Archive
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Sharan's energy now works as hard as she does
Her family's shop may be in Birmingham, but Sharan Purewal's story could just as easily apply – and be of value – to any small to medium sized business in Oxford. When you meet Sharan, you'd be forgiven for thinking that energy is the last of her worries
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Music producer’s on song with Thames’ charity walk
A MUSIC producer who tours the world with famous acts raised more than £1,000 for an arts project by walking from Oxford to London. Tim Hand, from Charlbury, walked more than 100 miles along the Thames with his father Michael between September
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Talks to tap into residents’ wide areas of knowledge
A COMMUNITY-LED series of lectures by West Oxford residents is set to return later next month. Residents are invited to speak on a topic of their choice for up to half an hour. West Oxford Academy has held more than 100 talks since it started
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Villagers plan to install a life-saving defibrillator
SOUTH HINKSEY Parish Council hopes a village defibrillator might save lives. Chairwoman Maggie Rawcliffe wants tio see a unit installed because she feared emergency services could struggle to get to patients when the A34 is jammed with traffic.
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Celebrities in swing for big hospice golf day
FUNDRAISERS swung into action and raised more than £12,000 for East Oxford hospice Helen & Douglas House. Television star Dennis Waterman was joined by a host of celebrities at his third golf day for the children and young adults hospice in
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More delays before new skatepark is due to open
LONG-AWAITED equipment for the skatepark in Fry’s Hill Park has been delayed by another five weeks. It has been two years since money was pledged to install more activities for skateboarders. But Oxford City Council has promised a T-shaped
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New food bank collection ‘will meet rising demand’
THE manager of a Kidlington foodbank said the latest collection point to be opened at a village supermarket will help meet rising demand. North Oxfordshire Community Foodbank’s Melvina Fawcett welcomed the extra drop-off point at the Co-op in High
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Botley Road to partially close overnight for three days for emergency repair works
EMERGENCY roadworks in Botley Road will be starting tonight. Workers from Thames Water will begin digging up the road at Binsey Lane from 9pm tonight. Temporary traffic lights will be in place while the work is carried out over the next three
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A tribute for refusing to accept status quo
WHEN Pip Hoyer Millar found there was nothing in the UK to help her daughter Minty with her cerebral palsy she started on a road that led to the foundtion of the Footsteps Centre. Ten years later hundreds of people will pay tribute to Mrs Hoyer
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Centre a huge step in helping children walk
IN 1994, when her 22-month-old daughter was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Pip Hoyer Millar was desperate to find the right treatment for her. But the mum-of-four was told it could be 12 months before her daughter Minty would be able to see a physiotherapist
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Man still fighting for life after Sandford Road bridge fall
A man was yesterday still fighting for his life in hospital after falling from a bridge and colliding with a vehicle. The man fell from the Sandford Road bridge - between the Heyford Hill roundabout and the Kassam Stadium/Sandford-on-Thames turn-off
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Prince Andrew at RAF Benson as the Merlin helicopter squadron is disbanded
FORMER Royal Navy helicopter pilot Prince Andrew has visited RAF Benson as one of the air base’s helicopter squadrons was officially disbanded. The RAF officially handed over the Merlin HC Mk3 and Mk3A helicopters to the Royal Navy, with 78 Squadron
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Oxford United stage comeback to beat Swindon Town
JAMES Roberts came off the bench to score the winner as Oxford United came from two goals down to win 3-2 against Swindon Town at Roman Way. The visitors had a two-goal lead at the break, but Carlton Morris, Junior Brown and Roberts struck in the
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Winter warmer makes £1,260 for MS charity
WINTER may be just around the corner but Hilary Lord’s new quilt means she is now prepared. She won the multi-coloured double bed-sized quilt in a raffle from Kidlington-based fabric shop Freelance Fabrics. The shop’s staff made the quilt and
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Tuesday’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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Poet’s verse has chance to fit the bill
WHEN poet Stephen Santus saw his poem In a Restaurant come third in the Bridport Prize competition in 2012 he went away with a smile on his face and thought no more of it. That was until three months ago when another prestigious poetry competition
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Lewis star eyes show exit
LEWIS star Kevin Whately has said he only wants to appear in one more series of the Oxford-based TV drama. The actor, 63, has been playing detective Robbie Lewis for nearly three decades, first with John Thaw in Inspector Morse. Now the Oxford-set
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Church is pulling out stops for its £200k organ appeal
AN OXFORD church is hoping to raise funds to make sure that it never has to pipe down. St Peter’s Church in Wolvercote has launched a fundraising appeal to buy a new £200,000 organ, and attract more churchgoers to its congregations. It will
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Harry helps cook up a storm at food festival
IT was a delicious day out at Thame Food Festival on Saturday as chefs from around the world cooked up a storm in the town. Peruvian street-food chef Harry Goicochea was one of dozens of cooks offering an eclectic range of foods to visitors.
