Archive
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Wanted man 'armed and dangerous'
Police have named Jon Shirley as the man they want to speak to about a string of violent robberies around the city. Shirley, 23, was described by detectives as “armed and dangerous” and said he was their number one target as they appealed for
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Wanted man linked to a dozen robberies
Police have named Jon Shirley as the man they want for a string of violent robberies around the city. Shirley, 23, was described by detectives as “armed and dangerous” and their number one target as they appealed for help to capture him.
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Unemployment: people struggling to find work
Blain Austin, from Queensway in Didcot, is wondering how he will survive the biggest surge in unemployment since 1997. The father of Kayley, 16, and 14-year-old Natalie was made redundant from his job as a van driver at Scope, based in Brackley, in
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Delay decision
I refer to Paul Green’s letter about the planned incinerator (Oxford Mail, February 7). Mr Green of the Waste Recycling Group (WRG) appeared to misunderstand the role of the Health Protection Agency. The simple fact is that the HPA reviews applications
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Public health is grave issue
CHRIS Robbins has his facts wrong about the Liberal Democrat position on the incineration of Oxfordshire’s waste (Oxford Mail, February 3). When we were in a joint administration with the Conservatives, although we were the junior partner, we managed
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The Insider
Global warming? What global warming? Predictably, the debate over whether the planet is heating up rages on, after a week in which the country was brought to its knees by snow and ice. Some commentators suggest the weather experienced in the past week
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Vera's 'Babes' still dancing
An OXFORD dance school, which has taught more than 3,000 people to dance over the years, needs help to find out just how old it is. The Vera Legge School of Dance has been teaching budding dancers ballet and tap dancing, and entertaining audiences, since
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Councillors stay quiet over hotel expense offer
Fifteen county councillors have refused to reveal if they stayed in Oxford hotels at taxpayers’ expense to beat the snow and make it to a crucial budget meeting. All 74 Oxfordshire county councillors were told they could stay in hotels on expenses
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Leader keeps counsel over hotel stay
Fifteen county councillors have refused to reveal if they stayed in Oxford hotels at taxpayers’ expense to beat the snow and make it to a crucial budget meeting. All 74 Oxfordshire county councillors were told they could stay in hotels on expenses
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Twice as many out of work
Twice as many people are out of work in Oxfordshire as a year ago, new figures revealed today. The recession is now seeing skilled workers and managers joining the dole queue as the number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance hit 6,906 —
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Lab tackles deadly diseases
A multi-million-pound research centre to develop vaccines for worlds’s most devastating infectious diseases, including bird flu, has opened in Oxford. The Oxford University laboratory, at the Churchill Hospital, in Headington, will house researchers
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Anger at flood report delay
People's lives are being put at risk as the Environment Agency drags its heels over a report into flooding in Witney, according to a campaigner. Tony Lime said he had become frustrated with the agency’s lack of action, after another delay to a report
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Kick God out of the CoE. He's a racist
The Church of England has voted to ban its clergy from being members of the British National Party. I don't know why. I thought religion and fascism had a long and lustrous association. Just look at Spain. Or Ireland, come to that. But maybe that's just
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Drink-driver died after hitting tree
A woman who lost control of her car and hit a tree would have survived if she had been wearing a seatbelt, an inquest heard. Rebecca Lashbrook, 33, was over the drink-drive limit when her Hyundai Coupe SE crashed into a ditch near Stoke Lyne
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Work to reopen road starts
Work has finally got under way to repair a road which has been closed to motorists for four months. Engineers are replacing an underground culvert in Benson Lane, Crowmarsh. A section of the brickwork in the culvert collapsed last October, leaving the
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Rail line closure finalised
FULL details of the summer closure of the Cotswold Line rail route for reinstatement of double track have been revealed, as design work enters its final stages. First Great Western trains will be unable to run between Oxford and Worcester from Saturday
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School gets £3m for sixth form
Teachers and pupils were celebrating last night after £3m was ploughed into setting up a sixth form for 200 students at The Cooper School in Bicester. Oxfordshire County Council pledged the funding for the next three years and County Hall hopes to secure
