Archive
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Taylor eyes England call
OXFORDSHIRE’S Jack Taylor is closing in on a place in the England Under 19 Cricket World Cup squad. The Great & Little Tew all-rounder was invited to join the English Cricket Board Under 18 scholarship tour to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and flew out with
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U's ban on stadium flags is waived
Oxford United fans have praised the club’s decision to welcome flagpoles back into the stadium on matchdays. A group of supporters met chairman Kelvin Thomas this week after reports that some flags had been confiscated at recent home games. It had been
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OAPs rebel over pedestrianisation plan
Plans to pedestrianise Oxford’s main city streets and keep buses out of Queen Street have outraged pensioners. About 100 OAPs filled the Town Hall yesterday to question Oxfordshire County Council over its ‘Transform Oxford’ scheme, set to begin
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New trains get go-ahead
The Government today signalled the go-ahead for a new fleet of Super Express trains to be built to replace First Great Western’s High Speed Train fleet. A £7.5bn contract has been awarded to British-led consortium Agility Trains, to build and maintain
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County's fire crews 'among the best'
The county’s fire crews are among the best in the country, according to a new report. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has been judged ‘good’ in its latest Comprehensive Performance Assessment by the Audit Commission. However, the service received
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MP concern over Victory wreck
Oxford East MP Andrew Smith has called for the Government to ensure the contents of a wrecked Navy ship are preserved for the British public. Mr Smith warned there was a “danger” that artefacts salvaged from HMS Victory, following its apparent discovery
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A bridge too far
I write regarding your story concerning the closure of Magdalen Bridge on May morning, due to worries over the cost to the emergency services (Tuesday’s Oxford Mail). May morning is enjoyed by up to 30,000 people from all over the world, and access to
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Homes searched in hunt for robbery suspect
Police have received a flurry of sightings and searched nine homes as they continue to hunt a man wanted over a string of violent armed robberies. Detectives named 23-year-old Jon Shirley as their chief suspect for an armed robbery on a BP
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Distant news
Watching what I thought was Central News, I found to my cost it is no longer what I thought. Something called Meridan has replaced it. There was I, looking forward to catching up on local news, when I was informed about a care home in Brighton, the
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Come clean on hotel expense
So Ian Hudspeth, in yesterday’s Oxford Mail, questions whether councillors expenses are really an issue that the electorate of Oxfordshire is interested in? Regardless of where the councillors may have stayed that night, expensive or not – and setting
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Burglaries in town
The Chipping Norton Co-op store was broken into and alcohol and charity boxes taken on Monday night. On the same night, florists Flowers Etcetera was broken into, but it is not known if anything was taken. On Wednesday, burglars broke into the Veterinary
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Possible retrial over GBH case
Thomas Mack, 18, of Nicholas Avenue, Marston, faces a possible retrial despite being convicted at Oxford Crown Court of causing grievous bodily harm to student Kentaro Ikeda and robbing him in University Parks. The jury was undecided on
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School rebuilding is ‘at risk’
A multi-million-pound project to rebuild and refurbish the county’s secondary schools is under threat. A report published by the National Audit Office today revealed the Government programme to rebuild or refurbish every secondary school in England is
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Brothel raid: women released
Two women arrested by police at a suspected brothel in Marston Road, Oxford, have been released without charge. The women — one Chinese and one Thai — were arrested on suspicion of being in the country illegally. A third Chinese woman, 38, was handed
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OAPs complain about lack of pavement gritting
Calls have been made to grit footpaths around an Oxford sheltered housing estate which pensioners claim become lethal in icy conditions. Lillian Townsend, 73, was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital when she fractured her ankle after falling on a snow-covered
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U's out to settle score
Oxford United are out to set the record straight against Barrow. It was the Cumbrian outfit who wrecked the start of their season with a thumping 3-0 win in the televised game at Holker Street last August on a night when everything that could go wrong
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It's York or Mansfield on the 21st
Will Oxford United be playing successive Saturday home games? The truth is, we don’t know yet. Their scheduled league fixture on February 21 is York City away, but the Minstermen may have an FA Trophy tie that day, and the Trophy takes precedence.
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What's going on?
