THAME United progressed to the next round of the Supplementary Cup on Saturday (30/11) when they visited Headington Amateurs and defeated their hosts 2-3. Headington play in the Hellenic League Division One East where they currently occupy second place. This was therefore seen as a chance to rest some key players allowing Luke Hurley, Martin Griggs, and Matt Johnson to start.
The move however almost backfired as, with about 25 minutes remaining, Thame were trailing 2-1 and Mark West had to bring on two first choice players, and reshuffle his squad. The game saw the welcome return of Matt Hall who celebrated his homecoming with a well taken goal. Ian Pykett was injured during the warm up and striker Niall Hodgkins took his place at right back.
The opening exchanges were 50/50 but there were few chances created by either team. Thame took the lead after 20 minutes when Ellis Hercules met a Shannon Jesson free kick with a looping header which flew over the keeper into the top right. Sadly, minutes later, Johnson who was playing in central defence, was injured and was replaced by Nik Rhodes. The home side equalised 15 minutes later when Ollie Zaja met a ball from the left with a well placed 10-yard shot which gave Lee Farrow no chance. Thame were starting to look the stronger side and both Hurley and Griggs went close, but it was 1-1 at the break.
The home side went into the lead soon after the restart when they broke quickly and some slick passing stretched United’s defence allowing, former Thame player, Paul Hedger to fire home. A few minutes later Luke Ricketts made a great run on the left and hit a low ball across goal but the onrushing Hurley just failed to make contact. Lewis Cordice and Ben Connolly came on for Griggs and Hurley, whilst Hall, who had started on the right wing, moved to right back allowing Hodgkins to adopt his normal striker role. The shuffle paid off when, with eight minutes remaining, Hall got United’s second when he met a well taken Jesson corner with a classic far post header. It was all attack for Thame for the rest of the game, culminating in the final goal in the 90th minute, when Hodgkins knocked in a low ball from Ricketts at the far post.
Thame United: Farrow, Hodgkins, P Pykett, Hercules, Johnson (Rhodes), Lynch, Hall, Jesson Griggs (Cordice), Hurley (Connelly), Ricketts.
United are at home next Saturday (7th) when Abingdon Town are the visitors.
ARE you a qualified nurse looking for that next step in your career or a student nurse seeking your first employer?
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is holding a nurse recruitment open day on Friday, December 13, from 9am – 5pm, at the Postgraduate Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury.
We are actively recruiting highly motivated experienced and newly qualified nurses across the Trust who can help us deliver quality, safe and compassionate care. The open day will give people interested in joining us the opportunity to meet with some of our clinical team, learn more about the Trust, the job opportunities we have and how we can support their career. Candidates can even be interviewed for a job on the day.
We provide acute, community and palliative care in people’s homes or from one of our five community hospitals or two acute hospitals at Stoke Mandeville or Wycombe. The open day will be an opportunity to learn about the huge variety of experience we can provide for nurses; from A&E to care of older people, orthopaedics to spinal injuries. Alongside training and education we can provide subsidised accommodation, childcare vouchers, on-site subsidised nursery provision and flexible shift patterns.
Lynne Swiatczak, chief nurse and director of patient care standards said, “We are investing in our future and as part of that we are increasing our nursing workforce. We want to have the best nurses delivering excellent patient care. We are committed to offering our nurses a rewarding and stimulating career and can provide training and development opportunities so they can learn and progress quickly. Because we are one of the first Trusts in the country to have integrated acute and community healthcare services we can provide our nurses with a wide variety of opportunity and experience which they just wouldn’t gain from many other Trusts.”
To register your interest in attending the open day or for more information on the open day or the nursing vacancies at the Trust contact the recruitment office on 01494 734208 / 01494 734275 or email staffnurse@buckshealthcare.nhs.uk. Visit www.buckshealthcare.nhs.uk or www.jobs.nhs.uk for all our job opportunities.
