THIS year’s Service of Remembrance in Thame will take place this Sunday, November 9, at Thame Memorial Gardens in Upper High Street.
The procession, which will include Town Councillors, members of the Royal British Legion and other community groups, will assemble outside the town hall at 10.30am and proceed to the War Memorial. Following the service everyone is invited to Christchurch for refreshments.
A copy of the Order of Service is available from the Information Centre at the town hall and will be distributed at the Memorial Gardens on the morning of the service.
LOCAL children from Beavers and Rainbows have been busy this week, helping to plant patches of poppies along the Phoenix Trail, in Thame.
The project, led by the Town Council in collaboration with Sustrans, is one of the town’s many events to mark the centenary of World War I. The area that has been planted is along the old railway line, including the site of the old Thame Station from where the young men of Thame and the surrounding villages, who had enlisted for the military, would have left to go and fight in the war.
The red poppy was adopted as a symbol for the terrible loss of life on the battlefields of the First World War, inspired by the words of the poem ‘In Flanders Field’ by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel, John McCrae:
“In Flanders Field the poppies grow, Between the crosses, row on row…”
The poppies that the children have planted are expected to flower next summer. The Council has thanked everyone who took part in the planting and Taplins for providing a rotavator to help with the digging.
COMMENTING on the Competition and Market Authority’s (CMA) decision to launch a market investigation of the small business banking sector, David Knowles Leak, FSB Thames Valley Regional Chairman said: “The CMA is right to put business banking under the microscope. As the CMA’s initial report showed, the market has a number of unwelcome features. It remains worryingly concentrated, with just four banks controlling 85 per cent of business current accounts, with low levels of switching between providers compounded by a lack of price transparency.
“There are a range of structural issues that have long been identified that potentially restrict competition and choice for small firms seeking much needed finance and other banking services. While we recognise there are some initiatives in place to address some of these issues, this is the opportunity to resolve any outstanding issues once and for all, and put in place the conditions for a thriving, dynamic banking sector fit for the 21st century.”
NB The FSB is the UK’s leading business organisation with around 200,000 members. It exists to protect and promote the interests of the UK’s Real-Life Entrepreneurs who run their own business. More information is available at www.fsb.org.uk and follow on twitter @fsb_policy
Chair Thames Valley Federation of Small Business, David Knowles Leak
SOUTH Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) is encouraging cyclists and motorcyclists to be ‘autumn aware’ by wearing the right Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).
The autumn weather can lead to dangerous riding conditions with low sun, wet leaves, poor visibility and deep surface water on the road. The dark mornings and evenings make commuting particularly hazardous.
Cyclists and motorcyclists should always wear the right protective gear when riding including wearing high visibility clothing. A study in New Zealand showed that motorcyclists who wore a fluorescent jacket and a white helmet were 37 per cent less likely to be killed in a road accident.
Mark Ainsworth-Smith, Pre-hospital care practitioner for SCAS, explains: “We want everyone to be safe on the roads this autumn. Wearing the correct clothing can greatly reduce your chance of a collision and also prevent serious injuries. Wearing high visibility clothing is essential to make other road users aware of your presence in bad weather, poor light and at night time. Riders should adjust their speed to changing road conditions and should be particularly careful in the event of snow or ice. “
Mike concluded: “My bike will be staying warm in the garage if we get any icy conditions this year!”
THAME United secured their fifth consecutive league victory on Tuesday ( in 04/11) in their Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division match, defeating Holyport 2-1 in what was a scrappy encounter, at the ASM Stadium.
Both teams came in to the game in good form, but for the majority of the match neither side were able to find any rhythm or pattern to their play. The early exchanges saw Holyport pressing forward but the first chance came to United on seven minutes when Shaun Coker in the Holyport goal did well to block a goal-bound shot from Stacey Field. Ten minutes later it was the visitors who edged in front when a cross field ball was intercepted and played through to Andy Vine on the wide left, who then placed his effort beyond Cockerill in the Thame goal.
Image courtesy of Holyport.co.uk
United looked for a quick response, which duly arrived on 24 minutes when a cross from the left was met by the head of Dan Jones whose effort came back off the post, with Ellis Hercules on hand to push the ball in to the roof of the net. For the remainder of the half there was little goal mouth action, with Calvin Evans going closest for United with a drive from the edge of the box.
The second half followed the pattern of the first half, albeit a mix-up in the Thame defence on 62 minutes, when a ball come back off the post and cleared to safety, prior to which Jamie West saw his lobbed effort land on the roof of the net for Holyport.
United, themselves, continued to press and were eventually rewarded with the winning goal on 78 minutes. A Field effort was parried by Coker with Dan Jones was on-hand to stab the ball home from close range. The remainder of the match saw little goalmouth action and United held on to take the three points, a win that pushes them up to fifth in the table.
THE Bucksum Salads team, David Newman and his Partner Tracy Russell from Long Crendon, were once again in the limelight this week, this time at the Oxfordshire Restaurant Award 2014, winning the ‘Best Producer’ award.
Winner of last years’ 2013 Observer Food Monthly ‘Best Local Farmer Award’, a delighted David said: “It’s good to be recognised for the hard work we put into supplying the best produce; we didn’t even know that we had been nominated until we were invited along!”
People often ask the couple how many staff they have at their farm and are amazed when they reply that the business is run on 20 acres of land rented from David’s parents and that the team consists of just the two of them, with a little help from their children in the school holidays.
Now in it’s fourth year, the Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards were held at a glittering reception in the Oxford Town Hall on Tuesday, November 4, where City of Oxford College students had not only designed the Awards but prepared and served the food.
