When I last reviewed the Bell at Standlake, shortly before the dawn of the new Millennium, its reputation with gourmets stood high. Dishes from Malaysia, Thailand and other points east were offered by its well-travelled bosses to supplement traditional
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott could be dragged in to the row over the Co-op's plans for a futuristic-looking new store in Abingdon. A petition signed by nearly 300 people calling for a more traditional design was presented at last night's meeting
Sir -- As a resident of Kidlington, I was absolutely disgusted with the appalling security arrangements that caused absolute mayhem in and around Kidlington on Saturday from midday well into the late afternoon. Unfortunately, your photograph would lead
Henley climaxed a superb season by clinching the Division 1 title with a high-scoring draw at home to Finchampstead on Saturday. Skipper Mick Hilditch and his team were celebrating the title for the second time in a fortnight - but this time Henley have
Oxford Caribbean wrapped up the Division 1 title in convincing fashion with an eight-wicket triumph at Tetsworth. Batting first, Tetsworth made 221-6, Rashid Cyrus smashing a superb 72. But Dave Prosper (98no) and Rich Matthews (53) then steered to Caribbean
Youths have made Wallingford's parks "no-go areas" according to the town's mayor. Theresa Jordan called for tough action after a woman told the town council how she was threatened with rape by yobs. Now the town council is leading groups of volunteers
It seems bizarre that magistrates felt unable to impose an antisocial behaviour order on Anthony Swatton. Not only did the police feel they had followed procedure rigorously, but the teenager himself was prepared to sign the conditions of the order. But
For a city which is supposed to be so cycle-friendly, this can be a pretty hairy place to get around on two wheels. Narrow roads, big buses and laughably tight cycle lanes mean that cyclists have got to keep their wits about them at all times. Sadly,
Two thousand toy ducks were launched into the River Windrush at Witney to raise money for charity. The birds were placed in the water by staff from West Oxfordshire Housing, which organised a duck race in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. David Waters
Skipper Jamie Cope makes a return as Oxford Harlequins open their South West 1 league campaign with a game at Cheltenham tomorrow, kick off 3pm. Cope missed the last three months of last season with a neck injury - a large factor in their relegation to
A STANDLAKE artist and art teacher died suddenly at home with her family at the age of 53. Ariana Clarke Windle was well known for her public art projects, including a series of mosaics, and for paintings which are in collections around the world. Born
Belle Vue Aces 57, Oxford Silver Machine 38: Oxford Silver Machine's hopes of reaching the Skybet Elite League play-offs all but disappeared as they crashed to yet another heavy away defeat in Manchester last night. Silver Machine got off to an abysmal
Banbury's only mental health in-patient unit will close early next year, a public meeting heard on Monday. The unit, at Orchard Lodge, will shut on or before March 31, 2005, after which mental health patients who need to stay in hospital will have to
HEADINGTON Roadrunner Jude Craft led from gun to tape as she secured the senior ladies' title in the Mota-vation Series with a convincing victory in the final round at Marston. Craft romped to victory more than a minute ahead of her nearest rival, clocking
Wantage Town welcome back JP Mills and Wayne Harbert for their trip to early leaders Slimbridge in the GLS Hellenic League Premier Division. Chris Nelson remains out with a groin strain, and Nigel Emsden is also sidelined with a similar injury. Ardley
Oxford City striker Wayne Cort is set to join Boreham Wood to be nearer his young family. The London-based striker has an eight-month-old baby to look after, with his wife pregnant with their second child. City boss Andy Sinnott said: "We don't want to
It's hard to imagine it now, but there was a time when clubbing had nothing to do with banging beats and waving your arms in the air. Before trance, before techno - heck, even before house, there was a flourishing underground dance scene with its own
A leading medical firm is promising new jobs for Chipping Norton to make up for the forthcoming closure of the Parker Knoll furniture factory -- but says it will have to expand into open countryside in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
