Archive

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Rally held outside Bodleian Library to support Greek people and oppose austerity

ABOUT 40 Oxford residents attended a rally outside the Bodleian Library in solidarity with the people of Greece today. The campaigners oppose further austerity in the country, which is in the middle of a financial crisis and faces a referendum

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RACING: Pendleton gets off to a flier on debut

Olympic track cyclist Victoria Pendleton can hardly wait to get back in the saddle again after making a polished start to her new career as a jockey in finishing eighth on Mighty Mambo at Newbury. The dual gold medal-winning 34-year-old, who lives

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Challenging stereotypes and keeping newborn babies cosy

A WOMAN from Blackbird Leys is on a mission to fight stereotypes and offer up some cosy blankets in the process. Jackie Scarrott, 46, has spent the last year diligently knitting 36 blankets for newborn babies at the John Radcliffe Hospital maternity

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Queues on A34 southbound after crash near Peartree Interchange

DRIVERS are facing delays as an accident has blocked one lane of the A34 Western By Pass Road southbound. The two-car crash, close to the Peartree Interchange, is causing congestion back to junction 9 of the M40 at Bicester. Nobody was injured

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Group of men sexually assaults teenage girl in Wheatley

A TEENAGE girl was confronted by a group of men and sexually assaulted in Wheatley in the early hours of this morning, police said. A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said at 12.30am the 16-year-old was walking along London Road when a small group

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Work on £8m uni sport centre revamp ‘could start this year’

WORK on a new £8m sports hall and activities room is expected to be begin before the end of 2015, according to Oxford University’s head of sport. Jon Roycroft said he was looking forward to building work starting on the first phase of a major redevelopment

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Update: Ryan Clarke on his Oxford United departure

RYAN Clarke has admitted it is a sad day but he leaves Oxford United with "amazing memories" after six years at the club. The 33-year-old has made 267 appearances for the club, including the 2010 Conference play-off final victory at Wembley, but

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Review: Boeing-Boeing @ The Mill at Sonning

The rich comic delights of Marc Camoletti’s Boeing-Boeing were recognised at once by critics and punters when it was unveiled to its first British audiences in 1961 at Oxford’s New Theatre, en route to a seven-year run in the West End. One of its stars

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Times Tech: Back to the future to fix the perfect computer

David McManus looks at how computing nerds see the industry’s history The world of computing is mature enough for its history to be studied. Within the grounds of Bletchley Park, famous for being the place where the Enigma code was cracked during

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Watchmakers are flying high

Ben Holgate talks to two brothers whose mechanical timepieces can cost up to £30,000 Aviation has played an integral role in the genesis and growth of an Oxfordshire-based watch-making company that has global ambitions and recently opened a new

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Profile: Charlotte Geeves - All set for festivities to start

Nicola Lisle talks to the new chief executive officer of the acclaimed Henley Festival Charlotte Geeves is having a typically busy day. When I arrive at the Henley Festival office I find her in deep discussion with one of the box office staff.

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Quad Talk: Dons are asking themselves what it is all for

Seamus Perry says it is natural for dons to ask why one bothers The academic year is drawing to its close and it is natural to ask of oneself at such transitional moments in life: what is it all for? Or, as the question is sometimes framed: oh

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First Person: For innovators and entrepreneurs

Lynn Shepherd looks ahead to Venturefest Oxford 2015 Someone gave me very good advice when I started considering early retirement from my role as communications director at Oxford Instruments a year ago. They urged me to divide my retirement

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More Tunisia beach massacre victims repatriated at RAF Brize Norton

The bodies of nine victims of the Tunisian beach massacre have been returned to the UK, as the final British death toll was confirmed at 30. An RAF C17 transport plane carrying the remains of Lisa and William Graham, Philip Heathcote, Trudy Jones

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Obituary: Peter Brain - ‘Saga Lout’ had life-long passion for everything in motorcycles

A MOTORCYCLE enthusiast whose funeral featured a convoy of bikes has died aged 66. Peter Brain had been riding motorcycles for at least five decades and was a member of the club Saga Louts. The club regularly went on days out known as “wrinkly

