Archive
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Why Yemi was taken off the list
Oxford United boss Darren Patterson said last night that Yemi Odubade has been taken off the transfer list because he's now "putting in a shift" every game. And he revealed how the 23-year-old striker's scintillating form during April has transformed
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Foster gets scan boost
Results from Oxford United defender Luke Foster's scan have confirmed that his knee injury is not serious. "It's very good news," reported physio Neil Sullivan. "There is some bruising within the joint, but no ligament damage at all. "It should be
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Drivers delayed after crash
Drivers were caught in delays tonight after police closed the A420 following a crash. A Thames Valley Police spokesman said a black Nissan crashed into the central reservation just before the Kingston Bagpuize roundabout but no one was injured. Police
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Get tested says glaucoma sufferer
A former Oxford City Council senior officer fears many people in Oxfordshire could be risking blindness without knowing it. Peter Nixson, 85, from Headington, was in charge of the council's town clerk's department from 1955 until 1983, when he retired
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Court agree with paedophile sentence
Top judges today backed a controversial Oxford judge by agreeing with his decision not to jail a paedophile. Callum Witheridge, 18, formerly of Glyme Drive, Berinsfield, but now of Field Avenue, Blackbird Leys, walked free from court in January after
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Ingenuity
In a dead end job, with no future? Does that sound familiar? If it is, take heart from Dave Edwards. He gave up his job as a milkman and, with the help of advisers, set up his own cleaning business. Now the business, run by him and his wife Jan,
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'I don't believe it was suicide'
A grieving father is adamant his daughter did not take her own life, despite a coroner ruling she may have done. Earle Godfrey, of Park Road, Witney, discovered daughter Leanne, 20, hanging from a loft hatch in her home in Wychwood Close, Witney, on
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GOLF: Willmore's drive to shine
David Willmore is aiming for the top in long-driving golf after making stunning progress. The 38-year-old from Witney finished seventh in his first competition, the UK Open at Whittlebury Park. And with a swing speed faster than Tiger Woods, he now
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GOLF: Craik on song
Derek Craik jnr and Jonathan Wilkins came out on top in a highly competitive Burford Pro-Am. Frilford Heath's Craik and home player Wilkins, champions in 2003, won on countback with just one stroke separating the top six pairs. John Sutherland (Stockwood
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No charges over feud brawl
No-one is to face criminal charges over a street brawl in East Oxford which left one man needing eight stitches to his head. Three people were arrested following the daytime fight at the junction of Magdalen Road and Catherine Street in January. It
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GOLF: Chippy break duck
Chipping Norton secured their first victory of the season in Section 1 of the Shaw Gibbs Oxfordshire Foursomes League at the fourth attempt by defeating Studley Wood 2.5-0.5. The 2006 champions's wins came from Andy Johnson and Tim Reynolds, plus Danny
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GOLF: Results round-up
FRILFORD HEATH Ladies' Spring Meeting (Blue Course) - Div 1: 1 A Gowing 40pts, 2 K Evans 37, 3 S Russell 36. Div 2: 1 M Snelling 35 (cb), 2 V Stevenson 35 (cb), 3 M Craik 35. MacGregor Quaich: 1 A Gowing. Afternoon foursomes - 1st tee: 1 A Hudson & F
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From SS Great Britain to a college barge
Twice within a week last month, I boarded venerable vessels whose survival from a very different age provides a valuable reminder of the way things used to be. At Bristol, during the Venice Simplon Orient Express steam excursion I described here last
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Was it pride or prejudice
Jane Austen's six major novels have been adapted for television so often that this particular seam appears to be virtually exhausted. So why not take a look at the author herself and ask why the writer never got married, even though her heroines spent
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Tapas enjoyed in Oxford at La Tasca and La Plaza
I was very taken with tapas on my first and so far only visit to Spain. That you could stuff yourself with all manner of tasty small dishes - as a mere prelude to dinner proper - struck me as an approach to catering the Brits would do well to emulate.
