Archive
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Two vehicles overturn on M40 between Bicester and Oxford closing lane
A LANE of the M40 was closed earlier after two vehicles overturned between Bicester and Oxford. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called just before 5.30pm and released one person from their vehicle with hydraulic equipment. The collision
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Seven men 'sexually exploited' teenage girls, court hears
SEVEN young men groomed and sexually exploited eight teenage girls in Banbury, a jury in Oxford Crown Court has been told. On the first day of their trial today, prosecution barrister Stuart Trimmer QC said the defendants identified their targets
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ME sufferer will go the extra mile in Nepal in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support
A PUB manager will trek through the Himalayas for Macmillan Cancer Support, despite suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. Kat Gower and her partner Tony Kear-Smith have already raised £14,000 for the charity in the last two years. The managers
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Oxford University students face up to violence against women by joining 'Because I am a Girl' campaign
OXFORD students have united in a bid to end violence against women and girls. University students from Pembroke College, in Pembroke Square, have joined children’s charity Plan UK and its Because I am a Girl campaign. As part of the national
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New parking spots for Blackbird Leys
PARKING spaces for 23 more residents will be created in Blackbird Leys despite concerns raised by county council highways managers. New spaces on the grass verges lining Pegasus Road were approved by Oxford City Council at a meeting on Wednesday
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MAILBAG: Hunt for former classmates at Northfield School, Littlemore
I ENCLOSE a picture of Class 3 at Northfield School, Littlemore. I am in the second row from the front on the left. I remember some of the names, but not all. I believe the picture was taken in about 1949. Pictured above are, back row, left to
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WI picture special: It's not just jam and Jerusalem
THE Women’s Institute has come a long way from its ‘Jam and Jerusalem’ days. The range of activities enjoyed by members at the 150 branches in Oxfordshire has expanded greatly over the years, as these pictures from the Oxford Mail archives show.
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Youngsters sing out as choristers for a day
BOYS visiting Oxford’s Christ Church Cathedral School became choristers for a day in a one-off workshop. As part of the school’s open day, boys aged seven and eight got a chance to experience what it is like in the independent school’s choir.
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Fundraiser targets 100 marathons in a year in aid of Male Cancer Awareness Campaign, after friends' deaths
RUNNING a marathon may be no easy feat but for baker Graeme Marsh one is just not enough. The 44-year-old from Banbury ended 2014 in high spirits after completing 19 full marathons and 16 half marathons. But he is set to dash across the country
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Schoolgirls’ handiwork goes on display
A HOCKEY outfit made in the domestic science class at Temple Cowley School, Oxford, was one of the exhibits at a fashion show in 1955. Parents and friends were invited to the school to see the high standard of work achieved by girls in dressmaking
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Camille at the wheel at Mop Fair
CAMILLE Adamson, six, took the job of bus driver seriously at the annual Mop Fair at Chipping Norton in 1983. The traditional two-day fair brought its customary traffic problems to the town, but thousands of people, young and old, enjoyed the colourful
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Identity of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry soldiers on parade revealed
MORE names have come to light in a photograph we published 18 months ago. The picture, left, showed members of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry parading across Magdalen Bridge in Oxford on July 11, 1953 (Memory Lane, July 29,
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Can you solve the mystery of Pressed Steel Company watch?
WHEN Mike Spencer saw a beautiful gold watch in a jeweller’s, he could not resist buying it. It was a Smiths ‘Everest’ watch, so-called because they were made specially for Sir Edmund Hillary’s famous 1953 expedition to conquer Mount Everest.
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The changing face of Eynsham
THESE runners were quickly off the mark, winning prizes in the first event of the village sports week, the cross country run. They are back row, left to right, Michael Barrass, Pete Dixie and Paul Collins, and front, sisters Xenia and Leah Lewis.
