Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 02/12/010….Football?s coming home on 4th December!

    THE Chairman of Thame Football Partnership is hoping that the cold weather doesn?t hamper Meadow View Park?s plans to host it first ever game at The ASM Stadium on Saturday, December 4. Wokingham and Emmbrook FC will be the visitors, with a kick off at 3pm.

    On Sunday, December 5, from 1pm there is a Thame Boys, Youth & Girls Open Day for everyone involved in Thame football. This will give all the players the opportunity to pick up their membership cards and packs.

    But the fantastic new venue at Meadow View Park is not just about Football. This community facility has two fantastic bars and will offer a large and varied menu every lunchtime and evening. So come along, check out the facilities and support the club.

    The venture has taken nearly five years to complete, from conception to the first match. Thousands of volunteer hours have been committed and everyone at TFP is very excited to see the place finally ready for action.

    TFP spokesman, Frank Thompson, said: “Special thanks must go to Thame Town Council. Without the Council?s agreement to be the Accountable Body, this project would not have been achieved. In addition, Thame Town Council helped with funding of

  • 02/12/010………..Gardening projects tackle isolation amongst the vunerable

    TWO gardening projects launched by Thrive will help older people in rural communities feel less isolated.
    Thrive, a charity that helps people with disabilities harness the benefits of gardening, will use the therapeutic powers of gardening to help older people with a history of mental health problems and other disabilities, regain confidence, build self esteem and motivation, feel better physically and mentally and create new social networks.

    The Commission for Rural Communities highlights a trend towards an ageing population that is particularly vulnerable to isolation and loneliness, and for whom it can be costly to deliver vital services.

    This is especially true for those older people in scattered and remote communities who have little or no family support. Evidence shows that appropriate, well designed services which are accessible even for those older people living in very rural locations, can have significant benefits for both user and provider.

    Research shows that older people are frequently let down when they really need help: one in ten older people may experience depression ? rising to about 40 per cent for those living in care homes. With funding cuts set to hit some day centres across the UK, it is even more important to ensure older people are not forgotton.

    Working across Berkshire, Hampshire and South Oxfordshire, Thrive wants to help people create community gardening and horticultural therapy projects in the areas where they live, which will improve their mental and physical health, reduce isolation and bring people together.

    Thrive works with vulnerable older people to tackle the causes of disabilities such as mental illness, including isolation and loneliness and help them become more active citizens through rural based community gardening projects.

    The charity has received funding from the Big Lottery for two projects: Community Rural Gardening is being funded through the Reaching Communities programme and Growing 4 Life is being funded by Ecominds.

    Both are free to older people with mental health needs and Community Rural Gardening is also for older people with disabilities who live within two miles of the garden locations.

    Project manager Wendy Chamberlain, said: ?Gardening is the tool we use to help some of the more isolated members of our community.

    ?Green exercise has been proven to improve mental well-being, lifting mood and boosting self-esteem. These projects present a wonderful opportunity to help improve local green spaces whilst at the same time forging community links and working with people who may be socially isolated.

    ?We hope people will benefit from the social inclusion and interaction of this project and develop a sense of purpose and achievement.

    ?Thrive will help them develop gardening skills and build up their knowledge and experience of garden-related activities. We hope that at least three quarters of them will adapt a healthier lifestyle as a result, and that the same amount will find improvements in their mental health.

    ?Once new gardening groups have been established, we will encourage people to stay together, remain active and Thrive will be on hand to give additional support when required.?

    During the projects Thrive will record, monitor and evaluate what?s happened and the findings will be published to assist professionals working with older people who wish to use gardening as a therapy.

