Archive

  • Would-be rescuer tells of trauma

    A swimming instructor described how she pulled a schoolboy from the bottom of an Oxfordshire pool on the day he died. Sara Allen, a swimming teacher at Lord Williams's School in Thame, told an inquest into the death of Nathan Matthews: "It was the most

  • Police hunt hit-and-run driver

    An eight-year-old girl was left lying battered and bruised on the roadside by a hit-and-run driver. Abbi Stratford was crossing Preston Road, in Abingdon, when she was struck by a red car and flung on to a grass verge. The driver turned around in

  • Audience praises Golden Compass

    Author Philip Pullman will doubtless be delighted - and relieved - to learn that The Golden Compass has been given the golden seal of approval by Oxford audiences. The movie opened today across the country and, at least in Oxford, the first audience

  • Brothel closure brings relief

    Neighbours who lived next to a brothel have welcomed a return to peace and quiet since it was raided by police last week. About 15 officers smashed their way into the brothel in Middle Way, Summertown, Oxford, last Wednesday. Residents had complained

  • Support grows to save Cogges

    A GRASSROOTS campaign is growing in protest at threats to close an Oxfordshire museum. Oxfordshire County Council has suggested closing Cogges Manor Farm Museum, in Witney, to save cash. A fundamental review of the county's museums service has been

  • Supermarkets face trolley fines

    SUPERMARKETS will face fines of up to £200 next year for every shopping trolley found abandoned on Oxford's streets. Earlier this month, 50 trolleys went missing from Tesco in Cowley Road. Many are believed to have been taken by students who then abandon

  • Crackdown launched on hare coursing

    ILLEGAL hare coursing is back in Oxfordshire 'with a vengeance'. Police and local landowners have witnessed a sharp increase in the number of hunters travelling to Oxfordshire to bet large amounts of money on which dog will make the hare turn - but

  • Fozzie vows: I'm here to stay

    Luke Foster says he is determined not to surrender his place in the Oxford United line-up. The defender, who was many people's man-of-the-match in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Southend, has been a revelation under new boss Darren Patterson at the heart

  • People power wins mast row

    A community is celebrating victory after a communications company decided not install a mobile phone mast - despite winning planning permission. Mobile giant T-Mobile had been granted permission to install a 10-metre mast and groundbase equipment 100

  • Brookes shows off campus plans

    Oxford Brookes University will be holding a public exhibition at the weekend to show proposed designs for the redevelopment of its North Hinksey site. All the options under consideration for the campus will be on display in the main lecture theatre

  • Army says thanks for support

    A thank you coffee morning was held for businesses, organisations and charities that supported the families of troops while they were away on duty. Hundreds of soldiers from Bicester flew out earlier this year to Afghanistan, Iraq and Bosnia in the

  • 'Tubby' conman strikes twice in half hour

    A distraction burglar struck twice in half an hour in Oxford. Police believe both burglaries, which took place on Monday, are linked. The burglar knocked on a door in William Kimber Crescent, Headington, between 11am and 11.30am telling the 72-year-old

  • Knights ride to shops' aid

    KNIGHTS in shining armour will be coming to the rescue of Wallingford traders tomorrow in a bid to give them a big boost in the run-up to Christmas. They will ride through the town on horses and take part in mock combats. Accompanying them will be jugglers

  • Star support

    Pop legend Jason Donovan is continuing his support for Oxford's Children Hospital by opening a festive fundraising event at a toy shop. The Australian-born soap and reality TV star, who lives in Uffington, near Wantage, will greet fans at the sale in

  • GOLF: Watkins eyes pro career

    Bicester junior Laura Watkins is setting her sights on professional golf after an impressive year on the course. The 17-year-old Bicester Community College pupil was named in the Welsh girls squad following a strong showing in their under 18 championship

  • GOLF: O'Connor bags top county award

    Katherine O'Connor was crowned Oxfordshire Ladies' golfer of the year at the county awards dinner. The 17-year-old had top billing in the ceremony at Frilford Heath, which recognised a successful season for Oxon's lady and girl golfers. O'Connor,

