Finnish driver Mikko Hirvonen will line up as the second driver in Banbury's 555 Subaru World Rally Team next year. The 23-year-old Finn will continue his partnership with Finnish co-driver, Jarmo Lehtinen. Subaru said their decision to sign the Finn
A man who lost his legs five years ago has been told he must spend Christmas in a care home because Oxfordshire Social Services lacks the staff to look after him. Michael Freeman and his dog Max Michael Freeman, 62, is refusing to leave his house, in
SIR -- I am concerned that your front page story may have unnecessarily worried our patients (Oxford Mail, December 6). MRSA and other hospital bugs affect only a very small number of patients each year. The statistics published by the Department of Health
A school's adopted cow is about to give birth, according to reports from Uganda. Fitzharrys, in Abingdon, is linked to a school in Mbarara and after a visit last year was given a long horned cow named Kiva as a token of friendship. But Kiva has not taken
Banbury hope to give a debut to winger Phil Greenhalgh, who has had National League experience with Morley, for their Midlands Division 2 East match at home to Ampthill on Saturday. But there's a slight doubt after Greenhalgh injured a hand in training
Matches involving Oxfordshire teams scheduled for December 20, 2003 ENGLISH CLUBS CHAMPIONSHIP Powergen South West Div 1: Chinnor v Oxford Harlequins. Powergen Midlands Div 2 East: Banbury v Ampthill. Southern Counties North: Bicester v Aylesbury, Grove
James Cathcart, whose late penalty gave Chinnor a dramatic victory over Oxford Harlequins last month, will miss the return clash in South West 1 at Kingsey Road on Saturday (2pm). Quins looked like winning the first Oxfordshire derby at Horspath Road,
Proposals to cut the opening hours of the accident clinic in Witney are being strongly opposed by councillors. At West Oxfordshire District Council's cabinet meeting on Wednesday, members unamimously opposed the plans to reduce the opening hours at the
Jonathan Maskens was rewarded for his victory in the Sunday Telegraph Center Parcs Junior Grand Prix with a tennis lesson from all-time legend John McEnroe. Oxfordshire's rising star was given a brief hit with McEnroe at the Royal Albert Hall, and received
Matches involving Oxfordshire teams scheduled for December 20, 2003 Wessex Masters League Div 1: Oxford Hawks Senators v US Portsmouth Vets. Div 3: Newbury & Thatcham Vets v City of Oxford Bulls.
Nick Colton's Farncombe Mike was narrowly denied in the final of the £1,000 Chudleys Yorkshire Puppy Trophy in front of the Sky Sports cameras at Sheffield on Tuesday. Despite being sent off as the 25-1 to outsider, he managed to dictate the pace for
Oxford Silver Machine promoter Nigel Wagstaff is close to giving the fans the Christmas present they want by moving ever closer to signing American star Greg Hancock. The former world champion, who revitalised the Silver Machine team when he came in for
Thame United suffered another cruel blow in midweek, after striker Danny Keen was stretchered off in their 3-1 defeat against Chesham with suspected cruciate ligament damage. Manager Mark West takes his men Boreham Wood on Saturday, and Keen's woe has
Cherry Red Records Hellenic League: New Abingdon United manager Andy Slater has vowed to get the under-achieving Northcourt Road outfit buzzing again, after being appointed the new man at the helm this week. Slater, 39, who quit as North Leigh's assistant
There was a remarkable family coincidence when brothers Mick and Peter Walton drove into office as captains of their respective clubs - on the very same day. Peter Walton, right, with the club's two other captains in fancy dressFirst on the tee was Peter
Latest results from Oxfordshire's clubs FRILFORD HEATH December Stableford - Div 1: 1 S Simms 37 pts, 2 B Sandys-Lumsdaine 35 (cb), 3 G Buck 35 (cb). Div 2: 1 P Lund 36, 2 M Bence 35, 3 P Lacey 34. NORTH OXFORD Pimms Cup 2nd round: 1 N McWilliams 39pts
"We got him!" -- Paul Bremer's opening words at the press conference announcing Saddam Hussein was in custody were predictable Hollywood. Perhaps he was trying to inject uncharacteristic modesty into the achievement. Saddam was caught like a rat, said
A support group for women suffering pain during pregnancy has been given a £4,685 Lottery award to boost its work. The Pelvic Partnership, based in Harwell, near Didcot, informs and supports sufferers of symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), which makes
Neil Gibson has been appointed acting chief executive of Oxford City Council, while it seeks a successor for Marion Headicar. Mrs Headicar announced in October that she would be leaving in February to become chief executive of Portsmouth City Council.
Hundreds of trees are expected to be planted in Oxfordshire parks, woods and private gardens, thanks to a partnership between the six local authorities. A tree will be planted for every tonne of aluminium collected during a year-long national campaign
Ian Atkins has warned his Oxford United players to watch out for a backlash from Huddersfield Town at the Alfred McAlpine Stadium. Ian AtkinsThe U's have lost top spot in Division 3 after Doncaster Rovers beat Swansea City 3-1 at Belle Vue last night.
