THAME United were knocked out of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup on Saturday (20/12) as Banbury-based, Easington Sports, deservedly progressed to the next round.
The home side, who prior to the game were second in Division 1 East, came in to the game with a clear plan, played to their strengths, and punished United accordingly. An indication of the afternoon to come for United came after only five minutes, when Cockerilll was forced to push a drive from Steve Howkins wide of the post. The respite, however, was only short lived as the home side took the lead on 10 minutes. A cross field pass to Connor Grant was hit first time by the winger from 25 yards and flew past Cockerill. It was two five minutes later when a corner from the left was forced home at the far post by Andrew Stidder.
At this stage, United had done little going forward, but they got themselves back in to the game on 26 minutes when after a free kick had been cleared, Ollie Lynch put the ball back in to the box for Ellis Hercules to head home. Cockerill then made a good double-save on 29 minutes to keep the score unchanged going in to the break.
United came out strongly at the start of the second half, and they got themselves back in the game on 56 minutes when their best move of the game, involving Adam Morris and Alex Kedzierski, led to the latter crossing for Dan West to stroke home. Having hauled themselves back in to the game and in the ascendancy, United then gave away a third goal two minutes later when a corner from the left was headed in off the underside of the bar at the near post. It was four ten minutes later when a clearance from Cockerill was knocked back in to the Thame half to Howkins whose first time lob sailed over Cockerill and in to the back of the net. Shortly afterwards it was five as a well placed shot from 20 yards by Pete Moulder beat Cockerill.
Any prospect of United getting back in to the game ended on 76 minutes when a Dan West penalty, following a foul on Dan Jones, was saved by the home keeper, and despite pressing forward, United were unable to get back in to the game for a second time. Final score: Easington Sports 5 Thame United 2
RACQUETS’ first team squash players will be challenging the South African Knights squash team, a group of talented young South African University players, tomorrow, December 19.
The South African Knights squash tour team – Photo courtesy of Stefanos Garas
Simon Martin, who manages Racquets Fitness Centre in Thame, said: “The African Knights squash tour 2014, hits Thame on Friday and we are inviting people to come down to the club, to watch some top squash with these budding professional university students from South Africa and to make an evening of it by bringing their own steak and letting our chef cook it for them, just as they like it.”
THE latest Staying Alive Thame community defibrillator has been installed at a local pub, and the Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green was there on Saturday (13/12), to mark the occasion.
Picture by Nick White
Chris and Paula, the two landladies of the The Falcon pub, in Thame Park Road, were keen have this lifesaving devise on their pub, explaining: “We are a community based pub and know the importance of these community defibrillators.” The Mayor added: “Staying Alive Thame was set up a year ago and now there are nine community defibrillators in Thame, something Thame should be proud of.”
Richard Roofe from South Central Ambulance Service, said: “We would like to see that wherever you are you are never more than a few minutes from a public access defibrillator. There is evidence to show that if someone is suffering from a cardiac arrest then the earlier the defibrillation, the greater chance of survival and the better quality of life post-survival.”
He went on to say that he was pleased that Thame has these nine community defibrillators, thanks to local people giving generously to the Staying Alive Thame.
In the new year, The Falcon Pub will be restarting its ‘Fat Club’ on Tuesday evenings, and the money raised will be donated to Staying Alive Thame. In the past, customers of The Falcon have lost many stones in weight and raised many pounds for local charities.
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Healthcare NHS Trust has recently seen an increase in the number of people attending its A&E department at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. This is consistent with other hospitals across the country.
The Trust has put plans in place to ensure patients continue to receive high quality care. However, in an effort to deal with the higher than expected demand, it is urging people to consider other options available to them before they decide to use A&E.
Dr Tina Kenny, medical director for Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust: “It is important that people only use their local A&E department if they are seriously unwell or critically injured. This allows us to treat the very sick people who need our care the most.”
Other options available for patients who are unwell include the minor injuries and illness unit at Wycombe Hospital, their GP and pharmacist and the NHS 111 advice and support service, which is free and provides telephone support 24 hours a day seven days a week.
The ambulance service too, which finds itself under pressure at this time of the year, is reminding members of the public to be ‘winterwise’ by drinking sensibly over Christmas and the New Year.
South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) is warning that drinking too much alcohol can increase the likelihood of accidents and injuries to yourself and those around you. Regular, high intake of alcohol can also cause a variety of health problems, including high blood pressure (hypertension), alcohol poisoning and cirrhosis of the liver. It can also lead to destructive behaviour, such as drink driving.
