Archive
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Killer on the loose
A murderer was on the run in Oxford today (May 1) after stabbing a young man to death in the city last night. The 23-year-old was stabbed in the chest after being involved in an argument outside the Blackbird Leys Community Centre, in Blackbird Leys Road
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Cool weather fails to dampen May Day spirits
A damp and chilly start to spring failed to stifle the exuberance of thousands of 'May Morners' who turned out to see in the new season in traditional fashion. Crowds gather on Magdalen Bridge Many of the estimated 12,000 crowd at Magdalen Bridge in Oxford
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Web site complaints are simply frivolous
I have never used the Internet nor sent an e-mail, but consider www.thamesvalleypolice-sucks.co.uk an excellent idea. Unlike the chief constable, I deem the only arguably irresponsible aspect of it to be the rather frivolous and slightly vulgar name which
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Pupils sow seeds for a bright future
Children from St Michael's School in Steventon, near Abingdon, rolled up their sleeves to sow seeds and put in plants for the school's new eco-garden. Clare Norris, eight, is pictured with seven-year-old Shaye Pakes The school received a grant of £250
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April 24: War on bus bashers
What a sad reflection on society that we have to put up posters warning youths of the consequences of lobbing bricks at buses in Oxford. To the many law-abiding young people, the result of such lethal behaviour would be obvious. But clearly we have a
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Pleas as vandalism bill reaches £17,000
Vandals in Witney have run up a bill of almost £17,000 in the past year. Targets for attacks include play equipment, public toilets and the war memorial. Mayor David Harvey said: "We are extremely concerned that these costs are rising and even more so
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School shuts for funeral of teacher
A school in Thame will close as a mark of respect on the day of a popular teacher's funeral. The body of John Fulkes, 54, was discovered at his home in Pym Walk, Thame, on Monday. It is thought he had been dead for some time. Mr Fulkes, an English teacher
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Review: Tears and smiles in two fine memoirs
Stories about pets are a source of delight, along with stories about parents, in two gripping family memoirs - each touching and funny in roughly equal measure - published in the past few weeks. In The Smoking Diaries (Granta Books, £12.99) playwright
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Tennis: Officials deciding on best way to honour Parsons
The Oxfordshire Lawn Tennis Association are already discussing how to honour John Parsons after his death earlier this week. The Oxford-based journalist was a vice-president of the county, and moves are afoot to recognise his services. Chairman Andrew
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Stars aim to upset the odds
Ben Lay and Adam Andrews are set to return for Oxford City Stars when they take on Sheffield Scimitars in the second leg of their English National League cup final at Oxpens Road ice rink tomorrow. The Yorkshire side won last weekend's first leg 8-3 and
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'Use centre or lose it' warning
A community centre has been given a one-year reprieve by Bicester town councillors. But they have warned local people must make use of it or they will lose it. Bicester Community Church has run the centre in a portable building in Keble Road for the past
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Tiddley Wink is set for revenge mission
Tiddley Wink can avenge a recent defeat by Blue Flash when they renew rivalry in the S1 at Oxford Stadium tonight. Blue Flash, trained by Nick Colton, led every yard of the way to beat Gilly Hepden's blue bitch by three-quarters of a length. And Tiddley
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Hospital 'superbug' led to widow's death
A grandmother died from pneumonia after being struck by the MRSA "superbug" following a hip operation at an Oxford hospital, an inquest heard. Widow Evelyn Coppock, 83, fractured her left hip after falling over at Townsend House Residential Care Home,
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Kill Bill 2 (136 mins, 18)
The second half of Quentin Tarantino's eagerly anticipated martial arts epic begins with a whimper and ends with a bang. Caption goes here Unlike the frenetic and relentlessly violent first instalment, Volume 2 bides its time with entire sequences devoted
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Dixons closure brings job woe
High-street electrical chain Dixons is to close its Banbury store with the loss of 10 jobs. The move comes as it was revealed the group is to shut down 106 of its underperforming stores across the UK and Ireland following disappointing sales since Christmas
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Athletics: Super Sutton gets Radley off to flier
Radley's ladies got off to the perfect start as they won their opening Southern Womens League Division 1 meeting at Tilsley Park. They edged out Milton Keynes by seven points in a fine all-round display. In the senior events, Lucy Sutton became the fourth
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Football: Redknap looks set to return
Banbury United are set to welcome back striker George Redknap as they aim to reach the play-offs by avoiding defeat at Dr Martens Eastern Division rivals Erith & Belvedere tomorrow. The top-scorer missed their Oxfordshire Senior Cup victory with a
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Football: Super Simms does it again for Banbury
Banbury Utd 1, Oxford Utd 0: Striker Mark Simms was the hero for Banbury United for the second time in a week as he headed the winner in last night's victory over a youthful Oxford United side at the Kassam Stadium. On Saturday, the former Oxford City
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Golf: Champions suffer rare home defeat
