DANCE and drama pupils at Lord Williams’s school in Thame, once again have a proper studio in which to learn and practice their arts, two years after their old one was destroyed by an arsonist.
The new Phoenix Studio was used for the first time yesterday, Monday, (21/04/09) when pupils returned from their Easter break, and will be used for the first time by Thame Youth Theatre next week.
Though insurance cover was paid on a like-for-like basis of around
THE people of Thame are being encouraged to recognise the voluntary work of unsung heroes and heroines in their community.
The town council announced the categories at the annual town meeting last night (21/04/09)and the names of the panel of judges who will select deserving people for the various Civic Awards.
The categories are:
Young Citizen Award for 13-21 year-olds
Good Citizen Award
Safer Community Award
Voluntary Achievement Award
Teacher of the Year Award
Further details will be announced in the Town Crier newsletter and Annual Report that will be delivered to Thame homes during the week commencing May 18. From that date too, nomination forms will be able to be downloaded from www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk or hard copies collected from the Town Hall.
The panel will be:
Ken Bennell, 43 years in Thame, Long-time member of Thame Lions Club and member of Thame & District Housing Association.
Adam Buckland, Town Councillor for six years, runs Brothers Hair Salon in Thame.
Diane Jackson, PCSO, lived and worked in Thame all her life.
Rev Ian Mountford, Vicar of Barley Hill Church and St Catherine’s, Towersey.
Jenny Pilkington, St Joseph’s church, CAB volunteer and advisor trainer, runs a performing arts company
Pat Ruxton, Magistrate, ex Lord Williams’s school teacher, offers temporary accommodation and support to 16-18 year-olds.
Nicky Stallwood, Lord Williams’s School, Head of Careers and Community Liaison.
A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, following an incident at the skate park recently (Ed. presumably the ‘obscene’ graffiti on the new youth shelter).
He is currently in police custody.
A Thame man has been banned from driving for 12 months after admitting driving without insurance and drink driving.
Ian Churchill, 26, of Wentworth Road, Thame, admitted committing the offences on February 7, 2008, at Thame. He was found to have 95 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.
As well as being banned from driving for 12 months, Ian Churchill was fined
A BRAND new, state-of-the-art Youth Shelter has been scrawled with obscene graffiti, just days after it was officially opened.
The
THAME’S very own Speakers Club is watching BBC Television?s new reality series, The Speaker, with great interest.
“The programme is clearly highlighting the important role that conquering the fear of speaking in public can play in helping people build confidence and enhance achievement,” says Club President Jean Gamester. “As a club devoted to helping ?ordinary? people acquire strong speaking skills, we are ourselves learning from the programme.”
Filmed during the summer and autumn of 2008, The Speaker follows the fortunes and misfortunes of a group of teenagers from across the UK as they set out to demonstrate that ?ordinary? people of whatever age can achieve extraordinary things. With the right coaching, encouragement and mentoring, the teenagers at the centre of The Speaker are competing to be recognised as the best speaker in their peer group, developing remarkably as individuals as the experience unfolded.
Thame Speakers Club meets at 7:45pm on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month in Thame Snooker Club, St Andrews Court, Wellington Street, Thame, OX9 3WT. If you enjoy The Speaker you will also enjoy the finals of the Toastmasters South of England Division speech contest at Thame Snooker Club on the April 19, 2009, at 10:30am.
The show ? perhaps best described as an Xfactor or Pop Idol for public speaking ? makes fascinating viewing, and is sparking off a wave of interest throughout the British Isles in the underlying subject: public speaking. Some people regard Toastmasters International, a not-for-profit international organisation, as a de facto University of Public Speaking for adults (18 and over). It is active in your area, and open to all, regardless of sex, creed or colour.
Sean Kennedy, a committed member of Toastmasters International, acted as programme consultant on The Speaker, and was involved with it from conception through production to broadcast.
He is even firmer than ever in his belief that one of the keys to success and happiness lies in having the confidence to speak in public, and in Toastmasters International as a first-class way to acquire that confidence. “I have had some wonderful experiences over the past 8 years since I sold my business, but over that time the most significant and life changing decision I ever made was to walk into a Toastmaster club. I have seen, read about and experienced dozens of personal development concepts – hand on heart, the Toastmaster programme is the single most effective and value-for-money personal development tool out there.
