A CELEBRATION of the first defibrillator installed with money raised by Staying Alive Thame, has been held at the Scout HQ in Southern Road, Thame.
Thame 1st Scouts and Red Kites Explorers Scouts raised £1619.55 for this fund on a sponsored walk in the Chilterns during March.
Karen Clark, of Staying Alive Thame, said: “Because Thame is so far from a major hospital, defibrillators are invaluable. If someone unfortunately suffers a cardiac arrest, the quicker a defibrillator can be used, the chance of saving a live is vastly increased.
“All our defibs will be registered with the emergency services so if someone calls for an ambulance, the Emergency Services will let you know if there is a community defibrillator near-by, and give the caller the code to access the machine.”
Staying Alive Thame is a small community group which aims is to raise enough money to place 10 boxes with defibrillators in around Thame.
FOLLOWING the release of today’s GDP figures showing growth of 0.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2014, the news has been welcomed by the Regional Chairman of the Federation or Small Businesses.
Chair Thames Valley Federation of Small Business, David Knowles Leak
David Knowles Leak, Thames Valley Regional Chairman for the FSB said: “This is further encouraging news, and matches the picture reported in our quarterly confidence index where we have seen eight year-on-year quarters of growth and rising confidence. Encouragingly, our research now shows small business confidence across all sectors and regions, mirroring the underlying drivers of recent GDP figures. We expect this positive sentiment to continue throughout the rest of 2014, with our indicators showing increased investment intentions and further job creation. We also know four out of five jobs in the past three years have been created by small businesses. These results therefore point to continued private sector expansion throughout the year.”
THAME’S ex Police Station, in Greyhound Walk, could soon be demolished and sheltered apartments for the elderly build in its place.
Thame Police Station in Greyhound Lane stands empty
A planning application by Churchill Retirement Living, for a replacement building providing 45 apartments, has been submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council and will be discussed by Thame Town Council at tonight’s full council meeting.
As part of an agreement with Thames Valley Police, who have sold off several of their police stations recently in a money-saving exercise, a police counter service will be maintained at the Greyhound Lane site. Thame police moved from the Greyhound Lane site last year to a new operational base at Thame Business Park in Wenman Road. A counter service still remains at the old site.
At present the site is being advertised as ‘Business Space’ by Lambert Smith Hampton.
THE Rotary Club of Thame is asking the public to check their sheds and lofts and bring their old or unwanted tools to the main car park in the Upper High Street, Thame, near the Market House, Montesson Square, on Saturday morning, May 24, between 10am and 1pm.
Blacksmiths, Kigoma & Kasulu with the donated tools they have benefited from
Every year the Rotary Club of Thame runs a collection point for unwanted tools. These are then taken to Tools for Self Reliance, a charity at Netley Marsh near Southampton, that refurbishes tools and sends them to NGOs in Africa. The NGOs then distribute them free to men and women to work with.
Rotarian Erroll Bateman said: “The Rotary Club of Thame would like to encourage everyone to check their garages and lofts and bring their unwanted items to us to give the craftsmen in Africa a chance to put their skills to good use for the benefit of their community as we believe it is a worthy cause.”
Here are a few examples of useful items welcomed by Tools for Self Reliance:
Good quality Singer round-bobbin hand machines – because spare parts are easily available in the UK and all over Africa for these old but solidly-built machines Electric sewing machines. These need to be in good working order and be capable of zig-zag stitching and embroidery. A foot controller and instruction manual, though preferable, are not essential Plumbing tools – especially heavy duty floor-standing pipe benders Arc welders (240V, stick type) plus accessories Carpentry tools – especially large carpenters vices, metal jack planes, tri-planes and drawknives Building tools, especially builders squares and corner trowels Engineering and metalworking tools – especially HSS twist drills, metric taps & dies and hand-operated bench grinders Bicycle repair tools – especially spoke spanners Shoe repair tools – especially skiving knives Auto-mechanics tools – especially heavy duty foot-pumps, tyre pressure gauges and piston ring compressors Electrical repair tools – especially multi-meters and desoldering equipment Industrial/professional quality power tools – especially heavy duty drills and bench grinders Blacksmiths tools – especially anvils and leg vices Overlockers
Collected items will be taken to the very well equipped TFSR depot at Netley Marsh where they will be refurbished by a group of retired engineers before being packed into containers for shipment to African countries. From the port of arrival they are taken by members of the organisation to villages to help the people become more self-reliant.
If you have got tools available to donate and you are not able to come on the May 24, please send us a message via Rotary’s website: www.thame.rotaryweb.org or ring: 01844 212 623 or 07764 85 49 49
THIS weekend is going to be big for Squash and Racketball fans, with over 50 people already entered for the Graded Open Squash and Racketball tournament at Raquets Fitness Centre in Thame.
