An Oxford after-school club was today joining the top two per cent in the country by winning a national quality certificate twice. East Oxford First School After School Club in Union Street has secured the Kids Club Network "Aiming High" Quality Assurance
Thirty-five soldiers at Dalton Barracks near Abingdon took part in a vigorous round of manoeuvres - for charity. Members of the 60 Transport Squadron 4 General Support Regiment of the Royal Logistic Corps ran ten miles to raise money for the Oxford Down's
Staff in 70 Oxfordshire schools have won cash bonuses from the Government for their hard work. A typical primary school will receive £5,000 and a typical secondary £25,000. The cash will go to school governors to give bonuses to all the school staff,
Activities designed to make science seem fun will take place in schools this week. As part of National Science Week, primary school pupils in the Wallingford area will face a series of challenges, such as building a structure out of spaghetti and marshmallow
The last Cherry Red Records Hellenic League Division 1 clash between these west Oxfordshire rivals produced nine goals of which Clanfield claimed seven, but this time they finished goalless. Clanfield had the territorial advantage in the first half, but
Measures are being promised to prevent a recurrence of serious flooding which swamped a row of village houses. Local councils and the Environment Agency are working on an action plan to deal with ineffective drainage at Rack End in Standlake. During the
A mayor is backing a police campaign to crack down on vandalism in the town. Hundreds of pounds worth of damage has been caused around Carterton in recent months. The town mayor, Cllr Joe Walcott, said: "There has been a lot of vandalism in the town.
Banbury United continued their climb up the Dr Martens Eastern Division table while most of the rivals were hit by Saturday's weather. Thanks to a small band of club members, the Stadium pitch was passed fit following an inspection in the morning, and
A firm was fined £500 and ordered to pay £1,882 costs for putting up scaffolding without permission. Fergal Contracting Co, of Standlake, near Witney, pleaded guilty at Oxford Magistrates' court. The scaffolding was put up in the Rewley Abbey stream,
Residents facing another planning battle on their doorsteps have gained support from their local councillors. People living in Wellington Street, Thame, are opposing another plan by Economic Computer Services Ltd to extend its single-storey office. In
Wantage bagged three much-needed points in their battle to avoid relegation from the Premier Division after club volunteers spent all morning working on the pitch. Wantage started brightly in treacherous conditions and Almondsbury rarely threatened the
Friday night's rain played havoc with the following day's football fixtures. Oxford United's relegation battle away to Luton was called off on Saturday morning and the non-league programme was decimated. Thame United's trip to Ryman League Division 1
Latest tables for: Simonds Team Cup final, New Team Cup final, Sherlock Team Cup final and Jubilee Cup. Simonds Team Cup final: Thame A 4, County A 2. New Team Cup final: Oxford Snooker C, 4, Littlemore BL A 1. Sherlock Team Cup final: Thame E 4, House
Oxfordshire have won a major cash boost to help more loal children develop in sport. Its 'Active Sports Partnership' is the first in the south east to be awarded lottery funding from Sport England. The partnership, between six local authorities and nine
Two enterprising mothers have combined their friendship with a flair for business and started their own company. Tiffany Brownell and Sharon Rees, who both live on the Bure Park estate, Bicester, only started planning the venture at the beginning of the
Oxford Fox FM Cheetahs suffered some first-night gremlins at Brandon as they were comfortably beaten by Coventry in Saturday's Challenge match. Cheetahs, one of the favourites to lift the Elite League title this season, went into their first taste of
Law firm Manches is holding a free seminar to help businesses make the most of the Internet tomorrow at Worcester College, Oxford. The programme will include practical suggestions on securing and exploiting domain names; hints on developing and hosting
Oxford Harlequins No 6 Andy Jones brought this Grove attack, pictured below, to a halt during Saturday's Southern Counties North derby. Quins put a dent in Grove's promotion hopes with a 10-6 victory. Full report tomorrow.
