Archive
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Four vehicle-smash closes road
A CRASH between three cars and a lorry closed the B4044 Oxford Road at Farmoor during the afternoon rush-hour. The road was closed both ways while the damged vehicles were removed. The accident, which only led to minor injuries, happened shortly
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Museum keeping some artwork up its sleeves
THE art of the album cover features in a new exhibition at Woodstock’s Oxfordshire Museum. Classic LP sleeves like David Bowie’s Hunky Dory and Oasis’s (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? are among those at the free exhibition. The exhibition
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Minicab firms 'flouting rules'
A CLAMPDOWN on cab companies forcing their drivers to break licensing rules has been launched by Oxford City Council. The council’s licensing team leader Julian Alison said the local authority would prosecute private hire firms that make employees
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RACING: Longsdon in money with Bingo
No No Bingo needed all of Tony McCoy’s renowned strength to score for Chipping Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon at Fontwell yesterday. Sent off the 5-6 favourite, the six-year-old gelding had to be driven out by the 17-times champion jockey to beat
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Lapdancing club The Lodge to re-open after winning stay of execution
OXFORD’s only lapdancing club will re-open tonight after a stay of execution was granted by a High Court judge. The Lodge Gentlemen’s Club in Oxpens Road had closed its doors after the city council turned down its application to renew its sexual
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Superfluous words on a packet lead me to a melt-down
‘There was a bit of a cock-up on the catering front,” as Reggie Perrin’s ex-army brother-in-law Jimmy Anderson (Geoffrey Palmer) used to say, as his way of scrounging a buckshee, trouble-free dinner. D’oh! Us chaps! On Monday I endured a slight
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Hithercroft homes plan
MORE than 100 new homes could be built on the site of a former Habitat distribution unit in Wallingford, it has emerged. Development company Lightwood Property has got in touch with South Oxfordshire District Council asking for its opinion on the
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Science award is dedicated to city
A PROFESSOR who has won a prestigious $100,000 award recognising women in science has dedicated the award to Oxford, the city where she launched her career. Prof Pratibha Gai has been named the 2013 European Laureate at the 15th annual L’Oreal-Unesco
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Head hails nature of his free school
AMERICA sports, close links with businesses and a specialism in history will form part of the curriculum at North Oxfordshire’s new free school. Headteacher David Castles, pictured, has revealed more details about how Heyford Park Free School will
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Bravo as town and stars go pink for fundraiser
ABINGDON will be a hotbed of celebrities this weekend as they visit to watch a breast cancer charity turn the town pink. Comedian Bobby Davro, singer Kerry Katona and Dwina Gibb, widow of Bee Gees legend Robin Gibb, are among the well-known faces
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Another star role on film for our lovely city
Cycling along Parks Road on Sunday morning beneath a shower of falling autumn leaves, I was plunged on an instant into 18th-century England. Ahead of me in Catte Street stood two four-wheeled carriages, their paintwork matched in lustre by the coats
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Verse for wear: John Cooper Clarke interviewed
It takes a while to get to the bottom of the John Cooper Clarke story. According to him, when punk went out of fashion, he did too. What he doesn’t mention however, until much later in the interview, is his well-documented 20-year spiral into drug
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Sleeping Beauty: English National Ballet, Milton Keynes Theatre and touring to Oxford in February
This was an excellent production, well performed and given added interest by the first appearance with this company of Tamara Rojo — formerly one of the Royal Ballet’s finest ballerinas. She was appearing in a dual role; as Princess Aurora, and also
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Our Country's Good: Oxford Playhouse
Forget six of the best, it’s 100 lashes for the convict deemed guilty of some comparatively minor misdemeanour. The year is 1789, and the country Australia. In Timberlake Wertenbaker’s Our Country’s Good, the remarkably enlightened Captain Arthur Phillip
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Thursday, October 25: Four chances to win £250 at Marks & Spencer
THE seasons are changing and it is time to freshen up your winter wardrobe at the revamped Marks & Spencer in oxford. M&S has teamed up with The Oxford Times to offer readers the chance to win one of four £250 M&S Gift Cards to spend
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Dinner to die for with Murder Mystery at The Fleece, Witney
The vanilla ice cream tasted wonderful considering it had been turfed out of the freezer earlier in the evening to make way for a corpse. The body in question was that of stroppy teenager Philly Goodbottom, who met her maker – and possibly her hero
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Midwifery-led maternity unit will reopen next month
WANTAGE’S midwifery-led maternity unit will reopen for mothers-to-be next month. The announcement by the Oxford University Hospitals Trust (OUHT), which runs the county’s maternity services, came after fears that women would no longer be able to
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Make like Bond and stir things up with a classy tipple
Three measures of Gordon’s; one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it over ice, and add a thin slice of lemon peel.” Got it? As the film franchise turns 50, James Bond is still the epitome of style and sophistication. What better way
