Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Is this the way to fight rising childhood obesity? asks Thame GP 26/02/10

    A THAME doctor is concerned that Thame’s leisure centre is no longer providing sufficient opportunities for young teenagers to keep fit.

    Until last week, there were two sessions at the weekend for 11-14 year olds to use the aerobic machines at the gym at Thame Leisure Centre but these have now been stopped because “there is no staff member trained to supervise it” (quote gym manager), says Dr Helena Richards.

    She asks: “How does this fit in with initiatives for countering rising childhood obesity?

    Dr Richards has written the following letter to managers at the leisure centre and also to the SODC Councillor responsible for leisure but had not, by today, received any replies:

    Dear Mr Service
    I am writing to you to express my disappointment that Thame Leisure Centre has discontinued the youth gym sessions which ran on Saturday and Sunday afternoons for 11 years +.

    These sessions were ideal for this age group who are less talented at team sport and have become self conscious about swimming pools.

    I was informed today that these have stopped because there are no staff trained to work with under 14?s on gym equipment.

    There is a vast amount of local and national political rhetoric on the subject of childhood obesity but it seems that provision for youngsters is never a priority when it comes to delivery.

    I notice that exercise classes at Thame Leisure Centre are for 16 years + and gym membership available only to 14 years +.
    I would be very interested to hear what the intentions of Nexus and SODC are for providing physical activity opportunities now for secondary school youngsters who are ineligible to purchase a gym membership.

    I look forward to your reply,
    Yours sincerely
    Dr. Helena Richards

  • 26/02/10 New signings for Thame United

    THAME United have continued to increase their squad following the signing of both Jon Gardner and Adam Stallwood.

    Jon returns to Thame United after playing for the club when they were in the Southern League five years ago. Jon left to play for Zamaretto Premier side, Banbury United, and has had some very successful seasons there.

    Thame United’s Communications Director, Frank Thompson, said: “We are delighted to have Jon as part of the set-up again. He is one of those players who can change a game in an instant with a bit of brilliance, as well as having great pace and the ability to finish well.

    “Jon has been top goalscorer at Banbury on a number of occasions and having continued to play at a higher level, he has a great deal of experience to bring to Thame United again.”

    Also joining the Thame squad is Adam Stallwood from local rivals, Chinnor. Adam was Chinnor’s top goalscorer last season but has struggled to secure a place this term in the starting line up due to injuries, suspensions and the bad weather.

    “He has settled in very quickly with the lads and has trained really well over the last week, said Frank. “We know that Adam is more than capable of scoring goals and with the amount of games left to play he will get an opportunity to prove himself over the coming weeks.”

    At the time of this report, Thame were hoping to play Chalfont Wasps at The Hithercroft Stadium, Chalfont being one of only two clubs to inflict defeat on Thame this season.

    ?We totally underperformed at their place in early December and got what we deserved,” explained Frank. “There are no easy games in this league – if you don’t play well you can get beaten. We hope that the weather does not affect our game again as we really do not want any more games to the backlog we have at present.?

    PHOTO: Adam Stallwood

  • 25/02/10 RINGMASTER MESSAGE: Thame area burglaries

    THIS is a Ringmaster message from Thames Valley Police. On Wednesday, February 24, two properties in Pelham Road, Thame and a property in Thame Road, Tetsworth, were burgled.

    Offender(s) entered the properties by forcing front and side doors. The property stolen from Pelham Road include ipods, a laptop computer, flat screen tv’s and jewellery. It is not know what property has been stolen from Thame Road.

    Please be extra vigilant and report any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area to the police.

    If you have any information relating to this message, please call the police on 08458 505 505 and state you are responding to a Ringmaster message.

    Message Ends.

  • 25/02/10 Three cars burnt out in suspected arson – Long Crendon

    FIRE crews were called to the Square, in Long Crendon, near Thame, on Sunday, February 21, at 8.24pm, where three cars were on fire.

