The Rotary Club of Thame and District are appealing for one more team to attend the 7th edition of Thame Swimathon.

The now traditional fun and fundraising event will be held at Thame Leisure Centre on Sunday, March 3, between 11am and 3pm.

With the unexpected withdrawal of a team, there is a space left for a team of 4 to 6 during the 12:00 time slot.

Marius Ciortan, chairman of the Thame Swimathon steering group, said: “Thame Swimathon is a great event for families, school friends, work colleagues to raise funds for charity, swim for 1 hour and have fun. To enter is easy - get a team of 4-6 together, download the team entry form from www.thame.rotary1090.org, fill in the form and then email it to thame.swimathon@btintenet.com.”

All participants will receive medals awarded by Ann Midwinter, Mayor of Thame.

Teams have the option to allocate 50% of their money raised towards the charity of choice or 100% towards Rotary’s charities. In both cases all monies will be collected by Rotary Club of Thame District which will apply for Gift Aid as appropriate. Once this process is completed, Rotary Club of Thame and District will make a donation towards the charity of team’s choice, should this option be taken.

The club’s main charities supported during 2018-2019 are ROSY (Respite Nursing for Oxfordshire’s Sick Youngsters) and Thomley.

The event is possible due to generous local sponsors who kindly covered the swimming pool hiring costs: Thame Leisure Centre, Haddenham Beer Festivals Trust, and Aston Hearing. Most of the medals to be given to participants were engraved by Neil Merritt of Ignite Sport who sadly passed away in 2018.

Volunteers from Thame and District Lions Club, Thame Inner Wheel and Wheatley Park Interact Club will be supporting Thame and District Rotarians with the counting of lengths swum by teams.

Five teams for Barley Hill School of Thame will participate at Thame Swimathon raising funds for Barley Hill School PTFA.

Jo Sackett, Barley Hill PTFA Trustee, said: “So thrilled to be involved in the Thame Swimathon again this year. A wonderful event that the Barley Hill children thoroughly enjoy and we raise a pound or two for charity at the same time, fantastic!”

The event will also be attended by seven teams from Thame Swimming Club. Team Ice Cream of John Hampden School Thame and Wheatley Park Interact Club will participate again this year. A new team, called Team 50, which includes the family of Thame Rotary President’s family, will celebrate 50 years of Rotary in Thame and neighbouring villages. Another newcomer is Rapid 6 with pupils from John Hampden School in Thame.

The teams will appreciate any support via online donations. The My Donate links can be found onto the Thame Swimathon page of the Rotary Club of Thame and District’s website www.thame.rotary1090.org and on Facebook via www.facebook.com/thamerotary

A Thame man has helped raise awareness of mental health in the area during a nationwide campaign.

National Time To Talk Day was held on Thursday, February 7 – a day dedicated to raising awareness of mental health in our communities.

A series of events were held around Thame to raise awareness including a discussion on Red Kite Radio, a Round Table event and a cake and conversation evening at Thame Town Hall.

Time To Talk Day is part of an ongoing campaign called Time For Change, organised by the mental health charity Mind.

Jonathan Butler, Time For Change Champion in the Thame area, said: “While mental health is a huge problem we as individuals can make a huge difference by doing very little things.

“You don’t need to be an expert and you shouldn’t try to give advice but you most definitely can let people know that it is ok to talk and that they will not be judged badly.”

He added: “The things we can do are very simple. Firstly, be aware of any changes in behaviour of people that you know. Are people withdrawing from things that they previously loved to do, have their standards dropped with work or appearance?

“Secondly, be approachable and if you are worried about someone ask them how they are and ask them like you mean it. Don’t expect people to tell you straight away. It may take some time for people to open up and tell you how they are really feeling but by showing you are open and that you care people are far more likely to be prepared to share.

“Finally, be prepared to listen. It’s very helpful for many people to just feel that they can talk to somebody without being judged. Many mental health issues are rooted in childhood issues about self worth and sense of belonging, so just building this non judgemental connection is very powerful.”

Mental health issues will affect one in four of us during our lifetime and is an increasing problem with young people in our communities facing particular challenges. Despite this there is still a great deal of stigma associated with mental health challenges, says Jonathan.

He said: “If people have a physical health problem they have no hesitation in telling others and in seeking help. However with mental health problems people are still very wary of seeking help. In the workplace for example only 11% of people who have a mental health issue feel they would be able to tell their boss. According to the Mental Health Foundation a staggering 700 million days costing a whopping £2.4bn were lost in the workplace last year alone due to poor mental health.

“Great work has been done by the likes of Prince Harry to raise awareness and remove the stigma. There is still much however to be done. Time For Change seeks to do this by raising awareness and encouraging greater openness. Given the prevalence of mental health issues all of us will have a family member, friend, colleague or employee who is experiencing a difficulty.”

To find out more about mental health and what you can do to help visit www.time-to-change.org.uk

If you would like to get involved in helping with future events in your workplace or community please contact Jonathan at jonathan.butler@myfitmind.co.uk

No - if there is no deal there's no transition period.

