NOW that Autumn has arrived, the festival most associated with the darkening nights, Halloween, is drawing closer. Racquets Fitness Centre, in Thame, a popular venue with a great reputation for putting on themed events, has two Halloween parties lined up for November 2. One is for children and will feature games, nibbles and ‘glastly tunes. It will run from 6pm to 8pm.
But after 8pm until late, it will be the turn of the grown-ups with ‘Nursery Hell’, dress theme, Nursery Rymes gone nasty!
THE Friends of Thame Citizens Advice Bureau are planning a supper quiz to help raise funds for the work of the Bureau. The date for your diaries is Friday, November 15, at the Chinnor Rugby Club (Thame by-pass, Kingsey Road) at junction with A4129 Princes Risborough Road).
The doors will open at 7pm and the quiz will begin at 7.30pm. The Quizmasters will be Sue and Graham Oldfied. Tables of up to six people; Tickets £10 each, including supper of Cottage pie (beef) & baked beans, or Vegetarian lasagne & salad if ordered with ticket.
There will be a cash bar (The venue is being donated free of charge – nibbles can be brought into the Club but quizzers are expected to buy drinks at the bar).
For further details and to book tickets please ring 01844 260603 or 01844 214498 (evenings)
THAME United claimed three points from bottom of the league, Abingdon United, at the ASM Stadium on Saturday (05/10). The visitors, who voluntarily resigned from the Southern League in the summer, have not won a single point this season.
The game saw the welcome return of Greg Williams who, 10-12 years ago, was a key member of the Windmill Stadium, Southern League side. His waistline may be larger and his hair thinner than it was, but Greg’s quality is still there. All of Thame’s goals come before the break but then they ‘took their foot off the gas’ and as a result, conceded two second half goals.
After the initial exchanges, the home side started to control the play. They went ahead in the 13th minute when, following good work from Lynton Goss, involving Niall Hodgkins, he passed to the unmarked Ben Connelly who hit a strong 18-yard shot which took a slight deflection before beating the visiting keeper. Thame increased their lead a few minutes later when Hodgkins met an inch-perfect Taylor Collins cross from the right with a well placed 12-yard header. It was 3-0 in the 24th minute when Collins won, and then took a free kick on the right, intelligently hitting it low across goal where Williams met it with a shot which struck the right post and flew across the goalmouth, allowing Ellis Hercules to react quickly, and fire home from close range.
The home team’s final goal came seven minutes before the break when the visiting keeper was judged to have fouled Hodgkins at the edge of the box. Hodgkins took the spot kick well, giving the keeper no chance.
The visitors played better in the second half. Their first goal was a 30-yard surprise screamer from Leon Blackmore-Such which flew into the top right hand corner. Possession was more even and there were chances at both ends. The final goal came with 10 minutes remaining when Shawn Foster headed a ball from the left pass Lee Farrow from close range.
Thame United: Farrow, I Pykett, P Pykett, Hercules (Johnston), Rhodes, Lynch, Connelly, Williams, Hodgkins, Collins (Cordice), Goss (Ricketts).
After Tuesday’s game, United are away to Bracknell Town next Saturday, October 12, whilst the reserves are also away. The next first team home game is on Saturday, October 19, when Ascot United are the visitors.
What a joy they were, the National Youth FolkloreTroupe of England who entertained shoppers and visitors outside the Thame Town Hall on Saturday October 5. About 35 youngsters aged between 10 and 18 performed intricate dances of various folk traditions to music provided by themselves. They were clearly enjoying themselves greatly ; the complicated formations they performed seemed effortless and their lead dancers interacted cheerfully with the watchers. They were very good musicians and they ended with with an exhilarating hornpipe which had the audience clapping in time and shouting out their approval. Brilliant. A tonic for me, and from comments people were making, others as well. If my knees were 60 years younger I would have wanted to join in.
‘Haversham’, 08 shunter, called D3018 but also known as 13018 and 08011
CYCLISTS out in the glorious autumn sunshine along Thame’s Phoenix Trail had a special treat today as they waited to cross the gated railway crossing. For this weekend saw a celebration of a very special birthday for the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway’s, Class 08 diesel shunter, ‘Haversham’ (13018 / D3018 / 08011) which is 60 years-old.
The weekend’s festivities included a reunion for ‘Haversham’ with some of her ‘friends’ from former depots and Yards and shuttle train rides between Chinnor and Princes Risborough stations for the first time since 1957. The celebrations will continue for the next two weekends. Full details HERE
(1) THAME Tornadoes V Falcons – ADNL Division 3 – October 2, 2013; Tense Thame sneak past Flightless Falcons
THAME entered this match looking for a third win from three matches, but began the game slowly, conceding straight away. Their frantic passing was causing loss of possession, making life so much harder for them. A fantastic effort from Heather – GS , linking up well with the speedy Amelia – GA, brought Thame back into the game, their partnership enabling Thame to take a 7-4 lead after the first quarter, from what had been a reluctant start.
