Archive

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Update: Redbridge Hollow fire was burning rubbish

A SMALL blaze tackled last night by firefighters in Kennington was burning rubbish, a spokesman has confirmed. Crews were called just before 10pm to an area next to caravan park Redbridge Hollow, in Old Abingdon Road, following reports of a fire

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The Scales of Justice – 17 people up in court

BANBURY MAGISTRATES Andrew Simpson, 49, of Burford Road, Witney, admitted recording another person doing a private act with the intention of gaining sexual gratification from the image without consent in Kingsfield Crescent, Witney, between

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Fete serves up village party spirit

NINE-YEAR-OLD Rosie Rasala proved her table tennis skills at a village fete. The annual Kidlington Gala took place at Exeter Hall, Oxford Road, on Saturday. Organised by the parish council, the event has been taking place for more than 25 years

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A look back at summer 1914: War inevitable but county life carries on regardless

THE people of Oxfordshire were determined not to let the threat of war in 1914 disrupt their normal way of life. There was a full cricket programme, with teams competing for the Telegraph and Airey Cups, while Oxford City took on the mayor, Alderman

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Memory Lane Monday: A look at the summer of 2014 with John Chipperfield

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A look back at summer 1914: All kinds of products were still on sale

IT WAS business as usual for Oxford shops as war approached. The summer sales were coming to an end and shop managers were keen to extract those last few coppers from housewives’ purses to fill their tills. Elliston & Cavell in Magdalen Street

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A look back at summer 1914:

WHAT was life like as war approached in 1914? By all accounts, people were determined to carry on as usual. There was little mention of the coming conflict in the three Oxford newspapers – The Oxford Times, the Oxford Journal Illustrated and the

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Overturned lorry on M40 near Banbury causes traffic problems

AN OVERTURNED lorry is causing problems on the M40 near Banbury. One lane has been closed on M40 Southbound between Junction 11 (Banbury) and Junction 10 (Cherwell Valley Services). Keep up to date with the latest on this incident Do you

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Station no solution to A40 jams

Sir – I read Ian Hudspeth’s comments (Report, 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

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4.40pm UPDATE: Queues beginning on A34 this evening due to Kennington roundabout work

TRAFFIC is starting to build up back on to the A34 because of the new contraflow on the Southern Bypass because of the Kennington roundabout work. Drivers are having to wait in both directions on the A423 Southern Bypass, whilst there are delays

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Welcome relief from floods

Sir – Those of us who actually live in West Oxford breathed a sigh of relief at the news that a flood relief channel for the area was receiving Government funding. Anyone who claims to be a ‘Distinguished Research Associate for Oxford University

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Stay out of quarries

Sir – Last year, during a two-month period of unusually warm weather, six people drowned in former quarry lakes across the UK, and warmer weather heralds an increase in young people and adults entering quarries uninvited with potentially tragic consequences

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Traffic congestion

Sir – Your report of July 17 was not quite accurate — I voted for the Northern Gateway Area Action Plan at the city council meeting on July 14. Some consider that 8,000 new hi-tech jobs — helping to secure Oxford’s economic future — and 500 new

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LA in lead on speed

Sir – Whenever I have been in Los Angeles, driving around through both residential and commercial areas, I have always been tremendously impressed by the requirements imposed on vehicles when in the near locality of schools. Not only was the speed

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Spoiled by noise

Sir – One night last week we endured a flight over our house so low you could hear the passage of air over the wings and after 11.30 at night. I know we must make allowances for the police and military but I can conceive of no good reason for this.

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Serving the public

Sir – It is reported that the campaign to save Temple Cowley Pools, which is putting together a bid to take over the complex, is encountering difficulties in obtaining the necessary information from Oxford City Council. I believe this information

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Stunningly unpopular

Sir – Huw Griffiths, who asks us to (Judge us on our work in the city, News Feature, July 17), has completely missed the point. He is using the wrong criteria. The proposed redevelopment of the whole of the Botley shopping centre is fundamentally

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Design is too boxy

Sir – Firstly I must say how pleased I am with Oxford City Council planning department for listening to my objections regarding neighbouring developments. Thanks to their efficiency one proposal was amended. The other other proposal to build