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WI ladies head off to Buckingham Palace
IT WAS time to get out their best hats. Members of the Women’s Institute were heading to Buckingham Palace for a garden party. Five hundred members from all over England had been invited by the Queen to mark the organisation’s golden jubilee in
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Creative therapy on display at Banbury's Mill Arts Centre
A COLLECTION of colours and textures are lining the walls of Banbury’s Mill Arts Centre in a new exhibition called Inscapes. The exhibition at the Spiceball Park centre is a collection of paintings and etchings from 10 years’ work of artist and
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Exhibition showcases work of students at Oxford's Ruskin School of Art
THE future of art was on display at the North Wall Arts Centre, in South Parade, Summertown, Oxford, as work by the Ruskin School of Art’s most promising students went on display. The BFA Exhibition, which started on Wednesday and runs until Saturday
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Drug dealer jailed for threatening to burn down house
A DRUG dealer and mother-of-two who told a customer she would burn down his brother’s house if he did not hand over £5,000 has been jailed for blackmail. Kafayat Sarumi, formerly of The Slade, Headington, but now living in Hillingdon, London, admitted
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Man attacked and robbed in Banbury
A MAN was knocked unconscious and then his driving licence, debit cards and cash were stolen in Banbury. The 32-year-old was attacked at about 7pm yesterday near Spiceball Park, police said. Thames Valley Police said he was walking along the
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Second Holy Trinity plans as bad as the first ones
I REFER to the correspondence over the last two years concerning the extension and alterations to Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry. A second set of plans has now been drawn up which is going to cause the same problems as the first set, that
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Monday’s letters: What are your fellow readers writing in about today?
Want to give your opinion? Email letters@oxfordmail.co.uk
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Campsfield is not nice for detainees and must close
Mail (January 9) about the proposed expansion of Campsfield, I for one would categorically like it to close. It must be terrible for the detainees there and the evidence is that if staff and supporters of Campsfield were asked if they wanted to
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Is biodiversity survey less important than a festival?
ON January 7 Oxford City Council opened a consultation on its Draft Corporate Biodiversity Strategy which, it says, will help to “gauge the level of interest and concern about biodiversity in Oxford”. As the city council points out on its own website
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Irresponsible cyclists the real danger on our roads
After reading the report on The Plain junction improvements being branded a danger to cyclists, I felt compelled to write and air my views. The Cyclists Touring Club (CTC) is probably condemning something I expect most of its members have never
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Has Vale done a deal that obliges it to ignore wishes of councillors?
THE majority of local people of Botley were delighted by the unanimous vote of the Vale planning committee to refuse permission for Doric’s proposed development at West Way. This was described as a victory for democracy and common sense. I, like
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Three teenagers arrested following break-in at Abingdon and Witney College's Wootton Road campus
THREE teenagers have been arrested after Abingdon and Witney College was broken into over the weekend. Police were called on Saturday after reports from college staff that the Wootton Road, Abingdon campus had been broken into between 8.10am and
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Wednesday noon update: Warning of high winds in Oxfordshire
WINDS of up to 50 and 60mph and heavy rainfall are predicted to hit Oxfordshire from noon today. The Met Office have issued a severe weather warning across the UK that a band of low pressure will lead to heavy winds and rainfall. Spokesman
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Oxford Brookes confirms it will withdraw from Wheatley campus from next year
OXFORD Brookes University confirmed today it will begin to withdraw all of its teaching facilities from Wheatley from next year. As revealed by the Oxford Mail earlier this month, teaching facilities - including the 2,500-student business school
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Portsmouth boss not ruling out move for Oxford United's Alfie Potter
PORTSMOUTH boss Andy Awford says there has been no move for out-of-favour Oxford United winger Alfie Potter - but did not rule it out. Last week U’s head coach Michael Appleton revealed the 26-year-old was available, saying his “shelf life” at
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FOOTBALL: Oxford City face home test if they beat Woking in tomorrow's replay
Oxford City will host Vanarama Conference side Dover Athletic in the FA Trophy third round on January 24, if they beat Woking in tomorrow night's second-round replay. City battled back to draw 2-2 in Saturday's game, thanks to a penalty from Greg
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Man charged over attack outside Oxford burlesque bar
