Category: More News

UPDATE: More pictures from the weekend’s Christmas events  – FROM live reindeer, lanterns and lights, beautiful singing, steam trains, swinging rock, Santas galore and give-aways, three days of festive fun has well and truly launched Thame towards Christmas.

On Friday the Big Christmas Event got under way as the town centre began to gradually fill up with colourful stalls promoting everything from local groups and charities, hats and scarves, Toffee and fudge and mulled wine, to French crepes, wines, fois grois and Normany cakes. Families gathered around the stage in the closing darkness, in anticipation of the grand finale, the switching on of Thame’s Christmas lights by the special VIP guest, Kerry Katona.

And when the big moment came, after a talent-packed build up of stage entertainment, a huge cheer for the popular local mum and reality TV star, filled the crisp night air revealing for the first time, the new, replacement white and gold themed Christmas lights.

The following day was Small Business Saturday, a celebration and promotion of small, independent shops and businesses, organised by Thame4Business with the support of the town council and South Oxfordshire District Council. Throughout the day shoppers were welcomed in shops by free mulled wines, mince pies, Bucks Fizz, some great special offers and the chance to support local charities and win raffle prizes, as the town centre throbbed to the sounds of the Thame Pop Choir, Thame Concert Band, Sing Community Choir, a sing-along to the music from the film ‘Frozen’, and live bands in The Shambles, Buttermarket, outside the Guitar Shop. A French Market stall courtesy of Thame’s twin town, Montesson, a Hog roast next to Wren’s butchers and Thame Round Table’s Father Christmas & his sleigh in the Upper High Street added to the holiday feel.

A fully equiped fire engine from the local fire station and Christmas music in Swan Walk all added to the fun and festivities on what the local shops hoped would be a bumper trading day for them, with only three more weekends left for Christmas shopping, a vital time for the small, independent shops that are the life-blood of the town centre’s economy and Thame’s character and vitality.

The fun continued into Sunday, when more than 150 Santa-clad runners of all ages and abilities, some pushing babies and toddlers in pushchairs, others accompanied by dogs, set off in the drizzle from Thame Town Hall, to run, jog or walk a 3K Santa Dash in aid of the Florence Nightingale Hospice, organised in conjunction with Thame Lions Club.

After a high-energy warm-up courtesy of fitness experts from Thame Leisure Centre, dressed as reindeer, local DJ Paul Biz was on hand to pump up the crowd with a selection of classic Christmas tunes, (both before and after the event) to get everyone in the mood.

The Mayor of Thame, Cllr Jeannette Matelot, also lent a helping hand giving out medals to fun-runners at the finish line, along with a team of volunteers and marshals from Thame Lions Club. Every child received a special gift from Santa’s very own sack on the day!

“We’re thrilled to see over 150 festive fun runners taking part in our very first festive fun run in Thame,” commented FNHC’s Karen Shardlow. “We’ve had some fantastic support from the local community, including Thame Lions Club, Thame Town Council and the Mayor of Thame – we simply couldn’t have done it without you all, so a huge thank you to everyone involved in supporting this event, including all our wonderful runners, on behalf of Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity.”

She added: “Pledges are now being counted, and we hope to raise over £2,000 from this event in aid of the Hospice.”

Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity needs to raise over £600,000 each year to ensure the continued funding of local palliative care services for families affected by life-limiting illness, including a 12-bedded in-patient unit and Day Hospice, based at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, and home-based services such as the Florrie’s Children’s Team and Nightingale 24/7 Care.

Florence Nightingale Hospice recently celebrated its Silver Jubilee year. 25 years on, it is still providing vital Hospice care to patients and their families across Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and parts of Oxfordshire, including Thame, Haddenham, Chinnor and surrounding villages.

This weekend Thame community came together as it usually does at this time of year, and as it will no doubt continue to do, with school nativity plays, choral concerts, carols around the Christmas tree, special church services, turkey ordering, present-making and Christmas shopping – before the big day arrives – in just over two weeks time!

IN the second of Thame.Net’s new ‘Take on Thame’ opinion features, Bob Austin, of the East Thame Residents Association, shares his ‘take’ on the recent Tesco proposal to build a supermarket on the Daf site, on the edge of town:

AS Thame residents may be aware, it is not the first time that an attempt has been made to build a Tesco superstore. As long as twenty years ago the Thame Chamber of Commerce commissioned a report which demonstrated the loss of business to the town centre that a Tesco edge of town store would cause. The loss was stated to be in the order of £10 million. You can obviously add inflation, at least, to that.

“Nowadays, the importance of a town centre has been further emphasised. Its viability and vitality must be at the core of any planning decision under the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) and weight is also given to an approved Neighbourhood Plan. The latter clearly opposes an edge of town superstore.

