Archive
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Rebekah and Charlie Brooks bailed after phone-hacking arrests
FIVE suspects arrested over allegations of cover-ups in the phone-hacking inquiry - understood to include Rebekah Brooks and her racehorse trainer husband Charlie - were released on bail tonight, Scotland Yard said. Mrs Brooks, a former
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Learn more about the lost abbey
A THREE-YEAR project to recreate Abingdon’s lost abbey has brought the historic building to life. The Lost Abbey Project tells the story of the town site with a timeline and a series of 3D reconstructions to show how the site has changed over the years
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Venues on sale to fund public square
ONE of Oxford’s best-known restaurateurs is planning to sell off two of his eateries. Clinton Pugh, who owns Cafe Coco, Kazbar and Cafe Tarifa, said he planned to “shrink his portfolio” to concentrate on creating a public square between his two remaining
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Student flats plans go to appeal
PLANS for 74 student rooms on a residential street in West Oxford will be scrutinised at a planning inquiry. The proposed three-storey block for land at the back of Mill Street was rejected by Oxford City Council in July last year. It had originally
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Olympic cash will give club a big lift
GYMNASTS in Oxfordshire are to benefit from £48,381 thanks to Olympic legacy funding. Abingdon Gymnastics Club, in Berinsfield, has secured the cash from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities Fund. This is part of a £135m funding pool to mark the Olympic
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Chox away for RAF runners
AIRCREW from RAF Brize Norton’s 10 Squadron spend a lot of time keeping fit. But they are now putting in extra training to make sure they are ready for this year’s OX5 Run in aid of Oxford Children’s Hospital. Senior Aircraftwoman Charlotte Weldon,
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Experts join Bake-Off tasting panel
THE creators of some of the most delectable treats to be found in Oxford have signed up to judge the Oxfordshire Bake-Off. The charity baking competition, inspired by BBC2 hit show The Great British Bake-Off, is in aid of Oxfam, breast cancer charity
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Concert in memory of pupil
A CONCERT is to be held in Deddington in memory of 16-year-old road crash victim Eddie Lynch. Robbie Williams tribute act Mike Andrew and village covers band The Breakfast Men will play on Saturday night at the Church of St Peter and St Paul
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Little village makes a huge difference
LAUNTON is a little village making a big difference when it comes to the fight against cancer And fundraisers are giving themselves a big pat on the back after raising £16,000 for charity in just one year. The community near Bicester have proved neighbourly
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Local author Sally Nicholls
Oxford children’s writer Sally Nicholls won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for her first novel, Ways to Live Forever. Her new book, All Fall Down (Scholastic, £7.99) (10-plus) is set in Yorkshire during the Black Death. She will be at the Oxford
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The Greatcoat by Helen Dunmore
The Greatcoat by Helen Dunmore Dunmore is a fine poet who has morphed into an exceptional writer of prose. Some of her novels, in my opinion, don’t come off, but when she is at her best there are few living British novelists who write better. She
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The Glorious Art of Peace by John Gittings
Picasso’s dove has become a worldwide symbol of peace, yet the artist’s stance in the Spanish Civil War and membership of the French Communist Party ensured that the dove was regarded as pro-Soviet, according to writer John Gittings. His book, The Glorious
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The First Crusade by Peter Frankopan
THE FIRST CRUSADE by Peter Frankopan (Bodley Head, £20)Of all the crusades that left Europe in a euphoria of religion and military prowess, the first was the one that fires the imagination, not least because of its capture of Jerusalem and triumph of
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Children get a fun look at history
CHILDREN explored the ancient world of India by taking part in arts and crafts activities at the Ashmolean. The Oxford museum has a new exhibition of paintings of India’s Mughal period between 1550 and 1850. To make it more accessible and interesting
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Men urged to get tested for cancer
TWO brothers who were diagnosed with prostate cancer within years of each other, despite never having symptoms, have urged men to get themselves checked. George and John Goldsmith decided to get tested after both their father and grandfather died from
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Scheme helps small-scale farms flourish
A SCHEME to help businesses cultivate the fat of the land is being developed under the shadow of Wittenham Clumps. The Earth Trust, formerly the Northmoor Trust, launched its “community food enterprise” initiative, Farm Step, this week to help people
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Walk at palace to aid charity
THE NSPCC is encouraging people to take part in a fundraising walk through the grounds of Blenheim Palace. The Blenheim Spring Walk will take place at the Woodstock stately home on Saturday, April 21, from 9.30am-11.30am. People can take part in two
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Silent movie pulls in the crowds
CHOOSING the right films to attract movie-goers can be a tricky balancing act for the owners of small, independent cinemas. But Becky Hallsmith, who runs the Ultimate Picture Palace off Cowley Road, knew she had got it right when a silent movie and
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Local share prices
AEA Technology 0.26 BMW 5933 Electrocomponents 255.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 63.5 Oxford Biomedica 3 Oxford Catalysts 55.5 Oxford Instruments 1212 Reed Elsevier 551 RM 89.4 RPS Group 231.4 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Tales of conflict: A couple reunited
Peter and Pauline Franklyn met when Pauline was evacuated from Essex to Deddington in 1939. She was 13 and he 16 and a local apprentice butcher. Peter later enlisted in the Army and was involved in the liberation of France with the Tank Regiment. Pauline
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HOCKEY: Hawks fall to leaders
Oxford Hawks ladies held Conference East leaders Surbiton in a goalless first half at Banbury Road North before falling to four second-half goals. Hawks looked well-organised, absorbing pressure and creating a few chances of their own.
