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

Oxfordshire | Archive | 2006 | July

Stories for 28 July 2006

Abingdon News

Neighbour was 'set up in dispute'

A man accused of breaking a restraining order and plaguing his neighbours had in fact been set up by them, it was claimed yesterday. more...

Athletics

ATHLETICS: Douglas aims to fly high

Oxford City triple-jumper Nathan Douglas will be looking for a boost ahead of next month's European Championships when he competes in the Norwich Union London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace tonight. more...

ATHLETICS: Burgess beats tropical heat!

Jon Burgess was the first Alchester athlete home in the Hornton Classic 6 Mile Road Race. more...

Bicester News

Wire fence 'is hazard'

An empty piece of land in the middle of a Bicester housing estate is an accident waiting to happen, according to a worried father-of-two. more...

Business

Today's closing share prices

28/07/2006 pm AEA Technology 103.5 BMW 2731 Electrocomponents 233.25 Isoft Group 61.5 Oxford Bio 20.5 Oxford Instruments 221.75 Reed Elsevier 536.5 RM 178 RPS 219.5 Torex Retail 58.25 more...

Today's closing share prices

Local share prices at the close of business on Friday, July 28 were as follows: more...

Cimena

Wheely good

Pixar's seventh full-length computer animated feature may not be as fine-tuned as its most recent models (The Incredibles, Finding Nemo), nor souped-up with as many super-charged thrills and spills, but Cars is nevertheless terrific family entertainment. more...

Wheely good

Columns

Cabbages and Kings: July 28

HEADGEAR has been essential during the present spell of scorching weather. more...

Competitions And Offers

Win a cultural one-night break at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons

Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons has achieved the highest awards and accolades of any restaurant and country house hotel in Great Britain, and is regarded as one of the very best in Europe. more...

Cricket

CRICKET: Carr set for Thame comeback

Former Thame Town captain Richard Carr makes his first Home Counties Division 2 West appearance for two years in the top-of-the-table battle at home to Farnham Royal tomorrow. more...

CRICKET: Cook and Mendis miss out

Oxford will be without batsman Adam Cook and all-rounder Shamilal Mendis as they seek a much-needed win against Reading at Roman Way tomorrow in their battle against relegation from Division 1. more...

CRICKET: Bicester struck by triple blow

Basement boys Bicester & North Oxford will be without their former Zimbabwean Test star Trevor Gripper when they host Burnham at Chesterton in tomorrow's Home Counties Premier Division 2 West encounter. more...

CRICKET: Clarke so cool on Lord's debut

Soaring scorebox temperatures could not dampen Rod Clarke's enthusiasm as he made his Lord's debut in the first Test, writes Ed Mezzetti. more...

Didcot News

Public toilets panned

The maintenance and cleaning of south Oxfordshire's public toilets has been panned. more...

Entertainment

Events Friday July 28

Coffee and light lunches: By volunteers for church funds. Methodist Church Hall, Bicester, Sheep Street and Victoria Road entrances, 9am to 1.30pm. more...

Events Saturday July 29

Car rally: Veteran Car Club of Great Britain rally at Blenheim Palace, near Woodstock. A stunning collection of vintage/veteran cars on display. Included within palace entry price. For more information call 08700 602080 or see www.blenheimpalace.com Beer festival: Jul 29-30. Sample a variety of real ales from around the country. Free admission. Starts noon, barbecue from 4pm on both days. Swan Inn, Islip. 01865 372590. more...

Events Sunday July 30

Car boot sale: Any size vehicle, £7. Registered charities free. Sunday. 1pm. Peter's Paddock, Blackthorn. 0778 6607097. more...

Events Monday July 31

Morris dance: Mason's Apron Ladies North West Morris dancers practice night. New members welcome. 8-10pm. Pavilion, Long Hanborough. 01993 882300. more...

Events Tuesday August 1

Gallery talk: Era of Beauty. 1.15-2pm. Admission £2. Booking recommended. Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont Street, Oxford. 01865 278015. more...

