I’m dreaming of a white Christmas just like the ones I used to know... or did you only get through Christmas because you promised yourself you would break up with your partner after the ‘festive’ period? If you feel that your relationship with
STAFF and children at a village primary school are celebrating after its Ofsted rating went up from ‘satisfactory’ to “good”. The headteacher thinks the school near Bicester is touching on being rated “outstanding” by the time it is next inspected
Chiltern Railway From Oxford To Bicester Oxford: Details submitted in compliance with conditions 11 (contaminated land) and 19 (operational noise and vibration) of TWA ref: TWA/10/APP/01 (The Chiltern Railways (Bicester to Oxford Improvements)
Firefighters were called to Holyoake Road in Headington at about 3pm today after a car caught fire. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said the silver Mercedes 4X4 was destroyed by the fire, and nearby St Leonard’s Road and Stile Road were closed
The wettest summer in 100 years – few can forget the downpours of the summer of 2012. But while for most of us this meant merely getting wet – a lot – the seemingly endless rain took Oxford’s home grown Creation Theatre Company literally to the
STAFF and children at a village primary school are celebrating after its Ofsted rating went up from ‘satisfactory’ to “good”. The headteacher thinks the school near Bicester is touching on being rated “outstanding” by the time it is next inspected
KIND-HEARTED residents are summoning some extra Christmas spirit to put on a festive lunch for OAPs flooded out of their homes. People in Bicester were so touched by the story of 55 sheltered housing residents at Hanover Gardens having to evacuate
THESE cheeky cancan legs were once as much a part of the Oxford skyline as the Headington shark, and the same man was behind both. In 1988, Bill Heine was defying orders from Oxford City Council chiefs to close down the Not the Moulin Rouge cinema
OXFORDSHIRE Museum of Scouting has yet to find a new home, more than a year after it was announced that it would be demolished. The Youlbury, Boars Hill scout camp museum was pulled down in September for Scout accommodation blocks. Oxfordshire
OXFORD has been named the second best destination in the UK for young people. The city, which won silver at British Youth Travel Awards 2013, was second only to Scotland. Visit Oxfordshire head of tourism Jo Butler, who attended the awards
The Oxford Mail is very proud of its photographers, and justifiably so. Recently, one of our freelance lensmen Andrew Walmsley was a runner-up in the Wildlife Photographer of the year competition for his incredible shots of a troupe of crested macaques
OXFORD United's frustration with the wet weather this week may not be over after Charlton Athletic announced they planned a pitch inspection ahead of Saturday's FA Cup third round tie. Although London is dry at the moment, rain is forecast tonight
BANBURY Shayne Hopkins, 22, of Chandler Close, Bampton, admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause distress to someone in Corn Street, Witney, on November 16. Also admitted failing to surrender to custody at Banbury
CONTROVERSIAL plans for a shopping development on a Summertown car park will be unveiled in the spring. Oxford City Council will bring forward plans for 115-space Diamond Place car park off Banbury Road. The site, along with Oxford University
Chris Koenig examines the bizarre goings-on at a Queen's College annual dinner Waggish academics have long delighted in puns, but one of the more obscure ceremonies still performed occurs at The Queen’s College. Hardly have members recovered
David McManus returns to the web’s big debate When I submitted my copy for last week’s piece on the future of Facebook — earlier than usual because of Christmas deadlines — I had no idea about the imminent publication of an extensive European study
Local businesses faced tough times in 2013 but the year ended on a positive note, writes Gill Oliver It was all about the dough at the beginning of 2013. Unusually wet weather meant wheat yields were down, triggering a shortage of British flour
Christopher Gray remembers a personal encounter with the late David Coleman It is generally assumed by friends and colleagues (they enjoy ragging me about it) that when some big-name celebrity pops his or her clogs I shall chip into the tributes
A FLOOD alert has been issued for the River Cherwell, which is expected to burst its banks and spill into the floodplain today. The Environment Agency has said river levels have risen after the recent rainfall. They took the flood alert off
Christopher Gray looks at a fictional study of J.I.M. Stewart's Oxford college I was saddened, and initially surprised, to see the novelist Angus Wilson described as “virtually forgotten” in a fascinating centennial tribute supplied to The Oxford
Val Bourne is surprised to find a pink rose throwing out blooms late in the year I always have a look around the garden between Christmas and New Year and, thanks to a mild period, I found some of my summer-flowering plants were still lingering
PHOTOGRAPHS are being sought to tell the story of the Oxford Canal as part of a £65,000 online heritage project. The Oxford Canal Heritage Project is due to launch a website on May 3 thanks to a £65,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant. Already,
Wendy Tobitt of the wildlife trust looks at three precious local fenland habitats When you look at a map of Oxford there are no obvious links between the three nature reserves of Lye Valley in Headington, Rivermead in Rose Hill and Chilswell Valley
Helen Peacocke finds the healthiest animals at a farm in South Oxfordshire I am not sure why on earth I bothered to ask if the chickens in the display cabinet were free range — given their firm plump flesh and strong bones they couldn’t have been
