Category: Thame news

THAME museum is urging local residents to dig a hole in their gardens as part of this year’s Festival of British Archaeology.

The museum is calling the event: Dig for History and is urging as many people as possible to take part.

As the organisers point out, Thame has a long historical past. The new football stadium and grounds now cover a bronze age site, and who knows what else waits to be discovered?

During the weekend July 17 – 18, residents from Thame and surrounding villages are invited to dig a hole in their garden and see what turns up.

“The size of the hole does not matter,” they say, “but please dont fall in!

“Not being the Time Team, we will not be rushing round sites, but please bring any interesting pottery, metal and stones into Thame Museum for identification either that weekend or the following weekend.”

THE District Councillor responsible for waste collections, has responded to concerns about a U-turn on the provision of smaller bins.

Cllr David Dodds told ThameNews.Net: “Unfortunately Verdant Plc, the contractors for waste collection in the district, did originally say that smaller bins would be available. But apparently they have since realised that they made a mistake, and found that it is not possible to source sufficient smaller bins in any quantity, that would fit onto their vehicles.”

Cllr Dodds suggested that if neighbours found themselves in a similar situation, having just a smaller amount of waste, perhaps they could consider sharing a larger bin.

He added that if dissatisfied residents wanted to pass on their email addresses or contact details to him, via editor@thame.net, he would pass them on to Verdant to see if there was anything they could do.

RESIDENTS in South Oxfordshire have been praised for what has been called, a “simply stunning” first full year of a new recycling and rubbish collection service that achieved a recycling and composting rate averaging around 70%, thought to be the best in England.

The service, estimated to have saved around

A CHINNOR man has been given a conditional discharge, following an assault in Thame, in November, 2009.

Jason Light, 26, of Lower Icknield Way, Chinnor, was recently convicted of Assault by beating, following an icident in Thame on November 27.

As well as the 12-month conditional discharge, Jason Light was ordered to pay

THAME’S Police Community Support Officers, Diane Jackson and Lucy Thorne, have issued their latest Thame neighbourhood update:

Crime mapping shows that vehicle crime related incidents for the last three months up to May this year, in comparison with the same period last year, have decreased by 27.3 percent. This is due to the hot-spot areas having high visibility patrols and the Pub Watch scheme, as well as partner agencies all working together.

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) info:

Throughout June we have received reports of ASB relating to dog walking in the grass/park areas including the Elms Park and Southern Road Recreation area. We would like to remind people that dogs should be on leads.

We are still receiving complaints of littering in Southern Road Rec. Can we please remind you all that bins are there for a reason; please use them for your litter once you have used the public areas. We are able to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice of

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a burglary at a house in Hilltop Lane, Chinnor, yesterday evening (1/7/10).

Between 6.15pm and 7.15pm, offenders got into the house through the rear conservatory door and searched the property. The thieves stole a Phillips laptop, a Samsung 42 inch television, various jewellery, and cash and bank cards. The total value of property stolen is around

THAME’S inaugural Arts & Literature Festival has been hailed a tremendous success after some 1,450 festival goers attended 30 events involving 40 visiting
authors, a classical music concert, two art shows and a brand new rock-musical.

For those of us who were away on holiday or missed the festival for various reasons, here for Thamenews.net, are the festival highlights from co-founder and festival organiser, Yvonne Maxwell.

“Over a hundred children came to see Steve Cole on the
Friday morning, June 25, after which the adults were
bowled over by Prof John Sutherland?s literary
sleuthing and Nick Barratt?s stories of the Lost
Voices of the Titanic.

Phyllida Law being interviewed by Bruce Alexander was simply wonderful and John Fox?s tale of local heroine, Jane Whorwood, had us terrified and fascinated in equal measure. Vincent Strudwick delivered the Founder?s Lecture on John Hooker and his enormous book, in his inimitable style being both challenging and amusing.

“Friday finished with victory for the Oxfam Bookshop team at the Literary Quiz which was compiled and run by quizmaster extraordinaire, Richard Balkwill.

