Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 09/08/10…..AMENDMENT: Thame councillors not happy with Costa

    IT has been pointed out that it was Cllr David Bretherton who referred to seating outside Costa Coffee in Thame not being licenced, and NOT Cllr David Laver as reported on 05/08/010 – final paragraph below.

    SOME Thame town councillors are unhappy about the effect the Costa Coffee cafe has had on the street since its arrival in the High Street.

    As well as being unhappy about a proposed overhead awning, calling it out of character with the area, two councillors are not happy about the outdoor seating infront of the cafe.

    “The so-called cafe culture does not work here in Thame,” said Cllr Nigel Champken Woods at last night’s Planning Committee meeting, “and we have had complaints about Costa’s outdoor seats. They shouldn’t be there.”

    Cllr David Laver said that the company had not obtained a licence for the seating from the Highways Department as they are required to do.

  • 09/08/10….Re-building of classic handmade car to be masterminded from Thame

    REPRODUCED FROM: http://www.discountvouchers.co.uk/news
    CARPHONE Warehouse founder and Chairman, Charles Dunstone, has announced his support of the re-launch of the Interceptor, the classic car made by Jensen International Automotive (JIA). Mr Dunstone said that he has backed the initiative with an undisclosed financial sum, as well as agreeing to join the JIA board of directors, which will oversee the manufacture of 18 of the classic autos each year, all of which will be made entirely by hand.

    According to a representative of JIA, Mr Dunstone was one of the first individuals to own an Interceptor S when it was first released. The representative went on to say that after hearing of the move to re-build the classic cars for the modern age, Mr Dunstone was extremely keen to be a part of the project, and has given tremendous support, both personal and financial.

    The Interceptor will cost

  • Thame Show visitors Walked through Africa

    AS thousands of people descended on the Oxfordshire & Thame County Show recently, international aid and development charity, World Vision, invited them to experience life through the eyes of one child in Africa.

    FIRST OF ITS KIND

    Oxfordshire & Thame County Show marked the debut for Step Into Africa, a walk-through exhibit in which participants experience a day in the life of seven year-old Ayie as she navigates the hazards of living in poverty in rural Sierra Leone.

    Using individual MP3 players, interested show goers were led through African style huts as Ayie talked about the risks she faces each day, from silent killers such as malaria.

    ?In so many ways, Ayie?s daily life- dealing with chronic poverty, deadly bouts of diarrhoea, pneumonia and malaria- is a world away from ours, which is why we wanted to bring it closer to home at events like the Oxfordshire & Thame County Show,? said Sarah Lisowiec from World Vision?s Experiential Marketing Department.

    ?Step Into Africa gives us the chance to remind and illustrate to the UK public how they can so easily make a difference in the lives of children like Ayie.

    After experiencing the exhibit, people had the chance to talk to World Vision staff about their work, and any of the issues they came across, and had the chance to sign up to the charity’s campaigning work or to sponsor a child like Ayie.?

    World Vision UK hopes that Step Into Africa, constructed by Hertford-based set designers and experiential agency Scene 2, will highlight what it calls ?the greatest silent emergency of our time?; the millions of children under the age of five who die each year from easily preventable causes, such as diarrhoea, malaria and pneumonia.

    PHOTO: The Mosquito is a vecta of malaria, a”hidden killer” in Africa

  • Chinnor & PRR trials new horse-friendly gate

    NEW horse-friendly gates at Chinnor railway crossing,
    one of the busiest sections of bridleway in the county, is being used as a trial for a brand new type of horse-friendly gate.

    Oxfordshire County Council?s Countryside Service worked in partnership with Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway to install the new gates by the Keens Lane railway crossing at Chinnor in the Chiltern Hills.

    This section of bridleway is well-used as it connects Chinnor village with The Ridgeway nearby.

    Slow-closing gates

    The new bridlegates have been engineered to be slow-closing, giving horse-riders plenty of time to pass through. The gates will be tested for the first time in Oxfordshire at the Chinnor site.

    Steam train event

    The gates were installed in time for people to watch the 100th anniversary celebrations of what is now the Chiltern Railways line through Bicester North. A special Centenary Steam Express service ran from Banbury to Princes Risborough and on to Chinnor to commemorate the event.

    Philip Capron, a volunteer with Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway said: ?We are very pleased to have helped enable the installation of the latest bridlegate technology at this key site for railway enthusiasts as well as other users of the countryside. It was a stroke of luck that the gates were installed in time for the Chiltern Railways Centenary Special steam train event on 3 July.?

    Making life easier

    Councillor Rodney Rose, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Implementation, said:
    ?We have long been aware that gates of any kind make access to the countryside more difficult for horse-riders.
    “We are hoping that this new type of bridlegate will make life easier for those on horseback and we welcomed the opportunity to work with the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway to trial the new gates.”

    Bridleway 45 crosses the railway line on the east edge of Chinnor and leads to The Ridgeway.

