Archive
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Witney Music festival set to be a blast
WITNEY will be awash with sound as the annual Witney Music Festival descends on the town. Pubs, clubs and churches will come alive as dozens of musicians from West Oxfordshire perform from tomorrow until May 6. The centrepiece is a concert
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Talented Oxford Academy teens get a head start in careers with help from U's stars
YOUNGSTERS at the Oxford Academy had one eye on the ball and one on the future at a special event this week. In the first session held on Wednesday as part of a collaboration between Oxford Academy, Unipart Logistics and Oxford United, 39 teenagers
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Summery pictures prove a hit with young Jack
ANDREW Norton, director of The Jam Factory restaurant and arts centre, took his two-year-old nephew Jack Gaskell to an exhibition by Oxfordshire-based artist Lynette Kay. Flight is a collection of mixed media paintings reflecting the artist’s ‘
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Neighbour's pool helps stop gas cylinder from exploding in workshop blaze
WATER was pumped from a neighbour's swimming pool to stop a gas cylinder from exploding during a blaze at a workshop. The fire broke out at the workshop in Mongewell, near Wallingford, at 5.30pm on Thursday. Because of the rapid spread of the
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City council talks tough to university in Port Meadow row
OXFORD University has been warned by the city council that it may be forced to reduce the impact of its Castle Mill buildings. The threat came as campaigners announced that a fighting fund has been created to fight the controversial scheme in the
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Marcham trust scales down its £2m centre dream
A PLAN to build a £2m community and sports centre in Marcham has gone back to the drawing board. The Anson Trust, which would have run the facility, has now said it wants to build a community hub on a much more modest scale on its own land.
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Animal rights protest at lab
A NATIONAL rally for animal rights protesters is being staged in Oxford. Hundreds of campaigners from across the country are expected to descend on the city tomorrow and gather at Oxpens Meadow next to the ice rink on Oxpens Road. The World
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Toyota adds a touch of fun to its ever-reliable Auris model
The fact that ‘rational’ is the eighth word in a press pack running to more than 5,300 words about the new Toyota Auris speaks volumes about this car. Hard on its heels in the chunky blurb are the holy trinity of family motoring – quality, durability
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Cutting edge artist uses freshly-shorn locks to paint
SOME creatives go above and beyond for their art. Adam Wozniak went back and sides. The 23-year-old Oxford student had his locks shorn before making them into a brush – which he then used to paint what he described as an “avant-garde expressionist
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Peter's first book looks a bit of a gem
BY day, Peter Kavanagh is in charge of making sure troops get vital supplies, but at night he enters a world of jewel thieves and adventures. Mr Kavanagh, a manager at Bicester Defence Storage and Distribution Centre, has just published his first
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Miles of smiles for marathon runners
SOME OF them are still trying to catch their breath, and others are already looking forward to their next race. But for everyone who ran the London Marathon last Sunday it was a day to remember. We were contacted by dozens of local heroes running
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FOOTBALL: Oxford United Ladies admitted to Super League
OXFORD United Ladies will compete in Women's Super League 2 next year. The U's won their bid to play in the revamped league structure for 2014 where their opponents will be Aston Villa, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Durham, London Bees (Barnet FC),
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Students on course for world leadership
CONTEMPLATE for a moment the leadership qualities of Margaret Thatcher: the steely resolve, unbreachable conviction, manic energy and that icy stare. Can you imagine trying to teach any of that? In fact can you imagine teaching what it takes to
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Buy-a-brick boost for primary school
A GROWING school is launching a £50,000 fundraising campaign to build a new classroom. Staff and parents at Bampton CofE Primary are today unveiling a sponsor-a-brick scheme to raise cash. The school in Bowling Green Close is expecting its
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ROWING: Triggs Hodge wins with new partner
Oxford's double Olympic gold medallist Andy Triggs Hodge changed partners at the British senior and under 23 trials at Caversham at the weekend – but still ended the event with a comfortable win in the men’s pairs. Partnering his Molesey clubmate
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Reward over 2004 murder raised to £40,000
