Archive
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RUGBY: Oxford University 21, Cambridge University 10
OXFORD University produced by far their best display of the season to upset the odds at Twickenham. Having gone into yesterday’s 129th Varsity Match as clear underdogs, the Dark Blues rose to the occasion, while Cambridge never clicked the way they were
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RUGBY UNION: The numbers game
Oxford University upset the formbook to win the 129th Varsity Match. Here is the numbers' game. See Friday’s paper for full report. Competition: Nomura Varsity Match Score: Oxford University 21, Cambridge University 10 Oxford player ratings:
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Naan Better
Kings of korma, princes of passanda, Curry Brothers Tim Hughes and Ed Nix enjoy high-end fine dining for a birthday party to remember. EVERYONE has their favourite curry houses, where you can while away the small hours with a post-pub
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Full Circle
ANDREW FFRENCH talks to local author Dominic Sandbrook about the impeccable – if purely accidental – timing of the release of his new book looking at the civil unrest that became the hallmark of the early 1970s. THE students are revolting
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Think Festive Plonk
JESSICA MANN sniffs out perfect presents for that picky someone in your life this Christmas. Christmas shopping. The sparkling lights make all things glitter. Spiced candles in the store have you longing for cookies and cake.
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Merry Christmas Movie Fest For Senior Citizens
A LITTLE touch of movie magic is just the ticket for the city’s over 60s as the Oxford Mail/Phoenix Picturehouse’s three-day Christmas festival of feel-good films kicks off next Moday. The annual Merry Christmas Matinees event is designed to give Oxford
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Tread Carefully
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER (PG). Family/Action/Drama. Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, Will Poulter, Ben Barnes, Tilda Swinton, Anna Popplewell, William Moseley, and the voices of Simon Pegg, Liam Neeson. Director
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Diva Fever
TIM HUGHES gets reacquainted with Motown soul legend Marth Reeves. Martha Reeves is in a good mood. But then she is always in a good mood. Or, at least, she always wants you to think she’s in a good mood. “It’s all about showbiz,” she
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Wind Power
Hawkwind’s Dave Brock, 69, tells TIM HUGHES why he’ll be pumping out pyschedic rock until he drops. IT is 40 years since Hawkwind switched on the world to the new mind-bending sound of space rock. In doing so, they laid the foundations for
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Make My Day
KATHERINE MACALISTER speaks to Rob Deering about how he was born to be on stage and how his comedic roots began. ‘I don’t believe in nerves,” comedian Rob Deering tells me. “If there was anyone born to be on stage it’s me. I just need to
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Hair Today
Cheryl Cole eat your heart out. Rapunzel’s blonde tresses are so enviably long, that they’ve taken actress Amy Noble weeks to get used to. But with the curtain going up on Creation’s big Christmas show, the beautiful 25 year-old has finally got her
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Girls, girls, girls!
RICHARD BELL susses out the appeal of Clem’s in The Plain and is now furiously saving up to go back as a VIP as soon as is humanly possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to differentiate between city centre clubs and others. The city centre
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The Oracle, Reading
Late night shopping until 9.00pm
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Lincoln pitch inspection on Friday afternoon
There will be a pitch inspection at Sincil Bank on Friday afternoon to determine whether the Lincoln City v Oxford United League Two match on Saturday can go ahead. Work has already begun on clearing the snow from the pitch, but surrounds
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RUGBY UNION: Oxford win Varsity Match
Oxford University scored an upset 21-10 victory over Cambridge in the 129th Varsity Match at Twickenham today. The Dark Blues, who led 15-3 at half-time, scored their tries through inside centre Alex Cheesman and full back James Crozier.
