Archive
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Museum volunteers take over Cogges Manor
VOLUNTEERS have been given a final cash boost to reopen Cogges Manor Farm Museum in Witney, but have been told they are now on their own. Oxfordshire County Council and West Oxfordshire District Council are set to hand over £105,000 for building works
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Mobile home owners in protest over generator plan
MOBILE home owners have hit out at plans for a nearby ‘mini power station’ that would include 40ft long generators. Foxhall Manor Park users said the units would disrupt life at the nearby park, which has 350 residents. A planning application has been
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Oxford University to charge students £9,000-a-year
OXFORD University has confirmed that students will have to pay the maximum permitted tuition fees of £9,000-a-year from next year. But the university said those from the poorest backgrounds would be given heavy discounts. It said that because of the
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Hunt for driver after accident
Police are looking for a man who left the scene of a car accident in Ferriston, Banbury. A blue Nissan Primera was seen crashing into several parked vehicles at about 10.10pm on Monday, before the driver got out and walked off into a nearby alleyway.
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RACING: Time For Rupert coughing
Time For Rupert was reported to have been coughing after finishing a disappointing fifth behind Bostons Angel in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham yesterday. The seven-year-old, from Paul Webber’s Mollington stables, near Banbury, was sent off the 7-4 favourite
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Councillors object to Wantage housing plan
PLANS to put eight new homes above and behind the former Woolworth’s store in Wantage town centre have been branded ‘over-development’. The Market Place plan would see a roof extension built at the top of the shop and a three-storey extension with access
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Pub regulars raise £20,000 to help licensees stay
REGULARS at an Oxford pub like their landlady so much they raised £20,000 to keep her on. Drinkers at the Red Lion, in Old Marston, pulled together the cash to loan to Diana Berry, 55, so she could take out a three-year tenancy from brewer
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Blueprint for 8,000 new homes for Oxford
A CONTROVERSIAL planning blueprint for Oxford has been agreed, despite opposition from residents. Oxford City Council’s “core strategy” sets out the size and shape of city development until 2026 and contains plans for 8,000 new homes as well as the Northern
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ATHLETICS: Hatti's eyeing Spanish mission
Hatti Dean has vowed to give it her best shot in this weekend’s World Cross Country Championships in Punta Umbria, Spain. Dean, who is competing for Great Britain in her fourth championships, will lead the team’s challenge against the best runners in
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Local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 4.1 BMW 4604 Electrocomponents 261.3 Nationwide Accident Repair 98.5 Oxford Biomedica 5.55 Oxford Catalysts 91 Oxford Instruments 609.5 Reed Elsevier 509.25 RM 156.5 RPS Group 206.6 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Oxfordshire claimant count increases
THE number of people signing on the dole in Oxfordshire is rising at its steepest rate for more than a year. According to the Office of National Statistics, 7,931 people claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance in February, a rise of 405 on the previous month.
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SASSY & SINGLE: Forget the old rhyme, words really can hurt
Someone I’ve never met insulted me last week; an ignorant, rude stranger who chose to throw a childish insult about my looks at me via the Internet. This person wasn’t even brave enough to use their own name. There’s a word for that;
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Name change for Leeds band Chickenhawk
As a journalist active in the area of entertainment, I am always being sent — deluged with might be more appropriate — emailed press releases from rock bands. Long past the age where I take an interest in such matters (The Oxford Times’s admirable Tom
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White lines and white light
It is perhaps hardly a surprise in the light of the spread of special interest groups to discover there is one called The Road Safety Marking Association. It is even less of a surprise to learn that the outfit believes there are insufficient road markings
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The Rooftop Restaurant and Bar, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Not the least pleasing feature of the revamped Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford is the wonderful Rooftop Restaurant. I am referring here to the look of the place (though its food is pretty good too, as we shall see). Readers can judge for
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Top-notch theatre on our local stages
I rarely visit Milton Keynes Theatre without thinking of the libel it received in the diaries of playwright Simon Gray. Visiting in 2004 with his play The Holy Terror, he judged it “vast and ugly, inside and out”. This is a matter of opinion, with which
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Christopher Blackstock's cupcake recipe (serves 12)
