Archive
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Three join company
Website specialist White October has made three new appointments. Jo Lankester has been appointed head of design while Stephen Trott and Frances Place join the design and customer relations teams. Ms Lankester said: “In the last few years Oxford
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Chance to buy iconic car for Jensen’s 80th birthday
ENTHUSIASTS wanting to own an iconic Jensen car are being offered the chance of snapping up a rare, limited edition model signalling the marque’s 80th anniversary. A new business, Jensen Motors, which revives the original trading name of the company
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Lack of bricklayers ‘may threaten housing boom’
A CHRONIC shortage of bricklayers and construction professionals in the county could slow down house building and push up property prices still further. Rates for bricklayers have soared from £80 a day in the recession to about £200 thanks to a
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Husband launches natural products for sensitive skin
Supermarket shelves are full of skincare products proclaiming to be “natural” and “organic” but there are question marks over exactly how many chemicals they contain. It was not something Tim Davies gave a lot of thought to until he married Claire
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Jurassic larks at Dinosaur Zoo
Jazz, opera and paleontology correspondent Stuart Macbeth finds the New Theatre Oxford's production of Dinosaur Zoo a monstrous triumph! I’ve tried many ways to make myself comfortable at the New Theatre’s seats but it never occurred to me to sit
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WIN tickets to see Made In Chelsea stars - Young Kato!
Win tickets for gig at O2 Academy Oxford It may not quite rival Oxford, but Cheltenham also has a burgeoning music scene. And at the vanguard are a young bunch of indie-lads called Young Kato. On Tuesday the six-piece head along the A40 to
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On the road with The Hornicator
The ever-inventive Thomas Truax tells Tim Hughes what he does - and why it is necessary to create his own instruments to do it.... WHEN it comes to sheer creativity, there is no one quite like Thomas Truax. The New Yorker not only makes music
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Election day decisions: are we in or are we out?
THE European elections are not only unusual in size but also in the voting system. For the European Parliament is the only body most people in the UK elect using proportional representation. But despite this potential for intrigue there is
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Patrick McHugh: a former councillor who fostered an early interest in the priesthood
A FORMER district councillor for Chipping Norton has died aged 72. Patrick McHugh lived in the town for more than 30 years and was a well-known character in the area who held many different jobs in his time. He served on the district council
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Artist Michelle Field was inspired by Oxford's natural beauty
AN ARTIST from Kidlington who specialised in paintings of Oxford’s waterways and plant life has died aged 60. Mother-of-three Michele Field showcased pieces inspired by the countryside at many solo exhibitions and public galleries. Her work
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Speed-date to do your bit for Oxford charity
PEOPLE in their 20s will be asked to help out their local community following ‘speed-dating’ sessions. Sam Cobley, 26, president of the Oxford Rotaract club, is organising two speed-dating nights later this month to attract new members and see
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COLUMN: We've made huge strides since last year
WHAT a great Sunday in Texas it turned out to be – but it could so easily have ended before we had got started. Jorge Lorenzo was in front of me on the starting grid and made the jump start of all jump starts – before the lights had gone off.
