Category: Thame news

  • Police appeal following theft of trailer in Thame

    crimeTHAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following the theft of a trailer from Thame.

    Between 11am and 11.15 am on Tuesday (7/6) an Ifor Williams flatbed trailer was stolen from Aylesbury Road.

    Offender(s) detached the trailer from a van parked outside the cricket ground.

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1

    f you have seen any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area or have any information relating to this message please call the police on the 24 hour non-emergency telephone number 101.

    Alternatively if you have information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online @ crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
    Message sent by

  • Train to teach at Lord Williams’s School

    HAVE you ever thought about sharing your passion for your degree subject with eager enquiring minds?

    Image courtesy of totaljobs.com
    Image courtesy of totaljobs.com

    You might be a on a career break or contemplating a change of direction in your career within the next twelve months or two years. If so, you are warmly invited to find out about teacher training opportunities at Lord Williams’s School.

    The school is holding an Information Evening at Upper School on Thursday, June 23, at 6.15pm.

    To reserve a place or for further information, visit the school’s website: www.lordwilliams.oxon.sch.uk or contact Mrs Denise Madden via email: dmad6958@lordwilliams.oxon.sch.uk

  • Up-date: What’s happening in Thame on June 11?

    THE programme for this year’s Thame Carnival and Big Street Party is hotting up! Fire Officers from Thame will carrying out a demonstration of cutting a trapped causality out of a car, in the arena at 3pm. Timings for the day are as follows:

    11 am Parade participants gather at Elms Park for walkers, & Station Yard for vehicles
    12 noon to 1.20pm Parade
    13.00 to 4.30pm Arena events
    13.00 to 4.30pm Dog show
    13.00 to 5.00pm Live entertainment and compere on stage
    17.30 End

    carnival_logo_2016

    Those organisations taking part in the Parade include Thame Town Council, Safari, Thame Fire Station, Thame and District Motor Club, Ian Baker, Thame Motorsport Club, Kubota, Friends of Oscar, Barley Hill School, Thame Swimming Club, Thame Youth Theatre, St Joseph’s Primary School,  Thame Co-Op, Army Reserve Recruiting Team and John Hampden Primary School.

    Following this there’ll be the spectacle of a fly-past by a Hawker Hurricane, a British, single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1930s-1940s that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force (RAF).

    Although overshadowed by the Supermarine Spitfire, the aircraft became renowned during the Battle of Britain, accounting for 60% of the RAF’s air victories in the battle, and served in all the major theatres of the Second World War.

    The 1930s design evolved through several versions and adaptations, resulting in a series of aircraft which acted as fighters, bomber-interceptors, fighter-bombers (also called “Hurribombers”) and ground support aircraft. Further versions known as the Sea Hurricane had modifications which enabled operation from ships.
    Some were converted as catapult-launched convoy escorts, known as “Hurricats”. More than 14,583 Hurricanes were built by the end of 1944 (including at least 800 converted to Sea Hurricanes[3] and some 1,400 built in Canada by Canadian Car and Foundry).

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1So now you know all about the Hawker Hurricane – but come along to the Carnival and see this magnificent beast for yourself in its natural habitat – the sky!

    What else?

    Street party throughout the afternoon on Southern Road Recreation ground – As residents arrive, Carnival committee member, Charlene, will post a street name on a stake around the street party tables and gazebos. the aim is that neighbours will congregate around their street table. Each new street resident will get a new street name allocated to a table (or two).

    From 1pm,  street entertainers, including Crystal ball jugglers, will get the party going, and various games and activities will provide even more fun for all ages, including egg-throwing, Splat the Rat, Tombolas and competitions of all sorts throughout the afternoon.

    There’ll be the usual large inflatables for the kids, and for lovers of our four-legged friends, the Family Fun Dog Show (Click for details) will of course give them the chance to show what their pooches can do. Beer and Pimms will be on tap throughout the afternoon, as will soft drinks, ice creams and various food stalls to keep everyone refreshed.

