Archive
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Languages plan leaves headteachers uneasy
Plans to encourage primary school children to learn a foreign language, while ending compulsory language teaching for GCSE pupils, have received a mixed reaction from Oxfordshire headteachers. The language strategy, announced by Education and Skills Secretary
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Killer drivers' early release opposed
Hundreds of villagers are campaigning against the early release from prison of teenage brothers responsible for a fatal car crash. Nearly 700 people from Long Hanborough have signed a petition organised by the family of David Smith, 46, of Church Road
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Bingo! Every child at JR gets a gift
Every young patient at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital will be given a present this Christmas, thanks to bingo players in the city. Gala Bingo in Cowley Road, Oxford, collected 150 gifts to give to children at the hospital in Headington after asking
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Council calls for nightclub
A nightclub and a skate park could be built on the edge of Wallingford. The suggestions feature in Wallingford Town Council's Town Plan, which includes ideas for the development of a five acre site alongside Hithercroft Road, near the Wallingford Sports
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Put empties in the box
Residents in west Oxfordshire have been reminded to use the black box recycling scheme to dispose of empty bottles and cans after Christmas. The district council has delivered leaflets to every household in the area. The black boxes are for a variety
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Seasonal auction
Hundreds of turkeys, chickens, ducks and geese were sold at auction in Thame on Saturday, December 21. All the birds were reared locally to meet Christmas demand. The annual event, held at the town's cattle market, was organised by Dreweatt Neate. More
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Basketball: Devils shoot down Rockets
OXFORD Devils recorded their best National Conference win of the season when they defeated Reading Rockets 94-89 at the Rivermead Leisure Centre. Devils, still competing at the highest level without a sponsor, struggled in the first period. And they only
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Fixtures: All the Boxing Day fixtures
RYMAN LEAGUE Div 1 North: Marlow v Thame Utd (3). Div 2: Abingdon Tn v Flackwell Heath (12). DR MARTENS LEAGUE Eastern Div: Burnham v Banbury Utd (11.30). CHERRY RED RECORDS HELLENIC LEAGUE Premier Div: (3pm unless stated): Almondsbury Tn v Yate Tn (11
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Rugby Union: Two-try burst spells the end for Quins
Powergen Intermediate Cup Oxford Harlequins' hopes of reaching the last 16 for the second successive year were ended by a disastrous two-minute spell during Saturday's 14-6 defeat at Keynsham. Despite having to make five late changes because of flu, Quins
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Football: Mason set for comeback
PHIL Mason is set to make his first appearance for Banbury United since last August after recovering from a severe knee injury. The ex-Oxford City player, signed by Kevin Brock from Boreham Wood last summer, played only 20 minutes of his debut against
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Green housing cuts cost of energy
Work has started on a £1m housing scheme in Didcot designed to cut heating and lighting bills for tenants. The controversial development on the site of a former glove factory -- more recently a council depot -- provoked criticism from neighbours, who
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Students learn business lessons
Teenagers have been told that they do not need to go to university to succeed in business. Oxfordshire entrepreneurs and business leaders told 170 sixth-form students at an event held at Didcot Girls' School that taking a business degree was not the only
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It's a glazed expression
Graphic artists Kelly Geeson and Emma Green have been turning heads with their eye-catching shop window designs this Christmas. Graphic artists Kelly Geeson, right, and Emma Green, left, behind a window design They have just set up their own business
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£425,000 to boost city parks
A £425,000 scheme to revitalise Oxford's parks, green spaces and play areas has been approved by city councillors. Members of the council's executive board agreed on Monday, December 23, that money from the capital programme should be allocated immed-
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Pub row will go to inquiry
A government inspector will decide whether a village pub breached planning regulations by holding social events. A public inquiry on January 21 will decide whether the Railway Inn, Culham, breached the law by staging functions, and putting up a marquee
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Police may bid for larger budget
Thames Valley Police may ask for further increases in its share of the council tax because it does not have enough money for building projects. The force's share of the council tax is already projected to increase next year by 39 per cent for band D properties
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Sex shops face yearly £5,000 fee
Sex shop owners in Oxford are likely to be charged an annual £5,000 licence fee. The city council's executive board agreed on Monday, December 23, to impose the fee in a bid to regulate the number of sex shops in the city. There are now three in the Cowley
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Drivers land in ditches
A ladder was used by firefighters to reach a man whose car had crashed into a ditch. Firefighters and paramedics helped the man -- who was injured, though not seriously -- to climb the ladder to safety. The accident, involving one vehicle, happened about
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Money needed for tests
Money being spent on secretaries at Oxford Town Hall should be diverted to pay for public health checks, according to a city cabinet member. Mary Clarkson, executive member for the environment, recommended the move at a meeting of the city council's executive
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Tiny triumph for plotters
Natural harmony triumphed at Oxford's Burton Taylor Theatre as the Vera Legge School of Performing Arts performed The Plotters of Cabbage Patch Corner. The youth performing arts group Bees and ladybirds made friends with slugs and other pests in the final
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Ward wins accolade for quality
A ward at an Oxford hospital has become the first to be awarded an international mark of quality. Staff at the private patient Isis Suite, at the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Headington, have shown their dedication to patients by winning the title of ISO
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Volunteers prepare to support families
Families in need will be given extra support this Christmas following a training course for volunteers. Clockwise from left, Melissa Ramming, Helen Frazer, Jacqueline Corton and Terri Pilgrim They have started work for a charity that helps families who
