Archive

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RUGBY UNION: Students handed a drubbing

Oxford University slipped to a 50-0 defeat against Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens on Monday night, despite not playing that badly. It was just that their strong opponents, who defeated Cambridge University 73-14 last week, were ruthlessly clinical

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FOOTBALL: Ford keeps City focused on Trophy

Oxford City boss Mike Ford wants his players to focus on Tuesday night’s FA Carlsberg Trophy replay against Chesham United at Court Place Farm – and put this Saturday’s FA Cup tie out of their minds. City hit back to draw 2-2 at Chesham at the weekend

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RACING: Buick's big winner

Jockey William Buick, who lives at Letcombe Regis, near Wantage, posted the biggest success of his burgeonning career aboard Lahaleeb in the Grade 1 EP Taylor Stakes at Woodbine in Canada on Saturday. Buick powered West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon’s

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Deano hangs up his boosts

Former Oxford United striker Dean Windass has finally announced his retirement as a professional footballer. The 40-year-old has decided to hang up his boots after an 18-year playing career in order to focus on completing his UEFA coaching badges.

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RAF copter inquest told of Top Gun line

A former Army captain on board a helicopter shouted out a phrase from the film Top Gun just moments before it crashed, an inquest heard today. Captain Robert Earle was on board an RAF Benson-based Puma with a group of young soldiers as it took part in

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Man, 55, robbed in Cowley

Police are appealing for witnesses to a robbery in Between Towns Road, Cowley. Between 10.15am and 11.15am on Friday, a 55-year-old man was walking along the road when a man has approached him and threatened him, demanding that he had over his belongings

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Teenager robbed in University Parks

Police this evening appealed for witnesses after a teenager was robbed at knifepoint in the University Parks, Oxford. At around 3.15pm on Saturday, an 18-year-old man and his two friends were sat near to the cricket pavilion in the parks in Parks Road

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Surgeon shortlisted for excellence award

A SURGEON who helped transform services for stroke patients in Oxford is in the running for a major award to recognise leadership in the NHS. Ashok Handa, a consultant vascular surgeon at Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals, has been shortlisted in the Award

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PCSO defrauded council of £881

A POLICE community support officer has been exposed as a benefits cheat. Marty Arrow-Cumbe receiv-ed hundreds of pounds in housing benefit from the Vale of White Horse District Council, despite working full time for Thames Valley Police. The 19-year-old

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Playhouse panto time again for Peter

A GIANT’S voice will thunder across an Oxford stage to hundreds of boos and hisses at one of this year’s Christmas pantomimes. The Oxford Playhouse is gearing up to stage Jack and the Beanstalk from December 4 — and an animated comedy cow and over-emotional

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Stalker banned from much of county

A STALKER who tormented a woman for years has been banned from large swathes of Oxfordshire for the rest of his life. Andrew Gallagher breached a restraining order by sending a “disgusting and repulsive” text message, making a phone call and showing

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Shop blaze closes market square

WALLINGFORD’S Market Place came to a standstill when fire crews tackle a blaze above Mistral fashion shop after smoke and flames were spotted billowing from a second floor window. Incident commander Mick Pilcher said staff had not realised the premises

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RUGBY: Alchester stumble to first defeat

Alchester suffered their first loss of the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier Division season with a 10-8 defeat at Drifters. Fly half Ali Smith gave them the lead with a penalty, but they wasted other chances, and a converted try put Drifters 7-3 ahead at

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RUGBY: Witney head table after 'ugly' win

Witney went top of the Southern Counties North table after an ‘ugly’ 21-11 victory at Beaconsfield. They began in confident style and took the lead with a penalty from full back Ed Mitchem. No 8 Carl Campbell sent flanker Tim Muller diving over for

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Bogus workers con series of pensioners

BURGLARS posing as water and electricity workers conned three pensioners in doorstep scams. A man claiming he needed to bleed water tanks knocked on the door of an elderly woman’s home in Marlborough Place, Eynsham, at 8.45am on Friday. She tried to

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RUGBY: Banbury take over at the top

Banbury Bulls went top of Midlands 2 East South following a 37-25 victory at Leicester Forest. Bulls were 12-0 ahead inside five minutes thanks to tries from centre Dave Taylor and flanker Nick Clark, Taylor converting one. Forest hit back with a penalty

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RUGBY: Quins grind out victory

Oxford Harlequins climbed to fifth in the National 3 South West table after grinding out this battling victory. Quins had not beaten Cleve in six previous attempts and were pushed all the way by their visitors from Bristol. But despite

