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  • Ref takes a tumble in Thame match

    IN an action-packed second half, United scored a 97th minute penalty to take all three points against fifth placed Highworth Town on Saturday (25/10). The final score was Thame United 3, Highworth Town 2, in this UHLSPORT Hellenic League Previer Division.

    thame_united (400x400) (300x300)There was little indication of what was to come in the second half when the highlight of the first half was referee Ed Turner taking a tumble over the halfway-line flag.

    It all changed, however, early in the second half when United failed to clear a Highworth corner and the ball was played back in to the box for Callum Parson to score from close range. It was nearly two five minutes later when T.J.Bohane could only side-foot wide from six yards. The visitors were made to rue the miss on 70 minutes. Dan West was fouled 25 yards from goal and Dan Jones stepped-up to curl a delightful free-kick in to the top corner giving Stevens in the Highworth goal no chance.

    By now it was end-to-end with both sides going for the three points. United edged in front on 84 minutes when substitute Shannon Jesson was grounded in the penalty area, but managed to swivel and poke the ball beyond Stevens. Highworth pushed forward in search of an equaliser which duly arrived in the 90th minute when, following a cross in to the box, the ball fell to Sam Wadeih, whose headed effort found its way in to the back of the net despite United having a number of players on the line.

    With the referee indicating 10 minutes of injury time, the momentum was with the visitors as they went in search of the three points. However, in the 97th minute, a long ball from keeper Cockerill found Dan West, who beat his marker before picking out captain Adam Morris with a square ball in to the box but, just as he was about to strike the ball, he was caught by a Highworth defender. Whilst the referee did not give a decision, after consulting his assistant, a penalty was awarded. West confidently finished and United held out to take three points, and maintain their sixth placed position.

    United:

    Cockerill, Evans, Hall, Hercules, Muholland, Lynch, Jones, Morris, Davis (Jesson), West, Ricketts

    SOURCE: Contributed by Jake Collinge

  • Farmer’s boy Nick wins Junior Squash tournament

    NICK Baker, from a local farming family, ploughed his way through to win the Racquets Junior, One-Day Squash Tournament which took place on Saturday, October 18.

    Prize winners at October 2014 Junior One-day tournament (218x300)Twenty youngsters –  who had been playing squash for for between just one month to a few years – turned out for the tournament to raise their competitive edge so that they can prepare for competing in the Oxfordshire county squads.

    There were two grades – a 16 draw of players who are now playing the game of squash to a high level and will be vying for positions in the County squads over the coming year. Nick Baker won, beating Molly Woods in the final. Leo Hayden won the Plate, beating Max Bridges. In both these matches, the age gap and strength difference proved to be the deciding factors.

    In the Junior Beginners’ grade Ned Richards won his very first tournament. This grade was especially significant to the game as it involved three girls who are new squash.

    Sue Martin-Downhill, one of the coaches at Racquets,  said:  ‘The keenness of the kids this weekend was brilliant. They all played the game in fantastic spirit and there were plenty of very close matches helping them gain experience of coping in competitive environments.”

    Squash is becoming so popular locally that Racquets now has coaching sessions almost every day of the week. But Sue would love to hear from others who would like a taster of the game she loves so much. Give her a call at the club on 01844 261754 if you would like to get involved in this great indoor sport.

  • Thame prepares for a Santa invasion!

    A family of reindeer to pet, a miniature railway to chug up the High Street on and an extended lantern parade will all be part of Thame’s Christmas event 2015, which this year will be extended into the following Sunday, with a three kilometer Santa Dash organised by the Florence Nightingale Hospice and Thame Lions.

    Untitledfun-runThe lantern parade for children, which was a huge success last year, will be even bigger and brighter this year with parents, grandparents and members of the Thame & District Day Centre being encouraged to be involved.

    seans_choice_crendon_bedsFriday, December 5, 2014, is the date for your diary for the big Christmas lights switch-on and stage event, and Sunday, December 7, 10am in the town centre, for the Santa Dash. Anyone can register at www.fnhospice.org.uk  to take part to run, jog, or walk the buggy-friendly 3K route .

