THERE was a simple and understated welcome home for more than 400 soldiers from 4 Logistic Support Regiment today as they marched through Abingdon, accompanied by the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas. The soldiers were part of the biggest ever deployment
A PEDESTRIAN was taken to hospital tonight after an accident involving a car in the centre of Abingdon. An ambulance was called to Ock Street at 7.45pm to take the injured person to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. The extent of their injuries
One person was taken to hospital tonight after an accident involving a car and a pedestrian in the centre of Abingdon. An ambulance was called to Ock Street at 7.45pm to take the injured person to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
A man who withdrew £11,000 from a bank using another man's passport was today jailed for 14 months. Oxford Crown Court heard that 24-year-old Zhe Xu, who admitted fraud and using a passport relating to another, had been part of a larger operation and
There was a simple and understated welcome home for more than 400 soldiers from 4 Logistic Support Regiment today as they marched through Abingdon, accompanied by the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas. The soldiers were part of the biggest ever deployment
As one who is slowly catching up with the technological evolution, one of my concern when agreeing to been a blogger was ‘who out there is going to read these things?” I’m heartened that blog readers exist and, even though it wasn’t the sort of response
A former Oxford University law student has been given a High Sheriff's award for courageously tackling a robber. Benji Tucker said he chased the man without a thought for his own safety after seeing him snatch a woman's bag. Mr Tucker was walking home
A Royal Mail worker drove on the wrong side of the road after ignoring a police officer who told him to stop the car. Jamal Afifi was yesterday ordered to do 120 hours community service after admitting driving a Vauxhall Calibra dangerously in Iffley
Crumbling community centres in Oxford need £1.7m spent on them to keep them up and running. For the first time, Oxford City Council has released a breakdown of the maintenance backlog for each of its 24 community centres - ranging from £3,090 at the
Two teenagers in court for attempted robbery have had their sentencing adjourned for further reports. Jacob Chambers, 18, from Salesian Gardens, Cowley, admitted two counts of attempted robbery and one of intimidation. He asked for seven other offences
A Didcot woman has been given a record £1,000 fine - the maximum penalty - for not sending her child to primary school in Abingdon. The parent, who magistrates have banned from being named, was taken to court after her six-year-old child missed almost
A teenager has been charged with robbing four people of £25 at knifepoint. The 15-year-old, who is too young to name, was remanded in custody until Wednesday on four counts of armed robbery and been remanded in custody. The charges relate to an alleged
A man was robbed at gunpoint by a pair of teenage thugs in the city. The 24-year-old man was threatened in Mansfield Road at about 10.50pm on Thursday by two robbers who ran off towards South Parks Road with his mobile phone and wallet. It is not clear
Four people arrested at a caravan site as part of a multi-million-pound theft and money laundering investigation have been bailed. Police made the arrests in Weston-on-the- Green, near Bicester, on Wednesday morning as part of a series of raids across
AEA Technology 114.75 BMW 3277 Electrocomponents 265.25 Isoft Group 68.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 150.5 Oxford Biomedica 33.25 Oxford Instruments 218.5 Reed Elsevier 616.75 RM 197.25 RPS Group 363 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
Crows famous for performing tricks with tools have been filmed in the wild with TV cameras attached to their tail feathers. Oxford scientists have filmed the New Caledonian crows bending lengths of wire into hooks and using them to fish food out of
A vital advice service has celebrated 30 years of improving lives on an Oxford estate. The Agnes Smith Advice Centre commemorated its third decade with a fun day at its offices in Blackbird Leys Road. Bric-a-brac stalls, competitions and cakes greeted
CRAFTSMEN have travelled more than 1,700 miles to show off their work in Oxford's Town Hall. The artists are from the Russian village of Kholui, 200 miles north east of Moscow - famous as a historic centre of icon painting. The show was organised
