Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Hundreds turn out for Thame Sport Relief Mile event

    LOCAL people of all ages and ability turned out for the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile on Sunday (21/03/10)on a warm, sunny morning that made conditions just right.

    The Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green was there to cheer everyone on at the start of the event, which was organised by the Thame Lions Club.

    After the event, which took participants from the South Pole recreation area in Southern Road, through Cuttlebrook nature reserve and onto part of the Phoenix Trail, the Mayor commented: “It was marvellous to see so many families taking part together. Young children were thrilled to receive their medals for completing the mile.

    “This is such a good way to get young people involved in sport at an early age. They were so enthusiastic. I would just like to say, “Well Done!” to everybody.”

    As well as the mile event,dozens of more serious joggers and runners ran a three or a six mile event earlier in the morning, all raising money for Sport Relief.

  • Thame Oxfam Bookshop in the top league!

    THAME’S Oxfam bookshop in Cornmarket has signed up over 1,700 Gift Aid donors since it started the scheme 12 months ago. The scheme anables Oxfam to recover and additional 28% back from the Government on sales of Gift Aided stock.

    As a result, the contribution to Oxfam’s funds made by the Thame bookshop has increased by over 20%, making Thame the fifth highest contributor out of all 719 Oxfam bookshops.

    “The scheme has been an incredible success and the shop’s contribution to the Oxfam funds has increased significantly this year – a big THANK YOU to all our donors!” said Dick Jennens, Shop Manager.(pictured)

  • Social jogging for beginners

    GO Active (Get Oxfordshire Active) is launching social jogging groups for beginners across South Oxfordshire from March 2010.

    If you?ve thought about jogging but don?t want to jog on your own, you?re not confident enough to join a club or you don?t want to pay club membership fees, then ?JustJog? jogging groups are for you!

    In partnership with Run in England, GO Active is launching groups led by qualified jog leaders that are fun, social and at just the right pace to help improve health and increase fitness.

    Across South Oxfordshire groups will initially be starting in Thame, Wheatley, Watlington, Benson, Didcot and Henley-on-Thames. The first ten sessions cost

  • Interior of Thame’s new library takes shape

    THE builders of Thame’s new, two floor library in North Street, are now concentrating on the interior of after almost completing work on its shell.

    The 40-week programme by Oxfordshire County Council is on schedule and the modern style library is expected to be open to the public in the summer.

    Plans on show

    Plans and information about the new building are currently on display at the existing library in Southern Road, which will be open until about a week before the new one opens. Hundreds of new books have been ordered giving residents a wider range of items to borrow than previously.

    Open for longer

    Library users in Thame will have four extra hours a week to use their new facility as it will be open throughout the day, rather than currently when the existing library whic is currently closed for an hour on weekday lunchtimes. The new library’s opening hours will be 9.30am to 5.30pm on weekdays, except Wednesdays when it will be closed, and Thursdays when it will open at 9am and not shut until 7pm, and 9.30am to 4.30pm on Saturdays.

    The

  • 19/03/10…Weekend Workshops at Thame Adult Learning

    27 March 2010 – Upholstery – TH09S019C – This single session will give learners an opportunity to work on a new/current project. There will also be a basic loose cover demonstration. Running again in the summer term.

    26 June 2010 – Felt Making ? project work TH00T060C
    Make felt accessories for the home such as a tea cosy, cafetiere warmer and oven mitts.

    Stained Glass ? mixed ability TH09T010C
    10am ? 5pm two sessions Sat 26 and Sun 27 June

  • Scrappy win for Thame against Henley

    Henley Town 0, Thame United 1 – League game 16/03/10 -MATCH REPORT (Contributed)

    The problem with playing the same opponents twice in a week is that there are few surprises. Players get to know each other?s play and set piece routines which they can then counter. The result is a lack of free flowing, passing football with teams cancelling each other out, leading to scrappy play, which is uninspiring for spectators. That?s exactly what happened at Henley on Tuesday evening when for the second week in succession Thame United defeated Henley Town. Last week it was by two goals but there was only one goal in it this time.

    The first half was goalless with possession fairly even but few chances created at either end. Thame played better after the break and Sam Cowan was unlucky to see his goal bound shot deflected for a corner. Adam Stallwood had a good chance but his header was too close to the home goalkeeper. The deadlock was broken in the 65th minute when United were awarded a free kick near the right touchline. Mitchell Meredith hit the ball to the far post, just close enough for the goalkeeper to come, but to miss the ball, Nik Rhodes then cleverly headed from the left by-line into the 6-yard box where the unmarked Stallwood finished comfortably. Inspired by the goal United continued to press and they created some half chances. Towards the end, Henley began to reassert themselves without really coming close to an equaliser.