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Obituary: Barry Albin-Dyer - Familiar sight at repatriations

AN UNDERTAKER who was a familiar sight at several armed forces repatriations at RAF Brize Norton has died aged 64. Barry Albin-Dyer was for 30 years chairman of FA Albin & Sons, a Bermondsey-based funeral directors tasked with organising the

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Obituary: Rosemary Stewart - Pioneer academic who knew just what makes a good boss

ROSEMARY Stewart, who has died aged 90, was an Oxford academic who for five decades exhaustively studied what makes a good boss. Her research focused on the practices of managers across different jobs, and what made the best leaders, and particularly

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Visit the park, now read the book

GLASSES were raised in a toast when a history book celebrating a cherished park’s 150th anniversary was launched. More than 100 people turned out at St Michael and All Angels’ Church, in Park Road on Sunday, when the 9th Earl of Abingdon, Richard

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Gray Matter: Country house opera to rival Worthy Farm’s fare

Glastonbury or Glyndebourne? The question might be translated appropriately, as we shall see presently, into “wellingtons or beef wellington?”, fitting for the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo, although no less an expert than Clarissa Dickson

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Gray Matter: Work on old freight railway line ought to be completed

Last week’s well-publicised troubles for Network Rail have resulted in the electrification being “paused” – for which read abandoned – on the tracks between London and Sheffield and Manchester and Leeds. Alas, they don’t appear to have put a brake

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Alice in Wonderland: Marking the birth of a classic

Reg Little learns about preparations for the 150th birthday of a timeless children’s book Alice’s Day has fast established itself as an unmissable annual event in Oxford for hundreds of children and anyone partial to dancing a Lobster Quadrille

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Thursday’s letters: What are your fellow readers writing in about today?

Want to give your opinion? Email letters@oxfordmail.co.uk

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Stewart Donald invests more than £500k to buy Oxford United stake

OXFORD United have received a major financial injection with lifelong supporter Stewart Donald set to acquire a ten per cent stake in the club. The investment is in excess of £500,000 and will also see his company, Witney-based Bridle Insurance

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Consultation launched to decide future of Chipping Norton care unit

CHIPPING Norton residents have been given a choice between a care home trust taking over the town's intermediate care unit or losing it completely. At a meeting of Oxfordshire County Council’s Health and Scrutiny overview committee today, John

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Brain scan innovation is set to transform stroke treatments

A SUMMERTOWN firm’s technology is set to transform treatment for thousands of stroke victims. Brainomix’s medical imaging software e-ASPECTS automatically assesses brain CT scans to gauge how much damage has been done. This allows frontline

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Care home worker withdrew £5k of elderly resident’s cash

A CARE home worker who took an elderly resident’s bank card and used it to withdraw about £5,000 has been given a suspended jail sentence. Abigail Smith, 35, of Thame Park Road, Thame, pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position at Windmill Place

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Fuming in fumes

Sir – Dr Pritchard’s solution to the strangulation of Oxford by ever-increasing traffic – build new roads into the centre, thus bringing even more traffic in – seems self-defeating (Letters, June 25). Better to discourage and deflect traffic, through

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Bicycles on buses

Sir – In Oxford, bicycles are not permitted on local buses for understandable safety reasons. I am currently in the Australian capital Canberra, where they have thought up an excellent solution to this problem: bicycles are carried in special metal

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Gridlock will continue as more homes are built

Sir – In recent times, Oxfordshire County Council has spent an enormous amount of taxpayers’ money trying desperately to prevent gridlock in and around Oxford. At the same time, the local authorities have been submitting plans (or faced having

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Criminal road surface

Sir – Today after a few days away riding my motorcycle in France I had to return to work, and what a shock I had, seems that half of the Woodstock Road into Oxford has been gritted with stone chips. Better still, whoever committed this terrible

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Disgraceful lack of care

Sir – Following David Tinson’s letter, another section of the Welch Way path in Witney is also a disgrace. This is not the only part of the town where the uncut grass is an eyesore. What will visitors to Witney think? It is also very discouraging

