THREE goals from Dan West and a Marcus Mealing strike were enough for United to edge a seven goal thriller at the ASM Stadium.
Dan West (Right)
The early exchanges saw United open the stronger of the two sides and they were unlucky not to take the lead on five minutes when a Dan Jones corner was headed goal-wards by West only for the ball to be cleared off the line. Two minutes later and Luke Ricketts collected the ball in his own half before going on a powerful run that saw him through on goal, with the keeper saving the initial effort before the ricochet fell to Ricketts again whose shot this time hit the post before being cleared. West then saw an effort from 20 yards go just wide, whilst a Mealing header cleared the bar.
The opening goal eventually arrived on 26 minutes when Dan West forced an error as Shrivenham tried to play the ball out of defence, with Adam Morris calmly sliding the ball through to Mealing who slotted home from 20 yards. However, within five minutes Shrivenham had taken the lead. Firstly, Liam Edmondson found himself in space to fire home, before Steve Robertson scored from close range at the back post following a corner.
At this point United were struggling to re-capture their initial dominance and looked to be heading in to half time with a deficit until, following a corner in the 45th minute, Luke Ricketts floated the ball in to the box for Dan West to get the slightest of touches to steer the ball home.
West then scored his second on 49 minutes chasing a long through ball and running in to the area to calmly finish wide of Moody in the Shrivenham goal. Five minutes later and West had completed his hat-trick, receiving a ball cut back from the bye-line by Luke Ricketts and finishing first time in to the far corner. Ricketts then almost added to the score line, only for the keeper to save his goal bound effort.
Shrivenham then pulled a goal back on 66 minutes when a ball in to the box saw keeper Cockerill come off his line and the ball fell kindly to Josh Fowler who drove home from 20 yards. Any nerves were almost dispelled on 73 minutes when, following good work from Mealing down the Thame right, the ball was pulled back to Ricketts whose effort went over the bar.
The remaining 15 minutes of the game saw Shrivenham dominate possession, but rarely threaten Cockerill in the Thame goal, as United held our for three points and a win that moves them up to seventh.
UHLSPORT HELLENIC LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION – Thame United 4 Shrivenham 3
YOUNG Ollie Coulcher-Porter stamped his intentions on the squash world last weekend (20/21/09)by winning the E grade in the Racquets Open Graded Squash Tournament.
Ollie Coulcher-Porter with ex British National Squash Champion, Alison Waters
Ollie is just 8 years old but he is already aiming big. The E grade was contested by eight lads from 8 to 15 years-old.
“Some of the games were very closely fought,” said Sue Martin Downhill, squash coach at Raquets, “and Ollie showed a strength of mind to come through as the winner. He started playing squash regularly earlier this year and practices every chance he gets.
“We are all very proud of the way he handled the pressure of the tournament and look forward to him competing in the Oxfordshire Junior Closed this coming weekend at Abingdon Squash Club. As this weekend will be Ollie’s first tournament away from home there are no expectations of winning the tournament but we will be interested to see how he fares against the other under 11s.”
Later the same day the World number #57, Rex Hedrick, played and won against the World number #27, Adrian Waller. A bit of an upset there which the club members all enjoyed watching!
If you’re interested in starting to play squash, you can give Simon Martin or Sue a call at Racquets Fitness Centre on 01844 261754.
“We are particularly keen to encourage ladies and juniors who have never played before,” added Sue, ” as we have new groups who have started learning this year and they are very keen to have more players.”
Dear Editor, Oxfordshire County Council are reviewing bus services including the 120/121/123/124 and 40 which service Thame. They are requesting comments.
Please will everyone who uses these buses please let them know how they use them . We do not want to lose them. Many people depend on them for shopping, library and doctors.
UPDATE: THE town council has today announced that: “Having considered the contents of the report and further assessed the recommendation to issue a “ holding objection”, at the meeting on September 30, the recommendation will be amended to ‘Objection’ without the word ‘holding’. The council has also pointed out that in this particular case, its Planning Consultant, Jake Collinge, has had nothing to do with the ‘Application Assessment’ referred to below, but was authored by Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design.
TWO planning applications that have attracted considerable objection in the town, are to be considered by Thame Town Council to decide whether or not to recommend ‘holding objections’. One is a plan to build 45 houses on land at The Elms, off Upper High Street, Thame, and the other for alterations to Elms Park itself, next door.
Meadow land at ‘The Elms’ where a development of 45 new homes are proposed
The Town Clerk, Helen Stewart, told Thame.Net: “The Town Council has concerns in relation to the original plans. However, subject to addressing these, the Town Council may be in a position to support it through amended plans.”
