Oxford and Oxfordshire news, sport and information updated throughout the day

Stories for 10 December 2001

Abingdon News

Pupils face too many exams, says head

The retiring headteacher of a leading independent school has criticised the number of exams schoolchildren are being forced to take.   more...

First-aiders appeal for cash to build new HQ

The St John Ambulance Brigade in Abingdon has launched a half-a-million-pound appeal to build new headquarters after arsonists badly damaged their building.   more...

Talks over Old Gaol plans

A five-week consultation period about the future use of Abingdon's Old Gaol leisure centre, the former police station and adjacent buildings is underway.   more...

New site for Foyer

Opponents of Abingdon's Foyer project have scored another victory.   more...

Concert raises funds for church

The choir of Magdalen College, Oxford, will help launch a £2m church fundraising campaign on Friday.   more...

School cuts its own album

While pupils across the county hold carol services and nativity plays, one school has released its own Christmas CD.   more...

Football: Wallingford hit by Town

AFC Wallingford 0, Abingdon Tn 1   more...

Banbury News

Ragtime show

Young members of Bloxham Amateur Theatrical Society will be going back to New York in the 1920s -- the era of gangsters, speak-easys, and jazz -- for a production of Ragtime and Riches. The show is a new play full of intrigue, humour, romance, double-crosses, and live music. It will be performed at Barford Village Hall on Friday and Saturday December 14-15 at 8pm each night. Tickets are available from Barford Post Office or from any cast member, priced £5.   more...

Musical meeting

Banbury's branch of the Association of the Retired and Persons Over 50 will meet at Marlborough Road Methodist Hall on Tuesday, December 18, at 11am to hear a talk by Tim Porter called Music in the Landscapes.   more...

Football: Redknap grabs double

Fisher Ath 2, Banbury Utd 2   more...

Bicester News

Fire station could get full-time crew

Bicester fire station could get a full-time crew in future to cope with the rise in call-outs in the fast-growing town.   more...

Choose courses

Bicester Community Education Centre's January programme is now out. New courses include golf, computing, tennis, childcare, wine appreciation, aromatherapy and crystals. For more information, call 01869 241532 or visit the office at Bicester Community College, in Queens Avenue.   more...

Didcot News

Plan approved

Plans for covered trolley bays at Tesco supermarket, off Wallingford Road, Didcot, were approved by South Oxfordshire District Council.   more...

Ryan's happy nature wins cash results

Ryan Smith was so brave while battling eye cancer that Oxford Freemasons have donated £1,000 to the hospital children's ward where he received treatment.   more...

Security cameras plan wins support

Plans to put up CCTV security cameras in South Oxfordshire's four main towns have taken a step forward, but funding remains a thorny issue.   more...

Council wants support marked

Groups receiving cash support from a district council will not have to acknowledge it by putting up a plaque.   more...

Santa aids charity appeal

Father Christmas will tour Didcot on his sleigh during the evenings for the next fortnight as Rotary Club members carry out their charity collection.   more...

First Aid at hand

A Harwell-based company, Ebis Iotron, has joined forces with Oxfordshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust to supply 125 First Aid handbooks to pupils at Chilton Primary School, near Didcot. Headteacher Christine Dunsdon said the handbook was colourful and well-presented, with plenty of drawings and basic information.   more...

Stage star

Natasha Sheridan, who left Didcot Girls' School last year to study musical theatre, is performing in the National Youth Music Theatre's production of The Dreaming, based on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, at the Linbury Studio, in Covent Garden, London, from December 18 to 22 and 27 to 29.   more...

Christmas disco

The Thames Valley branch of the General, Municipal and Boilermakers' Union, is holding a Christmas disco at the Marlborough Club, Didcot, on Saturday, December 15, at 7.30pm. Tickets £4 at the door or call 01235 810076. Children free.   more...

Change agreed

Plans by Timothy Tudor Clayton Jones for the change of use of allotment land to residential at the back of Faraday House, Queens Way, in North Moreton, near Didcot, were approved by South Oxfordshire District Council.   more...

