Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Sad beginning to a very busy week for Thame Bowls Club

    IT’S been another busy week for Thame Bowls Club which started with a Mixed team travelling to The Oxford Bowls Club (formerly Oxford Rover) to play their last ever game with this old established Oxford club, which will be closing at the end of the season due to re-organisation of the Sports Ground at what is now the BMW factory. So a sad occasion but nevertheless an exciting game which the Oxford players narrowly won by just two shots.

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    Top rink for Thame was that of Marion Keal, Frances Goodyear, Brad Liddle and skip Casper DuPreez winning by 22 clear shots. On Thursday a Thame Mixed team entertained local rivals Princes Risborough and once again proved too strong for the visitors. Winning on four of the five rinks, the Thame players won by 40 clear shots, the outstanding Triple being that of Marion Keal, Jill Brooks and skip Brad Liddle who won 28 shots to 6.

    On Thursday Thame Men’s League team failed to reach the final of the League Cup when they were defeated in the semi-final by Division 1 side Banbury Central A. Played at South Oxford Bowls Club, Thame put up a spirited fight and after 12 ends of the 18 ends competition were on level terms, but gradually dropped shots on three of the rinks to eventually lose by 30 shots overall. Only Graham Penn’s rink was successsful for Thame winning by 10 shots.

    Friday evening at Thame saw the annual Ladies versus Gents match, always a competitive but friendly occasion. Ladies Captain Maire Duncan had six strong rinks of Ladies playing against Captain John Timms Men’s team, and after a closely fought encounter the Men’s team finally triumphed by 17 shots. Honours were even with each team winning three of the sic rinks but the top Men’s rink of new bowler Kris Warwick, Terry Emberson, Richard Plested and skip Mike Smith, proved to be the difference winning by the 17 shots margin of victory.

    On Saturday a Mixed team travelled to near neighbours, Long Crendon, for a five Rinks match, and once again Thame came out winners of a closely contested match by just nine shots. Winning skips Les Canfield ably assisted by Margaret Boynton, John Wheeler and Bill Giles, and Graham Penn supported by Thomas Tisbury, John Walker, and Hazel Westcott, proved to be the difference between these two closely matched sides.

    On Sunday morning Thame Ladies travelled to Oxford City & County to play their semi final of the Top Club competition. Although Hazel Westcott got the Thame Ladies off to a winning start in the Singles match, in the other three matches consisting of Pairs, Triples and Fours the Thame Ladies were all narrowly beaten by their much more experienced opponents.

    A very full week for the Thame bowlers finished on Sunday, August 16, with the annual Men’s drawn pairs competition, the Potter Cup. Ten pairs of bowlers competed for this trophy on a ’round robin’ basis, and at the end of a closely contested competition, the eventual winners were Matthew Canfield and Vic Brooks.

    If you are interested in following Thame Bowls Club news, visit the website at www.thamebowlsclub.co.uk

  • Generator stolen from building site

    THAMES Valley Police is appealing for information following a burglary (non-dwelling) in Thame over night, between August 20/21.  Offender(s) broke into a building site in Chinnor Road and stole a generator.

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    If you have seen any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area or have any information relating to this message, please call the police on the 24 hour non-emergency telephone number 101.

    Alternatively if you have information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online @ crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

  • Hard works pays off for Thame’s GCSE students

    GCSE Results 2015 Pic 1 (400x267)

    GCSE results day today was an occasion for much happiness and celebration at Lord Williams’s School, Thame, as 68% of students learned that they had achieved five or more GCSE passes at A* – C grades, including English and Mathematicsm and 94% achieved five or more passes at A* – G grades.

