WORK by artists including Picasso, Chagall and Matisse has gone on show at an Oxford art gallery. About 40 paintings, drawings and etchings are on show at the Aidan Meller Gallery in High Street until the end of the month. The works in the
SUZY and Rosy were two dogs microchipped in a council scheme. Owner Catherine Warner went to the free event at the WFS Country Shop in Witney where the Dogs Trust supplied microchips as part of the Dogs in the Community project. From 2016 it
DISORDERLY drinkers face being barred from Wantage pubs for a month under a new crackdown. Police will pass on the names of anyone arrested or given a dispersal notice to the town’s Pubwatch group of landlords. Landlords will then get to choose
VILLAGERS have won a battle against plans to build the county’s largest waste digester on an orchard. The M2G Renewables plan for a 5.6-acre orchard at Q Gardens Farm Shop in Milton Hill, near Didcot, has been withdrawn by the firm. It would
Wallingford resident Zac Purchase has decided to call an end to his international rowing career, writes Mike Rosewell. Lightweight performer Purchase, 27, won a gold in the Beijing Olympics and a silver in London, both in a double scull with Mark
A DECISION will be made on Monday on whether Birmingham City Council should continue investigating illegal money lenders in Oxfordshire. Louise Chapman, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for policy coordination, will be asked to decide
YES says Tara Paxton-Doggett, 12, from Wantage – a UK Youth Parliament candidate for South Oxfordshire More than 1.5 million 16- and 17-year-olds are currently denied the vote in the UK. For years we have wanted the opportunity to have
SLIMEY, warty and only 10cm long, they can stop multi-million-pound housing developments in their tracks with a swish of their tail. Great crested newts are an icon of Great Britain’s ponds and among the many creatures of the freshwater deep which
THE Environment Agency has warned more flood warnings and alerts are likely as further rain sweeps across the county over the next few days. One flood warning remains in force for the River Thames and its tributaries at New Botley, New and North
DISTRICT councillor Steve Hayward has resigned his West Oxfordshire seat, it has been reported. Mr Hayward lives in Thailand but still represents Ducklington on West Oxfordshire District Council and claims his councillor allowance. The former
HADDEN Hill at North Moreton is closed both ways due to a fallen tree between Long Wittenham Road and the B4016 Broadway. It is closed between the crossroads and the Tesco just outside Didcot. Automatic updates will be posted on our Live Traffic
ONE of my other former clubs, Leeds United, have been in the news over the past week. Manager Brian McDermott was relieved of his duties on Friday and then reinstated on Sunday in a roller-coaster weekend. Never before in football have I heard
Sir – Around the Millennium, under an anti-environmental Labour government, the Environment Agency blew £110m building the “Jubilee River”, taking floodwater from above Maidenhead to below Eton. Residents downriver say it moved floods downstream.
