Category: Missed a ThameNews story?

‘Pass the people parcel’ challenge for Thame pubs

PEACH PUBS, which runs The Thatch and The James Figg in Thame, won the title of Best Medium Group Pubs & Bars Employer at Caterer.com’s Best Employers in Hospitality Awards 2014, at a ceremony in London on Monday, September 29. This was the fourth time the company has won the prestigious national award.

The Thatch’s kitchen team in high spirits

To mark the win, Peach kicked off a game of ‘Best Employers Pass the Parcel’ where each pub and several of its suppliers had to pass the trophies won in the same awards in the last four years, from one pub to the next, photograph or video the evidence and celebrate with a glass of bubbly.

The challenge reached Thame on Wednesday, October 8, when The Thatch manager, Evelin Rae, took delivery of the special ‘Peach Parcel of People’ Awards and rounded her team up for a ‘then there were four’ photo, where everyone raised four fingers to show four wins.

Afterwards she ensured the parcel reached its next destination in one piece – The Fishes at North Hinksey followed by The Fleece in Witney, with everyone trying hard not to drop the parcel – the trophies inside were all made of glass.

“It’s massive to win a Best Employer in Hospitality Award and it means a great deal to me and all the team,” said Frazer Sutherland from Peach, who looks after both the Thame pubs with his two managers. “When we founded the company, we genuinely wanted to make it a special place to work and give people a real say in how the business is run and share in the rewards. Our people come first and we work hard to help them succeed.

“It’s fantastic to have this recognised, more so because these awards are voted anonymously by employees themselves. We are individuals with total enthusiasm for what we do. We make sure everyone learns what they want to learn and gets the boss they deserve. And that makes it fun…..almost every single day. That’s so rare in hospitality.”

Evelin Rae, manager of The Thatch adds, “Peach is a great place to work where you get the chance to work on your dreams and achieve them. Everyone on the team is encouraged to do that and gets recognition for what they do as well as a share in the rewards. I’ve got a great team here in the pub and it’s fantastic to be able to celebrate the award win with them by taking part in this challenge and of course by having a well-deserved glass of bubbly!”

Now in their fourth successful year, Caterer.com’s Best Employers in Hospitality Awards are recognised by employers and employees alike as a respected measure of great employers in the sector. Every year, the awards survey thousands of people who work in the industry to highlight the companies who do the most to attract, train, retain and motivate their people.

Employers of all sizes and from all sectors of the hospitality industry line up to compete but it’s down to the views of the employees themselves to determine who is a winner. More information about the awards can be found at www.bestemployersinhospitality.com

Peach is always on the look-out for people to join its award-winning partners and team. To find out more about the rewarding roles available, visit: www.peachpubs.com

15/10/2014
Fun and funds bring Swimathon smiles

THE legacy of the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics has once again been carried forward by Thame Rotary’s third edition of the Thame Swimathon at the town’s leisure centre on Sunday, October 12.

The Booker Tate team with Nichola Dixon, Deputy Mayor of Thame, and Linda Emery, President of the Rotary Club of Thame

Over 80 people of different ages swam in teams of six or so for one hour. Groups from Booker Tate, Barley Hill School, Thame Childrens’ Choir, Thame SAFARI, Citizens Advice Bureau, Racquets, Thame Swimming Club, Thame Town Council, and others were represented by enthusiastic swimmers. After the excitement of the swims, all of them were honoured by Nichola Dixon, Deputy Mayor of Thame who, together with Linda Emery, President of the Thame Rotary Club, awarded the teams with medals.

Marius Ciortan, spokesman for the Thame Rotary Club said: “All the teams had a fabulous time and have helped to pledge so far, almost £1,700 for local charities for which the Rotary Club of Thame is very grateful. However, the money continues to come in as the on-line fundraising did not stop and some teams are still busy fundraising.”

“The Thame Swimathon has now become a traditional local community event, so look out for the details of the next one in 2015.” Marius added: “Our thanks go to our sponsors, Thame Leisure Centre, Park Street Dental Clinic, Abbotts Office Solutions, Vale Life Magazine, Booker Tate, Haddenham Beer Festival, Silent View Windows, and Ignite Sport, as well as club members, friends and relatives. But special thanks must go to the teams of swimmers from Thame and the neighbouring villages without which this event could not have happened.”

For more information about the Rotary Club of Thame, visit: www.thame.rotaryweb.org or get in touch via facebook.com/thamerotary. Alternatively you can call the club on 07764 85 49 49.