May I please say thank you to the American lady who cycles over Magdalen Bridge in Oxford every morning with her (I presume) son on a large wheeled extension at the rear of her cycle, for her comments to me? When I informed her that she had cycled straight
This week, I have noticed groups of fresh-faced, smiling young people waiting at Gloucester Green in Oxford, wearing brightly coloured T-shirts, with 'Welcome' printed on the front and back in several different languages. They were from Oxford University's
Yes, our Lord Mayor, John Tanner, is right (Oxford Mail, September 27). It is daft to post a letter in St Aldate's to Littlemore and have it sent to Swindon for sorting. Unfortunately, it has sometimes proved even dafter to have it sitting for several
A doorstep burglar stole cash a pensioner after pretending he was a Water Board official. The burglar stole £150 from a lady's handbag in Burdell Avenue, Sandhills in Oxford, at about 2.30pm on Thursday. He is described as mixed race, aged between
A newly-married couple who lost their honeymoon pictures when their laptop was stolen are appealing for thieves to give it back. Music teachers Simon and Jessica Gray were distraught when they realised their computer - containing 300 pictures of their
A disabled pensioner is hoping a plea to a planning inspector will end a six-year battle over her plastic front door. Retired Oxford University professor Alison Brading, 68, of Thrupp, has lodged an appeal against Cherwell District Council's latest
An Oxford student has beaten off popular local bands to win top billing at a concert celebrating the city's best music. Sarah Warne, who is studying English Literature at Christ Church and whose family lives in Sutton Courtenay, near Abingdon, sent
Teacher Jeffery Babb is pictured with 11 pupils at Wheatley Secondary School, but why? Mr Babb, of Ross-on-Wye, who sent in the picture, writes: "I have no recollection of the occasion." But he has recalled some of the names of the girls. He believes
A 15-year-old youth from Oxford has been charged with four counts of armed robbery. It relates to an incident in Christ Church Meadow on September 16 when, at around 3.45pm, four teenage boys were robbed at knifepoint. £25 was stolen. The youth
A GIRL was robbed of her T-shirt and watch in East Oxford. At about midnight on Wednesday an 18-year-old woman was in James Street, near to the Cowley Road, when she had her yellow T-shirt and Tommy Hilfiger watch stolen by two men. Police said they
Farmer Peter Crudge thought the sounds outside were just fireworks going off. But when he looked outside he saw his barn ablaze, its roof exploding and a fire which would cause £200,000 of damage. Mr Crudge, of Churchill Farm, in Churchill, near Chipping
A MAN was robbed at gunpoint by a pair of teenagers in Oxford. The 24-year-old man was threatened in Mansfield Road at about 10.50pm last night by two men who ran off towards South Parks Road with his mobile phone and wallet. A gun was used in the
Frances Kennett, the woman who claimed fortnightly rubbish collections led to rats infesting her Jericho house, has demanded the woman in charge of the service be "removed from her duties". Dr Kennett, who lives in Great Clarendon Street, appeared at
A CONMAN stole £150 from a woman's handbag after tricking his way into her Oxford home. At about 2.30pm yesterday, the man, claiming to be from the water board, got into the woman's home in Burdell Avenue, and stole £150 from a lady's handbag. Police
LEWIS Hamilton's bid to become the first rookie driver to win the Formula One world championship was firmly back on track today after he was cleared of any wrongdoing in the accident involving Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel at the Japanese Grand Prix
Kind-hearted coffee lovers across Oxfordshire sipped their favourite brews during a charity fundraiser. They gulped, chatted and donated during get-togethers marking Macmillan Cancer Support's World's Biggest Coffee Morning. Nearly £2,000 was raised
TWO retired vicars in their 70s are back in Oxford after protesting against the Government's decision to continue the deployment of Trident nuclear submarines at a Scottish naval base. David Platt, 76, and David Paterson, 75, both retired vicars
More than 1,200 people have signed a petition in support of a skatepark in an Oxford park. Jack Richens, from the Oxford Wheels Project which is behind the plan for Cowley Marsh Park, told members of Oxford City Council's Cowley area committee that
