Archive
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Patto again set for goalie gamble
DARREN Patterson may take a risk again on Saturday by having no goalkeeper on the bench. He said: "Against Histon was the first time I've gambled with no keeper on the bench. "It's in no way reflective of Sam Warrell's ability, it was just that, being
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Political tactic
Councillor Val Smith tries to muddy the political waters and draw attention away from the delicate issue of New Labour absentee councillors by asking where I live (Oxford Mail, February 6). The answer, as she may well already know, is Blackbird Leys
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300 cram into two-car train
MORE than 300 rail passengers squeezed into two coaches from Oxford to London - because First Great Western failed to provide the booked train. An InterCity 125 High Speed Train, with eight coaches and seats for about 500 people, should have been used
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Pupils 'treated like products'
Ministers are treating school pupils as if they were business products to be managed rather than children to be educated, an Oxford University study suggested today. The Nuffield Review of 14 to 19 education said the Government's aim of boosting the
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300 crush into two-car train
More than 300 rail passengers squeezed into two coaches from Oxford to London - because First Great Western failed to provide the booked train. An InterCity 125 High Speed Train, with eight coaches and seats for about 500 people, should have been used
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Solar-powered science lesson
A science lesson reached boiling point in South Moreton as schoolchildren journeyed to the sun in an inflatable dome to learn about the giant star at the heart of the solar system. The Sun Dome, from the UK Atomic Energy Authority's Culham Science Centre
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Image may hold clue to sex attack
A MAN captured on camera just minutes before a sexual assault may hold the key to finding the attacker, police said tonight. Officers released CCTV footage of a man seen crossing High Street, Wallingford, just 20 minutes before the serious assault.
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Image may hold key to sex attack
A man captured on camera just minutes before a sexual assault may hold the key to finding the attacker, police said tonight. Officers released CCTV footage of a man, right, seen crossing High Street, Wallingford, just 20 minutes before the serious assault
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Mini sales keep rising
Sales of the Cowley-built Mini took another leap forward last month. January figures show 15,432 cars were sold worldwide compared with 13,618 for the same month last year - a rise of 13.3 per cent. The top seller continues to be the Cooper, accounting
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Incinerator down to two sites
A £100m incinerator to burn Oxfordshire's waste will be built near either Sutton Courtenay or Ardley. The Oxford Mail can reveal tonight that the choice of site for the giant plant has been narrowed to just two locations. Both are at existing landfill
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Woman hurt in cycle fall
A WOMAN suffered minor injuries when she fell off her bicycle on the A41 near Ambrosden today. It is thought the woman, in her 20s, had suffered some sort of medical attack. Passing motorists stopped to give her first aid before paramedics arrived
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'Belt up and listen'
"I always thought if you had hold of the steering wheel you would be OK." That was the justification Wantage truck driver Dave Pitts used to give for not wearing a seatbelt. But after seeing graphic images of the consequences of not buckling up, he
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County to join space race
An international space facility will be created at Harwell, the Government announced today. The centre is part of initiatives published in the UK Civil Space Strategy: 2008-2012 designed to put Britain at the cutting-edge of space technology. The south
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Queen honours Brookes students
Students from Oxford Brookes University were honoured at Buckingham Palace by the Queen today. The Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education aim to honour outstanding achievement by UK universities and colleges. Post-graduate courses
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Woman hurt in fall from bike
A woman suffered minor injuries when she fell off her bicycle on the A41 near Ambrosden yesterday. It is thought the woman, in her 20s, had suffered some sort of medical attack. Passing motorists stopped to give her first aid before paramedics arrived
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Afghanistan day five: Crossing the aerial bridge
The battle for Afghanistan is being fought on the ground - on the rocky mountains and and among the choking desert dust. But the operation would not be possible without those risking their lives in the air. Transferring troops and equipment from Britain
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Portabello, 7 South Parade, Oxford 01865 559653
Summertown flies a little low for most people's gastronomic radar. Sophisticates probably never stray north of the Old Parsonage, unless on a weekend's foray to the Trout - but they're victims of their own snobbery. For tucked away behind the shops
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Eyes down for hard house
We all thought it wouldn't happen, but, bless my soul, we've been left very pleasantly surprised! After much mysterious activity, the old Regal bingo hall is about to reopen - as, err... The Regal! The Cowley Road landmark opens its art-deco doors
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Course aims to produce shooting stars
A soccer school in Oxford has already created a number of stars of the future - and now it is looking to produce some more. The football development centre at Oxford and Cherwell Valley College is starting to recruit for its 2008-09 season. Demand
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Incineration sites picked
A £100m incinerator to burn Oxfordshire's waste will be built in either Sutton Courtenay or Ardley. The Oxford Times can reveal today that the search for a location for the giant plant has been narrowed to just two options. Both are landfill sites
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Gorgeous Georgie
It's a long way from the rolling hills of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds to London's legendary Abbey Road studios. But despite being only 19, and having little experience of the music industry, Georgie Carter has made the transition effortlessly. Remember
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Bridge work 'blights village'
PEOPLE in Steeple Aston say they are feeling the strain following the demolition of Heyford Station railway bridge. Since Network Rail and contractor MPB Structures Ltd demolished the old bridge in January, the B4030 has been closed and vehicles
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Today's local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 76.75 BMW 2664 Electrocomponents 183.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 117.5 Oxford Biomedica 24.75 Oxford Catalyst 144 Oxford Instruments 181 Reed Elsevier 590.25 RM 210 RPS Group 274.5 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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FOOTBALL: Stand up and be counted, says Slater
