Archive

  • Cleared of 'ratcatching' fraud

    A jury has cleared a 24-year-old man of two counts of fraud by deception. Richard Melhuish, from Aldermaston, near Reading, was alleged to have been one of four men who visited 48-year-old Robert Boulter, a man with learning difficulties, to carry

  • Driver admits speeding at 172mph

    A motorist today admitted driving at 172mph on the A420 - the highest speed ever recorded in the UK. Timothy Brady was caught driving a Porsche 911 near Kingston Bagpuize on January 27. Brady, 33, of Harrow, in north-west London, denied a charge of

  • Flood victims offered a £250 lifeline

    Hardship payments of £250 will be given to residents worst hit by last month's flood. West Oxfordshire District Council approved the handout, which will be given to an estimated 1,655 households. The money comes from a Government fund which was topped

  • ARCHERY: Groves takes a bow!

    CHAMPION archer Barry Groves has retired from national competition after 21 years at the top of his game. o Groves, now aged 71, won his last title at the National Flight Archery Championships in North Yorkshire last weekend, and he has now decided to

  • ANGLING: Medley comes up trumps

    The Medley stretch of the Thames turned up trumps in latest round of the Oxford Division Drennan Super League which was held over from July due to the floods, writes Andy Webber. The river about a foot up and carrying a good colour, which seemed to

  • Nature trust needs volunteers

    Volunteers are needed for a conservation day at Chimney, near Bampton. Organised by the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust, the event runs from 10am to 4pm on Thursday at the trust barn, within the hamlet of Chimney. Bring old clothes, waterproofs

  • Have some fun, go sumo wrestling

    The summer holidays may have been a washout this year, but one last day of fun is forecast before the schools go back. Children will be able to chase away the cabin fever with swimming, shooting and even sumo wrestling at a huge event backed by Oxford

  • What a waste

    I am a supporter of waste recycling and endeavour to sort as much as possible from our household rubbish to put in the green and blue bins provided by the council. This week I had a great deal of plastic, paper and cardboard and spent some time sorting

  • They're no match

    I agree with Edward Woollard's comments (Oxford Mail, August 1) regarding Posh and Becks. Posh went to see a house up for sale belonging to Lionel Richie. He could sing, not like the laughable efforts of the Spice Girls. After viewing his property

  • Land will be lost forever

    Your front page article Pushing the Boundaries (Oxford Mail, August 22) anticipates the report of the Panel of Inspectors into the South East Plan, due in the next few days. If they recommend more housing in Oxfordshire, that will be welcomed by house

  • Solving the Norse code

    Are you Saxon, Viking, Norman or Celt? An Oxford research team wants to help you find out: It is aiming to draw a genetic map charting the ancestry of people living in Britain, and is particularly interested in Oxfordshire, as the county may hold the

  • Two girls take on three men in a boat

    Whatever three men in a boat can do, two girls in a canoe can do better. So claim Lindsay Dean and Heather Rand who aim to paddle from the source of the Thames to the sea. They plan to take about a week to do the 150-mile journey. Their feat will

  • 'You wait ages then 180 come'

    Almost 200 new bus shelters are to be built across the city - painted Oxford Blue. Oxford City Council and Adshel are thrashing out the terms of a new contract which, if agreed, would see 180 new shelters spring up to replace the existing structures

  • Hotel is quirky world wonder

    Oxford's Malmaison Hotel has been named as one of the world's quirkiest hotels. Users of the travel website TripAdvisor voted the converted gaol in the Oxford Castle complex on to the list for the second year running. Travellers decided the hotel,

  • Today's local share prices (PM)

    AEA Technology 122.5 BMW 2982 Electrocomponents 257.25 Isoft Group 73.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 150.5 Oxford Biomedica 43.25 Oxford Instruments 232 Reed Elsevier 590.5 RM 197.5 RPS Group 349 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Emma-Kate seeks triathlon glory

    Oxford Mail reporter Emma-Kate Lidbury is off to the World Triathlon Championships - thanks to support from businesses across the county. Ms Lidbury, 27, will be representing Great Britain for the second time when she races at the championships in Hamburg

