THE Thame branch of Blockbuster, the film and games rental business, will avoid closure – for now.
Blockbuster called in the administrators in January, and although 129 of its 528 stores were earmarked for closure, the Thame outlet is one of eight in Oxfordshire that will continue to trade as usual whilst the administrators, Deloitte, progress negotiations with bidders.
OXFORDSHIRE Trading Standards Doorstep Crime Team is appealing for information on a Solar Panel company who have been cold calling in the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse area.
The company are believed to be targeting elderly and vulnerable residents.
Residents have been sold panels that are not approved and not necessary and told they can get money back from selling excess electricity to the grid.
To get money back from the government scheme, the panels must be installed by an approved MCS installer and a certificate supplied. (MCS Micro generation Certification Scheme)
Aggressive sales tactics have been used and some residents have been escorted to the bank to obtain funds to pay for the panels.
The company has been reported operating in the Didcot, Wallingford, Wantage, Blewbury, Wootton, Letcombe Regis, Stanford in the Vale and Kennington areas.
If you have been the victim of cold callers or know of any elderly or vulnerable neighbours who have been sold un-necessary solar panels, please contact the Trading Standards Doorstep Crime Team on 0845 051 0845, option 2 or email trading.standards@oxfordshire.gov.uk
LISTINGS for February of Community and special Activity days at Thomley Activity Centre, Worminghall, near Thame:
Please note that in school/term time Thomley is open to special schools and mainstream schools which include students with additional learning needs. We are open Wednesdays and Fridays throughout term time. Activities can be tailor-made to compliment school projects. Home Educators are welcome any day from Tuesday-Friday throughout term time.
February half term ? Booking is essential. All of the regular activities are on offer, with additional activities provided for each day; with a separate provision for teenagers and young adults available too. Please see the planner on the website for further information ( www.thomleyactivitycentre.com/newsletters
Friday 15th February ? Community Day – for all children with and without a disability, their family and friends. Theme for the day is Disney! Activities include Goofy goop; Mickey and Minnie ears; Clubhouse mobile; Mickey pop art; find hidden Mickeys. And for teenagers there is Spaghetti Bolognese cooking from 10:30-12pm and ?How to make a stop-motion animation? from 1:30-3:00pm.
Saturday 16th February ? Family Day ? for all children with a disability, their family and friends. Theme for the day is Walt Disney. Activities include Lightning time trials; mini pizza planets; Monsters Inc mess; and for Teenagers make your own Flubber! And an
A recent Charity Fitness Festival attracted almost a hundred people, including many who were trying a new fitness class for the very first time.
The event took place at John Hampden School, in Park Street, Thame, last Saturday, February 9, and raised
DIVISION Four: Thame Hurricanes V Wingrave Comets – Match report, Wednesday, February 13, 2013; AFTER an incident packed evening at Waddesdon, Hurricanes match was delayed. As the ambulance pulled out of the car park carrying a player with a broken ankle from an earlier game, Hurricanes took the opportunity to huddle together for a minutes silence to remember a recently lost friend and team mate – a moment to reflect the loss of Lauren and pull together the team spirit that runs through Thame Netball Club.
When the match finally started, Hurricanes flew out of the blocks taking Wingrave Comets by surprise. The shooting by both Helen & Lucy was inspired. Before Wingrave knew what had happened Thame were up by five points at the end of the first quarter.
The flowing three-pass routine between centre and shooting continued in the second quarter. Lyn & Sue ensured that when the ball did reach the other end it was intercepted and swiftly turned over. One of Wingraves? players took a fall and half time couldn’t come quick enough for them as Hurricanes lead stretched to 15-8.
Wingrave regrouped, made changes and fought back, slowly pegging back the goal difference to just three. With Nicole (C) feeling ill and no substitutes to draw on, the whole team pulled together and Nicole dropped back into defence and everyone moved position for the final quarter.
With everybody out of position and the desire to win so great, the final few minutes were fraught. A great team effort by everyone, although losing by one goal always hurts. Final score 23-24 to Wingrave.
SECOND MATCH – Division Five
THAME Cyclones v Wingrave: The Cyclones started well but wingrave took the lead in the first quarter. However, during the second quarter Cyclones stepped up their game and displayed some brilliant defending and movement down the court.
Cyclones continued to dominate the game during the third and fourth quarters and as a result of their good communication and shooting, won the game with the final score being Thame Cyclones 36, Wingrave 25.
THE Oxfordshire Waste Partnership, which oversees Thame’s waste collections, is urging residents to ensure that any unwanted frozen food discarded following the horsemeat contamination scandal is recycled and does not end up in landfill.
The advice comes as the supermarket chain, Tesco, reassured its customers that none of its discarded meat would be sent to landfill, and Biffa?s organic waste recycling division reported a spike in feedstock at its Cannock anaerobic digestion (AD) facility.
Thame Town and District Cllr David Dodds, who is Chairman of the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership, said: ?we would like to remind people that all food waste can be recycled in Oxfordshire. Frozen meat products taken out of their packaging can be put with all other food waste, cooked or uncooked, in food waste bins.?
