Archive
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New signings on parade
OXFORD United fans will get the chance to see a number of Chris Wilder’s new signings at tonight’s Youth Development Benefit match at the Kassam Stadium. In addition, star players Luke Foster and James Constable will be involved in the evening
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Oxford United hail Chapman coup
OXFORD United are today set to sign talented midfielder Adam Chapman from Sheffield United on a permanent basis. Chapman, 19, who played 20 games for the U’s last season, joins for a fee of £15,000 dependent on the number of games played. The deal includes
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FOOTBALL: Gordon's Banbury future up in air
BANBURY United manager Billy Jeffrey admits he has no idea if star striker Nicky Gordon will still be with the club next year, writes NICK FARRANT. Southern League Premier Division side Leamington claim to have signed Gordon, but Jeffrey is unaware that
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FOOTBALL: Didcot sign duo
DIDCOT Town have boosted their attack ahead of their BGB Southern League Premier Division baptism by snapping up young striker Matt Taylor from Oxford United. Taylor, 18, who has had a loan spell at Abingdon United, was released at the end of the season
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Fabia bows out
FABIA Cerra bowed out of Britain’s Got Talent tonight despite a rousing performance in front of millions of viewers. The 35-year-old burlesque dancer from Greater Leys overcame a slipped disc in her back to create a real splash as she performed live,
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'We owe debt to assault victim'
A FUND is being set up so people can donate money to a Japanese student who was left for dead in an attack in Oxford. Kentaro Ikeda, 27, is still slowly recovering from his horrific injuries. In her first act as Oxford’s new Lord Mayor, Mary Clarkson
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Dog bites chunk out of man's arm
POLICE today appealed for witnesses after a man was bitten by a Rottweiler in Hinksey Park, Oxford. The attack happened on Thursday, May 21, at 12.30pm and the man was left with a chunk out of his arm. The victim, a 37-year-old man from Oxford, said
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Fans to play on United's pitch
A LUCKY few Oxford United fans will realise their dreams tomrrow night by playing on the Kassam Stadium pitch in front of a crowd of thousands. An 11-a-side fans-versus-fans game will take place at half-time of the club’s youth benefit game, which will
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Demolition of empty community centre begins
THE venue for 40 years of parties, weddings, meetings and community events began to be reduced to a pile of rubble today as bulldozers moved in to an Oxford community centre. After more than a year standing vacant, demolition work started on Cowley Community
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Royal Marine congratulates Lib Dem leader
A ROYAL Marine seriously wounded in Iraq collared Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg in Oxford today to applaud him for pledging action to clean up Parliament. Following the national furore over MPs’ expenses, the Lib Dem leader today launched a timetable
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ROWING: Wallingford duo make history
A Wallingford crew made history as Oxford-shire clubs and schools captured 23 sets of medals, including four Championship golds, at Nottingham Wallingford’s Simon Steele and Ertan Hazine, coached by Ben Townsend, became the first crew to win both the
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South Park festival will offer a taste of Peru
A FESTIVAL with a South American flavour will be held in Oxford to raise money for a Peruvian orphanage. Up to 4,000 people are expected to attend the Otra Vida Festival at South Park on Saturday, June 6. The festival — which will also be a fundraiser
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Stand yourself, Martin
I have read with interest Martin Broderick’s criticisms of Andrew Smith’s stance on political issues over the years. If he feels so strongly about our elected MP’s views, why doesn’t he challenge him in next year’s General Election? Mr Broderick should
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Oxfam hopes to make a gift of aid
OXFAM stores in Oxfordshire are asking customers to take part in a Gift Aid scheme, which could earn the charity an extra £2m over three years. The charity’s book shop in St Giles, Oxford, is taking part in the scheme, which allows charities to claim
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Beastly role takes the biscuit
TWO Oxford schoolchildren have been wowing the crowds in the stage version of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the New Theatre. Thomas Truscott, eight, from Headington, and Angus Pinkerton, 10, from Cumnor, are sharing the role of Chip, a boy who has
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Check facts on play area cash
A campaign flyer from Roy Darke and Andrew Lomas, Labour candidates for Oxford’s Headington and Marston ward, says Oxfordshire County Council got a grant from the Government for more work on children’s play areas, but chose to spend every penny outside
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Four wins in a row for Charlbury pub
A FAMILY-RUN Oxfordshire pub has once again been recognised for its excellent beer. The Rose and Crown in Charlbury has been named the Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) Pub of the Year in North Oxfordshire for the fourth time. The traditional pub won the
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Why are they paying back money?
