Archive
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Oxford housing plans in disarray
PLANS for thousands of new homes in and around Oxford – seen as key to easing the city’s housing crisis – have been thrown into doubt. The Campaign to Protect Rural England is celebrating news that plans for the Northern Gateway business park
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Sassy and Single: Where did all the real men go?
I DON'T know if you noticed it, but currently there are thousands of females mourning the loss of an extremely important man to women of our generation and no, it’s not Stephen Gately. No, this is someone who has already, sadly, become a distant
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Get priorities right on road safety
I READ with disgust that £300,000 of council taxpayers' money (our money), has been spent on reducing speed limits on Oxford’s residential roads to 20mph. I have driven in Oxford and would be hard pushed to exceed this speed anyway on residential roads
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Unions destroyed harmonious workplace
HOW WELL I remember 1934 when at the age of 14 years I had the pleasure of working 48 hours per week for William Morris, i.e. Lord Nuffield, where my father, two elder brothers and sister were already working. There were medical, hairdressing, a savings
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Doing things by stealth
SO, P HOWARD (Oxford Mail, October 19) thinks that the country will always be in debt under a Tory government. The Tories were in office for 18 years, not 15, and in 1999 Labour inherited a healthy economy, not a big debt as he says. In fact after
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Too much gown, not enough town
SO IT’S my fault is it? New Labour councillor, Ed Turner, claims (The Issue, October 19) that those who oppose the proposed Grenoble Road housing development “are making local families suffer.” I’ve news for Ed. Local families are suffering because
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Drug raids on homes in Leys
POLICE found suspected crack cocaine in a shoe when they raided on homes in Oxford's Blackbird Leys estate today. More than 20 officers went into homes in Balfour Road and Monks Close at 7.45am. It takes the total number of raids in
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New shops centre puts Oxford to shame
The spanking new Marriotts Walk shopping centre in Witney, which opens tomorrow, has shot up almost as quietly as it has quickly. Construction work on the £50m project only started in January last year, but on the eve of its opening the buzz in the town
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MP warns family jobs ban would hurt constituents
OXFORD East MP Andrew Smith tonight warned his constituents it was they who would lose out if new Parliamentary rules to prevent MPs from giving paid jobs to family members were imposed. Mr Smith has employed his wife Val – an experienced city
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Forget the stars...it's twinkle, twinkle chocolate bar
BOOKLETS filled with old fashioned nursery rhymes paired up with funny new variants have been given to parents as part of a scheme to encourage families to read together. The free poetry booklets, which feature old classics alongside the newer
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Oxford church helps to clothe needy
AN OXFORD church is handing out new clothes and shoes to deprived families and refugees. The Word Fountain Christian Ministries, in Hollow Way, Cowley, will open its doors every Wednesday between 2pm and 6pm to allow people to make use of its new clothing
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Dorchester meadow reserved for nature
LAND alongside Dorchester’s historic bridge has become the county’s newest nature reserve. Old Bridge Meadow has been bought by the Hurst Water Meadow Trust and will be turned back into a traditional water meadow which is allowed to flood during times
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Poppy man on parade in Kidlington
A STRIKING 6ft tall Poppy Man has been deployed in Oxfordshire to encourage people to support ex-servicemen and women. The life-size figure, made of chicken wire and covered in poppies, is the original Poppy Man which was flown to Basra, in
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'We will remember Janet for her music'
A MOTHER-OF-TWO killed in a car crash near her home has been described as having “natural vivacity that will be missed”. Janet Undery, 49, of Thame Road, Great Milton, died when her Toyota Celica and a Toyota truck collided at the junction
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Former United hero joins 12th Man walk
OXFORD United legend Les Phillips will take part in Saturday’s sponsored walk from Kidlington to the Kassam Stadium in aid of the 12th Man fund. The Milk Cup-winning midfielder will join chairman Kelvin Thomas on the 10-mile walk before
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Bikers roar into Bicester to meet adventurer Charley
WHEN round-the-world motorcyclist Charley Boorman roared into Bicester, he was met by fellow bike enthusiasts. Mr Boorman dropped into Coles Bookstore, in Crown Walk, to meet fans and sign copies of his new book Race to Dakar. Members of the Oxford
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Abingdon police tackle yob hotspots
POLICE have launched extra patrols in six areas of Abingdon blighted by yobs. The antisocial behaviour hot-spots were highlighted by residents as becoming no-go areas for people terrified of gangs of teenagers. In response, police have
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Dam fine project comes to an end
A £1M PROJECT to restore a dam in the grounds of Blenheim Palace has been finished. Work to the Blenheim Dam – built between 1760 and 1774 by famous designer Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown – started in May and was completed on Tuesday.