Events Wednesday August 2

Teddy bears' picnic: In Garth Park, Launton Road, Bicester. Pinxton Puppets provide stories for younger children and together with a small fair, charity and farmers' market stalls, provide a lunchtime of entertainment for the family. From 11am to 2.30pm, admission free. more...

Events Thursday August 3

Antiques and collectors' market: Every Thursday 9am-3pm. Plus farmers' market on the first Thursday each month. Gloucester Green, Oxford. more...

Cinema listings Friday July 28 to Thursday August 3

CINEWORLD, MILTON KEYNES: Cars, PG, 10.30am, 11.15, noon, 12.45, 1.15, 2, 2.45, 3.30, 4, 4.45, 5.30, 6.15, 7, 7.30, 8.15, 10.25*, 11.10pm*. Stormbreaker, PG, 11.25am, 12.30, 1.50, 3, 5.40, 8.10pm. The Break-Up, 12A, 11.45am, 2.35, 5.10, 7.55, 9.25, 10.50pm*. Garfield 2, U, 11am, 1.05, 3.10, 5.20, 7.20pm. Superman Returns, 12A, 11.50am, 1.45, 3.20, 5.15, 7.15, 8.45, 10.40*, 11.20pm*. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, 12A, 10.25am, 12.20, 1.40, 3.45, 4.20, 5, 7, 7.45 (not Thurs), 8.30, 9.15, 10.30*, 11.15pm*. Over The Hedge, U, 11.05am, 12.05 (not Mon & Thurs), 1.10, 2.25 (not Mon & Thurs), 3.25, 5.35pm. Stay Alive, 15, 7.40pm, 9.55pm. Warrior King, 18, 9.40pm. more...

Features

'Star' lots go under hammer

The heat was intense and so was the bidding when 23 Oxfordians were filmed for the popular BBC2 antiques programme, Flog It! this week. more...

Football

FOOTBALL: Kidlington sign up Tomkins

Kidlington's new boss Paul Lee has snapped up former Wycombe Wanderers youth player Gary Tomkins ahead of the forthcoming Premier Division campaign. more...

FOOTBALL: Kidlington sign up Tomkins

Kidlington's new boss Paul Lee has snapped up former Wycombe Wanderers youth player Gary Tomkins ahead of the forthcoming Premier Division campaign. more...

FOOTBALL: Real make league switch

Real Islip are one of six new clubs who have signed up for the new Banbury District & Lord Jersey FA season. more...

FOOTBALL: Real make league switch

Real Islip are one of six new clubs who have signed up for the new Banbury District & Lord Jersey FA season. more...

FOOTBALL: Fowler hit by exodus

Bicester Town boss Tim Fowler has been dealt a blow with just two weeks until the big kick-off after four of last season's promotion side said they won't be available to him next season. more...

FOOTBALL: Real Islip on the move

Real Islip are one of six new clubs who have signed up for the forthcoming season Islip, who won Division 2 of the Witney & District FA, will join fellow new boys ABK Sports, Duke of Wellington, Heyford Park Skykings, Middle Barton, and Slade Farm United in Division 2. more...

LADIES' FOOTBALL: Judy Fry honoured

Launton Ladies stage their annual five-a-side competition for the Judy Fry Memorial Trophy on Sunday, August 6. more...

Leader

That's a 'no' then

If Oxfordshire County Council had any doubts about the scale of opposition to its plans to charge for residents' parking permits in Oxford, they should now have been dispelled. more...

A school of schools

There always seems to be a question mark hanging over village primary schools. It is not because they are not valued. On the contrary. For parents, small is usually beautiful. Class sizes tend to be smaller than in town or city primaries and the smaller scale of the schools lends them a much more intimate and family atmosphere. more...

Letters

City is too weak to take control

I am grateful to Oxford city councillor Ed Turner for his grudging acknowledgment that the county council Conservative administration is delivering better policies and services than the previous coalition (Oxford Mail, July 24). more...

Burning issue

The ignominious fate of the King of Prussia pub in Rose Hill, Oxford, follows closely on the heels of the arson attacks on primary schools, sport pavilions, Scout huts and surgeries, all reflecting the sad decline of today's society, where vandals will do anything for 'kicks'. more...

