Archive
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Sixty-four-year-old jailed for attack
A 64-YEAR-OLD who donned a balaclava to launch a late-night attack on another man with an axe handle said he did it protect a disabled woman’s honour. Peter Barrett of Larkhill Road, Abingdon, hit Paul Akers several times around the face in
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Man caught by Oxford police trap car
A 30-year-old man has been given an eight-week curfew keeping him off the streets between 7pm and 7am after he was caught breaking into a police trap car. Raymond McCavery, of Southfield Park Flats, Oxford, was charged with theft from a motor
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Cowley residents get pedestrian crossing at long last
COWLEY residents are to get the crossing they have been calling for, nine years after it was promised. A new zebra crossing for Oxford Road was part of the deal when flats were approved on a former builder’s yard near Clive Road. That was in 2002.
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£3,000 reward over armed raid on garage
Police today appealed for witnesses to an armed robbery on a country garage. At about 9.30pm on Saturday, two men walked into the Total Garage in Lower Icknield Way, Longwick, and told the cashiers to get on the floor while they stole cigarettes
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Local shares (PM)
AEA Technology 5.4 BMW 4914 Electrocomponents 261.6 Nationwide Accident Repair 105.5 Oxford Biomedica 5.55 Oxford Catalysts 79.5 Oxford Instruments 657.75 Reed Elsevier 569.25 RM 170.25 RPS Group 221 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley,
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What a lot of celebrity birthdays
I take a look most days at the list of birthdays published in the Daily Telegraph, noting the names of the good and the great listed there. Often they are neither very good, nor especially great — a parade of boring business types, royal retainers, dim
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Comfort and care in classic style at Rocco Forte's Brown's Hotel
In an act of homage to the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie, I hoofed half-way across Istanbul last spring to have tea at the Pera Palace Hotel, which inspired her to write Murder on the Orient Express. Alas, the place was closed for refurbishment (it
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Sanctum on the Green: Cookham Dean
I ran into the chef John Burton-Race in a pub in South Devon not long before Christmas. I recognised him at once though I had not seen him for 25 years. Actually, this is not strictly true, for in common with most people I had seen him, as a consequence
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Kathryn Baggott's Fairtrade cup cakes
During the Kennington presentation, the audience was invited to enjoy a steaming cup of Fairtrade tea, a slice of home- made cake or one of Kathryn Baggott’s cup cakes, on which she had iced a logo similar to that used by Fairtrade. Kathryn called
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Villagers proud to win Fairtrade status
Gaining Fairtrade status is not an instant thing, or a matter of just stocking the village shop with a few chocolate bars and bananas. It is a process that can take up to three years, sometimes more. When the Kennington4Fairtrade steering group
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Men licensed to abuse
For centuries Oxford University employed among its dignitaries a licensed buffoon, a sort of wise fool, to enliven its most important ceremonies — notably Encaenia, or the Act, the annual event at which honorary degrees are given to distinguished recipients
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Tangled and Hereafter
Blondes certainly have more fun in Tangled, Disney’s glorious animated reworking of the Rapunzel fairytale that marries a hilarious script with dazzling and colourful visuals. The traditional recipe of rousing love ballads and a boo-hiss villain
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Nude students spark ski trip controversy
Students from Oxford University sparked controversy by stripping naked on a ski trip to France. The students from Oxford and Cambridge stripped off in front of a crowd of 500 revellers to mark the end of their annual varsity ski trip.
