Archive

  • RUGBY UNION: Dark Blues made to pay penalty by Richmond

    Richmond 19 (try Rossiter; con Roberts; pens Roberts 4) Oxford University 10 (try Janney; con Hudson; pen Hudson) Oxford University paid the price for giving away too many penalties as they slipped to defeat in their first domestic

  • Fraudsters must pay back £13k and work 180 hours

    A MARRIED couple from Wantage have been ordered to carry out unpaid work after pleading guilty to benefit fraud. John and Julie Harrison, aged 49 and 44, from St Gabriels, Wantage, were sentenced at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Monday, September

  • The Scales of Justice

    Arron Gardner, 28, of no fixed address, admitted possession of crack cocaine, a Class A drug in Barn’s Road, Oxford, on September 18. Fined £100, ordered to pay a £20 victims’ surcharge and £85 costs. Also admitted being in possession of heroin, a

  • Room to spare means moving or benefit cut

    RESIDENTS took to the streets, politicians protested in Whitehall – but nothing could stop the welfare reform which came to be labelled the bedroom tax. In April, the Government cut the amount of benefit people could get if they were deemed to

  • School closes after water leak

    A WITNEY school has been forced to close today due to issues with its water supply. Parents of pupils at Madley Brook Primary School were contacted at about 10am this morning to inform them the school would close at 10.30am due to it having no

  • Two brothers ordered to pay back £221,000

    TWO organised crime bosses have been ordered to pay back £221,000 of their ill-gotten gains.   Brothers Nicholas and Jason Dean were jailed for eight and a half years and four and a half years respectively last March <<2012>>.

  • Residents fear death at ‘risky’ junction

    A FORMER police commander is warning there could be another death at a Bicester road junction if safety improvements are not made soon. Figures from Oxfordshire County Council show there have been 13 recorded accidents at the junction of Peregrine

  • Family’s grief deepens after son’s grave covered in soil

    GRIEVING parents have been shocked to find their son’s grave covered with earth from a grave dug next to his. Bridget and Chris Burchell had only said goodbye to their son a few weeks before the upsetting discovery. Their oldest son Matthew

  • Love spat boyfriend stole vodka to spend night in cells

    A MAN angry with his girlfriend stole two bottles of vodka in order to “go to prison”. Gavin Minns had been arguing with his partner at their home in Donnington Bridge Road, Oxford, when she told him she wished he had been put in prison. Minns

  • Residents upset over staff smoking outside hospital

    RESIDENTS in Headington have complained about hospital staff smoking outside the John Radcliffe Hospital site. People living in Sandfield Road next to the hospital have said that not enough is being done to tackle the problem. They say staff

  • Future of Headington pub to be resolved ‘in weeks’

    THE future of a Headington pub that has been put up for sale will be settled in the next few weeks. Enterprise Inns put the Fairview Inn up for sale earlier this year. Fleurets – the property company marketing the building – has now set an

  • The changing face of Drayton

    Picture 1 Villagers dressed in 18th century costume joined a torchlight procession from the church to the school, where a mock cottage was set on fire. They were marking the 200th anniversary of a fire which destroyed most of the village near Abingdon

  • Lady thrillers

    TAKING careful aim is Mrs J Masterman, captain of the women’s darts team at The Black Boy pub, Headington, main pic. The picture dates from 1966 when the team played in the Oxford and District Darts League. Mrs Masterman is pictured with her

  • WI enjoy the buzz of bee-keeping

    IS THERE no end to the Women’s Institute’s thirst for knowledge? Members of the Cholsey branch decided they wanted to hear all about beekeeping. So in 1954, they arranged a visit to Berkshire County Council’s rural domestic economy centre at

  • The fabulous baker boys and girls

    THE village bakers at Garsington, near Oxford, were determined not to be beaten when supplies of flour threatened to dry up during a bread strike. Millers refused to deliver to small bakers in an act of solidarity with employees of national bakery

  • Radio gift for retirement

    COLLEAGUES turned out in force to say farewell to Frank Druller, works manager at Nuffield Press at Cowley. They are pictured outside the old military academy, at the corner of Hollow Way, where William Morris opened his car factory. Mr Druller