“Saturday?s delights began with Emma Chichester Clark and lots of children in the town hall and we were particularly pleased to be invited to Rycote Manor
Barn where Alison Weir brought us the amazing story of Eleanor of Aquitaine.

“Our Crime Panel of Barry Forshaw, SJ Bolton and Veronica Stallwood was very well received by a very
knowledgeable and appreciative audience as our three writers discussed their works and inspirations. In the Museum, Sandra Smith looked at moving from Pen to Publication while Marilyn Yurdan talked about keeping your own personal history.

The afternoon was rounded off in the Stables at
the James Figg where no less than five romantic fiction writers held court over a glass of bubbly, tea and a cup-cake. Catherine Jones, Katie Fforde, Carole Matthews, Judy Astley and Sara Craven brought us a feast of fiction with humorous readings and recollections. What better way to spend an afternoon!”

Thame’s own “Chick-lit” queen, Catherine Jones, aka Kate Lace, who chaired Tea with the Romantic Novelists, said afterwards: “Romance, pink fizz and cup-cakes – what could be a better combination on a fabulous summer’s afternoon? The romantic novelists themselves were thrilled to bits at the wonderful audience who eschewed Wimbledon, the weather, Glastonbury and the World Cup to hear them talk about their books and their writing. Afterwards they were all happy to sign copies of their books for their fans.”

NHS Oxfordshire wants to encourage the public in Oxfordshire to have a say about their local health services – from feedback about local GP surgeries or dentists, to suggestions of how specialist services are delivered in the county.

Talking Health ? NHS Oxfordshire?s online public involvement service – has been set up to enhance existing engagement activities to provide even more ways for local people to have a say about the specific health services that matter to them.

Individuals can easily register either online on the website, or by posting a completed registration form. Once registered people can say exactly what health topics they want to be involved in, and just how they would prefer to be involved ? from traditional face-to-face consultation workshops, to online discussion forums, to postal surveys, or purely receiving newsletters about a particular topic.

To get involved in a health subject that matters to you, visit the Talking Health website at:
www.consult.oxfordshirepct.nhs.uk

OXFORDSHIRE County Council is to develop the old Thame Library site on Southern Road, in partnership with Mouchel and PEEP, as a children?s centre hub, to include a family room, an office, a small consultation room, toilets, and a small outside area.

The current entrance to the building will be redesigned and the outside of the building upgraded. It is expected that the site will become vacant in September, and it is hoped that the building works will be complete by March 2011.

Lyndsey Hart from PEEP (www.peep.org.uk) is the centre manager for the Red Kite Children?s Centre, which has been established in the area since April 2009.

More information can be obtained from PEEP by contacting maria.wilkinson@peep.org.uk or calling 01844 212177, or contact lindsey.hart@peep.org.uk.

Children?s Centres are one stop shops for all young children with their mums, dads, childminders and other carers. They are a place to play and have fun with your children, to get information, advice, support and good company.

PHOTO: Thame’s old library building will continue to be used for the benefit of local children in its new role as a Childrens’ Centre.

FOLLOWING a visit to Thame by the Mayor of Sinaia, in Romania, in April, local people of all ages are invited to go to the Thame-Sinaia Friendship Association’s first meeting.

The Mayor of Sinaia, a beautiful mountain resort and town in Romania, visited Thame in order to explore establishing links between the two towns. As a result of the visit, the group who initiated the visit decided to setup The Thame-Sinaia Friendship Association whose aims are:

– to encourage further education about and knowledge of each others cultures and languages among members of all ages and in the two towns at large.

– to promote friendship and understanding between the citizens of Sinaia and Thame.

– to encourage exchanges of all kinds between the citizens of the two communities and generally to develop and promote European co-operation.
The first meeting of the Thame-Sinaia Friendship Association will take place at Racquets in Thame on Friday, July 09, 7 pm for 7:15 pm. The meeting will finish by 9 pm.

Snacks will be provided at a cost of