Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Local man honoured by the Queen

    A CHINNOR man, who has manged the popular village centre in Chinnor since it opened 15 years ago, has been recognised in the Queen’s new years honours list.

    David De Val, 65, has been awarded the MBE for services to the community.

    As well as providing a youth centre and coffee shop, the Chinnor Village Centre acts as a day centre for the elderly and a therapy centre.

    Photo: David De Val with Boris Johnson, at the opening of a new function room at the Chinnor Community Centre (Photo courtesy of The Bucks Free Press)

  • Looking for a challenge in 2009? (Contributed)

    TREK Ireland 2009 – We have now set up our next trek which will explore the heart and sole of Ireland the Kerry Way! Itinerary – Day 1 – Depart London an afternoon flight to Cork.
    Met on arrival and transfer to Glenbeigh a small town on the coast of Kerry surrounded by Coomasaharn horse-shoe Mountains to the south, Seefin, and Curra to the east and west and Slievemish to the North for an evening meal and the first taste of the real Ireland! Day 2 – Glenbeigh to Glencar/Lough Acoose (11 miles/18km, 270m ascent) An acclimatising walk leads along a quiet lane high above the beautiful Caragh Lake. It descends down to the Blackstone?s Bridge then through the woods to Glencar, a tiny settlement nestled in the middle of the peninsula besides the McGillycuddy?s Reeks meaning ?The Black Stacks?, a mountain range stretching over 12 miles that includes the highest mountain in Ireland, Caeeantuohill at 1,039 metres. Before walking a little further to Lough Acoose. Day 3 – Glencar to Black Valley (13 miles/21km, 360m ascent) We set off after a good hearty breakfast and walk past Lough Acoose, the starting point for a memorable circuit of Ireland?s highest mountain, Carrauntuohill. Continue past the Lough and isolated farms to walk up through the Reeks on the old lack road and into the isolated Bridia Valley. Climb out of the valley via a second mountain pass through wild and rugged hills descending into the Black Valley directly underneath Ireland?s highest mountains. Day 4 – Black Valley to Killarney (14 miles/22.5km, 360m ascent) Our final day leads out of the Black Valley and back into the Killarney National Park. We will walk past the Upper Lake of Killarney, a site of one of Ireland?s unusual flora, the Strawberry Tree and continue to Lord Brandon?s Cottage into the Derrycunnihy Forest; an ancient oak woodland that is currently fighting a battle with the Rhododendron that is threatening to choke out the indigenous flora! Our final part of the route then joins up with Galway?s Bridge, where we follow the old Kenmare road past Muckross House to Killarney. Tonight we will experience true Irish hospitality starting with our traditional celebration. After this a visit to one of the lively pubs with traditional Irish Music would be a great way to wrap up the trip. Day 5 We have a free morning to explore Killarney and the surrounding area. Ross castle is nearby and worth a visit along with the nearby national park. In the afternoon we will transfer back to Cork Airport for our flight to London. The trek is planned for 26th – 30th June 2009 and the trek packs are now ready if you are interested in coming along.

    The registration fee will be

  • New fire station for Thame

    GOVERNMENT funding is to be made available for Thame to get a modern, replacement fire station.

  • Chinnor mauled by Lions despite second half bravery (Contributed)

    MATCH REPORT: Chinnor 3 pts Rugby Lions 37 pts; December 20, 2008.

    THERE is no substitute for pace. Rugby Lions possessed this in abundance and utilised it to run Chinnor ragged in the second quarter of the game. Chinnor did not assist their cause by kicking the ball away from the limited possession they had. The Lions were swift to capitalise and showed that in open play, with deft handling, speed and good angles of running, they were lethal finishers. In the fifteen minutes leading up to half time they accumulated 24 unanswered points.

    Chinnor started with one change from the selected line-up with Macsen Williams coming into the back row to replace the flu stricken Angus Neilsen. The exchanges were even in the first quarter, giving no indication of the points deluge that was to come. James Hawkin for the Lions and Ben Hewitt swapped penalties before Hawkin kicked another goal in the 13th minute. The Lions forged ahead from the 23rd minute with Warner taking the final pass and going over under the posts. This move had started well inside the Lions half after Chinnor had failed to find touch from a penalty. With Hawkin converting this, and then adding another try of his own within minutes, which he again converted the Lions were well on their way. A try by Hales which amply illustrated why he is the League’s leading try scorer, and another by Reed, both converted by Hawkin who also managed to slot in a penalty between the tries added up to a 37 points to 3 interval scoreline.

    Chinnor defended bravely at the start of the second half to put in some fine cover tackles. To a man they all stood up to be counted during this period keeping the well launched counter attacks by the Lions at bay. One such tackle by the covering Chris Rowley on the speedy Hales was a good example of determination and resolve as was a head on effort by Ben Hewitt on the big, powerfull and aggressive Lions No.8 Stuart Riding. With just 15 minutes left and the second half scoreless, Chinnor began pressurising the Lions line with some considerable intent. They went close on several occasions during this period being brought down inches close to the line. In fact they finished the stronger but the damage had been done in the second quarter of the game.

