Archive

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Gang raid cash machine

A GANG of four men raided a supermarket and made off with the cash from an ATM machine. Police were called at 1.44am this morning after burglars smashed their way into the Co-op store in High Street, Bloxham. The men used an angle grinder

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Williams F1 team reveals upbeat set of figures

THE company behind the Williams F1 team has unveiled an upbeat set of financial figures. Grove-based Williams Grand Prix Holdings, which floated on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in March, saw its pre-tax profits rise by 37 per cent to £1.7m for the six

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The fine art of performance painting

MUSIC will inspire a painter to fill the walls of Modern Art Oxford with colour. Artist Mark Rowan-Hull, right, has been given the run of the gallery’s top floor for a performance on Tuesday. His painting will be accompanied and influenced by music from

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Vice squad get commendation

A LEADING detective whose team smashed a sex trafficking ring in Oxfordshire vowed to carry on its work after receiving commendations from Thames Valley’s Chief Constable. The accolades were handed out by Sara Thornton at a ceremony at Drayton

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Who was Oxford United's man-of-the-match against Burton?

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Oxford held at home by Burton

Oxford Utd 2 (Potter 45+2, Leven 52), Burton 2 (Richards pen 54, 66) Oxford United let slip a 2-0 lead as they were held to a draw by Burton at the Kassam Stadium. Chris Wilder's side looked certain to claim their first win in three matches when goals

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Train honour

A First Great Western high speed train is being named after the Great Western Society, in honour of its preservation work at Didcot Railway Centre. The new nameplate on an HST 125 power car is being unveiled by FGW’s managing director Mark Hopwood today

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Shop promotes free will service

Barnardo’s shop in Cowley Road will be promoting its ‘free will’ service as part of Remember A Charity Week which highlights the importance of gifts left to charities in wills. Local law firm Quality Solicitors Truemans will be in store all week between

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Call to allow pedestrian access to tip

Calls have been made for pedestrian access to be reinstated at the Redbridge recycling centre in South Oxford. The 20-year-old site was not built with pedestrian access but residents used to be allowed to walk in. But pedestrians were

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Grave matter

Six thousand gravestones at Rose Hill Cemetery in Oxford will be wobble-tested for safety next week, completing a five-year mission to check every memorial in the city. City council staff are carrying out the inspections to ensure that members of the

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Fans baggin spot at city convention

HUNDREDS of JRR Tolkien fans are about to descend on Oxford to pay homage to The Hobbit, one of the author’s most famous creations. Since the author died in 1973 members of the Tolkien Society have gathered annually in the city where he wrote The Hobbit

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Sculpture cash will protect orangutans

A SCULPTURE of an orangutan is to be auctioned off in aid of the Oxford-based Sumatran Orangutan Society. The life-size fibreglass sculpture named Hati and painted by eco artist Caz Haigh is being showcased in Edinburgh’s Jungle City exhibition. It

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UPDATE: Two killed in A4130 crash

Two men were killed after their car hit a tree and caught fire, police believe. Emergency services were called to the A4130 near Bix in south Oxfordshire at 4am this morning after a blue Toyota Celica travelling in the direction of Oxford,

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GLIDING: Take a flight

The Vale of the White Horse Gliding Centre have an open day this Saturday from 11am-4pm. Admission is free. It is based off the B4000 Shrivenham to Highworth Road. For more details phone 01367 252706 or see www.swindongliding.co.uk

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Mother left note before her suicide

A MOTHER with a history of cocaine use told her sister “I’ve let the family down too much” before hanging herself. Wendy Field was found beside suicide notes at her home in Roman Way, Bicester, an inquest in Oxford heard on Thursday. On the evening

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Taking on the Thames

DAVID Walliams has not been the only person to brave the Thames in the name of charity this week. Four pals with no experience of rowing took on the river in two two-man canoes. David Williams, 21, from Carterton, Luke Fry, 20, from Greater Leys,

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MARTIAL ARTS: Champion Davis sets up a new class

England international Carl Davis is to run a new tae kwon-do class at Wantage Leisure Centre today (11am-12.30pm). The former European champion and current national champion has been training for 17 years in Didcot. Those aged 13 and over can ring

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'Hideous' railings will be taken down

A COUNCIL has made a U-turn over “hideous” railings just six months after they insisted they were installed for health and safety reasons. The railings along Manorsfield Road were paid for by Bicester town centre’s developer Sainsbury’s. But they are

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VOLLEYBALL: Didcot club opens its doors

Didcot Volleyball Club are holding a free open evening at Didcot Leisure Centre on Monday from 8.15-10.15pm. Those who want to take their game to the next level can get involved with the Berkshire League, which gets under way in October. For further

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TENNIS: Harwell make it a treble

Harwell Labs LTC team won the Yorkshire Cup for the third successive year. The team of Debra Davies and Matt Davies (from Harwell), Alice Atkins (Drayton) and Alex Wingent (Didcot) beat Bucklebury in the final of the handicapped tournament, run by the