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Recipe for potato salad with black radish (serves six as a side dish)
Black radishes with their coarse black skin are a winter vegetable that has a pungent white flesh. Their flavour is far too intense to eat on their own, but these black beauties can add a superb peppery bite to a salad. Apparently black radishes date
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Market forces in Oxford's North Parade
There was a time when North Parade, which runs between Banbury and Woodstock Road, was a bustling little street, due in part to its post office and electrical repair shop, which have both closed down. In his book The Erosion of Oxford, written in 1977
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Extending lifespan of a great tree
The pungent scent of a woody bonfire drifts across a Chilterns valley and spirals of pale grey smoke curl up from the chimneys of a charcoal kiln. It’s autumn and the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust is looking after woodland at Warburg Nature
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On the Horizon, October 25
Theatre MANSFIELD PARK Oxford Playhouse November 20-24, 8pm (Friday) and 2.30pm (Thurs and Sat) Box office: 01865 305305 oxfordplayhouse.com Uprooted from her humble family home, Fanny Price is dropped into the bustling, aristocratic household of her
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Approachable book has useful directory
Ornamental Grasses — An Essential Guide by Cliff Plowes, published by Crowood @ £16.99 Written by a specialist grower who owns Oaktree Nursery in Yorkshire (01757 618 409/www. oaktree nursery.com), this approachable book contains a directory that will
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Great Storm taught us a lot about roots
It’s 25 years since Michael Fish’s famous weather forecast went horribly wrong on the evening before The Great Storm of 1987. He chuckled about a woman who had telephoned earlier to say there was hurricane on the way. I remember October 16 well. My
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Everything or Nothing (Eon)
James Bond is 50, and for those of you who fancy just a little bit more than the popcorn-and-Pepsi thrill of the latest 007 epic, it might be worth trying to catch a screening of the documentary Everything or Nothing (Eon). Eon of course was the
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Skyfall (12A)
Time waits for no man, not even the suave and sharply attired 007. In the 50 years since Ian Fleming’s debonair secret agent introduced himself to Sylvia Trench at a card table in Dr No, global politics have changed beyond recognition. The Iron
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Highlights of the week for October 25
Opera Lyrica MOZART: DER SCHAUSPIEL-DIREKTOR/ die zauberflÖTE St Peter’s College, Oxford Friday & Saturday, 7pm Tickets operalyrica. co.uk/tickets.html A double bill of Mozartian comedy with Opera Lyrica, a new Oxford company of young professionals
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FOOTBALL: Curtis grabs super brace
Ben Curtis bagged a quickfire brace as AFC Blackbirds came from behind to make it four wins in a row in a 3-1 success against Community Allstars in teh Oxford City FA. Trailing 1-0 at the break, they turned the game on its head in the second half
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More choices for nights out in Abingdon
BEER LOVERS are drinking a toast to the future of Abingdon after a week of good pub news. On Monday night JD Wetherspoon was granted a drinks licence for the former Post Office building in High Street, after the Nag’s Head on Abingdon Bridge re-opened
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FOOTBALL: Cool Chris secures a point
Chris Marsh’s last-gasp strike earned Yarnton a share of the spoils in a 3-3 home draw with ten-man Kidlington Old Boys in Oxfordshire Senior League Division 1. Jay Johnson’s individual goal gave the hosts the lead, only for Daniel Jones to level
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The tales that can stand test of time
WHAT makes a children's classic? And why are children still avidly reading books published 20 or even 40 years ago? The National Literacy Trust (NLT), which is running Oxfordshire County Council’s Oxfordshire Reading Campaign, has come up with
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Taxi rank plans welcomed but ‘must go further’
TAXI drivers have said a council plan to extend a taxi rank in Witney does not go far enough to relieve congestion problems. West Oxfordshire District Council plans to extend the Market Square taxi rank and create a new three-space rank by Marriotts
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Harmonia Sacra - 'A vocal ensemble that simply gelled'
It is seven years since Peter Leech upped sticks and left Oxford for pastures new, having made his mark as conductor of the City of Oxford Choir and the Cathedral Singers of Christ Church. Since then, he has become an honorary research fellow at Swansea
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Local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 0.045 BMW 4883 Electrocomponents 207.9 Nationwide Accident Repair 59.25 Oxford Biomedica 2.5 Oxford Catalysts 94.75 Oxford Instruments 1299 Reed Elsevier 596.25 RM 82.6 RPS Group 234.5 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley
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Picasso & Tribal Art: The Meller-Merceux Gallery, High Street, Oxford
There is a magic to Africa. It takes hold. And a magic to Pablo Picasso’s work that also takes hold, an otherness that even over a century on from when he was first painting has extraordinary power to enthral. Put the two together as in Oxford’s Meller
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Fine warning to cyclists witout lights
OXFORD: Cyclists without lights will be stopped and fined £30 by police in bike checks on Tuesday. The checks will take place in High Street and Botley Road between 6pm and 9pm. Cyclists can avoid the fine by buying lights within a week.
