Archive
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Park-and-ride delay prompts apology
County council engineers have apologised to drivers who were unable to get into Oxford's new park-and-ride when it opened on December 10. Drivers were told by the county council that the new Water Eaton Park-and-Ride near the grain silo site between Oxford
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Porsche, please
More than 50 Porsche enthusiasts met at the Merry Miller pub in Cothill, near Abingdon, to share their passion about the German car manufacturer's 928 model. Porsche fans gather In 1998, the group had six members, who set up the website www.928.org.uk
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Walk raises £500 for appeal
A sponsored walk by children and the mayor of Abingdon raised more than £500 for the Oxford Children's Hospital Appeal. Nearly 100 children from St Nicolas Primary School, in Boxhill Walk, and mayor Audrey Tamplin walked around Albert Park to raise £2,100
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Police divers find boy's body
The body of a 12-year-old boy who went missing after falling into the River Thames in November is believed to have been found. Nathan Monaghan, pictured, of MacKenzie Avenue, in Milton Heights, near Didcot, was swept under sluice gates at the weir in
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Allotments targeted again
Allotments in Wallingford have been targeted by thieves and vandals for a second time. Last month, tools were stolen from sheds at the town council's allotments off Fir Tree Avenue after locks were forced open. Then, in the early hours of December 10,
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'Yes' to skatepark
Skateboarders in Witney and nearby villages will have a skatepark by next summer. The £50,000 skatepark will be built by Witney Town Council, which is seeking some funding from West Oxfordshire District Council, at The Leys recreation ground in the town
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New solutions sought to lack of affordable homes
Brainstorming sessions are to be held to find solutions to a "black hole" in the provision of housing in west Oxfordshire. People who do not qualify for social housing and cannot afford to get on to the property ladder are being forced to leave the district
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Football: Banbury set new club best
Tonbridge Angels 2, Banbury Utd 2 Banbury United increased their unbeaten Dr Martens Eastern Division run to 15 games, coming back from two goals down to snatch an injury-time equaliser at Tonbridge last night. It beat their previous Southern League undefeated
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Aunt Sally: Phil wows 'em
DOUBLE sixer Phil Wilkins clanged off a 16-doll haul as Garsington Sports whitewashed RD Racing 6-0 to storm three points clear at the top of the Gladiator Beer Seller Wednesday League. Wilkins rattled off the first 14 dolls before his aim deserted him
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Defiant 'Digger' charged over road hump
Builder Ian 'Digger' Beesley has been charged with criminal damage after digging up an Oxford road hump in November. Ian Beesley with his JCB He will appear at Oxford Magistrates' Court on December 13. And in a double blow for the 41-year-old, his JCB
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Eight-day course for youth choir
The National Youth Choir of Great Britain is to take part in an eight-day residential course at Bloxham School. Directed by Michael Brewer OBE, the choir is set for an intensive course to prepare for its world tour which starts in July. The choir is to
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Welder denies indecent assault
A man denied indecently assaulting a young girl over a six-year period when he appeared before Oxford Crown Court on December 10. Charles White, 53, of Milton Gate Road, Deddington, near Banbury, pleaded not guilty to eight charges of indecent assault
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£1,000 raised at choral concert
More than £1,000 was raised for charity at the annual Voices Concert and One Man Band junior soloist competition in St Mary's Church, Banbury, on December 8. Cheques for £338 each were presented to the Katharine House Hospice, St Mary's Church and Cancer
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Firm goes for military HQ
A rapidly expanding hi-tech firm has chosen a disused military building as its new headquarters. Adam Bloch, right, with fellow director Keith Hamilton Installation Technologies has moved into the partly bomb-proof structure at Heyford Park, Upper Heyford
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Pub giant plans investment
Millions of pounds are to be invested in pubs formerly owned by Morrells of Oxford. Brewing group Greene King's pub estate director David Elliott said the Suffolk-based firm, which bought 107 Morrells pubs in June, would announce an investment of several
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Biotech chief executive resigns
The head of an Oxfordshire biotech firm's parent company has resigned suddenly. Dale Pfost, chief executive of US-based Orchid BioSciences, is said to be leaving "to pursue other professional opportunities". Investors have been concerned about the rate
