THE Police are appealing for witnesses after a compound in Chinnor Road, Thame, was broken into.
Between Friday (11/1) and Monday (14/1) offender(s) broke in and stole lorry wheels and tyres valued at
Author: Sonja Francis
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15/01/13…..Thame school leads the way in sharing ‘best practice’
LEADING schools in Oxfordshire, including Lord Williams’s, have joined forces in a new initiative to share their experience and expertise with others.
The Education Excellence in Oxfordshire (EEO) initiative is a group of schools, supported by Oxfordshire County Council, to develop a programme of leadership development opportunities for schools across Oxfordshire. One of the group?s primary roles will be to develop ways of sharing best practice and potential learning opportunities between schools in a regular, systematic and planned way.
Oxfordshire County Council says: “The aim is to produce an Oxfordshire Leadership Development Framework that signposts the opportunities available to all leaders. This will lead to developing a ?Growing Future Leaders? programme, which will ensure that those with leadership potential have the opportunity to develop as effective leaders.
To coordinate sharing practice and communication between the schools involved, EEO will set up a series of networks for subject leaders, key stage leaders and early year leaders.
Cllr Melinda Tilley, Cabinet Member for Education, said: ?Leadership development is a key part of Oxfordshire County Council?s strategy to make schooling in Oxfordshire world class for all our children and young people.
?The county has excellent leaders and potential future leaders and retaining them is one of our key priorities. This kind of initiative, although still very much in its infancy, clearly demonstrates to parents and their children that we are totally committed to working with all our schools to improve educational standards throughout the county.?
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15/01/13……’Thame is in no way ?resting in docile submission’
Dear Editor, I was greatly saddened by the letter published yesterday, not by the suggestion that Thame establish a memorial to Robin Gibb but rather that the writer found it necessary to denigrate Thame to justify the proposal.
Thame is in no way ?resting in docile submission, overshadowed by the concrete palaces of Aylesbury or cowed by the watery glitz of Henley? but already stands as a beacon in its own right. A recent newspaper article identified Thame as having the best High Street in England, and our Tuesday market continues to buck the trend. We have a Food Festival that attracted 15,000 visitors in 2012, a Music in the Park event attended by more than 3,000 people, a successful annual Literary Festival, and last year even saw a royal visit as we granted Freedom of Thame to RAF Halton. The fantastic turnout of people at the Remembrance Service and at the Christmas Lights event, and the continuing success of quirkier customs such as the annual Duck Race, serve to underline the fact that the people of Thame are engaged in, and proud of, our wonderful town as outsiders look on in envy but visit at every opportunity. Thame punches well above its weight in every sense and long may it to continue.
Should we promote the idea of a memorial to Robin Gibb, sited at Millennium Circle ? Perhaps, but what?s the hurry ? Robin was undoubtedly an icon, as both a performer and a song writer. His achievements far transcend mere celebrity and he will be one of very few in his profession to go down in history. He also loved Thame, made his home here, and played an active part in the community. His memory has already been acknowledged with a blue plaque at The Prebendal, his home, and by the people lining the streets for his funeral procession, and he will become a worthy addition to Thame?s rich history and folklore.
I would have no objection to his memory being further enshrined in our town but I would be equally proud to see us erect a memorial to James Figg, John Hampden, or Arthur Staggs. I feel that a wider debate is required and, with Robin having passed away so recently, now is probably too soon.
I have no doubt that your correspondent?s proposal will receive much support and that public opinion will carry much weight, as it did in relation to George Harrison?s statue in Henley. In the meantime let us keep a sense of proportion and timing and, above all, remember that Robin chose to live in Thame precisely because it is such a special town.
Yours,
(name and address supplied) -
15/01/13…..Resigning town councillor explains
MARIUS Ciortan, who recently resigned from Thame Town Council, has explained why he decided to step down. He told ThameNews.Net: “I resigned from the Thame Town Council for personal reasons. Our home has been in Chinnor since September 2011, rather than in Thame and I consider that it will be fair for a more representative person living or working in Thame to be co-opted as a town councillor.
“I will continue to work for the local community, providing volunteer work for the Rotary Club of Thame, Thame-Sinaia Friendship Association, Thame Youth Theatre and Chinnor Cubs. In particular, I hope that two of my pet projects, the Rotary Swimathon and joint community projects with Sinaia will grow year-on-year for the benefit of the people of Thame and the neighbouring villages.”
