Archive

  • New man at the top

    Inspector Graham Sutherland of Abingdon police is leaving to take up a new position as head of the Thames Valley Police Strategic Planning Department. He will coordinate every aspect of the annual police plan at the Force headquarters in Kidlington. Insp

  • We can spoke Spanish

    Garage owner James Pratt and three teenagers are planning to take part in a sponsored bike ride across Spain. Mr Pratt, from Dorchester, will be joined by his daughter Tina, 16, niece Sammy Garside, 14, and family friend Donna Holtom, 16. They plan to

  • Record number gain A-levels

    The waiting will finally end for hundreds of Oxfordshire students today when A-level results are published. Early national indications are that more pupils have gained higher grades and the pass rate has risen for the 18th year. The anticipated improvement

  • Time called on troublespot

    The Beehive pub in Abingdon has sold its last pint and will become a restaurant. After a long and, recently, chequered history, owners Greene King have called time on the 250-year-old pub, which has been closed since June. Estate agents Thomas Merrifield

  • Tutorial trust on the move

    An educational trust that gives sixth formers tutorials has closed its local operation with the loss of seven jobs. Since 1965, residential courses have been held at Villiers Park at Middleton Stoney, near Bicester. In future, the trust will run solely

  • Decision on bomb shelter appealed

    A government planning inspector has been called in to decide the fate of an "eyesore" bomb shelter in a conservation area. The move follows South Oxfordshire District Council's (SODC) refusal to allow a WWII bomb shelter at 1, The Green, Warborough, near

  • Golf: Parker storms home to retain Springs title

    Tim Parker retained the club championship at the Springs GC, Wallingford, when he finished four strokes clear of the field. The four-handicapper from Didcot shot rounds of 75 and 74 for a total of 149 to win from fellow junior, John Stockings (153). Alan

  • Church venue for folk festival

    A tiny church will host three concerts and a songs of praise service during Towersey's annual folk music and dance festival over the August Bank Holiday. St Catherine's church will host Scold's Bridle on Friday, Oxford Waits on Saturday, a folk concert

  • Drivers quizzed

    Police investigating a possible hit-and-run accident, which left a cyclist in a coma, are to question 300 motorists. The 25-year-old man from Baulking, near Wantage, suffered serious head injuries after being hit by a car on the Fawler Road, near Kingston

  • Golf: Parker storms home to retain Springs title

    Tim Parker retained the club championship at the Springs GC, Wallingford, when he finished four strokes clear of the field. The four-handicapper from Didcot shot rounds of 75 and 74 for a total of 149 to win from fellow junior, John Stockings (153). Alan

  • Speedway: 'Oddball' Dugard reveals all . . .

    The Vintage Speedway Magazine is well worth the £2 this month for an insight into Martin Dugard, who retires at the end of the season. Although speedway has been good to the man who often wows the Cowley public, he admits that he has never really had

  • Golf: Results

    Latest Oxfordshire gold club results - August 16, 2001 NORTH OXFORD Critchley Cup: 1 A McKechnie & K McKechnie 64, 2 C Sampson & S Kimber 69, 3 B Melhuish & E Melhuish 70. August Medal - Div 1: 1 J Day 72-12=60, 2 R Purvey 71-9=62, 3 R Poore

  • Speedway: Crump looks the big threat in Czech GP

    The Grand Prix action moves on to the Marketa Stadium in Prague for the Czech Republic Grand Prix on Saturday. And for many it will be a case of going through the motions, for this year's winner is unlikely to come from anywhere but the top six. Three-times

  • Bowls: Latest club results check

    KENNET LEAGUE Hagbourne A 75 (10pts), Newbury 74 (4) (Hagbourne skips first): J Moir 20, R Smart 12; B Gerring 18, M Morris 18; S Hancock 20, D Balfour 20; P Ryman 17, N Pennock 24. Hagbourne B 89 (12), Milton Hill 67 (2) (Hagbourne skips first): D Rose

  • Speedway: Posh are next in line

    There is no action at Cowley tomorrow because of the Grand Prix, but Cheetahs travel to meet Peterborough next Thursday, before taking on Eastbourne at the Stadium the following day. The Posh dumped challengers Ipswich in some style last week, but Oxford

  • Bowls: Hawes challenge ended in semis

    Kathy Hawes saw her title charge in the National Express All-England Champion of Champion singles halted in the semi-finals at Royal Leamington Spa. The City and County ace, who is chasing a place in England's Commonwealth Games 2002 team, powered past

