Talented young swimmers in Thame have been making history in a brand new event held in town.

More than 120 youngsters took part in the first ever swimming gala hosted by the Thame Swimming Club, providing a great experience in competition for up and coming stars.

The club held its first Junior Development Meet at Thame Leisure Centre on Sunday, May 20, welcoming 126 young swimmers.

They were aged between 8 and 12 years old and travelled from four other clubs at Witney, Bicester, Newport Pagnell and Didcot.

They competed in five events - the 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 50m breaststroke, 50m butterfly and the 100m individual medley, accumulating in nearly 500 individual entries.

A club spokesman said: “The meet was designed to give the younger swimmers a chance to compete against swimmers from other clubs and give them valuable experience for the future.

“There were many impressive swims with nearly all the swimmers achieving at least one - if not several - personal best times.

“Thame Swimming Club would like to thank all those who made this event possible including all the volunteers and officials who gave up their valuable time, Thame Leisure Centre for hosting the event and Sundance Pools the club’s sponsor.

“We are already looking forward to planning our next event.”

Thame Swimming Club is a friendly competitive swimming club, affiliated to Swim England, the national governing body of swimming in England. Visit http://www.thameswimmingclub.co.uk

Agony and ecstasy, it’s one hell of an experience.

Have you ever wondered what hell would be like?

If you believe there is a heaven and hell and you’ve ever wondered what it might look like - and don’t want to chance your arm that you will find out when you pop your clogs - then Agony paints a pretty vivid picture.

The first-person, survival horror sees gamers go on a journey as a tormented soul within the depths of hell without any memories about your past.

The special ability to control people on your path, and possess demons, gives you the tools and wherewithal to survive.

Developed by MadMinds Studio for PS4, XBox and PC, Agony use the Unreal Engine 4 and is a Kickstarter game with an 18+ certificate game due to its extreme violence.

Tasked with meeting the Red Goddess, one of the creators of Hell, in an effort to escape and return to the land of the living you must possess both other Martyrs and, later in the game, lesser and higher demons, giving them access to special abilities.

Using mechanics such as crouching and holding your breath you can avoid demons and must solve puzzles in order to unlock new areas. Hidden statues and paintings can also be collected along your journey.

It is easy to see why Agony had such a big take-up on Kickstarter because the premise of the game is brilliantly unique.

The anticipation has been building for some time and the graphics, gore and sound do not disappoint delivering an atmospheric and haunting experience which I feel begs for VR.

Some of the demons will give you nightmares and Agony screams originality.

The crowning achievement in Agony is the way it leaves your nerves frayed.

If you didn’t need your hands on the control pad you’d probably find yourself chewing your fingernails with knots in your stomach because there is a very real sense of danger and impending doom throughout.

Frustratingly, though, Agony is far from perfect. The gameplay mechanics are clunky at times.

There are a host of annoyances the major one being the ridiculously restrictive timer during your time as a demon which sucks the fun out of the game in many ways.

Bugs and crashes are too frequent but patches are already on the way in a bid to fix much of that.

If this was a VR title we would be possibly be looking at a landmark game in video game history.

And perhaps that’s where its future lies because there are too many good aspects to Agony to consign it to video game hell despite its flaws.

The shortlist for the 35th Catey Awards has revealed that Peter Borg-Neal, Founder and CEO of Oakman Inns & Restaurants, the operators of 22 venues across the Home Counties, Midlands and beyond has been shortlisted for a top honour.

Of the three finalists in the Pub & Bar Award, the 22-strong pub company that Peter founded over 10 years ago, is the only multi-site group to be selected, (as opposed to an individual pub), a recognition in itself of the high corporate and ethical standards Oakman Inns sets across its estate.

Oakman runs founding venue The Akeman in Tring as well as The King’s Arms, Banyers House, Beech House and The Red Lion in Herts. The pub operator also runs the White Hart in Bedfordshire, The Betsey Wynne, The Akeman Inn, The Cherry Tree, The Dog and Badger and two Beech Houses in Bucks, The Navigation at Thrupp Wharf in Cosgrove Northamptonshire, The Old Post Office, Blue Boar and Crown and Thistle in Oxon and The Globe in Warwick.

To make the Pub & Bar Award shortlist, recipients must run, own or manage a pub or pub group with a food element and the judges, all leading hospitality industry figures, are not only looking for great business acumen encompassing flair and innovation, but a total commitment to staff training, customer service, the food offer and a real sense of community involvement.

Peter Borg-Neal said: “I think it’s easy for people to forget just how important the hospitality industry is to the economy of the UK, contributing over 4% of GDP and a GVA contribution almost three times greater than that of the transport manufacturing sector. It’s an industry that is always looking for new talent and this is a fabulous recognition of the talent and skills that our teams display every day across the entire company. From glass washers, chefs and bar teams to front of house members to managers, Oakman works around the clock to be the best we can be, and to work with our communities to make all our lives a little bit better.”

Peter recently announced his aspiration to make Oakman Inns entirely free from single-use plastics, having been the first pub group in the UK to ban the use of single-use plastic straws in April 2017. Oakman Inns has opened two brand new pubs in Buckinghamshire this year – The Beech House in Amersham in February and The Cherry Tree in Olney. The group also runs the Swanbourne Music Festival behind The Betsey Wynne in Swanbourne near Milton Keynes and will shortly be opening their biggest ever pub development in Berkshire, the Royal Foresters in Ascot, with a total investment of nearly £10m. The Royal Foresters will have a 150-cover restaurant, 80 seat private function room, 24 luxury bedrooms and several environmentally beneficial build elements to reduce its eco-footprint.

The Cateys are one of the UK’s most respected industry awards and every year the best of Britain’s chefs, hoteliers, publicans, brewers, suppliers and managers eagerly wait to see if they have been shortlisted by the distinguished judging panel. This year, more than 100 judges met at London’s Dorchester hotel for three days of intense debate to discuss the nominees and to produce the shortlist.