  • Girls school’s spirit undefeated by war

    STAFF and pupils at Rye St Antony School had more to cope with than teaching and learning at their new premises. Their move from North Oxford to Pullen’s Lane, Headington, coincided with the start of the Second World War and all the restrictions

  • Let’s hear it for the boys

    IT HAD been another successful year for these members of the Boys’ Brigade. The 1st Oxford company had a reputation for winning trophies – and judging by the number on display here, this year was no exception. The certificate at the front indicates

  • Cheers big ears

    THIS jumbo-sized exhibit took pride of place when pupils at Carswell Junior School, Abingdon, put their term’s work on display. The creators pictured alongside it – left to right, Richard Gladman, eight, Kevin Ryves, seven, Sarah Thomas, eight,

  • A look back at when port meadow got Bailey Bridge

    IT WAS a remarkable feat of engineering – a bridge across the River Thames built in less than two hours. Huge crowds turned out in Oxford on a Sunday afternoon in September 1947 to see 50 Royal Engineers start work on the Port Meadow Bailey bridge

  • Memory Lane Mailbag, September 30

    Spinning yarns of yesteryear I WAS interested to read the article about Izi’s nightclub at Witney closing (Oxford Mail, September 4). There have been other businesses in that spot over the years, including Margaret Amies, a clothes shop, and

  • Making tracks

    CROWDS of fans flocked to Cowley in 1979 to see model trains in action. The exhibition at Cowley Congregational Church hall included several large working layouts and scale models, built and restored by local enthusiasts. Organiser Colin Judge

  • Sew interesting...

    WITNEY staged a series of events in 1969 to mark the 300th anniversary of the blanket making business of Charles Early and Marriott. Christine Middleton and her two-year-old son Robert are seen looking at a decorated spinning wheel at St Mary’s

  • The changing face of Benson

    Picture 1 There was lots of fun in the sun when the village held its pram race in 1987. Teams rattled through the streets in all sorts of strange contraptions for a chance to be first at the finishing line. The event was boosted that year by the appearance

  • FOOTBALL: City face Eastleigh trip

    Oxford City will face a trip to Skrill South leaders Eastleigh in the FA Cup thrird-qualifying round on Saturday, October 12. Didcot Town's reward for beating Burnham 2-1 is a home tie with Shortwood United.

  • Consultation closes on swimming pool

    Consultation closes today on plans to redevelop Witney's only outdoor pool. Witney Town Council has commissioned three designs for the £220,000 project which is part of a revamp of The Leys park. Broken slabs caused the paddling pool in the

  • Poochfest proves a walk in the park for competitors

    DOGS competed over who was the handsomest, had the waggiest tale and best party trick at an inaugural poochfest in Barton. More than 20 four-legged friends attended the first show of its kind at the Barton Neighbourhood Centre. Doberman Rogue

  • Taste of the Far East comes to the city

    PRET A MANGER founder Julian Metcalfe opened the first of his Itsu food brand outside London in Oxford on Friday. The Asian-inspired shop and takeaway already serves more than 8.5 million customers a year from four locations in the capital, including

  • Song and dance

    THE sound of music rang through Wallingford Community Hospital, thanks to a gift from members of the Crowmarsh-based Giffords concert party, main picture. They presented a £400 electronic keyboard to the day hospital in 1990 so that patients could

  • Consultation opens on helping people live healthier lives

    http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NSQCHSSA consultation on how hospital bosses can help people live healthier lives opens tomorrow. Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust is to work with Oxfordshire County Council on a public health strategy. The

  • Results: September 28

    UHLSPORT HELLENIC LEAGUE Bluefin Sports Cup 1st round: Ardley Utd 8, Malmesbury Vic 0; Carterton 2, Didcot Tn 0; Chalfont Wasps 0, Easington Spts 2; Clanfield 2, Abingdon Utd 3; Headington Ams 0, Purton 2; Highworth Tn 3, Oxford City Nomads 1;

  • Transfusion service saves county NHS £500,000 a year

    A blood transfusion system which prevents errors and is saving Oxfordshire’s NHS hospitals £500,000 a year has won a national award. Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust’s blood management system won the efficiency in pathology services prize