The transition period was set up as part of the EU Withdrawal Agreement. If this goes ahead, then the transition period would run from March 29 when we officially leave the EU up until December 2020 (although the European Union has already said it would be willing to extend the period to 2021 or 2022).

During this period, the UK would trade with the EU in the same way we do now while the two parties agree a new and permanent relationship. It would help businesses, individuals and the government to prepare for new arrangements and minimise the disruption from any changes.

If the withdrawal is rejected, then this is what is being called a no deal Brexit, and there will be no transition period. If this happens, all changes would happen immediately on March 29.

We're getting to the bottom of all your Brexit-related questions. Email gemma.jimmison@jpimedia.co.uk

Back in November 2018, Europe marked the First World War armistice with numerous Centenary celebrations in and around Flanders Fields. Twelve months on, there will be further celebrations in both Belgium and the Netherlands as towns and villages mark the 75th anniversary of liberation from Nazi Germany.

I was fortunate enough to be invited by the Liberation Route Europe Foundation to view some of the sites that culminated in the Ardennes Offensive which history now refers to as the Battle of the Bulge.

Fought primarily in the area around the Ardennes Forests and the strategic Belgian town of Bastogne, both sides were to suffer enormous casualties in a six week battle that started in December 1944.

Having transferred from Brussels where I had attended a special Liberation Route Europe conference, I arrived in Bastogne with five fellow guests to stay overnight at the Melba Hotel.

The following morning we transferred to the nearby Bastogne Barracks run by the War Heritage Institute where we had a guided tour and presentation courtesy of Bruno Lacluyse.

It's a truly amazing museum, displaying simply dozens of British, US, Russian and German tanks together with all manner of military vehicles and weaponry. And it's no wonder that the barracks will feature strongly in the 75th celebrations later this year when it is expected to be visited by some of the surviving veterans who fought in the Battle of the Bulge who will be accompanied by their families.

"I love it when you see Battle of the Bulge veterans greet each other like old friends," said Bruno. "I remember watching these two," he smiled, pointing to one particular picture on a wall lined by thousands of portraits.

"It's Frank Hartzell of the US 11th Armoured Division greeting Gunther Fiehl of 15 Panzer Grenadier Division and it went something like 'I remember it was bitterly cold' with the German's reply being exactly the same. They were referring to the nighttime temperature which during the battle dropped as low as minus 20C degrees."

Bruno also gave us a tour of the whole barracks area including the restoration workshops where hundreds of military vehicles are being readied for a special parade this November when thousands of visitors are expected to join in the 75th anniversary celebrations.

Making the short trip north accompanied by tour guide Joël Lamberty, the snow-covered foxholes dotted around Belgium's Ardennes Forest were turned into shallow graves for so many Allied soldiers in December 1944 as they attempted to repel the last major German Wehrmacht offence of the Second World War.

With minimum weaponry and totally inappropriate clothing, the men were marched ten kilometres in freezing conditions and told to dig in alongside a road opposite the German front line.

The rapid Allied advance from Normandy had finally stalled in the Belgian Ardennes due to heavy German resistance and, while the south of Limburg had been liberated, the weather clearly played a huge part in what was to come.

With superior firepower, three huge armoured Panzer divisions were aided by some of the worst weather conditions of the Second World War and the Germans were to break through and surround the town of Bastogne in southern Belgium.

Of paramount importance to the Allies, the US 101st Airborne Division led by Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe was ordered to hold the town at all costs and, after setting up headquarters in Bastogne Barracks, they somehow held firm. The Germans sent a written request to seek a surrender, but McAuliffe entered the history books by sending back a one word answer - it read 'Nuts' in response to the request.

The Ardennes Offensive or Battle of the Bulge lasted for six weeks and proved to be the costliest operation ever fought by the US Army. It left 10,733 American soldiers dead and another 42,316 wounded while the German losses totalled 12,652 killed and 38,600 wounded. Added to that, around 2,500 civilians also lost their lives in Belgium while another 500 perished in the nearby Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Following Bastogne Barracks and Ardennes Forest encounter, we visited Bastogne War Museum where several hundred children were actively involved in school projects. My American colleague was intrigued and messaged her 22-year-old daughter back in the States asking: "What do you know about the Battle of the Bulge?" to which the response was: "It was a war, but it's no longer relevant to life!" Naturally my colleague was dumbstruck!

However she asked the same question of her two sons (aged 14 and 18) when she returned to Colorado and they also knew absolutely nothing about what had been a key battle for the American troops.

The museum has three multi-dimensional stage settings in which visitors relive the lives of four main characters – a child, a Belgian housewife, a German officer and an American soldier – all having been at the heart of the action.

Just a stone's throw from the museum is the huge Mardasson Memorial which the Belgian's erected in a four year period after the hostilities had ended to commemorate the sacrifices made by the Allied troops.

From Bastogne we travelled east into the Netherlands to the town of Norbeek, having stopped en route to visit the Mesch Memorial. The village of Mesch was the first in the Netherlands to be liberated on 12th September 1944 by the 30th American Infantry Division which was affectionately nicknamed 'Old Hickory'.

