Archive
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RUGBY UNION: Battling Blues hold off Esher
Oxford University were made to work hard very hard for their 30-22 victory at Esher on Monday night. The Dark Blues only showed any fluency in patches and did just enough to hold off their spirited opponents. They will certainly need
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FOOTBALL: Lyon set to roar
Winger Michael Lyon is set for his first start of the season when Oxford City travel to Chippenham for the Southern League’s Red Insure Cup first-round tie on Tuesday night. He has been out since breaking a leg in pre-season. City are
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Figures chart sex offenders
FIGURES released last night show 324 convicted sex offenders are currently living in Oxfordshire. The number being monitored by the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (Mappa) is the highest since annual countywide statistics were first published
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Lone parents risk losing benefits
HUNDREDS of single parents in Oxfordshire will have to show they are looking for work or risk losing their benefits under new rules that came into force yesterday. The Government has introduced new regulations to switch any lone parent whose youngest
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Illegal war medals
IF the Iraq/Afghanistan conflicts are illegal, and all military personnel killed are unlawfully killed, how come the medals awarded are legally ‘won’? It is, in my opinion, that medals (big and small, VC, DFC, OBE, etc), shall not be won in illegal conflicts
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Got it wrong John
BY believing the proposed public toilet closures to be the right decision John Tanner in The Issue (October 22) has got the wrong idea about what the Oxford folk really want and at the same time contradicts himself in the same paper a few pages earlier
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A Barton success
BARTON pool is a great success story of what happens when local people get together and campaign for new facilities. The building of the pool was the culmination of so many local residents work over decades, and was a real victory for Barton. I’m delighted
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Limit the speed on sleepy railway line
In your article Journey Times ‘Could Be Cut’ (Wednesday, October 21) Adrian Shooter, on behalf of Chiltern Railways, hopes to bring Oxford-Bicester journey times down from 25 to 14 minutes. In order to achieve this, travelling north, passenger trains
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Tough it out on two wheels this autumn
We’ve been so lucky these last few weeks that the sun has kept shining right the way through, despite it being traditionally cooler. But you can’t stop time or the seasons it seems because suddenly, Bam!, it’s autumn and then the rain hits – and boy
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Make all city 20mph
I THINK it would have been better to have made all roads within the ring-roads a 20mph limit. I feel people would have soon got used to it and it would be much safer for everyone. There would have been a great saving with less 20mph signs. DAVID BERRILL
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No BNP on the TV
The leader of the British National Party should never have been on television (Mail, October 24). Mr Griffin wants to get rid of half my friends and family - not for what they do or even what they think. He hates them for what they are. But you can
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So much for logic
COUNCILLOR John Tanner’s argument in favour of closing seven of Oxford’s public toilets (Oxford Mail, October 22) opens with the words "I have never known the City Council to be so short of money". Is this why he is proposing to spend £300,000 on tarting
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Stop striking now
I WRITE in response to the letter in the Oxford Mail “Try working as a postie before you criticise". The gent points out that it takes several managers to do the same round while they are on strike. Well, I am guessing as the managers generally don't
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Rugby players put backs into appeal
rugby players have clubbed together to highlight the importance of a being a blood donor after a team-mate’s daughter needed a vital transfusion. The Gosford All Blacks team decided to have the NHS Transplants Save Lives emblem stitched on to their shirts
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Website set up to find missing pets
A PET detective has launched a free online tracking service for owners whose animals have been lost or stolen. In the past month, dog thieves have struck at least three times, taking greyhounds in Harwell, a lurcher in Oxford and a Labrador puppy in
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Climate change protesters hold city demo
CAMPAIGNERS gathered in Oxford as part of a worldwide day of action against climate change. A march through the city centre on Saturday ended in Radcliffe Square where the 150-strong group demanded the Government act on carbon emissions. The event was
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Police chief makes her 100th blood donation
