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Oxfordshire | Archive | 2006 | July

Stories for 6 July 2006

Abingdon

Netball girls strip for saucy calendar

A NETBALL team from Abingdon displayed more than their ball skills in a topless calendar. more...

Which book is best of them all?

THE hunt is on at Abingdon to decide once and for all just who is the greatest children's author of all time. more...

Jail term for attack

AN Abingdon man has been jailed for eight months after breaching his Antisocial Behaviour Order and assaulting two police officers. more...

County targets 'coasting' schools

THE latest drive to improve Oxfordshire schools is targeted at 'coasting' schools which appear to be performing well, rather than those at the bottom of league tables. more...

Another Walcott shoots for the top

JACOB Walcott may have a few years before he gets his England call-up, but he's already following in the studs of his "distant relative", Theo, by signing for Reading FC. more...

Dumped pile of penknives a mystery

WANTAGE police station had the most knives handed in of any station in Oxfordshire during the amnesty which ended last Friday 758, including 724 new penknives still in their boxes. more...

Drugs haul incinerated

DRUGS weighing almost a quarter of a ton taken off Oxfordshire's streets were destroyed last week. more...

Penalty 'will not hit customers'

THAMES Water's customers will not have to pay out to cover the extra £150m the company will spend on fixing leaks after escaping a fine from water regulator Ofwat. more...

SAVE Radley Lakes campaigners have suffered a blow in their fight to prevent RWE npower from filling Thrupp Lake with millions of tonnes of spent fuel ash from coal-fired Didcot power station. more...

New cash hope to save hospitals

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save community hospitals across south Oxfordshire are pinning hopes on a Government cash lifeline. more...

Vandals shut youth shelter

A YOUTH shelter designed to reduce antisocial behaviour and vandalism in part of Abingdon has been removed because of antisocial behaviour and vandalism. more...

Vandals shut youth shelter

A YOUTH shelter designed to reduce antisocial behaviour and vandalism in part of Abingdon has been removed because of antisocial behaviour and vandalism. more...

Vandals shut youth shelter

A YOUTH shelter designed to reduce antisocial behaviour and vandalism in part of Abingdon has been removed because of antisocial behaviour and vandalism. more...

Vandals shut youth shelter

A YOUTH shelter designed to reduce antisocial behaviour and vandalism in part of Abingdon has been removed because of antisocial behaviour and vandalism. more...

Abingdon News

Youth shelter gets the shove

A youth shelter designed to cut antisocial behaviour and vandalism in part of Abingdon has been removed a victim of vandals and angry neighbours. more...

Art

Time to sculpt, carve and draw

The popular celebration of arts and crafts, Art in Action, takes place in beautiful Waterperry Gardens, writes HELEN PEACOCKE Once again, more than 200 artists from all over the world are preparing their canvasses, sculptures, ceramics, embroidery, textiles and woodwork in readiness for the 25,000 visitors who will attend the prestigious arts event known as Art in Action at Waterperry Gardens, Waterperry, next weekend. more...

Banbury News

Ben sees quarter finals and meets new England boss

As if going to watch England play in the quarter-final of the World Cup wasn't enough, one lucky school pupil managed to meet new national coach Steve McClaren, Fifa president Sepp Blatter and Portugal manager Felipe Scolari on the pitch just minutes before kick-off. more...

Ben sees quarter finals and meets new England boss

Bicester News

Soldiers to march through town

Soldiers will march through Bicester town centre with drums beating and colours flying this weekend. more...

MP objects to base closure

Oxfordshire MP Tony Baldry has spoken out against plans to close a Ministry of Defence site near Bicester. more...

Business

Today's closing local share prices

AEA Technology 104 BMW 2726 Electrocomponents 232.25 Isoft Group 63.75 Oxford Bio 24.5 Oxford Instruments 208 Reed Elsevier 542.5 RM 162 RPS 218.75 Torex Retail 64 more...

Today's local share prices

AEA Technology 103.75 BMW 2718 Electrocomp 232 iSoft 64 Oxford Bio 24.75 Oxford Inst 210.25 RM 160.75 Reed Elsevier 540 RPS 218.5 Torex Retail 64 more...