The winners, representing the business leaders, innovators and household names in the British hospitality industry, will be revealed at a glittering event on 3rd July at London’s Grosvenor House.

Crowds of delighted onlookers headed to Haddenham and Thame Parkway today (Thursday) to admire the majestic Flying Scotsman steam locomotive as she pounded her way through the Bucks countryside on her way to the Spires of Oxford.

Local photographer Mike Fuggle said: “It never fails to impress me how excited people get watching a steam locomotive, more so everyone’s favourite the Flying Scotsman, and today she did not disappoint.”

Visitors are welcome to an open evening being hosted by The Friends of St Mary’s church, Thame.

There is a wealth of history to discover at the 13th century church, which will be open on Friday, June 15, from 6.30pm until 8.30pm.

There will be trips up to the bell tower, bellringing demonstrations, talks, an organ demonstration and a treasure hunt highlighting various aspects of the building’s history.

The evening is free and refreshments will be served. A retiring collection will be held towards the upkeep of the church.

Among features of interest are the corbels supporting the nave roof, each individually carved, a beautifully carved oak screen dating from around 1320, a fragment of a medieval wall painting and early 16th century choir stalls, with linenfold panelling and poppy-heads. They were brought to St Mary’s from Thame Abbey at the Dissolution.

In the centre of the chancel is a fine monument to Lord Williams (d.1559) and his wife Elizabeth. The tomb-chest is made of black and white marble in a Flemish style.

The chancel is almost unchanged since the 14th century and contains several fascinating memorials and wonderful woodwork.

The font bowl is original and dates to at least the early 14th century, but the base is thought to be another three centuries older still, suggesting it belonged to a Saxon church on the site.

The secret is out, a new sunny ‘secret garden’ hot spot has opened at Bill’s in St Albans.

The new garden area at the popular Hertfordshire restaurant seats up to 24 people and is designed to ‘reflect the eclectic nature of the interior of the restaurant with garden mirrors, fairy lights and foliage creating the ultimate daytime or evening ambience’.

Diners can basking in the sun on a hot day or enjoy a drink in the cool breeze as the sun goes down if as is predicted we get a heatwave during June.

The new garden comes after the relaunch of Bill’s St Albans venue earlier this year where the focus was on offering a more intimate experience and providing a ‘fun open bar area and plenty of room for everyone’ with show-stopping interiors to enjoy a new-look menu.

Bill’s is a British cafe chain founded by Bill Collison in 2000 when he opened a small greengrocery in Lewes, East Sussex. There are now 21 restaurants in London alone and 79 around the UK including a venue in Berhamsted.

The new menu includes a Warm Chicken, Avocado and Parmesan Salad and Seabass with avocado salsa. Alternatively, for those after something more indulgent, there is Pan Fried Chicken with Truffle and Wild Mushrooms. With new daily dinner specials throughout the week, Bills promises that there is something for everyone.

A Wednesday dinner special of Prawn Green Curry or Friday’s Cote de Boeuf Steak on the bone with chips has already proved popular while the weekend brunch is a winner including dishes such as Eggs Royale with chips, Bill’s Brunch and a variety of sharing plates including Halloumi, Health and Raw plates.

The greengrocer turned restaurant chain also has an extensive cocktail menu including a classic Campfire Espresso Martini, or an English Country Garden for a quirky alternative to a G&T.

The secret garden is proving popular so customers are advised to call ahead to book a table or even the entire area for a summer party to remember.

New members of the bellringing team at St Mary’s Church in Thame have been awarded certificates.

John Tchighianoff, chairman of the South Oxon Branch of Change Ringers, presented them to Harry Turner, Matthew Harper, Graham Turner, Cheryl Oliver and Rowan Oliver.

A spokeswoman for the team said: “St Mary’s bellringing team is proud to continue the heritage tradition of change-ringing that has been alive in Britain for over 400 years with five new members joining the band this year.

“The United Kingdom is unique in having groups of bells that can be rung in its churches. Of the 6,000+ churches with change-ringing bells, 93% are in England.

“Almost everyone lives within hearing distance of church bells and they are often the soundtrack to personal and social events such as weddings, christenings and funerals. During the Second World War, no bells rang across the country unless they were to signal an invasion and remained silent until they were rung to signify peace.”

After learning to control a bell, the band learn methods - melodies or patterns - which are then rung for occasions and seasonal services.

You do not need to be a member of a church to learn to ring, or even be musical, just willing to be part of team that takes pride and joy in continuing a tradition that is an integral part of British life.

To see the bells in action, and find out if this fulfilling hobby is for you, contact tower captain Rosalie Gibson on 01844 213948.

"We're beginning to see a lot more people holidaying here," said Tim Beauchamp, the friendly general manager responsible for two of Sidmouth's most prestigious hotels.

And there's certainly no doubting that this quintessential Victorian seaside resort is beginning to buck the trend, judging by the amount of holidaymakers enjoying the early summer sunshine when I visited what is truly a quaint South Devon resort for a few days in mid-May.

Proud to be the gateway to UNESCO's World Heritage Jurassic Coast, Sidmouth sadly became something of a holidaying backwater when its links to London and the Midlands were axed by Dr Richard Beeching back in the 1960s after he shut down its railway connections.

With so many of Britain's traditional seaside resorts falling from favour during that period – mainly thanks to cheap foreign package deals – with its wide esplanade, clean shingle and sand beach, Sidmouth seems to have reinvented itself.

Boasting magnificent views across Lyme Bay, instead of playing second fiddle to the likes of its larger west country neighbours Torquay and Paignton, it is both lively and bustling and is now a magnet for holidaymakers and day trippers alike.

It's more than 50 years since my last visit to the town but when I was invited to see what Sidmouth has to offer nowadays by the family-owned Brend Hotel chain – www.brendhotels.com (08455 760 760) – I jumped at the chance.

