Archive

  • Women win college vote

    Oxford University's last remaining all-female college has decided to retain its single-sex status. A proposal to admit men yesterday (December 4) failed to achieve the necessary two-thirds majority among fellows voting at St Hilda's. The college refused

  • Academic jailed for smuggling cocaine

    An academic has been found guilty of six charges of smuggling huge quantities of cocaine. Gabriel Solomons, 64, of Bull Street, Aston, near Witney, was jailed for a total of 24 years at Isleworth Crown Court, London, yesterday. Solomons, who styled himself

  • Slade traffic lights are not a priority

    Your article, Safety measures refused at junction (Oxford Mail, November 22), did not adequately convey the facts leading to the decision not to introduce traffic signals at the junction of The Slade with Wood Farm Road at Headington, Oxford. You often

  • Polly helps defuse row over stranded explorer

    Solo pilot Polly Vacher, from Oxfordshire, has helped resolve a diplomatic row during her epic around-the-world flight via both poles. While grounded temporarily in Antarctica because of weather problems, she has come to the aid of a fellow flyer stranded

  • Housing scheme causes dilemma

    Wallingford town councillors found themselves in a dilemma over plans to build homes on the edge of the town. They had been asked by South Oxfordshire District Council to comment on plans for the Winterbrook area. The plans proposed demolishing buildings

  • Maher comes in

    Oxford bring new prop Johnny Maher into their side for the trip to bottom club Thatcham in Berks, Bucks & Oxon Division 1. The club also welcome back fly half Danny Wheeler, who returns on the bench after missing much of the season through injury.

  • Rugby fixtures - Saturday

    Games to be played on December 13, 2003 ENGLISH NATIONAL LEAGUE Div 1: Bedford v Henley. ENGLISH CLUBS CHAMPIONSHIP Berks Bucks & Oxon Div 1: Thatcham v Oxford. Berks Bucks & Oxon Div 2: Berkshire Shire Hall v Harwell, Littlemore v Wheatley. CLUB

  • December 5: Easing the tax burden

    Rising council tax bills are proving to be an ever-increasing burden to many. So it makes sense that we should take every step to reduce the demands, particularly on those facing hardship. The idea that discounts on second homes should be reduced should

  • December 6: Bugged by poor record

    So much is said and written about the financial side of healthcare that the issue of hygiene in hospitals is rarely discussed. That has changed in recent weeks with news of a significant outbreak of a serious infection at the John Radcliffe intensive

  • Pupils turn to flower power

    Children from two primary schools helped to plant a dozen trees and 500 daffodil bulbs in a play area. From left with Tammy Woodcock, from Cherwell District Council, are Matthew Neame, Edward Coulling and James Gwyn Pupils of Glory Farm and Southwold

  • Rugby fixtures - Saturday

    Games to be played on December 13, 2003 ENGLISH NATIONAL LEAGUE Div 1: Bedford v Henley. ENGLISH CLUBS CHAMPIONSHIP Berks Bucks & Oxon Div 1: Thatcham v Oxford. Berks Bucks & Oxon Div 2: Berkshire Shire Hall v Harwell, Littlemore v Wheatley. CLUB

  • Football fixtures - Sunday

    Games to be played on December 14, 2003 FA VASE 3rd round: Southall Tn v North Leigh. MORRELLS OF OXFORD SUNDAY LEAGUE League Cup 2nd round: AC Rileys v Corner House, Royal Oak v Wolvercote, Morris Motors v Berinsfield Utd, Nelson v Six Bells Kidlington

  • Depot criticised over Iraq kit

    A depot has been criticised over failures to get equipment to frontline soldiers during the Iraq war. But despite the failings, the report also praised the scale and speed of the operation. According to a National Audit Office (NAO) report, nuclear, chemical

  • Football fixtures - Saturday

    Games to be played on December 13, 2003 NATIONWIDE LEAGUE Div 3: Oxford Utd v Carlisle Utd. RYMAN LEAGUE Div 1 North: Arlesey Tn v Oxford C, Thame Utd v East Thurrock. Div 2: Edgware Tn v Abingdon Tn. DR MARTENS LEAGUE Eastern Div: Eastleigh v Banbury

  • Leeds Utd dream realised

    A football dream has come true for 11-year-old Lawrence O'Sullivan. Soccer fan Lawrence, from Banbury, was a guest at Elland Road on Saturday to see his favourite team Leeds United play Chelsea in a crunch Premier League match. With by his father Anthony

  • United wait on Alsop

    Oxford United have one major doubt for tomorrow's Division 3 game against bottom club Carlisle United at the Kassam Stadium. Julian AlsopJulian Alsop has missed training with sickness and looks to have no more than a 30-70 chance at this stage. However

  • Simpson's tough task

    Former Manor Ground favourite Paul Simpson faces the hardest job of his footballing career in trying to save Carlisle from relegation to the Nationwide Conference. Paul SimpsonThe Cumbrians are 12 points adrift at the bottom of Division 3 with just one

  • Didcot to step up title tilt

    Cherry Red Records Hellenic League preview DIDCOT Town manager Pete Foley believes the next four games could have a big impact on his team's Premier Division title aspirations. Didcot embark on a spell of games against all their title challengers, starting

  • Football fixtures - Saturday

    Games to be played on December 13, 2003 NATIONWIDE LEAGUE Div 3: Oxford Utd v Carlisle Utd. RYMAN LEAGUE Div 1 North: Arlesey Tn v Oxford C, Thame Utd v East Thurrock. Div 2: Edgware Tn v Abingdon Tn. DR MARTENS LEAGUE Eastern Div: Eastleigh v Banbury

  • Henman serves it up

    Tim Henman, who finished his tennis year in great fashion by landing the Paris Open title, took that winning form on to the golf course. Tim Henman and John Francome Henman, a four-handicap member of Combe Hill in Surrey, was in the winning team at a