    Three appliances and crews from Aylesbury, Thame and Wheatley attended the fires which involved a silver Ford Galaxy, a black Audi and a Peugeot.

    IMAGE: For illustrative purposes only

  • 25/02/10 Mr Speaker ?Uplifted? at Haddenham school – Contributed

    THE Haddenham U3A (University of the Third Age)meeting on Friday, February 12, at Haddenham Community Junior School, was an opportunity to hear John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, talk about and answer questions about his role.

    As an introduction to the meeting the audience was treated to a performance by the Junior School Choir ? a performance which the audience and children thoroughly enjoyed and which Mr Bercow described as ?uplifting?.
    The choir marched in with the songs Pack up your troubles and It?s a long way to Tipperary, followed by Last Minutes Calypso, acted out by Sophie Johnstone, Jerome Flaxton and Connor Spence. This was followed by Impuku Nekati, an African round, and finally, We all love to Sing!. The encore song of At The Hop had many of the audience itching to join in!

    Mr Bercow?s talk included discussion on the MPs expenses scandal, together with parliamentary plans for:”moving on”. He also talked about his own agenda for his role as Speaker in the House of Commons and assured the audience that the role of Speaker would not have a negative impact on his ability to represent the needs and views of his constituents, rather that MPs and others tended to respond more quickly to his queries or correspondence!

    On behalf of Haddenham U3A, John Brandis welcomed the many questions from the audience before time unfortunately ran out and Mr Bercow had to leave for his next appointment.

  • 25/02/10 Programme of talks at Thame Musuem

    2010 Programme of Talks at Thame Museum, from March 11, 2010, with a local theme.

    ? Mar 11th The Thame Cross (The Thame Hoard,
    MTB219, the Motor Club, the TTC emblem and the
    museum logo)

    ? April 8th The Court Building (a tour of the
    building showing its development and evidence
    of the former cottages)

    ? May 13th Geology and Settlement (local
    geology, its impact on settlement and how is
    appears in local gardens)

    ? June 10th Place House and the Cattle Market
    (the archaeological significance of the site)

    All talks will begin at 7.30pm and tickets can be purchased from the museum reception at

  • 24/02/10 TVs stolen from lorry in Thame

    THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after thousands of pounds worth of televisions were stolen from a lorry in Thame.

    Some time between last Tuesday (16/2/10) and Monday (22/2/10), thieves entered the yard belonging to Interoute Transport Services in Rycote Lane and cut open the curtains of the lorry containing the televisions.

    PC Roy Fuller said: ?It was only when the lorry arrived at a John Lewis depot in Northamptonshire that the theft was discovered.

    ?Approximately

  • 24/02/10 Thailand beckons Thame United player

    A THAME United player is leaving all of the luxuries of home life behind for the next two weeks, when he visits a small community in Thailand where he helped to build a fence around a school last year.

    Stuart Barr has been planning to go back to Thailand ever since returning from his previous experience.

    ?It is very hard work but very satisfactory when you realise exactly what these children haven?t got and what we automatically take for granted,” said Stuart, whose company, Barr Joinery, are currently Thame united’s first team shirt sponsors.

    A team of six from Stuart’s joinery firm in Thame, will be building a Bamboo hut to house the teenage orphan boys of the school in Kanchanaburi, as their’s was washed away in a monsoon at the start of this year. They will also be taking out some football shirts, balls and other equipment to the same village.

    Stuart commented: “The temperature will be roughly 38 degrees so it?s certainly not going to be easy but we are looking forward to the challenge again.

    “The Home has 140 kids from as young as one week old up to 20 years old. They are all given a great education and looked after extremely well. Unfortunately some of the Children arrive on the doorstep of the Home with all sort?s diseases, viruses and traumas.”

    Stuart and his team travelled out to the same village in Thailand last year at the same time to build a fence around the perimeter of the home to prevent the children from being stolen for prostitution and for other security reasons.

