Archive
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Sleeping Beauty on stage
The pantomime Sleeping Beauty will be performed by Didcot Phoenix Drama Group at the Civic Hall on January 29, 30 and 31, at 7.30pm, with matinees on the Saturday at 11am and 2.30pm. Tickets -- priced £5 or £3.50 for concessions -- are on sale at the
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Review: My Holidays by Sylvia Smith (Picador, £12.99)
As reality TV, with its relentless focus on the ordinary, has gone from strength to strength, it was only a matter of time before an equivalent emerged in the world of publishing. Billed by Picador as "the East End minimalist", Smith has been feted as
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Players in winter spectacle
Wantage youngsters treated town centre shoppers to a taste of traditional winter street entertainment. White Pony Productions, a new drama group in Wantage, staged a Mummers' play, written by director Bethan Jones, outside The Bear Hotel in Market Place
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Lifeline for Alsop
An embarrassing cock-up by the Football Association's Disciplinary Committee has handed Oxford United striker Julian Alsop a lifeline in his bid to avoid a big suspension. Julian AlsopA three-man panel dismissed Alsop's appeal against the red card he
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Football fixtures
Matches due to be played on Saturday, January 3, 2003 RYMAN LEAGUE Div 2: Ware Tn v Abingdon Tn. DR MARTENS LEAGUE Eastern Div: Banbury Utd v Eastleigh. UMBRO ISOTONIC SOUTH CENTRAL CONFERENCE Under 17: Wycombe v Oxford Utd. CHERRY RED RECORDS HELLENIC
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Pencil in those gigs now
With most of us still nursing New Year hangovers, it's probably fortunate there are not many musical offerings to tempt the hardened gig-goer in the first few days of January. However, it is worth scribbling a few notes in your new diary, as the Zodiac
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December 29: Back to basics
Do we detect a return to traditional policing in the Thames Valley? In a campaign to target burglars, police are now visiting the scene of almost every crime to collect evidence. The result, according to Chief Constable Peter Neyroud, is "some really
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Smoke inhalation
A man suffered smoke inhalation following a fire at a house in Mendip Heights, Didcot, on New Year's Eve. The 26-year-old was given oxygen at the scene of the blaze, which involved bedding on the first floor of the house, which became heavily smoke logged
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Car dumping fee may rise
Owners of clapped-out cars in west Oxfordshire could be paying more for the council to dispose of them. The fee may be increased to £50 as district councillors prepare for next year's budget and look at ways of making savings and increasing income. The
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Strip off the old block
A pub landlord ran naked through north Oxford streets on New Year's Day. George McDermott with his blushing wife Jean Spurred on by customers, the festive spirit and whiskey, George McDermott, landlord of the The Globe Pub, in Cranham Street, Jericho,
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Bright idea for tribute to baby
The grieving parents of an 11-month-old boy who died after being born with brain damage are honouring his life with a flourish of colour. Ros Smith and Martin Blake, of Enstone, near Chipping Norton, have asked mourners at their son Jake's funeral to
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Cyclists' survey highlights railway bridge blackspot
Cyclists surveyed by a campaign group have criticised Botley Road railway bridge, where two cyclists have died in recent years. The Cycling Campaign for Oxford (Cyclox) carried out a sample survey along the Botley Road and concluded that cycling facilities
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Time to drive away thieves
Police are appealing for help from the public to stop distraction burglars in their tracks. Between April and November last year there were 504 distraction burglaries in the Thames Valley. Bogus callers, who use tricks to get into people's homes and steal
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Buses back in the firing line
Stagecoach has threatened to withdraw services from a troubled Oxford estate if yobs continue attacking its buses. It follows an incident last Saturday, December 27, in Bayswater Road, Barton, when a group of youths hurled a brick at a 7A bus, smashing
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Bag found
A Disney store bag containing several items was found at an Oxford bus stop at about 6.15pm on December 28. The owner of the bag, which was left at one of the stops opposite the Post Office in St Aldate's, should call 01865 384800 to reclaim it.
