Archive
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Museum set for £3.5m makeover
Abingdon's museum is set for a £3.5m makeover thanks to a successful Lottery bid. The museum, in the Old County Hall, Market Place, announced today that it had received just short of the £2m it had asked from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The changes
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U's face nightmare Friday opener
Manager Darren Patterson was shocked to find out Oxford United's first game of the season was at Barrow - on a Friday night. The release of the Blue Square fixtures saw TV company Setanta break new ground once again when their wish to have a curtain-raiser
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Music festival aims to grow
The organisers of the Truck Festival, which showcases Oxfordshire's musical talent, want to expand. They have applied to be allowed to increase the attendance at the event, at Hill Farm, in Steventon, from 5,000 to 6,000 people. They hope the application
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Drivers caught in speed trap
Thirteen motorists caught in a police speed trap in Witney were given £60 fines and three penalty points today. Traffic officers carried out checks between 8am and 10am in Burford Road, near a crossing for children going to Tower Hill Primary School.
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The House that Daddy Built
It is 9pm on a work night and Himself has been out in the garden since he rushed in from work. For the past hour or so he has been building Littl'un's new playhouse which arrived this morning. As I look out of the window now he his walking around it,
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Three-vehicle collision blocks road
Police were called after three vehicles collided on the B4015 between Clifton Hampden and Chiselhampton this afternoon. The accident happened at about 5pm and the road was temporarily blocked. The accident involved a UPS parcels van, a Peugeot estate
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MOTORCYCLING: Rain proves pain again
At first, it was just spits and spots of rain on my visor. It lasted for a couple of laps and I thought it would pass. It was still almost dry on the first part of the circuit up through the start and finish, but as I came down to the back end of
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Crash still causing M40 delays
Drivers were still suffering long delays this evening after a lorry crash on the M40 during the morning rush-hour. The accident happened on the southbound carriageway just before 7am between junction 11 at Banbury and junction 10 at Ardley. The lorry
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Star graces new festival
Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench graced the opening ceremony of the inaugural North Wall Arts Festival in Oxford tonight. Dame Judi took a look at a display of postcards by famous artists that will be auctioned, before joining other guests at a
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Invite to view flood barriers
Residents in a flood-prone part of Oxford have the chance to check out new state-of-the-art flood protection equipment on Friday. The Environment Agency (EA) has spent £180,000 on flood barriers stretching more than 1,300ft to try to protect homes on
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Boy drowned while playing with sisters
A toddler drowned in the Oxford Canal in Banbury while playing with his sister, an inquest heard. Alfred Palmer, two, fell into the water while digging for worms on the towpath with his step-sister, Jaylei-Rose, on Sunday, March 30, while his family
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Manic impersonator
If William Cowan sincerely believes that he and all Christians await the second coming of Christ to rule over us (Oxford Mail, June 26), then they are in for a massive disappointment. If such an occurrence should happen, the modern Western democracies
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Spray dangers
I agree wholeheartedly with Tony Anchors's letter about the indiscriminate spraying of weedkillers by councils and the damage it causes to beautiful verges and wild flowers (Oxford Mail, June 19). I have seen operatives driving along spraying everything
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Don't buy a house by a river
Some people have a nerve. Andy Webber (Oxford Mail, June 28) criticises the city council for giving rent rebates to allotment holders and asks why he and his fellow residents don't get the same for the flooding in Botley Road last year. I have seen
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Jury clears man of raping teen
A jury today took less than an hour to clear an Oxford man of raping a 15-year-old girl. Jamie Hall, 25, of Fettiplace Road, Barton, was found not guilty of one charge of rape, one of sexual assault and two of sexual activity with a child. Before
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Man shot in leg at army display
An Oxfordshire man is recovering after being shot at a military event by a soldier who fired a gun loaded with real bullets instead of blanks. Mark Hoskins was in Carcassonne, in southern France, on Sunday watching a display by French para- troopers
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River murder appeal bid fails
A man of 'low intelligence' convicted of murdering a man by drowning him in the Thames has failed to convince appeal judges he was the victim of a miscarriage of justice. Edward Doyle, 36, of Alice Smith Square, Littlemore, Oxford, befriended 'vulnerable
