Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Newshoots festival of pupils’ films

    ONCE again young film makers from both independent and state schools locally and internationally, are coming together for the fifth, Newshoots film making competition.

    Newshoots is taking place on Friday, October 16, 2009, in the state of the art media suite at Wheatley Park School, Holton, Oxfordshire. The competition enables students from independent and state schools to work collaboratively and share good practice, and this year brings together seven schools – Lord William?s School, Wheatley Park School, The Abingdon School, Bicester Community College, The Cherwell School, King Alfred?s School and The Marlborough School.

    In the past, Newshoots has attracted entries from as far a field as Denmark and South Africa. Guests and presenters have included Dick Fontaine, Head of Documentary Film Making at the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield, Wesley Smith and Hannah Shellswell of Central Television, Richard Bradley, Director of Lion Television, Boris Johnson and Mark Reid, Head of Education at the BFI.

    This year’s guest judge will be Director/Producer Ruki Sidhwa, who has worked on many BBC documentaries and programmes such as Crimewatch UK and Children In Need.

    Over five years, Newshoots has changed considerably in format to its present ?salon? style format with the emphasis on critical reflection, discussion and networking. Discussions will be based around the introduction of the new A level specifications by the examination boards. Competing students have the opportunity to challenge the judges on their decisions.

    Image courtesy of www.real-time.org.uk/involved.html

  • LOADS of exciting Oxfordshire MIND events coming up

    SPONSORED Walk Across Port Meadow in aid of Oxfordshire Mind, approx 7 Miles, Saturday, 24th October 2009 Starting at 12.00 noon, from the Oxfordshire Mind head office, 2 Kings Meadow, Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 0DP – Within five minutes of leaving the Oxfordshire Mind office you will find yourself walking a quiet stretch of the Oxford Canal towpath and the scenery is rural from then on. During the walk we will stop at one of Oxford?s famous riverside pubs, the Trout Inn at Wolvercote, for drinks and a short rest! This is a lovely flat walk that people of all ages can take part in. Please wear comfortable shoes and bring waterproofs (just in case!) Don?t forget your sponsorship form on the day, together with your water. You will be given a registration form when you arrive. Dogs are welcome provided they are kept on leads. Funds raised from the Sponsored Walk will help provide vital services for people who are experiencing mental and emotional health problems such as anxiety, bereavement, depression, life crisis, loneliness, recovery from breakdowns, panic attacks, stress and schizophrenia. For a sponsorship form or to make a donation please contact Nicky Clargo at Oxfordshire Mind on 01865 263733 or email nicky.clargo@oxfordshire-mind.org.uk

    A Beautiful Mind? Friday, 6th November 2009, 5.30 p.m., at The Taylor Institution, St Giles, Oxford. A Beautiful Mind: thoughts on images of mental illness and film with acclaimed journalist, novelist and broadcaster Francine Stock. Admission

  • Help for young people to connect with employers (Status: Press release)

    A WEEK dedicated to putting younger people in contact with employers in Oxfordshire begins on Monday, October 26, 2010.

    Connexions Oxfordshire, the information, advice and guidance service for young people in the county, will be engaging with local companies during its Employer Week to:

    identify employment opportunities
    to raise awareness of its services
    gather local labour market information on current employment trends

    The week aims to increase the number of countywide vacancies available to young people and to encourage employers to offer apprenticeships or work experiences opportunities.

    The service gathers occupational trends and uses the information during its work with young people to improve their prospects of finding employment.

    Connexions Oxfordshire assists employers to recruit and retain young staff through its free vacancy service and has already worked successfully with national and local employers across a variety of sectors.

    Statistics show that there are more than 1,300 young people not in education or employment in Oxfordshire and more than 2,000 young people in jobs without training.

    VERY SUCCESSFUL

    Sean Kearns, Connexions Oxfordshire’s Delivery Director, said: “Our Employer Weeks have proved very successful in the past as they are a great opportunity for us to raise our profile with employers and increase the number of vacancies we advertise for young people.