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Wait and see if new rail station leads to parking problems

Sir – There has been a lot written about concepts on how to tackle congestion around Oxford, where the leader of the county council has stressed that the transport policy is not to encourage more cars on to the city road network. Readers might

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Confusing parking

Sir – You have invited debate about the decisions by Oxfordshire County Council to increase both its on-street and residents’ parking charges. I have to say I regard both with dismay. The fact that charges have not risen for several years is surely

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Maddeningly difficult

Sir – Quite how Mr Emlyn-Jones (Letters, June 25) gets from me pointing out that Mr McNaney’s letter is an example of someone taking offence on religious grounds in order to close down debate, to his observation that I was suggesting vilification or

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NHS commitments

Sir – Last year, following a period of public consultation, the people in our community were told by Oxfordshire County Council that our hospital intermediate care beds and the nurses staffing them would be in the NHS covered by a five-year contract

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Osney park-and-walk would ease congestion

Sir – With respect to my proposal for a park-and-walk located on Osney Mead, Ian Hudspeth has missed the point: this idea will not increase cars on the A34. A car park accessed directly from the A34 within ten minutes walk of Carfax, will enable

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Colour blinded by Green Flag Award prospect

IT would appear that Bicester Garth Park is, in near future, to be the venue for a Close Encounter of the Third Kind. A spaceship is even now approaching our planet intent on landing behind the Hunting Lodge in the Garth Park. Our visitors

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The perilous lives of the birds in back gardens

WITH reference to a recent letter in the Oxford Mail regarding Red Kites, here in Radley, we have various birds, including Red Kites. When the garden goes eerily quiet and the birds have disappeared you know the villain is about, the Sparrow Hawk

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Hope for a bishop who knows weapons risk

I AM writing about the wait for a new Bishop of Oxford. What I hope for is a Bishop who will understand my concern about Britain having nuclear weapons. They are WMDs and put us all at risk when they pass Oxford about six times a year on the A34.

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Teenagers oblivious to my water warnings

I HAVE seen recent tributes, and indeed past memorials placed near to Oxford waterways where a young person has died in the waters. I was in Hinksey Park on Monday. A group of teenagers were jumping into the lake from the footbridge. I pointed

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My fond memories of a self-effacing gentleman

DESPITE having been on the hostel circuit for some three years on arriving in Oxford in 1989, I was shocked by how damaged so many of the residents of Simon House seemed to be (though I do not recollect our ever having actually been breathalysed).

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7/7 memorial shows we can’t let terrorists win

To MIRIAM Hyman’s sister Esther, After watching the very moving memorial of 7/7 I just want to say that we can’t let terrorists win. Your sister will always be remembered. ROSIE DODDS Foscot near Chipping Norton

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Who has the right to decide what EU reform is needed?

Now the election’s out of the way, the European Union Referendum has become the big issue. Boris Johnson has said that if David Cameron (our Witney MP) fails to secure the EU reforms he desires then Britain should be unafraid to leave the Union

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Scales of Justice: 18 cases heard at Banbury and Oxford Magistrates Court

BANBURY MAGISTRATES Gareth Cooke, 35, of Park Rise, Ambrosden, admitted drink driving on London Road, Bicester, on June 7. Had 115 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath over the legal limit of 35mcg. Fined £1,200 and ordered to pay a £120 victims

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Wrong cutbacks

Sir – It comes to something when a headteacher and 24 of her pupils find the need to go to Downing Street to beg Prime Minister David Cameron to help get something done to their school. I refer to Rose Hill primary school where the pupils had to

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Solar power progress

Sir – It is right that our worsening food self-sufficiency comes from having more mouths to feed. That makes it even more important to stop covering land which could have been growing food with solar panels. It is right too that there have been

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Drop-off zone needed

Sir – We had visitors from Spain last week for a few days. While on their coach from the airport to Gloucester Green, they ‘phoned us, so that we were able to time our ‘collection’ to near perfection, with a turnaround of about six minutes. While