    If you know an individual or an organisation in Berkshire, Hampshire or South Oxfordshire that may benefit from being part of Community Rural Gardening or Growing-4-Life, please contact Wendy Chamberlain on 0118 988 5688 or email wendy.chamberlain@thrive.org.uk

  • 02/12/10………How a series of cats tamed a family – new book release

    FROM the pen of John Hope, co-author of the successful, For Cats series of books, comes Nine Lives, a charming and captivating tale of nine cats who all have their turn at supervising two generations of a particularly lucky family of human beings. Told through the eyes of Bunni, a small but feisty, largely Siamese cat, we are gradually initiated into the secret world of feline culture.

    We meet Lord Tabithat, the god of all cats, and are entrusted with knowledge of Khat Lore, the tradition and wisdom of countless generations of cats. We learn how cats count, tell the time, measure distance, and generally interpret the man-made world around them.

    Bunni carries out her task so well that, at the end of her life, Tabithat sends her back as a Phirish ? a spirit cat ? to continue the good work she started. We accompany her and her humans on great adventures and share her every move and every emotion as she is faced with one final, daunting special assignment that she must complete before she earns her right to relax in Tabithat?s afterlife. You?ll be craving to get to the last page to find out whether she succeeds!

    The book is available now on Amazon UK for

  • 02/12/10…….Thame-Romanian friendship grows

    A group representing the Thame-Sinaia Friendship Association, which included three ex Mayors of Thame, recently paid a visit to Romania as guests of the Sinaia Town Hall. The trip included visits to two local primary schools and the Prince Cantacuzino College (the secondary school), as well as a visit to the Pelisor Castle, the former home of Queen Marie of Romania, granddaughter of Queen Victoria of England.

    Ex Thame Mayor, David Bretherton, Chairman of the Thame-Sinaia Friendship Association, said: ?On this, our second visit to Sinaia, we were able to stay a little longer and were treated to visits to the local schools and ventured onto the Transylvanian Plain to Bran Castle (Dracula?s Castle). “Once more the hospitality was superb and the scenery fantastic, and thanks to the exchange rate, the shopping and booze inexpensive. I am now looking forward to taking a larger party to see what the town is like in the Spring time.?

    Vlad Oprea, the Mayor of Sinaia, said: “It was a pleasure seeing our friends from the Thame-Sinaia Friendship Association and I want to continue our friendship, which started exactly a year ago here in Sinaia. I want to thank all members of the Friendship Association for the initiative to start-up this collaboration. There is great potential to work on many joint projects and I hope that the twinning protocol could be signed soon.”

    Jeannette Matelot Green, also a former Mayor of Thame, said: ?Once again, a memorable trip. We visited three schools, the two primary schools entertained us with local music and dance and the secondary school sixth formers gave a wonderful presentation of their impressions of Britain which they had visited on school trips. Marius Ciortan and I met members of the Sinaia Rotary Club. We were impressed with their fundraising projects which included the restoration of the architectural heritage of the town and awards to high achieving students from the secondary school.?

    Irina Avramescu, Internal Relations Officer at Sinaia Town Hall, added: “For me every twinning project that grows is a new accomplishment, as our town is already twinned with eight other towns in the world. This is the feeling I have about the relationship of cooperation between Sinaia and Thame. It is a beautiful idea that I hope will materialize into common projects. It was a pleasure to see again this group of wonderful people from Thame. You’re welcome whenever you can visit us.”

    Former Thame Mayor, David Laver, said: ?I can say that I found the town and the country very interesting; the surrounding countryside is very picturesque. The itinerary was very well organised by the town council of Sinaia and we were very well looked after. I particularly enjoyed visiting the schools and the chance to meet some of the staff and some of the pupils there. The opportunity to explore further into Transylvania and to visit the Bran Castle was a bonus and I would certainly visit again to find out more about the country.?

    Marius Ciortan, himself originating from Romania, is the Secretary of the Thame-Sinaia Friendship Association. He said: ?We identified a lot of new potential projects especially with the Prince Cantacuzino College. On that day some of the sixth-formers were rehearsing for their graduation ball. They have got a very busy youth theatre group there with performances in French, English and Romanian and regular exchanges with youth from Sinaia?s twin town in France.

