Archive

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RUGBY UNION: The numbers game

Chinnor were edged out in a dramatic top-of-the-table clash. Here is the numbers' game. See Tuesday’s paper for full report. Competition: National 3 South West Score: Bournemouth 27, Chinnor 26 Chinnor player ratings: 15. Henry Colver 8 (very

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£250k up for grabs in rural grants

Rural businesses in southern Oxfordshire are being encouraged to apply for grants from a £250,000 pot. The Southern Oxfordshire Leader Programme has funding available to support a wide range of projects for farmers, tourism and community-based businesses

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Rallying cry for an old Mini adventure

Minis, Maestros, Montegos and Maxis will set off in convoy from Oxford to take part in a nostalgic car rally in the Midlands. The Pride of Longbridge Rally, which is being held for the second year next month, remembers when thousands of workers in the

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Marston neighbours cheer park lights result

IT HAS taken five years and a trip to Downing Street but county transport chiefs have finally agreed to illuminate a small part of Oxford. Marston residents have been campaigning since 2007 for lights to be installed at the Croft Road recreation ground

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Improved rail link survives end of subsidy

THE enhanced train service that has operated between Oxford and Bicester for the past three years is to continue, despite the end of a subsidy for the extra trains. The £675,000 funding came from planning gain payments made by the Bicester

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Who was Oxford United's man of the match against Cheltenham Town?

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Cheltenham Town 0 Oxford United 0

A TENSE contest between play-off rivals saw Oxford United claim a hard-earned point against Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road. The home side created the lion’s share of the chances, but the closest they came was a Marlon Pack free-kick just before

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BULLFINCH UPDATE: Six men charged over child sex ring held in prison

SIX men charged following an investigation into an alleged child sex ring have today been remanded in custody. The six have appeared at High Wycombe Magistrates' Court accused of a number of offences and all asked District Judge Lynne Matthews

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BULLFINCH UPDATE: Six men appear in court

THREE men have appeared in court so far today after police raids on an alleged child sex ring in Oxford. The men - who can now be named for the first time - appeared at a magistrates’ court. Thirty-one-year-old hospital porter Akhtar

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Ghostly hospital sightings

WITH its rich history as the place of birth (and death) of thousands of Oxfordshire patients, many will have stories to tell about the old Radcliffe Infirmary. Now two former workers are hunting for your spooky recollections of the imposing 17th century

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CHARITY MATTERS: Marathon man ropes in mates

WHEN gym owner John Stocker was challenged to run four marathons in four weeks he decided he needed some company. So he roped in five members of Evolve Health and Fitness to join him for at least one of the 26-mile runs and nicknamed it the 4,3,2,1 challenge

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Three changes for Oxford United at Cheltenham

JAMES Constable returns to the Oxford United starting line-up in one of three changes to the starting line-up for the trip to Cheltenham Town. The top scorer comes in for Oli Johnson, with Scott Rendell likely to switch from centre-forward

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Council serves up new courts

Witney Lawn Tennis Club has won a lengthy battle with Witney Town Council over the condition of its courts. As landlord, the council is required to maintain the club’s four floodlit tennis courts in West Witney Sports Ground, off Burford Road. Club

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School plots green future

Wood Green School in Witney has been chosen for the pilot of a new scheme aimed at making schools more environmentally friendly. It has been designated as the first “Green Hub School” as part of a partnership between Groundwork Thames Valley, Oxfordshire

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Pride in protest picture

MORE than 30 years after he appeared in the Oxford Mail as a three-year-old placard–waving protestor, Henry MacKeith says he is proud to have been a child radical. Mr MacKeith, now 36, featured in the Mail earlier this month, highlighting a new exhibition

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Pooh sticks race

The World Pooh Sticks Championships get under way in Little Wittenham tomorrow. The annual event attracts more than 1,500 people. The 29-year-old tradition is based on the Winnie the Pooh books by AA Milne, in which Pooh and friends raced sticks along

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Poppies sown to show respect

Poppies have been sown as a symbol of remembrance at the memorial garden for repatriation ceremonies. Thousands of people have gathered at the garden in Carterton to pay their respects to fallen servicemen repatriated to RAF Brize Norton. The poppies

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Pupils take strides to help Sport Relief

Cheered on by their parents, about 300 primary school pupils raced together yesterday to raise cash for charity. The colourful mass of pupils from St Ebbe’s Primary School, in Whitehouse Road, Oxford, ran one mile for Sport Relief – and hope to have

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Dane attraction - Aarhus

LIKE almost everyone in this corner of Scandinavia, the group of students at the bar looked impossibly wholesome. Tall, blond, and ludicrously good-looking, they oozed good health and charm. Yet, appearances can be deceptive. Especially in

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Homes display

Plans to build 2,500 homes on Grove Airfield go on display today. The exhibition takes place from 10am to 4pm at St John’s Church Hall, in Main Street.

