Archive
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CRICKET: Rowant set to appeal penalty
Chairman Gary Condon has hinted Aston Rowant will appeal against the decision to deduct them 25 points for their part in the pitch battle with Basingstoke & North Hants. The decision, made at a Home Counties League disciplinary hearing on Thursday night
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Webber makes his mark
Mark Webber could yet have an important role to play in Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix after topping first practice. The Australian is no longer in title contention after failing to score in the last five races, but his presence could prove
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Pilot's medals given to old school
THE son and stepson of a RAF pilot awarded the force’s highest honours at 23 have donated his medals, log book and a portrait to his old school. Wing Commander John Viney was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Distinguished Flying
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Banbury cocaine dealer jailed for five years
A man from Banbury has been jailed for five years for drugs offences. Nicholas Townsend, 27, of Lambs Crescent, Banbury, pleaded guilty at Oxford Crown Court to possessing a class-A drug with intent to supply. Townsend pleaded guilty on October 2
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Witney drowning 'was an accident'
THE inquest of a Witney teenager who drowned in last year’s floods was held today. Nicholas Gardiner recorded a verdict of accidental death at the inquest of Max Sullivan-Webb — also known as Max Weeden. The 17-year-old, of Judds Close
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In the lap of luxury
Basking in the Mediterranean, Majorca must have a kind of hold over for me, for I have returned again and again over the years. As a child I visited the north, when it resembled a giant building site, populated by cranes and builders. As a teen I
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City bus company reduces its fares
OXFORD Bus Company has announced a new package of fares that will see prices drop for hundreds of its passengers. The firm has cut an average 15 per cent off two of its pre-paid smart cards – which cover the city centre and Kidlington. It has also frozen
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Man guilty of stabbing ex-girlfriend
A 26-YEAR-OLD man who knifed his ex-lover three times, leaving her fighting for her life in hospital, is today behind bars. Benjamin Thompson was today cleared by a jury at Oxford Crown Court of attempting to murder his former partner Harriet de Raeve
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Children’s group wins £168k Lottery grant
A PROJECT for low income families has been given a cash boost. The Sunrise Multi-Cultural Project in Banbury has been awarded a Big Lottery grant of £168,353 to expand its services. The cash means the group, which was set up about 12
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City set to get its second ale-maker
A CONSULTANT is calling time on his career to set up Oxford’s second brewery. Ed Murray, a self-employed management consultant, is set to hang up his suit and tie to open the Shotover Brewing Company next month. Large scale brewing in Oxford ended in
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Shelling out to save dormouse
A SILVERSMITH was recruited by a national charity to cast 21 perfectly formed hazelnuts – as part of a campaign to save the English dormouse. John Huddlestone, 57, from Radley, took up silver work at a night class at Abingdon College in 1978. Thirty
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Robber jailed for alleyway attack on woman
A ROBBER who knocked a woman to the ground and stole her handbag in an alleyway attack has been jailed. Brian Huntley, 20, admitted attacking Deborah Churchwood, 36, as she walked home down an alleyway between Station Road and Cronshaw Close in Didcot
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Cheeky Monkey!
Is that a monkey on your back? No, but it might be on my shoulder! Of course I’m talking about the new Whisky of the moment. Put behind all your thoughts of stuffy men in smoking jackets with pipes and butlers sipping their 20
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Bomb disposal experts honoured for bravery
FAMILIES of Didcot soldiers watched with pride as medals were pinned on their chests just days after returning home from Afghanistan. Thirteen members of 11 EOD Regiment, based at Didcot’s Vauxhall Barracks, were awarded Operation Herrick campaign medals
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New community hospital gets top marks
PATIENTS are well on the road to recovery thanks to a new community hospital unit that health bosses said was the best in Oxfordshire. Oxford Community Hospital re-opened as City Community Hospital on Monday on the seventh floor of the John
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Display pays tribute to town's favourite son
ONE of England’s greatest kings and Wantage’s favourite son has taken centre stage at a major exhibition. People have flocked to Alfred the Great: Warrior and Visionary King at the Vale and Downland Museum in Wantage since it was opened by archaeologist
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Council moves to ease warden fears
OXFORDSHIRE County Council has sought to reassure pensioners and disabled people facing the loss of their wardens by announcing a replacement service. As the Oxford Mail reported on Tuesday, the current system is poised for a cost-cutting shake-up
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CYCLE SPEEDWAY: Horspath chase a treble dream
HORSPATH Hammers stand on the verge of winning a remarkable treble. It follows their thrilling 88-86 victory at home to Birmingham Monarchs in their final British Premier League encounter, which went down to a last-heat decider. The result means that
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TABLE TENNIS: Dasher returns in style
Vikings B’s Peter Dasher made a successful comeback from injury, scoring a maximum against clubmates Viking A in Division 1 of the Oxford & District League. Out for over a year after a number of knee operations, Dasher’s efforts could not inspire his
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Gardener postpones 50th birthday party to help save the planet
A KEEN gardener postponed his 50th birthday celebrations to hold an eco-fun day to inspire people to save the world. Michael Soth, who turns 50 today, has put off tomorrow’s party to instead run a 10-hour family day of green workshops and lectures.
