Category: Missed a ThameNews story?

  • Rugby: Ill-discipline ends Chinnor’s winning run

    CHINNOR RFC had their winning run finished by Redingensians on Saturday, and when looking back it will be a frustrating loss against local opposition where a slow first half and ill discipline led to the Black and Whites chasing too much of the game where in large parts, Chinnor were on top.

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    Redingensians went ahead in the first two minutes when lock, Jamie Guttridge, found a hole in Chinnor’s 22m and crossed for seven points. Chinnor responded strongly after turning down three points and going to the corner where they scored their own try through the forwards, with Nathan Hannay getting over the whitewash after a strong rolling maul. Chinnor’s ill discipline then cost them with Alex Waddingham spending time in the sin bin for Chinnor’s second high tackle of the game.

    Chinnor managed to hold out through these ten minutes but right at the stroke of half time, Rams winger, Sean McDermotroe, pounced on a Chinnor spilled ball and raced 40 meters to make the half time score 20-7.

    Chinnor responded well after the half time break with Sam Angel strolling over after a five meter scrum. However it wasn’t to be Chinnor’s day as another loose ball was pounced on by Redingensians Scrum Half, George Drury, who scored a try from Chinnor’s 10 meter line. It was then Drury again who set up the next score for the Rams, this time sending in winger, Corrigan, after Chinnor had kept the ball for over 15 phases.

    Chinnor showed heart by their constant attacking during the second half and kept on hammering away at Redingensians line which eventually saw Hannay cross for a second try but it was too late for Chinnor who saw any hopes of a bonus point taken away by a late penalty.

    In a game that saw Chinnor dominate the second half both with possession and territory, there were many positive signs. But discipline and a cut throat attack that have been evident over the last few weeks went missing this weekend – a fact that will make the squad desperate to put right in their final game of the season against Southend this coming week.

  • Developers share site’s archaeological heritage with students

    ARTEFACTS dating back around 6,000 years have been presented to students at Lord Williams’s School in Thame.

    Senior Project Officer at Cotswold Archaeology Chris Ellis, Bloor Homes Sales Manager Gemma Deacon, Lord Williams’s School teacher Carly Harris and headteacher David Wybron with some of the artefacts found onsite
    Senior Project Officer at Cotswold Archaeology Chris Ellis, Bloor Homes Sales Manager Gemma Deacon, Lord Williams’s School teacher Carly Harris and headteacher David Wybron with some of the artefacts found onsite

    The remains of prehistoric monuments and settlements going back to the Neolithic period were among the exciting discoveries made during a seven-month excavation of Bloor Homes’ Thame Meadows site, in Oxford Road, right opposite the school.

    Archaeologists have described the dig, which was carried out by experts from Oxford Cotswold Archaeology, as one of the most significant undertaken in Britain last year.

    Chris Ellis, Senior Project Officer at Cotswold Archaeology, part of a joint venture with Oxford Archaeology, presented the findings to the students at a special assembly on Wednesday, April 20.

    Chris said: “It was such a fantastic experience to show prehistoric remains and artefacts to that many students in one go. They were very enthusiastic and interested in all the items we have discovered just over the road.

    “For the sheer density and range of archaeological features and the long period which they span, this has been the most fascinating and exhilarating excavation I have been involved with in my 25-year career.”

    One of the most important finds was the discovery of a rare causewayed enclosure dating back to around 3,700BC, one of only 80 such monuments known to exist in Britain.

    Consisting of one or more circuits of bank and ditch, they are the earliest known monuments made by some of the farming communities and were constructed to enclose areas of open space where communal gatherings would take place.

    Archaeologists also uncovered the remains of at least three roundhouses from the early Iron Age period (700-400BC), and more than 150 pits, used for storing grain and later disposing of rubbish, some containing human remains where settlers had buried the dead.

