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  • All aboard for a Dickensian Christmas!

    THE countdown to Thame’s Dickensian evening on Friday (December 6) begins today, with only four more days to the big Christmas lights switch on by East Enders’ actress and ‘Mrs Brian May’,  Anita Dobson.

    For a truly Victorian perspective on the event, a Victorian Omnibus will transport you back in time along the Upper High Street pulled by two beautiful horses bedecked in Christmas plumes. A miniature steam railway will be running up and down the High Street too!

    This year there’ll be a whole host of stalls selling everything from traditional Christmas ‘puds’ to limited edition prints, plus local artists and makers selling original gifts perfect to fill those Christmas stockings! To keep us warm (the weather forecast is for cold but dry conditions in the evening), there’ll be mulled wine, hot chocolate as well a tasty hog roast baps and more.

    Our friends from Thame’s twin town, Montesson will be selling freshly made French crèpes, wines, cheese, oil, vinegar, olives, fish soups and more!

    Those who like to dress up, which includes the Mayor of Thame, Peter Lambert, will really be getting into the Dickensian spirit and donning traditional Victorian dress. Don’t forget your dancing shoes though, because, although there’ll be no Polkas, Mazurkas, Galops or Cotilions to dance, the band Ska Souls, who proved such a hit at Music in the Park, will be adding to the party mood.

    Treading the boards on the specially erected stage will be Thame Players previewing their Christmas Panto, Stagecoach Thame’s young students, plus traditional Carols from the local primary schools accompanied by Thame Concert Band and the Thame Chamber Choir.

    “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.”
    ― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

  • Driver escapes injury in Rycote Lane crash

    THE A329, Rycote Lane, Thame, was closed in both directions for about an hour after a Road Traffic Incident at around 10am yesterday, December 1.

    A blue BMW was the only vehicle involved and no injuries to those involved were reported.

    A recovery was called to remove the damaged car.

  • Thame fire crew race 25 floors for charity

    FOUR Firefighters from Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, based at Thame, are on top of the world after taking  part in Operation Florian’s SkyTower Challenge in Manchester on Sunday, November 24, when they were the third fastest team to complete the challenge.

    Two of the Thame Firefighting challenge team catch their breath after racing 25 floors in full breathing apparatus for charity

    The challenge involved climbing 25 floors in full fire kit, while wearing breathing apparatus. The event is run in aid of Operation Florian, which provides equipment and helps train Firefighters in developing countries, as well as a fund in memory of FF Steve Hunt who was tragically killed while fighting a fire in Manchester earlier this year.

    Watch Manager, Andy Ford, said ”The team did really well coming in third fastest; it was a tough challenge and for a very worthwhile cause.”

    Firefighter Mark Nuns, one of the Thame team of four,  said:   “We felt privileged to have represented Thame. and Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue at this year’s SkyTower Challenge. I know we’re all really pleased with our times and looking forward to entering again next year – and aiming to do even better.” 

    The other Fire fighters who took part were Leo Shairp, Steve Simmons and Nick Sawyer.

  • AS If…on the fiddle at First Thursday Music Club

    FOLLOWING a stunning night at the November First Thursday Music Club (FTMC) when 15 acts played to a full house, the December edition of Thame’s biggest monthly music event takes place on Thursday, December 5, at the Stables at the James Figg Pub in Thame.

    The band ‘As If’ will be the featured band at December’s First Thursday Music Club

     

    FTMC is now recognised as the biggest and best Open Mic in the region with acts travelling from London, Reading and Oxford to appear. Each month, one act is invited to appear in the 10 o clock Feature Spot – and this month it is the fabulous As If…

    As If… have been together for 20 years and have played all over the UK and ventured into Norway. They’ve recorded six albums and enjoyed some independent radio airplay in various countries around the world with a fairly eclectic mix of songs, all written by Phil Goss (guitar and vocals) and arranged by the band – Phil Heard (Drums), Steve Rothwell (Bass) and Sam Hearle (Keyboards). The music blends rock, prog, pop and folk and the band have teamed up from time to time with musicians from different genres. This Thursday will see them teaming up with Phil Wright on fiddle. Expect something a little bit different and to be entertained.

    Round up some friends, get along, and have a great night out. Anyone can play just by signing up at the venue from 7.30pm. The music starts at 8pm.