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Ruffels signs long-term contract at Oxford United
JOSH Ruffels has signed a new contract which could keep him at Oxford United until 2018. The 20-year-old was due to become a free agent this summer, but he has now put pen to paper on a two-year deal, with the U’s retaining an option on a further
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Police chase in Oxford led to £1k drugs haul
A POLICE chase led to the discovery of almost £1,000 worth of class A drugs, a court was told. Andrew Adams was sentenced for two counts of possession with intent to supply of Class A drugs, both heroin and crack cocaine. Adams, 25, of Kestrel
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Objections over The Dragon School's proposal to build three-storey music hub
PLANS by a private school in North Oxford to build a three-storey music school have led to concerns by residents in surrounding roads. The Dragon School has set out proposals which could mean the demolition of the school’s Lane House building,
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What am I doing here? It kind of just happened
Jane Messina explains why she is here and what it was like in LA Why on earth are you here? That is the most common response to telling people I grew up in Los Angeles. It’s often from a taxi driver or store clerk — somebody who doesn’t have to
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Helping the world contact ET
As someone in the very fortunate position of owning and running a business from Oxfordshire exporting scientific instrumentation around the world, it’s easy for me to appreciate the contribution that suppliers and contractors from around the county
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A subjective opinion given as if it were generally held
Ialways find it irritating to be told by newspapers or media pundits, concerning any area of human achievement, that so-and-so is “the greatest”. These judgments can only ever be a matter of opinion and it is annoying to have someone else’s views paraded
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Once in a blue moon get-together at Didcot
Racing past Didcot Railway Centre last week aboard a London-bound train, I glanced towards the locomotive shed and was rewarded with a glimpse of an example of the one class of British steam engine ever to reach — just once — the speed at which I would
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DJ cleared of all underage sex charges
RADIO DJ Emma Stanfield has been cleared of all underage sex charges. The jury at Oxford Crown Court returned not guilty verdicts on three counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child and another of causing or inciting sexual activity with
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An absence of harmony
Reg Little on why The Dragon's plans for a new music school are proving contentious The normally harmonious relations between The Dragon School and its neighbours look like being badly disturbed by proposals for a new music school. When that
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It's high Vault-age at this pop-up restaurant in Oxford
Christopher Gray enjoys the food and Madeira under the vaulted ceilings of a pop-up restaurant ‘Have some Madeira, m’dear.” I am lucky enough to have heard the great Donald Swan give a live performance of his and partner Michael Flanders’s song
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Tender local lamb is a great Easter treat
Helen Peacocke looks at lamb's popularity through the centuries Lamb has been part of mankind’s staple diet for thousands of years. The oldest (and now one of the rarest breeds) in this country is said to be the Cotswold breed brought into England
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Former mayor looks back on life at the top of city politics
WHEN John Goddard joined Oxford City Council in 1998 he never thought he would end up running the local authority. But the Liberal Democrat city councillor is now preparing to retire from local government at the next election, having risen to the
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Police to put in revised care home plans
THAMES Valley Police (TVP) has said it still wants to build a care home at the former Wantage Police Station and Magistrates Court. The scheme for 44 retirement apartments, by Churchill Retirement Living, was refused by government planning inspector
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Exhibition tells how gardener coped
Val Bourne discovers the toll that the Great War took on Waddesdon It can’t have escaped you that it’s the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of The Great War this year. Waddesdon, the National Trust property between Bicester and Aylesbury,
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Adders are creatures of such beauty
UK’s poisonous snake is a misunderstood gem of countryside, says Liam Creedon Going in search of the UK’s only venomous snake might, on the face of it, not seem like the sharpest of ideas. But an encounter with dancing adders, as males fight each
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The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a story worth a spin
Damon Smith is smitten with heady romance, but crowded by a villain trio Two is company but three super-villains are a crowd in Marc Webb’s action-packed sequel to his 2012 blockbuster, which successfully rebooted the Marvel Comics franchise.
