Archive
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Councillors complete fact-finding library mission
SENIOR councillors who will decide the future of Oxfordshire libraries have completed a fact-finding mission to an innovative London borough. Oxfordshire County Council leader Keith Mitchell and the cabinet member responsible for libraries, Judith Heathcoat
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Cherwell set to get back Icelandic cash
A council moved a step closer to recouping a £6.5m investment which was written off after the collapse of the Icelandic banks. Cherwell District Council was one of scores of local authorities and police authorities which had cash invested in bank Glitnir
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Opera mob stop shoppers in their tracks
SHOPPERS at Oxford Castle got a shock yesterday when dozens of people around the venue suddenly burst into song. The Flash Mob Opera was organised by the Oxford-based Opera Anywhere group, which aims to surprise unwitting people. Castle
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Pubs aim to pull in punters for hospice fundraiser festival
DRINKERS are being urged to have a pint in Oxford’s “overlooked” West End to raise cash for city hospice Sobell House. Watering holes in the area near the railway station are holding a beer festival from April 13-17 to boost their profile and
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House prices continue to fall
House prices in Oxfordshire have fallen for the fifth month in a row — but are still sliding less fast than in many other parts of the country. Values across the county fell 0.1 per cent in February compared with the previous month, but are still up
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Doctor has her first book published
A mother from Oxford has juggled a medical career and five children but this month will finally see her debut novel in print. Dr Rachel Crowther won a nationwide competition to see The Partridge and the Pelican published on April 11. But is has not
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In the pink
POLICE officers, bank staff and hairdressers took to the catwalk to raise money for cancer research. The Passionate Pink fashion show raised about £2,000 for Cancer Research UK and took place at Milton Park, Abingdon, on Tuesday night.
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Sian 'probably died of head injury'
Sian O'Callaghan is likely to have died from head injuries, a coroner heard as an inquest into her death was opened and adjourned in Oxford. The 22-year-old personal assistant from Swindon went missing from the town's Suju nightclub on March 19. Her
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Local shares (PM)
AEA Technology 4.1 BMW 5400 Electrocomponents 268.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 102 Oxford Biomedica 6.05 Oxford Catalysts 97.25 Oxford Instruments 704.5 Reed Elsevier 543.25 RM 149.25 RPS Group 213.6 Courtesy
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Top facilities for medical building
NEW NHS services are to come to Witney’s biggest health centre thanks to a £5.5m redevelopment. The new building at the Welch Way centre will include west Oxfordshire’s only endoscopy unit, said senior practice partner Dr Paul Watson. The procedure
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Early warning of Cotswold Line closures
Rail passengers are getting advance warning about closures of the Cotswold Line this summer for completion of the £67m track redoubling project. Staff from Network Rail and train operator First Great Western are getting out and about along
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Wood you believe it...
FANS of the World Pooh Sticks Championships need not fear. Although it might have sounded plausible in this day and age of health and safety fears, our story about replacing wooden pooh sticks with plastic ones was an April Fool. Health and Safety
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Cutbacks due to start today
TODAY marks the beginning of major public service cuts across Oxfordshire. Councils across the county have agreed cuts set to bite from the start of the new financial year today. The cuts, being imposed over the next four years, follow reductions in
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Hunt launched for non-skinny model
AN OXFORD fashion boutique has launched a search for a new model to prove that you do not have to be skinny to be fashionable. Booty, in St Aldate’s, is on the hunt for a new face to launch the boutique’s own fashion label, and is calling for girls of
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Teens win prestigious big debate
EMILY Fernandes and Chloe Romanis are two teenagers you do not want to get into an argument with. The East Oxford duo are Cheney School’s most successful ever debating team, building a collection of trophies and awards from universities around
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CRICKET: Oxford to stage Twenty20 finals
Oxford CC have been given an extra incentive to shine in the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Twenty20 competition this season – as they are hosting finals day on Sunday, July 17. Jason Harrison’s side have been drawn at home to Tring Park
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BADMINTON: County coach serves up a treat
An Oxfordshire badminton coach is giving youngsters at one Oxford school some top tips and training this term. Under 11 girls at Bayards Hill School in Barton are being taught to play the sport by James Barclay every week. He said: “These are basically
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Patient Eastwood always at the ready
Forty-three times Simon Eastwood has had to prepare properly and be focused ready to play for Oxford United this season. And 43 times he has remained on the bench all match. In his position, you have to have the patience of a saint. “That’s the trouble
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Silverstone launches 'Back the Brits' campaign
Silverstone managing director Richard Phillips flew out to the Spanish Grand Prix this week to lend his support to the eight British riders competing in the 2011 FIM MotoGP World Championship. While in Jerez, Phillips also launched the circuit
