Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Swap Your Unwanted Christmas Gifts

    WOULD you like to swap your unwanted Christmas gifts or other unwanted possessions locally? Thame Waste Action Group (TWAG) is holding a Swap Shop on Saturday, January 20, from 10am to 1pm in the Town Hall, High Street, Thame, Oxon OX9 3DP
    What is a Swap Shop?
    It is a waste exchange event where members of the public have the chance to get rid of things they don?t want and pick up something they need ? all for free!
    Many people describe it as a kind of cashless jumble sale. Participants do not need to bring anything in order to take away goods and vice versa. Swap Shops recognise that one man?s junk is another man?s treasure and use this fact to reduce ?waste?. Many groups run Swap Shops both to divert waste going to landfill and out of a sense of outrage at our wasteful society.

    Items to be exchanged should be brought along on the day. You are most welcome to donate and not take any items and vice versa.

    Why not bring along items cleared to make way for Christmas gifts? The types of items to bring along are:

    CDs/DVDs/Videos
    Books
    Kitchen goods
    Gardening Equipment
    Clothes
    Bric -a- brac
    Toys
    Games

    Electrical items are not permitted due to regulations. If there are large items, such as furniture, which you would like to get rid of then bring along a photo with contact details and these can be pinned up on a board.

    For further information please contact Alison Isherwood, 21st Century Thame Project Officer on 07944 175633 or e-mail ai@21stcenturythame.org.uk

  • Suspected Illegal Immigrants Found In Thame Oil Drums

    THREE people, suspected of being illegal immigrants, were found by a Thame employee on Friday (05/01/07) – hiding in oil drums.
    See full story
     as reported by the Bucks Free Press.

  • Big Garden Birdwatch

    WHY not take part in the RSPB?s Big Garden Birdwatch on 27-28 January, the world?s biggest bird survey, and help make it the biggest and best yet.
    These seasonal surveys provide the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds with a vital snapshot of the UK’s birds each winter.
    Over the years, RSPB scientists have been able to record patterns in bird numbers and use this information to help prioritise its bird conservation work. The survey has recorded huge declines in some of our most familiar birds.
    Since 1979 for instance, the number of house sparrows counted has fallen by 52% and the number of starlings by 72%. By joining hundreds of thousands of people across the UK and counting the birds in your garden, you really are helping to save wild birds. For more information visit the website at: Link

  • Wheatley Burglaries

    THAME police are seeking information following two burglaries in Old London Road, Wheatley in December, last year (2006).
    The first was on December 12, when entry was gained to a garage by levering a window, and food was taken from a freezer inside.
    The burglary occurred overnight between the hours of 11pm and 9am.
    The second burglary was on December 23, between 12 mid-day and 5pm, when a dwelling house was burgled and items stolen.
    Anyone with information about either of these crimes is asked to contact the Police Enquiry line 0845 850 5505, or, if you don’t wish to give your name, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

  • Thame To Host Joint Concert With French Choir

    SINGERS from Thame will be joined by a choir from its twin town, Montesson, in May for a concert in St Mary’s church.
    The concert will be on Saturday, May 25, and the exciting programme will include the two choirs singing together Puccini’s Messa di Gloria.
    Members of the french choir will be staying as the guests of members of Thame Choral Society and other local families involved with the Thame and District Twinning Association.

    Any singers who would like to join Thame Choral Society can call Angela Tremayne on 01844 279797 for more information, or just go along to practice night, Wednesdays during term time, 7.30pm in the Community Education room, Lord Williams’s lower school. (Behind the Youth Centre).

  • Oxon Businesses Urged To Go For Big Prize

    AN Oxfordshire businesswoman is urging entrepreneurs with a new business in the south of the county to enter a competition that she says made a huge difference to her.
    Marneta Viegas was the first winner of the South Oxfordshire New Business Competition. Her prize was one year?s FREE use of a furnished office in Hampden House at Monument Business Park, Chalgrove. Marneta moved her business, Relax Kids, there and has been so successful ? including an appearance on BBC TV?s Dragons? Den.
    Marneta says: ?Winning the South Oxfordshire New Business Competition was great for my business and gave me a real boost. It?s a great prize and I?d encourage any entrepreneur in South Oxfordshire who really wants to move their new business forward, to enter.?
    For the 2006/7 competition, the prize for the winner has been further boosted. They can win a cutting edge business advice package from competition co-sponsors Oxford Brookes University Business School and Business Boffins, plus their choice of either: a FREE furnished office in Hampden House for a year or a FREE virtual office for a year. To enter, the business must have been less than two years old on December 31st 2006.
    Monument Business Park owners, Jennings of Garsington, Business Link, Barclays, OxLink, Communities in Business and Nicholson Associates also sponsor the competition. Jennings of Garsington MD, Mike Jennings, says: ?Throughout the 25 years the Park has been open, we?ve always encouraged new businesses to take a place here and we?ve seen many of them grow and take bigger premises. The competition is a great way to give a fledgling business in South Oxfordshire the chance to move to the next level with a valuable mix of business advice and a new office or virtual home at Hampden House.?
    The furnished office is free for 12 months and has an equivalent value of