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1Headteacher, David Wybron, was full of praise for the achievements of students, “It is a great pleasure to see such happy students in school today. It is clear that hard work pays off and I would like to congratulate our students on the results of their considerable efforts over the last two years. For many, their achievements are outstanding. I would also like to thank all the teachers and support staff, who guided them successfully through their studies.”
    seans_choice_crendon_bedsThe following students gained at least seven passes at grade A* or A:
    Nicholas Baker, Annabel Baldwin, Oscar Benson-Gaunt, Tilly Bryson, Joel Bullivant, Megan Carter, Anna Coates, Caitlyn Cobley, Freya Craig, Lucy Daniels, Francesca Della Valle, Conor Fleming, Emma Fotherby, Holly Gutteridge, Johannes Hafstad, Isabel Hambly, Shannah Hatch, Eliska Holland, William Hollyer, Kira Hutson, Alexander Ingell, Abbie Jamison, Joel Kandiah, Graham Kemp, William Kendall, Heather Knight, Rachael Knight, Kieran Lee, Megan Lennon, Anna Macdougall, Katie Martin, Eleanor McManus, Holly McRobert, Ignacio Mendi Camara, Kelly Ng, Melissa O’Reilly, Daniel Pearce, Eve Pilley, Aysha Saeed, Scott Sellars, Hannah Shreeve, Alex Slatter, Elinor Solly, Kasper Spragg, Angel Strachan, Emma Wainwright, Benjamin Williams, David Wood and Samantha Workman.

    SOURCE: Press release

  • ‘Action!’ from Thame in the Great British High Street competition

    THE team behind Thame’s entry in the Great British High Street have been seen out and about this week, recording video footage of some of the town’s independent retailers and others, talking about their experiences of living and running businesses, organisations and events in the town. So far, those interviewed on camera by Helen Johns who is coordinating Thame’s application, include Luise Pattinson from The Book House, Yvonne Maxwell of the Thame Arts and Literary festival, Butcher, Tom Newitt, The Jewellery Workshop, Brothers Hair Salon and David Dodds talking about the draw to the High Street of Thame Museum.

    Helen Johns interviewing the Mayor of Thame, Nichola Dixon, and Market stall holder, Chris Hurdman. The two cameramen are Ben Cross and Josh Parker
    Helen Johns interviewing the Mayor of Thame, Nichola Dixon, and Market stall holder, Chris Hurdman. The two cameramen are Ben Cross & Josh Parket

    Yesterday, the team were in the market interviewing Market trader, Chris Hurdman about the important role the market plays in the economy of Thame High Street. The footage will all form part of Thame’s entry application online along with photographs and text to support it.

    Thame is applying to win in the Market Towns category of the Great British High Street Competition, to recognise the town’s efforts to strengthen and improve the facilities and offerings available in the town centre in recent years. These include activities to increase footfall and tourism, such as the Midsomer Murders publicity and walking trails, events such as the Thame Food Festival, the Thame Arts & Literature Festival (TAL), Music in the Park, the Open Doors business event, and community initiatives such as Thame’s ground-breaking Neighbourhood Plan, which won an award for innovation in 2014.

    seans_choice_crendon_bedsBesides the £50,000 prize money, Google have announced that they will be offering digital workshops to 100 retailers in each of the seven winning locations of the Great British High Street Competition. Retailers will learn how to use social media, develop their websites and get one-to-one advice from Google’s expert technicians. There is also a special new prize for towns who have become ‘rising stars’ or for local people who have made an invaluable personal contribution to their local high street.

    The Great British High Streets Competition was set up last year through the Department for Communities and Local Government and is backed by major sponsors including Boots, M & S, Argos, Costa and The Post Office. It is a great way of sharing successful ideas to regenerate high streets and make them more vibrant places for shopping, leisure and enjoyment.

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1Helen Johns, who is coordinating the Thame entry, said: “High streets are a vital part of our community and make an important contribution to the economy through the billions of pounds they generate and the thousands of jobs they support in retail, leisure and other businesses. There’s a renewed buzz on our high streets and this competition is searching for the very best ideas, innovation and creativity. This is great news for Thame and, fingers crossed, our entry will be successful.”

    Shortlisting will take place in mid September and then the public will be asked to vote online for their favourite town. The public vote will count for 50% of the final outcome, with the panel of judges voting for the other 50%. The winners are expected to be announced at the end of October.

    For more information, go to www.thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk

  • Meet the ‘Towersey Fringe’ team and buy tickets

    THE Towersey Fringe team will be outside Thame Town Hall on Saturday, August 22, selling tickets and to tell you about their event “Bands, Beer and Comedy!” taking place at Towersey Playing Fields from 2 pm on Sunday, August 30. This event is being staged to raise money for the improvement of the facilities at Towersey Playing Fields which are used by many people from Thame and surrounding villages.

