Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Clothing Collection Warning

    OXFORDSHIRE Trading Standards Service is warning residents to check clothing collection flyers put through their doors to ensure they are donating to genuine charities and not profit-making businesses.

    While many worthy charities still carry out these collections, in recent years commercial companies trading on residents’ goodwill have also taken up the practice.

    Many of these companies make a profit from goods donated for free by householders who mistakenly believe they are giving to a proper charity. While some of the profit might find its way to a good cause, there is no guarantee of this and the primary goal of the business is to make money.

    For full details visit the News and Trading Standards sections at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk.

  • Duke of Edinburgh golds for Lord Bills’ pupils

    SEVERAL students from Lord Williams’s school in Thame, are among 17 young people in the county who will be presented with Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards at St James’ Palace next Wednesday, November 25, 2009.

    They are Lucy Burgess, Megan Cole, Andrew Wallis and Christopher Williams all completed 12 months of volunteering as well as being part of a four day expedition and a five day residential project.

    Other challenges included various physical and other skills challenges over 18 months.

  • How do we brand Thame?

    FOLLOWING the Oxfordshire market towns second network event recently, on how to brand our market towns, the third and final workshop has now been confirmed for Tuesday, November 24, 2009, at the Spread Eagle Hotel in Thame. The workshop will start at 4.30pm and will finish by 7.15pm.

    The main objectives of the workshop, which will again be run by Miller Research, are:

    * To present the ideas on distinctiveness and
    a brand for Thame, that came out of the
    earlier workshop ? Steve Capell (Capell
    Creative) 4.30pm to 5.30pm

    * To share ideas for the distinctiveness
    action plan for Thame – Chris Jones (Miller
    Research) specifically:

    o Present and agree areas for action

    o Prioritisation of projects

    o Setting a timetable for action

    o Understanding what are the initial steps for
    delivery?

    o What are the big projects? Where do we start
    with these?

    * An agreement to the next steps in the local
    process and how the distinctiveness work fits
    with wider activities and projects

    Email Claire Harris at Miller Research, via: claire@miller-research.co.uk if you would like to attend.

    A light buffet will be available at 5-30pm.

  • Youth services likely to be axed in county council cuts

    SEVERAL services that support young people in Oxfordshire are like to be cut in a cost-cutting exercise by Oxfordshire County Council.

    Cllr Keith Mitchell, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, has said that: “Tough choices must be made about whether some services continue and how they are paid for.”

    Items for consideration will include:

    Abolishing the Chill Out Fund (grant funding for youth work in Oxfordshire)

    Reducing the costs of the Youth Service

    Abolition of the youth parliament

    The council says it will reinvest

  • Ex smokers walk for Thame day centre

    A GROUP of ex smokers from Thame, who have all given up with the help of a local Smoking Cessation group, recently walked five miles and raised money for the local day centre.

    Ten members of the group
    which was started eight years ago by Bill Jeffery, from Victoria Mead, Thame, walked from Thame’s by pass to The Lions pub, at Bledlow, via the Phoenix Trail, and raised between them

  • Thame United through to second round (Contributed)

    OXFORDSHIRE Senior Cup 1st round – 17/11/09 – Thame United 2, Old Woodstock Town 1 – MATCH REPORT

    Thame United progressed to the second round of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup at Wallingford on Tuesday evening, when they defeated Old Woodstock Town 2-1. The visitors lie 17th in the premier division of the Hellenic League, which is where Thame will play if they are promoted. The game was close, and although United had more ball possession, the visitors defended well and were able to snuff out most of Thame?s chances.

    Thame started brightly, but the visitors soon got into their stride and went ahead in the 15th minute when a ball from the right found striker, Adam Lovegrove, in enough space to hit a strong shot passed goalkeeper Lee Orkney from 15-yards. Thame countered and Ben Connelly was unlucky to see his shot cleared off the goal line. The equaliser came just before half time. Ed Barnett took a throw-in near the right corner flag which was knocked on to Mark Jones who hit a shot which the keeper seemed to have covered until it was deflected by a defender into the top left corner.

    The second half continued in similar vein with Thame winning more possession and putting together some good moves only to see them break down near goal.

    With about 30 minutes remaining, Thame defender Matt Higgs was carried off on a stretcher due to the re-occurrence of a knee injury. He was replaced by Tom Goffe who normally plays as a striker, but played surprisingly well in the centre of defence.

    There was drama a few minutes later when United defender Barnett was harshly judged to have fouled a visiting player in the box, and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Lovegrove took the spot kick but Orkney managed to block his shot, Lovegrove followed up and again Orkney blocked, the ball again went to Lovegrove, but this time Orkney held his shot. Remarkable goalkeeping.

    The winner came with about 20 minutes remaining and it was a moment of real quality. Following good work on the right, Jones played a ball to Aaron Rogers, in space about 25 yards from goal. The on-form Rogers hit a strong, well-placed shot giving the visiting keeper no chance. The final minutes saw Thame ?on the back foot? and Orkney was again on form.

    United will be at home in the next round, to either Launton Sports or Ardley.

    Thame United: Orkney, Barnett, Meredith (Jones), Cowan, Higgs (Goffe), El-Kassir, Connelly, A Rhodes, Rogers, Braun (West), Barr.

    Thame United’s next home game is on 12th December when Newbury Town are the visitors.

  • Help for families with balancing the Christmas budget (News from Thame CAB)

    CHRISTMAS is a time for family and for celebrations. For many 2009 has been a hard year and lots of us may feel relieved if we have reached the end of it with our jobs and bank balances intact! So it?s a relief to have a piece of good news, which will help some families balance those Christmas budgets.

