Olympic crews will be announced today, with around 30 Oxfordshire oarsmen and women set to be in the squad. The crews are expected to be largely those selected for the first two World Cup regattas of 2012. This
OXFORDSHIRE sprint hurdler Lawrence Clarke kept up his excellent form with second place in last night’s Meeting International de Montreuil. The 22-year-old, from Christmas Common, near Watlington, clocked 13.36secs into a 1m/s headwind in Paris. Clarke
Bampton Primary School is hoping to win a Jubilee-themed makeover in our Leadbitter School Build SOS competition. The school is the latest to enter the competition, which is now in its fourth year. The Oxford Mail has again teamed up with the Abingdon-based
IT was a quarter of a century since they were all last together. But although they were all older – and some a bit wiser – their family bonds were still just as strong. Two-hundred members of the Taylor family squeezed into Garsington
Appleton, Eaton & Besselsleigh joint forces to celebrate the Jubilee with everything from: A 65ft Helter Skelter to a tin bath, jazz to Rock, picnics to tea parties, we had something for everyone. The weekend started with the opening of Appleton’