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Make a fresh start

Sir – Mace say that they would like us to judge them on the basis of their record in Oxford citing the Ashmolean and the new Bodleian as examples (Report, July 17). That’s all well and good but you can’t judge a development on its builders without

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Speak up on transport

Sir – I would like to remind everyone in and around Old Marston about the forthcoming public meeting regarding local transport and parking issues. This is to take place on Tuesday, July 29, in Mortimer Hall at 6.30pm. Please do make every effort

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Strange act

Sir – Councillor Mick Haines is right to report to his constituents how he allocated the annual community fund provided by the council for use in his ward (Report, July 17). To do this by installing a plaque on the bench at the junction of Croft

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Big impact of bus changes

Sir – The changes that Stagecoach is making to the bus services through Minster Lovell will have a severe impact. These changes have been made without any consultation with the residents of Minster Lovell or Minster Lovell Parish Council. At present

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Unaware of changes

Sir – I was reading your recent article about Stagecoach’s intentions to introduce a new bus service between Carterton and the John Radcliffe Hospital. Good news I thought, until I read further down the article and noticed the imminent changes to the

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Hospital shuttle bus

Sir – With reference to your article regarding the hospital bus link (July 17). I suggest a local shuttle service could be implemented, running between the Stagecoach bus and the neighbouring hospitals. Small (say 14-seat) buses could run either

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Riverside eyesore

Sir – We have lived in South Abingdon for nearly 50 years, and until recently it was a very pleasant walk in to town via Wilsham Road. Now the riverside between Preston Road and Caldecott Road is a disgusting eyesore. Weeds everywhere and the grass

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Join in the fun

Sir – Once again, people are misunderstanding the ‘Christopher Gray’ phenomenon, as Ms Spira’s letter demonstrates (July 17). In extensive correspondence in your columns a few years ago (I was an enthusiastic correspondent), it was definitively

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Cancer charity’s Race for Life pair get a big boost from Spurs fans

FOOTBALL fans put their best foot forward to help two Abingdon women raise hundreds of pounds during this month’s Race for Life. Sarah Mckenzie and Vickie Wyatt ran the 5k event in Oxford’s University Parks on Sunday, July 13. The pair had

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Warning for heavy rain across Oxfordshire

HEAVY showers are forecast for the county as the the area was issued a yellow rain warning until 9pm today. The Met Office said people should be aware of a risk of localised flooding, especially if there is heavy rainfall in urban areas. Up

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Investigation launched as hundreds of fish killed in Didcot stream

SOME 250 fish have been found dead in a stream in Didcot. A resident called the Environment Agency (EA) late on Saturday evening when he spotted the dead fish in Moor Ditch on the Ladygrove estate. Officers began investigating yesterday and

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COMMONWEALTH GAMES: England reaches 1,500m final

OXFORD'S Hannah England reached tomorrow night's 1,500m final at Glasgow 2014 after finishing fourth in a surprisingly quick heat today. The 27-year-old former world silver medallist clocked a season's best time of 4mins 5.62secs, while winner

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Send your Letter to the Editor: What do you think? We welcome letters from our readers on a wide variety of subjects and you can send us a letter for publication here

We welcome letters from our readers on a wide variety of subjects. All fields must be filled in for your letter to be considered for publication. Letters must be no longer than 250 words and The Oxford Mail reserves the right to edit or amend your letter

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Monday letter's test

This is test copy   Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone's

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Sad goodbye No.2 to this ‘band of brothers’

THE 23 Pioneer Regiment has been part of Bicester’s fabric for 70 years, woven into the town’s culture as tightly as the ribbons on which their service medals hang. Part of the Royal Logistic Corps, our brave soldiers have made such a difference

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Nightclub event for Connor's campaign

A fundraising event will be held at a city nightclub tomorrow night for a campaign over the death of a teenager at an NHS facility. The 18 and over event will run from 7pm-10.30pm at the Plush Lounge, Park End Street, for the Justice for LB campaign

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23 Pioneer Regiment: A proud and poignant final parade

MARCHING through Bicester town centre, immaculately dressed troops turned their heads to the right to salute town mayor Lynn Pratt, who stood on a podium alongside two officers with hands to their temples. It was a moment of pride as soldiers and

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Dinner invites fill hungry early eater with terror

I’ve always thought the title Man About Town a bit of a misnomer. Man About Mid-Morning and Afternoon Tea is far more accurate, because for as long as I can remember, I’ve always preferred mornings for socialising than any invitation after 4pm.