  • Vow of silence promised

    City councillor Mary Clarkson will remain tight-lipped tomorrow when colleagues consider her application to modernise her listed home. Cllr Clarkson, who represents the Marston ward, will remain silent during a debate on whether listed building consent

  • Women hurt in airgun attack

    Two boys carrying an airgun shot two women in an attack. The shots were fired as the women were leaving Tesco's on the Oxford Retail Park, Cowley, Oxford, on Tuesday afternoon. The two youths, believed to be aged 12 or 13, were sitting on the opposite

  • Watching fish will relax waiting patients

    Patients waiting at Oxford's new casualty department will be lulled into a relaxed state if managers can raise £6,000 for a massive fish tank. The £10m building, at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, will open in 2003 and organisers hope the new

  • Royal guests

    Two charity volunteers have been invited to Buckingham Palace in recognition of their loyalty and hard work. Enid Busby and Jean Young have both attended garden parties with the Queen because of their work with Oxfordshire Association for the Blind (OAB

  • Police get some stick

    Two stolen sets of Aunt Sally sticks which have been recovered by Oxford police could go under the hammer if they are not claimed by the end of this month. Fred Jones with the Aunt Sally sticks A pair of sports bags each containing at least six sticks

  • Trees for the chop

    Plans by an Oxford rainforest expert to chop down trees to make way for new flats are on hold because councillors want to take a closer look at the site. Prof Norman Myers, a Fellow at Green College, wants to demolish his home, Upper Meadow, in Old Road

  • Sun shines

    About 1,000 visitors enjoyed the 17th North Hinksey Horticultural Society summer show at the weekend. The society's chairman Ann Dykes admired the fruit and vegetable exhibits on display. Ann Dykes The society's annual summer show and fete was hosted

  • Left hand forward

    Left-handers put the world to rights over a 'left-handed' cuppa at the GoodBean Coffee Shop at Blackwells, in Broad Street, Oxford, on Monday for Left-Handers Day. Charlotte Martins, offers goodies and discounts to anyone proving their left-handedness

  • Royal guests

    Two charity volunteers have been invited to Buckingham Palace in recognition of their loyalty and hard work. Enid Busby and Jean Young have both attended garden parties with the Queen because of their work with Oxfordshire Association for the Blind (OAB

  • Speedway: Posh are next in line

    There is no action at Cowley tomorrow because of the Grand Prix, but Cheetahs travel to meet Peterborough next Thursday, before taking on Eastbourne at the Stadium the following day. The Posh dumped challengers Ipswich in some style last week, but Oxford

  • Speedway: Crump looks the big threat in Czech GP

    The Grand Prix action moves on to the Marketa Stadium in Prague for the Czech Republic Grand Prix on Saturday. And for many it will be a case of going through the motions, for this year's winner is unlikely to come from anywhere but the top six. Three-times

  • Town blooms for judges

    Green-fingered gardeners have made the town blooming beautiful said Len Webb, chairman of Thame In Bloom. Roger Turner, of 1 Griffin Road, won the group's award for the best large garden, and the overall winners cup. Town centre pubs set the scene with

  • Care award

    The Nursing Homes Fees Agency, based at Eynsham, has been chosen as one of 61 public and private organisations out of 237 to be shortlisted for a customer care award. Winners of The Daily Telegraph/Energis Awards 2001 will be announced at a gala evening

  • Help for export hopefuls

    Businesses in Oxfordshire will be able to research potential new markets in Europe, thanks to a service offered by the Thames Valley European Information Centre (EIC), part of the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The aim of the service

  • Kevin Maxwell takes £180,000 pay cut

    Kevin Maxwell has taken a £180,000 pay cut to save cash at his American telecommunications company. Mr Maxwell, 44, who lives near Wallingford, is chairman of Telemonde, which buys bandwidth - space in telephone networks - from large telecom companies

  • Women hit by airgun pellets

    Two women were hit, one in the face, by youths shooting an airgun in Oxford. The shots were fired as the women were leaving Tesco on the Oxford Retail park at Cowley at 2pm on Tuesday. The two youths, believed to be aged 12 or 13, were standing on the

  • Gig of a lifetime for bass player

    A teenager was given the surprise of his life when an MTV film crew interrupted a church service where he was playing guitar and asked him to interview his favourite band - the Fun Lovin' Criminals. Doug Hale, 16, was playing bass guitar with his band

