SEVEREAL young people from Thame have been awarded Bursaries by South Oxfordshire District Council.
The awards will enable these talented youngsters to achieve their sporting and artistic aspirations, in areas where they have already shown great potential.
Patrick Greene, the Chairman of the Council, presented the awards at a recent ceremony at the Council?s offices.
Aarron Watson ? Ice Figure Skating and Dance – Award
A GREAT Haseley resident, himself a former motor cycle racing driver, recently took the opportunity to try out the latest ‘Green’ bike.
Richard Harding is an English correspondent for the American Website www.evworld.com and, a website dedicated to environmentally-friendly transport and innovation, and he covers environmental motoring events in this country for them.
Last April, the first hydrogen-propelled motorbike in the World was launched in London. It is British Designed-and-manufactured and Richard was there of course, for EVWorld.
Richard told ThameNews.Net: “The first opportunity for me to actually ride one of these came last week when there was a road-test-and-photoshoot session at Donington Park.
Many believe that hydrogen is the fuel of the future.”
The all-British team behind the pioneering ENV bike, claims it has a top speed of 50mph and a range of at least 100 miles, and says that it demonstrates the potential of new fuel cell technology.
On a full tank it runs continually for up to four hours on its hydrogen fuel cell, which can be detached and used to power anything from a motorboat to a small home.
The bike, launched at The Design Museum in London, is virtually silent and its emissions are almost completely clean. It has no gears, and according to its designers Seymourpowell, feels more like a quick and responsive mountain bike than a motorcycle.
Seymourpowell Director, Nick Talbot,is reported to have said: “ENV is light, fast and fun. It has good ground clearance, great off-road suspension travel and a very carefully considered power-to-weight ratio.
“I have ridden motorbikes for years and in the process of designing the bike I have become a convert to fuel cell technology.”
Other companies have adapted existing models of cars and bikes to use hydrogen power, but creators, Intelligent Energy, claim their ENV (Emissions Neutral Vehicle) prototype is the world?s first purpose-built fuel cell motorcycle.
THE Chilterns Conservation Board is teaming up with the Litmore Shaw Nature Trust in Ibstone for two wildlife and conservation events next week.
On Saturday 19th December, come along anytime between 10am and 3pm to help with some woodland conservation work, including removing tree guards, cutting back vegetation and pruning overhanging branches. Training and hot drinks are provided. Please bring a bow saw, loppers or secateurs if you have them and wear gloves, old clothes and sturdy footwear.
For the less adventurous, on Sunday 20th December, you can join a two-mile walk at 10am to see the ever-popular red kites.
?Litmore Shaw Nature Trust has won awards for its conservation work, and we?re delighted to offer the public the chance to get more involved from a practical point of view,? says new Estate Manager, James Verrier. ?This is also one of the best places in the Chilterns to see red kites as they roost close by in the winter.?
If you?re interested in the conservation work, call James Verrier on 01491 639633 or 07952 305 864 to let him know you?re coming. To book your place on the walk, call Cathy Rose on 01844 355 506.
For both events, meet at the stable yard of the Litmore Shaw Nature Trust, Grays Lane, Ibstone (grid ref SU752926).
PRIMARY achievement and attainment tables released today show that Oxfordshire schools have improved their performance for the fourth year running in national tests for 11-year olds.
The percentage of pupils achieving the expected standard (level 4) has improved again in English, Maths and science.
The value added result which shows how a school has helped to raise a pupils performance from the age of seven to eleven has also increased. Oxfordshire schools achieved a score of 100.4 which is above the national picture of 100.2.
The English results showing the percentage of pupils achieving the highest standard (level 5) are particularly good and significantly above the national results.
In reading 54 per cent of pupils achieved level 5, 11 per cent above the national picture. 27 per cent of pupils achieved level 5 in writing, 12 per cent above the national average.
Oxfordshire County Council?s Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement, Cllr Michael Waine, said: ?All schools should be congratulated on their continuing efforts to raise standards. We have much to be proud of in Oxfordshire. Overall this gives us a good basis on which to build on in the future. We now have our sights set on next year and will be seeking to do even better.?