Lewis Haldane has every right to look to the heavens after being withdrawn from the England C friendly in Malta next week. This is a good thing for Oxford United, but is still somewhat confusing. The Football Association say it was an administrative
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It's tough down here, admits Wilder
Chris Wilder believes that, with just one automatic place up for grabs, the Conference is the toughest league to get out of. Asked whether, having spent the first half of this season with Bury in League Two, he found much difference between the League
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Deaths prompt care home checks
Two high-profile deaths have prompted the city council to offer free safety advice and inspections at Oxford’s care homes. The city, and all of Oxfordshire’s district councils, have teamed up with the Health and Safety Executive in a campaign to make
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Intellectual property and patent day for business
Innovators and entrepreneurs are being invited to a special seminar offering advice on intellectual property and patents. Run by Oxford Brookes University's business school, it will offer the opportunity to learn first hand from experts about intellectual
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Today's local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 18.25 BMW 2009 Electrocomponents 135.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 110 Oxford Biomedica 7.1 Oxford Catalyst 62.5 Oxford Instruments 147.5 Reed Elsevier 516.75 RM 173.75 RPS Group 155.75 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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FOOTBALL: Season starts here says Merritt
Oxford City player-boss Justin Merritt has told his players to ignore Hemel Hempstead’s bad run when they travel to the Hertfordshire side in the British Gas Business Southern League Premier Division on Saturday. Although Hemel have hit some
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FOOTBALL: Henderson sits out revenge mission
Lee Henderson serves a one-match suspension when Witney United travel to Shortwood on Saturday looking to avenge an earlier season defeat. Shortwood and Hungerford head Witney in the FTL Futbol Hellenic League Premier Division, and should Witney slip
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Open verdict on boatman's death
Mystery still surrounds the death of a boatman whose body was found in an Oxford stream last summer. Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Gardiner recorded an open verdict at an inquest into the death of William O’Neill, saying he could not “exclude
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RUGBY UNION: Park win can be Chinnor tonic
Chinnor will look to recreate one of their finest results when they visit National 3 South high-fliers Rosslyn Park on Saturday. Two seasons ago, Chinnor were really struggling in their first National League campaign, but managed to win 13-12 at the
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RUGBY UNION: Baker handed second cap
Chinnor prop Bob Baker retains his place in the England Under 20 side for Friday’s RBS Six Nations clash with Wales at Bridgend. The 19-year-old Wasps-contracted player starts at tight-head as England look to build on last week’s 17-0 victory
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BADMINTON: Oxon's superb comeback
In an astounding reversal of fortune, Oxon 3rd turned a 5-0 deficit into a 9-6 victory in Division 5D of Inter-County Championship at Eynsham. Oxon’s first win of the season came at the expense of shell-shocked Wiltshire 3rd. After dropping all four
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Death 'might be sinister'
Mystery still surrounds the death of an alcoholic boatman whose body was found in the Oxford canal last summer. Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Gardiner recorded an open verdict at an inquest into the death of William O’Neill, saying he could
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Cornbury hosts Race for Life
Enrolment for this year’s Race for Life events is now open and women from across the county can push themselves even harder in 2009, with a 10km course at a new venue. Last year, 8,342 women took part in Oxfordshire’s Race for Life events last
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Grieving family tells of heartbreak
The family of a young mother-of-one who was found dead in a house, sparking a murder investigation, have described their heartbreak. Police launched a murder probe after the body of the 22-year-old woman was discovered by paramedics in a semi-detached
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Safe stolen in series of raids
Police are appealing for witnesses after a series of burglaries in Chipping Norton. Some time between 10.30pm on Monday and 3.15am on Tuesday the Co-operative Store in High Street was burgled. The thieves smashed a glass panel in the front
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Cabbages and Kings
Her voice was sweet as sugar. It belonged to someone I had never before spoken to or met, and would have been unlikely to do so had I not decided to change my property and contents insurance cover from one market leader to another long-established
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City clean-up to be launched
The 2009 OxClean spring clean will officially be launched tomorrow by the Lord Mayor of Oxford, Susanna Pressel. But Friday the 13th looks like being a lucky date for anyone wishing to see a cleaner city. The number of schools who have signed up to