A reward of up to £40,000 has now been offered over the murder of Kevin Lavelle, who died following a fight outside the Cricketer’s Pub in 2004. The 29-year-old Merseyside resident, who was working in the town, got into an altercation with a group
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Dictionary chief has the last word - retire
JOHN Simpson doesn’t have a favourite word in the English language – he loves them all. He joined the Oxford English Dictionary staff in 1976 and, since becoming chief editor in 1993, 60,000 new words have been added. Now Mr Simpson, 59, says
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RUGBY UNION: Oxon's opener
OXFORDSHIRE have named an inexperienced side for their County Championship Shield Pool 3 opener against Surrey at Guildford RFC. Witney prop Jamie Burke, lock Richard Haire, centre Matt Clarke, wing Lewis Collins and full back James Monks are among
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BADMINTON: Atkins bags top trio
ALICE Atkins celebrated a hat-trick of under 17 titles in the Oxfordshire restricted tournament at the White Horse Leisure & Tennis Centre, Abingdon. Atkins, from Drayton, won gold in the girls’ singles, the girls’ doubles with her sister Louise
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CYCLING: Cannon's triumph
JUSTYN Cannon won the AW Cycles ten-mile Open Time Trial after a strong display on the Witney course. Cannon (RAF CC) clocked 20mins 24secs for his fourth win this season, which came as he used Osymetric chain rings for the first time. Oxonian
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TENNIS: Making history
OUR Lady’s Abingdon have reached the regional final of the Aberdare Cup – the national schools’ competition – for the first time. They will face either Tudor Hall or Wycombe Abbey after hammering Bradfield College 10-2 in their semi-final.
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FOOTBALL: Gee rues Millers' 'average' season
North Leigh manager Mark Gee has admitted this season’s Division 1 South & West campaign in the Evo-Stik Southern League has been one of the most frustrating he has experienced. The Millers complete their term when they host Bridgwater Town
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University graduates top wealth table
A RICH list of university graduates has revealed that the city’s alumni top the table. Oxford University has the most ex-students with the highest net worth, according to a study by Wealth-X wealth analysts. The report, featuring 20 UK universities
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Guns N’ Roses legend appears in Witney Corn Street diner
WITNEY: Young rockers enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime experience yesterday when a rock star came to town. Duff McKagan, the former bass player with Guns N’ Roses, appeared at Fat Lil’s diner in Corn Street with his new band, Walking Papers. The
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COMMENT: Food for thought
THE comments by a young Conservative about food bank users were stupid, but also have to be seen in the context they were almost certainly created – through the ignorance and inexperience of youth. Hopefully Liam Walker’s apology is heartfelt and
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Young Tory food bank tweeter 'totally out of touch,' says Labour leader
LABOUR leader Ed Miliband called a young Conservative “totally out of touch” after he appeared to claim people who used food banks did not always spend their money wisely. West Oxfordshire Conservative Future chairman Liam Walker said on Twitter
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Homes on show at Littlemore site
OXFORD: Residents can view plans for 40 affordable homes on a disused allotment site. Plans for the East Minchery Farm site in Littlemore go on show today at Falcon Close, Blackbird Leys, from 3pm-7pm. They will also be shown tomorrow at Littlemore
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RUGBY UNION: Grove seek home boost
GROVE are hoping a large home crowd can roar them on to promotion when they host Trowbridge in tomorrow’s Southern Counties play-off (3). Having been pipped to the Southern Counties North title, they take on the Southern Counties South runners-up
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Labour leader Ed Miliband goes walkabout in the heart of Cameron's Witney territory
ED Miliband did his bit for the local economy as he took Labour’s local election fight to the heart of David Cameron’s constituency. The Labour leader met traders, shoppers and party activists in Witney yesterday, and as well as a copy of the Big
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Abdominal surgery to stay suspended at Horton Hospital
A CONSULTATION on reinstating abdominal surgery at Oxfordshire’s second general hospital has been delayed. Surgery was suspended at Banbury’s Horton General Hospital in January because managers said it did not have enough consultants. The body
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RUGBY UNION: London Welsh coach Jones nominated for top award
London Welsh’s Lyn Jones has been nominated for the Aviva Premiership’s coach of the season award. Exiles’ head coach Jones is shortlisted for the QBE director of rugby award alongside Richard Cockerill (Leicester Tigers), Mark McCall (Saracens
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FOOTBALL: City hit back to grab late point
