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  • Triumphant start to the year for Chinnor RFC

    CHINNOR RFC started the second half of the season in style on Saturday, January 4 2020, when they faced Hull Ionians away from home.

    The Thame-based team produced a superb second half performance to beat Hull Ionians 54-7 in their first game of 2020, running in eight tries in Yorkshire to move up to fourth in National League One. This still leaves them nine points behind leaders, Rosslyn Park, heading into next Friday’s mouth-watering clash at home to Rams, who are only second by virtue of defeats.

    Josh Pieterse, Laurence May, Josh Hodson, Ehize Ehizode, Nick Selway, Jason Worrall and Sam Yawayawa crossed for Chinnor after the hosts had led 7-0. But the visitors, though slow out of the blocks early on, upped their game to secure their biggest win of the season.

    Hull took the lead against the run of play on 25 minutes when Jack Colbourne intercepted May’s pass on half-way and raced over unopposed, Max Titchener converting, to make it 7-0.

    Chinnor were undeterred and the score seemed to help them find another gear, culminating in three scores in the space of six minutes to go 21-7 in front through a penalty try, Pieterse and May, the latter converting twice. Hodson then crossed after the break for the four-try bonus point, with May adding the extras, to make it 28-7.

    Chinnor’s dominance continued and scores from Selway, Ehizode, Worrall and Yawayawa, Caolan Ryan converting twice and May once, helped them to a dominant victory.

    What’s next?

    As Chinnor began their preparations for Rams last night (Monday), moving their training sessions a day forward to take into account this week’s fixture, Director of Rugby, Matt Williams says his Chinnor side is heading into Friday’s mouth-watering local derby with Rams (7.45pm ko) in good shape following the win over Hull. It’s the first time the club has hosted a Friday night National League game.

    “We’ve got a quick turnaround this week now,” he said. “Rams pose a whole different problem because they are flying high at the moment and it is our local derby, but we achieved what we needed to at Hull and that was to score five points. It’s now about revving things up in training, ready for the huge challenge of Rams.”

    The Hull fixture proved beneficial for prop Camilo Parilli-Ocampo who made his debut off the bench after recovering from a torn bicep, while Oscar Heath was handed his first appearance of the season. Josh Hodson marked his first game since November with a try, while Josh Pieterse and Laurence May opened their accounts for the club.

    Williams added: “We actually started the game pretty ropey – we were trying too hard. There were a lot of opportunities out there in the first 30 minutes, but it wasn’t through a lack of endeavour just a lack of composure. They (Hull) scored an interception try against the run of play and we found ourselves seven points down after 23 minutes. But the try settled us down, allowing us to get back into structure. We then scored three good tries before half-time and I felt our second half performance was very good.

    “We took our chances and I was particularly pleased with the bench. The guys who came on made a big impact and Sam Yawayawa did very well in the middle of the park; he showed some great footwork. It was good to have Josh Hodson back on the field and it was a pleasing start to the year for sure.”

    Williams continued: “Apart from a couple of boys who are out injured, Chris Elder being one of them, I think the squad is in a good shape now. A lot of boys, who have been hungry for minutes for a while, got game time against Hull. The squad depth is strong when you can afford to have people like Will Harries and Carl Kirwan on the sidelines, while Ben Thomas was ill.

    “Obviously it was also good to have Camilo make his debut for Chinnor and play 40 minutes.”

  • “Somebody we know did this.” Everybody knows – at Thame cinema

    THAME Cinema 4 All kicks off 2020, on Saturday, January 4, with this sumptuous drama about a family forced under traumatic circumstances to confront its secrets.

    Laura (Penélope Cruz) returns to her home village in rural Spain. The occasion is a big family wedding – an occasion that is pregnant with the potential for familial confrontations, the opening of wounds, and tearful recriminations. Laura brings her two children with her, but her husband Alejandro (Darin) has stayed in their new home country of Argentina for work reasons. It is some time since Laura was last here and there are secrets associated with her earlier life that she hopes will remain buried in the past.

    But her daughter Irene soon strikes up a connection with a local boy, who tells of Laura’s passionate love for a local man, Paco (Bardem), who was left heartbroken after her departure. Apparently “everybody knows” about this love affair, but it remains unclear just what else there is to tell.