A MAN has been charged over an attack outside an Oxford burlesque bar in September. A 28-year-old was left hospitalised with a broken jaw and fractured eye socket after the September 30 attack outside The Lodge, which was a lap dancing club until
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Oxford United fans' chat
1:04pm We'll be back tomorrow night for updates from #oufc's game at Thame Utd. Fingers crossed the Hobanator's involved. See you there/on here. — @OxfordMailOUFC 12 January 2015
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Former children's home boss jailed for 12-and-a-half years for child abuse
A JUDGE has jailed the former boss of an Oxfordshire children’s home for 12-and-a-half years for sexually abusing boys during the 1970s and 1980s. Rodney Smallman, of Erica Close, Banbury, was unanimously found guilty of 15 counts of indecent assault
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Painter inspired by post-industrial landscapes for Oxford show
ART Jericho’s latest exhibition has drawn inspiration from post-industrial landscapes with work from emerging artist Day Bowman. The Alchemy exhibition of abstract Impressionist paintings went on display last Sunday and runs until Sunday, February
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Litter is blight on city
Sir – We can always tell when we approach Oxford, one of the great cities of the UK. The litter on the A34 and A418 and on all the roundabouts and junctions around Oxford is truly awful and, I believe, the worst in the UK. There appears to be no
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Rethink the closure of Temple Cowley Pools
Sir – Oxford City Council’s scrutiny committee has agreed to demolish Temple Cowley Pools (TCPs), it said for the wider benefit of the citizens of Oxford: lower running costs — in closing TCPs, Oxford will have six lanes and a learner pool less; increased
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Cavalier universities
Sir – I have two grandchildren at different universities (redbrick, long established and with good reputations). One of them is in the first year and one in the third year and I, along with their parents, are very annoyed that these universities are
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Time to give not take
Sir – Christmas is the time of giving, not taking. I am astounded at not only the arrogance of the councillors who voted themselves a 19 per cent rise in allowances but the impertinence of councillors Rose and Bulmer in attempting to defend it.
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Fracking fears
Sir – Let me be the first to welcome Duncan Enright’s new interest in fracking (PM ‘very happy’ for fracking to come to Witney, Reports, December 27). Who would have thought the Witney Labour party had been harbouring such concerns? Also to be welcomed
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NHS on deathbed
Sir – We are delighted that Dr Helen Salisbury is standing for the National Health Action party in Oxford West and Abingdon, one of the most marginal seats in the UK. We urge everyone who believes in the NHS to vote for her in May 2015. The NHS
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Single-issue party
Sir – I was disappointed to read in Professor Chris Redman’s letter (January 1) that the “National Health Action Party” is proposing to put up a candidate in the Oxford West and Abingdon constituency in the May General Election and that “for the first
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VIDEO: Highlights and reaction from Oxford United's draw at Dagenham
WATCH highlights and reaction from Oxford United's goalless draw at Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday. U's head coach Michael Appleton and goalkeeper Ryan Clarke, who made his 250th start for the club in the game, give their thoughts on
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An injection of 3D art at the Jam Factory in Oxford
FRENCH artist Julien Masson has 28 of his unique three-dimensional paintings on display at The Jam Factory, in Oxford, until January 21. Mr Masson creates his work using syringes filled with acrylic paint, producing lines that stand out from the
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SCALES OF JUSTICE: 11 people up in court
OXFORD MAGISTRATES' COURT Sheldon Gallacher, 19, of Stowford Road, Barton, Oxford, admitted failing to comply with the requirements of a community order made on June 19 by Oxford Magistrates’ Court for two counts of assault. He was given a 12-
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Community campaign
Sir – The suggestion that the Save Port Meadow Campaign opposes any building on the Castle Mill site is false (Letters, December 4). It never has. It has opposed the insensitive design and inappropriate scale of the development. It is simply wrong
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Plant meadow trees
Sir – 2014 has been a disastrous year in the history of Port Meadow, with the university flats at Roger Dudman Way and the British Rail track-laying operations. Responsibility for planning decisions is with Oxford City Council and it should, therefore
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Radical rail solution
Sir – Hugh Jaeger may see Hanborough as Witney’s new railhead, but I would rather press for something more significant in terms of new transport links. We need a mass transit scheme from West Oxfordshire to have any chance of managing the large
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Is building ready yet?