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Thanks to hospital

Sir – Twice in a week I’ve had to go to the John Radcliffe Hospital. First with a husband with suspected broken wrist on Tuesday evening. Everything was calm and helpful. OK we had to wait but the children were whisked away to be dealt with elsewhere

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Pavement cyclists

Sir – There is a dangerous point in central Abingdon where the pavement becomes very narrow as Ock Street merges into High Street. Accidents have been known to happen here. Currently the problem is intensified by cyclists riding along the pavement

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Clean up untidy areas

Sir –First, I would like to say a big thank you to Witney residents for the warmth and support I’ve received since being elected to represent the South Ward on our town council. As a county councillor i see the sharp end of central government cuts

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Turning the tide

Sir – Further to Derrick Holt’s letter about water (Out of local control, June 25), how do we get our public water supply brought back? According to We Own It, over 70 per cent of the public want the railways, energy companies, Royal Mail and the National

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Rail vibrations

Sir – Dr Martin Barnes (Letters, June 25) has me worried. It appears that there is mass hysteria in North Oxford in those who live near the tracks. Apparently, there is no noise or vibration caused by moving trains, so it cannot possibly increase

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Support for centre

Sir – The future of Summertown’s Diamond Place NOA Community Centre is to be discussed at the meeting of Oxford City Council’s executive board, to be held at Oxford Town Hall on Thursday, July 9, at 5pm. The NOA Community Centre provides support

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Shameful waste

Sir – The kerb stones on The Plain which were replaced in April had to be removed and replaced in May since they were not the required dropped kerbstones, causing considerable disruption to wheelchair and mobility scooter users. The inordinate expense

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Planning decisions

Sir – Roger Dudman Way continues to be in the news. It seems to be universally agreed it has been a mistake on a major scale which now needs to be put right. But what of the new major applications which may now be going through the planning process

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UPDATE: Missing Stephen Gray from Abingdon found

A MAN from Abingdon who went missing has been found. Stephen Gray, 59, was last seen yesterday in Colwell Drive. He was found safe and well today. Thames Valley Police did not say where he was found but thanked the public for their assistance

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Thunder, lightning and hail predicted for Oxfordshire on Friday

THE glorious weather will come to an abrupt end as thunderstorms and heavy rain were forecast for tomorrow. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for rain, which means the public should be aware that there is a chance of “significant disruption

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The Guide: What is happening on the entertainment scene

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Voluntary Voice: Camping helps put youngsters on right path to confidence

Path Hill Outdoors is providing young people who will be progressing into secondary level education in September, the opportunity to prepare for this transition and boost their confidence with camping experiences in the great outdoors. The Transition

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Politics: Benefit cuts would hit the disabled particularly hard

Andrew Smith MP for Oxford East Life costs more if you are disabled, for example like my constituent Jo Doherty. New research from the disability charity Scope shows that disabled people spend on average £550 a month on extra costs linked

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A trio of treats for Shakespeare lovers

Giles Woodforde casts his eye over a trilogy of open-air Shakespeare The sun may shine, or it could pour with rain. But since when have meteorological uncertainties squashed Oxford’s proud tradition of staging Shakespeare outdoors during the summer

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Review: Tristan und Isolde @ Longborough Festival Opera

Following LFO’s triumphant celebration of Richard Wagner’s bicentenary in 2013 with acclaimed fully staged performances of the whole Ring cycle – a marvellous feat for so small an enterprise – the company has maintained its position as a leading interpreter

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Review: Deep Blue Sea @ The Watermill, Newbury

Never before has one of Mrs Elton’s tenants tried to commit suicide by gassing herself. Hester Collyer hasn’t succeeded in ending her life, however - she didn’t put enough shillings in the meter. She is soon resuscitated by kindly “Mr” Miller (

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Frustration spurred on new Oxford orchestra

Nicola Lisle talks to Judith Evans about Oxford’s newest orchestra Frustration at the lack of opportunities for local professional musicians led Judith Evans – “a jobbing bass player for 30 years”, as she describes herself – to help launch a new