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Tales of conflict: How sweethearts kept in touch
WARTIME sweethearts Ron and Daphne Canning were able to keep in touch when thousands of miles apart thanks to a very early form of “social networking”. Ron was farming with his uncle Sid in Deddington when war broke out. This was a reserved occupation
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Tales of conflict: Baker set sail for war
TWENTY-year-old Deddington baker Sid Berry had never been much further than the Oxfordshire county boundary when he volunteered for the Royal Navy, but spent four perilous years sailing the world during the Second World War. Sid’s story,
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HOCKEY: Hawks return to top flight
OXFORD Hawks have done it! They clinched promotion to Premier Division 1 of the South League with a 3-0 triumph over Maidstone, followed by a 1-0 win at Lewes. And they still have three fixtures left to put the icing on the cake with
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ON YER BIKE: We need more than campaigns
THERE seem to be a flurry of cycling campaigns at the moment, no bad thing, the more pressure on the Government to improve cycling facilities the better. The Times newspaper has been running with their Make Britain cyclesafe campaign, using the witty
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Appeal over motorcycle crash
A WOMAN motorcyclist was hurt in a collision with a car in Burford Road, Shipton-under-Wychwood. The 30-year-old injured her arm on Saturday and was taken to Horton General Hospital in Banbury where she was yesterday said to be in a stable condition.
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Charity launches text tip-offs
INDEPENDENT charity Crimestoppers has launched a mobile version of its website to allow people to pass anonymous tip-offs to police from mobile phones. The website specially designed for mobiles will guarantee anonymity for those who use it – including
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Schools to join up as federations
TWO pairs of county schools are considering forming federations. Consultation has been launched on Roman Catholic schools St Gregory the Great Secondary School and St John Fisher Primary School in Oxford becoming a federation with a single governing
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Miss Oxfordshire hopefuls in final
THEfinal of the Miss Oxfordshire competition will take place at the Living Room in Oxford Castle tonight. About 20 contestants from the county will compete in three catwalk rounds in a bid to win the crown and qualify for a place in the Miss England
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Parents’ backlash over academy bid
CHENEY School is the latest Oxfordshire secondary which could become an academy. The school, in Cheney Lane, Oxford, has 1,470 pupils and is consulting on proposals to convert. Last night it held an open meeting for the community.
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RUGBY UNION: Bicester's 12-try romp
BB&O Leagues BICESTER ran riot an 82-3 demolition of Princes Risborough in the BB&O Premier Division. Dave Hampton bagged a treble, while Adam Spencer (2), Dan Spencer (2), Charlie Nohre (2), Jak Cluness, Matt Duncalf and Rob Arthur also crossed.
