Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 19/01/12…World record squash players tell ‘how it was’

    FIVE days after they smashed the Guinness World Record for a competitive squash marathon, the two men who battled together for over 31 hours, have been talking about the experience.

    The two competitors, Squash coach Darren Withey, and Racquets Fitness Centre team player, Guy Fotherby, spoke to ThameNews.Net:

    Q What made you take on the challenge in the first
    place?
    A DARREN: “I was filling in for Nick Wynd who got
    injured but was more than willing to help such
    worthwhile charities.”

    GUY: ” My Mother died of cancer and so did a best
    friend I grew up with, my Niece is profoundly
    autistic and she uses the Chiltern Centre for
    disabled children for respite. It’s a small but
    vital charity in great need of assistance and fund
    raising.”

    Q Can you recall your LOWEST moment of the challenge?

    A DARREN “We had just passed the half way stage and
    it hit me how far we had come and still how long we
    had yet to go before the finish. Mental toughness
    was a key element.”

    GUY: “No, not really. Not really one just fighting
    through the muscle pain during the last four hours!”

    Q When would you say was the HIGHEST moment for you?
    A DARREN: “I think there were a few high points but
    raising so much money and receiving so much support
    from everyone including friends, family and Racquets
    Fitness Centre. The World Record!!!!”

    GUY: “Knowing we were on the way to raising the
    funds for the charities.”

    Q What is your most vivid memory of the whole 31 hrs?
    A DARREN: “I will always remember counting down my
    breaks in between games. You just know what they
    meant at the time.”

    GUY: “The Fantastic support from the crowd on the
    balcony!”

    Q. What were your feelings on that final count-down
    moment when you knew you had broken the record?
    A DARREN: “Relief and excitement whilst being proud to
    have achieved what we set out to do.”

    GUY: “Feeling so grateful to all the people who
    helped to make it happen; we could not have done it
    without their support.”

    Q What was the reaction of your family to your
    achievement?
    A DARREN: “My wife sally and daughter Emily were
    very proud.”

    GUY: “Elated!”

    Q Would you do it again ????
    A DARREN: “Yes Yes Yes! Bring it on!”

    GUY: “Yes, we’re looking at a 24 hours racquet ball
    next year for the charities, the Chiltern Centre for
    disabled Children and one other.”

    PHOTO: Courtesy of ThameTV: Darren and Guy embrace after over 31 hrs of squash is finally over!

  • 18/01/12….MPs must consider role of high street in ‘widest sense’

    ACTION for Market Towns, the national charity representing market and small towns across the UK, yesterday welcomed the Parliamentary debate on the future of the high street and town centres and the findings of the Portas review.

    The charity issued a briefing note for MPs last week, showcasing progress already made against many of the review’s recommendations.

    Alison Eardley, Policy Manager for Action for Market Towns, said: “Action for Market Towns has welcomed the Portas Review which has served to bring the changing role of high streets across the country to the attention of all. This is especially important at a time when retailers – both independents and national chains – continue to struggle. The recommendations proposed by the Review make much sense and there is a range of good work that is already taking place across the country that we’d encourage the Government to explore when considering its response.

    “We would also urge the Government to remember that the future of the high street goes beyond retail and this review presents an opportunity to explore how a range of uses, for example health, education and learning, and housing, might have a role in healthy high streets – as demonstrated by so many of our member towns.

    “Given the plethora of Government departments and their different interests and levels of involvement in the high street, the challenge will be for an integrated policy on high street development to be adopted which places local people and businesses at the core.”

  • 18/01/12….Thame to lose its Market Town Co-ordinator

    FOLLOWING a review of its support for market towns, South Oxfordshire District Council will no longer be funding the role of Thame’s part-time Market Town Co-ordinator.

    The Market Town Co-ordinators were originally funded to work with the respective town councils and representative bodies to help boost the local economy. Thame’s MCT, Alison Isherwood, has become a familiar face around the town and has been particularly instrumental in working with 21st Century Thame on the implementation of the Thame Loyalty Card scheme and growing and promoting the Thame food festival.

    Wallingford and Henley will continue to have their MTCs partly funded by SODC and partly by each of their town councils for a further two years, whilst the equivalent funding for Thame will be available for bidding by community stakeholders and business organisations on a project by project basis.

    Cllr Judith Nimmo-Smith, Cabinet Member for Economy, Property and Technical Services at SODC, said: ?It had become very clear that the one-size fits all approach was no longer working for our market towns and that ideas which had proved very successful in one location were often not appropriate for the other towns.

