Archive
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Town council's share of tax bill increases
BICESTER Town Council has rubber-stamped its new budget and put up its council tax precept by almost two per cent. The full council met on Tuesday to approve next year’s spending. From April, the town council’s share of the bill for people living in
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Project to list city heritage sites
THE much-loved buildings and spaces of East Oxford, Blackbird Leys, West Oxford and Summertown are to be cat-alogued to help protect them for the future. English Heritage has given Oxford City Council £60,000 to create a register of “heritage assets”
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GREYHOUNDS:Don't be late in the Message
The Message is get there early if you want a winning start at Oxford Stadium tonight. Sheffield Bruce, trained by Terry Kibble is looking to end a long losing run and is napped to take the opener a A4 event over 450 metres. TONIGHT’S RUNNERS. 7.35
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Demand for handouts doubles in Bicester
RECORD numbers of families are seeking help from the Bicester Foodbank. In the past three years the number of people visiting the organisation, based at the Sheep Street Methodist Church, has almost doubled. Founder Janet Ray said: “It’s an awful situation
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Cornbury park cycle route is here to stay
A TRIAL cycle route through Cornbury Park last summer proved so popular it is set to become a permanent feature. The off-road route, linking Charlbury with Finstock and avoiding a twisting section of the busy B4022 past Fawler, will be open
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Teenager sentenced for pensioner rape
A 14-year-old boy was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court today for raping a 77-year-old woman. The boy, who cannot be named due to his age, was ordered to be detained for public protection, with a minimum of two years minus 65 days served.
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Upper Heyford woman cheated benefits system
A WOMAN who was reported to a fraud hotline has been ordered to do community work after she admitted cheating benefits. At Banbury Magistrates’ Court Lorraine Kirk, of Heyford Leys, Upper Heyford, near Bicester, admitted making false benefits claims
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Abingdon estate recalls visit by boxing legend Ali
AS BOXING legend Muhammad Ali’s 70th birthday celebrations continue this week Oxfordshire residents have been reminiscing about his visits to an Abingdon council estate. Ali visited bare-knuckle boxing champion Paddy Monaghan more than 20 times
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Minis maintain top ten spots in Monte Carlo
The Banbury-built Mini world rally cars maintained their top ten placings after the third day of the Monte Carlo Rally. The drivers arrived in Monte Carlo for the overnight halt with Spaniards Dani Sordo and Carlos del Barrio lying second,
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Book reveals the girl behind the character of Alice
AS A distant relative of the real Alice in Wonderland, author Cathy Rubin wanted to find out more about the girl who inspired the world-famous children’s story. That curiosity led to a four-year project researching the life of Alice Liddell
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WHEELING IN: Porsche Panamera Diesel
Sitting behind the wheel of any Porsche tends to produce a gentle self-satisfied smirk. But driving a Panamera Diesel delivers a simple, straightforward feeling of smugness. Stretching luxuriously around you is the whopping four-seater
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Oxford United snap up ex-Norwich striker Johnson
Oxford United have signed Oli Johnson until the end of the season. The 24-year-old left Norwich City earlier in the week by mutual consent having spent much of the last year at Yeovil Town on loan.
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Oxford United chairman: No formal bid for Constable from Crawley
Oxford United chairman Kelvin Thomas admits the club are disappointed with comments made by Crawley manager Steve Evans about striker James Constable. The Crawley boss claimed this morning that the League Two outfit have had a offer turned
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Three injured in fire
THREE people have been injured after a fire broke out in the Posh Fish restaurant in Headington. Three fire engines were called to the London Road blaze at about 12.50pm after a fire started in a deep fat fryer.
