Abingdon & Witney College has lost its “highly trusted sponsor” status following an investigation by the UK Border Agency. Principal Teresa Kelly blamed a technical breach of Home Office rules. When officials find discrepancies with a third of foreign
OXFORDSHIRE patients’ notes are being sent to India to be processed, the Oxford Mail can reveal. Notes dictated on to audio tapes by clinicians at the Oxford University Hospitals Trust (OUH) are sent to the firm Alden Press to be transcribed. The company
A DRINK driver who drove the wrong way up the A34 before hitting another car has avoided jail. Autoglass worker Daniel Monahan was more than twice the legal alcohol limit when he careered through a line of cones and joined the dual carriageway
THEATRE company The Pantaloons is coming to the county as part of a nationwide tour of its open-air production of Grimm Fairy Tales. The July 4 show, at Waterperry Gardens, near Wheatley, is a brand new adaptation of some of the best loved children’s
Today, many strands of my life have come together. The years that I spent as a student at St Hugh’s; the years I spent in Park Town as a wife and mother; the years I spent under house arrest - when my university, the University of Oxford, stood
EXACTLY four years after it began as a small gathering wanting to pay their respects to the fallen, the Headley Way ‘vigil’ will turn out again this week for our most recent fallen heroes. The bodies of Lance Corporal James Ashworth from the
HUNDREDS of visitors enjoyed a day out at the Oxfordshire Gardening Show near Charlbury. The event included flower displays and the Daily Mail Gardening Question Time panel. Among those enjoying a visit were Trudy Wilkes, 40, from Longworth
FORMER Lord Lieutenant Sir Hugo Brunner was last night arriving in Kirtlington on his way through Oxfordshire. The 76-year-old is walking the Oxfordshire Way to raise money for Oxfordshire Family Mediation which helps children cope with divorce. He
OXFORDSHIRE’S mobile libraries could be used to bring other services such as cash machines to rural communities. This is one avenue Oxfordshire County Council is exploring as part of a review of the service. A public consultation will begin this autumn
Oxford City triple jumper Nathan Douglas has admitted he is unlikely to be fit for the Olympic Games. Douglas picked up an injury when competing in Hengelo last month - ironically the same meeting that Oxford's 1,500m runner Hannah England suffered her
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Prominently displayed at the Mill at Sonning — at the approach to the buffet where queuing patrons cannot fail to see it — is a large photograph recording one of this dinner theatre’s finest moments. This was the 1989 staged reading of Noël Coward’s play
Burmese democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi said her return to Oxford had seen "many strands" of her life come together. The Sheldonian Theatre was packed today as Ms Suu Kyi was given an honorary doctorate in civil law, which was originally
Such are the horrors revealed about the Japanese army’s treatment of its Chinese enemies that passages of Antony Beevor’s superb new book The Second World War (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, £25) are very hard indeed to read. Pushing aside the volume
Not the least of the many peculiarities of Lord Redesdale, paterfamilias to the sextet of attention-seeking Mitford sisters, was that he had a low opinion of the home they all shared, Asthall Manor, near Burford. In her superb biography of Nancy
Elderflowers are one of the delights of early summer as they have an aromatic fragrance second to none. One of the advantages of this flower is that you will find elderflower trees all over the countryside and it can be gathered free. Jeanette looks for
Although foraging is mainly an autumn pursuit, at this time of the year you will find Jeanette Howse from East Hanney gathering armfuls of elderflowers from fields and meadows close to her home. Most people use elderflowers to make elderflower champagne
One of Tom Stoppard’s most enduring works, The Real Thing, is at Oxford Playhouse next week in an acclaimed revival by English Touring Theatre and West Yorkshire Playhouse. It can be seen from Tuesday until Saturday, June 30. Henry is a
There is trouble in Paradise. I don’t mean Paradise in the hereafter that some of us hope to reach some day, but the one up river from Oxford near Kelmscott — the place that 19th-century Pre-Raphaelite design guru William Morris famously described
