Archive
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RACING: Iris swerves National bid
Iris de Balme, the star of Sean Curran’s Hatford stables, near Stanford in the Vale, is to miss the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday, April 10. The 2008 Scottish National winner was scratched from the Aintree spectacular at the latest
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Didcot CAB looks to future
DIDCOT’S Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) could be stripped back to a skeleton service following its eviction from the Civic Hall by Didcot Town Council. The advice service, which has dealt with 5,800 inquiries at its Didcot office over the last year
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'Go to primary school by taxi'
A MUM whose child has been turned down for a place at three Oxford schools has been told by education officials to put her four-year-old daughter in a taxi to and from her new primary. Erin Coyle and her husband Garrett are moving from their home in
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Teens hurt in Kidlington hit and run
Two teenage girls were left severely bruised after being hit by a white van. The two 15-year-olds were on a pelican crossing outside Gosford Hill School, Bicester Road, at about 2.15pm on Monday when the accident happened. A police spokesman said the
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New Abingdon park will mark MG cars links
A PARK is being created in Abingdon to commemorate the town’s links with car maker MG. Abingdon Town Council plans to include a sculpture of an iconic MG with information boards explaining the town’s links with the company. Paving stones in the octagonal
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RACING: Vamizi shines
Mark Bradstock, who saddled Carruthers to finish a gallant fourth in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup last Friday, sent out Vamizi to score at Exeter on Tuesday. Bradstock, who trains at Letcombe Bassett, near Wantage, was recording his first winner
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Six held over suspected insider dealing ring
Six men, including three leading City financiers, suspected of running an insider dealing ring were arrested during raids today. The suspects were held as officials searched 16 homes and businesses in Oxfordshire, London and the South East. The
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Bicester woman warned of own suicide
A WOMAN who hanged herself the day after her 23rd birthday had told police hours earlier that she wanted to commit suicide, an inquest heard today. Lauren Pringle, who had split from her boyfriend two days before, was escorted home from Bicester
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Cowley mum killed herself in car park jump
A “HAPPY-go-lucky” mother-of-two leapt to her death from Oxford’s Westgate Centre car park after a long history of physical and psychological problems. Rachel O’Callaghan’s body was found in shrubs at the foot of the multi-storey car park at
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Judge rejects NHS appeal over Warneford Meadow
Campaigners today said they were delighted after a High Court judge upheld a decision to register Warneford Meadow in Oxford as a Town Green. The 18 acres of grassland is situated behind the Warneford Hospital, between Headington and East Oxford
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Drive to solve burial crisis
Work to create more burial space in Oxford could be up to six years away. Oxford City Council says it is close to launching a feasibility study of potential burial sites, but warned it would be several years before work could begin on any new cemetery
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Drive to solve graves crisis
WORK to create more burial space in Oxford could be up to six years away. Oxford City Council says it is close to launching a feasibility study of potential burial sites, but warned it would be several years before work could begin on any new cemetery
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Work starts on Abingdon's Old Gaol redevelopment
DEMOLITION work has begun at Abingdon’s Old Gaol, right, to pave the way for the redevelopment of the former prison, which was later used as a sports centre. The 199-year-old complex will be converted to create 61 flats, along with shops and restaurants
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Couple happy together for 60 years
IN more than 60 years, Geoff and Margaret Belcher have only spent three weeks apart. The couple, above, who first met while working at the former MG car factory in Abingdon, have seen each other every day for 64 years apart from when Mr Belcher, 84,
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Publisher tight-lipped over job loss fears
Publisher Wiley Blackwell declined to confirm reports that it was planning 30 redundancies, after axing 30 jobs last year. The company employs 500 staff at the Oxford Business Park in Cowley, after taking over the former Blackwell Publishing in 2006.
