Category: More News

EDUCATIONAL GRANTS. Now that the A-level results are out and university/college places confirmed, prospective students (resident in Haddenham) are invited to apply to the Haddenham Educational Charity for a small grant towards the purchase of books and equipment for use on courses starting this autumn. Application forms are available from the parish office (open Tuesday and Thursday mornings) or you can leave a message on the parish council’s voicemail on 292411.

SURPLUS FRUIT & VEG. The two young Haddenham mums, Julia Metcalfe and Jo Bateman, who have a stall at Thame Farmers’ Market for their range of homemade preserves under the label ‘Haddas Handmade’, are keen to source local ingredients.
If you have glut of fruit or vegetables they would be delighted to hear from you.
Call Julia on 290261 or email:
sales@haddashandmade.co.uk with offers.

NEW, reduced opening hours at Haddenham library commence September 3, following cuts decided by Bucks County Council earlier this year.
The library loses one of its late evening openings (Tuesday) and shuts half-an-hour earlier than previously on Fridays. The hours are as follows: Mondays and Wednesdays – closed;
Tuesdays and Thursdays – 9.30am-5pm;
Fridays – 9.30am-7pm and Saturdays – 9.30am-1pm.

IN a bid to prevent electrical waste going to landfill and harming the environment, South Oxfordshire District Council is encouraging residents to recycle unwanted electrical items such as stereos, irons and toasters.
Residents are being asked to take these items to their nearest waste recycling centre for recycling or safe disposal. Sites such as Oakley Wood, Drayton and Redbridge will have clearly labelled containers designed to collect an assortment of electrical goods.
The District Council is also able to collect larger electrical items such as fridges and cookers through its bulky waste collection at a cost of

AN AMPUTEE who lost an arm and a leg while clearing landmines in Mozambique, is currently cycling from the Thai border to Sihanoukville, Cambodia, to help raise funds and awareness for the Thame charity, The Cambodia Trust.
Chris Moon MBE’s fundraising will help the Cambodia Trust to provide prosthetic (artificial) limbs, wheelchairs and the opportunity to go to school for many Cambodian children disabled by landmines, polio and other conditions.
“In 1993 I was clearing landmines for a charity in Cambodia and I saw the terrible circumstances in which Cambodian disabled people struggle to survive,” explained Chris. “In 1995 I learned the importance of artificial limbs when I lost my lower right arm and leg walking in a supposedly clear area in a minefield in Mozambique.”
Moon has undertaken a number of extreme challenges to raise funds for the Cambodia Trust, including a 300-mile run across Death Valley. “I?ve witnessed the work of the Cambodia Trust first hand for more than ten years. It?s a very worthy organisation doing excellent work,” he added.

The Cambodia Trust is a UK Registered Charity, established in 1989 and runs rehabilitation centres, community-based rehabilitation projects, and Prosthetics and Orthotics education centres in Cambodia, Sri Lanka and East Timor.

To sponsor Chris Moon: www.justgiving.com/mooncyclecambodia.
To make a donation to the Cambodia Trust: www.cambodiatrust.org.uk

Chris Moon MBE : Biography
CHRIS Moon studied Agriculture with a development bias, worked as a volunteer at a centre for the homeless and then joined the army. On leaving the army in 1993, he began work for British charity the HALO Trust, clearing landmines in Asia and Africa. Whilst working in Cambodia in 1993, he was abducted by Khmer Rouge guerrillas with two Cambodian colleagues. He is one of the few Westerners to have survived the experience, avoiding execution and negotiating their release from a remote jungle base, finally walking 50km overnight through patrolled and mined jungle.

In 1995 in Mozambique he was blown up by a landmine while walking in a cleared area. He lost his lower right arm and leg, but does not consider himself a victim because he chose to work in mined areas, ?whereas people who live there have no choice?. Doctors say he survived against the odds because of his high level of fitness and his knowledge of first aid. After leaving hospital he did a Masters Degree in Security Management at the University of Leicester.

In 1996 Chris was awarded the MBE from the Queen for services to the HALO Trust, clearing anti-personnel mines and received a bravery award from Diana, Princess of Wales. In 1998 he received the US Centre for Disability and PALM international leadership award. In March 1999 Lord Snowdon honoured Chris with the Snowdon Special Award for his leadership and support of disabled people. He has also been awarded honorary degrees and doctorates by the universities of Plymouth, Leicester and Exeter.

