Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 16/03/13…..From the critics’ top ten films 2012, The Master

    SHOWING this weekend at Thame Cinema 4 All, The Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame: THE MASTER – USA 2012, 143 minutes, 15 certificate – Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix and Amy Adams.

    Joaquin Phoenix is Freddie Quell, recently de-mobbed from military service in WWII. He is a man with a past ? short-fused, violent, with a troubling attitude to women and a capacity to brew near hallucinogenic moonshine out of whatever otherwise noxious liquid he has to hand. His efforts at building a life post war start to unravel. By chance, he comes upon a welcoming, kind, and accommodating group of people who immediately befriend him and offer him solace, safety, and the potential to heal himself. This group are affiliated to a set of beliefs known as ?The Cause?, under the dazzlingly charismatic leadership of Philip Seymour Hoffman?s ?Master? Lancaster Dodd.

    This is not a film about Scientology, you understand. Given that organisation?s, shall we say, litigious sensitivities, we must just get that cleared up from the off. However Paul Thomas Anderson?s latest is an expansive and masterful consideration of a self-help guru with a lucrative side-line in publishing, a man with a devoted, needy, and passionately defensive following in late 1940?s America. His philosophy involves aliens and past lives extending back ?trillions? of years ? submission to his doctrine allows the individual to connect with their countless former selves, and find the path to individual self-realisation.

    Fans of Anderson?s work will recognise his sweeping cinematic style, and his closely observed, carefully paced, and lavishly composed examination of his subject. What differs slightly here is the focus on the psychological tug of war between troubled loose cannon Freddie and Hoffman?s controlling guru, and the former?s ambivalent response to The Master?s attempts to manipulate him. Phoenix has certainly never been better ? damaged, vulnerable, volatile, compelling. Hoffman, as ever, is a joy to watch as a man with an apparent lightness of touch, but a passionate need to control, and a requirement of absolute submission. And Amy Adams exudes saccharine venom as the Master?s latest bride, his most devoted and zealous follower.

    The film made it to the top 10 of numerous critical top 10?s of 2012, and is definitely one that demands to be seen on a big screen.

  • 15/03/12….Young Thame adults wanted to say what they think about the town

    THE town council wants to know what young people think is good, bad and ugly about the town.

    As part of the The Neighbourhood Plan that is currently being developed. Thame Town Counncil is setting up a short workshop for residents between the age of 20-35, to have an opportunity to input into what is good, what is bad and what is ugly about the Town.

    The council says: “We are looking for a group of about 10 to 15 people to take part in the workshop, which will be about considering future growth of the town.

    “We would really value your opinions and input, and it?s a really good opportunity to have a say.”

    The workshop is planned for Wednesday, March 28, at 7pm, for about an hour. If you, or anyone you know, are interested please send an email to: oss@thametowncouncil.gov.uk for further details.

  • 15/03/12….Have you seen biscuit? He’s missing from the Towersey area

    HIS NAME IS BISCUIT AND HE WAS LAST SEEN AT HOME AT MIDDAY ON MONDAY 5TH MARCH. HE CAN EASILY BE RECOGNISED BY HIS SHORT TAIL. HE IS A NEUTERED MALE, 12/13 YEARS OLD WHO DOES NOT NORMALLY STAY OUT AT NIGHT.

    WOULD YOU PLEASE CHECK SHEDS, GARAGES, STABLES, VEHICLES ETC. IN CASE HE HAS BEEN SHUT IN, AND ASK ANYONE WHO MAY NOT HAVE SEEN THIS NOTICE TO DO THE SAME.

    WE ARE VERY WORRIED ABOUT HIM AND WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL FOR ANY INFORMATION WHICH COULD HELP US FIND HIM.

    PLEASE RING ROSEMARY OR BARRY MAUDSLEY ON 01844 216475 OR 07521 428927. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

  • 15/03/12….Morris Day of Dance raises funds – and lifts a doctor !

    TOWERSEY MORRIS raised the spirits and the funds of the Cancer & Haematology Unit at Stoke Mandeville hospital recently, in what was the culmination of a ‘Day of Dance.’

    The Squire of Towersey Morris, Andy Hardy, told ThameNews all about their amazing day.

    “One Saturday last September, Towersey Morris held a sponsored Day of Dance. We danced at Market Square, Aylesbury and Wendover, and outside Wycombe Wanderers FC before their home match against Brentford.

    Over twenty different Cotswold Morris dances were performed during the day, with each dancer being sponsored so much per dance.

    We raised

  • 13/03/12….Problem re-paying Pay Day loans? ADVICE from Thame CAB

    IF you have taken out a Payday loan you may find that your lender is taking money from your account that you need to pay for essentials, like food or rent, so what can you do to stop this from happening?
    There?s a common myth that once you?ve agreed to such payments, you have no power to stop them. This is not true.

