Archive
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CRICKET: Students lose thriller
A RECORD fifth-wicket stand of 139 between Duncan Bradshaw and Alex Ball was not enough as Oxford UCCE slipped to a five-wicket defeat on a thrilling final day of their clash with Nottinghamshire in The Parks. After a washout on day two, both captains
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Fire killer faces life sentence
A HOMELESS man bearing a grudge was today found guilty of murdering his lover and her friend when he torched a cottage as they slept. Rough sleeper James Cox, 63, deliberately started the blaze after fellow squatter Howard Blake turned up at the house
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Langham talk scrapped
THE Oxford Union has dropped plans for shamed actor Chris Langham to address students because of the negative publicity surrounding the invitation. The Bafta award-winner, jailed for downloading child pornography, was due to talk on May 27 about his
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Car and taxi collide
A CAR and a taxi collided in Witney this evening. The accident happened at about 6.30pm in Welch Way, near the town's fire station. A spokesman for the fire service said the occupants of the vehicles had been removed before firefighters arrived
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Langham talk scrapped
The Oxford Union has scrapped plans for shamed actor Chris Langham to address students because of the negative publicity surrounding the invitation. The Bafta award-winner, jailed for downloading child pornography, was due to talk on May 27 about his
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Clutter
We will be surprised if Oxford doesn't land at least one award in the Great Street and Great Place of the Year competition. Oxford Castle is an outstanding example of how the old can be moulded with the new. Our other nominee, Oxford High Street,
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No mercy for this evil killer
It was with obvious relief that the families of Sian Sanchez and Howard Blake greeted the conviction of James Cox for their murders. While all three were homeless and squatting at Redbridge Cottage, Mrs Sanchez and Mr Blake's murders were no less significant
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Collision in Witney town centre
A car and a taxi collided in Witney this evening. The accident happened at about 6.30pm in Welch Way, near the town's fire station. A spokesman for the fire service said the occupants of the vehicles had been removed before firefighters arrived and
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Blaze killer faces life
A homeless man bearing a grudge was today found guilty of murdering his lover and her friend when he torched a cottage as they slept. Rough sleeper James Cox, 63, deliberately started the blaze after fellow squatter Howard Blake turned up at the house
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Smart idea to deter thieves
Crematorium managers are coating metal memorial plaques with an invisible liquid to thwart scrap thieves. Oxford Crematorium has been plagued by thieves taking plaques to sell to scrap dealers - just days ago one was taken from the grave of former union
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No safety net for revellers
Nets were considered as a way to thwart May Morning revellers jumping off Magdalen Bridge in Oxford, it was revealed today. Green city councillor David Williams suggested the idea earlier this week as an alternative to what he said was the costly police
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GREYHOUNDS: Oxford ring the changes
Oxford racing manager Gary Baiden has been forced to implement a new grading system - due to the loss of the stadium's Wednesday BAGS meeting. With a surfeit of greyhounds, every grade from the bottom A9 up to the top grade A1 will have at least 40
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Villages rally to oppose eco-town
CAMPAIGNERS against a proposed eco-town near Weston-on-the-Green have received pledges of support from surrounding villages. Representatives from 13 towns and villages, including Kidlington, Woodstock, Islip, Wendlebury and Bicester, attended a public
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ANGLING: RECORD-BUSTER
The Linear Fisheries carp record has been smashed by a 44lb 8oz common from their Guys Synicate's Unity Lake. The fish was caught by Stanton Harcourt regular Chris Knight and could be the heaviest to date from an Oxfordshire water. This carp was caught
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Police 'should use bad driver website'
THE Oxfordshire man behind a website which logs the number plates of bad drivers, has urged police to use his database to bring dangerous motorists to book. Andrew McGavin, who lives near Burford, said the principle of his site should be adopted by
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ANGLING: Predator Dave cleans up down on the Farm
After last week's disappointment at Rollright, Predator's Spring Carp League at Lower Court Farm was a big improvement. All 18 anglers caught and the clear winner with 78.0.0 of carp was Dave Clarke (Predator). He was pegged down the deep end and fished
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Eco-town opponents rally support
Campaigners against a proposed eco-town near Weston-on-the-Green have received pledges of support from surrounding villages. Representatives from 13 towns and villages, including Kidlington, Woodstock, Islip, Wendlebury and Bicester, attended a public
