A WOMAN has been taken to hospital after a crash between a lorry and a car that shut the A41 tonight. The accident happened on the Bicester-bound carriageway between junction 9 of the M40 and the Bicester Little Chef roundabout. An emergency
OXFORD Janet Jordon, 45, of Wensum Drive, Didcot, admitted shoplifting two packets of nose studs worth £14 from Claire’s Accessories in Orchard Street, Didcot, on October 3. She also stole towels, decorations, candles and charity cards worth £32
A MORPHINE addict who got hooked in a Thailand hospital then created false identities to dupe county GPs out of the drug. Christopher Clark, 47, admitted illegally obtaining £8,849 of the drug from medics in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire
HUNDREDS of people protesting against the closure of Oxford’s greyhound stadium have signed a petition against the move. The community rallying to save Oxford Stadium, in Sandy Lane, launched an online petition on Monday, which has already attracted
Oxford Univ 26, Cambridge 19 Oxford University won their third successive Varsity Match thanks to a stirring comeback at Twickenham. The Dark Blues trailed 19-6 early in the second half, but rallied superbly in the final half-hour, with Sam
The “What Food, What Wine?” awards were held last week with the most topical category being Christmas. The great thing about this competition is the under £10 option, so those on a budget don’t have to suffer. A Luis Felipe Edwards Reserva
A SCHEME developed in Oxford for teaching life-saving skills to children was commended in the Commons by Oxford East MP Andrew Smith. The Labour MP weighed in to a debate about the teaching of such skills, and spoke about a programme developed
A LONG-STANDING city publican will join a mass lobby of MPs next week over “beer tax” that he says will put up to 40p on a pint. Andrew Hall says these are the most difficult business times he has known in the 29 years he has run Oxford’s Rose
ALASTAIR White had a long-standing passion for helping the developing world that was shaped by his childhood in Kenya. Mr White, Banbury’s Green Party candidate for the 2010 Genral Election who has died from prostate cancer aged 71, worked as a
BOB Hamilton, a former superintendent of Worsham Waterworks, near Witney, has died aged 94. Mr Hamilton ran the river pumping station and other stations in the Oxfordshire area from 1968 until his retirement in 1983. He had previously run Sutton
BMW 5561 Electrocomponents 214.1 Nationwide Accident Repair 57.5 Oxford Biomedica 2.2 Oxford Catalysts 134 Oxford Instruments 1336 Reed Elsevier 651.25 RM 78.25 RPS Group 206.5
Grab your coat and head out for this year’s choice of Merry Christmas Matinees What better way to get in the festive mood than by getting yourselves down to the Phoenix Picturehouse cinema in Walton Street, Oxford, to enjoy its annual three-day
MATT BASSETT believes Christmas shopping is all about finding shops you can’t find anywhere else. And the simple truth is that when it comes to destination shopping, London is the Daddy... JUST hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring-ting-tingling
Life is busy nowadays. So to help you navigate your way through your frantic social calendar, here is The Guide’s regular blink-and-you’ll-miss-it platter of 60-second reviews, designed to enhance and improve your playtime. Our easy-to-digest assessment
Grab your coat and head out for this year’s choice of Merry Christmas Matinees What better way to get in the festive mood than by getting yourselves down to the Phoenix Picturehouse cinema in Walton Street, Oxford, to enjoy its annual three-day
Katherine MacAlister speaks to Amanda Coutts as she prepares to come to Oxford and set the stage alight with the New Theatre’s Christmas offering Starlight Express....on roller skates. Amanda Coutts has been singing and dancing since she can remember
Book editor turned trapeze artist Anna O’Loughlin tells KATHERINE MACALISTER why she’s so excited about her part in Creation Theatre’s panto Aladdin Creation is back with a vengeance this year and ready to tantalise you with their panto rendition
Paul Hartnoll of electronic dance duo Orbital takes off his head torches for a chat with TIM HUGHES about swapping festival fields for intimate venues FOR an act which made its name playing to tens of thousands of arm-waving ravers at the very
Related solely by a love of great Indian and Bangladeshi food, Curry Brothers Tim Hughes and Ed Nix continue their quest for the perfect jalfrezi, on a trip to an old Kidlington favourite TIFFIN. It’s such a lovely name, evoking images of civilized
