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  • Don’t give burglars an easy time in the run up to Christmas

    THAMES Valley Police is asking members of the public to be vigilant in the run-up to Christmas, as there is often an increase in burglaries at this time of year.

    The police want residents to think about what security they have in place, and what more they can do to deter burglars.

     

    In recent months there has been a national increase in burglaries and break-ins with a 25 per cent rise in burglaries across the Thames Valley in the last six months.

    Thames Valley Police stated today: “We have dedicated resources in place to disrupt and investigate burglaries, and bring offenders to justice. Officers in our Neighbourhood Policing Teams are also working to offer advice to residents and also disrupt burglars.

    “On Wednesday (6/12) we will be holding a live webchat to offer the public advice on how to keep their homes safe. LINK HERE to join in.  This week too we have launched an online advent calendar with good advice on how to stay safe over the next month.

    People can visit the Thames Valley Police’s Facebook page and TVP Twitter pages every day for advice which includes how to ensure your home is properly protected, how to plan your journey home after a night out, the consequences of drink driving and what to do if you are experiencing domestic abuse.

    There is further information on how to protect your home on the Thames Valley Police website.

    Detective Chief Superintendent Richard List, said: “We are only too aware of the serious impact that having your home broken into has on people in the Thames Valley. It is traumatic both psychologically and financially.

    “Over recent months, like other forces across the country, we have been seeing an increase in burglaries. There are a number of reasons for this increase but it’s important that we all do everything we possibly can to prevent burglaries being committed in the first place.

    “We are taking every action possible to tackle this by bringing offenders to justice, and also disrupting those who see fit to carry out these crimes.

    “We would ask the public to think about what measures they can take to secure their homes.

    “This could include securing doors and windows, having lights on timers and also not advertising on social media if you are going away for a holiday. My taking just a few simple measures, particularly at this time of year, you can significantly reduce your risk of being a victim of burglary.

    “Additionally, we would ask members of the community to be vigilant and keep an eye on their neighbours’ properties if they are unoccupied and report any suspicious behaviour by calling 101 or speaking to one of the neighbourhood policing teams.”

  • Titanic defence sinks Taunton Titans and keeps Chinnor on top

    HEAVY drizzle greeted both sides as they took to the park for this top of the table clash on Saturday, December 2, which left Chinnor RFC on top of National League Two, South.

    Chinnor started positively and scored after just two minutes when a well judged kick ahead by Jonny Bentley found Phil Chesters who gathered cleanly to go over in the corner 5-0. The conversion went wide of the posts. Taunton then dominated possession, as they did almost throughout the game. Chinnor looked dangerous when they had the ball but gave away possession cheaply in the final third and spurned a number of dangerous opportunities.

    After a period of Taunton attacking play, a counter by Chinnor lead to an offfside penalty under the posts. Jonny Bentley slotted over making it 8-0. The rest of the half saw Taunton once again monopolise possession but they found it difficult to break through the well organised Chinnor defence which was as disciplined as it was aggressive. Half Time 8-0

    The second half was almost a replica of the first 40 minutes. This time a lineout steal 60 m out and some slick handling gave Chinnor the early opening try of the half with Jamel Hamilton going over out wide after 48 mins. Jonny Bentley missed the conversion.

    Taunton threw everything they had at the Chinnor defence but the controlled aggression in open play, defensive lineouts and powerful scrummaging, constantly rebuffed the visitors’ assaults. The score remained Chinnor 13-0 until 10 mins from the end, it came as a welcome relief for the Titans when they crossed the Chinnor line. Kenny James swooped in to score in the corner. An excellent touchline conversion by Toby East set up a nail biting final 10 minutes, but Chinnor held strong and sound game management ran the clock down.

    Tony Yapp (Taunton) said afterwards: “Two good teams; no quarter given. Disappointed at the start; we gave the opposition an opportunity which they took. Pleased with the second half – a good day for Rugby!”

    Matt Williams (Chinnor) said: “ A day of superb defence against a well drilled Taunton attack. Our defence was resilient and brutal. All credit to Taunton!”

