Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Thame Woolworths store ‘soldiers on’

    STAFF in the Woolworths store in Thame’s High Street, have vowed to carry on regardless of the threat to their jobs, after the company went into receivership yesterday.
    During what appeared to be, a busy morning in the store, the manageress told ThameNews.Net: “We don’t know anymore than we have heard on the news. The staff are very bouyant and we shall just keep on smiling and carry on selliing for Christmas until someone tells us otherwise.”

    It is understood that the Woolworths building is owned by the Co-op.

  • Road closed at Great Haseley following accident

    THE A329 is closed both ways between the M40 junction 7, between the Thame junction and Church Road, Great Haseley, because of an accident. (Latest at 5.23pm)

  • Nine tall tales and a chinese banquet for Thame Speakers

    THAME SPEAKERS CLUB celebrated its foundation recently with tales of taxes on sunlight, Russian spies, porridge explosions, African antics, famous movie stars, grand prix winners, pirates and fattening up for Queen and Country.

    The club marked the 27th anniversary of its founding with a black tie meal in a Chinese restaurant and a splendid Tall Tales Contest with nine speakers. The winning tale was John Morris’s important proposal to save the planet by capturing methane from the millions of cows around the world. His demonstration of the method of capturing the methane brought tear(of laughter) to the eyes of his audience and a smile to the face of his demonstration bovine! (See photo)

    Thame Speakers Club has a proud history of achievements, having produced:
    ? three District Governors,
    ? two Division Governors
    ? three DTMs
    ? nine Area Governors
    ? three District speech contest winners.
    The club has also hosted four District Conferences and sponsored five new clubs in the past.

    The current President, Jean Gamester, reminded the members and guests of the club?s current achievements and awarded last year?s Area Governor and dedicated club member Jim Robinson the coveted Toastmaster of the Year award.

    Thame Speakers Club meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 7:45 for 8PM, at Thame Snooker club, St Andrews Court, Wellington Street.

    Contact Jean on 07877 970250.

  • Support events for MIND (Contributed)

    MIND Christmas Cards – The Mind Charity Shop at 118 Walton Street, Oxford now has a vast array of Christmas cards on sale.

    Trek Ireland ? 26th ? 30th June 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

  • Fire officer’s work sets UK’s environmental agenda (Contributed)

    THE work of an Oxfordshire Fire officer on reducing environmental damage during incidents and training exercises, is set to benefit firefighters across the UK and beyond.
    David Hanlon wrote a 400-page manual on the subject and organised a national conference at the Reebok Staduim in Bolton recently where 20 speakers gave presentations based on his work.

    The manual, which tackles issues including how to avoid pollution of surface and groundwater supplies when tackling fires and chemical incidents, will now form the template for Fire and Rescue Services and environment agencies’ plans to prevent pollution caused by or during emergency incidents.

    Great feedback

    David, who is Technical Services Manager, was asked to write the manual by the Chief Fire Advisory Unit after submitting his masters degree dissertation to the Government.

    He said: “The conference went really well and it’s extremely rewarding to see your work recognised on the national stage like this.

    “The feedback was excellent and the whole thing has transformed what started out as an academic exercise into something that could have a really positive impact on the environment.”

    Huge benefit

    Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety Judy Heathcoat added: “There’s no doubt that David’s work will be a huge benefit to fire services across the UK.

    “We always want our Fire and Rescue Service to be involved at the forefront of national progress, and David is a great example of that agenda-setting mentality.”

    Photo: (left to right): Event organiser Kirsty Goodgame, Watch Manager and IT Technician Andy Ford (Thame), Finance Officer Hazel Dyer, Event Co-ordinator and author of FRS Manual Environmental Protection David Hanlon, Event Assistant Matt Carlile

  • New finance for small businesses (Status: Press release)

    SEEDA, the South East England Development Agency, is being given a pivotal role in rolling out the Government?s plans to support small businesses, as announced in Monday?s Pre-Budget Report.

    SEEDA will provide up to

  • No Blanc pages for Michelin Star chef!

    RAYMOND BLANC will be in the Book House, Thame, on Friday, December 5, to sign copies of his new book.
    The top chef, who is currently fronting the TV programme, The Restaurant, will be in the book shop from 7.30pm, after he has turned on Thame’s Christmas lights.
    The book is called “A taste of my life.”

  • FREE Christmas card delivery service in Thame

    THAME 1ST Scouts will once again be offering a free Christmas card delivery service to the elderly and the disabled in the town, and in Moreton.
    Christmas cards for delivery, with the full postal address on the envelope, can be left at Glynswood, in the High Street The Chocolate Box, on the corner of North Street and Wellington Street, Thame Library, the Thame Gazette Office, Pearce Court or Sharman Beer Court.

    Last date for collection is Friday, December 5, 2008.

  • ‘Smash and grab’ at Thame United

    PENN AND HAZLEMERE implemented the perfect ?smash and grab? raid on Saturday (22/11, as they left the Hithercroft Stadium with three points, despite being given a lesson in football by a Thame United side who did everything but score.
    United opened brightly with both Adam Rhodes and Mark Jones going close from 20 yards in the first 10 minutes. After 12 minutes Thame keeper, Paul Searl, was called in to action for one of the few times during the game, saving well to his left after Rino Sepede had got the wrong side of his marker. After a quarter of an hour, right winger Ben Connelly made the first of many jinking runs that tormented the young Penn left back for the remainder of the game, seeing his cross cause a goalmouth scramble from which Thame were unable to score. Ten minutes later and Mark Jones re-paid the compliment, crossing to Connelly who from only eight yards managed to place his effort straight at the keeper. Two minutes later and Penn had another let off when a Nik Rhodes effort was deflected wide.

    With the second half only a few minutes old, Mark Jones had a great chance to give Thame the lead, heading just wide from a Connelly cross. A few minutes later and Thame thought they had taken the lead, only for the referee to blow-up for an infringement as the ball hit the back of the net. The only goal of the game came in the 58th minute when Penn captain Gary Finch was given too much time on the edge of the box and, whilst his shot looked to be covered by Searl, it took a wicked deflection off the out stretched foot of Nik Rhodes and in to the corner of the net. For the remainder of the game Thame pressed for an equalizer, with Connelly, Jones and Graeme Catlin all going close. However, Thame were unable to find the equaliser and Penn left with the three points.

    THAME UNITED 0, PENN & TYLERS GREEN 1

    Thame United: Searl, Thompson, Graves, N.Rhodes, Newell, Cowan, Connelly, A Rhodes, Catlin (Hoskin), Jones, Ricketts.

    Thame United have a home game against Trowbridge Town in the Supplementary League Cup on November 29, (3:00pm kick off at Hithercroft, Wallingford).

  • Mobile signals to be blocked by Chiltern Rail?

    CHILTERN RAIL are considering whether to pilot blocking mobile phone signals in their ‘quiet’ carriages.
    Currently, many passengers ignore the stickers on the windows of some carriages which advise that mobile phones are not to be used.

    Passengers seeking to get away from the noise of mobile ring tones and having to listen to conversations carried out on phones without any regard for the privacy of others in the carriage, will no doubt be delighted at the news and look forward to the day when such annoyances are banished.