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Lights failure
KIDLINGTON: Traffic lights in Oxford Road were out for most of the day yesterday. Both sets at the junction of Bicester Road outside St Thomas More School were broken and remained out as the Oxford Mail went to print. Oxfordshire County Council were
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Biker’s death
FARINGDON: The inquest into the death of a 36-year-old motorcyclist has not yet been opened. The Hampshire man was killed in a collision between his Honda motorbike and a white truck on Saturday on the A417 at 9.42am. He is expected to be named later
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Market could be fairest of them all
WITNEY residents showed their continued support for ethical goods at a fair trade market. The market, organised by Witney Area Fair Trade Action Group, was the first since Witney gained fair trade status last year. It was held in Langdale Hall on Saturday
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RACING: Rupert's time for Gold bid
Time For Rupert pokes his head out of his stable at Paul Webber’s Mollington yard, near Banbury, as if he hasn’t got a care in the world. “He is very laid back. He is lovely to ride and loves his work,” says groom Danny Hannig as he busily applies the
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Man watched rape, jury hears
A WOMAN was raped outside an Oxfordshire museum while another man watched, a jury heard. Mark Just is accused of sexually assaulting a woman, 22, in Church Lane, next to Cogges Farm, in Witney. The 26-year-old defendant, of Sedge Way, Carterton, denies
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Barn fire site dampened down
DENCHWORTH: Firefighters spent much of yesterday damping down a huge fire that destroyed a historic thatched barn in south Oxfordshire. The fire service was called to Brook Lane Barns, in Denchworth, on Sunday at 3am. Fire investigators
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‘Hosepipe ban will be a real struggle’
FARMERS, sports clubs and gardeners have said the first hosepipe ban to hit the country in six years will leave them struggling. Thames Water is one of seven companies in South and East England which announced the ban yesterday, and said anyone
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RUGBY UNION: Henley on song
National 2 South HENLEY Hawks won 32-7 at home to Southend. Hawks had lock James Winterbottom and wing Tom Haynes yellow-carded, while Andrew McClintock saw yellow for Southend. Tries from Winterbottom, centre Danny Wells, flanker Matt Payne and
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RUGBY UNION: Muller doubles up for Witney
Round-up TIM Muller’s try double helped Witney to a 36-27 home victory over Cheltenham in South West 1 East. Full back Phil Gouldie ran in Witney’s opening try on nine minutes, fly half Henry Lamb converting. Cheltenham replied with a penalty, but
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RACING: Longsdon on target
Chipping Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon, fresh from his most valuable success with Paintball in the Paddy Power Imperial Cup at Sandown on Saturday, struck with Spirit Of Shankly at Stratford yesterday. The four-year-old landed a bumper by six lengths
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RUGBY UNION: Quins mix it up for semi
Oxford Harlequins have named a mixed side for the Oxfordshire Cup semi-final against Henley Hawks at Dry Leas tonight (7.30). Quins retain seven of the side that started Saturday’s National 3 South West victory over Old Redcliffians in Frank Mayfield
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UPDATE: Reports say Rebekah Brookes arrested
REBEKAH Brooks and her racehorse trainer husband are among six suspects arrested today by detectives investigating phone hacking, according to reports from the Press Association. The former News International chief executive and Charlie Brooks were
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Oxford Tube a real godsend
I AM legally disabled with an unusual neurological condition and as an 81-year-old widower, with my children living abroad, I always have to travel alone. In 1996, I was transferred for tests and treatment from Surrey to the wonderful old Radcliffe Infirmary
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Help with lost dogs
I WOULD like to take the opportunity to bring attention to a wonderful website called doglost.co.uk It brings people together to help reunite owners with their missing dogs and helps find homes for others. I have only recently become involved, but I
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Shop closer to home, Adrian
I FEEL I must write this as a form of chastisement to my friend Adrian Taylor (Letters, March 2), who surfs the net, then does a 60-mile round trip for a water butt he could have purchased from our fantastic DIY and hardware shop about 300 metres from
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Didcot gets its very own Antiques Roadshow
ANTIQUES experts cast their eye over possessions with both financial and sentimental value yesterday. Didcot’s very own version of the Antiques Roadshow attracted more than 50 people – and their most treasured possessions – to the civic hall
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Holiday fines idea unfair
IN regard to parents being fined for taking children on holiday in term time, unless the world has moved on since I started work, as the newest member of staff, holidays were allowed on a strictly seniority basis. Accordingly, for the first few years
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Railway volunteer injured in accident
A VOLUNTEER at Didcot Railway Centre is recovering in hospital after being crushed by a piece of equipment which fell on him last Wednesday. The man, 69, was airlifted to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford after suffering shoulder and chest
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RUGBY UNION: Nervy time on the line
STEVE Chadbone said there had been some tense moments on the touchline as Oxford Harlequins edged home against Old Redcliffians. Quins’ manager said: “We don’t like to make it easy for ourselves. “It was quite an entertaining game for the neutral, but
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RUGBY UNION: Chinnor hit by first defeat
National 3 South West CHINNOR saw their 20-match 100 per cent record ended by a shock 22-19 home defeat to Barnstaple. A late penalty from fly half Josh Squire sealed Barnstaple’s victory, which leaves Chinnor five points behind leaders
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COMMENT: True neighbours
SO many health workers go above and beyond the call of duty. But the story of Heather Bower is especially heartwarming. How lovely to see she was trusted by both her neighbours to deliver their children. That really is when good
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COMMENT: Leaks cause water firm a PR problem
OVER the past few months, we have heard dire warnings about forthcoming problems with water supply in the county. Undoubtedly the current drought will cause shortages which will need tackling and fast. In this country – unlike many hotter
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Yellow lines just graffiti
I HAD to look twice at the Oxford Mail and the Sun newspapers recently to check it wasn’t April 1, after I read about ‘unusual’ road markings. In the Sun was a story of a ‘zebra’ skin pattern print crossing, instead of standard black and white zebra
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What about the beer?