THE countdown to Thame’s Dickensian evening on Friday (December 6) begins today, with only four more days to the big Christmas lights switch on by East Enders’ actress and ‘Mrs Brian May’, Anita Dobson.
For a truly Victorian perspective on the event, a Victorian Omnibus will transport you back in time along the Upper High Street pulled by two beautiful horses bedecked in Christmas plumes. A miniature steam railway will be running up and down the High Street too!
This year there’ll be a whole host of stalls selling everything from traditional Christmas ‘puds’ to limited edition prints, plus local artists and makers selling original gifts perfect to fill those Christmas stockings! To keep us warm (the weather forecast is for cold but dry conditions in the evening), there’ll be mulled wine, hot chocolate as well a tasty hog roast baps and more.
Our friends from Thame’s twin town, Montesson will be selling freshly made French crèpes, wines, cheese, oil, vinegar, olives, fish soups and more!
Those who like to dress up, which includes the Mayor of Thame, Peter Lambert, will really be getting into the Dickensian spirit and donning traditional Victorian dress. Don’t forget your dancing shoes though, because, although there’ll be no Polkas, Mazurkas, Galops or Cotilions to dance, the band Ska Souls, who proved such a hit at Music in the Park, will be adding to the party mood.
Treading the boards on the specially erected stage will be Thame Players previewing their Christmas Panto, Stagecoach Thame’s young students, plus traditional Carols from the local primary schools accompanied by Thame Concert Band and the Thame Chamber Choir.
“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” ― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
DESPITE seeing improvement in the economy, industry in the region is facing a recruitment shortage of skilled managers because potential candidates are still nervous about leaving steady jobs that have kept them secure during the uncertain economic climate according to Thame HR specialists SYLO Associates.
L to R – Sarah Stevens, Sally White and Debbie Lymn of Sylo Associates
Having a bank of talented candidates is the solution to halting a recruitment shortage of skilled managers, according to Thame-based leadership and management specialists, SYLO Associates. Managing Partner Sally White says: “Many companies in Oxfordshire are finding there is an absence of managerial applicants or,that they have trouble finding technical specialists because potentially talented people are only just starting to put themselves forward again on LinkedIn and contacting recruitment companies. What is needed during a time of recession and forever onwards is a ‘talent bank’ to avoid a candidate shortage crisis.
“By harnessing and developing the skills of current ‘talent’ over time, we can help identify future employees and talent in the external market, against appropriately profiled roles, enabling businesses to meet future workforce plan requirements as soon as they are needed.”
SYLO Associates believe that the biggest current recruitment problem is businesses not having immediate access to, and the knowledge of where key people are in the workforce. “Businesses have had to once again learn that future-proofing during a recession is key. Not only financially do we need to keep something to one side but we also need to keep an eye on who is where, and where their talents lie for when the time comes to start employing. You need the right people at the right time,” adds Sally.
She concludes: “SYLO Associates operates a Talent Solutions service which focuses on leadership and management talent tools and banking talent. Individuals who are considered talented to a business (internal or external) not only need to be managed and supported, they first need to be identified. Current employees’ skills and competencies are mapped to see where any gaps or similarities exist. This allows future planning for the business and its operations in a more proactive and strategic way.
“Identified individuals may not wish to leave their current environment – yet – so that’s where the nurturing and engagement of candidates is key. The simplest way to do this is to have talent pipelines in place, which allow regular communication that’s aligned to consistent and relevant brand messaging. This process ultimately leads to cost effective resourcing.” www.sylo-associates.co.uk
FOUR Firefighters from Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, based at Thame, are on top of the world after taking part in Operation Florian’s SkyTower Challenge in Manchester on Sunday, November 24, when they were the third fastest team to complete the challenge.
Two of the Thame Firefighting challenge team catch their breath after racing 25 floors in full breathing apparatus for charity
The challenge involved climbing 25 floors in full fire kit, while wearing breathing apparatus. The event is run in aid of Operation Florian, which provides equipment and helps train Firefighters in developing countries, as well as a fund in memory of FF Steve Hunt who was tragically killed while fighting a fire in Manchester earlier this year.
