THAME’S Oxfam Charity bookshop in Cornmarket, has announced the winner of its recent Roald Dahl ‘Golden Ticket’ competition, held throughout the summer holidays.
Rosa Horsman (R) with her younger sisters, and Clare Davidson, Oxfam Book shop Manager
Rosa Horsman, from Thame, was the winner, correctly answering all the questions, and gave a very good reason why Fantastic Mr Fox was her family`s favourite book. Rosa wrote: “It’s brilliantly written and it’s very funny, and Mr Fox is a determined and clever family man. A book to be enjoyed over and over again.!
Rosa, 10, and her younger sisters, Lois and Freya, both aged six, will enjoy using the Golden Ticket at the Roald Dahl Museum in Great Missenden, before they return to school next month .
Shop Manager, Clare Davidson, said: “ We hope to run more children`s competitions in the coming months, so keep popping in. I would like to thank all the Children who entered and raised over £40 towards the Syrian Refugees appeal.”
THAMES Valley Police are seeking the help of the public for information after a young woman was punched in what appears to have been an unprovoked attack in Thame.
The incident happened on the Phoenix Trail in the early hours of Sunday morning, August 21.
A police spokesperson told Thame.Net: “The victim, an 18-year-old woman, was walking in that location when she was punched in the face by an unknown person. She then saw four people running away.
“Anyone with any information about the incident should please call the 24-hour Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 101.
“If you do not want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
“If you contact us about this investigation again please quote reference 43160231115.”
NOT only did we see the start of the seventh series of The Great British Bake Off on Wednesday, but we also had last year’s winner hitting our screens with ‘The Chronicles of Nadiya’ which, as Thame Food Festival Patron, Lotte Duncan suggested, should probably win a BAFTA for it’s title alone!
“All at Thame Food Festival Towers will be watching to see how the first week goes,” said Lotte. “What disasters lay in wait for these GBBO newbies?
“We count ourselves extremely lucky to be having our own BIG THAME BAKE in the town again on the day of the festival, and we’re even luckier to have some GBBO competitors, and of course the very lovely Nadiya herself.” They will be judging and baking on the day of the festival, September 24 – and they’ll all be interviewed by Lotte at 2.15 pm on the Big Thame Baking Stage.
Do you have any questions for Thame’s baking stars? Does your tart have the proverbial soggy bottom? Does your cake sag in the middle? And do your meringues have a mind of their own?
Well, send in your question now and you could be one of the lucky ones to have it answered.
Email your question to bake@thamefoodfestival.co.uk
THE BIG THAME BAKE – FULLY RISEN – 2.15PM ON THE BIG THAME BAKING STAGE WITH:
Nadiya Hussain
Richard Burr
Miranda Gore Browne
Chetna Makan
STUDENTS at Lord Williams’s School have achieved outstanding GCSE results with 76% of students achieving five or more passes at A*- C, including English and Mathematics. These results are the best ever in the history of the school!
Headteacher, David Wybron was full of praise for this year’s cohort, saying: “Following on from very successful A Level results last week for our Sixth Form students, this is now wonderful news for our Year 11 students. There is no substitute for hard work in terms of fulfilling potential and our students should feel very proud of their achievements. They are a very capable cohort of students who brought such positive energy to their studies and wider interests.
“Students also acknowledge that they couldn’t have achieved such results without the excellent support and encouragement from teachers and support staff in school and from parents and carers at home. Most of them will be returning to the Sixth Form where I am sure they will make a very big impression.”
