THE kids are back to school, the Olympics and Paralympics are over, and it’s that time of day when you fancy something sweet…
…WELL…whilst you are savouring that piece of dark chocolate or eyeing up a nice French Fancy why not book for one of the remaining tickets for Sophie’s Saturday Kitchen this Saturday, September 15, at Thame Town Hall from 10.30am?
More information HERE
COMMUNITY Action Groups is a network of local voluntary groups in Oxfordshire at the forefront of community led climate change action. CAGs organise events and initiatives to raise awareness and take action on climate change issues including waste reduction, promoting the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle), carbon reduction, sustainable transport, and food, energy and water issues to live a more sustainable and less resource dependent life in their local community.
In Thame the role of the Community Action Group (CAG) is taken by 21st Century Thame’s Environment Group, which also carries out a number of other activities. The Group joined the Oxfordshire CAG network in December 2006.
Probably the most visible local event organised by the Thame CAG are the regular Swap Shops in Thame where local people can take unwanted possessions and other people can take them away. Occasional bike swaps have proved very popular too.
Find out about what the Oxfordshire CAG has been doing and about future events HERE
THAME cricket club is holding a FREE, fun, social event this coming Sunday, 9th September from 11am-6pm, open to everyone.
The bar will be open and there will be food and in keeping with the Caribbean theme, a steel band.
THE VANA Trust, Organic Farm invites you to join them for some late summer fun; Yew Tree Farm, Duck Lane, Ludgershall.
With live music from ‘Blame the Bankers’
More information HERE
THAME’s MP, John Howell, has denied ‘not caring’ about the plight of a Thame family who say they have been denied benefits for the severely disabled husband who must go for a job interview first.
The Wood family’s plight was all over the internet and local news channels yesterday after Alex Wood’s wife, Tamsyn, issued a desperate statement about her family’s situation since her husband’s horrific brain injury in a rugby match last October. In her plea for help, Mrs Wood said: “After a few weeks now of insane trials, fighting against the benefits system, fighting for funding for Alex and my head spinning with where to go next….I am turning my fear for not being able to provide for my kids into rage and action….in the frontline now as I need help to get Alex the right rehabilitation, not at the mercy of the NHS and the fear that the indefinite funds will one day run out, and he will not have the chance he needs.
“I have to fight for him, I have to fight for my kids, any other mother out there in my situation would do the same.
“The local MP, John Howell, in Thame was not interested,” she said. “One of his secretaries emailed me weeks after I sent a desperate plea, saying they did not deal with cases like mine, to go to the council. This does effect him actually, he is a government MP, under the noses of the government I am (as the child tax credits have been put on hold till I provide a particular piece of evidence) a mother of four under eights with no access to funds to feed my children.”
MP’S RESPONSE
In a statement to ThameNews.Net today, John Howell said: ” I have looked at the blogspot and have every sympathy with the situation that the Wood family find themselves in. However it is entirely a misrepresentation to say that I am not interested in the case. Let me put the record straight.
“When constituents contact my office we take time to look at each individual case and try to determine the best route for them to get the help they need. This is exactly what we did in this case. Mrs Wood did indeed contact my office in April. She asked two specific questions; firstly, if we know of any financial support that could be offered and, secondly, if we could advise of possible housing routes. We, therefore, pointed Mrs Wood to those who would be in a position to help and advise her. At no time did anyone say we were not interested in helping Mrs Wood rather we tried to get her the most direct help available.
“Having pointed Mrs Wood in the right direction we have heard no more and we could only assume that the leads given had helped her. If Mrs Wood had come back to my office to say that these leads were not helpful we would certainly have tried to see if there was any more we could do. Indeed in complex cases we work hard to seek to ensure that all available support is given.
“I will not be responding in detail to any of the emails sent on behalf of the Woods family as we treat all cases with the confidentiality they deserve.”
At the end of last night’s news bulletin on BBC Oxford, where Mrs Wood revealed that she had only
THAME Neighbourhood Plan Consultation – Draft has entered its third week which means that there are now only have three weeks to make your views known. This is the last time Thame Town Council will be asking local people for comments before the Plan is submitted to the District Council.