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Tap Factory are tapping into the energy of dance
Director and choreographer of dynamic Tap Factory, Vincent Pausanias, talks to David Bellan Vincent Pausanias directed and choreographed many shows in Europe and the United States before forming the company that allows him to follow his greatest
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The Rite of Spring has choreography and score finely matched
How appropriate it is that Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring should be performed by a company called Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre. Many may regard the ballet with awe nowadays, but it was famously called a beast at its Parisian premiere in 1913: Stravin-sky
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Austen adaption has a cracking pace
Giles Woodforde is impressed by the way Jessica Swale uses just nine actors With a star-studded film and a popular television adaptation still fondly remembered by many, you would think that embarking on a new stage adaptation of Jane Austen’s
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The Roaring Girl is 'a bit of an embarrassment'
Neglected plays rarely turn out on revival to be especially good plays, thereby supplying the explanation for their neglect. Thus it is, alas, with Thomas Dekker and Thomas Middleton’s The Roaring Girl, which this week launched a season of four productions
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Magical music promised at May festival
Nicola Lisle speaks to co-founder Brian Foster about the Oxford May Music Festival, now in its seventh year How often do you find a musical legend like Alfred Brendel, other world-class instrumentalists and some of the country’s finest scientific
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All sweetness and light with Candy Says and Chrysta Bell
Tim Hughes attends a jaw-dropping double bill This was always going to be special show — and one which dared to be different. For a start, there were three stars — Oxford chic-pop act Candy Says, Texan singer and performance artist Chrysta Bell
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SCALES OF JUSTICE: Cases from the county law courts
BANBURY MAGISTRATES John Carey, 52, of no fixed address, admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of unlawful violence in Bampton on April 3. Given an 18-month conditional discharge and
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Sporting heroes to carry Queen’s baton
THEY go the extra mile for their sport clubs every day. Now three Oxford sporting heroes have been selected to carry the Queen’s baton ahead of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Juliet Field, 67, Ian Warland, 50, and Jonny Pemberton, 33, will
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Thomas Traux is an instrumental force for originality
Tim Hughes speaks to the rock eccentric who creates all his own instruments Thomas Truax is one of rock’s great eccentrics. Endlessly inventive and creative, if it isn’t interesting, weird or beautiful, then Thomas admits he isn’t interested.
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Moore and Rodin present stunning sculptures in a perfect setting
Theresa Thompson enthuses over the sheer range of works from two ‘giants’ The ‘Capability’ Brown parkland and lakeside vistas at Compton Verney make an impressive approach to the award-winning Warwickshire art gallery whichever season you choose
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Modern Art's Paul Hobson on Easter traditions
As Easter approaches, many of us will be drawn into diverse forms of celebration. For Christians, Easter marks the celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the cross, for the more secular minded amongst us, the celebration of the spring equinox
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Dave Swarbrick is fit as a fiddle
Dave Swarbrick tells Tim Hughes reports of his death were just (a little) exaggerated News that the great Dave Swarbrick had died came as a massive shock to fans of the folk-rock fiddle player. It also came as a bit of a surprise to Dave. The
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This week's entertainment top 5
Theatre has never been so terrifying thanks to the Dinosaur Zoo Record shops in Oxfordshire are to hold an afternoon of live music and more this Saturday, find out why Katherine MacAlister catches up with comedian Lucy Porter
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Billy Wilder to be celebrated at Film Festival
BBC Oxford film critic James Luxford looks forward to seeing six great movies from Hollywood director Billy Wilder at this year's Oxford Mail Film Festival Six reasons why this year’s Oxford Mail Film Festival is the most exciting yet! Now
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Can we avoid centre of city when using buses?
PRAISE where praise is due. It normally takes me over an hour to get to Summertown from outer Headington, but with the fairly new 800 service from Thornhill Park and Ride, changing to the 700 at the JR Hospital, I can make it in 25 minutes.
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How long will villages we know and love last?
I’M NOT surprised by the large number of hits Roger Sweet has had for his website of photographs of Oxfordshire villages, because I have enjoyed many years travelling though this pleasant countryside, looking for views to paint and know how beautiful
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Let’s hope town council is not daft on press policy
THE Oxford Mail has had its run ins with Witney Town Council recently – particularly over its decision to exclude our journalists from its meetings. So we were excited to see the council is putting together a media policy, but slightly bemused
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Space to think
In these times of constant pressure to keep up with the pace of 21st century life, the opportunity to retreat to a place offering calm and tranquility can be precious. Such a place is Charney Manor at Charney Bassett, near Wantage. It has an ambience
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Thousands of new homes have to come to Vale
Matthew Barber, the leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, says hard choices over housing development cannot be avoided THE story of the Vale’s local plan is a long one and would be familiar to communities up and down the country. Over
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Council needs to focus on harmful emissions
WHENEVER I visit another city I am struck by how much pollution the buses emit in comparison to our wonderful clean emission buses in Oxford. In the light of your excellent article on air pollution fatalities we are certainly blessed to have these
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Councillors must be at their meetings regularly
THE Conservatives have been rightly criticised for their management of Witney Town Council and its assets such as the Corn Exchange and West Witney Sports Ground. Most recently they’ve come under fire for holding meetings in secret and excluding
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Use of derelict areas in housing policy is vital
I WAS very glad to see the article ‘Councils planning to reduce numbers of empty homes’ (April 14) as this is the quickest route to housing more people. However, the available, empty, built environment and derelict sites are not being considered.