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Football fan denies assault at U's game
A WELSH football fan has denied assaulting a steward at an Oxford United game. Cardiff City fan Stephen Davies appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Monday and denied charges of assaulting Neil Francis and being drunk and disorderly at the Kassam
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New vicar finds fresh focus for her mission
THE newest vicar in Blackbird Leys is no ordinary woman. Heather Carter has been a neonatal nurse, tackled terrorist attacks and cholera epidemics in South America and cooked for hundreds of homeless people. Now she is setting to work on Oxford’s biggest
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Bulk-buying heating oil bonus
A scheme to bulk-buy heating oil that has saved Oxfordshire residents tens of thousands of pounds is being rolled out across England. Launched in 2010 by Oxfordshire Rural Community Council and Chris Pomfret, who runs Community Buying unLimited, the
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The lucky survivor
When Tony Jones was told he had cancer, his first thought was whether he would live to attend his Golden Wedding party. But last month the 69-year-old great-grandfather celebrated the anniversary cancer-free and with a poignant gift for fellow sufferers
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Crawley bid for Constable rejected
Oxford United have today turned down a bid from Crawley for leading scorer James Constable. Less than 24 hours after accepting a bid from Swindon for the 27-year-old, it has emerged that fellow League Two side Crawley have also tried to lure Constable
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FOOTBALL: Banned Roberts misses Vase clash
Old Woodstock Town will be without the suspended Danny Roberts when they host Essex Senior League Bethnal Green United at North Leigh’s Eynsham Park in Saturday's FA Carlsberg Vase fourth-round clash. The Oxfordshire side, who moved up to second in Uhlsport
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Ofsted rating plans 'unfair to improving schools'
IMPROVING schools in the most disadvantaged parts of Oxfordshire could be unfairly labelled as failing, teachers have warned. Education watchdog Ofsted has announced it is to remove the inspection grading of ‘satisfactory’ and replace it with
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BADMINTON: Cook's double delight
ALEX Cook won two bronze medals at the Badminton England Under 13 Gold Tournament in Macclesfield. Cook, from Chinnor, shone in the boys’ singles and mixed doubles events against some of the UK’s top players. He beat Jack Buckley (Staffordshire
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BADMINTON: Staffs are stuffed by Oxon
OXFORDSHIRE 2nd hammered Staffordshire 3rd 12-3 in Division 4C of the Inter-County Championships. Victory means leaders Oxon are yet to drop a point in thee matches as they seek promotion back to Division 3. James Barclay and Matt Jackson opened up
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RAF sergeant cleared of raping colleague
AN RAF sergeant has been cleared of raping a woman at an Oxfordshire air base. Stewart Fryatt, pictured, always maintained he had consensual sex with a 22-year-old woman at RAF Benson in March last year. At Oxford Crown Court yesterday
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POINT-TO-POINT: Naunton looking for repeat victory
NAUNTON Brook is set to bid for a repeat of last year’s win in the men’s open for the Lord Ashton of Hyde’s Cup as the curtain comes down on racing at Dunthrop, near Chipping Norton, on Sunday. Willie Twiston-Davies, 17-year-old son of dual Grand National
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Beano says no: A decision that raises the roof
JAMES Constable was already an Oxford United legend. His crucial goals, his rapport with the fans and his love of the club have never been in question. But turning down a move to Swindon means that his already-lofty status among U’s supporters last
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Airport starts daily links to holiday isles
Oxford Airport has announced its first scheduled passenger services flying seven days a week. The Kidlington airport will run daily 18-seat services, in conjunction with airline Manx2.com, to Jersey and the Isle of Man every day, all year round
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Wins are what counts says Davis
Liam Davis says that Oxford United’s continued defensive qualities will only mean something if the team get wins on the board. The U’s have conceded just two goals in their last seven games – but have only three wins, three draws and a defeat to show
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Shotgun brandished at dog walkers
A FARMER’S brandishing of a shotgun in front of two dog walkers was no different to “using a shovel for gardening”, his barrister claimed. Timothy Hook was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court for a common assault on dog-walker Gary Somerville. Nigel Fryer
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Farmers on patrol to cut rural crime
FARMERS took to the fields to defend their land from thieves in the first ever Thames Valley Police operation in partnership with the public. Gamekeepers and landowners made up the 35-strong team of civilians who took part in Operation Festive on Wednesday
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FOOTBALL: Starlet taylor eyes City debut
Oxford City boss is hoping that Wycombe youngster Olly Taylor could be answer to their striker crisis, starting with Saturday’s Premier Division trip to Leamington. Taylor, 18, a second-year scholar at the League One strugglers, will make his
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Seeking sports fanatics
I AM researching for a book on Britain’s specially enthusiastic and committed sports fans and would like to meet and interview anyone who is one of these super sports lovers. For instance, I am interested in fans who watch, follow, collect or in other
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Ed offers no alternative
IN Monday’s The Issue we had the two predictable stances from the Conservative Party and the Labour Party as to the merits of Ed Miliband’s leadership. I have only met Ed Miliband once and that was when he was a small boy at his father’s house when
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Free school will not be set up for profit
As strong supporters of the proposals for a Free School at Heyford Park we wanted to respond to the letter from Chris Blakey of the NUT (Oxford Mail ViewPoints, January 11). We are local residents, parents and members of the Heyford Trust steering committee
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CABBAGES & KINGS: Fantastic panto helps bring out the juvenile in me
THERE’S only one sure way to see a first-class, traditional pantomime, packed with cries of ‘He’s behind you’, ‘Oh yes you will’ and ‘Oh no we won’t’, and that is to be engulfed in an audience where children outnumber adults by at least 30 to one. You
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Whing calls for patience
Andy Whing says Saturday’s defeat against Crewe was a real wake-up call to United’s players that they need to stay on the ball for 90 minutes. A terrific first-half display was followed by a lacklustre second 45 minutes – which ended with the
