Archive
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Park may get £75K revamp
THERE are major improvements planned at a park on Oxford’s biggest estate. If a bid for £75,000 is successful, Blackbird Leys Park could soon be home to new footpaths, picnic areas and an outdoor gym. It would coincide with a major refurbishment of
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Armando is not just playing for laughs
OXFORD’S adopted son, TV comedy writer Armando Iannucci, is on the up with new shows, a movie and an OBE. The 48-year-old Scot has landed a stateside hit with political comedy Veep and is preparing a new series of Whitehall satire The Thick
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Father and son braced for 1,000 mile bike ride
AN intrepid father and son are planning to get on their bikes and cycle 1,000 miles from one end of the UK to the other. James Arnold, 42, and his 14-year-old son Joe will tackle the Land’s End to John O’Groats cycle ride to raise cash for charity Action
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Three generations to join charity race
LAUREN Mason will be the third generation of her family taking part in this year’s Oxford Race for Life. And with the big day drawing close, she wants you to sign up too. Race for Life will be creating a sea of pink throughout the city centre and University
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Stepping back in time
THE joy of popping to North Worcestershire for a mini-break is that it is a mere flit away in the car. Unless your ex makes a teeny tiny mistake tapping the postcode into the Satnav and you go via Derby. Yes, Derby. And you have an almighty blazing row
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Pub hopes on the rise
HOPES are rising that an East Oxford pub that closed will be revamped and reopened. The Chester Arms in Iffley Fields closed down after the licensee left this month. It has recently been sold by Punch Taverns for a reported £390,000 to Woodchester Estates
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Botley roadworks to finish on Saturday
WORK to improve traffic flow at the Botley interchange in Oxford is on schedule, according to the county councillor in charge of transport. Long traffic queues were reported on Botley Road yesterday lunchtime, with cars nose to tail in both directions
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Revealing the villages filmed for Midsomer
A RETIRED electrical engineer has unravelled the mystery behind the Oxfordshire locations in his favourite TV detective series. Chris Behan, from Adderbury, spent nearly a year travelling around quaint villages putting together a book on Midsomer
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Cricketer bowls shoppers over
SPORTING legend Darren Gough has opened a ‘cricket pavilion’ in the unlikely setting of Bicester Village shopping centre. To the delight of shoppers, the star made an appearance at the Searcys Champagne bar and restaurant, which has opened at the retail
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Throne of rubbish is queen of vehicles
AN Oxford charity, which helps tackle homelessness, has celebrated its ongoing success by building a rubbish vehicle. Trainees at Aspire have built a wheeled throne entirely out of recycled materials – and will be pushing it around the countryside
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Villagers are ready to fight over waste fluid
VILLAGERS are gearing up for another battle with the firm behind Oxfordshire’s first incinerator. The move comes after waste firm Viridor submitted an application to Oxfordshire County Council to overturn a restriction agreed at a 2010 public inquiry
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£500,000 centre to help people with sight loss
A £500,000 centre to help people with sight loss was officially launched this week. The Oxfordshire Association for the Blind (OAB) has spent two years raising money for their new building in Gordon Woodward Way, off Abingdon Road, South Oxford. Until
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Revving up for the Bike Night revival
THE biggest bikers’ convention of the year in Oxfordshire is back after a year’s break. Cassington Bike Night, which attracts about 8,000 motorcyclists, was cancelled in 2011 – the first time since 1978 – because of concerns over road safety
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Benson’s steel lock gates win engineering plaudits
A £3m project to improve Benson Lock near Wallingford has won an industry award. In January, Environment Agency staff lowered two five-tonne steel gates into place as part of the improvement scheme. The project has won an Environmental
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Lane closed on M40 after crash
ONE lane of the southbound M40 remains closed after an accident. Fire crews were called at around 5.20am after reports that an HGV had been involved in a collision between junction 11 for Banbury and junction 10 for Brackley. All three lanes were