Thames Water most to blame

I am rather concerned by the hectoring tone of your editorial (Oxford Mail, July 22) in which you state, with regard to the Charlton-on-Otmoor bowser users: "It may be a legitimate dodge, but they won't be popular with their neighbours if, later this year, we have a drought order and standpipes in the streets." more...

Lib Dem civil war

As a Conservative who has defended the Oxford Green Belt, I take exception to the sanctimonious Liberal Democrat attitude in the letter from Jerry Patterson, leader of the Vale of White Horse District Council (Oxford Mail, July 20). more...

Hard work

Sir, Surely by translating "Per ardua ad astra", as you did on the front page of Weekend (July 21), you are belittling both astronomers and the RAF (whose motto it is). I always understood it meant "through hard work to the stars". more...

Bird trouble

Sir, I have had no trouble with birds (of the feathered variety) for the last 30 years. In the last six months a heron has cleaned out my fish pond twice! more...

Leave Green Belt

Sir, Recent discussions over the green belt around oxford have included some calls for its boundaries to be reviewed. more...

Vital preservation tool

Sir, To single out the Oxford Green Belt as the reason' for high house prices and lack of space in the city (Report, July 14) is to give a completely one-eyed view. more...

Switching off

Sir, As a person who has purchased The Oxford Times for many years and an avid reader of your Weekend supplement, which I find to be full of very useful information, I feel it necessary to write to you regarding Mr Gray's comments on Jonathan Ross (June 30). more...

Healing power

Sir, A close friend has sent me a clipping of your article on Bridewell Organic Gardens (May 19) as I was, for many years, a gardener and trustee. more...

Menacing army

Sir, In all probability we are shortly to enjoy a trio of telecommunications masts at The Oxford Hotel. These join countless others in the city and the county. more...

Wrong moves

Sir, A jury fails to reach a verdict in the manslaughter trial of two police officers. Then the prosecution rather bizarrely drops that charge and, regarding the self-same incident, concentrates on the other, far lesser one, of actual bodily harm which another jury acquits them of. Any fool can see there is obviously something very, very wrong somewhere. more...

Inquiry needed

Sir, The information provided by RWE npower upon which the county council based its planning decision to fill the Thrupp Lake wildlife sanctuary with half a million tonnes of waste ash from Didcot power station appears flawed. more...

Waste progress

Sir, Oxford City Council is setting out to reduce the waste going to landfill and to more than double the proportion of household rubbish that is recycled, from the current 19 per cent to 45 per cent by April 2008. more...

Safety hazard

Sir, I attended the scrutiny meeting of South Oxfordshire District Council (Report, July 14) and was appalled that the council decided to ignore its own planning rules and procedures and not seek planning permission for advertising boards it has allowed a marketing company to erect on roundabouts in the district. more...

Fair enough

Sir, Your piece on proposed hospital car parking charges, at the John Radcliffe et alia, quotes the distinguished members of the House of Commons Health Committee as having warned against 'fleecing patients unfairly'. The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary offers the following as definitions of the verb fleece: 'to strip completely of money, property. etc; to exact money from; to rob heartlessly; to victimise . . . ' Presumably the MPs on the House of Commons Health Committee are all in favour of 'fleecing' if and when it's done fairly. 'Fair fleecing policy': it's official! more...

Wasteful adverts

Sir, Thames Water has been placing full-page colour advertisements in The Oxford Times and elsewhere which must have cost an enormous amount of money. These fanciful over-the-top adverts say "Let's beat the drought together". It would be more to the point for Thames Water to say "Let's beat waste together" with the water company taking the lead by not pouring money into costly and unnecessary adverts. The money saved could then be used for stopping leaks. more...

Beautiful ideal

Sir, Let us hope the powers that be pay close attention to Dr Mercy Heatley's letter Dismissal is wrong (July 14). She spells out the arguments not only against the dismissal of the consultant in gastro-intestinal illness, but against the underlying principle that patients' treatment must be curtailed in order to make more money for the companies behind the Private Finance Initiative. The truly beautiful ideal of the National Health Service is being eroded, and we must try to salvage it. more...