The main concerns are summed up in the conclusion of an ‘Application Assessment’ report , which will be discussed at the meeting on Tuesday (30/09). It states that the assessment has:
“.. identified that harm/ loss will be caused to the significance of The Elms as a listed building, in particular through the loss of openness and the loss of a mature parkland tree on the application site. There is also a loss of openness to Elms Park, which will potentially cause harm/ loss of significance to the conservation area.
“The development proposals include a number of potential public benefits for Thame, such as the public open space, new footpath/ cycleway linkages and an open space link between Elms Park and the new public open space for but at present the design of the scheme would not successfully realise these benefits.
“The development proposals also fail to take opportunities to enhance the appreciation of The Elms as a listed building in its setting, in particular in relation to possible views that could be created for users of the new links.
“At present the harm/ loss caused by the development proposals is not outweighed by public benefits.
“The development proposals also fail to comply with policy in a number of other respects, most notably in terms of affordable housing.”
The report on the second application, for changes and additions to Elms Park itself, states: “The application does not currently demonstrate how improvements to Elms Park might potentially mitigate some of the impacts of the proposed development at The Elms. “
The agenda for Tuesday’s meeting, with links to the relevant reports, can be read here: LINK Catch up with all the back stories on this topic here: LINK
IN a tightly contested match, Dorking overcame Chinnor on Saturday (20/09) by the narrowest of margins winning 23-22.
Photo by Peter Matthews
Chinnor’s first points came in the first minute from Boughton’s penalty goal. Shortly after, Noble opened Dorking’s account with a simple try under the posts, which Macdonald converted for a 7-3 lead. A number of scoring opportunities were spurned by both sides with dropped passes at critical times, until Pimlow’s penalty goal put Dorking further ahead 10-3 on 31 minutes.
Chinnor’s Reuben Haile opened the second half scoring with a try on 44 minutes, converted by Boughton to tie the match at 10-10. Dorking’s lively scrum half Will Crow scored Dorking’s second try on 52 minutes. Macdonald’s conversion put the visitors 17-10 ahead. Chinnor came back in the 55th minute with a try from Keohane and a conversion from Boughton to square the match at 17-17.
Two penalty goals from Matt Noble in the 64th and 72nd minute put Dorking ahead 23-17. With full time approaching, Chinnor’s Martey went over in the corner to put Chinnor one point behind. Boughton’s kick sailed wide and shortly after, the final whistle went for a hard earned Dorking victory.
Dorking proved that their opening results in a new division were no fluke and they proved to be competitive at all phases of play. Their ability to score from most of the kicks on offer saw them home despite being outscored three tries to two. Dorking’s scrum-half Will Crow was usually at the centre of things.
Chinnor again showed their new match plan concept of not bothering to play very much at all in the first half. The tactic of getting their backs to play in a completely different position from any other match or from their natural position clearly backfired as passes went awry and the pace needed to finish promising moves was all in the wrong place. Keohane debuting in the full-back role for the first time this term was perhaps the one exception and looked comfortable and threatening from the back. Waddingham again showed what was necessary. Too many penalties were given away offering too many chances to the visitors.
This match was frustrating as Chinnor showed, in fleeting glimpses, how quick and innovative they can be – but not enough and too late, again.
Chinnor: Ed Keohane, Jack Hayes, Martin Nutt (c), Junior Fatialofa, Reuben Haile, Frank Jones, Reece Boughton, Ian Stock, Joe Pickett, Simone Carloni, Andrew Tibbatts, Dave McKee, Ryan Long, Alex Waddingham, Jake Parker
Interchanges: Joe Winpenny, Jamie Townsend, Ben Manning, Sam Angell, Robbie Martey
Dorking : Matt Noble, Gary Johnston, Ryan Jeffery, Fraser Macdonald, Joseph Mogaji, Cameron Pimlow, Will Crow, Ben Knight, Ross Grimstone, Seun Olayanju, Harry Watts, Armand Roux (c), Jon Vermont, Ollie Edwards, Ted Lee
Interchanges: James Catton, Richard Nunn, Matt Higgins, Charlie Stevenson, Zach Woodcock
THAME United were made to work hard to secure three points on Saturday (20/09) at Petersfield Park, as second half goals from Dan West and Ellis Hercules eventually proved enough to secure victory.
From start to finish, the first half was a disjointed affair as neither team were able to establish any real rhythm on a difficult playing surface. For the first quarter of the game, it was United who looked most likely to score, but they lacked the clinical touch in front of goal and, gradually, the game become condensed in the centre of the pitch with Jordan Bryan, in particular, looking dangerous for Cheltenham. Ten minutes before the break United felt that they should have been awarded a penalty when Marcus Mealing beat Cheltenham keeper, Ryan Betteridge, to the ball only for the keeper to follow-through and up-end Mealing. The referee, however, saw no offence and the protests were to no avail.