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Shops fed up with flats work
Shopkeepers in Headington say they are fed up with disruption caused by building work in London Road. A former butcher's shop was demolished to make way for a building which will house a shop, office and four one-bedroom flats, next to the West of Java
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Clean-up stops flooding problem
A clean-up appears to have prevented potentially dangerous waste overflowing on to streets in Oxford, after more than 30 years of problems. Since the 1970s, residents in Marston have complained that drains regularly overflow during heavy rain, flooding
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CRICKET: Housego gets big chance for England
Talented young Oxford- shire cricketer Dan Housego has been given a wonderful New Year's present after learning he has been called up to play for England under 16s on their tour of South Africa. The 15-year-old, from Peppard, who attends the Oratory School
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BMW shifts cause stress
SIR -- We are all pleased BMW's Mini is such a success, but what about the effect it has had on the lives of the men who work there? The shift patterns are impossible to live with and totally inconsiderate to workers and their families. Husbands and wives
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Left on the shelf
SIR -- We write with regard to the article, Parents being urged to consider autopsy (Oxford Mail, December 9). It appears that the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust has again used the term 'retained for research' as an excuse for the countrywide practice
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Review: The Second Oldest Profession by Phillip Knightley (Pimlico, priced £14.99)
The sinister, murky world of espionage is laid bare in this revised and updated edition of Philip Knightley's powerful book about spies and spying in the 20th century. The author is cynical about the intelligence business, not least about its efficacy
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Disco to aid charity
Parents Danny and Theresa Dyer are hosting a third annual fundraising disco to thank organisations that have helped their daughter, Victoria, who has cerebral palsy. The couple, of Somerville Drive, Bicester, have nominated the ROSY charity -- Respite
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Review: Chez Gaston
They say there's a book inside us all, waiting to be written, and in the same vein, there is also a restaurant waiting to be run. Visions of managing a hugely successful kitchen, socialising every night with friends and regulars, eating divine food and
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Wildlife plan offers safety for meadow
Oxford's Port Meadow could be protected from development by the Government if city councillors agree. The north area committee is being asked to approve a plan to enter the site into the Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) Scheme. The programme is run
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Organ scandal cash fight
A Mother who discovered her dead baby's heart and lungs were removed and thrown away by Oxford doctors is fighting for compensation 32 years after his death. Charlotte Everett, of Garsington, whose child's organs were retained, is seeking compensation
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DVD Review: Robbie Williams What We Did Last Summer
You either love Robbie for his laddish charm and sing-along anthems, or hate him as the embodiment of 'dumbed-down' Britain. If you are in the first camp, chances are you were among the 375,000 who saw him play at Knebworth in August. If so -- or if you
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Public have already vetoed fees
SIR -- It was with disbelief that I read (Oxford Mail, December 12) that councillor Jean Fooks and her colleagues are thinking of taxing Oxford residents for parking outside their homes, only seven years after this was overwhelmingly rejected by the public
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Winning cottage sold
A cottage in Marcham, near Abingdon, which was voted the best renovation project in The Daily Telegraph's House of the Year awards has been sold for £750,000. Charlcote House -- a 200-year-old cottage in North Street -- was restored by designer and developer
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DVD Review: James Brown, Soul Survivor
Surely, this was what the DVD was invented for! Ninety minutes of pure soul from the godfather of funk. More than any other release, this is the DVD that has the power to convert even the most techno-phobic soul brother or sister of the beauty of the
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Marjorie Reeves
