Archive
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Young athlete's sporting future put in jeopardy
A promising young athlete who broke a bone during a national competition fears his sporting future may be in jeopardy because doctors failed to properly diagnose the injury. Ashley Bull, 15, was competing in the national long jump championships last year
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Makinen leads Subaru charge
Four-time world champion Tommi Makinen will be looking for his first UK win on the final event of the season, the Network Q Rally of Great Britain. Banbury's 555 Subaru World Rally Team have two cars in final event of the season, which will be driven
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Burns warming up
Former Subaru driver and world champion Richard Burns is preparing to go head-to-head with deadly rival Colin McCrae in the Network Q Rally of Great Britain, which gets under way on Thursday night in Cardiff. Monaco-based Scotsman McRae, 34, from Lanark
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Cunning ploy to raise revenue?
SIR -- Is this another cunning ploy to raise revenue? On Saturday, I noticed the 40mph signs had been removed from near the Crossroads Road Garage in Banbury Road, Kidlington, and that new 30mph signs had been erected northbound in Oxford Road in a different
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Saturday rugby fixtures
Games to be played on November 16, 2002 ENGLISH NATIONAL LEAGUE Div 2: Bracknell v Henley. ENGLISH CLUBS CHAMPIONSHIP Powergen South West Div 1: Cheltenham v Chinnor. Powergen SouthWest 2 East: Grove v Amersham & Chiltern, Oxford Harlequins v Swanage
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November 12: Patience rewarded
The Oxford Mail was just ten years old when Howard Hicks earned his King's Scout badge. We would have recorded the fact had the Second World War not spoilt the party and put the presentation on hold -- for 63 years to be precise. But better late than
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Flaw frustrates buyers
A couple planning to start a family said they cannot do so because a house builder failed to construct a secure roof for their home. Philip Taylor and Louise Reuter Philip Taylor and partner Louise Reuter sold their homes, stored their furniture, and
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Public inquiry delays £8m traffic scheme
A major £8m road scheme for Witney, first planned 15 years ago, may still not go ahead. Objectors to the Cogges Link have won a public inquiry after protesting to the Government about a side road order for the scheme. More than 100 letters of objection
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Great gesture from run
A Thame woman has raised more than £1,500 for meningitis research after she completed the Great North Run in memory of her father and her niece. Julia Greenhough, from Chinnor Road, lost her father Charles Bowser to septicaemia and her 16-year-old niece
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Victory on house plan
Kingston Lisle Parish Council has won its battle to stop a house being built in the grounds of Pound Cottage. The Vale of White Horse District Council development control committee refused permission saying it was inappropriate for the conservation area
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Sunday hockey fixtures
Games to be played on November 17 ENGLISH LEAGUE Div 2: Oxford Hawks v Peterborough Tn. WOMEN'S HA CUP 3rd round: Richmond v Rover Oxford (12.30). OXFORDSHIRE UNDER 14 LEAGUE Boys: City of Oxford v Rover Oxford, Witney Warriors v Newbury.
