Stories for 27 December 2003

Oxfordshire Business

Digital gifts prove popular

Digital cameras and widescreen TVs were winners among shoppers seeking last-minute Christmas presents in Oxford.   more...

Safety violations lead to £3k fine

A businessman has been fined £3,000 for breaching health and safety notices issued by South Oxfordshire District Council.   more...

Oxfordshire Education

Patten falls out with party on top-up fees

The Chancellor of Oxford University and former Conservative chairman, Chris Patten, has attacked his party's policy of scrapping tuition fees and cutting the number of students.   more...

Call for service school 'bonus'

Schools which have a high proportion of service family children should receive special funding, says the MP for Witney.   more...

Oxfordshire Local Info

Nesta Wright

One of Jericho's best-known residents, Nesta Wright, has died just a week short of her 102nd birthday.   more...

Valerie Say

Community groups have said they do not know how they will manage after one of Oxfordshire's most dedicated and energetic volunteers died in a car crash.   more...

Levi Sweetman

A gardener who entered and judged at numerous village horticultural shows in north Oxfordshire has died aged 83.   more...

Oxfordshire News

Thom will edit Today

RADIOHEAD frontman Thom Yorke has been lined up to be a guest editor of one of Britain's most influential radio shows, the Today programme.   more...

Let's build the bridge

The name Bablockhythe means 'landing place at Bablock'.   more...

Bubbly for best idea

SIR -- Your correspondent, who criticised Oxford City Council for putting barriers around the Broad Street Christmas tree, has hit the wrong target (Oxford Mail, December 15).   more...

Number of homeless rises by 21 per cent

Oxford's homelessness problem is the sixth worst in the South East and is deteriorating, according to new figures released by the National Housing Federation.   more...

Pensioners to enjoy party

Free parties for the over-70s will be held on January 14, and January 15, at Oxford Town Hall.   more...

Seeing double

An Oxford hospital saw double when two cuddly toys instead of one arrived in the post for a festive raffle.   more...

Digital gifts prove popular

Digital cameras and widescreen TVs were winners among shoppers seeking last-minute Christmas presents in Oxford.   more...

Pensioner recounts 'police' burglary

A pensioner has described how she and her sister were victims of three burglars who claimed to be police officers.   more...

Should turkey be composted?

The question of what to do with the remains of the turkey and leftovers from the Christmas dinner is a vexed issue in south Oxfordshire.   more...

December 22: Our caring county

There are numerous local causes worthy of charitable support at this time of year and we are delighted to have featured stories on many in recent weeks.   more...

Doctors praised for 'greatest gift'

A mother has praised doctors and nurses for giving her the greatest Christmas gift -- saving her son after he nearly died in a road accident.   more...

Builders consider housing appeal

Developers are looking at their options after their plans to build up to 150 homes in a village near Bicester were turned down.   more...

CCTV call explored

A call for CCTV cameras to be installed in parts of Grove and Faringdon is to be explored by the executive of the Vale of White Horse District Council.   more...

Senior staff scupper proposed pay deal

Staff and councillors at an Oxfordshire council are split over a new pay package that could lead to some personnel facing a £5,000 pay cut.   more...

Parking fees plan must be dropped

SIR -- It was with a growing sense of incredulity that I read that some Oxfordshire county councillors seem intent on resurrecting plans to charge for residents' parking permits in Oxford.   more...

Debt mountain

It takes just a couple of hours on one shopping trip in Oxford to get into more than £4,500 of debt.   more...

Hundreds join the hunts

Rain failed to dampen the spirits of hundreds of hunt supporters who turned out to watch the county's traditional Boxing Day meets.   more...

Oxfordshire Sport

Golf results

Results from around the clubs of Oxfordshire   more...

Golf captains drive in

Caroline Madeley and Harvey Burniston are the new captains at The Oxfordshire Golf Club.   more...

Bells chime out

Morrells of Oxford Sunday League: Ryan Curtin smashed a superb hat-trick to help Six Bells, Kidlington to a comfortable 7-2 victory over Stadhampton in the first round of the President's Cup.   more...

Faltering Didcot's tester

Premier Division title challengers Didcot Town and Brackley Town go head-to-head in the most eagerly- awaited Hellenic League match of the season   more...

Rallying call

Oxford United manager Ian Atkins has issued a rallying call for supporters to come out and see his promotion-chasing side this Christmas.   more...

Matthew's big match

An eight-year-old Oxford United fan, who is due to have open heart surgery next year, will receive VIP treatment at the team's Boxing Day match against Leyton Orient.   more...

Sinnott pumped up for return

Former Thame United boss Andy Sinnott says there will be no hard feelings when he takes his Oxford City side to Windmill Stadium for the Ryman League Divsion 1 North derby clash on Boxing Day.   more...

Haarer aims to build on lead

A larger-than-usual turn-out is expected for the third round of the Oxford Mail Cross Country League, which takes place at Radley College on Sunday (December 28).   more...

Chinnor exposed

Chinnor 22, Oxford Harlequins 28: Oxford Harlequins leapt up to fourth in the South West 1 table after their backs exposed Chinnor's defensive deficiencies in an entertaining derby at Kingsey Road on Saturday.   more...

Dymond sparkles in Banbury fightback

Midlands Div 2 East: A remarkable surge in the last half-hour saw Banbury storm back from ten points behind to clinch an exciting 41-29 victory at home to Ampthill.   more...

Home win

Bucks, Berks and Oxon: Chipping Norton went down 23-18 at home to Bletchley, who snatched victory with a controversial late try.   more...

Oxfordshire Whats On

Lord of the Rings: The Return Of The King (12A)

It is impossible to go over the top over The Lord Of The Rings. Peter Jackson's monumental Tolkien trilogy has already gone there, and part 3 is even longer than the two anti-fascist fantasies that have gone before in setting a new landmark for audacious screen adaptations of difficult' novels.   more...