Archive
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Bail for graffiti suspect
A man arrested after scores of graffiti tags were daubed across Oxford has been rebailed by police until February 7. The 20-year-old was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage in October and bailed until December 1. Police are still appealing for
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Special honour for twinning 'guru' May
OXFORD’s former international officer has welcomed a very special statuette to her home – one of Dutch twin town Leiden’s most prestigious awards. May Wylie, left, who lives in Old Road, Headington, retired as Oxford City Council’s twinning ‘guru’ in
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New Leys advice service for the over-50s
OVER-50s on an Oxford estate are to be offered a new lifeline service which could help them improve their finances and manage their debt. The Agnes Smith Advice Centre is now offering free drop-in sessions to anyone over the age of 50 at the Clockhouse
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Gaming Heaven
CRAIG WILLIS returns to review the latest releases on our monthly games page. * NEED FOR SPEED: HOT PURSUIT PS3, Xbox360 £39.99 Ever fancied a career in the police force? Or maybe being a speed king is more your bag. Well with
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A Right Old Charmer
KATHERINE MacALISTER meets the stars of this season’s traditional Playhouse pantomime, Cinderella. CINDERS: Cinderella’s smile lights up the room as she talks about her prince. “I’m very pleased with my Prince Charming, he’s
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Mind Warp
MEGAMIND 3D (PG). Animation/Action/Comedy. Featuring the voices of Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, David Cross, Justin Theroux, Ben Stiller. Director: Tom McGrath. Superman wouldn’t be quite so super without scheming
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Shoestring Shocks
MONSTERS (12A). Sci-Fi/Thriller/Action/Romance. Scoot McNairy, Whitney Able. Director: Gareth Edwards. James Cameron please take note: you don’t need to spend $200m to smack audiences’ gobs. British writer-director Gareth
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Caught By The Fuzz
Richard Bell tries out Fuzzy Ducks @Academy in Cowley Road, Oxford. Well, I’m not sure if anyone else has noticed, but I think winter might be upon us. The record-breaking freezing temperatures in the middle of an absurdly long and bitter
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Still Game
Ian McCulloch of rock legends Echo & the Bunnymen makes a huge impression on Tim Hughes. FOR a rock legend of near god-like status, Ian McCulloch is surprisingly easy-going. Chatty, warm and down-to-earth, he does not fit the standard
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Nectar Points
Tim Hughes gets a little insight into the life of one of our favourite bands – and finds things are buzzing for The Bees. LIFE is a hive of activity for The Bees. They admit, they have never been busier – or better. Taking to the road to
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The 2011 OX5 Run is off the starting blocks
THE Oxford Mail’s annual charity run got off the starting blocks yesterday with organisers urging runners to get involved. The ninth Ox5 Run, in aid of Oxford Children’s Hospital, will take place at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, on Sunday, March
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Dough Nuts
KATHERINE MacALISTER usually loves pizza more than life itself. But Fire & Stone’s approach turned out to be the exception that proves the rule. An ominous noise awoke me the morning after our meal at Fire & Stone. The distant rumbling roused
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Logan's Run
ANDREW FFRENCH takes a peek at our latest book of the month, Any Human Heart by William Boyd, now a tv series on Channel 4. In 2002, a review copy of William Boyd’s Any Human Heart landed on my desk with a satisfying thump. The electric
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Time to find that perfect party frock
It is time to glam-up for the festive season and a new range of party frocks designed by Louise Trueman at Oxford boutique Booty, could be just the thing to turn heads “The collection is young, fresh and unique, in keeping with Booty’s ethos,”
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Quaffing and scoffing
Renowned for delivering fresh organic produce direct to your door, Abel & Cole demonstrated how to have a jolly exceptional Christmas with their Festive Foodie event in Oxford, writes Annette Nix Customers from Oxfordshire and beyond flocked to
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Police plea over missing Abingdon man
Police are asking for help from the public to trace a man who went missing after a court hearing in Bristol. Paul Noel, 53, was last seen at Bristol County Court at 2pm on Wednesday. Police were alerted when he failed to return to his home
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Bicester ring road set for extra traffic