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Appeal for volunteers to help children develop a passion for books
AUTHOR Roz Oates dreams of writing the perfect story for children. Now she is combining her research for future books with helping some of the county’s young, struggling readers. Miss Oates, 33 from North Oxford, recently won the Oxford
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TRIATHLON: Lidbury pushed into runners-up spot
Emma-Kate Lidbury had to settle for second place in this year’s Ironman 70.3 UK. The Risinghurst resident went into the race as defending champion, but finished just under three minutes behind Eimear Mullen. A strong swim in 24mins 17secs saw Lidbury
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FOOTBALL: Hellenic League spot for Hinksey
AFC Hinksey were officially accepted into next season’s Uhlsport Hellenic League at the annual general meeting at Carterton. Hinksey, who will play in Division 1 East, finished as Oxfordshire Senior League runners-up after being strip-ped of the title
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MOTORSPORT: Champ Vettel sets the pace
World champion Sebastian Vettel set the pace in the second practice yesterday for tomorrow's European Grand Prix in Valencia. But there were also some encouraging performances fromthe Grove-based Williams’ team Driving a Red Bull car with aerodynamic
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CRICKET: Soldier added to boost Oxon troops
Soldier David Wade, who turned down a chance to return to Afghanistan, makes his debut for Oxfordshire in their Minor Counties Championship clash against Dorset at Banbury, starting tomorrow. The 27-year-old seamer left the Army to try make it a professional
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Appeal rejected over wind mast
BANBURY: Plans to put up wind-testing equipment that could lead to eight turbines being built near Hanwell have been rejected on appeal. Cherwell District Council threw out the Regenco plan for a temporary wind monitoring mast at Bury Court Farm last
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Mass brawl ‘is not linked to gang violence’
POLICE say they are not linking a mass brawl that broke out in Cowley Marsh Park to any other incidents or gang rivalries. Two people have now been arrested in connection with the fight on Tuesday, which left two people hospitalised. Police believe
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Mother’s horror after daughter’s near-miss
A MUM has criticised rail bosses after her infant daughter got through a level crossing gap seconds before a train hurtled by. Alex Jacob said the gap only appeared when a new crossing was installed under controversial Network Rail plans. But the rail
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MOTORSPORT: Plato looks to bounce back at Croft
Jason Plato will be trying to achieve his first win for six years at the Croft racetrack in North Yorkshire when he competes in the latest rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship this weekend. Plato, who lives in Oxford, but was brought
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YOUTH CRICKET: Schools' results
Under 15 League Wood Green 143-2 (C Tinsley 50no), Matthew Arnold 72-6 (D Hicks 42, C Wood 3-9). Under 14 Lords Taverners Trophy Shiplake 126-6, Abingdon 127-4 (T Dingwall 32, C Grainey 31no). Under 14 League Warriner
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YOUTH CRICKET: Challow in play-offs
Challow & Childrey and Oxford Downs booked their places in the play-offs of the Under 13 Ron Maudsley Knockout competition. Challow recorded a four-wicket win at Kingston Bagpuize, while Downs held off Warborough & Shillingford for a 13-run victory.
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YOUTH CRICKET: Oxon clubs fall to defeats
Charlbury and Oxford – both of whom play in Division 1 of the ECB East Midlands League – lost their latest matches. Charlbury went down by 43 runs against Cambridge, despite the efforts of Catie Burton (24 and 2-30) and Abi Currie (23). Oxford lost
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Rape trial date
OXFORD: A man from Oxford has denied committing rape and will stand trial in August. Monayed Al Naboulsy denied the offence, allegedly committed on March 25, at Oxford Crown Court yesterday. Al Naboulsy, 30, of Park End Street, is due to stand trial
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YOUTH CRICKET: Extras prove so costly
Oxfordshire Under 13s fell to a six-wicket defeat at home to Leicestershire in the ECB County Competition at St Edward’s School. After winning the toss, the hosts were soon struggling at 8-2 and were grateful to a 45-run partnership between
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Crash on M40
BICESTER: A driver escaped unhurt after crashing his car into a barrier on the M40. The crash happened at 12.10pm yesterday at junction nine of the motorway near Weston-on-the-Green.