  • Top speed Cop warns that speed camera switch off will lead to more fatalities

    THE most senior traffic policeman in Britain has warned that cutting funding for speed cameras will put lives at risk. Chief constable Mick Giannasi has warned ministers that there will be a rise in fatal road accidents as struggling councils cannot afford to operate the cameras, according to reports today.

    The government has ended central funding for fixed speed cameras and last week, Oxfordshire county council turn off all 72 of its cameras. Several other counties are believe to be considering to follow suit.

    Giannasi’s comments that the cuts had : “..caused unintended consequences for road safety,” have been reported by The Times Newspaper.

    Mick Giannasi heads the roads portfolio for the Association of Chief Police Officers.

    The Department of Transport defended its position on speed cameras, insisting: “It is right that local councils decide how best to tackle specific problems in their areas.”

    WHAT’S YOUR view on the speed camera switch off in our county?

  • 06/08/10..Powder ? a little bit of Europe in Thame

    KAREN Moore, who opened Powder, in Buttermarket, Thame recently, had always been struck whilst travelling abroad, by how many small towns had their own perfumeries.

    With a background in Consultancy, she had always wondered what it would be like to open a shop. Living in Thame she could never find the cosmetics and products that she really wanted to buy and more often than not, found herself having to go to London to find what she needed. So, when an empty shop became vacant at 17a Buttermarket, Karen saw her opportunity to offer something a bit different locally in Thame and indulge her dream.

    Powder is about quality products such as natural skin care products like Dr Hauschka, Afriteque and the cosmeceutical range, Medik8.

    Powder?s cosmetics range from the very affordable Guys or Dolls makeup to professional make-up by Art Deco from Germany and Susan Posnick from USA.

    The wide range of fragrances available from Powder includes those from Crabtree and Evelyn and Miller Harris. New for this season are Mavala nail polishes in bold, glitzy colours, from Switzerland and the must-have self-tanning products from Xen-Tan. For mums and babes there is the natural range, Bloom and Blossom.

    Other make-up products are available for all ages and skin types ranging from oily, acne-prone skin to products to help older skin, and Powder doesn?t ignore the men. For the guys Powder stocks two ranges, Speick from Germany and Skinn from Australia.

    Powder?s unique selling point is undoubtedly a personal service that aims to guide the customer to buying something they really need and will benefit from, rather than just making a sale.

    ?I want to create an experience that customers will want to come back for,? says Karen.

  • 06/08/10…..Thame Developer follows ithame with Bee Gee charity App

    ONE of the Developers behind the ithame iPhone App. will see his latest venture launched at a star studded charity event in the garden of Bee Gee, Robin Gibb.

    Against Breast Cancer is launching its own iPhone App, the first of its kind to be created for a charity fundraising event. The App will showcase the Splash of Pink Fashion Show and Couture Tea taking place at The Prebendal,in Thame, the home of Bee Gee Robin Gibb and his wife Dwina Murphy-Gibb, on September 25, 2010. Dwina is a patron of the charity.

    Andy McDonald, Managing Director of Lifelyte iPhone and Android applications, has developed the new App for the charity following his successful launch of the ithame App with former colleague, Simon Ralphs, in association with Thame.Net.

    Andy explained how he became to be involved with the charity: “Against Breast Cancer approached my wife Anna from Anna McDonald Bridal Gallery for some input to the Splash of Pink Fashion show and I saw the potential that a dedicated Splash of Pink iPhone app would have on the promotion of the event. This will be the first of its kind for a charitable event and I am delighted to be involved in such a great cause right here in Thame”.

    Celebrities from the world of sport, broadcasting and fashion attending the event include Jimmy Choo, Julie Cowell, Honorary President of the charity and mum to Simon, broadcaster Ben Shephard, entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne and X Factor winner Shayne Ward.

    For more information and how to apply for tickets, go to:
    http://www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk/get-involved/fundraising/events/293/the-splash-of-pink-fashion-show-couture-tea/

    PHOTO: (Copyright Sonja Francis) Dwina Gibb pictured at a charity event for a Bomber Command Memorial, held in the garden of Robin and Dwina Gibb in 2008

  • Hairspray Schools with Thame Youth Theatre – 16th to 20th August

    HAURSPRAY Schools – Thame Youth Theatre’s exciting summer project! This summer, Thame Youth Theatre is running a holiday project for anyone in the area aged from 7-18. Spend a week working with TYT’s directors, making friends, and having fun, before performing Hairspary, at the Phoenix Performing Arts Studio in Thame. No experience needed.

    10.00am to 4.00pm (performance Friday 20th at 700pm), at the Phoenix Performing Arts Studio, Lord Williams’s Lower School, Thame. Cost:

  • 06/08/10….Thame’s old folk are Evergreen

    SOME of Thame’s most senior citizens received a welcome present today from the Deputy Mayor of Thame, Donald Butler.

