OXFORDSHIRE’S CFire and Rescue Service has been shortlisted as a nominee at this year’s Fire Fighters Charity Spirit of Fire Awards in the Brigade of the Year category.
The nomination is in recognition of the brigade’s money-raising efforts for The Fire Fighters Charity and its continued support of it.
Oxfordshire firefighters generated
THAMES Valley Police is working in partnership with Local Authorities to keep you safe as the darker nights draw in.
People across the Thames Valley can pick up security advice from one of the Thames Valley Police twitter sites, watch a video on youtube: LINK about the importance of not leaving their house in the dark, or receive a letter from their neighbourhood team informing residents about patrols in their area.
Neighbourhood teams will also be patrolling in burglary hot spot areas and leaving calling cards at people?s homes if they come across a house in darkness to ensure the occupants receive some crime prevention tips.
If no light is on in your home, curtains are not drawn, and no car is in the drive, it?s an obvious sign to an opportunist burglar that no-one is in. At this time of the year more than any other it pays to secure your home.
There are a number of simple and free ways to do this, all of which will help reduce the chance of your home becoming the next target.
Visit a local retailer to pick up a 24 hour segment timer for under
SHOPPERS in Thame on Saturday may have spotted a young man running on a treadmill outside the Freerange shop in Cornmarket, Thame.
The chap in question was Nigel Pattison who is in training for a marathon run across coast-to-coast to raise money for Thame’s Young Carers charity.
Thame Rotarians have provided Nigel with a treadmill to help him with his training and he’ll be there, in front of Freerange, every Saturday afternoon between 14.00 and 16.00 from until October 15.
The Rotary Club of Thame will be giving logistic support to Nigel Pattison, who plans to run 150 miles in the last week of October.
Nigel hopes to raise
IF you have a surplus of apples you can take them along to be pressed (or contact Greg and Lindsey on 290331 if you need help with picking or transporting them) but don?t forget to take a container for your juice. Surplus vegetables, jams, chutneys etc. will be most welcome on our Harvest of Haddenham bring-and-buy stall or you can sell your surpluses from your garden or allotment yourself. Any profits made will go to more projects like the apple press, which Haddenham in Transition loans out so that people can use their surplus apples rather than wasting them.
Mon 3rd U3A. At Haddenham U3A?s October meeting at 2.15pm for 2.30pm at the Youth and Community Centre, Woodways, there?s a return visit from the popular speaker Dr Tony Maisey, retired GP from Princes Risborough. He will be speaking on the topic ?How and Why we Age? and you can expect an informative, participative and highly amusing – but definitely not depressing ? afternoon!
Mon 3rd Parish Council. Villagers will be welcome at the council?s meeting in the Walter Rose Room at Haddenham Village Hall from 7.30pm. If you have any questions or comments for the council, you can air them in the open forum following the meeting.
Tues 4th Tea Dance. The next tea dance is on Tuesday,
October 4, (2-4pm) in the Village Hall. Entry is
IT’S that time of year when parents of rising fives start to look at primary schools for their children.
If you are one of those parents, St Joseph?s Catholic Primary School in Brook Lane, Thame, will be holding an open afternoon on Thursday, October 6, from 1.30 until 2.45 pm. We warmly invite you to drop in to have a look at our fabulous school and see us ?in action?.
St Joseph?s is a single-form entry school. We are very proud of our wonderful warm family atmosphere, our caring staff and, of course, our fantastic, talented pupils! We welcome applications from all families, regardless of faith or background.
Please telephone the school on 01844 214278 or see our website www.st-josephs.oxon.sch.uk for more information.
SO impressed were they by the hats they saw on television being worn by the guests at the royal wedding last May, that Thame’s twin town requested that their Thame visitors last weekend wore hats and dresses at the celebration dinner for their 10th anniversary.
Over 30 members of Thame and District Twinning Association made an early start last Friday to celebrate 10 years of its ‘jumelage’ with Montesson, near Paris, and John Francis, TDTA’s Treasurer, became Thamenews.net’s European correspondent for the weekend (because of your editor’s involvement with the Thame Food Festival) and contributed his memories of the weekend:
“Leaving Thame at 7am, Matt the coach driver (Mason’s) made light work of the journey through the ‘tunnel’ and on to Montesson to arrive an hour before schedule. Time to relax with a beer before the official reception. After the welcoming speeches we left with to spend the evening with our hosts.