Staying at the delightful family-run Herberg Sint Brigida Hotel, our hosts were Brigitte and Frans van Wissen while we learned about the history of the enormous US War Cemetery at nearby Margraten where more than 20,000 Allied and German bodies were laid to rest. Then almost three years later, more than 10,000 US soldiers and over 3,000 Germans were exhumed by prisoners of war and repatriated back to America and to Germany.

That night Mieke Kirkels, a Dutch author and public historian, gave a talk about the establishment of Margraten where she discovered hundreds of African-American liberators were not officially recognised as they had only been used as transport drivers or for digging graves.

The following morning we visited Margraten itself were cemetery superintendent Shane Williams explained that following the exhumations, there are now just 8,301 American military graves.

Our Battle of the Bulge trip ended with a short visit to the Eyewitness War Museum at Beek (pronounced 'Back') where there are 13 dioramas depicting different war scenes thanks to 150 lifelike mannequins all correctly dressed in salvaged uniforms.

Guided round by the knowledgeable Merijn Bevers, the fictional main character of the museum is German parachutist August Segel who takes visitors along the most important fronts in Europe, one of them being the Battle of the Bulge.

You can follow his story through letters back to this family at home. These letters are based on true stories and thanks to the German angle, it gave us another perspective on the Battle of the Bulge.

FACT FILE

Motel One Brussels

Rue Royale 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium – https://www.motel-one.com/en/hotels/brussels/hotel-brussels/
Hotel Melba

Avenue Mathieu 49-51, B-6600 Bastogne, Belgium – https://hotel-melba.eu/en/
Herberg Sint Brigida

Dorpstraat 36, 6255 AN Noorbeek, The Netherlands Hosts Brigitte en Frans van Wissen – http://www.herbergsintbrigida.nl/

PLACES VISITED

Liberation Route Europe Conference at the Claridge, Chaussée de Louvain 24, 1210 Brussels – https://b2b.liberationroute.com/conference/
Bastogne Barracks (War Heritage Institute) – http://www.bastogne-barracks.be/300-2/?lang=en
Bastogne War Museum – http://bastognewarmuseum.be/home.html
Mesch Memorial – audio spot ‘Welcome in Holland’ – https://liberationroute.com/the-netherlands/pois/w/welcome-in-holland
Margraten American War Cemetery – https://bit.ly/2roMfPp and https://bit.ly/2Tl9ypJ
War Museum Eyewitness, Beek, The Netherlands – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkg5eg0G-y8 and https://www.eyewitnesswo2.nl/https://liberationroute.com/the-netherlands/spots/e/eyewitness-museum
*** Many thanks to Gert-Jan Jacobs, Communications Manager for the Liberation Route Europe for the kind invitation and for arranging the visit.

Could a pet be your pawfect match? Thame’s’s loneliest cats and dogs are looking for love this Valentine’s Day.

They are hoping you will blow a kiss in their direction this Valentine’s Day and give them the loving home they deserve.

It comes as a survey by the national pet charity Blue Cross finds that pets can make people happier than a partner.

Nearly one in three pet owners said their pets made them smile more than their partners, while 32% thought their pet was better at making them feel less stressed.

More than a quarter of owners (28%) said their pet was better at comforting them, while 20% said they thought their pet was a better listener than a partner.

At Blue Cross’s two rehoming centres on Shilton Road in Burford and London Road in Lewknor, some cats and dogs have been waiting for a loving new home for more than 150 days. Could you be their pawfect match this Valentine’s Day?

Beautiful five year old Jack Russell Terrier Bella has been waiting for a new home at Burford for 151 days, while bouncy two year old Lurcher Rocky has been keeping his paws crossed for 137 days.

Meanwhile at Lewknor five year old Jack Russell Terrier Hattie has been waiting for a new home for 115 days, while one year old cat Domino has been looking for 92 days.

Jenna Martyn, Senior Rehoming Manager at Blue Cross, said: “We’re really hoping we can find these pets their perfect match this Valentine’s.

“They would each make someone a wonderful loving companion. Here at Blue Cross we know how much a pet can change someone’s life and we hope the right homes will come along for these cats and dogs this Valentine’s Day.”

If you could offer a Blue Cross pet a home or want to find out more information about the charity then visit www.bluecross.org.uk

To prepare for a no-deal scenario, the UK government has drawn up a new logo, called the UKCA - UK Conformity Assessed.

This is the marking that will be used, subject to parliamentary approval, for certain goods being placed on the UK market. In many cases, firms will still be able to use the CE marking to demonstrate they are sticking to the legal requirements, but in some cases they will need to apply the new UKCA marking to products being sold in the UK.

Read more: Don't fall foul of new passport rules after Brexit

The rules for using the new UK conformity marking will be the same as those now used for CE marking.

Do you use the CE marking on your products? Read the full technical notice here for more information.

A. The answer to this all depends on whether we leave the EU with or without a deal and when you want to travel.

At the minute, you are supposed to have a pet passport for your dog if they’re travelling from the UK to the EU and vice versa, although it is my understanding that there are no checks on pets crossing the Republic or Ireland and Northern Ireland border at the minute.

Pet passports list the different treatments your pet has had and ensures they are microchipped and up to date with their rabies vaccine.

Read more: JD Wetherspoon favours more UK products as Brexit moves closer

The passport means your pooch won't have to go into quarantine on arrival.