Defending Section 1 champions Frilford Heath suffered a rare home setback when they went down 2-1 to Ellesborough in an epic Shaw & Co Oxfordshire Foursomes League clash. Two of the ties went to last hole. Both resulted in wins for the visitors as
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April 28: Adventurous
OUR congratulations to Polly Vacher on her round-the-world flight. Oxfordshire is well known for pioneering adventurers and she is well placed to join the very best. For some, a short flight to France or Germany is a real test of nerve. To circumnavigate
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A Triumph of British design
When asked to name the archetypal British sports car then the manufacturer that springs most readly to the minds of most is MG. Chris Cunnington at the wheel of a 1953 TR2, the first to be built right hand drive But a sizeable minority would always say
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Happy retirement: you've been raided
A village cricket club is on the back foot after thieves stole expensive new mowing equipment. It came on the day when long-serving volunteer groundsman Gordon Taylor retired from his job as a golf course green- keeper. He left his retirement farewell
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TA soldiers return from duty in Iraq
FOUR soldiers from Oxford's Territorial Army were reunited with their families yesterday (April 30) after a six-month tour of duty in Iraq. Rifleman Matthew Brain, from Witney, Rifleman Lee Adams, from Stokenchurch, Corporal Ian Leppington, from Slough
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Woman with baby fought off attacker
A woman fought off an attacker who lunged at a baby she was caring for. The woman was looking after the 20-month-old in White House Road, Oxford, when a boy started to hit her on the head and body, and demanded her bag. She offered him the bag, but he
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Bookies can set up shop
Ladbrokes has won an appeal to open a betting shop in Kidlington - after a court heard about a gambling culture in the village. The bookmaker has promised to open the shop in the village High Street within six-months - 100 yards away from their rivals
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Noisy skatepark payout
The Local Government Ombudsman has found Oxford City Council guilty of maladministration over the building of a skatepark in Jericho. The council has agreed to pay £2,500 to a couple who complained about the park in Aristotle Lane, which closed a month
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Rix admits error over Pitt signing
Oxford United manager Graham Rix admitted last night that he had made a mistake over Courtney Pitt. He brought the former Chelsea winger in from Portsmouth on transfer deadline for what has been his only signing to date, and it hadn't worked out. Chairman
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Join United board for £25k - Kassam
Firoz Kassam is asking the club's directors and local businessmen to share the financial burden of running Oxford United Football Club. He wants to have ten directors paying around £25,000 each for the privilege of being on the board and making decisions
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Spreading his filth
Andrew West did right to be missing from his flat when council officials arrived to evict him (Oxford Mail, April 29). Otherwise they might have insisted he took some of the filth and squalor with him. I wonder where he is polluting now. CARL BUTTERWORTH
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No-one is free from blame in the Cornmarket fiasco
A public inquiry into the refurbishment of Cornmarket Street would simply result in more of our council taxes being poured down the drain. From the moment the original granite cobble scheme's cost was known, it was clear that our money was not being used
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Fast Net link for most in a year, says BT
Almost all of Oxfordshire will have access to high-speed Internet links through normal phone lines by next summer, according to BT. The company is scrapping the controversial 'trigger scheme', under which 13 of Oxfordshire's rural exchanges had to sign
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Why we need police complaints website
I notice that the Thames Valley Chief Constable thinks that the man who opened a website for people to air their grievances against the police acted in an "irresponsible" manner (Oxford Mail, April 15). Two years ago, my daughter was alone with three
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Primary on a high after good Ofsted
More than 300 balloons floated up into the air above the Blake Primary School in Cogges, Witney, as staff and pupils celebrated a successful Ofsted inspection. The Government inspectors described the school as very good with an excellent ethos. Pupils
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Cricket: Spinner Peddy calls it a day for county
Off-spinner Giles Peddy looks to have played his last game for Oxfordshire. The former St Edward's School pupil, who plays for Hamstead, has been struck down by a mystery shoulder injury which has badly affected his bowling. Skipper Keith Arnold said:
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Cricket: Charlbury expect tough season
OCA League: Charlbury will face a baptism of fire as they enter the top flight for the first time, following two successive promotions, writes KIEREN BUSHNELL. Skipper Glen McCallum will be hoping for a season of consolidation, but his cause has not been
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GP quits over death
A GP has won his fight to allow his name to be erased from the medical register without facing a full disciplinary hearing over the death of a five-year-old boy. Dr David Jarman, of Wallingford Road, Cholsey, became the first doctor to duck allegations
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Rugby: Chinnor troops head into battle for Oxon
Despite attempts by coach John Brodley to spread the net wide, Chinnor will provide 16 members of Oxfordshire's squad for their Tetley's Bitter County Championship match against Devon at Plymouth tomorrow (3pm). When Oxon reached the County Shield final
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April 26: Inspiring leadership
