Archive
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Golf: Frilford duo shine for second spot
Frilford Heath's Ashley Walton and Andrew Elias finished runners-up in the Berks, Bucks & Oxon's Scratch Foursomes Championship at Windmill Hill. Walton and Elias shot rounds of 79 and 78 for a 36-hole aggregate of 157, but that was seven shots behind
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Police question man over murder
A 51-year-old man is being held on suspicion of murder after the body of a pensioner was discovered in Abingdon. Police were called to a house in North Quay at 7.15am this morning (Thursday) after being alerted by a family member. The body of an 81-year-old
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Leisure centres benefit from health boom
People keeping fit have boosted business at leisure centres in south Oxfordshire. South Oxfordshire Leisure Limited, which runs the sports and arts centres in the district, reported a 23 per cent increase in numbers on last year. The organisation took
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Meadows secure thanks to buyout
A council has bought 24 acres of water meadows to protect them from development. The meadows, which form a floodplain on the Crowmarsh bank of the River Thames, to the south of Wallingford Bridge, attract many visitors. They were in private hands and
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Classrooms go
Temporary classrooms built about 50 years ago are to be replaced at Bartholomew School costing at the cost of £281,000. They are used for teaching performing arts and computers.
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Rape case acquittal
A man accused of sexually abusing three girls during the late 1970s and early 1980s has been cleared. Paul Miles, 42, of Woodstock Road, Witney, denied two charges of rape, five charges of indecent assault and one of gross indecency between February 3
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Home-brewer turned hobby into his career
Chris Moss, the founder of the independent Wychwood Brewery who has died, got a taste for the industry after experi- menting with home brewing. Paul Adams, the brewery's finance director, said: "Chris came into the business in 1985 but he had always been
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'Demolish fence'
A 5ft fence put up without planning permission by 18 Onslow Drive should come down because it is unneighbourly and restricts motorists' vision, the town council is telling South Oxfordshire District Council.
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Leisure centres benefit from health boom
People keeping fit have boosted business at leisure centres in south Oxfordshire. South Oxfordshire Leisure Limited, which runs the sports and arts centres in the district, reported a 23 per cent increase in numbers on last year. The organisation took
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Rape case acquittal
A man accused of sexually abusing three girls during the late 1970s and early 1980s has been cleared. Paul Miles, 42, of Woodstock Road, Witney, denied two charges of rape, five charges of indecent assault and one of gross indecency between February 3
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Golf: Frilford duo shine for second spot
Frilford Heath's Ashley Walton and Andrew Elias finished runners-up in the Berks, Bucks & Oxon's Scratch Foursomes Championship at Windmill Hill. Walton and Elias shot rounds of 79 and 78 for a 36-hole aggregate of 157, but that was seven shots behind
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Speedway: Oxford past and present in warm-up
Oxford's top Aussie trio line up for their country when they take on Team GB in a World Cup warm-up Test match at Ipswich tonight. Leigh Adams rides at No 1, Todd Wiltshire at No 4 and Steve Johnston as reserve, at No 7. With Craig Boyce and Jason Crump
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Golf: Hadden heroes shock leaders Ellesborough
Hadden Hill opened up the Division 1 title race in the Shaw and Co Oxfordshire Foursomes League by shattering the unbeaten record of leaders Ellesborough. Despite playing away and losing the top match 6 & 5, Hadden Hill pulled off a shock 2-1 success
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Bowls: Oxon ready for cup campaign
Oxfordshire will begin their Middleton Cup campaign away to Hampshire on June 9 on the back of two wins out of two in their trials. They followed last week's success over Gloucestershire with a nail-biting 133-131 victory against Warwickshire at Coventry
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Golf: McKenna fades out of picture
A final round of 72 undermined the challenge of Magnolia Park's attached professional Andrew McKenna in the £30,000 Northern Open - part of the Mastercard Tour - at Murcar, near Aberdeen. After scores of 71 and 67, McKenna's one-over-par final round effort
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Speedway: We knew Todd and Steve would do it!
