Archive
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Unemployment is at nine-year high
Unemployment increased in Oxfordshire during the past month, as the jobless total nationwide reached its highest level since 1999. In August, there were 4,401 people claiming Jobseekers' Allowance in Oxfordshire, up by nearly 10 per cent from 4,007
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Pints, Camra, Action ...
The Oxford Beer Festival returns tomorrow — and this year you can drink more ales than ever before. Stout, cider and mild enthusiasts from the city’s Campaign For Real Ale (Camra) have stocked Oxford Town Hall with glasses ahead of the festival. And
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United in joint aim to live healthily
School pupils enjoyed a kickabout and learned about healthy living courtesy of Oxford United. Club football coaches visited St Nicolas Primary School, in Boxhill Walk, Abingdon, yesterday, to promote a healthy lifestyle. More than 70 children turned
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School strike threat looms
Schools across the county could close for the second time this year if teachers vote to strike again. Members of the NUT (National Union of Teachers) will be voting over the next three weeks. If it goes ahead, the strike is likely to take place in
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A weekly update from the corridors of power
Keith Mitchell has failed in his bid to become chairman of the Local Government Association, we learn. Earlier this year the Oxfordshire County Council leader announced his intention to run for the post amid a fanfare of jubilation. His personal
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Louts will get ban at 30 pubs
Misbehave in one — get banned from them all. That is the tough new message from Oxford's publicans. Landlords of 30 city centre venues will this month sign up to the Banned scheme — a joint Pubwatch, Nightsafe and Thames Valley Police initiative to
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Call for Gaol bid to be renegotiated
A deal between a developer and Vale of White Horse District Council to revamp Abingdon's Old Gaol should be renegotiated, say local householders in the town. Developer Cranbourne Homes, which is behind multi-million pound plans to revamp the town centre
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BAR BILLIARDS: Corner House battle back for narrow win
Corner House produced a stirring comeback to record the narrowest of wins over Nelson B in the Oxford 3's competition. Dave Bartlett (7,320), Sean Stratford (8,950) and then Bartlett again (3,760) put Nelson into a 3-1 lead. But Alan Oliver and Ian
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BAR BILLIARDS: Nelson dethroned as Horse gallop to victory
Horse & Harrow pulled off a surprise 3-2 victory over reigning national champions Nelson to win the All England Team Area final, writes PETE EWINS. They now go on to represent Oxfordshire in the national finals in Reading on Sunday. Gary Johnson got
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Firefighters tackle blaze in Somerfield
Firefighters are tackling a blaze inside the Somerfield store in Carterton. A spokesman for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews were tackling a 'haze' inside the shop. Police have closed Alvescot Road while firefighters remain
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RUGBY UNION: Winslade plays on big stage
Former Chinnor flanker Zane Winslade made his European Challenge Cup debut for Romanian side Bucuresti Oaks against Bourgoin on Sunday. The New Zealander, who played a key role in Chinnor's South West 1 title win last season, started in Bucuresti's
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RUGBY LEAGUE: Town take on Gown
The second annual Town v Gown rugby league clash takes place on Sunday for the Jacqueline Scott Memorial Trophy. Oxford Cavaliers take on Oxford University at Stratfield Brake (1.30pm) with the town club confident of retaining their crown. Jacqueline
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ICE HOCKEY: Rampant Oxford smash 13 past sorry Streatham
Oxford City Stars dished out a real lesson to Streatham Redskins in their Division 1 South clash – romping to a 13-1 victory. It was only Redskins' second defeat of the season – both inflicted by Oxford – and keeps Stars top of the table with just one
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RUGBY UNION: Juniors in tie drama
Banbury Under 11s secured a battling 10-10 draw at St Mary Old Boys in Bristol. Jake Anderson and Aaron Taylor scored Banbury's tries, but they were pegged back each time. Banbury defeated St Mary's Lions 60-0 in a second game with Anderson (3), Taylor
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Pile-up closes A34 again
A multi-vehicle pile-up brought chaos to the A34 in south Oxfordshire for the second consecutive evening. Reports say an accident has happened on the southbound carriageway near East Ilsley involving four cars and two lorries. The pile-up