SOME of the most exciting cars on the roads these days are Japanese -- and British drivers are among their most enthusiastic buyers. And it's not hard to see why with Nissan's new 350ZX attracting rave reviews, while Mitsubish's Evo VII and Subaru's Impreza
People in Bicester were given a chance to see for themselves plans for the redevelopment of the town centre. Keith Uney and Hilary Haskell were among those who visited a display set up by Cherwell District Council's planning department in Sheep Street
Workers at the Mini plant in Cowley are to work longer hours in a bid to meet growing demand for the car. After a major consultation exercise, staff in the 'body in white' preparation area and the paintshop will work an extra half hour per shift for the
A used car dealership in Oxfordshire has tried out a bottled scent claiming to be the essence of a new car. Aroma, a company based at the Hithercroft industrial estate in Wallingford, has produced a smell combining the scents of leather, upholstery and
Organisers of charity and community events in west Oxfordshire have been warned that their flyposters and roadside placards will be removed by council workmen. The warning comes from the district council as volunteers prepare to advertise Charlbury's
County council leaders have offered financial support to Oxford Castle's heritage interpretation centre in case low visitor numbers make it run at a loss. The county council and the Osborne Group are converting the former prison in New Road into a £34m
Elderly members of a historic Methodist chapel in Oxford are heartbroken by the news their church is to close. The last service at Headington Quarry Methodist Chapel - the first nonconformist church to have its own building in Headington - willl be held
A worker at Oxford University's new animal testing laboratory has been arrested after two animal rights campaigners had a burning substance thrown over them. Mel Broughton, 44, and his mother Pauline, 70, were among 30 campaigners from the pressure group
Swindon Robins 52, Silver Machine 44: Oxford Silver Machine put themselves in pole position to claim the final Elite League play-off place by snatching the bonus point in a dramatic finish to last night's local derby at Blunsdon. Although they were beaten
Graham Rix says he has noticed a steely determination among his Oxford United players to carry on their unbeaten run. And the U's boss is hoping that resolve manifests itself again at the Kassam Stadium tomorrow when they take on relegated Rushden. Last
Sir -- So former Cabinet Minister Andrew Smith believes his Oxford East seat is not under threat from the Liberal Democrats. It's a shame he hasn't been able to spend more time talking to people in the constituency, then: those I've been meeting across
Sir - For many years, I have walked a quarter of a mile to the Wilkins Road post office at Cowley, Oxford, to draw my pension. When I reached the age of 80 five years ago, I had the advantage of an extra 25p. Now this post office is closed. The next nearest
Council officers who pushed over gravestones in a churchyard have been labelled vandals by people whose relatives are buried there. About 45 stones were knocked over in St Lawrence's Church, South Hinksey, Oxford, because Vale of White Horse District
Confidential medical notes have been discovered blowing around an Oxford front garden. Managers at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, in Windmill Road, Headington, have launched an investigation after the document, listing details about 16 of the hospital's
Plans for a radical transformation of Abingdon's central road network have won the backing of 64 per cent of people who responded to a public consultation exercise. The proposals have been approved in principle by the majority of the transport strategy
Angry villagers in Wheatley claim a recently installed traffic calming scheme is to blame for a car overturning. The car rolled over outside Mill View Plant Centre, on Ladder Hill, after it hit a bollard at 2.20pm on Tuesday. The woman driver was slightly
Burn-out. . . Paul Kingsnorth, who took a break from activism to write a novelI have been friends with Paul Kingsnorth, the environmentalist and writer, for a few years since we were put in touch because of our writing interests. Knowing people with strong
Possters advertising a recruitment drive at a hospital which residents fear may have to close due to lack of staff have had to be withdrawn because they contain a mistake. Campaigners have criticised NHS administrators for the delays in producing hundreds
