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  • Tuesday catch up – Thame news snippets

    THAME Town Council’s investments seem to be in a generally healthy state, according to a report from it’s Investment Managers. As of September 15, the balance of its investment portfolio stood at £1.8 million.

    The fund has generated a £43,000 profit over the last year, representing interest of 2.35%.

    THE town council is concerned about the number and size of ‘A’ boards around the town, some of which cause accessibility problems for some groups, and wants to work with 21st Century Thame’s Economic Working Group, and Thame businesses to agree suitable sizes and styles.

    BECAUSE of encroachment into the ill-defined boundary between properties in Bell Close and the town’s Cricket ground, the town council, which owns the cricket ground, intends to redefine the boundary with a fence on the far side of the ditch.

    Maintenance of the ditch, which is currently not carried out and sometimes causes flooding of the cricket pitch, will become the responsibility of the residents of that part of Bell Close.

    The council believes its proposal will save a protracted and expensive legal battle with residents over where the boundary is. At present there is equal evidence on both sides as to where ownership belongs. The council intends to build a new fence and inform the Land Registry of its action. 

    THAME’S Community Equipment Bank, a 21st Century Thame initiative, has been a victim of its own success, proving so popular that it needs someone to administer the hirings. There is an hourly remuneration for the post.

    Contact: 21st Century Thame via the website: http://www.thame4me.co.uk/#!contribute-events

    THE food festival, European Markets and other events that take place around the town hall, will soon have electricity ‘on tap’ as the town council is installing external electricity points around the town hall.

    The cost to organisations to use the points will be £15 per day for each socket.

    PHOTO: Street scene, Thame (for illustrative purposes only – no suggestion that the Spread Eagle’s A boards are causing an obstruction!)

  • ‘The devil’s in the detail’ of free school meals says school head

    A THAME primary school head has welcomed the fact that all pupils between five and seven years-old will get a good, square meal but has some doubts about the government policy announced this week.

    Alan Haigh, Headteacher of John Hampden Primary School in Thame, said this week: “As always, the devil is in the detail of this announcement and there are many unknowns. For instance, at the moment school’s receive a ‘pupil premium’ (additional to main school funding, for children eligible for free school meals to help tackle disadvantage). What is not clear is whether this money will be paid for ALL children between five and seven years-old or will it be withdrawn?”

    Mr Haigh added that, although his school cooks meals on site, other schools buy in meals so the policy could be could for creating more jobs.

    “Schools had no warning of this announcement and so we don’t at this stage know any more than the general public. We will just have to wait for more information before giving it more than a cautious welcome,” he concluded.

  • Thame woman bailed after fairground incident

    THE police have confirmed in a further statement this morning that the person seen wielding a knife at Thame fair on Saturday, was a woman from Thame.

    The statement reads: “Thames Valley Police was called at 12.47pm on Saturday to a report of a woman who had a bladed article in a public place – High Street, Thame.

    “A 43-year-old woman from Thame was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a bladed article. She has been released on police bail until October 7. She was arrested at Thame Fair.”

    PHOTO: By Ollie Ward. The woman detained by police after being seen in possession of a knife at Thame fair on Saturday (21.09.13)

  • Thame carnival needs YOUR support to survive

    NEW people with energy and ideas are needed to join Adam Buckland, the ex Mayor of Thame, so that the Carnival can continue for years to come. 

    If you have the imagination, motivation and most importantly some time to help produce this fantastic annual event, then Adam wants to hear from you. 

    You can find out more by going to a meeting for interested parties, on Wednesday, September 25, at 7.30pm, in the Town Hall meeting room. 

    If you are unable to make the meeting, you can register your interest via email on oss@thametowncouncil.gov.uk

  • London to Thame – on a skate board!

    A group of Skateboarders and BMX riders are planning a 50 mile charity trip from London to Thame, using only their skateboards or bikes to raise money for their local Skatepark in Thame, which is in desperate need of regeneration.

    The group’s aim is not to use any public transport or personal vehicles whatsoever between the start at Nelsons Column in London, and Thame. 

    The three day trip will begin on Saturday, October 26, and end in Thame, via Greenford, Uxbridge and High Wycombe skateparks, on Monday, October 28.

    To add to the trip’s sustainability theme, the group say they will not be shopping in supermarkets or fast food restaurants, but will shop in local shops only to support the local trade of each area.

    To find out more about this epic trip and follow the group’s progress, visit their facebook page: 
    https://www.facebook.com/londontothamefundraiserskate

    23/09/13

  • Woman with knife detained at Thame fair

    FOLLOWING reports on social media that a woman wealding knives had been seen at Thame fair, the police have confirmed that a person is in police custody.