SCAS stated in a statement today: “SCAS would encourage people to have fun over the Christmas period but stick to the recommended drinking limits. Women should not drink more than 2-3 units a day (no more than a standard 175ml glass of wine ABV 13%) whilst men should not drink more than 3-4 units a day (that’s not much more than a pint of strong lager, beer or cider ABV 5.2%).”
SCAS, often in partnership with local healthcare partners, has resources in place to support those injured or taken ill while enjoying the festivities in our city centres this Christmas and New Year, including the SOS bus, which is provided in partnership with St John Ambulance (SJA), which has two treatment beds and three portable beds to treat patients with minor injuries. It runs every Friday and Saturday night at the Cornmarket in Oxford city centre from 10.30pm to 5.30am. SJA first aiders will be treating patients.
Rob Kemp, Operations Director (acting) for SCAS, said: “We want to wish all our public a very Merry Christmas and at the same time want to remind members of the public to enjoy themselves responsibly during the festive period as injuries and accidents are more likely and more severe with the influence of alcohol so please be safe.
“We also want everyone to be aware that this is an incredibly busy period for the ambulance crews. As a result we put on extra resources to cope with the expected demand; we therefore rely on the public to use us wisely to help to ensure that patient care is not compromised assisting us to respond to those patients in genuine life-threatening situations.
““If you do sustain minor injuries or illnesses whilst enjoying the night time economy then please use resources available such as the SOS bus, Safe Space, the ICE bus or the FIRST Stop bus. Use all NHS services appropriately and remember to only call 999 in life-threatening emergencies.”
IMAGINE; it’s Saturday afternoon on December 13, and members of Thame Choral Society and their Choral Director, Helen Swift, are about to arrive at St Mary’s Parish Church in Thame for the final rehearsal of their Christmas Concert later that evening. However, they are due for a surprise -of the worst kind and most unwelcome – there is no electrical power anywhere in the church!
Thame Choral Society’s Musical Director, Helen Swift
In other words, no lighting, no heating, no organ, no tea! A quick check reveals that the fault must be in the outside supply cable. The electricity company can provide a generator as a temporary measure but not before 8.30 pm at the earliest and it looks as though all the hard work of the last three months is for nothing.
But this is Christmas, the season of good will, the age of the mobile phone and an enterprising choir with a 55-year history to preserve. Several phone calls and visits later the concert is saved through the generosity of Rev Father Mark Lagorio, parish priest of nearby St Joseph’s Catholic Church, who offers his church as a venue for the concert. So, as daylight fades, the final practice continues at the Thame Barns Centre and then, after Mass has finished, everyone transfers to St Joseph’s and the concert, which includes Vivald’s Gloria, Christmas carols and songs old and new, seasonal readings and traditional refreshments of hot mulled wine and mince pies, goes ahead only 30 minutes late.
Two hours later brings a huge sense of relief from the organisers, the satisfaction of having been part of an enjoyable evening’s entertainment for the choir and smiles and congratulations from the audience.
As Society Chairman Judith Newenham later said: “Considering the nightmare with which we were faced at 2 pm, to be so relieved and proud at 10 pm, is truly amazing and I want to thank Father Mark for allowing us to use the very lovely and comfortable St Joseph’s, and soprano member, Jeni Pilkington, for arranging it.”
She continued by thanking everyone for being so supportive and uncomplaining in the face of adversity, everyone who made visits and phone calls to clergy and churches, those who moved chairs, carried bags, hosted soloists and helped at the concert, and ‘all the boys who erected the staging and gave up their Sunday morning to take it down again’. She particularly thanked Choral Director, Helen, for her patience and musical selection, Rowena Gibbons (piano and organ), Cindy Sluka (oboe) and Nick Epton (bassoon), and former Director, David Hayes, for engaging local sopranos Melissa Davies and Catherine Martin for the solos in the Gloria.
Thame Choral Society, founded in 1960, is an informal, friendly, non audition choir committed to the enjoyment of music, and has performed a wide range of choral works from the renaissance and baroque through the classical and romantic composers, to modern pieces by Britten, Poulenc and Rutter. Two major concerts are performed each year in Thame, and an informal concert of lighter items is arranged for the summer, often in a garden setting.
Much has been said recently about the benefits of singing, not the least it’s ability to promote good health, to relax, to build confidence, to develop a sense of community and to have fun! Thame Choral Society is always eager to introduce potential new members to the joys of singing together and in Helen Swift they are fortunate to have an inspirational coach. In spite of what you might think or have been told, there are very few who cannot learn how to sing successfully.
