Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Signs of improvement from Thame coma student

    THE family and friends of Joe Robinson, the Thame student left in a coma after a fatal car crash in Oxford, have reported some hopeful signs of improvement in his condition over the weekend.

    Although still desperately ill and suffering from a third in a series of infections, Joe’s parents have reported an improvement in the co-ordation of his eyes as he seemed to follow them around the room while they watched the London Marathon on Sunday, and Joe appearing to wave a hand.

    Up-dates on Chinnor RFC player, Joe’s condition are regularly being placed on the club’s website and his brother Harry is keeping friends informed via Joe’s Facebook page.

    In the latest up-date Harry reports: “Joe remains in a serious condition in the intensive care unit of the John Radcliff hospital after a road crash on 7th April 2009. He is still in a drug induced coma which he has been in since the crash.

    “He was due to be conscious by now, however complications including lung and brain infections have meant he has not been well enough to come off the ventilator and thus off the sedation drugs. The full extent of the damaged caused to his brain is still unknown and won’t be fully realised until he is awoken.

    “The support for the family has been overwhelming and we are forever grateful for all the kind words and acts of support. Words, truly, cannot describe the thanks we have for all that people have done in response to this tragic incident.

    “Some may be aware of the circumstance surrounding the crash to which I will not be commenting on as the police are continuing their investigations.

    “Many people have been following Joe’s update on his facebook page. Updates regarding his condition will continue to be posted on facebook on a daily basis and I would like to ask people, interesting in following his status, to use facebook as this will help us channel the sources of communication and prevent the spreading of mixed messages.

    “The family have been through a rollercoaster of emotions and decisions and have constantly been at his side. We hope it is not long until we have our “Robbo” back with us again although there is no word from the doctors on when this will be.

    “Thank you everyone!”
    Harry Robinson

  • Thame United’s Ben Connelly voted Players’ Player of the Year

    THE accolade of Players Player of the Year for the First Team went to Ben Connelly, who has been almost ever present in Thame United’s first team over the last four seasons, was announced at the club’s end of season presentation evening on Saturday (25/04/09).

    With over 40 players and Committee Members attending, it was an enjoyable evening as Chairman and First Team, Reserve Team and Youth Team Managers reviewed the season both on and off the field.

    Managers Player of the Year went to Club captain, Lee Thompson, who over the last few months of the season had been an inspirational influence in turning around the fortunes of the Club, but suffered a broken leg in the penultimate game of the season. A joint award of Most Improved Player went to Steve Newell and Lawrence El-Kassir, who both joined the Club at the start of the season and during the course of the year have become regular first team players. The coveted Supporters Player of the Year was presented to Sam Cowan, a versatile defender/midfielder who has come up through the ranks of Thame Boys, and who across the course of the season has put in a number of match winning performances.

    For the Reserve Section, Matt Gibbs won both the Players Player and Managers Player of the Year Award, whilst Ryan Chapman was awarded Most Improved Player. Manager Marcus Walker, who stands down at the end of the season, was thanked for his hard work in running the reserve team over the course of the last three years.

    For the Youth team, manager Steve Meredith reviewed the season, his last before stepping aside for Gary Leach to take up the reins. The Most Improved Player award went to Pat Blore, with Craig Connell picking up the Players Player and Managers Player of the year award.

    There will only be a small amount of time for the players to rest, with pre-season training commencing in mid-May!

  • Last game of the season for Thame United?

    MATCH REPORT; Kintbury Rangers 2 versus Thame United 4

    UNITED travelled to Berkshire on Saturday, April 25, 2009, uncertain as to whether the abandoned fixture with Penn & Tylers Green the previous Tuesday was to be replayed and if the Kintbury match represented the last game of the season.

    Whatever the uncertainty, United knew they had to win to maximize the chances of a top ten finish and the potential for FA Cup football next season and they put in a polished, professional performance to comfortably defeat their hosts and end the season with only one defeat in their last thirteen fixtures.

    United opened the scoring in the 11th minute when a Luke Ricketts cross from the right was taken down well by Stuart Barr on the edge of the box who turned and drilled the ball in to the bottom corner of the next. United had the ball in the back of the net again a minute later when Ricketts finished well, only for the referee to award a foul by Thomas Hoskin in the build-up to the goal. At this stage, United were comfortably in control, but there followed a mad couple of minutes as Kintbury turned the game on its head. First in the 23rd minutes a cross from the right was stabbed in to an empty net by Shaun Thorp for the equaliser, whilst a minute later Kintbury were awarded a penalty in controversial circumstances when Kintbury took a quick free kick whilst the referee was still in discussion with a Thame player following an earlier incident. Despite this, the referee allowed play to continue and a Kintbury player was fouled in the box, with Shaun Dyke converting the penalty.

    It was not long before Thame equalized, Mitchell Meredith hit a perfect cross field ball to Ricketts who crossed first time to Hoskin who confidently swept the ball beyond the keeper. United then went ahead just before half time when Mark Jones found himself in space in the penalty area and drilled the ball beyond the despairing dive of the Kintbury keeper.

    With five goals in the first half the second half was a bit of an anti-climax. Thame controlled the majority of the possession and defended well, effectively killing off the game in the 56th minute when Rhodes found Ricketts on the edge of the box, who placed the ball high in to the roof of the net.