Two vicars in their 70s are back in Oxford after protesting against the Government's decision to continue the deployment of Trident nuclear submarines at a Scottish naval base. David Platt, 76, and David Paterson, 75, both retired vicars of St Michael's
People with severe learning disabilities have been making films about their lives this week as part of the Oxfordshire 2007 celebrations. Oxford Film and Video Makers (OFVM) has been working with people with learning disabilities for the Hidden Faces
Rose Hill and Littlemore Children's Centre in Oxford has been reopened following a facelift. The refurbished reception area was officially opened by Liz Brighouse, chairman of Oxfordshire County Council. She is pictured with, from left, Libby Page
Sir - I read with interest your article Drop in recycling is down to floods (September 28). I would like to suggest another possible reason for the drop in recycling, namely the erratic nature of recycling bin collections by local authorities. I am
LONG delays built up this afternoon after a crash on the M40 in north Oxfordshire. The smash, involving four vehicles, happened on the northbound carriageway between junction nine at Bicester and junction 10 at Ardley. The wreckage was cleared on
This is Rosa, a five-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier who came into The Blue Cross through no fault of her own, she is a very affectionate dog who absolutely loves human company, she will need sensible owners who will be able to continue her training
Loneliness is an experience many people go through at various points in their lives, for a wide range of reasons. Some friendly support and a listening ear are enormously helpful in preventing feelings of loneliness and isolation. The Archway Foundation
FOUR people arrested at a Bicester caravan site as part of a multi-million pound theft and money laundering investigation have been bailed. Police made the arrests on Tuesday morning as part of a series of raids in Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire
Four people arrested at a Bicester caravan site as part of a multi-million pound theft and money laundering investigation have been bailed. Police made the arrests on Tuesday morning as part of a series of raids in Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire
Children and young people are extremely important to Pegasus Theatre and are at the heart of the ethos, the day-to-day running and all its future plans. Their main aim is to get young people actively engaged with the arts, and they achieve this through
THE Oxfordshire branch of the RSPCA is looking for permanent homes for rescued rabbits, kittens, cats and dogs. All the animals are neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. For more details call Judith Garvey on 01608 646762.
MOVES to transform St Aldate's into a vibrant new area of the city look set to begin with a new restaurant created underneath Oxford's central post office. Merton College, owner of the site, is seeking a tenant to convert a large underground post
A PARENT who failed to make sure a six-year-old child went to school has been handed a £1,000 fine at Didcot Magistrates Court. The maximum penalty was given to the Didcot parent, who cannot be named, after magistrates heard how the child only attended
A parent who failed to make sure a six-year-old child went to school has been handed a £1,000 fine at Didcot Magistrates Court. The maximum penalty was given to the Didcot parent, who cannot be named, after magistrates heard how the child only attended
Perhaps people shouldn't be so surprised that Oxford United are not challenging the leaders. History shows that teams who miss out in the play-offs invariably make poor starts the following season. Oxford, Exeter and York have won just 5, 4 and 3
Oxford United are a little bit peeved that they have been ordered to play their FA Youth Cup tie at Burnham next Thursday - when the senior team have one of their biggest Blue Square Premier matches of the season, at home to leaders Torquay. The second
ABOUT 1,200 first year students at Oxford's two universities could be at risk of getting chlamydia, according to sexual health workers. Genito-urinary medicine staff at the Harrison Clinic, at the Churchill Hospital, Headington, said about one in
Chris Tardif may have left Oxford United, but he's been helping out with coaching on the club's soccer courses. And the keeper, who was believed to be in talks with Eastleigh about playing for them on a part-time basis, hopes to assist in the October
