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  • Muddy madness raises funds for baby-loss charities

    WHEN Victoria and Thomas Stibbs’s baby, Fearne, was stillborn in February they were supported by two amazing charities – Aching Arms and the Simpson’s Memory Box Appeal. Both charities gave Victoria and Tom the strength to pull though their tragedy.

    Clara Manning, Thomas Stibbs, Victoria Stibbs, Andy Cannon, Penny Jones, Leon Westerman

    Victoria and Thomas, together with her sister Penny, Penny’s partner Leon and two friends, entered the Tough Mudder race held near Henley, last Saturday and ran a 12 mile obstacle course which included an ice bath, greasy monkey bars and electric shocks. The race was designed by the Special Forces to be the ultimate test of stamina and determination.

    Victoria’s mum, Catherine Jones, said after the raise: “ I am SO proud I am bursting!”

    They finished it in under four hours and have now raised over £8000 via www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding

  • Team at the top of Thame Utd confirmed

    THAME United has announced that its management team of Mark West, Stuart Blaik and Hugh McCluskie have confirmed their commitment to the Club.

    Image Courtesy of Thame Utd

    The trio will take the side forward in to the 2017/18 season and their return to the Southern League after a 12 year absence. West, who is in his second spell as manager and his eleventh concurrent year, is looking forward to the challenges of the Southern League. Blaik, who has been Assistant Manager for the last 4 years, said: “Winning the Hellenic League this season has been an amazing achievement for everyone involved at the football club. It is a very tough league and you have to win it to guarantee promotion. We only had a very small squad of players and we were very fortunate with injuries.

    “All the lads have been absolutely terrific and they deserve a chance at the next level. All the players have committed to being with us again next season which made our decision to continue an easy one. Of course we will be looking to improve the squad if we can over the next few weeks. At the moment were are all enjoying being the champions but excited about playing in the Southern League next season.”

    In his report on the Thame FC website, Chairman, Jake Collinge said: “McCluskie will continue to bring his wealth of coaching experience to the side, knowledge that was integral to the success last season.”

    Pre-season training will commence on Tuesday, 27th June, with the finishing touches currently being put to the pre-season schedule.

    SOURCE: www.thamefootball.co.uk/news/

  • Thame ladies cricketers ready to face their first opposition

    THAME Town Cricket Club ladies will be playing their first competitive match this Sunday, May 7, against Oxford ladies.

    This is a huge milestone for the club having only set up a ladies section two seasons ago, since when interest has grown and the club now has a squad of 20 players.

    Yesterday evening, Friday, May 5, marked the start of Lydia Greenway’s cricket for girls, eight week academy at Thame TCC, the participants of which the club hopes will develop, and feed into the ladies section over time.

    2017 is a big year for women’s cricket on a global level as the World Cup gets under way in this country on June 24.

    More information about ladies cricket at Thame Cricket Club HERE

  • Open Squash tournament invitation reminder

    THE forthcoming Racquets Open Graded Squash Tournament over the weekend of May 20-21, will be welcoming players of all standards.

    “We already have entries from 10 year olds who have been playing for six months,” said Squash Coach, Sue Martin Downhill, “and we have entries from the top players of the county. OBVIOUSLY they won’t be playing each other!” she joked.

    “So, if you’re a new squash player or a lower team player or anywhere in between, come and compete in our Open Graded Tournament – the lower grades are NOT just for Oxfordshire players,” Sue added.

    Sign up on the Racquets website HERE

  • Conservatives top Oxfordshire polls

    WITH a turnout of just 26% in the Thame and Chinnor Ward, the Conservative Party has secured two County Councillors in today’s Local Elections to represent the ward, Nick Carter with 2,959 votes, and Jeannette Matelot-Green with 2,791 votes. Jeannette is currently Deputy Chair of South Oxfordshire Distrct Council, and Nick has been Thame’s County Councillor for eight years.