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Local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 5.3 BMW 5413 Electrocomponents 279.8 Nationwide Accident Repair 96.5 Oxford Biomedica 9.25 Oxford Catalysts 59.5 Oxford Instruments 597.5 Reed Elsevier 518.25 RM 155.75 RPS Group 243.8 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley,
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BLAYNE MURDER: Video exclusive
These are the moments before and after teenage killer Eze Eke fatally a stabbed a man outside an Oxford bar. The 16-year-old was yesterday unanimously convicted of the murder of Blayne Ridgway. Eke, who can now be named after
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Flash In The Pan Christmas Shop
Flash in the Pan ‘pops up’ annually, in various places around Oxford and is now known and supported by many people for it’s unique collection of art, jewellery, ceramics and eclectic mix of gifts, food and objects. This year Flash in the
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Winter Green Fair
Winter Green Fair 30th Annual Green Fair organised by the Oxfordshire Green Party Saturday 11 December Oxford Town Hall There will be stalls, music, food and fun. A great opportunity to purchase unique, ethical and environmentally-friendly gifts
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Charity Christmas Market
Charity Christmas Market Saturday 11 December 11.00am - 3.00pm In support of the Dorcas Foundation in Ghana & Family Links in Uganda The Adam de Brome Chapel, The University Church of St Mary the Virgin, High Street, Oxford
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RUGBY UNION: Oxford lead at half-time
Oxford University led 15-3 at half time in today's Nomura Varsity Match at Twickenham.
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£500k sweetener to take over running of park
A DISTRICT council hopes to pass on the “burden” of running a popular park to a town council, meaning council taxpayers will foot the bill. Vale of White Horse District Council would give Wantage’s Liberal Democrat town council £500,000 to take over
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St Aldates Church
SUNDAY 11 & 18 DECEMBER Carols by Candlelight at 6.00pm SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER Christmas Family Service at 10.30pm CHRISTMAS EVE Midnight Communion at 11.00pm CHRISTMAS DAY Family Communion at 10.30am St Aldates
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St Giles’ Church
SUNDAY 18 DECEMBER Carol Service by Candlelight at 6.30pm CHRISTMAS EVE Holy Communion at 11.30pm CHRISTMAS DAY Holy Communion (BCP) at 8.00am Holy Communion at 10.30am Evening Prayer at 6.30pm St Giles’ Church Woodstock
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Snow cutting supplies to county businesses
BUSINESS leaders are warning supplies to Oxfordshire companies are being affected by heavy snow in other parts of the country. Iain Nicholson of the Oxfordshire Town Chambers Network, which has more than 6,000 members, said: “There has already been considerable
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Villages race to get super-fast broadband
FIVE South Oxfordshire villages are leading the race to be among the first commmunities in the UK to have the next generation of super-fast broadband. Blewbury, Upton, West Hagbourne, Aston Tirrold and Aston Upthorpe, which share the same telephone exchange
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Pupils sample life on the beat
SCHOOLCHILDREN swapped desks and pens for murder scenes and forensic equipment at a behind-the-scenes look at life as a bobby. Pupils from Marlborough School in Woodstock, Gosford Hill School in Kidlington, and Wood Green in Witney, spent last
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RUGBY UNION: Oxford lose curtain-raiser
Oxford University were beaten 20-5 by Cambridge in today's Under 21 Varsity Match at Twickenham. The main event kicks off at 2pm, with Cambridge seeking their fifth victory in six years.
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Woodstock Road Baptist Church
SATURDAY 17 DECEMBER Children's Carol Service followed by refreshments 3.30pm SUNDAY 18 DECEMBER Carol Service followed by refreshments 6.30pm CHRISTMAS DAY Christmas Family Service 10.30am - 11.30am Woodstock Road Baptist
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St. Michael at The North Gate
SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER Advent Carols by Candlelight at 5.00pm SUNDAY 18 DECEMBER Advent Carols by Candlelight at 6.00pm TUESDAY 20 DECEMBER Special Nativity for Children with real live donkey Cornmarket at 2.00pm Church at
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St Barnabas Church, Jericho
SUNDAY 18 DECEMBER Christmas Carol Service at 6.30pm CHRISTMAS EVE Family Crib Service at 4.00pm Midnight Mass at 10.30pm CHRISTMAS DAY Parish Mass at 10.30am St Barnabas Church Cardigan Street, Jericho, Oxford OX2 6BG
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St Mary Magdalen C of E Church, Central Oxford
SUNDAY 18 DECEMBER Carols By Candlelight at 6.30pm CHRISTMAS EVE Midnight Mass at 11.30pm CHRISTMAS DAY High Mass of Christmas at 10.30am St Mary Magdalen C of E Church Magdalen Street, Central Oxford OX1 2NA Telephone
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Grave reservations
Tenants may have grave reservations about a former Baptist chapel in Headington because it still has several tombstones in the garden. Croft Hall, which was built in 1836, includes a sitting room, kitchen, bathroom and double bedroom.
