Archive

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Oxford United fans' forum

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Support group meets

THE first meeting of a support group for people with the lung condition pulmonary fibrosis will take place next week at the Churchill Hospital. The hospital’s Interstitial Lung Disease Team has set up the free group – which will meet every two

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Oxford United launch new website

OXFORD United has launched a new website for its business club United in Business. The new website will allow members the chance to showcase their businesses and will offer U’s fans discounted offers. It has been designed by Oxford United fans

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Traffic lights out at Milton Interchange due to power cut

THERE are delays on the A4120 at Milton after traffic lights failed at the Milton Interchange with the A34. It is believed the lights failed due to a power cut in the area. Traffic is queuing on the approaches to the roundabout. A spokesman

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Research aims to make this a thing of the past

Oxford residents prepare for the worst whenever they hear reports of heavy rainfall or hear flood alerts – even a few hours’ warning can avoid major damage to homes and property. Scientists based near Wallingford are working to provide better early

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‘We looked for places to dig trenches as extra precaution’

AMATEUR historian Steve Berridge has transcribed the war diary and regimental chronicle of the 2nd Ox & Bucks Light Infantry. His devotion to the history of the regiment has stemmed from research into his great-grandfather, Corporal George

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Scientist devoted career to drought and flood research

A PIONEERING water scientist whose work saw him research top-secret atomic weapons, droughts in East Africa and water catchment in the UK has died, aged 86. Hydrologist Dr James McCulloch, known as Jim, arrived in Wallingford to head a research

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Opening of new primary school put back a year

THE opening of a primary school at a new Didcot housing estate has been put back a year. The 400-place school will now open at Great Western Park in September 2016. Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) said the “planning permission and construction

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City cycle cash ‘will be spent’

THE head of transport for the city is confident all of the budget for the council’s Cycle City scheme will be spent this year. The Oxford Mail reported in July that only £15,000 of the £362,000 had been spent. City council board member John

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Council’s maintenance man set long service record

A COUNCIL maintenance worker who was a familiar face around Witney for almost 50 years has died, aged 78. Mike Harvey, often seen in later years with his faithful springer spaniel Dolly, was born and bred in the town. He started in 1953 as

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The Guide: What is happening on the entertainment scene

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A red letter day at Silverstone

Marc West laps up a weekend in automotive heaven as he joins Ferrari owners for their annual event at Silverstone As a teenager my bedroom walls were plastered with automotive exotica – Steve McQueen in his Shelby Mustang, James Bond’s Aston Martin

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Teatime at Browns in Oxford

We mistimed our tea at Browns because it coincided with St Giles’ Fair which was a good and bad thing. Good because we were shown to a table in the window which was ideal for people-watching. Bad because but we couldn’t escape the boom boom of

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Randolph Hotel, The Kings Head Inn, The Crown and more in this week's Nibbles

* The Restaurant at the Macdonald Randolph Hotel in Oxford has been honoured with a third AA Rosette for its outstanding cuisine, intuitive service and excellent wine list. After receiving its second AA Rosette in 2006 and recently celebrating

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Cleaver carves out a niche for city's carnivore crowd

A new eaterie on George Street is fleshing out the choice for meat lovers “Meat!” The answer was short, to the point – and bang on the money. I had been asking foodie friends what I could expect from the latest chain to set up base in George

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Thame Food Festival feeds hunger for local produce

Starting Up with Alison Isherwood @ Thame Food Festival The Thame Food Festival has gone from a cluster of stalls in the shadow of the town hall seven years ago to an event that now packs the historic streets of Thame with 20,000 visitors tucking

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Chef's Special with Mr Jun Li at Sojo in Oxford

Hot and Sour Soup needs no introduction per se. Variations of preparing and ingredients are seen in many Chinese restaurants around the world. SoJo preserves the most authentic traditionalist approach to this soup. It should not contain hot chillies

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Too much time spent on worrying about uniforms and not education

I FOUND that your article on the ‘Miss Sexy’ trousers (September 23) is one that I can easily relate to. I have just started my first year of A-Levels at a college where I travel two hours a day to get there and back. The reason that I happily

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Improved quality space at group’s new headquarters

The need to improve testing, training and showroom facilities has prompted gas detection specialists Crowcon Detection Instruments to move to a new, purpose-built £5m headquarters at Milton Park near Didcot. Managing director Mike Ophield said:

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Exiles to launch networking forum for business people

