Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Latest From Round- The- Poles Lone Sailor (Latest news from website)

    NEWS from Adrian Flanagan, who left England five and a half months ago to circumnavigate the world via the poles, is that he is making steady progress towards Hawaii.
    The following is the latest report of his progress, posted on the expedition website:-
    “Adrian’s back-up computer seems to have now all but given up so we are very grateful to have the Satcom phone as we now rely on this almost 100% for communication. Adrian told me yesterday that in a moment of real depression concerning his ‘computer issues’ he reminded himself that none of his sailing heroes had even had email, let alone all the other gadgetry that is on Barrabas. After that reality check he started to feel better.

    “Back home I am in full swing getting together the supply drop for Hawaii. I have managed to get the Waikiki Yacht Club to agree to help with the drop and I am very grateful to Commodore Ivan Chan Wa for his pledge of assistance. The plan is that sponsor DHL will fly the shipment to Hawaii and deliver it to the Waikiki Yacht Club who will in turn deliver it somewhere off-shore on to Barrabas. Ivan has also promised something tasty from their restaurant. Adrian now has not seen fresh food for five and a half months.

    I also want to say a huge thank you to Niamh Lyon at Timberland for not flinching once when I presented her with a further very ambitious wish list over lunch in London a few weeks ago! Timberland and Kemp Sails are generously supplying us with a brand new spinnaker which will really help Adrian make up some lost time on his way from Hawaii to Russia.

    I have been back on the phone as I was at the beginning of this adventure begging, stealing and borrowing. Only this time it has been somewhat easier as Adrian has managed to achieve so much. I’d like to thank some new sponsors who have come on board over the past couple of weeks. Musto for providing essential quality clothing for the adverse conditions Adrian will undoubtedly meet during the coming months, RS for supplying some vital electrical components, John Lewis (High Wycombe) and Waitrose (Thame) for supplying lots of bits and pieces Adrian requested such as a new digital camera and plastic mixing bowls. Over the next week or so I will share the full shopping list along with the sponsors who have very kindly fulfilled it.

    www.alphaglobalex.com

    Last Updated ( Thursday, 13 April 2006 )
    Photo: Adrian Flanagan waves ‘goodbye’ to family and well-wishers, back in October 2005. (Copyright: Rob Wheal)

  • April’s Gardening News Letter – From Jane Follis

    HAS Spring finally sprung? The jury is still out.
    April weather is so unpredictable. I spent last Saturday morning digging my vegetable patch and sowing onion sets in the glorious sunshine and then found myself staring at huge snowflakes the following evening!! Today is decidedly chilly and we still have the risk of frosts. This means we must remain cautious and not rush out and plant tender seedlings.

    On a personal note, I am pleased to report my father is making good progress at last. I organised a live in carer for the last two weeks and he is now walking every day and can drive the car for short distances. It has been a hard six weeks, but things are now back to normal and I can concentrate on my work.

    SEASONAL TIPS
    This is the month to get on top of the weeds. They will be growing at quite a rate particularly if we have had warmth and rain. I can?t emphasise enough the need to mulch. This not only suppresses the weeds but it helps retain moisture in the ground, which is going to become more and more of an issue with the hose pipe ban in place.

    For those of you who have evergreen grasses in the garden remove the old leaves by pulling your hands through the plant in a combing motion. This removes the old thatch and gives the plant a new lease of life. Please don?t cut them down. I went to see a client last weekend whose gardener had trimmed them. They now look like little hedgehogs and will never really recover their former glory. Other grasses such as Miscanthus and Molinia?s can be cut down. In contrast to the evergreens the stems will be looking tired and dead and it will be obvious they need cutting back. If you look carefully, you will see the new growth coming through at the bottom of the plant.

    Cut back slightly frost tender plants such as lavander, hebe, santolina, rosemary and sage. Make sure you only cut into new growth and not into the old wood. This is also a good time to plant these varieties.
    Continue to prune spring-flowering shrubs once the flowers have died down.

    When the daffodils have finished flowering take off the heads by nipping them with a finger and thumb. I know it is messy for a few weeks, but please leave the leaves as they are. They do not need tying up or cutting off. The longer they are left the more nutrient will go back into the bulb for better displays next spring.

