MEMBERS of Thame’s Twinning Association are back in England after a successful visit to Thame’s French twin town, Montesson, for the annual Christmas market, having raised welcome funds from selling English tea, cakes and marmalade, and Christmas crackers!
Vic Watson from Thame & District Twinning Association is visited by two elven friends of ‘Père Noël’ during the Montesson Christmas Market
The team of Thame twinners who travelled to Montesson, Nigel Champken Woods, his wife Alison, Julie Fitzsimmon and Vic Watson, made a profit of almost £300 which will contribute to welcoming a Montesson party of residents to Thame next May, 2014.
Nigel commented: “It was hard work, but in the end we practically sold out of everything. Unfortunately we had to disappoint our first customer who asked for shortbread biscuits which we were unable to take over this year, something that’s usually a big seller at the Montesson market. It was very cold but as usual great fun!”
Find out more about The Thame and District Twinning Association by visiting its website HERE
DOG owners who exercise their pets in the Cuttlebrook Nature Reserve are being asked to be more considerate, following an increase in dogs fouling the footpaths and disturbing the wild life.
Cuttlebrook volunteers during the recent BBC Oxford broadcast from the reserve
The Management committee are considering putting up more signs aimed at reminding dog owners of their responsibilities. Next year is the 21st anniversary of the reserve and there will be a special exhibition at Thame Museum sometime in the new year. Find out more about Cuttlebrook Nature Reserve on Facebook HERE
SINCE the publication of this item, the Manager of the Oxfam Bookshop has clarified the details of the wrapping service. Shop volunteers will wrap items purchased in the shop, using the customer’s Gift Wrap if they so choose and bring it with them, otherwise they can sell customers a roll of the shop’s own wrapping paper.
“If the customer does not wish to buy a full roll,” says Dick Jennens, ” we can use ours but we would encourage them to empty their pockets and purses into the donations tin.”
SINCE the launch of the Philippines appeal, over 100 local people have made the journey into the Oxfam Bookshop in Thame and donated generously to this appeal. But as the Manager, Dick Jennens says: “The bad news is still happening!
A Syrian child refugee struggling to keep warm (Courtsey of UNHCR)
While we in Thame are looking forward to beginning the Christmas festivities on Friday with our fun, Dickensian Christmas, Oxfam has launched its Syria Christmas Appeal, “Twelve Days of Giving” with the aim of raising £1 million.
Dick explains: “With winter approaching the plight of the Syria refugees is bleak. The children face a dire Christmas this winter. So far Oxfam have helped 250,000 people but we plan to help 650,000 refugees in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon over the winter season.
“The volunteers of the Oxfam bookshop in Thame have set a target of raising £1,500 during the twelve days of this appeal. The volunteers are planning to hold a ‘Have Your Purchases Gift-wrapped for Christmas’ on Tuesday, December 17, in exchange for a donation to this appeal. They provide the paper and ribbon is necessary.
“Please help and donate to the Oxfam Christmas Appeal.”
WHAT better way to walk off some of the over indulgence of the Christmas festivities, than to join this year’s Mayor’s New Year’s Day Walk around Thame?
The Cross Keys, Thame, where the Mayor’s New Year’s Day walk will finish
The walk will take in St. Mary’s Church, Thame Leisure Centre, Phoenix Trail, Chinnor Road and finish at The Cross Keys pub for a light lunch.
Lunch on offer: Chilli con carne with rice – £5. All proceeds go to the Mayor’s two charities, Safari and Thame Players.
Please contact Andy Gunn Tel: 01844 214295: or email: andygunn41@yahoo.co.uk to advise of your participating and for further information, and to let the organisers, 21st Century Thame’s Environment group, know of your dietary requirements.
Date: January 1, 2014. Walk to start: 11 am at Thame Town Hall.
CHINNOR RFC’s motto of the day was clearly “defence wins matches” as they squeezed the life out of London Irish Wild Geese to record an away victory of 27-16, on Saturday (30/11).
Chinnor Captain, Liam Gilbert
From the kick-off, Wild Geese attacked vigorously and were rewarded with two quick penalty goals from Oscar Thomas to go 6-0 ahead on the sixth minute. With almost their first use of ball in the opposition half, Chinnor, through Frank Jones, exploited some pace out on the right. Quick hands from Liam Gilbert put Marston 15m from the line with three defenders to beat. A drop of the hips and some hard running saw Marston dot down for Chinnor’s opening try. Millett’s conversion put the visitors ahead 7-6 ahead with nine minutes on the clock.
