Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 13/05/10…Vets win cup final to secure a cup double for Chinnor (Contributed)

    VENUE: Oxford University Sports Ground, Oxford. WHEN?Wed 5th May, 2010 – Chinnor RFC Oxen(Vets) XV 19 v Grove RFC Vets ? 3. MATCH REPORT:

    CHINNOR Vets took to the field at Iffley Road last Wednesday as holders of the floodlit Cup and favourites in some peoples’ eyes. The Chinnor boys took to the field knowing that there was a job to do against a Grove side they have never faced. What they did not know is quite how hard the job was going to be.

    Grove started strongly, camping themselves in the Chinnor half for the first 20 minutes. The defence from the Chinnor boys was awesome, denying Grove any score during that period of pressure. Fortunately the Grove kicker hadn’t brought his boots and left six points on the table missing two penalties in that period.

    After the first 20 minutes, Chinnor fought themselves out of their half and based themselves on the Grove line and for about five minutes, Grove held back the Chinnor onslaught before succumbing to a snaping dart from Scrum Half Bill Deeley for the first score, skillfully converted by Conor Begley.

    From there Grove slotted a penalty after a good break shortly before half time to leave the half time score 7-3 to the men from Thame.

    The second half did not let up. The pace was ferocious as were the hits and about 10 minutes after the break, following a well worked break, John Sellars, last year’s man of the match, skillfully forced his way over the Grove line to make the score 12 ? 5.

    From there both teams looked exhausted, having traded some hefty blows throughout the match thus far. A final score was added by Hooker Mike Wiltshire, converted again by Conor Begley, leaving the final score 19 ? 3. Both teams were extremely complimentary about the spirit of the match and there were no complaints as both knew they had been in a hard fought match.

    Having beaten Oxford Harlequins Vets 22 ? 5 and Bicester Vets 24 ? 0 earlier in the tournament, Chinnor are worthy champions this season and fully deserve their second title in two years.

    This win secures a historic cup double, Chinnor 1st team having won the County Senior Cup at the same venue a week before. To hold both the senior and the Vets cups is testament to the strength of the club within the county.

    It was a squad performance and so no single performance could be singled out. However, the Oxford RFU’s man of the match for the way he dictated the Chinnor attack, was John Vaughan playing fly half.

    Floodlit Cup Squad: Giles Kidner, Mike Wiltshire, Mike Hughes, Craig Smith, John Cann, Andy Millburn, Kenny Lue, Carl Buckland, Simon Turner, Simon Pearson, Steve Bridges, Paul Fincken, Gordon Fennell, Bill Deeley, Doug Humphries, Johnny Vaughan, Dave Wells, Jon Brooks, Richard Simpson, John Sellars, Jon Durrant, Ben Forward, Gavin Wade-Williams, Pete McDermott, Rob Atkin, Conor Begley, Tony Howells, Jeremy Philpott, Kieron Hall.

  • New parking deck added to Haddenham & Thame Parkway station

    A new deck has been added to the car parking facilities at Haddenham & Thame Parkway station, operated by Chiltern Railways.

    The new deck gives the station an extra 226 car parking spaces, which nearly doubles the number of spaces available to motorists.

  • Closer to being quieter along M40 – (Status: press release WDC)

    A local action group?s proposal to reduce noise from stretches of the M40 moved a step closer following its meeting with Department of Transport (DfT).

    Chaired by Wycombe District Council, the local action group, M40 Chilterns Environment Group (M40CEG) and representatives from the DfT, met to discuss the group?s submission under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 (SCA).

    Of what is intended to be the first of a series of discussions, the group outlined its submission at the meeting and sought DfT?s feedback in order to further improve the chances of the submission.

    Separate from the SCA the DfT confirmed that they had adopted a Noise Action Plan but were still developing the guidance for the feasibility and affordability assessments. The DfT welcomed the group?s input which can be feed into the process.

    Ken Edwards, chairman of M40CEG, commented: ?We welcome the positive continuation of our submission and DfT’s involvement in the process. It is with high hopes that a further meeting can be arranged shortly to include all key players, particularly Defra and the LGA. The group’s activity is driven by the long standing desire of local people to improve our quality of life – the outcome will test election promises to increase people power.?

    The M40CEG group now await DfT?s initial observations and comments on the group?s 6-step programme to reduce noise along key stretches of the M40. Further meetings are to be scheduled with both Defra and the LGA to continue the positive momentum that has been started by all parties involved in the Sustainable Communities Act.

    All parties were in agreement that the meeting had offered a very good opportunity for a very useful exchange of information and comment.

