Archive
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Peaked interest
An Oxford newsagent is to walk to – and then up – the highest mountain in England and back to Oxford in a five-week trek for charity. Dan Goymour, 38, is to camp along the way and do the journey, which could be more than 600 miles, without the use of
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Pair's app aims to help students enjoy life more
A serious sporting accident sparked an Oxfordshire man to put his business idea into action. Edward Catling ruptured his spleen playing cricket earlier this summer and ended up spending three days in hospital. The accident left him wanting to make the
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'Come dine with us' say Barton teenagers
TEENAGERS are hoping their hosting skills will thrive this weekend as they try to raise £3,000 with a three-course dinner. The 35 young people from Oxford’s Barton estate have spent the last year growing vegetables, perfecting their cocktail-making skills
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Lead thieves target school buildings
Metal thieves targeted schools and churches in raids across Abingdon. Criminals stripped lead from Carswell Primary School, Abingdon School, Abingdon Town Council’s offices, Our Lady’s Abingdon, and St Peter’s Church in Drayton. The crimes all took
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Fork out for Kenyan adventure
A Headington girl will be hoping diners get curried away with donations to her charitable cause. Natasha Seneviratne, pictured, 15, has set up a charity dinner to raise funds for her trip to Kenya next year. Catered by local restaurant Jamal’s on Walton
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Infants school chooses new head
David Jackson has taken over as headteacher at a Wallingford infants school. The married father-of-two took the top job at St Nicholas Infant and Nursery School, in St Nicholas Road, at the start of term two weeks ago. Before Mr Jackson’s appointment
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Lotto winner helps fund rock musical
A woman who scored a big Lotto win has donated some of her cash to help propel an anti-bullying musical from Witney to the West End. Charmaine Watson, who scooped £2.3m in the Lottery in 2005, has donated £20,000 to the production of Stand Tall. The
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City parks still under siege from animal mess
OXFORD’S parks are still under siege from dog mess, but only 22 dog owners have been fined since the city council’s Cleaner, Greener Campaign was launched in 2009. Three years ago, the Oxford Mail visited Hollow Way Recreation Ground in Cowley, and
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App for railway
Chiltern Railways has launched a free mobile phone application which provides live information for any Chiltern train journey. Firm director Thomas Ableman said: “Our app also gives our customers the ability to buy, receive and display tickets. It really
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Burglars wreck conservatory
Burglars failed in their attempts to get into a house in Lyford Close, Drayton, by splitting the door frames and shattering windows in a conservatory. Dc David Evans, who is investigating the incident which took place between 1.30pm and 6.30pm on Sunday
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Scales of Justice
The following people have been convicted of offences at Oxford Magistrates' Court recently: John Loveridge, 21, of Herschel Crescent, Littlemore, admitted two counts of interfering with a motor vehicle in Oxford on March 23, failing to surrender
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Zoe's face lights up with paper lantern
Four-year-old Zoe Morris gets help with the finishing touches to her paper lantern after a Chinese-themed story-telling workshop. Children gathered in the Barefoot Books Studio in Banbury Road, Summertown, on Wednesday to hear the Chinese story Lin Yi
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Witney In Bloom dazzles judges
THE judging is over and the winners have been announced for Witney Schools in Bloom. After months of hard work building bug hotels and plant pots, planting and watering, youngsters across the town are celebrating their achievement. It
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Bikers revving up for protest convoy
Hundreds of bikers from across Oxfordshire are planning to take part in a convoy to protest against European Union proposals they claim will harm their favourite hobby. The bikers will gather at the service station at Milton interchange near
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Warren has a clear view of sponsored skydive