London Welsh are starting a networking forum for Oxfordshire business people. It will be launched tomorrow night at the rugby club’s Aviva Premiership clash at home to Gloucester. The Exiles, who are based at the Kassam Stadium, Oxford, aim

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Thursday’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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It is difficult to buy a set of duplicate plates

IN response to the letter from Clive Harrison (September 22) regarding the abolishing of tax discs, and his question about what’s to stop him buying a set of duplicate number plates. Obviously he hasn’t tried otherwise he wouldn’t ask. Nowadays

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There is no charge for any of our services

YOUR reporter Annabal Bagdi did a wonderful job in highlighting the work of the Gatehouse on Friday (‘Chief hands reins over at homeless drop-in project,’ September 19 ) She captured perfectly the spirit of community and kindness that I recognise –

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Referendum vote could take place next year

IF we need constitutional change to give our English MPs the right to determine policy affecting England only, to be consistent this must surely start with an English referendum. As we have seen in Scotland an opportunity to have a real say has increased

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The fight for democracy in England just starting

I am sure we will all welcome the planned transfer of powers and resources to local government in Oxfordshire which the three main Westminster parties appear to be promising. After all, if it is good enough for Scotland, then a fairer taxation system

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Fuss is interfering with school pupils’ studies

I think that is appalling how pupils at Cheney school are missing out of education just over a pair of jeans. Ben Pieri-Wilson, Stowood Close, Headington,Oxford Today’s letters Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via

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Computer game will help to save lives all over the world

Medical emergencies are not usually a game, but that could be just what the doctor ordered. Researchers at Oxford University have developed a computer game-style system to train health workers for emergencies. In countries like Kenya, where

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Gurus aim to get new firms going in 48 hours

BUDDING entrepreneurs have just 60 seconds to pitch their ideas at a brainstorming event in November. Those who score highest will see their company up and running within 48 hours. Once the best ideas are chosen, the rest of the crowd will split

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No nonsense Mark Steel is coming to town

Comedian Mark Steel tells Katherine MacAlister how he goes about creating his award-winning show as he prepares to unearth the quirkier side of our fair city Mark Steel is stuck on a train when we speak – it’s been delayed so he’s running late.

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Bluesman Silver Phil takes his final bow

After half a century in the music business, Philip Guy Davis is to play his last gig at a special show at Oxford's Jericho Tavern With his mane of silver hair and loops of silver jewellery, Philip Guy Davis is among Oxford’s best known faces.

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Bands play on after festival collpases

OxfordOxford may be cancelled but that doesn’t mean the music can’t go on. Tim Hughes reports It should have been one of the biggest weekends of the year. A three-day festival of music, cinema and community events celebrating the culture of

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County council team leader Peter Brown guilty of sexual assault

A COUNCIL team leader has today been convicted of sexually assaulting a woman in her bedroom. Peter Brown, from Oxfordshire County Council's roads and transport team, was found guilty of the September 2011 crime by Oxford Crown Court jurors after

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Arnold's correspondence in a most alien place

Seamus Perry on Matthew Arnold and the different types of libraries I've been reading Matthew Arnold, of whom I am very fond: he is the most savingly normal of the Victorian geniuses. He was a student at Balliol, my own college, where he seems

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Everyone in business is mad

Ian Willox explains why he started off doing humanist funerals I conduct non-religious funerals. Why would anyone want to do that? A funeral director I know has a theory that everyone in the funeral business is a little mad — but in a good way.

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Our curious tolerance of smoking in the open air

Youngsters brought up with a healthy disregard — I choose these words carefully — for other people’s right to smoke would find it almost unbelievable were they to time-travel back to the years of my childhood. A journey by double-decker bus would

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Fashion icons from a true master of style

Lovers of celebrity are urged to hotfoot it to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London where a fabulous exhibition devoted to the work of the photographer Horst P. Horst (so good they named him twice) is currently pulling in the punters. Horst: Photographer

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The story of the 'Hush-Hush' gun factory

Reg Little on the tale of a secret Second World War weapons site in woods near Abingdon Thirty years ago amateur historian Nigel Dawe visited a friend who was moving into a new workshop at Tubney Woods near Abingdon. It was a simple trip that was

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Remembering the fallen in photographic tribute book

Jaine Blackman on a war dead tribute revealing the tales behind the headstones For the Fallen is the touching photographic tribute to the unsung heroes of the Great War and the tireless work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) which