    Check out the club on Facebook “The First Thursday Music Club” or at:
    www.firstthursdaymusicclub.com where you can find more info’ including contact numbers and addresses for the organisers

    Useful links for As If …
    http://www.reverbnation.com/artist_2900880/bio
    http://www.asifmusic.co.uk/

  • Quizzing for the CAB

    THAME Citizens Advice Bureau, which depends entirely on outside funding and voluntary contributions for its survival, is better off this week after a supper quiz organised by The Friends of Thame CAB.

    Winning team, The Happy Tuesdays

    The event was held at chinnor Rugby Club on Friday, November 15, and made a profit of £680, which included a raffle and a £1 a go, ‘Right or wrong – sit down or stand up’ round.

    The winning team was, appropriately ‘The Happy Tuesdays,’ so called because it was formed of Tuesday volunteers at the CAB and their partners – who are a happy crowd!

  • Later Chinnor surge not enough

    SOUTHEND laid the foundations of their 36-28 victory at Chinnor on Saturday,  in the first half with three, well worked tries.

    After an early exchange of penalties, Southend scored the first of their five tries on 10 minutes when Nash went over after a neat grubber kick through the rushing defence. Burr converted to put the visitors ahead 10-3. Millett came back for Chinnor on the 13th minute with a classy individual try to bring the score back to 10-8 to Southend.

    Southend with their pack beginning to dominate, went further ahead on 18 minutes when Guess scored their second try, crashing over from a penalty catch and drive. Burrr’s conversion put the visitors ahead 17-8. Chinnor had little use of the ball until Millett’s penalty goal in the 22nd minute to reduce the deficit to 17-11. Chinnor went further behind to another grubber kick through the defence, this time with Vaughan dotting down on the 39th minute which saw the visitors go in 22-11 ahead at the break.

    Five minutes into the second half, Southend went further ahead 27-11 when Vaughan scored his second try. Burr converted to increase Southend’s lead to 29-11 on the 46th minute. Southend then began to increasingly use the garryowen in open play to pressurise Chinnor. However, one such kick allowed Chinnor to stir from their slumbers when Goode blasted through to allow Marston, neatly sidestepping, to score Chinnor’s second try. Millett’s conversion closed the deficit to 18-29.

    With 62 minutes gone, Chinnor scored again through Ian Stock from a rolling maul and with five minutes to play Stock went over for Chinnor’s third try to put the match score at 28-29 to Southend. The conversion missed but Chinnor, in their desperation to score, conceded a scrum penalty five metres from their own line. The Southend pack, dominant throughout the match, scored a push over try through Bloomburg and Burr’s conversion denied Chinnor a losing bonus point and closed the match at 36-28 to the visitors.

    Teams

    Chinnor: George Blewitt, Leo Fielding, Matthew Goode, Will Millett, Joe Marston,James Cathcart, Frank Jones, Nathaniel Titchard-Jones, Jamie Townsend, Joe Winpenny, Tom Mowbray, Andrew Smith, Adam Hastings, Nick Harrison, Liam Gilbert (c)
    Replacements: Alan Cawston, Ian Stock, Kai George, Sam Angell, Dan Barnes

    Southend: Mark Billings, Sam Nash, Danny Cleare, Mike Stanley, Chris Vaughan, Bradley Burr, Lee Sandberg, Todd Bailey, Marcus Bloomburg, Mike Guess, Dan Legge, Max Crawford, Harry Hudson, David Jackson, James Callard
    Replacements: Jason Fardell, Jason Ox, Darryl Ox, Alex Harrison, Harry Branch

    Scorers
    Chinnor
    Tries (time): Millett (13), Marston (51), Stock (61, 73)
    Conversions (time): Millett (52)
    Penalty Goals (time): Millett (6,22)
    Drop goals (time):

    Southend
    Tries: (time) Nash (10), Guess (18), Vaughan (38, 45)
    Penalty Goals (time): Burr (14

  • Lydia beats the best for top apprentice award

    LYDIA Feasey, from Thame, has beaten other regional finalists  to win the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) Apprentice of the Year, a prize which recognises the best and the brightest apprentices and technicians. Lydia received her prize at a prestigious awards ceremony hosted by Liz Bonnin, TV presenter and bio-chemist, on November 20, at The Brewery, in London.

