Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Great result for Chinnor Oxen XV over Marlow

    LAST Saturday saw an earlier kick off for Chinnor RFC Oxen XV at home to Marlow 4th team, in the Thames Valley Invitational league.
    Having having been kept waiting for nearly an hour to kick off, the Oxen started sprightly and with their backs to the wind, were soon in control of the match. Tries from Dave Wells, Jon Brooks and two from Paul Ewens in the first half, were all converted by Dave Wells and the Oxen were 28-0 up at the turn around.

    The match was closely fought with Marlow having the better of things in the scrummage. However, with a Chinnor back row of Jon Brooks, Steve Bridges and Mike Bailey, Marlow were starved of any purposeful possession. There were turnovers aplenty allowing a truely vintage set of backs, featuring Jeremy Philpott, Doug Humphries, Dave Wells, John Sellars, Tim Wright, Paul Ewens, Craig James, Neal Gilbert and Josh Hill to make the breaks and to pressurise the opposition at will.

    There was only one score in the second half with young Josh Hill getting on the scorecard after several attempts meaning that Chinnor Oxen won this league match 33-0. Depriving Marlow of any points at all was the icing on the cake. If they had used the boot of their No 10 to better advantage the story may have been different.

    A big thank you to those that turned out to play for the Oxen, with special mention to Captain mMrvel, Tim DeGlanville. Gareth ‘Stumpy’ Davis gave a truely inspirational stint at Prop and Craig Smith made his debut as the other prop. Stu Reynolds had the best game he has had for a long time.

    Next Oxen XV league match v Drifters 2nds away on the December 6.

    Dave Ratcliffe

  • BBC presenter backs anti domestic abuse campaign

    THE BBC?s Nick Ross has given his backing to Oxfordshire’s ?Reducing the Risk Campaign’ which aims to increase the reporting of domestic abuse across the county.
    Nick opened an event at the Unipart Conference Centre, in Cowley, today (25/11) where two domestic abuse survivors and speakers from a variety of organisation across the county, talked about the work taking place to tackle domestic abuse and to support victims.

    The event coincided with ?White Ribbon Day?, the international day for the elimination of violence against women.

    The aims of the four month campaign are to increase early reporting of domestic abuse and reduce repeat victimisation by asking the following:

    ? People experiencing domestic abuse ? Ask for
    a way forward
    ? Family and Friends ? Ask the question
    ? Children ? Ask for help
    ? Young people ? Ask ?Is this love??

    A new helpline has been launched which will be staffed by the Oxfordshire domestic abuse service, who will be on the end of the phone to help people suffering from domestic abuse and available to family or friends who think someone close to them is experiencing domestic abuse.

    Advisers will offer support and advice and provide information about the services and the help available. A new website has also been launched with information and links to relevant agencies and organisations: LINK
     or URL am I abused.com.

    Leaflets, cards and the new gender neutral poster are being distributed throughout the county, and a bus advertising campaign promoting the new helpline and website will commence at the beginning of December.

    Spearheading the campaign is the multi-agency Oxfordshire Domestic Violence Steering Group (ODVSG), with representatives from the county, city, and district councils, the police, primary care trusts, social and health care and voluntary organisations including Victim Support.

    Romy Briant, Chair of ODVSG, said: ?Typically someone experiencing domestic abuse may go to as many as ten agencies before they get the help they needs. With Champions in the police, city and district councils, housing and health services, and voluntary agencies, survivors need only tell their story once to get that help.
    “ODVSG are also working in partnership with FOX FM, where we will be running 20 second commercials through out the campaign. We will be leading people to make links to Fox Fm and am I abused.com (URL to our reducing the risk) website, there will be clear messages around abuse throughout the course of the campaign.”

    Thames Valley Police Acting Assistant Chief Constable, George Wilson, said: ?Domestic abuse is one of the most unacceptable crimes in society. We are determined to play our part in seeking to change the attitude of offenders. At the same time we are taking a zero tolerance approach to those offenders and are working hard to bring them to justice. We now have a strict arrest policy that means more offenders are being brought into the criminal justice system and we have domestic abuse units where staff are specifically trained to deal with domestic abuse cases.
    ?Specialist domestic abuse courts have now been introduced in Oxfordshire and are starting to produce some positive results. In any domestic abuse case the best outcome has to be one that ensures the safety of the survivor and brings the offender to justice.
    “By working in partnership and using specially trained people who understand the issues and complexities of a domestic abuse case we can offer survivors the extra support they need to help them through the court process. We hope the Specialist Domestic Violence Courts and the Independent Domestic Advisory Service will give survivors more confidence in the law and provide a service based on listening to them and what they want.
    ?We also recognise many people experiencing domestic abuse are reluctant to report offences to the police. These people still need help and this is why I am pleased to be backing the ?Reducing the Risk? campaign which will promote other ways of seeking that help and support from our partner agencies.?

