Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 19/08/10…Thame’s Star pupils!

    THE stress and anxiety of waiting is over at last, and once again Thame A level students and teachers at Lord Williams’s school have made the town proud, by achieving a 97% overall pass rate.

    A creditable 46% of results were at A stars to B grades, and 73% at A star to C grades.

    This is the first year that A* grades have been awarded at A Level for exceptional performance so special congratulations go to Joanne Ford and Hannah Scott who both achieved three A* grades.

    Other students achieved a combination of A* and A grades including Nicholas Keith, Annabelle Pearson, Beth Richardson and Harry Wiles who achieved four each and Lucy Brown, Sian Burgess, Tom Eaton, Cara Evans, Sarah Evans, Alex Feuchtwanger, Heather Lawson, Katie Niedzielski, Alex Richardson, Gemma Roberts, Haitham Sherif, Harry Slater, Emily Stapleton-Jefferis, Fay Underwood and Katie Whittaker who achieved three A* or A grades each.

    Three students are particularly pleased with their results as they will be able to take up their places at Cambridge University. They are Beth Richardson, Haitham Sherif and Harry Wiles. Sarah Evans and Hannah Scott have successfully secured their places to study medicine.

    Headteacher David Wybron, commented: “This is the time to celebrate just how much effort these young people, supported by their parents and dedicated school staff, have put in to achieving these grades. Their success is very well deserved.”

    Kate Sheehan, Head of Sixth Form added: “We are immensely proud of all our students; they should be congratulated on their fantastic achievements which are the result of two years of very hard work. We are so pleased that these results will enable our students to progress on to their chosen field of employment or to university. They have a bright and exciting future ahead of them and we wish them all the very best with whatever they decide to do.”

    One student, who failed to get the Maths grade he was hoping for to get into Aberystwyth, was nontheless happy: “I havn’t done well,” he admitted, “but I’m not sour. Others deserved the place more than me. I’ve got into Southampton Solent University to study Computing so I’m happy. The next month though is going to be completely hectic organising everything.”

    THE NATIONAL PICTURE

    Nationally, One in 12 of all exams were awarded the new A* top grade while more than one in four entries (27%) were awarded an A grade – up from 26.7% last year.

    Overall, the pass rate rose for the 28th year in a row, with 97.6% of entries getting a grade E or higher.

  • 19/08/10…Drugs raid in Thame – See video

    THAMES VALLEY POLICE carried out a drugs raid in Thame early this morning 19/08, at a flat above a shop in the town.

    Inside the property were six people, two females and fours males, one of whom was arrested on suspicion of possessing class B drugs and remains in custody.

    To see a video of the raid, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fXq0M9n6b8

    PHOTO: Police force open the door of a flat in Thame town centre this morning, to gain entry to a property suspected of containing illegal drugs

  • 19/08/10….Is this really public consultation?

    Dear Editor, I was somewhat encouraged to read on Thame.Net on Tuesday that Buckinghamshire Hospitals Trust is to hold meetings to give residents a chance to express publicly their views about the future use of community hospitals, including ours in Thame.

    However, I think it should be pointed out that, although it might be the first impression, these could hardly be called public meetings. I have been in touch with the Hospital Trust on behalf of Thame and District Day Centre, which meets at Thame Community Hospital three times a week, about our sending a group, maybe members, trustees and volunteers, to a meeting to be held next Wednesday.

    In reply one of their officials has told me that the meetings are ?engagement sessions? involving a short presentation ….. followed by ?small group discussions?.

    The message adds that because of the interactive nature of the sessions people must book in advance. The writer adds: “If you could provide the names of those who will be attending, we will be able to send full confirmation and venue details”.

    At this short notice, at this time of year, it is very difficult to know who would be able to attend. I could probably think of about 50 people who would like to, if they are free, and they will probably know many others. And that?s just among our people.

    I hope others interested groups in the town have been alerted to the meeting ? wherever it is held.

    Norman Brand
    Secretary, Thame and District Day Centre

    ED. The meetings for Thame will be held on Wednesday, August 25, from 10am-11:30am and on Monday, September 6, from 6pm-7:30pm. To book a place on any of the sessions email: communications@buckshosp.nhs.uk or call 01494 734959.

  • 19/08/10…South Oxon among lowest child road casualties

    SOUTH Oxfordshire has the eighth lowest child road casualty rate in the country, with one casualty in 800 children.

    This was one of the findings of a new survey from Road Safety Analysis Limited which looks at published road casualty figures from local authorities across the country.

    The survey looked at 408 councils.

    The report also showed children most at risk were ?those from families of lower incomes who often live on large council estates where there is little owner occupation?.

    Children are most likely to have an accident on a Friday and the second most likely day is Saturday. Sunday is the least likely day to become a casualty.

    In winter, child casualties drop by 25 per cent but the worst month for such accidents is May. Child pedestrian accidents are lowest in August.