15/10/2014
All set, Go! for Arts and Literature Festival

THAMES Arts and Literature festival was officially launched on Friday (10/10), with festival Directors, sponsors, supporters and the Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green, gathering at Thame Museum, to relish the delights to come of the fifth TAL festival – and the tasty nibbles provided by Chinnor caterer, Caroline Jones.

From L to R – Mayor Consort James Green, Mayor Jeannette Matelot Green, Steve Bannister, Yvonne Maxwell (TAL Directors), Luise & Brian Pattinson (Book House, Thame)

Appropriately continuing on the history theme, the keynote lecture, tomorrow, Wednesday, will be the first event of the five-day festival and will feature Charles Spencer, talking about his latest book, The Killers of the King, January, 1649. The book is about what happened to all the signatories on the Death Warrant of King Charles 1st.

As Thame was intricately involved in the Civil War, being right on ‘the front line’, and the King based in Oxford, this lecture will be of particular interest to local people. And of course, the Parliamentarian General, John Hampden, died of his wounds after the battle of Chalgrove, here in Thame.

Tickets for Charles Spencer’s talk have already sold out but there are still tickets left for several of the 29 other events on during the festival, all listed on the TAL website at http://www.talfestival.org/

14/10/2014
Thame Footpath changes proposed

A plan to re-route a long-established footpath that crosses a proposed development across Cotmore Wells Farm, Thame, has been recommended for approval by Thame Town Council. At a meeting last night (14/10) Councillors expressed their ‘delight’ at the proposed changes because, they said, ‘It doesn’t go anywhere at the moment’.

CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) howevfer, has expressed its concerns about the footpath to the planning authority, South Oxfordshire District Council, in a submission commenting on the planning application for the units. Changes to the footpath are being proposed to accommodate two large, new industrial units on the land, with associated landscaping and carparking, which are currently awaiting planning permission.

In its response, CPRE states:

“As the public rights of way network east of Thame is very sparse and we have always considered it essential that additional public rights of way be created in the area to give residents of the town a greater variety of country walks accessible on foot from their homes, we are concerned that Section 2.7 of the Landscape & Visual Impact Appraisal states that ´this route could be stopped up without any impact on pedestrians`. We therefore wish to urge your Council to insist that this path be retained as part of any permission you may grant and be extended (a) to the eastern boundary of the development site (where an extension might, in due course, be created to Towersey) and (b) to link with the Phoenix Trail in order to retain the possibility of it forming part of future improvements of the rights of way network around Thame.”

The full ‘Pre Order Consultation’ document can be read here: http://www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/images/7._Public_Path_Pre-Order_Consultation.pdf

The planning proposal for these new industrial units, was recentlly recommended for approval by Thame Town Council, even though the footprint of the proposed units is larger than allowed for in the Thame Neighbourhood Plan. The justification for this decision can be read in a letter from the Town Clerk to Thame.Net here: https://www.thame.net/archives/16686

A letter from a Thame resident, regretting the development, can also be read here: https://www.thame.net/archives/16562

14/10/2014
Lucky escape for crash driver

A woman driver escaped serious injury earlier this morning after her car left the road and came to rest upside down in a ditch.

The incident, involving a blue Vauxhall Vectra, happened on the A329, at Little Milton shortly before 9.30am.

14/10/2014
Chinnor doubles Southend Saxons’ score to win

CHINNOR RFC had a strong first half for the first time this season on Saturday (11/10) which helped significantly towards their 42-21 victory over Southend Saxons.

Photo by Peter Matthews

Reuben Haile opened Chinnor’s account with the first of his four tries in the 7th minute. Keohane increased the Chinnor lead to 8-0 with a penalty goal on 13 minutes. After several strong scrums, referee James Clarke lost patience with Chinnor and awarded a penalty try to the visitors from Essex. Ashton’s conversion closed the score to 8-7.

Another penalty goal to Chinnor’s Keohane was followed by two tries from Chinnor in quick succession through Jones and Haile – both benefitting from midfield play making of the highest order from Junior Fatialofa. Keohane’s conversion put the home side 23-7 ahead. With Chinnor’s Manning and Long leading the forward charge, Chinnor were well in command. Their superior back play further demonstrated their sense of urgency with the hat trick try from Haile. The conversion put Chinnor ahead 30-7 at the break.

