Archive
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‘Life as an MP is not easy by any means’
In May, Victoria Prentis became Oxfordshire’s newest MP for Banbury, while in Oxford West and Abingdon Nicola Blackwood was returned to Parliament with a much-increased majority. Luke Sproule and Matt Oliver travelled to Westminster to find out how
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Man, 23, left with knife wounds after being pulled from his van in Banbury
A MAN was pulled from his van by two men in Banbury last night and attacked with a knife, police said. Thames Valley Police were called to Withycombe Drive at 11.45pm following reports a 23-year-old had been assaulted. Officers said the man
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Wednesday’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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Ambulance delayed after cars parked illegally cause blockage
A CRACKDOWN on illegal parking has been called for after an ambulance on an emergency call in Wallingford was delayed. Town mayor Lynda Atkins said the town council has been concerned for some time that drivers parking where they shouldn’t was
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Conductor steps down for new job abroad
AFTER more than a decade of service, the conductor of Wantage Silver Band Phil Bailey has stepped down as he gets ready to start a new career in China. Fond farewells were said to him on Saturday night, as he performed with the band at Wantage
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Prize-winning small brewery is rapidly expanding
Five years ago Will Laithwaite set up his own brewery in Abingdon. Today, Loose Cannon produces about 4,300 pints of beer a day. It had continually picked up industry awards for its ales and porters, but has not yet won the elusive first prize. Pete
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Former headteacher who drowned in Thames after sex abuse conviction had already attempted suicide, inquest hears
A FORMER headmaster who drowned himself in the Thames after being convicted of historic sex offences had already attempted suicide once before that same month, an inquest heard yesterday. David Tuohy, 83, who was found dead in the Thames in Oxford
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CCTV images released after No.7 beauty products worth £735 stolen from Boots in Didcot
CCTV images have been released of two women police want to speak to after beauty products worth £753 were shoplifted in Didcot. Thames Valley Police said the incident happened at about 3.30pm on July 2. Officers said two women walked into Boots
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Oxford United squad for Benfica to include triallist Udanta Singh from India
OXFORD United’s squad to face Benfica B this evening includes a player on trial from Bengaluru FC in India. Udanta Singh is on a month-long trial and could get a run-out in the behind-closed-doors game at St George’s Park, Burton, which kicks off
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So long to get a job done
IN 2015 the reconstruction of two roundabouts and half a mile of A40 dual carriageway is due to take 16 months and Network Rail’s reconstruction of First Turn bridge is to take nine months (having dithered for four months so that it now coincides with
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Our judicial system is far too lenient nowadays
OVER the years the judicial system has gone through many changes, not always for the best. I always read the Oxford Mail’s Scales of Justice column and I am still astounded by the lenient sentences given out these days by magistrates and also by
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Axing number 17 bus will leave many stranded
I AM very concerned that Oxfordshire County Council is thinking about stopping the subsidy for the No.17 bus that runs through Cutteslowe and Jericho. There are so many elderly and disabled people that use this bus. If this bus is stopped, there
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Money spent on Pluto trip could have helped needy
MY HORROR at the treatment of a woman who, at first single-handedly, has devoted her life to giving solace and comfort to many sick young people has been redoubled on the Government cuts in spending on helping the helpless. And the wretches who
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Roadworks, lights and jams ... forget it, I’m off to Witney
MOTORISTS in Oxford are continually, and I really mean continually, bombarded with totally unnecessary road works to “improve” their “driving experience” in the city and around the ring road. Why do highways engineers think that putting traffic
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A40 needs to be tackled before station expands
WEST Oxfordshire needs better rail access. Hanborough station should be improved. Shipton station should be improved and more trains should stop there. Yarnton station, closed in 1962 and demolished, should be reopened with bus and car access from
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More homes available as elderly people die off
LEN PORTER says I have got it wrong (Oxford Mail, July 10) in implying the elderly are dying out. Most of our elderly are baby boomers of the 1940s, when there was a massive baby boom. These are the ones who are in increasing numbers per year dying
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MP got it wrong on result of West Way Centre saga
NICOLA Blackwood has got it the wrong way round. It was Doric that got “burned”. The Botley community came out of the conflict unscarred and enriched. JIM REED Eynsham Road, Botley, Oxford
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Teacher lines up swim for charity
A GEOGRAPHY teacher is hoping to make waves with a fundraising scheme inspired by his students. When Oxford Spires Academy pupils are returning to school in September their head of geography Nik Haynes will be getting his swimming trunks on for
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Housing: Homeshare scheme can help both old and young