    A Duty Officer, for Thames Valley Police, told ThameNews later this afternoon, that someone who was in possession of a knife at Thame fair is indeed in police custody pending further enquiries, but that no one has been injured.

  • Cream and culture for Thame twinners

    THAME’S friendship with its European twin town was reinforced last weekend (Sept 13-15) when a group travelled to Montesson, near Paris, too celebrate the annual fête du pâté à la Carmen with French families and friends.

    The weekend included a trip on the Saturday to the Chateau at Chantilly, famous for its cream, lace and the magnificent 17th Century stables and world-renowned race course, owned by the Aga Khan. The chateau houses the second most important collection of French paintings in the country, after the Louvre, and a large collection of beautiful, illuminated 15th and 16th century books, many of them written by hand before the advent of the printing press.

    Many very famous paintings are permanently on display here, including Raphael’s The Three Muses, and a painting of Napoleon Bonaparte as a young man.
    An octagonal room in the chateau was used as part of a hospital by the occupying forces during WW2, and it is said that the threat was made that if any occupying soldier was killed, the paintings would be destroyed. None was.

    Whilst some of the Thame party went into the chic town of Chantilly itself to explore the shops and to taste Chantilly cream for themselves, others explored the chateau’s parkland which includes a maze, landscaped gardens, including an Anglo-Chinese garden, a grand canal and a rustic hamlet of cottages where the Prince of Condé entertained his guests.

    Although there was some rain on the Saturday, Sunday brought the sunshine just in time for the outdoor mass held in the Parc des Sophiras and a magnificent meal under canvas bringing together the visitors from Thame, those from Montesson’s German twin town of Baesweiler and their French hosts.Chair of the Thame Twinning, Jeannette Matelot Green, said: “We had a very successful twinning weekend, our 12th annual visit! The new Montesson committee are well settled in now and everything went down smoothly – especially the Chantilly cream. We are looking forward to their return to our Christmas Event in Thame, Friday, December 6, when they will be selling all things French including crepes.” 

    After the long journey back to the Eurotunnel in the capable hands of Matt the driver for Mason’s Minibus & Coach Hire the group arrived weary but very content with memories of a wonderful weekend with their French friends – and very happy with their wine and shopping.

    To discover more about Thame & District Twinning Association, visit their website: http://e-voice.org.uk/thametwinning/

    You can follow the Montesson Twinning Association on facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/6959433309/

    PICTURED:  Jeannette Matelot Green (far right) with her Deputy, Linda Emery (centre), the Mayor of Montesson, Monsieur Jean Francois Bel (in the sash), the deputy Mayor of Baesweiller and Anne Gillet, the President of the Montesson twinning committee (far left)

  • Flu jabs now available in Thame

    THE Rycote Practice at the Health Centre, East Street, Thame, has begun its flu vaccination programme and will be open next for flu jabs on Saturday, October 12 and 26, between 08.30am – 11.30am. 

    All patients who meet the following criteria are eligible for NHS vaccination:

    over 65 years 
    over 6 months in the following clinical risk groups
    Chronic respiratory disease including asthmatics who are on continuous or repeated use of inhaled or systemic steroids or with previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission
    Chronic heart disease
    Chronic renal disease
    Chronic liver disease
    Chronic neurological disease
    Women in any stage of pregnancy
    Diabetes
    Immunosuppression
    residents of long-stay residential or care homes
    those in receipt of carer’s allowance

    Further weekday and evening clinics will be announced in due course.

    PHOTO: Courtesy of ageinplace.com>

  • Wine Tipster to talk at Thame Food Festival

    EXCITEMENT is growing for the Thame Food Festival, and what a selection of talks, demonstrations and foodie stalls are in store for this, the sixth year of this wonderful showcase for local artisan food and drink producers and retailers from around the region.

    As part of the Thame Food Festival on September 28, the Thame Players Theatre in Nelson Street will be hosting a series of wine masterclasses from Neil Phillips ‘The Wine Tipster’. Neils programme is as follows:

    11.30am Champagne Masterclass – Enjoy some fizz, whilst picking up some great tips about champagne from Champagne Ambassador Neil Phillips. 

    2.30pm Journey through Spain and taste some of the wonderful wines from Spain, with two wines from the exciting Somantano region, two stunning sherries
    and an excellent Rioja.

    4.00pm Argentina, Portugal and South Africa: Making Great Wines. Tickle your taste buds with wines from Kleine Zalze in South Africa, Finca Flichman from Argentina and Sandeman Port from Portugal. 