MORE than 80 lorry journeys a day could be added to Bicester’s ring road after a shock U-turn over plans for an incinerator. Plans to site a burner in Calvert, nine miles east of Bicester, have been backed by Buckinghamshire County Council. To avoid
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Abingdon Christmas lights switched on
MORE than 500 people packed Abingdon town centre for the annual Christmas lights extravaganza. About 200 Scouts, Sea Scouts and Brownies gathered in Queen Street at 6.30pm before parading along Stert Street to the old County Hall for the switch-on of
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Environment Agency change how they warn of floods
ENVIRONMENT Agency bosses have changed how they warn of flooding because some people were not taking any notice. In the past, the Flood Watch warning only told residents to expect flooding on low-lying land and roads. It has now been
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RUGBY UNION: Ten new Blues for Oxford
Oxford University captain Nick Haydon today named ten new Blues in his side to face Cambridge in the 129th Nomura Varsity Match. Four of Oxford’s back line and six of their pack will win their first Blues when they take the field at Twickenham next Thursday
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Green light for museum’s £5m plans
A £5m redevelopment at Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum to showcase the museum’s collections from Ancient Egypt has been granted planning permission by Oxford City Council. Work will begin immediately to transform the Egyptian galleries on the ground floor
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Rape support group set up
A rape support group, thought to be the first of its kind in the county, has been set up. Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre will host a group where 10 to 12 woman will discuss their experiences. Until now its 50 volunteers have only been able
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RUGBY UNION: Angels duo bag trebles
CATHERINE Forteath and Lilly Newton scored try trebles as Witney Angels won 53-10 at Worthing in South East West 2. Angels rose to fifth in the table following a fantastic display in the cold weather. Witney could field just 11 players, so Worthing
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Lorry breakdown causes A34 delays
A broken down lorry today caused delays for drivers on the northbound A34 in Oxfordshire. The lorry broke down between the A4185 (Chilton Interchange) and the A4130 (Milton Interchange) blocking one lane.
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Berinsfield district nurse retires
A DISTRICT nurse who is ‘loved by everybody’ has retired from Berinsfield Health Centre. Eileen Frazer, of Garsington, near Oxford, has hung up her nursing uniform after working in the NHS since 1964. For the past 16 years the grandmother-of-two
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School pupils fight for sports partnership
MORE than 3,500 people have teamed together to fight cuts to a school sports scheme. Youngsters involved in the North Oxfordshire Sports Partnership will now join other UK schemes in protesting to Downing Street on Tuesday. The partnership oversees
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Guests given sneak preview of new Nissan supercar
West Way Nissan in Oxford treated invited guests to a sneak preview of the new and enhanced Nissan GT-R ahead of its official UK launch in March next year. More than 15 sports car enthusiasts arrived at the Langford Lane, Kidlington, dealership
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Car parking charges set to rise
PARKING charges are set to rise across Oxford, with the cost of parking at the Westgate reduced on Saturdays in a bid to help retailers. A major review of parking fees is expected to result in parking charges introduced for the first time beside
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RUGBY UNION: Flying the flag
More than 200 young players and parents from Witney’s mini and junior section had a day out with Aviva Premiership side London Wasps. Wasps, who play at Wycombe Wanderers FC’s Adams Park ground, beat visiting London Irish 33-25. Last summer, Witney’
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Thursday, December 2: Help us find knife-wielding robber
THE latest man on our Badvent Calendar is suspected of luring two reporters into his home and holding them at knifepoint. James Williams is behind the second window of the Oxford Mail’s Badvent Calendar which is bringing the county’s wanted
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RIDGWAY TRIAL: Suspect talked of getting charge down to manslaughter
A TEENAGER accused of murder talked of “getting it knocked down to manslaughter” in conversations taped by police. The 17-year-old, who denies fatally stabbing Blayne Ridgway in Oxford city centre, had his calls recorded in a young offenders
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GOLF: Results round-up