    Chinnor
    Morley, Hutchinson, Gilding, Curry, Ramshaw, Bradlet, Bordill, Waddingham, McDonald, Bentley, Chesters, Dancer, Barnes(cpt), Hamilton,Goss
    Reps: Mason, Oliver, Green, Manning, Lamont

    Taunton
    Baker, Spurdle, Dalton, England, Lugg, Harvey, Vakalutukali, Prior, Banks, Webb, Claydon, East, Mason(cpt) Fraser, Rice
    Reps: Francis, Kenny, Oliphant-Thompson, Davis, Brown
    Referee – Mr Veryan Boscawen
    Assistants – Mr Glenn O’Hara, Mr Simon Bourne
    Star Men: Jack Gilding – Outstanding scrummaging
    Will Bordill- Simply Fearless!
    Attendance 331

    REPORT by Ken Vaughan

  • How about some scandal in your Christmas stocking?

    HISTORY buffs may appreciate having their stockings filled with the latest books from Oxfordshire historian Julie Ann Godson, who recently enthralled her audience at the Thame Barns Centre.

    Julie Ann Godson

    Secret love affairs, murder, blackmail, poisoning and extortion: most of us enjoy a good scandal. And it’s even more fun when it involves our so-called betters. “Scandal in High Society Oxfordshire: twenty tales of toffs in trouble” tells a selection of jaw-dropping true stories of shenanigans in high places, from the Tudor period right up to the modern age.

    Few readers will fail to be impressed by the sheer variety of ways in which the upper classes of the county have contrived over the centuries to behave badly, and usually to get away with it. Available on Amazon.co.uk at £10.99

    “1066: Oxfordshire and the Norman Conquest – why it all started and finished in our county” is an entertaining romp through the events of the Norman Conquest in Oxfordshire. From Edward the Confessor’s birth in Islip through to the formal surrender in Wallingford after the Battle of Hastings, modern Oxfordshire provided the backdrop to major events that shaped the destiny of the whole nation. Available on Amazon.co.uk at £8.49

    Julie Ann Godson studied modern history at the University of Oxford and worked for twenty years in publishing and design. She now lives in a country village near Oxford and makes regular appearances talking about her research. Her first book, The Water Gypsy: how a Thames fishergirl became a viscountess, was published in 2014, and tells the Cinderella story of a humble village girl who married an Anglo-Irish aristocrat in 1766. Some readers may remember Julie Ann’s entertaining talk on the subject at the Barns Centre in May of this year. See www.julieanngodson.com

    Julie will be back at the Barns Centre next autumn.

  • And there was light! Phew!

    HUNDREDS of families turned out in the cold and, at times very damp air on Friday (01/12), for the big, Thame Christmas Event with its switching-on-of-the-Christmas lights grand finale.

    As little Ellen Sweet pushed the magic plunger with the help of her dad, Andrew and the Mayor Thame, Tom Wyse, at just after 7pm, a huge sigh of relief went round from all concerned. An emergency repair and replacement of some of the lights by a lighting engineer had to carried out earlier, after vandals snipped wires on the tree lights over-night on Wednesday.

    Ellen Sweet, who won the Snowflake search, gets ready to press the magic plunger!

    A camera has now been installed by a public-spirited businessman in the area to monitor the tree 24 hours a day and the police CCTV operators are monitoring the area regularly.

    LINK HERE for some of the best moments captured from the big, Thame Christmas Event, including the ever-popular Crêpe ladies from Montesson, Thame’s twin town in France.

  • Local employers working with school to develop students’ digital skills

    EMPLOYERS are finding it increasingly difficult to find the necessary skills within their workforce to meet the demands of a digital based business environment. Thame’s Lord Williams’s School has taken the initiative and invited local employers to share their skills requirements and explore ways of preparing students for the digital workplace.

    Recent reports produced this year highlight the growing concern over the shortfall in digital skills and how this deficit threatens the productivity and competitiveness of UK businesses. The finding from the study conducted with 1,400 businesses by the British Chamber of Commerce (April 2017) revealed that 75% of businesses reported they had a gap in their existing workforce and 84% saying digital skills are more important to their business now than two years ago. Training in terms of cost, time and provider is quoted as a barrier to up-skilling the existing workforce, but what are schools doing to prepare young people for the digital workplace?

    Nicky Stallwood, the Careers Manager at the school explained: “We know from conversations with employers how much digital skills are valued. However the recent changes to the ICT and Computer Science curriculum have meant that proportionately less students now have or take up the opportunity to learn these skills.”

    In response to this digital skills issue both in education and in the workplace, local employers were invited to join senior school staff to explore what support might be developed with local employers to extend the digital skills learning in school. Dr Melanie Smans from Economic Development at the South Oxfordshire District Council, set the local scene by sharing the findings from the council’s recent Business Innovation Skills survey where a quarter of SMEs lack digital skills in their workplace.

