Archive
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Inspirational
A couple who spent their ruby wedding anniversary year raising funds for a charity that rescued them after the Asian Tsunami are hoping to scoop £20,000. Richard and Pamela Hastie have been nominated as Britain's most inspiring fundraisers - and could
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Oliver's 'army' is here to help
A group of nursery workers from Oxford have been inspired by one of their children to raise money for charity. Nursery workers at Imagine Co-operative Childcare, in Cuddesdon Way, Blackbird Leys, are taking part in a sponsored walk as part of Down's
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MP backs car tax rebellion
Oxford East MP Andrew Smith has backed Labour rebels in their bid to get the Government to overturn its proposed car tax increases. Former Cabinet member Mr Smith has labelled changes which could see owners of some of the most polluting cars face a
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Rivers still on alert after rain
Boat users have been put on alert after river levels rose across the county today. The Environment Agency warned low-lying land and roads near the River Evenlode, River Ock, River Thame and River Windrush were at risk of flooding. A 30ft-long canal
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Surprise at skaters' win
Skateboarders have spoken of their delight after plans for a new £300,000 skatepark in Oxford were given the go-ahead by councillors. Supporters of the plan for the skate park at Cowley Marsh Recreation Ground said they were stunned and surprised by
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CRICKET: Oxon's numbers game
It will be a case of deja vu when Oxfordshire host Bedfordshire in their final Group 1 match in the MCCA Trophy at Challow and Childrey on Sunday (11). As has been the case in the last two years, simply winning may not be enough for Oxon, who must keep
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Cyclist treated for injury
Police and an ambulance crews are currently on Donnington Bridge Road near Iffley, Oxford, after a man fell off of his bicycle at about 5.40pm. A Thames Valley Police spokesman said she believed the man had a head injury but it was not thought he had
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CRICKET: Brothers swap places
Home Counties Premier League There will be no hard feelings in the Phillips family despite Eddie replacing his brother Jimmy as Banbury host Radlett in Division 1 tomorrow. Batsman Eddie comes in for spinner Jimmy as unbeaten Banbury shift the balance
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The Whine Column
Q. I have builders in at the moment. They are very good and fortunately the only cracks I have seen have not been in the plasterwork. I'd love to invite them to stay for dinner when the construction is finished. What wine should I buy? Ann C, Jericho
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Is that to go? Peppers Burger Bar
Call me a heretic, but I've never quite seen why this burger bar (Peppers Burger Bar, Walton Street, Oxford) is rated so highly, although undeniably it has an awesome cult following. When Peter Triggs closed the takeaway last year and moved to Canada
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Strings attached
"I still can't believe I found a piece of string in my steak," Mr Greedy said. "And I paid £17 for the privilege." As you will have gathered, our visit to the Old Chapel (The Old Chapel, Chapel Street, Bicester 01869 328777) wasn't an unmitigated
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Board meeting
Close your eyes and imagine a music festival. What do you think of? Enjoying great music in glorious surroundings, surrounded by hundreds of like-minded people? Or just mud, damp clothes, a leaky tent, grim food and awful toilets? Well, if it's the
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Ready to run
Staff from a garage are limbering up to take part in the OX5 Run this weekend to raise money for the Oxford Children's Hospital. Employees at the Motorworld garage, in Botley Road, Oxford, have been training hard for the big day and are looking to lead
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Off the show, but not put off
Determined John Humphries has vowed to continue his search for fame - despite being laughed off The X-Factor for the fifth time. The 53-year-old, known as Big John, failed to hit the right note with the show's producers at his latest audition on Monday
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Heritage railway back on track
Services are back on track at the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway. Problems with rolling stock meant the heritage railway had not been able to run trains since Easter. But the problems have been dealt with and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Railways
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Confusion prompts name change call
It's an apparently confusing business working out when you mean Rose Hill (the road) and not Rose Hill (the Oxford estate). And now campaigners are pressing for a name change for Rose Hill - the stretch of the A4158 that changes from Iffley Road, Henley
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Police increase school patrols
Police have increased patrols outside Oxford Community School in Glanville Road, East Oxford, after antisocial behaviour at school closing time. Acting Sgt Gill Cross said the initiative had been welcomed by teachers and pupils.