LEWIS Hamilton could learn today whether his bid to win the world championship will suffer a serious blow following claims he caused the crash that forced Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel out of the Japanese Grand Prix. Third-placed Vettel drove his
A LOST pet hamster is lucky to have escaped with its life after being brought home in the jaws of a cat. But now the search is on to find its owner. It was taken in by Diana Trinder, of Bridge Street, Witney, after a neighbour told her it was delivered
Phil Gilchrist came through his first 90 minutes this season in the reserves' 1-1 draw at Milton United on Tuesday, and declared: "It's nice to be back." Gilly was making his first appearance since a knee op in the summer, and admits he will probably
BICESTER police are clamping down on the increasing pick-pocket menace in the town by launching a new initiative. Only last weekend six people had money and cards stolen from them while shopping in Bicester town centre and at the Bicester Village
OXFORD Tourist Information Centre has been recognised as one of the best in the country. The centre, in Broad Street, is one of just 20 in the South East to be awarded Enjoy England status. It is part of a new scheme developed by Visit Britain to
HUMBLE hospital trolleys hold the weapons being used at Oxford hospitals to successfully battle against so-called superbugs like MRSA. Staff at the John Radcliffe and Churchill hospitals have been using a simple range of procedures and equipment since
A DATE for the second public consultation meeting for the planned Peers Academy has been confirmed. The meeting is scheduled to take place in the Rose Hill Community Centre on Friday, October 12, between 9am and 11.30am. The meeting is open to parents
The embarrassment of losing at Histon should be the spur Oxford United need to ensure they are not carved up at the Butcher's Arms. The Bloods have lost 11 in a row, their worst run in living memory, and have found the step-up to the Conference National
SIR Christopher Meyer, the chairman of the Press Complaints Commission, is hosting a public meeting at Oxford town hall, in St Aldate's, on Wednesday. There will be a surgery session from 2.30pm to 3.45pm for anyone who would like more information
NEXT time you're doing a pub quiz, if you see this team sign up it's probably best to quit while you're ahead. Because these five Oxford Brookes University students won a record £75,000 on BBC2 quiz show Eggheads by defeating professional quizzers
OXFORDSHIRE made a flying start to their campaign by crushing new Premier Group 4 side Wiltshire 32-4 at Grove Old Mill Hall. Oxon dominated to triumph 209-132 on shots, losing just two of their 16 games. Trevor Brown and Geoff Cross won both their
ROB Duffy was set to have surgery last night on his broken wrist. Last season's leading scorer looks set to be sidelined for a minimum of eight weeks because it wasn't a clean break. Said United physio Neil Sullivan: "Unfortunately the bone is a bit
OXFORD United boss Jim Smith admits tomorrow's visit to struggling Droylsden has become a must-win game. That's because the U's have dropped crucial points at home, and with their next home match a tough one against leaders Torquay next Thursday, the
Joe Roff will captain Oxford University from fly half when they host Trinity College, Dublin at Iffley Road tomorrow (12noon). Roff sat out the Dark Blues' 48-14 victory over Kanto Gakuin University, but returns in place of fellow Aussie Craig McMahon
Chinnor coach Jason Bowers is urging his players to keep focussed when they host Reading in South West 1 tomorrow. Compared to unbeaten Chinnor, Reading have had a disappointing start to their campaign with just two points from four games. But Bowers
Sport Italia Hellenic League Paul Lee's complaints that Hook Norton did not play in the spirit of the game during Kidlington's midweek 2-1 defeat in the Premier Division have been dismissed by league officials. Lee said that Hooky fielded four players
FA Vase Ardley United manager Dan Still believes Witney United will provide an entirely different proposition than their league clash a few weeks ago when the pair lock horns in the first round tomorrow. Witney were handed a 5-2 thumping in the Hellenic
British Gas Business Southern League Abingdon United boss Andy Slater says the return of Luke Holden from Ardley has given the club a shot in the arm, after back-to-back victories saw them climb to 11th in Division 1 South & West. Holden scored twice
