Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 26/09/12….Lions Message in a Bottle is a life saver

    SOUTH Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) is recommending that older persons and younger people living with a disability or long term health condition get their hands on the Lions’ ‘Message in a Bottle.’

    The Lions ‘Message in a Bottle’ is a simple idea that encourages people to keep their basic personal and medical details including a list of the medication they are taking or a repeat prescription form in a common place at home where these can easily be found in a medical or other emergency. Your information is kept on a sheet of paper provided in a plastic bottle in the fridge and the bottle comes with two labels – one to be displayed on the inside of your front door or the main entrance to your home and the other on the door of your fridge. Why keep the bottle in the fridge? Because it’s the last thing that burns in the event of fire.

    SCAS Clinical Mentor Karen Skillicorn-Aston said: “You don’t have to be old or infirm to be unwell. For your local ambulance service having access to a ‘Message in a Bottle’ in a patient’s fridge can be a real lifesaver. When a patient is in pain or distressed the last thing they need is to be quizzed about their life. Often we have to waste valuable time in rummaging around for a patient’s medication, time that could be much better spent in getting them definitive care at hospital.

    “A Stroke can prevent a person speaking and result in a reduced level of consciousness. If any patient has a condition that we need to know about and is not in a position to tell us having a ‘Message in a Bottle’ in their fridge can make a real difference to the outcome for them.

    “Whilst having a ‘Message in a Bottle’ is great, patients should remember to update this every time they are prescribed a new medication or are diagnosed with a further health complaint. It’s also the best place to keep a passport sized photo, details of any allergies, and a repeat prescription, ‘do not resuscitate’ form or living will.”

    The Lions ‘Message in a Bottle’ is FREE from your local Lions Club. To order yours please email: miabcenorder@lions.org.uk or telephone 0845 833 9502 for details of your local Lions Club.

    Brian Lazenby of Alton Lions Club commented:

    “I would urge the relatives or neighbours of older persons and those living with a disability to contact us to ensure that those who may be vulnerable and at risk in their local community have a ‘Message in a Bottle in their fridge where the Ambulance, Police and Fire & Rescue services can quickly and easily find it in the event of an emergency.”

  • 26/06/12……Summer drink-driving warning after arrests

    THAMES Valley Police fear that the message about the dangers of drug and drink driving is not getting through, following the arrest of 180 drivers since the beginning of a summer drink-drive campaign.

    This year?s campaign arrests however, show a 16 per cent decrease on the 216 arrests made during the same period in 2011.

    Of those arrested, 142 were men [78 per cent] and 40 were women [22 per cent]. In total, 104 of the 182 arrested have been charged, with 42 bailed and 36 released with no further action.

    Superintendent Chris Brown, Head of Roads Policing for Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police, said: ?182 people arrested for drink driving shows the large number of people still willing to put themselves before everyone else’s safety.

    ?People still aren?t getting the message and yet we know drinking while over the limit is causing fatal collisions. We know that any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive and we know that if you?re caught drink-driving you will be banned from driving.

    ?We’ll continue to target drink drivers hard and get them before the courts whenever we can.?

    The campaign, which runs until the end of June, will see police targeting individuals they suspect of driving under the influence of drink or drugs, both on the way home from nights out and the morning after a heavy night.

    Of the arrests, 72 have been made in Berkshire, 59 in Buckinghamshire and 51 in Oxfordshire.

  • 26/06/12…Thame businessmen join the Scally Rally for sick children

    WHY will four grown men from Thame be dressing up as Woody, Buzz, Evil Emperor Zurg and Stinky Pete, and getting into a rather ancient Saab convertible, decorated to resemble RC Racer from the film Toy Story?

    Well, its all in a good cause, and their reputations are safe, because the group of Thame Businessmen will be taking part in this year’s Scally Rally, starting on Friday (29/06), to raise money for a leading children’s charity.