FOR Paul Cann it is the solution that Oxford has been simply waiting to happen. After all the agonising over an ever-expanding city, building on the Green Belt and creating new towns, just imagine being able to put a dent in Oxford’s shortage of
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Legal Challenge: Bringing hope to the victims of this type of violence
The first national day of remembrance for victims of Honour Based Violence (HBV) has been held. Last Tuesday would have been the 29th birthday of schoolgirl Shafilea Ahmed, who was murdered by her mother and father in 2003 after suffering years
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Big ‘Willkommen’ and ‘bienvenue’ to a new Oxford guidebook
A NEW Oxford guidebook available to buy in seven languages has already been praised by tourists as “quick” and “easy” to use. Experience Oxfordshire, the organisation that promotes tourism across the county, released the Quick Guide to Oxford at
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Michael Appleton says Oxford United have work to do after Woking wobble
Michael Appleton admitted Oxford United had fallen short of what was expected as they lost 1-0 at Woking in pre-season. The home side created the majority of the game’s chances, while United lacked a cutting edge for most of the evening. Ryan
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Tourism board head says Oxfordshire needs to give tourists a warmer welcome
The welcome for tourists visiting Oxfordshire is not up to scratch, the head of the county’s tourism board has said. Chief Executive of Experience Oxfordshire Hayley Beer-Gamage said more must be done to make visitors’ experiences consistent and
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Three vehicles in M40 crash
Two cars and a van were involved in a collision on the M40 yesterday. Police said a black Kia, black Volkswagen and an Enterprise van were involved in the crash between junction 10 and 11 southbound between Banbury and Cherwell Valley Services
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Burglar who left ID at crime scene jailed
A man has been jailed for 51 months for burglary offences. Police revealed yesterday that Nathan Bourton, of Dashwood Road, Oxford, was sentenced on July 16 at Oxford Crown Court after being convicted of one count of burglary and two counts of
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Video: Fun at the West Oxfordshire Steam & Vintage Fair
STEAM trains could be seen powering through West Oxfordshire over the weekend as part of the Steam and Vintage Show. The annual event in Ducklington played host to stalls, raffles and a wide range of steam powered machines at the country fair.
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Discharged too early: One in 10 hospital patients readmitted
MORE than one in 10 patients admitted to hospital in Oxfordshire are being sent home too early, according to most recent figures. According to Oxford University Hospitals Trust’s annual quality report, 11.4 per cent of people aged 16 or over admitted
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Blueprint for 22,000 Cherwell homes approved
AFTER 10 years of planning, the document that will guide the delivery of 22,840 homes across Cherwell has been agreed. Cherwell District Council councillors adopted the plan following the Government inspector’s response. The document will act
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Gridlock as roundabout works bring the road network to halt
A MORNING of traffic chaos has sparked fears that businesses could be left out of pocket by 16 months of roadworks in north Oxford. Traffic ground to a halt on the major routes into the city yesterday morning when the £10m major roadworks to the
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Wednesday, July 22
2:51pm A 23-year-old man was pulled from his van and attacked with a knife in Banbury last night, police said
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CRICKET: Harrison Ward becomes youngest player to score a century for Oxfordshire
Harrison Ward became the youngest Oxfordshire player to score a Unicorns Counties Championship century in their convincing 133-run victory over Herefordshire at Brockhampton yesterday. The Horspath opener made 109 not out on his debut as Oxon romped
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County’s ambulance service given 3,366 speeding tickets
MORE than 3,000 speeding tickets were issued to the county’s ambulance service in just one year. Only two other ambulance services in England – Yorkshire Ambulance Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service– were given more tickets than the 3,306
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A review into the care of a man who killed his wife leads to changes in mental health service
A PROBE into the care of a man who stabbed his wife to death has led to a shake-up of the county’s health trust adult mental health service. Lee Anstice, referred to as Mr Z in the report, was said to be staying with his parents in Kidlington before
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PD James cover on sale
An original illustration for the dust jacket of a novel by “Queen of Crime” PD James is set to go under the hammer. Baroness James of Holland Park died aged 94 last October and was the critically-acclaimed novelist who created fictional policeman
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Two are rebailed in cyclist’s death case
Two people arrested in connection with a collision in Wallingford in which a cyclist died have been rebailed. A third person has been released without charge following the crash in Wallingford Road on June 4. A 45-year-old man from Didcot,
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CRICKET: Oxford 2nd suffer at the hands of Deal's ton for Twyford
Jack Deal smashed a brilliant hundred as Twyford condemned basement boys Oxford 2nd to a crushing 132-run defeat in Cherwell League Division 1. Deal’s magnificent 103 and Stafford Sansome’s 72 helped Twyford to declare an over early on 280-5.
