Archive
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Two Oxfordshire councils make the top ten in quality of life poll
SOUTH Oxfordshire has slumped from coming first last year to tenth place in an annual survey of rural local authorities with the best quality of life. West Oxfordshire, meanwhile, has been ranked eighth in the Halifax poll for the top 50 rural
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Unexploded WWII bomb found near start line of 163rd Boat Race
ROWERS could be putting down their oars tomorrow as an unexploded WWII bomb is found near the start line of tomorrow's annual Oxford v Cambridge boat races. Police were called out after a member of the public spotted the device near Putney Bridge,
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Missing 10-year-old boy found safe and well
Police have thanked the public after a missing 10-year-old was located following an extensive search earlier on today. The Carterton yongster went missing this morning but was located this evening.
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OXFORD UNITED AT WEMBLEY: Mark Robins determined to give Coventry City fans something to cheer
IT MAY have come too late to save them from relegation, but Mark Robins believes he has seen good signs from Coventry City just in time for Wembley. Even by their standards of a gradual decline since relegation from the Premier League in 2001,
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WEMBLEY COUNTDOWN: Last chance to buy tickets
Oxford United travel to Wembley to take on Coventry in the final of the Checkatrade Trophy today. More than 30,000 U’s fans are expected to make the trip to the capital to cheer on their team to glory. For those who have still not got their
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OXFORD UNITED AT WEMBLEY: John Lundstram desperate to make most of second chance
“RELIEVED is probably a good word to use.” No-one in the Oxford United side will have more motivation to make up for last year’s trip to Wembley than John Lundstram. Nailed-on to start in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final after an excellent
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OXFORD UNITED AT WEMBLEY: Josh Ruffels has feelings for Sky Blues, but focused only on U's victory
JOSH Ruffels has sympathy for the massed ranks of Coventry City supporters heading to Wembley on Sunday, but he is aiming to send them home disappointed. The midfielder came through the youth ranks with the Sky Blues in an 11-year spell which culminated
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Young City Reps will help celebrate Oxford's twinning links
YOUNG people could get a chance to travel overseas by becoming city representatives to strengthen Oxford's links with its twin cities. Oxford City Council has launched the new scheme to encourage young people to get involved in international links
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UK needs to do more to support vulnerable refugees, charity warns
THE UK needs to ‘step up’ its commitment to resettling vulnerable and desperate Syrian refugees, the boss of an Oxford charity has claimed.Mark Goldring, chief executive of Oxfam GB based in Cowley, has urged leaders of ‘rich’ countries to help house
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Rare insect gets heads scratching
WILDLIFE experts who visited a Blackbird Leys primary school have been left scratching their heads after youngsters discovered a rare insect.Tia Mungai, Sharon Igwe and Elaina Koshy, all aged 11, were among Pegasus Primary Schools pupils taking part in
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APRIL FOOLS DAY: What was funny - and what wasn't
YOUR usually ultra reliable news feeds may have been acting a little strange today. Stories about erotica festivals and 200,000 seater mega stadiums may seem a little hard to believe, and that's probably because they aren't true. Yes, it's
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OXFORD UNITED AT WEMBLEY: Divided loyalties for Beavon family
WHEN Stuart Beavon takes to the field on Sunday he will probably try to pick out his family in the crowd, but not all of them will be hoping he finishes on the winning side. It is a dilemma Cyril Beavon has wrestled with since the finalists were
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Rib-tickling stand-up to bring laughs to city
RIB-tickling comedians will steal the spotlight during a comedy gala next month.Group Jericho Comedy will host the celebration, inviting back comedians who have erupted from the city’s universities.Former students boasting comical talent will return to
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Seven men charged with child rape offences after county-wide operation
SEVEN men have been charged for rape offences as part of a child sexual exploitation [CSE] police operation across the county and remanded in custody. The arrests on Thursday were carried out as part of Operation Nautical, an investigation by Thames
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Increase in trains leads to fear of economic woes over level crossing
BUSINESS-leaders fear their town will suffer economically, with congestion and pollution, as more trains use a level crossing.The Bicester Chamber of Commerce has said an alternative is needed to the London Road crossing, to avoid having to stop traffic
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Big Lunchtime Sing is a cheery alternative to a hurried sandwich
A DOZEN singers opted to exercise their vocal chords as some light relief to their work day.The group staged the Big Lunchtime Sing at Oxford Town Hall on Tuesday, to give people an alternative to the normal work break of a quick sandwich and drink before
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Housing developers stumble on Roman villa