Winger Chris Simmons returns for Henley Hawks' National 2 clash with Blaydon at Dry Leas tomorrow (4pm). Danny Wells moves across to centre to cover for Jaymes Chapman (broken rib). Lock Rob Hurrell and wing Felise Ah-Ling are injury doubts, but full
FA Trophy Oxford City boss Justin Merritt says his team gunning for revenge as they travel to Bishops Cleeve in the preliminary round tomorrow. The Gloucestershire side knocked City out of the FA Cup last season, and Merritt can still recall the feelings
A NEW passport interview office is to open to serve the county. First-time passport applicants will continue to apply by post, but will also be required to attend an interview to prevent fraud, such as identity theft. People will be asked for basic
Sir - Abingdon Post Office has a screen to entertain customers in the queue, and one advertiser is the Vale of White Horse District Council, giving advice about voter registration. On proxy voting it says: Someone vote's on your behalf. Good grief
Sir - I think I am a reasonable person and contribute my share to the well-being of the local community. I do however suffer the most fearful and life-threatening depressions from time to time and need and depend upon the services of the local mental
Sir - The Vale council meeting on September 12 was called by the opposition to discuss the recent flooding in Abingdon and across the Vale. Lib Dem councillors and council officers were concerned that the meeting had been called too soon, since our
We confess to being more than a little nervous at the good folk of West Oxford turning detective by taking mobile phone pictures of drug dealers at work to give the photographs to the police. We understand the exasperation of people who see crimes
Sir - I should like to apologise for any confusion experienced by Canon Bourdeaux in getting his green garden waste collected by the city council. He complains (Letters, September 28) that the council did not collect green waste in the extra bags
Sir - Christopher Koenig's article (Weekend, September 28) on Francis Kilvert's connections with Wootton by Woodstock was most interesting. His diary rivals that of Pepys for entertaining soul-searching and hidden desires. Unfortunately this left
There were some refreshingly candid remarks made by emergency planners this week in the wake of July's serious floods. Oxfordshire County Council's emergency planning officer, John Kelly, said a major incident should have been declared in the county
Sir - I note that Mr McArthur-Christie has once again been given a large amount of space in your paper (Motoring, September 28) to air his views on the dangers of speed limits on our roads. While he is entitled to his opinion, I think you should be
Sir - It was good to see the piece on ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in last week's voluntary voice. Unfortunately the article didn't mention that there is a local support group for ME sufferers in Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire ME Group for Action (OMEGA).
Sir - The excuses given by Michael Devanney, Royal Mail area manager, for closing the Oxford Mail Centre (Report, September 28) are preposterous. Does anyone really believe that sending letters from one part of Oxford to another via Swindon represents
Sir - In response to a recent letter (September 28) about the noise from train engines in Jericho, your readers may be interested to know that I've been passing on complaints about both pollution and noise from trains parked in the sidings for some
Sir - Your letter writers are correct about lawless pedestrians and cyclists. I could joke that pedestrians walk in the road to avoid the cyclists on the footway! In Turl Street there are also parked cycles two and three deep on the footways because
Sir - Almost every journey starts and ends with a walk, short or long. However, pedestrians were not mentioned in the account of the county's planned transport surveys (Report, September 21). Nor were cyclists. I do hope that this is not reflected
PERCUSSIONIST Joby Burgess is performing at a concert for children and families at Modern Art Oxford. The museum in Pembroke Street is hosting the music session on Thursday, October 11, at 5.45pm. Tickets are available by calling 01865 813800.
Sir - Just back from Germany, I read your last two editorials and the letters on transport, pollution and pedestrianisation. There, even the smallest town has easy interchange between rail and bus or tram to encourage the use of public transport.