Festive event

A Christmas workshop for children will be held in St Andrew's Church parish room, East Hagbourne, on Friday, December 21, at 10am, with music, crafts and a quiz.   more...

Give blood

The National Blood service is holding a donor session at The Conservative Club, in Foxhall Road, Didcot, next Monday, between 2pm and 3.55pm, and 5pm and 6.45pm.   more...

Oxford News

Cut club hours say neighbours

Revellers leaving an Oxford city centre nightclub are keeping residents awake, they say, by shouting and swearing, revving up cars and using the street as a toilet.   more...

Ryan's happy nature wins cash results

Ryan Smith was so brave while battling eye cancer that Oxford Freemasons have donated £1,000 to the hospital children's ward where he received treatment.   more...

Boost for breast cancer service

A £14,000 machine has been donated to cancer specialists in Oxfordshire to screen women for breast cancer.   more...

A model way to improve estate

A model of Oxford's Rose Hill made by children is being used to help people in the area show how they want it improved.   more...

School block on schedule

Staff and students were keen to see the start of construction on a new £2m teaching block for their school in Oxford.   more...

Vows renewed after 50 years

A couple who met on holiday renewed their wedding vows in the church where they were wed 50 years ago.   more...

English studies marked

More than 100 English language student, many of them refugees, celebrated their achievements at an awards ceremony.   more...

Power cuts

Residents of north Oxford suffered power cuts on Friday night because of a fault in a cable at Yarnton. A Southern Electric spokesman said 1,000 were without electricity for a few minutes and 500 were reconnected in half-an-hour.   more...

Tree sale

Oxford Sea Cadets are holding a fundraising Christmas tree sale at their unit base in Donnington Bridge Road. Trees are now on sale every day, from 8am to 8pm, until Christmas Eve. For more details, call Sub Lt Tony Ingham on 01295 730746.   more...

Garden appeal

The Women's Farm and Garden Association, Oxford, which runs a scheme for training professional gardeners, is looking for good-sized gardens in the area in which trainees could work. Call 01285 658339.   more...

Cash collected

A recent doorstep collection in Cumnor village raised £454 for the National Children's Home charity.   more...

Rugby: Dark Blues poised for hat-trick

The year 1971 was a significant one in rugby union. It was the year that saw the introduction of the four-point try - and it was the last time that Oxford completed a hat-trick of University Match victories.   more...

Greyhounds: Tomorrow's Oxford Card, weekend results

7.35 450m A9   more...

Football: Andy to come in as skipper

Ian Atkins's first signing at Oxford United could come straight into the team as captain.   more...

Football: Happy City call the shots

Oxford C 2, Windsor & Eton 0   more...

Speedway: Cheetahs to reveal signing

Oxford Cheetahs' co-promoter Vanessa Purchase has promised the fans a few Christmas presents with the names of the first speedway signings for next year.   more...

Oxford,Abingdon,Banbury,Bicester,Didcot,Thame,Wantage,Wallingford,Witney News

Christmas cheer for festive crowds

Santa's grotto proved a huge success at the Christmas Fair at St Michael's First School, Marston Road, Oxford.   more...

Busy time for 999 crews

Emergency services were called to an accident involving three cars outside Tudor Hall School, Bloxham, near Banbury, on Saturday. Passengers had been released before firefighters arrived and no one was seriously hurt.   more...

Soldiers saluted

Two soldiers from Oxfordshire's Territorial Army company who ran the London Marathon in combat kit have been honoured.   more...

Start posting

Postal workers are urging customers to post Christmas mail early to make sure gifts and cards arrive in time for the big day.   more...

Missing teenager sought

Teenager Tabetha Herrington has been missing for more than two weeks.   more...

Grant for bus

The Ridgeway Explorer bus is being backed with a £250 grant from South Oxfordshire District Council to help keep it running.   more...

