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

Stories for 13 May 2004

Oxfordshire Business

Strike ballot to go ahead

Oxfordshire union representatives have voted overwhelmingly for a ballot for strike action by firefighters over a pay rise which they claim is overdue.   more...

Software experts tune in to opera

An opera company has secured a £6,000 sponsorship deal to sing anti-virus computer adverts for a leading software company.   more...

Newsagent's sold, jobs safe

WH Smith store in Headington, Oxford, will shut tomorrow because managers say the shop is too small.   more...

Oxfordshire Education

University refutes animal rights ad

Oxford University officials have spoken out against animal rights activists who are campaigning to stop an £18m primate research laboratory being built in Oxford.   more...

Oxfordshire News

Leave wild flowers to flourish on our verges

With reference to Penny Little's letter, Tidiness costs wildlife dear (Oxford Mail, May 7), it is worth noting that South Oxfordshire District Council is not the only culprit when it comes to mowing wildflowers on verges.   more...

Closure at night will cut crime

I write in response to Richard Mason's letter about the temporary closure of Bulwarks Lane in Oxford (Oxford Mail, April 17).   more...

999 apology to mugging victim

Oxfordshire ambulance chiefs have apologised to a 91-year-old woman left lying on the pavement after she was mugged.   more...

Accolade and plaque mark legendary run

Sir Roger Bannister, the first person to break the four-minute mile, told of his delight at becoming an honorary Freeman of Oxford yesterday (May 12).   more...

Street trade law gathers support

Buskers have welcomed a new bylaw designed to help control street trading in pedestrianised areas of Oxford.   more...

999 apology to mugging victim

Oxfordshire ambulance chiefs have apologised to a 91-year-old woman left lying on the pavement after she was mugged.   more...

Student pay plan boosts hospitals

Major hospitals say they will be able to boost their recruitment thanks to a scheme to fund childcare for students training as nurses and other health care workers.   more...

Primaries 'miss out on community cash'

A third of primary schools in Oxford are missing out on extra income because they do not hire out their premises to community groups.   more...

Firefighters' strike ballot to go ahead

Oxfordshire union representatives have voted overwhelmingly for a ballot for strike action by firefighters over a pay rise which they claim is overdue.   more...

Bishop backs gay vows

Gay couples should be allowed to make church-style 'marriage' vows, according to the Bishop of Oxford.   more...

Community centre is hit by second arson

Vandalism and a second arson attack has prompted calls for better security at an Oxford community centre.   more...

Balloons mark walking birthday

Children in Bloxham, near Banbury, are celebrating one year of travelling to school by bus -- on one of two walking buses that encourage exercise and reduce traffic at the school gates.   more...

Umbrella the place to meet

Young people will be able to meet under a huge metal umbrella.   more...

Time flies for postie

Postman Malcolm Lucas has notched up 50 years working for the post office, after starting as a 15-year-old boy. "It's all gone in a flash, flown by," he said. "I suppose I've been too busy to notice the time flying by. I'm always on the go, the only trouble now is I am still waking up at 4am."   more...

Nursery carnival theme

Nursery rhymes provide the theme of Wallingford Carnival's big parade through the town.   more...

Pupils allowed to cover school toilet with graffiti

Ten boys at an Abingdon school brushed up their graffiti skills in the toilets -- with permission from their headteacher.   more...

City centre is bland, ugly and so boring

Mary Stiff asks tongue-in-cheek if people should be banned, from the city centre presumably (Oxford Mail, April 26).   more...

Benefit books missing in post

UP TO 250 benefit and pension books destined for the Barton estate in Oxford could be caught up in a backlog of post, according to a post office manager.   more...

Mental health chiefs under fire at inquests

The organisation charged with caring for Oxford's mentally ill has been criticised at the inquests into the deaths of two former patients.   more...

Oxfordshire Sport

Football: Why I rejected U's deal - Macca

Paul McCarthy says he turned down Oxford United's offer of a new contract, because it was "a long way" off what he was looking for.   more...

Tennis: Tim slumps to heavy defeat

Fifth seed Tim Henman (below) crashed out of tennis's Hamburg Masters, losing 6-2, 6-2 to Andrei Pavel in the second round.   more...

Golf: Wootton and Hall lead City's charge

Oxford City went four points clear at the top of the Shaw & Co Oxfordshire Foursomes League Section 2 with 3-0 victory away to Brailes.   more...

Football: Donaldson hat-trick seals it for Highfield

Morrells of Oxford League: Sam Donaldson smashed a hat-trick as he helped Highfield lift the Presidents Cup with a 6-0 thrashing of Premier Division champions Rose Hill, who finished the game with nine men.   more...

Bowls: Prew and Charlett lead the way

Oxfordshire came out on top 129-110 against Wiltshire in their opening Middleton Cup trial match at Wootton Bassett.   more...

Boxing: Guntert sets sights on swift ring return

Abingdon boxer Jake Guntert is set to step into the ring again at the end of next month.   more...

Golf: Young Claire's hole-in-one record

Claire Reynolds, the promising 12-year-old, from Chipping Norton, achieved her first hole-in-one in the club's nine-hole competition.   more...

Football: Dragon roar back to win title

Autotype UTV League: George & Dragon clinched their first-ever title as they were crowned Division 2 champions after a thrilling 3-1 play-off victory over Alfredian Rebels.   more...

  
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