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Fun day aims to increase Down's awareness
Mothers of children with Down's syndrome have organised a fun day aimed at improving awareness of the condition. The parents - all volunteers with charity Down's Syndrome Oxford - have organised the first Big Step Forward event in the city. They hope
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Barrier needed
I am replying to Patricia White, who demands a speed camera on the Oxford Eastern Bypass (Oxford Mail, April 17). As one who has survived a head-on crash on the bypass, I couldn't care less about the 50mph speed limit. What I do care about are the
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No blessings
After reading Darby Sutton's letter, Time to count our blessings (Oxford Mail, April 17), I didn't know if I should have laughed or cried. He is full of praise for the wonderful things the Labour Government has done for pensioners. One of the examples
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Be wary of the 'professionals'
I am writing in response to the article, A matter of dishonour (Oxford Mail, March 29). There is no honour to so-called honour-based killings or to forced marriages. But there is also no honour in sensationalising an issue that needs to be discussed
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SPEEDWAY: Nielsen regret at Oxford
HANS Nielsen is a sporting legend. His name is synonymous with the Oxford Cheetahs - even though it is 16 years since the Dane last rode for the club. But his feelings for the club have not - and will never - wane. And he admits he still cannot believe
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'Police should use bad driver website'
The Oxfordshire man behind a website which logs the number plates of bad drivers, has urged police to use his database to bring dangerous motorists to book. Andrew McGavin, who lives near Burford, said the principle of his site should be adopted by
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Ex-postmaster jailed
A former postmaster has been jailed for two years after stealing more than £56,000 from customers' benefit books at Didcot Post Office. Jasvinder Phanasan, 35, was found guilty of 15 charges of theft between December 31, 2003, and February 17, 2005,
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Top-five start for Subaru in Jordan
BANBURY'S Subaru World Rally Team's Chris Atkinson and Stéphane Prévot finished in fifth position overall after the first punishing day of competition on the first WRC round in the Middle East. The Subaru World Rally Team duo of Petter Solberg and Phil
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Floods misery calls for a party
Neighbours have pulled together to plan a good old fashioned street party to celebrate the end of 10 months of flooding misery. There will be barbecues, bouncy castles and bunting galore in Tower Close, Abingdon, next Saturday. Neighbours decided
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Burglaries could be linked
Three burglaries in Faringdon are believed to be linked. Police are appealing for information after car keys were stolen when a house was burgled in London Street between 10am last Friday, April 11, and 11am on Sunday, April 13. Then between 9.30am
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Charity spreads its wings
As the RAF celebrates its 90th anniversary this month, the Oxford branch of the Royal Air Forces Association is spreading its wings and looking to the future. The group, which was started in 1945, has moved to a new premises at the Royal British Legion
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Today's local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 70.25 BMW 2774 Electrocomponents 188 Nationwide Accident Repair 126.5 Oxford Biomedica 26.75 Oxford Catalyst 168.5 Oxford Instruments 213.5 Reed Elsevier 643 RM 201.25 RPS Group 318 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Muggers steal boy’s phone
A teenage boy was robbed by a pair of hooded teens as he walked along a busy Oxford road. The 14-year-old was walking along Horspath Driftway, near the Corner House pub, on Saturday at about 4.30pm when he was approached by two youths. They stole
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Reservoir plan on agenda
Water will be on the agenda at a public meeting about the plan to build a reservoir between Abingdon and Wantage on Friday, May 16, in the Memorial Hall. Officials from Thames Water, the Environment Agency and Oxfordshire County Council will be at the
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Missing man found
A man who went missing from his home in Aston has been traced. Police appealed for information on the whereabouts of Steven Wiltshire, 22, who was last seen at his family home near Bampton on Monday. A spokesman said Mr Williams has contacted his
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Inspired idea showcases bands
Young entrepreneurs have galvanised the Oxfordshire music scene by producing a special recording. The CD, Inspired, features songs from 11 local bands and artists and has been produced by Kaleido, a group of girls from Oxford High School, as part of
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RAF man answers call of duty
Young serviceman Joe Carolan put the job before family when he returned from a tour of duty in the Middle East. The senior aircraftman from RAF Benson in Oxfordshire returned to the UK following a three-month tour in both Basra and Kuwait earlier in