    “I envisage a good potential link and exchange opportunities with our Thame Youth Theatre and Lord Williams?s School. I also feel there are also great opportunities for teachers? exchanges among the two towns’ primary schools.?

    He added: ?For the future, we are looking forward to welcoming new members to our friendship association and also to ‘kicking off’ some of the potential projects with various groups in Thame. We will be organising a fundraising quiz night with fish and chips at Barley Hill School on Friday, January 28, 2011, from 7 pm.” Tickets will be available at

  • 01/12/10…..Sign up for flood alerts – new flood warning codes

    THE Environment Agency has changed the codes it uses to warn people about the risk of floods. These are available to view at CLICK LINK HERE

    To check if you are at risk from flooding or to register for the Environment Agency’s free Floodline Warnings Direct service, please call Floodline on 0845 988 1188, or visit the Environment Agency’s website via the above link.

  • 01/12/10….Campaign group slams council’s roundabout adverts policy

    DESPITE accepting that advertising signs on its roundabouts in South Oxfordshire are both unpermitted and a traffic hazard, Oxfordshire County Council still wants to keep them!

    According to CPRE (Campaign for the Protection of Rural England), Huw Vaughan Jones, the County?s Principal Highways Engineer, has said: “It is considered that the unpermitted signs, as installed, could constitute a highways distraction and therefore an objectionable level of potential risk to highways safety.”

    CPRE have been campaigning against these commercial advertising signs since January 20006, when the County Council decided, with South Oxfordshire District Council, to erect them bringing, in CPRE’s view, “commercial advertising into our advertising free area contrary to the District Council?s specific policies.”

    ‘COVER UP’

    Michael Tyce, of the Oxfordshire Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: “The cover-up by the two Local Authorities has been truly unbelievable. The District Council persistently declared that the signs had planning permission when they knew they did not, and that they could do nothing to stop the flouting of their own policies to protect the countryside which they themselves were engaged in.

    “They have repeatedly denied, until now, that the signs represent a safety hazard, when it is obvious that their only purpose is to distract motorists at a critical moment. This means that for almost five years the County Council, whose job is Highway Safety, has knowingly sponsored a scheme which endangers it.”

    Now the original five year contract term for the signs is running out, and the District Council is applying to itself for planning permission to continue for another five years.

    In the process of the consultations about the 103 signs on 28 roundabouts throughout the District, of the eleven parishes and towns in which the roundabouts are sited, only one has approved the continuation of the scheme. Nine have strongly opposed it including Crowmarsh, SODC?s HQ, where the roundabout advertises the District Council itself, and Thame, where the District Councillor who sponsored the scheme, David Dodds, also sits as a Town Councillor.

    District Councillors will meet on December 15, to decide whether the scheme should be allowed to continue.

    Said Michael Tyce: “They will at last have a chance to enforce Council policies to protect the countryside from commercial clutter and make our roads safer by removing an acknowledged safety hazard.”

    NOTE: Cllr David Dodds was unavailable for comment at the time of publication (16:00 hrs). If and when Cllr Dodds responds, his comments will be posted.

    PHOTO: Advertisement that appears on one of South Oxfordshire’s roundabouts

  • 01/12/10….Free stickers prevent bike thefts

    SOUTH Oxfordshire Community Safety Partnership has joined with Thames Valley Police to help cut bicycle thefts in the area by giving away free hard to remove stickers.

    Once the sticker is attached around the frame of the bike it makes it difficult to sell on the stolen bicycle. As they are marked with the owner?s address, the bike can be returned if found abandoned.

    The partnership is also encouraging local people to:

    ? use a ?sold secure? branded padlock and chain
    to secure the bike when unattended
    ? keep the bike out of sight, in a shed or garage
    ? report suspicious behaviour to the police on
    0845 8 505 505.

