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Stories for 15 February 2003
Oxfordshire Business
Our Job Fair pulls in the crowds
Jobseekers turned out in their droves for the Oxford Mail Job Fair, making it the most successful event in recent years. more...
OUP buys respected publisher
Publisher Oxford University Press has bought a dictionaries business which produces world-renowned music and art reference books. more...
Bell `will return to former glory'
The new owners of a historic hotel in Charlbury have promised to restore it to its former glory. more...
Troubled car firm calls in receiver
Car manufacturer and racing engines specialist TWR Group was today placed in administrative receivership. more...
County 4x4 firm goes far
Mountain rescue teams are being supplied with specialist vehicles by an Oxfordshire firm. more...
Oxfordshire Cars
C5 range gets five new models
Citroen has expanded its C5 range by introducing five sporty new VTR models, which are designed to appeal to younger buyers and company car drivers looking for space, comfort and high levels of equipment. more...
Chrysler Crossfire arrives
Production of the stunning new Chrysler Crossfire sports coupe has started. more...
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...
Price for a slice of luxury
Prices for Volkswagen's new Touareg off-road vehicle have been revealed, at £29,335 on the road for the 3.2-litre V6, rising to £50,440 for the flagship 5.0-litre V10 TDI. more...
Mini makes up for BMW sales drop
Workers at the Cowley Mini plant are helping to prop up parent company BMW's falling sales. more...
Craig makes it into record books
Motorcycling has a new world record holder. more...
All fired up for MotoGP action
History was made when Proton Team KR, the team based in Banbury, announced that its new V-5 four-stroke engine came to life for the first time. more...
Oxfordshire Education
Five schools win specialist status
Millions of pounds of extra funding is to be pumped into Oxfordshire's education system after five schools were awarded specialist status by the Government. more...
Oxfordshire Local Info
Eddie Bonham
Banbury councillors have paid tribute to the town's popular sergeant-at-arms Eddie Bonham. more...
Frank Hales
Prize-winning gardener Frank Hales has died, after an illness, aged 86. more...
Oxfordshire News
Music lessons will be cut at schools
Jobs and school music lessons will be cut as Oxfordshire's music service tries to save £190,000. more...
Bus routes in line for overhaul
A multi-million pound package to create premium bus routes across Oxfordshire to tempt motorists out of their cars is expected to be endorsed next week. more...
£400,000 'loss' hardly modest
If Cllr Margaret Godden thinks that £400,000 is a modest sum of money to have overspent (Oxford Mail, January 31), she is even more out of touch with the public than we thought. more...
Fighting cancer
Thank you for your lively feature on my battle against cancer (Oxford Mail, January 30). more...
Clubhouse not needed
I read with dismay about the project to raise £500,000 to build a small boathouse near Donnington Bridge, Oxford (Oxford Mail, February 3). more...
No case for referendum
Christopher Halford alleges incompetence by the county council without stating his evidence, and calls for a referendum on the proposed council tax increase of 13.6 per cent (Oxford Mail, February 3). more...
Revolution at BMW
May I thank you for your excellent report Then and Now (Oxford Mail, February 6) and also BMW for giving Bill Jupp and me an opportunity to visit the Cowley car plant. more...
Our centre is a hive of activity
Lee Williamson may believe that the Rose Hill Community Centre is just a 'drinking hole' (Oxford Mail, January 31) but he could not be further from the truth. more...
Local income tax would be fairer
Everyone who pays council tax must be dismayed at the prospect of yet another hyper-inflationary tax increase. more...
Law-abiding citizens
In reply to Penny Little (Oxford Mail, February 4), I have been keen on shooting for 27 years, following my father and his brothers. I was also brought up with the sport. more...
Census reveals odd bathroom statistic
A gleaming bathroom, complete with pristine privvy, bath and shower all to yourself, is unlikely to be a reality for many Oxford residents, according to the 2001 census. more...
Anti-parking cones taken
Residents have appealed for action to stop drivers using parking spaces outside their homes after cones they set up to stop the problem were removed. more...