BICESTER Junior Club Championship: 1 D Grant 81-13=68, 2 G Kerr 101-21=80, 3 T Grant 106-25=81. Monthly Stableford: 1 M Beattie 41pts, 2 C Ward 39, 3 J Rees 37. CHIPPING NORTON Seniors Three-ball Alliance: 1 G Hardiman, V Billings & G Simms 87pts
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BAR BILLIARDS: Didcot storm to the top
Didcot Conservative Club swept to the top of the Premier Section after victories against Gladiators A and previous leaders Kennington, writes PETE EWINS. At Gladiators, Didcot won 4-1 as Dave Tooke (7,090), Geoff Mace (6,880), Tony Broadway and Stuart
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RUGBY UNION: Former Blue Van Zyl in Barbarians call
Former Oxford University lock Anton Van Zyl has been named in the Barbarians side to face his native South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday. The 30-year-old Stormers and Western Province player won Blues in 2003 and 2004 and joins a star-studded group
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Panto cast stage special hospital show
ONCE upon a time, Sleeping Beauty and her friends visited Oxfordshire to put on a special show for some of the county’s sick and injured children. Patients and families at the Oxford Children’s Hospital were yesterday treated to a performance
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COMMENT: Star turn at hospital
WHAT a vote of thanks the theatrical community deserves. Taking panto to sick children in hospital doubtless puts as big a smile on the faces of parents as it does the young audience for whom it’s intended. Just hearing their laughter
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AUNT SALLY: Nelson sink leaders
THE Nelson lowered the colours of The Reds with a 5-1 victory in the George Lowe Invitation League. Leaders The Reds were no match for Nelson, whose top-scorer was Nathan O’Donnell, who clanged off 12 dolls. The Blackbird picked up their first win with
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Local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 5.6 BMW 5257 Electrocomponents 271.7 Nationwide Accident Repair 97 Oxford Biomedica 9.15 Oxford Catalysts 60 Oxford Instruments 596.5 Reed Elsevier 516.5 RM 155.25 RPS Group 231.3 Courtesy of Redmayne
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Character in the country
A Grade II-listed stone barn conversion and separate self-contained annexe on the outskirts of a village is on the market for £495,000. The Hay Barn in Ambrosden has many period features such as exposed timbers and stone work and the original barn doors
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Village property looks ideal for homeworkers
Set in grounds of four acres, a Victorian house could make an ideal base for someone who works from home. Wincote, in Steeple Aston, has a free-standing timber building with power and light in the garden that could be used as an office or study. Clare
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Oxford council tenants face big rent rise
A HIKE in weekly rent payments for Oxford’s 8,000 council house tenants could increase the chance of evictions and rising debts, it was feared last night. The Government, which decides housing rates, is set to recommend an average hike of 6.8
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Auction good way of picking up bargain
An auction is a good way to snap up a bargain but it is vital to do your homework before you go, warn experts. Savills auctioneer, Christopher Coleman-Smith, said: “Auctions are a very successful way to buy and sell property, with buyers attracted
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CRICKET: Oxford handed home opener
Oxford will open a new season in Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 1 at home to High Wycombe. The opening weekend’s fixtures on Saturday, May 7 next year also see Banbury entertain Welwyn Garden City, while champions Henley host Tring
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Retirement village wins three awards
A retirement village near Wantage has won a What House? magazine Gold award in the Best Retirement Village category. Richmond Letcombe Regis, opened in June by the Earl of Wessex, also scooped the Best Innovation in the UK Over 50s Housing Awards and
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DARTS: Smith handed Hamilton test
Oxfordshire darts star Dennis Smith has been drawn against No 12 seed Andy Hamilton in the PDC World Championship first round at London’s Alexandra Palace. Phil Taylor will begin the defence of his title against American Gary Mawson or Juanito Gionzon
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Rail delays and more snow forecast
Rail commuters are facing delays of up to 50 minutes between Oxford and Worcester this morning after engineering work over ran. The work, between Worcester and Evesham, on the Cotswold Line, is being carried out by Network Rail. It is
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COMMENT: Libraries are worth saving
MAKE no mistake; it is impossible to over-estimate the importance of our public libraries. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to claim that these extraordinary institutions have helped mould and nurture society itself. Yet if that sounds