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GREYHOUNDS: Massey's climb

Blackthorn handler Maurice Massey has moved up to second place in the race for the Trainers’ title following a superb eight winners at last weekend’s meetings. But he still has plenty to do to catch up with leader Angie Kibble. Massey has taken in two

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Plenty of big cats spotted in county

DOZENS of big cat sightings have been reported across many corners of Oxfordshire, a new Freedom of Information Act request has revealed. Police have revealed they received 13 reported sightings of big cats in Oxfordshire since January 2010

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GREYHOUNDS: Bank on dish for tasty treat

DISHOFTHEDAY is napped to serve up a treat in the A1 over 450 metres (9.27) at Oxford Stadium on Saturday. The Richard Baker trained black and white bitch has had one race back since lameness, but at her best, she has a 26.71 around Sany Lane when beating

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RACING: Hales aims to stage revival

Alex Hales is hoping to put a frustrating year behind him as he prepares to embark on a new National Hunt season from his Edgcote stables, near Banbury. He may have enjoyed his best campaign numerically with 13 winners last term, but his ambitions were

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Protest against youth worker cuts

Striking youth workers and trade unions marched through David Cameron’s Witney constituency yesterday to protest against county council cuts. Some of Oxfordshire’s youth workers are set to lose their jobs because of a cost-cutting reorganisation which

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SWIMMING: Murphy strikes gold with revenge victory

Redemption was the name of the game for at the Sainsbury’s UK Schools Games as Alex Murphy returned home with a long sought-after gold. The 16-year-old member of Didcot Barramundi was left wondering what might have been at July’s ASA National Youth Championships

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YOUTH CRICKET: Holders secure place in final

REIGNING champions Banbury will meet Great & Little Tew in tomorrow’s final of the Oxfordshire Under 17 competition for the Honey-B Trophy after they both posted comfortable semi-final victories. Banbury struggled at first against Didcot, losing early

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Assault charge

A 37-year-old man has been charged with sexual assault after an incident in Capel Close, Summertown, on September 8. Daniel Gubbins, of Waterlooville, Hampshire, was charged after a 29-year-old woman was sexually assaulted. He has been bailed and will

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Mum drunk on school run

A mother drank a bottle of wine before driving to her daughter’s school, mounting the pavement, hitting a lamppost and then falling over in front of police. Parents with prams scattered as Christine Townsend drove straight at them in a borrowed BMW outside

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MOTORSPORT: Lees and Lassam take fourth spot

Driver Andrew Lees and navigator Simon Lassam were the highest-placed Oxfordshire competitors in the Bullnose Endurance Rally from Burleigh Farm to Dix Pits. Driving a Vauxhall Nova, they finished fourth in the Oxford Motor Club event. Graham Dance

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MOTORSPORT: Title bid over, says Plato

Jason Plato has written off his chances of reclaiming the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship after enduring a miserable time at Knockhill in Scotland. The Oxford ace recorded two seventh places, before crashing out of race three when he was

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YOUTH CRICKET: Oxon settle for third in festival

Oxfordshire Under 16s finished a highly-creditable third at the 2011 Standard Bank Jersey Festival. Winning their first three matches against Hampshire, Berkshire and Jersey, Oxon went into the fourth match against Cheshire, knowing that victory

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MOTORSPORT: Aston Martin in Silverstone bid

Banbury-based Aston Martin Racing’s drivers Adrian Fernandez and Harold Primat are aiming to make a big impact at the Six Hours of Silverstone event tomorrow. Fernandez and Primat will be racing last year’s car, the R16, in the 1,000km endurance epic

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MOTORSPORT: Bradley crowned British champion

Witney teenager Mark Bradley is the new MSA British junior autocross champion. The 15-year-old Witney Motor Club member captured the title by winning the final two rounds at the Causey Park circuit in Northumberland. It also saw him finish second overall

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ICE HOCKEY: Import Lee ready to make his debut

Oxford City Stars hope to include import Martin Lee, a New Zealand international in their side for their English National League South Division 1 at home to Milton Key-nes Thunder tomorrow (6pm). Stars need to complete the necessary paperwork in time

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ANGLING: Moss gathers barbel

Specimen angler Stewart Moss, who appeared on this page a few weeks ago with a 14lb 14oz kennet barbel, has been targeting the River Thame. There are barbel in the river, but they are quite rare and hard to find. But he managed to catch a beauty, weighing

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MOTORSPORT: Senna driven on by forgiveness

Technical director James Allison is looking forward to seeing Bruno Senna back in the Lotus Renault at tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza – after forgiving him the mistake that wrecked his debut for the team. Senna conjured up what Allison

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FOOTBALL: North Leigh striker Taylor is snapped up by Forest Green

