Archive
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Town on war footing -- well the museum anyway!
Abingdon is at "war" for the next six months. An exhibition called Thames at War opens on Saturday at the town museum in the Old County Hall and runs until October. It focuses on the impact of the Second World War on the Abingdon area. On display are
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Planting of city trees cut back by dispute
Tree planting in Oxford has been reduced following a dispute between the city and county councils over highway maintenance costs. Cllr Craig Simmons with daughter Beri, three, and fellow Greens Mary-Jane Sareva, left, and Beri's mother Elise Benjamin
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Town on war footing -- well the museum anyway!
Abingdon is at "war" for the next six months. An exhibition called Thames at War opens on Saturday at the town museum in the Old County Hall and runs until October. It focuses on the impact of the Second World War on the Abingdon area. On display are
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Waive car fees, say traders
Car parking charges in Wallingford should be waived on 'slack' days to tempt people into the town, say councillors. There should be no free time on extremely busy days to ease the pressure on spaces, they also think. The idea -- from town council member
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April 8: In the small print
THERE'S an old saying about the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. Royal Mail's dealings with its industry regulator Postcomm seem to prove the accuracy of this. It appears Royal Mail did not know that strike action is now a legitimate
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Court sale paves way for museum
Thame Town Council has paid £366,000 to buy the town its first museum. The town council has bought the old court house, in Lower High Street, from Oxfordshire County Council. The chairman of the museum working party, David Bretherton, said he hoped the
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Review: Genghis Khan: Life, Death and Resurrection by John Man (Bantam, £20)
As horsemen they were highly skilled, a golden horde flowing out of the East. The weapons they carried were formidable - arrows that could penetrate armour and siege engines that could storm cities. Their messengers, changing from pony to pony, could
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Point-to-point: Granby looks a goer!
The Granby, who gave Heather Irving her 50th career success when winning at Kimble last weekend, could bid to follow-up at the Bicester with Whaddon Chase Hunt meeting at Mollington, near Banbury, on Sunday. Irving, who lives at Culworth, near Banbury
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Notts plie on runs against Oxford
Oxford UCCE struggled to contain a powerful Notts batting line-up on the first day of their three-day match in The Parks yesterday. Notts piled on the runs, declaring on 396-4. Australian David Hussey, younger brother of prolific former Northants captain
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Joey branded a wimp!
Billy Bonds had no hesitation when asked this week to name his worst signing as a manager, writes Jon Murray. He told the West Ham retro magazine EX that signing Joey Beauchamp from Oxford for £800,000 ten years ago was "disastrous" for the Upton Park
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Dobrucki clinches victory in decider
Silver Machine 48, Poole Pirates 45 By John Gaisford Rafal Dobrucki again proved a trump card for the Oxford Silver Machine as they maintained their unbeaten home record in their Airtek Challenge at the Stadium last night. The lanky Pole stood head and
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Arthur Halestrap
One of England's last First World War veterans died at his Kings Sutton, near Banbury, home on April 9. Arthur Halestrap, who lived in Kensington Close, was 105 and had served his country in both world wars. He was born in Southampton on September 8,
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Speedway: Greg set to return for Silver Machine
Oxford Silver Machine face another tough test tonight when they take on five-times world champion Tony Rickardsson and his all-conquering Poole Pirates in an Airtech challenge at the Stadium (7.30). Oxford hope to welcome back the influential Greg Hancock
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Athletics: Tracy top vet at Benson
Headington Roadrunners' Tracy Galbraith claimed the veteran ladies' prize at the inaugural Benson 10k on Easter Sunday. Galbraith crossed the line in 37mins 13secs in the new race, which drew a field of more than 300 from across the south of England.
