IN a game of two halves/12) on Saturday (09/12) when Thame United came back from being 2-0 down against Abingdon United at half time, to take the points with an 88th minute winner from Ben Gray.
Playing with the ferocious wind behind them in the first half, it was the visitors who dominated territory and possession, although United made a number of early forays into the final third of the field, without troubling Farrow in the Abingdon goal. Nevertheless, the first real action came in the 20th minute when Matt Hall cleared off the line, with Josh Cockerill turning a powerful drive around the post for a corner a minute later. The best chance of the half for United arrived in the 23rd minute, when Ben Gray found himself through on goal, only to see his shot go wide of the near post.
The opening goal arrived for Abingdon on 29 minutes when a cross in to the box was headed against the crossbar with Anaclet Odihambo on hand to head the ball home from close range. It was two on 41 minutes when a through ball inadvertently caught Ellis Hercules on the back and, with Cockerill advancing to collect the original ball, he was out of position and Kieron Cochrane lobbed the ball home from the edge of the box.
While United knew the wind was behind them in the second half, it was still going to be a tough task to turn around a two goal deficit. However, they pulled a goal back only three minutes into the half when a free kick in to the box by skipper Adam Morris was met by the head of Dan West at the far post, with the header beating Farrow, despite the keeper getting a hand to the ball.
Chances came and went for United with West, Morris and Dan Jones all going close before, on 75 minutes, a Jones corner to the far post was poked home by West. At this point, it was United who looked the more likely to get the winner and it duly arrived on 88 minutes. A through ball found Ben Gray on the wide left, who cut in on to his right foot and placed a low shot to Farrow’s left. Whilst Farrow got a hand to the ball, he could not stop it from crossing the line and, at this point, the turn-around was complete.
It was now for Abingdon to push forward and, with almost the last incident of the game, it was a heart in the mouth moment as an Abingdon player went down on the edge of the box, but the referee waved away their appeals.
The result, United’s tenth successive league victory, moves them up to third, and three points off leaders, Highmoor Ibis, with two games in hand.
Thame United 3 Abingdon United 2
United: Cockerill, Evans (Connelly), Hall, Hercules, Coverley, Lynch, Jones, Morris, West, Gray (Jesson), Ricketts Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division
REGULARS to the First Thursday Music Club in Thame, particularly anyone who stays for the ‘graveyard shift’, will be very familiar with musician, songwriter and raconteur, Sir Walter J Wallis. But what they may not know is that Sir Walter is also a poet.
Sir Walter J Wallis, song-writer, musician and poet
As well as recently releasing his latest album, UkedeliA (links to Soundcloud), available on Vinyl, CD & downloads, Sir Walter is about to shake the world of poetry (apparently) when he launches his first book of poems, described as ‘A collection of doodles from his many travels.
To launch his book of poetry, called Petty Cash, Sir Walter will be playing some of his music from the new album sprinkled in among the poems, at the legendary Vintage & Modern Guitar Shop in Thame, on Saturday, December 20, at 11 am.
For those who have yet to experience the mega-octaine, yet enigmatic phenomenon that is Sir Walter J Wallis, he describes his music as: “Dirty rockin’ blues served on a platter of carnage with an eclectic soundscape.” Or, as First Thursday Music Club MC, Phil Westerman put it so eloquently: “Think Seasick Steve, meets James Brown, meets Captin Beefheart.”
Ukedilia, the album cover, photo courtesy of Russell Cobb
Go along on December 20, at 11 am, and see for yourself – and be prepared for anything!
The Book and the album are available in store at Vintage and Modern Guitars, in The Shambles, off Buttermarket, Thame, and as with the first album, The Road To Burlesque, you can also shop at the website: sirwalterjwallis.com, and follow Sir Walter J Wallis on Facebook to keep in touch. Downloads will be available on itunes etc in the new year or send a message and order via Facebook if you’re going to any gigs, to save on postage, and you can pick up your order at the gig.