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Ten tourist spots in county shortlisted for awards
OXON: Ten Tourism businesses across the county have been shortlisted for the Beautiful South Awards for Excellence 2012-13. Blenheim Palace has been shortlisted for Best Large Attraction, while Witney Tourist Information Centre and Burford Visitor
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Clark bags hat-trick for Didcot
James Clark helped himself to a hat-trick as Didcot Town claimed only their second success of their Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West campaign with a fine 4-2 victory at Evesham on Tuesday night. Clark’s treble and another from
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Man charged with Bampton Post Office robbery
BAMPTON: A 28-year-old charged with robbing the town post office on Saturday has been remanded in custody after appearing at Banbury Magistrates’ Court. Daniel Kisfaludi, of no fixed address, was remanded on Monday to appear at Oxford Crown Court
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‘Oxtobeerfest’ will raise a glass to Sobell House
BEER will flow in aid of a good cause at three pubs in West Oxford. Barrels have been rolling in at The Duke’s Cut in Park End Street, the Oxford Retreat in Hythe Bridge Street and the Jam Factory in Hollybush Row ahead of the weekend’s “Oxtobeerfest
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YOUTH FOOTBALL: It's wham bam Alam
Maahir Alam smashed a six-timer as Carterton Town raced to a 10-1 home win over Grendon Rangers in the Giles Sports Witney Youth League's Under 15 B League. Tom Oddy, Josh Herbert, Sam Berry and Jack Davies completed their tally, with Rahat Islam
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FOOTBALL: Ingram a cut above for Berinsfield
Mark Ingram scored a hat-trick as Berinsfield overcame previously unbeaten Saxton Rovers 4-2 to become one of five teams level on points on the top of North Berks League Division 1. In a scintillating display, Brian Rawlings scored Berinsfield’
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FOOTBALL: West Witney's run ended by rivals Royal
Witney Royals wrecked West Witney’s unbeaten start to their Witney & District FA Premier Division campaign with a 3-2 away victory. Tom Kempster, Will Graham and Matt Thompson did the damage for Royals, who move up to third. Chipping Norton
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Boundary Commision unveils Parliamentary constituencies reshuffle plans
FINAL plans for a controversial reshuffle of Oxfordshire’s Parliamentary constituencies have been unveiled. The Boundary Commission announced plans to move villages near Bicester – as well as Radley, near Abingdon – into the Henley constituency
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GIRLS' FOOTBALL: Webb fires five-timer for Carterton
Natalie Webb fired a five-timer in Carterton’s 12-0 home win over Marston Saints in the Oxford Mail Girls League's Under 15 League. Molly Bishop scored four goals with Mollie Little, Nikola Zabinska and Katie Pyke also on target for Carterton.
