Archive
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Cleaners help ease hospital staff crisis
An in-house hospital cleaning and portering service has been so successful in its first six months that it is helping overcome staff shortages. Abdul Rahman Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital, in Headington, took over domestic staff after dismissing subcontractor
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Minister to visit JET
Lord Sainsbury, the Under Secretary of State for Science, is due to visit the Culham Science Centre near Abingdon on Friday to see the UKAEA and JET nuclear fusion projects. He will be briefed on developments in fusion research, including the status of
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Man killed by train
A man died after being struck by a train at Cholsey station, near Wallingford, yesterday (November 26). The man died at 5.10pm after being hit by a First Great Western train travelling from Paddington to Devon. Police have not yet released his identity
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Tory MP shows his green side
South Oxfordshire MP Boris Johnson is helping an environment group celebrate four successful years' work. As a supporter of the landfill tax credit scheme, which helps the environment, he will be at the fourth annual meeting of the Trust for Oxfordshire's
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Christmas shoppers get free parking
The Vale of White Horse District Council is offering free Christmas car parking on three Saturdays in December. Charges will not be made for parking in Faringdon on December 7, Abingdon on December 14 and Wantage on December 21.
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£12,000 for records
South Oxfordshire District Council is backing moves by English Nature to set up a Biological Records Centre for the county. It has allocated £4,000 a year for the next three years and is urging other councils to follow suit. The aim is to ensure planning
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Hedgelayers shun the easy root
Novices competed against experts in the annual north Cotswolds hedgelaying competition. The contest was held just north of Chipping Norton. Competitors had to lay 10 yards of hedge in five hours. Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership
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Fair gives £4,500 boost to appeal
A Christmas fair has raised £4,500 for a charity supporting the Oxford Children's Hospital Campaign. Money from the Charity Christmas Fair, at Chipping Norton Rugby Club, on November 21, will be donated to SCCWID (Sophie's Campaign for the Children's
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Young ace lands top accolade
Alastair Simmie, who could be following in his father's footsteps into top-grade rugby, has won a schools player-of-the-month award from a national magazine. Alastair Simmie with his father MikeThe 17-year-old, whose father Mike played for London Scottish
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Christmas carols
A concert of carols by candlelight is being staged by Bicester Choral and Operatic Society with Bicester Concert Band in St Edburg's parish church, Church Street, Bicester, on December 7 at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from Cole's Book and Music Store
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Motorbiker killed in road crash
Police are appealing for witnesses after a motorcyclist was killed near Bicester. Phillip Wilde, 22, died last Thursday (November 21) after his black Suzuki motorcycle was involved in an accident with a Land Rover on the Croughton side of the Finmere
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Grotto fire put out by security staff
Security staff put out a small fire in Santa's grotto at a toy shop in Bicester Village. A Green Goddess attended the incident and troops checked that the fire had been put out. The incident happened just before 9am yesterday. Meanwhile, stand-in firefighters
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Woodstock take series
Woodstock Harriers finished the Oxfordshire Grand Prix series in style as they lifted the men's title with another fine team performance in the final round - the Blenheim Colour-sponsored Eynsham 10k. The quartet of Nicholas Bainbridge, Bryan Vaughan,
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Residents' sleep ruined by noise of lorry alarms
Families on a housing estate are being woken up at night by the beeping noise from alarms on lorries reversing because drivers have taken a wrong turn. Drivers are mistakenly turning into Gavray Drive at Langford Village, Bicester, thinking they are on
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Milton off mark at last!
RT Harris Oxford City FA round-up: Great Milton posted their first win of the season with a 3-2 victory over Nuffield Arms in their Premier Division basement battle at Sandy Lane. In one of only three games to survive the heavy rain, Milton came out on
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Champs back on top
Oxfordshire Senior League round-up: Reigning champions Long Crendon moved to the top of the Premier Division for the first time this season following a 4-1 home win against Watlington. Matt Costar and Steve Wren inflicted the early damage with a goal
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Kingham deny North Leigh top spot
Witney & District FA round-up: Andy Watson ended his goal drought in style with a superb hat-trick as Kingham dashed North Leigh A's hopes of going top with a crushing 7-3 victory in the Premier Division. Michael Knight (2), Dickie Knight and Miles
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Powerhouse takes a cue
Snooker champion Ronnie O'Sullivan was on cue to launch electrical giant Powerhouse's new sponsorship of the sport's UK championship. Ronnie O'Sulllivan The Bicester-based company, which has more than 230 stores across the UK, has signed a one-year deal
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PowderJect ends takeover talks
Vaccine firm PowderJect has called off talks with bidders looking to take over the company. But management are not ruling out further consideration from interested parties offering a higher price. The firm, based at Oxford Science Park, confirmed last
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EU gives all-clear to gene drug
Oxford GlycoSciences will be the first Oxfordshire biotech company to develop a new drug and launch it on to the market, following official European approval of its product, Zavesca. The European Union has given marketing authorisation for Zavesca, a
