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Oxfordshire | Archive | 2003 | June

Stories for 28 June 2003

Oxfordshire Business

Amey worker 'lied' about rail checks

An investigation has been launched after a rail maintenance technician allegedly lied that he had inspected faulty points before trains were allowed to carry on using them. more...

Push to consider office conversion

Plans to convert council offices in Witney into sheltered housing are being pushed forward to meet a Government deadline. more...

New IT centre proves a success

A new IT learning centre will hold a presentation evening. more...

Oxfordshire Cars

Family cars lose most value

Family cars are the worst for depreciation, with some losing more than 60 per cent of their value after three years, according to a new report. more...

Oxfordshire Education

Council making an 'eyesore' of college

An Oxford University college says its historic High Street frontage is being used as a "dumping ground" by the city council. more...

Strengths highlighted

Teachers at an Oxford school that is due to close have organised a series of events to remind people of its strengths. more...

An exhibition of GCSE art work by pupils of Warriner School, Bloxham, demonstrated students' diverse

The art and design exam allowed pupils to choose from 12 subjects -- including interiors, Australasia, natural environment and illusion. more...

Theatre students in Wantage promise to deliver a "short and sharp" interpretation of a classic Shake

The seven pupils at King Alfred's Community and Sports College are performing their acclaimed version of Macbeth on Thursday, June 26, before taking the play to France as part of the International Youth Theatre festival in Grenoble, Oxford's twin town. The students, who have just finished their A-Levels, are aiming to replace the boredom often associated with Shakespearean plays with "vivid physical acting, dynamic stage pictures and an atmospheric musical score" -- all in a 45-minute performance. more...

Oxfordshire Jobs

Jobs safe, biotech staff told

Thirty people have taken voluntary redundancy from biotech company Evotec OAI, but its 350-strong workforce at Milton Park, near Abingdon, is unaffected. more...

Oxfordshire Local Info

Steve Vermeulen

Tributes have been paid to a hockey-loving Oxford firefighter, who has died after a long illness. more...

Teddy Dowse

An accomplished and gifted Oxford musician, Teddy Dowse, who was at home with a range of instruments, has died. more...

Oxfordshire News

Roadside cameras focus on safety not speed

Drivers using Oxford's Cowley Road on June 25 are being warned to watch out for a series of roadside cameras. more...

Staff give history a twirl

Museum staff are encouraging children to dance their way through the past when the school holidays begin. more...

Swans are bullies

Your front-page story about the troublesome swans at Kidlington (Oxford Mail, May 29) is an example of what can happen when the population of an animal with no natural predators gets out of control. more...

Off road, but still fined

In November, my blue Metro car broke down. As the repair would have cost hundreds of pounds, I parked it on the drive outside my house. more...

Playground bullies

Congratulations to Joe Johnson, head of Sandhills School at Headington, Oxford, who spoke out about parent-incited bullying (Oxford Mail, June 18). more...

Fares enough

You report that rail fares are going up again (Oxford Mail, June 20). more...

Council making an 'eyesore' of college

An Oxford University college says its historic High Street frontage is being used as a "dumping ground" by the city council. more...

'No-one helped after our dog savaged

A couple whose dog was savaged by an Alsatian have complained about the lack of help after the attack. more...

Gas blast injures woman

An investigation has been launched after an Oxford woman suffered serious burns in a gas explosion. more...

Museum's dreams will now come true

Staff at the Oxfordshire Museum are celebrating a double cash boost of more than £600,000 to finance major restoration. more...

Cash shortage hits family planning

NHS family planning clinics in Abingdon and Kidlington are earmarked to close this year because of a shortage of funds. more...

Hospital debate arranged

The public are being invited to discuss proposals for a new diagnostic and treatment centre at The Horton Hospital in Banbury. more...

Bands enjoy spotlight at Glastonbury

Jazz band Barcode Trio is one of two lesser-known Oxford groups who have packed their camping gear and headed off to perform at this weekend's Glastonbury Festival. more...

Stylist puts down local roots

An American woman who came to Didcot 14 years ago has opened her own hairdressing salon. more...

Operatic homefuls

THE homeless becoming opera stars? more...

Restaurant bars blind man because of dog

A blind world record-holding sportsman from Banbury was refused entry into an Oxford restaurant because of his guide dog. more...

