Archive
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Traders divided over anti-crime initiative
A SCHEME to tackle shoplifting in North Oxford is set to be introduced, but is dividing opion among traders. Neighbourhood Police said they are in the early stages of setting up a Shopwatch scheme for Summertown. Shop owners and businesses sign up
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Buses stand in for trains during track work
BUSES will replace late-night Cotswold Line trains west of Charlbury during overnight engineering work later this month. From Monday, June 25, to Thursday, June 28, the 8.20pm and 9.48pm trains from London to Worcester will terminate at Charlbury, with
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Film screening highlights plight of refugees
AN OXFORD-based asylum charity is hosting a film screening to raise awareness of the plight of refugees. Asylum Welcome, which has offices in Magdalen Road, has organised the event as part of Refugee Week next week. The showing of Welcome, by Phillippe
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OUP 'supports Jericho'
Oxford University Press (OUP) has said it continues to support Jericho after being given permission to expand, despite concerns that their plans would harm the area. The company’s proposal was approved by Oxford City Council on Wednesday night. The
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Police raid suspected cannabis factory
Police officers are still in the process of removing more than 200 suspected cannabis plants they found in a house in Fairlie Road, Cowley. A member of the public called the police at around 11am today after the door to the property was left open.
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Carnival queens are pure royalty
AFTER a three-decade gap, Wallingford Carnival is to have its own queen. Organisers decided to revive the traditional role of the carnival queen to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, as well as having the carnival princess and her two attendants. Casie
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Relief over O2 hours bid veto
Longer drinking hours only serve to divide residents and students, it has been claimed as extended opening at a Cowley Road music venue was turned down. On Wednesday, Oxford city councillors threw out plans for the O2 Academy to remain open longer on
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Dressing up Victorian-style
IT was good old-fashioned fun as youngsters had a taste of the Victorian lifestyle at an Oxford museum. The half term event at the Museum of Oxford let visitors dress up in historic costume and try arts and crafts of the era. They could also play with
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School leadership labelled ‘inadequate’ after Ofsted inspection
A VILLAGE school has been told it must improve, after a critical report by inspectors. Millbrook School in Grove has been rated ‘inadequate’ and given a notice to improve after Ofsted visitors spent two days there in April. The village’s largest school
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Kia delivers performance and style with its Optima saloon
IT has been a long time coming, but it has been worth the wait. Kia has finally turned its attention to building a seriously competitive saloon, and it has done a brilliant job. The Optima cuts a sharp-suited dash in the company car park and that’s
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Controversial Cogges link road plan rejected by the Government
A MULTI-MILLION pound plan for a controversial Witney link road has been rejected by Government. The Department of Transport has told Oxfordshire County Council it will not allow the compulsory purchase order of land needed for the Cogges
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Study sheds new light on childhood leukemia
Even low doses of gamma ray radiation in the natural environment can increase the risk of childhood leukaemia, according to an Oxford University study. The results of the study contradict the idea that there are no adverse radiation effects with very
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Howzat? Cricket club reaches 150 not out
A village cricket club is 150 not out. East and West Hendred Cricket Club has played out thousands of overs and generations of villagers have hit thousands of runs since it was formed in 1862. Ivan Mulford, club secretary and groundsman, has been involved
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'Wonder Will' to carry torch
Teenager Will Traves is to carry the Olympic torch through Oxfordshire next month to honour his sister, who has special needs. The 13-year-old Banbury youngster has been chosen to carry the torch on Tuesday, July 10, after being nominated by mum Beverley
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The Glass Menagerie: The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams’s breakthrough work as a top-ranking playwright, is one of the great tear-jerkers of the American stage. A fearless portrait of the writer’s own home life in St Louis, the play offers heartbreaking studies
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Chance to see agriculture at work on farm
People can get back to nature and see where their food comes from when Open Farm Sunday throws open its barn doors this weekend. Now in its seventh year, the event gives people a fun insight into farming. The range of events include nature walks to
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Countryside art wins anniversary contest
After more than 600 votes, the winner of a countywide art competition has been chosen. The Big Artweeks Poll launched in April and asked people to vote for their favourite out of 30 pieces of art, painted by local artists with Oxfordshire in
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New afternoon nursery opens its door
WITNEY mayor Harry Eaglestone opened Tower Hill Primary School’s new afternoon nursery this week. The school previously only had a nursery in the mornings. Headteacher Tracey Smith said: “The idea is to enable some of our families to go back to work
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Estate worker who battled alcoholism took his own life
A WORKER on a country estate who took his own life was “a friend to everyone and would help anybody”. Tim Sale, 42, hanged himself at his home on the Ditchley Estate near Enstone after battling alcoholism, an inquest in Oxford heard.
