POPULAR local news broadcaster, Wesley Smith, will be presenting Oxfordshire County Council’s inaugural Livestock Farmer of the Year Award at the Thame show tomorrow (17/09/09).
The competition, organised by the county council’s Trading Standards Team, has been won by Letcombe Regis farmer, Anthony Good and shepherd David Butler, of Warborough Farm. The pair will receive a trophy, certificate and a cheque for
THERE is a unique and exciting opportunity for business owners and directors in Oxfordshire and the South East to take part in Plato: Sustain, a business improvement and leadership development programme with a focus on ecological sustainability.
The programme is an adaptation of the highly successful PLATO? programme, a proven method used by 9,000 past participants across Europe.
Plato: Sustain has been given funding allowing it to offer free places to SMEs in the South East, an opportunity worth
MARIA Lawton completed a stunning hat trick by winning all of her three finals at Thame Tennis Club?s Finals Day recently (Sept 2009.
In going one better than last year and starting in the Mixed Doubles, Maria partnered Mark Wilkins to a 6-2 7-5 victory over the experienced pairing of Ian Catchpole and Dawn Munro.
In the Ladies Doubles, Maria again partnered Jo Kelly and in a very close three set match, they retained their title by overcoming last year?s runners-up Fiona Pidgeon and Clare Carder 6-2 5-7 6-1.
To complete her triumph and again retain her title, Maria then met Fiona in the Ladies Singles final and after some pulsating tennis and another three sets, finally succeeded in winning 3-6 6-3 6-2.
In the Men?s competitions, last year?s Men?s Doubles champions Richard Bradley and Neil Morgan successfully retained their title by defeating Jeremy Carder and Steve Nannery in another closely fought three set match 7-5 6-7 6-3.
This year?s Men?s Singles final saw the appearance of one of the youngest finalists for many years, Joel Morris, who is one of the Club?s rising stars.
Unfortunately for Joel though, he came up against Tom Moore (pictured left) who himself had recently been one of the Club?s youngest ever finalists (and champion) but despite their young ages, combined to put on one of the Club?s most exhilarating ever Men?s finals.
Both players were hitting the ball with immense power and accuracy and whilst Tom won the first set 6-4, Joel fought back to win the second set 6-4. Eventually, Tom?s experience saw him through and he won the third set 6-1 to claim the Men?s Singles
Championship that he?d last won in 2005.
For more information about the Club, go to www.thametennisclub.org.uk.
PHOTO: Tom Moore(left) and Joel Morris
Good afternoon, I was interested to read the article regarding slow internet speed in Thame as I too have experienced inadequate bandwith on many occasions. We have tried to watch a couple of things on I player and each time we have been presented with the message ‘inadequate bandwith’ and a few painful attempts to watch the screen buffering after only a couple of seconds of play.
We have tried to view at various times of the day but predominantly around mid afternoon during the school holidays. I have tried again today at 10:30 and I am still unable to view.
Interestingly, a friend of mine was having a moan on facebook about this too, another resident from Thame.
So, It would be really interesting to know if there are any other reports of similar issues.
Thanks in advance
Michelle Hunt
12th Sep 09 – Chinnor 12 vs 10 Reading – Match report by Bill O’Donnell:
ON a beautifully sunny summer day, these two sides managed to conjure up a grey and uninspiring display which led to a narrow 12-10 victory for Chinnor.
Starting energetically, Chinnor quickly picked up an injury with prop Tom Whelan having to leave the field after just three minutes, replaced by Joe Winpenny. Two minutes later, Chinnor got on the score board with a penalty goal from Cathcart. Most of the game in the first half was in the Reading half but Chinnor?s territorial and possession superiority gained them little. Referee Adam Friend had a busy time with the whistle and the game was a stop/start affair throughout.
After one infraction too many, Reading?s hooker Fisher was yellow carded on 11 minutes. On the 26th minute, Chinnor lost their second player to injury with captain Hutchings damaging his hand. Macsen Williams replaced him and played brightly throughout. The game meandered until halftime with the score still at 3-0 to Chinnor.
The second half served up much the same fare. Cathcart for Chinnor and Smart for Reading exchanged penalty goals to eke the score up to 6-3 in Chinnor?s favour. On the 65th minute, the large home crowd gasped as Chinnor fullback Cathcart, attempting to field a garryowen, spilled the ball straight into the hands of pacey Reading winger Taniela Bakoso. Casually jogging to the posts, Bakoso put Reading ahead for the first time in the match. Smart converted to give Reading a 10-6 lead. Just a few minutes later, Chinnor were awarded a kickable penalty. With Cathcart now replaced by Wallace, James Hewitt took on the kicking duties to calmly reduce Reading?s lead to 10-9.
With just 12 minutes left, Chinnor upped the pace and a penalty kick from Hewitt was just wide. In the 74th minute, Reading received their second yellow card of the match with No 8, Dan Phillips taking an early shower but Chinnor could not manoeuvre a scoring position. With the referee shaping to blow for full time, Chinnor?s new fly half Chase stamped his mark on the match. From 40 metres out, he coolly dropped a goal to give Chinnor a 12-10 victory.
In a game that saw both sides never get out of second gear, Chinnor will be happy to have snatched victory at the death. With regular scrum half Prescott sidelined with injury, Tom Jarvis had a tidy and satisfying debut in the 9 shirt. Worrying for Chinnor, however, is the mounting casualty list so early in the season.
Chinnor team: Cathcart (Wallace 66), Williams R, Hewitt B, Hewitt J, Shiel, Chase, Jarvis, Stock, Tattersall, Whelan (Winpenny 3), Hutchings (Williams M 26) Black, Gilbert, Hastings, Mowbray.