With the game goalless at half-time, whatever manager Mark West said during the interval seemed to work as United pressed the home side from the whistle. Luke Ricketts had a great chance to open the scoring on 55 minutes when he beat his marker and had a clear run at goal, only to see his goal bound shot saved by the legs of Betteridge. However, United only had to wait two minutes before taking the lead. United won a corner on the left flank that skipper Adam Morris floated to the back post where Marcus Mealing headed the ball back across goal for Dan West to finish from close range.
The goal seemed to settle United and, whilst the game again became contained in the central third of the pitch, Cockerill in the Thame goal was rarely threatened. The second goal arrived on 75 minutes when centre back Ellis Hercules collected the ball just inside the Cheltenham half and went on a mazy run that saw him beat four defenders before confidently placing the ball beyond Betteridge and in to the far corner of the goal.
UHLSPORT HELLENIC LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION – Cheltenham Saracens 0, Thame United 2.
The win sees United maintain their mid-table position.
THERE’S sure to be plenty to feast on in Thame this Saturday when the town holds its annual food festival and the streets will be laden with good things to eat and drink.
Lotte Duncan and Ken Bruce will both be among the celebrities at this year’s Thame Food Festival
Celebrity chefs cooking up mouth-watering dishes, hands-on workshops and live entertainment, plus terrific street food will all be on offer from 9am to 5pm in the town centre.
The food festival takes over the whole of the town centre so it’s impossible to miss! Stalls are piled high with everything from charcuterie, chillies and cheeses; teas, local ales and ciders and irresistible cakes and cookies – all along both sides of the High Street and Cornmarket, right through to the Upper High Street, with an information point at Montesson Square. For a welcome pit-stop, you can visit the James Figg pub and The Thatch pop-up pub next to the town hall.
The main demo stage, sponsored by AGA, is right outside their shop in the Upper High Street, with Edd Kimber and John Whaite from BBC Two’s The Great British Bake Off getting things off to a flying start at 10am, with Adam Simmonds, Giancarlo and Katie Caldesi, Raymond Blanc, Sophie Grigson, David Mooney, Simon Brown and Lotte Duncan hot on their heels. See the full line-up here http://www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk/line-up-on-the-demo-and-interview-stages/
A second helping will then be dished up on the interview stage, sponsored by Belmond Le Manoir aux quat’Saisons, in front of the town hall, where festival patron, TV chef and writer Lotte Duncan will be putting the chefs through their paces. Tom Kerridge from the two Michelin star restaurant, the Hand & Flowers in Marlow, will take to the stage at 12 noon, with BBC Radio Two presenter, Ken Bruce, on at 2.15pm, in between compèring the demo stage.
Watch the chefs from the Raymond Blanc Cookery School battle it out with students from Aylesbury College on the demo stage at 4.30pm and get the latest cookery books signed by their authors immediately after each interview at the pop-up book shop, kindly provided by The Bookhouse, next to the interview stage.
Be sure to book your place at one of the great food and drink workshops by going to http://www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk/workshops-and-talks, clicking on Workshops & Talks and then chose from the drop-down list of events. Take the family to the town hall at 3.30pm for sausage-making with Ricky Jeffrey from The Egg House, and come away with your own packet of freshly made bangers!
How about trying your hand at bread shaping with The Cornfield Bakery at 11.30am; pasta making with the CiCi CoCo Cookery School at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm; chocolate and wine matching with fabulous chocolates from Rumsey’s Chocolaterie and Neil Phillips, The Wine Tipster, at 2.30pm and round off the day by savouring some superb Champagnes from Jacquart at 3.30pm. Most workshops cost just a few pounds and many are free to enjoy. Make a beeline for either the town hall or the function room above The Swan for the workshops, and both the Stonewold Gallery and the Thame Players Theatre for the talks.
To make way for all these goodies, the whole of the town centre will be closed to traffic for the day but there’s easy access into Thame on foot and you can leave the car at the Thame Showground. Look out for the special Park and Ride signs on all major routes and take the Chinnor Rugby Club entrance into the showground. The full address is The Thame Showground, Kingsey Road, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3JL and for Satnavs the postcode is OX9 3JL.
Here you can park for just £4 for the day and take the free Park and Ride to and from town. Keep your eyes peeled for celebrity bus driver Ken Bruce, who will be behind the wheel of one of the four London Routemaster buses ferrying visitors to and from the festival between 8.30am and 6pm.
