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

Oxfordshire | Archive | 2003 | April

Stories for 24 April 2003

Oxfordshire Business

Farm closes with loss of 80 jobs

One of Britain's major mushroom farms has closed with the loss of more than 80 jobs. more...

Oxfordshire Local Info

Family historian was district council head

The man who guided the Vale of White Horse District Council in its first 17 years, John Neville Wood, has died, aged 69. more...

Care worker battled with cancer

Tributes have been paid to a "cheerful" mother-of-four, who passed away peacefully following a battle with cancer. more...

Woman sang for the troops

An Oxfordshire great-grandmother, who sang for the local troops during the First World War, has died, aged 102. more...

Veteran of garage firm

A Woodstock woman who helped to run the town's only garage and petrol filling station for more than 50 years has died, aged 93. more...

Legion worker served for 60 years

A tireless fundraiser for the Royal British Legion for more than half a century has died. more...

Oxfordshire News

Sheets of glass can be recycled

Sheet glass recycling is being introduced at three waste recycling centres. more...

Anti-war activists will deny trespass

Anti-war protesters from Oxford will deny trespassing at RAF Fairford at the start of the Gulf War when their case comes to court. more...

Ex-pub owner fined £9k over mouldy pie

The former owner of a village pub was fined £9,000 after inspectors found a cottage pie that was so mouldy it was unfit to eat. more...

Mental health in spotlight

A day of workshops and family fun is being held on Saturday, April 26, to tackle the stigma attached to mental health. more...

Workers begin clearing A34 rubbish

Work has started to clear unsightly litter from the side of one of Britain's busiest stretches of road. more...

Portrait marks Jubilee

A portrait of the Queen has been commissioned for Oxford University's Oriel College to celebrate her Golden Jubilee last year. more...

Council to test 20mph zones

County councillors have agreed to test two 20mph zones in central Oxford and Thame. more...

Arts events win share of grants

Grants totalling £5,750 have been awarded to the Oxford Playhouse and two music and arts festivals. more...

Old Gaol bid wins support

Abingdon's empty Old Gaol should be transformed into a cultural centre with a cinema, library and museum, according to a public survey. more...

Alert as thieves target stables

Stables in the Vale of White Horse are being targeted by thieves. more...

Sponsor parade, firms urged

Firms in Oxford are being urged to make this year's Lord Mayor's Parade and celebrations an even greater success. more...

Traffic disrupted as bus leaks oil

Gallons of oil were spilled across two Abingdon roads when a bus broke down in the town centre. more...

Genes from extinct life found in ice

Oxford scientists have discovered that mud and ice have preserved DNA from species that became extinct thousands of years ago. more...

Police rule out arson in wood fire probe

Police have rejected claims that last week's heathland blaze near Shotover Country Park in Oxford may have been the work of arsonists. more...

Riding to rescue

Children in hospital have been able to enjoy Easter eggs thanks to the generosity of passengers of bus driver Catherina Nix. more...

Packaging firm could be victim of redevelopment

A Didcot firm processing and packaging seafood said it cannot afford to relocate to make way for the planned town centre redevelopment. more...

Children explore world of work

Atomic Energy Authority staff at Harwell abandoned the school run for a day and instead took their children to work. more...

Scouts prepare for parade

Scouts, Cubs and Explorer Scouts from the Didcot area will take place in the town's annual St George's parade on Sunday, April 27. more...

Call for teams for knockout hi-jinks

Entries are being invited to join the fun at an It's a Knockout competition at this year's Banbury Show more...

Youth groups set for parade

More than 650 Scouts and members of other uniformed organisations will parade through the centre of Oxford on Sunday, April 27, in celebration of St George's Day. more...

£1,000 boost for green heat plan

A former dairy farmer has won a grant for an environmentally friendly heating project. more...

Holiday fun run

Hagbourne's bank holiday fun run and walk on Monday, May 5, will be followed by a fair at Hagbourne Primary School. more...

Men fight outside restaurant

A brawl started out outside the McDonald's restaurant in Botley, Oxford, on Wednesday, April 23. more...

`For peat's sake, save bogs'

Gardeners are being urged to buy peat-free products to help save rare habitats from further destruction. more...

Firm faces £1,000 vandal bill

Vandals caused £1,000 damage during a window-smashing spree. more...

Guild wants a word

Oxford linguists are being sought to act as tour guides for foreigners visiting the city. more...

Charity shop doubles profit

Money raised at an Oxford charity shop has doubled since it became a specialist music and bookseller in March. more...

St George misses out

Oxford University colleges have defended their decision not to fly the St George flag yesterday. more...

The case of a youth charged with armed robbery at the Q8 Garage in Oxford Road, Cowley, Oxford, on February 25, has been adjourned. The 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Oxford Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, april 23. more...

Pop stars of future take centre stage

Future pop stars showed off their new skills at a performance in front of friends and family. more...

Proper white wedding

A couple remember their marriage 60 years ago was truly a white wedding -- because it snowed all day. more...

Town may get twice as many councillors

Four county councillors could cover Bicester in future, instead of two. more...

Cats join dogs

A new cattery opened it doors in time to take its first boarders for Easter. more...

Festival sure to have lots of bottle

Pub regular Gregor Stevenson spent a lot of time sampling the beer in a village pub. more...

Nursing home scheme is revealed

A new nursing home in Wantage could help secure the future of the town's community hospital as well as providing a much-needed facility for elderly people in the area. more...

Special deliveries

Rainbows, Brownies and Guides in Grove delivered Easter cards and eggs to more than 370 senior citizens in the village. more...

Efforts are fabricated

Patchwork quilters in Wantage are celebrating their 10th anniversary with a special exhibition at the Vale and Downland Museum. more...

Community hall ready to grow

One of Chinnor's most popular community halls is set to get bigger after South Oxfordshire District Council allocated £38,000 for expansion. more...

Store impact investigated

Another report has been commissioned to help decide the future of Witney's contentious Marriotts Close site. more...

Knife raiders rob delivery driver outside store

A lorry driver was threatened with a knife while he was delivering goods to the Spar Crescent Store in Minster Lovell. more...

Advice to bouncers

Young people from west Oxfordshire got some sporting tips during an Easter holiday event. more...

Estate roads plan rethink

Oxfordshire County Council has come up with fresh plans for estate roads near Witney town centre after protests by residents. more...

Housing guidance published

A new guide on affordable housing in rural areas has been published by West Oxfordshire District Council. more...

Council post

Former police manager Lana Holman is the new head of human resources at West Oxfordshire District Council. more...

Carving out a future

Wallingford's only independent butcher is having to close his shop and move out of town. more...

Old library building to have community role

Wallingford's Old Free Library is to have a new lease of life as a major centre for community activities. more...

Cash for sports pitch

A grant from South Oxfordshire District Council will give Chalgrove Parish Council almost half the cash it needs to resurface some of its sports area. more...