Fire crews were called to the River Thames in Oxford to tackle a fire on a derelict houseboat. A spokesman for Oxfordshire Fire Service said the blaze broke out on the boat at about 1.15pm. She added: “The boat was derelict and moored
OUR lives, over the past 10 years, have changed in such a way that we seem quite accepting of freely doing other people’s jobs for them. We receive ever expanding lists and forms, from councils and businesses, asking us to complete and return them.
I am more than usually pro-Swedish at the moment. I’ve just read the Stieg Larsson Millennium trilogy. What the novels lack in steamy sauna sex scenes and blind-drunk vodka antics, they more than make up for in their unswerving dedication to coffee.
As Oxford Mail readers get ready to enjoy the New Year festivities, TV Licensing is reminding people over 75 in Oxford to take advantage of their entitlement to a free TV Licence. Research shows that it was not just cardigans and slippers that found
I AM writing to agree with Colin Smith about recycling (Oxford Mail letters, December 7). I came back from holiday to find my new bin. I did not want it as I have a composter. But, on reading the letter that came with it, I found that it could be returned
The decision by magistrates to ban publication of a young thug’s identity after a catalogue of crimes, is almost as guilty of wrongdoing as the yobbo himself. The magistrates are out of touch with what goes on outside courts, and all too often we hear
The recent coverage given by the Oxford Mail of senior officers at Thames Valley Police sending local criminals Christmas cards informing them that they are being watched, plus stories of reprobates being sent Christmas and birthday cakes, highlight
ONCE a week, Lara Merkens-Dow spends a couple of hours chatting to a lonely mum over a cup of tea, taking a child carer swimming or going shopping with a family. Although none of the tasks are out of the ordinary, they are vital to those who are helped
BICESTER residents are being urged to put their weight behind a petition calling for NHS Oxfordshire to replace Bicester’s hospital. Earlier this year the Save Our Community Hospital, SOCH, campaign launched the petition, which it plans to hand to the
A CHARITY which helps disabled children to walk has smashed its fundraising target for 2009. The Footsteps Foundation, in Warborough, had aimed to raise £125,000 by Christmas, but donations for the year already top £143,000. Founder Pippa Hoyer Millar
DISADVANTAGED young people with alcohol problems will get help thanks to a £73,000 grant from Comic Relief. The cash has been given to the Abingdon Bridge charity and comes just in time after trustees began to have concerns over its future. In recent
WANTAGE cyclists have raised more than £350 for a charity for disabled children. More than 80 people cycled to White Horse Hill, in Uffington, from Wantage Market Place as part of the Annual Mince Pie Cycle Ride. Money from the event, organised by
LITERARY lovers are being invited to dress up in frilly caps and empire-line frocks by joining a new society dedicated to the works of Jane Austen. But the man behind the idea – Oxford folk and blues musician Frank Underwood – says dressing
A TRADITIONAL Boxing Day play has raised more than £1,000 for charity. The crowds were eight people deep as the Wantage Mummers performed their play in Faringdon Market Place, at the Bear Hotel in Wantage and the Hatchet pub in nearby Childrey
AN Oxfordshire butcher is making a big bang in the British food industry after his gourmet sausages won a prestigious award. Paul Garnish, who owns Supreme Sausages, has picked up the Food and Farming Industry’s Retailer of the Year award for
Oxford United experienced joy and despair in the last few minutes at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium. Substitute Onome Sodje looked to have earned the league leaders a priceless three points when he headed home a free-kick ten minutes from time
AN UNEXPECTED windfall means hundreds of disabled children and adults will soon benefit from a new £140,000 sensory bus – just a month after their dreams were dashed. Four weeks ago bosses of the Oxfordshire Playbus thought hopes of a new vehicle
Millions of bargain-hunting shoppers have once more hit the stores as a record-breaking Christmas sales frenzy continued. Big discounts and bargain deals lured people in their droves to high streets and shopping centres across the land, with shopping
Oxford United were level and goalless with Salisbury City in their Blue Square Premier match at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium, despite totally dominating the first 45 minutes. Jack Midson went close three times, and Alfie Potter had strong penalty appeals
Oxford United were relieved that their game at Salisbury was on, as they attempt to stay top of the league. The ground thawed after a heavy overnight frost, and at kick-off time the ground didn't look any worse than it was at the Kassam Stadium
Winter weather conditions are expected to return to Oxfordshire tomorrow with forecasters predicting heavy snow for the region. The Met Office five-day forecast says there will be snow over much of central England, extending northwards, followed
READERS were quick to give the location of the crash involving a Douglas Dakota aircraft in west Oxfordshire in October 1951. Philip Haynes, a retired policeman, from Witney, posed the question after being sent a picture of the crashed plane (Memory
HERE are two more pictures from Val Pietersen’s collection of Job’s Dairy memorabilia. Mrs Pietersen, of Marston Road, Oxford, told how her family lived and breathed Job’s (Memory Lane, October 12). Her father, Bertie Stevens, worked for the company
MEMBERSHIP of the Oxford Ixion Club wasn’t all about motorcycling. Social activities included tug-of-war, tub racing, outings to the seaside, treasure hunts and tramps’ suppers. Ixion members would compete against Wytham Cricket Club in a tug-of-war
THIS is the second part of the panoramic picture of pupils and staff at Blackbird Leys Primary School in Oxford. The picture was taken in the school grounds in 1965, just six years after the school had opened with just 94 pupils. As we recalled (Memory
FOR some Oxford shop assistants, the Christmas holiday didn’t last too long. As soon as Christmas Day and Boxing Day were over, they had to return to work – to prepare for the winter sales. Today, of course, many stores have sales all the year round
THE big baby, complete with dummy, was one of the competitors in the Wolvercote Pram Race in 1974. Nine teams completed the one-mile course, surmounting numerous obstacles on the way. Wolvercote Paper Mill Sports and Social Club organised the event.
Eight out of ten people believe hospital car parking charges should be scrapped for patients with long-term health problems, a poll has found. Almost a year after Scotland banned the charges, a survey for Macmillan Cancer Support found people would
A fresh blast of snow is expected in many parts as soon as Tuesday, bringing with it another wave of travel headaches. Forecasters are predicting up to a foot of snow on higher ground in parts of Wales that day, with lighter but still significant
SPORT can help us in so many ways. Exercise clears the mind, reduces stress and improves physical well-being. It also gives us a sense of achievement when we end up on a winning side. So often we hear about how sport gives disabled people, or those
WHAT good news it is that Oxford will have a permanent community radio station next year. The five-year licence granted to OX4 FM by Ofcom is a massive opportunity for the city. OX4 FM will be run by the community, for the community. It will provide
BAFFLED fans have hit out following the postponement of Oxford United’s money-spinning Boxing Day clash with Rushden & Diamonds. Many of the expected 10,000 crowd had already set off for the Kassam Stadium, or even arrived, when the game was called off
PEOPLE living on Oxford’s largest estate are set to be given a voice after their community radio station won a five-year broadcast licence. Blackbird Leys-based radio station OX4 FM will hit the airwaves next year on a new FM frequency – and people across
Oxford United are likely to demand compensation from the Kassam Stadium company after the farce which resulted in their Boxing Day game against Rushden being postponed. The club lost out on the biggest money-spinner of their season when