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GYMNASTICS: Carterton girls shine
GEORGIA Bishop won a gold medal as four girls from Carterton took part in the Oxfordshire Individual Apparatus competition. Bishop took her gold on the beam and also landed silver on the floor in level five, while Molly Mullins took gold on the floor
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INDOOR CRICKET: Moss leads the way
Craig Moss scored 40 not out as Charlbury A began their Banbury Indoor League Division 3 campaign with a 17-run victory over Broughton & North Newington. Batting first, Charlbury rattled up an impressive 113-5 in their ten overs, before
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ICE HOCKEY: Duo make Stars bow
Oxford City Stars give debuts to new signings Yousif Abu Saada and Ken Forshee at Bracknell Hornets in today’s English National League Division 1 clash. Abu Saada, a solid defender, has joined from Swindon Wildcats, while Forshee is an experienced forward
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Young firefighters tackle challenge
CHILDREN put their fire safety training to the test when they were challenged to escape from a house filled with smoke. The youngsters, from St Mary’s Primary School, in Southam Road, Banbury, were put in a life-sized fire service training house – and
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WITNEY DROWING: Accidental death verdict at inquest
THE inquest of a Witney teenager who drowned in last year’s floods was held today. Nicholas Gardiner recorded a verdict of accidental death at the inquest of Max Sullivan-Webb — also known as Max Weeden. The 17-year-old, of Judds Close, was playing
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Photos reveal changing river
A MAJOR exhibition of pictures by Victorian photographer Henry Taunt has reached his home city. From his shop in Broad Street, Taunt was one of Victorian England’s most prolific photographers. His maps and guides, illustrated by photographs
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Campaigners send up a signal
ANTI-incinerator protesters launched a 20ft balloon 85 metres into the air to drive home their message. Villagers from Ardley, near Bicester, say a chimney, which would be built as part of the £100m incinerator, will be an eyesore and detrimental to
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New team sends foreign criminals packing
A NEW specialist police team has started arresting foreign criminals in Oxfordshire to return them to their homelands. A specialist police unit in Thames Valley has arrested 19 people on European Arrest Warrants since the power to search for
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Mark is ready to fight his heroes
A YOUNG wrestler with dreams of making it in America is to battle it out with Japanese superstars in a one-off event in Oxford. Mark Haskins will enter the ring at The Regal in Cowley Road, East Oxford, as part of Dragon Gate Invasion: UK in
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Local shares (PM)
AEA Technology 31.25 BMW 3104 Electrocomponents 153 Gladstone 26 Nationwide Accident Repair 79.5 Oxford Biomedica 15.9 Oxford Catalysts 56.5 Oxford Instruments 205.25 Reed Elsevier 457.9 RM 164.25 RPS Group 223.9 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley
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Ox4 Festival @ Cowley Road, oxford
GOOD looking smiley people, nice food, good beer and tons of great music. For one last day it seemed like summer had never gone away, and we were all back at our favourite festival – but without the mud, the collapsing tent and the scrumpy-stained
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Foreign suspects sent packing
A NEW specialist police team has started arresting foreign criminals in Oxfordshire to return them to their homelands. A specialist police unit in Thames Valley has arrested 19 people on European Arrest Warrants since the power to search for foreign
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Six cars damaged in A34 crashes
Motorists face severe delays on the A34 near Kidlington this afternoon after six cars were damaged in two collisions. Police closed a northbound stretch of the A34 near the Pear Tree roundabout at 2.25pm after a crash. And minutes later there was
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CRICKET: Rowant docked 25 points
Aston Rowant have been deducted 25 points for their part in the pitch battle with Basingstoke. The decision, made at a Home Counties League disciplinary hearing on Thursday night, sees the club drop from first to third in the final table - meaning they
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Barbel prove so elusive
I went back to the Kennet last Wednesday and was surprised to find I was the only angler on the whole stretch at Burghfield. A few barbel have been coming out recently, so I thought that I must be in with a shout. The swim I chose has produced good
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ANGLING: Beast of Boddington found dead at 43lb
The ‘Beast of Boddington’ is no more. The huge pike from the Daventry stillwater which made front page headlines in the national angling press earlier this year, has been found dead. It weighed 43lb. The big predator was caught several
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ANGLING: Match diary
Other Results Oakfield: (Wednesday, Swallow-Brook, 22 fished) 1 I Edwards (GOT Oakfield) 20.0.8, 2 G Worrall (GOT Oakfield) 19.15.8, 3 P Clarke (Maggots End) 18.11.0. Oakfield: (Saturday, Swallow-Brook, 21 fished) 1 S Page (Drennan GOT Baits) 41.15.8
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ANGLING: Folly looks best bet in warm-up
Last Sunday 42 anglers pegged at Medley and Folly, practising for tomorrow’s Winter League. With the Thames gin-clear and lacking flow, Medley produced the winner, but fished extremely hard, with 3.12.0 the second-best weight on the 21 pegs. The Folly
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ANGLING: Kennet cracker
Harry Turner, from Long Crendon, captured this 14lb barbel during a session on the River Kennet
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ANGLING: Farmoor II is buzzing!