(1) Thame meets league leader in tough match – NEWBURY and Thatcham Ladies 1st Vs Thame Ladies 1st – Scoree: 4 – 2; November 22, 2014:
THAME took to the road this week with a squad of 12, aiming to take 3 points from their game against Newbury and Thatcham, knowing a hard match was ahead. During the first twenty minutes of the game Thame fought hard, and defended exceptionally well with some amazing saves from keeper Len, and the usual full body lunge and goal-line clearance from Nanna. N&T dominated the play and attack eventually slotting a goal home from a well crossed ball converted into the bottom right corner of the goal.
Thame responded to this well, with a renewed vigour they went on the attack, a well taken 16 from Nanna out to the wing, picked up by Vikki D who then outpaced the opposition with a sprint upfield and a great cross to Chopper who convincingly converted the pass to a goal!! 1-1, and all was well….heading towards the half time whistle with less than a minute to go level pegging. Then N &T unleashed their secret weapon……Charlotte Lynch. With what may be called an error of judgement, the cross D pass was utilised, straight onto the stick of N&T’s forward. A bewildered Len did her best but alas, their strategy had worked, goal number 2 for the home side.
Thame went into their half time goal huddle, stepping over the river of welsh tears. An encouraging team talk from Lizzie, and we were back onto the pitch.
The second half started well, with a rejuvenated Charlotte, buoyed on by team spirit and support, redeeming herself for the earlier faux pas with some intellectual and insightful play. N& T were out hard too, and early on took full advantage of a short corner which they converted from a bullet like strike into the bottom corner, whizzing past Len and Rose. Whilst in the scoring zone they soon extended the lead from a 2v1 attack, with Thame conceding this goal due to poor keeping from the klutz in goal.
Down, but still not out, Thame upped their attacking game and were rewarded with a short corner, a short pass to Spiller, who stopped the ball outside the D, dribbled in and BOOM….goal to Thame, past the keeper, and through the defenders legs. 4-2. However, try as we might the game was played out with no more goals. Once more N&T came out triumphant.
Thame can take many good things from this match. A solid performance from the whole team, midfield worked their little socks off aiding the attacks and pulling off some great defensive moves too. Spiller a well deserving MOM, stepping up to the responsibility of on pitch captain. Defence and forwards all putting their best into the match. Even the aged cripples unable to play gave their all with support, and the ever lovely Alex providing as much as he does week on week. Bring on a win next week ladies!
(2) Thame Ladies 2nd go top of table with win over Reading University – Thame Ladies 2nd Vs University of Reading Women’s 4th; Score: 6-0; November 29, 2014
THIS weekend was a big one at the top of Division four with the top four teams all playing each other. Thame played host to the University of Reading, something of a bogey team for us in prior seasons. Even with Reading arriving with only 9 players, Thame were not expecting an easy match, and so it proved with some pacey running and well-timed interceptions from the young visitors.
But Thame soon settled and with excellent passing, improved team work and by making use of the spare players quickly started scoring. Goals came from Amy Cooper-Tutton (with a great assist from Cathryn Alty), a direct hit from the top of the D from the on-form Kerri Halliday converting a penalty corner, and Alex Andrews doing her usual nifty footwork and tight turns to slot the ball past the keeper. Olivia Quesnel was unlucky not to score with some excellent play – Reading’s goalie was seemingly made of elastic, able to reach in to all corners of the goal, but Thame’s relentless attack of the rebounding ball meant that they finished the first half 4-0 up.
The second half saw no slacking off by Reading’s runners, and the defence did not get to have an easy game, Tasha McMorrow in particular digging deep to stay on top of a speedy forward, and Becca Lay working hard in midfield, but they kept out all efforts on goal and defended the penalty corners with their usual composure. At the other end Thame continued to put massive pressure on the Reading defence but luck (and our finishing?) were not on our side and only two more goals were scored.
Still, a convincing 6-0 win puts Thames Ladies 2s on the top of the table with an amazing goal difference of 49. Man of the match went to Sally Skea for her tireless work and ball distribution in midfield, as well as her refusal to let the ball out of Reading’s D, she just kept sending it back in!
(3) Two wins on the bounce for the mighty thirds – Sonning Men’s 7th Vs Thame Men’s 3rd; Score 1 – 4; November 22, 2014
COULON’S army march on! Sharp passing, solid defending and excellent finishing. Cliff’s training is really paying dividends as the 3rds, with a slightly weakened team, played some excellent hockey to record their second win in a row.