    Discoveries from the Roman period (AD43-410) include a number of enclosures which housed corn drying ovens, while around 14 small Saxon buildings, dating from the 6th to 7th Century AD and believed to have been textile workshops, were also uncovered.

    Flint tools, pottery and combs made from animal bone were just some of the thousands of artefacts discovered.

    The finds from the excavation will be housed with the Oxfordshire County Museum Service, and it is likely some of the objects will be displayed in Thame Museum.

    Gemma Deacon, Sales Manager for Bloor Homes South Midlands, said: “It was fascinating to see Chris present the archaeological findings to the students and to observe how interested they were in the items that were found just opposite their school.

    “The site has clearly been a popular location for human settlers throughout the ages and we believe our Thame Meadows development is already proving just as attractive to house hunters looking for their perfect home in the Oxfordshire countryside.”

    SOURCE: Contributed

  • Thame Take-away closed after inspection

    A Thame Take-away was temporarily closed, after it was given a zero ‘Scores on the doors’ rating by inspectors.

    Photo by Dan Cross
    Photo by Dan Cross

    Tommy Yaki, in Wellington Street, Thame, was inspected on March 21, 2016, and the report that followed the inspection described its Food Hygiene and Safety as Bad, its Structural Compliance as Bad and Confidence in Management as Little.

    A Zero rating means that ‘Urgent improvement is necessary’. The Take-away now appears to have re-opened.

    Cornfield Bakery, in Buttermarket, Thame, however, was awarded five stars. Food Hygiene and Safety: Good. High standard of compliance with statutory obligations and industry codes of recommended practice, minor contraventions of food hygiene regulations.

    Confidence in Management: High. Good record of compliance.

    Structural Compliance: Good. High standard of compliance with statutory obligations and industry codes of recommended practice, minor contraventions of food hygiene regulations.

    Cornfield Bakery was inspected on March 21, 2016.

    De Wani Shah, 8 Swan Walk, Thame, was also inspected on March 17, and was awarded three stars out of five.

    Its report described Food Hygiene and Safety as Fair and Some non-compliance with statutory obligations and industry codes of recommended practice. The premises are in the top 50 per cent of premises and standards are being maintained or improved, added the report.

    Confidence in Management: Some. Satisfactory record of compliance.

    Structural Compliance: Fair. Some non-compliance with statutory obligations and industry codes of recommended practice.

  • Bluebells are here!

    THE famous Chilterns bluebell woods are becoming covered with carpets of blue, and the next couple of weekends are the best time to get out and enjoy them.

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    The average peak flowering time for bluebells is late April into early May but this year in more sheltered locations they are already starting to look really good. In the next few days many local woods will turn into a sea of blue, so get out there and make the most of them – they will be at their peak for the next two weeks. Half of the world’s bluebell woods are found in the UK so this is a spectacle that is very special to this country.

    Some of the best bluebell woods in the Chilterns are:

    · Cowleaze Woods, near Watlington
    · Ipsden Heath, near Henley-on-Thames
    · Wendover Woods, near Wendover
    · Adams Wood, near Lane End
    · Bradenham Woods, near High Wycombe
    · Angling Spring Wood, near Great Missenden
    · Ashridge Estate, near Berkhamsted

    It’s a fantastic time of year to make the most of our beautiful local countryside and enjoy all the signs of spring. You can find lots of information on the best places to see bluebells in the Chilterns, plus details of walks and bike rides, at www.chilternsaonb.org

  • A real farce at Thame Players Theatre!

    See how they Run posterCropped (400x297) (2)

    THAME Players will be presenting See How They Run, by Philip King, from Tuesday to Saturday May 3 – 7, at 7.45pm each evening, and at 2.30pm on the Saturday. Tickets cost £9, concessions £8, and are available from Spear Travels, Greyhound Walk, Thame, telephone 01844 217228, or online from www.thameplayers.co.uk.