Reps: Winpenny, Wallace, Williams M
PHOTO: Chinnor No.7 Adam Hastings powers through in their 12 – 10 win over Reading
The following message has been received from Sydenham Parish Council:
“Please be aware that a number of burglary/distraction incidents have been noted in and around the village over recent weeks, the latest being on Friday close to the Crown pub. In this instance, in order to catch those responsible we are advised to call the police on 999, they are just as eager to catch them as we are.
This is not a hoax………………..Please be aware, lock your doors, sheds, garages, cars and be alert……
Report anything suspicious.”
THAME Town Council’s Capital fund stands at around
Dear Editor – I am writing to thank you for the wonderful informatative service you provide. You recently posted a ringmaster message concerning a mobility aids company using high pressure selling techniques on the elderly.
Thanks to you, i was able to stop this company from visiting my Mother.
Perhaps this sort of notice could be given to Age Concern and Doctor’s surgeries to make them aware of these scams especially as not all Senior Citizen’s have access to the internet.
Thank you once again
Yours Sincerely
Kimberly Hunter
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save changes to medical cover at Thame hospital, have won an important victory.
The campaign by the Leagues of Friends and local GPs from the community hospitals in Thame, Buckingham and Marlow won the day on Friday, (11/09/09) when the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Buckinghamshire County Council ruled unanimously that the changes to medical cover proposed by the Primary Care Trusts were: “a significant change in service,” which must be subjected to public consultation first.
ANGRY PROTEST
Twenty campaigners from the League of Friends of Thame Community Hospital organised a bus to take them to the committee meeting in Wycombe where they were joined by angry protesters and GPs from Buckingham and Marlow community hospitals.
The meeting was addressed by Mr Richard Mills from the PCT defending the changes, and by Dr Duncan Keeley from the Rycote Practice, Thame, Sarah Taylor from the League of Friends of Thame Hospital and members of the Leagues of Friends of Buckingham and Marlow hospitals.
REDUCED SERVICE FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE
Dr Keeley spoke on behalf of the doctors of all the three hospitals. He called on the committee to reject the PCTs proposed changes to medical cover for the hospitals, arguing that they represented a significant reduction in both the quality and quantity of services provided for elderly people.
A copy of the petition calling on the PCT to allow the local practices to provide medical care at Thame ? which now carries 3,300 signatures ? was presented to the Committee.
KEEP LOCAL DOCTORS RUNNING LOCAL HOSPITALS
After the meeting Dr Keeley said: “This vote is a resounding endorsement by the County Council of our campaign to keep local doctors running local hospitals. The Primary Care Trust should now return responsibility for medical cover at Thame Hospital to the Rycote and Wellington House practices. We are sure that the private company who have taken over at the hospital will respect the legal requirement for public consultation and agree to temporarily suspend their contract in respect of Thame Hospital while the necessary consultation takes place.”
RE-OPEN CLOSED BEDS
He added: “There need be no financial objection to this, since we have suggested ways in which any difference in cost to the PCT can be made up. We very much hope that our taking back the responsibility for medical care at the hospital will allow the PCT to re-open the four beds at the hospital which they have just closed, thus allowing Thame Hospital to play its full part in preventing unnecessary admissions to Stoke Mandeville and the John Radcliffe hospitals.
“We very much hope that the PCT will agree to this, but meanwhile we keep up the fight. We are still collecting signatures to our petition.”
Dr Richard Harrington and Dr Duncan Keeley will be attending a Board Meeting of the Primary Care Trust on September 29, to put their case again to the PCT.
A group is to be set up by the PCT and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to plan the way forward for medical cover for the community hospitals.
POINTS MADE BY GPS TO THE COMMITTEE
The resentation made by local general practices who wish to retain responsibility for medical over of their local community hospitals (Dr.Duncan Keeley, Dr Christopher North and Dr Jonathon Pryse, on behalf of practices in Thame, Marlow and Buckingham, made the following points:
1. The PCT is, by its changes in medical cover for the community hospitals substantially changing both the quality and the quantity of service to elderly patients provided by these hospitals.
2. There has been no public consultation about these changes. This ignores legal and Department of Health requirements and the principles for good commissioning set out in Lord Darzi?s NHS Next Stage Review.
3. Under new PCT arrangements with a large private company medical cover at the community hospitals is to be reduced from 30-40 hours per week to 4 hours per week in Thame, from 20 hours per week to 5 hours per week in Buckingham, and from 12 to 4 hours per week in Marlow.
4. The PCT Chief Executive, at a recent board meeting of the PCT, was unable to say where the company which has been given the contract is based. Our practices with large medical teams are situated right next to the hospitals that we have always taken pride in looking after.
5. These changes have been introduced without any medical professional advice and without any risk analysis being undertaken.
6. It is only because none of us could believe that the PCT could contemplate such drastic reductions in service that we have not come earlier to the Committee with our concerns.
7. The PCT has reduced the intended budget for medical cover for the Community hospitals from
An 18-year-old woman whose passenger was killed in a fatal road crash, has pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed limit of alcohol.
The plea is in relation to a collision on the A34 in Oxford on April 07, this year, in which school girl, Grace Hadman was killed and her friend, Joe Robinson from Thame, was seriously injured.
Gabriella Edmondson, from Beacon Hill in Penn, High Wycombe has been disqualified from driving and released on bail until October 09, 2009, when she will be sentenced.
Sgt Nick Perks, who led the investigation, said: “This investigation highlights the dangers of drinking and then driving and the potentially horrific consequences.”
PHOTO: Joe Robinson, who remained in a coma for three weeks with serious head injuries after the crash that killed his school friend, Grace Hadman.