    The new helpline number is: 0800 731 0055

  • Man left with serious head injuries after M40 crash

    THE Police are appealing for witnesses following a collision on the M40 in which a driver was left with serious head injuries.

    At 10.40am, on Friday (21/11), a red Honda Civic was driving northbound in lane three of the M40, between junctions six and seven, near Tetsworth, when it clipped the central reservation and slid back across all three lanes of the motorway, before coming to rest upside down on the crash barrier.

    The 22-year-old driver remains in hospital with head injuries. His condition is described as serious but stable.

    Anyone who witnessed the collision or who saw the car travelling on the M40 prior to it should contact PC James Holstead at Bicester roads Policing Department on 0845 8 505 505. If you do not want to leave your name or speak to police, call the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

  • Narrow failure for Chinnor RFC against Maccclesfield (Contributed)

    EDF National Trophy Round 2 – National (North)- Saturday, November 28 – Chinnor 13 Macclesfield 17; MATCH REPORT:

    Macclesfield, currently lying 4th in National 3 North, fielded twelve 1st team and three 2nd team players. Chinnor, conversely, lying 12th in National League 3 South, fielded twelve 2nd team and three 1st team players. Despite many opportunities to win, Chinnor narrowly failed with their adventurous selection policy, going down 13-17.

    The game started brightly with Chinnor receiving the kick off and putting together 4 minutes of continuous and speedy action which brought them to the visitor’s 22. Pressure on Macclesfield was only relieved when the referee whistled for Chinnor holding on.
    Macclesfield, however, opened the scoring with a penalty goal from their fly half, Ross Winney on 10 minutes. Macclesfield increased their lead 12 minutes later when, following a powerful Macclesfield
    scrum, open side Chris Jones touched down for Winney to convert to give Macclesfield a 10-0 score.

    Newly available Angus Neilson then opened Chinnor’s account a few minutes later when the alert Bob Baker took a quick tap penalty to release Neilson to canter over for a try. Chinnor were showing that they were beginning to get the measure of their opponents with
    adventurous attacking, often led by Alex Wallace in the unfamiliar position of fly half. However, all of Chinnor’s good work was undone seconds before half time when a speculative Macclesfield kick ahead
    was palmed by a Chinnor hand into the arms of the speedy Macclesfield left winger Josh Fowles. Fowles slipped the ball to Robert McDermott who, avoiding some weak tackling from Chinnor, scored in the corner.
    The try was converted by Winney. Half time came with Macclesfield leading 17-5.

    The second half went mostly Chinnor’s way with Macclesfield failing to add to their half time score. Joe Robinson slotted a penalty goal for Chinnor in the 49th minute. Turning over a Macclesfield scrum, Chinnor worked the ball to replacement Harry Hillier who could not grasp the low ball, with the undefended line beckoning. Neilson, clearly relishing his return to rugby, added a try to Chinnor’s score to give
    a final match score of 13-17 in favour of Macclesfield.

    Macclesfield relied on a forward game which showed good set piece at scrum and line out and did just enough to win. Chinnor’s 2s were clearly a match for their visitors and had they taken all their kicks,
    as Macclesfield had done, they would have added a winning 7 points to their score. Added to the dropped ball with a clear line beckoning, Chinnor had ample opportunities to win this match. However, coach
    Jason Bowers was clear in his commitment in an interview before the match with the Oxford Mail: “It is about giving the squad a game,” said Bowers, who opted for similar tactics in Chinnor’s first-round
    victory over Lydney.
    “It is a good opportunity to give players a rest and try people in different positions as well.”

    Ed Rixon was a rock in shoring up a Chinnor scrum that waxed and waned all match. Alex Wallace stood out for his incisive running and smart decision making. The bravery of the selection choice was vindicated and, with a rub of the green, Chinnor in the guise of their second team could well have entered the next round of the cup. It all shows
    what a competitive squad is available to both teams.

