Archive
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Oxfordshire jobless total highest since Labour came to power
UNEMPLOYMENT in Oxfordshire is now at its highest level since just before the Labour Government came to power in 1997, new figures have revealed. And one unemployed man tonight said conditions for jobseekers in Oxford were the worst he had
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'Not much in Budget for us' says county
Chancellor Alistair Darling today ploughed hundreds of millions of pounds into housing projects, green initiatives and benefits. But his Budget will also impose a 50 per cent top rate of tax on those earning more than £150,000 a year, from
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Crashed car causes traffic hold ups
Traffic is reported as moving slowly in East Oxford after a Black BMW has crashed through two garden fences on the corner of Morrell Avenue and East Avenue. It is unknown whether there are any injuries. More to follow.
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Get skatepark back on track
IT was great to see the Oxford Wheels Project skateboarders are still in a positive frame of mind – and are still keeping young people fully engaged, such as at their recent festival in Meadow Lane. It is almost a year since planning permission was granted
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Flood relief channel plan needs public support
THE Environment Agency has been consulting the public about its proposals for a new, medium-sized watercourse that would link parts of the existing river system between Botley and Sandford. In its view, this option, together with some additional measures
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Traditional methods work best in schools
READING the report on Combe Primary School and headteacher Wendy Foster’s remarks (Oxford Mail, April 2), I soon understood why it’s the best in the country. The school, which is part of a cohesive local community, uses, as far as politicians will allow
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TV technology presses my button
I CANNOT understand TV programmes which say ‘press this’ or ‘press that’. We don’t all have the technology and can’t join in. How many OAPs have computers and know how to work them? I am 81 and have one, but haven’t a clue how it works
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IVF treatment is a postcode lottery
I WRITE regarding your editorial A privilege, not a right in Saturday’s Oxford Mail. Richard Mackenzie and his group of IVF campaigners are not trying to get the NHS to fund endless attempts at IVF – the NHS only pays for one IVF cycle in any case.
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GOLF: Binning is county champ
Frilford Heath’s Jane Binning was crowned Oxfordshire ladies champion after edging out Bicester’s Laura Watkins in a tense final at Tadmarton Heath. This was sweet revenge for Binning after Watkins had knocked her out of last year’s championships. Binning
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GOLF: The Oxfordshire set pace
The Oxfordshire made it three wins from three in Section 1 of the Shaw Gibbs Oxfordshire Foursomes League after defeating Burford 2-1. Victories from Andy Stubbs and Ben Cotton, plus Nigel Lucas and Matt Foster secured the points, which maintained their
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GOLF: Frilford duo second
Frilford Heath’s Pat Huntley and Sarah Webb came second in the Mothers and Daughters scratch foursomes competition at Royal Mid Surrey. They were seven shots behind winners Ann & Alexandra Peters (Notts Ladies). Emily Price will be one of four young
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GOLF: Results round-up
FRILFORD HEATH Ladies’ April Stableford - Silver Div: 1 S Webb 39pts, 2 A Tyreman 35 (cb), 3 J Dominic 35. Bronze Div: 1 D Phipps 39, 2 H Batstone 37, 3 S Huggins 34. OXFORD CITY St George’s Trophy: 1 A Groves +4, 2 G Craft +2 (cb), 3 K Henley +2
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RUGBY UNION: Nutt re-joins Quins
Oxford Harlequins have snapped up Newbury wing Martin Nutt as player-coach for the 2009-10 season. The 28-year-old, who was at Quins before joining the National 1 club, will assist head coach John Brodley as backs coach and look to stiffen up their defence
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RUGBY UNION: Risbridger is players' choice
Steve Risbridger was named players’ player of the year at Bicester’s annual awards ceremony. The scrum half and former skipper has shone, despite Bicester’s struggles in the BB&O Premier Division. Back-row forward Martin Linstrom was named captain’s
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RUGBY UNION: Repeat display for Ellis
Arthur Ellis repeated a trick he had shown for Chinnor during the first leg of the Guinness Premiership A final. Ellis ran in a long-range interception try as Wasps A lost 26-10 to Northampton Wanderers at Dry Leas on Monday. The 19-year-old scored
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RUGBY UNION: Chinnor can be proud
Whatever happens now, Chinnor have proved themselves worthy of National League rugby. That is the view of coach Jason Bowers as his side nervously await the outcome of Lydney’s final two matches in National 3 South. The Gloucestershire club need two
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Family pays tribute to rider
The family of a motorcyclist killed in a crash near Witney paid tribute to him tonight. Bob Smith, 46, of Giernalls Road, Hailey, died as a result of the crash on the B4022 between Hailey and Finstock on Monday. A statement issued by his family
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RUGBY UNION: Byles progressing well
Josh Byles has been impressing at full back for Oxford this season ten years after being the Oxfordshire Mini and Junior Festival’s cover star. Byles has worked his way through Oxford’s ranks since joining at under seven level and, although off to university
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RUGBY UNION: Banbury share Derby spoils
Banbury Under 11 B shared the Derby MiniFest with the host club after drawing the final 0-0. Despite being labelled A and B, Banbury entered two teams of equal standing. And Banbury B defeated Banbury A 15-0 in the semi-finals with tries from Jack Briggs
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Why can only black actors play Othello?
