Archive
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Signs are it's fun
They can’t speak yet beyond the odd ‘mama’ and ‘dada’. But toddlers are already learning how to communicate by taking sing and sign classes. Sally Balfour-Allen, a teacher from Sing and Sign Oxford, was running a class at Barefoot Books, Summertown,
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Scales of Justice
People convicted of offences at magistrates courts in Oxfordshire BANBURY Ciara Campbell, 26, of Priory Mill Lane, Witney, convicted of assault by beating in Witney on March 25, 2011. Fined £50 with a £15 victims’ surcharge and told to pay £50 compensation
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Tax dodger's prison warning
A woman who repeatedly failed to pay her council tax has been given a suspended jail sentence. Hilda Marshall currently owes £1,316 to South Oxfordshire District Council having not paid council tax for two years. The 47-year-old, from Edinburgh Drive
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Sports lovers get set for 'Olympics'
Sports lovers from around the city will congregate for a major Olympics event in Blackbird Leys this summer. The Pegasus Olympics on Saturday, July 7, plans to bring together hundreds of residents for a free day of sport in the heart of the estate.
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WALKING WONDER
It may have taken 17 years, but Norman Smith has finally completed his goal of walking 50,000 miles. The 68-year-old started walking as a hobby aged 51 and has clocked up an average of just over 14 miles a day over 3,551 days. And he has worn out 93
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French Revelation
If you want to check out something really dynamic then book a seat at Elektro Kif, the Parisian hip-hop street dance company exploding on to the stage at the Oxford Playhouse on Tuesday. We talk to TREAXY, JEREM and BLANCA to discover how they brought
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All That Jazz
TIM HUGHES talks to one of the stars of the Oxford Jazz Festival, New Orleans-raised trumpet player Abram Wilson. AS a classically trained musician, steeped in the musical traditions of New Orleans, Abram Wilson knows how important it is to
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Ban drives cars out of shopping precinct
CARS will soon be banned from Kidlington’s shopping precinct in a move supporters hope will boost business. Kidlington’s High Street will be pedestrianised on Monday, April 16. Plans for the daytime vehicle ban were first put forward in 2009 by Kidlington
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Gore Blimey
THE HUNGER GAMES (12A) Action/Drama/Romance. Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Alexander Ludwig, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Donald Sutherland, Wes Bentley, Willow Shields, Amandla Stenberg.
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Carried Away
LIZ NICHOLLS enjoys a weekend in the lap of luxury in London. WARNING: A stay at St Martin’s Lane will expose you to serious levels of spoiling. And no matter how humble your everyday existence, it might just warp your reality. Take
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Writers' Bloc
KATHERINE MacALISTER previews the 2012 Oxford Literary Festival, taking place around the city and county. If just the thought of a literary festival has you scurrying into your homes and locking the doors until it’s all over, then stand your
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I Should Cocoa
KATHERINE MacALISTER previews the chocolate festival coming to Oxford this weekend. Move over Willy Wonka, Oxford is hosting its first ever home-grown chocolate festival right here in Broad Street this weekend. And with free tastings,
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Art impresses sporting legend
SIR Roger Bannister, the first man to run a mile in under four minutes, has opened a new exhibition which looks forward to the London Olympics. Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum is exhibiting 30 bronze sculptures, commissioned by public art organiser Art At
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BULLFINCH UPDATE: 13th man arrested
ANOTHER man has been arrested this afternoon as detectives in Oxford continue to investigate allegations of a child sex exploitation ring in the city involving 11-year-old girls. The man was arrested just after 1pm and a total of 13 men have
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Space to explore phobias
A graduate of the prestigious Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Allan Hutson went on to work with a variety of companies, including Phoenix, and is a co-founder of Oxford-based Gelede Dance Company. His dancing days are over now, and for the past
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Highly charged
Spanish-born Blanca Li came across Elektro Kif by chance while walking through a park in Paris. She became fascinated by this new movement, a French development of street dance, with which she was already familiar. She studied the performers
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Prodrive's retail park plan given green light
COUNCILLORS have today given the green light for a major retail park development outside Banbury. The application by motorsport firm Prodrive to build what will be known as the Banbury Gateway on the site of its premises on the Wildmere Industrial
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Newspaper man loved to race