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Hundreds of home without power in Freeland near Witney
HUNDREDS of homes in West Oxfordshire are without power after overhead electricity lines collapsed. Some 327 properties in Freeland, near Witney, were cut off at about 7am. Engineers restored power to more than 100 homes but the remaining
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Motorcyclist seriously injured in crash with car near Dorchester
A MOTORCYCLIST has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after a crash with a BMW. The 46-year-old man was hurt in the collision with the silver car on the A4074 at Dorchester at about 6.30pm last night. The biker was travelling in the
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A40 reopened after crash between Ducklington Lane and Eynsham Roundabout
THE A40 has reopened after a one-car crash. Initial traffic reports said the road was blocked between Ducklington Lane and the Eynsham Roundabout. Stagecoach had tweeted that all of its Witney services were delayed as a result. The S1, S2
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College’s plans under scrutiny
WORK could start on expanding a college in Blackbird Leys if plans are approved tomorrow. City of Oxford College is due to have a £7.5m engineering centre, called the Oxfordshire Centre for Technology and Innovation, built at its Cuddesdon Way
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I’m afraid that league table results don’t lie
I admit to being the worst type of supporter as, although I have followed Oxford since 1960, I only occasionally go to matches and don’t see anything to make me change. Weekly I read of the great football that they are playing and the quality strikers
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Navigation ditches were used for drainage
It’s a bit of a giveaway the word towpath and is derived from its use which was actually for a horse which towed narrow boats on our canals up until mechanisation took over. So Mr Sephton got it partly right in that a man would walk behind the
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It was a real pleasure to visit Jersey for a holiday
My wife and I have just returned from a holiday in Jersey, where we have been many times. As Jersey is the most southerly point of the British Isles, it is a relief to go somewhere with the standards that we have sadly lost. It’s clean, no
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City’s streams are clogged with vegetation and need dredging
I have just received two publications about flooding in West Oxford. The principal agency involved in their publication is the Environment Agency, who are charged, and funded by Parliament, with defending us against floods. A flood barrier
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Be prepared and be seen this autumn
One great advantage of cycling is that journey times are predictable: you always know exactly how long a trip’s going to take because you don’t get stuck in traffic jams. That’s the theory at least, but how come I always arrive for appointments
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No matter how much is built, demand is rising
In the recent Scottish referendum, one of the problems given for wanting to leave the UK was their remoteness from Westminster but, being close to London creates its own problems, as outlined in your feature ‘How London drives up our house prices,’
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Sharing a passion for singing that we all have in common
A CAPELLA at the Edinburgh Fringe has never been stronger, with collegiate and professional groups dominating the busking stages on the Royal Mile – the hub of show advertising in Edinburgh during the Fringe. With the release of the film Pitch Perfect
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Question hangs on temperament
With their 78-65 victory over the Seacourt Bridge (Botley), the Plough (Wolvercote) confirmed their superiority in the Premier Division of the Summer Leagues as the curtain finally came down, last Thursday, on the present campaign. Their final
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Breast cancer charity event has the Market Place in a spin
THERE was something for everyone at this year’s Abingdon’s Splash of Pink day. The Market Place event, which was held to mark the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, featured food stalls, morris dancers, breakdancing and a bake-off
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Dismal start troubles Appleton
Oxford United’s position in the table is now a concern for head coach Michael Appleton, who has acknow-ledged it is taking longer than expected to improve results. A 2-0 defeat at Luton Town on Saturday saw the U’s slip back into the bottom two
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Derek Measor's wife says his death tore her world apart as killer driver avoids jail
A WIDOW whose husband was killed while cycling yesterday told a court it was the worst day of her life. Jacky Measor spoke about the day cyclist Derek died as the motorist responsible apologised to her family after admitting causing his death,
