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Oxfordshire | Archive | 2001 | December

Stories for 13 December 2001

Abingdon News

'Ghost town' alarm over empty stores

Abingdon is in danger of becoming a ghost town, with 15 shops and business premises empty, it was claimed this week. more...

Council plans to evict camp

Council officers are taking further legal action to remove travellers illegally camped in one of Abingdon's busy car parks. more...

Councillor criticises 'discriminatory' grants

Double-figure council tax increases and cuts in services are the options facing district councils struggling to come to terms with the Government's latest financial blow. more...

Weekend parking charges waived

Christmas shoppers in Abingdon are in for a cash bonus this weekend as all town centre pay-and-display car parks will be free. more...

Banbury News

Rescue from lock

A man too weak to pull himself out of a freezing cold lock in Banbury was rescued by firefighters yesterday evening. more...

Murder charge

A 58-year-old man appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday charged with murder. more...

Bicester News

Tax bills set to rise

Council taxpayers in the Cherwell district have been warned their bills could rise again next year. more...

Free beer for soldiers

Cold beer and a traditional Christmas lunch marked the homecoming of 200 Bicester soldiers. more...

Didcot News

Far more shops needed, consultant tells inquiry

Didcot has the fewest shops per head of population of the five towns in south Oxfordshire, according to a retail consultant. more...

Healthy lessons learned

Pupils at Harwell Primary School learned about the benefits of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including informed advice about the dangers of illegal drugs. more...

Man, 22, charged over attack

A 22-year-old man charged in connection with an alleged road rage incident in which a motorist was stabbed with a screwdriver will appear in Oxford Crown Court on Monday. more...

Free beer for soldiers

Cold beer and a traditional Christmas lunch marked the homecoming of 200 Bicester soldiers. more...

Club dance

The next meeting of East Hagbourne garden club will be a social evening at the village hall, on Thursday, January 24, at 7.30pm. more...

Cash for carols

Cholsey Silver Band performed carols outside Tesco's in Didcot, when a collection for the band raised £711. more...

Oxford News

Memorial for Ross as hunt continues

A memorial mass was due to be held today by former classmates of Ross Doyle, to mark the anniversary of his death. more...

£6m of council services faces axe

Jobs could go and vital services could be cut after Oxford City Council put forward a draft budget which includes £6m of savings. more...

Robbers jailed for parlour hold-ups

Two robbers have been jailed for holding up a string of massage parlours in Oxford using a fake shotgun. more...

Man in abduction bid `seen before'

A man who may have tried to abduct a ten-year-old girl in Oxford had been spotted loitering around a school before, police have revealed. more...

City drafts budget for £6m cuts

Oxford City Council has received a £15.3m grant from the Government -- but is still looking to make savings of more than £6m in the new financial year. more...

Long-awaited store to open on estate

A convenience store will open on an Oxford estate on Saturday, after four years of legal wrangles. more...

New signpost sends drivers 'wrong' way

A new signpost for Oxford city centre is sending motorists in the wrong direction, according to Labour councillor Colin Cook. more...

Teenager leapt to his death

A teenager threw himself to his death from a viewing platform thousands of feet up in the French Alps, an inquest heard. more...

Boat fire prompts alarm call

A fire in a canal boat may have been the result of a smouldering cigarette. more...

Man, 22, charged over attack

A 22-year-old man charged in connection with an alleged road rage incident in which a motorist was stabbed with a screwdriver will appear in Oxford Crown Court on Monday. more...

A 25-year-old woman was treated for the effects of smoke inhalation after a cooker caught fire in a house in Botley Road. Firefighters were called at 8.10pm and put the blaze out. Ambulance staff treated the woman, who did not need to go to hospital. more...

Greyhounds: Tomorrow's Oxford Card

11.26 450m A9 more...

Football: Brilliant Bolton beat Cowley

Morrells Oxford Sunday League more...

Table tennis: Crown's record falls to Forum

Crown House A lost their unbeaten record in Oxford & District League Division 1 as they crashed to a 7-3 defeat against Kidlington Forum B. more...

Boxing: Terrific Tutty lands knock-out

Wolvercote's Kerr Tutty made a dream debut with a second-round knock-out of Hampshire's Lee Woolon at Lymington. more...

Bowls: Desborough destroy Oxford's hopes

Oxford & District's hopes of lifting the Denny Cup this season were dashed by old rivals Desborough. more...

Speedway: Cheetahs chase Adams

Oxford Cheetahs promoter Steve Purchase is hoping to tie up Aussie ace Leigh Adams, the man who spearheaded their Elite League title triumph last season. more...