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Film-making aims to be inclusive
A modern day fairy tale featuring a child-eating witch is to be filmed in Oxford this weekend. Witch Way? is the work of young film makers with learning and physical difficulties, assisted by Oxford director Vicky Jewson, whose debut film Lady Godiva
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Have a say on 20mph
Oxford residents are being asked where 20mph speed limits should be introduced in the city in the latest consultation on the controversial speed cutting plan. A survey published last autumn showed two thirds of those who responded in Oxford backed the
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Last call for musicians
Organisers of Oxford’s annual Scout and Guide Gang Show have issued a final, urgent appeal for more musicians to join their gang. The music and dance spectacular has been running for 57 years and this year’s event takes place in March. But organisers
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Groups sign up for litter pick
OXFORD should be looking extra tidy after this year’s OxClean Spring Clean – with a record number of schools already taking part. Seventeen schools will join 57 community groups which have also signed up for the March 6 and 7 litter blitz. Each group
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CCTV cuts crime
Eagle-eyed CCTV operators have helped police arrest 35 people in Didcot and Wallingford in just three months. South Oxfordshire District Council said the cameras had been used to help officers deal with more than 72 incidents in Wallingford and 92 in
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School wants science block
Plans have been launched to build a £1m science block at Oxford School. The scheme is for a two-storey curved building featuring 10 laboratories equipped for physics, chemistry and biology — including one which would be available for community
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Brothel arrests pair freed
Two women arrested by police at a suspected brothel in Oxford have been released without charge. The women — one Chinese and one Thai — were arrested on suspicion of being in the country illegally when police and immigration officers raided
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Nick takes the Ever-test
An adrenaline junkie from Oxford has joined a team attempting to play the world’s highest ever game of cricket. Nick Mullineux, 28, from Summertown, completed a round the world sailing trip in July last year and is now planning to take part
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Donors urged to give blood
Blood donation sessions will be held at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, and Didcot, Crowmarsh, Witney, Wallingford, Chipping Norton, Abingdon and Grove during the week beginning February 23. Sessions will be held at the hospital every day and
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Estate agent folds
CREDITORS of independent Oxford estate agency James C. Penny are being asked to place the company into liquidation after it became insolvent. Bridge Business Recovery is handling the winding up of James C. Penny Ltd, which has offices in Walton
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Bacteria that 'eat' toxins
A COMPANY using bacteria to ‘eat’ toxic engineering by-products has completed a successful trial of a bio-reactor with BAE Systems. Microbial Solutions, based at Cherwell Innovation Centre, Upper Heyford, has developed an eco-friendly bacterial
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Braced for the worst
The construction industry is in for a tough ride, whatever the Government now does to help, according to the managing director of Oxfordshire’s largest building company. Bob Rendell, of Abingdon-based Leadbitter, said: “Talk from the Government about
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Vaccine labs opened
THE fight against some of the world’s most deadly diseases was given a boost with the opening of a new purpose-built vaccine research centre. The Jenner Institute Laboratories will house researchers developing vaccines against some of the most
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Life of Bowra
Unbelievable, but true: there has never been a biography of Maurice Bowra — warden of Wadham College, vice-chancellor of Oxford University, didactic conversationalist and sumptuous academic — dead almost 40 years. However, this week, the
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Musician who courted controversy
HALLELUJAH JUNCTION: COMPOSING AN AMERICAN LIFE John Adams (Faber, £18.99) I first came across John Adams when I randomly bought a cassette of his Chairman Dances in the 1980s, and have enjoyed his musical inventiveness and watched his career with
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Legacy of talented local author
THE SOLACE OF THE ROAD Siobhan Dowd (David Fickling, £10.99) In 2007 Siobhan Dowd was buried at St Margaret’s Church, Binsey, at the age of 47. She left four amazing novels that resonate with humour and humanity. Before writing for teenagers
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Falling victim to Chippy's car parks
The show must go on – and on it went last week despite the snow at The Theatre, Chipping Norton. Students from the Woodstock-based Oxford School of Drama were putting on what I am sure would have been (on past form) as first-class production of Ben Jonson
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Golliwogs were unacceptable 40 years ago