A third of drivers do not know how much it costs to run their car, according to a new survey. And despite a dip in running costs of £3.44 a week in July-September 2003, the average cost of running a car is still more than £100 a week. The survey looked
We were lucky and unlucky. Or so the instructor told us as we sat like naughty schoolchildren in a smartly-furnished business unit at Heyford Park, near Bicester. The 18 of us had been offered a place on the three-hour DriveTech speed awareness course
Thames Valley Police is again faced with imposing a substantial rise in council tax to improve services. Thames Valley Police Authority heard yesterday it would have to increase its share of council tax by 20 per cent, in order to meet the cost of inflation
Wallingford Rotary Club will bring a little extra festive spirit to Market Place on December 20. Rotarians will be out and about from 10am until noon, as Father Christmas arrives to serve hot spiced drinks backed by Christmas music. The event, which will
A man has been warned he could face jail for assaulting a disabled pensioner. Michael Redpath, 52, admitted assault and using violence to get into the home of 81-year-old George New. Jan Davies, prosecuting, told Wantage Magistrates' Court that Redpath
A private school has promised to stay in Wantage. Several developers approached St Mary's in July with offers to redevelop the site for housing, prompting governors to consider moving up to 12 miles away. But it has now said it will either develop its
Oxford United have missed out on any live TV coverage this season. There was a chance that their Division 3 promotion battle against Doncaster Rovers at the Kassam Stadium on March 27 might have been chosen. But Sky TV have announced their remaining selections
The Vale of White Horse schools team extended their unbeaten run to an amazing 29 games, during which they have conceded only ten goals and kept 23 clean sheets, when they beat Southampton 2-0 in the first round of the Wright Cup. Vale gave their squad
Senior ice-skaters from Oxford came away with no fewer than nine medals from the Dune of Flanders Cup event in Dunkerque, France. Leading the way was 34-year-old Caroline Lordan, from Risinghurst. She picked up four medals - gold in the bronze interpretive
OXVOX, Oxford United's independent supporters group, have publicly apologised for describing Ian Atkins's management as no more than 'competent'. While praising chairman Firoz Kassam for all he has done at the club, the group delivered a thinly-veiled
The Ministry of Defence has denied soldiers had to travel from Kuwait to Bicester to find missing equipment during the Iraq war. Last week, a report by Government spending watchdog the National Audit Office criticised Bicester's Defence Storage and Distribution
A woman has scattered her sister's ashes in a 10,000ft parachute jump. Anita Webster took to the sky to complete her sister Debbie Parrish's last wish. Keen traveller and parachutist Miss Parrish, 38, of Middleton Road, Banbury, died in September after
Goalkeeper Andy Woodman has described Oxford United's Division 3 game at Huddersfield as "the acid test". Andy WoodmanIt looks to be Oxford's hardest match since they visited Doncaster exactly three months ago and lost 2-0 in what has been their only
Matches involving Oxfordshire teams scheduled for December 21, 2003 MORRELLS OF OXFORD SUNDAY LEAGUE Presidents Cup 1st round: The Nelson v Blackbird Sunday, Arncott v Cold Arbour, Six Bells Kidlington v Stadhampton, Rose Hill v AFC Rileys, Mansfield
Matches involving Oxfordshire teams scheduled for December 20, 2003 NATIONWIDE LEAGUE Div 3: Huddersfield v Oxford Utd. RYMAN LEAGUE Div 1 North: Oxford C v Wingate, Boreham Wood v Thame Utd. Div 2: Chalfont St Peter v Abingdon Tn. DR MARTENS LEAGUE Eastern
Toyota is launching the new Prius hybrid petrol-electric car as the cleanest family car in the world. The Japanese car maker says production of CO2 and NOx is radically low, while particulate matter emissions are non-existent. Figures for consumption
A WOMAN is still recovering in hospital from serious head and arm injuries after being hit by a train between Banbury and Oxford on Friday. The 59-year-old, who has not been named, is likely to be interviewed by psychiatrists at the John Radcliffe Hospital
Proposals to cut the opening hours of the accident clinic in Witney are being strongly opposed by councillors. At West Oxfordshire District Council's cabinet meeting on Wednesday, members unamimously opposed the plans to reduce the opening hours at the
Neil Gibson has been appointed acting chief executive of Oxford City Council, while it seeks a successor for Marion Headicar. Mrs Headicar announced in October that she would be leaving in February to become chief executive of Portsmouth City Council.
Mark Rawle's fantastic equalising goal for Oxford United at Cambridge in November has been chosen by Frank McLintock as his 'Goal of the Year' for Sky's Christmas Day show Jeff, Rodney & Pals. Mark RawleThe goal, which came in injury time and earned
The Volkswagen Passat range is to receive a new look for 2004, and be boosted with the addition of a new model, the Highline, available as a saloon and estate. Prices for the Highline range, which will sit between the SE and Sport trims, will start at
Surveys all point to the British motorist being the eternal optimist when it comes to winter weather, with only a small percentage of them fully prepared for a big freeze, or, worse, heavy snow. Most areas have already experienced one or two frosty mornings
SIR -- I am astonished at the intolerance shown by Wallingford's mayor to people who wish to wear white poppies at the town's Remembrance ceremony (Oxford Mail, December 11). The white poppy was chosen by members of the Co-operative Women's Guild who
SIR -- The announcement that Oxford University has received £3m from the National Heritage Memorial Fund to buy Mary Shelley's Frankenstein manuscript and other documents from the Abinger papers for the Bodleian Library is the latest in a new wave of
A businessman has been fined £3,000 for breaching health and safety notices issued by South Oxfordshire District Council. Peter Durham, of Orchard Road, Botley, Oxford, admitted failing to comply with notices regarding the electrics at his warehouse in
SIR -- Elites are an essential fact of nature. History and science fiction warn us that striving to create false equality is pointless, counterproductive and downright cruel. If we insist on increasingly sending those of barely average intelligence to
Dentists are refusing to accept £200,000 of incentives in exchange for doing more NHS work. Health officials hoped the grants would entice practices to take on patients who needed the low-cost treatment and improve Oxfordshire's poor record for NHS dental