    “This benefits employers who can advertise their vacancies free of charge through our Opportunities Team and also benefits young people who can access an increased number of opportunities.”

    HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?

    Employers wanting to find out more can call the Connexions Opportunities Team on 01865 328460. Young people can find their nearest Connexions Centre by visiting www.connexionsoxfordshire.com.

    Connexions advisers support job seekers aged 16 to 19 in schools, colleges and in Connexions Centres all over Oxfordshire by offering advice, guidance and information about finding employment.

  • Not Guilty verdict in Cuttlebrook rape trial

    A MAN from Wales, accused of rape and sexual assault on two 16 year-old girls in Thame, has been found not guilty by a jury at Oxford Crown Court.

    Arram Price, aged 19, from Rover Way in Cardiff, was charged following an incident in Cuttlebrook Nature Reserve, Thame, on May 10, 2008, when allegedly, one 16-year-old girl was sexually assaulted and her 16-year-old friend was raped.

  • Chinnor RFC – return to winning ways?

    NATIONAL Division 3 South West: Saturday, October 10, 2009 – Chinnor 28 PTS V Weston-Super-Mare 17 PTS – MATCH REPORT (Contributed)

    CHINNORhad a more satisfying day than of late at Kingsey Road on Saturday, with a 28-17 win over Weston-Super-Mare.

    Still hit by injuries, Chinnor recalled evergreen prop, Simon Matthews though hooker, Simon Tattersall, was back from injury as was Eric Brown, out
    since the beginning of last season.

    Chinnor got off to a flying start in the third minute when the highly influential Alex Wallace dotted down for Chinnor after some smart lineout work by the home side. A few minutes later, Cathcart gave Chinnor an 8-0 lead with a penalty goal.

    In the 11th minute, Tattersall had to leave the field for a blood injury to his head. This proved to be the first of four such occasions for Tattersall who was forced to retire at half time after contributing
    brightly despite his obvious discomfort.

    Another penalty goal from Cathcart on the 24th minute received a swift reply in Weston?s first
    significant threat of the day. Reacting well to an undermanned blindside, full back Neil Trevenna weaved in to score near the posts. With Harry Warman?s conversion, Weston narrowed the gap to 11-7, a score
    which stood until half time.

    Seven minutes into the second half, referee Brian Barclay from Devon, decided that Weston?s lock Andrew Richards misdemeanour at a ruck was deserving of a yellow card. Despite being down to 14 men, Weston was the next to score with flanker Dan Fry scoring an unconverted try to give Weston a lead in the match for the first time at 11-12.

    Two sweeping moves down the pitch inspired by Wallace?s astute insertions into the Chinnor back line, led to two tries from the rejuvenated Pip Seymour. With the score now at 21-12 in Chinnor?s favour and his work for the day done, Seymour was replaced by Eric Brown wearing a Chinnor shirt for the first time in nearly two seasons. From a
    tidy forward drive, Joe Pickett scored his debut try for Chinnor. With the extra added by Cathcart, Chinnor now led 28-12.

    With the game heading towards the close, Weston winger James Arnold finished off a well executed passing sequence to make the final score 28-17 for Chinnor.

    Chinnor would be pleased to get back to winning ways (and a bonus point) at Kingsey Road with this showing of sharpness and pace perhaps lacking so far this season. The forwards were tidy throughout and coped well with Tattersall?s forced retirement and subsequent loss of precise throwing in. Winpenny did well to keep this element of play accurate for
    the home side. Alex Wallace at full back had an eye catching match. Safe under the high ball, his out of hand kicking was faultless. Best of all, his decisions to enter the line saw him score one try and make two tries for Pip Seymour who was a direct and abrasive force throughout.