Great build up play from the tireless Tom Creswell and the excellent Ben Caiger led to Harvey Allen, the Goal Machine, smashing an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. A rare lapse in the rock solid defence allowed Sonning to sneak an equaliser just before half time, but rousing words at half time did the job as the 3rds turned on the style in the second period with three unanswered goals.
The first was a sharp finish from the everyoung Clifford Brown, the next an excellent finish from Cam Sk after flowing passing between the halves and the forwards. The final goal was scored from a penalty corner – Richard Creswell dummying the shot and sneaking a little pass the Clifford Brown to slam home his second. Man of the match? Ben Caiger for all round excellence, but special mention to Mike Caiger on his debut – superb performance in central defence. Also to Tom Creswell, whose stick skills were top notch and who never stopped running. Joe Turton once again imperious at left back – never lets us down.
Cracking game, cracking effort, and cracking result. Nice one lads.
Dear Editor, Having read recently in the local press that Tesco have announced their intended new store plans for Thame, involving redevelopment of a large site on Howland Road to include a petrol station and large car park, I would like to comment that I don’t believe Thame needs a new supermarket, certainly not one on such a large scale.
Tesco have made several previous attempts to build a supermarket in Thame which have all been rejected, and I hope this one will be. We already have three major supermarkets in the town, which appear to meet present needs, and to create such a large new supermarket would, in my view, adversely change the configuration of the town. Much of the town’s attraction and the success of its High Street is based on the fact that the shopping experience is integrated with other facilities, from coffee shops to estate agents and professional services firms. The concentration of footfall helps smaller independent retailers to survive and this makes the High Street more interesting and diverse in its appeal.
Thame is a shining example of a town with a vibrant High Street, at a time when high streets in other towns are failing – at least in part because of the existence of out-of-town retail parks. To erect an out-of-town supermarket would split the retail experience, not to mention causing major traffic issues. I am surprised Tesco is proposing such a major development at a time when they are experiencing significant difficulties from competitors such as Aldi and Lidl – not to mention black holes in their accounts. Market research says it is the small store format – convenience and ‘express’ stores – which is gaining the upper hand at present; this reflects changes in people’s shopping habits focusing on smaller, more frequent shopping trips, driven partly by the economic situation and squeeze on household budgets.
If Tesco would like to withdraw their current grand plans, instead submitting proposals for a small-format in-town store, this might receive greater support, as they would seek to enhance the high street experience and diversity, not drain it and hasten its demise.
THAMES Valley Police is appealing for information following a burglary in Thame on Saturday (6/12).
Thames Valley Police Alert
At 2.30am on Saturday (6/12), a property in Chalgrove Road was entered via an insecure rear door. The offender was disturbed and made off, stealing a bike from the rear of the property.
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.
UPDATE: More pictures from the weekend’s Christmas events – FROM live reindeer, lanterns and lights, beautiful singing, steam trains, swinging rock, Santas galore and give-aways, three days of festive fun has well and truly launched Thame towards Christmas.
On Friday the Big Christmas Event got under way as the town centre began to gradually fill up with colourful stalls promoting everything from local groups and charities, hats and scarves, Toffee and fudge and mulled wine, to French crepes, wines, fois grois and Normany cakes. Families gathered around the stage in the closing darkness, in anticipation of the grand finale, the switching on of Thame’s Christmas lights by the special VIP guest, Kerry Katona.
And when the big moment came, after a talent-packed build up of stage entertainment, a huge cheer for the popular local mum and reality TV star, filled the crisp night air revealing for the first time, the new, replacement white and gold themed Christmas lights.
The following day was Small Business Saturday, a celebration and promotion of small, independent shops and businesses, organised by Thame4Business with the support of the town council and South Oxfordshire District Council. Throughout the day shoppers were welcomed in shops by free mulled wines, mince pies, Bucks Fizz, some great special offers and the chance to support local charities and win raffle prizes, as the town centre throbbed to the sounds of the Thame Pop Choir, Thame Concert Band, Sing Community Choir, a sing-along to the music from the film ‘Frozen’, and live bands in The Shambles, Buttermarket, outside the Guitar Shop. A French Market stall courtesy of Thame’s twin town, Montesson, a Hog roast next to Wren’s butchers and Thame Round Table’s Father Christmas & his sleigh in the Upper High Street added to the holiday feel.