CHAMPIONS Oxford City ended their Ladies Division 1 3-Pair season in tremendous style, with a 9-0 whitewash of Cholsey. The convincing victory means that City finish the season with a 100 per cent record, and regain the title they last collected in 2000
A Bicester county councillor hopes to persuade colleagues to pay for a new library in the town. Charles Shouler has put forward a motion for Tuesday's full meeting of Oxfordshire County Council to call for funding to build a new library as part of the
SATURDAY FOOTBALL COCA COLA LEAGUE TWO Oxford Utd v Rushden & Diamonds. SOUTHERN LEAGUE Premier Div: Hemel Hempstead Tn v Banbury Utd. Div 1 West: Brackley Tn v Swindon Supermarine, Oxford City v Mangotsfield, Thame Utd v Taunton Tn. FA VASE 1st qualifying
As a vegan, it's hard to suppress the temptation to whoop with triumph while writing about a documentary that exposes the pernicious misinformation peddled by the fast-food industry. But if ever a symbol of the inexorable creep of globalisation had it
Crisis-club Abingdon Town have ended a week of turmoil by appointing former assistant manager Nobby Hayward as their new boss. Last Saturday, Town crashed out of the FA Cup after an embarrassing 7-0 thrashing at Oxford City. That led to the departure
Frilford Heath took a giant stride towards retaining their Shaw & Co Oxfordshire Foursomes League title with a 3-0 whitewash away to The Oxfordshire, the Section 1 leaders. The result enabled Frilford to overhaul The Oxfordshire, who lost two of the
Glorious tunes, witty lyrics, starry-eyed romance and sheer exuberance are all the ingredients you need for a perfect night out - and there's all of that in abundance in Petra Siniawski's sizzling production of Kiss Me, Kate, showing at Milton Keynes
The long journey towards a revamped Westgate Centre has started -- again. It is, of course, a path the city has already tried once -- only to find the substantial figure of John Prescott blocking its way. This time, all those involved have the benefit
Council chiefs faced villagers over an illegal travellers' encampment on the outskirts of Didcot. South Oxfordshire District Council's chief executive David Buckle faced critics at a packed North Moreton Parish Council meeting to tell residents there
An elderly volunteer at the John Radcliffe Hospital League of Friends is concerned that tax officers can legally skim thousands of pounds off the charity's profits every year. Geoff Arthurs, 76, of Peat Moors, Headington, Oxford, has written to the Prime
Residents of Oxford's Barton estate are demanding action once and for all to improve their postal service. In May the Oxford Mail reported that retired postman Gerry Casey, 71, had resorted to delivering letters to William Morris Court in Barton, where
A supermarket chain says shoppers at its Kidlington store buy the fourth-highest amount of organic food outside London. Top of the shopping list at the Kidlington Sainsbury's store are organic bananas, followed by six-packs of eggs, and carrots. Since
The owner of a guest house has received his second heavy fine in just three years for having filthy kitchens. Jeremiah Cronin, of the Nanford Guest House, in Iffley Road, Oxford, was fined £10,500 for food hygiene offences by Oxford magistrates on September
Peugeot's new 1007 makes its show debut at the Paris Motor Show on a stand which includes no fewer than 52 vehicles and three concept cars. The 1007, which goes on sale here next year, is fitted with two electric sliding doors. A high-performance concept
FIAT'S new Multipla is the second generation of the firm's award-winning mid-size multi-purpose vehicle. It remains the only car to combine true multi-purpose vehicle flexibility with full-sized seating for six adults in two rows of three, together with
Sir -- Well done, Andrew Smith, for quitting a Labour Government that has increasingly lost its way, on Iraq and much else. Andrew Smith has done an outstanding job with the New Deal for jobs, at the Treasury and lately for Work and Pensions. He was surely
Abingdon's White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre has been named as one of the top three centres in the country. The £10m complex, which opened two years ago, has reached the final of a national competition to find the most highly rated centre. The Fitness
Sir - In response to Oxfordshire County Council leader Keith Mitchell's letter (Oxford Mail, August 30), may I make the following points? Every member of the British Parliament, once elected, is as equal as the next and unless power is devolved to another