    NOTE:
    SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES ACT 2007 [AMENDMENT] BILL 2009-10
    Following agreement by both Houses on the text of the Bill it received Royal Assent on 8 April. The Bill is now an Act of Parliament (law).

    Summary of the Bill
    The Bill seeks to amend the 2007 Act by setting a deadline for the Secretary of State to initiate the next round of proposals from local authorities for enhancing the sustainability of local communities.

    It provides for regulations to be made specifying the rules for this process. These regulations will also cover parish council involvement and the role of local petitioning. There is also provision for greater flexibility in decision-making on proposals.

    PHOTO: Courtesy of http://s0.geograph.org.uk

  • 13/05/10…Thame without TV after transmitter fire

    THAME homes are among around 400,000 left without television reception after an “intense fire” at the Beckley transmitter in Oxfordshire.

    Firefighters have said that part of the structure was in danger of collapsing following the blaze, which started at about 2pm this afternoon.

    Cable and satellite services and Five’s analogue signal are not affected.

    The fire has now been put out but engineers are reported to have said it was unsafe to carry out repairs and signals would not be restored until at least 7pm this evening.

  • 14/05/10…Thame town councillor becomes Chair of district council

    SOUTH Oxfordshire District Council last night elected Michael (Mike) Welply (Councillor for Thame North Ward), as its new Chairman.

    Mike, a previous Mayor of Thame, said: “It is a huge honour to be elected to serve as Chairman. I am both humbled and thrilled at the prospect and I am really looking forward to the year ahead.

    “Being Vice Chairman last year has put me in
    good stead for this prestigious role as Ambassador for our excellent District Council.?

    The new Chairman?s chosen charities for the year are Combat Stress, the UK’s leading military charity specialising in the care of Veterans’mental health, and Home Farm Trust (HFT) a national charity that supports people with learning disabilities.

    Mike takes over from Councillor Malcolm Leonard who has had an extremely successful year in office raising over

  • Thame’s new Mayor a cut above the rest!

    ON the same day that the country got a new Prime Minister, Thame got a new Mayor and he is local Hair Salon owner, Adam Buckland. Cllr Adam Buckland has been a Thame Town Councillor for eight years, and at 40 years-old, is the town’s yongest mayor for 39 years. Cllr David Dodds was in fact Chairman of the old Thame Borough Council at the tender age of 27, and Mayor of the newly formed Town Parish Council, when he was 30.

    In his Declaration of Acceptance, Cllr Buckland said: “During my year as Mayor, I am going to work hard to promote not only the town of Thame, but the role of the Council in general. I would like to inspire people to get a lot more involved in their community and to bring back a sense of civic pride.

    “At the Annual Town Meetings, I am always saddened by the lack of residents in the under fifty age bracket who don’t turn up to have their say. These people, in my experience, tend to be the most vocal about good and bad aspects in Thame yet they don’t feel engaged enough to feel they are being listened to; this I would like to change.

    Father of two, Adam continued: “I believe that the town council cannot achieve all its aims and objectives on its own so I would like to empower the citizens of Thame, both young and old, who have constructive ideas on how to improve this beautiful town of ours to come forward and work with us for the common good of our town.”

    He concluded: “I would like the town council to continue to proactive rather than reactive, positive rather than negative and inclusive rather than exclusive. With help from the people of Thame, I know Thame can lead the way forward as a prosperous, forward thinking, energised market town that we can all be proud of.”

    Cllr Buckland succeeds Cllr Jeannette Matelot Green, last year’s Mayor, whose very successful term included raising over

  • 11/05/10…..Lib Dems clear winner in Thame youth vote

    WHEN the adults of the UK were going to the polls on Election Day, the young people at Lord Williams?s School had already cast their votes for which party they wanted to run the country.

    In a close run race, the Liberal Democrat Party, represented by Max Camp, was the clear winner, securing 30% of the votes. Olivia Carter standing for the Green Party won a quarter (25%) of all students votes, followed by Sam Davidson representing the Conservatives on 22% of the votes.

    Whilst the representatives of the other parties delivered strong speeches, votes for Andrew Watkinson standing for UKIP were 12%, Jordan O?Shea 8% and 3% of students voted for Jake Smith of the Socialist Workers Party.

    Max Camp of the winning Liberal Democrat Party received the news with surprise and delight. “This is an amazing result for the Lib Dems and totally unexpected,” he said. “I?m honoured that so many students voted for me.”

    Nicky Stallwood, Citizenship Coordinator at the school, said: “There has been a real buzz about the school with students and staff taking a keen interest in the school election. Listening to the students? speeches has certainly raised staff and student awareness of the key political issues being discussed in the General Election.”