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Temporary bus stops
Due to the closure of the Market Place to traffic during Wallingford’s carnival tomorrow, Thames Travel buses will use temporary stops nearby. The closure is from 11am until 6pm.
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Local shares (AM)
AEA Technology 0.21 BMW 4554 Electrocomponents 201.1 Nationwide Accident Repair 63.5 Oxford Biomedica 2.9 Oxford Catalysts 53 Oxford Instruments 1204 Reed Elsevier 481.9 RM 76.6 RPS Group 202.75 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Doris turns 102
The woman thought to be Abingdon’s oldest resident will celebrate her 102nd birthday tomorrow. Former nurse Doris Hyde, who now lives in the Old Station House care home, has lived in the town all her life after she was born in Thames Street in 1910.
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Oxford Pride
Queen Street, Paradise Street and Cornmarket will come alive tomorrow as the Oxford Pride parade passes through. Starting at Ship Street at noon the colourful parade will arrive at Oxpens Field at about 1pm.
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Increased traffic at Silverstone
Police have put restrictions in place on the A43 from Ardley to cope with the increased traffic expected for the Moto GP at Silverstone this weekend. Police advise drivers to pay close attention to the road traffic signs which will be posted far and
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Tickets go on sale for light spectacle
Tickets for a spectacular illuminated performance to celebrate the Olympics have gone on sale. More than a thousand dancers, musicians and singers from Oxford – as well as Reading, Henley, Windsor, Slough and Maidenhead – will take part in the Tree of
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ROWING: County crews find the going tough
IT was not a great time for Oxfordshire clubs on the first day of the Reading Regatta. Regatta organisers celebrated the 170th anniversary with a two-day bonanza – with a 1,500 metre course on Saturday, and 1,100-metre races the following day. On the
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MOTORSPORT: Oxford host Flat Track Championship
Reigning champion Aidan Collins will be the firm favourite to win the third round of the Pozzani GNC British Flat Track Championship at Oxford Stadium tonight (7pm). Former Workington Tigers speedway rider Collins won the corresponding event at Cowley
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Ace news as charity is saved from closure
A LONG-RUNNING Oxford charity has been saved just days before it was set to close. The ACE Centre, based in Headington, had been faced with a funding black hole, but has been given a new lease of life after the Prime Minister personally agreed
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Winning the fight against STD's
INFECTION rates for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have dropped dramatically in Oxfordshire over the last five years. The number of people diagnosed with chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HIV have all dropped since 2007. But there’s more
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Assault victim needed ear surgery
A 30-year-old man suffered broken ribs and needed surgery on his ear after an assault near Mak Wines off-licence in Peachcroft Road. The victim, who could not describe his attacker, was assaulted at about 6.45pm on Sunday. He was treated at Oxford’s
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Signal problems disrupt trains
Train services between Oxford and Banbury were disrupted by signal problems. Network Rail engineers were called in at about 5.25pm on Wednesday to tackle the malfunction at Kings Sutton. The problem, caused by a power failure, was solved by about 7pm
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CRICKET: Oxford vow to bounce back
Oxford captain Ian Crosby is backing his side to come good after recent batting disasters, when they visit Division 1 derby rivals Banbury in the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League tomorrow. In their last two innings, Oxford have been bowled
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Students recovering after fridge leaks toxic gas
TWO students were last night recovering after inhaling toxic fumes leaking from a fridge in their Oxford college. Ambulances and fire crews were called to St John’s College in St Giles yesterday morning. Two students were taken to hospital
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CRICKET: Kelly stars as Over 50s natch win
A brilliant spell by Steve Kelly snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for Oxfordshire in their ECB 50-Plus County Championship match against Wales at Panteg. The Witney Mills slow bowler took three wickets in four balls of the penultimate
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CRICKET: Rowant to miss Ferraby
Aston Rowant will again be without Nick Ferraby when they visit fellow mid-table side Harefield in Division 2 West of the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League tomorrow. The talented all-rounder is on the staff at Magdalen College School, and
