Archive
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Soldiers' repatriation put back
THE repatriation to Oxford of the bodies of two Army sappers killed in Afghanistan will take place later than expected tomorrow. The bodies of Sapper Ishwor Gurung, of 69 Ghurka Field Squadron, 36 Engineer Regiment, and Sapper Darren Foster, of 21 Engineer
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Oxford University satisfies students
OXFORD University has come fourth in a student satisfaction survey. The list, which does not include further education colleges, was carried out by the National Student Survey. The survey focused on full and part-time students who said
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Fundraisers ensure heart centre fulfils promise
WHEN the £29m Oxford Heart Centre opened its doors almost 12 months ago, it was heralded as a centre of excellence on our doorstep. Now, one year on and 30,000 patients later, the unit is fulfilling that promise. Boosted by more than
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Cancer campaigner 'doing well' after surgery
Cancer campaigner and Oxford Mail columnist Clive Stone was tonight said to be doing well after surgery to remove a brain tumour. Mr Stone, from Freeland, near Witney, was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2007 and has fought several cancer campaigns.
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'Bayeux Tapestry' needs finishing off
CHILDREN will have the chance to finish the final ‘missing’ panel of a new version of the last part of the Bayeux Tapestry at a medieval fair in Wallingford on Saturday. Experts at the town museum believe that the original tapestry, which illustrates
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Synthetic fuels firm sees shares soar
SHARES in a synthetic fuels specialist rose sharply after a promising progress report on its key technology. Bosses at Oxford Catalysts, based in Milton Park, near Didcot, said they were confident of securing a first commercial order after an ongoing
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Sex attack victim spoke to dog walker
Police want to speak to an elderly dog walker who spoke to a woman moments before she was raped in Eynsham. The 50-year-old victim told police she was attacked by a man in the sports field off High Street at about 9.40pm on Sunday while she was walking
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Tesco plans split Faringdon residents
SUPERMARKET giant Tesco’s plans to open another multi-million-pound store have divided a town. The company opened two new stores in Oxford city centre last week, but was turned down for another in Abingdon Road. Now Faringdon traders are worried about
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Fresh plea over Eynsham sex attack
Police this afternoon renewed an appeal for witnesses after a woman was seriously sexually assaulted in Eynsham. The Thames Valley Police Major Crime Unit are appealing for information to help identify a man who committed a serious sexual assault in
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Local shares (PM)
AEA Technology 18 BMW 3583 Electrocomponents 211.4 Nationwide Accident Repair 82.5 Oxford Biomedica 10 Oxford Catalysts 80 Oxford Instruments 340 Reed Elsevier 536.25 RM 134 RPS Group 175 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Row erupts over felling of 'landmark' Old Gaol tree
A 100-FOOT high tree that towered over Abingdon for decades has been felled as part of the Old Gaol redevelopment. The Chinese tree of heaven, thought to have been growing for 50 years, was the fourth tree axed by Cranbourne Homes as part of the development
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The Famous Five - jolly no more
Though Edith Nesbit, the author of The Railway Children, made a mint from her writing for young people, I think that Enid Blyton earned considerably more. In excess of 500 million copies of her books have been sold around the world. With the possible
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Brian brings me smiling into Saturday
‘We move on from that little interlude to the short career of Danny and the Giants.” These were the first words I heard when I switched on the radio on waking last Saturday. They brought me smiling into the day. As fans of Radio 2 will probably recognise
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The High Table: The Eastgate Hotel, Oxford
For the second time in three weeks I found myself trying to make whoopee in an empty restaurant that was slowly closing around me at nine o’clock at night. The surprising — and disturbing — thing about my latest experience is that it was in Oxford
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Iconic steam locomotive is star of the show
Realising how many readers enjoy looking at pictures of railway engines — certainly in preference to those of another photographic subject occasionally to be seen on this page — I thought I would offer a study of the Victorian steam locomotive
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Recipe for raspberry and coconut slice - serves four
This easy recipe makes a perfect warm pudding if served with lashings of whipped cream, but it can also be cut into thin slices and served as a treat with an afternoon cup of tea. Raspberries continue to crop until well into the autumn. However, they
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This pub's great for me and the dog
Now the equinox has passed and summer is gradually giving way to autumn, glimpses of gold are beginning to envelop the English countryside. But it seems every bit as beautiful now as it was during spring. I am becoming more aware of these seasonal
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When lions roamed the palace grounds
To a child of three, I suppose, there is nothing so very extraordinary about a rhinoceros strolling about in Oxfordshire; it’s just another fact to take in, interesting, but perhaps marginally less so than a ride on a miniature train, or the prospect