Love hurts, though not too badly, in Nicholas Stoller’s romantic comedy about a doe-eyed couple whose rose-tinted dreams of marital bliss are undone by the pressures of everyday life. Penned by leading man Jason Segel and director Nicholas Stoller, who
The huge red Virgin balloon rose majestically right behind Oxford Castle courtyard as this Troika production of The Taming of the Shrew began. OK, it wasn't quite in period: the Virgin story began here in Oxfordshire in the 1970s, whereas director Rachel
Grange Park Opera is putting the frighteners on us as it celebrates its 15th season of innovative musical entertainment in a glorious sylvan setting in rural Hampshire. This has nothing to do with the weather, since the company’s well-appointed
It may be presumed that those who come to sing to the glory of God do so, too, for the good of their souls. There was about many members of the Oxford Bach Choir on Saturday night an exalted look that proved hugely conducive to my enjoyment of the music
Covering dance for The Oxford Times doesn’t mean just going to the posh stuff. I see quite a few amateur performances, and I was impressed by Yuka’s group. Most of the dancers are in their late teens or early twenties, and range from Oxford University
‘Posh people always make me feel so stupid,” sings Piquillo as he surveys the formally dressed audience seated before him in Garsington Opera’s Wormsley pavilion. Piquillo and his girl friend La Périchole are itinerant street singers, and they
I had my doubts about this; the publicity photos of totties in tutus posing with the macho Flawless boys not only accentuated the separation of the two styles, but created street-boy versus posh girl feeling. The corny story of how they join up to foil
A warhorse and a war horse. It’s a pretty feeble joke, but you could use the line to describe Oxford Symphony Orchestra’s repertoire at their latest concert — Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony was followed by Richard Strauss’s tone poem Don Quixote, in which
Acclaimed as a playwright though Alan Plater was, his name is shamefully absent from all the books I possess on 20th-century theatre, including one by the senior critic of the politically right-on Guardian. Perhaps his fame as a television writer counted
Jubilee weekend may be over, but the festive spirit is still very much alive and kicking — as the Philharmonia Orchestra made clear in Friday’s concert at the Sheldonian, which brought the current Music at Oxford season to a suitably glorious finish.
A member of the audience fainting seems to be a feature of most concerts I attend in the stuffy, cramped Sheldonian Theatre. Last Thursday the brilliant young pianist Benjamin Grosvenor was the artist to have his performance disrupted as someone
A HISTORIC building that has been left empty and neglected in Oxford’s city centre is set to get a £6m facelift. Building firm ISG has won the contract to redevelop the former YMCA at 6-12 George Street. The work, due to begin in August, will involve
THE man behind the infamous Star Wars villain Darth Vader will be signing copies of his book in Bicester. Dave Prowse will be at Coles Bookstore, in Crown Walk, on Saturday from 11am. He will be promoting his book Straight from the Force’s Mouth, which
THE town of Wallingford wants its own Olympic hero to carry the torch through the town when it arrives next month. But despite repeated efforts from civic leaders, the man who was Britain’s youngest British Olympian Ken Lester has been told
New road safety measures and extra school places for pupils should be demanded if developers are to build 200 new homes in Wantage, according to a leading councillor. The application for homes at Stockham Farm, off Denchworth Road, has been submitted
FRIENDS of blind twins Bernard and Roger Masterman may have thought their retirement would slow them down. But far from it. Next month the daredevil pair will tackle a 320-metre zipwire from the Newport Transporter Bridge for charity. It is the latest
The number of people out of work and claiming benefit in Oxfordfshire has fallen for the third month in a row. Latest figures for May relased by the Office of National Statistics, show 7,295, or 1.7 per cent of the working age population are claiming
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A man has admitted attacking a pregnant woman. Karl Bergan assaulted Vivien Burden in Oxford on January 23. The 41-year-old defendant appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday and admitted causing actual bodily harm. Bergan, of Luther Street, central