Student areas

Sir, I, like Mari Girling (Letters, July 14) live in Warwick Street close to the proposed Exeter College development. more...

Tight squeeze

Sir, Further to readers' letters about the general discomfort of the New Theatre, I am surprised no one commented on the appalling seats. I am 5ft 7in tall, but was unable to sit face-forward in the stalls because my knees were blocked by the seat in front of me. The misery of many around me was acute. Surely there is some legislation dealing with the minimum space allowed between rows? more...

Why is everyone so strangely silent?

Sir, Thank you for publishing several letters concerning the incredible lack of any purpose-built and/or adequate venue for musical events in this city . . . visited by thousands of tourists from all over the world as well as world-class musicians. more...

No comparison between sites' wildlife value

Sir, Time for a reality check on the famous "rare" orchids growing at the former gravel pits "restored" by RWE npower at Radley (Country Matters, July 14). more...

Motors

Formula One finish

Grove-based Formula One racing team, Williams F1, has launched a new Do-It-Yourself car valeting range. Mail order specialist, Car Parts Direct is supplying the Williams F1 product. more...

Roadtest: Cool customer

Few cars are cooler than a convertible but most demand a compromise or two. more...

Renault updates Modus

Renault's Modus, its "small car with a big heart", has been given a fresh look for the 2007 model year, priced from £9,145. more...

Jaguar unveils new supercharged star

Jaguar has unveiled its new supercharged sports car the Jaguar XKR which will be available as a coupe or convertible with prices starting at £67,495. more...

Rolls-Royce unveils toiuch of black magic

Rolls-Royce has hand built 25 Bespoke cars called Phantom Black, but do not get your hopes up all have already been allocated to customers worldwide. more...

Rolls-Royce unveils touch of black magic

Rolls-Royce has hand built 25 Bespoke cars called Phantom Black, but do not get your hopes up - all have already been allocated to customers worldwide. more...

Motorsport

Schumacher baits Alonso

Michael Schumacher has fired out a defiant threat to Fernando Alonso, insisting he is ready to conquer the world again. more...

Schumacher baits Alonso

Michael Schumacher has fired out a defiant threat to Fernando Alonso, insisting he is ready to conquer the world again. more...

Alonso happy to be lone ranger

Fernando Alonso claims he needs no help to win the world championship for a second consecutive season. more...

Williams secures Toyota engine deal

The Grove-based Williams F1 team have secured a three-year supply of Toyota engines which they believe will propel them back to the front in Formula One. more...

Trulli great deal for Toyota

Jarno Trulli has signed a three-year contract extension to remain at Toyota. more...

Music

Field of dreams

Henry Dartnell, of Oxford band The Young Knives, has a reputation for straight-talking, writes Tim Hughes. more...

News

Oxford gets first 'dispersal zone'

OXFORD is to get its first dispersal order to deal with vandalism and antisocial behaviour. more...

50 evacuated as blaze rages in city factory

AN ARSONIST is believed to have started the factory fire which saw 50 people evacuated from their homes in Oxford because of fears a gas cylinder would explode. more...

County's chief nurse departs

WITHIN minutes of chatting to Julie Hartley-Jones in her office at the John Radcliffe Hospital she is in tears. more...

Gas poisoning death

A WOMAN died from carbon monoxide poisoning after British Gas engineers failed to fix her boiler despite being called to her home ten times. more...

Schools could face closure in new review

SCHOOLS in Oxfordshire could be merged and some even closed as the county's education leaders undertake a major review of primary education. more...

Don's theatrical labour earns doctorate

WHEN Tish Francis and Hedda Beeby, then co-directors of the Oxford Playhouse, asked Don Chapman, the drama critic of our sister paper, the Oxford Mail, from 1959 to 1994, to write a history of the theatre, he though it would be an agreeable project to help while away the first two years of his retirement. more...

Plaque honours Morse's link to police station

INSPECTOR Morse author Colin Dexter unveiled a plaque to honour the fictional detective who has brought thousands of tourists to Oxford. more...