Though I am a member of a club of which Carol Thatcher is president, I am afraid I can’t stick up for her over the ‘gollygate’ affair (even if I think that the BBC was over-the-top in its punishment). Use of the word ‘golliwog’, in the context
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Winner is a loser in fight with Forsyth
Ignoring his own oft-given advice to “Calm down dear”, Michael Winner appears to have got himself into a frightful tizzy over remarks made about him by the novelist and newspaper columnist Frederick Forsyth. The bouffanted-one devoted a significant chunk
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New minister inducted
The Rev Jason Boyd is the new minister of Witney's Congregational Church. Mr Boyd, previously a minister in south west Scotland, was inducted at the church last month. Many members of his church in Cumnock, near Dumfries, travelled down to Witney
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Woody Nook at Woodcote, near Wallingford
While it sounds the ideal title for a children’s television programme about cuddly animals, Woody Nook is, in fact, the name of a 17-acre vineyard and an associated restaurant. Associated but far apart – the vineyard is in the Margaret River
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The Pink Panther 2 and Hotel for Dogs
The razor-sharp intellects of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple would struggle to unravel The Curious Case of the Completely Pointless Sequel. Let’s review the evidence: the death of Shawn Levy’s 2006 remake of The Pink Panther at the box office;
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The Philadelphia Story: OFS Studio
It’s awards season in movie land, so it seems fitting that an award-winning classic film should be resurrected on stage. It’s rare that a comedy gets such accolades; humour can be notoriously as tricky to do as serious drama, if not trickier. It’s just
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Doing a little light graffiti
Two art students will be demonstrating graffiti with a difference at Modern Art Oxford tomorrow night. The graffiti will not need to be scrubbed off because it is drawn by torch light and captured using long exposure photography. Matthew
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Textile Art: Chipping Norton Theatre
This cameo exhibition is drawn from a larger show – Marking Time. It brings together a selection of work by six embroidered textile artists and by their mentor Jean Littlejohn. Each artist takes part in group discussions and tutorials which helps each
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Update: Flood warning issued
A flood warning has been issued for an Oxfordshire river. The alert - which warns that flooding of homes and businesses is expected - was issued for the River Thame from Chiselhampton to Drayton St Leonard. Area Flood Risk Manager Barry
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British angle on a Valentine's treat
Although this page goes into print just before St Valentine’s Day, I am actually writing it on Sunday, February 1, which is not only proving to be one of the coldest days of the year, but the day my pledge to eat only British produce begins.
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Raphael Zarka: Modern Art Oxford
In 1996 Carl Andre arranged blocks of wood in the main gallery of Modern Art Oxford and sparked a fascinating discussion about whether this was art. Now a younger – but equally talented artist – has placed several blocks of wood in MAO’s lower galleries
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Brabant Ensemble: St Mary Magdalen Church
Among the musical anniversaries being celebrated this year, one seems slightly relegated to the shadows. OK, the composer in question is definitely better known for other things, but King Henry VIII was nonetheless a composer, and 500 years ago this year
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Karolina Larusdottir: Sarah Wiseman Gallery
lthough Icelandic artist Karolina Larusdottir lives in Cambridge, she regularly exhibits in Oxford. This is not just because she studied art at the Ruskin School of Art in the 1960s – her work is well respected here. She has many faithful followers in
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Richard Thompson: New Theatre, Oxford
Only one musician on the planet could pull-off a cover version of Nelly Furtado’s Maneater, which mixes funky R&B and Medieval Latin. Then again, probably only one musician has the versatility and vision to be able to take his audience on a thoroughly
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Waste collections restart
West Oxfordshire District Council is catching up on waste and recycling collections in the Chipping Norton area which were suspended earlier this week due to adverse weather. A council spokesman said some collections had already taken place in the affected
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Spring Awakening: Lyric Hammersmith
Three loud cheers for the brilliant new musical Spring Awakening, which is enjoying its European premiere to packed houses at the Lyric Hammersmith after two years of US success. With its planned run already extended by two weeks (until March 14
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Shobana Jeyasingh: Pegasus Theatre
Snow had led to the cancellation of the Friday performance. On Saturday the Friday audience, together with the audience who booked for Saturday, still failed to make up a full house – a pity, as this was a quality show. The Dancer’s Cut was the
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Oxford Music Festival: Jacqueline du Pre Music Building