Children enjoy happy occasion
FIVE-year-old `bride and groom' Adam Jibali and Monica Briggs enjoyed a mock wedding at Botley County Primary School, Oxford, on February 13. more...
Designer to investigate Broad Street facelift
Broad Street in Oxford -- once considered one of the most beautiful thoroughfares in Europe -- will be the focus of a £35,000 study to see if it can be returned to its former glory. more...
National census results help highlight diverse faiths
Oxford is the most lonely and godless part of Oxfordshire and the place where you are most likely to have to queue to use a bathroom. more...
Government backs heart pump trials
A surgeon has been given Government backing to continue pioneering research which could save thousands of people dying of heart failure. more...
Kosovans cleared of burglary
Two Kosovan teenagers have been cleared of holding a boy at knifepoint while burgling his home. more...
Youth club needs cash to expand
Leaders of a youth club which opened last year to curb teenage crime on an Oxford estate say they need cash to expand. more...
'Gothic look' homes development vetoed
Plans to demolish a large north Oxford house and replace it with three Gothic-style homes were rejected by councillors, despite being recommended for approval by planning officers. more...
Centre revamp to cost £1m
Ambitious plans are taking shape to transform a run-down building in Faringdon into a vibrant and modern community centre at a cost of almost £1m. more...
Light show nets £851
A Mother of four who decorated her house with festive lights after her daughter was diagnosed with cancer raised £851 for charity. more...
MP calls for limits on cuts in jail sentences
A Conservative MP has called for a change in laws which allow the prison sentences of convicted criminals to be cut, after an Oxfordshire family appealed to him for help. more...
Culture bid brings criticism
Oxford City Council has been criticised for withholding real support for the city's European Captial of Culture bid. more...
Pensioners' club couple abandon bid to re-open
A former Lord Mayor of Oxford's appeal for help in setting up a new social club for pensioners in the city has failed. more...
Death case adjourned
Legal proceedings against a Kidlington firm by a senior police officer whose daughter was killed in a motorway accident have been adjourned. more...
Arts groups divided over 'inadequate' centre plan
Arts groups are split over plans for a £6.3m arts centre in Didcot. more...
February 12: Another bouquet
Trust the Mini workers at Cowley to keep the flag flying. more...
Tenant warned over noise
A mother of two with a hearing problem faces eviction if her daughter continues to play loud music. more...
Ban on thieves cuts shoplifting
A Rogue's gallery is helping to cut crime in Banbury. more...
Hospital staff visit schools
Staff from an Oxfordshire hospital have been visiting schools to show children what would happen if they ever become patients. more...
Officer rescues woman from fire
Neighbours of a woman rescued from a burning house told how a police sergeant rescued her from the building after she was overcome by smoke. more...
Referendum on housing demanded
A referendum could be called in Bicester to settle the debate over where 1,500 houses are built during the next eight years. more...
Parents protest about potholes
Parents in Bicester are fed up with having to dodge potholes on the route to their children's school. more...
Speeding worries raised
Traffic speed was the main concern of villagers near Bicester who visited a mobile police station. more...
Ace African art
African warriors and animals danced and acted out stories as part of a village school's first art week. more...
Poet meets some well-versed pupils
Poet John Foster spent a day inspiring Grove pupils to read more poetry and to have a go at writing their own. more...
In pole position
Wheatley Primary School pupil Sam Snell will be looking good on future starting grids after coming first in the Club Kart Winter Championships. more...
Tanks for the treat
Charlie Miller took command of a tank as a treat before he goes into hospital to have both his kidneys removed. more...
February 11: Accolade
One criticism of our schools is that some pupils leave unprepared for careers in industry and commerce. more...
February 10: Time for a clean-up
The idea of a city-wide street clean-up is a good one. more...
February 8: Running into debt
When schools were given control of their budgets, it was clear that some would fare better than others. more...
February 7: Prune the managers
The decision to try to reduce the number of agency nurses in Oxfordshire hospitals makes sense. more...