More: LINK HERE
PHOTO: Marius (right) with a group of children from Chenobyl who visited Chinnor back in August 2011
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14/01/13……..A ‘vision’ for ‘the pearl of the Chilterns’
Dear Editor, It is on behalf of the good folk of Thame, and all those to whom Thame is a beacon of rural splendour, that I wish to present a vision of the future.
Too long has this noble and ancient town rested in docile submission; too long has it been overshadowed by the concrete palaces of Aylesbury; too long has it rested, cowed by the watery glitz of Henley.
Is Thame not worthy of admiration? Is Thame not touched by the gentle hand of Fortune? Has Fate not marked Thame out for further unimaginable splendour?
To the people of Thame, and of them, let it be said:
This is a shining Metropolis! This is a pearl of the Chilterns! This is the San Francisco of South Oxfordshire!
With this resounding affirmation in mind, I present a humble suggestion; that Thame be further blessed by the establishment of a tribute and memorial to one of her most beloved adopted children, a statue of the fabulous Robin Gibb, to be erected in the “Millennium Circle”, on the fair high street. For who better encapsulates the aesthetic and philosophical values of this Bohemian Market Town Utopia than the finest of the Bee Gees? After all, Gotham built a statue to Batman!
I invite the citizens of Thame, and all those across the world in whose hearts reside a little piece of this Eden, to dedicate just a fraction of their time and energies to supporting a campaign to make this happen; for it will not just be a piece of dull civic art, it will be an altar to the brilliance of Thame, and a symbol of peace, goodwill, and creativity that will be the envy of, literally, everywhere.
#ThameBeGenius
I remain yours faithfully,
“Clarendon” (Name and address supplied)
PHOTO: Flash back to when Robin Gibb turned on Thame’s Christmas lights
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14/01/13….Thame post office refusing to take parcels!
THAME Post Office, based in Martin’s in the High Street, is currently refusing to take parcels – because post office staff can no longer collect them from the rear of the building.
After weighing parcels, Post Office staff are asking customers to stick their own stamps on and to take them over the road to the sorting office.
A member of staff at the Post Office depot in Thame, told ThameNews.Net this afternoon: “Martin’s suddenly told us that, after 11 years, we can no longer go to the rear of the building to collect parcels. It seems they don’t trust us.
“They have suggested that we park our vans outside the front in the street and walk through the length of the shop with our sacks full of parcels. It’s just not practical and our staff won’t do it.”
The parcels depot was not open this afternoon to ask whether the situation was permanent or not.
Image: Courtesy of The Local Data Company
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14/01/13….Thame’s retained fire officers safe from budget cut
THE recently announced budget cut in the money to pay retained fire fighters in Oxfordshire, will not mean a reduction in officer numbers at Thame fire station.
Oxfordshire County Council has emphasised that the cut has been made possible by a 15% fall in the number of emergency call-outs, partly as a result of prevention work, and that it intends to cut its
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14/01/13…….Rugby: Chinnor slip up against basement boys
National 2 South – Saturday, January 12, 2013 – Chinnor RFC away to Barking. Score: Barking 36, Chinnor 24.
CHINNOR had an unhappy visit to basement boys Barking, on Saturday losing 36-24. Chinnor rang the changes for the trip to Essex with Gray replacing Colver and Millett once again covered for the injured Cathcart. Hopwood came in for Jones and in the pack, Vickers came in for Waddingham, Tattersall for Holyland and Mountford made the bench.
The first score of the game came from Barking’s Oliver Forrest with a penalty goal in the fourth minute after a poor clearance from Chinnor. Chinnor began to attack and Gilbert touched down for Chinnor in the 11th minute and Millett?s conversion gave the visitors a 7-3 lead. Millet himself then scored Chinnor?s second try five minutes later direct from line out ball. His conversion gave Chinnor a 14-3 lead.
Chinnor continued to press but seemed to increasingly lose the ball in contact or through poor passing. They also continued to displease the referee Mr Manley who continued to award penalties at regular intervals against the visitors.
Barking, with some new recruits, grew in confidence and started to hassle and harry. They were rewarded in the 31st minute when a Chinnor attack broke down in midfield as a result of aggressive tackling. Barking pounced on the loose ball and a neat chip kick exposed the absence of the full back and Barking?s Baflour-Awuah won the foot race for the touchdown. Forrest converted to reduce the deficit to 10-14.