    The theme for the event will be ‘Santa Convention’ and all the visitors and those taking part on the Friday night and the Santa Dash, are being encouraged to wear Santa hats and costumes. The reindeer will be housed in a 12ft pen in the High Street and although the public won’t be able to enter the pen, they will be able to stroke the deer through the picket fencing.

    Once again there will be a ‘town trail’ around various shops in the town to spot a hidden object and shop owners are being encouraged to stay open late. Businesses not within the road closure area will be given the opportunity by the town council to have a free stall nearer the action.

    The stage events will start at 6pm and last for around 60 minutes, with several local groups including Thame Players, Stagecoach Thame, the Romey Louise Dance Academy, Thame Youth Theatre, the Pauline Quirke Academy, Thame Chamber Choir as well as the primary schools taking part. The winner of the Christmas Trail will be presented with their prize, as will the winner of the competition to name the theme of next year’s Thame Carnival who will win an exciting toy from Wally’s Toy Shop in Thame, and three months Junior Gold Membership to Racquets, Thame.

  • Thame butcher’s bid for glory

    TOP-CLASS butchers from Oxfordshire are battling to bag honours in the Q Guild Smithfield Awards, their annual high profile product evaluation competition.

    Image courtesy of huffingtonpost.co.uk
    Image courtesy of huffingtonpost.co.uk

    A total of 479 products from 54 Q butchers nationwide, virtually half of the national membership, have been entered for this year’s sizzling showcase.

    There are eight product categories – sausages, burgers, ready to eat meat and roasts, bacon and cured products, pies and bakery – both hot and cold – kitchen ready products, and ready meals, a new addition this year to reflect the great variety of products offered by Guild members.

    M Newitt & Sons, of Thame, is well represented with nine products – Oxfordshire Sausage, Gloucestershire Sausage, Green Back Bacon, Smoked Back Bacon, Long Crendon Black Bacon, Long Crendon Black Streaky Bacon, Steak, Ale & Stilton Pie, Steak Pie and Chicken & Ham Pie.

    seans_choice_crendon_bedsAll entrants will be hoping to pick-up gold awards, all of which will qualify for standalone top-rated diamond awards given to individual product category winners, along with EBLEX awards for the best English beef and lamb products, BPEX awards for the best English pork and bacon products, plus Quality Meat Scotland awards for the best Scotch beef and lamb products.

    In addition, an overall Smithfield Awards supreme champion will emerge – and earn the bragging rights that go with this ultimate accolade!

    Judging by panels of food and meat industry enthusiasts has now taken place and awards will be announced and presented at the Butchers Hall in Smithfield, London, on Thursday, November 13, by Matthew Fort, food and drink editor at the Guardian for over a decade, author of several award-winning books on food, and expert judge on the popular TV series, The Great British Menu.

    Product innovation is a key activity in the Q Guild, whose 110 members across Britain are at the elite end of the retail butchery sector.

    Q Guild national chairman, West Yorkshire butcher Brindon Addy, said: “The Smithfield Awards are a true and stringent test of the vast variety of products hand-crafted by our members nationwide, who represent the cream of Great British butchery.

    “They have an opportunity to win some of the meat industry’s most prized accolades and this year is one of the biggest entries we have had for quite some time.”

    SOURCE: Press release

  • UPDATE: One of two prison escapees hands himself in

     

    THAMES Valley Police has confirmed that one of the prisoners who absconded from Spring Hill Prison near Aylesbury at the weekend, has been found.

    Lewis Hoare (Left) handed himself in lastnigh but Kenneth Simmonds (right) is still being hunted by police
    Lewis Hoare (Left) handed himself in lastnigh but Kenneth Simmonds (right) is still being hunted by police

    Lewis Hoare and Kenneth Simmonds walked out of Spring Hill Open Prison at about 1pm on Sunday (26/10). Hoare handed himself in to British Transport Police at South Ruislip Station at approximately 11pm last night (27/10).

    seans_choice_crendon_bedsSimmonds is still being hunted by police. He is 43-years-old, medium build, with blue eyes, short brown hair, clean shaven, with a small scar under his left eye, a scar above his right eyebrow, a tattoo of a panther on his left forearm and a tattoo of a panther’s head on his right arm forearm.

