PLANS for an Aldi supermarket creating 10 full-time and 20 part-time jobs, have been welcomed by civic leaders in Didcot. Trade bosses said the store could revitalise Broadway, where shops have had to compete with the Orchard shopping centre since
PERMISSION has tonight been granted for a plan to build 2,500 homes in Grove, after more than a decade of discussion. At a special meeting tonight in Grove Parish Church, 12 members of the Vale of White Horse District Council's planning committee
Oxford University have named a record 13 Blues in their starting line-up as they seek a fourth successive victory in the Varsity Match at Twickenham next Thursday (2pm). John Carter will lead the Dark Blues against Cambridge for the third year
Two Oxfordshire crews fought off the toughest competiton Britain and abroad to emerge victorious in the 4¼ mile Fours Head of the River from Mortlake to Putney on Saturday, writes Mike Rosewell. Of the 454 crews competing, two more locals finished
People who shop at independent stores in the run-up to Christmas could win a prize. Abingdon Chamber of Commerce is running a competition with 18 independent retailers. Shoppers can download a brochure from facebook.com/Abingdon IndieChristmas
BURGLARS forced their way into a stable and two sheds at Blewbury. The break-ins happened in Woodway Road between Saturday and Sunday but police said nothing appeared to have been stolen. Call police on 101 with information.
Oxford has thrown its support behind the latest Oxford Mail senior citizens’ film festival starting on Monday, December 16. For the eighth year running, the Oxford Mail has teamed up with the Phoenix Picturehouse cinema, in Walton Street, Jericho
The Church of England witnessed a change of heart last month when the General Synod debated legislation to allow women to be consecrated as Bishops. With the closest indication yet that there could be a change in the law in 2014, Debbie Waite spoke
A 24-year-old motorcyclist is critically ill in hospital after a crash with a van on the A40 between Witney and Oxford. The Kidlington man, who was riding a red Yamaha scooter, suffered serious injuries when he was in a collision with a white Toyota
This year’s Woodcote Rally raised a record £31,800 for local charities, including Wallingford Army Cadets. The steam and air show was held on July 12 and 13 in the village near Reading. Organisers presented cheques to local good causes on Friday
TWO goals in extra time saw Zubry Oxford narrowly edged out in the Sam Waters Cup third round 5-3 by Reading & District Sunday League side Henley Town, writes DARYL RIDGLEY. Goals from Deniz Kurt and Marcin Walendowski helped Zubry recover
Tower Hill Ladies fell to an 81st-minute goal as they went down 1-0 in their Southern Region League clash at Southampton. Tower will be doubly disappointed to have returned home from the south coast without so much as a point having dominated the
GILES SPORTS WITNEY YOUTH LEAGUE Ryan Harris starred with a four-timer in Tower Hill Stars’ 11-2 home win over Witney Vikings Youth in the Under 14 B League. Eliot Major added a hat-trick and Joey Dove a double, with Will Simms and Kareem Mahmoud
Defences ruled the roost as Oxfordshire opened their campaign in the ESFA Girls’ Under 16 Inter County Competition with a 0-0 draw against Wiltshire at Swindon Supermarine. Oxfordshire’s best chance fell to Libbie Allison, whose shot was turned
Chinnor's Jo Taylor bagged a brace as the Oxford Mail Girls League Under 16 representative team enjoyed a spectacular 5-2 win away to Hertfordshire. Victory came despite the visitors finding themselves 2-0 down to strikes from Megan Warner and
Yasine Lamzini was Oxford Academy’s hero with an extra-time winner in their 4-3 victory at St Bartholomew’s (Newbury) in the ESFA Under 16 Premier League Schools’ Cup fifth round. The two sides had been locked together at 3-3 at the end of normal
OXFORD MAIL GIRLS LEAGUE Summertown Stars celebrated becoming Under 10 champions with a 5-3 home win over Wantage. Leschea Guiste (2), Anna Hamerow (2) and Lulu Von Pander netted for Summertown with Rose Kent replying. Chinnor took the
CHRIS Wilder met with representatives of Portsmouth’s board yesterday after Oxford United gave their manager permission to talk. The 46-year-old was one of several candidates interviewed in Newbury as Pompey stepped up their search for a new boss
Drivers escaped injury in a three-vehicle collision in Abingdon this morning. The accident involving two cars and a van happened near the shops in Wootton Road at about 9am. Police attended the incident.
