Category: Missed a ThameNews story?

THAME’S celebration of its 15th anniversary of Twinning with the French town of Montesson, attracted county-wide attention this weekend, when BBC Radio Oxford called up a group of Montesson walkers trekking from the outskirts of London to Thame, to commemorate this landmark of the two towns’ relationship.

Long-time Twinning supporter, Montessonian Bernard Chevalier, told BBC Presenter, Allie Jones: “We are very proud of our twinning. Our histories are so connected. We are free: everybody is free. But we must know each other and each must respect the other.” Bernard was one of six people from Montesson who celebrated this landmark in his town’s special relationship with Thame, by walking for four days, from Denham, Bucks, to Thame, mostly following the South Bucks Way, a section of the the Chilterns Way and finally the Phoenix Trail into Thame itself on Friday evening, May 13.

The Walking Frogs, as the group called itself, experienced drenching, monsoon-like weather conditions on their first two days, but were sustained by Steak and Kidney pudding and ‘the Full English’ breakfasts at their accommodation en route. The group reported that they were delighted to meet so many friendly and helpful people on the way, including ‘Pete’ at Denham station, who had heard they were arriving at his station via Thame.Net on twitter, and kindly directed them to the start of the South Bucks Way.  During the last two, sunnier and drier days, some members of Thame Twinning Association walked with them from the Crown at Little Missenden to Icknield Lodge, Princes Risborough, and from there to Thame, the latter stretch including a splendid picnic lunch provided by What’s Cooking, in Thame.

France to Thame the hard way !

Simultaneously, six cyclists from The Montesson Athletics Club rode for eight days from Montesson to Thame, arriving at the same time as the walkers, very cold and weary but still smiling. Together they were ushered into the warmth of Rumsey’s cafe and given a proper British welcoming cup of tea or coffee, or a comforting hot chocolate. They reported a tough but interesting expedition with only one minor injury when one of them fell over on his bike. As a full coach of French visitors arrived at Thame Town Hall, everyone was welcomed by the famous Towersey Morris side who entertained, surprised and delighted the crowd outside before everyone filed up to the Council Chamber for an official welcome by the new Mayor of Thame, Linda Emery, who is also the current Chair of Thame and District Twinning Association.

Once back in Montesson on Sunday evening, Elisabeth Charriere, who lead the cycling group, summed up their journey: “”We were six cyclists from Montesson who wanted to experience the Avenue Verte Paris-London. We already knew the French part which is well sign-posted, comfortable, reasonably easy and attainable by any cyclist. We discovered the English part which is very hilly, not always very well sign-posted and sometimes not safe since it includes narrow and busy roads. Anyway, we made it to London which we crossed on a beautiful sunny day.

“Cycling in the big city was pleasant. We evaded much of the clutter of London by leaving via the towpath of The Grand Union Canal. That took us to the Chilterns Cycleway where we encountered more hills. We finally reached the Phoenix Trail which brought us to Thame just at the same time as our friends, the Walking Frogs.

“We managed to accomplish this adventure because we were motivated to reach Thame and because we were committed to doing it together. We had, as usual, an amazing welcome and were spoiled by the generosity of our hosting families. Right now I can’t imagine a tougher way of coming to Thame. For us it will always be an unforgettable adventure.”

Sight-seeing, shopping and history

The birthday weekend’s programme had included a full day in London on Saturday for the visitors, taking in a guided tour of part of Prince Albert’s collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum followed by sight-seeing – including 10 Downing Street – and shopping! On the Sunday a group of both hosts and visitors, were treated to a fascinating talk by ex Headmaster of Lord Williams’s School, Geoff Goodall, about the amazing history of the school, introduced by Thame historian and school archivist, Derek Turner. They learned how Lord Williams’s School was founded in 1559 on the death of Lord John Williams of Thame – an important man in the court of Queen Elizabeth 1. He had held high State positions including Keeper of Jewels and President of the Welsh Marches, and was rich and influential. He owned large areas of Oxfordshire including his home at Rycote Manor.

After the talk and a tour of the school and a chance to examine some of the school’s historic record books, the Montesson committee were introduced to two of the current school’s Language teachers and two Sixth Form students who are studying French.

Anyone interested in Mr Goodall’s talk can download a version of his history of Lord Williams’s school here: http://tiny.cc/7xcjby

Time together

Evening mealtimes throughout the visit were with host families and for a group of dependent young adults from Foyer des Courlis in Montesson, their Saturday night treat was a Disco and supper held at Racquets Fitness in Thame. Younger members of one Montesson family earlier in the day, visited the Chinnor and Risborough Railway for a ride on a steam train.

Let them eat cake!

