Archive
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Cut protest taken to Cameron's doorstep
Protesters took their message to Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron’s door today. About 30 people stood outside Mr Cameron’s constituency office to protest against cuts to youth services and libraries. Jordan Skipp, 18, from Witney, said: “Youth
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BMW 535i - the star of Ronin
Don’t you love Christmas? Me too. I can’t help but get caught up in the whole experience of it all. I love the carols, the food and most of all the spirit. Everyone’s happy at Christmas. But there’s one problem it creates. And no, I’m not talking about
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Personalise your new Citroën DS3
MY wife looked genuinely shocked as she peered out of the bedroom window at the white-roofed test car. “Someone’s thrown black paint all over it,” she said, before realising that what she was looking at was a zebra stripe graphic. Quite why someone
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Plans outlined for Wittenham Clumps reserve
MAJOR changes to a two-mile stretch of the River Thames are among ambitious plans for Oxfordshire’s most visited open space. The 700-acre Wittenham Clumps and Little Wittenham Wood near Didcot will benefit from a 500-acre expansion into neighbouring
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FIA remove F1 team orders rule
The FIA have stripped the regulation banning team orders from their rulebook following this year's controversy in Germany. Ferrari were fined £65,000 by race stewards at the German Grand Prix after being accused of implementing a team order. Following
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The Sound of Music: New Theatre, Oxford
On two consecutive nights this week I sat open-mouthed in admiration as a bunch of super-talented children confirmed that the future of live entertainment in this country is in safe hands. The stars of tomorrow are also the stars of today in both
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Dreaming of a Green Christmas
FORGET dreams of a white Christmas, Oxford Town Hall will go green tomorrow for a festive event with a distinctly wholesome flavour. Organised by Oxford Green Party, the Green Fair celebrates its 30th year in style with about 100 stalls run
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Local share prices
AEA Technology 5.4 BMW 5235 Electrocomponents 264.3 Nationwide Accident Repair 95.5 Oxford Biomedica 8.2 Oxford Catalysts 59.75 Oxford Instruments 679.25 Reed Elsevier 518.75 RM 153.75 RPS Group 238.9 Courtesy Redmayne Bentley
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Lady Driver: Festive rush
WELL it has started already. Chris Rea’s Christmas classic Driving Home for Christmas has hijacked the airwaves, and the mad, manic hurtle towards the festive season is under way. The retail Mecca of Bicester Village seems to have more pilgrims than
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The Worst Cars Evah: Austin Maxi
When it comes to vision in car design then few can compare to Sir Alec Issigonis. His design for the Mini is legendary, but it is perhaps less well known that he was also responsible for the Maxi, which, through no fault of his, became a joke
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Oxford United match at Lincoln is OFF
Oxford United's League Two match at Lincoln City tomorrow has been postponed. The referee called off the match after an inspection on Friday afternoon because of snow and safety concerns.
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BREAKING NEWS: County unveils fresh cuts
Motorists will be charged to use park and ride facilities in future, street lights will be switched off and some rubbish tips in Oxfordshire will close. These are among the drastic measures outlined in Oxfordshire County Council's revenue budget, announced
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Well-off OAPs can help others keep warm
COMFORTABLY off pensioners in Oxfordshire are being urged to hand over their winter fuel payments to help vulnerable elderly people survive the winter. Winter Fuel Payments (WFP) are now a universal annual tax-free state benefit paid each year to elderly
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Young voices bring Christmas to shoppers
CHILDREN from West Oxford Primary School filled the city’s Westgate Centre with music yesterday, as they practised their Christmas carols to raise money for charity. Forty-eight youngsters aged four to 11 sang to shoppers, raising £173 in 30 minutes
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Jury out in murder trial
A jury in the retrial of a man originally cleared of murdering a mother-of-two in Oxfordshire in 1995 has been sent out to consider its verdict. Mark Weston, 35, is accused of battering Vikki Thompson near her home in the small Cotswold village of Ascott-under-Wychwood
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New intellectual property firm launches
MILTON PARK: A firm of specialist intellectual property (IP) advisers has launched. Sipara will provide a full range of services to enable firms to capture, protect, exploit and enforce their IP assets. Founding partners Hugh Tebay, Robert Furneaux
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Architect excited by Oxford science centre project
AS THE public are given the first chance to comment on plans for a multi-million pound Oxford science centre, the architect Norman Foster has spoken of his passion for the project. Lord Foster, the man behind iconic structures such as the German Reichstag
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Local share prices
AEA Technology 5.4 BMW 5216 Electrocomponents 264.6 Nationwide Accident Repair 96 Oxford Biomedica 8.4 Oxford Catalysts 59.25 Oxford Instruments 679.5 Reed Elsevier 518.25 RM 151.25 RPS Group 237.5 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Time for a reality check
I was at the County Council offices above the Clarendon Centre for a meeting last week when the students rampaged through the shopping centre below – presumably en route to County Hall – where they felt it appropriate to storm parts of the building and
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Friday, December 10: Help catch this bail jumper
A MAN who failed to attend court is behind the door of day 10 of the Oxford Mail’s Badvent Calendar. Terrence Webster, 46, of Campbell Road, Cowley, is wanted by Oxford Crown Court after he failed to answer a summons for failing to comply with a requirement
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Fire causes road delays
A vehicle fire today led to delays on the A44 north of Oxford. The fire happened on the A44 Woodstock Road southbound between the A4260 Frieze Way and the Peartree Interchange. The fire led to the closure of one lane of the road.
