Archive
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Doing well on Oxfordshire overnight patient exits
LESS than one per cent of patients in Oxfordshire are discharged overnight, it has been revealed. Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that 679 patients were discharged between the hours of 11pm and 6am in 2011/12. This makes up
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Blitz on estate bikes menace reaps rewards
Police in Greater Leys are cracking down on youths riding motorbikes on pavements around the estate. Residents contacted the Oxford Mail in April to say motorbikes being ridden on pavements had become a big danger to children. They said young people
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Recycling rate keeps on climbing
OXFORDSHIRE residents are recycling more rubbish than ever. More than 60 per cent of the county’s waste was recycled in the past year, which means the county continues to recycle more of its rubbish than the English average. Paul Mocroft, of Oxfordshire
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Firefighters' charity gets £80,000 boost
OUTGOING county council chairman Patrick Greene raised £10,000 for the Fire Fighters Charity during his year in office. And with money raised by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service it brings the total donation to more than £80,000. Mr Greene raised
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Crowning glory for crafty Brownies
BICESTER Brownie packs used their creativity to produce amazing crowns fit for a Queen. Craft shop Hobbycraft challenged Brownies, primary schools and Scout groups to come up with a crown to mark the Diamond Jubilee. Each was given gold
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Pupils' posters aim to attract crowds to carnival
COLOURFUL posters and programmes designed by Witney primary school pupils will soon plaster the town to advertise this year’s carnival. The free event will take place in The Leys on Saturday, July 14, with live music, entertainment, stalls and a procession
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Stalwart helps Darby & Joan Club’s 60th bash after keeping a promise
FORTY years ago Pat Jarvis made a deathbed promise to take care of a village social group for seniors. She made the pledge to the Steventon Darby and Joan Club’s founder Bet Russell before she died in Abingdon Community Hospital around 40 years ago.
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Stalwart helps Darby & Joan Club’s 60th bash after keeping a promise
FORTY years ago Pat Jarvis made a deathbed promise to take care of a village social group for seniors. She made the pledge to the Steventon Darby and Joan Club’s founder Bet Russell before she died in Abingdon Community Hospital around 40 years ago.
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Riverside festival postponed due to wet weather
THE annual Riverside Festival in Charlbury has been postponed because of today's torrential rain. Organiser Andy Pickard said he had been warned by the Environment Agency that more rain was expected so it would not take place this weekend. He
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Local shares (PM)
AEA Technology 0.2 BMW 4809 Electrocomponents 203.4 Nationwide Accident Repair 63 Oxford Biomedica 2.8 Oxford Catalysts 53.5 Oxford Instruments 1231 Reed Elsevier 491 RM 74.1 RPS Group
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Shining the light on the positive side of mental illness
“DON’T feel sorry for me,” warned Ruby Wax darkly as she delved into an especially dark and chilling account of her mental breakdown. “I got a show out of it. And people like it! The bipolars always come up to me afterwards and say: I laughed... I cried
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Arrest after minibus crash
A MAN has been arrested after a mini-bus overturned on the M40, injuring 16 people. Police confirmed a 33-year-old man was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of dangerous driving and of driving not in accordance with his licence. The mini-bus overturned
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Team players are needed
A FORMER children’s hospital patient hopes to raise thousands with his fourth charity football tournament. Andrew Baker, from Didcot, was just 12 when he had a life-threatening tumour removed from his brain at the John Radcliffe hospital. Now 23, Mr
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Sky dive pledge has family on cloud nine
A FRIEND of her child at school; one of the teachers at her school and the lady who makes cakes for the family – just people on the edge of Carina Wyatt’s everyday life. So the mum of four was touched when those people said they would take on a daredevil
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History-maker sets the pace
SIR Roger Bannister will start the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Blenheim Palace Half Marathon. Sir Roger, pictured, who broke the four-minute mile at Iffley Road running track 58 years ago, will be at the start-line to sound the horn for the 6,000
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Sir Ranulph at height of admiration
LOOKING for a way to boost proceeds from a charity Everest climb, Gary Bricknell roped in the ideal guest for a fundraising event – legendary explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes. The 46-year-old financial adviser has organised a day with the climbing hero at
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Rotarians bank on generosity
Bicester Rotary Club raised £600 for the town’s foodbank after trawling almost 30 pubs and bars. Members took buckets in hand to collected cash from pub goes in the town and surrounding villages over two nights last month. Spokesman Peter Todd said
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Friends shift up a gear with British ride
Friends Tom Laight and Tim Traynor are gearing up for a wheelie hard challenge with a charity ride thorugh the UK. The pals, both from the Banbury area, are to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats from Tuesday over 15 days. The Bath University third-year
