Archive
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Another signing on the way?
Table-topping Oxford United, without a game today, hope to tie up a deal to bring midfielder Lewis Chalmers to the Kassam Stadium. Boss Chris Wilder has been in talks with the Aldershot player, and may be able to finalise a loan deal for the
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Pupils celebrate World Book day
Schools around the county were populated by a kaleidoscope of fictional characters to celebrate World Book Day. Schools held events aimed at getting children excited about reading. At Wantage Primary School, the school was filled with Harry Potters,
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Food waste collections set to start
PEOPLE in Banbury will start recycling their food waste from next week. Introductory packs and brown kitchen caddies will be delivered to homes across the town from Monday. Once households have the caddy, food waste can be collected and thrown into
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Fan fails to overturn his football ban
A 21-YEAR-OLD man convicted of a drunken clash with police in Oxford failed yesterday to overturn a football banning order. Matthew Claridge, of New Yatt Road, Witney, had been at Oxford United’s home game with Stevenage with his two brothers on August
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'38 dogs drove us barking mad'
A NEIGHBOUR of a man who keeps 38 dogs at his Witney home told a court he heard barking “every hour of every day”. Christopher Watts told Witney magistrates he was woken day and night by the noise coming from Roger Sutton’s semi-detached house in Colwell
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Drowned mental patient ‘had tripped’
A WOMAN with a long history of mental illness found drowned in a ditch probably tripped while making her way home from hospital, an inquest heard. Christine Belcher, 42, was being treated for depression at the Warneford Hospital in Headington, Oxford
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Public back Bodleian plans
VISITORS to the Bodleian Library were offered an early glimpse of the next £78m chapter in its 400-year history. An exhibition showing how Oxford University hopes to transform the New Bodleian into what will effectively be a major city visitor attraction
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Waistcoat ‘may be that of former PM’
A SEAMSTRESS preparing costumes for an amateur drama production believes she has uncovered a former Prime Minister’s waistcoat. Wardrobe mistress Jan Castle, 71, had been doing some late-night sewing to prepare for the Sinodun Players’ upcoming
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Parents speak out to back heart controversy hospital
THE father of a 10-year-old girl who had a heart operation just hours before surgery was suspended has backed John Radcliffe Hospital. On Wednesday night the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust announced it had suspended child heart surgery
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M40 crash causes traffic chaos
AN ACCIDENT on the M40 north of Banbury this morning is still causing major problems on roads across north Oxfordshire. The northbound carriageway of the M40 is expected to be closed between Banbury and Gaydon until at least 7pm while the road
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Government puts up cash for work on Grove airfield homes
THE Government has put up tens of thousands of pounds to help a district council plan a controversial 2,500 home development. Vale of White Horse District Council has been given £30,000 in Government cash to pay for expert assistance with the Grove Airfield
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Awol Abingdon soldier jailed for nine months
A SOLDIER who went absent without leave rather than serve a second tour in Afghanistan was jailed for nine months today. Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, who was also reduced in rank to a private, was sentenced at a military court after admitting
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Local shares (PM)
AEA Technology 22.5 BMW 2879 Electrocomponents 196.7 Nationwide Accident Repair 93.5 Oxford Biomedica 11 Oxford Catalysts 60 Oxford Instruments 236.75 Reed Elsevier 513 RM 171.5 RPS Group 182.1 Courtesy of Redmayne
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Police to recruit more bobbies for beat
THAMES Valley Police is bucking the national trend by recruiting extra officers on the beat. More than half the police forces across England and Wales have frozen recruitment or are cutting the number of officers this year because of Government funding
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Gang Show all set to go
PERFORMERS have been putting the finishing touches to their show-stopping musical extravaganza being hosted by Oxfordshire’s Scouts, Cubs, Guides and Brownies. The 165 strong cast are taking centre stage at Oxford’s New Theatre for next week’s Oxford
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FGW TRAINS: Warning of a long, long haul on rail link this Christmas
THE old Great Western Railway was sometimes referred to as the Great Way Round and passengers travelling by train from Oxford to London between Christmas and New Year’s Eve may get the same feeling. Due to the closure of the main line through Reading
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SWIMMING: Hannah eyeing up Euro 2011
HANNAH Green is targeting the European Junior Synchro-nised Swimming Champion-ships in 2011 after making rapid progress in the sport. The teenager, from Eynsham, is ranked first in the British junior squad and has already competed in the senior national
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GYMNASTICS: Happy anniversary
Abingdon Gymnastics Club are celebrating a successful first year at their new home in Berinsfield, owned by business park management company Jennings. In that time the club have increased their number of classes for children and adults, and had great
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'Eye check saved my life'