    Then Irene disappears in the middle of the wedding party, apparently taken from her room, and whoever has abducted her leaves behind newspaper clippings relating to an earlier kidnapping. Soon, untraceable text messages appear demanding money and threatening the worst should the police become involved.

    It is an exacting blow to the family, apparently delivered by someone who knows just what buttons to push. In their efforts to unpick what has happened and who might be behind it, the family implodes under the weight of long held jealousies, suspicions, resentments and betrayals. There is a masterly command of storytelling from Farhadi – whose films from his native Iran (The Salesman, A Separation) share an interest in secrets, lies and retributions – and knockout performances from a mesmerising ensemble cast. Gripping and gorgeous.
    View the trailer HERE

    EVERYBODY KNOWS
    Spain 2018, 130 minutes, 15 certificate
    Directed by Asghar Farhadi, Starring Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Ricardo Darín, Eduard Fernández, Bárbara Lennie, Inma Cuesta

    Thame Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame – Doors open 7.30pm

  • UPDATED:Thame’s sad loss of two ‘gentlemen’ volunteers

    UPDATE – The funeral service for John Miles will be held on January, 27th, at St Joseph’s Church, Thame, at 11am. All are welcome.

    THAME witnessed the loss of two of the towns stalwart volunteers in recent weeks, with the death of Norman Brand at the end of November, and John Miles, who passed away shortly after Christmas.

    The late Norman Brand

    Norman passed away shortly after taking a sudden fall, but without pain or stress, his family said. John, who had been suffering with Leukaemia for some time, died after being admitted to hospital on Boxing Day with a chest infection.

    The late John Miles

    Norman was a news paper reporter and political journalist before his retirement, and was a volunteer driver for the Thame and District Day for many years. John was Chairman of the Thame Community Car.

  • Chinnor face Hull for first match of 2020

    CHINNOR RFC return to action this Saturday, Janury 5, with an away trip to Hull, and Director of Rugby, Matt Williams, is calling on Chinnor to start 2020 on the right foot when they face Hull Ionians at the weekend.

    The Thame-based side return to National League One action in Yorkshire on Saturday (2pm) following the Christmas break. The players reported back for training on Monday and are raring to go for the second half of the season after their seven-match. unbeaten run was ended by Richmond in the final game of 2019.

    It saw the side slip to sixth in the table, but they are only nine points behind the leaders and Williams is hoping to begin the new year with a victory.

    He said: “We were pleased for the Christmas break – it came at the right time. It was obviously a disappointing result against Richmond, but after 16 games the boys needed a break and we’re looking forward to Hull away on Saturday.”

    Chinnor will be boosted by the return of Ehize Ehizode (concussion) while Camilo Parilli-Ocampo (torn bicep) is in contention for his debut, but Chris Elder (ankle) is still injured. Williams added: “The boys are fresh, they’re feeling good and enjoyed their first training session back on Monday. It was just a blow out to get the Christmas turkey out of their legs and we were back to it again on Thursday evening.”

    Saturday’s fixture goes ahead despite the death of Hull player, Billy Hardy, at the age of just 27, on December 28th. The thoughts of everyone at Chinnor Rugby Club Thame are with Billy’s friends and family at this difficult time,” said Williams. All of us at Chinnor send our condolences to Hull. It’s always a tough time when you lose someone within a club.”

    SATURDAY’S SQUAD
    Chinnor (v Hull Ionians, away): from Ashby, Ehizode, Fidler, George, Goss, Harries, Hodson, Kirwan, Laverick, May, McNulty, Parilli-Ocampo, Pieterse, Rees, C Ryan, W Ryan, Selway, Thomas, Treviranus, Tyas.

  • TV Naturalist leads protest walk against HS2 tree destruction

    A group of environment activists from Thame and Towersey were among over a thousand others from all over the country, who joined Naturalist, Chris Packham at Denham Station on Sunday, for the Stand for the Trees event at Denham Country Park.

