SHOWING at the Thame Players Theatre on Sunday, September 18 – Mustang – Turkey, 2016, 95 minutes, 15 certificate
Directed by Deniz Gamze Ergüven, starring Günes Sensoy, Doga Zeynep Doguslu, Tugba Sunguroglu, Elit Iscan, Ilayda Akdogan, Nihal G. Koldas, Ayberk Pekcan, Bahar Kerimoglu, Burak Yigit, Erol Afsin.
Scene from the film Mustang
RURAL Anatolia, the present day. Five spirited teenage sisters celebrate the end of school term by going to the beach with a group of friends. They lark about in the surf, the girls on the shoulders of the boys. This innocent episode is witnessed by a ‘concerned’ local resident, and the girls’ grandmother is alerted to behaviour that is deemed compromising to moral reputation and marital prospects.
Their uncle, charged with their custody since the death of their parents, responds with violently draconian measures: bars are put on doors and windows; the girls are required to dress only in drab smock dresses; and successive husbands must be sought as the girls come of age. They are subjected to physical examinations to determine their virtue, required to spend their days in learning domestic tasks, and their futures negotiated with representatives of local families, as the house becomes increasingly akin to a factory/prison producing wives and housekeepers.
Deniz Gamze Ergüven’s stunning debut, featuring a cast of largely unknown and untrained actors, is at once a gripping drama, a beautiful and lyrical account of sisterly love, youthful rebellion, and fierce resistance, and an examination of a repressive social regime that facilitates physical and sexual enslavement of its young women. Yet it concentrates on the drama, on the girls’ resistance and spirit rather than their suppression; the film alludes to contemporary Turkey and its shift away from secularism but without being heavy-handedly political or preachy.
Justly rewarded with critical praise the world over, this is one not to be missed.
SOURCE: Contributed by Catriona Gilmour Hamilton, Thame Cinema 4 All.
Jim Barrett, former landlord of Three Horseshoes, Towersey
ROYAL Navy Chief Communications Yeoman Jack Barrett, known to his friends in Towersey and Thame as Jim, who has died at the age of 95, was at sea throughout the Second World War, and saw action from the Far East to the Atlantic, the Arctic, the Aegean, the Mediterranean and East Africa.
Jim Barrett – 1920-2016
He retired from the Navy after 25 years’ service and became landlord of the Three Horseshoes in Towersey, which he ran with his wife, Clare. Jim was also one of those instrumental in creating the Towersey Folk Festival, which has become a national event and recently celebrated its 52nd anniversary.
Jim continued his service to the community in other ways, and was for many years a trustee and the hon. treasurer of the Thame and District Day Centre.
He was born on November 15, 1920, in Long Crendon. He held the 1939-45 Star, the Atlantic Star, the Africa Star, the Burma Star, the Italy Star, the France and Germany Clasp, the War Medal, and a medal given him by the Russian Embassy for his service on the Arctic Convoys. As a communications specialist, he served mainly in destroyers but also on battleships, cruisers and aircraft carriers.
After leaving school at the age of 14, Jim joined the Naval training ship Arethusa, and from there progressed to HMS Ganges, a training establishment where he learned the trade of signalman. In August 1939, aged 17, he joined the cruiser HMS Colombo as a Signalman and was on board when war was declared. His diary note for September 3, 1939: 1115: ‘”Britain declared war on Germany.”
For the next three years Jim was at sea in the in the North Atlantic, Mediterranean, Singapore, the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, Capetown, Aden, the Maldives, Somaliland, and Mombasa.
From having started his service as a Boy Second Class, he was now Acting Yeoman (Petty Officer) of Signals. He was 21 years old. His diaries record many actions at sea, including, in 1939, the capture of German merchant ship Henning Oldendorf. For November 19, his diary records: “Captured Henning Oldendorf under Russian flag and different name. Sent prize crew aboard and sent her to Leith. She had been at sea since 16th October. Cargo minerals.”
