Archive

  • Couples can dance themselves dizzy

    COUPLES from Oxford are being given the opportunity to take part in an eight-hour dance marathon, at the North Wall Arts Centre in Summertown. The event, from noon to 8pm on Saturday, August 11, is open to all ages and experience levels, with the

  • Reaping the rewards of an apprenticeship

    FOUR years ago Adele Gibbard was just another teenager looking for a job. Now she’s part of a team dealing with one of the biggest problems facing Oxfordshire. Mrs Gibbard works in the council’s social care team and has just been promoted to

  • CYCLING CITY DAY 2: Queen Street offers new cross-city route

    SCRAPPING a ban on cyclists in Oxford’s Queen Street would help create an easier east-west route through the city, council bosses hope. Oxford City Council wants to lift the daytime block on Cycling along Queen Street as part of its £800,000

  • Wives' choir on song for barracks fun day

    ARMY families were given a chance to unwind as their loved ones marked the halfway point of their six-month tour of Afghanistan. The Dalton Barracks fun day on Saturday was organised at the base near Abingdon by the Ministry of Defence. Activities

  • Local shares (PM)

    AEA Technology 0.025 BMW 4739 Electrocomponents 215.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 61 Oxford Biomedica 2.25 Oxford Catalysts 70.5 Oxford Instruments 1253.5 Reed Elsevier 540 RM 76.6 RPS Group 240.7   Courtesy of Redmayne

  • Peru journey to aid charity

    A BICESTER Guide is spending part of her summer building a sensory garden for special needs children half way around the world. Rosie Thompson has flown to Peru to help British charity Kiya Survivors, which runs the Rainbow Centre for youngsters

  • Summer courses for adults at Banbury's Mill

    SCHOOL might be out for summer, but that doesn’t stop the enthusiasm for a whole season of adult education at The Mill. On Monday, August 6, a fortnight of wonderful arts and crafts opportunities begin. The school includes various arts sessions

  • Olympic Torchbearer turns up at People's Park play day

    OLYMPIC Torchbearer Dave Earle continued his hectic schedule of visits with an event in People’s Park, Banbury. Mr Earle, who took the torch through Wallingford on July 10, attended the Play Day last Wednesday. The former kickboxing world champion

  • Water disruption in Headington

    The water supply to about 2,000 homes in Headington was disrupted last night. Thames Water said a problem with a valve was reported at about 6pm and fixed by 8pm. Some properties lost their supply while others were hit by reduced water pressure

  • Warriner School submits sixth-form building plans

    PLANS have been submitted for a sixth form at Warriner School, Bloxham, after education chiefs backed post-16 lessons there. The school has put in plans with Cherwell District Council (CDC) for a single-storey building with four classrooms and

  • Appeal helps cinema enter digital age

    CINEMA bosses at Wallingford’s Corn Exchange have bought a new digital projector following the success of a £55,000 fundraising appeal. It will be used for the first time during the Bunkfest festival weekend at the end of the month. Since 1980

  • School submits plan for sixth-form building

    PLANS have been submitted for a sixth-form building at Warriner School, in Bloxham, after education officials backed the introduction of post-16 education there. The school has submitted plans to Cherwell District Council

  • OLYMPICS: Oxon rowers reach two finals

    OXFORDSHIRE rowers helped two British boats reach Olympic finals at Eton Dorney today. Richard and Peter Chambers, who are past and present Oxford Brookes University students, enjoyed victory in their lightweight men's four semi-final. Earlier

  • Festival faces issue of death

    COME to Oxford in the autumn and you will find it a very grave place indeed. That’s because the city is hosting a two-week festival of death. Kicking the Bucket, which runs from October 15, will feature deathly dance, sinister story telling

  • Farm's maize maze makes up for lost summer sun

    SURROUNDED by maize, youngsters on a day out explored Millets Farm Centre’s summer attraction. More than 200 people turned up for the opening day of the Maize Maze at the Frilford farm on Saturday. Didcot sisters Jevon, nine, Morgan, 11, and

  • SCALES OF JUSTICE: Banbury magistrates' court round-up

    Terrance Neilly, 44, of Park Road, Banbury, admitted drink driving in Park Road on June 24. Had 90 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath, above the legal limit of 35 micrograms. Given a 12-week curfew and told to pay £85 costs. Banned from driving

  • DARTS: Hopkins's haul boosts East Oxford

    Dave Hopkins hit two maximum 180s to help East Oxford Conservative Club beat Marsh Harrier A 6-3 in Greene King Oxford & District Darts Association Section 3. Hopkins’s heroics and wins from Karl Smith and Alan Davies saw the hosts storm