    Popular TV Presenter of programmes such as Spring Watch, Chris Packham, led campaigners in a Walk for Wildlife and Water through the Colne Valley in an event jointly organised by Extinction Rebellion, Stop HS2 and Save the Colne Valley Wildlife Protection Group.

    Danger to water supply

    The day was aimed at highlighting the fact that despite there currently being a review of HS2 which could lead to the project being cancelled, ‘the destruction continues unabated’, not just around the Colne Valley, but along the entire 140 miles of Phase 1, of HS2.

    The route meant walkers could see first hand the destruction that has already happened and the even more devastating loss of wildlife and habitats that would happen should HS2 go ahead. The event also highlighted the fact that HS2 potentially endangers the water supply of some 3.2 Million Affinity Water Customers and there has still been no published assessment of this risk.

    Protection camps

    The event was the latest in a number of collaborations between Stop HS2 and Extinction Rebellion, many of which have focussed on the Colne Valley Protection, which is one of four sites where campaigners have set up protection camps, with the intent of stopping HS2 Ltd from damaging habitats and the ecosystem, especially given that HS2 is not only under review, but has not received final ‘Notice to Proceed’.

    ‘Expect ferocious public opposition’

    Chris Packham, on behalf of the Rethink HS2 alliance of environmental organisations said: “HS2 involves one of the largest deforestation programmes since the First World War, damaging more than 100 ancient woodlands along the planned route, along with dozens of wildlife habitats. If this project gets the go ahead, and I sincerely hope that it doesn’t for so many reasons, you can  to it, and I will be happy to lead that from the environmental perspective.”

    Cathy Gaulter Carter, who lives in Towersey, was among the group from Thame who joined Chris on Sunday. She explained why she decided to support Chris Packham’s walk:

    Cathy Gaulter Carter (left) with fellow HS2 protestor

    “I have been opposed to HS2 from the start: the destruction of our countryside with no benefit to locals. Since joining the walk I have actually seen an example of just one the magnificent areas for wildlife that is about to be devastated.

    ‘It is criminal for this scheme to go ahead’

    “As we are facing a climate emergency, it is criminal for this scheme to go ahead. The area where we were walking is above an aquifer that naturally purifies drinking water for London – this will be replaced by concrete pylons. This is literally right by Boris’s constituency in Uxbridge. Horrifying! Birmingham airport is already spending £500 million to expand for the proposed increase in passengers. This a a nonsense when I thought the whole point of the train was to replace the aeroplane.

    “HS2 must be stopped! The walk has made me much more aware of the tragedy that is unfolding.”

    Sarah Green, founder of the Colne Valley HS2 Protection Camp said: “People need to be made aware of the horrendous impact HS2 will have, especially on water supplies. If people knew what was actually happening, there would be an outcry as the chalk is prone to cracking and fissuring and working around historic landfills is a recipe for disaster. The work HS2 are conducting now must be halted.”

    200 year-old Plus Oak tree threatened with felling to make way for HS2

    ‘Wanton devastation’

    Joe Rukin, Stop HS2 Campaign Manager said: “Even though there is currently a review that could lead to the cancellation of the project, the destruction continues relentlessly, and it is now clear that while HS2 Ltd want to continue with this wanton devastation, the HS2 project will face more and more direct action against it. HS2 has only got this far because it has been lobbied for by the construction industry, and the whims of these vested interest bodies cannot be prioritised against taking action to fight the climate emergency.”

    Threat to the Chilterns

    Part of the phase 1 of the HS2 route cuts right through the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Beauty and the Chilterns Conservation Board, based in Chinnor, has been opposed to HS2 from the beginning. It welcomed the review announced by the government and has recently written to Douglas Oakervee at the Department for Transport, explaining why it believes HS2 should be scrapped. In the letter, the Board writes:

    Scheme is ‘directly contradictory to key Government policies and ambitions’

    “Since the HS2 route was first announced in 2010, we believe the context of HS2 has changed considerably. In particular, the nation’s -and the Government’s -understanding and appreciation of the value of our natural world has increased significantly. We therefore take the view that to continue with HS2 would not only be damaging to the environment and people’s wellbeing, but also be directly contradictory to key Government policies and ambitions. In recent years the Government has increased its focus on the environment and has made a commitment to leaving the natural environment in a better state for future generations. It also aspires to be a global leader on the environment.”

