Archive

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History gets off the shelf

School pupils are taking part in virtual tutorials with Oxford University dons as part of an outreach project by the university's history faculty. History off the Shelf aims to enable history A-Level students from different schools to participate in a

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How bus crash killed pupil

A schoolboy died when a metal arm protruding from a 23-tonne tractor punctured his school bus window, a court heard yesterday (Wed). Tomas Ryan-Vig, 12, from Barry Avenue, Bicester, was killed in the collision on the B4100 near Souldern, between Bicester

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Don't switch off over planning

People have been urged not to switch off when it comes to planning issues. Residents in the Vale of White Horse district have until January 6 to comment on how the district should develop over the next 10 years. People are being asked for their views

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Car dealers to shut site

Jobs will be lost when Abingdon's oldest motor business, the Cross Roads garage closes at the end of the month after 25 years in the town. It is thought the Drayton Road site could be sold to a housing developer. But the company says it is not abandoning

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Ice Hockey: Stars left marooned by Islanders

OXFORD City Stars produced arguably their worst English National League performance of the year as they crashed to a 9-4 defeat against Peterborough Islanders at Oxford Ice Rink. Stars started well with Darren Elliott opening the scoring in the second

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Football: Bayliss brace lifts Northway

NICK Bayliss struck twice as Northway overcame visitors Cowley OMH 4-1 in Division 1of the Morrells of Oxford Sunday League, writes GEOFF BOWER. In one of only three games to beat the freezing weather, Cowley went ahead midway through the first half when

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Arsonists blamed for huge hay blaze

Arsonists torched 500 tonnes of hay in a field in Bicester, closing a main road for more than 12 hours. Fire crews were called to the field off Howes Lane shortly before 8pm to try to save the stack of 500 one-tonne bales. Flames could be seen shooting

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When cuts aren't cuts

County council leader Keith Mitchell says he is looking forward to the day in April when we at the Oxford Mail are forced to eat humble pie. For his information, we don't like humble pie, and we have no intention of eating it either. We will be as delighted

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Homes campaign 'lost'

New plans have been tabled for the 3,200 home Great Western Park development set to transform the face of Didcot. The proposed estate, that has prompted fierce opposition since it was originally proposed in the late 1990s, would stretch from the A4130

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Drive-by catapult attacks on cars

Yobs armed with catapults have been smashing car windows across south Oxfordshire in a spate of drive-by attacks. Police have appealed for information after more than 20 cars in villages across the area were damaged over the past eight weeks. On December

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Gay? We're overjoyed!

Beaming with joy, Brenda Chandler and Lynn Moody became one of Oxfordshire's first gay couples to legally tie the knot yesterday (Wed) in what they called a joyous and momentous occasion. There wasn't a dry eye in the house as the couple from Bicester

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Good, but you can do better

Education leadership in Oxfordshire is "strong and visionary" but some services for children need some crucial improvements, says education watchdog Ofsted. Education and children's social care services at Oxfordshire County Council were jointly reviewed

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Fishy goings-on

An impromptu fish market has proved such a massive hit with customers that the organisers want to do it again. Staff at the Loch Fyne restaurant in Jericho, Oxford, will be moving their fish counter on to the street again over the next few days after

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Lottery payout helps refugees

Oxford-based charity Refugee Resource has won a £300,000 Lottery grant to extend its work over the next three years. The Big Lottery Fund grant will enable the charity to continue its employment advice and counselling services and to set up a mentoring

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Speedway: Cheetahs boss celebrates biggest signing

OXFORD Cheetahs boss Aaron Lanney said he was so proud to have given speedway fans the best Christmas present ever with the signing of six-times world champion Tony Rickardsson, writes JOHN GAISFORD. "It's about time we had some good news around Oxford

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Singing in the frost

I thought you would like to share this adventure of an old retired lady. Having attended my first committee meeting at Wolvercote Royal British Legion in Oxford, I arrived at the Banbury Road corner of Five Mile Drive at 9.40pm to catch the bus home to

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Unwins owners decide to sue

THE former directors, shareholders and auditors of collapsed off-licence chain Unwins are to be sued by its owners. As reported in the final edition of December 21's Oxford Mail, DM Private Equity, which bought the chain in March for £32m, claims the

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Needy cats

The west Oxfordshire branch of Cats Protection has a number of cats and kittens which will need homes in the new year. The charity does not rehome animals before Christmas or until after the New Year holiday, but anyone who could take care of a cat should