Philippa Logan discovers that Oxford may have been the centre of the Celtic world The phrase ‘minutely researched’ canstrike terror into the prospective reader, who may fear being imminently overwhelmed by far too much detail, or it may evoke a
Damon Smith enjoys a poignant yet gentle story of Nelson Mandela It’s tempting to allow the profound sense of loss that greeted the death of Nelson Mandela on December 5, 2013, to fog critical judgement of Justin Chadwick’s worthy biopic. Mandela
A man was chased down a street and punched in the face on New Year’s Day. The 24-year-old victim was walking in West Street, Banbury, in the direction of Middleton Road at about 8.15am when he was chased by another man. He fell over, after
Katherine MacAlister is stunned by the waitress’s manner — and the food at The Unicorn Fawlty Towers was born during a particularly abysmal cast dinner while filming Monty Python, when the coastal guest house proprietor was so rude all the wives
A celebration of Schubert is among the gems on offer in the classical year, explains Nicola Lisle Last year was all about Benjamin Britten in the classical music world, with some stunning concerts throughout 2013. How on earth do you follow that
Stay one step ahead with our look at events and shows coming in the next few months Music Susan Boyle New Theatre, Oxford Saturday, March 29 Box office: 0844 871 3020 or atgtickets.com Local fans of Susan Boyle can see the singing star
COMMUTERS returning to work today after the Christmas period faced a hike in ticket prices. From today, First Great Western passengers will see an average of a 3.1 per cent increase in their fares. The increase is for regulated fares which
Katherine MacAlister eyes some of the best shows heading this way We all need something to look forward to in the year ahead, so here are the flagged-up shows of 2014 coming to a theatre or venue near you. CREATION THEATRE Macbeth at Lady
Becky Hallsmith, owner of the Ultimate Picture Palace, reveals the top ten films of last year — as chosen by her staff With last year now drawn to a close and the new year beginning, I can now reveal the results of our annual UPP Film of the Year
The M40 northbound was closed for almost three hours on New Year’s Day after a crash. A Porsche had spun round between junction 8a, at Oxford services, and junction 9 at Wendlebury, shortly after 9pm. It was in collision with a BMW and the
2014 is lined up to make a big noise for local music and visiting legends. Tim Hughes picks his highlights After the excitement and over-indulgence of the festive season it’s inevitable January arrives with a sigh and whimper. But, once the
OXFORD United’s players were left frustrated as a postponement yesterday denied them a chance to deliver a response to their defeats over Christmas. A waterlogged pitch at Newport County failed an inspection by referee Rob Lewis just after 10am
I have a massive crush on Inspector Morse. OK, well, it's more than a crush, actually. It’s more of a very specific fantasy where I get to sit with him supping ales in the Eagle and Child as he recites Milton (if I’m lucky) and pondering the meaningless
A total of 62 drivers have been arrested across Oxfordshire as part of Thames Valley Police’s anti drink-driving over Christmas. They were arrested between December 1 and 29 as part of the “Is it worth the risk?” campaign – 245 were arrested across
The fire service was called to Oatlands Road recreation ground off Ferry Hinksey Road on New Year’s Eve after reports that tents were at risk of flooding. Police alerted the fire service whose Kidlington crew went to investigate in an inflatable
A MAN has been arrested and released on police bail following the attempted kidnapping of a teenage girl who was waiting for a bus in Oxford. The 29 year-old from Oxford was arrested on Monday, the day after a 16-year-old girl reported being approached
Another year, another action-packed schedule from Oxfordshire’s busy theatres who have excelled themselves with a stellar line-up. Katherine MacAlister brings you a guide to their pick of 2014’s best shows for you to book and enjoy North Wall,
Oxford City Council’s offices will re-open today after the festive season. The council’s offices closed on Tuesday, December 24 before re-opening on Friday, December 27 and closing again yesterday. There were no rubbish collections yesterday
Laptops and a games console were stolen during a burglary in Banbury over Christmas. Between 2pm on Tuesday, December 24 and 11.20am on Thursday, December 26 offenders gained entry to a property in Webb Close, Manor Fields, by removing a pane of
The director of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics has called for an international court to be created for cases of animal cruelty. In his new book The Global Guide to Animal Protection, Professor Andrew Linzey, who heads up the centre in Iffley
A RENOWNED sculptor visited a Headington school to talk to pupils about some of his artistic creations. Students yesterday went to a range of talks on Thursday, including a session on sculptures given by Martin Jennings. Mr Jennings, the Oxford
THE flooding could cost Oxford’s economy millions of pounds, according to the man running the Town Hall. City council leader Bob Price was speaking as two of the main routes into Oxford – Botley Road and Abingdon Road – were closed because of the
DRUG dealers have been locked up for a combined total of 100 years with police taking almost a quarter of a million pounds worth of Class A drugs off the streets. And Sergeant James Blackmore who leads the special drugs squad, set up to target
FAMILY traditions remain strong in the household of Liezl and Nick Dita from Headington. Their son Max was born on Christmas Day two years ago and this year they welcomed their third child into the world on New Year’s Day. Mrs Dita, 37, who