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Six points not enough for driving with phone

SO, the Government has finally conceded to overwhelming pressure and has allowed six points to be put on a driving licence for using a mobile phone at the wheel. This is still not a tough enough penalty. It should be a prison sentence. More people

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Give the gift of life and become an organ donor

WE live in a wonderful age, but every day folk die for want of a transplant while at the same time organs are burnt or buried. So why not have a donor system and carry a card if you do not wish to donate? Corneas, hearts, lungs, pancreas, liver

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Councils constrained on fossil fuel dinvestment

I HAVE followed with interest the recent correspondence regarding council disinvestment from fossil fuel companies. This is, of course, only one of many sectors that ethical investors seek to avoid; tobacco products, alcohol, armaments, gambling

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Bus lane fine made this visitor stand and deliver

WHEN, after our first-time visit, we tried to leave Oxford (around 6.30pm on Saturday – a scorchingly hot day), I found it difficult to do so due to extreme congestion. I travelled in circles attempting to escape a morass of vehicles. Since

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Should driver have been allowed on road?

Concerning a Wallingford lady, aged 68, killed in a head-on crash (Mail, July 16): this is not unusual about deaths on our roads. What is shocking about this death was that the lady suffered from blackouts, which contributed to her death. Why

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Explain Labour-U-turn over free school meals

I WONDER what Sue Such, who complained about the Lib Dems changing their minds about the bedroom tax (Letters, July 21), thinks of Labour’s U-turn on the Lib Dem Free Schools Meals policy? Having listened, along with your reporter, to a leading

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Buying homes for social housing meets needs and saves countryside

THE assumption repeated in previous editions of the Mail – that Oxford may be massively extended into the countryside – needs to be examined. The Bank of England wishes to raise interest rates by as much as 2.5 per cent in the next two years or

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Oxford United sign Bolton full back Joe Riley on loan

OXFORD United have signed Bolton Wanderers full back Joe Riley on loan until January. The 22-year-old has played nine games for the Trotters, including three appearances in the Premier League. Riley agreed a move over the weekend and completed

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Boat business scuppered by loss of main premises

OWNERS of a Jericho boatyard say their business has been put in jeopardy after they had to leave part of their site in the middle of the season. College Cruisers, which has been at the site for 40 years and has been run by Charlie and Carys Bruns since

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COMMONWEALTH GAMES: July 28 live action

9:57pm That's it for today's blog. Come back tomorrow for more Glasgow 2014 action. 9:56pm Gemili grabs second behind Jamaica's Kemar Bailey-Cole, who clocked 10.00

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Habitual rituals should be open to change

IT'S wedding season in college. The quiet rhythms of twice-weekly choral evensong are gone, replaced by the high-octane pressures of what we hope are services that mark the beginning of life-long marriage. If something slips up at Evensong, it’

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How children cope when sorrow of world strikes at their hearts

THERE are some terrible events making the news at the moment: the deaths of all those on board flight MH17, the ground offensive in Gaza and the expulsion of Christians and burning of churches in Mosul, in Iraq. In this paper we have remembered

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‘Come on down and give me some stick’ says quarterstaffer

A LONE quarterstaffer is trying to teach Oxford about the little-known British tradition, despite the fact no one showed up to his first training session this week. Gwil Wright, above, has been practising the art on the wide open spaces of

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'Judge us on our work in city'

THE COMPANY newly signed up to deliver a £100m shopping centre at Botley says it should be judged on its building record in Oxford. With proposals to redevelop West Way facing opposition from an effective residents’ campaign, the developer Doric

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COMMONWEALTH GAMES: French rues just missing out on gold medal

Matt French admitted he had been unlucky to secure only a silver medal at Glasgow 2014. The Oxford-born clay pigeon shooter had to be content with second place in the Commonwealth Games double trap final at Carnoustie yesterday after England teammate

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Watch: Didcot's tumbling towers - A dawn chorus of excitement as Didcot's skyline changes forever + video

FIFTY years of history – gone in 15 seconds. Despite Didcot’s sadness at seeing its cooling towers sink to the ground, there was applause and cheering when the moment arrived. Thousands turned out to see the iconic towers crash to the ground at

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Vehicles in vanguard at Blenheim

A classic car rally took place at Blenheim Palace yesterday More than 400 vintage American cars, trucks, motorbikes and military vehicles, dating as far back as the 1920s were expected to attend the Rally of the Giants. Collectors from across the UK

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Monday, July 28

2:44pm Warning for heavy rain across Oxfordshire (stock image) 1:53pm Investigation launched as hundreds of fish killed in Didcot stream

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RESULTS: July 26

FRIENDLIES Oxford Utd 3, Fulham Development XI 0; Chippenham Tn 1, Oxford City 0; Thame Utd 1, Didcot Tn 0.