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Saturday hockey fixtures
Games to be played on November 16, 2002 SOUTH LEAGUE Premier Div 1: Oxford Univ v Beckenham. MBB&O Regional: City of Oxford v Newbury, British Airways v Banbury. Div 1: Bicester v Hayes, Gerrards Cross v Rover Oxford. Div 2: Witney v Wallingford,
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Devils waiting on injured Alexander
PHIL Alexander is doubtful as Oxford Devils take on Ware Rebels in basketball's National League at the White Horse Leisure & Tennis Centre, Abingdon tonight (7pm). Alexander has a troublesome hamstring injury, and he also had 12 stitches in his right
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OxVox want views
THE supporters group OxVox have raised with United the possibility of running coaches for home games from towns outside Oxford. This would provide a convenient service to fans and help alleviate parking problems. OxVox say they have been in contact with
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Wendy Smith
A magistrate, businesswoman and leading community activist has died at the age of 59 following a battle against cancer. Wendy Smith, of Badswell Lane, Appleton, near Cumnor, became a magistrate in 1988, initially on the Abingdon Bench. She later joined
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Cheetahs seeking Elite solution
Oxford Cheetahs' boss Steve Purchase was among the Elite League speedway promoters meeting today in a bid to thrash out a solution to save the Elite League next season. Doubts continue over the league's future after a number of clubs, including Oxford
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Cash raised tops £50,000
Fundraiser June Keep has topped the £50,000 mark in aid of Oxford's kidney unit. June Keep with Dr C.G Winearls Mrs Keep started collecting money for the life-saving service after her husband Malcolm had two kidney transplants. She has run a charity shop
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Homes sale fears grow
Rent rises and reduced services could help Cherwell District Council out of a council house finance dilemma. The proposals are part of a six-point emergency plan that could come into effect if the proposed sale of the council's 4,000 homes to a housing
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Richards first to finish
Gary Richards was the first of the competing Abingdon Amblers runners to finish the Sodbury Slog ten-mile multi-terrain event in a time of 1hr 13 mins, 11 minutes behind the winner. Abingdon Amblers times: G Richards 1.13, H O'Shea 1.34, Michelle Richards
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City's girls land silver
Oxford City's girls collected the under 17 team gold medal at the Eric Andrews Memorial Cross County race at a muddy Banbury. Hannah England, Charlotte Eadle and Pippa Sprinz were the successful runners, and they won easily. Martha Lloyd, Hayley Luke
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Only Merritt missing
Thame United boss Andy Sinnott is able to name virtually a full-strength squad for the visit of struggling Wivenhoe to Windmill Stadium in Division 1 North. Their only absentee is Justin Merritt, who is still recovering from a knee operation. Meanwhile
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Sylla is back
Banbury United goal sensation Norman Sylla returns to the side for their Dr Martens League Eastern Division top-of-the-table clash at Eastbourne Borough. The 23-goal hitman, who made his debut for Banbury when Eastbourne recorded a 3-0 win earlier in
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Wallingford's cup test
Seagrave Haulage Combined Counties League preview: AFC Wallingford have the luxury of a full squad to choose from for the first time this season as they visit Chessington & Hook in the Premier Division Challenge Cup second round. Peter Bryan is included
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Sunday football fixtures
Matches to be played on November 17 FOOTBALL WOMEN'S FA CUP 2nd round: Torbay v Rover Oxford. MORRELLS OF OXFORD SUNDAY LEAGUE Premier Div: Blackbird Sunday v Oxford Exiles, Star Royal v Cowley Cosmos, Morris Motors v Highfield, Rose Hill v Wolvercote
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Crunch day for F1 racing team
Today (November 15) is crunch day for the cash-strapped Formula 1 Arrows Racing Team, which must pay up to keep its place on the starting grid or face disqualification. The company, which employs 250 people in Leafield, near Witney, must produce a £200,000
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Couple to start internet cafe
A husband and wife team are putting into practice a long-held ambition to start their own business. The couple came up with their business idea when they were in Cyprus in January to get married. Nicholas Blake, 42, and his wife Jeannette, of Reid Place
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Shoeboxes deliver cheer
More than 230 shoebox parcels of toys and other gifts have been prepared by schoolchildren in Didcot. Becky Coombes, left, and Charlotte Davis with some of the boxes The boxes are now awaiting collection and will be despatched to children abroad who are
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Development proposal for hospital site
Councillors have said they are concerned a hospital in Cholsey, near Wallingford, may become a prison or centre for asylum seekers. Fairmile Hospital is due to close in March, and more than 200 patients with a range of mental disorders will move to the
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Brookes forced to reduce complex
Residents have forced Oxford Brookes University to reduce the size of a new student accommodation complex. The university will withdraw plans submitted to the city council for a fourth storey at its controversial halls of residence development in Marston
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Museum appeals for £200k to buy Renaissance paintings
Visitors to Oxford's Ashmolean Museum are being asked to raise £200,000 to buy two 15th century Italian paintings. The two Renaissance-era panels The Renaissance panels are being offered to the museum in Beaumont Street by an anonymous seller who wants
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Lack of applicants may delay wardens scheme
A scheme to employ wardens to patrol the streets of Oxford could be delayed because not enough people have applied for the jobs. Earlier this year, the Government awarded Oxford City Council £651,123, over three years, to employ nine wardens to patrol
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Estate agent's appeal to buy special equipment for baby
Caring colleagues are rallying round to help a Wantage couple improve the quality of life for their seven-month-old son. Harvey Blowfield, of Challow, was born with a rare, incurable eye disease, which means he will be blind for the rest of his life.