“The biggest lesson I have learnt from TM is that anyone can become a competent speaker, IF they are willing to put in the time. I have seen hundreds of people including myself, grow from nervous to natural and from self-conscious to self-confident.”
Member of Thame Toastmasters, Richard Moore, said: “I only wish I had known about Toastmasters International in general and Thame Speakers in particular several years earlier.
“It is no exaggeration to say that in many respects in has changed my life, much for the better. I know I am not alone in that. Companies ? and governments- would pay thousands of pounds of pounds for this training, which takes place in a positive, constructive, supportive environment. We offer it for pounds a month!
“I agree wholeheartedly,? added Mary Walters. “As I worked my way through the basic project manual and took on different responsibilities at our regular club meetings, I was acquiring not just speaking skills that I could never have dreamed of but also a confidence that I never believed I could have. As a by-product, I have also acquired new organisational and leadership skills. Oh, and a fantastic social life. And not just in Britain/Ireland. There are Toastmasters clubs all over the world; visiting one when travelling on business can be a much better to spend downtime than sitting in a hotel room watching television.
“We have regular social gatherings and I have made so many new friends,” says John Feore. “I would recommend it to anyone as a way of boosting the enjoyment of everyday life.”
“Toastmasters is not just an incredible personal development tool; it is also a great social experience,” continued Sean Kennedy. “As the son of an Irish publican I never thought I would say this but forget about the pub, join a Toastmasters club!”
If you would like to know more about Toastmasters International, a not-for-profit global group founded to help ?ordinary? people acquire essential speaking and leadership skills, contact Richard Moore directly on 007789902388, or email him at richardmoore@thamesperakers.co.uk.
Further information is available from www.thamespeakers.co.uk. The group actively welcomes new members looking to acquire or improve public speaking capabilities and leadership skills awareness.
NB Thame Speakers is the local branch of Toastmasters International. Meetings are held at the Thame Snooker Club, St Andrews Court, Wellington Street, Thame, OX9 3WT on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. There is parking if you enter the club from Wellington Street, or you can walk through the short lane beside Delphine Art at 27 Upper High Street.
Photo: (Courtesy of The BBC) The three judges, Jeremy Stockwell, Jo Brand and John Amaechi who must now whittle down from the final eight, the young winner of The Speaker.
BURGLARS have stolen antiques and other sentimantal valuable from an 80 year-old woman, who lives at Litte Milton, near Thame.
The Police are appealing for witnesses following the burglary at the woman’s home in Haseley Road, Little Milton, sometime overnight on Friday (10/04/09) into Saturday (11/4). The Burglars entered the house via the rear patio doors and stole two boxes of silver spoons, an antique barometer, an oak mantle pendulum clock and a silver christening mug amongst other items stolen.
If anyone sees any of these items for sale, or has any information regarding this incident, please call 0845 8 505 505, the 24-hour Thames Valley Police non-emergency number.
If you don?t want to speak to police or give your name, please call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.
TODAY (15/4/09), Bernie McDonagh, aged 23, from Middle Ground in Wheatley has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment for causing death while driving without due care and attention, failing to provide a specimen, failing to stop at the scene of a collision, driving whilst disqualified, driving with no insurance, arson and possession of a class C drug.
Mr McDonagh was driving a stolen Ford Transit van that was involved in a fatal collision on the M40 on July 12, 2008, between Milton Common and Lewknor.
A passenger in the other vehicle involved, a blue Ford Fista, died shortly after he and two friends were trapped in the overturned Fiesta following the collision. He was 29 year-old Ross Shears, from Crowborough, East Sussex.
A police spokesperson said after the sentencing: “This tragedy has robbed a young man of his life and a family of their loved one and Mr McDonagh must now face the consequences of his actions.
“On behalf of Thames Valley Police, I would like to offer our sincere condolences and sympathies to Ross Shears? family and friends. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.
