Archive
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Celebrating 25 years since the return of our red kites
TWITCHERS are preparing to celebrate 25 years since endangered red kites were introduced to the Chilterns on the Oxfordshire border in a major breeding programme. Five of the birds were brought into the area a quarter of a century ago and now numbers
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Care home garden scheme takes root
VOLUNTEERS are pulling out the spades and gloves to renovate the garden of a Blackbird Leys care home. Order of St John Care Trust home Longlands has launched a summer gardening initiative, and is calling on local businesses and volunteers to help
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Motorists given advanced warning of traffic disruption
DRIVERS are being warned to expect disruption along the Oxford ring road as work continues at Kennington roundabout. On Sunday, July 27, new contraflow arrangements will come into force, which will reduce the A423 to one lane in each direction
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A418 near Thame closed as firefighters tackle barn fire
The A418 near Thame has been closed to allow firefighters to tackle a barn fire. Four fire engines were called to Abbey Farm in North Weston at about 5.20pm today. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has had to close the A418 in both directions
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Road blocked at Ewelme after car overturns
POLICE have been called to the B4009 near Ewelme after a car onto its roof. Thames Valley Police was called to the scene at around 4.30pm where they found a man trapped in a black Vauxhall Astra. The 38-year-old man was released from his car
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The teacher did all that he could
THE compensation culture is not new – it was alive and well 70+ years ago. A boy at Southfield Grammar School in Oxford sued Oxford Corporation after he cut his foot on broken glass as he prepared to go into the school gymnasium. The boy, George
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It was the finest season since 1908
THESE smartly-dressed boys were on the way to make their mark in the football world. They were members of the successful Oxford Boys’ under-15 team, who fought their way to the final of the English Schools’ Trophy competition in 1966. We published
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Art show by homeless artists is story of hope
The new Making Tracks exhibition is showing how art therapy can help homeless people deal with the issues they face. Reporter LUKE SPROULE headed along to Crisis Skylight Oxford to find out more about the scheme For someone who is homeless, finding
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Pageant of magnificent flying machines
THERE were thrills aplenty when Captain Charles Barnard brought his ‘Air Circus’ to Oxford. More than 10,000 people flocked to Port Meadow on May 12, 1931 to see pilots give “breathless displays of crazy flying”. Many of the spectators were
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the changing face of: Finstock
A donkey derby provided lots of laughs at the village fete in 1988. Fifteen donkeys ridden by village children took part in six races on the playing fields off Hill Rise. The fete raised £670 for Holy Trinity Church and the village hall.
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Flasher at Bicester nature reserve
A man wearing a luminous pink polo top exposed himself to two women at a Bicester park. At about 7.30pm yesterday a man in his thirties approached two women aged 18 and 21 in Bure Park Nature Reserve and exposed himself. He then left using
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Monday's letters: What are your fellow readers writing in about today?
Want to give your opinion? Email letters@oxfordmail.co.uk
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Not an argument for voting with the Tories
COUNCILLOR John Tanner says the Labour-run city council has written to the county council asking it to disinvest its money from fossil fuel companies. That’s odd, I can’t recall the issue coming to the city council and a motion being passed about fossil
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I have got some really great Royal Navy stories
I RECENTLY wrote to this and other local newspapers across the country, explaining that an internet radio station would soon be running a programme broadcasting stories of those who served in the Royal Navy, and would love to meet up again with their
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Policy changes more to do with general election
I note with interest today Nick Clegg is distancing himself and the Lib Dems from the bedroom tax. Up to now, the Lib Dems have, in essence, supported this bedroom tax policy. I will be cynical and suggest that the reason Nick is now speaking
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Pavements for people and must stay as such
I have lived in Corn Street for 35 years. I am also a wheelchair user. I use Corn Street most days going to town in my power chair. I know the rhythm of its use by pedestrians on a daily basis. Users range from young children aged four upwards
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Not everyone works in Oxford so this is not a solution to problems
I read Ian Hudspeth’s comments (July 9) of encouraging the use of Hanborough station. The new car park has proved a popular asset. On weekdays it’s usually more than 80 per cent full (capacity 191). Planned expansion of Hanborough, were it
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Great entertainment during Grease show
CONGRATULATIONS to the Wantage Junior Showstoppers for their show – Grease – at King Alfred’s Centre Site. We enjoyed it immensely and appreciated the hard work that had been carried out by everyone involved in the production. It was great entertainment
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'Liberty was loved' - Mourners say farewell to schoolgirl killed in Witney crash
MORE than 300 mourners attended the funeral of Witney schoolgirl Liberty Baker as she was laid to rest in the town today. Fourteen-year-old Liberty was killed on June 30 after she was hit by a car which mounted the kerb on Curbridge Road as she
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The Scales of Justice - 23 people up in court
Angela Jones, 46, of Barns Road, Oxford, admitted obstructing five police officers in the execution of their duty in Oxford on February 20. Fined £100 and told to pay £20 victims’ surcharge and £100 costs. Maqsood Akhtar, 51, of Mill
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Conviction of benefits cheat student prompts warning
A STUDENT has been handed a two-year conditional discharge after falsely claiming benefits. Joyce Kinyera-Aboga, 37, of Ock Bridge Place, Abingdon, pleaded guilty to two charges of benefit fraud after dishonestly failing to declare her student
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Oxford United announce Derek Fazackerley as new assistant head coach
OXFORD United have appointed former England No 2 Derek Fazackerley as their new assistant head coach. The 62-year-old will link up with boss Michael Appleton this morning, as well as another addition to the U’s backroom team, Mark Thomas. Thomas
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A mystery man has me wondering about spies...