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Keen to be green
More than 1,500 people are expected to turn up to to the Winter Green Fair in Oxford Town Hall on Saturday, December 14. Vegetarian and vegan food will be served all day at the annual event, organised by the Oxford Green Party, with music local musicians
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Man held in Oman gets date to appeal
Further delays are stopping a Witney man, trapped in the Middle East for nearly two years, from coming home. Businessman Jonathan Brown has been told that an appeal into his case will be heard by the Supreme Court in Oman on Christmas Day. The 55-year-old
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Stars set to switch on lights
Oxford's Christmas illuminations will be switched on by king of the jungle Tony Blackburn and cartoon superstars The Simpsons tomorrow night (November 28). Yesterday's Oxford Mail featured an eight-page supplement with a timetable of events for the big
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Road 'left in danger state'
Faulty resurfacing work has left an Oxford street a deathtrap, according to residents. Michael Burrage People living in Horspath Road, off Hollow Way, Cowley, say mounds of loose chippings left behind by workmen have made it impossible for cars to brake
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Oxford welcome sign upsets villages
Villagers north of Oxford are furious after county council bosses put up a Welcome to Oxford sign for drivers approaching Gosford and Water Eaton. The road sign, on the old Bicester Road, has been erected just yards from another sign showing the Gosford
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Labour unveils budget plan
There will be no mass redundancies or major cuts as part of next year's budget for Labour-run Oxford City Council. That is the pledge from council leader Alex Hollingsworth, who will unveil his budget plans for 2003/4 at Monday's (December 2) executive
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U's get cup tie fever
Tickets for Oxford United's televised FA Cup derby with Swindon Town on December 8 are going so quickly the game could be sold out by the weekend. The first-ever FA Cup meeting between the old adversaries has captured the imagination of local football
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University 'better than Lord's'
Oxford University's wicket in The Parks has been voted second only to The Oval as the best cricket pitch in the country. In its yearly rankings, the England & Wales Cricket Board has placed the Dark Blues' wicket above the likes of Lord's, Trent Bridge
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Medical scientists in running for prize
Oxford scientists working on treatments for multiple sclerosis are in the running for a prize of 1m euros -- £650,000 -- awarded by the European Commission. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the nervous system affecting 85,000 people in the UK
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Libraries aim to improve
Inspectors have classed Oxfordshire's library service as fair, with good prospects for improvement. County council managers said they were pleased with the Audit Commission verdict, and they were determined to put in the further hard work needed to make
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Builder forced to wait days for leg operation
Builder Mark Freeman has been waiting in agony for days for an operation on his broken leg because of a lack of beds at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Mark Freeman with partner Amanda Withers Mr Freeman, 43, of Ticknell Piece Road, Charlbury,
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Builder 'must pay for speed hump'
Oxfordshire County Council will take legal action to recover money from builder Ian Beesley who demolished a speed hump in Oxford. Locals at Ian Beesley's pub, Walter Mittey's give him their backing As Mr Beesley's notoriety grew yesterday after his story
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Plan for culture centre unveiled
Details of a £10m scheme to transform the Old Gaol in Abingdon have finally been revealed. Under the plans the 191-year-old building would be transformed into a centre of culture. A theatre, cinema, library, museum and pub-restaurant are included in the
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Singers prepare musical birthday
Twenty years of music will be celebrated at Sutton Courtenay on Sunday evening (December 1) when the All Saints Singers and Orchestra perform an Advent Concert in the church. The centrepiece of the concert will be Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols
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Officer takes command
Phil Gormley, the superintendent in charge of South Oxfordshire's police until February, has been appointed as a commander with the Metropolitan Police. Mr Gormley joined Thames Valley Police in 1985, aged 22. Recently he helped develop the force's strategy
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Aid worker to visit
An aid worker in Zambia is visiting Witney to talk about the devastating effects of Aids in his homeland. Alick Nyirenda runs one of the partner organisations of the charity Christian Aid in the African country where there are now an estimated 570,000
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Brigade celebrates centenary
Charles Early, grandson of the founder -- Harold Early -- of the 1st Witney Boys' Brigade Company, cut a cake to mark the brigade's centenary. A service to mark the event was also held in the town's Methodist Church in the High Street. During the service
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Getting down to business
Young business people from across the county put their products on show in the centre of Abingdon. From left, Emily Spicer, Lindsay Foley and Vicky Habermehl from the School of St Helen and St Katharine, Abingdon The students from schools in Abingdon
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Actors turn up the heat for laughs
The Bartholomew Players present Steaming, an adult comedy, from November 27 until Friday, 29 in Eynsham village hall. Emily Thompson, left, and Trish Thompson The play, by Nell Dunn, is set in the Turkish room of a run-down baths in the East End of London
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Award for conversion
A former threshing barn which was converted into an office has won an award from the Country Landowners' Association. The barn, on a farm in North Weston, near Thame, has been refurbished as a 2,700 sq ft office, with the help of a grant from the South
