Archive
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Head: 'Schools are confused over Government rules to keep your children safe'
A HEADTEACHER has said Oxfordshire schools are confused about Government rules for keeping children safe. Guidance came out in October for primary schools saying that staff who live with someone with a conviction for a violent or sexual crime could
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Three years to rebuild councils' arson-hit headquarters
SOUTH Oxfordshire District Council’s burnt-out headquarters could take up to three years to rebuild, its leader said yesterday. John Cotton said a number of different options for staff from SODC and the Vale of White Horse District Council were
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UPDATE: A44 at Wootton near Woodstock reopens after car overturned
THE A44 was closed after an car overturned at the junction with the B4437 at the Duke of Marlborough pub, north of Woodstock. Thames Valley Police spokeswoman Hannah Williams said the collision on the A44 was cleared at 5.40pm. She said officers
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Jayden trial: Jake Blakeley asked woman to wash brother's muddy clothes, court hears
A WOMAN has described how the man accused of knowingly helping to bury Jayden Parkinson's body asked her to wash muddy clothes. Jake Blakeley, of Venners Water, Didcot, is on trial at Oxford Crown Court and denies one count of preventing a lawful
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MP Andrew Smith welcomes proposal on planning law
CITY Labour MP Andrew Smith has welcomed a Conservative proposal to allow people to appeal against approval given for controversial planning applications. The Oxford East MP backed the proposal by Newton Abbot, Devon, MP Anne Marie Morris in a
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Recognition for firm
EXHAUST specialist SS Tube Technology won an export achievement award at the Autosport International show. The Motorsport Industry Association Business Excellence gong was in recognition that 70 per cent of the firm’s sales are to Europe, USA and
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Hailing the work of top-quality women
Nominations are open for this year’s First Women awards. The contest, supported by the CBI, will be hosted by TV presenter Clare Balding. Open to senior-level businesswomen and professionals, the awards include 12 categories ranging from public
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Designer Rob knows it’s good to talk as headsets are big hit for Wychwoods firm
AS A child, Rob Gamlin loved taking things apart to see how they were put together. Forty years on, the self-taught software and electronics designer has turned his hobby into a thriving venture with some of the UK’s biggest retailers as customers
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Woman, 20, dies in crash on A4074 at Cane End
A 20-year-old woman died in a car crash in Cane End this morning. A Nissan Micra and a Land Rover Discovery collided in the A4074 Reading Road at about 8am, police said. The woman was driving the Nissan south towards Reading and the Land Rover
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REF-off must be the cry of academics till 2020
William Poole on the ‘dishonesty’ of assessment Happy New Year, for British academics have just finished being assessed by yet another philistine government in a seven-year exercise known as the ‘REF’. ‘Research Excellence Framework’ — as soon
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Interview: Ursula Corcoran - Lighting up theatre of war
Nicola Lisle discovers dramatic parallels in running the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum Ursula Corcoran never expected to be running a regimental museum in the heart of a rural market town. Her original ambitions lay in the performing arts,
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Finding the value in artworks
Lizzie Collins tells how art helped fulfil her dream of a life in the country I am a valuer and auctioneer of paintings, prints and sculpture for Bonhams auctioneers. Each working day is different. I meet clients in Oxford and the surrounding
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An unusual excursion into matters of fashion
Observations about fashion are the last thing regular readers would expect from Gray Matter. The byline picture that has accompanied these pieces for some years — admittedly taken on a bad day dress-wise — says more than enough concerning my own qualifications
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Messy seagulls circle in land-locked Oxford
Seagulls are beautiful birds, as I discovered at very close hand when a flock gathered to share my lunch a few years back at an outdoor seafood restaurant in the Moroccan resort of Essaouira (and I realise, having just checked the spelling, that this
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General confusion over name of an Oxford pub
An important question of nomenclature concerning a splendid Oxfordshire pub — newly reopened after five years out of use and reviewed in Weekend today — can be simply put: what the L is going on? When I wrote about the General Elliott in South
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Tale of hope and despair in A Man Of Good Hope
Dan Brotzel reviews an admirable true story of resilience, racism, compassion and despair Why a country whose citizens share a common language, religion and long-standing heritage has torn itself to pieces,” writes prominent South African journalist
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Their Sunday best at The General Eliott
Christopher Gray joins a group of friends to try a highly praised pub lunch The Sunday afternoon scene was one in distinctly Pickwickian style. Around a large, well-laden table in the bar of the General Eliott, warmed by a blazing coal fire in
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Humble origins of a very versatile dish
Down the ages, pies have been filled with meat, fish, fruit and even blackbirds, says Helen Peacocke ‘Sing a song of sixpence, a pocket full of rye, four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.” Pies, which have a long and illustrious history, are
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Delightful dahlias brighten a garden
Val Bourne reminisces about her first memories of the flower and gives tips on how best to grow them When I was a child, my Uncle Bill used to keep his dahlia tubers underneath his brass bedstead in his terraced house right in the middle of ‘Bend
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Go wild and lend nature a helping hand
Neil Clennell, head of conservation and education for Oxfordshire at the BBOWT, invites you to connect with wildlife here So, how are the New Year resolutions going — still pounding the pavements in the gloom and going easy on the Sauvignon? Well
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Mark Wahlberg is The Gambler
Mark Wahlberg plays a professor with a gambling addiction, writes Damon Smith Silence is golden for everyone except American screenwriter William Monahan. With an Oscar on the mantelpiece for The Departed, his English language reworking of the
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The cruel beauty of our world at Art Jericho
Industrial landscapes provide the inspiration for abstract artist Day Bowman, writes Sarah Mayhew Craddock There is an aerial aesthetic to Day Bowman’s large, abstract, expressionist paintings currently on display at Art Jericho as part of a solo
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Teacher kicked off Tumblr after being caught viewing indecent images
A TEACHER was spared jail after he admitted finding indecent images of children using the Tumblr website. Christopher Bailey, of Hampden Road, Wantage, was banned from using the blogging site after he found nude photos of children by making “naturist
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Life's a cabaret for Arthur Smith
‘Alternative’ comedian Smith charms and disarms a smitten Katherine MacAlister The chuckle reaches you before the voice, that deep rasping timbre revealing more about this stellar old-time comedian than half the things he tells me. “Come on, Katherine
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Young cast of Robin Hood show Cherwell's strength in depth
Cherwell Theatre Company, in its 10th year of residence at Banbury’s Mill Arts Centre, supplied evidence of its continuing success in helping youngsters discover the magic of theatre with a rib-tickling festive production of Robin Hood. Just five
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Well-crafted hilarity from 16th century in The Shoemaker's Holiday
Christopher Gray is impressed by the fun found in playwright’s only known solo effort The rich relish for words seen in the writing of Shakespeare’s contemporary Thomas Dekker has twice been experienced by audiences at Stratford in recent months
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Queen's chapel marks golden years
Nicola Lisle talks to Queen’s College Organist Professor Owen Rees about a special anniversary Over the next six months, The Queen’s College will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of its organ with a series of recitals that will cover the entire
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Edgy quartet play with passion
Oxford Chamber Music Society audiences are made of strong stuff. The Holywell Music Room was packed to capacity for the Ligeti Quartet, even though the programme on offer was decidedly challenging — no light and airy Haydn here. First up was American
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Highlights - Testament, Brickwork Lizards and more
Indie-pop BALLOON ASCENTS * The Bullingdon, Oxford * Tomorrow (Fri) * Tickets from tigmus.com One of Oxford’s most exciting new bands launch their EP in the homely surroundings of The Bully. The party follows a storming year for former
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Soundbites - Gerard Way at the Union and Beyond Clueless screening
* The list of speakers who have addressed the Oxford Union reads like a text book of world history. Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Winston Churchill, David Lloyd George, the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mother Teresa, Yasser Arafat, Albert
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Ian Hudspeth: Abolishing district councils may be controversial but respect my authority plan
WITH further cuts projected for the public sector, regardless of whoever wins the General Election, there is no doubt in my mind that the statesmanlike thing for Oxfordshire’s political leaders to do is to examine the possibilities of different local
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Going underground to celebrate independent spirit
Tim Hughes heads underground to find out more about the family-run Cellar club As family businesses go, they don’t get much stranger — or more crazy — than that run by father and son Adrian and Tim Hopkins. For more than 30 years the pair have
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A journey into the wilds of our minds
Anne James visits an exhibition of landscapes and travels in them This exhibition explores jour-neys inspired by landscapes, journeys that transcend mundane representation. Phil Whiting’s work, in the main, features forests, primordial, primitive
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For Art's Sake with Linda Shaw
Banbury Cross Players publicity and marketing chief Linda Shaw says their next production is a quality drama How well do you REALLY know your neighbours? That’s the question on everyone’s lips at Banbury Cross Players (BCP) as they prepare for
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Woman punched in the face by cyclist in Carterton
A CYCLIST punched a woman in the face in an unprovoked attack in Carterton, police said. The victim, 37, was attacked at the junction of Black Bourton Road and Wycombe Way on Tuesday at 2.20pm. She had stopped her blue Ford Mondeo at the junction's
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Burglar leaves dock with aside from Judge: Get a job
A JUDGE told a burglar to “get a job” as he left dock after threatening him with jail if he misses a single probation appointment. Judge Peter Ross warned Matthew Morris, 36, after he missed three Probation Service appointments. He previously
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Scales of Justice: 20 people in court
OXFORD Christopher Hatton, 31, of Portal Drive South, Upper Heyford, Bicester, admitted stealing seven bottles of perfume worth £175 from Wilkinsons in Bicester on October 12. Given a four-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and told
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Stage and screen success placed author in the black
Christopher Gray talks to Susan Hill as her ghost story The Woman in Black comes to the stage in Oxford Millions have been terrified by Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black — on the page, on the stage and on the big screen — and the very first of them
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Judge throws out Oxford Stadium appeal and rules it will remain a conservation area
OXFORD Stadium will remain a conservation area, a High Court judge has said. In a decision announced this morning, Mr Justice (Duncan) Ouseley ruled in favour of Oxford City Council and refused stadium owner Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) the
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Sci-fi theatre show thrills out of the darkness
Deaf actor Matty Gurney tells Katherine MacAlister about his successful sci-fi theatre show, Light, which arrives in his home town of Oxford next week Oxford born and bred deaf actor Matty Gurney created and stars in Light, a new play which sold
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Brunch at The Slug and Lettuce, Oxford Castle Quarter
New Year, new venue for my brunch column and this time it was the Slug and Lettuce in the Castle Quarter in central Oxford which has been open since mid 2014. In my quest to try out a cross-section of venues across the county, I have visited plenty
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Nibbles - The Wandering Kitchen, The Bell and more
* The Bell at Charlbury has been taken over by a new couple determined to make their mark and give local residents somewhere great to eat and hang out. Tracey and Colm Reilly, a grand Irish couple with six children, have taken on the central pub
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Solve the salad equation and you're laughing at Taylors in Oxford
Delicious food and a relaxed atmosphere put Taylors cafe at the top of Katherine MacAlister's list Don’t interrupt me now,” I squeaked as my friend joined me at the Taylors counter and started regaling me with her news. “I’m half way through
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Landlord to close award-winning Far From Madding Crowd
AN AWARD-WINNING city-centre pub is closing this weekend after the landlord said it was no longer economically viable to run. Staff from Far From the Madding Crowd in Friars Entry will serve the last customers on Saturday after 13 years. Landlord
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Atomic Burger is on the move
Starting Up with Martin Bunce @ Atomic Burger Like a frayed pair of your favourite jeans, or that old shirt you love, there is ultimately a time when you have to face reality. No matter how hard you try, they no longer fit. Atomic burger
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Chef's Special recipe - Hot Chocolate Fondant and Chocolate-dipped Honeycomb
Chocolate-dipped Honeycomb * 200g Demerara sugar * 200g caster sugar * 50g golden syrup * 15g unsalted butter * One tablespoon of bicarbonate soda * 200g dark chocolate(for dipping) Line a tray with greaseproof paper. Boil all
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A tale of violent times hits the spot
According to statistics, 1981 was the most violent year in New York City history in relation to the population. Over the 12 months, more than 1.2 million crimes were recorded including 60,000 aggravated assaults, 5,400 forcible rapes and 2,220
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Smells and sounds like teen spirit
To mark the launch of a new documentary, Oxford bands are making music from the movies. Tim Hughes finds out more There's a great moment at the opening of classic coming of age movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, where our hero turns to camera and
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The rapper with a big passion for Blake
Top rap artist Testament tells Katherine MacAlister about his show, inspired by the work of 19th century artist and poet William Blake, which he is bringing to Oxford tomorrow night Testament is an MC/rapper and a Guinness World Record-holding
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Gadget of the Week from Whittard of Chelsea, Westgate Centre, Oxford
This stylish Chelsea Glass Teapot has a removable stainless steel infuser. Just add the leaves and water and once the tea has reached your desired strength, remove the filter and replace the lid. The additional spout filter is ideal for larger
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It's hats off to the golden era of dance
Katherine MacAlister talks to the all-singing, all-dancing star of the musical Top Hat To give you an idea of what Charlotte Gooch looks like, her debut lead was as Penny in Dirty Dancing, the tall, sexy, leggy blonde. That she can dance, sing
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The Insider: Does Labour think Oxford is in Norfolk?
SHADOW Education Secretary Tristram Hunt is bound to have plenty of plans for schools if Labour wins the general election in May. But perhaps he should look slightly closer to home first. Last week The Insider rang the Labour Party press
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Ex-Oxford United chief Kelvin Thomas on why he answered Torquay United's call
KELVIN Thomas is hoping his experience as Oxford United chairman can help Torquay United regain their place in the Football League. The former U’s chief, who left the club in July 2012 after four years at the helm, was yesterday named as a consultant
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LONDON WELSH: Ferguson praises Burnell's man management
LONDON Welsh assistant coach Matt Ferguson confirmed that the team who lost 26-3 at Bordeaux-Begles last Friday, will start their final Pool 4 match against Lyon at Oxford’s Kassam Stadium on Sunday, writes SIMON WILLIAMS. Exiles’ head coach Justin
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Tributes as the last soldier injured in the Falklands War is laid to rest
THE last British soldier injured in the final minutes of the Falklands War was laid to rest in Oxfordshire yesterday. Cowley Mini plant security worker and father-of-three Ian Morton, who died on New Year’s Eve, was described as an “unsung hero
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Update: Road reopens after three vehicles involved in collision between Faringdon and Wantage
THREE vehicles have been involved in a collision at the scene of a car recovery between Faringdon and Wantage. Thames Valley Police said a Vauxhall Astra was being recovered from a ditch near West Challow, after it left the road and went into a
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One brother gets Nick Clegg's free school meal and one brother doesn't
WHILE five-year-old Lewis Heudi gets a hot school meal his older brother Sebastian does not. Staff at Woodstock Primary School can see the situation is unfair and are trying to do something about it. But they have missed out on Government funding
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Fears grow over missing woman Sheila Weatherhead
POLICE say they have become increasingly concerned about a 61-year-old woman who was last seen a week ago. Sheila Weatherhead was last seen near her home in Butler Close, Oxford last Thursday morning. Det Insp John Turner, from Oxford Force
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Missing man found by rambler
A MAN who went missing from Witney was found dead six months later by a dog walker in Norfolk, a coroner’s court heard. Malcolm Jones, 55, went missing from his daughter’s house in Bramble Bank, Madley Park on March 12. Yesterday’s inquest
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Thursday, January 22
5:16pm The A44 at Wootton near Woodstock is closed after reports a car overturned near the Duke of Marlborough %if(after3) %if(after7)
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Faringdon Road near West Challow closed after car ends up in ditch
A CAR is being recovered from a ditch near Wantage after leaving the road, police say. At about 6.30am the Vauxhall Astra came off Faringdon Road, near West Challow. Thames Valley Police spokesman James Williams said the road is closed in both
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Hi-tech choppers made in Oxfordshire could be used to fight terrorists
POLICE helicopters made in Oxfordshire could be used in the fight against terrorism, according to its manufacturer. Airbus Helicopters UK spoke about the capabilities of helicopters it makes as Defence Secretary Michael Fallon paid a visit yesterday
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Give the gift of advocacy
"My first experience of advocacy was the most precious gift I could have been given,” says Rosie Young, advocacy client and volunteer advocate with Oxfordshire Advocacy. What is advocacy? At its heart advocacy is very simple: it is about helping
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Time to talk
Before announcing plans to scrap park-and-ride facilities inside Oxford’s ring road, you might have thought Oxfordshire County Council would let Oxford City Council know of its intentions. Given that the park-and-rides are not unimportant to
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Students learn about jobs skills at employment fair
SAUL Chand was one of hundreds of Oxfordshire students finding out more about jobs and training yesterday. The 15-year-old St Gregory's pupil learned about light circuits with electrical contractor Clarkson Evans, which has openings for up to 10
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Prime Minister will consider anti-fracking petition
A PETITION against fracking signed by 267,000 people was delivered to Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday. A group of people from his Witney constituency came to the leader’s residence holding placards that spelled out the number of people who