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High house prices until we can undo the belt
LET’S release some Green Belt! Bruce Ross-Smith need not apologise as he did in his letter ‘Green Belt not more important than people’ (April 11). Sad to say Helen Marshall, of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, promotes half-baked views
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An important time in the county for proposed new sites for homes
IN your article entitled “Should Oxford’s Green Belt be used to provide badly needed new homes?” (Oxford Mail, April 9) one of your contributors made a couple of inaccurate statements which I would like to address. Firstly, they claimed the Vale
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How long have I got to make a claim?
There is an issue guaranteed to send a shiver down every litigation solicitor’s back. That is, the issue of limitation. I am not referring to the criminal law where there is no statute of limitations. I am referring to the civil law. What is
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Four-year-old's delight as beloved soft toy is found after Oxford Mail appeal
A BELOVED soft toy that was missing for 10 days has been returned to her very happy owner. Four-year-old Chloe Kinch-Jones and the rest of the family were devastated when they realised the bunny did not come home with them after a visit to Southwold
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Getting your pension pot
It has started. Following George Osborne’s ‘revolutionary’ pensions pronouncements in the Budget, it would appear everyone and his brother are now assuming (incorrectly) all 55-year-olds will automatically cash in their pension and conduct a search
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Food festivities at Wilderness, Giraffe and more
* Food aficionados will love the Wilderness line-up of culinary talent, returning with its most exciting festival to date. Famed as much for bringing together the cream of London’s restaurant crop as it is for the dazzling roll call of guests from
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Teen Taste with Alister Henderson @ Nando's, George Street, Oxford
Alister Henderson reviews his experience of the ever-popular Nando's What was it like? Like a cross between KFC and a well-mannered eatery. Although you had to go and order at the bar, there were lots tables set out so that you could eat in
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A little bit of love goes a long way at Piccolo Amore
Katherine MacAlister believes people will appreciate a family friendly restaurant on the site of a former town pub The highlight? Watching my little girl’s face as the Italian staff, including the chefs, came out to sing her happy birthday in Italian
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Turl Street Kitchen prepares for May Day marathon
Zoe Conn on Turl Street Kitchen's plan to hold a 30-hour open house With a trio of bank holidays on the horizon, we are all hotly anticipating the (all-too-brief) season of the four-day working week. But at the Turl Street Kitchen, we’re always
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How to make a delicious Rhubarb & Brioche Lardy Cake
With a long-held passion for food I eventually got the confidence to move to Italy where I got a job in a restaurant in Florence. Seven years ago we (my husband and I) opened the Kingham Plough. We are lucky that it has gone from strength to strength
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Oxford United owner says fans hold the key to financial stability
IAN Lenagan has called on supporters to match his commitment to Oxford United, with the chairman saying they hold the key to the club’s financial success in the future. Tomorrow, they are due to announce season ticket prices for the 2014-15 campaign
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Council spent £42k on a special media team
SPIN doctors were hired at a cost of £42,000 to help Oxfordshire County Council handle the Oxford grooming gang scandal. The authority spent the cash bringing in public relations consultants following the abuse of children in its care – despite
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Comedian Lucy Porter looks North for inspiration
Katherine MacAlister catches up with comedian Lucy Porter and finds out how she’s juggling motherhood with her stand-up career Last time we spoke, Lucy Porter was up to her ears in nappies and wondering how she’d cope relaunching her career with
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Record shops celebrate surprising success story
Everyone thought shops selling vinyl discs were going the way of the dinosaurs but Tim Hughes learns that they are still out there Not so long ago, it looked like record shops would go the way of all those other quaint but endangered purveyors
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Doyathinkysaurus? T-Rex comes to life at Dinosaur Zoo
Theatre has never been so terrifying thanks to the Dinosaur Zoo, as Katherine MacAlister discovers A cross between Jurassic Park, War Horse and The Muppets, Dinosaur Zoo has now left the West End and is en route to Oxford, thanks to dinosaur fanatic
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Council officer apologises for Passion Play mistake
THE council officer who told Cowley Road Passion Play organisers to cancel their event has apologised for his mistake. Oxford City Council’s licensing team leader, Julian Alison, has admitted he didn’t know a passion play was a religious event.