Football: Weekend Results

FA CARLSBERG VASE   more...

Chess: Kimber holds nerve

There was an exciting finish to Oxon's Chiltern Cup game against Bucks at Long Hanborough.   more...

Football: Ace Hendra wins for North, plus other results

Cherry Red Records Hellenic League   more...

Oxfordshire Business

Law warning

Employment law specialist Marty Burn, of law firm Barlow Lyde and Gilbert, has reminded employers that new legislation means they could face tribunal claims if they fail to give serious business reasons for rejecting requests for flexible working hours from parents of children under six or disabled children up to 18.   more...

Firm to move in

Surveyors King Sturge, acting on behalf of Philips Electronics, have let the 1,050 sq m two storey Unit 6 Talisman Business Centre, Bicester, at £136,600 a year until 2014. The new tenant is Secure Electrans, which has developed a system to assist secure transactions on the Internet.   more...

Garden appeal

The Women's Farm and Garden Association, Oxford, which runs a scheme for training professional gardeners, is looking for good-sized gardens in the area in which trainees could work. Call 01285 658339.   more...

Exporters set sights on Ireland

Businesses in Oxfordshire aiming to find their first export market are being urged to look at Ireland.   more...

Doing it themselves

Two super-efficient mothers have launched a business to save the world from the hassles of tiresome tasks.   more...

New role

Alexandra Sinclair has joined the residential lettings department of Marriotts chartered surveyors, Faringdon. She will initially cover Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. She has 20 years' experience in the property business, covering residential sales, new developments and house refurbishment as well as lettings.   more...

Oxfordshire Education

School block on schedule

Staff and students were keen to see the start of construction on a new £2m teaching block for their school in Oxford.   more...

School cuts its own album

While pupils across the county hold carol services and nativity plays, one school has released its own Christmas CD.   more...

Miscellany of talents

Students at Burford School have been rehearsing for their annual "Miscellany," a Christmas celebration in words and music.   more...

Library voices

Teachers and pupils are joining voices to raise money for their African link school in Uganda. A team of sixth formers and staff at Burford School, Cheltenham Road, Burford, will sing carols outside Sainsbury's and Waitrose supermarkets in the town on Monday and Friday afternoons. Money collected will go towards furnishing a library at Bishop Dunstan School, in Kalangala, Uganda.   more...

Infants online

Infant schoolchildren are gearing up for the world of information technology. A new ICT suite, with a bank of eight computers, will be opened at St Mary's Infant School, Witney, for four to seven-year-olds on Tuesday, December 18. The project, involving a new extension to the school buildings at Church Green, has received Government grants towards the £62,000 cost.   more...

First Aid at hand

A Harwell-based company, Ebis Iotron, has joined forces with Oxfordshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust to supply 125 First Aid handbooks to pupils at Chilton Primary School, near Didcot. Headteacher Christine Dunsdon said the handbook was colourful and well-presented, with plenty of drawings and basic information.   more...

Stage star

Natasha Sheridan, who left Didcot Girls' School last year to study musical theatre, is performing in the National Youth Music Theatre's production of The Dreaming, based on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, at the Linbury Studio, in Covent Garden, London, from December 18 to 22 and 27 to 29.   more...

Oxfordshire Internet

Infants online

Infant schoolchildren are gearing up for the world of information technology. A new ICT suite, with a bank of eight computers, will be opened at St Mary's Infant School, Witney, for four to seven-year-olds on Tuesday, December 18. The project, involving a new extension to the school buildings at Church Green, has received Government grants towards the £62,000 cost.   more...

Oxfordshire Leisure

You should all take a gander at this Goose

Mother Goose   more...

Santa aids charity appeal

Father Christmas will tour Didcot on his sleigh during the evenings for the next fortnight as Rotary Club members carry out their charity collection.   more...

Concert raises funds for church

The choir of Magdalen College, Oxford, will help launch a £2m church fundraising campaign on Friday.   more...