You know how deja vu can sometimes catch you off-guard, leaving both a sense of disorientation and enjoyable frisson? Well, it happened last Wednesday in, of all places, Las Iguanas in Park End Street. Of course, any Latin-American themed restaurant
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We need to think about what a marriage is, says Rev Canon Sue Booys, rector of Dorchester Abbey
One of the best things about 2014 is that, for some reason, there are many more weddings in my patch than for many years. I love weddings. Together with christenings and funerals they are part of what the Church calls the “occasional offices” – not
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We are stronger because of the way we handled issue of women bishops, says Rt Revd John Pritchard, Bishop of Oxford
WELL, we finally did it. On Monday, the General Synod approved the legislation to allow women to become bishops in the Church of England. At long last we can enrich the Church with the many gifts that women bring to the party. About time too, you
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Appleton happy with performance of Oxford United youngsters
MICHAEL Appleton hailed the contribution of Oxford United’s youngsters in Saturday’s 1-0 pre-season friendly win over Didcot Town, writes MATTHEW BRUCE. James Roberts netted the only goal as Appleton named a starting XI with an average age of just
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COMMENT: High time we get sums right over provision of classrooms
THAT we have yet another rise in the number of our children being taught in temporary classrooms is worrying and has to be, for once and for all, the absolute last increase in this problem. As we report today, there have been 5,475 children across
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CRICKET: Smith takes Great Tew to within one step of Lord's final
A spectacular innings from Harry Smith yesterday blasted Great & Little Tew to within one victory of a Lord’s final. Smith hammered 79 off just 43 balls as Tew triumphed by 50 runs in the Davidstow Village Cup quarter-final clash at Cornish
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RACING: Music Master calls the tune at Newbury
WANTAGE trainer Henry Candy could drop Music Master back to the minimum trip for the Nunthorpe Stakes at York next month after his charge swooped late to land the Group 3 Al Basti Equiworld Hackwood Stakes at Newbury on Saturday. Fergus Sweeney
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One in 15 pupils taught in temporary classrooms
ONE in every 15 children in the county has been taught in a temporary classroom in the last year. And teachers are warning the use of them could be affecting children’s learning as they can be “damp, leaky and cramped” and pupils feel “cut off”
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ATHLETICS: Clarke feels ready for bold bid
LAWRENCE Clarke completed his preparations for the Commonwealth Games with a fourth-placed finish at the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games at Horse Guards Parade yesterday, writes STUART WEIR. The 110m hurdler, from Christmas Common, made a fast start
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Driver hurt in crash on M40
A young man was treated for head injuries after his car came off the M40 in the early hours of yesterday morning. Firefighters and police were called to the northbound carriageway between junctions 8a and 9 at about 3.55am. A blue Hyundai had
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Hay bales catch alight
Firefighters were called to a fire of more than 250 hay bales in Waterperry. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the village at 4.42am yesterday where they found 250 bales on fire in an open barn. Two fire engines were sent to
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RESULTS: July 19
Division 1 Chadlington 130 (R Ingram 65, T Rothwell 3-20), Hook Norton 124 (T Bartlett 38, N Leader 34, S Hunt 4-34). Great Horwood 187 (M McStraw 45, B Barrett 4-26), Cowley Internationals 175 (M Sadiqi 55, B Barrett 42no, A Armitage 4-49)
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Thousands gather to enjoy the music amidst the heat + picture gallery
THEY feared raindrops would be falling on their heads but music fans enjoyed blistering sunshine at the weekend’s Truck Festival. Downpours were forecast for the two-day event at Hill Farm, Steventon, featuring White Lies, The Cribs, Los Campesinos
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Service to be held for young schoolgirl
The funeral of a schoolgirl who died after being struck by a car last month will be held in Witney today. Mourners will gather at Our Lady and St Hugh Catholic Church, Moorland Road, to remember Liberty Baker, 14. The teenager died after a
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CRICKET: Rana's in seventh heaven for Horspath
HORSPATH seamer Mohson Rana’s career-best and Home Counties club record figures of 7-31 clinched an emphatic 108-run victory at Falkland in Division 2. Rana’s brilliant bowling at the tree-ringed Newbury venue sent the hosts crashing to 102 all
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CRICKET: Great Tew hopes ended by rain
GREAT & Little Tew’s bad luck with the weather continued when their Division 2 derby clash at Shipton-under-Wychwood was washed out. The visitors had built up an impressive 215-8 from 55 overs when a thunderstorm ended play for the day.