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Rita enjoys the quiet life at age 100
A PROUD villager and great-grandmother who kept fit by walking her dogs is celebrating her 100th birthday today. Rita Hornsby, who was born in Harwell, near Didcot, a century ago, puts her longevity down to the quiet country life she spent
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St Kenelm's Church, Minster Lovell
MONDAY 12 DECEMBER Christingle Carols at 11.00pm CHRISTMAS EVE Carols in Church at 11.00pm Midnight Mass of Christmas at 11.30pm CHRISTMAS DAY Christmas Morning Eucharist with Carols at 11.00am St Kenelm's Church
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Village homes spell space
A family home in a village setting but with plenty of space inside and out is always popular, according to agents. Two examples are Foxgloves in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell and Old Well Cottage in Hinton Waldrist. Foxgloves has five double
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ATHLETICS: Cross country results
OXFORD MAIL CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE SECOND ROUND - CULHAM INDIVIDUAL RESULTS Men (top 30, senior men unless stated): 1 S Naylor (Woodstock H) 31.50, 2 S Fisher (Abingdon) 33.40, 3 N Marley (Alchester) 33.50, 4 D Bell (Cirencester), 5 H Bampton (Swindon
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ATHLETICS: Cross country standings
OXFORD MAIL CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE SECOND ROUND - CULHAM INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS (4 of 5 races to count) Senior men: 1 S Naylor (Woodstock) 1 pt, 2= T Traynor (WHH) 2, 2= S Fisher (Abingdon) 2, 4= C Illman (Cirencester) 3, 4= N Marley (Alchester
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Thieves target women's health charity
A WOMEN’S charity which raised funds by breaking the world record for the biggest tombola, has been targeted by thieves. Eve Well Women’s Charity used cash raised from the huge fundraiser to kit out its centre which offers advice and workshops
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University Church of St Mary the Virgin
All are welcome to Advent & Christmas Services at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin The church is located in the city centre and is accessible via the High Street or Radcliffe Square. SUNDAY 18 DECEMBER International Advent Carol
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Space and style in holy homes
Former vicarages, chapels and churches make spacious homes with the added interest of ecclesiastical architecture. St Peter’s Rectory, in Wallingford, is a Georgian property with planning permission for an extension. The Grade II-listed
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BAR BILLIARDS: Didcot deposed after one week
Johnsons Buildbase Oxford League Didcot Conservative Club’s one-week reign at the top of the Premier Section came to a halt after crashing to a 3-2 home defeat to Section 1 side Democrats Club. Geoff Mace put Didcot in front with a 5770-1310 victory
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Local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 5.35 BMW 5024 Electrocomponents 264.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 96.5 Oxford Biomedica 9.25 Oxford Catalysts 59.75 Oxford Instruments 630 Reed Elsevier 519.25 RM 151.5 RPS Group 241.2 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Isaac lights up the spirit of Christmas
SEVEN-year-old Isaac White brought the spirit of Christmas to a special fundraising event for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign in Oxford. Isaac, pictured far right, was chosen to light the first candle for an evening of music and readings at
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County doctors to front new scheme
OXFORDSHIRE GPs are leading the way in a radical shake-up of the NHS by becoming one of the first in England to buy healthcare for patients. At the moment when people need treatment, health authorities and primary care trusts such as NHS Oxfordshire
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ATHLETICS: Barnes sparks title bid
Headington Roadrunners’ women had a sensational afternoon at Stowe School in round three of the Chiltern League. They won both senior and veteran events and are now seeking league titles in each category. The return of Jude Craft and Diane Moore made
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Students put MPs under pressure over fees vote
OXFORD West MP Nicola Blackwood last night admitted she was agonising over whether to support the Government’s proposals to raise university tuition fees. Miss Blackwood, who will defend a 176-vote majority in Oxford West and Abingdon, said the decision
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Murder trial told of mystery hitchhiking man
AN acquaintance of a man on trial again for the murder of Vikki Thompson in Ascott-under-Wychwood in 1995 told a jury yesterday that he saw another man acting strangely near to where she was attacked. Kevin Flatman told Reading Crown Court that he was
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Cycling tax breaks still available
As one of the largest facilitators in the UK of the Government’s Cycle to Work scheme, I read your article titled ‘Fears over future of tax-break bike buying scheme’ with much interest. Whilst it’s true that Revenue & Customs have tweaked the
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Will council leader volunteer to run a library?