    No Carnival or Street Party is complete without music and dance, and this year’s stage programme will keep your feet tapping all afternoon. Your Compere will be Dan Blazor, and the Arena and Stage order is as follows:

    Arena:

    13:00  – Stagecoach Thame

    13:25  – Romy School Of Dance

    13:50 – Thame Youth Theatre

    14:15 –  Towersey Morris

    15:00–  Strawberry Fayre Majorettes

    Stage:

    14:30 – Bryn Davis

    3:45pm – Bootlegger

    So, let’s all get mugging up on ‘The Sun Dance’ to encourage the weather to realise that it is in fact, summer on Saturday, June 11.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK4fCv5ekzI smiley_face-sunglasses

  • Thame resident’s work with victims of crime and the EU

    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.

    box-quiz (400x400)

    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.”

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1Share YOUR experiences, whether positive or negative, of how the EU has influenced or affected YOUR life by emailing: editor@thame.net

  • The Chilterns needs you!

    DURING National Volunteers Week 2016 (June 1-12) the Chilterns Conservation Board is encouraging everyone who loves the Chilterns countryside to consider giving a little of their time to help look after this very special area.

    volunteers_chilterns (400x300)

    There are many groups and organisations across Bucks, Oxfordshire, Beds and Herts who need volunteers to help them conserve local wildlife, keep the countryside accessible for all, help out at events or do general office admin. Whether you’ve got lots of spare time or only a little there will be an opportunity that suits. The average British person spends over 11 hours a week on social media – giving up even just 2 hours of that could make a big difference to a good cause.

    When you volunteer there are lots of benefits to be enjoyed: improved health and well-being, a wider network of friends, the chance to learn something new and personal satisfaction from helping a cause close to your heart.

    The Conservation Board has produced an online Directory of Volunteering Opportunities in the Chilterns – it’s free to browse and is full of information on who’s doing what, the kind of help they need and how to get in touch. Download the Directory at www.chilternsaonb.org/volunteering

    The Conservation Board itself needs volunteer help with its work to conserve and promote the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. If you’ve got some expertise in planning or fundraising, or you’re interested in general office admin or website updating, get in touch via office@chilternsaonb.org

  • Should we stay or should we go? Professional singer, Adrian shares his views

    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 Thompson
    Adrian Thompson

    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

  • Breaking news: Masterchef champ visiting Thame on Saturday

    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.

    Master Chef winner, Natalie Coleman with young Thame cooks at the Thame Food Festival 2015
    Master Chef winner, Natalie Coleman with young Thame cooks at the Thame Food Festival 2015

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

     

     

  • Quack! Quack! It’s Back!

    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 ducks are tipped into the river Thame ready to race. Image - Nick White 2014
    The ducks are tipped into the river Thame ready to race. Image – Nick White 2014

    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.

  • Support Errol’s sky dive to help save Thame’s children’s centre

    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.

    Errol Bateman training for his sky dive at AirFix, Milton Keynes
    Errol Bateman training for his sky dive at AirFix, Milton Keynes

    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’.

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1This 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

  • Creditable results for Thame swimmers in ASA regionals

    THAME Swimming Club recently achieved its most successful South East Region Swimming championships with a record number of six swimmers competing in a record number of 21 swims.

    swimmers_regionals_2016 (500x299) (2)

    The ASA South East Region Championships, held in Portsmouth for the 15 plus age group, saw Jo Hewett achieve a Personal Best (PB) in five of her six events and win five medals in the multi-class disability category: two Gold (100 Breast; 200 Free) and three Bronze (100 Free; 50 Free & 100 Back).

    Marcus Birmingham PB’d in all four of his events: 200 Free; 100 Breast; came eighth in the 200 Breast Final and took a huge 34 seconds off his 400 IM time.

    Harry Block, competing as a first time regional swimmer in the 50 Fly, and came 14th out of 28 swimmers.

    The 14 and Under Squad later competed over two weekends in May in Crawley. Lucy Block, who was the club’s youngest ever Regional swimmer, competed well in the 50 Back.

    Elizabeth Humphreys also had a fine swim in four events, 50 Free; 100 Free; 50 Back and 200 Free.

    Josh Williams swam in 10 events, PB’ing in seven of them and coming seventh in the 200 Free Final and ninth (first reserve) in five further races, 100 Fly; 200 Back; 100 Back; 50 Fly and 50 Back. In his 10th and the final boys race of the Regionals, the 400 Free, Josh managed to take five seconds off his previous Personal Best.