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Partnership agreed to help travellers
A partnership to help travellers has been agreed by county councillors. Members of the executive endorsed a collaboration with a variety of agencies and revised existing policy and code of conduct for travellers. Council executive member Anne Purse said
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£200,000 boost for city of culture bid
Oxford's European Capital of Culture bid has received a £200,000 boost. Last week, Oxford Inspires Ltd, the company formed to co-ordinate Oxford's Capital of Culture project, held its first board meeting, and bid partners Oxford Brookes University, Oxford
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United must be up for the cup
IAN Atkins has told his Oxford United players they will get through today's tricky FA Cup first-round tie at Dover only if they show enough desire. The U's boss will be drumming into them in his team talk at The Crabble that this is not the time to try
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Distorted values
SIR -- Reading the Oxford Mail and listening to the local radio, it comes to mind what a mad country we live in when we consider the plight of our elderly and see them parted after many years (Oxford Mail, November 8). Our taxes do not seem to be helping
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Show some consideration
Why do people not show consideration for animals? Firework night is November 5. I agree with the wonderful display South Parks has each year and, yes, November 5. For the last two weeks from 6pm until late, our skies have been lit up, and blasted to the
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I don't have to shop there
SIR -- Is there anyone else who, like me, is very annoyed by the dictatorial way Sainsbury's are behaving in trying to make everyone change to their Nectar card? Besides not having a credit card, not shopping at Debenhams and knowing that petrol at Sainsbury's
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Are modern soldiers thugs?
SIR -- I have been watching the Trevor McDonald programme about the deaths of the four young recruits, and the bullying in the army today. I was a regular soldier in the Gordon Highlanders at Aldershot, before the Second World War broke out, and the training
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Singers perform for BBC
Talented young choristers from Oxford have performed in a national competition due to be screened on the BBC over Christmas. The 39-strong Headington Junior School Chamber Choir travelled to Salford's Lowry Arts Complex for the national finals of Sainsbury's
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Ace Adam is in big demand
Oxford Brooks student Adam Sharpe is being hunted by one of America's top oval racing set-ups Team Heat, after a stunning performance in a long-distance round of the Kool Seal championship in the USA last week. Sharpe, 18, who is studying technology management
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Robbery round-up nets 21 suspects
Two traffic officers patrolling Oxford in a crackdown on robberies arrested 21 suspects in six days. Pc Mark Pilling and Pc Pete Lomas have been praised by senior officers for making the arrests during night patrols in crime troublespots. The officers
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Firefighters defiant over strike threat
Firefighters across Oxfordshire left picket lines to return to work as their strike came to an end last night -- but vowed to walk out next week unless their demands for a 40 per cent pay rise were met. The Fire Brigades Union said an eight-day strike
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Bikers club together
Disabled bikers have received a boost thanks to a motorcycle club and soldiers at Dalton Barracks, Abingdon. A cheque for more than £200 was presented to Juley Simmonds, vice-chairman of the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD) by
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Historian 'simply a great man'
SIR JOHN HABAKKUK A former vice-chancellor of Oxford University and principal of Jesus College, Sir John Habakkuk, has died at the age of 87. Born in Barry, South Glamorgan, in 1915, Sir John won a history scholarship to St John's College, Cambridge.