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Delight as judge rejects appeal over Warneford Meadow
CAMPAIGNERS today said they were delighted after a High Court judge upheld a decision to register Warneford Meadow in Oxford as a Town Green. The 18 acres of grassland is situated behind the Warneford Hospital, between Headington and East Oxford. Oxfordshire
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£40m space centre for Oxfordshire
The Government has confirmed a new £40m International Space Innovation Centre (ISIC) is to be built at Harwell's Science and Innovation Campus, creating 700 jobs over five years. As we reported in December, the centre will be a centrepiece
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We need a debate on housing issues
YOU report on a shortfall of social housing in Oxford (Oxford Mail, March 19). In fact, Oxford is better off than the English average. It has been reported that 21 per cent of households in Oxford are in social rented housing, compared with 19 per cent
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Get to grips with this case, Inspector Lewis
OH REALLY Inspector Lewis! It’s about time you dealt with those people who are intent on wasting council taxpayers’ money. Their latest crime was to install a bus lane near Kidlington, apparently to see how annoyed drivers would get, at a cost of £6,000
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Claims about Easter are sheer fantasy
The claim by Alan Bourne (Oxford Mail, March 16) that there is a connection between Lent, Easter and Babylonian mythology is sheer fantasy. Christianity and paganism can no more mix than can oil and water. Pagan practices, by their very nature are
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Respect has to be earned
I endorse your article Police need to Regain Respect in yesterday’s Oxford Mail. I hasten to add that respect has to be earned: it is not a free gift. My dealings with Thames Valley Police have left me with much to be desired from them. As regards
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Why was one weapon not seized?
YOUR story about weapons seized from a travellers’ site (Oxford Mail, March 20), says police destroyed the weapons – and rightly so. But they also allowed him to keep one. Which one and why? Did he need it to clean his nails or sharpen a pencil?
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Regressive step planned by Tories
I was astonished to see a recent party political broadcast by the Conservatives. It professed to enhance social mobility if elected. The Educational Maintenance Allowance, or EMA, is a means of improving the prospects of young people. I know of many
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Oxfringe launches in city
Oxford’s answer to the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival starts tomorrow. Over the next 17 days, theatres, pubs, restaurants, and community centres across the city will play host to more than 200 events for the fourth annual Oxfringe Festival
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Call to join Race for Life
When health worker Tracey Courtnell took part in the Race for Life in Oxford last year, she was in the middle of receiving cancer treatment. Now she has recovered, and is urging women to raise thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK by taking
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New £40m space centre in Oxfordshire
THE Government has confirmed a new £40 million International Space Innovation Centre (ISIC) is to be built at Harwell's Science and Innovation Campus, creating 700 jobs over five years. As reported in the Oxford Mail in December, the centre will be
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Sort out Frideswide Square mess
When the old Rewley Road rail station was removed in 2000 there was a great opportunity to construct a gyratory system with no right turns. Instead a complicated system was constructed which required 35 poles to mount all the traffic signals. This has
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Is the UK legal system run by idiots?
I have recently read two reports in the Oxford Mail which make me wonder if the legal system of this country is run by complete idiots. Firstly, was Monday’s story concerning the illegal immigrant fraudulently claiming more than £77,000 over a six-year
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Life and soul of the party
Hugh Phillimore, Oxfordshire-based music promoter, artist manager, and the man behind the county’s annual Cornbury Festival, talks about life at the cutting edge of the music industry... THE world of party entertainment is a very strange one. Well
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Oxfringe set to kick off
OXFORD’s answer to the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival starts tomorrow. Over the next 17 days, theatres, pubs, restaurants, and community centres across the city will play host to more than 200 events for the fourth annual Oxfringe Festival
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FOOTBALL: Beauchamp in title booster
Former Oxford United star Joey Beauchamp scored a brace as Bletchingdon boosted their Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division title hopes with a 7-2 win at Chadlington, writes BRIAN KIRK. John Webb and Dennell Steele also netted doubles, with Adam
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FOOTBALL: Morse signals ABK victory