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RESULTS: July 19
Division 1 Tiddington 205-8 (T Dowley 58, J Talbot 45, J Hill 4-30), Banbury 2nd 134-8 (E Phillips 50, M Maule 5-46). Great Brickhill 227-8 (G Carter 91, A DeBeer 43, D Aris 33, J Parish 3-75), Buckingham Town 208-9 (J Frew 35, S Myatt 31,
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Noise reduction measures proposed for bar roof terrace
AN OXFORD bar’s controversial plans for a roof terrace are being recommended for approval. The Art Bar, formerly the Bullingdon Arms, in Cowley Road, has applied to Oxford City Council to convert the existing first floor flat into a bar and roof
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Hailstorm and ‘tornado’ sweep through area
A “TORNADO” swept through parts of Oxford on Saturday, damaging trees. Residents in the Blackbird Leys area reported damage after the 6.15pm whirlwind. An intense hailstorm lasted for about half an hour and the whirlwind was spotted in roads
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RESULTS: July 19
Division 1 Gerrards Cross 136 (46.3 ovs, M Watson 34, S Morris 3-13), Harefield 139-5 (30 ovs). Banbury 139 (52.1 ovs, L Manley 35, B Mordt 4-30, T Afridi 4-35), Henley 140-3 (31.3 ovs, E Brock 60no, B McDermott 38). Burnham 183 (46.5 ovs
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CRICKET: Banbury knocked off top spot
BANBURY were knocked off the top of the Division 1 table when they suffered a comprehensive seven-wicket defeat away to reigning champions Henley on Saturday. Despite a spirited last-wicket stand, Banbury could muster only 139 after being put in
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CRICKET: Rowant's batsmen are held in check
ASTON Rowant never recovered from a stuttering start and lost by six wickets in their Division 1 match at Slough on Saturday. The toss was to prove crucial and after being put into bat in steamy conditions, Rowant mustered only 113 in 51.5 overs
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CRICKET: Keegan comes to Oxfordshire's rescue
Chad Keegan recorded his highest score for Oxfordshire to rescue them from another poor batting display on the first day of their Western Division match against Dorset at Bournemouth yesterday. The visitors, who were all out for 54 in their 166
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MOTORSPORT: Bottas delighted at second
VALTTERI Bottas was delighted at his second-placed finish at yesterday’s German Grand Prix. The driver steered his Grove-based Williams to another podium finish, holding off the late challenge of Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes. Nico Rosberg was
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CRICKET: Beer festival as seamer's unlikely spell gives Oxford victory
SUPERB seam bowling from Mark Beer inspired Oxford to an unlikely 33-run victory over Tring Park in Saturday’s low-scoring Division 1 clash. Oxford seemed set for a heavy defeat after being dismissed for only 115. But Beer then took 6-35 as
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Monday, July 24
6:40pm The Sands in Ewelme is partially blocked after a collision 4:27pm Hundreds of people have attended the funeral of Witney schoolgirl Liberty Baker
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First Great Western trains delayed by up to an hour this morning
TRAINS to Oxford and London Paddington from Worcester Shrub Hill are delayed by up to an hour because of a signalling problem this morning. All lines at Shrub Hill are blocked, First Great Western says, because of the problem at the station.
