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Category: Thame news

  • It wouldn’t be Christmas without Thame’s Festive Fun Run

    THAME and District Lions Club will once again fill the streets of Thame with Father Christmases in aid of Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity. on Sunday, December 3.

    Participants are invited to wear anything Christmas-related, from Santa suits to Christmas jumpers, and bring all the family to run, jog, walk, scoot or push a buggy or wheelchair round this easy, 3km route through Thame Town Centre. You could even walk the dog round!

    “Research has proven that a Festive Fun Run is good for your ‘elf’!” says organiser Ken Bennell of Thame & District Lions Club. “…And raising money for a cause like Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity is definitely good for your soul. That’s why we do this every year; because people love it as part of the town’s festive calendar, and because the money raised really helps people suffering with terminal illness in the local community.”

    Family entry is £30, or it’s £10 per adult, £7.50 per child under 16 years and free for children under two. For an extra £1 donation, entrants will be entered into a prizedraw to win a VIP Panto Meet and Greet Experience for four people to meet the celebrity cast of Snow White and The Seven Dwarves, which is Aylesbury Waterside Theatre’s pantomime this year.

    The deadline to register online is November 30, at 12pm, or you can enter on the day. For more information visit www.fnhospice.org.uk/festive-fun-run

    SOURCE: Contributed

  • Bus operator will ‘look again’ at controversial route change through Thame

    FOLLOWING a public meeting to discuss problems caused by the re-routing of the 280/X8 but along Park Street, Thame, the bus company Arriva, has said that it will look at the route again.

    At the meeting, which was attended by between 30-40 people, including town Cllrs Lambert, Dyer and Stiles, a representative from Oxfordshire County Council apologised for not consulting with the public before changing the route. The Arriva reprentatives said they would treat the new route as an experiment and re-evaluate it and would come back to the residents and the council.

    Ever since the new route became operational a week ago, residents of Park Street have been reporting grid-locked traffic, particularly when bin lorries are operating in the street, and particularly when two buses meet each other coming from separate directions.

    Two 280 buses meet in Park Street. Thame. Image courtesy of Poppy Gunn

    Cllr Mary Stiles, who is the Chair of the town council’s Transport Working Group, told members of the town council’s Neighbourhood Continuity Committee (NPCC) that she felt Arriva were listening and that there would be a positive outcome. She concluded: “Watch this space!”

    It was pointed out at the NPCC meeting that the implementation of the new route had diverted some of the section 106 monies and provided some of the service that a hopper bus might provide. So, the council will now consider its next steps regarding providing of a hopper bus service,and has meeting arranged for November 17, 2017.

    There is now a Park Street and Chinnor Road 280 bus group on Facebook for those who would like to follow progress this topic and share experiences and comment: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1893528164298533/

  • Withdrawn funding for business support ‘disappointing’

    South Oxfordshire District Council will be withdrawing the funding for the Market Town Co-ordinators, including Thame’s, Becky Reid, from the end of the year.

    Thame Market Town Co-ordinator, Becky Reid

    SODC is responsible for the Economic Development of its Market Towns, Thame, Henley and Wallingford, and it is from that department that Becky’s salary was covered. Thame Town Councillors at Tuesday’s meeting of the Thame Neighbourhood Continuity Committee (TNCC) considered the MTC role to have contributed positively to the economic vitality of the town (SEE REPORT from the recent Thame Business Forum meeting) and expressed disappointment at the withdrawal of the money by SODC.

    ‘We have been ignored’

    The Town Clerk, Graham Hunt, said: “All three Market Towns, Henley, Wallingford and Thame, have put in significant justification for maintaining the post, but we have been ignored.”

    Cllr Bob Austen, Chair of the TNCC, said that the only words he could think of for South Oxfordshire District Council, were those used in the novel, Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons (to describe Adam Lambsbreath’s cows): “..Graceless, Aimless, Feckless, and Pointless.”

    ‘Local businesses have benefited’

    A spokesperson for the Economic Working Group of 21st Century Thame, with whom Becky has worked  on many projects, including Small Business Saturday, the Great British High Street competition, the Food Trail, Business Surveys and Business forums, said: “It is very disappointing that this funding for the continued economic well-being of Thame, which SODC purports to support, has been taken away. Becky has been instrumental in bringing to fruition so many of the good things that have happened in Thame this year. These projects and events have helped local businesses benefit by keeping the visitors and local people coming into town, and contributing so much to Thame’s economic well-being.”

    Thame Town Council will continue to employ Becky for next year out of its reserves, but has stated that the following year, there would have to be an increase on the Precept for Thame Council Tax payers, if she is to be kept in post after 2018.

    Committee members agreed that the Town Clerk should write to express, in the strongest possible terms, the concerns of the Council at the decision to cut £11k of funding for the Market Town Co-ordinators.