  • Chance to sample life as a teacher

    A TASTER course aimed at people interested in becoming a teacher is being held in October. It will offer prospective teachers the chance to spend a day in school observing lessons, and is designed to help people decide whether to apply for teacher

  • Pram racers do their bit for cancer cash

    PIMPED-UP prams were pushed from pub to pub in Witney to raise cash for cancer research. About 20 people pushed their multi-coloured prams between 18 pubs on Saturday. The event was organised by Karen Cassford after a close friend from the

  • Golf pro dumped waste on course

    A GOLF pro is more than £15,000 out of pocket after dumping waste at his course near Oxford. Dean Davis, 36, buried 21 containers of fertiliser and oil at the Hinksey Heights Golf Club, South Hinksey. Davis pleaded guilty at Oxford Magistrates

  • Local share prices (AM)

    AEA Technology 0.025 BMW 4756 Electrocomponents 217.7 Nationwide Accident Repair 61 Oxford Biomedica 2.25 Oxford Catalysts 70.5 Oxford Instruments 1252.5 Reed Elsevier 542.75 RM 76.6 RPS Group 239.7 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley

  • Cyclist punched

    A CYCLIST was knocked off his bike when he was punched in the face by a man on Launton Road. The 42-year-old from Bicester suffered cuts and grazes after the attack at about 6.20pm on Thursday. He was hit by one of three men aged between 22

  • CRICKET: Title is in sight for Horley

    Horley edged closer to the Cherwell League Division 5 title thanks to an impressive run chase at Thame Town 2nd. Town looked well-placed after Will Sutcliffe (76) and Tom Logan (48) saw them to 220-6, but Sam Pearce (71), Dave Eaton (38) and Jamie

  • Horspath close the gap at top

    Horspath 2nd are only two points off the pace in Cherwell League Division 4 after winning at Leighton Buzzard Town 2nd. Gareth Benger (60) helped Town reach 203 all out, while Andy Cummings took 4-24. Adrian Manger then hit 78 and Stephen Green

  • CRICKET: Leaders Twyford tumble to shock defeat

    Abingdon Vale pulled off a surprise 84-run victory at Cherwell League Division 2 leaders Twyford on Saturday to breathe new life into their own slim promotion chances. The match featured two of the league’s leading exponents of left-arm spin, Bilal

  • CRICKET: Hooky go tumbling as Hirtenstein takes 7-21

    Aaron Hirtenstein returned magnificent figures of 7-21 to fire Oxenford to the top of OCA League Division 1. Oxenford leapfrogged Garsington as they crushed Hook Norton by 222 runs. Dipayan Das top-scored with 94 and Rhys Davies hit 53 not

  • Video update: Hanson honeymoon is big surprise for bride

    GROOM James Bishop had a surprise for his new wife when he revealed his tireless campaign to get their favourite band to play at their wedding. The Abingdon man sent US band Hanson, top inset, 461 daily video pleas on YouTube in a bid to get them

  • Les is fan-tastic!

    Oxford United’s squad may be 3,000 miles from home, but they can still count on the backing of a handful of die-hard supporters. At each of the U’s games on the pre-season tour to the United States there have been fans proudly wearing the yellow

  • Changes for new railway franchise

    THE next company that runs the Great Western railway will be expected to take part in the planning of any new station for the city. First Great Western currently operates the line but the franchise is to be reappointed next year. In tender

  • Youngsters splash about at Blenheim Palace

    AS Team GB compete in venues in the capital and beyond, a few junior athletes are trying their hand at some Olympic sports in the picturesque setting of Woodstock’s Blenheim Palace. For the third year running, Active Camps has held summer holiday

  • CRICKET: Old timers roll back the years

    The old guard took centre stage in the lower divisions of the Cherwell League, showing there’s no substitute for experience. Seamer Robin Newman claimed 5-14 as Abingdon Vale 3rd dismissed Cumnor 3rd for just 38 in Division 7, setting up an eight-wicket

  • CRICKET: Woods keeps Tew on track

    Matt Woods took 6-56 to blow Cumnor away and keep Great & Little Tew on course for their best-ever finish in Division 1 of the Cherwell League. The visitors collapsed to 127 all out as only Ali Morteza (50) held up Tew and the innings was wrapped

  • A34 lane closed

    ONE lane was closed on the A34 northbound yesterday for two hours at around 2pm causing long delays after an accident near to the Peartree Interchange. South Central Ambulance Service said the incident involved one vehicle and no-one was injured

  • Driver is named

    CULHAM: A 52-year-old lorry driver who died in a crash on the A415 on July 18 has been named as Michael Stringer. An inquest into the death of Mr Stringer, from Brill in Buckinghamshire, was opened at Oxfordshire Coroner’s Office yesterday.