  • Young Kate shines

    Kate Turner, the outstanding young prospect from Wheatley, landed the biggest senior success of her career when she won the Buckinghamshire Champions of Champions Trophy at Woburn. Kate with her trophyThe 16-year-old club champion of Magnolia Park beat

  • Cinema already aims to expand

    Managers at Oxford's new multiplex cinema are already planning expansion more than a week before it opens for business. The Ozone Cinema in Grenoble Road will be officially launched on Monday, December 15, with a reception for Oxford United season ticket

  • Cash to fight rowdies

    Didcot Town Council is to step up action to combat antisocial behaviour and vandalism, which has plagued the town during the past year. It has earmarked £5,000 to fund a third of the running costs of CCTV cameras which will be provided in the town centre

  • Prepare for train changes

    Rail passengers are being advised to check timetables before travelling over the Christmas period. Chiltern Railways, which runs services between Birmingham and Marylebone via Banbury, Bicester and Haddenham & Thame Parkway will finish early on Christmas

  • Driver imprisoned for sex attacks on girls

    A former school minibus driver was jailed yesterday for sexually abusing five young girls over 25 years. Malcolm Morton, 56, of Edgecombe Road, Barton, Oxford, committed a string of sexual assaults on girls aged between six and 16 years, some of them

  • Cleared of attempted rape claim

    A man accused of attempted rape and indecent assault has had the charges against him dismissed. Hhemraj Jummun, 55, of South Avenue, Kidlington, was told by Judge Julian Hall that he left Oxford Crown Court on December 12 "without a stain on his character

  • Berry aims to stop the rot

    Abingdon Town's new manager Paul Berry is aiming for the perfect start when they travel to Edgware Town in Ryman League Division 2 on Saturday. Paul BerryThe ex-Carterton Town boss's first job will be to arrest a run of four successive defeats. But he

  • Merger bid in doubt

    The planned £700m merger between Oxfordshire company Torex and its rival iSoft is in doubt after a ruling by the Competition Appeal Tribunal. The ruling means more uncertainty for Torex employees, because the retail division is likely to be sold if the

  • Volunteer police almost halved

    The number of special constables serving with Thames Valley Police has almost halved during the past three years. The number of specials -- volunteer officers who work on a part-time basis -- has fallen from 656 in March 1997 to 369 in March this year

  • United back hunt for Ross's killer

    Oxford United will today mark the third anniversary of the death of Ross Doyle with a half-time appeal to anyone who knows the identity of his killer to go to the police. Ross was knocked down and killed by a stolen red Vauxhall Astra in Blackbird Leys

  • Henley refuse to panic

    Despite suffering a series of disappointing results that has seen them slip close to the foot of National League 1, Henley are not panicking ahead of their visit to Bedford Blues on Saturday (3). Still looking for their third victory of the season, Hawks

  • Estate road nears completion

    The main road through Witney's new Madley Park housing estate is due to open in February. At the moment, bollards prevent motorists driving the whole length of Harvest Way, from the Woodstock Road to Oxford Hill. About 300 of the proposed 1,100 homes

  • Poppy appeal collectors go into the record books

    Wantage residents helped raise a record amount for ex-servicemen and their families this year. Poppy appeal collectors in the town raised almost £7,000 for the Royal British Legion appeal during the fortnight before Remembrance Sunday. The £6,926.12 total

  • Hockey fixtures - Saturday

    Games to be played on December 13, 2003 SOUTH LEAGUE Premier Div 1: Oxford Univ v Bromley. Middlesex, Berks, Bucks & Oxon Regional: City of Oxford v Ramgarhia, Sunbury v Banbury. Div 1: Abingdon v Rover Oxford, Lions v Bicester. Div 2: Hayes v Witney

  • Machine chief targets Hancock

    Oxford Silver Machine promoter Nigel Wagstaff has revealed that there is no shortage of riders wanting to come to Sandy Lane for next season. However, he has warned there will no more signings until he has sorted out the No 1 position. The man he wants

  • Football fixtures - Sunday

    Games to be played on December 14, 2003 FA VASE 3rd round: Southall Tn v North Leigh. MORRELLS OF OXFORD SUNDAY LEAGUE League Cup 2nd round: AC Rileys v Corner House, Royal Oak v Wolvercote, Morris Motors v Berinsfield Utd, Nelson v Six Bells Kidlington

  • December 8: Dentistry in crisis

    If proof were needed about the crisis in dentistry in Oxfordshire, single mother Rebecca McArthur-Sully provides it. In excruciating pain, she called more than 30 surgeries to find an NHS dentist. All told her they no longer treated NHS patients, even

  • Hinksey Pools set for £315k facelift

    Former changing rooms at Oxford's open air swimming pool are in line for a £315,000 facelift so they can be used as new premises by a playgroup. The city council's executive board are set to agree funding for the refurbishment at Hinksey Pools, which

  • Murder: man remanded

    A man accused of murder has been remanded in custody. William Barcock, 46, of Parsons Place, Oxford, is charged with murdering Geraldine Paxford, 53, of the same address, on December 9. He is also charged with unlawfully wounding Doreen Hudson, 62, of

  • Abysmal ignorance

    I have news for Tony Smith (Oxford Mail, November 24). Like many of the anti-war protesters, I was alive during the Second World War and like them, I was opposed to the illegal attack on Iraq. To make any comparison between Hitler and Saddam Hussein is

  • Campsfield demo: Police out of order

    I felt threatened by police at the 10th anniversary demonstration outside Campsfield immigrant detention centre near Kidlington (Oxford Mail, December 1). I have never experienced anything like it. Nor, I gather, has anyone else who has attended these