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

Stories for 01 May 2003

Oxfordshire Local Info

Maurice 'Mick' Parratt

Former mace bearer to Abingdon Town Council, Desert Rat and master carpenter in the film and television industry Maurice "Mick" Parratt has died.   more...

Jock Hamilton-Baillie

Tributes have poured in to the family of war hero Brigadier Jock Hamilton-Baillie, who has died, aged 84.   more...

Mary Case

The funeral takes place at Didcot Methodist Church on May 2 of Mary Case, whose baking and cooking helped raise thousands of pounds for charity.   more...

Thomas Joy

THOMAS Joy, a leading light of the book trade who started his outstanding career in Oxford, has died, aged 98.   more...

Winifred Morris

The funeral takes place on Wednesday next week of Winifred Morris, 85, who was a founder member of Didcot Pensioners' Association.   more...

Oxfordshire News

Gun amnesty nets 134 illegal weapons

More than 100 illegally held guns have been handed in to police during a gun amnesty in Oxfordshire.   more...

Tourist centre switch held up

The failure to get Oxford's new Tourist Information Centre open in time for the start of the peak season for visitors has angered a senior city councillor.   more...

Bar refused extended hours

City councillors have refused to extend opening hours at an Oxford bar, in a bid to protect residents from being disturbed late at night.   more...

Revamp aids cancer patients

Nurses at a private hospital in Oxford have transformed cancer facilities so patients can offer each other support while fighting their illnesses.   more...

Blenheim to host top horse championship

Europe's top horse riders will head for Oxfordshire as the county hosts the European championships.   more...

Schools get warning of more cuts in funding

Times are hard and they are going to get harder is the message to Oxfordshire schools as education officials draw up emergency plans to prevent teacher redundancies.   more...

GPs unveil out of hours service

A one-stop shop for urgent GP care in Oxford opens its doors today.   more...

GPs move to centre development shelved

GPs at Didcot's largest health centre practice have abandoned plans to move to the town centre.   more...

Le Manoir basks in global praise

Oxfordshire's Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons has been voted 29th best restaurant in the world by Restaurant Magazine.   more...

Surgeon concedes risk of super-bugs

A surgeon has admitted the John Radcliffe Hospital cannot always protect its patients from potentially lethal super-bugs, transmitted on the hands of hospital staff.   more...

Pupils aim to attract bees

Children planned the construction of a pond in their school grounds to encourage wildlife.   more...

Sars alert threatens holiday

An Oxford woman with family in Toronto has spoken of her concerns about visiting the Canadian city which has been badly hit by the virus Sars.   more...

Owner to challenge breach of copyright

The owner of an Oxford restaurant has won the right to challenge a judgement that he must pay a former employee £40,000 for breach of copyright.   more...

£1m church design wins approval

Plans to demolish a crumbling Baptist church in Oxford and build a £1m replacement have been given the go-ahead.   more...

Gay festival gets ready to celebrate

Oxford Gay Pride festival organisers today announced the line-up for the event on Saturday.   more...

Woman collapses after drink spiked

Nightclub security staff rushed to help a woman after her drink was spiked in an Oxford pub.   more...

Players boost appeal

Aunt Sally players have helped boost the Oxford Children's Hospital Campaign by raising £450 for the £15m appeal.   more...

Looking for recruits

Banbury's Territorial Army is looking for new recruits -- and will be taking to the streets this month to encourage more young people to join.   more...

Park pest hunted

A man who twice indecently exposed himself in a Banbury park is being sought by police.   more...

Surgery scheme approved

Plans for a new GP surgery and pharmacy, together with 14 low-cost homes in Cowley, Oxford, have been given the go-ahead.   more...

Theft case adjourned

The trial of an Oxford woman accused of stealing £3,906 from Johnsons Buildbase has been adjourned.   more...

Mayor on Dutch trip

Lord Mayor of Oxford Gill Sanders is visiting Holland this weekend to take part in the Dutch Remembrance Day.   more...

Football bid for hospice

A charity football match to raise money for the Sobell House hospice in Oxford takes place on Sunday.   more...

Son denies mum attack

A man facing allegations of assaulting his mother has been remanded in jail.   more...

Police to deal with problem bikers

Police in Bicester have promised tough action against youths riding stolen and off-road motorbikes on the town's roads.   more...

Well-wisher replaces stolen clover

A pensioner whose lucky clover was stolen has had it replaced by a kind-hearted stranger.   more...

Honour delights soldier

A Bicester soldier has spoken of his delight at being honoured for his bravery when he saved two policemen while serving in Northern Ireland.   more...