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WI members show their mettle as cooks
Women's Institute members have again proved that their cooking talents embrace far more than pickles, jams and scones. A dozen members of the WI, from all over the country, met up at Denman College, in Marcham, last week to take part in a cooking competition
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RUGBY UNION: No big changes at Wallingford
Wallingford coach Chris Norrington does not expect to make wholesale changes as they plan for life in South West 2 East. The majority of the players who earned Wallingford's second successive promotion were the nucleus of their BB&O Premier Division
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Recipe for Gaelic Rose
The Gaelic rose in the photograph was the starter that the two talented WI members from Otmoor devised for their award-winning dinner created to celebrate Denman College's 60th anniversary. Lynn Taylor and June Foreman say the secret to making this dish
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The Iron Man
The tug-of-war between altruism and materialism is at the heart of Iron Man, Jon Favreau's marvellous nuts and bolts realisation of the red and gold armoured Marvel Comics superhero, writes Damon Smith. Following the lead of the Spider-Man and X-Men
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RUGBY LEAGUE: Kitted out
Oxford Cavaliers will have a new kit as well as new sponsors when their Rugby League Conference South West & Midlands Division season begins on May 10. Oxford and Cherwell Valley College have their logo on the kit as part of their sponsorship. "We
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RUGBY UNION: Bicester claim vets cup
Bicester lifted the Oxfordshire Veterans Cup with a hard-fought 16-6 victory over Chinnor at Oxford RFC. It was 8-0 at half-time, but Chinnor battled back well in the second period. Bicester took the lead with a Stuart John penalty after centre Chris
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The Oxford Murders
John Hurt, the star of The Oxford Murders, recalled at its premiere in the city last week that he had last filmed here nearly 30 years ago on Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate. The vast sums lavished on this legendarily over-budget movie contrast sharply
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Joy Division and Tovarisch I Am Not Dead
The Manchester music scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s has already been explored in Michael Winterbottom's 24 Hour Party People and Anton Corbijn's Control. But, for all the knowing irony of the former's profile of Factory Records boss Anthony Wilson
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Simon Murison-Bowie, Artweks show at North Wall, Summertown, Oxford
The annual Mary Moser Award, established in 2003, honours the work and commitment to Artweeks over many years of Lady Moser, whose enthusiasm and tireless energy helped get this popular Oxfordshire festival started. The award is intended to help develop
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Tom Marshall Arttweeks show at The Stone Gallery, Burford
Tom Marshall's superb hand-wrought silver jewellery is on show throughout the year at the Stone Gallery, in Burford's High Street. During Artweeks, however, he and his parents, Veral and Simon, make a special effort, showing both Tom's pieces and the
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Kate Day-Dawson and David Sutcliffe, Artweeks show at The Bothy, Wytham
When doing the Artweeks rounds, you can end up in some very unusual venues. One of the most charming has to be The Bothy in Wytham where Kate Day-Dawson and David Sutcliffe are displaying their work in a studio and conservatory set in a most beautiful
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RUGBY UNION: Deadly Davies
Oxford University Greyhounds ended their season on a high by lifting the British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) Trophy. The students defeated University of the West of England 26-12 at Richmond with No 8 Chris Davies bagging a hat-trick of tries
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Karine Polwart, the Carling Academy
It is three years since the Scottish folk singer Karine Polwart burst on to the scene as a songwriter after spells with Malinky and the Battlefield Band. Her debut album, Faultlines, was voted Best Folk Album of that year, and The Sun's Comin' Over
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Single Spies, Milton Keynes Theatre
Chief among the many pleasures of Alan Bennett's double-bill Single Spies is that it gives audiences the chance to see an actor - in this case the excellent Diana Quick - represent the profane and sacred in the same evening. First comes the notoriously
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Preview of Marc Chagall show, the Jam Factory, Oxford
