Archive
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Youth club teenagers to star on TV
FIFTEEN teenagers who help to run their Wantage youth club will become TV stars this weekend. The Sweatbox Union is one of five groups to win the Rotary International of Great Britain and Ireland’s Young Citizens’ Award, for making a positive difference
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College ready for summer Shakespeare
Some time ago in this column I expressed the hope that the appointment of the distinguished Shakespearian scholar Jonathan Bate as Provost of Worcester might signal the revival of outdoor productions of the Bard’s work in the college’s lovely lakeside
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The White Horse Inn, Duns Tew
The White Horse Inn, Duns Tew OX25 6JS 01869 340 272 whitehorsedunstew.com The article that follows came close to being ‘spiked’ when it emerged that the White Horse Inn in Duns Tew caught fire hours after I finished writing about it
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Dandelion and spinach soup
By mixing dandelion with spinach you obtain a delightful balance of flavours — the bitterness of the dandelion leaves certainly doesn’t dominate but it adds something special. To obtain an attractive green finish, a handful of the mixed leaves added
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Lion's tooth weed has so many uses
Those who knew and remember the late Mollie Harris of The Archers fame, who lived in Eynsham, will no doubt recall her excitement as the middle of April approached. This was the time she began in earnest gathering ingredients for her home-made wines
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Alpine inspiration for this icy spring
Over a bleak Easter, too cold to garden, I listened to Radio 4’s In Pursuit of Spring presented by naturalist Matthew Oates. It followed Edward Thomas, poet and naturalist, on his Easter journey by bicycle from Clapham in South London to the Quantocks
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Preview of Best of Bonds at the Phoenix Picturehouse
More than 50 years and six different Bonds, yet all with one thing in common – their licence to kill. And never have three numbers meant more than these...007. In short they stand for ‘Action’ but in long-hand they translate into vodka martinis
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Oblivion (12A)
Sci-fi thriller Oblivion starring Tom Cruise was released yesterday, yet had still not screened to critics in time for today’s The Oxford Times going to press so we have this slightly shorter overview for readers... Since the release
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The Place Beyond the Pines (15)
THREE STARS The sins of fathers are revisited upon the sons in Derek Cianfrance’s doom-laden triptych, which reunites the award-winning writer-director with his Blue Valentine star, Ryan Gosling. The Place Beyond The Pines is a slow-burning
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Theatre highlights, April 11
Ballet THE SLEEPING BEAUTY The Mill Theatre, Banbury Sunday 2.30pm and 6pm themillartscentre.co.uk The Vienna Festival Ballet is a favourite at Banbury and now brings its traditional, enchanting The Sleeping Beauty. This classic
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James Baker on The Incredible Book Eating Boy
The Incredible Book Eating Boy is the latest offering from Bootworks Theatre Collective who are taking on Oliver Jeffers’ award-winning picture book of the same name. Adapting a children’s book for the stage marks the company’s first foray into
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The Misanthrope: Oxford Playhouse
FOUR STARS Molière’s cleverly observed comedy of manners has been given a sparkling, playful makeover by poet Roger McGough in this witty and engaging new production by English Touring Theatre. The play mercilessly pokes fun at the affectations
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Rapunzel: Oxford Playhouse
THREE STARS Rapunzel is far from a frivolous tale, says choreographer Liv Lorent about her company’s new production. “We have enjoyed bringing it to life for an adult audience as well as for children”. And there lies the problem. What adult
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LIFE LESSONS: Simon Read, a BAFTA-winning computer game designer
WHAT I’M CALLED: Simon Read MY AGE: 36 WHAT I DO: I create computer games. My most successful title is New Star Soccer, which has been around on PC for 10 years now, but last year I released it on mobile devices. WHERE I LIVE: A two-bed flat in
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Julian Glover on his role in Maurice's Jubilee at Oxford Playhouse
Having made a career out of playing the most iconic baddies on earth (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Bond, Harry Potter and Dr Who to name but a few) it is therefore a surprise to find that Julian Glover is particularly gentle in real life, and a delight
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Tax on empty shops brings in millions
COUNCILS in Oxfordshire have levied more than £37m in business rates from empty shops and offices in the county over the last three years. Information obtained by the TaxPayers’ Alliance shows owners of commercial properties are still shelling
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Bicester club celebrates 60th anniversary
A SOCIAL club set up after a street party for the Queen’s Coronation is to celebrate its 60th anniversary. The Highfield Social Club in Bicester is still going strong after forming in June 1953. And it is bucking the economic trend that has
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Flower fans flock to show