The Brend Group own two of the grandest and most striking four star residences along the whole of England's south coast – The Victoria and The Belmont – while both are located almost side-by-side close to the seafront towards the western end of the town's wide esplanade.

The Belmont and its car park are reached through an ornamental stone archway and, having been booked into a deluxe sea-facing double room overlooking both the beach and a nine hole putting green, we were met by Mr Beauchamp, Brend's General Manager, who arranged for our cases to be collected and taken to our room.

Built as a private residence back in 1817, the Brend family purchased The Belmont in 1987 and since then it has become a firm favourite with guests. "We get clients returning year after year," said Mr Beauchamp who joined the Brend group in 1996 and was originally based at The Victoria.

"There are plenty of people nowadays who don't want to travel abroad but they want luxury accommodation and we try our best to make sure they get it. Brexit could make a difference as some people just want a 'staycation'. I tend to stay at The Belmont and leave Matthew Raistrick (the company's area manager) to look after the day-to-day running at The Victoria," he added.

With its 50 en suite rooms (eight of which are singles), accommodation at The Belmont is impressive. It's traditional in terms of old-fashioned service but it certainly offers all the modern comforts you would expect from a top quality hotel.

Meanwhile guests have a three acre garden to explore which is a real delight, for besides an immaculate lawned area and some colourful planted flower beds, there's a peaceful and almost hidden woodland trail beside which runs a small stream… sheer tranquility indeed!

Superbly decorated throughout, our spacious comfortable bedroom with its French door and balcony was extremely well appointed with free Wi-Fi and the usual tea/coffee making facilities… and the en suite was simply enormous.

"In total we've got 220 members of staff across the two hotels," explained Mr Beauchamp, adding "the maintenance people and gardeners are naturally shared."

There's a sun terrace and two restaurants, the Belmont and the Horizon with it's huge picture window, the latter created just 12 months ago from a little used lounge which now consists of just seven tables. Evening dress code in the Belmont restaurant means a suit and tie are requested to be worn while the Horizon is far more casual.

The same evening dinner menus are available in both restaurants while the choice is huge – a superb six-course Table D'Hôte Menu being priced at £40 although each course can be ordered individually.

"Our head chef at The Belmont is Andrew Slater and he's a local," said Mr Beauchamp. "He's been with us since 1996 and there are ten others in the hotel's kitchen. They use local fresh ingredients whenever possible while we also grow some of our own herbs and vegetables.

"We often have non-residents dropping in. They are often here for breakfast meetings or luncheon parties and it's no surprise to see the same people several times a year," explained Mr Beauchamp.

There's a lift and an extremely comfortable lounge area while the staff are very attentive, always friendly and make you feel welcome.

While the Belmont doesn't have a swimming pool or sporting facilities, when we checked into magnificent Victoria next door, we were spoilt for choice. However Belmont guests can simply pop across the road and have complete use of all the facilities including two swimming pools – the outdoor one being really impressive – a sauna, hot stone beds along with spa treatment areas, tennis courts, snooker and games rooms and an 18 hole putting green.

The Victoria was the first purposes built hotel in Sidmouth and stands in five acres of beautifully manicured gardens. It's sheer grandeur and opulence is of another age and when this magnificent building opened in 1903, it was naturally named in honour of the reigning monarch.

An elegant red brick building, The Victoria offers award-winning first class service to its guests in 64 bedrooms, 12 of which are singles.

Once again we were spoilt as we were checked into a huge sea-front State room (No.107) with its enormous bed, 50 inch television, mini bar, settee, balcony and every conceivable comfort imaginable.

There's plenty of car parking, a well stocked bar, lounges and sun terraces plus an AA Rosette Awarded Jubilee Restaurant in which guests are expected to dress for the occasion.

However we dined in the White Room where no dress code (as at the Belmont) was requited even though I had made the effort! The White Room was created three years ago and consists of just eight tables and once again, the menu choice is huge.

Under the Victoria's head chef Stuart White, there are 18 other chefs in the hotel's three kitchens and once again, just as in The Belmont, the quality and presentation is quite magnificent. A five-course dinner is offered at £42 while the staff are polite, attentive and very respectful, especially as some of the guests were less able when it came to getting around.

Brend Hotel's Area Director Matthew Raistrick is justly proud of both hotels and explained that they cater for many different events. "We have a loyal following and are proud that guests recommend us and enjoy our facilities," he said.

"We offer quality and give guests luxurious accommodation in a range of rooms including suites which are located either in the hotel towers or by the poolside."

Traditional Devon cream teas or an afternoon cocktails in the sun lounge can be enjoyed by the guests while one important feature is that a lift provides access to all the hotel's floors.

About Sidmouth

Both hotels are approximately a five minute stroll along the sea front to reach the town centre, parts of which have been designated a conservation area. Sidmouth began to really expand during the Georgian and Victorian periods while today a number of impressively preserved Regency buildings remain.

The pedestrianised High Street has plenty of independent shops – the usual mix of charity, food and coffee – while there's a small cinema (The Radway) plus an excellent free to enter museum featuring relics from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods while there's a special feature regarding local women's suffrage, 100 years of the RAF and the town's maritime past.

The aforementioned esplanade walk is actually the town's seafront road which runs from the foot of the enormous red cliffs of Salcombe Hill to the east towards Peak Hill and Jacob's Ladder beach in the west.

We climbed both hills and enjoyed the magnificent views back over the town which dates back to the 11th century when Sidmouth was then known as Sedemuda which means the 'Mouth of the River Sid'.

The Sid which runs down the valley beneath Salcombe Hill trickles out onto the beach close to where the inshore fishermen keep their boats while those red-coloured rocks – which indicate the arid conditions of the geological Triassic period – are slowly being eroded by the sea and it is beginning to seriously threaten many properties close to the South West Coastal Path.