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Breast campaign takes to street
A campaign to make Oxford's Cowley Road breast-feeding friendly is to begin with a week of events. Health worker Naomi Douglas, based at East Oxford Health Centre, aims to help breast-feeding mothers feel welcome in businesses along the road. The
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Police link burglaries
POLICE today appealed for information after a series of burglaries in Faringdon. On Tuesday, thieves burgled a house in Lansdown Road, by breaking in through a window, and stole a gold necklace, worth about £800. A house was burgled in London Street
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SCHOOL SPORT: Plain sailing for Sam
Burford School's Sam Goodchild ruled the waves at the National Schools Match Racing Championships at Queen Mary Sailing Club, near Staines. Goodchild, an Oxfordshire School Sailing Association member, won the National Schools Sailing Association Trophy
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Boy, 14, robbed in street
A TEENAGE boy was robbed by a pair of hooded teenagers as he walked along a busy Oxford road. The 14-year-old was walking along Horspath Driftway, near the Corner House pub, when he was approached by two youths. They stole his Sony Ericsson mobile
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BASKETBALL: Stealers are kings
Oxford Stealers won the Oxon & Bucks Cup for the third successive year with an 85-72 win over oxford sonics at the Oxford Brookes centre for sport. Despite holding just a four-point advantage at half-time, Stealers pulled away in the final two quarters
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Missing man traced
A MAN who went missing from his home in Bampton has been traced. Police appealed for information on the whereabouts of Steven Wiltshire, 22, who was last seen at his family home in Aston, near Bampton, on Monday. A spokesman said Mr Williams had contacted
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FOOTBALL: Stars out in Banbury
A charity match for the Brodey Centre - an outpatient cancer unit in Banbury - takes place between Soccer X and Wolves All Stars at Banbury United's Spencer Stadium tomorrow (3pm). Soccer X has recent players such as Dennis Bailey, Scott Oakes, Kevin
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Bike ride honours cancer victim
A West Oxfordshire man is planning to cycle 1,200 miles on his own after the death of his close friend and work colleague. Iain Forbes, of Poffley End, near Witney, dreamed up the biking marathon with Swedish-born Harald Berg to raise money for cancer
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BOXING: Berinsfield's double joy
Berinsfield light flyweight Josh Lock secured the first of two wins for the Oxfordshire outfit at Banbury with a polished performance to outwit Bletchley rival Dean Williams. He made full use of his extra height to bewilder his opponent with precise
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Firm's Chox support builds up
Staff from builders' merchants Buildbase took part in the OX5 Run to help raise an impressive £63,415 for the Oxford Children's Hospital. Now, runners around the county are being urged to follow in their footsteps by taking part in the OX5 Run at Blenheim
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BOXING: Wood upset by shock decision
Oxford Boxing Academy middleweight Chris Wood (pictured) was left totally bemused as to why he failed to secure his place in the ABA quarter-finals. Somehow the judges conspired to deny him with a majority verdict for Norfolk rival Joe Bennett, who
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Pupil poet prove prizewinners
Hundreds of Oxfordshire schoolchildren put pen to paper to take part in a poetry competition. More than 600 children from across the county entered the contest, which was organised by Oxford Brookes University. The university's poetry centre wrote
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BILLIARDS: Chivers is champion
Bob Chivers, of Fieldside, had reason to celebrate after being crowned the Oxford & District League's Oxford Times Cup champion. He defeated teammate Paul Robinson 500-366 having led from start to finish. Chilvers compiled an early break of 51 and
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Community wants IT hub
A community centre is applying for £100,000 in funding to provide an Oxford estate with much needed IT facilities. The Northway Community Centre wants to raise funding to set up a new IT services for the estate. It comes following the closure of the
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Council wants more say over masts
Cherwell District Council has called for local authorities to have more control over the siting of mobile phone masts. It is calling on the Government to change its approach to planning, and wants the power to reject applications for what it considers
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SNOOKER: Bossom in hurry to land crown
Nigel Bossom, of Thame, lifted the Gentworks Oxford & District League's Walt Bradbury Trophy after a 59-36, 56-15 win against Gavin Wright in just 33 minutes. Bossom was in impressive form in the semi-finals disposing of Oracle's Jamie Saczak 57-25,
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SWIMMING: Super Sam puts rivals in shade