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Children to get £75,000 playground
Children in Oxford are set to benefit from a new playground costing £75,000. The equipment, which includes swings and slides, will be located in Bernwood Road, Barton. Work is due to start next month and most of the equipment will be
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BOWLS: Super Sykes is in the groove
Banbury Cross’s Mark Sykes kept his dreams alive of a hat-trick of titles in the English Indoor Association's Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire area competitions. Sykes has booked his place in the finals of the singles, pairs and triples as he
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ICE HOCKEY: Battling Stars on track for play-offs
Oxford City Stars maintained their play-off bid with a 3-3 draw at Milton Keynes Thunder in English National League South Division 1. Stars were missing several players, but started well, scoring first with a short-handed strike from Dean Francis, who
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Revving up for ward visit
Bikers in Oxfordshire are getting toys and gifts together for a special Easter delivery. For the tenth year running, members of the Oxford and Thames Valley chapters of the Harley Owners Group will ride in convoy to the Oxford Children’s Hospital
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GOLF: Newbold in the top ten
Frilford Heath’s Dean Newbold shone at the 3rd Andalucia Junior European Open at the Finca Cortesin GC. The youngster, who attends John Mason School, Abingdon, finished eighth overall after shooting 76 to be second on the day in the final of the tournament
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CRICKET: Cumnor face Kingston in village cup opener
Oxfordshire champions Cumnor will open the defence of their county crown in the npower Village Cup with a trip to Kingston Bagpuize. A reduced entry of 12 teams – compared with 20 last season – sees all the sides go straight into the second round. Horspath
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CRICKET: Oxford skipper Harrison at the helm for Bucks
Jason Harrison, who led Oxford to the Home Counties League title in 2007, is to captain Bucks in the Minor Counties Championship next season. The 37-year-old batsman, who will continue in charge at Oxford, takes over from Paul Atkins, who is standing
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RUGBY UNION: Stalwart Rosen steps up
New Oxford University captain Dan Rosen is probably the longest-serving player to have been elected to the post. The 25-year-old hooker will be in his eighth year at Oxford when he leads the Dark Blues at Twickenham in December. And
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RUGBY UNION: Chinnor's ten-in-a-row test
Chinnor must now play for ten weeks in a row as they bid to avoid relegation from National 3 South. The Thame side visit Rosslyn Park on Saturday, and will then be in action every week until April 18 provided we suffer no more bad weather. chinnor's
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RUGBY UNION: Forster demands more
Director of rugby Jason Forster is urging Henley Hawks to bounce back from their mid-season slump. Henley have lost their last four games, including three in National 3 South, and have now drifted into mid-table. Forster said: “I do not want to be perceived
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RUGBY UNION: Singing for England
Chinnor prop Bob Baker was victorious on his England Under 20 debut – but no fans got to see it. England defeated Italy 17-0 at Worcester’s Sixways ground, but snow and ice meant the match was played behind closed doors for spectator safety. Baker,
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RUGBY UNION: There's snow stopping us!
Snow was no barrier to a Gosford All Blacks XV taking the field at Stratfield Brake on Saturday – as this picture shows. Gosford lost 21-10 to touring side Flameheads on a day when most rugby players were wrapped up warmly indoors. I
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Mr Toppit turns up
Great news! Mr Toppit has been found! I have been reading the new novel by Charles Elton and managed to have a brief chat with him over the phone this week before his talk later this month at the Woodstock Bookshop. Mr Elton took about 15 years
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RUGBY UNION: Hawks must back youth
Henley Hawks chairman Phil Woodall says they must put even more emphasis on developing young talent if they are to progress. The restructure of the national leagues next season will mean clubs at Henley’s level will receive less RFU cash and many will
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ATHLETICS: Trio flying the flag for Oxfordshire
Lucy Boggis, Hannah England and Carolyn Plateau lead the Oxfordshire challenge at this weekend’s UK Indoor Championships and European Indoor Championship trials, at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. Boggis, who now lives in Chippenham
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ATHLETICS: Talbot rolls back the years
Abingdon Ambler Duncan Talbot, was in record-breaking form when competing in the Southern Counties Veteran Indoor Championships at Picketts Lock, London. Talbot won the vet 55s 60m hurdles in 11.33secs to beat the previous Oxon and Amblers record. He
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ATHLETICS: Oxon youngsters are on song
Oxfordshire brought home two team silver medals from the South East Regional Sportshall finals at Burgess Hill. The under 15 girls finished second in their competition behind Surrey. Emma O’Hara took gold in the shot with an impressive throw of 9.88m