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    Free entry to the afternoon event allows you access to local ales provided by XT, local bands providing live music, food stalls, retail stalls, children’s amusements and more. Tickets are available from the Towersey Fringe team on Saturday for the brilliant evening of comedy which follows with four of the country’s top comedians (contains adult humour!).

    Headlining at what is the biggest comedy event to be staged in the area will be the fantastic Richard Herring who will be taking time out of his run at Leicester Square to perform at this fundraising event.  Joining Richard will be ‘A comedian who makes you feel glad to be alive’ (The Guardian) – Dominic Holland, stand-up songstress Carly Smallman and the outrageously French Marcel Lucont!

    Entry to the site is free, as is parking.  The comedy begins at 7.00 pm and tickets for this are £20 each (discounts for multiple tickets).  (Sorry, but you will not be allowed to bring your own drink onto the site.) You can find out more about this event at www.towerseyfringe.co.uk

     

    SOURCE: Contributed

  • Appreciation for Thame’s Local Produce stall

    A stall at Thame’s weekly, Tuesday Market, has been presented with a Certificate of Appreciation by the Mayor of Thame, Nichola Dixon, and Mike Broun, Chairman of the Thame branch of the National Market Traders Federation, and Head of the Thame Market Co-operative which runs Thame market.

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    Picture by Nick White

    Amanda Hopcroft and Lisa Honey who ‘man’ the The Local Produce stall at the Upper High Street end of the market, sell produce on behalf of other local producers including cake bakers from the WI. If they hadn’t taken it over there would be no produce stall on the market. It is the local producers that wanted to show their thanks to the two ladies.

    seans_choice_crendon_bedsThe Mayor was in attendance at Thame market yesterday, drumming up support for her Charity Parachute jump (Link HERE to find out more and donate) on August 29, in aid of her two chosen charities, The Thame and District Day Centre and Thame to Thame, which is raising funds to help the village of Thame, (pronounced Tam-ay) devastated by the Napal earthquake back in April.

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1Yesterday was the annual Thame Market Community Day, run by the Thame Market Traders’ Co-operative which gives local good causes the chance to showcase what they do, sell items to raise funds and recruit new volunteers. LINK TO PICTURES FROM THE COMMUNITY DAY HERE

     

     

     

  • Pro Tesco group delivers pledges to Thame’s Mayor

    THE pro-Tesco group, Thame Needs Tesco (TNT) this morning  presented 600 ‘Pledges of support’ to Thame’s Mayor, Nichola Dixon.

    From L to R - Peggy Long, Rachel Lester, Mayor Thame Nichola Dixon and members of Thame Needs Tesco
    From L to R – Peggy Long, Rachel Lester, Mayor Thame Nichola Dixon and members of Thame Needs Tesco

    The presentation is the latest in the battle for the Planners’ ears, over a planning application by Tesco to build a supermarket, a petrol station and office accommodation on the DAF site, off the Thame by-pass. Last week, another group opposed to the plans, Thame Centre First, delivered a 3,000 signature petition to the Town Clerk, Graham Hunt (See LINK)

    The Pledge forms collected by TNT and signed individually by local residents after a comprehensive door-knocking exercise by members of the group, calls on the planning authority, South Oxfordshire District Council, to recommend approval of Tesco’s application (Full application details HERE)

    On the pledge forms, TNT lists five main benefits they believe the plans offer for Thame. These are choice, competition and value-for-money shopping; encouraging local people to shop in Thame, rather than other nearby towns; 200 new jobs; maintaining business use and valuable employment on the Howland Road site and better pedestrian, cycle and bus links with other parts of Thame

    Spokesperson for TNT, Rachel Lester, said: “The town council will be meeting next week to discuss the Tesco application, so we wanted to make sure that every member is fully aware of the support that exists in the town. Everyday folk in Thame want their views to be taken into consideration, so we were pleased to present the Mayor with copies of the 600 plus pledges that we have collected, and have lodged in support of the plans.