A FORMER pub landlord says his life has been saved by a trip to the optician. Grandfather-of-11 Ray Clibbon, 61, from Blewbury, woke up six weeks ago with blurred vision. When he turned up to Didcot’s Specsavers branch for a test, hi-tech
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MOTORSPORT: Bratt's blow
BANBURY’S GP2 Asia Series racer Will Bratt endured a disappointing conclusion to his weekend’s racing in Bahrain, after being shunted out of the sixth round of the season. Bratt, who lined up 16th on the grid for the 23-lap Sprint Race at Sakhir, made
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WEIGHTLIFTING: Birinus are the best in Britain
IT’S official – St Birinus, from Didcot, are the best in Britain. In the British Weightlifting Association’s yearbook just published, Birinus are top of two separate rankings. Not only do they have the best junior lifter in the country in Ben Watson
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SCHOOL SPORT: Alfred's jumping for joy
Ten youngsters from King Alfred’s Community & Sports College, Wantage, went head over heels to qualify for the National Schools’ Trampoline Championships in Bristol next month. They secured their places with some outstanding results at the southern zonal
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SCHOOL SPORT: On-target Cox stars
Ashley Cox produced a virtuoso display with 50 points to steer Wood Green (Witney) to a 74-69 win over European (Culham) in the Oxfordshire Under 14 basketball final. Wood Green trailed by 13 going into the final quarter of the clash at Cheney School
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SCHOOL SPORT: Launton land indoor crown
LAUNTON Primary School triumphed in the North Oxfordshire School Sport Partnership Sportshall Athletics final at Cooper School, Bicester. They pipped the Grange (Banbury) by two points in a closely-fought competition, which also featured Hanwell Fields
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GREYHOUNDS: Cheltenham fever
THE Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) have announced a special deal for the Cheltenham Festival whereby racegoers can visit any dog track for free if they download the voucher from their website. Oxford will be giving free entrance to punters on
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Head praises hard work at his Wantage school
A HEADTEACHER has praised the hard work of his school after it attained a ‘good’ rating during an Ofsted inspection. Four inspectors visited Wantage CofE Primary School, in Newbury Street, last month. The school, which has 444 pupils
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Aid worker says thanks for help to Ethiopia
AN ETHIOPIAN aid worker has given heartfelt thanks to the people of Oxfordshire who contributed to the famine appeal in the 1980s. Mother-of-three Almaz Fiseha Demissie is currently studying for a masters degree in development and emergency practice
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GREYHOUNDS: Seven-up Curtin pulls into the lead
FORMER champion tra-iner Paddy Curtin has set his stall out early in this year’s competition. The Gaydon-based handler, who won the title in 2006, banged in no less than seven winners at Sunday’s BAGS meeting to race into a healthy 11-point lead over
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TABLE TENNIS: Bicester's run ended as Vikings scrape in
BICESTER’S exciting run in the Oxford & District's Aubrey Hughes Handicap Shield competition finally came to an end with a narrow quarter-final defeat at home to Vikings B. Conceding a start of 260 points, Vikings’ trio of Peter Dasher, Julian Lawton
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Awol soldier jailed for nine months
A soldier who went absent without leave (awol) rather than serve a second tour in Afghanistan has been jailed for nine months. Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, who was also reduced to the ranks, was sentenced at a military court in Colchester, Essex
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BOXING: Dark Blues bid to put it right
Head coach Des Brackett is predicting a close contest in Tuesday’s Varsity Match as Oxford University bid to recover from last year’s 9-0 drubbing. Brackett is confident his side will fare far better than 2009 when they take on Cambridge in the clash
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BOXING: Flynn eyes up second crown
Berinsfield's Jordan Flynn bids for his second successive National Schoolboy crown tomorrow when he faces Sahir Iqbal in the Class 2 (under 14 years) 46 kg final at Brentwood, Essex. Flynn (pictured) triumphed 12 months ago when he confidently outpointed
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E-fit issued of Oxford burglar
Police today released an E-fit of a man wanted in connection with a distraction burglary in Oxford. At about 11.30am last Friday, a man called at the home of a 76-year-old woman in Hurst Rise Road, posing as a door-to-door salesman selling household
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BILLIARDS: Manger retains cup
ALAN Manger, of New Club, retained the Oxford & District League’s Arthur Cook Cup, when he beat Oracle’s Gordon Cook 200-176 in the final at Eynsham Sports Club. In the semi-finals, Manger beat Pom Merola, of Oracle, 200-182, while Cook
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SNOOKER: Stone secures final for Riley
James Stone was Riley A’s hero as they beat Thame A 4-2 in the Oxford & District League’s Simonds Cup final at Abingdon Conservative Club. In a see-saw affair, Andy MacBryan got Riley off to a winning start when he beat Brian Elve 53-46
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ANGLING: Winner Dougie's right on time for Benson
MOST matches were cancelled last Sunday because of the state of the waters around Oxford, with just a handful on stillwaters surviving, writes Andy Webber. With the Cherwell at ‘The School’ almost across the playing fields, Oxford Bus AC switched
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Preservation trust launches community award
COMMUNITY projects are being invited to gain recognition from the Oxford Preservation Trust. Its awards scheme, now in its 33rd year, has added a community award to the categories. Now the trust wants to hear from groups which have completed