As usual, county council leader Keith Mitchell (ViewPoints, December 8) fails to answer the objections to library closures raised by two correspondents. Instead he repeats his tired old excuse that it’s all the fault of previous Labour Governments –
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Wrong priorities in face of cuts
WE are told that severe cuts in various sectors have to be made. We are told that it is a total disaster for the local authorities to make ends meet. Now I’m a little puzzled. Christmas lights are up once again and have been switched on by various celebrities
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ATHLETICS: Naylor doubles up
Oxford Mail Cross Country League Steve Naylor produced another dominant display to win round two at Culham Park. The Woodstock Harrier won by almost two minutes to collect his second victory from two races this season. Naylor clocked 31mins 50secs
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ATHLETICS: Hawtins enjoy a family affair
The talented trio of Hawtin sisters, from Oxford City, won their individual age groups in the second round of the Oxford Mail Cross Country League. Seventeen-year-old Melissa Hawtin, running in the senior ladies competition, was second overall and first
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Santa's flying visit delights Charlie
CHILDREN at an Oxford hospital were treated to a real flying visit from Father Christmas yesterday. The reindeer and elves were given a day off in preparation for the big night, and instead Santa was given a lift to the John Radcliffe Hospital
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Fresh woe for council staff
MILLIONS of pounds in savings are to be made by changing terms and conditions of thousands of council workers across the county, it emerged last night. Council workers could be hit by reductions in redundancy compensation and an end to incremental pay
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Looking forward to rail electrification
Les Summers is right to want Great Western railway electrification to continue west of Didcot (ViewPoints, December 1). Electrics are quieter, cleaner, accelerate better and have a carbon footprint at least 20 per cent lower than diesels.
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Who's to blame?
GEOFF Morris again peddles the myth that the last New Labour Government is to blame for the recession and the austerity measures this nasty Con/Dem Government is putting on the general public. (ViewPoints, December 1) I think it is pretty much accepted
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A lovely party, Mr Norton
ON behalf of all of us who attended the Christmas party, held at The Jam Factory, Park End Street, Oxford, on Sunday, November 14, we’d like to say a big thank-you to Andrew Norton and all his lovely helpers and organisers for all the hard work put into
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Charities need your stamps
IN response to the letter from Myrna Chave in Surrey (ViewPoints, November 16), I endorse her appeal to readers to collect used postage stamps on behalf of Guide Dogs and her thanks to those who have sent them to her. However, on behalf of Guide Dogs
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Laugh or cry on the park and ride buses
If you are standing in a queue in the freezing cold with more than 200 people waiting for a bus at Pear Tree park-and-ride and are then told by an ‘’nspector’ that two buses have broken down and another “didn't want to come” – then when you do finally
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The Insider
Only last week, The Insider was lamenting the lack of originality in Oxford’s student protests. But it seems the radicals have taken the call for creativity to heart. First, inspired by county council leader Keith Mitchell’s put-down
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RUGBY UNION: Fitting tribute
Frozen pitches may have wiped out the weekend’s league action, but that did not stop the Oku Memorial Trophy at Iffley Road. Contested in memory of Katsuhiko Oku, the first Japanese player to appear for Oxford University, the annual event took
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Breakdowns cause M40 delays
Broken down vehicles today caused long delays on the M40 in north Oxfordshire. Two lanes were blocked on the southbound carriageway by a broken down tanker between junction ten at the Cherwell Valley Services and junction nine at Wendlebury. Travel
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MURDER VERDICT: Minimum 15 years for killer
“YOU have deprived a child of his father, a woman of her partner and a mother of her son.” That was Judge Anthony King’s damning verdict on Eze Eke as he jailed the teenager for 15 years yesterday. Eke murdered Blayne Ridgway by stabbing
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COMMENT: Hearts go out to Blayne's family
IT IS almost impossible to comprehend the agony experienced by the family of murdered Blayne Ridgway. The father-of-one was brutally stabbed twice through the heart by a teen who was yesterday jailed for killing him outside a city centre bar