A former rally driver and Oxford Mail reporter has died while on holiday in Morocco. Richard Wooldridge died from a heart attack on Sunday at the age of 69. He was a reporter, columnist and assistant news editor at the Mail for about 15 years in the
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Mike Hobbs: Cricket stalwart simply a one-off
Mike Hobbs, one of the best known figures in local cricket, has died at the age of 72. The father-of-two died at his home near Wallingford on March 10 after a short illness. Mr Hobbs was a player, groundsman, president and umpire for
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Pupils' grief evolves into poetry book
Young writers at Oxford Spires Academy have drawn on their experiences of losing friends and relatives to produce a moving anthology of poetry. The anthology, Journeys, has been created by six pupils and came out of workshops with the school’s writer-in-residence
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Waste firm scoops up award
Food waste recycling firm Agrivert has been named West Oxfordshire Business of the Year. The company, based at Radford, near Chipping Norton, recycles 750,000 tonnes of organic waste annually and generates renewable electricity for 4,500 homes at its
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Motor firm gears up for growth
Not content with powering possibly the world’s fastest electric car, Yasa Motors is aiming for mass production. The Oxford University spin-out company has kitted out an ex-warehouse at Milton Park, Didcot, with 20-30 times its previous production capacity
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BULLFINCH UPDATE: MEP calls for public to be 'eyes and ears' against child sex rings
AN MEP who is campaigning against human trafficking said the public had to be the police's "eyes and ears" today as 12 men were arrested under an investigation into a child sex ring. A dozen men, aged between 21 and 37 years old, were arrested
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Raising a glass to tales of tasty tipples
Starting Saturday the city of Oxford will be taken over by authors and authorities on prose, plays, poetry and similar such bumf. Christ Church will be the core of all things culture (if it is not all ready). What better time to improve
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Apps open up wide world of wine online
Since the launch of the new Oxford Times iPhone and iPad app, can we discard our diaries and notebooks, pick up our mobiles and tweet our way into the wine world? -Actually yes. There are plenty of apps for wine lovers. Most offer a variety of descriptions
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BULLFINCH UPDATE: Police say child sex ring girls may be unaware they were being groomed by men
DETECTIVES have this morning said some of the victims of a suspected child sex ring may not have been aware they were being groomed. Police are still questioning 12 suspects about the sexual exploitation of 24 Oxford girls after raids at 14
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Right-to-buy fear over city housing
IN RECENT weeks Oxford City Council has been seeking to borrow £200m – a huge sum in the current climate of austerity. But the Town Hall must saddle itself with the extra debt to gain control of its own council houses. Explaining the
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Statue fund offers platform for poet link
FORMER poet laureate Sir John Betjeman spent more than 20 years in Wantage and wrote two poems about the town. But he could soon cast a long-lasting presence after a drive to fund a statue of him was set up. The Betjeman Statue Appeal hopes to raise
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County vineyard's high hopes for top crops
Just nine miles from Oxford city centre is Bothy Vineyard, one of the oldest vineyards in Oxfordshire. Originally it was a glorified garden building on the outside of Oakley Park. More than 30 years ago it was turned into a vineyard. In 2002 Sian
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UPDATE: Residents' parking zone decision
TWO controversial new residents' parking schemes in Oxford have been given the go-ahead this morning. Controlled parking zones will be implemented in the Divinity Road area and Magdalen Road north areas of East Oxford. But a decision on whether
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Oven blaze
BANBURY: A man who had fallen asleep in a chair was rescued from a flat blaze after food in his oven caught fire. A neighbour called the fire brigade at about 9.50pm on Tuesday. The Christchurch Court resident was treated by paramedics for smoke inhalation
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Teens questioned over car vandalism
THREE teenagers have been arrested in connection with a wrecking spree which left 11 cars damaged near Didcot. Cars were damaged in Wilcher Close, East Hagbourne, and neighbouring streets during the early hours on Saturday, March 10. Two cars were
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Drink driver caught with trousers down
AN unlicensed driver who was over the limit led police on a late-night pursuit through Oxford, hitting two parked cars. Aiden Davies, who also had cocaine in his system, had no licence, no insurance and was nearly three times the drink-drive limit as
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GOLF: Heythrop target youngsters
The new Heythrop Park Golf Academy is teaming up with Golf Foundation’s Golf Roots programme to encourage youngsters to take up the game. Free taster sessions using “Tri-Golf” adapted equipment have been offered to local primary schools.