    More families with children will now be able to get help towards paying their rent, thanks to new changes to benefit rules. Parents who receive Child Benefit and rent their homes but who at present get no housing benefit should check their entitlement again.

    Thame CAB has worked out that a single parent with two children, for example, who previously just missed out on getting any help towards paying the rent could now be entitled to housing benefit of up to

  • Business Rate bills to fall in the south east

    GOVERNMENT confirms majority of business rate bills will fall in the South East: Article reproduced from News Distribution Services for the COI.

    The majority of business rate bills in the South East ? more than one hundred thousand ? will fall next year as a result of revaluation, the Government confirmed today.

    The Government will not collect a penny more of extra revenue as a result of the 2010 revaluation. Regular revaluations ensure the rate each business pays is fair and reflects changes in the relative value of property over time.

    The final arrangements for calculating new business rate bills were published yesterday (17/11/09). Most business properties in the South East (68 per cent) will see falls in their rate bills next year following revaluation.

    For the minority paying more, the Government is putting in place a

  • Chinnor seconds add another London scalp (Contributed)

    Chinnor 2 XV, 35 Pts. Vs WestcombePark, 19pts – LEAGUE MATCH – HOME November 14, 2009 – MATCH REPORT: CHINNOR Seconds played their fifth home league game of the season against another national two league team old rivals, Westcombe Park, and made it five out of five.

    Chinnor started the first half playing into a very strong wind and knew they had to keep hold of the ball. From the start both teams played well in the conditions and a very slippery ball, but Chinnor did appear to be the more organised pack again. The forwards dominated all the set plays from the start, the rucks, pick and drive and running mauls. The boys were relentless – never giving Westcombe Park time to settle, and it was no surprise that Chinnor took the lead with a penalty by Sam Angell.

    They could have added a couple of tries if they had just been a little more patient, but Park kept coming at Chinnor but they did not use the wind to their advantage. Angell was successful with another penalty. In the 33rd minute Park got a converted try and five minutes later another try via a gift, and the first half finished 12 points to 6 in Westcombe Park favour against the run of play.

    Within five minutes of the start of the second half, Chinnor gave away another soft converted try and the lead had gone out to 19 points to 6. Chinnor then started to use the wind to their advantage with some intelligent kicks to the corners and the forwards stepped up the work rate which paid off. Within a few minutes Ed Devine scored and Angell converted. Sam Angell scored the second try and converted giving Chinnor a slender at 20 points to 19. Angell followed with another penalty and a try by Sam Ludgate converted by Angell. Chinnor increased their lead to 30 points to 19.

    Andy Millburn then added another try in the corner and Chinnor finished the game 35 points to 19 a great second half. All sixteen players had very good games and Jonny Vaughan who plays for the Vets played scrumhalf. Sam Angell kicked well and I am sure learned a lot from Jonny. Ed Rixon was just awesome but man of the match this week goes to Ben Ramsdale for his outstanding play week in and week out.

    Well done to the seconds for once again giving the Chinnor spectators yet another wonderful exhibition of good rugby to watch.
    Tries: Ed Devine, Sam Angell, Sam Ludgate and Andy Millburn
    Conv; Sam Angell x 3
    Pen: Sam Angell x 3

    Walter McGuicken

  • Top award for Chinnor RFC under 16s

    CHINNOR Rugby Football Club’s Under 16 Squad (Season 2008/2009) are the 2009 Oxfordshire Sports Awards Junior Sports Team of the Year.

    The team was crowned at a glitzy awards evening organised by the Oxfordshire Sports Partnership, on Friday, November 13, at the Kassam Stadium.

    The team beat off very stiff competition from the Abingdon Vale Swimming Club Under 18s and the Banbury Rugby Club Under 11s to take the title of Junior Sports Team of the Year, a category sponsored by Oxford City Council Leisure Services.

    Chinnor Rugby Football Club?s Under16 Squad (season 2008/2009) have had an extremely successful year having won the Oxfordshire League Championship trophy in March 2009, beating their old rivals, Henley RFC at Henley?s ground. They also won the International Under 17 competition when the Squad travelled to Provins in France, on the early May Bank Holiday.

    The Under 16s have become role models at Chinnor Rugby Football Club, and have put a marker down for all younger age groups to aim for. Many of the squad have been playing together since the Under 7s Mini-Rugby at Chinnor, and as a result of solid coaching from the team of volunteers has built an unrivalled team spirit together. All of the boys have developed into outstanding athletes with a strong sense of playing by the rules and supporting their fellow team members.

    Councillor Bob Timbs, Executive Board Member for Leisure and Sport, presented the team with their trophy in front of over 320 guests. The team received a surprise gift from Dave Larham, Community Rugby Manager, London Wasps, who invited the whole of the winning team together with their coaches to watch London Wasps in action versus Llanelli Scarlets on Sunday 31st January 2010 at Adams Park, High Wycombe

    The awards aim to recognise the sporting talent and dedication we see across the county throughout the year. The awards featured special recognition awards for Oxfordshire clubs who had achieved Club Mark and Charter Standard Community Club accreditation.

    An informal world record attempt for the most number of return shots played in 60 seconds was attempted by Oxfordshire Table Tennis duo Karl Bushell (ranked No.1) and Neil Hurford (Ranked No.4). They put up a great performance and achieved 160, falling just short of the record which stands at 173 return shots played in a minute.

    The 35 finalists in the 12 award categories were chosen from over 80 nominations in 2009. The amount of talent and true devotion and enthusiasm for their sport that was seen on the evening was enormous.