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Drivers facing long delays on roads around Oxford this morning
DRIVERS are facing long delays around Oxford on the A34, A40 and A44 this morning. Standstill traffic has been reported around the city but with no major accidents reported. Stagecoach has tweeted that heavy traffic from Yarnton to Oxford is
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Group urges council to sell it Temple Cowley pools
CAMPAIGNERS have urged Oxford City Council to accept their bid to buy Temple Cowley Pools for the community. A petition organised by the Save Temple Cowley Pools group was submitted to last night’s full meeting of the city council. The council
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Crash shuts off road
A crash outside Eynsham Hall shut off the A4095 yesterday morning. The two-car smash happened at about 6.40am and the road was blocked on both sides before the scene was cleared by 7.20am. Police spokeswoman Rhianne Pope said no one was injured
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Man collapsed in street
A man was taken to hospital yesterday after collapsing outside McDonald’s in Cornmarket Street. Police set up a scene watch outside the restaurant following the incident after they were called to reports of an assault at about 2.30am. Thames
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Seven deny child sex exploitation charges
Seven people, all from Banbury, denied child sexual exploitation charges at Oxford Crown Court yesterday. All pleaded not guilty to a total of 24 counts against seven alleged victims. The incidents are alleged to have taken place between 2009
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Russell’s taste of honey is the bees Leys
THERE are some unusual visitors in Blackbird Leys creating a bit of a buzz. And they have been particularly welcome for Russell Price, 68, who has used his resident bees to create his own honey. The Pegasus Road resident has just enjoyed a
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Girls get some coaching from a top GB runner
PUPILS at d’Overbroecks College pulled on their running shoes yesterday as 2002 Commonwealth Games 400m relay silver medallist Lesley Owusu gave them advice on how to succeed in both sport and life. The veteran runner, 35, told the girls about
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Rethink on late-night drink levy
BARS and clubs in Oxford could soon be charged for serving alcohol after midnight. In 2012, councils across the UK were given the chance to introduce a “late-night levy”, but the city council had decided against it. That was because the police
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Tuesday, September 30
5:22pm BREAKING NEWS Botley Road to partially close overnight for three days for emergency repair works %if(after3) %if(after7)
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Woeful Oxford United Women battered by Reading
A lacklustre Oxford United Women suffered a 5-0 thrashing at local rivals Reading in FA Women's Super League 2, writes MATTHEW BRUCE. A dreadful start from the visitors saw them go 4-0 down inside the opening 25 minutes on Sunday. The U’s found
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Land hearing continues
A hearing to decide whether land in Northway should be protected will continue this morning. A group of residents submitted an application to designate the land in Foxwell Drive as a town green to protect it from plans to turn it into a junction
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FOOTBALL: Murombedzi back at Banbury after trial spells
Midfielder Shepherd Murombedzi has returned to Banbury United following unsuccessful trials with Leyton Orient and Mansfield Town, writes MATTHEW BRUCE. Manager Paul Davis said: “I’m disappointed for him, but I’m sure he will get something soon
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CRICKET: Brooks gets nominated for player of the year
Jack Brooks said being nominated for the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) player of the year was an added bonus to a great season. The Yorkshire paceman, who hails from Tiddington, made the shortlist for tomorrow’s ceremony in London
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HOCKEY: Battling Hawks lose out to national stars
Oxford Hawks put in a superb battling performance as they lost 5-2 at home to National Premier League side Hampstead & Westminster in the second round of the NOW: Pensions Cup on Sunday. Following their 5-1 victory against fellow South Division
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New Bodleian reopens
The University of Oxford’s Weston Library, also known as the New Bodleian, reopened yesterday to academics. The building cost £78m and took three years to refurbish. Readers and researchers of special collections are currently able to use the
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University lecturers to decide over strike