  • New Plan For Food Waste Recycling

    FOOD waste produced by Oxfordshire residents may soon be processed rather than thrown into landfill sites.
    Oxfordshire County Council has given the go-ahead to go out to tender to find the best company to deliver the new technology. It is hoped that this will be in place in two years’ time.
    District Councils across the county work with the county council as part of the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership. The OWP indicated in late 2006 that it wanted the idea of food waste processing to be pursued.
    OCC have said: “The process will mean that collections of food waste can be conducted by district councils and will help the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership cut back even more on the amount of waste that is sent to landfill. Currently over 33% of waste is recycled. However strict Government imposed fines come into effect from 2009 if targets to divert waste from landfill are not met.
    “The county council has already set in motion the process of finding technology to deal with all waste that is not recycled. That tendering process will determine the nature of the chosen technology. The county council is neutral about which technology will eventually be chosen.”

    Oxfordshire is one of the highest recycling counties in the country. However, some European countries recycle far more, although none of them recycle anywhere near 100% and all have to use other technologies to avoid large amounts of waste going to landfill.

    Councillor Kieron Mallon, Chairman of the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership, said: “Oxfordshire is full of keen recyclers who want to do their bit for the environment. This new technology will give them far more scope to do that. All Oxfordshire councils are working together to deliver this and I look forward to the technology coming on stream.”

    Councillor Roger Belson, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: “This was an easy decision to take. It is pure common sense for us to pursue food waste processing. From 2009 councils will be fined if they do not meet strict targets to divert waste from landfill. This new technology will help us along the way and will be welcomed by Oxfordshire people who have proved their green credentials time and time again.”

  • Progress For Chinnor King Fu Club

    CHINNOR Kung Fu Club held its winter grading on
    December 19, with success for all candidates ranging from white belt to brown belt, showing a good
    standard in each component of the exam.
    Ben Beames and Tom Way are now promoted to white
    belt whilst Shaun Wingrove, Keiran Calvert and Phil Keavy all gained their orange belts.
    Mel Codling and Alex Nesbitt both gained green belts, and Mark Doulin gained yellow.
    Matt Vaughan gave a particularly powerful display to gain his brown belt, coming through four rounds
    of sparring, stick defence, knife defence and wood
    breaking.
    Congratulations to all chinnor kung fu students.

  • Move It Or Lose It

    CHRISTMAS is over and now all you?ve got to show for it is the left over strawberry creams, pine-needles in your shagpile and a few extra pounds on your thighs. Your six pack looks more like a keg, and your bootilicious bottom is now, well? bountiful!
    But don?t worry because this year help is at hand to encourage you to stick to your new year?s resolution and lose those unwanted pounds.
    The Oxfordshire SOLLutions Health & Fitness clubs, including Thame Leisure Centre, run by charitable trust SOLL Leisure, are encouraging people to get up and get active, as part of its New Year ?Move it to Lose It? campaign.

    FIVE TOP TIPS TO HELP YOU STICK TO YOUR NEW YEAR?S RESOLUTIONS

    1. BE REALISTIC! Make realistic New Year?s Resolutions, for example instead of saying that you will never eat chocolate again just stop snacking in between meals and then reward yourself occasionally for your efforts. If you?ve been good all week, why not treat yourself with low fat chocolate dessert on a Friday night? This way you won?t feel like you are totally denying yourself and your New Year?s resolution will be easier to stick to!

    2. FOCUS ON THE FUN FACTOR! If one of your New Year?s Resolutions is to get fit, then find an activity you enjoy. There is no point promising yourself that you will get up before work and go for a run if you hate mornings! You won?t stick to it and you will soon feel demoralised. Instead find an activity you enjoy. Your local SOLLutions Health & Fitness Clubs offer a range of fun, innovative classes such from Body Combat to ball room dancing! Find a class or activity that appeals to you and commit to doing it twice a week.