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Musical concert to raise cash
A CHURCH in Oxford was filled with the sound of music as part of its Music on Mondays event. St Michael at the Northgate Church became a stage for Kazakhstan-born Dina Duisen who performed pieces by Bach, Haydn and Mazurkas to a sold-out audience
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Inquest into death at Witney M&S
The inquest into the death of a 76-year-old woman who died in Witney’s Marks & Spencer store will be held today. At the opening of the inquest on July 7, coroner Darren Salter said Paula Symes, from Woodstock, appeared to have choked to death
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Fourth win at Wine Oscars
OXFORD’S home-grown wine empire is plucking awards straight off the vine as it prepares to open a second wine cafe in Jericho. The Oxford Wine Company, founded by grape guru Ted Sandbach, was crowned Regional Wine Merchant of the Year 2015 at last
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‘Inspirational’ Alan rewarded after 52 years of volunteering
LITTLE did 24-year-old Alan Walton know that seeing a man break his leg in a scooter accident in 1963 would change his life. He had been living in Kidlington for three years when, returning home one night, he witnessed a man fall off his Vespa
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‘Mental treatment should not be left in hands of vulnerable’
PATIENT confidentiality rules are posing a “real problem” for the treatment of mental health patients, Oxfordshire’s coroner has said. At an inquest yesterday, coroner Darren Salter agreed that vulnerable patients were not always in a position
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Deadline set on Didcot power station homes plans
PLANS for the former Didcot A power station site to be transformed into 400 new homes will be decided on in six months’ time. The deadline for residents and businesses to give their views on the plans has been and gone, and Vale of White Horse
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BMW stolen in Oxford raid
A BMW car and bank cards were among the items stolen from a property in Abbey Road on Saturday. Thames Valley Police said the offenders used a garden spade to force open a window and gain entry to the property. Electrical items, bank cards
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Singers’ YouTube song’s 200,000 hits
A YouTube video filmed by university a cappella stars has had almost 200,000 hits. Members of Out of the Blue released their cover of Lady Marmalade on June 6 to raise cash for East Oxford’s Helen and Douglas House. It is the third time the
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CRICKET: Wilman books Wolvercote’s final spot with massive ton
Edward Wilman blasted a brilliant 163 not out to help Wolvercote to a 19-run win at Wootton & Boars Hill in the Telegraph Cup semi-finals. Wilman’s knock took Wolvercote to 286-3 in Sunday’s clash. Wootton staged a spirited run chase, before
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Getting messy by learning at Story Museum
CHILDREN started the school holidays with a mixture of mess and madness at Oxford’s Story Museum. Ice cream, pop-rockets and gloop were on the menu for the creative summer workshops at the Pembroke Street museum inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate
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Campaigners unhappy with plans for park-and-ride sites
PLANS for a new park-and-ride near Abingdon have been criticised by campaign groups. Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet met yesterday to approve the Local Transport Plan, which contains the proposals for a series of new park-and-rides including
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Going underground ‘would better suit the JR’
BUS tunnels under the streets of Oxford would be better serving the John Radcliffe Hospital rather than the city centre, it has been claimed. At a meeting of Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet yesterday, Liberal Democrat councillor Roz Smith
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Recycling closures plan is defended
PROPOSALS to close recycling centres in the county were defended by Oxfordshire County Council leader Ian Hudspeth after it was suggested they could lead to fly-tipping. The plans were announced earlier this month and yesterday the county council
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Council told to set aside cycling funds
GUARANTEED funding from Oxfordshire County Council’s transport budget should be set aside to promote walking and cycling. Sustrans South East regional director Simon Pratt made the suggestion as Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet met yesterday
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Home care provider closes county base after repeated criticism from watchdog
THE county branch of the UK’s biggest home care provider has closed down following a series of below-par inspections. Allied Healthcare Oxford, based in Kidlington, provided care for 43 people at the time of the most recent inspection in December
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Group puts homes plan to residents
VILLAGERS who are trying to sell playing fields to a developer want houses built on the site. Marcham’s Community Facilities Steering Group now says it wants to redevelop the historic Anson Institue for housing and build up to 10 houses on the
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Schoolchildren learn about whatever they want
A CACOPHONY of drums brought a dramatic year to an end for Northfield School in Blackbird Leys as it celebrated Ofsted success and pupils’ progress. About 360 awards were handed out in a ceremony at the Knights Road secondary school to students
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AUNT SALLY: Andy Lewis shines as New Club B storm to victory
ANDY Lewis clanged off a brace of sixes for Section 5 leaders New Club B as they beat Six Bells B Kidlington 3-0 in the Greene King Oxford & District League, writes ANDY BEAL. Lewis ended up with 14 dolls as New Club ran out winners. Red
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Road to get safety measures after residents raise concern
NEW safety measures could be introduced on a Littlemore road within weeks after residents raised concerns. The Oxford Road Action Group (ORAG) was set up after residents grew worried about congestion, speeding, damage to vehicles and abusive drivers
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Pupils turn over a new leaf
PUPILS at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School are expecting others to be green with envy after landing some leafy plants to brighten up lessons. The school received a donation of plants in honour of the National Plants at Work Week campaign.