Columns

The Insider: July 6, 2006

Did Bob Price know something we didn't? Our 'patriotic' former Lord Mayor confidently predicted England would lose their World Cup quarter-final with Portugal a full four days before they promptly obliged. more...

Country Matters

Branch is devoted to an insect

Butterfly Conservation invites beginners to an open day, writes ELIZABETH EDWARDS Save our Butterflies Week may be taking place from July 21 but for supporters of the Butterfly Conservation it is a year-round mission. One of the largest local branches is the Upper Thames region and its members will contribute to the national event with an open day next week. more...

Cricket

CRICKET: Back us or sack us – Primett

Clubs in the trouble-torn Oxford Times Cherwell League have been handed an ultimatum by the executive committee back us or sack us. more...

CRICKET: Oxford see dreams of Lord's shattered

OXFORD'S dreams of reaching Lord's in the Cockspur Cup were shattered as they went down to a five-wicket defeat against Ealing in their last-32 clash at Rover Cowley. more...

CRICKET: Rain puts damper on Dark Blues bid

RAIN hindered Oxford University's hopes of victory over Cambridge on day three of the Varsity Match in The Parks yesterday. more...

Didcot

Don't be the fall guy

A TUMBLE can be fatal for older people and an Oxfordshire County Council exercise scheme is helping pensioners to avoid falls. more...

Carer stole from home residents

A NURSING home assistant from Didcot has admitted stealing thousands of pounds from the vulnerable residents she looked after. more...

County targets 'coasting' schools

THE latest drive to improve Oxfordshire schools is targeted at 'coasting' schools which appear to be performing well, rather than those at the bottom of league tables. more...

Dumped pile of penknives a mystery

WANTAGE police station had the most knives handed in of any station in Oxfordshire during the amnesty which ended last Friday 758, including 724 new penknives still in their boxes. more...

Penalty 'will not hit customers'

THAMES Water's customers will not have to pay out to cover the extra £150m the company will spend on fixing leaks after escaping a fine from water regulator Ofwat. more...

Planners back ash dumping

New cash hope to save hospitals

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save community hospitals across south Oxfordshire are pinning hopes on a Government cash lifeline. more...

Three to face rape charge

THREE men have been accused of raping a teenager in a Didcot park. more...

Eating Out

Gosh, what a transformation! And it lived up to its promise

I'D noticed the big red and orange sign outside The Greyhound, Besselsleigh, signifying a change of ownership, as I drove past on the A420 towards Kingston Bagpuize and was curious. more...

Editorial Comment

Fans show devotion to United

We always knew that Oxford United fans were a passionate bunch. more...

Education

One to one with the real world of work

JOS GARBETT, of Oxford Brookes, on how the university prepares students for life outside academia Can texting and going to the pub really help prepare students for the workplace? What do a psychology consultant and a history undergraduate find to talk about? The Oxford Brookes University mentoring scheme believes it has the answers. more...

Entertainment

Events July 7

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 8

Beer festival: Merton Village Hall, Merton, 11am to 11pm. About 30 real ales, plus Pimms tent, alternative bar and barbecue. Also traditional fete with magician, bouncy castle, balloon race, live bands and pig roast. Free admission. To raise money for the village's children's play area. more...

Events Sunday July 9

Bike ride: Meet at 9.30am. 55 miles. Lunch and coffee stops. Oxford CTC, City Section. Meet in Broad Street, outside Campus Store. 01865 775818. more...

Events Monday July 10

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 July 11

Musical tribute: A musical tribute to the 1970s at Cooper School, Churchill Road, Bicester, starting at 7.30pm on Tuesday and Wednesday. Staff and students will perform songs from bands such as Slade, Deep Purple, Abba and Elton John. Tickets £3 for adults and £2 for under 18s, available from 01869 242121. more...

Events Wednesday July 12

Bike ride: Into countryside along quiet and scenic routes. All ages and abilities, 90 minutes/15-mile return trip. From Martyrs' Memorial every Wednesday at 5.30pm. Pub stop half-way. 07803 596372 or 07901 668665. more...