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SCHOOLS' FOOTBALL: Payne and Judge sparkle
Ollie Payne and Max Judge hit hat-tricks as Lord Williams’s (Thame) won 8-3 at Gosford Hill (Kidlington) in the ESFA Under 18 Schools’ Trophy third round. Tom Lankester and Ben Thomas also netted for Lord Williams’s. Miriam Pritchard’s hat-trick
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FOOTBALL: Hanney through after marathon shoot-out
There were thrills galore as Hanney United won their Berks & Bucks Junior Cup second-round tie at Blewbury after a marathon shoot-out. Hanney eventually went through 10-9 on penalties after the North Berks League teams had drawn 4-4 after extra
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Lottery cash rescues victims' support group
An Oxford group which supports women who have been victims of sexual violence has been saved thanks to Lottery cash. Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre’s sexual violence survivors support group closed after a year in July when NHS cash
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No decision announced on bridge homeless
The county council was unable to say last night whether it is going to evict a group of homeless people underneath Frideswide Bridge in Oxford. As reported in yesterday’s Oxford Mail, residents in Botley Road say they are living in fear of the
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Footballer killed by rare heart condition
A FOOTBALLER who died on a Witney training ground was killed by an “extremely” rare form of heart failure. Father-of-one Paul Thompson collapsed in Burwell Meadow during a pre-season training session with Witney Royals Football Club on the evening
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Man released without charge after Littlemore brawl
A 22-year-old man has been released without charge after a brawl last month which police believe involved knives and a crossbow. A 24-year-old man was rebailed until November 8. The fight, reported to police as involving up to 15 men, took
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Taking on a beauty of a role
BEAUTIFUL Belle Suzannah Brooksbank will be joined by characters such as Lumiere, Mrs Potts and of course the fearsome Beast, when Disney’s Beauty & the Beast comes to Oxford. Oxford Operatic Society (OOS) will perform the modern classic at
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FOOTBALL: Mills in five-star display
John Mills fired a five-timer in Saxton Pirates’ 8-1 demolition of Blue Ball (Newbury) in the Berks & Bucks FA Sunday Junior Cup second round. James Organ bagged a brace for the hosts, with Sam Childs also on target. The Tree Grove defied
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FOOTBALL: Armstrong is Oxford hero
Aaron Armstrong hit a second-half hat-trick as Oxford Sports & Social Club cruised to a 5-0 win at Cholsey United to go top of the Critchleys Upper Thames Valley League's Premier League, writes TIM SIRET. Craig Bloomfield had given Sports a
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FOOTBALL: Holton hero for Bletchingdon
Matty Holton scored twice as Bletchingdon set up an Oxfordshire Senior Cup second-round home tie with Mansfield Road with a 3-1 win at Oxford Irish. Mark Gaul put Bletchingdon 1-0 up and Holton’s haul sealed it. Dan Brooks replied. Mansfield
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YOUTH FOOTBALL: Goodwin doubles up
Alfie Goodwin’s brace sealed a 3-0 home win for Summertown against Shiplake in the Joe Roughton Under 18 Youth Cup first round. Dash Ward had opened Summertown’s tally with a 15-yard drive after 17 minutes.
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THE DISABLED SPACE: Benefit cuts cause a Catch 22 situation
What a difference just one little word can make. For instance ‘I love you’ or just ‘I like you’. But they’re obvious. How about the words ‘want’ and ‘need’? I ‘want’ a new car is very different to I ‘need’ a new car, so I hope it is easy for you
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Memorial thank-you
I WOULD like to thank all the people who came to the unveiling service on Saturday for the plaque in memory of the people of Marston from the Armed Forces and Home Service who lost their lives in the Second World War. A very special thanks goes
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50 limit should spread
I read (Oxford Mail, September 5), that council approval was given for the introduction of a reduced maximum speed of 50mph on the A40, adjacent to Summertown/ North Oxford housing, to reduce ‘pass by’ noise. This follows similar speed restrictions
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Rail project is good news
The new Oxford to Marylebone rail route (Oxford Mail, October 19) is a fantastic vote of confidence in Oxfordshire by rail firm Arriva. It is just the kind of investment in public transport we need to get commuters and the local economy moving.
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Think about animals on Guy Fawkes Night
EVERY year horses die as a consequence of fireworks. Last year my horse died, probably because she had been trying to run from fireworks, and was caught in an electric fence. She was a very beautiful black thoroughbred mare, particularly known
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We admired Princess Anne’s stamina
I HOPE that The Insider (Oxford Mail, October 18), was not blaming Princess Anne for the fact she was driven 100 metres to the Kassam Stadium entrance. We were lucky enough to visit Watchet, Somerset, when she was inspecting the lighthouse there
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Webcam at nursery to ‘reassure parents’
A NURSERY has become the first in Oxfordshire to launch a ‘big mother’ style web cam so parents can keep a constant eye on their child. Cherubs Nursery in Shipton-under-Wychwood, West Oxfordshire, set up Nurserycams, a scheme which has been rolled
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Our market must remain
IS THERE a hidden agenda in the mind of Oxford City Council regarding the proposed huge increase in the business rates for the properties in the historic Covered Market? Sixty years ago, the majority of the premises were occupied by butchers, fishmongers
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Sensible solution at hand
SOMETIMES a simple solution to a complex problem can turn out to be the best, and proof of this can be seen at work in Rose Hill. Once again a private company has shown the county and city councils that it does not require a vast amount of money
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MAC THE KNIFE: Operations are useless without lifestyle changes
Fat has now joined the long list of politically incorrect terms that can’t be used at school, my sons inform me. Fatism is now a recognised prejudice, and it got me thinking. What will be next I wonder? Spotty, smelly, sweaty, hairy, bald?