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Review: Van Morrison & Gregory Porter @ Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace made a fittingly grand setting for the return to the stage of the newly knighted Van Morrison’s last Thursday night. But of course, Sir Van being Van, no recognition of performing in so special a place as Blenheim’s Great Court

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City gets set to start the party at Cowley Road Carnival

Tim Hughes looks forward to Oxford’s biggest day of music and dance – Cowley Road Carnival As a man who has built a national reputation for playing the finest reggae and ska, you might expect DJ Aidan Larkin to be happy about the prospect of spinning

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Soundbites: Win tickets to Cornbury!

* What do you get if you cross Welsh crooner Tom Jones, Motown legend Martha Reeves, punk poet John Cooper Clarke, country star Hank Wangford, X Factor wannabes Only The Young, and Lulu? The answer, is – of course – the country’s most charmingly

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Stage Bites @ George St Cafe

I hate eating supper at 5pm, shovelling food in for the sake of it because I’m going to the theatre later on. Likewise, post-show, the moment has past. By 10.30pm I just want to go home and most restaurants have stopped serving by then anyway.

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Review: Buongiorna E Buonasera, Oxford

Katherine MacAlister discovers her latest favourite spot for coffee, plus some unusual and delicious pizzas, at a new Italian eatery Imagine if Gloucester Green was transformed into a foodie heaven, framed by little delis and cafes, restaurants

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Tempting all the senses at Cowley Road Carnival

Sarah Airey, one of the Cowley Road Carnival organisers, says make sure you come to Sunday’s event with an empty stomach to make the most of food on offer Leave plenty of room for all the delicious street food if you are coming to the Cowley Road

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Win tickets to Cornbury festival

There’s just a week to go before the start of Oxfordshire’s first big festival of the summer – Cornbury. The delightful weekender, held in the wooded grounds of Great Tew Park, near Chipping Norton, is, for many, a highpoint of the summer. And

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Alice in Wonderland is arts festival centrepiece

Giles Woodforde takes a look at a new version of Alice in Wonderland at the Playhouse Nothing has put Oxford on the international literary map more decisively than Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – not even the Oxford English Dictionary

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Cowley Road Carnival is streets ahead of the rest

Tim Hughes looks forward to Oxford’s noisiest – and most fun – day out, the Cowley Road Carnival Rio de Janeiro, New Orleans, Notting Hill...Cowley Road. Okay, when it comes to the world’s big street parties East Oxford’s homegrown celebration

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Hairdresser starts fundraising bid in honour of her late sister

A HAIRDRESSER has started a campaign to raise awareness for a mental health charity in memory of her sister who died last year. Lucy Melvin, 28, started a campaign to raise money for Oxfordshire Mind, a charity which offer advice and support for

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Keeping cats at bay in gardens

Do not despair if cats are having a field day of destruction in your garden as there are ways to keep them at bay, as Hannah Stephenson discovers Now, I don’t want to be a killjoy about people’s pets, but when I see a neighbour’s feline stray into

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Join in and show you care about our wildlife

Conservationist Matt Jackson asks who is prepared to defend our natural spaces? If you watch a wildlife TV documentary or use the Internet to identify a flower the chances are you care enough about the natural environment enough to want to defend

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Review: Thaikhun, George Street, Oxford

Katherine MacAlister takes a foodie friend on a culinary journey of discovery... and likes what she finds Where to take a restaurateur? They are all terrible food snobs and even on their nights off are never really off duty. Out of their comfort

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A perfect way to enjoy Finals Day

Shaun Dickens takes a trip on the river for a Henley regatta dinner this weekend With spring in full bloom and summer well on the way, my team and I at Shaun Dickens at the Boathouse find ourselves once again creating a pop-up restaurant on board

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A return visit to the stunning city of Dundee

Esther Beadle revisits a city reinventing itself as a cultural powerhouse on Scotland’s stunning east coast Wind buffeting my hair, I gaze out into the pin prick clear distance. Birds swoop below me and sweeping down before me is what appears to