A SENIOR police officer has been recognised for making her 100th blood donation — and saving hundreds of lives in the process. Chief Inspector Cecilia Agger, head of operations in Oxford, based at St Aldate’s police station, made her 100th donation at
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We’ll sell poppies in memory of Bill
FRIENDS have remembered the fundraising spirit of one of the nation’s last surviving First World War veterans, who sold poppies until he was 105. The Watlington branch of the Royal British Legion said they planned to carry on selling as many poppies
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Coroner lambasts RAF over helicopter crash deaths
A CORONER has criticised the running of an RAF base following a helicopter crash which killed three men. Coroner Geoff Fell told Harrogate Magistrates’ Court yesterday the running of RAF Benson, near Wallingford, where the crew of Puma helicopters are
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DARTS: Youths are edged out
Oxfordshire’s youth team suffered a 9-8 defeat at home to Kent on Sunday The under 18s crashed 7-2 in their worst defeat. Their only wins came from Trafford Timms and, for the third time this season, Steven Wright. Oxon’s Under 21 ladies
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DARTS: All set for league campaign
The 83rd Greene King ODDA Winter League starts on Tuesday and Wednesday November 10 & 11. Fixture lists should be collected from Three Horseshoes, Old Marston, next Monday (7pm). The Summer League finals will be held at Rover Social
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DARTS: Dead-eyed Bull stuns Krabben
Martin Bull celebrated his call-up to the Oxfordshire squad with a brilliant 3-2 win over Preben Krabben, but still saw his Butchers Arms, Witney, side lose 6-3 away to White Hart, Harwell. The high-class match contained no fewer than 24 ton-plus scores
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Update: Police make Didcot Power Station protest arrests
Police have arrested eight eco campaigners who were part of a group staging a climate change demonstration at Didcot Power Station today. Eleven protesters had chained themselves to a coal conveyor at the plant, while nine others staged a sit in at the
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HOCKEY: Banbury frustrated after nightmare start
Banbury fancied their chances at home to Teddington, who hadn’t won all season, but they got off to a terible start and lost their Premier Division 1 match 2-1. From the pushback, Teddington attacked quickly down their right and a cross to the back post
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HOCKEY: Hawks girls let it slip
Oxford Hawks Ladies fell to only their second Division 1 defeat this season as a strong Reading 1A beat them 3-2 at Banbury Road North. Hawks felt they were unlucky not to get something from the game, especially after starting it well. Kelly Fogden
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Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway
Come and meet Santa on the Santa Steam Specials this December. Santa will be on every train handing out presents to the children travelling on the train. Adults will receive seasonal refreshments. Trains will be operating on the
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Millets Farm Centre
Enter Santa's Magical Wonderland Grotto at Frosts, Millets Farm Centre this Christmas and enjoy a Christmas fairytale read by Santa himself! The enchanted grotto takes you through a magical winter wonderland walk leading into Santa's workshop
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Update: Train services still disrupted for evening peak
TRAIN services between Oxfordshire and London Paddington are still suffering delays and cancellations after a body was found on the tracks earlier today. The line was closed near Taplow, between Maidenhead and Slough, shortly after 6.30am,
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Local shares (PM)
AEA Technology 30.25 BMW 3314 Electrocomponents 152.05 Gladstone 25.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 79.5 Oxford Biomedica 14 Oxford Catalysts 54.5 Oxford Instruments 224 Reed Elsevier 464.6 RM 154.5 RPS Group 211.6
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Here come the brides
Wedding belles were out at an Oxford Mail bridal show. The fair, which featured everything for the big day, took place at the Tally Ho Hotel in Bicester on Sunday. Rachel Legg, sales manager at the Oxford Mail, said: “I’m sure many couples
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A very stately Christmas
Why not enjoy sumptuously decorated rooms, traditional musical entertainment and delicious seasonal food at a stately home this Christmas? Basildon Park, at Lower Basildon is staging A Country House Christmas which will appeal to all the family
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Winter Wonderlands
Geoffrey Hedge offers some great ideas for seasonal fun for all the family in Oxfordshire and beyond. There is no need to take a long trip out to the North Pole to see Santa this year as the man in red will be out and about throughout Oxfordshire
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Car set alight in Banbury
Police are appealing for witnesses after a red Nissan Micra was found burning in a car park in Portway, Banbury. The car was found at about 11pm on Saturday. PC Ian Gibbard said: “At this stage we are working with the Fire Service to determine how
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When I was a boy . . .