In November 1942, Jim joined HMS Faulknor as Temporary Yeoman (Petty Officer) of Signals, on which he served until the end of the war, in frequent action. By then his rank was Permanent Yeoman (Petty Officer) of Signals. In subsequent years he saw action with the Arctic convoys, and in Sicily, Salerno, the Aegean, the Mediterranean, at Anzio, at the liberation of the Channel Islands and in the Normandy landings, in 1944. Wikipedia reports that the Faulknor had a particularly active operational role during World War II, and was known as “the hardest worked destroyer in the Fleet’. As a communications specialist Jim served on the bridge of the Faulknor at the heart of the action.
Many of these events are reported as they happened in Jim’s detailed diaries, which carry eye-witness, immediate reports of many actions which were costly both in men and ships, especially in the Mediterranean and the Aegean.
Arctic Convoy JW53 – 1943
There are vivid reports in his diaries of the battles and the freezing cold of the Faulknor’s Arctic escort duties. His entry for February 25, 1943 reports:
“Today we have been closed up at action stations for nearly nine hours. At lunchtime 14 JU88s attacked us splattering bombs all round but no one hit; the barrage made them keep up too high, then again 28 Jus (Junkers ) escorted by 40 ME (Messerschmidt) 109 and dropped everything they could but they seemed scared, just jettisoned their bombs anywhere, although some of the fighters jumped on us out of the clouds and machine gunned us, only one casualty in MVs, a man with a shrapnel splinter in his leg, he has been transferred with some difficulty to (HMS) Scylla.
“Just as dusk was falling another 10 JU88s came over; but no hits, although several near misses registered. And so the night goes on, snowing like the devil and we can hear the U boats making their sighting reports and homing other U boats. Signal comes through that all the escort are to drop two depth charges. This done nothing more was heard of the U boats and we have obviously made them keep well below the surface; whether any hits were registered we can’t say, it is too dark.”
The following year, during the Normandy landings, it fell to his ship to carry several eminent military people and politicians to the area, among them Field Marshal Montgomery, whom Jim recalled meeting. A countryman as well as a man of the sea, Jim knew the ways of the land about his home village – where the best blackberries could be picked, how to pluck and gut game birds, and how to grow great crops of vegetables behind his pub.
He was born on November 15, 1920 in Long Crendon, on the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire borders. He attended the village school until he was 14, when he joined the Training Ship HMS Arethusa. There his education continued – while he also remembers having to carry out chores like scrubbing decks. He then moved on to the training ship HMS Ganges, to learn his trade of Communications. When the war ended, after six years continuously at sea and in the thick of the action, Jim was Chief Yeoman of Signals – and still only 24 years old.
Jim’s wife, Clare, died in 2000. He is survived by three children, seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Active and interested in people and events, with a razor sharp gift for marshalling his facts and dealing with practical matters –perhaps learned from his years as a Signals expert – Jim remained involved with the Thame and District Day Centre well into his 90s.
LOCATION UP-DATE: After some confusion as to the location of the field in which the ponies were found on Sunday (4/9), Thames Valley Police have clarified that the field is off the A418 Thame bypass, near the Esso Service Station and Priest End.
The 10 horses that had been left there after a padlock was broken and entry forced.
The horses are a mixture of white and brown in colour and were in a poor condition. TVP is ensuring the horses are looked after.
Investigating officer PC Melanie Stafford from the Neighbourhood Policing Team in Thame, said: “I would like to speak to anyone who has information about these animals. It is distressing to see them in such a poor condition and it is essential we trace the owner.
“Anyone who has any details should contact Thames Valley Police via the non-emergency number 101.”
If you do not want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
AN investigation is underway to try to find the owner of ten ponies, found dumped in a very poor state of health, in a field near St Mary’s Church, Thame. One of them has since has to be put down.
PCSO Diane Jackson (Image courtsey of Mark Chappell)
The grim discovery created a major welfare issue for Thame PCSO, Diane Jackson, who managed to contact Norcal Vets in Thame, who covered half the fee for chipping, castrating and providing treatments for other ailments the stricken animals were suffering from.