Events Thursday July 13

Farmers' market: Sheep Street, Bicester, 8.30am to 2pm. Local produce including meat, cakes, honey, ice-cream, fruit, vegetables and crafts. more...

Cinema listings Friday July 7 to Thursday July 13

CINEWORLD, MILTON KEYNES: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, 12A, 11am, 11.30, noon, 12.50, 1.20, 2.20, 2.50, 3.20, 4.10, 4.40, 5.40, 6.10, 6.40, 7.30, 8, 9, 9.30, 10*, 10.50*, 11.30pm*. District 13, 15, noon, 2.15, 4.30, 6.45, 9.10, 11.25pm*. Over The Hedge, U, 11am, 11.25, 11.40, 12.10, 12.30, 1.15, 1.40, 2, 2.20, 2.40, 3.30, 3.55, 4.20, 4.45, 5, 5.45, 6.10, 6.35, 7, 7.15, 8, 10.25pm*. Just My Luck, PG, 11.05am, 1.30, 4.00, 6.30, 9pm. Reeker, 15, 9.30pm, 11.50pm*. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, 12A, 1.50pm, 4.30, 7, 9.30pm. The Lake House, PG, 1.55 (not Mon), 4.20, 6.50, 9.20pm. The Da Vinci Code, 12A, 8.30pm. X-Men: The Last Stand, 12A, 9.15pm. Hard Candy, 18, 8.50pm. more...

Hot Mikado this summer

EAST meets west head on in a hilarious updating of a Gilbert and Sullivan classic which is directed by Strictly Come Dancing judge, Craig Revel Horwood, at the Watermill Theatre, Bagnor, near Newbury, this summer. more...

Memories will come swimming back

AN exhibition of works by the late Oswald Couldrey, considered one of Abingdon's most popular artists, is on show at Abingdon Museum until November 26. more...

Features

Jeanette's special farewell to Top of the Pops

THE news that one of Britain's favourite music shows is being axed brought memories flooding back for a Didcot glam rock girl. more...

Films This Week

films July 7-13

Corn Exchange, Newbury: Part of the Newbury Comedy Festival: The Muppet Movie, U, Sun 11am. Airplane!, U, Sun 2pm. When Harry Met Sally, 15, Sun 5pm. You Shall Go To The Bawl: Confetti, 15, Mon 11am. Jacques Tati's Playtime, U, Thu 11am. Box office 01635 522733.. more...

Food

Flavour comes first for home-made cakes

Last month, half-baked bureaucracy banned a birthday cake cooked specially for a pensioner on his 96th birthday from being presented to him. It was feared that the Madeira cake, cooked by a friend, would expose the older people attending the celebrations to unknown food risks. Only a cake bought from a shop would be acceptable. more...

Gardening

Nation's favourite

Roses are back in fashion, writes VAL BOURNE, and are easier to grow, too Roses were voted the nation's favourite flower in a television poll during this year's Chelsea Flower Show coverage, following a spell in the wilderness. Perhaps they became unpopular because some varieties bred in the mid-20th century were prone to disease and had a straight-stemmed, top-heavy look, unsuited to modern planting schemes. more...

Nation's favourite

Golf

GOLF: Magnolia pair just miss out

MAGNOLIA Park duo Dusan Gavrilovic and Mike Cunningham just missed out on the Lombard Trophy final despite their ten-under par 63 at Frilford Heath. more...

GOLF: Drew and Corless shine for Studley

STUDLEY Wood reached round two of the Shaw & Co Oxfordshire Foursomes League Knockout Trophy after edging past hosts Kirtlington. more...

GOLF: Results round-up

FRILFORD HEATH Ladies' Captain's Day (Red Course) Captain's Prize: 1 M Chaundy 42pts. Silver Div: 1 A Gowing 42pts, 2 C Weldon 39 (cb), 3 B Sandys-Lumsdaine 39. Bronze Div: 1 C Chapman 40 (cb), 2 S Gough 40, 3 U Price 39. more...