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

Cash boost for arts and sports projects

Arts and sports projects across Oxfordshire have received a cash injection of more than £64,000. more...

Oxfordshire roads gridlocked by series of accidents in rush hour

Drivers attempting to make their way home last night found themselves stuck in long delays. more...

Football: Buckland bow out

Autotype UTV League more...

Bowls: Martin on course for double

Oxford City & County's John Philpott and Chipping Norton's Andy Martin will battle out the final of the English Bowls Association Area 15 Men's Under 25 singles on Sunday. more...

Oxfordshire Business

Fastest-growing firms in the UK

A computer systems company and a mail-order lingerie business have been named among the fastest-growing firms in Britain. more...

Dealerships' new home

One of Oxforshire's major motor retailers is gearing up to uproot two of its dealerships. more...

Computer merger heralds new era

Computer company CS Rand, based at the Oxford Science Park, is to merge with French firm Sopra Mentor to become the Sopra Group. more...

Internet firm wins contract

An Oxford Internet firm has landed a prestigious contract to promote the Lloyds TSB Martketplace website through search engines and directories. more...

Invoice dilemma

Julia Penny of the Thames Valley Society of Chartered Accountants has warned small enterprises may suffer after April 2002 when large companies gain the legal right to charge interest at eight per cent above base rate on invoices paid late. Small firms have had the right to charge large ones interest since 1998, but few have dared. Large firms will feel no such fear, she said. more...

Finance help

Chartered accountants James & Cowper have set up a new company called James & Cowper Asset Finance to help clients with the acquisition of almost all types of capital equipment. Brian Duffy, managing director of the new company, set up in association with Cabot Asset Finance, said: "We are committed to finding the best finance deals for our clients." more...

Exam success

Students Jon Sheffield and Claire Chambers, working at chartered accountants Wenn Townsend, have both passed their professional exams and become qualified accountants. The firm has taken on four more trainees: Matthew Cameron, 17; Kirsten Cooper, 21; Duncan Barrett, 21; and Jonathan Gandy, 30. more...

Business exchange

Business owners in Oxfordshire are being offered the chance to swap ideas with fellow entrepreneurs. more...

Oxfordshire Education

Healthy lessons learned

Pupils at Harwell Primary School learned about the benefits of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including informed advice about the dangers of illegal drugs. more...

Choirs sing for charity

School choirs from Oxford will join forces to entertain Christmas shoppers at the Westgate Shopping Centre tomorrow. more...

Chips for chips

Pupils at a west Oxfordshire village school swapped sandwiches for school lunches -- and won a computer. more...

Hook the audience

Jaime Mead as Peter Pan and Lara Simmonds as Captain Hook square up for the children's classic Peter Pan in Oxford this week. more...

School boost

A firework party organised by Great Milton Parent Teacher Associoation raised more than £1,000 for the village school. more...

Oxfordshire Internet

Internet firm wins contract

An Oxford Internet firm has landed a prestigious contract to promote the Lloyds TSB Martketplace website through search engines and directories. more...

Oxfordshire Leisure

Santa takes time to give blood

Santa diverted his sleigh to RAF Benson, near Wallingford, to give blood. more...

Weekend parking charges waived

Christmas shoppers in Abingdon are in for a cash bonus this weekend as all town centre pay-and-display car parks will be free. more...

Choirs sing for charity

School choirs from Oxford will join forces to entertain Christmas shoppers at the Westgate Shopping Centre tomorrow. more...

Christmas treat

Santa continues his rounds on Wallingford Round Table's Christmas float this weekend. more...

Santa's little helper

Retired Rover worker Arthur Marshall had a bright idea -- using his Christmas lights show to raise money for Cancer Research. Drivers pull up outside his home in Jackson Drive, Kennington, near Oxford, to admire the dazzling display and put their donations in a collection box. Arthur, 69, said: "I've been building up my display for four years now." more...

Hook the audience

Jaime Mead as Peter Pan and Lara Simmonds as Captain Hook square up for the children's classic Peter Pan in Oxford this week. more...

Museum closes

The Vale and Downland Museum in Church Street, Wantage, will be closed over the Christmas period from Monday, December 24 until Tuesday, January 1. The museum will be open to visitors as normal from Wednesday, January 2 at 10am. more...

Songs tonight

Cholsey Silver Band will be playing Christmas favourites at St Mary's Church, Church Road, at 8pm tonight, December 13. Tickets cost £2 on the door. more...

Palace stroll

The Ramblers' Association will be leading a stroll around the grounds of Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, on Christmas Eve, starting at 11am. more...