    Perhaps the most shocking statistic in the report showed that over the first 16 years of life, one in 27 children, less than the size of an average class, will be reported as injured or even killed in a collision.

  • See HAIRSPRAY performed in Thame – August 20, 2010

    THAME Youth Theatre is doing Hairspray: the Broadway Musical. There are 70 children taking part, from all over Thame and surrounding villages. Over 40 are new members who are coming to Thame Youth Theatre for the first time.

    All the children are working incredibly hard to make this an amazing show, with fantastic energy and enthusiasm during this intensive week where they rehearse from 10am-4pm each day.

    The show is on Friday 20th August in the Phoenix Performing Arts Studio at Lord williams’ Lower School at 7pm and promises to be a fantastic evening!

  • 18/08/10…Report anti-social behaviour

    THAMES Valley Police want to know about any anti-social behaviour issues occurring in your area. They have issued the following statement:

    As the Area Commander for South Oxfordshire I am very keen to address issues of anti social behaviour, ensuring those living in the varied communities across the region are able to enjoy life without the hindrance caused by the inappropriate behaviour of others. Such behaviour can significantly impact on individuals or groups such as the elderly and vulnerable.

    Not all anti social behaviour is related to alcohol, however it is a contributory factor in many incidents from the individual whose behaviour changes through alcohol consumption, to youths who are not accustomed to drinking or drink in excess to impress their peers.

    We find that opportunities to put a stop to anti social behaviour as soon as possible also prevents it leading to other minor crime such as criminal damage or minor assaults. Therefore I would encourage everyone to report incidents in the early stages to the police or Community Safety teams through your local council.

    Superintendent Chris Sharp
    Please report any incidents where you suspect that alcohol is being bought to pass on, or where under-age drinking is happening or where antisocial behaviour is fuelled by alcohol.

    Report these incidents or any other relevant information to the police on 08458 505 505.
    Your information can also be passed onto Trading Standards who will be able to carry out test purchasing where ?under age? or ?proxy sales? are suspected.

    Don?t want to speak to the police? – Don?t want to give your name?
    Call Crime stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

    Maddy Fry (Source: Press release)

  • 1940s Hangar dance will celebrate Battle of Britain

    THAME Town Council will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain on September 18, with a 1940s Hangar Dance at the Spread Eagle Hotel, with music from the Sound Force Big Band.

    Go along in 1940’s dress and enjoy a hot Buffet Supper 1940’s style. Tickets at

  • 17/08/10…..Outrage over changes to bus route

    PROPOSALS by the bus operator Arriva to amend the route of the 280 bus through Haddenham, have caused outrage among some of the villagers.

    Although the changes include providing an extra bus to the route, guaranteeing three an hour instead of two, there are also plans to redirect the service from its current Church Way route to one past the village Medical Centre.

    The move has prompted a spate of complaints from residents, including George and Freda Dorrell of Willis Road, Haddenham, who insist that the current route provides much needed access for villagers getting to the library, the local shops and surrounding towns like Oxford, Thame and Aylesbury.

    The Dorrells say that the elderly and disabled living at Church Way and Church End will be particularly hard hit, as the lack of a bus stop in the area will place the 280 service beyond their reach. Similarly, the new route via Woodways and the Medical Centre is beset by speed bumps and contains several schools and a busy crossing. Re-routing buses they say, would therefore make the area more hazardous for pedestrians.

    ?It?s a crazy situation,? says Mrs. Dorrell, who with her husband has written to the Traffic Commissioner, Aylesbury Vale MP John Bercow and Arriva to protest about the changes. ?We?ve had no response from anyone beyond the Traffic Commissioner saying it was the Council?s responsibility and not theirs,? added Freda. ? All they?re interested in is going with the route they?ve said they?ll run.?

    As well as the Dorrells, many other villagers are angry because, they say, residents were not consulted over the proposed changes. Despite several phone calls today, no one from Bucks County Council was available for comment.

    By Maddy Fry

  • 17/08/10…..Thame Day Centre can now seek rent advice

    THAME and District Day Centre hopes soon to be learn whether or not its peppercorn rent will be quadrupled in April, following the arrival of a long-awaited letter from NHS Buckinghamshire PCT.

    The day centre has been waiting for the information since it first enquired in March this year, and now has the information from the PCT is needs, to write to the relevant person at Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust to help the committee plan the day centre’s future funding needs.

    For background see: LINK

    PHOTO: A member of Thame & District Council watches a demonstration of paper flower making during one of her regular visits.

  • 17/08/10…..Have your say about the future of hospital services

    BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Hospitals NHS Trust is to hold a series of public meetings over how to make the best use of community hospitals within Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, including Thame Community Hospital.

    Fears over reductions in NHS funding in recent months have prompted concerns that many community hospitals, which provide nursing services and care for the terminally ill, could be closed down. Thame has already seen a reduction in the number of beds from 12 to eight since September last year but