Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Thame’s a good town and other news – September 24, 2009

    THAME has all the ingredients for a town that could go places! is just one of the observations that a research company looking, into the future viability and vitality of the town, has so far made.

    At a meeting of local businesses last night at the Spread Eagle Hotel, representatives of Miller Research told those present: “Thame is a good town but people don’t know that; you need to tell them!

    Chris Jones said that Thame has the lowest number of retail vacancies of any town in the country but that what it could do with was a life style brand like Fat Face or White Stuff and was short of an outdoor activities outlet and a young fashion outlet. Also, he felt that as a market town Thame could do with an antique stop and above all, much more should be made of the good range of local produce available in the area, particularly by more restaurants although it was noted that The Thatch and What’s Cooking already do.

    Workshops are to be held in November for local people to have their say about how they see the town, its assets and distinctiveness, to help the district council formulate a economic development plan for the town.

    ALL THE FUN OF THE FAIR

    THAME fair was hailed a success this week, despite a disturbance involving a group of around 100 youths on the Friday night.

    Thame’s Inspector Martin Ford praised the town council for their management of the fair, adding that the disturbance, involving a large group from Aylesbury, was quickly dealt with by his officers, with only two arrests over the whole weekend. One involved criminal damage to a police car.

    THAME FOOD FESTIVAL

    THAME’S second celebration of the town’s food and drink offering is on Saturday, September 26, and as well as food and drink related stalls, there is a competition for children to make a monster figure or character out of vegetable or other food stuffs. Bring your entries along to the town hall after 10am.

    The competition will be judged by the Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green with the help of Colonal Custard and there will be a prize for the winning entry.

    CAR BOOT SALE IN UPPER HIGH STREET

    STAFF at Brothers Hair salon in Thame, are holding a car boot sale in the Upper Hight Street, on Sunday, October 11, 2009, to raise money towards the youth memorial, currently under construction in the Memorial gardens, Thame. More information to follow.

    CCTV CAMERAS

    THAME Town Council is still refusing to pay this year’s contribution to the cost of running the CCTV cameras in the town, because they feel it is too high. The council is still negotiations with the district council’s Matt Prosser, Head of Finance.

    SOUTHERN ROAD PARKING PERMITS

    NO one has applied to pay for a parking permit at Southern Road, since the scheme was announced a month ago. The town council is therefore going to review the charge.

    LEARN ABOUT EGYPT

    Two more people are needed to make viable this term?s 7 week WEA course ?Real Life in an Ancient Egyptian Village?, with tutor Rosalind Janssen, on Wednesdays (1.30- 3.30pm) at Haddenham Methodist Chapel starting on September 30 (not on 23 as originally advertised in the WEA publicity).

    If you are interested, please call Carole Fryer on 01296 748538 by Friday 25th September when a decision on whether to run the course will be made.

    MORE TOMORROW

  • Happy birthday Gruffalo

    THE queue of young fans of the book character, The Gruffalo, snaked out of the door of the Book House, Thame, this afternoon.

    They were all keen to buy the latest in the Gruffolo series of books, Tabby McTat, out today, to celebrate the Guffalo’s 10th birthday.

    Author, Julia Donaldson and the illustrator, Axel Scheffler, both wrote special messages and signed the childrens’ new books as they chatted to their young fans. Axel drew special little sketches for each child.

    A special drama production of The Gruffalo, described as “scary fun for children aged three to 300,” is currently showing at the Oxford Playhouse.

  • Controversial officiating sees Thame go out of the FA Vase

    FA VASE SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND REPLAY – Tuesday, September 22, 2009; Thame United 0, Halstead Town 1
    (aet; 0-0 after 90 minutes)

    JUST as it looked as though only penalties would separate two evenly matched sides in this replay, the lack of intervention from the match officials in a series of controversial incidents ten minutes from the end of extra time ultimately cost United a place in the next round of the FA Vase.

    First, the referee failed to spot an obvious foul on keeper Lee Orkney from a Halstead corner, awarding the visitors a second corner, before the same player was bundled to the ground as the ball came over from the resulting corner and was scrambled over the line by a Halstead attacker for the winning goal.