    3. SLOWLY DOES IT! If your New Year?s Resolution involves learning a new skill, break it down into manageable sized chunks. For example if you have decided to learn Spanish or start playing the piano, then promise yourself that you will do 10 minutes a day. These short sessions will soon mount up, and will be easier to fit into your life!

    4. GET SUPPORT! Don?t be afraid to ask for support or help from experts. For example if you have decided to get fit, then talk to the qualified instructors at your local leisure centre. This January SOLLutions Health & Fitness is running the national ?Move it to lose it? campaign, which is designed to give you the support, advice and encouragement you need to get fit and lose weight!

    5. IGNORE THE SLIPS! If you slip up and miss an exercise class or have a few days without practicing the piano, don?t beat yourself up about it. Instead start your resolution again with renewed vigour. No one?s perfect, but with enough determination you can achieve anything!

    ?Move it to Lose it? is a national campaign endorsed by the Fitness Industry Association (FIA) and designed to help participants lose weight by incorporating regular physical activity into their lives.
    Victoria Branch campaign organiser says: ?After Christmas many people pledge to get fit and lose weight, but in the short, dark days it can be difficult to muster the energy and motivation. The ?Move it to Lose it? campaign has been designed to give people the support they need to get more active, lead a healthier life and ultimately lose weight.?

    Reducing obesity is a key priority for the Government. According to the World Health Organisation, prevalence of obesity has trebled since the 1980s, and well over half of all adults are either overweight or obese ? that?s almost 24 million people. The Government?s Health Select Committee estimate that the cost of obesity and overweight to the economy stands at

  • Thame Young People Going For Gold

    FORTY Oxfordshire young people, including three from Lord Williams’s school, Thame, will be presented with the Gold Duke of Edinburgh?s Award at a special ceremony tomorrow.
    James Hultman, from Chinnor, Matthew Lamb, who now lives in Aylesbury and Emma Turnbull of Long Crendon, have all taken part in a wide range of activities including sports, four-day expeditions, work in the community and residential projects in the UK and overseas.
    Unfortunately, Matthew will not be collecting his award in person tomorrow night, as he has had to return to university where he is studying Architecture but he told ThameNews.Net about some of the activities he took part in to achieve his award.
    As part of the Service section of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, he was one of the first to act as a mentor to year seven pupils coming up to Lord Williams’s school from primary school, helping them with social or academic concerns that they may not wish to talk to a teacher about.
    Matthew challenged himself to improve his fitness levels so well during gthe Physical recreation section that he now feels ready to take part in this year’s London Marathon.
    He said that the highlight of his Expedition section, to Zambia and Botswan, was a trek in the Tsodilo Hills, the site of the famous ancient rock paintings. During this week-long trek, Matthew was able to show his leadership skills by taking charge of the 14-strong team.

    The Vice Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Malcolm Cochrane, will make the presentations at Wychwood School, Banbury Road, Oxford tomorrow, Thursday, January 4, at 7.30pm.
    The number of young people participating in the Award in Oxfordshire increased by 50 per cent during the last two years. 555 Bronze Awards, 217 Silver Awards and 77 Gold Awards were achieved in 2006.

    The Award programme is delivered mainly as an extra-curricular activity in mainstream schools. Recently, there has been increased involvement by youth centres, community groups and among young people who may be at risk of exclusion.
    The Duke of Edinburgh?s Award in Oxfordshire is delivered through a partnership between the county council and Amey plc.
    Maggie Willis, County Co-ordinator for the Award said: “Our congratulations go to these young people who have successfully completed a unique challenge demonstrating responsibility, self reliance and perseverance.
    “We greatly appreciate Amey?s involvement and the continued support of many dedicated volunteers who provide opportunities for young people.”
    Keith Sexton, Health, Safety, Environment and Quality Director at Amey said: “We are proud to continue to support The Duke of Edinburgh?s Award and help young people prepare for their working lives. We can see tangible evidence of the effects of our involvement in improving the chances of many young people.
    “I would like to congratulate all those who achieved Gold Award and wish them every success in the future.”

    Photo: Matthew Lamb during a field trip to Chicago with the University of Nottingham, as part of his Residential section of the Duke of Edinburgh Award challenge.