Head chef Christopher Blackstock, at the Farmhouse Restaurant, Millets Farm, prides himself on the fact that he and his team cook all the cakes served for afternoon tea. He says the butterfly cup cakes are among the most popular. They are easy to make
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The welcome return of afternoon tea
When I was a child the big treat of the week was to be taken to Fullers in Cornmarket Street, Oxford, by my parents, for afternoon tea, which came served in a silver-plated teapot. A large pot of hot water to top up the teapot and ensure we each
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The dons' revenge on Mrs Thatcher
When does an item of news, or a report of current events, become history? For instance, is the story of how Oxford University snubbed Margaret Thatcher by turning down the proposal to grant her an honorary degree history — yet? That it was
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Chalet Girl and You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger
Felicity Jones confirms her reputation as one of our brightest acting talents in Phil Traill’s life-affirming comedy about a young woman’s struggle to vanquish her inner demons. The Birmingham-born actress is luminous in Chalet Girl, effortlessly slaloming
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Moyra Bannister: Dragon School, Oxford
‘It is a physical yen. No matter how busy I was giving birth to four children in six years — I didn’t neglect them — I found that if I held a paint brush it made me enormously happy,” says artist Moyra Bannister. That passion shows through in the retrospective
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Sarah Spackman: Wiseman Gallery
Renowned Oxford artist Sarah Spackman invites us to take a walk in the park, but not any old park. She wants to take us through those beautiful parks that act as the city’s green lung. During the past year, Sarah has been sketching and painting each
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The Sixteen: Christ Church Cathedral
In 2000 The Sixteen toured the great Cathedrals of Britain performing pre-Reformation music as part of the millennium celebrations. Their ‘choral pilgrimage’ was well received and has since become an annual event. This year’s tour began on March 11 with
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King Lear and Romeo and Juliet: Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford
Giving a defiant two fingers to theatrical superstition, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s boss Michael Boyd has chosen to direct Macbeth next month as the first all-new production at the company’s transformed Stratford base. In the meantime (until
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Troops tribute town to be 'Royal'
Wootton Bassett is to be the first town in more than 100 years granted the title "Royal" in recognition of its parades for fallen soldiers, David Cameron has announced. The Prime Minister confirmed that troop repatriations would no longer happen
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Oxford Philomusica: Aylesbury Waterside
Oxford certainly put itself on the map at one of the first classical concerts to be staged at the Waterside theatre. Not only was the Oxford Philomusica making its first appearance as the theatre’s resident ‘Orchestra in Association’, the soloist in Mendelssohn
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Essence of Ireland: New Theatre
This is a less pretentious show than rivals like Riverdance. It tells the story — or rather, non-story — of two young people who meet and fall in love in County Galway, and spend the rest of their lives separated. Cora remains in Ireland, while Sean moves
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Oxford Symphony Orchestra: Oxford Town Hall
Britten’s relationships with other musicians could be prickly, but he became firm friends with cellist Mstislav Rostropovich. One result was his Cello Symphony, which Rostropovich premiered in 1964, with the composer conducting. As the OSO showed, it’
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Schola Cantorum: St Peter's Chapel
Schola Cantorum’s recital on Saturday marked both a beginning and an ending; the beginning of Lent, and a final wrapping-up of their year-long 50th anniversary celebrations. The programme aptly reflected both events, with a selection of devotional
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Future Talent Showcase: University Church
It’s always a joy seeing young talent blossoming, and this showcase of local young musicians — all displaying an almost tangible enthusiasm — was inspiring. Future Talent is a charity that offers support to talented youngsters all over the country, and
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The Singular Exploits of Sherlock Holmes: Bear and Ragged Staff, Cumnor
The Bear and Ragged Staff in Cumnor has hosted drama before, but only Shakespeare. Last Saturday, it welcomed Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson for the first performance of a cleverly constructed best-of-Sherlock production. On show were three members of
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Verdict: Wycombe Swan
‘I shall get my own way. I always do.” So says the confident and very rich student Helen Rollander (Ali Bastian) to her college professor Karl Hendryk (Robert Duncan). Her ‘way’ is to secure extra private tuition from the charismatic East European
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Oxford Bach Choir and the English Chamber Orchestra: Sheldonian Theatre
A remarkably large number of Popes have chosen Fauré’s Requiem for their funeral music, and so many pontiffs can’t be wrong (infallibility, and all that). This uplifting and gloriously tuneful work is hugely popular, too, lower down the social scale.