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Nude students spark ski controversy
Students from Oxford sparked controversy by stripping naked on a ski trip to France. The students from Oxford and Cambridge stripped off in front of a crowd of 500 revellers to mark the end of their annual varsity ski trip. In one challenge
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Residents’ fears over eco-village
AN ECO-TOWN developer wants to build outside Wallingford, to the shock of residents. The firm behind the controversial 5,000-home eco town on the outskirts of Bicester has confirmed it is looking at a 200-acre site. It is understood it would feature
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The Oxford Trobadors: Holywell Music Room
Trobadors — surely a mis-spelling? Well, no — it’s the Occitan word for Troubadour, Occitan being a language spoken mainly in France and parts of Italy and Catalonia during the 12th and 13th centuries. This concert by the Oxford Trobadors brought
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Cranford: The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
The enormous success of the recent TV adaptation of Mrs Gaskell’s Cranford doubtless encouraged producer Ian Dickens to revive Martyn Coleman’s 60-year-old stage version of the novel. His talented and hard-working company of actors must have been pondering
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Framed! - The Mill at Sonning Dinner Theatre
Judy brings Sam into an isolated Norfolk cottage a friend has lent her for the weekend. “The bedroom’s that way,” she says pointedly. Sam doesn’t, however, seem in any hurry to take the hint. It soon becomes apparent that Judy and Sam (Sally Ann Matthews
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Swan Lake on Ice: Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Of all the classical ballets there is surely none that translates better to the medium of ice dance than Swan Lake. Perfectly suited to the scenes on the lake, where the swans are able to execute an elegant, sweeping passage across the water, the
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Review of Paradise on Earth CD from Oxford Liedertafel
Reginald Spofforth. Ever heard of him? Me neither, and nor has the Oxford Companion to Music. According to the sleeve notes with Oxford Liedertafel’s CD (Maproom MR 0071), he lived c.1768-1827, and he could write a very cheerful song, to judge by his
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Modern British Sculpture: The Royal Academy of Arts
From the first few rooms it is clear that despite its title, Modern British Sculpture, the new exhibition Royal Academy of Arts (until April 7) is confined to neither modern nor British works and challenges in fact what is sculpture. It starts with
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The Walkmen: O2 Academy, Oxford
New York quintet The Walkmen are pretty much the definition of a cult band. They are six albums into their career and yet, if you asked most people walking down the Cowley Road tonight if they had heard of them, the answer would be a firm no. Still, the
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Blackbird Leys Choir: Jacqueline du Pre Music Building
Birthday cake, wine, speeches . . . it was a night of celebration at the JDP on Saturday, as the Blackbird Leys Choir — star of Channel 4’s The Singing Estate — celebrated its fifth birthday in style. And why not? Many of the singers were new to the world
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Andy Parsons, The Cornerstone, Didcot
The follically-challenged Andy Parsons has been likened to many things, he told us in Friday night’s show, among them an egg, a potato and a white snooker ball. But whatever you like to call him, one thing is certain — the Mock the Week panellist is a
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Danish Dance Theatre: Oxford Playhouse
For the past ten years this company has been run by the British choreographer Tim Rushton. During that time it has gained an enviable reputation from Europe to America and Australia. So it is perhaps surprising that this is the first time Rushton
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Making the most of Oxford United's vandalised ox
FUNDRAISERS from charity Against Breast Cancer used Oxford United’s vandalised statue of an ox to hold a collection at last night’s home game at the Kassam Stadium against Shrewsbury Town. Fundraisers, pictured, joined club chairman Kelvin
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Tucking into a taste of Africa
EXOTIC tastes are on the menu in East Oxford. The African and Caribbean Kultural Heritage Initiative (ACKHI) is offering people an international lunch once a week. Visitors to the East Oxford Community Centre, in Princes Street, can drop by on Wednesdays
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Star teacher: Morag Bosher
MORAG Bosher has been helping Kidlington children take their first steps into education for more than 20 years. Since 1988, Mrs Bosher, pictured right with pupils, has been teaching in Edward Feild’s nursery and reception classes, now working with children
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Abingdon set for huge revamp
ABINGDON’S multi-storey car park could be demolished as part of a major revamp of The Charter area in the town centre. The 443-space car park off Stert Street would be replaced by a 700-space car park serving a new supermarket, a council chief
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School Focus: Edward Feild School, Kidlington
EDWARD Feild School was rated outstanding, Ofsted’s highest rating, just a year before headteacher Cathryn Wilkes took charge. Her predecessor, John Hawkins, had overseen the school’s improvement and climb up the rankings before he retired.
