John and Tess Davie demonstrate the games they have invented
FOLLOWING the news that nine year-old Alice Grapes from Chearsley, has reached the final stage of a national competition to invent a new game (SEE LINK), it seems that there are more young games inventors in the Thame area.
John and Tess Davie from Thame have both also been shortlisted for the Brainbox games Young Games Designer of the year award.
The siblings love playing board and card games, and both came up with imaginative, fun games for the whole family to play. Tess, whose game, Gold Rush, is an exciting chase game, said being on the national shortlist was ‘brilliant’. Her older brother John said: “I’m really pleased that people might get to play our games and enjoy the ideas we’ve had.” John’s game is a card game in which players make different potions, and it’s his second game to be shortlisted for the prize.
The competition winner gets to have their game manufactured by Brainbox Games, and will win a pile of games as high as they are! If either of the siblings wins this prize, they will donate the games to their school, John Hampden Primary in Thame.
CHINNOR RFC recorded their first home victory of the season on Saturday (21/11), scoring five tries in a 31-17 defeat of Clifton.
Solidarity with Paris shown before the match on Saturday at Chinnor Rugby Club
Clifton were first on the scoreboard with a converted try from Sam Harrison who came from deep behind dummy runners to find a hole in the Chinnor defence. Chinnor drew level on 24 minutes when debutant fly half Kieran Goss weaved through the visiting defence to put Jake Olley in under the posts for a converted try. Chinnor went into a 12-7 lead just four minutes later when a fine rapid handling move saw Lloret in at the corner. The conversion from Heath increased the Chinnor lead to 14-7. With most of the play in the Clifton half, a penalty goal from Clifton’s Barnes just before half time saw the visitors close the deficit to 14-10 at the break.
After 10 minutes of the second half, a neat line break from the visitors and an inside pass to To’oala saw the former Chinnor favourite put Clifton ahead 15-14. Barnes’ conversion put Clifton ahead 17-15. Chinnor began to play accurately at pace and came back through the increasingly influential Goss whose break led to a try for Goodfellow on 56 minutes. Heath’s conversion put Chinnor back in the lead 21-17 with 57 minutes played. Chinnor dominated the last quarter and Heath got on the end of a long miss pass to go in at the corner on 64 minutes to increase the home lead to 26-17. Chinnor then spent most of the remaining time battering a most resilient Clifton defence. However, despite their sustained endeavours, it took until the 80th minute for Chinnor’s last score when Heath again went over for a try from a quickly taken tap penalty to finish the match for a 31 -17 victory to Chinnor.
Clifton, particularly in the backs, played some accurate and pacey football but struggled to find territory and a forgiving defence. Chinnor’s victory was founded on a cohesive display from the forwards with the omnipresent Manning leading the charge. However, it was the backs who contributed all the points. Oscar Heath, back after a long time out, showed how much the club has missed him, contributing 16 points on the day. It took a most impressive debut to shade Oscar Heath’s comprehensive performance but new boy Kieran Goss at fly half pulled all the strings and kept Chinnor on the front foot throughout and is deservedly man of the match.
Chinnor
Oscar Heath, Salva Lloret, Junior Fatialofa, Jake Olley, Kieran Goss, Frank Jones, Samuel Fisher, Jamie Townsend, Andy Darlington, Daz Oliver, Ben Manning, Andy Tibbatts, Ryan Long, James Tyas (c)
Interchanges: Mark Darlington, Jay Tyack, Tom Burns, Greg Goodfellow, Alex Dancer
Clifton
Callum Roberts, Alan Wheller, Sam Harrison, Danny Wells, Elias Caven, Bradley Barnes, Mitch Spencer, Jordan Brodley, Jack Williams, Josh Ibuanokpe, Gavin Curry, Andy Cannock, Joe Quinn (c), Mike Uren, Alfie To’oala
Interchanges: Alex Giltrow, David Wheeler, Louis Wolfe, William Pomphrey, Sam Boyland
SMALL businesses in Thame (up to a £10 million turnover) are being offered the opportunity to meet and exchange information with other small businesses in the area, and for those thinking of starting a new business, to be inspired.
Nationally, Small Business Saturday 2015, is on Saturday, December 5, and throughout the day in Thame, tailor-made events and workshops, drop-in business surgeries, high street displays, and networking opportunities will be taking place.
