Category: Missed a ThameNews story?

IN response to yesterday’s report on the experiences of professional opera singer, Adrian Thompson, of working across Europe and the wider world, today we have heard from a local, retired Probation Officer.

Geoff Emerson from Thame has spent a lot of time over the last 30 years developing services for victims of crime. He commented: “The most exciting venture I have taken part in is an EU funded project. It involved other countries in Europe (Croatia, Germany, Portugal, Belgium and others) sharing their experience of pilot projects, involving victims of the most serious crimes, who requested to meet the offender who harmed them, or a member of their family.

“As a result of what we learned from a Belgian project, we have been able to give significant help to crime victims, who say that the experience has dramatically changed their lives for the better. Without the EU directive (setting out minimum standards), EU funding and the fruitful collaboration with our partners, this would have been impossible.”

Share YOUR experiences, whether positive or negative, of how the EU has influenced or affected YOUR life by emailing: editor@thame.net

INTERNATIONAL opera singer, Adrian Thompson, who regularly performs in Thame, has recently explained why he thinks the UK should stay in the European Union.

Adrian, who lives in Chinnor, is quoted in the latest newsletter from the Thame and Chinnor Labour Party as describing himself as a Europhile whose work as an opera singer is a good example of how so much of what we do, relies on us being part of Europe. Adrian regularly travels, without any visa restrictions, to Europe to perform, says the newsletter editorial, and many of his students are from Europe adding to the local economy.

“Attempting to bring students or performers in from the US is a much more complicated and fruitless affair requiring a one-for-one transfer,” continues the article. “For Adrian, accepting that the EU is far from perfect, staying in Europe is a cultural and human decision not just a financial one. He hopes the UK can strive for change from a position of strength within the EU.”

You can read the full Thame and Chinnor Labour Party News letter on the group’s facebook page: LINK & The views of Thame’s MP, John Howell, HERE

What is YOUR experience of living and working in the EU? Email YOUR views in no more than 150 words to:  editor@thame.net

MASTERCHEF Champion, lovely Natalie Coleman, will be at the Book House, Thame, on Saturaday to launch this year’s Children’s Competition, as part of the Thame Food Festival, on September 24.

Natalie will be at the book shop at 3.30 pm. Read more about Natalie and this year’s food festival here: LINK

IT’S that time of the year again when, the morning after Thame Carnival, Thame & District Round Table takes to the river and stages its annual duck race.

The race is a giant floating lottery, with around 2,000 individually numbered rubber ducks literally dumped into the river from the bridge on the Old Long Crendon Road, ably assisted by the Thame crew of Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue and their high pressure hoses when possible.

If you’ve bought a ticket with a number that matches one of the first three ducks over the line, you win a prize, paid in John Lewis vouchers. All other proceeds from the ticket sales are donated to local causes.

On hand to make sure things don’t go smoothly is Captain Ducky, despite the best efforts of the volunteers of Thame Round Table! No one knows what contraption he will create to disrupt the flow of ducks this year but, it’s a safe bet it won’t make it to mess up the finish line…

This year’s duck race takes place on Sunday, June 12. The race starts on the old town bridge, which is accessed from the bottom of Priest End, behind St Mary’s church.
Gates open at 10.30am and the race will start at around 11.00am.

Tickets always sell well, so you may need to be ‘quack’ off the mark if you don’t want to miss out! Tickets are on sale at Thame Carnival, which is held the day before the race. There will also be some tickets on sale at the start line on the morning of the race, although in previous years the event has been known to sell out on the day, so it’s best to buy your tickets in advance if you can.

AN 81 year-old man from Thame is planning a 12,000 ft Tandem sky dive with the Red Devils display team, to raise funds to save Thame’s threatened Children’s Centre.

Thame Rotary Club’s President Elect, Erroll Bateman, will be making his daring dive with the Red Devils at Old Sarum, near Salisbury, in early July 2016, and he hopes that residents from the Thame area will show their support and go along and watch on the day. Errol has been preparing intensively for the past couple of months for his sky dive, and his training has included fitness sessions at Racquets in Thame, and a simulated sky dive at AirKix in Milton Keynes.

Erroll said: “If you feel strongly, as I do, about this worthy, local cause, please do visit the Thame Rotary My Donate page dedicated to my sky dive, and make a contribution. The site will be open until September 1, 2016 long after the jump!”

The Red Kite Children’s Centre, currently located at the old library site in Nelson Street, is one of the Rotary Club’s 2016-17 chosen charities, for which Erroll has already raised £850. However, much more is needed. The centre, which is currently managed by Action for Children, is threatened with closure because of Oxfordshire County Council funding cuts, though efforts are being made locally to seek alternative funding, possibly so that it can be managed locally (See related LINK).  Red Kite provides parenting programmes, stay and play sessions, family health services, plus much needed help and other services for young parents and guardians.

Erroll described their work as ‘absolutely essential to the wider community in and around Thame, as well as Chinnor and neighbouring villages’.

This is not Erroll’s first fund raising challenge. In 2006, he with other fellow Rotarians climbed UK’s “Three Peaks” in less than 24 hours, raising over £7,000 for Sight Savers International.

To show your support for Errol and the Red Kite Children’s Centre, and make a donation, folow the LINK

SOUTH Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse District Councils have launched an improved, online service for affordable housing.

The Homechoice service now has an Enhanced Housing Options feature, which offers personalised advice to help people find a home or employment.

Just by entering a few personal details, it gives residents a tailored action plan with specific steps for them to follow to make sure they get the best possible housing and employment options suited to their personal circumstances.

Homechoice enables residents to join the housing register and lets them see what’s available and place bids on appropriate properties.

Councillor Elizabeth Gillespie, cabinet member for housing at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “Providing a few basic details about their housing situation and income, residents will have immediate access to tailored and personalised results and advice. The service is quick and convenient ensuring that our residents receive appropriate advice on both their housing and employment options.”

Anyone in Thame who needs housing advice, can visit www.southoxfordshirehomechoice.org.uk