    What could HS2 mean for Thame?

    LINK HERE –  HS2 Railway – What it could mean for Thame –

    The case for HS2, phase One

    According to the government: “The main benefits of Phase One (from London to Birmingham) will be to provide more intercity train services; additional capacity on the main lines for commuter services in to Birmingham and London and additional capacity for freight. In addition, from day one, Phase One will improve journey times and train services to the North West because these will use the new track from Birmingham to London.” LINK https://www.hs2.org.uk/

  • Thame Holocaust educator awarded BEM

    Rev John Fieldsend has been awarded a BEM for his services to Holocaust education, having spent a decade touring schools, colleges and churches to talk about his escape from Nazi Germany.

    Rev John Fieldsend, BEM

    The 88-year-old great-grandfather, who lives in Thame, has spoken to thusands of students about how he and his brother fled Germany as young boys in 1939, travelling to England by train via the Kindertransport programme.

    Tragically, his parents stayed in Czechoslovakia during Hitler’s genocide of Jewish people, and later died in the Auschwitz concentration camp.

  • Optimism for 2020 from Chinnor despite defeat in the last game of the year

    MATT Williams, Director of Rugby at Chinnor RFC, believed there would be plenty more twists and turns as Chinnor RFC headed into the Christmas break in National League One’s top six.

    The Thame-based side are just nine points behind leaders Rosslyn Park, who top the third tier of English rugby by virtue of fewer defeats over Richmond and Rams. A seven-match unbeaten run, which included four straight home wins, had helped Chinnor close the gap to the frontrunners.

    Chinnor v Richmond – December 21, 2019

    Although Richmond triumphed 21-5 at Kingsey Road on Saturday, December 21, the Oxfordshire club are still in the mix and Williams predicts there will be more drama to come saying: “We’ve just played 16 games in a row. We started the season sluggish and we finished the first half well. Yes, it’s disappointing that we lost to Richmond, but it’s one of 16 games. There’s still 14 to go and we’re still at the right end of the table. There will be much change between now and the end of the season as to who finishes in the top places.”

    Chinnor had headed into the Richmond fixture in a confident mood after a 37-27 win over fellow challengers Darlington Mowden Park extended their unbeaten run. But they were unable to end the decade with five successive home wins as the visitors came out on top.

    Williams added: “I think the best team won. We were a little naïve and that is something we haven’t shown in recent weeks. Their defence was well-drilled and we struggled to find penetration in the first half.

    “We went back to basics in the second half, latched a lot of the ball carriers, got over the gain line, and created lots of space. I don’t know if the boys thought, because the scoreboard was past 80 minutes, the game was done, but we started making some crazy decisions when there was still time on the clock to put ourselves in the right position.

    “But all credit goes to Richmond, they deserved the win, they were the better team.”

    MATCH REPORT

    CHINNOR were unable to finish the decade with a fifth straight home win as leaders Richmond triumphed 21-5 at Kingsey Road.

    Hooker Nick Selway crossed for the Oxfordshire side in the second half, but it proved only a consolation as they suffered their first defeat since October 26.
    Coaches, players and volunteers worked hard in the morning to clear standing water from the pitch to ensure the National League 1 game could be played. But the home side could not keep Richmond at bay as the visitors dominated the first half to lead 18-0.

    Tom Hodgson’s penalty put the leaders 3-0 up after 16 minutes, before the fly-half converted his own try to extend their lead to ten points. Chinnor did have an opportunity to break the deadlock after half an hour, but Laurence May’s penalty attempt slipped wide. And Richmond went on to extend their advantage through Alexander Bibic’s unconverted try, before Hodgson added another penalty on the stroke of half-time.

    Chinnor were unable to prevent the visitors extending their advantage to 21 points through the boot of Hodgson. However, Richmond did not trouble the try-line again for the rest of the game as the hosts enjoyed more territory.

    They were unable to stage a comeback, though, and Selway’s unconverted try with six minutes remaining proved only a consolation.

