Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Champion Thame gardener speaks of ‘strange’ happenings in the flower bed

    THE winner of the Thame In Bloom competition has today spoken of some very strange effects of this summer’s weather on his garden.
    Show gardeners everywhere have been struggling against the wettest conditions for years, and some are blaming global warming for observable changes in the way their plants have grown this year.

    Mr John Johnson, who lives in Churchill Cresent, Thame, was the overall winner of the annual Thame in Bloom contest, for the fourth time since 2002, but told ThameNews.Net today that his garden should have looked even better.
    “Although my flower beds may look a picture to you,” he said, “I know that there should by now be much less green and a whole lot more colour.
    “Some things have romped ahead and grown tall, but there hasn’t been enough sunshine to make the flowers bloom.
    “Also, there are other plants hidden in among the Marigolds, Geraniums and other things that should be taller by now but are hidden by the massive amount of growth of the other plants around them.
    “Everything gone weird this year, with some flowers as much as six weeks behind of what they should be.”

    But retired lorry driver, Mr Johnson, whose other hobbies and interests include Thame’s history, said that he is not down-hearted, and with his wife Lyn, is already planning for next year’s competition.

    Photo: By Mr John Johnson, of his winning garden in Churchill Crescent, Thame.

  • Lucky escape for passengers after bus crash

    THE Oxford Road between Haddenham and Thame was closed for a time yesterday morning (19/08) after a collision between a bus and a silver Volvo car.
    The crash happened close to the staggered cross roads just past the Haddenham turn at Scotsgrove.
    One female passenger received bruising to her arm but apart from shock, the other passengers were unharmed and were transferred to another vehicle to continue their journey.
    The police and the Arriva Bus company are carrying out an investigation into the incident.

  • Blooming Thame !

    DESPITE unprecidented amounts of rainfall this summer, the gardeners of Thame have overcome less than ideal gardening conditions to produce a stunning show of gardening skill and colour for this year’s Thame In Bloom competition.
    After much deliberation, the judges awarded the garden of 2 Churchill Crescent, owned and managed by Mr and Mrs Johnson, with the Overall winners award.
    The other section winners were as follows:

    LARGE GARDEN – 1ST Mr and Mrs Partner, 2 Blake Way
    2ND Mr Feasey, 70 Queens Road
    3RD Mr and Mrs Raven, 23 Cedar Cresent
    HC Mr Dodd, 43 East Street

    MEDIUM GARDEN- 1ST Mr & Mrs Johnson, 2 Churchill Cresc
    2ND Mr & Mrs Clark, 69 Cotmore Gardens
    3RD Mr & Mrs Frands, 6 Croft Road
    HC Mr & Mrs Verney, 8 Croft Road

    SMALL GARDEN – 1ST Mr & Mrs Stockwell, 21 Kings close
    2ND Mr & Mrs Tack, 90 Aylesbury Road
    3RD Mr & Mrs Sellwood, 13 Hampden Ave
    HC Mr & Mrs Fuller, 98 Churchill Cresc

    FACADE 1ST Mr & Mrs Conibear,10 Mitchell Close
    2ND Mrs Peace, 18 Willow Road
    3RD Mr & Mrs Spokes, 22 Ireton Court
    HC Mr & Mrs Wilson-Brown, 5 Charles
    Drive

    MAISONETTE 1ST Miss Selwood, 12c, Pearce Way
    OR FLAT 2ND E. Williams, 10 Lee Court
    3RD Mr Payne, 16 Lee Court
    HC Mrs Hamilton, 18, Lee Court

    INDUSTRIAL GLENCORE GRAIN UK LTD, Bell Lane
    SECTION

    SHOPS & SMALL ELEGANCE, 16 High Street
    BUSINESSES

    PUBS & STAR AND GARTER
    HOTELS

    SCHOOL GARDENS JOHN HAMPDEN SCHOOL

    BEST STREET OR ROAD SEVEN ACRES

    The presentation evening for the Thame In Bloom 2008, awards will be on September 4, at the Guide Headquarters in Southern Road, Thame, at 7pm

    Photo: GLENCORE GRAIN UK LTD, in Bell Lane, Thame, who won the Industrial section of this year’s Thame in Bloom competition.

  • FA Cup dream still alive for Thame

    SCORE: Thame United 0, Bitton AFC 0
    United secured a hard-earned but well-deserved draw against higher league opponents in the form of Bitton AFC from Bristol to maintain their interest in the FA Cup. With the defence superbly marshalled throughout the game by the centre-back pairing of captain David Hocking and Man of the Match, Matt Graves, the Bitton forward line, which included former QPR striker Michael Meaker, rarely threatened Searl in the Thame goal for the whole 90 minutes.

    Thame opened brightly, pinning their opponents in their own half for much of the first 10 minutes. However, with the exception of a dangerous corner from Luke Ricketts, Thame were unable to trouble the Bitton keeper. After the opening period, Bitton came more in to the game and on 15 minutes Hocking was forced to clear the ball off the line following a goalmouth scramble. Two minutes later and United nearly opened the scoring when the ball fell invitingly for Mark Jones on the edge of the box, his volleyed effort falling the wrong side of the right hand post. By now there were chances at both ends, the best opportunity falling to the Bitton winger, Leon Maloney, whose effort from 12 yards on 35 minutes forced Searl to make a good save low to his right.