Wantage window cleaner Warren Burg is to conquer his fear of heights and jump out a plane to raise cash for the hospice treating his daughter. Mr Burg’s 44-year-old daughter Michelle Zielinski, who went to King Alfred’s School, is battling breast cancer
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Local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 2.2 BMW 4522 Electrocomponents 192.2 Nationwide Accident Repair 94 Oxford Biomedica 5.22 Oxford Catalysts 59 Oxford Instruments 795 Reed Elsevier 481.6 RM 95.75 RPS Group 164.3 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Bang Bang Bang: The North Wall, Oxford
Stella Feehily’s excellent new play Bang Bang Bang explodes on to the stage of The North Wall this week with all the force implicit in its title. With all the force, I might add, and the ‘in yer face’ realism, so long associated with Out of Joint
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Blackbird Leys choir are still on song
THEY came together as the Singing Estate and five years later, a popular choir hopes to get Oxford’s biggest estate singing again. The Blackbird Leys Choir was formed in 2006 for a Five TV show bringing together people from the estate. Earlier this
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Magdalen College School pupils join in for scrabble and tea
THERE was nothing like a cuppa at Magdalen College School, Oxford, yesterday. Around 25 sixth form students offered up their time and a cup of tea to a group of pensioners. Pictured from left to right are: Joyce Morris, Victoria Paterson, Jennifer Tempest
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WHEELS & DEALS
With the next generation Civic waiting in the wings at Frankfurt, Honda has announced an even more powerful version of its special-order Civic Type-R Mugen. A production run of 20 cars was earmarked for the existing model, each hand-built by the tuning
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YOUR WHEELS: Super coupe
COWLEY came to Austria for the launch of the latest member of the Mini family. The Coupe, which goes on sale in the UK next month, has spent the last few weeks being put through its paces by the motoring press on spectacular Alpine roads around Innsbruck
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Staff cosy up to help poorly babies
STAFF at an Oxford city centre shop have been wearing tea cosies for charity. The unusual fundraiser yesterday raised funds for the White Stuff Foundation. For a second year, shoppers were encouraged to put a tea cosy on their head and join in the fun
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Councillor saved us from £25m bill
AN Oxfordshire councillor saved taxpayers in the South East a £25m bill when he refused to sign the lease on a huge fire control centre during a disastrous Government project. A House of Commons’ select committee reported on Tuesday how former Deputy
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Peace meeting
The Friends of Israel will hold an ‘Oasis of Peace’ meeting will take place at the Friends’ Meeting House in St Giles on Monday, October 17. Lord Mayor Elise Benjamin will be among those attending.
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Store's sign bid
Lidl has applied to put up a non-illuminated post-mounted sign. The sign, which will give directions to the store, will be built in the supermarket’s Ducklington Lane site. West Oxfordshire District Council will decide on the plans.
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Oxford pensioner pair are staying active
GRANDMOTHER Gill Smith and her friend Brian Hook are determined not to let their twilight years pass them by. Together the pair play tennis, badminton and table tennis each week, as well as swimming, walking and cycling. And they are
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Bicester eco factory could bring hundreds of jobs
PLANS for a new eco factory in Bicester could bring up to 400 jobs to the town, developers have said. Negotiations are under way to lease the former Oxfam building in Murdock Road to a firm that wants to make the frames and panels for 5,000
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Play area gets grand opening
The play area in Headington’s Bury Knowle Park will be officially opened today. It is the 50th play area to have benefited from the city council’s £2.5m play area refurbishment scheme. Costing £115,000, the Bury Knowle play area will boast new features
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Sites found for eco town cemetery
Three areas of land have been identified as a potential new cemetery within the £1.5bn Bicester eco town. Bicester Town Council said it is likely the current cemetery behind St Edburg’s Church, in Church Street, will be closed for burials within 18 months
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County bookshop displays banned books