WELL now at last we know the truth behind the proposed development of the West Way centre by a speculative developer, which the Vale of White Horse District Council has contracted with, to bring forward proposals for development. Paragraph 6 of
WELL, Christmas is fast approaching and it’s often a time to think about friends – old and new. Every year I take a photo and make my own Christmas cards. It’s become a tradition and one that seems to go down with friends and help me keep in touch
OXFORDSHIRE County Council’s decision not to bring forward the provision of new schools but to wait until “the earliest practicable date” for developers of around 5,000 houses planned in Wantage and Grove to decide it is suitable (for them, obviously
YOUR editorial writer, November 19, covering shadow housing minister Emma Reynolds', visit to Oxford clearly need a good break – there was no justification at all for the sour, negative tone. When she was here, Emma Reynolds pointed to Labour’
I AM writing concerning Doric’s proposal at Botley. I have been heartened to read the continuing community support questioning and highlighting inaccuracies over the proposals to update Botley’s precinct. I wonder how much detail has been submitted
AN ARSON attack could have seen a Grade II-listed village post office near Oxford “go up in flames” if churchgoers had not stepped in to help. Eight plastic crates were doused in a flammable liquid and set alight outside Cumnor Village Stores shortly
COACHES bringing visitors to Oxford would be expected to park and drop their passengers at the Oxpens Coach Park, above, unless application has been made to the council for a permit to drop off in the city centre. After what could be, in many cases
I AM replying to stories about the Covered Market crisis. What crisis? At the council meeting on November 25, I presented a cross-party motion to council about the Covered Market. My fellow presenters were Mary Clarkson and Elise Benjamin;
A WOMAN passenger had to be cut out of a car after a crash in Oxford Road in Cowley yesterday. The collision between a Nissan Qashqai and a silver Mercedes happened near Clive Road at about 1pm and briefly shut off the road. Two people were taken
ABIGAIL'S Party star Alison Steadman led a charity’s Christmas concert last night. Actors Robert Glenister of Spooks fame, Shaun Dooley from Misfits and Honeysuckle Weeks from Foyle’s War were also at Christ Church Cathedral to join the Muscular
TYRES were slashed and punctured on six cars parked in Grandpont, South Oxford. Three cars were damaged in Edith Road, two in Whitehouse Road and one in Newton Road between Sunday and Monday. Police have asked for anyone with information to
A MAN caught masturbating in the Westgate car park has been told to complete a sex offenders’ course. Yesterday, Oxford magistrates sentenced Patrick McGirr, of Oxford Road, Kidlington, to a three-year community order and told him to pay £750 costs
The number of new jobs created across Cherwell between July and September has smashed a target for the entire year. Cherwell District Council said 330 jobs were created over the summer, mainly due to the opening of Bicester’s £70m town centre redevelopment
WORK has begun on replacing a weir in Oxford as part of a major renovation project. The Environment Agency is carrying out work at Osney Lock as part of its £3m investment into Oxfordshire’s river infrastructure over the winter. The new tilting
A PENSIONER who sexually abused two young girls has been branded the “scum of the earth” by the husband of one of his victims. Alan Steer, pictured, of Campion Way, Abingdon, has been convicted of three counts of indecency with a child and two
A QUARRY which was closed after a worker’s death following an accident on Saturday, reopened yesterday. Burford Quarry, between the town and Brize Norton, run by Smiths of Bletchingdon, was closed after site foreman Les Hole, 52, of Broadmarsh
EXPLORER and author Sir Ranulph Fiennes addressed the Oxford Union on Monday night. Sir Ranulph, who climbed Mount Everest at the age of 65 and was the first man to completely cross Antarctica on foot, spoke at the famous debating society about
COMMUNITIES have been warned to brace themselves for months of disruption under a multi-million pound scheme working on 29 rail bridges across the south of the county. Network Rail is in the opening phase of a project that is forecast to last well
THE late, great Bill Shankly, the former Liverpool manager who is still idolised on the red half of Merseyside, certainly had a way with words. He once said: “Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I am very disappointed with