KATHERINE MACALISTER talks to Oxford’s very own ice skating champion Tammy Sear about the upcoming festive extravaganza This weekend, the Oxford Ice Rink will be transformed into a festive ice extravaganza where skaters past and present will showcase
* THE name may not be familiar yet – but, believe us, it soon will be. With a minimum of fanfare Oxford-born singer-songwriter Lewis Watson has established himself as the next big thing. Possessed of a self-assured songwriting-style, relaxed delivery
Tim Hughes talks to punk icon Captain Sensible of The Damned THE original punk-rockers, The Damned have been a part of the rock furniture for more than 36 years. But while their phlegmatic contribution can’t be overstated, they can be forgiven
A 14-YEAR-OLD Bicester girl has been missing since Monday. Antigone Buck, who is known as Tiggie, was last seen leaving Meadowbrook College, Marston at about 4pm. Police only put out an appeal for her whereabouts this afternoon. Police say
STEWART DALE has this afternoon been jailed for at least 30 years for the “sadistic” murder of Oxford grandmother Jennifer Hume. Ms Hume, 55, was stabbed and beaten by 28-year-old Dale in his Horspath caravan in May. A jury found him guilty
Oxford University fought back in style to earn a third straight Varsity victory. Here is the numbers' game. See Friday’s paper for full report. Competition: Varsity Match. Score: Oxford University 26, Cambridge University 19 Oxford University
OXFORD University hit back in style to win today’s Varsity Match 26-19 at Twickenham and make it three straight victories. Cambridge led 16-6 after a penalty-strewn first half. Full back Rob Stephen kicked three to Oxford centre Cassian Bramham-Law
CHILTERN Railways has stood by a “difficult” decision to cut back non-stop rush hour trains between Banbury and London Marylebone. It said the weekday change is needed to take demand from a major new housing development in Bicester. At the
CHANGES to a major development to the west of Witney have been unveiled before the proposal goes before a planning committee later this month. The West Witney estate, which has been in the pipeline for more than a decade, will consist of 1,000
THIS Christmas, head off to the Middle East on a magical carpet ride. But thanks to Creation Theatre you’ll only have to go as far as Summertown. The innovative theatre company’s Christmas production is Aladdin and the Magical Lamp which begins
Oxfordshire Premier recorded a thumping 32-8 victory away to Wiltshire at Seend, near Melksham, racking up 205 shots to 133 in their ESMA Inter-County competition clash. RESULTS Singles: G Davies won 12-11, 14-10; AJ Brown won 15-9, 23-8.
TRADERS are again pushing for year-round free parking in Bicester and Banbury following the initial success of a Christmas drive to pull in shoppers. Cherwell District Council began six weeks of free parking in its car parks on Saturday, Sunday
STEWART DALE has today been convicted of murdering Oxford grandmother Jennifer Hume at his Horspath caravan. The jury at Guildford Crown Court returned the guilty verdict this afternoon after the 28-year-old’s trial began on Monday. Dale, of
Berinsfield moved to within three points of Johnsons Buildbase Oxford League Section 1 leaders Democrats with a game in hand after winning two crucial points at Premier side Vikings. Bob Allsworth won first for the home side, beating Tony Broadway
“You will see colour, great invention, great imagination, and great variety in this show,” said art historian Dr Elizabeth Cumming, curator of the Tapestry: Weaving the Century at Dovecot Studios 1912 – 2012 exhibition at Compton Verney. The Edinburgh-based
Breakfast and books are the order of the day on Fridays at an Oxford primary school. As part of a drive to get children reading, Marsh Baldon school runs breakfast sessions for pupils. On Fridays, parents, grandparents and other carers are
Harriet Batstone and Alexander Pennington were the leading Oxfordshire performers in the junior races at Culham Park. Radley’s Batsone won the under 13 girls’ race in 7mins 31secs, beating Oxford City’s Chloe Ridewood (7.35) into second. Abingdon
Alan Green hit a hat-trick as Oxford City Stars bounced back to form with a 6-5 victory over Peterborough Islanders in their Cup clash. Things looked bleak for Stars, however, when James Pentecost scored twice to put the visitors 2-0 ahead.