The creation of several artificial offshore islands have helped in a bid to protect the town's seafront – especially opposite the Victoria and Belmont hotels – but it's the erosion just along the coast that is becoming a nightmare for the Environment Agency.

The wooden white painted steps heading from Jacob's Ladder beach up to Connaught Gardens have undergone some serious repairs over the years while the Sea View Gardens themselves, with their traditional bandstand, were actually renamed after Queen Victoria's third son, the Duke of Connaught, who officially opened them in 1834 – at the age of 84!

One thing that has put Sidmouth on the map is music and its annual week-long Folk Festival takes place in August. It attracts musicians and visitors in their thousands who flock to specially-erected marquees in Blackmore Gardens and The Ham. However the main action now takes place in the hamlet of Bulverton on the edge of town, close to the main campsite.

Places to see around Sidmouth

Located in the heart of some of the most beautiful countryside in Britain, the two Brend hotels are close to the stunning, unspoilt scenery of Dartmoor National Park with its dramatic moorland landscape. And close by is the lovely 12th century cathedral and excellent shopping which can be had in the county town of Exeter which also boast a popular racecourse, a top notch rugby team and is home to the annual Devon County Show which takes place this week (May 18-20).

There's the picturesque fishing village of Brixham (home to the replica of the Golden Hind); sailing and windsurfing havens of Exmouth, the lovely mile-long beach atSeaton and the charming and friendly market town of Honiton. Also close by is Budleigh Salterton, one of Devon’s most unspoilt and tranquil coastal towns while Agatha Christie’s cherished holiday home of Greenway (now owned by the National Trust) is set on the banks of the River Dart.

There's some glorious scenery and the ancient Cobb at Lyme Regis, the pretty and traditional village of Branscombe; and the dramatic Geoneedle stone sculpture at Orcombe Point with its beautiful coastal backdrop.

Meanwhile the two Brend hotels are the ideal base from which to explore the amazing Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage site that draws visitors from all over the world and which has been described as a unique ‘geological walk through time’.

Travel Facts

Alan and Jo Wooding stayed at both The Belmont and The Victoria hotels. Summer break prices start at £152 per person per night at The Victoria in a standard double room which includes a full English breakfast and five-course dinner. The Belmont's Summer prices are from £132 for a standard double per person which also includes a full English breakfast and a six-course dinner.

Many thanks to Tim Beauchamp, Matthew Raistrick and Sue Bradbury of SBPR Ltd for arranging our stay at both the Belmont and Victoria hotels which are part of the Brend Hotels Group which won the 'Hotel Group of the Year' in the AA Hospitality Awards in 2015 and 2016.

The Victoria Hotel, The Esplanade, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 8RY – Tel: 01395 512651 – www.victoriahotel.co.uk and reservations@victoriahotel.co.uk

The Belmont Hotel, The Esplanade, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 8RX – Tel: 01395 512555 – www.belmont-hotel.co.uk and reservations@belmont-hotel.co.uk

Other Brend Hotels in Devon and Cornwall

The Saunton Sands Hotel, Saunton, Nr Braunton, North Devon EX33 1LQ – Tel: 01271 890212 – www.sauntonsands.com and reservations@sauntonsands.com

The Imperial Hotel, Taw Vale Parade, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 8BN – Tel: 01271 345861 – www.brend-imperial.co.uk and reservations@brend-imperial.co.uk

The Barnstaple Hotel, Braunton Road, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 1LE – 01271 376221 – www.barnstaplehotel.co.uk and reservations@barnstaplehotel.co.uk

The Park Hotel, Taw Vale, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 9AE – Tel: 01271 372166 – www.parkhotel.co.uk and reservations@parkhotel.co.uk

Royal & Fortescue Hotel, Boutport Street, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 1HG – Tel: 01271 342289 – www.royalfortescue.co.uk and reservations@royalfortescue.co.uk

The Royal Hotel, Barnstaple Street, Bideford, Devon EX39 4AE – Tel: 01237 472005 – www.royalbideford.co.uk andreservations@royalbideford.co.uk

The Devon Hotel, Matford, Exeter, Devon EX2 8XU – Tel: 01392 259268 – www.devonhotel.co.uk and reservations@devonhotel.co.uk

The Carlyon Bay Hotel, Sea Road, St Austell, Cornwall PL25 3RD – Tel: 01726 812304 – www.carlyonbay.com and reservations@carlyonbar.com

The Royal Dutchy Hotel, Cliff Road, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 4NX – Tel: 01326 313042 – www.royaldutchy.com and reservations@royaldutchy.com

The Brend Group's Contemporary Restaurants

Sands on the Beach, Saunton Sands Hotel, Saunton Beach, Devon EX33 1LQ – 01271 891288.

Carriages Bar & Brasserie, The Devon Hotel, Matford, Exeter, Devon EX2 8XU – Tel: 01392 259268.

62 The Bank Cafe Bar and Bistro, Boutport Street, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 1HG – Tel: 01271 324446.

Florentinos Italian, The Royal & Fortescue Hotel, Boutport Street, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 1HG – Tel: 01271 3244446.

Fish in the River Thame can now explore parts of the waterway they haven’t been able to reach since possibly Norman times, thanks to improvement works.

The River Thame Conservation Trust, in partnership with the Environment Agency, have made improvements to a stone weir at Waterstock Mill to help fish navigate the historic structure they were unable to swim over.

Natalie Breden, from the trust, said: “When habitats which were once continuous are divided by weirs, it restricts the movement of many fish and insect species, separating them from their food sources and the variety of habitats they need to complete their life cycles. This can badly affect their survival and some species can disappear altogether in some stretches of river.

“It’s made worse here on the Thame as our river has had some big pollution incidents over recent decades when thousands of fish have been killed. Blockages in the river prevent fish and other mobile species from moving away from the pollution and being able to re- colonise after the events.”

The Waterstock Mill project has restored more than half a mile of river and also received funding from the Thames Rivers Trust Restoration Fund. The project also had great support from the local landowner who allowed the work to take place on his land.

