Archive
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Pullman tackles Clarke on English
Children's author Philip Pullman met Education Secretary Charles Clarke to discuss Mr Pullman's concerns about the teaching of English in schools. Philip Pullman Mr Pullman, who lives in Cumnor, was invited to discuss his ideas with Mr Clarke after he
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Judge humiliated us in court, say couple
A family has called for an investigation into a judge who publicly berated them because they could not attend court to give evidence against a man who attacked them with an axe. Sue and Reuben White with their son Christopher, right The couple accused
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Keep on shifting the deck chairs
I note that a Parliamentary committee has just stated that this country is in danger of being overrun by the numbers of so-called asylum seekers being allowed unrestricted entry and that, if it continues unabated, it is likely to cause serious social
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Cricket results
Results from the OCA, May 10-11 Airey Cup 1st round Charlbury 163-8 (G McCallam 32), Westbury 164-4 (C Swain 62, N Wilkins 49). Twyford 40 (R Marlow 4-6), Faringdon 42-0. Witney Swifts 111 (O Hussain 51, K Palmer 3-17), Horley 112-5 (A Williams 3-32).
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Cricket results
Oxford Times Cherwell League results from the weekend May 10-11 Division 1 Challow 257-5 (A Holznagel 128no, N Podbery 34), Bourton Vale 259-3 (P Lazenbury 137no, M Whitney 57, R Howell 31). Kimble 287-7 (A Russel 87, N Shafiq 61, J Robinson 55, B Jones
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May 9: Dangerous behaviour
Once again anti-war demonstrators have prevented the Oxford East MP Andrew Smith from taking part in a public meeting. They have previously disrupted his weekly surgery meetings and forced a Labour club to cancel a scheduled event with the MP. The so-called
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Chance to Link-Up
Volunteer Link-Up, the volunteer bureau that serves Witney and Carterton, will be celebrating its 20th anniversary on Wednesday, June 4. The event will be marked with a party and presentation of long-service certificates in the Langdale Hall, Witney,
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Warning for farmers
Farmers in Wantage are being advised to take steps to prevent sheep being infected by blowflies. Last month, a farmer in the area reported his sheep had been affected -- the first case in Oxfordshire this summer. The blowfly is a ectoparasite which lays
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Chance to help group
A volunteer is needed to help run a toddler group. Rose Bateman has run the Wantage Toddler Group since 1992, but wants to step down at the end of the summer term. She said: "It's time to move on, but I don't want to see it have to close. "It's very rewarding
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Cricket results
Home Counties Premier League results from the weekend of May 10/11 Division 1 Basingstoke & N.H. 209 (62,1 ov, J Govett 57), Slough 213-3 (56.1 ov, S Naylor 74no, B Sher 57no). Basingstoke 5pts, Slough 25. Oxford & Horspath 206-7 (58 ov, I Crosby
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Unlucky Cowan hits 99 as students draw
Oxford UCCE's three-day match against Hampshire was abandoned yesterday as a draw when a heavy shower prevented the last 17 overs being bowled. A draw in Oxford's last first-class match of the season in the Parks was always the likely result with Hampshire
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Struggling Kolenko has point to prove
The Oxford Silver Machine will be looking for their first double when they travel to Monmore Green to take on Wolverhampton in a Sky Sports Elite League clash on Monday night at 7.30pm. There was no holding the OSM when they faced Wolves at Sandy Lane
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Tots set for toddling trek
Children from Deddington Nursery School are urging under-fives to toddle for charity. Pictured from the left are James Boden, Barley Calcutt and Emma Mahoney They want other children to sign up for a sponsored walk in aid of Barnardo's. The event is the
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Two in court over stun gun
A man and 17-year-old boy from Banbury have been charged with weapons offences after police discovered a stun gun. The teenager is accused of possessing the stun gun without a firearms certificate, and will appear before Banbury Youth Court, at the Town
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75 years of Guiding
Former members of Kennington Guides and Brownies, and their parents and friends, are being invited to celebrate 75 years of Guiding. Organiser Margaret Gibbs said the group wanted to contact as many ex-guides as possible who had moved away from the village
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Award recognises twin efforts
An Oxford resident has won a major award for his work promoting town twinning. Peter Silvester, of Stone Street, east Oxford, received the Gold Pin of Leiden from the town's Burgomaster, Wolter Lemstra, during a ceremony in Oxford's Dutch twin city. Peter
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Anti-war cyclists rally for 'B52 Two'
Eight people cycled 70 miles at the weekend, to pledge support for two imprisoned Oxford peace campaigners dubbed The B-52 Two. The 'Pedalling for Peace' ride, from Oxford to Gloucester, ended with a rally outside Gloucester Prison, where the two men
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'Targets set to crack crime, not punish drivers'
Targets were not intended to punish motorists for minor offences but to crack crime, according to Thames Valley Police. The force was responding to an article in The Sunday Times which claimed traffic officers were being set quotas for the number of motorists
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Anti-war protesters stop MP addressing meeting
Oxford East MP Andrew Smith has hit back at anti-war campaigners who ambushed a college meeting while he was giving a speech. FLASHBACK: MP Andrew Smith faces anti-war protesters before a Labour Party meeting on March 14 Mr Smith said six peace campaigners
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Up, up and away!
