Archive
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Father Christmas out in force for a good cause
MORE than 400 Santas took on the annual fun run on Sunday which looks set to raise more than £15,000 for Katharine House Hospice.The fundraisers, many of whom were running in memory of loved ones, assembled on a crisp, sunny morning in Spiceball Park,
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Student housing plan set for approval despite concerns over number living in the city
A NEW student accommodation block in Cowley is set to expand just a month after developers were initially granted permission. A2 Dominion Homes and Cantay Estates were given the go-ahead to transform an historic site at Canterbury House, Reliance
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Student acquitted of rape in less than 45 minutes
A STUDENT collapsed in tears and let out a huge sigh of relief as he was acquitted of raping a woman he met in a nightclub. Jurors unanimously acquitted Changqing Shao of raping the woman after just 43 minutes deliberating at Oxford Crown Court
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Harwell company launches project to engage hundreds of schoolchildren
A RESEARCH project open to schoolchildren was launched by a Harwell company yesterday.Diamond Light Source, the UK’s national synchrotron science facility, launched Project M to champion the importance of STEM skills at all levels and strengthen educational
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Under-threat Maison Blanc cafe 'closed for refurb' but firm unable to say if it will re-open
THE under-threat Maison Blanc bakery in Oxford has been ‘closed for refurbishment’ but the firm refused to reveal when or if it would re-open. The company’s Burford branch has also closed for refurbishment, according to its representatives who said they
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Tributes to Queenie 'who had passion for city life'
FORMER Lord Mayor of Oxford Queenie Hamilton, who had a ‘passion for city life’, has died aged 98.The long-serving Headington Quarry councillor’s family revealed she died peacefully at home last month.She was first voted in during the 1973 local elections
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Father of Liberty Baker welcomes life sentences for death drivers
PLANS to allow judges to sentence killer drivers to life in prison have been welcomed by the father of Liberty Baker.Paul Baker said bringing death by dangerous driving in line with manslaughter could allow other families to get the justice that he believes
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Police officer convicted of rape is sacked
A POLICE officer who raped a woman after a night out has been sacked following a misconduct hearing. PC Richard Hale, 35, who was based at Bicester, was dismissed last Tuesday following his conviction of one count of rape on October 12. He
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Robotic electro-pioneers Kraftwerk are heading to Oxford
THEY are one of the most enigmatic bands of all time – pioneers of electronic music who style themselves on robots. Today the German band Kraftwerk have announced a new date in Oxford – promising a night of 3D experimental art. The band, best
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Government blamed for two-year housing delay
A DELAY of more than two years to the construction of social housing in Cutteslowe has been blamed on a lack of cash by council chiefs.Plans for 17 homes at the Elsfield Hall site, in Elsfield Way, were approved in 2014 but work has still not started.Labour
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Beauty pageant contestant raises more than £800 for charity
A BEAUTY pageant contestant has raised more than £800 for the British Heart Foundation.Abingdon resident Chloe Peters will be competing in the Miss Charity Heart in February and has brought her fundraising total to £807 after a successful charity meal
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YOUR PICTURES: Impressive starry night photo taken at Blenheim Palace
This starry image was captured at Blenheim Palace this weekend as the frosty weather continued to grip the county. Staff at the palace captured this impressive image of the Column of Victory surrounded by sheep, at the park. The Column of Victory
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Carol singing event to raise funds for day centre
A CAROL singing event in Eynsham will raise funds for a day centre in the village. People of all ages are invited to join Eynsham Community Choir for their Christmas carol BIG-sing. The event, which will raise money for Eynsham Day Centre, will be held
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First chance for lower school pupils at Abingdon School to show off fencing skills
