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Category: Thame news

  • Ambitious plans for cricket club win council support

     

    Cricket at Church Meadow, photo coutesy of Mark Lord
    Cricket at Church Meadow, photo coutesy of Mark Lord

    THAME Town Cricket Club has successfully taken the first steps towards an ambitious scheme to redevelop its clubhouse and facilities, with a commitment from Thame Town Council to fund the pre-planning work.

    During a presentation to the town council on Tuesday (27/10), Cricket Club representatives Matt Swain, Angus Lachlan and Alastair Thomas explained their plans for a new club house to be shared by Thame Hockey, Netball and possibly other sports clubs, with extra parking facilities to be shared with the Barns Centre.

    If Planning is approved, other funding towards the £825,000 estimated cost of the project, will be sought from South Oxfordshire District Council, Sport England, the English Cricket Board (ECB), local businesses and through Thame Cricket Club’s own fund-raising which has already started to the tune of £30,000.

    The town council sees the cricket club development as part of its Sports Strategy that has emerged from the Thame Neighbourhood Plan, and most of the funding it will contribute will come out of Developer contributions known as Section 106 contributions, from the various future housing and other developments that are, and will be in the future, springing up around the town. Section 106 monies have been identified specifically for the Cricket Club pavilion of £12,816 from Site F and £14,770 from The Elms development.

    If all goes goes to plan, the cricket club hopes to begin demolition of the existing facilities in September 2017, in preparation for building a brand new, modern facility in Church Meadow that should last this growing, Premier League club at least as long as the 40 plus years that the current barn conversion has served it.

  • High hopes for Ben in British Junior Open squash

    Ben Hedger, Under 19s winner
    Ben Hedger, Under 19s winner

    YOUNG Ben Hedger’s preparations for the British Junior Open Squash Tournament in Manchester this coming weekend, are on track following his win in the under 19s boys category in both the Abingdon Junior Open and the Southampton Junior Open last weekend (24/09).

    Ben, who is a pupil at Lord Williams ‘s Upper School in Thame, plays and trains at Racquets Fitness Centre in Thame, and plays for the men’s First team in the Oxfordshire leagues. He has been playing squash for about eight years.

    Although the Abingdon Junior Open was a fairly local, Oxfordshire event, which Ben won without dropping any games, the Southampton tournament involved Ben in pitching his skills against players from further afield. One of Ben’s coaches, Simon Martin, said: “We are so proud of Ben’s determination in coming back from behind in both the ‘semis’ and the final to win both matches.

    The semi-final was against the number one seed, Adam Sindall-White, ranked 63 in England, who had travelled all the way from Somerset. The final was against the number two seed from Sussex, Julian Standish who is ranked 113 in the Under 19s in England.

    Ben is hoping this determination will be strong enough this coming weekend to create some upsets, as there will be players from all over the world.

    Another of Racquets’ young squash players, Nick Harbour, also played in the Abingdon tournament coming a very respectable third, having recently moved up to the Under 17s.

    On behalf of the club, a proud Simon Martin said: “Well done to both of them and good luck this weekend!”

  • On tour to remember the fallen of WW1

    Mayor of Thame, Nichola Dixon, lays a cross at the gravestone of Brian Perry
    Mayor of Thame, Nichola Dixon, lays a cross at the gravestone of Brian Perry

    THIS weekend, October 30-31, forty people from Thame will be visiting the WW1 battlefields of France & Belgium as part of the Thame Remembers project which aims to honour the town’s war dead by challenging the people of Thame to deliver a cross to the grave of every man named on memorials in the town, wherever in the world they may be.

    The tour, which will be joined by a reporter from BBC South, will visit some of the Commonwealth War Grave Cemeteries as well as the major memorials at Thiepval, Tyne Cot, Vimy Ridge, Arras, and Cambrai. A highlight of the tour will be at the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres on Friday evening, where a wreath on behalf of the town will be laid during the nightly Last Post ceremony.

    The party will also visit a German War Cemetery at Langemark, the preserved trenches at Beaumont-Hamel on the Somme, the Lochnagar Mine Crater, and other locations along the Western Front where so many died in the so-called ‘war to end wars’.