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A new meaning to 'production line'
Workers at Morris Radiators in North Oxford not only made car parts – they also enjoyed a social life within the factory. The canteen would be turned into a theatre for productions by the firm’s amateur dramatic society. This picture shows the cast
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Ward gave me tingles
Mary Coates has good reason to remember the Slade Hospital with affection – she met her husband there, in ghostly surroundings! Brian Coates was a patient at the Headington hospital and Mary, then Mary Ovenell, was his night nurse. Mrs
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Second slice of 1930s panorama
THIS is the second part of the panoramic photograph taken at the Schools of Technology, Art and Commerce in St Ebbe’s, Oxford, in the 1930s. It comes from Cyril Claridge, of Hockmore Street, Cowley, who was a pupil there at the time. He did a commerce
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A long way from home
Sheelagh Lyons has bitter memories of the time she spent as an evacuee in Oxford. “I was badly treated and used as a slave,” she says. But the story had a happy ending when she was reunited with her mother and the family settled to enjoy life in Oxfordshire
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Scales of justice
OXFORD Renata Butynska, 46, of Fairlie Road, Oxford, admitted shoplifting clothing and accessories valued at £1,112.30 from Primark in Oxford between December 29 and March 29. Given a four-week curfew and told to pay £85 costs. Lulian
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Overhaul marks end to 20 years of church restoration
AFTER years of fund-raising, Elsfield’s Victorian mosaic housed in its historic church has been restored. The £50,000 overhaul marks the end of the village’s 20-year refurbishment of the church of St Thomas of Canterbury. Work started on the mosaic,
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Best of British
Dressed in all their finery, these ladies were looking forward to a day out in London. The charabancs were ready at Wolvercote, Oxford, to take them to Wembley to tour the British Empire Exhibition in 1924 or 1925. We know the names of nine
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The changing face of Jericho
Nearly 400 residents signed a petition in 1965 calling on Oxford City Council to act over a row of derelict houses in Cranham Street which, they said, disfigured the area. Mr W H Norman, headmaster of St Barnabas School, is seen in the picture
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Couple guilty of benefit fraud
A ROSE Hill couple who fraudulently claimed more than £16,000 in benefits have been given community orders and told to pay the cash back. Cuthbert Rivete and partner Miriam Nyamandura, admitted making false representations and failing to notify Oxford
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Botley Road revamp gets go-ahead
A MAJOR revamp of the Botley interchange has been approved. The number of lanes and priorities on the West Way interchange will be altered in a bid to improve traffic flow. A key change to one of Oxford’s busiest traffic hotspots will
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'Arson' at field
A car fire in Crawley the early hours of yesterday morning is being treated as arson by police. Firefighters were called to the blaze in a field at Dry Lane shortly before 4am and put out the blaze using a foam extinguisher. Thames Valley Police are
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Local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 0.2 BMW 4722 Electrocomponents 206.9 Nationwide Accident Repair 62.5 Oxford Biomedica 2.95 Oxford Catalysts 53.5 Oxford Instruments 1219.5 Reed Elsevier 499.3 RM 75.8 RPS Group 205 Courtesy of Redmayne
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CRICKET: Oxford bowled all out for 40
OXFORD’S disastrous Division 1 season plum-bed new depths as they crashed to 40 all out – a club record lowest score – in a humiliating nine-wicket defeat at Welwyn Garden City. It came just a week after Ian Crosby’s basement boys were shot out for only
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Free fun for all
Dog shows, Saxon warriors and music were all part of the fun at the Banbury and District Show yesterday. The Spiceball Park event, organised by Banbury Town Council, was free for the first time. For full coverage, see tomorrow’s Oxford Mail.
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Fish finger dilemma is among emergency calls
People asking if they should have fish fingers for lunch or because their friend refused tea are among the 999 calls made to Oxfordshire’s ambulance service. Every year South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) receives hundreds of hoax calls
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ICE HOCKEY: Stars are back in business
Oxford City Stars have reformed and will play in the new National Ice Hockey League Division 2 South in the upcoming season. Stars who folded in January after a mass exodus of players following the sacking of player-coach Ken Forshee. But they are now
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CRICKET: Morrick sends Shipton reeling
SKIPPER Wesley Morrick’s six-wicket haul helped roll over Shipton-under-Wychwood for just 65, and set Aston Rowant on the way to a crushing ten-wicket win in Division 2 West at Butts Way. Morrick made good use of the seamer-friendly conditions after
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CRICKET: Sutliff's century thwarts Thame
Mike Sutliff was the difference between the sides with a classy century as Thame Town held on for a draw against Dinton in Division 2 West at Church Meadow. After Dinton were inserted, some fine bowling by Pratik Patel and Vandit Jirijani reduced them
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Car set ablaze
A car was damaged in a suspected arson in Dashwood Road, Rose Hill, shortly after 3.30am yesterday morning.