Following an appeal on social media for donations to cover the rest of the vet’s bill, £900, an anonymous donor came forward and the bill was paid.
The ponies were discovered on Sunday morning when the owner of the field turned up and found the lock broken. A new home has now been found for the animals.
Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to call the Police non-emergency line 101. If you do not want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after bricks were thrown at a parked car in a residential area of the town, twice.
The first incident took place in Churchill Crescent on August 21, between 10.30pm and midnight.
A car parked on a driveway had a brick thrown at it, causing its rear lights to be broken.
The second incident occurred in the same road between 6am and 6.30am on Saturday (3/9).
A brick was thrown at the same vehicle, causing a dent to the roof, and snapping off the aerial.
Investigating officer Sgt Vicky Hoskin, based at Thame police station, said: “There have been two incidents within a two week to the same vehicle which was parked on a driveway of a property.
“I would like to speak to anyone who has any information about these incidents, or who has seen any suspicious activity in the area.
“Anyone who has any details should contact Thames Valley Police via the non-emergency number 101.”
If you do not want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court
RIO 2016 Olympic Gold medallist, Hollie Webb, is coming to Thame, to take part in Thame Hockey Club’s, Thame Hockey Fest on Saturday, September 10!
Rio Hockey Gold medallist, Holly Webb
You can read more about the Thame Hockey Fest, and how you can get involved in the revival of this great sport, by visiting Thame Hockey Club’s Facebook page:
IN the first match of the season, the persistent rain failed not dampen Chinnor’s desire to start the 16-17 campaign with a win. They duly delivered with a 47-10 victory over London Irish Wild Geese, newly returned to National Two South.
Chinnor RFC Skipper, Bevon Armitage
The first quarter of the game was even. Wild Geese looked like scoring immediately after the start with Hodgkinson slicing through the home defence. The ball was turned over on the 10 metre line and Kieran Goss broke out to deliver the ball into Henry Lamont’s hands 80 metres downfield for the first try in the first minute. Wild Geese came back with a converted try minutes later from Seb Rodwell to lead 7-5. Bertie Hopkin, with a penalty goal, restored the Chinnor lead. Hodgkinson did the same for the visitors to put them 10-8 ahead. The Chinnor pack then exerted repeated scrum pressure leading to a penalty try. Hopkin converted for a 15-10 lead. Another penalty scrum saw the ball fly through Chinnor hands to see Kieran Goss over on the stroke of half time for a 20-10 lead to the Oxfordshire boys.
Wild Geese had more of the ball in the third quarter but foundered on a stiff Chinnor defence. Hopkin increased Chinnor’s lead with a penalty goal for a 23-10 lead. The Chinnor scrum notched up the pressure level with the introduction of Nathan Hannay and Richard Thorpe. The resultant stream of penalties lead to several scores. Hopkin darted through for the bonus point try, from a particularly bruising scrum. Chinnor kept attacking in the red zone and George Messum barrelled over for Chinnor’s fifth. Greg Goodfellow darted over after the Chinnor scrum put their opponents into reverse. The Chinnor scoring sequence ended just before the final whistle when Mark Darlington was ushered over the line by the now rampant Chinnor pack, to finish the match with a 47-10 victory to Chinnor.
Chinnor adjusted to the dire conditions the better of the two sides. The game was won and lost in the packs. The Chinnor scrum was dominant throughout, particularly in the second half when the addition of Hannay and Thorpe added even more power. Two of Chinnor’s seven tries came directly from scrum pressure. The other tries came through incisive back play often as a result of the power of the Chinnor pack. Hopkin and Goodfellow were sharp to the gap and new skipper, Armitage, was the linchpin of so much of the backs’ good works. The back row led a great defensive effort.
Irish, suffering at the hands of the Chinnor pack, saw their fortunes plummet when influential fly half, Pete Hodgkinson, left the field injured. Wild Geese never gave up but need to shore up their pack to avoid an uncomfortable return to National Two South.