DEVELOPERS looking to build new homes in South Oxfordshire have stumbled across a very old one.Archaeologists working on a site for properties near Wallingford have uncovered a Roman villa.Curators at Wallingford Museum are now liaising with the team
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Fresh hopes post office will be reopened
THE future of Donnington Post Office has been given a boost after ‘positive’ discussions between local councillors and Post Office officials.The Iffley Road branch, used by thousands of residents in Iffley Fields, Iffley Road and also residents in Boundary
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PICTURES: Rare inside glimpse of the new Westgate shopping centre
THE £440m Westgate shopping centre development will be ‘a great asset’ to the city, councillors have said after being given a first glimpse inside the major development. On Wednesday, ten city councillors were invited to take a tour of the new
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Wild mammal surveyors wanted in Oxon
WILDLIFE lovers in Oxfordshire have been called on to count mammals.Wildlife charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) has appealed for Oxfordshire volunteers to take part in its annual Living with Mammals survey which starts on Monday.The
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Reggae legend David Rodigan reveals his early life growing up in Oxford
REGGAE DJ David Rodgian MBE has revealed how his dad helped him set up his first record stall at Blackbird Leys Sunday market. Speaking to Radio 4's Saturday Live show this morning, Mr Rodigan recalled his early life growing up in his parents'
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Schoolboy organist hits high note by being youngest to ever play for an Oxford college
A 12-YEAR-OLD schoolboy has become the youngest person to play the organ for an Oxford University college.Louis Moss, of Chipping Norton, began playing the piano when he was six and tried the organ for the first time just over a year ago – bucking a national
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OXFORD UNITED AT WEMBLEY: Darryl Eales urges supporters to savour return
IF DARRYL Eales has his way for Oxford United, the prospect of trips to Wembley Stadium on a semi-regular basis will become a thing of the past. That is not a doom-laden prophecy – far from it. “We should savour these moments, because the long-term
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'Call me a company man – I don't care!' Farewell to the paint shop as Tom quits Cowley plant after 38 years
WALKING into the Cowley Mini plant paint shop for the first time, Tom Bennett could never have predicted the changes he has witnessed over the next four decades.But after painting, by hand at first, and then operating and managing the robots that now
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Bake for Heroes: Oxford Mail calls on you to help raise cash for soldiers and veterans charity
THE Oxford Mail today calls on readers to bake in aid of Help for Heroes as the charity marks its 10th birthday.Oxfordshire has been chosen as one of the key regions for the Bake for Heroes campaign to raise cash to support wounded, injured and sick veterans
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Grieving Norse Viking to follow tradition and shave beard in honour of best friend
A GRIEVING Viking will follow tradition and shave his beard for charity after his best friend died at the age of 50 following a battle with cancer. Littlemore man Bob Johnson, who subscribes to the pagan religion, said his charity shave will serve
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Ice hockey scores goal against council against 'obscene charges' parking row
AN ice hockey club has declared victory after facing off with the city council in a long-running parking row which saw fans facing ‘obscene’ charges.Oxford City Council initially refused to budge on calls to reduce car parking fees at Oxpens car park
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Dancers step up to the mark for Strictly Oxford
FINAL preparations are taking place and nerves are kicking in for up to 24 amateur dancers who are looking to waltz their way to glory in Strictly Oxford 2017.The contestants will be putting their best Strictly step forward for the first time on Sunday
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TABLE TENNIS: Darren Jones leads British Rail to first Oxford League title
DARREN Jones was the star as British Rail beat closest rivals Forum A 6-4 to become Oxford & District League Division 1 champions for the first time Jones won all three matches to confirm his status as top player this year. Neil Cartwright
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Back in black: rare chance to see dark masterpiece
FAMOUS Dutch artist Oscar van Dab will be exhibiting his latest masterpiece – an entirely black painting – at an Oxford gallery today.The Dutchman’s work has been praised by art experts across the globe with many lauding his ‘mastery of light and shade
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OXFORD UNITED AT WEMBLEY: Rob Hall eyes trophy glory a year on from injury hell
PLAYING at Wembley will be a dream come true for Rob Hall tomorrow, a year on from the winger questioning whether he would ever play again. A train-load of family and friends will make the short journey from Aylesbury to join about 30,000 Oxford
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MOTORSPORT: Renault's Jolyon Palmer is happy to ‘start from scratch’ in China
WHILE heavy rain washed out virtually all yesterday’s practice sessions for tomorrow’s Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix, Jolyon Palmer was a relieved man.Palmer insists the slate has been wiped clean after his Enstone-based Renault team diagnosed the car