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CRICKET: No Woods contest in Village final
Darryl Woods will not be playing against his son, Matt, when Oxford Downs host Great & Little Tew in the Oxfordshire final of the Yorkshire Tea Village Cupon Sunday (1pm). Woods senior will be turning out for the home side, but Tew strike bowler Matt
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U-turn on bus fares after pricing blunder
A COUNCIL blunder doubled the cost of bus travel for workers and patients at an Oxford hospital. When Oxfordshire County Council transferred the running of the 600 service to Thames Travel earlier this month, an error in the tender document put prices
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Proud to be British
WATCHING our Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations on TV, I felt really proud to be British. We have something in this country which is the envy of the world – our monarchy – and long may it continue. What a sight, all those thousands of Union Jacks
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Enterprise gone missing
IN his follow-up to to my letter about British industry Zarko Stevanovich (Wednesday’s Oxford Mail ViewPoints)points out how few British cars are seen abroad, which is, of course, because there is very little left of British-owned car firms. Even luxury
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Thanks for our son's life
TWELVE months ago tomorrow, we nearly lost our son, who collapsed in the car park entrance to the West Wing at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. This is a letter of thanks to all the staff at the hospital, especially the porter whose quick action
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We will fight to reverse decision on traffic lights
ONCE again members of the county council have not listened to the community. Risinghurst and Sandhills Parish Council has been told by Rodney Rose, the county council cabinet member for transport, that we have no chance of having the long-awaited (and
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CABBAGES & KINGS: Horsing about no laughing matter for doting grandad
TERRY – not his real name for reasons you will quickly learn – is usually the most affable of men, always ready for a laugh. But this week the smile had gone. “You’re the last person I wanted to see today,” he said resignedly. “It will be all
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COMMENT: A wake-up call
ON THE one hand, it’s reassuring that a council blunder which doubled the cost of bus travel for workers at the Churchill Hospital in Headington only came to light thanks to an eagle-eyed Oxford Mail reader getting in touch. On the other, why couldn’
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TENNIS: Gosling retains title
Bobby Gosling defended has crown at Woodstock’s Henmans-sponsored Junior Open. The 16-year-old, from the host club, upset Northampton’s Emerson Sekban – the top seed – 6-2, 6-0 to claim the under 18 crown, although the match was much closer than the
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Arctic oil drilling danger
I WAS shocked to learn that Shell is about to start drilling for oil in the Arctic off Alaska. The experience of the oil spill from the tanker Exxon Valdez, which ran aground in Alaska in 1989 shows the long-term destructive effect of oil on a cold environment
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Cycle plan a safety hazard
SEVENTY-ONE-year-old Barbara Sandford deserves sympathy for the injuries she sustained by being knocked over in the High Street by a careless cyclist (Wednesday’s Oxford Mail). However, the city council is considering 57 proposed traffic “improvements
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Protect Nelson's words
WITH reference to councillor Mick Haines’s letter (last Friday’s ViewPoints), I, for one, would like to thank him for getting Lord Nelson’s quote reinstated on the Scout hall in William Street. Many years ago now, from 1939-46, I attended St Michael
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Council scrooges
WE are living in a time of high unemployment, cuts in services and poor economy. It is heart-warming to read of ‘Ma’ Smith providing meals for homeless people in Oxford (last Friday’s Oxford Mail). I feel saddened to read the city council has stopped
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Repatriation bell soon to be unveiled
A memorial bell to mark Oxfordshire’s repatriation ceremonies is now in place, ready to be unveiled later this month. The Repatriation Memorial Bell will stand opposite Carterton’s Memorial Garden in Norton Way and toll every time a fallen serviceman
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Dog bite charge
A 39-year-old man has been charged after a woman was bitten on her stomach by a dog. The 40-year-old woman was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital after the incident outside St Aldate’s Police Station at about 10pm on Wednesday.