Several Topic group meetings, open to all, have been arranged by the council, including that for THAME’S ECONOMY on September 26, at Thame town hall, 6.30pm to 8pm.
ALL local businesses, shop proprietors, tradespeople and Professionals are being encouraged to go along and find out what’s in the plan so far and to suggest ideas of their own.
The next public meeting is on Wednesday, September 12, from 6.30pm to 8pm at the Town Hall, seeking views on the section of the Plan about Housing.
Future topic group meetings include one on the subject of MOVEMENT, on September 19, same time, same place.
There will eventually be a referendum for local people to decide whether to accept the plan or not. At least 50% must vote for the plan for it to be adopted.
NEW BUSINESS GROUP CHAIR NEEDED
Following the retirement of Sonja Francis as Chair of 21st Century Thame’s Economic Working Group, Thame4Business, the town partnership is looking for someone to step into her shoes.
Cat Young, Deputy Chair of 21st Century Thame, said: “Sonja will be sorely missed as she has been the driving force behind Thame4Business (and some of its predecessors) for a long time.
What we need now is some people to take over from where Sonja left off. We’re looking for a new Chair and others to take on roles like ‘membership secretary’, ‘finance’ and ‘events organiser’. The more we can spread the load of running a group like this the less effort it will be.
“In return for your time you will receive increased exposure for yourself and your business within the Thame Business community, and you will be able to be involved with the future of the town at a strategic level through T4B’s relationship with 21st Century Thame.
“Are you someone who can spare a couple of hours a week to keep our business community thriving? Do you know someone who would be willing to volunteer?”
To find out more, or to offer your services, please contact Cat Young (cat@stw-online.net) or Anne Terry (anneterry2397@btinternet.com).
THAME LOYALTY SCHEME
Most people in the town are now familiar with the Town Loyalty Card scheme for local people and businesses, aimed at helping Thame retain local business and to maintain the attractiveness and economic vibrancy of its shopping areas.
The leaflet promoting the scheme, which includes a tear-off joining form, is due to be reprinted at the end of the month so any local shop or business that would like to be included in the scheme should contact the administrator as soon as possible. Call: 07792 487 030 for more information.
Existing businesses in the Thame Loyalty Card scheme include:
Thame Therapy Clinic
2 Wheels bicycle shop
A Piece of Cake
Bizzie Lizzie
Brothers
Cherry’s Nursery
Colour Me beautiful
Free Range
FROM (new one)
Gallery Wood Flooring
Glynswood (New)awaiting info
iCatching design
Kismet Jewellers
Medusa Jewellery (Thame market)
Newitts
Planet Organics
Powder
Racquets
Rumseys
Thame plumbing supplies
The Thatch
Time Out
ZKS Martial Arts
ZKS Print & design
Fuji
Cup and cake cafe
Anyone can buy a membership card by going into any of the participating businesses and paying a one-off
ADULTS in Oxfordshire now have the chance to brush up their CVs with free county council-run courses in English and maths.
These English and maths courses are free and available to any Oxfordshire resident above the age of 19 and cover all abilities from beginners to GCSE level.
GCSE English and maths courses start the week beginning 10 Sept so there is still time to grab a place. The rest of the English and maths programme as a whole starts week beginning 1 October. Anyone wanting to find out more should ring the Oxfordshire Skills and Learning Service on 0845 351 0646 (between 09.30-17.00)
T
he classes will be held across the county at venues in Oxford, Didcot, Abingdon, Banbury, Carterton and Bicester.
County Councillor Melinda Tilley, Cabinet member for Education, said: ?This is a great opportunity to brush up on your skills or perhaps to get a qualification you may not have achieved earlier on in life.
?Taking one of these courses could help improve your job prospects or help in the job you are in at the moment. Regardless of your circumstances it is worth finding out more ? it won?t cost you anything but could prove to be a very valuable call.?
SOURCE: Press release – Image Courtesy of Highbury college
SUPPORTERS and sponsors of the Thame Food Festival gathered at Thame Museum last night, for the opening of a special photography exhibition in celebration of the festival, now in its fifth year.