  • Victims of road deaths to be commemorated in special service

    THE lives of those lost on the roads of the Thames Valley and Hampshire will be commemorated at special ceremonies later this month, one of which will be in Thame.

    The Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit will be holding two memorial services to support the family and friends of those who have died as a result of collisions on our roads. The dedicated ceremonies will be held to mark the United Nations Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims and it is believed that TVP is unique in honouring the day in such a way. The services will take place on November 19, one in Winchester and one in Thame, giving families from across the Joint Operations Unit region the chance to remember their loved ones.

    ‘A beautiful service’

    During the services local dignitaries, police officers and colleagues from the ambulance and fire services will join members of the public in an Act of Commemoration. Families who have attended previous services have found the event extremely comforting and described it as a “beautiful service”. One family wrote: “‘Thank you for an absolutely beautiful and respectful service for road traffic victims. All of the family found the service very humbling and uplifting.”

    While another added: “The opportunity to join with all who are affected by death on the roads is most helpful in the slow process of re-balancing after violent bereavement.”

    Assistant Chief Constable for the Joint Operations Unit Dave Hardcastle

    Last year 144 people were killed on the roads of Hampshire and Thames Valley. Dave Hardcastle, Assistant Chief Constable for the Joint Operations Unit, said: “We believe it is very important for us to come together with our emergency service colleagues and bereaved families to remember those tragically lost on our roads.

    “In organising these annual services we hope to offer support to families and friends of those no longer with us, giving them an opportunity to come together and take comfort from each other. It is also very poignant for our officers and other emergency service personnel, who stand beside these families throughout the most difficult of times.

    “We welcome anyone who has been affected by the loss of someone on our roads to join us for these very moving ceremonies.”

    Contact details

    Anyone wishing to attend is asked to contact the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit via the email addresses below, in advance of the ceremonies.

    The service in Thame will take place from 3pm, at St Mary the Virgin Church, Church Road, Thame, Oxon, OX9 3AJ. To attend this service, email RDMS@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk.

    The service in Winchester will take place from 2.30pm, at Christ Church, Christchurch Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9SR. To attend this service, email RDMS@hampshire.pnn.police.uk.

  • Thame loves a good quiz!

    THERE seems to be a quiz night almost every night somewhere in Thame, and the town’s love of a quiz as a way of having fun, testing your general knowledge, consuming lots of nibbles and bring-your-own booze, and by the way, raising funds for good causes, has been in evidence over the past week.

    CONGRATULATIONS to Saturday Strollers for winning the quiz held at Thame Barns Centre last Friday, November 3. Over 90 people attended the quiz in aid of two local charities, Sobell House Hospice, based at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford, and SeeSaw which provides grief counselling for children and young people in Oxfordshire.

    The ‘Saturday Stroller’ quiz team

    Karen and Patsy, Managers of the Barns Centre, were delighted to learn that the evening had raised £850 which was split equally between the two charities. The quiz master, Terry Austen, devised some interesting rounds including sweet tasting, music and identifying dog cartoon characters.

    Elaine from Sobell House spoke about the work they do in the hospice for patients and their families, including John Thomas, the previous manager of the Barns Centre who died recently. Alison spoke about the money she was raising for SeeSaw through a coast to coast walk in memory of her daughter Megan.

    During the evening a raffle took place, with prizes many of which local companies, including Travelodge, The Thatch, Bizzie Lizzie, Brother’s Hair Salon, Wren’s Butchers, Co op, Sainsbury’s and The Works Ice Cream Parlour in Aylesbury, had donated.

    The next big event taking place at Thame Barns Centre is a Christmas Fair and Café on Friday, November 24, from 9.30am – a chance to pick up some usual presents from the 20 local craft stalls coming along on the day.

    ‘Twinners’ Quiz

    ON the same night, Friday, November 3, the Thame and District Twinning Association attracted 16 teams to their annual quiz, held in the town hall, and raised £70 for The Stroke Association, and around £350 towards hosting friends from Thame’s twin town of Montesson, in France, when they visit Thame in May, 2018.

    Sue Boyle was the quizmaster and the winning team was AD Hoc.

    The twinning association is currently very excited about a friendship arrangement that is in the early stages of its formation, between the pupils of John Hampden Primary School and a primary school in Montesson, with the aim of the children pairing up to email each other as pen friends, to help with learning each other’s languages.

  • Vote NOW to help win funds for Thame’s new sports facility

    THE cricket, tennis and bowls clubs in Thame are asking for local support in a public vote for their AVIVA community fund applications. If they receive enough votes they will be entered into the national finals and judged by a panel for a chance to receive up to £25,000.

    For the cricket club, a grant would go towards the cost of fitting out the first floor of their new clubhouse which will be used by community groups, charities and local people.