With everything that has been said and written about MPs’ expenses, there are two very important questions that need answers. If no rules have been broken, why are they paying back money? And how many millions of pounds has been claimed in the same
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Not an election commitment
You correctly describe the Labour policies reported in the Oxford Mail (May 26) as the pledges of (outgoing) Labour county councillors. Most of these policies have in fact been endorsed by the Oxfordshire Labour Party as its election manifesto. However
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More trains running on time, figures show
RAIL passengers have seen train punctuality improve by more than 13 per cent between Oxford and London. New figures show First Great Western (FGW) has made the biggest improvements in rail punctuality in Britain over the last year. The
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Coroner makes seatbelt appeal at inquest
A CORONER has urged lorry drivers to wear their seatbelts after a series of deaths on Oxfordshire’s roads. Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Gardiner spoke out after the inquest on a Belgian lorry driver who died in a crash on the northbound M40 last October
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Wantage school can keep 'temporary' dome
FAMILIES have hit out at a decision to let a temporary polythene sports hall near their homes carry on being used for the next three years. King Alfred’s Community and Sports College in Wantage was originally granted planning permission for the polythene
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Covered Market fishmonger nets top award
YEARS of hard work have paid off for an Oxford fishmonger after it was named the best independent seafood retailer in Britain. Haymans Fisheries, in the Covered Market, picked up the award at the bi-annual Seafood Awards in London on Thursday. After
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NOC is in the black
OXFORD’S world renowned Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (NOC) has announced that it made a surplus in the last financial year. Last year a question mark hung over the long term future of the NOC as an independent trust, after staff and patients learned that
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Tories bid to keep control of council
Hundreds of candidates are waiting to see how the people of Oxfordshire will vote in next week’s county council elections. In total, 315 candidates are running for 74 seats. Oxfordshire County Council, which is split into 58 divisions, is currently
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Paddy pops in to Slade
Former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown visited the Slade fire station in Headington, Oxford, on Saturday to view its Mass Decontamination Unit. Mr Ashdown was shown around the station by Oxford Lib Dem campaigner Dr Steve Goddard and Catherine
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Motorbike test manoeuvre 'dangerous'
A MOTORCYCLE instructor from Oxfordshire has joined mounting criticism of a new test for learner riders. The Motorcycle Action Group said the new ‘swerve test’, where bikers weave away from a cone at 31mph (50kmph), was unsafe. The Driving Standards
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Nursery unveils nature garden
An overgrown bed of nettles has been transformed into a nature garden for an Oxford pre-school. The garden at the Mortimer Hall Pre-School, in Oxford Road, Old Marston, cost about £1,200 to create, and was partly funded by donations from
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Art that’s all dressed up
ART that you can wear featured in a special exhibition at the Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock. Artists Sue Rangeley, who specialises in fashion embroidery, Emily Jo Gibbs, who uses silk and metal to decorate bags, and Bridget Bailey, who creates headpieces
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Injured man found in garden
Mystery surrounds the discovery of an injured man unconscious in an Oxford front garden. Police are appealing for information after a 35-year-old man was found with severe injuries to the back of his head in Templar Road, Cuttleslowe, at 2.15am today
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School to get sixth form