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William Sweetnam: Morris Motors worker who met Elvis
A FORMER Morris Motors worker who became an Elvis fan after meeting The King himself has died aged 79. William Noel Sweetnam, also know as Tex and Bill, passed away on November 14 following a short illness. He was born in Cork in 1930 and grew up on
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Volunteer-run libraries plan branded 'unworkable'
LIBRARY users have expressed scepticism that the service in many Oxfordshire communities can be saved from closure by using volunteers. They claim the plans revealed by the county council last week could mean Oxfordshire will be robbed of a
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Student loans plan is a threat to teaching profession
I write as a member of an endangered species, I fear. I was lucky enough to be educated at Oxford University, have been a teacher for nearly 40 years and have also nearly paid off my mortgage. Why does that make me endangered? Because, if the vast hike
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I remember proper swimming pools
So this is worth waiting for (‘Five-star pool unveiled’, Monday’s Oxford Mail). Village changing – oh yes! That means you cannot strip off in your own changing room. What is the world coming to? I will tell you of the pool I remember for so many years
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Lobby MEPs over drug changes
The European Commission is currently discussing complex trade agreements that will decide whether hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world will have access to affordable medicines. UK MEPs will be asked to vote on whether to accept or reject
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Build thousands of homes in Watlington
Of course councillor Angie Paterson thinks the current South Oxfordshire Local Plan should stand unaltered (The Issue, last Friday’s Oxford Mail). How many new houses are being built in Watlington, Ms Paterson? Didcot’s facilities and roads are already
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A bright idea
Could Oxford City Council keep some of the Christmas lights up permanently, please? That way people are guaranteed seeing bicycles with lights on at Carfax all the year round. Dennis Brown, Cardwell Crescent, Headington
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MOTORSPORT: Williams sign up Maldonado
Grove-based Formula 1 team Williams have announced that GP2 champion Pastor Maldonado will replace Nico Hulkenberg for the 2011 season alongside Rubens Barrichello. Maldonado is the second Venezuelan to drive in Formula 1 after Johnny Cecotto, who raced
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Gina Burrows: Former mayor at heart of Chipping Norton life
TRIBUTES have been paid to the former Chipping Norton mayor Gina Burrows, who died on November 24. Dr Burrows was a prominent Labour councillor in the town, serving from 1999, and was twice chosen as mayor. During her mayoral years,
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Police cuts will cost 800 posts
MORE than 800 police officers and support staff are to be axed as Government cuts force Thames Valley Police to rein in its spending. Plans are being drawn up to shed 297 police officers and 556 support roles across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire
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Cold welcome for coach drivers
I work as a coach driver and on Sunday, I brought a large group of passengers into Oxford to enjoy the attractions and spend the day. We arrived just before 11am and after dropping off outside the Playhouse, I made my way to the coach park in Oxpens
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Youth centre cuts a false economy
I THINK the proposed cuts to youth centres are harsh and a false economy. This will lead to more youngsters getting into trouble and will therefore not save any money after all. Closing libraries is also unfair. ANDREW McLEAN, Lake Street, Oxford
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Protests aren't pointless Mr Mitchell
l We strongly disagree with county council leader Keith Mitchell (‘Protests pointless, says council leader’ Monday’s Oxford Mail) and suggest his comments are an attempt to discourage Oxfordians from exercising their legitimate right to campaign against
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The Insider
THE Insider has spent much time in recent weeks trooping around Oxford with students and sixth-formers protesting against rises in tuition fees. Demonstrations are all well and good but please, guys, can you put a bit more effort into your placards and
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RUGBY UNION: In the money
The latest winner of the Oxford Mail face in the crowd competition is father-of-two Mark Chandler. He scooped £75 after our photographer spotted him watching Oxford University’s 55-0 defeat against Saracens last Monday night. But Chandler, from Cowley