BOYS at Abingdon School had a chance to show off their swordsmanship at a fencing tournament.On Saturday the school hosted its first tournament for the lower school to give pupils a chance to experience what competing in a formal tournament is like.Lower
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Legal Matters - Ruth Hawkins: 'Finding the right resolution in cases of divorce'
Last week, family lawyer’s association Resolution launched ‘Good Divorce week’ to launch their new code of conduct for their members. Resolution lawyers sign up to a Code of Conduct, and this latest version of the code is designed to ensure that its members
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ATHLETICS: Organisers cancel third round of Oxford Mail Cross Country League
ORGANISERS have cancelled the third round of the Oxford Mail Cross Country League after being unable to confirm a venue. Due to be held on Sunday, January 8, league officials have been forced to call off the event, restricting the championships
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Travel company 'deeply saddened' at death of British worker in Lapland
THE travel company which organises trips to Lapland has said it's 'deeply saddened' to hear about the death of a 25-year-old British worker. Transun Travel, based in Iffley Road, Oxford, said on its Facebook page that they will do everything they
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Youngsters enjoy Barton Christmas bash
PLATE spinning and balloon making were in abundance at Barton's Christmas celebrations.Santa Claus visited a children's party at the Neighbourhood Centre, in Underhill Circus, on Sunday afternoon with an international cuisine of festive food also
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Back injury rules Joe Skarz out of Oxford United's game at Southend United
JOE Skarz will miss tomorrow night's visit to Roots Hall in the Checkatrade Trophy with an injury. The defender was suffering with a joint issue in his lower back last week, but felt it had improved in time for Oxford United's Emirates FA Cup tie
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Oxford United fans' chat
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Man charged in connection with cycle thefts
A MAN has been charged in connection with a number of cycle thefts in Oxford City Centre. Jamie Clark, 27, of Luther Street, Oxford, has been charged with three counts of theft of pedal bikes. The charges are in connection with three incidents
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Tools taken in series of Oxford car break-ins
A series of thefts from vehicles in Oxford last month is being investigated by Thames Valley Police. Drivers are now being warned not to leave valuables in their vehicles after tools were taken. At about midnight on Wednesday, November 23 thieves
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From Carfax Tower to the Eiffel Tower: family gear up for cycle challenge
AN Oxford family is gearing up for an ambitious charity cycle challenge which will take them from Carfax tower to the Eiffel Tower.The group of five will ride from Oxford to Paris ride to raise money for Diabetes UK after one of the team, Adrian Birch
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Oxford businessman provides Gogglebox style critique of the Chancellor's budget
THE stars of Channel 4's hit TV show 'Gogglebox' have had thousands glued to their screens and laughing for several years.And now Oxford-based business owner Simon Thomas has taken a leaf out of the show's books to produce his own '
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Dramatic 10 years for Oxfordshire pantomime
NOT every village pantomime enlists the help of local celebrities to help put on its Christmas performance every year. But not every pantomime is written, directed and performed by the Cumnor Players, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this
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New equipment helds children at Footsteps Centre
CHILDREN'S rugby charity Wooden Spoon has donated £12,000 to provide new equipment to help provide the very best physiotherapy for disabled children at the Footsteps Centre.Money has been used by the centre in Dorchester near Abingdon to buy Treax
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Oxford scrutiny councillors to consider report on 'horrific' air pollution after Westgate warning
THE scrutiny committee at Oxford City Council will meet tonight.Councillors are set to discuss safeguarding of language students, progress on cycling schemes and plans to further cut carbon emissions.They will also consider a report on air quality, which
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Former refugees thank 'wonderful' course for first steps in English language
THEY came to Oxford from some of the world's most war-devastated regions, with no option but to start again.But smiles, cheers and applause filled the room at EMBS Community College as refugees and asylum seekers receive their first qualifications