  • GOLF: Results round-up

    FRILFORD HEATH Ladies' November Stableford: 1 I Smith 34pts, 2 E Sadler 32 (cb), 3 N Barclay-Watt 32 (cb). DRAYTON PARK Turkey Trot: 1 R Rusher 43pts, 2 S Radley 36, 3 M Faulkner 32. Turkey Trot - Sat: 1 C Armstrong 38pts, 2 S Radley 36, 3 P Stevens

  • Lack of support upsets teen charity

    A Witney charity that helps socially excluded young people is going out into the community to throw a party for old folk. Teenagers at Base 33 are organising the Christmas bash for 30 elderly people from the town's community hospital and day centre.

  • Supermarkets face trolley fines

    Supermarkets will face fines of up to £200 next year for every shopping trolley found abandoned on Oxford's streets. Earlier this month, 50 trolleys went missing from Tesco in Cowley Road. Many are believed to have been taken by students who then abandon

  • My life saver

    A woman who delivers the Oxford Mail has been praised after raising the alarm which saved one of our reader's lives. Lisbet Thiron-Thome was doing her evening round when she heard a smoke alarm going off in a house at Court Gardens, Witney. After

  • D-Day for gaol

    FRIDAY is decision day on the future of an Abingdon landmark. At a closed meeting, the developer will be chosen for the town's historic Old Gaol, pictured - but the name will be kept under wraps. At a meeting of the Vale of White Horse District Council's

  • 'Estate shops need CCTV'

    Three councillors are spearheading a campaign to install security cameras at an antisocial behaviour hotspot at the Ladygrove shopping parade in Didcot. Shopkeepers and traders in Lostock Place have backed the idea to install CCTV cameras, but money

  • Harleys were Bob's passion

    Motorcycle fanatic Bob Penny, known as Harley Bob, has died at the age of 54. Born and raised in Oxford, Mr Penny lived on the Rose Hill estate. Mr Penny started work at 16 with his father, Wally, at Mudie Bond, later the Evenlode Truck Centre, where

  • Crackdown over hare coursing

    Illegal hare coursing is back in Oxfordshire 'with a vengeance'. Police and local landowners have witnessed a sharp increase in the number of hunters travelling to Oxfordshire to bet large amounts of money on which dog will make the hare turn - but

  • The Insider

    Footballers are not always known for being the brightest of buttons. So it was perhaps with a touch of irony they turned up at the Oxford Children's Hospital recently to cheer up sick kids with gifts, which included posters with 'United 'til I die'

  • Death-crash plea renewed

    POLICE tonight renewed an appeal for information on a crash in which a 79-year-old woman died. It has been just over a month since Mrs Doreen Swift, of Buckland, died in a collision on the B4508 and police are re-appealing for a driver to come forward

  • 'Tubby' conman strikes twice

    A DISTRACTION burglar struck twice in half an hour in Oxford. Police believe both burglaries, which took place on Monday, are linked. The burglar knocked on a door in William Kimber Crescent, Headington, between 11am and 11.30am telling the 72-year-old

  • Teenager robbed of chips

    A TEENAGER was attacked in the street by two men who stole his chips. The 13-year-old was walking home along Sinodun Road in Didcot between 4.45pm and 5pm yesterday. He was carrying chips for himself and his brother and sister when two men attacked

  • Today's local share prices (PM)

    AEA Technology 85.75 BMW 2977 Electrocomponents 217.25 Oxford Catalysts 150 Nationwide Acc Rep 124 Oxford Biomedica 20.75 Oxford Instruments 202.25 Reed Elsevier 617.25 RM 203.25 RPS 286.25 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Boy, 13, mugged for chips

    A teenager was attacked in the street by two men who stole his chips. The 13-year-old was walking home along Sinodun Road in Didcot between 4.45pm and 5pm yesterday. He was carrying chips for himself and his brother and sister when two men attacked