    Thame did find the back of the net again 10 minutes later when a Dave Hocking header from a free kick went in off the post, but the referee again pulled play back for an off-side decision. The remainder of the game passed by without incident as United left the field to warm applause from their band of followers.

    Thame United ? Searl, Meredith, Newell (Way), Cowan, Hocking, El-Kassir, A.Rhodes, Barr Ricketts, Hoskin (Bloomfield) Jones.

    Photo: Left to right – Mark Jones, Stuart Barr and Thomas Hoskin

  • Thame crash teenager continues to fight for life

    A THAME teenager, involved in a horrific car crash in which a young friend died, is still fighting for his life in intensive care.
    The parents of young rugby star, 18 year-old Joe Robinson, Kevin and Judi Robinson, have not left the bedside of their son since the crash on April 7.

    Read the full report from the Oxford Mail. LINK

  • Come and meet your MEP

    THAME Branch of the Conservative Party are hosting
    an Audience with Daniel Hannan, MEP on Friday 24 April 2009, 7pm -9.15pm at Main Hall, Lord Williams?s Upper School, Sycamore Drive, Thame, OX9 2AQ

    ? DANIEL HANNAN, is a writer and journalist, and has been Conservative MEP for South East England since 1999. He has written eight books on European policy, speaks French and Spanish and is author of The Plan: Twelve months to renew Britain.
    ? See Daniel give Gordon Brown a verbal spanking in the European Parliament on 24 March on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94lW6Y4tBXs
    ? The evening will also include a short ??Introduction to the European Parliament?? given by Chris Mead, a previous Head Boy at Lord Williams?s School (2003/4), who gained a BA in Politics at Belfast University, and is currently reading for a Masters Degree in European Studies at Maastricht.
    ? European elections will be held on 4 June so this is a timely opportunity to get to grips with some of the issues and debate them with a leading Conservative MEP and candidate for re-election.

    Entry by ticket –

  • Haddenham driver guilty of swinging door death

    A driver from Haddenham has been found guilty of causing the death of an elderly woman when he failed to secure the door of his refridgerated lorry.

    Mrs Kay Kemp, 80, suffered fatal head injuries when she was hit by the swinging door as she was walking in Goring-on-Thames high street.

    Mervyn Davies, of Dollicott, Haddenham, was found guilty of causing Mrs Kemp’s death by dangerous driving at Oxford Crown Court yesterday (22/04/09).

    Davies, 55, had failed to properly close and secure the rear door of his refrigerated lorry after dropping off meat at a butcher’s shop.

    Gilbert Virgo, who witnessed the accident, is reported to have said: “As it accelerated up the hill, not at any great speed, I saw the van door fly open and hit the lady in the face.
    “I raced over but she had a very deep gash to her head and though her eyes were open she was not responding to anything or moving.”

    Mrs Kemp died later in hospital of a head injury.

    Davies was disqualified from driving and will be sentenced on May 22.

  • Skate Park vandal suspect bailed

    A 22 year-old Thame man, held in custody in connection with vandalism at Thame skate park, has been released on bail.
    He must re-appear at Abingdon Police station on May 8th.

  • Thame skaters want new shelter removed

    A GROUP of skaters has asked Thame Town Council to remove a new youth shelter from the Skate Park in Tythrope Way, because they say it is attracting anti-social behaviour and intimidation.

    At the recent annual town meeting (21/04/09), skater, Giles Abbott, said that he had collected over 30 names on a petition to have the

  • Thame neighbourhood update from PCSO Diane Jackson

    THIS month has seen the Thame neighbourhood team involved in an operation to target underage drinking and antisocial behaviour during the spring half term. Officers having been targeting known hot spots and dealing robustly with anyone found to be committing an offence. The operation was run over a two week period and resulted in a number of alcohol seizures.

    Police Community Support Officer, Diane Jackson attended the opening of the new youth shelter at Thame Skate park. The new shelter which includes a light and radio was placed at the park following consultation work with the young people of Thame.

    Police Community Support Officers Diane Jackson, Dan Tucker and PC Russell Hounslow alongside Oxfordshire Fire held an event in Thame town centre to promote driver safety. The event was advertised in the local press and whilst out on our routine patrols we invited a number of young people along to the event.

    Oxfordshire Fire supplied a vehicle that had been involved in a road traffic accident and a DVD for attendees to watch. After the event all the officers were on hand to answer any questions that had arisen during the presentations.

    Police Community Support Officer Diane Jackson will be holding a police surgery on May 2nd 1000-1200hrs at the town hall, please feel free to come along and share any concerns that you have regarding the policing of your neighbourhood.

    Dan and Diane have taken the Speed Indicating Device (SID) out to identified problem area for speeding identified by the Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG).

  • Thame drama studio rises from the ashes

    DANCE and drama pupils at Lord Williams’s school in Thame, once again have a proper studio in which to learn and practice their arts, two years after their old one was destroyed by an arsonist.

    The new Phoenix Studio was used for the first time yesterday, Monday, (21/04/09) when pupils returned from their Easter break, and will be used for the first time by Thame Youth Theatre next week.

    Though insurance cover was paid on a like-for-like basis of around