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Review: Terminator Genisys starring Arnold Schwarzenegger

Damon Smith thinks that Arnie has returned one time too many in the latest of the Terminator films to hit the big screen In Terminator Genisys, the misfiring reboot of James Cameron’s apocalyptic time-travelling saga, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s cyborg

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Review: The Producers @ New Theatre, Oxford

Katherine MacAlister thinks this fascist flop is a rip-roaring success Are you enjoying yourself? Too much singing?” I heard someone’s wife asking her husband in the interval of The Producers. “It is funny though isn’t it,” she added comfortingly

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Highlights: The Pharcyde, Henley Festival and more

Film music Tyburnia with Dead Rat Orchestra Modern Art Oxford Tomorrow modernartoxford.org.uk In a gig befitting one of the country’s best respected art galleries, the extraordinary Dead Rat Orchestra play a live film soundtrack to James

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Casting an eye over surveillance culture at Modern Art exhibition

Sarah Mayhew Craddock on a new show at Modern Art Oxford by film maker Lynn Hershman Leeson Paranoia appears to loom large amongst the curators at Modern Art Oxford, what with recent exhibitions from Barbara Kruger, Debora Delmar Corp., and now

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For Art's Sake with Jonathan Davidson

Jonathan Davidson explains how he took an anthology of poetry and transferred it to the stage with The Hundred Years’ War In The Hundred Years’ War: the Somme to Afghanistan, three actors perform 35 war poems spanning the past century. The poems

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Comedian Dom Joly prepares for Cornbury gig

Katherine MacAlister talks to comedian and writer Dom Joly What makes a good prankster? It was a question I mulled over before interviewing the King of Jokers Dom Joly, because it’s this very trait which made him a household name. Brashness

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Pedalling on to success at Uptonogood

Stuart Macbeth enjoyed a festival of music, beer and plenty of serious (and not-so-serious) cycling when he paid a visit to the annual Uptonogood event in South Oxfordshire Mountain biking is a great way to keep fit, Mike Tibbett assures me. The

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Nibbles: The Red Lion and Farmshop

* Locals will get an especially warm welcome at The Red Lion in Islip when it reopens its doors at 6pm on Wednesday, giving them a peak at the pub’s transformation and a chance to sample the new menu. The Red Lion has been shut for seven weeks

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Chef's Special: Chocolate and hazelnut cake

Katie Laing at City of Oxford College student presents this week's recipe I am Katie Laing and I am studying hospitality and catering at City of Oxford College. I have always loved cooking so as soon as I finished school I knew I wanted to go to

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It’s hotter than Rio as Oxfordshire sweats it out in a sizzling 31C

THE county sizzled in the sweltering heat yesterday, but experts have warned that the good weather may not last long. Temperatures in Oxfordshire soared to a red hot 31C – 3C higher than Rio de Janeiro in Brazil – yesterday, but in typical British

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Man sectioned for kitchen knife attack on father

A FATHER whose mentally ill son tried to stab him to death has said he bears no ill will towards his attacker. Andrew Shorter, of Long Wall, Oxford, yesterday pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of 79-year-old Ian Shorter and was sectioned under

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Man hurt in crash on A420

A man was taken to hospital after a crash involving a car and a motorbike on the A420 near Faringdon. The accident, at about 7.45am between Fernham Road and the Great Coxwell turn, caused hold-ups. Two cars were also involved in a crash in the

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Sunseekers make the most of the weather as highs of 33.4C are recorded in Oxfordshire + top tips to stay cool

IT was a scorcher across Oxfordshire yesterday with the mercury reaching 33.4C at Benson yesterday afternoon – the highest temperature of the year so far in the county. But it is set to be a cooler day today with temperatures of 22 or 23C forecast

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RACING: Victoria Pendleton excited ahead of first competitive action

VICTORIA Pendleton admits she is struggling to contain her excitement ahead of her first public appearance in a horse racing saddle. The 34-year-old double Olympic cycling champion, who lives in the village of Moreton, near Thame, is aiming to

