Archive
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MG club can boast a fitting HQ
A NEW £120,000 extension to the MG Car Club is set to attract tourists from across the globe. The club’s newly built John Thornley Suite was officially opened on Friday and among the guests were former rally driver Paddy Hopkirk and Abingdon Mayor Duncan
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Blackbird Leys loses second parish chairman to 'apathy'
A SECOND chairman of a parish council has stepped down, blaming apathy on the estate as one of the reasons. Gerry Webb, who officially took up the post on Blackbird Leys Parish Council just over a year ago, will instead take over the role as vice chairman
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HOCKEY: Banbury miss out on glory bid
Banbury finished third in the England Mixed finals weekend after thrashing Cheltenham 5-1. But they will be kicking themselves they didn’t make the final. So they had to face Cheltenham in the third/fourth play-off after losing 2-1 against Staines in
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DARTS: Hedman bows out
Oxfordshire ace Deta Hedman’s hopes of reaching the PDC Unicorn Women’s World Championship final in Blackpool were dashed as she lost 4-2 to Fiona Carmichael in the quarter-finals in Barnsley. She saw off Russian Irina Armstrong 4-0 in the
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DARTS: Nuffield Bar edge in
Ddefending champions Nuffield Bar edged to a 5-4 win against Ladies Section 1 side Florence Park Community Centre B. Kim Ledbury and Paulette Guy gave the Premier outfit a 2-0 lead. And although the visitors pulled one back when Lin Mason defeated Hazel
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Too few Oxfordshire women get cancer test
ALMOST a quarter of Oxfordshire women are turning down free screening tests for cervical cancer despite massive coverage of the dangers of the disease. The death of reality TV star Jade Goody has been credited for a rise in the number of women across
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Poorly youngsters enjoy a wild day out
POORLY children and their families enjoyed a day out at an animal park. Children, families and friends walked or wheeled themselves around the Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford, for the Helen & Douglas House ‘Walk and Whiz’. Sponsorship raised about £1,500
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Rose Hill homes fight pensioner dies
A PENSIONER who vowed to go to prison rather than let her Rose Hill bungalow be demolished for a redevelopment project has died. Beryl Mitchell watched as the other houses in Lambourne Road were torn down, leaving her home in the middle of
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Services secured at the Horton
The future of Banbury's Horton Hospital was finally secured at a meeting this afternoon. Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust (ORH) has pledged to pay the extra £900,000 needed to pay for 24/7 consultant led children’s and maternity services at
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A mountainous ascent by firefighters
FIREFIGHTERS from Oxford climbed the height of Mount Everest to raise £2,673 for the Fire Fighters Charity. Seven firefighters from Blue Watch at The Slade Fire Station took part in the stunt in Cornmarket Street on Saturday. They climbed two 33ft ladders
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University wildlife expert gets CBE for his work
A professor has been made a Commander of the British Empire thanks to his efforts in protecting wildlife. Prof David Macdonald, of Standlake, was named in the Queen’s birthday honours for his contributions to wildlife and conservation. The professor
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Local shares (PM)
AEA Technology 19.4 BMW 3353 Electrocomponents 219.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 80.5 Oxford Biomedica 9.9 Oxford Catalysts 83 Oxford Instruments 266 Reed Elsevier 495 RM 170.75 RPS Group
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Tax expert joins Grant Thornton
Accountants and business advisers Grant Thornton has appointed Nick Ashley as senior tax manager at its Oxford office. Mr Ashley, has a wealth of tax experience and previously worked at the firm’s Norwich office for nine years. He said: “This is a great
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Crash causes A420 delays
A two-vehicle crash this afternoon caused delays on the A420. The eastbound carriageway is reported as being partially blocked due to a crash near the junction with the A417 Stanford road.
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Administrators ride into horsebox firm
Twenty staff at a specialist horsebox manufacturer in Didcot have lost their jobs after the firm called in administrators this afternoon. Sue Staunton, adminstrator at Oxford-based finance firm James Cowper, said Olympic Coachbuilders had fallen
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Arts festival promises plenty of drama
A 17TH century play, music, art, and sport will take centre stage at an Oxford school’s arts festival later this month. The Master of Magdalen College School, Dr Tim Hands, founded the festival last year, and it was so successful it is set
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Missing Oxford teenager found
A teenager who went missing in Oxford has been found. Police said Sarah Spence, 18, who went missing from Barton, was found safe and well last night.