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King Lear: Donmar Tour, Milton Keynes Theatre
Sir Derek Jacobi’s acclaimed performance as King Lear is attracting full houses to Milton Keynes this week as director Michael Grandage’s Donmar Warehouse production, first seen in December, takes to the road with the same 16-strong cast. Audiences are
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The Bootleg Beatles
Just before singing Taxman, Andre Barreau (pictured as George Harrison) told the audience: “If you think the financial situation is bad now, wait until 2011!” A little later, Neil Harrison’s Lennon introduced I Am The Walrus by saying: “In years to come
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Religion conundrum
John D White (Oxford Mail letters, March 10) complains that Question 20 in the Census, “What is your religion?” is a leading question, in that it encourages people to give a positive answer. But the alternative formulation he prefers is equally leading
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Manners cost nothing
I agree with B Drummond and Betty Woodley regarding my letter (Oxford Mail, February 15) when I criticised some of our bus drivers for their lack of politeness and courtesy. They both commented that some passengers can also be rude, to which I totally
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Time to see the light
THE chairman of Oxford City Council’s north east area committee accused me of being contentious (Oxford Mail, letters, March 3). Well, I’ve had to be in order to get across important issues which the people of Marston and Old Marston have requested.
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Disgraceful
l IT IS disgraceful that certain county council employees opted to meet at the prestigious Heythrop Park resort for whatever reason (Saturday’s Oxford Mail front page) The venue is a sumptuous place to stay – and I should know as I refurbished
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Cash for cameras
SO I hear that the police are going ahead to pay most of the cost with the county council to put the speed cameras back on in April. So far as I can see it’s for one purpose only – the amount of revenue it generates. When you think about it, the police
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Time to see the light
THE chairman of Oxford City Council’s north east area committee accused me of being contentious (Oxford Mail, letters, March 3). Well, I’ve had to be in order to get across important issues which the people of Marston and Old Marston have requested.
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What a waste of money
Oxfordshire County Council along with our wonderful, public spirited councillors, have spent months, and no doubt thousands of pounds looking into ways to save money and where to make cuts that affect the most vulnerable. Now, thanks to a Freedom of
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Council staff's hotel trip was insensitive
So KEITH Mitchell, in the middle of the worst financial crisis in decades, can afford the time to swan off to London to dress up in funny clothes and be invested as a senior Mason. He might do better in future to supervise his staff, especially now
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Pegasus Theatre dance
Last Thursday Moving with the Times, at the Pegasus Theatre, showed works by six Oxfordshire-based choreographers. The Kathak dancer Anuradha Chaturvedi looked forward to the arrival of spring. Fast turning, and stamping with ankle-bells are typical
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Unipart profits double
Bosses at logistics firm Unipart are celebrating after profits almost doubled last year. Figures released for the 12 months until December 31 show an operating profit of £9.5m, compared to £4.9m for 2009. Group chief executive John Neill
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Customs officers carry out raids in Oxfordshire
Customs officers mounted more than 20 raids in Oxfordshire in a crackdown on illegal tobacco and alcohol imports. About 57,000 cigarettes, 2.9 kilos of tobacco and a car were seized by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officers during the raids. Officers
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Labour's big guns set sights on Vale for this May's elections
LABOUR’S political big guns have their sights set on Vale of White Horse District Council in a bid to pick up disgruntled Lib Dem voters. The party’s deputy leader Harriet Harman, left, has been campaigning in Abingdon along with Oxford
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JD Wetherspoon plans to open up at Abingdon's old post office
PUB giant JD Wetherspoon is looking to open a branch in Abingdon’s former post office, the Oxford Mail has learned. The bid to move into the High Street building comes eight years after the firm lost a controversial battle to move to the town’s former
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Creative steps to help pupils
FOR 300 years, Dr South’s has been at the heart of Islip village. Founded by the Rector of Islip as a school for 21 poor children in 1710, it is now four times the size and draws children from a wider area – including the outskirts of Oxford and Bicester
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Man fled Banbury crash scene
Police today appealed for help in tracing a driver who fled after a crash in Banbury. Officers were called to Ferriston at about 10.10pm on Monday after reports that a man driving a blue Nissan Primera had collided with several parked vehicles.