    When you give your credit or debit card details to a company and authorise them to take regular payments from your account, it is known as a ?recurring transaction? or ?continuous payment authority?. This is not the same as a direct debit.

    To cancel a regular payment just phone your bank and tell them you are withdrawing your consent for further payments to be taken. You don?t need to tell the company taking the payments or confirm your instructions in writing for your bank to stop payments. Your bank should stop making payments as soon as you tell them you have withdrawn your consent – regardless of whether you have also told your payday lender – and you can do this verbally.

    If you have contacted your bank in time, and a payment is made after you have told it that you wish to stop the payment being taken from your account, it will be regarded as an unauthorised transaction and your bank must give you an immediate refund, and put the account back in the position it would have been if the payment had not been made ? in other words refund any interest and charges applied as a result of payment being made.
    If you?re still having problems get free, independent advice.

    Citizens Advice website www.adviceguide.org.uk
    CAB adviceline 08 444 111 444 or 0300 3300 650(mobile)
    Your local CAB is in Montesson Square, Thame (Market Place)

  • 13/03/12….Late Breakfast in Thame – invitation to businesses

    THE next Late Breakfast event at The Spread Eagle Hotel in Thame is on Thursday, March 22.

    The Late Breakfast has been holding regular monthly events in Oxfordshire for over five years and at the Spread Eagle in Thame for the last three years, with a variety of presenters and networking formats and this month it’s an Open Networking meeting.

    So, what happens at a Late Breakfast event?

    The Late Breakfast events are friendly,
    relaxed, informal networking affairs. They are run with an ?open door? policy welcoming people from all services, professions and trades irrespective of the size of their business whether they are individuals working from home or small and medium size companies.

    There are is no forced selling, no ?one minute? presentations, just like-minded people coming together to build good connections. Ideal if you are new to business or networking. There is no membership or subscription, the only financial commitment is when you arrive and want to come in !

    Events all run from 9.00-10.30am to give those unable for practical or family reasons to attend the early breakfast networking groups, their own opportunity to network.

    Meetings are a mix of excellent presentations on a variety of business themed topics, fun and interactive workshops but always with the emphasis on allowing businesses to meet and communicate. Guests also get the chance to promote local and special business events.

    All our details and locations are on www.thelatebreakfast.co.uk

  • 13/03/12…..Share The Care Week – March 19-25

    A campaign to encourage more people in the county to help disabled children and young people is being launched by Oxfordshire County Council to co-incide with Share the Care Week (March 19-25).

    The Short Break Scheme provides support to families by caring for children for one or two nights a month.

    They are regular opportunities for families to have a break from caring while the child enjoys spending time with a Short Break carer. They provide opportunities for the child to make new friends, develop their independence and enjoy new activities.

    I could to do that!

    Share the Care week aims to get more people to think “I could do that!” and volunteer to support a child and their family for a couple of days a month.

    Councillor Louise Chapman, Oxfordshire County Council?s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, said: ?Not only do Short Break carers give children the chance to take part in activities that most non-disabled children take for granted ? they also give parents a break from the demands of caring.

    ?Being a Short Break carer is such a rewarding and enjoyable role, we hope that when they hear about the opportunity many more people will think ?I could do that!? and find out more.”

    Short Break carers come from a wide variety of backgrounds. All you need is a love of children and a willingness to help a child realise their potential- specialist training and support is given.

    Theresa Rogers, Oxfordshire County Council?s Service Manager for Fostering, said : ?There is a real need for more Short Break carers in Oxfordshire. We currently have 20 carers supporting families in Oxfordshire but another 19 children are waiting.

    ?The scheme relies on people to volunteer as carers, just for a couple of days a month. It?s a way of being able to foster even if you work full time. Specialist training and support is given, Short Break carers receive an allowance and for some circumstances funding is provided for set-up costs”.

    “We hope that many more people will think ?I Could Do That? and want to find out more. The scheme relies on people to volunteer as carers, just for a couple of days a month. It?s a way of being able to foster even if you work full time. Specialist training and support is given, short break carers receive an allowance and in some circumstances funding is provided for set-up costs”.

    For more information phone 0800 7835724.

    SOURCE: Press Release

  • 13/03/12…..Death of former Town Councillor

    FORMER Town Councillor, Peter Cockayne, sadly died this week, after fighting cancer. Peter died peacefully at home in Holliers Close, Thame, on Thursday morning (March 8), aged 67. He leaves a widow, Val, and two children, Phil and Sophie.

    Peter represented the Lib Dems as a town councillor between 1999 and 2007, and was also an original member of CMAG, the Cattle Market Action Group. He never missed an opportunity to raise the subject of causes close to his heart, particularly in his view, that the Cattlemarket, if it became available, should be developed for the good of the community. His doggedness to get his point across at council meetings was frequently the cause of some irritation to fellow councillors! He also represented the town council on the Steering Group of the 21st Century Thame Partnership for several years.