I have seen three productions of William Shakespeare’s Othello in recent weeks in each of which, of course, the title role has been played by a black actor. I say of ‘of course’ because these days the idea of any white actor ‘blacking up’ for the
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Celebs line up for kids' food festival
When the Northmoor Trust staged the first Children’s Food Festival in 2007, it took the world by storm. Everyone declared it was a great success, and happy children left the festival field clutching recipe books and little bags of gingerbread men
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Local shares (PM)
AEA Technology 19.25 BMW 2298 Electrocomponents 137 Nationwide Accident Repair 95.5 Oxford Biomedica 9 Oxford Catalysts 46.5 Oxford Instruments 176.75 Reed Elsevier 479.25 RM 154.25 RPS Group 156.75 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Lamb and minted peas recipe: Serves 2
Lamb neck fillet is one of those glorious joints of meat that is guaranteed to be both tender and flavoursome. Although British lamb is no longer cheap, it is so succulent that it’s worth every penny you pay for it. Unfortunately, peas are
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A wonder cure for fatties?
Alli slimming pills went on sale over the counter at pharmacists this week, giving the nation’s fatties a hope of a trimmer tomorrow. Myself, I shan’t be needing them, having been made aware of a rival product that, frankly, puts alli firmly in the shade
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The Bear at Home, North Moreton
I was first made aware of the good things about the Bear at Home in North Moreton – some of them at least – through an article early last month in The Times. In it, the landlord Tim Haworth described how he and his wife Alison, tired of the many
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Executions by the churchyard
People who carve their names on buildings, or on tree trunks, do so, I suppose, in a bid to obtain some sort of immortality; to have their brief lives remembered long after they die. One such person certainly achieved that objective. He was someone called
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Flood victims still waiting to go home
More than 20 Oxfordshire families hit by the 2007 floods are still waiting to move back into their homes. Nine homes in the city and 14 homes in west Oxfordshire are among 350 households across the country which are still classed as ‘displaced
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New English Contemporary Ballet preview Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
I have not yet seen New English Contemporary Ballet, but it’s clear from the dancers’ biographies that it delivers exactly what it says on the tin. They all have a classical ballet training, but they perform contemporary ballet works rather than
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After Dido: Young Vic, London
A mate of mine has long harboured an ambition to update Salome, setting it in one of those grimy South London terraces that abut railway embankments and have abandoned Tesco trolleys in the gardens. I’ve always liked the idea. But after seeing Katie Mitchell
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State of Play
Adapted from the six-part 2003 BBC mini-series created by Paul Abbott, State of Play is a timely political thriller about the tug of war between morality and sensationalist headlines. The skeletal narrative of the award-winning six-hour television programme
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Transmission Interrupted:Modern Art Oxford
Modern Art Oxford is in the pink and everyone is noticing. How can they miss it? Impossible! It’s making a statement, which even those who don’t enter have to take in whether they like it, or not. MAO’s new colour scheme is the work of Ernesto Salmeron
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Oxford Art Society: Town Hall