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FOOTBALL: Trio return lifts Witney's hopes
Struggling Witney Town welcome back Joey Fullerton Dan James and Lewis Cowell when they host Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division leaders Ardley United on Saturday. Gareth Walker, Julian McCalmon and Corey Fobes return for Abingdon Town’s home game
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FOOTBALL: Let's put in a complete display - boss Gee
North Leigh boss Mark Gee says his team need to perform for the whole 90 minutes if they are to make the Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West play-offs, starting with Saturday's trip to Mangotsfield. On Saturday the Millers battled back from
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SPORT CALENDAR: January 21-27
SATURDAY FOOTBALL NPOWER LEAGUE TWO Oxford Utd v Hereford Utd. EVO-STIK SOUTHERN LEAGUE Premier Div: Hemel Hempstead Tn v Banbury Utd, Leamington v Oxford City. Div 1 South & West: Didcot Tn v Cinderford, Mangots-field v North Leigh, Taunton Tn
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RUGBY UNION: Quins sign pair to boost hopes
OXFORD Harlequins have snapped up two new players to boost their relegation battle in National 3 South West. Fly half Matt Smith and full back Frank Mayfield come straight in for tomorrow’s home clash with promotion-chasing Redingensians. Quins are
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Independent outlook
A RECENT poll in England showed more supporting independence for Scotland as opposed to those against it. Hopefully the Scots will agree with them in 2014. I do admire Alex Salmond for his stand against the Iraq war (many on this side of the border agreed
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Station's just the ticket
YOUR article (Oxford Mail, January 14) wrongly suggested that there were plans to close the booking office at Haddenham & Thame Parkway station. Nothing could be further from the truth. Haddenham & Thame Parkway has a bright future, with a 47 per cent
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Stop badger baiting
IF you are out for a walk in the countryside around Oxford and witness illegal badger-baiting, then please contact the police immediately. Over the past couple of weeks many of us have read about a terrible case of badger-baiting. Six men and a teenage
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Smalley's loan move is right for all parties
Chris Wilder says that the decision to let Deane Smalley join Bradford on loan until the end of the season is the right one. The striker joined the U’s in the summer from Oldham, having been hugely impressive on loan at Chesterfield last season. Smalley
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Stab charges
A 20-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder over the stabbing of a 33-year-old man in Blackbird Leys. The victim was allegedly stabbed repeatedly in the stomach in the attack in Balfour Road on Saturday evening and is now in a
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Wikipedia boss in city debate
Jimmy Wales, the founder of online encyclopaedia Wikipedia, gave a talk in Oxford last night to generate a debate on free speech. Mr Wales was in conversation with Timothy Garton Ash, Oxford University’s Professor of European Studies. The talk was streamed
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£28k Bond book could be for your eyes only
BOOK lovers have been left shaken and stirred with a string of rare editions on display in Oxfordshire. Volumes by James Bond author Ian Fleming, Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle and Jane Austen are being put on show in the county. Bond fans
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Rescued dog Sami returns the favour
WHEN Ann Smith saw a mongrel near her holiday home in Spain, the abandoned animal was emaciated and had broken ribs. Mrs Smith, of Longfellow Drive, Abingdon, took the dog in, called her Sami and brought her home. Now seven years later
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Recycling that's always in fashion
FOLLOWERS of fashion flocked to Oxford’s Town Hall to make the most of last season’s clothes. The ReFashion event yesterday was designed to encourage people to repair, re-use and swap unwanted clothes rather than throw them away. Paul Mocroft, communications
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COMMENT: Airport a big step forward for economy
THE news that London Oxford Airport is to begin its daily, all-year-round flights to Jersey and the Isle of Man is a major step forward for the county’s economy. If further regular links are made to international airports like Paris and Amsterdam
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UPDATE: Armed robbers lay in wait for bank boss
ARMED robbers lay in wait for a bank manager before threatening him with a knife and locking him up in a safe. Detectives were last night still combing the area for clues and trawling through CCTV footage in a bid to catch the two robbers.
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COMMENT: Man’s best friend
THEY say no good deed goes unrewarded. And that old maxim is shown with our heartwarming story today about how rescue dog Sami saved his owner Ann Smith. The 67-year-old rheumatoid arthritis sufferer slipped and fell on her kitchen floor and
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Sordo battles for second in Monte Carlo
Spaniard Dani Sordo, driving a Banbury-built Mini John Cooper Works WRC, is still battling for second place after the second day of the Monte Carlo Rally. The team’s French crew, Pierre Campana and Sabrina de Castelli, were still in seventh
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Date set for decision on second incinerator
PLANS for a second waste Incinerator near Bicester will be decided next month. Waste Recycling Group wants to build a burner at Calvert, which would mean an extra 84 lorry trips around Bicester every day. Campaigners said the proposal
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Constable 'no' to Swindon
James Constable gave Oxford United fans the news they were hoping for last night – by refusing to even talk to Swindon Town about a possible move to the County Ground. And the U’s striker then declared: “I never wanted to leave the football
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Fuel card thief gets curfew
A TEENAGER who was part of a group trying to break into cars has been given a curfew. Anthony Shirley, 19, of Iffley Road, Oxford, appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Monday and admitted stealing a fuel card from a van the previous day. He and
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Councillor renews county budget warning
THE councillor responsible for Oxfordshire County Council’s budget has repeated his warnings of uncertainty over funding in the coming years. Jim Couchman told a cabinet meeting on Tuesday the council was on course to achieve £54m of savings in the current
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A load of fun on ex-bomb shelter
DURING the Second World War it provided shelter for Littlemore’s children but now it will provide youngsters with hours of fun. Work has begun on the £135,000 refurbishment of one of Littlemore’s play areas which includes using the earth mound of an