  • RUGBY UNION: Blues banking on front rows

    Oxford University are hoping their front rows will give them the edge in the Lehman Brothers Varsity Match. Before you start chuntering about slipping standards in journalism, I must stress that 'rows' is not a typo. The Dark Blues have four props

  • RUGBY UNION: Halliday wants entertainment

    Former England international and Oxford Blue Simon Halliday is urging today's players to produce a good spectacle. And Halliday, who is a managing director with sponsors Lehman Brothers, says the universities cannot be guaranteed the Twickenham stage

  • RUGBY UNION: Big test for Tombleson's regime

    There will be no excuses if Oxford fail to last the course in the Varsity Match as wing Tom Tombleson has been their conditioning coach since the summer. Tombleson, who is winning his third Blue, devised programmes for every player to reach their required

  • RUGBY UNION: Wallingford's promotion hint

    After playing down their chances before the season started, Wallingford are now slightly more willing to consider their promotion potential. Last season's BB&O Premier Division champions lie second in Southern Counties North having lost just twice in

  • RUGBY UNION: Nutts stars for Newbury

    Former Oxford Harlequin and current Oxfordshire back Martin Nutt was man-of-the- match as Newbury came close to the biggest upset of the National 1 season. Nutt starred in Newbury's 24-23 defeat to Northampton at Franklin's Gardens. Henley's Rochelle

  • BAR BILLIARDS: Leaders make it seven in a row

    Leaders Berinsfield roared to their seventh successive victory in Section 2 of the Buildbase Oxford & District League with a 3-2 home win against Dolphin. Eddie Tebby (3,970) got them off to a flier, before Adam Thorn levelled. Dave Lyne (4,080) then

  • ICE HOCKEY: Morvan is so proud of Oxford

    Oxford coach Darryl Morvan said it had been a gruelling two days and praised the team for keeping their discipline. "On Saturday, the team did remarkably well to maintain their focus and composure," he added. "Particularly, when faced with opponents

  • BOWLS: Team effort puts Oxon back on top

    Oxfordshire regained top spot in Premier Group 4 after a 26-10 victory over Hampshire. Having lost top spot to West Sussex, Oxon needed the win to take pole position in their penultimate match. And they did not disappoint, with every member of the

  • BOWLS: County trio shine in championship finals

    Oxfordshire bowlers starred at the British Isles Short Mat Championships. Trevor Brown (Didcot Con Club) claimed the individual fours title with teammates from Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire, while Michael Keevil (Wallingford) and David Wiggins

  • ATHLETICS: Kimber back on title track

    Status quo was restored as Headington Roadrunner Steve Kimber returned to the league, and posted a comprehensive victory around the muddy fields of Culham Park on Sunday. Defending overall men's champion Kimber, who was conspicuous by his absence in

  • Arts project to brighten up estate

    Residents are busy preparing to bring a splash of festive colour to their Oxford estate. Rose Hill residents have teamed up with artists to turn their houses into Christmas light spectaculars. The lights aim to express a story or interesting fact

  • ICE HOCKEY: Stars are seeing double!

    Oxford City Stars had double reason to celebrate after back-to-back ENIHL South Cup victories. Saturday's 10-1 drubbing of Telford was followed 24 hours later by a 2-0 win at derby rivals Milton Keynes Thunder. Stars, who were without Dave Carr, Grant

  • ATHLETICS: Connie edges thrilling battle

    Banbury Harriers' Connie MacMillan took the plaudits in the combined under 13/15 girls' race at Culham. The under 13 runner produced a strong run in poor weather conditions to hold off the challenge of Oxford City's Ellie Clarke-Jacques, crossing the

  • CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE RESULTS

    INDIVIDUAL RESULTS Men (top 50, senior men unless stated): 1 S Kimber (Headington RR) 31.52, 2 E Womersley (St Edward's Sch, U20) 32.21, 3 M Fallows (Cirencester) 32.53, 4 W Joyce (St Edward's Sch, U20) 33.14, 5 T Traynor (WHH, U20) 33.14, 6 N Marley