Hospital debate arranged

The public are being invited to discuss proposals for a new diagnostic and treatment centre at The Horton Hospital in Banbury. more...

New telephone line solves bollard hitch

After months of technical hitches, council engineers in Bicester are keeping their fingers crossed that a movable bollard to enforce a pedestrian only-road works properly. more...

Artists share exhibition

Artists Maxine Heenan and Kathy Foster are exhibiting their work at a museum in Wantage. more...

Flowers help pensioners

Summer flowers will help fund a Christmas party for Tetsworth's pensioners. more...

Recycling woes upset resident

Frustrated Carterton resident Andrew Wise has been trying for five months to get black recycling containers for residents at a mobile home park. more...

Paying dividends

IT IS heartening to see most surburban shopping centres in Oxford looking and doing well. more...

Driving up standards

NO-ONE admits being a bad driver, but clearly there are still many on our roads. more...

Terrorist fear hits friendship link

Fear of flying because of concern over terrorist attacks has more than halved the number of Americans coming to Wallingford next month. more...

Charity toddle proves to be doddle

The Big Toddle was a bit of a doddle for members of Hadland Pre-school in Abingdon. more...

Stationary buses pollute our city

I read with interest the comments regarding air quality in some areas of the city centre (Oxford Mail, June 16). more...

Escaped prisoner returns

The prison service has launched an inquiry into how a prisoner with a history of violence escaped from Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital. more...

Oxfordshire Sport

Why I quit Thame - by Sinnott

Thame United boss Andy Sinnott has described his decision to quit the Ryman League Division 1 North club as one of the saddest of his managerial career. more...

United seek switch to Wednesday

Oxford United have made an application to the Football League to switch their midweek home night to a Wednesday. more...

Keyes father and son join Witney

Witney United's new manager, Andy Townsend, has made his first signings of the summer as he bids to build a team able to challenge for promotion in Division 1 West of the Hellenic League. more...

Aunt Sally results

Latest results in the Greene King Oxford and District League and Abingdon and District League as at June 25, 2002 more...

Deadly Dave goes so close - again!

Greene King Oxford & District Aunt Sally League: Dave Sawyer did it again as he fell just a doll short of the maximum 18-doll haul for the second week running as The George Littlemore beat Highfield Social Club 3-0. more...

Reynolds to fore in Radley romp

Kay Reynolds led Radley's women to victory with a fabulous four-timer in the Southern Veterans' League Western Division meeting at Tilsley Park, Abingdon. more...

Klucniks stars to claim South title

Hammer thrower Martin Klucniks struck gold for Oxford City at the South of England Championships at Portsmouth. more...

Spires takes honours

Radley's Craig Spires took the honours in the senior men's javelin at the first open meeting of the year at Tilsley Park, Abingdon. more...

City veterans shine

Oxford City captured a team prize at the British Veterans Road 5k Championships at Horwich, near Bolton. more...

Nicki's homing in on GP glory

Oxford Silver Machine ace Nicki Pedersen turns his attentions to his homeland Denmark this weekend where the Danish Grand Prix makes its debut at the impressive Parken Stadium in Copenhagen. more...

Kassam all set for classic world final

Both countries may have been beaten by England at senior level in the past fortnight, but Australia and New Zealand remain the strongest in the world at under 21 level. more...

Rover out of National League

Rover Oxford Ladies lost their National League status after a brave effort at the Inter-League play-offs at the Belle Vue Leisure Centre in Manchester over the Bank Holiday weekend. more...

Sunday's cricket matches

Matches involving Oxfordshire sides in local leagues and competitions on Sunday, June 29, 2003 more...

Saturday tennis fixtures

Matches involving Oxfordshire sides in local leagues and competitions on Saturday, June 28, 2003 more...

Sunday's tennis fixtures

Matches involving Oxfordshire sides in local leagues and competitions on Sunday, June 29, 2003 more...

Classy North Oxford march on

North Oxford continue to march relentlessly towards a third successive Men's Division 1 title in the Wilson OLTA Inter-Club 3-Pair League. more...

Family ties costly for Watlington

Watlington were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw with Banbury West End in Ladies Division 1 of the 2-Pair League when one of their players had to retire from the crucial deciding set to collect her children! more...

Henman flies the flag again

Oxfordshire's Tim Henman was today flying the flag for Britain in splendid isolation as the bookmakers piled further pressure on the Henman family. more...