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Preview of Decky Does a Bronco: Playhouse Plays Out, Florence Park
First seen by Oxford audiences in Florence Park almost ten years ago, Douglas Maxwell’s play Decky Does a Bronco returns there next week fresh from a successful run on the Edinburgh Fringe. Eight actors — all trained acrobats — play out this
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Quartet: The Oxford Playhouse
Christopher Gray reviewed this play when it passed through Milton Keynes and I talked to its author, Sir Ronald Harwood, for these pages a fortnight ago. So readers are possibly familiar with the plot, subtle but gossamer thin: three elderly opera singers
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Enter Shikari: O2 Academy, Oxford
When any band used to filling venues with capacities of thousands crams into a tiny room, there’s always going to be more anticipation than usual. But for Enter Shikari’s show upstairs in the O2 Academy, the state of excitement is something beyond feverish
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Fairports Cropredy Convention: Status Quo
Fairport’s Ric Sanders once described their annual Cropredy bash to me as “a little sanity in an Oxfordshire field”. Having just had my first Cropredy experience, I can see what he means. Despite a drenching during the day, festival-goers were in buoyant
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Cinderella: English National Ballet, London Coliseum
English National Ballet have been celebrating their 60th anniversary with a revival of Michael Corder’s Cinderella, which they brought to Oxford seven years ago. Corder has made it an adult morality tale, the triumph of gentle modesty over brash vulgarity
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Preview of Oxford Comedy Deathmatch: Isis Farmhouse Pub, Iffley
Oxford Comedy Deathmatch (OCD) are a 12-strong comedy collective, who promise those who come to their shows only two things: first, that they will try their hardest to make them laugh — and laugh a lot — and, second, that everything they do will be completely
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The Railway Children: Waterloo Station, London
Almost as keen on steam trains as I am on theatre, I could hardly resist the two-pronged appeal of The Railway Children. This hugely acclaimed adaptation of Edith Nesbit’s classic children’s story — previously seen at the National Railway Museum in York
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CRICKET: Burton's heroics in vain
Megan Burton’s valiant 47 was in vain as Oxfordshire Women lost by 31 runs to Suffolk in ECB County Championship Division 5 East at Bury St Edmunds. Chasing Suffolk’s 171, Burton led the way as Oxon rallied from 45-6 before finally being bowled out for
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CRICKET: Middleton invitation
Clubs are being invited to enter teams in the ChildLine charity six-a-side tournament at Middleton Stoney on Saturday, September 18 (9am) – with £300 up for grabs for the winners. Matches will be played in a round-robin group stage followed
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CRICKET: Shipton's challenge
Oxon champions Shipton-under-Wychwood will be looking to make the most of home advantage when they host Rowledge in Sunday’s rearranged npower Village Cup semi-final (1pm). The tie was switched to Shipton after last Sunday’s clash was called off following
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Tune up for Gang Show
OXFORD’S Gang Show is seeking someone to tinkle the ivories so that young performers can start rehearsing for next year’s show. The Oxfordshire Scout and Guide Gang Show is staged every year at Oxford’s New Theatre. Show organisers are now looking for
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Tune up to join Gang Show
OXFORD’S Gang Show is seeking someone to tinkle the ivories so that young performers can start rehearsing for next year’s show. The Oxfordshire Scout and Guide Gang Show is staged every year at Oxford’s New Theatre. Show organisers are
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Fresh ideas needed amid funding fears for day centre
PENSIONERS in west Oxfordshire have joined the fight against the prospect of county council changes to their day centres and services. Some of the centres rely heavily on funding from the council, which is reviewing its services for OAPs. County Hall
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Shock at pensioner arrest rates
YOUNG people are usually the ones expected to be in trouble with the law, but 168 Oxfordshire pensioners have been arrested by police in the past three years. Figures obtained using the Freedom of Information Act revealed the number of over-70s arrested
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Young explorers hunt for bugs
YOUNG David Attenboroughs are enjoying bug hunts at the Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education Centre this week. Children can hunt for beetles, caterpillars, ladybirds and centipedes, as well as collecting leaves and flowers to create a detective
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Queen's Awards look for more voluntary groups
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is billed as the MBE for volunteer groups. Now its custodians are looking for more groups to win Her Majesty’s seal of approval. Started in 2002, in her Golden Jubilee year, the prestigious award has
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CRICKET: Veterans call up ace Arnold
Oxfordshire's record-breaking bowler, Keith Arnold, will make his debut for the county’s over 50s side this Sunday. Seamer Arnold, who took a record 682 Minor Counties Championship wickets for Oxfordshire, will play in the ECB 50+ Championship quarter-final
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Scoring a festival hat-trick
Not ones to miss out on a party, The Guide crew have been hitting it in royal style this past week. While lesser publications are content to dip into the odd gig we selflessly spent last weekend at not one but three festivals. And let us say...