    The preceding 110 minutes had been an even, tense game not assisted by the late arrival of the visitors from Essex that had resulted in a 45 minutes delay to the kick off. United were quickest out of the blocks, regularly ?turning? the visitors back four with balls down the channel for wingers Luke Ricketts and Stuart Barr to chase with success. The nearest United came to scoring in the opening period was after five minutes when Barr, seeing the keeper off his line, hit an opportunistic effort from 40 yards that the back-pedalling keeper was fortunate to push on to the crossbar and away for a corner.

    Whilst United continued to press, Halstead gradually began to impose themselves on the game and, although Orkney in the Thame goal was rarely troubled, the visitors created a number of half chances. That said, the next clearest chance came to Thame when Luke Ricketts went on a powerful run from his own half, crossing to the near post for Mark Jones to glance his header just wide of the near post. Barr then had a further opportunity, volleying just over the bar from 20 yards.

    The second half saw Halstead in the ascendancy, pushing the Thame defence deeper in to their own half but without creating any real chances. Like the first game on Saturday, it was no surprise that the match went in to extra time and after an uneventful first period, Thame realised luck was not going to be with them when they hit the woodwork for a second time in the 108th minute. Striker Aaron Rogers hit a powerful left foot volley from the edge of the box that the visiting keeper managed to push on to the post and away for a corner. Two minutes later and it was game over for Thame in the most controversial of circumstances.

    Thame United: Orkney, Cowan, Wakelin (Meredith), Hocking, N.Rhodes, El-Kassir, A.Rhodes, Barr (G.Way), Jones, Rogers, Ricketts (Connelly)

    Photo: Thame goalkeeper, Lee Orkney

  • Woman arrested in connection with Kingsey fatal crash

    POLICE Officers investigating the fatal collision that resulted in the death of a young Thame man have arrested an 18-year-old woman.

    At around 2.40pm, on Sunday May 17, this year (2009), Greg Stiles, a life guard from Thame and his girl friend, Abigail Dowdy, were travelling in a blue Ford Fiesta from Kingsey to Longwick, when it was involved in a collision with a blue Vauxhall Corsa, a silver Renault Clio and a silver Toyota Yaris.

    Greg was pronounced dead at the scene and Abigail suffered serious injuries.

    An unknown 4×4 vehicle was also involved in the collision, but did not stop at the scene. Police have been appealing for help from the public in tracing the vehicle.

    The 18-year-old woman has been released on bail until Friday, October 9.

    A 25-year-old man previously arrested as part of the investigation is currently on bail until Wednesday, September 30.

    Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Operation Tahiti incident room via 0845 8 505 505. If you don?t want to talk to police or leave your name, please contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

  • Chinnor Rugby Club’s outstanding volunteer recognised by RFU

    A Thame man has received recognistion for his outstand voluntary services to the Oxfordshire Rugby Union.

    Steve Parslow received the covetted Oxfordshire Rugby Football Union RVC tie, presented by Oxfordshire RFU President, Colin Baldwin on Saturday, September 12, 2009, in recognition of his outstanding Voluntary Services to Oxfordshire Rugby Union.

    Spokesman for Chinnor Rugby Club, Peter Matthews, told Thamenews.net: “Steve Parslow is Chinnor Rugby Clubs ‘Man Friday’ – and every other day of the week! He is a member of the General Purpose Committee and organises Car Parking for every club event and match day. He arranges tables, clears tables, collects beer glasses.

    “Steve has, until recently, also coached and managed Chinnor Chicks, our girls’ rugby team and last season was voted Clubman Of The Year.

    “Steve is in fact a man without whom Chinnor Rugby Club would be very much the poorer,” he concluded.

  • FA Vase dream continues for Thame United

    FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round – Halstead Town 1, Thame United 1 – Saturday, September 19, 2009

    UNITED returned from deepest Essex with their FA Vase dreams alive following a hard fought 1-1 draw against Halstead Town of the Eastern Counties League. United started the brighter of the two teams, kicking down the pronounced slope, and forcing two early corners that failed to trouble the home keeper. Halstead came back strongly and failed to hit the target with two headers before Adam Rhodes went close with a half volley from 20 yards in the 18th minute. Again Halstead came back strongly and a free header from 6 yards in the 22nd minute was placed over the bar when it seemed easier to score. For the remainder of half it was Halstead in the ascendancy but without any real penetration.