  • Women hurt in airgun attack

    Two boys carrying an airgun shot two women in an attack. The shots were fired as the women were leaving Tesco's on the Oxford Retail Park, Cowley, Oxford, on Tuesday afternoon. The two youths, believed to be aged 12 or 13, were sitting on the opposite

  • Trees for the chop

    Plans by an Oxford rainforest expert to chop down trees to make way for new flats are on hold because councillors want to take a closer look at the site. Prof Norman Myers, a Fellow at Green College, wants to demolish his home, Upper Meadow, in Old Road

  • Saved club vandalised

    Vandals have caused almost £1,000 of damage to a football club, just weeks after it was saved from closure. Thieves broke into Bicester Town FC, in Oxford Road, between 11pm on Sunday, August 12 and 7.40am on Monday. They used a scaffolding pole and an

  • Alzheimer's antibody found

    Scientists in Oxford have found a human antibody which fights diseases such as Alzheimer's and CJD. Working with the University of California, in America, researchers at Oxford University's Glycobiology Institute believe the discovery, known as D18, could

  • Giant anniversary at garden

    The 150th anniversary of the first Giant Victoria Water Lily to be grown in Oxford is being celebrated at the Botanic Garden. The lily has been specially grown from seed and cultivated in the same pond and greenhouse where the original was grown in 1851

  • Families do tidy job on alleyway

    Oxford families took to the streets after an alleyway near their homes became a dumping ground for litter louts and dog walkers. They cleaned up the mess in the short-cut behind their homes in Cardigan Street, Jericho. Ten residents, helped by willing

  • Motorist forced into ditch by lorry

    A car was forced into a ditch after a lorry the driver was trying to overtake veered to the right. The driver of the Ford Orion car, a man in his 30s, was left badly shaken but uninjured. He had been driving in rush hour traffic on the A4260 Oxford to

  • Families do tidy job on alleyway

    Oxford families took to the streets after an alleyway near their homes became a dumping ground for litter louts and dog walkers. They cleaned up the mess in the short-cut behind their homes in Cardigan Street, Jericho. Ten residents, helped by willing

  • Supermarket will create 40 jobs

    Up to 40 new jobs will be created in Oxford when a supermarket undergoes a £1m refurbishment. Somerfield, in Old High Street, Headington, is expected to undergo a major refit to transform it into a 'focus' store. The supermarket is the second firm to

  • Bowls: West lose out

    Carterton scored a convincing victory over old rivals West Witney to win the 80th Preston Cup tournament at Abingdon. After the original date for the final, scheduled for last Thursday, was abandoned due to rain, there was another delay of nearly an hour

  • Animal activists say sorry for street mess

    Animal rights activists have apologised to Oxford residents who found their cars and homes plastered with stickers following a protest. About 500 supporters of Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) marched from Oxpens to Littlemore and Sandford on Saturday

  • BMW stampede creates crisis

    Firms are facing a recruitment crisis as BMW takes on extra workers to meet intense worldwide demand for the new Mini. The Cowley car factory is hiring 1,800 temporary staff to build 30,000 cars by the end of this year and 100,000 next year. Positions

  • No waiting at the bus stop

    Benson's bus shelter was the loser in this encounter with a Honda Accord yesterday. An elderly woman manoeuvring the automatic car outside shops in High Street when she allegedly lost control of the vehicle. Benson beat officer Pc Jeff Gibson, who attended

  • Pub saved from fire

    A Conservative councillor has been hailed as a 'local hero' for saving his village's only pub from being destroyed in a fire. Felix Bloomfield, 37, helped evacuate about 40 drinkers when fire broke out in the kitchen at the Shepherd's Hut, in Ewelme,

  • Grove soldier back from Bosnia

    Soldier Steve Amiss has returned from a peacekeeping mission in Bosnia. Cpl Amiss, 22, from Grove, was an aircraft technician with a team that kept helicopters in the air. A former pupil of King Alfred's School, Wantage, he was a warehouse worker before

  • Youth club faces closure

    A youth club could be forced to close its doors, because of a lack of adult volunteers. For many years, the weekly Kids Club at Grove Community Education Centre has been the hub of social activity for almost 70 youngsters aged between nine and 11, offering

  • Bowls: West lose out

    Carterton scored a convincing victory over old rivals West Witney to win the 80th Preston Cup tournament at Abingdon. After the original date for the final, scheduled for last Thursday, was abandoned due to rain, there was another delay of nearly an hour

