Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 01/08/11….Are you getting the paid holiday your are entitled to?

    THIS season piece of useful advice on paid holiday entitlement comes from Thame’s local branch of the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).

    If you are working full time, you are entitled to at least 28 days’ paid holiday a year (5.6 weeks) including public holidays. This is a legal right.

    Your contract of employment may give you the right to take more than the statutory amount of paid holiday, but it cannot give you less. To help you work out your exact entitlement, you can use the calculator on the Business Link website at: www.businesslink.gov.uk

    You don?t have an automatic right to take bank or public holidays off work, with or without pay, but your employment contract may give you bank or public holidays off on top of your statutory holiday. If this is the case, your contract should specify this and also say whether you will be paid for these days.

    If your employer refuses to let you take holiday, or refuses to let you take holiday at a particular time, try to sort it out informally with them first. If this doesn’t work, get advice as soon as possible from your trade union if you belong to one, or from an experienced CAB adviser. You may be able to take your case to an employment tribunal, but there are pros and cons to think about if you are considering this course of action.
    CAB adviceline 08 444 111 444 or 0300 3300 650

    IMAGE courtesy of workingrights.co.uk

  • 01/08/11……Fun, sun & ice-cream at Thame show as temperature soars

    AS temperatures soared at the Oxfordshire County and Thame Show on Saturday, locals and visitors from as far away as Shropshire and Scandanavia even, lapped up the sun, arena shows, horse and pony events, trade stands, local produce and food tents, and everything else that makes this one of the greatest days out in England.

    Here are some of the best moments captured on camera:
    LINK TO FACEBOOK

  • 29/07/11…..Kick a can straight into a bin!

    WELL, that’s not exactly what the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership want to encourage, but its now easy to dispose of your drinks can in the street appropriately, and with the knowledge that it will be re-cycled.

    Special multi-material bins have started to appear on the streets in Thame and other towns in the SODC and Vale district council areas to make is easier to recycle ‘on the go.’

    This partnership, between councils and the Every Can Counts programme, marks a key milestone as the drinks can recycling programme’s first project supporting local authorities to increase ‘on the go’ recycling.

    Every Can Counts is a partnership between drink can manufacturers, the recycling industry and leading waste management companies with the aim of encouraging more recycling of drinks cans.

    Cllr David Dodds, SODC Cabinet Member responsible for waste service, is reported as saying: “We have one of the highest kerbside recycling rates in the UK at around 70%, so we know that our community is committed to recycling at home. The next logical step is to make the same facilities available on the street in key town centre locations. The new bins collect exactly the same materials in the same way that householders recycle in the home, meaning we now have a seamless service that is familiar and easy to use whilst ‘on the go’” (Materials Handling World Magazine)LINK

    PHOTO: Thame’s first, ‘on the go’ recycle bin being installed in Greyhound Walk.

  • 29/07/11….Fourth food fest promises to be “the best yet”

    EMERGING in 2008 with just a dozen food stalls around Thame town hall, the prestige of the town’s Food Festival, now in its fourth year, has grown to such an extent that top chefs are almost tripping over their apron strings to be involved.

    One of the organisers, Sally Dorling, of Marketing Foods, said: “Thame Food Festival is a wonderful showcase for the passion of local artisan food and drink producers and retailers. It is a fun filled celebration of everything that is right with food in a great, free, inspiring, family day out in the centre of a beautiful market town. You can enjoy celebrity chef demos, children?s cookery workshops, food sampling and entertainment.

    “The emphasis on fun and education about local and regional food products and the retailers. It brings the whole town together in a sense of community to share a wonderful food experience.

    “Stallholder response has been incredible with over 60 confirmed bookings so far. Exhibitors include The Chiltern Brewery, The Good Biscuit Co, Merchants of Vino, Tims Dairy, Lassco Coffee Shop, Cavendish Events, Lotte?s Kitchen, Mortimer Chocolate Co, Daws Hill Vineyard, The Oxford Cheese Company and Chiltern Natural Foods.

