Category: Thame news

IN a summer which has been even more British than usual, an early casualty of the usually bad weather was the Thame and District Round Table annual duck race. Originally scheduled for the Thame Carnival weekend in June, extensive flooding of the course forced a postponement until this weekend.

Unbelievably though, the wettest June on record has given way to an equally poor start to July and with an official flood alert in force for the River Thame this week, the Table have had no choice but to push the date back once again, to 9th September. This is the last date the race can take place this year, before Thame’s resident population of 2,500 rubber ducks flies south for the winter.

Iain Biddle, Chairman of Thame and District Round Table, said: “We really can’t believe this, but we hope that by abandoning summer entirely and going for a date in Autumn, the weather and the water levels will be in a state where the Town can enjoy the race in safety.”

AS from today, ThameNews.Net will be taking a short break until July 17th.

Until then news will only be spasmodically appearing on the website as and when the availability of internet access abroad will allow.

Until then, please email: editor@thamenews.net or call: 07792487 with any vital or important news that needs sharing with the community. All news updated during the break will appear on the main news page here.

Thank you in advance for your forbearance!

A TEAM of Thame friends and colleagues have successfully completed a gruelling fund-raising challenge to get a wheelchair user and his chair to the top of three mountains in less than 36 hrs.

Nigel Pattison and his team, mostly made up of members of Racquets Fitness Centre, in Thame, encouraged and supported Gaz Houston, also from Thame, up the Three highest peaks in the United Kingdom, to raise money for the Matt Hampson Foundation.

Nigel Patterson has summed up his feelings after his team’s success, in a personal message to them:

“I cannot describe the feeling so I thought I would share a personal message with the rest of the team. I feel this best sums up the size of the challenge.

To the Team

“I really don’t know where to start to express my thanks and gratitude for what you all did this week-end. I was so choked at the end of Snowdon I honestly could not say a word. Yes I did have to wipe a tearful eye. This last week I don’t think I stopped worrying about the week-end.

Why did I ever worry, why did I ever question?

You are the ones who took a silly idea and turned it into reality. You turned the challenge into an achievement.

I was in awe of your strength, endurance and spirit to take on a challenge so unknown! You inspired each other, you supported each other!

It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of a T.E.A.M. “Together Everyone Achieves More”. Wow! Never has this been shown to be the case more?

I hope like me you are finding yourself smiling, giggling and occasionally whincing about some of the week-ends events?

Thank-you all so much and lets re-live those memories soon.”

THE STATS

Journey time to Ben Nevis, 10 hours

Start time 4.31am Saturday

Journey time to climb Ben Nevis 5 hours up then 5 hours down thankfully dry.

Mountain 2 Helvellyn, we had to change from Scaffel Pike as the waterfall section was not passable even without a wheelchair. Difference in height 40 feet. This was started at 8.50pm Saturday so we had an hour of daylight before the head torches took over. This was completed just after midnight, thankfully still dry.

Snowdon the 3rd peak was started at 5.05am Sunday it poured with rain all the way up and down! However with the path being very stable we were able to pull the chair much easier which is why we could climb up and down by 9am.

Total time 28 hours 29 minutes, 7 hours 31 minutes inside the target time and quicker than many complete a normal 3 peaks challenge.

Team members
Nigel Pattison
Gaz Houston – disabled
Martin King
Laura King
Natalie Babington
Nick Babington
Owen Fisher
Jack Shrimpton
Heather Newport
Tom White
Andy Ford
Andrew Stansfield
Keith Crane
Adam Buckland
Nick Mauger – driver

So far, the team has raised over

The Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity (FNHC) has extended a big ‘thank you’ to the people of Thame, after their contributions to street collections across the area during ‘sunny sunflower month’, helped raise over

Spandau Ballet front man and popular singer Tony Hadley broke a few hearts when he popped in to the Florence Nightingale Hospice last month to meet patients and staff.