    See How They Run is a farce set towards the end of the second world war, in the living room of the vicarage in the village of Merton-cum-Middlewick. Penelope Toop, a former actress, is now happily married to the local vicar, the Reverend Lionel Toop, with whom she lives a life of married bliss – or would do if it wasn’t for the interfering Miss Skillon, churchgoer of the parish and a gossip.

    When Lance-Corporal Clive Winton, an old friend of Penelope’s, stops by for a quick visit and they decide to watch a play by the local dramatic society that they used to belong to, things quickly take a turn for the worse. Confusion and assumption work in equal measure to turn a perfectly innocent excursion into a disaster. Then, when Penelope’s uncle, the Bishop of Lax, a clergyman from another parish, and a German soldier on the run from the nearby POW camp, arrive unexpectedly, complete chaos ensures.

    The action culminates in a cycle of running figures and mistaken identities. Who is the real Reverend Toop? Where is Miss Skillon? What has happened to Clive’s uniform? Will the German POW get away with his dastardly plan? All will be revealed in See How They Run…

  • Happy Birthday Your Majesty – from Thame

    HUNDREDS of people gathered in Thame’s town centre last night, to commemorate the 90th birthday of Her Majesty The Queen.

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    After an inspection of 594 (Thame) Squadron Air Training Corps and Thame Army Cadet Force, and music from Thame Concert Band, the crowd watched the Mayor of Thame, Nichola Dixon, who had earlier in the year jumped out of an aeroplane for charity, nervously climb a ladder and light one of a thousand beacons, lit across the land to celebrate the birthday of the longest living, British monarch ever.

    Deputy Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Marie-Jane Barnett DL, read out a birthday message from the Prince of Wales, sent from Clarence House. It read:

    “I am delighted that so many people throughout the United Kingdom are coming together to light beacons in celebration of my mother, The Queen’s, ninetieth birthday. It is a wonderful gesture which I know has deeply touched Her Majesty.

    “Beacons are to be lit on mountaintops, on beaches, in farmyards and on church towers, uniting us all in our heartfelt appreciation of The Queen’s lifetime of service to the United Kingdom and other Realms, and to the commonwealth.

    “Since time immemorial, the light of beacons has relayed important messages across the land. This message we proclaim with the greatest pride and affection.

    “Your Majesty, we all wish you a very Happy Birthday!”

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1The beacon lighting and good wishes were followed by singing from The Thame Pop choir, whose leader, Ian English, described a (huh hum!..you had to be there..) somewhat colourful imagining of how Her Majesty may – or may not – have really been celebrating her birthday, before leading a rousing rendition from everyone of the National Anthem and Land of Hope and Glory.

    As the’ three cheers for the Queen’, lead by the Mayor died away, the crowds turned for home, many turning back to watch the beacon’s light burn on against the darkening sky. MORE pictures here: LINK

  • Racquets’ Men’s firsts win promotion after defeating the RAF

    THE Mens’ First squash team at Racquets Fitness Centre in Thame has gained promotion to the Oxfordshire Mens division One, following a huge, 5-0 win over the RAF on Tuesday, April 12.

    Harry Hillier and Ben Hedger with the Player of the Season trophy
    Harry Hillier (left) and Ben Hedger, winner of the Player of the Season trophy

    Oxfordshire Under 19s, Number One, Ben Hedger, age 17, also won the ‘Player of the Season’ Award. Simon Martin, fellow team member and Ben’s coach, said: “‘Ben has been training hard this last season with a view to playing professionally in the next few years. We are very proud of his progress and are expecting great things in the near future.”

    The full team consisted of Harry Hillier, Ben Hedger, Andy Peers, Tor Stockdale, Ossie Mustafa, Jim Usherwood, Nick Harbour (age, just 15!) and Simon Martin.

    Simon added: “The team showed just how the junior squash programme at Racquets has been successful over the past few years, with two of the team – still under 19, already county champions!”

    The Racquets team faces a play-off with Oxford Brookes’ Second team who won the first half before Christmas, to decide the overall division champions.