City of Oxford's Sam van de Schootbrugge struck gold and silver in the Crawley Spring open meet. Van de Schootbrugge touched first in the 200m freestyle and finished second in the 400m, as well as setting national qualifying times in the 200m, 400m,
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TABLE TENNIS: Deadly Forum clinch double
Forum A completed the double as beat Gladiators in the final of the Oxford & District League Handicap Shield. Karl Bushell, Greg Boone and Fraser Harris have now won the double for the second season in a row. Gladiators were awarded a start of 140
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Man convicted of house fire murders
A HOMELESS man has been convicted of murdering two people in a house fire in Oxford. A jury at Oxford Crown Court this afternoon convicted James Cox, 63, of murdering both Sian Sanchez and Howard Blake in the fire at Redbridge Cottage, in Old Abingdon
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Cox guilty of double murder
A homeless man has been convicted of murdering two people in a house fire in Oxford. A jury at Oxford Crown Court has this afternoon convicted James Cox, 63, of murdering both Sian Sanchez and Howard Blake in the fire at Redbridge Cottage in Old Abingdon
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MURDER TRIAL UPDATE: Jury still out
A jury is still deliberating in the double murder trial of a homeless man. The 12 jurors resumed their discussions this morning at Oxford Crown Court over whether James Cox, 63, started the fire at Redbridge Cottage in Old Abingdon Road, South Oxford
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Cash boost for hospital trust
THE Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (NOC) has received a major boost in its battle for survival as an independent trust. The specialist hospital in Headington, Oxford, has succeeded in its bid to become a Biomedical Research Unit. The award will
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Cash boost for hospital trust
The Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (NOC) has received a major boost in its battle for survival as an independent trust. The specialist hospital in Headington, Oxford, has succeeded in its bid to become a Biomedical Research Unit. The award will bring
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Karting firm fined after crash
A KARTING company will have to pay over £10,000 after a crash which left a ten-year-old boy with serious injuries. The lad suffered a broken leg and dislocated and broken ankle and he also bruised a small section of his small intestine after the crash
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Go-karting firm fined for boy's injuries
A go-karting company will have to pay over £10,000 after a crash which left a 10-year-old boy with serious injuries. The lad suffered a broken leg and dislocated and broken ankle and he also bruised a small section of his small intestine after the crash
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Today's local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 69.75 BMW 2774 Electrocomponents 188.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 126.5 Oxford Biomedica 25.25 Oxford Catalyst 168.5 Oxford Instruments 213.5 Reed Elsevier 645.25 RM 199 RPS Group 315.25 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Fail Better - the rise of a fresh young company
Fail Better Productions were founded in 2001 at Warwick University by a group of young theatre artists and practitioners. The collective is growing in size as they attract new individuals that, like the founding members, strive for intensity and detail
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Silverstone hosts free race meeting
SILVERSTONE Grand Prix circuit hosts the UK round of the 2008 World Series by Renault, the free festival of motorsport that combines on-track thrills with off-track entertainment for the whole family. The event takes place on June 7 and 8 and you can
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UPDATE: Crash driver killed
A driver died this morning after crashing his car into a hedge on a road south of Oxford, it has now been confirmed. The crash happened about 7am on the B4015 to Stadhampton, a quarter of a mile from the Golden Balls roundabout near Nuneham Courtenay
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Driver dies in crash
A DRIVER died today after his car crashed into a hedge on a road south of Oxford. The crash happened at about 7am on the B4015 to Stadhampton, a quarter of a mile from the Golden Balls roundabout near Nuneham Courtenay. Paramedics, police and firefighters
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Bridge shut to stop jumpers
MAY Day revellers will be faced with barricades and road closures for the third year in a row to stop them jumping into the River Cherwell. However, police and Oxfordshire County Council have decided to shorten the closure of Magdalen Bridge by 90 minutes
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Oxford Murders actor at premiere
HOLLYWOOD star John Hurt was in Oxford last night as the guest at the UK charity premiere of his new film, The Oxford Murders. The veteran British actor - star of Midnight Express and Alien - introduced the film at the Odeon cinema, in Magdalen Street
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Family flees arson attack
A FAMILY was evacuated last night after a moped was set on fire in the front porch of a house. Fire crews were called at about 1.30am to deal with the blaze in Barracks Lane, East Oxford, near Oxford Community School. Fire engulfed the moped, which