The Mayor of Thame, Nichola Dixon and Thame’s MP, John Howell, will be at a special reception from 12 midday to toast Thame’s award as a Rising Star in the Great British High Streets competition 2015, including the cutting of a special celebration cake.
Many of the independent retailers in the town are getting behind Small Business Saturday with special activities going on in their shops throughout the day. What’s Cooking in Cornmarket will have a festive stall outside the shop with mulled cider, Christmas tastings, Gift inspiration, with examples of their bespoke gift hampers, Christmas cheeseboard ideas with top tips from ourtheir cheese expert (10am to 3pm) and hot soup.
My Sweet Art Creations in Swan Walk will be hosting a raffle from 10am, to win a sweetie Christmas hamper worth over £100. The winning ticket will be drawn at 3pm sharp. Tickets can be purchased in the shop and all proceeds will be going to Helen and Douglas House charity. Workshops and drop in sessions will be running thoughout the day. Booking not essential but for parties of four or more, do pop in to check availability.
Fitch and Fellows in East Street, Thame, (opposite the Cross Keys pub) will be making customised leather dog collars all day and demonstrating leatherwork.
For more information about the programme of events for this special day for small businesses, visit the Small Business Saturday Thame facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Thame.Smallbiz2015/
THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a series of thefts from charity collection tins across Thame.
The contents of four Poppy Appeal collection tins were stolen between Monday, October 19 and Thursday, November 12. The four tins were stolen from The Coffee House, Buttermarket, Cafe Bobo, Greyhound Walk,
St Mary’s Church, Church Road and from the Masonic Hall in the High Street.
PC Matthew Huard of Thame Police Station said: “Unfortunately none of the locations have CCTV footage of the incidents, and so we want to appeal to the public to come forward if they saw anyone acting suspiciously around the collection tins in the above locations.”
Anyone with any information should contact the Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 101 and ask to speak with PC Huard.
If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
Harry King demonstrates his BMX skills at the opening of the new Thame Skate Park
IT takes more than a drop of rain to dampen the spirits of Thame’s skaters and BMX bikers, especially if the promise of a brand new, state of the art Skate Park, the fruits of years of fund raising and planning, is in the offing.
On Saturday, November 14, the Mayor of Thame, Nichola Dixon officially cut the ribbon to launch the new facility, and after the speeches and thanks to all who had made it happen, the town council, South Oxfordshire District Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Thame Rotary, Thame Carnival, ex Mayor Jeannette Matelot Green and others who have made donations towards the scheme, the Mayor bravely borrowed a bike and tested out the slopes for herself!
Raising the £250,000 funding for the new skate park has been driven by three young men, Corin Rea, Olly Ross and Harry King.
The Mayor told those assembled for the opening: “This is amazing for town. It has taken so much dedication from all those involved. It’s going to be such a great place for young people to meet and get involved.”
Harry King (L) Jeannette Matelot Green & Corin Rae
Corin Rea, who Chaired the Skate Park Working Group, was ecstatic and speaking to a local TV station, said: “I cannot believe that after five years of hard work, we are finally here! Thame already has a fantastic community built around the Skate Park. What we have done is taken everyone’s ideas on board and come up with, what will be a national skate park destination. It’s amazing!”
The feelings of those who will be flocking to use the skate park are expressed in the comments on the Skate Park’s Facebook page LINK HERE
The Mayor of Thame, Nichola Dixon tries out the skate park for herself!
“This looks super sick, hyped to come skate it!”
“Place is too good, was fully rammed all day. I just watched, all a bit overwhelming! Ha ha. Need to chip of the rust and get on it.”
The fund-raising will carry on. Next on the agenda, is a push to raise money to provide lighting at the skate park, to extend the hours when it can be made use of.
One again, the people of Thame have pulled together to raise the bar in sporting and cultural activities for all sections of the community.
DO you have a special memory of retiring Thame Headteacher, Alan Haigh? The staff and pupils of John Hampden School want to make his last weeks memorable and would like to give him some of these memories to take away and read at his leisure.
The staff are putting together a big book of messages, stories and photographs and to do this they need the help of anyone connected with the school over the 23 years of Alan’s headship.
Teachers’ spokesperson, Laura Craig, explained: “We would like to invite families and individuals connected to the school to write a message to Mr Haigh. It could be a ‘Happy Retirement’ message, a memory, a story, a photograph, a picture or whatever you want to do.