    With the game goalless at half time, both sides came out after the interval looking to break the deadlock. However, both defences remained on top and neither side had many scoring opportunities. The best opportunity for Bitton came on 65 minutes when Meaker, having worked his way to the by-line, cut back inside and looked set to shoot, only for his striking partner Mark Reynolds to take the ball off him and skew his effort wide. Thame were not without their chances and following a foul on substitute Chris Brougham, Luke Ricketts saw his free kick from 25 yards sail just over the bar whilst, in injury time, fellow substitute James Bloomfield was unlucky to see his shot blocked by the keepers legs.

    United travel to Bitton for the replay this coming Wednesday (20th August), 7:30pm kick off.

    Thame United: Searl, Thompson, Newell, Graves, Hocking, Cowan, Connelly, Jones, Ansell (Brougham), Miller (Bloomfield), Ricketts.

    Photo: Luke Ricketts

  • Thame business claims back charity football title

    THAME based hotel company Travelodge, victoriously reclaimed their championship title from Fosse City FC recently in a friendly charity match with an impressive 5-2 win – and raised over

  • Join ‘The Big Tidy Up’

    SOUTH Oxfordshire District Council is encouraging local residents and community groups to get involved in The Big Tidy Up ? a national campaign running throughout September, which aims to get everyone involved in tackling the problem of litter.
    The Big Tidy Up could be the county’s biggest ever litter clean up. The month-long event aims to get communities together to tackle the tide of litter and all the councils in Oxfordshire, working together as Oxfordshire Waste Partnership (OWP), are lending their support.

    Thame Town Councillor, David Dodds, who is also the Cabinet Member for environmental services, said: “We can all do our bit in September by not dropping litter and picking up the rubbish left by other people. Cleaner streets and parks benefit us all and save taxpayers? money. We?ll certainly be carrying on with doing our bit throughout the year.
    “I?d encourage people to visit www.oxfordshirewaste.gov.uk, to find out how to take part in the Big Tidy Up. Why not join an event in South Oxfordshire or even organise a rubbish clear-up yourself??.

    The council will lend litter-picking equipment to anyone in the district who wants to organise a clean up of their area and will also take away any litter and recyclables after the event.

    Figures released by Keep Britain Tidy, organisers of the national Big Tidy Up, reveal that council taxpayers in the UK fork out

  • Have a voice and join the NAG!

    THIS is a Ringmaster message from Thames Valley Police.
    The Thame Neighbourhood Action Group is looking for volunteers to help with public consultations.

    If you would like to be involved and help with the consultations, learn more and ensure that local residents have a voice in deciding WHAT ISSUES THE NAG ADDRESSES NEXT, then please contact PCSO Diane Jackson or PCSO Daniel Tucker at Thame Police Station on 08458 505 505 or by email: diane.jackson@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk or daniel.tucker@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

    Photo: NAG meeting in progress

  • Only a week to go!

    THE village of Towersey, near Thame, is already buzzing as the tents and staging and all the structures necessary for a stonking festival, begin to take shape.
    Look out for the advertising boards around Thame, which will daily list the various bands and events for the following day.
    For a full list of the artists appearing at the festival, follow the LINK

    The boards will be positioned as from today at the following locations:

    Outside Essence in the Buttermarket

    Outside the old Thame Information Centre (now the Citizens Advice Bureau)

    Outside Sapphire Moon at the top of the High Street

    Outside Mobalpa Kitchen Design in the Cornmarket

    Outside Umberto’s in Greyhound Walk

    Thanks to all the retailers who have agreed to place the boards outside their premises and to take responsibility for them for the duration of the festival.

  • New Cafe enterprise in Haddenham

    NEW CAF

  • Thame school celebrates ‘A ‘ level achievements

    STUDENTS, parents and staff of Lord Williams?s School in Thame, had a great deal to celebrate today following the release of this year’s ‘A’ level results this morningv(14/08.
    Out of 582 examination entries, 98% achieved pass grades, with 50% achieving A or B grades.
    Headteacher, David Wybron, commented: “I would like to congratulate all our students who have gained such pleasing results and to thank staff for all they have done, through their teaching and pastoral support, to bring this about. Today, students, staff and families share feelings of great pleasure in individual achievement at a very high level”.

    Five students, Harry Allen, Lucy Burgess, Rachel Forsyth, Kirsty Harris and Christopher Williams all achieved four A grades. The following nineteen students achieved three A grades: Harriet Buggey, Jasmine Coll, Ashley Cooke, Bonnie Cooke, Laura Crowland, Hannah Danks, Jim Furness, Peter Gaultney, Elizabeth Greaves, Bethany Hamlin, Claire Lasko, Jack Morrice, Eilise Norris, Rachel Rice, Melanie Rose, Elliot Stevens, Suzie Watson, Dan Wazynski and Harriet Westby.

    Kate Sheehan, Head of Sixth Form, said that the achievements of all students across the ability range is cause for celebration. “We are so proud of the fantastic achievements of our Sixth Formers,” she added. “Many are now able to take up their places at university and have very bright futures ahead of them”.

    Four successful Oxbridge applicants are particularly pleased with their results: Christopher Williams will take up his place at Cambridge and Elizabeth Greaves, Claire Lasko and Eilise Norris will study at Oxford.

    Photo: Ash Cooke, Claire Lasko, Chris Williams, Harriet Buggey and Dan Braithwaite all achieved good enough grades to take up their University places, either this autumn or next year after a gap year.

    NB If you?ve got your results and are not sure what your next steps are, help is available from schools, colleges, universities and Connexions Direct (080 800 13 2 19 or www.connexions-direct.com). If you would like additional impartial guidance, you can access your local Connexions adviser at www.connexionsoxfordshire.com or by calling 01235 813115.