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Proper Italian mix at Carluccio's

Katherine MacAlister likes her mains at new Carluccio’s — but feels some dishes need fine-tuning I found the menu scrumpled up at the bottom of my handbag, next to a taxi receipt and some fairly hefty cocktail bills. But that’s the problem with

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Use your loaf and see baker Geoff Coleman at work

Geoff Coleman’s workshop is one of several demonstrations worth watching at the Thame Food Festival, declares Helen Peacocke Perhaps it’s the historic setting that makes the Thame Food Festival so special. By staging the festival in the Market

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Crocus goblet that serves hocus pocus

Val Bourne on the colchicum family emerging early Autumn seems to have come early this year and the beech leaves are already cascading down on my car a good month earlier than usual. The variegated pampas grass is also popping up its plumes

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Badger cull as solution is not black and white

Wendy Tobitt of BBOWT looks at the vaccination plans for the county’s badgers There are three weeks left of the Government’s six-week badger cull in parts of Gloucestershire and Somerset, where the ‘cull companies’ aim to kill up to 1,876 badgers

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What We Did On Our Holiday starring David Tennant and Billy Connolly

Damon Smith on a funny film about an ill-fated road trip with three kids In 2007, Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin abandoned the conventions of a tightly scripted sitcom and took a more fluid approach to mining laughs in the breakout hit Outnumbered

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Shaping a female future at Circle art event

Sarah Mayhew Craddock is inspired by Oxford Circle women Women are amazing. I’ve always thought so. From octopus-esque matriarchal family members to political and celebrity figures that have inspired me throughout my life (Kate Adie, Joanna Lumley

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Catriona Kerridge is on a Fast Track to fame

Angie Johnson talks to one of the area’s most promising playwrights For their second in-house production, North Wall Theatre have assembled an impressive collection of talented young people who are really going places. The team behind their new

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Reflected glory in She Stoops to Conquer

Giles Woodforde enjoys a vital Goldsmith classic arriving in Oxford ‘My life has been chiefly spent in a college or an inn, in seclusion from that lovely part of the creation that chiefly teach men confidence,” laments young Marlow in Oliver Goldsmith

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Privilege to be in the presence of the great Roger Moore

Sir Roger Moore received a standing ovation when he left the stage at the New Theatre, having spent several hours recounting anecdotes and fielding questions from an adoring audience who had come from all over the world to see him in the flesh. His

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RUGBY UNION: Trio return for London Welsh

TOM May, Rhys Crane and Ollie Stedman come into the London Welsh team for tomorrow night’s Aviva Premiership clash at home to Gloucester (7.45). May returns at inside centre and will captain the side, while Crane starts on the wing and Stedman

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Rugby tournament will be lasting memorial to coach

AN Oxford rugby coach who died from a wasp sting last year will be remembered in a memorial tournament this weekend. Will Lay, 43, died last August after he suffered a severe allergic reaction when he was stung while getting tools out of his garage

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Fundraisers get in character for fun

DIABETES fundraisers will be the stars of the show on Sunday when they dress up as Disney characters to take on a 5km sponsored walk. Nine-year-old Charlie Evans, from Banbury, will join the challenge at Drayton Manor Park, Staffordshire, with

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Journey's End at Watermill Theatre, Newbury

There’s just three years’ difference in age between Captain Stanhope and Raleigh. But what a difference those three years make. Stanhope, at 21, is a whisky-soaked veteran officer, while Raleigh is an 18-year-old newcomer, who sees the army as a “simply

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Oxford Chamber Music Festival is breaking free of traditional limits

Nicola Lisle asks artistic director Priya Mitchell about this year’s Oxford Chamber Music Festival Picasso once said, “Every act of creation is first an act of destruction.” This was Priya Mitchell’s inspiration for this year’s Oxford Chamber Music

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Soundbites: Gigs news and gossip

Somehow it all seemed horribly inevitable. The announcement that the city’s much-vaunted OxfordOxford festival had bitten the dust was received with disappointment, sadness but little surprise. As we report this week, the three-day event fell

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Australian soprano is stunning in Lucia Di Lammermoor

Stuart Macbeth praises the performances of soprano Elena Xanthoudakis in this production of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor There’s an inviting, convivial atmosphere about Winslow Hall, celebrating its third season of opera with Donizetti’s Lucia

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What it means to be Frank Turner