The River Thame Conservation Trust hope to carry out similar projects in the coming years to gradually improve passage and habitats across the river catchment.

Natalie added: “In the past humans have changed natural river systems for our own uses, for agriculture, building developments, navigation or water supply. Fish evolved in rivers long before humans had this influence and fish species are not adapted to the changes we’ve made over time, such as dredged river bottoms, straightened channels and blockages such as weirs and sluices which dissipates the flow of water and block movement.

“The River Thame and it’s tributaries have many such blockages along its length, most of which are associated with watermills – signs of a time when the river was a major source of power in the rural economy and weirs were important to help provide that power to the mills.”

The new owner of an art studio in Thame is aiming to bring a creative hub to the town.

Delphine Art Studio, in Upper High Street, is now under the management of Lisa Norgate-Barnes who recently hosted a launch party.

Lisa said: “I want art to become more accessible and inclusive, I see Delphine Art Studio as a central hub for local artists to exhibit their work and run workshops as well as having an accessible space for adults and children to use to see the art work and take part in activities. I want the creative hub to be a real asset to the Thame community.’

The hub includes an art café, serving a selection of hot and cold drinks as well as locally made cakes, open seven days a week.

There is also a studio space that can be rented out by local artists to run groups and masterclasses developing skills in different mediums, whether young, old, amateur or professional. One of the first workshops taking place is by Mark Fennell RBSA, a local artist from Brill, who will be teaching beginners how to paint in oils.

The exhibition space will feature work by local artists, and Ruth Aslett and Stephanie Fisher are among the first to exhibit.

Delphine Art Studio is a member of the Professional Picture Framers Association and their framer has over 30 years’ experience in framing.

There is also work from key stage one children from Brill Primary School and the older children from Tetsworth Primary School on display.

Lisa’s team run a free art homework club from 3pm to 5pm every Tuesday giving parents and children an opportunity to access art materials and support for homework. There is also a Monday evening still life drawing club, among many other classes.

Lisa added: “I wanted the artwork of local children to take part in our exhibitions so that they can see their artwork on the walls alongside local artists and understand that art is for everyone no matter what your age.”

Lisa has many years of experience working in business and training, and was an interim operations manager at The Art Room, a charity with a pioneering approach to boosting children’s mental well-being.

Visit www.delphineartstudio.com

A hero from the days of the English Civil War is to be commemorated in Thame.

John Hampden (1595 – 1643), an English politician who was one of the leading parliamentarians involved in challenging the authority of Charles I of England in the run-up to the civil war, died in Thame.

He became a national figure when he stood trial in 1637 for his refusal to be taxed for ship money. He was one of the Five Members whose attempted unconstitutional arrest by King Charles I in the House of Commons of England in 1642 sparked the war.

Sunday, June 24, marks the 375th anniversary of the death of Hampden, who was wounded at the Battle of Chalgrove Field six days earlier, and died on his return to town.

A student boarder at Lord Williams’s School, his family home was at Hampden House, Great Hampden, and at the time of his death made The Greyhound in Thame his headquarters.

To mark his life, the John Hampden Society will lay a wreath at the memorial plaque beside Hampden House, at 105 High Street, Thame, where the man known to history as ‘The Patriot’ died.

The wreath will be laid at noon by the society’s patron, Miles Hobart-Hampden, 10th Earl of Buckinghamshire, a direct descendant of John Hampden.

Lord Buckinghamshire will be repeating his action of exactly 25 years earlier, when he also laid a wreath at the same spot in the presence of over 400 spectators during the newly-formed John Hampden Society’s first public event.

Also attending this year’s ceremony will be the Mayor of Thame, Cllr Ann Midwinter, and members of the executive committee of the John Hampden Society.

Details and pictures of the original event 25 years ago can be seen at http://www.johnhampden.org/1/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Patriot_No.03.pdf

Temperatures of 15 MILLION degrees Celcius which is hotter than the centre of the sun have been recorded in a sleepy Oxfordshire village

But rather than shredding the weather record books, the astonishing temperature is actually a milestone in an innovative bid to create controllable, clean energy.

Temperatures hotter than the centre of the sun were recently created right her in Oxfordshire by scientists with Tokamak Energy in Milton.

They are working towards the holy grail of fusion energy - the joining together of small atomic nuclei to form larger ones which releases energy.

It is the same process that powers the sun – and what Tokamak Energy is working to recreate in its device called a compact spherical tokamak.

The team say their next plasma temperature target is 100 million degrees Celcius -

seven times hotter than the centre of the Sun and the temperature necessary for controlled fusion on Earth.

The company’s overall aim is to produce industrial scale energy by 2025.

The ‘ST40’ device in which the 15 million degree Celcius temperature was achieved was built by Tokamak Energy and commissioned last year.

It is the third machine in a five-stage plan to achieve abundant, clean fusion energy.

The 15 million degree temperatures were reached using a technique known as merging compression, which releases energy as rings of plasma crash together and magnetic fields in the plasma reconfigure – a process known as magnetic reconnection.

Merging compression involves putting high electric currents through internal coils of the tokamak, which requires power supplies to deliver thousands of amps in a matter of seconds.

Tokamak Energy grew out of the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy in Oxfordshire.

A key innovation is that the company combines spherical tokamaks with the latest generation of high temperature superconducting magnets (HTS).

Jonathan Carling, CEO at Tokamak Energy, said: “We are taking significant steps towards achieving fusion energy, doing so with the agility of a private venture, driven by the goal of achieving something that will have huge benefits worldwide.

“Reaching 15 million degrees Celcius is yet another indicator of the progress at Tokamak Energy and a further validation of our approach.

“Our aim is to make fusion energy a commercial reality by 2030.”

Dr David Kingham, Co-founder of Tokamak Energy, added: “The world needs abundant, controllable, clean energy.