If the UK leaves without a deal, then the rules will change and pet passports issued in the UK would no longer be valid.

In this case, pet owners would need to get a health certificate - and the bad news is, this will take at least four months. Your dog will need a rabies vaccine with blood samples (to be sent to an EU-approved laboratory) taken 30 days after the jab. You will then have to wait three months after the samples come back clear to get the health certificate.

The best thing to do is contact your vet for the latest advice four months before you hope to travel.

House prices in South Oxfordshire declined slightly, by 0.7%, in December, despite witnessing a 0.5% rise over the last 12 months.

The latest data from the Office of National Statistics shows that the average property in the area sold for £407,649 – significantly higher than the UK average of £230,776.

Across the South East, property prices have risen by 1.2% in the last year, to £324,729. The region underperformed compared to the UK as a whole, which saw the average property value increase by 2.5%.

The data comes from the House Price Index, which the ONS compiles using house sale information from the Land Registry, and the equivalent bodies in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The average homeowner in South Oxfordshire will have seen their property jump in value by around £88,000 in the last five years.

The figures also showed that buyers who made their first step onto the property ladder in South Oxfordshire in December spent an average of £327,000 – around £71,000 more than it would have cost them five years ago.

Looking at the national picture, Frances Clacy, residential research analyst at estate agents Savills, said: "House prices across the UK increased by 2.5% in 2018 leaving them at an average of £230,776. This compares to average increases of 4.5% and 5.2% in 2017 and 2016, respectively.

"The figures are in line with our mainstream house price growth forecasts for the five years to 2023, which represent a small closing of the gap between London, the South East and other regions.

"That said, the gap remains wide – the average house price in London is £473,822 compared to £164,352 across the North West, the region we expect to show the strongest growth over the next five years.

"In the short term, sentiment will remain the primary driver of house price movements and the economic implications of Brexit, and what this might mean for household finances lies at the heart of this. We are anticipating growth of around 15% across the UK as a whole."

Between November 2017 and October last year, the most recent 12 months for which sales volume data is available, 2,180 homes were sold in South Oxfordshire, 2% fewer than in the previous year.

The highest house prices in the country in December were found in London's Kensington and Chelsea, where properties sold for an average of £1.39 million – 17 times the cost of a home in Burnley, where the average property cost just £84,000.

Here's the answers to your questions:

What is the new Brexit Party and how do I join?

The Brexit Party was launched with the support of ex-UKIP leader Nigel Farage in January and recognised as an official party at the beginning of February 2019. It is a pro-Brexit party. Farage has said he will stand as an MEP under the party if the UK does not leave the EU or if Article 50 is extended. An official website is coming soon, and you should be able to sign up then, but in the meantime you can search for Brexit Party UK on Facebook.

Will my passport be valid after Brexit?

There's no need to do anything until your current passport is ready for renewal. British passports will change after we leave the EU, with blue and gold passports making a return from October 2019, but you'll still be able to travel on your old burgundy passport until it runs out. If there's a no deal Brexit, you'll need to have at least six months left on your passport to travel to an EU country. If you renewed your passport before it expired, then any extra months won't count either - your passport should not be any older than nine years and six months when you travel.

What is ERG?

This stands for the European Research Group, which is a group of pro-Brexit Conservative MPs chaired by Jacob-Res Mogg. It is lobbying on issues surrounding Brexit. The group was in the news as it is expected to rebel against today's House of Commons motion which asks MPs to reiterate its support for renegotiating the controversial Irish backstop.

Read more: Will UK workers lose their rights and entitlements after Brexit?

Will EHIC still be valid?

At the minute, if we fall sick or get injured while visiting the EU, then we can access the same free or discounted medical care that is available to residents of that country. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) proves your eligibility. Regardless of the deal reached, the government will need to renegotiate the reciprocal healthcare arrangements. At the minute, a bill called Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill is being passed through Parliament to help reach such an arrangement. It is important as the scheme provides healthcare for an estimated 190,000 UK expats living in the EU as well as 50 million UK residents who travel abroad to EEA countries each year Until a new initiative is in place, you should check what the agreement is with the country you're visiting as EHIC may not be valid. Make sure you have travel insurance too (you really should have this anyway).

Will I need a visa for my holiday?

Not for short-term stays for holidays or business purposes. This is providing the UK offers the same deal for EU citizens who want to visit us. We will, however, have to to pay a fee to visit Europe after Brexit. From 2021, you'll need to fill in a ETIAS application form so other countries can check you're not a security threat. This is similar to the US ESTA scheme. ETIAS is not a result of Brexit, it was being brought in anyway, but we wouldn't have had to pay as a member of the EU.

What is the date of Brexit?

The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on March 29, 2019. This is providing article 50 isn't extended in the meantime.

If you have any more questions, then email gemma.jimmison@jpimedia.co.uk

A list of police misconduct hearings over the past month has revealed seven officers have been disciplined.

Their wrongdoings included touching fellow officers inappropriately, acting dishonestly and testing positive for cocaine.

One officer was dismissed without notice for failing to act with integrity about a collision involving a police vehicle and when completing a speeding offence form.