    As with the first half, United started the second half strongly and very nearly opened the scoring in the 51st minute. A well worked corner was played to Ben Connelly on the edge of the box and delivered to the far post where a Nik Rhodes downward header was well saved by the keeper. Two minutes later and Stuart Barr collected the ball on the wide left and went on a penetrating run, with his angled drive from 20 yards coming back off the post but, unfortunately for Thame, straight back in to the hands of the home keeper. 10 minutes later and Barr, shot over from 20 yards when well placed. The remaining 25 minutes were a tense affair, with both defences on top.

    With the score goalless after 90 minutes, the game went in to extra time and, again, it was United who started the brighter with Jones going close with two opportunities in the first few minutes. However, it was Halsted who opened the scoring in the 104th minute. Thame keeper Lee Orkney pulled off a stupendous save pushing a drive from 12 yards over the bar, but from the resulting corner Lee Townrow scored with a near post header. United came back strongly in the second period of extra time.

    In the 107th minute an Adam Rhodes free kick was headed on by brother Nik in to the path of Mark Jones, who swivelled and hit a powerful left foot shot from close range in to the bottom corner. The equaliser was no less than United deserved and with their fitness telling, there only looked to be one winner. In the end, United were happy to bring their hosts back to Wallingford for a replay on Tuesday evening (22/09/09).

    After Tuesday, United have another cup game on Saturday away at Kidlington.

    Thame United: Orkney, Cowan, Wakelin, Hocking, N.Rhodes, A.Rhodes, El-Kassir, Connelly (Way), Rogers (Hoskin), Jones, Barr.

  • Internet ‘Congestion’

    Dear Editor – Further to comments on this site about internet availability in Thame I have learned from my provider, Tesco, that what caused my link to the service to cut out between 8pm and 9pm ? and stay out for hours – for most of last week and some of the week before, is ?congestion?. It was also pretty bad during the afternoons towards the end of the school holidays.

    I had the clear impression from the adviser to whom I spoke that nothing can be done about it (rather like the weather or an act of God). What I would like to know is: are subscribers to other ISPs having the same problem? If they are then we should all be making a fuss. If they are not, then why are Tesco users having problems?

    Again, from my telephone conversations with Tesco, I learn that the problems are in ?the exchange? and this is because different technologies are in play in it. I am totally out of my depth now. Do all the providers have different little gizmos in the exchange? Do BT subscribers have similar problems, I wonder?

    Because my service seemed to be getting slower, some months ago I upgraded my Tesco?s broadband subcription to a faster version of?Anytime?. That?s not happening at the moment. It would be useful to know other people?s experiences.

    I can?t believe that if there?s the will, technology will not find a way to deal with this.

    Norman Brand
    Fanshawe Road

  • Charity quiz night – October 10, 2009

    CHARITY QUIZ NIGHT – Saturday, October 10, 2009 – Ludgershall Village Hall.

    8pm Start (Doors open at 7pm)

    * Raffle * Bar *
    * Half-time Jacket Potato *
    * Cash First Prize *

  • Thame police arrest five in drugs raid

    The Thame Neighbourhood Policing Team carried out a drugs warrant at a property in Tiddington, near Thame, last Wednesday (16/9/09).

    The warrant was carried out at 8am at an address in Fernhill Close.

    Five people were arrested at the property on suspicion with intent to supply drugs. They have been released on police bail until December 03.

    Insp Martin Ford, leading the investigation, said: “We seized a significant amount of drugs including cannabis plants and cannabis resin and a substantial amount of cash under the proceeds of crime act.
    “These warrants were all carried out under the Misuse of Drugs Act and were based on intelligence we received from the community.
    “Drugs are a huge priority for us and we will continue to crack down on those supplying and trading in them in the area.”

    Anyone with any information about this incident and of drug dealing in the Thame area, should contact PC Goodenough on 0845 8 505 505 or, if you don?t want to talk to police or give your name, call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

    The five people arrested were:
    the five people arrested are listed below:
    a 38-year-old woman
    a 46-year-old man
    a 17-year-old girl
    a 19-year-old man
    a 20-year-old man

  • A French weekend of surprises for Thame Twinning

    THE highlights of this year?s annual exchange visit to Thame?s twin town near Paris, included vanishing bones, the return of a stolen heart, shark for dinner and a parking ticket – all just part of the experiencing of another culture that enriches the amicable and treasured relationship that has grown between Thame and Montesson over the past eight years.