    Chinnor return to action on January 4, 2020, when they make the trip up to Yorkshire to face Hull Ionians. Their first home game of 2020 takes place on Friday, January 10 (7.45pm) as they take on Rams in a mouth-watering derby.

  • February at the Players Theatre, Thame

    TWO cracking shows are coming to the Players Theatre in Thame, in February, starting with Viva Neil Diamond – Celebrating 50 years of hits! February 2,  2020 at 7.45pm.

    In 1966, Neil Diamond’s first hits smashed into the world’s music charts. To celebrate the icon’s 50 year recording career, the UK’s very own ‘voice of Neil’ Bob Drury (‘The Neil Diamond Story’) takes to the road with ‘Viva Neil Diamond’, a brand new one-man stage show simply bursting with Neil Diamond gems!

    Later in the month, on Sunday, February 16, Thame’s very own Celtic Heartbeat will be performaing in the afternoon at 2.30pm.

    Celtic Heartbeat

    Local modern folk band, Celtic Heartbeat, take you through their repertoire of traditional and new songs about soldiers, sailors, ploughboys, love, broken hearts, disaster and joy.

    Blending music, harmony, images and film the band will transport you back to a time of exploration, immigration, shipwrecks, hardship and the celebration of life.

    LINK HERE to book all Thame Players Theatre shows!

  • National award for district councils’ team for supporting start-ups

    THE South and Vale Business Support team at South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils is celebrating after winning an important national award.

    (L-R) Sir Howard Bernstein (IED Patron), Dr Melanie Smans (Economic Development Manager), Karen Roberts (Economic Development Lead), Karen Tolley (Economic Development Lead – Vale towns) and Bev Hurley (Chair of IED)

    The team was presented with the Institute of Economic Development 2019 Greatest Economic Impact Award, at national conference in recognition of the councils’ successful ‘Stronger Economy – Start-Up’ initiative, which stimulated the local economy by supporting 87 new businesses to start up in just 18 months. This was achieved by holding practical workshops in Didcot, Faringdon, Berinsfield and Shrivenham.

    The team was praised by Sir Howard Bernstein, IED Patron, and Bev Hurley, Chair of the Institute, for attending each business workshop to raise awareness of the councils’ support and to provide general reassurance to people thinking of starting their own enterprise. Residents attending said they felt encouraged knowing the councils’ team is available to support their business growth and help signpost them to new opportunities.

    Cllr Sue Cooper, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “I’m delighted our team has won this national award. Despite the economic uncertainty in recent years, the team has helped support the creation of new opportunities and jobs for our residents, which helps ensure our local economy continues to prosper.”

    IED Chair Bev Hurley said: “We would like to congratulate South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils on winning our Greatest Economic Impact award for 2019. In previous years a select of transport schemes have won this category. This year, however, we have selected a grass-roots project where we were particularly struck by the economic return, the delivery of the service and the completeness of their impact analysis. The project provided free business advice to organisations over one week and was provided in local towns to help prevent economic shocks derailing the economy.”

    The ‘Stronger Economy – Start-Up’ campaign is one of the many projects from the council’s Business and Innovation Strategy Action Plan 2016-2020, which highlights the importance of encouraging new business to be created, increasing business resilience to economic shocks, and boosting productivity.

  • Uncertainty over government funding prompts ‘urgent’ letter to Minister

    FACING what it is calling ‘a financial dilemma’ over years of reduced financial support from government and a need to increase the council tax beyond allowable levels to keep up with its service committments, South Oxfordshire District Council’s Leader, Sue Cooper, has written to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

    Robert Jenrick, Right Hon. Secretary of State Housing, Communities and Local Government

    Mrs Cooper writes: “Dear Mr. Jenrick, on Thursday, December 19, South Oxfordshire District Council passed the following motion:

    ‘Recognising the financial position of the Council, and the need to ensure that residents are represented by a robust and sustainable council, officers are asked to bring forward proposals for South Oxfordshire District Council to consider whether or not a formal merger with the Vale of White Horse District Council, with the same total number of District Councillors, creating a single district council based on their combined geography with increased financial resilience would be beneficial. This work should also consider the options for the development of Area Committees within this model, to ensure that decision making is devolved to the lowest appropriate level.