  • ATHLETICS: Craft makes light of atrocious conditions

    Jude Craft picked up her first Chiltern League victory of the season in the senior women's race at Luton. Amid strong winds, rain and hailstorms, Craft clocked 22mins 44secs to win the race and take the vet 35 honours. Other highlights included a

  • ATHLETICS: Stalwart Read calls it a day

    Headington Roadrunners' team manager Pat Read has stepped down, after 18 years in the role. Read steered the first team to a run of four consecutive team championships in the Oxford Mail Cross Country League, but was relieved of his duties by the club's

  • ATHLETICS: Croft seals marathon triumph

    Woodstock Harrier Dominic Croft was back to winning ways in the Luton Marathon on Sunday. He clocked a time of 2hrs 39min 41 secs to win the race and also take the vet 40 honours. This was a remarkable performance for Croft, who has missed seven months

  • Yobs leave trail of vandalism

    Mindless yobs have left a trail of trouble in Chipping Norton in the past week, police said today. Louts threw rocks damaging two cars parked in Cooper's Square between 8pm and 8.30pm on Monday. Later in the evening rocks were used to smash windows

  • Seacourt car park dodgers are still at it

    Like the BBC reporter Brian Hanrahan aboard HMS Hermes during the Falklands War, I counted them all out and I counted them all back. And my conclusion was that huge numbers of motorists were flouting the law by dodging in and out of the Seacourt Park

  • Tasteless talk from Terry Wogan

    Big ho-hos on Terry Wogan's Radio 2 show on Tuesday morning over who should be the fairy on the BBC Christmas tree. A scratch-your-eyes-out tussle was forecast between Dale Winton and Julian Clary. Then Sir Terry proposed Christopher Biggins, fresh from

  • How Vernon socked it to the town louts

    n unfortunate consequence of extended pub opening hours is the increased likelihood of an encounter with a drunk at what would once have seemed an unlikely time of day. It happened to me in Milton Keynes last week. At 5.30pm, in the 90-minute interval

  • Into the annual telly doldrums

    We have entered the TV doldrums - the period in early December when the broadcasters cram the schedules with all kinds of dross because they are saving their most prestigious programmes for Christmas. For example, last Sunday Channel 4 filled six hours

  • The Oxford Arms, Kirtlington

    Regular readers of this column will probably be aware that I am not much of a fan of the so-called gastropub. This is an overused appellation, which lazy licensees believe entitles them to charge more than twice what it's worth for their grub, while conveniently

  • Farmers team up to offer the best in meat

    Two enterprising farmers from the Deddington area, Sebastian Peissel and Anthony Collier, have proved they are a cut above the rest. Farmers across the country have endured frustration after frustration this year, coping with flood damage, foot and mouth

  • Mutton Hot Pot recipe — serves four to six

    Typically, mutton is fatter than lamb, but it's tastier too, and lends itself to slow cooking techniques, as the flavour of mutton mellows and sweetens during a gentle cooking process. Although mutton can be available all year, the best meat is produced

  • The Killing of John Lennon, Hotel Harabati and KM31

    Forty-five years to the month since they first charted with Love Me Do, The Beatles retain a fascination that extends way beyond film critics born in the same building as one of them. This year alone has seen the release of DVDs containing previously

  • The Golden Compass

    After months of rumour and counter-rumour about a spiralling budget ($150-200m) and drastic changes to the screenplay, not to mention calls for a boycott of the film by the Catholic League, The Golden Compass is finally here. With little competition at

  • Richard Alston, Wycombe Swan

    Fingerprint is set to two early works by Bach, a capriccio and a toccata, beautifully played on stage by Jason Ridgway. Before the premiere earlier this year, Alston told me that he had not wanted to use a complex and familiar major work such as the Goldberg

  • African Christmas preview, Christ Church

    Christ Church Cathedral is staging a first this Christmas as it plays host to a concert celebrating Africa, with all the sounds, rhythms and excitement synonymous with this vibrant continent. The event is organised by SOS Sahel UK, an Oxford-based charity

