Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 27/04/10…Is the Henley constituency turning Green?

    MARK Stevenson, the Green Party candidate for the Henley constuency, has been asking this question this week after an Oxford Mail on-line poll of voting intentions put him firmly ahead with 46% of the vote, well ahead of the Liberal Democrat (26%) and Conservative (14%) candidates.

    Whilst the poll is likely to reflect only the views of Oxford Mail website users, Mark Stevenson is claiming that the result shows that his party has the leading vote share of all the six Oxfordshire constituencies.

    Mark Stevenson commented: “This shows that there is potentially a very strong Green vote in South Oxfordshire and could well reflect the fact that in our doorstep campaigning we have focussed on getting across our policies to support rural communities and encouraged people to visit our websites.

    “As we said in a short interview shown on BBC Oxford news last week, we would support pensioners with a

  • 27/04/10….It?s bluebell time!

    THE famous Chilterns bluebell woods are just starting to become covered with carpets of blue, and this bank holiday weekend is a great opportunity to get out and enjoy them.

    This year the bluebells have been slightly delayed because of the hard winter, but recent warm sunny weather is encouraging the flowers to open. In the next few days many local woods will turn into a sea of blue, especially as the warm spell is predicted to continue.

    Some of the best bluebell woods in the Chilterns are:

    ? Wendover Woods, near Wendover
    ? Adams Wood, near Lane End
    ? Bradenham Woods, near High Wycombe
    ? Ashridge Estate, near Berkhamsted
    ? Cowleaze Woods, near Watlington
    ? Ipsden Heath, near Henley-on-Thames

    It?s a fantastic time of year to make the most of our beautiful local countryside and enjoy all the signs of spring. You can find lots of information on the best places to see bluebells in the Chilterns, plus details of walks and bike rides, at www.chilternsaonb.org

  • Sweeping changes as last empty Thame shop taken

    THE last empty shop in Thame town centre is to re-open in late May, as a fragrance and cosmetics shop.

    The partner of Thame’s chimney sweep, Ivan Staines, will operate the business in what was the women’s clothes boutique, Miso, in Buttermarket, Thame.

    The shop will retail products by such names as Art Deco and Miller Harris Fragrance, and eventually will include men’s products as well.

  • 26/04/10….Woman injured in assault in Thame (Status: press release)

    THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a woman was assaulted in the early hours of Saturday morning (24/4/10) in Thame.

    At about 2.25am, a 45-year-old woman was walking along Rooks Lane when the attack occurred, sustaining minor injuries.

    PC Emma Birch said: ?We don?t have any details in regards to the offender as the woman did not see her attacker.

    ?As you can imagine the woman has been left shocked by what has happened to her and we are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward and speak with us as soon as possible.

    ?This area of the town would have been fairly busy at this time and I believe there may have been a few people around who might have seen what happened.?

    Anyone with information should contact PC Birch via the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. Alternatively you can contact the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

    IMAGE: Copyright Google Inc

  • 26/04/10…Chinnor Seconds dust off London Scottish

    CHINNOR seconds match report for April 17, 2010. (Contributed); CHINNOR Seconds played this, their 23rd league game, and with 17 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses, 546 points for with 313 against, are placed second in the league with one game still to be played.

    This week was against London Scottish development and we anticipated a tough game with their second team not playing this weekend. It was a much changed team to the team we last played. Due to a lack of rain for a few weeks it was like playing on a South African highveld pitch with dust everywhere.

    Chinnor expected another tough game against such a big and well-financed National 1 club. But, as soon as Chinnor ran onto the field you could feel that they were up for a tough one and were out to prove them selves, and so they did!

    Both teams played well with Chinnor appearing to be the more organised side putting the first points on the board with a penalty after ten minutes by Jack Green.

    Most of the game was played between the two twenty metre lines with big hits coming in from both sides and good defence. It took until the 40th minute before Chinnor added to the score with good work between forwards and backs, Chris Elder gave Chinnor their first try and it was converted by jack Green, giving Chinnor a lead of 10 ? 3.

    The second half started at a very lively pace and Chinnor added more points with a try involving the whole team but scored by Rob Fenwick in the corner
    The next Chinnor try was scored when Ricky Hopwood broke the line and got the ball to Chris Elder who outpaced the opposition, again converted by jack Green. The next try came from a break by Ed Rixon who passed the ball to Chris Elder, who drew 3 players before passing it onto Guy Hackshaw who scored in the corner. Scottish hit straight back with a converted try of their own making it 27points to 7. The last Chinnor try saw Sam Black breaking through the centre and running 60 metres with his teammates cheering him on from the half way line. Converted by Green. Once again Scottish came back with a push over try and Chinnor were waiting for the final whistle, but had to defend their line for five more minutes. The ref gave Scottish a penalty every time Chinnor turned the ball over which amounted to about 6 occasions, and then only blew after they finally scored.

    The final score was Chinnor 34 points to 21, a superb win with good rugby played by both sides and providing the spectators with great entertainment. All 18 players were worthy of the man of the match award this week. But this week it went to new boy Chris Elder a superb rugby player.

    We would like to extend a big thank you to Jon Brooks from the Vets. He showed the younger players that the older players are still capable of playing at this level, not only that but he was also playing his second full game in four days.

    Walter McGuicken

  • 26/04/10…Champagne flows as Thame United take the Championship!

    NEEDING three points to secure their first league title in 15 years, Thame United defeated Eton Wick with such ease that the score line did little to reflect their dominance of the game.

    Going in to the game, United could have been forgiven for being nervous, whilst the poor condition of the pitch had the potential to be a leveller. As it was however, United were quickly in to their stride and put their opponents on the back foot with their quick passing and movement. Within the first fifteen minutes Luke Ricketts, Ben Connelly and Adam Stallwood all had good chances to put Thame ahead but either failed to hit the target or forced the visiting keeper in to a good save. The pressure finally paid in the 21st minute when Ricketts delivered a free kick from the left in to the box where top scorer Mark Jones got in front of his marker and placed a bullet header to the right of the keeper.