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AUNT SALLY: Duo hit sixers
PHIL Adams and Kevin Baker both hit sixers as Cricketers beat Garsington Sports 4-2 in the Gladiator Beer Seller Friday League. RESULTS Gladiator Beer Seller Friday League: Jolly Postboys 4, Alders Oldies 2; Ox 3, Gladiators 3; Clare Car Hire 4,
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BAR BILLIARDS: Didcot strolling clear at the top
Didcot Conservative Club moved nine points clear at the top of Section 1 in the Johnsons Buildbase Oxford & District League after a 5-0 demolition of Gladiators A, writes PETE EWINS. Dennis Atkins started the ball rolling, winning the opening leg with
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Today's local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 17.5 BMW 2028 Electrocomponents 136 Nationwide Accident Repair 109 Oxford Biomedica 6.6 Oxford Catalysts 64.5 Oxford Instruments 151.5 Reed Elsevier 521.25 RM 175 RPS Group 154 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Elderly driver dies in crash
A man in his 90s has been killed in a car crash in Banbury. Police are appealing for information after a silver Vauxhall Astra and silver Citroen Xsara Picasso collided in Bankside, Cherwell Heights, at 9am today. The driver of the Astra, believed
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Siobhan Dowd: Author helped others
Tributes have been paid to Oxford author Siobhan Dowd, whose last published novel is now in the book shops. Ms Dowd, 47, who lived in West Oxford, died at Sobell House hospice in Headington, in August, 2007. Shortly before she died, she set up a foundation
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Simon Gordon-Duff: a spy who braved the Stasi
A former British Army major and Cold War spy has died, aged 66. Simon Gordon-Duff, who lived in Beckley, near Oxford, was a Scots Guard and a helicopter pilot before becoming a spy for the British Army in East Germany during the Cold War.
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City's past is a Dee-lite
Helen Werin finds out that Chester's history is hot stuff It was lunchtime and our guide was leading us into Spud-U-Like in Bridge Street. Despite my rumbling stomach, we weren’t about to dig our teeth into a hot buttery potato. Instead we were to
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Homes flooded as rivers rise
Three homes were flooded this morning as rain water continues to cause problems across the county. The Environment Agency said it is heavily monitoring Chalgrove Brook after three homes were flooded but added further flooding elsewhere in the county
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Town waste collections delayed
Waste and recycling collections in the Chipping Norton area were postponed for a second day running this morning due to the weather conditions. Collections were cancelled yesterday after heavy snowfall in the area on Monday/ Council officers decided
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Family's grief for 'best friend'
Relatives of a mother-of-one found dead in a house in Didcot today praised her as their best friend. A murder probe was launched after the body of Rosie Williams, 22, was discovered by paramedics at a house in Synderford Close at 9am on Monday. Ms Williams
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Rising brook floods homes
Three homes in south Oxfordshire were flooded today as melting snow and heavy rain on Monday continues to cause problems across the county. The Environment Agency said it was keeping a close eye on the Chalgrove Brook after the houses were
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Jobless figures rise
The number of people in Oxfordshire out of work and claiming Job Seekers’ Allowance climbed to 6,906 — or 1.7 per cent — in January, the highest figure since May 1997 when the Labour Government came to power. The jump of 1,104 people since the previous
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Unemployment highest since 1997
The number of people in Oxfordshire out of work and claiming Job Seekers’ Allowance climbed to 6,906 — or 1.7 per cent — in January, the highest figure since May 1997 when the Labour Government came to power. The jump of 1,104 people since the previous
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Marines injured in A40 crash
A coach carrying Royal Marines to RAF Brize Norton skidded off the A40 in icy conditions today, leaving six men injured. Twenty-nine marines from 42 Commando were on board the coach driving from Plymouth to the RAF station, near Carterton,
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Marines injured in A40 coach crash
A coach carrying Royal Marines to an airbase in Oxfordshire careered off a road injuring six men during icy conditions this morning. About 25 members of 42 Commando Regiment were on board a coach driving from Plymouth to RAF Brize Norton, near
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Waste collections on hold
Waste and recycling collections continue to be suspended in the Chipping Norton area this morning. Collections were cancelled yesterday after heavy snowfall overnight on Monday. A spokesman for West Oxfordshire District Council said some roads
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Jobless figures soar
The number of people in Oxfordshire out of work and claiming job seekers allowance climbed to 6,906, or 1.7 per cent, in January — the highest figure since May 1997 when the Labour Government came to power. The jump of 1,104 people since