    Residents can get their stickers from local bike retailers, town police stations and the council offices in Crowmarsh Gifford, near Wallingford.

    Malcolm Wills, Crime Prevention and Reduction Adviser for South Oxfordshire said:
    ?A lot of people will have new bikes for Christmas that could attract opportunist thieves. Take a few moments to make sure no one is going to steal your bike, add the sticker, and ensure you have a decent lock and chain. Saving money on a sub standard lock and chain will be false economy if you have your bike stolen.?

    Jane Murphy, Chairman of the South Oxfordshire Community Safety Partnership and Cabinet Member for Community Safety at the council said:

    ?Our district has low levels of crime but we?re hoping to cut this even more thanks to these ingenious stickers. Criminals will find it hard to sell on a marked bike as it can always be traced back to the true owner.?

    NOTE: For more information about the South Oxfordshire Community Safety Partnership, visit www.southoxon.gov.uk/communitysafety

    For a video about bike marking visit:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4FQrP3zdxg

    For advice on how to make your bike as secure as possible visit:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xzhsvT0mLw&NR=1

  • 01/12/10……….New job opportunities with Thame firm

    HOTEL chain, Travelodge, based in Thame, has plans to hire 200 extra staff at its six new sites, including people for management roles at its HQ in Aylesbury Road, Thame.

    These new posts are on top of jobs already created at 20 other sites opened this year. The company recently bought 52 lodges from pub giant, Mitchells & Butlers.

  • 01/12/10………..FREE Festive parking in Thame

    SHOPPERS in South Oxfordshire, including Thame, are once again being offered free parking in the run-up to Christmas.

    The District Council is providing free parking in all its pay and display carparks (behind Co-Op and Cattlemarket in Thame) from midday on Saturday, December 4, 11 and 18.

    Cllr David Dodds, Cabinet member with responsibility for car parks, said: ?I am really pleased the council is once again offering free parking in the run-up to Christmas. This is a great way of encouraging people to visit our market towns and support our local shops and businesses.?

    There is no need to buy a ticket, although the maximum stay still applies.

    For details of the council?s car parks please see www.southoxon.gov.uk/carpark

  • 30/11/10…Protesting students explain their action

    DEAR Editor, There will be student action in the centre of town (Oxford City) 30/11/10 – below is a statement from the organisers. We hope that you will print this statement online on behalf of the school students of Oxford.

    Dear Schools of Oxford, The Oxford Joint Protest Group is a new alliance formed between various Oxfordshire schools that aims to encourage peaceful action against the harsh con-dem coalition education cuts and the rise in higher education fees. Today is the second national day of student action against new government plans and, with the support of the Oxfordshire anti-cuts alliance, we feel it is important for us to take this opportunity to take collective action and defend our right to education, as these issues will have massive implications on our future.

    We are writing this letter to explain our reasons for protesting and clarify that we do not take action against our schools and appreciate the efforts that are made by them on our behalves in offering us the best educational opportunities possible and ask for their support on this peaceful day of action.

    The cuts in education our generation are facing are aggressive, unjust and are affecting the students who need the support of their government the most. Education Maintenance Allowance is something that a large number of sixth form students at Oxford schools rely on in order to continue their education, and cuts in this benefit will force them into making tough decisions reconsidering their place in education. A rise in university fees is a step towards the decline of meritocracy, where those who obtain places do so on the basis that they can afford to pay.

    We care about our education and believe that these cuts are damaging to the extent that we are willing to show our solidarity as a coalition of schools and make a statement today. We know that sacrificing lesson time is not ideal and we do not mean to be disrespectful to our teacher?s time and effort, however because the foreseeable damage to our education is so great this kind of action is the only way we feel we can get our voices heard.

    We sincerely hope our schools are able to understand why our action is necessary and we cordially invite students from all Oxfordshire schools to join us in protest this afternoon and look forward to the creativity you put into producing your banners.

    The Oxford Joint Protest Group
    30/11/10