THAME’S Catholic community welcomed David Hartley, their new Priest on May 11, who is stepping into the shoes (or should that be cassock?) of Father Mark Lagorio.
David has moved from three parishes, Meir, Caverswall and Cresswell, near Stoke-on-Trent. Speaking to Thame.Net, he said: “We have visited Thame occasionally, several years ago when we were living in Oxford. My wife Pat knows she visited when she was a little girl in the 1960s and has a brass rubbing her father made from St Mary’s on the visit!
“We have six in the family, with four adult children in Japan, one in Scotland and one in Staffordshire. Pat is currently working at the JR already as a palliative care nurse.
“I have had a very happy and busy six years caring for three parishes. Now I am looking forward to a new challenge in an area which is changing as new people move in to new homes. The parish is clearly well-run by very committed people, and we have a lovely parish school, so we will all be praying for God’s guidance for the best ways to work together.”
Father Harley’s induction will be at St Joseph’s Church, Thame on June 8, at 7.15pm.
AS Thame prepares for the annual Carnival on June 11, including the Big Thame Street party afterwards to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday, more help is needed to complete the 600 metres of bunting needed. (See LINK)
Lots of people have been busy cutting out triangles in red, white and blue, but more hands are need to sew them onto tape.
Anyone with access to a sewing machine who can spare just an hour or so, is asked to contact: Admin@thame4me.co.uk for more details. Please spread the word to relatives and friends who can help, and you know what that say: “Sewing mends the soul!”
IT was the end of Thame Town Cricket Club’s First team’s long, unbeaten record on Saturday (May 14), after 19 unbeaten league matches stretching back into 2014, when they fell to a six-wicket defeat away to Shipton-under-Wychwood.
Mike Higgs
Put into bat on a wet wicket, Thame’s batsmen struggled as they regularly lost wickets. Only Captain, Higgs (58) and Garg (43) were able to get going as the side were dismissed for a below-par 177.
On a drying wicket, Shipton scored more freely as Hemming, with 63 not out, led the way. Higgs took 3 wickets but Shipton eased over the line in 38 overs for the loss of 4 wickets.
Thame travel to Horspath on Saturday, May 21.
FOR Thame’s 2nd XI, much has changed in 12 months – barely scraping a draw at Bledlow Ridge on Day 1 of last season, this time they moved to a convincing win with 22 overs to spare. After early wickets from Ian McStay and Chris Jeffcock, Dan Patey took 3 key wickets and Chris Penny the rest, dismissing Bledlow Ridge 1sts for 117. In reply, Andy Jinman (43) and Chris Jeffcock (35) took the score to 88 for 1 and took the game out of reach. Guy Holmes (13*) and Dan Patey (11*) then finished off the chase in a hurry, in the 30th over. Thame 2nds entertain Didcot 2nds this Saturday in Thame.
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The drama of the day, however, was reserved for Thame 3rds visit to Bletchley. Getting off to a good start with Christian Warwick (32) and Liam Earwicker (23) putting on 43 for the first wicket, Thame then had Vim Desai to thank for holding the innings together with the top score of 37. Despite him, Thame were all out for a below-par 140. Bletchley’s openers got off to a flying start, cruising towards the target at 111 for just 1 wicket. It was bowling changes that cracked Bletchley’s code, with Ed Mather (3-15), Jamie Wiles (3-10) and a special 15 balls for Ally Illsley who took 3 wickets without conceding a single run. This incredible turnaround saw Bletchley losing 5 wickets on 125 and Thame storming to a 14 run win.
THAME Town Councillors have criticised a proposal to, as one councillor put it, ‘dump’ an additional 565 new homes on Thame.
The new figures feature in a draft of South Oxfordshire District Council’s Local Plan 2032, due to go out for consultation next month. The district council has identified a supply of 12,300 dwellings already in the pipeline to the year 2032, from a calculated total need of 19,500 homes, leaving a shortfall of 7,200. These, SODC propoposes, should be distributed as follows:
Cllr David Dodds described the draft report as ‘very disappointing’ and criticised the district council for not deducting ‘windfall’ sites from Thame’s proposed extra allocation – 400 homes that have already gone successfully through the planning process. Instead, SODC have included Thame’s windfall sites in the district’s over-all, total windfall numbers.
“We do not want Thame to become another Bicester,” he added. Cllr Helena Fickling suggested that perhaps Thame Town Council would be better encouraging the building of a completely new town nearer the area where thousands of new jobs are to be provided, at the Science Vale Oxford.
Cllr Mike Dyer told fellow councillors at Tuesday’s meeting of the Thame Neighbourhood Continuity Committee: “This is just the first skirmish.”
Reporting to fellow committee members on a recent meeting with Thame’s MP John Howell, Cllr Dyer said that John Howell had agreed that windfalls should be ‘bottom sliced’ (counted locally). Cllr Dyer added that although the MP has said that he supported the view that owners of Neighbourhood Plans should be able to appeal against planning decisions contrary to their Neighbourhood Plans, Mr Howell had in fact voted against a House of Lords’ Amendment to the Housing and Planning Bill, which included proposals to allow councils local discretion over Starter Homes requirements – and to introduce a neighbourhood right of appeal.