Back-to-back victories over the weekend have put JT/Fox Oxford Cheetahs right back in the Sky Sports Elite League title chase. The highlight was the superb win over Coventry at Brandon last Saturday. You have to go back a very long way for the last time
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Speedway: Oxford past and present in warm-up
Oxford's top Aussie trio line up for their country when they take on Team GB in a World Cup warm-up Test match at Ipswich tonight. Leigh Adams rides at No 1, Todd Wiltshire at No 4 and Steve Johnston as reserve, at No 7. With Craig Boyce and Jason Crump
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Golf: Hadden heroes shock leaders Ellesborough
Hadden Hill opened up the Division 1 title race in the Shaw and Co Oxfordshire Foursomes League by shattering the unbeaten record of leaders Ellesborough. Despite playing away and losing the top match 6 & 5, Hadden Hill pulled off a shock 2-1 success
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Bowls: Win for Bicester
Bicester BC beat an EBA team 127-86, winning on all six rinks, to celebrate 50 years at Garth Park, Bicester 127, EBA 86 - Rink 1: E Sharp, J Moore, M Leach, A Hall won 18-17. Rink 2: B Varney, B Smith , J King C Stephens won 21-13. Rink 3: G Wood, C
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Pub taster
Shoppers will get a taste of things to come when organisers of a community pub planned for the Deer Park estate run a stall in the town centre. Samples of beers will be on offer on Saturday, along with details of how to take a stake in the £225,000 scheme
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Water worries flood in
Election candidates found themselves in deep water canvassing at new homes on Didcot's Ladygrove estate. The low-lying area was hit by flooding during the winter and despite the onset of summer, it is still an issue on the doorstep for many householders
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Do you recognise this robber?
This is the moment an armed robber confronted terrified staff at an Oxfordshire building society. The raider was caught on CCTV cameras at the Newbury Building Society in The Broadway, Didcot, armed with what appeared to be a pistol. He threatened staff
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Hundreds fight traffic scheme
Residents on new housing estates north of Didcot fear dangerous traffic fumes and accidents to cyclists and pedestrians if the county council decides today (Thursday) to introduce a one-way traffic system through an underpass. Hundreds of people have
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Garage break-in
A thief forced open a locked garage to steal a motorbike. The blue Yamaha R6, worth £4,600, was stolen in the early hours of yesterday morning from a block of garages in Glyndebourne Gardens.
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Hospital views sought
May 23: Eight organisations have penned a hard-hitting letter to parliamentary candidates in Oxford demanding their views on a scheme to privatise city hospital buildings. The letter asks contenders for the two city seats - Oxford West/Abingdon and Oxford
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Preview: Calamity Jane at Wantage, May 31 - June 2
Noel Coward's famous theatrical warning 'Don't put your daughter on the stage' has been ignored by a group of family actors. The Wantage Stage Musical Company is rehearsing the popular show Calamity Jane - and the cast boasts four mothers and six daughters
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True blue comedian is left holding the baby
It was classic political scene. There was nine-week-old Liam Corps in the arms of his mother, Emily, in Abingdon flanked by Tory-supporting comedian Jim Davidson and local Tory candidate Ed Matts. Who would kiss the baby in front of the photographers?
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Football: It's Star at the double
Star Royal completed the Morrells Oxford Sunday League double by winning the Presidents Cup but Blackbird Leys (Sunday) took them all the way. Luke Brandon thumped home for Star as normal time finished 1-1, and James Green settled the final with an extra-time
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Polly reflects on her world flight
Freezing cold morning heralded January 12 when I set out for my round-the-world solo challenge, writes Polly Vacher. I had the shivers, not only because it was cold, but also because I had the honour of being escorted by an RAF Harrier for my departure
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MEP enjoys working lunch
May 23: Oxfordshire MEP Chris Huhne has been visiting businesses in Wantage in support of Liberal Democrat candidate Nigel Fawcett. The two men had lunch with members of Wantage Chamber of Commerce at The Bear Hotel to discuss local economic issues. Mr
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'There's No Spin on Web'
May 23: People fed up with party politics, but still keen to exercise their democratic right to vote, have an electronic alternative. The grassroots campaigning group No Spin is inviting the electorate to register their disapproval and call for more emphasis
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Contract eases Unipart jobs fear
By Chris Koenig Business Reporter FEARS of job losses among Unipart's 4,000 workers were eased this week when the company announced plans to renew its historic contract with MG Rover. The Cowley company, formerly part of the Rover Group, took a financial
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Weather hits train services
Soaring temperatures caused disruption to train services across the South-East last night after a section of track buckled in the heat near Swindon. The problem was discovered during the afternoon on the Swindon to Didcot track at Bourton in the western
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Park-and-ride to cost more
Proposed increases to park-and-ride charges were due to be high on the agenda at a county council highways meeting today. Oxford City Council last year proposed increasing parking charges at the city's park-and-ride car parks from 50p to £1, but Oxfordshire
