Archive
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Protesters fear loss of rail link
RESIDENTS of a south Oxfordshire village fear they could lose their train station after cuts left them without afternoon trains to Oxford. First Great Western withdrew two off-peak weekday services from Appleford to Oxford and three to London via Didcot
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Oxford United ticket deadline approaches
OXFORD United fans have until 5pm on Friday to take advantage of the reduced season-ticket prices. The club have been overwhelmed with the response from fans, which has seen a sharp rise in sales, as well as more than 200 new faces buying season tickets
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MURDER UPDATE: Riverside search carried out
ARMED police swooped on a Oxford riverbank in the hunt for a man wanted for questioning follow a murder in East Oxford. Devon McPherson, 42, died after he was stabbed in the neck two and half weeks ago. The father-of-eight, of Divinity Road
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Kindness will never be forgotten
I WOULD like to draw your attention to a residential care home that my family and I feel should have the highest praise and that is St Andrew’s on the London Road in Headington. My sister was admitted there just before Christmas as she needed constant
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Family tell of pride in fallen Royal Marine
JASON Mackie ‘stood with honour’ under his Royal Marines green beret. Today his father Philip carried that same beret behind the 21-year-old’s coffin into St Mary’s Church in Bampton as tributes were paid to a soldier who had made the ultimate
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Money can't buy it
GRACIOUS in defeat? Not so for Manchester Utd. The whole team just stood there petulant. There was not even a handshake offered from prima donna Ronaldo and team mate Rooney. Just a look that said “that should have been ours” but it wasn’t theirs
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Plaque will remember Berlin
A blue plaque is to be unveiled to academic, broadcaster and lecturer Sir Isaiah Berlin this weekend. The plaque will be unveiled by Lord mayor Mary Clarkson at Sir Isaiah’s former home in Headington House, at 52 Old High Street, Oxford, at 3pm on Sunday
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Need regeneration?
I WRITE to reply to Gerry Marshall's comments. It will be a surprise to most people in the Mill Street area that, to quote Gerry Marshall, the development of Trajan House for Thames Valley Probation will “contribute to the regeneration of West Oxford”
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Any old iron won't do for MP Evan
“THE DEAL was good for taxpayers”. The statement came from my MP Evan Harris. Very few MPs can say that and he is not one of them. Does he think we are stupid? Firstly he sells his flat to family. He wouldn’t declare what his new flat cost. But it is
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Crash causes M40 delays
A crash involving two cars and a tanker caused delays on the M40 in north Oxfordshire. One lane is closed and traffic is queueing traffic due to an accident and debris on the southbound carriageway about a mile-and-a-half before junction 11
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Button 'chasing glory not money'
Jenson Button insists he is chasing the dream and not money in the wake of his stunning start to the current Formula One season. Following his fifth win in six grands prix in taking the chequered flag at Monaco 11 days ago, Brawn GP chief executive
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Brabham family considers legal move
The Brabham family are considering taking legal action against the company that last week lodged an entry to compete in Formula One from next season under the famous name. German businessman Franz Hilmer, who runs Formtech, announced that Brabham
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Oxford murder hunt police continue search
Police are continuing their search for a man they would like to speak to in connection with a murder in Oxford. Devon McPherson, 42, was stabbed on Monday 18 May at about 11am. He staggered into the Regal where police officers and paramedics attempted
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Premises fail purchase tests
Three pubs, a shop and a social club all served alcohol to children in the latest round of police test purchasing operations. Police sent children aged 15 and 16 into eight licensed premises to buy drinks and only three refused and asked for
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HORSE RACING: Channon banks on Montaff to make an impact
West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon believes Montaff is capable of surprising a few people in the Investec Derby at Epsom on Saturday. The son of Montjeu is a 50-1 outsider for Flat racing’s blue riband. But Channon knows what it takes to mix it with the
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UPDATE: Medics treat six after chemical spill
SIX people needed medical treatment after a chemical spillage at an industrial park. Thirty firefighters were scrambled to package handling firm UPS at its Milton Park depot, near Didcot, after a package of white powder burst inside a delivery
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Four arrested after robbery spate
Five people were robbed in a number of attacks either in or nearby to Iffley Road, in East Oxford today. In Iffley Road, a 48-year-old man was robbed by two men who claimed to be carrying a knife as he walked home at around 12.45am. Minutes later two
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CRICKET: Arnie's back!