Folk-punk troubadour Frank Turner enjoys the smaller venues, as Tim Hughes discovers Frank Turner is, to possibly misquote Winston Churchill “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma”. An Old Etonian who studied alongside Prince William

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Works of art that get you thinking at State of Denmark exhibition

Artist wants viewers to engage with his exhibition, states Sylvia Vetta Stuart Brisley’s career has spanned six decades in which his art has engaged with the major political upheavals of post-war Britain. The artist questions seemingly permanent

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For Art's Sake with Doc Brown

Rapper turned stand-up Doc Brown explains his journey to the microphone My name is Ben Bailey Smith. They call me Doc Brown. Why? Well, as a 16-year-old smart-arse yet nerdy outcast — a strange mix of awkward and ballsy — the nickname “Doc” or

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Talking shop with screenwriter Kate Brooke

Katherine MacAlister talks to the Mr Selfridge screenwriter Kate Brooke who will speak at Blenheim Palace Literary Festival Proof of a seismic shift away from the world of academia is evident at this year’s Blenheim Literary Festival where, among

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Addict who disturbed flat owner during burglary avoids jail term

A DRUG addict who woke his victim up as he went through his bedroom in a night burglary has avoided prison. Matthew McKechnie disturbed William Bentley after climbing through the window of his Cowley flat and stealing a watch, Oxford Crown Court

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The Scales of Justice - 22 people up in court

OXFORD MAGISTRATES Tara Dhibi, 39, of Peregrine Road, Oxford, was convicted of producing class B drug cannabis in Peregrine Road, Oxford, on January 28. He was given an eight-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and told to pay an

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‘Time to tackle this rubbish mountain’

WHEN morning rush hour begins, Oxford’s streets are usually clean and tidy for people travelling to work. But it is the product of hours of hard work. Oxford City Council’s street cleaning team starts at 5.30am each day and by 9am has already

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UPDATE: Princess Anne in Oxford to open Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology

Princess Anne has arrived in Oxford ahead of the opening of Oxford University’s Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology. The institute’s research focuses on the causes and treatment of arthritis and other inflammatory diseases that affect many millions

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Students rate landlords in uni study

A DATABASE of students’ views on city landlords is to be compiled at Oxford Brookes University. Details collected through the Rate My Landlord scheme will be given to Oxford City Council, which regulates most private properties. The scheme,

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Fortunately Mr Balls got away with his bruising tackle on pitch

THE Insider was interested to learn that Ed Turner, the deputy leader of Oxford City Council, was assistant referee in the football match between politicians and journalists at this week’s Labour Conference. This was the same football match that

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Complacency is never an option when children’s safety is at stake

After the Rotherham sex abuse scandal, I believe we need to take a closer look at local authorities’ responsibility regarding children in their area. In August, it was revealed in a report that between 1997 and 2013, at least 1,400 children were

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Car fire on M40 junction 9 causing delays

FIRE crews are on the M40 overbridge at Junction 9 because of a car on fire and smoke blowing across the road. Two lanes of the northbound carriageway are closed between Weston-on-the-Green and Junction 9. Queues are starting to form on the

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Oxford United chief urges fans to share ideas at tonight's forum

MARK Ashton has called on Oxford United fans to come forward at tonight’s forum with their ideas on how to improve the club. The chief executive will be at the Kassam Stadium with chairman Darryl Eales and head coach Michael Appleton to talk with

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Jolly hockey sticks as star pays school visit

Hockey star Maddie Hinch was a resounding success yesterday when she visited Oxford’s Rye St Antony School to inspire the next generation of sportswomen. The England hockey goalkeeper and Commonwealth Games silver medallist gave coaching sessions

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SPORTS AWARDS: Nominations flood in during first week

ENTRIES have already started pouring in for the 2014 Oxfordshire Sports Awards. Although the nomination process only opened last Friday, a host of people have wasted little time in putting forward individuals, clubs or teams who they feel have

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Jayden's mum holds fundraiser to mark murdered teen's 18th birthday

TOMORROW, Sam Shrewsbury should have been cradling her newborn grandchild in her arms and celebrating her daughter’s 18th birthday. Instead, she will hold a party to raise funds for victims of domestic abuse in her daughter’s memory. Jayden

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Case for more cash to protect children

IT’S a concern that more young people in the county are being taken into care, placing pressure on social services staff. But if the increase has occurred partly as a result of a more rigorous approach to identifying cases of neglect then that