Peter Mead reflects on memories of Christmas past. My earliest memory of Christmas was a thrilling Christmas Eve spent with my father, somewhere in London. It was a dark, chilly night but the braziers of the chestnut sellers provided warmth
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Police launch crackdown on cyclists
Police are launching their Cycle Lights campaign in Oxford tomorrow. In the last five years, three cyclists have been killed, 126 were seriously injured and 747 were slightly injured in collisions within Oxford city alone. As a result, through
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Jigsaw Magic
In 1760, John Spilsbury, apprenticed to a map maker and engraver in Worcester, set about mounting maps of England onto sheets of thin wood and then cutting around the county boundaries with a fretsaw. The maps were boxed and sold to children
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RUGBY UNION: Chinnor out-muscled
Chinnor 7, Old Patesians 25 For the second time this season Chinnor were well-beaten at home by a side challenging for the National 3 South West title. But unlike their capitulation to Taunton, this was a battling if error-strewn effort. Old Patesians
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RUGBY UNION: Basic errors cost Chinnor
Chinnor head coach Jason Bowers felt the Old Patesians clash was a game his side could have won. He said: “Having scored first in the second half and settled down, I thought we would win. “Unfortunately our basic skills let us down and we lost what
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RUGBY UNION: Jones at the double
National 3 South West Oxford Harlequins fought back from 17-0 down to win 31-24 in a wind-affected game at Chippenham. The hosts had the wind advantage in the first half, but crucially Quins managed a try from wing Huw Jones before the break, which
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Bonfire Night to go with a bang
The fuse has been lit as preparations for Bonfire Night celebrations throughout Oxfordshire get under way. The biggest display is likely to be Oxford Round Table’s charity event on Saturday, November 7, in the city’s South Park, which will
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Top 20 money-saving tips for the festive season
Top 20 money-saving tips for the festive season It is recognised that most families spend far too much money on Christmas, so here are 20 ways to make the family budget go further this time. You will probably end up enjoying Christmas more, too
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RUGBY UNION: Henley bounce back
National 2 South Henley Hawks climbed off the bottom with a morale-boosting 30-19 bonus-point victory at Canterbury. Hawks took an early lead with a penalty from fly half Will Fulton after Canterbury hooker Tom Rogers was yellow-carded. Their first
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RUGBY UNION: Turner try in vain
South West 1 East Wallingford were outmuscled by visitors High Wycombe in a 17-5 defeat. The hosts started brightly and took the lead after ten minutes following a scrum on halfway. Fly half Jackson Sayce fed wing Richard Turner, who outstripped
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RUGBY UNION: Bicester break their duck
Southern Counties Intermediate Cup Bicester collected their first win of the season with a 29-21 first-round success at Corsham who had lost only once previously. Scrum half Andy Williamson put Corsham ahead with a sixth-minute penalty
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RUGBY UNION: Banbury beaten at the death
Midlands Intermediate Cup Banbury Bulls were knocked out at the second round stage following a 19-18 defeat at Old Laurentians. A late penalty from full back Denzil Evans consigned Banbury to their first loss of the campaign. Banbury began brightly
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RUGBY UNION: Gosford pipped in thriller
Gosford All Blacks exited the Southern Counties Senior Vase at the first round stage after losing 31-27 at home to Melksham. Centre Harry Sutton gave Gosford the lead after being fed by fly half James Holburn, but Melksham replied with atry from wing
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Bonfire Night set to go with a bang
THE fuse has been lit as preparations for Bonfire Night celebrations throughout Oxfordshire get under way. The biggest display is likely to be Oxford Round Table’s charity event in the city’s South Park, which will feature a 26ft burning wooden
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And now for some proper fun
Drag yourself away from the computer this Christmas and enjoy some family fun with some great games from days gone by. Tracy Martin’s six-year-old daughter is bleary-eyed at the end of a hectic Christmas Day. An early start is taking its toll
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Rock star's photo quest ends in Vale village
ROCK star Brian May’s quest for a lost village has ended – in Hinton Waldrist. The tiny village in the Vale of White Horse turns out to be the setting of a collection of old photographs that came to obsess the Queen guitarist. Since
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Woodstock festival takes art on road
THE Art in Woodstock festival began at the weekend with a rendition of the Blue Danube – played on kazoos and car horns. The unusual musical approach to the waltz was chosen to fit in with this year’s theme of SmART. The week-long celebration
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Extra help to tackle drink problems
Binge drinkers and alcoholics are being offered a new support programme in an effort to reduce drink-related hospital admissions in Oxfordshire. The county’s Substance Misuse and Alcohol Referral Team, Smart, has launched the service to support
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Coroner rules on Puma crash
A CORONER has cited a “background of deteriorating administration, airmanship and discipline” in his ruling over the deaths of three RAF servicemen. Coroner Geoff Fell told Harrogate Magistrates Court RAF pilot Flight Lieutenant David Sale
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ASK THE VET: Does my dog get hayfever?