Joe Brooke
Unfortunately Alison Waters, the British Ladies No 1 Squash player, and World No 4, won’t be able to take part in the planned Exhibition match with Thame’s own World ranked, Racquet’s club Pro, Will John, due to an achilles injury. However, England International top seed, Joe Brooke has stepped in and the match will begin at 7.30pm on Saturday, May 3.
Top games will be screened in the bar throughout the weekend.
If you are looking for further information regarding the tournament or joining Racquets, give them a call or email Simon or Sue: info@racquets-fitness-centre.com, or call 01844 261754.
THE Mayor of Thame welcomed a group of budding young councillors to the town hall this morning, and discovered for himself just what it is about the town that makes it so special for the very young members of his community.
A group of Year two pupils from Barley Hill Primary School have been working hard with their teachers to research, design and make leaflets all about Thame, including the history of some of its buildings, its restaurants, pubs and shops, the variety of indoor and outdoor activities to take part in such as, they suggested, ‘its many nice parks’ – in fact, all the things that might encourage people to come to Thame.
As they sat up to a long table in the Council Chamber with the Mayor at the Head, as in a council meeting, the Mayor, Peter Lambert, chatted with the group about what they had discovered about Thame’s history and asked each of them to tell him where their own favourite place in Thame was. Although the answers ranged from drinking a smoothie in Time Out, walking their dog on the Phoenix Trail, walking in Cuttlebrook, eating fish and chips in the Memorial Gardens where there are “pretty fish”, and the library (which they discovered used to be a toy shop), resoundingly the most favourite place among the group was Wally’s toy shop!
Richard, aged 7, described Wally’s as “an awesome place, where you can buy all the toys you want, including Top Trumps!” Another pupil impressed Mrs Boyle, their teacher, and the Mayor with his use of colourful adjectives, describing the toy shop as selling “fabulous, extraordinary toys.”
The children were keen to find out what you have to do to become the Mayor of Thame, and learned why only one councillor is allowed to speak at once (so that the note taker – or Minute Clerk – can write down what is said). Cllr Lambert explained how he uses his gavel to keep order, though was eager to point out that he has never had to use it during his year in office!
The highlight of the visit for the children was, without the doubt, when each in turn was given the Mayor’s Golden chain of office to try on.
The Mayor concluded the visit by thanking the children for coming, and praised them for their hard work and enthusiasm, and for their excellent behaviour in the Council Chamber, and gave each a special ‘Thame’ pen to take away with them.
MORE pictures from the Barley Hill visit to meet the Mayor HERE
AMENDMENTS 25/04/14 – Lighting story removed as it has now come to light (sorry!) that there was no actual ‘switch on’ after-all, and some additional information has been added to the Archaeological study of Elms Park:
THAME ARTIST’S HOLOGRAPHIC TEXTILES ON SHOW
AN award winning Thame textile artist will be among several exhibitors at Saturday’s Artists and Makers Fair at Thame Town Hall.
Sophie Court
Sophie Court recently won a prestigious award at the British Craft Trade Show is held in Harrogate, the longest running trade fair in the UK. She was the proud winner of the Attire Accessories Magazine, Best Fashion Accessory Award in the New Comers section, competing with 75 emerging artists. The judges were particularly impressed with Sophie’s new childrens collection and the use of holographic material. They also mentioned that as Sophie’s pieces were reversible, this was an innovative idea which stood out to them.
DRIVING BAN FOR DRINK-DRIVER A Thame woman has been banned from driving for 18 months, after admitting drink-driving in Churchill Crescent, Thame.
Olivia Parsons, 21, of Michaelis Road, Thame, admitted committing the offence on November 9, 2013. She was found to have 158 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of blood, which is above the legal limit of 80 micrograms. As well as the driving ban, Ms Parsons was fined £200, ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge, and £85 costs.
HISTORICAL ELMS PARK A local historian and resident of Thame, Phil Williams, has been given permission by Thame Town Council to carryout a ‘non invasive’, archeological survey of Elms Park.
Hedley Purser officially opens the gate to the new, Elms Park, in 1951
The use of the site goes back thousands of years, long before it was officially opened to the public by Hedley Purser (son of Leonard Purser, who gifted the land to the town for use as a recreational area) on June 9, 1951 at a ‘Grand Fete’ as part of Thame’s Festival of Britain celebrations.
The town council has stated: “Mr Williams has commissioned a company to carry out a magnetometry survey that will reveal whether the prehistoric archaeology found at Church Farm and Cornmarket is also present in Elms Park. The survey will not involve any digging or soil disturbance; instead a small team will traverse the park taking readings in one-metre wide strips on the surface of the area.
“It is believed there is reasonable chance that the survey will reveal archaeology, and will be a valuable contribution to the understanding of the archaeological heritage of the park and of Thame as a whole. “
The findings of the survey could have implications for any future planning application for development on the adjoining land, known as The Elms, which is one of the sites designated for development in the Thame Neighbourhood Plan.