“Our business plan is built on strong scientific foundations and this major milestone provides further validation of our compact spherical tokamak route to fusion power.

“Fusion is a major challenge, but one that must be tackled.

“We believe that with collaboration, dedication and investment, fusion will be the best means of achieving deep decarbonisation of the global energy supply in the 2030s and beyond.”

In 2017, Tokamak Energy was selected by the International Energy Agency (IEA) as one of three leading innovative ideas in fusion.

Tokamak Energy has raised private investment of more than £30 million, with investors including Oxford Instruments, Legal & General Capital and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Harry Hill has announced a new family-fun filled tour kicking off in October coming to Milton Keynes, Aylesbury, Coventry and Oxford.

The award winning comedian will present Harry Hill Kidz Show: How To Be Funny – For Kids!, to mark the release of his brand new kids book in October 2018.

The 11-date tour, jam-packed with laughs for all ages, will kick off at The New Theatre in Oxford on Thursday October 21. This will be followed by a performance at Warwick Arts Centre on Saturday October 23. He comes to Milton Keynes Theatre on Thursday October 28 and Aylesbury Waterside Theatre on Saturday November 3

Harry Hill Kidz Show: How To Be Funny – For Kids!, the first time the revered comedian has taken to the road in five years, ties in with the release of Matt Millz Stands Up, the sequel to Harry’s critically lauded kids book, Matt Millz, about the world’s youngest comedian who dreams of making it big.

Harry Hill Kidz Show: How To Be Funny – For Kids! will offer hints, tips and anecdotes for children who fancy themselves as a bit of a joker, with the self-styled floppy collared loon Harry Hill on hand to run through his dos and do nots, as well as offering kids the chance to try out their comedy skills.

He said: “I can’t tell you how many letters I get from children asking me how you become a stand-up comic, which is partly why I wrote the Matt Millz books. Now I’m taking it to them direct! Brings your jokes and an umbrella – there will be fun!”

Harry Hill is a national treasure who has created some of the most successful TV shows of the last two decades, collecting three BAFTAs, eight British Comedy Awards and a Golden Rose of Montreux along the way. He created the multi award-winning series Harry Hill’s TV Burp for ITV, having previously created Harry Hill’s Fruit Corner (BBC Radio 4), Harry Hill’s Fruit Fancies (BBC2) and the award-winning comedy show Harry Hill (C4).

He is the host of You’ve Been Framed! (ITV) and recent shows include the award-nominated Harry Hill’s Alien Fun Capsule for ITV, and Harry Hill’s Tea Time for Sky.

He made seven legendary appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS), and Harry’s last live tour, Sausage Time, took in 40 sell-out dates around the UK. Harry is also a best-selling children’s author, and his latest children’s book, Matt Millz, was released by Faber in October.

Tickets on sale from Friday June 8 at 10am available from www.ticketmaster.com.

The average Brit commits 32 different ‘crimes’ every year - including using a vacuum on a Sunday afternoon and pocketing incorrect change.

Other wrongdoings include beeping a car horn for any reason apart from alerting traffic, dropping litter and cycling without lights after dark.

70% feel guilty about breaking ‘small’ laws

A study found two thirds of the population think many of these laws are completely unnecessary - although seven in 10 admit they do feel guilty if they break them.

A third of respondents revealed they have been caught doing something illegal - with over a third claiming they simply weren’t paying attention.

The study of 2,000 UK adults also found 98 per cent consider themselves to be law abiding.

Among the more serious misdemeanours are cycling through a red light and smoking in a non-smoking area.

Eighty-three per cent of Brits said they are sometimes confused by what’s illegal and what’s not.

Vacuuming after 1pm on a Sunday

Other laws commonly broken include parking on double yellow lines, cycling on the pavement and throwing tree cuttings into their neighbour’s garden.

Vacuuming after 1pm on a Sunday is among the more unusual laws on the list and could land you in trouble with environmental health officers for making too much noise.

Sticking a postage stamp to an envelope upside down is treason in the eyes of the law.

Flying a kite in a park could lead to a fine of up to £500 if it obstructs other members of the public.

And, although for many it’s an ‘innocent’ childhood prank, knocking on someone’s door and running away another ‘small’ law broken by Brits.

The research, carried out by OnePoll, also revealed Saturday at 1.52pm is the day and time people are most likely to break the law.

Almost half of people said being caught doing something illegal would be enough to convince them not to do it again.

Sixty per cent of respondents said it bothers them when they see others breaking the law - even if it’s something relatively small.

On average, UK adults spot people doing something they shouldn’t four times a day - although just ten per cent would ever confront the offender.

TOP 40 ‘SMALL’ LAWS BROKEN BY BRITS:

1. Drank alcohol under the age of 18

2. Sworn or gestured to other road users

3. Eaten or drank whilst driving

4. Vacuumed between the hours of 6pm & 8am on a weekday or 1pm & 8am on a Saturday or on a Sunday

5. Parked partly on a pavement

6. Cycled on pavements

7. Speeding whilst driving

8. Pocketed change when given wrong amount

9. Beeped a horn for any reason other than alerting traffic

10. Been drunk on the street, in a pub or in a restaurant

11. Changed a CD whilst driving

12. Had sex in a public place

13. Bought cigarettes under the age of 18

14. Dropped litter

15. Taken illegal drugs

16. Disturbed people by ringing their doorbells / knocking at their doors and leaving before being answered (or playing knock, knock, ginger - also known as known down ginger and chap-door-run)

17. Not worn a seatbelt during a car journey

18. Flown a kite in a park

19. Used a fake name on the internet

20. Stuck a postage stamp upside down

21. Used a mobile phone while driving

22. Cycled without lights after dark

23. Parked on double yellow lines

24. Driven through a red light

25. Not paid for a carrier bag at a self-service check-out

26. Had sex when you were under 16 years of age

27. Not had a TV licence and watched TV

28. Used someone else’s Wi-Fi without them knowing

29. Smoked in a non-smoking area

30. Thrown tree cuttings back over your neighbours’ garden

31. Claimed an item at the self-service till without paying for it

32. Taken a child out of school for a holiday - without the head teacher’s permission

33. Not informed the DVLA of a change of name or address

34. Not cleaned up after your dog has pooed on the street/public path

35. Cycled through a red light

36. Fiddled your expenses

37. Sung or chanted a crude football chant in the street

38. Gone fishing without a licence

39. Parked opposite a junction

40. Put makeup on while driving

A beautiful time capsule of brilliance.