AS USUAL when perusing The Guide, I eagerly anticipate any mention of real ale outlets in the area. I was delighted then to see a review of the Rusty Bicycle had been undertaken. My sense of joy was quickly doused by the article written by your Food
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PM is right about Syria
I’M hardly a supporter of Prime Minister David Cameron, but who could disagree with his recent comments about Syria “butchering its own people” and “they will face a day of reckoning”. I really hope he has the same feelings regards the peoples of Iraq
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Widow claimed £30k in benefits
A WIDOW fraudulently claimed almost £30,000 in benefits after her husband died and her new partner moved in. Sharon Few lost her first husband to cancer but carried on claiming about £100 a week in widowed parent’s benefit while living with
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FOOTBALL: Brock up for City cup semi
ARDLEY United have an opportunity to make club history tonight when they attempt to reach the Oxfordshire Senior Cup final for the first time. The villagers face Oxford City on neutral soil in the semi-final at Thame United’s ASM Stadium.
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RUGBY UNION: Battling Quins' survival boost
Oxford Harlequins 38, Old Redcliffians 34 OXFORD Harlequins gave their relegation fight a timely boost in a truly dramatic National 3 South West match. The bare facts are that they gained a bonus-point victory to go above Amersham &
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Repatriation delayed
THE repatriation of six servicemen which was expected on Thursday will now happen next week. The Ministry of Defence press office said it had acted on “false information” but could not yet give a date or time for the repatriation. Sergeant Nigel
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Man in court over armed robbery
A man has appeared in court charged with an armed robbery at Martins Newsagents in Northcourt Road, Abingdon, on Friday. James Allan, 28, of Hanson Road, Abingdon, was remanded in custody at Oxford Crown Court yesterday until May 21.
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Morgan's out to shine
Dean Morgan is desperate to help Oxford United win promotion as a way of proving himself after being loaned out by Chesterfield. The forward joined the U’s on an initial one-month deal last Thursday and played 90 minutes on debut in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat
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Pupils back head over ‘exam wall’
PUPILS named on a school’s “exam wall” yesterday organised a show of support for their headteacher. More than 200 pupils gathered behind Abingdon’s Larkmead School to back their head Chris Harris. The Oxford Mail last week reported Larkmead
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Taking a tour of punishment cells
PUNISHMENT cells never seen by the public have been opened up for the first time at Oxford Castle. The set of punishment cells from the 1800s and a 13th century well chamber will officially open to the public on March 31. But as part of English Tourism
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Neighbourly bond at the start of life
FOR some people, exchanges with neighbours are kept to a curt nod while picking up the milk or a brief wave while putting the cat out. But life in Chapel Lane, Littlemore, is very different. Neighbours – and best friends – Ellie Payne
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UPDATE: Phone hacking
A MAN and a woman from Oxfordshire have been arrested by detectives investigating phone hacking. The woman, who is 43, is being questioned at an Oxfordshire police station after being arrested at her home on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the
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Sorry m’lud, we’ve lost the handcuff keys
A JUDGE was kept waiting for more than an hour yesterday after a man accused of murder became accidentally handcuffed to a guard. Firefighters had to be called to the cells at Oxford Crown Court after prison officers could not find any keys to unlock
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DARTS: Windrush capture first title
Windrush Social Club duly landed their first Men’s Premier Section title with a revenge win over closest rivals Star Inn. Needing just one point to secure the championship, Windrush thrashed second placed Star Inn 8-1. The previous week
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Man charged after knife attack
A 22-YEAR-OLD man was stabbed twice with a knife and sprayed with pepper spray in a night-time attack in Abingdon High Street. The victim was taken to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital after being attacked just after 9.30pm on Friday and was released
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Burst water main cuts supply to 800 homes
ENGINEERS are battling to fix a burst water main in Witney. Thames Water confirmed around 800 homes had been affected by the burst water pipe which is in Ducklington Lane, at its junction with Station Lane. It comes as the water company
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Phone hacking raid in Oxfordshire
DETECTIVES investigating phone hacking have carried out a string of dawn raids including at least one in Oxfordshire. Five men and a woman were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice by police. Officers are searching
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Town crier joins museum team
HIS booming tones might not be ideal for bedtime stories, but town crier Anthony Church’s extremely loud voice will help the Story Museum make itself heard. The 59-year-old will be helping to direct visitors to the Pembroke Street museum’s Other Worlds
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How to tell autism from aggression
WHEN someone with autism panics, their behaviour can often be misunderstood as agresssion or threatening behaviour. But now police officers across Oxfordshire have been learning to spot those signs, thanks to a unique training programme run by people