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Banbury Cross to get a clean
BANBURY: The famous Banbury Cross will be gleaming in time for the Diamond Jubilee. The metal cross will be removed and de-rusted, stonework will be cleaned and shields repainted and enamelled. The work to the monument, built in 1859, is being organised
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AUNT SALLY: Castle double up
CASTLE Quay added the Banbury Indoor League’s Charity Shield to their Handicap Shield success with a 2-1 win over Bicester in the final. RESULTS Banbury Indoor League Charity Shield quarter-finals: Banbury 2, General Foods 0; Easington 1
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GOLF: Club results
OXFORD CITY March Bogey: 1 C Calver +7, 2 A Higgins +4, 3 S Stratford +4 (cb). OXFORD LADIES Charity 3-ball Alliance: 1 D Torgersen, D Chappelle & J McCairns 79pts, 2 J Tavinor, D Torgersen & J McCairns 77, 3 C Fox, M Edwards
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GOLF: Burford open defence with Oxfordshire test
The restructured Shaw Gibbs Oxfordshire Foursomes League starts this Saturday, with champions Burford opening the defence of their Division 1 title at The Oxfordshire. Frilford Heath, who were pipped for the title last year on the final day
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RUGBY UNION: Witney finish top of the pile
WITNEY finished top of the Oxfordshire Under 16 League after edging out Banbury. They won six of their seven matches including beating Henley (35-5), Abingdon (28-5) and Chinnor (96-3). The title will be decided via play-offs, with Witney hosting Abingdon
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Burglars target food charity
BURGLARS smashed their way into a charity that helps the city’s most needy families. The thieves rifled through piles of food during the break-in at the Oxford Food Bank warehouse, in Lamarsh Road, before fleeing with a laptop and camera. Organisers
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ATHLETICS: Ahmet bags triple jump silver
RADLEY’S Lyn Ahmet won a silver medal in the triple jump at the British Masters Indoor and Winter Throws Championships. Ahmet leapt 7.33m to secure second place in the vet 55-59 age group at Lee Valley. She also finished fifth in the
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COMMENT: Really pitiful
ATTEMPTING to steal from a community food bank has to be up near the top of the list when it comes to pitiful crimes. Little wonder then that burglars who ransacked the Oxford Foodbank in Lamarsh Road have been condemned by just about everyone in the
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RACING: Bow stars for Jarvis
Bow To No One gave Alan Jarvis, who trains at Twyford, near Bicester, his second jumps winner in the space of five days with an easy victory at Warwick yesterday. Jarvis, best known as a Flat trainer, sent out Right Step to make a winning debut over
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RACING: Gannon ready for comeback
Wantage jockey Cathy Gannon returns to action at Lingfield tomorrow after being sidelined for five months with a broken leg. The Irish-born rider, who suffered a fractured right femur when unseated from Forever Janay on the way to the start at Nottingham
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Fed up with waiting
I will the roadworks in Iffley Road ever be completed? We would very much like to be able to use the Magdalen Road bus stops, on both sides, again soon. D THOMPSON, Stanley Road, Oxford
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Opportunistic decision
I have no axe to grind with respect to the current Sunday trading regulations, nor any objection to their proposed extension for the duration of the Olympics and Paralympics this summer, but permitting the prolongation of larger stores’ opening hours
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Trith about councillors
I hope the prayerful Mr Howard (ViewPoints, March 7) will be standing as a candidate in the city elections this year. If elected, he will learn the truth about councillors’ working hours, pay, accountability and even pension entitlement. He is likely
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Protest paramedics
With reference to your report on the attack on a female paramedic (Oxford Mail, March 6), might I suggest that all paramedics carry a pepper spray in future as a deterrent against these people who abuse ambulance staff? I hope this deterrent is implemented
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Residents' parking given go-ahead in Divinity Road
A RESIDENTS' parking scheme will go ahead in the Divinity Road area of Oxford. Rodney Rose, county council cabinet member for transport, has this morning given the scheme the go ahead. A decision on a similar residents' parking scheme for the
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BAR BILLIARDS: Comrades sink rivals in title battle
COMRADES Club are two points clear with a game in hand at the top of Section 1 after beating second-placed West Oxford Democrats Club 3-2 at home, writes PETE EWINS. Adam Thorn (6,240) put Comrades in front, only for John Patey (5,050) to level. Chris
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RUGBY UNION: Chinnor cup joy
CHINNOR reached the semi-finals of the National Colts Cup after a nerve-jangling 11-10 victory at home to Doncaster. Replacement fly half George Grosse kicked the winning penalty after Doncaster, whose senior side play in the Championship, battled back
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Freedom of expression