    “As headline sponsors we are delighted to welcome local food producers McCormick, home of Schwartz?s spices. They will be holding a cookery demo and will be offering free samples to all visitors on the day. David Wilson Homes Southern were proud sponsors of the official launch party at their show homes in Windmill Place in Thame and will be sponsoring the festival programme as well as donating a raffle prize of a meal for 8 at Windmill Place.”

    Celebrity chef guests will include Katie & Giancarlo Caldesi, Raymond Blanc, Mark Peregrine and a certain Mr X from the Great British Menu.

    There will be many star attractions including Cook Offs, Demos, Food Talks, Beer Tent, Music, Family Entertainment, Kids Workshops, Book Signings, Demo Kitchen & Big Screen.

    This year’s sponsors are McCormick (Headline), David Wilson Homes Southern, Peach Pubs, Sainsbury?s, South Oxon District Council and The Spread Eagle Hotel.

    Festival Partners are Le Manoir aux Quat?Saisons, Jack FM, Glide FM, Harrison Catering, Thame TV, Imaging Essence, Chiltern Railways, Arriva buses, British Food
    Fortnight, Team Tourism, 21st Century Thame, Connell?s Estate Agents, Thame Town Council & Marketing Foods.

    Additional supporters are Rumsey?s Chocolaterie, Cavendish Events, Aylesbury Catering College, The AGA Shop, Cottage Bakery, Giancarlo & Katie Caldesi, Mr X, Thame Gazette, Thame Out, Vale Life, Thamenews.Net, What?s Cooking, Thame 360, Thame Arts & Literature, Wallingford Food Festival, The Lions and comedian compere for the day Jams Davies.

    This year?s Festival will be featuring once again a series of talks and food demos at The Stables at The James Figg, including wine tasting, a talk on fish sustainability by Mike Berthet of M&J Seafood and a hands-on sausage making session, plus a foodie pub quiz down the road at The Thatch.

    ?You can imagine how proud I am to be patron of this year?s Thame Food Festival? says renowned local TV chef, presenter and writer Lotte Duncan. ?Last year was great, but this year looks as if it?s going to be even tastier.?

    ?Thame Food Festival touches the hearts of people because it is a real festival? Giancarlo Caldesi supporter and celebrity guest chef.

    The 4th Thame Food Festival, to be held on 24th September 2011, promises to be the best yet.

  • 28/07/11….Innovative activity centre now provides for teenagers with special needs

    A local family activity centre that has been providing recreational and educational activities for children with special needs and their families for nine years, can now help teenagers too!

    Thanks to some generous donations from local authorities, charitable foundations and businesses, as well as The Big Lottery Fund, Thomley Activity Centre at Worminghall near Thame, has refurbished an old Manor Hall to create a fresh new facility for disabled teenagers and their families. At a special launch event yesterday (July 27), 70 young users of Thomley, both long-standing and new, along with their families and representatives of the donors, celebrated the opening of this great new facility.

    The new space includes a chill-out room with pool table, sofas and a magnificent TV with X Box and Wii games and activities. There’s lots of quiet spaces too including massage facilities, and a fully fitted kitchen for learning life skills like cooking.

    In her speech yesterday, the Chair of Thomley Trustees, Lorraine Fox, explained how this teenage project came about following feedback from young people and their families which identified a need for the centre to provide facilities for youngsters over the age of 13 yrs.

    “These families also told us how few other safe and accessible places there are to take their children. Again and again we hear about limited provision for young disabled people who are no longer considered as children, but who are struggling with the transition into adulthood.

    “Thomley therefore designed this project to widen the variety of activities for disabled teenagers. It specifically aims to promote social, early vocational, healthy living and life skills of disabled young people up to 19 years-old, their families and friends.”

