Archive

  • Why UKIP didn’t break through in Oxfordshire

    ACROSS the country, pundits were watching in awe as they totted up the results in last month’s local and European elections. The rise of the UK Independence Party across the country had fulfilled their prophecy that it would become the first party

  • Faith communities unite for march

    FAITH communities from across Oxford are preparing to walk through the city together in a show of unity. The event next Thursday, organised by the Oxford Council of Faiths, will start at 6.15pm outside the Oxford Synagogue in Richmond Road.

  • Date with the silver screen leads to diamond wedding

    A LOVING couple are celebrating how a chance meeting before the silver screen brought them to a diamond wedding anniversary. Fran and Jim Simonds and husband celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary yesterday. The pair, who live in Witney,

  • Major delays due to roadworks at Heyford Hill

    DRIVERS are facing long delays as traffic stacks up on the A34. There are reports of very slow traffic on the northbound road between Abingdon North and the Botley Interchange. But Thames Valley Police has said it has not been called to any

  • Tower Hill no longer among country’s worst primary schools

    A PRIMARY school that was once dubbed the fourth worst in the country is on its way to turning things around. Tower Hill Primary School was rated good by Ofsted inspectors in a new report, after being told it required improvement in 2012. Inspectors

  • FOOTBALL: City to stay in Conference North

    The Football Association have confirmed that Oxford City will not be relegated from Conference North after they dismissed an appeal by Hayes & Yeading United. Hayes fell out of the Conference South last month following a dramatic final-day

  • Rail, tram and a guided bus-way are the answer

    Both Railfuture Thames Valley and Bus Users Oxford support public demand for a Witney-Oxford rapid transit. A40 commuters, above, endure several miles of daily congestion between Eynsham and Wolvercote and on Woodstock or Banbury Road. The B4044

  • Top young designer’s style out of this world

    TIME travel makes most of us think of spaceships, but for fashion designer Alina Stanila it is the beginnings of a dress. Her collection of knitted dresses was inspired by 1962 French science fiction short film La Jetée. The Wallingford-based

  • Swapping baskets

    Have you ever wished you could shop – without money? Arrive with your own produce and leave with a tantalising selection of other peoples’? Apples for Eggs is a national Food Swap movement, started by Vicky Swift and Sue Jewitt in 2011, based on

  • Steely champion for women everywhere

    Nicola Blackwood is softly spoken steel. She may look like an angora bunny but she has sharp teeth. A gifted musician, Blackwood side-stepped a glittering academic career for politics, throwing her hat into the ring at the age of 29. She vanquished

  • Rooms with a view at Cornish village

    Jaine Blackman takes a look at a Cornish hotel on the coast and likes what she sees The sign above the entrance to The Old Coastguard reads “Eaters and drinkers and for people who want to be surprised by an extraordinary view”. Well, sorry

  • It's hair today... gone tomorrow

    Liz Nicholls gets to the, erm, bottom of the bikini-line business looking at trends and methods of staying smooth this summer As bikini season looms, thoughts turn to what my friends and I politely term The Bush Administration. Yes, it might

  • How to style a dapper dad

    Mark Father’s Day with the best in summer menswear. Jaine Blackman picks out top trends for style-hesitant dads and suggests some Oxford outings to match When it comes to fashion, fathers can be stuck in their wardrobe ways: unlikely to be swayed

  • Garden to suit monks of old

    Sheena Patterson of Oxford Garden Design is looking middle-aged Last year the OGD team was contacted about re-designing a very special garden. The project was to make a medieval garden for the back of a stunning converted barn, which dates

  • I'm counting all my blessings not my bank account

    In my teens and twenties I had a very definite idea about how my life would look and feel when I was old – from around 35 or so. I didn’t ever imagine myself to be outrageously rich with chauffeurs, a ski lodge in the Alps and a private cinema.