  • Cricket: Scores

    Latest Oxfordshire cricket scorecard - August16, 2001 *Cherwell Div 7: Cropredy 2nd lost to Chalgrove 2nd by 68 runs CHALGROVE 2ND M Cox-Rogers b Sharman 68... C Stokes c & b Allen...24 P Jones c Tee b Sharman...1 N Bailey b Starkie...5 R Busby b

  • Speedway: It's just sour grapes, Gary

    It's a shame Poole skipper Gary Havelock decided to come out with the attack on Cheetahs in The Sun over the weekend. He claimed Oxford should not be using guests for the injured Lukas Dryml because he believed he was on an inflated average. He also reckoned

  • Cricket: Colts go down fighting

    Oxfordshire Colts fought all the way before going down by three wickets in their ECB Under 19 County Championship quarter-final against Lancashire at Wellingborough School yesterday. In an enthralling, yet frustrating day, Oxon came close to pulling off

  • Cricket: Oxon blown away

    Oxfordshire Development XI were shot out for just 60 by MCC Young Cricketers, who enjoyed an emphatic 153-run victory at High Wycombe. Ed Butcher was the only player to reach double figures as Oxon failed to cope with the pace and movement of Nick Denning

  • Tutorial trust on the move

    An educational trust that gives sixth formers tutorials has closed its local operation with the loss of seven jobs. Since 1965, residential courses have been held at Villiers Park at Middleton Stoney, near Bicester. In future, the trust will run solely

  • Saved club vandalised

    Vandals have caused almost £1,000 of damage to a football club, just weeks after it was saved from closure. Thieves broke into Bicester Town FC, in Oxford Road, between 11pm on Sunday, August 12 and 7.40am on Monday. They used a scaffolding pole and an

  • Golf: Parker storms home to retain Springs title

    Tim Parker retained the club championship at the Springs GC, Wallingford, when he finished four strokes clear of the field. The four-handicapper from Didcot shot rounds of 75 and 74 for a total of 149 to win from fellow junior, John Stockings (153). Alan

  • Patients miss appointments

    Patients throughout Oxfordshire are missing GP appointments, wasting hundreds of hours of doctors' time. Despite the problems, Oxfordshire doctors oppose charging people £10 for missed appointment. Nationally, a survey found 60 per cent of GPs supported

  • Blueprint for women in blue

    The highest ranking female officer in Thames Valley Police has been a driving force behind a new national blueprint on the future of women in the service. Assistant Chief Constable Julie Spence, who is president of the British Association of Women Police

  • Giant anniversary at garden

    The 150th anniversary of the first Giant Victoria Water Lily to be grown in Oxford is being celebrated at the Botanic Garden. The lily has been specially grown from seed and cultivated in the same pond and greenhouse where the original was grown in 1851

  • Gig of a lifetime for bass player

    A teenager was given the surprise of his life when an MTV film crew interrupted a church service where he was playing guitar and asked him to interview his favourite band - the Fun Lovin' Criminals. Doug Hale, 16, was playing bass guitar with his band

  • New plans for 'changing town'

    Plans to redevelop Didcot Parkway Station's congested forecourt area will be unveiled next month. Options to expand the forecourt and overcome the existing chaos around the the busiest station in the county will be highlighted at a three-day Didcot Transport

  • Supermarket will create 40 jobs

    Up to 40 new jobs will be created in Oxford when a supermarket undergoes a £1m refurbishment. Somerfield, in Old High Street, Headington, is expected to undergo a major refit to transform it into a 'focus' store. The supermarket is the second firm to

  • Drivers quizzed

    Police investigating a possible hit-and-run accident, which left a cyclist in a coma, are to question 300 motorists. The 25-year-old man from Baulking, near Wantage, suffered serious head injuries after being hit by a car on the Fawler Road, near Kingston

  • We can spoke Spanish

    Garage owner James Pratt and three teenagers are planning to take part in a sponsored bike ride across Spain. Mr Pratt, from Dorchester, will be joined by his daughter Tina, 16, niece Sammy Garside, 14, and family friend Donna Holtom, 16. They plan to

  • Vow of silence promised

    City councillor Mary Clarkson will remain tight-lipped tomorrow when colleagues consider her application to modernise her listed home. Cllr Clarkson, who represents the Marston ward, will remain silent during a debate on whether listed building consent

  • Copenhagen, Oxford Playhouse, Until Saturday

    There's something rather austere about the semi-circle of tiered seating erected on the stage of the Oxford Playhouse this week for Michael Frayn's award-winning play Copenhagen, which continues until Saturday, writes Helen Peacocke. Members of the audience