    Chinnor team: Wallace, Serrano, Williams R, Hewitt, Seymour (Brown 63), Cathcart, Hopwood, Matthews, Tattersall (Winpenny 42), Pickett, Jackman, Black (Williams M 78), Gilbert, Hastings, Mowbray.
    Reps: Winpenny, Williams M, Brown

    Picture: Chinnor No 8, Tom Mowbray makes a break against Weston Super-Mare

  • Thame crash victim’s father welcomes death driver’s sentence

    THE father of Joe Robinson, the Thame teenager left with serious injuries after a fatal crash caused by drink driving, has welcomed the driver’s 28-month jail sentence.

    The crash, on April 7, 2009, killed Grace Hadman, 17, a student at St Edward’s School, Oxford, and left Joe in a chemically induced coma for three weeks. Two other passengers in the car were injured, though less seriously than Joe.

    After the guilty verdict of causing death by careless driving, on Gabriella Edmonson at Oxford Crown Court last Friday, (09/10/09), Kevin Robinson made the following statement:

    “The sentence handed down today is by some measure appropriate to the enormous damage, hurt and distress caused by the actions of Ms Edmondson on the night of April 7.

    “Her actions, and her actions alone, led to the death of a young girl and severe and almost catastrophic injuries to our son Joe.

    “Whilst he has made what may appear to be an astounding recovery, the extent of his injuries is both long-term and permanent in their nature.

    “How does one explain to a vibrant teenager he can no longer participate in all the things he enjoys?

    “How can he rationalise being unable to pursue his previous chosen path as he had planned?

    “In a society quick to bemoan the values and behaviour of the irresponsible – and in particular the young – no matter their background and education and yet swift to excuse and decry the application of punishment, today?s sentence sends a clear message to a broad spectrum of today?s youth that irresponsible and reckless behaviour will carry the full force of the law and imprisonment is and should be expected, rather than be seen as an unlikely consequence.

    “We are grateful to all those far and wide, nationally and internationally, who have supported us over the past months, in particular we express our heartfelt gratitude to the doctors and nurses at the John Radcliffe Hospital who have been tireless in their efforts to restore Joe to a degree of good health.”

    Joe Robinson played rugby for Chinnor RFC and cricket for Thame Town, and though now out of hospital, he faces a long period of rehabilitation following injuries sustained to his head and back in the crash.

  • All aboard to explore what makes a town worth visiting?

    AS part of current research into the distinctiveness of Thame, a fact-finding bus ride to a neighbouring town is being planned as a sort of mobile workshop.

    The bus tour to Woodstock is the next in a series of workshops organised by Consultants, Miller Research, to determine what the town needs to do to attract more visitors and ensure a sustainable economic future, for itself.

    The trip will be followed by a walk around Thame to look, with the eyes of a visitor, where holes in the the town’s offering might be filled, and an evening workshop at the Spread Eagle Hotel to discuss how visitor stay and spend can be increased through providing more of what people want.

    Local community and other interested groups are being invited to jump aboard on Wednesday, October 14, 2009, between 12.30pm and 5pm, and then to join the workshop at the Spread Eagle between 6.30pm and 9pm.

  • Drink driver jailed

    A YOUNG driver who was 50% over the drink-driving limit when she crashed, killing her friend and injuring a gifted young Thame sportsman, has been jailed for 28 months.

    Today (9/10/09), Gabriella Edmondson, aged 18, from Beacon Hill in Penn, High Wycombe, was also disqualified from driving for four years after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed limit of alcohol.

    Her friend, Grace Hadman, also aged 17, was killed in the accident, and 18 year-old Joe Robinson, from Thame, was seriously injured, and left with brain injuries that, in the words of his mother, meant that a..”funny, articulate, clever and superb sportsman has been damaged forever.”

    The fatal collision happened on the A34 in Oxford on April 07/09, after a night out went tragically wrong because Miss Edmondson decided to drive her friends home, despite knowing that she had been drinking.