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Blunders end City bid
Wembley 5, Oxford City 3: A succession of defensive errors cost City dearly as they bowed out of the Bryco Cup in the second round. City started well enough, and took the lead in the third minute. Ian Bates was lucky to receive only a booking after striking
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Riley crush Oracle
Riley A stormed back to the top of the Oxford & District Billiards League Division 1 table after a 3-0 victory over Division 2 leaders Oracle. The home team were given a flying start when Alan Copelin (+100) cruised to a 150-94 win over Jack Woods
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Veterans star as Shelley fight back
Superb throwing by veterans John Curran and Tom Hartnet helped Shelley dent Clare Car Hire's title hopes in a 3-3 draw in the aunt sally Gladiator Beer Seller Friday Invitation League. The pair both hit sixes, with Curran's coming in a 15-doll haul as
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Brain-damaged boy wins compensation
A 12-year-old boy left brain damaged during his birth at an Oxfordshire hospital has won "very substantial" compensation at the High Court. Tom Faulkner suffered "complete deprivation of oxygen in the very last moments before he was born" at The Horton
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Wilson ready to lead White Horse gallop
White Horse Harriers will look to continue where they left off as they host Round 2 of the Oxford Mail Cross Country League at Lambourn this Sunday (December 1, 10am). Pete WilsonOn their home soil, and leading the men's standings after a successful opening
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Eynsham 10k results
Overall results from the Eynsham 10k (Top 50 - senior men unless stated): 1 D Duke (Achilles) 32.16, 2 M Beerling (Oxford City) 32.23, 3 N Perry (Swindon) 32.34, 4 R Forsbrook (Cheltenham) 32.59, 5 S Kimber (WSEH) 33.55, 6 T Lock (Witney RR) 34.06, 7
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Brize extra special!
Oxfordshire Charity Cup round-up: Brize Norton pipped Sinclair United 2-1 after extra time - the third time this month that they have won in added time. The visitors took an early lead in the second-round tie, but Chris Murphy equalised with a header,
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Stewart sees red as Thame crash
Thame Utd 2, East Thurrock Utd 3 (aet): Alex Stewart was sent off in extra time as Thame United lost to the final kick of an eventful Bryco Cup clash. Rudi Hall fired the home side ahead just before half-time, only for Thame to equalise moments later
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Pearce's hat-trick boosts Blewbury
North Berks League round-up: Johnny Pearce hit a hat-trick to give Blewbury a welcome 4-0 win over fellow stugglers Childrey United in Division 1. In a programme decimated by the weather, Michael Pitcher was also on target for Blewbury, who are now four
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Relationships grow online
Relationships started at the highly successful Venturefest exhibition for entrepreneurs can now be nurtured throughout the year online, via the website www.VenturefestOxford.net The site has been launched to develop the links between investors and those
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VIP visitor at school bazaar
There was a queue of children to visit Father Christmas in his grotto at Didcot's Greenmere Primary School bazaar. Kate Shepherd, five, meets Santa "There was an endless line of children all afternoon," said PTA chairman Michelle Graves. A profit of more
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New home hoisted in
Two cranes have hoisted eight prefabricated units into the grounds of Manor Primary School, Didcot. The children watch the arrival of one of the new units They will provide a new home for Ladybird Pre-School. The £120,000 project is a dream come true
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Joint transport plan agreed
Transport issues in Abingdon and Didcot will be considered together in the future, following pressure from district and parish councillors. Oxfordshire County Council's principal transport planner John Disley has written to the Vale of White Horse District
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Diamonds aren't forever
Anne Diamond lost out in the Celebrity Big Brother battle with Swindon rival Melinda Messenger. The TV presenter, who lives at Wheatley, was the second person evicted from the house after being nominated along with fellow presenter Sue Perking. Anne said
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Landlord caught swindling benefit
A woman who claimed more than £1,500 in housing benefit for a former tenant has become the first "landlord fraud" offender to be successfully prosecuted by Oxford City Council. Former heroin user Marilyn Hilsdon was sub-letting a room in her rented home
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Memorial service faces delay
A memorial service for people affected by the retained organ scandal at Oxford hospitals is likely to be delayed. The Rev Nick Fennemore, senior chaplain at the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, had hoped to arrange the ceremony early next year. But
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CCTV scheme expands to cover more towns
A CCTV system that has led to more than 2,000 arrests has been expanded and improved. Insp Colin Black In a joint initiative, Thames Valley Police, Cherwell District Council, town and parish councils launched a £500,000 CCTV system on Monday (November
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Hospice says farewell
Staff and other people with links to Sobell House hospice will hold a service to say goodbye to the building before it is demolished next year. The hospice cares for terminally ill patients and their families, both as inpatients and at the day centre.
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Drama group reveals assets
An Oxford drama group has gone for greater exposure and bared all for charity. The members of the Headington-based Studio Theatre Club, which stages its quarterly performances at the Unicorn Theatre, in Abingdon, shed their clothes to raise money for
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Twickers places still up for grabs
Oxford University director of rugby Steve Hill still has a couple of selection dilemmas to resolve ahead of next month's Varsity Match. The Dark Blues travel to Loughborough University on Saturday, their final warm-up game and one in which they traditionally
