Archive
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CRICKET: Bicester look to the future
Bicester & North Oxford are optimistic about their future, despite withdrawing their first team from the top flight of the MP Sports Cherwell League for the forthcoming season. A mass exodus of senior players made the club, formed by the merger of North
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FOOTBALL: Jeffrey sounds Banbury battlecry
Banbury United boss Billy Jeffrey has praised the character of his side, and called for more of the same at home to Premier Division high-fliers Cambridge City on Tuesday night. His comments followed Saturday’s victory against Clevedon, in which Banbury
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RACING: Rupert set for Buck's rematch
Banbury trainer Paul Webber plans to let stable star Time For Rupert have another crack at Big Buck’s in the John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree on Thursday, April 8. The six-year-old put up a career-best effort for Webber’s Mollington yard at Cheltenham
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'Tighter security' for Pullman talk
Oxford author Philip Pullman today played down claims he would need special security when he gives a talk on his controversial new book about Jesus. The author of the best-selling His Dark Materials trilogy has written The Good Man Jesus and
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Lead stolen from roof of Woodstock church
A thief stole lead from the roof of St Mary Magdalen Church in Woodstock. A member of the public reported seeing a man run through the grounds of the church in Park Street at about 11.30pm on Thursday, get into a vehicle and drive away. Three strips
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CAMERON PREGNANCY: 'Fantastic news'
DAVID Cameron’s wife is expecting her fourth child, it was announced today. Samantha, 38, is due to give birth in September and the couple were said to be ‘completely thrilled’. The couple, pictured, have two children; Nancy, six, and Arthur Elwen,
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Masked gang raids Blackbird Leys house
Masked burglars forced their way into a house in Blackbird Leys, Oxford – but left empty handed. Three men wearing dark clothing and masks forced their way into the house in Field Avenue at about 7.30pm on Saturday and searched the property before leaving
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JR HEART DEATHS: Date set for review
THE results of an independent review into infant deaths at the John Radcliffe Hospital will be presented at a public meeting in July. The review follows the deaths of four children who had heart operations at the hospital. A review team
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More state school pupils offered Oxford University places
More state school pupils have been offered a place at Oxford University for September 2010 than at any time in the past three years. In all, 56.4 per cent of those offered places were from state schools. But statistics revealed the proportion of state
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Crackdown on letting scams in the city
A new post has been created by Oxford City Council to clamp down on tenancy fraud. Sarah White, who has worked for 10 years in housing and customer services, has been appointed to identify tenants who are sub-letting their homes unlawfully. Ms White
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Hunt is on for card fraudster
Police want to speak to this man in connection with a stolen debit card used in supermarkets in Oxfordshire. Officers believe he may have worked with another man to steal the card from a woman’s car at Tesco, Abingdon. He also gained her pin. The card
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'Tighter security' for talk by Pullman
OXFORD author Philip Pullman today played down claims he would need special security when he gives a talk on his controversial new book about Jesus. The author of the best-selling His Dark Materials trilogy has written The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel
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Insect invaders flock to Oxford concert
LADYBIRDS and bumblebees flew into Oxford Town Hall for a celebration of musical fun. A creepy-crawly concert entitled Bugs was staged by Oxford Philomusica, the city’s professional symphony orchestra, yesterday. Numbers included the Ugly Bug Ball by
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Berinsfield man conned out of £17,000 by 'friend'
A PENSIONER who was tricked out of his savings by his gambling-addicted neighbour saw him jailed after warning him “there’s no hiding place”. Handyman Gary Cameron stole more than £17,000 from Ellis Manners and left him with an unfinished kitchen
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Family issues appeal to missing Didcot postman
The wife of a postman who disappeared a week ago has appealed for him to call her. Richard Burton was last seen when he left his home in Collingwood Avenue, Didcot, last Tuesday, to represent his colleagues at a trade union meeting.