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Pegasus launches new comic
Actors and actresses from an Oxford youth theatre company dressed up as comic-book characters for the launch of a new comic. Members of Oxford Youth Theatre, based at Pegasus Theatre, in Magdalen Road, East Oxford, took part in the launch of the new
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Captain Karen comes home
Bicester girl Karen Noonan is set to return home after serving her country on the front line in Iraq. And no one will be happier to see her than her mother - who is ready to welcome her. The former student of Hertford College, Oxford, has been fighting
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Old friends reunite behind wheel
A pair of daredeveil rally drivers are taking to the hills of Wales - more than 25 years since they last got behind the wheel together. Abingdon driver Martin Abbott and his friend Des Rowland, from Bedfordshire, used to race together while in the RAF
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Mark Ronson
Mark Ronson the BRIT award & three times Grammy award winning music producer & cover artist is set to return to the Wakestock stage this year after his hugely popular appearance in 2007. With the success of his second double platinum album Version
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The Streets
The Streets have been together for 7 years now and in that time have released three albums, with the fourth on the way soon. "Original Pirate Material" was their first album which propelled them into the limelight, and was followed in 2004 by number
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Groove Armada
Big beat electro legends Groove Armada will be bringing their full live set to Wakestock this year. After more than 10 years in the business the band have earned themselves the reputation of one of the most exciting live acts in the world. With their
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Supergrass
Supergrass are one of the biggest rock bands to come out of Oxford. After the successes of three platinum selling albums, 'I Should Coco' in 1995, 'In It For The Money' in 1997, and 'Supergrass' (aka 'The X-ray Album') in 1999, Supergrass have recently
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Estelle
Originally from London, but now relocated to New York, Estelle is the name on everyone's lips since signing to John Legend's record label Homeschool and soaring to the top of the charts with her first single from her new album Shine. Her single American
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Happy Mondays
The legendary Happy Mondays rose to fame in the 80's within the Manchester rave scene, releasing classic albums such as Pills, Thrills and Bellyaches, including huge hits like Kinky Afro and Step On. They have reformed and are back and receiving critical
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Funeral for a Friend
South Walian band Funeral for a Friend have become nothing less than a phenomenon. Having scored three top 20 singles, a gold-certified debut album, headlined the second stage at the Reading / Leeds format and won Kerrangs Best Newcomer Award. The band
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Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris is one of those myspace sensations' you keep reading about. A cult producer-slash -singer-slash- bedroom-knob-twiddler who can make the banging-est of pop-dance tunes out of 'bugger-all' kit. Calvin Harris's first release Acceptable In
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The Futureheads
Northern band The Futureheads will also be making an appearance this year. Live, the band kicks a mean punch with their raucous and fast paced delivery and crowd participation. Having embarked on numerous headline tours the band have also supported
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Pete Tong
Britain's best loved dance DJ Pete Tong doesn't need an award to prove his popularity and he won't act cool to keep his credibility. The host of Radio 1's groundbreaking Essential Selection show for a staggering eight years, he works within the mainstream
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Pendulum
Aussie drum and bass act Pendulum have relocated to the UK from their hometown of Perth. They have been busy in the studio over the last twelve months producing their new album "In Silico" and refining their electronic rock sound. With their new single
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Audio Bullys
Audio Bullys are an electronic music group from the UK - Simon Franks and Tom Dinsdale. They reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart with their amazing 2005 hit, "Shot You Down", which samples the Nancy Sinatra version of the song "Bang Bang (My Baby
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Elliot Minor
With three hit singles under their belt and fourth single Still Figuring Out' released this year, York quintet Elliot Minor have quietly infiltrated the charts and are poised to crash into the mainstream in a major fashion. Recently praised by Kerrang
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Young Knives
This English geek rock and post-punk revival band are from Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire. The name is based on a misunderstanding of "young knaves", which was found by the band by rummaging through a book. The band is known for its energetic live
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Hadouken
After releasing their 12-track mix-tape "Not Here To Please You" on November 12, 2007 featuring originals and remixes, the band have been in the studio. They are working on their untitled debut album which is to feature nine new songs as well as the