Art dealer Fergus Madden is holding an exhibition of lithographs by Marc Chagall at the Jam Factory, in Park End Street, Oxford, from tomorrow until May 15. The exhibition will then be transferred to the Fergus Madden Gallery, in Stanford Dingley, Berkshire
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The Smith Quarter, Jacqueline du Pre Music Muilding
This was the second in a two-part event entitled Circuits organised by Oxford Contemporary Music highlighting new music from Portugal. The first evening involved performances, by the Miso Ensemble, of text, music and live electronics that intriguingly
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Orchestra Europa, Sheldonian Theatre
Orchestra Europa's concert last weekend was the second of its pre-launch concerts in Oxford, before it embarks on what promises to be an exciting journey that stretches well into 2009 and includes appearances at some of the country's most prestigious
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Irish aim to get talking
A new community group is being formed, aimed at keeping the Irish Gaelic language alive and well in Oxford. Posters have been pinned up in pubs and supermarkets and organisers are keen to get the group established as soon as possible. Dublin-born
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English Sinfonia, North Wall, Oxford
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Ralph Vaughan Williams. English Sinfonia paid tribute to him last week by placing his most popular work, The Lark Ascending, at the centre of their programme. The composer began work on this piece before
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The Merchant of Venice, OFS Studio, Oxford
One of Shakespeare's most difficult plays is bought to life with passion, sensitivity and humour this week by Oxford theatre company BMH Productions. The Merchant of Venice tells how Christian merchant Antonio (Tom Bateman) becomes indebted to Jewish
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Belcea Quartet, Jacqueline du Pré Music Building
Power, passion and panache are the dominant qualities of the Belcea Quartet, as the players so artfully displayed at the Jacqueline de Pré Music Building last week. Founder and leader Corina Belcea-Fisher is mesmerising to watch and listen to; her whole
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Today's local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 68.5 BMW 2764 Electrocomponents 186.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 128.5 Oxford Biomedica 25.75 Oxford Catalyst 168.5 Oxford Instruments 212 REED 640.25 RM 208.25 RPS Group 318.5 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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La Traviata, New Theatre
This sometimes cynical old critic was transfixed with delight from the moment the curtain went up, to reveal the courtesan's salon, until the moment it went down, following her death. I was transported, too, to such exotic places as Odessa, Paris, and
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Fiddler on the Roof: New Theatre, Oxford
Everybody's favourite Jewish-themed musical, Fiddler on the Roof hits town this week (until tomorrow). And with it starring seasoned TV and theatre actor Joe McGann as the world-weary, aphorism-spurting father of five Teyve, it's a definite highlight
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Spring Concert at Garsington Manor
'Statira was a rather naïve character," conductor Laurence Cummings informed us as he described the Emperor's daughter in the Vivaldi opera L'incoronazione di Dario. This turned out to be a considerable understatement, for it transpired that Statira has
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Green credentials
Oxford City Council is pretending to become greener, by clamping down on vehicles leaving their engines running, promoting the use of park-and-ride and installing cycle tracks. All these are commendable measures. However, at the same time, it is pushing
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Uninspiring art
It is admirable to oppose cruelty to animals or birds, but I think people concerned at the suffering of the caged peafowl in Mircea Cantor's exhibit at Modern Art Oxford are perhaps being a little over sensitive (Oxford Mail, April 25). When I visited
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Fans rate Truck the best
A FAMILY-RUN music festival, set up to showcase Oxfordshire talent, has been named best independent event in the country. Truck Festival which is held at Hill Farm, Steventon, is one of the county's best-loved summer gatherings, attracting
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Really Dredding it!
Superhero fans across Oxford will be leaping buildings in a single bound to get their hands on free comics this weekend. Videosyncratic, in Cowley Road, is dishing out hundreds of free comics as part of the global Free Comic Book Day on Saturday.
