Archive

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Project helps more to read

IT DOESN’T require pens and paper or even books. But a video-based activity programme is the latest drive to improve literacy in schools in some of Oxford’s most deprived areas. Backed by patron and education expert Prof Sir Tim Brighouse, former Oxford

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SCALES OF JUSTICE: Some of the recent offences at Banbury magistrates' courts

Oliver Pockett, 23, of Farbury End, Great Rollright, admitted possessing cannabis (Class B) in Witney on February 4. Fined £175, a £15 victims’ surcharge and £85 costs. Leon Caton, 20, of West Barr Street, Banbury, admitted criminally damaging a door

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College takes on kebab van

A SECOND Oxford college is squaring up for a battle with a city kebab van over rowdy customers. Oriel College says the Mehdi’s van in High Street is causing “great stress” to college residents as revellers flock to it when pubs and clubs shut

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Look at fight against diseases

OXFORD University threw open its doors this week to show off some of the research it’s working on. Members of the public were given the chance to drop by the university’s labs in the Churchill Hospital and meet the scientists and researchers who are

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Oxford United man of the match poll

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Oxford United 2 (Rendell 45, Hall 52) Rotherham United 1 (Grabban pen 83)

ASA Hall made it three goals in four games as Oxford United claimed a precious victory against Rotherham United. The midfielder’s first-time strike made it 2-0 early in the second half, adding to Scott Rendell’s opener on the stroke of half-time. The

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Who needs Paris when you've got Anjou?

STANDING in the shadow of the Chateau de Brissac, the marquise smiled sweetly and wrinkled up her pretty nose. “Bedrooms? I don’t know – I’ve never counted them!” She wasn’t being arrogant. She’s just like all the residents of Anjou I met, startlingly

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Woman cut free from car after crash

A WOMAN was cut free from a car after it crashed this morning near Bicester. Firefighters helped the woman to safety after her car hit a hedge next to the A41 roundabout at Wretchwick Way at 11.22am. Police officers and ambulance crews

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SQUASH: Oxford go second after whitewash

OXFORD Health & Racquets moved second in Group A of the Premier League with a 5-0 demolition over University of Birmingham. The whitewash sees them leapfrog MB Nottingham Scott Handley, Mark Cairns, Ben Coleman, Andrew Birks and Madeline Perry all recorded

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Service families support praised

A CHILDREN’S centre which caters for Carterton’s shifting population has been praised for the work it does with families. About a third of the people who use Carterton Children’s Centre, based at Edith Moorhouse Primary school, are service families,

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Leven back as Oxford United host Rotherham

PETER Leven returns to the Oxford United starting line-up as Chris Wilder’s men take on Rotherham United at the Kassam Stadium. The Scot plays despite concerns over a shoulder injury which needs an operation and is one of three changes to

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Choir sings in Germany

CHOIRBOYS at Abingdon Prep School are preparing to take to the stage in Germany. The 26 members of the senior choir, aged between 10 and 13, are going on a three-day tour next month. They will sing at Mass in Cologne Cathedral and perform at a concert

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Councillor tries again for late kebabs

A CITY councillor is bidding to open his Oxford kebab restaurant until the early hours, five months after being turned down over disorder fears. Cowley Marsh councillor Saj Malik wants to open Bodrum in Park End Street until 3am. The authority rejected

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Dozens of happy owners return after showing prime pooches at Crufts

MORE than 130 of Oxfordshire’s dog lovers returned from the Crufts dog show this week. Some are empty handed, but others have been rewarded for their best friend’s abilities. Crufts, which has been taking place for more than 100 years, was held at

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Man beaten around head with a brick

A 33-year-old man was treated for head injuries after being beaten with a brick in Didcot in the early hours of today. The man  was assaulted in an alleyway off Market Place, behind Wilkinsons, sometime between 3.15am and 3.30am. He