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Budget underspend at fire control service to be spent on £35,000 'video wall'
CASH saved through underspends at Thames Valley Fire Control Service is to be spent on a £35,000 video wall.In a report, the Reading-based service – which handles calls from Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire – said a switching system would also
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Mayor's Carols event to be held in Woodstock
RESIDENTS of Woodstock and the surrounding areas are invited to the Mayor’s Carols event on Saturday (10).The event will take place around the Christmas tree in the town square at 5pm. There will be mince pies, mulled wine and soft drinks available.After
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Calls for Oxford firms to get 'level playing field' after Small Business Saturday
AN MEP and city councillor have called for a 'level playing field' for local firms after marking Small Business Saturday.Labour's Anneliese Dodds and partner Ed Turner, an Oxford councillor, visited Bannisters cafe in Iffley Road with daughter
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'Government is taking credit for Oxford Academy's success'
NATIONAL education bosses have been accused of trying to take the credit for an Oxford school’s amazing turnaround.In an annual report on academies released earlier this week the Department for Education picked out The Oxford Academy as a case study.But
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Residents from Witney care home enjoy Christmas lights event
ELDERLY residents of a Witney care home took the town by storm for the annual Christmas lights switch on event. More than 20 residents and employees from Madley Park House took to the centre of town on Friday, November 25, as part of a new community integration
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Sponsored sleep-out at Sibford Ferris school raises money for homelessness charity
SCHOOL pupils raised more than £600 for a homelessness charity by holding a sponsored sleep-out.Youngsters at Sibford School near Banbury spent the night of November 25 out in the cold to support Banbury Young Homelessness Project.They slept under the
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Spaces available at free Christmas Day lunch
BOOKINGS are being taken for a Christmas Day lunch organised by the Oxford Food Bank.The free event at the Kings Centre in Osney Mead will feature a full three-course lunch from 12.30pm to 4pm on December 25.There will also be music, a visit from Father
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Brize Singers to perform evening of Christmas songs in Witney
THE Brize Singers will perform an evening of Christmas songs and carols in Witney's High Street Methodist Church.The event will be held in the church at 7.30pm on Friday, December 16.Tickets are £6 for adults and £2 for children. The Brize Singers
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Plans for major housing development in Littlemore to go on show
PLANS for a major new housing development in Littlemore are to go on display for the first time.Last year outline planning permission was granted for 270 homes on a site off Armstrong Road.The site was then bought by Catalyst Housing, which has drawn
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Christmas float to raise money for community projects
FATHER Christmas will be out touring the streets of Witney raising funds to support the community. Witney Lions Christmas Float tours the area every December, entertaining families while raising money for the group’s local projects. The float will be
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Trivia quiz night to raise funds for Littlemore Rugby Club
QUIZ boffins will put their knowledge to the test and help raise funds for Littlemore Rugby Club.The club will host a quiz night fundraiser event this Saturday, with funds going towards rugby development.The quiz will start at 7pm at the club's base
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Evening of Christmas carols at St Gregory the Great
CHRISTMAS carols will be performed by pupils at St Gregory the Great secondary school in East Oxford.The school is hosting a concert featuring schools from The Dominic Barberi Multi Academy Company.There will also be scripture readings, poems, prose and
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Council thanks residents and businesses for help collecting fallen leaves
THE district council in West Oxfordshire has thanked residents and businesses for helping them clear fallen leaves from footpaths and streets. The council collects hundreds of tonnes of fallen leaves each autumn helping to prevent flooding during heavy
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Childminder from Didcot given good Ofsted rating