Police block animal rights demonstration

POLICE said they blocked Saturday's planned city centre animal rights protest because demonstrators failed to inform them of their plans in advance. more...

Police block animal rights demo

POLICE said they blocked Saturday's planned city centre animal rights protest because demonstrators failed to inform them of their plans in advance. more...

RSPCA chief tells of anger at rising tide of animal cruelty

OXFORDSHIRE'S RSPCA inspector admits he and police are "impotent" against rising cruelty to animals. more...

More than 5,000 reply to parking permit letters

CONTROVERSIAL plans to charge Oxford's car-driving homeowners for permits to park outside their homes has prompted one of the largest responses to a public consultation. more...

Arts opens doors to all

MUSEUM doors are being flung open to children and families as television cameras return to the city for a summer of arts events. more...

Woman tells of terror as lightning strikes

A MOTHER Jacqui Hudson managed to escape virtually unscathed from her wrecked home after a lightning strike which happened during a torrential thunderstorm that brought chaos to the county. more...

Woman tells of terror as lightning strikes

A MOTHER Jacqui Hudson managed to escape virtually unscathed from her wrecked home after a lightning strike which happened during a torrential thunderstorm that brought chaos to the county. more...

Truck Festival keeps rolling despite storm

MORE than 4,500 music lovers ignored the wet weather at Oxfordshire's ninth annual Truck Festival, descending on Hill Farm, Steventon, for two days of live music and performing arts. more...

Auditor says United land deal was fair

OXFORD City Council "probably" got the best price when it sold the land on which Oxford United's ground was built but it has been criticised over how it did the deal. more...

Auditor says United land deal was fair

OXFORD City Council "probably" got the best price when it sold the land on which Oxford United's ground was built but it has been criticised over how it did the deal. more...

Man killed nurse and her friend in jealous rage

A NURSERY nurse strangled to death by her ex-fianc had warned just days earlier he would kill her if he discovered she was dating his friend. more...

Starry-eyed Lisa marries TV personality

OXFORD girl Lisa Armstrong finally got her own Pop Idol when she walked down the aisle with TV personality Ant McPartlin. more...

Child dies after falling into garden pond

A TODDLER who fell into a garden pond has died after his parents made the decision to switch off his life-support machine. more...

Child dies after falling into garden pond

A TODDLER who fell into a garden pond has died after his parents made the decision to switch off his life-support machine. more...

City's threat to rebel over car parking charges

A NEW blow has been dealt to plans to charge for residents' parking permits after Oxford City Council said it would refuse to collect any charges on behalf of County Hall. more...

Police arrest two after baby injured

A BABY is still critically ill with a serious brain injury as detectives continued to question a teenager. more...

Palace adds a touch of magic to Harry Potter

A TOUCH of magic was cast across the grounds of Blenheim Palace as film crews moved in to shoot scenes for the next Harry Potter film. more...

Win a cultural one-night break at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons

Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons has achieved the highest awards and accolades of any restaurant and country house hotel in Great Britain, and is regarded as one of the very best in Europe. more...

Police probe pond death of toddler

POLICE have started a routine investigation into the death of toddler Tyler Black, who died after falling in a garden pond. more...

Becky feared jealous lover

A NURSERY nurse strangled to death by her ex-fiance had warned just days earlier he would kill her if he discovered she was dating his friend. more...

Asbo eased for reformed Ricky

A YEAR ago Ricky Birnie was a lad going off the rails; in so much trouble even his own mother Linda would have been happy to "take the little b*****d away and put him in prison". more...

Beware forgeries

FORGED £50 notes have been circulating in Bicester. more...

Pot plants

A BICESTER man escaped jail after being caught growing 21 cannabis plants. more...

Widow raises cash for CHOX

A WOMAN whose husband was killed in a car crash last year helped raise more than £1,000 for the Oxford Children's Hospital and the Oxford Radcliffe Infirmary. more...

Street campaign to save hospital

BICESTER people are being urged to make their views known on two of the biggest issues facing the town. more...

Weekend storm 'like a tornado'

FIREFIGHTERS in Bicester battled floods and blocked roads to stop a fallen tree from snapping a power cable at the height of the weekend's storm. more...

