Archive

  • £7,500 to transform your primary school

    AS school budgets are tightened due to Government spending cuts, most are having to cut back on improvements which could transform their children’s learning. But help is at hand, as for the fourth year running, the Oxford Mail has joined forces with

  • D-Day for bio-power plant opponents

    VILLAGERS will tonight find out if a waste firm can build an eco-power plant close to their homes. Waste Recycling Group wants to build an anaerobic digester at its Sutton Courtenay site, off Appleford Road. The facility would use maize crops to create

  • Wetherspoon plans a pub in old post office

    PUB giant JD Wetherspoon is preparing to invest more than £1m to open a new bar in Abingdon town centre. The chain has filed a planning application to convert the old Post Office in the High Street, but it could not tell the Oxford Mail when it could

  • GREYHOUNDS: Thursday's Oxford runners

    7.35: Care Choice, LAST WORD EARLY, Carneys Law, Builders Katie, Pennys Zac 2, Coolmakee Mick 3. 7.50: Linwood Tsunami 2, Flag Officer, Goa Getta, Ballymac Miriam, HACK UP GOLDDUST, Mt Leinster Hill 3. 8.05: BRITTONS EMPIRE, Demesne Loopy, Headofthebank

  • Collections and online sales hit charity shops

    CHARITY shops are being hit by a double whammy of doorstep bag collections and people choosing to sell on their own items. David Cryer, chairman of the Charity Retail Association and head of retail for Oxford hospice charity Helen & Douglas House, has

  • Commuters invited to comment on rail timetables

    CHILTERN Railways is inviting passengers to have their say about plans to make major changes to its timetables in December. The train operator aims to run more of its services, which link Banbury, Bicester North and Haddenham & Thame Parkway with London

  • Discount shop finds new site

    POUNDSTRETCHER is hoping to remain in Witney after a new site was found to house the discount store. The company’s shop in the former Buttercross Works, off Station Lane, is set to be demolished to make way for housing. But plans for a DIY store to

  • Discount shop finds new site

    POUNDSTRETCHER is hoping to remain in Witney after a new site was found to house the discount store. The company’s shop in the former Buttercross Works, off Station Lane, is set to be demolished to make way for housing. But plans for a DIY store to

  • RUGBY: London Welsh fight on over Kassam ground-share

    LONDON Welsh have not given up their hopes of bringing Premiership rugby to the Kassam Stadium despite being told they were ineligible for promotion today. The Rugby Football Union (RFU)’s board of directors ratified an audit which found

  • Cyclists saddle up for charity gathering at palace

    ORGANISERS are hoping a huge bike event at Blenheim Palace this summer will raise £100,000 for a breast cancer charity. Bike Blenheim Palace will take place for the fifth year at the Woodstock stately home on Saturday, August 18, and Sunday, August 19

  • Clinton cards stores escape the axe

    The county branches of stricken retailer Clinton Cards have escaped the first round of closures. Adminstrators at finance specialist Zolfo Cooper have revealed 25 UK stores under the Birthdays brand and 19 trading as Clinton Cards will shut by the end

  • RUGBY: London Welsh's Kassam move in severe doubt

    LONDON Welsh's plan to ground-share at the Kassam Stadium looks in doubt after an independent audit found the club did not meet the minimum standards for Premiership rugby. The news is a huge blow to the Exiles, just hours before the first

  • ARTISTS & STUDIOS: Focusing on a private world

    SIMON Murison-Bowie is uniquely placed to capture a distinctly private view. Armed with an almost-silent medium-format camera and decades of experience, he has caught artists from across the county lost in their own worlds. And you can

  • Tributes paid to former Banbury woman killed in caravan

    TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Banbury resident who was stabbed and killed at a caravan park just outside Oxford. Former neighbours of Jenny Hume, 55, said they were shocked by her killing at Prospect Park in Horspath. The grandmother-of-three

  • Double murder trial begins

    THE trial of a Thame man accused of murdering his wife and her mother has begun today. Ensar Gol, of Ireton Court, is accused of murdering his 28-year-old wife Michala and her mother Julie Sahin, 50, and attempting to murder their friend 20

  • Golfer aims to aid Alzheimer’s research

    A PROFESSIONAL golfer from Bicester will take on a triathlon for Alzheimer’s research after losing his father to the disease. Golf coach Andy Taylor’s father Alec died last July after a long battle with the illness. The 47-year-old said his father used