    Nearer to home, Thame’s Mayor, Councillor Nichola Dixon, visited Rectory Lane Cemetery in Berkhamstead last week to commemorate Sergeant Brian Perry, who was educated at Lord Williams’s School in Thame, and was just 18 years old when he died. He served with the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps, nicknamed The Devil’s Own, which occupied tented accommodation in a field near Berkhamstead railway station throughout the war. In June 1915, Brian contracted meningitis in the camp and died in hospital in Wandsworth. Although he had not seen active service, he was given a military funeral.

    seans_choice_crendon_bedsCouncillor Dixon said: “It was an honour to place this cross for Thame Remembers, something I have been wanting to do since the project was launched. It’s a tremendous undertaking and one that has gathered so much support from the people of Thame, and reminded us of the sacrifices made in two world wars. I look forward to seeing further crosses delivered and helping in any way I can as the project continues.”

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1To date, 88 of the 213 graves and memorials to men from Thame have been visited by members of the community, and crosses have already been delivered as far away as Tanzania, New Zealand, India and Korea. The project still has three years to run but many challenging locations remain, including Iraq, Libya, Tunisia, Turkey, Egypt, and Bahrain.

    You can find out more about the Thame Remembers project by visiting the website HERE

  • New rail link between Oxford and London via Haddenham

    CHILTERN Railways yesterday (26/10) launched its new service into London, connecting Oxford with the capital, following a £320m investment by the franchise operator and Network Rail.

    Oxford Parkway station - image courtesy of railmagazine.com
    Oxford Parkway station – image courtesy of railmagazine.com

    The new rail link to London – the first from a major British city in more than 100 years – will serve brand new stations at Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village, passing through Haddenham and Thame Parkway on to Marylebone.

    The new station at Bicester Village will create a direct connection to the shopping destination from London for the first time, enabling many of the 6.3 million shoppers who visit each year to reach the popular retail destination from just 46 minutes from Marylebone.

    Chiltern’s new service offers Oxford commuters an alternative to travelling into London via Reading and Paddington and is expected to attract an additional 250,000 return commuter journeys each year.

    Oxford Parkway is a brand new station on the outskirts of Oxford designed to be attractive to motorists, making it easy to take cars off the road. Immediately adjacent to the congested A34, it is close to the A40 and A44 trunk roads and has 1,500 car parking spaces at the site and cycle parking.

    As an added benefit to commuters Chiltern, who first introduced free Wi-Fi in 2011, is upgrading their free Wi-Fi to 4G giving commuters a faster internet connection. Chiltern Railways carriages also have tables and power sockets making it easy for commuters to be charged and connected throughout their journey.

    Chiltern Railways has invested £130million of the £320million total cost of the new line and stations, with Network Rail contributing £190m. Today’s launch is a major landmark for Chiltern Railways, which this year was again named one of the UK’s highest rated franchise operators in the National Rail Passenger Survey. The survey, conducted by Passenger Focus, gave Chiltern Railways an overall satisfaction score of 90%.

    The new service will offer two new fast trains per hour throughout the day between Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village station and London, with journey times to the capital from under an hour.

    Commenting at the launch of the new line and service, Chiltern Railways Managing Director, Rob Brighouse, said:“This is an historic day. Our significant and unique investment will be economically advantageous for the regional economy creating competition in the rail market between Oxford and London, as well as delivering the first new service between a major British city and London for over 100 years. Passengers are at the heart of every decision we make at Chiltern Railways, which is why we conceived this new line to link London, Oxford and Bicester Village for the benefit of shoppers and commuters.”

    SOURCE: Press release

  • Police warn ‘trick or treat’ responsibly

    halloween_posterWITH Halloween fast approaching, on Saturday, October 31, Thames Valley Police is reminding people to make sure they spend their time trick-or-treating responsibly and have issued advise for householders.

    Many residents enjoy Halloween and view it as harmless fun, but for others it can be distressing receiving visits from unexpected callers, particularly for the elderly and those who live alone.

    Neighbourhood police teams in the Thames Valley will be undertaking high-visibility patrols over the Halloween period to deal with any anti-social behaviour. They also work with schools and parents to reduce the incidents of nuisance and criminal damage that can happen at this time of year.