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Memories of a lifetime at the Mail
Tributes have been paid to a man who gave more than 50 years service to the Oxford Mail. Ernest Belcher, 86, of Waynflete Road, Barton, spent his whole working life at the newspaper as a driver and a wages clerk. He lived in Oxford all his life. He started
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CCTV to be in use by end of year
Witney's new CCTV system should be in operation before Christmas, West Oxfordshire District Council has been told. The opportunity is to be seized during the autumn, while roadworks are carried out in Witney High Street, of laying in cables to connect
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Body lay hidden for days
The body of a 29-year-old homeless man had been lying beside an Oxford brook for two weeks before it was discovered, an inquest heard. Jason Chambers, a regular resident at the night shelter in Luther Street, Oxford for the past three years, died after
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Anger goes on, says mother
The family of hit-and-run victim Ross Doyle today told of their optimism and anger as the hunt for his killer continues. It is nearly three weeks since Thames Valley Police offered £10,000 to anyone whose evidence helps convict the driver who hit the
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Lord Mayor's parade gets a makeover
There will be a new look to the Lord Mayor's Parade in Oxford on Monday. The traditional carnival-style float is in decline, and more groups will be taking part on foot instead. There will be four floats at this year's event, which is sponsored by the
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Bar Billiards: South's mixed luck
There were mixed fortunes for the two South Oxford SC sides in the semi-finals of the Eynsham League KO Cup. The A side crashed out 4-0 to Tandem, who are looking for a league and cup double, while the B side beat Lamb A 4-1. Pauline Withey and Kevin
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True blue comedian is left holding the baby
It was classic political scene. There was nine-week-old Liam Corps in the arms of his mother, Emily, in Abingdon flanked by Tory-supporting comedian Jim Davidson and local Tory candidate Ed Matts. Who would kiss the baby in front of the photographers?
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Mill hosts open day
Seven-year-old Elliot Vale got a taste of life as a blacksmith when he helped make a poker at a historic mill open day. Elliot was among visitors to historic Combe Mill, the former Blenheim estate sawmills near Witney. Elliot and Bill Keen As well as
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Hedda takes a bow
Hedda Beeby is preparing to take her bow after working as joint director at the Oxford Playhouse for the past 12 years. She has worked in partnership with Tish Francis since the theatre reopened in 199 after a four-year closure. Hedda Beeby, left, with
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Park-and-ride to cost more
Proposed increases to park-and-ride charges were due to be high on the agenda at a county council highways meeting today. Oxford City Council last year proposed increasing parking charges at the city's park-and-ride car parks from 50p to £1, but Oxfordshire
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Police question man over murder
A 51-year-old man is being held on suspicion of murder after the body of a pensioner was discovered in Abingdon. Police were called to a house in North Quay at 7.15am this morning (Thursday) after being alerted by a family member. The body of an 81-year-old
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Bus driver faces prison for sex assault
A bus driver faces jail after he sexually assaulted a judge's daughter on the Oxford Tube service. Mark Arthurs, 37, of Saxton Road, Abingdon, stopped the bus and attacked her on the top deck as she travelled from Oxford to London. He denied two charges
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Lib Dems 'misled public'
Liberal Democrats in the Vale of White Horse have been accused of issuing misleading official council announcements. In a bitter row at the Vale of White Horse District Council's annual meeting, Conservative councillor Peter Saunders said the Lib Dems
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True blue comedian is left holding the baby
It was classic political scene. There was nine-week-old Liam Corps in the arms of his mother, Emily, in Abingdon flanked by Tory-supporting comedian Jim Davidson and local Tory candidate Ed Matts. Who would kiss the baby in front of the photographers?
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Developer under fire
Developer Linden Homes has come under fire over planning infringements at its nine-acre construction site in Wallingford. Contractors have already laid the foundations for some of the 142 homes planned for the former Pauls Malt site in St John's Road.
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On your bikes
Carterton Lions Club is aiming to get more youngsters on bicycle with a Children's Cycle Day. The event on Saturday, June 23, includes free tests for roadworthiness, cycling proficiency and highway code challenges - with three new bicycles to be won.
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Mill hosts open day
Seven-year-old Elliot Vale got a taste of life as a blacksmith when he helped make a poker at a historic mill open day. Elliot was among visitors to historic Combe Mill, the former Blenheim estate sawmills near Witney. Elliot and Bill Keen As well as
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CCTV to be in use by end of year
Witney's new CCTV system should be in operation before Christmas, West Oxfordshire District Council has been told. The opportunity is to be seized during the autumn, while roadworks are carried out in Witney High Street, of laying in cables to connect
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Story time
A story session for four- to eight-years-olds will be held at the town library in Southern Road between 11am and noon on Wednesday.