Abingdon United manager Andy Slater says his side must stand up and be counted or risk being sucked into the Division 1 South & West relegation quagmire, starting with tomorrow's home game against Hillingdon Borough. Although, the Northcourt Road outfit
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Eco-town 'will harm wildlife'
Wildlife is under threat on a site near Kidlington where developers want to build an eco-town, a trust has warned. The company behind proposals to build about 5,000 homes in a self-sustained community at Shipton Quarry is still waiting to learn whether
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Play areas get £200,000 boost
A CASH boost for new sports facilities and play equipment has delighted youngsters across South Oxfordshire. Seven playgrounds will receive facelifts and new equipment following a successful bid to the Big Lottery Fund by South Oxfordshire District
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‘Show temps some respect’
Agency workers must be treated with the same respect as permanent staff, Oxfordshire MP Andrew Smith has said. Mr Smith, Labour MP for Oxford East, is sponsoring a backbench Bill in Parliament to give extra rights to about 1.4 million agency workers
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ROWING: Gearing waiting for time and tide
South African John Gearing, setting out on his second season as the supremo of Radley College rowing, admits "it will take a couple of years to get the boys to accept the harder training regime." Radley's first crew did well in 2007, rising to second
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RUGBY UNION: Quins can help Chinnor
Oxford Harlequins can do rivals Chinnor a big favour when they host Bracknell in South West 1 tomorrow (2.30pm). But director of rugby Matt Maudsley says they are focussing on their own game. A Quins victory against Bracknell would be a massive boost
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Play areas get £200,000 boost
A cash boost for new sports facilities and play equipment has delighted youngsters across South Oxfordshire. Seven playgrounds will receive facelifts and new equipment following a successful bid to the Big Lottery Fund by South Oxfordshire District
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FOOTBALL: Abingdon look for Carl to Bloom!
Abingdon Town are hoping the return of striker Carl Bloomfield from a three-match suspension will end their goal drought, which has seen them score just once in the last five matches. Abingdon host Shortwood United at Culham Road in the Sport Italia
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RUGBY UNION: Henley's Halifax hope
Henley Hawks are set to be unchanged for their trip to National 2 strugglers Halifax. Halifax are the only team relegation-threatened Henley have taken a maximum five points from all season, and a repeat result would be a real confidence boost. Provided
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RACING: Carruthers heads for Cheltenham
Carruthers, the rising star of Mark Bradstock's Letcombe Bassett stables, near Wantage, enjoyed a perfect warm-up for the Cheltenham Festival with an easy victory at Bangor. Tackling three miles for the first time, the five-year-old made all the running
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BADMINTON: Bradbury back for Oxon
Testing the water before making an appearance at the Over 40 National Championships, Julie Bradbury made a welcome reappearance in Oxfordshire's first team for the first time in a couple of seasons. The former Commonwealth Games gold medallist helped
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A natural gentleman
"Do me a favour, I'd have to put my trousers on!" exclaims Sir David Attenborough when I call him to chat about his new book, Life in Cold Blood. This is the humorous response from the broadcasting legend when I mistakenly tell him he is due in Borders
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SPEEDWAY: Fans admit defeat for now
It look highly unlikely that there will be any speedway at Oxford Stadium this year. And those who have led the fight to try and save the sport at Cowley have already begun to switch their attentions to the future - and a possible return in 2009.
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JUMPERS (12A)
Sci-Fi/Action/Thriller/Romance. Hayden Christensen, Samuel L Jackson, Jamie Bell, Rachel Bilson, Michael Rooker, Diane Lane, Max Thieriot, AnnaSophia Robb. Director: Doug Liman Adapted from the novel by Steven Gould, Jumper is a special effects heavy
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THERE WILL BE BLOOD (15)
Drama. Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Dillon Freasier, Kevin J O'Connor, Ciaran Hinds, Mary Elizabeth Barret Adapted from Upton Sinclair's 1927 novel Oil!, There Will Be Blood is one of this year's Oscar frontrunners, nominated for eight statuettes including
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Author makes it into top 10
A mother-of-two from Kingston Lisle, near Wantage, has been shortlisted for a national award for her debut novel. Readers voted to put Eliza Graham's Playing with the Moon in the top 10 of the World Book Day's Top Ten Books to Talk About. The winner
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FIXTURES February 15
SATURDAY. FOOTBALL. BLUE SQUARE PREMIER. Oxford Utd v Droylsden. BRITISH GAS BUSINESS SOUTHERN LEAGUE. Premier Div: Banbury Utd v Mangotsfield. Div 1 South & West: Abingdon Utd v Hillingdon Borough, Farnborough v Oxford C, Hayes v Didcot Tn. FOOTBALL
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Fancy pants at Lava & Ignite
After hearing rumours that Saturday nights at Lava & Ignite (ex-Park End) were the biggest and best that Oxford has to offer, I felt it was nothing less than my social obligation to pay the club a visit and put these rumours to the test. I have fond
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Students' 'fortress' is planned
Oxford Brookes University has unveiled its plans for a major development in Marston Road to house up to 338 students. The proposed accommodation will be built around a courtyard dominated by a water feature crossed with bridges. The university said
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THE BUCKET LIST (12A)
Comedy/Drama. Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Sean Hayes, Beverly Todd, Rob Morrow "I love the smell of chemo in the morning..." Terminal cancer is the unlikely catalyst for a comical journey of self-discovery for two old codgers in The Bucket
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Pullman sets date for Dark Materials prequel
Philip Pullman's new book will be given its world launch at the 12th Oxford Literary Festival next month. Mr Pullman will be opening the window into Once Upon A Time In The North, the long-awaited prequel to the His Dark Materials trilogy. It will
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The next big Jing
Do believe the hype! A surprised Tim Hughes discovers that Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong really are all they are cracked up to be. They may well be talented. They may even be one of the bands of the year. But there's no denying it. Joe Lean and the
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Is the piano your forte?