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Abingdon singer raises money for cancer charity
A singer whose mother died of breast cancer has recorded an album to raise money for charity in her memory. Lynne Winter, of Masefield Crescent, Abingdon, is raising the money for Breast Cancer Care after Anne Hammond, 86, died last year. The Abingdon
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'We need wheels' says Oxfordshire rescue team
A SEARCH and rescue team commended for its efforts over the disappearance of an Oxford woman has made an urgent appeal to replace its main vehicle. The Oxfordshire Lowland Search and Rescue team (Oxsar) is looking to raise £9,000 for a van that is used
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Train firm calls halt to operations
TRAIN operator Wrexham & Shropshire, which links Banbury with Telford, Shrewsbury and North Wales, is to stop operating on Friday. The company, which began life in April 2008 as an open access operator, running without a Government subsidy,
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FOOTBALL: Jack's joy
OFA Invitation Youth League Jack Smith hit a hat-trick as Summertown beat Henley 5-3 in the Under 16 D League. Alfie Goodwin (2) and Alex Kelsey also scored, with Tom MacGleary (2) and Toby Hudson replying.
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FOOTBALL: Rudman is golden boy
Tommy Rudman hit four goals as Golden Ball thumped Inter Oxford 11-2 in the RT Harris Oxford City FA Couling Cup. Robert Brown (2), Peter Clarke (2), David Preece, Sam Pointer and Mark Mossop sea-led victory. Dorran Soloman and Bruno Freitas replied.
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Oxford's Foals up for five top awards
OXFORD band Foals, who live in Jericho, are in the frame for a clutch of the most important awards in rock music. The five-piece, above, have been nominated for five categories in the Shockwaves NME Awards. The band, fronted by guitarist Yannis Philippakis
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Oxford's Chinese students tune up for a harmonious New Year
HUNDREDS of people will turn Oxford Town Hall into a sea of colour, music and dance for Chinese New Year. More than 700 revellers are expected to pack into the hall to welcome in the Year of the Rabbit, with an evening of traditional Chinese entertainment
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FOOTBALL: Hinksey hit six to take top spot
Jelroy Constant fired a double to help AFC Hinksey crush Oxford Yellows 6-1 and go top of the Premier Division, writes TIM SIRET. A Sylvester Doran own goal, Steve Haines, Jemaine Ferriera and Jamel Thomas also netted for the hosts, with Ryan Brooks
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Local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 5.65 BMW 4965 Electrocomponents 261.8 Nationwide Accident Repair 105.5 Oxford Biomedica 5.5 Oxford Catalysts 80.5 Oxford Instruments 659.5 Reed Elsevier 570.25 RM 169.5 RPS Group 222.3 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Accused Oxfordshire cop ‘was warned over affair’
A TOP policeman accused of torching his own car told a jury yesterday he had dashed to his married lover’s side because she feared their affair would be exposed. Taking to the witness stand, Chief Superintendent Jim Trotman said both he and
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SCHOOLS FOOTBALL: Reid reaps reward
Midfielder George Reid’s switch to a striking role for Vale of White Horse Under 14s paid dividends with a hat-trick in a 7-0 win over Stroud in the Vale Cup at Milton. He opened the scoring with a shot after five minutes, before Owen Shaw doubled Vale
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FOOTBALL: Lee doubles up
A double from Lee Blossom saw Bardwell battle to a 3-1 victory at Heyford Athletic in Division 1 of the Banbury District & Lord Jersey FA. Keith Adams volleyed Heyford ahead, before Blossom’s brace and a John Crosthwaite strike completed the turnaround
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FOOTBALL: Bloomfield in hat-trick delight
Craig Bloomfield hit a hat-trick for Hinksey who moved five points clear of Bletchingdon at the top of the Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division with a 7-1 win at Enstone. Luke Bremner weighed in with a double, with Micheas Herbert and Toby Webster
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752 Henry Breakspear F2 Stox Points Champion
Local man Henry Breakspear of Grove and farther of two won the Points Championship of Standlake Arena in his F2 Stock Car. Henry first became involved in racing at an early age in the Mini Stox Class with sucessful champion wins which lead him to winning
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'Oxfordshire waste plans don't add up'
PEOPLE in Oxfordshire could be left with nowhere to dump thousands of tonnes of rubbish each year under County Hall plans, a Kidlington parish councillor has claimed. Andrew Hornsby-Smith said Oxfordshire County Council figures showed a proposed new
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FOOTBALL: Bolley boosts Vikings