    From the re-start Thame immediately went in search of the second goal, with Sam Cowan heading over, captain Nik Rhodes going close from a corner and striker Aaron Rogers placing the ball just wide when clean through. Despite all the possession, United went in at half time only a single goal ahead, but knowing that if they continued to play at the same pace, a little more composure in front of goal would reap dividends.

    They were rewarded five minutes in to the second half. Ricketts beat his marker on the left before delivering a square-ball in to the box to striker Stallwood who with back to goal, turned too quickly for the visiting centre back whose tackle did no more than remove Stallwood?s standing foot and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Adam Rhodes confidently despatched the penalty high to the keepers right. In the 66th minute United made it 3-0. Ricketts again set up the goal in a jinking run to the by-line before squaring across goal where Stallwood was left with an open goal from three yards.

    At 3-0 it was game over and despite further chances for Adam Rhodes, Stuart Braun and Stallwood, United were more than happy to take the three points and the league title to go along with promotion to the Premier Division.

    At the final whistle the champagne flowed as the management team of Mark West, Frank Thompson and Vince Saunders celebrated on the pitch with the players who, after a long season, proved that they were the best team in the league.

    United will be presented with the league trophy in their final game of the season on Saturday 1st May away at South Kilburn.
    Thame United: Orkney (Searl), Barr, Way, Cowan, N.Rhodes, Connelly (Wakelin), Jones, A.Rhodes, Rogers (Braun), Stallwood, Ricketts.

  • 23/04/10…Small businesses targeted by bogus companies

    A scam from Mexico informing business they have been allocated a free entry in an agricultural show catalogue. The pro-forma page received shows some company information, but requests much more detailed information about the company and employees.

    Companies are also receiving demands from Weinstein Williams Associates for advertisement in directories and newsletters they have not agreed to and have no knowledge of the publications.

    The advice is:

    Do not respond to unsolicited mail without ensuring it is from a genuine company.
    Run a simple internet search to see if other companies have issues.
    Businesses who are interested in supporting events should check with the organisers website to see who their promoters are.
    Always be extremely cautious about giving financial or employee details via unsolicited mail

    For further information

    http://www.adscams.co.uk/tag/advertising-scam

    http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/trading_standards/traders_advice/publishing_questionnaire.page?

    If this information is appropriate please pass on to your colleagues or community group members.

    Our web page will be updated later today.

    http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/trading_standards/coldcalling/scams.page? if you prefer to send an email link to your contacts.

  • 23/04/10…..Businesses come together to support Thame events

    MEMBERS of the Thame business community met at The Spread Eagle, Thame, on Tuesday, to learn about three great community projects offering them the opportunity to support and to get involved with.

    Several local business representatives missed the meeting because of travelling difficulties, including Fraser Hamilton from The James Figg whio was stuck in Spain due to Volcanic activity!

    Steve Bannister enthused the meeting with his presentation about the inspiration behind Thame’s first arts and literary festival, planned for June 25-27, 2010, and how the local businesses can offer sponsorship for one of 30 events planned, or perhaps advertise in the programme. The TAL (Thame Arts & Literary Festiva) event is expected to attract 2,000 visitors to the town.

    Andy McDonald, one of the Thame businessmen behind the development of the town?s innovative app ithame (www.ithame.co.uk), explained how the idea for the app. came about over a pint with friends, and just four weeks later, was launched in a flurry of publicity, including BBC News.

    Andy explained how the founding local businesses had benefited from being involved and how others could have a presence on the ithame app.

    Alison Isherwood, Thame’s Market Town Co-ordinator, gave an update on a visit to Abergavney recently to pick the brains of the organisers of that town’s food festival, now in its ninth year, to see what could be learnt from them to help grow Thame’s food festival, planned for the week ending September 25, 2010. This will be Thame’s third food festival.

    Businesses who couldn’t make the meeting, but who would like to find out more about any of these events, can contact:
    http://www.talfestival.org/
    http://www.ithame.co.uk/

    For the food festival 2010: alison.isherwood@southoxon.gov.uk, mobile 07717 224984

  • 23/04/10…Thame Bells ring out for St George’s day

    THE bells of St Mary’s church, Thame, rang out this morning in celebration of St George’s day.

    Supported by the Bishop of Oxford, many Bell Towers across the Diocese began pealing together from 6pm to celebrate St George’s day. Here in Thame a peal rang from 10am to 1pm.

    In a statement of support to the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers, the Bishop said: “This (the pealing of bells) will portray St George in a much more positive light than the raucous noise of our football supporters in innocent foreign countries!”

    PHOTO: Members of the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Bell ringers, with St Mary’s Church, Thame’s Master of the Tower, Rosalie Gibson 5th from the right. The eight ringers of the Guild played 5056 changes, Bristol Surprise Major, in just under three hours!

  • Pies and beer with St George and friends

    ST GEORGE, his dragon and em…. lady friend, were out in the streets of Thame today, offering unsuspecting passers by the chance to try some very special pies and beer, courtesy of the staff of The James Figg pub in Cornmarket, Thame.

    Several pubs, including the Cross Keys and the Rising Sun were flying the St George flag, as was Thame town hall.

    First Thame Scout Group will be holding a St George’s Day service in St Mary’s church, to celebrate 100 years since scouting started in Thame. The service will be hold on April 25, starting at 2pm, and all leaders and supporters from the past 100 years are invited to join them

    There will be refreshments to follow served at the Scout Headquarters. Contact 01844 215 657 if you wish to attend.