While he was there, Tony recorded a special video message for ladies taking part in next week?s third Florence Nightingale Midnight Walk, which as a special surprise will be aired to walkers on the night.

Tony took time out from his busy schedule to meet Day Hospice patients and staff and find out more about the vital work of the Hospice and the services funded by the Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity (FNHC) which cover Aylesbury Vale and surrounding areas, including Thame, through in-patient and at-home services.

“Meeting Tony really gave staff at the Hospice a real boost,” said Staff Nurse Sue Varney. “He was really down to earth and enjoyed meeting everyone ? can he come again soon please??

?We were all absolutely thrilled to meet him,? said Senior Staff Nurse, Karen Billyard. ?He was a lovely, warm, man and was really interested in finding out about the work of the Hospice. It really made everyone?s day extra special.?

Commenting on his visit and support of the Florence Nightingale Midnight Walk, Tony said: ?It was my privilege to meet such fantastic people who do an amazing job ? I know I couldn?t do it. I wish all the lovely ladies taking part in this year?s Midnight Walk the very best of luck and I very much hope to see you all next year.?

Over 600 ladies have so far signed up to take part in this year?s event including Thame?s very own Yvette Cundy of Kismet Jewellers. This year, there are two routes to choose from ? a six or new 13-mile challenge. To enter visit www.gemstonewalk.co.uk and download an entry form, contact 01296 429975 or pop in to any Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity shop and pick up a form.

Registration is

TWO people, have been charged with aggravated burglary following an incident at a residential property in Ridgemont Close, Oxford, on Thursday (28/6).

Lee Doyle, aged 26, of no fixed abode, has been remanded in custody and a 17-year-old boy from Thame was released on bail.

Doyle is due to appear at Oxford Crown Court on July 6, and the 17-year-old boy is due to appear at Oxford Magistrates? Court on July 11.

AS announced would happen back in April, reduced opening hours at Thame Police station begin today.

Thames Valley Police announced the new opening hours of its front counters in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse local police area (LPA), following a review of counter services across the Force.

The opening hours for Thame are:

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 0900-1700
Wednesday: 0900-1700
Thursday: 0900-1700
Friday: 0900-1700
Saturday: 0900-1700
Sunday: Closed

Supt Rob Povey, Commander of South Oxfordshire and Vale LPA, said: ?Our aim is to make best use of our resources, while maintaining a local police presence in our communities, which we have managed to achieve.

?I want to reassure the community that this is not about removing officers from our streets. The visibility and availability of police officers to attend incidents is not affected by front counter opening times. Your neighbourhood teams will still be out patrolling the same areas they do now and will retain their local bases.

?It is also important people are clear that this does not affect emergency response teams in South Oxfordshire and Vale LPA, which are separate from neighbourhood teams. They remain on patrol 24-hours-a-day across the borough and will continue to operate as normal.

As well as visiting a police station front counter, there are a number of other ways to contact your local police, which many people may find easier and more convenient.

Thames Valley Police now has a new number ? 101 ? for non-emergency calls and routine enquiries. There is no change to the emergency number, 999.

You can also use the Force website www.thamesvalley.police.uk to report a crime, as well as to access a wealth of information including:

details of your neighbourhood team
crime prevention advice
road safety
latest news and events
answers to frequently-asked questions.

Up-to-the-minute information is available on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, all of which can be easily reached via our website.

Neighbourhood policing teams provide a direct point of contact in each community. They are available while out on patrol, during Have Your Say meetings and public forums, via email, at Neighbourhood Action Groups and many other local initiatives. Visit the website or call 101 to contact your neighbourhood officers.

AN environment group that has fought against excessive noise from the M40 Motorway, has won support for a clean energy solution to their problem.

The Chilterns Environment Group (M40 CEG)is among seven winners out of over 100 contestants in a national competition sponsored by The Co-operative Group and the Centre for Sustainable Energy, for support with their project to use sound barriers along the motorway that support photo voltaic panels. These will provide an alternative energy source close to customers along the route of the motorway and, through the income the panels generate, provide funding for the sound barriers.