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RUGBY: 'We're making progress,' Brodley

Oxford Harlequins director of rugby John Brodley felt the victory over Cleve underlined his side’s progress. He said: “Cleve are a good side, so I think this victory was a clear indication that we are bottom of the top teams in this division rather than

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Brewery trip provides a barrel of laughs

TOP cartoonists visited Witney’s Wychwood Brewery for their annual trip organised by their trade’s national association. Sketchbooks in hand, 37 members of the Cartoonists’ Club of Great Britain, which celebrates its 50th anniversary next year, visited

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RUGBY: Jeffreys double for Wallingford

SkipperIan Jeffreys scored a brace of tries Wallingford bounced back from four straight defeats to win 33-25 at Walcot. Playing their best rugby of the season, Wallingford led 15-0 thanks to two Jeffreys’ tries and a penalty and conversion from fly half

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RUGBY: Battling Henley go bottom

Henley Hawks could take plenty of heart from a 15-5 defeat to National 2 leaders Barking at Dry Leas. The result left Hawks bottom as they have been deducted two points for fielding an unregistered player in David Birtwhistle, but this was

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RUGBY: Four for Farr in Chinnor's eight-try spree

BEN Farr ran in four tries as Chinnor cruised to a 52-17 victory at National 3 South West basement boys Maidenhead. The young wing was a late replacement for Pip Seymour (heavy cold) and took his chance with aplomb. Maidenhead did not allow Chinnor

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Ellie's special reason to watch Holby City

A SCHOOLGIRL is looking forward to switching on the TV to watch Holby City tomorrow night — she will be appearing on screen. Ellie Darcey-Alden, 10, from Yarnton, has been acting for about two years and started dancing with the Kidlington dance

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It's time to get tough on cyclists

The clamour against cyclists this autumn is getting louder. I feel sorry for people who don’t cycle. Walking’s so slow, buses are too expensive, and to drive a car these days – never mind a driver’s licence – drivers need a diploma in controlled deep

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Just use tools

In reply to Mick Heavey’s letter (Oxford Mail, October 7) I would like to ask when the last time was he found it necessary to “work out the square root of a six digit number”, presumably, going by his letter, without the use of a calculator? While he

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Bankrupt policies

GORDON Brown’s bankrupt Labour Conference speech contained reference to young, unmarried mothers. Delegates produced a flow of drivel, like ectoplasm from a medium. While Mrs Brown’s stint at the podium was pure bathos, a house divided presented its

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Biblical errors

DEREK Honey in his letter of October 7 is either misinformed or inventing. The New Testament was not “first written down in AD 325”: we have the remains of copies on papyrus from the second and third centuries. The New Testament was not “first made

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Hunt for values

FOX hunting obviously divides many but this pastime has played its part as one of our great British traditions. It may indeed be classed as barbaric to some, but the wiley fox is not extinct due to hunting, although I agree there must be a better

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Brutal sport could be legalised again

THE very unhealthy minority who persist in terrorising our wildlife and vandalising the property of those who oppose them (Hunt followers slashed tyres, Oxford Mail October 15) present an aspect of life that is deeply disturbing. There must be a serious

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MP makes stand on farming

AN MP was showered with chicken-shaped postcards as he backed a Friends of the Earth campaign turning the spotlight on possible links between factory farms and climate change. Oxford East MP Andrew Smith received the unlikely bombardment at

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Pupils plead with parents to park properly

CHILDREN chanted as part of a protest to stop parents parking illegally outside their school on yellow zigzag lines. Two primary schools in Bicester, Longfields and Langford Village, fear dangerous parking could put lives at risk. Last summer, a student

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Deadline looming for charity grants

CHARITIES have just one week left to apply for thousands of pounds in grants from the Oxford Mail’s parent company Gannett. The Gannett Foundation is looking for good causes in the county that could benefit from a grant of up to £5,000.

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Local share prices

AEA Technology 31.5 BMW 3069 Electrocomponents 153 Gladstone 25.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 79.5 Oxford Biomedica 15 Oxford Catalyst 57 Oxford Instruments 207 REED 458.9 RM 163.75 RPS Group 221.6

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Quarry 1 v 4 Crowmarsh A : U12 A

Crowmarsh's superior finishing and tremendous defending ensured that a potentially tricky draw was comfortably overcome. Despite this it was a sad day in part as we said farewell to a great member of the Team, Dillon Cowling. For the first

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Toilet closure causes a stink

PENSIONERS fear plans to close the only public toilets on Oxford’s largest estate will make its streets smell like an open Victorian sewer. Cash-strapped Oxford City Council has decided to close seven public toilets across the city to save

