Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 18/02/11……….Join South Oxon promotional Master Class

    ON Wednesday, February 23, local businesses are invited to attend two hours of free guidance about promotional opportunities in a fast changing world.

    TEAM Tourism and South Oxfordshire District Council have put together an informative, fun afternoon with plenty of opportunities for group discussions and sharing of ideas. From 2 ? 4 pm we?ll cover:

    www.visitsouthoxfordshire.co.uk –
    making it work for you ? and are the mobiles tracking you down?

    the Midsomer Murders website ? films and photos, how the TV show is helping to boost South Oxfordshire

    how to use Flickr and You Tube for your business
    Social media and User Generated Content

    Tripadvisor, Facebook, Twitter ? what?s the point?

    an update on some fast growing overseas markets and national campaigns

    writing to the papers – how to communicate with journalists, and avoid common mistakes.

    To book your place please contact Jenny at tourism@southoxon.gov.uk or call 01491 823421.

    This event will be held in the Council Chamber at South Oxfordshire District Council offices, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, OX10 8QX.

    SOURCE: Press release

  • 18/02/11……Local hotel rowing for Asthma

    STAFF and friends of the Oxford Belfry Hotel took part in a Rowathon on Thursday, February 17, to raise money for Asthma Uk.

    The event was the first of what will be a series of events every month this year to try and raise a total of

  • 17/02/11…..Chinnor RFC U16s back at the top!

    CHINNOR U16s 41 v Henley 5 – 9Score reduced to 41-5, being score at the point a six try lead was established, for league purposes.) MATCH REPORT (Contributed)

    WITH Henley enjoying a big win against Bicester last week, Chinnor Under 16s went into this game with renewed respect for their opponents. However, their worries were erased when they started the game with tremendous intensity and were ahead after less than a minute when Nic Barker scampered down the wing to touch down in the corner. Unfortunately the early elation was all erased when Rob Gascoyne suffered a serious leg injury in a tackle. We now know that Rob has a fractured fibula, which means the end of the season for him. He will be greatly missed and we wish him a speedy recovery.

    The lengthy stoppage while Rob got treatment did not dent the boys’ concentration though. In an intelligent move the forwards lined up for a kick to the right following a penalty award but the dummy sent the ball left and a marvelous exchange of passes between Dom Bradbrook Taylor and Nic as they flew downfield allowed Dom to score one of the most spectacular tries we have ever scored. George Grose floated a difficult, wide conversion in the strong cross-wind to claim the extra points.

    Rob’s injury did disrupt the balance of the team and meant that with Rory O Connor’s absence neither of the regular props were on the field. Guy Carter moved up and great credit must go to our improvised front row, which was further disrupted when Cam Leff had to leave the field after half time.

    They all did really well throughout, and created the platform for the third and fourth tries when a big push on each occasion got the ball leading to another for Dom and a try for Cam Leff. Henley pulled one back but Chinnor scored their fifth try when Nic grabbed his second under the posts. 27 – 5 at half time.

    The Under 16s have been involved in a few matches recently where they have established a big half time lead and then fallen away in the second half. Not doing this and maintaining focus was therefore the dominant theme of Rob Hill’s half time talk, and this time it proved effective. An intelligent kick over the defence by Henry Gayler led to a really well deserved try for the hard-working Cam Harvey and shortly thereafter another solid scrum led to a third try for Nic. George slotted both conversions and with the six try lead thereby established, the scoring for league purposes stopped at 41-5.

    The game continued as a friendly and Chinnor were able to get all of their replacements on and although Ollie Wingfield scored a great interception try, Henley added a couple of their own which their spirited second half performance thoroughly deserved.

    Apart from Rob’s injury there were many positives from today. Those who stepped up to play in the front row made a real difference with Dan Cundy having a superb
    game at scrum half against a tricky customer in the yellow of Henley. George orchestrated the midfield superbly and made intelligent use of the wind with his kicking and Ollie put in some great covering tackles when Henley did threaten. The line-out lifting worked well; Dougie Haynes carried well; Tommy Evans did what Tommy does; in short, everyone played their part in a great team performance, fully reflected in the big margin of victory.

    The win puts Chinnor Under 16s top of the league on 23 points, ahead of Wallingford on 20, although they do have a game in hand. There is still a way to go and a tough match away at Quins up next, but there now looks to be a good chance that the league title will come down to a straight fight between Chinnor and Wallingford in the last game on March 20. Bring it on!