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ANGLING: Ben's record 'common'
Ben Thompson travelled up from Bridgwater in Somerset to fish Linear’s St John’s Pool at Stanton Harcourt and caught the carp known as ‘The Box Common’ at a new lake record for a common of 43.15.0. The 21-year-old enjoyed a successful trip, catching
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SWIMMING: Harry in hat-trick delight
Harry Basterfield won three gold medals as City of Oxford enjoyed a successful day at the Cardiff International Level 1 meet. Basterfield swam superbly in the 13/14 age group, winning the 100m and 200m backstroke as well as the 400m freestyle. He was
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OLYMPICS: Bunting ‘too dangerous’ for celebration
BUNTING made by schoolchildren for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, cannot be used at an Olympic street party because of ‘health and safety’, it has been claimed. More than 2,000 Bicester children spent weeks decorating flags to form bunting
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AUNG SAN SUU KYI: Suu Kyi visit was ‘an unbelievable honour’
“AN unbelievable honour.” That’s how the owner of a West Oxfordshire pottery described the visit yesterday by the Prime Minister and Burmese Opposition Leader. In a spectacle that can only be described as surreal, David Cameron and democracy
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Graffiti inquiry
DIDCOT: Police are investigating “religiously offensive” graffiti written on the wall of an electricity sub-station in Jubilee Way. Thames Valley Police said the vandalism occurred overnight on Thursday but could not provide more details of what the
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Museum launch
OXFORD: The new Museum of Oxford galleries, Explore Oxford, is open to the public today at Oxford Town Hall. More than £100,000 was spent converting offices into rooms which tell the story of the city from Roman times to the present day. The free museum
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Case dropped
OXFORD: The case into a woman charged with stealing a purse has been dropped. Janet Lestrade, 43, of Balfour Road in Oxford, was charged with stealing a purse containing £20 and bank cards on May 14. But the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence
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No injuries after A34 accident
OXFORD: A driver and a motorcyclist escaped injury after a collision on the A34 near the Botley interchange. The accident happened close to the interchange on the northbound carriageway at 8.19am yesterday. Thames Valley Police spokesman Craig Evry
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Woman assaulted in churchyard attack
A WOMAN screamed for help when a man threatened her with a knife and pulled her into a churchyard in East Oxford. Thames Valley Police officers are investigating after the 20-year-old woman was assaulted during the early hours of Thursday. The victim
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ANGLING: Cherwell's off to a flying start
Anglers returned to fishing rivers again at the weekend as a new coarse season got under way. As expected, the recent rain made it tough going on some stretches and a coloured and fast Thames was particularly difficult, but its tributaries fished a little
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SCHOOL SPORT: Simi's the star
Headington's Simi Fajemisin starred with a hat-trick of wins at the Oxfordshire Schools’ Track & Field Championships at Tilsley Park, Abingdon. The City athlete landed a sprint double in the junior girls’ 100m and 200m in 12.6secs and 26.4 respectively
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GREYHOUND RACING: Great night despite low crowd
It was a great climax to Oxford's biggest night of the year, but a shame that so few punters witnessed Frank Taylor's You Mind Me land the spoils in the prestigious Ladbrokes Pall Mall final on Tuesday. The connections of the big-race winner You Mind
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GREYHOUND RACING: Donohue full of praise for service
Alex Donohue, of Ladbrokes, has sung the praises of his visit to Oxford on Tuesday. “He said: “The staff were exceptional, including the friendliest pool operator we’ve dealt with to date. “The food – often a sticking point at all sports-leisure venues
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GREYHOUND RACING: Ladbrokes quash Stadium rumours
IT'S official – Richard Harkness, of Ladbrokes has stated officially that they are not in negotiations to purchase Oxford Stadium. The news came during during the Pall Mall meeting on Tuesday. It followed rumours that have been circulating for the
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SCHOOL SPORT: Golden girls lead challenge for national glory
Three reigning champions have been named in Oxfordshire’s team for the Aviva English Schools’ Track & Field Championships at Gateshead on July 6 and 7. Emma O’Hara (Larkmead, Abingdon) struck gold in the intermediate girls’ hammer at the north-east venue