Sir – I know I shouldn’t really be asking this, but are the new Oxford Brookes University buildings finished yet? Or is someone going to rub down those rusty pillars and paint them a nice bright colour? Pillar-box red would make a statement.
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House hunters
Sir – Our housing problems are caused not by a decreasing supply of homes but by the increasing number of those seeking them. Perhaps it would help us to face this reality if we were to speak less of a “housing shortage” and more of a “people
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Difficult to comment
Sir – I agree with Philip Pullman and Clive Ricks (Letters, January 1) on the difficulty of commenting on the Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2031. The plan is crucially important in directing where new housing developments can take place, and especially
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Climate change link
Sir – Mr Emlyn-Jones (Endless whingeing, January 1) is rightly concerned about the potential catastrophe facing the world in the form of irreversible climate change. At the same time he is “sick to the back teeth” hearing about the Castle Mill
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Brain drain at work
Sir – Work appears to have ended at the junction of George Street, Hythe Bridge Street and Worcester Street. It took months. Goodness knows what it cost. Well, yesterday it rained a bit and a large puddle developed by the traffic lights, because
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Toilet disinfectant unsentimentally scents my journey
In an old TV ad British Rail invited us to take a “Sentimental Journey”. I don’t know what platform that train left from but I wasn’t on it. Instead I blithely maintain balance on the 10.31 Great Western service from Oxford to London Paddington
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Pray killers come to understand their acts aren't 'what God wants'
IN the Christian calendar Christmas, a festival of rejoicing, is swiftly followed by the sombre marking of Holy Innocents Day on December 28, writes Dr Timothy Bradshaw of Oxford University's department of theology. This is a day which few preachers
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Chocks away for plan to turn old airfield into cycle heaven
A FORMER Second World War airfield in Oxford will be transformed into a play paradise for bike fans this month. Work is expected to begin next week to revamp Littlemore’s Herschel Crescent Recreation Ground after more than two years of planning
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Green up for physical and spiritual balance
POST-CHRISTMAS and New Year we all want to lose weight, drink less, exercise more. The excess of the last month builds up guilt which we hope to shed along with the pounds, writes the Rev Canon Angela Tilby, continuing ministerial education adviser
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Artists get final call for Oxford International Art Fair entries
OXFORD International Art Fair organiser Joelle Dinnage is today making a final call to artists to exhibit, with applications due by the end of the day. The three-day event – which sold out last year – will take place in the Town Hall, St Aldate
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Will Hoskins delighted at Oxford United return
WILL Hoskins believes there is still time for him to make a big impact on Oxford United’s season after making a long-awaited return for injury on Saturday. The striker’s 16-minute cameo as a substitute was the highlight of a drab goalless draw
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Ryan Clarke happy to end 'horrible' week on a high
RYAN Clarke was pleased to end a tough week with a clean sheet on his 250th start for Oxford United. The goalkeeper did not have a shot to save in the 0-0 draw against Dagenham & Redbridge, but handled everything which came his way with confidence
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City residents cash in on the high cost of parking
OXFORD’S parking is now so expensive hundreds of people are renting out their parking spots to desperate drivers. People with spare parking spots can make thousands a year by renting them out to people online. It comes as a survey puts Oxford
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Harley-Davidson boss now tells Oxfordshire County Council: ‘Plan these roadworks better’
A DIRECTOR of motorcycle firm Harley-Davidson has hit out at the handling of £10m roadworks starting near Didcot. Oxfordshire County Council is today due to begin a 55-week project to convert the Milton Interchange into a hamburger junction.