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Hatters trip likely to come too soon for Oxford United goalkeeper

RYAN Clarke is unlikely to make his comeback to Oxford United first-team action tomorrow. The goalkeeper played 90 minutes of a development game against Southend on Tuesday, his first action since foot surgery this summer. It raised the possibility

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ICE HOCKEY: Oxford City Stars up and running after first win

Oxford City Stars picked up their first victory in South Division 1 after a thrilling 6-5 success at home to Wightlink Raiders. Josh Oliver hit a brace, with goals from Jamie Newton, James Pentecost, Darren Elliott and Dax Hedges ensured Stars

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Residents in shock as the big flood clean-up begins

DEVASTATED residents yesterday began trying to piece back together their flood-damaged homes in Normandy Crescent. The street in Cowley was left swamped after a main water pipe running behind the street burst for the second time in seven years.

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Woman sexually assaulted outside cinema

A WOMAN was sexually assaulted as she walked through the city centre on Monday, police revealed yesterday. A man approached the 22-year-old and touched her inappropriately while she was walking past the Odeon cinema in George Street between 8.50am

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Mink coat theft denied

A 33-year-old man has denied stealing a blue mink jacket worth £6,500. Lewis Duke-Smith, of Owens Way in Cowley, appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday to deny the theft from the Fendi company on January 20. He was released on bail until Monday

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Princess set to open museum for soldiers

Princess Anne is to officially open the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum today. The museum, which opened to the public in July, houses collections from the Oxfordshire Yeomanry and the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. She will also

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UPDATED: B4016 in Appleford closed due to fuel spillage

A FUEL spillage has closed the B4016 in Appleford in both directions this morning. The incident happened between the Sires Hill and Church Street junctions. Motorists are facing queuing traffic and congestion on the B4016 Lady Grove to the

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Esme’s eyes light up garden’s sunflower special

YOUNG gardeners honed their horticultural skills at a Super Sunflower event at the University of Oxford Botanic Garden on Monday. The garden’s sunflowers were the main attraction, but there was plenty else on offer to keep the little watering-can

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RACING: Longsdon's out to raise the bar

CHARLIE Longsdon is looking to take another step up the ladder after enjoying his best season at his Chipping Norton yard. Having sent out an impressive 78 winners over jumps from Hull Farm last term, the 38-year-old handler is eager for more.

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Flood fears

The flooding endured by Cowley residents from a burst water main has been a disaster for the residents in Normandy Crescent first and foremost. But it also must be viewed as disastrous for Thames Water. The community spirit and calm resolution

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Trust in us

The quest of Oxfordshire’s main hospital trust to secure foundation status has gone on for so long that some readers may have forgotten what the actual point is. Others, understandably, may well have wrongly supposed that Oxford University Hospitals

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Cleared of drug dealing

A man was yesterday cleared at Oxford Crown Court of plotting to deal crack cocaine after being caught with 18.9g of the drug. James Marnell, 22, of Brent Park, London, admitted buying the class-A drugs in Bicester in March as they were cheaper

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Former councillor dies

Former Conservative Cherwell District Councillor for Sibford, David Green, of Lower Tadmarton, has died. He was on the council from 1986 until 2002. Cherwell’s deputy leader, George Reynolds, said: “David was passionate about representing his

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Restaurateur fears for Syrian family as extremists close in

A RESTAURANT owner has said he fears for the safety of his elderly mother and siblings who are living in Syria. Bakir Ali-Najar, who lives in Headington, Oxford, is a Kurd who has been in the UK for more than a decade after claiming asylum because

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RUGBY UNION: Oxon's Purdy out to dent Welsh revival bid

OXFORDSHIRE’S Henry Purdy is relishing the challenge of facing London Welsh at the Kassam Stadium tomorrow night. Purdy, from Milton-under-Wychwood, made his Aviva Premiership debut for Gloucester in last Friday’s 25-22 home defeat to Exeter Chiefs

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ATHLETICS: City's golden oldies bag tenth successive crown

SOUTH OF ENGLAND ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS OXFORD City made it ten vet 60 men’s titles in a row with a dominant display at Rushmoor Arena in Aldershot. City extended a streak that began in 2005 to take victory on Sunday by almost three minutes

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Parky at the Pictures (DVD 25/9/2014)

Always a director to divide audiences, Bruno Dumont applies his patented brand of naturalist minimalism to a biopic in Camille Claudel 1915, which departs from the austerity of his earlier features only to the extent that as he has broken with tradition