    Although not pretty to watch, Thame ground out the needed result and are now seven points clear at the top of the league.

    Thame United: Orkney, Meredith, J Way, Cowan, N. Rhodes, El Kassir, Barr, A. Rhodes, Stallwood, Jones (Baylie), Ricketts.

    United entertain Rayners Lane at Wallingford next Saturday 20th March.

  • Singing workshop with a difference – 22/03/10

    A SINGING workshop with a professional singer from Jerusalem, Dafna Dori, proved to be so inspiring for organiser, Cat Young, that she is offering a repeat opportunity for those who missed it, or those who would like to do it again!

    Cat explained: “Dafna came over to Wallingford in July 2009 and led a session where we learnt two folk songs ?one in Hebrew and one in Arabic. Very quickly we were able to get this sounding really good, and then added a bit of rhythm to create an even more beautiful sound!

    “But don?t take my word for it; this is what Elizabeth said after the last event:

    ?I can?t believe how much we learned in two hours ? some new warm-ups, new modes, secrets of how Middle Eastern singers get those subtle effects, pronunciation, rhythm… Dafna was very charming, kind and encouraging.?

    If you?d like to join in with this fun, practical workshop and you?re a singer or musician of any standard, then come along to the Crowmarsh Pavilion (near Wallingford) on Monday, March 22.

    Doors open at 6:15pm and the workshop starts promptly at 6:30pm, and the evening will end around 8:30pm.

    Tickets cost

  • Have your say on community safety concerns

    ANYONE with concerns or questions abour community safety is invited to the South Oxfordshire Community Safety Partnership’s safer communities evening at Thame Barns Centre, between 6:00pm and 7:30pm on Tuesday, March 30, 2010.

    The South Oxfordshire Community Safety Partnership (CSP) brings together partners to jointly identify community safety issues and to work together to tackle them. Members include the Police and Police Authority, South Oxfordshire District Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, the Oxfordshire NHS Primary Care Trust and Thames Valley Probation Service.

    The CSP is holding a public meeting in Thame to explain about its work and to help it to understand the concerns of the community. You are invited to join them to speak to members of the partnership and to learn about their work in the district.

    There will also be an opportunity to receive crime prevention and fire safety advice.

  • Lib Dems welcome delay in controversial new housing proposals

    THE news that South Oxfordshire District Council has delayed a decision on where new housing should go in the district until after the General Election has been welcomed by the Liberal Democrat grouping in the council.

    The decision announced yesterday to postpone consideration of the district’s Local Development Framework Core Strategy was taken in accordance with the principle that councils do not consider controversial issues in the period immediately prior to elections.

    South East Oxfordshire Liberal Democrat spokesman, Andy Crick, said: ?New and affordable housing is essential for the thousands of people in our area looking for a home, but these homes need to go in the right place and with appropriate infrastructure and services to support them.

    “These decisions need to be made in consultation with local residents and in the best interests of existing and future residents.”

  • Planned cuts threaten Oxfordshire, say Lib Dems

    THE news that Oxfordshire’s economy has experienced low economic growth in the past five years, raises a serious question over Tory plans nationally to start cutting the budget deficit immediately if they are elected in May, say local Lib Dems,

    In a press release day, the Lib Dems state: “The Oxfordshire Economic Assessment prepared for the County Council says that the county experienced low economic growth compared to the rest of the South East. The improvement which has occurred was due mainly to growth in public sector, which is now being hit by budget constraints.

    “Public sector growth is likely to fall further in the future so government action nationally will be essential to sustain the weak recovery. The fragile state of the economy means that drastic cuts proposed by the Conservatives for this year would put jobs at risk in Oxfordshire. Today, unemployment figures for the county showed a welcome fall in the jobless total of 300 in February but there are still over 9,000 people out of work across the county.”

    South East Oxfordshire Liberal Democrat spokesman,Andy Crick,said: “The economic recovery is proving slow and uncertain and any drastic curbs on government spending will have a major impact acros Britain. The news released today about Oxfordshire’s economy and unemployment figures show that our county has far to go to secure a successful future for residents and businesses here. A Tory government would threaten the recovery here.

    ?Liberal Democrats recognise the need to address the deficit, which is why we have put forward