     

    Matt Swain, Chair of Thame Town Cricket Club, explained: “In common with many areas of the country, recent years have seen continued cuts to services like day care and childcare. Both the Thame and District Day Centre and the Thame Red Kite Family Centre are having their funding from Oxfordshire County Council reduced significantly. They currently provide a valuable service to our community for some of the most vulnerable groups in society.

    “Our new clubhouse facility will provide an opportunity for these types of local community groups and charities to continue to deliver high quality provision to the Thame community in a suitable and sustainable environment.”

    The elderly, frail and isolated will benefit as well as sports clubs

    The Thame & District Day Centre provides day care, support and friendship to older people living in Thame and the surrounding villages. It provides a day out with plenty of refreshments, a two-course meal and a variety of entertainment, for people from Thame and some nearby villages, who are elderly, frail, or perhaps isolated. They first opened nearly 30 years ago and currently have over 60 members and a waiting list.

    Matt added: “The cricket club would like to thank club sponsor, J Bennett and Son, Insurance Brokers, who have supported our application to the AVIVA community fund.”

    For the tennis and bowls clubs (also known as Thame Sports Club), a grant would go towards fitting out the main community room, plus a new ‘snug bar’, in the rebuilt clubhouse which hopefully, will be completed over winter 2018. The existing clubhouse is regularly used by community groups including an art class, U3A, a whist club, parent and baby groups and others for meetings, in addition to the use by both clubs members, including indoor bowls in the winter months.

    Why the need for a re-build?

    Peter Bozier, Chair of Thame Sports Club, said: “Our existing clubhouse was first build in the 1920s of a wooden construction and although full of character, is now in poor condition and needs to be rebuilt. A new clubhouse will provide enhanced facilities for our expanding community groups and the snug bar will also provide a small space for meetings. The building will also be a bit longer than the existing one, which will enable the Bowls Club to use full size indoor mats to join the local leagues during the winter months.”

    How to vote

    To help Thame sports clubs and community groups with a chance to win this vital funding for Thame, click on the following link to register on line with AVIVA https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/MyInitiative/GuestRegistration/CreateAccount Search for Thame and cast your votes by Tuesday, November 21, 2017.

    • For more information about Thame Town Cricket Club visit
    http://www.thamecricket.org.uk/

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTXED9Q6VQM

    • For more information about Thame & District Day Centre visit
    http://www.thameanddistrictdaycentre.co.uk/home/

    • For more information about J Bennett & Son, visit
    http://www.jbennett.co.uk/ or contact Mark Nicholl on 01494 450 450

    • For more information about Thame Tennis Club visit
    http://www.thametennisclub.co.uk/

    • For more information about Thame Bowls Club visit
    http://www.thamebowlsclub.co.uk/

  • Plant equipment stolen from Milton Common

    THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following the theft of plant equipment and tools from Milton Common, Thame. (more…)

  • Government has ‘stymied’ provision of enough business premises in Thame

    THAME’S loss of suitable business premises for growing firms to move into, is the fault of the government’s planning regulations, was one of the views discussed at Thame’s first Town Centre Business Forum.

     

    The forum, held on Thursday, November 2, brought together several Thame town centre businesses and organisations, including 21st Century Thame, architects, recruitment agencies, cafe owners, hairdressers, therapists and accountancy firms. It was set up by Thame’s Market Town Co-ordinator, Becky Reid, to support and improve the economic vitality of the town centre by giving an opportunity for regular communication between local authorities and private business and other stakeholders in the town.

    Government has ‘stymied’ us

    Helena Fickling, who has a Architectural practice, told delegates: “Central government has stymied efforts to provide business space with its ‘Lawful development’ planning regulation which means that developers can change vacated officer buildings into apartments without planning permission for change of use.

    “What happened with the Angus Fire building in Wenman Road in Thame illustrates the point.”

    “There’s lots of space for new houses but not enough for employment space,” suggested another delegate.

    Digital Thame, parking and spruced up town entry points

    During an open discussion, delegates discussed their suggested priorities for the forum to focus on at future meetings. These included more information sharing between the local authorities and local businesses, a regular news letter, a ‘digital presence’ for Thame – perhaps an information App for visitors to the town where businesses could advertise, recruitment, a parking attendant for the town centre and improvements to some of the town’s entrances, particularly the ‘Waitrose’ roundabout in Aylesbury Road.

    Sally Evans, who runs regular Artists and Makers fairs in the town hall, suggested that the international markets that come to the town should be better managed, citing crowded and blocked pedestrian areas making moving around difficult and unsafe at times, for pedestrians and wheelchair users.

    ‘Smelly’ toilets and the cost of cardboard waste removal

    Another delegate complained about ‘smelly’ toilets and the Chair of the forum, Cllr Peter Lambert, suggested a joint cardboard waste recycling system, to possibly be used in conjunction with Windles, who have a recycling machine that turns cardboard into pellets that can be recycled. Such a scheme could replace the current system where independent businesses have to pay SODC per bag to have waste cardboard taken away.