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Descendant to read Dickens

Dickens fans need not despair after the final instalment of the BBC's Bleak House was aired last week because an Oxford radio station has plans to air A Christmas Carol over the festive season. Gerald Dickens, the great-great-grandson of the Victorian

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Tiny but deadly

Oxfordshire's major hospitals had more than one case a day of deadly Clostridium difficile, but health bosses say they follow guidelines to combat its spread. The Healthcare Commission and Health Protection Agency were yesterday urging the health service

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She deserves to stay here

After reading Saturday's edition, I just had to write and say how sorry I feel for Eleonora Suhoviy, the Oxford University graduate, who has had her application to stay in the UK turned down by the Home Office and the High Court. In the same paper, I

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Seats to stop illegal parking

A plan to reclaim Market Place in Wallingford for the people rather than illegally parked cars has been devised and backed by the town council. Council member Betty Atkins said: "We must get this done straight away. We have shilly-shallied long enough

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Toy shops bid by fundraiser

Charity champion June Keep expects to reach a new target this year in her quest to raise cash for kidney patients. June Keep Mrs Keep, 72, a well-known figure in Wantage, who has run charity shops in aid of the Oxford kidney unit, at the Churchill Hospital

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Good, but you can do better

Education leadership in Oxfordshire is "strong and visionary" but some services for children need some crucial improvements, says education watchdog Ofsted. Education and children's social care services at Oxfordshire County Council were jointly reviewed

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Table tennis: Rutherford hit back

RUTHERFORD clung on to third place in Division 1 of the Oxford & District League after bouncing back to beat Bicester A 8-2. George Pullin and Glen Freeman both beat Tony Gorman to claim maximums, while Alf Davies bagged a brace of wins. Forum B added

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Boxing: Cuddy captures national crown

ABINGDON Town ABC's teenage prospect, Darren Cuddy, ended the year on a high note by claiming a national title with a brilliant first-round stoppage. The 15-year-old Littlemore boxer saw off northern opponent Nathan Bopp with a polished and determined

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Golf: Jamie's eyeing up change of sport

FORMER Oxford United footballer Jamie Cook has set his sights on earning his living in another sport. "I'm seriously considering trying to become a professional golfer next year," said the 26-year-old, who was a tricky winger for the U's between 1997-

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Football: Wittenham march on

LONG Wittenham thrashed Rutherford Lab 5-1 in the third round of the UTV League's Devenney Cup third round, writes TIM SIRET. Dave Jones's double and a goal for Ollie Saunders put Wittenham in charge, before Devan Bryan pulled a goal back. Andy Snell

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District beats recycling target

Recycling in north Oxfordshire is running at almost twice the national average, the latest figures show. Kieron Mallon, Cherwell District Council's executive member for the environment, said: "While this is the season of joy and celebration, it's also

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Illegal immigrant has jail term reduced

An illegal immigrant expelled from the UK for plotting break-ins only to return and handle stolen goods has had his sentence cut. Kosovan Gers Lico, 20, was thrown out of the country in March 2004 after he was released from a jail term imposed for conspiracy

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Unwins owners decide to sue

The former directors, shareholders and auditors of collapsed off-licence chain Unwins are to be sued by its owners, it was revealed yesterday. As reported in the final edition of yesterday's Oxford Mail, DM Private Equity, which bought the chain in March

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Listeners needed

The Samaritans in Oxford have launched a recruitment drive to help cope with an increase in calls for help over Christmas and the New Year. The city branch, based in Magdalen Road, receives about 36,500 phone calls and thousands of emails a year. Susan

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Boat accident victim mourned

The family of a man who died at the weekend while on a boat trip on the Oxford Canal have paid tribute to a husband and father who will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Mr Chater Jordan Paul Chater Jordan, aged 61, of Maple Road, Kidlington

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Football: United go for Yeo

OXFORD United could bring some much-needed Christmas cheer to their fans by signing hotshot Simon Yeo. U's boss, Brian Talbot is reportedly keen on bringing in the Manchester-born striker, who left Lincoln at the end of last season for a short spell at

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Please help cats

Can I again appeal to your readers to help provide a little extra for our elderly cats at Christmas? They cannot ask for themselves, so they depend on me to plead for them. REGINA GRAY Buckland Cat Sanctuary, Buckland