A Californian car buyer has ordered an 80,000 Oxfordshire-built Aston Martin DB7 in bright yellow to match his company stationery, writes David Duffy. The DB7 Vantage Volante is on its way to Los Angeles together with a supply of the special colour in
Greene King is to maintain its links between the MG Car Club and the ex-Morland brand Old Speckled Hen, writes David Duffy. When the club's annual rally came round, Greene King's business manager Simon Kidd found them a special meeting place the Hungry
Problems experienced by new car owners at delivery and during the first two years of ownership are at their lowest level since research firm J.D.Power and Associates began measuring car customer satisfaction seven years ago, writes David Duffy. The company's
Falling car prices and competitive deals have put car buyers into the driving seat, writes David Duffy. Alf Middleton, group general manager at Motorworld, one of Oxfordshire's largest motor groups, said: "Despite what you may have heard, many new car
Vauxhall's new mini people carrier the agile Agila boasts some of the lowest running costs of any car, according to the car-maker, writes David Duffy. With on-the-road prices starting below 7,000 for the Agila 1.0-litre 12-valve model and 7,450 for the
Paramedic Matt Hillis was today back at work and making plans for his wedding after saving his own life by diagnosing a deadly blood clot. The 29-year-old told his fiancee Anna Mason what he suspected was wrong with him before he collapsed. Anna, a nurse
A Headteacher has appealed for help after the theft of two laptop computers used by pupils with special educational needs. Hilary White made the appeal after the Compaq Armada laptops and some CDs were stolen from Lawn Upton Middle School, Sandford Road
Police are demanding improved security at a Banbury school wrecked by vandals at the weekend. An out-building at Hardwick Primary School was set on fire, windows were broken and roof tiles were smashed. Beat bobby Pc Steve Robinson and crime reduction
Primary school pupils have been solving crime and coping with emergency calls. A police control room has been set up at Dashwood School, Banbury, and nine and ten-year-olds from the school have been taking part in the five-day exercise. They are following
Oxford University students are taking part in a scheme to help South African schools without electricity, telephones or textbooks. They will spend their summer vacation visiting primary schools in rural areas of Kwazulu-Natal and Cape Province and have
Bicester AC's men's team were up against it in their Division 6 (West) fixture at Basingstoke. Their four rival teams included Team Solent, who are challenging strongly for promotion, as well as Haslemere Border and Chichester, who had both triumphed
Radley Ladies A returned from their Southern League Division 1 meeting at Woodford with a second place, 189 points and a new club pole vault record. Sixteen-year-old Caroline Smith vaulted three metres, setting a new record and improving her position
Morrells Oxford and District League report Kevin Giles's 15-doll haul proved in vain for George A as they went down 2-1 to Cricketers B in the Morrells Oxford and District League. Kevin Baker was the leading scorer for Cricketers with 13 in the Premier
Abingdon League Section A: Brewery Tap A 6, Crispin A 0; Wootton Legion 1, Saxton Arms 5; Tandem 4, Fox 2; Volunteer 6, Steventon Sports 0; Abingdon Legion A 0, Cumnor CC A 6. Section B: Didcot Con Club 3, Abingdon United 3; Berinsfield SC 6, Horse &
Some author's lives are almost as fascinating as their books. Katherine MacAlister tracks down Tim Pears at his Oxford home as he is about to strike it big with another TV serialisation Tim Pears's life has been so varied, and success has come so late
A new Web site aimed at young people is due to be launched on July 7. Spired.com, a project funded and devised by Oxfordshire County Council, is to hit cyberspace at a private reception followed by a launch gig at The Net in Stratton Way, Abingdon.
A quiz set by word buff Tony Augarde has boosted a new Internet company which has launched a website giving access to dozens of reference books. The company, Xrefer, has 19 titles, including the Macmillan Encyclopaedia and Oxford Companion to English
Some of the world's best-loved melodies exerted their power to stir the soul as Welsh National Opera returned to Oxford with Georges Bizet's Carmen, writes Chris Gray. What a splendid start this gave to the company's summer visit, with its famous chorus
Bernard Tollett Oxfordshire Cup draw QUARTER-FINAL DRAW (ties to be played on Tuesday, July 11): Sandford St M v Oxford, Shipton v Cumnor, Banbury v Bic & N Oxford, Oxford Downs v Banbury XX.