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RUGBY UNION: Blues well set for big guns
Brian Ashton passed on tips to youngsters attending a coaching session at St Edward's School, Oxford on Monday Oxford University director of rugby Steve Hill believes his team are in good shape as their season begins in earnest. The Dark
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RUGBY UNION: Former Bicester star is forced to call it a day
Gloucester and England No 8 James Forrester, a former Bicester junior, has had to retire due to injury. The 27-year-old, who won two England caps, called time on his career after failing to battle back from an horrific knee injury. Forrester graduated
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RUGBY UNION: Wake-up call for Chippy
Chipping Norton director of rugby Andy Dawson has warned his players not to get slack despite winning four of their first five matches in Southern Counties North. Dwason said: "Last year we were a lot better and they have to keep that level up. "I
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RUGBY UNION: Defeat hurst Henley
Henley Hawks had the wrong mindset as they lost their unbeaten record in National 3 South with a 44-15 defeat at Rosslyn Park. That was the view of director of rugby Jason Forster, who is pleased his side host the same opponents in the EDF Energy National
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Novice tops bodybuilding contest
A gruelling regime of training and dieting has paid off for an Oxfordshire bodybuilder who flexed his muscles on a national stage to become Mr Britain Junior at the first attempt. Rob Waterhouse, 22, scooped the top award in his age category at the
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'Rape victim' kissed me, says accused
A painter and decorator today denied raping a woman he met in an Oxford takeaway. Duran Palmer, of Aytoun Place, Brixton, London, took the stand at Oxford Crown Court to tell the jury he had consensual sex with the woman, who cannot be named
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Bogus callers target woman, 81
Bogus water workers stole £650 from an 81-year-old woman in Bicester. At about 8.30pm yesterday, two men went to an address off Withington Road and told the woman that a water pipe had burst. They went into the property explaining that they needed
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ATHLETICS: Frear on fire at Hanney
Woodstock Harriers' Steven Frear stormed to victory in the Hanney 5. He left his rivals trailing in Sunday's race to take victory in 26mins 4secs, 14 seconds ahead of Abingdon Ambler Paul Fernandez. Witney Roadrunners' Phil Hails was
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Salted away
How many times over the years have our wonderful, public-spirited councillors told us that due to lack of money, council tax must rise or essential services must be cut, or both? How many times have people who have been flooded more than once in recent
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Visit to the morgue
The report about private citizens using speed indicator devices to measure the speed of passing motorists (Oxford Mail, October 9) contains some ambiguities. While I do not condone speeding, especially in a built-up area, your report states that any
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Keep smacking
I heard on TV a debate about the Government banning smacking children. I thought this was already in force, but I would like to make my views known. I am totally against the ban. I think it is a stupid idea, as it takes parental control away.
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Wedding guest assaulted
A man visiting Faringdon for a wedding was attacked by three men. Police said at about 12.30am on Sunday, a man was assaulted in Market Square. PC Darren Little said: “The man was visiting Faringdon for a wedding and was assaulted outside the Wheatsheaf
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Out of character
I am disturbed at plans for seven three-storey buildings containing 72 flats on a very important site in Littlemore. The buildings will be so out of character with the old part of Littlemore. We have given many hours campaigning against this, with
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ATHLETICS: Craft stars to make frame
Headington Roadrunners' Jude Craft finished third in the senior ladies' race in the Apex Sports Chiltern Cross Country League at Cassiobury Park, Watford. She was the first veteran 35 home in 24mins 22secs, with Bedford & County's Phillippa
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Paul Clark
Friends and colleagues have paid tribute to retired Oxford circuit judge Paul Clark, right, who died last week, aged 68. Judge Clark first came to Oxford as a student, studying at New College in the 1960s, before becoming a cicuit judge in Oxford from