“Tesco in in its recent flyer stated that people will be encouraged to shop locally as a result of a new superstore. If an edge of town store counts as a local equivalent of a vibrant town centre then that statement would be accurate. However, the logic lies elsewhere.

“At the recent Tesco exhibition Tesco staff were asked if £35 million would be a good estimate of the superstore’s turnover (this being based on Tesco published standard turnovers per square foot). They did not disagree. Where would this turnover come from? Tesco accept that trade would come from the town centre but assert that much would come from shopping currently carried out, outside the town, by Thame residents.

“Given the fact that two of the closest food stores in Princes Risborough and Aylesbury are Tesco owned (ASDA Wheatley being cheaper), Tesco would inevitably cannibalise at least some its own turnover. Why would it do that? The only explanation can be that Tesco will take substantial incremental business from the town centre in order to achieve £35 million turnover- not just from Waitrose or chain stores but from independents as well- with obvious implications for closures. I am not demeaning the needs of Tesco shoppers when I state this- just outlining the implications for the town centre.

“At its exhibition Tesco stated that turnover would be 80% food, 20% non-food at the start. It will not just be just food shops that will be affected. If you want a town centre that continues to be vital, then defend a policy (Thame Neighbourhood Plan and SODC core strategy 2027) that keeps shoppers within the core of the town, When Tesco puts its application in, it will be time to say ‘No to Tesco’ again.”

Bob Austin
East Thame Residents Association

THE latest Thame Sector, Neighbourhood Policing update for the past month, has been published and covers Parking, Rural Crime, Anti-social behaviour and Offenders brought to justice.

Parking in Thame, the subject of much dissatisfaction and annoyance to local people, has been a main focus of local Neighbourhood officers, PCSO Chris Hollis and PCSO Michelle Jacques during the past month. They have been issuing tickets to vehicles parked on double yellow lines in Thame town centre. Over 20 tickets have been issued to offending vehicles which the officers have said has had a good reception from residents and business owners.

Another main focus has been on rural crime has seen its officers across the South & Vale Local Police Area attend the more vulnerable areas of our towns, villages and beauty spots. Patrols focused on engagement with local land owners and responding to reports of illegal hare coursing and daytime poaching. Officers tweeted every hour with pictures and updates via @tvpsouthandvale and Facebook.

Anti-social behaviour (ASB), another priority for local officers, has been the subject of training sessions for Thame neighbourhood officers and PCSOs, who have been learning about the new ASB powers aimed at ensuring, says the force, that: front-line officers (including PCSOs) have effective powers which are quick, practical, easy to use and will provide better protection for victims and communities. The new powers are in force now.

A party in Thame which PCSOs felt had got out of control, where a significant amount of alcohol was seized from young people causing Anti Social Behaviour on the streets near to the address, was dealt with. Parents were contacted straightaway to collect the young people immediately, and suitable advice was given to the organiser regarding the detrimental effects of communicating the information via social media.

Offenders brought to justice during November:

Two men are currently on bail for separate charges of Possession with Intent to Supply.
Three men are currently on bail for Aggravated taking a Vehicle without Consent and Burglary.
One man is currently on bail for Theft from Motor Vehicle.
One man is currently on bail for Criminal Damage.
One man has been given a caution for Shoplifting.
One man was charged with possession of a Class B drug and received a Caution.

The full update can be read at: http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N380?id=296225

WITH  just 27 days until Christmas Day, the big man himself made a special appearance outside Thame Town Hall on Wednesday morning (29/11), to help support Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity’s (FNHC) first Festive Fun Run, which will see crowds of Santas dashing through Thame High Street next Sunday,  December 7, at  10am.

Posing with Father Christmas, was the Mayor of Thame, Cllr Jeanette Matelot-Green, who will be setting off the 3k festive fun runners, joggers and walkers on the day, as well as members of Thame Lions Club and representatives from Thame Leisure Centre, who will be helping to limber up the crowd before the launch, and Charity staff.

“We are hugely grateful to Santa for taking time away from his busy workshop in the North Pole to come along and help promote our very first Festive Fun Run in Thame,” commented FNHC’s Karen Shardlow.  “Around 100 people have so far signed up to take on our pre-Christmas challenge, and there’s still time for more local businesses and the Thame community to really get behind our event, in partnership with Thame Lions and Thame Town Council.”

To register for this fun challenge, please visit www.fnhospice.org.uk and click on ‘Festive Fun Run’.  Entry costs £10 per adult, £7.50 per child and under twos go FREE. A specially priced family ticket of £30 for two adults, two children is also available. Registration prices include event entry, refreshments, a FREE Santa hat and medal on completion of the challenge. Prizes on the day will be awarded to the best-dressed entrants on the day.