The difference between the two Cherry Red Records Hellenic League teams was Cleeve's free-scoring forward Kevin Slack who notched a hat-trick. He opened his account on 30 minutes when he outpaced the whole Kidlington defence, but Kidlington rallied after
The last Cherry Red Records Hellenic League Division 1 clash between these west Oxfordshire rivals produced nine goals of which Clanfield claimed seven, but this time they finished goalless. Clanfield had the territorial advantage in the first half, but
Thame A lifted the Simonds Cup with a 4-2 victory over County A. The first frame went the way of Thame, with Mick Bennett recording a 72 break, but Alex Digweed levelled matters, taking the second frame by a single point. Martin Cone put Thame 3-1 ahead
The parents of a teenager killed by his best friend in a car crash said today they felt no anger. Richard Johnson, 20, lost control of his Mazda car and hit a tree. His front seat passenger, Paul Shirley, 19, died at the scene. Paul Shirley, right, died
Pressure is growing for a badly-sited old people's home to be moved to another site. Ladygrove House, in Britwell Road, Didcot, is in a landscaped hollow beyond the northern end of Smallbone Recreation Ground which former Mayor Basil Pryor said provided
MP Evan Harris is backing a campaign to make sure the soccer World Cup tournaments in 2002 and 2006 are shown on terrestrial television. The Oxford West and Abingdon MP has signed a Commons motion calling on Culture Secretary Chris Smith and the Independent
A man who went walkabout on the M40 was restrained by police. Police went to the Overthorpe Road bridge at Banbury after callers said a man was going to jump. When they arrived the man scrambled down an embankment and crossed the motorway to the hard
Ghandi star Ben Kingsley has chosen Oxford for only his second appearance on stage in a decade - and a village hall will benefit directly. He will play novelist D H Lawrence who exchanges intense letters and poems with his wife, Frieda - something which
The parents of a teenager killed by his best friend in a car crash said today they felt no anger. Richard Johnson, 20, lost control of his Mazda car and hit a tree. His front seat passenger, Paul Shirley, 19, died at the scene. Paul Shirley, right, died
Welsh National Opera returns to the Apollo Theatre from Tuesday to Saturday with its spring season of works by Mozart, Verdi and Berlioz, writes Helen Peacocke. Their visit begins with a new production of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro (Tuesday and Friday
Circus fans are in for a treat when Zippos Circus comes to Oxford this week. Customers can decide how much they want to pay for their tickets for the performance on Friday, March 23. There is no recommended minimum admission charge under this scheme.
The last Cherry Red Records Hellenic League Division 1 clash between these west Oxfordshire rivals produced nine goals of which Clanfield claimed seven, but this time they finished goalless. Clanfield had the territorial advantage in the first half, but
All weekend league results for Oxfordshire sides ENGLISH LEAGUE Div 2: Havant 1, Oxford Univ 2; Oxford Hawks 1, Firebrands 3. __________________________ SOUTH LEAGUE Middlesex, Berks, Bucks & Oxon Regional: City of Oxford 1, Ashford 5. Div 1: Abingdon
Oxford Fox FM Cheetahs suffered some first-night gremlins at Brandon as they were comfortably beaten by Coventry in Saturday's Challenge match. Cheetahs, one of the favourites to lift the Elite League title this season, went into their first taste of
Sue Heap appears as eccentric as one of the characters in her award-winning children's books. She sweeps in for her interview wearing a striking array of bright woollen clothes and a bizarre, tasselled scarf, writes Katherine MacAlister. On further questioning
An Oxford based telephone service provider is challenging BT's claims of being cheaper than its rivals by offering low telephone call charges. Based at the Oxford Science Park and backed by the Oxford Technology Venture Capital Trust, Equitalk.co.uk aims
Company managers have been warned against bogus 'consultants' claiming to secure big savings on business rates. Oxfordshire Trading Standards has produced a leaflet after receiving complaints about unscrupulous consultants making false and misleading