  • Silence over lab opening date

    Oxford University has refused to say when its controversial animal experiment laboratory will finally open - or how much over budget the project has run. The university has met a series of questions put by the Oxford Mail in relation to the £20m project

  • Cancer victim was tipped to be top author

    An Oxford writer who has died of cancer had been predicted to become one of the biggest authors in the UK. As reported in yesterday's Oxford Mail, Siobhan Dowd, who lived in West Oxford, died at Sobell House hospice on Tuesday, aged 47. Her best-known

  • Vans targeted by tool thieves

    POLICE are appealing for contractors and workmen in Oxford to keep tools in their vans secure after a series of thefts in the city. Since late July there have been 14 incidents where tools have been stolen from vans during the day. The vans were either

  • 'Banana' gibe at party swap Tia

    Headington has been branded a "banana republic" where people's votes do not count. A resident has set up a website criticising city councillor Tia MacGregor for not holding a by-election when she changed political parties. Dr MacGregor stood as the

  • Towpath robber targeted women

    POLICE are appealing for information to trace a robber who approached two lone women in Oxford on the same day. The first incident happened at 6.30pm on Monday. The woman was walking over the footbridge from Friar's Wharf when she saw a man standing

  • Motorists admits driving at 172mph

    Motorist Tim Brady has admitted driving at 172mph on the A420 near Kingston Bagpuize. Brady, 33, from Harrow, Middlesex, was caught on January 27 this year. At Oxford Crown Court today, he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving. Brady will be sentenced

  • Motorist drove at 172mph on A420

    MOTORIST Tim Brady has pleaded guilty to driving at 172mph on the A420 near Kingston Bagpuize. Brady, 33, of Earls Crescent, Harrow, Middlesex, was caught speeding in a Porsche on January 27 this year. He had previously entered no plea when he appeared

  • Man jailed for death crash

    Paul Pettifer, who admitted causing the death of a student by dangerous driving, has been jailed for three years at Oxford Crown Court today. Pettifer, 26, of Springfield Road, Wantage, was jailed after Grant Embling, 20, died in an accident while riding

  • Death-crash driver jailed

    PAUL Pettifer, who admitted causing the death of a student by dangerous driving, was jailed for three years at Oxford Crown Court today. Pettifer, 26, of Springfield Road, Wantage, was jailed after Grant Embling, 20, died in an accident while riding

  • Missing woman found

    A WOMAN who went missing from her home in Milton-under-Wychwood yesterday has been found safe and well. Jennifer Marsden, 58, was found near her home this morning.

  • Bidding war for iSoft

    The battle for troubled software company iSoft has hotted up, with Australia's IBA Health increasing its offer to £166m, trumping a rival offer from CompuGroup, of Germany. iSoft, which has a multimillion pound contract to update the NHS computer systems

  • Today's local share prices

    AEA Technology 120.5 BMW 2979 Electrocomponents 253 Isoft Group 71.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 149.5 Oxford Biomedica 42.5 Oxford Instruments 233.5 Reed Elsevier 586.25 RM 192.75 RPS Group 346 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • SPORT: Fixtures for the week ahead

    SATURDAY FOOTBALL BLUE SQUARE PREMIER Oxford Utd v Stafford Rgrs. BRITISH GAS BUSINESS SOUTHERN LEAGUE Premier Div: Banbury Utd v Chippenham. Div 1 South & West Abingdon Utd v Fleet Tn, Taunton Tn v Oxford C, Windsor & Eton v Didcot Tn. SPORT

  • ROWING: City juniors steal the show

    City of Oxford's junior squad were in winning form at their own Royal Regatta and Sprint, which drew crews from across the Thames valley and beyond. Although, City were depleted due to holiday commitments, those remaining put in an outstanding performance

  • RUGBY UNION: Honeyben in Henley return

    Henley Hawks climax their pre-season preparations with a tough game against National 1 side Exeters Chiefs at the Devon club's impressive new ground, Sandy Lane tomorrow (3). Hawks welcome back their national academy player, James Honeyben, making his

  • CRICKET: Jason sets the target

    Jason Harrison, captain of title-chasing Oxford, reckons two wins out of the last three games will land them the Divison 1 championship, writes MICHAEL KNOX. Harrison, who side trail leaders Slough by just three points, will be hoping the first of the

