Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Town’s Hanging Baskets In Jeopardy

    ON the day that a hose-pipe ban throughout Oxfordshire, has been announced, the future of Thame’s summer hanging baskets is to be considered by the town council.
    The county’s water shortage has reached crisis level and because of the amount of watering the town centre baskets require to survive the summer months, the town council’s Culture, Leisure and Recreation Committee will consider their future at its meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, 6.30pm in the council chamber.

    Photo: For illustrative purposes only

  • 100 Years Of Railway Through Haddenham

    THIS year sees the 100th anniversary of the opening of the rail line through Haddenham.
    To celebrate the event, Chiltern Railways is running steam specials on the weekend of April 1 and 2 but, due to engineering works on the line, these will only be running between High Wycombe and Marylebone and not coming through Haddenham. However, some tickets have been reserved for Haddenham residents. Call 01926 729733 for times, prices and bookings.

  • 100 Years Of Railway Through Haddenham

    THIS year sees the 100th anniversary of the opening of the rail line through Haddenham.
    To celebrate the event, Chiltern Railways is running steam specials on the weekend of April 1 and 2 but, due to engineering works on the line, these will only be running between High Wycombe and Marylebone and not coming through Haddenham. However, some tickets have been reserved for Haddenham residents. Call 01926 729733 for times, prices and bookings.

  • Historic Listing For Thame Landmark Turned Down

    A request for the Essex House Hotel on the outskirts of Thame to be made a Listed building, has been rejected by English Heritage.
    Thame Town Council applied for the building to be Listed following the submission of a planning application to demolish it and build two blocks of 12 flats each, in its place. See Link
     for original report of the Planning meeting.
    In its reply to the town council, English Heritage stated that the building “…..is not of special architectural or historic interest and should not be listed.”
    The reasons give are: that the building appears to be mid-Victorian and was put forward for listing because there are current plans for the redevelopment of the site; that the building is red brick, two-storey, with dormers in the roof space. It has been extended and undergone alterations in connection with its hotel use; that the building lacks any architectural detailing or innovation in form that would make it of special interest.

    The letter concludes that although the building may be of local interest, it has been too altered and lacks sufficient architectural or historic interest, in the national context, to merit listing.

    At a meeting of the town council’s planning committee last Tuesday, March 7, Cllr David Dodds said that English Heritage “fails to recognise the importance of the building in its historical context, first being The Railway Hotel, and the important aspect of the building in the street scene.”
    Cllr Beatrice Dobie added that Essex House marks the Victorian boundary of the town.

    The committee agreed to appeal to Tessa Jowell at the Dept For Culture, Media and Sport, to re-consider English Heritage’s decision and for the row of old railway workers’ cottages in Bridge Terrace adjacent to the hotel, to be included in the Listing.

  • Hoody Presentation By ‘Stitch & Bitchers’

    THAMES branch of Stitch and Bitch, which meets at the Six Bells in Thame, made a very special presentation this week to the Manager of the Six Bells pub.
    The group of knitters, who meet every Tuesday at the Six Bells, presented the pub Manager, Dominic Field, with a tiny, knitted ‘hoody’ for his new baby son, Sidney.
    The jacket was knitted by the group’s founder, Jeanette Matelot.
    Dominic was overwhelmed by the gift and told the group that the ladies really make his day, and bring a real spark to Tuesday nights at ‘the Bells’.
    Anyone who loves knitting, sewing, or any other needlecraft, and chatting to like-minded stitchers, is welcome to go along to The Six Bells in Thame, any Tuesday night, at 8pm.

  • Thame Rejects Health Changes

    THAME town hall was packed to capacity on Monday evening, for a public meeting to discuss proposed changes in local health care provision.
    Chaired by Olga Senior of the Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority, the meeting was part of three consultations on the future shape and size of Primary Care Trusts, Ambulance Trusts and the Strategic Health Authority in Thames Valley.
    The TVSHA says that it is: ?.. seeking the views of patients and the public on how many organisations there needs to be in the Thames Valley to ensure the good quality healthcare is available to all and that the consultation is part of a national plan to streamline management within the NHS and bring healthcare decisions closer to patients.?

    Currently, the NHS locally is run by one SHA covering Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, with 15 PCTs that decide how the money is spent locally. Thame?s health care provision is overseen by the Vale of Aylesbury Primary Care Trust, within which Thame doctors, Chinnor doctors and Haddenham doctors, all work together. The main proposed change is to reduce the number of PCTs and for them to work within county boundaries.
    Across the country, the NHS is looking at ways it can become more efficient by cutting management and bureucracy and redirecting the money saved into patient care, in this case,

  • Chinnor Beat Harlequins 29 pts to 10

    WITH the wind at their backs after losing the toss,
    Chinnor utilised this advantage with immediate effect, when straight from the line-out they drove the Harlequins some 20 metres for Rodney Mahe to
    score.
    With Ed Rixon on for Paul Hennessy, Chinnor were finding it difficult to increase their lead. With James Hewitt having to leave the field withhamstring problems, Jamie Hiscock came on with Rewi Tolich taking up the full-back berth. It took until the 30th minute of the game for Darren Oxley to finish off a fine threequarter move and score.
    Matt Buckley taking over the kicking duties from Hewitt added the conversion. Harlequins then
    reduced the lead when Chinnor were caught off-side and Henley kicked the penalty.
    A delightful break by Morgan Thompson then saw the supporting Ed Rixon, who had an outstanding game, scoop the ball off his toes to score. This gave
    Chinnor a 14pt cushion playing into the wind in the second half.
    Chinnor were again first on the score sheet in the
    second period when following a sweeping move Rewi Tolich had the easiest of touch downs. With Buckley slotting the conversion, Chinnor was in Control but then failed to clear from the Quins kick-off resulting in a break down the middle of the park by Ben Cottenden who found Sam Stop up in support to score wide out. A fine touchline conversion from Henley saw Quins back in the hunt.
    Another try from JP. Emmelman sealed the game for the
    visitors.
    The five try to one scoreline indicates that Chinnor
    thoroughly deserved this victory over their close rivals.