What a shame there’s no notice outside the Oxford Town Hall, inviting visitors to view the Oxford Art Society’s latest exhibition in the gallery. It’s a great little venue, but because it is at the rear of the building (on the ground floor)
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King Lear - just a family drama
King Lear is arguably one of Shakespeare’s most moving tragedies, in which a proud but foolish monarch is the architect of his own downfall. It takes a brave amateur company to tackle such a monumental work, but Triptych Theatre, formed in Oxford five
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Aida: New Theatre
But for the blandishments of librettist Arrigo Boito, Aida would have been Verdi’s last opera. Both Verdi and generations of his devotees should owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Boito for his intervention, which resulted in the musical delights of
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Manon: English National Ballet, New Theatre
Kenneth MacMillan’s terrific ballet Manon is set, like Abbe Prevost’s original story, in the decadent salons and sleazy brothels of 18th-century Paris. When we first set eyes on Manon it’s clear that every man in the room desires her, and, as portrayed
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Trinity Church, Abingdon
Amateur or professional? That overworked distinction, of which the English have always made such heavy weather, ceases to exist when a group of musical friends get together to play great music for sheer enjoyment, as in the famous ‘Schubertiads’ of the
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Town council blocks pay-off information request
Bicester Town Council has refused to provide any information about a pay-off to its former town clerk. Last month it was revealed that Anne Wilson had been given £30,000 – the equivalent of £1 from every resident. At the time, councillors
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MP vows to fight for staff
BICESTER MP Tony Baldry is taking on a fight for staff who are still owed wages after a firm folded. Several former staff of disability equipment firm Chiltern Invadex, in Churchill Road, went to the North Oxfordshire MP for help when they
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Bicester Town Council blocks bid to report £30k pay-off
BICESTER Town Council has refused to provide any information about a pay-off to its former town clerk. Last month it was revealed that Anne Wilson had been given £30,000 – the equivalent of £1 from every resident. At the time, councillors would only
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Hopes rise over Witney college revamp
GOVERNMENT education chiefs could team up with West Oxfordshire District Council in a bid to salvage the £30m redevelopment of Witney’s college campus. Last month, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) said it was set to shelve 79 further education college
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Bicester MP vows to fight for Invadex staff
BICESTER MP Tony Baldry is taking on a fight for staff who are still owed wages after a firm went bust. Several former staff of disability equipment firm Chiltern Invadex, in Churchill Road, went to the North Oxfordshire MP for help when they were made
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Third Tesco store for Oxford rejected
RESIDENTS and shopkeepers have spoken of their relief after councillors voted unanimously to turn down plans for Oxford’s third Tesco store. The supermarket giant wants to build an Express store on the site of the boarded-up Friar pub in Marston Road
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CRICKET: Oxford agree Exiles merger
Struggling Morris Motors Exiles, who faced having to quit The Oxford Times Cherwell League, have joined forces with Oxford CC. Motors realised last month they did not have enough players to field two teams, as the league rules require.
