A LITTLE bit of Hollywood and Bollywood came to Woodstock at the weekend. On Saturday the town held its annual carnival and this year the event had a film theme. The day featured music, stilt walkers and a parade, which was compered by Brad
AS the city’s residents brace themselves for an influx of tourists this summer, the police are preparing to protect them. At the weekend Thames Valley Police launched Operation Buzzard for the fourth year in a bid to protect holidaymakers and vulnerable
The Wolvercote Midsummer Festival began at the weekend with an event on Goose Green. Fun on the Green featured a variety of attractions, including four spinners and weavers, attempting to produce cloth using a fleece from a rare breed sheep reared
Top children’s author Alan Gibbons attended a conference on reading at Town Hall on Saturday. The event was organised by the Oxfordshire branch of the National Union of Teachers. Mr Gibbons is the award-winning author of the best-selling Shadow
TRAFFIC is building up on Oxford Road and the B4449 near Eynsham tonight after two buses became stuck at Swinford Toll Bridge. It's on top of Eynsham Road in Cassington being closed in preparation of Bike Night. More to follow.
The fifth annual Rugfest event took place on Saturday, organised by Wallingford Rugby Club. Held at the Hithercroft Sports Park, the event featured bouncy castles, beers and bands, with a Bollywood flavour with RSVP Bhangra on the bill.
FRIENDS of a man who died from cancer in this 40s hope a light-hearted tribute to him will remain in place. Simon Cooper and some of his friends have put up an addition to the sign at the entrance to Childrey, near Wantage, in memory of their friend
DOUBLE business award winner Owen Mumford has said it still wants to hit a pre-recession plan to double in size by 2020. The company, a medical device maker that has restored Chipping Norton’s role as a manufacturing centre, was named Oxfordshire
A SCHOOLGIRL used an unusual perspective to win a national writing competition. Christy Flora Au, 15, won top prize in the Diamond Light Source’s Light Reading for Schools competition for her story Lambelasma, That is My Name. It tells the tale
THE road through Cassington has now been closed off because of today’s Bike Night. Every year thousands of bikers descend on the village as part of the charity event. It means Eynsham Road has been closed between the A40 and The Green.
Young songwriting star Lewis Watson is a global success - but still loves home. Tim Hughes reports It must be strange for Lewis Watson. One day he’s playing to a capacity crowd at the Sydney Opera House, and a few days later he’s back in Kidlington
EDDIE Pepperell today missed out on qualfying for The Open at Muirfield. The 22-year-old Frilford Heath golfer, from Abingdon, needed to finish in the top nine at Sunningdale to reach his second successive major. But rounds of 74 and 67 gave
AN extension to the car park at Hanborough railway station is set to open early next month. Although the 191-space parking area is now ready, Oxfordshire County Council has to complete alterations to the access from the A4095 Main Road, including
TWO Oxfordshire bands are getting ready to hit the country’s biggest and most popular festival. Indie folk band Peerless Pirates have been invited to play at this year’s Glastonbury Festival alongside The Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello and Arctic
COUNCILLORS have dumped plans to create a replacement recycling centre. West Oxfordshire District Council had hoped to convert its former depot Greystones, near Chipping Norton, to replace Dean Pit, which was closed by Oxfordshire County Council
Katherine MacAlister discovers whats new on Oxford's culinary world There is so much going on in Oxfordshire food-wise at the moment it’s hard to know where to start, but it’s encouraging to say the least, with lots of funky places opening up,
RUGBY LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP ONE South Wales Scorpions 6, Oxford RL 28. WEST OF ENGLAND LEAGUE Bristol Sonics 38, Oxford Cavaliers 28. BOWLS MIDDLETON CU P Group 2 Section B (South): Hampshire 114 (6pts), Oxfordshire 123 (16
Teachers, a physics graduate and a researcher into computing are among those joining the new clergy in ordination ceremonies next week. The newly-appointed deacons come from all walks of life, and will now serve as curates in parishes across the