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£356,000 gives pre-school its very own home
A PRE-SCHOOL will be able to take 50 per cent more children after it was given £356,000 for a new home. Stanford Pre-school, which marks its 40th anniversary this year, currently uses Stanford in the Vale village hall as its base and has never had its
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Hamilton ready for title fight
Lewis Hamilton believes he is involved in the "ultimate challenge" after moving to the top of the Formula One drivers' championship standings for the first time in 18 months. Hamilton clinched a stunning Canadian Grand Prix victory in a pulsating
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Hope of justice
We welcome Thames Valley Police’s decision to reopen the book on the murder of Oxford taxi driver Leonard Gomm. Many of our readers will remember when the body of the 75-year-old was found at Hampton Gay. It was a story which shocked the county – primarily
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State of our health cause for concern
Oxfordshire’s top public health official today makes a stark warning about the state of the county’s health. The annual public health report has pointed to a series of long-term threats to the health of residents and also the problems which could stretch
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Friends ride out in honour of bike shop trader John Wilson
FOR a quarter of a century, John Wilson helped to fix people’s bikes at his shop in Oxford. But last year he was forced to hand over the running of Walton Street Cycles after developing a brain tumour at the age of 52. Mr Wilson died
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Students get a sniff of science
Pupils at an Oxfordshire secondary school are following in the footsteps of Coco Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier and Sarah Jessica Parker as part of an unusual science project. Wheatley Park School is working with scientists from Oxford University
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Scores on doors boost hygiene
A STAR rating system in Oxford has led restaurants and other food outlets to improve their hygiene standards in the past 12 months. The Scores on the Doors inspection programme was introduced by the city council a year ago in a bid to improve
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Students get a sniff of science of scent
PUPILS at an Oxfordshire secondary school are following in the footsteps of Coco Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier and Sarah Jessica Parker as part of an unusual science project. Wheatley Park School is working with scientists from Oxford University
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Scales of Justice
DIDCOT Adrian Flint, 20, of Woodhill Drive, Grove, admitted racially aggravated harassment and threat to damage property at Grove, on May 18. Given a restraining order, placed under curfew for 12 weeks. Also ordered to pay £100 compensation
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Cole wings in for United
Oxford United today swooped to capture the player regarded as the best left-winger in non-League football. They have signed Mitchell Cole, the England C star, from Stevenage Borough on a two-year contract. Cole, 24, who was at Southend
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Jericho residents enjoy giant street party
THERE was a village spirit in the heart of the city of Oxford as crowds packed the streets of Jericho to enjoy a party in the sunshine. The Jericho Street Fair has been held since the mid-1950s and is timed to mark the feast day of St Barnabas, the patron
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BABY OF THE YEAR: Win a trip to Disneyland Paris
PARENTS who think their child is the cutest in the county are being encouraged to enter the Oxford Mail’s Baby of the Year competition. Hundreds of mums and dads have already entered their tot in the contest, which has a trip for two adults and two children
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New evidence in 20-year taxi driver murder mystery
FRESH forensic evidence could lead detectives to the killer of an Oxford taxi driver two decades after he was murdered. Police used the 20th anniversary of Leonard Gomm’s murder to announce they have uncovered new evidence. The body
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TAXI MURDER: Daughters still hope for justice
FOR 20 years Susan McCarthy, Sandra Gomm and Angela Cook have lived with the pain of not knowing who killed their father. Their mother Gwendoline did not live to see the killer of Leonard Gomm brought to justice but they still hold on to that hope.
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Local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 19.25 BMW 3396 Electrocomponents 218.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 80.5 Oxford Biomedica 9.9 Oxford Catalyst 83 Oxford Instruments 266 Reed Elsevier 497.1 RM 169.25 RPS Group 191.5 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Rail bosses call in along Cotswold Line
COTSWOLD Line passengers can find out about the project to redouble the route and put their points to rail bosses at meet the manager events this week. First Great Western and Network Rail managers will be at Charlbury station tomorrow, from
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GPs worry over night cover change
Oxfordshire GPS are anxious about Government plans to hand responsibility for a controversial out-of-hours service to them. The out-of-hours service provides urgent medical cover from 6.30pm to 8am on weekdays and round the clock at weekends and
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Manches appoints new head of client practice
OXFORD: Law firm Manches has appointed Anna Burnside as head of private client practice in the region. Ms Burnside will work alongside Tom Gilman, trust and estate planning partner, in developing the company’s private client services.