  • Results: September 28/29

    GREENE KING IPA CHAMPIONSHIP London Welsh 40, Plymouth Albion 9. SSE ENGLISH CLUBS CHAMPIONSHIP National 1: Coventry 32, Henley 15. National 2 South: Chinnor 27, Redruth 15. South West 1 East: Buckingham 28, Grove 17; Salisbury

  • Results: September 28/29

    OXFORD MAIL GIRLS LEAGUE Under 10: Kidlington 0, Grove Challengers 1; Wantage Girls 1, Summertown Stars 4. Under 11: Carterton Tn 6, Wantage Girls 1; Kidlington 0, Quarry Rov 7; Oxford City v Highworth Tn pp; Summertown Stars 1, Stonesfield

  • Results: September 28/29

    OXFORDSHIRE INVITATION YOUTH LEAGUE Under 16 A League: Kidlington FC 2, Didcot Tn 4; Tower Hill 0, Abingdon Utd 2; Milton Utd v AFC Newbury pp. B League: Childrey Yth 0, Hook Norton 0; Banbury Utd Yth 7, Deddington Tn 5; Horspath Yth 2, Cholsey

  • Results: September 29

    CRITCHLEYS UTV LEAGUE Devenney Cup 1st round: Blacks Head Bletchingdon 2, Kennington Ath 6; Freeland Yeoman 2, Wallingford Cross Keys 3; Standlake Garage 0, Forest Hill 5; Tree Grove 8, Northway 4. Div 1: Rutherford 0, Railway Wheatley 3; Sporting

  • Relaunch day for Gloucester Green market

    A DAY of entertainment will be held to mark the £150,000 relaunch of Oxford’s Gloucester Green Market. Oxford City Council is holding the event from 11am on Wednesday to mark the outsourcing of its management. Geraud UK and LSD Promotions will

  • Comment: Time for Jews to dance in praise of God

    Rabbi Norman Solomon talks about the Jewish New Year celebration of Simchat Torah – and how it gave 17th century diarist Samuel Pepys a shock ON OCTOBER 14, 1663, Samuel Pepys paid a second visit to the recently opened synagogue at Creechurch Lane

  • Results: September 28/29

    OXFORD MAIL YOUTH LEAGUE Under 10 A League: Abingdon Tn 0, Didcot Cas 4; Didcot Tn Yth Red 2, Summertown Stars Wands 3; Kennington Ath 0, Harwell & Hendred Yth 0; Oxford City Whites 4, Bure Park Jun 0. B League: Abingdon Yth Greens 3, Stanford

  • COMMENT: Parents must lead the way on obesity

    HEALTH bosses can only go so far in getting children to live more healthy lifestyles. As figures show county efforts to tackle childhood obesity flatlining, the NHS is renewing its efforts to tackle the issue. Yet the main responsibility for

  • Burnell hails strength in depth

    JUSTIN Burnell felt London Welsh’s stronger squad proved key to the victory over Plymouth Albion. Burnell has already handed 24 players starts this season, including six new faces against Albion, but it was the bench that gave Welsh a crucial lift

  • Oxford United supporters' webchat

    Good morning and welcome to the latest Monday morning Oxford United chat. Well, that was a decent response on Saturday wasn't it? It's not easy to perform with so many players either missing or not 100 per cent, but a 3-1 win at Hartlepool certainly

  • Newspapers make headlines at museum

    About 2,700 people attended a night of music, drama, poetry and dance based on the work of The Oxford Times, sister paper of the Oxford Mail, at the Ashmolean Museum on Friday. Tim Hughes, the paper’s music editor, co-curated the event to reflect

  • Results: September 28/29

    GOLF SHAW GIBBS OXFORDSHIRE FOURSOMES LEAGUE Section 1: Burford 11/2, Frilford Heath 11/2; Chipping Norton 1, Oxford City 2; Tadmarton Heath 2, The Oxfordshire 1. Section 2: Feldon Valley 2, Drayton Park 1. ICE HOCKEY ENGLISH NATIONAL