  • Say no to the sexy models

    When waiting for the bus, I often meet a familiar face: Keira Knightley, eyes a-smoulder, perfume bottle clasped in hand and her lips pursed in that famous provocative pucker. Then you have the models: arms strategically placed, squeezing every

  • Pool still inefficient by environmental standards

    I WOULD be happy if Temple Cowley Pool, pictured, did only use energy equivalent to 180 tons of CO2 a year, as Nigel Gibson claims (June 3). Regrettably the pool would still not be financially sustainable for Oxford’s public funds but at least it wouldn

  • Real men aren't pushed to evil

    Recently, a young guy went on a rampage in America, shooting three young women dead, and stabbing three of his dorm mates. Because of the anti-hero-loving world we live in, a video emerged online immediately showing the guy – Elliot Rodger – addressing

  • In a twist over under skin bra

    Rebecca Moore gets her opinions of a new technique in the world of cosmetic surgery off her chest... along with her underwear Unhappy with your chest? Too small? Too saggy? Too chesty? Well, don’t despair – throw away those chicken fillets!

  • Boys AND girls may be boys

    Being a mum to three boys in our current times, is some times a confusing place to be. I’m always surprised by just how many families of the three boy variety there are. I have assumed, that after two boys, you’re willing to give it one more shot

  • A testing time can lead to big health benefits

    Would you offer to participate in medical research? What if you could know that by doing so, a new cancer treatment would become available? One thing is certain – new treatments must be tested on humans before they can become available to all who need

  • New dads get tips to be like Beckham

    Looking after a new baby can be daunting for dads, but it can also be a doddle says Rob Kemp, the author of The New Dad’s Survival Guide. Jaine Blackman reports After nine months of waiting, your new bundle of joy has finally arrived. But what

  • 'Fitness is my life after battle back to health'

    From being dangerously ill at 5st 6lb Kate Michalkova has transformed her life through diet and exercise. Jaine Blackman reports A lifelong struggle with coeliac disease has led to a whole new lifestyle for Kate Michalkova – including winning a

  • The mystery life of crane gets me wondering...

    ‘HAVE you seen that crane?” I excitedly asked a young Osney Island couple while pointing to the noble bird. A couple of inches of water were pouring continuously over its toes from the Botley Road bridge overspill. “He’s there all the time,” said

  • Technology affects everyday conversations

    I am writing concerning the article ‘Are young people too connected to technology in their day to day lives’ (June 4). Your correspondent Anna Weekes is right in explaining that some teenagers are engrossed in using their electronic devices to

  • Group have only given part of the story here

    Doric’s latest campaign is to attempt to orchestrate a level of support for their unpopular proposals. It’s interesting to note that they are asking for support for their development, referring to the jobs, community facilities, cinema, restaurants

  • Are you ready, steady to cook with Brian

    CELEBRITY chef and star of BBC show Ready Steady Cook Brian Turner is swapping the studio for Banbury this summer. The 68-year-old, pictured, is the main attraction at the town’s annual food fair. He worked for more than 14 years on the cookery

  • New childcare scheme set to save parents thousands

    More than 19,000 families across the county are set to receive tax-free childcare next year. Working families entitled to the benefit will receive up to £2,000 towards childcare costs in a scheme set to start in the autumn next year. Figures

  • The sickening depths these evil paedophiles will sink to

    THIS week an Oxford paedophile, Lee Middleton, 40, was sentenced to three years for trying to groom 13 and 15-year-old girls. The internet sex predator was caught by vigilante paedophile hunters. Even though there were no victims in this crime it’s

  • FOOTBALL: 'No evidence' of match-fixing in Oxford City match

    The Football Conference say there is “no evidence” that an Oxford City fixture was involved in match-fixing last season. A report by Federbet, the European organisation which monitors suspicious gambling patterns, claimed 11 games in England –

  • D-DAY: Veterans go back to remember the fallen

    SERVICEMEN from Oxfordshire who stormed the Normandy beaches in 1944 are returning to remember their fallen comrades, 70 years to the day. Troops of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry were the first across the Channel; Major John

  • D-DAY: Iconic photo captures Bill’s moment in history

    THIS IS one of the most iconic images of the Second World War and the invasion that ultimately proved decisive. It shows the First Bucks, a territorial battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, landing on Sword Beach on June

  • TENNIS: Oxon girls in runners-up joy

    OXFORDSHIRE celebrated one of their best Under 10 County Cup results in recent years with a series of fine displays. A superb performance from the girls, who were playing at North Oxford LTC, saw them finish runners-up, with the boys, in action

  • Car set on fire in suspected arson

    A CAR in Baynards Green was set ablaze in a suspected arson this morning. Police said they were investigating today after what was thought to be a Ford Fiesta, parked near Horwell Farm on the B4100, was set alight.  A spokeswoman for Oxfordshire

  • Friday, June 6

    7:09pm Here are veterans talking about D-Day and Major John Howard today at the commemoration in Clifton Hampden Brian Cox, who was in the 1st Battalion of the Ox and Bucks between 1954 and 1956, talks about what a hero

  • One lane blocked at Kennington roundabout

    A BROKEN down vehicle has delayed traffic coming into Oxford through the southern bypass. Police said it was between Hinksey and Kennington Roundabout and had blocked one westbound lane. More to follow.