Q. My alsatian has developed a nasty cough but seems well apart from that. He races about in the fields and woods and has a lot of energy. My neighbour said her alsatian had the same thing and it was grass pollen and mould spores, do you think
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Bird lovers flock to Port Meadow
HUNDREDS of bird lovers descended on Oxford’s Port Meadow to encourage people to fill bird feeders and baths ahead of the winter. Between 400 and 500 people visited the RSPB’s annual Feed the Birds event on Saturday and Sunday. Visitors spotted lapwings
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What's your pleasure?
Ted Sandbach of the Oxford Wine Company offers some advice on selecting wines for your festive celebrations. When asked to produce an article about Christmas wines it is very tempting to go down the traditional party line. A Chablis with the
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Drinkers get extra help to tackle drink problems
BINGE drinkers and alcoholics are being offered a new support programme in an effort to reduce drink-related hospital admissions in Oxfordshire. The county’s Substance Misuse and Alcohol Referral Team, Smart, has launched the service to support
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Blue plaque honours Britain's first professor of Russian
THE first professor of Russian and Slavonic languages at Oxford University is to be honoured with a blue plaque. Prof William Morfill lived at 42 Park Town, Oxford, and the plaque will be unveiled in a ceremony at the house on Sunday. Eda Forbes, secretary
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RAF Benson pilot 'lacked skills to carry out low flying'
An RAF pilot who crashed a Puma helicopter killing himself and two passengers did not have the skills to carry out the low-flying manoeuvre he was attempting, a coroner ruled today. RAF Benson-based Flight Lieutenant David Sale, 28, Sgt Phillip
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Oxford Welsh choir back on song
A CHOIR made homeless earlier this year put on “one of the best concerts” in its 81-year history after finding a new rehearsal base. The Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir was locked out of its practice room at the Lord Nuffield Club in Cowley when
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Safe stolen from Oxford newsagents
Police are appealing for witnesses after a burglary in Blackbird Leys Road, Oxford. Between 1.30am and 4am yesterday, offenders broke into Martins Newsagents through a small window at the rear of the property. They forced their way into the post office
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Keeping the peace!
Brace yourself for a flurry of reports warning of a post-Christmas spike in divorce figures. It seems that while it is supposed to be the season of goodwill, in fact the festive season is a time when family tension hits a peak. It is not
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Four held over car-jacking
Four people have been arrested in connection with the suspected armed robbery that took place at the M40 service station at Waterstock. The arrests were made in High Wycombe last night, in connection with the incident that took place at the Welcome
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£300 stolen in Witney burglary
Burglars stole hundreds of pounds of cash from a Witney house after breaking through an upstairs window. Police are appealing for witnesses to a burglary in Queen Emma’s Dyke sometime between 8.45am and 10.20pm on Thursday. Det Con Kevin Middlecote
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Record number of sex offenders in county
The number of convicted sex offenders living in the community instead of prison is at its highest level on record. Annual figures released by Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (Mappa) this morning showed there were currently 324 registered
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Burglars steal £300 in Witney house burglary
Burglars stole hundreds of pounds of cash from a house after breaking through an upstairs window. Police are appealing for witnesses to a burglary in Queen Emma’s Dyke, Witney, some time between 8.45am and 10.20pm on Thursday. Det Con Kevin Middlecote
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324 sex offenders living in county
The number of convicted sex offenders living in the community instead of prison are at the highest on record. Annual figures released by Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) this morning showed there were 324 registered sex offenders
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Christmas at Blenheim
Enjoy heart-warming memories of Christmas for the festive season at Blenheim Palace with Christmas Nostalgia - Toys, Treats and Treasures taking place from November 14 to December 13, Wednesday to Sunday inclusive. The palace will be decorated
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Be enchanted this festive season
Preparations are well underway for the first Oxford Christmas Market and organisers are determined that, come December, the city of dreaming spires will be full of festive cheer... No need to fly off to Germany to experience the magical delight
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Latest: Protesters cycled to Didcot power station protest