IF I WAS choosing one luxury for a desert island, it would be copious bubbles. No, not the Champagne variety though I’d be happy to take a crate of those too. One of my greatest pleasures in life is, of an evening, sinking into a piping hot bath
Morris choir in very fine voice I ENCLOSE a photograph of the Morris Motors’ Male Voice Choir in the ballroom of the original Morris Motors’ Social and Athletic Club in the early 1950s. The conductor of the choir was Arthur Price, left of centre
ARNE Pander was the idol of Oxford speedway fans for a decade. The Danish champion rode consistently well for the Cheetahs, often achieving maximum points at matches. Many thought he could have been world champion if he had not been so accident
PUPILS enhanced their dancing skills when Helen Sykes, a member of the London Contemporary Dance group, ran a two-day workshop in Oxford. Children from Milham Ford and Bishop Kirk Schools in the city are pictured going through some of their routines
MEMBERS of the Haywains Club handed over a cheque for £400 to the village playing field management committee in 1985, to buy timber for equipment on a children’s playground. The club had raised the money with five Sunday morning produce sales, dances
IT WAS an annual event that brought mayhem to a quiet stretch of water near Oxford. The ‘tin bath’ race along the little used Seacourt Stream at Wytham attracted a host of competitors and spectactors. The rules were that crews had to be fully
PEDAL cars were traditionally made of odd bits of wood, with old pram wheels attached. But these machines were luxury versions, developed by apprentices at the Austin Morris Engineering Training Centre at Cowley. They had tubular steel frames
OXFORD Karen Bottley, 44, of Butler House, Ashhurst Way, Oxford, admitted stealing clothing worth £161 from Primark in Oxford on June 8. Also admitted stealing children’s clothing worth £290.50 from Asda in Between Towns Road, Oxford, and committing
LANGFORD Village Primary School was celebrating recently after it won an inter-school athletics challenge. Almost 200 youngsters from Bicester schools took part in the Cooper Family Quadkids Athletics Final. It involved children in years three
BANBURY MP Sir Tony Baldry has praised Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) chief executive officer Stephen Hester – one of his constituents – before he steps down in December. Mr Hester, who owns the 350-acre Broughton Grange estate, last week announced
AN AWARD-winning North Oxford pub is set to reopen in two months. The Anchor in Hayfield Road has been taken over by an Oxford company which runs a number of bars in the city already. It closed down earlier this year when the landlords left
A JUDGE has found six members of a family guilty of animal neglect at an Oxfordshire sanctuary. Today District Judge Tim Pattinson delivered his verdict on what he described as the "appalling" conditions at Crunchy’s Animal Rescue, in Longworth
KINGSTONE PRESS CHAMPIONSHIP ONE South Wales Scorpions 6, Oxford RL 28. WEST OF ENGLAND LEAGUE Bristol Sonics 38, Oxford Cavaliers 28.
WRESTLER Little Legs sized up his opponent, ran at him and then ducked under his legs to ‘bite’ him on the buttocks. The 3ft 7inch Blackbird Leys battler – real name Mark Sealey – was the star of the show as he and his tag partner Fearless Flatliner
There’s nothing like a hometown hero. It has been a long time since the likes of wrestlers Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks graced our screens on Saturday afternoon. But Blackbird Leys’ own Mark Sealey brought some of that pantomime spirit home
LESS than a fortnight after making his major championship debut, Eddie Pepperell will attempt to book a place at The Open Championship for the first time today. Oxfordshire’s No 1 is in a field of 96 hopefuls at Sunningdale chasing one of nine
Division 1 Oxenford 166-9 (A Hirtenstein 31no, S Morgan 4-39), Broughton & NN 122 (O Evans 37, A Hirtenstein 5-31, D Gwynn 4-12). Chadlington 178-8 (S van Jaarsveld 48no, C Tinsley 3-8), Minster Lovell 166 (C Tinsley 45no, S Hunt 3-22,
Homes along Binsey Lane in West Oxford were left without electricity yesterday morning due to a cable fault. Southern Electric said only 10 properties were affected by the power cut at 7.30am. Power was restored by 9.20am.