    Team Ollie-RC RACER, as they are known, consists of Peter Butt, Stuart Groves, Tim Lancaster and Alun Rowe. Thame Round Tabler, Peter explained the inspiration behind their sponsored Scally Rally ride:

    “When we heard that a friend’s child had been diagnosed with cancer, shortly before his second birthday, words simply felt inadequate. You wonder where the children and the families get the strength to fight this disease and you realise that the answer is simple- because they have no choice.

    “We decided that we should try and bring some smiles to their days with the Toy Story theme, as well as raising money for the charity supporting them. Oliver Lee, the inspiration and drive for Team Ollie, has Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer affecting just 60 children a year. Oliver had a 5.5cm tumour on his bladder and secondary tumours on his lungs and pelvic bone, and had to be catheterised as he could not urinate due to the size of his tumour.

    “At his scan in January 2012 all secondary tumours have gone and the primary is down to 1cm,” explains Peter.
    “This has taken four rounds of Chemo, causing hair and skin loss, but this little boy keeps smiling!”

    To find out more about Team Ollie-RC RACER’S challenge, to support their cause to help kids like Ollie, go to their Just Giving page at: http://www.justgiving.com/teamolliercracer

    PHOTO; Ollie Lee

  • 25/06/12…..The ‘not quite’ Thame 10K

    AFTER several years of the Thame 10K race being run on the hottest day of the year, this year Thame Runners, the race organisers, arrived this morning to find the normal start/finish fields waterlogged and their only option to start and finish the race on the main road.

    And so, the event became a six mile race, just short of the 10km distance and sadly, the children?s fun run had to be cancelled for safety reasons. However, 780 runners completed the six mile course through Thame, and back along the Phoenix trail.

    Overall winner was Darrell Bellinger of Oxford City in a time of 31.52. Coming in 12th overall and taking the first Thame Resident trophy, was Jack Hobbs in a time of 35.27. First lady was Sophie Carter of Woodstock Harriers in a time of 36.40.

    Woodstock Harriers claimed the Men?s team prize while Bearbrook Joggers from Aylesbury took the ladies team award. CPM, the sponsor, took the first place in the corporate teams section.

    A new Ultra-Vet trophy, in memory of Thame Runner Arthur Airey, got its first name engraved on the silver with Liam O?Hare taking the Men?s 60 and over category.

    FULL RESULTS;

  • 25/06/12….The show must go on !

    THE long-standing Chairman of Thame Players was given a great send-off by over fifty supporters, members and friends of the group at the Players Theatre in Thame on Friday evening.

    Tony Long, who has chaired the Thame amateur theatre group for 13 years, had no idea that behind the scenes new chairman, Pat Shepherd, had organised the event. He expressed his delight at seeing so many people turn out on a wet evening to thank him for all his hard work as Chairman. It was Tony who oversaw the major project, transforming the old theatre in 2002 from a converted church hall into a modern theatre, with new stage, auditorium and bar/foyer facilities, that theatre-goers enjoy today. Tony led the drive to get funding, through a mixture of sponsorship and grant funding from South Oxfordshire County Council and Thame Town Council, commissioning the work and seeing it through to completion.

    Tony commented: “The refurbishment of the theatre back in 2002 was undoubtedly the highlight of my stint as Chairman. Now we are looking to make further improvements and it?s an ideal time for a new Chairman to be at the helm.?

    Tony also played a leading role in improving the variety and frequency of programming that the theatre has to offer. These days, as well as five Thame Players? own productions each year, including a much-loved pantomime, the theatre hosts visiting productions by other theatre groups and a range of celebrity appearances, and it also hosts a thriving cinema club.

    Tony will remain an active member of the committee as well as continuing to take part in plays, whether acting, directing, or helping with the production behind the scenes. He said: “I?ve thoroughly enjoyed being Chairman of such a vibrant drama group, but now I?m happy to hand the reins over to Pat Shepherd who will, I know, continue the development of the theatre for the enjoyment of future audiences.?