Watch Manager, Andy Ford, said ”The team did really well coming in third fastest; it was a tough challenge and for a very worthwhile cause.”
Firefighter Mark Nuns, one of the Thame team of four, said: “We felt privileged to have represented Thame. and Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue at this year’s SkyTower Challenge. I know we’re all really pleased with our times and looking forward to entering again next year – and aiming to do even better.”
The other Fire fighters who took part were Leo Shairp, Steve Simmons and Nick Sawyer.
THAMES Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary Joint Roads Policing Unit will be launching their Christmas anti-drink and drug drive campaign on Sunday (1/12).
The Staley family car after the crash
Officers across the Thames Valley and Hampshire will be wearing purple ribbons in memory of those killed on our roads as a result of drink-driving. The purple ribbon is linked to the tragic death of Evey Staley in the Isle of Wight last August. Evey was just 10-years-old when she was killed by a drink and drug driver. Purple was Evey’s favourite colour. Read Evey’s story on the Hampshire Constabulary website
The two forces will be working in close partnership and conducting more cross-border operations than ever before with the aim of reducing the number of alcohol and drug related incidents on our roads.
Party-goers are being warned to think about the consequences before they consider having a drink and getting behind the wheel during the festive period.
In addition, many people are not aware of the continuing effects of alcohol the morning after. In many cases, alcohol is still present in the body and will be identified during the breath test.
The overall aim of the campaign is to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured as a result of drink driving and to convince drivers that a conviction for drink/drug driving has the potential to ruin their life.
Thames Valley Police, Hampshire Constabulary and ACPO hope that understanding the consequences of their offending will deter people from being so irresponsible. A night in police cells sobering up with the possibility of being charged and going straight to court, followed by a lengthy ban, are the reality.
The crackdown follows last year’s successful enforcement activity, which saw 6,585 drivers breathalysed by Thames Valley Police between 1 December 2012 and 1 January 2013.
The campaign is part of a national crackdown by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Department for Transport (DfT), aimed at reducing the number of people killed and injured on our roads by people who drink or take drugs and drive.
Impairment through drugs and/or alcohol is an important factor influencing both the risk of a road collision and the severity of the injuries that result from these collisions.
Across the Thames Valley, Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight, 68 people were killed or seriously injured last year (Jan-Dec 2012), where alcohol was a factor in the collision (61 seriously injured and 7 killed). In the first eight months of this year (Jan-Aug 2013), 38 people have been killed or seriously injured where alcohol was a factor in the collision (six killed and 32 seriously injured).
The campaign will also link with the European TISPOL police campaign during the second week of the campaign (9-15 Dec) where all police forces across Europe will tackle drink and drug driving concerns.
The Joint Roads Policing Unit will conduct road safety checks at all times of the day and night across the Thames Valley and Hampshire. Drivers will be asked to provide a specimen of breath in accordance with the Road Traffic Act 1988. Where there is no suspicion of alcohol, no moving traffic offences being committed, or no involvement in a collision, drivers will be offered the opportunity to participate in the campaign and provide a sample on a voluntary basis. We will explain the reasons for these checks to drivers and ask for the motoring public’s support.
Officers will also record additional information about those stopped, relating to what age bracket they fall into. This data will be provided to the DfT, who will analyse it to understand the level of drink-driving nationally and the correlation between age and drink-driving behaviour.
Ch Insp Henry Parsons, of Roads Policing for Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary, said: “We are asking the public to be safe rather than sorry. Collisions involving alcohol or drugs not only devastate the lives of victims and their families, they also ruin the lives of offenders, who could face a lengthy driving ban or imprisonment.
“As well as having to live with the lifelong guilt of having killed or injured someone through their reckless behaviour, offenders could also lose their job, home and their livelihood.
“If you are going out and know you will be drinking, organise alternative transport or a designated driver to ensure everyone is able to enjoy the festive period safely.”