The snow and ice claimed two victims at this year’s Oxford Music Festival Concert. Firstly, mezzo-soprano Jean Allister, who was due to present the awards, was snowbound, so she was replaced at short notice by Paul Holleley, Director of Arts at Reading
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Fire crews 'among the best'
Fire crews in Oxfordshire are among the best in the UK, according to a new report. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service retained the maximum emergency response rating for the second year running. The Audit Commission report also awarded
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Police warn of ice chaos
Icy conditions, flooding and reckless driving is putting a massive strain on the emergency services, police warned this morning. Icy conditions and flooding in some areas led to 67 road traffic collisions on the roads of Thames Valley Police
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Don Carlos coming to the Oxford Playhouse
The 250th anniversary of the birth of German poet Friedrich von Schiller is being marked by a new production of his historical tragedy Don Carlos at the Oxford Playhouse from Wednesday to Saturday, February 21. The production, in a new adaptation by Mike
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Trailing Conversations: Art Jericho
Subtle, superbly creative, witty and engaging, this exhibition is deceptively compact, indeed minimalist on first sight, disguising the immense number of artefacts and the range of media involved. It is based on words and phrases that artist Karien
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The Convict's Opera, Oxford Playhouse
Every age gets the culture it deserves, so they say – a truly terrifying thought in our own era of Big Brother and Bad Girls: The Musical – yet within the flux of fashion and its relentless novelty there are works that persist, tugging at the skirts and
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The Yeomen of the Guard, coming to OFS Studio Oxford
‘Don’t expect a happy ending” is the message from the Oxford University G&S Society – a salutary reminder that The Yeomen of the Guard, which opens at the OFS Studio next week, is the only opera in the Savoy canon that doesn’t end with its
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All the Fun of the Fair: Milton Keynes Theatre
Walk down St Giles in Oxford on two days at the beginning of September, and you cannot possibly miss St Giles’ Fair. At the Martyrs’ Memorial end Noyce’s golden gallopers sail majestically round, the beautifully painted horses moving gently up and down
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FIXTURES February 14
SATURDAY. FOOTBALL. BLUE SQUARE PREMIER. Oxford Utd v Barrow. PUMA YOUTH ALLIANCE. Under 18 South West Conference: Oxford Utd v Torquay. BRITISH GAS BUSINESS SOUTHERN LEAGUE. Premier Div: Banbury Utd v Evesham, Hemel Hempstead v Oxford C. Div
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Today's local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 17.75 BMW 2062 Electrocomponents 134.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 110 Oxford Biomedica 7 Oxford Catalyst 63 Oxford Instruments 149 REED 517.75 RM 173.75 RPS Group 155.5 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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'Poor' driving adds to road chaos
Icy conditions, flooding and reckless driving is putting a massive strain on the emergency services, police warned this morning. There were 67 crashes on the roads of Thames Valley Police area yesterday morning, which was three times the daily average
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Fire crews are among the best
Fire crews in Oxfordshire are among the best in the UK, according to a new report. Oxfordshire fire and rescue service retained the maximum emergency response rating for the second year running. The Audit Commission report also awarded
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Agency issues Flood Warning
The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Warning to residents living near the River Thame in Oxfordshire. The warning applies to the stretch of the river between Chiselhampton and Drayton St Leonard, near Wallingford. A Flood Warning
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Robberies: Hunt continues
A man wanted by police in connection with a string of armed robberies remains on the loose this morning. Detectives last night named Jon Shirley, 23, as the man they want to speak to about an armed robbery at a BP garage in Cherwell Drive,
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Construction chief: Worst is yet to come
The construction industry is in for a tough ride, whatever the Government now does to help, according to the managing director of Oxfordshire’s largest building company. Bob Rendell, of Abingdon-based Leadbitter, said: “Talk from the Government
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More job losses feared at BMW
Fears are growing that BMW is about to make major cuts in production at the Cowley Mini plant, which could mean more redundancies. Talks between union bosses and management, which have been going on for two weeks, have come to a head and an announcement
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McRae 'did not have valid licence'
Former world rally champion Colin McRae did not have a valid flying licence when the helicopter he was piloting crashed in a wooded valley killing all four people on board, an official accident report has said. Among those who died was six-year-old