    “We hope the town council will take the right decision and recommend the application for approval.”

    Members of both Thame Needs Tesco and Thame Centre First will be among those speaking at the town council meeting next Tuesday, August 25, at 7.30pm in the town hall.

  • Coroner rules Megan’s death was accidental

    A Coroner has today ruled that 18 year-old Megan Biddle, from Thame, died from an accidental overdose of migraine tablets and that she had no intention to take her own life.

    Megan Biddle
    Megan Biddle

    The Coroner was told that Megan, who was a pupil at Lord Williams’s school, had stopped taking beta-blockers several months before, after she stopped suffering with migraine attacks. However, for some reason, assumed by her family to be because her migraines had returned, Megan went into her brother Jack’s bedroom on the morning of Sunday, March 1, and asked him to call an ambulance because she said she had taken some of the pills and was feeling unwell.

    seans_choice_crendon_bedsDespite being taken to hospital, where she seemed to rally after gaining consciousness, Megan’s conditioned later deteriorated and she died in the early hours of Monday, March 2. After learning of Megan’s death, her friends and family went onto social media to share memories of their popular, ‘amazing and caring friend’, known as Bid, using the hashtag #thingsbiddid

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    Megan’s mother, Alison Biddle, who coincidentally is supposed to be celebrating her  20th Wedding Anniversary with husband Iain today, said: “Megan was an energetic and lively teenager with everything to live for and her whole life ahead of her.”

  • Thame development wins international masterplanning award

    THE masterplan for a housing development on a site included in Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan, has won an award for Planning Excellence. The Developer of the site on land West of Thame Park Road, Commercial Estates Group, has said that it believes the awardand ‘sets the precedent for neighbourhood planning on an international scale’.

    The Canadian Institute of Planners annual Awards for Planning Excellence judges projects from around the world on their innovation, impact on the planning profession and implementation potential.

    A Development sketch of the planned development West of Thame
    A Development sketch of the planned development West of Thame

    Planning permission was granted for 175 new homes on the site in 2013. It was allocated in the town’s Neighbourhood Plan, which was the first in the country to be adopted through the neighbourhood planning process. The judges commended the interactive public engagement that took place before and during the evolution of the proposals, and commented that the results of this process were evident in the final masterplan.

    Canadian born Erik Watson from Civic Studios assisted CEG with the creation of a masterplan for the site.

    seans_choice_crendon_bedsJon Allen, Development Project Manager at Commercial Estates Group, commented: “It’s fantastic to receive international recognition for the proposals, having spent a number of years working closely with our masterplanners and the local community to develop them.

    “We worked hard to understand the character of the local area and engaged with the Town Council and residents to ensure that the masterplan not only respects, but enhances the area. The judges mentioned that the design of the Thame development is compatible with that of an old English town and were impressed by the amount of greenspace included, from public gardens to orchards and country lanes.

    “Both the inclusion and the design of these features were informed by conversations with local people, and the efforts made by the development team to gain a real understanding of the local area and what makes it special.”

    Independent Mortgae Solutions (RGB) - R1The masterplan and design features are detailed in the Design and Access Statement which formed part of the outline planning permission. The site will now be brought forward by a national house-builder who will need to submit a reserved matters (detailed) planning application for approval prior to the development getting underway.

  • Support the Mayor’s charities at Thame market today

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    DON’T forget to take the children along to Thame Market tomorrow for the Community Fun Day, organised by the Thame Market Traders.  Among the many local organisations and charities with their stall and activities, staff and supporters of the Thame and District Day Centre will be there with a few games for the children to play and some colouring to do related to parachute jumping, supporting Thame’s Mayor Nichola Dixon to promote her sponsored parachute jump.

    Cllr Nichola Dixon’s jump, on Saturday, August 29, will directly help the day centre and raise funds for the Thame to Thame, Earthquake appeal too. To find out more about the Mayor’s brave challenge, come and meet her TODAY at Thame market, or to donate directly, visit: www.gofundme.com/mayorofthame

    More information about Thame Market Community Day here:
    https://www.thame.net/events/thame-market-community-day