Housing scheme to have social role
Almost half of the homes built on the site of a former psychiatric hospital will be allocated to people on a council waiting list. more...
Stunt run called off
A runner who planned to jog up Downing Street sucking a lollipop has had to cancel the charity stunt due to concerns about terrorism. more...
Festival has fun with science
The internal workings of the human brain and having fun with science are among the themes of events still to be staged as part of the Oxford Trust's Festival of Science. more...
No threat to our GP surgeries
Victoria Owen's account of our telephone conversations on UK GP shortages (Oxford Mail, February 4) was unnecessarily alarmist. more...
Peace campaigners hold Downing Street protest
Anti-war protesters chained themselves to the gates of Downing Downing Street yesterday during a St Valentine's Day protest and urged Prime Minister Tony Blair to "have a heart" on Iraq. more...
Jobs could go at engineering firm
The future of hundreds of workers at an Oxfordshire car engineering firm was in the balance after their company was taken into recei- vership. more...
Anti-war vigils planned for Oxford
Campaigners who could not join the massive anti-war march in London today (15 February) were urged to attend two vigils in Oxford. more...
Oxfordshire Sport
Thame snap up Fordy
Former Oxford United favourite Mike Ford has ended a week of turmoil by joining Ryman Division 1 club Thame United. more...
Golf results
Recent results involving Oxfordshire clubs and players more...
Frilford see off Dark Blues
A strong finish in the singles enabled Frilford Heath to record an 11-7 victory in their annual match at home to Oxford University. more...
Football fixtures - Saturday
Matches involving Oxfordshire teams on February 15 more...
Newport sidelined with broken arm
Cherry Red Records Hellenic League - a preview of the weekend's action more...
Champs hit by Vikings' rampage
Giles Sports Witney Youth League round-up: Witney Vikings hammered last season's champions, Launton, 19-1 to stay in contention at the top of the Under 15 A League. more...
Savage out to turn the tide
Oxford United midfielder Dave Savage says the next two Division 3 matches at the Kassam Stadium are "must-win games." more...
Goals galore as Didcot stroll home
Oxford Mail Boys - Under 12: Three Didcot Boys players bagged four-timers as they romped to a 14-0 victory over Botley in the A League. more...
Laver on song for Benson
Oxford Mail Boys - Under 10: Camden Laver hit a five-timer as Benson cruised to an 8-2 victory over Quarry in the White League. more...
Nixon slams four
Oxford Mail Boys - Under 11 more...
Wilkins strike seals point
Oxford Mail Boys - Under 13: Tom Wilkins fired home an equaliser with just two minutes on the clock as Ardington earned a point in a topsy-turvey 5-5 draw against Abingdon in the C League. more...
Coaches queue up for United No 2 job
Ian Atkins's telephone has been red hot with coaches interested in the vacant assistant manager's post. more...
Smith nets five in Oxford rout
Oxford Mail Boys - Under 14: Oxford City Colts saw off struggling Chalgrove 16-3 as they maintained their lead at the top of the B League. more...
Title chase down to wire
The Gladiator Beer Seller Friday League is still wide open, going into the final week, with no fewer than four teams still capable of clinching the title. more...
Veteran Wild out to fortify the over 40s!
Some say life begins at 40 - and that certainly rings true for Kennington athlete Stewart Wild, who is celebrating after receiving a first-ever Great Britain call for an international biathlon challenge in South Africa. more...
Wilkins vows to clear his name
Banbury discus thrower Perriss Wilkins has furiously denied that he is a drugs cheat, after UK Athletics banned him for life for a second positive drugs test. more...
Charity meeting proves a hit
Organisers of the Anthony Nolan Trust were more than happy with their charity meeting at Oxford on Tuesday. more...
Williams at double for jubilant Blackbirds
Oxford Mail Boys - Friendly League: A brace from Jamie Williams in the first of two Under 9 League games gave Oxford Blackbirds a 3-1 aggregate victory over Marston Saints. more...
County youth hit top form
Oxfordshire's young footballers showed their class, with the U18s beating their Gloucester counterparts and the U16s thrashing Derbyshire. more...
