Stories for 3 May 2003

Oxfordshire Business

Mystery firm makes bid for vaccine producer

Drugs firm PowderJect has received a takeover approach from an undisclosed bidder.   more...

OGS posts £41m loss

Hostile takeover victim Oxford GlycoSciences has declared a £41m loss in its final set of financial results.   more...

Oxfordshire Education

Vouchers proposal to solve schools row

A radical solution to the financial problems facing schools has been suggested by the leader of Oxfordshire County Council, Keith Mitchell.   more...

Education for services' children threatened

Concerns have been raised about the education of children whose parents are in the armed forces, after plans for extra school funding were scrapped.   more...

Oxfordshire Local Info

Maurice 'Mick' Parratt

Former mace bearer to Abingdon Town Council, Desert Rat and master carpenter in the film and television industry Maurice "Mick" Parratt has died.   more...

Jock Hamilton-Baillie

Tributes have poured in to the family of war hero Brigadier Jock Hamilton-Baillie, who has died, aged 84.   more...

Mary Case

The funeral takes place at Didcot Methodist Church on May 2 of Mary Case, whose baking and cooking helped raise thousands of pounds for charity.   more...

Thomas Joy

THOMAS Joy, a leading light of the book trade who started his outstanding career in Oxford, has died, aged 98.   more...

Winifred Morris

The funeral takes place on Wednesday next week of Winifred Morris, 85, who was a founder member of Didcot Pensioners' Association.   more...

Oxfordshire News

Wander along towpaths

A series of guided canal walks will take place in Oxfordshire this weekend.   more...

Watchdog investigates summerhouse dispute

The dismantling of a historic summerhouse at an Oxford school is to be investigated by the local government ombudsman.   more...

Russian airship joins Balloon Fiesta

A Russian airship will join dozens of hot-air balloons for the first time at this year's Oxford City Council Balloon Fiesta.   more...

Festival season gets under way

The summer season of festivals, fairs and fun gets under way this weekend with the start of this year's Fun in the Parks events.   more...

Soldiers hand out shoes to children

Iraqi children are walking around in shoes donated by people from Oxfordshire.   more...

Union fears rail job cuts

Rail union leaders fear job cuts announced by Thames Trains will lead to poorer station services for passengers in Oxfordshire.   more...

Police to target bogus crimes

Bogus allegations of robbery waste police time and will be treated as serious offences, detectives have warned.   more...

Dredging to aid riverbank repairs

Dredging is taking place at Osney Lock in west Oxford as the first stage of a major restoration project to counteract the effects of erosion caused by the River Thames.   more...

Stabbing victim's sister tells of family's sorrow

The sister of Yvonne Heap, who died after being found with multiple stab wounds outside an Oxford police station, has spoken of her family's heartbreak.   more...

Courts clash delays trial date

A policy of listing two trials on the same day in one court at Oxford Magistrates' Court set back a burglary trial on Thursday, May 1.   more...

Mayor 'gagged' in park rangers row

Banbury councillors claim they were "gagged" when they tried to discuss how a cemetery bench was damaged by the town's park rangers.   more...

Vouchers proposal to solve schools row

A radical solution to the financial problems facing schools has been suggested by the leader of Oxfordshire County Council, Keith Mitchell.   more...

Plans experts guide city centre project

A national expert on city centre redevelopment is to work with Oxford city and county councils to drive forward plans to revamp the city's 'West End'.   more...

New school opened

A new north Oxford primary school has been officially opened -- but nearly half its pupils will continue to be taught at its old site until a planning problem is sorted out.   more...

Police collect 600 bullets

More than 600 rounds of ammunition have been handed in at police stations in Oxford and Cowley during the Get Guns off the Streets amnesty.   more...

Recycling helps appeal

A businessman is helping pupils recycle waste and raise money for the Oxford Children's Hospital campaign at the same time.   more...

Brother offers the gift of life

Warehouse worker and charity fundraiser John Wilkins is to donate one of his kidneys to his brother.   more...

Warning on explosives

Dangerous explosives were stolen from a van in Didcot, police have warned.   more...

South Oxfordshire: Conservatives sweep back to power

The Conservatives swept back into power with a convincing victory in south Oxfordshire.   more...

Cherwell: Tories drop three seats

The National Front vowed to put up candidates in all Bicester wards in next year's elections.   more...

Vale of White Horse: Tories take bite out of Liberals

Liberal Democrats are still in control of the Vale of White Horse District Council - but the Conservatives mounted a strong challenge and reduced the Lib Dems majority to eight seats.   more...

Superstore battle proves the ticket

West Oxfordshire: Grassroots politics won the day in west Oxfordshire when Harriet Ryley took a seat on a single issue - the fight to stop a superstore developing Witney's Marriotts Close.   more...