Young hopefuls aiming to impress with their talents will take to the stage at an Oxford primary school this week. Pupils from New Marston Primary School will be competing to win the top prize in a talent show organised to raise money for the school.
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Music news: February 15
HOT Chip are not only one of the coolest indie-dance bands around, they are among the most unlikely. Kicking out against the legions of skinny-jeans wearing clones, they are a refreshing blast of individualism. And their music has the power not just
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Old moaners
I have just heard that in Germany, a single pensioner receives about £267 per week, in France just over £200 and in Italy just over £300. We lucky British will get about £82 a week. The Government's own definition of poverty is £12,203 per year, which
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Less delay to traffic
Much has been written about the Abingdon road changes - most of it negative. Shopkeepers, property owners and car drivers complain - loss of trade, delays. My own experience, as a quite frequent visitor to the town over the last 50 years, suggests
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Reading together
Plans are now taking shape for the Oxford Mail's very own book group. I can't say too much right now but talks are at an advanced stage with Waterstones in Oxford. I was given a shortlist of several hundred books, which the bookstore thought might make
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Girls’ guides
A group of enterprising teenagers have set up their own business, giving students the inside track on what to visit in Oxford. A Student's Guide to Oxford is the brainchild of the Nouveau Company, which has been set up by 16- and 17-year-olds at Oxford
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Bridge work 'blights village'
People in Steeple Aston say they are feeling the strain following the demolition of Heyford Station railway bridge. Since Network Rail and contractor MPB Structures Ltd demolished the old bridge in January, the B4030 has been closed and vehicles diverted
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Palace goes back in time
The Victorians are coming to Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock, when the new season opens tomorrow - and on hand to start it off is professional actor Kevin Hicks. He has been rehearsing his part as a strict Victorian schoolteacher, ready to give 20 minute
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Mad Lizzie runs fitness class
Television personality Lizzie Webb - known as Mad Lizzie from her appearances on GMTV - will be running a fitness class for all ages at the Abbey Sports Centre, Berinsfield, on Saturday, February 23. She will be helped by two young men who she has trained
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Last, again?
I see that the city is getting new bus shelters (Oxford Mail, January 31). This is good, but I also see that the first one is to be at Blackbird Leys. We, the residents of Marston, would like to know when we are getting our new ones. Or are we going
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Drug analysis
In response to Matt Wilkinson's story, Drugs debate (Oxford Mail, Janury 31), to evaluate your nation's drug policies, you need to compare and contrast the drug policies of other nations. I suggest that you use the United States and the Czech Republic
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Very inconvenient
I thought it was law for shops to have wheelchair access. The post office in Cowley Road, Oxford, is not completely accessible. Yes, you can get a wheelchair in, but you have problems getting out. The aisle going in is OK, but the one at the back
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Remove bishops
In the furore about the Archbishop of Canterbury's remarks about allowing Islamic law to operate in this country, one key issue has been missed. We have an unwritten constitution that rests on two pillars - Parliamentary Sovereignty and the Rule of
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Bloom contest will be no loss
I am sure some people will find it sad that Oxford will not be entering the Britain in Bloom competition this year, but I, for one, won't! I have always thought it was a luxury that we cannot afford, and that there are other more important priorities
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Dogs and cats have their day
Family pets lapped up the attention at an RSPCA action day on an Oxford estate. Animal lovers in Blackbird Leys were given advice on all aspects of pet care by representatives of the RSPCA, Oxford City Council and the police. Financial help was also
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Diary for February and March
To have your event featured in this column, send brief details and a contact name and telephone number to Diary, In Business, Newsquest, Newspaper House, Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 0EJ or e-mail business@nqo.com. To be included in the Business Link event
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Movers and shakers
OXFORD: More than 100 guests gathered at the North Wall Arts Centre, South Parade, to celebrate the launch of a new estate agency. Cathy Dunbabin and Sonia Kearns have established Frontdoorz in Summertown, Oxford, using the Internet as its main marketing
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Enterprise on the up
A company offering office accommodation has undergone another major expansion, thanks to demand from small firms and sole traders. The Clarendon Enterprise Centre has taken another floor of Prama House, a former Oxfam building on the corner of South Parade
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Technology college plan
A multimedia company has announced plans to build the world's largest technology school on the former Littlemore Hospital site. SAE Institute, which describes itself as a world leader in degree-standard audio, film and multimedia education, will spend
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Books gifts offer hope
Hundreds of refugees in Chad are set to benefit from the generosity of an Oxford language college. The King's School, in Temple Road, Temple Cowley, has donated more than 100 old text books to charity Cord, which helps Sudanese refugees who fled the
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Fireworks at park
A new building housing a range of facilities, including a restaurant and bar has opened at the Oxford Science Park. The Sadler Building features a double-height atrium containing a brasserie, separate bar area, and also a sandwich and coffee counter.