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ON YER BIKE: Being seen is key to safety for cyclists
Do you consider yourself a safe cyclist? I’ve always thought I was fairly safe but I’ve just completed a survey that’s made me wonder. The survey – at survey.bris.ac.uk/lsbu/cycling_other – asks some general questions and 24 questions specifically about
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Civil servants ready for third strike day
Up to 400 Oxfordshire civil servants working in job centres, tax offices and courts will begin a third day of strike action on Wednesday. Public and Commercial Services Union members in the county walked out on March 8 and 9 because of a Government
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'English should have a Parliament too'
Campaigners claim a demand for an English parliament like the rest of the UK was greeted with interest in Oxford. With Vera Lynn’s There’ll always be an England playing, the Campaign for an English Parliament ‘Battle Bus’ visited Broad Street on Friday
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Bank card thief hunted
Police are appealing for information about a man who has been using a stolen debit card in supermarkets in Oxfordshire and other areas. Officers believe he may have been working with another man to steal the card from a woman’s car, which was
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Square working
NOW that all the traffic lights outside Oxford railway station are working, I can see no reason to change Frideswide Square. Who is it who wants to make a quick buck? First it was the Westgate Shopping Centre, but that seems to have blown over. Now
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No response
FOLLOWING your article (Oxford Mail, March 15) in response to Miss Maureen Pitson, also of Wolvercote, who drew attention to the excessive lighting in the empty Borders bookshop, may I add that I wrote to MCR in Manchester questioning why this was happening
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Traffic trauma
I cannot believe Oxfordshire County Council thought it was a good idea to have roadworks at the same in both the Banbury and Woodstock roads. These are the main arterial roads into Oxford in the morning and it’s a nightmare. I would urge one of the
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Killing our planet
IT’S our fault. There are just too many of us. Our number is just too great. We all play a part. Consumerism is a way of life. Global markets turn the wheels of our modern world. We are all consuming from nature’s store cupboard without much thought.
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'English should have a Parliament too'
CAMPAIGNERS claim a demand for an English parliament like the rest of the UK was greeted with interest in Oxford. With Vera Lynn’s There’ll always be an England playing, the Campaign for an English Parliament ‘Battle Bus’ visited Broad Street
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Missed calls
A LITTLE while back, I read that the NHS was losing thousands of pounds as a result of appointments not being kept – ie hospitals not receiving notification of cancellations. Well to tell the truth, I am not in the least surprised. I recently attempted
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Clinic problems
I ACCOMPANIED my daughter to the Churchill Hospital colposcopy department for a six-monthly smear test. It was the first time at this hospital, because the clinic had been transferred from the John Radcliffe Hospital. We found on arrival that we had
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Still time to call halt to parking zone plan
We are amazed at the County Council's plans to impose a deeply unpopular parking scheme on East Oxford. In the county council’s own consultation, 61 per cent of residents said they were against the Magdalen Road controlled parking zone. Between Magdalen
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Family issues appeal to missing Didcot postman
THE wife of a postman who disappeared a week ago has appealed for him to call her. Richard Burton was last seen when he left his home in Collingwood Avenue, Didcot, last Tuesday, to represent his colleagues at a trade union meeting. The father-of-one
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Civil servants get ready for third strike day