Mark Morse grabbed the winner as ABK Sports beat Deddington Town 2-1 after extra time in the Banbury Charity Cup third round. Tom Stephens gave Deddington the lead, before Justin Barnes’s strike ensured extra time, with Morse slotting the winner five
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FOOTBALL: Conroy's trio
Aiden Conroy hit a hat-trick in Fairview’s 4-1 home win over Union Street in Group 2 of the Doug Hobbs Cup in the RT Harris Oxford City FA. Sean Gibson was their other marksman, with Alex Patchett replying for Street. James McKendry scored twice in
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Call to join Race for Life
WHEN health worker Tracey Courtnell took part in the Race for Life in Oxford last year, she was in the middle of receiving cancer treatment. Now she has recovered, and is urging women to raise thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK by taking
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Girls injured in Kidlington crash
Police are appealing for witnesses after a van driver drove off after hitting two girls on a Kidlington crossing. At about 2.15pm on Monday, two 15-year-old girls were crossing on a pelican crossing outside Gosford Hill School, when a large white van
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Rallying call for group championing men's rights
AN OXFORD University student who set up a group championing men’s rights is hosting his first get-together at the weekend. Alex Linsley, 20, a second year economics and management student at Merton College, launched the Man Collective-Oxford
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Group champions men's rights
An Oxford University student who set up a group championing men’s rights is hosting his first get-together at the weekend. Alex Linsley, 20, a second year economics and management student at Merton College, launched the Man Collective-Oxford
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Cherwell disputes critical homes report
A COUNCIL has hit back at a leading homelessness charity that accused it of failing to deliver enough affordable homes. Shelter carried out a national survey of 323 local authorities naming and shaming the worst offenders, and ranked them according to
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Adventure playground open for play
CHILDREN have been celebrating the official opening of a new £77,000 play park that they helped design. Just a year ago villagers at Steeple Aston decided the well-used children’s Millennium Park in Fir Lane, was in need of a lot of tender loving care
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Local shares (PM)
AEA Technology 22.5 BMW 2997 Electrocomponents 212.9 Gladstone 34 Nationwide Accident Repair 89.5 Oxford Biomedica 10.25 Oxford Catalyst 55.5 Oxford Instruments 266.25 Reed Elsevier 505 RM 170 RPS Group 185.4 Courtesy of Redmayne
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A night on the road with ambulance paramedics
DRUNKS, unnecessary call-outs, paperwork and potholes are just some of the many headaches for paramedics - as our Health Reporter Amanda Williams found out when she joined an ambulance crew for an overnight shift in Oxford. The South
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Youngsters help Haiti appeal
A young artist has enlisted fellow school pupils and teachers to help raise money for victims of the Haiti earthquake. Amy Isles Freeman, 17, a sixth-former at Oxford High School, in Belbroughton Road, has organised an online art sale of some
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FOOTBALL: King's double boosts Hailey
Hailey closed in on the Witney & District FA Premier Division title with a 4-2 victory over nearest rivals Ducklington on Saturday, writes Anthony Barlow. Joel King bagged a brace, with Wayne Forest and Russ Winstone also on target. Jack Morton and
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FOOTBALL: Super Saxton make it 12 wins in row
Paul Churchouse bagged a brace as Division 1 pace-setters Saxton Rovers made it 12 league wins out of 12 in the North Berks League with a 2-0 success at Didcot Casuals, writes PHIL ANNETS. Mike Farrelly smashed a five-timer in East Hendred’s 7-1 thrashing
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Tribute paid to fallen heroes
WAR veterans and members of the public showed their respects to two soldiers killed in Afghanistan. The bodies of Lce Cpl Scott Hardy, 26, pictured top, and Pte James Grigg, 21, below, were flown back to RAF Lyneham and passed through Wootton Bassett
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WOMEN'S FOOTBALL: Warner hits hat-trick
Ducklington routed Hazelmere 12-0 in Division 3 North of the Thames Valley League. Nicola Warner led the way with a hat-trick, and there were doubles from Emma Proctor and Sarah Snowdon, Samantha Talbot. Sara Holmes and two own goals completed the rout
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GIRLS' FOOTBALL: Under 12s are edged out
The Oxford Mail Girls League Under 12 representative team lost out 3-1 to South Chiltern at Milton United. Oxford froze under the floodlights to trail 2-0 at the break, but showed more spirit in the second half. Kidlington’s Zoe Taylor pulled a goal
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GIRLS' FOOTBALL: Hot-shot April fires fab four
April England slammed a four-timer as Cholsey Bluebirds A defeated Kennington B 7-2 to reach the Oxford Mail Girls League's Under 13 League Cup semi-finals. Cholsey dominated the first half to go 6-0 ahead by the break, thanks to England’s