The following students gained at least seveen passes at grade A* or A: Bethany Airstone, Matthew Bellars, Marcus Birmingham, Harriet Burdett, Harriet Caiger, Lara Carmichael, Daniel Collins, Laura Denton, Nikhil Desai, Eleanor Downer, Ellie Draper, Luke Eaton, Ella Ferris, Lois Freeman, Sam Goode, Alessia Grant, Chiara Gregory, Emily Hake, Nicholas Harbour, Clare Harman, Rufino Herreros-Richards, Jack Hudson, Elspeth Jackson, Imogen Krauze, Florence Lawlor, Adam Lockwood, Ashley Macdonald, Tessa Marsh, Georgia McDermott, James McStay, Lucy Miller, Oliver Moss, Josefine Ng, Lewis Niedzielski, Rory Pearce, Jacob Powell, Isobel Scarborough, Michael Shearwood, George Shreeve, Ella Simms, Sophie Smith, Katie Strathdee, Bex Surridge, Charley Sydenham, Jessica Thomas, Niamh Twyford, Rebecca Van Walwyk and Lucy Webb.
IT was almost a perfect weekend for Thame Town Cricket Club with the First XI taking 20 points with a win against high-flying Amersham and moving away from the relegation zone as a result.
The Second XI took 25 points with a win at Banbury to stay top of Division Five. The Third XI also took 25 points, to cement second place in Division Nine (North) albeit through their opposition forfeiting the game, allowing the team to play a friendly instead. MATCH REPORTS –
Matt McDonald
FIRST Xl – Thame secured a vital victory against second-placed Amersham in the Home Counties League, thereby proving the quality in the side to any doubters, with an excellent all-round display at home last Saturday, August 20. Thame lost the toss and were asked to bat and, with a positive approach, their innings got off to a flyer with Matt Mcdonald (78) and Mike Beard (35) taking them up to 130 for 4, with 21 overs left. However a mini-collapse left Thame on 174 for 8, before Chris Jeffcock and skipper Mike Higgs led Thame to 205 all out in the 48th over. In reply, Amersham started well but Thame produced a determined bowling and fielding display to dismiss the visitors for just 155. Wickets for Hassam Mushtaq (4-28), Adam Phippen (3-33), Mike Higgs (2-26) and Will Rooney (1-25) secured the much-needed victory, which takes Thame 14 points clear of relegation. They travel to take on Datchet this Saturday, August 27.
SECOND XI – After stumbling the previous week, Thame seconds knew that to maintain top spot they simply had to win away at bottom-of-the-table, Banbury Fourths and they didn’t disappoint. Banbury won the toss and chose to bat, but were soon struggling at 42-4 against the opening bowlers, Matt Furness (2-16) and Ian McStay (2-25). Despite Banbury staging a recovery, putting on 58 for the 5th wicket, George Patey (2-8) then made the breakthrough and Chris Penny polished off the tail (4-38), the home side finishing up 134 all out from 46.3 overs. With rain clouds a constant threat, Thame had to score quickly in reply, as Richard Carr (81 not out) and Andy Jinman (19) put on 74 off just 11 overs. With Matt Furness (27 not out) then joining Carr at the crease, Thame reached 135 for 1 from only 22.1 overs. They now entertain Horspath 3rds this Saturday, in Thame, who lie second in the table.
(156 words)
THIRD XI – Thame third XI have now all but sealed second place in Division Nine(North), after their nearest rivals Twyford forfeited the match for lack of players last Saturday. Thame still managed hastily to organise a friendly against Stokenchurch Seconds, however, only to be ultimately frustrated by the weather. Thame bowled the home side out for 110, Ally Ilsley picking up three wickets on his return to the side, while Vimal Desai, Will Bruce-Morgan and Ollie Oxby took one wicket each. Some excellent fielding also gave Thame three run outs. In the chase, Thame started well at 30-0 after eight overs, but the heavens opened and the game was sadly abandoned. They entertain Cropredy Thirds at Lord Bills Upper school ground this Saturday, August 27.
And the show Schedule now available to download from the new website: LINK HERE
This, the latest evolution of the original Thame Show that started as a ploughing match over 130 years ago, is to be know as The Thame Horse and Country Show. It will include many of the same things as the old ‘Oxfordshire County and Thame Show’ including a very big Horse Show with top class Showing Classes, Show Jumping with the country’s very best show jumpers taking part, and Dressage.