Sunday's tennis fixtures

Matches involving Oxfordshire sides in local leagues and competitions on Sunday, June 29, 2003 more...

Kassam all set for classic world final

Both countries may have been beaten by England at senior level in the past fortnight, but Australia and New Zealand remain the strongest in the world at under 21 level. more...

Saturday's cricket fixtures

Matches involving Oxfordshire sides in local leagues and competitions on Saturday, June 28, 2003 more...

Arnold in rallying call

Oxfordshire skipper Keith Arnold will try to pick his troops up ahead of their three-day Minor Counties Championship clash away to Herefordshire, starting on Sunday (June 29). more...

Rowant duo out of the running

Oxford Times Cherwell League: Aston Rowant will be without Dave Ridgley and Pete Swainson as they bid to maintain their lead at the top of Division 1 when they entertain lowly Dinton on Saturday (June 28). more...

Sunday's cricket matches

Matches involving Oxfordshire sides in local leagues and competitions on Sunday, June 29, 2003 more...

Monday's cricket fixtures

Matches involving Oxfordshire sides in local leagues and competitions on Monday, June 30, 2003 more...

ACTION GUIDE

Motorsport in the UK this week (June 25-) more...

Solberg thrives in Cyprus heat

Subaru driver Petter Solberg delivered a faultless performance at the wheel of his Banbury-built Impreza WRC2003 in the Cyprus Rally to claim the second victory of his career. more...

BMW ready to go

The BMW Williams F1 team have been testing several new aerodynamic components ahead of Sunday's European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring (June 29). more...

Oxfordshire Whats On

Review: A short history of nearly everything by Bill Bryson (Doubleday, £20)

Bill Bryson's wide-eyed 'gee-whizz' style, which characterises his travelogues, is not to everyone's liking, writes Paul Stammers. more...

Review: Slipstream: A Memoir Elizabeth Jane Howard (Pan, £7.99)

These memoirs offer a fascinating glimpse of mid-20th century literary life from the point of view of a woman born before the arrival of feminism. more...

Review: The Server, Spencer Vignes (Pitch, £7.99)

This book was inspired by the Burt Lancaster film The Swimmer, in which an executive on the verge of a nervous breakdown swims his way through the swimming pools of his neighbours in California. more...

Review: Gaveston, Stephanie Merritt (Faber, £7.99)

This is a clever remake of the story of Piers Gaveston, gay lover of Edward II. more...

The Matrix Reloaded (15)

It's been four years since The Matrix burst onto our cinema screens. So was it worth the wait for The Matrix Reloaded? more...

Review: X-Men 2

There has been a lull before a cinematic storm in recent weeks. more...

Review: Identity (15)

It seems almost obligatory these days to climax any thriller with an almighty twist designed to bring about much forehead slapping and jaw dropping from audience members. more...

Learning lines

Geraldine James is 52 and looks 10 years younger, but despite her prestigious reputation, two BAFTA nominations, packed CV and magnetising presence, she is coming to understand what Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn have been harping on about, writes Katherine MacAlister. more...

View to the top

Longview do not believe in doing things gently. New on the scene, the band are pulling out all the stops to let the great British gig-goer know who they are and what they can do, writes Tim Hughes. more...

The right formula

Murray Walker is as inextricably linked to motor racing as more...

Review: Bruce Almighty

A Homespun Hollywood philosophy lesson about how the world would be a better place if we all stopped thinking about ourselves so darn much... yep, that outta do it. Suddenly, wars end, the hungry are fed, the homeless housed. And Jim Carrey's comedy caravan is back on course. more...

Writing on war and peace for children

Mother-daughter relationships are notoriously difficult, but Rhiannon Lassiter and her mother Mary Hoffman are exceptionally close. They not only see eye to eye about the war in Iraq -- they also joined forces to produce an anthology of war stories and poems for children, Lines in the Sand. more...

Tragedy and tears in opera treble bill

Welsh National Opera arrive for a summer season at the Oxford Apollo next week, with three lavish productions. more...

Creation whip up a storm

If you were one of the thousands of people flocking to Creation Theatre Company's production of Twelfth Night in Headington Hill Park, to roar uproariously at hakespeare's most popular farce, then you'll be pleased to know the second open-air production of the summer season is being introduced on July 1. more...

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