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Art and music helps victims of Haiti earthquake
A YOUNG artist has enlisted fellow school pupils and teachers to help raise money for victims of the Haiti earthquake. Amy Isles Freeman, 17, a sixth-former at Oxford High School, in Belbroughton Road, has organised an online art sale of some of the
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Dementia awareness campaign 'long overdue' say carers
A GOVERNMENT campaign to raise awareness of dementia has been welcomed by carers in Oxfordshire who said it was long-overdue. ‘Living Well’ shows sufferers declaring “I have dementia – I also have a life” in a bid to highlight the condition and demonstrate
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Dementia campaign 'long overdue'
A Government campaign to raise awareness of dementia has been welcomed by carers in Oxfordshire who said it was long-overdue. ‘Living Well’ shows sufferers declaring “I have dementia – I also have a life” in a bid to highlight the condition and demonstrate
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New Wallingford moorings aim to pull in visitors
WORK has started on Wallingford’s new £221,500 moorings on the River Thames. A construction rig has arrived at the site to help workmen from contractor Breheny Civil Engineering reinforce the riverbank before building the new jetties along the river.
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Interview with Peach Pubs Wine Buyer
From Jo Eames: Andrew (Maidment from Wines of Argentina) took us out to lunch when we first arrived in Argentina. The Torrontes (Crios Torrontes 2009 by Susana Balbo) was the first wine he gave us and I thought “Gosh, if all the wines are going
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Man charged with religious aggravated assault
A man has been charged in connection with an incident at the Fox and Hounds Pub in Christmas Common. Paul Darragh, 46, of Hollywood, County Down, has been charged with two counts of religious aggravated assault, two counts of assault, affray and possession
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Man arrested following Wychwoods burglary
A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of burglary following a break-in at a house in Poplar Farm Close, Milton-under-Wychwood, at about 12.15am on Sunday. A CD player was stolen in the burglary. The 28-year-old man has been released on
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23-car entry for BTCC
The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship has officially confirmed a 23-car entry for the 2010 season. Defying the current economic climate, that’s more than was announced at the start of 2009 and includes a number of new teams, drivers
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Romeo and Juliet, The Royal Shakespeare Company, Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
The feud between the Capulets and the Montagues at the centre of the tragic tale of Romeo and Juliet often comes across on stage as nothing more than a mild mutual distaste that spills over into courtly, almost comic, swordplay. Not so in Rupert
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Local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 22.5 BMW 3013 Electrocomponents 218.5 Gladstone 34 Nationwide Accident Repair 89.5 Oxford Biomedica 10.25 Oxford Catalysts 55.5 Oxford Instruments 267 Reed Elsevier 505.25 RM 170 RPS Group 187.2 Courtesy of Redmayne
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Hotel wins tourism award
Wroxton House Hotel has been accredited with a bronze award by the Green Tourism Business Scheme. The hotel, based in the village of Wroxton, has recently been refurbished. Owner John Smith said: “This was a great achievement in a building dating in parts
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South Newington Festival plans
The third annual South Newington Festival, takes places over the weekend of June 4-6. A host of activities have been organised for the starting on Friday, June 4, with a recital and concert in the church of St Peter ad Vincula. There will also
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Six cars burned in arson attack
SIX vehicles were destroyed in a suspected arson attack at a Banbury garage. Five cars and a van were set alight last Wednesday night at the back of Double M Autos, in Thorpe Road. Four of the vehicles were from Double M Autos, and one was from Banbury
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Vintage champagne stolen in Henley break-in
Police are appealing for witnesses after bottles of vintage champagne were stolen in a burglary in Henley. Between 4pm on Thursday and 4pm yesterday, offenders broke into a house in Blandy Road and stole two bottles of champagne. PC Matthew Napper
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Man held over Wychwoods burglary
A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of burglary after a break-in at a house in Milton-under-Wychwood. The man was arrested after a burglary at a house in Poplar Farm Close at about 12.15am on Sunday, where thieves smashed their way into
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Van fire in Oxford
Firefighters tackled a van fire in Victoria Road, Oxford. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called at 3.26pm yesterday and one team from Rewley Road attended the fire. No one is believed to have been injured.