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MURDER VERDICT: Witnesses were vital
THE officer in charge of the case last night praised the courage of the witnesses who gave evidence. Det Insp Kevin Mahon said: “This was a tragic incident where the life of a young man was prematurely taken. “A thorough police investigation
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MURDER VERDICT: 'We feel so much pain'
“Before Blayne’s death when I heard about people being stabbed, I thought it was horrific but when something like that happens, you don’t really feel the pain...now I have felt pain.” Those were words of Blayne Ridgway’s sister Karis Daniels
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Space incubator launched
UP TO ten companies a year could be launched from a new space centre taking shape at the Harwell campus. The International Space Innovation Centre (ISIC) is to open on the Harwell campus in April 2011. It will cost £40m, with some £24m from government
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Weather respite 'will be brief'
Britain will enjoy some brief respite from the worst December weather in almost 30 years before temperatures plunge again for the rest of the month. After more than a week of snow, ice and transport chaos, forecasters said the UK would start
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RUGBY UNION: Haydon's proud of 'tight group'
Oxford University captain Nick Haydon says he will be a very proud man when he leads the Dark Blues out for today’s Nomura Varsity Match at Twickenham (2). The Australian scrum half has been one of Oxford’s stand-out players in their decidedly mixed
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Interview with Rosamund Bartlett
Rosamund Bartlett readily admits to being intimidated by the subject of her latest biography. “It would be impossible not to be intimidated by Tolstoy,” she says with a wry smile. “My biggest challenge was overcoming my fear. Tolstoy had this
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Atlantic by Simon Winchester
ATLANTIC Simon Winchester (Harper Press, £25)If he had lived in the 18th century, Winchester could have been a buccaneer, wielding his literary sword with poetic licence. The pirate in him, quaint and quirky and delving into the most unlikely hollows
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New fiction
John Tagholm has hit on a most unusual story in Parallel Lives (Quartet, £10). The book opens with the unexpected death of psychotherapist Marjorie Nielson. Her death has a profound effect on three of her clients, who come together at her funeral
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Christmas round-up
Christmas at Thrush Green Miss Read (Orion, £7.99) She’s 98, and still going strong. Miss Read's creation Thrush Green, based on Woodgreen at Witney, takes you on a journey to the 1950s, when her books about a village schoolmistress became bestsellers
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Local author
Oxford University maths don David Acheson has written 1089 And All That (OUP, £8.99) ‘to bring the joy of mathematics to the general public’. He starts by showing a few simple tricks, then takes the reader into deeper ideas, even chaos theory. It’s not
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Oxford Companion to Theatre
OXFORD COMPANION TO THEATRE AND PERFORMANCE (OUP, £25) This is a potted version of the chunkier two-volume Oxford Encyclopaedia of Theatre and Performance, which came out in 2003. There are still more than 2,400 entries, from the origins of
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Paranormal Oxford
Oxford Castle was once the site of torture and judicial execution, so it is no surprise that it features in Paranormal Oxford (Amberley, £12.99)) by Ross Andrews. Andrews has spent 20 years investigating the paranormal in Gloucestershire, and he doesn
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Snow and business
Back in 1964 there was a famous cartoon by Osbert Lancaster of two British Railways porters performing a sort of panic dance. The caption read: “Surprise, Surprise. Snow in January.” Now, 46 years on, we are still regularly surprised by snow
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Oxon villages lead broadband race
FIVE South Oxfordshire villages are leading the race to be among the first commmunities in the UK to have the next generation of super-fast broadband. Blewbury, Upton, West Hagbourne, Aston Tirrold and Aston Upthorpe, which share the same telephone
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Council staff face pay changes
MILLIONS of pounds in savings are to be made from changing the terms and conditions of thousands of council workers across the county. Council workers, already facing pay freezes, face being hit by reductions in redundancy compensation and an end to
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Townsfolk salute troops: ‘Just doing our jobs’ insists Lt Harman
Lieutenant Heather Harman, 26, was cheered and welcomed home by her family. She said: “I really enjoyed being out there but I did not find it particularly scary. “Even when people were clapping us down the street you feel like you do not deserve it.