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Teen's memorial is not going anywhere
A memorial to a 15-year-old boy will remain untouched by Oxford’s graffiti cleaners, the city’s cleaning boss has pledged. Hussain Mohammed died after jumping off Donnington Bridge into the River Thames two weeks ago. He jumped in with a female friend
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Links to admit more state school pupils
County state school teachers will meet Oxford University bosses tomorrow to discuss how they can work together. It is hoped the Natural History Museum event will help more state youngsters into the prestigious university. University head of undergraduate
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CRICKET: Ryan and Phillips stun Henley
SPINNERS Luke Ryan and Jimmy Phillips bowled Banbury to a thrilling eight-run victory at Henley in Division 1 of the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League. Stand-in captain Jimmy Phillips’s decision to bat first after winning the toss looked like
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Beer festival is everyone's cup of tea
It may have been wild and windy elsewhere but the sun shone on Chadlington for its annual beer festival. The West Oxfordshire event, at the village’s Memorial Hall, is a fundraiser for Chadlington Primary School and is now in its ninth year
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Call to assess impact of student flats on traders
Council plans to sell off part of Oxford’s St Clement’s car park for new student accommodation should be put on hold for detailed study, says a city councillor. Dick Wolff has used new powers for the first time at Oxford City Council to demand the plans
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Royals’ touching salute
Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee was a wonderful opportunity for the whole community to come together in celebration here in Middle Barton and across Oxfordshire and the whole nation and Commonwealth, but I wonder if other readers noticed an apparently
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Animals still abused
IT IS often said that Britain is a nation of animal ‘lovers’ and yet reality does not bear this out. Yes, we own animals, we use them, we exploit them, we eat them but does any of that add up to love? Sanctuaries are filled to the gunnels with horses
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Church plan clarification
IN response to Mrs Allen’s letter about the ideas which are being considered for the development of Holy Trinity Church in Headington Quarry (last Monday’s Oxford Mail ViewPoints) I thought it might be helpful to clarify a number of points.
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Sporty week left me high and dry
Last week I got trapped in a rotary drier – fortunately not the plug-in tumbling type, nor for the whole week – but it was a nasty shock nonetheless. I have been using one of those three-armed spinning lines successfully in the garden for a decade or
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TRIATHLON: Brownlee brothers dominate
BROTHERS Alistair and Jonny Brownlee crossed the line together to claim a joint victory at the Blenheim Triathlon. The duo broke the tape with a time of 57mins 16secs to share the first prize. The Great Britain Olympic hopefuls were the star names in
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Proof of housing need
I WOULD like to know what South Oxfordshire District Council leader Anne Ducker means by wanting more proof that extra homes are needed in Oxford (last Tuesday’s Oxford Mail). I believe there are up to 6,000 people on the city council’s waiting list
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Benefits trial a bad idea
THERE is going to be a trial to give housing benefit payments directly to social housing tenants (last Tuesday’s Oxford Mail). This will start on June 17 and Oxford is one of five areas taking part in the trial. Money will go to the tenant, to be
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On the spot
I VERY much welcome the positive change of heart from Witney Town Council over the future of West Witney Sports and Social Club (Wednesday’s Oxford Mail). Their keenness to talk and willlingness to listen to those of us who use the club is
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Debate the true picture
IN reply to Norman Roper (last Tuesday’s ViewPoints), could I please make one thing clear. In my sixth decade of life I have never been a supporter nor member of the Communist, Marxist, Stalinist or Socialist Workers parties. Though
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Refusing grant to soup kitchen just disgraceful
YOUR front page on Friday just highlights that David ‘Scissors’ Cameron and Co are destroying the once strong goodwill in this country. Oxford City Council, presumably under pressure from Government policy, has acted disgracefully in deciding
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THE MAN ABOUT TOWN: The Journey that we can all live happily without
IF WE’RE talking bees in the bonnet, this little honey maker’s the size of an albatross. Because I can’t stand the buzz term ‘The Journey...’ You’ll hear it used now – I guarantee it – whenever anyone loses. Naturally it’s the 21st century’s equivalent