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Bullfinch: £3m and counting
THE INVESTIGATION into child sex exploitation in Oxford cost more than £3m and is believed to be the biggest criminal inquiry in Thames Valley Police’s history. Operation Bullfinch was launched in May 2011 after police spotted patterns in young
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ICE HOCKEY: Double joy sees Stars reach new heights
DARREN Elliott hailed Oxford City Stars’ first league and cup double as a triumph for the entire club. The South Division 2 Cup winners sealed the league title with a 9-3 victory at Basingstoke Buffalo on Sunday night. Defeat would have seen
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Finding the silent killer
Liver disease is the fastest rising cause of death in the UK, and by the time that symptoms appear the damage is usually too severe for treatment to have any impact. As a result, it is known as ‘the silent killer,’ affecting more than one billion
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Fisherman's daughter who became viscountess
Julie Ann Godson moved to Northmoor four years ago and heard the tale of the humble 18th-century fisherman’s daughter who married a lord and became a viscountess. As a wheelchair-user, she did most of the research for The Water Gypsy from her kitchen
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A century through workers' eyes
The People isn’t quite what you expect from an Oxford historian. It is a passionate account of the history of the working class by someone who arrived here from a Newcastle comprehensive school. The author, Selina Todd, vice-principal of St Hilda
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Comment: Bullfinch case worth every penny
TAXPAYERS’ money is a precious commodity, to be spent wisely and with great care. Heaven knows, there are enough examples where the opposite has happened in our public services. So a £3m bill for a police investigation deserves public scrutiny
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Dacia Duster punches above its weight
What do you want from a car? If it is all the mod cons and conveniences of modern day motoring such as climate control, automatic lights and wipers and a top of the range media system then there is little point in reading on. But if your wishlist
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Selling herbs to Chinese
Selling coal to Newcastle is probably easy enough nowadays, but how can an Oxford company sell a plant-based health food, based on mulberry leaves, to China? Biotech boss Robert Miller said: “We are a very small company using Western science to
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First class travel
Martin Cowell has combined a love of travel with a successful business career to find himself running his own niche firm. Absolute Touring offers mainly foreign visitors the chance to see the delights of the English countryside from the comfort
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Cardboard furniture
If you think cardboard furniture sounds about as much use as a chocolate teapot, then Nicola Russell would urge you to think again. She said: "It is extremely sturdy as well as being light. And the beauty of it is that it uses recycled material
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Plea over missing man
A 49-year-old man, who was last seen in the Littlemore area, has been missing since Saturday. Police are appealing for information about David Morgans, pictured, who was last seen on Saturday at 3pm. They have released a picture of the 6ft
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County dole claimants reach five-year low
The number of people signing on the dole in the county has fallen to just one per cent of the working population for the first time in more than five years. Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show 4,361 claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance
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Indian society clubs together for city’s food bank
VOLUNTEERS offered a helping hand to the Oxford Food Bank in the shape of six boxes. Members of the Oxford Malayalee Samajam (OXMAS) presented the charity with parcels full of spaghetti, dried food and tins on Tuesday. OXMAS is a group of 300
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Comment: Food banks not an adequate solution for civilised nation
THERE is little doubt that the rise of food banks during the recession has been a major embarrassment to the coalition government. Great play has been made of this depressing boom industry by Government critics, among them the Labour opposition
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700 houses on hold
A decision on plans for 700 homes east of Carterton has been delayed. Bloor Homes and Oxford University college Christ Church are seeking outline planning permission from West Oxfordshire District Council to build the houses on land east of Monahan
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Church leaders call on PM to help families going hungry