Strong winds hampered flights during the sixth annual Oxford Balloon Fiesta -- but failed to stop thousands of people enjoying the event. Stuntman Jez Avery leaps over a BMW-donated Mini Cooper There was an international flavour as a record 36 balloons
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End of an era as Powell departs
FANS' favourite Paul Powell's 12-year spell with Oxford United is over after he got the news he was half-expecting - that he was being released. The third division club have decided not to offer new contracts to either left back Powell or reserve team
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Real agenda behind war
George Orwell said: "In a time of universal deceit, telling truth is a revolutionary act." Reviewing the recent events in the Gulf, what was the real agenda behind the invasion of Iraq? Politics has a history of manipulation, hypocrisy and half truths
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Work within inflation
Every organisation dealing with finance, that I am aware of, has to work within the limits of inflation, otherwise sooner rather than later they would cease to exist. Councils are apparently able to buck this rule because they are a not restricted to
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Boom over, but average house price tops £218k
House buyers may have been comforted by the news that the boom is over, but in Oxfordshire the average house price has still hit £218,916. Prices in the county have increased by nearly 21.5 per cent during the past year, compared with 19.7 per cent in
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Calls for cancer cluster inquiry
A pensioner whose wife died of cancer is among residents who fear a mobile phone tower is to blame for a cluster of cancer cases in a north Oxford street. Victor Berry, 67, who has since re-married, said his second wife was one of five residents of Lakeside
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Residents turn back the clock
Residents in a village near Abingdon will be turning back the clock on Sunday. The annual Vicar's Fun Day in Sutton Courtenay will include 15th century historical re-enactments -- featuring a 'guest' appearance by former village resident Sir Thomas Erpyngham
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Cricket results
National Village and National Club Championships results, May 10-11, plus club matches and Over 40s NATIONAL VILLAGE CHAMPIONSHIP Aston Rowant 219-7 (P lumridge 65, C Hutton 52 not out), Kingston Bagpuize 203-9 (M Shepherd 61). Tiddington 213-9 (A Maule
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Grundy slams ton
OCA League report: Kennington batsman James Grundy was the star of the show as he hit a remarkable 160 not out in his side's two-wicket victory over Stonesfield in Division 4. Minster Lovell's Charlie Yates drives a ball for four during his team's nine-wicket
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Magic Evans snatches victory
An inspired bowling change by skipper Rupert Evans secured Oxford a dramatic last-over victory at home to Banbury on their Division 1 debut on Saturday. Banbury's Paul Hill With Banbury's last pair determinedly hanging on for a draw, Evans took himself
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Students mark end of term
Students at Wallingford School enjoyed an 'arresting' end to the term on May 9. Amy Kirton puts the strong arm of the law on Danielle Bowers Tutor Liz Worsell, who organised the day, said: "The theme for the fancy dress was famous people. "We also had
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Brewing their own
A new and very local brew is set to tickle the tastebuds of beer drinkers across the Thames Valley. Chris and Vanessa Hearn The Loddon Brewery is the brainchild of Chris Hearn, who has been in the brewing business for more than 25 years. Mr Hearn of The
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Contest to find wildlife gardens
Gardeners in Wallingford are being invited to help make the town a friendlier place for wildlife. The Wallingford Environment Group is organising a competition to find a wildlife-friendly gardener. Chairman Emma Broad said: "Every town and village has
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May 10: Piracy or publicity
There is no evidence that the Royal Navy press gangs, so popular in the Bristol area during the reign of George III, ever ventured to Oxford to top up their crews. So our colleague Nigel Hanson might well be the first to be kidnapped aboard a ship from
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Medieval mischief
A theatre group will be bringing medieval masks and midsummer madness to Burford Primary School. Abingdon's Trading Faces will begin working with pupils on Monday, May 19, as part of the Burford Festival. Children will be working on activities based on
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Time for a concert
A clock-themed concert is taking place at Wantage Parish Church on May 18 in aid of repairing its clock, which was damaged in a power cut. The concert will include a handbell rendition of the Angels Song by Orlando Gibbons, by the Church Tower Ringers
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Villagers' hobbies will be on display
Villagers will be showing off a range of personal collections and demonstrating various hobbies at a exhibition in a village museum this summer. Collections, Collectors and Hobbies will be in the Champ's Chapel Museum, in East Hendred, near Wantage, until
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Let's stay together, says Atkins
Oxford United manager Ian Atkins is keeping his fingers crossed that he is not left with a massive rebuilding job this summer. Ian AtkinsMany of his out-of-contract players have been told they will be offered new deals on reduced terms and if they all
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Football results