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Update: Ice warning for drivers
Drivers are being warned by the Met Office to take extra care due to icy road conditions this morning. There were two accidents on the A338 at East Hanney near Wantage in the icy conditions and the road is partly blocked. Ice
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Ice warning for drivers on Oxfordshire's roads
Drivers are being warned by the Met Office to take extra care due to icy road conditions this morning. There were two accidents on the A338 at East Hanney near Wantage in the icy conditions and the road is partly blocked. Ice is also causing problems
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U's switch training base to Bicester
Oxford United will have a new training base next season. After three years at Milton, the U’s will move to Chesterton, the home of Bicester & North Oxford Cricket Club, in July, after reaching agreement with the Bicester Sports Association. They will
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Wines for Valentine's Day, £149
Valentine’s Day is thought to be named after two early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the Middle Ages when the tradition of courtly love flourished. Try this
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Gang behind series of home raids
A gang of men is believed to be behind ten distraction burglaries across the county over the last two weeks. Each time the gang has targeted elderly residents and claimed to be from the ‘water board’, or even police. The gang members
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Gang blamed for spate of burglaries
A GANG of men is believed to be behind 10 distraction burglaries across the county over the last two weeks. Each time the gang has targeted elderly residents and claimed to be from the ‘water board’, or even police. The gang members are all white
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Roaring A40
Sir – To live in Wheatley just south of the A40 is fine except when the winds blow from the W/N/E — bringing to residents intolerable traffic noise often of constant nature. Surely there should be legislation to ensure that road surfaces adjacent
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Wrong message
Sir – We appreciate that during this period of recession Oxford City Council has similar challenges to businesses in trying to balance its budget. However, only last year just prior to the downturn in the economy, they achieved a healthy increase in
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Terrifying state power
Sir – The report (January 22) that number plate recognition cameras are to be installed in and around Oxford is the latest demonstration of the terrifying power of the modern state to intrude on the privacy of its citizens. We are told that these devices
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Bus to Waitrose
Sir – As a Summertown resident and non car-owner, may I add my support to the plea for upgraded bus access to the new Waitrose store, when it opens in Headington. Fortunately, in Summertown, access to quality food shopping is not a major issue, as
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Miner turned artist
Sir – Through your columns may I appeal for information that any of your readers may have about the artist George Bissill. I am researching his life and work and would be most interested in any memories or information. George was born in 1896 in Langley
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Pool in ideal spot
Sir – I write with regard to the article (January 29), about the charitable organisation and Oxford City Council. To my mind Fusion Leisure can’t take over running Oxford City Council’s leisure facilities soon enough. As an almost daily user of the
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Humanist ceremonies
Sir – Following publication of the ground-breaking A Good Childhood by the Children’s Society — with its exhortation that Government should introduce non-religious birth ceremonies — your readers may like to know that these have been on offer via the
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Fine-tuning map
Sir – Barbara Raw (Letters, January 29) asked if Cyclox would be including Castle Mill Stream Walk as a cycle route on its cycle map. The map will be based on data held by opencyclemap.org, which anyone can edit, as long as they abide by some basic
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20mph limit consultation starts
People in Oxford are being asked where 20mph speed limits should be introduced in the city, in the latest round of consultation over the controversial speed reduction plan. A survey published last autumn showed that two thirds of those who
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Vociferous support
Sir – Interesting that Labour members support Oxpens Meadow becoming a Town Green. If Labour had not voted for the intensively car-based Westgate commercial expansion by Capital Shopping, Oxpens Meadow would not have been under recent threat. Locally
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Meadow is just fine
Sir – It is to be hoped that many people will follow Peter Day’s advice (Letters, January 29) and support the application to have Oxpens Meadow registered as a Town Green. There need be no conflict between this bid and the West End proposals. On the
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Taking the lead
Sir – Oxford has a world name of which it should be proud, for intellectual excellence, research, and medical discovery. It has often led the way, and does so today, with many important research projects and companies in this area e.g. Oxford Instruments