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Anniversary time
Oxford United are marking the 25th anniversary of their Milk Cup Final triumph with a series of events at the home game against Chesterfield at the Kassam Stadium on April 23. A number of players who carved their names in the club’s history
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Burge was claiming goal
Recent signing Ryan Burge was claiming Oxford United’s opening goal against Burton last Sunday after Steve MacLean’s shot flicked off his heel on its way in. It’s a difficult one. Who should be credited with the goal? From
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FIXTURES: April 2-8
SATURDAY FOOTBALL NPOWER LEAGUE TWO Bury v Oxford Utd. ZAMARETTO SOUTHERN LEAGUE Premier Div: Didcot Tn v Tiverton, Hemel Hempstead v Banbury Utd, Oxford City v Salisbury. Div 1 South & West: Abingdon Utd
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Teenagers held over robbery of woman, 77
Three 15-year-old boys have been arrested after an elderly woman was robbed in Berinsfield last night. At about 7pm, a 77-year-old woman was robbed in an alleyway between Cherwell Road and Glyme Close. Three boys approached her and pulled
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Steam train King Edward II is restored
IT’S enough to drive anyone loco, but for the past two decades a team of volunteers have spent 50,000 hours restoring steam engine King Edward II to its former glory. And tomorrow the restored Great Western Railway express locomotive will go
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CRICKET: Students face Red Rose test
Oxford MCC Universities have reason to be optimistic as they begin their first-class season against Lancashire in The Parks tomorrow. That’s the view of head coach Graham Charlesworth, who feels the combined Oxford University and Oxford Brookes
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Local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 4.05 BMW 5270 Electrocomponents 266.6 Nationwide Accident Repair 101.5 Oxford Biomedica 5.8 Oxford Catalysts 98.5 Oxford Instruments 705 Reed Elsevier 537.25 RM 148 RPS Group 214.1 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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FOOTBALL: Struggling Witney face crunch test
UHLSport Hellenic League WITNEY United, on the back of five successive Premier Division defeats, travel to Fairford Town in another crunch relegation clash tomorrow. Fairford have found their form in recent weeks and are unbeaten in five matches, while
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Oxford United report increased profits
Oxford United recorded a profit of £403,000 for the year ending June 2010. That marks a turnaround of £1.2m compared to the previous 12 months, when they showed a loss of £825,000. The club's operating profit/loss before player transactions
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FOOTBALL: Job is not done, says boss Ford
Zamaretto Southern League OXFORD City boss Mike Ford has warned his players not to take their foot of the pedal when they entertain title-chasing Salisbury City. City are close to Premier Diviaion safety, but Ford insists they are still in
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Incinerator battle goes to court
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to stop a waste incinerator being built near their village have launched a legal bid to overturn the Secretary of State’s decision to allow the plant to be built. Ardley Against the Incinerator has applied for the High Court to overturn
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FOOTBALL: North Leigh hot-shots are good value for money!
Zamaretto Southern League NORTH Leigh may be still fighting for a play-off spot in Division 1 South & West, but they are already on top of one chart. The west Oxfordshire side have the highest goals-per-game ratio in the division and
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Payne in for U's big test
Seven games left now for Oxford United, and I reckon they need to win five of them to reach the play-offs. Four wins, two draws and a defeat might do it for them, depending on who the wins, and the defeat, come against. But what it clear
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Double-dip fears
JUST because the Government has put millions of pounds aside for first-time buyers during this financial crisis, there is no guarantee that people won’t lose their property further down the road. The same goes for small businesses. I think people should
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Brookes must tackle traffic problem
now I would be the first to admit that not many things bring a smile to my face concerning Oxfordshire County Council, but reading what Peter Headicar, from the department of planning, at Oxford Brookes University, had to say about Oxford’s transport
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RUGBY UNION: Alchester up for Vase clash
Alchester expect captain Dan Kimber to lead them at Gloucester’s Old Richians in the RFU Senior Vase quarter-finals tomorrow, despite last week’s red card. Kimber was sent off for illegal use of the boot as Alchester beat Drifters 18-13 to secure the
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Fears over housing benefit cuts
HOUSING benefit payments in Oxford will be cut from today, leading to fears that many families could be forced out of the city. The payments – which help cover the rent of about 3,000 people in private housing in Oxford – will drop by £150 per month
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Worcester Street has been neglected
IN HER column last Wednesday, your Sassy & Single columnist, Sue Carter, remarks on the hideous Worcester Street car park. But it was never intended to be that way. Lord Nuffield bought that land on which to build part of his college, with the idea of
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Wilder urges Oxford United to take advantage
OXFORD United boss Chris Wilder is urging his team to take advantage of the turmoil at Bury when the U’s travel north in npower League Two tomorrow. The Shakers lost boss Alan Knill yesterday, when he left to join Championship strugglers Scunthorpe.