  • Fighting back against crime

    OXFORD’S newest and biggest Neighbourhood Watch scheme has vowed to tackle rising crime in its community. People living in the Iffley Fields area had become so fed up with burglaries, bike thefts and car crime they decided to take matters into their

  • Pub’s rock festival helps hospice

    A BEER and music festival this weekend will help Oxford’s Helen & Douglas House hospice. Rokefest, at the Home Sweet Home pub, in Roke, near Benson, will feature 13 local bands, along with a selection of 20 real ales on tap at the bar and a

  • Golfer aims to aid Alzheimer’s research

    A PROFESSIONAL golfer from Bicester will take on a triathlon for Alzheimer’s research after losing his father to the disease. Golf coach Andy Taylor’s father Alec died last July after a long battle with the illness. The 47-year-old said his father used

  • Controversial estate sites back on agenda after recount

    PLANS for large housing estates around Carterton are set to be reconsidered after a “misclassification” of military homes in the town. West Oxfordshire District Council had hoped hundreds of new homes could be built on the site of former Ministry of

  • Pembroke College bridge makes history

    A new bridge has been lowered into place across one of Oxford’s most historic streets. The pedestrian bridge forms the centrepiece of a major development at Pembroke College. It is believed to be the first new bridge over one of Oxford

  • Celebrating city’s landmark designs

    THERE are grand designs to celebrate the landmark buildings of Oxford. Next month the world of architecture will be coming to the city as part of the Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) Love Architecture festival. It will run

  • ‘It’s a balancing act’

    WALLINGFORD’S new market town co-ordinator Mike Northover will talk to town centre traders about the possible damaging effect of an out-of-town supermarket. Last month it emerged that Morrisons wants to build a supermarket and a petrol station at the

  • Public to decide on hall designer

    Witney residents will get a chance to meet and grill prospective designers before voting on the future look of the Corn Exchange. Witney Town Council will hold seven public meetings during June and July to decide on the design and designer

  • Local shares (AM)

    AEA Technology 0.23 BMW 5026 Electrocomponents 204.65 Nationwide Accident Repair 71 Oxford Biomedica 3.35 Oxford Catalysts 53 Oxford Instruments 1116 Reed Elsevier 487.8 RM 75.75 RPS Group 203.5 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • £1m Thames hydro-power plan wins licence

    A £1M hydro-electric generator on the Thames in Abingdon, to provide electricity for 200 homes, has been granted a licence by the Environment Agency. It’s been two years since community group Abingdon Hydro unveiled its plan to build the power plant

  • YOUTH FOOTBALL: Didcot and Wantage in double delight

    Didcot Town Youth and Wantage Concords are celebrating doubles. Didcot won the Berks & Bucks FA Under 16 Cup with a 2-0 victory over Scot Youth in the final, and also captured the Oxford Invitation Youth League Cup with a 2-1 victory against Kidlington

  • FOOTBALL: Cholsey win title after play-off victory

    A DOUBLE from Cholsey United’s Phil Hedges and a Jamie Newport strike was enough to give their side the Division 2 title after a 3-1 play-off victory over Yellow Eagles, writes TIM SIRET. Eagles midfielder Danny Morgan threw himself in front of a Hedges

  • AUNT SALLY: Clarke joins double-sixers

    Ivor Clarke (2-6-6) became the third player this season to hit a brace of sixes as Cricketers B came from behind to win 2-1 at home to Six Bells C Kidlington in the Premier Section. He followed in the footprints of Kevin Giles (Three Pigeons) and John

  • Man jailed over extreme pornography

    A 51-year-old Banbury man has been jailed for possessing bestiality videos. Kerry Randa, of Prescott Close, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Monday. He had previously admitted one charge of possessing extreme pornography and was jailed for six

  • Shoplifter struck twice in two days

    AN alcoholic shoplifter struck twice in two days. Blaine Dransfield stole two chicken fillets and a bottle of wine from Tesco in Magdalen Street, Oxford, on May 19, before taking a coat and two T-shirts from Primark in the Westgate Centre on May 21.

  • Bun throwers enlist help of TV star

    ABINGDON has enlisted the help of TV’s James May and his science boffins to help find a way to throw ‘royal’ buns further. The BBC presenter will be filming in the town during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations for the programme James May’s Man Lab. And

  • SCHOOLS FOOTBALL: St Birinus enjoy Pay day!

