MANY in Thame will always remember May 2, 2012, when Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall visited the town when RAF Halton was granted the Freedom of Entry into Thame, and the impressive spectacle of the troops parading past the Town Hall.
On Sunday, May, 8, RAF Halton will once again march into town, exercising their ‘Freedom to march through the town with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating, bands playing and Colours flying’.
From 11am, the regiment will parade through the town to the High Street where the Mayor of Thame will have the honour of inspecting the troops.
The whole of the town is invited along but be aware that there will be a road closure in force from 9am – 1pm along the High Street, Cornmarket & Butter Market and a rolling road closure on Southern Road, so best to leave the car at home.
THAME Swimming Club were on fire on Saturday, April 23, when they visited Wycombe District Swimming Club’s Long Course Sprint Meet for the first time.
Under the guidance and encouragement of Head Coach, Ian Blyth, and coaches Simon Haarburger and Iain Phillips, the swimmers put in some tremendous swims gaining new Person Bests, breaking club records and winning medals along the way too. For one group of Thame swimmers this was their very first first long course meet – Amira Matton, George Pearson, Ben Mould, Murray Wakefield and Jasmine Grimes.
Not only did Thame come third out of all the 10 visiting clubs but Harry Block and Elizabeth Humphreys also won the Top Boy and Top Girl awards.
Thame Swimming Club’s Boys team
Other notable achievements came from:
Sam White who was celebrating his 12th birthday and achieved PBs in all of his races!
Lucy Block who too an impressive 15 seconds off her 100 Free Long Course time, 13 seconds off her 50 Fly and 11 seconds off her 100 Back.
Ella Simms and Elizabeth Humphreys who provided the most exciting race of the day in their 100 Free, taking both girls to new PBs!
Elliot Riley-Brown who went under 40 seconds for the first time in his 50 Breast stroke, and the same for Amira Matton, Ben Mould and Murray Wakefield in their 50 Free races.
Thame Swimming Club’s Girls team
Tally Simms who took a whopping 12 seconds off her 50 Fly time and Tabitha Dodds, 15 seconds off her 100 Back.
Hallam Cozier, James Newton, Ella Simms and Emily Evans swam 100 Fly Long Course for the first time – with Emily picking up Gold too!
Jacob North who sliced 8 seconds off his 100 Backstroke, and Lucy Day for taking 9 seconds off her 100 Free.
Henry Bell swam an awesome 100 Free race – blowing the competition in his race out of the water – and from Lane 8 too!
Michele Block, Sue Hewett and Brian Pridmore officiated throughout the day and Melissa Simms was the Team Manager.
ONE of Thame’s longest serving, ex Town Councillors has tragically died, after a fall at her home in Bell Lane, Thame.
The late Beatrice Dobie (right), helping out with the cake stall at a hospital fund raising event. (Also pictured, volunteer Val Saunders)
Beatrice Dobie, 73, was found injured at her home by her cleaner, last Monday, April 18, after apparently falling down the stairs. Sadly, she passed away on Monday, this week, April 25, in hospital.
A statement from Thame Town Council, where she served as a Councillor between 2003 and 2011, and as Deputy Mayor in 2003, said: “It is with deep sadness that Thame Town Council received the news that former councillor and Thame resident, Beatrice Dobie, passed away on 25 April 2016 after a fall at her home. The Council expresses its sincere condolences to her family and friends at this very difficult time.
“She cared passionately about her community and the people in it, devoting her time and energy to local politics. She made an outstanding contribution to the civic life of Thame, recognised by the town in 2014 when she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Town Award.”
Beatrice was instrumental in fighting for a new library for Thame, helping to form The Friends of Thame Library. She was often an out-spoken member of the town council, and as an Independent Councillor, was not afraid to speak her mind. She organised Christmas Tea Parties for the elderly folk of Thame for many years, and helped run the annual Charities Fayre and Community Groups’ Lunches.
Among her other varied interests, she was also a keen supporter of Thame Community Hospital, joining the League of Friends in 1999 and a member of Girl-guiding, leading a Brownie Group and later becoming a member of the Trefoil Guild.
Beatrice was often to be seen in the town, always impeccably dressed with a fine sense of colour co-ordination, determined to do her own shopping with her trusty trolley, despite finding walking a struggle in her later months.