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MOTOR RACING: Oxford teenager Matt Chapman delighted to be called up for British GT Championship
OXFORD racing driver Matt Chapman says he is ‘absolutely thrilled’ to be making the step-up into the prestigious British GT Championship for this season. The 17-year-old completed a late deal this week to join reigning GT4 category team champions Autoaid
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ANGLING: Ian Higgins wins in North Oxford opener
IAN Higgins saw off 13 rivals to win the first North Oxford AS Canal Summer Series match held on Oxford Canal at Aristotle Lane. Higgins triumphed with 6lb 14oz 0drms of mainly perch on chopped worm. Jamie Barrett, pegged alongside the winner
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BILLIARDS & SNOOKER: Bowls Club nick cup final win
OXFORD Bowls Club B secured a thrilling 4-3 victory over Fieldside in the Gentworks Oxford & District Billiards League’s Atox Cup final at Littlemore RBL.The Bowls Club trio of Simon Painter, Terry Gripe and Terry Cook won by just nine points on aggregate
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BOXING: Rising star Jordan Flynn ready to make national impression
JORDAN Flynn believes he is in the best form of his life as he prepares for a shot at national glory.The 20-year-old, from Cowley, is through to the finals weekend of the Elite Championships at York Hall, Bethnal Green, on April 21-23.Lightweight Flynn
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Cattle breeder Les celebrates 60 happy years with Sylvia
WHEN Les Preston went on his first date with Sylvia Hayes the young couple watched a horror movie called The Clutching Hand.But the spooky scenes they witnessed didn't put them off and on Thursday they celebrated 60 happy years of married life together.Mr
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Spring-toll booth set for Botley Road to cut congestion
A RESTAURANT in Oxford is being asked to take part in a turnpike trial as council bosses consider bringing back tolls to crack down on traffic. The number of shoppers at the Westgate Centre is expected to increase from five million to 16 million when
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OXFORD UNITED AT WEMBLEY: Michael Appleton expects Chris Maguire to be fit for trophy final
MICHAEL Appleton expects Chris Maguire to shake off a hip problem and be available for Oxford United tomorrow. The striker has missed the last two games and is the U’s only injury worry ahead of the Checkatrade Trophy final against Coventry City
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Market town braced for spanking new festival of erotica
FETISH fans from all over Europe will descend on a West Oxfordshire market town next year for a brand spanking new Festival of Erotica.The saucy event is the latest addition to Chipping Norton’s festival calendar, and the town’s business owners are already
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Wembley countdown: Applause for 12th man Steve Dyer will be ‘emotional moment’
THE family of Oxford United’s 12th man Steve Dyer said a minute’s applause in his memory would be an ‘emotional moment’. U’s fans have organised the gesture to celebrate the life of the 60-year-old, who died last month after a long battle with cancer
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Former footballer jailed for cannabis-fuelled police chase
A FORMER footballer who zoomed along the county’s streets in a high-speed police chase has been jailed. Leon Caton, who had a provisional licence at the time, smashed into a tree after racing at speeds reaching 120mph in the cannabis-fuelled pursuit
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Valentine's Day blast drives couple from home – complaining of 'nightmare' ordeal
A MAN has been driven out of his home after enduring weeks of hell at the hands of a housing association. Following the Valentine’s Day blast in Gibbs Crescent Ian Francis and his partner Sammy Clark are now at their ‘wits end’ as they still do
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WEMBLEY COUNTDOWN: Oxford United fans to 'out-sing' Coventry despite fewer Yellows
OXFORD United fans will ‘definitely out-sing’ Coventry supporters tomorrow, despite taking around 10,000 fewer fans. Official merchandise seller Sue Trafford, backed the Yellow Army to outdo their Sky Blue counterparts in the volume stakes at the
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This is a delivery you really don’t want to screw up
DRINKERS at the village pub probably thought they’d had one too many.Villagers in Sandford on Thames watched in awe as three enormous metal screws, each weighing more than three African elephants, were this week lowered onto the village green.The solid
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Ice hockey stadium for 200,000 fans granted permission at University Parks
OXFORD’S coolest sports team have finally come up with a solution to the problem of trying to cram hundreds of thousands of fans into the stands at Oxford Ice Rink.Oxford City Stars ice hockey squad have been granted planning permission for a 200,000-
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MICHAEL APPLETON COLUMN: We mean business at Wembley
AS a kid growing up in Salford I was always either outside kicking a ball around or sitting in front of the TV watching football. I became obsessed with the game at a very young age and used to love watching the big cup finals at Wembley Stadium
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BMW PENSIONS ROW: Mini Plant workers vote overwhelmingly to go on strike
WORKERS at Cowley's Mini Plant could be on strike 'in weeks' after voting overwhelmingly for industrial action in a row over pensions. A ballot calling for strike action closed today and the countries' biggest union Unite declared this afternoon