Next Spring TTS will be performing works by two giants of the classical era—Haydn’s Nelson Mass and Mozart’s Vesperae solennes de confessore—so there isn’t a better time to discover what it’s like to sing great choral music with an orchestra, than by going along to one of their practice sessions. You’ll receive a warm welcome and be glad that you did.
Rehearsals are held at the Methodist Church in nearby Haddenham on Wednesday evenings from 7.30 to 9.30 pm, and begin on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 for the concert on May 3.
More information about the choir can be found on their website, www.thamechoralsociety.co.uk, and by sending an email to thamechoralsociety@hotmail.co.uk
DEAR Editor, Simmons Way in Thame! where do I even begin? This is the road notoriously known for the residents allegedly putting substances on members of the public’s cars, and consequently hindering and endangering their drive home; anything from putting cleaning polish on car windows to spraying paint on wing mirrors, making it virtually impossible to see out of them.
It was only on Friday that I had the exact samething done to my car! All this so that people avoid parking in their road?
This is a public road and residents CANNOT keep tampering with peoples cars. I have the exact same problem down my road and we have to grin and bear it.
I want to make it very clear what is happening and to ensure that the residents of Thame are warned about what these lunatics in Simmons Way, and to make the road’s residents very aware that they are effectively criminalizing themselves by doing what they are alleged to be doing.
THE Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green, drew 24 winning tickets from Thame Players’ Christmas Prize Draw at the Players Theatre on Monday, December 15. Sales of the prize draw tickets have contributed £800 to the theatre’s Building A Better Theatre development fund (following deduction of administrative costs).
Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green, picks the winning ticket of the Thame Players’ Christmas Prize Draw
The first prize was £200 in cash, donated by a Thame Players’ member, with runner-up prizes donated by local attractions such as Waterperry Gardens, the Wormsley Estate, the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Heritage Railway, and Thame Football Partnership, as well as other runner-up prizes donated by local retailers including Phoenix Electronics, Treacle’s Tea Room, Haddenham Garden Centre, Wren’s Butchers, Isabella’s Closet, Wally’s Toy Shop, and the Cross Keys pub.
Thame Players also contributed prizes of five pairs of complimentary tickets to see Thame Players’ productions in 2015, which include How the Other Half Loves, Yes Prime Minister, Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, Journey’s End, and the annual pantomime, Puss in Boots.
Additional prizes of a bottle of bubbly were each won by the person who had sold the most tickets and by the first name drawn from the bucket who had purchased £10 worth of tickets. Details of the winners are available on request by emailing thameplayers@gmail.com.
This is the second year that Thame Players have held a Christmas Prize Draw, as part of the fundraising activities they undertake to raise funds for refurbishment of the 100-year old theatre building in Nelson Street, a former Methodist chapel. During 2014 successful fundraising activities, together with grant-funding from South Oxfordshire District Council, Thame Town Council, and various bodies including the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment, the Theatres Trust, the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Foyle Foundation have enabled a new heating system to be installed, a new row of seats to be added, enlargement of the stage, and a reconfiguration of the balcony. Further building and refurbishment projects for 2015 are yet to be announced.
Thame Players spokesperson, Helen Johns, said: “Thame Players are very grateful for the support of the local visitor attractions and retailers who have contributed goods to the Prize Draw. Without their generosity it would not be possible to stage a Christmas Prize Draw with so many attractive prizes to be won.”