Businesses including Kismet Jewellers, The Black Horse, Thamenews.net, Newitts of Thame,Wally’s Toy Shop and Thame Leisure Centre have all lent their support to the event by handing out flyers. Simply pop in to any of these locations, along with Thame Town Hall, to pick up a registration form.

 “We can’t wait to see all the costumes on the day,” added Karen. “So come and join us on this family fun, buggy friendly 3k route setting off from Thame Town Hall. Your support on the day will help ensure we can continue to fund local Hospice care on our doorstep for families affected by life-limiting illness.”

Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity needs to raise over £600,000 each year to keep local Hospice services running.

THAME Food Festival Patron, Raymond Blanc OBE, welcomed a royal guest to his prestigious hotel, restaurant and garden last Friday (Nov 21). HRH The Prince of Wales, who is Patron for Garden Organic, accompanied by Garden Organic Chief Executive, James Campbell, was shown around Raymond’s newly-created National Heritage Garden at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons.

Prince Charles commemorated the occasion by planting an organic apple tree in the grounds of the two Michelin starred hotel and restaurant. The apple tree, named Bright Future, is a variety introduced to celebrate 50 years of Garden Organic.

The National Heritage Garden was created by Raymond Blanc OBE in June 2014, to showcase rare, heritage vegetables and to gather information about organic gardening methods and heritage foods. It is run in partnership with Garden Organic and their Heritage Seed Library (HSL), which conserves vegetable varieties from across Northern Europe that would otherwise have disappeared. The new garden features over 70 varieties from the Garden Organic Heritage Seed Library, which were chosen for their flavour.

The Prince, who has been the Patron of Garden Organic for more than 25 years, met Anne Keenan, who won the competition to design the Heritage Garden, Apprentice Gardener, David Love Cameron and the team at Belmond Le Manoir, who maintain the garden and the Heritage Seed Library throughout the year.

Commenting on the visit, Raymond said: “On such a rainy day as today, HRH The Prince of Wales certainly lifted our spirits. It was a jovial and interesting tour and I am deeply honoured.”

Garden Organic has been at the forefront of the organic horticulture movement for over 50 years. Dedicated to promoting organic gardening in homes, communities and schools, it works to get more people growing the most sustainable way. Through its 22,000 members and the thousands of individuals touched by its wide-ranging projects carried out across the UK and overseas, Garden Organic spreads the organic growing message, demonstrating its lasting benefits to the mental and physical health of individuals and the communities, schools and workplaces in which they grow. The Prince of Wales became Patron of Garden Organic in January 1988.

Garden Organic’s Heritage Seed Library works to collect and conserve an ever increasing variety of historic and heirloom vegetables, directly contributing to a reverse in the decline of vegetable diversity. The HSL aims to conserve vegetable varieties that are not widely available and once enough seed has been collected, it becomes available for their members to grow and enjoy.

EXCITEMENT is growing for Thame’s Small Business Saturday event, planned for December 6, in the town centre, and the organisers have come up with an innovative idea to avoid having to leave the car parked for any length time, and collect your Christmas shopping from one collection point later.

So, if you would like to stroll or cycle into town on December 6, and enjoy the day’s entertainments and explore the independent shops that are offering all sort of seasonal goodies to make Christmas shopping in Thame fun, take your purchases along to Racquets Fitness Centre in the Cattlemarket, North Street, collect a ticket and then return later to load the car with your purchases. Racquets will take care of your shopping bags and a helpful member of Racquets’ staff will be on hand to help you load up the car.

More and more Thame shops have announced their special offers and treat, including the shops in Swan Walk, in the Upper High Street. Here’s what they’ve got planned:

My Sweet Art Creations, Ella Jane Gifts, Sew Patchwork and Pearsons Insurance Services will be joining forces and sending out a band of drama students to walk through the town dressed up, to promote the shops in Swan walk, Thame. They will be distributing Shopping leaflets and sweets throughout the town during Small Business Saturday as their way of encouraging people to shop more locally.

Ella Jane Gifts will be handing out Cow pat cookies, Pearson’s Insurance will be giving our Sweetie milk bottles as well as something for the grown-ups and My Sweet Art Creations will be running a ‘Find the Golden Ticket’ competition. These special tickets will be hidden in one of their lucky bags available to purchase and there will be a special prize for the winner. Sew Patchwork too will be taking part in the day’s fun in Swan Walk.

