Archive
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Chimps love a tipple like us too, says Oxford Brookes doc
DNA is not the only thing humans and chimpanzees have in common, they share the same thirst and enjoyment of drinking alcohol. Research by academics at Oxford Brookes university has found that human’s closest primate cousins drink alcohol using
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UPDATE: Oxford City Council defers PSPO decision in wake of threatened legal action from civil rights group
OXFORD City Council has delayed its decision on controversial plans for further restrictions on busking and begging after a civil rights group threatened legal action. Liberty argued a public space protection order (PSPO) proposed was unlawful
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Update: Cyclist in crash with bus on Magdalen Bridge
A WOMAN was taken to hospital after a crash with a bus near Magdalen Bridge today. A South Central Ambulance Service spokeswoman said the woman, believed to be in her 20s, had head and leg injuries and was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital by
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Rose Hill's new community HQ is all set to hit the heights
EIGHT months after work officially started on the new Rose Hill Community Centre, the building is ready to mark the milestone of reaching its full height. The Oxford Mail was given exclusive access to the high-tech new centre ahead of the topping
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UPDATED: Gas leak in Cowley to be repaired overnight
TEMPORARY traffic lights will be put in place at Barns Road in Cowley this evening so a gas leak can be mended. Claire Buchanan, spokeswoman for gas supplier SGN, said the firm’s engineers were alerted to a gas leak at the road's junction with
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Struggling Witney school forced to abandon academy bid
A FAILING school in Prime Minister David Cameron’s Witney constituency had to scrap plans to become an academy because no money was available to repair its decaying buildings. Wood Green School in Witney had been in talks with schools’ charity
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Archive team on hunt to find family identity
THE TEAM behind an online archive of wartime photos is looking to uncover the identities of a family captured in a portrait taken in Bicester. The Army Children Archive (TACA) has come across the family photo showing a father in military uniform
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Retired teacher killed himself after paedophile investigation police arrived to search his home
A RETIRED teacher committed suicide after a police paedophile investigation unit turned up at his Bicester house with a search warrant, an inquest found. Michael Lafford, 67, took an overdose of medication when Thames Valley Police’s Paedophile
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Swap-shop shows value of recycling
A SWAP-SHOP of household goods prevented 160kg of waste being sent to landfill. The environmentally friendly action group Sustainable Wantage organised the freecycle event at The Mix, in Mill Street, on Saturday. People could take and swap
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Teenager in hospital after fight breaks out at Abingdon golf club
A BOY remains in hospital after being assaulted in Abingdon last night, police have said. Thames Valley Police said they were called to Drayton Park Golf Club, in Steventon Road, at 11.30pm after a fight had broken out between a large group of
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Wednesday’s letters: What are your fellow readers writing in about today?
Want to give your opinion? Email letters@oxfordmail.co.uk
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UPDATE: Ham Road, Wantage, reopens after burst water main repaired
A ROAD in Wantage has reopened after a water main burst yesterday. Police were forced to shut Ham Road yesterday as Thames Water sent workers to fix the problem, between Ickleton Roda and Challow Road. This morning spokeswoman for Thames Water
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Lane reopens after M40 car fire
FIREFIGHTERS are tackling a car that is ablaze on the M40 between junctions 10 and 11. All lanes are now open after one was closed earlier for safety reasons. Fire services from Bicester are tackling the blaze. Oxfordshire County Council
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Double blow for Abingdon as hotel and Co-op quit town
ABINGDON has been dealt a double blow after the Upper Reaches Hotel and a Co-op store both announced their closure within days of each other. The hotel, alongside the River Thames, closed on Saturday. It is not known why and the owners cannot be
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Grease is the student musical the audience wants
STUDENTS at Abingdon and Witney College hope the chills in the audience will multiply as they begin their four-night run of Grease. About 30 students have spent the last six weeks rehearsing the famous musical, the film of which starred John Travolta
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Putting things in context over noise from railway
PERHAPS those who object to some night trains coming through their neighbourhoods, carrying materials to or from the construction depot, will appreciate the plight of those who live near the Calvert depot. The latter will be subject not only to
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I got first-class treatment from the JR hospital staff
LAST month I spent a week at the John Radcliffe Hospital. A word of thanks to all the medical staff and helpers for the first-class treatment I received. Nothing was too much trouble. Also the food was first class. So, again, thank you!