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A dance date for little Tiago
RESIDENTS are being urged to put their dancing shoes on and help raise cash to pay for specialist treatment for a little boy. Four-year-old Tiago Dos Santos has cerebral palsy and needs extra equipment and specialist therapy to help him lead as near
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£570 bill for a dumped old car
A man, who abandoned his car on a street in the town, has been landed with a £570 bill. Adrian Luke, 46, of Kenilworth Way, Banbury, admitted unlawfully abandoning a car in the car park of St Joseph’s Church, in Edmunds Road. Banbury magistrates were
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Local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 4 BMW 4728 Electrocomponents 263 Nationwide Accident Repair 98.5 Oxford Biomedica 5.65 Oxford Catalysts 90.5 Oxford Instruments 619.5 Reed Elsevier 513.75 RM 153.25 RPS Group 210.9 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley
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Family halfway to target for life-changing treatment
A FAMILY hoping to send their son to America for a life-changing operation are almost at the halfway mark in a cash appeal. Four-year-old Ronnie Jacob’s family are in a race against time to raise £60,000 for the operation and aftercare.
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Hospital food a question of taste
Hospital food: The words conjure images of cold cabbage, watery soup and dried sandwiches. But until I visited the John Radcliffe, I had never actually tried the stuff myself. The Headington hospital provides around 900 inpatients with
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COMMENT: Testing tastes
TODAY we bring you the results of an unusual taste test. It’s not at Raymond Blanc’s two-Michelin-starred Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, or even a George Street chain restaurant. We have sampled the menu at the John Radcliffe Hospital. Last month we
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FOOTBALL: Haynes slams four-timer
Joe Haynes scored four times as Heyford Athletic Res reached the final of the Banbury District & LOrd Jersey FA's Geoff Wilson Cup with a 5-1 win against ten-man Highfield OB Res. Ben Haynes netted No 5, with Mark Shaw replying. Late on, Shaw was sent
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FOOTBALL: Devine's to the rescue
OXFORDSHIRE INVITATION YOUTH LEAGUE Radley's Connor Devine hit a last-minute equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw against Summertown in the Under 16 D League. Devine cancelled out Dash Ward’s opener, and when Ward netted again, that man Devine snatched
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Police issue plea after A34 crash
Police today appealed for witnesses to a three-vehicle collision on the A34 which resulted in three people being taken to hospital. Officers would like to trace the driver of a white Transit-style van, possibly with green writing on the side
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FOOTBALL: Town delight
Thame Town beat Bodicote Sports 3-0 in a penalty shoot-out after their OFA John Fathers Junior Shield semi-final at Kidlington finished goalless after extra time. Gregory Boult, Dan Baylie and Darren Gascoigne scored from the spot to put Thame into the
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FOOTBALL: Eynsham seal title
GILES SPORTS WITNEY YOUTH LEAGUE Eynsham Youth sealed the Under 13 C League title with a 5-0 win over Cumnor Minors. Calum Kennedy led the way with a hat-trick, while Rob McAree and Jake Allison completed the scoring. Elliot Heritage’s brace helped
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FOOTBALL: Johnny's treble all in vain
UPPER THAMES VALLEY SUNDAY LEAGUE Johnny James scored a hat-trick for ten-man Sutton Revolution, but he could not stop holders Kings Arms Wheatley reaching the Devenney Cup semi-finals with a 6-3 victory, writes Tim Siret. Kings Arms’ goals came from
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Family left homeless as thatch fire wrecks house
A FAMILY-OF-FIVE have been left homeless after a devastating fire swept through their thatched home. Five bedrooms, a living room, dining room and playroom were all destroyed in the blaze at the house in Lower Radley, where flames could be seen leaping
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Taxi drivers threaten strike over CCTV plan
TAXI drivers in Oxford are threatening to go on strike if plans for compulsory CCTV in every cab go ahead. Some drivers said the £400 cost will hit them at a time when rising fuel costs are making it harder than ever to make a living. And the Oxford
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Family have lucky escape after fire
FIREFIGHTERS fought to stop a shed fire spreading to a nearby home. Six fire engines were sent to the blaze at Dean Court in Cumnor at about 4pm yesterday. Fire crews were met with a large blaze at the side of the building, with smoke
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FOOTBALL: Saxton slide to surprise defeat
Saxton Rovers failed to close the gap on North Berks League Division 1 leaders Lambourn Sports following a 2-1 defeat to Faringdon Town, writes Phil Annets. Dane Pask’s strike was wiped out by goals from Robbie Harrington and Matt Pill. A Chris Allsop
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FOOTBALL: Dean in treble joy