Three minutes later, Thomas for the Wild Geese slotted his third penalty goal to put the home side 9-7 ahead. Chinnor’s Daniel Barnes was forced to leave the field after a lengthy delay suffering the effects of receiving his second, late armless tackle. Keohane, for the Wild Geese, kept his backs moving across the park in an effort to find a hole in the Chinnor defence. With the match being played almost exclusively in the Chinnor half for long periods, the Oxfordshire boys managed another breakout and were rewarded with a penalty which Millett dispatched to put Chinnor ahead 10-9 on 22 minutes. Rapid handling from Chinnor, on another breakout from one side of the field to the other, saw Harrison take the ball at top pace from behind his back, control it and touch down in the corner to put Chinnor 15-10 ahead on the 27th minute. Millett added the extras for a 17-9 lead.
After a further 10 minutes defending on their 22, Chinnor again broke out and, with fluidity and high skill, worked the blindside to allow Fielding to ghost through for a try under the posts. Millett converted to put the visitors 24-9, a score they defended until the half-time whistle.
The second half started with a Wild Geese attack in the Chinnor corner. After about 10 minutes of scrums and lineouts, Chinnor managed to clear their lines. It did not last long as Wild Geese took play back again to the same corner. With the Irish pack starting to gain ascendancy in the scrum, it only seemed a matter of time before a pushover try was awarded to the home side. Chinnor, however, repulsed everything thrown at them and managed once again to clear their lines. 19 minutes of play was concentrated five metres from the Chinnor line and Wild Geese’s only reward was one lineout, which they lost. It could not have been any more frustrating for the home side.
Chinnor then had the cheek to break out from their 22m citadel to gain three points, courtesy of a penalty goal from Millett on the 65th minute. Wild Geese came right back and again and laid siege to the Chinnor line. With play now well into overtime, Keohane eventually broke the Chinnor line to score under the posts. Converting his own try with a quickly taken drop conversion, Keohane closed the deficit to 27-16. Chinnor defended the last few seconds and slumped to their knees when the final whistle sounded, exhausted from their extraordinary defensive effort.
London Irish Wild Geese did not play like a team perilously close to relegation. They attacked freely and moved the ball well but were unlucky to come up against a side who knew how to defend. The Geese had a number of opportunities out wide but the Chinnor scramble defence was always up to the task.
In the first half, Chinnor defended comfortably and attacked with skill and pace to score their 3 tries – playing some of their best rugby of the season. Their defensive resoluteness and physical strength in the second half was a thing of wonder, given the relentless pressure from the home side.
Nick Harrison had a storming game in the first half and the whole team, impressively led by Liam Gilbert, was immense in the second half. However, new boy Jamie Townsend gave a man of the match performance – tackling fiercely, throwing accurately and, most of all, carrying the ball with power and purpose.
Chinnor: George Blewitt, Joe Marston, Matthew Goode, Dan Barnes, Leo Fielding, Will Millett, Frank Jones, Nathaniel Titchard-Jones, Jamie Townsend, Joe Winpenny, Tom Mowbray, Andrew Tibbats, Adam Hastings, Nick Harrison, Liam Gilbert (c) Replacements: Tom Whelan, Ian Stock, Andrew Smith, Sam Angell, Ricky Hopwood
THE countdown to Thame’s Dickensian evening on Friday (December 6) begins today, with only four more days to the big Christmas lights switch on by East Enders’ actress and ‘Mrs Brian May’, Anita Dobson.
For a truly Victorian perspective on the event, a Victorian Omnibus will transport you back in time along the Upper High Street pulled by two beautiful horses bedecked in Christmas plumes. A miniature steam railway will be running up and down the High Street too!
This year there’ll be a whole host of stalls selling everything from traditional Christmas ‘puds’ to limited edition prints, plus local artists and makers selling original gifts perfect to fill those Christmas stockings! To keep us warm (the weather forecast is for cold but dry conditions in the evening), there’ll be mulled wine, hot chocolate as well a tasty hog roast baps and more.
Our friends from Thame’s twin town, Montesson will be selling freshly made French crèpes, wines, cheese, oil, vinegar, olives, fish soups and more!
Those who like to dress up, which includes the Mayor of Thame, Peter Lambert, will really be getting into the Dickensian spirit and donning traditional Victorian dress. Don’t forget your dancing shoes though, because, although there’ll be no Polkas, Mazurkas, Galops or Cotilions to dance, the band Ska Souls, who proved such a hit at Music in the Park, will be adding to the party mood.
Treading the boards on the specially erected stage will be Thame Players previewing their Christmas Panto, Stagecoach Thame’s young students, plus traditional Carols from the local primary schools accompanied by Thame Concert Band and the Thame Chamber Choir.
“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” ― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
FOUR Firefighters from Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, based at Thame, are on top of the world after taking part in Operation Florian’s SkyTower Challenge in Manchester on Sunday, November 24, when they were the third fastest team to complete the challenge.