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Neighbours call on city council to act over 'derelict eyesore'

Seize it now – that’s the message from neighbours frustrated by a derelict house which has lain empty and crumbling for years. A deadline to spruce up the 19th century house in Headington, Oxford, has now passed with no action being taken. And, last

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TABLE TENNIS: Vikings clinch thrilling victory

A PULSATING top-of-the-table clash between Vikings A and leaders Holton A went right to the wire. The leading two teams in Division 1 of the Oxford & District League battled it out until almost midnight – when Vikings secured a 6-4 victory. Watched

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CRICKET: Banbury clinch second spot

Banbury beat new champions Great Tew by 49 runs to seal the runners-up spot in Division 1 of the Banbury Indoor League. Paul Cutler (35no) and Steve Beck (34no) led Banbury to 123-4 and then Tew, who clinched the title last week, were rattled out for

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SPORTS DINNER: David does the trick

David Trick, the former England and Bath winger was guest speaker at the 14th West Oxfordshire Sports Dinner at Witney Lakes Resort. The evening raised £2,640 for the charity, which helps local youth development in sport in the West Oxfordshire area.

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Arthritis aid on the way

A £1-a-day treatment could slow the progression of osteo-arthritis, according to an Oxford University study. The condition affects joints in the body and is the most common type of arthritis in the UK. The study of 1,683 people showed that Protelos,

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Clapping case sent for trial

A 67-year-old man has denied breaching a restraining order by playing recorded clapping at a neighbour. Keith Quartermain, of Austin Place, Abingdon, denied three charges of breaching the order when he appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday. It is

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ATHLETICS: Swords leads way for Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire's Beth Swords recorded her second top-ten finish in the Aviva ESAA English Schools’ Cross Country Championships with a determined run at Ilton, Somerset. The 17-year-old Headington School athlete, who was sixth at Manchester in

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FUTSAL: Lions in nationals

Oxford Lions sealed their place in the FA national finals with an 11-1 win over Cardiff. Goals from Lucas Tottis (5), Luke Ballinger (3), Alfee Robbins, Marcelo Guilherme and Emilio Torres saw Lions stay top of the FA Midlands League.

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Family thrilled as stolen pet returns

YOU would think would-be intruders would take one look at Teak the dog and turn tail. A glimpse of the seven-and-a-half-stone pet often sees other dog walkers giving him a wide berth. But despite his fearsome appearance, Teak, a Rottweiler-Bull

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Man is sentenced for sex abuse

A 50-YEAR-OLD man who sexually touched a young and vulnerable girl has been given a suspended prison sentence. Earl Williams was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court yesterday having earlier been convicted by jurors following a trial of a charge of engaging

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Teen bike thief gets supervision order

A TEENAGER who stole a bike from a 15-year-old boy has been given a supervision order. Dean McGinn was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court yesterday. The 19-year-old was originally charged with robbery but admitted one charge of theft over the incident

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GREYHOUNDS: Call for Taxi Bill

RON Bicknell’s Taxi Bill can make the step up in grade in the A1 over 450m at Oxford Stadium on Saturday night. TONIGHT’S RUNNERS 7.35: Stapleford Debs, Go Lemon 3, Mossy Kid, Nashville Nellie, SHEDFIELD VIEW, Ballyer Bell. 7.50: Compass Blossom, Too

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COMMENT: Parade cloud will have a silver lining

The switch of 23 Pioneer Regiment’s ‘homecoming’ parade from Bicester to Oxford because of the redevelopment of the town centre is a shame, but every cloud has a silver lining. While Bicester people will miss out on their chance to give the troops a

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GREYHOUNDS: Poacher in line for comeback

Jolly Poacher, the greyhound that set Sandy Lane alight when winning his third successive Oxfordshire Gold Cup last year, is set for a return to racing at Cowley. Poacher, who also holds the record as the only dog to win the three main local trophies