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Molly White
Molly White, former reporter for the Oxford Mail, and its sister papers the Witney Gazette and The Oxford Times, has died at the age of 86. Mrs White was a late starter in journalism, but came to it with the same wholehearted enthusiasm that she earlier
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Shameful demonstration
The teachers who took part in the shameful demonstration in Oxford should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. Was this a shabby excuse for an extra day off after the half-term holiday? They demean the teaching profession. Any children witnessing
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Teachers set bad example
While I can understand the frustration that teachers may feel over pay, I believe that their current action which damages children is immoral. Schools have made so much of how regular attendance matters and have been discouraging parents from taking
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Have a say on incinerator
VIllagers have two weeks to have a say on what they think of plans to build a waste incinerator near their homes. Oxfordshire County Council wants an incinerator capable of burning at least 300,000 tonnes of waste each year. And Spanish-owned Waste
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Pub plan worries residents
A plan to change a former Didcot toy shop into a late-night venue is worrying householders. People in Broadway, St Peter's Road, Wessex Road and Haydon Road said alcohol-fuelled behaviour and vandalism would rise if the old Dentons shop in upper Broadway
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Widower's challenge to ride, slide, glide
A Wantage man will conquer the UK's toughest terrains in a gruelling physical challenge dedicated to his late wife. Neil Jordan will hike, cycle, climb and kayak his way to Land's End, in Cornwall, from John O'Groats, in Scotland, during a three-month
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Marion Parsons
Marion Parsons, above, who has died aged 96, taught needlework to hundreds of students. She spent 17 years at Oxford College of Further Education, first at Singletree at Rose Hill and later at Cave Street, in St Clement's. She also ran evening classes
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Elizabeth Wincott
Elizabeth Wincott, former chairman of the Oxfordshire NHS Mental Healthcare Trust, has died aged 67, after losing her fight against cancer. Ms Wincott dedicated her life to helping others, working with many charities and organisations over the course
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Raymond Walters
Raymond Walters, who worked at the Oxford Union Society from the age of 14 until he retired as chief library clerk 50 years later, has died aged 88. In his time there he met prominent figures such as the Queen, Richard Nixon, Robert Kennedy and Edward
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Michael de Larrabeiti
Award-winning author and travel writer Michael de Larrabeiti has died aged 73. Mr de Larrabeiti, of Tallis House, Great Milton, had suffered from cancer. For his funeral at Great Milton parish church at 3pm on May 1, he stipulated that people should
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Drive to boost tourism
Turism bosses are looking to get Oxford's millions of annual visitors out into the countryside to boost the countywide economy. Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council have joined forces to commission a private company to draw up a tourism
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Theatre boss saddles up for epic cycle ride
The chairman of an Oxford theatre is gearing up to cycle more than 1,000 miles - to celebrate the venue's anniversary. And he hopes to raise £100,000 in the process. Graham Upton, chairman of the Oxford Playhouse in Beaumont Street, will cycling 1,100
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Kenya: A country of contrasts
Watching lions hunting had seemed like a great idea from the comfort of my luxurious safari lodge. But a few hours later, as our 4x4 threw us around dirt tracks in the dead of night, it suddenly felt much less enticing. As I scanned the countryside
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Ex-milkie praises advice group
Former milkman Dave Edwards puts the success of his cleaning firm down to the help of a volunteer group set up to help fledging businesses in Oxfordshire. The Kidlington man has not looked back since ditching the white stuff for soap suds nearly three
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Thieves target mental health charity
THIEVES have struck at a charity in west Oxfordshire, taking valuable gardening equipment used to help people with mental health problems. They cut their way through two gates at the weekend and into a locked shipping container where the equipment
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47 stopped in belt check
POLICE caught 37 people not wearing seatbelts and ten for using their mobile phones while driving during stop-checks in Oxford today Officers checked cars travelling on Botley Road in Oxford between 8am and 10am. Police also stopped one vehicle with
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Fans rate Truck the best
A family-run music festival, set up to showcase Oxfordshire talent, has been named best independent event in the country. Truck Festival which is held at Hill Farm, in Steventon, is one of the county's best-loved summer gatherings, attracting thousands
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Police stop law-breaking drivers
Police caught 37 people not wearing seatbelts and 10 for using their mobile phones while driving during stop-checks in Oxford this morning. Officers checked cars travelling on Botley Road in Oxford between 8am and 10am. Police also stopped one vehicle
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New shop boost for hospice
A new charity shop in East Oxford has become the latest in a flurry of fundraising activity from Helen and Douglas House hospice. The Cowley Road store, which is the 12th to be opened by the charity, is now the closest one to the hospice in Magdalen
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Historic forge is saved from scrapheap