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Crash closes road south of Oxford
Paramedics were called to a road accident near Abingdon this morning causing delays for drivers. The crash happened after 7am on the B4015 to Stadhampton, off the Golden Balls roundabout near Nuneham Courtenay. A spokesman for South Central Ambulance
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Arson suspected over moped blaze
A family was evacuated last night after a moped was set on fire in the front porch of a house. Fire crews were called at around 1.30am to deal with the blaze in Barracks Lane, east Oxford, near Oxford Community School. Fire engulfed the moped, which
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Foster's a wanted man
DARREN Patterson says he's delighted that player-of-the-year Luke Foster is attracting interest from other clubs. And although he wants to keep the 22-year-old centre back, who has had an outstanding season, Oxford United's manager says he would not
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Legal status
Sir - In your article (April 18, page18) I am described as a former solicitor. This is inaccurate. I hold an unrestricted current practising certificate. That I have not worked for a while because of illness does not detract from my status. Nizar
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Musical mix-up
Sir - Following your article last week in which you confused two local orchestras, may I make it clear that The Oxford Sinfonia (as opposed to the English Sinfonia) continues to give concerts mainly at the University Church of St Mary's, as it has done
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Topsy-turvy post
Sir - There is - at least for the time being - a non-extinct Post Office on the corner of Walton and Great Clarendon Streets in Oxford. Outside is a postbox on which a new notice reads: "Change to final collection time from this postbox. In order
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Badly underfunded
Sir - This year the extra funding for complex cases has been withdrawn by the Department of Health. This will result in the NOC facing a deficit and result in the haemorrhaging of their specialist skills as they are increasingly starved of this funding
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Row as CCTV plan stalls again
A row has broken out between East Oxford councillors and the police over delays installing CCTV cameras in Cowley Road. The controversial and much-delayed scheme was put on hold again after the east area parliament met on Thursday. Councillors, including
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Commuting reality
Sir - What an incredibly stupid idea the proposed eco-town at Weston-on-the-Green is. You take a motorway junction that is already operating beyond its capacity, and build loads more houses nearby. This will (a) add considerably to the traffic problem
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Continuing worry
Sir - Mike Gotch's letter (April 18) is wide of the mark. Firstly, I am not opposed to all new towns. With regard to the Heyford air base site, I am off-message because county council policy is to oppose major development here, but I have always held
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Perfectly good sites
Sir - Reading and hearing the local news lately with reference to the prospective new eco-towns, I have to ask myself are we going stark staring bonkers? This comes at a time when we are led to believe that there are likely to be food shortages in
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Dispel gloomy fog
Sir - I have a suggestion that I hope will help Winifred Muir with her feelings of insult about the new bus pass scheme for pensioners (Letters, April 18). From whatever point in time you stop paid work, and therefore no longer buy a monthly season
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Predictable result
Sir - As someone who got some public attention by using the new national over-60s national bus pass on its first day, I am particularly sad that ten days after its introduction some Oxford people had still not received it. Apart from the general disappointment
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U's to end with Cheltenham
OXFORD United's final pre-season friendly this summer will be against local rivals Cheltenham Town. The venue hasn't been confirmed, but it seems likely to be at the Kassam Stadium where United have traditionally finished off their programme of pre-season
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Fresher look for Warrior
One of the most popular pick-ups on Britain's roads is the Mitsubishi L200 - and the best-selling variant, the Warrior, has just been revised to enhance its appeal. Body-coloured wheel arches have been added to boost the Warrior's visual appeal, and
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Terror me Motoris Bi
Sir - When inveighing against the "vandalism" of the High Street by transport planners (Report April 11), the bursars of All Souls and University College lost a splendid opportunity to quote from A. D. Godley's 1914 poem The Motor Bus which contains
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Land Rover takes centre stage
LAND Rover, in conjunction with Gerry Juddah, plans to create an eye-catching automotive sculpture in front of Goodwood House at this year's Festival of Speed in July to mark the company's 60th anniversary. The impressive structure will incorporate