Minor Counties Championship Keith Arnold will make a shock return to a much-changed Oxfordshire side for their opening Western Division clash with Dorset at Great & Little Tew. The 49-year-old Banbury Twenty seamer has been suffering with a back
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CRICKET: Brooks returns for Oxford
Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Jack Brooks returns to Oxford’s ranks on Saturday as they host High Wycombe in Division 1. The Northants-contracted seamer, who turned 25 yesterday, has yet to make a first-team appearance for the county
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CRICKET: Rowant oust Thame
Bernard Tollett Oxon Knockout Cup Captain Wes Morrick made 70 to help Aston Rowant defeat Thame Town by 27 runs in round one’s big match. Results Aston Rowant 180 (20ovs, W Morrick 70, T Miles 31, R Carr 4-37), Thame Town 153-
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CRICKET: Holders up and running
ECB 50+ County Championship National champions Oxfordshire are off the mark in their bid to retain the title after a seven-wicket victory over Worcestershire at Sandford St Martin on Wednesday. Oxon, who lost to Wales in their only other outing this
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POINT-TO-POINT: Hill eyes a high five
More Trouble, who has been a revelation for Aston Rowant trainer Alan Hill this season, is set to bid for a five-timer at the rearranged Oxford University Hunt Club meeting at Kingston Blount, near Chinnor, on Saturday. The eight-year-old has stormed
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SPORTING CALENDAR: June 6-12
SATURDAY CRICKET SERIOUS CRICKET HOME COUNTIES PREMIER LEAGUE Premier Div: Banbury v Henley, Oxford v High Wycombe. Div 2 West: Finchampstead v Aston Rowant, Thame Tn v Reading. THE OXFORD TIMES CHERWELL LEAGUE Div 1: Dinton v Cumnor, Banbury XX
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31 jobs go at diagnostics firm
A HI-TECH firm has axed 31 employees and been put up for sale after failing to secure funding for its pioneering cholesterol monitor. Oxford Biosensors has gone into administration after funding was withdrawn in April for its on-the-spot monitor
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TRIATHLON: Rugby rivals in Blenheim relay test
Three Oxford University rugby players are taking on a Worcester Warriors trio this weekend at the Mazda Blenheim Triathlon. Alex Nicholls, Ian Kench and Tom Gregory have entered the team relay, with former England captain Pat Sanderson, Miles Benjamin
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Cell visits keep up standards
Volunteer custody visitors have been thanked for ensuring people arrested are safe and well while behind bars in Thames Valley. Between April 2008 and March 2009, the 83-strong team of custody visitors in the region made 439 visits – more than eight
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Local shares (PM)
AEA Technology 15.25 BMW 2369 Electrocomponents 146.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 76.5 Oxford Biomedica 10.5 Oxford Catalysts 52 Oxford Instruments 143 Reed Elsevier 480.5 RM 160.25 RPS Group 194 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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TENNIS: Local kids shine at Woodstock
Henman’s Junior Singles Tournament, hosted annually by Woodstock, attracted a large entry from nine different counties, with ages ranging from ten to 18 years. Local Woodstock player, 13-year-old Bobby Gosling, beat Witney's Elliot Jennings 6-2, 6-1
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D-Day Anniversary: Veterans recall longest day
WAR veterans in Oxfordshire will fall silent on Saturday to mark the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Dozens of former soldiers, their families, friends and community members will remember the Allied invasion of France, which began on
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TENNIS: North Oxford flex muscles
North Oxford teams are flying high at the head of the top Wilson OLTA League Mixed divisions after emphatic wins at the weekend. North Oxford A cruised to their third successive 4-0 victory in the Yellow Division, this time at second-placed Thame A.
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150-mile trek raises £1,000 for Oxfam
AN OUT-OF-WORK truck driver who turned his hand to volunteering at his local Oxfam shop raised more than £1,000 after walking 150 miles to the charity’s hometown of Oxford. Brian MacIntosh, 32, was laid off from his job as an HGV driver at a recycling
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Northway residents launch fence offensive
A FENCE war has broken out between Oxford City Council and residents on the city’s Northway estate. People living in a block of flats with a shared garden in Stockleys Road, are angry a fence has been put up around their communal washing line area without
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Mixed emotions as squadron returns
THERE were mixed emotions as 101 Squadron returned to RAF Brize Norton after serving in the Middle East for almost 19 years. Yesterday, servicemen and women were greeted by friends and family as three VC10 refuelling tankers flew into the airbase
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New top officer in charge of local policing
Thames Valley Police Authority has appointed a new Assistant Chief Constable, responsible for Local Policing. Steve Rowell, who comes from his role as Acting Assistant Chief Constable (Operations) at West Midlands Police, took up his new appointment
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Jellyfish crop circle leaves farmers facing £600 bill
WHILE druids, hippies and curious tourists who descended on Oxfordshire’s latest crop circle thought it was amazing, the owners of the farmland where it appeared, are less pleased. Sally-Ann Spence and husband Bill, of Berrycroft Farm, in Ashbury
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Bicester town scheme to start despite crunch
WORK is expected to start on Bicester’s long-awaited £70m town centre redevelopment by the end of the year. The revamped centre will include a new 60,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s supermarket, a six-screen cinema, library, shops and restaurants. The plans will
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Rescue centre offers Kenyan orphans a good future
A RESCUE centre and health clinic for orphaned girls in Kenya has officially opened after years of fundraising by people in Oxfordshire. Kenya Children Centres chief fundraiser Gay Goodall, 61, from Warborough, near Wallingford, flew out to Ngoingwa,
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What's the story of the Morning Glory?