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Golf: Brooking's on the ball!
Trevor Brooking came on as a late substititute for Gary Lineker - and finished on the winning side at Magnolia Park. Lineker was due to be the star attraction at Mark Lawrenson's Celebrity Charity Golf Day on Monday, but had to pull out due to contractual
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Bar Billiards: Kevin's just champion
Kevin Godfrey lifted the men's individual title at the annual Morrells Oxford League finals, defeating Ian Moquet 2-0 at Cowley Conservative Club. Godfrey won the first leg 9,100-2,620 and Moquet, still looking for his first title, missed out again in
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Bowls: Opening day lashed by storms
The first week of the Kennington Bowls Specialists Oxford & District League kicked off with storm conditions affecting the league programme. The bad weather seemed to aid the home sides, as all visitors lost. Several fixtures were also cancelled due
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Thief pulls water con
A bogus official stole £300 after conning his way into a woman's home. The man called at the house in Marlborough Close, Kidlington, on Tuesday morning and told her he was from the now-defunct water board. Once inside the house, he stole the cash. He
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Bowls: Results
Latest club results check KENNET LEAGUE Prospect Park 101 (12pts), Wallingford 95 (2) (Park skips first): R Gardiner 25, J Beardsley 23; R Tabor 35, R Wyman 21; A Brown 12, B Bishop 29; H Lawrence 29, B Green 22. Marlborough 51 (2), Didcot B 66 (12) (
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Bar Billiards: Kevin's just champion
Kevin Godfrey lifted the men's individual title at the annual Morrells Oxford League finals, defeating Ian Moquet 2-0 at Cowley Conservative Club. Godfrey won the first leg 9,100-2,620 and Moquet, still looking for his first title, missed out again in
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Speedway: We knew Todd and Steve would do it!
Back-to-back victories over the weekend have put JT/Fox Oxford Cheetahs right back in the Sky Sports Elite League title chase. The highlight was the superb win over Coventry at Brandon last Saturday. You have to go back a very long way for the last time
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Weather hits train services
Soaring temperatures caused disruption to train services across the South-East last night after a section of track buckled in the heat near Swindon. The problem was discovered during the afternoon on the Swindon to Didcot track at Bourton in the western
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Leisure centres benefit from health boom
People keeping fit have boosted business at leisure centres in south Oxfordshire. South Oxfordshire Leisure Limited, which runs the sports and arts centres in the district, reported a 23 per cent increase in numbers on last year. The organisation took
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11th-hour bid to switch housing
A developer has lodged an 11th-hour legal bid to overturn plans for large-scale housing on the edge of Didcot. Oxfordshire County Council finally adopted last month an alteration to the Oxfordshire Structure Plan, agreeing that more than 3,200 new homes
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Woman robbed by men
A woman was robbed of her watch and mobile phone by two men. She was approached outside the Tesco store on the Oxford Retail Park in Cowley as she stood at a bus stop 10.50pm on Tuesday. Both were of mixed race. One was aged between 16 and 20, about 5ft
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Bar Billiards: South's mixed luck
There were mixed fortunes for the two South Oxford SC sides in the semi-finals of the Eynsham League KO Cup. The A side crashed out 4-0 to Tandem, who are looking for a league and cup double, while the B side beat Lamb A 4-1. Pauline Withey and Kevin
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Cricket: Wakefield sees Over 50s home
An unbeaten 98 from Oxford Downs opener Chris Wakefield guided Oxfordshire Over 50s to a seven-wicket victory over Shropshire in their first ECB 50-Plus Championship game of the season against Shropshire at Banbury yesterday. Set a target of 204, Oxon
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May 23: Tory fears for future of town's ambulance base
A Conservative candidate is seeking reassurances from Oxfordshire Health Authority that Chipping Norton ambulance station will not close. David Cameron, who is standing for election in the Witney constituency, said: "I understand the health authority
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Water worries flood in
Election candidates found themselves in deep water canvassing at new homes on Didcot's Ladygrove estate. The low-lying area was hit by flooding during the winter and despite the onset of summer, it is still an issue on the doorstep for many householders
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Party hopefuls on pub crawl
Candidates in Witney are seeking to liven up the election campaign with plenty of bar talk. Four of them met voters in pubs on Tuesday - and another of the candidates is a publican. Tory David Cameron, Labour's Mike Bartlet and Liberal Democrat Gareth
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Kamelian cleans up
Fibre-optics company Kamelian is to build a £2.5m ultra clean room in its offices at the Oxford Business Park in Yarnton. The unit is part of the conversion of a warehouse to provide more manufacturing and office space. The conversion is due to be finished