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No justice for this sex victim
You report on your front page that a schoolboy rapist got six years (Oxford Mail, October 11). This boy was at least punished for the horrendous thing he did. That's good, although I can't say the same for my granddaughter's attacker. My granddaughter
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ATHLETICS: Abingdon to host big field
Up to 1,000 runners will be in action when the Abingdon Marathon returns on Sunday after a year's break. The event, organised by Abingdon Amblers, had been due to celebrate its 25th birthday on the regular October date last year. But it had to be
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Stan Ford
Stan Ford, who ran a shoe repair shop in the city for several decades and was a well known figure in East Oxford, has died just a few months short of his 100th birthday. Mr Ford, originally from Gilfach Goch in the Rhondda Valley in Wales, moved to
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Richard Allum
Richard Allum, a lifelong member of the Labour Party who worked with the trade unions at the Cowley car factory over three decades, has died aged 81. His son, Paul Allum, said: "Because he was there for so long he saw how much the industry changed —
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Bat's perfect
A new swimming pool, all-weather pitch and six tennis courts are among the facilities proposed at a planned £15m Didcot sports centre. Sports groups have welcomed the prospect of a multi-use leisure centre on the edge of Didcot, which has been recommended
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Bid to block developer’s plans
Villagers concerned about plans to build up to 72 flats face an anxious wait to see if a Government planning inspector will reject a developer’s appeal. People living in Littlemore have spent more than a year protesting at Persimmon Homes’ plan to build
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AUNT SALLY: Arthurs' sweet 16 all in vain
Steve Arthurs' 16-doll haul failed to save Deddington from a 2-1 defeat by Banbury in the Banbury Indoor League, sponsored by Hook Norton Brewery. Jason Weller hit a six for Banbury, his second of the night, after he had also starred in the 3-0 win
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Real Turkish delight
Hillside Beach Club in Fethiye, Turkey, is the sort of place my husband and I have avoided all our lives. Just a glance at a resort that offers all-in packages and wall-to-wall kids’ entertainment and we rush off to book an independent off-the-beaten-track
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AUNT SALLY: Arthurs' sweet 16 all in vain
Steve Arthurs' 16-doll haul failed to save Deddington from a 2-1 defeat by Banbury in the Banbury Indoor League, sponsored by Hook Norton Brewery. Jason Weller hit a six for Banbury, his second of the night, after he had also starred in the 3-0 win
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GREYHOUNDS: Thursday's Oxford runners
7.45: Perduto In Fuga, Egmont Kathy 2, CALL IT MOSSY, Widow Maker, Rosy Les, Hanstown Blue 3. 8.00: Crescent Fancy, Springville Ski, Smarinio Madame 2, Emly Final 3, SNAZZY SKY, Ballymac Field. 8.15: Kyle Premier, Forest Wendy 3, Royal Sunshine 2, Zamora
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Magician masters lethal new trick
A young magician from Oxford who recently won a place in the prestigious Magic Circle is mastering a potentially lethal new trick. Inspired by Paul Daniels, Richard Young commissioned fellow illusionist and engineer Philip Hitchcock, from Mansfield
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GOLF: Open leaves Oxon
The Oxfordshire will no longer host the Ladies English Open. The Leaderboard Group has reluctantly decided to end its partnership – bringing to an end the five-year association between the group and the event, which was won earlier this year by home
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GOLF: Frilford on course
Frilford Heath remain on course to retain the KO Trophy in the Shaw Gibbs Oxfordshire Foursomes League with a convincing semi-final victory over Burford. The holders triumphed 2.5-0.5 and will now meet Tadmarton Heath in the final at Mentmore on Saturday
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GOLF: Trio in PowerPlay
Local hopefuls will be the first on the tee when Frilford Heath host the PGA PowerPlay Golf British Championship tomorrow with a £25,000 prize up for grabs. Neil Rowlands (Chipping Norton), Mark McGeehan (Banbury) and Marc Wheeler (Oxford) will start
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GOLF: McCairns is champ
Oxford Ladies’ Judy McCairns is the Oxfordshire Seniors champion. McCairns notched up 35 points, two ahead of Hadden Hill's Rosemary Dietrich, who was playing on her home course. Dietrich just pipped Fril- ford’s Mo Seward on countback after both
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GOLF: Results round-up
