THAME Town Council is inviting local business to consider sponsoring this year’s Christmas festive celebration, with a Santa Convention theme, on Friday, December 5, in the town centre.
Businesses will be able to put their name to one of the many attractions that will be helping to bring the Christmas spirit to Thame, including a family of real reindeer, a miniature steam engine and a lantern parade involving the local schools.
Involvement can be anything from having a company name on the council’s ‘Thank You’ banner, to having promotional signage around the tree throughout December. There is a suitably priced package available for most budgets and all revenues from the sponsorship will be used to maintain the high standards of the attractions that are welcomed to Thame this year and in future years.
For more information about how to get involved, contact the Town Hall on 01844 212833 or email info@thametowncouncil.gov.uk
THE Big Draw event in Thame, themed this year around ‘It’s Our World’, has once again proved very popular with Thame’s budding artists and print makers.
Some of the Big Draw 2014 pieces by local children on display in the window of Mobalpa Kitchens
Two workshops were held at Lord Williams’s school, called ‘Pigeons and Postcards’ run by SparksArtists, Jackie Nichols and Christine Tacq, working with Barley Hill, year six pupils and Lord Williams’s pupils from year seven, as well as pupils from year six at St Joseph’s school who worked with year eights and 12, from Lord Williams’s.
On Monday, October 27, a pigeon fancier from Wantage came with nine racing pigeons to Thame, and the children were able to study and draw them. Later in the week, groups of children produced prints based on the blasted and twisted trees they looked at on WW1 landscape pictures. They also made postcard-size prints inspired after dressing up in clothes similar to those they saw on War propaganda posters at Thame Museum. Some of the childrens’ work can be seen in the window of Mobalpa Kitchens, just behind Thame town hall and at Thame Museum.
This Saturday, tomorrow, November 1, the Big Draw continues at Haddenham library as ‘The Bug Draw’. It’s free for all ages to attend. Just turn up from 10.30 to 1pm, for some fun drawing activities with beautiful butterflies etc from Tring museum, hosted by SparksArtists.
LORD Williams’s Festival Chorus, who are based in Thame, will be performing the internationally acclaimed piece, The Armed Man, by Karl Jenkins, on Saturday, November 8, over Remembrance weekend.
Starting at 7.30 pm at Thame Leisure Centre, the choir, which is made up of past pupils, teachers and members of the Thame community, will be performing this extraordinary piece in recognition of the centenary of the outbreak of WW1.
The Armed Man, a Mass for Peace, was composed in dedication to the victims of Kosovo and recorded hours before the tragedy of 9.11. It reflects on war as an almost inevitable part of man’s existence while also dreaming of the hope of peace.
“Anyone coming to watch the performance will not fail to be moved and to still feel its pertinence in the 21st Century,” commented John Gibbons, Musical Director. “we performed the piece back in 2008 and some members also joined an international event in 2009 at the Carnegie Hall in New York when Karl also attended, so it is already well-loved by many of our members. Somehow, performing it again at such a poignant time and in 2014, seemed fitting in recognition of the sacrifices of our forefathers.”
The choir will be accompanied by the Ealing Symphony Orchestra and conducted by John Gibbons.
Tickets are available for £13, £10 (concessions) & £1 (Under 18’s ) online at lordwilliamsfestivalchorus.org.uk; from Cargo, 18 Cornmarket Thame; by calling Rosemary (01844 344083) or on the door.
THAMES Valley Police is appealing for the public’s help in tracing a missing man in Oxfordshire. Dipash Kumar Kamath, aged 34, is believed to be in the Chinnor area of Oxfordshire.
Dipash Kamath, who has been missing since early this morning
Thames Valley Police received a report that he was missing at 5.41am this morning (30/10).
There is currently no other description.
If you see Dipash or have any information on his whereabouts, please contact Thames Valley Police on 101, quoting URN 120 of 30/10.
MY mum, Rose Swift, of Chapel cottage, Towersey, passed away on the 12th of October. We have had so many kind and sympathetic cards and messages from her friends and neighbours in Towersey. We are reminded how lucky we are to live here. Cherry nurse.
BERNARD Meltonville, a regular member of the Towersey Wednesday Coffee Morning Club, passed away on October 22, 2014, after a long illness bravely borne.
THAME based Chinnor RFC, with a bright first half, held on in the second half to record a 23-19 victory over Cambridge on Saturday (October 25).