    Scorers: Chinnor Neilson (2 tries), Robinson (pen goal) Macclesfield: Jones (try), McDermott (try), Winney (pen goal, 2 conv)

  • Thame charity founder awarded Beacon Prize (Contributed)

    DR Peter Carey has been awarded the Beacon Prize for Leadership for his work in co-founding the Cambodia Trust and leading its expansion across Cambodia into Timor Leste, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, making a positive impact on the lives of over 30,000 landmine survivors and other disadvantaged disabled people.

    The prize was awarded at a ceremony in London on November 18th 2008.

    Peter is just one of six recipients of the 2008 Beacon Prize and joins the ranks of previous Beacon winners such as Sir Bob Geldof, Jamie Oliver and environmentalist Zac Goldsmith, who have all been recognised for their charitable work through what has become known as the ‘Nobel Prize of the charity world’, a phrase first coined by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

    The Cambodia Trust has developed rehabilitation services for disadvantaged disabled people in four developing countries and trained local staff to run these services in the long-term. Peter helped to found the Cambodian School of Prosthetics and Orthotics (CSPO), where students from Cambodia and other developing countries are trained to internationally-recognised standards to prescribe and fit prosthetic limbs and orthopaedic braces, which are essential for the rehabilitation of people affected by landmines, polio, leprosy and other conditions.

    Peter has a strong commitment to ensuring that his projects are sustainable and so has placed great emphasis on working in partnership with local government and NGOs. The aim is to build local capacity so that projects can eventually be handed over to local, trained management.

    Under Peter’s leadership: 122 students have graduated from CSPO, including enough Cambodians to staff all the rehabilitation centres in Cambodia. Around 30,500 limbs and braces are being fitted by CSPO graduates annually, enabling thousands of landmine survivors and other disabled people to gain self-sufficiency. Over 80% of children receiving rehabilitation at the Trust’s rehabilitation centres go on to start school once their mobility is improved; over 230 disabled children receive the support they need to attend school every year; around 150 disabled adults a year are assisted to start vocational training or on-the-job training, with 80% accessing work thereafter; 612 adults have received start-up support to establish small businesses; 9 former CSPO students have graduated with Bachelor’s degrees, enabling a phasing out of expatriate staff at CSPO as Cambodians qualify as lecturers and leaders.

    CSPO has also trained prosthetists from Afghanistan, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Timor Leste, Georgia, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Kiribati, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Burma, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

    Martyn Lewis, former Chairman of Beacon, who hosted Tuesday’s Prize Ceremony, said: “The impact of Peter’s work is truly outstanding, not only because of the sheer numbers of landmine victims and disabled people who have received assistance, but also because of the local capacity he has built through training up professionals and working closely with local people.”

    Speaking just ahead of the ceremony, Peter said: “I am delighted to win a Beacon Prize and I sincerely hope that it will focus attention what can be a forgotten problem ? the physical disabilities that landmine survivors can be left with. A great deal can be done for them and lives can be rebuilt but this requires international support and resources.”

    As well as receiving his award, Peter was inaugurated as a Beacon Fellow, a community of Beacon Prize winners who together champion charitable causes across the globe and nurture a wider culture of giving in the UK.

  • The two faces of alcohol according to Eddie Francis – and where he goes to indulge his own love of wine

    MUCH column space has recently been given over to the subject of our nation?s drinking habits. Binge Britain is in full swing and the government are spending huge wads of our cash telling us that we all drink too much and are all going to die from the horrific illnesses caused by excess alcohol consumption. Alcohol brands have even been dragged onboard the good ship ?Drink Aware?.
    Is there anything more contradictory than old Jack Daniels telling you on a whopping great billboard to enjoy his whiskey responsibly, when he obviously wants to shamelessly force as much of his product as is humanly possible down the collective consumer?s face?

    In last weekend?s Sunday Times there was a feature on women and their drinking habits: Each contributor attempted to justify how much, when, and why they drank, with boring clich

  • County craft makers’ at The Oxfordshire Museum

    THE work of some of the county’s finest contemporary craft designers and makers will be on display and for sale at The Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock this festive season.

    The Oxfordshire Craft Guild Christmas Selling Exhibition brings together an array of artistic skills, including furniture, glass, jewellery, pottery, textiles and woodturning.

    The event will be launched at the Oxfordshire County Council-run museum at 2pm on Saturday, November 22, by Marion Stevenson, deputy Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, and will run until Sunday, January 4.

    More than 30 artists from the Oxfordshire Craft Guild will display their work at the exhibition, which has been a fixture at the museum for 25 years. There is a 10% discount on purchases during the exhibition’s first weekend.