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Wright operation a success
United centre back Jake Wright’s op, on his broken foot, was a success. Boss Chris Wilder said: “Jake came through the operation great, he’s had it pinned, so hopefully we’ll get him back before the six weeks. “We’ve had good vibes about the way the
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Tribute paid to A34 crash victim
The widow of Nick Kneale, who died in a collision on the A34 on Sunday, has released a tribute to him. Mr Kneale, 44, from Oxford, was in a Ford Focus which collided with a Renault lorry parked in a layby, on the northbound carriageway just
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Battery firm expands
A company which specialises in developing the next generation of rechargeable batteries has expanded out of Culham Innovation Centre. Oxis Energy has moved to new laboratories, with dry room facilities, at Culham Science Centre. Technology developed
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Science investment
Attracting private sector investment to science parks is the main theme of a special high-tech conference on February 9 and 10 at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus. Carter Jonas is co-hosting the conference, Investing in the UK's Innovation Infrastructure
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It’s time to tackle ‘nightmare commute’
TRANSPORT planners have been urged to be more radical if they want to end the “nightmare” for Oxford commuters. Oxford City Council’s executive board has given a damning response to a new transport plan drawn up by Oxfordshire County Council. Speaking
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Over-60s festive film festival set to roll
A TOUCH of movie magic is just the ticket for the city’s over 60s as the Oxford Mail and Phoenix Picturehouse’s three-day Christmas festival of feel-good films kicks off on Monday. The annual Merry Christmas Matinees are designed to give Oxford’s senior
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RUGBY: Mixed fortunes for Harlequins
The big freeze has proved a mixed blessing for Oxford Harlequins who host Cheltenham in National 3 South West tomorrow. Quins have seen their last two matches postponed due to frozen pitches and are keen to resume action. Director of
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FOOTBALL: Witney boosted as duo return
Witney United are boosted by the return of leading scorer Sean McKeon and midfielder Vinny Byfield to the side when they host Shortwood United in the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division on Saturday. Paul Tassell is sidelined by injury and Dwayne
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University fees rise sparks students' anger
STUDENTS accused the Coalition Government of ignoring them after it voted through plans to treble university tuition fees. Oxford West and Abingdon MP Nicola Blackwood voted for the changes, despite admitting the day before she was “agonising
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FIXTURES: December 10
SATURDAY. FOOTBALL. NPOWER LEAGUE TWO. Lincoln City v Oxford Utd. ZAMARETTO SOUTHERN LEAGUE. Premier Div: Banbury Utd v Chesham Utd, Hednes-ford Tn v Didcot Tn, Oxford City v Truro City. Div 1 South & West: North Leigh v Abingdon Utd. CARLSBERG
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ROWING: Hosts Wallingford land Blue Riband
While the host club had to give second best to Oxford Brookes in the Wallingford Head on Sunday, they did at least come out on top in the Blue Riband event. Wallingford stormed to victory in the women’s elite eight. With notable Great Britain performers
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BADMINTON: Harper secures bronze medal
Sam Harper, from Hanborough, collected the bronze medal in a Badminton England under 17 bronze graded tournament at Stevenage. After edging past Faringdon’s Michael Brockie 21-19 to reach the semi-finals, Harper (pictured) lost 21-16 to Alex Thompson
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School without head fails again
OFSTED inspectors branded a North Oxford primary school ‘inadequate’ for the second time in a year. The school standards watchdog said although Cutteslowe Primary School provided an acceptable standard of education, it has lacked leadership since headteacher
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City primary schools among worst in country
OXFORD’S primary school children are once again in the bottom 10 per cent of the country, according to the latest Key Stage Two results. Out of 354 local government districts across England, just 22 performed worse than Oxford in English and 33 in maths
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COMMENT: Tiny cheers over school statistics
THERE is a crumb of comfort in the Key Stage Two figures for the testing of 11-year-olds in Oxford. Last month we revealed that the city had the worst results for seven-year-olds in basic reading, writing and arithmetic in the country. That is nothing
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FOOTBALL: Wantage set for Poole test
Wantage Town will host the winners of the Wroxham or St Ives Town tie should they return with a victory from their re-arranged FA Carlsberg Vase third-round tie at Poole Town on Saturday. Wantage Tn: from Tucker, Rowe, Belcher, Stuart Cattell, Dewar,
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Oxford United look to hat-trick
Oxford United are determined to build on their two wins on the trot if their game at Lincoln tomorrow goes ahead. The League Two match is in the balance because of this week’s freeze, which has hit the Sincil Bank pitch particularly badly. The U’s should
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Helping shelter