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AUNT SALLY: Allen hits top form
Phil Allen hit a six in his 15 dolls as Bicester beat Chipping Norton 4-2 in the Banbury Indoor League. He also posted 13 dolls in the 6-0 win over George. Colin Pollard (5-4-5) top-scored with 14 dolls in Unknown’s 4-2 win over North Oxford Conservative
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AUNT SALLY: Lyon king again in title joy
Three Pigeons’ Neil Lyon retained the Oxford Singles trophy with a 2-0 win over Kevin Giles (George Littlemore) at a packed Rover Sports & Social Club, writes ANDY BEAL. Lyon set the first leg with a respectable four, and Giles fell just shy with three
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AUNT SALLY: Champ Clapton emulates his dad
Leigh Clapton has become the first player to emulate his father by being crowned Abingdon & District League's singles champion. The 40-year-old, who throws for Abingdon United FC, defeated 'Laddie' Moody (Steventon Sports) 4-3, 5-4 to lift the crown
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Oxford food bank tackles throwaway society
OXFORD’S most vulnerable people will have access to fresh food every day, thanks to a new food bank. Every night, charities, shelters and community centre s will get boxes of produce delivered to their doors, which have been donated by supermarkets
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21-year-old attacked in Oxford
Police today appealed for witnesses after a 21-year-old man was assaulted in Oxford. The attack happpened in St Thomas Street, near to the Las Iguanas bar, after he had left the nearby Lava and Ignite nightclub in Park End Street at about 1.45am
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ICE HOCKEY: Stars scrape home victory
Oxford City Stars squeezed to a 5-4 win at home to Peterborough Islanders in Division 1 South of the English National League despite dominating the match. Stars had 62 shots on goal compared with Peterborough’s 23, but only won after a tense finish.
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Didcot tower is 'taken'
Nine climate change protestors who scaled Didcot Power Station’s 200-metre-high chimney returned to earth today after two days. The five men and four women abandoned their sit-in at 4am, almost 48 hours after they had broken into the plant
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GOLF: Frilford at the double
Frilford Heath reached the Shaw Gibbs Oxfordshire Foursomes League’s Knockout Cup final and maintained their slim Section 1 title hopes with a weekend double. A 2-1 victory over Brailes at Southfield saw 2008 runners-up Frilford set up a final clash
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GOLF: Bronze boost
The Oxford Ladies team who defeated Studley Wood in the Oxfordshire Bronze League final (from left): Scilla Dudding, Gillian Chapman, Ruth Stockford (capt), Pat Smith and Jan Glover. Julie Nixon, Dawn Torgersen, Kit Lewis, Susanne Wilson and Marie Frost
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GOLF: Results round-up
SHAW GIBBS OXFORDSHIRE FOURSOMES LEAGUE Knockout Cup semi-final Frilford Heath 2, Brailes 1 (Frilford Heath first): A Walton & B Paterson bt J Spenle & D Gore 6&5, P Dolton & P Richardson bt R Holmes & G Paish 6&5, D Newbold & J Richardson lost
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Trout pie recipe (serves four)
Having baked the massive trout I was given by my colleague David, I discovered there was loads left over to make a pie, which I served with a crisp winter salad. It was easy to make and tasted delicious. I used short crust pastry, but most people
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Delightful meal from a whopper of a trout
When I returned home from the vets a few weeks ago, having taken my cat in for an operation to remove a big growth, I admit to feeling really sad as I reached the gate. I knew that there would be no little ginger cat waiting for me there. Yet there
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RUGBY UNION: Dark Blues to train with England
Oxford University will provide the opposition when England train at their Pennyhill Park base in Surrey on Friday. Dark Blues’ director of rugby Steve Hill said his players were very excited at being invited to help Martin Johnson’s men prepare for the
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An Education
A star is born. Twenty-four-year-old British actress Carey Mulligan positions herself as a serious Oscar contender with a mesmerising portrayal of a conflicted schoolgirl in Swinging Sixties London. Based on a memoir by journalist Lynn Barber,
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The Madness of George III