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Fans flock to see Little Fish
FANS packed into Witney’s only independent record store to catch up and coming Oxford band Little Fish before their Reading Festival appearance next week. The group popped into Rapture, in the Woolgate Centre, on Monday to launch their latest album
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Man exposed himself '30-40 times'
A 25-YEAR-OLD man flashed at a family “30 to 40 times” in one day after having sex with a prostitute, a court heard. Nicholas Farrelly, of Cherry Close, Greater Leys, Oxford, denies two counts of exposure on April 6. A woman, who cannot
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Rok upbeat despite losses
Bosses at the Oxfordshire branch of building services firm Rok are optimistic despite the company seeing its fortunes slide. The group, which has a maintenance arm in Eynsham, revealed pre-tax losses of £3.8m in the six months to June 30 after
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Local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 18 BMW 3553 Electrocomponents 213.4 Nationwide Accident Repair 82.5 Oxford Biomedica 10.1 Oxford Catalyst 80 Oxford Instruments 342 Reed Elsevier 538 RM 135 RPS Group 177 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Rail commuters face fares hike
OXFORDSHIRE commuters have urged the Government and train companies to minimise fare increases next year. Fears have been raised that passengers will face a rise of at least 5.8 per cent in the price of many tickets following the yesterday’s announcement
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Four bailed after police raid house
THREE men and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply and affray. The men, aged 23, 33 and 45, and the woman, aged 18, were arrested shortly after 1pm on Sunday, in Hamilton Close, Bicester, following
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AUNT SALLY: Duo have six appeal
Two players in the bottom two divisions celebrated hitting sixes. In Section 11, Darren St John – from The Eight Bells – bagged himself a six in his 11 dolls as they took maximum points against Kings Arms B, Kidlington, 10-9, 15-4, 11-10. And in Section
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Free us from EU
The European Union may be the source of cash bonbons for some businesses (Apply for EU cash, businesses urged, Oxford Mail, August 12) but Britain's membership of the EU is bad value for taxpayers. The Leader scheme’s £1.89m budget means that about
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Unlock potential
Nearly one in eight children living in the South East (12 per cent) are growing up in homes where no-one has a job. Alarmingly, this equates to 176,000 young people who, according to a new report from the Prince’s Trust and Qa Research, are significantly
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Wrong direction
Cameron and Clegg seem in haste to dismantle all the services that make our society tick. They tell us that all these functions can be provided by the private sector or by charities and volunteers. Latest in the line of cuts are our areas of natural
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U-turn on speeding issue short-sighted
We need facts, not prejudices, in the debate about the efficacy of speed cameras. For years we have been told that they have reduced speeds and reduced accidents; the evidence is there, as highlighted by your correspondent Dani Rabinowitz (Oxford Mail
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COMMENT: Time for some cool, calm debate
THERE needs to be a sensible debate about the effects of drug addiction in this country, with both sides in the argument needing to be far more flexible. Clearly there are flaws in the current policy because ‘the war on illegal drugs’ has patently not
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Sassy&Single: Hi-tech route to public humiliation
T he other day I heard about a new invention that at first I thought was pure genius. However, after giving it further consideration, I realised this so-called life-changing creation, developed by some whizzkids in Japan, could just be the beginning
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Cannot be held responsible
It is unfortunate that one of your readers is not fully aware of the facts concerning past events at the John Radcliffe Hospital children’s cardiac unit. Sir Jonathan Michael took up his post of chief executive on April 6, 2010, so he cannot therefore
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Casual policing
