PATSY and family have been greatly comforted by the many kind messages of sympathy received. Please accept this as an acknowledgment until we can contact you personally.
Author: Sonja Francis
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Bag a balloon, name a pie and win an iphone!
VISIT the ithame crew at 9 High Street, Thame (ex Bump and Beyond, next to Newitts’)and get involved! Fun for all the family including:
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Mixed results for Racquets’ squash teams 05/03/10
THE men’s 1st squash team at Racquets Fitness Centre, Thame, had been on a winning streak recently, but failed unfortunately to secure a victory over Wallingford last Tuesday which would have put them in second place behind abingdon(last years winners).
Racquets now have a younger side at the top end of the order, with 21 year-old Tom Phipps and 23 year-old Tom Power at one and two, both County players, and Racquets’ 17 year-old junior, Will John (also a Welsh international )improving with every match.
Experience is added by Racketlon star, Doug Struthers and Tom White (ex england junior), with depth being provided by Captain Simon Martin and Dan Ford.
Simon told Thamenews.net: “We are hoping to win this seasons half which will climax in a playoff v Abingdon in May to decide this year’s winners. Thanks go to our sponsor, Nick Sopers who is delicious ‘Brother Tom’s Pies’ partner with Newitts butchers of Thame. The ladies’ team have been doing well, Captained by Racketlon enthusiast, Lorna See supported by the experience of Anne Terry and Jane Cahill as well as the emerging talent of Mary woods, and tennis star, Fiona Pidgeon.
“Unfortunatly, our Racketball team lost against the National title team 2008, Bishops Stortford last Sunday 28/2/10, who had in their team the England international squash and England racketball singles champion, Daryl Selby.
Racquets’ junior section runs from 4-19 year-olds and they have qualified coaches to supervise in both squash and racketball for anyone who would like to try their hand.
Both rackets and balls are available for use by anyone who would like to try either squash or racketball. Adults and juniors beginners are very welcome to a free trial. See Racquets’ website:
www.racquets-fitness-centre.com
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Supporting young carers (Contributed – Towersey Newsletter March 2010)
YOUNG Carers are children and young people up to 25 years of age who are regularly providing care and support to members of their family (including siblings) who have a physical disability, mental health problems or misuse drugs and/or alcohol. The impact and difficulties that this vulnerable group face both at home and at school while carrying out their caring role have been highlighted.
Jane Harrison, the school counsellor from Lord Williams’ school, in Thame, has been very pro-active in setting up groups for young carers in both the Lower and Upper schools. This enables the young people to meet together regularly to support each other and Jane has also arranged trips/outings to provide some time-out but more funding is needed for this to continue.
Thame Rotary Club has agreed to help raise funds over the coming months so that these groups and trips may carry on to give these young carers the breaks that they deserve.
If you would like to help in any way contact Sarah or Mich on 01235 512 212, Text 07890 744 762 or e-mail carers@svcarers.org.uk
BACKGROUND
The South & Vale Young Carers Project (based in Didcot) have been supporting young carers in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of the White Horse for the past 14 years have provided respite in the form of trips, one to one support, mentoring and information on accessing help from other services. A development worker has been working with schools and other professional bodies particularly within health and education to help raise awareness and identify young carers in this area.
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Beware of unexpected callers – Ringmaster message
THIS is a Ringmaster message from Thames Valley Police.
Over the last few weeks several reports have been received from Thame residents concerning workmen & sales people cold calling, touting for work (typically tree work) and/or visiting houses for the purpose of reading gas/electricity meters.The majority of these callers are genuine, however care should be taken when dealing with unexpected callers. Do not allow entry to your home unless you are satisfied the caller is genuine. The following few simple steps could prevent you becoming a victim of crime:
Do not open your door to a stranger before you have verified their identity. If possible look out of a window first to see who is there and speak to them through the window.