    A WARM WELCOME

    A group of 38 Thamensians, including two families with young children going for the first time, left Thame early on Friday morning and headed for the Channel tunnel crossing to France, to spend the weekend with host families in Montesson. Leaving behind the chilly wind of England, the visitors arrived to find Autumn sunshine and a warm welcome from the Mayor of Montesson, Jean Francois Bel, and the President of the Montesson Twinning Committee, Sylvie Bruzet, before going off with their respective hosts for dinner and hopefully, a good night?s sleep in preparation for the weekend?s programme of activities ? and surprises.

    SHARK FOR DINNER AND ? WHERE HAVE ALL THE BONES GONE?

    Dinner, depending on the host, varied from traditional French cuisine, Vietnamese food and in one case, shark, selected from the surprising range of choices on offer from Montesson?s latest new shop, a proper Fishmonger!

    Saturday, September 19, began with a short coach trip, in the capable hands of Motts Coaches? driver, Trevor, to one of the less sophisticated but vibrant Parisian suburbs, St Denis, and the famous Basilique Saint Denis, the burial place of the kings, queens and nobles of the various ruling dynasties of France, up to the last, the Bourbons. (ED. Why do they have a biscuit named after them? Answers on a postcard please, though an email would suffice)

    Surprisingly however, most of the tombs are in fact empty these days, having been broken into and their contents taken away or thrown into a communal pit of quick lime and buried in a near-by cemetery by French revolutionaries in 1793. The remains of a few of the illustrious victims have been found elsewhere since and reinstated in their rightful burial places. These include the much maligned and unfortunate Queen of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, whose meagre remains, with those of her husband, were found, returned to the crypt of St Denis and re-consecrated in 1815.

    The heart of the young Louise XVII, stolen by the doctor who carried out his autopsy and then lost for hundreds of years, turned up recently and after DNA testing confirmed it as 99% certain of being authentic, is now on display in a glass bottle in the crypt at St Denis.

    IS IT TRUE THAT ONCE YOU?VE SEEN ONE TOMB??..?

    from the surprising variety of the poses of the sculptured persons on the many tombs at the Basilique St Denis, it was clear to see that there?s a lot of fascinating symbolism portrayed there about the inhabitant; whether their feet rested on lions (monarchs), on a plain slab representing the ground or perhaps resting on dogs, representing faithfulness. Even what they hold in their hands (a staff, a sword) and what the other hand is doing, i.e. clasping their royal robes for instance, was intended to illustrate the ranking and perhaps even something of the nature of the once living body within.

    PINTS, POUNDS, POINTY BALLS AND ROCKMUSIC

    After a very welcome lunch in a near-by restaurant, the group strolled along an historic route along streets that certainly seemed to have seen better days, to the very modern Stade de France, the only stadium in the world to have hosted both a Football World Cup final and a Rugby World Cup final. The history of the area of St Denis was engraved on standing slabs along the way, each one with a perspex cut out section containing a relevant artifact, such as a medieveal shoe, or an historic letter. From one of these came the surprising discovery that the French used pints as a measure of liquid, long before they changed to litres, and learned from a guests later that they still do sometimes ? and pounds and half pounds!

    As well as being able to be reconfigured to host track and field events, the Stade de France has held many of the world?s top rock bands who have played to the 80,000 capacity crowds here. These include U2 and The Rolling Stones and autographed guitars belonging to many rock legends are on display in the exhibition hall of the stadium.

    A NASTY SURPRISE

    On the group?s arrival back at the coach, which had been parked in all good faith in an apparent parking place alloted for coaches in St Denis, it was discovered that the an over-enthusiastic traffic gendarme or traffic warden had slapped a parking ticket on the windscreen. However, the intrepid and not-to-be-triffled-with President of Montesson Twinning, had already been in touch with the authorities on her mobile phone and told them in no uncertain terms that her guests from England had been unfairly treated and sorted the matter out.

    That evening, after a Reception for the traditional eating of the p