Southend started the second half well when their scrum continued to pose problems to the home side and eventually their dominance led to a try through number 8 Hudson, converted by Ashton. Southend continued to press in the Chinnor 22 but were rebuffed by a determined home defence. Haile, on the end of a scything backs move, put Chinnor 35-14, Keohane adding the extras. Southend continued to press and their efforts were rewarded by a try from winger Billings, darting through the cover from 30 metres out. The conversion put the visitors 37-21 behind. In the dying seconds, a determined Jack Hayes bashed his way through several tackles for Chinnor’s final try, to close the match at 42-21 to the Oxfordshire boys.

Southend were well served by their scrum who posed Chinnor problems throughout the match and looked dangerous every time they had set piece possession in the Chinnor 22. A lot of stout defending by the home pack managed to neutralise the Southend scrum superiority. Former Chinnor player, David Jackson was the pick of Southend pack.

Chinnor will be pleased to have made a much earlier start in the game than in previous matches. The side is starting to look more cohesive and the backline looks more settled. Most of the good work in the backline, especially leading up to the tries, was due to the superior running, sidestepping and passing skills of Junior Fatialofa. Martey made a surprisingly high number of tackles. Reuben Haile’s four tries are testament to his natural scoring ability when given good ball in the right areas. In the forwards, Manning and Long were both tough and industrious throughout. However, for his all-round contribution in attack and defence, scrum-half Frank Jones wins the accolade of star player, just shading it from a number of very good candidates.

Teams
Chinnor: Martin Nutt, Robbie Martey, Jack Hayes, Junior Fatialofa, Reuben Haile, Ed Keohane, Frank Jones, Ricardo Cano, Jamie Townsend, Guido Cambareri, Ben Manning, Josh Kroman, Andy Tibbatts, Ryan Long, Alfie To’oala
Interchanges: Joe Winpenny, Dave McKee, Nick Harrison, James Cathcart, Matt Mountford
Southend : Tom Ashton, Mark Billings, Sam Nash, Chris Vaughan, Danny Cleare, Ian Meads, Rhys Powell, Jason Fardell, Marcus Bloomberg, Aston Bevans-Royston, Kris Chesney (c), Harry Hudson, David Jackson, Adam Ferrier, James Kellard
Interchanges: Craig Strachan, Dylan Day-White, Chris Shields, Lester Pollard, Billy Driver

Scorers
Chinnor
Tries (time): Haile (7, 32, 35, 56) Jones (28) Hayes (76)
Conversions (time): Keohane (33, 35, 57)
Penalty Goals (time): Keohane (13, 25)

Southend
Tries: (time): Penalty (19), Hudson (54), Billings (66)
Conversions: (time): Ashton (20, 55, 67)

SOURCE: Contributed by Bill O’Donnell

14/10/2014
Thame Utd end visitors’ winning streak

UNITED continued their recent good form on Saturday (11/09) as they brought to an end the visitors’ five-match winning streak in the league.

Dan West, who scored the first goal against Kidlington on Saturday

And it could not have started any better for United as they took the lead in the first minute. Captain Adam Morris fed the ball out to Ben Connelly whose first time cross was met by the head of Dan West six yards from goal, giving Hyslop in the Kidlington goal no chance. Two minutes later and West and Marcus Mealing combined well before the latter earned a free kick on the edge of the box that Dan Jones fired just wide.

Luke Ricketts, who scored Thame utd’s second goal on Saturday against Kidlington

Kidlington, who prior to the game were third in the league, nevertheless looked dangerous going forward and the equaliser arrived in the 15th minute. The Referee awarded Kidlington a somewhat dubious corner that was taken short and delivered to the far post where an unmarked Ryan Curtin was able to control the ball and fire beyond Cockerill. United then enjoyed possibly their best period of the game with Mealing heading over in the 22nd minute before, four minutes later, feeding the ball through to the returning Luke Ricketts who hit a powerful shot in to the roof of the net to restore the lead. Mealing then nearly got on to the score sheet with an acrobatic effort just wide, before, in the 29th minute, West poked a cross from Ricketts just wide of the near post. United were unable to capitalise at this point and Kidlington almost found an equaliser on half time when Curtin, through on goal, found Cockerill in fine form.

The second half lacked the intensity of the first, with Kidlington enjoying the majority of the possession and United content to sit back and hit their opponents on the break. However, despite the possession, Kidlington rarely threatened the home goal and, when they did, Cockerill was commanding in maintaining the lead.

This Thame United 2 Kidlington 1, win sees United move up to seventh in the league.