Arsonists 'put lives at risk'

Arsonists put lives in danger after striking three times in less than half-an-hour.   more...

Shopping precinct vandalised

Shoppers are calling for improvements to a rundown shopping centre regularly targeted by vandals and antisocial youths.   more...

Former antiques centre set to house restaurant

The first floor of a landmark town centre store in Wantage is set to be transformed into an American-themed cocktail bar and restaurant.   more...

Formula for quieter nights

Work on a £400,000 scheme to reduce noise from the Williams F1 headquarters at Grove is on track to be finished by July.   more...

Police officer took her own life

A police officer who was planning to start a new life in Spain with her husband gassed herself inside her car.   more...

Repair row forces stay in hospital

Relatives of an 84-year-old Witney pensioner are angry she being forced to stay in hospital because a housing association cannot mend her back door.   more...

New face at Round Table

Witney Round Table has a new chairman.   more...

Polls open for local elections

Voters were going to the polls today (May 1)in district, town and parish council elections.   more...

Cricketers convert office into pavilion

A former builders' site office in Wallingford has helped a cricket club make a massive saving on the cost of a new pavilion.   more...

Rent row sport clubs win support

Sports clubs in Wallingford fighting a massive rent rise -- from £600 a year to £15,000 a year for their sports park -- have the town council on their side.   more...

Hospital fences to shut out vandals

Claims that asylum seekers would move into the old Fairmile Hospital, near Wallingford, have been denied by the Government.   more...

OAP tripped on uneven pavement

A pensioner on a shopping trip to Abingdon has called for improvements to pavements after she stumbled on an uneven slab and fell.   more...

Bus stops may move in drive to cut congestion

Passengers may no longer be allowed to catch buses from Abingdon's High Street, if plans to cut congestion and pollution are introduced.   more...

Hygiene design proves a winner

A design student from Abingdon has won a national award after inventing a tough rucksack and an oral health care stick.   more...

Family warning after pet is shot

A family has warned pet owners to be on their guard after their pet cat was shot and badly injured.   more...

Residents celebrate as homes rejected

Plans for a £2.7m Centre of Excellence for Rugby and Cricket have been hit for six.   more...

Rain fails to dampen May Day spirits

When the first glow of daylight heralded the arrival of the fabled 'merrie month' beloved of poets and dreamers, the crowds of 'May Morners' packing into Oxford's historic centre must have breathed a collective sigh of relief.   more...

BP agrees to cut high fuel prices

BP was set to cut fuel prices at an Abingdon garage today (May 1) after the Oxford Mail pointed out they were unusually high.   more...

Oxfordshire Sport

Sayers century lifts Oxford

Joe Sayers hit his first century of the season for Oxford UCCE who comfortably beat Durham on first innings in their opening Inter UCCE Championship match at The Parks yesterday.   more...

City hit new low

Oxford City's poor start to the defence of their Shaw & Co Oxfordshire Foursomes League title became positively nightmarish when they suffered a whitewash away to newly-promoted The Oxford- shire.   more...

Thynne holds nerve to sink Hendred bid

Autotype UTV League: Russell Thynne was the hero for Abbott Medisense as his spot kick saw the holders retain the Devenney Cup with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over East Hendred.   more...

Keyes proves too hot for Royals

Morrells of Oxford League: Lee Keyes grabbed a brilliant second-half hat-trick as Star Wanderers staged a superb comeback to beat Star Royal 4-2 in the Premier Division.   more...

Atkins is rooting for Gulls

Ian Atkins is hoping the war of words between Torquay boss Leroy Rosenior and Lincoln manager Keith Alexander will inspire the Gulls to pull off a crucial victory.   more...

Basham back with a bang

Oxford Utd Res 3, Luton Tn Res 1: Steve Basham scored a spectacular volley as Oxford United Reserves eased to victory against Luton's second string at Court Place Farm on Wednesday.   more...

Hayward ruled out for City

Oxford City defender Matty Hayward will miss the last two games of the season after suffering a head wound during their Oxfordshire Senior Cup win over Hook Norton.   more...

Track problems to be resolved

The Oxford speedway track has been the subject of a lot of criticism this season - and the management have acted by ordering some much-needed remedial treatment this week.   more...

Corkish lifts county title

Jo Corkish, Burford's promising 18-year-old golfer, captured the Oxfordshire Ladies Championship with an exciting 3 & 1 victory over defending champion Julie de Vere Hunt at Caversham Heath.   more...

Oxon call up Beck

New Banbury recruit Steve Beck has been called up by Oxfordshire to face Oxford University in their warm-up game in The Parks on Friday.   more...

  
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