An historic blacksmith's forge bound for the scrapheap has been saved - and will now become a working museum piece at Tooley's Boatyard, in Banbury. The forge was rescued from the Sapa works, in Southam Road - formerly Alcan. It was due to be sent for
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RAF move praised
An influx of hundreds of RAF personnel and their families has been hailed as a boost for Wallingford by people in the town. RAF Benson is set to become one of the country's key helicopter bases when 230 Squadron and its Pumas arrive from Northern Ireland
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The Insider
MONDAY morning and the Insider's in-tray is already overflowing with self-congratulatory press releases from all manner of political parties ahead of today's local elections in Oxford, Cherwell and West Oxfordshire. But one piece of correspondence catches
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ATHLETICS: Super Anderson smashes record
Danielle Anderson made a storming start to the Southern League season as she smashed a 28-year-old club record in Oxford City's first match in Southern League Division 1 at Portsmouth's Mountbatten Centre. Anderson's record came in the senior/under
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ATHLETICS: Emma doubles up as Radley start well
Radley A made a promising start to their Southern Women's League Premier Division campaign as they finished an creditable second at Bracknell on Saturday. Emma O'Hara recorded a double victory in the under 15 girls' competition, throwing personal bests
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ATHLETICS: In-form Jodie is a Major success!
Jodie Major posted two personal bests as Radley B finished fifth in their opening Division 2 West meeting at Bournemouth on Saturday. Major threw 6.23m in the shot and 15.28m in the under 15 discus as Radley finished two points ahead of county rivals
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BOWLS: Oxon call up trio of new boys for cup campaign
Oxfordshire have three new faces in their EBA Middleton Cup squad for this seasons's campaign. Banbury Central's Will Campion, Carterton's Andy McIntyre and Banbury Chestnuts' George Schwab have all received call-ups. Campion and Schwab are included
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BAR BILLIARDS: Champ Abbott sinks Withey in a cracker
Reigning champion Jenny Abbott beat Pauline Withey in a high-quality Ladies Individual semi-final at Port- cullis. Abbott was on first with the break and almost played out the table scoring a brilliant 12,780, missing a couple of balls after the gate
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FOOTBALL: Play-off is washed out
The eagerly-awaited play-off clash between Didcot Town and Oxford City on Tuesday night was washed out following torrential raint. Several hundred fans were queueing outside Didcot's Loop Meadow Stadium when the British Gas Business Southern League Division
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Thieves target mental health charity
Thieves have struck at another charity in west Oxfordshire, taking valuable gardening equipment used to help people with mental health problems. They cut their way through two gates at the weekend and into a locked shipping container where the equipment
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Arrests after drugs raid
A 24-year-old man has been arrested after police swooped on a house in Bicester and seized suspected heroin and cocaine. Police stopped and searched a man in the street in Reedmace Road, Bure Park, shortly after 4pm on Monday. Officers then searched
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Man held on drugs charge
POLICE in Bicester have arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of possessing class-A drugs with intent to supply. Officers said he was targeted in an intelligence-led stop in Reedmace Road, Bure Park. Following his arrest on Monday afternoon, officers
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Swan's death investigated
The RSPCA is not ruling out foul play after the discovery of the decapitated body of a swan at Lincoln Lake, off Croft Lane, Standlake. Concrete blocks and metal had also been thrown on to the swan's nest, just two feet away. RSPCA officer Dennis
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William flew from Brize Norton
PRINCE William flew out from RAF Brize Norton to Afghanistan to meet frontline troops. The Prince met service personnel at Kandahar airfield for three hours on Monday, before returning to the UK later that afternoon, it was confirmed last night. The
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Swan found decapitated
THE RSPCA is investigating after the discovery of the decapitated body of a swan at Lincoln Lake, off Croft Lane, Standlake. Concrete blocks and metal had also been thrown on to the swan's nest, just two feet away. RSPCA officer Dennis Lovell said
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Allotment envy
Two things have struck me this week: firstly – unreasonable expectations and, secondly – allotment envy. My girlfriend (yes, I do actually have one) asked how the potatoes were coming along. They had been in the ground for five days. I’m not sure what
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Prince flew to Afghanistan
Prince William flew out from RAF Brize Norton in West Oxfordshire to Afghanistan to meet frontline troops, it has been confirmed. The Prince met service personnel at Kandahar airfield for three hours on Monday, before returning to the UK later that
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Petrol prices reach £5 a gallon
MOTORISTS across Oxfordshire are paying an average of £5 a gallon for petrol for the first time as the price of oil continues to soar. A litre of unleaded averages £1.10 on forecourts in the city - almost 20 per cent more than a year ago when the
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Blitz to stop underage drinking
ALMOST half of the premises targeted in a crackdown on underage drinking in Oxford served beer to a 14-year-old girl in undercover police checks. Last Friday night, police sent the girl and a 16-year-old boy into nine pubs and off-licences
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Slow down
It is no surprise that 420 motorists have been caught speeding in a week in Oxfordshire - almost everyone seems to be doing it these days. Why are so many people in such a rush? Slow down and take life easy.