CHURCH leaders have called for urgent action on food hunger. The Right Reverend John Pritchard, Bishop of Oxford delivered a letter, signed by 47 bishops and more than 500 members of the clergy, to the Prime Minister’s constituency office in Witney
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Literacy foundation honours author Jane Austen
AN INTERNATIONAL literacy foundation set up in Jane Austen’s name has been launched in Oxford by one of the author’s descendants. The Jane Austen Literacy Foundation was officially launched at the Holywell Music Room as part of the World Literacy
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Thursday, April 17
6:21pm Start the bank holiday with a bit of easy listening courtesy of our featured Oxford artist of the week - Jack Olchawski, who plays under the name My Crooked Teeth. We absolutely love this slice of acoustic country pop
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Wildlife? We’re just nuts about it
HALF of Oxfordshire residents have seen a muntjac deer in their garden, but only two per cent think they have ever had a visit from a red squirrel, pictured. These are the results from the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch survey, which reveals Oxfordshire
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AUNT SALLY: First shield success for Kidlington
Kidlington captured the Inter-League Shield for the first time. After beating Yarnton in their opening game, Kidlington saw off Bampton in the semi-finals to set up a clash with holders Chipping Norton, who had beaten Banbury and Oxford. Chippy
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BAR BILLIARDS: Vikings sail through to Knockout Cup final
Vikings Sports Club are into the final of the Johnsons Oxford League Group A Team Knockout Cup after defeating Kennington Club 3-2, writes PETE EWINS. Alan Oliver edged past Brian Rose 3680-3460, before Richard Garrett also won to put Vikings into
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BOWLS: Curtain falls on Petersen's cup career
Oxford City & County’s Mike Petersen has announced his retirement from Oxfordshire’s Middleton Cup squad after 27 years. Oxon’s 32-man squad will get together for an internal trial at Oxford City & County on Tuesday, May 6. Oxfordshire
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ATHLETICS: Fernandez in top-100 for second time
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON PAUL Fernandez secured an impressive top-100 finish, despite struggling in the second half of the race. The England ultra marathon international and Abingdon AC member clocked 2hrs 35mins 18secs for the 26.2-mile
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Witney take title with straight wins
Witney 1 has retained the 1st division title of the Oxfordshire League with a run of 11 straight victories. Only City 1 came close — but Witney won both head-to-heads — leaving no room for argument. As a bonus for Witney, their second team has
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Beauty is skin deep
Allergies and irritations can manifest themselves in all sorts of ways. Skin can be a particularly sensitive organ of the body and the range of diseases and conditions that affect humans seems to grow longer as the years pass by. The supermarket
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RUGBY UNION: London Welsh's Quill keeping grounded
JOHN Quill enjoyed a dream first start for London Welsh with a brace of tries and a man-of-the-match award. But having impressed during the 45-7 victory over Jersey, the USA international flanker is simply hoping to stay involved for Welsh’s play-off
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RACING: King on top of the world with award in Hollywood
Oxfordshire rider Rachel King was presented with the world’s best lady jockey award for her achievements in Arab horse racing at a glittering ceremony at the home of the Oscars in Hollywood. The 23-year-old, who hails from Waterperry, near Oxford
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POINT-TO-POINT: Ledge grabs glory for Mansells
My Lil Ledge provided trainer Julie Mansell and her jockey husband, David, with a family victory in the Southern Grand National mixed open at the Kimblewick Hunt meeting at Kingston Blount, near Chinnor. The nine-year-old mare galloped home to
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ATHLETICS: Dettmar's delight after making mark in capital
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON CHRIS Dettmar’s sprint finish down The Mall proved just enough to break the 2.30-barrier. The 44-year-old Headington Road Runner finished 40th in the nation’s top marathon after crossing the line in 2hrs 29mins
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Mum's the word
As a child, Anna Halloran was rarely separated from her mother Monique, until she went on a gap year. She said: “We have an unusually close relationship and we always will have.” Now, at the age of 28, she has gone into business with Monique, having