    GOALKEEPER Charlie Pay was the hero as St Birinus, Didcot, lifted the Oxfordshire Under 15 Cup 6-5 in a sudden death penalty shoot-out against Cooper, Bicester, at Thame United. Pay’s save gave St Birinus the cup after his teammates, Jason McCabe, Ross

  • Stolen goods

    BICESTER: A man has admitted handling stolen goods. Josh Barnes, 20, appeared at Oxford Crown Court for trial yesterday but changed his pleas to guilty. He admitted two counts of handling stolen goods and asked for a further identical charge to be taken

  • Stolen goods

    BICESTER: A man has admitted handling stolen goods. Josh Barnes, 20, appeared at Oxford Crown Court for trial yesterday but changed his pleas to guilty. He admitted two counts of handling stolen goods and asked for a further identical charge to be taken

  • School lead theft charge

    ABINGDON: A man has been charged after lead was stolen from a school roof on Monday. Mark Hendron, 25, from Leigh Road, Swindon, is alleged to have taken the metal from the roof of Carswell Community Primary School in Bostock Road shortly before 3am.

  • School lead theft charge

    ABINGDON: A man has been charged after lead was stolen from a school roof on Monday. Mark Hendron, 25, from Leigh Road, Swindon, is alleged to have taken the metal from the roof of Carswell Community Primary School in Bostock Road shortly before 3am.

  • Asbos double as changes mooted

    COURTS have doubled the number of Asbos slapped on Oxford people in the past year – just as the Government looks to scrap them. Thames Valley Police and Oxford City Council’s crime and nuisance action team successfully applied for 10 Asbos compared to

  • Firefighters go for gold in their new uniform

    IT’S out with the old and in with the new at the county’s fire service. Gone are the traditional dark blue firefighters’ uniforms with bright yellow helmets and in are bright gold suits with black and white headgear. Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire

  • SCHOOLS FOOTBALL: Chippy's shoot-out joy

    CHIPPING Norton captured the Oxfordshire Under 19 Cup with a 4-2 win on penalties over Henry Box, Witney, after the final at Thame United finished 1-1 after extra time. Lloyd Sabin, Mikey Taylor, captain Dan Knight and Elliott Hillman netted from the

  • THE DISABLED SPACE: Looking beyond appearances

    A few weeks ago my family and I were looking through old photograph albums; it was fascinating. Memories came flooding back of places visited, friends made but now lost touch with, children and grandchildren well to the fore from birth to the present

  • We need proper debate on eco-town

    IT IS very telling that almost one in three people who voted in the district council elections in the Bicester North ward were for an independent candidate standing on but one issue: opposition to the Bicester “eco-town” development. Of course, the candidate

  • A need for investment

    SOME further thoughts after my letter to the Oxford Mail, where I quoted an American industrialist who thought the problem with British industry was it was run by accountants, and the letter by David Barnard. Many years ago I questioned a friend, who

  • What about our rights?

    WE cannot deport a terrorist as it is breaking his rights and the half-pint Home Secretary can’t tell Mondays from Tuesdays. What about our rights? Now Hague says ‘no referendum on Europe’ as we don’t know how it will develop. It can’t develop – it

  • MAC THE KNIFE: Fat chance of finding a good workout routine

    "I DIDN'T know you worked out,” my boss said, raising an eyebrow as we returned from reviewing a restaurant and eating the obligatory three courses. And then he laughed, as if the idea was utterly ridiculous and he’d found my Achilles heel. I suppose

  • Power station set to shut down next year

    ONE of Didcot's power stations could close two years earlier than planned. Coal-fired Didcot A was expected to remain open until 2015, but now looks likely to close next year. In 2008, RWE npower agreed that the power station would close

  • Phone trouble cuts off charity donations

    IN these times of financial hardship, I thought that some furniture I no longer required could help somebody either setting up home or wanting to replace existing goods. I checked the recycling information on the local council website and was pleased

  • Britain has lost its way

    WE have all this trouble going on about people’s pensions – they have paid into it all their working life and they don’t want it messed about with. Now if I came into the country to stay then I would sign on the dole and get dole money until whenever

  • Congratulations to new councillor

    IN LIGHT of the local elections I wanted to take the opportunity to acknowledge the success of Mick Haines in being elected as councillor for Marston. Standing as an independent, Mick exemplifies what a good council representative should be. Always

  • First cabinet meeting under new leader lasts 10 minutes

    OXFORDSHIRE County Council’s first cabinet meeting under new leader Ian Hudspeth was over within 10 minutes. The Conservative member for Woodstock was elected leader of the county council last Tuesday, taking over from Keith Mitchell after more than