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Magnet probe is world beater
Britain has won the race to produce the first powerful magnet to probe the building blocks of life, thanks to an Oxfordshire company. Oxford Instruments has built a special laboratory to house the £3m Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer at Eynsham
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Nuclear handling unit to close, Harwell staff told
By Maggie Hartford MORE than 130 staff at Harwell have been told their business is to shut down over the next three years. They are employed by AEA Technology, itself the subject of a takeover bid by an unnamed buyer. The employees work in a radioactively
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Nuclear handling unit to close, Harwell staff told
More than 130 staff at Harwell have been told their business is to shut down over the next three years. They are employed by AEA Technology, itself the subject of a takeover bid by an unnamed buyer. The employees work in a radioactively shielded building
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Contract eases Unipart jobs fear
Fears of job losses among Unipart's 4,000 workers were eased this week when the company announced plans to renew its historic contract with MG Rover, writes Chris Koenig. The Cowley company, formerly part of the Rover Group, took a financial knock two
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Rape case acquittal
A man accused of sexually abusing three girls during the late 1970s and early 1980s has been cleared. Paul Miles, 42, of Woodstock Road, Witney, denied two charges of rape, five charges of indecent assault and one of gross indecency between February 3
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Stranded fish saved
Thousands of stranded fish were due to be rescued from Port Meadow, in Oxford, today and returned to the River Thames. Every year the river bursts its banks, spilling into the meadow and taking with it scores of fish. As the water dries up, the fish face
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Weather hits train services
Soaring temperatures caused disruption to train services across the South-East last night after a section of track buckled in the heat near Swindon. The problem was discovered during the afternoon on the Swindon to Didcot track at Bourton in the western
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Preview: Calamity Jane at Wantage, May 31 - June 2
Noel Coward's famous theatrical warning 'Don't put your daughter on the stage' has been ignored by a group of family actors. The Wantage Stage Musical Company is rehearsing the popular show Calamity Jane - and the cast boasts four mothers and six daughters
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Roadwork jams ahead
Motorists are being warned to expect delays during seven weeks of roadworks on a main route into Oxford. The work - due to start on Monday, June 4 - will affect Headington Road between the Gipsy Lane and Headley Way junctions. Temporary traffic lights
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Building reopened
A restored building has been officially reopened at St Anne's College, Oxford. Lord Mayor Maureen Christian yesterday attended the reopening of 27 Banbury Road, where college tutors have their academic rooms. Guest of honour was Lord Wolfson, of the Wolfson
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Cultural bid post filled
The man who will spearhead Oxford's bid to become the European Capital of Culture 2008 has been named. Joe Simpson, 50, from London, will spend ten months working on the city's bid, which must be submitted by March next year. He has previously worked
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Body lay hidden for days
The body of a 29-year-old homeless man had been lying beside an Oxford brook for two weeks before it was discovered, an inquest heard. Jason Chambers, a regular resident at the night shelter in Luther Street, Oxford for the past three years, died after
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Roadwork jams ahead
Motorists are being warned to expect delays during seven weeks of roadworks on a main route into Oxford. The work - due to start on Monday, June 4 - will affect Headington Road between the Gipsy Lane and Headley Way junctions. Temporary traffic lights
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Bus driver faces prison for sex assault
A bus driver faces jail after he sexually assaulted a judge's daughter on the Oxford Tube service. Mark Arthurs, 37, of Saxton Road, Abingdon, stopped the bus and attacked her on the top deck as she travelled from Oxford to London. He denied two charges
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Former mayoress mourned
The life of great-great-grandmother Mary Bromley, a former Lady Mayoress of Oxford and magistrate, was celebrated by family and friends at a thanksgiving and funeral service. Mrs Bromley, 90, whose maiden name was Grove, was married to a former Lord Mayor
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Anger goes on, says mother
The family of hit-and-run victim Ross Doyle today told of their optimism and anger as the hunt for his killer continues. It is nearly three weeks since Thames Valley Police offered £10,000 to anyone whose evidence helps convict the driver who hit the
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United linked to goal ace Reeves
Oxford United are being linked with Chesterfield's experienced striker David Reeves. Reports from Derbyshire suggest the U's are making moves to try to sign the 33-year-old, who has scored goals wherever he has gone. But Reeves has two years left on his