    Ditching ICT GCSE ‘was a mistake’

    The school’s Head of Computer Science, Debbie Keith enlightened employers on the changes and U turns in government policy with regards to ICT and Computer Science. The Royal Society has criticised the government for rushing ahead with an unsuitable, more technical Computer Science qualification after ditching the more general ICT GCSE. The Royal Society’s report revealed that over half (54%) of secondary schools didn’t offer Computer Science at GCSE in 2015-16 due to staff shortages in the subject area, and budget cuts.

    Managing Director of Groves, a large Haberdashery warehouse and distribution firm in Thame, and former pupil of the school made his expectations clear: “All students need a very good basic grasp of IT skills to ensure they succeed in employment now and in the future.’” Alun Rowe, Managing Director of Pentangle, a software development company in Thame shared his dismay at the current computer skills situation in schools: “In light of the current lack of digital skills at all levels across the UK, I find it, as both an employer and a parent, terrifying that our children’s access to computers in the classroom is being reduced as opposed to increased.”

    Local group to work more closely with the school

    As a result of the discussions at the school, Alun Rowe is getting together a group of interested employers to work more closely with the school to offer additional digital skills to students.
    If you are interested in getting involved or learning more, you can contact Alun at Pentangle: alun.rowe@pentangle.co.uk

    NOTE: Lord Williams’s School is an academy trust school for over 2000 students including Sixth Form. The Business Breakfast meetings are run three times a year and open to interested local businesses. Contact: Nicky Stallwood; E: n.stallwood@lordwilliams.oxon.sch.uk T: 01844 210524

  • ‘Shop Local’ for your Christmas star buys in Thame

    WE know that Christmas is a vital time for boosting the turnover of small, independent shops like those that make Thame’s high street so special and unique, and to help you support your local economy – and save shoe leather and fuel travelling further afield for your Christmas shopping, we’ve asked a selection of Thame’s independent retailers to suggest Christmas present ideas for you.

    Be it for the man or woman who has everything, that difficult-to-buy-for teenager or that very special someone who deserves something special at this time of the year, you really can find it in Thame.  And where better to start than with something edible, from the indulgent to a token of the festive spirit of sharing.

    THE Deli @ No 5, in Buttermarket, Thame, is one of Thame’s independent gems, specialising in products from small, UK producers.  The young, enterprising couple behind this business, Joe and Hannah, have selected just three of the dozens of Christmas present ideas from this delightful little emporium. Scarlett and Mustard‘s Medium triangle box contains six jars of luxury condiments to complete your Christmas, including Fig Jam, Quince Jelly, Cranberry & Orange Jelly, Cracking Christmas Chutney, Boxing Day Pickle and New Year’s Day Relish. That’s the festive condiments sorted for £21.50.

    It couldn’t be easier to make your own Lager, Cider or Berry Cider than with the Pub at Home kit; Just add water and 72 hours later, the lucky recipient of this gift, will be able to drink straight from the keg. The Pub at Home kit costs £24.99.

    Or, if Gin is the preferred tipple, how about the Chase Gin gift set? Three 150ml bottles of Williams Elegant Gin, Chase Vodka and Chase Marmalade Vodka – Perfect for £24. 

    Edible presents for non-meat eaters and others with special dietary needs

    MORE and more of us are becoming vegetarian or even taking the final step into veganism (including celebrity vegans like Ellie Goulding and Jennifer Lopez) and Thame’s very own, family-run health food shop, Planet Health and Organics, has a wide selection of present ideas to cater for them, and for others with specialist dietary needs.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Their award-winning Boojo Champaigne Truffles are organic, cholesterol-free, wheat-free, diary-free and gluten free! Or, how about, for the man in your life, something from the Natura Siberia range of mens’ facial and skin care from Russia?

    These days there’s no need for the vegetarian or vegan member of the family to miss out on the traditional Christmas pudding, because Planet Organics stock a gluten-free, wheat-free and totally vegan Christmas Pud from Infinity Foods.

    Clothes for the man in your life


    FROM the classiest men’s wear shop in Thame.  Gallant in Greyhound Walk, has something stylish for the special man in your life; even that old Christmas present staple, socks, will be most acceptable when he opens his present and finds these beautiful Luxury cotton stretch socks from Italian company, Effio. Gallant offers several styles in all sorts of colours and patterns. Made in Italy, they retail at retail at £15.