  • Cook leaves it late but City finally get off mark

    AN 86th-minute headed goal from Jamie Cook gave Oxford City their first win of the season as they beat Maidenhead United 1-0 in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday, writes MATTHEW BRUCE. City edged what had been a battle of attrition

  • RACING: Cole unsure of Berkshire plans

    WHATCOMBE trainer Paul Cole admits he is not sure what is next for Berkshire after victory at Newmarket on Saturday. The 11-8 joint-favourite left bookmakers slightly underwhelmed despite winning the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes. His performance

  • FOOTBALL: Edney ends Abingdon United's torment

    After 15 league and cup games, Abingdon United finally recorded their first win of the season when they won 3-2 away to Clanfield in the first round of the Uhlsport Hellenic League's Bluefin Sports Challenge Cup on Saturday. But they needed extra

  • FOOTBALL: North Leigh go top for first time

    Double strikes from Kieran Sanders and substitute Jacob Walcott put North Leigh top of Division 1 South & West for the first time since they gained promotion to the Southern League five years ago following their 4-1 win at home to Cinderford on

  • Plenty to munch on at Thame Food Festival

    HARRY Beach was among food lovers who munched on some top-quality local produce at the Thame Food Festival. The seven-year-old, pictured with a deep-fried potato twist, joined about 25,000 people at Saturday’s annual event in the town centre.

  • Haysham and Thorne fire Didcot through

    Didcot maintained their excellent recent FA Cup record by progressing to the third qualifying round for the third time in four seasons after a 2-1 victory over Burnham. The Railwaymen’s odd-goal victory was a shade more comfortable than the margin

  • ‘What will happen’ heads news agenda

    IS it my imagination or is news increasingly concerned with what is going to happen rather than what has occurred? I have heard several times what the leader of the Lib Dems will say during his final speech at their party conference. Still, he

  • Bedroom tax: bring back fair rents act

    IT'S all very well for the Leader of the Opposition to speak of cancelling the ‘bedroom tax’. Bring back the fair rents act, then no rent would be unaffordable and no housing benefit would be required! Austerity for everyone, it seems, but

  • It’s a blinkered view carrying no weight

    DORIC have found an “independent expert” to claim that “no building [on the existing site] merited preservation”. That is a blinkered view which carries no ‘expert’ weight. We need an environment that has a bit of historical depth and variety –

  • Now it’s time to ban the pheasant shoot

    OCTOBER 1 marks the beginning of the four-month pheasant shooting season. Around 40 million of these birds are intensively reared every year (Shooting Times, July 22, 2009), using industrial hatcheries, cages, sheds and, finally, release pens,

  • FOOTBALL: Letcombe's woe is over

    Letcombe, who have endured a nightmare start to the Uhlsport Hellenic League  Division 1 West campaign, recorded their first victory with a 2-0 defeat of visitors New College Swindon. The home side’s goals came from Andrew Goodchild and James Glover

  • Bunnies not badgers

    YOUR report in the Thursday, September 26 edition contained a small but important error which, if not corrected, may upset Oxford residents. Badgers are not present in Oxford cemeteries but in Cheltenham! We have rabbits! MIKE GOTCH (city councillor

  • How will our planners ever regain control?

    A more cynical person might believe that there is a massive conspiracy to smother the Vale of White Horse, Wantage and Grove Councils and the electors with such a mass of detailed information that some planning applications will escape the scrutiny

  • Smalley's fine finish down to cramp

    DEANE Smalley admitted the composed finish for his strike at Hartlepool United was not quite what it seemed. The striker scored Oxford United’s crucial second goal, coolly slotting home Alfie Potter’s pass to set up a 3-1 victory. It was the

  • Oxford United's stand-in skipper delighted with win

    A THRILLED Johnny Mullins felt Oxford United’s 3-1 win at Hartlepool United went a long way to making up for losing their unbeaten record. The U’s bright start to the campaign came to an end with a 1-0 home defeat to Chesterfield in the previous

  • RUGBY: Half-time earful spurred on London Welsh

    DAN Browne said that a half-time “earful” from London Welsh’s coaches fired them up to beat Plynouth Albion. The back-row forward, who was named man-of-the-match, felt Welsh were able to finish strongly after a slowish start. “It was the first