THAME PLAYERS CHRISTMAS PRIZE DRAW – LIST OF PRIZES
First Prize £200 in Cash (Donated by a Thame Players’ member)
Second Prize A Limited Edition Cricketing Print, entitled ‘Cricket at Wormsley’, by acclaimed cricket artist Jocelyn Galsworthy, valued at £125 (Donated by Wormsley Cricket Ground on the Getty Estate)
Third Prize Season Ticket for Two with a Year’s Free Entry to Waterperry Gardens, valued at £47.50, plus 10% Discount on Gifts, Books and Plants bought in the Garden Shop (Donated by Waterperry Gardens)
Fourth Prize Daewoo Compact Cylinder 1500 w Vaccuum Cleaner (model RC-350BK) valued at £39 (Donated by Phoenix Electronics)
Runner-Up Prizes Five Pairs of Tickets to any Thame Players’ Productions in 2015 (Donated by Thame Players)
Six Tickets to any 2014/15 Season Home Game at Meadow Park (Donated by Thame Football Partnership)
Family Travel Voucher for Four – Complimentary Travel for up to 2 Adults and 2 Children on a scheduled train service (single occasion March-October 2015) (Donated by Chinnor & Princes Risborough Heritage Steam Railway)
Traditional English Afternoon Tea for Two with freshly made sandwiches, sultana scones, clotted cream, preserves, a selection of fresh patisserie, tea or coffee (Donated by Treacle’s Tea Room)
A Round of Drinks worth £20 at Thame’s Award-Winning Real Ale Pub (Donated by The Cross Keys)
A Beautiful ‘Envy’ Fashion Scarf (Donated by Isabella’s Closet)
Christmas Gift Voucher for £10 (Donated by Wren’s Butchers)
A Soft Cuddly Toy (Donated by Wally’s Toy Shop)
Speciality Coffee or Tea and Scrumptious Cakes for Two (Donated by Wheatley Farm Shop)
A Bottle of Italian Montiero White Wine made from the Gavi grape (Donated by Majestic Wines)
A Gift Voucher worth £10 to Spend on Cosmetic and Fragrance Beauty Products (Donated by Powder Cosmetics)
An Energy Healing Session with Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Benefits (Donated by Trudi Lambert)
Afternoon Tea for Two at the Gardener’s Retreat Coffee Shop (Donated by Haddenham Garden Centre)
A Framed Black & White Print of Macready Performing King Lear (Donated by Simon Williams, of Upstairs Downstairs, Holby City and Don’t Wait Up fame)
Thame Players is a registered charity run entirely by volunteers offering a varied range of productions, from serious theatre to comedy and pantomime, including their own productions, visiting shows, and film screenings by Thame Cinema for All. The theatre is also used as a venue during Thame Food Festival and the Thame Arts & Literature Festival.
FOR more information about Thame Players, including What’s On, visit http://thameplayers.co.uk/
Thame Players are still fundraising: to donate any amount, large or small, to the Building A Better Theatre fund, please contact Helen Johns on 0771 743 4983.
TOWERSEY’S Village Voices choir were out and about in Thame yesterday, including singing in the Market Place and in Rumsey’s Cafe, singing carols and raising funds for the Chiltern Music Therapy Service.
Chiltern Music Therapy works with people of all ages with learning disabilities, brain injury, stroke, dementia, mental health issues, bereavement, trauma and those with life-threatening illnesses.
Village Voices gather outside Rumseys, in Thame, before going in to sing carols for donations
PLANS for the Henley House and Garden Show on February 28, to March 1, 2015, are well underway, with some very high profile celebrities involved (We can’t say more than that at this stage!) and the organisers are now looking for exhibitors – companies involved in high end interior design, furnishings, objects d’art etc.
Anyone from the local area who would like to exhibit at the event can find out more by visiting the website: LINK to blog and then contacting Niki Schafer via: admin@thehenleyhousegardenshow.com
HISTORY was made today (December 16) on the winners’ podium at Silverstone as three county council leaders signed a tripartite agreement they hope will jointly boost the economic prospects of nearly two million residents.
Ian Hudspeth, Martin Tett and Jim Harker OBE
In the first tri-county council alliance of its type, the leaders of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire, Ian Hudspeth, Martin Tett and Jim Harker OBE, jointly aim to make an offer to Government to support them in unlocking further economic growth and to significantly build on the £45 billion (GVA) the area already generates.
In the offer, called ‘A shared approach to driving prosperity’, the three councils call on the Government to work with them to develop a brand new ‘combined authority’ alliance focused on their common economies of innovation, science, technology and creative industries.
Building on the established relationships between the three county-based local economic partnerships, the alliance is asking Government to:
* allow joint new plans to be developed for transport, spatial planning and other key infrastructure * devolve employment and skills funding so employers’ needs can be properly met locally. * support a devolved approach to the local trunk road network * incentivise the three councils so they properly benefit from encouraging new growth * give them enhanced powers over bus services and the ability to maximise public transport between key towns and cities * ensure the best economic benefits are unlocked from projects such as East-West rail and the connectivity of technology centres like Silverstone to the national road network.
The alliance is also asking for legislation to deliver, what the three leaders call: “… a new and more flexible governance structure tailored to suit such a bold arrangement.”
Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, Ian Hudspeth, explained: “By joining up with Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire I believe we can maximise the benefits to the regional economy by improving transport links and strategic planning so we can connect people, jobs and homes.”
You can read more about the alliance here: LINK (external link)
The home side, who prior to the game were second in Division 1 East, came in to the game with a clear plan, played to their strengths, and punished United accordingly. An indication of the afternoon to come for United came after only five minutes, when Cockerilll was forced to push a drive from Steve Howkins wide of the post. The respite, however, was only short lived as the home side took the lead on 10 minutes. A cross field pass to Connor Grant was hit first time by the winger from 25 yards and flew past Cockerill. It was two five minutes later when a corner from the left was forced home at the far post by Andrew Stidder.