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GREYHOUNDS: Kevin wants to get out

Talk about the great escape. Paul Clarke’s greyhound Slaneyside Kevin will do anything to try and get out. Already ousted from the wooden kennels and nice vet bedding, which he would demolish in minutes, the more solid concrete and paper bedding, still

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SNOOKER: Latest results

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

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Army will parade through Oxford

FOR the first time in its 50-year history, soldiers from 23 Pioneer Regiment will not march through Bicester on a homecoming parade. Instead the troops, many who have recently returned from Afghanistan or United Nations peacekeeping duty in Cyprus, will

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Opposed to new Tesco

I HAVE been reading with interest about the proposed Tesco store in Marston. I urge everyone opposed to this idea to fight tooth and nail against it. In my view Tesco does not make for a caring neighbour. As a long-suffering neighbour, along with four

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ANGLING: Big fish bite as season closes

Another coarse season on rivers came to a close last week and some specimen hunters made the most of the ideal conditions. Colin Lurcook, from Headington, has been the records officer for the Perchfishers for a number of years, but had never caught a

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'Improve record checks'

Improved cross-border criminal record checks should be introduced, according to Liberal Democrat MEP Catherine Bearder. She has called on the European Commission to explain what checks are in place after Jonathan Limani was jailed for life on Monday

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Mini plant agrees new Unipart deal

CAR parts manufacturer and logistics firm Unipart has signed a new parts deal with the Cowley Mini plant. Under the agreement, exhausts made at Unipart’s manufacturing plant in Coventry will be distributed to the Mini production line through a new facility

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Men charged over stabbing

Two men have been charged with attempted murder in connection with the stabbing of a 33-year-old man in Balfour Road, on Oxford's Blackbird Leys estate, in January. Kevin Mwaura, 23, of Antrobus Road, Birmingham, and 25-year-old Michael Edwards, of Hollow

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COMMENT: Brave . . . or stupid

The burglar who broke into Denise Dance’s home and only took Teak the dog is either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. If you’ve not seen him, turn to page 5 and just look at this fine animal. Despite his appearance, Teak is apparently a big softie

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Schoolboy thwarts superstore raider

A SCHOOLBOY was last night hailed a hero after foiling a would-be-thief who tried to snatch £1,000 from his B&Q till. The crook was forced to flee the store empty handed thanks to the quick-thinking actions of 16-year-old part-time employee Dominic Stickley

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SWIMMING: In-form City come third

City of Oxford, helped by a title treble from Joe Canlan-Shaw, came a close third in the final standings when the Oxfordshire & North Bucks Championships concluded at Aylesbury last weekend. Canlan-Shaw, one of the oldest competitors at 24,

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Travellers pick up their paintbrush

An elderly couple who have travelled the world painting together are displaying their work at the Bampton art gallery where they first met. Ann Manly, 75, and Dennis Harrison, 94, have travelled to Venice, France, Greece and around the UK to paint their

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Hollywood star drops in

Hollywood star Hugh Jackman spent a full day filming at St Mary the Virgin Church in Ewelme. The village was transformed into 19th century France for a new film version of Les Miserables.

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OPERATION BULLFINCH: Six charged, seven bailed over child sex abuse allegations

SIX men will face court this morning accused of being involved in a ring prostituting young girls. Detectives announced late last night they had charged the Oxford men – aged between 26 and 37 – with a range of offences including rape, trafficking and

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No charge for Wilder

Chris Wilder will not be charged by the Football Association after his sending-off against AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night. Oxford United’s manager was sent to the stand a minute from time after kicking over water bottles after a decision went against

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Decision time for Oxford boss Wilder

James Constable is pushing for a return to the Oxford United starting line-up in today’s crunch trip to promotion rivals Cheltenham Town. The U’s top-scorer made his comeback from a three-game suspension as a second-half substitute in Tuesday’s 1-0 home

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Bear sculpture goes on display at University Museum

A BRONZE sculpture of a polar bear with a figure perched on its back is attracting the attention of visitors to the University Museum of Natural History in Oxford. The life-size bronze statue, entitled Polar Dance, was created by artist Tessa Campbell

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Still time to enter tomorrow's OX5 children's hospital fundraiser

RUNNERS still have time to register for this year’s OX5 Run – and organisers want them to set their alarm clocks tonight ready for the big race. The clocks go forward an hour during the early hours tomorrow, so if runners are not careful