Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • New Tennis Opportunities In Thame (Contributed)

    THAME Tennis Club has just completed a major development project to increase the playing facilities at its Queens Road location, including the construction of three new, all-weather courts and floodlighting.
    Having been in existence and in the same location for over 80 years, the Club now has a total of six high quality, all-weather courts, one of which is dedicated as a priority court for junior players.

    With the new facilities now in place, the Club is growing as expected with new members joining on a regular basis. The Club is now able to offer both evening tennis all year round as well as the facility of multi-discipline activities being able to take place at the same time, both of which had not been possible previously.

    The new lit courts are in full use each evening and all of the courts are in use at the weekends, where it is not unusual to see all six courts being played on at the same time, with matches, coaching and club play all taking place simultaneously.

    The junior priority court, with its special mini tennis line markings for coaching sessions, also allows for junior members to play as a priority over adult members. Whilst adult members can use the court if it is not in use, junior members are empowered to ask them to vacate the court if they need to. The Club rigorously enforces this priority usage.

    The development of the junior section is further and significantly aided by the appointment of Simon Langley as the Club?s fully qualified and LTA approved Head Coach, and Simon has successfully implemented a new and integrated coaching programme.

    In addition to extensive work with the local schools, the impressive coaching programme has resulted in new members joining, as well as the Club being recently awarded the highly valued LTA Mini Tennis Accreditation status.

    The coaching programme, which is for adult and junior players, continues to expand and also offers specialist one-to-one sessions.

    The Club also successfully runs a large number of adult and junior teams in the local leagues (i.e. Oxfordshire, Aylesbury & District and Thames Valley), so there are great opportunities for competitive league tennis at all levels, all year round.

    The Club is delighted to have achieved Mini Tennis Accreditation status and its next ambition is to become a performance centre of renown in Oxfordshire.

    New members are always welcome and the Club is holding an Open Day at its Queens Road Courts on Sunday, April 23, to which everyone is welcome and where demonstration racquets and other equipment will be available for use.

    For further details, please call the Chairman Aidan Coles on 01844-238900 or visit the Club?s website at www.thametennisclub.org.uk.

  • Could Your Business Use A French Student ?

    A STUDENT from near Thame’s twin town of Montesson, near Paris, is looking for a work placement in the area, during May/June. Here is her request:-
    “I am Jennifer Cohen, a French student in first year of International trade, in a 12th degree in the Paris area. I have to do a work placement in a marketing or in an export department from May 8th to June 30th, to be able to go into my second year.
    “I could help the company: to do a foreign market research, to translate the website, the leaflets.. in French or in Spanish. Otherwise, I can be in the export department to help for the shipping of
    the international orders from the seizure of the orders to the delivery.
    “The company does not have to provide me any remuneration. The only thing which is really imposed by my school is that the company in which I do my training course has international activities, even if the firm is just located in one place.
    “Regarding the time of work, my teachers did not specialize anything; it is upon the company’s request. However, I am personally motivated to do
    extra hours if necessary.
    “After the work placement I will have to do a report which will go towards my graduation. I will have to explain all the things I have learnt as well as all the things I did during the training course, in an oral presentation.
    “For example, if I do market research I will have to explain why the company chose such market, how did I do this research, with which methods, the potential problems I met, and what are the conclusions.
    “Of course, no confidential information regarding the company will be mentioned in my report.”

    If you think your company could benefit from taking Jennifer on temporarily, contact her at: jennifer.cohen@hotmail.fr

    If you would like to see her CV first, or would like anyother information before contacting Jennifer, contact Sonja Francis at: editor@thamenews.net or call o1844 218832

  • Theft of Satellite Navigation Systems

    AT a time when Thame is in the middle of an anti-car crime campaign, Police in South Oxfordshire are warning car owners to take satellite navigation systems with them when they leave their cars, after a spate of thefts across the area.

    Cars have even been broken into when just the holder for the system has been on display so motorists are advised to remove any evidence of their navigation systems while the car is unattended.

    In recent weeks there have been several incidents, including one at the Welcome Break Services and one in Chinnor.

    Alison Smith, Crime Reduction Advisor for the Didcot and Wallingford, said: ?Please remove all valuables from your car before leaving it and leave your glove box open so that criminals can see there is nothing to steal.

    ?Ultraviolet pens are available from police stations so you can mark your property. Stolen property recovered by police can then be identified and returned.
    ?Satellite navigation equipment is becoming more popular with motorists, and it is also becoming more popular with criminals. Where possible keep it safe by taking it, together with the support cradle and suction pads, with you when you leave the car.
    ?Also remember to wipe away any suction pad marks left on the windscreen or dashboard as thieves will look out for these. Don’t leave the equipment in the glove compartment ? thieves will usually check there first.?
    You can also help by following these tips:
    ? Mark your satellite navigation equipment system with your postcode and house number or your vehicle registration number or another unique number, using special security markers.
    ? Make a note of the make, model and serial number of the equipment and keep the note somewhere safe ? not in the car. Consider recording this information on one of the commercially available asset registers.
    ? Don’t leave anything on view in your car. Thieves are opportunists and it takes them seconds to break into your car.
    ? Lock all doors and windows, not forgetting the sunroof, when leaving your car.
    ? Never leave the keys in the ignition when the car is unattended, even while you’re paying for petrol.
    ? Use car parks that are part of the police-approved Safer Parking Scheme. Approved car parks display the official ‘Park Mark’TM sign. For details, visit: www.saferparking.com

  • Boy Assaulted In Thame

    POLICE are appealing for information after a 15-year-old boy was assaulted as he walked on waste ground in Thame.