    The future of Thame’s economy

    Becky Reid described her role as Market Town Co-ordinator and what she had been doing to support the town centre economy, including events like the ‘Dressed to Impress’ shop window competition, working with 21st Century Thame to up-date the shopping guide, the recent Art Trail and the business survey.  Her Action Plan can be read in full HERE

    Also at the forum, talking about his role as SODC’s Economic Development Officer, David Cookson talked about SODC’s Corporate Plan for Thame, ‘creating the right conditions for economic growth over the next four years’, including the branded SO Business website, which is a one-stop information and advise point for SMEs. His Action Plan for Thame has four priorities: Super-fast Broadband, providing Business Space in the district, working to fill skills and employment gaps in a district that has almost full employment; to improve engagement with businesses.

    Future meeetings for Thame businesses

    January 18, 2018 – Noggin Workshop ‘Data’. Times 3pm – 7pm. This will be a 2-part workshop with Businesses invited from 5pm. Details to follow.

    Town Centre Business forums. 5.30pm. Upper Chamber, Thame town hall – 15 Feb; 19 Apr; 21 Jun; 13 Sept; 15 Nov; with an event on 1 Dec to celebrate Small Business Saturday.

     

  • This week: ‘Mesmerising’ Japanese film

    SHINKAI’S mesmerising, dazzlingly beautiful film broke box office records in Japan for months after its release, and heralded his arrival as the new crown prince of Japanese animation.

    YOUR NAME – Japan 2016, 106 minutes, 12 certificate – Directed by Makoto Shinkai, Starring Kana Hanazawa (voice), Etsuko Ichihara (voice), Ryûnosuke Kamiki (voice), Mone Kamishiraishi (voice), Masami Nagasawa (voice), Ryô Narita (voice)

    It tells the story of two teens from different parts of the country: Mitsuha is from a remote and traditional rural community, constrained and frustrated by the demands of a conservative community and its attendant ancient rituals. Meanwhile Taki lives in Tokyo, leading the kind of sophisticated urban life that Mitsuha dreams of having for herself. One morning, inexplicably, they wake up in each-other’s bodies, just for a day, an event that happens repeatedly and at random. They have to endure the humiliations – and unexpected pleasures – of learning to live not only as another person but as another gender. They end up communicating with each other by leaving messages on smartphones, instructions and reminders that soon become something else, a deepening emotional connection between two people who have never met.

    On one level, then, this is a funny, heart-warming and poignant examination of longing and identity, of gender and first love. But Japanese animation resolutely eschews the narrative conventions that might be expected of Western cinema: our protagonists are also enmeshed in a tale of ancient magic, spectral goings-on, natural disasters and time travel, rendered in spectacular and thrilling animation.

    If you are unfamiliar with Japanese anime, then this film is like nothing you have seen before – and if you are a fan of the genre, then this is exemplary. Either way, expect to be wowed. View trailer here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU47nhruN-Q

    This Saturday November 11, 8pm – Doors open 7.30pm
    Film tickets are available on the door or online- Click HERE

  • League Double Joy for Chinnor Girls Football Festival

    A positive afternoon of hard work for Chinnor Ladies saw them complete the league double over Launton, and complete a run of three games against the two teams.

    Chinnor Ladies managed to win the toss and played with the wind behind them. Launton had rung the changes by drafting in some of their more experienced players and looked a lot stronger from the outset. Chinnor were unlucky in the opening moments, forcing Launton’s replacement keeper into a diving save from Charlotte Cairns. Launton’s keeper was called back into service, with shots from Jess Gradde, Nat Phillips, Nat LM. Passing and confidence was on the high, with Nat P capitalising, by managing to lob the goal keeper from an acute angle, her first if the season, to make it 1-0.

    Chinnor continued to push forward and could have easily doubled their lead with Cairn’s pace, but the oppositions keeper was equal to it. Chinnor continued the second half as they did the first, but Launton started to increase their mark on the game forcing Chinnor’s keeper to make a save. Charlotte and Nat Phillips continued to cause the Launton defenders problems, with the former hitting the post and a lob gliding just wide, and then the latter forcing the keeper into a magnificent save to keep Launton in the game.

    Chinnor managed to see the game out, and pick up their first clean sheet on the season. Chinnor Ladies would like to thank Launton for their hospitality, and wish them all the best for the rest of the season.

    Chinnor Ladies, in conjunction with the Chinnor Junior Club, will be hosting a Girls Football Festival, an event which is aimed to increase female participation in the sport. The event will take place on the  November 11, at Chinnor’s Community Pavilion. Chinnor Ladies will be supported at the event by former player Anneka Nuttall, who is Women’s Super League 2’s Captain for Watford.

    SOURCE: Contributed