A DIDCOT childminder who has developed 'positive relationships' with children in her care has been rated good by Ofsted.Frances Davis, of Dart Drive, was found to be good in all areas after an inspection last month.She was said to know her children
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Prince Charming was a professional wrestler. Whatever next? Katherine MacAlister delves into the Oxford Playhouse panto
Let’s count the kisses shall we? Twice in every a show, for 71 performances,” Max Olesker says tapping away on his calculator. “Yes that’s 142 snogs by the time the Playhouse panto comes to an end in January,” he surmises, looking extremely pleased with
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Star-studded performance put on at Christ Church
THE soothing sounds of The Parkinsingers rang through Christ Church for the third annual Christmas concert in aid of Parkinsons' Uk.A star-studded programme saw singers from the charity's Oxford branch joined by comedy writer Paul Mayhew-Archer
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Update: Rail passengers hit by major delays today as signalling fault caused significant disruption
RAIL passengers were hit by significant disruption earlier today after a signalling fault caused delays of up to 45 minutes. The fault between Didcot Parkway and Oxford has meant that trains were running at reduced speed with delays of 45 minutes
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Yo! Sushi: a monorail and a futuristic loo
Perhaps we should start with the loo, not that I want to put you off your food, but it deserves a mention, being so state-of-the-art I had terrible trouble getting my children back downstairs to eat their food. Yo! Sushi already boasts a conveyor
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Top marks for Robinson Crusoe in Chipping Norton
Once mince pies start featuring on supermarket shelves and ice on my windscreen, my heart sinks like a turkey’s.However, Chipping Norton’s Robinson Crusoe has revitalised my critic’s jaded soul like a defibrillator, pumping it up with a real sense of
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Martin Clunes is part of Coming of Christmas at Dorchester Abbey on Thursday, December 8. He tells Katherine MacAlister about farming, poetry and his charity work.
Martin Clunes is slightly disgruntled when we speak because he’s meant to be moving his cows into a nearby field on his farm in Dorset and has to talk to me instead. But he soon cheers up, cracking jokes and waxing lyrical about his part in The Coming
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Reader hopes to return the medal of First World War soldier to his relatives
JENNIFER Taylor was mystified when she found a First World War Victory Medal when clearing her parents’ belongings. The medal had been presented to William James Collins, a man with no connection to her family. Now she is on a mission to find
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St Nicolas makes grand entrance at school bearing his name
CHRISTMAS came early at St Nicolas Primary School, Abingdon, and with a continental flavour. St Nicolas is considered by some to be the forerunner of Father Christmas, and Dutch people celebrate his arrival on December 5 by handing out gifts.
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Memory Lane: Going on the run for charity
PUPILS at Cheney School in Headington were no slouches when it came to fundraising. They were prepared to put on their running shoes for good causes, even when it was raining and the course was muddy and uninviting. On some occasions, they
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Money for road repairs is found when needed
SEVERAL weeks ago the county council was able to find funding to resurface the wide pavement and replace much of the kerbstones along the Marston Road for a distance of well over 100 yards, maybe 200, near the new Islamic Centre. As the pavement
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FOOTBALL: Callum White’s fluke goal seals last-gasp win for Banbury United
A FLUKE goal from Callum White deep into injury time gave Banbury United a dramatic 2-1 victory in their Premier Division game at home to Stratford Town.Three minutes into time added on, a deep cross from the right by White sailed over Stratford keeper
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Lighting the highway for safety of road users
MANY motorists may agree with me that it is high time to bring back downlighting at either side of all the pedestrian crossings in Oxfordshire. The only well-lit zebra crossing I have observed was noted outside Bicester Police Station, in Queens
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Tinkering with the NHS only makes it worse
REGARDING the front page story headlined The Secret Supertrust (Oxford Mail, December 1). A bottle of ‘skimmed milk’ contains skimmed milk whatever adjectives are added to the words ‘skimmed milk’ on the label; ie best, good, white, liquid.