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ATHLETICS: Hatti all set for Euro bid
FORMER Radley runner Hatti Dean booked her place in the European Cross Country Championships after finishing second in Saturday’s McCain UK Liverpool Cross Challenge and Euro trials. The senior women’s 8.1km race was won by Louise Damen, who finished
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ATHLETICS: Naylor cruises in for Eynsham title
WOODSTOCK Harrier Steve Naylor blitzed the field in astonishing style to land the 2010 Eynsham 10K men’s title, and with it the 10K Oxfordshire crown. From the first gun, Naylor raced away from the field of more than 500 runners. By the end of the first
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Music stars face financial losses after collapse of company
GLOBAL music stars Paul Simon and Crowded House are among acts which could be left out of pocket following the collapse of the company which runs the Cornbury Festival. It came after the firm which has run Oxfordshire’s biggest music festival
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GOLF: Wootton lands maiden pro win
Adam Wootton secured the first victory of his professional career by winning the PGA South Region’s Winter Series event at Hankley Common. The 24-year-old, who is attached to Oxford City, shot a five-under-par 66 to claim a one-shot victory. Wootton
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Council leader's attack on 'hard left' under fire
The leader of Oxfordshire County Council has questioned whether “hard left” teachers are encouraging pupils to join protests that saw teenagers storm County Hall on Tuesday. But a teachers’ union last night said the comments were “a professional
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ICE HOCKEY: Stars slip to fourth after Redskins scalping
Oxford City Stars slipped to fourth in the English National League South Division 1 table after going down to a 4-2 defeat at Streatham Redskins. It proved a mixed weekend for Stars, who beat local rivals Swindon Wildcats 3-2 the previous day. In Sunday
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Will the tills jingle?
Next week will show whether most of us are opting to forget our troubles — and in many cases fears for the future of our jobs — and deciding to eat, drink, and be merry this Christmas, come what may. Locally, retailers seem cautiously optimistic
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New supermarket could open in Cowley
SEVERAL ‘well-known’ supermarkets are in talks about moving into Cowley, according to the owners of Templars Retail Park. Developers Resolution Properties said DIY chain B&Q could move to a smaller store, leaving space for a supermarket.
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More Oxford car parks to charge
Car parking charges are set to rise across the city, although the cost of parking at the Westgate’s multi-storey will be pegged and reduced on Saturdays in a bid to help retailers. A major review of parking tariffs in Oxford should also see
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Festival company's £1.5m liquidation
THE company that has run the last seven Cornbury Festivals has gone into liquidation owing creditors ranging from top stars to small local charities almost £1.5m. Among those named on the list of creditors of Cornbury Music Festival Ltd, now in the hands
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Council leader's attack on 'hard left' under fire
THE leader of Oxfordshire County Council has questioned whether “hard left” teachers are encouraging pupils to join protests that saw teenagers storm County Hall on Tuesday. But a teachers’ union last night said the comments were “a professional
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An evening of laughter and sadness
His appearances in The Vicar of Dibley and the film Four Weddings and a Funeral have made James Fleet a hero of comedy for many people. And we can expect laughter ringing around Oxford’s Christ Church cathedral when he reads a passage from The Wind in
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More snow forecast across frozen UK
Frozen Britain will endure another Arctic blast of snow and ice as sub-zero temperatures bring more chaos to public transport, motorways and commuters. Two major airports - Edinburgh and London Gatwick - remained closed on Thursday morning
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Maclean extends Oxford United stay
Striker Steve Maclean yesterday extended his loan spell at Oxford United by a further month. And boss Chris Wilder hinted that if things go to plan, he may try and keep the Plymouth forward even longer. Maclean has made a big impression in his three
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RUGBY UNION: Haydon's hardest task
Nick Haydon admits selecting his team for the 129th Nomura Varsity Match was one of his toughest tasks as Oxford University captain. Haydon will unveil his line-up to face Cambridge at Twickenham at 1pm today. And the Australian spent
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Destruction and creation