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RESULTS: July 26

CHERWELL LEAGUE Division 1 Great Brickhill 307-7 (G Morris 83, D Aris 75, P Prasad 68, G Carter 36, P Evans 4-52), Oxford 2nd 168-9 (J Claason 37, A Khan 4-29, P Hastings 3-30). Thame Town 206 (H Mushtaq 62, M Higgs 34, J Crichton 33, S

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CRICKET: Rowant fall to fellow strugglers Harefield

Aston Rowant’s relegation fears increased when they lost by nine wickets at home to fellow Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 1 strugglers Harefield on Saturday. The Middlesex side are now just two points behind their hosts after

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COMMONWEALTH GAMES: England ready to launch bid

Oxford's Hannah England begins her quest for glory in the 1,500m heats at Hampden Park today. The 27-year-old Oxford City star and 2011 world silver medallist races for England in heat one at 12.20pm. Her opponents include home favourite Laura

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CRICKET: Foster's magnificent seven fires up Horspath

Pat Foster’s second seven-wicket haul of the season saw Horspath crush Cove by eight wickets to slash the gap on Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 2 leaders Reading to just three points. The former Durham MCCU seamer took 7-

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CRICKET: Barrett smashes ton as Shipton shock Reading

Joe Barrett hit a sparkling century to set Shipton-under-Wychwood on the way to a stunning six-wicket home win over Serious Cricket Home Counties League Division 2 leaders Reading on Saturday. Chasing Reading’s formidable 265-6 after the visitors

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Memorial to footballer

A football tournament and fun day was held on Saturday in memory of a popular AFC Wallingford player. The Charlie Allum Memorial Day started three years ago after the death of Charlie Allum who died, aged 55. Among those having fun at this year

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Council to decide on taxi driver’s future

A decision will be made tomorrow on whether a taxi driver can continue to operate. Oxford City Council’s hackney carriages and private hire licensing sub-committee will meet at Town Hall to rule on the case following the driver’s recent conviction

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Hundreds join protest against Gaza war

OPPONENTS of Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza strip took to the streets of Oxford in support of victims of the conflict. Protesters made a circuit of the city centre on Saturday afternoon, handing out leaflets to passing shoppers. As many as

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RESULTS: July 26

KINGSTONE PRESS CHAMPIONSHIP ONE Gateshead Thunder 48, Oxford RL 28. New Roman";mso-font-kerning:.5pt;mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA'>

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RESULTS: July 27

FA WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE TWO Oxford Utd 1, Watford 2. New Roman";mso-font-kerning:.5pt;mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA'>

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RESULTS: July 27

ECB 50+ COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP Last 16 Oxfordshire 213-7 (45 ovs, A Thomas 43, P Tew 41, P Hemming 41, I Pont 3-32), Essex 217-5 (41 ovs, P Ryder 49, M Hussain 46, I Curtis 3-44).

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RESULTS: July 26

OCA LEAGUE Division 1 Charlbury 232-4 (R Knight 114, B Geeson-Brown 42), Great Horwood 168-9 (H Morrison 48, B Liyanarachchi 4-38). Westbury 293-7 (T Boardman 97, T Wilson 76, S Willett 30, S Prew 3-29), Garsington 167 (S Prew 33, A Clarke

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CRICKET: Tew sets up exciting victory for Banbury

A sparkling innings from Ian Tew led Banbury to a thrilling last-over victory at home to Tring Park to stay in touch at the top of Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 1. Tew made 61 off 73 balls to provide the vital spark as Banbury

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CRICKET: Oxford crash after shattering collapse

Oxford lost seven wickets for just one run in an extraordinary collapse at home Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 1 leaders High Wycombe on Saturday. The hosts slipped from 14-0 to an ignominious 15-7 and seemed in danger of

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CRICKET: Brock's six of the best boost Tew

Lloyd Brock returned Home Counties League club record figures of 6-39 as Great & Little Tew moved out of the Division 2 relegation zone with a comfortable six-wicket win at fellow strugglers Falkland. Brock’s superb effort, which came off 18

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William, 4, is lining up for charity sports fest

A FOUR-year-old will take on a triathlon to raise money for the hospital ward that saved his life. William de Croos was rushed to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital with hypoglycemia within hours of his birth, after suffering low blood sugar.