  • House price figures show slight increase

    House prices rose slightly last month, according to the latest official figures. The Government’s Land Registry said the average price of a property in the county in August was £245,875, an increase of 0.2 per cent on the previous month. Over

  • Flats at former dentist’s look set for approval

    PLANS for a three-storey block of flats in place of a former Headington dental practice should be approved, a council officer has recommended. Oxford City Council planning officer Angela Fettiplace is urging councillors to pass the nine-flat plan

  • Beware thieves at fair

    Pickpockets could be looking to steal at forthcoming fairs, police have warned. PCSO Phil Workman, of the Cherwell and West Oxfordshire police area, put out the warning ahead of the Woodstock Street Fair next Sunday and Monday. Anyone who sees

  • Four hurt in A40 crash

    The A40 was closed yesterday after two vehicles collided and four people were taken to hospital. Police, pictured diverting traffic at Asthall Leigh, closed the road both ways following the crash near the Swinbrook turn at about 3.15pm. Two

  • Scared of spiders? One guy could prove your superhero

    YOU may be more used to seeing him flying from building to building in Hollywood blockbusters. But Spider-Man will now be hitting the streets of Witney. He won’t be fighting the Green Goblin or Venom but will instead be ridding Witney homes

  • Wilder hails Oxford United's 'biggest win of season'

    CHRIS Wilder hailed Oxford United’s 3-1 win at Hartlepool as the best result of their bright start to the season. The visitors were hampered by injury and suspension, depriving them of Jake Wright, Andy Whing and Dave Kitson – their first-choice

  • Helping charity fly to an auction total of £3,700

    ENTERTAINER Keith Harris and puppet Orville helped raise cash at a Bicester charity auction. The ventriloquist entertained the audience at The Cooper School event on Saturday. It was organised by Steve and Trudi Carpenter whose 10-year-old

  • Rail centre is chuffed

    Visits to Didcot Railway Centre are up 11 per cent on last year. Up to the end of August, the centre saw about 4,000 more steam fans through the door. Centre manager Roger Orchard said the rise reflected last year’s competition with the Olympics

  • New housing doubts

    County highways officers have baulked at a plan to turn vacant office space in Oxford into new housing. University College and Oxford Architects hope to change numbers 28 to 31 Little Clarendon Street into four one-bed and four two-bed homes.

  • Cancer campaigner hails plan to extend UK treatment fund

    A CANCER sufferer has welcomed the extension of a national drugs fund he helped set up. Clive Stone, from Eynsham, said the two-year extension, to 2016, to the cancer drugs fund is “incredible” news. Prime Minister David Cameron announced the

  • All the variety folk could want at popular music festival

    MUSIC will fill the streets at the 14th Banbury Folk Festival. Town mayor Nicholas Turner will open the weekend-long event at the Mill on Friday, October 11, at 6.45pm, before the first concert at Banbury Town Hall. Dozens of acts will perform

  • Rental activist praised

    A housing activist has been celebrated for her campaign work on housing issues in Oxford. Debbie Hollingsworth, 49, from Kidlington, was named as a finalist in the Social and Economic Justice Awards 2013, run by the Sheila McKechnie Foundation,

  • Work to start on store expansion

    A SUPERMARKET chain is planning to expand its Chipping Norton store. Work is due to start on The Midcounties Co-operative store next month. The first phase of the revamp at the High Street store includes increasing the number of customer parking

  • Park & Ride ban on payday loan adverts

    The contractor that manages the advertising panels at Park & Ride sites has, “as a gesture of goodwill”, agreed not to allow advertisements from payday loan companies to be put up. There is already an agreement with PrimeSite Media Ltd that

  • Uni is well connected

    A new report has ranked Oxford Brookes University in the top five most “social media-connected” universities in the UK. The rankings were compiled by the student advice and information website theunipod. Universities were graded on their use

  • Police launch night patrols as blitz on rural crime starts

    POLICE have carried out night patrols in Oxfordshire to tackle the growing problem of countryside crime. In Operation Ranger, the first initiative of its kind in the county, officers patrolled West Oxfordshire and Cherwell district council areas