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A basic freedom is in the spotlight
ONE of the greatest thing as about our country is that we have the right to freely express ourselves. It’s something we probably don’t give much thought to over the day-to-day, but horrific events this week have brought it to the front of many
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If the council can make cash from parking so can others
IN life you have people who seize opportunity and those who don’t. Those who have chosen to make cash from their spare parking spaces have embarked on what is certainly a novel concept. As folk continue to tighten their belts, we could all be grateful
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Michael Appleton satisfied at Oxford United's point
OXFORD United boss Michael Appleton felt a goalless draw was probably a fair result in a game of few clear chances at Dagenham & Redbridge. Conditions definitely played a part, with players struggling on a tricky playing surface when the ball
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Work poised to start on Botley Road Waitrose
Construction work on a new Waitrose store in Botley Road, Oxford, is scheduled to begin next month. The demolition of the former Halfords and MFI building was completed before Christmas to pave the way for Oxford’s third Waitrose – the other two
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London Welsh were not good enough, says Gordon Ross
LONDON Welsh assistant coach Gordon Ross said his side under-performed in yesterday’s defeat at Newcastle Falcons. The hosts scored six tries, with three first-half scores coming in a seven-minute spell which effectively ended any hopes Welsh may
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Crash delays on M40 after lorry hits sign
Two lanes of the M40 were closed after a lorry hit an overhead matrix sign. The accident happened on the M40 southbound between Junction 10 at Ardley and the A34 junction near Bicester on Saturday. Queues formed after lanes were closed from
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Brace yourself. . . high winds and snow are on way
A YELLOW warning for wind and rain has been put in place across Oxfordshire for next week. Oxford is predicted to get snow flurries from 9pm tomorrow to midnight on Wednesday, with temperatures dropping to 2C. The Met Office has issued a warning
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Paris attack demo leads to a debate about freedom
DEBATE broke out on the steps of the Sheldonian Theatre yesterday during a gathering in support of the marches in Paris. More than 100 people came together on Broad Street at 2pm to pay tribute to the 17 people killed in the Paris terror attacks
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Fifty Thames Valley police and specials have a criminal record
FIFTY-FOUR police officers and special constables working for Thames Valley Police have previous convictions, including burglary, assault and arson. The figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, relate to crimes which were all committed
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Monday, January 12
2:39pm Snow, ice, and high winds forecast to hit Oxfordshire on Tuesday night %if(after3) %if(after7)
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Vandalised blackbird statue reunited with missing beak
WHEN things go missing they are normally in the last place you look. When the beak of a new blackbird statue in Spindleberry Park was ripped off by vandals in March, only 72 hours after the artwork was installed, park-goers thought they’d never
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FOOTBALL: Oxford United land Coventry City tie
Oxford United have been drawn at home to Coventry City in the FA Women's Cup third round. The tie is scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 1. Latest United news: Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp
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Van and car caught fire in Cherwell Drive in Marston
A VAN was destroyed and a car damaged this morning by a fire outside the BP garage in Cherwell Drive, Marston. An Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said two fire engines were sent out at 5.20am today. Firefighters are investigating
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Bicester Green Gym volunteers get to grips with litter
A VOLUNTARY group has taken to the streets to clean up Bicester’s countryside. Bicester Green Gym is urging people to make New Year’s resolutions to include less littering after clearing nearly 50 black bags of rubbish from Jarvis Lane. Group
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Hailey councillors want to sell green in Witney to end historical anomaly
A PARISH council in West Oxfordshire wants to sell a village green it rents out for just £1 per year as part of a historic leasing arrangement. Two hundred years ago the parish of Hailey stretched into what is now the north-east of Witney, covering
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FOOTBALL: Wantage Town's woes increased by heavy home defeat
Wantage Tn 0 Clevedon Tn (Barton og 2, Sims 8, Adams 60) 3 Wantage Town’s woes near the bottom of Division 1 South & West increased with a morale-sapping defeat against their fellow strugglers on Saturday. The hosts were looking to build