    Director of Thomley Activity Centre, Claire Acworth, told ThameNews.Net: “Today has been absolutely amazing. To see the young people actually in, what was an old dilapidated building, using the facilities everyone has worked so hard to provide, is so satisfying. But this is not end. Going forward over the coming few years, the project will evolve to provide a range of social, healthy living, early vocational and life skills activities.”

    PHOTO; Jamie (green T shirt)and Hamish (dark green T shirt)try their hand at woodworking with Paul (carpentry workshop facilitator)

  • 27/07/11….Thame author launches her Big Fat Gypsy novel

    INSPIRED by the TV series My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, Thame author, Kate Lace, decided to write a fictionalised account of the life of a traveller girl. The result, Gypsy Wedding, will be launched at The Cross Keys pub, in Thame.

    The story involves Vicky, betrothed for nearly two years to Liam, and who should now be planning her big day. However she is more concerned with persuading her dad to let her go to college so she can learn dressmaking. Once there though, Vicky soon discovers that life on the trailer park and life outside are worlds apart. As the day approaches for her to walk down the aisle in her own spectacular dress, she?s no longer sure where she belongs or even if she?s marrying the right man.

    Kate will be signing copies of Gypsy Wedding at the Cross Keys, on launch day, Thursday, August 4, between 6.30pm and 7.30pm- Everybody welcome!

  • 27/07/11……Local brewer scoops ‘Gold Star’ hat trick

    THERE must be something in the local water, because following closely at the heels of Oxfordshire Ales’ two medals in the British Bottlers Institute Awards 2011, Chiltern Brewery, just over the border from Thame in Terrick, has scooped a hat-trick of Gold Star Awards at the 2011 Great Taste Awards.

    The family run independent brewery, which is the oldest in Buckinghamshire and the Chiltern Hills, has been presented with coveted one-star Gold Great Taste Awards for three of its bottled real ales ? Three Hundred?s Old Ale, Lord-Lieutenant?s Porter and Bodger?s Barley Wine.

    Founded 31 years ago by Richard and Lesley Jenkinson, the brewery, and their pub in Aylesbury, The Farmers? Bar, are now run by their two sons George and Tom. Their range of high quality draught and bottled ales includes seasonal and limited edition beers which demonstrate innovation, tradition and the expertise of an artisan producer. Their brewery shop also stocks a fantastic range of chandlery including English wines, ciders and liqueurs; jams, honeys, award winning chutney, mustard, biscuits, chocolate, sausages, bread and cheese many made locally and using the Brewery?s beer as an ingredient.

    Tom Jenkinson, Head Brewer, said: ?We are delighted with this award. Winning three Great Taste Awards in one year recognizes the consistency and hard work of the brewing team and dedication that goes into producing fine English ales. Since starting the brewery in 1980 the ethos has been to produce consistent ales of the highest quality using age-old artisan methods and natural, wholesome British ingredients. Our beers are brewed with care and expertise to ensure great taste and satisfaction in every glass.?

    The Great Taste Awards, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, are now in their 18th year and going from strength to strength. 7481 products were entered from 1600 companies for the 2011 Great Taste Awards. It took 350 experts 34 days to blind taste all the entries and decide which entries would achieve the awards.

    The Great Taste Awards judging standards are the most rigorous in the UK. Bob Farrand, Chairman for The Great Taste Awards, said: ?Winning Gold in the country?s largest and most respected independent food accreditation scheme is a massive pat on the back for any producer – independent proof their products are of the highest quality.?

    OXFORDSHIRE ALES

    Oxfordshire Ales, craft brewery in Marsh Gibbon, have won two medals in the British Bottlers Institute Awards 2011, an award scheme that is judged by blind tasting by a number of industry experts.

    Be proud of Pride!

    The multi award-winning Golden Ale, Pride of Oxford has added a further Gold Medal to the brewery trophy cabinet. Pride is traditionally brewed to appeal to the younger drinker as a thirst-quenching alternative to lager. It gives a biscuity, fruity character and vibrant juicy refreshment.

    An ale for your finest hour!