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ANGLING: Season fizzling out fast
I reckon that’s just about it for this season as far as river fishing is concerned, with yet more rain continuing to scupper our best efforts to get onto the bank, writes Andy Webber. Last Sunday, the Environment Agency put another Flood Watch on the
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ICE HOCKEY: Stars keen to quell Thunder
There will be an extra edge to the contest when Oxford City travel to face Division 1 South strugglers Milton Keynes Thunder tonight (6pm). Stars’ duo Paul Gore and Mike Lucas are both former Thunder players, while both Lee Featherstone and Tom Roles
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ANGLING: Results & fixtures
Other results. Oakfield: (Wednesday, Brook, 10 fished) 1 M Pollard (Fox Match) 16.9.8, 2 P Alland (GOT Oakfield) 14.15.8, 3 M Giles (RS Baits) 5.14.8. Oakfield: (Saturday, Swallow-Brook, 19 fished) 1 D Cullip (BGS Garbolino) 33.8.0
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CRICKET: Charlbury edge home in thriller
Charlbury edged to a two-wicket victory against Hook Norton off the last ball in Banbury Indoor League Division 1. Hook Norton posted 100 all out, with Dan White and Tom Rothwell both hitting 24. In reply, Ashley Rump (37no) and Rob
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Crashes cause M40 delays
Two crashes caused delays for drivers on the M40 today. A lorry and a car were involved in a collision on the northbound carriageway between junction 11 at Banbury and junction 12 which led to the closure of the road for a time. Long delays are reported
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Woman charged with bigamy
A BANBURY woman has been charged with bigamy following an investigation by the UK Border Agency. Irene Mwembu Coomber, 33, of Meadowsweet Way, was arrested and charged with one count of bigamy and two counts of assisting unlawful entry into
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Local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 21.25 BMW 2879 Electrocomponents 195.25 Gladstone 31.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 93.5 Oxford Biomedica 11 Oxford Catalyst 60 Oxford Instruments 236.75 Reed Elsevier 508.75 RM 172 RPS Group 182.8 Courtesy
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Oxfam to run Ethical Trade Workshop
Oxfam is holding an Ethical Trade Workshop on March 30. The aims are: • To give participants an understanding of key labour issues in global supply chains based on Oxfam’s analysis, and the benefits to business of addressing them. • To use tools and
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Enjoy a free fun day out at Brookes Science Bazaar
A day of fabulous, free, science based fun for the family will be on offer at Oxford Brookes University on March 20, as part of this year’s Oxfordshire Science Festival. Brookes Science Bazaar will run from 11.00am until 4pm at Headington Campus
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The CIAO! Ark Project
CIAO! is an Oxford-based arts organisation that offers children and young people exciting opportunities to engage with the highest quality performing arts from around the world. CIAO! has been producing theatre festivals since 2003, but this year is
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Covert police catch pickpocket
Undercover police officers caught a pickpocket following a series of thefts from pensioners in charity shops. A covert operation was launched inside the British Heart Foundation shop, in Bury Street, Abingdon, after several elderly shoppers
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AWOL soldier due to be sentenced
AN Abingdon soldier faces a prison sentence today after he admitted being absent without leave (AWOL). Lance Corporal Joe Glenton could face up to two years in prison, his legal representative, John Tipple, said. Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, of 4 Logistic
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Surgeons 'raised concerns over deaths'
Parents have expressed shock at the suspension of child heart surgery at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital as it emerged surgeons had themselves raised concerns over the deaths of four babies in three months. On Wednesday, the Oxford Radcliffe
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All set for fun in the saddle
Organisers are gearing up to host Oxfordshire’s first Freewheeling Cycle Festival. The free event will set off from Abingdon Market Place and feature three guided cycle rides of four, 10 and 27 miles. There will also be entertainment including
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Arrests following burglaries
THREE men were in custody last night after a series of burglaries where a gang targeted cash and jewellery. The men, aged 29, 34 and 38, were arrested by officers from the Cherwell burglary team in Bicester at about 10.30am yesterday. The arrests relate
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Green's warm tribute to former manager
OXFORD United striker Franny Green paid a glowing tribute last night to Keith Alexander, calling his death “a really sad loss for football”. Green, who played under Alexander at three different clubs, got to know him as a close friend, and
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JR HEART SURGERY HALTED: Surgeons spotted more child deaths than expected
PARENTS last night expressed shock at the suspension of child heart surgery at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital as it emerged surgeons had themselves raised concerns over the deaths of four babies in three months. On Wednesday, the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals
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JR cardiac inquiry should be a source of reassurance
SURGEONS and doctors are occasionally accused of being too blinded by their own arrogance and belief in their innate skill to admit if there are problems affecting their patients. Therefore it is reassuring to learn that it was the two surgeons at the