    Thame Evergreen Social Club, which meets every two weeks at Lee Court, is currently having their get-togethers at Pearce Court while the heating is being replaced at their usual haunt.

    This afternoon, they enjoyed the tales and recollections of Member of the Inner Magic Circle and old friend of Tommy Cooper, David Bell, before a spot of bingo and a visit from the deputy mayor, bearing gifts.

    Don presented Evergreen’s Chair, Janet Abbott with a cheque for

  • 05/08/10…Thame Police continue to monitor speeding drivers!

    DESPITE the fact that Speed cameras in Oxfordshire have been turned off, Thame’s Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) will continue to use mobile Speed Indication Device (SID) to deter speeding drivers in the town.

    Here is the latest Thame neighbourhood update from Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Diane Jackson and PCSO Lucy Thorne:

    Crime mapping shows a decrease in vehicle crime from 3.7 to 2.7 between May 2009 and May 2010. Although mapping currently shows a decrease during May, we have received more reports than normal over recent months of suspicious behaviour relating to vehicles. We would like to remind people to remove all valuables from vehicles when left unattended. We have provided high visibility patrols in areas where we have received reports of this behaviour occurring and continue to urge members of the public to call Thames Valley Police if you see any suspicious behaviour.

    Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) information:
    Throughout July, we have seen the schools break up for their summer holidays. Groups of students were reminded by PCSO Thorne, whilst congregating and enjoying their first afternoon away from school, on Southern Road Recreation Ground to use the litter bins provided or take any litter away with them. Whilst out on foot patrol and engaging with young people in the Southern Road Park, PCSO Thorne stumbled across some very unsightly and offensive graffiti written over the covered seating area in the park itself. We believe we know some of the people who have done this and enquiries are being carried out at this time to find out the others.

    Offenders brought to justice:
    Throughout July, there have been six offenders brought to justice, three of these were dealt with by means of a Fixed Penalty Notice for Public Order, two were cautioned for drug supplying and Actual Bodily Harm (ABH). One offender also received an Adult Restorative Resolution.

    Comments on all priorities:
    The Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) priority for Thame is:
    1. Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) – Key areas are patrolled when on duty and any ASB is dealt with and young people are moved on if necessary. Where needed, home visits are carried out with parents present.

    Partnership Activity:
    During July, we have worked closely with housing associations, carrying out site inspections and home visits tackling very few neighbourhood disputes.

    PCSO Jackson and PCSO Thorne both attended Lord Williams Upper School to participate in ACE week at the beginning of the month with year 9 students. This was thoroughly enjoyable and the students seemed to show much interest in our input, based around consent.

    PCSO Jackson attended a meeting on 10 July with Lea Park Residents Association to discuss resident?s issues.

    Country Watch meetings are being held quarterly, if anyone is interested in joining, please contact the neighbourhood policing team on 0845 8 505 505.

    Planned Activity:
    There are monthly operations for Country Watch.

    During July, PCSO Jackson and PCSO Thorne have set up the Speed Indication Device (SID) on 19 and 21 July on North Street, Cromwell Avenue and Chinnor Road which have all been highlighted for speeding over recent months. Between us, we will be looking to deploy this device twice per month in Thame and Moreton. The Thame neighbourhood policing team participated in Operation Mongoose on 16th July, where the Automatic Number Plate Recognition device was used to deter criminals travelling into our area.

    PCSO Thorne attended an emergency Pubwatch meeting, following a recent incident in one of the public houses where two members of the public were added to the scheme?s banned list.

    Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) activity:
    We continue to support our Neighbourhood Specialist Officer with any priority actions set by the NAG.

    Good news stories:
    During July, PCSO Thorne came across some under-age drinking, which led to the dispersal of a large group of men from Aylesbury, deterring any further incidents of ASB.

    PCSO Jackson attended Barley Hill School on 2 July and enjoyed fish and chips with the pupils followed by playtime activities.

    PCSO Jackson also arranged for the removal of an abandoned vehicle in Thame.

    Details of future meetings:
    PCSO Diane Jackson Have Your Say Meetings:
    Thursday 12th August 2010- Thame Police Station 1600-1800

    PCSO Lucy Thorne Have Your Say Meetings:
    Monday 16th August 2010- Co-op cafe, High street, Thame 1500-1700

    To increase community engagement, all future Have Your Say meetings will be held at a different location. We will update you with the confirmed location in August.

    These meetings are an ideal opportunity for local residents to speak to their local police officers and PCSO?s about any local issues, no appointment is necessary just turn up and speak to your local officers. Further meetings will be publicised locally and on the force website at www.thamesvalley.police.uk.

    If you want any advice or would like to contact the neighbourhood team you can call us on the police non emergency number 0845 8 505505 or email ThameNHPT@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk. Please note this email address cannot be used to contact Thames Valley Police to report crimes or for any urgent matters. Alternatively you can visit the force website at www.thamesvalley.police.uk to view information on your neighbourhood.