    Plant summer flowering bulbs (see March Newsletter). Grow lilies in pots so they can be moved into the garden to fill any gaps during the coming months.

    Sprinkle a general fertiliser, such as ?Growmore? around the base of the shrubs and perennials.

    Start cutting the lawn if you haven?t already done so. Keep the cutting height quite high (about 2.5cm) for the first few cuts.

    THE VEGETABLE PATCH
    Tidy up the greenhouse and wash down with Jeyes fluid. I usually wash all my pots and trays at the same time. Sow tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, chilli and cucumber in the cool greenhouse. I actually started most of my vegetables off on the kitchen window sill and will be transferring them to the greenhouse or the ground later this month. I am being a little cautious as we still have risk of frost so my kitchen will just have to look like a budding nursery for a while longer!

    Seed sowing this month can include the following :- cabbages, carrots, cauliflowers, celeriac, kale, leeks, lettuces, mange-tout, parsley, spring onions, parsnips, peas, radishes, spinach and turnips. I also have broccoli and brussels sprouts ready to plant out.

    Mulch around raspberries and other fruit bushes and clean up the strawberry patch. If you have a slug problem, use straw to lift the leaves from the ground.

    FORTHCOMING EVENTS AND PLACES TO VISIT

    15th & 16th April 2006
    Natural Driftwood Sculptures
    Bournemouth (www.driftwoodsculptures.co.uk
    An open weekend offering 25% off

    22nd April 2006
    Capel Manor College, Middlesex
    Workshop: Spring pruning ? flowering shrubs
    Tel: 020 8366 4442

    3RD May 2006
    ?Adventurous Terrace Pot Planting?
    Waddesdon Manor (www.waddesdon.org.uk)
    Slides, demonstrations and discussion with Sue Dickinson, head gardener at Eythrope (just down the road from me)

    5th May 2006
    ?Sculpture and Ornament in the Garden?
    English Gardening School (www.englishgardeningschool.co.uk)
    Choosing subjects, locating them and connecting them to their surroundings.

    11th ? 14th May
    Malvern Spring Gardening Show
    Tel: 01684 584924 for further information

    SPECIAL OFFER

    Adirondack Outdoors Garden Chair
    (www.adirondack.co.uk)

    Offering 25% off for a limited
    period (to April 21st)

    If anyone is interested, please contact me
    and I will place an order. These are
    probably THE most comfortable chairs I
    have ever sat on ? designed by Native
    American Indians.

    ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
    The HTA have just issued guidelines regarding the hosepipe ban to designers and landscapers. I have picked out some of the more salient points raised in the article.

    What does a hosepipe ban mean?
    Temporary hosepipe restrictions are defined under section 76 of the Water Industry Act 1991? this Act empowers water companies to prohibit or restrict the use of hosepipes specifically for watering private gardens and washing private vehicles.

    A hosepipe ban in the areas affected would mean that landscapers working in a private garden for a client, relying on the customers? water supply, could not use a hosepipe? to water that garden. The landscaper could use a hosepipe for other purposes such as filling containers etc.

    For further information such as ?Garden Watering During Hosepipe Restrictions? is available from the main website www.the-hta.org.uk

    There are a couple of things that we could all do to help in the garden. One would be to mulch the flower borders and the other would be to install water butts to as many downpipes as possible.

    I wish you all a very Happy Easter

  • Business Waste Reduction Drive (Contributed)

    BUSINESSES across Oxfordshire are joining residents in making the county one of the best in the country at recycling, reducing or re-using waste.
    In February, Oxfordshire County Council launched its first ever Commercial Waste Reduction Pack aimed at saving local businesses money through waste reduction.
    Since its launch nearly 300 businesses have requested the pack.
    The County Council, in partnership with the South East of England Development Agency (SEEDA), developed the pack for any small to medium sized business that wants to save money by reducing, reusing and recycling its business waste.
    With tighter legislation and landfill tax going up by