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Better by design
The Oxford Preservation Trust has two major schemes — the highly successful awards now in their 37th year which celebrate conservation projects, new buildings, landscape and community schemes and Oxford Open Doors which take the general public behind
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Update: Two men taken to hospital after collision
A BIKER and cyclist have been taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington with injuries after a crash near Wantage this morning. The motorcyclist was left with leg, back and arm injuries and cyclist has leg and possible back injuries from
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Roller girls see red to raise hospice cash
A BICESTER roller derby team have dedicated their 2014 fundraising effort to helping Helen and Douglas House hospice. Code Red Roller Derby, which was set up in February, has chosen the hospice for children and young people in Magdalen Road, East
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Parky at the Pictures (In Cinemas 17/4/2014)
Fifty-nine years ago, few people had heard of James Dean. Within the space of a few months, however, he would become one of the most talked about screen stars in the world, as he earned an Oscar nomination for his first featured role, helped define
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Parky at the Pictures (DVD 17/4/2014)
Short, sharp and to the point is the order of the day for the lastest DVD survey. BROKEN. A chance occurrence alters the world-view of 11 year-old Eloise Lawrence in theatre director Rufus Norris's reading of Daniel Clay's novel, Broken.
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Traffic light troubles
Traffic lights at the London Road level crossing between Priory Road and Mallards Way were stuck on red yesterday, but the barriers were still working. Engineers reset the barriers after they had fallen which Network Rail says caused the lights
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Diabetes doc retires
A GP of 30 years who founded Oxford’s first specialist diabetes clinic will retire today. Dr John Sichel opened Dr Sichel and Partner’s, on Beaumont Street, with his wife Diana Ferguson, in 1984. He has also served as the medical officer for
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Conman Craig Wicks tricked OAPs by pretending he needed cash for taxi to hospital
A HOMELESS man has been jailed for conning money out of two women by pretending he had been in a cycling accident. Craig Wicks, 34, first talked his way into the home of a woman in her 80s in Marston Street, Oxford, on March 17. He told her
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RUGBY UNION: Angels are champions
WITNEY Angels clinched the Women’s National Confer-ence South East West 2 title with a 27-5 win over Marlow at Hailey Road. Angels finished the season with a record of nine wins from ten matches. After a tight opening period, Lauren Tracey
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BOWLS: Docherty's full house
Banbury Cross’s AJ Docherty completed a clean sweep of the Oxfordshire indoor titles with a 21-10 win over clubmate Mark Sykes on their home rink. Docherty, who had already won the pairs, triples and fours, produced some exceptional draw bowling
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ATHLETICS: Kipsang boost for Chalgrove 10K
THE organisers of the Chalgrove Festival 10K have ‘enlisted’ the help of London Marathon winner Wilson Kipsang to promote this year’s race. Having met Kipsang and fellow Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai, who finished sixth on Sunday, ahead of last year’s
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ATHLETICS: Jegou's 'world' win
RICHARD Jegou (White Horse Harriers) edged out Oxfordshire rival David Kuester (Bicester) to take the vet 70 men’s title at a world throwing championships. Although the WTC World 56lb Championships at Moorways Stadium, Derby were poorly attended
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FOOTBALL: Wantage eye up cup glory as Ardley bid to go top
Wantage Town take a break from their Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division promotion campaign for a trip to Ascot United in the semi-final of the Bluefin Sports Challenge Cup tomorrow. After coming from behind to beat Highworth Town 4-2 on
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Exiles coach Ross plays down big-match clash
LONDON Welsh assistant coach Gordon Ross has talked down the significance of tomorrow’s trip to Greene King IPA Championship leaders Bristol (7.45). With the sides possibly facing each other in the play-off final with an Aviva Premiership place
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New care home fees get council approval
Oxfordshire County Council has approved its new care home fees for this financial year. The council has a legal duty to provide residential accommodation for those who need care because of age, illness or disability and as of January this year
