Archive
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Police 'will get tough on cannabis dealers'
Chief constable Peter Neyroud has warned that his officers will take a tough stance on cannabis in areas where there is antisocial behaviour. The drug was downgraded to Class C on January 29, and the Thames Valley chief said those found with small quantities
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Star turn for cinema opening
Oxford United chairman Firoz Kassam has lined up Hollywood superstar Joan Collins to officially open his leisure park. Joan Collins The 69-year-old TV, film and stage actress will crack the Champagne at the £22m Ozone development in Grenoble Road, next
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Estate must fight for improvements
Chris Boswell appears to have lost his sense of humour and not appreciated my 'tongue in cheek' comments about Cornmarket Street, Oxford (Oxford Mail, January 17). Before he accuses me of not being concerned about Rose Hill, I would like to ask what he
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Colin Ross
Keen cricketer Colin Ross, who has died aged 41, carried on playing for his village side -- despite having a leg amputated. Mr Ross, a leading figure in the quiz world, contracted cancer after a road accident and had to have a leg amputated. But his mother
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Cricket: Demerged club make fresh start
Horspath CC are up and running again. The village club, which has risen from the ashes of the demerged Oxford & Horspath CC, was re-formed at an upbeat inaugural general meeting on Sunday night. Around 100 people packed into Horspath Village Hall
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Council seeks cash for statue from US lawyers
American lawyers are being targeted in a bid to fund a statue of one of Wallingford's most famous sons -- Judge Blackstone. Sir William Blackstone was the first Professor of Law at Oxford University. His most famous work is his Commentaries on the Laws
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January 24: Out of date
The latest crime figures make depressing reading. The Home Office reports that violent crime in Thames Valley has risen 14 per cent, burglaries are up by 17 per cent and gun crime by 36 per cent Of course, the figures do not show whether Oxfordshire is
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Popular gardening show comes to town
The popular BBC Radio 4 programme Gardeners' Question Time comes to Witney on February 4 to record two programmes. Gill Pyrah chairs the panel of experts -- leading organic gardener Bob Flowerdew, writer and broadcaster Matthew Biggs, and forester and
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Tennis: Henman still smiling
Oxfordshire tennis star Tim Henman is determined not to allow his Australian Open defeat against Guillermo Canas to sway him from his new attacking policy. After throwing away a two-set lead, and then a 4-1 advantage in the decider, the British No 1 went
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Review: Carousel at the New Theatre, Oxford
Surely I wasn't the only member of the audience to shift awkwardly as I watched Carousel, reputedly Rodgers and Hammerstein's favourite work? The seats were knee-crampingly spartan, despite the theatre's revamp last summer. But it was the musical's dubious
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Review: Chinese Whispers by Peter May,(Hodder and Stoughton, £18.99, NEL paperback, £7.99)
"Terror is a pleasure. Murder is a passion. Death is a game," the blurb proclaims on the cover. Welcome to the world of the "Beijing Ripper", who has resurrected the modus operandi of his infamous London predecessor. This serial killer is not the only
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Sandford are champs
Sandford St Martin were crowned Wenn Townsend Oxfordshire Indoor League cricket champions with an exciting four-wicket win over Oxford & Horspath in the final at Blackbird Leys last night. Report & pictures in Monday's Sportsmail.