Ask for their identity. If they are genuine they will not mind. Do not just give their identity card a cursory glance. Take your time and read the details. Do not telephone any number on the identity card to verify who the person is. Look up the telephone number of the company they represent yourself in the phone book or via directory enquiries and then make the call. It doesn’t matter how long this takes. If the caller is genuine he/she will be happy to wait.
If you cannot satisfy yourself that the caller is genuine do not open the door. Telephone the police on 08458 505 505 and report the details or call 999 for emergencies. -
Be on the World Cup single to be recorded in Chinnor!
CHINNOR-based Crash Records will be recording a special World Cup 2010 song, written by local musician, John Pethers, and he wants local people to go along to the recording studio and be involved.
The record company is also looking for someone to make a video recording of the session, which is scheduled for this coming Saturday morning, March 6, 2010.
All proceeds from the sale of the single will go to a local charity.
A special Christmas single, Ding Dong, recorded by John Pether’s band, The Bootleggers, raised over
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Fire safety and smoking at home
OXFORDSHIRE County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service is backing No Smoking Day 2010 by urging smokers to consider the fire safety issues linked to smoking at home.
In October, 2003, a woman died in a fire in Langdale Road, Thame, when under the influence of alcohol, she discarded a cigarette into a waste bin in her bedroom.
This year, No Smoking Day takes place on Wednesday March 10, offering smokers the perfect chance to quit. In 2009 nearly one million smokers gave up smoking on No Smoking Day.
Although people will plan to use the date to stub out their habit for good, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service recognises that there are some who are simply not able to break their addiction.
Mike Bingham, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service?s Risk Reduction Manager said: “Of course it would be fantastic if every smoker in Oxfordshire decided to quit on No Smoking Day, but we realise that this just isn’t going to happen and want to get a fire safety message out to all smokers.
?In Oxfordshire we have had great success in reducing the number of house fires, but we want to stop our residents becoming complacent to these risks and remind them of the dangers of smoking at home.
“It only takes one cigarette to start a fire in your home which could kill you and your family. It only takes one cigarette to wipe out your possessions and childhood memories. It only takes one cigarette to leave thousands of pounds worth of damage to your home.?
ED: In October, 2003, a woman died in a fire in Langdale Road, Thame, when under the influence of alcohol, she discarded a cigarette into a waste bin in her bedroom.
Reducing the risks
Councillor Judith Heathcoat, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities said, “Everyone knows that smoking is an expensive habit and that it is bad for your health, but we need to remind people that there are also serious fire safety risks associated with smoking.
?We are urging smokers to Put it Out, Right Out! – Either kick the habit altogether, or ensure that you always extinguish cigarettes properly, especially last thing at night.?
For smokers not ready to kick the habit this No Smoking Day, it is important to follow these simple precautions to prevent a fire at home:
Put it out, right out! Make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished.
Take extra care when you?re tired, taking any sort of drugs or have been drinking alcohol. It?s very easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is still burning.
Never smoke in bed – if you need to lie down, don?t light up. You could doze off and set your bed on fire.
Never leave lit cigarettes, cigars or pipes unattended – they can easily overbalance as they burn down.
Use a proper, heavy ashtray that can?t tip over easily and is made of a material that won?t burn. Make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished.
Tap your ash into an ashtray, never a wastebasket containing other rubbish ? and don?t let the ash or cigarette ends build up in the ashtray.
Fit and maintain a smoke alarm – a working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and call 999.
Ask the experts – Fire and Rescue Services offer free home fire risk checks to identify potential fire risks and advise what to do to reduce or prevent them.
For more information or if you would like to discuss any home fire safety issues, please contact the Community Fire Safety Team on 0800 325 999.For further information on fire safety visit www.365alive.co.uk or www.direct.gov.uk/firekills
For more information on how to give up smoking visit www.nosmokingday.org.ukPHOTO: An elderly woman in Kent had a lucky estate when a burning cigarette caught this bed alive. Picture courtesy of Kent Fire and Rescue.