Oxfordshire County Council’s has approved plans to build a new £4m sixth form college at Bicester’s Cooper School. The new college will give teenagers a choice of where they undertake post-16 education in the town for the first time. Currently, 16-year-olds
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Paying last respects
Ex-servicemen will gather at the Headley Way roundabout by the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford tomorrow at 2.15pm to greet the cortege of two soldiers killed in Afghanistan. Sapper Jordan Rossi, of 25 Field Squadron, 38 Engineer Regiment, was killed
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Help out hospice with a cuppa
An Oxford hospice has called on the whole county to stick the kettle on and organise a tea party as part of its latest fundraising campaign. Helen and Douglas House is hoping to brew up a wave of goodwill for its latest Tea@3 campaign, which last year
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Charity embarks on D-Day tribute ride
A GROUP of cyclists from a disabled charity in Oxford will ride to Northern France to mark the 65th anniversary of D-Day. A total of 18 riders and three support staff from the Pathway Workshop, in Dunnock Way, Greater Leys, will set out from
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Ladyfest proves a huge hit
HUNDREDS of women celebrated female achievements in the arts during the second Oxford Ladyfest. A week of events in the city showcased the work of female musicians, writers, and artists. The celebration formed part of the international Ladyfest event
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New Marston School prepares to mark 60 years
AN OXFORD primary school is preparing to celebrate its 60th anniversary. Former pupils of New Marston Primary School have been asked to help celebrate its diamond anniversary next month. Organisers are appealing for old pictures and
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Police link armed robberies in Marston
ROBBERS threatened a man with a pair of scissors in a late night attack. The two men approached a 27-year-old man near the cattle grid on the cycle path running between South Parks Road and Ferry Road in Marston at 10pm on Wednesday. They demanded cash
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CRICKET: Oxon opt for extra bowler in Trophy crunch
Oxfordshire have opted to play the extra bowler for their winner-takes-all group match against Shropshire in the Minor Counties Trophy at Challow & Childrey on Sunday (11am). The winners will qualify for the quarter-final, with the losers missing out
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CRICKET: Porter set to miss Oxford's derby clash
Oxford, who are still looking for their first victory, will be without left-arm spinner Joe Porter for their trip to Home Counties Premier League Division 1 leaders Henley tomorrow. Porter, a coach st St Edward’s School, is unavailable, but skipper Jason
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CRICKET: Downs set to face Rowant
Oxford Downs, who were handed a walkover when Shipton-under-Wychwood withdrew, will host Aston Rowant in the Oxfordshire semi-finals of the npower Village Cup on Sunday. Rowant reached that stage with an eight-wicket victory over Great & Little Tew.
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Ploughing match raises funds
A Swalcliffe man has raised thousands of pounds for a charity by ploughing fields. Derek Blunn’s ploughing matches have become legendary and also helped raise more than £10,000 for Katharine House Hospice. Participants came from miles around for the
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Banbury youngsters win 'best business plan'
A GROUP of teenagers have won top honours in a competition designed to find the best young business talent in Oxfordshire’s schools. Pupils from Oxford High School formed their own company called Eclectic, and wrote, illustrated and published the children
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A watching eye on wildlife
BBOWT has a dedicated band of volunteers who go out in all weathers to find out the latest news on the wildlife front. From studying otter spraints to counting butterfly eggs, watching water voles to tagging orchids, they are out there collecting data
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ROWING: Wallingford duo make history
A Wallingford crew made history as Oxfordshire clubs and schools captured 23 sets of medals, including four Championship golds, at Nottingham.Wallingford’s Simon Steele and Ertan Hazine, coached by Ben Townsend, became the first crew to win both the Championship