    Voting figures for the other Thame and Chinnor candidates were as follows:

    Kate Michelle Gregory –    Liberal Democrats 1609
    Gaby Oatway –                     Liberal Democrats 1461
    David Matthew Bailey –     Labour Party 750
    Simon Stone –                      Labour Party 597
    Louisa Mary Wilkinson  –  Green Party 391
    Ali Gordon-Creed –             Green Party 328

    The Conservatives won 31 seats out of the 63 up for grabs, leaving them just one short for over-all control of Oxfordshire County Council – the same as in 2013. Deputy council leader, Rodney Rose, lost his seat to the Lib Dems.

    This is Oxfordshire (see LINK)  has reported that opposition parties have ‘launched a charm offensive to try and woo independent councillors who could now hold the balance of power’. This is Oxfordshire further reports that both Labour and the Liberal Democrats have said they could consider a ‘rainbow coalition’, with talks expected to take place this weekend.

    The overall turnout for yesterday’s election in Oxfordshire was 33%, up from 30% in 2013.

  • Queen’s equine dentist awarded Royal Warrant

    EQUINE dentist, Grant Chanter and Associates, based at Ford, near Thame, have been granted the Royal Warrant by appointment to Her Majesty The Queen, after 12 years looking after Her Majesty’s horses.

    Grant in action

    Grant Chanter told Thame.Net: “I am over the moon with being granted the Warrant. I have been working as an Equine Dental Technician for 17 years and provided my services to the Royal Household for 12 years. This is my proudest moment in this field of business.

  • Midsomer walks tall in Thame

    NEXT week sees the start of a new series of guided Midsomer walking tours of Thame, one of the most frequently used filming locations for the popular ITV series Midsomer Murders. The hour-long tours will be held weekly, led by specially trained, volunteer Midsomer guides, and taking in many of the filming locations in the town centre that have been used in episodes of Midsomer Murders.

    Neil Dudgeon, who plays Insp Barnaby in Midsomer Murders, with the ‘Causton’ locations map that includes Thame

    Thame regularly features, either as Causton, or as any one of the many villages in the fictional ‘Midsomer County’. Midsomer Murders is still going strong after 20 years with regular screenings, not only in the UK, but all over the world. Sarah Osborne of Tourism Angles, specialists in Midsomer tourism, says: “6.5 million people watch Midsomer Murders in the UK and millions more in over 100 countries worldwide. The series is one of the UK’s biggest TV exports – rating in Denmark’s top three and Australia’s top 20. People see it on TV and want to come and visit the beautiful towns and villages of Midsomer.”

    Many Thame landmarks have been featured in different episodes over time, including Thame Town Hall, the Market House, Rumsey’s Chocolaterie, the historic Swan Hotel, the Black Horse, the Spread Eagle hotel. Thame’s cricket ground and the Prebendal in Priest End, home of the late Robin Gibb, were recently featured in filming for future episodes.

    Tony Long, coordinator for the new tour guides, said: “The tours have been in development for several months, and follow on from the original tour which was created by David Dodds of Thame Museum. The tours are being held under the auspices of 21st Century Thame, an organisation that brings together local businesses, community groups and councils to help keep Thame vibrant and viable as a market town. They were taken up after a successful 21st Century Thame Midsomer Workshop held in Thame last year, which recommended a number of promotional ideas to develop Midsomer tourism in the town, including regular Midsomer tours.”

    Tony continued: “The tours take place weekly between May and October, alternating between Saturdays at 2.30pm and Wednesdays at 11am, and start from inside Thame Museum at 79 High Street, Thame, OX9 3AE, one of the filming locations, taking in many locations in the town centre. We hope these tours will add a new facet to tourism in the town, attracting more visitors from the UK and overseas to the historic town of Thame.”

    Tickets cost £7.50 each and may be purchased online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/thamemidsomer. Alternatively, you can simply turn up on the day and pay the guide.

    Part of the proceeds from Midsomer tours goes to Thame Museum and other charitable causes.

  • Proud to be Thame winners!

    THAME has been celebrating those in the community who give their time voluntarily for the benefit of others. The ninth Thame Town Awards, hosted by the Mayor of Thame, Linda Emery, were held in the Thame Barns Centre last night, one of her last official duties before her mayoral tenure ends next week.