Lecturers at Oxford University who are part of the University and College Union (UCU) will decide in the next few weeks whether they want to strike in a row over pensions. The union said changes would see lecturers lose thousands of pounds from
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Teenage boy found guilty of sexual abuse
A TEENAGE boy has been convicted of sexually abusing a seven-year-old girl while they watched the film Despicable Me 2. The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was yesterday found guilty of causing or inciting a female child to
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West Way scheme could help boost house prices
The £100m West Way redevelopment scheme will see house prices in West Oxford rise to rival areas like Headington and Summertown, an estate agent report has said. In the report, Savills said it would have a beneficial impact on the local housing
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Man fights for his life after falling from bridge
A MAN was last night fighting for his life after falling from a bridge and then colliding with a vehicle. Thames Valley Police said he fell from the Sandford Road bridge – between Oxford’s Heyford Hill roundabout and the Kassam Stadium/Sandford-on-Thames
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RUGBY UNION: Henley outgun Southend but slip to second
NATIONAL 2 SOUTH HENLEY Hawks were knocked off the top, despite a bonus-point 31-13 victory over Southend Saxons at Dry Leas. Hawks trail new leaders Taunton by the narrowest possible margin on points difference, but will be happy with a fourth
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RUGBY UNION: Quins' mistakes prove so costly
NATIONAL 3 SOUTH WEST DEFENSIVE lapses cost Oxford Harlequins in a 27-15 defeat at Bracknell. Quins took the lead with a penalty from fly half Will Sharratt after 16 minutes. But they had wing Ed Yeats yellow-carded before two penalties
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MOTORSPORT: Plato doubts title chances despite Silverstone joy
JASON Plato kept the British Touring Car Championship title race alive with two wins at Silverstone, but the Oxford driver believes it is too late for him to catch leader Colin Turkington. Plato thrillingly passed his rival on the way to victories
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Man left with broken jaw and fractured eye socket after assault outside The Lodge in Oxford
POLICE have arrested a 27-year-old man on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm following an assault outside burlesque club The Lodge in Oxpens Road, Oxford. Officers were called to the former lap-dancing club at about 4.30am to reports of an
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GOLF: Tadmarton Heath to hold open day for ladies
TADMARTON Heath are holding an open day for women keen to take up golf or looking to join a club. Equipment will be provided at the free event from noon on Saturday, October 11, which will include introductory lessons. To register your interest
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Feted Chinese artist’s work turning heads at Blenheim
VISITORS strolling through Blenheim Palace in Woodstock have been doing a series of double-takes. In the grand surroundings of the 18th century palace they are being confronted with more than 50 artworks by celebrated Chinese artist and social
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DARTS: Holly's maximums set up first Premier title for Green
KIDLINGTON Green Social Club B clinched their first Premier Section title as they won 5-4 at nearest challengers Windrush Social Club. Sean Holly got the visitors off to a good start by hitting two maximums to inflict Ryan Bull’s only defeat in
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RUGBY UNION: Lamb's boot is the key
SOUTH WEST 1 EAST HENRY Lamb kicked Witney to a 12-5 victory at Reading. The fly half landed four penalties as Witney recovered from 5-0 down to record their third win of the season. Reading missed two early penalties before lock Charlie
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RUGBY UNION: Banbury march on
MIDLANDS 2 WEST SOUTH BANBURY Bulls stayed top after taking maximum points from a 28-5 home victory over lowly Leamington. The match was closer than the scoreline suggests, but Banbury did enough to take the spoils. Bulls finally scored
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RUGBY UNION: Wallingford deny Bicester in derby
SOUTHERN COUNTIES NORTH WALLINGFORD held on to beat Bicester 25-24 at the Hithercroft after Andrew Cook missed a late conversion from in front of the posts. Dave Aslett’s try, with two minutes left, looked to have been decisive for Bicester
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RUGBY UNION: Zandy is stand-in
VARSITY PREVIEW ZANDY Macdonald deputises for skipper Jacob Taylor as Oxford University host Henley at Iffley Road tonight (7.30). Fly half Taylor continues to recover from a foot problem, but hopes to be back at Richmond next Tuesday.