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FOOTBALL: Oxford City boss Justin Merritt delighted with his side's late show
Oxford City general manager Justin Merritt said he never stopped believing they could claim a result against Woking on Saturday – even when they found themselves 2-0 down 20 minutes from time, writes Matthew Bruce. And he felt that City’s remarkable
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FOOTBALL: Sensational Oxford City hit back to secure Woking replay
Late goals from substitute Greg Pearson and Declan Benjamin sealed a thrilling 2-2 comeback for Oxford City against Vanarama Conference high-fliers Woking at Marsh Lane on Saturday, writes Matthew Bruce. The visitors looked comfortable going into
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FOOTBALL: Battling Banbury United hit back for a share of spoils
Banbury Utd (Walcott 66) 1 Frome Tn (Rodriguez 21) 1 Ten-man Banbury United battled back from a goal down to seal a point against fellow-Premier Division strugglers Frome at Spencer Stadium. Banbury started the stronger with Jack Westbrook
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FOOTBALL: Skipper Luke Carnell is sent off as Didcot Town slip to defeat at Larkhall
Larkhall Ath (Sibbick 16, Lye 65, Tomelty 74) 3 Didcot Tn (Mills pen 23, Brooks 72) 2 Didcot Town had skipper Luke Carnell sent off as they slipped to defeat in an Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West thriller at fellow high-fliers
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FOOTBALL: Terrific Thame United turn up the heat on pacesetters Highmoor
Thame United kept up the pressure at the top of the Premier Division with a 2-0 home win against Bracknell Town. Ben Gray and Ellis Hercules were on target for the fourth-placed side who trail Highmoor Ibis by seven points with four games in hand
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Fun-filled festival to honour the life of Witney schoolgirl Liberty Baker
FRIENDS and family of Witney schoolgirl Liberty Baker are planning to mark the first anniversary of her death by holding a festival in the town. Lib Fest will take place on June 27 in memory of the 14-year-old from Thorney Leys, who died after
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Man sent to jail for restraining order breaches
A MAN has been jailed for nine months after breaching a restraining order five times in a year. John Tom Loveridge, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court last Monday after pleading guilty to breaching a five-year restraining
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£200k to keep ex-cons from homelessness
MORE than £200,000 will be spent stopping ex-offenders becoming homeless on their release from prison. The Government’s Single Homeless Fund has given Oxfordshire councils £227,362 to improve housing opportunities for single people newly released
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Grieving players stand in silence to honour ‘Prince’
GOSFORD All Blacks began their first league match of 2015 in sombre silence in memory of player Stephen Edwards, who died on New Year’s Eve. The 19-year-old, nicknamed “The Prince”, died in a motorbike crash in his home country of Bermuda.
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John Radcliffe praised as hospitals miss A&E targets
THE Health Secretary praised efforts to tackle accident and emergency waits in Oxfordshire as figures show a hospital authority recorded its worst ever results. Jeremy Hunt said assessing people who arrive at A&E as soon as possible like in
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Fall in cost of emptying Cherwell's bins
TAXPAYERS across Bicester and Banbury are now paying the least to have their rubbish collected than at any time in the past 10 years. Cherwell District Council said collections now cost households less than £50 a year. Last year each household
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Newcastle Falcons 38, London Welsh 7
ANY hopes London Welsh may have had of kick-starting a survival battle were swiftly banished as they went down to a convincing defeat against Newcastle at Kingston Park yesterday. The Falcons scored six tries and had the try-scoring bonus point
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Record label boss pays out £200 to buy UKIP website
AN OXFORD record label owner was told he had successfully bought the UK Independence Party’s website before it was snatched back hours later. Jack Clothier, of city-based record company Alcopop! said he received a receipt after paying £200 to buy
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4 great places to get fit in Oxfordshire - plus a free pass
Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and surfing the Web are popular pastimes – but is it getting in the way of people taking time to exercise? Research reveals that the number one reason why people choose not to exercise is that they don't have the time
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4 great places to get fit in Oxfordshire - plus a free pass
Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and surfing the Web are popular pastimes – but is it getting in the way of people taking time to exercise? Research reveals that the number one reason why people choose not to exercise is that they don't have the time