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Review: Puss in Boots
Oxford Playhouse The sight of happy crowds of grinning children spilling out into Beaumont Street tells a familiar Christmas story -- panto time is back at the Oxford Playhouse. When it comes to staging a traditional family pantomime the Playhouse takes
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No special care for crash victim
A man who suffered brain injuries in a motorcycle accident has had to stay at a community hospital for four months while he awaits specialist care. Tim Roche, with his mother, Catherine Childs Tim Roche, 36, of Portway, Didcot, needs vital treatment,
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MEP top of Green list
MEP Caroline Lucas is top of the list of Green Party candidates to contest her seat for the second time. Dr Lucas, who was elected in 1999, received 85 per cent of local party members' votes for candidates in the 2004 European Parliament elections. She
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Pair spray gas in man's face
Gas was sprayed into the face of a customer at an Oxfordshire post office during an attempted robbery. The incident happened at the Wootton Post Office, in Besselsleigh Road, near Abingdon, on December 9. A man was about to pay in some money at 12.50pm
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Cooker fire
A man was treated for smoke inhalation after a cooker fire in Rose Hill, Oxford, on December 9. Firefighters and paramedics attended the fire at a house in Lenthall Road at 3.40pm.
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Bus route relaunched after £100,000 spent
The Rose Hill bus service has been re-launched by Stagecoach after a £100,000 investment. The number three service, which runs every 10 minutes from The Oval in Rose Hill along Iffley Road into Oxford city centre, is to become more reliable, Stagecoach
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Market traders ask to go on car park
Market traders are urging the council to let them use part of a Kidlington car park until a new site for the popular village market can be found. The site used by stallholders off High Street is up for sale, and traders are worried that when they are
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Residents celebrate demolition of flats
Derelict flats in Blackbird Leys have finally fallen prey to bulldozers -- and rotting homes in Rose Hill are soon to suffer the same fate. Councillor Val Smith at Butterworth Place Residents were celebrating on December 10 after the entire block of empty
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Athletics: Oxon's muddy marvels settle for silver solace
Oxfordshire's senior women's team had to settle for the silver medal as they lost their Southern Inter-Counties Championship title at a cold and muddy Banbury. But despite that, the Oxon quartet of Jude Craft, Tracey Galbraith, Allison Hirst and Sarah
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Rugby Union: Oxford caught cold by Frost
Oxford University 13, Cambridge University 15 By Michael Knox Oxford University were caught cold at a freezing Twickenham yesterday as they failed to make it four Varsity Match victories in a row. Cambridge scored two tries in the first 15 minutes and
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Cold drives away asylum objectors
Bitterly cold conditions at the venue of the public inquiry into a proposed asylum seekers' centre at Bicester have been blamed for keeping people away. About 160 people turned up for the first day of the inquiry, which was held at Bicester Garrison Theatre
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Councillors refuse to cut cash for special schools
A review panel is to study the admissions procedure for pupils with special educational needs in Oxfordshire. On December 10, members of the county council's executive board had been due to agree to consult parents and teachers on the possibility of closing
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Cooker fire
Firefighters attended cooker fires in West St Helen Street, Abingdon, at 12.10pm on December 9. The blaze was out by the time the firefighters arrived.
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Music less heavy-going
The mayor and mayoress of Wallingford are donating a piano to the town hall to mark their year of office. Nigel and Christine Moor are giving a lightweight, upright piano that will be available for functions. It will replace a heavier instrument donated
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Two freed after crash
Two people were trapped and later released by firefighters after a three-car collision on December 9. The collision happened at Gravel Hill, near Badgemore Park Golf Club, at about 3pm. Fire crews from Watlington, Kidlington and Goring were sent to help
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Santa goes on tour
Father Christmas has announced he will be visiting the Wallingford area with members of Wallingford Round Table this week. His tour includes Cholsey on December12, Benson on Friday, Wallingford Maternity Unit and Brookmead area on December 14, and Crowmarsh
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Church hosts party
The Elim Church, in West End, is hosting a children's Christmas party with games and food. The event takes place on December 14, from 3pm to 5.30pm.
