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

Stories for 30 October 2004

Oxfordshire Business

Eyes down

Four thousand people a week are expected to play bingo at a new centre opening at the Ozone Leisure Park in Oxford this week.   more...

Company turns on to crop power

The UK's first long term contract for crops to be grown to create electricity has been signed by an Oxfordshire firm.   more...

Oxfordshire Cars

Rally revivalists

An Oxfordshire rally crew are making final preparations for the first Lombard Revival Rally.   more...

Oxfordshire Education

University 'does not face funding crisis'

Oxford University is not facing an "apocalyptic" cash crisis, education minister Kim Howells has insisted.   more...

Oxfordshire Local Info

Rendel Pease

Dr Rendel Pease, one of the world's leading fusion experts and a director of UKAEA Culham for twenty years, died aged 81 in Oxford on October 17 following a short illness.   more...

Patrick Wormald

Patrick Wormald, renowned for his studies on Anglo-Saxon history and the emergence of English law, has died, aged 57.   more...

Oxfordshire News

Plan for recycling centre

A ninth waste recycling centre is to be built in Oxfordshire after the Government announced it would come up with the money.   more...

Let us vote on radio change

Sir - In reply to Steve Taschini, executive editor of BBC Oxford (Oxford Mail, October 21), Radio Oxford was, until recently, unique in that it appealed to the over 25s as well as those under, without constant interruptions from trashy jingles and news bulletins.   more...

So ill-informed

Sir - I hope that Andrew Hornsby-Smith, who wants to ban Boxing Day hunt meets in Bicester Market Square (Oxford Mail, October 22), considers himself humiliated by his lack of knowledge and interest in a town which he does not inhabit.   more...

Watch your step

Sir - A wonderful thing to do with children during half-term - take them walking in Brasenose Woods at Headington, Oxford, magical at any time of year, but especially now.   more...

Smoke ban - get on with it

Sir - How long is it going to take for the smoking ban in public places to be enacted?   more...

House deaths still mystery

Detectives have said the deaths of a man and a woman at a home in Oxford are "unexplained".   more...

Plans for new city club put on hold

Bar owner Matthew Davies has withdrawn part of his bid to open another night-spot in Oxford.   more...

New appeal for sightings

POLICE have renewed an appeal for information about missing Oxford dairy worker Brian Lane.   more...

Help make refugees feel at home appeal

People living near a proposed asylum centre are being urged to make the asylum seekers feel at home, now it is expected to go ahead.   more...

Mps join op deaths debate

Oxfordshire MPs are calling for further investigations into high baby death rates at the John Radcliffe Hospital heart unit.   more...

Council triumphs in Cowley Road battle

Oxford City Council has won a High Court battle to stop a large housing complex from being built on the outskirts of the city, after a four-year fight.   more...

Children told to be light on their feet

Schoolchildren could brighten up the streets of Oxfordshire this winter with illuminated shoes so motorists can see them more easily.   more...

Quarry has potential as community space

A disused quarry in Oxford which has been plagued by antisocial behaviour could be transformed into a community space with dedicated key-holders.   more...

Police name couple found dead in flat

A man and woman found dead in "unexplained" circumstances at their Oxford home have been named.   more...

Relief at fine

An ambulance crew attacked by a patient have spoken of their relief after she was fined and given a suspended jail sentence.   more...

Friday, October 29: Plenty still to be done

Protesters against plans for the asylum centre near Bicester have fought an excellent campaign.   more...

Meeting to discuss ward axe threat

A crisis meeting has been called over a new threat to downgrade the children's ward at Banbury's Horton Hospital.   more...

Asylum protesters prepare to fight on

A High Court judge has told residents living near Bicester to prepare for an influx of asylum seekers - but they are not expected until 2007.   more...

Hospital gets new project manager

A major breakthrough has been made in the dispute over Wantage Hospital with the appointment of a new project manager whose job will be to help shape its future.   more...

Man bailed

A man arrested after a woman was sexually assaulted in Witney on October 20 has been released on bail.   more...

Wednesday, October 27: Keep heart care local

The Bristol heart babies scandal has cast its grim shadow over Oxford, with the revelation that the death rates of infants undergoing heart surgery at the John Radcliffe were consistently higher than the national average.   more...

Tuesday, October 26: Hazards for 999 drivers

PC Steve Norman walks free from a court, cleared of causing the death of Oxford student Emily Higson by dangerous driving.   more...

Council could buy supermarket site

Calls for a compulsory purchase order to be made for the site of a former supermarket and car park in Wallingford town centre are being considered by South Oxfordshire District Council.   more...

Gas mains replacement postponed

Work to lay a new gas main in the centre of Abingdon has been postponed until the New Year following concern at the disruption it would cause for traders in the run-up to Christmas.   more...

Back to the car as bus fare rises 28%

Sir - Oxfordshire County Council, in collusion with the bus companies in Oxford, encourage and sometimes force us out of our cars and on to public transport.   more...