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THE INSIDER: A Weekly update from the corridors of power
WE were pleased to learn that Alistair Ferrier has become Oxford’s new city centre manager. But that is about all we can tell you. We know he has been asked to pay particular attention to basic issues like street cleanliness, illegal street trading
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CRICKET: Banbury launch disability scheme
BANBURY Cricket Club are bringing Oxfordshire its first disability cricket sessions through the aid of the Lottery distributor ‘Awards for All’. The initiative came from Oxford Brookes University student Luke Ryan who gained the funding in order to provide
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BOWLS: Sykes sparkles
MARK Sykes of Banbury Cross was in dominating form at the Oxfordshire Indoor Bowling Association’s Championships, retaining two titles and capturing a third. Sykes comfortably retained his singles crown, winning 21-7 against Malcolm Woodley from Oxford
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Scaramouche Jones: Cornerstone, Didcot
One-person plays are difficult to pull off, and take, ironically for something so scaled-down, a multitude of factors to work successfully. The performer must be likeable, there have to be enough shades of grey in the writing and the performance to sustain
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Spider's Web: Milton Keynes Theatre and touring
We have grown used to a comic element in the work of Agatha Christie – generally added to what has been supplied on the page by whoever has adapted the story for small or large screen entertainment. But to find the Queen of Crime herself to be an accomplished
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Tory leader Cameron in 'jail' with fellow Tories in Oxford
IT was the launch of the Oxfordshire Conservatives’ county election campaign. But David Cameron produced howls of laughter by suggesting that it was the stuff of fantasy for Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. “To see this many Conservatives in a prison, must
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CRICKET: County are on song at Radley
Oxfordshire's Development XI got their season off to a fine start with a two-wicket victory over Middlesex Academy at Radley College. Oxon fielded seven debutants from the successful under 17 squad of last year. Middlesex batted first, but some fine
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Oxford Jazz Festival
There are plenty of barroom experts and sofa cognoscenti in Oxford ready to splash a bit of scorn on any new artistic venture. It’s that kind of city; where the weight of the past has the power to smother the present. When the new Oxford Jazz Festival
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BAR BILLIARDS: Horse gallop to title
Horse and Harrow ended Nelson's seven-year reign as Premier Section champions in the Johnsons Buildbase League after a 3-2 away win at Section 1 winners Didcot Con Club. Dave Tooke produced his best game of the season to put Didcot in front, scoring
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Othello, Northern Broadsides with Lenny Henry: touring
Though never one to fight shy of a challenge, the comedian Lenny Henry appeared to have gone a little far, even for him, in his decision to take to the stage in one of Shakespeare’s most demanding roles, that of the jealous, wife-murdering Moor
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Kidlington councillor 'Packs' it in
FORMER deputy headteacher Chris Pack has stepped down as a district councillor for Kidlington. Mr Pack, 66, of Mead Way, decided to resign from Cherwell District Council after nine years representing villagers, so he could enjoy his retirement and indulge
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Bear necessities
I enjoyed a pleasant chat the other day with Ted Dewan, who writes children's books and lives in North Oxford. I was on my best behaviour after inviting myself round to his house to discuss his latest book, One True Bear, which is partly illustrated
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DAPHNE LEVENS: Talented Oxford director in love with drama
DAPHNE Levens, right, a prominent figure in amateur theatre, has died, aged 98. She was born in London, the daughter of Hother and Etheldreda Hanschell. Following a convent education she went on to Somerville College in 1929, where she read history,
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ALAN LYNN: Leading figure in Oxfordshire bowls
ALAN Lynn, one of Oxfordshire’s leading figures in the sport of bowls has died, aged 86. Mr Lynn was living at Oaken Holt Care Home, in Farmoor, at the time of his death. Born in November 1922, he was an Oxford man through and through, having spent
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Oxford's Chinese community gain Lottery grant
MORE than £190,000 of Lottery funding is to be used to improve opportunities for the county’s Chinese Chinese community. The Big Lottery Fund has given the money to the Oxfordshire Chinese Community and Advice Centre to support its English,
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Oxfordshire councils hopes rise over Icelandic bank payouts
councils in Oxfordshire have reacted with cautious optimism to news they may recoup some of the money they have tied up in collapsed Icelandic banks. The administrators for Heritable Bank, the British arm of Iceland’s Landsbanki, said this week its creditors
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St Ives: Restoring faith in a Great British Holiday
I can distinctly remember when I became an Anglophobic traveller. It was August 1992 – Britain’s wettest summer in more than 40 years – and our family spent a whole fortnight cooped up in a caravan in Bournemouth playing 642 games of Scrabble (most
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Favourite migratory birds
Fashionably early Damp Easter weekend aside, we’ve been pretty lucky with the spring weather so far and it seems we’re not the only ones making the most of it. On the bird front, settled conditions have, say our resident spotters, seen spring migrants
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Ex-soldier chases armed robbers after Banbury jewellery raid
A FORMER soldier chased armed robbers seconds after they raided a jewellery shop and stole several Rolex watches. Russell Barrie, 63, was shopping in Banbury High Street, just after noon on Tuesday, when he saw a group of men entering Michael Jones Jewellery
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ATHLETICS: Radley produce Alpha display!
