Archive
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The Scales Of Justice
People convicted of offences at Magistrates' Courts around the county recently OXFORD Coral Lumsden, 24, of Stert Street, Abingdon, convicted of racially aggravated assault in Abbey Close, Abingdon, on September 5. Also admitted assault by
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Health watchdog delayed due to problems finding support body
Oxfordshire County Council has said the launch of a new patients’ watchdog was delayed to find “the right organisation”. Healthwatch Oxfordshire was scheduled to take over from Oxfordshire LINK on April 1, but the structure is not yet in place.
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Man held over attack on police officer
A 27-year-old man was arrested outside the O2 Academy in Oxford's Cowley Road for allegedly assaulting a police officer. Thames Valley Police spokesman Rhianne Pope said the alleged incident happened about 3am on Saturday, March 30. The man
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Adventure playground builds on a ‘hectic’ year of fun
CHILDREN in Oxford are celebrating the “first” birthday of a bustling playground. Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground reopened a year ago following a two-year closure which many thought was for good. It started life in 1978 as a basic plot
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New performing arts academy has a special Quirke
A PERFORMING arts academy established by actress Pauline Quirke, who appeared in the hit TV series Birds of a Feather, has opened a branch in the city. The Pauline Quirke Academy Oxford will be launched on May 11 at Wheatley Park School, in Holton
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More student flats planned close to controversial scheme
MORE student housing could be built next to one of Oxford’s most controversial recent developments. Plans have been submitted for a three-storey building with nine student flats in Roger Dudman Way, close to Castle Mill. The Castle Mill scheme
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Thatcher tributes flood in
Oxford East MP Andrew Smith: “I heard the news with sadness and sympathy for her family. “Mrs Thatcher was a remarkable political leader. Even when opposing some of her policies you could see what a formidable Prime Minister she was. “Her undoubted
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Sex suspect denies knowing alleged victim was 14 years old
IT is "inconceivable" a man did not know the girl he was having sex with was 14, the Old Bailey heard this afternoon. Defendant Mohammed Hussain told the jury he had sex with the girl about five times from early 2011 but said she had told him she
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Underage sex claims "revolting", suspect tells Old Bailey
A MAN accused of having sex with a child has told the Old Bailey he thought she was older because she drank alcohol and smoked. Mohammed Hussain, 24, told the jury the thought of someone his age having sex with an underage girl was "revolting".
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Chiltern trains back on the move
TRAIN services on the Chiltern Line are running again after a man died when he was struck by a train in Bicester earlier today. The incident happened at about 1.20pm near the bridge carrying the line over the A4095 Howes Lane at the north-west
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'Kickaround' for Jake Spicer leads to community fete
A FOOTBALL tournament held in memory of an Oxford teenager who died from a rare form of cancer has grown into a charity fete. Jake Spicer, from Shepherd’s Hill, Blackbird Leys, died in 2009 aged 15 surrounded by close family at Helen House hospice
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Work on new tennis courts could start in summer
WORK to create a new floodlit tennis facility in the West Oxfordshire village of Lyneham could start in the summer. The planning application from Wychwood Tennis Club proved controversial with some residents, who claimed it would cause light pollution
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Live Blog: Margaret Thatcher
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Writers chipping in to make festival a success
BOOK lovers will be able to listen to big-name authors in small venues at Chipping Norton Literary Festival this month. The event will take place across 10 venues in the town and feature 50 discussions, workshops and children’s events. Writers
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Daredevil Deb is back in the Pink for Ribbonwalk
IN THE five years since she was told she had breast cancer, mum-of-two Deb Hunt has dived from a plane, walked a marathon through London in her bra and even climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. Now she is doing the Pink Ribbonwalk for the charity which helped
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Fundraisers have a spring in their step
WALKERS are being encourage to pull on their boots and raise cash for the NSPCC by joining the annual Blenheim Spring walk. Participants can choose to do two miles, four-and-a-half miles or nine miles around the grounds of Blenheim Palace on Saturday
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Chiltern trains at standstill after person hit by train
TRAIN services on the Chiltern Line through Bicester are currently suspended after a person was hit by a train near Bicester North station. The incident happened shortly before 1.30pm. Emergency services are reported to be on the scene. Trains
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Big Oxford U's Legends match goal is to net cash for disabled in honour of Charlotte Nott