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Naive
The scenario in which a partygoer dressed as a chainsaw-wielding murderer sparked a full police alert has certain comic overtones. But Kevin Oakes is naive if he thinks the police had a "sense of humour failure". A helicopter was scrambled and armed
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Publicans get stern warning
It may be difficult for pubs and off-licences to detect whether customers are old enough to be sold alcohol. But the law is clear - it is their responsibility to make sure that none is sold to those underage. The results of the latest clampdown on
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Learning Latin in the park
LATIN lovers in Oxford will get the chance to learn the language - in a park. Dr Lorna Robinson, who teaches ancient languages in several of Oxford's state schools, has set up special groups to teach adults following interest from pupil's
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Harping on at music event
THE 14 harps of the Oxford Children's Harp Orchestra will be making their debut at Abingdon's music festival. The festival, now in its 11th year, has more than 250 entrants from four years of age to adults. Organising committee member Valerie Dennis
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Shop appeal
A GOVERNMENT planning inspector is to decide whether part of Rectory Farm, Stanton St John, can be used as a butcher's shop following an appeal against South Oxfordshire District Council's decision not to grant planning permission.
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Ladies score charity goal
OXFORD United Ladies' FC boosted the fundraising total for the new Oxford Cancer Centre with a donation of £1,500. It was raised after the squad completed a sponsored triathlon and put on a charity health day at the Spirit Health Club in the Holiday
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Blitz to stop underage drinking
Almost half of the premises targeted in a crackdown on underage drinking in Oxford served beer to a 14-year-old girl in undercover police checks. Last Friday night, police sent the girl and a 16-year-old boy into nine pubs and off-licences in the city
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School friends reunited
OLD school friends travelled thousands of miles to exchange classroom tales - and re-live the 1970s. The past pupils all went to the former Redefield Secondary School in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, between 1970-1974. And their '70s-style reunion raised
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Teenagers plan new youth centre
TEENAGERS on the Donnington estate, Oxford, are helping put together designs for a new youth space. Donnington Doorstep Family Centre in Townsend Square, East Oxford, is in the middle of a £240,000 project to build an area for older children
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Feeling the pinch as petrol hits £5 a gallon
Motorists across Oxfordshire yesterday were paying an average of £5 a gallon for petrol for the first time as the price of oil continues to soar. A litre of unleaded now averages £1.10 on forecourts in the city - nearly 20 per cent more than a year
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School to go for foundation status
PROPOSALS to turn Oxford Community School into the city's first foundation school have been given the go-ahead. Following a six-week consultation period, governors have decided to push forward with the transformation in the autumn. Chairman
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Yachtsman starts last leg of voyage
YACHTSMAN Adrian Flanagan embarks on the final leg of his round-the-world journey tomorrow, and - hopefully - into the record books. Mr Flanagan, 47, father of Benjamin, nine, and Gabrielle, six, will set off on the 1,600-mile leg from Norway