“If you would like to contribute a message or memory please send a message via e mail to lcraig@john-hampden.oxon.sch.uk Please don’t e mail photographs though.
“It would be wonderful to have memories spanning the many years that Mr Haigh has given to the school so if you can help us we would be very grateful. This book is a secret for now so if you see Mr Haigh please don’t tell!”
SWAN Walk, which is just off the Upper Street, has seen several retail businesses come and go over recent years and currently includes an established Hair Salon, an Indian Take-Away restaurant, a sweet shop, a ‘vaping’ shop (recently opened) and a printing business and dry cleaners, both recently opened. A designer and builder of conservatories has also been operating in Swan Walk for some time.
The sale also include ground rent from houses in Swan Walk and The Swan Hotel.
CHINNOR RFC played with the elements in the first half and camped themselves firmly in the Worthing half for the first 20 minutes. Chinnor’s driving mauls resulted in a penalty converted by No 9 Greg Goodfellow, then quick handling put full back Keiron Goss over for an unconverted try.
From an image by Warwickpics.com
Worthing’s first venture into Chinnor’s territory earned them a penalty converted by fly half O’Hagan. Chinnor were able to stifle further Worthing attacks near the try line preventing them from scoring. Chinnor then kicked deep into Worthing’s half and created a rolling maul from the lineout allowing Ben Manning to carve his way through the defence to score under the post. Goodfellow converted the try. Just before half time Worthing were successful in driving to the Chinnor line for James to score a try converted by O’Hagan reducing Chinnor’s lead to 10 – 15 at the interval.
Worthing now had the wind and rain in their favour and pressurised Chinnor into making mistakes and giving away two penalties converted by O’Hagan and giving them a 1 point lead. Play and possession were fairly even between the two sides though Chinnor attacks were spoiled by handling errors caused by the wet conditions.
With 20 minutes to go Worthing put in a high cross field kick bouncing tantalisingly away from the Chinnor defence in the in-goal area. Worthing full back McLean pounced on this opportunity to score a try converted by O’Hagan.
Worthing then used the wind to good effect by kicking the ball deep into Chinnor’s half and putting them on the back foot until the final whistle and giving Worthing a 23 – 15 victory.
THAME Choral Society’s Christmas concert this year will be a performance in English of the first three parts of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. As well as the joyous Bach, there will be new and traditional settings of Christmas songs and carols, including some for the audience to sing. During the interval, traditional mince pies and mulled wine will add to, what promises to be, a special serving of Christmas spirit.
St Mary’s Church, Thame, Saturday, December 12, 2015, is the date for your diary, with the programme beginning at 7.30 pm. Tickets are £12 at the door or £10 in advance from A Piece of Cake, 18 Upper High Street, Thame OX9 3EX and Blooming Fruity, 6 Banks Parade, Haddenham, Aylesbury HP17 8ED.
Anyone interested in singing with this long-established choir, whether an experienced singer or a beginner, will be welcomed at one of its Wednesday evening rehearsals, which begin again in January 2016, at the Methodist Church in Haddenham. More information about the choir can be found on the website www.thamechoralsociety.co.uk, or drop an email to thamechoralsociety@hotmail.co.uk
THE consultants recently appointed to design and deliver improvements to Elms Park, The Environment Partnership (TEP), will be at the Thame Christmas Lights Switch on, on Friday, December 4, from 3pm to 7.30pm, and at Small Business Saturday on Saturday, December 5, from 10am to 2pm.
Music in The Park is held annually in Elms Paark (image Nick White)
Spokesperson for TEP, Anna-Sophia Stamm, said: “The Park is an important component of the historic town centre and conservation area of Thame, and TEP will be working hard over the next few weeks to really understand the needs of the local community and those who regularly use the Park. The information gathered will be used to inform the design and to make sure that a really special and inspiring place is created for the people of Thame.”
Look out for their gazebo outside the Town Hall and go and share your ideas. TEP is eager to listen to what you have to say. If you are not able to go to either of these events, you can e-mail your thoughts and suggestions to ElmsPark@tep.uk.com
The competition winner gets to have their game manufactured by Brainbox Games, and will win a pile of games as high as they are! If either of the siblings wins this prize, they will donate the games to their school, John Hampden Primary in Thame.