Oxfordshire News

Hospitals thank their loyal staff

NHS staff who have worked longer than 25 years in Oxfordshire's hospitals have been commended for their loyalty and dedication. more...

Memorial for Ross as hunt continues

A memorial mass was due to be held today by former classmates of Ross Doyle, to mark the anniversary of his death. more...

£6m of council services faces axe

Jobs could go and vital services could be cut after Oxford City Council put forward a draft budget which includes £6m of savings. more...

Cash boost for arts and sports projects

Arts and sports projects across Oxfordshire have received a cash injection of more than £64,000. more...

Robbers jailed for parlour hold-ups

Two robbers have been jailed for holding up a string of massage parlours in Oxford using a fake shotgun. more...

New signpost sends drivers 'wrong' way

A new signpost for Oxford city centre is sending motorists in the wrong direction, according to Labour councillor Colin Cook. more...

Blow for South Oxfordshire

South Oxfordshire District Council has received the worst funding deal in Oxfordshire. more...

Santa takes time to give blood

Santa diverted his sleigh to RAF Benson, near Wallingford, to give blood. more...

Oxfordshire roads gridlocked by series of accidents in rush hour

Drivers attempting to make their way home last night found themselves stuck in long delays. more...

Police chief named

The new Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police has been appointed. more...

Councils warn services likely to suffer

DIstrict councils across Oxfordshire are assessing their Government settlements -- and all five feel they have been treated harshly. The process of deciding council tax rises and cuts in services has now begun in earnest and will be concluded early next year. Over the next few months, finance officers will lobby the Government for extra cash to try to minimise cuts. more...

Murder charge

A 58-year-old man appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday charged with murder. more...

Informality of Sheriff

Crispin Gascoigne more...

Legendary editor dies

Lord David Astor more...

Service to parish

Len Sprotson more...

Man in abduction bid `seen before'

A man who may have tried to abduct a ten-year-old girl in Oxford had been spotted loitering around a school before, police have revealed. more...

Oxfordshire Sport

Football: Morley lined up for United loan

Ian Atkins is hoping to seal the loan signing of central defender Dave Morley from Carlisle. more...

Greyhounds: Tomorrow's Oxford Card

11.26 450m A9 more...

Football: Brilliant Bolton beat Cowley

Morrells Oxford Sunday League more...

Table tennis: Crown's record falls to Forum

Crown House A lost their unbeaten record in Oxford & District League Division 1 as they crashed to a 7-3 defeat against Kidlington Forum B. more...

Cricket: Howzat! Glenn scoops award

Charlbury cricket coach Glenn McCallum is West Oxfordshire's sports person of the year. more...

Bowls: Irene's county honour

Irene Molyneux, one of Oxford's most sucessful bowlers, was made an honorary life member of the Oxfordshire Women's Bowling Association at their recent annual meeting. more...

Thame News

Blow for South Oxfordshire

South Oxfordshire District Council has received the worst funding deal in Oxfordshire. more...

School boost

A firework party organised by Great Milton Parent Teacher Associoation raised more than £1,000 for the village school. more...

Wallingford News

Boxing: Lobb slips up at final hurdle

Michael Lobb's glory bid in the NACYP Championships (formerly the National Association of Boys' Clubs) ended in disappointment, as the Berinsfield ABC fighter went down on points to Ezdkiel Brooks in the final at Britannia Hotel, Liverpool. more...

Blow for South Oxfordshire

South Oxfordshire District Council has received the worst funding deal in Oxfordshire. more...

Santa takes time to give blood

Santa diverted his sleigh to RAF Benson, near Wallingford, to give blood. more...

Christmas treat

Santa continues his rounds on Wallingford Round Table's Christmas float this weekend. more...

Songs tonight

Cholsey Silver Band will be playing Christmas favourites at St Mary's Church, Church Road, at 8pm tonight, December 13. Tickets cost £2 on the door. more...

Parking plan

Waste management contractor Grundon has applied for planning permission to use land at Goulds Grove, Ewelme, as a lorry park and car park. more...

Wantage News

Blow for South Oxfordshire

South Oxfordshire District Council has received the worst funding deal in Oxfordshire. more...

Councillor criticises 'discriminatory' grants

Double-figure council tax increases and cuts in services are the options facing district councils struggling to come to terms with the Government's latest financial blow. more...

Museum closes

Bracelet found

A woman's gold bracelet set with stones was found in Waitrose on November 16. The owner is asked to contact the Wantage police property officer, Ann Byers, on 01235 776000. more...

Christmas social

Wantage and district Beekeepers' Association will hold its Christmas social at the Red Cross Hall, Wallingford Street, Wantage, at 7.30pm tonight. more...

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