Farmoor report that water levels are now rising in both reservoirs, with very little algae remaining. Farmoor I is very slow, with the odd trout to 8lbs being taken on nymphs or small lures. Farmoor II can boast a weekly rod average of 3.0 fish to
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ANGLING: Nick's tops with big chub catch
Nick Morley was the star of Witney’s match on the Thames at Northmoor with a cracking bag of chub. It was always going to be a struggle in the clear conditions, but the winner had few problems. Using waggler and maggot, he netted nine chub in the
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Incinerator campaigners send up a signal
ANTI-incinerator protesters launched a 20ft balloon 85 metres into the air to drive home their message. Villagers from Ardley, near Bicester, say a chimney, which would be built as part of the £100m incinerator, will be an eyesore and detrimental to
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Train drivers set to ballot for strike action
Train drivers operating on key routes through Oxfordshire are set to ballot for strike action. Union leaders representing about 900 drivers working for First Great Western (FGW), which runs services from Banbury and Bicester to Oxford and London Paddington
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STABBING TRIAL: Defendant guilty of GBH with intent
A man who stabbed his partner three times has been found guilty by a jury at Oxford Crown Court of grievous bodily harm with intent. Benjamin Thompson, 26, was found not guilty of attempting to murder Harriet de Raeve, 22, at the home they
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GREYHOUNDS: Jolly Poacher aims for hat-trick
Jolly Poacher will be aiming to land his third major title in a row when he battles it out in the final of the Blanchford Gold Cup at Oxford Stadium on Saturday night. It will take a very good hound to beat Poacher, who is unbeaten in any trial or race
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SWIMMING: Vale victory
Abingdon Vale pipped Bicester by two points to win the first round of the Arena National League at Coventry. It was an excellent display from Vale’s small team, who secured 16 victories. Three came from Olivia Law, who won the ladies open 200m individual
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BOXING: Benn to pull in big crowd
Nigel Benn is the special guest at South Moreton Boxing Club’s celebrity sportsman dinner at the Kassam Stadium on Friday November 7. The British boxing legend is helping to raise money for the Footsteps Foundation charity and is expected to attract
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Local share prices
AEA Technology 31.25 BMW 3054 Electrocomponents 155.4 Gladstone 26 Nationwide Accident Repair 79.5 Oxford Biomedica 16.5 Oxford Catalyst 57.5 Oxford Instruments 202.75 Reed Elsevier 465.4 RM 162.75 RPS Group 222.8 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley
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SHOW JUMPING: Measor jumps to new heights
Ami Measor recorded the best result of her fledgling career by finishing third aboard Belle Fleur at the Horse of the Year Show at the NEC, Birmingham. Competing in the BSJA Amateur Classic Championship, the 22-year-old from Steventon, near Didcot, was
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JUDO: Triple success delights Birnie
Carterton's Jim Birnie had three reasons to celebrate when he claimed a silver medal at the British Masters Championships in Dagenham. The achievement earned Birnie (pictured left) a place in the Great Britain Masters team, and also gained him his 3rd
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BILLIARDS: Ashton march on at summit
Division 1 leaders Ashton continued their good start to the Oxford & District League season, defeating CCC A 2-1 in a close encounter. Pete Fenn (+50) squeezed past Arthur Coakley (+90) 150-148 in the opening game to put Ashton into the lead. John Street
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FOOTBALL Top award for Kidlington
Kidlington Youth FC won the Oxfordshire FA Club of the Year award at the association’s awards evening. The awards were handed out by the FA’s Head of National Game, Kelly Simmons, and recognised a number of achievements. The development club of the
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Bowling for a Soup-er night out
THE only surprise about Bowling for Soup, the pop-punk band from Texas currently touring the UK, is they continue to find new depths for their potty humour. BFS, who played a sold-out show at Oxford’s O2 Academy on their last tour, have a new album out
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Follow The Bear