    Lydia Feasey is congratulated by the Mayor of Thame, Peter Lambert (photo by Frank Millar)

    Lydia, who won the Thames Valley Apprentice of the Year award back in September, works at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy in Abingdon,Oxfordshire, the headquarters of the Joint European Torus, the world’s largest nuclear fusion project. As the Institutes recognition of Lydia explained: “Since fusion may be one of our main sources of energy in the future, the work Lydia is involved with is integral to the world’s future energy security. When critical parts from the reactor lining needed to be removed to be analysed, Lydia was called upon to help ensure that the removal and transportation was safe and successful.

    “Lydia was responsible for the logistics and tracking of 500 components that needed to be removed. Each was worth up to £20,000, involved hazardous materials and contained invaluable data for the international fusion research programme. Every component made it to its destination safely and intact. Lydia has worked tirelessly to promote apprenticeships, and has been awarded several times already for the quality of her work.”

    Besides winning a cash prize , Lydia was presented with a certificate and free entry and two years membership of the Institute. She recently went up to the Houses of Parliament and spoke to the members about apprenticeships and answered their questions in an effort to get their support for increasing the availability of such schemes.

    Lydia was born and grew up in Thame, going to John Hampden school and the on to Lord Williams’s. After leaving school she managed to get an apprenticeship at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy and has during that time won a number of awards but none so prestigious as the one she received in London last week.

    While Lydia has now lived for almost a year in Grove, near Wantage with her partner, she is back in Thame most weekends, if only to check that her mums cooking is still up to standard!

  • Public consultation on Elms plans

    Flash back to the Public Consultation on the Thame Neighbourhood Plan

    THE controversial, proposed Elms housing development in Thame is to be the subject of a Public Consultation Event.

    The public are being invited to view the proposals prior to the submission of a planning application, at Thame Town Hall on Friday, November 29, between 2.3o pm  and 7.30 pm.

    It’s not clear from the public notice in the local press, who is carrying out the consultation, but apparently ‘Members of the project team’ will be on hand to answer questions and discuss the proposals.

    The proposal has attracted opposition from  many local people who have apparently signed a petition against the plans (see LINK), and others who have questioned the proposals’ inclusion in the The Thame Neighbourhood Plan.

  • EastEnders star to light up Thame

    BEST known for her role as Angie Watts in EastEnders, actress Anita Dobson will be taking a break from pantomime rehearsals at Aylesbury’s Waterside Theatre to turn on Thame’s Christmas lights during the town’s Dickensian Christmas event on December 6.

    Anita Dobson, best known as Angie Watts in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders, will ‘light up’ Thame on December 6 !

    The event promises to be jam-packed from 3.30pm with festive treats, and an events programme full of local talent.

    Ride on the Victorian horse and carriage or miniature steam railway running from 3.30pm. Don’t miss the primary schools’ lantern parade from 5.30pm. There’ll be a host of stalls selling unique and original gifts, perfect for Christmas as well as  food stalls offering everything from fudge to hog roast baps.

    The stage events are planned to begin at 6pm and will feature community singing, accompanied by the junior school choirs and the Thame Concert Band. There’ll be appearances from  Thame Players, Stagecoach  Thame, and the Thame Chamber Choir plus live music from Ska Souls. Santa will also be taking a break from his festive duties to come and wish us all a Merry Christmas and announce the winner of the Top Hat Trail competition! Have you spotted any yet? Find as many as you can, write them on a piece of paper and return it to the Information Centre at the town hall. The first person out of the top hat with the most shops listed will win Thame Players’ tickets and vouchers for Wally’s Toy Shop.

  • Knife-wielding mother escapes custodial sentence

    A Thame woman who brandished knives at members of the public at Thame fair in September, has avoided prison after admitting having a bladed article in a public place .

    Lavinia Ryan, 43, of Van Diemans Road, Thame, was said in court on Friday (22/11) to be “irrationally convinced” that her 12 year-old son had been kidnapped, and had threatened one stallholder that there would be “carnage” unless the boy was returned to her within an hour. Prosecuting, Ms Catherine Olliver described how Lavinia Ryan had walked through the fair with four knifes in each hand, and a meat cleaver, threatening fair ground operatives. She injured her head and hand during the ensuing struggle with security guards. Her son had in fact been playing with a friend.

    Timothy Boswell, defending, told the Judge, Ian Pringle, that his client suffered from a personality disorder which was controllable with medication, and that because of her mental health problems, being sent to prison could increase Ryan’s violent behaviour.

    A six months prison sentence was suspended for two years, with activity and supervision requirements attached, as well as an £80 victims’ surcharge.

     

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