Food waste in Oxfordshire is recycled. It gets turned into compost, a liquid fertiliser and electricity is generated for over 4200 homes from the anaerobic digestion plant in Cassington.
IMAGE: Courtesy of letsrecycle.com
THIS month’s Late Breakfast event in the Eden Suite at The Spread Eagle Hotel, Cornmarket, Thame, will be from 9am – 10.30am on Thursday, February 21.
There will be an interactive presentation from George Anderson on how to construct and get the maximum benefit from an email marketing campaign, together with the usual opportunity for you to promote any business/ workshop/charity event that you’re involved with.
Please book by 12.00 on Wednesday, February 20, to appear on the guest list or simply come along on the day. The entry fee of
BILLED as recalling ‘The decade that fashion forgot’, Friday’s 1980s celebration saw flouncy-cuffed New Romantics, a couple of Michael Jacksons, a gaggle of Bee Gees, and at least two Village Persons party the night away at the Spread Eagle Hotel in Thame.
DJ Kristian spun the discs and those who couldn’t make it are regretting that they missed the social event of the year!
Peter Butt, Chair of the Thame Youth Memorial Trust, was delighted with the turn out, and on his Facebook page he posted: “To everyone that came along last night, to all the local businesses who donated raffle prizes, to the staff of The Spread Eagle Hotel and to all our friends and family that assisted us in planning and running last nights 80’s night – THANK YOU!!!!!
“With your help, we raised a massive
THIS week saw the launch of Thame’s very own internet radio station – Blackfrog radio.
Broadcasting from 9am to 10pm everyday, Radio Blackfrog has a blend of everything from pop music to rock music, presenting playlists during the day and live shows every evening from Blackfrog Studios in Station Yard, Thame.
“The Live Shows are different every night,” explained Blackfrog Studio’s Founder member, Steve Lockwood, “and range from request shows to live performance and interview shows.”
A full list of the live evening shows can be found on the website www.radioblackfrog.co.uk The live shows’ DJs are all local people, including some from local schools and every show has its own unique view and music. Broadcasts will include information about what’s happening in and around Thame, from special events in the area to local up-and-coming bands.
The Sunday night show, ‘The Sunday Night Sessions’ will give local bands and artists the opportunity to get themselves live on air, with live performances and interviews. If you are a local artist or in a band and would like to be on air then contact: info@radioblackfrog.co.uk
Radio Blackfrog broadcasts world wide, but it’s main focus is in and around Thame and the surrounding areas, hoping to make people aware of the great things that go on in this little town and trying to promote local businesses and events.
If you think you could help with Radio Blackfrog, have any idea’s about things you would like to listen to, or know of any local events that you think we should mention, then Radio Blackfrog would love to hear from you. info@radioblackfrog.co.uk
If you are interested in advertising on Radio Blackfrog, for more information and great introductory rates you can get in contact via: advertise@radioblackfrog.co.uk
You can listen to Radio Blackfrog on any internet available device by visiting the website “http://www.radioblackfrog.co.uk”target=”_blank”>www.radioblackfrog.co.uk or by searching for Radio Blackfrog on most internet media radio station players.
HERE is the latest Thame neighbourhood update from Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Chris Hollis.
The Thame Sector covers the neighbourhoods of Thame, Chinnor and Watlington.
Remember, you can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and there is also the option to subscribe to Thames Valley Police RSS feeds from our website – www.thamesvalley.police.uk.
Anti-social behaviour (ASB)
We have received reports of ASB issues linked with the Elms Park in Thame. We will continue to patrol this area as part our patrol plan in an effort to deter any further ASB.
Traffic issues
Further patrols to monitor vehicles parking in restricted areas of Watlington town centre continue. PCSOs have advised the Parish Council to refresh the double yellow lines so that they can be pro-actively enforced in the area. Warning letters are being issued to educate some offenders.
There have been reports of vehicles parking on the pavement and in the new bus stop area on the Thame Road in Chinnor (outside Silent View). Please refrain from parking in the bus stop and obstructing the pathway, we will be patrolling this area on a regular basis to deter offenders.
A number of people were stopped in Chinnor & Thame during a Traffic Operation. The Roads Policing Department and the neighbourhood teams stopped drivers using mobile phones or not wearing a seatbelt and gave advice/issued penalties where appropriate.
A number of vehicles were issued with fixed penalty notices for parking on the double yellow lines in Thame High Street.
Offenders brought to justice
11 offenders were brought to justice in January for offences of criminal damage, shop lifting, drug possession and public order act offences.
Planned activities
Operation MANGER involves patrolling the Town Centre car parks to distribute crime reduction literature.
Operation MAGPIE involves checking vehicles while out on patrol to see if they have any items left on display.
Operation MAGINOT tackles travelling criminals entering and leaving our area by using the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system to identify flagged vehicles. Benefits of ANPR are: it identifies suspect vehicles that may not normally attract police attention, unlicensed or uninsured vehicles are likely to be seized on the spot by ANPR equipped officers, and it can be used to gather intelligence on known criminals and for running proactive operations using dedicated Roads Policing intercept teams.
READ the full report on the Thames Valley Police website
PHOTO: PCSO Chris Hollis