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Give your fuel allowance to the needy
Comfortably-off pensioners in Oxfordshire are being urged to hand over their winter fuel payments to help vulnerable elderly people this winter. Winter fuel payments are now a universal annual tax-free state benefit that is paid each winter to elderly
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Townsfolk come out to salute troops
AFTER six months in Afghanistan, a chilly Abingdon was a welcome sight for the town’s 12 Logistic Support Regiment. The troops proudly marched through the town yesterday cheered on by family, friends and supporters. About 180 soldiers from the 300-strong
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COMMENT: Heroes return
THE people of Abingdon have turned out in force to welcome home members of the town’s 12 Logistic Support Regiment. Medals were handed out to about 180 soldiers, based at Dalton Barracks, who have returned from a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan
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Spirit of Christmas comes to Oxford
SEVEN-year-old Isaac White brought the spirit of Christmas to a special fundraising event for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign in Oxford. Isaac was chosen to light the first candle for an evening of music and readings at Christ Church Cathedral
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Parky at the Pictures (In Cinemas 9/12/2010)
It's always a pleasure to cover a picture produced by a local film-maker and this critic looks forward to seeing Didcot-based Jackie Sheppard's Africa United on DVD in the new year, as well as director Guy Browning's Tortoise in Love, which was
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City's science landmark
Relief that Oxford may shortly see the disappearance of Macclesfield House, the ugly 1960s building that sits in the shadow of Oxford Castle was quickly replaced with excitement about the landmark building that will replace it. The reason
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Taking the flak
We could have filled our letters pages several times over this week with attacks on Oxfordshire County Council. Some of the flak aimed in its direction has to do with issues over which it has no control. For example, County Hall was the target of a student
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Reclaim the pavement
Sir – I have read with interest the letters you have recently published regarding the works carried out in Beechcroft Road. I would love to reclaim my street, initially with some carpet and a few road closed signs, following the excellent example of
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Illegal parking
Sir – If car parks like those in Headington, Summertown and St Clements are to be redeveloped, where are shoppers supposed to park their cars? Illegally? Connie Ellis, Oxford
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Parky at the Pictures (DVD 9/12/2010)
This year marked the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and the London Blitz. Several documentaries and shorts collections were released to capture the mood of the embattled nation and show how film-makers responded to the call for propaganda that
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RUGBY: Cheesman out for revenge at Twickenham
Alex Cheesman is out to make amends when Oxford University take on Cambridge in today’s Nomura Varsity Match at Twickenham (2). The 22-year-old inside centre scored a stoppage-time try that was no more than a consolation in last year’s 31-27 defeat.
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Greener place
Sir – As a local resident worried about the impact of humankind on the environment, I went to Redbridge Recycling Centre this afternoon in the hope that I might, in my small way, contribute to making Oxford a greener place. Once I had arrived and deposited
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Wasteful behaviour
Sir – In the recent freezing temperatures it is shameful that so many high-street shops along Cornmarket are keeping their doors propped wide open, with no thought for their carbon footprint, or even their own heating bills. What wasteful, ungreen behaviour
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Unjustified eyesores
Sir – The illustration which you published last week, showing the proposed addition to the Wesley Memorial Church in New Inn Hall Street, will enable your readers to consider whether planning permission should have been given. The glazed boxes on either
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Selling family silver
Sir – It is time that Oxford City Council learned some lessons from history. First, you do not sell off the family silver, or in their case local car parks, second you do not destroy local shopping and eating areas, then third you do not have prearranged
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Haven for wildlife
Sir – With reference to Christopher Lawson’s letter of November 25 proposing “a plot of perhaps rather under-utilised wooded land” south of the University Boathouses as a potential site for the proposed “Health Valley Science Park”. This area, known
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Incitement to violence
Sir – So, having denounced student protesters in Oxford — none of whom were arrested for their peaceful protests — as an ‘ugly, badly-dressed rabble’, Keith Mitchell, our elected leader of Oxfordshire County Council has succeeded in making things a whole
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Student rabble
Sir – The Tory leader of the county council, Keith Mitchell, said on Twitter: “County Hall invaded by an ugly, badly dressed student rabble. God help us if this is our future.” My question to him is: would he rather have the Bullingdon Club members turning
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Snobbish sneer
Sir – I am outraged at the threatened closure of local libraries, including mine here in Botley. Not only does it stock many useful, interesting and enjoyable books as well as DVDs and journals, their computers are in almost constant use.