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RESULTS: June 9-10
CRICKET SERIOUS CRICKET HOME COUNTIES PREMIER LEAGUE Division 1 Burnham 64 (37 ovs), Bishop’s Stortford 65-2 (16.5 ovs). Burnham 2pts, Bishop’s Stortford 25. Banbury 102 (31.3 ovs, T Afridi 6-34), Henley 94 (36.3 ovs, L
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16 injured after mini-bus crash
Sixteen people were taken to hospital after a mini-bus overturned on the M40 on Saturday afternoon. The white Ford transit overturned shortly after 3pm on the southbound section between junction 12 at Gaydon and 11 at Banbury. The driver and their 15
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GREYHOUNDS: Oxford results
SATURDAY’S RESULTS 7.35: 1 AERO DAKOTA 2-1 jt fav, 2 Natoni 3-1. Trio: (4x3x2). Trainer: Hepden. Time: 28.34. Leaseoflife (2) 2-1 jt fav. 7.50: 1 BLACK AXEL 5-2, 2 Pezzly Snipes 5-2. Trio: (1x4x5). Trainer: Atkins. Time: 27.87. Bright Hawk (6) 2-1 fav
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Police rescued after squad car overturns
A police officer had to be rescued by firefighters after a crash on the A423 Southam Road north of Banbury. Two officers from Warwickshire Police were in the marked car when it left the road and overturned into a ditch near Mollington at about 6am on
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CRICKET: Perfect ten for Ayaz
OXFORD & Bletchingdon Non-descripts cricketer Ayaz Khan has joined a select band to take all ten opposition wickets in a Cherwell League match. The 25-year-old seamer achieved every bowler’s dream by returning the stunning figures of 10-35 in Nondes-cripts
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It's a thrill-a-minute at U's charity fun day
Families got into the swing of things at the Oxford United charity day. U’s fans young and old enjoyed some high adventure fun at the High Ropes Oxford tree-top adventure centre near Culham. Adrenaline junkies got their fix with a host
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Clarkson gets puffed out at triathlon
While thousands of keen sports men and women competed in the gruelling Blenheim Triathlon at the weekend, TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson cut a rather less healthy figure. The Top Gear presenter who lives near Chipping Norton was snapped drawing
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Dip in Mini sales
UK sales of the Mini dipped last month, latest official figures show. A total of 3,576 of the Cowley-built cars were sold during the month, compared to 4,262 for May 2011, a fall of 16.1 per cent, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders
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Friend's death inspires young hospice helper
Eleven-year-old Annabel Swatton was inspired to become the youngest volunteer at Oxford’s Helen & Douglas House hospice following the death of a classmate. Annabel, pictured, who lives near Bicester, offered to help the hospice after it cared for Alec
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Warning on new school place crisis
THE academies programme could leave Oxfordshire County Council unable to provide extra school places where they are most needed, it has been claimed. The county has a serious shortages of primary school places, with pinchpoints in Oxford and Abingdon
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COMMENT: 999 nuisances
Bizarre and time-wasting calls keep coming in to busy ambulance controllers. For years, we have highlighted the absurd requests which are getting in the way of dealing with real medical emergencies. Despite expensive advertising campaigns by the NHS
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Co-operation is key to solving places issues
Our report today on how the rise in the number of academies could see more county children turned away from popular primary schools makes worrying reading. Under Government reforms, academy schools would no longer be obliged to provide extra places
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Classic cars gather on village green
VINTAGE car enthusiasts came from all over the country to see some legendary models in west Oxfordshire yesterday. More than 500 vehicles attended the 12th biannual Churchill Vintage and Classic Car Show, on the village green. The oldest on show was
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University may stop water shortages
Oxford University researchers have created new technology which it is hoped will help alleviate water shortages in East Africa. They are to begin a pilot project to install devices which transmit messages that a pump has broken. A spokesman
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Schools urged to join race for makeover
The winners of last year’s School Build SOS contest are urging others to put themselves forward to be in with a chance of winning a makeover worth thousands of pounds. St Christopher’s Primary School, Cowley, has officially opened its outdoor classroom
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Historic house is put under threat
AN eco developer and residents in Standlake have clashed over the future of a historical but unlisted building in the village. Developer Brian Cade hopes to demolish the “derelict” house, which dates back to at least 1747, and build two new eco-homes