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Signing the pact
In any crisis, someone can be relied on to invoke the old wartime spirit, but is the threat of climate change great enough to persuade people to join a carbon rationing scheme? Oxfordshire web design company Torchbox, based in Charlbury, believes it is
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Climate for change
Exploring the implications of climate change provides a fertile area for new business opportunities. In the last three years, several companies within Oxfordshire, whose businesses were previously reported on by the Oxford Trust in 2005, have been developing
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Hitting right note
Classical music has traditionally been tarred with an elitist image. Despite the advent of Classic FM and attempts to televise opera and various performances, it is still perceived to be out of reach for many. But the Oxford Philomusica is making strenuous
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Changing times
Just when we all thought we knew everything about disciplinary and grievance procedures in employment after the Government's complete change to the system in October 2004, it has changed all over again. The reason is that the main aim behind introducing
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Man arrested after cars attacked
A man has been arrested on suspicion of attacking two parked cars with a crowbar in the Old Marston area of Oxford last night. Police were called to Park Way shortly after 11.30pm. A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage
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Game's up
People educated at a time before computers became so ubiquitous might be surprised that game construction is considered educational. But Donna Burton-Wilcock, chief executive of Immersive Education, can see where this approach delivers, thanks to her
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Licence for laughter
If you have ever wondered what happens to shoplifters when they are caught, then visit the Laughing Stock shop in Witney. Strung up by the stock room, a grotesque looking dummy does not look a happy chappy - unlike Colin Brown and Kevin Rose, the men
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Hooded man attacked cars
A HOODED man has been arrested on suspicion of attacking two parked cars with a crowbar. Police were called to Park Way, Marston, Oxford, shortly after 11.30pm yesterday. A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage to a
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Earn as they learn
Millions of people tuned in to Alan Sugar's TV series and its spin-offs, but employers in Oxfordshire are still struggling to find bright youngsters wanting to become The Apprentice. Chris Clarke, managing director of Isis Training Services, said: "Last
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Chevvy hits spot
If the name Chevrolet makes you conjure up images of great whale-like machines from the 1950s, or Prince singing about his Little Red Corvette, then think again. The iconic American brand maybe establishing a foothold in this country but what it is putting
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Gliding along
The hypodermic syringe has been with us for more than 150 years. In that time it has undergone substantial development. Glass has been replaced by disposable plastic, but the needle, although now much smaller, is still firmly in evidence. Nobody likes
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Lost expectations
Life is all about expectations - it's pretty dull when there is nothing to look forward to. So a bright spot on the horizon of this particular winter day was a trip into the countryside to enjoy lunch at a place that came highly recommended. In fact,
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Market leader
A few years ago, a friend who works in the north of England told me how he and some of his work colleagues joked about paying surreptitious visits to the German retailer Lidl. It was definitely not, in his colleagues' eyes at least, a place in which
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Signing the pact
In any crisis, someone can be relied on to invoke the old wartime spirit, but is the threat of climate change great enough to persuade people to join a carbon rationing scheme? Oxfordshire web design company Torchbox, based in Charlbury, believes it is
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Coping on Civvy Street
Life in the armed forces is tough - no-one signing up should expect anything else. Today, with British service personnel fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the strain can be intense, perhaps more so today than in other conflicts. Tim Marsden, who served
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Cover story
Organising a wedding is a big commitment nowadays, and the last thing most people would think of is special chair covers. But according to Amy Green, they can bring glamour to the dullest venue, giving it the splendour which couples need for on their
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First-class start
Teenager Tom Ellis is barely out of school but has already started two successful businesses. Mr Ellis, 18, from Boars Hill, Oxford, is at Exeter University studying geography, but his direction is clear when it comes to a career as an entrepreneur.