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Mystery Jets
Mystery Jets formed in the late 90's when a son (Blaine Harrison) and father (Henry Harrison) formed a band together, recruiting school friends to make up the band. Hailing from Eel Pie Island in London, Mystery Jets are a prog/psychedelia-influenced
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Plump DJs
Emerging from the nascent Nu Skool Breaks scene at the end of the last century, the Plump DJs are the quintessential production duo. Over the course of fifteen acclaimed singles and three superlative albums, Andy Gardner and Lee Rous have become heavyweights
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Operator Please
Operator Please are described by NME as "Australia's most exciting new band". They have even been described as "the next big thing" by celebrity blogger Perez Hilton. The band, who originate from the Gold Coast in Australia. The single "Just a song
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The Black Kids
The Black Kids have risen from obscurity to become one of the most talked-about bands around. Word has spread like wildfire across the internet about a new band on the scene and with the release of their new single "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend
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DJ Nu-Mark
DJ Nu-Mark also known as Uncle Nu, is a Polish-Iranian American hip-hop DJ mostly known for his membership of Jurassic 5, an American five-piece hip-hop crew consisting of one DJ and four MCs. DJ Cut Chemist was also part of the original group but left
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Lightspeed Champion
Lightspeed Champion is the name of the new musical venture by ex-Test Icicle Devonte Hynes, currently signed to Domino Records. Containing musical elements from a variety of genres, Lightspeed Champion is a radically different sound to Hynes' previous
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The Blackout
The Blackout are a post-hardcore band from South Wales. After some time backing Lostprophets on their Liberation Transmission Tour with Dopamine they released their first mini-album The Blackout! The Blackout! The Blackout! They were also nominated
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Murder accused in court
A 21-year-old man accused of murdering a police station cleaner will enter a plea to the charge in July. Martin Joyce, of Larch Hill, Bradford, appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday charged with killing Enayit Khalili, 26, in Rose Hill 14 months
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Champagne thank-you
Customers received a thank-you, a glass of bubbly and a slice of cake at Abingdon's Mostly Books bookshop at a party to celebrate the shop winning a national award. Mostly Books, on Stert Street, was named New Bookshop of the Year' by the British Book
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Bright spark
Soaring fuel prices and concerns about greenhouse-gases are concentrating entrepreneurial minds everywhere, not least those of car-makers who now see the economic climate as right for plug-in electric cars to go mainstream. Among those minds is that
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Family mourn bubbly, fun-loving mother
The family of Wheatley mother Debbie Smith have told of their heartbreak following her death. Mrs Smith, 47, died after her throat was cut at her home in Bell Lane, Wheatley, on Bank Holiday Monday. A 49-year-old man currently in Oxford's John Radcliffe
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Austerity Olympics
Sixty years ago, as Britain was recovering from the Second World War, the Leander Club in Henley-on-Thames played host to a very important event - the rowing races of the 1948 London Olympics. Last month, it hosted another momentous occasion - the launch
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Man attacked Wantage taxi
A YOB jumped on a taxi bonnet kicked the windscreen and spat at the driver in a drunken rage. Police are appealing for witnesses after a man caused damage to a taxi in Wantage, on Saturday night. Officers were called to Market Square at around 1.30pm
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Paperback choice
Dawdling By the Danube Edward Enfield (Summersdale, £7.99) By the end of this book, Edward Enfield is 78 and says that he sometimes thinks of somewhere interesting he would like to go, but then remembers all the hassle of getting there, and the feeling
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Rivers placed on flood watch
Four Oxfordshire rivers have been put on Flood Watch by the Environment Agency. The agency has warned low lying land and roads near the River Evenlode, River Ock, River Thame and River Windrush are expected to flood. It advises people living near
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History of veg
FORGOTTEN FRUITS Christopher Stocks Random House, £16.99)This is a captivating social history, which explores the stories behind the fruits and vegetables we take for granted, enabling the reader to discover more about the way rural life in the UK has
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Prepare for a board meeting
Close your eyes and imagine a music festival. What do you think of? Enjoying great music in glorious surroundings, surrounded by hundreds of like-minded people? Or just mud, damp clothes, a leaky tent, grim food and awful toilets? Well, if it's the
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Mad horseman