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Mum's shortcut to final
A MOTHER and daughter team took part in the regional final of a hairdressing contest for the second year running. Anne Veck, who owns a salon in the Causeway, Bicester, used her daughter, Chloe, as her model in the Wella Trend Vision Southern Regional
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999 centre relocates to Bicester
BICESTER residents are set to get better ambulance cover after the South Central Ambulance Service announced it was relocating to the town. Talisman Business Park will become the new headquarters for the service from June 1. Initially the corporate
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TENNIS: Carreras stars in repeat show
Oxfordshire's Amanda Carreras continued her remarkable run by winning both the singles and doubles titles at another ITF $10,000 professional tournament held in Antalya, Turkey – just as she did the previous week. She is now on an incredible 17-match
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RACING: Lahaleeb pipped at post in Classic
West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon was frustrated once more in his pursuit of a first Classic triumph when Lahaleeb was nailed on the line by Again in the Boylesports. com Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh, writes Russell Smith. Lahaleeb looked set to
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Keep-it-local campaign winner
A BICESTER store has been part of a campaign to keep trade local — and one lucky resident has benefited. Wadley’s, in Market Square, launched a competition in December as part of a scheme to encourage people to buy from shops in the town. The lucky
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Beer festival raises £1,000
A PUB has raised more than £1,000 for charity from a four-day beer festival. The Trigger Pond, in Bucknell, hosted a long weekend of fun giving regulars a chance to sample a range of British real ales and scrumpy cider. In total the pub raised £1,347
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PIGEON RACING: Latest results
Didcot & Hagbourne (Lulworth 15 sent 196): 1, 9, 10, 14 Lloyd & Kelly 1675, 1586, 1584, 1565; 2, 3, 4, 8 G Seeney 1671 x 3, 1590; 5, 11, 12, 13 M/M A Webber & son 1622, 1575, 1570, 1569; 6, 7 M/M R Crook 1609, 1603; 15 Kenny & Segesdy 1540; 16 V Segesdy
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TENNIS: Sports sink Wantage to go top
Oxford Sports A took over at the top of the Wilson OLTA League Ladies Purple division after a 3-1 victory over previously-unbeaten Wantage. Cressida Henderson and Caroline Good were unbeaten at first pair for Sports, with Dee Jones and Karen Doig claiming
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Gospel DJ gets radio show
A BICESTER-based gospel DJ has been given his own radio show. Gary Smith will host the Urban Gospel Experience every Sunday on BBC Radio Oxford. Although the father-of-one has hosted one-off gospel shows at the station before, he said he was surprised
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GREYHOUNDS: Friday's Oxford BAGS runners
11.03: Zigzag River 3, Blondies Paddy 2, Ardmayle Lee, WRONG ROAD, Sugar King, Ballysally Magic. 11.19: IVER EMBLEM, Twiggys Best 2, Unique Package, Call It Mylene, Toms My Boy, Wide Jo 3. 11.34: Elegant Mist, Fancy Mavis 3, Greencroft
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Turning point
When we look back at the Westminster expenses scandal, we may be looking at a turning point in our parliamentary history — at least we hope so. The scandal is a symptom of the cosy gentleman’s club that Westminster has remained in spite of the changes
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Brookes' plans will benefit region
Sir – The time has come to respond to the campaign of misinformation against Oxford Brookes that has played out in the letters pages over the last month. Repeated charges that Brookes has expanded exponentially and has ambitions to continue growing ad
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Poor choice for change
Sir – You reported last week of yet more confusion over the county’s parking policy and now, it seems, the pavements are regarded as suitable extensions to street parking. In North Summertown we have seen the artificial restriction of street parking
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Right reason?