Headlines

Goodbye to great journalist

THE family, friends, and former colleagues of former Witney Gazette, The Oxford Times, and the Oxford Mail editor Jim McClure gathered in Wallingford for his funeral. more...

Goodbye to great journalist

THE family, friends, and former colleagues of former Witney Gazette, The Oxford Times, and the Oxford Mail editor Jim McClure gathered in Wallingford last Wednesday for his funeral. more...

Leader

Waste of water goes on

THAMES Water has been pursuing a vigorous public relations campaign in the wake of its imposition of a hosepipe ban on its customers. Day after day we have been assailed by advertisements and mail shots explaining how much it is doing to conserve water on our behalf and urging us to join it in its grand project. more...

Letters

Bureaucrats are to blame

I am sorry to see that David Duffy has closed his dental practice in Littlemore, Oxford, and will now concentrate his energies at his new surgery in Abingdon (Oxford Mail, June 29). more...

Right about drugs

How right Glyn Limmer was when he wrote about the danger of prescribed drugs (Oxford Mail, June 3). Now we read that more than two million Britons are to be taken off blood pressure drugs after studies showed they increase the risk of strokes, heart attacks and diabetes. more...

Transfer talk

Sir, With a hosepipe ban now three months old and a drought order possibly not far off, we are reminded of the last long drought of 1976 . more...

Costings

Sir, In your paper last week there was a very interesting letter from Gail Cheeseman wondering about the costs associated with Thames Water's proposed new reservoir. more...

Informed

Sir, I have not seen the official proposals for the Upper Thames Reservoir, but I am intrigued by the figures quoted by Gail Cheeseman (Letters, June 29). more...

Sinker

Sir, Officers of Oxfordshire County Council have recommended that RWE npower, Didcot power station owners, be granted planning permission to fill Thrupp Lake with waste ash. more...

Simple

Sir, Re article on page 17 of The Herald (June 11): Well, of course, the SODC have had a "phenomenal response" to the garden waste bin project. It has achieved this by the simple expedient of removing all the other easy ways of disposing of garden waste the community skips, the green bags and the wonderful eco-bags (these last, I was told, "never took off". No surprise there as they were given virtually no publicity). more...

Grateful

Sir, There is a lot of criticism of British workmanship in the papers and on TV. more...

Music

Music with definite silver lining

It is always good to see something positive emerge from tragedy. The two-day Sophie's Silver Lining Festival at Chacombe, near Banbury, is a perfect example. more...

This strange and gripping tale

NICOLA LISLEo talks to composer Judith Weir about the revival of her fairy-tale opera Blond Eckbert, which comes to the Oxford Playhouse this week It is now 12 years since English National Opera premiered Judith Weir's extraordinary, strikingly austere opera Blond Eckbert, which received instant critical acclaim, as had her two earlier full-length operas, A Night at the Chinese Opera (Kent Opera, 1987) and The Vanishing Bridegroom (Scottish Opera, 1990). more...

News

Innovation marketplace

The "Oxford knee" is well known to orthopaedic surgeons and to anyone whose knees have worn out from overuse or long life. more...

Two men charged over town rape

TWO men have appeared before magistrates in Oxford accused of raping a teenager in a Didcot park. more...

PCT presses on with hospital closure

HEALTH managers are pressing ahead with plans to close Bicester's hospital despite this week's Government announcement of an extra £750m community health cash. more...

300 jobs to go as Caversfield closes

THE closure of a Ministry of Defence site near Bicester will have a far-reaching impact on the town's economy, according to business leaders. more...

Regiment to march through town

SOLDIERS will march through Bicester town centre with drums beating and colours flying this weekend. more...

Delay to town centre plans

THE submission of a planning application for Bicester's £60m town centre redevelopment has been delayed. more...

Alley sex attack charges

FOUR soldiers accused of a sex attack on a teenage girl in a Bicester alleyway have appeared at Oxford Crown Court. more...

Lorry driver killed

A MAN has died after his lorry was involved in a head-on crash with another heavy goods vehicle near Bicester. more...