    Livvy Carter standing for the Green Party felt the whole experience was very worthwhile. “I?ve really enjoyed taking part in the school election and I?m very encouraged that young people are taking the green issues seriously,” she said. “It?s been fun and we all feel we?ve benefited from the experience.”

  • 11/05/10…..Twinning friends welcomed to Thame for the ninth year

    DESPITE the cold and damp weather, visitors from Thame’s twin town, Montesson in France and their Thame hosts have just shared a very convivial weekend.

    Once again, the party from Montesson included a group of young people from Le Foyer Coulis, who took part in all the weekend’s events, including a trip to Burford and a community Sunday lunch at The Three Horseshoes in Towersey.

    On Saturday morning, the Deputy Mayor or Montesson, Huguette Fouche and the Chair of the Montesson Twinning Committee, Didiet Breuzet, layed a wreath on the steps of the Thame War Memorial to mark Armistice Day.

    Just before the Montesson visitors’ left for home, Sylvie Breuzet said: “We would like to thank the loyal people of Thame who always welcome their guests from Montesson with such warmth and generosity.

    “Our party much appreciated the trip to Burford yesterday, with its history filled church, its old houses and pretty shops. A number of us on our first visit to England, really appreciated spending the day in such a typical English village.

    “Every year for the past nine, we’ve discovered new aspects and landscapes of your England which is now becoming a little bit of our own. Next year, 2011, we’ll be celebrating the tenth anniversary of our twinning. Between now and then we’re looking forward to welcoming you in Montesson during the fourth weekend of September. We plan on taking you to visit Senlis and Auvers sur Oise for the day.”

    The Acting Chair of Thame & District Twinning Association, Don Butler, and the Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green, jointly thanked all the Thame families who had hosted the French visitors and spoke of the growing respect and affection that bound our two towns together.

  • The Chilterns Awards – Could you be a winner? (Contributed)

    THE beautiful landscapes of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are a product of a great deal of activity every year by thousands of individuals, communities, organisations and public bodies. A huge amount of high quality work is carried out, whether it is conserving wildlife habitats, removing obstacles like stiles on footpaths or sympathetically restoring traditional buildings.

    To recognise all the good work going on the Chilterns Conservation Board runs an annual awards scheme, The Chilterns Awards, and is looking for great projects and outstanding people to reward. There are three categories of awards:

    The Chilterns Wildlife and Landscape Award
     Recognising innovative work that benefits the conservation of the natural environment of the Chilterns, for example, restoring a pond or managing a wood for wildlife.
    The Chilterns Understanding and Enjoyment Award

     Encouraging projects that increase the use and understanding of the Chilterns by new and varied audiences. These could include special events, new information displays or education projects.
    The Chilterns Outstanding People Award

     Rewarding individuals or groups that have made an outstanding contribution to the conservation of the Chilterns or raising awareness of the area.

    The closing date is June 30, 2010. If you know of a person or project which deserves recognition get in touch! Entry forms, more information and profiles of past winners can be found at:
    http://www.chilternsaonb.org/caring/chilterns_awards.html

    or contact Cathy Rose on 01844 355 506 or crose@chilternsaonb.org Awards will be presented at the Chilterns Annual Forum in November.

    PHOTO – Credit: Friends of Oughtonhead Common
    Previous winners – Volunteers making hurdle at Oughtonhead Common

  • 10/05/10….Weather fails to dampen Towersey festival spirits

    IN spite of the showery weather, The Towersey May Festival went ahead on the Village Green and in the Memorial Hall, on Saturday, May Day.

    The May Queen, Chelsie Horne and her two attendants, Chelsea Cockle and Elliott Horne, were brought in procession on a beautifully decorated flat farm trailer, from Windmill Close. They were escorted by Towersey Morris in front and a long procession of children behind. The rain then stopped!

    The May Queen was crowned on the platform by last year’s May Queen, Georgia Thompson, surrounded by a number of other village children on the Village Green, before a short service led by the Rev Ian Mountford. His talk on life was assisted by a number of amusing diagrams held up by the children and their mothers. Maypole dancing by the young ones followed the service, embodying all the traditional steps.

    Then came some very energetic dancing by Towersey Morris who concluded by welcoming the May Queen, and holding her aloft for recognition. Everyone then departed to the Memorial hall to coffee, tea and hot dogs, before visiting the plant, tombola and cake stalls.

    Church Warden, Ross Dyke, said: !In all it was a very enjoyable event, again bringing all the village together. We would like to thank all the many people involved who arranged every part of the Festival – there were so many who gave their time and expertise to make the event so successful.”

    WSeathe