A £500,000 revamp of a South Oxford church will start in February – but there is still £40,000 left to raise. Reverend Jane Sherwood, vicar at St Luke’s Church, is confident that the building work will go ahead in two months, following two years
FLOODING across Oxfordshire last week saw hundreds of Environment Agency, council and emergency services staff working tirelessly to minimise the damage and keep people safe. We have given those organisations the opportunity to name their staff as
A SCHOOL which was placed in special measures following an inspection in February has been told it is now making good progress. And in addition to the positive monitoring report, Cumnor Primary School, in Oxford Road, Cumnor, has announced the
A bizarre explanation was offered by the journalist Petronella Wyatt in the Daily Telegraph at the weekend for the abrupt end to her Oxford career 26 years ago after just two weeks as a student. In a sentence, she ran away from Worcester College because
Staff and customers at the admirable Florio’s restaurant in Summertown became ‘Mo Bros’ by growing fine moustaches in support of Movember, the campaign to raise awareness of prostate and testicular cancer. As one who has shaved his upper lip just
THE Picturehouse art-house cinema chain, which owns the Phoenix in Oxford, has been bought by Cineworld. Picturehouse spokesman Charles McDonald said that the Walton Street cinema will not be changed in any way. The Picturehouse chain was founded
I had a delicious dinner on Saturday night at The Bear Hotel in Woodstock, which will be the subject of my restaurant column in a few weeks’ time. During the meal, I thought more than once of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor who were regular guests
‘So explain it to me again. I don’t quite get it’, my friend demanded as she peered intently through the misted windows of the Jericho Community Centre at the packed interior, where a wonderfully eclectic crowd had gathered to sample the first of The
It was 75 years ago that turkeys and geese appeared at Peach Croft Farm, Radley. Three generations later drivers travelling along the Abingdon ring road can still see their turkeys and geese at this time of the year. As Christmas approaches the
Many of the things I learnt as a child have stayed with me for years, but in recent times I’ve tended to stray. I always used to cut the tops and roots off my leeks before planting them for instance, something many gardeners do religiously. However
The Government’s proposed High Speed Two (HS2) route between London and Birmingham costing £34bn has provoked five judicial reviews which are being heard this week in the High Court before Mr Justice Ouseley. Campaigning groups are claiming that the
Chris Dettmar starred as Headington Road Runners stayed top of veterans men’s Division 1 in the Apex Sports Chiltern League after round three at Slough. Dettmar was the first vet 40 man home, completing the 8.5km course in 29mins 6secs for 20th
KENNINGTON: Burglars smashed the glass of a back door to a Cranbrook Drive house before stealing a camera and lenses. The crime happened on Tuesday between 8.30am and 5.50pm. Call police on 101.
OXFORD: Thirty-five Mill Street properties were left without power after a fuse blew on Tuesday evening. Southern Electric spokesman Duncan McDonald said the power was cut at about 7pm after a fuse blew in a link box, adding: “It would have been
AN odd job man told a jury yesterday he felt like “a ghost had left his head” after he battered a grandmother to death. Stewart Dale said he only “came back to reality” after Jennifer Hume was dead and he had not intended to kill the 55-year-old
OXFORD: The annual Spirit of Christmas concert took place at Christ Church Cathedral last night. It raises money for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and features carols as well as readings from famous actors such as Tamsin Greig. Muscular dystrophy
HUNDREDS of children lifted their voices together to raise money for charity in the Big Christmas Sing. The event was held on Tuesday and yesterday at Oxford Town Hall and featured more than 400 children from schools across the county. They were
Henry Lamont will achieve the rare distinction of playing in the Varsity Match as an 18-year-old today. Lamont, who starts on the right wing, has forced his way into Oxford University’s starting XV in only his first term. And now he hopes to
Hee-Won Cho hopes to make history today by becoming the first Korean to appear in the Varsity Match (2). But the 23-year-old, who is on the bench for Oxford University, revealed he almost gave up playing this term. If he gets the call from
Didcot Town manager Gary Elkins hopes to land strikers John Mills and Conor McDonagh in time to make their debuts at Bishops Cleeve tomorrow. But he could face a battle with Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West rivals North Leigh.