HORTICULTURALISTS welcomed the onset – hopefully – of better weather at the Abingdon Horticultural Society Spring Show. About 80 people attended the show at the Northcourt Centre in Northcourt Road. Horticulturalist David Hastings said: “We
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Themed food chain may be opening soon
NATIONAL restaurant chain Nando’s could soon open a new branch at Witney’s Marriotts Walk shopping centre. The Portuguese-themed chicken restaurant is negotiating with the centre's landlords over a shop which has been empty since the centre opened
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£300k pledge to improve busy school cycle route
A £300,000 boost will aim to make the B4017 Wootton Road between Abingdon and Wootton safer for cyclists. The work, due to be completed in the next year, will improve the design and layout of the road where John Mason School and Abingdon and Witney
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Homes plan is considered
TWO homes could be built on empty land in Headington if city councillors follow the advice of planning officers. Officers at Oxford City Council have recommended that new homes near Lime Walk should be approved. Applicant John Warburton wants
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‘My cab firm won’t disturb local people’
A BUSINESSMAN who wants to create a cab company in Marston has moved to reassure residents over its impact. Michael Tohill has applied for permission to use the former Marston Heating & Plumbing Supplies in Marston Road as a base for his business
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Run fund gets cash for mash
FANCY supporting the annual Oxford Town and Gown run through the city but less than keen to put in the training hours? An Oxford restaurateur has come up with a less demanding way to back the event, which has raised more than £1m for the Muscular
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Science show uses thermal imaging
FOR once the recent cold weather came in handy. A science show for families in Oxford used infrared and thermal imagery to illustrate how visible light works. Tom and Lily Wooldridge were surprised to see a computerised map of their faces showing
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Wantage pop-up shops could boost business
TEMPORARY shops could soon be popping up across Wantage as part of a scheme to boost local business. Iain Nicholson is one of two town team coordinators appointed to improve the local economy, and his job is to fill the 23 shops currently on the
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Prue's winning recipe
BY THE time Prue Leith moved from London to West Oxfordshire 35 years ago, she could have been forgiven for kicking back and taking it easy. After all, she had already built a highly profitable catering business, opened her own restaurant, for
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Wheelchair-bound cyclist sues driver
AN elderly cyclist left in a wheelchair after being hit by a car is suing the man he claims caused his injuries. Former postmaster Ronald Watts, 87, of Courtfield Road, Stanton St John, has issued High Court proceedings against Tony Smith, of Holton
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Disabled bus passengers threaten legal action
A BUS firm has pledged to ensure drivers create space for wheelchair users after two friends threatened legal action. Robert Light and Mandi Cook claim they are being left stranded at bus stops because drivers are failing to demand parents move
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FOOTBALL: Bampton secure crown
GILES SPORTS WITNEY YOUTH LEAGUE BAMPTON Town claimed the Under 9 White League title with two matches to spare after winning 4-1 at Grendon Rangers. The visitors took the lead when a goal kick from keeper Daniel Pilkington went straight in.
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FOOTBALL: North Leigh put a dent in Yate's hopes
NORTH Leigh put a dent in Yate Town’s play-off hopes in Division 1 South & West of the Evo-Stik Southern League with a 2-0 win last night. The visitors were well worth the victory after two second- half goals in three minutes from James Organ
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FOOTBALL: Oxford City boss 'wants to nail it down'
OXFORD City boss Mike Ford is warning his players of a backlash as they look to record a double over Bradford Park Avenue at Marsh Lane in tonight’s Blue Square Bet North clash. On Monday, City inflicted Bradford’s first defeat in ten games with
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FOOTBALL: Oxfordshire Senior Cup final date fixed for May 1
THE Oxfordshire Senior Cup final will take place next month after the end of the league season, with Oxford United hosting Oxford City at the Kassam Stadium on Wednesday, May 1. The final has been put back due to City’s fixture backlog in the Blue
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FOOTBALL: Hill are held
TOWER Hill Ladies were held to a 2-2 draw by Newbury in their mid-table Southern Women’s Region Division 1 clash. The hosts went ahead when left winger Harriet Coe fired home, only for Nicole Beesley to level. Although Charley Hamilton restored
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FOOTBALL: It's 800 up for loyal Heapy
DIDCOT Town skipper Jamie Heapy is about to add to his already legendary status by playing his 800th game for the club. In reaching this extraordinary milestone, the 34-year-old will have played in almost every outfield position, scoring 32 goals
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Housing and homelessness on city meeting agenda
Homelessness, housing policy and economic growth will be discussed at a meeting tonight. Oxford City Council’s city executive board will meet from 5pm at the Town Hall.