In response to my very short letter (ViewPoints, March 8), suggesting that a more balanced view be taken about the management of the NHS by all governments, it would seem that Tim Siret can make an informed opinion about my political views. Mr Siret
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ATHLETICS: Ridley races to bronze
WITNEY Road Runner Elysia Ridley helped Wales to team bronze in the Home Countries Cross Country International at Rouken Glen, Scotland. Ridley (pictured), who was making her Welsh debut, finished tenth in the senior ladies’ race, clocking
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A travesty indeed
It is indeed a “travesty of democracy” as councillor John Tanner says (Oxford Mail ViewPoints, March 14) that a one-person county council ‘committee’ can make a significant decision, such as that on controlled parking zones. But, hang on a minute, isn
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THE INSIDER: A weekly update from the corridors of power
Political campaigning is a cloak and dagger sport, but a Labour city councillor shed a little light on it this week. Councillor Oscar Van Nooijen revealed the party’s stance on controversial controlled parking zones (CPZs). In an email he said: “The
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LIFE LESSONS: Father Daniel Seward
Name: Father Daniel Seward. Age: 37 – I was born in Ndola, Zambia, in 1974. Job: I am the Provost and Parish Priest of the Oratory. This means leading the Oratorian community here and also our parish. As well as saying mass,
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CPZ numbers don't add up
The county council has its numbers wrong over the Magdalen Road controlled parking zone plans. Over recent days, some residents affected by the proposed Magdalen Road CPZ have been checking their streets for the accuracy of the council's designs. The
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BOWLS: Oxon four are national champs
An Oxfordshire quartet are celebrating winning the English Short Mat Bowling Association’s National Mixed Fours title. The four of Marilyn Davies, Les Woodward, Brienne Bland and David Wiggins captured the crown with a 12-3 win over Norfolk
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Traffic measures
You reported on residents in Headington wanting to take even more measures to slow traffic down (Oxford Mail, March 12). Don’t they realise that all they are doing is making cars go faster in other parts of the area to try to make up time they lost going
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RUGBY UNION: Lancaster gets Oxon backing
THE coaches of Oxfordshire’s leading teams say Stuart Lancester should continue in the England job. Lancester’s future, after his successful spell as interim coach in the RBS Six Nations, is the big debate in English rugby right now. And having been
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ATHLETICS: Super Smith's title treble
SULLIVAN Smith became the first man to record three victories in the Banbury 15 after leading from gun to tape. The second-claim Banbury Harrier powered home in the 15-mile race in 1hr 24mins 13secs, more than two minutes ahead of second-placed
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Wilder waiting on ref justice
CHRIS Wilder is hoping previous good behaviour will help avoid a touchline ban after he was sent to the stands on Tuesday night. The Oxford United manager lashed out at a set of water bottles when a decision went against his side late in the
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Parking zone scheme is essential to end chaos
The plans for controlled parking zones in East Oxford have been crafted over several public consultations with residents, resulting in a division into three areas, so that the differing experiences and views of residents in each could be heard and handled
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Oxford United hope early bird offer will be big hit
THE first 2012/13 season tickets go on sale at Oxford United this morning. Supporters have until April 12 to take advantage of the early bird deal, which has seen the club keep prices uncha-nged from this season. United chairman Kelvin
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No extensions on Barton Plan
A consultation on the Barton Area Action plan will not be extended after errors were included in official Oxford City Council documents. An incorrect website and email address was published. The consultation will end tomorrow as planned. A council spokesman
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Deal paves way for riverside site
A deal opening the way for a 500- home development in Oxpens could be just weeks away. Oxford City Council and BRBR are ready to sign a memorandum of understanding to free up the riverside site near Oxford Ice Rink for homes, offices and possibly a hotel
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Parking decision today
A decision on whether to impose residents’ parking schemes in East Oxford will be made by Oxfordshire County Council today. Cabinet member for transport Rodney Rose will decide on the plans for Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) in Magdalen Road and surrounding
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Head-on crash
A man had to be resuscitated at the scene of a head-on car crash in Witney. The Reliant Kitten passenger, thought to be in his 60s, was seriously injured in the crash with a Seat Leon on Oxford Hill at the junction with Jubilee Way at 7pm on Tuesday.