Enid Blyton’s stories about pixies and elves may sound uncontroversial, but for almost 30 years she was banned by the BBC. Along with Charles Dickens and Anne Frank, she now joins a collection of 80 ‘banned’ authors on display in an Oxfordshire bookshop
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Feline fine now
A young cat suffered the worst injuries a vet has seen after being shot at close range by a thug with an air rifle. Dottie, a two-year-old white moggy, came home covered in blood, but thanks to quick action, looks set to make a full recovery. Owner
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Driving charges
A 24-year-old man charged with a string of driving and drugs offences will appear at Banbury Magistrates’ Court next Thursday. Matthew Bryan Boyd, of Hollybush Road, Carterton, is accused of dangerous driving, driving while unfit through drink or drugs
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FOOTBALL: Injured Quainton sits out home clash
Kidlington are without Jack Quainton (ankle ligament damage) when they host Combined Counties League side Hanworth Villa in the FA Carlsberg Vase second qualifying round. Tommy Castle is struggling with a leg injury, while Christian Perkins faces a late
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Night diversion on city ring road
Drivers in Oxford will face a night-time diversion on the city ring road. A no-right-turn restriction, which could last for three weeks, began last night at the Heyford Hill roundabout. Work at the congested junction, to create a ‘hamburger’ roundabout
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Help police to catch thieves
Thieves who stole a purse from an 82-year-old woman’s handbag in Witney are being sought by police. Officers have released CCTV images of two men, pictured above, they want to question over the theft which happened on August 8. Pc Tracy
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Print firm praised over its recycling efforts
A printing business which recycles all its waste, including tea bags and lightbulbs, and sent its last rubbish consignment to landfill two years ago, was paid a royal visit yesterday. The Duke of Kent dropped in at Seacourt, in the Horspath
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ROWING: Oxon pair in Euro glory
Oxford’s Andrea Dennis and Wallingford’s Kathryn Twyman won a silver medal for Great Britian at the European Champ-ionships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, finishing behind world champions Greece, writes Mike Rose-well. It was the second time in a fortnight that
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Local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 2.7 BMW 4590 Electrocomponents 193.9 Nationwide Accident Repair 96 Oxford Biomedica 5.45 Oxford Catalysts 59 Oxford Instruments 801.5 Reed Elsevier 478.25 RM 98 RPS Group 169.2 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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RUGBY UNION: Chinnor take a step into the unknown
Chinnor head coach Jason Bowers says Saturday's National 3 South West trip to Old Redcliffians will be harder than most to prepare for, writes Ed Mezzetti. The Bristol side are new to the division and have won two of their three matches so
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Leven on spot-kick duties for Oxford United
PETER Leven is likely to take penalties – if Oxford United ever get one! The U’s have not been awarded a spot-kick in the opening ten matches of the season. But with last season’s regular penalty-take Tom Craddock still injured, Scotsman Leven is the
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FOOTBALL: Amateurs miss five
Headington Amateurs are without five key players for Saturday's Uhlsport Hellenic League Division 1 West trip to Wootton Bassett Town. Player-manager Shaun Pearce (holiday), Benji Cuff (family commitments), Anthony Clarke (hamstring), Liam
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FOOTBALL: Let's get back on good run - Gee
North Leigh manager Mark Gee has urged his side to get back to winning ways when they travel to Taunton Town in Division 1 South & West on Saturday. Last weekend, the Millers had Tom Franklin sent off as they crashed out of the FA Cup after
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Thousands line route to honour fallen soldiers
THE families of the two service personnel repatriated yesterday said they were “overwhelmed” by the county’s support. Thousands of people across Oxfordshire turned out to pay their respects to Lance Corporal Jonathan McKinlay and Royal Marine
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What rights do the public have?
THE mass eviction of gypsies may breach their human rights. What about the rights of the general public who pay national insurance and income tax? We also insure our cars. They seem to have various aliases and claim every type of benefits going.