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Evans is Oxford's leading bowler
Skipper Rupert Evans received the bowling trophy at Oxford & Horspath CC's presentation evening and dinner at 333 Banbury Road. Rupert EvansThe veteran off-spinner broke his own club record with a magnificent haul of 54 wickets as Oxford were crowned
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Family planning
A lunchtime drop-in family planning service is being organised in Wallingford. From next week, there will be a clinic between 12.30pm and 1.30pm every Wednesday at the Wallingford Medical Practice. Practice manager Janet Newman said: "It's open to anyone
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Hunt to debut
Banbury prop Vince Hunt faces a baptism of fire as he makes his league debut against Midlands 2 East leaders Kettering at Bodicote Park. Flanker Sean Bannister, having recovered from injury quicker than expected, is on the bench.
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Mighty Quins can go clear
Oxford Harlequins can take a giant stride towards securing their second promotion in two seasons when they meet Swanage & Wareham in a top-of-the-table clash in South West 2 East at Horspath Road on Saturday (2.30pm). Mark DixonUntil a fortnight ago
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£78,000 grant aids park plan
Plans to create a new park in Faringdon have been boosted by a £78,000 grant. The Countryside Agency is helping to fund the first phase of work on the 10-acre site, which will be called Folly Park. Developers have already agreed to give £28,000 to the
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Church revives medieval drama
Medieval drama will be re-enacted in December as the Christmas story is retold in Wantage Parish Church. The choir has teamed up with local theatre group the Domino Players to perform carols and seasonal mystery plays from the 15th century, when the church
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Supermarket saga ends after 20 years
Developers have cleared the final planning hurdle for the Limborough Road retail park in Wantage, more than 20 years after proposals were first drawn up. The £20m shopping development on the site of the former tramway terminal will echo Victorian railway
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Headteacher voices A-Level concern
A-LEVELS are becoming increasingly devalued and the British education system is too focused on vocational training rather than learning, according to the new headmaster of an Oxfordshire public school. With the A-Level system in turmoil following suspected
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Gibbins leads Oxon 2nd to big win
Oxfordshire 2nd recorded a second one-sided win in Division 2 of the Inter Counties Badminton Championship when they beat Dorset 2nd 12-3 at Poole. Chris Gibbins, at No 1, was in excellent form and remained unbeaten, as did Dave Westmorland, Dave Soanes
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Rover bid to make history
Rover Oxford Ladies will be out to make history when they play a third-round WHA Cup match away to Richmond on Sunday (November 17, 12.30pm). Lorraine FurneyThey will not take Surrey Division 1 side Richmond for granted and will be keen to move into the
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Young guns bid for glory
Oxfordshire's two rising tennis stars, Joe Cartledge and Jonathan Maskens, are on the glory trail in the Sunday Telegraph/ Center Parcs Junior Championships at the La Manga Club in Spain. Joe Cartledge The event got under way on Thursday afternoon, with
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Pensioners offered free security
Thieves posing as council workers have stolen hundreds of pounds from a blind pensioner. The 82-year-old woman, who did not want to be named, was the latest victim in a spate of distraction burglaries in Bicester and surrounding villages. Off-duty police
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Council misses police forum
Town councillors in Bicester have blamed a breakdown in communications after they failed to attend a public forum organised by the police. Police had hoped that they would attend the meeting, but none did. Members said they had received no official notification