    The Lions were probably the best side Chinnor have faced this season and that includes the likes of London Scottish and Ealing. Their back three were particularly potent and along with a pair of competent half backs, who always tended to take the right options, they were not to be found wanting. Add to this a massively influential No.8 then you have quite a good recipe for success.

    To put the game into perspective. Chinnor’s line was breached on just four occasions, all emanating from open play, and add to this the Lion’s kicker slotting everything in sight, then not a disaster by any standard.

    Lessons will and must be learned but it is no disgace to come second to a side who were top notch on the day. Heart must be taken from the Chinnor second half performance which was brave and showed character. With the manner in which the fixtures have panned out for the second half of the season there remains hope.

  • Police surgeries in and around Wheatley 2009

    THERE will be police surgeries held at the following venues around the Wheatley area in early 2009. The dates and venues are:

    Saturday 24th January 2009, Wheatley Police office (behind merry bells car park) between 4pm-6pm

    Sunday 25th January 2009, Garsington Village hall, between 4pm-6pm

    Monday 26th January 2009, Horspath Dr?s surgery (part of village hall) between 5pm-7pm

    Wednesday 11th February 2009, Tiddington village hall (in conjunction with post office) between 1.30pm-3pm

    Sunday 29th March 2009, Sandford on Thames village hall, between 5pm-7pm

    These surgeries are an ideal opportunity for local residents to speak to their local police officers and PCSO?s about any local issues. Further surgeries will be publicised locally. no appointment is necessary, just turn up and speak to your local officers.?

  • Two arrested in connection with armed robberies

    TWO men have been arrested in relation to the series of armed robberies that have occurred in the Oxford area recently and released on bail.
    In one of the incidents, a 280 bus driver was held up at gun point and robbed, and in another, two men threatened cashiers at a Thame service station and demanded money from the till.

    An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of robbery on Monday (22/12) and a 34-year-old man was arrested for conspiracy to rob yesterday (23/12).

    Det Insp Simon Morton of Oxford CID, who is leading the investigation, said: ?I want to reassure the public we are doing all we can to get to the bottom of this worrying series of robberies.

    ?Our detectives have been interviewing the man who was arrested last night. I am optimistic our investigation is moving forward, however I still want to appeal to anyone who has information about these crimes to contact me or call Crimestoppers.?

    Det Insp Morton can be contacted via the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505.

    If you don?t want to talk to police and don?t want to leave your name, call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

  • Arrest after street fight in Thame

    A Thame man has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, after a 31-year-old man was injured during a fight on Friday night (19/12), in The High Street, Thame.

    Robert Newitt, aged 22, of Van Diemans Road, Thame, has been remanded in police custody and will appear before Oxford Magistrates? Court tomorrow (22/12).

    The police are appealing for witnesses to the fight that occurred at around 6.30pm near to the tandoori restaurant on The High Street, which resulted in the victim being taken to Stoke Mandeville hospital with an injury to his arm.

    Sgt Stuart Prince said: ?We understand that there were quite a few people in the area at the time of this incident, so we are very keen to hear from them. We would especially like to speak to a man who initially assisted officers at the scene but later left. I would urge him to get in touch.?

    Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Thame CID via 0845 8 505 505. If you do not wish to speak to police or give your name, contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

  • New manager at Thame restaurant

    THE Peach pub group has appointed a new general manager to run The Thatch in Thame, which it took over when the winners of the TV programme, The Restaurant, Jeremy and Jane Hooper, left earlier in the year.

    Frazer Sutherland joined Peach after five years of running his own pub at Beachampton in Buckinghamshire.

    Photo of Frazer courtesy of www.bighospitality.co.uk

  • Texting Wheatlely crash driver found guilty

    A WOMAN who admitted texting at least 20 times whilst driving to Oxford, was found guilty this afternoon, of causing death by dangerous driving.
    Phillipa Curtis, 21, from Suffolk, hit the back of 24-year-old Victoria McBryde’s stationary car on the A40 near Wheatley, Oxfordshire, on November 30, last year.
    Miss McBryde had stopped beside the road after puncturing a tyre.
    Curtis was told that she would almost certainly receive a custodial sentence.

    In a statement after the verdict, Victoria’s mother begged other drivers: “… never answer your phone when driving as you could be facing a prison sentence like Philippa Curtis is.
    “I am pleased by the verdict of guilty of death by dangerous driving.
    “Although my heart has shattered since Tory?s death receiving this guilty verdict means my process of grief can now begin.
    “For the sake of looking at a text message, that simple glance has taken my beautiful daughter away.”

  • Council tax rise likely for 2009

    COUNCIL Tax is likely to rise again for Thame residents next year, following a decision by Thame Town Council to ask for an increased precept (Thame’s part of the Council Tax) for 2009-2010.

    At its meeting on Tuesday, December 16, the council agreed its budget for the next financial year, after, it stated, “looking carefully at ways of making savings in order to keep the precept as low as possible.”

    The result was that the town council will ask the county council for