  • Comfortable win over Newbury for Thame

    FOR the second time in a week United scored in the first minute of their match against Newbury on October 18,  to put them on the way to a comfortable win at Newbury and another three points. The final score was Newbury 0, Thame United 4.

    thame_united (400x400) (300x300)Captain Adam Morris slid the ball through to Luke Ricketts who out-paced his marker before slamming a shot from 20 yards against the under-side of the bar and in to the back of the net. Shortly after, full back Dan Jones nearly extended the lead when his shot from an acute angle came back off the post. At this stage, the home side had rarely threatened, but Josh Cockerill was called in to action on 12 minutes to save comfortable.

    The second goal arrived on 20 minutes when Andy Gledhill did well to win a corner that led to an Adam Morris cross which was powerfully met by the head of Ellis Hercules, who directed the ball beyond the grasp of Gee in the Newbury goal and in to the top corner. It was no less than Thame deserved and, whilst there was little meaningful action for the remainder of the half, Ricketts went close on 38 minutes, heading over from a Gledhill cross.

    The match was over within 15 minutes of the second half as United scored two more goals. First, on 56 minutes, Morris floated a free kick in to the box where Ellis Hercules knocked the ball back across goal for substitute Adam Hazell to hit a left-foot volley on the half-turn that flew in to the far corner of the goal. Then, on 58 minutes, Ricketts went on a trademark run down the Thame left before delivering a low cross that evaded Gledhill, but Dan West was on hand at the far post to steer the ball home. As with the first half, the remainder of the game lacked significant action, with Newbury having the majority of the possession, but with Thame looking the more likely to extend their lead on the break.

    The win, which maintains the unbeaten away start to the season in all competitions, sees United move up to sixth in the league.

    United:

    Cockerill, Evans, Jones, Hercules, Muholland (Coverley), Lynch, Connelly (Hazell), Morrise, Gledhill (Jesson), West, Ricketts.

    SOURCE: Contributed by Jake Collinge.

  • Two prisoners on the run

    THAMES Valley Police is appealing for information regarding the whereabouts of two men who have absconded from prison.

    Lewis Hoare (Left) and Kenneth Simmonds (right) who absonded from Spring Hill Open prison this afternoon
    Lewis Hoare (Left) and Kenneth Simmonds (right) who absonded from Spring Hill Open prison this afternoon

    Lewis Hoare (pictured) and Kenneth Simmonds walked out of Spring Hill Open Prison near Aylesbury at about 1pm yesterday (26/10).

    Police believe that they left the prison together.

    Hoare is 27-years-old, slim, with blue eyes, short brown hair, clean shaven, with a mole on his right cheek, protruding ears and a tattoo with the word ‘Pompy’ across his knuckles.

    Kenneth SimmondsSimmonds is 43-years-old, of medium build, with blue eyes, short brown hair, clean shaven, with a small scar under his left eye, a scar above his right eyebrow, a tattoo of a panther on his left forearm and a tattoo of a panther’s head on his right arm forearm.

    Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Joe Banfield said: “Thames Valley Police is working closely with the Prison Service to try and locate Hoare and Simmonds, who walked out of Spring Hill Open Prison at about 1pm yesterday.

    “If any member of the public sees either Hoare or Simmonds do not approach them, instead call 999.

    seans_choice_crendon_beds“Further, if you are reading this and have any information whatsoever about either Hoare’s or Simmond’s whereabouts then please call police via 101.

    “If you don’t feel comfortable speak directly to the police then you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.”

  • Can you suggest a prize-winning carnival theme?