Photo by Peter Matthews
Chinnor, benefitting from a strong wind, began the half with two quick penalty goals from Ed Keohane to go 6-0 ahead on 12 minutes. Chinnor, now well in charge, scored two quick tries through their forwards – the first from a rolling maul by Tibbbats and the second after some aggressive picking and driving by Alfie To’oala. Keohane’s conversion of the second put Chinnor ahead 18-0 on 23 minutes. A lovely piece of interplay wide on the left saw debutant Toby Salmon go over in the corner for Chinnor to put them 23-0 ahead at half time.
The second half was a complete reversal of the first with Cambridge scoring all the points and Chinnor none – much to do with the strength of the wind allied to apparent reduced energy levels.
Straight from the kick off, Cambridge put in at a scrum on the Chinnor 22. Liebenberg, Cambridge’s most influential player, darted down the blind side and a few passes and missed tackles later, Cambridge, through James Ayrton, scored under the posts. Boshoff’s conversion put the match score at 23-7. Cambridge, a different side from the first half, continued to push Chinnor and Liebenberg went over on 62 minutes to bring Cambridge closer at 23-12. The turning point in the match came in the 72nd minute when Chinnor received yellow cards for both Nutt and Cambareri. Cambridge upped the pace and scored a try from full back James Stokes on the 77th minute. Boshoff’s conversion put the visitors just 4 points behind at 23-19. Chinnor held on grimly for the final whistle and the victory, earned in the first half and well defended in the second.
Teams:
Chinnor: Martin Nutt, Robbie Martey, Jack Hayes, Junior Fatialofa, Reuben Haile, Ed Keohane, Frank Jones, Joe Pickett, Jamie Townsend, Guido Cambareri, Ben Manning, Toby Salmon Andy Tibbatts, Ryan Long, Alfie To’oala
Interchanges: Simone Carloni, Dave McKee, Nick Harrison, Reece Boughton, Sam Angell
IN an action-packed second half, United scored a 97th minute penalty to take all three points against fifth placed Highworth Town on Saturday (25/10). The final score was Thame United 3, Highworth Town 2, in this UHLSPORT Hellenic League Previer Division.
There was little indication of what was to come in the second half when the highlight of the first half was referee Ed Turner taking a tumble over the halfway-line flag.
It all changed, however, early in the second half when United failed to clear a Highworth corner and the ball was played back in to the box for Callum Parson to score from close range. It was nearly two five minutes later when T.J.Bohane could only side-foot wide from six yards. The visitors were made to rue the miss on 70 minutes. Dan West was fouled 25 yards from goal and Dan Jones stepped-up to curl a delightful free-kick in to the top corner giving Stevens in the Highworth goal no chance.
By now it was end-to-end with both sides going for the three points. United edged in front on 84 minutes when substitute Shannon Jesson was grounded in the penalty area, but managed to swivel and poke the ball beyond Stevens. Highworth pushed forward in search of an equaliser which duly arrived in the 90th minute when, following a cross in to the box, the ball fell to Sam Wadeih, whose headed effort found its way in to the back of the net despite United having a number of players on the line.
With the referee indicating 10 minutes of injury time, the momentum was with the visitors as they went in search of the three points. However, in the 97th minute, a long ball from keeper Cockerill found Dan West, who beat his marker before picking out captain Adam Morris with a square ball in to the box but, just as he was about to strike the ball, he was caught by a Highworth defender. Whilst the referee did not give a decision, after consulting his assistant, a penalty was awarded. West confidently finished and United held out to take three points, and maintain their sixth placed position.
NICK Baker, from a local farming family, ploughed his way through to win the Racquets Junior, One-Day Squash Tournament which took place on Saturday, October 18.
Twenty youngsters – who had been playing squash for for between just one month to a few years – turned out for the tournament to raise their competitive edge so that they can prepare for competing in the Oxfordshire county squads.
There were two grades – a 16 draw of players who are now playing the game of squash to a high level and will be vying for positions in the County squads over the coming year. Nick Baker won, beating Molly Woods in the final. Leo Hayden won the Plate, beating Max Bridges. In both these matches, the age gap and strength difference proved to be the deciding factors.
In the Junior Beginners’ grade Ned Richards won his very first tournament. This grade was especially significant to the game as it involved three girls who are new squash.