  • Nicholas Nickleby: The Gielgud Theatre, London

    David Edgar's 1980 adaptation of Charles Dickens's Nicholas Nickleby was a huge and memorable success as presented under Trevor Nunn and John Caird's direction in an eight-and-a-half-hour marathon by the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford, London

  • Run for Your Wife, the Mill at Sonning

    Running is certainly the motif for this cracking comedy, which proceeds at breakneck speed from the word go. Starting from the promising set up of a bigamous taxi driver who is happily leading a double life with one missus in Wimbledon and another in

  • Sigrun Olsen, Inner Space, Broad Street, Oxford

    Icelandic artist Sigrun Olsen comes across as a quiet, reflective kind of person. It's not at all hard to see her as the meditation leader she is in Iceland. It's much harder to see her as a painter of "wild and crazy" pictures with "lots of movement

  • The Oxfordshire Craft Guild, Christmas Show, Oxfordshire Museum

    Woodstock Museum has been turned into an Aladdin's cave rich in colour and design. From the traditional to the innovative, from the modest to the dramatic, there is something here for every taste and pocket in the Christmas exhibition from the Oxfordshire

  • The Selfish Giant/Amahl and the Night Visitors, Opera Anywhere

    Oscar Wilde's story of the giant who undergoes a transformation from disagreeable tyrant to generous benefactor may be a little saccharine for some tastes, but there's no denying it's a heart-warming story, and as such ideally reflects the Christmas spirit

  • Aladdin: The Oxford Playhouse

    Traditional pantomime at its best is offered by the Oxford Playhouse in its colourful good-natured and always hugely entertaining new production of Aladdin. Director Peter Duncan is well-versed in keeping family audiences happy, as he showed in last year's

  • The Kingdom Oxford Bach Choir, Sheldonian Theatre

    Elgar conceived his three part Apostles cycle on a "gigantic" scale and the numbers of musicians and singers assembled in the Sheldonian on Saturday evening was a visual reminder of this. The huge orchestra filled the floor with the choir massed around

  • Vandals attack schools

    ROCK-throwing vandals have attacked schools, buses and cars in Chipping Norton. Overnight between Monday and Tuesday, large stones were thrown through two windows and a glass-panelled door at Holy Trinity School. Two cars were also damaged in Cooper's

  • Ada Milea preview — Holywell Music Room

    Ada Milea is a Romanian singer, writer and actor who, with nothing more than a guitar and remarkable vocal gymnastics, performs songs inhabited by a host of bizarre characters and events. When she first came to Oxford last year, she performed a musical

  • Honk! — the Watermill Theatre, Bagnor, near Newbury

    I was a little nervous when I realised that, apart from a handful of teachers, I was the only grown-up person in the audience for a sell-out performance of Honk! at the Watermill Theatre at Bagnor, near Newbury. A packed house of seven- to ten-year-olds

  • Princess Ruby Slippers: Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company

    Bringing first-class theatre to far-flung communities is the remit for the popular OTTC, and their latest show has all the hallmarks of their continued success. Princess Roby Slippers, written and directed by artistic director Brendan Murray, is a charming

  • The Dresser: OFS Studio

    Now known for penning award-winning screenplays - and, indeed, for writing this play - Ronald Harwood used to be a 'dresser' to the stars. He knew what it was like to be subjugated to every whim and desire of theatre's leading men. He used these experiences

  • Milling around at Sonning......