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Woman sexually assaulted
A 32-year-old woman was sexually assaulted in Abingdon. Police are appealing for help from the public to trace two men who were in the Brewery Tap pub, Abingdon, in the early hours of Sunday morning. The men came into the pub just after midnight and
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Woman sexually assaulted
A 32-YEAR-OLD woman was sexually assaulted in Abingdon. Police are appealing for help from the public to trace two men who were in the Brewery Tap pub, Abingdon, in the early hours of Sunday. The men came into the pub just after midnight and began
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Cavalcade marks biker's funeral
A CAVALCADE of about 50 motorcyclists rode through Witney town centre for the funeral of Dave Lambourne. The bikers, including a representative from the West Oxon Motor Cycle Action Group, were among several hundred mourners at the town's St Mary's
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Quarry quarrel
Residents and councillors have joined forces to fight plans for a gravel extraction company to continue digging after nearly 30 years of excavation. Those living close to the pit at Thrupp Lake are concerned that extraction company H Tuckwell and Sons
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Marathon man
Oxford care home owner Andrew Longthorp is hoping to raise thousands of pounds for ex-servicemen by taking part in this year's London Marathon. The 42-year-old, who co-owns St Andrew's Care Home, in Headington, is supporting the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen
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Mr Lonely
Some miserable old git left a message on my blog yesterday saying how boring it was. I laughed at first, thinking he was just some saddo. But it did get to me a bit. It's weird when a stranger slags you off. But he probably wouldn't have the nerve to
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Into the Blue
The advent of cheap digital photography has encouraged many people to experiment and play around with images on their computers. Through the photographic services he offers in his Blue Amigo shop on Oxford's Little Clarendon Street, Firaj Vakil is encouraging
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Firm foundations
Name: Andrew Payne Age: 44 Job: Managing director, CBG Consultants, Farmoor Time in job: Three years Contact: 01865 864500 Web: www.cbgc.com What was your first job and what did your responsibilities include? I was a junior mechanical engineer
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Image is all
Do you remember the rather endearing home-made adverts for local restaurants and carpet shops that used to appear in cinemas? Their lack of sophistication, especially in contrast to the professional adverts that surrounded them, provoked mirth but almost
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Forest futures
If you want to invest money for your children or grandchildren, or just want to try something different from putting your money into bricks and mortar, then how about growing trees in tropical countries - mahogany, sandalwood and agarwood to be precise
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Performance figures
Not surprisingly when you visit a business owned by Tom Walkinshaw, there are some special cars on display. You eyes are drawn instantly to the quirky Elfin, the curved muscle of the Holden, and the more familiar beef of the Mitsubishi L200 as you wander
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A little corker
Supermarkets may be squeezing off-licences out of the high street, but one Oxfordshire merchant at least appears to be beating them at their own game. The Oxford Wine Company, which employs 16 people at its out-of-town warehouse near Standlake, stocks
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Motorcade marks biker's funeral
A cavalcade of about 50 motorcyclists rode through Witney town centre for the funeral of Dave Lambourne. The bikers, including a representative from the West Oxon Motor Cycle Action Group, were among several hundred mourners at the town's St Mary's
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Horse sense
Sun shining, lake gleaming, standard fluttering above Flagstaff Lodge. Just visiting the offices of the new director of the Blenheim International Horse Trials can lift the spirits. You walk straight past a few Private' notices, then along the colonnade
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Today's local share prices
AEA Technology 77 BMW 2664 Electrocomponents 186 Nationwide Accident Repair 116.5 Oxford Biomedica 24.75 Oxford Catalyst 144 Oxford Instruments 179.5 Reed Elsevier 591.25 RM 209.25 RPS Group 273.25 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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CHILDREN’S THEATRE TREATS
There are three children's shows with puppets, music and animation billed over the coming week at Banbury's Mill Theatre. Rags to Witches, is a story taken from ancient New Forest folklore and presented by Josh Elwell and Company. On the edge of the
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Trust makes special appeal in anniversary year
The Meningitis Trust is the UK's longest established meningitis charity, and Jo Kennedy, the new Community Development Officer for the trust, is encouraging people from all walks of life across Oxfordshire to be part of the charity's 21st anniversary
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Changes happening before their eyes
An old Oxfordshire guide shows not just changing landscapes but attitudes too, writes CHRIS KOENIG A book about Oxfordshire caught my eye in a second-hand bookshop, curiously enough in Cambridgeshire, this week. It was only written 60 years ago
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Life still in Cogges
VAL BOURNE praises an old county friend and the newest trend The best news at the start of 2008 is that the Cogges Farm Museum in Witney has survived after another scare. Set near the heart of the town and funded by the Oxfordshire County Council
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Stand-off on social housing
Despite evidence suggesting property prices are now falling, they will have to drop a long way before many people can afford their own home in Oxford. Data from the Nationwide building society showed a 13 per cent hike in values in the city last year
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The fruits of their labours
If you know of the existence of an Akar's seedling then one enthusiastic duo of apple growers would be keen to hear from you, writes PETER BARRINGTON Two researchers of fruit trees are hoping that an Oxfordshire landowner or householder has a
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Testament to medieval Oxford
The fictional university city called Salster, portrayed in Alis Hawkins's novel Testament, bears more than a passing resemblance to Oxford. But the author says that Kineton and Dacre, the 14th-century college on which it centres, is not based on any specific
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Paperback round-up
Why Mars and Venus Collide John Gray (HarperCollins, £7.99) Men are driven by testosterone; women are ruled by their oxytocin levels. Both hormones stimulate stress reduction. Thus, says the author of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, the key
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Night of the stars at Mini plant
One of the greats of the silent film era, a top international orchestra and a world-renowned conductor are coming together for a groundbreaking performance at the Cowley Mini plant. Charlie Chaplin's film, Modern Times, will be screened at the factory