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Football: Brock fires up troops for battle of Hastings
Banbury United player-manager Kevin Brock has not given up hope of automatic promotion to the Dr Martens League Premier Division. Brock's side, who travel to in-form Hastings United tomorrow, had set their sights on reaching the play-offs, but their 12
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'Hands off our town' warning
Traders, residents and councillors have issued a blunt response to a suggestion that Abingdon should become part of Oxford -- "hands off our town". Alan Lester, the former chairman of the city's Covered Market Traders' Association and an Abingdon resident
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Review: You're Only Young Twice (The Mill at Sonning)
'You'd think there was nothing in life but pleasure . . . have you seen the state of his room lately?" Richard (Darren Machin) is warming up for a row with his wife Sue (Sarah Payne). The subject? The behaviour of their teenage son, perhaps? Actually
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April 14: Far from the worst
Cowley Road is certainly not one of Oxford's most attractive streets. But we find it hard to believe that it should rank as Britain's shabbiest. We can think of many streets in other parts of Britain in a far worse state. The Radio Five Live survey should
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Honda open door of opportunity
Honda is hoping that an improved version of the Civic Type S will work the same magic in the five-door category that the Type-R has worked in the three-door sector. Honda Civic Type S The flagship Civic five-door Type S (VSA), which goes on sale on May
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Tags' mar entire road
A graffiti vandal has spray-painted a signature on nearly every building in a city centre street. The mystery 'signature' The name - or 'tag' - which is often dated '2004', or '04', has been blighting houses and offices in St Thomas Street, Oxford. It
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Bridge saves mums running car gauntlet
Mothers and their children will no longer have to run the gauntlet of a busy road in Blackbird Leys thanks to a new £25,000 footbridge. Cllr Gill Sanders cut the tape to officially open the bridge, accompanied by Cllr Barbara Gatehouse and local residents
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Basham booster for U's
Leading scorer Steve Basham should be fit to play for United at Darlington today. The striker had blurred vision following a clash in the game at Torquay on Monday. Barry Quinn, the midfielder who is on loan from Coventry until the end of the season,
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Tucson heralds 4x4 expansion
Hyundai's new sports utility vehicle, the Tucson, was unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show, marking the company's expansion of its range of 4x4 vehicles. The Tucson marks the entry level to Hyundai's 4x4 range and complements the existing Santa Fe and Terracan
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Suzuki additions bring more value
Suzuki has announced that all 2004 models in its range are to receive an increased specification at no extra cost. Driver and passenger airbags are now fitted even to entry level models, while the standard anti-lock braking system with EBD (Electronic
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Homes should be built in the North
New Labour luminaries Jane Darke and John Tanner argue that the Green Belt should be built on to provide more 'affordable' homes -- as if such a thing existed in Oxford! The debate should not be about where more homes go in the South East, but whether
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Nurseries make grade
Nearly all three-year-olds in Oxfordshire now attend a nursery, says Oxfordshire County Council. Sixty-one per cent go to private establishments, and the council plans to increase the percentage in its places in primary schools and nurseries, from 35
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Executive stands firm on cash crisis
All nine members of Oxfordshire County Council's executive have refused to stand down after it was revealed that £11m of social services spending is unaccounted for. The leader of the Labour opposition, Liz Brighouse, called for the heads of the Conservative
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Cornmarket - all we get are lame excuses
The leaders of the city and county councils tell us that they are preparing the ground for an inquiry into the Cornmarket Street fiasco (Oxford Mail, April 8). After being forced into it, they now say this is the right thing to do. After all this time
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Don Lewis
A respected musician from Wheatley, near Oxford, has died. Don Lewis, of Farm Close Road, Wheatley, died last month aged 84. He was born and grew up in Southampton, and came to Oxford in 1940 to work in the Pressed Steel Company, in Cowley. As a boy he
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Cricket: Surrey's all-stars in command in Parks
Oxford UCCE staged a spirited reply to a star-studded Surrey team's 452-5 dec on the second day of their opening first-class match in The Parks yesterday. They were dismissed for 267, Omar Anwar making 82, but the follow-on was not enforced and at the
