Archive

  • Don't turn smokers into social lepers

    SIR - We write to express our concern about the proposal to ban smoking in public places. The debate is being conducted to condition the public into thinking that a ban is inevitable. We make the following points: The argument that a ban would benefit

  • Teenager flung from car bonnet

    A student who drove at a teenager and flung him from his car bonnet following a feud has avoided prison. David Fisher, 18, was banned from driving for a year and ordered to carry out 12 months' community service. Rufus Stilgoe, prosecuting at Oxford Crown

  • Walter Watton

    A man who was involved in many of the 20th century's technological advances, including radar and television, has died, aged 96. Walter 'Bill' Watton spent the last years of his life at Middletown Grange Nursing Home in Hailey. He was born in Eastleigh

  • John White

    Prominent Oxfordshire tennis administrator John White has died aged 92. Mr White, of Beckley, became chairman of Oxfordshire Lawn Tennis Association (OLTA) in 1991 and retired two years later, aged 81. His chairmanship in Oxfordshire came almost 40 years

  • Sky's the limit for high-flier Copsey

    Oxfordshire's top referee Gareth Copsey has added Murrayfield to his list of venues as he heads towards the upper echelons of the game. The 35-year-old RAF Abingdon fireman took charge of the women's international between Scotland and France, which immediately

  • Bicester power to veterans glory

    BIG-HITTER: Bicester's Dave Clayton (with ball) takes some stopping during their win over Henley in the Oxfordshire Veterans Cup finalPicture: Steve Wheeler Order No. 215817 Bicester won the Oxfordshire Veterans Cup for the first time when their pack

  • Chinnor link up with Saracens

    Ambitous Chinnor have linked up with Premiership club Saracens to provide a direct route for their youngsters into the professional game. And the first player to benefit is their outstanding young flanker Dave Seymour, who has already played five games

  • April 6: Some comfort

    Compared with fines imposed on companies for copyright infringements, the £2m Thames Trains has to pay out for health and safety offences is small change. But it is a step in the right direction. Cutting corners at the cost of public safety will no longer

  • Jessie and Tiffany ride out

    Eight-year-old Jessie Warner, from Witney, and her pony Tiffany joined other riders in the grounds of Eynsham Park, at North Leigh, for the annual sponsored ride in aid of the New Yatt branch of Riding for the Disabled. Jessie Warner and Tiffany There

  • Flasher targets girls

    A man indecently exposed himself to two girls in Thame on Sunday afternoon. Police are appealing for information following the incident when the girls -- aged eight and 12 -- were walking down Towersey Road, near Lord Williams's School, at about 2.30pm

  • Redefield repel Gosford bid

    Redefield A are champions of Division 1 of the Five Disciplines Badminton League after a 132-86 win over Feathers A in the final round of matches. Gosford Hill A had a mathematical chance of claiming the crown approaching the last hurdle. And while they

  • Eason is ruled out by unlucky break

    Oxfordshire batsman Robbie Eason is set to miss the start of the season after breaking a leg playing football. The gritty 23-year-old opener suffered a fracture to the lower fibula of his right leg while playing for Risborough Rangers in their 1-0 home

  • Don't join extremists pleads action group

    A group fighting Government proposals for an asylum accommodation centre has urged people not to turn to extremist political groups. The calls came after a High Court judge rejected a bid to stop the centre being built near Bicester. Mr Justice Collins

  • Oxford Silver Machine 49, Swindon Robins 44

    Oxford Silver Machine gained quick revenge for their defeat the previous day when outgunning the Robins in a cracking local Elite League speedway derby at the Stadium last night. Star of the show was Polish ace Rafal Dobrucki with paid 15 points Following

  • Rumpus as Oxford are pipped at post

    Arena Essex 48, Oxford Silver Machine 46: An exciting KO Cup second leg match at Arena Essex last night was reduced to a farce by the referee. Arena won the tie 94-93 on aggregate. Leigh AdamsThe tie was on a knife-edge for the first half, but then in

  • United go for broke

    Graham Rix knows that Oxford United must beat Boston at the Kassam Stadium on Friday if the players are to stay upbeat about their chances of promotion. Graham RixTuesday's 3-1 defeat at Mansfield saw the U's slip to seventh place in the Division 3 table

  • Car hire body is identified

    A man who collapsed and died as he was returning a hire car yesterday has been named as Robin Cowlishaw, 64, of Plane Tree Way, Woodstock. He was a co-founder and company secretary of health and safety consultancy Meridian Safety, of Broadway, Didcot.