The word 'challenge' clearly features high on the list of headteacher Ian Johnson's list of priorities in life. Having successfully turned round one school in difficulty, he is now off to improve another. He will leave Oxford School in east Oxford in
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Campaigners in frame to save cinema
Opposition is mounting to plans to close the only cinema in Wantage and turn the building into a block of flats. Helen Aldridge, James Andrews, Lesley Ford and Roger Diamond, pictured from left Petitions have been launched by film fans, including Helen
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Healthier lunches are introduced
A new cook and nutritionist have been brought in to revamp the menu at a Wallingford primary school as part of a major healthy eating campaign. Fir Tree Junior School in Radnor Road is testing the new initiative for a year. If successful, it plans to
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Tennis: Woodstock held by City
Champions Woodstock were held to a 4-4 draw by Oxford City in their opening Division 1 match in the Wilson Inter-Club 3-Pair Mixed League. Despite taking a narrow one rubber lead into the final round of matches, City's second and third pairs battled to
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Forget the others urges U's boss Rix
Graham Rix says Oxford United will be concentrating only on themselves at Macclesfield today - even though they need a little help from their friends. They need to win at Moss Rose to stand a chance of reaching the play-offs - and must also hope that
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Speedway: Boss Wagstaff speaks out over 'Joker' rule
Oxford boss Nigel Wagstaff believes it is getting harder to win at home, despite the Silver Machine notching up six straight wins at Sandy Lane this season. And he has a point when you take into account the tactical joker rule when a team is eight points
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Athletics: Harriers shine in National
Woodstock Harriers' run of impressive team performances continued as they finished a creditable 29th at the National 12-stage Relay Championships at Sutton Park, Birmingham. In a strong field of 60 teams, Oxfordshire's sole representatives did not disappoint
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Athletics: Record-breaker Luke stars for Amblers
Abingdon boys began the defence of their title Oxfordshire Junior League in its new three-meeting format, with a second place at Banbury. Luke Chown produced the best performance, smashing the league and club record in the triple jump, as he leapt to
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Football: Wallingford land £136,700 windfall
Seagrave Haulage League: AFC Wallingford are celebrating after being awarded £136,700 in grant funding to improve their ground at the Hithercroft. The Football Stadia Improvement Fund, supporters of the Football Foundation, will be handing £100,000 over
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Football: Boss Fowler fires up troops for title crunch
Cherry Red Records Hellenic League: Brackley Town will be going all-out for victory as they bid to lift the Premier Division crown at Fairford Town tomorrow. A 1-1 draw at Highworth last night put Brackley back on top of the table, but with Southall travelling
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Franz club
What a difference a year makes. After being "spotted" last summer, a little-known bunch of Glaswegians called Franz Ferdinand were booked for a low-key gig downstairs at the Zodiac. Twelve months on, the band who share their name with an Austro-Hungarian
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Review: Insignificance (Royal, Northampton)
Insignificance is famously the play in which Marilyn Monroe gets to explain the Special Theory of Relativity to Albert Einstein. Shortly after, the great scientist imitates the screen goddess by showing his legs - why, he's even wearing suspenders. Terry
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Firemen tackle flat blaze
Part of Didcot town centre was sealed off for more than two hours as firefighters tackled a fire above a fast-food takeaway. The blaze, which broke out early on April 28, was confined to the first-floor kitchen, in the living quarters above Delight 2
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Swim for free as Hinksey pool reopens
Swimmers are being offered free admission to one of Oxford's most popular outdoor leisure centres when it reopens today (May 1). Oxford City Council is inviting everyone to celebrate the first day of the summer season at Hinksey outdoor swimming pool,
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Ex-worker gave burglar a guide
A man wrote down idiot-proof instructions so a friend could steal more than £5,500 from a city centre cafe's safe. Oxford Crown Court heard that Daniel Arthurs, of Falcon Close, Blackbird Leys, had been the assistant manager of Thorntons Cafe in the Westgate
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'Pimpernel' firm loses homes bid
Plans for waterside homes in Oxford have been rejected, with one councillor branding the developers "Scarlet Pimpernels". Bellway Homes Ltd, backed by British Waterways, wanted to build 46 flats, a restaurant, a public square, a footbridge and a car park
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Motorists vent fury over traffic delays
Motorists have been left fuming at the wheel this week as roadworks in Oxford's St Clement's Street and Abingdon Road caused severe delays to city centre traffic. The county council's roads department said vandalism of temporary traffic lights was adding
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Spy camera hidden in showers
Police have been informed about the discovery of a camera hidden in a shower room in a house used by Oxford University students. St John's College ordered an immediate investigation when the device, concealed in a black bag, was found in a house used
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Councillor's untruths
SIR - I always enjoy good comic fiction when I read it. This is probably why I nearly chuckled at county councillor John Power's letter, Wasteful council (Oxford Mail, April 23). However, before I could enjoy my brief chuckle, it dawned on me that some