  • Chinnor Outplay Rivals Maidenhead

    Chinnor RFC 2nds 71 Pts v Maidenhead 2nds 10 Pts

    LEAD by Captain, Tom Wood, Chinnor 2nds had a great win in their league match against their old rivals, Maidenhead 2nds.
    Chinnor forwards took control of the scrums, mauls and loose play from the very first kick and linked up well with the back line, also on top form. The inter- passing between forwards and backs was outstanding as was the ball retention for the whole team.
    The first points came in the 7th minute with a try by Ian Stock in tandem with Paul Fincken after some great forward play that was converted by Richard Williams from the touchline. Rich followed this up with 3 breaks through the centre to run in 3 converted tries and a penalty giving him 26 points tally in 18 minutes of play, and Chinnor a lead of 31 points to 0.
    It was then the turn of Ben Hewitt to score after some slick passing by the backs again converted by Rich. Paul Fincken finished off the first half with a try that was once again converted by Rich and Chinnor Seconds finished the first half 45 points to Nil.
    Paul Fincken started the second half as he finished the first with a try that was converted by Rich and followed 5 minutes later by a break by Simon Matthews who ran half the pitch and off loaded the ball to Danny Burns who scored under the posts. This was followed 3 minutes later after good forward and back line passing for James Dollery to score in the corner. Chinnor then made three substitutions. Temporarily forgetting about the basics, everyone wanted to score and in a 3-minute period Maidenhead scored 2 tries and a conversion giving them 12 points. Chinnor then settled down and the whole team got involved with the ball going from hand to hand. Ali Reekie scored and conversion by Rich Williams. The referee ended the game 5 minutes early with a final points tally of 71points to 12.
    Richard Williams was named man of the match for his 3 tries, 1 penalty and 9 conversions, giving him 30 points. Other outstanding players were by Alan Cawston, Paul Fincken, Danny Burns having listed names, the other 14 players had also played very well.
    Finally hats off to Maidenhead, they never gave up and fought with spirit.
    Walter McGuicken

  • Entertaining Thame United Lose To Taunton

    Thame United 1, Taunton Town 3
    This was an entertaining League match on Sunday, which the gutsy Thame side were unlucky to lose.
    Taunton took the lead after only two minutes when a good ball found Sam Duggan in space. His shot hit Thame?s Robbie Eason and lobbed over Paul Searl into the Thame net. Thame recovered well and equalised in the 31st minute when a long ball from Eason found Magid Raja who touched it on for Tom Goffe to finish confidently with a strong shot from 12 yards. Ten minutes later Searl pulled out an outstanding save and the teams went in for the half time break with the scores even at 1-1.
    United were determined to get the points, and moved Luke Fisher to join Raja and Goffe in attack. Against the run of play however Taunton regained the lead in the 51st minute. A good ball from defender Ben Wiltshire found the talented Aaron Blakemore who scored, from an acute angle, with a well-placed 15-yard shot. The spectators then saw a display of attractive end-to-end football, with both goals seemingly protected by invisible force fields. Searl made more fine saves whilst, at the other end, Thame saw at least two goal-bound efforts cleared off the line.
    Thame bombarded the Taunton goal in the final five minutes but it was Taunton who completed the scoring in injury time. Whilst the Thame defence ?slept? Loris Ghiglia played a good ball to substitute Alexis Piper who cut in from the left and fired a close shot that Searl managed to parry, but Piper met the rebound to finish well.

    Thame United: Searl, Hopkins (Boland), N. Rhodes, Eason, Hocking, Tregurtha, Fisher, A. Rhodes, Goffe, Raja (Way), Bradley (Bowden).

    THAME travel to Bromsgrove Rovers next Saturday, 11th March.

    Thame United are holding a race evening at Thame Cricket Club on Saturday 18th March. Tickets are priced at

  • CAB Accommodation Assurance

    ASSURANCES have been issued today that Thame’s Citizens Advice Bureau is secure in the Market House building, for the foreseeable future.
    Concerns were raised after it was reported on this website that the CAB had been issued with notice to vacate the building by its landlord, South Oxfordshire District Council.
    Peter Todd, Chairman of the CAB’s Trustees, told ThameNews.Net today: “The Thame CAB was never formally requested to leave the Market House. Discussions are currently underway with both SODC and Thame Town Council and I am happy that everything is being done to secure the bureau’s accommodation in Thame.”

    ED. ThameNews.Net does NOT print unsubstantiated material and I was satisfied that the confirmation of our information at the time of reporting, was made by a creditable source, and still are.
    Happily, Peter Todd’s comments today will bring relief to many local people who feared the loss of our CAB.

    Photo: Peter Todd Courtesy of Thame Witchert Rotary web site