Environmental protesters claim they cycled past security staff before forcing their way into Didcot Power Station early this morning. More than 20 protesters broke into Didcot A — the coal-fired power station — at about 5am and are currently
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Photographs find uncovers life at Oxford nursery
AN interesting collection of pictures from an Oxford nursery has come to light. Rosemary Maud, who lives in Hereford, found them among the belongings of her late mother, Agnes Jacobs. Mrs Jacobs, who was a pupil at Oxford High School
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The changing face of Tetsworth
VILLAGERS had a taste of the Wild West when the Rock-a-Billy riding centre opened in 1983. Owner Julia Tanner engaged Wild West acts – trick riding, rope tricks and shoot-outs – to drum up support for her venture. Stephen Volley, 14, is pictured
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Headington stretcher racers helped hospitals
CROWDS turned out in 1979 to support a stretcher race held in Headington, Oxford. More than 150 people in five-man teams, including police, firemen and rugby players, entered the mile-and-a-half race around seven pubs. The team pictured were leaving
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Standlake school put fallen trees to good use
WHEN two trees near a school were blown down during a gale, staff and pupils turned the incident to their advantage. The fallen trunks at Standlake Church of England Primary School became useful aids to play and work. The trees came
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Clerical comedy a hit for concert party
HERE are two more pictures of the Eastleigh Brothers’ Concert Party. As we recalled (Memory Lane, August 31), they were a group of young people who entertained many audiences in the Oxford area in the 1940s and 1950s. Norman Hodges, Ian Pullin, John
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Runaway cart caused chaos in Oxford street
PASSERS-BY dived for cover when three horses pulling a farm wagon ran amok in Oxford. With the horses “furiously making their way up New Road”, the incident, at 9am one morning in 1878, caused “some amount of alarm”, according to the Oxford Chronicle
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Body on line causing severe rail disruption
A body on the line is causing severe train delays between Oxford and London Paddington this morning. At about 6.30am a person was seen lying on the tracks between Taplow and Burnham in Berkshire. The area was sealed off as scenes-of-crime
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Update: Ongoing Didcot Power Station demonstration
Environmental protesters forced their way into Didcot Power Station early this morning and are now occupying the site. More than 20 protesters broke into Didcot A — the coal-fired power station — at about 5am and are currently occupying the
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Breaking news: Protesters storm Didcot Power Station
Environmental protesters forced their way into Didcot Power Station early this morning and are currently occupying the site. A spokesman for Didcot Power Station, which is run by RWE npower, said: "Twenty demonstrators forced their way into Didcot A
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We were easily the better side – Ford
Mike Ford said that nobody could deny Oxford City deserved to go through to the first round – despite needing a last-gasp winner from Andy Gunn. And City’s boss was full of praise for his side’s character in coming from behind to claim victory. “We
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Creighton joy at rare strike
Centre half Mark Creigh-ton was delighted with his left-footed volley which got Oxford United’s FA Cup campaign up and running against Thurrock on Saturday. The former Kidderminster defender broke the deadlock against the Conference South side with an
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Musician's superband bid is TV ad hit
AN ASPIRING musician has become the face of a nationwide TV advertising campaign and is on a mission to create a “superband” featuring as many people as possible jamming together. Josh Ward, from Steventon, near Abingdon, struck a chord with
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We all owe a huge debt of thanks
Thankfully, not everyone can remember the true horrors of the First and Second World Wars. Nevertheless, we owe an enormous debt of gratitude to those who gave their lives in the name of freedom. Today, servicemen and women are fighting a fresh war
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Help that can really change lives
Anyone who has been in the British Armed Forces for at least seven paid days qualifies for support from the RBL. More than a quarter of the RBL payments go to food and household essentials. RBL county manager Craig Treeby said: “Last
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‘An important mark of respect’
Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe and Royal Marine Dale Gostick were both killed in action in the past 18 months. Their fathers – retired Major John Thorneloe and ex-Royal Marine John Gostick – said buying poppies was an important mark of
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Generations come together to launch poppy appeal
THEY might be two generations apart, but these two hero soldiers stand shoulder-to-shoulder in launching the Poppy Appeal in Oxfordshire. This year, the Royal British Legion is raising money for servicemen and women wounded in Afghanistan and
