Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Literature and art at Thame’s new festival

    PLANS are underway for the first Thame Arts and Literature festival, planned to take place over the weekend of June 25 – 27, 2010.

    The festival was the idea of Yvonne Maxwell, from Long Crendon, who has been involved in the Oxford Literary Festival since its inception in 1990.

    Yvonne, who is a steward at Thame Museum, told ThameNews.Net: “After working for so many years with the Oxford festival and seeing it grow and grow, I just felt that this was something that Thame needed. We have so many talented playwrights, poets, writers and artists around who deserve a platform and to be celebrated.

    Yvonne and her fellow Board members, Brian and Luise Pattinson, of The Bookhouse, Thame, Lyndsey Wright and Steve Bannister, have formed a not-for-profit company, TAL Festival Ltd, to enable them to seek sponsorship and other funding, and any time now, the website, www.talfestival.org will be going live so that everyone can keep up-to-date with what is happening.

    The festival will include Meet the authors, talks, lectures and discussions, creative writing workshops, poetry in pubs, A Play in a day workshop, a festival dinner with guest speakers, drama and performance art, art show and installations, literary pub quiz and TALKids – a programme for young readers.

    The festival will launch with a Literary Lunch on Friday, June 25, 2010.

    Photo: Raymond Blanc, who may or may not be appearing at the Thame Literary and Arts festival, at a recent book signing at The Bookhouse, Thame.

  • Thame day centre enjoys school harvest gifts 19/10/09

    A delighted Gill Coleman, Manager of Thame and District Day Centre, welcomed visitors from Barley Hill School recently, when they arrived with the pupils? Harvest gifts for distribution among the centre?s members.

    The gifts were the offerings donated by the children during their Harvest Assembly at the school on Monday (12/10/09).

    Thanking the headteacher, John Hulett and the children and their parents, Gill said: “Our members will enjoy these gifts and treats and we all greatly appreciate this link between the old and the young of our town.”

    Thame and District Day Centre, a registered charity meets three days a week at the town?s Community Hospital and provides day care, entertainment, a hot lunch and friendship for isolated, frail and elderly people in the area.

    It relies heavily on the help of volunteers and of these Gill said: “We need more, and especially at the moment, drivers. I would love to hear from anyone who might be able to help if they ring me on 212080 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Fridays.”

    Norman Brand, a former volunteer driver for many years and Secretary of the Day Centre Trustees, said: “I love doing this work. One of the happy results of it is that I can?t walk into town or visit any shop without meeting someone I know. That means a very great deal to me.”

  • Chinnor Vets v Alchester (Contributed)

    MATCH REPORT – Saturday 10th October, 2009 – Chinnor Oxen (Vets) XV, 20 v Alchester 2nd Team, 5.

    LAST Saturday, 10/10/09, saw Alchester RFC fielding a 2nd team for the first time ever away to Chinnor Vets in a friendly. The Alchester team had youth on their side against the Vets, despite that, the game was fair and even, the difference in the first half being Richard Simpson who broke the Alchester line to stroll over the whitewash for Chinnor Vets first try after about 20 minutes, faithfully converted by Conor Begley.

    The 2nd try came from the newly returned Chinnor ?legend?, Kenny Lue making his debut for the Vets after about 10 years off, last appearing for the 1st team and Kingsey Road, when he popped up to seize a bobbling ball to dive over the line to grab a try to rapturous celebrations ensuring that the Vets went in at the break 12 ? 0 up.

    The turn around did not change things with the heavy weight front row of Alchester dominating the scrum with the lighter weight, more experienced and more mobile back row popping up where least expected to secure turn over ball for the Vets of Chinnor. Alchester, did, however help themselves to a consolation try before Chinnor sealed the win with a Begley Penalty and another try to make the final score 20 ? 5 in Chinnor favour.

    All credit and thanks to Alchester for putting out this 2nd team for the first time, a true milestone in their clubs history.

    Finally a mention for all those that have turned out for the Vets, so far, this season:

    Rob Atkin, ?Reg? Bailey, Mike Bailey, Conor Begley, Alan Beveridge, Steve Bridges, Jon Brooks, Carl Buckland, John Cann, Craig Dalziel, Tim DeGlanville, Ben Forward, Kieron Hall, Tony Howells, Doug Humphries, Bill Jackson, Craig Jones, Kenny Lue, Jeremy Philpott, Dave Ratcliffe, John Sellars, Richard Simpson, Craig Smith, John Vaughan, Richard ?Nobby? Warner, Dave Wells, Mike Wiltshire, Paul Wright

    Photo: Man of the Match: Jon Brooks

    The referee was Doug Humphries.

  • Thame care home welcomes royal visitor

    HRH The Duke of Kent KG met residents of the newly built Meadowcroft home for Thame’s elderly earlier today.