Total number of breath tests in last year’s Christmas campaign:
NO more will audiences at The Thame Players Theatre have to sit in the auditorium in coats, gloves and scarves, because from yesterday (27/11), their brand new, state of the art heating system will keep them warm and snug throughout the panto season and beyond.
The Mayor of Thame, Peter Lambert, turns on the new heating system at The Players Theatre, Thame
The Mayor of Thame, Peter Lambert, officially turned on the heating and cut the celebration cake after the three main donors of funds towards the £46,000 raised to replace the ancient heating system, presented their symbolic cheques.
TOE2 granted £5000 to Thame Players in November, specifically for the heating system and improved roof insulation. TOE2 provides support and funding for projects that develop the sustainable use of renewable resources and increased energy efficiency in community facilities. TOE2 Director, Fiona Danks, said: “TOE2 is delighted to support Thame Players with funds provided by Grundon Waste Management, as they strive to make the theatre more comfortable and welcoming, while improving the energy efficiency of the building.”
The Doris Field Charitable Trust provides grants to charities in Oxfordshire to fund items of equipment. An award of £1000 was made to Thame Players in November to fund components of the new heating system.
In October Thame Players were awarded a grant of £10,000 by Thame Town Council, specifically towards the installation of the new heating system. This means that the town benefits, because Thame Players will be able to provide shows in greater comfort for more people as the town grows, with over 700 new homes due to be built as part of the Neighbourhood Plan over the next few years.
In July SODC awarded an overall grant of £100,000 from their Community Investment Fund, following a detailed application by Thame Players earlier in the year. This grant represents just under 50% towards the cost of the four stages of the Building A Better Theatre project. The money can only be released on a match-funded basis, so the help of other funders is still needed. When £23,000 became available through other sources to fund the heating work, £23,000 was also made available from the SODC grant.
Pat Shepherd, Chairman of Thame Players, commented: ‘‘We are extremely grateful for the support of TOE2, the Doris Field Trust, Thame Town Council and SODC, who have together made the installation of our new heating system and energy-efficient roof insulation possible. These improvements will make a fantastic difference, so that the theatre will always be warm in winter and precious energy is not wasted.”
She continued: “With the work on the heating system and improved insulation of our building completed, our fundraising team will continue to be busy raising money from potential funders, including charitable trusts, specialist funders and local businesses. We are working hard to achieve our ambitious target of £203,000 so that the rest of the work can be carried out next year, including an extra row of seats, a bigger stage with improved lighting and a reconfiguration of the balcony.”
FOLLOWING a stunning night at the November First Thursday Music Club (FTMC) when 15 acts played to a full house, the December edition of Thame’s biggest monthly music event takes place on Thursday, December 5, at the Stables at the James Figg Pub in Thame.
The band ‘As If’ will be the featured band at December’s First Thursday Music Club
FTMC is now recognised as the biggest and best Open Mic in the region with acts travelling from London, Reading and Oxford to appear. Each month, one act is invited to appear in the 10 o clock Feature Spot – and this month it is the fabulous As If…
As If… have been together for 20 years and have played all over the UK and ventured into Norway. They’ve recorded six albums and enjoyed some independent radio airplay in various countries around the world with a fairly eclectic mix of songs, all written by Phil Goss (guitar and vocals) and arranged by the band – Phil Heard (Drums), Steve Rothwell (Bass) and Sam Hearle (Keyboards). The music blends rock, prog, pop and folk and the band have teamed up from time to time with musicians from different genres. This Thursday will see them teaming up with Phil Wright on fiddle. Expect something a little bit different and to be entertained.
Round up some friends, get along, and have a great night out. Anyone can play just by signing up at the venue from 7.30pm. The music starts at 8pm.
Check out the club on Facebook “The First Thursday Music Club” or at: www.firstthursdaymusicclub.com where you can find more info’ including contact numbers and addresses for the organisers