The park and ride isn’t suitable for disabled visitors, but there is parking for Blue Badge holders in the town centre, using the Cross Keys or Rising Sun roundabouts. Simply show your blue badge to the security guard who will give you access to the parking bays.
“Thame Food Festival is a wonderful showcase of local, artisan and unique produce and a truly special day that deserves all of our support,” says festival ambassador Raymond Blanc OBE. “My team and I are delighted to be involved again this year. Come and join us on a grand gastronomic tour to meet incredible growers and producers and be inspired by truly talented chefs. Good food, good wine and good company – you will find it all in Thame. I can’t think of anything better. Enjoy the festival.”
The Thame Food Festival takes place from 9am to 5pm, this coming Saturday, September 27, in the heart of Thame town centre. www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk
A young Thame resident, who is recovering from cancer, has recently taken part in an inspirational sailing trip with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.
Liam Earwicker at the helm
Liam Earwicker, 14, along with 25 other young people between the ages of 8 -18, also in recovery from cancer, joined the crew of one of five yachts to set sail around the Solent in August, on a four-day yacht adventure.
For Liam, who finished treatment in December 2013 for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at the John Radcliffe Hopsital, this was his first time sailing with the Trust. Having sailed once before, Liam knew he was in for a good time and was excited for the upcoming trip: “I expected that it was going to be a fun trip and a completely different experience to my last time in a boat, ” he said.
Sailing onboard 42- 48 foot cruising yachts, the trips provided a chance for the young people to test themselves in a safe and supportive environment, encouraging them to work as a team and get involved in everything from helming the boat to cooking.
Liam explained: “I had a super time relaxing and exploring in the boat. I can definitely take away some good skills from this trip.”
Leaving their south coast HQ in East Cowes Marina, Isle of Wight, the trip navigated the waters of the Solent, taking them to various stopovers including Yarmouth Harbour and the picturesque bay of Newtown Creek for a BBQ before putting their new skills to the test cruising back into Cowes.
Launched in 2003, the aim of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is to give young people in recovery from cancer the chance to rebuild their confidence through sailing. Liam explained the impact the trip had on him: “You’ve just got to be yourself on trips like these; it was all very easy for me because you know what your friends are going through.”
Dame Ellen, who tries to spend at least one day with every four-day trip over the summer, said: “The mental and social fall-out from cancer can be just as devastating as the physical illness. Everything we do is about building confidence, self-esteem and having fun together.”
The trust is now in its 11th year, and has grown into a national charity working with every young person’s Principal Treatment Centre, and a growing number of Designated Units in the UK. Sailing trips are provided completely free of charge to the young people. The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust receives no funding from the Government or the NHS, so is reliant on donations.
To donate and help the trust to continue to provide support and encouragement to young people in recovery from cancer, visit :
THAME’S association with it’s French twin town, Montesson, is now in its thirteenth year and the regular September exchange visit by the Thame & District Twinning Association last weekend proved to be extra special, when a group of intrepid fund-raisers from Thame’s neighbour, Haddenham, arrived in style – on two wheels.
Ann Gillet presents the Haddenham Hillbillies with a special trophy commemorating their ride from Thame to Montesson
While the Haddenham Hillbillies Cycle Club were on the final stretch of their three-day journey via Thame, Caen and Rouen, a coach load of Thame ‘twinners’, some regulars and some new to ‘twinning’, were setting off in a comfortable coach through the early morning mist. By the time they were on the M25, and the Mayor of Thame’s geography-themed quiz sheets had been handed round, the sun had burned through. Once on the other side of ‘le manche’ it was 23 degrees by the time they stopped at the Auchan hypermarket for some wine-shopping and some lunch. Afterwards, stowing their purchases in the hold of the coach, the twinners were comparing notes on their bargains, including fine French wine, and small barrels of cheaper red wine to take home ready for Christmas mulled wine!
In the safe and friendly hands of Mark the driver from Mason’s Coaches, the group arrived in Montesson at around 6pm, just in time to hear the strains of the UK National anthem coming from the town hall square. The Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green, quickly threw on her mayoral chain and rushed round the corner, closely followed by the rest of the Thame visitors, just in time to see the Haddenham Hillbillies cycle into town under the ‘Arrivée’ banner, to the applause of a noisy and excited, welcoming crowd.
After the photo-calls, the spraying of champagne, the kisses and hand-shakes, and the introductions between the genuinely moved cyclists and the French hosts, everyone gathered for an official reception and once again the cyclists were feted, and presented with a trophy commemorating their magnificent achievement. Ann Gillet, the President of the Montesson Twinning Committee praised their efforts and each rider had a special medal pinned to their chest by this year’s, beautiful ‘Miss Montesson’.