A full list of the other Thame shops taking part so far are:

Planet Organics, Greyhound Walk – Free glass of mulled wine & raffle to win a bottle of Rochester Organic Mulled Berry Punch
Umberto’s, Greyhound Walk – Homemade Panettone –
Cutting Rooms, Buttermarket – To be announced
Gallivant, Greyhound Walk – To be announced
Fore Golf, Buttermarket – Staff will be dressed as Victorian gents & giving away free mince pies. PLUS spend £20 or more & get a £5 voucher off your next spend
Bizzie Lizzie, Upper High Street – To be announced
Isabel’s Closet, High Street – Glass of ‘bubbly’ and some sweets for the children
Gallant, Greyhound Walk – Bucks Fizz and Christmas chocolates
Jack & Atticus, North Street – Free mince pie & Prosciutto
What’s Cooking, Cornmarket – To be announced
Pet Care, Cornmarket – Free Pot Noodle if you spend over £15
Maze Hair, North Street – a glass of bubbles and a mince pie plus a raffle for the winner to receive a £50 voucher to spend on there hair with us and 5 runner up prizes

All the details of what’s happening during Small Business Saturday on December 6, can be found on the webpage, https://www.thame.net/sbs

A Thame man, who terrified staff members before attempting to rob a convenience store, has been jailed.

Lewis Bradbrook-Taylor, 22, off Putman Close, Thame, was found guilty of attempted robbery and two counts of false imprisonment at Aylesbury Crown Court earlier this week.

Bradbrook-Taylor raided the Martin McColls in Banks Parade, Haddenham, on July 28, this year, while staff were taking delivery of newspapers. He approached the pair and forced them inside and tied them up.

He then stole cash from the till before running off.

Bradbrook-Taylor was jailed for three years.

AMBULANCES workers will be on strike today for four hours, from 7am to 11 am, and are asking people to think twice before calling ambulance.

Unison, Unite and GMB member workers in the NHS will also be taking action, short of a strike, until Sunday, November 30. South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) have issued the following statement:

“We recognise the right of our employees to strike but we need to maintain an essential service to the public, and in light of this action we are working closely with all our staff, partners and the public to help us reduce demand on our services. This will help us to continue to protect our patients and achieve an adequate and safe level of 999, 111 and PTS cover. We will be working hard to get to our most life threatening patients as a priority however there may be a delay in getting to those patients in non-life threatening conditions.

“Contingency plans are being put in place to mitigate any adverse effects of the strike action and ensure the safety of our patients. We are working closely with our unions to deliver patient care that is not compromised across our emergency and non-emergency services. We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops and take appropriate action.

“We would like to remind the public to use our services appropriately and only call 999 if absolutely essential. If you are suffering an injury or illness which is non-life threatening there are other avenues of care available to you, you could:

 Visit your local pharmacy
 Contact your GP or out of hours GP
 NHS111
 Walk in centres and Minor Injuries Units
 Access NHS Choices online to check your symptoms and find your nearest service.”

THE POLICE have issued a warning after several incidents recently in the South Oxfordshire and Vale areas, of work tools being stolen from vehicles overnight.

Most thefts from vehicles are committed by opportunist. The following advice is offered to help prevent your vehicle from being targeted:

Where possible, secure your vehicle overnight in a garage.
If you don’t have a garage, park in a well-lit area.
When leaving your vehicle, close all windows and ensure you lock it.
Don’t leave anything on display in your vehicle.
Take all your personal possessions with you.
Remove sat-nav holders and visible sat-nav ring marks from windscreens.
Leave the glove box open to show there’s nothing inside.
For more information, visit http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/theft-from-vehicle

Please be extra vigilant. Report any suspicious activity to the police via the 24-hour non-emergency telephone number 101 or call 999 for crime in progress.

If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/ No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

WE want to liven things up on Thame.Net and SAM JUTHANI, the Labour Party Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Thame, is the first of our guest opinion piece contributors, a feature we would like to introduce as a regular part of Thame.Net. Here’s his contribution and do please feel free to comment: (PLEASE NOTE that opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of Thame.Net)

AROUND Thame, the Neighbourhood Plan continues to be a major issue- most recently, focused on Tesco’s plans for the edge of Thame. However, nothing has got Thame talking like the plan for the Elms. I have been surprised by the lack of generosity and understanding in John Howell’s public statements on the matter. The Elms is a contentious issue, but he has consistently sought to portray those who raised a fundamental objection to the plan as unconstructive and unhelpful to the process.

He is right to say that as candidates running for election next May, he and I must be circumspect in what we say about planning applications. He is also right to say that we need to work together to ensure the best outcome. However, in our respective roles, we also need to be championing the local community. I first realised how much of an issue the Elms was when I was canvassing Thame residents ahead of the European Parliament elections in May. Not only did almost every single resident mention it as a local issue, they were almost uniformly against the proposal to develop the site at all. Local residents’ voices should be heard.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the work of the Elms Petition Group. Whether you agree with them, or not, they are a shining example of extraordinary civic leadership. With no previous experience of campaigning or politics, they have built up a grassroots movement simply because they think that is the right thing to do. They deserve to be commended.

Sam Juthani
Labour Party Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Thame