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Ridiculous rules hit disabled motorists
Sir - I would be grateful if the bright luminaries in charge of the traffic restrictions on the High Street and Oriel Square could explain to me the logic behind them for disabled people like myself. After a delightful visit to Christ Church (having
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Ford marks anniversaries with display
FORD, a major sponsor of the Goodwood Festival of Speed since its inception in 1993, will again be backing this year's event. The Festival of Speed is Europe's premier historic motor sporting event - a combination of hillclimb, rally stage, garden
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Power from Thames
Sir - May I question your editorials (February 1 and March 21) opposing wind turbines in Oxford's Green Belt? Turbines would not harm Horspath's view of BMW's factory. Sandford Brake is straddled by electricity pylons and its sub-station seems a logical
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Sad farewell as centre closes
A COMMUNITY mental health service bade a farewell today to its home for the past 23 years. The Acorn Centre, based at Cowley Community Centre in Barns Road, was forced to leave after the building was condemned by the city council's fire safety officer
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Fresh look
The Griffin - a mythical creature with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion - has changed much in the 105 years since Vauxhall first adopted it as a badge. The new look is due to appear on its vehicles from August onwards. Vauxhall's
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Coupé coup
A limited-edition TSIII model has just joined the Hyundai Coupe range, and only a few will be made available in Britain. With enhanced sporty looks, plus Eibach springs that combine to give the TSIII Coupe a lower, more aggressive stance, the special
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Queue forms for supercar
Just 48 hours after opening the order book for its new GT-R supercar, Nissan took 700 firm with-deposit UK orders - and the performance sportster does not arrive here until March next year. The order book opened on April 2 and demand has been such
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Qashqai+2 offers more
THERE'S no stopping Nissan's 4x4 march - and with smart, sensible cars such as the Qashqai crossover in its stable, would anyone really want to? The firm's UK car sales were up a whopping 46 per cent for the first three months of this year against
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Alonso 'determined to win again'
FERNANDO Alonso has revealed he could be forced to leave the Enstone-based Renault F1 team if the performance of his car does not improve before the end of the season. After leaving McLaren in acrimonious circumstances at the end of 2007 having been
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Roadtest: Fresh class act
When I first drove a Mercedes-Benz R-Class, I just did not get the point of it. Seems like I was not the only one. It was a big, powerful, striking six-seater, packed full of gizmos, with four-wheel-drive to boot, but apart from someone running an executive
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Pub goes East
BUILDERS are about to start transforming a former West Oxford pub plastered with flyposters into a restaurant. The White House, in Botley Road, has been boarded up since it closed last year and is being turned into Zaytoon, offering Middle Eastern
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Bridge blockade for May Day revellers
May Day revellers will be faced with barricades and road closures for the third year in a row to stop them jumping into the River Cherwell. However, police and Oxfordshire County Council have decided to shorten the closure of Magdalen Bridge by 90 minutes
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Out the box
Mad May Day is almost upon us and councillor David Williams has come up with a 'novel' solution. Blow the cost of shutting the bridge and getting all those police and other workers manning the barricades, he says, hang some nets to catch any revellers
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Teachers' deal needs to be done
The threat of further industrial action by our teachers may not seemingly strike fear into the Government's heart but it is ominous for thousands of families. The Government tried to downplay the strike as affecting a minority of schools and that is
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Tough questions
It has been easy in the past for Oxfordshire County Council to pin the blame for underachievement in national exams on schools. Not so now. First, the council lost a prized star in its rating because of the underachievement in schools. Now, the Government
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... strike no answer
Schools, teachers and the county council are in this together. For this reason we find it regrettable that members of the National Union of Teachers decided to hold a one-day strike this week over pay. With all the economic uncertainty hanging over
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Market day
DEDDINGTON Farmers' and Community Market will open in Market Place, tomorrow from 9am to 12.30pm. There will be 50 stalls with locally-produced foods, drinks, plants and crafts, with some organic produce.