Julia jumps for charity

A WOMAN who battled leukaemia three times did a parachute jump in aid of the charity which found her a bone marrow donor. more...

Charlie leads carnival fun

THOUSANDS of people rolled up for Bicester's circus-themed town carnival, which featured stilt walkers, balloon modellers and plate-spinning workshops. more...

Waste site opening delayed

A TIP near Bicester will be closed for almost two weeks longer than originally scheduled. more...

Fritwell family face police assault charges

A FATHER and his two sons appeared at Banbury Magistrates' Court on Wednesday accused of assaulting police officers. more...

Obituaries

A prominent member of community groups

Don McGregor, a well-known member of the community in both Abingdon and Dorchester-on-Thames, has died aged 78. more...

Political spirit to aid work

A dedicated anti-poverty campaigner who worked for Oxfam for 30 years has died at the age of 55. more...

Family link ends at last

The last family link with one of Wantage's oldest trading firms has finally come to an end. more...

Opinion

Plumber turned up despite being dead

CHRISTOPHER GRAY uncovers a creepy ghost story concerning rooms above an Oxford newsagent's shop Something "to make your flesh creep," as Dickens's Fat Boy put it. Or more likely not. At any rate, a ghost story which I came across recently and thought deserved a wider circulation. I found the tale in a book I have long possessed but rarely consulted: Apparitions & Haunted Houses, by Sir Ernest Bennett, "late fellow of Hertford College, Oxford" as the title page tells us. It was published in July 1939. As part of his "Survey of Evidence" of psychic phenomena, as the book is subtitled, Sir Ernest interviewed Alfred Axtell, of 17 Woodstock Road. He described how, 30 years before, shortly after moving into the property, he saw the ghost of its previous occupant, "a gentleman of the name of Walklett", who had died there. more...

Other Sport

BOWLS: Oxon lose out to old rivals

Oxfordshire had to give second best to Berkshire again as they went down 118-112 in their Home Counties League clash at Oxford City & County. more...

BOWLS: Central post record victory

Reigning champions Banbury Central A recorded the biggest win in the history of the Oxford & District Lea- gue, sponsored by Yarnton Nurseries Garden Centre, with a 136-43 thrashing of Banbury Chestnuts. more...

BAR BILLIARDS: Democrats stopped

KEITH Sheard recovered from losing his first game to help Morris Motors to a 4-2 victory over Democrats in the Oxford & District League. more...

Oxford News

Sat-Navs on theft hit-list

He spots his prize, smashes a window and snatches a £350 satellite navigation system all in just over 10 seconds in the latest craze among crooks. more...

Travellers in city spark park anger

Travellers with horses and dogs set up camp near homes in Oxford this week, provoking protests from residents. more...

Burglar ‘tried to rip ear off’

A police officer told a jury how burglars kicked and punched him and tried to pull his ear off after he caught them carrying out an early morning raid on an Oxford shop. more...

Asbo bans using others' bikes

A teenager accused of terrorising an Oxford estate has been given a wide-ranging antisocial behaviour order. more...

Asbo bans using others' bikes

A teenager accused of terrorising an Oxford estate has been given a wide-ranging antisocial behaviour order. more...

Two-minute silence for July 7 victims

A two-minute silence is due to be observed at noon tomorrow across Oxfordshire in memory of the 52 victims killed in the July 7 London terror bombings one year ago. more...

Water supplies holding steady

Water supplies in Oxfordshire are holding their own, despite the county receiving only 15 per cent of average rainfall in June. more...

Last Maestro model made goes up for auction

In the week that BMW's Cowley plant celebrates the fifth birthday of the new Mini, another car built at the factory makes its return to the market. more...

U’s fans can milk fun day

Oxford United are expecting a bumper turnout from their fans both old and new at Saturday's family fun day. more...

Businessman wants to turn street into cafe and public square

A touch of Continental class could be brought to East Oxford if a businessman has his way. more...

Rugby

RUGBY UNION: Training starts

OXFORD'S two clubs have begun pre-season training with joint sessions at 7pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. more...