GILES SPORTS WITNEY YOUTH LEAGUE Luke Bolley slammed a four-timer as Witney Vikings consolidated their lead at the top of the Under 15 League with a 9-1 victory over Bicester Town Colts. Bolley’s haul was added to by Jamie Mariani (2), Lewis Bartlett
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Court is told of previous rape allegation in Witney
JURORS in the trial of a man accused of raping a woman with learning difficulties heard she had made a similar claim before. Musa Camara, 22, denies rape, a serious sexual assault and sexual assault against the 23-year-old woman in Witney on June 30
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Gambling on Guys and Dolls
The colourful characters created by American writer and newspaperman Damon Runyon came to life at Wolvercote Village Hall on Tuesday as the North Oxford Youth Theatre staged the Broadway production of Guys and Dolls, with music and lyrics by Frank
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Democratic failing over Temple Cowley Pool
We are told we have an overweight, under-exercising population that is putting pressure on the NHS. Yet the council wants to close Temple Cowley swimming pool and gym. Up to 250,000 people a year use the facilities at the pool and gym, which they can
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Fall into line on dial-a-ride
How pleased I am that following several months of requests and campaigning by the Liberal Democrat opposition and people who will benefit, the ruling group on the county council has decided to allow mobility impaired and frail people over 60 years of
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Sassy & Single: Thank heavens for big-hearted strangers
Stranger. What does that word mean to you ? Maybe it’s the way I was raised, but for me the word ‘stranger’ has always conjured up a lot of negative feelings. First there was ‘stranger danger’, then don’t talk to strangers, and whatever you do don’t
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Extra help for Oxford's advice centres
EXTRA cash is set to be handed to Oxford’s advice centres helping families struggling with debt. The number of people seeking help in the city is spiralling, causing Oxford City Council to prioritise its cash. Despite having to slash
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COMMENT: Council cuts show some leadership
OXFORD City Council is showing true civic leadership with its protection — and indeed increase — of budgets for services helping those in debt. The council, like every other public organisation, is having to make deep and unpopular cuts.
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FOOTBALL: Sharp-shooter Leah sparkles
OXFORD MAIL GIRLS LEAGUE Leah McLennon fired a six-timer as Marston Saints Angels beat Chalgrove Cavaliers 13-0 in the Under 14 League. Lily Vernon hit a hat-trick, with other goals from Alicia Perry (2), Charley McMahon and Georgia Malony. Heather
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FOOTBALL: Berinsfield underdogs shock Harwell
Berinsfield came back from two goals down as the North Berks League's Division 4 side pulled off a shock 4-2 win against Division 1 strugglers Harwell Village in the second round of the North Berks Cup, writes Phil Annets. Jamie Newport and Matt Aplin
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Councillors really are helping to cut costs
COUNCILLOR Liz Brighouse (Oxford Mail, January 18) and Tony Augarde (January 25) have both publicly criticised county councillors for not taking a cut in their allowances. County councillors have pegged their allowances to the staff pay scheme and are
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Labour councillors could cut their own allowances
In reply to Liz Brighouse’s letter (Oxford Mail, January 18), she would have known full well that the amendment (to reduce councillors’ allowances) before the county council would have failed due to the Tory majority on that council. Why didn’t she propose
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Give us a real say on cuts
Cuts are imminently threatened by Oxfordshire County Council that could lead to the closure of nearly half the county’s libraries. Not only would this be an act of cultural vandalism, but it would be short-sighted in the extreme. Public libraries are
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We're being ripped off
HERE we go again. David Cameron said he was going to get people on the dole back to work. But he can’t do it. In fact the dole numbers have gone up – another 49,000, up to 2.5 million in the three months to December. You can’t keep sacking or getting
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Thanks to the firefighter who changed my tyre
I would like to express my gratitude to a kind, generous Abingdon fireman who, while off duty, stopped to help me at the side of the Oxford ring road. In the pouring rain last Friday I was attempted to change a blown tyre to no avail and was miraculously
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TV licence dodgers caught out
MORE than 600 people were caught watching television without a licence in Oxford last year. More than 1,400 people across the county were caught, including 240 in Banbury, more than 120 in Abingdon and 110 in Didcot. The evasion rate remains at just