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Promises to help school
A CHANCE to meet the stars of the television show QI is one of the prizes in an auction of promises at Wantage Primary School. Others include a week's holiday in the Gironde, a Peruvian-themed evening including a meal and music, riding lessons, fitness
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Concert is renamed
WITNEY'S annual Rotary Club senior citizens concert has been renamed in memory of David and Jill Stew, the husband-and-wife team who ran the Jill Stew School of Dancing and organised many music and dance events in the town. The event is tonight at 7pm
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Hospice exhibition
A HOSPICE for terminally ill patients is to hold an annual fundraising art exhibition this week. The Sue Ryder Care exhibition will be on show at the Nettlebed Hospice from today until Sunday. A special preview evening will be visited by the chairman
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Police 'plan for Lottery win'
THAMES Valley Police have drawn up an action plan to cope with officers winning the Lottery jackpot. The risk assesment plan is in place in case officers win as part of a syndicate then leave the force with their winnings. The likelihood of a win
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Stop pussy-footing
Sir - Oxford is a dirty city. How can this be changed? 1. Every house owner, renter, student renter, shop and business should be responsible for the front of their 'property', including the pavement and the road. 2. This would apply wherever the rubbish
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Debate heats up on future of waste
THE landscape stretching far into the distance had plenty going for it, at least if you wanted to build a £100m incinerator. For a start you would be hard pressed to find an uglier or more smelly place anywhere in Oxfordshire. Close by, steam clouds
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Actor is star turn at premiere
Hollywood star John Hurt was in Oxford last night as the guest at the UK charity premiere of his new film, The Oxford Murders. The veteran British actor - star of Midnight Express and Alien - introduced the film at the Odeon cinema, in Magdalen Street
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Appalling example
Sir - I was absolutely appalled at both Christopher Gray's comments (Gray Matter, April 11) and the fact that they were allowed to be printed in a supposed quality newspaper. Admitting to breaking the law for reasons of inconvenience, incompetence
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Ugly power
Sir - Whenever the subject of wind farms crops up - it is said how ugly they are - however, I never hear similar comments on the far uglier and terrible 'blots on the landscape' as are the electricity pylons and connecting cables, which criss-cross
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Awful decision
Sir - As a member of the NOC Network, I am saddened to hear of the drastic cuts in funding from the Government, to the NOC, a world-renowned orthopaedic centre of excellence. The NOC is well known for its meticulous research and medical innovations
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International status
Sir - Why does the SHA set out to ruin a highly successful hospital like NOC by not paying the full cost of the complex operations and treatment needed in rheumatoid arthritis and in bone infections. Of course such operations are expensive, but they
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Coming clean
Sir - As mere lay people, we don't begin to understand the interstices of the bureaucratic issues surrounding the NHS these days. So all the stuff about under which authority the NOC might finally come to rest is beyond us. However, there are two
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Catastrophic closure
Sir - It has come to my attention that the well-known and well-respected Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre could be closed, or handed over to some other organisation in the near future, with the facilities amalgamated into other hospitals. This would be
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Stalwarts given fond farewell
A VILLAGE offered a fond farewell to two of its best known - and long-standing - residents. Joyce and Dennis Jones have lived in Nuneham Courtenay for more than 60 years, but are moving to a bungalow in Watlington. The couple have been involved
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Feathers fly over caged birds
FEATHERS were flying at Modern Art Oxford this week over its new exhibit, featuring a pair of peacocks in a gilded cage. While the live peacocks were held up as the focal point of an imaginative piece by the gallery, some visitors complained about
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New delay over CCTV
THE installation of CCTV cameras along Cowley Road was delayed again after councillors sent plans back to the drawing board. Members of the city's east area committee discussed a scheme to install four wireless cameras to help fight crime. However