Sir - You have used a picture in your latest edition on page 18 which shows water back-flowing from the drainage traps at the junction of Bridge Street and South Street, Osney Island. This happens as they are at a lower level than the drains in the
COMMUTERS have cautiously welcomed timetable changes and the creation of extra seats on services by First Great Western. The train operator controversially cut morning services from Oxford to London Paddington in December last year - a move which
AN OXFORD playscheme fears it has become a political football after learning a promised £20,000 rescue package could be scrapped. Three weeks ago the city council agreed to hand the Dovecote Centre in Nightingale Avenue, Greater Leys, a lifeline -
A CHARLBURY woman celebrated her 100th birthday with a party for the whole town. Charlbury Memorial Hall was packed out with hundreds of residents young and old, as Grace Fredericks blew out her birthday cake candles. There were displays of gymnastics
VOLKSWAGEN is set to launch one of the world's most fuel-efficient liquid-fuelled cars, the 1.4-litre Polo BlueMotion, which returns a combined fuel consumption of 74.3 mpg and emits just 99 g/km of carbon dioxide. To mark its launch, Streetcar, the
SEAT has revealed its most economical and lowest-emission production car - the Ibiza Ecomotive. The Ibiza Ecomotive is set to be among the lowest polluting new cars on sale in the UK, when it arrives next year. Its debut could make even some petrol-electric
AUTUMN may have just begun, but at an Oxford hospice it is already Christmas. Helen and Douglas House, in Magdalen Road, East Oxford, has launched its 2007 Christmas Catalogue. The Oxford-based children's hospice, which celebrated its 25th anniversary
KIA will complete its cee'd family of cars with the three-door version of the Slovakian-built model joining the five-door and estate when it is launched in the UK next January. Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the elaborately named pro_cee'd
NEW powers to tackle graffiti on Oxford's historic colleges are being drawn up by city officials. The agreement, between Oxford City Council and Oxford University, is being thrashed out to cut clean up times and improve the city's image. The idea
FRANCES Kennett, the woman who claimed fortnightly rubbish collections led to rats infesting her Jericho house, has demanded the woman in charge of the service be "removed from her duties". Dr Kennett, who lives in Great Clarendon Street, appeared
BERKELEY Homes plans to build new homes for hundreds of Oxford Brookes University students on the site of the Territorial Army base at The Slade. Berkeley has bought the site from Oxford City Council and this week it submitted detailed plans to build
CHRISTMAS is coming early for a village school in South Africa - with pupils from an Oxfordshire primary recording a fundraising CD of carols. People will be able to get hold of copies of Cholsey Primary School's CD in the run-up to Christmas.
AS FAR as culture swaps go, it couldn't be more different. A 28-strong group of students from Eynsham's Bartholomew School, Eynsham,left home comforts behind for a month-long trip to Kenya - and they say they have returned seeing the world in a different
MUSHROOM markets are being held at Carluccio's at Oxford Castle, New Road, Oxford, from today through to Sunday, 9am until 6pm. There will also be cookery demonstrations taking place at 2pm each day.
MORE than 100 singers have come forward to take part in a mass concert at Oxford's Sheld- onian Theatre to raise money for Oxfam. Professional musicians and singers will be singing and playing alongside Oxfordshire people to put on a performance of
A CHAMPION drummer has beaten his way into the record books, breaking four world records. Jerome Dehedin is now the owner of four certificates proving he has broken the record for the loudest and fastest drummer in the world - and it was all in aid
Next time you're doing a pub quiz, if you see this team sign up it's probably best to quit while you're ahead. Because these five Oxford Brookes University students won a record £75,000 on BBC2 quiz show Eggheads by defeating professional quizzers,
As former sponsors of a local pub quiz league, we were often astonished at the level of knowledge teams showed, even after a few pints. But we fear most would be put in the shade by the eggheads from Oxford Brookes University. Their name - Beer Today
About 1,200 first year students at Oxford's two universities could be at risk of getting chlamydia, according to sexual health workers. Genito-urinary medicine staff at the Harrison Clinic, at the Churchill Hospital, Headington, said about one in every
Parents were worried last night that child rapist Keith Fenn could be released back to their estate within weeks and have joined the campaign to get him caged for longer. Residents in Blackbird Leys were shocked by the original two-year sentence handed
