Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Your chance to switch on Thame’s Christmas lights!

    CHRISTMAS is fast approaching and the Town Council will once again be launching a treasure trail around the town centre for the young and young-at-heart, throughout November.

     

     

    In the lead up to Christmas Lights Switch-On on Friday, December 1, 24 Snowflakes have been hidden in shop windows around Cornmarket, Upper High Street, North Street, Buttermarket, Swan Walk, Greyhound Walk and High Street. You can start hunting high and low from Wednesday, November 1. All of the Snowflakes are numbered you can also use #SnowflakeSearch on social media for clues.

    The first entry out of the hat with all the correct answers will get the chance to push the plunger on the town’s Christmas lights, plus there are prizes for the runners up. To enter the competition download an entry form from www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/christmas or pick one up from the Town Hall Information Centre, write down all the shops which have one of our numbered snowflakes in their window and return your entry form to the Town Hall Information Centre by 4pm on Thursday, November 30.

    More information about this year’s Christmas Lights Switch-On event is available at www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/christmas

  • Warning after binned batteries cause fire in recycling trucks

    RESIDENTS in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse have been urged not to put batteries or other items which could cause a fire in their waste or recycling wheelie bin.

    Last week two small fires started in rubbish while it was being transported in waste and recycling trucks. “Both were potentially very dangerous incidents to the crews, other road users and pedestrians”, said an SODC spokesperson. “They also caused delays to collections and could have resulted in significant damage.”

    The fires were caused by items residents had put in their bins, most likely to have been standard lithium-ion batteries – like the ones found in most mobile phones.

    The advise is that batteries should be put in a clear plastic bag and left on top of the green recycling bin, while small electrical items (that may also contain batteries), can be put out in a carrier bag alongside the grey refuse bin for separate collection.

     

  • Thame’s ‘Big Draw’ 2017

    THE fruits of the work of local school children as part of the tenth, Big Drawing Event, can be seen at Thame Museum on Saturday, October 28, 11am – 4pm.

    “Our theme this year is the Phoenix Trail,” explained Christine Taq, of Sparksartists who run this annual event. “School children from Lord Williams’s School, St Andrews School, Chinnor and Cuddington, and Dinton Cof E School, drew bicycles used on the trail and imagined new sculptures. Recorded journeys also form part of Sparksartists’ latest exhibition on show at this event.

    “On Saturday itself,  we are inviting all ages to drop in to Thame Museum to add birds to a moving landscape, courtesy of a Crankie moving image machine. Guests sign in by adding their mark to our ‘Remember When’ shared sketchbook, extending a cut-out photograph.”

    Sparksartists was formed in 2001 by a group individual visual artists who have a common commitment to the group’s work,  to collaborate and share ideas and experiences with the community.

  • Chef Heston’s sister faces charges of beating their mother

    ACCORDING to a report in the Oxford Mail, a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Alexis Blumenthal, who lives in Thame, and is the sister of top chef Heston Blumenthal.

    Ms Blumenthal, 48, of Park Street, Thame, was set to appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court yesterday to answer two charges of assault by beating her mother.

    Read more HERE

    SOURCE: Oxford Mail

  • Threat to Thame Town Music Festival

    THE Thame Town Music Festival, that proved to be so popular when it was held, for the first time in the town centre back in June, may not be able to happen in 2018, unless the organisers are able to find a major sponsor.

    Jon Littler, festival founder, announcing the launching of the first Thame Town Music Festival

     

     

    It was revealed at Tuesday’s meeting of Thame Town Council’s Community, Leisure and Recreation Committee, that it cost £29,000 in total to run the festival, and that they had been informed by the organisers that, to date, the funding is not in place to definitely be able to say that the festival will go ahead this year. Four businesses have not paid up from last year, despite being invoiced.

    Councillors were shown a video of this year’s festival and were hopeful that sponsorship would be found so that this extremely popular event will be able to go ahead in 2018.

  • Storm in a (tea) Cup for Chinnor Ladies

    CHINNOR Ladies FC faced Launton for the second time in three weeks on Sunday (Oct 22), this time, in the Oxfordshire County Cup.

    Storm Brian was also involved in the game for both teams, and at times risked making it a total lottery. Chinnor managed to win the toss and played with the wind behind, but took a while to penetrate Launton’s defensive third, but neat passing and keeping it on the ground was a massive positive, and saw the team grow in confidence.

    Nat LM found her stride and danced around a couple of the opposition players and fired the ball beyond the keeper to make it 1-0. Moments later, Katie Thorp made it 2-0, with Nat Philips playing well to hold up the play, and bringing in the midfielders. Thorp found herself one-on-one with the goal keeper, but rolled agonisingly wide of the goal mouth. Chinnor didn’t have it all their own way, with Launton pulling one back just before half time, to make it 2-1.

    Confidence grew even with the wind in the ladies’ faces, with Jess Gradde and Jo Deverson linking together, supported by Chinnor’s defensive unit. Kayleigh Knight scored her first goal for the club after bundling the ball over the line from a corner.

    Chinnor saw out the rest of the game to their best ability, with Launton pushing more and more players forward and at times, gambling with two at the back.

    Chinnor now advance into the second round of the Cup, which will be drawn over the next couple of weeks.

    For more information about Girls and Ladies football in the Chinnor area visit https://www.facebook.com/ChinnorLadiesFc/

  • More time to have your say on future development

    THE consultation period for SODC’s draft, Local Plan has been extended to 5pm on Thursday, November30, 2017. This is to provide people with the opportunity to consider the new version of the stand-alone Local Plan policies map, and the Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA).