He might have been born and bred in Oxford, but Sam Willetts was having trouble following directions to The Oxford Times office in Osney Mead. “Is that off the Abingdon Road? For some reason I always mix up Abingdon and Botley roads. You wouldn’t
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Scandal of mobile signal
Sir – Whilst I agree with David Robertson (Letters, November 11), he failed to mention the appalling lack of mobile signal across the county. For example, there has been a big fanfare about improving broadband coverage in Thame and yet it is difficult
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Held to ransom
Sir – Surely it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that we could somehow make it possible to maintain at least a Sunday service on our public transport system over Christmas? Of course everyone should be entitled to their own beliefs and to holidays
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Gossipy guzzler
Sir – The oxygen of publicity is one thing, the carbon-dioxide of self-publicity quite another. Christopher Gray ‘enjoys (another) great night out’, we hear (Gray Matter, November 25). This time ‘my pal Aziz’ has won a curry award, in the same week as
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Parky at the Pictures (In Cinemas 2/12/2010)
In 1996, a Cistercian monastery in the Algerian village of Tibhirine in the Atlas Mountains was raided by Islamic fundamentalists. Six of the brothers and a recently arrived guest were taken hostage, as the terrorists demanded the release of their
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Parky at the Pictures (DVD 2/12/2010)
There's a triple treat for Charlie Chaplin fans this week, as a couple of his finest features are released on DVD alongside 34 of his earliest screen appearances. No other slapstick clown's reputation has been subject to such a drastic shift in
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Folly of homes plan
Sir – In last week’s The Oxford Times Public ‘not listened to” over 10,000 home fears a quote was used from my speech at the shambolic SODC meeting on behalf of the Didcot Ring of Parishes that “Anyone who has read the Core Strategy would wonder
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Proud of eclectic area
Sir – On behalf of the St Clements traders, a very big thank you to all those readers who have supported our quest to save the St Clements car park from redevelopment. We opened our restaurant in St Clements five years ago, primarily due to
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Badgers under threat
Sir – When badgers were finally protected under law in 1992 the Government was responding to the biggest mailbag on any issue in the country at the time. But English badgers are again under threat by the Coalition’s latest plan to allow the killing of
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Innovative approach
Sir – I am sorry to disappoint Mrs Manley (Letters, November 18) but the county council has not had to “bow to common sense”. When we found our Road Safety Partnership Grant from central government cut, we announced that we would cease funding the Road
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Money-raising moustaches bite the dust
MEN around the county heaved a sigh of relief, and dug out their razors yesterday, as they were finally able to shave off their facial hair. Hundreds of Oxfordshire chaps joined the ranks of Tom Selleck and X-Factor’s Wagner as the owners of impressive
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Tax bigger cars more
Sir – My feeling that we have too many unnecessarily large and environmentally damaging vehicles was confirmed on television. It was then reported that of new vehicles, those purchased in Oxfordshire emit on average much more carbon dioxide than those
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Reform voting system
Sir – Your leader (Cut councillors, November 18) raises some interesting ideas about the reform of our local councils. But you fail to mention the most fundamental reform of all. Reform of the voting system. In the May 2005 county council elections,
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Safe, reliable service
Sir – The letter on November 11 from Paul Withrington, of Transport Watch, concerning Chiltern Railways’ planned new rail link to London contains a number of inaccuracies. Amongst other things, Mr Withrington complains that Chiltern Railways receives
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There are ifs and buts
Sir – Last Saturday’s blocked Queen Street traffic and microphoned yelling by the trade union protestors of “No ifs and buts, no public sector cuts” myopically misses the point that there are big ifs and buts. People around me in the street wondered
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Church schools’ success
Sir – Magdalen is second best independent school in UK, (Report, November 18) mentions that SS Philip and James in North Oxford is the only state primary school in the county to be included in the 2010 Sunday Times top 100 state primaries list.