There are many good reasons why Oxfordshire County Council should review the way it distributes its funding to primary and secondary schools. It is good practice to undertake a periodical review to ensure that the system is fair and that it reflects
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Kidlington not blessed
Sir – I remain mystified and rather aghast as to why Cherwell District Council has removed the tiniest character-inducing feature in Kidlington's undistinguished precinct. The wooden bus shelter outside Tesco; plant holders and central gazebo (complete
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Time to pose questions
Sir – Those elected to Oxfordshire County Council on June 4 will be making some crucial decisions which will affect Oxfordshire’s environment for years. Oxford Friends of the Earth have therefore suggested the following five questions to put to candidates
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Intimidating practice
Sir – On an idyllic Saturday afternoon we were strolling down Broad Street with two friends visiting us from the other side of the world. Outside the Sheldonian there was a small, impeccably-behaved animal rights protest. On our side of the street,
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Climate change not new
Sir – Global warming is certainly a great excuse for pressure groups such as GreenSpeed to express their prejudices. I don’t know about global warming, but I do know that there is nothing new about climate change. Dates are debated, but roughly between
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Get off the gravy train
Sir – The latest copy of the Oxford Lib Dem Summertown and Wolvercote newsletter makes a great play on Oxford West MP Evan Harris calling for more transparency of MPs’ allowances in the past. If he felt that strongly about it, perhaps he was one of the
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County deserves better
Sir – Accurately describing the hugely unattractive impact that the proposed Sutton Courtenay incinerator would have over a wide area of south Oxfordshire, Steve Canadas (Letter, May 14) asks how our county council would possibly approve an application
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Natural means
Sir – The Oxfordshire Flood Management Strategy proposes a large and expensive engineering solution in the form of a new western watercourse to deal with the growing threat of flooding in Oxford. The Oxfordshire Green Party recognises the imperative
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Simple meat-free plan
Sir – “A small dreamy university city of spires, bicycles . . . prospering since the Middle Ages”. No, not Oxford, you will be sad to hear, but Ghent, Belgium, which “may be on to something”, it was reported recently in the Guardian (May 14, 2009).
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Brookes' contribution
Sir – We understand that people will always have strong views on the architectural merits of any proposal for a new building in a historic city like Oxford, but we are concerned about the tone of the comments towards Oxford Brookes University. As we
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University needs to develop its estate
Sir – Oxford Brookes University, my employer and therefore the reason why my family has moved to Headington, needs to develop and improve its estate. There has been very little development of the Headington campus in the last 20 years, and it shows in
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Give us back our bus
Sir – People are asking in Headington and Headley Way for the No 10 Stagecoach bus to come back like it used to. So why not go up Osler Road to the John Radcliffe and come back by Headley Way. Even if it is only one hour or so. Now the bus lane is in
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Brookes legacy lives on
Sir – Objections by a vocal minority to Oxford Brookes' plans for progress are sadly nothing new. Last month I gave a public lecture on the life of John Henry Brookes, the spiritual founder of Brookes who oversaw its development in Headington in the
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Chapman signs for United
Oxford United have signed midfielder Adam Chapman for £15,0000 from Sheffield United. The deal, which is dependent on the number of games played by the under 21 Northern Ireland international,includes a 50 per cent sell-on clause.
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Man arrested after suspected drugs find
A man arrested on suspicion of possession of class-A drugs following a raid in Headington has been released on bail. The 26-year-old man was arrested after police found what is believed to be crack cocaine and ecstasy pills at a house in Borrowmead Road
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DRUGS RAID: Arrested man bailed
A man arrested on suspicion of possession of class A drugs following a raid in Headington, Oxford, has been released on bail. The 26-year-old man was arrested after police found what is believed to be crack cocaine and ecstasy pills at a house in Borrowmead
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Firefighter's funeral service
THE funeral of a firefighter who died in a motorcycle crash will be held this morning at Oxford Crematorium. Simon Mackrory died in Crawley Road, Witney, while on his way to his daughter’s second birthday party earlier this month. The 38-year-old, a
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Tower block evacuated
THE fire service has confirmed there was no fire in an Oxford tower block which was evacuated last night. Seven fire engines were called to Evenlode Tower, in Pegasus Road, Blackbird Leys, at 7.30pm. A fire service spokesman said this morning an alarm
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Firefighter's funeral today
The funeral of a retained firefighter who died in a motorcycle crash will be held this morning at Oxford Crematorium. Simon Mackrory, 38, died in Crawley Road, Witney, while on his way to his daughter’s second birthday party earlier this month
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Tower 'fire' a false alarm
The fire service has confirmed there was no fire in an Oxford tower block that was evacuated last night. Seven fire engines were called to Evenlode Tower, in Pegasus Road, Blackbird Leys, at 7.30pm. A fire service spokesman said this morning an alarm
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SHE ALWAYS KNEW HOW
SHE ALWAYS KNEW HOW Charlotte Chandler (Simon & Schuster, £18.99) Mae West famously invited people to “come up and see me some time”. Well, the author of this book did just that, and took with her a tape recorder to capture the reminiscences of Mae
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Exploring early life on earth
Martin Brasier is a time traveller employed by Oxford University. Over the course of his career as a palaeobiologist, he has gone back two to three billion years, travelling to inhospitable places and facing sometimes hostile people – all without
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Britain's poetry renaissance
Every now and then, Britain remembers its poetic past and decides to celebrate verse with a great fanfare. There is a new Poet Laureate, a fuss over Oxford’s Professor of Poetry, and BBC2 and BBC4 are showing a series of programmes examining poetry.
