Stories for 28 May 2004

Oxfordshire Jobs

This working life: Solicitor

Suzy Bishop, 29, solicitor and opera singer, of Blake Lapthorn Linnell in Botley, talks about her working life   more...

Adult learner wins award

A mother who wanted to help her son with his homework has picked up a top international award after signing up for a special adult learners project.   more...

This working life: Teaching and writing

Paul Gustafson, 48, author, naturalist, angler and teacher, from Abingdon, talks about his working life   more...

Oxfordshire News

It's time for a revolution

SIR - As it would appear that the main concerns of the local radical fringe are so wrapped up in the possible effects of global economic entropy on the urban shrew, or the plight of the homeless corncrake, may I put in a quiet word for the Independent Working Class Association?   more...

Many lame excuses

SIR - Angela Stewart criticises a defence solicitor who claimed in court that a doctor attacked by a 16-year-old yob had "acted provocatively" (Oxford Mail, May 26).   more...

Health teams grasp growing fat problem

Health workers in Oxfordshire are working hard to combat the county's growing waistline.   more...

Concerns at lack of audit

County councillors' allowances will not be subjected to internal accountancy inspections during the next three years.   more...

Addict died after 'binge'

A man with a history of alcohol and drug abuse died after taking heroin following a two-day drinking binge, an inquest heard.   more...

A34 map rerouting 'was a mistake'

A key transport map suggesting that the A34 is to be diverted from Oxford is a mistake, the Government Office for the South East has admitted.   more...

May 28: Mindless vandals

Autistic schoolchildren who were looking forward to an adventure weekend in Wales may have to cancel the trip because their buses have been vandalised.   more...

Fears over new car park plan

Householders unhappy at the prospect of a car park being created at the end of their back gardens have sent a petition of protest to Cherwell District Council.   more...

Court action forces injuries unit U-turn

High Court action has succeeded in forcing Oxfordshire health chiefs to scrap plans to slash opening hours at a minor injuries unit.   more...

Three-wheeled cart will help bid for gold

A historic farm cart with three wheels has been offered to Abingdon to help boost its campaign for a gold award in this year's 'Britain in Bloom' competition.   more...

Grubby way Greens try to snatch votes

SIR - I was incensed to read the Green Party allegations that the Army was encouraging young children to handle guns and glorifying war in Oxford (Oxford Mail, May 21).   more...

Wrecked: autistic children's trip ruined after vandals smash buses

Vandals have smashed up two school buses, jeopardising an annual trip for autistic children.   more...

Blunkett discovers views of residents

Home Secretary David Blunkett admitted frustration at the slow machinery of Government when he visited Oxford last night to learn what people felt about crime and antisocial behaviour.   more...

Oxfordshire Sport

Football: United put up prices

Oxford United have put up season ticket prices for the first time since they moved to the Kassam Stadium.   more...

Speedway: Injury toll mounts for unlucky Oxford

Coventry Bees 58, Oxford Silver Machine 36: Oxford's long injury list worsened as the Silver Machine suffered a crushing Elite League defeat at Brandon last night.   more...

Fixtures: All the week's sporting fixtures

SATURDAY   more...

Cricket: Launder boosts Banbury

Banbury welcome back Oxfordshire seamer Simon Launder for their Division 1 match at Potters Bar tomorrow.   more...

Cricket: Cunliffe gets call as Oxfordshire open up

Former Gloucestershire and Leicestershire batsman Rob Cunliffe will play for Oxfordshire in their opening Minor Counties Championsip game of the season against Devon at Bovey Tracey this weekend.   more...

Boxing: Ace Robbie has the Wright stuff

Berinsfield's Robbie Wright chalked up his ninth win of the season at Droitwich, where he dished out a lesson to Lye's Sean Evans, who attempted to drag him into a war from the opening bell.   more...

Oxfordshire Whats On

Georgeous George

A smoky cafe full of students may not be the best selling point. But take it from me, Georginas is fun, lively, unpretentious, popular and the food is quick, fresh, delicious, innovative, and of course cheap -- hence the students.   more...

Taste notes

The air was thick with the smell of burning flesh. It was as if the whole world had been cast into the fires of Hell.   more...

Review: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (15)

Every once in a while, a film comes along which reminds us that originality, verve and invention are not completely dead in Hollywood.   more...

Review: Troy (15)

Classical scholars will wince. As will moviegoers who had hoped the much-hyped epic might deliver more than armour, sandals and sunshine.   more...

Review: Summer Lightning (Royal Theatre, Northampton; until June 12)

Driving to Northampton with the car radio on, I noted with irritation the failure of a Radio 4 play purporting to show us Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson about their work. What a contrast it was later, at the Royal Theatre, to witness scarcely less famous figures from the world of fiction scamper from page to stage with credibility fully intact.   more...

A sharper man: Ex-Blur's Graham Coxon talks to Tim Hughes

As the creative force in Blur, Graham Coxon was responsible for some of Britpop's best-loved songs.   more...

Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (PG)

HP3, as it's been dubbed, is directed by Alfonso Cuaron, whose last film, Y Tu Mama Tambien, featured two blokes getting friendly with an older woman. Parents will be relieved to learn that the latest in the Potter franchise is far less salacious, although it is fairly scary and malevolent for a PG-rated adventure -- sometimes it's more Roald Dahl than JK Rowling.   more...

Review: My Boy Jack (Oxford Playhouse; until May 29)

David Haig is among our best-known and accomplished actors. Interestingly, his career has often led him into the military life (Journey's End, for example, and Soldier, Soldier). Now, as a playwright, he plunges us into the horror and the agony, mental, physical, moral, of the terrible 'Great' war of 1914-18.   more...

Tai Kong, 100 Cowley Road, Oxford

My body is a temple. Alas, it is not in the best of condition and would benefit from some restoration work.   more...