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Cleaning up the streets for 34 years
EVERY week for the past three decades, grandfather Len Samways has picked up his brush, pulled on gloves and armed himself with rubbish sacks. The Headington pensioner said he couldn’t just sit inside and worry about litter building up, but
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Teen accused of racist attack
AN 18-year-old man has gone on trial accused of a racist attack at a Kassam Stadium car boot sale. Kane Smith, of Dunnock Way, Greater Leys, denies two counts of racially aggravated assault by beating an Asian woman and her 15-year-old son at the event
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Bar brawl witness ‘was sworn at’
A MAN caught up in a bar brawl which left two students with head injuries told jurors he was sworn at and verbally abused. A group of about 30 students dressed as golfers were in Que Pasa, in New Road, Oxford, when the alleged incident took place at
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COMMENT: Give Len a cheer
Three cheers to Len Samways, the 84-year-old gent from Headington who has been cleaning his street once a week for the past 30 years. This man still has a real sense of pride in his community and doesn’t like seeing it trashed, literally, by the feckless
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Oxford's style festival is ready for launch
OXFORD’S fashion lovers are getting ready to put on the style for the launch of Oxford Fashion Week 2011 tomorrow. The annual event is now in its third year and will run from Monday, February 28, to Saturday, March 5, in conjunction with the Oxford
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Wilder: Hard work starts now
OXFORD United may have forced their way into the play-off positions, but the graft has only just begun, says manager Chris Wilder. “We just want to keep going,” United’s boss said. “The hard work starts now.” There is understandable excitement from
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FOOTBALL: Warrell stars in shoot-out success
Goalkeeper Sam Warrell scored a penalty and saved one in a dramatic shoot-out as Didcot Town reached the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup semi-finals with victory at Hungerford last night. With the sides locked at 1-1 after 120 minutes, Didcot triumphed 5-4
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Oxford teacher's death stuns colleagues
THE family of a teacher killed by a brain haemorrhage were last night drawing comfort from learning how well-loved she was by former pupils. Linda Baynham, 53, taught students history at the former Peers School, in Littlemore, now the Oxford
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FOOTBALL: Fullerton is Hailey's hero
Joe Fullerton notched a brace as Hailey cruised into the second round of the Witney & District FA Senior Challenge Cup with a 5-0 win over Minster Lovell on Saturday, writes Anthony Barlow. Strikes from Joey King, Harry Trethowan and Alex Bolt completed
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Major Oxford ring road work likely to go ahead
MAJOR improvements to the Kennington and A34 Hinksey Hill interchanges are set to go ahead to tackle congestion on Oxford ring road. The schemes were key elements in the £62m Access to Oxford project — Oxfordshire County Council’s plans to transform
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RUGBY UNION: McKeen leads the 'pinks'
Stan McKeen will captain Oxford University when they take on the RAF at Iffley Road tonight (7.15) in their first fixture of 2011. The Canadian international, who was man-of-the-match in December’s Varsity victory over Cambridge, leads the
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Constable puts Oxford United into play-off places
James Constable fired Oxford United into the play-off places with a brilliant double against his old club Shrewsbury last night. Constable took his tally for the season to 12 with two great left-foot finishes in the second half, as the U’s tamed the
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Driver and passenger cut free after north Oxfordshire crash
FIREFIGHTERS cut off the roof of a car to rescue two women after a crash in north Oxfordshire yesterday. A silver Volkswagen Touran and a black Peugeot 207, pictured, crashed at about 7.20am on the B430 Northampton Road near Weston-on-the-Green
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Forum looks at future of Shotover Park
VISITORS to a popular country park have been asked to help shape its future. More than 90 people attended the first Shotover Park Users Forum organised by Oxford City Council to discuss its future and help form a management plan. It is the first stage
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Quest to get more children reading
A MUM who started volunteering at her children’s primary school and ended up teaching there has urged more people to give up their time to help youngsters to read. St Ebbe’s teacher Jane Godby, 47, was jobless when she moved to Oxford with her children
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Who was Oxford United's Man of the Match against Shrewsbury?