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DANCE TO THE MUSIC
DANCE TO THE MUSIC Glyn Frewer (Wychwood, £6.99) This is Oxford-born poet Glyn Frewer’s second book of poems, but not his second book, as he has written a dozen stories for children. He also contributes regularly to magazines such as The
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World Heritage Sites
Blenheim Palace is the only World Heritage Site in Oxfordshire. But how many officially-designated heritage sites are there in Britain? That was the question posed by the sons of publishers Victoria Huxley and Geoffrey Smith. After guessing five or
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Young Enterprise winners
STUDENTS from Oxford High School flew away with top honours in a competition designed to find the best young business talent in the county. They formed their own company, Eclectic, and wrote, illustrated and published children’s book, Frideswide the
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Oxfordshire and the recession
SOARING unemployment, falling house prices and businesses going bust — the headlines suggest Oxfordshire is being hit hard by the recession. But scratch the surface and the evidence suggests the county is faring better than other areas of the UK. While
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Dangerous suggestion over school finances
OXFORDSHIRE County Council’s aim to even out the financial playing fields between schools is admirable, but fraught with danger. It has seen there are schools with collectively £14m in surpluses in their accounts (against Government guidelines) and is
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GOLF: Tadmarton see off Frilford challenge
Tadmarton maintained their 100 per cent record at the top of the Shaw Gibbs Oxfordshire Foursomes League with a 2-1 victory in a potentially tricky match away to Frilford Heath. Both their victories came at the 18th hole. Frilford's only point came
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ATHLETICS: Danielle lands gold for Oxon
Oxford City’s Danielle Anderson was celebrating after she won the under 17 girls’ javelin competition at the weekend’s South of England Under 15/17 Championships in Ashford, Kent. Anderson was lying in fifth place with one round to go, but pulled out
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POINT-TO-POINT: Trouble reels off four-timer
More Trouble took another step up the ladder by completing a four-timer for Aston Rowant trainer Alan Hill with a game success in the men’s open at Kingston Blount, near Chinnor. The eight-year-old added to his wins in members, restricted and intermediate
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Conman should be paying up
LEANNE McCarthy is certainly gullible but it is wholly unjust that she should be paying for Wayne Gouveia’s crimes. From the outside it seems almost inconceivable that someone would fall for the pack of lies Gouveia spun: that her life was
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GOLF: In-form Jackson captures Pro-Am
North Oxford professional Lee Jackson continued his hot streak by winning the Harewood Downs Pro-Am with a four-under par round of 65. Jackson, who won by three shots, fired four birdies. Within the last month Jackson has successfully defended his Berks
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ATHLETICS: Dean claims famous scalp in London 10K
Former Radley ace Hatti Dean clocked an impressive 33mins 52 secs as she finished second behind New Zealander Kim Smith in Monday’s BUPA London 10K. Dean claimed the notable scalp of Olympic marathon champion Constantina Dita, who finished third in 34.25
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Memories boost hospital campaign
A HOSPITAL campaigner is appealing for more information about a former Bicester Cottage Hospital matron – known as Matron Lloyd. Since Les Sibley launched a campaign to save the town’s hospital, thousands of people have signed a petition and dozens have
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Dorian Gray: Milton Keynes Theatre
You can never guess what Matthew Bourne will come up with next — we’ve had La Sylphide, set in a high-rise council flat; a touch of suburban America in Edward Scissorhands, and, of course, his celebrated Swan Lake with its flock of male swans. As soon
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Schools face shake-up
A schools’ review could see a major redistribution of funding in Oxfordshire from well-off schools to poorer ones in deprived areas of the county. Oxfordshire County Council has become increasingly worried about the number of schools that are