Oxford City staged a superb rescue act with two goals from substitutes in the last eight minutes to earn a point from their Blue Square Bet North visit to Stalybridge last night. Mike Ford’s changed side seemed to be heading for defeat when they
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FIXTURES April 26
SATURDAY FOOTBALL NPOWER LEAGUE TWO Accrington Stanley v Oxford Utd. BLUE SQUARE BET NORTH Oxford City v Bishops Stortford. EVO-STIK SOUTHERN LEAGUE Premier Div: Bashley v Banbury Utd. Div 1 South & West: Abingdon
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Experience before vote
I FEEL the electorate of Oxford should experience at least one full council meeting before they award anyone their vote. I attended the Oxford City Council meeting at the Town Hall on Monday, in the council chamber. The Green Party and the
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Hydro-power will not sustain river fish levels
I READ with horror the Oxford Mail article “People power saves hydro-electric plans” (April 24). I cannot believe that these residents can think that their turbine is an environmentally friendly source of power. For the sake of supplying electricity
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RUGBY LEAGUE: Benson focused on Oxford
OXFORD RL head coach Tony Benson returns to his former club when they visit Oldham in Kingstone Press Championship One on Sunday. Benson and a number of his Oxford squad were at Oldham last season, but he stressed this will not affect their focus
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Oxford boss Wilder's highs and lows
Chris Wilder joined Oxford United in December 2008, replacing Darren Patterson, with the club 13th in the Blue Square (Conference) Premier. The former Halifax Town boss lost his first game in charge, going down 2-1 away to Salisbury City on Boxing
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Folk festival means belly dancers and some special tea
I CAN’T pretend to be a folk music aficionado. The absence of instrumental skills and a ‘nil point’ singing voice cast me in a support role. On the other hand, well-stocked bars at both Fairport’s annual Cropredy Convention and Towersey Festival
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Reassuring cancer talk
I WOULD like to thank everyone involved in the cancer and haematology lecture that took place last Saturday at the John Radcliffe Hospital. I was just one of many people there, and I am sure that I speak for all of us when I say a big thank-you
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Stupid to mic the cox
SO Ofcom is investigating swearing by Oxford cox Oskar Zorilla during the broadcast of the University Boat Race. It was stupid of the programme makers to put a microphone on the coxes. Those words were normal encouragement for the oarsmen who
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A Thatcher musical
WITH the recent passing of Margaret Thatcher, it is surprising how similar her life compares to that of Eva Peron of Argentina. Both women hailed from humble and obscure backgrounds to achieve fame as political heavyweights. In Margaret Thatcher
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Council is no circus
OH, what a circus! Steve Bennett should leave the city council people to do their jobs. I’m quite sure they would not be working in the council if they did not know how. Most people know the trouble with the housing shortage and that money
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On the spot
A big thank you to all who put on a second charity show at Exeter Hall, Kidlington on Saturday, April 20. We were entertained by the M3 Sisters and Jonny and the Jive Tones, as well as piano players. We all had a wonderful time and all the
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No sleep after marathon
HOW nice to see the thousands of people, young and the not so young, taking part in the London Marathon. Once again many are raising lots of money for their various charities and other good causes. The overall distance is 26.2 miles, without
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Stay united for U's
I WAS thrilled and delighted to read of the latest ‘takeover’ of the Oxford City Football Club. However, don’t let’s get carried away until something concrete really happens. I can remember, with other former members of the club, buying shares
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RUGBY UNION: Poulson issues Hawks warning
HENLEY Hawks director of rugby Mike Poulson says they cannot afford to look beyound tomorrow’s National 2 South trip to Shelford. Hawks can set up a winner-takes-all clash with Worthing for the title on May 4 by beating Shelford. But Poulson
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FOOTBALL: City have no qualms about switch to South
Oxford City chairman Brian Cox says the club would have no qualms about switching to the Blue Square Bet South division. With the number of northern teams coming down, Cox thinks a switch is inevitable. Although City have racked up the miles
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A34 tyre drama
Drivers had to swerve past a tyre on the southbound A34 between Pear Tree and Botley, Oxford, at 11.30am yesterday. Police diverted traffic for about 20 minutes to remove it.