    The Duke toured Meadowcroft and met some of the residents, including one of Thame’s best known characters, 96 year-old Arthur Staggs and Mr and Mrs Stephens, well-known in Shabbington where they ran the village post office for many years.

    Before unveiling a plaque commemorating his visit, The Duke was shown around the building by the Home Manager, Mrs Sylvia Cann and representatives of The Orders of St John Care Trust, who run Meadowcroft. He was able to see the work of the Little Milton specialist Residential Dementia Care wing and the Rycote Nursing Wing, as well as seeing for himself the comfortable new bedrooms, lounge and dining room.

    Before the Duke and guests were invited to partake of a splendid buffet lunch, provided by the Oxford Catering Company, resident Mrs Barbara Cox, presented the duke with a bottle of Champagne.

    Once the formalities were over, the official guests mingled and chatted with residents, an opportunity for the Mayor, Cllr Matelot Green, who is half french, to chat – in French – to Arthur Staggs, whose mother was French, and who proudly wore his L

  • Support your local hospital

    LOCAL doctors and other supporters of Thame Community Hospital will be around Thame market on Tuesday, October 20, 2009. Their aim is to publicise a public meeting to be held to gauge public support against proposed changes at the hospital.

    The supporters’ group will be at the market from 1.15 pm, and the meeting is on Thursday, October 29, at Thame town hall, starting at 7pm.

  • Paint the town and join The Big Draw at Thame museum

    Come and draw with Sparksartists TOMORROW – SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2009.

    FREE for everyone to take part at THAME MUSEUM PAINT THE TOWN; drawing inspired by Thame?s High Street 10 am ? 3 pm: ?Brick by Brick- Have fun expanding architectural features and museum details by drawing on our famous paper bag sketchbooks and simple 3D shapes. Take part in drawing with a focus on the colours and patterns of our bricks and buildings. (Book in for a print workshop nearby on the following day Sun 18, 12 places

  • FOUND – 12 year-old girl missing from Aylesbury

    Missing, 12 year-old, person Leah Holden, from Aylesbury has been found safe and well.

  • Thame’s PCT finance management judged weak

    THE Primary Care Trust that manages medical services for Thame hospital and the town’s GPs, has had its finance management graded as “weak” by a report published today.

    The Care Quality Commission’s report, published today, states: “Buckinghamshire Primary Care Trust has failed to demonstrate the existence of adequate arrangements for the management of its financial resources,” adding however that “Improvements have been identified.”

    Buckinghamshire PCT, which has recently been ordered to carryout a review of new arrangements for medical cover at Thame Community Hospital, had its finance management judged as weak both in 2007 and 2008.

    The Trust did however earn a “Fair” rating for Commissioning Services, including 13/13 for Safety and Cleanliness.

    On “Meeting Core Standards – Providing Services,” the Trust was in the “Almost Met” category scoring top marks in all categories except Good Management.

    See the full report:
    LINK
     TO Care Quality Commission website

  • Mayor making, allottments & unwanted tables – a summary of latest town council meeting

    THAME town council has rejected a proposal to raise the profile of the position of Town Mayor and the mayor-making process, to that of other towns’ mayors, like High Wycombe where they have a “weighting in” ceremony. One idea was to spend

  • Get off on the environmentally friendly foot for Christmas (Contributed)

    CHRISTMAS seems to be looming fast and for many of us it is a time of much expense, somewhat wasteful and an awful lot of recycling generated as a result!
    Well here is your chance to start Christmas off on the right foot!

    Join us at our Christmas Green Fayre this year on Saturday 21st November at Thame Town Hall, 10am ? 3pm. Here you can browse around Local and Fair trade stalls selling a variety of gifts, crafts, jewellery, clothes and produce, for more environmentally friendly Christmas shopping.

    If you have any toys to sell before Christmas, or are looking for second hand toys, why not make use of the Toy Exchange at the Green Fayre. All you have to do if you are selling is to bring clean items in good condition along to the Town Hall between 9am and 10 am on the day, and collect unsold items at 3pm. Friends of the Earth will keep 25% of the selling price for all items sold. All toys must be clearly labeled with your name, telephone number and the asking price.

    Another service we are offering at the Green Fayre is collecting some more unusual items for recycling, as follows: unwanted stamps, foreign coins, old reading glasses, mobile phones, CDs, used batteries and empty printer cartridges. So start collecting and bring along on the day!

    There will be free Christmas activities for children, with Christmas gardens, making cards and table top arrangements, all using recycled materials.

    Entrance to the Green Fayre is free, with free lucky dip prizes for the children and free mulled wine and mince pie to begin your Christmas cheer.

    ORGANISED BY CHINNOR & THAME FRIENDS OF THE EARTH
    For more information contact Maureen on 01844 352816