TWO football teams will battle it out next weekend to help raise money for disabled children. Oxford United Legends and the SpecialEffect Allstars face each other at Oxford City Football Club’s ground in Marsh Lane on Sunday. They are raising cash
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Thatcher's bittersweet affair with Oxford
MARGARET Thatcher had a bittersweet affair with Oxford. As a young Margaret Roberts she left Somerville College, Oxford in 1947, clutching a second class degree in chemistry. But when she went on to become education minister her relationship
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Plain sailing for club thanks to cash boost
A SAILING club for disabled children is one of the 33 local groups which will benefit from a share of £30,000. The grants of up to £1,000 each, which come from Sovereign Vale housing association, will be handed out this month. A resident-led
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Delivering a boost to deaf charity
STAFF at a delivery firm in Bicester have helped to raise more than £10,000 for Oxfordshire’s Deaf Children’s Society. In a series of fundraising events this year, staff at DHL Bicester raised £10,815 for the charity. To celebrate raising,
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Fears as outdated GP surgery faces closure
THE future of a satellite doctors’ surgery in Wootton has been thrown into doubt after it was branded “unfit for practice”. A NHS Oxfordshire building inspection has reported the Besselsleigh Road surgery needs modernisation. Botley Medical
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Margaret Thatcher dies
Baroness Thatcher has died aged 87 following a stroke, it has been announced. The former prime minister, who had suffered bouts of illness for many years, was said to have died peacefully. Her spokesman, Lord Bell, said: "It is with great sadness
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Serving exhilarating memories of aircraft
PETER Ponting’s memory of the famous Hastings’ aircraft was that it wasn’t built for comfort. He writes: “It had metal benches either side of the freight bay to seat approximately 15 fully equipped Paras. It was not pressurised and as a result,
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The changing face of Appleton
CAPTAIN Pugwash was a favourite TV character and pupils were no doubt thrilled to see author John Ryan draw his picture during a visit to the village primary school in 1991. The middle picture was taken at the school fete in 1990 and shows seven-year-old
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Pool resources to name Neilsen women
WE’VE seen Neilsen staff enjoying dinners and attending a presentation - this picture shows some of them at work. Women in the typing pool at the market research firm are busy at their desks soon after it moved to Oxford in 1940. As we have recalled
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Parishioners in Wolvercote are solid as a rock
AN EVENTFUL tour of Oxford led by the mayor included an undignified punch-up on Wolvercote Common. We recalled last week how the civic party witnessed a drowning, suffered a ducking in the River Cherwell, was stung by wasps and confronted by an angry
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So well spoken at County Hall contest
MEET some of Oxfordshire’s best speakers. They were among the young people who took part in the 10th annual public speaking contest at County Hall, Oxford, in 1954. It was organised by the Oxfordshire Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs.
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Injured robber gave police slip at hospital
A ROBBER went on the run after escaping from hospital in handcuffs. Martyn Brough, 26, fled from The Horton Hospital in Banbury after being taken there following a police chase. Brough, of Portway, Banbury, admitted carrying out a robbery in
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Flats plan for former school
A HOUSE in Oxford which was previously used as a convent and a school could be turned into flat. Vanderbilt Homes has applied to Oxford City Council to convert the Grade II-listed Lawn Upton House, in Sandford Road, Littlemore, into 24 flats of
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Musical celebration eases family’s pain a year after Aaron's murder
HIS absence left a hole that will never be filled. But the family of murdered rapper Aaron Buron said a night of celebration a year after his death helped them to smile again. Saturday’s event at the East Oxford Community Centre in Princes
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LIFE LESSONS: My proudest moment was when I met the Queen
Today we talk to Claire Dowan, who is director of Base 33 Youth Trust in Witney WHAT I’M CALLED: Claire Dowan. MY AGE IN YEARS: 43. WHAT I DO: Director of Base 33 Youth Trust in Witney, a fantastic charity that provides intensive support
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Historic finds by university archaeologists
Oxford University archaeologists are today examining new finds from a historic naval battle. A recovery project has uncovered 10 ancient bronze warship rams, mostly from a site on the sea-bed near Sicily. The 23-year naval battle between Rome
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Judge criticises scheme delays
A judge spoke out about delays in a new scheme aimed at speeding up court cases. The early guilty plea scheme was introduced last year to speed up cases where a defendant admits guilt, so their plea and sentence can be dealt with at one hearing
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Who benefits?