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Teacher tells pupils of Olympic hopes
OLYMPIC rower Caroline O’Connor told pupils at her Oxford school about her hopes for the London Games yesterday. The rowing cox spoke about issues including how she got into the sport, her idols and her hopes for the women’s team at next month’s Games
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ATHLETICS: Dream is over for Oxon duo
Radley Ladies’ Tara Kafke and Carolyn Plateau both failed to get past the heats at the Aviva Olympic Trials in Birmingham last night. Kafke was fifth in the first heat of the 400m in 55.32secs. The race was won by Olympic champion, Christine Ohuruogu
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Surge in visitors to city's leisure centres
OXFORD’s leisure centres have seen a huge surge in people using them, and they are costing the taxpayer less to run. The overall number of visits each year has gone up by more than 300,000 to 1.15m across the city’s seven leisure centres –
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RACING: Buick lives the dream
William Buick was in dreamland after landing a 142-1 treble at Royal Ascot yesterday – highlighted by Fallen For You’s sparkling success in the Coronation Stakes. The jockey, who lived with his father, Walter, at Letcombe Regis, near Wantage, before
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MP calls for review after patient deaths
MENTAL health bosses were last night facing demands to carry out a full review of services after two suicides in three months exposed failing systems. Oxford Heath, the NHS mental health service for the county, admitted this week to a coroner
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Birthday tea party nets £650 for hospice
CAROL Esplin raised a cuppa in a toast to a pioneering Oxford hospice yesterday. She organised a tea party at Savages, in London Road, Blewbury, to raise money for Helen and Douglas House and to help to celebrate the East Oxford charity’s 30th birthday
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‘Get grip’ call over rail plan
CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans for a high speed rail line which would cut across Oxfordshire say the Government needs to “get a grip” on the scheme. Transport Secretary Justine Greening insisted the scheme was still going ahead after The Spectator magazine
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Sex abuse –– new charges are imminent
SIX men charged with involvement in a child sex ring appeared by video link at the Old Bailey yesterday as it emerged more charges are imminent. The men were due to enter pleas to more than 65 charges yesterday but will now do so in August
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OLYMPICS:Jodie gets set to carry torch for MS sufferers
WHEN 19-year-old Jodie Evans was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, her only thought was to ask she would ever be able to have children. Lying in hospital on a drip and terrified about her future, the Witney teenager took a long time coming to terms
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£24,000 cycle route opens
KIDLINGTON: A £24,000 cycle track has given cyclists something to cheer about. The path runs between Oxford Road and Crown Road past the Exeter Hall and links residential areas with the village centre. It was jointly funded by Kidlington Parish Council
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ATHLETICS: Pick Hannah urges Douglas
Nathan Douglas has urged the Great Bri-tain selectors to pick Hannah England for the London Olympics. The Oxford City athletes both miss this weekend’s Aviva 2012 Olympic Trials at Birmingham through injuries. But while Douglas’s setback is almost certain
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COMMENT: Deaths raise concerns over mental health care
FOUR months ago we questioned the complacency of Oxford Health, the NHS mental health services trust for the county, following the suicide of Graham Kirtland. The trust assured the public it had changed its systems following Mr Kirtland’s death
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Help Bicester look blooming great
RESIDENTS are being urged to get their gardening gloves on and spruce up their land ready for Bicester in Bloom. Organised by Bicester Town Council a host of awards are up for grabs for households and businesses. Categories have been re-organised and
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Take a stand and be proud of your garden
KEEN gardeners have just three weeks to put themselves forward for the city’s battle of the bulbs. Entries are being sought for this year’s Oxford in Bloom competition and a tough growing season could mean creativity steals the show. And this year there
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Home of the future takes top honours
OXFORD is a city famous for its architectural history, but it is not just civic buildings taking top honours. A futuristic house in Hill Top Road, Cowley, was recognised alongside buildings at the Ashmolean and university colleges. The Shulaman lecture