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MPs: Dentistry reform failed
A Government shake-up of dentistry which led to 20,000 fewer Oxfordshire patients getting NHS treatment was branded a failure by MPs today. The Commons Health Select Committee said the Government's goal of improving patient access to dental services
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Post delivery has teething problems
Seven sets of dentures destined for patients in a West Oxfordshire village have got lost in the post and could be among millions of items at Cowley, Oxford's main sorting office. The false teeth were posted first class by dental technician Stephen Ward
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Pupils taught to be Olympians
Teaching hundreds of pupils how to become Olympians will be a fitting tribute to an Oxford school, its deputy head has said. Alison Robb-Webb said pupils at Peers School, which closes at the end of August to make way for an Academy, would take part
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Cruising with class
It does what it says on the tin... the fact that the 'tin' in question weighs 4,200 tons, is 297ft long, floats on water, and is driven by a twin screw, doesn't really alter that sentiment. When the brochure for Hebridean Cruises promises that: 'Life
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Today's local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 67 BMW 2373 Electrocomponents 142.25 N'wide Acc Repair 132.5 Oxford Biomedica 20.5 Oxford Catalysts 168 Oxford Instr 245.25 Reed 564.5 RM 183.5 RPS Group 297 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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The NHS at 60
A group in Oxford campaigning to stop parts of the NHS from being privatised is joining celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the Nat- ional Health Service. Saturday marks the 60th birthday of the introduction of the NHS, and a reception is being
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Taxis pass police checks
A night-time spot check on taxis in Witney has given a reassuring message to the public. The area's acting police commander, Chf Insp Andy Boyd, said only a few minor vehicle defects were picked up during the five hour check in the town centre. A
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Backer sought for comedy film
Two screen writers are looking for a multi-millionaire to bankroll their first film. Martyn Chalk and Simon Porritt said they wanted a sugar daddy with Oxford connections to finance The Cowley Road Drinking Club. The pair finished the final draft
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Review: And Then There Were None@ Oxford Playhouse
And Then There Were None began life as an Agatha Christie thriller with an entirely different title. Delicately crafted, it was one of the most popular books she ever wrote and one of the most technically clever. A group of guests is invited to spend
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Book events
TODAY Talk: Melanie King, author of The Dying Game, an account of attitudes towards death throughout history, will talk about the book and answer questions. 7.30pm, Woodstock Bookshop, Oxford Street, Woodstock. TUESDAY Talk: Nicola Beauman, founder
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BOWLS: Results check
KENNET LEAGUE Hagbourne A 100 (14pts), Wantage 57 (0) (Hagbourne skips first): M Mullins 27, N Stradling 7; P Ryman 24, M Dick 19; I Snowdon 29, R Johnson 21; D Hall 20, E Hollinrake 10. Hagbourne 56 (3), Harwell 79 (11) (Hagbourne skips first): C Wheeler
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Traffic system to be tweaked
Up to £70,000 of quick fixes to Abingdon's controversial traffic system will be introduced in the next month in a bid to get the town moving. Since 2006 motorists have had to put up with queues in the town centre following the introduction of the £3.1m
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No laughing matter
THE HEADHUNTERS Peter Lovesey (Sphere, £19.99)One of Peter Lovesey's favourite themes for his detective stories involves the innocent caught up in sinister events. But in The Headhunters it's not easy to tell who is innocent and who is guilty. The
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BOWLS: Super Charlbury march on
At the halfway stage of the season, Charlbury, of Division 4, boast the only unbeaten record in the Oxford & District Bowls League, sponsored by Yarnton Nurseries Garden Centre. Having suffered relegation on the last day of the 2007 season, Charlbury
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BOWLS: City's slickers ease into semis
A devastating finish from Oxford City & County trio Robin Hewson, Mike Petersen and Alan Ley saw them reach the last four of the triples at Charlbury on Tuesday. It looked as though Banbury Borough's side of John Philpott, George Moon and Oxfordshire
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GOLF: Father to succeed son
Captain's Day was a real family affair at North Oxford with Martyn and Ian Booth taking centre stage. Martyn, 34, is this year's captain, and started the shotgun tournament, while his dad Ian, 62, the current vice-captain, will succeed him. "We know
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GOLF: Oxon recover from poor start
Oxfordshire Ladies recovered from a poor start to win their final two matches in Midlands South Region County Week at Wellingborough. Things looked bleak after 6.5-2.5 defeats to Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and a 5.5-3.5 loss to Warwickshire.