A fully equiped fire engine from the local fire station and Christmas music in Swan Walk all added to the fun and festivities on what the local shops hoped would be a bumper trading day for them, with only three more weekends left for Christmas shopping, a vital time for the small, independent shops that are the life-blood of the town centre’s economy and Thame’s character and vitality.
The fun continued into Sunday, when more than 150 Santa-clad runners of all ages and abilities, some pushing babies and toddlers in pushchairs, others accompanied by dogs, set off in the drizzle from Thame Town Hall, to run, jog or walk a 3K Santa Dash in aid of the Florence Nightingale Hospice, organised in conjunction with Thame Lions Club.
After a high-energy warm-up courtesy of fitness experts from Thame Leisure Centre, dressed as reindeer, local DJ Paul Biz was on hand to pump up the crowd with a selection of classic Christmas tunes, (both before and after the event) to get everyone in the mood.
The Mayor of Thame, Cllr Jeannette Matelot, also lent a helping hand giving out medals to fun-runners at the finish line, along with a team of volunteers and marshals from Thame Lions Club. Every child received a special gift from Santa’s very own sack on the day!
Image by Paul Roberts
“We’re thrilled to see over 150 festive fun runners taking part in our very first festive fun run in Thame,” commented FNHC’s Karen Shardlow. “We’ve had some fantastic support from the local community, including Thame Lions Club, Thame Town Council and the Mayor of Thame – we simply couldn’t have done it without you all, so a huge thank you to everyone involved in supporting this event, including all our wonderful runners, on behalf of Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity.”
She added: “Pledges are now being counted, and we hope to raise over £2,000 from this event in aid of the Hospice.”
Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity needs to raise over £600,000 each year to ensure the continued funding of local palliative care services for families affected by life-limiting illness, including a 12-bedded in-patient unit and Day Hospice, based at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, and home-based services such as the Florrie’s Children’s Team and Nightingale 24/7 Care.
Florence Nightingale Hospice recently celebrated its Silver Jubilee year. 25 years on, it is still providing vital Hospice care to patients and their families across Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and parts of Oxfordshire, including Thame, Haddenham, Chinnor and surrounding villages.
This weekend Thame community came together as it usually does at this time of year, and as it will no doubt continue to do, with school nativity plays, choral concerts, carols around the Christmas tree, special church services, turkey ordering, present-making and Christmas shopping – before the big day arrives – in just over two weeks time!
THAME has a growing reputation for its choice of interesting independent shops, from prize-winning butchers, gift shops, flower shops, ladies’ and gents’ boutiques and stationers, restaurants, pubs and cafes, to a unique owner-managed Italian deli and a wonderful, independent bookshop, attracting shoppers from all over the district who come to enjoy the festive ambiance of an historic market town with the added bonus of FREE parking close by.
These days local, independent retailers face many challenges, not least the growth of on-line shopping. So, the challenge is to provide good quality goods combined with excellent product knowledge and great customer service – all things you can expect when you shop in your local High Street, and particularly here in Thame.
From Friday, December 6, the Christmas lights will be turned on, the mince pies and mulled wine will be tempting the taste beds of shoppers and visitors in the cafes, and Thame’s shop windows will be looking their seasonal best – all ready to help make present buying an adventure and a pleasure.
So, whether you’ve already made your present-buying list, or looking for some Christmas gift ideas, Thame.Net is here to help and in return, you’ll be supporting the local economy and helping to sustain the vibrancy and choice in your local High Street.
Thame High Street boasts more than its fair share of hair salons and one of the most stylish is Brothers in Buttermarket, where, apart from a perfect coiffeur, the Aveda products used reflect the salon’s ethos to care for the world we live in.
Give gifts of joy this Christmas – Save lives in Nepal
At Brothers there’s a choice of hair product present ideas to “Give gifts of joy this Christmas and Save lives in Nepal.” The green paper on Brothers’ Aveda gift sets is handcrafted and employs around 5,500 people in Nepal – helping to change lives. With a range of gifts from just £12, there’s something for everyone’s Christmas budget. Visit Brothers’ website or pop into the salon to see the full range.