Local Pub, the James Figg in Thame, was also nominated in the Best Traditional Pub category.
REACTING to a far-reaching ruling from the UK Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT), David Knowles Leak, FSB’s Thames Valley Regional Chairman said: “Today’s ruling leaves many questions unanswered. It has the potential to be very damaging to small businesses, presenting a real risk of small firms being forced to close down if faced by retrospective claims.
Image courtesy of personeltoday.com
“Clearly it would be desperately unjust to expect businesses to pay retrospective compensation for how they calculated holiday pay when they were fully compliant with the law as it was understood at the time.
“The FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) has been appointed to a Government task force to examine this issue and will be fighting hard for small businesses to be insulated from the uncertainty and legal risks this ruling brings.”
A recent survey of FSB members found that a third of small businesses with employees (31 per cent) paid staff for voluntary overtime. One in 10 (11 per cent) of small firms with staff also offered some form of commission.”
PEOPLE who have lost family members and friends in road collisions in the Thames Valley area will commemorate their lives at a special, multi-faith service to be held in Thame.
St Mary’s Church, Thame
The service, organised by Thames Valley Police (TVP), will be held on Sunday, November `6, at St Mary the Virgin Church in Thame at 3pm.
The memorial service is an opportunity for the emergency services to come together with members of the public who have lost loved ones to remember those that have died on the region’s roads, or in road collisions elsewhere.
Police officers, fire and rescue workers, paramedics, ambulance technicians and hospital staff will give readings and prayers from different religions during the service. Family members will be invited to take part in an act of commemoration during the service.
The service will be led by Canon David Wilbraham, Force Chaplain of TVP. The Bishop of Dorchester, The Right Reverend Colin Fletcher will lead the Act of Commemoration.
Chief Constable Sara Thornton, said: “The Road Death Memorial Service is always very moving but I know that it also provides a great comfort for those family and friends who have lost loved ones in road traffic collisions.
“We have always held the service in Thame Parish Church, which is a lovely old and peaceful building where the bereaved can spend some special time treasuring memories and finding the strength to move forward. The service brings together all the emergency services and many families from across the area and it is our way in the Thames Valley of marking the United Nations Day of Remembrance.”
Supt Lucy Hutson, Head of Roads Policing, said: “The Road Death Memorial Service is held on the third Sunday of November each year in recognition of the tragic loss of life on our roads as part of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
“In 2013 (Jan – Dec), 57 people were killed on the roads of Thames Valley and the effect of these collisions is felt by many hundreds of people. We aim to offer support to the families of those who have been killed and we organize this service to mark this very important day.”
Force Chaplain, David Wilbraham, said: “The third Sunday of November is set aside by the United Nations as a special day of remembrance for victims of road death.
“However, while clearly a global issue, the death of someone on the roads is intensely personal and impacts greatly on their families and friends. This service provides a safe, supportive place for those affected to come together to remember and commemorate their individual loss.
“For some, this service has become an annual event; we welcome them and extend the invitation to others whose lives have been affected by death on the roads to join us.”
This is the ninth year that the service has taken place, and it is believed to be the only service of its kind in the UK organized by a police force.
Everyone is welcome to attend the event, and can reserve a space by contacting Elizabeth Richardson on 01189 231802 or, alternatively, email RDMS@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
AN injury time strike from Luke Ricketts finally broke the stubborn resistance of neighbours Chinnor as United progressed to the next round of the FA Vase on Saturday.
Luke Ricketts
In front of one of the largest crowds of the day in the FA Vase (283), United were perhaps expecting Chinnor to adopt a physical approach to the match – an approach that had been employed on numerous occasions in the recent past. Instead, they were met with a side playing neat passing football, with former United player Stuart Braun, in particular, linking the play for the visitors. As it was, Chinnor had the bulk of the play in the opening thirty minutes, albeit chances in front of goal were limited for both sides.
The first real chance came to United after a quarter of an hour when Stacey Field did well to create space and put a cross over that Ben Gray headed wide. A better chance came to Chinnor a couple of minutes later when a corner from the left was floated to the far post, with Craig Faulconbridge heading just wide. A Dan Jones half volley for United was just wide moments later, before the visitors broke the deadlock from the penalty spot, Faulconbridge calmly slotting home in to the bottom corner after an offence in the penalty area.
At this stage United were struggling to find any real rhythm or to generate any pace in the game – features that had been evident in the recent run of form. However, they levelled the game five minutes before the break when a long throw from Matt Hall was flicked on by Ellis Hercules and beyond keeper Ben Taunton, in to the far corner of the goal. The goal was, perhaps, significant not only for getting United level, but in its timing just before half time and marking a change in the momentum of the game.
United started the second half brightly and in the opening minutes Ben Gray struck an effort just wide before captain Adam Morris shaved the outside of the post from 20 yards. As the half progressed, United had the majority of the possession with Chinnor content to play on the break, but despite the possession, United were unable to take advantage. A Hercules header was cleared off the line, before Dan Jones had two good chances with Taunton saving one and the other going wide.
However, just as it looked like the game was going in to Extra Time, a perfect through- ball from Ollie Lynch was controlled in one touch by Luke Ricketts on the edge of the box, before then placing the ball wide of the advancing Taunton with his second touch. Cue scenes of jubilation on and off the field and, with barely a minute left on the clock, United held on to progress to the next round. Phew!
The procession, which will include Town Councillors, members of the Royal British Legion and other community groups, will assemble outside the town hall at 10.30am and proceed to the War Memorial. Following the service everyone is invited to Christchurch for refreshments.