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Today's local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 18 BMW 1979 Electrocomponents 134.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 109 Oxford Biomedica 6.6 Oxford Catalysts 64.5 Oxford Instruments 152 Reed Elsevier 514.75 RM 175 RPS Group 155.25 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Bright willow cheers a winter's day
A drab winter’s day at RHS Wisley in Surrey was recently livened up by this striking willow – Salix alba var. vitellina ‘Britzensis’. The orange-red stems radiated away from the low trunk providing a sheaf of colour that was reflected in the water beyond
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Fiona joins the whizzkids academy
An aspiring teenage entrepreneur is celebrating after winning a place at a top training school for would-be whizzkids. Fiona Neill, 17, from Towersy, has been accepted into the new National Enterprise Academy — the brainchild of Dragon’s Den star Peter
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Sir Richard Rodney Bennett and Claire Martin at Sheldionian
Legendary jazz duo Sir Richard Rodney Bennett and Claire Martin will be giving the Sheldonian Theatre a slightly different feel next Friday, as they present a relaxed, cabaret-style evening of jazz songs, drawn from a typically eclectic repertoire. The
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Blenheim Palace costume drama
Blenheim Palace reopens on Valentine’s Day, and The Oxford Times readers have the opportunity to obtain free admission to a romantic event. The palace is usually associated with the Battle of Blenheim and as the birthplace of Winston Churchill. The
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RACING: Halicarnassus is back on track
Racing in Britain may have been decimated by snow and frost, but West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon beat the cold snap by sending Halicarnassus to capture a valuable prize in the warmer climes of Dubai. Having drawn a blank last year, the
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ROWING: Brookes finish on top of Head
The Henley Head, which often suffers from the flood problem, went ahead last Saturday, despite the wintry weather and much to the delight of nearly 200 crews. Three of the happiest outfits came from Oxford Brookes. Their men’s elite crew were
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BADMINTON: Oxon turn it around for stunning win
In an astounding reversal of fortune, Oxon 3rd turned a 5-0 deficit into a 9-6 victory in their Division 5D Inter-County Championship match at Eynsham. Oxon’s first win of the season came at the expense of shell-shocked Wiltshire 3rd. After dropping
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HOCKEY: Takara helps Britain to strike gold
Witney teenager Takara Haines helped Great Britain Under 21s strike gold in dramatic fashion at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival, writes Russell Smith. The 18-year-old was in the starting line-up for Britain’s remarkable 3-2 win over Australia
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40 hurt in A40 bus crashes
More than 40 people have been injured, four of them seriously, when two buses came off the road in icy conditions in Gloucestershire. A coach, which was believed to be carrying 30 Army personnel, left the A40 at Puesdown, south east of Cheltenham
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Travel: Ice and floods hit roads
Flooding and ice posed problems for drivers in Oxfordshire today. Ice was reported to be affecting traffic on the A417 at West Hendred and the B4044 between Eynsham and Botley, where three accidents were reported. Emergency repairs to
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Drivers escape injury in ice crash
Two cars collided on the A417 near Wantage this morning after skidding on ice. The drivers were checked by paramedics for injuries following the collision at West Hendred, shortly after 6am but did not require treatment. The accident
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Ice causing traffic problems
Icy road surfaces and flooding caused treacherous conditions for drivers across Oxfordshire this morning. A spokesman for South Central Ambulance said: “We are attending a number of accidents because of the ice.” Thames Valley Police
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Fears grow over raids
What started out on December 1 as an alarming, but seemingly one-off armed raid, has now turned into a worrying trend in and around Oxford. Last night it emerged detectives were investigating yet another robbery, the 13th in a series of linked armed
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Hotel stay was crucial
Councillors are damned if they do and damned if they don’t – it goes with the territory. This time, as a row brews over county councillors staying at the plush Malmaison hotel in Oxford, we defend County Hall for offering its members the chance of an
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United getting back in the swing
Oxford United’s players are getting back to normality after the chaos caused by the recent snow. Manager Chris Wilder admitted last week was “chaotic” with several first-team members simply unable to get to training, difficulties in finding any suitable
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Valentine's Day gift of life
Tracy Barrett will be getting a special gift from her husband Chris this Valentine’s Day – one of his kidneys and, ultimately, her life back. On Saturday, it will be 11 years since the couple met. But this year they will be at the Churchill