Head of the County Council?s School Development Service Judith Morris said: ?We are particularly pleased with the improvements in English, as this has been a focus of the work of the schools for the last few years and I am delighted that all the developments put in place are having an impact. We now need to sustain this achievement and focus on improving still further our standards in Maths.?
If you are looking forward to 2006, a new year, a new start, a new hobby or interest? A bit of ?ME? time? Take a look at the courses and workshops on offer at Thame Adult Learning based at Lord Williams?s Lower School on Towersey Road.
From Michelangelo to Picasso artist have looked to the human form for inspiration, you too could learn to draw at the Life Drawing classes starting on Thursday 12 January, 7.30-9.30pm, the 10 sessions cost
ST JOSEPH’S Catholic Church in Thame has recorded a
CD which is due to be launched at a concert at the
Catholic church on December 10.
This is the third CD recorded by the Church choirs; the first two having been recorded by the Youth Choir in 1998 and 2000. This is the first recorded by the adult choir.
Visit St Joseph’s Choir’s stall in the Buttermarket at the Big Thame Christmas Event on Friday eveining, for a preview.
AFTER selling almost a quarter of a million items in five years of trading, Thame’s Oxfam Bookshop is celebrating its fifth birthday on December 3.
Manager Dick Jennens, said: “Oxfam would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to all of our supporters, including donors who have given thousands of books, CDs, DVDs and videos, and given generously when there has been an emergency somewhere in the world.
“Thanks to our volunteers, past and present, who have given freely of their time to sort, price and sell thousands of donations. As a result of all this generosity, the Oxfam Bookshop has been able to pass to Oxfam a sum approaching half a million pounds. This will really help Oxfam to work with others to find lasting solutions to poverty and suffering. Together we really can Make Poverty History.”
During the past five years, the oldest book they have sold was a Bible published in 1657 by the precursor of the OUP, and sold to the Bodlein library; the most valuable was a first edition of ‘Rebecca’ which sold for
ONCE again, Thame Scouts are offering a FREE Christmas card delivery service around Thame and Moreton, for the elderly and disabled.
All cards for posting, complete with name and full address of recipient, should be taken to the One Stop Shop at the town hall no later than. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9TH.
TRAVELLERS can now wait for their train in comfort at Haddenham and Thame Parkway station, as the new extension ? containing heated waiting room, with tables and chairs, and uni-sex toilet with disabled access ? is now open.
If you don?t have time for breakfast before leaving home, you can buy coffee and freshly baked pastries at the coffee bar (open 5.45am-2pm).
AN EVENT of interest to owners of old cottages and houses is being held at the King?s Head, Aylesbury, on Sunday, November 27th, 12noon and 4.30pm.
All about the Maintenance of Old Houses, the sessions will be entitled ?An Introduction to Traditional Repair and Conservation of Old Buildings and Cottages?. The course is being organised by the regional co-ordinator of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings as part of the society?s National Maintenance Week.
THE world speaks English ? who needs to speak another language? True, you might think, we are fortunate enough to have our native tongue spoken and understood in most corners of the globe.
The fact remains however, that language qualifications are still highly valued by universities and employers, keen to promote their business in Europe. Jackie Jewell, head of Languages at Lord Williams?s School would be very pleased to hear from employers, parents, graduates, volunteer workers – anyone who uses a language as part of their working lives or as part of their interests, hobbies or leisure activities. ?It would be wonderful for our students to hear first hand how useful and beneficial it can be to have a language qualification.?
The Language department would like to invite people who use languages as part of their everyday lives into the school to talk to small groups of Year 9 students currently studying French or German. The aim of this session would be to encourage students to take a language at GCSE and would take place towards the end of January/beginning of February 2006.
If you are interested in talking to students, please contact Nicky Stallwood, Careers Manager at Lord Williams?s School on 01844 210524 or email on n.stallwood@lordwilliams.oxon.sch.uk.