THE BLOODY WHITE BARON James Palmer (Faber, £18.99)To say he was eccentric would have been very kind. The German aristocrat Baron Ungern von Sternberg was a cruel madman who set out to slaughter the Bosheviks and Jews after the First World War. He
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ROWING: Hinksey joy at national bronze
Supporters of Hinksey Sculling School had cause to celebrate as they picked up their first ever National Schools Regatta medal, at Holme Pierrepoint, Nottingham. Hinksey's under 14 boys quad collected a bronze medal, to the delight of the director of
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FIXTURES May 30
SATURDAY. CRICKET. HOME COUNTIES PREMIER LEAGUE. Div 1: Banbury v Radlett, Henley v Falkland, Welwyn Garden City v Oxford. Div 2 West: Buckingham Tn v Thame Tn, Kidlington v Gerrards Cross. THE OXFORD TIMES CHERWELL LEAGUE. Div 1: Aston Rowant
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Four rivers on flood watch
Four Oxfordshire rivers have been put on Flood Watch by the Environment Agency. The agency has warned low lying land and roads near the River Evenlode, River Ock, River Thame and River Windrush are expected to flood. It advises people living near
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South African mixed case, £83
South African wines are becoming a force to be reckoned with. The top wineries are now producing world-class wines with wonderful finesse and complexity and the range of wines that is being made here is astounding, including everything from chenin blanc
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Alive and well
As the busking cleric' reported in your paper (Oxford Mail, May 16), can I first thank the good people of Oxford for helping us raise £356 for Christian Aid? Then can I scotch a rumour that our church, opposite Cowley Police Station, is closing? These
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Bobbies on beat with BlackBerrys
Police officers are about to get their hands on handheld computers aimed at getting them out of the station and back on the beat. About 300 BlackBerrys will be handed out to neighbourhood officers and PCSOs in Oxfordshire over the next three weeks.
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Big spenders
The county council's decision to lose a potential £30,000 a month in revenue by allowing free parking in the evenings and on Sundays in Oxford city centre may seem baffling to some (Oxford Mail, May 16). It seems that the motive behind this loss is
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Beauty of South Africa and its wines
If there is a country that I have visited which I regret not having had more time to tour its wineries, it is South Africa. We holidayed there a couple of years ago, travelling from the Waterberg to the north of Johannesburg all the way to Cape Town via
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Important decision
Following our recent exercise to deliver documents to all businesses in Oxford, detailing our proposals for a Business Improvement District (BID), we are keen to make sure that all businesses calculate their potential levy correctly. We have been very
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Drive carefully
One of the biggest discussions in golf these days is the subject of conforming and non-conforming drivers. The so-called spring' effect on drivers has led to many clubs being banned if they don't conform to the new rules which came in at the start of
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Cyclists must have priority
So Oxford loses out on £4m to improve cycle routes (Oxford Mail, May 26). Oxford is a city synonymous with cyclists, with rows of chained-up cycles outside most colleges and in and around the city centre. Famously known as the City of Dreaming Spires
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Cabbages and Kings
All three confessed it had become a ritual. The women would meet once every three months for lunch, at a location chosen by one of their number, when family news and gossip about friends old and new were exchanged. They had been at school together in
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Council forced to bail out town revamp
Cherwell District Council has been forced to bail out £70m plans to revamp Bicester town centre following a slump in the global economy. Council officials have not disclosed the details of the rescue package, but it is believed to run into millions
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Golf without greens
As the end of the football season nears, the sun starts to shine with increasing regularity, we will see the masses start heading for the fairways. You may not give a hoot about an albatross or care less about the condor, think strokes are for your
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Pinpointing success
The change in legislation by the R&A legalising the use of rangefinders has created an upsurge in demand for these GPS devices and golfers of all ages and abilities are beginning to acknowledge the shot-saving benefits of using them. Among the best
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Hotel fit for a king
Located on the seafront in Deal, close to Sandwich and a short journey from Canterbury, Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate, the Royal Hotel is well worth a visit. Steeped in history, this early 18th century town hotel offers the perfect setting for exploring
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Fairway to heaven