Election 2003: Tories tighten grip on county

Just one of the four district councils to go to the polls on May 1 changed hands - but the night threw up a few surprises.   more...

Tenants face crucial vote

A crucial vote will take place this summer to decide the future of every council house tenant in north Oxfordshire.   more...

More low-cost homes

A £1M regeneration scheme on the outskirts of Bretch Hill, Banbury, has boosted the number of affordable houses in the town.   more...

Healing sounds

An Oxford hospital was filled with music on Thursday, May 1, when members of a city orchestra performed for patients, visitors and staff.   more...

Working the Inca way

The Incas of Peru have always fascinated Sarah Stephenson -- and now she is going to be working in that civilisation's sacred valley.   more...

Meeting to discuss flooding

Residents can air their views on the way the flooding, which blighted the new year for hundreds of people across Oxfordshire, was handled at a public meeting later this month.   more...

Charity benefits from 150th anniversary

A building society marked its 150th anniversary by donating a cake to a charity for older people. Staff at the Oxford branch of Skipton Building Society presented the cake on May Day to Age Concern during a party to celebrate the occasion.   more...

Footpath 'delay' upsets

A disabled man says his wife is having to push him two miles to a shopping parade, which is only one hundred metres from his house.   more...

Top officers quit sports group

Hundreds of sportsmen and women face an uncertain future after three key officers quit a major organisation over its 'old-fashioned attitudes'.   more...

Craft club turns tea bags into art

Handicraft enthusiasts in Grove enjoyed an afternoon learning the intricate art of tea bag folding.   more...

Police officer took her own life

A police officer who was planning to start a new life in Spain with her husband gassed herself inside her car.   more...

Repair row forces stay in hospital

Relatives of an 84-year-old Witney pensioner are angry she being forced to stay in hospital because a housing association cannot mend her back door.   more...

New face at Round Table

Witney Round Table has a new chairman.   more...

Event offers deals

A flight in a light aircraft, off-roading in a Mercedes at Cliveden, tickets for Henley Regatta and a trip for ten in an RAF helicopter will be on offer at an auction of promises in Benson.   more...

OAP tripped on uneven pavement

A pensioner on a shopping trip to Abingdon has called for improvements to pavements after she stumbled on an uneven slab and fell.   more...

Bus stops may move in drive to cut congestion

Passengers may no longer be allowed to catch buses from Abingdon's High Street, if plans to cut congestion and pollution are introduced.   more...

Hygiene design proves a winner

A design student from Abingdon has won a national award after inventing a tough rucksack and an oral health care stick.   more...

Family warning after pet is shot

A family has warned pet owners to be on their guard after their pet cat was shot and badly injured.   more...

Candidate angry over 'Tory' label

A defeated parish councillor says he probably lost his seat because postal ballot cards wrongly described him as a Tory candidate.   more...

Corpse mystery probed

The death of a man whose body was found by allotments in Oxford is no longer being treated as suspicious.   more...

Groups join forces for day of protest

Public sector workers, trade union officials and anti-war campaigners from across Oxfordshire are expected to take part in a May Day demonstration in the city on Monday.   more...

Oxfordshire Sport

Fulke's Seul aim is Guineas glory

Fulke Johnson Houghton is revelling being back in the big-race spotlight.   more...

Champion Toni eyes up new world record

Yarnton weightlifter Toni Hollis is celebrating after being crowned World Masters Benchpress champion for the first time.   more...

United's final fling

Oxford United take on York City at the Kassam Stadium in their final Division 3 game knowing that if they win, and Lincoln lose at home to Torquay, they will be in the Football League play-offs for the first time in their history.   more...

Football fixtures

Games to be played on Saturday, May 3   more...

Football fixtures

Games to be played on Sunday, May 4, 2003   more...

We'll bounce back, says boss

Hellenic League preview: Bicester Town manager Eddie Nix has vowed to bounce back after his team were relegated from the Hellenic League Premier Division for the first time.   more...

United's final fling

Oxford United take on York City at the Kassam Stadium in their final Division 3 game knowing that if they win, and Lincoln lose at home to Torquay, they will be in the Football League play-offs for the first time in their history.   more...

Weary City take point

Barking & East Ham Utd 0, Oxford City 0: A weary and much-changed City continued their excellent run when they returned from a difficult trip to Essex with a well-earned Ryman Division 1 North point on Thursday night.   more...

Thame gun for derby glory

Thame United boss Andy Sinnott aims to end the season on a high by beating near neighbours and Ryman Division 1 North rivals Oxford City in their last match of the season at Windmill Stadium on Saturday.   more...

Football fixtures

Games to be played on Monday, May 5, 2003   more...