Earlier in the afternoon the English cyclists had been joined in the town of Neuville, 25k from Montesson, by a group of Montesson cyclists and members of the Ruelle Mal Maison Cycling Club who had cycled the final 25 k with them into Montesson. One of the older Montesson cyclists had reached a personal mile-stone of 200,000 kilometres and he too was presented with the same special medal by the Mayor of Montesson, Monsieur Jean-Francois Bel.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Florence Nightingale Hospice in Aylesbury, The ‘Hillbillies’ had raised over £9,000 in sponsorship from the ride. Thanking them later that evening for their magnificent effort, Karen Shardlow, Fund-raising officer for the Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity, explained that the money equated to 150 hours of care at the hospice.
Spokesman for the Haddenham Hillbillies, Karen’s husband, Justin Shardlow, said: “The reception given to us in Montesson really was the most fantastic end to our ride. Seeing all the French cyclists in the park as we came over the bridge at Neuville was a very welcome sight indeed, as was the Champagne and cakes! I think for all of us, the highlight was the welcome reception laid on for us in Montesson. None of us were expecting such a grand reception or the medals and plaque, and it really was an amazing way to end our ride. When we arrived home on Saturday, we all went to the Kings Head pub (home of the Haddenham Hillbillies) and looked for the best place to put the plaque on the wall in the pub where it will be on show.”
Following an evening meal and the Friday night spent in the homes of their French hosts, the Thame Twinning group that remained (once the cyclists had set off for home by van the following morning), travelled the short distance by coach to the stunning Villarceaux Estate. This 18th century chateau sits majestically on a hill overlooking parkland of water gardens, a great lake, Italian-style formal gardens and an avenues of trees. Here amid the restored, stone outbuildings and courtyard, they sampled traditional pâtés, cheeses, sea-food, beers, honey and more at a pop-up food market while some watched a traditional ‘boulanger’ at work in an old, cobble-floored stone bakery, including traditional bread oven over a wood fire – all to the accompaniment of traditional folk musicians. The setting and the sunshine in 26 degrees, made for an unforgettable day.
Then, it was back to Montesson for the annual fête du pâté à la Carmen, an open-air celebration of a special meat-filled pastry, the origins of which remain unrecorded in the historic annals of Montesson. (http://www.montesson-histoire.com/pate_carmen.html)
This particular weekend was a special one in France, the one weekend in the year when French national monuments and important houses of cultural interest, not normally open to the public, can be visited for free. Some of the Thame visitors took advantage of this special opportunity while others joined in with the open-air mass in le parc des Sophoras in Montesson, or went into Paris to ‘see the sites’ for the morning.
Lunch all-together, al fresco in the park, was preceded by speeches of thanks from Thame’s Mayor, Jeannette Matelot Green, and a speech of friendship by Montesson’s Mayor, Jean-Francois Bel. Several references to the Scottish independence referendum which had taken place the previous Thursday (18/09) were made, including from the Mayor of Baesweiler, Dr. Willi Linkens, sporting a tartan tie. Linda Emery, the Chair of the Thame & District Twinning Association, caused much amusement when she presented Montesson’s own Twinning committee with a fine Whisky, a haggis as well as some potatoes, a swede and the rest of the ingredients, to make their own haggis.
Linda summed up the whole weekend in three words: ” ” Fantastic, warm hearted and Delicious !”
Tired but happy, with wonderful memories shared with good friends old and new, the ‘Thame Twinners’ arrived back home late on Sunday evening, having been held up for two hours at the Shuttle terminal at Calais, the only ‘blip’ in an otherwise superb weekend. Now, they are looking forward to December, when a group from Montesson will visit Thame with French produce once again, to sell from their stall as part of Thame’s Big Christmas event.
So, à plus tard Montesson and “Vivre le jumelage!”
THE Rycote Practice in East Street, Thame, has announced that it will begin a flu vaccination programme by conducting two Saturday morning clinics. These will be held on 4/10/2014 and 18/10/2014 between 8am – 11am.
All patients who meet the following criteria are eligible for NHS vaccination:
over 65 years over 6 months in the following clinical risk groups Chronic respiratory disease including asthmatics who are on continuous or repeated use of inhaled or systemic steroids or with previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission Chronic heart disease Chronic renal disease Chronic liver disease Chronic neurological disease Women in any stage of pregnancy Diabetes Immunosuppression residents of long-stay residential or care homes those in receipt of carer’s allowance
The practice has stated that further weekday and evening clinics will be announced soon.