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GP asks to be taken off register
A GP wants to be removed from the medical register to avoid a lengthy disciplinary hearing surrounding the death of a five year old. The GMC is considering whether Dr David Jarman, a former partner at Wallingford Medical Practice, provided inadequate
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Rugby: Henley seek to scalp Chiefs
Henley Hawks can secure their National League 1 status if they win away to Exeter Chiefs tomorrow (3pm). But Hawks, who require one win from their last two games to guarantee avoiding relegation, have a number of injury worries. Jeff Atkinson is definitely
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Rugby: Quins prepare for relegation crunch
After two successive promotions, Oxford Harlequins face the unusual experience of a crunch relegation clash when they take on Clevedon in their last South West 1 match of the season at Horspath Road tomorrow (3). Quins need a win to guarantee their place
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April 6: Some comfort
Compared with fines imposed on companies for copyright infringements, the £2m Thames Trains has to pay out for health and safety offences is small change. But it is a step in the right direction. Cutting corners at the cost of public safety will no longer
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Bring forward town expansion'
Planning officers want the expansion of west Witney to take place earlier than planned so a new junction with the A40 can be built. The move follows a year of talks to ensure that the delivery of new housing in the town has a road structure to support
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Tennis: Champs North in early upset
Reigning champions North Oxford suffered a shock 6 -2 defeat at home to Oxford City in the opening round of matches in Ladies' Division 1 of the Wilson OLTA Inter-Club 3-Pair League. Second pair Esther Simmonds and Jess Stacey led the way for City with
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Parents fear for missing trekker
The parents of a man missing on a trekking holiday have appealed for help in finding him. Gareth Koch, 24, of Hamfield, Wantage, has not contacted his parents Gill and David, for seven weeks, which they said was "totally out of character". His parents
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Dave the only threat to Crow's glory bid
It appears that red-hot favourite Tims Crow has only one rival to fear in the William Hill Pall Mall greyhounds final at Oxford Stadium on Tuesday. Romford trainer Peter Rich's black dog has dominated the early rounds of the competition, with 4-9 the
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Ace Merola seals cup triumph in tight tussle
Oracle's Pom Merola beat Newtrim's Bob Chivers 2-0 in the final of the Oxofrd Snooker League's Arthur Goodwin Memorial Cup at Headington Conservative Club to put a new name on the trophy. Chivers found the going tough in the opening frame, as the Oracle
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Sign petition, plead asylum protesters
People objecting to Government plans for an asylum seekers' accommodation centre are being asked to put their names to a campaign to send opposition direct to the Prime Minister Tony Blair. Dionne Arrowsmith, who is spearheading the campaign Members of
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New Brits take oath of loyalty
Sixteen oaths of allegiance to the Queen marked a historic moment as Oxford hosted its first British citizenship ceremony. Dr Amanda Ingham Adler, above, and Qing Ying Huang, right, with daughter Suki, show their pleasure at becoming British The 30-minute
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Athletics: Radley aces run off with the trophy
Radley made a successful start to the competitive track and field season as they came away from Haringey with the Alpha/Beta Trophy after a fine all-round team display. Cold and miserable conditions greeted the athletes at the London track, but they showed
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Football: Mills suspended for Wantage title run-in
Wantage Town midfielder JP Mills is suspended for the club's Hellenic League Division 1 East title run-in. Mills, who has played a starring role in Wantage's promotion campaign, is banned for 21 days, starting with tomorrow's trip to Rayners Lane, following
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Rushin' to see Russians
A group of Russian dancers have arrived in Oxford to prepare for a series of performances over the next two weeks. The 20-strong folk ensemble Yarmarka from the Russian city of Perm, deep in the Ural mountains, are here as part of Oxford City Council's
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Golf: Frilford open title defence in gritty style
Frilford Heath made a successful start to the defence of their Shaw & Co Oxfordshire Foursomes League title with a hard-earned 2-1 victory at Studley Wood. The reigning Section 1 champions clinched victory when their third pair of Ashley Walton and
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Back to the bad old days