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Harry Parsons
Harry Parsons, who has died aged 84, was popularly known in Oxford as 'Hot Dog Harry'. He and his then wife, Rae, hit on the idea of starting one of the city's first hot dog businesses in the early 1950s. Harry sat on a trike, on which he cooked and
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GOLF: Results round-up
SHAW GIBBS OXFORDSHIRE FOURSOMES LEAGUE Section 2: Ellesborough 2.5 (3.5pts), Brailes 0.5 (0.5). BURFORD Hamilton Trophies: 1 R Tomplin & J Genovia 89-20.5=68.5, 2 J & P Cavanagh 83-13.5=69.5 (cb), 3 T & I Worsfold 93-23.5=69.5. Pro-Am - Team: 1
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The Rev Henry Chadwick
The Rev Professor Henry Chadwick, a scholar of international repute and former dean of Christ Church, has died at the age of 87. An editor, translator and author of many publications, ranging from introductory volumes for the general reader to translations
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Boy drowned after falling into canal
A TWO-year-old boy drowned in the Oxford Canal while playing with his sister, an inquest heard. Bianca Slevin and Damon Palmer sobbed as coroner Nicholas Gardiner read out a verdict of accidental death at the inquest of Alfred Palmer today. The toddler
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Thames murderer's appeal fails
A MAN of 'low intelligence' convicted for murdering a man in the Thames has failed to convince appeal judges he was the victim of a miscarriage of justice. Edward Doyle, 36, of Alice Smith Square, Littlemore, Oxford, befriended 'vulnerable' Sean Miles
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Child patients get lessons in bed
Imagine a school where attendance is voluntary, there are no timetables and you can even take your bed into the classroom. It may sound incredible, but this is an everyday reality for children attending the Oxfordshire Hospital School. One of only
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Town needs more sports centres
Two new sports centres should be built and another expanded in a bid to boost Didcot's flagging leisure facilities, experts have said. A draft report by South Oxfordshire District Council suggests a new multi-use leisure centre should replace the Didcot
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Manhole cover makes a holey racket
Neighbours on an Oxford estate have suffered nine months of sleepless nights because of a loose manhole cover. They say cars driving over the manhole cover in Plover Drive, Greater Leys, cause a noise loud enough to wake them up in the middle of the
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Man fell from window ledge
A man was in intensive care after falling from a second storey window in Calthorpe Road, Banbury. The man, believed to be in his 30s, was sitting on the window ledge when he fell into a basement access three stories below. Fire crews were called to
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Rape trial jury deliberating
Jurors have retired to consider their verdict in a trial in which a 25-year-old man stands accused of raping a 15-year-old girl. Jamie Hall, of Fettiplace Road, Barton, Oxford, denies one charge of rape, one of sexual assault and two of sexual activity
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Truck protest diverts commuter coaches
Passengers travelling to London on coaches are facing delays and changes to routes caused by protesting lorry drivers. The Oxford Bus Company is using an alternative route into the capital to bypass Westway, in west London, where hundreds of hauliers
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Jilted husband plotted attack, jury told
A jilted husband from Witney planted a tracking device on his wife's car to trace her to her new home, a jury heard. Michael License, 55, discovered his wife Wendy, who had walked out on him, had gone to a flat in Poole, Dorset - and is accused of then
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Cyclist injured in High Street crash
A cyclist was taken to hospital this morning following a collision with a car in High Street, Oxford. Police said a 59-year-old was involved in an incident with a Volvo estate car at around 9.55am, near Rose Lane. The cyclist was taken to hospital for
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CRICKET: Dark Blues toil as Ansari cracks 153
A magnificent unbeaten century from Akbar Ansari put Cambridge firmly in the driving seat after the first day of the four-day Varsity Match in The Parks. Ansari, who celebrates his 20th birthday today, was the star of the show after Oxford had made
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Oxford United fixtures 2008/9
Oxford United will start their Blue Square Premier season with an away trip to Barrow - a day before the scheduled start to the season and live on TV. In the league's fixtures, which were released today, Darren Patterson's side will face newly-promoted
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Residents demand action over sewage spills