Name game hots up

Children are being asked to name a dragon that has arrived in Wallingford.   more...

School cuts its own album

While pupils across the county hold carol services and nativity plays, one school has released its own Christmas CD.   more...

Ragtime show

Young members of Bloxham Amateur Theatrical Society will be going back to New York in the 1920s -- the era of gangsters, speak-easys, and jazz -- for a production of Ragtime and Riches. The show is a new play full of intrigue, humour, romance, double-crosses, and live music. It will be performed at Barford Village Hall on Friday and Saturday December 14-15 at 8pm each night. Tickets are available from Barford Post Office or from any cast member, priced £5.   more...

Library voices

Teachers and pupils are joining voices to raise money for their African link school in Uganda. A team of sixth formers and staff at Burford School, Cheltenham Road, Burford, will sing carols outside Sainsbury's and Waitrose supermarkets in the town on Monday and Friday afternoons. Money collected will go towards furnishing a library at Bishop Dunstan School, in Kalangala, Uganda.   more...

Autumn concert

Wantage Orchestra's autumn concert takes place at the parish church of St Peter and St Paul on Saturday December 15.   more...

Choose courses

Bicester Community Education Centre's January programme is now out. New courses include golf, computing, tennis, childcare, wine appreciation, aromatherapy and crystals. For more information, call 01869 241532 or visit the office at Bicester Community College, in Queens Avenue.   more...

Forest talk

Karl Henson, director of the Rainforest Trust, will give a talk to members of the Cumnor Horticultural Society next month about the conservation of exotic plants. The meeting is in the village hall on Friday, January 25, starting at 7.30pm.   more...

Christmas disco

The Thames Valley branch of the General, Municipal and Boilermakers' Union, is holding a Christmas disco at the Marlborough Club, Didcot, on Saturday, December 15, at 7.30pm. Tickets £4 at the door or call 01235 810076. Children free.   more...

Tree sale

Oxford Sea Cadets are holding a fundraising Christmas tree sale at their unit base in Donnington Bridge Road. Trees are now on sale every day, from 8am to 8pm, until Christmas Eve. For more details, call Sub Lt Tony Ingham on 01295 730746.   more...

Musical meeting

Banbury's branch of the Association of the Retired and Persons Over 50 will meet at Marlborough Road Methodist Hall on Tuesday, December 18, at 11am to hear a talk by Tim Porter called Music in the Landscapes.   more...

Garden appeal

The Women's Farm and Garden Association, Oxford, which runs a scheme for training professional gardeners, is looking for good-sized gardens in the area in which trainees could work. Call 01285 658339.   more...

Church singing

Members of churches in Witney will be singing songs and carols and offering free coffee and mince pies outside the Post Office on Saturday December 15, from 11am to 12.30pm.   more...

Festive event

A Christmas workshop for children will be held in St Andrew's Church parish room, East Hagbourne, on Friday, December 21, at 10am, with music, crafts and a quiz.   more...

Craft show

Witney's Methodist Hall in High Street is hosting a Christmas present craft fair on Friday and Saturday December 14 and 15, between 10am and 5pm.   more...

Church aid

A Christmas bazaar will be held in Leafield village hall on Saturday December 15, starting at 2pm, to raise money for the church.   more...

Scout appeal

The 4th Oxford Scout Group, Cumnor, is looking for a volunteer to be its new treasurer. For details, call Mary Smith on 01865 862250.   more...

Bingo night

Christmas bingo will be held at Charlbury Bowls Club on Monday, December 17, starting at 7.15 pm for eyes down at 8pm.   more...

Opera event

A concert by Bampton Classical Opera will be held in St Mary's Church on Friday, December 21, at 7.30pm.   more...

Oxfordshire News

Bus crews hit out at pay variations

Bus drivers in Witney have criticised Stagecoach for giving west Oxfordshire staff a lower pay rise than their Oxford-based colleagues.   more...