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Morse prequel is boost to tourism
TV detective series Inspector Morse brought thousands of fans to Oxford, then Lewis attracted thousands more. Now the city’s tourist trade can expect a further boost after ITV bosses commissioned a series of the Morse prequel Endeavour.
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ATHLETICS: Edwards hopes hard work pays off for Douglas
JONATHAN Edwards says it will be a great reward for perseverence if Oxford City triple jumper Nathan Douglas can make the Olympics. Edwards, a former Olympic champion and still world record holder for the event, feels that Douglas has been through a
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COMMENT: Put up a statue
First there was Inspector Morse. Then there was Lewis. And now there’ll be Endeavour. Just why there isn’t a statue of Colin Dexter in the city seems extraordinary. Almost single-handedly, he has made Oxford famous across the planet. Might then
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Just hangin' around at Oxford Castle
DANCERS will be taking to the skies in a spectacular aerial demonstration at Oxford Castle tomorrow. Performers from the French Compagnie Retouramont will use ropes, bungee cords, cameras and lights in the UK premiere of Danse des Cariatides. Dancer
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Oxford Union row student cleared of wounding
TWO blood-soaked Oxford University students wrestled on the stone staircase of the Oxford Union after a row broke out in the president’s room. Kai Muller and Anton Baskerville clashed at an evening to celebrate the handover from one president to another
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Different approach
Sir – From time to time, scientist and doctors at this and other universities come up with recommendations that we should (say) avoid eating pomegranates to lessen our chances of dying of malaria, or whatever it might be. The fact is, however, that we
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BUDGET 2012: Pensioner feels let down
BETTY McDowell said fellow OAPs would miss out on vital cash when the tax allowance for pensioners is frozen next year. The move means pensioners will pay more tax in future years as their pensions increase. The 80-year-old widow from Blackbird Leys
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BUDGET 2012: Mum pledges to quit smoking
SINGLE mum-of-three Samantha Flett said she could see no benefits for her in yesterday’s Budget. The cleaner from Cowley Marsh said she would probably have to quit smoking after the price of a pack rose by 37p last night. She said: “I will have to give
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BUDGET 2012: Family bemoans loss of tax credits
FOR the Andrews family in Old Marston the rise in personal income tax allowance is little consolation after they lost their tax credits. The Oxford Road family said they would gain about £3 a week under the new allowance, but have lost tax credits worth
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BUDGET 2012: Taxi firm bids to cut fuel costs
TAXI drivers said fuel was becoming so expensive they had been forced to invest in hybrid vehicles. 001 Cars in St Aldate’s, Oxford, is investing in a fleet of environmentally friendly Toyota Prius cars which run on a combination of battery
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BUDGET 2012: Disappointment for small business
Mark Nolan, of Middleton Stoney-based Nolan Oils, which runs five oil tankers around the county, was left disappointed by the Budget. He said: “I had hoped the Chancellor would scrap the expected increase of 3.02p on a litre of diesel, or at
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County left underwhelmed by Osborne's Budget
IT was meant to the Budget that “rewarded work”. But last night, families and professionals in Oxfordshire seemed distinctly underwhelmed by the supposed Government giveaway. Pensioners accused the Government of levying a “tax on the old” in a bid to
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All Fall Down by Sally Nicholls
All Fall Down by Sally Nicholls This Oxford-based author won many awards for her novel Ways to Live Forever and has written another winner. It is 1349. A village near York is overwhelmed by “the single biggest catastrophe in historical memory” — the
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Winnie Goes for Gold
It’s the 25th anniversary of Winnie the Witch and she’s still raring to go — throwing parties, saving the planet, and putting some Olympic fun into the school sports day. The series started when Oxford artist Korky Paul was commissioned by children’s
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Travel: A Literary History by Peter Whitfield
Travel: A Literary History by Peter Whitfield Pascal wrote: “All man’s troubles come from not knowing how to sit still in a room.” Whitfield evidently knows how to sit still, and when he thinks of travelling from his Oxfordshire home, he goes not to
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Raids target suspected organised child sex gang
POLICE raided 14 addresses across Oxford this morning to try to crack a suspected organised child exploitation gang. Twelve men, aged between 21 and 37 years old, were arrested on suspicion of a variety of offences including causing