Residents are demanding Thames Water end 37-year drainage problems which see foul sewage spill onto their properties leaving them unable to wash or flush the toilet. In the last 12 months, eight homes in Dean Field Road and four properties in Tilbury
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Boy missing for seven hours
A 12-year-old boy who went missing from a farm near Bicester has been found safe and well this morning. The boy left the farm at Fritwell at 11pm following an argument with his parents and his absence prompted a police search. A spokesman for Thames
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Villagers angered by plans for 'dinosaur site'
VILLAGERS are hoping to use the last resting place of a 153-million-year-old dinosaur to stop a football pitch and drainage pond on green belt land. A total of 389 Cumnor residents have so far signed a petition against Persimmon Homes' plans to put
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Man attacked on busy Oxford street
AN OXFORD man was attacked by would-be muggers yesterday. The 34-year-old was walking along the Botley Road away from the city centre on the left-hand pavement shortly before 7am. As he was crossing Osney Bridge, two other men approached and demanded
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Asbo prostitute fails to attend court
POLICE are hunting a drug-addicted prostitute after she failed to show up at court. Amy Painton was issued with an interim Asbo at Oxford Magistrates' Court last Monday, June 23. The order, sought by Oxford City Council, banned her from 39 council-owned
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Bodleian store 'crucial', inquiry told
THE future of Oxford University's library service depends on the Bodleian Library getting the go-ahead for a £29m book depository, a planning inquiry was told yesterday. The university told the planning inquiry that the depository, on the Osney Mead
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20mph limits 'in place by February'
MOTORISTS could be facing new 20mph speed limits in Oxford within eight months. Transport chiefs are looking at cutting speeds across the city from 30mph to 20mph and last night county councillor Ian Hudspeth gave the first timetable for the changes
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Mother tesifies in rape trial
JURORS in a rape trial in which a man stands accused of attacking a 15-year-old girl yesterday heard from the youngster's mother. Jamie Hall, 25, denies one charge of rape, one of sexual assault and two of sexual activity with a child. Hall, of Fettiplace
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Crash woman still in serious condition
A Buckinghamshire woman whose red Peugeot 106 left the road and hit trees on a central reservation on Monday afternoon remains in a serious condition in Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital. The road between Marsh Lane and the Cutteslowe roundabout, Oxford
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Lorry crashes near Banbury on M40
Drivers in north Oxfordshire were forced to queue this morning after a lorry crashed into the central reservation on the M40. The accident happened before 7am between junction 11 at Banbury and junction 10 at Ardley, on the southbound carriageway, and
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Survey reveals opposition to tennis plan
CAMPAIGNERS who want to save public tennis courts in North Oxford from privatisation have used a questionnaire to urge councillors to scrap the plan. Residents who pay and play are fighting a city council proposal to lease Alexandra Courts in Summertown
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United to pay tribute to fan
The family of an Oxford United fan killed by a car while walking home at night have described him as a "gentle and kind" young man. Hairdresser Jonathan Diliberto, 22, died following a collision with a car on the A338 between East Hanney and Frilford
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Goodwill
It doesn't surprise us that someone has come forward to help pensioner Fred Edwards. Oxford Mail readers have a long history of helping the elderly and disabled, who become victims of callous thieves. Mr Edwards is no exception. An anonymous reader
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Who will enforce 20mph?
There will be disappointment among campaigners that the county council has decided not to go for a blanket 20mph speed limit in Oxford. It would have been simpler to have had 20mph signs at all the entrances to the city. Drivers would have then been
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House prices slump
House prices in Oxfordshire have finally started to tumble, with agents reporting a marked downturn in activity in the last few weeks. According to Government statistics, more than £3,000 has been cut from the average price of a property in the county
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Reader's gift replaces stolen cash
A pensioner suffering from cancer last night gave a 92-year-old man £300 after he was burgled. The Oxford Mail reported yesterday that Fred Edwards, who has been a pillar of the Abingdon community for decades, woke up on Friday night to find the thief