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HOCKEY: Hawks pipped in 11-goal feast

Todd Hutcheson struck a hat-trick on his debut, but in vain as Oxford Hawks lost an astonishing Premier Division 1 game 6-5 to table-topping Gore Court. Hawks were playing catch-up for most of the match at Banbury Road North, two drag flicks by the

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Man held over Banbury attempted murder

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with an incident in Banbury. The 24-year-old man was arrested yesterday morning, at an address in Bradford and is in custody. At about 12.30am on Saturday 11 October, police

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HOCKEY: Rover pay for missing chances

Rover Oxford Ladies had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Woking in South Clubs’ League Division 1, after leading at the break. Top defending from Suzie Williams prevented Woking from scoring early on. In response, Rover raised their level and attacked the

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Woman threatened with knife in Oxford

Police today appealed for witnesses after two women were robbed in Oxford last Thursday. At about 12.38pm, a 20-year-old woman was walking along St Aldates, when she noticed a woman following her. The woman threatened the victim with a knife and demanded

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Boy robbed near Oxford Ice Rink

Police are appealing for witnesses after a robbery near the ice rink in Oxpens Road, oxford. At about 8.30pm on Friday, a 19-year old man was outside the ice rink when a group of four men came up to him, assaulted him and stole his skateboard

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Breaking news: Incinerator plans rejected

An application for a waste incinerator at Sutton Courtenay has been thrown out by county council planners. The scheme was blocked by seven votes to six at a meeting in County Hall this afternoon. A plan to build an incinerator at Ardley

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Oxford's trickier than Torchwood, says Barrowman

HE MIGHT be able to find his way around a Tardis – but navigating Oxford’s narrow alleys and cobbled streets are an altogether trickier task for actor John Barrowman. As Captain Jack Harkness, the Torchwood and Doctor Who star can be seen effortlessly

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Bogus callers strike three times in Oxfordshire

Police this afternoon appealed for witnesses after three distraction burglaries in Oxfordshire. At about 8.45am on Friday, a man knocked on the door of an elderly woman’s home off Marlborough Place in Eynsham, claiming he had come to bleed the water

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Man robbed of wallet in Oxford

Police today appealed for witnesses after a man was robbed in Oxford. At about 4.10am on Saturday, a 20-year-old man was dropped off by a taxi in Cavell Road, when three black men came up to him and assaulted him, before stealing his wallet and Blackberry

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Sutton Courtenay burner plan throw out

An application for a waste incinerator at Sutton Courtenay has been thrown out by county council planners. The scheme was blocked by seven votes to six at a meeting in County Hall this afternoon. A plan to build an incinerator at Ardley was dumped earlier

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Racer picks up top advice

A ‘GIRL racer’ from Oxfordshire has been given tips for the top by ex-female Grand Prix driver Divina Galica. Alice Powell, from Chipping Norton, was introduced to the former racing driver – who competed against men in Formula One in the 1970s – at Brands

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Return of festive favourite causes a flap

AN OXFORDSHIRE goose farmer is spearheading the Chrismas comeback of a very traditional meal. This year, Bill Homewood, 51, will fatten 2,500 geese for dining tables across the land. And, last Thursday, the nation’s goose farmers descended

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CRICKET: Dinton aiming high

Dinton received their Division 1 championship trophy at The Oxford Times Cherwell League's presentation night and vowed to try and follow in Aston Rowant's footsteps. It is the second year running that the title has been won by a village side – and

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U11C: Summertown United 3 v Cholsey Bluebirds 3

Summertown United looked to be cruising in this game when they were 2-0 up after just 15 minutes from two very well-taken goals scored by Aidan Bradley. Both goals came from some fine passing moves. Undeterred Cholsey kept going and were rewarded

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Incinerator plans thrown out

County councillors voted today to refuse planning permission for an incinerator near Bicester. Viridor’s application for the incinerator, which would be able to burn up to 300,000 tonnes of waste a year, at Ardley was rejected by nine votes

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Cherwell pupils turn waste into catwalk glamour

OLD bin bags, drinks cartons and newspapers were pressed into service for a fashion show with a difference. GCSE pupils at North Oxford’s Cherwell School spent months working on a style project in an attempt to raise awareness of Oxfordshire’s waste

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Cholsey Bluebirds 2 Summertown Galaxy 3

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Report of fire at shopping centre

Shoppers have been evacuated from the Westgate shopping centre after reports of a burning smell coming from one of the shops. Fire crews were called to the scene at 12.07pm and are still investigating the incident. A spokesman for Oxfordshire fire