    Details of how to book and more information about Neil Phillips HERE

    FULL DETAILS of the day’s programme on the Thame Food Festival website: http://www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk/visitor-information/

  • Support grows for Robin Gibb to receive posthumous award

    SUPPORT is growing for a Robin Gibb fan’s campaign for the late member of the Bee Gees to be posthumously awarded an honorary Knighthood.

    Jill Francis from Norfolk began her campaign after the musician, who lived in Thame, died in June last year. Robin was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire medal during his life time for his services to music.

    Jill believes that Robin’s charity work outside music, including his support for the campaign for a Bomber Command Memorial, is deserving of the posthumous award. Thousands of people have already signed her petition and she has written to Parliament and members of the Royal Family. Her letter reads:

    “I am campaigning to have Robin Gibb (CBE) be served with Recognition. In the past my correspondence has always referred to as a “KNIGHTHOOD” which he so deserves, however as the views within the English Parliament laws of Posthumous Knighthoods are still working in the prehistoric age, and maybe cannot be granted, then I seriously think a recognition title should be granted.

    I understand that he already has a CBE, awarded in 2004, but this was only for his Contribution to Music. Things have moved on mountains since.

    On many occasions I have mentioned that an application had been filed for a Knighthood for Robin Gibb but with the very slow processing of the application Robin sadly passed away before the application was accepted, in spite of being told that time was of the essence in this particular case due to Robins very ill health at the time. Surly this must be taken into consideration.

    Recognition MUST be granted. As you can see by the Disc enclosed thousands of signatures are flooding in to honour Recognition/Knighthood, and everyday more and more people sign this campaign to honour this man. I am transferring even more signatures onto updated discs all the time, the support seems greater every day that passe.

    May I just point out a few points to back this campaign?

    The Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, London, is an AMAZING achievement for this country, and let us not forget the Tourist Attraction this holds for our City of London. People travel from far away to visit this wonderful Memorial, and means so much too many who visit. When I visited a couple of weeks back, there were 5 veteran soldiers standing quietly, and one gentleman came to me and asked if he could signed the petition for Robin, he did, and said and I quote

    “I never thought I would see this, and I can’t thank the people behind this enough it means so much to us all”, and he cried standing in front of me, his friends were also very emotional and thanked me personally for trying to get some recognition for Robin,,,, I was deeply moved, and realized once again how important this was to the Bomber Command crews and their families. 

    People have the highest respect for Robin who fought many years to actually make this happen, and have this passed for erecting this magnificent memorial in Green Park. I believe many, many meetings took place trying to get this approved, and many times Robin was knocked back saying it wouldn’t happened, but he NEVER gave up, and his determination and dedication paid off, and we now have this amazing Memorial.

    I don’t have to keep emphasising the many other good things Robin done for this country,,,to name but a few are….

    The Bomber Command Memorial,
    The Titantic Requim. Written and composed by Robin and Robin-John his son……a massive tribute to those who lost their lives on the Titantic .
    The Diana Trust….Helping young people
    The Outbound Trust….Helping young People
    Rebecca House….Childrens Hospice Isle of Man
    Poppy Appeal, recording the Song “Ive gotta get a Message to you” with all proceeds going to the Poppy appeal, and performing with ” The Soldiers” who were also active serviceman…..
    He campaigned for KEEP BRITAIN TIDY
    Supported CHILDREN IN NEED.
    Supported THE PRINCES TRUST.
    Raised money for UNICEF, by given all proceeds from the song “Too Much heaven”…
    Held numerous GARDEN PARTIES at his own family home in ENGLAND for CANCER RESEARCH and BOMBER COMMAND, and raised substantial amounts of money.

    And let us not forget his wonderful contribution to the Music World, for over 50 years. There is no end to this Gentleman’s contributions to this country and although he has now passed, money is still being raised in honour of his name, for example:

    Robins Run, 200 miles, where members of his family ran from his Oxfordshire Home to the Isle of Man, raising money on the way for the following charities
    Hospice Isle of Man: Rebecca House 
    Haig Housing Trust; Coming Home
    Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

    I and thousands of others are asking the question: “Why is Robin Gibb being ignored for a Recognition?” It is unbelievable and beyond belief.

    It is not just people from this country, but people from all over the World. 

    Here we have a true Englishman, who has done so much, and has actually ACHIEVED mountains, and fought right to the very end to achieve even more, a man who never wanted to stop working. 

    England has lost an amazing Ambassador, Representative, call it what you like, a man who was prepared to help, and fight for what is right, dedicated his own personal time, who worked to help, support, and contributed so much and achieved results; a truly remarkable man who England will not see many like again.

    I await your reply.