This is the full title of Alan Bennett’s play, as opposed to the shortened version used for the film. Americans, it was suggested, would think that the ‘lll’ meant that the movie was the third part of a trilogy! The original stage production and film
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RUGBY UNION: Oxon march on
Oxfordshire Under 18s made it two wins from two in the South West Division with a hard-fought 23-8 victory over Somerset. Somerset went ahead with a penalty, but fly half Tommy Allan twice replied in kind to give Oxon a 6-3 lead. Scrum half Richard
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An Alpine journey in the cab of a train
In my time I have enjoyed memorable rides at the front end of many trains. These include speeding across northern France at 187mph in the cab of a Eurostar on the day the Waterloo-Paris service began and roaring through Reading station at 100mph
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RUGBY UNION: Tombleson joins Waratahs
Triple Oxford Blue Tom Tombleson has joined Super 14 side New South Wales Waratahs as strength and conditioning coach. The 26-year-old will have full contact with the first team, who have 12 players in the Australian squad. Tombleson said: “I got the
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Twelfth Night: Royal Shakespeare Company, Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Meldrew as Malvolio? Richard Wilson’s casting as the censorious steward in the dark-hued comedy Twelfth Night has grabbed headlines (as was presumably intended), though selecting a sitcom star for the role is not unprecedented. I vividly recall
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RUGBY UNION: Tots classes set to start
Classes designed to introduced rugby skills to children as young as two will be starting in Didcot next month. Rugbytots, which is run locally by Russell and Barbra Frost, offers a “specifically designed non-contact rugby play programme for boys and
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Between the Lines: Oxford Playhouse
The curtain has risen on a remarkable collection of sketches, now displayed at the Playhouse. You will discover them lining the walls of the staircases, the First Floor Café Bar and the Top Room. This is no ordinary exhibition. The 56 sketches on show
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Ali Cockrean: 03 Gallery, Oxford
Although expressionist artist Ali Cockrean has studied art at St Martins College of Art and Design and the Slade School of Fine Art, she says her skills are largely self-taught. Ali is showing 36 of her works completed during the past few years at the
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Sweeney Todd, Amey Hall, Abingdon
You could say – using an appropriate pun – that Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd balances on a razor’s-edge. Do it big scale, and it can be a disaster – as the first West End production proved. Do it small scale, and it can be a triumph – as the award-winning
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RUGBY UNION: Bowers in derby demand
Chinnor head coach Jason Bowers was already looking ahead to Saturday’s derby clash with Oxford Harlequins as he reflected on losing against Old Patesians. The 25-7 National 3 South West defeat was frustrating, but Bowers was not dwelling on it. “Bring
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Lord of the Dance: New Theatre, Oxford
“Welcome to the world’s greatest dance show” booms a voice over the glittering Meccano set that is the stage – the sort of claim that immediately evokes thoughts of better candidates for the title. But that is completely irrelevant. Lord of the Dance
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RUGBY UNION: Gown pip town
Oxford Cavaliers were pipped 31-28 by their student rivals in the annual Jacqueline Scott Memorial rugby league match at Stratfield Brake. A Town v Gown clash saw Oxford University come out on top in a game played in memory of both sides’ former physio
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Spring Storm: Royal&Derngate, Northampton
Two plays by America’s greatest 20th century playwrights feature in the Young America season, at the Royal& Derngate, under its artistic director Laurie Sansom, until November 14. They are performed by the same ten-strong cast on different nights. From
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Preview of Kes: The Oxford Playhouse
t is 40 years since Barry Hines’s acclaimed novel A Kestrel for a Knave became Kes, a classic of British cinema. Now adapted for the stage by Lawrence Till, this new production directed by Nikolai Foster comes to the Playhouse from Monday for six days
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Roger McGough: The Oxford Playhouse
‘Whenever I come to Oxford/I’m guaranteed a warm reception/ For I always bring a brand new poem/And this year is no exception.” Short, sweet, and with tongue planted firmly in cheek, Roger McGough’s poetry reading started in typical fashion, effortlessly