    A wise man once gave me a very good piece of advice. He said, “Before you judge someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you judge them you’re a mile away and you have their shoes". Think on. I tell you this for no particular reason

  • NASCAR engineers take awards

    NASCAR engineers picked up the Race Engine Designer of 2007 and the Racecar Aerodynamicist of 2007 at a special Awards dinner in the magnificent Rhodes House in Oxford. The event was organised by Racecar Graphic and attended by senior motorsport engineers

  • Schoolgirl hurt in hit-and-run

    POLICE are appealing for witnesses after an eight-year-old girl was involved in a hit-and-run crash in Abingdon. The girl was leaving the community centre in Midget Close at the junction of Preston Road and was walking across Preston Road, near to

  • New cash for flood victims

    Another £250,000 is to be handed out to victims of the July floods. The money has been allocated out of the British Red Cross National Floods Appeal, which so far has brought in more than £3.7m in donations. It is being distributed via local councils

  • Today's local share prices (AM)

    AEA Technology 89.5 BMW 2981 Electrocomponents 213.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 125.5 Oxford Biomedica 22.25 Oxford Catalyst 150 Oxford Instruments 202.5 Reed Elsevier 607.75 RM 202 RPS Group 288.5 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Mini put out to Graz

    A future version of the Mini is to be built in Austria, bosses at parent company BMW have confirmed. The four-wheel-drive Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) will be developed and produced by Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik in Graz. The plant has been producing

  • Cautious welcome for rail changes

    Train operator First Great Western will be putting its new timetable into operation this weekend. The new timetable, which comes into force on Sunday will concentrate on services in the Thames Valley and Bristol area. It will see alterations to departure

  • Brrrrr

    After a long, warm summer, the cold weather is definitely here; but there are plenty of winter warmers around to brighten up the dark days . As you walk down Corn Street in Oxford, cradling a gingerbread latte in its seasonal red cup, you cannot fail

  • Court told driver 'fell asleep'

    A LORRY driver killed a family of four in their car after he fell asleep at the wheel while approaching a traffic queue, a court heard yesterday. Ian King, 61, is accused of "dropping off" before his articulated lorry ploughed into a line of vehicles

  • Westgate inquiry under way

    THE success of a "golden opportunity" to revamp Oxford's crumbling Westgate Centre now hinges on the outcome of a two-week public inquiry. The hearing, which started yesterday, has been called over compulsory purchase orders to buy land surrounding

  • Helping others this Christmas

    THE Oxford Times is appealing for people to think of others this Christmas and drop off food, new toys and gifts for people less fortunate than themselves. For the third year, we are holding a Christmas collection on behalf of the Salvation Army.

  • Fraud gang stole £191,000

    THE leader of a gang who stole more than £191,000 in a sophisticated money laundering ring was last night behind bars. Oxford Crown Court heard Demosthenes Barroso, of Northfield Close, in Littlemore, Oxford, was the leader of a gang who opened numerous

  • House fire closes road

    Firefighters forced their way into a house near Abingdon during the early hours today after a blaze broke out. Forty firefighters were called to the house in Tollgate Road, Culham, shortly after 4am and broke in to make sure there was no-one inside.

  • Son died at fun day for pupils

    GRIEVING mother Penny Matthews gave evidence yesterday at an inquest into the death of her 11-year-old son Nathan who died during a school swimming session. Mrs Matthews and the rest of Nathan's family have waited nearly three and a half years for answers

  • 40 firefighters tackle house blaze

    FIREFIGHTERS forced their way into a house near Abingdon during the early hours today after a blaze broke out. Forty firefighters were called to the house in Tollgate Road, Culham, shortly after 4am and broke in to make sure there was no one inside.

  • Film points to success

    OXFORD author Philip Pullman is hoping thousands of Oxfordshire residents visit local cinemas to see The Golden Compass, which opens in cinemas today. The £90m blockbuster is based on Northern Lights, the first novel in Mr Pullman's award-winning His

  • Merry avoids ban on driving

    OXFORD United chairman Nick Merry avoided a driving ban thanks to a celebrity lawyer dubbed 'Mr Loophole'. Mr Merry was due to stand trial at Oxford Magistrates' Court yesterday for failing to provide a sample of breath at a police station, which,

  • FOOTBALL: Abingdon hit for six

    Abingdon United lost 6-1 to a rampant Farnborough in Tuesday night's British Gas Business Southern League Division 1 South & West fixture. The visitors were 3-0 adrift at the break and despite making three substitutions during the interval, they failed