Throughout the world are many wonderful highways made famous by their proximity to major golf destinations. Among these is the legendary 17-mile drive on California's Monterey Peninsula. There you'll encounter the famous Links at Spanish Bay, Spyglass
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A shore thing
Lahinch Golf Club is located on the edge of the small seaside resort of Lahinch in County Clare, on the Atlantic coast of Ireland. The culture of the sport so imbues the town of Lahinch that it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between the town
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Book with the best
Chaka Travel has sampled many of the world's most exotic golf holiday destinations including Mauritius, South Africa, Thailand, Cyprus, Turkey, Malaysia and Dubai. It has earned a reputation as a friendly, efficient and cost-effective operator and has
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Trevor Nelson: Breaking Point
He's known to millions as the silky smooth voice of soul - a fixture on our radios for well over a decade. But Trevor Nelson is more than a honey-toned presenter. He is, and always has been, a club DJ, whose first love is playing to rooms of smiling
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TENNIS: Big guns are on the march
North Oxford and Oxford City cruised to comfortable wins in Mixed Division 1 of the 3-Pair League in the OLTA Wilson Inter-Club League. North recorded a 7.5-1.5 victory over Woodstock, while City whitewashed Banbury B 9-0. Louise Purton and Jay Sexton
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World of Bard
Editors Jonathan Bate and Eric Rasmussen have used the latest techniques, electronic datasets and research to compile William Shakespeare Complete Works (Macmillan, £19.99), undertaken at the request of the Royal Shakespeare Company. This definitive
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TENNIS: City lead the way
Oxford City staked an early claim for the Crossflight Oxfordshire National Club League women's title with a 3-0 win over Cholsey. A convincing performance by Rutvica Andrijasevic and Julie Wakeford saw City ease to victory. North Oxford defeated Woodstock
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HOCKEY: Hawks swoop
Oxford Hawks Under 14 boys completed a successful season by finishing second in the Mercian Premier League. Hawks, who won the South West Mercian League last year, scored 87 goals, conceding just ten. One of the highlights of the season was when they
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CYCLING: Elzinga on song
Oxford University time triallist Jesse Elzinga continued his rich vein of form by winning the Oxford City-run Witney ten-mile time trial by over a minute. He crossed the line in 20mins 44secs ahead of Oxford City's John French (21.48). OTHER TIMES
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PIGEON RACING: Latest results
Oxford Central (Newton Abbot, 9 sent 74): 1, 3, M/M Ward 1187, 1158; 2, 10, 12 E Irving 1171, 1189, 1081; 4, 8, 9 A Gjyla 1149, 1113, 1106; 5, 11, 13 D Bowler 1123, 1085, 1061; 6, 14 W Knevett 1115, 1057; 7 P Madden 1113; 15, 16, 18 R Clarke 1007, 952
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Duffy: A shy songbird
When Welsh singing sensation Duffy played a packed out Zodiac room at the Carling Academy in March, we all knew it was one of the last gigs of its kind. That night the self-effacing blonde beauty hit Number 1 in the charts, and with it, kissed goodbye
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Local share prices
AEA Technology 76 BMW 2908 Electrocomponents 175.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 138.5 Oxford Biomedica 23.75 Oxford Catalyst 172 Oxford Instruments 231.5 REED 628.75 RM 209.5 RPS Group 336
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Yob jumped on taxi
A yob jumped on a taxi bonnet kicked the windscreen and spat at the driver in a drunken rage. Police are appealing for witnesses after a man caused damage to a taxi in Wantage, on Saturday night. Officers were called to Market Square at around 1.30pm
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Start of a new era
Ian and Ken aim to make Studley Wood, Horton-cum-Studley, the place to visit for an excellent all round package of great golf in tranquil surroundings, as well as creating a sumptuous clubhouse with excellent service. The greens at Studley are reputed
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Man attacked in front of family
A man walking home with his partner and her teenage son was beaten up in Banbury on Monday, police revealed last night. The 27-year-old man was walking along Orchard Way between 11pm and 11.30pm when he was set upon by four men. Police arrested two
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Family pay tribute to victim
The family of Wheatley mum Debbie Smith have told of their heartbreak following her death. Mrs Smith, 47, died after her throat was cut at her home in Bell Lane, Wheatley, on Bank Holiday Monday. A 49-year-old man currently in Oxford's John Radcliffe
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A golfing jewel
Southfield Golf Club is in the heart of Oxford overlooking the dreaming spires of the city. The course has the enviable reputation as a golfing jewel in the city's sprawling suburban crown. Golf was first played in the area in 1873 and was originally
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Believing the unbelievable
Why is it that three-quarters of us believe in some kind of supernatural phenomenon, asks BRUCE HOOD How often have you thought about someone you haven't heard from in a long time, only to soon receive a telephone call from that person? You may