    Churchill, the brewery?s new India Pale Ale has won a Silver Medal. Brewed in association with Churchill Heritage the ale is a tribute to one of the World?s greatest statesmen, political thinkers and orators. The IPA style has historical associations with India, where Sir Winston spent many formative and inspirational years as a young army officer. Churchill IPA is brewed with natural mineral water from Blenheim Palace ? Sir Winston?s birthplace and gives a citrus-fruit malt, spicy hops and a moreish thirst-quenching edge.

    Churchill also recently took its place as one of just 15 regional winners of this year?s Sainsbury?s Great British Beer Hunt. In the competition, Churchill will be one of eight ales on sale in stores for three weeks from September 7, 2011, and the ale that sell the greatest number of bottles will gain a national listing on the shelves of the supermarket giant.

  • 26/07/11….No case for High Speed 2 says Chilterns watchdog

    THERE is no evidence that High Speed 2 will provide significant economic or environmental benefits says the Chilterns Conservation Board in its submission to the public consultation on high speed rail.

    The Board says that it is opposed to the Government?s proposals to build a high speed rail line through the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It does not believe evidence has been put forward to show that High Speed 2 is in the national interest which would justify damaging a nationally-protected landscape like the Chilterns.

    The Board says that it has produced detailed responses to all the questions in the consultation, outlining the many flaws in the proposals for High Speed 2. It also points out a recent EU survey which found 92% of UK rail travellers are satisfied with journey times, undermining the case for building a faster line.

    ?In a time of austerity it is incredible the Government is even thinking of spending so much money on a railway when there are so many more pressing and urgent economic and environmental issues to resolve,? said Steve Rodrick, Chief Officer of the Chilterns Conservation Board. ?A message needs to be sent that we do not share their belief that spending

  • 26/07/11…..Who will be providing new affordable homes?

    Housing associations will be responsible for delivering the vast majority of new, affordable homes over next four years, says the National Housing Federation.

    The Federation has praised housing associations for “stepping into the breach in a challenging environment” ? after the Government confirmed that associations are to build the vast majority of the nation?s new affordable homes over the next four years.

    The Federation says that ministers have revealed that housing associations will build around 90% of the 170,000 affordable homes set to be constructed nationally up to March 2015.

    It is understood that the homes planned for the next four years will be made up of 90,000 homes that were already earmarked under the previous government?s housebuilding programme and 80,000 homes that will be delivered through the Government?s new funding model, which was announced by the Chancellor last year.

    For the 80,000 homes, according to Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) figures the South East and East of England areas will deliver the most homes (14,432) of any region outside London ? or 18.04% of the overall total, although only receiving 13.1% (or

  • 26/07/11…..Want to be the next Rory McIlroy, Jessica Ennis, or LeBron James?

    YOUNG people in southern Oxfordshire aspiring to emulate the success of their favourite sport stars will get the chance to put their skills to the test this summer thanks to the Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire District Council?s summer holiday programme.

    Golf, athletics and basketball are just three of the sports that the two district councils have on offer between Monday 25 July and Friday, September 2, for young people up to and including the age of 18.

    Programmes have already been distributed to all school across the two districts and are also available online at www.southoxon.gov.uk or www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk

    Bookings are now being taken and places are filling up fast, with activities such as kayaking and horseriding already sold out. So if your child is interested in trying their hand at any of the sports on offer, from golf to fencing, dance or even judo, then get in touch with us as soon as possible and ensure they don?t miss out.

    Cllr Bill Service, Cabinet Member for leisure at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: ?The holidays are just days away so make sure you book a place before it?s too late for what will be a fantastic summer of sport in both districts.?

    Cllr Elaine Ware, Cabinet Member for Leisure at the Vale, said: ?Our holiday programme offers a fantastic range of activities for young people led by fully qualified coaches, and could possibly be the launchpad for a person from southern Oxfordshire to become the next international sports star.?

    SOURCE: Press release