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Family fun
This weekend sees two major events in the county which have the wholehearted backing of The Oxford Times. First, the Oxford Literary Festival starts on Saturday at Christ Church, with more than 300 authors and public figures gathering in the city at more
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Talented politician
Sir – I had to check the masthead that Christopher Gray’s incredibly bitchy piece about Norman St John-Stevas was really in The Oxford Times (Gray Matter, March 15). I had thought that double entendre articles about men who are gay were now a thing
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Clean sweep
Sir – We would like to thank the council workmen who made such a superb job of removing the leaves from the part of Cuckoo Lane which runs between Sandfield Road and Osler Road in Headington last week. We complimented them at the time at the outset of
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Disappointed walkers
Sir – Many walkers will be disappointed to learn (Report, March 15) that, under guises of ‘improvement’ and ‘upgrade’, the canal towpath in Jericho is to be marred with an artificial surface to encourage more and speedier mechanised transport, although
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Queuing for a home
Sir – I’d just like to add a word of support for those on the council who’d like to restrict the sale of council homes. Some may not recall that, when this was first done, it coincided precisely with the arrival of Big Issue sellers on the streets and
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Lack of diversity
Sir – The rationale for the current changes in school status is often stated as being the need to increase the diversity in school ‘ownership’ so as to give parents more choice. Unfortunately the reality will now be, when (not if) Cheney School
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Service homes
Sir – In last week’s feature (Acid test in PM’s backyard) you quote me as believing the Ministry of Defence does not own the land where married quarters were demolished and new housing will be developed. In fact I know the MoD doesn’t own the land.
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Fast forward
Welcome news this week of a proposed £6m revamp for Oxford’s Clarendon Centre. Lothbury Investment Management, which manages the centre, said building work could begin in June, with the new units completed by October 2013, and fashion chain H&M opening
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Minority variations
Sir – As a Christian, I don’t accept the objections of church leaders to gay marriage. The biological reality is that our species has evolved through the immensely complex process of evolution, over vast expanses of time. As a consequence, like the rest
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Pragmatic framework
Sir – The plans for the proposed Controlled Parking Zone in East Oxford have been crafted over several public consultations with residents, resulting in a division into three areas so that the differing experiences and views of residents in each could
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Separate consideration
Sir – Following the correspondence about the proposed CPZ, The Oxford Times prints more furious anti-CPZ letters than letters in favour of the scheme. However, I understand that the new revised CPZ scheme is divided into three separate sections. The
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Animals return to Cogges Manor Farm
EIGHTY new farm animals are being introduced to Cogges Manor Farm in Witney in time for the season. It is the first time the Witney tourist attraction has had livestock since volunteers took control. The new animals, including sheep, pigs
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Dreadful conditions
Sir – I am appalled at yet another delay on the proposed improved rail line between Bicester and Oxford. Here we have the good fortune, a railway company snapping at our heels to provide a much-needed, improved local transport facility. Why is it, that
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Materially worse
Sir – In another sign of governing indifference to democracy, the county council seems poised to impose a controlled parking zone on the Magdalen Road area of East Oxford despite an expressed majority of opposition to the scheme. No one would deny that
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Bizarre concept
Sir – The controlled parking zone (CPZ) is a one-size-fits-all piece of paternalistic bureaucracy that will adversely affect householders and small businesses throughout East Oxford. If its proponents (Letters, March 15) think it right and proper that
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Difficult business
Sir – I am afraid councillor John Tanner is being economical with the truth when he claims that: “car owners will have to pay £50 per year to park in their own streets” (Letters, March 15). Householders do not own the stretch of road in front of their
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Change needed
Sir – The proposed improvements to Oxford’s western gateway at Frideswide Square are to be welcomed but as your editorial correctly states, council officers cannot afford to get the redevelopment wrong. One aspect of the proposals that do not yet appear