UP TO 400 Oxfordshire civil servants working in job centres, tax offices and courts will begin a third day of strike action on Wednesday. Public and Commercial Services Union members in the county walked out on March 8 and 9 because of a Government
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Soldiers' cortege to arrive at hospital
THE bodies of two soldiers killed in Afghanistan last week will be brought to the John Radcliffe Hospital for post mortems tomorrow. Lance Corporal Scott Hardy, 26, from Chelmsford in Essex, and Private James Grigg, 21, from Stradbroke in Suffolk, both
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Divorce row goes back to court
AN OXFORD University researcher faces financial ruin if his former wife, an heiress said to be worth £100m, wins her battle to have pre-nuptial agreements recognised in the UK, the Supreme Court was told today. Nicolas Granatino took his case to the
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Firm offers incentive to OX5 team
STAFF at Amey in Oxford are getting a team together for this year’s OX5 Run – with bosses pledging to match any amount they raise for Oxford Children’s Hospital. The company has 550 employees working in the city and in Sutton Courtenay, near Abingdon
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Darts deliver £10,000 bonus for Didcot wards
A DARTS league organiser who has raised money for his local hospital for 40 years has handed over his latest cheque. Nobby Bennett, 67, started running darts leagues in Didcot on August 6, 1969, and every year has run competitions to raise money for
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RUGBY UNION: Oxford bag promotion
Oxford 41, Drifters 3 Oxford secured promotion from the BB&O Premier Division after an emphatic six-try victory over Drifters. No team can overhaul them in second spot and they still have a very slim chance of progressing to Southern
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RUGBY UNION: Jones praises his pack
Oxford coach Kevin Jones hailed his pack after their promotion-clinching victory over Drifters. He said: “The forwards have been quite outstanding this season. Their level of play has been very consistent. “The set-pieces were great today. We won all
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Wantage hospital champion gets royal thanks
A WOMAN who helped raise thousands of pounds for a hospital over almost half a century has received a prestigious award in front of royalty. Kathleen Hawkey, 92, received the Diamond Award after volunteering for the Wantage Community Hospital League
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RUGBY UNION: Gosford lose to leaders
Gosford All Blacks lost 48-5 at BB&O Premier Division leaders Broadmoor Staff, despite a battling display. Tries from tight-head prop Dan Harvey, flanker Greg Redpath and full back Ben Yates, plus two Shaun Franklin conversions, put Broadmoor 19-0 up
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RUGBY UNION: Henley pipped
National 2 South Henley Hawks were pipped 14-10 by Clifton in a tight clash at Dry Leas. A try from wing Rob Viol gave Clifton the lead after two minutes, with former Henley fly half Barry Reeves converting. Hawks fly half Wil Fulton reduced the
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RUGBY UNION: Wallingford crush basement boys
South West 1 East Two tries apiece from captain Ian Jeffreys and wing Ralph Smith helped Wallingford to a 46-0 victory at basement boys Wootton Bassett. Wallingford scored eight ries in total, despite the very muddy pitch and greasy ball not helping
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RUGBY UNION: Witney title bid boosted
Southern Counties North Witney's title hopes received a double boost after their 30-5 victory at Windsor and Amersham & Chiltern’s defeat at Swindon. The results saw Witney regain top spot on points difference with a game in hand.
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RUGBY UNION: Quins close in on third spot
National 3 South West Oxford Harlequins need just two more points to be sure of finishing third after their 43-10 home victory over Reading. This result, coupled with Chinnor’s shock 22-7 defeat at home to Exmouth, leaves Quins, who made seven changes
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Congratulations for Camerons
DAVID and Samantha Cameron have been congratulated on their baby joy by fellow Conservatives. Barry Norton, a constituency agent from the Witney Conservative office, said: “We’re delighted to learn that David and Samantha are expecting another child.