  • Thame Fire Officers Help Save Soap Star’s Dad’s Home

    THAME fire officers, including Station Commander, Andy Ford, were among 100 of their colleagues from neghbouring towns, involved in trying to save the thatched, luxury home of a TV soap star.
    Hollyoaks beauty, Ali Bastian, apparently watched in horror as fire ripped through her father’s riverside home near Henley-on-Thames.
    The TV star, who plays a teacher in the Channel 4 series, apparently arrived just minutes after the blaze broke out during a dinner party at the property last Saturday night.
    Andy Ford admitted that he would not have recognised the star, had he seen her, although some of his colleagues were aware that she was there.
    “As with most thatch fires,” Andy explained,”this one was basically a damage-limitation excercise, trying to prevent the fire from spreading and burning bits of thatch dropping into the rooms below and igniting new fires. We were there most of night salvaging as much as we could from the house.”
    Because of fire crews’ massive efforts, at one point using five portable pumps to pump water out of the river Thames, the roof and top floor of the 1920’s house were destroyed but the lower part of the property was saved.

    Photo: Courtesy of the BBC.

  • Thame Cyclist In International Road Race

    LOCAL cycling fans, cheered on Thame cyclist, Karl Freeman, during a long and exciting chase after the leaders, at last Sunday’s Archer Grand Prix race.
    Unfortunately, he was caught by the bunch on the way up Whiteleaf and was not among the 52 finishers out of the 100 riders who set off.

    The race was one by Polish rider, Mariusz Wiesiak who
    rides for the Japanese sponsored but Italian based, Nippo/KFS team. His team mate, Britain’s David Clarke, won the King of the Chilterns prize for being the leading rider on points up the long, 1-in-7 Whiteleaf Hill that did for Freeman.

  • Thame Cyclist In International Road Race

    LOCAL cycling fans, cheered on Thame cyclist, Karl Freeman, during a long and exciting chase after the leaders, at last Sunday’s Archer Grand Prix race.
    Unfortunately, he was caught by the bunch on the way up Whiteleaf and was not among the 52 finishers out of the 100 riders who set off.

    The race was one by Polish rider, Mariusz Wiesiak who
    rides for the Japanese sponsored but Italian based, Nippo/KFS team. His team mate, Britain’s David Clarke, won the King of the Chilterns prize for being the leading rider on points up the long, 1-in-7 Whiteleaf Hill that did for Freeman.

  • Thame Debut For Ex England Player

    EX MANCHESTER UNITED and England player, Neil Webb will be making his debut for Thame United tomorrow evening in their home game against Dunstable Town.
    Kick off is at 7:45pm at Buckingham Road, Aylesbury.

  • Chinnor Takes SW Division Title – Match Report

    Chinnor 30pts – Maidenhead 13pts

    CHINNOR eventually overcame their nerves on Saturday, to defeat a confident Maidenhead side to take the South West Division One title.
    This was never going to be an easy ride for Chinnor. Maidenhead were one of the only two sides that had defeated them this season. This fixture had always been considered to be a local derby, so much was at stake.
    The Chinnor side needed just one victory from two games to take the title against a resurgent Maidenhead who were also unbeaten in their last six games. Both teams were at full strength with James Hewitt and Ed Rixon for Chinnor returning from injury. Paul Hennessy captained Chinnor in the absence of Craig Burrows with Matt Hutchins starting in the second row.
    Maidenhead won the toss and elected to play with the strong breeze at their backs. However all the play with Chinnor in the first 10 minutes as they laid siege to the Maidenhead line. Strong defence kept them at bay, and when Chinnor elected to go for goal and narrowly missed, Maidenhead went on the offensive. With their line-out functioning particularly well, and their back row getting to the break down at speed, they were looking dangerous. Dan Walton kicked a penalty for a Chinnor off-side in the 12th minute and repeated the dose just four minutes later for a similar infringement. A Simon Cripps try followed a decisive break by Jonny Hammond, was converted by Walton putting Maidenhead in the ascendancy with still 20 minutes of the first half remaining. The Chinnor defence stood firm during this period, assisted somewhat by some stange option taking by the visitors.
    The first 10 minutes of the second half gave no indication of what was to come. Both sides went close to scoring before James Hewitt stepped up to claw three points back for a Maidenhead off-side. Chinnor were now on the front foot, but remained patient. Then, a seering break through the middle by Rewi Tolich saw him hand on to Eric Brown who ran in under the posts. With the Hewitt conversion a formality, and the same player adding a penalty just eight minutes later, it was now game on.
    With John Brodley ringing the changes, it was substitute, Richard Williams next on the score sheet rounding off a move he had started to, again, go over under the posts. Hewitt added the extra points and minutes later struck an excellent penalty to put clear water between the sides. An Eric Brown try from a forward drive with a Hewitt conversion from the touchline, made it six successful kicks out of seven for the youngster, and was the icing on the cake for the home side.
    Chinnor had scored 30 unanswered points in the last remarkable quarter of the game, much of which can be attributed to the leadership of Paul Hennessy who remained calm throughout.