Like your readers I’m getting ready for Christmas and can’t wait for some time off to relax and spend time at home with family and friends. Home is so important at this time of year, which is why it shocked me to learn that every two minutes someone
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More stamps please
Thank you to all those who have sent me used postage stamps in the past. Can I appeal again for any used postage stamps? We collect these for the Oxfordshire Association for the Blind, and would be grateful for any used stamps. No matter how few, or how
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The best teachers
DR John Sandall’s letter (ViewPoints, December 6), presumably in response to mine a week earlier, raises some interesting issues with which I should not necessarily disagree. My proposal was that those obtaining third-class honours, were extremely likely
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Remember the old
I HAD an aunt who was in a care home. Sadly, she passed away a few months ago. She didn’t have many visitors, but it wasn’t that she didn’t have many relatives – they just didn’t bother. Just half an hour makes all the difference to their long day. They
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Left stranded
Happy Christmas Oxfordshire County Council! From April 2011, all disabled people are to be charged £4-£6 to ride on the dial-a-ride (Octobus). Add to that the not unreasonable entry fee of just £1.50 to Marston Over-50s Club in Jack Straws Lane, and I
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Doctrinaire idiocy
Keith Mitchell is continuing deliberately to mislead the people of Oxfordshire about the cause of the national budget deficit (aided and abetted by the Lib Dems). Most of the deficit is a result of the need to bail out the greedy banks – which his Tory
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Revamp...it’s come too late for this ghost town
I see Abingdon town centre is to get a makeover, but I am afraid it too late. The town died years ago through neglect by previous Liberal councils, parking prices and the exorbitant rents charged to have a shop in the precinct. The only shops that seem
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CABBAGES & KINGS: Two tales of hitting 60
WITH only 365 days to choose from (366 if you wish to be pedantic) one shouldn’t be surprised to meet a two people with the same birthday. Yet surely the odds are lengthened when, within half an hour, you meet two men each called David, both born on December
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Chelsea Pensioners aim for Christmas No. 1
A PENSIONER from Oxford is taking on this year’s X Factor winner as part of the country’s oldest boy band. John Shuter, 89, is a member of The Chelsea Pensioners, who hope to get the Christmas No.1 this year with their version of Bing Crosby’s classic
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Rapunzel lets down her hair for Story Museum
IF Rapunzel’s flowing locks always contain a basket containing more than £1,000, it’s no wonder she’s often asked to ‘let down her hair’. Amy Noble, who plays the fairy tale heroine in Creation Theatre’s production of Rapunzel or the Magic Pig, delivered
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Suspected burglar flees - on crutches
A SUSPECTED burglar who broke his pelvis in a car crash escaped from hospital on crutches after police called off their bedside watch. Peter Gaughan was cut out of a car which crashed into a brick wall after being stolen from outside a house
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FOOTBALL: Boss Jeffrey in striker puzzle
Banbury United boss Billy Jeffrey has called on striker David Stone to carry on where he left off after he rejoined from Premier Division rivals Hemel Hempstead. Stone who left Spencer Stadium last summer to join Halesowen, is set to make his return
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COMMENT: False economy
WE are happy to help Thames Valley Police with their mission to catch as many of the county’s most wanted as they can this month with our Badvent calendar. But it is a concern that they let suspected car thief Peter Gaughan hobble out of their clutches
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Thaw warms up shivering UK
The whole country is enjoying a thaw with all parts above freezing for the first time since the cold spell struck last month. Temperatures will reach double figures in places on Friday as shivering Britons get a balmy blast of weather from
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Oxford United match faces pitch inspection
JAMES Constable seems certain to be recalled to Oxford United’s starting line-up at Lincoln tomorrow – if the game goes ahead. A pitch inspection will take place at 3pm today after staff and volunteers cleared the snow from Sincil Bank. With Tom Craddock
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RUGBY: Varsity winner Henderson's personal heartbreak
OXFORD University head coach Murray Henderson put aside personal heart-ache to steer his team to Varsity Match glory. The New Zealander’s father, Peter, died last week, but Henderson kept the news from his players until the eve of yesterday’s 21-10 triumph
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Protesters turn up the volume for libraries
OPPONENTS of plans to cut library services in Oxfordshire have backed a campaign led by leading writers to fight the closures. Twenty of the county’s 43 libraries are under threat after Oxfordshire County Council announced it would withdraw
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Help find drug suspect on the run
A MAN who failed to attend court is behind the door of day 10 of the Oxford Mail’s Badvent Calendar. Terrence Webster, 46, of Campbell Road, Cowley, is wanted by Oxford Crown Court after he failed to answer a summons for failing to comply with a requirement