POT HOLES FOLLOWING an announcement from the Department for Transport of a pot of extra Government funding – enough to fix more than three million potholes, County Council Leader, Ian Hudspeth, has revealed that Oxfordshire will be bidding for some of the cash.
Successful local authorities will sign a Pothole Pledge as a condition of the funding, setting out the number of potholes they will have repaired by March 2015.
Thame’s MP, John Howell, has welcomed the news and said: ““This is a great opportunity to improve the roads in the Henley constituency and deal with the blight of potholes. Oxfordshire County Council has made a substantial bid for money which I support.”
SOLUTION IN SIGHT FOR THE LEA PARK ‘MAZE’
Cllr Helena Fickling, demonstrates where one of the new sign posts planned for Lea Park might be
RESIDENTS of Lea Park in Thame, especially those who have moved into the area recently, will soon be able to find their way more easily by foot, using the notorious maze of alley ways and foot paths that criss-cross the housing development.
21st Century Thame, the town Partnership, is hoping that the new signage they are planning to point the way to the town centre, the Health Centre and other popular places in the town, will encourage people to walk or cycle instead of using their cars – a healthier option for both people and the environment, and reducing the number of cars for which parking places have to be provided.
The Working Group responsible for the project are hoping local people will help them come up with suitable names for the paths and cut-throughs to give them an identity on the various routes through Lea Park. The Partnership is currently talking to Oxfordshire County Council about funding and other monies will come out of the so-called ‘Section 106’ contributions that developers of new housing sites have to contribute to local infrastructure.
The main gallery of Thame Museum
LEAKY MUSEUM THAME museum, which first opened in 2007, converted from the old Thame Court House, is currently causing some concerns to the Trustees, after water was found to be leaking through the roof into the main gallery and library.
An inspection of the roof is to be carried out to establish the source of the leak and the town council is looking into costings for chimney capping and improvements to lighting and humidity control, recommendations made after a recent Health Check at the museum.
THAME Town Council’s Grants Scheme reopened on April 1, which aims to fund projects which “address the needs, aspirations and issues of the people in our community. “
The council is inviting local charitable organisations who are working for the benefit of Thame to apply for funding to support projects that aim to develop skills, improve health, revitalise the local environment and enable people to become more active citizens.
Who can apply? – Any community or not-for-profit group working for the benefit of the people of Thame. Other terms and conditions apply. Visit www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk for further details and to download an application form or pick up an application form from the Information Centre at Thame Town Hall.
For further information or for assistance in completing the form, contact 01844 212833
AFTER last month’s ‘best ever’ First Thursday Music Club in Thame, where a crowd of over 250 was brilliantly entertained by an eclectic range of music from show songs, to 1950’s American Country, and from contemporary singer-songwriter to good ol’ rock ‘n roll, FTMC’s next event will feature Luke Paulo and The Grapefruit.
Luke Paulo began writing songs and performing in 2011, eventually finding his way to his characteristic noirish style, combining a jazzy, European sound with melancholy and darkly playful lyrics. He began playing with Finnish pianist, Maija Tuomi-Nikula, in 2012. Now he is joined by Will Woodward, Helen Cuthberson-Reid and Mike Muggeridge to provide Luke with the full live band: The Grapefruit. His debut EP, Mirrors, is due for release later this year.
Without doubt, FTMC has become the biggest, monthly Open Mic night in the district (maybe even the country?) with huge crowds and a bill that regularly features between 12 and 15 artists each month. Anyone can play just by signing up at the venue next Thursday, May 1, from 7.45pm.
Check out the club on Facebook, The First Thursday Music Club, or at www.firstthursdaymusicclub.com where you can find more information, including the contact numbers and addresses of the organisers.
TWO Thame allotment plot holders are opening their garden to the public, as part of the Open Garden scheme, to raise funds for Stones Close Allotments.
Lesley Winward and Wendy Reid’s garden, at 10, Hamilton Road, Thame, will be open on May 25th, between 2 – 5pm. The charge will be just a £1, and there will be plants, tea and cake for sale.
Kate White, the current Chair of the Stones Close Allotment Management Committee, said: “We have a healthy list for those wanting plots due to the management committee being strict on the requirement to keep plots tidy or hand them back for re allocation. During the year we fund-raise for local schools, support the firework display at Lord Williams’s School , donate to Remembrance Sunday and the Mayor’s charities.
“All of this is made possible by generous plot holders like Lesley and Wendy, who step in when fund raising opportunities arise.”
Karen Clark, of Staying Alive Thame, said: “Because Thame is so far from a major hospital, defibrillators are invaluable. If someone unfortunately suffers a cardiac arrest, the quicker a defibrillator can be used, the chance of saving a live is vastly increased.