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CRICKET: Sandford's setback

SANDFORD’S hopes of landing the Banbury Indoor League Division 1 title look to be over after a second successive defeat. This week they were undone by Preston Capes, who reached Sandford’s paltry target of 73 with nearly three overs to spare. Ali Jarvis

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Osney Arms could be sold off at auction

WEST Oxford pub the Osney Arms could be sold by auction at the end of the month. The pub closed in November, 112 years after it was built, and agent the Cotswold Property Shop is taking offers greater than £400,000 until March 31. Former landlady Maria

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Vandals smash up cars

VANDALS damaged 11 cars parked outside Oxford homes in just one night. The yobs left a trail of destruction in Wood Farm and Headington smashing car windows and windscreens in Wood Farm Road, Titup Hall Drive, York Road and Wharton Road.

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‘We’ve proved need to re-open our pub’

WHEN their only pub shut nearly two years ago South Hinksey residents started gathering to drink and socialise in each other’s homes. But the ‘mock pub’ scheme to replace the General Elliott soon got out of hand as up to 60 people were regularly turning

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BOXING: Mullins put to the test

WITNEY boxer (Steve) Marvin Mullins has had to work twice as hard ahead of his third professional fight at the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon next Friday. A series of potential opponents had been put forward, only to withdraw their services a few days

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Woman, 29, on murder charge

A 29-year-old woman has been charged with murdering of Denis Witney. Joanne Moriarty, of Mortimer Road, Rose Hill, Oxford, appeared before magistrates yesterday. Mr Witney, 39, was found dying in St Clement’s Street, East Oxford, on November 9 last year

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County Hall’s sandwiches still from London

SANDWICHES at the County Hall cafe will continue to come from London unless a local provider can match the quality and price, Oxfordshire County Council said. The Oxford Mail reported in January that the council’s cafe was selling sandwiches made more

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Tango Festival kicks off

THEY say it takes two to tango. But many more will be taking part in the first Oxford Tango Festival which kicked off yesterday. A series of classes and workshops will be taking place over the weekend at Lady Margaret Hall,in Norham Gardens, North Oxford

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Fraudster fiddled £100k from firm

AN ACCOUNTANT has been jailed after fiddling more than £100,000 from her employers. Zoe Nowell worked at Docdata, in Witney, for three years and siphoned off tens of thousands of pounds into her own bank account over an 11-month period.

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ON CUE: Snooker results

GENTWORKS OXFORD & DISTRICT SNOOKER LEAGUE RESULTS Premier/Division 1: New Club A 2, Woodstock 4; Riley B 3, Thame B 3; Abingdon Con 4, Witney A 2; Abingdon RBL 5, Riley A 1; Thame A 2, Littlemore RBL C 4. Division 2: Ashton 2, Green Road 4; Witney

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Football fans urged to help Charlotte

Charlotte Nott and her family will be special guests at today’s Oxford United home game against Rotherham. The team will be wearing unique shirts to raise money for the Cowley youngster, who lost all four of her limbs after contracting meningitis. They

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TABLE TENNIS: Battling Andy secures crown

ANDY Misseldine won the Division 1 title, the Hewitt Cup, for the second time by beating Jingyu Sun in the 2012 Oxfordshire Divisional Championships. In a titanic battle, Misseldine was forced to pull out all the stops to clinch the crown. He trailed

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Rape acquittal

A 26-year-old man has been cleared of raping a woman near Cogges Farm. Mark Just was unanimously acquitted by jurors of two charges at Oxford Crown Court yesterday. Mr Just said he had sex with the woman but it was consensual. Jurors had heard another

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Hospital car parks netted £2.6m

Oxfordshire's main hospitals have made £900,000 profit from parking charges in the past year but have ploughed it all back into patient care. According to the Oxford University Hospitals Trust – which runs the John Radcliffe, Churchill and Nuffield Orthopaedic

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MS pill approval will change lives