  • Man assaulted by teen gang

    THAME: A 24-year-old man was knocked unconscious and suffered broken teeth during an assault. The victim was wheeling his bike along by Rooks Lane and Southern Road between 12.30am and 1am on Saturday, July 21, when he was attacked. He also

  • Open access puts publishing jobs at risk

    CONCERNS have been raised about the jobs of 10,000 people working in Oxford’s academic publishing industry under Government plans to make all publicly-funded research available free on the internet. A meeting is being called in Oxford tomorrow

  • Waste strategy bid to save £750K ‘unravels’

    OXFORDSHIRE County Council’s leader has refused to rule out job or service cuts to cover any savings lost in its unravelling flagship waste plan. The authority hoped to build a £3m superdump in Kidlington and close household recycling centres in

  • OLYMPICS: Now Triggs Hodge is ready for real racing

    Oxford's Andrew Triggs Hodge said the real racing was about to start after Great Britain’s men’s four reached Thursday’s rowing semi-finals at Eton Dorney Lake. Britain’s flagship boat, made up of Triggs Hodge, Oxford Blue Pete Reed plus Henley

  • Prison sentence for bogus lawyer

    A MAN who posed as a solicitor so he could bluff his way past officers at a police station has been jailed. James Mangan showed no identification when he managed to dupe officers at Abingdon police station into believing he was legally representing

  • Prior-Wandesforde the all-round star for Shipton

    All-rounder Anthony Prior-Wandesforde took 4-44 and top-scored with 68 to help Shipton-under-Wychwood 2nd beat Bicester & North Oxford in Cherwell League Division 3. Bicester had made 198-9 thanks principally to Ryan Moore’s 58 not out.

  • An unfair advantage

    IN his letter (Oxford Mail, July 17) Roger Tucker comment at the end ‘Oh, save us from graduates with degrees, with daft ideas!’ This raises the matter of graduate entry into the police service with a promise of promotion within three years shortly

  • Find Dial-a-Ride solution

    REGARDING Dial-a-Ride, instead of all the talk of who pays for what, why not look at the logistics of making the service pay for itself, or at least contributes towards the cost? I have spoken with many users who agree that they would be happy

  • The real price of milk

    ONE can only feel sorry for dairy farmers in their present predicament. I wonder how their problems could have arisen. Is it that any leverage that farmers might once have had to negotiate payments has been lost because there are so few processing

  • Situation has changed since we joined the EU

    REGARDING European Union facts: Mr Robins is correct to point out that Ted Heath negotiated the UK’s entry into the Common Market and that Harold Wilson used a referendum as an election issue in 1974. However, it is worth remembering that Roy

  • ON YER BIKE: We must admire the dedication of the athletes

    Did anybody see the opening ceremony for the Olympic Games? Well, of course you did. I guess there are divided views on the show; personally I nearly turned over after thinking I was watching the Royal Variety Show by accident. Conversely, my partner

  • Oxford United strikers must take responsibility, says Pittman

    Jon-Paul Pittman believes he and the rest of Oxford United ’s strikers need to accept the criticism if they fail to make the most of their chances. Converting opportunities was the U’s Achilles heel last season as they finished with the fewest

  • OLYMPICS: Nervy Watkins zips to record

    Anna Watkins revealed that she felt sick at the start before setting an Olympic record with Katherine Grainger for Great Britain in winning their women’s double sculls heat at Eton Dorney Lake. Watkins, a member of the Leander club at Henley, and

  • Special day celebrates city's diverse cultures

    PEOPLE from Oxford’s diverse cultures came together for a special celebration. Oxford and Banbury-based charity EMBS ran the event at Restore Garden Cafe, Manzil Way, off Cowley Road, on Saturday. About 70 people enjoyed music, food, folk dancing

  • Man, 65, suspected of running a brothel

    RESIDENTS in Abingdon said they were shocked a pensioner had been arrested on suspicion of running a brothel in a quiet cul-de-sac in the town. A 65-year-old man was arrested after a warrant was issued at an address in Turner Road, off Gainsborough

  • Spending a penny

    ONCE we used to say: “I need to spend a penny.” Then, through decisions made by Oxford City Council ’s John Tanner and Bob Price there was more thought needed on where one might be able to go. Now, thanks partly to the efforts of the Oxford

  • Help out the RNIB

    GET reading and help blind and partially sighted people. According to the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) just seven per cent of books are available in formats fully accessible to blind and partially sighted people. This is shocking