Obituaries

Mr Richard SymondsUN officer and writer

RICHARD Symonds, who has died aged 87, had a varied career as a wartime ambulance driver, academic, United Nations official and writer. more...

Mr Richard Symonds UN officer and writer

RICHARD Symonds, who has died aged 87, had a varied career as a wartime ambulance driver, academic, United Nations official and writer. more...

UN officer and writer

RICHARD Symonds, who has died aged 87, had a varied career as a wartime ambulance driver, academic, United Nations official and writer. more...

Foster parent to 79 children

BEATRICE Ellen Martin, a foster mother to generations of children in Oxfordshire, has died aged 93. more...

Teacher, archaeologist and charity volunteer

A FORMER teacher and archaeologist who spent years volunteering for charities and a day centre in Witney for elderly people has died a week before his 84th birthday. more...

Opinion

Why do we smile at a crocodile?

There's nothing the Brits enjoy more than a good, long queue. Witney Post Office now has a truly world-class one from the minute it opens, to the second it shuts. Tesco guarantees queues by combining your quick petrol stop with someone else's week's grocery shopping all through the same tills. Smart move lads . . . more...

Why do we smile at a crocodile?

Other Sport

RACING: Jarvis eyes third win

Twyford trainer Alan Jarvis is hoping Love On Sight can provide him with a third win in four years in Saturday's Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot. more...

Oxford News

Fresh fight for control of city

Labour last night became the largest group on Oxford City Council after winning the Hinksey Park by-election - sparking a battle for control of the Town Hall. more...

100 dads meet for breakfast

Not everyone has the appetite to be a father, but for 100 dads on an Oxford estate looking after their children proved hungry work. more...

Labour triumph at by-election

Labour last night became the largest group on Oxford City Council after winning the Hinksey Park by-election sparking a battle for control of the Town Hall. more...

Labour triumph at by-election

LABOUR last night became the largest group on Oxford City Council after winning the Hinksey Park by-election sparking a battle for control of the Town Hall. more...

Get used to this kind of heat

Oxfordshire should brace itself for summers with even more of the violent thunderstorms that have been hitting the county. more...

It's civic war over permits

A new blow has been dealt to plans to charge for residents' parking permits after Oxford City Council says it would refuse to collect any charges on behalf of County Hall. more...

Singing out for appeal

Oxford United season ticket holder Joseph O'Callaghan loves a kickaround with his mates - but sometimes ends up with broken bones. more...

It's a flat 'no'

Plans by Oxford University's Exeter College to build 82 flats in Iffley Road could result in the loss of gardens across the city, claim residents. more...

We're honoured

Oxford's first lesbian and gay charity, run by volunteers for the past 26 years, has been presented with the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. more...

'Immoral' plan by university

Oxford University has been accused of using "immoral" methods to increase the number of students it takes from poor backgrounds. more...

New film beats summer blues

Teenagers in Carterton have been given the chance to become filmmakers as part of a project to keep young people occupied during the summer holidays. more...

Council's planners beat the rest

Oxford City Council's planning department has answered strong criticism over the length of time it takes to deal with applications by becoming the best-performing authority in the country. more...

Cafe music put on ice by court

The owners of two Oxford ice cream cafes have been told they face a £10,000 fine and a possible prison sentence unless they buy a licence to play copyrighted music. more...

Crumbling hole appears in road

A giant hole which appeared in the middle of an Oxford street could have been caused by leaky water pipes. more...

Defeat leaves a bitter taste

An Oxford restaurant has won a six-year battle to serve diners on the Thames at Folly Bridge. more...

Let's go private

A group of Oxford surgeons have held talks with city council planning officers about building a £30m private hospital on NHS-owned land in Littlemore. more...

Pensioners hit by gas prices

Pensioners have warned the second British Gas price hike in a year could threaten their health and cause even more financial hardship. more...

Restaurant Reviews

Mind your Manoirs

Chefs aiming at cordon bleu standards are supposed to turn their air that colour too, effing and blinding at their galley slaves - at least, in the world of television. more...