Two enterprising mothers have combined their friendship with a flair for business and started their own company. Tiffany Brownell and Sharon Rees, who both live on the Bure Park estate, Bicester, only started planning the venture at the beginning of the
Payments of £25 are to be made to everyone who takes part in public meetings on Thames Valley Police Authority's next annual policing plan. It agreed to make the payments after a recruiting agency said it would help attract an audience to get feedback
Members of the Marion Flanagan School of Irish Dancing celebrated St Patrick's Day with dazzling public displays. The group performed slip jigs, light jigs and a Riverdance-style troupe dance at Templars Square Shopping Centre, Cowley, and the Westgate
Cyclists are to be allowed to share a right of way with pedestrians through a busy shopping street. Cycling on the pa ved area outside shops at the north end of St Ebbe's Street, Oxford, will now be officially allowed, following a change to the traffic
An Oxford after-school club was today joining the top two per cent in the country by winning a national quality certificate twice. East Oxford First School After School Club in Union Street has secured the Kids Club Network "Aiming High" Quality Assurance
Demands that two councillors should be disciplined for breaking council rules have been dropped after one of them died. Tories on the Vale of White Horse district council were angered when a letter on council headed notepaper was circulated in Wootton
A deputy bar manager and his accomplice fled with £11,897 in takings after he was left in charge of a pub. Kevin Brown, 24, was left to run Que Pasa, in New Road, Oxford, between January 19 and 21. Sue Davies, prosecuting, told Oxford Crown Court Brown
Staff in 70 Oxfordshire schools have won cash bonuses from the Government for their hard work. A typical primary school will receive £5,000 and a typical secondary £25,000. The cash will go to school governors to give bonuses to all the school staff,
Pressure is growing for a badly-sited old people's home to be moved to another site. Ladygrove House, in Britwell Road, Didcot, is in a landscaped hollow beyond the northern end of Smallbone Recreation Ground which former Mayor Basil Pryor said provided
A fundraiser is joining Formula One team owner Eddie Jordan on a 380km cycle ride through India in aid of charity. Hayley ParsonsHayley Parsons, 23, of Edgeway Road, New Marston, Oxford, and other cyclists, including Mr Jordan and his wife, Marie, aim
Moves to stop drivers taking a short cut to Oxford United's new stadium could be thwarted by a legal tangle. When planning permission was granted for the Minchery Farm stadium, Littlemore residents were told that steps would be taken before the first
Declining wildlife is thriving in the most unexpected place - Oxford Airport at Kidlington. Skylarks and voles, both threatened through changes in farming practices, have been spotted at the site off Langford Lane, including a grass verge near a runway
Members of the Marion Flanagan School of Irish Dancing celebrated St Patrick's Day with dazzling public displays. The group performed slip jigs, light jigs and a Riverdance-style troupe dance at Templars Square Shopping Centre, Cowley, and the Westgate
Henry Box's rugby players are celebrating after lifting the Mid Oxon Under 12 Cup. They came out on top in the three-way contest with a 10-5 victory over hosts Burford and a 10-0 success against Witney rivals Wood Green. The team And Henry Box came within
Oxford United say they will do all they can to persuade Phil Gray not to leave in the summer. Gray's return to his old club Luton Town on Saturday was put on hold when the match was postponed because of heavy overnight rain - their fifth Division 2 postponement
Thame A lifted the Simonds Cup with a 4-2 victory over County A. The first frame went the way of Thame, with Mick Bennett recording a 72 break, but Alex Digweed levelled matters, taking the second frame by a single point. Martin Cone put Thame 3-1 ahead
Oxford Mail drama critic Chris Gray is taking part in tonight's edition of Nigel Rees's BBC Radio 4 panel game Quote...Unquote at 6.30pm with fellow journalists Polly Devlin, Vivienne Parry and John Cole. It will be repeated at noon on Sunday.