THE appalling case of Mick Philpott and his children-farm is an extreme example of how the benefits system can be abused but also gives a bad name to genuine benefits recipients. It was inevitable that George Osborne would chip in with his penny
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Complaints to police
ONE of the gravest concerns that the public have regarding the performance and conduct of Thames Valley Police relates to the manner in which the multitude of complaints made annually against the force appear managed. The vast majority seem simply
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Daredevils feel the heat as extreme show takes off at Oxpens Meadow
THE image of death-defying stunts will be burned into the memories of about 1,500 people who flocked to Oxpens Meadow, Oxford, yesterday to watch the daredevils of the Extreme Stunt Show. Audience members marvelled as stuntmen, who are on a national
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Fire halts trains at Bicester
All services from Bicester North train station were suspended for two-and-a-half hours on Saturday because of a fire. Fire crews were called to a rubbish fire, not thought to have been started deliberately, at the side of the tracks at 11.15am.
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Sell Didcot's bricks
IF the powers that be do pull the chimneys down (which are as much of the Oxfordshire skyline as the dreaming spires) couldn’t a few hundred bricks be spared. They could then be sold for charity, say a £1 a brick? Many people would like the
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College campuses to split with new heads
ONE of Oxfordshire’s largest further education colleges will cease to exist from September. Instead, the Banbury, Bicester, and Oxford campuses of Oxford and Cherwell Valley College will become separate colleges with new names and principals under
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Get the roads mended
COULD I suggest to Cllr Rodney Rose that he gets to grip with those responsible for filing holes in the roads? Since the Oxford Mail’s story about informing the Highways Department about holes, I have reported several in the area around New Road
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Oxford United fans' discussion
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Our NHS is for all of us
MY word, I agree with T Siret again: yes the NHS is “ours”. That means mine as well as his. “Ours” also includes elected MPs who believe that the NHS needs to change and have voted in Parliament to do so. In an unbelievably complex organisation
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Charity let down by appalling postal service
THE postal service in Oxfordshire is terrible. I work for a small charity based in Oxford (and work from home in Somerset), and this week has to send a very urgent package to a colleague. I paid (an incredibly expensive) £11 for guaranteed next-day
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RUGBY LEAGUE: Oxford crash to cup defeat
Oxford RL crashed out of the Tetley’s Challenge Cup with a 54-12 defeat at Halifax in the third round.
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ICE HOCKEY: Super Stars crowned champs
Oxford City Stars crushed hosts Basingstoke Buffalo 9-3 last night to win the English National League South Division 2 title in style. Stars took their remarkable winning sequence to 13 league games with another sparkling display. Warren Jones
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FOOTBALL: Cook double sets up welcome win for City
Jamie Cook was the two-goal as Oxford City recorded their first Blue Square Bet North win for nearly two months on Saturday with a 2-1 success at Gainsborough Trinity. After a run of four defeats andd a draw since their previous win against Workington
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FOOTBALL: Didcot pay for misses
Didcot Town were left to rue missed first-half chances as they returned from their Evo-Stik Southern League Divison 1 South & West trip to Bridgwater Town with 1-1 draw. Within the first minute, the visitors could have been ahead. Morgan Williams
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FOOTBALL: Ten-man Abingdon snatch late victory
Abingdon United defied the odds to come back from a goal down, and with only ten men, to score twice for their first win in 12 games as they won 3-2 at Clevedon to ease any lingering doubts over relegation from Evo-Stik Souuthern League Division 1
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CRICKET: Students give champs a big scare
The students of Oxford MCC Universities gave county champions Warwickshire a mighty fright before falling to a narrow 21-run defeat in The Parks yesterday. Oxford set up the chance of rare win over a first-class county by dismissing the Midlanders
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Congregation sings out to help Ellen celebrate 100th birthday
About 100 people helped Ellen Markham fulfil a life-long dream yesterday to celebrate her 100th birthday. The Bicester centenarian accompanied the congregation on the organ at Bicester Methodist Church for her favourite hymn, The Church’s One Foundation
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Kerb appeal?
