Author: Sonja Francis

THIS year, 2009, was the last one-day Oxfordshire County and Thame Show, traditionally held on the third Thursday in September. From next year, the show will be a two-day affair, with the first day given over to agriculture and the second based mainly around family entertainment. (July 31 & August 01, 2010).

For today’s show the weather remained dry, though with a chilly edge to the wind, for the 20,000 or so visitors who strolled around the many trade stands, charity organisations and wide choice of food and drink outlets, and were entertained in two arenas throughout the day.

In the Food Hall, cookery writer, Sophie Grigson, met the Mayor of Thame, Cllr Jeannette Matelot Green. Sophie signed copies of her books at the Local Flavours stand, promoting the various food and drink festivals taking place throughout the month, including the Thame Food Festival next Saturday, September 26.

Stars of the show were the stunningly disciplined and awe-inspiring members of the band of the Gurkha Regiment, with the various breeds of dogs being put through their paces earlier in the day, drawing a lot of attention too.

The show’s main raison d’etre is of course, the livestock and the horse events, which always draw crowds from both the country sports fraternity and admiring townspeople.

The ever popular Domestic classes once again attracted fearce but friendly rivalry among the fruit, vegetable and flower growers, knittters, cooks, pickle makers, photographers and handicraft competitors.

THE DOMESTIC CLASSES TROPHY WINNERS WERE:-

Thame Show Trophy – Veg – Best exhibit in Classes 104
Mrs Victoria Martin

National Veg Society Silver Medal & Merit Ribbon – Best single veg exhibit in show – Classes 5-28 –
J.W. Styles

Hedley Purser Perpetual Challenge Trophy – Most points in Veg open classes – J.W. Styles

Wyevale Trophy – Best Collection of Veg – Class 30
J.W. Styles

Thame Show Trophy – Fruit – Best exhibit in Fruit section – Classes 32-35 – Mr D G Elkins

Thame Show Challenge Cup with Oxfordshire & Thame Show Certificate – Best Dahlias in Classes FO50 to FO52 – Mr Kevin Bennetts

Steradent Award Poignard – Most points in Flower Section – Classes FO39-FO69- C Cypher

Thame Show Perpetual Challenge Trophy – Cookery – Most points scored by an exhibitor in Cookery Section Clases 67-76 – Mrs Beverly Reilly

Thame Show Diploma – Cookery – Best exhibit in cookery Section – Mrs Sarah Ayres

Thame Show Diploma – Preserves – Best exhibit in Preserves Section – Mrs Ellen Rixon

Wenman Perpetual Trophy – wine – Best sweet wine –
Mr William Jeffery

Thame Show Diploma – Wine – Best exhibit in wines section – Richard & Meg Boddy

Wright Perpetual Trophy – Wine – Best dry wine –
Richard & Meg Boddy

Thame Show Diploma – Handicrafts – Best exhibit in Handicrafts Section – Family & friends
Ayres/Bretherton/Hutson

Thame Show Trophy for Floral Arrangement – Best exhibit in classes 111-116 – Mrs Pat Collinson

More results will be published shortly on the Thame Show website: http://www.thameshow.co.uk/index.php

LOTS MORE PICTURES FROM THAME SHOW 2009 ON flickr

Feel free to comment on the pictures. (Click on the ones you like to see them BIG!

LOCAL doctors who successfully fought and won a review of new arrangements for medical cover at Thame hospital, say that the old arrangements should be reinstated “forthwith”.

The review followed concerns raised by the doctors, members of the public and the Buckinghamshire County Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, particularly about the number of hours for patient care in the new contract arrangements, and the links with local GP practices.

Ed Macalister-Smith, Chief Executive of Buckinghamshire Primary Care Trust will Chair the review, which will include a member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and medical representation.

In a statement today, Bucks PCT said that during the review period, which will start immediately, the new contract will continue to be implemented – a contract that allows for only four hours a week of medical cover at the hospital.

PROMISE OF MORE HOURS

However, a spokesperson for Bucks PCT later told ThameNews.Net that the new contractor, The Practice plc, have assured them that the four hours is “only a base line” and that they will “provide the number of hours required by patients in the hospital” during the review period.

CONTRACT IS “TAINTED” SAY DOCTORS

The Thame doctors however continue to question the legitimacy of the temporary arrangement because they say the new contract is “tainted” since it was agreed without the lawfully required public consultation.

Doctor Duncan Keeley said: “This statement fails to acknowledge the unanimous vote that a significant reduction in service, necessitating public consultation, had taken place, and re-stating the position of all the practices referring patients to Thame Hospital, that the temporary contract with Rycote and Wellington House practices should be reinstated forthwith.

“We do not think that preserving the new contract for any period is a practical way forward. In the events which have happened, the new contract is tainted by the irregularity in failing to take the necessary legal steps antecedent to its award.

FLAWED PROCEDURE

“For this reason we have legal, moral and administrative concerns regarding the continuation of a contract in existence only because of a flawed procedure. If a temporary arrangement is required, then it ought to revert to the previous arrangment for medical cover from local practices.”

CALL TO REOPEN CLOSED BEDS AT THAME

The local doctors are suggesting a return to the temporary arrangements THEY had to provide medical cover, from October 1, and for the four closed beds to be reopend at Thame hospital while the review is underway.

Richard Mills, Director of Strategy for the PCT, said: “Our community hospitals are an invaluable part of our healthcare system and greatly valued by local people. We want to build on their role in the community, not reduce it. There are clearly some concerns about the new arrangements. We have listened to those concerns, and the review will be an opportunity to look at how we should move forward with all of our partners in the community.”