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Samaritans expect 10% more callers
While most people look forward to the coming festivities, for some the Christmas season brings nothing but despair. For the Samaritans, the charity which offers confidential emotional support to people with problems, it is the busiest time of the year
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Motorsport: Standlake set for busy schedule
STANDLAKE Arena have lined up two race meetings for the Christmas and New Year period. The circuit, near Standlake, hosts the Christmas Capers meeting for all classes - including under 2.0-litre bangers - this Sunday. And the following Sunday, January
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2008 title 'will make Britain wealthier'
Britain will become richer if Oxford gets nominated for European Capital of Culture 2008, according to the city council's leader. Alex Hollingsworth claimed many areas would benefit if Oxford triumphed over the five other cities competing for the British
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First aid group celebrates
MEMBERS of the St John Ambulance in Abingdon are celebrating their move into a new home. Pictured, back from left, are division superintendent Paul Wiggins, duties co-ordinator Pat Matthews, member Darren Smith and division sergeant Grenville Wells, with
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Conversion opposed
A scheme to redevelop a farmyard into offices, which would create about 70 jobs, is being recommended for refusal by planning officers. Staff at South Oxfordshire District Council said the development at Severalls Farm, between Wallingford and Shillingford
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It's a glazed expression
Graphic artists Kelly Geeson and Emma Green have been turning heads with their eye-catching shop window designs this Christmas. They have just set up their own business and hope the Christmas designs will give it the boost they need. Miss Geeson, 22,
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Future of council offices debated
The future of the headquarters of South Oxfordshire District Council should be decided by members from all political parties, according to councillors. The council's watchdog scrutiny committee said an all-party working group should be set up to decide
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Co-op apologises for surprising tenants
Shopkeepers in Wallingford who found out about plans to demolish their premises just days before Christmas have received an apology. Some shopkeepers had no idea that Co-op Group Property intended to sell their sites for housing, until they were contacted
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Rugby Union: Henley slog out victory in the mud
National League Division 2 In conditions totally unsuited to their free-running style of play, Henley slogged it out to record a 17-3 win over Newbury at a far from Dry Leas on Saturday! The Hawks should have established a big lead in the first 20 minutes
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Chris makes up for lost time
Witney fly half Chris Murray may not have been able to find his way to the ground, but he knew where the try line was in their 36-12 friendly victory away to Redingensians 2nd. The game started ten minutes late when a car, driven by Murray, got lost on
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Council crushes much-loved chair
Molly Barlow was left seething after West Oxfordshire District Council workers took a chair which her late father loved to use, and dumped it along with unwanted furniture. Molly Barlow Mrs Barlow's father, Francis, lived with her at her home in Brize
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Rugby Union: Banbury crushed
Banbury battled hard, but could not prevent leaders Kettering completing the double over them with a convincing 40-0 home victory. Bulls had no answer to Kettering's free-flowing running rugby which brought them three tries as they built up a convincing
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Rugby Union: Grove hit rock bottom
Grove slipped to the bottom of the table when they crashed 22-7 to Amersham & Chiltern. In one of their poorest performances of the season, Grove trailed 17-0 at half-time. The second half was no better for Grove as they tried to run everything, always
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Motorsport: Irvine in picture for Jordan as Sato exits
Takuma Sato's exit from Jordan could hand a Formula 1 lifeline to Eddie Irvine. The Japanese driver confirmed he will join Brackley-based British American Racing as a test driver after coming to an "amicable agreement" to end his contract with Jordan.
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Football: West Oxon cracker on cards
A Christmas cracker looks on the cards at Kilkenny Lane as Carterton Town take on leaders North Leigh in a west Oxfordshire top-of-the-table derby on Boxing Day (11). It is the first time ever the two sides have clashed as the top two in the Premier Division
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Diesel's title challenge laid low by cough
A Didcot man and his dog, who were favourites to win one of the world's top agility contests, had to withdraw at the last minute when his border collie got a cough. Simon Peachey and his agility dog Diesel Simon Peachey, from Hamble Road, Didcot, was
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Church plan splits village
A planned extension to a village church has split a community. Planning officers, building experts and some villagers say they are worried about the effect of an extension on the Church of St Mary in Long Wittenham, near Didcot. But parish councillors
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Festive fun for hearing dogs
Dogs and their owners took some exercise in the run up to Christmas. Oxfordshire branch secretary of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, Heather Shute, and her dog Percy, who is eager to take a mince pie from eight-year-old Zoe Lane The Oxfordshire branch of
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Castle market idea worries traders
A market at the Oxford Castle site could threaten the future of the markets at Gloucester Green, according to a leading city councillor. Work is under way to transform Oxford Prison into an 87-bedroom hotel and a heritage centre by the end of 2004. Oxfordshire
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Disguise for mast
A mobile phone mast disguised as a tree could be built on an Oxford sports ground close to a residential area. Hutchison 3G has submitted a plan to Oxford City Council to put up a 15m mobile mast disguised as a cypress tree a on sports ground next to
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New hospital staff improve cleanliness
A ward housekeeper scheme at Oxfordshire's major hospitals has improved cleaning standards by 30 per cent. There are 10 housekeepers at Oxford's John Radcliffe, Churchill and Radcliffe Infirmary, and The Horton, Banbury, who are all in charge of the upkeep
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Tennis: Five resign after Oxon tennis bust-up
Five of the Oxfordshire Lawn Tennis Association's leading committee members have sensationally resigned after a major disagreement. The row erupted at the county's AGM, when long-standing secretary Mary Evans queried the accounts which had been drawn