Feminist Germaine Greer will officially open Oxfordshire record office's new home. Prof Greer, who wrote the controversial novel The Female Eunuch, visited the office as a researcher when it was based in County Hall. She will be able to see how much the
TV star Cilla Black is looking for game show contestants in Oxfordshire. She is on the look-out for families and groups wanting to line up for her popular Moment of Truth programme. The show's team is including Oxfordshire in its search for families of
Moves to stop drivers taking a short cut to Oxford United's new stadium could be thwarted by a legal tangle. When planning permission was granted for the Minchery Farm stadium, Littlemore residents were told that steps would be taken before the first
Violence between Asians and Afro-Caribbeans in Oxford last week is believed to have been sparked by the arrival of a group from London, community leaders said today. They insisted that there was no rift between members of the two communities in Oxford
MP Evan Harris is backing a campaign to make sure the soccer World Cup tournaments in 2002 and 2006 are shown on terrestrial television. The Oxford West and Abingdon MP has signed a Commons motion calling on Culture Secretary Chris Smith and the Independent
An Abingdon College student was one of three to win Student of the Year awards from the Oxford Group of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Margaret Rolls, of Abingdon College, Emma Blair, of Oxford Brookes University, and Adam Pickford
Our Lady's Convent School in Abingdon has been given £25,000 to bring its computer department up to date. Research Machines, based in the town, has made 30 computers available, along with six new whiteboards to be used around the school. Deputy headteacher
Donnington Middle School raised £750 for Comic Relief with a series of activities including eating chocolate beans with chopsticks. Teacher Rob Carey was sponsored to wear a sumo wrestler's outfit for the day. The social committee at Oxford Psychologists
An Abingdon College student was one of three to win Student of the Year awards from the Oxford Group of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Margaret Rolls, of Abingdon College, Emma Blair, of Oxford Brookes University, and Adam Pickford
Abingdon's monthly farmers' market is the latest casualty of the foot and mouth restrictions. The market was due to have been held today, but was cancelled at the weekend following the slaughter of 265 animals at Hinksey Heights farm near South Hinksey
Activities designed to make science seem fun will take place in schools this week. As part of National Science Week, primary school pupils in the Wallingford area will face a series of challenges, such as building a structure out of spaghetti and marshmallow
Demands that two councillors should be disciplined for breaking council rules have been dropped after one of them died. Tories on the Vale of White Horse district council were angered when a letter on council headed notepaper was circulated in Wootton
Dance teacher Annie Alderman, of Moonlight Dancing, will be introducing modern jive to the Castle Leisure Centre, in St George's Road, Wallingford, on Saturday, April 28. A beginners' class will begin at 8pm, followed by a freestyle dance session from
Your parish needs you! That is the message from Cholsey parish councillors who are trying to find replacements after three council members resigned. Chairman George Crockett said: "Our full complement is 13, but we are down to ten at present. It impairs
Staff from an Oxfordshire Young Offenders' Institution received awards at Buckingham Palace for their innovative work. The Princess Royal presented Stieve Butler and Peter Meyerhoff with Butler Trust awards after they established the concept of 'break
A 62-year-old county councillor is to make a bid to climb Everest - a feat that would make him the oldest Briton to have reached the summit. Roy Tudor Hughes, Oxfordshire county councillor for Dorchester-on-Thames, flies to the Himalayas for the record-breaking
Wantage bagged three much-needed points in their battle to avoid relegation from the Premier Division after club volunteers spent all morning working on the pitch. Wantage started brightly in treacherous conditions and Almondsbury rarely threatened the
The Over-60s Club has been busy fundraising, bringing in £70.50 for a new minibus for Witney's Moorland Centre and £70 for the British Heart Foundation.
