Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Witness pleas from family of Thame crash victim

    THE friends and family of Greg Stiles, killed in a four-car crash at Kingsey, near Thame, are pleading for anyone with information about a four-by-four vehicle involved, to come forward.

    Greg’s girlfriend, Abigail Dowdy, 17, of Prestwood, remains seriously ill in a coma after the crash in Kingsey, between Thame and Longwick, last Sunday, May 17, 2009, at around 3pm.

    The police are searching for, what the family believes is, a vehicle similar to a BMW X5, 4×4, which failed to stop after the crash.

    Greg and Abigail were on their way home from work at Thame Leisure Centre when the crash happened.

    Anyone with information should contact PC Dan Watford on 0845 8 505 505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

  • Waitrose opens smallest ever store – at Wheatley Service Station

    WAITROSE Supermarket has opened its smallest branch so-far, at the Welcome Break Service Station, at Wheatley.

    The store will mean 25 new jobs for local people and is the first in a planned succession of outlets at other Welcome Break service stations.

  • Ex Lord Bill’s pupil wins Classical Brit award

    WORLD famous composer, and former Lord Williams’s pupil, Howard Goodall, won the Composer of the Year award at the Classical Brit Awards this week.

    Howard, whose father is a former Headmaster of the school, received his award at the televised award ceremony this week, on Tuesday, May 19, 2009.

    His winning choral work, Eternal Light – a Requiem, was Commissioned by Mark Stephenson on behalf of London Musici to celebrate the orchestra?s 20th anniversary.

    Howard says of the piece: “?For me, a modern Requiem is one that acknowledges the terrible, unbearable loss and emptiness that accompanies the death of loved ones, a loss that is not easily ameliorated with platitudes about the joy awaiting us in the afterlife.

    “Musical expression can, I hope, provide some outlet, some reflection, some transportation, even some comfort. This was to be a Requiem for the living, a Requiem focussing on interrupted lives.”

    Nothing if not flexible, Howard Goodall has also written, among other things, the themes for many popular TV shows like Blackadder, Mr Bean, Red Dwarf, The Catherine Tate Show, Q.I. or The Vicar of Dibley.

    Photo: Courtesy of www.jamd.com

  • Twenty20 Charity Cricket Match

    GARY Kirsten, Coach to the Indian Cricket Team, is to be tGuest Captain of the Tiddington side for a Twenty 20 Charity Cricket Match

    The event will begin at 1.30pm at Tiddington Cricket Club, Fernhill Close. (Opposing team to be announced).

    Two places on the team are up for Auction. Fun for all the family ? morning events start at 11.30 am, includes coaching for kids. Barbeue, food stalls, ice cream, pub, raffle. Proceeds to Alexandria Haven, a very needy orphanage in E Cape, South Africa, to build a sports field and accommodation.

    The event is promoted by the Themisa Trust with Tiddington Cricket Club, OX9 2LA. Contact: Thembisa Trust Office, Ferndale, Tiddington OX9 2LQ. Phone Tracey on 07754 490323 or email trasmith05@aol.com. www.thembisatrust.org.

  • Scouts from all over Oxfordshire to join Thame Scout camp

    ZODIAC 09, Oxfordshire County Scout Camp, is to be held over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend – today, Friday (22/05/09) to Monday (25/05/09), on Thame Show ground.

    The camp is the biggest scouting event in Oxfordshire in 12 years, and over 2,500 members are expected to attend. Zodiac 09 will be open to all sections from Beavers to Network and to all districts within the County.

    The Zodiac provides lots of opportunity for activities and themes for the Camp, and 2009 is the Chinese Zodiac Year of The Ox!

    The camp has a packed program of activities suitable for all sections including Circus Skills, Planetarium, Bomb Disposal, Reptile Roadshow, Pottery Daleks, RFU, Oxford United, Climbing, Fencing, Inflatables, Rifle Shooting, Sports Tournaments and a huge craft area for all ages amongst others.

    There is a great indoor arena for activities during the day and a spectacular entertainment stage show every evening. The program of evening entertainment, is suitable for all age groups and includes professional story tellers, bands, DJ?s, amazing sound and light show, talent contest and many more.

  • Thame Text Alert – Join Plastic Bag Free Thame & win a prize

    SHOPPERS in Thame will have the chance to win a

  • Thame?s MP to judge Carnival Parade

    THAME?S MP, John Howell will join forces with the Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green, to judge this year?s Thame Carnival entrants.

    The annual Thame Carnival and Fete will take place on Saturday, June 13, 2009, with the parade starting from John Hampden School at 12.30pm, moving through the town to arrive on Southern Road Recreation ground for the start of the Fete at 1pm.

    The carnival procession will include floats, walking groups and motorized vehicles, and John Howell and the Mayor will present prizes to the winners of each category at the Fete.

    There will be a variety of stalls at the fete, this year being organised by the Rotary Club of Thame. which has also organized a raffle with an exciting selection of prizes including:
    Hot Air Balloon Ride for 2
    Glider flight for 1 from Haddenham
    3 Course Lunch for 4 at the Spread Eagle
    Meal for 2 at the Thatch
    Raffle tickets can now be ordered on-line by visiting:

    www.thame.rotaryweb.org or by ringing 01844 214992 or 07764 854949.

    They cost

  • May Half Term Squash Camp

    26 May 2009 to 28 May 2009 -aged 7-15, to be held from 10am to 3pm each day at Racquets (behind the Cattle Market in Thame).

    We welcome all juniors from beginners to elite. All will receive high quality coaching from experienced, qualified coaches: Darren Withy and Roger Ridler.

    Each day includes coaching, competition and training as well as use of the equipment in the Gyms.

    Members

  • Towersey sex offender faces prison

    A TOWERSEY man was today told by a judge to expect a prison sentence, after he was found guilty of two sexual offences against an 8 year-old boy.

    Richard Nicholas Templar Graves, known as Nick Graves, of Manor Road, Towersey, near Thame, shook his head as the jury foreman announced a unanimous verdict on two counts. The child’s mother wept with relief as she heard the verdict.

    Graves was found guilty of the offences of Sexual activity with a child, and Causing or inciting a child under 13 years to engage in sexual activity.

    Ordering Graves to return for sentencing on or around June 19, 2009, Judge Julian Hall told him: “I must warn you that imprisonment is very much on my mind.”

    In his eveidence Graves said: “I did not do anything of which I am shamed or would not have done in front of anyone else. I was simply tickling (the child) which I had done before and he had liked it.”

    He insisted that if he did touch the boy, when feeling to see if his boxer shorts were dry after a swim in Grave’s pool, it had been “entirely accidental.”

    Evidence from the child himself, the boy’s father and sisters and cousins however, recounting the child’s reporting of events to them, convinced the jury of Grave’s guilt.

    Nick Graves himself is well-known in the village of Towersey, particularly for his contribution to the annual village pantomime, and has also been both a rugby and a cricket coach locally.

    He was ordered by the judge to sign the Sex Offenders’ register before leaving court today.

  • Thame parent fined for failing to send his child to school

    A THAME father has been fined