    Those who do not want to be visited by trick-or-treaters can download and print a ‘No trick-or-treat’ flyer from the Thames Valley Police website and display it in a window or visit their local station to pick up a copy.

    Parents should be reminded that if they or their children see this flyer displayed, they should move on to the next house. Most people will have a pumpkin or Halloween decorations on display to welcome callers.

    TVP is also encouraging people to watch the ‘Click Your Trick’  film which highlights the consequences of anti-social behaviour. The film features a teenager who was convicted of arson after he and his friend put a firework through a family home as a prank. The prank went horribly wrong with the firework setting the house on fire. Luckily nobody was seriously injured.

    seans_choice_crendon_bedsSupt Richard James from Thames Valley Police Neighbourhood Policing said: “This is not about stopping responsible Halloween fun but preventing anti-social behaviour linked to trick or treating. One person’s ‘trick’ can be a disturbing experience to the person on the receiving end. Not only that but one reckless trick and you could end up with a criminal record.”

    Keith Williams from Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service community safety team, said: “We don’t want to stop people enjoying Halloween, but we do want them to celebrate safely. There is nothing more terrifying than having a fire at home or seeing your clothes catch fire.

    “Just follow this safety advice for a safer Halloween: never make costumes from flammable materials, always check costumes and masks are labelled as flame resistant, keep candles away from children and ensure they are extinguished at night, and do not overload electricity sockets with lights. Better still, use LED candles. ” Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1

    If you are trick-or-treating this year:
    Don’t knock where you see a ‘No Trick-or-Treat’ poster.
    Be visible and stick to well-lit streets.
    Although Halloween is meant to be spooky, be careful not to frighten people.
    Plan your trick-or-treat route before you go and let an adult know where you’ll be going and what time you will be back.
    Go with an adult when possible.
    If at any point you do feel nervous or unsafe:
    Don’t open your door if you’re unsure who is there. Use your spy-hole, look out of a window, and use your door chain if you do decide to open your door.
    Have a contact number of a close relative or good neighbour by your telephone, just in case you need to phone them.
    If you are part of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, let your coordinator know that you will be on your own at Halloween. If you are a coordinator, please identify people in your scheme that may be vulnerable and offer them reassurance.
    Thames Valley Police will not tolerate any anti-social behaviour at any time of the year.

    To report anti-social behaviour please call the 24 hour non-emergency number 101. If it is a crime in progress, call 999 immediately.

  • French market coming to town

    The popular French Market will be returning to the cobbles of Thame Town Centre on Friday and Saturday, October 30- 31.

    Franch_market_vendor

    Organised by France at Home, the market will feature bread and patisserie, pancakes, cheese, leather handbags, olives from Provence, paté and saucisson from Normandy, and more.

    Vintage French music from the 1920s to the 1950s, including CDs of the great Chansons Francaises from Edith Piaf and Charles Trenet to Jacques Brel and George Brassens will also be available to buy.

    The market will run between 9am and 5pm around the Town Hall.

    For further information visit www.franceathome.com.

  • Do you like food? Join McCormick’s Consumer Testing Panel

    DID you know McCormick a Global Flavour Leader is based in Haddenham, Buckinghamshire?  McCormick owns the brand Schwartz herbs, spices and seasoning in UK as well as other well known brands.

    McCormick consumer testing picture (400x400)

    McCormick has an exclusive consumer testing panel and is looking for local people to join.  Members will be one of the first to try newly created and innovative products and flavours, as well as family favourites.  For herb & spice lovers it would be food heaven!

    There will be the opportunity to take part in tests at McCormick’s site in Haddenham, try products at home and/or complete internet surveys.  Prize draws and incentives are offered.

    McCormick_logo_color (250x249) (2)

     

    If you want to excite your taste buds and experience new taste sensations, sign up by completing the application form,

    click here – https://ukmccormickconsumertesting.at-hand.net

    For more information please email : mccormickuk@at–hand.net or go to the website
    https://ukmccormickconsumertesting.at-hand.net

  • Interested in the future of Thame as a thriving Market Town?

    AS promised, a revised date for the 21st Century Thame Partnership’s Annual General Meeting has now been published.