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GPs worry over move to change night cover
OXFORDSHIRE GPS are anxious about Government plans to hand responsibility for a controversial out-of-hours service to them. The out-of-hours service provides urgent medical cover from 6.30pm to 8am on weekdays and round the clock at weekends and bank
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Windscreen water infection risk
Motorists who do not use screenwash for their windscreen wipers risk getting potentially deadly legionnaires' disease, a study reveals. The warning comes after health experts discovered professional drivers were five times more likely to be infected
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Head Porter Mike will be sadly missed
MIKE Taylor, Head Porter of Brasenose, one of your regular letter-writers, sadly died on Tuesday. He was a life-long reader of the Oxford Mail and his witty, acerbic and often controversial contributions to your letters page kept us (and many more) amused
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Selfish breeders damage planet
I WAS disgusted to read your story 'And Babies Make 10' (Oxford Mail, June 9). Apparently, 54-year-old Mrs Johnston, who already has eight children, received IVF treatment abroad and has produced two more. If she was that desperate to increase her brood
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All migrants should pass language test
THE Government has announced that all non-European migrants will have to demonstrate basic communications skills before receiving a visa. This will only come into force this autumn. Although I applaud the introduction of this requirement, why isn’t it
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Chilling reminder of 1980s cuts
BARONESS Thatcher’s return to Downing Street last week serves as a chilling reminder of the past. Her government will forever be remembered for destroying industries, massive unemployment, a crumbling health service, underfunded schools, broken communities
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World Cup casts its spell on me
I DID something on Friday I have never done. I bought a newspaper and read it from back to front. Literally. What most men have done since birth, I have just grasped. Little wonder then that my dad has finally regarded me with the kind of pride he –
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CRICKET: Banbury slip to crushing defeat
Henley's Bjorn Mordt captured 4-14 to send Banbury to a seven-wicket defeat in Saturday’s Oxfordshire derby in the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League. Banbury’s top order had no answer to Mordt and Nicholas Denning (2-34), who produced some
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Hospital hosted major Oxford Scouting event
THIS was one of the great Scouting occasions of the year. The drumhead service at what is now the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington, Oxford, attracted Scouts from all over the city. The first was held at the then Wingfield-Morris
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Roadside card game incurred wrath of law
DUSTCART driver Colin Smith, who was booked for parking on his rounds, wasn’t the only person to be involved in a bizarre court case. Four men were fined by magistrates for playing cards for money on a grass verge. Their ‘crime’ took
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The changing face of Kidlington
KATHLEEN Goddard, Ruth Rackley and head boy Peter Cusworth were among the prizewinners at Gosford Hill School’s annual presentations in 1963. They and others who gained awards were praised by headmaster Joe Ainley. West Kidlington Primary School held
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Free Jelly for home workers
A little bit of New York is coming to Banbury with a free event for home workers. Jelly is coming to the Colin Sanders Innovation Centre following the success of similar events in Shropshire last month. Jelly was started in New York three years ago
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Dementia doesn't just affect the old
I WAS very interested in the contents of the article 'Dementia timebomb' (Oxford Mail, May 31), having had experience with one of my own family – my wife – suffering from this terrible disease. Although the article makes the very valid point that the
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Big thanks to MG owners
I WANT to express my gratitude to those MG owners who joined us, the Abingdon Works Centre of the MG Car Club, at the Abingdon Air & Country Show on Dalton Barracks last month in a record number. We will be able to donate £1,000 to the show’s charity
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New cricket pitch just perfect
ON MAY 8, the first ball of the first over of the first cricket match played on the new village cricket pitch in Horspath was bowled. The pitch was created on a piece of overgrown and neglected ground next to the village recreation ground
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CRICKET: Hole's haul too hot for rivals
A magnificent seven-wicket haul from Stuart Hole helped wrap up an 84-run win for Oxford against Harpenden on Saturday in the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League. The seamer captured 7-24 as the opposition were skittled for just 48
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CRICKET: Last-over disaster as sorry Rowant collapse
Aston Rowant lost three wickets in the final over – including two off the final two balls to suffer an agonising defeat at Radlett in the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League. Rowant entered the final over with three wickets in hand, and a draw
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CRICKET: Thame cruise to easy victory
Thame Town secured a comfortable six-wicket win over Harefield on Saturday to stay top of the table in the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League. Skipper Sam Lachlan won the toss and did not hesitate to bowl first. His decision was justified
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Village travels back to medieval times for fete
VILLAGERS will celebrate the 900th anniversary of their church with a medieval fair and market. St Peter’s Church, in Mill Lane, Alvescot, West Oxfordshire, will be saluted at a birthday bash on Saturday. Villagers with wear 15th-century
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Marston pupils enjoyed action-packed playtime
THERE was always a wide range of games to enjoy during break time at New Marston Primary School in Oxford. Eamonn Woodley, who was at the school in Copse Lane from 1958 to 1964, remembers the playground buzzing with activity. In a booklet of his memories
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Timeless scene amid storms of war
BRITAIN might have been at war, but in some parts of the country life continued much as it always had done. A thatcher is pictured going about his daily work on the roof of the Bell Inn, at Hampton Poyle, near Kidlington, in March 1941. This was the
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Billiards tips right on cue at Marston club
THERE was no shortage of tuition and encouragement when it was the turn of this novice player at the billiard table. Mrs L Crawford was surrounded by men willing to teach her the art of ‘cuemanship’. Among them were chairman Don Hughes, centre, and,
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Karate kids add to Barton Bash success
THE fifth annual Barton Bash welcomed in the summer this weekend with a display of martial arts, face-painting and a spot of sunshine. Saturday’s shindig attracted hundreds of people eager to enjoy the good weather. Organiser and Barton resident Sue
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Report raises health fears
OXFORDSHIRE’S senior public health official will today warn the county’s ageing population will put severe pressure on NHS services. The county’s annual public health report, which is out today, has pointed to a series of ongoing threats to
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Police called to Cowley brawl
Police were called early yesterday morning to tackle a fight outside the Oxford Greyhound Stadium. Residents in Sandy Lane, in Cowley, claim they were woken up just after 5am by scores of people shouting and fighting with knives, sticks and
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Youthful U's
Oxford United’s squad for their return to the Football League is shaping up to be young and athletic – and energetic. A feature of the signings that Chris Wilder has so far made this summer is that they are generally aged closer to 20 rather than 30.