    One of Peter’s greatest areas of interest was in road safety and particularly cycling. He was very involved in TWAC, the Thame Walking and Cycling group that produced cycle paths, new crossings and refuge islands throughout the town as part of the Better Ways to School project.

    He tried and failed to persuade the town council to take part in a Pilot scheme to make the centre of Thame a 20mph zone. Peter was also very ‘hands on’ during the planning and negotiations for the development of the old Risborough to Thame railway line, into the Phoenix Trail and often turned up to help on regular litter-picking days along the trail.

    Peter was for several years, a Security Officer at Waddesdon Manor.

    The following tribute is reproduced from Thame Town Council’s website:

    Peter spent his early years in Chigwell, Essex before moving eventually to Thame with Val and their young family in 1977 via Leytonstone and Northampton. Whilst he started his working life in hotel and catering management in London, most of his career was spent in sales management with the Electricity Board and until retirement, with British Gas.

    From his early days in the town, Peter threw himself into life in Thame, initially stage- managing and acting with Thame Players, even including pantomime!
    But his main passion was local politics. For many years, he was the main inspirer, organiser, motivator, etc. of the local Liberal Democrat party, selflessly giving his time, and use of his home, to the cause. He served Thame Town Council for eight years as a Town Councillor.

    When the opportunity arose for some ?blue sky thinking? about the use of the cattle market, Peter was one of the first to be involved with the Cattle Market Action Group (CMAG). He was passionate that this last large space in the centre of the town be developed for the use of the community. Initially, until the North Street site became available, he had the vision of a new library being a central part of the cattle market development. Peter continued with CMAG until quite recently, also as a volunteer at Thame Museum and as a steward at Waddesdon Manor. A keen cyclist, he would often invite friends to share his ancient tandem. As a Sustrans supporter, he helped to get the Phoenix Trail established from its inception.

    Peter served the town and community faithfully and will be greatly missed by his many friends and co-workers.

    Peter’s funeral is to be held at St Mary?s Church on Monday 19th March at 2.30 p.m.

  • 12/03/12……Hosepipe ban as worse drought since 1976 continues

    THAMES Water is one of seven companies in south and east England to announce today (March 13 the need to impose a hose pipe ban on its customers from next month.

    The ban, and other restrictions on water use are necessary to combat the effects of an increasingly severe drought after two abnormally dry winters in a row.

    Britain’s biggest water supplier said its Temporary Use Ban (TUB), or ‘hosepipe ban,’ will come into effect from April 5, before the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, and will apply to all of its 8.8m water customers across London and the Thames Valley.

    Today’s decision comes after one of the driest two-year periods in southern and eastern England since records began. Since March 2010 the region has had 35cm less rain than normal.

    Click http://www.thameswater.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/corp/hs.xsl/15441.htm for more information from Thames Water.

  • 12/03/12…..Slick passing & tenacity win the day for Thame United

    MATCH REPORT – 10/03/12: Thame United 3, Flackwell Heath 0; (Contributed by Bob Dixon) SATURDAY’S entertaining game at the ASM Stadium saw Thame United defeat Flackwell Heath 3-0. The result went against the form book, given that the `Heathens? occupied 5th league place against Thame?s 8th. Due to a hamstring injury to Alex Stewart, the number nine shirt was worn by Lewis Cordice, who had an excellent game.

    The visitors started brightly but it was United who opened the scoring in the seventh minute. A Ben Connelly pass found Cordice near the right corner flag; Cordice beat his marker and ran to the by-line before hitting a low cross across the face of goal which Dan West confidently knocked in. Both James Faulkner and Matt Hall forced good saves from the visiting keeper before, 10 minutes before half time, Thame extended their lead. Faulkner played a ball to Connelly which was intercepted by a defender, but the tenacious Connelly reclaimed it and centred a perfect ball which Faulkner skilfully hit pass the keeper from 20-yards.

    The visitors rarely threatened the Thame goal in the second half and United?s slick passing created several chances. The third goal came with 25 minutes remaining and was a moment of pure quality. Cordice and a defender both went for a 50/50 ball and both of them ended up on the ground. It was however the Thame player who recovered first, collected the ball and after a short run hit a well placed 25-yard shot into the top right of the visitor?s goal. With about 10 minutes to play, a through ball found Cordice clear on goal but the advancing keeper brought him down with a deliberate foul. The keeper was dismissed and United were awarded a penalty. An outfield player donned the keeper?s jersey but, unfortunately for Thame, Captain Mitchell Meredith?s spot kick was wide.

    Overall it was an excellent performance by Thame who, as a result, gain a league place and now occupy seventh position.

    Thame United: Bennion, I Pykett (Willett), Hall, Meredith, N Rhodes (Chalmers), Hayes, Connelly, West, Cordice (Cowan), Faulkner, Ricketts.

    United?s next home game is on Saturday 31st March when Reading Town are the visitors.