     

    The SHELAA provides a technical assessment of the suitability, availability and achievability of land for development. It is an update to the Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (HELAA), which was published in March 2017. The updated document is available to view online.

    All the relevant documents and the map are available HERE

  • The power of culture! A letter from Romania

    SO impressed was she with her visit to the recent TAL Festival and Thame itself, that Felicia Mirza from Thame’s twin town of Sinaia, Romania, was compelled to ask Thame.Net to publish her thoughts; of course, we were delighted to oblige:

    “What really counts in our world is making a beneficial change, a positive difference in people’s lives. With this in mind, I can say that Thame Arts and Literature Festival was an extraodinarily well organized event to which we, the guests from Sinaia ASPE Association were invited and given the unique chance to meet exceptional people, to take part in the various activities organized and visit the surrounding area of Thame, a place full of beauty and history. I had the feeling that the wonderful places shines every day to welcome visitors and tell everyone –who would like to listen to- their stories.

    “The festival celebrated the power of words, the power of poetry, the power of historical buildings with their legends as well as their true life stories. TAL was also a celebration of literature and reading, and an opportunity to build a bridge of culture between Thame and Sinaia through Dan Manea’s presentation of Sinaia Land of the elites and his mini photo exhibition – a mirror of Sinaia landscape and historical buildings – or through the journey of ‘A quiet passion’ full of wisdom and sensibility with Emily Dickinson, one of the greatest American poets.

    “I loved every minute of our visit. I loved all the stories about historical Thame as well as our trips to Waddesdon Manor, the countryside villages and Oxford ’the city of dreaming spires’.

    “TAL was about celebrating friendship and communication through art so, let me take out of the 86,400 seconds we have in a day, just a few seconds to say a big THANK YOU for everything you have done for us; for your time and the kindness shown to us during our visit.”

    Felicia Mirza
    Member of ASPE Association-translator and guide interpreter

  • Funding challenge easing for new cricket facility

    THOUGH they’ve worked hard to raise thousands of pounds towards building a brand new Club house that could benefit the whole community, Thame Town Cricket Club is hoping that the town council will provide some of the extra money needed to get the project started.

    The project could need up to £200,000 more to be completed but with further cost savings already planned by making changes to the original specification, and further funding opportunities on the horizon, the underwriting of the project by Thame Town Council could see work begin within six weeks. Failure to do so would mean the loss of one promised funding stream with a date limit.

    The hike in the estimated cost of the project, from £800,000 to up to £1.4 million, is mainly due to extra features such as a lift, a disabled toilet and additional features to make the the first floor suitable for community use, and an extra £90,000 for the foundations needed following a ‘geotech’ investigation.

    Responding to concerns about any future increase in costs arising, expressed by Cllr Paul Cowell at Tuesday’s meeting of the council’s Community, Leisure and Recreation committee (CLR), Town Clerk Graham Hunt said that, although up to now the pricing had been a ‘moveable feast’, the eventual contractor would be tied to a cost, including a bit for contingencies to cover any ‘creep’.

    After much discussion the CLR committee voted to recommend to the Full Council that it goes ahead and underwrites any remaining costs necessary to see the project underway.

    The Full Council meeting is on November 14, 2017.

  • Clinical Chinnor claim another five Points

    CHINNOR RFC maintained their strong start to the season with five tries in a game dominated by Storm Brian. Kieran Goss and Orisi Nawaqaliva scored either side of their opposition, Broadstreet’s first penalty try. George Walsh went over for Street but Greg Goodfellow’s and Rory Mason’s tries restored Chinnor’s lead. Broadstreet were awarded anther penalty try but Ben Turner sealed victory with a try in the final minute.

    Chinnor withstood sustained Broadstreet pressure for the first quarter of the game with a well organised, defensive display which thwarted a barrage of Street attacks. The men from Thame may have regretted constantly kicking the ball back to their opponents when working so hard to force the turnover. When Chinnor finally decided to keep the ball in hand, Kieran Goss broke from his own 22 to slice open the Broadstreet defence and leave Jonny Bentley with a simple conversion.

    Broadstreet still dominated possession and levelled when referee, James O’Brien, awarded a penalty try and sent Goss to the sin bin. But Chinnor ‘s response was to keep possession and finally go through some phases which opened up a simple opportunity for Orisi Nawaqaliva to power over score a try with Bentley converting. HT 7-14

    After half time Broadstreet came out the blocks the faster and brought it back to 14-14 with Walsh’s try which Hogson Converted. Chinnor then had Goss return from his 14 minutes in the bin and made the decisive double substitution which bought dynamic prop, Tom Price, to the game. Price immediately made a number of decisive carries giving some real purpose to the forward line, leading to Greg Goodfellow reacting well to score Chinnor’s third try with Bentley again converting.

    Chinnor then settled into their stride and extended their lead to 14-26 when Mason scored the bonus point try. With the game seemingly in the bag a speculative “Brian” assisted kick from Street put Chinnor under pressure, and yet again had the referee running under the posts at the first offence, but this time he kept his cards in his pocket. 21-26

    Street pressed forward from the restart but Chinnor’s disciplined defence came to the fore and forced the error which enabled the men in Black and White to break downfield and play the game out in the Broadstreet 22 .Victory came when Turner went over to seal the game 21-31 with the final play of the game.

    Man of the Match was Tom Price- Game changing performance!

    SOURCE – Contributed