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McDonald makes bow
OXFORD Bulls take on Peterborough Rink Rats at Oxpens ice rink tomorrow night (7pm) with new signing, defenceman Julian McDonald set to make his debut. Winger Russell Williamson returns after a shoulder injury as does Mark Boardman and French netminder
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Lee battles for fitness
Oxford City midfielder Justin Lee is battling to recover from injury in time to face sixth-placed Berkhamsted Town in Ryman Division 1 North at Court Place Farm. He received a kick on the in-step during last week's goalless draw at Harlow and is rated
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Queues after crash
Rush-hour traffic was brought to a standstill after an accident blocked one lane of the A34 near Oxford. The collision between a lorry and a car happened on the northbound carriageway, close to the Botley interchange, at about 5.30pm yesterday (November
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Symbol on pub prompts quiz
A landlord is appealing for help to find out what a carved stone symbol on his pub means. The mystery symbol David Raines who runs the Blacks Head in Bletchingdon, said: "It has been here a long time, but we haven't got a clue what it is." He said someone
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Nightclub attacker faces jail
A man who punched and stamped on a night clubber in Oxford has been told to expect jail. Shazad Khan, 20, attacked Gary Wells at the Park End Club on December 23. He denied punching and stamping on Mr Wells, but a jury at Oxford Crown Court yesterday
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Mike tenth in Cheddar
Mike Baillie finished as the highest-placed Witney Roadrunners in the Cheddar Half Marathon, coming home in 1.17.29 for tenth place. Other Witney times: P Thomas 1.30.00, M Phillips 1.31.09, S Pitts 1.43.33, D Roberts 1.45.56, D Leigh 1.47.31, D Barnby
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Cherry Red Records Hellenic League preview
Abingdon United have injury doubts about central defenders Richard Peirson and Kai Ridley for the trip to Shortwood United in the Premier Division on Saturday (November 16). Luke Brandon is unavailable and Wayne Harbert and Matty Shelton remain sidelined
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Lamont eyes up Abingdon job
Assistant manager Pete Lamont is keen to take over the hot-seat at Abingdon Town following the departure of boss Alan Thorne. Pete LamontGlasgow-born Lamont has been involved in local football for more than 20 years. And he did his chances of securing
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Witney and Woodstock may face charges
Witney United and Old Woodstock Town could face charges from the Oxfordshire FA following the mass brawl in Saturday's Cherry Red Records Hellenic League Division 1 West game. Mayhem broke out in injury time at the end of the match at Marriotts Stadium
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Crosby takes a swipe
Skipper Andy Crosby has taken a big swipe at Oxford United for failing to sign Adi Viveash in time for Saturday's FA Cup tie at Dover. Andy CrosbyAnd he told the third division club to "pull their finger out and get the job done" before the fans and players
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Bastable back for Headington derby
Oxfordshire Senior Cup preview: Gary Bastable is set to return for Headington Amateurs for their first-round derby at home to his old club Quarry Nomads. Amateurs also welcome back Matthew Crook. Striker Phil Rodney and James Ford return from injury for
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Saturday football fixtures
Games to be played on November 16, 2002 FA CUP 1st round: Dover Ath v Oxford Utd. RYMAN LEAGUE Div 1 North: Oxford C v Berkhamted Tn, Thame Utd v Wivenhoe Tn. Div 2: Ware v Abingdon Tn. DR MARTENS LEAGUE Eastern Div: Eastbourne v Banbury Utd. FOOTBALL
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Saturday golf fixture
Match to be played on November 16 SHAW & CO OXFORDSHIRE FOURSOMES LEAGUE Section 2: Rye Hill v Wychwood.