  • BOXING: Girls urged to try fight club

    GIRLS will be given the chance to try out boxing tomorrow in a free festival. Jointly organised by youth charity Ambitions and hosts Berinsfield ABC, anyone interested and aged nine or above can put the gloves on. The club already have several

  • Fall death accidental

    Assistant Oxfordshire Coroner Nicholas Graham yesterday ruled the death of a former Dr Who TV director was an accident. Christopher Barry, 88, of East End, Hook Norton – who directed the first four series of the science fiction drama – fell down

  • Magician cleared of rape

    A magician has been cleared of rape by a jury at Oxford Crown Court. Yohannis Urrutia Castro, 33, of Church Street, Watlington, was acquitted yesterday following a three-day trial. He had been accused of raping a drunk woman while she was asleep

  • Health workers in pay cut protest at hospital

    About 50 members of Unison yesterday protested outside Headington’s Warneford Hospital against NHS pay conditions. Two thirds of staff will see their pay frozen for a fourth year, while others have seen a rise of less than one per cent. Unison

  • Actors get to grips with the tragic tale of Othello

    ACTORS have jealously got to grips with a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello. Students from the Oxford School of Drama will take to the stage at the North Wall Theatre, Summertown, with their interpretation of the classic pla.

  • RUGBY LEAGUE: Benson braced for difficult Gateshead clash

    OXFORD RL expect a stern test when in-form Gateshead Thunder visit on Sunday. Tony Benson’s side slipped into the bottom three following a 32-12 defeat at Kingstone Press Championship One leaders Hunslet Hawks last weekend. The visitors impressed

  • Chairman is elected

    Carterton North East Tory councillor Norman MacRae was elected chairman of West Oxfordshire District Council at its annual meeting on Wednesday. Fellow Conservative, Carterton North West ward councillor Maxine Crossland, was elected vice-chairwoman

  • TENNIS: Oxon seniors storm to stunning success

    OXFORDSHIRE’S Over 50s women enjoyed an emphatic 8-0 win over Cambridgeshire to go top of Division 3 of the Senior Inter-County Championships. In the tie, played at Abingdon’s White Horse Leisure & Tennis Centre, Oxfordshire’s first pair of

  • CRICKET: Rowant aim to get back on track in derby clash

    Aston Rowant are out to kickstart their season at home to Oxford in tomorrow’s Division 1 derby in the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League. Rowant have yet to win this campaign and were left to rue a collapse in last week’s defeat at Burnham

  • CRICKET:Garrett, 14, set to break Oxfordshire's age record

    Jordan Garrett is in line to become Oxfordshire’s youngest player when they host Wiltshire in their Unicorns Championship Western Division opener. The 14-year-old Great & Little Tew batsman has been named in a 13-man squad for the match at

  • Dressing up fun to raise charity cash

    LITTLE cowboys and girls got their spurs on to raise money for baby charity Tommy’s at the Baby Sensory club in Wallingford this week. Monday saw 60 babies under the age of 13 months take part in the Sensathon, which had a Wild West theme.

  • Riders hope Yellows will bring them luck

    THE yellow jersey is synonymous with cycling so a pair of keen cyclists hope representing Oxford United brings them extra luck on a 150-mile challenge. United supporter Daniel Theobald and David Pritchard, who covers the U’s for the Oxford Mail

  • CYCLING: Maiden race attracts a large field

    ALMOST 80 riders took part in the inaugural round of the Beeline Bikes Oxfordshire Road Race Series. Held at Weston-on-the-Green after almost 12 months of planning, the bumper field battled it out on the challenging narrow course. After some

  • FOOTBALL: Claydon signs to bolster Wantage

    WANTAGE Town’s step up to the Calor League next season has been boosted by news that striker Richard Claydon has decided to stay at the club. Claydon has been leading scorer in each of his five years at the club, netting an incredible 139 goals