There will be a large, well filled Countryside Arena, with local packs of hounds and other animals like Alpacas and Rare Breeds, Cattle & Sheep classes, Shetland Pony Agility, Donkeys & Pony Scurry Driving. Another big attraction will be an Open Dog Show with classes for all including Scruffs that qualify for Crufts in 2017.
As usual, there will be plenty of Trade Stands and a Farmers Market, so plenty of food and drink to chose from.
The original Oxfordshire County & Thame Show was cancelled for 2016, following a number of year of financial losses. An experiment to move the show date to the summer and then back again the following September, both failed to draw the crowds, mostly because of bad weather.
The Directors chose to cancel the show for 2016, in order to protect the assets of the Association concentrate on letting the showground out to other event organisers for the time being.
Visit the new website HERE from time to time, for more details as the show approaches.
A Thame retailer praised the town’s street cleaner for ‘going the extra mile’ this week, after he cleaned and weeded the whole of a narrow passage way in the town, above and beyond his designated duties.
Alan Tipping, pictured during Thame Carnival procession last June
Sally Dickinson, who runs What’s Cooking in Cornmarket, Thame, was concerned about the untidiness of Pump Lane, that runs from her shop through to Brothers Hair Salon in the Buttermarket. Whilst discussing the problem with Alan Tipping, Thame’s popular street cleaner, she was surprised to learn that Alan had been told that Pump Lane wasn’t part of his area as it is not a designated ‘highway’.
However, after a visit to the town hall and phone calls to Oxfordshire County County and South Oxfordshire District Council, as well as Biffa, Sally was able to discover that Pump Lane can be designated as highway and, despite not having been given the official go-ahead by his Manager, Alan spent two hours of his own time making Pump Lane ‘spick and span’ !
Once again, Alan has proven to be worthy of his Service to the Town award, presented to him in 2012, by the then Mayor of Thame, Nigel Champken Woods.
THIS impressive sum was a result of Travelodge HQ in Thame’s fourth, annual Green Day fundraiser, so-called because of the charity’s official brand colour.
At the event, held at Thame Town Cricket Club last Wednesday, August 17, staff pitted their wits against each other in a range of fun activities throughout the day which included a welly wanging competition, a scavenger hunt, a tug of war and the annual cricket match which this year was held between the Travelodge head office team, the company’s tax advisors, FTI Consultancy, and the company’s energy consultants, Smart Metering Systems (SMS). The match was won by the Travelodge head office team
Peter Gowers, Travelodge, Chief Executive Officer with Colin Cousins, Sleepeezee, Finance Director and Sally Hill, Partnership Manager, Macmillan Cancer Support
Included in the £30,000 raised, was a donation of £20,000 from Travelodge’s bed manufacturer, Sleepeezee who produce the company’s popular luxurious king-size, Travelodge Dreamer bed – which has been installed into all of Travelodge’s 38,287 Rooms.
As the bed is so popular with customers, Travelodge and Sleepeezee have made the bed available for people to purchase and for every bed sold, Sleepeezee makes a donation towards Macmillan. The £20,000 donation payment was for Travelodge Dreamer beds sold during the last ten months.
Over 250 people attended Travelodge Green Day which included head office staff and their family and friends. For the first time ever, Travelodge held its own version of Crufts where thirteen dogs participated in the dog show with categories including Best in show, waggiest tail, dog agility, skills and walk to heel.
Meg, the Border Collier who won the dog show
Meg, the Border Collie, aged two years old, won Travelodge Crufts, scoring the highest marks overall. Meg won for scoring highly in all of the challenges, especially in skills and the agility round.
Tom Edwards, Travelodge, Revenue Director,said: “Our annual Green Day is a great opportunity for team building and raising money for our nominated charity. We are a competitive bunch and this year, the head office functions really went above and beyond and organised some truly innovative activities. We had an amazing day, full of fun and laughter and most importantly we raised a lot of money, for a truly deserving cause. I would like to thank everyone for their efforts and support and especially the manufacturers of our Travelodge Dreamer Bed, Sleepeezee, who boosted our total to £30,000, this year with their donation of £20,000.