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Wines for Spring Lamb, £88
The Wines for Spring Lamb mixed case costs £88 and includes three bottles each of the following four wines. Castillo del Moro Tempranillo/Syrah 2008, Spain: A modern Spanish wine with bright upfront fruit boosted by the syrah in the mix which gives a
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Rioja and grilled lamb a fine end to day
I am feeling particularly jaded after a hectic few days at the London Wine Fair. It is a whirlwind of activity with a never-ending series of meetings, tastings and workshops to fit in. It is easy to be distracted . . . I had my fair share of invitations
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Oxford United chairman hits out at Conference chief
OXFORD United chairman Kelvin Thomas has expressed his disappointment at Conference chairman Brian Lee after he criticised them for handing out three-year contracts. The U’s have signed striker James Constable, centre half Mark Creighton and this week
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New face of Tudor history
Being around Henry VIII for any length of time proved an unhappy experience for some women. But Suzannah Lipscomb has been happily living with the tyrannical king for two years now, with no separation being contemplated for a while yet.
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COWLEY ROAD MURDER: Victim was due to become a dad again
A MAN murdered in broad daylight in Oxford was due to become the father of twins, it has emerged. The family of Devon McPherson, 42, of Divinity Road, East Oxford, last night revealed their son’s girlfriend was pregnant, as they described the pain of
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Cash may go from rich schools to poor
A REVIEW of education funding could see money from well-off schools redistributed to poorer ones in deprived areas of the county. Oxfordshire County Council has become increasingly worried about the number of schools that are sitting on millions of pounds
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Bicester sixth form goes ahead
THE most significant change to secondary school education in Bicester for decades has been given the go-ahead. On Tuesday, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet approved plans for a new Sixth Form college at Cooper School – costing £4m. The new college
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MPs come clean on expenses
MP Andrew Smith has rejected suggestions he used his Parliamentary second-home allowance to renovate his main house in Oxford. The Oxford East MP has nominated an address in Kennington, south London, as his second home for his Parliamentary expense claims
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Man who led fight for kidney cancer drug dies
THE man who launched the fight for a life-extending cancer drug to be prescribed on the NHS has died just three hours after marrying his fiancée. Last night tributes were paid to Stephen Dallison, the kidney cancer sufferer whose case led to a campaign
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Brilliant begonias
Begonias, whether they are flowering or foliage varieties, do not get enough press coverage. However they are highly popular with gardeners and Thompson & Morgan report that they can never get enough flowering varieties to satisfy their customers. These
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MPs' EXPENSES: Harris says he'll repay profit on sale of his London flat
MP EVAN Harris made £200,000 when he sold his taxpayer-funded home in London, but last night pledged to pay back any profits. The Oxford West and Abingdon MP bought the one-bedroom flat in Westminster for £150,000 when he was first elected in 1997 and
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Beverley Craven is back
Beverley Craven is loving being back on the circuit. When she takes to the Commotion 09 stage in the Oxfordshire Village of Kingham on June 6 she promises to sing her most famous hit Promise Me as part of the repertoire. Simon Nicol from Fairport Convention
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OXFORD'S MI5 CONMAN: It cost him just £10 to ruin my life
A WOMAN left near to financial ruin after a conman fleeced her out of almost £14,000 watched yesterday as he was ordered to pay back a token £10. Leanne McCarthy has been blacklisted for credit and is being threatened with debt collectors after
