SINCE its launch in March 2015, the Thame Good Neighbour Scheme (TGNS) has been busy helping local people with everyday tasks such as giving them a lift to the hospital or popping in for a chat. Word is getting around about this wonderful, free support service, so the scheme is in desperate need of more volunteers to help it help others.
Volunteering for TGNS is greatly rewarding and works around your commitments. You can also choose in what way you would like to help. The scheme needs everything from drivers and befrienders, to gardeners and dog walkers. If you can spare an hour or two per week to help someone in Thame, then please get in touch. You can call 0800 531 6286 or pop in to the Town Hall to meet the coordinators.
BINFIELD performed the perfect ‘smash and grab’ raid as a late goal from Danny Horscroft took the points back to Berkshire from yesterday, Tuesday’s match at Thame.
Ben Gray, who scored Thame’s single goal against Binfield
United went in to the game with the only changes from the team that beat Milton United on Saturday being Andy Gledhill replacing the unavailable Craig Faulconbridge, and Phil Pykett starting for the injured Luke Ricketts. After a quiet opening, it was United who almost broke the deadlock on 12 minutes when a Henry Owen header from a Shannon Jesson corner was clawed on to the post by Silver before being cleared for another corner. That corner was then headed over by Ellis Hercules from eight yards.
However, Binfield took the lead on 18 minutes when a long ball was met by Khalid Sensussi who beat his marker before placing a left foot shot beyond Farrow in the Thame goal. United pressed forward to get back in to the game, and went closest firstly through Gledhill, whose powerful effort from 18 yards went just wide, before Hercules saw a long range effort just miss the target.
Whatever was said by manager Mark West at half time worked, as United pressed from the off for the equaliser. And it should have arrived in the first five minutes of the half when, firstly, Ben Gray saw a shot come back off the cross bar, before another Hercules header went wide. The equaliser almost followed on 72 minutes when a Jesson free kick evaded everyone, with Hercules unable to get a meaningful touch. United eventually got on the score sheet in the 78th minute when, following a goal mouth scramble, Gray was able to head in to an open goal from five yards.
At this point the momentum seemed to be with United, but it was Binfield who pressed and, with four minutes to go and with only their second meaningful attempt on goal in the game, Horscroft was on hand to head a corner home at the far post. With the clock ticking, United were unable to find a second equaliser with the result met with frustration from both the management team and supporters.
THAME Town Cricket Club’s Open Day last weekend was such a success that at one point, they ran out of burgers and ice cream – and beer!
Thame residents of all ages took the opportunity to learn all about what Thame Town Cricket Club has to offer, when the club opened its doors, inviting them to join the fun in the sunshine at Church Meadow on Sunday, August 9.
As well as a six-aside tournament, Thame CC ECB qualified coaches offered visitors a chance to try out their batting and bowling skills in the nets which everyone thoroughly enjoyed.
Throughout the day there was a BBQ, music, a bouncy castle, a skittles competition, a cake Stall and a raffle. Matt Swain, TTCC fixture secretary, said: “We would like to thank everyone that came to visit us on Sunday making the event such a great success. Thanks especially to Waitrose for running the BBQ, the teams that took place in the six-aside tournament and all the Thame CC volunteers for helping out.
“The fact that we ran out of burgers, ice Creams and beer at one point just goes to show how popular the event was! The money raised will go towards the Jack O’Donnell Foundation, equipment for our junior section and the new clubhouse which we plan to develop in 2016/2017.”
BFS Records, based in Thame, has announced the release of the much anticipated debut album from local favourites, The 2 Strokes, on September 5.
The ‘scooter-pop’ trio signed to BFS Records in 2014 and after a year of hard work in the studio, the band are ready to share their endeavours with their loyal fanbase.
The 2 Strokes
The 2 Strokes’ 11- track album, entitled ‘Don’t Look At Me, I’m Irrelevant’, perfectly encapsulates the band’s ferocious live sound, remaining true to the raw sound that they are locally renowned for. The three-piece will be officially launching ‘Don’t Look At Me, I’m Irrelevant’ at the Black Horse Hotel, Thame, where the band will be performing live, and physical copies of the CD will be available for purchase.
The band, who all come from Thame, consists of Brandon Coleman (Vocals/Guitar), Simon Cater (Drums) and Dave Lewis (Bass guitar) and they describe their main influences as being The Jam, The Lambrettas and Ocean Colour Scene, among others.
As well as playing regularly in Thame at The Black Horse, The Falcon, Astonbury Festival, Cowley Road Carnival, Thame Snooker Club and the Thame Players Theatre, The 2 Strokes have also played at venues around Oxford.
THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following a shed burglary and a theft from vehicle in Thame.
Overnight between Tuesday (11/08) and Wednesday (12/08) offender(s) gained access to a shed at a property in Moorend lane by removing the hinges on the door. Power tools and a SANIO digital projector were stolen. A suitcase was also taken, this may have been used to carry the projector.
