Archive
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Hospitals fear hard fight to retain staff
NHS managers in Oxfordshire have admitted they will have to fight to keep staff if hospitals in London win foundation status. Unions and staff groups are concerned that hospitals awarded the super-status could become magnets for NHS employees keen to
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Cricket club get the boot
Morris Motors Cricket Club have been kicked off their Crescent Road ground on the eve of the new season -- sparking claims of racism. The cricket club have been left without a home for their opening game tomorrow after Morris Motors Athletic & Social
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Plenty to entertain at annual carnival
Stunt motorbikes, a sword swallower and a dog agility group will all be keeping the crowds entertained at Wallingford's annual carnival, scheduled for June 21. But the most spectacular event will be the big parade through the streets with scores of organisations
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Lesson in fire safety
Workers had a blazing time learning how to use fire extinguishers and developing their drug awareness. Cathy Neale, of The Palace nightclub in Witney, learns how to fight a fire, watched by instructor Len Reid Staff from Oxfordshire schools, pubs and
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10 years on trot for ponies
Two ponies at the New Yatt Riding for the Disabled group have been providing riding lesson for 10 years. Riders and volunteers celebrated with a party for Topsy and Dusty with a cake and lots of carrots, and the ponies were presented with long service
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Fresh plea to landowners
Willing landowners are being sought in a new bid to boost affordable housing schemes in the villages of west Oxfordshire. The district council is in talks with 12 parishes in the area, but in virtually all cases the chances of them seeing the light of
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Writer wins deal
Dennis Marriott has enjoyed writing since school. Now, aged 72, he has published his first novel -- with two more planned. Dennis Marriott with a copy of his book He first wrote Those People Next Door in the 1970s as a script for TV. After turning the
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Atwood to visit
Margaret Atwood makes her first UK appearance, since winning the Booker Prize in 2000, at the Sheldonian Theatre on May 21. Oryx and Crake, her eleventh novel, set in a dystopian future, will be discussed as a follow-on from last months Oxford Literary
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Drop funds rise
Fundraisers who abseiled 80ft down the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford last weekend expect to have raised more than £2,400 for the Oxford Children's Hospital appeal. From the left are Alex Collins, Leonie Willis, Anisah Malik and Tish Sumnall, who were
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Court to consider Trap Grounds bid
A bid to register the Trap Grounds in north Oxford as a Town Green is to be challenged in the High Court. In February, city councillors were poised to approve plans by Oxford Citizens Housing Association for 45 affordable homes on part of the city council-owned
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Great bags of cash
More than £19,000 was raised for an art project at an auction of decorated bags. Jane Blumberg, a trustee of The Art Room, with some of the bags Fundraisers for The Art Room persuaded artists and other celebrities to produce a work of art on a brown paper
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Work to start on science centre
Site preparation work is due to start on a new wing at the Isis neutron centre at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, near Didcot. Science minister Lord Sainsbury announced Department of Trade and Industry funding of more than £100m for the project. Prof
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Mini-mania hits US as sales still soar
Drivers in the US are queuing up to buy the Cowley-built Mini. About 30,000 of the cars were sold in America in its first year -- 50 per cent more than parent company BMW expected. Across the world, Mini sales estimates continue to be shattered, with
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Firm spies work
An Oxford book-binding firm has won an £80,000 contract to restore a valuable collection of books that belonged to Cambridge spy Anthony Blunt. Restoration work on the Blunt Collection is being co-ordinated by Roy Thomson, chief executive of the Leather
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Resident saw body hanging from tree
A woman has spoken of her shock after the body of a teenager was found in an Oxford park near the bottom of her garden. The 53-year-old Morrell Avenue resident, who asked not to be named, noticed the body at about 7.15am on May 8. It was hanging in a
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Planting skills put to test
Volunteers will dig deep in June to plant the Blenheim Palace Flower Show in the world record books. They will attempt to set a world record for creating the longest flower bed on the eve of the show. But the attempt will require an army of volunteers
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Kidlington earmarked for growth
Thousands of homes will be built near Kidlington unless towns such as Bicester and Didcot expand. By 2016, according to the county council's draft structure plan, there could be 5,500 new homes in Oxford alone. The document, which will be debated by the
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Cancer victim had day's pay docked
A security guard had his wages docked when he attended a hospital appointment to find out he had cancer. Michael Turner Michael Turner, 51, who has worked at Campsfield House, Kidlington, for eight years, said he felt "shocked and cheated" when Group
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Village gets new store
After three years without a village shop, Lewknor has a new one, thanks to a local housing association. Shop-keeper Suresh outside the new shop It is the first time, Soha Housing has become involved in providing a shop. Lewknor had a village shop for