Thame’s MP, John Howell, whose constituency includes a significant stretch of the motorway from Lewknor to Wheatley, including Tetsworth, has congratulated the group.

“He said: “?I have been in regular contact with the Group since I was first elected and was honoured to have been asked to address their last AGM. I have been pleased to be able to help along the way by for example obtaining answers from Ministers to questions posed by the group.

?What has always impressed me with this Group has been its tenacity in pursuing its aim and the imagination it has always shown in coming up with creative solutions like this one. Above all, the Group has always shown exemplary professionalism and competence. This is a Group which really knows its stuff.?

The M40 CEG has campaigned for almost a decade to find solutions to the noise of the M40 and to bring a better quality of life to the communities along it. The aim of the competition was to encourage and support the development of community-owned and clean energy projects and M40 CEG’s win will entitle them to a share of

A STAR line-up for this year’s Thame Food Festival has now been confirmed for the event’s popular Cookery Theatre.

The running order for the Cookery Theatre on Saturday, September 29, now looks like this:-

10:00 ? 10:40 Beverley Glock: Splat Cooking

10:45 ? 11:25 Laurie Gear of The Artichoke, Amersham

11:30 ? 12.10 Adam Simmonds, Adam Simmonds at Danesfield House

12:15 ? 12.55 McCormick UK

13:00 ? 13:40 Raymond Blanc and Kush from Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons

13:45 ? 14.25 Lotte Duncan

14:30 ? 15:10 Marcus Bean

15:15 ? 15:55 Katie & Giancarlo Caldesi

16:00 ? 16:25 Nigel Rumsey of Rumsey’s Chocolaterie

16:30 ? 17:15 Mark & Adam from The Raymond Blanc Cookery School v Hardings Restaurant

17:30 Raffle draw

Other food events throughout the day will include Beverley Glock putting on the lab coat and goggles in the town hall, to amaze the kids with food science like you’ve never seen before with Whizz Bang Food. There’ll be food talks and demonstrations in The Stables at The James Figg – including a Sausage Making demo and Wine Tasting for Beginners.

More foodie events will include Lotte Duncan at the AGA shop, where there will be other demos too, and galettes and chocolate related fun, courtesy of Rumsey’s. The Spread Eagle will be hosting Crepe and Cocktail demos with free tasters as well as serving ‘Posh Kebabs’ and specially priced cream teas all day.

Frazer Sutherland of The Thatch and James Figg free houses will be running a Pop-Up-Pub with great local beers, snacks and comfy sofas.

Entertainment will hopefully include a brass band and a music marquee, a Smoothie Bike in the Town Hall, and an Oyster Meister, details of which will appear in a future feature blog.

If you don’t already, you can keep up with all the Thame Food Festival news on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Thamefoodfestival and Twitter @thamefoodfest

PHOTO: Whiz Bang cook, Beverley Glok

MARKET traders on Thame’s long-established Tuesday market, are fed up with thoughtless, overnight parking in the Upper High Street, which frequently prevents them from erecting their stalls.

On Tuesday morning this week, a visitor to the town left a black Audi parked overnight right in the middle of the market. The shame-faced driver returned later in the morning and was guided out from among the stalls by traders. A second car, a green Peugeot 306, remained parked between the sweets and biscuit stall, and Thame’s WI produce stall, throughout the day.

Market Trader, Chris Hurdman, told ThameNews.Net: “Despite the signs everywhere warning people not to park overnight, this is a regular occurrence and we find it very frustrating. Sometimes, the stall holder just has to go home because his pitch is blocked and he can’t set up!”

Kevin Wall, another market trader, added: “This is an on-going problem and more often than not, it is locals who should know better.”

He explained: “Anyone who leaves their car parked in the Upper High Street overnight on Mondays, blocking the market, has to pay a fine and pay the equivalent of the Market Traders rent for the day.”

PICTURE by Kevin Wall