Another was dismissed for losing, destroying or disposing of a statement from a member of the public about an assault.

A new statement was typed in the victim’s name and subsequently signed with a signature which was not the victim’s, say police.

Another constable made an application to transfer to another force and had to give a body hair sample. The sample tested positive for cocaine.

A fellow constable was accused of touching two officers inappropriately over their clothes. This officer resigned during the misconduct proceedings and their name has been placed on the Barred List.

There was another resignation from an officer who gave an inaccurate account of his insurance when caught speeding by another force.

This resulted in him being convicted of two counts of making a false statement to gain insurance and being fined £600.

Meanwhile an officer who carried out "multiple" checks on the police data base for non-policing purposes was given a final written warning, while an officer who failed to challenge "inappropriate" messages sent on on Whatapp was given management advice.

A pensioner from Chilton has been jailed for nine years today (Friday) for indecent assaults against a girl in Buckinghamshire in the 1970s.

Denis Mauger, 75, of Chapel Lane, Chilton, near Thame, was sentenced today at Aylesbury Crown Court.

He was convicted at the same court last month by unanimous verdict of six counts of indecent assault against a female child in Buckinghamshire.

The offences took place between 1971 and 1980 when the victim, who was subjected to a number of indecent assaults, was aged between six and 15.

Thames Valley Police first received a report of the incidents in 2017 and Mauger was charged in July of the following year.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Collette Parker said: “I would like to thank the victim for her courage, bravery and determination throughout the investigation and through to the trial.

“It has been an extremely traumatic time for her and I hope that the unanimous guilty verdicts and the sentence given brings her some closure.

“I would also like to thank prosecuting counsel Kim Preston for her work in securing this conviction.

“This sentence reflects the hard work that is carried out by the child abuse investigation unit in bringing these offenders to justice and I would encourage anybody who has been a victim of childhood sexual abuse to report it to the police.”

The prosecution has described a former Catholic Priest as “the perfect storm” as he stands accused of multiple charges of sexual assault on children at Aylesbury Crown Court.

Father Francis McDermott, now 75, is accused of committing sexual offences against six children in the 1970s.

McDermott was for a time practising as a priest at the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Bedgrove - although none of the the alleged offences took place during his time in Aylesbury. All the offences are said to have taken place in either London, High Wycombe or Norwich.

Katherine Lumsdon QC said in her closing arguments at Crown Court today that the scenario was that of a man with a high sex drive who's forbidden from having sex, children who know nothing about sex, and being in a position of trust.

She explained the passing of time between the crimes and the reporting of them as being due to feelings of guilt, shame and “the need to bury it away.”

Father McDermott shook his head as Ms Lumsdon concluded: “He does not have the courage to admit what he's done.”

The defence in return began by making great play of the responsibilities of jury duty and the burden of truth.

Trevor Burke QC said: “Empathy with a victim has its place but it's not here,” adding, “You're basic starting point is that this man is innocent.”

He dismissed complainants as “troubled individuals” or self-obsessed, and suggested it was impossible for the former Priest to defend himself against such historic allegations.

Mr Burke asked the jury: “How can you defend yourself against allegations of unspecified dates from 48 years ago?”

Judge Catherine Tulk took exactly three hours to sum up the case for the jury, highlighting key points from both the defence and prosecution.

Ms Tulk said: “No allegations since 1978 mean Father McDermott is entitled to ask you to give considerate weight to his character.”

However, she also said: “You're entitled to think about how likely it is that six people would make similar accusations against the same person.”

Francis McDermott, now of Bideford in Devon, but who moved between London, Norwich, High Wycombe and Aylesbury between 1970 and 2005 when he retired, denies 18 counts of indecent assault, four counts of indecent assault on a male person, two counts of indecency with a child, one count of buggery and one count of rape.

The jury have retired for deliberation.

A favour struck between one of Aylesbury United's directors and legendary manager Sir Bobby Robson saw England rather inexplicably come to the Southern League Ducks as their last warm-up game before the 1988 European Championships. And England squad featuring the likes of Gary Lineker, John Barnes, Peter Shilton, David Seaman, Chris Waddle, Peter Beardsley and Bryan Robson beat Aylesbury United 7-0 on the hallowed turf at the now derelict and abandoned Buckingham Road stadium. As it transpired, Robson’s ploy didn’t have much of an impact as England went on to lose every single game they played at Euro 1988 coming back with their tails between their legs. Aylesbury won the title but spent one season in the Conference before being relegated back down to the seventh tier. Robson may have received criticism for the decision to play a non-league side as a warm-up game for a major tournament - and perhaps rightly so - but Aylesbury will never forget. SEE MORE: Pictures show inside decrepit abandoned Aylesbury football stadium as it sits empty 13 years after club's eviction.

Into the light and shining bright.

After what seemed an eternity since the last installment, Metro Exodus finally hit PS4, XB1 and Windows last week and it was worth the wait.

Much had been made of a bold new premise to take the hugely popular series out of its underground setting and above Moscow’s Metro system for the first time.

Many felt the best-in-class tension created by that setting was effectively Metro’s ace card. So it was a definite risk going overground, but one that pays off by broadening the game’s horizons and introducing - albeit less successfully - a sandbox element to your experience.