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Evotech cuts losses
Biotech firm Evotech OAI has cut losses by 80 per cent. The company, which has 240 staff at Milton Park, near Abingdon, made a pre-tax loss of £13.9m for the nine months to the end of September, compared with £71.7m in the same period last year Revenues
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Trading tough in US
Tough trading conditions in America have forced international building materials firm Hanson to bring forward a trading update. The firm, which employs 900 people at 45 sites in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Sussex and Hampshire, is expecting pre-tax profits
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Aston Martin HQ wins award
The Oxfordshire home of some of Britain's most valuable cars has won a top award in a prestigious architectural competition. The Aston Martin Owners' Club's new headquarters in Drayton St Leonard, near Wallingford, shared top prize in the Royal Institute
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REVIEW: Picture of Dorian Gray
Chris Gray saw The Picture of Dorian Gray at the Oxford Playhouse. Leander Deeny An abiding fascination of The Picture of Dorian Gray is to observe how it reflects -- in truth, actually anticipates -- events in its author's tragic life. The intense friendship
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November 12: Right on his side
When Firoz Kassam stepped in to save Oxford United, no-one expected him to play the part of Lord Bountiful and pay off all the club's many creditors in full. Any crust would have been welcome. However, when he made a £6m profit on the selling the old
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Walking for health
Berinsfield and Didcot are being targeted with a 'health walks' scheme. South Oxfordshire District Council, along with the Countryside Agency and the local primary care trust, are working together to get more people walking for health. There are already
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Stores support recycling drive
Supermarkets are helping South Oxfordshire District Council to get the recycling message across to more people. Major stores in Wallingford, Didcot, Thame, Wheatley and Henley will have stocks of the council's green recycling boxes to hand over to anyone
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Family gets into festive mood
Christmas may be a few weeks away yet, but one Oxford family is already in festive mood. Mrs Champ with daughter, Kerry, 11 The garden of Martin and Mandy Champ's home in Pinnocks Way, on the Dean Court estate at Botley, is aglow, with Santas, sleighs
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Principal proposes new 'superschool'
A college principal is proposing the creation of a 'superschool' for Wantage and Grove. Bernard Clarke, of King Alfred's Community and Sports College in Wantage, has written to the new Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Charles Clarke, asking
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Robots dance through city streets
Technological experts who have developed award-winning graphics software produced this striking image of a robot dancing down Oxford's New College Lane. Oxford Metrics Group, based in Botley Road, set up a company, 2d3, which won an Emmy award for engineering
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Bully jailed for three years
A man who "bullied, terrorised and humiliated" two teenage boys in Bicester has been jailed for three years. Ben Thompson, 18, asked the boys for a light as they walked through the town late on July 1, Oxford Crown Court heard. John Denniss, prosecuting
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Regional assembly idea causes alarm
Leaders at Oxfordshire County Council have criticised Government proposals to remove planning decisions from local authorities by creating regional assemblies At the moment, the county Structure Plan sets the framework for the provision of houses, jobs
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Dangerous trees to be felled
A distinctive avenue of horse chestnut trees in west Oxford are to be felled and replaced amid concerns they could be dangerous. Oxford University college Christ Church has decided to fell 17 trees that stand on its land at either side of Binsey Lane,
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Club donates goals to young players
An Oxford under-eights football team that had its changing rooms wrecked and equipment burned by vandals has been given a new set by another club. Littlemore Youth Football Club has been concentrating on away games after vandals trashed changing rooms
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Residents protest as students pack key bus route
Bus passengers from Risinghurst say they have to endure long waits to get homes from Oxford city centre because students take up all the seats on their service. Some residents are even risking their safety crossing the busy A40 dual carriageway after
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It's that man again
Blair is at it again. Top-up fees will deter high-calibre working-class and middle-class children from going to university and the class divide will become frighteningly wide. Traditional Labour values are being abandoned and the principle of free education
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Regarding pornography
Regarding the article about people using the library computers to download pornographic images (Oxford Mail, November 7). If it is so easy to do that, why is it that the system will not allow me to download the free updates for anti-virus software? As
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Thanks for your calls
SIR -- Oxford Mail readers did me proud with their letters and phone calls in respect of my request for information about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 1944. A well-travelled lady from Eynsham sent me a book about the volcano and its history. Apparently
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Rock and a hard place
SIR -- The Gibraltarians voted in favour of remaining British and do not want dual nationality. Why? This would give them the opportunity to experience life in mainland Spain. Better roads, better health service and decent railways, not to mention much
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Duty of care on our road
SIR -- I was not surprised to see a traffic accident at the Pony Road trading estate junction. A person had been knocked off their moped travelling towards Horspath by a car pulling out from the estate. Action to improve visibility on this stretchis overdue
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Uncertain future for gas workers after sell-off
A West Oxfordshire liquid gas business, employing about 50 workers, is to be sold off by Centrica. The commercial centre of British Gas LPG at Witney has been sold to Irish multi-national DCC for £41.1m, along with the company's operations centre in North