    Last year, 2009, Stuart raised money doing the Blenheim Triathlon and spent it on football equipment such as proper footballs, bibs, goalie gloves and cones, to take out to Thailand.

    Stuart’s is not the only team travelling out to Kanchanaburi. His brother Ross Barr, whose practice Treats, based at Thame therapy Clinic, is also travelling out to treat the children with acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Jamie Michelle Pfeifer, who cuts hair at Thame Spa, is going to give the 140 kids a little trim! Sean Wilson, Course Manager at the Oxfordshire Golf Club and Oliver Bromley, who works for PJB Cladding in Long Crendon, will be joining them.

    To find out more about the Childrens’ Home in Kanchanaburi, visit www.baanunrak.org

    or contact: info@thamefootball.co.uk

  • Missing girl found 23/02/10

    ELOUISE Rumble, who was reported missing to police on Tuesday 16 February, was found safe and well in Aylesbury on Friday (19/2).

    The Police have thanked the media and members of the public for their assistance in finding Elouise.

  • Chinnor 2 XV move to second place after win over Richmond

    AWAY League match – Chinnor 2 XV 19 Pts Vs Richmond Saxons 0 points; Saturday, February 20, 2010. MATCH REPORT (Contributed):

    CHINNOR Seconds have added another big London club to their away victories, this time Richmond Saxons, and as a result have moved into second spot in the League.

    As with others, Chinnor were expecting another tough game. The team’s back line was made up with five players from 3rds, 4th, Oxon and colts players, so the challenge was expected to be a little tougher.

    Predictably Chinnor started the game looking like they were stronger, however it did take up to the fifteenth minute for Ed Rixon to get the first try. The teams soon found their rhythm and played very well with Chinnor having the advantage with their forwards.

    This was to be Chinnor?s game plan with such a mix of new players in the back line. However it was the backs that scored the next try three minutes later with a great break by young Jack Green who also converted his own try, and Chinnor was in the lead 12 points to nil. Chinnor kept Saxons under a lot of pressure forcing them to defend the try line.

    Chinnor were a little thin on the bench with just one replacement, and Saxons having 12 players on their bench almost offering a full side, which is allowed in this league.

    The second half started with a more determined Saxons team taking the game to Chinnor, and the Chinnor forwards once again dominated the scrums as they had in the first half and weathered the storm. Again most of the game was played between the two twenty two metre lines exhibiting some real physical rugby from both sides. Chinnor again added the first points of the second half when Guy Hackshaw instigated a run from his own 22 line. He then passed the ball to Ed Rixon, and the run of 70 metres ended with the forwards driving Jon Lavin over the try line, on the opposite corner. Jack Green converted the try. By this time the Saxon bench and coach commented that Chinnor was playing boring rugby. Boring it might have been, but every time their backs got the ball it never passed their centre – their players kept running back into the pack and into Chinnor?s game plan. This was very naive play from the Saxon players and their coach who continued with the same pattern of play.

    The Saxons did have Chinnor under a lot of pressure for the last fifteen minutes of play, but the Chinnor defence proved to be awesome. The game ended 19 points to nil in Chinnor?s favour the second clean sheet in a row. Once again a big thank you to the five players that stepped up to the mark from the lower teams, we really appreciated it.

    To pick a man of the match in this team each week is a difficult task, with the team being such a happy and committed team. Everyone gives their best every week despite so many changes week on week. They just get on with the game and it is an honour to be involved with the team.

    All 16 of the Chinnor team had good games with Tom Green, Max Williams, Ian Stock and Bill Delley who at over 40 is amazing. By popular demand the man of the match this week goes to Ed Rixon who as always is outstanding week-in and week-out.

    Thanks to the lower teams for their sacrifices – we know how disruptive it is to the lower teams. Well done to them as well. Adam Woodliffe must be mentioned here too, he spends week after week filling five teams. This, on most occasions, is a huge challenge and he does it with care and dedication.
    Walter McGuicken