    Tam Frishberg, a potter who is a member of the Oxfordshire Craft Guild, said: “Our members are very skilled and have had years of experience in their specific fields.
    “This exhibition is something that is really different and a real opportunity to see and purchase some unique items.”

    Oxfordshire County Council Museum curator Cherry Gray added: “The Oxfordshire Craft Guild Exhibition has been running for a quarter of a century and is an excellent chance to see some very unusual pieces of
    art.”

    The Park Street museum and exhibition opening hours are:

    Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 5pm
    Sunday 2pm to 5pm
    closed Mondays, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day

    The museum will stay open until 7pm on Saturday, November 29, for Woodstock’s A Night of a Thousand Candles celebrations.

  • Flood alert scheme for Thame residents

    FOLLOWING the flooding of several homes in Thame back in June, a flood alert scheme has been set up between residents.
    A network of phone messaging will operate between residents living close to the Cuttlebrook nature reserve on the Oxford side of the town, some of whom have still not been able to return to their homes after their homes were flooded.
    A flood forum made up of residents and councillors will meet in January.

    Work to try to eliviate a repeat of recent flooding of Thame homes, is underway. Debris has this week been removed from the brook that runs behind Oxford House, Oxford Road, Thame, and from the Oxford Road bridge across the cuttlebrook, and near Spring Path and the main part of Cuttlebrook nature reserve.
    Here, two thirds of the reeds will be removed to increase the brook’s flow and residents along the course of the brook further along have agreed to contribute to the costs of clearing it.

    The town council’s Culture, Leisure and Recreation committee was told on Tuesday that the second phase of the plan is to clear ditches on the reserve and then to monitor the brook to see how it copes with heavy rainfall. If necessary, some re-contouring, or raising of the bank in the cox’s Wood area of the reserve may be carried out.

  • Chinnor RFC ‘never say die’

    MATCH REPORT- November 15-Report by Bill O’Donnell.

    EALING prevailed in this all action match by 46 points to 26, but Chinnor will take many positives away.

    Chinnor opened the scoring on 4 minutes with a well hit penalty goal. Ealing hit back shortly afterwards with a try from centre Joe Price. Chinnor got back to a 6-5 lead when Hewitt struck another penalty goal. With increasing influence from their centres Price and James, Ealing began to run some fast paced patterns with Hodkinson scoring an unconverted try to give Ealing a 10 – 6 lead.
    With a delightful move of their own, Wallace engineered a likely score only for his pass to be dropped with an unopposed 5 metre run in. Sadly, a similar thing happened again in the match for Chinnor who seemed to be out of luck when scoring opportunities presented themselves. Hewitt stepped up to give Chinnor some hope with another penalty goal to reach halftime with Ealing just 10-9 ahead.

    After the interval, Ealing stepped up their game considerably with the driving and forceful play of ex-Wasp flanker Mark Lock increasingly influential. Three minutes after the restart, centre James ran through the away defence to set up a sweet try for Tom Parker, converted by fly half Ward. However, Chinnor showed some of their own magic. Arthur Ellis reacted quickly to a free quick and surged down the pitch, offloading the perfect pass for scrum half Prescott, rapid in support, who touched down under the posts. Hewitt converted to put Chinnor just one point behind at 17-16.

    Ealing then hit a purple patch with three tries in five minutes. The tries came from Joe Price and two from the extremely quick Ealing wing, Howells ? one of which was a 65 metre dash after intercepting a probable Chinnor score. Converting two, Ealing lead 36-16.

    With great credit, Chinnor never lost their commitment and were rewarded in the 64th minute when Prescott finished off a period of Chinnor forward pressure to score a try wide out to make the score 36-21. Wallace then struck to add another try to bring the score to 36-26. A penalty goal from Ward and another converted try for his hat trick from Howells saw Ealing through to the end by 46 ? 26.

    To the neutral this was a high intensity, all action match thanks largely to the endeavour of both teams to keep the ball moving. Great credit should also go to the match referee, on exchange from South Africa, who showed how top quality refereeing can benefit a match. Chinnor were eventually undone by sheer pace and showed how having all your wingers injured can hurt you. Chinnor?s Ellis and Prescott had good matches and the team as a whole did well in the face of some frightening pace.

  • Youth meeting point planned for Thame (amended)

    THE young people of Thame are to get a state-of-the-art sheltered meeting point at the skate park beside Tythrope Way (Thame by-pass).
    The shelter will include solar lighting and a radio point, and will cost around