WITH wet and windy weather most of us spent the first day of 2014 keeping warm indoors. But members of Oxford Diving Club had a different way of welcoming in the new year – and it was far from warm. The hardy divers took the plunge into the
A SERIES of restrictions to tackle parking problems in Kidlington have been put on hold. Oxfordshire County Council intervened after residents complained about “indiscriminate parking” in the Oxford Road eastern side service road. Drivers have
THE work of the police in taking Class A drugs and dealers off our streets is good news although many of you may see it as just part of their job. While we welcome the action to tackle what is a growing problem, much more needs to be done and it
STEVE Naylor will start as favourite for a fourth straight title when the Oxfordshire Cross Country Championships take place at a new venue on Sunday, writes ED MEZZETTI. The event, run in conjunction with round three of the Oxford Mail Cross Country
PRESERVATION campaigners have bought extra time in the bid to put one of Oxford’s hidden gems on the map. Hundreds of people walk past the Painted Room every day without knowing it’s there. But heritage experts hope to find out this year if
Didcot Town failed to make it three wins on the bounce in Calor League Division 1 South & West after falling to a 2-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Thatcham Town yesterday. It was never going to be a pretty game in dire conditions of wind and
Firefighters have vowed to continue striking in 2014 until a settlement is reached over retirement age increases. They walked out on New Year’s Eve and organised further action for this morning between 6.30-8.30am. FBU chairman Mark Ames said
James Bond star Samantha Bond had a great uncle called James Bond. Mrs Bond, pictured, who played Miss Moneypenny to Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond, came from a family of paper workers called Bond in Eynsham. They included her great, great, great
The consultation for Oxfordshire residents to give feedback on the budget plans for 2014 to 2015 ends tomorrow at noon. Oxfordshire County Council, which this year had a total budget of £586m, has revealed it will be axing more than £64m over the
Although it has caused misery for many, for one adventurer the flooding couldn’t come soon enough. Paul Preece has been taking advantage of the waterlogged fields across Oxford in his kayak and has posted footage of his trip on Youtube. And
A MAJOR study which council bosses hope will see 2,000 more homes built on Oxford’s border is set to be completed this month. The county’s five district councils have been forced to club together to order the independent study after a national
No festive season is complete without a pantomime and this year's is among the best. Revived as part of the BFI's Gothic season, Jean Cocteau's La Belle et la Bête (1946) brings a touch of cinematic magic to the fairytale written by Jeanne-Marie Le Prince
Oxford is lucky enough to host two festivals dedicated to documentary cinema and, in 2013, both OxDox and the Brookes Human Rights event presented local audiences with challenging selections tackling a range of pressing issues. Away from these showcases
ASA Hall has returned to Shrewsbury Town after his loan at Oxford United expired. The 27-year-old rejoined the U’s for a second spell in July and has been a regular in the first half of the season. Hall made 21 appearances, starting 16 games
EVERY year many people pledge to help the causes close to their heart and a growing number of charities rely on their generosity to keep going. So let’s hope the case of David Solomon, who conned people into giving him money for charity, is rare
CHARITIES cheated by an Oxford fraudster have offered advice to supporters on how not to get caught out by conmen in the New Year. Fraudtster David Solomon, who was convicted in December, told people he was collecting money for the British Heart
MEMBERS of the public have just over a week to have their say on home-to-school transport changes. Oxfordshire County Council extended the deadline from December 15 to January 14. It is the second time the council has tried to get the proposals
THE volunteers who face extremely challenging situations and conditions to help others often need support themselves. And it’s thanks to people like Martin Knops from Shipton-on-Cherwell that they get it. The 65-year-old is one of 29 people
OXFORDSHIRE remained on flood alert last night after another deluge marked the first day of the new year. Heavy rain started early in the morning with nearly 20mm falling across the county. A flood alert was in place at the River Cherwell and
PLANS have been submitted by BMW for a new covered test track at its Cowley car plant. The track would have a canopy which would allow cars to be tested over long distances to establish any production faults. Construction would take place over
OXFORDSHIRE’S new roads maintenance contractor Skanska is carrying out a complete review of the county’s highways network. This is part of Oxfordshire County Council’s attempt to get a better understanding of the condition the road network is in
A CAMPAIGN has been launched to raise £25,000 to offer one-to-one counselling for victims of rape and sexual violence. The Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre said the service is currently not provided in the county. Manager Natalie
HAIRDRESSING students are set to be a cut above thanks to a new salon which has opened on their campus. City of Oxford College has linked up with hairdressing chain Francesco Group to run a new salon at its Oxpens Road campus. It is open to the
MORE than £8,000 is set to be given to youth groups by Oxfordshire County Council. Some £8,150 is set to be handed out from its ‘Chill Out Fund’ by cabinet member for the voluntary sector Hilary Hibbert-Biles. This includes £3,000 for Oxford