After a communal Sunday lunch at the Three Horseshoes at Towersey, Jean Francois Bel, the Mayor of Montesson and Cllr Don Butler – who were the two Mayors back in 2001 when the Twinning began – helped Linda Emery blow out the candles on a special, 15th Anniversary cake, made by Norma Laver, of A Piece of Cake in Upper High Street, Thame. A very special moment came when it was revealed that two women, now with young families, one from England and one from Montesson, had been brought together once more by a member of Thame Twinning, years after they had been pen friends at school.

Reflecting on the weekend back home in Montesson on Monday, The President of the Montesson Twinning Committee, Anne Gillett, messaged: “It was an immense joy and enormous honour to take part in this important anniversary. I’m proud that some of our members are so dynamic and creative to organise special and symbolic challenges French bikers and walkers joined by English walkers). I’m also deeply moved by the links of friendship that have grown up between Thame and Montesson people. Twinning is a very interesting way to meet other people and the hosts families are just amazing !

“We’re lucky to have you all ! Thank you. Longue vie à notre jumelage!”

HUNDREDS of people lined the main High Street in Thame on Sunday, to witness a ‘Freedom Parade’ by RAF Halton, return to Thame to exercise their right to march through the town, for the first time since they were granted the Freedom of Thame, in 2012, by The Duchess of Cornwall.

In a statement, Thame Town Council said: “It is an honour to welcome RAF Halton back to Thame and to demonstrate our support as a community for the airmen and airwomen who are serving and stationed at the base.”

Spectators, and dignitaries wearing red and blue official robes, waited in the hot sun, in anticipation of a flypast by a vintage Dakota aircraft, its half hour delay failing to dampen the final cheers that greeted its appearance.

A ground breaking ceremony has taken place at Lord Williams’s Upper School to mark the start of building work on a new teaching block, the result of a successful bid to central government for the funding.

E G Carter & Co Ltd has been appointed as the contractor with the final works scheduled to be completed by Easter 2017. The new building will include nine new general classrooms, two refurbished science laboratories, new staff and student toilets and additional office and teamroom spaces as well as flexible inside and outdoor circulation space.

AFTER reports of dangerous driving and anti-social behaviour in the car park of Southern Road recreation ground, Thame, Community Police have reported that young people have now been challenged and warned and that this behaviour has now stopped.

A man from the Abingdon area was arrested for indecent exposure in the Thame area. He was interviewed and later received a police caution.

THERE was positive news on Tuesday about finding space for a new burial ground in Thame, when the Clerk to the Council, Graham Hunt, told Thame Town Councillors that ground investigations had concluded that land at the new Bellway Homes housing development at Site C2, opposite Wenman Road, is suitable to be used as burial ground.

Consideration of where the new burial ground will eventually go, will be made by the Thame Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Committee at a later date.

THE Thame Remembers group is working on the criteria and a process to enable additional names of Thame residents killed in more recent conflicts such as Korea and Cyprus – and in future conflicts, to be added to the town’s War Memorial.

THAME’S new mayor, Linda Emery, has received her Chain of Office from the out-going Mayor, Nichola Dixon, who becomes Linda’s Deputy. In her acceptance speech, Linda said: “Thame is a wonderful place to live because it has an amazing community spirit. We are going to go through changes and challenges in my year as Mayor but I have great confidence in Graham (Hunt), our Town Clerk, all the Thame Council team, and the Business Teams.

“We will all work together to embrace change and adapt to it to our best advantage for our community.”

After thanking fellow Councillors, Officers, the Maintenance team and the Town Clerk for all their support during her Mayoral year, Cllr Dixon presented cheques to representatives of her chosen chairites, the Thame and District Day Centre, represented by Tyrell Gillman, and the Thame to Thame Earthquake Fund, represented by Charlie Tyson Taylor. Including funds raised through her sponsored Parachute jump, Cllr Dixon raised a total £5,600.

Mayor Emery’s chosen charities for her year are the Red Kite Children’s Centre and Thame Youth Projects Group, supporting the Thame Youth Cafe. The Red Kite Children’s Centre provides a range of sessions for families and children antenatally to five years, including teenage parents and children with disabilities. It provide fun and stimulating play sessions, offering families support and advice on benefits, volunteering, two year-old funding, returning to work and much more.

Cllr Emery is also hoping to hold a one-off fund raising event to help The Rycote Practice at Thame Health Centre’s Patients Fund Account with a donation to assist with medical equipment requirements as and when – a new set of baby scales for instance costs £250.

The aim of the Youth Café is to help young people to develop their physical, mental and spiritual capacities through their leisure time activities, so that they may develop as individuals and members of the community. They meet at Christchurch once a week. They currently need to fund another leader to start an older session for the 14 -18 year-old age range.

COMMUNITY groups and parish councils across South Oxfordshire can now apply for the latest batch of funding from the district council.