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Happy days for Glee club in name battle
Hit TV show Glee could be renamed after the owners of an Oxford comedy club of the same name won a legal victory. A High Court judged ruled the musical show infringed the copyright of the UK network of clubs, including one in Hythe Bridge Street
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Planning system will avoid ‘Dudman Way’ blunder
A PIONEERING trial that uses poles to indicate the height of controversial building plans is set to go ahead in Oxford. A trial of the Swiss-style system for proposed homes in Cutteslowe – a UK first – has been success, an Oxford City Council planning
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Picnic in park celebrates last day mum had with Martha Fernback
IT was the last day Anne-Marie Cockburn spent with daughter Martha Fernback, 15, before she died after taking half a gram of ecstasy. For Anne-Marie Cockburn, 43, July 19 will always be a special day and to mark its first anniversary a picnic was
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Show proves popular
Thousands of people attended the West Oxfordshire Steam and Vintage Show held at Springhill Farm, Ducklington, over the weekend. Among the exhibits were steam traction engines, cars, motorbikes and tractors. There was also morris dancing, children
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Crowds enjoy West Way festival
More than 350 people turned out for the West Way Festival in Botley on Saturday to enjoy a barbecue, Morris dancing and live music. The 12-hour event ran from noon to midnight and featured performances from musicians including Sam Edwards, Pipa
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Committee to meet to discuss car park
Plans to turn a former railway siding into a 150-space car park will be put to councillors in Oxford for a decision tomorrow. Frank Banner has applied to Oxford City Council for planning permission to turn the land off Osney Lane into a car park
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Girls say it best with giant letters to be kind
GIRLS on work experience at an arts trust made giant 3-D letters to promote random acts of kindness. Genevieve Tomes and Danielle Hollis got to grips with the project during their week volunteering at the Oxford Youth Arts Partnership Trust, in
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Contest winners find each other 50 years after school
TWO school friends had an unexpected reunion in London after not seeing each other for 50 years. Alicia Phillips and Marcella Young won a competition through Stagecoach as part of its launch of the new Oxford Tube fleet. By chance, they ended
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Countryside pursuits draw thousands at CLA Game Fair
SHOTGUNS, animals and tweed jackets were out in force at the CLA Game Fair over the weekend. Tens of thousands attended the countryside pursuits event at Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock, from Friday until yesterday. The event’s interim director
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Services for deaf people leave many ‘patronised’
LEGAL action could be brought against healthcare providers unless services for deaf people are improved, it has been warned. A study commissioned by the county’s official NHS watchdog said misdiagnosis and wrong treatment could lead to legal action
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COMMENT: Game Fair solves trouble over traffic
THE CLA Game Fair organisers were successful in their planning for getting the teeming multitude into and out of Woodstock over the past few days. There may have been delays, but with 150,000 people that’s going to happen and it is good that the
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Residents get progress report on Jericho Wharf development
A MEETING will be held tonight to update residents on the progress of proposals to redevelop the Jericho Wharf. It will be hosted by the Jericho Community Association in St Barnabas School, in Hart Street, from 7.30pm. The redevelopment would
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No major incidents during series of firefighters' strikes
OXFORDSHIRE’S firefighters were not called to any major incidents during four strikes held over the weekend. Fire Brigades Union members are in a dispute with the Government over pay and conditions. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service provided
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Buzzer wire game puts steady hands to the test
YOUNG Sean’an Nathwani got a buzz from a science display at a day of fun in Didcot on Saturday. Residents flocked to Didcot Town Fayre in Edmonds Park to enjoy live music, bouncy castle, dog show and stalls. The four-year-old, who tested his
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Charity collection held in honour of Jayden Parkinson
FRIENDS of Jayden Parkinson held their first charity fundraiser at the weekend, as her family await a jury’s verdict on her killer. Friends of the Didcot 17-year-old – found dead in a graveyard in December – collected more than £330 for a domestic
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Exhibition to be held over housing plans
WITNEY residents can give their views today on a proposed 200 homes for the town. Developer Taylor Wimpey will hold a public exhibition on plans for land between Woodstock Road and New Yatt Road. It would feature two to five-bedroom homes with
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Father wants Top Gear to scrap footage of a mock accident
A DEVASTATED father has hit out at BBC car show Top Gear for filming a mock accident yards from where his daughter was killed in a crash. Jane Sandalls, 26, of Woodstock, died after a car skidded on ice into her Peugeot 106 on January 21, 2010,
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Childhood perspective of secret forest inspires artist
ARTIST Patrick Cannon used his childhood in Milton, near Didcot, as a source of inspiration for his paintings. This oil painting, A Forest Opening, portrays Milton Manor’s woods and was on show at Oxford Art Fair at The Fishes pub, North Hinksey
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‘Town green bid must be refused’
A BID to register village land as a town green should be rejected because it has not been used by the public for long enough, experts have said. A council committee will next be urged to refuse the plan for Cowan’s Camp Field, off Star Lane, Watchfield
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Tom gives the thumbs up to his own hospital hero
YOUNG patient Tom Perry has given the thumbs up to the nurse who cared for his injured big digit for our Hospital Heroes award campaign. The nine-year-old has nominated the John Radcliffe’s Kerrie Wiggins for looking after him after his thumb got