Quarry are kept waiting

Hellenic League preview: Quarry Nomads' hopes of clinching the Division 1 East title last night were thwarted when their match against RS Basingstoke was postponed.   more...

United target Dartford

Jon Corbett makes his last appearance for a full-strength Banbury United as they travel to Dr Martens League Eastern Division rivals Dartford.   more...

Ready to clang off

An impressive line-up of 130 teams will do battle in the newly-named Greene King Oxford and District League which starts on Wednesday (May 30).   more...

B team get off to a flier at Tilsley

Radley's B team got their Southern Women's League Division 3 campaign off to a flying start with a convincing victory in the opening meeting at Tilsley Park.   more...

Record-breaker Reynolds at the double

Radley's Kay Reynolds smashed the club record in the 100m and high jump as she helped her team to first place in the opening South of England Veterans' League at Tilsley Park.   more...

Craft first lady home

Jude Craft made a splendid debut for Oxford Triathlon Club with victory in her category at the Hereford Duathlon.   more...

Four head for Ibiza

Four athletes from Team Cherwell Triathlon Club will be treading water among 1,800 other athletes at the World Long Course Triathlon Championships in Ibiza on May 11.   more...

Craft is queen of the road for Headington

Headington Roadrunners' women had their best result to date in the Nike AAA National 6-stage road relays at Sutton Park in Birmingham, finishing fifth overall.   more...

Track problems to be resolved

The Oxford speedway track has been the subject of a lot of criticism this season - and the management have acted by ordering some much-needed remedial treatment this week.   more...

Football fixtures

Games to be played on Saturday, May 3   more...

Tenacious Tatton seals cup double

James Tatton completed a glorious double as he produced a battling display to beat Karl Walker 4-3 and lift the Oxford & District League's Walt Bradbury Cup in snooker.   more...

Bulls are beaten but unbowed

Oxford Bulls returned from Solihull beaten but pleased with a much-improved performance from the last time they faced the Vikings.   more...

Eynsham cash booster

Eynsham CC raised more than £1,200 towards their new ground project from a collection at the Swinford Toll Bridge.   more...

Horspath strike gold

Horspath are celebrating after lifting the cycle speedway Gold Cup for the first time in their history.   more...

Trainers net ten per cent bonus

Greyhound trainers at Oxford Stadium are to get a ten per cent increase in bonuses with immediate effect.   more...

Nurse act raises funds

Trainer Gilly Hepden and owner Marian Ward dressed up as nurses to sell thousands of raffle tickets at the charity night in memory of Gilly's late kennel hand, Kathy Kirkby, at Oxford on Thursday.   more...

Machine rained off

Friday night's Sky Sports Elite League clash between Oxford Silver Machine and Eastbourne Eagles at Sandy Lane was a victim of the rain.   more...

Tennis fixtures

Games to be played on Saturday, May 3, 2003   more...

Prop Chadbone is Harlequins choice

Prop Simon Chadbone was chosen as the Oxford Harlequins players' player of the year at the club's annual awards dinner.   more...

Oxon eye up Twickers double

It could be a dream day for Oxfordshire rugby on Saturday, May 24 with two of their sides playing at Twickenham.   more...

Obi voted tops

Winger Nnamdi Obi was chosen as Henley Hawks' player of the season at their end-of-season party.   more...

Rugby fixture

TETLEY'S BITTER 20 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP: Semi-final: North Midlands v Oxfordshire (Dudley Kingswinford, Saturday 2.30).   more...

Caribbean bids to light up top flight

The name of Oxford Caribbean has returned to the OCA League - and they look mounting a real challenge for the Division 1 title as the new season gets under way on Saturday (May 3).   more...

Cricket fixtures

Games to be played on Saturday, May 2, 2003   more...

Eynsham cash booster

Eynsham CC raised more than £1,200 towards their new ground project from a collection at the Swinford Toll Bridge.   more...

Cricket fixtures

Matches to be played on Sunday, May 4, 2003   more...

Dream Team retain the championship

The Dream Team lived up to their name as they retained the 2.0-litre Banger Team Championship title at Standlake Arena.   more...

Oxon teams fire up for Spanish tester

Oxfordshire's two Formula 1 teams completed a tough workout at a rain-soaked Silverstone as they warmed up for the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona on Sunday (May 4).   more...

Marsh leaves rivals in shade

Gary Marsh's title challenge moved up a gear with a dominant win in the second round of the Castle Combe Formula Ford Championship.   more...

Oxfordshire Whats On

Stones in His Pockets

Still packing in audiences in the West End, Marie Jones's Stones in His Pockets reaches Oxford in a touring production which really ought not to be missed.   more...

  
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