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The £1.6bn investment that ‘would keep us at the global cutting edge’

AMBITIOUS proposals for £1.6bn of transport and development schemes in Oxfordshire have been unveiled by a partnership of businesses, universities and councils. Almost 40 projects are proposed, including link roads, railway station expansions and

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BOWLS: City triples seal national championship spot

TWO women’s triples from Oxford City & County have qualified for the National Championships at Leamington Spa in August. Vicky Harrison, Margaret Stacey and Jacky Gray comfortably beat Pauline Illott’s trio by 14 shots in the last eight, before

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Regiment leaves Germany for new county home

A REGIMENT based in Germany has said farewell to its barracks as it begins the move to Bicester. After 50 years of service on the continent, soldiers of the 1 Regiment Royal Logistics Corps (1 Regt RLC) are heading to St David’s Barracks at Graven

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Driver using mobile phone ran from officers

The police search helicopter was called yesterday after a man stopped on suspicion of using his phone at the wheel ran from officers. Thames Valley Police said a motorist was stopped at Seacourt Park-and-Ride at about 1.15pm on suspicion of driving

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Inquest adjourned on Aown Doga

An inquest was opened yesterday on13-year-old Aown Doga, who died after falling into the River Thames. Coroner Darren Salter said Aown spent Thursday afternoon playing games with friends on the river near Donnington Bridge. A doctor at Oxford’s

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Cowley Road Carnival disappointment as organisers set earlier finish

WITH only three more days to go, the countdown to Cowley Road Carnival has well and truly begun. Organisers are busy putting the finishing touches to Sunday’s free five-hour event, which will welcome thousands into the East Oxford street. But

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Thursday, July 2

5:51pm Queues on A34 southbound after crash near Peartree Interchange 5:46pm Fire crews have put out a blaze in a thatched cottage in West Hagbourne 

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Delays on First Great Western trains between Oxford and Worcester due to signalling problem

THERE are delays on First Great Western trains between Oxford and Worcester Shrub Hill due to a signalling problem at Evesham.  Trains may be delayed by up to 30 minutes and disruption is expected until 9.30am.  There are also delays on

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Parky at the Pictures (In Cinemas 2/7/2015)

It's a cineaste's paradise this week, as two splendid documentaries delve into very different aspects of screen history, while film also plays a key part in a study of Italian wine-making that makes a natural companion for a scurrilous classic about

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MP hails predecessor during first speech

NEW Banbury MP Victoria Prentis paid tribute to her predecessor in her first House of Commons speech. The Tory MP was returned to Parliament at the May 7 General Election and increased the majority held by Sir Tony Baldry. Sir Tony stepped

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River users seek answers over city flood alleviation scheme

ROWERS, kayakers and river dwellers got their chance to raise concerns about the Oxford flood alleviation scheme at the first city centre workshop on it. Dozens of people quizzed Environment Agency officers about the £120m flood channel and associated

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Parky at the Pictures (DVD 2/7/2015)

The prize for the best title of the year can safely be awarded, even though there are still eight months of 2015 to come. Indeed, it's hard to see how anything is going to pip Roy Andersson's A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence to the

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BAR BILLIARDS: Democrats earn draw in opener

West Oxford Democrats Club started their OBBA Summer League campaign with a thrilling 3-3 draw with Berinsfield Club in Group A, writes PETE EWINS. Trailing 3-1, Bob Parsons (3,860) and Eddie Tebby (4,640) came to the rescue for Democrats.