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Children’s hospital staff give it a leg up

HOSPITAL staff will get in step for an unusual five-mile walk next month. A 12-strong team of play specialists at the Oxford Children’s Hospital will take part in the It’s Not Just a Walk in the Park event on Sunday, October 5. They will tackle

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Parky at the Pictures (In Cinemas 25/9/2014)

Uncompromising is the best way to describe the cinema of Francesco Rosi. Although his first films, La Sfida (1958) and I Magliari (1959), adhered closely to the neo-realist tenets that had, in spite of government threats, informed much postwar Italian

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BOWLS: Awesome Alder lands second title

KEVIN Alder added the Champion of Champions crown to his Officer’s Cup title, when he beat Oxford City & County’s Othman Sharif 21-17 in the final at the City & County club. The West Witney man reached the final by beating Banbury Central

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Sex health clinic hours will increase as students return

OPENING hours are to be extended at East Oxford’s sexual health clinic amid concerns about ease of access. In April the contract to provide services like family planning and tests for sexually transmitted diseases switched from Oxford NHS Foundation

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Thursday, September 25

1:25pm BREAKING NEWS: County council team leader Peter Brown guilty of sexual assault %if(after3) %if(after7)

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Delays on First Great Western trains due to engineering works

THERE are delays on First Great Western trains this morning due to over running engineering works.  Disruption is affecting services between Reading and London Paddington.  It's due to works at Hayes and Harlington. Trains may be revised or

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BOWLS: Hawes and Galletly get England call-up

OXFORDSHIRE’S Katherine Hawes and Carole Galletly have been named in the England team for next year’s Women’s Senior International Series at Royal Leamington Spa. Hawes, from Oxford City & County, was expected to be Oxon’s sole representative

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Thieves smash way in

Jewellery, a laptop and cash were stolen after thieves smashed patio doors to get into two properties. Jewellery and a laptop were taken from Turnbury Close between 8am and 2.30pm on Tuesday, September 16, while money and travellers cheques were

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Extra £487k for centre

A new community centre for Rose Hill will go ahead as planned after the city council’s executive board voted to give another £487,000 to the project. The board met yesterday to approve the extra funds after tenders for the project came in significantly

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Teen sexually assaulted seven-year-old, jury told

A TEENAGE boy sexually abused a seven-year-old girl while they watched the film Despicable Me 2 in a bedroom, jurors heard yesterday. The 16-year-old from a village on the outskirts of Oxford, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is also accused

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Shock as estate’s stalwart councillor Val Smith steps down

BLACKBIRD Leys city and county councillor Val Smith resigned from both authorities yesterday in a move that shocked fellow councillors. Described as a stalwart for the estate, Mrs Smith has been suffering from cancer for the past couple of years

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ATHLETICS: Carter claims Witney tester

COTSWOLD CLASSIC SOPHIE Carter was an emphatic ladies’ winner of the hilly ten-mile road race at Witney. The Belgrave Harriers athlete, from Woodstock, completed the course in 1hr 1min 38secs to finish 12th overall. Carter came in almost

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BAR BILLIARDS: Gladiators through to last eight

GLADIATORS A reached the last eight of the Gracie J’s League Cup after recording a 3-2 home win over Marlborough Club. Frank Cox won the opening leg with victory over Arthur McIntyre, but Chris Bateman levelled after seeing off Dave Jarman.

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Do you know a worthy charity?

Getting your work noticed is a challenge at the best of times. Voluntary and community groups around Oxfordshire work tirelessly to make people’s lives better, often without getting the recognition for their work they deserve. Oxfordshire Community

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First five-door Mini set to hit the road

Mini is to launch its first five-door hatchback, which will be produced at the Cowley plant. The 5-Door Mini Hatch, pictured, comes just six months after the introduction of Mini’s newest design of three-door hatchback. The new model will feature

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RUGBY UNION: Robinson rejoins Henley

WILL Robinson has joined London Welsh teammate Nathan Taylor on loan at Henley Hawks. The fly half, who played a key role as Henley won the National 2 South title in 2012-13, has been released by the Exiles to gain more playing time. Robinson

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RUGBY UNION: Witney are planning floodlit match tribute to Richens

WITNEY RFC plan to honour the club’s first captain, Doug Richens, who died suddenly while on holiday last week, by staging a floodlit match in his memory. Richens, 71, from Carterton, was a founder member when Witney started up at Dark Lane in