A PLANT-loving 80-year-old defied an Oxford University ban to go in search of a Morning Glory at Oxford Botanic Garden. Michael Hugh-Jones was banned from the garden two years ago after his anger over the treatment of an Ipomoea plant spiralled out of
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BMW still upbeat about Mini's future
BOSSES at the Cowley Mini plant continue to be optimistic about the future, despite new figures which show a continuing decline in sales. Statistics for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders today show the 2,650 cars were sold in the UK during
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Everyday Wine!
I am in a constant search for a good “house” wine. A wine that has the flavour and complexity to keep me interested, but doesn’t cost half my weekly shopping bill want a wine that would go equally well with smoked salmon as frozen quiche and pasta
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Teacher recalls Tiananmen Square massacre
THE smell of burning bodies still lives with an Oxfordshire school teacher who saw the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square massacre in China 20 years ago. Rupert Attlee, who had been working in Hong Kong in 1989, was on his way back to London
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CHEMICAL SPILL: Substance not dangerous
A chemical involved in a spillage at an industrial estate this morning is not being treated as dangerous. Six people suffered itchy eyes and skin irritation after the low toxicity substance – used in washing powder – spilled from a van at United Parcel
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New car sales fall
New car sales fell sharply last month, with the motor industry saying that it would take time for the Government's "cash for bangers" scrappage scheme to take effect. A total of 134,858 new vehicles were registered in May 2009 - 24.8% down
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Six affected by chemical spill
Emergency services are at the scene of a chemical spillage in a van outside United Parcel Services (UPS) in Milton Park. Police were called at 7.50am by the Fire Service to assist with assessing and managing the situation. The entrance to UPS
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First time buyer on the Moo-ve
A first-time buyer from Banbury has secured a next generation starter home with the help of the latest Government-backed finance scheme. Martin Checkley, 20, will soon be moving into his iPad apartment at Moo-ve in Banbury after qualifying for a 30 per
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Five hurt in Milton Park chemical incident
Five people have suffered minor injuries in a suspected chemical incident at Milton Park industrial estate near Didcot today. Emergency services were called to the package-handling firm UPS at 95 Milton Park shortly after 7.46am. Vicky
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UPDATE: Five injured in chemical incident
Five people have suffered minor injuries in a suspected chemical incident at Milton Park industrial estate near Didcot this morning. Emergency services were called to the package-handling firm UPS at 95 Milton Park shortly after 7.46am. Police spokesman
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Chemical scare at industrial area
Emergency services have been called to Milton Park industrial estate near Didcot this morning to deal with a suspected chemical incident. A spokesman for South Central Ambulance said paramedics were called to the incident at package handlers UPS shortly
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Chemical scare at Milton Park
Emergency services have been called to Milton Park industrial estate near Didcot this morning to deal with a suspected chemical incident. A spokesman for South Central Ambulance said paramedics were called to the incident at package handlers UPS shortly
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In search of the perfect home
Every now and again a novel turns up that is both quirky and thought provoking. Matthew Reynolds’s Designs for a Happy Home is just such a book. It’s also a real page-turner. It is Matthew’s debut novel, but not his first publication. As a fellow of
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THE WOMAN WHO SAVED THE CHILDREN
THE WOMAN WHO SAVED THE CHILDREN Clare Mulley (One World, £18.99)This is the biography of Eglantyne Jebb, the woman who with her youngest sister co-founded the Save the Children Fund. Her parents, Anglican Conservatives in Shropshire, instilled into
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Tumbledown Abbey ruins
