Stories for 23 April 2003

Oxfordshire Business

US firm wants to buy TWR auto unit

An American company is lining up to buy the remainder of Oxfordshire motor engineering firm TWR.   more...

Oxfordshire News

Relief for commuters

Long-suffering commuters from Oxfordshire were expecting an end to nightmare journeys into London on April 23 as normal service resumed at Paddington station.   more...

Hospitals could cut jobs to limit debt

Job cuts at Oxfordshire's major hospitals may be introduced to limit debts which could exceed £23m within the next 12 months.   more...

Nurses aid asthmatic patients

Patients with serious breathing difficulties are being treated in their own homes rather than being admitted to hospital, thanks to a new team of specialist nurses in Oxford.   more...

Artist revives ancient tradition

An ancient art is to be revived at the Oxfordshire Record Office this summer.   more...

Council urged to keep fee promise

Council leaders in Oxford will on April 23 confirm their promise to abandon domestic charges for destroying rats and mice.   more...

Asylum inquiry under fire

A public inquiry into Home Office plans for an asylum centre near Bicester has been denounced as a "sham".   more...

After-school grant agreed

Councillors rejected a recommendation from their officers and approved a £15,000 grant to a group for schoolchildren in Wheatley.   more...

Couple receive refund for China trip

An 11th-hour change of advice by the Foreign Office has saved an Oxfordshire couple £3,000 on a lost holiday to China.   more...

Marathon endeavour

Months of training paid off for Sam Butler and Xan Thavenot, who competed in the London Marathon to raise money for the Countryside Alliance. Sam Butler, right, and Xan Thavenot   more...

Memories wanted for local history website

A website scheme helping people in Oxford to peek into the past has proved such a hit that it is being extended.   more...

Shop to help childLine

Staff at an Oxford shop are helping to raise money for the ChildLine charity.   more...

Egg-stra special fun for everyone

More than 40 children and adults competed in Didcot's third Easter Monday Eggstravaganza. Jessica Smith   more...

Three hurt in crash

Three people were hurt when a Land Rover towing a caravan was involved in a collision with a Seat Ibiza on the A34 near Didcot on April 22.   more...

Unusual naming ceremony

A Banbury baby has become one of the first in Oxfordshire to be named at a civil ceremony instead of a church christening. Kyle, left, with parents Chris Allen and Kelly Sharman   more...

Warning as lamb is killed

Dog owners have been warned their pets could be put down, after a two-month-old lamb was savaged in a field near Banbury.   more...

Stitchers organise open day

Textile artists will be talking about their work at an open day in Oxford.   more...

Leisure centre wins top award

The new £4.7m Chipping Norton Leisure Centre has received a commendation award from the Civic Trust.   more...

Pensioner criticises `rat' who stole purse in shop

A thief snatched a purse from a 76-year-old woman in a supermarket containing her week's pension -- along with her lucky four-leaf clover.   more...

Children try out sports

Children were able to try out several different activities when they joined an Easter holiday sports camp. Trying table tennis are, left, nine-year-old Sophie Beard and Anna Brennan, 11   more...

Residents fight to drive out lorries

Thirty years' controversy about road access to a school in Thame has come to a head, following plans to let construction traffic use a narrow residential street. John Edwards and fellow residents are protesting against plans for lorries to use this narrow road to get to a school construction site   more...

Fight for shop gets results

A housing association has helped villagers to revive a village shop.   more...

Grant helps church changes

A £100,000 grant given by South Oxfordshire District Council to a church in Thame will help make its rooms more accessible to elderly and disabled people.   more...

CCTV to focus on vandalism

Mobile CCTV cameras will be used to track down vandals following a spate of attacks in Witney and Carterton.   more...

Spring arrivals at park

Plenty of spring babies are delighting visitors to the Cotswold Wildlife Park in Burford. One of two Asiatic lion cubs   more...

Take a gander at green event

People living in Standlake will be saying 'boo to a goose' on April 25 as part of the village's environmental open day.   more...

Tomatoes help charity

Members of the Oxfordshire branch of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People are busy with their green fingers.   more...

Dead man is named

The Oxfordshire serviceman who died in a parachute accident on Good Friday was a safety equipment expert at RAF Brize Norton.   more...

Show helps charities

The Witney Young Farmers' horse show this year will support two charities.   more...

Toddler and baby group

A new baby and toddlers group is being started in Ducklington, near Witney.   more...

Governor ready for the high jump

Sarah Nesbitt is a little nervous about her "leap of faith" but she will be making it in a good cause. Sarah Nesbitt, right, and Ruth Atkinson   more...

Drinks bid prompts protest

Residents in the Station Road area of Wallingford are protesting about plans to sell alcoholic drinks at a garage -- a year after successfully fighting an application.   more...

Daytime limits imposed on bells

Chimes are once again ringing out over Wallingford -- but only during the day.   more...

St John re-opens after arson

The headquarters of the St John Ambulance brigade in Abingdon is open again -- 16 months after part of the building was badly damaged by arsonists.   more...

Pupils secure quiz victory

Rush Common Primary School in Abingdon is toasting its second victory in the Community Safety Action Group quiz final.   more...

Funeral home opens

A former bookshop in Abingdon's High Street has been transformed into a new Co-op funeral home.   more...

Sars: students in quarantine

Students who travelled to countries affected by the Sars virus over Easter are facing up to 10 days in quarantine before they can rejoin their classmates.   more...

Mother ordered to move narrowboat

The plight of a single mother who has been told to move her narrowboat from Oxford Canal at Kidlington, has highlighted the lack of moorings on the waterway. Jane Hughes with her daughter Nicola, 12, on their narrowboat   more...

Smart move for road safety

Road safety officers are urging Oxfordshire drivers to be smart and keep their speed down. Road safety officer Steve Wood with one of the smiling speed indicator devices   more...

Oxfordshire Sport

Rugby: Hennessy at the helm for Oxfordshire

Chinnor No 8 Paul Hennessy has been chosen to captain Oxfordshire, who open their Tetley's County Shield campaign against Bucks at Chinnor on Saturday.   more...

Football: City call for season extension

Oxford City boss Paul Lee has called on Ryman League chiefs to extend the season after the cancellation of their Division 1 North league match at Tilbury on Saturday left them with six games in ten days.   more...

Greyhounds: Cheetah lifts Pall Mall in thrilling finish

COOLY Cheetah remained the coolest of them all to land the William Hill Pall Mall final with a blistering late run at the Stadium last night, writes JOHN GAISFORD.   more...

Football: Super Cooper hits extra-time treble

Witney & District FA   more...

Football: Wilson double sinks Harwell challenge

North Berks League   more...

Rugby League: French star eyes Cavaliers move

OXFORD Cavaliers rugby league club received a boost last week when French Under 21 triallist BenÙit Azam joined their pre-season training session.   more...

Football: Steady Stokes seals Beckley cup triumph

RT Harris Oxford City FA   more...

Speedway: Boyce in home debut

THE Oxford Silver Machine go nationwide on live television tonight when they take on Ipswich Witches in the Sky Sports Elite League (7.45).   more...

Rugby: Ambitious Quins to aim for top

Oxford Harlequins chairman Kevin Johnson reiterated the club's ambition to achieve National League status in the near future, when he spoke at the club's annual meeting.   more...

Billiards: Ace Aries cruises into final

Simon Aries eased into the final of the Oxford & District League's Oxford Times Cup with a 500-409 victory over clubmate Bob Chivers in the semi-final at Cowley Conservative Club, writes DICK HASHMAN.   more...