Sir – It is sad news for Science Oxford, and for Oxford itself, that the Magnet project has been scrapped. Five years ago, my practice and another local architecture practice were asked by Science Oxford to design sketch proposals for the site
Sir – In the editions of January 9 and 16, you have page after page of photos and news reports of the latest floods. Also (January 16), is a three-inch report headlined (Application for 250 homes on edge of town). This goes on to note that
Sir – Hugh Jaeger’s principle of sharing is commendable and he is correct when he states that railway line-sides are wildlife corridors (Letters, January 16). But his implication that the “scrub and young trees” which were removed along the railway
Sir – Today Botley residents have woken up to find a new cause for grave concern regarding the proposed commercial development of the area by Doric. A report just published in the British Medical Journal shows that long-term exposure to high levels
Sir – Flood water storage is the answer to heavy rainfall events, not more dredging to send run-off ever faster downstream to inundate homes and businesses. A good example of using the floodplain can be found at Sherborne where the previous practice
Sir – David Horner gave us an interesting contemporary account of the great floods in Oxford in 1852 (Letters, January 23). What did they do to try to prevent such floods in the future? According to a biography of the great Dr Benjamin Jowett,
Sir – I have sympathy for A. Evans, and other residents of Dean Court, who have lost their 4C bus service (Letters, January 23). The 4 series of buses also serve Wood Farm and, from last Sunday, part of the estate is being bypassed by these. The
Sir – Referring to your article on Cheney School and the introduction of Latin at A-level: I am delighted to see the introduction of Latin at my old school. However, I was rather surprised to read that Latin at A-level is available for the “first
Sir – Your article (Campaigners are gearing up, January 16) fails to make clear the true awfulness of the proposal for a biogas anaerobic digester (AD) power plant at Milton Hill. We are in favour of well-sited green energy initiatives, but this
Sir – John Jackson, the county’s director of social and community services, told a public meeting in Oxford Town Hall on January 7 that the county council is proud of the existing pooled budget arrangement for learning disability services. This
Sir – We as a nation need to treat the elderly with greater understanding. With this in mind the Dignity Code was launched in the House of Commons last year. The purpose of the Dignity Code is to uphold the rights and maintain the personal dignity
Sir – Roger Moreton wonders why shops do not play carols at Easter (Letters, January 16). I imagine they believe carols are only for Christmas and do not realise their origins as spring fertility dances. The celebrations were originally for Eostre
Sir – Britain can no longer afford to be a significant military power in the world but it may still have a chance of influence in more peaceful ways, through the developing role of the Commonwealth. I understand from a Daily Telegraph article (
Sir – Another sorry chapter in the Castle Mill, Port Meadow, saga with the city council and the University refusing to apologise to the people of Oxford for this disgraceful debacle. If I were a cynic, I would suggest that both organisations received
Sir – Anyone who has been following the scandal of the Castle Mill flats next to Port Meadow will have noticed by now that what the city council says is not always confirmed by the facts. One need look no further than the council’s own review into
Sir – Oh Oxford, for many years I used to be so proud to call you home. Over Christmas on a rare visit, I enjoyed the new views of fly-tipping all along the river banks on the road leading from Woodeaton to Marston. Where daffodils once grew
Sir – I was not surprised to hear that students at Oxford Spires Academy are taken off roll to boost GCSE results (Report, January 23). If you take education out of local authority control and put it into the hands of a range of competitive
THANKS to the Oxford Mail for continuing to cover the protests by Dean Court residents at the Oxford Bus Company decision to leave us without a bus. It’s been under a week since the 4C was cancelled and I know that a number of older residents are
I SEE and hear people in Wheatley, like people in Horspath, are again complaining about traffic passing through the villages and that there is a meeting being held on January 31 attended by the local MP to discuss how the through traffic can be stopped
I AM writing concerning the recent flooding. I am fed up every year hearing from someone in Western Road complaining about the flooding basements. I shall be 92 in April. When I was a small child my friends lived in Western Road. Even in the
THERE may be many views about whether HS2 is both necessary and worth the cost, but Adrian Taylor’s view (January 14) that it is being built for Mr David Cameron’s supposed wealthy supporters is frankly ridiculous. Much of the route is through
I AM still fighting for a safe passage for Kidlington residents in our high street. Over the last two weeks, I have made seven calls to Cherwell District Council asking for some answers. I was pushed from pillar to post or completely ignored. Eventually
WHAT do Oxford fugitive Ian McLean and runaway teacher Jeremy Forrest have in common? The answer is that they were both brought to justice using the European Arrest Warrant which saw the 10th anniversary of its implementation at the beginning of
TWO items of news (January 28) reminded me of things that, I believe, I read in the past. The first concerns the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Did Richard Burton give money towards a new circular building to house the overflow of
Varun Sivaram argues for Peter Tatchell argues against Bill Cash argues for Abdullah Al Andalusi argues against Jonathan Freedland argues for Matthew Handley argues against Simon Blackaby argues