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Warm-up festival with fire, anger - and beauty
JULIA HOLLANDER previews the first Iffley Piano Festival with its strong Russian links For young musicians, an Oxford gig is a perfect warm-up for the pressures of the Purcell Room or the Wigmore Hall, indeed for the world at large. The city offers
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Girls wanna have fun
THE DARING BOOK FOR GIRLS Andrea Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz (HarperCollins, £20)More than a million copies of The Dangerous Book for Boys by the Iggulden brothers have now been sold, with the follow-up, The Dangerous Book for Boys Yearbook, also
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Sharp words
After a little misunderstanding A.S.H. SMYTH talks to Michael Frayn about a stage adaptation of Spies Frayn: You haven't come to fix the door handles, have you? Smyth to audience: I must admit I did not see that coming. But since it is evidently
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Scouring the world for plants
FLOWER HUNTERS Mary Gribbin and John Gribbin (Oxford University Press, £16.99)The story that dominates Flower Hunters by Mary and John Gribbin involves the overlapping lives of 11 botanical explorers, from the early 18th century to the early 20th century
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Mini sales drive forward
Sales of the Cowley-built Mini took another leap forward last month. January figures show 15,432 cars were sold worldwide compares to 13,618 for the same month last year - a rise of 13.3 per cent. The top seller continues to be the Cooper, accounting
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HERE'S HOW TO KEEP THE PUB TRADITION ALIVE
Did I read somewhere of the death of the British pub? I believe that I did. I am not even sure that I didn't write of it, more than once. But like those about the demise of Mark Twain, these reports turn out to be premature and greatly exaggerated. Though
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EARLY RECRUITS TO ZEALOTRY
Who are the most frightening people in the world? High on my personal list would be religious fundamentalists. Two documentaries this week showed just how terrifying such zealots can be. When I was a child, I spake as a child, but Baby Bible Bashers
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The Jam Factory, Oxford
Restaurant, bar, arts centre - The Jam Factory, in Park End Street, neatly combines three areas of prime interest to me, privately and professionally. Given that it is, furthermore, barely half a mile from where I live, the wonder is that it has taken
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Braised oxtail recipe
You didn't used see oxtail on the butcher's block very often as it was considered an unfashionable meat. Now things have changed. But it is not a meat that celebrity chefs can cook up in a few minutes. It is, however, a rich, tasty meat and makes a hearty
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Young chefs impress
So cookery lessons are to be compulsory in England's secondary schools for children aged 11 to 14. Well, that's a start, but will one hour a week be enough to teach them the principles of cookery? What about the principles of shopping for the food they
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Fluent in the Language of Love
Fittingly, there are a couple of continental romantic comedies on offer this Valentine weekend. You may have to travel to find them, but - if you like your love stories to combine cornball and kook- you could do a lot worse than seek out Emmanuel Mouret's
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The Bucket List
'I love the smell of chemo in the morning . . ." Terminal cancer is the unlikely catalyst for a comical journey of self-discovery for two old codgers in The Bucket List. If Beaches and Terms of Endearment are the pinnacle of emotionally manipulative
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There will be Blood
Adapted from Upton Sinclair's 1927 novel Oil!, There Will Be Blood is one of this year's Oscar frontrunners, nominated for eight statuettes including Best Picture, Best Director (Paul Thomas Anderson), Best Actor In A Leading Role (Daniel Day-Lewis -
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Oxford Philomusica: Sheldonian Theatre
The Oxford Philomusica's concert at the Sheldonian last weekend demanded great physical and emotional energy from the performers, in a programme dominated by Tchaikovsky but, curiously, with a world premiere slipped in at the beginning. Deborah Pritchard's
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English Sinfonia, North Wall, Summertown
English Sinfonia's concert last week included an eclectic mix of engaging works and some highly enjoyable playing by an orchestra with a distinguished pedigree. Since taking up residence at The North Wall, Summertown, last year the orchestra has been
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Twelfth Night, Chipping Norton Theatre
After its excellent 2007 production of Arthur Miller's The American Clock, the Oxford School of Drama returned to Chipping Norton Theatre last week with a far more familiar offering from the repertoire. Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, with its gallery of
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Bike crash blocks road
PARAMEDICS were called to the A41 in Bicester today following an accident involving a motorcycle. The road was blocked eastbound at the B4100 London Road junction about 7am. A spokesman for South Central Ambulance said no further details were available
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Cropredy 2008
In the middle of their hectic annual winter tour, Fairport Convention announce their line-up this week for this year's Cropredy - with a few surprises in store. Among them are a band associated with a very different era, Supergrass, who hail from Wheatley
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Romeo and Juliet, Moscow City Ballet: Wycombe Swan
This is the best of Viktor Smirnov-Golovanov's productions of the classics that I have seen. It's well thought out and magnificent to look at. The costumes - as in all this company's work - are sumptuous, and the choreographer assembles the minor characters
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The Turn of the Screw: North Wall, Summertown
It seems like the perfect job for a governess: she has been appointed to look after two apparently angelic children in a beautiful country house. But, quite naturally, she is apprehensive. "Very soon I shall know what's in store for me," she sings in
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Mark Watson: Oxford Playhouse
Mark Watson's zany banter was straight out of left field, even if he did burst on to the scene from the right. The wiry Welshman-but-not-really (he speaks with a distinct lilt, but actually is Bristolian) startled the audience at the beginning of the
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Gabrielle: New Theatre, Oxford
When I go to a concert featuring an established star I am always curious to see the support act that makes up the evening's entertainment, sometimes it's a bit painful but often it reaps significant rewards. In the case of Wallis Bird, the charming Irish
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Indian Ink: OFS Studio, Oxford
Indian Ink ny Tom Soppard (pictured) is furiously intelligent. It's a play that could easily work as a 900-page novel. There is so much life, discussion and history crammed into its two-and-a-half-hour running time, one fears for oneself and the audience