London Welsh’s appeal against the RFU’s decision to block their promotion to the Aviva Premiership has been delayed by a week. The case will now be heard on June 28 by an independent panel of James Dingemans QC (chairman), Ian Mill QC and Tim Ward QC
SCORES of worshippers from nine different faiths came together to walk in friendship through the streets of Oxford. Led by the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev John Pritchard, Imam Munir Chisti, Imam Ata Ullah Khan and Rabbi Norman Solomon walkers gathered
Witnesses are being sought after four mobiles phones were stolen from the Carphone Warehouse in the High Street in Witney. The thieves struck at about noon on Friday, June 15. Two men wearing black clothes and hats were then seen running
A Witney-born designer who created the Olympic Torch has been awarded an honorary degree by Oxford Brookes University. Jay Osgerby, above, went on to complete a Foundation Art programme at Oxford Polytechnic – now Oxford Brookes. In 2010 he beat off
WITH less than 24 hours before the first industrial action by doctors in almost 40 years, NHS bosses have refused to say how many patients will be affected in Oxfordshire. From midnight tonight doctors across the county will take part in a day of action
CRIME-FIGHTING charity Crimestoppers has revealed the public passed on 2,736 pieces of information to police in the Thames Valley in the past year. This led to 89 arrests and charges, with 30 people from the charity’s Most Wanted website being arrested
YOUNGSTER Daniel West scored his first hundred in Cumnor’s friendly match with Letcombe. The 15-year-old hit exactly 100 as his side reached 203-5 in reply to Letcombe’s 266. Club captain Alistair Lee commented: “Daniel was the player of the season
GERALD Busby, a stalwart of Hanborough cricket for many years, has died of cancer at the age of 78. A carpenter by trade, he was a stubborn opening batsman for Long Hanborough, which later became Hanborough CC, before moving to Witney Swifts. He returned
GREAT & Little Tew skipper Andy Harris says there is no reason why his side can’t reach Lord’s in the Yorkshire Tea Village Cup after Sunday’s thrilling six-run win at Oxford Downs in the Oxfordshire final. After Tew had posted 200-6 from
A “HIGHLY dangerous” paedophile has been given two years in prison for drawing pictures of child abuse. Adam Gregory, who previously abused a girl under the age of 13, was found with 110 pencil sketches in his cell at Bullingdon Prison near
OXFORDSHIRE locations and sporting events will be celebrated in memorabilia for the 2012 Olympic Games. Accountant David Buxton has created two of only four official postcards that will be made for the summer sporting spectacular. The
Roger Goodall (6-5-5) clanged off 16 dolls for Six Bells C Kidlington – but it couldn’t save them from a 3-0 defeat at Greene King Oxford & District League Premier Section leaders Three Pigeons, writes ANDY BEAL. With Pete Dempsey (6-3-6) bagging a brace
A DISAPPOINTING middle-order batting collapse proved costly as Banbury bowed out the Kingfisher Beer Cup at Barnt Green by 46 runs. Chasing the hosts’ 191-7 off 45 overs, a half-century second-wicket partnership between Ian Tew and Craig Haupt looked
You Mind Me (3-1 jt fav), unbeaten throughout the competition, took his rivals apart in the £8,000 Ladbrokes.com Pall Mall final at Oxford Stadium. There was never any doubt when the black and white dog, trained by Frank Taylor, pinged the lids with
SO now the police – well, PCSOs – are giving £30 fines to cyclists who go on the pavement. If you are a cyclist you will understand every time we set off on today’s roads we risk death by seriously inconsiderate car drivers and bus drivers. The roadworks
THE Government’s target of making all schools into academies is wasteful and destructive. Schools that are no longer affiliated to local authorities are no longer publicly accountable. Local authority staff tend to be hard- working and knowledgeable
IN Thursday’s Big Issue, the Minister for Disabled, Maria Miller stated that the replacement for the DLA (Disability Living Allowance) will include a face-to-face assessment with a health professional. I hope by that she means the person’s GP and not
You may remember that I have complained in the past about having to put my name on a list when booking a train journey but finding that no one else seemed to know about it. Well now, I must congratulate the train company on a stress-free journey. A