Exodus is the third instalment in the Metro video game series based on Dmitry Glukhovsky’s novels. It is set after the events of Metro: Last Light, on a post-apocalyptic Earth that has been devastated by a nuclear war.

You assume the role of “silent” protagonist Artyom with Anna returning as his wife. He becomes obsessed with proving that other human survivors exist outside of Moscow and flees the Metro to embark on a year-long journey in a bid to do just that.

The trademark tension is still there and the game’s characters and storyline suck you into this savage world.

Elements of the game can be a grind and if you are after a run and gun style FPS then Metro Exodus is not for you. Thrill-a-minute seekers might want to reconsider their position, though, because this game expertly puts the brakes on a genre that is fast leaving itself with nowhere to go, simply by slowing things down and begging the gamer to live every moment of a memorable journey.

Crafting and customisation put the player in charge and over time helps get a handle on some powerful weaponry which makes for brilliant and engrossing combat.

As I touched on earlier the biggest let down for me is the sandbox areas which ultimately feel like an unfinished, half-baked, unnecessary add-on. This is where the grind comes in as you can wonder around large, sparse areas without gaining too much from it at all - often wasting crucial resources on the admittedly terrifying mutants that await in the outer reaches.

Many reviews have highlighted technical issues and crashes as frustrations but (touch wood) I am yet to encounter anything of note. Another peeve of mine was the handling of “silent” Artyom whose voice we hear on reading to us but then remains silent the rest of the time. It was akin to an actor looking straight down the camera during a film that we sometimes see on outtakes, it just jarred.

Metro Exodus is still toe-curlingly frightening despite going superterranean and an exhilarating journey through a beautifully-crafted world set against a superb storyline.

It is a slower paced, more methodical FPS than we’ve been used to on this generation of consoles, but that’s no bad thing. And there is still plenty of fright left in the old dog for the adrenalin junkies.

Never dull, Metro Exodus rises to the surface like it has been there all along.

More than 1,000 people were admitted to hospital in Oxfordshire for self-harm injuries last year, new figures show.

The numbers were released as social media sites announced they would clamp down on the sharing of self-harm images.

Public Health England figures show that 1,252 emergency admissions to hospitals in Oxfordshire in 2017-18 were for intentional self-harm injuries.

It means that 179 cases were registered for every 100,000 people in the area – a lower ratio than the average for the South East, where there were 195 per 100,000.

The number of cases last year in Oxfordshire was a large decrease on 2016-17, when there were 1,465 admissions.

Most of the cases concerned female patients, with 831 admissions of women or girls for self-harm, 66% of the total number.

Recently, photo-sharing platform Instagram announced that it would be banning graphic images of self-harm on its site.

The social network’s head Adam Mosseri said the firm recognised it “needs to do more to protect the most vulnerable in our community”.

Across England, the number of self-harm cases has gradually declined since 2013-14. Last year, there were 185 admissions for every 100,000 people.

Stephen Buckley, from mental health charity Mind, said the decline in emergency admissions may not tell the whole story.

He said: “While the data shows a reduction in the number of people being given emergency treatment after self-harm, it doesn’t explain why this might be the case.

"Reasons for this might be that people are getting help in different ways when in crisis, or perhaps that a previous poor experience of treatment at A&E has discouraged them from returning.

"There are alternatives to A&E, such as crisis houses, but it’s vital to seek emergency care when needed – and equally vital that A&Es provide effective support.

"It’s also important to remember that the data doesn’t show how many people are self-harming but not receiving any treatment or help at all."

The PHE figures also include information on other factors related to mental health in Oxfordshire.

They show that depression is as common among adults as the average across England. Last year, 10% of patients registered with doctors reported the condition.

Suicide rates in Oxfordshire are relatively average. Between 2015 and 2017, 164 people took their own lives, at a rate of nine per 100,000.

The average across England was 10 per 100,000.

The Samaritans operate a round-the-clock freephone service 365 days a year for people who want to talk in confidence. They can be contacted by phone on 116 123 or by visiting samaritans.org.

Consider these propositions – you ski hard and fast and you like to après ski and party the same way; you like to cruise leisurely blues and reds and would prefer to take it easy in the evening in a good restaurant; you need a good ski school and nursery slopes to get the kids up and running in a family-orientated resort for when you are not on the piste.

Sounds like you need three very different destinations for your hard-earned ski holiday – well, not necessarily so, because the combined resorts of Ischgl and Kappl in Austria can comfortably meet all three requirements at the same time. Let me explain…..

Ischgl, some 90 minutes from Innsbruck, has long held the well-deserved reputation as one of Austria’s pre-eminent party towns – the après ski bars are packed and buzzing from mid-afternoon as skiers come off the slopes, while a variety of establishments will keep the most ardent of clubbers busy until the early hours, if that’s your thing.

And then, of course, there’s the live music that bookends the ski season – concerts that have become legendary over the years. Ischgl pretty much wrote the book about about big, on piste concerts – quite a few places do it now, but the Austrian resort has been doing it longer, bigger and better than anyone else. Not a place to do anything by halves, Ischgl launched its then groundbreaking end of season live Top of The Mountain concerts at the end of March in 1995 with no less a rock superstar than Elton John. There’s also a big gig to kick off the season in late November, helping emphasise how long the slopes are open every winter.