United: Cockerill, Evans, Jones, Hall, Hercules (Mulholland), Lynch, Connelly (Gledhill), Morris, Mealing, West, Ricketts

SOURCE: Contributed by Jake Collinge

14/10/2014
Chinnor rugby boy is star turn for Wasps

ONE lucky Chinnor Rugby Mini Player had a great day courtesy of London Wasps recently.

Will Greenfield running the ball at Wasps’ game against Newcastle Falcons

Ten year-old Will Greenfield, from The Meadles near Aylesbury, won a competition held for all the Thame-based, Chinnor Rugby Club’s Mini’s players who registered on the club open day, to become the ‘ball runner’ for the Wasps game against Newcastle Falcons on September 28.

Will got to warm-up on the Adams Park Stadium pitch and have his photograph taken with the Wasps’ captain, James Haskell, and mascot Sting before running out with the match ball prior to the start of the game.

Will, who plays for Chinnor’s U11s, said: “The day was really good but a bit scary. I think we gave them a lucky ball because they won!”

The final score was Wasps 35 – 18 Newcastle Falcons.

Chinnor Minis, based in Thame, are always on the lookout for new players aged 6-12 years-old, and train at 10am on Sundays. For more information email minichairman@chinnor-rfc.com or visithttp://www.chinnor-rfc.com/

14/10/2014
Search is on for Good Neighbour Scheme volunteers

AS the launch of Thame’s Good Neighbour Scheme draws closer, the search is on for volunteers to help improve life for people in the local area and join the scheme.

Image courtesy of Sourcewire.com

Anyone considering becoming a volunteer is invited to go along to an informal meeting at 6.30pm on Wednesday, October 15, at Thame Town Hall, to meet other volunteers and exchange ideas on how to work together to help those in need.

The sorts of people who may need the support of GNS volunteers might be older people, people with disabilities, single parents, young mothers, those temporarily in need through illness or anyone who may be isolated in the community. Help could include occasional transport, prescription collection, dog walking, and even little jobs like changing a light bulb.

11/10/2014
October sees Thame’s Netball girls ‘on a roll’

(1) Tornadoes v Phoenix 1st October 2014 ADNL Div 3 – IT was a tense start to the game with both teams gunning for a win. It was neck and neck for the first four goals but Thame swiftly took the lead thanks to some superb long range shots from Heather and Hayley leaving it 9 – 2 after the first quarter.

It was a scrappy affair in the second quarter with both teams making mistakes allowing phoenix to slowly claw back some goals. Phoenix defence was strong, frustrating Thame’s attacking play and making passing practically impossible ending the quarter in a low score of 13-8.

In the third quarter Phoenix continued to press hard but soon got tired and with some outstanding interceptions from Susie Thame were able to increase the lead to 22 – 10.

By the fourth quarter the perspiration levels were at their peak notably at the knees, arms and top lip. Despite this we maintained a strong lead with sound defending from Sheena and Kirsty keeping the score line low. Our third match of the season ended with a a winning score line of 29 – 16.

(2) Thame Hurricanes v Wingrave Comets – 1st October

A much depleted Hurricanes team faced a solid Wingrave side, which historically, has been an extremely close fought battle. The first quarter started cautiously but Thame managed to snatch the opening goal. Amy Scullard (playing up from Cyclones) was a strong influence on the centre court, finding plenty of space and enabling smooth movement up the court. Lucy and Carol passed swiftly to Helen in the shooting circle and Thame edged ahead. Although Wingrave were not far behind and Thame found themselves behind at the first quarter whistle.

The second quarter was a much stronger one for Thame with a switch in positions for Lyn and Sue and some fabulous defensive work by Lynn P and Sue in the centre third. There were also some marvellous long pass interceptions by Lyn in the circle. Thame were down by two goals at the half time whistle..

The second half of the game saw a steady rise in the goals for Hurricanes and slowly but surely they crept further ahead of a frustrated Wingrave. Hurricanes defence from the Centre pass was working well and Thame achieved some much deserved turnovers. Helen played some crafty over the post passes to Carol and their shooting was awesome. A few stray passes crept into the tiring Thame side but they held their own and finished a healthy 34-27.

It was a much more determined performance this week with calm, positive play. A very welcome first win of the season.
Team: Helen T, Carol S, Lucy S, Amy S, Lynn P, Lyn H, Sue F, Ellie D.

SOURCE: Contributed

11/10/2014