The following morning it was back on the coach for the short journey to Paris. In the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, in glorious weather, we boarded our Bateaux Mouche for a trip along the Seine, one of the most relaxing ways to take in the major sites of Paris, Le Grand Palais, Assemblee Nationale, Musee du Louvre and the fantastical Cathedrale Notre-Dame.
After a picnic lunch we crossed the Seine for a visit to the Musee d?Orsay. The Museum is housed in a part of the former Orsay railway station, built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900. This wonderful building is the perfect setting for the exhibition of mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1915. It includes paintings, sculptures and an extensive display of art nouveau furniture (my personal highlight). The original station also provided a baroque ballroom and large hotel.
We started the afternoon with a guided tour followed by a couple of hours to spend either in the Museum or surrounding area.
That evening, hosts and guests were treated to a reception and meal at the Maison du Parc in Montesson. After speeches in celebration of ten years of twinning and exchange of gifts to commemorate the event, the younger members of the group released a mass of blue and yellow balloons.
On Sunday morning time was spent with our hosts, some travelling to nearby Versailles, some attending church or visiting Montesson market. After lunch farewells were exchanged before boarding the bus for the journey home. Once more we made good progress arriving home at around 9.30pm having gained an hour because of the time difference, tired but happy.”
Jeannette Matelot Green, TDTA’s Chair, added: “It was a fantastic weekend! The Montesson Twinning committee have given us a wonderful milestone bollard with the words: “495 kilometers to Montesson” written on it, which we shall find a special place for in the town. Watch this space!
“We gave them a tapestry of the two twin towns’ logos and the dates 2001 – 2011 stitched onto it, made by your’s truly which will hang in Montesson’s town hall.
“This year we were especially pleased to have with us on the trip Sophie and Sarah Jane from the Safari group in Thame, and their carer, Helen Gray. I hope this is the beginning of a very successful relationship between Safari and Thame Twinning.”
PHOTO: Jeannette Matelot Green in her ‘fascinator’ style hat, Don Butler and the Mayor of Montesson, Jean Francois Bel
A THAME man is planning to walk coast to coast from Workington to Tynemouth ? the equivalent of 6 marathons in 6 days – to raise money for Thame’s young people who care for other family members.
The Rotary Club of Thame will be giving logistic support to Nigel Pattison, who plans to run 150 miles in the last week of October.
Nigel hopes to raise
FOR all those aged 3 to 16, the transformed play area at Queen Elizabeth Circle will be just for you!
Thame Town Council’s redevelopment of Thame?s recreation areas continues, this time at Queen Elizabeth Circle play area in Lea Park.
The demolition of the existing area, starting on September 26, is expected to take a week and construction of the new facilities will start in October and will take 6-8 weeks.
View the new design at the Information Centre in the Town Hall from Monday, September 26.
THERE could be a knock at the door for people in South Oxfordshire in the next couple of weeks as the District Council undertakes its latest residents? survey.
From September 26, SODC will be contacting 1,100 individuals to conduct face-to-face interviews to find out their views on council services, how satisfied they are with SODC and how well informed they feel about the Council?s work.
The interviews will be carried out by MEL Research. All representatives will carry ID but anyone who is unsure or would like more information can contact Kate Prince, Consultation Officer, at SODC on 01491 823093 or haveyoursay@southandvale.gov.uk
Anyone who is not selected for a face-to-face interview can still take part in the survey by filling in an online questionnaire at: www.southoxon.gov.uk/haveyoursay
Councillor Angie Paterson, Deputy Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said: ?We use the results of the survey to help to decide the Council?s priorities and to find ways to improve how we serve our residents.
?We will also compare the latest findings with those from 2009 so that we can check our progress and make sure that we are improving.
?We are always grateful for input from residents and I would encourage anyone with an interest in their community and the services we provide to take part and give us their views.?
MARMITE cheddar, Kobe beef, Del Boy’s and Ena Sharples’ favourite tipple and a challenge to the quizmaster over black onion seeds – nigella or sesame seeds, were just some of the answers that got heads scratching at The James Figg last night.
The first of the build-up events for Thame’s fourth Food Festival, a Foodie Quiz Night, challenged teams of gastronomy enthusiasts from all over the town on their knowledge of food and drink.
And the winning team was…..(no, not the Thame News Tasters but..)The Festival Ferrets, pictured here with Manager of the Thatch and quizmaster, Frazer Sutherland.