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Local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 22.5 BMW 2907 Electrocomponents 215 Gladstone 34 Nationwide Accident Repair 89.5 Oxford Biomedica 10.25 Oxford Catalyst 55.5 Oxford Instruments 267.5 Reed Elsevier 500.25 RM 166 RPS Group 186.8 Courtesy
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HOCKEY: Banbury stay in relegation mire
Banbury picked up only one point from their South League Premier Division 1 double-header over the weekend and are still in danger of the drop. They drew 1-1 against top of the table Wimbledon on Saturday, but then lost 2-1 to fellow strugglers Oxford
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HOCKEY: Six-hitters Witney
Witney confirmed their status as MBBO Division 2 champions with a 6-3 win over struggling Reading side Phoenix and Ranelagh. Ben Wells led the way with a hat-trick, while Tim Hardy (2) and Richard Demczak were also on target as Witney wrapped up the
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New flood plan for Oxford
A flood victims’ group is to unveil its second set of proposals to help reduce flooding in Oxford. The Oxford Flood Alliance will unveil its latest ideas to some of the region’s most influential figures tomorrow, two years after it helped determine
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HOCKEY: Hawks ladies outgunned by high fliers
Oxford Hawks Ladies were beaten 3-1 at home to high-riding Havant in South Clubs League Division 1. The visitors went ahead early on from a short corner and were 3-0 up at the break. Hawks created some great chances in the second half, forcing several
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Fatal dog fight sparks action
A FATAL dog fight in Barton has prompted a new Dog Awareness campaign by police on the estate. Officers said an increase in the amount of dog fights, both organised and incidental, and attacks on people, had led them to organise a community
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HOCKEY: Girls through to mini finals
Oxford Hawks junior girls have qualified for all categories of the South mini finals in Surbiton in May. The under ten and under 12 girls finished runners-up in the Oxfordshire rounds on Sunday at Cokethorpe School, the under 12s losing on penalties
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Thieves steal two vehicles from Witney home
Police are appealing for witnesses after two vehicles were stolen from outside a house in Witney. At about 3am on Saturday, thieves broke into a house in Harvest Way through the back door and stole two sets of car keys that had been left on a window
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Hamilton wary of Red Bull speed
Former world champion Lewis Hamilton believes Red Bull will be the team to beat in Melbourne this weekend as the cars are "ridiculously faster" than anyone else on the grid. Hamilton, the 2008 world champion, finished third in the season-opening
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DARTS: Nuffield battle back to win
Defending ladies champions Nuffield Bar kept up their hopes of retaining their ODDA Premier Division title for the sixth season in a row with a hard-fought 5-4 victory against Butchers Arms. They got off to a bad start, with Maggie Dexter-Naylor
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DARTS: Oxfordshire boosted by duo's return
Oxfordshire will be looking to get back to winning ways when they travel to Somerset in the Rileys British Inter-Counties championship this weekend. They will be keen to banish memories of last month’s 20-16 defeat against Surrey which virtually ended
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Fatal dog fight prompts police action
A FATAL dog fight in Barton has prompted a new Dog Awareness campaign by police on the estate. Officers said an increase in the amount of dog fights, both organised and incidental, and attacks on people, had led them to organise a community day at the
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TV star inspires school pupils
TELEVISION personality Johnny Ball inspired pupils to persevere in their studies during a school visit. Mr Ball, left, visited Burford School, in Cheltenham Road, to launch a science week. He told students how important maths was in all kinds of careers
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DARTS: Oxon youths miss out
Oxfordshire youth went down to a narrow 9-8 defeat against Kent on Sunday, despite a much-improved performance. The Oxon under 18s slid to a 6-3 defeat, with a succession of missed doubles, proving costly. Scott Smith, George Bishop, and man-of-the-match
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Cameron's wife expecting baby
Samantha Cameron is expecting a baby in September, it has been announced. Mrs Cameron and her husband, the Conservative Party leader David Cameron, were said to be "completely thrilled" by her pregnancy. Mr Cameron has recently indicated
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Banksy's art is on the wall at gallery
GRAFFITI artist Banksy is making his mark in Oxfordshire now his work has taken over a Woodstock gallery. Work by the Bristol-based artist, whose identity is shrouded in mystery, is being showcased at the Creative Art Gallery in Oxford Street until Sunday
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Primary pupils dig learning