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Work starts on Cowley Road student flats despite local traders' fears
IT HAS been one of Oxford’s most controversial developments of recent years. But now work has started on the construction of 140 student rooms above St Clement’s car park. The scheme has been in the pipeline since 2004 and has upset traders in
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Faringdon 'tough cookie' turns 100
SELF-CONFESSED ‘tough cookie’ Vera Della Bilbe, who has lived through two world wars and travelled the world, has turned 100. The Faringdon centenarian celebrated the milestone yesterday at Anchor’s Ferendune Court in Ash Close surrounded by friends
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Bicester train fatality was 19
BICESTER: A man killed by a train on Monday was a 19-year-old from Bicester, British Transport Police said. The man has not yet been named. Emergency services were called at 1.20pm to the railway line near Howes Lane in Bicester. The death
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Banbury driving test centre stays
BANBURY: A driving test centre will not shut, bosses announced yesterday. The future of the West Bar Street facility was uncertain after the centre’s lease ran out on March 31. But a Driving Standards Agency spokesman confirmed yesterday the
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Tesco Online linked to Didcot business and leisure site plan
A NEW Tesco depot could be one of dozens of businesses creating hundreds of new jobs on the edge of Didcot. London-based Reef Estates wants to develop a 132-acre site bordered by the former power station, a landfill site and the A4130. It comes
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Good site for wind farm
Dr Sandalls (ViewPoints, April 2) may be correct in suggesting that other parts of Britain have higher wind speeds than Oxfordshire. That does not necessarily make Oxfordshire unsuitable for wind farms. There is already a well-established and commercially
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Market losing character
OXFORD had one of the loveliest and liveliest covered markets in England. Now it is rather chilling to walk into the market from the Golden Cross, past the three large shops that have been left empty. What was special about our 18th century market
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Grave concerns on the truth of Port Meadow
COUNCILLOR John Tanner claims that “nothing was hidden from councillors” in relation to the Port Meadow flats development (ViewPoints, April 5). However, only access to planning files under the Freedom of Information Act revealed that the damning
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THE DISABLED SPACE: How I realised I have cracked my disability
So given the benefit debacle and Maggie’s death it would seem an obvious thing to talk about the political system in reference to disability but instead I’m going to talk about a Hawaiian dolphin trainer. He’s called Adam. Thanks to the wonders
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FOOTBALL: Amanda's treble tonic
OXFORD MAIL GIRLS LEAGUE OXFORD City kept up the pressure on Under 11 League leaders Crowmarsh with a 4-1 home victory over Tower Hill Vixens. Amanda Osarabo-Nacy netted the first of a hat-trick to put City ahead, but Jade Wright equalised
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MAC THE KNIFE: How to mix alcohol with parenthood
“How’s your mum this morning?” my friend enquired during the school run after a particularly good girls night out. “She’s fine but she’s not allowed to eat cocktails anymore,” came back the stoic reply from my six year-old. How God managed to invent
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Lib Dems are a letdown
WE’RE constantly hearing the Liberal Democrats claim they are a restraining influence on their Conservative allies in government. Perhaps, then, they could tell us why they’re backing these appalling and unfair policies that are hitting thousands
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Treasured items returned
I WOULD be very grateful if you could publish this letter as I have no other means of thanking a very kind lady who helped me out last Friday. Late in the afternoon, my fiancé, our 11-week-old baby son and I returned to our car parked at the top of
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Thatcher hurt country
LET’S remember Mrs Thatcher for what she did for this country. I first marched against her in 1971 when she was the “milk snatcher” taking free milk from primary school children. As Prime Minister she went on to destroy coal mining and steel communities
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On the spot
NEVER mind who committed the murders in Death on the Nile, or on the Orient Express, the question I want answered is – have Wallingford residents got nothing better to do than reveal to the world that famous author, Agatha Christie, sometimes suffered
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Carfax Tower gets a clean up
THE iconic chiming quarter boys were removed from their home in Carfax Tower yesterday. The figures’ blue, scarlet and gold paintwork will be restored in a £35,000 revamp, along with the tower’s bells, clock hands and mechanism. Andrew Hicks
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BULLFINCH: Defendant claims 'it's mistaken identity'
A CHILD sex suspect accused of “preying” on an underage girl has told the Old Bailey she must have got him confused with someone else because of drink and drug abuse. Bilal Ahmed was the last defendant to give evidence in the trial of nine men
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FOOTBALL: Walker hits incredible eight-timer
Matt Walker bagged an incredible eight-goal haul as leaders Eynsham SSC thrashed hosts Combe 11-0 in Witney & District FA Division 2, writes Anthony Barlow. John Ayres and Ross Lewington also scored, while Eynsham keeper Tom Bryant got in on
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FOOTBALL: Cox strikes fires Casuals into final
Didcot Casuals and Long Wittenham Athletic will meet in the North Berks Cup final next month following 1-0 victories in their semi-finals, writes PHIL ANNETS. A strike from Dan Cox Rodgers saw Casuals win at Faringdon Town to reach the final for
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FOOTBALL: Crocker in double joy
Joe Crocker netted a double as Freeland strolled to a 5-0 win at Bletchingdon in the Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division. James Turner, Nathan Langford and Ben Halsey completed their nap hand. Leaders Oxford University Press crushed
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FOOTBALL: Jacob's crackers deliver Faringdon victory
Dan Jacob’s hat-trick helped Faringdon to a 5-0 win at Quarry Rovers in the OXford Mail Boys League's Under 14 C League. Alfie West and Patrick Noakes were also on target for the victors. Harry Minors was another hat-trick hero as Harwell &
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Break-in at Co-op
Raiders stole cigarettes and tried to take cash from the Benson Co-op store yesterday. A group of men forced open the door of the High Street store at 1.10am and were spotted by a member of the public who called the police. No-one was arrested.