Mail is thanked for helping Stephen

The parents of quad bike crash victim Stephen Adams have paid tribute to the Oxford Mail and its readers for their part in getting their critically-ill son flown home from Greece.   more...

Post woes will cost hospital unit dearly'

A hospital unit for pregnant women and their unborn babies could lose vital cash after Royal Mail twice failed to send invitations and raffle tickets for its Christmas party.   more...

Oxfordshire Sport

Football: Quinn prays for bit of luck

Fit-again midfielder Barry Quinn believes Oxford United just need one bit of luck to turn the corner.   more...

Golf: Frilford and Burford heading for title duel

Frilford Heath and Burford continued their winning form as they head towards this week's likely Section 1 decider in the Shaw & Co Oxfordshire Foursomes League.   more...

Football: Didcot manager Peace fired up for tough test

Didcot Town have a chance to cut the gap on leaders Slimbridge as they host fellow-unbeaten side Bishops Cleeve in the day's only Premier Division match.   more...

Football: Thame put on Louis alert

Thame United player-manager Mark West says this side will have to shackle their former teammate Jefferson Louis, if they are to stand any chance of reaching the first round proper tomorrow.   more...

Football: Brock happy with progress

Banbury United boss Kevin Brock has urged his players to keep up the good work when they travel to Gloucester City in tomorrow's Southern League Premier Division clash.   more...

Athletics: Croft stars to collect silver

Dominic Croft produced one of the finest achievements by a Woodstock Harriers athlete by winning a silver medal for Great Britain at the European 50k Championships in Palermo, Sicily.   more...

Fixtures: The week's sporting calender

SATURDAY   more...

Hockey: Harrison doubles up to gain City a point

South League: Simon Harrison hit a brace as City of Oxford earned a 2-2 draw at Gerrards Cross in the Middlesex, Berks, Bucks & Oxon Regional division.   more...

Speedway: Academy bring down curtain

Oxford Silver Machine Academy wrap up the season with a Conference League double-header against Carmarthen and Buxton at the Stadium tonight (7).   more...

Tennis: Henman edges into third round

Oxfordshire star Tim Henman was made to sweat before overcoming South African Wesley Moodie in the second round of the Davidoff Swiss Masters in Basel.   more...

Rugby: Harlequins now facing acid test

OXFORD Harlequins put their four-game winning streak to the test when they travel to unbeaten South West 1 leaders Cinderford tomorrow.   more...

Cricket: Bicester joy at trophy triumph

Bicester & North Oxford received their Division 1 trophy at The Oxford Times Cherwell League's presentation night at the Spread Eagle Hotel, Thame.   more...

Oxfordshire Whats On

Beloved Emma by Flora Fraser

(John Murray, £9.99) Lord Nelson's death at Trafalgar dealt a blow not only to the heart of Britain, but particularly to his mistress, Emma Hamilton, with whom he had a deep and passionate affair.   more...

Dog-Fight by Norman Franks

(Greenhill, £18.99) Franks explores the evolution of flight and the ramifications for front-line First World War pilots. However, he is too good an historian to rely on just aviation technology.   more...

Best food in the county

The new Good Food Guide is out (Which Books, £15.99), bringing deserved accolades to some 20 Oxfordshire establishments with main entries and a further nine included in the 'round-up' section in its back pages.   more...

Wine: Sorting the Old from the New

The late, great Edmund Penning-Rowsell, former socialist, Financial Times wine writer and resident of Wootton, near Woodstock, was once asked whether he had ever made the vinous faux pas of confusing a Bordeaux for a Burgundy.   more...

Preview: Antigone, Old Fire Station (November 2 to 6)

A Classics student at University College, Oxford, has interpreted Antigone using a brand-new English translation of the original Greek play which will be showing at The Old Fire Station, George Street, Oxford, from Tuesday.   more...

Hayseed Dixie bring their hillbilly metal show to the Zodiac

Imagine Motorhead's heavy metal anthem The Ace of Spades accompanied not by Lemmy's growling vocals and crashing guitars, but by foot-stomping fiddles and banjo.   more...

Quiz needs masterminds

Programme makers are searching for young people in Oxfordshire to follow in the footsteps of three pupils from the county who took part in the first series of Junior Mastermind.   more...

Roy Jenkins: A Retrospective

eds. Adonis, Thomas (OUP £17.99) Andrew Adonis certainly showed no lack of self-confidence when he put himself forward as Roy Jenkins's official biographer.   more...

Review: Chutneys, Oxford

You'd think it was free food night at Chutneys on Wednesday evening. The place was bursting at the seams, packed from top-to-toe with cheerful customers chowing down, and there were already people queueing for a table at 7.30pm.   more...

Ride on the spook train

The Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway's annual Halloween Spooks Steam Special takes place on October 31.   more...

Carol singing practice

The Wantage Stage Musical Company is starting to rehearse Christmas carols in preparation for fundraising over Christmas.   more...

  
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