Chinnor’s result sees them top of the table – a first! (but only one match has been played of course). The Chinnor pack probably jointly deserve Man of the Match but there can only be one and CJ Osazuwa gets the accolade this time out.
Teams
Chinnor
Kieran Goss, Luke Hibberd, Danny Barnes, Bevon Armitage (c), Henry Lamont, Bertie Hopkin, Greg Goodfellow, Tom Price, Jamie Townsend, Andy Darlington, CJ Osazuwa, Ross Parkins, Ben Manning, George Messum, Tom Burns
Interchanges: Jay Tyack, Mark Darlington, Nathan Hannay, Richard Thorpe, Junior Fatialofa
London Irish Wild Geese
Ben Kitchen, Matt Killeen, Seb Rodwell, Sean Cunningham, Conrad Burne, Pete Hodgkinson, Tom Barker, Charlie Connor, Darren Livett, Eddie Fraher, George Dry, Andy Evans, Jack Cooke, Tyler Bush, Scott Moore (c)
Interchanges: Craig Decoteau, John Barker, Ryan Bifield, Alex Tate, Ian Bradshaw
EVERYONE in Thame is being invited to go along and meet your local emergency services teams at a family fun day on Sunday, September 25, between 10am and 2pm at the Southern Road Recreation Ground.
Learn about the different roles, join in the teams’ activities, and see the emergency vehicles. There will be stalls with information, activities for the children, and the teams’ mascots will also be making a special appearance.
It’s free entry, and there is free public parking available in Thame town centre, a short walk from the recreation ground.
JOHN the Stitcher (aka John Markham) former biker and talented, ingenious, and prolific leather craftsman extraordinaire and Oxfordshire legend who ran his own leather shop in Thame for many decades died 21 Aug 2016 after a fight with cancer. His wife and daughters welcome motorbikes to accompany John on his final journey to the Oxford Crematorium (Bayswater Rd, Barton, Oxford OX3 9RZ, a mere 4 miles away from procession depart point). Please arrive depart point about 2.pm on September 9, to line up at the Coop Funeral Care Home, 2 Hendred Street, Cowley OX4 2ED (residential cul-de-sac) to help an organised timely departure. Please help give John a suitable send off – spread the word far and wide, and quickly as it’s only a few days away.
The late John ‘the Stitcher’ Markham, outside his leather work shop in Thame
John ran his ‘one-man-band’ crowded leather shop in Thame for 30 years and more, repairing and making new leather goods from the old item or your very rough sketch. Well known to bikers (as well as equestrians, classic car owners, classic airplane restorers, and film companies) as he was a biker himself before an accident prevented him from riding again. Check out his Facebook page ‘John the Stitcher’ to see photos of some of the amazing things he made. So sad to see him go; so glad to have known him, and shared a good story and a laugh with him. RIP John.
THAME’S annual September Fair will be visiting the centre of the town between Thursday, September 15, and Saturday, September 17, 2016.
Image courtesy of Iain Fairweather
During the Fair, a Temporary Road Closure and Traffic Regulation Order will be in force, which will restrict the entry of vehicles to the centre of Thame from 4pm Wednesday, September 14, until 12 noon on Sunday, September 18, 2016. Traffic movement will be restricted and barriers will be in position at the following locations:
High Street at the junction with Bell Lane
North Street at the junction with Wellington Street
Upper High Street at the junction with East Street
Rooks Lane at the Upper High Street junction
Nelson Street at the Upper High Street junction
Vehicles will not be allowed to park in the road or on the pavements of these affected roads. Anyone parking will run the risk of causing an offence by obstruction and cars will be removed.
Access permits are available for residents whose property is located within the road closure and have off-street parking. To apply for a permit, please contact Thame Town Council on 01844 212833.
Full details of the Road Closure Order can be viewed at the Information Centre in Thame Town Hall.
Learn about the different roles, join in the teams’ activities, and see the emergency vehicles. There will be stalls with information, activities for the children, and the teams’ mascots will also be making a special appearance.