The behaviour of the county council concerning the Magnet scheme is hard to understand. It commissioned the architects Insalls to produce a report arguing against the listing of the Register Office, which the Secretary of State, in deciding not
PAUL Noble has been named Abingdon United’s new manager. The ex-Abingdon player made his mark as part of Didcot Town’s managament team during their promotions and FA Vase success in 2005. “Abingdon United Football Club are pleased to announce
NATHAN Douglas described competing again for Great Britain as “amazing”, writes STUART WEIR. The Oxford City star, who has been ravaged by injury over the past few years, came third in the triple jump on his return to competitive action for his
A road in Wheatley has re-opened fully after a lorry shed its load of steel cable. Drivers on the A418 faced delays this morning after the incident. But police have announced that all lanes on the stretch have re-opened now after the cable
BLUE badge holders are being victimised by Oxfordshire County Council. My 79-year-old father’s blue badge ran out recently. Rather than being issued with a new badge, he was asked to go and be re-assessed by a supposed independent occupational
IT was disappointing to see Mr Siret using the Syrian conflict and deaths to make political points about the UK defence industry and corporate tax evasion. For the record, BAE systems paid £337 million in tax in 2012, excluding personal taxation
THE latest project to be piloted in Oxford city is the so called Boris Bike Scheme, as if there are not enough bikes already within our city. The council plan to spend £150,000 on this scheme over a period of two years, when our roads are full
Division 1 Banbury 2nd 239-5 (J Cater 73, S Beck 69, A Sabin 38), Leighton Buzzard Town 162-6 (P Whatmore 40, K Arnold 4-43). Buckingham Town 246-6 (A Pearson 109no, S Myatt 33), Great Brickhill 133 (G Carter 61, J Gear 3-22). Oxford 2nd
EXCITEMENT was kicking off in Littlemore at the weekend. The Littlemore Community Centre in Giles Road played host to a fun day on Saturday. A bouncy castle, magician and a host of stalls had all been laid on as part of the event. And six-year-old
CONCERNS about a policy of giving housing benefit claimants their money directly have been raised after almost a third of people were removed from a pilot scheme. Oxford City Council has admitted 385 of 1,371 council tenants who took part in a
Yes, they have done it again. On Farm Mill Lane they mowed down the daisies, the buttercups and the beautiful cultivated poppies I was so looking forward to see in flower. Instead, they are filling in potholes. Judit Brody St Mary’s
ON Saturday, June 15, we found two adult wild Canadian geese with six large goslings (still too young to fly) in our driveway. They were all in a very distressed state. I led them into my secluded rear garden to calm down – I live next to a busy
Paul Cole rekindled memories of his Royal Ascot glory years by saddling Berkshire to record a sparkling victory in the Chesham Stakes. The master of Whatcombe stables, near Wantage, was notching his 21st Royal winner with Saturday’s success.
An investigation has been launched into the fatal accident suffered by Danish driver Allan Simonsen at the Le Mans 24 Hours. Simonsen was competing in the GTE Am category for the Banbury-based Aston Martin when he crashed heavily at the Tertre
An emotional Tom Kristensen dedicated his record ninth win in the Le Mans 24 Hours to fellow Dane Allan Simonsen, who lost his life in a crash just minutes into the 81st running of the historic endurance race. Kristensen, together with Great Britain
Oxford's Division 2 West game at Harefield and Banbury’s Division 1 clash at Harpenden were cancelled without a ball being bowled.