North Leigh goal machine Matty Taylor has been sold to Forest Green Rovers for an undisclosed fee, writes NICK FARRANT. Taylor, 21, who has signed a two-year deal, netted 40 times for the Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West side last season

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ANGLING: Liam's joy at personal best

Young Liam Porter, from Littlemore, landed a personal best mirror carp, weighing in at 23lb 10oz. Liam caught this magnificent specimen at 8am from Linear's Brasenose No 1 Lake. The fish came on the final morning of a 48-hour session with his dad and

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ANGLING: Clarke lands massive victory

Pete Clarke emerged a convincing winner in Oxford Bus AC’s latest match on the lake at Fritwell, writes Andy Webber. Clarke fished the pole at 12 metres with pellet for an all-carp catch of 188.6.0. Terry Yates, fishing the pole at nine metres with

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‘Tribute brought a tear to my eye'

THE overwhelming level of support for fallen soldiers will continue. That was the pledge last night from people who turned out in their thousands for the first repatriation ceremony back in Oxfordshire. Nearly 4,000 people turned out to honour Sergeant

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More homes? It's the same old story

Hold the front page, Oxfordshire needs more homes. Getting on the ladder in this county requires more than the shirt of your back. The answer? More affordable homes. The problem? Nowhere to build them. Town Halls have the wagging finger of Government

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Two dead in car fire

Two people have died in a car in the south of the county this morning. Emergency services were called to a burning car on the A4130 at Bix, near Henley, at about 4am. A fire service spokesman said two people in the car were pronounced

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Male model attacked man with knife

A MODEL dressed in just a pair of shorts attacked a man with a knife in an Oxford street. Brazilian model Jaison Justi was staying with his sister in the city ahead of a three-month contract in Istanbul when the incident took place on June 2. The 23

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COMMENT: Time for some clarity

THERE was little useful David Cameron could say about the response to the resumption of repatriations of dead troops to RAF Brize Norton. But he could help by spelling out with more clarity a timetable for ending our involvement in Afghanistan. Either

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'You're just coasting it'

Schools in Oxfordshire were last night accused of complacency over their results. Prime Minister David Cameron used a high-profile speech to draw attention to Oxfordshire’s performance, saying schools were “coasting” and falling behind high-flying inner

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COMMENT: Lead from the front Mr Cameron

THE accusation from Prime Minister David Cameron that Oxfordshire schools are “coasting” is as surprising as it is welcome. The Witney MP made the comments during a keynote speech, but his Conservative colleagues running Oxfordshire County Council

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Blenheim glory

The Blenheim Horse Trials are back for their 21st year. Ginny Howe, from Duns Tew, pictured, is among those competing in front of 60,000 people

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PM: ‘County schools are coasting along’

THE Prime Minister has accused Oxfordshire schools of “coasting” and underperforming compared to the inner cities. David Cameron, also Witney MP, made the comments in a keynote speech about raising school standards. But last night headteachers

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United striker Constable back to lead line

James Constable is back to lead Oxford United’s attack against Burton today. The striker known as Beano was ruled out of last week’s defeat at Crewe with a calf injury, but has trained this week and is fit to take his place in the side.

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Residential streets 'OK to take buses'

People living on Oxford’s Rose Hill estate want a temporary diversion taking buses along a residential street made permanent. Road works in Nowell Road forced the No. 20 service between Rose Hill and Templars Square to use Rivermead Road as an improvised

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£3m youth centre will be a hub of fun

A brand new £3m youth centre has opened its doors in Banbury. The centre replaces the former Banbury Youth Centre, in Hilton Road, Wood Green, which was demolished last summer. The single-storey building includes a recording studio, indoor performance

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Day for family

A family fun day will celebrate 15 years of the Grove Technology Park and raise money for Help for Heroes, Thames Valley Air Ambulance and children’s cancer charity Clic Sargent. It starts at 2pm at the park on Sunday, September 25, and will include

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Donate blood

A Sunday session is being laid on for potential blood donors. The session will be held between 10am and 3pm at Exeter Hall, in Oxford Road, Kidlington, tomorrow. To book an appointment, call 0300 123 23 23 or visit blood.co.uk

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Human rights

The town branch of Amnesty International will be holding a talk on Libya’s human rights crisis on Tuesday. The event at 8pm in the King’s Head and Bell will feature guest speaker Jackie Fry – Amnesty’s volunteer country co-ordinator for Libya.

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Get an update on library fight

The Save Botley Library campaign will be updating residents on its campaign at a meeting of North Hinksey Parish Council on Thursday at 8pm in Seacourt Hall. Under current Oxfordshire County Council proposals, the library will be managed and staffed

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Final cash boost for hall extension

AFTER almost 50 years, Garsington residents have finally raised the cash to revamp and extend their village hall. Oxfordshire County Council has donated £10,000 to the cause, the last piece of the £246,000 funding puzzle. Work will start next month