A revoluntionary pill for MS sufferers that was trialled in Oxford was yesterday given the go-ahead by a government watchdog. Now Matt Bateman, who says the drug has transformed his life, has urged county health bosses to avoid a ‘postcode lottery’ and

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SCHOOL SPORT: Brilliant Burford

BURFORD School triumphed in the England Rugby Football Union South West Division Under 14 State Schools Championships at Cokethorpe School, Witney. They beat representatives from Berkshire, Bucks, and Dorset & Wiltshire – without conceding a single try

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MOTORSPORT: Petrov determined to prove a point

SPOTLIGHT ON NEW FORMULA 1 SEASON FORMER Renault driver Vitaly Petrov heads into a new phase of his Formula 1 career at tomorrow’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne with a point to prove. Petrov appeared to be on Formula 1’s scrapheap at the end

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MOTORSPORT: Only way is up for struggling Williams

SPOTLIGHT ON NEW FORMULA 1 SEASON Williams chairman Adam Parr feels the team are again a happy ship he is hoping to steer in much calmer waters this year following a turbulent 2011. The Grove-based marque endured the worst season in their history

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GREYHOUNDS: Thumbs-up for new drainage overhaul

GREAT Britain Racing Board track supremo John Haynes ran the rule over Oxford’s racing surface last week and gave the go-ahead for the remainder of the circuit to be overhauled for a new drainage system. Most of the work has been done through a grant

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Man wanted over robbery

This 29-year-old man, right, is being sought by police after a robbery in Blackbird Leys. Police yesterday appealed for information about Alan Goodman – also known as Jock – to help their investigations into a robbery in Tucker Road on Sunday

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ANGLING: Kidlington sign off with a bang

BIG chub and perch figured in the final matches of the river season last Sunday when conditions were decent for once. The Cherwell was nicely coloured at Thrupp for Kidlington’s Last Chance Cup and Henry Clarke made the most of the conditions to catch

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SWIMMING: Webster lands five-timer

OLIVIA Webster, from City of Oxford claimed a five gold medals in the latest round of the Oxfordshire & North Bucks Championships in Aylesbury. The 11 year-old triumphed in the 200m individual medley, 50m butterfly, the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle.

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MOTORSPORT: Raikkonen eyes positive return

SPOTLIGHT ON NEW FORMULA 1 SEASON KIMI Raikkonen makes a full-time return to Formula 1 expecting little to have changed other than the need to press more buttons. Two years away from the sport have not made him any more engaging, the Finn remaining

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GREYHOUNDS: Derby hopefuls come to Oxford

OXFORD is to stage a Williamhill.com Greyhound Derby trial stakes at Sandy Lane next month. It is believed to be the first time an event such as this has been held at Oxford. Up for grabs for the winner is a free entry for the sport’s blue riband worth

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Children bring book characters to life

YOUNGSTERS dressed up as their favourite book characters to mark the end of Reading Week and raise cash for their primary school. West Oxford Community Primary School’s pupils took part in a sponsored walk around their playing fields, off Ferry

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Delays and lanes closed on M40 after crash

THREE lanes of the M40 are closed after an accident between junctions 10 and 9 at 7.37am today. A 4x4 towing a trailer carrying another car hit the central reservation on the southbound carriageway. The Highways Agency said it had closed

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Doctor helps to free victim

A passing doctor helped paramedics and fire crews as they battled to free two people trapped inside wrecked cars on the B4035. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to reports of a two-vehicle head-on collision at Tyne Hill just outside Swalcliffe

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Fallen Icelandic banks repaying councils

OXFORDSHIRE councils which held money with Icelandic banks are receiving repayments. The county and four district councils had more than £28m invested in Icelandic banks when they crashed in 2008. Glitnir, which held deposits from West Oxfordshire,

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Campaigners stage sit-in protest over health reforms

CAMPAIGNERS against a radical shake-up of the NHS staged a sit in at the county’s primary care trust headquarters yesterday. NHS Oxfordshire offices in Cowley were occupied by about 20 people protesting against the NHS and Social Care Bill.