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Piglets are a big attraction
A litter of piglets are delighting visitors both young and old to Cogges Manor Farm Museum in Witney. One of the litter of 12 Gloucester Old Spots The museum's Gloucester Old Spot sow, Queenie, has given birth to 12 piglets. More piglets are expected
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Service marks 150th
Rail passengers on the Cotswold Line were treated to a special service on May 7 to mark the 150th anniversary of the route's official opening. Cotswold Line Promotion Group anniversary officer Paul Lilly, right, membership secretary John Stanley, left
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Jazz galore at Manor
Towersey's jazz singing Lady of the Manor and parish council chairman is ready to swing again. As Marie-Jane Barnett she is the chatelaine of Towersey Manor and chairman of the five-strong parish council. But let the music sound and she becomes jazz singer
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Orphan gets new home
Bicester soldiers have found a new home for an eight-year-old Iraqi orphan who was being looked after by their regiment. Hussein with Private Dave Marshall Hussein had been staying with the Bicester-based 23 Pioneer Regiment of the Royal Logistics Corp
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Councillors to decide on asylum education bid
County councillors will decide next week whether to bid to provide library and education services for a proposed asylum seekers' centre. The Home Office has asked Oxfordshire County Council to submit a bid to supply the services, despite an imminent decision
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Tenants want action
People living in a block of flats in Cowley, Oxford, have complained that the police fail to curb anti-social behaviour. Pc Chris Griffin, representing the police at a Hockmore Tower residents' meeting, said tenants' comments would be passed to Wpc Manjit
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Warden warns of dog thefts
Oxford's dog warden is warning owners to beware of the growing national trend of dog theft. Dog warden Jenny Bromley with Barney Jenny Bromley, the dog warden service manager for the city council, said there had been about 20 cases in Oxfordshire in recent
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Medics aim high
A TEAM of medical staff are scaling new heights to raise £5,000 for the Oxford Children's Hospital Campaign. Chris Tunna is part of the team that will start the challenge Consultants, surgeons and paediatric staff from the John Radcliffe Hospital, in
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Parking concerns 'ignored'
Demands for the county council to tackle parking problems in a residential area of Oxford have been ignored, according to residents. People living in Boswell Road and Bailey Road, Cowley, vented their frustration at a city council Cowley area committee
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Ruskin College principal resigns
The principal of Ruskin College has resigned after five years. Mr Durcan, 55, who resigned at a meeting of the college governing executive told the Oxford Mail it was "time to move on". Chris Wilkes, a spokesman for the college, said: "The executive recognises
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Rory joins fun at fete
A family obstacle course with attractions such as shooting plastic ducks with water pistols and sack racing proved a hit at North Moreton Bank Holiday fete. Fete organiser Susannah Stobart with her son Rory "Another popular attraction was the crockery-smashing
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City to argue for title
Oxford's moment of truth is fast approaching as the city prepares to put its case to the European Capital of Culture judges. A poll on TV saw Oxford finish last when viewers were asked to choose from the six cities shortlisted for the 2008 title. A panel
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Stewards needed as Oxford prepares to party
Volunteers are now being sought to help manage one of Oxford's largest street processions. Preparation are now taking place for the third Cowley Road Carnival on June 15 and organisers and the city council needs volunteers to help manage the crowds. Executive
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Ruskin College principal resigns
The principal of Ruskin College has resigned after five years. Mr Durcan, 55, who resigned at a meeting of the college governing executive told the Oxford Mail it was "time to move on". Chris Wilkes, a spokesman for the college, said: "The executive recognises
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Footballers unite to help tackle cancer
Research in Oxford will directly benefit from a new campaign led by top Premiership players and managers. A special football squad, including England internationals Sol Campbell, David James, Ashley Cole and James Beattie, has joined together for Cancer
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Police called after MP faces peace campaigners
Police were called to a college meeting on May 8 when an Oxford MP found himself at the centre of an anti-war protest. Oxford East MP Andrew Smith tried to speak to members of the Oxford University Labour Club at New College, when about six peace activists
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'Don't axe our grant'
A community group which handles repairs and improvements for council tenants and leaseholders in Oxford is worried its funding is about to be cut. The Cowley Forum, set up last year as one of nine groups representing people living in council property,
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Sport club plan wins backing
A controversial sports and housing development in Cowley has won initial backing from councillors, amid criticism from golfers and people living near the site. Morris Motors Sports and Social Club wants to demolish its clubhouse, between Crescent Road
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Executive councillors will stay in same posts
Portfolio holders on the executive board of Oxford City Council have been told they can keep their jobs for the next 12 months. The decision to continue with the same 10 councillors in the key posts was taken at the Labour group's annual meeting on May