  • CRICKET: Oxon in trophy coup

    The Oxfordshire Development XI regained the Tom Orford Trophy with a comprehensive 216-run victory over Hertfordshire at Tiddington yesterday. Oxford left-arm spinner Francios Vainker was the hero, taking 5-30 from 18 overs as Herts fell to 164 all

  • Dog rescued from reservoir

    FIREFIGHTERS pulled a dog from a reservoir in Banbury after being called by its owner for assistance. The crew was called to Grimsbury Reservoir, in Grimsbury Green, at about 1.30pm yesterday. The dog was rescued by firefighters using lines and was

  • Dog rescued from reservoir

    FIREFIGHTERS pulled a dog from a reservoir in Banbury after being called by its owner for assistance. The crew was called to Grimsbury Reservoir, in Grimsbury Green, at about 1.30pm yesterday. The dog was rescued by firefighters using lines and was

  • Arrests follow stabbing

    Three teenagers have been arrested in connection with a stabbing in Blackbird Leys, Oxford. Police were called to Willow Way at 7pm yesterday, following reports that a man had been stabbed repeatedly. The victim, a 38-year-old man who has not be named

  • Update: Girl, 13, held over stabbing

    A 13-year-old girl and two boys were arrested after a 38-year-old man was stabbed in the back in Oxford. Police were called to Willow Way, Blackbird Leys, at 7pm yesterday after reports that a man had been stabbed. The victim was taken to the John

  • Man 'repeatedly stabbed in back'

    A 38-year-old man was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital last night after being 'repeatedly stabbed' in the back on an Oxford estate. Police and ambulance crews were called to Knights Road, Blackbird Leys, at about 7pm. Ambulance staff said he was

  • Carbon footprints

    Opposition members have understandably questioned whether Liberal Democrat city councillor Sue Roaf will still be able to represent her constituents having taken up a new job in Edinburgh. Ms Roaf says she will resign, but not until the next elections

  • A good deal?

    It has taken two-and-a-half years for Oxford City Council to concede that we have a right to know some of the details behind the deal that led to Firoz Kassam building a new stadium for Oxford United, a hotel and leisure park. Our request for the

  • Soccer team's trip to Poland

    FOOTBALLERS from two teams travelled to Poland to take part in a town twinning football tournament. This year's team was a combination of players from both Chesterton and Launton Football Clubs - the winners and runners up of last year's Peter Flynn

  • Boost for pool campaigners

    CAMPAIGNERS battling to save Banbury's open-air swimming pool and leisure complex from closure have been given a boost by the involvement of an entrepreneur. Paddy Castledine, who previously ran the successful lido in Lambeth, East London, has been

  • Council's top man opts for bus travel

    OXFORD bus users who have an issue with the city council had a direct line to the top this week - in the form of new chief executive Peter Sloman. Mr Sloman took up the top post this week - with an advertised salary of £115,000 - and has been getting

  • Hundreds turn out for funeral

    HUNDREDS of mourners paid their final respects to Adam Davis who died in a car crash earlier this month. The service for the 19-year-old took place at St Edburg's Church, Bicester, yesterday. Mr Davis, of Oxlip Leyes, Bicester, and friend James McCabe

  • 'I'm sick of cleaning up after smokers'

    A WOMAN has decided to clean a mountain of cigarette butts from her quiet road in Headington. Armed with a dustpan and brush, fed-up Ann Cole, 77, of Massey Close, has vowed not to let smokers from the nearby Churchill Hospital litter her street.