     

     

     

     Or, how about this must-have, very fashionable, winter warmer? An exquisite quilted Jacket from Bavarian company, Handstich. Not only does it look good, but is made with a showerproof fabric and has a cosy fleece lining. The jacket retails at £650.

    Every man loves a good shirt, and this 100% cotton shirt pictured below, beautifully made by Dutch company, Circle of Gentlemen, using Italian fabrics with contrast colour piping and buttons will make your special man look and feel fabulous. Individuality and quality for £139.95

    Make-up for Her

    IN case you’ve not noticed, Thame has its very own boutique store in Buttermarket, offering a broad range of niche brands in skincare, cosmetics and fragrance. Powder is packed with a mixed range of luxurious but affordable products and a wide selection of present-buying ideas for the special ladies in your life.

     

     

     

    Miller Harris Gift Box for Her contains three fragrances including the bestselling Rose Silence fragrance, priced at £70.

     

     


    Most ladies like to wear a bit of lippy at Christmas, especially for all those Christmas and new year parties. Check out Powder’s Delilah Colour Intense liquid Lipstick duo in a beautiful Christmas cracker. Choose either bold reds or subtle nudes. £28.

     

     

     

     

    For those on a budget, or who might want to buy something special for a colleague or as a stocking-filler, pop into Powder and ask proprietor Karen to show you the REN stocking fillers. These travel-sized Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium or Moroccan Rose bath oils, are luxuriously rich and uplifting in scent, and will leave skin moisturised, supple and beautifully soft. The perfect gift for yourself or a loved one this Christmas. Price: £10

     

    Handmade and unusual

    fitch & fellows, after two years in East Street, Thame, moved to the Buttermarket this spring and is a treasure trove of all things handmade and unusual. Owned and run by ex-West End actress and singer Susannah Fellows, it focuses on the very best in creative talent from all over the UK. Here you’ll find jewellery, glassware, ceramics, sculpture, paintings and prints that span a wide range of prices – so there is always something for everybody.


    Bob Crooks Colour-ball Candlesticks are a terrific splash of colour for your Christmas table or make great presents at £42. Each is individually made and signed by the maker. fitch & fellows also have other beautiful glass pieces made by Bob, in for the Christmas season – decanters, champagne glasses, bowls, jugs and vases – all in his distinctive style in a wide range of colours.

    For the dog-lover in your life

     

    Charlotte Lowe’s jewellery centres around the simple moments of pleasure in life – her love of family and dog walking! Couples walking on a sandy beach or night walks in the moonlight with your favourite four-legged friend are just some of her subjects. All her pieces are sterling silver – some with 22 carat gold plate – and start at £32.

     

     

    Christian Marsden’s brick vases are individually handmade in slip-cast earthenware ceramic and finished in a variety of high gloss, on trend colours. Great fun, a bit edgy and modern and only £30!

    Many of our contributing retailers are taking part in Saturday’s ‘Christmas Shopping Saturday’ event, sponsored by 21st Century Thame. Click HERE for more information and where to pick up a leaflet full of bargains, offers and treats throughout the day.

     

     

     

     

  • Mayor’s charities feel the ‘Midsomer’ effect

    THE Mayor of Thame’s charities, the Red Kite Family Centre and Thame & District Day Centre, will benefit from Thame’s popular Midsomer Walking Tours.

    Pictured L to R Midsomer tour guides, Erroll Bateman, Elaine Harrison, Tony Long, and (on the other side of the Mayor) Bernadette Tildesley, Peter Sawyer, Nick Weir

    A cheque for £374, to be shared between the two charities, was presented by the Midsomer Tour Guides to the Mayor, Cllr Tom Wyse, on Tuesday, November 28.

    The Midsomer Tours, which take in locations used in filming the internationally popular,  ITV drama, Midsomer Murders, were held weekly for the first time this year, between May and October, run by six trained volunteers who are all members of Thame Players. The tours have proved to be highly successful, with 200 people buying tickets, not only from the UK and local areas, but also from overseas countries, including Australia, Scandinavia, USA, and Germany.

    The tours cost £7.50 per person and it was agreed at the outset that the tour guides themselves would receive no income, preferring to donate two thirds of receipts to the Mayor’s Charities and Thame Museum (a Midsomer filming location), while the remaining income would be used to fund promotion for the 2018 season.