After dismissing Banbury Twenty for 64, Great Tew reached their target off the final ball to record their first win of the season in the Banbury Gas Appliance Showroom Indoor League. **Scores: Culworth 118-5 (J Street 48no, I Hawtin 29) bt Broughton 65
The new company taking over west Oxfordshire's council housing has yet to find a headquarters. The official transfer of the district council's 3,600 homes and tenants is next Monday, but the company is still to find permanent offices. David Walters, chief
Landowner David Sperry has been fined for storing vehicles on former farmland. Mr Sperry failed to comply with a demand from South Oxfordshire District Council to remove vehicles from land at his home at New Farm, Mill Lane, Elsfield. He admitted an offence
A husband's plan to build a home specially adapted for his wheelchair-bound wife has gained the backing of town councillors. Richard Edwards wants to build a new chalet-type house behind Green Gates in Queens Road, Thame, which can be used easily by his
A man convicted of armed robbery at an Oxfordshire garden centre has been jailed for 14 years. Giles Robinson, 27, of Greenford, Middlesex, was found guilty at Reading Crown Court of conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary and related firearms offences
All weekend league results for Oxfordshire sides ENGLISH NATIONAL LEAGUE Div 1: Henley 24, Wakefield 7. __________________________ ENGLISH CLUBS CHAMPIONSHIP Midlands Div 1: Barker's Butts 18, Banbury 20. South West Div 2 East: Abbey 41, Witney 6; Tadley
Ardley recovered from the shock of conceding an early goal to maintain their Cherry Red Records Hellenic League Division 1 West promotion push. Things didn't look good for the second-placed side when Courtney Chessell calmly put Purton ahead. Ardley's
Banbury United continued their climb up the Dr Martens Eastern Division table while most of the rivals were hit by Saturday's weather. Thanks to a small band of club members, the Stadium pitch was passed fit following an inspection in the morning, and
Thame A lifted the Simonds Cup with a 4-2 victory over County A. The first frame went the way of Thame, with Mick Bennett recording a 72 break, but Alex Digweed levelled matters, taking the second frame by a single point. Martin Cone put Thame 3-1 ahead
The parents of a teenager killed by his best friend in a car crash said today they felt no anger. Richard Johnson, 20, lost control of his Mazda car and hit a tree. His front seat passenger, Paul Shirley, 19, died at the scene. Paul Shirley, right, died
All weekend league results for Oxfordshire sides NATIONWIDE LEAGUE Div 2: Luton Tn v Oxford Utd pp. __________________________ RYMAN LEAGUE Div 1: Braintree Tn v Thame Utd pp; Oxford City v Yeading pp. Div 3: Abingdon Tn v Hertford Tn pp. ____________
Ardley recovered from the shock of conceding an early goal to maintain their Cherry Red Records Hellenic League Division 1 West promotion push. Things didn't look good for the second-placed side when Courtney Chessell calmly put Purton ahead. Ardley's
Residents are furious that coaches turning up for a schools' rugby competition used a track out of bounds because of foot and mouth. They say they have been observing the regulations and not using the lane off Edgeway Road, New Marston, Oxford, which
A youth club is planning a series of girls' nights to help eight to 18-year-olds deal with emotional and educational problems. The Willy Freund club on Banbury's Bretch Hill estate has been given funding of £546 by the NHS-supported Oxfordshire Healthy
Primary school children had a lesson in current affairs when they heard a debate on the future of Banbury's roads. Oxfordshire County Council's senior road engineer Colin Baird and town, district, and county councillor Kieron Mallon said the issues would
A plan to make Banbury the region's first-choice stop-off for shopping, dining, and leisure has been approved by Cherwell District Council's development committee. A Town Centre Partnership will be given the job of making Banbury a place where people
MP Tony Baldry is disappointed by the Government's refusal to change Social Security rules which deny a family the cash needed to provide specialist care for a disabled woman. Muriel Briggs cares for her 31-year-old daughter Rachel, who suffers from Down's
The City of Oxford Theatre Guild promises a colourful, fast-moving production when the curtain goes up on John O'Connor and Roger Simmonds new musical adaptation of Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales at the Oxford Playhouse from Tuesday. Ed Hassell