  • Pool reopens after vandalism

    A GROUP of six youths and young men caught in Hinksey Park on the night a chemical was put in the open-air swimming pool are at the centre of a police investigation into the vandalism. Police were called late on Friday, August 10, after nearby residents

  • Pigs crushed as vehicle topples

    FIFTY pigs were killed yesterday after the lorry they were being transported in overturned at an Oxfordshire roundabout. The crash on the A420 at the junction with the A415 at Kingston Bagpuize caused chaos on the Oxford to Swindon road with traffic

  • Update: GCSE pupils make the grade

    A SUMMER of wishing and waiting to see if they had made the grade came to an end today for thousands of teenagers anxiously awaiting their GCSE results. Schools and colleges across the county saw students on their doorsteps from the early hours eager

  • Bands urged to join Oxfam concert

    OXFORD bands are being called on to to "make music, raise money and help end poverty" by signing up for a music festival. The event, called Oxjam is organised by Oxford-based charity Oxfam. And those taking part could follow on from the success

  • Australian Odyssey mixed case, £66

    It seems a long time since the first bulk shipments of Aussie wine arrived here in 1985 and yet the country remains incredibly popular as a wine producer. These are full, fun, fruit-driven styles that are equally good on their own or with food. The

  • FOOTBALL: Still joy as Hill returns to Ardley

    Ardley United manager Dan Still has expressed his delight after Chris Hill rejoined the Premier Division from Southern League outfit Oxford City. Earlier this week, City manager Justin Merritt spoke of his disappointment after Hill, who moved to Court

  • FOOTBALL: 'Judgey' aims to cut it as coach

    Oxford United goalkeeping legend Alan Judge, who has pitted his wits against some of the best strikers around, is tackling another big challenge, of becoming a successful coach. Judge, 47, is two games into his role as coach at British Gas Business

  • Team faces Kilimanjaro challenge

    SIX women have set themselves the challenge of a lifetime - to climb Africa's highest mountain. The ladies, aged between 29 and mid-50s, have been following a strenuous training programme to prepare them for the 4,600 metre climb of the world's highest

  • Flats plan for hotel site

    THE Essex House Hotel, in Chinnor Road, Thame, could be demolished to make way for 12 flats. South Oxfordshire District Council is being asked to approve plans for its demolition alongside that of 1 Bridge Terrace and outbuildings and the construction

  • Death leaves family 'in limbo'

    THE mother of a young man who was found dead in his bed said her family would be living "in limbo" until an inquest which could reveal the cause of her son's death. Lynn Lord, 47, of Mulcaster Avenue, Kidlington, spoke of her family's anguish after

  • French event

    FOR the third year running, the popular French market will be held in the Market Place, Abingdon, on Friday, September 7. The town council wants to promote more activities on the recently refurbished square.

  • Fly-tipper caught out by letter

    A MAN who dumped nine sacks of rubbish in open countryside was tracked down by a letter found in the litter. Jeremy Hayden, 38, of Lansdown Road, Faringdon, was fined £200 and ordered to pay £300 costs. At Didcot Magistrates' Court, Hayden admitted

  • Work starts

    WORK has started to rebuild the Meadowcroft old people's home, in Towersey Road, which is owned by the Orders of St John Care Trust. Residents will be housed in a neighbouring building while the site is developed. Work is expected to be completed

  • Drifting back home

    A private party at the Marlborough Arms in Woodstock hardly seemed the kind of gig that Clarence 'Tex' Walker would pray for. As a former lead singer with The Drifters and the Coasters he had filled major venues across the globe, appearing alongside

  • New date for auditions

    AUDITIONS for a new youth theatre group to be based at the Oxford Playhouse, in Beaumont Street, have been postponed. The open auditions for 16/22 were due to be held on Saturday but after only three people signed up they have been rescheduled for

  • Palace stages craft show

    CARVING wood with a chainsaw and the more delicate carving of spoons by hand are among the skills on show at the Oxfordshire Craft Show over the Bank Holiday weekend. Blenheim Palace at Woodstock is hosting the show which is billed to feature some of

  • Invite to join rail panel

    COTSWOLD Line commuters are being invited to apply to join First Great Western's eastern area customer panel. There is a vacancy for a volunteer representative of passengers who use the stations on the route between Hanborough, Charlbury and Shipton

  • Market break

    EAST Oxford farmers' market is taking a break this weekend. No market will be held on Saturday, but the event will return to the Asian Cultural Centre, in Manzil Way, on Saturday, September 1. More information about the market is available from

  • MP snubbed by ministers

    GOVERNMENT ministers have refused to discuss the future of Bicester Community Hospital with the town's MP, Tony Baldry, following a recent public meeting. Mr Baldry said it was the first time in his 25 years at Westminster that he could remember ministers