In a passionate outburst against the ‘continous amendments’ to ‘so-called localism’, new planning laws meted out by government and changes in housing numbers, Cllr Peter Lambert said: “It feels as though the goal-posts are being moved wider and wider apart! How are local councils supposed to cope?”
EXCITEMENT is mounting among the nominees, as the time draws closer for the 2016 winners of the Change the World art competition to be announced at an awards ceremony at 2:30pm on Saturday, May 21, at Oxford Town Hall.
Now in its second year, the Change the World art competition received more than 2,900 votes with over 10,000 online views. The 16 finalist artworks are currently on display in Oxford Town Hall gallery during Oxfordshire Artweeks from 6th to 28th May 2016.
Oxfordshire adults and students competed in their respective categories to gain the most online votes for a place in the final where a panel of three judges decided the top three in each category and an overall Grand Prix winner.
Change the World competition organizer and Thame-based Poseytude Gallery founder and owner, James Taylor, explained: “It’s wonderful to have more entries and three times as many views and votes as last year. The finalists’ works this year show great creativity and technique across a breadth of different media; sculpture, installations, textile, painting and drawing. It is a magnificent show and we are delighted that we can promote the message, the art and the artists in this way.
“Hopefully this will encourage young and old to enjoy and create art in their chosen form with a positive message to us all.”
The judges this year are Oxfordshire Artweeks board member and artist Jim Robinson, the successful Long Crendon cartoonist, Robert Duncan, and the artist, musician and journalist Stuart Macbeth.
The winners will receive a share of £790 of GreatArt (www.greatart.co.uk) gift voucher prizes for first, second and third places, plus an overall competition Grand Prix winner earning a £150 gift voucher. The finalists’ artwork is on display at Oxford Town Hall from May 6 – 28, along with other emerging contemporary artists from Poseytude Gallery.
The free entry exhibition takes place during Oxfordshire Artweeks, the annual month long celebration and exhibition of art across Oxfordshire.
TODAY (May 17) on International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBiT), South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) launched a video in support of the campaign in partnership with Holding Hands for Equality (HH4E). (SEE VIDEO HERE)
The film features photographs from members of staff, their friends and families in support of the campaign, which SCAS states aims to strive for a world where no-one is afraid to express themselves through simple acts of affection.
Kirsten Willis, Area Manager and Chair of the SCAS LGBT Network, said: “I am really pleased that we have been able to be part of this campaign in partnership with HH4E and grateful to all our staff who have taken the time to contribute their pictures. As a member of the ambulance service, the act of holding the hand of a patient who needs reassurance and help is something that we don’t think about and it can have a tremendously positive effect for them.
“For some people, holding the hand of a loved one is second nature and they wouldn’t think twice about doing it. For others, it is not such a carefree act and comes with fear or the threat of violence. We really hope that by supporting IDAHOBiT and HH4E, we can empower people to hold the hands of the ones they love regardless of sexual orientation.”
Andy Cast, Campaign Director at HH4E said: “HH4E is delighted to have collaborated with the SCAS LGBT Network on this project. This year, IDAHOBiT falls within Mental Health Awareness Week, which has a theme of ‘relationships’. Healthy relationships are paramount for a happy life and holding hands with the people you love is an important part of that.
“People in the LGBT community have higher levels of mental health problems than heterosexual men and women, but the simple act of holding hands that could help mental wellbeing is something that many of us feel uncomfortable doing in public. We need to change this by normalising it and making it a casual, carefree act for everyone.”
IMPROMPTU cricket matches being played in streets were once a common sight across the land, but these days heavy traffic and the fear – real or imagined – of children being hurt or even abducted, means that such events these days are a rarity. But, in June, a very special cricket match is to be played in the middle of Thame High Street.
The Queen’s 90 Not Out street cricket match, aimed particularly at what the event organiser, Manoj Parmar calls ‘non active’ children, will be part of Her Majesty’s birthday celebrations next month.
The town centre will be closed to traffic from 4.30pm on June 10, and the event will be opened at 6.15pm with a live Steel Band, and at 6.30pm by John Howell MP, and Thame’s Mayor, Linda Emery. Ex professional cricketer and Cricket Coach, Manoj Parmar, added: “It is an incredible feat of uniting the town and its residents on a day that their Monarch turns 90! The event has taken an enormous amount of logistics and could only happen via the support of many businesses and local organisations.
“All that attend will be watching, playing and learning about cricket… as we deliver 90 NOT OUT. Everyone welcome.”
Full details on the MP Cricket Academy, website: LINK HERE
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( & guest walker from Thame – left), set out on the last leg of their trek to Thame
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.
Linda Emery (left) with Anne Gillett, President of the Montesson Twinning Committee (photo by Michel Cojean)
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.
Dakota Flypast – Photo by Peter Matthews
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.”
Cllr Linda Emery (left) the new Mayor of Thame, and her Deputy, Cllr Nichola Dixon
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.