FRILFORD HEATH Ladies October Medal: 1 C Pearce 81-10=71, 2 K Evans 76-5=71, 3 J Stringer 93-19=74. NORTH OXFORD Midweek Stableford: 1 B Orton 38pts, 2 S Kendall 37, 3 M Tippett 36. Committee Cup: 1 M Booth 36, M Hookham 32, 3 D Young 31. OXFORD
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BOWLS: Oxon on song
Oxfordshire A made it two wins out of two in Group 2 of the English Short Mat Association Inter County Competition with a 25-15 victory over leaders Herefordshire A at Benson. The 178-145 triumph on shots saw Oxon go second, a point behind Herefordshire
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BOWLS: Indoor results
OXFORD & DISTRICT IBA Monday Morning League Pebbles 13, Insmore 11; Joes 5, Hardnuts 21; Beechboys 9, Maestro's 27; Angels 27, Pirates 5; CWG 17, Brookside 13. Monday Evening Men's League Fearless 29, Dark Horses 12; Oh Eck 20, Wisemen 15; Brookside
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Grant lifts TV choir's hopes
A choir from an Oxford estate which began life as part of a television documentary has been saved from folding and now plans to produce its own CD after receiving £4,000 in grants. The Blackbird Leys Choir, which started out as Ivor's Choir on Five's
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Pirouette with the stars
People living in Oxford are being given a chance to learn how to pirouette with some of the country's finest ballet dancers. The English National Ballet will be starting its national tour in Oxford this week, with its first performance taking place
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Today's local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 38.25 BMW 1646 Electrocomponents 143.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 116 Oxford Biomedica 5.8 Oxford Catalyst 169 Oxford Instruments 222.5 Reed Elsevier 492.5 RM 167.25 RPS Group 211 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Teenager found safe
A teenager who went missing from his home in Witney five days ago has been found safe and well. James Hartley, 18, was last seen at his family home in Mallard Drive on Friday evening. Police appealed for information on his whereabouts from the public
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Missing teenager ‘safe and well’
A teenager who went missing from his home in Witney five days ago has been found safe and well. James Hartley, 18, was last seen at his family home in Mallard Drive on Friday evening Police appealed for information on his whereabouts from the public
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Burglars posed as police officers
Two burglars posing as police officers tricked their way into an elderly Oxford woman's home yesterday. They knocked on the kitchen window of a 68-year-old woman's home in Northfield Road, Headington, at about 9.40pm, claiming to be from Thames Valley
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Bogus police snatch £500
Two burglars posing as police officers tricked their way inside a woman's Oxford home before stealing £500. They knocked on the kitchen window of a 68-year-old woman's home in Northfield Road, Headington, Oxford, at about 9.40pm yesterday, claiming
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Woman who doesn't smile shouldn't open shop....
Late on parade this week due to the weekend away I have been rabbiting on about over the last few weeks. The social splinter group of the KBDG ventured to Bournemouth on Friday and had three great nights at the Savoy Hotel, excellent value, food
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Hundreds of guns seized from house
Police are currently removing hundreds of shotguns and rifles found in a house in Oxford. Officers have closed a private road, off Headington Hill, near Oxford Brookes University, while they recover 422 shotguns and 13 rifles from the house
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Police seize 400 guns from house
Police are removing hundreds of shotguns and rifles found in a house in Oxford. Officers have closed a private road, off Headington Hill, near Oxford Brookes University, while they recover 422 shotguns and 13 rifles from the house. Police
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OAP mugged by cyclist
A pensioner was robbed by a teenage cyclist outside an Oxford community centre. The 64-year-old woman was walking past Headington Community Centre, in Gladstone Road, at 5.40pm yesterday. The teenager rammed into her with his bike and snatched her
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Woman robbed in Headington
A teenager robbed a woman of her handbag in Headington. At about 5.40pm yesterday, a 64-year-old woman was walking in Gladstone Road when a teenager cycled into her outside the community centre and snatched her bag. The offender was black, aged
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A night on the town with Ant and Dec
