Oxford and Oxfordshire news, sport and information updated throughout the day

Stories for 29 May 2004

Oxfordshire Business

Computer firm expands staff as profits grow

Computer company RM is looking for 70 more permanent staff and 150 temps as it announced a healthy profit.   more...

Download music to help Oxfam

Oxford-based charity Oxfam is selling pop songs on the Internet to combat world poverty.   more...

Abandoned mailbag left in back garden

A mechanical engineer who was putting out the rubbish in his back garden in Oxford found a dumped bag full of post.   more...

It's change or bust, says hospitals chief

Oxfordshire hospitals boss Trevor Campbell Davis said significant cuts and changes were vital to make services "fit for the future".   more...

Oxfordshire Cars

Anger at police speeding policy

Motorists are losing respect for the police because of "robotic" speed enforcement methods, according to the RAC.   more...

Engine options for Laguna range

Renault has added a new GT version and its first Euro IV compliant diesel engine to the Laguna range.   more...

Chrysler launch Voyager revamp

The new Chrysler Voyager goes on sale in the UK with a new look, a new engine and transmission and substantially increased levels of passenger safety.   more...

Engineers create Le Mans hopeful

The hopes and dreams of a group of Oxfordshire engineers could be realised in one of the world's greatest races next month.   more...

BMF show boasts record attendance

A record attendance of 91,337 people helped make last weekend's massive British Motorcyclists Federation BMF Show one of the best ever!   more...

Oxfordshire Education

Schools on target to achieve GCSE goals

Schools in Oxfordshire look set to meet tough new GCSE targets next year and secure a £1m cash incentive from the Government, according to a report.   more...

Oxford comes second

Oxford University has narrowly lost out to Cambridge for a top ranking place in a performance league table.   more...

Oxfordshire Jobs

This working life: Solicitor

Suzy Bishop, 29, solicitor and opera singer, of Blake Lapthorn Linnell in Botley, talks about her working life   more...

Adult learner wins award

A mother who wanted to help her son with his homework has picked up a top international award after signing up for a special adult learners project.   more...

This working life: Teaching and writing

Paul Gustafson, 48, author, naturalist, angler and teacher, from Abingdon, talks about his working life   more...

Oxfordshire Local Info

John White

One of the founder members of the Vale of White Horse District Council during the local government reorganisation of 30 years ago has died aged 66.   more...

Oxfordshire News

Bank holiday rail changes

FIRST Great Western Link will run a slightly amended service over the Bank Holiday weekend because of engineering work between Reading and Didcot and between West Ealing and Southall.   more...

Booked for parking during charity run

SIR - I took part in the Town and Gown Fun Run in Oxford, raising £70 for muscular dystrophy.   more...

Short of postmen - you're joking!

SIR - I read with amazement the article regarding staff shortages at Royal Mail's Headington sorting office (Oxford Mail, May 17).   more...

Tories did nothing

It's a bit rich of MP Tony Baldry to complain about the level of international aid (Oxford Mail, May 27). His Tory Government had 18 years in power and did nothing.   more...

Row erupts over tenants' forums

Forums set up as talking shops for Oxford council house tenants at a cost of £100,000 a year are to be scrapped after failing to produce one good idea in two years.   more...

Syringe threats

Security staff at Debenhams in Oxford were threatened with a syringe after confronting an alleged shoplifter.   more...

Oxford comes second

Oxford University has narrowly lost out to Cambridge for a top ranking place in a performance league table.   more...

'Nightmare' footpath prompts safety calls

Fears for the safety of students in an unlit, overgrown Oxford lane have led councillors and university leaders to call for improvements.   more...

Doorman jailed for 8 years for rape

A former nightclub doorman has been jailed for a total of ten years after a jury found him guilty of raping a prostitute and of possessing a firearm.   more...

Squatters ordered to leave cottages

Squatters who set up a social centre in an empty Oxford house have been ordered to leave - or risk being thrown out by bailiffs.   more...

Artists sell work to aid hospital appeal

An Oxford artist is to donate some of his work for an auction to boost the Oxford Children's Hospital appeal.   more...

Charity party tribute to epilepsy victim

A farmer whose god-daughter died after an epileptic fit is organising a community party at his farm to raise money for a charity helping people with the condition.   more...

Dismay as judges refer dispute to Court of Appeal

A bid to take a legal battle over Oxford's Trap Grounds to the House of Lords has failed and is now expected to go to the Court of Appeal.   more...

Council chief steps down

Mike McNulty, who steered progress on Didcot's major town centre Orchard Centre redevelopment, has stepped down as leader of the town council.   more...

May 28: Mindless vandals

Autistic schoolchildren who were looking forward to an adventure weekend in Wales may have to cancel the trip because their buses have been vandalised.   more...

Residents double their recycling rate

North Oxfordshire residents have more than doubled their recycling rate in less than a year.   more...

Fears over new car park plan

Householders unhappy at the prospect of a car park being created at the end of their back gardens have sent a petition of protest to Cherwell District Council.   more...

Primary to build £90,000 nursery

A new nursery is to be built at Uffington Primary School, near Wantage, the first major development at the school for 50 years.   more...

Court action forces injuries unit U-turn

High Court action has succeeded in forcing Oxfordshire health chiefs to scrap plans to slash opening hours at a minor injuries unit.   more...

May 24: It's all right for some

By the look of it, not only London Mayor Ken Livingstone is happy to see the capital's rubbish dumped in someone else's backyard.   more...