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Easter project for Baptist pastor
MOST people spend their Easters eating far too many chocolate eggs. But Derrick Morlan, pastor at Oxford Baptist Chapel in Albert Street, Jericho, has spent the past week building a 15ft wooden ark, as part of a Bible Club, which the chapel puts
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DJ in underage sex trial says her accuser is lying
A RADIO DJ took to the witness stand yesterday to deny she knew a teenager was underage when she had sex with her. Presenter Emma Stanfield, 40, is accused of knowing the girl was 15 when she is said to have given her vodka to drink and engaged
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RUGBY UNION: Theo seeks Euro glory in Poland
THEO Brophy Clews will hope to steer England to glory in Saturday’s FIRA/AER European Championship final. The Abingdon School pupil and his teammates take on Ireland in Wronki, Poland in a bid for a fourth successive European title. Fly half
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RUGBY UNION: Promotion prompts mixed feelings
BICESTER captain Dan Spencer admitted winning promotion had been an anticlimax, but stressed they had a lot to be proud of. Spencer’s side secured the BB&O Premier Division’s runners-up spot and a place in Southern Counties North next season
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BOWLS: Didcot claim Tens title
Didcot won the Tens Competition with a thrilling 79-76 victory over hosts Oxford City & County in the final. The encounter, played in front of a large crowd, went down to the last wood, before Didcot were crowned champions. With all four
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‘Premature’ bid for new housing in Grove
COUNCILLORS have accused a housing developer of jumping the gun, after it applied for permission to build a 75-home extension to a 133-house estate not yet built. Gleeson Strategic Land and JJ Gallagher want to build west of Bellinger’s garage
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‘No justice’ if tenants given £1m property
JUSTICE would not be served if a judgment goes in favour of tenants fighting eviction from a £1m North Oxford house, a barrister said. A three-day hearing to decide the fate of occupants of 17 Warborough Road closed at Bicester Magistrates’ Court
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89 per cent get first choice school
NEARLY 90 per cent of Oxfordshire children due to start school in September have been allocated a place at their first choice. But the number is down more than a percentage point, 89.09 from 90.66, and Oxfordshire’s cabinet member for education
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£91,000 walkways will combat flooding
FLOOD victims previously stranded in their homes last winter are to benefit from two new walkways. The walkways, costing £91,000, are being built for the 23 flats and 10 houses in Osney Court off Botley Road, Oxford, after flooding marooned residents
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GOLF: No panic as Pepperell bids to end his poor run
EDDIE Pepperell insists there is no reason for concern as he looks to turn around a run of missed cuts at the Maybank Malaysian Open, which starts this morning. The Frilford Heath golfer enjoyed an excellent rookie season on the European Tour in
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RUGBY LEAGUE: Oxford at the double
OXFORD Rugby League received a double accolade after their 24-16 victory at Kingstone Press Championship One title favourites York City Knights. Prop Dave Ellison was named the league’s player of the week after what head coach Tony Benson described
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Taxi firms across West Oxfordshire seek 20 per cent rise in fares
TAXI fares in West Oxfordshire could rise by 20 per cent. A group of seven taxi firm owners has asked West Oxfordshire District Council to increase maximum fares for the first one-tenth of a mile from £2 to £2.40. The council is consulting
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Blackbird Leys church spreads word of Easter through painting
A CHURCH in Blackbird Leys has invited residents to join in its Easter celebrations by contributing to a huge mural. The Church Of The Holy Family, in Cuddesdon Way, has been encouraging residents to join in with the painting of the 32ft mural,
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ATHLETICS: Results round-up
(senior men unless stated) VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON Abingdon: P Fernandez (V40) 2.35.18, A Gbenga 3.14.46, J Wiblin (LV45) 3.45.46, P Wilson (LV55) 4.33.50. Alchester: I Hunter (V40) 2.51.36, W Hunter (LV40) 3.31.05, L Pinnell 3.52.07
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Abingdon car park barriers ‘delay 999 cases’
AMBULANCES have been delayed getting into a hospital since the health centre next door put up tyre barriers to its half of the car park. Staff at Abingdon Community Hospital say the Marcham Road Health Centre’s barrier is confusing for patients