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Plea issued after car crash

Police today appealed for witnesses after a hit-and-run crash near Abingdon on Saturday in which a car ended up in a ditch. At around 4.30pm, a white Ford Fiesta, travelling towards Long Whittenham, and a black Ford Escort, travelling towards Brightwell

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Appeal for driver to step forward

Police are appealing for a driver who did not stop at the scene of an accident to step forward. A white Ford Fiesta, travelling towards Long Wittenham, and a black Ford Escort, travelling towards Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, collided on Sires Hill

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Local share prices

AEA Technology 31.5 BMW 3108 Electrocomponents 153.3 Gladstone 25.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 79.5 Oxford Biomedica 15.3 Oxford Catalyst 57 Oxford Instruments 207 REED 458.9 RM 163.5 RPS Group 224.1

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Botley 2 - Didcot youth 9

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Cowley adventurers set off to Tyrol

THESE were the days when foreign holidays, even for adults, were rare. Members of Cowley Community Association in Oxford, however, were the exception to the rule – they made a habit of heading abroad. This picture was taken in 1961 as they prepared

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Guides and Scouts' rally celebrated Coronation

SCOUTS and Guides staged a joint rally at Woodstock to mark the Queen’s Coronation. These pictures, from the Oxford-shire Guides’ archives, were taken on Saturday, July 18, 1953, at Blenheim Park, where thousands of young people had gathered

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OUP shows were action-packed

THE Oxford University Press food production, flower show and sports day promised fun for all the family. It was a popular event in the city’s summer calendar in the 1950s. Programmes for the 1951 and 1959 shows were found by Rosemary Maud, of Hereford

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Readers team up to solve Ixion names puzzle

IT DIDN’T take long to identify the Oxford Ixion Motorcycle Club scramble team from 1959. Club secretary Ken O’Brien set readers a puzzle, asking for venue, riders and machines (Memory Lane, August 17). Gordon Shepherd, of Barracks Lane, Oxford, and

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Oxford Central Girls' School stories go round world

FORMER pupils across the world have been enjoying our memories of Oxford’s Central Girls School. These latest pictures come from Jean Dudley, of Church Road, Great Milton. She writes: “I have been so interested in all the letters and photographs of

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The changing face of Wallingford

THE town’s judo club was flourishing in 1979 with about 80 members, most of them children and teenagers. Coach Les Tyler is pictured demonstrating a move with Amanda Lee, 16, at Shakespeare House, where the club held its weekly sessions. In 1981, the

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Headington Sharks 5 Blewbury 1

A Liam Costar hat trick in the first half put Headington Sharks on the road to victory against Blewbury. He put Headington 1 up within 2 minutes, soon followed by a second from Sam Marshall. Liam hit two more before half time for 4-0 at the break

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M40 accident sparks delays

Drivers were delayed on the M40 near Bicester this morning following a collision between two vehicles. The accident happened after 7am on the southbound carriageway between junction 10 at Brackley and junction nine at Weston-on-the-Green. The vehicles

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Boss Wilder hails Oxford United's spirit

Oxford United are South-ern Softies no more! Chris Wilder’s team showed they have that grit, determination and steel you need if you want to be successful, to go with their attacking flair, with a performance of great resilience at York on Saturday.

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Alternative routes to safer city roads

IT’S like trying to repair a Rolex with a mallet. That’s the verdict of a motoring expert on the city’s 20mph speed limits. Mark McArthur-Christie, of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, believes speed limits should reflect the behaviour of the law-abiding

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Inspiring efforts at charity events

HOW inspiring to see fundraisers out in force at the weekend. Hundreds of people – many with interesting and moving stories to tell – took part in both the charity walk in Oxford in aid of the city’s cancer and heart centres, and in the Abingdon Marathon

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Kidlington Rangers Vs Radley Youth

Kidlington were unlucky to loose by just one goal in a great game against Radley Youth. Both teams starting lively, with kidlington having the first chance with a shot soaring over the bar. Both teams passing the ball nicely, and the

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'20mph limit makes us less safe'

TWO motoring experts last night claimed Oxford’s new 20mph speed limits would make the city’s roads more dangerous – not safer. Both Mark McArthur-Christie, chairman of the Oxford group of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, and Mark Strange, chairman

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Phone masts net £236,000

OXFORDSHIRE County Council is making almost £200,000 a year renting out schools and fire stations as locations for mobile phone masts. Figures obtained by the Oxford Mail reveal phone companies have installed equipment across the county to