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Charity rider appeals for return of her bikes
A charity champion has appealed for information after two bikes were stolen from her shed. Eileen Naughton has raised £15,000 for children with cancer on the two bikes, cycling distances like London to Paris and Oxford to Cambridge. The red
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Crosscountry is worst timekeeper
ONLY four in ten trains operated by Crosscountry, which run through Oxfordshire, were on time last year, making them the worst in the country. New figures released by Network Rail have revealed that Crosscountry was also ranked the second-worst
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DARTS: Bull in line for Oxon bow
RYAN Bull will make his debut for Oxfordshire when they entertain Surrey in Division 1. Stuart Dutton, Pete Hall and Kirk Shepherd also return to the men’s team, while Clare Bywaters is back for the ladies. The games will be played at Ex-Servicemans
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City friendliest place
Fewer people in the city pretend to be on their smartphones to avoid striking up a conversation with a stranger, according to the latest research. Telecoms firm Daisy Group found that people in Oxford were most likely to have a chat with a stranger
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TB man given Asbo to stop him spitting
A HOMELESS man with tuberculosis (TB) has been given an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) to stop him from coughing and spitting at people. David Goodwin was banned from making any attempt to spread the disease under the temporary order issued
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Survey puts spotlight city’s on city’s grubby roads
SIXTEEN streets have been branded the grubbiest in Oxford in a city-wide cleanliness survey. Council workers check roads, pavements and gutters and analyse how much litter, dirt and detritis there is. Those judged the muckiest made-up six per
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The city council needs to clean up its act over flood aftermath
LAST winter’s flooding, as we all well remember, was a serious and widespread problem that affected, in the main, large parts of the south and west of the city. And it is quite understandable that the clean up was not going to be just a matter
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Cocaine dealer, 33, gets four years jail
AN OXFORD drug dealer has been jailed after more than £9,000 of cocaine was found in his house. Derrick Slater, pictured, of Birchfield Close, Blackbird Leys, admitted possessing the Class A drug with intent to supply, as well as growing cannabis
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HOCKEY: Goals by Stewart and Hibbert keep up unbeaten run
Oxford Hawks maintained their unbeaten record in the Women’s Investec West Conference with a 2-2 draw at home to Trojans. After a goalless first half, Trojans took the lead, but two well-worked scores in five minutes from Lucy Stewart and Becky
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Pair jailed for dealing drugs from their car
A pensioner drug dealer with a criminal record stretching back 52 years has been jailed along with his addict accomplice. Anthony Cawley, 67, and Charlotte Bedford, both of North Place, Headington, Oxford, were convicted last month after a trial
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Bun-throwing marks fire station’s 50th
THEY’RE used to tackling fires and rescuing people. But marking 50 years of saving lives on Saturday, firefighters at Abingdon Fire Station celebrated with a bit of bun-throwing. Chief Fire Officer Dave Etheridge joined local councillors and
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Galaxy of stars wows crowds at Blenheim Literary Festival
RICHARD Dawkins got to talk about himself for an hour and 45 minutes, accompanied by an orchestra playing his favourite music, at this year’s Blenheim Palace Literary Festival. The author of The Selfish Gene was among a galaxy of stars at this
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GOLF: Club results
SHAW GIBBS OXFORDSHIRE FOURSOMES LEAGUE Section 2 Tadmarton Heath 2 (3pts), Oxford City 1 (1) (Tadmarton scores first): D Booker & I Manning bt G Soave & M Soave 2 holes, L Washborne & F Penniston bt G Holt & C Soave 4 &
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RUGBY UNION: Abingdon make it three in a row
BB&O ROUND-UP ABINGDON made it three Premier Division wins from three after a 24-12 home success over Chesham. The comfortable three-try victory sees them lead the early season table. Locks John Hughes and Richard Broughton, plus wing
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Youth bailed over broken jaw attack
A teenager from Oxford has been arrested on suspicion of GBH after a 32-year-old was attacked and left with a broken jaw. Thames Valley Police said yesterday the 19-year-old has been released on bail until November 9. He was arrested in connection
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Oxfordshire ploughman passes on skills to young enthusiast
DEREK Yates has not worked on a farm since childhood, but at 67 is still a passionate amateur ploughman. He was one of dozens of part-timers and professionals at the 66th annual Fairford, Faringdon, Filkins and Burford Ploughing championships on
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Volunteer transport groups in Oxfordshire face pressure as cuts pinch
PRESSURE on a transport advice line will increase when controversial cuts to hospital transport services come into force tomorrow, council bosses warned. Oxfordshire County Council said it expects more people to contact its Oxfordshire Travel Advice