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Richard Hawley: New Theatre, Oxford
Leave your New Wave at the door, son - because in Richard Hawley's world Johnnie Ray is king. Who else, currently Brit-nominated, is going to gently ease into their set with the injunction: "Let's Ballad!"? Suitably coiffed and attired, Richard Hawley
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Review of Commotio CD, Night
Following its successful recording of choral music by South African composer Peter Klatzow in 2006, Oxford choir Commotio has now released its second CD, recorded last year at Merton College Chapel. In true Commotio style, this is a collection of new
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Road blocked after accident
Paramedics were called to the A41 in Bicester this morning following an accident involving a motorbike. The road was blocked eastbound at the B4100 London Road junction about 7am. A spokesman for South Central Ambulance said no further details were
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Stomp: New Theatre, Oxford
I had expected the evening to be one long racket. That's how I remember Stomp from the last time I saw it, about ten years ago. But either my memory is at fault or the show has changed - more likely the latter. For entertaining packed houses at the New
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Oxford Music Festival Concert: Jacqueline du Pré Building
One of the wonderful things about attending the Oxford Music Festival concert on a regular basis is seeing young talent gradually blossoming. Take Yaolin Zheng, for instance - a remarkable young pianist who caught my attention at the very first Festival
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Maggini String Quartet: Holywell Music Room
A full house and a full platform: that was the scene at the latest Oxford Chamber Music Society concert. The platform had to cope not only with two extra players, but also with an audience overflow, but it kindly refrained from making creaking sounds
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Madama Butterfly preview : New Theatre
The raw emotion at the centre of Puccini's Madama Butterfly calls for not one handkerchief, but a whole box, when performed by a gifted company capable of engaging and moving their audience. By popular demand, just such a production of this well-loved
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Pam Franklin, St Anne's College
Take a Renaissance painting by an Old Master, search the canvas for an intricate detail - a pearl necklace, a tiny piece of pattern on a fabric, or a patch of blue that takes the eye into a landscape that lies beyond the interior - then, having magnified
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Space centre plans for Harwell
An international space facility will be created at Harwell, the government announced today. The new facility is part of a package of initiatives planned to ensure the UK remains at the cutting edge of space technology. The south Oxfordshire-based facility
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Police study attack footage
POLICE are studying CCTV footage of an attack on a RAF serviceman which left him with a broken leg after it and his head were stamped on. Senior Aircraftsman Peter Forrest, 24, is recovering in hospital following the attack by a gang of teenagers
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Mastermind holds Oxford auditions
I'VE started, so I'll finish...' Those famous words rang in the ears of Mastermind hopefuls in Oxford. Dozens of aspiring quiz contestants descended on the Randolph Hotel, in Beaumont Street, yesterday for auditions - hoping to score enough points
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Professor says education 'business driven'
MINISTERS are treating school pupils as if they were business products to be managed rather than children to be educated, an Oxford University study has suggested. The Nuffield Review of 14-19 education said the Government's aim of boosting the British
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Harwell base for Britain's space race
THE UK will stay at the forefront of space technology and may even consider launching manned missions, according to a Government strategy. An international space facility will be created at Harwell, which will focus on climate change and robotic space
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Cancer patient travels to Denmark
A MAN with incurable cancer had to travel to Denmark to get a life-prolonging drug he has been refused by the NHS. Richard Ramsey, from Stanley Road, East Oxford, was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2004 and given initial treatment called Interferon
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Family questions cancer drug decision
A TOP NHS manager was publicly asked by the wife and daughter of a dying cancer patient why he could not get a life-prolonging drug. At a meeting of Oxfordshire PCT's Patient and Public Involvement Forum yesterday, Ljuba Stirzaker, Oxfordshire Primary
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Romantic gestures aid appeal fund
LOVE will be in the air in classrooms at one Oxford school today - and it will all be for a worthy cause. Pupils at Cheney School, in Cheney Lane, Headington, will be sending each other roses, chocolates and Valentine's messages to help a fundraising
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More care
It makes sense to see whether any improvements can be made to the Broad Street/Parks Road junction in Oxford, following the death of cyclist Tsz Fok. Current thinking is to remove the traffic lights and raise the road surface, to make drivers more aware
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Children's poems chosen for book
BEN Taberner may only be 12 years old, but he has his head in the stars. The young science-lover, from Bicester, is among 20 budding poets at Woodeaton Manor School, to have their poems published after entering a competition. His is all about
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Silo waste plan delay
A DECISION on plans to build a waste recovery plant on the site of a former grain silo next to the Water Eaton park-and-ride site has been delayed again. Ewelme-based Grundon Waste Management submitted the plans to Oxfordshire County Council in November
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Paintings for display
PRE-RAPHAELITE paintings found in the home of a woman in Oxford will go on display at the Ashmolean Museum. The 19th-century works by Rossetti and Burne-Jones, worth more than £1m, were discovered in the Trinity Road home of Jean Preston, who died
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Stepping out
PUPILS at Cokethorpe School, Ducklington, are expecting to raise at least £3,000 from a sponsored walk. Pupils, aged five to 11, were helping Cecily's Fund, based in New Yatt, by walking around the school grounds to help mark the 10th anniversary
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China deal
ONE of the city's largest publishers could soon have more than a billion new readers after making its journals available to members of the public in China. Oxford Journals, a division of Oxford University Press, has signed an agreement with the Chinese
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Post meeting
A PUBLIC meeting is being held to discuss the proposed closure of the Crowmarsh Gifford post office. Henley MP Boris Johnson has been asked to attend the meeting today in the village hall, at 8pm.