  • Model rail talk

    JOHN Hulett, headteacher of Barley Hill Primary School, in Ludsden Grove, Thame, will talk about 'the public life of a secret model railway enthusiast' when he talks at a fish and chip supper organised by Christians in Thame, at 7.30pm on Friday, September

  • Garage sale

    CLANFIELD'S annual produce show had to be cancelled because of the effects of the July flooding, but a hastily-arranged community day will take place tomorrow. More than 40 households have signed up for a garage sale from 11am to 3pm. There will also

  • Family in final tribute to a caring father

    GEORGE Dumbleton, who died aged 87, spent much of his life devoted to caring for his wife, Cicely. Mr Dumbleton, who was born in Wendlebury and lived there all his life, followed his father Albert's footsteps by running the family joinery firm. Mr

  • Animals to join service

    CATS, dogs, hamsters, sheep and donkeys are expected to be part of the congregation in Aston Rowant parish church at 10am on Sunday, September 2, when the Rector, the Rev John Kinchin-Smith conducts a pet service. The service is "to celebrate and

  • £30,000 fine for breaking waste rule

    A BOOK distribution company was fined £30,000 on Wednesday for failing to recover and recycle tonnes of packaging waste over a nine-year period. Bicester Magistrates Court found Baker&Taylor - formerly Advanced Marketing UK and Aura Books - guilty

  • Rogue firework sparks blaze

    A SMOKE detector saved a house from serious damage after a firework flew through an open window. There were four adults and two children in the property in Cuckoo Close, Caversfield, when the blaze began. A smoke detector on the landing of the property

  • Council counsel

    Sir - Mr Roger Moreton complains persistently about the use of wheelie bins in East Oxford. (Letters, August 17). Yet this week it has been reported that a man in Middlesbrough was offered counselling when his wheelie bin was stolen. Victim Support

  • Glass is greener

    Sir - I am writing to raise a number of inaccuracies within the article (Wine column, Weekend, August 17). There is no green glass mountain in the UK. UK-produced green bottles have a recycled content of over 80 per cent - a much higher proportion than

  • Keep vehicles moving

    Sir - I was pleased to see your article (August 10) which states that the new layout at Green Road roundabout has been a success. I use the junction regularly at various times and from various directions and I have yet to hit a significant hold-up.

  • Fundamental question

    Sir - I have two problems with Tony Augarde's comments on the Dawkins TV programme The Enemies of Reason (Weekend, August 17): 1: Surely it is not for Dawkins to prove the speciousness of such activities as astrology and spiritualism, as for their

  • Low-carbon move

    Sir - I was interested to read the letter by Gerard McCrum (August 10) about burning our rubbish in an incinerator. Mr McCrum is correct that incinerators generate electricity by burning waste. However such incinerators (electricity only units), produce

  • Roadtest: Formidable 4x4

    CLIMB aboard the Freelander 2 and you step up into a different world. While there might be superficial external similarities between the new version and its predecessor, they do not prepare you for the changes made beneath the surface. The Freelander

  • Simply red

    September sees the introduction of the Nissan Note Acenta R trim - R stands for the standard red paint job, but it can also be had in black metallic finish, too. It costs £500 more than a standard Acenta, but includes lots of styling items, such as

  • Less palatable idea

    Sir - Your correspondent, Gerard McCrum (Letters, August 10), says energy from waste may well be the technology of the future. It has in fact been around for decades and was developed before climate change became an issue. The only thing that has

  • Green Belt set to be redrawn

    OXFORD'S Green Belt is set to be substantially redrawn north and south of the city, opening the way for major housing schemes. A review of the city's Green Belt will be one of the key recommendations of planning inspectors examining housing numbers

  • Hit for six

    Mazda's new Mondeo - the 6, makes its debut next month at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It shares the same basic underpinnings as Ford's new family car, but topside the Mazda6 adopts the distinctive sporty styling that the marque is now known for. Mazda

  • Think before you move

    Sir - I read William Barford's letter which you published on August 17 and felt moved to respond. The time to worry about noise from nearby roads is before you move house, not after. He sounds like a reasonably intelligent person judging by his explanation