Overnight between Tuesday (11/08) and Wednesday (12/08) offender(s) gained access to a vehicle in Skippon way. Two iPods, a DELL laptop and laptop bag were stolen. If 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 101.
Alternatively if you have any 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.
REHEARSALS for Thame Choral Society’s Christmas Concert begin on Wednesday, September 9, for this year’s Christmas concert, which will be on December 12, at St Mary’s Church, Thame. TCS will be performing Parts One and Two of Bach’s ever popular Christmas Oratorio. The concert will also contain Christmas songs and carols, some for the audience to join in, and seasonal refreshments will be available.
TCS Concert May 2015
Rehearsals are held at Haddenham Methodist Church in the High Street, Haddenham, on Wednesday evenings from 7.30 pm until 9.30 pm and anyone with an interest in singing is welcome – auditions are not required!
Anyone who would like to explore and sing the sparkling choruses and sublime chorales in the first two parts of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, is invited to go to a special workshop at Haddenham Methodist Church on Saturday, September 19, arranged by Thame Choral Society under the leadership of their resident Director, Helen Swift. Professional singer Helen has an inspirational approach to directing choirs and firmly believes that ‘singing should be fun’.
The workshop, which runs from 10am until 4pm, costs £15, including refreshments, and copies of the score will be available to hire on the day for £2. For more information, email thamechoralsociety@hotmail.co.uk or telephone 01844 216801.
THE next meeting of the Late Breakfast networking group in Thame, will be on Thursday, August 20, at The Spread Eagle Hotel, 16-17 Cornmarket, Thame, OX9 2BW
Dave Webster from Webster Consulting will take the group through the challenges of mobile communication and what we can do to protect our data. More details: http://tiny.cc/ed9r1x
PUPILS from two local primary schools have impressed the organisers of the Towersey Festival with their winning designs in a competition to design new T-shirts for the festival.
The famed annual Oxfordshire music event challenged nearby schools to create colourful and creative designs inspired by the 51 year-old festival’s rich heritage. Over 100 pupils responded to the call-out with the two winning entries coming from pupils from John Hampden School, Thame, and Aston Rowant primary school.
“We were blown away by the quality of all the entries,” said Towersey Festival Director Joe Heap. “Picking just two winners was a tough task as they were all so imaginative!”
The two winning designs have been turned into T- shirts, available from the festival, which is headlined by Joan Armatrading and Bellowhead, and takes places at Thame Showground from Friday, August 28 to Monday, August 31. Profits from sales of the stylish garments will go directly to the individual schools.
Also, all the entries will be laminated and displayed in the festival’s showground area for all to see.
Tickets to the showground area of the festival at Thame Showground, Kingsey Rd, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 3JL , which includes access to a variety of family-friendly workshops and performances, plus Marketplace stalls, gourmet street food and much more, cost just £8/£9 (adult) and £4 (child) for the day (10am-6pm) with under 5’s and car parking free.
Dear Editor, The approval for 203 dwellings on site F was a foregone conclusion and inevitable. It would however have been more democratic for the application for such a large site, to be agreed by the planning committee rather than the planning officers at SODC.
I believe this came as a surprise to some of the town councillors. Nevertheless looking at the broader picture, 203 is much more preferable than the 600 originally planned for this site five years-ago, and is in accord with the Thame Neighbourhood Plan. We are conscious that it is most likely that another 78 will be built there as it seems Lord Williams’s School will not be in a position to unite the two schools in the allotted time period.
The fact that SODC has applied no less than 30 conditions shows the imperfections of the site. Residents’ concerns have largely been dismissed with regard to the location of the allotments and the access into, and moreover, out of the site. It also remains to be seen whether the SUDS proposals will eliminate the flood risks. Our major concern has always been over the sewerage. This is covered by the Grampian style condition whereby Bloor Homes have to make payment to Thames Water to upgrade the inadequate sewerage drainage.
However, we believe this will need careful monitoring and it is of course likely to lead to major traffic delays on the Oxford Road whilst the upgrade takes place.
Barry Yates
Chair- Oxford Road Residents Association, Thame
Thomas Tisbury, Jonathan Dadson & Matthew Canfield at Leamington
THREE Junior Members of Thame Bowls Club represented Oxfordshire at the National Championships at Leamington last weekend (Aug 8/9) competing in the under 16’s Sutton Winson Trophy.
Thomas Tisbury in action
Thomas Tisbury, Jonathan Dadson and Matthew Canfield, all of whom have also represented Oxfordshire in other County matches and competitions this year, did Thame Bowls Club proud, performing well against the best young bowlers in the country.
Jonothan Dadson in action
Although Thomas and Jonathan narrowly lost their early singles matches, Matthew progressed to round two before being beaten. Thomas Tisbury, the youngest of the trio at just 14 years-old, reached the semi-finals of the Pairs competition in which he was drawn with a young lady from Wiltshire.
Congratulations to all of them – the future looks good for Thame Bowls Club.