Sue Martin-Downhill, one of the coaches at Racquets, said: ‘The keenness of the kids this weekend was brilliant. They all played the game in fantastic spirit and there were plenty of very close matches helping them gain experience of coping in competitive environments.”
Squash is becoming so popular locally that Racquets now has coaching sessions almost every day of the week. But Sue would love to hear from others who would like a taster of the game she loves so much. Give her a call at the club on 01844 261754 if you would like to get involved in this great indoor sport.
A family of reindeer to pet, a miniature railway to chug up the High Street on and an extended lantern parade will all be part of Thame’s Christmas event 2015, which this year will be extended into the following Sunday, with a three kilometer Santa Dash organised by the Florence Nightingale Hospice and Thame Lions.
The lantern parade for children, which was a huge success last year, will be even bigger and brighter this year with parents, grandparents and members of the Thame & District Day Centre being encouraged to be involved.
Friday, December 5, 2014, is the date for your diary for the big Christmas lights switch-on and stage event, and Sunday, December 7, 10am in the town centre, for the Santa Dash. Anyone can register at www.fnhospice.org.uk to take part to run, jog, or walk the buggy-friendly 3K route .
The theme for the event will be ‘Santa Convention’ and all the visitors and those taking part on the Friday night and the Santa Dash, are being encouraged to wear Santa hats and costumes. The reindeer will be housed in a 12ft pen in the High Street and although the public won’t be able to enter the pen, they will be able to stroke the deer through the picket fencing.
Once again there will be a ‘town trail’ around various shops in the town to spot a hidden object and shop owners are being encouraged to stay open late. Businesses not within the road closure area will be given the opportunity by the town council to have a free stall nearer the action.
The stage events will start at 6pm and last for around 60 minutes, with several local groups including Thame Players, Stagecoach Thame, the Romey Louise Dance Academy, Thame Youth Theatre, the Pauline Quirke Academy, Thame Chamber Choir as well as the primary schools taking part. The winner of the Christmas Trail will be presented with their prize, as will the winner of the competition to name the theme of next year’s Thame Carnival who will win an exciting toy from Wally’s Toy Shop in Thame, and three months Junior Gold Membership to Racquets, Thame.
TOP-CLASS butchers from Oxfordshire are battling to bag honours in the Q Guild Smithfield Awards, their annual high profile product evaluation competition.
Image courtesy of huffingtonpost.co.uk
A total of 479 products from 54 Q butchers nationwide, virtually half of the national membership, have been entered for this year’s sizzling showcase.
There are eight product categories – sausages, burgers, ready to eat meat and roasts, bacon and cured products, pies and bakery – both hot and cold – kitchen ready products, and ready meals, a new addition this year to reflect the great variety of products offered by Guild members.
M Newitt & Sons, of Thame, is well represented with nine products – Oxfordshire Sausage, Gloucestershire Sausage, Green Back Bacon, Smoked Back Bacon, Long Crendon Black Bacon, Long Crendon Black Streaky Bacon, Steak, Ale & Stilton Pie, Steak Pie and Chicken & Ham Pie.
All entrants will be hoping to pick-up gold awards, all of which will qualify for standalone top-rated diamond awards given to individual product category winners, along with EBLEX awards for the best English beef and lamb products, BPEX awards for the best English pork and bacon products, plus Quality Meat Scotland awards for the best Scotch beef and lamb products.
In addition, an overall Smithfield Awards supreme champion will emerge – and earn the bragging rights that go with this ultimate accolade!
Judging by panels of food and meat industry enthusiasts has now taken place and awards will be announced and presented at the Butchers Hall in Smithfield, London, on Thursday, November 13, by Matthew Fort, food and drink editor at the Guardian for over a decade, author of several award-winning books on food, and expert judge on the popular TV series, The Great British Menu.
Product innovation is a key activity in the Q Guild, whose 110 members across Britain are at the elite end of the retail butchery sector.
Q Guild national chairman, West Yorkshire butcher Brindon Addy, said: “The Smithfield Awards are a true and stringent test of the vast variety of products hand-crafted by our members nationwide, who represent the cream of Great British butchery.
“They have an opportunity to win some of the meat industry’s most prized accolades and this year is one of the biggest entries we have had for quite some time.”
Businesses will be able to put their name to one of the many attractions that will be helping to bring the Christmas spirit to Thame, including a family of real reindeer, a miniature steam engine and a lantern parade involving the local schools.