  • Thame supermarket plans deferred again

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    SOUTH Oxfordshire District Council’s consideration of a planning application for a Tesco store in Thame, has been deferred yet again and unlikely to be heard until, at the soonest, May 18.

    After SODC obtained professional advice on the impact the proposed edge-of-town supermarket would have on Thame’s town centre, it requested that Tesco provide further information on the impact of lost linked trips and reduced footfall. The council also requested a more detailed qualitative assessment on the impact the supermarket would have on Thame’s independent convenience stores

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1Thame Town Council, which is against the proposed supermarket, have said that it will ‘call in’ the application if approval is likely. Calling in allows the Secretary of State to decide on an application, taking it out of the hands of the local planning authority.

    For background information, you can read previous reports on the Tesco application HERE

  • ‘Large crowds, live DJ’s, prizes and great vibes!’ launch Thame’s skate park

    SCORES of young skateboarders and BMX cyclists, friends and supporters, including the Mayor of Thame, Town Councillors and Thame’s MP, John Howell, enjoyed a party atmosphere to officially launch Thame’s new Skatepark on Sunday, April 17.

    Live action shot by Aidan North
    Live action shot by Aidan North

    “Large crowds, live DJ’s, prizes and great vibes!” was how one of the leading lights behind the fund-raising and final success of the project, Olly Ross, described the day.

    “What a great day!” a delighted Olly told Thame.Net. “We had the weather, the turn out and the good times that we all were hoping for! It was amazing to see so many people come down and enjoy the facility that we worked so hard to put in place. A special thank you has to go out to Thame Town Council for their help with the event and our event sponsors, SS20 Skate and Snow Store, Two Wheels Bike Shop, Aptik Apparel and Would Skateboards.”

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1Olly took his camera down to this, ‘the opening jam’ of Thame Skatepark, to capture the day’s action, including ariel shots taken with a drone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIguqi-0Uak

  • New, full-time radio station for Thame and Haddenham

    THE team behind a series of short term radio broadcasts to support and promote Haddenham’s summer beer festivals, has been awarded a full time radio licence by the government regulator Ofcom.

    Red Kite Radio, based at the Haddenham Garden Centre, won the five-year licence after convincing the body that this area deserves and can sustain a full time version of its successful Summerfest Radio broadcasts.

    Pete MacFarlane, General Manager of Red Kite Radio
    Pete MacFarlane, General Manager of Red Kite Radio – Image courtesy of Haddenham.net

    Covering Haddenham, Thame and all of the surrounding villages, the team of volunteers, with professional backgrounds in national and local radio, have operated three highly successful short term broadcasts supporting and promoting the Haddenham summer beer festivals (Summerfest) with a fourth due to hit the airwaves this June.

    Summerfest Radio began life after a conversation in a pub and has grown ever since, heavily supporting the beer festival, which has also grown significantly during the three summers it has been on the air.

    Pete MacFarlane, General Manager of Red Kite Radio said: “We are all delighted to be awarded this licence by Ofcom. The regulator can clearly see the huge amount of support from charities, groups and residents of both Haddenham and Thame for what we do. We’d like to thank the people and organisations who took the time to write and support our application and those who participated in our application research.”

    Red Kite Radio will continue to support the Haddenham Beer Festivals Trust, promoting not just one but both its annual fundraisers; “Being on air 365 days a year means we will now be able to promote the Winterfest event and cover the various beneficiaries and the subsequent grant awards by the trust throughout the year,” added Pete MacFarlane.

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1On air 24 hours a day, the station will cover and promote local news and issues, charities, schools, sports clubs, churches, community groups and offer radio skills training courses to people in the area.

    The Red Kite Radio team has two years to launch the FM radio station. Local businesses will have the opportunity to promote themselves through cost effective radio advertising and at the same time know that they are helping to fund a unique broadcast service in the area.

    SOURCE: Contributed