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WEEKEND RESULTS December 3-4
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH Oxford City 1, Ebbsfleet Utd 3. EVO-STIK SOUTHERN LEAGUE Premier Div: Banbury Utd 2, Stratford Tn 1. Div 1 South & West: AFC Totton 2, Wantage Tn 2; North Leigh 2, Bideford 1; Yate Tn 3, Didcot
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'Roads don't kill people... drivers do' - Police road safety boss slams driver behaviour on A34
THE police's road safety boss has slammed driver behaviour on the A34 amid a Government-led safety review of the road.Laybys, chevrons and better signage are some of the safety measures being discussed for the road which has seen six fatalities this
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PICTURES: Santas make a dash for it in town's first run
HUNDREDS of Santa look-alikes took on a 3km dash through the middle of Wallingford yesterday in aid of charity. The runners congregated in their red and white outfits at Wallingford School at 10.30am before heading off along the route towards the
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Teenager aims to tackle cold winter nights with homeless donations
MOST teenagers want to spend their birthday partying rather than pounding the streets of Oxford in a hunt for rough sleepers.But Thais De Souza will be doing just that in a bid to ensure homeless people in the city are kept a bit warmer this Christmas.The
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FOOTBALL: Matt Sysum's goal earns victory for North Leigh
NORTH Leigh came from behind to win 2-1 at home to Bideford in a tight Division 1 South & West tie on Saturday. Bideford who were relegated from the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division last season, took the lead after 34 minutes when
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FOOTBALL: Callum White’s fluke goal seals last-gasp win for Banbury United
A FLUKE goal from Callum White deep into injury time gave Banbury United a dramatic 2-1 victory in their Premier Division game at home to Stratford Town.Three minutes into time added on, a deep cross from the right by White sailed over Stratford keeper
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Plans for housing on Cowley's Morris Motors playing fields are again set for refusal
CONTROVERSIAL plans for a housing development on a disused Cowley park, which have already been blocked, are again set for refusal.Oxford City Council officers have urged councillors to reject plans by Cantay Estates for 45 new dwellings in five blocks
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Gift-laden VW Campervans turn up at Oxford Children's Hospital in time for Christmas
A HERD of gift-laden Volkswagen Camper Vans arrived at Oxford Children's Hospital yesterday to surprise some of the county's most poorly children. Nine vehicles filled to the brim with toys, games and other Christmas gifts arrived at the hospital
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Designs for A40-A44 link road to cut traffic jams at North Oxford's could be revealed next spring
DESIGNS for a long-awaited link road to cut traffic jams at north Oxford's busiest junctions could be revealed next spring.Oxfordshire County Council says the road between the A40 and A44 is expected to be built between autumn 2018 and autumn 2019
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Michael Appleton hoping plum draw in FA Cup will give Oxford United added incentive
MICHAEL Appleton is seeking an added incentive for Oxford United to progress in the Emirates FA Cup when the third round draw is made tonight.For the fourth time in five seasons the U’s are in the hat for the last 64, when Premier League and Championship
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FOOTBALL: James Roberts breaks his duck as Oxford City slip to home defeat
JAMES Roberts got off the mark, but could not stop Oxford City losing 3-1 at home to Ebbsfleet United, writes MATTHEW BRUCE.The 20-year-old striker, on loan from Oxford United, finally opened his account for the season to put City in front early on.But
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Student denies raping woman
A STUDENT accused of raping a woman after they met in an Oxford nightclub said he would not have had sex with anyone without their consent. Changqing Shao denies raping the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in student halls after meeting
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FOOTBALL: Supersub Lewis Coyle hits stunning four-timer for Kidlington
A MAGICAL show from substitute Lewis Coyle, who hit all four goals, helped Kidlington twice come from behind and win 4-2 at Northwood.Coyle came on for the injured Jack Dunmall in the 11th minute of the Central Division game. However it was the hosts,
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Volunteers praised as figures reveal they contribute £27m to city every year
THOUSANDS of volunteers help contribute more than £27m to the city every year.More than 55,000 people in Oxford give up their time to help others in the city and today are being celebrated internationally.The dedicated contribution, which amounts to £27.6m
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Scales of Justice: latest results from Oxfordshire magistrates' courts
OXFORD Brian Beck, 63, of Cherwell Avenue, Kidlington, convicted of driving without insurance or a licence in Bicester Road, Kidlington, on March 13. Fined £660 and ordered to pay a £66 victim surcharge and £85 costs. John Bewick, 24, of Richard