Help style your man
For the gentleman of any age who loves clothes, a short stroll to the top of Buttermarket, takes you towards Waitrose via Greyhound Walk where, on the left you will find one of Thame’s smartest shops, Gallant. Here something special from their most popular brand, Circle of Gentlemen will make any man happy on Christmas morning.
Circle of Gentlemen burgandy, navy & white bold-check shirt
Circle of Gentlemen shirts retail between £139.95 and £149.95. The jacket pictured is from a range from £395 to £525. The orange jeans and jacket pictured are £485 for the jacket and £145 for the stunning jeans.
Another favourite brand among Gallant’s regular customers is Seven For All Mankind whose wonderfully tactile, Cashmere blend shirts retail between £145 and £200. For those of us on a smaller budget but who still want to give our man something stylishly special, how about a pair of Duchamp socks which retail at £16, or an Alex Begg & Co scarf, Scottish made, at £59.95?
Duchamp socks
Alternatively a Giorgio Fedon, Italian made wallet would thrill any man.
Ready for snow!
It’s winter, and many of us (including me) are desparately hoping for some proper, seasonal weather – and that means snow! Well, according to the UK Weather Forecast web page between December and the end of February, colder than average conditions are expected overall and especially when compared with last winter, with a much greater frequency of winter weather which includes snow, frosts and below average temperatures.
Boystoys Snowmobile
Snow means sledging and new in stock at Thame’s bicycle shop, 2 Wheels, is a range of the very latest in sledging, the Boyztoys Snow Mobile at £79.99, the Lowrider, the Dragon Glider at £69.99, the Warp Speed Slider at £99 and a variety of Sound Barrier Sledges – what better present for a boy or a girl, meaning they’ll be ready for some winter fun when the snow comes.
The Frog Balance bike
A new bike for Christmas is guaranteed to set any child on the path to a pastime that could turn into a healthy interest or sport that can last a life-time. At 2 wheels, in High Street, Thame, Manager Dave and his experienced and knowledgeable staff will help you chose from a fabulous range of Frog Bikes for all ages. These are made of the lightest aluminium – a far cry from the heavy and cumbersum child’s bike of the past. Frog Bikes start with the ‘Tadpole’ balance bike for the very young, priced at £100, through to Frog Bikes for older children costing from £100 to £250. The top size child’s Frog road bike costs between £400 and £450.
The other ‘must have’ for children and young people is the micro scooter, the design and variation of which continues to develop and grow. From the Mini Seat 3-in-1, Micro Scooter for 1 – 5 year-olds, to the Sprite & TRIXX for 6 – 12 year-olds and adult Micro Scooters, 2 Wheels, Thame, has a wide selection to suit any active young person who’s ready to roll! http://www.micro-scooters.co.uk/
Books for everyone!
Whilst gift-wrapping a bicycle (Click here if you really want to know how) can be a bit of a challenge, the gift of a book for young readers who like to take a break from out-door fun, or to snuggle up in the corner of the sofa to be read to when it’s raining outside, or at bedtime, is both very acceptable and easy to wrap!
Thame’s independent, gem of bookshop, The Book House, at the bottom of the High Street, has been feeding the thirst of Thame’s bookworms for over 35 years and as well as stocking thousands of contemporary fiction, crime, classics or non-fiction books for adults, The Book House is a Children’s Fiction specialist. A charming book guaranteed to delight any child of reading age – and to illicit smiles of pleasure to any dog-loving adult reading the book aloud, is Emma Chichester Clark’s illustrated diary of a cheeky, characterful dog, Plumdog.
Written from the dog’s point of view in a neat, child-like lower case print as if in pencil by hand, the illustrated diary records what happens to Plumdog on his walks with his owners, the other dogs he meets and what they get up to, with great wit, humour and – dare I say – aplomb.
