Stories for 23 July 2004

Oxfordshire Business

New scheme to help businesses

A new initiative has been launched to help budding entrepreneurs and people running small businesses in south west Oxfordshire.   more...

Oxfordshire Education

School plans to end lessons at lunchtime

A school is considering a radical overhaul of its timetable so that pupils finish their lessons by lunchtime.   more...

Oxfordshire News

Help the homeless

Sir -- An individual or family will be determined homeless only if they meet certain statutory requirements.   more...

It's not a vote winner

Sir -- Graham Butler (Letters, July 15) accuses me of arrogance, because I referred to a recent survey which found that only 14 per cent would be influenced by the hunting issue come the next election. That means a whopping 86 per cent are not bothered one way or another.   more...

Oxford drops in licence list of shame

The number of TV licence evaders caught in Oxford has increased -- with 721 caught in the city so far this year.   more...

Lesson learned

Community leaders have praised Oxford police for their religiously sensitive approach to a series of dawn raids.   more...

Uncertainty clouds future of RAF base

Uncertainty continues to surround the future of RAF Benson.   more...

Tory leader shows good reading habits

More police officers and a tougher sentencing policy -- that was the demand from Conservative leader Michael Howard after he read yesterday's Oxford Mail.   more...

School plans to end lessons at lunchtime

A school is considering a radical overhaul of its timetable so that pupils finish their lessons by lunchtime.   more...

'Brulee caused gas blast'

A gas blast which seriously injured a chef at one of Oxford's most popular restaurants is thought to have been caused by a blowtorch used to make creme brulees.   more...

Extra police at protest

Extra police officers will be on patrol to prevent violent clashes at tomorrow's animal rights march through Oxford.   more...

Queen seen

Members of the Banbury and District Volunteer Bureau met the Queen at a reception at St James' Palace organised to honour this year's Queen's Award for Voluntary Service winners.   more...

'No money to back up hospital pledge'

A Government commitment for a new 30-bed community hospital in Bicester was never backed up with extra cash to build it, according to a senior health executive.   more...

Sex assault claim 'to wind up boyfriend'

Two girls falsely accused a kebab shop manager of indecently assaulting them to "wind up" one of their boyfriends, a court heard.   more...

Horse and dog show

Horse and dog owners are being invited to take part in competitions in Witney on Sunday.   more...

Six arrested over damage

Six youths were arrested in Wallingford's Riverside Park early on Wednesday following damage to the toilet block and the swimming pool.   more...

Jim bows out after 38 years

Bad behaviour, too much paperwork and inspections are driving teachers out of the profession, says the retiring head of an Abingdon primary school.   more...

Tony Blair must go

Sir -- The invasion of Iraq was the main reason Labour got such a kicking from Oxford voters last month.   more...

Fair causes roads chaos

Roads around north Oxford and Woodstock were gridlocked today as thousands of countryside enthusiasts flocked to Blenheim Palace for a game fair.   more...

700 tax dodgers face court blitz

Court action has been launched against more than 700 Oxford people to retrieve more than £1.1m in unpaid council tax.   more...

Oxfordshire Sport

Football: Police foil thugs' plot

Oxford United's pre-season friendly at Havant & Waterlooville was sensationally called off yesterday afternoon - because of the threat of crowd trouble.   more...

Football: Now Green joins Wallingford exodus

Didcot Town are set to sign defender Dave Green from near-neighbours AFC Wallingford.   more...

Fixtures: The week's sporting calender

CRICKET   more...

Football: Oxford planning to halt Henley charge

Oxford aim to become only the second side to beat Division 1 leaders Henley this season when the teams meet at Roman Way tomorrow.   more...

Speedway: Skipper Hancock is set for derby return

Oxford Silver Machine welcome back skipper Greg Hancock for their vital Skybet Elite League clash with derby rivals Swindon at the Stadium tonight (7.30pm).   more...

Cricket: Leaders ring the changes

Table-topping Bicester & North Oxford make two changes to their side for tomorrow's big Oxford Times Cherwell League Division 1 game with in-form Milton Keynes Park.   more...

Tennis: Oxon teams face tense final day

County Week is set for a grandstand finish for Oxfordshire - with a number of outcomes possible for both teams going into the final day.   more...

Oxfordshire Whats On

Real ale

Hats off to pub landlord David Raines! He's leading the fight against the price-fixing policies employed by the pub companies and major brewers, angered at the amount he has to pay Punch Taverns to buy beer for his pub, the Black's Head in Bletchingdon.   more...

Taste notes

It wasn't that I had nothing better to do, but I counted more than 20 wines costing less than £3 a bottle at Morrison's this week.   more...

Review: Hamlet (Stratford)

With first-class productions of Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet and King Lear already 'up and running' at Stratford, the RSC has now added a brilliant finishing touch to its season of four great tragedies.   more...

Byrne baby byrne

The summer festival season reaches its zenith this weekend with two of the country's finest events taking place nearby.   more...

Concert marks anniversary

The 300th anniversary of the day the Duke of Marlborough led his troops to victory at the Battle of Blenheim will be marked with a concert at Woodstock's Blenheim Palace.   more...

Review: Brian Wilson (New Theatre, Oxford)

We love you Brian! The spontaneous cry from the audience summed up the mood as former Beach Boy Brian Wilson launched into his first show in Oxford.   more...

Feeling blue

Blues fans will never find themselves at a loss in the city of dreaming spires, while our own Silver Phil keeps the music flowing at the Bullingdon every Monday.   more...

Fyne dining

Oily fish are good for the brain, they say. Schoolchildren in Oxfordshire are even being given fish oil tablets to improve concentration.   more...