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ATHLETICS: Reburn triumphs on home turf

JOLYON Reburn made the most of home advantage to win the inaugural Rutherford Appleton Running Event (RARE) 10k. Reburn, from Abingdon, works at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Harwell, where the race was staged. The vet 40 athlete took

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ATHLETICS: Blatchford retains title

NOEL Blatchford retained her vet 65 ladies’ racewalk title at the British Masters Championships at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium. Blatchford (Abingdon) completed the 10k course in 1hr 7mins 8secs to take gold at Birmingham. Clubmate Naomi

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Val Smith has backing of all as she focuses on her illness

BLACKBIRD Leys city and county councillor Val Smith has been ill for some time, so her resignation from both local authorities will perhaps not have surprised her family and friends. But the announcement will have been a heartbreaking moment for

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Three-quarters of people happy with their lot

ALMOST three-quarters of people in Oxfordshire are happy with their lives, according to this year’s study of Personal Well-being in the UK. Seventy-three per cent of people recorded in the survey by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said

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Sex abuse claim against ex-pilot

A FORMER British Airways pilot allegedly assaulted an underage boy at a beauty spot, a court has heard. Bartle Frere, 50, of Marcham, near Abingdon, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Tuesday charged with 25 child sex offences against boys

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Drowned cat in pet basket found in lake

A BLACK and white cat has been found drowned in a basket in an Abingdon fishing lake. The RSPCA is now appealing for information. The animal, thought to be about six months old, was found wrapped in towels in a closed cat basket in Lambrick

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Gang had a 21kg drug stash worth £24m as police struck

DRUGS at the centre of an Oxford Crown Court trial had a street value of £24m, police have said. The total figure was revealed after the last of five men was convicted on Tuesday of conspiracy to supply 21kg of Class A drugs between January 9 and

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Ale just have my own festival

WHEN his local beer festival was cancelled, Peter Fowler simply decided to hold his own. The landlord of Wantage’s vegetarian gastropub The Shoulder of Mutton will hold his Not The Wantage Beer Festival from tomorrow until Sunday this weekend.

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Planned Abingdon estate to expand to 1,000 homes

MEETING fresh house building targets means a planned estate in Abingdon could almost double in size. Vale of White Horse District Council wants to increase the Dunmore Road estate, alongside the A34, from 610 to 1,000 properties. It comes after

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Food to tickle Ancient Greeks' tastebuds

PUPILS had the chance to experience some ancient cooking at Cheney School. East Oxford Community Classics Centre is running a series of ancient Greek and Roman cooking sessions. The 12-weekly workshops began on Monday with pupils aged 12-13

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RUGBY UNION: Thorpe and Down lead tackle stats

LONDON Welsh may be bottom of the Aviva Premiership, but they did have two of the leading tacklers in round three of the competition. Flanker Richard Thorpe was second only to Exeter’s Jack Yeandle with his 16 tackles, while lock James Down came

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Numbers of children in care soar after Bullfinch inquiry

THE number of county children being taken into care has risen sharply, putting “significant pressure” on social workers. Oxfordshire County Council figures show the number of children in care rose from 416 in March 2013 to 519 this month. It

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ATHLETICS: Results round-up

(senior men unless stated) COTSWOLD CLASSIC 10 Top 10: 1 C Illman (Cirencester) 54.20, 2 P Fernandez (Abn, V40) 55.44, 3 D Bruce (Oxf) 56.36, 4 T Jones (Wit) 58.39, 5 G O’Brien (Swh, V40) 58.45, 6 H Earl (Border Harriers) 59.12, 7 P Jegou (

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Lynx drops in to give pupils a lesson on helicopters

PUPILS at Wallingford School have always been taught to reach for the heights, but on Tuesday they were given a first hand demonstration. A Royal Navy Lynx helicopter dropped in at the school and students were invited to hop on board. The crew

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‘Grand Designs’ scheme starts at last

WORK has begun on a new development in Cowley spearheaded by Grand Designs TV presenter Kevin McCloud, following months of delays. The former Cowley Community Centre site in Barns Road, will be transformed into 40 flats and community rooms.

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New air ambulance will cover night-time 999 calls

MORE lives are set to be saved after the air ambulance service that operates in Oxfordshire revealed it will begin night flights. From next year, the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance will be able to fly 24 hours a day from its base at RAF