THE BEAR & RAGGED STAFF, 28 APPLETON ROAD, CUMNOR 01865 862329 BEARANDRAGGEDSTAFF-CUMNOR.COM. I’m salivating already,” Mr Greedy said, as I edged my chair further away. “And I could come back everyday for a month and still want to try everything
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Dead Popular
KATHERINE MACALISTER finds out why being scared to death is the latest must-do activity. How do you fancy being strapped into a straitjacket, placed in a punishment cell in the dark and submitted to psychological tests, live on the Internet
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Let Ladysmith lift your spirits
Ladysmith Black Mambazo have been at the forefront of the ‘world music’ explosion since Paul Simon recruited them to sing on his Graceland album way back in 1986. Formed by Joseph Shabalala in 1960, the multi-award-winning group now features four of his
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Uneasy Street
THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS (12A). Drama. Lily Cole, Christopher Plummer, Andrew Garfield, Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law, Tom Waits, Verne Troyer. Director: Terry Gilliam. A Film From Heath Ledger
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Bora Boring
COUPLE RETREAT (15). Drama/Comedy/Romance. Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell, Vince Vaughn, Malin Akerman, Jon Favreau, Kristin Davis, Faizon Love, Kali Hawk, Peter Serafinowicz, Jean Reno, Carlos Ponce. Director: Peter Billingsley.
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Didcot soldiers honoured for Afghan heroics
Just days after returning home from the dust and heat of Afghanistan, members of the Joint Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group — including men and women based at Vauxhall Barracks in Didcot — have been honoured. More than 90 soldiers
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Handsome Profits
As his new autobiography hits the shelves, John Barrowman talks frankly about life in the limelight. Women adore him, men envy him and gay men use him as a poster boy. And frankly, you can’t begrudge John Barrowman that because he’s so
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Rebel With A Cause
Rich Fulcher has had enough. Yessirree Bob. Enough of taking it. Enough of doing the right thing. Tiny Acts Of Rebellion is the result of years of biting his lip. So sit back and enjoy the ride as Katherine MacAlister finds out what on earth’s going on
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Seeya Later
RICHARD BELL puts in the hours to check out Urban Goodies at The Regal. I think I’m getting old... Obviously I am (because everyone is of course) but I’ve had one of those moments when you realise that, day by day, that second hand seems
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Blue Period
Tim Hughes blows the dust off his old guitar after taking a few lifestyle tips from rocker Gary Moore. MORE than 40 years after jumping into the world of rock, Gary Moore has got the blues. Not in any kind of sad way, you’ll understand.
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The Dark Ages
TIM HUGHES finds out why hardcore masters Funeral For a Friend have chosen to release a greatest hits album. DARK masters of melodic uplifting hardcore, Funeral for a Friend burst out of industrial South Wales with the force of a runaway
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Firefighters tackle chip pan fires
Two people were taken to hospital with smoke inhalation after a chip pan caught fire in Bretch Hill, Banbury, at 5.58am this morning. Firefighters also put out a fire in a cooker in Appleby Close, off Bretch Hill at 6.35pm last night. No one was injured
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FOOTBALL: Alexis handed his big chance
Oxford City boss Mike Ford has hailed the patience of midfielder Michael Alexis by handing him his first start for weeks in tomorrow’s FA Carlsberg Trophy first qualifying round tie at Chesham. The former Oxford United youngster, who suffered
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Toilets closure 'will hit elderly'
A DECISION by cash-strapped Oxford City Council to close seven public toilets to save £50,000 a year has been criticised. Toilets in Castle Street, in the city centre, Littlemore, Woodstock Road and South Parade in North Oxford, Barns Road in Cowley,
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Do we need a £300,000 super loo?
OXFORD has many things to feel proud about on the world stage. Oxford University, of course. Our wonderful spires and architecture. The ground-breaking medical research. And the Mini. But a world class public toilet? Yes, that is what the council