The second quarter began well for Thame, who extended their lead with some controlled passing. However, this lead to a fight back from the Falcons, who used direct passing to penetrate the Thame defence. From this point passes were going astray, an indication that both teams were feeling the pressure. But then Thame bucked their ideas up to take a slim, 13-12 lead at half time.
The third quarter though belonged to the Falcons who maintained a strong period of pressure to take the lead midway through the quarter. This prompted a rallying cry from Sheena, prompting Thame to stay in the match, leaving the score at 20 all, to set up a nail biting final quarter.
It was the Falcons who drew first blood, scoring to take the lead. However this was as good as it got for them, as from this point on, Thame took control of the match, with some pin point shooting. The Falcons energy was steadily sapping away and Thame were able to hang on for a 29-25 victory, making it a terrific start to the season for them.
Contributed by Bradley Rose
(2) THAME Hurricanes V Phoenix – ADNL Divison 4 – October 2, 2013
PHOENIX started the game well and dominated the first half. They intercepted well and took advantage of any mistakes made by Thame leaving the Hurricanes trailing 10-5 at half time.
However, after a change of line up, Thame came out fighting and managed to pull the score back to 11-12 at the end of the third quarter.
By the final quarter, the game was much more exciting , with both teams determined to gain the five points for a win. With improvements in both defence and attack, Thame continued to battle and managed to score goal for goal with Phoenix for the rest of the match. Unfortunately for Thame, Phoenix just managed to hang on winning 19-20.
Thame Tornadoes (minus Heather)
Team: GK Lyn H, GD Nic R, WD Jesse K, C Tor B, WA Lynn P, GA Lucy S/Helen T, GS Carol S
OVERNIGHT between 11pm yesterday (1/10), and 7am yesterday (2/10), a property in Pickenfield, Thame, was burgled.
It appears entry was gained by reaching in through a cat flap on the rear door then using keys that had been left on the inside of the door look to open the door.
Offender(s) stole items from the kitchen area, including two laptop computers, Iphone, keys, handbag and contents, before stealing a black BMW X5 vehicle from the driveway.
Residents are advised to secure all doors and windows at night and when going out. Remove keys from the inside of door and window locks when not in use and keep them out of reach from letterboxes and cat flaps.
Please click on the link below to obtain simple and cost-effective steps to improve your home security:
If you have seen any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area or have any information relating to this message please call the police on 101.
Alternatively if you have information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online @ crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
STANDARDS of reading, writing and mathematics among Oxfordshire’s seven-year-olds are on the rise according to official government figures. Key Stage One results released today show 81 per cent of children in the county achieved Level 2b in reading, three percentage points up on last year, whilst 89 per cent achieved the Level 2 benchmark, up from 88 per cent last year. In last month’s Key Stage Two results, in Maths 93 per cent of Oxfordshire’s 11 year-olds achieved Level 2 (up from 91 per cent last year) and in Writing assessments further progress was made with 86 per cent achieving Level 2 – up three percentage points on 2012.
On all measures Oxfordshire was in line with, or above, the National average figures for 2013.
ENCOURAGING SIGNS The council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Families Melinda Tilley said: “Following the impressive Key Stage two results released last month, I am delighted to see further encouraging signs that children at the earliest stages of their schooling are starting to make the strides we all want to see. We are starting to witness sustained progress in attainment levels throughout the primary school years, which will be hugely welcomed by Oxfordshire schools and the communities they serve.
“This progress is testament to the hard work of teaching staff and the efforts of children and their families. I would like to congratulate everyone associated with these improving results and would urge them to keep going to help our children truly fulfil their potential.”
Image courtesy of webarchive.netionalarchives.gov.uk
FURTHER ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT Cllr Tilley added: “It must be stated that we are still at the beginning of a long road. It’s no secret that recent standards in core subjects among primary school-age children in Oxfordshire have been a long way below where they need to be, and there is still room for significant further progress.
“There is certainly no room for complacency and everyone involved in raising the attainment of Oxfordshire children should continue striving for our county’s results to be the absolute best they can be.”
TONY Hancock was Britain’s favourite comedian of the 1950s and 60s, and this play, ‘Hancock’s Last Half Hour’ , to be perfomed by White Cobra Productions, looks at what drove him to the top of his profession and his eventual downfall. It is described as: “hilarious and heartbreaking in equal measure.
Hancock’s Last Half Hour is written by Heathcote Williams, and will be performed at The Players Theatre, Nelson Street. in Thame, on October 26, at 7.45 pm.
Tickets are available locally from Tickets Anywhere, Tel No: 01844 217228 or online from www.thameplayers.co.uk
Hancock’s Last Half Hour, to be performed by White Cobra Productions