AS WE report today, the Church of England may be lumbering into the 21st century at last with its latest policy on the ordination of women bishops. That does not mean all women priests are dead set on becoming bishops. Far from it. But they would
COMPETITION winner Anna got the first taste of her winning ice-cream flavour with Robin Hood and Maid Marian in tow. Nine-year-old Anna Townend entered a competition run by Oxford Playhouse and ice-cream cafe G&Ds in honour of this year’s Robin
A MAN investigated for assisting the suicide of his ailing partner killed himself clutching her picture while on bail, a coroner heard yesterday. Two inquests held into the deaths heard that Oxford University Press contract worker John Mladenovich
Oxford University have named a record 13 old Blues in their starting line-up as they seek a fourth successive victory in the Varsity Match at Twickenham on Thursday, December 12. John Carter will lead the Dark Blues against Cambridge for the third
OXFORD Bus Company will run its Airline service between Oxford and Heathrow Airport on Christmas Day for the first time. Phil Southall, the company’s operations director, said: “People’s travel patterns have changed and so we are introducing the
Wantage Town A took advantage of Abingdon being on cup duty by moving to the top of North Berks League Division 2 on goal difference, writes PHIL ANNETS. They won 2-0 at Radley with goals from James Wilkins and a Liam McCullough penalty. East
A man was punched in the face on his own doorstep in an attack police believe relates to a domestic situation. The incident happened on Sunday, November 17, at 7.45pm, when the 39-year-old opened his front door in Fair Close. His attacker punched
American civil rights campaigner, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, right, has said there are not enough black or poor students at Oxford and Cambridge Universities. He told student reporters at Cambridge University that he was “concerned” about the
A DEVOURING beast is dealing with leftovers at Larkrise School in East Oxford, and it is not one of the children. A new Ridan Composter, which allows the school to compost food waste from both cooked food and meat, has been installed and will be
A BURGLAR repeatedly jailed for more than 90 crimes has been put behind bars again for a string of thefts that included swiping charity boxes. Geoffrey Muirhead of Paradise Street, Oxford, was yesterday given his latest jail sentence – this time
POLICING the new Barton West estate, Operation Bullfinch and cycling on footpaths were among the issues raised as Oxford met the police and crime commissioner. PCC Anthony Stansfeld spoke and took questions at the Barton Neighbourhood Centre on
A car on fire caused delays on the Northern Bypass yesterday morning. The car was in a lay-by on the westbound A40 between Wolvercote and Cassington when fire crews got the call at 8.47am. Two fire engines spent an hour on scene. The road was
An Oxford University student will be disciplined after he was pictured using a flamethrower at a college party. Inigo Lapwood posted a picture of himself on Facebook using the device in the main quad of Christ Church college on Saturday night.
Brad Pitt has reportedly thanked the residents of a village where his new movie has been filmed. World War Two thriller Fury, with Shia LaBeouf, was shot in Shirburn near Watlington. The film’s production gathered headlines. Film bosses apologised
JOHN Morgan has stepped down from the Conservative groups on the Vale of White Horse and Wantage Town councils. But he still remains an independent councillor on both. Morgan, 75, of Highclere Gardens, Wantage, was convicted on Monday of stealing
STUDENTS at colleges were affected by strike action as staff walked out in a dispute with their employers over pay. Classes were cancelled at colleges and universities yesterday as members of the University Colleges Union (UCU), Unison and Unite
BUDGET hotel chain Travelodge has appealed against a decision to veto plans for an 83-room hotel in Oxford. Plans for a three-storey hotel on the former UK Bathroom Warehouse site off Abingdon Road, South Oxford, were refused planning permission
A MOTHER and daughter who face eviction from their Oxford home before Christmas have appealed for help. Lilly Dass and her 15-year-old daughter Manisha have been given a month to leave their home in Clearwater Place, Summertown. GreenSquare
OXFORD Irish turned on the style in the second half of their match against Cumnor Minors, scoring four times to go top of the Under 13 A League. The game remained goalless at the break, but efforts from Naseem Iwaram, Shea Sturgess, James Woodhouse
Under 10 A P W D L F A Pts Harw & Hen Yth 8 6 2 0 26 3 20 Summert’n St W 8 6 1 1 24 10 19 Oxford City Wh 8 4 2 2 18 10 14 Bure Pk Jnrs 8 3 2 3 16 21