“Since the charity partnership was launched in 2013, Travelodge’s 10,000 staff members across the company’s 515 UK hotels and at the head office in Thame have raised over £750,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support to help people affected by cancer.”
Sally Hill, from Macmillan Cancer Support said: “We are so grateful for all the support Travelodge staff have given to Macmillan. Their dedication and enthusiasm will ensure that no one has to face cancer alone and we look forward to their continued support.”
Colin Cousins, Sleepeezee, Finance Director, concluded: “Sleepeezee is delighted to participate in this year’s Travelodge Green Day and donate £20,000 to the company’s nominated charity, Macmillan Cancer Support. This donation is the result of a successful partnership between Sleepeezee and Travelodge and is a measure of customer satisfaction with the Travelodge Dreamer bed.”
An independent retailer in Thame, which sells cake-decorating and making equipment internationally, has just said ‘good-bye’ to a class of students from all over the world, who have spent 12 days learning how to make sugarpaste flower sprays with internationally acclaimed specialist, Alan Dunn, in Thame.
Yes, those flowers really ARE made of sugarpaste !
The students were teachers, decorators and hobbiests from places as far as way as Atlanta in Georgia, Italy, Germany, Hong Kong and China. When Thame.Net dropped in to meet the visitors, they were all loving Thame, many of them having explored the town’s pubs and the shops – including one gentleman from Belgium – who happens to be cake-maker to the Belgian Royal Court, who bought several bow ties from Gallant in Greyhound Walk.
Joint owner of the course facilitator, A Piece of Cake in Upper High Street, Norma Laver, said: “It was such a pleasure to meet some amazing, talented people and to see old friends again and meet new ones. I’m looking forward to seeing many of them again next year.”
From L to R – Norma Laver, Michael Lewis-Anderson (cake maker to the Belgian Royal Court), Alan Dunn & Christine Walker. Image courstesy of A Piece of Cake
Norma and her business partner, Jenny Walker, have both won awards for their work. They started APiece of Cake in 1985 and now have one of the most comprehensive online stores supplying cake decorating equipment to the world. They were the first company to manufacture and sell ready-made, ready to use Flower Paste which is used by some of the worlds top cake decorators.
They are both great supporters of charities, most recently taking part in the Ice Bucket challenge, to raise funds for Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the local activity centre for children with special needs, Thomley.
OXFORDSHIRE Fire & Rescue Service were called at 09:28am today (18/08) to a fire in a garage which was quickly spreading to the attached bungalow, in Chestnut Avenue, Thame.
Image courtesy of @HeartThamesNews
Fire appliances from Wheatley, Slade, Watlington and Aylesbury, from neighbouring county Buckinghamshire, quickly attended the fire. The crews used hose reels and firefighting jets to quickly bring the fire under control. Crews were also committed inside the property wearing breathing apparatus to stop the fire from spreading to the adjoining property. Large fans were used to ventilate the property to reduce any further damage from smoke.
The fire was started when a battery for a model aircraft, that was charging in the garage, became overheated and caught fire.
The occupiers of the property got safely out of the house, however one of the occupiers of the property had breathed in smoke when removing dangerous hazards from the garage and was treated by South Central Ambulance service.
Station Manager Reay from OFRS said ” The crews did an excellent job working swiftly and effectively to stop the fire spreading and taking hold in the roof above the living accommodation. The gentleman was checked out by South Central Ambulance service at the scene for smoke inhalation and was given the all clear, having entered the property during the fire. Although this helped to reduce the intensity of the fire, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service always urge that once you are out of the building, and have called the fire service out, you stay out.”
Crews will be doing a hot-strike in the street in the next week giving fire safety advice to residents about the importance of having smoke alarms and the dangers of fire.
Visit www.365alive.co.uk for fire safety advice. If you have a fire safety question please call the free phone community safety helpline on 08000 325 999 or email: community.safety@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Shop Manager, Clare Davidson, said: “ We hope to run more children`s competitions in the coming months, so keep popping in. I would like to thank all the Children who entered and raised over £40 towards the Syrian Refugees appeal.”