We are used to seeing our ancient buildings preserved in good repair, so it is a shock to see the state of the derelict Abbey Buildings in Abingdon before the Second World War. A picture dating from 1938, and one showing the buildings proudly
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If cows could talk
Some say that when humans gave up the life of a hunter gatherer and turned to agriculture instead, they made the biggest mistake of all time. Certainly it was the first giant step towards civilisation as we now know it. One place where staff are keen
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Fight for survival
STRUGGLING drug discovery company Summit has gained a breathing space in its bid to secure its future. Following a £300,000 deal with Orient Pharma involving a treatment for the symptoms of Parkinsons disease, it has enough cash to last until the autumn
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Brookes campus protesters 'coming out of woodwork'
OXFORD Brookes University is under mounting pressure to rethink its plans for a £150m new campus from an alliance of conservationist and residents’ groups. The university’s plans to redevelop its Gipsy Lane campus as “a new gateway to Oxford” will go
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Estate agent splits with former partners
OXFORD estate agent James Penny has relaunched himself in new offices, aiming for a 'fresh start' after breaking from his former business partners. Mr Penny was a minority shareholder in James C Penny, of Walton Street, owned by Israr and Zulfiqar
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CRICKET: Downs withdraw from Village Cup over ineligible player
Oxford Downs have pulled out of cricket’s npower Village Cup – handing their Oxfordshire semi-final victims Aston Rowant a passage into the county decider. In a dramatic development, Downs decided to withdraw from the competition after it came to light
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Schools need top quality leadership
HOW very sad that several years after the Oxford Mail first highlighted the extent of headteacher vacancies in Oxfordshire, little has changed. At the last count, 11 schools were effectively rudderless, without a permanent headteacher.
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Would author laugh, or cry?
We don’t know whether author Graham Greene would laugh or cry if he knew what was likely to happen inside Grove House in Iffley when members of the Love Art Lab turn up later this month. The Brighton Rock writer bought the house for his wife Vivien
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11 schools without a permanent headteacher
ELEVEN Oxfordshire schools are without permanent headteachers – and parents are being warned the situation is only likely to get worse. Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show only one less school is without a permanent head that
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Police will ensure fair elections
TENS of thousands of voters are expected to go to the ballot box in Oxfordshire today for the county council and European elections. Voters are advised to bring their polling card to their local polling station, although without their card
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Barbecue wines mixed case, £82
Food cooked on a barbecue can be truly delicious. Try a tuna steak or other seafood for an experience that is a little different. Marinades add wonderful flavours to many foods — Greek yogurt, lemon and salt and pepper make a great marinade for chicken
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Enjoy a Springwatch moment
Watch out(side)! Over the past week many of you will have started following the BBC’s Springwatch on TV — a marvellous celebration of some of the best of British wildlife. And perhaps it has inspired you to get out of the house and catch some
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Farmers open gates to public
‘Open Farm Sunday is an opportunity for us to tell people what we do here, and why we do it,” says Phillip Chamberlain, of Crowmarsh Battle Farms, near Wallingford. “They see the crops as they travel in and out of our village of Preston Crowmarsh, and
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Feast for eyes at Ashmolean
Take a quick look around your home. Of your possessions what means the most to you; the photographs, the special gifts, the souvenirs of travels or the family heirlooms? Whatever you choose, it is that feeling which makes you say ‘my home’. The Ashmolean
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Disappearing mail
Sir – Referring to Mark Noble’s letter (May 21), I would mention that I too have suffered from undelivered mail but in my case the trouble has arisen from outgoing mail, in contrast to your correspondent’s, who apparently has missing incoming mail.