Elton having set a pretty high bar, they have followed with a swathe of huge names from rock and pop over the next nearly-25 years with such household names as Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, Diana Ross, Bon Jovi, Rod Stewart, Sting, Lionel Richie, Scissor Sisters, Stereophonics, Katy Perry, Mariah Carey, Deep Purple, Muse, Elton again, Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue and The Beach Boys, to name but a few. This year the ski season comes to a close with Lenny Kravitz headlining the Top of the Mountain concert on April 30.

So one way or another, Ischgl is a pretty happening place if you want to party and have fun – and that’s before you consider the skiing, which, after all, is the reason most people are there. I’m happy to report that the skiing is pretty damn good too, especially this year with some awesome snowfalls making for nigh-on perfect conditions. The Silvretta area lift pass gives access to Ischgl, Kappl and Galtür (a 20-minute free ski bus away), 330 km of pistes, amazing off-piste and some of the best snowboarding in the Alps. The area also enjoys excellent snow records until late into the season.

The resort makes the most of its proximity to the Swiss resort of Samnaun - a duty-free haven which historically encouraged contraband across the border. Marked 'smugglers routes' can now be followed using the iSki Ischgl App, with the most extensive 'gold' circuit covering 35.7km kilometres of piste, with a total vertical of 6,463m. Those who successfully complete their chosen circuit can enter prize draws every day, weekly and for each season.

For advanced skiers there's a good range of on-piste blacks and some fantastic touring routes, while intermediates can test themselves on the slopes of the Palinkopf area which offers an excellent selection of red runs, including some particularly challenging ones.

Which brings us back to our second original category – the blue/red cruisers with a taste for a more relaxed evening of cocktails followed by good food rather than dancing on the tables and partying into the early hours… Ischgl ably caters for them too. We stayed at the stylish and comfortable Hotel Brigitte, set a little apart, but still only a short walk from the buzzing town centre and offering a relaxed cocktail bar and a restaurant with an extensive and varied menu if you have opted for the half board option.

Venture out into the town and you have a wide palate to tempt you, from Burger King at one end of the spectrum to the fabulous gourmet experience at the 5 star Trofana Royal Hotel, where Michelin-starred chef Martin Sieberer creates mouthwatering works of art… I’m glad to say we experienced the latter, and it was a stunning delight to all the senses – a meal I will remember for many years to come. Of course meals like this come with a price tag to match, but there are plenty of excellent restaurants to enjoy in Ischgl for a less stratospheric outlay, without resorting to a Whopper at Burger King.

Ischgl is really a resort for intermediate and advanced skiers and boarders – but if you are looking for somewhere to holiday with the kids, there’s Kappl just up the road and on the Silvretta ski pass. Named The Sunny Mountain, Kappl has a more modest 42 kilometres of slopes – mostly aimed at intermediates and a lot more laid back and relaxed than neighbouring Ischgl.

With a fantastic ski school it’s the perfect place to get the kids confident and up to speed while you cruise the blues, reds and friendly blacks – or maybe even some of the exceptional ungroomed and off piste opportunities on offer.

If you tire of the skiing, Ischgl has plenty of alternatives to offer you, including tobogganing, snow-shoeing, ice skating and especially an exciting zipwire, the Ischgl Skyfly, where you can fly down along a cable, suspended 50m above the ground, two kilometres toward the valley in the direction of Ischgl and reaching speeds of up to 85km/h. The Skyfly’s not cheap at 39 Euros a pop, or 25 Euros for kids, but it’s an exhilarating experience… and hardly scary at all!

There’s no getting away from the fact that Ischgl is one of the top party capitals of the Alps – but it is so much more than that, and really does offer something for pretty much every category of skier. Put it on your bucket list!

Travel facts

Inghams is offering a seven-night ski holiday on a half board basis at the four-star superior Hotel Brigitte in Ischgl, Austria, from £1,189 per person based on two sharing. Price includes return flights from London Gatwick to Innsbruck and airport transfers. The package is valid for travel departing on 23rd March 2019. To book, visit www.inghams.co.uk/ski-holidays or call 01483 791 114.

For independent travel, fly easyJet (Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester, Bristol) or BA (Gatwick, Heathrow) to Innsbruck. Use the booking facility on www.ischgl.com or www.kappl.com for a range of accommodation from apartments through to 5* hotels. Or book direct with hotels. For example, a direct booking at Hotel Brigitte is from €126 pp per night half board www.hotel-brigitte-ischgl.at

The Silvretta skipass, covering the four resorts of Ischgl, Galtür, Kappl and See is from €256.50 for 6 days. The Resort Options Pass is from €240 which gives four days in Ischgl and two in neighbouring resorts. Skyfly is €39 pp per ride.

The main UK tour operators to Ischgl are Inghams, Crystal, Ski Solutions and Zenith Holidays.

A rugby match in memory of a Thames Valley Police officer who died in a crash on Boxing Day takes place in Aylesbury tomorrow night (Wednesday).