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Devils missing key players
Oxford Devils face another tough double-header in the National Basketball Conference this weekend when they will be without three key players. They make the long trip to Colchester tonight in Essex and then take on second-placed team North West London
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Aussie Lubans to lead Dark Blues
Oxford University RFC last night picked their third Australian captain in the last four years when Dave Lubans was chosen to lead them into the 2004 Varsity Match. Lubans, a versatile forward who has enjoyed an outstanding campaign, beat off four opponents
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Steele's bidding for a recall
Oxford United are confident today's game will be on, with rain having thawed out the remaining snow on the pitch. The U's are one of only two clubs in the Nationwide League - the others are Division 2 promotion-chasers QPR - boasting an unbeaten home
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Review: Big Fish (PG, 125mins)
"In telling the story of my father's life, it's impossible to separate fact from the fiction, the man from the myth. The best that I can do is tell it the way he told me . . . it doesn't always make sense, but that's what kind of story this is." Steve
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Speedway: It's celebration time for star Staechmann
Former Oxford ace Jan Staechmann celebrates 20 years in British speedway in March. Starring for Stoke in the Premier League, where he doubled up with Silver Machine last year, he is attracting the top names to his 'Staechmann Slideshow' at Stoke on Sunday
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Association to spend £43m on homes
The housing association that will control council homes in north Oxfordshire from March is promising immediate action on modernisation and repairs. Nick Westington, the newly-appointed chief executive of Charter Community Housing, said a programme to
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Athletics: Ashton on song at at Parliament Hill
Mathew Ashton finished seventh in the junior men's race at the Southern Cross Country Championships at Parliament Hill in London, crossing the line in 28mins 59secs. In the senior men's event, Mike Baillie was Witney's best-placed runner, finishing 23rd
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Athletics: Headington boosted by wizard from Oz
Headington Roadrunners' senior men's team is set to be boosted by the return of top runner John Lisiewicz for the penultimate round of the Oxford Mail Cross Country League, as they look to keep the pressure up on Woodstock Harriers for the team title.
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Football: North Leigh bid to halt Brackley
North Leigh face a crunch clash at Eynsham Park tomorrow as they take on Premier Division title-chasers Brackley Town. Defeat would be a massive dent to the west Oxfordshire club's fading hopes of retaining their crown. Stivelle Cooper (calf), Matty Ellis
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Golf: Birdies rule roost for new captain Roma
It was a case of watch the birdie when Roma Wilcock drove in as the new ladies' captain of Frilford Heath. The proceeds of £400 from the drive-in day, which included a lunch, were donated to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds' project at Otmoor
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Kurtis to ride for his father's team
The speculation over who is to ride the Kenny Roberts' MotoGP bikes this season -- which are designed and built in Banbury -- is finally over. No.1 rider Jeremy McWilliams raced for the Proton KR squad for the last two seasons, but his future was thrown
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£13bn air tanker contract agreed
A European consortium was today (January 26) named as the preferred bidder for a £13bn contract to supply refuelling aircraft to the RAF, which will be based at Brize Norton. There were two bidders for the deal, which will create about 600 jobs at the
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Review: Sugar Daddies,The Oxford Playhouse
A Christmas tree twinkles beside the bay window of the spacious London flat in which Alan Ayckbourn's new comedy Sugar Daddies is set. The action begins with Santa Claus himself entering through the front door. Are we in for more festive fun (and fiascos
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Review - Runaway Jury (12A)
Justice may be blind, but when it comes to money - or more specifically, making obscene amounts of the stuff - the American legal system possesses perfect vision. Runaway Jury is the latest courtroom thriller based on a trashy bestseller by the king of
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Review: Bar Meze, London Road, Headington
Strange things, olives. Only a couple of years ago I used to recoil from the things, but now I just can't resist nibbling on them, especially when they're doused in oil, nestling in a neat little tray alongside a hefty sundried tomato and a pickled mild
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Post talks scheduled
Talks will be held next week in a bid to avert another damaging postal strike in Oxford. But if they are not successful, union leaders have been given permission to press ahead with a ballot for official industrial action after clashing with bosses over
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University is intimidating us, say protesting staff
Lecturers claim they are being victimised by Oxford University while holding a ballot on strike action. Members of the AUT union, including 659 Oxford academics, are voting on whether to strike over the pay package offered to them by universities. Oxford