  • 'Major star' to join festival

    The first music festival at Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock, will now stretch to four days and feature a famous international star - although the organisers are keeping their identity secret for the moment. Members of West Oxfordshire District Council's

  • Council lifeline for bus service

    Oxfordshire County Council has stepped in to ensure villagers in Kidlington were not left stranded after a bus company cut back services. Last month, people living in the north of the village were shocked to learn the Oxford Bus Company was withdrawing

  • Housing bid branded 'an act of vandalism'

    City councillors have backed frustrated residents of Jericho in Oxford by opposing plans for a canalside redevelopment. Joint plans by landowners British Waterways and developers Bellway Homes for 46 homes - some of three and four storeys, which would

  • Debate rages over U's statue

    The bronze sculpture of an ox that is set to greet visitors to Oxford United's Kassam Stadium looks more like a raging bull ready for a fight with a Spanish matador, according to the Deputy Lord Mayor. Littlemore councillor Gill Sanders said the proposed

  • Granite seats will last a year

    SIR - Ten, fourteen, thirty thousand pounds each and still escalating! That level of cost for the seats in Cornmarket Street, Oxford, was unforeseen by the public (Oxford Mail, April 2). I also don't recall seeing a detailed presentation of the design

  • Unions care little for those they represent

    SIR - I hope, for the sake of his party, that George Roe will treat the approaches of unions like the Communication Workers' Union with great caution (Oxford Mail, March 26). It would hardly fit his rightly held position over democratic opposition to

  • Cornmarket? Look at your collapsing street

    Your reports on the repaving of Cornmarket Street in Oxford make one shudder. But it is not alone! Not long ago, St Clement's Street was resurfaced, but is now collapsing into great depressions. All the county council does is to mark the depressions.

  • These hidden cuts must be reversed

    Councillor Don Seale, Oxfordshire County Council executive member for social and health care, replying to Margaret Coombs, states that "no cuts are planned" in social services spending and that spending is being increased (Oxford Mail, April 1). While

  • Volunteers rally to save canal festival

    Volunteers who live or work on the river in Oxfordshire have come forward to save an annual waterborne event from going under this summer. Festival-goers enjoy last year's event A meeting is being held on April 5 to see what can be done to keep the popular

  • Nursery move halted by gasholder danger

    SCORES of families may lose their childcare and 15 people may lose their jobs after plans to move an Oxford nursery were scuppered. Nursery staff and two of their young charges Permission for the Oxford Nursery in Barracks Lane, east Oxford, to move to

  • Churches enjoy mixed fortunes

    An Easter survey of Oxford churches has revealed striking contrasts, with some suffering dwindling congregations and financial difficulties and others thriving and modernising. A Good Friday procession from St John's Church in Kidlington The Rev David

  • Disabled man to climb Everest

    A Wallingford man with learning disabilities has set off to achieve his ambition -- to climb the highest mountain in the world. Paul Sillitoe, 32, has climbed all over the world with the help of the MacIntyre Care organisation, which has looked after

  • Principal means to move on

    The principal of King Alfred's Community and Sports College in Wantage, Bernard Clarke, is leaving after six and a half years in the post. Mr Clarke, 59, leaves at the end of the summer term to become a consultant headteacher in Kent in September. "At

  • Things not getting any easier for faltering U's

    When Oxford United last played Boston United, in October, there were 19 places separating the teams. Now there are four. It is not just Oxford's poor form, but the Pilgrims' massive improvement, which makes today's Division 3 match at the Kassam Stadium

  • Tims Crow should fly into Pall Mall semis

    Leading greyhound Tims Crow, who stamped his mark on the William Hill Pall Mall with a blistering run in the opening round, is strongly fancied to stage a repeat show in the quarter-finals at Oxford Stadium tonight. Breaking fast, the Peter Rich-trained

  • Franklin in line for comeback

    Thame United midfielder Kevin Franklin is set to make his lon-awaited comeback after being out for six months with a broken leg. Franklin, a builder by trade, suffered the injury last October after falling awkwardly during their FA Cup tie with Farnborough

  • Lewis switch may spark row

    Carterton Town could be set for a war of words with Oxford City after their former midfielder Kevin Lewis rejoined the Hellenic League Premier club from the Ryman League Division 1 North outfit. While Town were delighted, City boss Andy Sinnott was mystified

  • Sir Malcolm Pasley

    An Oxford scholar who devoted his life to the works of the Czech writer Franz Kafka has died. Sir Malcolm Pasley, who was for 28 years tutor in German,and a Fellow of Magdalen College, was 77. After being educated at Sherborne School and serving in the

  • Truancy mother released

    A Banbury woman jailed twice for allowing her daughter to play truant said she would go to school with her to stop it happening again. Patricia Amos, 45, was released from a 28-day prison sentence imposed last month. She denounced her sentence as "hypocritical

  • Three medals

    Three Witney Roadrunner juniors came away with medals from the Basingstoke Open meeting. Lewis Warren set a personal best in the under 15 long jump, his leap of 5.56m bringing him gold. Warren also won silver medals in both the 100m and 200m with times

  • Woodstock get through

    For the third year in succession, Woodstock Harriers have qualified for the finals of the National 12-Stage Road Relays at Sutton Park, Birmingham. In the qualifying round at Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, Harriers came 24th from 58 starting teams. The relays