Talks over Old Gaol plans

A five-week consultation period about the future use of Abingdon's Old Gaol leisure centre, the former police station and adjacent buildings is underway.   more...

First-aiders appeal for cash to build new HQ

The St John Ambulance Brigade in Abingdon has launched a half-a-million-pound appeal to build new headquarters after arsonists badly damaged their building.   more...

County experts help find planets

Oxfordshire scientists are part of an international team which has discovered eight new planets circling nearby stars.   more...

Boost for breast cancer service

A £14,000 machine has been donated to cancer specialists in Oxfordshire to screen women for breast cancer.   more...

Tribute to firefighters

An engraved plaque with a tribute from the people of Thame to the New York firefighters has been presented to officers at Ground Zero.   more...

Start posting

Postal workers are urging customers to post Christmas mail early to make sure gifts and cards arrive in time for the big day.   more...

Missing teenager sought

Teenager Tabetha Herrington has been missing for more than two weeks.   more...

Cut club hours say neighbours

Revellers leaving an Oxford city centre nightclub are keeping residents awake, they say, by shouting and swearing, revving up cars and using the street as a toilet.   more...

Oxfordshire Sport

Football: Andy to come in as skipper

Ian Atkins's first signing at Oxford United could come straight into the team as captain.   more...

Rugby: Dark Blues poised for hat-trick

The year 1971 was a significant one in rugby union. It was the year that saw the introduction of the four-point try - and it was the last time that Oxford completed a hat-trick of University Match victories.   more...

Football: Weekend Results

FA CARLSBERG VASE   more...

Greyhounds: Tomorrow's Oxford Card, weekend results

7.35 450m A9   more...

Football: Nomads out of luck, plus other results

Cherry Red Records Hellenic League   more...

Football: Ace Hendra wins for North, plus other results

Cherry Red Records Hellenic League   more...

Football: Happy City call the shots

Oxford C 2, Windsor & Eton 0   more...

Football: Redknap grabs double

Fisher Ath 2, Banbury Utd 2   more...

Rugby: Weekend Results

English National League   more...

Rugby: Chinnor given reprieve

Chinnor are back on the Twickenham trail after being reinstated in this season's RFU Intermediate Cup.   more...

Thame News

Football: Thame regret missed chances

Thame Utd 0, Staines Tn 1   more...

Rugby: Chinnor given reprieve

Chinnor are back on the Twickenham trail after being reinstated in this season's RFU Intermediate Cup.   more...

Families fear rise in road accidents

Families say council officers are insisting on creating an accident blackspot in their street with a plan meant to improve safety.   more...

Security cameras plan wins support

Plans to put up CCTV security cameras in South Oxfordshire's four main towns have taken a step forward, but funding remains a thorny issue.   more...

Council wants support marked

Groups receiving cash support from a district council will not have to acknowledge it by putting up a plaque.   more...

Tribute to firefighters

An engraved plaque with a tribute from the people of Thame to the New York firefighters has been presented to officers at Ground Zero.   more...

Planning inquiry

A planning inquiry will be held on February 5 next year in the village hall into an application for an extension and alterations to Shotover Cleeve Holding, at The Ridings, Forest Hill which was rejected by South Oxfordshire District Council.   more...

Signs scheme

Planning permission is being sought from South Oxfordshire District Council for new signs at the Bridge pub in London Road, Wheatley.   more...

Wallingford News

Football: Wallingford hit by Town

AFC Wallingford 0, Abingdon Tn 1   more...

Confusion on crossing site

A scheme to improve road safety in Wallingford may be sited in the wrong place.   more...

Security cameras plan wins support

Plans to put up CCTV security cameras in South Oxfordshire's four main towns have taken a step forward, but funding remains a thorny issue.   more...

Boost for Thames bridge bid

Plans to build a new footbridge across the Thames at Shillingford, near Wallingford, have taken a step forward.   more...

Council wants support marked

Groups receiving cash support from a district council will not have to acknowledge it by putting up a plaque.   more...