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Kelly relatives targeted diary
The family of Oxfordshire weapons expert David Kelly made a last ditch effort to convince Lord Hutton that the Government deliberately made his name public to help in its battle with the BBC. In a final submission, the family seized on former Downing
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Flood plan 'is working'
A water company is confident work carried out in Oxford and across the county will reduce the risk of flooding. Although much of the flooding a year ago was caused by rivers bursting their banks, in some cases sewers overflowed. Thames Water says it has
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Wayne's debt to the U's
Wayne Hatswell returns to the Kassam Stadium for the first time today determined to prove he's grown up as a player. The Kidderminster Harriers centre back is enjoying arguably the best form of his career in a defence that doesn't concede many goals away
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New breed of Panda to thrive
Cheap, cheerful and a champion -- Fiat's new breed of Panda is set to chew a sizeable chunk out of the new supermini market. Fiat Panda Fiat has a 60-year pedigree in making city runabouts and its new offering arrives as small cars are recognised as the
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Council should act like companies
Does Oxfordshire County Council leader Keith Mitchell not realise that most long-suffering council taxpayers think his council is under-performing? The point that is continually missed is that he and his team plan to spend more than they have, year in
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Firm wins drug test kit contract
A company which makes drug testing kits for the police and the probation service has won a multi-million pound contract from the Home Office. Cozart Bioscience, based at Milton Park, near Abingdon, has been told its drug testing kits will be used at more
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Fire risk scheme expands
A scheme to educate young children about the dangers of starting fires is to be expanded. The Firesetter Intervention Scheme is being widened to cover the whole of Oxfordshire. Chief Fire Officer John Parry said: "Curiosity about fire is a part of a child's
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Review: Due Preparations for the Plague by Janette Turner Hospital (Fourth Estate, £17.99)
Lowell Hawthorne is a depressed thirtysomething struggling with two young children, a divorce and a lingering sense of terror after his mother was killed by Muslim terrorists in a plane hijacking when he was 16. None of this is helped by a suspicion that
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Loving it lite
Eating out with children can fill the most professional parent with dread and horror -- particularly with five of them to contend with. However, it is well-documented that the mere mention of a trip to the hallowed Golden Arches should induce impeccable
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Ignore moaners, says TV presenter
Television presenter Katie Ledger urged children at the John Mason School in Abingdon to dump the "losers and moaners" and latch on to winners. The Channel 5 newscaster, a former pupil of the school, was guest speaker at its presentation evening, to celebrate
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Tenants advised to lower fuel bills
A drive to help tenants reduce fuel consumption and lower their heating bills has been completed by the Vale Housing Association as part of its Affordable Warmth strategy. Measures introduced by the Abingdon-based association, which has 5,000 properties
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Donald Carter
A founder member of Bicester Rugby Club, Don Carter, has died in Australia, aged 83. When the club marked its 50th anniversary in 1998 he returned from Adelaide for the celebrations. Mr Carter, who played hooker for the club, was educated at Bicester
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Winifred Martin
A former infant school headmistress in Wantage for 28 years, who was also active in the life of the town's parish church, has died aged 79. Winifred Martin, who used to live in Priory Road, died peacefully on January 17 at Framland residential care home
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Rugby: Serious injury rules out Stephenson
Oxford Harlequins are forced by injury to make two changes to the pack for their South West 1 trip to Keynsham tomorrow. Their New Zealand second row Elliott Stephenson suffered a fractured cheekbone and a broken eye socket during their home defeat by
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January 23: Power to keep the peace
War has been declared on troublesome neighbours and others guilty of antisocial behaviour. Police and councils now have a host of powers to control those who make other people's lives a misery. Acceptable behaviour contracts appear to have worked well
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Theatrical twist
Art exhibitions, plays and music are included in Thame Leisure Centre's new arts programme. Lanternfish Theatre Company will perform Oliver Twist on February 20, and actor Raymond Sargent will enact two Victorian tales on February 21. Artist Pat Elias
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Shoplifting starts at age seven
Traders have called a crisis meeting in Wantage next month to thrash out the increasing problem of children shoplifting. They say the situation has become so bad that it is now time for police, parents and town councillors to find ways of reducing the