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Housing benefit sharing is virtually unprovable
BRIAN Duffy is doubtless correct in asserting that it is commonplace for Oxford landlords and tenants to collude by officially stating that more rent is being paid than the former actually receive, a little fiddle by no means restricted to this city
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My lawn looked good before I went artificial
I WAS very touched by the kind tribute you gave to me in your editorial column on Saturday, June 6. The only slight reservation I had with your article was that you gave the impression that my grass prior to it being replaced with plastic was not
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Unions did not always behave so respectably
I WRITE in response to the letter from Mr Andrew Cole of Unite. Clearly Unite is one of the more respectable unions. I was referring to the days of the unions at Morris Motors and Pressed Steel company and at Austin in Birmingham. There were rabble-rousers
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What a waste of time to put a restriction on the bypass
DUE to current ‘works’ in the planned Barton Keynes, half of the London-bound A40 is restricted to 30mph and one lane from Marston to Headington, with many drivers I’ve spoken to still anxious to witness any work actually being done inside this 24-
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Big Lunch was first event for our new community
IN RESPONSE to your article about the various Big Lunches taking place on Sunday, I thought you might like to hear about an additional Big Lunch that happened on the new Longford Park in Bodicote. The Longford Park Big Lunch was our first lunch
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Election prediction was well wide of the mark
ON MARCH 18 there was a letter printed in the Oxford Mail by the redoubtable letter writer John Tanner. In it he claimed most people in Oxford West and Abingdon did not want Nicola Blackwood voted back in and that Liberal Democrat candidate Layla
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Lead stolen from six porches in Didcot during night
LEAD flashing has been stolen from six porches in Didcot, police have said. Thames Valley Police said the lead was stolen from six properties in Great Western Drive between 5pm yesterday and 7am today. TVP is appealing for information following
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The Issue: Should allowance system change after councillors gave themselves big hikes?
YES Oxford city councillor Bev Clack Many councillors, like myself, are financially secure and have time to do the job. But if we are to have a healthy political life and a thriving democracy, we have to find ways of encouraging people
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Disabled Space: London Tube test turns out to be a pain-free journey
I think I’m going to do another one of these ‘here I sit’ beginnings. Here I sit in the sunshine in London near King’s Cross. I’m in London for a meeting and I spent last night and this morning running through the pros of cons of how to get here
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Four rounds in one day for Macmillan golf challenge
JASON Farr spent the first half of the year tackling cancer. But on Friday he will be tackling four Oxfordshire golf courses in a single day in a bid to raise £10,000 for charity. The 36-year-old fell ill on New Year’s Eve in the Caribbean
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TENNIS: Lucy Brown bidding to fulfil Wimbledon dream
LUCY Brown is dreaming of a return to Wimbledon as she competes for a wildcard at the prestigious tournament in a play-off event next week. The 22-year-old, from Elsfield near Oxford, is one of 16 hopefuls who will be competing for two slots at
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Oxford Mail staff have signed up to donate blood... now it is your chance
JOURNALISTS, printers and advertising sales staff signed up to save a life yesterday as part of the Oxford Mail’s support of National Blood Week. Dozens pledged at a special session held at the Oxford Mail’s offices in Osney Mead to give blood
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Motorcyclist suffers head injuries after Bicester crash
A 39-year-old motorcyclist is still in hospital with serious head injuries after a crash on Sunday. Police said yesterday they wanted to hear from any witnesses of the crash in Bucknell Road, Bicester. At about 7.30pm on Sunday a blue Kawasaki
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Two-vehicle crash at Heyford Hill roundabout
Two vehicles were involved in a crash at the Heyford Hill roundabout yesterday morning. One out of two lanes was reportedly blocked westbound on the junction heading towards Hinksey after the collision. Michelle Nichols, spokeswoman for Thames
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Now you're facing 16 months of delays on the Bypass with Cutteslowe and Wolvercote roundabouts work
DRIVERS have been warned to expect more than a year of delays as a fresh round of roadworks begins this summer. Oxfordshire County Council leader Ian Hudspeth said disruption caused by the overhaul of Wolvercote and Cutteslowe roundabouts in North
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Update: Road cleared after crash involving a coach and motorbike on the A40 London Road near Waterstock
TRAFFIC was queuing due to an crash involving a coach and a motorcycle on the A40 London Road, near Waterstock. The A418 was partially blocked due to the collision and the traffic was stretching back to Ickford Road and to J8a on the M40. It has
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CRICKET: Cumnor continue fine start in Cherwell League