City stalwart Smith KO'd by knee injury
Oxford City have suffered a big blow after defender Andy Smith was ruled out for three weeks with a knee injury. more...
Thame snap up Fordy
Former Oxford United favourite Mike Ford has ended a week of turmoil by joining Ryman Division 1 club Thame United. more...
Blossom's return boosts Banbury
Wayne Blossom is set to return from suspension for Banbury United as they look to extend their unbeaten run in the Dr Martens League Eastern Division to four matches at the expense of visitors Fleet Town. more...
Casuals romp to massive victory
Oxford Mail Boys - Under 15: Didcot Casuals had a field day as they cruised to a 15-0 victory at Kidlington in the B League, despite having a player sent off. more...
Wally injury crisis
Seagrave Haulage Combined Counties League - a preview of the weekend's action more...
Hooky in the dark
Hook Norton are set to appeal after Cherwell District Council's planning committee rejected their application for floodlights at their Bourne ground. more...
Williams misses out
Thame United will be without Andy Williams when they travel to Wingate & Finchley. more...
Thomas returns
Luke Beauchamp and Jason Thomas return from injury for Abingdon Town when they host Leighton Town in Division 2. more...
Sky double for Oxford
Oxford Stadium will feature twice in two days on Sky Sports next month with the big Pall Mall greyhound race being followed by an Elite League speedway meeting. more...
Football fixtures - Sunday
Matches involving Oxfordshire teams on February 16 more...
Thame A turn up heat on leaders
Thame A put in a superb performance to close the gap on the leaders in the Oxford & District League Premier Division, after a 5-1 victory against basement boys Cherwell. more...
Hockey fixtures - Saturday
Matches involving Oxfordshire teams on Saturday (February 15-16) more...
Veteran Wild out to fortify the over 40s!
Some say life begins at 40 - and that certainly rings true for Kennington athlete Stewart Wild, who is celebrating after receiving a first-ever Great Britain call for an international biathlon challenge in South Africa. more...
Hockey fixtures - Sunday
Match involving Oxfordshire teams on February 16 more...
Another Scare targets double
Another Scare, one of the most consistent and popular runners at Cowley, can complete a quick double in the A1 over 450m at Oxford Stadium tonight (Saturday). more...
Big Thames carp caps red letter day
Specimen hunter Pete Andrews, from Bicester, had a smashing day's fishing on the Thames near Oxford, catching two chub over 5lb, plus a common carp of 18.3.0. more...
Rugby fixtures - Saturday
Matches involving Oxfordshire teams on February 15 more...
Devils face double test
Oxford Devils will be looking to boost their hopes of reaching the play-offs in a National Basketball League Conference double-header this weekend. more...
Youngsters on the up
Tennis in west Oxfordshire is enjoying a successful upturn in fortunes, thanks to new junior programmes. more...
Henley derby in cup switch
The David Charles Oxfordshire Cup quarter-final between Henley and Henley Wanderers, scheduled to be played this Sunday, has been put back three weeks because of a clash of fixtures. more...
Banbury bid to secure survival
It's a busy weekend for Banbury, who are involved in both league and cup action. more...
John grabs four-timer
Oxford University's new rugby union captain John Allen switched codes to score four tries as their rugby league team hammered a depleted Oxford Cavaliers 94-18 in the Town v Gown match. more...
Rugby fixtures - Saturday
Matches involving Oxfordshire sides on February 15 more...
Army too strong for Dark Blues
Oxford Univ 18, Army 22: John Allen did not get the start he was looking for as new Oxford University skipper as his side went down to the Army at Iffley Road last night. more...
Rugby fixtures - Sunday
Matches involving Oxfordshire teams on February 16 more...
Two games for Chinnor
Chinnor, who are still in danger near the bottom of South West 1, entertain Clifton in a crunch game on Saturday. more...
Capes seal triumph
Preston Capes celebrated their title triumph in Division 2 of the Banbury Indoor League with a 62-run victory over Cropredy in their final match. more...
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