Less than a year after leaving hospital, Chris completed the London Marathon to raise funds for land mine-injured people in Cambodia. In April 1997 he was the first leg amputee to complete the 250km Great Sahara Run, described as the toughest footrace on earth, raising

FRIDAY COFFEE. Please note that Age Concern’s Friday Coffee Stop has had to start its summer
break earlier than intended as builders are currently installing a new disabled toilet in the Mabel Parkinson Room. It will reopen on August 31.

ROTARY. After almost 20 years as Thame Witchert Rotary Club, the group has emerged from the
shadows of Thame Rotary Club – its parent club – and, in order to raise its profile in the village which has been its home for many years, has now been renamed Haddenham and District Rotary Club. The club
holds its weekly meetings at the Rose and Thistle, its original home, (after a period of meeting at the
Seven Stars, Dinton) and would welcome prospective new members on any Monday (7.45 for 8pm).
The club is celebrating its 20th anniversary in September and members have been looking back over the
past 20 years. Since it was founded, the club has raised about

IT was a case of tears or cheers for Thame’s Lord Williams’s school GCSE students this morning, following the opening of those dreaded – or maybe longed for – brown envelopes.
The majority of candidates hugged each other, or screamed excitedly into mobile phones to anxious parents, reflecting what Headteacher, David Wybron called ‘pleasing results’ for the school. One or two prefered to open their envelopes quietly and privately away from the crowd that gathered outside the school hall.

For those who like that sort of thing, the official figures show that 64% of students achieved five or more GCSE passes at A*-C, 2% down on last year. Among individual successes, ten students, Florence Batten-Turner, Jade Bestley, Alice Carstairs, Maisie Faulkner, Jonathan Goggs, Charlotte Harris, Hisham Sherif, Rebecca Johnston, Edward Smith and Rachael Weait all got at least nine passes as A* or A grades. (This is down on last year when 21 students were awarded comparative levels).

David Wybron told ThameNews.Net:”The slight drop compared to last year was not totally unsurprising, considering the make-up of the co-hort. The majority of students will be very pleased with their achievements. They have worked hard and deserve much praise. I congratulate them and also thank staff on behalf of students, for all their hard work.”

Whilst, understandably, attention at this time is focused on the educational ‘high-flyers,’ among the less gifted, there were individual celebrations. One particular lad went up to the Headteacher, really excited and proud of his three passes at C grade. For this particular young man, explained Mr Wybron, his was a great, individual achievement – the result of supportive teachers and a lot of hard work on the part of the student himself.

MORE than 100 friends and supporters of Thame and District Day Centre enjoyed a garden party at Thame Community Hospital at the weekend, especially the music of Chinnor Silver Band which entertained guests throughout the afternoon.
The summery setting, with its freshly-cut lawn and the band?s marquee, did not escape this year?s prevailing rain but visitors were able to listen to the music from the hospital?s comfortable day room where they were plied with home-made cakes and other refreshments by a team of Day Centre volunteers.

The centre?s volunteer drivers also provided transport for all members who needed it.

Photo: Chinnor Silver Band, taken on a sunnier occassion, last year at Sydenham Fayre.

Manager, Gill Coleman, commented:”I think everyone enjoyed themselves and the volunteers and trustees made the day go well.” Gill thanked the hospital for making the venue available for Saturday?s party.
She added that through donations, a raffle, tombola and gift stalls, the Centre had covered the day?s costs with

THAME’s Citizens Advice Bureau is now opening half an hour earlier in the morning, to make it easier for people with an urgent problem or a tight schedule to get in contact with its advisors.
The Bureau’s new opening hours are Monday, Tuesday and Friday 9.30am ? 4pm.
Further improvements to the local service include a new web site link
at: www.oxnet.org.uk/club_homepage.asp?clubid=17928

To help maintain and enhance the high level of services currently offered, the ‘Bureau is appealing at the moment for volunteer advisers to join its next training intake in October. The Bureau would welcome anyone who wants to put something back into the community. No previous experience of advice work is required but it does ask that people have basic computer skills.
Bureau Manager, Tom Fox, said: “It is interesting and rewarding work and our existing team are great people to spend time with. See Link

NB Thame CAB are holding an Auction of Promises on October 6, at Thame Barns Centre. Call: 01844 281579 or 01844 261830, for more information.

THAME Charities and other local groups can book a table now, for the annual Thame Charities Fair, to be held this year on November 3, from 10am.
Tables are FREE and groups can keep all of their proceeds. They are advised by the Thame Community Network’s organiser, Beatrice Dobie, to book tables before mid-September via the town hall, with their Charity number and a contact name and telephone number.