CUMNOR made it three wins in a row by beating Oxford 2nd in Division 1 on Saturday, while their visitors’ third successive defeat left them staring up from the foot of the table. Oxford won the toss but struggled to make much headway, eventually
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Burford Vintage Rally steams ahead with more engines
MINIATURE traction engines were on show at a vintage rally, thanks to a change in the event’s location. The Burford Vintage Rally has been held for about 35 years, but last weekend’s rally was the first time it was staged at Rough Grounds Farm,
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Drunk and disorderly man pleads guilty via video link
A man who admitted being drunk and disorderly in Wood Farm had his sentencing adjourned. Ashley Johnson, of Dene Road, Headington, appeared via video link at Oxford Crown Court yesterday. The 28-year-old pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly
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Council tenants will get £21m of improvements
THOUSANDS of council residents across Oxford will be offered improvements to their homes under a £21.3m scheme. This year Oxford City Council is planning to roll out what it has named the Oxford Standard to all of its council houses – modernising
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Breaking news for Oxford and Oxfordshire, Wednesday, June 10
6:27pm Reports coming in that an Oxford Sightseeing Bus collided with a cyclist earlier today 1:27pm Ham Road in Wantage is closed after a burst water
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Ban on communal area guests upsets residents
ELDERLY residents have been left stunned after discovering they are banned from having visitors in the communal areas of their sheltered accommodation. Rules set by Oxford City Council mean those who live in sheltered accommodation it manages can
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Miss England final could be dream come true for Oxford model
A WOMAN who has dreamt of becoming Miss England since she was a child has made it to the finals. Headington resident Shirin O’Neill has been crowned Popularity Queen and offered a place in the finals of the beauty contest. The 21-year-old said
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CRICKET: Taylor crashes terrific ton as Shrivenham crush Oxenford
Conor Taylor slammed a superb century as Shrivenham crushed Oxenford by 114 runs in their OCA League Division 1 clash. Taylor bludgeoned 103 and Sanjay Chauhan hit 43 to help the hosts post a formidable 270-7 from their 45 overs. Oxenford were
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Kidlington bollard is now working
A rising bollard with a history of faults is back up and running after being down on Monday. The £50,000 device on the High Street, installed by Cherwell District Council on February 9 this year, was down during its operation time of 10am to 4pm
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Memorials to Sir Winston Churchill are unveiled by Camilla
THE Duchess of Cornwall yesterday unveiled two unique memorials to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Sir Winston Churchill. At a special service at St Martin’s Church in Bladon – where Britain’s wartime prime minister was buried
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CRICKET: Oxfordshire beaten by Berkshire
OXFORDSHIRE’S opening Unicorns Counties Championship match ended in a 40-run defeat by Berkshire at Henley. Oxon started the final day needing an unlikely 77 runs for victory in the Western Division clash with just two wickets remaining. And
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AUNT SALLY: Steve Brandon inspires Six Bells to victory over Vikings Sports
SKIPPER Steve Brandon returned from holiday to help Six Bells A Quarry to a 3-0 win over Vikings Sports B and prevent a third consecutive defeat in Section 2. Brandon clanged off a baker’s dozen as Six Bells won 22-18, 17-14, 21-18. Lee Anderson
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Former Oxford student accuses uni over medical leave
A FORMER Oxford University student who claimed she was mistreated hopes others in similar circumstances can come forward. Sophie Spector, 22, who is embroiled in a row with Balliol College, said she dropped out of a politics, philosophy and economics
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Scouts’ scavenger hunt set to help disaster victims
OXFORD was taken over by Scouts on Saturday as they scoured the streets to raise money for disaster victims. More than 100 children from Oxfordshire Scouts set off from the Sea Scouts HQ by Donnington Bridge for a “scavenger hunt” in Oxford for
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Kidlington police say they won’t enforce new yellow lines by force HQ
POLICE OFFICERS in Kidlington have warned they will not enforce new yellow lines on a road they have been accused of using as their own car park. Residents along Oxford Road have been campaigning for years for parking restrictions outside their
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AUNT SALLY: Barry Ruffels shines but Garsington Sports slip to Woodman defeat
BARRY Ruffels’s 15-doll haul proved in vain for Garsington Sports A as they were chopped down by The Woodman in the Greene King Oxford & District League, writes ANDY BEAL. A 2-1 defeat to Woodman leaves Garsington bottom of the Premier Section
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Fundraisers drop round for a 100-foot charity abseil at JR
FUNDRAISERS will take on a 100-foot abseil from the top of the John Radcliffe Hospital in aid of local charities on Sunday. And one volunteer, June Kuffour, from Barton, is going to abseil down the side of the Women’s Centre in memory of former