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The Canadian Connection: The Spin
The Spin began its autumn season with the Transatlantic Quintet, a mix of UK and US players. This week the Canadian Connection featured Vancouver guitarist Daryl Jahnke (pictured) sharing the front line with Spin guitarist Pete Oxley. The quartet, on
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Art in Woodstock
Armed with paint and brushes, children have been making their mark on Smart cars parked in Woodstock’s Town Square this week by covering them with artistic squiggles and spots. They are taking part in one of the many activities and workshops organised
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Michala Petri and Lars Hannibal: Holywell Music Room
Michala Petri is one of the world’s leading recorder virtuosos. She has done as much as anyone living to popularise the instrument, and revive and expand its repertoire. In 1992, she formed an artistic partnership with her husband, the guitarist Lars
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Go Back for Murder: OFS Studio, Oxford
Go Back for Murder is one of Agatha Christie’s more unusual whodunits. First, because the play opens with the assumption that the murderer has been found and, second, because there is more pathos here than in your usual Christie tale. The pathos comes
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Days of Significance, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Oxford Playhouse
On its first appearance in 2007 at Stratford’s Swan Theatre, Days of Significance was presented in promenade style by director Maria Aberg, with the audience in the midst of the action. You had to move fast to avoid the flying fists and feet, and
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BAR BILLIARDS: Workers finish with flourish to slay Gladiators
Cowley Workers Club coasted to a 4-1 home win over Gladiators Club B in the Scotland Ash League Cup. Dave Bartlett took the first leg with a good score of 9,540, before Neil Cunliffe levelled with a 3,430-1,660 win over Tony Harvey. Cowley then
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BOWLS: Coaching sessions set up at Oxford
Coaching sessions have been arranged by Oxford & District Indoor BC in a bid to attract new members. They will take place on Sundays (10am-12noon) and on Mondays (12noon-2pm) at the Sandy Lane West club. The cost is £20 for take-up membership for three
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ATHLETICS: Fisher lifts Blenheim title
Abingdon Ambler Simon Fisher stormed to victory in the Rotary Blenheim 10K at Woodstock. Running over a new course in the grounds of the stately home, he took victory in 35mins 37 secs. RESULTS ROTARY BLENHEIM 10K Abingdon Amblers: 1 S Fisher 35.37
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ATHLETICS: Hawtin triumphs
Oxford City’s Melissa Hawtin ran out a clear-cut winner of the junior/under 17 women’s race at the Birmingham Cross Challenge at Senneleys Park, Birmingham. She took victory in a time of 13mins 49secs from Stroud & District’s Amber Watson, who recorded
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ATHLETICS: England eyes up Euro challenge
Oxford City middle-distance star Hannah England is set to have a final crack at the European Cross Country Championships this winter – but will not compete at the World Indoor Championships in Doha in March. England, who was guest of honour at Oxford
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Tamsin revs up to take on Dakar Rally
A FORMER Oxford youth worker is set to tackle the world-famous Dakar Rally. Tamsin Jones will be the youngest British woman in the notoriously tough 14-day event. The rally, which is now held in South America after it became too dangerous
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Man faces car crime charges
A man has been charged with theft from a motor vehicle and attempted theft from a motor vehicle. Ivor Woodward, 36, of Mereland Road, Didcot, was charged with the offences on Monday. The charges are in relation to theft and attempted theft from
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Man to stand trial accused of killing Witney couple
A man accused of two double murders, including the killing of a Witney couple more than two decades ago will stand trial in June next year. John William Cooper, 64, of Letterston, near Fishguard, Wales, appeared at Swansea Crown Court via a video link
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Punks go pink to raise money for cancer fund
A BICESTER hairdressing salon has raised more than £400 for charity by going ‘punk for pink’. Mohicans, safety pins, and ripped jeans were the look of the day as staff from Gemini Hair, in Kingsley Road, raised money for Breakthrough Breast