The historian, Marjorie Reeves, who had an association with St Anne's College that spanned five decades, has died at the age of 98. Born in 1907, Ms Reeves was brought up in Wiltshire before studying modern history at St Hugh's College, Oxford. Ms Reeves
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Scientist's survey into village views completed
Volunteers have completed a detailed survey of life in a south Oxfordshire village to find out what the people really want. Led by scientist Dr Andrew Johnson, they delivered questionnaires to all residents of Crowmarsh Gifford, near Wallingford, asking
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Rugby fixtures
Matches due to be played on Saturday, January 3, 2003 ENGLISH CLUBS CHAMPIONSHIP Powergen South West Div 1: Cheltenham v Chinnor, Oxford Harlequins v Bridgwater & Albion. Powergen Midlands Div 2 East: Syston v Banbury. CLUB MATCHES Ealing v Oxford
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Poppy organiser steps down
A poppy appeal organiser, who has helped raise £30,000 in 35 years, is stepping down. Yvette Brown with Falklands veteran Yanto Evans Yvette Brown, who has organised collections in several west Oxfordshire villages, said: "I am French-born and I have
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Centre on move
Staff and families celebrated 13 years of a support centre which is set to move into more modern facilities on Oxford's Barton estate. The Barton Open Door Family Centre, a drop-in centre for children aged up to five, is set to move shortly from a temporary
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BASKETBALL: Devils face Hull
Oxford Devils kick off the New Year against Hull Stingers tonight (6.45pm) at the White Horse Leisure & Tennis Centre in Abingdon. Lack of training time for the whole squad over the Christmas break has been something of a concern for the Devils, who
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ICE HOCKEY: Stars face Slough test
OXFORD City Stars return from their three week Christmas break this Sunday when they take on Premier Division side Slough Jets in a challenge match at Oxpens Road. The face-off will be 7.15pm rather than the normal 6pm, as it follows a previously arranged
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GREYHOUNDS RACING: Owners and trainers are celebrating into the New Year following a massive boost i
Last year's total of £1,435,352 has been increased to £2,660,00 for 2004, representing an increase of 771/3 per cent. Oxford's increase is 77 per cent and sees last year's funding of £51,980 go up to £92,132. It is great news for Cowley, where prize money
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Chicane 'is safety hazard'
Scientist David Palmer believes a new road chicane designed to keep lorries out of Bicester is one traffic calming measure too many. The "gateway" is in Banbury Road, between a roundabout and the entrance to the Bure Park estate where Dr Palmer lives.
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ANGLING: Big chub were the feature of Oxford Waltonians' Open match on the Thame at Wheatley Bridge.
The river was carrying a little extra water and a bit of colour and Mick Baston (Oxford Waltonian) cashed in on peg 21, just above the A40 bridge. He had five chub and four perch for 22.7.0, topped by a best chub of 5.10.0. All were taken on maggot. On
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John Lewington
John Lewington who, with his wife Bettina, turned his garden into one of the finest in Oxfordshire, has died a ged 64. When they moved into their home in St Mary's Close, Kidlington, in 1995, the garden was a wilderness. But within a year, after much
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Review: Cold Mountain
If there's one film which could stage an upset at this year's Oscars and pip The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King to Best Picture, it's Anthony Minghella's adaptation of Charles Frazier's novel. Cold Mountain is a sweeping, emotionally fraught
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Blaze at house
Neighbours were evacuated when fire broke out at a house in Banbury in the early hours of New Year's Day. No one was injured in the blaze, at 3.27am, in a terraced house in Mold Crescent. Iris and Thomas Clark, both 73, who live next door, woke up, smelled
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City haunted by home hoodoo
Oxford City 0, Barton Rov 1: Oxford City are still seeking their first home Ryman League Division 1 North victory since August after they lost again at Court Place Farm yesterday. In the early stages, Andy Ballard's ambitious lob at goal caused keeper
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Redknap hits hat-trick
Stamford 3, Banbury Utd 3: Former Witney Town striker George Redknap was celebrating after netting his first-ever senior hat-trick in yesterday's 3-3 draw at Dr Martens League Eastern Division rivals Stamford. Banbury, who paraded their new signing from
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Football fixtures