PLANS for a £125m extension to Didcot’s Orchard shopping centre have been delayed for a second time. In February, a report to South Oxfordshire District Council preparing for the second phase of the centre named Marks & Spencer and Debenhams as two of
SO the fixture list is out and us U’s fans can again start planning for next season. At the moment I don’t feel confident we can get promotion. We are nothing more than an ordinary side who will be scrapping to get into a play-off place. Let’s hope
AFTER reading Rosemary Stowell’s letter (Oxford Mail, June 14, Viewpoints), I would also like to say many thanks to the surgeons, doctors, nurses, physios and everybody else involved in my welfare. In fact, I can’t thank them enough for the
IT came as something of a shock when, in January this year, the locals at the Plough in Great Haseley were informed by Punch Taverns that their pub was to be sold. This was especially surprising as the pub had been well supported and busy up until then
YOUR report (Oxford Mail, June 13) that elderly people are suffering from the loss of the second Dial-a-Ride bus in the city comes as no surprise. The second bus was introduced, paid for by the city council, some years ago to help to meet the growing
I seem to have become a food oracle. Every time my phone goes, it’s someone asking where to go to eat. Which is very flattering, but rather all consuming. And of course nothing is ever that obvious. Where to go for your husband’s birthday depends on
DUCKLINGTON are calling on players to rally round after their 2nd XI were dismissed for just ten runs in an OCA League match at the weekend. There were seven ducks as their ten-man side lost by ten wickets to Risinghurst 2nd in Division 11. “It’s very
A BICESTER man found with a haul of stolen goods has been told by a judge of the distress such crimes cause. Josh Barnes was given unpaid work at Oxford Crown Court yesterday after earlier admitting two counts of handling stolen goods. The 20-year-old
THE family of a man found dying in a staircase at Oxford’s Westgate car park said his death had been “a waste of life”. Peter Rous, 37, was found by a security guard slumped in a staircase on November 5 last year and pronounced dead in hospital shortly
A pensioner is facing jail after being convicted of a string of sex offences dating back to 1996. Leslie Brain was found guilty of a dozen offences by jurors at Oxford Crown Court yesterday. The 78-year-old, of Mold Crescent, Banbury, abused two girls
Hannah England’s Olympic dreams hang on the opinions of Great Britain’s selectors. The Oxford City 1,500m runner yesterday ruled herself out of this weekend’s Aviva 2012 Olympic Trials after failing to overcome an Achilles injury in time.
AUNG San Suu Kyi has waited 24 years to return to her beloved Oxford. During that time momentous events have occurred, both in her private life and the country she is inextricably linked with. She left here a family woman – travelling
Malcolm Crosby is to leave his role at Oxford United at the end of his contract. The former U’s assistant manager, who helped guide the club to promotion alongside Denis Smith in 1996, returned to the club last May as head of recruitment/youth
IT IS disturbing that Oxford University Hospitals Trust is apparently clueless about the effect of the doctors’ strike on its services. Yesterday the trust said no one had taken an overall view of how many patients were having appointments
TO people in North Oxford Aung San Suu Kyi was a kind and friendly neighbour, the petite academic’s wife that they would remember cycling back from town balancing bags of shopping. There was always something calming about the slightly exotic mother of
PRIMARY schools looking for a cash boost to revamp their building only have two days to get their application in. The Schools SOS competition run by the Oxford Mail and Abingdon-based construction company Leadbitter offers primary schools across
HUNDREDS of people turned out to welcome Burmese democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi back to the city she called home more than 20 years ago. Ms Suu Kyi made her triumphant return to Oxford yesterday, on the day of her 67th birthday, after years of
PEOPLE wanting to play a role in the “Big Society” can attend a volunteer recruitment day in Witney this week. Tomorrow’s event will feature 25 community groups and charities at Langdale Hall, Langdale Gate, from 10am to 2pm. The groups cover
IT was a day they never thought they’d see, writes Tim Hughes. The woman who has become a symbol of hope for democracy in their homeland, beamed with delight as she shook the hands of Burmese supporters who gathered to see her arrive in Oxford. Aung