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Update: Man in Blackbird Leys 'hit by car after argument with woman'

THREE women have been arrested after a man was knocked down on Sunday in Blackbird Leys. The Oxford residents, aged 50, 26 and 25, were arrested in connection with the incident and were tonight in police custody. A 45-year-old man was taken

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CRICKET: Banbury capitulate in Twenty20 final

Banbury's hopes of repeating last year’s run to the ECB National Club Twenty20 finals day were shattered with a 16-run defeat by Henley in the Home Counties final at Oxford CC yesterday. Having earlier been handed a walkover in the semi-final by

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Comic Dom Joly is to remember a fallen ‘Dragon’

FORMER Dragon School pupil and comedian Dom Joly has signed up to take part in a Royal British Legion campaign to mark the outbreak of the war a century ago. The RBL is calling on people through the Every Man Remembered initiative to remember the

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Schools told 'stop hoarding or we will claw back cash'

SCHOOLS have been warned they should stop hoarding the £18m they have in reserves and “spend on today’s children”. Figures released show that maintained state schools, both primary and secondary, have not spent up to 24 per cent of their revenue

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‘Gutted: My businesses has been wrecked by arsonists’

A TYRE business owner said he was “gutted” after his workshop was destroyed in a suspected arson attack. John Woodwards, 67, lost up to £5,000 worth of stock in the blaze, which destroyed four units at Faringdon Business Park in the early hours

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Two charged after stand-off between far-right group and ant-fascists

FOUR people were arrested after protests in Oxford on Saturday. A demonstration by a group calling itself the National Front was confronted by counter-protest by anti-fascist groups, Oxford Unite Against Fascism and Antifa. Two of the four

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Former teacher faces pupil sex offence charges

AN ex-teacher has been charged with historic sexual abuse offences dating back to when he worked at two primary schools. John Collier, 69, faces three counts of indecent assault, allegedly committed on two boys aged under 14 in the 1970s. The

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Music festival is a real family affair

THOUSANDS of people gathered on a meadow in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds to dance in the sun at the county’s biggest free music festival. The 19th Riverside Festival was held at the Mill Field, beside the River Evenlode in Charlbury, yesterday and

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FOOTBALL: Appleton's hopeful of imminent new signing for United

At least one new face is expected at Oxford United training this morning as Michael Appleton looks to strengthen ahead of tomorrow’s home friendly with Wolverhampton Wanderers. The U’s were closing in on moves for a midfielder and a defender over

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Power cuts close Oxford shops

AT LEAST 34 buildings were left without electricity on Saturday after a power cut in Oxford city centre. Tesco and Sainsbury’s stores in Magdalen Street, were among premises affected, with doors shut as a result of the outage. Energy supplier

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'Help us set up new brewery in Oxford'

A new brewery could be set up beneath Oxford’s main post office if a scheme to sell shares to the public proves successful. Brewer Steve Chroscicki is planning to move from Norfolk to premises beneath the post office in in St Aldates, as part of

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‘Patients run risk of being denied hip replacements’

RESIDENTS risk being denied a hip replacement because Oxfordshire NHS bosses are ignoring national guidance and taking patients’ weight into account, leading surgeons have warned. Patients should not have to complete a questionnaire that helps

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Shakespearean king used to serve as a Fresh Prince

FROM West Philadelphia born and raised... to the Bodleian’s historic halls. Many people will recognise this King Lear from his role as Geoffrey on 90s TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Joseph Marcell is playing the titular character in Shakespeare

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Plans to boost the standard of 217,000 council properties

THOUSANDS of council tenants across Oxford could benefit from improved housing as part of a scheme of improved standards. Oxford City Council is currently putting together a series of standards for council housing which will go above and beyond