CHILDREN at an Oxford primary school got in touch with their inner Tony Robinson for a day by focusing on archaeology. A mock dig was staged at Larkrise Primary School, Boundary Brook Road, on Friday. Areas of the school field were cordoned off and
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15-point plan to tackle Oxford flood risk
A FLOOD victims’ group is to unveil its second set of proposals to help reduce flooding in Oxford. The Oxford Flood Alliance will unveil its latest ideas to some of the region’s most influential figures tomorrow, two years after it helped determine
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Baby joy for Camerons
SAMANTHA Cameron is expecting a baby in September, it was announced today. Mrs Cameron and her husband, Conservative Party leader and Witney MP David Cameron, were said to be "completely thrilled" by her pregnancy. Mr Cameron has recently
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Thieves steal lead from Woodstock church roof
Police are appealing for witnesses after thieves stole lead from the roof of a church in Woodstock. At about 11.30pm on Thursday, police said a member of the public reported seeing a man running through the grounds of St Mary Magdalene Church
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Masked men raid Oxford home
Three masked men raided a house in Field Avenue, Blackbird Leys, Oxford. At about 7.30pm, on Saturday, three men wearing dark clothing and masks forced their way into the house, and searched the property before leaving empty handed. Det Con Simon
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Volunteers tidying up Barracks Lane garden
VOLUNTEERS donned gloves and wellies to spruce up an East Oxford community garden in time for spring. The group prepared flower beds, cleaned drains and cleared out junk at Barracks Lane Community Garden off Cowley Road on Saturday, making it spick and
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Man remanded on Kidlington burglary charge
A 27-year-old man has been remanded in custody following his appearance at Banbury Magistrates’ Court on a burglary charge. Wayne Axtell, of Spencer Avenue, Yarnton, is charged with a burglary at a house in Bicester Road, Kidlington, on Friday, in
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Littlemore flats will be a lasting legacy to Edith
THE legacy of a Littlemore woman will live on a decade after her death after keys to new flats for the homeless were handed over. Edith Kempson House will provide temporary accommodation for men and women who are trying to rebuild their lives. Work
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Hinksey Park U11 0 v Summertown Utd 3
Summertown United's regular goalkeeper celebrated a rare outfield appearance by bagging a hat trick. In a very tight encounter, mostly confined to the midfield, neither side created many chances. However, while Hinksey's efforts were denied by the cross-bar
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Alice still reigns at box office
Johnny Depp and Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland has taken 34.5m dollars to remain the No 1 movie in the US for a third-straight weekend, according to studio estimates. The Disney release raised its American box office haul to 265.8m dollars
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Man charged with burglary
A 27-year-old man has been charged with burglary after cash was stolen from a home. At about 5.50pm on Friday a house in Bicester Road, Kidlington, was broken into and a quantity of cash was stolen. Wayne Axtell, from Spencer Avenue in Yarnton, will
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Man charged with Kidlington break-in
Police have charged a man with burgling a house in Kidlington. At about 5.50pm on Friday, a house in Bicester Road was broken into and a quantity of cash was stolen. Wayne Axtell, 27, of Spencer Avenue, Yarnton, was appearing at Banbury
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Tenancy fraud officer appointed
A new council officer will tackle tenancy fraud over the next six months. Oxford City Council has created the new role to tackle tenancy fraud in social housing after successfully bidding for Government funding. The council wants to crack
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Tenancy fraud officer appointed
A NEW council officer will tackle tenancy fraud over the next six months. Oxford City Council has created the new role to tackle tenancy fraud in social housing after successfully bidding for Government funding. The council wants to crack down on
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Local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 22.5 BMW 2890 Electrocomponents 212.8 Gladstone 34 Nationwide Accident Repair 89.5 Oxford Biomedica 10.25 Oxford Catalysts 55.5 Oxford Instruments 266 Reed Elsevier 496.4 RM 167.5 RPS Group 185.4 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley,
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Audrey's outing to West Oxford School caused panic
AUDREY Hunt caused a major alert when she went missing from home at the age of two. She had watched enviously as children walked past her home to West Oxford Infants’ School. One day, after lunch, she decided to join them. She mingled with the other
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Tight squeeze in Headington classroom