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Underage sex case adjourned

A TEACHER who allegedly had a relationship with a teenage boy has appeared in court. Adam Williams, 34, of Ruardean Walk, Cheltenham, was at Banbury Magistrates Court yesterday accused of seven counts of abusing a position of trust through sexual activity

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Man charged with stealing phones

A MAN has been charged with stealing two mobile phones worth £709.90 from Carphone Warehouse in High Street, Witney, on Wednesday. Luke Gordon, 23, of Falling Lane, West Drayton, Middlesex, will appear at Banbury Magistrates’ Court on Friday, April 20

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Lifeling friends' 50 years on same street

IT was the year the first human travelled into outer space, the Berlin Wall was built and West Side Story was released to hit reviews. And in a small street on the new Blackbird Leys estate, eight people celebrated moving into their new homes.

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Montano set for Oxford United bow

CRISTIAN Montano is set to make his debut this afternoon as Oxford United received a double boost ahead of the clash with Rotherham United. Peter Leven is also expected to start after a shoulder injury as the U’s return to the Kassam Stadium for the

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It's puppy love as Cameron meets Cameron

PRIME Minister David Cameron took a break from the dog-eat-dog world of politics to meet users of a hearing dogs charity. The Witney MP returned from the USA, where he discussed global politics with President Barack Obama, to visit Hearing Dogs for Deaf

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Fallen Icelandic banks repaying councils

OXFORDSHIRE councils which held money with Icelandic banks are receiving repayments. The county and four district councils had more than £28m invested in Icelandic banks when they crashed in 2008. Glitnir, which held deposits from West Oxfordshire,

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PM's puppy love at hearing dog charity birthday bash

PRIME Minister David Cameron took a break from the dog-eat-dog world of politics yesterday – only to meet his namesake at a hearing dogs charity. The Witney MP marked his return from the USA and discussions of global politics with President Barack Obama

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Authorities write off council tax debts worth almost £1m

ALMOST £1m in unpaid council tax has been written off this financial year – including two people who racked up bills for 11 years. Critics said it was “beyond belief” that Oxford City and Cherwell District councils each let a resident away with not

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Anger as £11,500 council tax bill is written off

CASH-STRAPPED officials have been criticised after writing off an £11,500 council tax debt that was racked up over 11 years. Critics said it was “beyond belief” that Oxford City Council let the debt – stretching from 1996 to 2007 – go on for so long.

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COMMENT: Enlightening idea

Commemorating Cromwell House in Marston is an excellent idea. The Blue Plaque will enlighten passers-by to the significant role the home played in the Civil War. In a city with such rich history, it is always a pleasure when forgotten

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COMMENT: Community’s heart is still strong

What a great way to put it in perspective... ‘It was the year the first human travelled into outer space, the Berlin Wall was built and West Side Story was released to hit reviews’. And there’s no question that to those who lived there at this

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Old girls head back to class

The last time they saw each other, they were schoolgirls in long socks, kept in line by a host of strict nuns. Now some 56 years later, the old girls of Our Lady’s, in Abingdon, are preparing to meet up again. And it is hoped this picture of the class

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Mum says thanks for hospital skills

THANKS to staff at Oxford Children’s Hospital, one-year-old Emmie Hodge is happy and healthy, following keyhole surgery just months after she was born. Now her mother Lucy Hodge is taking part in the OX5 Run to raise funds for new toys and equipment

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Mum says thanks for hospital skills

THANKS to staff at Oxford Children’s Hospital, one-year-old Emmie Hodge is happy and healthy, following keyhole surgery just months after she was born. Now her mother Lucy Hodge is taking part in the OX5 Run to raise funds for new toys and equipment

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Designer still flying high at 100

A Burford great-great-grandfather who designed fighter planes in the Second World War has celebrated reaching 100. Alan Freemantle, pictured with his card from the Queen, reached the milestone on Tuesday, when he enjoyed a party with his family. He