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London Road landmark
NEW plans to redevelop the Dorset House site in Headington for student accommodation have been submitted to Oxford City Council. And The Oxford Times can offer a first glimpse of what the new accommodation for 316 students would look like. The site
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Thoughtless closure
Sir – I was so disappointed to hear that there are plans to shut down our library in Blackbird Leys. Community activities for those employed and under 55 years old are almost non-existent in our area, except in the local library. All my life I have been
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Library’s positive role
Sir – It is ironic that in the week after news of Oxford having the worst Key Stage One results in the country, (24 per cent not reaching the expected reading standard), Oxfordshire County Council should announce closure of libraries in the city.
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Cultural vandalism
Sir – I read that Oxfordshire County Council is planning to close 50 per cent of our libraries. This is cultural vandalism of an unprecedented nature. One aspect of this which pertains to last week’s correspondence concerning Stage One results
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Disaster for landscape
Sir – My heart sank when I read of the proposal of Science Oxford (November, 18) to build a new tourist attraction in New Road, one of the more visible sites in the city. It sank even further when I read the architect’s spokesperson using such
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Children miss out
Sir – A few years ago, children of three and four in an Oxfordshire nursery could be taught to read their own books within one or two years. The two years in an infant school used to achieve the same for the majority of children. Children now go to school
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Testing big idea
According to recent statistics almost 60 per cent of us hold a membership card for the local public library and, on average, we make more than five visits a year per head of population. It is perhaps surprising to find in this modern age when the price
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Train confusion
The only thing you can say with certainty about the Government’s announcement on electrification of the rail line as far as Oxford is that the Minister turned up and made the same announcement as that made by his Labour predecessor 12 months ago. Why
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Library service 'faces slow death'
Campaigns to save local libraries are being launched across Oxfordshire, amid claims that the county faces being robbed of a modern library service. Up to 20 of the county’s 43 libraries could face closure unless volunteers come to the rescue
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Student renters told to behave
STUDENTS at an East Oxford letting agency will have to sign a “good behaviour” pledge before picking up their keys. And if they break it they’ll get a letter sent home to mum and dad. The bond, drawn up by Premier Lettings, is in response to increased
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Wow! Visit to Port Meadow was worth the wait
Although the Lesser Yellowlegs had been exciting birders from far and wide since it had been found by local birder Adam C Hartley on October 14, it was a while before I could visit Port Meadow to see this rarity. Adam regularly reports on this Oxford
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Get out and go wild
Responsibility: Early one morning this autumn a team of six volunteers from Taylor & Francis, a publisher specialising in academic books and journals, set out to complete a day’s work building a winter home for great crested newts. As part of its corporate
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Garden visitors
As many of you will know I am as fascinated by the insects in my garden as I am by the flowers, if not more. I’ve spent 30 years observing all sorts of visitors to the garden and I’m especially interested in bees and wasps. But my efforts are as nothing
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New World wines for Winter, £68
Feeling a bit nippy? Got your Christmas presents? Wondering how long it is to spring? On the look out for snowdrops already? It’s that time of year again isn’t it? Well, don’t despair because here’s a mixed case of wine to cheer you up and warm
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Portugal’s wines are worth getting to know better
One of the few good things about this bitter cold snap, is that your white wines can be chilled by popping the bottle on the doorstep for 20 minutes, leaving plenty of space in the fridge for the food you are going to need to eat to stay warm.
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Bath Time: Burton Taylor Studio
There won’t be a dry eye — or a dry anything — in the Burton Taylor Studio from next Friday, if director Toby Hulse has anything to do with it. That’s because, after a successful week’s trial there earlier in the year, he’s bringing back his exuberant
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Sound of Music: New Theatre
Nuns were singing in Oxford’s Wesley Memorial Church. Nothing remarkable about that, surely? But these were not real nuns, and perhaps the song Climb Ev’ry Mountain doesn’t hit the Wesley Mem rafters every day. The explanation? The church had temporarily