Share Prices

Today's closing local share prices

AEA Technology 104 BMW 2726 Electrocomponents 232.25 Isoft Group 63.75 Oxford Bio 24.5 Oxford Instruments 208 Reed Elsevier 542.5 RM 162 RPS 218.75 Torex Retail 64 more...

Today's local share prices

AEA Technology 103.75 BMW 2718 Electrocomp 232 iSoft 64 Oxford Bio 24.75 Oxford Inst 210.25 RM 160.75 Reed Elsevier 540 RPS 218.5 Torex Retail 64 more...

Theatre

A tale of caution

Giles Woodforde previews Creation's Merchant of Venice They say a bad dress rehearsal means that a show will go well on its first night. So does it follow that a damp rehearsal will mean that a show will be bathed in sunlight once it is put in front of an audience? Let's hope so, for as I arrive on location to watch a rehearsal of Creation Theatre's new outdoor production of The Merchant of Venice, a steady drizzle is falling. The actors are expected to brave the elements unprotected, but the set painter, working away in the background, is clad from head to foot in a mackintosh. more...

A tale of caution

Travel

Comedy festival

The Newbury Comedy Festival, which begins tomorrow, has a fun line-up of comedy treats for children as well as adults. more...

Quirky cathedral epitomises Oxford

Grade-I listed Christ Church is a monument to an eccentric Victorian age, writes CHRIS KOENIG Oxford Cathedral, which doubles up as the college chapel for Christ Church, must be a hot contender for the city's quirkiest place. Not only does it still operate according to a different time to everyone else (five minutes behind) thanks to a 19th-century refusal to conform to a universal system, but it now emerges that the Grade-I listed building is not subject to any planning regulations either. more...

Travel Features

Westward Ho Ho Ho

It was Christmas Eve and all was quiet in the log cabin. more...

Wallingford

New crime action group to be set up

WALLINGFORD is to help spearhead a new type of policing with the public in charge. more...

County targets 'coasting' schools

THE latest drive to improve Oxfordshire schools is targeted at 'coasting' schools which appear to be performing well, rather than those at the bottom of league tables. more...

Mr and Mrs Rotary Clubs . . .

HUSBAND and wife duo Derrick and Eira Hoare have become presidents of Wallingford's two Rotary Clubs for the coming year. more...

Dumped pile of penknives a mystery

WANTAGE police station had the most knives handed in of any station in Oxfordshire during the amnesty which ended last Friday 758, including 724 new penknives still in their boxes. more...

Penalty 'will not hit customers'

THAMES Water's customers will not have to pay out to cover the extra £150m the company will spend on fixing leaks after escaping a fine from water regulator Ofwat. more...

New cash hope to save hospitals

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save community hospitals across south Oxfordshire are pinning hopes on a Government cash lifeline. more...

Public fury at town pub

RESIDENTS are celebrating after their victory in getting a pub's planned extra hours rejected by a licensing panel. more...

Wallingford News

Pubs bid for extra hours refused by licensing panel

Residents are celebrating after a pub's planned extra hours were rejected by a licensing panel. more...

Wantage And Grove

Business leader's plea on homes plan

WANTAGE people have been urged to have their say in how the development of new homes goes ahead in neighbouring Grove. more...

County targets 'coasting' schools

THE latest drive to improve Oxfordshire schools is targeted at 'coasting' schools which appear to be performing well, rather than those at the bottom of league tables. more...

Dumped pile of penknives a mystery

WANTAGE police station had the most knives handed in of any station in Oxfordshire during the amnesty which ended last Friday 758, including 724 new penknives still in their boxes. more...

Penalty 'will not hit customers'

THAMES Water's customers will not have to pay out to cover the extra £150m the company will spend on fixing leaks after escaping a fine from water regulator Ofwat. more...

New cash hope to save hospitals

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save community hospitals across south Oxfordshire are pinning hopes on a Government cash lifeline. more...

Bulldozer threat to club

A POPULAR soccer club is furious that its ground looks like being bulldozed for the new housing planned for Grove. more...

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