Results from matches played over the weekend May 10-11 OXFORDSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE Premier Div: Charlton 2, Kidlington Ob 0; Launton 3, Watlington 1; Yarnton 0, Highfield OB 3; Eynsham 4, Garsington 0. Div 1: Chadlington 3, Bardwell 2; Rover Cowley 1, OUP
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Advice leads to full-time career
An artist is holding an exhibition to show how far he has come since taking a tutor's advice and picking up a paintbrush full-time. Artist Payam Beint Payam Beint, 31, of Lapwing Close, Langford, near Carterton, was told two years ago that he could be
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Plan to improve traffic network
A traffic study in Banbury will look at how one area fits into the local transport network. The focus of the study, part of the town's integrated transport and land use strategy, will be Grimsbury. Sandra Mold, county councillor for Grimsbury, said: "
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May 12: Thorough study
One issue that has never been satisfactorily resolved is whether people living near telecommunication masts face higher health risks. Telecom companies argue there is no evidence to suggest a link between masts and cancer and that they operate under Government
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Tory to support arts centre plan
Tory councillor John Flood has attempted to dispel doubts about the future of Didcot's proposed £6.5m arts centre after Conservatives swept back to power. Despite his party's misgivings about the project -- because it is part of the planned major Orchard
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Fire crews called out
Firefighters were called to a house in Market End Way, Bicester, on May11 after a small fire broke out in a first-floor airing cupboard. The fire was put out using hose-reels and breathing apparatus. No one was injured. Meanwhile, crews from Wallingford
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Bodies not yet named
Identities of two men found dead during the past 10 days in Oxford have still not been released. The body of a young man was found hanged from a tree in South Park on May 8 by a member of the public. Police said they were treating the death as suspicious
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Man found with head injuries
A 29-year-old man was found with serious head injuries in the centre of Banbury on May 10. Police officers discovered the man in North Bar Street, near St Mary's Church, at about 3.30am. He was taken by ambulance to The Horton Hospital in the town. He
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Tributes paid to new mayor
Banbury's new mayor paid tribute to the town's past at her inauguration ceremony -- but said people must look to the future to create wealth and jobs for young people. Rosemarie Higham said: "We have an attractive and thriving town in an unrivalled position
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Website to work for plain English
A former Oxford city councillor is setting up a website to encourage the use of plain English. Sarah Margetts, who stood down as an Independent city councillor last May, has established Common Talk to help people understand complicated forms. Ms Margetts
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Auditor left stumped by accounts at sports site
The management of a Kidlington sports ground funded by council tax payers is under review after auditors found "uncertainties" in its accounts. Parish councillors are concerned that Stratfield Brake recreation ground receives large amounts of public money
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Oxon in sight of Twickenham
Dorset & Wilts 15, Oxfordshire 34: Oxfordshire's glory run towards Twickenham continued with a deserved, hard fought win against Dorset & Wilts at Swanage on Saturday. Paul Hennessy The victory put Oxon top of Pool 3 in the County Shield and means
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Magic Evans snatches victory
An inspired bowling change by skipper Rupert Evans secured Oxford a dramatic last-over victory at home to Banbury on their Division 1 debut on Saturday. Banbury's Paul Hill With Banbury's last pair determinedly hanging on for a draw, Evans took himself
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How will we all cope?
I was astounded at the recent Oxfordshire County Council report about plans for next year's council tax (Oxford Mail, May 8). I have just had to endure a rise of 13.4 per cent. Now a council finance officer's report was accepted by the executive which
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Good will could come to rescue
In one corner we have supporters of preservation of the Trap Grounds, who might be thought to be in a strong position since this area has now been ruled to be a town green. In the other corner are those determined to build a road and 47 houses on this
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Working together
I have just returned from a meeting of the Cowley area committee. Month after month, we have highlighted various problems regarding traffic and roads. We are informed month after month that the highways committee and officers of the county council will
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Revival is otterly amazing
Belinda is living proof that otters are coming back to British waterways. Belinda the otter with her owner Daphne Nevill At Cholsey Marsh nature reserve, she met some of the people who have made the revival possible. Thames Water and the Environment Agency's
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Ramblers encouraged to walk for wildlife
Walkers are being encouraged to take part in a sponsored hike along the River Thames towpath. Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust hope the walk will raise more than £170,000 to fund environmental and wildlife projects across the