£1,000 fine for landowner

A landowner has been fined £1,000 for failing to comply with a planning notice.   more...

Name game hots up

Children are being asked to name a dragon that has arrived in Wallingford.   more...

Flats approved

South Oxfordshire District Council has approved KingsOak's plans to demolish disused buildings on the Wallingford Upper School site, in St George's Road, and build 24 flats.   more...

Wantage News

Residents fed up with roadworks

Residents of Faringdon say they have had enough of long-running roadworks in the town.   more...

Council wants support marked

Groups receiving cash support from a district council will not have to acknowledge it by putting up a plaque.   more...

Autumn concert

Wantage Orchestra's autumn concert takes place at the parish church of St Peter and St Paul on Saturday December 15.   more...

Witney News

Tree appeal

The Feathers Hotel, Woodstock, is raising money for the British Legion's Poppy Appeal and Benevolent Fund by selling decorative bows to tie on to its Christmas tree.   more...

Craft show

Witney's Methodist Hall in High Street is hosting a Christmas present craft fair on Friday and Saturday December 14 and 15, between 10am and 5pm.   more...

Church aid

A Christmas bazaar will be held in Leafield village hall on Saturday December 15, starting at 2pm, to raise money for the church.   more...

Bingo night

Christmas bingo will be held at Charlbury Bowls Club on Monday, December 17, starting at 7.15 pm for eyes down at 8pm.   more...

Card carriers

The Stonesfield Scout Group will be carrying out a free Christmas card delivery for pensioners in the village.   more...

Opera event

A concert by Bampton Classical Opera will be held in St Mary's Church on Friday, December 21, at 7.30pm.   more...

Bazaar boost

Finstock's annual Christmas bazaar raised more than £1,000 for the church.   more...

Snooker: Conquest bows out in third tilt

Witney professional Grant Conquest reached the third round of the second Challenge Tour event of the season before losing 4-2 to Scott MacKenzie at Swindon.   more...

Bus crews hit out at pay variations

Bus drivers in Witney have criticised Stagecoach for giving west Oxfordshire staff a lower pay rise than their Oxford-based colleagues.   more...

Exchange visitors train with Co-op

Visitors from Belarus have been touring schools, factories and shops in West Oxfordshire as part of an exchange visit.   more...

Special visit for children

Two children who helped raise £600 for a guide dog charity had a special visit on Saturday.   more...

Miscellany of talents

Students at Burford School have been rehearsing for their annual "Miscellany," a Christmas celebration in words and music.   more...

Library voices

Teachers and pupils are joining voices to raise money for their African link school in Uganda. A team of sixth formers and staff at Burford School, Cheltenham Road, Burford, will sing carols outside Sainsbury's and Waitrose supermarkets in the town on Monday and Friday afternoons. Money collected will go towards furnishing a library at Bishop Dunstan School, in Kalangala, Uganda.   more...

Infants online

Infant schoolchildren are gearing up for the world of information technology. A new ICT suite, with a bank of eight computers, will be opened at St Mary's Infant School, Witney, for four to seven-year-olds on Tuesday, December 18. The project, involving a new extension to the school buildings at Church Green, has received Government grants towards the £62,000 cost.   more...

New officer on the beat

New beat officer Pc Bob Gillett has been appointed to pound the streets of Charlbury.   more...

WI winners

Two trophies are proudly on display at meetings of South Leigh Women's Institute. The village branch, with 22 members, has won the Oxfordshire County Federation darts league championship and the WI Produce Shield for home-made items on a Christmas theme, which attracted 47 entries from all over the county.   more...

Driver injured

One person was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford for treatment after being trapped in a single vehicle crash on the Minster Lovell to Brize Norton road, near the A40 flyover, on Thursday.   more...

Church singing

Members of churches in Witney will be singing songs and carols and offering free coffee and mince pies outside the Post Office on Saturday December 15, from 11am to 12.30pm.   more...

  
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