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Reorganisation not needed
Sir – The vast majority of the GPs in practices involved in the Oxford City Locality Commissioning Group want to make it clear to all political parties and the general public that whilst we support clinical commissioning, we are opposed to the Health
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Get out and go wild
I have to get outdoors on a sunny spring day, and I’m not the only one. The warming sunshine after a cold and dull winter is such a novel treat that I can’t resist the urge to start work on the allotment. While extricating the three-pronged fork that
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City council's conundrum
In recent weeks Oxford City Council has been seeking to borrow £200m — a massive sum at any time, but scarcely believable in the current climate of austerity and cost-cutting. But it turns out the Town Hall is having to saddle itself with extra debt
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Agrivert scoops top award
Food waste recycling business Agrivert has been name the West Oxfordshire Business of the Year.; The company, based at Radford, near Chipping Norton, recycles 750,000 tonnes of organic food waste annually and generates renewable electricity for 4,500
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Success in quest to help children read
Life for Bradley was tough at school and home. He found reading and writing profoundly difficult and was giving up hope of ever being able to read a book. School and education were filled with frustration and humiliation. Bradley was one of a large family
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Parky at the Pictures (In Cinemas 22/3/2012)
Although they are Belgian and are aged 60 and 58 respectively, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne have found themselves hailed as members of le jeune cinéma français, which earned the nickname with the foreign press of the New New Wave. In addition to winning
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Parky at the Pictures (DVD 22/3/2012)
It remains to be see what impact the Oscar success of Michel Hazanavicius's The Artist will have on movie viewing habits. One can but hope, however, that Hollywood resists the temptation to produce a slew of silent pastiches in the hope of cashing in
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Didcot bouncing back
In Division 1 of the Oxfordshire Leagues, Cowley1 won their relegation head-to-head with Bicester 1 by 3.5 to 2.5, thereby dispatching Bicester back to the 2nd division after just one year in division 1. Meanwhile, Didcot 1 may well be going the other
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Drink driver caught by trousers
AN unlicensed driver who was over the limit led police on a late-night pursuit through Oxford, hitting two parked cars. Aiden Davies, who also had cocaine in his system, had no licence, no insurance and was nearly three times the drink-drive limit as
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You're having a daff
Members of an evangelical church handed out daffodils to mums to mark Mother’s Day. Pastor Chipper Betts and the congregation at Leys Community Church are celebrating after finding a new home at The Oxford Academy. For the past eight years, they have
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Jubilee clean-up at cross
The famous Banbury Cross will be gleaming in time for the Diamond Jubilee. The metal cross will be removed and de-rusted, stonework will be cleaned and shields repainted and enamelled. The work is being organised by Banbury Town Council.
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Nurses know just how race funds help
ALMOST every day, staff nurse Sian Payne uses equipment at Oxford Children’s Hospital paid for by fundraisers from the OX5 Run. Now in its 10th year, the five-mile race around the grounds of Blenheim Palace takes place on Sunday. Nearly 800 runners
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Jubilee funds will help children read
Money raised to commemorate the Queen’s 60-year reign will be used to improve the county’s literacy rates. The Jubilee Fund for Oxfordshire, launched last month, marks the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year and aims to raise millions of pounds to support community
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Oven blaze drama
A man who had fallen asleep in a chair was rescued from a flat blaze after food in his oven caught fire. A neighbour called the fire brigade at about 9.50pm on Tuesday. The Christchurch Court resident was treated by paramedics for smoke inhalation.
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Big farewell to councillor
About 600 people attended a memorial service for Oxfordshire county councillor Roger Belson yesterday. Despite being paralysed in a car accident 22 years ago he was still able to serve on the council for 10 years. Mr Belson, who represented Watlington
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Burglars target a charity food bank
BURGLARS smashed their way into a charity that helps the city’s most needy families. The thieves rifled through food during the Sunday night break-in at the Oxford Food Bank warehouse in Lamarsh Road, before fleeing with a laptop and camera. Organisers