The exhibition features the work of Debbie Jones of Imaging Essence, whose work regularly illustrates the food festival’s programmes and the website
One of the festival organisers and promotors, Julian Dorling, was there and told ThameNews.Net all about it:
“What a night it was! TFF patron, Lotte Duncan made a hilarious welcome speech, most of which couldn?t be reprinted here! ‘Thame Food Festival is where everyone wants to be,’ she said. ‘Top Chefs are so difficult to pin down and it?s so great to see people like Beverley Glock, Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi and Steve Love from headline sponsors McCormick UK here.’
“Festival stallholders brought some fantastic samples of their ?work? including sausages from Orchard View Farm, Avlaki Organic Olive Oils and yummy dips from CiCi-CoCo. Frazer Sutherland from ‘The Thatch’ and the ‘James Figg’ supplied food and drink, and copious amounts of hospitality. Lotte was a bit disappointed with her latest effort on the Thame Tart front and encouraged people to ‘see if they could do better with their own version.’”
A special prize is to be awarded for the best Thame Tart (Ed. the edible sort!) on the day of the festival and the recipe is in the Festival programme, available in outlets in Thame and at the Town Hall.
The exhibition, which runs until October 3 (Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday 10-4pm, and Sunday 12-4pm) is FREE and includes images of celebrity Chefs, including Raymond Blanc who will be appearing in the Cookery Theatre at Thame Food Festival on September 29, and wonderful shots of past festival highlights. Many of the images will be included in a special festival calendar.
Thame Food Festival promises to be a wonderful free, family day out in the centre of the town from 9am onwards, to celebrate all that is best in great, inspiring and mouth-watering food and drink.
PHOTO: A fine example of the Thame Tart, a sophisticated version of the jam tart, invented by John Fothergill, proprietor of the The Spread Eagle in the 1930s.
MEDICAL CENTRE: Haddenham Medical Centre will be closed for the afternoon (from 12.30pm) on Wednesday 12th to allow time for staff training. Emergency cover will be provided. If you are unable to access the practice during the week, you are reminded that there are now surgeries on some Saturday mornings to see a doctor or practice nurse. The clinics this month are on September 8th and 22nd and appointments must be pre-booked during the week. Call 293300.
Thurs 6th RAT World Cinema: Have you heard about the film shows at the Rose and Thistle pub? There will be another film presentation tonight (8pm) as part of the Haddenham World Cinema Club, courtesy of Spas Tantilov. The film is Seven Samurai, a 1954 Japanese adventure drama film. Entry is free but to be sure of a seat you can pick up a ticket in advance from the pub.
Sat 8th ?Ride and Stride?: The annual sponsored Bucks Historic Churches Bike Ride and walk takes place on Saturday (10am-6pm). If you would like to take part – and raise funds for a church of your choice and for the Buckinghamshire Historic Churches Trust (to help with church repairs) – please contact local organiser Richard Matthews on 01844 292463 for a sponsorship form and details of churches which will be open. There is also more information at www.haddenham.net
Fri 7th Dinner and Disco: Martin Roberts and fellow members of the Haddenham Hillbillies cycle group are organising a dinner and disco in aid of the Chilterns MS Centre, where Martin?s sister Clare goes for treatment. It takes place at the ASM Stadium, Meadow View, Thame, on Friday (7.30pm-12.30am) and tickets are
A Unique sculpture and audio trail at Aston Rowant Nature reserve has recently been launched – A fun and free family day out, any time!
The trail, consisting of six beautiful sculptures, was designed and made by local community groups and schools working with professional artists.
Each of the sculptures is very visual and tactile and have built-in audio players so that visitors can discover more about the wildlife and history of the reserve in a fun and creative way!
Listen to the song trail, poetry trail, challenge trail or story trail, or mix and match each time you visit! Plus enjoy the gorgeous views of the reserve as you follow the trail.
Parking ? Aston Rowant NNR carpark, follow brown signs from the A40 nr Stokenchurch, nr J5 or J6 of M40. Nearest post code HP14 5HX.
For more information call 01844 351833 or visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk