Archive
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A double celebration for blind RAF veteran
A BLIND veteran from Banbury is celebrating two centenaries in a month including a party at Buckingham Palace. George Haigh, 99, attended a royal garden party on Thursday at the invitation of Blind Veterans UK, marking the centenary of the charity
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Suzannah gets to grips with crocs at wildlife event
CROCODILES of the World has been hosting a series of special events as part of the Oxford Festival of Nature. The annual celebration of wildlife, being held in the city up until this Sunday, has included a crocodile themed family workshop.
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Why a bit of brick is an iconic symbol of Oxford’s social history
THIS crumbling piece of brick is almost as important a part of Oxford’s history as the woman holding it. It was a part of the infamous Cutteslowe Walls, which for a quarter of a century divided a North Oxford estate into a poor half and a better-off
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How fostering helps mourning mother to enjoy life once more
When Lee Mackie lost her son Jason in the Afghanistan war she knew the pain of such a loss would stay with her forever. But becoming a foster mum has helped her recovery. Andrew Ffrench reports Lee Mackie’s world was torn apart in May, 2009 when
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HSBC can't comment on if jobs will be axed in Oxfordshire
BANKING giant HSBC has confirmed plans to axe up to 25,000 jobs worldwide including as many as 8,000 in the UK and revealed it is to rebrand its British high street operations. The bank said the job losses are part of a overall cull which will
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Standing stones set to host solstice play
IF YOU visit the ancient stones near Great Rollright this summer, you could get more than you bargained for. When the sun starts to sink on Saturday, visitors will see the premiere of a play specially written to end a day of summer solstice celebrations
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For Art’s Sake with Tom Goodliffe of Bec and Tom’s Awesome Laundry
Every time I phone my mum to tell her I’m coming to visit, she tells me to bring laundry. I am 34. I can do my own washing, and I’m pretty good with a steam iron if I do say so myself. I’ve come a long way since my Oxfordshire childhood. When I
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Oxford students turn on the style at catwalk show
MOVE over Victoria Beckham and Tom Ford, these daring designs are the work of Oxford teenagers. The young design students from City of Oxford College showcased their creations at an end-of-year show at the college on Friday night. The fashion
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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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Lorry fire on access road to Ardley incinerator near Bicester
ABOUT 25 firefighters have been tackling a lorry fire on the access road to the Ardley incinerator. Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Paul Smith said firefighters were called out at 9.30am and were still present at the scene, with the situation
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Video: Duchess of Cornwall unveils two memorials to mark 50th anniversary of death of Sir Winston Churchill
THE Duchess of Cornwall unveiled two unique memorials to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Sir Winston Churchill today. At a special service at St Martin's Church in Bladon, where Britain's wartime Prime Minister lies buried, she
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Man exposed himself to woman in Cowley after asking for wet wipe
A MAN exposed himself to a woman after he asked her for a wet wipe. Thames Valley Police said at 11.25am yesterday in Liddell Road in Cowley a woman was approached by a man, who asked for a wet wipe. While the woman searched her handbag, the
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Seventeen-year-old dies in crash on M40 between Lewknor and Milton Common
A 17-year-old driver of a black Vauxhall Corsa died after a crash on the M40 last night between Junction 7 and Junction 6. Thames Valley Police said at 7.35pm the Corsa was travelling southbound between Junction 7, Milton Common and Junction 6,
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Proper home served up at last for school
NORTH Oxfordshire’s first free school has official moved into its new building about 18 months after opening. To mark the milestone, the Heyford Park Free School pupils celebrated with help from Bicester’s MasterChef contestant Sarah McCready.
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CRICKET: Oxfordshire lose to Berkshire
Oxfordshire lost by 40 runs to Berkshire in their opening Unicorns Counties Championship match at Henley. Oxon started the final day needing an unlikely 77 runs for victory with just two wickets remaining. Resuming on 119-8 in their second
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Pull it down: This pub’s far too big for a commercial venture
HAVING been born on Risinghurst Estate nearly 70 years ago, as a former landlord of the pub and author of ebook titled “CS Lewis in Oxford: A Guide for Visitor”s I believe I am qualified to comment on the decision to either keep the Ampleforth Arms
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My fine medical care was beyond my expectations
MID-AFTERNOON on Monday I was sitting quietly reading my newspaper when, totally without warning, I felt dizzy, disorientated and completely disconnected, whilst remaining fairly lucid. As I have atrial fibrillation, for which I have been prescribed
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Ashmolean should buy Turner’s High St painting
TURNER’S painting of Oxford High Street should certainly be acquired by the Ashmolean Museum in view of its local interest. One may hope that it will be joined later by the companion painting of a view of Oxford from the direction of Sunningwell
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Impact of HS2 work is very much overstated
YOUR article about the impact of building HS2 is seriously misleading. To say that building the railway will bring “10 years of misery” to residents of North Oxford is totally wrong. You quote “campaigner” Keith Dancey as saying that “frightening
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Council has not shown due diligence over freight
OXFORD City Council’s planning officers, following advice from their “independent experts”, say that there should be no mitigation whatsoever against excessive vibration from fast, heavy freight through Upper Wolvercote, such as by a speed reduction
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CCTV released after teenager headbutted in Witney Kebab House
A 17-YEAR-old man was assaulted by being headbutted at the Witney Kebab House in Corn Street, Witney, police have said. Thames Valley Police said the incident happened at about 12.50am on May 4. CCTV footage of a man police would like
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Quiz League: Ploughman’s in an edgy nailbiter
A nailbiter was always on the cards in Kidlington last Thursday as we reached round three of the summer season. Seven days previously when posting almost identical scores and margins of victory, home outfit the Green Road Club, were even tipped
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Celebrating the family at the heart of Botley
AN EXHIBITION is set to honour a family that has been at the heart of Botley for more than 100 years. The Howse family began farming on land that is now Elms Parade shops during the First World War, before the current set up was constructed in
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Clive Stone: Government must tell us how NHS will be funded
As cancer campaigner Clive Stone meets other patients at a hospice in Oxford, he is keen to hold politicians to account so they keep their General Election promises I have been having a different time away from the keyboard recently by spending
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On Yer Bike: The nitty gritty of cycling through central London
What had always worried me about country living, apart from true-blue neighbours, was how we’d get about by bike. We couldn’t stand being car-dependent – any new home needed to be accessible to a town or a city by bike. Charlbury proved perfect
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Two-vehicle crash at Heyford Hill
THERE are reports of a two-vehicle collision at the Heyford Hill roundabout. One out of two lanes is reportedly blocked westbound on the junction heading towards Hinksey. For automatic updates see our Live Traffic Service
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Oxford United still hoping to sign George Baldock
Oxford United have not given up hope of bringing George Baldock back to the club as they look for the final pieces of Michael Appleton’s jigsaw for next season. The U’s are close to the 22-man squad Appleton wants to head into the new Sky Bet League
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Sacré bleu! Out of the Blue hits high notes in Paris to aid hospice
A TROUPE of Oxford University a capella stars jetted to the world-famous cabaret Moulin Rouge for their latest charity hit. Members of Out of the Blue are hoping their cover of Lady Marmalade will raise thousands for East Oxford’s Helen and Douglas
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Phones are stolen in Headington
Burglars targeted a property in Grays Road, Headington, over the weekend, police have revealed. Officers said thieves got into the property through an insecure rear window and searched the building. Three mobile phones and other electrical
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Decision is due over busking crackdown
Stricter rules on busking and begging in the city centre that would be enforced with fines could be approved on Thursday. Oxford City Council has proposed a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) that would mean those found to be in breach could
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It’s ‘dead as’ but Oxford's Dodo is heading off on tour
IT MAY have been dead for hundreds of years but Oxford’s Dodo is going on tour – from one end of Britain to the other. The Dodo display from the Museum of Natural History set off yesterday and includes a cast of the museum’s dried Dodo head, which
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Three men arrested after two cannabis factories were discovered in Banbury
THREE men have been arrested after two cannabis factories with mature plants were found along with heroin in Banbury, police have said. On Friday, June 5, Thames Valley Police arrested three men after carrying out a warrant at 10am in Tithe Court
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Couple made victim work for free and forced him to shoplift
A COUPLE syphoned money from the bank account of a mentally-impaired man while they holidayed in Mexico, Oxford Crown Court heard yesterday. The incident was just the tip of the iceberg in a two-year scam that saw Daniel Collins treated like a
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Wedding couple have nautical nuptials
SIX years after the day they met, one couple married in style at the weekend. Russ, 47, and Claire Hannan (née Wilson), 38 – who met on a boat in Sardinia on June 6, 2009 – took their guests on a flotilla-style trip after their wedding at the Nag
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Breaking News for Oxford and Oxfordshire, Tuesday, June 9
2:04pm Lorry fire on access road to Ardley incinerator near Bicester 1:58pm Duchess of Cornwall unveils two memorials in West Oxfordshire to mark 50th
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CRICKET: Shell-shocked Oxfordshire on brink of defeat after collapse
Oxfordshire were facing defeat at the end of day two of their Western Division opener at Henley after Berkshire staged a dramatic fightback. Starting the day with a 91-run first-innings lead, Oxon were unable to withstand an impressive counter-attack
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Police hunt thief who stole booze from a supermarket
A SHOPLIFTER stole six bottles of alcohol from Waitrose in Abbey Road, Abingdon, on Saturday. A police spokesman said that at about 7.50pm the thief ran across the car park, behind the service road of the store. A member of the public told
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US Abingdon gets red phone boxes
An American city has installed red phone boxes in an attempt to emulate its namesake in the Vale of White Horse. The town council of Abingdon in Virginia, United States, bought the two phone boxes after contacting Abingdon, Oxfordshire, resident
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FOOTBALL: Stuart Peace joins Banbury United as assistant manager
New Banbury United manager Mike Ford has appointed former Didcot Town boss Stuart Peace as his assistant. Ford has also recruited Matt Haycocks and Mike Byrne as coaches. Peace, who led Didcot to FA Vase glory in 2005 with victory over AFC
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FUTSAL: Oxford City Lions boss Enrique Guillen bemused by manner of exit
Oxford City Lions manager Enrique Guillen said the manner of his side’s defeat at the FA National Futsal League grand finals has made him more determined than ever to bring the club success. Lions were beaten 2-0 by Birmingham in the semi-final
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Appeal after woman hit in face at taxi rank
A 22-YEAR-OLD woman suffered cuts and bruises when she was hit and punched in the face at a taxi rank in Witney. The victim left Nortons cafe bar in Langdale Gate between 3am and 3.30am on Sunday, May 31, and walked to the taxi rank in Market Square
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New £25k revamp of Blackbird Leys school play area is fit for children of all abilities
DISABLED youngsters can now join in fun outdoors after a new £25,000 outdoor playground opened at their Blackbird Leys school. Staff and parents at Mabel Prichard School called on the community to help raise the cash to transform the run-down facility
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Money laundering suspect is cleared
A 36-year-old man arrested on suspicion of money laundering offences earlier this year has been released without charge. In January police raided several addresses across the city in Park End Street, Banbury Road in Summertown and Cottesmore Road
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Trains are delayed in Oxfordshire
Passengers travelling on trains suffered delays yesterday morning due to over-running engineering work. Chiltern Railways tweeted saying that trains were unable to run to and from Warwick and Leamington Spa. The original works were planned
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‘Your fears that community hospital will be privately run have come true’ says county councillor
A LEADING county councillor has said she fears the people of Chipping Norton have been let down after a private provider took control of nursing at a local care unit. Nurses at Chipping Norton community hospital, on London Road, have, up to now
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1935 MG returns to its spiritual home
NEARLY a century after it was built and after thousands of miles, Jonathan Sage brought his 1935 supercharged MG PB home this weekend. Mr Sage took the car, which he inherited from his late father, to show off at the 17th annual MGs in the Park
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First Great Western staff to be balloted on strike action
Workers at Oxfordshire's main commuter train company are to be balloted for strikes in a row over jobs and safety. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at First Great Western will vote in the coming weeks on whether to launch
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Volunteers on track as Didcot Railway Centre steams ahead
NEW volunteers are now on track to help Didcot Railway Centre. The centre, which has an unrivalled collection of Great Western Railway locomotives, held a New Volunteers Day to encourage more people to get involved, as part of National Volunteering
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Donor of more than 50 years urges residents to give blood
ONE of Oxfordshire’s oldest blood donors has told people to “not be afraid” and give the gift of life during National Blood Week. Yesterday the Oxford Mail launched a campaign to find 2,000 more blood donors across Oxfordshire this week. Donor
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Rebail in Chowle Farm drugs case
A man and a woman arrested after police seized more than 200 cannabis plants at Chowle Farm Industrial Estate, near Faringdon, have been rebailed. A 20 year-old man and an 18-year-old woman, both from Great Coxwell, were arrested during a drugs
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MOTORSPORT: Jason Plato doubles up at Oulton Park to edge ahead in title battle
JASON Plato claimed two victories at Oulton Park to take a three-point lead in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship standings. The 47-year-old from Oxford leads Gordon Shedden with 157 points from five rounds. After winning the opening
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DARTS: Jukes stars with stunning title hat-trick on finals night
Jim Jukes was the star of the show with a stunning treble at the Greene King ODDA Winter League’s finals night at Roman Way. The Cowley Workers hot-shot not only won his sixth singles title, but also triumphed in the men’s pairs and helped his
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‘Stanley’ joins team at Didcot's ex-power station
A demolition truck at Didcot power station was officially given a new nickname yesterday . The latest addition to a fleet of demolition trucks was called Stanley, after contractors Coleman & Company, who are demolishing the old coal-fired Didcot
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Cyclist grabbed at woman as he passed on bike
A WOMAN was sexually assaulted by a man who grabbed at her while riding past on his bike. The man was riding along Old London Road near the Churchill Hospital in Headington at 7.30am on Friday when he grabbed at the woman’s clothing as she was
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RUGBY LEAGUE: Battling Oxford make history with four straight home wins
OXFORD RL made club history by securing a fourth successive home victory with a 38-30 win over South Wales Scorpions in Kingstone Press League 1. Eight points from their last four fixtures at Iffley Road have seen the Blues rise to ninth in the
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Pooh Sticks champion sees off 600 rivals
JAMES Smith gained the honour of becoming the first person to win the World Pooh Sticks Championships in Witney. The 36-year-old quantity surveyor, from Long Hanborough, beat competition from about 600 rivals to take first place in the competition
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Garden City bid scoops £1.5m to cover infrastructure study
ALMOST £1.5m has been given to Bicester under the Garden City programme to build 13,000 homes and create 21,500 jobs. The £1.47m will fund a study into the infrastructure that will form the basis of Cherwell District Council’s bid for £100m in
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Winston Churchill’s cigar stub for auction
THE CHEWED end of a fat cigar that Winston Churchill smoked in his hospital bed is to go under the hammer at auction and could fetch thousands. In 1962, the wartime leader was recuperating from a fractured hip after tumbling from his bed. Unrestricted
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GOLF: Andrew Laird rules supreme at home club Tadmarton Heath
ANDREW Laird made home advantage tell when he won Tadmarton Heath’s open Beaumont Pease competition. Laird , who plays off four at Tadmarton, shot rounds of 73 and 74 for a gross winning total of 147 in this 36-hole event. He finished five
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Nursery given an inadequate rating from Ofsted inspectors
A NORTH Oxford nursery has been given an inadequate rating after an inspection found staff failed to keep children safe and offered them “mundane and uninspiring” activities. Ofsted inspectors criticised Oxford Waterways nursery, which has 120
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All aboard the Zoo Bus for some exotic creepy crawlies
“STAY very still – their vision is based on movement”. This beautiful crested gecko was just one of the natural wonders that visitors got up close and personal with at Rose Hill’s Nature Day on Saturday. The Zoo Bus pulled up at Rivermead Nature
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Grieving parents to publish a travel book son wrote as teen
THE family of an Oxford University graduate who died on Christmas Eve last year are publishing a book he wrote as a teenager. The parents of geography student James Trickey are planning to publish 200 copies of a book that he wrote on a cycling
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After-school club bounces back with a good report
A KIDLINGTON after-school club has been highly rated less than a year after being branded “inadequate” in an Ofsted report. Magpies West, which runs a breakfast and after-school club for 32 pupils at West Kidlington Primary School, was given the