    Judge Patrick Eccles QC, said that he accepted that Miss Edmondson was: “…heartbroken, racked with guilt and a decent, moral young woman.” But added that the suffering of others and his public duty to consider that a life had been taken because of combination of alcohol and negligence, left him no alternative but to administer a custodial sentence.

    “I can only hope,” added the judge, “that if your sentence stops one young person from picking up their car keys after a party, it is worth it.”

    Miss Edmondson will serve half her sentence in custody and the other half in the community.

    In a statement Sgt Nick Perks, leading the investigation, said: “On behalf of Thames Valley Police, I would first like to offer our sincere condolences and sympathies to both the families of Grace Hadman and Joe Robinson. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

    “This tragedy has robbed a young woman of her life, a family of their loved one and the life of another young man will be changed forever.

    “As this tragic case shows, driving needs your full attention and drinking alcohol and then driving can have potentially horrific consequences.

    “If you drink and then drive home you are not just putting your own life in danger, you are jeopardising the lives of other road users.

    “A girl was needlessly killed, a young man was seriously injured and now another young woman is serving a prison sentence.

    “It is not difficult to avoid drink driving – take a taxi, stay at a hotel or friend?s house or just don?t drink.

    “Our message is clear, drinking and driving can kill. Please don?t do it.”

  • Loss of Broadband connection in Thame

    Dear Editor, I, too, was affected by the loss of the internet connection this morning. But this was a loss of the Broadband connection. I used my dial-up account which is the cost of the phone call
    whilst using the internet. This meant I could keep up with my emails.

    If you haven’t got a dial-up it’s worthwhile setting one up. It’s fairly simple to do it yourself but you can phone your provider and they will talk you through it. It is very useful to have one as you can fall back on it when you lose broadband connectivity.

    It is also useful if you have a laptop and you want to dial up when not at home. You can make the dial-up phone number your best friend on BT to keep
    the cost down – generally about

  • More postal disruption tomorrow (09/10/09)

    DISRUPTION in the delivery of mail in Thame and the rest of Oxfordshire, is expected for tomorrow, as postal worker members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) at the Swindon sorting office go on strike.

    Postal services nationally will be effected following a “Yes” vote in a national ballot for strike action.

    Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said today: “”Royal Mail has never really been engaged in modernisation. They’ve been running down the business, running down services and cutting costs and it’s that business plan that postal workers have overwhelmingly rejected today.

    “There’s still an opportunity to reach an agreement before any national strike action takes place.

    “We need a national agreement which secures a fair deal on modernisation and reward for the efforts of postal workers in transforming the business. We want reassurances on job security, covering both redundancies and full-time part-time ratios.

    “Crucial to an agreement is fair workloads with agreed standards of measurement. Constantly disciplining postal workers will not improve efficiencies but will drive an ever bigger wedge between workers and what they are told is modernisation.

    “We’ve seen cuts and increased workloads and now we need an agreed roll-out of real modernisation. Aligning the interests of customers, employees and the company as a whole is a pre-requisite for the successful modernisation of Royal Mail.

    “The Government must act now to resolve the pensions deficit which is crippling the Royal Mail’s finances and chances to modernise effectively.”

    On its website, Royal Mail seeks to explain its side of the argument with the postal workers. It states:

    “In response to the real challenges facing Royal Mail, we have been making changes within our business in a calm, measured and structured way, inviting collaborative dialogue with our unions and employees. We recognise that change impacts on our employees and can be difficult. However, change is essential, driven by the commercial reality of the very difficult business environment being experienced by UK industry.”

    Last week Royal Mail?s Managing Director, Mark Higson, said: “In the first week of October, Royal Mail will have successfully completed the major efficiency changes planned for 2009, both nationally and in London. As always the company will be focusing on delivering excellent customer service in the vitally important run-up to Christmas, when letter numbers reach their seasonal peak. Royal Mail calls on the CWU to abandon its unjustified strikes and to help the business deliver the service our customers deserve.”