  • 25/06/12…… Thame Food Bank benefits from racing ducks and birthday treat

    LITTLE did Gill Coleman of Thame know, that a trip to the new London Aquatic Centre would end with a very unusual delivery to her home.

    Gill took up the story: “Back in March, I took my daughter, Kazia and her friends to watch the British Gas sponsored swimming trials at the new London, Aquatic Centre, for a birthday treat. Kazia and two friends were chosen to take part in a game where they were each allocated a duck, red, white, and blue. They had to make as much noise as they could to see whose duck crossed the line first.

    “Fortunately, Kazia’s duck won, and she was told she would get one year’s supply of Kellogs Cereal, and that’s exactly what arrived at my home last Thursday.”

    Kazia, a member of Thame Swimming Club, decided that she wanted to share some of her prize with the friends who went with her to London, but that she would like to donate nearly half of the boxes, 14 boxes of Rice Krispies, to the Thame Food Bank

    Kazia herself explained: “When I realised I’d won, I was so excited as I’d never won anything like that before, and it was great to see myself on the big screen at the Aquatic Centre where the Olympics will take place.”

    “I decided to give some of my prize to the Thame Food Bank, as mum had told me about it and why there needed to be a food bank in Thame. There are too many boxes of cereal for one person, but not enough to share with all of the swimming club, so that is why I decided to give some to the food bank.”

    The Colemans and their friends were lucky enough to see our local lad, (ex Lord Williams’s student, like the girls) Simon Burnett, get through to swim in the England Olympic relay team. They also saw Rebecca Adlington and Liam Tancock who gave the girls his autograph. But the highlight for the girls was watching the Paralympics swimmer, Eleanor Simmons break a world record.

    PHOTO: Kazia Coleman, aged 15, with her friends Jessica Russell & Lauren Powell who are both 14, on the big screen!

  • 25/06/12….MP answers critics of plan to stop housing benefit to under 25s

    RESPONDING to plans by David Cameron to stop housing benefit to those under 25 years old, David Orr, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, which represents England’s housing associations, including South Oxfordshire’s Soha Housing Association, issued a statement today.

    “We all want a fair housing benefit system that supports those truly in need,” he said. “A home is fundamental to providing the security people need to hold down jobs and be an active member of their community. Preventing those under-25 from getting help for housing costs may increase homelessness and make it harder for young people to move to where they can find work. There could also be a huge impact on young working families relying on housing benefit to help pay their rent, or disabled people unable to work.

    “The best way to keep the housing benefit bill down, by addressing the supply side, is to ensure there are enough decent quality, affordable homes. By supporting housing associations to build more homes, the Government can stimulate growth and keep rents low, which in turn stops people being caught in the poverty trap caused by high rents.

    “Housing associations are working hard to implement the latest round of welfare reform changes. We need time to understand what the full impact of these changes will be before instigating more,” he concluded.

    In response, Thame’s MP, John Howell, told ThameNews.Net this afternoon: “I have had many discussions with the National Housing Federation and I agree with them particularly on this point: we need more affordable housing. Local communities recognise this too and are taking up the challenge of helping to provide this through Neighbourhood Planning.

    “Government is encouraging new affordable housing in many different ways, from the New Homes Bonus given to councils for building new houses, through to the 170,000 new affordable homes over the Spending Review Period, which will deliver

  • 25/06/12…..The ‘not quite’ Thame 10K

    AFTER several years of the Thame 10K race being run on the hottest day of the year, this year Thame Runners, the race organisers, arrived this morning to find the normal start/finish fields waterlogged and their only option to start and finish the race on the main road.

    And so, the event became a six mile race, just short of the 10km distance and sadly, the children?s fun run had to be cancelled for safety reasons. However, 780 runners completed the six mile course through Thame, and back along the Phoenix trail.

    Overall winner was Darrell Bellinger of Oxford City in a time of 31.52. Coming in 12th overall and taking the first Thame Resident trophy, was Jack Hobbs in a time of 35.27. First lady was Sophie Carter of Woodstock Harriers in a time of 36.40.