There's an old hippy saying, that goes 'if you can remember the Sixties, you weren't really there'. The insinuation is that if you didn't spend the 'decade of love' out of your mind on illicit chemicals, then you somehow missed the point. Alvin Lee is
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Stand-off in post dispute
The Royal Mail boss at the centre of the Oxford postal dispute remains defiant and unrepentant about the company's actions. Area general manager Michael Stockdale told the Oxford Mail that it was impossible to carry out a proper investigation into the
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Council ponders Marriotts ideas
Shops, a cinema, open space, housing, a hotel and offices are all under consideration for the redevelopment of Witney's prime town centre site, the former town football club at Marriotts Close. West Oxfordshire District Council planners have drawn up
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Run-down site 'needs revamp'
Town councillors want to see a run-down industrial estate on the eastern approach to Didcot redeveloped with new units. Timber and builders' merchants Travis Perkins has set the trend with a new retail centre at the entrance to Rich's Sidings. But next-door
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Injured teenager foils mugger
A teenager being driven to hospital with a broken arm leapt out of the car to chase a mugger. Abdullah Khan, 18, was being taken to the casualty department by his brother Mahmood, 27, when they spotted a distressed pensioner who had just been mugged,
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New Brits take oath of loyalty
Sixteen oaths of allegiance to the Queen marked a historic moment as Oxford hosted its first British citizenship ceremony. Dr Amanda Ingham Adler shows her pleasure at becoming British The 30-minute ceremony on Thursday, April 15, featured music, pledges
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Scenic site to undergo restoration
A hilltop near Oxford once known for its scenic views of the city's famed 'dreaming spires' has been earmarked for restoration. John Hanson and Roy Darnell, of the Cumnor Conservation Group, at Cumnor Hurst Cumnor Hurst, which lies to the south of Cumnor
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Super Sue tests talents
Sue Stockdale's North Pole adventures made her stand out in the Oxfordshire business community. Sue Stockdale But on Channel 4 on Saturday, April 17, Ms Stockdale will be seen really putting herself to the test, as she comes close to drowning in pursuit
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Bins shake-up causes a stink
A householder in Kidlington claims new arrangements for collecting waste have left bags of rubbish littering the streets. Under the new system, weekly collections of rubbish have been replaced by fortnightly collections of household waste, with items
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Rix set to get a deal
Graham Rix is set to be given a contract as Oxford United's manager which will take him through to the end of next season. A settlement has been reached with former boss Ian Atkins and a statement is likely to be prepared in which, I understand, no blame
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Cycling security
The shortage of cycle parking in Oxford, if it exists, could be solved by converting part of the underused ground floor of the Westgate car park into secure cycle parking. A small charge could be made to cover security, ensuring that one's sometimes valuable
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Trial broadcasts to start
People in the Abingdon area could be tuning into their own local radio station next year. Trial broadcasts are expected to be held in the summer and Christmas by UK Local Radio Ltd. No other potential bidders have yet come forward. Communications industry
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Cuts or no cuts, we still get no answers
Like county council leader Keith Mitchell (Oxford Mail, April 5), we are frustrated by the current situation. We stand accused of lambasting the county council and using distortions that suit our own agendas. Our sole agenda is to secure decent social
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Your bill for new hospital is £2.88
Less than £3 would be needed from everyone in Oxfordshire to help complete the state-of the-art Oxford Children's Hospital. The £20m hospital, being built at the John Radcliffe site in Headington, is due to open its doors in December 2006, bringing the
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Review: Stalin and his Hangmen by Donald Rayfield (Viking, £20)
Rayfield charts Joseph Stalin's progression from provincial seminary student to power-hungry tyrant - cunning, cynical, highly intelligent, totally lacking in conscience, prepared to countenance almost any atrocity in the search for power, determined
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Review: The Way of the World (Oxford Playhouse)
William Congreve's The Way of the World, first performed in 1700, is regarded by some as the height of Restoration Comedy, despite its convoluted, and ultimately pointless plot, and long stretches of dialogue which, though littered with bons mots, are