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SPEEDWAY: Collins win marred by crash
Reigning champion Aidan Collins was in imperious form, reeling off five straight wins to win the third round of the Grand National UK Flat Track Championship at Oxford Stadium last night. However, the meeting was marred by a multiple-rider accident halfway
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Drivers are stopped in crackdown
Dozens of motorists were stopped by police officers who identified 74 separate motoring offences during a road safety operation on the A40. West Oxfordshire District Council and the Vehicle and Operator Safety Agency also took part in the crackdown just
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Barrister died in fall down spiral staircase
A barrister was killed in an accidental fall on a spiral staircase at his home, a coroner has ruled. Alasdair Brough was suffering from alcoholism when he died at home in Market Street, Woodstock. The 56-year-old lawyer, who became a barrister in 1979
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Horse sculpture is a runaway success
Artist Sophie Thompson used concrete reinforcing bars to make this striking sculpture of a horse. The artwork sits outside The Studios in Banbury Road, Swerford, Chipping Norton, which is hosting an exhibition this month. The Milton-under-Wychwood artist
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Diabetic is still missing in city
Police were last night still searching for a missing woman. Alison Cox, below, is diabetic and needs regular medication. The 40-year-old was last seen in the Littlemore and Cowley Road area on Saturday Police have said they are growing increasingly
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Baby sister delights bug victim Charlotte
Little Charlotte Nott loves nothing more than a cuddle with her new baby sister. Despite losing the lower sections of her arms and legs to meningitis, the four-year-old is taking her new role as big sister to five-month-old Libby extremely seriously.
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City Council Call Centre Not Working
Power and phone lines are down at Oxford’s town hall. Oxford City Council has confirmed that power was lost at the building in St Aldate’s at around 8.30am. Spokesman Louisa Dean said the call centre, which sees it busiest period between 10am and
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FOOTBALL: City set to sign ex-U's ace Cook
Oxford City boss Mike Ford has spoken of his delight after former Oxford United striker Jamie Cook agreed to join the newly-promoted Blue Square Bet Conference North side. Cook, 31, who lives in Witney, spent last season at Conference Premier side Bath
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Docs defend day of action
PATIENTS have reacted with frustration to the lack of information around proposed industrial action by Oxfordshire doctors. The British Medical Association (BMA) – the largest union for doctors – announced members will be taking part in industrial action
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COMMENT: Keep patients in the loop
SO OXFORDSHIRE doctors will be among those taking the first industrial action by GPs in almost 40 years. Which is all well and good but it might be nice if the public – their ‘customers’ so to speak – could be kept a little better informed about just
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United boss Wilder happy with Cherries test
Oxford United boss Chris Wilder was happy after his side were handed a home draw against AFC Bournemouth in this season’s Capital One Cup. The U’s will entertain the Cherries at the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday, August 14 – a match which will take place
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Pcso paddles down Thames to help charity
A POLICE support officer kayaked 100 miles on the River Thames to raise money for charity. Pcso Jon Morley travelled from Oxford to Teddington to collect £650 for Asthma UK. Mr Morley decided to support the charity as his mother Beverley
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Action-packed week aims to get people back on bikes
CYCLISTS are set to take over Oxford with a packed programme of events to mark bike week. Starting tomorrow, the national event will be celebrated locally with city tours and longer rides into the Oxfordshire countryside. People who haven’t cycled for