    ALTHOUGH Thame Carnival 2015 may be several months away, the committee organising the event, under the Co-ordination of Sue Martin Downhill, is already thinking ahead of ways of making it bigger and better in 2015, and is running a competition to find a great theme for next year’s carnival – with great prizes!

    carnival_undated_logoThe committee has already contacted many local schools about the competition to find the best suggestion for Carnival 2015. So, every school is being asked to put a Carnival box in a prominent position, may be in the school’s Reception area, or may be on each teacher’s desk, for the children to put their suggestions into. The Carnival committee will supply the boxes and the forms for the children to fill out with their name, age, class and suggested theme title.

    A prize will be awarded to the child whose theme is chosen, and presented to them on the stage at the Big Christmas Lights Switch On event in Thame, on December 5th, 2014, by the celebrity guest.

    The Suggestion boxes will be collected after the cut-off date for the competition, on November 30th. A suggestion form can be downloaded here: 2015 Theme Competition form (1)

    Sue Martin Downhill, who is co-ordinating the carnival once again, said: “We know that schools are very busy places but we hope that they would like to be involved in this great, fun event which helps brings the community of Thame and the surrounding area together, and raises much-needed funds for local charities.”

    More information about the Carnival, and how schools – or anyone who would like to help – can get involved, is available from Sue Martin Downhill via: suedownhill@gmail.com.

    A member of the Carnival committee is available to visit schools and talk to the children in assembly for instance, about the event and the competition.

  • Autumn Rural Comedy Circuit

    THREE local venues are launching a Rural Comedy Circuit this autumn, presenting three shows. The first will be in Chinnor on November 1, followed by Chilton on November 20, and the annual, Xmas Xtravaganza in Ludgershall on December 18th. See https://www.facebook.com/newvariety.lives for more details and the information about the line ups for the three events.

    chinnor_comedy_night (217x300)The Rural Comedy Circuit when the landlady of Ludgershall’s Bull and Butcher pub, Pat Crisp, persuaded the resettled Hackney Empire director and producer, Roland and Claire Muldoon, both recognised for their pioneering role in the development of modern comedy, ‘..to stop talking about their experiences and put some shows on.’

    Claire Muldoon herself explained: “For the last seven years the shows have sold out four times a year and the club has become a local legend, adding new status to this small village. We have won a reputation for presenting ‘Bills’ from the national comedy circuit and udiences from across Bucks and Oxon book early and regularly, to see such artists as Jo Brand, Barry Cryer & Ronnie Golden, Jenny Éclair, Mark Little, Rudi Lickwood, John Moloney, Felix Dexter and the fabulous Otiz Cannelloni, an audience favourite.”

    Such has the demand been that they have now set up the fledgling Rural Comedy circuit in three Bucks and Oxon towns and villages; and possibly more.

    The shows are set out in a cabaret format with a strong pa, atmospheric lighting, full technical support, a friendly bar, four professional, experienced comedy acts and compere, and the occasional special guest.

    Claire concluded: “A fully professional evening, promising a great night out for those over 18.”

  • Thame Mayor to show her ‘arty’ side

    THAME’S Mayor, Jeannette Matelot Green, will be showing her artistic side when she exhibits alongside 100 other artists and craftspeople at this year’s Aylesbury Grammar School Art and Craft Fair, on November 21.

    Jeannette Matelot Green with her tiger sculpture, at a previous exhibition
    Jeannette Matelot Green with her tiger sculpture, at a previous exhibition

    The school’s PTA has been staging its impressive display of local arts, raising funds for the school and providing an invaluable showcase for leadling local artists, professional and amateur alike since 1993.

     As the promotional material states: “The Fair has gone from strength to strength and in the past few years, has also provided the venue for an innovative and tempting display of local crafts. This year we will also be showcasing the prodigious talent of the AGS sixth form in our special Student Expo.

    Last year thousands of pounds were raised for the School as visitors enjoyed the creativity on display. This year, with your support, the event promises to be bigger and better than ever before.”

    More details, including about some of the artists’ work, can be found on the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/aylesburyartandcraft