    Unveiling of one of Thame's Blue Plaques (a 21st CT project) at The James Figg
    Unveiling of one of Thame’s Blue Plaques (a 21st CT project) at The James Figg

    Anyone who lives or works in Thame, who would like to help this group ensure the vitality of Thame as a thriving market town, particularly if you have an interest in a specific area such as business, community, transport or the environment, would be welcome. Also, anyone who just wants to discover more about the achievements and future projects of 21st Century Thame, is invited to go along to Thame Town Hall on December 8, 2015, at 7.30pm.

    The AGM will be followed by a reception for all the helpers of all the projects that 21st Century Thame has achieved this year. Invitations will be sent out later this week though anyone who would like to put themselves forward to help next year may attend the AGM and then stay for the reception.

    Visit the website for more details: http://www.thame4me.co.uk/

  • Vampire treat at Thame Cinema 4 All

    NEXT Saturday’s film showing by Thame Cinema 4 All, will be, what the Daily Telegraph’s film critic has called “This intimidatingly cool take on the vampire genre is a spiky feminist treat” – A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (15) (101 mins)

    Sheila Vand in the movie A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT. Photo Credit: Kino Lorber Inc
    Sheila Vand in the movie A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT. Photo Credit: Kino Lorber Inc

    A stunning and fabulously weird offering for Halloween, this film must be the single title in the category of ‘Iranian Vampire Western Teen Romances.’

    Bad City is a ghost town somewhere in rural Iran, a place that feels more like something out of a Sergio Leone spaghetti western with a touch of David Lynch’s suburban dystopia. It is a lawless place with dead bodies piling up mysteriously in a roadside ditch, sparsely populated with suspicious locals, and with more than its fair share of pimps and drug dealers. The film tells of the fledgling relationship between a handsome young James Dean wannabe and a sinister young woman who inhabits the streets at night, her large black chador over jeans, converse trainers and skateboard.

    Shot in lustrous black and white with a mesmerising soundtrack, this is a one-off that skilfully blends cultures and cinematic genres into an unforgettable whole. View trailer here. Feel free to come dressed to mark Halloween, the team will be!

    View the trailer HERE

    Saturday, October 31, Thame Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame; Tickets from: LINK HERE

  • Fatialofa’s flair foils ill disciplined Canterbury

    CHINNOR RFC, based in Thame, have chalk up their first victory of the season in style with a 15-11 win over Canterbury on Saturday, October 24.

    Junior Fatialofa
    Junior Fatialofa

    Chinnor kicked off with the slope in their favour reputed to be worth at least a 10 point advantage to the team playing with it. This proved to be the case as Chinnor piled on early pressure to earn a penalty, converted by Will Millett. Chinnor counter attacked through a Jones/Millet interchange to take play back into Canterbury’s half allowing Junior Fatialofa to carve through the opposition only to be tackled short of the line.

    A technical foul resulted in a yellow card for Canterbury’s flanker. Chinnor capitalised on this weakness with the back row of Vandermolen, Tyas and Wright combining well with hooker, Townsend, to provide the forwards with a driving maul to the line. Birthday boy, Daz Oliver, drove over for Chinnor’s first try converted by Millet to give the visitors a 10 point lead.

    From the restart Chinnor gave away a penalty converted by fly half Kingsman. This gave Canterbury renewed vigour to attack but the Chinnor’s defence stood solid with relief from several driving runs by Vandermolen and Tyas.

    In the second half Canterbury used the slope to their advantage to gain position and then to convert another penalty to close the gap to a 6 -10. Ben Manning and Danny Wright’s workrate took play back up the slope into Canterbury’s 22m area where their ill-discipline resulted in two of their players being yellow carded in quick succession. Again Chinnor capitalised on this advantage with a scintillating solo try from Junior Fatialofa weaving his way through the defence to score an unconverted try, living up to Canterbury’s programme prediction as being the ‘player to watch’.

    In the last 20 minutes Canterbury were back to 15 players and used the slope well. They kicked deep into the corner and drove over from the resulting maul allowing Green to score an unconverted try and reduce their deficit to 11-15. But, in the last 10 minutes, Chinnor were on the back foot yet defended their line superbly well to win their first game of the season. Canterbury will be rue their three yellow cards which lead to Chinnor scoring both of their tries.