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LIFE LESSONS: Today we talk to Rose Todd, who is raising money for an Oxford hospice in memory of her son Harry
WHAT I AM CALLED: Rose. MY AGE: I am 56 years old. WHAT I DO: I am a conservation officer – that means I give advice on old buildings and things to do with the ‘built heritage’ (rather than trees and small furry animals). WHERE I LIVE:
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Quality let us down - Wilder
CHRIS Wilder bemoaned a lack of quality in the final third as Oxford United lost 2-0 at Rochdale last night. The visitors had the majority of efforts on goal, but lacked the sort of cutting edge which was so apparent in Saturday’s 5-0 win against
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Oxfam awarded freedom of the city
OXFORD: Oxfam was awarded the freedom of the city of Oxford at a ceremony packed with supporters and dignitaries yesterday. The award, which historically used to give holders the right to drive sheep through the city, was bestowed to celebrate
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Maternity unit review due
A PETITION has been launched after births at a west Oxfordshire maternity unit were suspended. Births at the Cotswold Maternity Unit, in Chipping Norton, were suspended ‘with immediate effect’ after reports by staff and women using the unit. Oxford
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Didcot Airgun shooter stable in the JR
OXON: A man who shot himself in the head with an airgun was last night said to be in a stable condition at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital. The man, in his 40s, was injured after police attended a reported shoplifting incident at the BP garage
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Tributes paid to victim of fatal fall
THE farm worker who died after he fell through a barn roof was yesterday named as Dean Henderson-Smith from Long Wittenham. The 46-year-old fell through a skylight at Great Park Farm near Besselsleigh on Thursday afternoon. He was flown to
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PM Cameron praises volunteers honoured for ‘outstanding’ work in community awards
PRIME Minister David Cameron sent a special message of thanks to dedicated volunteers and community workers who scooped awards last night. Individuals and nine groups were recognised for their work at the Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Awards
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COMMENT: Sensible decision
FULL credit to Stuart Bell, the new chief executive of Oxford Health NHS Foundation, for stepping in to avoid the fiasco that was developing over cutting Christmas party funds to community hospital nurses. As we wrote yesterday, the health sector
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Police investigate possible links between muggings
A 20-year-old man was slapped and mugged of his mobile phone and £1.50. The crime happened in an alley between Bartlemas Close and Herbert Close, Oxford, between 10.30pm and 11pm on Saturday. The man was surrounded by three robbers who were
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Hospital chief pledges U-turn on nurses' Christmas party
A HEALTH trust which axed Christmas party funds for hundreds of nurses has decided celebrations will now go ahead. Yesterday the Oxford Mail revealed about 717 staff working at community hospitals across Oxfordshire had been told a donation of
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Former Nuffield club site to be used for free school
A FORMER social club that has stood empty for three years is set to become the site of Oxford’s first free school. The Lord Nuffield Club was founded in the 1910s as the Morris Motors Sports and Athletics Club, but closed down with debts of £3m
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COMMENT: Apt use for former club
THERE is something fitting in the move to open up a free school at the former Lord Nuffield Club site in Temple Cowley. The financial implosion of the club, which was founded in 1910, so soon after it opened its new building has been well-rehearsed
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Charity proposes closure of school for disabled children
A SCHOOL for severely disabled children looks set to close its doors next year. The charity Action for Children yesterday announced plans to close its Penhurst School in Chipping Norton. Operational Director of Children’s Services Barbara Street
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Three injured in M40 crash
THREE people were injured yesterday in a car crash on the M40. The accident happened at around 3pm between junction 8 and the A40 Oxford spur. Two people were freed from the car before the emergency services arrived, but one was trapped and
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Thug threatened to knife teenage victim
A 23-YEAR-OLD mugger threatened to stab a 14-year-old girl after a male friend had fled, a court heard. Jacob Chambers, 23, cycled up to the young couple while they were sitting in a park in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, with friends. He confronted
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Birds of prey swoop in to visit residents
THIS feathered friend got a warm welcome from residents when he landed at a care home in Watlington. On Friday, birds of prey were brought to Watlington and District Nursing Home to delight the people living there. Care home resident Nora Firth
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New start for site residents
THE last residents have moved out of an Oxford sheltered housing block before it is knocked down by the city council. Bradlands House in Old Marston was built about 40 years ago but will now be demolished to make way for a new 45-flat block.