  • Yet another bean-counter ‘brainwave’

    A GOVERNMENT ‘think tank’ says we should increase immigration over the next 50 years to avoid austerity. Following this logic, the UK would end up with 10 million unemployed instead of two million – yet another bean-counter ‘brainwave’. GLYN

  • Olympics July 31

    GB men's lightweight four are next race but one at Eton Dorney - around 12.40 But first GB's Lucas and Townsend go in men's double sculls First 3 make final GB 3rd and reach final GB men's lightweight four, featuring the Chambers  

  • COMMENT: It’s all in the name

    BEING able to call oneself the Lord of the Manor Showell will appeal to those social climbers with a spare £6,700 in their back pocket. We just hope that whoever takes the title helps improve the image of the area after the damage wrought by a

  • Meteorite on display in Tate Britain

    A METEORITE which fell in a north Oxfordshire village 180 years ago has gone on display in London. The cricket-ball sized rock is on display at Tate Britain and is part of an exhibition by the Oxford artist and filmmaker Patrick Keiller. According

  • Police are on course for change

    THAMES Valley Police Authority is well placed to hand the reins of power to an elected law and order chief, according to a Government report. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) praised the authority for its work towards getting elected

  • More children face missing top choice

    OXFORDSHIRE’S education chief last night could not promise more families won’t miss out on their preferred school place because of rising pressure. This year 473 youngsters did not get into any of their top three schools and last night it was revealed

  • Join Chipping Norton set for a mere £6,750

    SOME people are born into privilege but others buy their way in, and for less than you might think. Now you can become Lord of the Manor, for just £6,750. London-based firm Manorial Auctioneers is offering the Lordship of the Manor of Showell

  • OLYMPICS: Houghton relieved to clinch final spot

    Fran Houghton spoke of her relief after coming through a dramatic repechage to reach the Olympic final. Houghton, from Wheatley, and her women’s quadruple sculls crew, including Henley’s Debbie Flood, finished third in yesterday’s race at Eton

  • COMMENT: Who’ll make key decisions when academies rule?

    EDUCATION chiefs face an unenviable situation in trying to cope with the ever-increasing number of children attaining school age. Last year almost 500 children did not get a place in any of their top-three primary schools and it is forecast the

  • Rescue team is given £9,980 to help find missing people

    A VOLUNTEER group which helps trace missing people in Oxfordshire has been boosted by Lottery funding. The Oxfordshire Lowland Search and Rescue (OxSAR) is used as the first point of call for police when a vulnerable person goes missing in the

  • Charity bail

    A MAN arrested for allegedly defrauding Help for Heroes of up to £7,000 has had his bail extended again. Police arrested Thomas Richards, 25, from Witney, after money collected for the forces charity allegedly did not reach its account. His

  • Oil drum blast victim inquiry

    HORSPATH: A post mortem examination on farm worker Ian Simpson is due to take place today to find out how he died. The 48-year-old of College Way died on Friday evening after he cut into an oil drum with an angle grinder. The blast was heard

  • Man ‘threatened his ex with sawn-off shotgun’

    A 23-YEAR-OLD from Greater Leys pointed a sawn-off shotgun at his ex-lover and her best friend, a court heard. James Bisson pulled the 60cm double-barrelled gun out of a rucksack and brandished it at the 20-year-olds, telling them: ‘Open wide’.

  • Drop-off points set up for unwanted electrical goods

    RECYCLING centres in Oxfordshire now have places to drop off unwanted electrical items. Waste chiefs have installed 28 recycling banks for small electrical items such as kettles, toasters and mobile phones. The scheme – run with Electrolink

  • Iffley church hopes to raise £75k

    LEADERS at Iffley’s historic Norman church have started a new £75,000 fundraising campaign the day after dedicating the latest revamp. The £100,000 phase one work at Grade I listed St Mary’s Church was dedicated by the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt

  • Pub is safe as new landlady takes over

    A WEST Oxfordshire pub that was under threat earlier this year has been reopened as an independent business by a woman from the village. Villagers in Hailey were concerned about the future of the Lamb & Flag after previous owner Greene King

  • A ghostly emptiness as trees leave city museum

    GIANT tree trunks that have been on show outside an Oxford museum for two years have been taken to Wales. The Ghost Forest art installation on the lawn outside the Museum of Natural History featured the stumps of 10 trees from African rainforests

  • Four on target as Oxford United end tour on a high

    Jim Dedeus All Star XI 1 Oxford United 4 OXFORD United rounded off their pre-season tour to the United States with a convincing victory against the Jim Dedeus All Star XI. Four of the six forwards used by manager Chris Wilder opened their accounts