  • 17/02/11………They’re making dreams at Thame school

    DREAMING in school is usually not encouraged but at one Thame primary school this week, its exactly what the teachers want.

    For the theme for John Hampden primary school’s Arts Week this year is Dream Time and the whole school and the nursery have been encouraged to make dream catchers, fairies, dream jars, prints, junk models and all sorts of creative responses centred around the idea of dreaming.

    The centre piece of the culmination of this weeks work will be a truly massive model of the BFG that reaches to the hall ceiling.

    The work is being co-ordinated by teacher Jackie Nichols with the help of an enthusiastic band of enthusiastic volunteers including ex teaching staff who have returned to John Hampden School specially to help out in what has become one of the highlights of the school’s curriculum. Real artists, including Julie Long from Cheshire, the aunt of a JHS pupil, and local print maker, Christine Tacq have been working with the children during Arts Week.

    Jackie Nichols said: “This year?s Artsweek has been dominated, literally, by the GIANT BFG that has invaded our school hall, blowing ?fizzwizard? dreams to fill our Dreamtime Artsweek World!

    “Artsweek has involved everyone in our school community, from artists, grandparents and parents, with over 60 volunteers, to the whole school body of teachers and students, from Nursery to Year 6.

    “It has enabled every child to shine through artistic activities ranging from Dream Junk Worlds to Wild Aboriginal Snakes! The Dream Bedroom project has really taken off, with children, families and teachers alike making their dream or childhood bedrooms, which have taken over the corridors and classes of the school. We have even had a competition to guess which bedroom belongs to which teachers for an arty prize.

    “The whole week culminates tomorrow (Friday) in a Fairtrade Arts Caf

  • 17/02/11……Where are our missing pensioners?

    ACCORDING to Thame’s MP, up to 1,500 pensioners in the constituency, many in and around Thame, could be missing out on a vital benefit which could mean an addition of, on average, over

  • 17/02/11……..How Apt !

    THE highly successful and widely used iPhone app, released last year as the world?s first town based iPhone app, is now live in a new and updated version, exactly one year ithame was launched.

    Based on local user feedback and comments via the app from people that have downloaded it across the UK, ithame has been revamped for the local people by a local web and mobile specialists, Adactus Ltd.

    Adactus has vastly improved the look and feel of the app and enhanced the business directory allowing more information on our local businesses to be provided to residents and visitors.

    Commenting on the new app, ithame developer, Andy McDonald, said: ?I am delighted to have used a Thame based company to build all the features that Thame people have requested. Adactus has built systems for major companies such as Pizza Hut, Whitbread and Aviva and now they have redesigned our local app. I am anticipating that most businesses in Thame will sign up to ithame given the investment that has gone into our local mobile information directory as well as a reduced cost of joining.?

  • 16/02/11……Haddenham in Transition AGM

    Haddenham in Transition AGM – 8pm – Rose & Thistle Pub in Haddenham.
    More information about Transition Towns

  • 15/02/11……..Suspicious vehicle warning

    Reference: M 15/02/042] – This is a Community message from Thames Valley Police. INFORMATION

    Please be aware of a white Volvo Lorry Tanker partial registration number PN08 seen in your area. This vehicle maybe involved in the offence of stealing of fuel. If you see this vehicle please contact the Police on 999 for an immediate response to URN 432 of the 15th February. Thank you, message ends.

  • 16/02/11…Roundabout advertising decision a ‘St Valentine’s massacre’

    AN OXFORDSHIRE campagne group has responded angrily to SODC’s decision on Monday (Feb 14) to continue with advertising on roundabouts – apparently in contravention of its own policies.

    Michael Tyce, Chairman of the Thame District of CPRE Oxfordshire, said in a statement: ?In a St Valentine?s Day Massacre the District Council has blown away its own policies to protect the environment, the concept of Localism, road safety, and the interest of taxpayers in getting the best deal. This at a time when other Councils are acting to remove unlawful roundabout advertising which blights the environment, and responding to Government requests that they crack down on advertising clutter.”

    He continued: “South Oxfordshire District Council decided to sign up for another five years of its contentious roundabout advertising scheme, despite strong objections from Thame Town Council (1) and almost all the other towns and parishes where roundabouts with advertising are situated (2). The District Council accepts that the scheme is also contrary to its own policies to protect the environment and a distraction to motorists and therefore a safety risk.(3).

    “At the same meeting the District Council decided to renew the contract , which is worth

  • 16/02/11…No surprises as

    ONLY the fire service and child protection will escape from the