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Poorly thought-out
Sir – As you quite rightly say in your editorial (December 2) “it is impossible to over-estimate the importance of our public libraries”. As well as all the usual services, they now provide free Internet access to all and help with using it.
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Arrogant detachment
Sir – Keith Mitchell’s comments that the cuts protesters are “an ugly, badly dressed student rabble”, reminds me of the comments of Marie Antoinette the aristocratic Queen of France who dismissed those who had just stormed the Bastille and started the
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Big con trick
Sir – Oxfordshire County Council leader Keith Mitchell cries crocodile tears as he announces that 20 of our county’s much-loved public libraries face closure. Behaving like some Burmese military dictator, he arrogantly tells us that us that it’s no use
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Bookish Oxford
Sir – As one who was brought up in a home with relatively few books, but a good library, in a small Devon town, my heart goes out to those in Oxford (and in the county) who are likely to miss out as our libraries close. If this is absolutely necessary
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Cavalier attitude
Sir – As a constituent of David Cameron’s I have written to him, Ed Vaizey and Jeremy Hunt in some horror about the proposal to withdraw funding to 50 per cent of the libraries in the county. I am one of the signatories to Alan Gibbons’ open letter about
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Get all kitted out for Christmas
A CHURCH in Cowley is offering refugees and asylum seekers the chance to get new clothes in time for Christmas. The Word Fountain Christian Ministries will hold an extra session of its clothing project, which hands out shoes, warm clothes and
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Embarrassing fiasco
Sir – Where does Oxfordshire County Council’s plan to shut down 23 Oxfordshire libraries sit with its policies on ‘inclusivity’, ‘equality’, ‘diversity’ and ‘widening participation’? How does this apartheid on the elderly, the unemployed, the disabled
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Unfair treatment
Sir – We would like to thank The Oxford Times for highlighting the issue of the threat to our libraries. The poll conducted on your website upholds our opinion that volunteers cannot run a modern library system. Volunteers should support
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Nasty travel cuts
Sir – On October 14, you published my letter about the county council’s plan to abolish travel tokens, which some 11,000 elderly and disabled people have in Cherwell and West Oxfordshire districts. This proposal went before the county’s cabinet on November
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Thursday, December 9: Thefts caught on Boots' CCTV
THIS latest suspect featured on day nine of the Oxford Mail’s Badvent Calendar thought she had got away with stealing £100 of “shopping.” But what she did not realise is that a sharp-eyed CCTV operator caught her on camera walking around Boots
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Post Office vaults could be a first-class eaterie
PLANS to open a plush bar and restaurant below Oxford’s central post office in St Aldate’s have been submitted by an Oxford University college. Merton College wants to convert a large underground post office storage area into a basement bar and restaurant
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Doing donkey work has never felt so good
Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary nestles in the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside, in the picturesque village of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell. One of the newer residents is Midge. When she first came to the sanctuary, she was lice-ridden, covered in bald patches
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Growing your food
I am gardening vicariously (owing to the weather) and browsing through seed catalogues with my sights firmly fixed towards next spring. For many years it was flower seeds that engaged gardeners most, and they outsold vegetable seeds hugely. However, these
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Beauty and the Beast: Cornerstone, Didcot
You don’t have to go to one of the big theatres to enjoy a good panto this winter. Blackeyed Theatre’s Beauty and the Beast, adapted from Perrault’s original by Tom Neill, is playing in the cosy intimacy of Didcot’s Cornerstone Arts Centre and
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Champagne and Sparkling Wine, £135
Champagne and sparkling wine for Christmas and New Year — what could be better? After all, everyone loves Champagne! This mixed case is ideal for greeting relatives and friends during the Christmas period and is, of course, perfect for toasting in the
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A drinking game that tests your wine knowledge
I was presenting at a Christmas wine dinner this week (one of those events that they book you for a year in advance) and two days beforehand I get a call to say: “Oh yes, and we’d like it to be a fun, interactive tasting this time.” Fun is fine but