Humour of a more adult sort is, as usual, the literary fare dished up by Simon Hoggart, and following on from his hilarious ‘mickey take’ of the sort of excruciatingly, boastful and self-satisfied, Round-robin letters that fall on our doormats at Christmas time, with The Cat That Could Open The Fridge, and The Hamster That Loved Puccini, his latest book, The Round Robin Letters, is an anthology of these. It’s guaranteed to have any reader, but the most thick-skinned proponant of such correspondence, chuckling with mirth over the Christmas Port.
Someone else with a talent to amuse, and well-known here in Thame as our ex Member of Parliament, is Boris Johnson. His latest book however, is a serious and illuminating look at ‘The Churchill Factor‘ and what the fly leaf of the book describes as ‘the singular brilliance of one of the most important leaders of the twentieth century’.
Not only does the book probingly illuminate Churchill’s majestic genius as an historian, journalist, a soldier and a peace-maker, but its author reveals aspects of Winston’s personal and private life, including his various ‘youthful daliances’, and climaxes with his wooing of, his relationship with, and the influence of his beloved wife, Clementine.
The Churchill Factor reads as Boris Johnson speaks – chatty yet flowery, spilling over with enthusiasm for the subject, with an overall feel of ‘letting the reader in’ on personal knowledge of the great man ‘with a titanic ego’ that is not common knowledge.
A very informative and entertaining read that celebrates ‘The Greatest Briton’ on the eve of the fiftieth anniversary of his death.
The gift of music!
Thame has a very vibrant music scene, especially among the young, as witnessed by the ever-growing popularity of the First Thursday Music Club, open mic nights at The James Figg. Many of the musicians who rock up every month are former pupils of The Lucas Guitar School, from where Kevin Lucas has been nurchering Thame’s bass and guitar players for almost 15 years. One of Kevin’s gift vouchers could well set your son, daughter, granddaughter or grandsonon well on their way to becoming an accomplished musician or just able to play for pleasure – Kevin even has several older pupils, returning to playing the guitar well after leaving their teenage years behind!
Call Kevin on his palendromic phone number, 01844 21712, to discuss how may lessons you would like to give and he will arrange a gift token for you.
Take a break with Christmas lunch!
Taking a break from Christmas shopping in Thame, you’re spoilt for choice. Apart from the many cafes up and down the High Street, the town boasts a wide variety of enticing restaurants, from top notch dining at The Thatch, where their Winter all-day menu and great pub grub offers great quality and value.
If Italian food takes your fancy, Thame’s branch of Prezzo’s Winter lunch offer is very tempting, at two courses and a glass of prosecco for £15.95 or three courses for £17.95. Look out for their Christmas board outside the shop in North Street. “The stars are coming out this Christmas – The party planner, the perfect gift-giver, the friend who treks through the snow or the little angel who steals the show…. celebrate with all your stars at Prezzo this festive season with three set menus, starting from £15.95″ Web link: http://www.prezzorestaurants.co.uk/christmas
FRESH flower bouquets make a wonderful gift or bring a touch of natural beauty into your home at Christmas. At BIZZIE LIZZIE in the Upper High Street (close to the Swan pub), Katie Virdi, her mum Billie and their team of experienced and creative florists, offer a stunning range of festive floral designs to chose from and will deliver within a 10 mile radius of Thame.
To see the full range of BIZZIE LIZZIE’s Christmas flower bouquets and baskets, visit their website or take a 360 degree tour of their beautiful shop here.
Bizzie Lizzie also has a fantastic range of Christmas decorations, lights and planters and can offer something beautiful for everyone’s budget.
Gym and racket sports gifts for all ages
A NEW year fitness pledge, or may be a determination to take up a new sport, or re-sharpen the skills of a previous racket sport, can be given a boost with a gift token for any age, from RACQUETS FITNESS CENTRE, in North Street, Thame.
Racquets Fitness Centre really does cater for all ages and abilities, from World-ranking men to young beginners
RACQUETS Fitness Centre, has a habit of producing young, quality squash players and coaches, and one of their younger proteges, Nick Harbour, is the new, Under 15s Oxfordshire Junior Closed squash champion. But there’s more to Racquets than just squash. The club has a fully equiped Gym, a function room and bar, personal trainers on hand, and squash and racketball coaching for all ages.