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Mustang was American
WITH what bilge Glyn Limmer concludes his letter September 21, ‘Mustang Mistake’. His assertion that “the only American part of the craft were the stars on the wings” could not be further from the truth. The Mustang was conceived, designed and built
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COMMENT: Salute to veteran
Yesterday’s repatriation from Brize Norton once again proved the county’s loyalty and respect for our Armed Forces. Hundreds lined the streets as the bodies of two soldiers were repatriated. However, one name sticks out. Eighty-six-year-old Robert Coupe
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Concern over waste plan
FEW can not have been aware of the protracted struggle to prevent the Spanish waste giant WRG from building a waste facility in the Oxfordshire countryside. Despite losing the battle for planning permission on two occasions, it persists in throwing
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Wrong about lineage
IT’S nice to be pro-British, but I’m afraid that Glyn Limmer (September 21 ‘Mustang mistake’) goes a bit far when he states that the North American Mustang fighter was of British design. Early in WWII, Britain was desperately in need of fighter aircraft
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We need a reckless Cycling Act
SERIOUS injuries to cyclists in Oxford have risen 40 per cent since 2003, although neither cycling nor other traffic has increased that much. Most other road casualties have decreased. Are Oxford cyclists becoming more dangerous? After dark on September
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FOOTBALL: City boss slams 'foolish' Green
Oxford City boss Mike Ford says defender Josh Green will never play for the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division club again for the way he conducted himself following his move back to rivals Brackley Town. Ford was furious after rejecting
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Football fan cycles to Oxford Utd . . . from Accrington
A football fan is set to arrive at Oxford's Kassam Stadium tomorrow having cycled 168 miles from Lancashire. Accrington Stanley supporter Craig Taylor set off yesterday morning and should reach Oxford at about 2pm. The ride is in aid
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Hot-shot Davis keeping feet on ground
OXFORD United defender Liam Davis is relishing being among the goals – but says that defending must come first, writes ED MEZZETTI. Left back Davis has notched twice in his last four matches and is the only U’s defender to hit the back of the net this
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Potter: There's more to come from Oxford United and me
ALFIE Potter says there is even more to come from both Oxford United and himself. The U’s have recorded back-to-back away wins and victory over Accrington Stanley tomorrow will ensure United cement their place in the top seven. And for Potter (pictured
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Flasher strikes on footpath
A flasher exposed himself to a woman walking her dog near North Leigh, in broad daylight. The 41-year-old woman was on the public footpath near the Roman villa, at East End, at about 2.50pm on Tuesday, when she saw a man touching himself inappropriately
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Charities urged to apply for Gannett Foundation grants
NEWSQUEST, the parent company of the Herald series, is again asking for community groups to apply for grants from its Gannett Foundation. The foundation is the charitable arm of Gannett Co Inc – Newsquest’s owners – and twice a year it gives
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Fundraisers 'misled' over cancer centre
Oxford hospital managers have been accused of “hoodwinking” the public over a fundraising drive for the Oxford Cancer Centre. The Oxford Mail can reveal patients without cancer are being treated in operating theatres and intensive care at the £109m unit
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Battle lines drawn in link road inquiry
A long-awaited public inquiry into plans for the controversial Cogges Link Road reopened yesterday, with Oxfordshire County Council saying there was a “compelling case” for the scheme. Today the Oxford Mail provides a brief overview of both
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SPEEDWAY: Rebels edged out in memorial match
Exeter Falcons 35, Oxford Rebels 32, Swindon Robins 20 OXFORD Rebels just missed out on victory in the Bob Kilby Memorial meeting at the Abbey Stadium in Swindon last night, writes ROB PEASLEY. But they were comfortable in second place behind Exeter
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Loans are putting hospitals' stability at risk
Ballooning loan repayments could put the county’s hospitals under increasing financial pressure. The Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals (ORH) Trust now faces an annual bill of £46.6m to fund repayments on the loans taken out to pay for developments such as the
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COMMENT: More clarity is needed over hospital loans
Clarity is needed on the financial situation at the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust. Yesterday the Government was quick out of the blocks to pronounce how a clutch of hospitals were struggling to pay back loans taken out on big projects. The ORH has
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Duberry ready to lead Oxford United
MICHAEL Duberry will captain Oxford United for the first time tomorrow when they entertain Accrington Stanley at the Kassam Stadium. The former Chelsea defender takes over the skipper’s armband from Jake Wright, who must serve a one-match ban after his
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Owner shuts down stores blaming high rents
THE owner of a well-known Oxford retailer is closing branches and pulling out of the business, blaming high rates and competition from supermarkets. John Hudson, who runs Clovers electrical and homeware stores, will shut the Kidlington and Botley branches
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Firms shortlisted for hospital
Five firms have been shortlisted to rebuild Bicester’s community hospital. The move comes after health authority NHS Oxfordshire advertised for the redevelopment of the hospital in a European journal. It confirmed none of the shortlist of bidders had
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Brave little Sienna is defying the odds
When Sienna Steptoe was five months old, doctors told her family she was blind, deaf and would never walk or talk. But five years later and to the joy of her parents, the Abingdon youngster is learning to take her first steps with the help of an Oxfordshire