If the Tate Gallery put on an exhibition dedicated to Street Fighter I would imagine it to be something like the utterly brilliant 30th Anniversary Collection I have had the pleasure of exploring for the last week.

As a kid of the 80s Street Fighter is one of the pillars of my childhood and teenage years.

It is the founding father of fighting games and one of the biggest selling video game franchises in history.

Therefore it is right that, not only should Capcom continue to develop new Street Fighter titles while the appetite remains strong, they should also pay homage to 30 years of brilliant work.

The collection includes the original Street Fighter, five editions of Street Fighter II, three iterations of Street Fighter III, and Street Fighter Alpha, Alpha 2, and Alpha 3.

To have such a comprehensive compilation of so many arcade-perfect ports in one place is simply priceless.

It’s like a time capsule for future generations and worth every penny of the £30 it will set you back.

These are some of the best fighting games to have stood the test of time. The collection brings together a superb compendium of arcade emulation woven together with a generous helping of expertly produced bonus features.

Retro gaming is a big market with 30 and 40 somethings yearning for that buzz they got from video games in the 80s and 90s.

Those gamers - and I know because I am one of them - get that fix through nostalgia and Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection is dripping in it.

Don’t get me wrong it’s not perfect and there are a lack of options which eagle-eyed fans of the series will spot that ARE in previous Street Fighter collections.

It’s a small negative in the grand scheme of things, though.

Because at the end of the day here stands a collection of awesome and historic games teeming with behind-the-scenes content that no Street Fighter fan should miss.

Digital Eclipse have done the series proud here. And at an equivalent of about £2-3 per game in the collection, this is some of the best value gaming for your money that is out there.

New research has showed a rise in shoplifting offences across the UK, however there has been a decrease here in the Thames Valley.

A total of 378,725 shoplifting incidents were recorded during the financial year of April 2017 – March 2018 across 42 police forces - a 4% increase from the previous year.

The research was conducted by online marketplace OnBuy.Com which found that the Metropolitan Police had the highest number of shoplifting offences at 46,840 – the equivalent of 128 incidents a day in the capital.

West Midlands Police followed, with 19,851 incidents of shoplifting reported.

In third place, was West Yorkshire Police, with 18,491 cases of shoplifting recorded – a 3% increase from the year before (April 2016 – March 2017 - 17,906).

In fifth place was our local force Thames Valley Police who recorded 16,673 incidents of shoplifting in 2017-18.

This is a 2% decrease from the previous year (April 2016- March 2017), where there were 16,980 shoplifting offences.

Dyfed-Powys Police had the lowest number of shoplifting cases, with only 1,861 reported.

Despite this, out of all the forces that supplied data they saw the highest year-on-year increase in shoplifting at 21%.

Thames Valley’s neighbouring forces ranked as follows - Hampshire - 7th, Hertfordshire - 19th, Northamptonshire - 29th and Bedfordshire - 38th.

Analysing the research Cas Paton, managing director of OnBuy.com said: “The findings from this research are intriguing.

“With the overall number of shoplifting incidents increasing from the previous year, it’s a crime which is financially burdening retailers.

“It’s unfortunate because many owners spend a lot of time, money and energy ensuring all aspects of their operations are running effectively and efficiently.

“Whilst shoplifting may seem difficult to prevent, there are certain cost-effective precautions retailers can take to deter shoplifters from targeting them.

“Precautions such as training employees to identify the behaviours associated with shoplifters and appropriate signage to warn potential offenders about the seriousness of the matter.”

An established business in Thame has announced major changes as it looks ahead to continued expansion.

Lightfoots LLP will be closing its estate agency business on June 17 to focus on the continued expansion of its core area of business delivering legal services.

The firm says it is confident that the opportunity exists to consolidate and accelerate its recent growth over the coming years.

Joe Middleton, partner at Lightfoots, said: “In recent years the firm has experienced massive growth in our legal services business not only amongst our loyal local client base but also nationally. We are delighted that this is recognised by our being included in the shortlist for three national industry awards.

“We have decided that it is in the best interests of the firm and its clients to focus on our core areas in order to manage growth. We have therefore reluctantly taken the decision to close our estate agency after some 30 years in that business.

“In the last 12 months we have employed staff in over 40 new positions in Thame, as well as opening a new office in Princes Risborough. We look forward to further expansion in the coming years, with Thame continuing to be the centre of this growth.”

In addition to the closure of the estate agency, Lightfoots has sold its lettings business to respected Oxford-based agency College and County who intend to continue trading from Thame. The agency is well known in Oxford for its high standards and professionalism, ensuring transferring clients will continue to receive the highest level of service.

John Ovens, senior partner at Lightfoots, said: “I have known the directors of College and County for many years on both a personal and professional level and I am certain they will continue to deliver the personal service to our many clients for which I believe Lightfoots are well known in all departments of our business.”

Lightfoots has been a stalwart of Thame town centre since it was established over 150 years ago. In recent times it has expanded beyond a small High Street practice, and now employs over 125 members of staff across a broad range of legal services for individuals, businesses and the financial sector.

To find out more about Lightfoots please visit www.lightfoots.co.uk

The World Cup is just days away and that means only one thing - flags will be flying everywhere.

The England national side are leaving for Russia today and a patriotic fever is set to sweep the country, until the Three Lions are knocked out anyways.