  • Rail lines open

    CHILTERN Railways season ticket passengers can now renew their tickets online. Commuters who buy season tickets to London Marylebone online will also get six free return tickets to any station served by Chiltern, worth up to £180. For more details,

  • Trio set for Army career

    THREE pupils from Abingdon School are celebrating passing their entrance examinations to the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. Lower sixth-form pupils Sam Walton, Matthew Winters and Ben Kemp, will finish their studies and complete university degrees

  • Pupil wins national prize

    AN ABINGDON School sixth-former has been chosen from 800 students nationwide to receive an Arkwright design and technology scholarship. Chris Davis, 17, from Dorchester, now has £500 over the next two years to support his studies as well as a sponsor

  • New officer on beat

    A POLICE team covering Littlemore, Rose Hill and Iffley is at full strength with a new PC having joined the team. Tim Symons has joined PC John Anderson on the Littlemore beat. The three areas now have four Neighbourhood Specialist Officers (NSOs

  • Schools sing at cathedral

    THE Cathedral Choristers from Christ Church Cathedral School will be joined by 150 schoolchildren for a concert at the cathedral. The concert will be held at 2.30pm today, with youngsters from Orchard Meadow Primary School and Windale First School

  • Parade lights up festive season

    HUNDREDS of people turned out over the weekend to take part in the annual Burford Advent Fair. The event, organised by the Burford Chamber of Trade, culminated with Father Christmas turning up to switch on the town lights - before leading a torchlit

  • Model event planned

    YOUNGSTERS can learn how to make an astrolabe, or astronomical calculator, at a workshop at the Museum of the History of Science, in Broad Street, on Saturday. The free session, between 2pm and 4pm, will enable youngsters aged nine to 13 to make their

  • Craft fair

    A CHRISTMAS craft fair is taking place in aid of Helen and Douglas House hospice on Saturday. The fair, featuring 60 stalls, takes place at the Guildhall, Abingdon, and runs from 11am to 3pm. There will be Christmas ceramics, toys, books and stocking

  • Market date

    A CHRISTMAS market in aid of the Gatehouse's art therapy project will be held at St Mary's Church, High Street, Oxford, on Saturday. On sale will be Christmas gifts, cards and decorations, and there will also be children's entertainment and carol-singing

  • Pair offer fans chance to buy football club

    TWO Oxfordshire businessmen are offering football fans the chance to buy a club - and have their say in running it. Abingdon-based Carl Christensen and Simon Lassam have joined forces in a bid to turn fantasy football into reality with ThePeoplesClub.com

  • Art show open to all

    A LEADING Oxford art gallery is throwing open its doors to all-comers. Modern Art Oxford, in Pembroke Street, which is staging the Oxford Open in January, is abolishing any critical criteria for selection on the provisos that the artist lives in or

  • Benefits cheat jailed

    A BENEFITS cheat who conned thousands of pounds from local taxpayers has been jailed as a warning to others trying to cheat the system. George Allan, 59, falsely claimed £21,227 in council tax benefit and income support over five years despite being

  • Update: Merry avoids driving ban

    Oxford United chairman Nick Merry avoided a driving ban thanks to a celebrity lawyer dubbed 'Mr Loophole'. Mr Merry was due to stand trial at Oxford Magistrates' Court yesterday for failing to provide a sample of breath at a police station, which, if

  • Burger bar reopens after floods

    AN OXFORD burger bar, devastated by the July floods, has welcomed back its first customers following a £300,000 refit. The cellar at McDonald's, in Botley Road, was completely submerged and the rest of the restaurant filled with 2ft of potentially

  • Gold rush for new film

    Oxford author Philip Pullman is hoping thousands of Oxfordshire residents visit local cinemas to see The Golden Compass, which opens in cinemas today. The £90m blockbuster is based on Northern Lights, the first novel in Mr Pullman's award-winning His

  • Patto seeking midfield boost

    Oxford United boss Darren Patterson will make strengthening his midfield a priority in the January transfer window. The U's are light in central midfield anyway, following the recent departure of Michael Standing, and the problem becomes critical this