Thames Valley Police are hosting Bedfordshire Police in the fixture in memory of Daniel Clayton-Drabble, who died in a single vehicle road traffic accident on the A5 near Towcester on Boxing Day last year.

Dubbed The Memorial Cup, the match will be taking place at Aylesbury Rugby Club, on Ostler's Field, Brook End, Weston Turville tomorrow night, kicking off at 7.15pm.

PC Clayton-Drabble was an active member of the Thames Valley Police Stags rugby team.

The match will also be commemorating PC Jamie Cannon, of Bedfordshire Police and former Thames Valley police officer, PC Kevin Flint.

PC Cannon passed away suddenly, whilst off-duty, last year on December 16.

PC Flint, also passed away whilst off-duty, on January 15.

Guests and supporters are welcome to attend the match.

Entry is free and if you wish to make a charitable donation to the cause, donations will be split evenly between charities chosen by the families of PCs Clayton-Drabble, Cannon and Flint.

Pupils, staff and visitors went wild at John Hampden Primary School as an African adventure unfolded during Artsweek, which ran from February 11 to 15.

Jackie Nichols, arts co-ordinator, reports:

“This year John Hampden was wild and untamed for Artsweek! We felt the sand beneath our feet and the sun on our faces as we explored the Savannah on an art safari.

The hall became a watering hole at dusk, an African bull elephant dominating the scene, as the animals of the plain came to quench their thirst.

Crocodiles laid in wait. A zebra, unaware of the danger, stopped to have a drink. Hippos lurked beneath the water whilst the king of the jungle relaxed on a poolside, rocky crag. Colourful birds flew in to roost as the sun sank below the horizon and a crash of rhinos and elephants burst through to join the party!

“It was an African-action-packed Artweek full of exhilarating activities. Children from nursery to year 6 experienced - African animal masks with artist Emily Cooling; the whole school got rhythmic with an African drumming and dancing assembly and workshops; artist, Liam Biswell, brought his press and wowed us with his wild prints; we had a visit from an award winning author and illustrator, Catherine Rayner, who added ‘Augustus on his holidays!’ her trademark tiger character to our Savannah scene - we all had a wild time in the hall creating art!

“We were helped by our own tribe of art warriors - nearly 60 helpers - thank you to all those who volunteered, parents, grandparents, governors, carers, artists, teachers, town councillors and teaching assistants, old and new, who volunteered to support us in our African adventure. What an amazing community spirit JHS has!

The John Hampden PTFA funded the week, with their usual, generous donation which enabled the school to provide a wealth of experiences and resources for the children to enjoy.

The Artsweek Quiz saw the children challenged to identify a gallery of animal masks created by JHS staff. Each mask was accompanied by clues to guide the children in their guesses as to whose mask was whose - giving hints as to the staff artist, for a whole school competition. Well done to Issac Bishop for his winning entry.

Well done as well to Phoebe Allen and Taylor Spink for being crowned the winners of the Artsweek shield for their participation this year.

At the end of the week the brave JHS friends and family ventured into the bush (The Jackson Hall!), to catch a glimpse of our rare art at the Friday Artsweek Fair-Trade Café camp mash up.

“So brush the sand from your safari suit and take off your pith hat. The adventure may be over, but we have our wall sized album to bring back the memories for weeks to come, as well as our time lapse video and iMovie of the events.

How will we top this one? Send your ideas for next year to Ms Nichols!”

You’re sure of a big surprise as Thame Chamber Choir launches into its anniversary year with a treat of a concert in town.

Demons, goblins, elves, werewolves - and even teddy bears! These and more can be found in the musical woods at Thame Chamber Choir’s unique concert on Saturday, March 16, in St Mary’s Church, Thame, at 7.30pm.

‘Myths and Legends’ is the title of the concert which, for the first time, features former BBC Young Musician and choir member Anna Markland.

Anna will play piano solos by Debussy, Rachmaninov Mussorgsky and Ginastera and the concert will be directed by Duncan Aspden.

Meanwhile the choir, and its children’s choir, TCC2, will contribute pieces by Ravel, Schumann, Weelkes and Whitacre, including the intriguingly-named ‘Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine’.

2019 is Thame Chamber Choir’s 20th anniversary season, and to celebrate this, there will be one more surprise - and another first – only to be revealed on the night.

Tickets can be purchased in advance from The Book House, Thame, by calling 01844 213032, price £10, and on the door, price £12. Under 18s are admitted free, and students for £5, on the door only. Or visit wegottickets.com

Visit www.thamechamberchoir.org

Oakley Church of England Combined School celebrated the unveiling of a beautiful piece of artwork made specially for the school by fabric artist Elizabeth Brown.

The artwork, which is made entirely of fabric and depicts a stunning white dove against a cheerful colourful background, was unveiled last week.

All pupils attended a service of dedication led by Reverend David Kaboleh to give their thanks for the very special gift that hangs in the school reception area.

Newly appointed headteacher Caroline Witton said: "We are all delighted and honoured that Elizabeth has chosen our school for this beautiful piece of artwork."

To see more artwork created by Elizabeth you can visit her website at www.lizbrown.me