Ross Shears’ family issued the following statement: “Ross was a big man with a big heart and a personality to match. He was a loving husband, a wonderful son and a brilliant brother, No matter what sentence was handed down today it would never have been long enough for we have a life sentence of grieving for Ross. He was taken from us far too early because of the actions of a careless driver on the M40 on 12 July 2008.
We would like to thanks the Thames Valley Air Ambulance for all their efforts in trying to save Ross?s life at the crash scene. They do a superb job and have to rely on public donations to operate.
We would also like to thank Thames Valley Police who did a brilliant job in bringing together all the information on what happened that day and the Crown Prosecution Service for putting the case together.”
THOUSANDS of people, including some from Thame, are expected to join in the Local Flavours Festival, an exciting new project taking place across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire during September.
Run by BBO Food Group CIC, the Festival will promote foody events organised by farmers, food and drink producers, restaurants, pubs, farmers? markets and visitor attractions. 21st Century Thame is already planning its second Thame Food Festival to take place around the same time. Watch this space for more details and contact: ai@21stcenturythame.gov.uk if your business would like to be involved.
BBO Food Group CIC Director, Tamara Schiopu, explained: : “September is a great time to be celebrating nature?s bounty. This is the first time that all the food and drink producers, plus all the food and drink outlets including restaurants, pubs and hotels, farm shops, farmers? markets and delis, will be celebrating the exceptional produce from these three counties.”
The Local Flavours Festival was launched at a special Supper held at Exeter Hall, Kidlington last week where producers provided a cornucopia of delicious food and drink ? a great appetiser for events to come in September.
During the Supper Anthony Lloyd from Fallowfields Country House Hotel in Kingston Bagpuize spoke of his plans: ? With orchards, a kitchen garden and pastures where native and rare breed pigs and cattle are reared and chickens run free-range, we?re going to run hands-on events for people to learn about baking bread using local flour, how to make sausages and bacon, have a go at pressing fruit juices, and see the journey your Sunday roast takes from pasture to plate.?
A wide range of events and activities where people can find out more about where food comes from and how they can cook it to perfection will be held across Oxfordshire during the Local Flavours Festival. Restaurants and pubs will have Local Flavours themed menus featuring ingredients produced locally. Visitor attractions will host local food events, and there will be tours around farms, orchards, breweries and vineyards. Full details on www.local-flavours.net
More businesses and organisations across the three counties are invited to host an event during the Local Flavours Festival. ? We know from similar festivals, such as the Hampshire Food Festival, that these events encourage visitors to spend more time and money at attractions,? says Tamara.
?With our partners Archant Life we will launch the first Local Flavours Food and Drink Awards to enable people to nominate their favourite producers, farms shops, farmers? markets and places to eat and drink local produce,? says Tamara.
Partner and sponsor organisations already preparing their activities include Archant Life, Ascot Racecourse, Business Link in Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, Thames Valley Farmers? Markets Co-operative Ltd, The National Trust, and Tourism South East.
To get involved with the Local Flavours Festival, visit www.local-flavours.net or contact Tamara Schiopu on 01865 484116.
ends
Images of the Launch Supper available from
Tamara Schiopu, BBO Food Group CIC. 07795 334474 or info@local-food.net
Notes to Editors:
Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes and Oxfordshire (BBO) Food Group CIC works to
THE Police have arrested five people on suspicion of attempted murder following an incident in which a man was seriously assaulted in Haddenham on Wednesday (8/4/09).
Officers were called to Run Furrow around 9.30pm after reports of an assault in which a man sustained multiple injuries. He is reported to have been stabbed in the ribs.
The man is receiving treatment in hospital where he remains in a stable condition.
Two men, two boys and a woman have been arrested and released on bail with conditions until June, pending further investigations. Three of the males, aged 16, 17 and 18 years, are from Aylesbury whilst the other male, a 22 year-old, and a 20 year-old woman, are from High Wycombe.
DI Dominic Williamson, investigating, said: ?This type of incident is extremely rare in Haddenham and we are confident there will be people nearby who saw or heard something unusual. If you were in the area and witnessed any suspicious activity or vehicles, please get in touch. Any information, no matter how small, could be vital to this investigation.?
If you were in the area and saw or heard anything unusual, contact DI Williamson via the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505.
Or, if you don?t want to talk to police or leave your name, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.