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Green team improves common
Volunteers soon warmed up as they took part in a scrub clearance day on North Leigh Common. Over the past century, scrub has taken hold on much of the 16 hectares of common land, an area of land unusual in west Oxfordshire as it once used to be acidic
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Nature charter produced
The Vale of White Horse District Council is working to protect the North Wessex Downs area of outstanding natural beauty. Working in partnership with other organisations and authorities, the council has signed up to a charter which aims to conserve the
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Festive spirit of Dickens
Dickensian Christmas was the theme of a street festival in Wantage. Traditional entertainers, musicians and dancers filled the town with Christmas cheer at the annual Dickensian evening on December 6. Pictured, from left, are Jim Holey, Jenny Hanaby and
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Football: On-song Smith grabs a double
Thame Utd 5, Wembley 0 Two goals from Rob Smith helped Thame United to a well-deserved win over Ryman League Division 1 North basement club Wembley at Windmill Stadium last night. Thame went ahead in the sixth minute. Jon Gardner flicked on Tony Joyce's
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Football: Hot-shot Lewis does it again
Oxford City 4, Barking 1 New signing Stuart Lewis bagged a brace, but then hobbled off with an injury as Oxford City cruised to a comfortable Ryman Division 1 North victory at a freezing Court Place Farm. City went ahead in the 11th minute when Lewis
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Billiards: Buck sparks fightback
LEADERS Rileys fought back from a game behind to maintain their narrow lead at the top of the Oxford & District League's first division with a 2-1 victory at Cowley Con Club B. It started badly for Rileys when Brian Mabbutt (+10) surprised Keith Maskens
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Cooker fire
Firefighters were called to East Hawthorn Road, Ambrosden, near Bicester, at 12.15pm on December 9. The blaze was out by the time the firefighters arrived.
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Athletics: Veteran Shipway steals the show
WOODSTOCK Harriers' star veteran, Mike Shipway, took the plaudits as Oxfordshire athletes came out in force at the annual Lanzarote International Running Challenge. The event comprises four gruelling races in a four-day period, with aggregate times used
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Try a dive
Bicester's sub aqua club is offering a trial dive as a novel Christmas present. Each dive costs £12.50. For more information, call Robin Bright on 01869 601296.
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Football: Brize are stunned by marvellous Milton
John Fathers Oxfordshire Junior Shield Milton pulled off one of the biggest shocks in recent memory with a 3-0 victory over Witney & District Premier Division leaders Brize Norton. The Witney FA Division 2 outfit took the lead through Andy Hemming
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New manager
Barry Pearce is the new sheltered homes manager for Banbury Homes. He will be responsible for the 600 sheltered properties in the Cherwell area. He will oversee Banbury Homes' transition to 'supporting people' -- the new Government framework for funding
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Internet role
Steven Maier, a partner with business lawyers Manches, has being invited to join the World Intellectual Property Organisation's panel of experts to settle Internet domain name disputes between individuals and organisations wanting to register website
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Specialist display unit launched
A photographic and printing firm is expanding with the launch of a specialist division. BCI, based in Banbury, has launched Spectrum Displays to give a dedicated service to setting up exhibition displays. It will concentrate on offering a range of options
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TV services interrupted
Homes across Oxfordshire were without television for about 90 minutes on December 10, following a power cut. The Beckley transmitter stopped broadcasting at about 9am. A spokesman for Crown Castle International, which owns the transmitter, said residents
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Timely warning over post
Postal workers are reminding customers to send their seasonal greetings before the deadline for Christmas cards and gifts. All second class mail must be posted before December 18, and the first class deadline is December 21. Lee Kilfoyle and Melanie Lammin
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Rugby Union: Dark Blues coach defiant in defeat
Oxford University may have lost 15-13 to Cambridge in yesterday's 121st Varsity Match, but their director of coaching Steve Hill said it had been their best Twickenham display since his involvement with the team. "This was my seventh Varsity Match, and
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Book distributor in bid for expansion
A book distributor, with its UK headquarters in Oxfordshire, has bought two companies in a bid for global expansion. Earlier this year, Advanced Marketing Services, the parent company of Bicester-based Advanced Marketing, bought Publishers Group West,