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A course to be scene
Weston Turville Golf Course was established in 1973. The 18-hole golf course is just over 6,000 yards and is par 69. The course presents a demanding test for the lower handicap but is not so daunting that the higher handicap cannot score well and enjoy
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Viva Vivaldi
For the first time in nearly 300 years, Vivaldi's L'incoronazione di Dario is being performed - at Garsington Opera. SIMON COLLINGS talks to the conductor, Laurence Cummings Antonio Vivaldi made his reputation as a violin virtuoso and composer
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A walk in the park
Founded in 1890, this archetypal English parkland course provides a constant challenge for golfers of all categories and abilities. A delightful 6,316 yards, 18-hole, par 71 golf course, it is laid out in two loops comprising tree-lined fairways in
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Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
As Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat heads for Oxford with a cast drawn from BBC's Any Dream Will Do, NICOLA LISLE talks to local star Antony Hansen Reality TV stars, it seems, never fade away - even the ones that get unceremoniously dumped
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It's Barton's half hour — playing Tony Hancock
GILES WOODFORDE talks to Will Barton who plays the comedy great in a revival of The Bowmans at the Watermill Theatre First shown on BBC TV in 1961, Tony Hancock's The Blood Donor, has become a classic. But an episode transmitted a couple of weeks
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Fresh-look fairway
The course at Kirtlington Golf Club is one of the most improved in the county. Although tricky in many places because of the sloped fairways, it is an enjoyable test for any golfer. It is an undulating open parkland course with well-contoured greens
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Why Jim never takes honey for granted
Throughout Oxfordshire there are farmers and food producers working against all odds from dawn to dusk to ensure we can put quality local food on our plates. Beekeeper Jim Chambers is among them. His love and respect for the honeybee began when he was
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Bus fare increases likely
BUS passengers have been warned to expect "inevitable" fare increases as a city bus company struggles to cope with a 70 per cent increase in its fuel bill. Louisa Weeks, the operations manager of the Oxford Bus Company, said that current fuel costs
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Morris's heaven on earth — before cars
The radical William Morris fell in love with Kelmscott on his arrival by boat in 1871, writes CHRIS KOENIG Perhaps no part of Oxfordshire has undergone less change than its western extremity, particularly that lonely reach of flat meadow, with
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Volunteering keeps you fit and healthy
Oxfordshire has a multitude of hospitals, ranging from the vast site at the John Radcliffe in Headington, to the much smaller Chipping Norton Community Hospital. Nearly all of these have a League of Friends, run by active volunteers aged from their teens
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Plain fountain will not be switched on
A VICTORIAN fountain at the eastern gateway to Oxford will not now be switched back on. Members of Oxford City Council's east area parliament, who have abandoned plans to restore water to the fountain in the middle of The Plain, are planning to instal
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Border in miniature
VAL BOURNE has dedicated a planter to herbs - and is happy with results I have never watered the borders, even in the driest summer. Occasionally I have watered peas and beans - when they were desperate. But, however wise you are about water,
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Birds show cause for concern
The RSPB is worried by the continuing decline in numbers of woodland birds in Oxfordshire, reflecting dramatic falls across the UK, writes PETER BARRINGTON Woodland birds in Oxfordshire are in decline, reflecting a similar fall in numbers among
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The elegant club
An 18-hole course of around 7,000 yards, Magnolia Park is constructed to the highest specifications. Set in more than 200 acres of glorious Buckinghamshire countryside, the course was designed by leading golf architect Jonathan Gaunt. Championship
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Lakeside leisure
Witney Lakes Golf Club is a stunning 6,500 yds, par 71 lakeland style course, welcoming both private members and public visitors. Designed by Simon Gidman, who has created golf courses in India, Germany, Ireland and throughout Europe, this imaginative
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Tennis centre meeting due
Residents can quiz developers about plans for a controversial tennis centre at a meeting tonight. An open meeting to discuss the development of Alexandra Courts in Middle Way, Summertown, will begin at 7.45pm in the Church Hall, Portland Road. Wildwood
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A true test amony the bumps and bunkers
Magnolia Park Golf & Country Club near Horton-cum-Studley really is a true test for any golfer. It is a monstrous 7,000 yards long over 18 individual and exceptionally challenging holes, and has been built to the highest specifications. The championship
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Smith backs Labour rebels