I REFER TO THE mounted police officers pictured in the Oxford Mail on August 6. They certainly look an imposing sight. Unfortunately, the two officers on foot patrol look a lot less imposing. The absence of headgear gives them a casual appearance
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Thanks to cuts
WHAT wonderful news the demise of speed cameras was in Oxfordshire. Now I can come down Oxford Hill, also along the Woodstock Road, into Witney doing about 45 to 50mph in a 30 limit, safe in the knowledge I won’t be caught. This is all thanks to Tory
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GOLF Chippy in charge at the top
Chipping Norton are in with a great chance of winning the Division 1 title in the Shaw Gibbs Oxfordshire Foursomes League following a 3-0 win away to Magnolia Park. With a game in hand over nearest challengers Tadmarton and Frilford Hearth, leaders Chippy
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Arrest follows death crash
A MAN was arrested following a collision on the M40 in which a 55-year-old woman was killed. The crash happened at about 4.40pm on Monday, involving a red MG sports car and a white Iveco panel van on the M40 between junction nine at Bicester
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Cameron: First 100 days
David Cameron will reflect on his first 100 days as British Prime Minister from the Cornish seaside, as he enjoys a summer holiday with his family. But what have the public, politicians and business leaders in Oxfordshire made of his tenure
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GOLF: Results check
SHAW GIBBS OXFORDSHIRE FOURSOMES LEAGUE. Section 1. Magnolia Park 0 (0pts), Chipping Norton 3 (4) (Magnolia Park first): L Wilson & P Davis lost to A Johnson & S Kennett 8 & 6; B Darvill & G Stirratt lost to M Johnson & M Stanton
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New army recruits vow to serve Queen and Country
IT was one of the most important moments in their young lives. Swearing an oath of allegiance to Queen and Country, 14 youths from Oxfordshire yesterday embarked on a career which could see them fighting in some of the world’s most war-torn
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CAMERON: His first 100 days
DAVID Cameron will reflect on his first 100 days as British Prime Minister from the Cornish seaside, as he enjoys a summer holiday with his family. But what have the public, politicians and business leaders in Oxfordshire made of his tenure
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City councillor backs drugs law rethink
A SENIOR city councillor last night backed calls to decriminalise heroin and cocaine after a former Government adviser said a rethink was needed over UK drug laws. Prof Sir Ian Gilmore, former president of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP
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COMMENT: Salute new recruits
THERE was palpable excitement and a sense of adventure as 14 young men swore their allegiance and embarked on a military career. It is likely these recruits will see action quickly, as the days of the military being just a pass to see the world
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CRICKET: Oxfordshire sign off with win as Ryan stars
Oxfordshire finished their Western Division campaign with a flourish as they defeated Devon by 74 runs at Sidmouth. It was a remarkable turnaround after they were rolled over for just 76 on the first day. Left-arm spinner Luke Ryan was
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Oxford United star Dannie back on familiar territory
Oxford United players’ favourite Dannie Bulman admits it will be “strange” going back to his old club Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday. It will be the first time the midfielder has returned to Adams Park since he left six years ago. And the 31-year-old
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'Tree of heaven' is felled by developers
A 100-FEET high ‘tree of heaven’ that towered over Abingdon for decades has been felled by the developers of The Old Gaol. The Chinese tree, thought to have been growing for 50 years, was the fourth tree axed by Cranbourne Homes as part of
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All set for a fun day on the Leys
FAIRGROUND rides, hip-hop dancers and food from across the world is expected to draw thousands of people to the heart of Oxford’s largest estate for a much-loved annual celebration. The Leys Fair is returning for another year on Saturday, September 11