This column does not generally concern itself with celebrities but today I am making an exception (as Janis Joplin once said she was doing for Leonard Cohen at the Chelsea Hotel, in departing from her rule only to be bedded by handsome men). Television
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Meeting the doyenne of my trade
'Journalists' books don't sell," Dame Ann Leslie told me in Woodstock on Saturday night — which is rather to overlook the present success of literary efforts by, say, Jeremy Clarkson and Michael Parkinson. Both these gentlemen, of course, benefit from
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The Four Candles, George Street, Oxford
A firm fan of the J D Wetherspoon pub group, I am delighted that this enterprising company has at long last arrived in Oxford city centre. It has taken over the attractive George Street premises once occupied by Yates's Wine Lodge and later the Slug and
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Smug Stephen stating the obvious
Was ever a nation such the subject of as much Barnum-esque cultural rubbernecking as the US? Roll up and ogle the crazy Southerners parading their guns and redneckery! Marvel at the Pacific Coast inhabitants with their freakish plastic bodies! Be astonished
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Pork Steaks withapple and garlic recipe
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Working hard to give lager a good name
Is there such a thing as an English lager? Having visited Richard Keene, who invested his life savings into starting The Cotswold Brewing Company in 2005, I would like to argue that there definitely is. What’s more, Richard’s lager is beginning to make
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Young@Heart, Afro Saxons, Tue£day and Sisterhood
There are so many reality talent shows that it's not always easy to get enthusiastic about documentaries about singing. Stephen Walker's Young@Heart starts off pretty predictably, as it focuses on maverick conductor Bob Cilman trying to teach a senior
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Spezzati: Exeter College Chapel
A splendid feast was on offer at Exeter College Chapel last Saturday; Bach’s glorious Magnificat, and Mozart’s wonderful Sinfonia Concertante. There is a temptation, with Bach’s Magnificat, to take the exuberant numbers too fast and the more thoughtful
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Carousel, Milton Keynes Theatre
Courtesy of digital projection, a giant carousel turns in stately fashion (it’s almost as splendid as Noyce’s golden gallopers at St Giles’ Fair). The autumn colours of Richard Rodgers’s Carousel Waltz swirl up from the orchestra pit. Thus begins this
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Ian Partridge farewell concert, Oxford Lieder Festival, Holywell Music Room
As English institutions go, tenor Ian Partridge is up there with Beefeaters and a nice cup of tea. His expressive lyric tone and flexible phrasing have not only defined an era in English music, but have also sustained a distinctively national tradition
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Partenope: English National Opera, London Coliseum
I’d wager I love Handel opera significantly more than the next man; but when I was buttered up (not by the next man, I hasten to add) to see ENO’s new production of the rarely-performed Partenope, it was on the understanding that it was a comedy
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Acoustic Triangle preview, Dorchester Abbey
The jazz trio Acoustic Triangle are performing tomorrow night with the Sacconi Strings in the exquisite space of Dorchester Abbey. This is part of a 14-date tour in ecclesiastical locations that started in Bury St Edmunds in May and thus a unique chance
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Rachmaninov Vespers, Music at Oxford: Christ Church Cathedral
There is music you listen to because it’s nice while you’re doing the ironing, and there is music you listen to (bankers take note) in order to remind yourself that you still have a soul. Rachmaninov’s (All Night Vigil) Vespers Op.37 — or Vsenoshchnoye
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Preview of Wit, North Wall Arts Centre
Oxford Theatre Guild launches its autumn season with a first visit to the North Wall arts centre at St Edward's School, Summertown. The company is staging the funny and moving play Wit, which won its writer, Margaret Edson, a Pulitzer Prize and a New
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The Moody Blues: New Theatre, Oxford
This was an evening of sheer quality, musically and visually. The packed house at the New Theatre clearly consisted, from its age profile, of many who had followed this influential band through the more than four decades of its existence. No one, I think
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Crews tackle roof fire
Firefighters were called to a blaze in a property in High Street, Burford, shortly before 2.30pm yesterday. Three engines went to the fire, which was in the roof space of a single-storey house.