    ?Over the last few months we have been working with the town councils and partnerships to tailor an individual approach to each area which we think will make the best use of available funding. We are confident that this will lead to significant benefits, both long and short term, for everyone in Henley, Thame and Wallingford.?

    Subject to SODC’s Scutiny process, the new arrangements will be in place from April.

  • 18/01/12…Warning after thieves target vehicles in Thame area

    [M 18/01/029] THIS is a Community Message from Thames Valley Police. Crime Series ? Theft from vehicles: FURTHER incidents have been reported of theft from vehicles in the Thame area. Offender(s) have mainly been targeting vans to steal tools, most offences have occurred overnight. Recent thefts have taken place in Lewknor, Little Milton and Montrose Way, Thame.

    The police will be putting on extra patrols and are asking anyone living or working in the area to be extra vigilant and please report any suspicious looking people or vehicles as soon as possible. Try to obtain vehicle details including make, model and registration number and description of any occupants if possible without putting yourself at any risk.

    If you have any information relating to this message, please call the police on the new national single non-emergency telephone number 101 and state you are responding to a Ringmaster message or call 999 for crime in progress.

    Alternatively if you have information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

    Message Ends.

  • 18/01/12….Signed copy of Conan Doyle book discovered in Thame

    A signed copy of a book by the creator of Sherlock Holmes has been discovered in a box of donated books at the Oxfam Book Shop in Thame.

    The shop’s Manager, Dick Jennens, takes up the the story: “In 1903 Arthur Conan Doyle?s works were published as a 13 volume, limited edition of 1000 copies, with one of them, ?White Company? issued as a signed copy. It was one of these that we found, to our astonishment, in a box of donated books, containing nine volumes of the set.”

    The set was published by Smith Elder & Co, in 1903 and bound in red cloth. The edition found by Dick and his staff is number 95.

    The signed copy of ?White Company? is offered for sale at

  • 18/01/12…Senior Play Leader required

    THOMLEY ACTIVITY CENTRE, Worminghall, nr Thame: We are currently looking for a full-time Senior Playworker. salary is

  • 16/01/12….Guinness Squash world record SMASHED in Thame

    THE Guinness World Record for a singles Squash marathon was broken over the weekend by two veteran squash players from Thame.

    Guy Fotherby and Darren Withey played 475 games of competitive Squash in 31 hrs 19 mins and 4secs, beating the current verified standing record of 29 hrs and 55mins. Hundreds of people followed the event on twitter.

    Professional Squash coach, Darren, who is 47 years-old, has coached and played for Racquets Fitness Centre who hosted the event, for many years. 52 year-old Guy is Director of Marketing & Development for Meritus Hotels & Resorts, who are one of the main sponsors of the club’s first team and pledged

  • 13/01/12….Town says ‘Good-bye’ to Ben

    IT was standing room only in St Mary’s Church in Thame this afternoon, as friends, relations, shop-keepers, town councillors, firemen and publicans quietly filed in to pay their respects, and to say farewell to a very unique young Thame character who has passed away.

    Ben Guest, who had been diagnosed with a brain tumour two years previously and was waiting to have an operation, died at home on Wednesday, January 4, following a seizure.

    Terry Guest, father of 34 year-old Ben, spoke movingly of how he struggled at times to cope with his son, but how his enthusiastic nature and willingness to please touched so many people in his family and in the town.

    Everyone you speak to has a story about Ben, and Terry’s recollection of an incident, when Ben disappeared from his till at the rear of Woolworths where he worked, was typical. Ben would often offer to help customers carry their purchases to their car, but when remonstrated for leaving his post for longer than usual, and asked by the manager where he had been, he replied: “Broadwaters Road!”

    “When you look up at the sky tonight, you’ll see an extra star,” Terry told the congregation. “That star will be Ben, and he’ll be organising all the other stars just like he always liked to organise things down here.”

    The whole congregation clapped as Ben’s casket, draped with flowers and his beloved QPR football scarf, was carried out through the back door of the church to its final resting place, in the sunniest corner of the church yard.

    RIP Ben

  • 13/01/12…..Guinness Squash marathon pair holding up after 13 hrs

    GUY Fotherby and Darren Withey, who are currently in the fourteenth hour of a Guinness World record attempt for a squash marathon, are holding up well on court at Racquets fitness Centre in Thame.

    The two are battling to beat the current Guinness World Record for a Squash marathon of 31 hours and 2 minutes, held by a couple of players from Basingstoke. They are aiming to raise

  • 12/01/12….Christmas Morris dancers raise cash for charities

    FROM the Towersey Village news letter: TOWERSEY Morris, have just sent off two cheques for