    This was Chinnor’s fourthth promotion in the last 10 years. It’s a long way from the Bucks and Oxon Division One, to the National Leagues. With Chinnor’s 2nd XV winning the Bucks, Berks and Oxon Premier Division 1 title, and the 3rd XV on the verge of winning their league, this could be a unique treble for the Thame based club.

  • Chinnor Seconds Win Cliff Hanger To Win League

    IT was soon obvious that there was no love lost in this local derby played between two very competitive teams on Saturday.
    Chinnor Seconds won by just one point against Oxford Harlequins winning them the league on points difference, denying the title to the Harlequins who needed only to draw to win the league.
    Chinnor Seconds failed to play to their normal high standard, the forwards failing to gel for the first 15 minutes. As a result they were often found to be on the back foot and Oxford Harlequins took an early lead from a penalty. Chinnor then scored under the posts in the 18th minute with a great run by Jamie Hiscock from his own goal line, converted by Adam White.
    The Quins hit back five minutes later with a push- over try. Chinnor then settled down and Adam White scored and converted his own try, followed two minutes later by a second try from Jamie Hiscock duly converted by Adam White. He then followed this up with a successful penalty and Chinnor were 24 points to eight ahead.
    Once again Jamie Hiscock took the opportunity to out-run the Quins’ backs to score under the posts and Adam White was once more on target and the first half finished 31 points to eight in Chinnor?s favour.
    In he second half, the Quins had the wind behind them and came back at Chinnor with tries scored in the fourth and the 16th minutes but only converted once the score was only 31 points to 20.
    Chinnor was blown out of the game when it tried to set up any second or third phase play, which the team had found great success with previously throughout the season. As a result it spoiled a very good and hard game, which affected the players on both sides. These frustrations lead to the sending off of one of Chinnor?s front row, and Quins ran in two tries during the fifteen minutes the player was off the field.
    With just 10 minutes to go, the scores were 31 points to 30 in Chinnor’s favour. They were very relieved indeed to finish the game without conceding any more points.
    The team would like to thank Oxford Harlequins for a very close game, and one they were very delighted and thankful to win.
    The man of the match was Jon Brooks picked out by the Quins Coach.
    Finally, Chinnor second team captain, Tom Wood and manager Walter McGuicken would like to congratulate and thank all players who have played for the team this year and contributed towards the side winning the league.

    Walter McGuicken

    Tries: Jamie Hiscock 3; Adam White 1
    Conversions: Adam White 4
    Penalties: Adam White 1

  • Crime Shorts

    THAME police would like to hear from anyone with any information about the following incidents in the past week, in the Thame area:

    OVERNIGHT between 22.00 hrs and 07.00 hrs, on April 6/7, a CD player was taken from a car in North Street, Thame.
    The car was a dark green Saab, to which the quarter light of the rear door had been smashed to gain entry.

    SOMETIME between 16.00 hrs on April 4, and 10.00 hrs on April 6, a trailer was stolen from the Manor Road, Towersey area. The trailer had a black frame with wooden panels.

    OVERNIGHT on April 5/6, between 22.15 hrs and 17.53 hrs, the front grill was stolen from a black Peugeot 106, parked in Station Road, Chinnor.

    IN the latest of a spate of offences since the beginning of the year, in Chinnor Road, Thame, a car had offensive words written over it, using a magic marker pen.
    The offence took place some time between April 1/3, between 15.00 hrs and 08.30 hrs.

    Anyone who may have information about any of the above offences that may help the police with their enquiries, can contact the Police Enquiry Line 0845 850 5505, or call Crime Stoppers without giving a name, on 0800 555111.