Mayor Cllr Nichola Dixon said, “Beatrice was wholly committed to the community she lived in. She was a commanding and passionate woman whose dedication to the town continued long after she stood down as a councillor. This is indeed sad news for the council and for all those who have come to know Beatrice over the many years she has lived in the town.”
Councillor David Dodds, added: “I am sorry to learn of the passing of Beatrice. I knew her for a very long time and she always insisted that we were related, not true, but we were often near neighbours. Outside of civic life, she was an infant teacher, holding demanding positions in High Wycombe and Blackbird Leys. Certainly she involved herself in the community, from the hospital, to Girl Guides, Women’s British Legion, the Charities Fair and campaigning for the new library and many other facets of local life. She will be missed.”
She had apparently expressed a desire to be buried in Perthshire but a Memorial service for the life of Beatrice, who converted to Catholicism in recent years, is expected to be announced at a future date.
Thame’s current Mayor, Nichola Dixon (R), and the new Mayor designate, Linda Emery
IT’S ‘swap the girls around’ at Thame Town Council, as the town’s current Mayor, Nichola Dixon, is elected as the next Deputy Mayor, and the present deputy, Linda Emery, becomes the Mayor Designate for 2016-2017.
Linda was elected at last night’s meeting of the town council, just pipping seven-times Mayor of Thame, Cllr David Dodds to the post, and will take over from Nichola from May 10, at the town council’s Annual Meeting. She is currently a member of the town council’s Open Spaces group, the Community Right to Bid group, the Town Centre Working Group, and the Budget Working group.
THAME’S MP yesterday voted in Parliament against a Lords’ Amendment to the Immigration Bill, that would have opened the way for up to 3,000 unaccompanied Syrian child refugees to come into the UK. The number of votes to reject the amendment was 294, those against 276.
The flagpole in front of the town hall during the Beacon -lighting last Thursday, to celebrate The Queen’s 90th birthday
THAME’S new flagpole, erected recently in front of the town hall, has proved to be controversial. Sixteen complaints received about it by the council include comments such as: “Not in keeping”; “Ugly” and “Looks like it should be outside a Naval establishment!” The council also received 18 complaints about dog mess in the town, as well as 60 compliments about various of its activities. You can read the whole report, which covers the six months to the end of March, HERE.
THAME Football Partnership is to apply for Planning Permission for an additional pitch.
THAME’S Great British High Street (GBHS) Team are working on various Midsomer Murders related ideas on which to spend the 2015 prize money. One proposal is for a business workshop to encourage businesses to take maximum advantage of the town’s link with the internationally popular TV series, as in other ‘Midsomer’ towns. The cost would be £1,500, £500 which would come from the GBHS winnings and the rest from the town council’s reserves allocated for tourism.
THAME’S Citizen Advice Bureau is to have a new Manager. John Bright will start in his new post in May, 2016, replacing the last Manager, Tom Fox.
Junior doctors picketing at the JR Hospital, Oxford (Photo by John Walker)
IN preparation for the junior doctors’ strike starting this morning, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) is encouraging members of the public to carefully consider the right treatment for their illness or injury during the period of industrial action from 08:00 to 17:00 today and tomorrow, Wednesday April 27.
SCAS has stated: “SCAS recognises the right of junior doctors to take action, however the Trust needs to maintain its essential service to the public and in the light of the industrial action, SCAS is working closely with all its partners, staff and the public to help reduce demand on its service during this time.
“Whilst we continue to focus on getting to patients with life-threatening injuries or illnesses as a priority, the impact of the industrial action on our service may lead to delays in getting to some patients in non-life threatening conditions. NHS organisations have tried and tested plans to deal with a range of disruptions including industrial action, but this is an unprecedented situation for the NHS.
“SCAS is working hard to ensure there are robust plans that focus on our top priority: protecting the safety, welfare and service we provide to patients. We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops and take appropriate action.”
SOURCE: Press release
NOTE: It may be more appropriate to seed medical advise from the 111 NHS non-emergency number. When should you call it?
You need medical help fast, but it’s not a 999 emergency
You don’t know who to call for medical help or you don’t have a GP to call
You think you need to go to A&E or another NHS urgent care service but are not sure which one is most appropriate; or
You require health advice or reassurance about what to do next
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.
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.
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
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.”
A Thame Take-away was temporarily closed, after it was given a zero ‘Scores on the doors’ rating by inspectors.
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.
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.
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