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A real Bobby Dazzler in Oxford
ANTIQUE fans will discover if their heirlooms are “real Bobby Dazzlers” or just “cheap as chips” when one of Britain’s most famous experts visits Oxford. TV presenter David Dickinson is heading to the Kassam Stadium with his ITV show Dickinson’s Real
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UNITED BY FOOTBALL: Here come the Belgians
OXFORD United’s next home game will be given a continental flavour by a group of Belgian football fans. Supporters of third division side Union Royale Namur will be in the Kassam Stadium stands on Saturday as the guests of Oxford’s fans’ team, Raging
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Ellie is just a song away from stardom
A BUDDING singer is just one song away from her big break after she reached the final of a national competition. Ellie Robbins, 16, from Yarnton, will perform in front of thousands of people as she bids to be crowned winner of Open Mic UK 2009. If her
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DR RICHARD SPEED: Teacher with a passion for jazz
DESIGN and technology education expert Dr Richard Speed has died aged 73, following a battle with cancer. Dr Speed and his wife Pam moved to Hatford, near Faringdon, in 1960. After a brief spell at a school in Swindon, Dr Speed began a 23-year career
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REEVES FAMILY: Fish and chip shop clan mourn two family members
THE Reeves family, who ran a chain of fish and chip shops in Oxfordshire, are mourning the loss of two loved ones. Bob Reeves died aged 63 in April, and his mother Muriel Reeves died shortly afterwards, aged 86, with her funeral taking place
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84 cyclists caught without lights
A month-long crackdown on cyclists riding around Oxford’s streets without lights was launched last night. During the check, in the High Street, Oxford, between 6.30pm and 9pm, police officers and members of Oxfordshire County Council’s road
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Cyclists riding without lights collared every two minutes
A cyclist was caught every two minutes riding through Oxford city centre without lights on their bike during the launch of a seasonal crackdown. Police carried out stop checks on High Street between 6.30pm and 9pm yesterday. They handed out 84 fixed
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Stars support Christmas appeal
Celebrities dropped into Bicester Village yesterday to launch the shopping centre’s Christmas charity appeal. The in-crowd included model Caprice Bourret, pictured with six-year-old Kharis Stevenson, Holby City actress Tina Hobley and socialite
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Cup bonus for Oxford United
Oxford United chairman Kelvin Thomas says that any profit from an FA Cup run will be a huge bonus for the club – because it is all unbudgeted. Thomas has revealed that when he sat down to work out the finances, he included five ‘success factors’ that
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Taking on outdated stigma
NEW figures show the number of Down’s Syndrome pregnancies between 1989-90 and 2007-8 rose by 70 per cent. Shockingly, in 2007-8, almost 93 per cent of foetuses diagnosed with Down’s were aborted, so we are pleased to report mums like Emily Robinson
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Chimney protest ends with arrests
Climate change protesters who spent a second night on the chimney at Didcot power station were arrested this morning after ending their protest. Nine activists spent a second night on the 200-metre chimney after breaking into Didcot A, the
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Armed burglar leaves Chalgrove couple too scared to go home
A BURGLAR in a Halloween mask who ripped the rings off a great-grandfather’s fingers and held a meat cleaver to his disabled wife’s throat has left his victims too frightened to return home. Wheelchair-bound Sandra Lockyer, 62, was so traumatised by
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'Poppies for my lost friends'
A FORMER Army driver who witnessed the horrific death of his friend while serving in Northern Ireland has urged people to remember fallen war heroes. Wheelchair user Robert Newton, 58, was serving as a driver with the Royal Corps of Transport
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Witney's new shopping centre set to open
Witney’s multi-million-pound Marriotts Walk development opens to the public tomorrow. The first shops in the Welch Way development will open their doors to the public at 10am. First to open will be Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, New