May 22: A labour of love

We offer our warmest congratulations to Montpelier Estates, the remarkable small company of enthusiasts from Wheatley, who were responsible for the design of Douglas House, the east Oxford hospice.   more...

Criminals could be put to work

Convicted criminals could soon be working in Wallingford doing jobs ranging from painting and decorating to bringing derelict areas back into use.   more...

Three-wheeled cart will help bid for gold

A historic farm cart with three wheels has been offered to Abingdon to help boost its campaign for a gold award in this year's 'Britain in Bloom' competition.   more...

Aid must be increased

Four years ago, I travelled with Oxfam to Ghana in Africa and met eight-year old Anusibuno.   more...

School sport goes private

Private fitness coaches are being hired by two Oxfordshire primary schools to make sure pupils get specialist sports lessons - while teachers do paperwork.   more...

Birthday 'spoilt' by mail thieves

Blackbird Leys mother Emma Deare was shocked when her daughter's birthday package arrived - without a present inside.   more...

Oxfordshire Sport

Henman marches on in French Open

Tim Henman insisted he can go further in the French Open after his stunning victory over Spain's Galo Blanco yesterday, which put him into the last 16 for the first time.   more...

Rix swoops for Mackay

Graham Rix's Oxford United squad continues to take shape following the arrival of defender Dave Mackay.   more...

Golf: Dominant Burford leap into top spot

Burford jumped three places to the top of the Shaw & Co Oxfordshire Foursomes League with a resounding 3-0 victory at home to Hadden Hill.   more...

Golf: Gunn fires Oxon home

An impressive victory from Andrew Gunn (The Wychwood) helped Oxfordshire under 16s to hit back and beat Worcestershire 8-7 in an exciting match at Brailes.   more...

Football: Ford in switch to Brackley

Former Oxford United defender Mike Ford has left Didcot Town to join newly-promoted Dr Martens League Division 1 West outfit Brackley Town as player-coach.   more...

Athletics: Boden on top of the world

Veronica Boden broke her second world record in the space of a week when she starred for Radley in their Southern Women's League Division 1 meeting at Ware, Hertfordshire.   more...

Athletics: Debut boy Neil scales heights

Neil Rutherford had a debut to remember with a double victory to help Abingdon Amblers beat arch-rivals Radley by 13 points to win their Southern Men's League Division 3 meeting at Tilsley Park.   more...

Athletics: Amblers romp home to victory

Abingdon Amblers put up a fine display to win their Southern Women's League Division 3 West meeting at Poole.   more...

Speedway: Injury toll mounts for unlucky Oxford

Coventry Bees 58, Oxford Silver Machine 36: Oxford's long injury list worsened as the Silver Machine suffered a crushing Elite League defeat at Brandon last night.   more...

Higgs hits form as Thame cruise

Michael Higgs hit an unbeaten half-century as Thame eased to a nine-wicket victory over Horspath in Section C of the Oxfordshire Under 15 Club Championship.   more...

Academy gunned down by Spitfires

Oxford Silver Machine Academy were shot down 48-46 by the Stoke Spitfires in the final heat of an intriguing Conference League clash at Oxford Stadium last night.   more...

Snowden takes up Coventry post

Former Oxford Stadium general manager Jim Snowden is to join rival track Coventry.   more...

Tennis calendar

All the week's fixtures, May 21-27   more...

Rugby: Oxon hit the heights to escape the drop

Oxfordshire 52, Essex 22: Oxfordshire retained their place in the Tetley's County Championship with an emphatic victory over Essex in their relegation decider at Banbury on Saturday.   more...

Cricket: Launder boosts Banbury

Banbury welcome back Oxfordshire seamer Simon Launder for their Division 1 match at Potters Bar tomorrow.   more...

Cricket: Cunliffe gets call as Oxfordshire open up

Former Gloucestershire and Leicestershire batsman Rob Cunliffe will play for Oxfordshire in their opening Minor Counties Championsip game of the season against Devon at Bovey Tracey this weekend.   more...

Oxfordshire Whats On

Review: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (15)

Every once in a while, a film comes along which reminds us that originality, verve and invention are not completely dead in Hollywood.   more...

Review: Summer Lightning (Royal Theatre, Northampton; until June 12)

Driving to Northampton with the car radio on, I noted with irritation the failure of a Radio 4 play purporting to show us Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson about their work. What a contrast it was later, at the Royal Theatre, to witness scarcely less famous figures from the world of fiction scamper from page to stage with credibility fully intact.   more...

A sharper man: Ex-Blur's Graham Coxon talks to Tim Hughes

As the creative force in Blur, Graham Coxon was responsible for some of Britpop's best-loved songs.   more...

Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (PG)

HP3, as it's been dubbed, is directed by Alfonso Cuaron, whose last film, Y Tu Mama Tambien, featured two blokes getting friendly with an older woman. Parents will be relieved to learn that the latest in the Potter franchise is far less salacious, although it is fairly scary and malevolent for a PG-rated adventure -- sometimes it's more Roald Dahl than JK Rowling.   more...

Review: My Boy Jack (Oxford Playhouse)

David Haig is among our best-known and accomplished actors. Interestingly, his career has often led him into the military life (Journey's End, for example, and Soldier, Soldier). Now, as a playwright, he plunges us into the horror and the agony, mental, physical, moral, of the terrible 'Great' war of 1914-18.   more...

Tai Kong, 100 Cowley Road, Oxford

My body is a temple. Alas, it is not in the best of condition and would benefit from some restoration work.   more...

  
Restrict search to 29 May 2004