  • Audi unveils green machine

    Orders are now being taken for Audi's 2008 model-year A8 luxury saloon, which goes on sale in the UK in late autumn. The new generation A8 range is priced from £49,995 to £80,995, and it boasts the cleanest emissions of any luxury saloon sold here

  • Flood defences

    Sir - Julian Le Vay (Letters, August 3) counts the many ways in which the Environment Agency has been dragging its feet over flood defences when homes, livelihoods and lives are at risk, and rightly adds that the chairperson and the chief executive

  • Ugly scheme

    Sir - Many people may not have noticed, especially at the height of the holiday season, a series of planning applications by Clear Channel (UK) to erect more than 100 bus shelters in Oxford, of which the main purpose is to carry two large illuminated

  • Debt to donors

    Sir - Last week my life was prolonged through the unselfish action of three anonymous blood donors. As this could have been said on a dozen occasions during the past year, it seemed high time to acknowledge publicly my debt to them and to all the

  • Valuable service

    Sir - The Oxford Times recently covered David Cameron's comments on provision for "tough kids" (Report, August 3). As David notes, Base 33, a charitable organisation in Witney, provides a valuable service to young people and schools in the area.

  • No need to hurry

    Sir - With reference to the letter from P. Hornby (August 17). We also went last week to the station to book rail tickets in advance. The booking windows were marked, three of them for tickets for travel today' and two for advance booking and queries

  • No sweat to stop drink-driving

    IT'S not just the environment that is driving the future direction of car design and innovation - the ball is already well and truly rolling when it comes to putting passenger and pedestrian safety to the fore. Road deaths worldwide are still at unacceptable

  • Office shock

    Sir - I too was shocked to hear that the advanced booking office at Oxford rail station will close shortly. I have used it extensively and agree with your correspondent P. Hornby (Letters, August 17) that it provides a very good and helpful service

  • Bring 'em all down

    Sir - It's good to see Oxford coming to its senses over our ageing ice rink. With the rink out of the way, perhaps we could turn our attention to other old buildings that are no longer fit for purpose. The castle has no useful defensive function.

  • Floods send out shocks

    THE severe UK flooding - which hit Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire particularly hard - could send shockwaves across the UK's used car market, says the AA. Waterlogged cars are finding their way on to the market, so the AA is warning

  • Green Belt development unjustified

    Sir - We read with anger and dismay your article on August 17 dealing with the Social Market Foundation (SMF) report on housing and its conclusion that the Oxford Green Belt is "outmoded" and should again be considered as a suitable place for housing

  • Oxpens right for leisure expansion

    Sir - As one of the founder members of Oxist, the group started by Mary Meagher which campaigned successfully for the ice rink, I am pleased to see that there is a proposal to build a larger ice rink. We always hoped that the rink would be Olympic standard

  • Amica bids for value-for-money title

    FOR car buyers wanting to buy a new car but unwilling or unable to spend all their hard-earned cash, the Hyundai Amica 1.1 Atlantic at under £5,000, is difficult to beat. It comes with a warranty package of five years' unlimited mileage that gives

  • Bentley unveils its fastest model yet

    BENTLEY has unveiled the new 600 horsepower Continental GT Speed - the most powerful production Bentley ever built and the first to top 200mph. The £137,500 car is inspired by Bentley's legendary Speed' models of the 1920s and the company says the

  • 'Purple' pool reopens

    A group of six youths and young men caught in Hinksey Park on the night a chemical was put in the open-air swimming pool are at the centre of a police investigation into the vandalism. Police were called late on Friday, August 10, after nearby residents

  • 50 pigs crushed in A420 crash

    Fifty pigs were killed yesterday after the lorry they were being transported in overturned at a notorious Oxfordshire roundabout. The crash on the A420 at the junction with the A415 at Kingston Bagpuize caused chaos on the Oxford to Swindon road with

  • Peers pupils bounce back

    At 2am yesterday Euan Allen returned from holiday to collect his GCSE results - and it was well worth the journey. The 16-year-old, who is a pupil at Peers School in Littlemore, Oxford, achieved 10 A grades - as well as a B and a C for good measure.