THERE was not much room to move in this classroom. With rows of wooden desks and benches and 40 children, space was at a premium. This was the scene in the top infants’ class at St Andrew’s School, Headington, in 1937-8. As we have noted at other schools
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The changing face of Chipping Norton
ROTARACT Club members were helped by the rain when they held a charity car wash in 1987. “It helped rinse the cars off, and made the roads dirtier so people needed their cars cleaned,” said club president David Cox. They raised £85 for leukaemia
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Appeal for help to identify Henry Taunt photo
DOES anyone recognise this building? It was photographed by famous Oxford photographer Henry Taunt in about 1910, but unusually, no location is given. Memory Lane reader Jeremy Daniel, who collects Taunt photographs, tells me that he
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Fashion police kept up with changing styles
THE decision to phase out the traditional police helmet in the Thames Valley has provoked a fierce debate. But the custodian helmet we all know is by no means the only one that officers have worn over the years. These pictures show a wide range of headgear
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Star shoppers called in at Zacs
KATHLEEN Pratley rubbed shoulders with the stars as well as the aristocracy when she worked at the famous Oxford shop of Zacharias & Co. The store, at the corner of Cornmarket Street and Ship Street, was “waterproofer and outfitter to the
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Didcot power station 'eyesore'
Didcot power station has been named the seventh-worst eyesore in Britain. Beautiful Britain magazine questioned 5,000 people and found concrete carriageways, including Birmingham’s Spaghetti Junction, came top in a poll of structures and buildings
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Parking zone 'a step away'
Council officers have recommended a proposed £297,000 controlled parking zone (CPZ) in the Magdalen Road area of East Oxford should go ahead, despite opposition from residents. Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for transport, Rodney Rose
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Police 'need to regain respect'
Police need to regain the respect of the public to help increase the number of crimes they solve, a retired bobby has claimed. Philip Haynes, a former officer in Witney, said officers must remain “aloof” and “different from the ordinary person” if
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Dejection for Oxford United
BOSS Chris Wilder said his Oxford United players “are a frustrated group”, after they saw their promotion hopes dip further with yesterday’s 0-0 draw at Tamworth. The U’s are in third place in the Blue Square Premier, for the first time this season,
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Police need to regain respect, says retired bobby
POLICE need to regain the respect of the public to help increase the number of crimes they solve, a retired bobby has claimed. Philip Haynes, a former officer in Witney, said officers must remain “aloof” and “different from the ordinary person” if
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Rogue cyclists could be sent on awareness courses
LAW-BREAKING cyclists could be sent on cycle-awareness courses as part of a concerted effort to change attitudes among Oxford’s riders. Campaign group Cyclox teamed up with Oxfordshire County Council, police and both city universities to
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Oxford cyclists could be sent on courses
Cyclists could be sent on cycle-awareness courses as part of a concerted effort to change attitudes among Oxford’s riders. Campaign group Cyclox teamed up with Oxfordshire County Council, police and both city universities to create a Bike
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Scales of justice: People convicted of offences at magistrates recently
Christopher Knowles, 33, of Wykham Place, Banbury, admitted harassment (breach of a restraining order) in Banbury on February 25. Jailed for two months because the defendant had breached the order four times and committed the offence while on licence
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Road sense is simple if all co-operate
WILL cyclists and motorists ever get on with one another? There is a natural conflict between the two groups, who both regularly accuse each other of ignorance in the way they travel around the city – and that’s without mentioning the pedestrians...
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Controlled parking zone one step away from approval
COUNCIL officers have recommended a proposed £297,000 controlled parking zone (CPZ) in the Magdalen Road area of East Oxford should go ahead, despite opposition from residents. Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for transport, Rodney Rose, will
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Didcot power station named as one of UK's worst eyesores
DIDCOT power station was yesterday named the seventh-worst eyesore in Britain. Beautiful Britain magazine quizzed 5,000 people and found concrete carriageways, including Birmingham’s Spaghetti Junction, came top in a poll of structures and buildings