The difference between the two Cherry Red Records Hellenic League teams was Cleeve's free-scoring forward Kevin Slack who notched a hat-trick. He opened his account on 30 minutes when he outpaced the whole Kidlington defence, but Kidlington rallied after
Latest tables for: Simonds Team Cup final, New Team Cup final, Sherlock Team Cup final and Jubilee Cup. Simonds Team Cup final: Thame A 4, County A 2. New Team Cup final: Oxford Snooker C, 4, Littlemore BL A 1. Sherlock Team Cup final: Thame E 4, House
Oxfordshire have won a major cash boost to help more loal children develop in sport. Its 'Active Sports Partnership' is the first in the south east to be awarded lottery funding from Sport England. The partnership, between six local authorities and nine
All weekend league results for Oxfordshire sides NATIONWIDE LEAGUE Div 2: Luton Tn v Oxford Utd pp. __________________________ RYMAN LEAGUE Div 1: Braintree Tn v Thame Utd pp; Oxford City v Yeading pp. Div 3: Abingdon Tn v Hertford Tn pp. ____________
Part of the armoury of recovering alcoholics is their finely-developed line in grim humour. For example, they'll often refer to non-alcoholics - or people blessed with the ability to take a drink without the drink taking them - as 'civilians'. This month
Law firm Manches is holding a free seminar to help businesses make the most of the Internet tomorrow at Worcester College, Oxford. The programme will include practical suggestions on securing and exploiting domain names; hints on developing and hosting
Three students won Student of the Year awards from the Oxford Group of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Emma Blair, of Oxford Brookes University, Adam Pickford, of Oxford College of Further Education and Margaret Rolls, of Abingdon
Biotech company Oxford Biomedica wants to raise £37m to fund the development of its genetic treatments for cancer and other diseases. The company is also moving from the Alternative Investment Market to London's main stock market. Most of the share issue
A fundraiser is joining Formula One team owner Eddie Jordan on a 380km cycle ride through India in aid of charity. Hayley ParsonsHayley Parsons, 23, of Edgeway Road, New Marston, Oxford, and other cyclists, including Mr Jordan and his wife, Marie, aim
The widower of novelist Dame Iris Murdoch was today at the centre of allegations that he made up love affairs revealed in his recent memoirs. Prof John Bayley, 75, of Charlbury Road, north Oxford, has denied fabricating two relationships he said he had
A large crowd is expected at the annual second-hand book sale at the Methodist Church in Oxford Road, on Saturday, from 10am to 4pm. Last year's sale attracted 420 buyers and raised £2,760, with 6,000 books sold.
Backpackers congregated in Oxford to embark on a fundraising attempt to hitchhike to the shores of north Africa. The official send-off for the 46 students involved in the challenge took placein Oriel Square. The hitchhikers, from Oxford and Oxford Brookes
A 62-year-old county councillor is to make a bid to climb Everest - a feat that would make him the oldest Briton to have reached the summit. Roy Tudor Hughes, Oxfordshire county councillor for Dorchester-on-Thames, flies to the Himalayas for the record-breaking
A cancer charity's Oxfordshire fundraising branch urgently needs a new home. Macmillan Cancer Relief, based in Kidlington, needs to secure new offices so that it can concentrate on raising cash for a new palliative care nurse at the Horton Hospital in
Cyclists are to be allowed to share a right of way with pedestrians through a busy shopping street. Cycling on the pa ved area outside shops at the north end of St Ebbe's Street, Oxford, will now be officially allowed, following a change to the traffic
Residents are furious that coaches turning up for a schools' rugby competition used a track out of bounds because of foot and mouth. They say they have been observing the regulations and not using the lane off Edgeway Road, New Marston, Oxford, which
TV star Cilla Black is looking for game show contestants in Oxfordshire. She is on the look-out for families and groups wanting to line up for her popular Moment of Truth programme. The show's team is including Oxfordshire in its search for families of
Ghandi star Ben Kingsley has chosen Oxford for only his second appearance on stage in a decade. He will play novelist D H Lawrence who exchanges intense letters and poems with his wife, Frieda - something which Mr Kingsley said was 'very, very close to
Payments of £25 are to be made to everyone who takes part in public meetings on Thames Valley Police Authority's next annual policing plan. It agreed to make the payments after a recruiting agency said it would help attract an audience to get feedback