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BOWLS: May and Watts to fly Oxon flag for Under 25s

DEAN May and Sam Watts will represent Oxfordshire in the National U25 Singles Championship at Leamington Spa. Despite only winning his first round match 21-20 against Watlington’s Chris Gilkes, May, from Headington, raced into an 11-0 lead against

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ATHLETICS: Captain Ben Claridge driven by memory of home Olympics

After watching on from the stands at London 2012, rising star Ben Claridge has set his sights on becoming an Olympian. The 17-year-old from Blewbury, who will captain Oxfordshire’s boys team at the English Schools’ Track & Field Championships

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RUGBY UNION: Henley happy to feed off success

Pete Davies says Henley Hawks have used promotion to their advantage in attracting new players, rather than dig deep into their pockets. The newly promoted National League 1 club have signed centres Jack Bradford and Johnny Williams, half backs

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Bicester Community Hospital is officially opened

STAFF, patients and volunteers joined together to celebrate the official opening of Bicester’s Community Hospital yesterday. A plaque has been unveiled to mark the ceremony, which comes six months after the hospital first began treating patients

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ATHLETICS: James Bolton and Sophie Carter shine at Thame

Woodstock Harriers’ James Bolton missed out on the Thame 10K title by just five seconds. The Vet 40 runner finished in 33mins 23secs, behind Karl Spielmann of Midhurst Milers. Headington Road Runners’ Chris Dettmar and Dan George made the top

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BOWLS: Headington strengthen grip on top flight table

HEADINGTON continued their relentless progress towards yet another Division 1 title in the Oxfordshire Bowls League, sponsored by Bridle Insurance. Banbury Central, who started second, were brushed aside 5-1 by some outstanding performances, most

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Man suffers injuries at Jericho home

A man needed hospital treatment after suffering chest and arm injuries at a house in Jericho. Thames Valley Police spokeswoman Hannah Williams said officers were called to the home in Cranham Terrace at 8.45pm on Tuesday following reports of a

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Crews tackle blaze in North Leigh

Fire crews prevented a house blaze from spreading after being alerted by the neighbours. Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service were called to the property shortly after 9pm on Tuesday. Fire Service area manager Gabby Heycock said: “The neighbours

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Now eagerly-awaited Westgate centre can begin to take shape

THE CONSTRUCTION phase has begun on the new Westgate centre after the last remaining parts of the old car park were finally demolished. Demolition of the multi-storey car park, which stood on the site beside the shopping centre since 1974, started

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Detective given final warning for failing to investigate case

A DETECTIVE has been given a final written warning for failing to investigate a man who slept with an underage girl in a case a judge said was a lamentable failure by police. The victim later ended up being raped by the same man – Omid Ali – and

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Rare Alice in Wonderland first edition on show

A FIRST edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has gone on display in Oxford to mark the book’s 150th anniversary. The edition forms part of the Printing Alice exhibition at the Weston Library in Broad Street, Oxford. First published in

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‘Patients ignored by ambulance service’

AN internal investigation is underway at South Central Ambulance Service after claims some patients with heart attack symptoms were denied ambulances. The investigation was prompted after an reporter from The Telegraph worked seven weeks undercover

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Traffic managed for Oxford uni open day

THOUSANDS of prospective Oxford University students arrived in the city yesterday for the first of two open days but major traffic snarl-ups were avoided. At least 7,000 applicants were expected in Oxford yesterday and today. Before their arrival

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It’s quidditch, everybody, but without the flying

IN TRUE Harry Potter style, four primary schools from Witney took part in a Quidditch Cup competition. Pupils from Hailey School, Madley Brook, Finstock School and the Batt School all took part in the event on Friday. The event began as an initiative

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Housing boss ‘totally against’ expanded Right to Buy policy

THE number of affordable homes in Oxfordshire provided by housing associations for people on low incomes will shrink as a result of the Right to Buy policy, according to a major industry figure in the county. Richard Peacock, chief executive of

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Tributes paid by friends and family to a black RAF veteran

MEDALS glinted off uniforms when comrades-in-arms laid poppy wreaths in tribute to a black RAF veteran who said his skin colour saved his life in Nazi-occupied Europe. About 50 friends, family members, RAF veterans and members of the Sierra Leone

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Music festival remembers ‘little ray of sunshine’

MUSIC will be played this weekend in memory of a “little ray of sunshine” who died from an aggressive cancer when she was 18 months old. Bands will take to the stage throughout Saturday for the seventh Yeah Baby music festival to raise cash for