HOW many times recently have you put your hand up in order to help make our society a fair and equal one? If the answer is no then I hope you have at least noticed any unacceptable behaviour that discriminated against disabled people because that
A YOUTH project which has been mentoring young people in Oxford’s most deprived area for 15 years is the latest good cause to win a £5,000 Diamond Grant. The Leys Youth Programme (LYP) started in 1999 as a football club for young people. Now
WITH Oscar fever mounting ahead of next month’s Academy Awards night, Witney school children have had their own taste of the silver screen. Young actors and actresses from Tower Hill Community Primary School hosted the premiere screening of their
JOSH Ruffels earned Oxford United an excellent point at Bury and described his equalising goal as his best moment in football. The midfielder headed in Danny Rose’s corner just before the hour mark, only two minutes after Craig Jones had given
ALMOST 8,000 homes are without power this morning. Power cuts affected areas across Oxford, including Cowley and Marston, as well as Wallingford, just after 7am. Scottish and Southern Electric said it was thought to have been caused by an underground
STEVE HAYWARD is no doubt perfectly sincere in his belief that he can be an effective councillor in Ducklington from his home in Thailand. But the real problem here is the system that is allowing this farcical situation to continue. No matter how
RURAL schools claim they will lose hundreds of pupils and millions of pounds after councillors voted to end free buses for many children. Yesterday, after a long day of discussions, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet unanimously voted to scrap
THE plight of Maisie Norton and Mikayla Beames is heart-rending. The two girls have been battling cancer and it would be a big surprise if the community did not get wholeheartedly behind their Wantage Standing Up To Cancer event. These two
Police said a 44-year-old woman who fell from a third-floor window at Oxford Brookes University accommodation was in a serious, but stable condition at the John Radcliffe Hospital yesterday. The woman, who is not a student or staff member, fell
A DISTRICT councillor has said he is still able to fullfill his duties despite living more than 8,500 miles away from the area he represents. Steve Hayward still represents Ducklington on West Oxfordshire District Council despite living in South
A cabbie has been jailed after a speeding ticket scam in which he falsely said other people were the drivers of his car, later found to be a taxi. Stephen Foster-Dight, 57, of Marlow Bottom, Marlow, was caught speeding in the Oxford area by cameras
A 20-year-old woman was sexually assaulted in Cowley Road. Police said a man followed and then inappropriately touched the woman as she walked away from the city centre at about 2.30am on Saturday. She pushed him off before running away. He
OXFORD West and Abingdon MP Nicola Blackwood has welcomed new legislation to tackle sex abusers. MPs in the House of Commons yesterday confirmed an amendment to the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill that will make it easier for police
CAMPAIGNERS fighting the closure of Temple Cowley Pools have again urged Oxford City Council to reconsider its position. The Save Temple Cowley Pools group handed in a petition at a full meeting of the city council at the Town Hall on Monday.
THERE are long tailbacks between Headington and Iffley Road after traffic lights stopped working. The lights have stopped working along the A420 London Road Westbound between Lyndworth Close and Iffley Road, Cowley Road and Cowley Place. A
OXFORDSHIRE star Bradley Smith was back on his bike yesterday as preparations began for the 2014 MotoGP World Championship at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia. It was the first of nine test days in Malaysia and Qatar, before the first race under
Abi Scarlet followed up her recent Southwell win for East Ilsley owner-trainer Hughie Morrison when she returned to the Nottinghamshire venue yesterday. Sent off an 8-1 chance, the five-year-old mare recorded her fifth course and distance win by
Staff at Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University are preparing to go on strike again tomorrow in an ongoing dispute about pay. The dispute between the University and College Union and university leaders was prompted when UK university staff
THE record-breaking rainfall total for Oxford in January has now been confirmed by weather observers at Oxford University, as the Environment Agency warns more rain is on the way. The university’s Radcliffe Meteorological Station recorded the total
UNDER12,14&15 EDWARD Lagden scored a five-timer for Wantage Town in the Under 12 C League, but still found himself on the losing side as they went down 6-5 at Kennington Athletic Green. Oscar Griffiths netted a hat-trick for the hosts,
OXFORD City were unable to prevent Barrow making it eight games unbeaten after a 1-0 defeat at Marsh Lane in Skrill North last night. City’s best chance came early on when Mark Bell hit a post, while Barrow’s winner came in bizarre circumstances
A new campaign targeting women over the age of 70 to remind them about the risks of breast cancer has been launched. In Oxfordshire in 2011, the latest figures available, 165 women over the age of 70 were diagnosed with the disease. Of them, 65
Two men and a teenager from Oxford have been bailed by police after an incident at a block of flats at the weekend. Police were called to Osney Court in Botley Road, at about 6.45am on Sunday after reports of men armed with knives entering a house
RESIDENTS say they are as ready as they’ll ever be in preparation for possible further flooding. With up to 20mm of rain forecast for today those in the areas at risk including Bullstake Close off Botley Road, Oxford, hope that there will not be
NORTH BERKS LEAGUE TWO goals from hot-shot Josh McInnerney and a strike from Toby Webster gave Dorchester a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Long Wittenham Athletic to extend their lead to five points at the top of Division 1, writes PHIL ANNETS.
OXFORDSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE HORSPATH defeated the elements and bottom side Garsington in a 7-2 victory, which put them fourth. The hosts opened the scoring after 18 minutes when Elliott O’Brien slid the ball home. Three minutes later it was
8:25am There are reports of a power cut in Marston this morning. The Mail has asked SSE for more details on the extent of the problem. 8:24am Traffic light failures
CHINESE New Year was celebrated all across Oxford, but the residents of the Iffley Residential and Nursing Home had a special guest for their party. To celebrate the year of the horse, miniature Shetland pony Sweetie visited residents in Anne Greenwood
THE county is braced for gale force winds today as forecasters predict a day of heavy rain from 9am. Officials have this morning said that water levels are continuing to rise on rivers in the county. A yellow warning has been issued for Oxfordshire
A teenager is celebrating becoming the youngest person to row across the Atlantic. Eoin Hartwright, from Didcot, 17, completed the 3,000-mile Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge with his companions last night. His Atlantic Quad team, which also
Two cars crashed at an Oxford bypass roundabout during the early morning rush hour. The blue Ford C Max and silver Skoda Octavia were in the outside lane at the Headington roundabout on the A40 at 9am when the collision happened. There was
A pensioner left without central heating or hot water for 12 days by her housing association had a new boiler fitted yesterday. A tearful Jeannie Thornhill, 66, of Coupland Road, Wootton, near Abingdon, thanked the Oxford Mail for publicising her
LAST year he became Oxford’s first non-white Lord Mayor and now city councillor Mohammed Abbasi is one of another select group. The 72-year-old Labour city councillor has been selected to become Oxford’s first citizen for 2014/15. He will be
PLANS for a £4m Oxford specialist cancer centre have been scrapped over fears it will not attract NHS funding. A private health firm was bidding to build a centre for highly specialised gamma knife surgery at Headington’s Manor Hospital to take
Stonesfield Strikers were crowned Oxford Mail Girls Under 13 League champions after they defeated a determined Tower Hill Vixens side 3-0 at home in their play-off final. The hosts had to withstand severe pressure from the visitors, who hit the
BANBURY United slumped to an 8-0 defeat at Chesham United in the Calor League Premier Division. Second-placed Chesham showed Banbury no mercy, Drew Roberts bagging a hat-trick, including a penalty. Chris Dillon and James Potton fired braces
TWO girls diagnosed with cancer before they were 11 have asked their whole town to help fight the disease. Maisie Norton, 15, has beaten cancer twice, and seven-year-old Mikayla Beames is still fighting a brain tumour she will have for the rest
West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon believes the best is yet to come from his Cheltenham Festival contender Sgt Reckless. Having lowered the colours of the well-regarded West Wizard at Kempton in November, he was only third behind Amore Alato back
UNDER10&11 TYLER Webb struck an impressive hat-trick to help eight-man Kennington Athletic Green to a 5-0 victory over Reading Town in the Under 11 A League. Goals from Louis Palfrey and Webb gave the home side a 2-0 lead at the break.