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Unusual office
Sir – As a resident of Mill Street I was apalled to learn that a university department wishing to rent Trajan House (proposed site for the mega probation centre) had been put off by the fact that they would need to apply to the city planning department
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Get off MP’s back
Sir – I have never voted Labour and I have been appalled by some of the revelations concerning MPs’ expenses. However, I have to say that the story you ran in (May 28) concerning Andrew Smith’s expenses appeared to be an attempt to create an issue
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Fair question
Sir – I am pleased that Eddie Duller (Letters, May 28) recognises my consistent voting record in arguing for transparency of Parliamentary allowances and expenses. I was one of only a handful of MPs who turned up on a Friday, last May, in an unsuccessful
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Illuminating thesis
Sir – In his very good feature (May 21) on Ruth Padel, Reg Little’s description of the poet’s father as ‘a classics teacher’ is a little meagre. Dr John Padel (1913-1999) was indeed a classical scholar, and for part of his professional life a teacher
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Playing by the rules
Sir – The Vice-Chancellor of Brookes University, (Letters, May 28), describes the growth in Brookes student numbers in the last ten years as ‘modest’. City council statistics show that numbers increased from 10,500 in 1999 to 17,320 in 2006, an increase
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Subject to same rules
Sir – In response to Professor Beer’s letter last week I would like to point out a number of facts. At the 2006 Master Plan ‘consultation’ most of Brookes’ new development was based on the Headington Hill site, in 2007 there was a radically changed
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Dedication of graduates
Sir – I write with regard to recent adverse comments about Oxford Brookes University’s plans to develop its Gipsy Lane site and about comments made more generally about the University. Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals enjoys a very successful relationship
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Damning report
Sir – The damning report by the Health Protection Agency on the state of the former Oxford Community Hospital (Report, May 21) came to light as a result of a Freedom of Information Act request that was made on behalf of Oxfordshire Keep Our NHS Public
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Free swim for the few
Sir – The Government recently announced a £140m scheme for all councils to offer free swimming to the over 60s and under 16s. So far of the six Oxfordshire councils, only Oxford City Council have begun to offer this healthy benefit to an ageing population
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Unfair campaign
Sir – The voice of both past and present Brookes students in the on-going debate about the University’s plans to upgrade its campus in Headington is in danger of being lost. There are, after all, almost 50,000 Brookes students and graduates living
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Tower of Babel
Sir – The orchestrated group of Brookes’ letters in last week’s columns linger on how their university ‘Builds the Local and Regional Environment’ economically, nostalgically, educationally. Impressive PR as ever, the arguments evade the current Built
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Lack of accountability
Sir – It is heartening to see so many of the Brookes’ hierarchy responding in your pages to the campaign against their huge expansion plans. They do read! Really abysmal, however, has been their almost total failure to answer any of the key questions
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Assault on quality of life
Sir – I refer to last week’s letters. I am saddened that Janet Beer, etc. have missed the point of the current campaign against the proposed new student centre at Oxford Brookes. None have addressed our concerns regarding the height and bulk of the
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Social disintegration
Sir – It is not healthy for Oxford residents to have 40,000 students living amongst us. A recent study by Professor Dorling from Sheffield University has demonstrated that cities with large student populations, such as Oxford and Edinburgh, have
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Pair behind the perfect palace
dTrevor Wood’s grandmother could not have guessed the seed she was sowing as she busied herself potting plants in her greenhouse. Every Sunday afternoon, when his parents were working in their shop, the young Trevor would go around to see her.
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City's true face
We welcome the Lord Mayor of Oxford Mary Clarkson’s proposal to set up a fund for University of Oxford student Kentaro Ikeda who was so badly beaten up in an attack near the University Parks he may never be able to live independently again. Mr Ikeda
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Man defies ban in hunt for Morning Glory
AN 80-year-old defied an Oxford University ban to go in search of a Morning Glory at Oxford Botanic Garden. Michael Hugh-Jones was banned from the garden two years ago after his anger over the treatment of the Ipomoea plant spiralled out of control,
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Policies count
We should not be surprised to see individuals without a political platform standing up to potentially challenge our MPs at the next election. Steve Moore says he feels let down by Wantage Conservative MP Ed Vaizey and is proposing to gauge the level
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Ex-porn star to perform in Graham Greene's former home
FORMER porn star Annie Sprinkle will be testing Oxford audiences with a heady mixture of sex, paint and art when she brings her Love Art Laboratory to Iffley on Monday. And it will all be happening at the former home of the novelist Graham
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Banbury 'like a used car lot'
Fed up residents claim their street is starting to resemble a used car lot. People living in Woodgreen Avenue say there can be up to 12 cars for sale at any one time and the road has become an eyesore. Householders claim a school bus is now forced to
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Letcombe Bassett dad bidding to be 'clean' MP
A FATHER-of-two outraged by the MPs’ expenses scandal is to fight Wantage MP Ed Vaizey for his seat at the next General Election. Human resources manager Steve Moore said he felt let down by Mr Vaizey, after it emerged he had used taxpayers’ money to
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A model pupil
It isn’t that many years since Margaret Cooper was studying at Headington School, singing in local choirs, taking part in the Oxford Music Festival and dreaming of opera stardom. Now, aged 27, she has a busy career on both the opera stage and the concert
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Gold for Newington Nurseries
I expect like me you are ‘Chelsead’ out. Whether you went and wore out the shoe leather personally or watched the television coverage, you will have overdosed on plants. But despite all that gloom and doom the Credit Crunch Chelsea of 2009 blossomed.
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Protests grow over Brookes development
OXFORD Brookes University is under mounting pressure to rethink its plans for a £150m new campus from an alliance of conservationist and residents’ groups. The university’s plans to redevelop its Gipsy Lane campus as “a new gateway to Oxford” will go
