Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Police trap nabs law breakers

    DRIVERS passing through Thame, not wearing seat belts or using their mobile phones whilst driving, were in for a nasty shock this morning.

    Plain clothes police officers acting as spotters radioed their uniformed colleagues stationed close to the car park in Upper High Street, Thame, the car registration of any offending drivers, who were then pulled over.

    All those caught committing these offences (over 30 in the first hour of Operation Pride) were issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for the appropriate offence. County Council road safety officers offering education were close by with a mobile unit offering education as an alternative to a FPN for seatbelt offences.

    Those using their mobile phone were offered the option of the ?Call Divert? course in place of a fixed penalty.

    The maximum fixed penalty fine for using a mobile phone whilst driving is

  • Oxford Green Belt Way Walk and Rally, Sunday, 19 April.

    COME and join the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), Oxfordshire Branch, on a short walk along the Oxford Green Belt Way.

    The walk will commence at Shotover at 3pm, and be led by TV personality, Wesley Smith (Regional TV presenter).

    The walk will finish at 4pm at Horspath Village Hall, where there will be refreshments and a short rally to be addressed by John Howell MP, outlining current threats to the Oxford Green Belt.

    Contact: Helena Whall, CPRE Oxfordshire Campaign Manager on: 07766 624990 or email: campaign@cpreoxon.org.uk

  • Change of theme for Thame Festival

    THE theme for this year’s Thame Festival was going to be Space, in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the first, manned moon landing.
    However, the Festival committee have decided to broaden the theme because some local groups voiced the opinion that the original theme may be restrictive.

    In a statement, Thame Festival committee member, Kathryn Osman, said: “It was decided we would just take on a general theme of ‘Carnival’ and leave this down to peoples interpretation, maybe taking inspiration from all the different types of Carnivals that happen around the world. We hope this will make the parade colourful, active and full of variety.

    “We are hoping to encourage as many community groups and businesses to get involved and join in the fun of the day. We are hoping that the parade can be well supported and encourage a real sense of community spirit. It is important that we have an idea on the number of organisations willing to participate in the parade as soon as possible. There will as always be the option of walking entries or Vehicular entries.”

    Groups, businesses, club etc who would like to take part in this year’s Festival, or anyone who would like to help with the organisation can contact Kathryn by email: k.osman@tiscali.co.uk or call her on 01844 217613.

  • Oxfordshire’s food waste reprocessing a ‘first’

    THE collection and prosessing of food waste, due to begin later this year in Oxfordshire, will be the first county-wide food waste collections to be processed using anaerobic digestion on a large scale.

    Read the full story LINK

  • Thame’s new library to be first to offer self-service

    THAME’S new library, to be built on the site of the old Pied Pedaller toy shop, currently being demolished, will be the first in Oxfordshire to offer self-service.

    Kelvin Eveleigh, Customer Service Manager for the Oxfordshire library service, in describing the benefits of the new library, said that a supermarket-type terminal will allow readers to scan their own loans returned books and drop them into a box.

    “We are hoping for big things from Thame’s new library,” he said. “There will be increased opening hours, public access computers, a wider range of books, including a better stocked children’s range and a dedicated teenage area.

    “We envisage that the half mezzanine floor will be used for community use by local clubs and societies, and there are plans for the Thame Childrens Centre to be run from the new library. In fact, we will be offering everything you currently expect from a library but with bells on!” He added.

    Picture: Self-service library terminals in Swansea, similar to those that will be available in Thame’s new library.

  • Lack of experience sends Chinnor seconds out of Cup (Contributed)

    OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY CUP MATCH REPORT – Saturday, February 28- Banbury 1 XV 43 points, Chinnor 2nds, 11 points.

    Chinnor fielded seven colts in this, their second team and were comprehensively knocked out of the
    Oxfordshire County Cup on Saturday.

    Fixture congestion, cup registration and player qualification requirements meant that the Chinnor side were light in experience in some key positions.

    The first half saw Chinnor under pressure but meeting their counterparts well. The half ended with the game in easy reach of Chinnor but with Banbury taking the points advantage. Young flyhalf, Sam Angel converted two penalties for Chinnors account.

    The second half was all Banbury as they exploited Chinnors? weakness in not having an experienced open side playing this week. Playing with effectively three blind side flankers in the back row was Chinnors? downfall.

    Banbury put constant pressure in the middle channels, meeting with limited resistance, allowing them to play behind the Chinnor defence.

    The Chinnor side though never gave up heart, particularly colts hooker and Chinnor?s man of the match, Joe Pickett, who scored a try from a quick penalty.

    Although below par, Chinnor were beaten by the stronger side on the day and wished Banbury well on route to the final and, based on this performance, the Cup.

    By Steve Halson

    Chinnor 1st XV vs. Ealing
    Next home match: Saturday 7th March kick off 3:00pm

  • Second half come-back draw for Thame Reserves

    MATCH REPORT – Saturday, February 28 – Newbury Reserves 4, Thame United Reserves 4.