THERE has been a shake-up of governors at a Witney school that was put into special measures by Ofsted. A new chairman of the governors of Wood Green School, Vicki Stott, took up the role in January, replacing Bob Walton. The school, in Woodstock
WANTAGE’S new pop-up cinema has been declared a success after its opening night sold out. The temporary cinema at the Civic Hall on Portway opened on January 24 with a screening of space thriller Gravity. Run by staff at the hall – which is
AN OXFORDSHIRE firm has been fined for putting up dangerous scaffolding. The Health and Safety Executive said workers and members of the public were put at risk because of faults with the structures, which included missing ties, bracing and vehicle
A CARE home for the elderly has been warned it must make improvements after it failed to meet five out of eight national standards. St Katharine’s House in Wantage received two surprise visits from the Care Quality Commission in November and December
A 21-YEAR-OLD man, who twice escaped police trying to pull him over, has been jailed for driving dangerously. Oliver Black, of Black Bourton Road, Carterton, admitted dangerous driving and driving without insurance and or a licence on October 17
CAMPAIGNERS fighting the demolition of Oxford Stadium have made a rallying cry for cash as they try to stop the site being flattened. At a public meeting in The Chequers pub in Headington Quarry, the campaigners began raising money to pay for the
SCOUTS and Guides are preparing for a week-long entertainment extravaganza with their annual Gang Show. Eight to 25-year-olds from more than 20 Oxfordshire groups have been rehearsing for this month’s show. They have been working since September
Dave Turner, manager of Hellenic League club Shrivenham Town, has died of a suspected heart attack. The Shrivenham boss, who was in his early 50s, took over at the club in the summer following a five-year spell at Wootton Bassett. He guided
THE annual Town v Gown boxing match takes place at the Oxford Union tonight. Doors open at 7pm for an 8pm start and tickets cost £12.
OXFORDSHIRE star Bradley Smith was back on his bike yesterday as preparations began for the 2014 MotoGP World Championship at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia. It was the first of nine test days in Malaysia and Qatar, before the first race under
The Critchleys UTV League programme was again decimated by the wet weather. However, Woodstock Wanderers switched their Division 2 clash with Village Inn to Berinsfield – home of the Inn – and their initiative paid off handsomely. Woodstock
SCHOOLS CHENEY (Oxford) saw their excellent run in the ESFA Girls’ Under 15 PlayStation Schools’ Cup come to an end with a 3-1 defeat at Fullbrook (New Haw) in the quarter-final. They had won through six rounds to reach the last eight, but
A PLAN for nine homes in West Oxford should be refused as it does not offer enough affordable housing, a city planning officer has said. Banner Homes wants to build nine houses in Abbey Road at the site of a former Avis car rental business, which
Carterton Rangers took the honours in their home clash with Carterton Town A to reach the semi-finas of the Oxfordshire John Fathers Oxon Junior Shield. Once again Rangers, who are mid-table in Division 2, enjoyed bagging a Premier scalp as they
BED and breakfasts in Woodstock say they already have room bookings six months ahead of the return of the CLA Game Fair to Blenheim Palace. Establishments in the town say they expect to be fully booked during the popular event from Friday, July
A YEAR ago a group of friends lost a dear pal to cancer and vowed to raise money in her name to find a cure. Over the past 12 months, Beth’s Pink Ladies, Anna Reading, Charlotte Wilson, Jude Barber, Liz Wilson, Lyndsey Jones-Donaldson, Sally Moran
STUDENTS in Witney could soon benefit from a £10m redevelopment of their campus. Abingdon & Witney College has revealed it will submit a planning application this week for a new teaching block at its Welch Way site. The building would add
HUNDREDS of people in Blackbird Leys coping with dementia could be suffering alone needlessly, a charity director has claimed. Andy Buckland runs the Daybreak Rosewood Club, a group that provides care for people with dementia, but says it has seen