The creche at Racquets means that even the parents of young children can take time out for themselves and take advantage of a coaching session, weight training or general fitness course with the gift of a Christmas Gift Token. Contact the club on 01844 261754 or email: info@racquets-fitness-centre.com to discuss a taylor-made gift token to suit any budget.
IN the second of Thame.Net’s new ‘Take on Thame’ opinion features, Bob Austin, of the East Thame Residents Association, shares his ‘take’ on the recent Tesco proposal to build a supermarket on the Daf site, on the edge of town:
Image courtesy of newerapolitics.org
AS Thame residents may be aware, it is not the first time that an attempt has been made to build a Tesco superstore. As long as twenty years ago the Thame Chamber of Commerce commissioned a report which demonstrated the loss of business to the town centre that a Tesco edge of town store would cause. The loss was stated to be in the order of £10 million. You can obviously add inflation, at least, to that.
“Nowadays, the importance of a town centre has been further emphasised. Its viability and vitality must be at the core of any planning decision under the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) and weight is also given to an approved Neighbourhood Plan. The latter clearly opposes an edge of town superstore.
“Tesco in in its recent flyer stated that people will be encouraged to shop locally as a result of a new superstore. If an edge of town store counts as a local equivalent of a vibrant town centre then that statement would be accurate. However, the logic lies elsewhere.
“At the recent Tesco exhibition Tesco staff were asked if £35 million would be a good estimate of the superstore’s turnover (this being based on Tesco published standard turnovers per square foot). They did not disagree. Where would this turnover come from? Tesco accept that trade would come from the town centre but assert that much would come from shopping currently carried out, outside the town, by Thame residents.
“Given the fact that two of the closest food stores in Princes Risborough and Aylesbury are Tesco owned (ASDA Wheatley being cheaper), Tesco would inevitably cannibalise at least some its own turnover. Why would it do that? The only explanation can be that Tesco will take substantial incremental business from the town centre in order to achieve £35 million turnover- not just from Waitrose or chain stores but from independents as well- with obvious implications for closures. I am not demeaning the needs of Tesco shoppers when I state this- just outlining the implications for the town centre.
“At its exhibition Tesco stated that turnover would be 80% food, 20% non-food at the start. It will not just be just food shops that will be affected. If you want a town centre that continues to be vital, then defend a policy (Thame Neighbourhood Plan and SODC core strategy 2027) that keeps shoppers within the core of the town, When Tesco puts its application in, it will be time to say ‘No to Tesco’ again.”
RESPONDING to the Autumn Statement delivered today by the Chancellor, David Knowles Leak, Thames Valley FSB Regional Chairman said: “The Chancellor has listened to the needs of business, despite tight public finances. The focus must be on reducing the deficit not just for this Government but whoever holds the keys to Number 11 next year.
David Knowles Leak
“The FSB is delighted to see the double small business rate relief remain for another year and a full review of the outdated business rates system, something we’ve long argued for.
“The £400 million released to back the British Business Bank and an extension to the Funding for Lending scheme will provide much needed cash for small businesses.
“For our long-term growth, the Chancellor is right to support young people via apprenticeships and to spend on infrastructure. Our roads and rail urgently need updating. The £15 billion he has allocated for roads will upgrade our network and boost growth in our regions.”
Commenting on specific measures, David Knowles Leak continued:
On the proposed business rates review and reliefs: “This urgent review of the business rate system is critical to supporting small businesses. The current system is out of date and needs to be put out to grass. It’s complicated, opaque, regressive and unresponsive to changes in economic conditions. Many of our members tell us paying business rates is their third biggest cost after rent and wages, yet the tax is poorly targeted and not based on ability to pay.”
“All businesses will be grateful for this review, but let’s be absolutely clear on what businesses want – fundamental reform of the business rate system. The announced package of renewed reliefs, will also be essential, as they will help bridge the gap until fundamental reform can deliver the change everyone agrees must now come.”
Supporting better small business finance:
“Despite signs of recovery, there has been only limited progress in increasing lending to small firms. The extension to the Funding for Lending Scheme, set alongside new money to further back the British Business Bank, are prudent steps to makes sure these gains are sustained and extended.
“Only half of small business applications for finance are successful. Better targeting of small business loans is essential to focus banks on meeting the needs of firms looking to hire staff, export, and grow their businesses.”