    Should any formal merger proposal be developed in future, the Constitution Review Group will be asked to recommend appropriate constitutional models for consideration by Council’.

    ‘Give councils stability’

    ‘Further, in recognition of the recent General Election and the fact that Local Government finance has been cut by nearly 50 per cent in the last 10 years, with funding often short term in scope and tied to national government goals, Council requests the Leader in the first instance to:

    · Write to the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to urge that a Local Government Financial settlement is devised as a matter of the utmost urgency that is sufficient to give stability to all councils across the Country and will support the ability of local councils to make decisions on their statutory duties in line with their local elected mandate’.

    Sue Cooper, Leader of the Council, SODC

    “I would also like to draw to your attention, the final part of my Leader’s report to Council:

    Reduction of the New Homes bonus

    ‘Our financial situation is poor, following years of holding down our Council Tax to levels well below the national average and even further below that of other neighbouring districts (with the exception of the Vale which also has severe but different funding problems from ours). I am hoping that we shall have all-member briefings in the new year to explain the financial situation following the removal of government grant and drastic reduction of the New Homes Bonus on which we have been over-reliant in recent years.’

    ‘Relax limit to Council Tax rise’

    “One way round our current problem would be for the government to relax, even if just for this year, the restrictions which are put on increases in council tax. The small percentage or £5 per year won’t do much at all for councils in our position and we mustn’t forget we are an extremely efficient and low-spending council when compared with our peers. It is not our spending or our number of staff, both of which are comparatively very low, but the means by which they have been funded which are problematic. Funding from non-sustainable sources is risky and we are about to pay the price.

    “Another financial pressure we face is that the five Councils outsourcing contract with Capita has not delivered all of the savings we were promised when it was announced with a fanfare many years ago now.”

    “This means that if the funding problem is not sorted out, the people of South Oxfordshire will face service reductions.”

    Need for ‘certaintly’ to deliver key services

    “We have now received the draft local government settlement which confirms our funding for 2020/21 only. We have no indication therefore as to what our future government funding will be. We do however know that our core spending power in 2020/21 is lower in cash terms – and even lower in real terms – than in 2015/16. If government funding is to reduce further, our financial situation will get even worse. Along with all councils, we need future settlements to provide us with financial sustainability and certainty if we are to remain in a position to deliver key services to residents.

    “Given that we are a low spending, efficient council when compared with our peers, the uncertainty in our position seems very unfair. By having maximum increases in Council Tax effectively restricted over many years, the income gap between historically high and low spending councils widens. Recently we have been given the alternative of the higher of a £5 increase in council tax or a 2% increase but this really does not go very far. Surely it should be councils with above average council tax who are subject to the greater restriction rather than those below that threshold?

    Overall government funding has fallen in real terms

    “The letter I received dated December 20, 2019, from the Minister of State for Housing points out that the New Homes Bonus is ‘a flexible, non-ringfenced fund, for local communities to spend as they see fit – from reinvesting it in housing or infrastructure, supporting local services or local facilities, or using the funds to keep council tax down’. Supporting local services and keeping council tax increases within referendum limits whilst overall government funding has fallen in real terms is exactly how the New Homes Bonus has been used for over many years in South Oxfordshire.”

    Danger of ‘signicant cuts in services’

    “If overall government funding for South Oxfordshire continues to fall in real terms, and we continue to be restricted in our ability to raise council tax, there will be an even larger financial gap between our expenditure and income. It is not reasonable for us to ask for special treatment over funding, but given our years of low council tax it does seem reasonable to ask that we should be able to increase council tax here to a more realistic level. If we cannot do this, in the short term we shall have to make significant cuts to services. This is very unfair, when as mentioned before we are an efficient council with comparatively low levels of staff. It also makes it very difficult to find capacity to work up proposals to bring in additional income to support longer term financial stability which is our aim.

    “If you or your officers can think of any other ways out of our financial dilemma we would be very pleased to hear about them. I am sure our long-standing local MP, John Howell, would be able to confirm the position I outline.”

    “I look forward to a practical reply in the new year.”
    With best wishes for a happy Christmas
    Councillor Sue Cooper, Leader of the Council