Craig Dean hit a hat-trick for Crown & Thistle as they won 8-2 at Tetsworth in the County Junior League Cup. Wayne McLennon (2), Otis Woodward, David Wall and Ben Green also netted. In the league, Corner House stretched their lead at the top of the
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FOOTBALL: Cool Nee hits late clincher
Thomas Nee scored the late winner for Yarnton as they edged to a thrilling 4-3 victory against Northway in Division 1. A Edward Stevens header, a superb lob from Mark Harper and a Paul Skinner penalty appeared to put Yarnton in control. However, goals
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FOOTBALL: Rangers blow title race apart
The Witney & District FA's Premier Division title race was blown wide open after leaders Spartan Rangers lost 2-0 against Witney Royals, writes Anthony Barlow. Tom Kempster and Jamie Kennedy scored Royals’ goals. Hanborough closed the gap at the top
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FOOTBALL: Beauchamp's joy
Luke Beauchamp’s treble and a debut goal from brother, Joey, helped Bletchingdon Res thrash Charlton Res 7-0. Joey, a new signing from Kidlington Old Boys, volleyed the Oxfordshire Senior League's Division 2 leaders ahead, and Luke’s treble made it 4
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FOOTBALL: Currie too hot for Carterton
OXFORD MAIL GIRLS LEAGUE Abbie Currie hit a hat-trick as Oxford City beat Carterton 4-2 in the Under 16 League. Ffion Ribbons scored the other, with Lydia Miles and Lauren Major replying. Tower Hill Vixens saw off Wychwood 3-1 Ella Butler, Stephaney
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Midsomer Murders creator suspended over race row
IT WAS the great mystery dividing South Oxfordshire last night: Where are the ethnic minority characters in Midsomer Murders? Already the controversy had seemingly killed off one character – co-creator Brian True-May by his own hand – after
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Culham School's future still in balance
COUNTY Hall is pushing ahead with the closure of a village primary school. But it has told parents fighting to save Culham Primary School “the door is open for a reprieve” if they can find a new headteacher by May. Oxfordshire County Council wants to
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Plato to defend BTCC title
OXFORD racing driver Jason Plato returns to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, at the wheel of a Chevrolet Cruze which won the championship in its first season. Supporting Plato in the Silverline Chevrolet BTCC team will be Alex MacDowall
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FOOTBALL: Steele double seals City joy
Lee Steele scored twice as Oxford City boosted their Zamaretto Southern League Premier Division survival hopes with a 3-1 home victory over Tiverton Town. On 30 minutes, Ryan Turner outpaced City’s Richard Peirson to drive home. Steele levelled just
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'Will my daughter ever wake after asthma attack?'
“IT HAS absolutely devastated our family, it took just 12 minutes and her life was changed.” Those were the words of Pat Holmes, whose daughter Nichola Southey suffered a severe asthma attack five months ago and has never regained consciousness. The
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COMMENT: Reminder of fragility of life
NICHOLA Southey was used to battling asthma. But she was enjoying a friend’s 18th birthday party when an attack happened that changed her life forever. After suffering a heart attack, she fell unconscious and has not woken up for five months. It is
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Midsomer Murders producer hits back
THE Midsomer Murders producer who sparked a race row has hit back. The ITV drama's executive producer Brian True-May caused controversy when he admitted he deliberately kept ethnic minority characters out of the show, which is filmed in Oxfordshire
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Tokamak Solutions
The search for cheap and abundant sources of power is as old as perpetual motion machines. The promise of a limitless and clean energy source, ending our dependence on the Middle East and curbing the greenhouse gases causing climate change, has kept thousands
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Oxford United boss hits out at team's inconsistency
Chris Wilder admitted after Tuesday night’s hugely disappointing home defeat by Stevenage that it’s heads or tails whether he gets a good performance from his team or a bad one. “I’m annoyed with my team,” he said after the 2-1 defeat, which dealt a
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Forks at ready for 'underground' dining
IT’S the mystery food craze that has swept the capital. Now Oxford’s only ‘underground’ restaurant – where chefs host meals in their own homes – is to break out into the city centre for one night only. Oxfork will present a five-course dinner for 80
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Pub chain interest in former town PO
PUB giant JD Wetherspoon is looking to open a branch in Abingdon’s former main post office in High Street. The company’s move comes eight years after it failed in its bid to take over the former Congregational Church in Pulpit House, The Square
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Hindus 'struggle' to raise cash in temple appeal
A MASSIVE £500,000 fundraising drive to give Oxford its only Hindu temple is struggling to raise the cash. About £60,000 has been raised in the 18 months since the bid was launched for a temple. No site has been decided. The news comes