The money can help fund a variety of community facilities and improvements like building new skate parks or play areas, upgrading sports pavilions, and purchasing defibrillators. Applications for this round of funding close on Friday, July 1, 2016.

Councillor Elizabeth Gillespie, cabinet member for grants, said: “We are urging local community groups who have got projects in mind to apply for funding, whether it be revamping existing facilities, buying new equipment, or even building a brand new community centre.

“There is still time to get an application into the current round however, do have more planned this year, including one opening in August and are keen to talk to anyone with a project. Why not have a chat with our grants team, even if you are only at the initial stages of your project – they are ready and willing to help.

“It is very important to us that we help build a local sense of community and we are in the fortunate position of having set aside £1m each year in order to do just that. We really are encouraging groups to come forward and make the most of this opportunity.”

Community groups and parish councils can contact the team for some advice at grants@southandvale.gov.uk or on 01235 540525, and can also visit their website www.southoxon.gov.uk/grants to read more about the schemes on offer and to apply.

AFTER losing money last year, the committee that runs the Thame Show has decided that there will not be the usual Oxfordshire County & Thame Show in September 2016.

Some members however, have got together with the Horse Committee and have decided to plan a smaller event, to be known as the Thame Horse and Hound Show, completely independently from the Thame Show and the Agricultural Association itself.

Thame Show’s Secretary, Chris Parker, told Thame.Net that the gate money from the 2015 show last September, was down, largely because there had been an inch and a quarter of rain the day before which may have put visitors off from going. In the event, it was a warm, sunny day but the hoped-for crowds stayed away.

The committee, he explained, decided that it could not risk the show’s assets again this year, particularly as it is a charity.

The Thame Horse and Hound Show 2016, will take the form of four show rings for show jumping etc, a Countryside ring with a few displays, food and drink outlets and hopefully, maintain the dog show. There will also be some trade stands but no Domestic tents or cattle or sheep for 2016.

Chris concluded: “The new format has attracted a sponsor and some finance from some members, so we hope to maintain the tradition in some way for the time being, and to be able to invite the public at a much reduced rate than in previous years.”

THE pupils of John Hampden Primary School in Thame have been learning about how their brains work, as part of the school’s annual Science Week.

The theme for this year was The Brain and Growth Mindset. Children across the whole school participated in a variety of activities to learn how their brain works and how their intelligence and abilities are not fixed, but in fact can be improved through practice and persistence.

Science Co-ordinator, Rachel Butler, explained: “Developing a Growth Mindset attitude is something which will continue to be built upon at John Hampden Primary School in the future, with the intention of inspiring our pupils to believe they can continue to learn and grow in all areas of their lives.

“Wren’s Butchers of Thame donated three pig brains for the children to look at – which certainly proved to be a talking point amongst children and staff!

“A highlight of the week,” continued Rachel, “was when Science Oxford held workshops for every child in the school. Children from Nursery to Year three learnt more about the senses, whilst Years four to six designed, made and tested marble runs.

“Each year, every child in the school takes part in a Science Week ‘Whole School Challenge’ which this year required the children to design, make and test a skull for their water balloon ‘brain’. The finalists from each class entered Friday’s Grand Final where 13 winning designs were found! Their ‘brains’ did not burst, even when thrown from the school roof!

Rachel concluded: “The children have been very positive about Science Week, some going home to continue their explorations enthused by their fun experiences at school. It’s been another enjoyable and successful Science Week for John Hampden Primary School.”

THE Rotary Club of Thame wants everyone to check their sheds, garages and lofts and bring any old tools to the main car park in Upper High Street, Thame, on Saturday morning, May 28, between 10am and 1pm.

Every year the Rotary Club of Thame runs a collection point for unwanted tools. These are then taken to the collection centre in Milton Keynes run by Tools for Self Reliance, a charity which refurbishes tools and sends them to NGOs in Africa. The NGOs then distribute them FREE to men and women who are then able to use them to earn a living.

All the tools sent to Africa by Rotary are used to equip trainees with their own start-up kits after completing the training in business management, finance and life skills, as well as in their chosen trade.

One such trainee is Richard from Malawi. Richard was unable to complete his education but since learning to be a tailor, and receiving additional training in business and life skills, financial planning, and health awareness, his life has been transformed. He received a start-up kit to establish his own tailoring business, and his monthly income has now doubled as a result.

Richard has used the additional income to purchase goats, a new house for his family with an iron sheet roof, and most importantly for him, pay school fees for his children – making sure that they get the education he missed out on is Richard’s priority.

Items which can be collected include sewing machines, tools used for plumbing, carpentry, metalworking, building, bicycle repair, shoe repair and car repairs. (But no garden tools please – these can however, be donated to a different charity, Tools Shed LINK HERE )

For more information visit www.thame.rotary1090.org or www.facebook.com/thamerotary