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MOTORSPORT: Williams aiming to turn up the heat on Mercedes
WILLIAMS are hoping the momentum gained from last season will see them push Formula 1 constructors’ champions Mercedes to the wire this year. Following the worst campaign in the Grove-based team’s history in 2013, when they scored just five points
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CRICKET: OCB launch recruitment drive for directors
OXFORDSHIRE Cricket Board are advertising for three new directors. The OCB have launched a recruitment drive following a review at their monthly board meeting held on Monday. The roles involve being responsible for youth player pathway, club
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Parky at the Pictures (In Cinemas 22/1/2015)
With just three films, JC Chandor has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in 21st-century American cinema. Having drawn comparisons with David Mamet for his credit crunch saga, Margin Call (2011), he changed tack completely by stranding
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Parky at the Pictures (DVD 22/1/2015)
It's time for a January clearout of the DVDs that have accumulated over the last few months. The emphasis is on action, horror and cult items and, while the analysis may not be as in-depth as regular readers are accustomed to, the majority of these
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ATHLETICS: Superb Hussain scoops silver as Radley taste more success
ADELA Hussain added to Radley AC’s recent success by claiming silver in the South of England Indoor Under 20/Senior Championships at Lee Valley. Hussain produced a great effort in the shot put with a throw of 9.56 metres, just shy of her personal
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‘Underage girl exploited as prostitute’, trial hears
A MAN accused of sexually exploiting “vulnerable” teenage girls in Oxford after giving them drugs and alcohol has gone on trial. Yesterday a jury was told that Tilal Mahdi “arranged” for the complainants to have sex with his friends and trafficked
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ICE HOCKEY: Sorry Oxford City Stars slump to bottom after double defeat
Oxford City Stars returned to the bottom of the table after two successive defeats on the road. This included a 7-6 loss at fellow strugglers Cardiff Devils, who Stars replace at the foot of English National League South Division 1. Both sides
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CRICKET: Abingdon are geared up for nets
Abingdon Vale start their senior winter training at Abingdon School this Sunday (3-4.45pm). The Cherwell League club are looking for new members, with anyone interested in joining welcome to come along. For further information contact head
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BAR BILLIARDS: Steve Sheard's on fire as leaders storm in
Steve Sheard remained undefeated as Kennington raced to a 5-0 home win over Berinsfield Club to open up a four-point lead at the top of the Premier Section in the Johnsons Buildbase Oxford League, writes Pete Ewins. Sheard (8,670, break 7,300)
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West Oxfordshire councillors turn down allowance rise
WEST Oxfordshire District Council has decided not to increase its councillors’ allowances for the fifth year running. At a full council meeting yesterday, councillors unanimously voted to reject proposals put forward by an independent remuneration
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Proof: Traffic jams have been getting worse on our key roads + interactive graphic
CONGESTION has increased by more than 40 per cent on three major Oxfordshire roads in the past year. New figures from traffic analysis company Inrix showed there were reports of congestion on the A40 7,546 times in 2014, a 41.2 per cent rise on
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Man arrested in money laundering probe
A 36-YEAR-OLD man was arrested yesterday on suspicion of money laundering offences after a series of raids across the city. Thames Valley Police spokeswoman Hannah Williams said officers issued warrants at addresses in Park End Street, Banbury
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AUNT SALLY: Banbury in title success
BANBURY whitewashed Easington 6-0 to be crowned Banbury Indoor League champions. RESULTS Banbury Indoor League: Wroxton Heath 2, General Foods 4; Bicester 6, Castle Quay 0; Banbury 6, Easington 0; Hook Norton 0, Deddington 6. Top scorers: B
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GOLF: Pepperell's in good shape to make Qatar cut
EDDIE Pepperell is in a good position to make the cut at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters today after a promising first round yesterday. The Frilford Heath golfer, from Abingdon, carded a three-under-par 69 in Doha to end up in a share of 22nd