Infrastructure:
“New and renewed road and rail infrastructure will be the backbone to any future growth, particularly outside of London. Small businesses are disproportionately reliant on our road network, above all rural businesses and those in the North of England. The promise of £15 billion of investment will be very welcome and businesses will strongly support putting this money to good use as soon as possible. Also very welcome is the sustained freeze in fuel duty.”
Research and development:
“Small businesses are well known to be the engine of innovation. Today’s measures to support the science base and increase to the small business research and development (R&D) tax credit are welcome and will help our innovative firms to remain at the cutting edge.
“However, business take-up of R&D tax credits remains low, with just one in 50 FSB members claiming them. Many members still claim that the process is too complicated. We therefore welcome that the increase in this credit will be accompanied with measure to make it easier businesses to claim.”
Apprenticeships:
“Small businesses have been responsible for the majority of the jobs created in the last few years. But many of our members tell us they struggle to find young people with the skills they need. The National Insurance relief for businesses taking on apprentices under the age of 25 will encourage businesses to take on even more young people and tackle the UK’s skills gap head on.
“However, this will need to be supported by a reformed apprenticeship framework and funding mechanism that does more to encourage small businesses to invest in developing their workforce through high quality apprenticeships. We look forward to working with the Government to ensure this happens.“
THE Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity team, which are staging Sunday’s Santa Dash around Thame town centre, will also be supporting Friday’s Christmas lights switch-on in the town, where Executive Director, Sue Jenkins, will be presented with a cheque for over £10,000 from the Haddenham Hillbillies – a team of local cyclists who took on a three-day cycle challenge fundraiser in September from Thame to Montesson in France.
On Saturday, the Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity’s retail arm will be supporting Thame’s Small Business Saturday event as well as offering visitors on the day a last chance to register for Thame’s Festive Fun Run before the big day.
The Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity’s (FNHC) first Festive Fun Run is taking place this Sunday, December 7, and is a 3k family fun event, which will see Santa’s setting off from Thame Town Hall, at 10am.
In partnership with Thame Lions Club, families, schools and businesses are being invited to get involved in this fun reindeer run, jingle bell jog or Santa saunter and bring some pre-Christmas cheer in aid of Florence Nightingale Hospice, which provides comprehensive care and support to families affected by life-limiting illness through in-patient and at-home Hospice services.
“We’re really excited about coming to Thame to host our first Festive Fun Run,” said Karen Shardlow, FNHC’s Development and Events Manager. “We know many local residents are affected by the services provided either at the Hospice itself or in the home, so we’re really hoping our supporters will turn out and get behind us over the weekend. There is still time to sign up your family and friends either via our website – www.fnhospice.org.uk, or simply pop along on the day at 9.00am to register in person. After a warm-up, courtesy of Thame Leisure Centre to get fun runners limbered up for their challenge, we’ll then set off outside Thame Town Hall and head down the High Street towards the popular Phoenix Trail. We can’t wait to see everyone’s costumes!”
To register for the fun run challenge, visit www.fnhospice.org.uk and click on ‘Festive Fun Run’. Entry costs £10 per adult, £7.50 per child and under 2s go FREE. A specially priced family ticket of £30 for two adults, two children is also available. Registration prices include event entry, refreshments, a FREE Santa hat and medal on completion of the challenge. Prizes on the day will be awarded to the best-dressed entrants on the day.
Businesses including Kismet Jewellers, The Black Horse, Thamenews.net, Newitts of Thame, Wally’s Toy Shop and Thame Leisure Centre have all lent their support to the event. Simply pop in to any of these locations along with Thame Town Hall to pick up a registration form.
Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity needs to raise over £600,000 this year to keep local Hospice running.
Playing with the ferocious wind behind them in the first half, it was the visitors who dominated territory and possession, although United made a number of early forays into the final third of the field, without troubling Farrow in the Abingdon goal. Nevertheless, the first real action came in the 20th minute when Matt Hall cleared off the line, with Josh Cockerill turning a powerful drive around the post for a corner a minute later. The best chance of the half for United arrived in the 23rd minute, when Ben Gray found himself through on goal, only to see his shot go wide of the near post.