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GREYHOUNDS: Spencers Lad springs surprise
THE Angie Kibble-trained Spencers Lad upset the hotpots in the final of the £1,000 Trafalgar Cup at Oxford Stadium last night, writes John Gaisford. The fawn dog pinged out of the traps, and although was passed by the well-fancied Zodiac Zeus, took
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Doble ready for Oxford United bow
RYAN Doble admits he can’t wait to get going for Oxford United. The striker, who has signed on loan from Southampton until the end of the season, joined up with the U’s squad yesterday after returning from international duty with Wales Under 21s in Andorra
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Arash murderer's appeal rejected
THE man who masterminded the brutal ‘honour killing’ of his daughter’s boyfriend in Rose Hill in 2004 must stay behind bars. Chomir Ali was given a 20-year jail sentence in 2005 for bullying his teenage sons Mohammed Mjibar Rahman and Mamnoor Rahman
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RUGBY UNION: Chinnor call on big guns
Chinnor have shown their intent for tomorrow’s Oxfordshire Cup semi-final at Grove by naming a full-strength side. The cup holders, who are two leagues above Grove, add Sam Angell to the squad that thrashed Exmouth 52-5 in National 3 South West. Fellow
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An extra £300k to be spent on plans
A FURTHER £300,000 will be spent on designs to rid a notorious Oxford junction of traffic lights, it was agreed last night. Oxfordshire County Council will draw up detailed designs for Frideswide Square, above, based on two options involving roundabouts
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COMMENT: Cameras back on
Watch out. Our speed cameras are active again from today. We have spoken to the head of roads policing about the big switch on. Supt Rob Povey is convinced people have sped up while the cameras have been turned off. Tests have proven the point.
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COMMENT: More needs to be done at hospitals
It is rare for our health workers to be criticised. Their work, for relative small pay packets, is invaluable. The systems in which they work, however, seem to leave a bitter taste in the mouth. Last month we reported on the returning problem of bed
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Traffic cameras are switched back on
THE man in charge of policing the county’s roads has insisted motorists drove faster while our speed cameras were turned off. The comments by Supt Rob Povey, head of roads policing, came as lenses were once again trained on speeding drivers after a
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County is worst in UK for mixed sex wards
OXFORDSHIRE hospitals are the worst in the country for patients sharing mixed sex wards. From today, the Government said hospital trusts will be fined £250 for each patient who has to share a ward with a person of the opposite sex. It
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Pooh sticks declared a danger
PEOPLE competing in Oxfordshire’s World Pooh Sticks Championships could be forced to swap the traditional wooden sticks for plastic ones because of health and safety fears. More than 2,000 people descended on Little Wittenham last Sunday for
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Tuition fees to help out MS sufferers
A TUTOR whose mother, brother and sister all battled multiple sclerosis is to donate fees cash to a charity which supports sufferers. Chris Sivewright, 55, will donate all the business and economics tuition money he gets from his British pupils until
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Mugging victim: police ‘invisible’
A MUGGING victim has called for more bobbies on the beat after a report revealed only one in ten officers are on the frontline at peak times. Figures released by Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary Roger Baker show almost 88 per cent of
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For Sale boards go up in flames
ESTATE agents in Oxford are baffled after nine arson attacks on For Sale boards in two weeks. Properties in and around the Headington area have been hit between March 13 and last Friday. Last night police vowed to catch the arsonist and warned someone
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Trail opens at Norman abbey
PEOPLE in Eynsham are often asked where the famous Norman abbey lies. But with no visible remains after the building was destroyed by Henry VIII’s forces, it is often hard to explain. But on Wednesday, a new trail was opened to show where the abbey