Wesley Morrick’s five-wicket haul wasn’t enough to bring Aston Rowant victory as they drew at Dinton in a rain-affected Division 2 West game. With Dinton’s innings reduced to 40 overs, the Aston Rowant skipper put Dinton in to bat after winning
SOME people might look down at the benefits claimants who have failed to get to grips with the new system of rent payments. Paying housing benefits to tenants, rather than directly to councils or landlords, so they can take control of their finances
Take it from me, if you really want to stand out in this city, carry a bouquet of flowers. Truth is, I first noticed that carrying any kind of floral arrangement would get me noticed when, two years ago, I started buying real Christmas trees. On
Today we talk to Helen Pighills, who is an Abingdon town councillor WHAT I’M CALLED: Helen. I also answer to mum. I never use my first name, Elizabeth, but it still appears on all official documents – and explains why I sometimes appear to have
I READ with interest your front page headline regarding cycling (June 19). I cannot understand how both the city and county councils can promote cycling in Headington when the roads in and around this area are in such a dire state. I cycle every
OXFORDSHIRE’S finest enjoyed more glory at Eton Dorney during the World Cup meeting this weekend. Andy Triggs Hodge, from Oxford, and fellow University Blue Pete Reed, who won gold in the men’s four at the London Olympics, helped the men’s eight
OXFORD United goalkeeper Max Crocombe apologised last night for a howling error in New Zealand’s first match of the Under 20 World Cup. Crocombe was at fault for the opening goal as the Kiwis lost 3-0 to Uzbekistan. The U’s stopper scuffed
LESS than a fortnight after making his major championship debut, Eddie Pepperell will attempt to book a place at The Open Championship for the first time today. Oxfordshire’s No 1 is in a field of 96 hopefuls at Sunningdale chasing one of nine
The official team sheet filled out by Sir Alex Ferguson for his first game in charge of Manchester United has been auctioned for more than £19,000. His first game as manager was a 2-0 defeat at Oxford United in 1986. The list, right, hand-written
A cyclist has been taken to hospital this morning after suffering serious injuries in an accident near Oxford. The man was found lying in the road in Bayworth Lane, near Boar’s Hill, shortly after 7.15am. South Central Ambulance spokesman Gill
Division 1 Burnham 154-9 (41 ovs), Tring Park 103-9 (39 ovs). Burnham 14pts, Tring Park 8. Welwyn Garden City 129 (40.3 ovs), Potters Bar 83-7 (37 ovs, A Laraman 5-29). Potters Bar 8, Welwyn Garden City 11. Harpenden v Banbury – abandoned
NORMALLY weddings are accompanied by the sound of bells. But Andrew Craft, 51, and 34-year-old Shelley Penny’s wedding on Saturday was heralded by the sound of revving engines. The couple, front, got married at Oxford’s Register Office, in
THESE are the faces of the county’s most wanted criminal suspects. Police are hunting these men for serious crimes including rape, violent robbery, drug smuggling, and the assault of a pensioner. Victims, charities, and officers last night
THOUSANDS of Christians gathered in the centre of Oxford yesterday to pray for the people of the city. The Love Oxford event attracted about 2,500 people after returning from a year’s hiatus. It was also a return to the city centre after being
A family fled a bungalow fire after being alerted by a smoke alarm. Firefighters were called to the bedroom fire in Murcott Road at 2.30pm yesterday. The fire did not spread beyond the bedroom, though the rest of the property was heavily smoke
The Priory pub next to Oxford’s Kassam Stadium was attacked by vandals and arsonists at the weekend, just days after it closed. Firefighters were called to the pub at about 8.30am on Saturday to tackle a small fire involving rubbish and a gas cylinder
TREES could soon be planted on ancient common land in Oxford to protect it from the neighbouring railway line. Network Rail is currently reinstating a disused section of track that runs north from Oxford station, parallel to Port Meadow and Wolvercote
Lane closures along the A34 will be in place between Kidlington and Weston-on-the-Green between 10am and 6pm until next Monday on the northbound carriageway and next Thursday on the southbound carriageway while the Highways Agency carries out drainage
First Great Western rail services are disrupted this morning because of overhead wire problems between London Paddington and Slough. The problems mean trains have not stopped at stations like Langley, Iver and West Drayton and some services are
Minor Counties Championship Left-arm spinner Francois Vainker produced stunning figures of 7-65 to give Oxfordshire the chance of a first-innings lead in their Western Division clash against Cornwall at Truro yesterday. The Oxford man starred
THE telephone and the British Empire were on the curriculum when the first pupils of St Christopher’s Primary school took their seats in 1932. A birthday party was held in Langford on Thursday to celebrate its milestone 80th school year anniversary
TOWN council leaders are lobbying for new regulations which could see solo traders setting up in Abingdon’s Market Place. Town council and Vale of White Horse District Council will discuss whether current rules can be amended. It follows a
UNDER the watchful eye of Eileen Filer the Strawberry Fayre Majorettes have twirled batons from Oxford to Germany for the past 23 years. Now, for the first time, the troupe is to enter competitions on a regular basis. To celebrate their growth
NETWORK Rail has been criticised for refusing to make safety modifications to a problem area underneath Blackbird Leys railway bridge. Children have been throwing rocks at nearby homes and the area has become a magnet for anti-social behaviour.