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Thame crash victim vows to replay
A YOUNG Thame man who was severely injured in a fatal car crash, has vowed to repay the estimated
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Chinnor Seconds keep a clean sheet at Worthing (Contributed)
CHINNOR 2 XV 39 Pts Vs Worthing 2 XV 0 points; Away League march – February 27, 2010. MATCH REPORT
CHINNOR seconds enjoyed another well-deserved win when they beat Worthing seconds by 39 points to nil on Saturday. Worthing, being another club sporting a first team in National League 2, presented another honour on our boys with an away win, boasting a clean sheet.
As with all others games in this competitive league, Chinnor expected it to be another physical and tough game. Unusually it was one of the few games that Chinnor did not dominate the scrums. Worthing had a very good pack and with a soft pitch, both teams encountered problems. The teams soon found their rhythm and played very well with Chinnor having the advantage with their forwards changing to running rugby and inter passing between each player – wonderful to watch.
It was a result of this that the first try was scored by Ben Ramsdale and converted by Jack Green. Most of the first half was played between the two 22 metre lines. Chinnor kept Worthing under a lot of pressure forcing them to defend the try line and encouraging them to make mistakes and give penalties away that Chinnor converted into points from the boot of Jack Green. The first half finished 13 points to nil in Chinnor?s favour.
Within five minutes of the start of the second half, a great run by the backs saw Guy Hackshaw score in the corner which seemed to affect the Worthing players and their team spirit seemed to wane. With Chinnor showing great confidence, they continued to impress. Again most of the game was played between the two twenty two metre lines exhibiting some good physical rugby from both sides. Chinnor?s tackling from both the forwards and backs was textbook material.
Rambo Ramsdale got his second try in the game and again Jack Green converted it. It was then the turn of Matt Webster playing scrumhalf this week, to get the next try and once again Jack Green added the extra points.
The final Chinnor try came from the back line with all players being involved and finishing with Ben Hackshaw scoring and Jack Green once again converting. And the game finished 39 points to Nil.
As I wrote in the last match report, to pick a man of the match in this team each week is a difficult task. Matt Webster and Ben Hackshaw have played hooker, flanker scrumhalf, centre and wing this season without complaint. Everyone gives their best every week despite the changes and challenges each week. A big thank you to Greggers coming away with the seconds. It was a huge pleasure having him with us.
All seventeen Chinnor players played outstanding games and were well led by Ian Stock proving to be captain Marvel. Guy Hackshaw is playing his best rugby, young Mark Wilkinson and Jack Green are improving every time they play. Ben Ramsdale, Max Williams help to make it the most powerful and mobile pack in the league. For the reasons already mentioned we are unable to announce the man of the match, so the award goes to the team.
Walter McGuicken -
Improving older people?s housing options
SOUTH Oxfordshire District Council is inviting residents to have their say on plans for giving older people more choice when it comes to housing.
With people throughout the district living longer, the council says that it needs to act now to make sure people can live where they want to and get the care
and support they need as they get older. In light of the rapidly aging population, the council has undertaken research and produced a set of
recommendations for improving housing options for older people, which include:● improving access to information about housing and support
choices
● providing better quality and more choice of specialist housing
● providing older people with more support to help them stay
independent in their own homes
● involving older people more in the development of housing
services
● ensuring new homes being built can meet the needs of older
peopleThe council is keen to find out people?s ideas for what a housing scheme could offer and on how existing housing could be improved.
Dorothy Brown, Cabinet member for housing and health, said: “By 2025 the number of people over 85 living in South Oxfordshire is set to increase by a huge 70 per cent. We?ve set out ideas for tackling this issue and making people have a wide enough choice, but need your help to see how we can work with others to improve what we offer in the future.
“We particularly want to hear from people who plan to stay in their own homes, those thinking about moving to more suitable housing or people already living in sheltered housing and family, friends and/or carers of older people. I urge people to take a look at our plans and complete the online questionnaire at www.southoxon.gov.uk
by 16 April 2010.?