On the 38th minute, Barking’s other winger Hihetah was fed the ball from Forrest?s mazy run, again from an aggressive turnover in midfield, and scorched through for a try under the posts. Forrest converted to give Barking a half-time lead of 17-14.
Chinnor’s Millett levelled the scores at 17-17 with a penalty goal just two minutes into the half. A promising 30 metre maul to near the Barking line from Chinnor led to nothing and Barking were the next to score when Hihetah easily ran through the defence for his second try converted by Forrest to go 24-17 ahead.
Barking visibly grew in confidence and were highly committed in every tackle and breakdown, denying Chinnor the ball for long periods. Tom Mowbray was then yellow carded for coming in from the side. However, from a quick tap penalty, Vickers took the ball up strongly and from the resultant ruck, quick ball found Hales gliding in for a try to Chinnor. Millett?s conversion squared the match at 24-24.This just seemed to galvanise Barking who continued to attack and Hihetah shrugged off three weak tackles to score his hat-trick try and earn a bonus point for the home side, whose lead was now 29-24. Barking continued to play with pace and vigour and nailed the coffin shut for Chinnor when Fouracre waltzed through for a try on 75 minutes. Forrest?s conversion made the final score 36-24 for Barking?s first victory of the season.
This was a shock result for Chinnor given perhaps their best display of the season just the previous week. But nothing should be taken away from Barking who never let the boys from Oxfordshire settle and were good value for their victory. It was clear that the Barking side were highly motivated and Chinnor were perhaps a little complacent. The best side won and Chinnor will have to reflect on why it was not them.
Scorers:
Barking: Hihetah 3T; Baflour-Awuah T; Fouracre T: Forrest 4C; PG
Chinnor: Gilbert T; Hales T; Millett T, 3C
Chinnor team:
Gray (Mountford 70), Fielding, Goode, Stoop, Hales, Millett, Hopwood (Jones 60), Winpenny (Stock 50), Tattersall (Whelan 72), Berry, Smith, Mowbray (Hughes 65), Vickers, Sawyer, Gilbert
Replacements: Whelan, Stock, Hughes, Jones, MountfordSOURCE: Contributed by Bill O’Donnell
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12/01/13….Roll up, roll up to see the clown at Players Theatre
FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY – SCARAMOUCHE JONES by Justin Butcher – The Players Theatre, Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame – 7.45pm on Saturday, January 12, 2013 – Tickets
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11/01/13….Shadow Dancer – Showing tonight!
SHOWING at Thame Cinema 4 All, Thame Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame – Shadow Dancer – 2012, 101 minutes, 15 certificate, Directed by James Marsh, Starring Andrea Risborough, Brid Brennan, Clive Owen, Aiden Gillen, Domhnall Gleeson
James Marsh is best known for documentary film making ? notably 2010?s Project Nim and 2009?s thrilling Man on Wire. Screenwriter Tom Bradby, who has adapted this from his own novel, was once an ITN journalist reporting from 1990?s Northern Ireland. The combination of real life politics, edgy fiction, and cinematic realism is ideal for this gripping Troubles-set thriller about the murky paranoia of the 1990?s IRA.
Andrea Risborough has already demonstrated her place as one of the most talented chameleon-esque actors of her generation. She can convince as pretty much anything: from ditzy Essex flirt (Made in Dagenham), or painfully vulnerable victim (Brighton Rock) to a ruthlessly ambitious Margaret Thatcher (The Long Walk to Finchley) or an imperiously glamorous Wallis Simpson (W.E). Here she is superb as Colette McVeigh, a single mother from a well known republican family in West Belfast, with two brothers who are active in the IRA, a woman consumed by self-loathing and moral compromise, tainted by the political culture of her upbringing.
Set against the backdrop of the Good Friday agreement, with its connotations of secret deal-making between sworn enemies, Colette is caught between high politics and gritty familial loyalties: she must negotiate her desire to protect a young son, the pressure from menacing republican activism at home and the demands of an ?agreement? with Clive Owen?s Mac, a British Intelligence Officer. The whole is enigmatic, understated, compelling.
Doors open 7.30pm – film 8pm – Licensed bar