Dave Ridgley hit the first century in the history of the Kingston Bagpuize TNT Cider KO Cup to help Aston Rowant into the final. Ridgley smashed 103 not out and Wesley Morrick an unbeaten 69 as Rowant rattled up 185-0 from their 20 overs in the semi-final
Andrew Garner led the Abingdon Amblers team home in 41st position when their trio made the trip to the annual Wargrave Runners 10K Road Race. Garner's time was 39mins 41secs and following closely behind, in a personal best 40.54, was Alister Felton. Noel
Oxford 'gene-hunters' played a major part in unravelling the genetic code for human beings, writes Amanda Castleman Scientists may soon be able to read us like a book, after cracking the code of human life. This discovery - compared to the invention of
The Marquess of Winchester's Regiment, (of the Kings Army within the English Civil War Society), are re-enacting The Siege of Wallingford over the weekend July 15-16, 2000. The battle will take place in and around the Castle Ruins, and will have cavalry
It goes without saying that the Web is an invaluable research and learning tool and any scholar denied access to it is really missing out on a wealth of information. However, getting to that information is an art form in itself and can sometimes lead
Young business tycoons in Oxfordshire have been given a boost for their enterprising ideas. The Unique Pub Company, based in Thame, has donated 1,000 to the Young Enterprise scheme, which helps school students learn about the world of commerce by setting
Details of a controversial track aimed at getting children to school more safely have been lodged. Bristol-based Sustrans has revised its original plans for linking the two sites of Lord Williams's School, Thame. Sustrans is developing the old railway
The spiralling population of Bicester has forced Post Office chiefs to give the town three new postcodes. Businesses and residents currently share the OX6 code but from September it will be replaced by three new codes OX25, OX26 and OX27. Mail users have
A film stuntman who worked on Titanic and Trainspotting has died in a tragic parachuting accident. Terry Forrestal, 52, of Childrey, near Wantage a former member of the SAS was base-jumping from cliffs while on holiday in Norway. He had made seven successful
HOpes are high that a six-year archaeology study at an Oxfordshire castle will produce major historical finds, writes Ian Townsend. The Leicester University study will look at the links between Wallingford Castle and the Saxon and medieval town. The dig
A multi-sports play area could be held up for several weeks in a glitch over a will. The facility aimed at local youngsters was to have been set up on the old tennis courts in Elms Park, Thame. Agreement had been reached with the late Harold Purser, of
Oxford's middle schools are on course to be abolished as councillors agreed to grasp the nettle over the 10m gap in funding for the project. The Government is not likely to decide whether to give the county council more cash for the change from three
Angry Thames Water customer Alan Edwards has received bills totalling several thousand pounds over the past two years for a household of only three people. Mr Edwards lives with his wife Eleanor and her mother Barbara Clutton-Brock in Shipton Road, Ascott
The Government is asking Oxfordshire County Council to explain why it has set its council tax so high. Hilary Armstrong, minister for local government and the regions, says she is "concerned" about the decisions the council has taken. In a letter to former
Subaru's new Impreza Sport Special is not to missed it's available in any colour you like as it's either Black Mica or Cashmere Yellow, writes David Duffy. Meanwhile, the Sport Special's interior features high-backed Turbo front seats with bright yellow
Gladiator Fox, alias Tam Baker, couldn't resist getting on her bike at Sunday's Oxford Mail Motorshow. Fox opened the event and then toured the stands with editor Pat Fleming. And Tam, who has just passed her motorbike test in Oxford, took a special interest
A range of accessories is being marketed for the Vauxhall Agila which has gone on sale in UK dealer showrooms, writes David Duffy. Exterior equipment includes mudflaps and headlamp protectors, and for customers wanting to give their car that individual
Eco-award goes to the Primera The Nissan Primera was voted first in class by the Association for Transport and Environment of Switzerland in its annual survey to find the most environmentally friendly car. The Nissan Primera 1.8-litre, launched in September
Imagine a vehicle with so much torque it will pull from 20mph in top gear and still be pulling like a train at 120mph, writes John Gilbride. A vehicle that will protect you from the very worst the British climate can throw at you and is capable of taking
Bernard Tollett Oxfordshire Cup 2ND ROUND RESULTS **Oxford 147-7 (B Thompson 84 no), Kidlington 116-6 (J Constable 55, B Thompson 4-12). **Bicester & N Oxford 141-2 (G Savin 67 no, D Woods 52 no), Thame 141-7 (R Brooks 90). Bic & N Oxford won
Thame, who won last year's Oxon Cup by losing fewer wickets in a tied final, bowed out of this year's competition in identical fashion last night. By extraordinary co-incidence, the opponents in both instances were Bicester and North Oxford, who now go
Oxford United are today set to sign left-sided centre back Ian McGuckin on a free transfer from Fulham. The 27-year-old was travelling to Oxford today and is expected to sign a two or three-year contract. Like previous signings Richard Knight, John Robertson
White Horse Harriers' men's team won the Southern Men's League third round fixture at Battersea Park to boost their prospects of promotion from Division 6. The middle distance events provided the club with rich pickings in terms of points, but the sprinters
Morrells Oxford and District League Premier/Section 1: Cricketers B 2, George A 1; Highfield 2, Kidlington Spts 1; Royal Sun B 3, Plough 0; Saddlers 2, Cricketers A 1; Blackbird Leys SC A 2, Garsington Spts 1. Section 2: Plough 2, Kidlington Spts 1; North
Card for Oxford Stadium meeting, June 29 7.35 450m A9 Loughananna Sky - (Jim Morgan) Distant Hill - (Ian Wills) Abbeys Prey 3 - (David Egan) New Inn Jeanie - (Steve Davis) HOT CHARMER (W) - (Tony Magnasco) Mondella Boy (W) - (Jim Morgan) 7.50 450m A8
A prayer penned by an Oxford schoolboy will feature in a Millennium service at St Paul's Cathedral in London. Philip Wood, of Frenchay Road, Oxford, wrote the prayer while studying for his A-levels at Magdalen College School, winning a creative writing
A new flag will be flown on special occasions from the town hall in Witney, in honour of the ten-year link with its twin town in Germany. The flag was presented to Witney mayor Louise Chapman at the start of a weekend visit by 52 visitors from Unterhaching
Katherine MacAlister samples the delights of the Centre Court I was a virgin Wimbledoner until yesterday, when I decided to break the habit, turn off the TV and go to witness the action for myself. Within hours of arriving I was transfixed, experiencing
A BRAINY idea thought up by Oxford University dons could be commercialised to help people with sleep disorders, writes Maggie Hartford. A team led by Professor Lionel Tarassenko at the department of engineering originally developed the "neural network
Tim Henman revealed after his first-round win over Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan last night how he was doubly determined not to give British tennis fans another let-down following Greg Rusedski's early exit from the Championships, writes Jon Murray at