  • RUGBY: All eyes on London Welsh semi-final

    OXFORDSHIRE rugby fans will have a keen interest in tonight’s Championship play-off final first leg – which could go a long way to determine whether top-flight rugby comes to the county next season. London Welsh travel to face the Cornish Pirates, with

  • Rigg persuaded by Oxford United ambition

    OXFORD United’s prospects of promotion next season convinced Sean Rigg to become the club’s first signing of the summer yesterday. The forward joined the U’s on a two-year deal, turning down a new contract at Port Vale and interest from two

  • Drink driver

    OXFORD: A disqualified driver was caught manoeuvring in a Blackbird Leys car park while over the drink-drive limit. Karolis Andrijauskas, 19, of Barns Road, Cowley, had 46 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath, above the legal limit of 35 micrograms

  • Gibb family makes appeal for hospice donations

    THE family of Robin Gibb have asked fans to donate money to the Rebecca House hospice on the Isle of Man instead of sending flowers. The 62-year-old Bee Gees singer, who had lived in Thame since 1983, died on Sunday evening after a lengthy battle with

  • A40 is blocked

    EYNSHAM: A patient was taken to hospital with minor injuries after a four-vehicle collision on the A40 yesterday at about 5.45pm. The accident happened on the Eynsham Roundabout and blocked the eastbound carriageway, causing tailbacks to Witney.

  • Bullfinch man loses bail bid

    OXFORD: One of the men charged in connection with Operation Bullfinch has failed in his attempt to get bail. Kamar Jamil, 26,of Aldrich Road, Summertown, is one of six men accused of being involved in a child sex ring in the city. He appeared at the

  • Tour set to return for a repeat performance

    ORGANISERS are hoping they can bring the Halfords Tour Series cycle race back to the centre of Oxford for a second year after a successful debut. Hundreds of competitors and supporters descended on the city yesterday for a day of road racing in the sunshine

  • Caravan park murder trial set for December

    A HORSPATH man is likely to stand trial over the killing of grandmother Jenny Hume in December. Stewart Dale appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday for a preliminary hearing. The 27-year-old is charged with killing the grandmother-of-three at his

  • Deputy can’t wait to step up as mayor

    LIBERAL Democrat city councillor Alan Armitage will today become Lord Mayor of Oxford at the mayor making ceremony at Oxford Town Hall. He will take over from city councillor Elise Benjamin, who was the city’s first Green mayor. The mayor making ceremony

  • The sun finally comes out and it's here to stay

    PEOPLE around Oxford are soaking up the sun this week as temperatures soar. Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far and the weather is here to stay for the rest of the week. Graeme Murray, 28, from Cowley, was out enjoying the

  • Hospital cafe's £25,000 rent bill

    A VOLUNTEER-run cafe that has donated thousands of pounds is now being charged £25,000-a-year in rent by hospital bosses, the Oxford Mail can reveal. The League of Friends has had cafeteria space on level one of the John Radcliffe Hospital’

  • COMMENT: League is not a cash cow to be milked

    How do you treat your friends? As a cash cow, demanding certain financial guarantees? No. Probably not. Yet in the coldhearted world of the NHS accountant that is exactly how the John Radcliffe Hospital’s League of Friends is seen – a revenue stream

  • COMMENT: Ta-ta to towers

    THE Didcot Power Station cooling towers may not be the most visually pleasing structures in our county. But be honest – there will be a sense of a dramatic change on the southern horizon when they are pulled down.

  • Oxford United boss 'confident' Chapman will sign new deal

    CHRIS Wilder remains optimistic of keeping Adam Chapman despite a fortnight passing since the midfielder was offered a new contract at Oxford United. The U’s boss said the 22-year-old would be “daft” to turn down the deal when it was tabled earlier this

  • 3,500 miles to go!

    A couple are continuing to battle illness and sweltering temperatures on an 11,000 mile cycle ride for charity. Dr Loretta White, 31, and her husband Craig Pollard have now passed the Equator on their year-long journey from London to Cape Town. They

  • CYCLING: Scott sprints home for Tour triumph

    SCOTT Thwaites sprinted to victory as Oxford made a stunning debut in the Halfords Tour Series last night. The Endura Racing rider burst out of the leading bunch to edge out Metaltek Scott’s Marcel Six at the end of the one hour race on the 1.4km circuit