I ASSUMED that the recent publicity given to a police officer suing a garage owner for £50,000 for injuries received when she tripped over a kerbstone was a prelude to an April Fool’s joke. It now appears to be a serious matter based on a genuine
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Batt bemoans flawed season
Damian Batt felt Oxford United’s entire disappointing season was summed up in their 1-0 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers. A superb finish from Joel Grant in the first half provided the only goal of the game as United tasted defeat for the fourth time
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RESULTS: April 6-7
FOOTBALL NPOWER LEAGUE TWO Oxford Utd 0, Wycombe Wands 1. BLUE SQUARE BET NORTH Gainsborough 1, Oxford City 2. EVO-STIK SOUTHERN LEAGUE Premier Div: Banbury Utd 1, Chesham Utd 2. Div 1 South & West: Bridgwater Tn 1,
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FOOTBALL: Blossom sent off in Banbury defeat
Banbury United defender Wayne Blossom was sent off in injury time as Chesham extended their 12-match unbeaten Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division run with a 2-1 away winBlossom was shown the red card for an over-the-top tackle on Dave Fotheringham
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COMMENT: Civic deficit duty
MANY residents will be surprised to discover that for the last 11 years, councillors have been entitled to a pension for their “civic” role and that one in four county, city and district councillors are currently members of the “gold plated” scheme
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£1m forked out for councillor pensions
TAXPAYERS have given almost £1m to Oxfordshire councillors’ pensions as part of an “unjustified” scheme that will be outlawed. Some £960,814 in contributions have been made to the “gold plated” Local Government Pension Scheme by Oxfordshire councils
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THE MAN ABOUT TOWN: Poetry leaves me dead, just give me prose . . .
I wish I could write a great poem, An epic that doesn’t have rhyme, But the problem I have Is I’m a bit of a chav, Which is why I ‘isn’t’ sublime. I’ve always liked simple verses, That speak of life’s charming affairs, And this may cause alarm
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Bodleian to net Internet history
OXFORD University’s Bodleian Library is to begin keeping a record of Brtiain’s Internet history for future generations. The library has the right to receive a copy of every UK electronic publication under new laws. The Bodleian, along with
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Pub landlady thanks regulars for clean-up after fire
A LANDLADY thanked regulars who helped clean up after her pub caught fire. The roof of the 17th century White Horse in Duns Tew, near Deddington, had to be dismantled when a chimney fire got out of control. Sarah Inwood said: “The customers
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Day 42: Monday, April 8
10:24am 33-year-old Bassam Karrar faces three rape charges, three of conspiracy to rape, two of child prostitution, and one of sex trafficking. — @Ben_Wilkinson_ 08 April 2013
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Belief and confidence has gone, says Wilder
Chris Wilder admitted Oxford United are playing without confidence or belief after their winless run was extended to five games on Saturday. The U’s could not produce a response to a classy finish from Joel Grant as Wycombe Wanderers won the clash
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Iconic ‘quarter boys’ all set for facelift
CARFAX Tower’s iconic chiming quarter boys and clock are set to be restored to their former glory. Scaffolding has already gone up around the Oxford city centre landmark and work to restore the figures and clock will start today. The figures
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Jailed man ‘wasted his last chance’
A SERIAL offender from Oxford was told he had only himself to blame for wasting a chance given him by a judge. Kyle Chadbone was jailed for five months at Oxford Crown Court on Friday after twice breaching a suspended sentence for possessing cannabis
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Rising hospital staff stress 'could lead to mistakes'
NURSES and hospital workers are getting more stressed as changes brought in following Government cuts begin to bite, it was claimed last night. The Oxford University Hospitals Trust (OUHT) survey of almost 4,000 hospital staff found those feeling
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COMMENT: Tragedy if our nurses don’t get time they need
WITH NHS standards in the news from the fall-out of the Mid Staffs inquiry, many will be concerned by today’s front page report on increasing stress felt by county hospital workers. We report that 36 per cent of Oxford University Hospital NHS Trust
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Giant crane towers over shoppers
THIS enormous crane was the reason that a busy street in central Oxford was closed for 19 hours yesterday. It was used to move equipment for work to rebuild numbers 6-12 George Street. In order to get the crane in safely, George Street was
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FOOTBALL: Struggling Millers run out of gas
North Leigh, playing their fourth tough game in eight days, ran out of steam when they lost 1-0 on their Evo-Stik Southern LeagueDivision 1 South & West visit to Evesham United. Both sides had trouble controlling the ball on the bumpy pitch.
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Police are failing fitness tests
MORE than 20 Thames Valley Police officers have failed fitness tests each year in the past 24 months. In 2011, of the 762 officers put through their paces across Thames Valley, 21 failed, and in 2012, 24 out of 945 didn’t make the grade. Those
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Laura's fishy tale set writing event alight
YOUNG writer Laura Scaife has been putting her skills to the test at Waterstones in Oxford. She used ‘story cubes’ at the bookshop on Wednesday to help her come up with a brand new tale. The 10-year-old from Kidlington said: “We rolled these nine
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MOTORCYCLING: Smith crashes out on his MotoGP debut
Bradley Smith cra-shed out on his MotoGP debut in Qatar last night. The Oxfordshire rider, on his Monster Tech 3 Yamaha, came off on lap five when in 11th place. Defending MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo produced a dominant performance to win