From the outside of your local pub to the cars driving past on your commute to work the St George Cross is likely to feel ever present for the next couple of weeks.

But if you are planning on getting into the World Cup spirit and flying your own England flag either at home or on your car, there are a few laws to be aware of.

For anyone wishing to display their patriotic pride on their vehicle there are several things to consider. First of all making sure that it does not obstruct your vision.

Common sense, and the Highway Code, dictate that your windscreen and windows must be kept clean and free from obstructions - so don’t go drapping your St George Cross over your rear windscreen, for example.

Also according to the Flag Institute, a car flag should be placed on a staff fitted to the front-right wing, in the centre of front edge of the bonnet, or in the centre of the front edge of the roof.

What does the law say about flying flags?

The most recent flag controls, which are considered more liberal than in the past, were introduced in October 2012 by the Government and they requiring that all flags are subject to some standard conditions.

They must be maintained in a condition that does not impair the overall visual appearance of the site, be kept in a safe condition, have the permission of the owner of the site on which they are displayed and not obscure, or hinder the interpretation of official road, rail, waterway or aircraft signs, or otherwise make hazardous the use of these types of transporst.

Also they should be removed carefully where so required by the planning authority.

There are three categories of flags - ones that do not need constent, flags which do not

need consent provided they comply with further restrictions and flags which require consent.

Flags that do not need consent

1. Any country’s national flag, civil ensign or civil air ensign;

2. The flag of the Commonwealth, the European Union, the United Nations or any

other international organisation of which the United Kingdom is a member;

3. A flag of any island, county, district, borough, burgh, parish, city, town or village

within the United Kingdom;

4. The flag of the Black Country, East Anglia, Wessex, any Part of Lincolnshire,

any Riding of Yorkshire or any historic county within the United Kingdom;

5. The flag of Saint David;

6. The flag of Saint Patrick;

7. The flag of any administrative area within any country outside the United

Kingdom;

8. Any flag of Her Majesty’s forces;

9. The Armed Forces Day flag.

However the flags must not display any advertisements or subject matter additional to the design of the flag.

Flags that do not consent provided they comply with certain restrictions

Under the law a number of categories of flags may be flown without consent subject to certain restrictions regarding the size of the flag, the size of characters on the flag, and the number and location of the flags.

These are:

1. House flag - flag is allowed to display the name, emblem, device or trademark of

the company (or person) occupying the building, or can refer to a specific event of

limited duration that is taking place in the building from which the flag is flown

2. Any sports club (but cannot include sponsorship logos)

3. The horizontal striped rainbow flag, such as the “Pride” Flag

4. Specified award schemes - Eco-Schools, Queens Awards for Enterprise and Investors in People

The restrictions on these flags, which would result in them needing consent, are related to where the flagpole is located on your home or the building you want to fly it from.

If you have a vertical flagpole on the roof - you are only permitted to have one flag, but there are no restrictions on its size.

While if you have a flagpole projecting from anywhere else on the building - again you are only allowed one flag, it must not exceed two square metres in size.

Also if you have a flagpole in the grounds of the building, you are allowed to fly up to two flags but the flagpole may not exceed 4.6 metres above ground level.

A Calvert Green man has been hit with a bill of more than £2,000 after dumping 20 boxes at Kingswood near Aylesbury.

Jason Fabian Hawkins, 40, of Brickhill Way, Calvert Green, was found guilty in his absence of dumping waste illegally following a trial at High Wycombe Magistrates Court in April.

The court heard that on October 25 2017 officers from the Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire attended a fly-tipping incident at North Farm Lane, Kingswood, off the A41 to the west of Aylesbury.

They found 20 dumped boxes which they traced to a company at Long Crendon.

The firm assisted the investigation and provided details for one of their drivers whose delivery round had not been completed.

When interviewed at a police station, Hawkins denied dumping the boxes.

However, further investigation of the circumstances eliminated all other sources of the waste and the case proceeded against him.

Hawkins did not attend the trial and was found guilty in his absence after the evidence was heard.

Hawkins did attend the sentencing last month and was fined £1,200 and ordered prosecution costs to be paid in the sum of £1,357.80.

A victim surcharge of £120 was also levied – making a total to pay of £2,677.80.

Aylesbury Vale District Council cabinet member for environment and waste Sir Beville Stanier said: “Despite sustained denials, the court held this man responsible for dumping the goods he was meant to deliver.

“In the end, it was necessary to arrest him to bring him before the court for sentencing - the Waste Partnership is grateful for the support shown by the court and by the police in this prosecution.”

The case was investigated and prosecuted by Bucks County Council on behalf of the Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire.

Illegal dumping can be reported at www.buckscc.gov.uk/fly

A total of £2,192 was raised at a flower and crafts festival held at St Andrew’s Church, Chinnor.

Visitors could admire TV-themed displays and enjoy cream teas over the weekend of Saturday, June 2 and Sunday, June 3, taking place alongside Chinnor Open Gardens.

The event was expanded again this year by showcasing displays of local art and crafts alongside the gardens. The church was decorated with flowers depicting diverse TV programmes such as ‘Upstairs, Donwnstairs’ and ‘Gardeners World’.

A church spokesmand said: “Congratulations to all the flower arrangers for their wonderful interpretations of the theme. Thank you also to St Andrew’s Church of England Primary and Mill Lane Community Primary schools for participating, namely ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ and ‘Blue Planet’ respectively. A big thank you to all the artists and crafters who shared their skills over the two days in the church as well as outside in the churchyard and the bell tower with the visiting public.

“Thank you to all who donated produce such as preserves, cakes and plants for the produce stall.”

Cream teas sold out on both afternoons, thanks to bakers Sue Greaves and Sara Higgs for their delicious scones and cakes. Thanks were also paid to the helpers in the kitchen, on the door and manning the produce stall.

The funds raised will go towards the maintenance of St Andrew’s Church, in particular the urgent repair of the stonework on the outside of the church building.