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Van fire in Oxford
FIREFIGHTERS tackled a van fire in Victoria Road, Oxford, yesterday. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called at 3.26pm and one team from Rewley Road attended the fire. No one is believed to have been injured.
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WIN TICKETS TO RACING AT NEWBURY
The EBF Mares’ Finals Day, Newbury Racecourse’s grand finale of the National Hunt season, takes place on Saturday, March 27. And the Oxford Mail have teamed up with Newbury Racecourse to offer a pair of Premier Enclosure tickets for this fantastic
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Witch joins battle for Witney seat
Witney residents will find themselves with election choices including a would-be Tory Prime Minister, a witch or a 'loony'. Self-proclaimed ‘King of the Witches’ Magus Lynius Shadee and the Official Monster Raving Loony Party’s Alan “Howling
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Ask the Vet: Dental care will help drooling cat
Q. Mimi is a lovely black and white cat who came to us when she was about three. From the start she drooled and the vet said she had gingivitis so she had a dental and a couple of teeth out. In November, a different vet said she needed
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Constable points way for U's
Star striker James Constable says Oxford United’s players have got to be stronger, and get back to doing what they’re good at. The U’s have slightly lost their way in the Blue Square Premier title race with a four-match winless run that has
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The Tory, the Witch and the Raving Loony to fight for Witney
WITNEY residents will find themselves with election choices including a would-be Tory Prime Minister, a witch or a 'loony'. Self-proclaimed ‘King of the Witches’ Magus Lynius Shadee and the Official Monster Raving Loony Party’s Alan “Howling
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Wonderful news for Cameron family
WE hope everyone extends their congratulations to David Cameron and his wife Samantha after they announced she was pregnant. The cynics who were already suggesting the timing was good for the election should hang their heads in shame. This couple lost
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5,300 potholes reported across county
Transport officials have been left with an even bigger financial headache than expected after the deep freeze increased the number of potholes on county roads by 75 per cent. Oxfordshire County Council has been forced to pump in an extra £200,000
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Headington brothel keepers made £770,000
A married couple whose Oxford brothel helped them net more than £770,000 in seven months have been ordered to pay back less than two per cent of their ill-gotten gains. Ian and Jill Lydon, who had earlier admitted to keeping a brothel at a
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Headington brothel-keepers told to repay just £13,000
A MARRIED couple whose Oxford brothel helped them net more than £770,000 in seven months have been ordered to pay back less than two per cent of their ill-gotten gains. Ian and Jill Lydon, who had earlier admitted to keeping a brothel at a
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Measure was hardly a deterrent
THE order to seize less than £13,000 of brothel-keepers Ian and Jill Lydon’s assets when they made more than £770,000 does not reflect well on the Proceeds of Crime Act. Little was said in court yesterday as the Crown Prosecution Service and police applied
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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-mortem examinations today. Lance Corporal Scott Hardy, 26, from Chelmsford in Essex, and Private James Grigg, 21, from Stradbroke
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POTHOLES: 5,300 defects reported in the county
TRANSPORT chiefs have been left with an even bigger financial headache than expected after the deep freeze increased the number of potholes on county roads by 75 per cent. Oxfordshire County Council has been forced to pump in an extra £200,000 on top