Two of the Thame Firefighting challenge team catch their breath after racing 25 floors in full breathing apparatus for charity
The challenge involved climbing 25 floors in full fire kit, while wearing breathing apparatus. The event is run in aid of Operation Florian, which provides equipment and helps train Firefighters in developing countries, as well as a fund in memory of FF Steve Hunt who was tragically killed while fighting a fire in Manchester earlier this year.
Watch Manager, Andy Ford, said ”The team did really well coming in third fastest; it was a tough challenge and for a very worthwhile cause.”
Firefighter Mark Nuns, one of the Thame team of four, said: “We felt privileged to have represented Thame. and Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue at this year’s SkyTower Challenge. I know we’re all really pleased with our times and looking forward to entering again next year – and aiming to do even better.”
The other Fire fighters who took part were Leo Shairp, Steve Simmons and Nick Sawyer.
NO more will audiences at The Thame Players Theatre have to sit in the auditorium in coats, gloves and scarves, because from yesterday (27/11), their brand new, state of the art heating system will keep them warm and snug throughout the panto season and beyond.
The Mayor of Thame, Peter Lambert, turns on the new heating system at The Players Theatre, Thame
The Mayor of Thame, Peter Lambert, officially turned on the heating and cut the celebration cake after the three main donors of funds towards the £46,000 raised to replace the ancient heating system, presented their symbolic cheques.
TOE2 granted £5000 to Thame Players in November, specifically for the heating system and improved roof insulation. TOE2 provides support and funding for projects that develop the sustainable use of renewable resources and increased energy efficiency in community facilities. TOE2 Director, Fiona Danks, said: “TOE2 is delighted to support Thame Players with funds provided by Grundon Waste Management, as they strive to make the theatre more comfortable and welcoming, while improving the energy efficiency of the building.”
The Doris Field Charitable Trust provides grants to charities in Oxfordshire to fund items of equipment. An award of £1000 was made to Thame Players in November to fund components of the new heating system.
In October Thame Players were awarded a grant of £10,000 by Thame Town Council, specifically towards the installation of the new heating system. This means that the town benefits, because Thame Players will be able to provide shows in greater comfort for more people as the town grows, with over 700 new homes due to be built as part of the Neighbourhood Plan over the next few years.
In July SODC awarded an overall grant of £100,000 from their Community Investment Fund, following a detailed application by Thame Players earlier in the year. This grant represents just under 50% towards the cost of the four stages of the Building A Better Theatre project. The money can only be released on a match-funded basis, so the help of other funders is still needed. When £23,000 became available through other sources to fund the heating work, £23,000 was also made available from the SODC grant.
Pat Shepherd, Chairman of Thame Players, commented: ‘‘We are extremely grateful for the support of TOE2, the Doris Field Trust, Thame Town Council and SODC, who have together made the installation of our new heating system and energy-efficient roof insulation possible. These improvements will make a fantastic difference, so that the theatre will always be warm in winter and precious energy is not wasted.”
She continued: “With the work on the heating system and improved insulation of our building completed, our fundraising team will continue to be busy raising money from potential funders, including charitable trusts, specialist funders and local businesses. We are working hard to achieve our ambitious target of £203,000 so that the rest of the work can be carried out next year, including an extra row of seats, a bigger stage with improved lighting and a reconfiguration of the balcony.”
FOLLOWING a stunning night at the November First Thursday Music Club (FTMC) when 15 acts played to a full house, the December edition of Thame’s biggest monthly music event takes place on Thursday, December 5, at the Stables at the James Figg Pub in Thame.
The band ‘As If’ will be the featured band at December’s First Thursday Music Club
FTMC is now recognised as the biggest and best Open Mic in the region with acts travelling from London, Reading and Oxford to appear. Each month, one act is invited to appear in the 10 o clock Feature Spot – and this month it is the fabulous As If…
As If… have been together for 20 years and have played all over the UK and ventured into Norway. They’ve recorded six albums and enjoyed some independent radio airplay in various countries around the world with a fairly eclectic mix of songs, all written by Phil Goss (guitar and vocals) and arranged by the band – Phil Heard (Drums), Steve Rothwell (Bass) and Sam Hearle (Keyboards). The music blends rock, prog, pop and folk and the band have teamed up from time to time with musicians from different genres. This Thursday will see them teaming up with Phil Wright on fiddle. Expect something a little bit different and to be entertained.
Round up some friends, get along, and have a great night out. Anyone can play just by signing up at the venue from 7.30pm. The music starts at 8pm.
Check out the club on Facebook “The First Thursday Music Club” or at: www.firstthursdaymusicclub.com where you can find more info’ including contact numbers and addresses for the organisers