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Schoolgirl Atlanta’s date with a duchess
WHEN the Duchess of Cambridge visited Oxford in February last year, schoolgirl Atlanta Hissey-Powell was just another face in the crowd waving at the Royal visitor. This week, she went from bystander to guest after Kate, now six months pregnant
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Oxford United boss passes his test to get new deal from chairman
IAN Lenagan says he tested Chris Wilder for three months before deciding to retain him as Oxford United manager for next season. Mounting speculation over the 45-year-old U’s boss’s future was ended yesterday with the announcement he had signed
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CCTV clues to street robbery
Police are still studying CCTV of two men who robbed a security guard delivering cash to a bank in Oxford. The pair are believed to have stolen a “significant” amount of money as it was carried to the NatWest branch in Cowley Road at about 3pm
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A40 roadwork woes should be over
OVER-running roadworks which caused headaches for Oxford drivers yesterday were set to be completed early today. The westbound A40 is being partially resurfaced between the Cutteslowe and Wolvercote roundabouts. The overnight work by Oxfordshire
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Oxford United boss: I'm a better manager now
AFTER coming through the toughest season of his career, Chris Wilder has vowed to make improvements in his approach to take Oxford United to the next level. The 45-year-old has weathered severe criticism at times over the last nine months, as inconsistent
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Oxford United to hold player contract talks next week
FOLLOWING on from the decision to clear up Chris Wilder’s future as manager, the next big decision is on Oxford United’s players. The majority of the first-team squad are out of contract at the end of the season. Their wait is almost over,
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Local core key for Oxford United chairman
INCREASING the role of local players promoted from Oxford United’s youth system is a key objective for chairman Ian Lenagan over the next season. It is a decade since the club last had a clutch of youngsters come through and make an impact in the
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COMMENT: More to be done to run cowboys right out of town
THE results of a single week’s sweep of suspect rogue traders has certainly brought some eye-opening results. Seven arrests and almost £30,000 in suspect work being cancelled seemingly shows just how prevalent the problem of cowboy workmen preying
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Operation against rogue traders leads to seven arrests and saves residents £30,000 in a week
A CRACKDOWN on rogue traders has saved Oxfordshire residents nearly £30,000 in just a week, trading standards said last night. Police and trading standards officers made seven arrests, seized three vehicles and issued six written warnings during
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Wright backs Oxford United's decision on Wilder
OXFORD United captain Jake Wright welcomed the decision to keep Chris Wilder as manager for next season. The 27-year-old admitted the lack of clarity over the situation had not been ideal, but believes the club have made the right move in giving
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New research hub at Harwell a catalyst for cutting-edge science
A NEW research centre in Oxfordshire will help find ways to speed up mass production of medicines and make exhaust fumes less toxic. The UK Catalysis Hub at Harwell, which was officially opened by Wantage and Didcot MP Ed Vaizey last Friday, will
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Homeless Oxford man awaiting his fate for punching dog’s face
A HOMELESS man will be sentenced today after losing an appeal against his conviction for repeatedly punching his dog in the face. Snowy Snow, of O’Hanlon House night shelter, will appear at Oxford Crown Court this morning to learn his fate for
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Lydia thrilled to take Miss Oxfordshire title
STUDENT Lydia Williamson has been crowned 2013 Miss Oxfordshire. The 22-year-old, who is studying Religion, Theology and International Relations at Oxford Brookes University, took the title at a ceremony at Witney Lakes Resort. As well as winning
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Resident taken to hospital after smoke inhalation at flats
A resident has been taken to hospital after smoke was seen coming from flats in St Clement's, Oxford Fire crews were called to the scene at around 8.30am today after the smoke was spotted. Two fire engines from Slade Park and Rewley Road Fire