Radley put in a fine all-round performance as they won the Alpha-Beta meeting at the Lee Valley Stadium on Saturday. After winning the Beta event last year to gain promotion to the Alpha competition, Radley produced fine displays at both junior and senior
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ATHLETICS: Veteran Jegou is record-breaker
White Horse Harrier Richard Jegou became an age group British record-holder at four unusual heavy weights at Stoke. Competing in the over 65 category for the first time Jegou won the following competitions. One-handed Hammer 9.97m; putt 7.19m; heavy
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ATHLETICS: City stars are four-midable!
Oxford City secured an impressive four-timer in the Oxfordshire Road Relay Championships at Hook Norton. City won the men’s, women’s boys’ and girls’ titles in a dominant day’s running. The boys’ event (under 15) was the closest race, with City’s A
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POINT-TO-POINT: Landmark win for jockey York
Jockey Phil York brought up a notable milestone when riding his 200th winner at the Vale of Aylesbury with Garth & South Berks meeting at Kingston Blount. York partnered Euro Bleu to victory in the Members race for Bicester owner Emma Lucas. He quickly
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New English Contemporary Ballet, Cheltenham
I have not yet seen New English Contemporary Ballet, but it’s clear from the dancers’ biographies that it delivers exactly what it says on the tin. They all have a classical ballet training, but they perform contemporary ballet works rather than the tutu
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Shooting in Oxford
Police today appealed for witnesses following an attempted murder in Barton. At about 10.40pm yesterday, two men knocked on the door of a house in Brampton Road. When the occupant came to the door, a 59-year-old man, they asked to confirm his
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Police treat Barton shooting as attempted murder
Police are investigating an attempted murder following a shooting in Oxford. At about 10.40pm yesterday, two men knocked on the door of a house in Brampton Road, Barton. When a 59-year-old man came to the door the two men asked him for
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UNEMPLOYMENT: jobless total soars
THE number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Oxfordshire has leapt again. Latest figures for March show 9,174 people claiming Jobseekers Allowance, a rise of 730 or 8.6 per cent on the previous month. The figure is the highest since October
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Jobless figures rise
The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Oxfordshire has risen again. Latest figures for March show 9,174 people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, a rise of 730 or 8.6 per cent on the previous month. The figure is the highest since October
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BREAKING NEWS: Unemployment to record high
The Government was given grim jobs news ahead of the Budget today when new figures showed that unemployment has soared to its highest level since Labour came to power in 1997. The number of people looking for work jumped by 177,000 in the three months
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Villagers slay dragons for St George
MOTORISTS passing by West Hagbourne’s village pond were surprised to find the ducks had been replaced by a dragon. Residents have built dragons of all colours and shapes, which have appeared across the village near Didcot, for St George’s Day today.
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Let's support our local traders
BUSINESSES in our market towns are publicly giving a defiant and bouyant stance about the recession. And it is heartening to see some of those we have spoken to today putting an emphasis on hard work as being key to seeing them through these turbulent
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Fitting tribute to a true hero
GARY O’Donnell was a true hero and we can think of nothing more fitting than the renaming of a building in his honour at Vauxhall Barracks tomorrow. Warrant Officer Class 2 O’Donnell was killed while trying to defuse a bomb in Afghanistan and has been
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Oxfordshire braced for Budget 09: A tale of four market towns
OXFORDSHIRE is bracing itself for more bad news today when the latest unemployment figures are released. The figures will reveal for the first time the full impact of the 850+ job losses at the BMW car factory in Cowley, Oxford, which were
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The Wizard of Off!
YOUNGSTERS who had won starring roles in the New Theatre’s Wizard of Oz show were left distraught after it was cancelled in a row over rights. Two hundred children were to take part in the annual youth musical, and were weeks away from rehearsals
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B4022 fatal: Death on road 'shows dangers'
A LANDLORD has called for more speed restrictions on the road outside his pub following the death of a motorcyclist. Barry Shelton, landlord of The Bird in Hand, on the B4022 between Hailey and Finstock, spoke out after Robert Smith, 46, of Giernalls