    After a presentation by the two members of 21st Century Thame, who steered Thame to two, Great British High Street Awards and four separate ‘Revive and Thrive’ prizes for town, the Mayor presented Helen Johns and Sonja Francis with a glass bowl, thanking them on behalf of the Town Council for ‘working tirelessly to promote Thame’.

    Cllr David Dodds was presented with a very special award of a framed edition of the Thame Gazette, from 50 years-ago, annnouncing his election to, what was then, Thame Urban District Council, the youngest councillor in Oxfordshire. He has been Mayor of Thame eight times. David was also given a luxury two-night stay at The Billesley Hotel, as a thank you for his 50 years’ service to the Town Council, to share with his wife.

    Other individuals who had been nominated by members of the public and selected by a panel of judges, received awards in five categories. The Director of Interchurch Productions and ex teacher at John Hampden School in Thame, Catherine Enticknap, received the Creative Arts Achievement Award in recognition of her having ‘motivated people of all ages to act, sing and  dance and perform, with many at a high level and going on to be professionals.

    This year’s Sporting Achievement Award went to Ian Blyth, Head Coach of Thame Swimming Club. ‘His passion and enthusiasm for the club, and his relentless energy for inspiring the best in each and every swimmer is palpable’ said the Mayor. ‘The club now has more swimmers competing at County, Regional and National levels than ever before, and swimmers also take part in the Swim Camp in Spain, and Welsh Nationals in Swansea.’

    Described as ‘Beacons of positivity’ and ‘always delivering a happy and friendly service to their customers and the community of Thame, Jason and Joshua Atalay received the Service with A Smile Award. “They serve some of the best kebabs in Thame, and received many nominations for their top-class service,” said the Mayor. “And because they are always smiling!” she added.

    Barley Hill teacher, well-know for her ‘enjoyable and popular charity quizzes’, Sue Boyle was presented with the Volunteer Of The Year Award. Through her quizzes, Sue has raised thousands of pounds for local charities including Lord Williams’s Association, Thame Carnival, Thame and District Day Centre, Safari and Children In Need. Sue was described as ‘a true pillar of the community’.

    Angus Lachlan, who recently stepped down as Chairman of Thame Town Cricket Club, after 25 years of service as a volunteer at the club, received this year’s Life Time Achievement Award. He was nominated for ‘ selflessly giving up huge amounts of his time, and for his amazing breadth of service – umpiring, coaching, barman and tractor-driving!’ – ‘an outstanding contribution to the life and success of the cricket club’.

     

    The awards ceremony finished with the Mayor presenting her Mayor’s Cadet for the year, Oscar Earls, with a special certificate in recognition of his services to herself throughout her mayoral year.

    This year’s Thame Town Awards was sponsored by Risborough Carers. Next year will be the tenth anniversary of the Thame Town Awards and the Mayor said that she hoped it would be the ‘biggest and best yet’! Nominations will open in February, 2018.

  • Missing person from Chinnor

    THAMES Valley Police are currently searching for a high risk missing person from the area of Chinnor in Oxfordshire. It is believed they have access to a blue BMW 325 convertible registration D*** VWM.

    If you have seen this vehicle please contact Thames Valley police on 101 or 999 in an emergency quoting reference number 706 04/05

  • Teenager assaulted in Thame

    THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses to an assault of a teenage boy in Thame.

    At around 4.30pm on Wednesday 26 April three teenage boys met near Lord Williams School.

    They were followed by a large group of teenagers towards the town centre when a confrontation took place in the area of the Lower High Street on the corner of Bell Lane.

    During this confrontation a teenager from the original group of three was spat at by others in the larger group and punched numerous times in the face causing cuts and bruising.

    After this assault the large group of teenagers ran off in different directions. The victim, a 16-year-old local boy, later attended hospital for his injuries but was later discharged.

    Police Constable Daniel Downes of the Thame Neighbourhood team said: “This took place in the afternoon, after school so there would have been many people around who may have seen something about this incident.

    Anyone with any information is asked to contact investigating officer PC Downes at Thame Police Station via 101 quoting URN 860 28/4.

    If you have any information relating to this case, please call 101 quoting reference ‘860 28/4’, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.