  • CYCLING: Waller sets 100-mile club record

    HOWARD Waller smashed the Oxford City RC record in near-perfect conditions at the Icknield RC 100-mile TT. The 49-year-old completed the course in 3hrs 56mins 10secs – fully 81 minutes quicker than the previous club record. Latest Sport

  • Mini sales drop but orders are ‘booming’

    Orders for the latest generation of the Cowley-built Mini are running at record levels. Bosses say demand for the car is greater now than at any time since its launch almost 13 years ago, despite latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers

  • BADMINTON: Pair steer Oxon to best finish

    ETHAN Rose and Safia Khimji won all three mixed matches to help Oxfordshire’s Under 13 team claim their highest finish in the Shires finals. The pair, under-age for the event, starred as the county finished the nine-month competition sixth out

  • ROWING: Oriel's men take lead in Eights week

    THERE are new leaders at the top of the men’s and women’s headships after last week’s Oxford University Summer Eights on the Isis. Oriel, who started third, now head men’s Division 1 after bumping previous leaders Pembroke. Christ Church filled

  • Woman attacked

    A 19-year-old woman was slapped in the face and punched in the leg as she waited at a Rose Hill bus stop in Oxford. She was waiting for the No.3 at the Oxford Road stop at about 9am on Tuesday when she was attacked by a white man, in his late 50s

  • Cherwell local plan to be revised

    Cherwell District Council has said it is looking into how to include an extra 6,000 homes in its planning strategy. The announcement follows the suspension of a hearing into the district council’s local plan on Wednesday when a planning inspector

  • Springtime heated up

    This spring was the fourth hottest on record in Oxfordshire. The average temperature from March 1 to May 31 was 10.06C. The hottest on record was 10.5C in 2011. However, this year’s Banbury and District Show, due to take place on Sunday

  • How could the police have failed another young girl?

    POLICE are facing questions over why officers failed to prevent a teenager from being groomed and sexually abused at the height of the Operation Bullfinch investigation. The underage girl continued to be abused by Omid Ali and his friends after

  • FIXTURES: June 7-12

    Saturday CRICKET SERIOUS CRICKET HOME COUNTIES PREMIER LEAGUE Div 1: Aston Rowant v Oxford, Slough v Banbury. Div 2 West: Finchampstead v Shipton-u-Wych-wood, Horspath v Dinton, Reading v Great & Little Tew. CHERWELL LEAGUE

  • D-DAY: Royals and world leaders mark day

    PRINCE Charles met several D-Day veterans yesterday at the iconic Pegasus Bridge where Allied soldiers landed in the dead of night exactly 70 years ago. After laying a wreath at the exact spot where one of the six gliders landed at 16 minutes past

  • School to expand to take rising number of children

    A PRIMARY school is to undergo a large building project to increase the number of pupils it admits each year from 60 to 90. The expansion of Windmill Primary School, in Headington, will make it the only primary in Oxford to take three-form entry

  • Super-slimmer tells mums to help with children’s diet

    MUMS in Blackbird Leys should lose weight to set a good example to their children, according to one super-slimmer. Louise Waters, 36, shed four stone in a year, dropping by almost four dress sizes in the process. But for her, fashion was not

  • Cycling arsonist sets fire to cash machines and building

    A CYCLING arsonist started four fires in Banbury yesterday, leaving High Street taped off by police. Three cash machines in the street were set alight at about 2.15am, causing damage to the buildings although no money was stolen. The three

  • Supernovas are recreated in lab science project

    SCIENTISTS have created their own supernova explosions – in the comfort of their laboratory. Supernovas are stars hit by a sudden reignition of nuclear fusion or those which suffer gravitational collapse at their cores. The resulting force triggers

  • A40 Bus Fire

    Hi I was present when the fire broke out on the bus, had my canon 600D on me so I've taken some pics. I've added a picture and a small video. Based on information supplied by Tiago Lucas.

  • Barton hall set to be sold to benefit church

    A CHURCH hall that has served an estate for 50 years will be put up for sale after it closes later this month. The 1960s St Mary’s Church hall in Barton was said to be falling into disrepair after an Oxford Diocese survey in 2012. It would

  • RAF airman is spared jail for sex offence at woman’s home

    A SENIOR airman based at RAF Brize Norton who broke into a woman's house and climbed into bed with her has avoided jail. John Norry, below, was sentenced yesterday after he admitted trespassing with intent to commit a sexual offence on November