Oxford East MP Andrew Smith has backed Labour rebels in their bid to get the Government to overturn its controversial car tax proposals. Changes made by Chancellor Alistair Darling in the April budget mean owners of the most polluting cars could face
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MoD seminar begins
A new initiative to bring together the brains of Britain to come up with ways of keeping soldiers safe has been launched in Oxfordshire. Today was the first seminar to be held at the Centre for Defence Enterprise, at the Harwell Science and Innovation
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RACING: Capable Guest springs a surprise
Capable Guest, trained by Mick Channon at West Ilsley, ran out a shock 25-1 winner of the totesport betXtra Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar, writes Russell Smith. The six-year-old responded in good style when asked for his effort by Joe Fanning, and kept
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Win a meal for two and a Japanese Cookbook as YO! Sushi celebrates its arrival in Oxford
YO! Sushi, the uber-cool and dynamic Japanese restaurant has arrived in Oxford as part of it's huge expansion plans. Students, work colleagues and local residents can now indulge themselves with delicious, freshly prepared, Japanese inspired dishes such
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ROWING: Hinksey take honours at National Schools regatta
Supporters of Hinksey Sculling School had possibly the greatest cause to celebrate as they picked up their first ever National Schools regatta medal, at Holme Pierrepoint, Nottingham, writes John Wiggins. Hinksey's under 14 boys quad collected a bronze
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Firefighters deal with Barton blaze
A car was set on fire in Burchester Avenue, Barton early this morning. Firefighters from Slade Park took 15 minutes to extinguish the blaze which was reported at 4.39am. No-one was harmed in the incident but the fire is being treated as a suspected
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Work starts on A34 viaduct
MOTORISTS on the A34 this morning witnessed the beginning of roadworks that will last for two years. Delays are expected due to the replacement of the Wolvercote Viaduct, which carries the A34 Western Bypass over the Oxford Canal, A40 to Cheltenham
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United sweat on a big name
Oxford United are still hoping to take on Premiership opposition in pre-season, but may have to juggle their schedule to do so. The U's announced their list of pre-season fixtures last night, with no big names featuring on the eight-match list. It
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Skate park wins approval
Skateboarders are celebrating after councillors approved plans for a £300,000 skatepark in Cowley. Oxford City Council strategic development control committee gave the thumbs up to the scheme despite objections from residents. Neighbours at the
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Theatre forced to cancel shows
HUNDREDS of theatre-goers were left disappointed after Oxford's New Theatre was forced to cancel the first two performances of the musical Hello Dolly! Staff at the New Theatre, in George Street, said the show's production company cancelled Monday and
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Climber's fall remains a mystery
The reason a climber fell 120ft from a cliff to his death remains a mystery. Ivan Lissin, a popular climber from Marston, Oxford, died after the fall into the sea at Anvil Point, Swanage, Dorset, in January, but yesterday, a coroner was told no-one
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Cancer victim may have to sell home
A dad-of-three with terminal cancer may be forced to sell his house to buy a life-prolonging treatment denied him by county health chiefs. Andrew Crabb, 49, and his wife Dianne have already cashed in their pensions to pay for sunitinib tablets, which
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Oil price jump hits bus fares
Bus passengers have been warned to expect "inevitable" fare increases as a city bus company struggles to cope with a 70 per cent hike in its fuel bill. Louisa Weeks, operations manager of the Oxford Bus Company, said current fuel costs were more unstable
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Old tricks
Yes, let's all second Peter Unsworth's congratulations to Susanna Pressel on becoming Lord Mayor (Cabbages and Kings, Oxford Mail, May 23). Unfortunately, he's up to his old tricks, claiming that 'chair' is no substitute for 'chairman' and that 'chairperson
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Buses still delayed
I read the letter from Chris Child, marketing manager at Stagecoach (Oxford Mail, May 21). I realise there were roadworks in Hollow Way and at The Slade junction. We travelled that route daily and could not see such a hold-up to cause three buses
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Recycling - we aim to be the best
I WANT to take a long, hard look at household recycling in Oxford. I want to clear up the mess and provide a decent service to flats and maisonettes. I need the help of your readers in identifying the overflowing bins and increasing the rate of recycling
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What's on the menu, Jamie
Naked Chef Jamie Oliver said he has found the 'creme-de-la-creme' while recruiting staff for his new restaurant in Oxford. The TV star is due to open Jamie's Italian in George Street next week and was on hand yesterday to personally supervise the finishing