    Woodstock Harriers claimed the Men?s team prize while Bearbrook Joggers from Aylesbury took the ladies team award. CPM, the sponsor, took the first place in the corporate teams section.

    A new Ultra-Vet trophy, in memory of Thame Runner Arthur Airey, got its first name engraved on the silver with Liam O?Hare taking the Men?s 60 and over category.

    FULL RESULTS;

  • 25/06/12….The show must go on !

    THE long-standing Chairman of Thame Players was given a great send-off by over fifty supporters, members and friends of the group at the Players Theatre in Thame on Friday evening.

    Tony Long, who has chaired the Thame amateur theatre group for 13 years, had no idea that behind the scenes new chairman, Pat Shepherd, had organised the event. He expressed his delight at seeing so many people turn out on a wet evening to thank him for all his hard work as Chairman. It was Tony who oversaw the major project, transforming the old theatre in 2002 from a converted church hall into a modern theatre, with new stage, auditorium and bar/foyer facilities, that theatre-goers enjoy today. Tony led the drive to get funding, through a mixture of sponsorship and grant funding from South Oxfordshire County Council and Thame Town Council, commissioning the work and seeing it through to completion.

    Tony commented: “The refurbishment of the theatre back in 2002 was undoubtedly the highlight of my stint as Chairman. Now we are looking to make further improvements and it?s an ideal time for a new Chairman to be at the helm.?

    Tony also played a leading role in improving the variety and frequency of programming that the theatre has to offer. These days, as well as five Thame Players? own productions each year, including a much-loved pantomime, the theatre hosts visiting productions by other theatre groups and a range of celebrity appearances, and it also hosts a thriving cinema club.

    Tony will remain an active member of the committee as well as continuing to take part in plays, whether acting, directing, or helping with the production behind the scenes. He said: “I?ve thoroughly enjoyed being Chairman of such a vibrant drama group, but now I?m happy to hand the reins over to Pat Shepherd who will, I know, continue the development of the theatre for the enjoyment of future audiences.?

  • 25/06/12…… Thame Food Bank benefits from racing ducks and birthday treat

    LITTLE did Gill Coleman of Thame know, that a trip to the new London Aquatic Centre would end with a very unusual delivery to her home.

    Gill took up the story: “Back in March, I took my daughter, Kazia and her friends to watch the British Gas sponsored swimming trials at the new London, Aquatic Centre, for a birthday treat. Kazia and two friends were chosen to take part in a game where they were each allocated a duck, red, white, and blue. They had to make as much noise as they could to see whose duck crossed the line first.

    “Fortunately, Kazia’s duck won, and she was told she would get one year’s supply of Kellogs Cereal, and that’s exactly what arrived at my home last Thursday.”

    Kazia, a member of Thame Swimming Club, decided that she wanted to share some of her prize with the friends who went with her to London, but that she would like to donate nearly half of the boxes, 14 boxes of Rice Krispies, to the Thame Food Bank

    Kazia herself explained: “When I realised I’d won, I was so excited as I’d never won anything like that before, and it was great to see myself on the big screen at the Aquatic Centre where the Olympics will take place.”

    “I decided to give some of my prize to the Thame Food Bank, as mum had told me about it and why there needed to be a food bank in Thame. There are too many boxes of cereal for one person, but not enough to share with all of the swimming club, so that is why I decided to give some to the food bank.”

    The Colemans and their friends were lucky enough to see our local lad, (ex Lord Williams’s student, like the girls) Simon Burnett, get through to swim in the England Olympic relay team. They also saw Rebecca Adlington and Liam Tancock who gave the girls his autograph. But the highlight for the girls was watching the Paralympics swimmer, Eleanor Simmons break a world record.

    PHOTO: Kazia Coleman, aged 15, with her friends Jessica Russell & Lauren Powell who are both 14, on the big screen!