  • Cooke homes in on second place

    Home runner Jason Cooke was the best of the Oxfordshire runners in Sunday's White Horse Half Marathon, which saw a record field of nearly 500 competitors. Jason CookeThe White Horse Harrier came home in second place in a time of 1hr 15mins 48secs, more

  • Reserves let in eight - all in one half

    A young Oxford United reserve team were on the end of an 8-1 hammering against Bristol City Reserves in Thursday's Pontin's Holiday Combinaton Wales and West clash. But the remarkable scoreline is all the more extraordinary as the sides were level 0-0

  • RT Harris Oxford City FA round-up

    Gary Chapman smashed a four-timer as Donnington Old Boys lifted the Doug Hobbs Cup with a 6-3 victory over Division 1 rivals Real Islip at Rover Cowley. After an even first half, the more experienced Old Boys team came good in the second, with Chapman

  • Witney & District FA round-up

    John Curtis hit a four-timer as Brize Norton kept alive their Premier Division title hopes with a 6-3 win over championship rivals Adlestrop. Curtis hit Brize's only goal of the first period as they went into half-time level at 1-1. But after the break

  • Morrells of Oxford Sunday League round-up

    Lee Keyes hit the winner as Star Wanderers lifted the OFA Sam Waters Cup for the first time in their 26-year history with a 1-0 win over Chinnor Exiles at Oxford City. Despite the blustery conditions and surface water in both goalmouths and the centre

  • City's return off to a flier

    Oxford City made a great start to their bid to return to the top flight of the Shaw & Co Oxfordshire Foursomes League with a whitewash victory in their Section 2 clash at home to Chipping Norton. City, relegated from Section 1 last year when they

  • Golf results

    Results from recent competitions in Oxfordshire SHAW & CO OXFORDSHIRE FOURSOMES LEAGUE Section 1 The Oxfordshire 2 (3pts), Ellesborough 1 (1) (The Oxfordshire first): S Hunt & J Shield bt T Lawson & J Coggins 1 hole; R Stubbs & J Groszek

  • Club results check

    Recent results from around Oxfordshire's clubs FRILFORD HEATH Ladies Coronation Foursomes qualifying round: 1 C Wadsworth & M Jordan 81-10.5=70.5 (cb), 2 A Payne & M Chaundy 84-13.5=70.5, 3 S Russell & M Snelling 90-17=73. OXFORD CITY Lillian

  • Council ponders Marriotts ideas

    Shops, a cinema, open space, housing, a hotel and offices are all under consideration for the redevelopment of Witney's prime town centre site, the former town football club at Marriotts Close. West Oxfordshire District Council planners have drawn up

  • April 8: In the small print

    THERE'S an old saying about the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. Royal Mail's dealings with its industry regulator Postcomm seem to prove the accuracy of this. It appears Royal Mail did not know that strike action is now a legitimate

  • Reward offered for stone vandals

    The Pagan Society is offering a reward of £1,000 for the capture of the person who daubed yellow paint all over the historic Rollright Stones near Chipping Norton. The attack happened last week when every stone in the circle was vandalised. The Rollright

  • Summit debates future for city

    More than 50 organisations took part in a major conference to discuss future economic growth in Oxford. The talks are part of the city council's work to plan for the continued success of the Oxford economy. The city council is determined to drive economic

  • Concern voiced over siting of radio mast

    Plans to replace a flagpole at an Oxford college with a camouflaged telecommunications mast twice its size have been approved - despite opposition by city councillors. Only one member of the city council's central, south and west area planning committee

  • Charity pockets £9k after trousers stunt

    Swapping suit trousers for jogging bottoms and smart skirts for tutus helped raise £9,200 for the Oxford Children's Hospital Campaign. The cash was collected during Wallace and Gromit's Wrong Trousers Day last year, and will help pay for one of the classrooms

  • Ex-patients flock to join NOC in new era

    Thousands want part in foundation hospital's fate By Victoria Owen Health Reporter INUNDATED: NOC chairman Joanna Foster and chief executive Ed Macalister-Smith with the applicationsPicture: Jon Lewis Order No. 216550 MORE than 3,000 patients have jumped

  • OM Apr 10 P 46 Utd v Boston

    FOOTBALL Caretaker boss Rix still looking for first victory STERILE U'S 10omutd1 UNDER PRESSURE: Steve Basham gives Boston keeper Paul Bastock a hard time 10omutd2 GETTING TO GRIPS: Recalled Scott McNiven tangles with Boston's Dean Cropper Oxford United

  • Depleted Machine can't halt Swindon

    Swindon Robins 54, Oxford Silver Machine 42 Oxford Silver Machine were unable to hold the Robins in the Elite League clash at Blunsdon last night, when the strain of trying to cover for Greg Hancock and Sebastian Ulamek just proved too much. Oxford never

  • 'Hands off our town' warning

    Traders, residents and councillors have issued a blunt response to a suggestion that Abingdon should become part of Oxford -- "hands off our town". Alan Lester, the former chairman of the city's Covered Market Traders' Association and an Abingdon resident