    Thame is one of the most frequently used filming locations for Midsomer Murders and regularly features, either as Causton, or as one of the many villages in the fictional ‘Midsomer County’. Midsomer Murders is still going strong after 20 years with regular screenings in the UK and all over the world. Over six million people watch Midsomer Murders in this country, and millions more in over 100 countries worldwide. Once they have seen it on TV, people want to come and visit the quintessentially English towns and villages of Midsomer.

    Tony Long, coordinator for the Midsomer tour guides, said: “We are delighted with the success of the Midsomer Tours this year, and are equally delighted to be able to donate much of the proceeds to such worthy causes as the Mayor’s Charities and Thame Museum. We’re looking forward to running the tours again next year, every Wednesday from April 4, through to the last Wednesday in October.

    “We believe these tours add a welcome new facet to tourism in the town, attracting more visitors to the historic town of Thame.”

    • The Midsomer tours for 2018 will take place weekly between 4th April and 30th October, every Wednesday at 11.00am. They will start from inside Thame Museum (79 High Street, Thame, OX9 3AE), one of the filming locations, taking in many buildings in the town centre. The tours follow on from the original tour created by David Dodds of Thame Museum, and are held under the auspices of 21st Century Thame, an organisation that brings together local businesses, community groups and councils to help keep Thame vibrant and viable as a market town.
    • Tickets may be booked online at thamemuseum.org or at ticketsource.co.uk/thamemidsomer or purchased in person at Thame Museum (open 10am – 4pm Tue, Wed, Sat, and 12pm – 4pm Sun).
    • Bespoke tours at other times can be arranged for groups of at least 4 people or more. For more information about specially arranged tours, please email thamemidsomertours@gmail.com.
    •  There is a free Midsomer Walking Trail leaflet, which enables you to do the tour yourself without a guide. It covers both the Thame Midsomer locations and those in neighbouring villages in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Copies may be obtained at Thame Town Hall Information Centre and Thame Museum, as well as at hotels, pubs, shops and cafes in the local area. Contact Helen Johns at helen.johns39@gmail.com or on 0771 743 4983 if you would like supplies of the leaflet, which will be updated for the 2018 season.

  • Less people in hospital beds since changes at Thame

    A six-month pilot scheme at Thame community hospital, is to be extended to 12 months, to give the Trust that runs the hospital more time to assess how changes might affect services over the winter.

    Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust has taken out the beds at the hospital and has brought more out-patient services to the hospital, and brought other health and care services together on the site.

    Speaking at a recent meeting of Thame Town Council, Cllr Nigel Champken Woods said that since the changes (which aimed to invest in more efficient ways to get the right services, rapidly, to keep people out of hospital and to get people up on their feet and independent more quickly), the number of ‘bednights’ at Wycombe and Stoke Mandeville hospitals has reduced. He added that there are plans for people to be able to go to Thame hospital for chemotherapy and for a large Ultra-sound machine to be installed.

    SEE previous report HERE

  • Text your pothole !

    ROAD users in Oxfordshire, will be able to have more of a say about how highway maintenance money is spent in the county, via social media.

    Oxfordshire County Council says it is working on a new road maintenance policy and wants to make sure that the day-to-day experience of road users is considered when deciding which roads to upgrade.

    “Road condition is at the top the list for many people when it comes to what they would like to improve. You only have to look at social media to see this, which is why we want to take social media posts or ‘street tweets’ into account:” said Councillor, Yvonne Constance, Cabinet Member for Environment.

    Now, Oxfordshire roads are assessed and decisions made on where to spend money based on factors such as condition and the amount of traffic that use them – purely engineering factors.

    However a ‘social score’ will be added so that feedback from communities and road users can help add weight to the case for work to be done elsewhere.

    This means that feedback from social media posts, letters and emails could be captured as part of the assessment process.

    Read more HERE 

  • Christmas Open Graded squash tournament

    CALLING all squash players! Racquets Christmas Open Squash Graded Tournament 2017, is on December 16/17, 2017.


    Entries can be registered via Sporty HQ at:

    http://www.racquets-fitness-centre.com/open-graded-squash-tournament-1617-december-2017/. All grades are welcome.

    Tournament organisers : Chloe Marshall, chloe.racquetsfitness@gmail.com and Simon Martin, info@racquets-fitness-centre.com
    Entries close : December 12, 2017.