    The boy and his friend were walking along a dirt track on ground near to sewerage works on Moors End Lane when they were approached from behind by two boys, at around 7.30pm on Wednesday, March 29.

    The victim was pushed to the ground and kicked several times, sustaining bruising to his head, before he managed to run away.

    The first offender is white, aged around 13, 4ft and slim with short black hair. He was wearing a black Nike hooded top, blue jeans, black shoes and was also wearing a silver neck chain.

    The second boy is also white, of a similar age and height and also slim. He had sort red hair and was wearing a blue hooded top which possibly had blue letters on the front.

    PC James O?Neill, of Thame police station, said: ?What would seem like an unprovoked attack could have had more serious consequences for the young victim who luckily managed to escape.
    ?He was left extremely traumatised by what happened and it has taken a great deal of courage from him to come forward and make a complaint.
    ?I need to hear from anyone who was in the area around this time who may have witnessed the attack or the two offenders either before or after it happened.?

    Anyone with information is asked to contact PC O?Neill at Thame police station via the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505.

    If you have information but do not want to speak with police or leave your name you can contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

  • Chinnor Win Promotion To National League

    CHINNOR lst XV celebrate finishing top of the South West league for promotion to National league three, after their victory over Maidenhead at Kingsey Road, Thame on Saturday.
    Score; Chinnor 30 Maidenhead 13
    Report to follows.

  • Thame Draw With Willenhall – Report by Bob Dixon

    Thame United 1, Willenhall Town 1.
    THAME United earned their first league point since mid February in a hard-fought, and sometimes bad-tempered contest, on Saturday.
    Thame took the lead after four minutes play when good work by Anthony Hamilton allowed Darren Moore to hit a superb volley low into the corner of the goal from 15 yards. Thame had the better of the first half chances with both Robbie Eason and Hamilton going close. The sides went in for half time with Thame?s goalkeeper, Paul Searl hardly tested.

    The Willenhall half-time team talk clearly worked, as the roles were reversed in a second half, which saw Thame keep in their own half for much of the time. Willenhall almost equalised in the 73rd minute, after George Shielis created a good opportunity for Paul Danks but Searl made an outstanding save to maintain Thame?s slender lead. Thame had a half chance in the 85th minute when Hamilton met a cross from substitute George Harman, but his shot went wide.
    The equaliser came with just two minutes remaining, when Danks got the better of his defender and scored from close range in a goalmouth scramble where he looked suspiciously offside. Both teams pressed for a winner, but it was all square when the final whistle blew.

    Thame United: Searl, Way, Eason, Hocking, Bradley (Hopkins), Connelly, Raja (Morgan), Fisher (Harman), Moore, Hamilton, Groves.

    Thame travel to Brackley Town on Easter Saturday, April 15, and entertain Marlow on Tuesday April 18 (7.45).

  • Art Lessons From Nature (Contributed)

    CHILDREN from Lewknor, Tetsworth and Aston Rowant Primary Schools recently visited Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve for an art lesson with a difference.
    Inspired by the work of land artists, the children created their own trees using materials that nature provided.
    Children from each of the three schools co-operated to make representations of the different trees found at the reserve using twigs and branches that they had collected. They then voted for their favourite (excluding their own!). Team Four won the honours for the day as their tree looked most like the drawing provided to them. All of the schools were winners however as each took back with them a nest box as a souvenir of the day.

    The event was organised by Anne Barr and Cat Villarreal of English Nature, with the aim of promoting the enjoyment and understanding of nature. Cat said: “we certainly achieved this, judging by the excitement on the children?s faces.” Anne added that:”it was great to work with local schools and we?re really grateful for the co-operation of teachers and parents.”
    The work of the children will remain on site to inspire others, until nature takes back its materials.

  • Changes To Council Grants Scheme

    THAME Town Council has recently revised its methods of considering and awarding grants.
    The council states that the aim of its Grants scheme is:”.. to promote a vibrant and active community in Thame. The scheme recognises and supports the valuable contribution made by the voluntary sector to the well-being of the community. It provides financial support for community organisations working for the benefit of residents, with the intention of improving the range of services and activities in the town.”
    There is a limited budget each year for grant allocations and the amount requested usually exceeds the amount available and it is difficult for the council to gauge the priority of applications when considered on an ad hoc basis.
    “For example,” the council states, “it is difficult to assess an application received at the beginning of the year because the Council does not know if other organisations may need assistance towards the end of the year.”
    The council has therefore decided to try a new system in 2006-2007, whereby all Grant Applications for this financial year must be received by September 2006. All applications will then be considered at one sitting, with awards being made in November 2006.

    Guidance notes and applications for grant funding in 2006-2007 are available from the Information Point in the Town Hall, or can be downloaded from the Town Council?s website: www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk.

  • Millions Missing Out On Help With Council Tax (Contributed)

    THE charity, Age Concern Oxfordshire, has urged pensioners to stake their claim to help with Council Tax.
    Up to two million pensioners are missing out on Council Tax Benefit which could cut their bill by

  • Ex England Player Signs For Thame

    FORMER England, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Reading midfielder, Neil Webb has signed for Thame United.