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Talented twosome aim high
TWO talented school friends have got through to the semi-finals of a music contest. Laura Hand and Bex Hayzelden, who both go to the School of St Helen and St Katharine in Abingdon, battled it out against 10,000 singers and bands to get through to
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Soldiers cope with the worst
LLOYD Nolan Crockford leads an extraordinary double life. When he is at home in Oxfordshire, the softly spoken 30-year-old works as a forklift driver at a garden centre. Now, however, he is risking his life day-after-day to rescue badly injured
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Coupé goes green
THE Peugeot 407 Coupé Bellagio is a new £21,995 model in the range that the firm says combines performance, impressive green credentials and a high standard of specification and equipment. The 407 Coupé has only recently become available with the 2.0
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'Accentuate the positive'
ACCENTUATE the positive, so the song goes - and used-car dealers are certainly set to do just that in 2008. CAP, providers of used vehicle values and technical data to the UK car industry, says used-car dealers are generally positive about their retail
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Why can't our NHS help him?
What a sad commentary on our NHS that patients like Richard Ramsey are having to go abroad for treatment. He flies to Denmark every six weeks to receive a drug which he hopes will delay the advance of his renal cancer and prolong his life. The Danish
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Danes saved patient’s bacon’
A man with incurable cancer had to travel to Denmark to get a life-prolonging drug he has been refused by the NHS. Richard Ramsey, from Stanley Road in East Oxford, was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2004 and given initial treatment called Interferon
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Pupils look to future
MORE than 450 teenagers will be taking part in a hands-on career day tomorrow, aimed at helping them choose their GCSE subjects. Year Nine pupils at the Cooper School and Bicester Community College will be able to find out about higher education
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Guide books uncovers hidden treasure
AN OXFORD tour guide has dreamed up a half-term treat for families who want to explore Oxford - a book in the form of a treasure hunt. Felicity Tholstrup, who lives in Northmoor Road, said the idea for the book came after she was asked to organise
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Mastermind holds auditions
I've started, so I'll finish...' Those famous words rang in the ears of Mastermind hopefuls in Oxford yesterday. Dozens of aspiring quiz contestants descended on the Randolph Hotel, in Beaumont Street, for auditions throughout the day - hoping to score
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Teenagers join police action group
A GROUP of teenagers in Chipping Norton have had enough of their age group being branded as troublemakers - and have set out to change opinions. Duncan Davis, Emily Manning, Holly Whitaker, Nick Frampton and Annabel Yeomans, all sixth-formers at Chipping
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Care home plan approved
THE final go-ahead has been given for a state-of-the-art care home and hospital complex in Chipping Norton. Detailed planning consent has been approved by West Oxfordshire district councillors and the scheme is set to be finished next year. The
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Town clean-up starts
A LONG-TERM plan to improve Banbury's open spaces began this week with the removal of grafitti in People's Park. Banbury Town Council, in conjunction with Cherwell District Council, has launched a ten-to-15-year plan which will see the complete refurbishment
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Motor charity appeals for cash
A CHARITY that steers pupils towards a career in the motor industry is struggling to find the cash to survive. Skidz, which operates from premises in Lower Cherwell Street, Banbury, takes in youngsters who find it difficult to cope with mainstream
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Death junction to be made safer
TRAFFIC lights could be removed to improve safety at a junction where a cyclist was run over by a refuse truck. Oxford University student Tsz Fok, 22, was crushed to death under the wheels of the truck at the junction of Broad Street and Parks Road
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Patient’s family challenge health chief
A top NHS manager was yesterday publicly asked by the wife and daughter of a dying cancer patient why he could not get a life-prolonging drug. At a meeting of Oxfordshire PCT's Patient and Public Involvement Forum, Ljuba Stirzaker, Oxfordshire Primary