Oxford City’s David Bruce made it two wins from two starts with a dominant display in the second round of the Oxford Mail Cross Country League at Culham Park. Bruce finished 42 seconds clear of second-placed Nyle Clinton over a course which was
Bruce Windwood is pathologically modest about the feature film he devised and produced. “It’s fine – but it’s a light-hearted comedy, not The Godfather or anything,” he got used to saying. So it came as something of a bodyshock when Albert
A Hollywood screenwriter with crippling creative block finds inspiration in the most unlikely places in Martin McDonagh’s twisted black comedy that builds on the promise of In Bruges. Like that impressive 2008 debut, Seven Psychopaths balances
Musicals ICE SHOW Oxford Ice Rink December 8 & 9, 5pm and 7pm) Call 01865 467002 or oxford.gov.uk/leisure A fantastic mix of the best international, national and local talent in a Christmas themed spectacular. Appearing this year are: David
‘My brief was to create a family show for Christmas but definitely not a pantomime,” explains Lizzie Hopley, writer of this year’s Creation Theatre Christmas show, Aladdin and the Magical Lamp. “So I read as many versions of the story as I could. The
OXFORD: A 43-year-old woman who had a cardiac arrest at home died of natural causes, a coroner ruled. Louise Linzey was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital on June 3 after becoming breathless at her home in Jackson Road, the inquest at County
OXFORD: West Oxford Community Primary School is set to re-open today after being closed by a suspected gas leak yesterday. Pupils were sent home from the school in Ferry Hinksey Road at 9.10pm after staff smelled gas. Staff from Southern Electric
BUSINESS leaders in Oxfordshire welcomed Chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement but there was a sting in the tail for those on benefits. He scrapped the planned 3p a litre increase in fuel duty which was due to come in next month, unveiled
OXFORD: Burglars stole a laptop after searching a Harley Road home between 8.50am and 5pm on Tuesday. Call 101 with information.
OXFORD: The trial of a 27-year-old man accused of aggravated burglary is due to start later this month. Lee Doyle, of Songers Close, Oxford, denies entering a home in Ridgemont Close, Oxford, on June 28 this year. His trial is due to begin
CHANCELLOR George Osborne’s benefits cap will harm families in Oxfordshire, a claimant has warned. Angela Turner, 29, of Yarnton, came off most of her benefits after finding a job earlier this year, but still claims child benefit. She said
It’s time to get your laughing gear on for the return of theatre troupe Gonzo Moose to the Pegasus Theatre. Following last Christmas’s show Grim and Grimmer I was in high expectation of what they would devise next and I have not been disappointed.
PLEASE take 100 lines Mr Holloway for your letter (ViewPoints, November 29) . “The European Court did not stop the extradition of Abu Qatada”, it was the British Special Immigration Appeals Commission. I’m personally against deporting anyone to
THIS morning (December 1) I have read your piece on the sewage issue at Manor Road in Oxford and, having read the comment of the Thames Water spokesman, I am left utterly outraged at his obvious lack of respect for the residents affected by this issue
TWO soldiers have told how they desperately tried to save a cyclist who collided with a car. Sadly the 48-year-old man, from Banbury, was pronounced dead at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford. The incident happened at about 6pm on Tuesday
THE Princess Elizabeth chuffed its way through Oxford on a visit to the county. The 6201 was built in 1933 at Crewe Works and was one of 13 Princess Royal Class locomotives. Withdrawn in 1962, it was purchased by a private owner and the Princess
THE Insider breathed a sigh of despair when all of Oxfordshire’s MPs towed their respective party lines on the Leveson report. Nicola Blackwood, John Howell, Tony Baldry and Ed Vaizey have all backed, right, Cameron’s call for independent regulation
I NOTED with some interest in (Memory Lane, December 3) that the ‘Looking Back’ item for 10 years ago had officials defending Oxfordshire’s education system as only one school, Cherwell, was rated in the top 400 in a Sunday Times league table.
COMMUNITY centres are the hub of most communities these days. As a local resident I’m a member of the Northway Social Club, which works hand in hand with the community centre to enlightening and enhancing the local community spirit. This year many
THE feisty article written by Katherine Macalister (How dare the church vote against women?, December 5), gives me the opportunity to tell her that the C of E is very much alive in having a core of members who care deeply about the value of the sacraments
I am writing with reference to your article (Grave concerns, November 29), on possible building works at Holy Trinity Church in Headington Quarry. Two days earlier at an open meeting in the church, many parishioners had voiced their concerns –
It was a pleasure to visit Gobo Theatre at the Drill Hall — a new company creating opportunities for young performers to begin paid work in the theatre industry. They may be short on cash but they have passion and enthusiasm by the bucketful. For their
Dolly Parton is famously much more than just a pretty face — or, for that matter, much more than an attractive anything else that should happen to come to mind. Just as famously, she is a good sort. As her alter-ego Doralee Rhodes (the delightful Amy