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Mini sales drop
Global sales of the Mini dipped in March, latest figures have revealed. A total of 31,763 cars were delivered during the month, compared to 32,422 in the same month last year, a fall of two per cent. Bosses blamed the decline on the four-week
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Woman admits false rape claim
A woman admitted perverting the course of justice by lying about being raped. Kirsty Debanks, 20, of Rookery Court, Didcot, pleaded guilty the charge at Oxford Crown Court on Monday. She admitted making a false allegation of rape against Chris
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Judge gives rogue trader extra time to pay off debt
A ROGUE trader has been given more time to pay back part of an £800,000 haul he swindled from pensioners. Mark Shepherd and Scott Jackson have already served jail sentences for targeting an elderly academic and a dementia sufferer in Oxford during
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Manslaughter charge over chef's death
A MAN has been charged with manslaughter over the death of chef Michael Rogers. Logan Usher, 23, pictured, appeared at Banbury Magistrates’ Court on Monday as his case was sent to Oxford Crown Court. Usher, of Croxford Gardens, Kidlington,
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Baby born in the front seat of Vauxhall Astra
WHEN dad-to-be Robert Locke was told to drive his pregnant girlfriend Sarah Willson to the hospital that’s exactly what he did. And when Miss Willson began to deliver their son herself while in the front passenger seat, the 20-year-old kept on
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Footballer is assualted at end of match
A FOOTBALL player needed reconstructive surgery after he was assaulted following a game on Saturday. Thames Valley Police is investigating the incident which occurred at the end of the match between Headington Amateurs and AFC Hinksey at Barton
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Man on rape charge ‘may have been sleepwalking’
A MAN accused of rape will tell a jury he may have been asleep at the time, Oxford Crown Court heard yesterday. Maximillian Hessel, of Peat Moors, Headington, Oxford, denies one count of rape which allegedly took place on June 31 last year.
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Shortage of city burial plots could become desperate
OXFORD could run of space to bury its dead within the next three years. The city council said it expects Wolvercote cemetery to be full within 12 to 18 months. And the one remaining city burial site in Botley is expected to be full within three
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FOOTBALL: Royals survive cup scare
CUP kings Kidlington Royals kept hopes of more glory alive, but only after being pushed all the way by The Tree Grove in the Critchleys UTV League Devenney Cup quarter finals, writes TIM SIRET. A week after lifting the Sam Waters Cup, the visiting
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SCHOOLS' FOOTBALL: Mixed results for Vale side at festival
VALE of White Horse Schools’ two squads experienced mixed fortunes at the ESFA Isle of Wight Festival. For the first time in its 26 years on the island, the under 14 event included a tournament for under 13 sides. Vale Under 14s recovered from
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COMMENT: A moving story
NEW parents Sarah Willson and Robert Locke must have had the shock of their lives when their son made an earlier than expected appearance. Just how Miss Willson managed to deliver her own baby in the front seat of a car – while it was moving – is quite
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COMMENT: Vote with your feet to support local business
IT comes as no surprise the temporary car park in Marston Road appears to be virtually empty. It is hard to imagine who would want to use it. Any shopper going to St Clement’s would need to drive in and then take the world’s shortest bus journey
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Competition: Last chance to Win Your Wedding!
BRIDES and grooms-to-be have until 5pm today to stand a chance of scooping a £14,000 wedding in the Oxford Mail’s Win Your Wedding contest. Some 23 couples have entered our contest since it opened on March 25. The winning lovebirds will be
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Day of fluffy fun and feeding
SEVEN-YEAR-OLD James Morey got the chance to give Dodge the Lamb a big cuddle and a bottle of milk. On Sunday, Dodge was petted and fussed over at an ‘All Things Wool’ workshop in Barracks Lane Community Garden in East Oxford. The day of fluffy
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Car workers unite for a trip down memory lane
FORMER car workers shared memories of life on the production line to mark 100 years of the city’s Cowley works. Ernest and Kathleen Wright, Roger Needle and a host of others met to celebrate 100 years since William Morris kick-started Oxford’s
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Leys primaries unite under an academy trust
ACADEMY plans to link three Blackbird Leys schools with a leading independent school have all now been approved. The independent Dragon School will work with Pegasus, Windale and Orchard Meadow primary schools in a multi-academy trust. The