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Barn collapses in blaze
Fire crews were called to a blaze at a farm near Didcot during the early hours today. At 1.20am, firefighters from Wallingford, Didcot, Abingdon, Wantage, Oxford and Wheatley attended the incident at Lower Farm, Long Wittenham. An L-shaped range
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Ten crews tackle farm blaze
Firefighters spent hours battling a blaze in the first floor and roof of a farm in Eaton Hastings, near Faringdon. They were first called at 6.30pm by residents at Heath Barn Farm, and ten fire engines were called out to put it out.
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Sir Hugo honoured
The former Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire Sir Hugo Brunner was yesterday knighted by the Queen at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace, after being named a Knight of the Royal Victorian Order. The order honours those who have personally served the Royal
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Funeral date for schoolboy
The funeral of Andrew Tapper, 11, who died last week from meningitis, will take place on Tuesday, at St Paul's Church, in Warwick Road, Banbury, at 2pm. The North Oxfordshire Academy pupil died on Thursday after contracting the bacterial strain.
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Car thieves behind bars
Two men who admitted taking a car in East Oxford before crashing it on the A40 near Cassington have been jailed. Oxford Crown Court heard Leonard Trinder, 20, and Bryn Barrick, 37, admitted aggravated vehicle taking. Barrick, of Grays Road, Headington
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Woman denies consent in rape trial
A woman denied having consensual sex with a man she accuses of raping her. The 22-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the jury at Oxford Crown Court yesterday that she tried to push her alleged attacker off her as he pinned
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Man hurt in fall from roof
A man fell from a building in Oxford and injured himself yesterday after being chased by police. The man, believed to be in his late 20s or early 30s, was stopped by a Police Community Support Officer in Magdalen Road, East Oxford, at about
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Investigation launched into blaze
Fire crews were called to a blaze at a farm near Didcot earlier today. At 1.20am, firefighters from Wallingford, Didcot, Abingdon, Wantage, Oxford and Wheatley went to the incident at Lower Farm, in Long Wittenham. An L-shaped range of farm buildings
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Stolen car wrecked in police pound
A motorist is suing police after his stolen car was kept at a pound for four years and mysteriously stripped of parts. When Jeremy Pascoe's Land Rover Discovery was finally returned by Thames Valley Police, there was so much damage it had to be
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Fire crews deal with farm fire
Firefighters are this morning still at the scene of a fire at a farm in Eaton Hastings, near Faringdon. Crews were called at around 6.30pm last night by residents at Heath Barn Farm and ten fire engines went to the incident. Fire had caught hold of
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United fans get lucky!
Oxford United are to introduce a new priority pass to reward fans who are not season ticket holders but go to many of their games. The idea came from one of the supporters who went to see new U's chairman Kelvin Thomas last week. It's a way for fans
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Contrast
Shame on the yobs who tipped over and damaged the car belonging to cancer victim Don Berry and his wife Janet. But bravo to their friends and neighbours who have come to their rescue by loaning a replacement vehicle and offering help to get them a new
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Bratt aims for podium place
Racing driver Will Bratt has a return to the podium in his sights at Jerez this weekend, during the penultimate event of the 2008 FIAT Spanish Formula 3 Championship season. With just four races remaining in his first year of F3 action, 20-
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U's fan scores job at club
A lifelong Oxford United fan has stepped from the stands into the boardroom to work for the club after new chairman Kelvin Thomas's meetings with supporters. Season ticket holder David Jackson, from Witney, will use his 18 years of sales experience
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Car wrecked in police pound
A motorist is suing police after his stolen car was kept at a pound for four years and mysteriously stripped of parts. When Jeremy Pascoe's Land Rover Discovery was finally returned by Thames Valley Police, there was so much damage it had to
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Bus pass bill hits £400k
Pensioners have taken more than 700,000 extra free trips on Oxford buses in the past six months — leaving the city council with a £400,000 budget black hole. A scheme allowing pensioners to travel anywhere on local services free of charge and changes
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New lease of life for elderly
The elderly are in their element — they're hopping on buses everywhere, going to places they would never had dreamed of going and thoroughly enjoying themselves. Good for them! Many have taken on a new lease of life in the six months since they were