Matches due to be played on Sunday, January 4, 2003 SAM WATERS OFA SUNDAY CUP 4th round: Banbury Spurs v Star Wanderers, Real Armas v Three Pigeons, Flowing Well v Leys Community Church, Chinnor Exiles v Six Bells, Dynamo Toby v Middle Barton, Nelson
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Chance to be Lord of the Manor
Anyone with money to spare and a wish to become a Lord of the Manor is now in with a chance of making their delusion of grandeur come true. Football fan and property developer Craig Feldman bought the Lordship of the Manor of West Challow, near Wantage
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Showdown in postwar Germany
A conductor accused of Nazi collusion and an American interrogator face a gripping showdown in Taking Sides, coming to the Oxford Playhouse this month. Neil Pearson and Julian Glover star as two men caught up in the conflicts of post-war Germany. Based
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Lexus piles on the luxury trimmings
Lexus is adding new limited edition models to its range of IS200 and IS300 saloons. The IS200 and IS300 ranges will be given a full range of enhancements Building on the equipment level of the current SE models, the LE introduces 11-spoke, 17-inch alloy
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Get up and glow
I need the help of fellow slurpers. Someone bought me this bottle of wine for Christmas. Knowing the chap as well as I do, it would not have cost a fortune (he is Scottish with Yorkshire overtones), mid-range at a guess. It was a Mas de Guiot 2001, cabernet
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Pudding power defeats winter blues
Never underestimate the health giving powers of old fashioned recipes such as steak and kidney pudding Such dishes provide the much needed warmth and nourishment our bodies crave during the cold dark winter months. I'm not talking about a pudding that
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Blenheim plans big anniversary
Blenheim Palace is gearing up for a year of celebrations to mark the 300th anniversary of the battle after which it was named. To welcome extra visitors, the season is being extended by more than two months, to February 14-December 12. Subject to public
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Volante makes American debut
Aston Martin will give the elegant DB9 Volante its world premiere on January 4 at the 2004 Detroit Motor Show -- the sixth new car from the company in less than two and a half years. The DB9 Volante is the latest model from Aston Martin and is also the
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Mercedes look to the future
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its new F 500 research vehicle which provides insights into the automotive technology of tomorrow. Packaged as a modern four-door fastback saloon, the F 500 Mind mobile research lab showcases more than a dozen ideas for enhancing
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Drivers fume at parking chaos
Millions of motorists are being driven round the bend thanks to a chronic shortage of parking spaces and hefty parking tolls in the UK. A new study of 2,200 drivers by Privilege Insurance found half of those polled blamed "parking rage" for breaking the
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It's noisy here too
SIR -- Yes, councillors Simmons and Palmer, who criticised my views on suggested road closures in east Oxford (Oxford Mail, December 13), I do live in a village cul-de-sac. I moved here because of drunks throwing bottles over the garden wall and other
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Determined to do better
SIR -- Thank you for giving space to the Audit Commission's latest report on Oxfordshire County Council's performance (Oxford Mail, December 18). Having been rated a "fair" performing council in 2002, we have pledged to become an outstanding authority
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Homes planned for site of blanket mill
Plans for the major redevelopment of a Witney industrial estate are to be decided shortly. Talks are taking place between West Oxfordshire District Council planning officers and a consortium wanting to develop the Bridge Street Mill estate. An outline
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Asylum protesters to make TV appearance
Campaigners against a Government plan to build an asylum seekers' centre near Bicester are to air their views on television. Almost 30 members of Bicester Action Group (Bag) will be travelling to the Carlton Television studios in Nottingham on January
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Review: The Scared Stiff by Donald E Westlake (Orion, £17.99)
Barry is a chancer, a sort of loveable rogue, while his wife, Lola, is his soul-mate. She shares his cavalier attitude to the law and when one more scam fails, the two come up with a cunning plan -- to fake Barry's accidental death and collect $600,000