    THAME Reserves travelled down the A34 to Newbury filled with confidence on the back of two great wins against good opposition.

    The game started in a frantic matter and in the first minute James Bloomfield had a golden opportunity to put Thame one goal up after he had shut the home keeper down forcing an error. Unfortunately, a lack of communication and a hurried shot meant he missed the target from eight yards and kept the score at 0-0.

    Then Thame were well and truly on the front foot and mounting a wave of attacks and on five minutes, were rewarded with the opening goal. James Bloomfield turned on a sixpence in the box to squeeze his shot in from a tight angle at the near post. Newbury replied with two goals in the next five minutes, the first coming from a cross in open play when the Thame defence allowed the same player to head the ball twice under no pressure about 10 yards out and his second touch made it 1-1.

    Newbury’s second goal came from the penalty spot. Captain, Matthew Gibbs, was fortunate, being the last defender to only receive a yellow card after cleaning up Newbury’s centre forward as he was just about to pull the trigger. The match was 10 minutes old and Thame was 2-1 down.

    James Bloomfield equalized on 12 minutes with his second of the game, a well worked move involving five players that was calmly slotted home. Newbury then took control of the game and scored twice more before the break, making it 4-2 at half time. A mention must go out to Ryan Bell in goal for Thame. He pulled off a great save with the last kick of the half – a moment in the game that was to prove vital.

    Some readjusting and organisation at half time to cancel out the threat of the Newbury attack, allowed Thame to get back in the game and on 55 minutes Greg Stocker’s right foot shot from 30 yards, sailed over the keeper and dropped into the top corner. The game followed an even path pretty much throughout the middle stages of the second half with both teams cancelling each other out.

    The introduction of fresh legs gave Thame an extra spring in their step and they became brighter and more successful going forward. Thame got their well deserved rewards on 75 minutes. A corner from the right looked like it was going to be met by the head of the air-bound Russell Haynes. A Newbury defender was spotted infringing his attempt and the referee had no option but to award a penalty. Up stepped Adam Rowley who sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 4-4. Newbury then threw everything they had in an attempt to win the game but the Thame defence stood strong. This left their defence exposed and the chances Thame had didn’t result in the winning goal.

    A remarkable come back after being 4-2 down at half time, to see us share the points which over the 90 minutes was a fair result.

    Thame were left reflecting that, if only we could have performed at the level we did in the second half in the first, the result may have been a better one.

  • Convicted burglar on the run in South East (Press release from Greater Manchester police)

    ANTON Mcpherson (born 15/06/1990) of Manchester Road, Heaton Norris, has been convicted of three counts of burglary on December 8, 2008.

    He was due to appear at Manchester Crown Court for sentencing on January 5, 2009, but failed to appear at court. The judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

    Detectives believe that Mcpherson may have travelled to the South East.

    Detective Constable Scott Pierce said: “Mcpherson is a prolific career criminal, and we believe that he will be offending wherever he is. It is therefore imperative that we track him down as soon as possible.

    “If anyone has any information about his whereabouts, they are asked to get in touch with us.”

    Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

  • Next meeting of Thame First (formerly Chamber of Commerce)

    THE next meeting of Thame First (formerly Thame and District Chamber of Commerce, will be on Monday, March 2.
    The meeting, which is open to all Thame area businesses, will be at The Spread Eagle Hotel, Cornmarket, Thame, and start at 7pm

  • Get ready to party with your under-fives! (Status: press release)

    TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM TODAY
    PARENTS, carers and children are in for a treat yet again as the Oxfordshire Early Years Fun Day in Cutteslowe Park returns for its eighth year.

    The Fun Day, run by Oxfordshire County Council?s Early Learning and Childcare Service, is a free event for children under five and their parents and carers.

    More than 5,000 people are expected to attend the event in Cutteslowe Park, Oxford, which will take place on Thursday June 25 between 10am and 3pm.

    Tickets for the free event will be available from Monday March 2 by calling 01865 815211. This is a very popular event and places are limited. Parents are asked to bring their own packed lunch and plenty of drinks. There is no entry without a ticket.

    All day entertainment

    There will be a huge variety of free entertainment on offer including Farms 2 Ewe, Cogges Farm, fairground rides, a reading tent, Oxfordshire play bus, Mini IQ, free smoothies, free water, a fire engine, Usbourne Books, free car seat checking from Footsteps, a police car and baby massage classes.

    Parents and carers can also find out about Oxfordshire?s childcare, early education, play and health services that are available for children under five and their families in Oxfordshire.

    Councillor Louise Chapman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, said: ?Oxfordshire Early Years Fun Day is the largest free event in the county for children under five and this is the biggest it has ever been. We always have wonderful feedback on how much fun the day has been and how useful the information is that we put into the goodie bags, which we give to each child.

    “I am very much looking forward to this year’s event as it is also an opportunity for us to say ?thank you? to all those working with children in the county.”

    Picture courtesy of Ipswich.gov.uk