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No need to close bridge
Sir – Why is it necessary to close Magdalen Bridge on May Morning? Just one or two lines of police with their backs to that part of the parapet of the bridge from where publicity-seeking fools try to jump would be enough to stop them. This would be
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Igloo opportunities
Sir – The widespread closure of schools due to the recent ‘snow event’ contrasts vividly with my memories, as a primary schools adviser, of the winter of 1962/3, when heavy snow fell on Boxing Day, persisted for some time, froze for weeks, and
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Disrupted services
Sir – I am somewhat surprised that during this current winter weather that the postal service and refuge collections cease to operate. I acknowledge the fact that a fall of snow in February is unusual and certainly has taken the whole country unawares
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Waste of money
Sir – I agree with your correspondent who felt that it would be a gratuitous waste of money to change the pavements in North Parade in order to encourage shoppers (Letters, January 22). The photograph of the street shows exceptionally beautiful Victorian
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Enforcement needed
Sir – P. Hawtin’s letter (January 29) about traffic calming is long on unsupported assertions but short on facts. He throws about the phrases ‘mistaken’, ‘misapprehension’ and ‘wrong’ with gay abandon, but fails to prove any of them. In particular
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Winter winners
Sir – I rather enjoyed the brief disruption of heavy snow and thought I would offer you a list of winners and losers. Winners: Surprise number one: The council, for what I thought was a sound job of keeping city roads passable (and pavements, within
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Clear the pavements
Sir – It is, of course, a disgrace that the pavements were not gritted during the recent icy weather. Even in the Summertown shopping centre, the pavements were treacherous. And I don’t want to hear a lot of rubbish from the council about how they
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Museum's further decline
Sir — The plan to ‘save’ the Museum of Oxford (Report, January 22) was promoted with admirable motives by the Oxford Civic Society; but so far from rescuing the museum will condemn it to further decline. The staff figures say it all. The full-time
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Mark Darwin's anniversary with visit to Sydlings Copse
Close to home The famous voyage to the Galapagos Islands on the Beagle is commonly thought to have inspired Darwin’s explanation for the incredible variety of living things: that evolution was driven by natural selection. Yet it was much closer to
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Jury out in park attack case
A Crown Court jury was this morning due to continue considering its verdict in the case of a teenager accused of attacking an Oxford University student. Thomas Mack, 18, of Nicholas Avenue, Marston, denies causing actual bodily harm, grievous bodily
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New 999 HQ plan backed
A scheme that would see police, fire and ambulance headquarters all moving out of central Oxford is expected to be submitted to the Government early next year. Oxford City Council says it has been encouraged by the response of local 999 services
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'999 base will improve response times'
A scheme which would see police, fire and ambulance bases move out of central Oxford is expected to be submitted to the Government early next year. Oxford City Council said it had been encouraged by the response of local 999 services to the
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Wesley says goodbye
There are some stories you can never quite see yourself writing. ‘Oxford welcomes back Champions League heroes’ is one, and ‘Tesco superstore for Christ Church Meadow’ another. Or how about ‘Wesley Smith taken off television after 24 years of bringing
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Estate agent business wound up
Creditors of an estate agency are being asked to place the firm into liquidation after it became insolvent. Danny Wright, of Bridge Business Recovery, is handling the winding-up of James C Penny, which has offices in Walton Street, Oxford,
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'Animal' shopper gets Tesco apology
The chief executive of supermarket giant Tesco has apologised to a customer who alleged he was called an “animal” by a worker at the chain’s Cowley Road branch. Sir Terry Leahy sent a letter to Dr Sang Lee apologising for the “upset and annoyance
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How to enjoy a sparkling Valentine's
When I was about seven years old I told my parents that when I was older I was going to marry the perfect man. My father — blessed with the parental knack of bringing me firmly back to earth — replied: “Well, the problem you’ve got there Sarah is that
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Who to blame?
There has been a lot of chatter over the last week about how well or not our public authorities did during the severe weather. It should be remembered that the snow we did experience, while in no way unprecedented, was probably the worst we have had for