  • Bowls: McClymont grabs last-gasp victory

    The OBA Officers and Longford cup finals both produced thrilling finishes. The Officers Cup was nip and tuck between David McClymont and Peter Maisey, which was level after 20 ends. It needed a last-wood victory from McClymont when he moved the jack to

  • Bowls: Hawes challenge ended in semis

    Kathy Hawes saw her title charge in the National Express All-England Champion of Champion singles halted in the semi-finals at Royal Leamington Spa. The City and County ace, who is chasing a place in England's Commonwealth Games 2002 team, powered past

  • Cricket: Oxon blown away

    Oxfordshire Development XI were shot out for just 60 by MCC Young Cricketers, who enjoyed an emphatic 153-run victory at High Wycombe. Ed Butcher was the only player to reach double figures as Oxon failed to cope with the pace and movement of Nick Denning

  • Golf: Results

    Latest Oxfordshire gold club results - August 16, 2001 NORTH OXFORD Critchley Cup: 1 A McKechnie & K McKechnie 64, 2 C Sampson & S Kimber 69, 3 B Melhuish & E Melhuish 70. August Medal - Div 1: 1 J Day 72-12=60, 2 R Purvey 71-9=62, 3 R Poore

  • Bowls: Latest club results check

    KENNET LEAGUE Hagbourne A 75 (10pts), Newbury 74 (4) (Hagbourne skips first): J Moir 20, R Smart 12; B Gerring 18, M Morris 18; S Hancock 20, D Balfour 20; P Ryman 17, N Pennock 24. Hagbourne B 89 (12), Milton Hill 67 (2) (Hagbourne skips first): D Rose

  • Art meets technology

    Art and technology are making a happy marriage at Oxford Centre for Innovation. Manager Margaret Hewitt wanted the reception area and conference rooms to reflect the centre's forward-looking businesses, so she asked students from Oxford College of Further

  • No waiting at the bus stop

    Benson's bus shelter was the loser in this encounter with a Honda Accord yesterday. An elderly woman manoeuvring the automatic car outside shops in High Street when she allegedly lost control of the vehicle. Benson beat officer Pc Jeff Gibson, who attended

  • Church venue for folk festival

    A tiny church will host three concerts and a songs of praise service during Towersey's annual folk music and dance festival over the August Bank Holiday. St Catherine's church will host Scold's Bridle on Friday, Oxford Waits on Saturday, a folk concert

  • Motorist forced into ditch by lorry

    A car was forced into a ditch after a lorry the driver was trying to overtake veered to the right. The driver of the Ford Orion car, a man in his 30s, was left badly shaken but uninjured. He had been driving in rush hour traffic on the A4260 Oxford to

  • Charity slim

    A former copytaker for the Oxford Mail has raised £200 for cancer related charities during a sponsored slim. Jean Jensen, of Old Road, Headington, works part-time for Salters Bros Ltd, at Folly Bridge in Oxford, and has been raising money for charity

  • New plans for 'changing town'

    Plans to redevelop Didcot Parkway Station's congested forecourt area will be unveiled next month. Options to expand the forecourt and overcome the existing chaos around the the busiest station in the county will be highlighted at a three-day Didcot Transport

  • Alzheimer's antibody found

    Scientists in Oxford have found a human antibody which fights diseases such as Alzheimer's and CJD. Working with the University of California, in America, researchers at Oxford University's Glycobiology Institute believe the discovery, known as D18, could

  • Cabbie hails camera trial

    A taxi has had CCTV installed as a trial to boost the safety of cabbies and gather evidence against criminals. The camera has been installed in the back of a taxi belonging to Alan Woodward, secretary of the City of Oxford Licensed Taxicab Association

  • Cabbie hails camera trial

    A taxi has had CCTV installed as a trial to boost the safety of cabbies and gather evidence against criminals. The camera has been installed in the back of a taxi belonging to Alan Woodward, secretary of the City of Oxford Licensed Taxicab Association

  • Bad report on United supporters

    Oxford United fans are some of the worst behaved in Great Britain, according to figures released by the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) yesterday. The report covered 157 matches nationwide, including internationals. United fans were involved

  • Blueprint for women in blue

    The highest ranking female officer in Thames Valley Police has been a driving force behind a new national blueprint on the future of women in the service. Assistant Chief Constable Julie Spence, who is president of the British Association of Women Police