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16-year-olds face crucial decisions
The choices we make for our future when we are at school have a crucial bearing on the rest of our lives, although it may not seem so at the time. This is the time of year when students reaching the end of their mandatory school lives at 16 will be considering
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Hockey: Horne's double fires rampant Rover top
South League Greg Horne struck twice as Rover Oxford went to the summit of South League Division 1 by beating leaders Newbury 3-1 in their top-of-the-table clash. Horne made Rover's early dominance county with a short corner goal after 15 minutes. However
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Red-hot Stars bid to keep up perfect start
Oxford City Stars bid to maintain their 100 per cent record in the English Ice Hockey National Cup when they visit Peterborough Islanders tonight. Stars, who last week slammed 31 goals past Solent and Gosport, have won all three of their outings in the
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Farncombe flies flag in battle of Trafalgar
Farncombe Mike is Oxford's leading hope in the Mike Alan Bookmakers Trafalgar Cup which gets under way at the Cowley greyhound track on Tuesday. The competition, one of the oldest in the greyhound calendar and worth £1,000 to the winner, brings together
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Adela Main
Cricket fan Adela Main, who became an unofficial 'mascot' for cricket clubs playing at the University Parks in Oxford, has died aged 87. Mrs Main, who moved to the city from Northern Ireland in 1946, was a regular spectator at cricket matches in the parks
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Football: Ex-U's star Knight signs up for Didcot
Former Oxford United goalkeeper Richard Knight has become the latest big-name capture by Didcot Town manager Peter Foley. Foley, who has used U's legend Alan Judge on a number of occasions this season, has signed Knight as cover for Keith McLoughlin,
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Football: Skipper Saulsbury eyes up City move
Oxford City are involved in a tug of war with Ryman League Division 1 North rivals Thame United for their skipper James Saulsbury. Ex-Thame boss and now City chief Andy Sinnott, who is in talks with the 22-year-old defender over a move to Court Place
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Interview: Aaron Sterne from Matchbook Romance talks to Tim Hughes
Finding the perfect name for your new band is notoriously tricky. So it was with Matchbook Romance. "I came up with it -- but I don't know how!" explains drummer Aaron Sterne. "We were sitting around a kitchen table and got delirious." But what does it
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January 26: A question of need
It is right and proper that councils should stick to their policies. But exceptions ought to be made when they are merited. The Oxford Claimants Union Advice Centre has been refused a rescue grant because Oxford City Council chooses not to be its sole
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Bright future for legendary marque
Aston Martin, one of the most evocative marques in motoring, is looking forward to a bright new future. The DBZ Zagato line-up at the Aston Martin factory at Wykham Mill at Bloxham With a major new model, state of the art premises and a customer list
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Plain delicious
The delicious smell of Alex Mackay's cooking hit me as soon as I opened his front door in Wheatley. His dining room table groaned under an abundance of beautifully-prepared simple fare, from roasted red peppers to asparagus with freshly-grated parmesan
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New homes site back in melting pot
The entire issue of Didcot's planned 3,000-home expansion has been questioned once again. Despite a public inquiry which recommended development to the north east of Ladygrove, Oxfordshire County Council finally voted in favour of expansion to the west
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Flood plan 'is working'
A water company is confident work carried out in Oxford and across the county will reduce the risk of flooding. Although much of the flooding a year ago was caused by rivers bursting their banks, in some cases sewers overflowed. Thames Water says it has
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University is 'let off' plan breach
University bosses will not be punished for breaking planning rules by starting work on 'ugly' buildings in Oxford before getting permission. Neighbours were annoyed when work began on the 20m long electricity sub-station at Oxford University's Institute
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Mazda's take on hot hatch
Mazda has extended its range with the launch of the new Mazda 3 hatchback. The Japanese car maker says the Mazda 3 possesses one of the segment's best safety packages with anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency
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New party needed to take on Labour
As the main organiser of the 'British politics at the crossroads' rally at Oxford Town Hall on Monday, I would like to point out that it was a fantastic event. The turnout of 350 people exceeded all our expectations. It is clear that many people in Oxford
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Review: The Fabulouse Girl's Guide to Life by Kim Izzo and Ceri Marsh (Corgi, £6.99)
Claiming to offer "extreme etiquette for the stickiest, trickiest, most outrageous situations", this is a mixture of factual advice on how to be socially desirable through manners, charm and wit, interspersed with the social gaffes of one fictional "Fabulous