Winchester Cathedral Choir CHRISTMAS CHOIR Dorchester Abbey Tonight, 7.30pm Tickets: 01865 743444 Wendy Craig, Hannah Gordon, Michael Palin and Sir Tim Rice will feature in this special Christmas concert, which is being held to raise funds for
Kevin Whately had been to the dentist before our interview so I wasn’t sure whether we’d manage a conversation at all. Fortunately, there had been “no drilling involved” and it was nice to speak to Kevin again, and fascinating to find out how he
To call Oxford Theatre Guild’s new production of Shakespeare’s Henry VI innovative would be a mighty understatement. There’s been a complete reversal of genders, with the men played by women and vice versa. Also, there are no Parts 1, 2 and 3 – the
OXFORDSHIRE had its first, and maybe last, taste of snow this year according to the Met Office. There was a light covering of snow throughout the county yesterday morning, but it did not settle. On Tuesday night meteorological stations at Brize
THE family of stabbing victim Janeé Parsons have paid tribute to their “gift from God”. Bicester beautician Mrs Parsons, 31, died after being stabbed in her family’s home in Lucerne Avenue on Saturday. Her 38-year-old husband Andrew Parsons
OXFORDSHIRE County Council has revealed a list of the multi-million-pound schemes it wants to tackle flooding. After the county’s worst flooding in five years, deputy leader Rodney Rose has warned that without serious investment many residents
A MAN on trial for the murder of Denis Witney has denied being a liar in Oxford Crown Court. Wayne Cattell, 37, told Oxford Crown Court yesterday that he had been lying to friend and Big Issue seller Steven Trigg when he told him he was responsible
OXON: The number of people admitted to hospital with pneumonia looks set to increase for the third year running. With four months still to go until the end of the financial year 2012/13 1,485 people with pneumonia have already been admitted to
OXFORD: A burglar, who stole about £10,000 worth of electrical items and clothes, has been locked up. Tristan Hockley, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 40 months in prison at Oxford Crown Court. The 36-year-old admitted burgling a Woodstock
THE man who oversaw a multimillion pound redevelopment of one of Oxford’s iconic theatres is to step down after 22 years. Euton Daley, chief executive and artistic director of Pegasus Theatre, in Magdalen Road, has worked with thousands of children
EUTON DALEY will leave a mighty big hole when he steps down from his position at the head of Pegasus Theatre. The 54-year-old has spent 22 years with the iconic theatre and it is certainly in a far better and healthier position than when he joined
Music THE ORIGINAL RABBIT FOOT SPASM BAND O2 Academy Oxford December 21. Doors 8pm Tickets: £8 from ticketweb.co.uk The festive music makes way for Prohibition era jazz and blues, for a Christmas show by Oxford swingers The Original Rabbit Foot
Michael Palin is embroiled in some Monty Python related fanmail when we speak. “Someone wants to know the exact words I spoke up a Scottish mountain when filming The Holy Grail, for a T-shirt,” he tells me. “How am I supposed to remember that kind
It makes such a difference to me knowing I’ve got that bit of support. Little things like help with the shopping or hand writing Christmas cards are important to me,” says 85-year-old Eileen, who has lived on her own for 15 years. She has found
You may feel that you have already heard too much about the Mitford sisters and their strange upbringing at Swinbrook, near Burford, but Nancy (1904-73), was definitely one of the two most interesting. Lisa Hilton's The Horror of Love: Nancy Mitford
LEYTON Orient have joined Oxford United in the Southern Section semi-finals of the Johnstone’s Paint Troahy after winning 3-0 at Northampton Town on Wednesday night. The npower League One side go into Saturday morning’s draw on Sky TV’s Soccer
NICK Gardner will complete the transition from Iffley Road ball boy to Varsity Match hooker when he runs out for Oxford University at Twickenham today (Dec 6). The 22-year-old, from Head-ington, grew up watching the Dark Blues and said it was “
THE flood barriers came down at Osney Island on Tuesday and then the following day Oxfordshire County Council began to look towards even better defences for the future. There is a slight feeling of deja vu from 2007 in that the water recedes and
A MEAT thief who helped himself to more than £100 worth of food is on Thames Valley Police’s Christmas wishlist this year. The face behind Badvent number six is a man captured on CCTV cameras who police want to speak to about shoplifting in Woodstock
There's a bumper selection of Asian cinema on offer this week, with the focus falling primarily on Japan. Among the items under review are new editions of classics by Kenji Mizoguchi, Teinosuke Kinugasa and Shohei Imamura. But pride of place has to
OXFORD’s Truck Store has a starring role in a film charting the resurgence of independent record shops. Last Shop Standing features interviews with Truck Store owner Gary Smith alongside famous names such as Johnny Marr, Billy Bragg and Annie Mac
TIMETABLES for bus services through West Oxfordshire will not be altered this month, the transport authority has said. Contracts for a number of routes supported by Oxfordshire County Council were set to expire this month but the collapse of local
