Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Thame Runners 25 th anniversary dinner dance

    THAME Runners was founded back in 1983 and this is the club’s 25th anniversary.
    A dinner and dance to commemorate this milestone is being held at The Oxfordshire Golf Club. The club is encouraging anyone who has been a member of the club to join the festivities.
    For more information, please visit the club website www.thamerunners.co.uk

  • Thame football partner talks of ‘frustration’ at lack of progress

    A member of the Thame Football Partnership endeavouring to bring a new stadium and facilities for Thame football to the town, has spoken of his frustration with the speed of the beaurocracy involved in the project.
    Speaking at last week’s meeting of Thame Town Council’s Planning committee, who were considering an amendment to the plans, Nigel Parkinson from the Football Association, said: “It is very frustrating; this feels more like a commercial enterprise rather than a community project.
    “But make no mistake, we have the tenacity to deliver it.”

    Nigel was speaking in favour of amendments to plans already passed unanimously by Thame Town Council, amendments that will see two pitches moved, so that they will be less over-hung by trees and more trees and landscaping on the west and south sides to soften the view from the by-pass, as asked for by SODC.

    The committee voted unanimously for the amendments to be approved and the plan will now go to South Oxfordshire District Council’s Planning committee on June 4, when, Nigel said, “coach loads” of local supporters will be going along to lobby the council to support the ‘Partnership’s application.

  • Thame fire officer on standby for China earthquake relief

    AS the death toll in the China earthquake rises to an estimated 20,000 today, a Thame fire officer is on standby to be deployed to help, as part of an Emergency Response Team (ERT)to carry out search and rescue.
    Andy Ford, Station Officer at Thame Fire Station in Neson Street, told ThameNews.Net: “I am part of ERT SAR in Henley. The unit is an NGO international search and rescue unit. We are a charity unit and are all volunteers. The team is a light Search unit specializing in medical support and rescue unit which is highly mobile and can deploy to areas where heavier rescue units can not get to initially.
    “I have been part of the team for two years and we bring together a wide range of rescue and medical skills which we can use to assist in major disasters around the world.
    “Due to requests for help in Pakistan for training, the Burma cyclone and the Chinese earthquake, we are all on Standby. China yesterday requested assistance through the UN and we are looking to deploy a team to part of the effected are. As for Burma, this is unlikely due to access problems but may be something we will go to later once the politics are resolved.”

    “The biggest problem we have, said Andy, “is lack of funds and we are desperate to raise some money to fund the deployment of our international team. As an estimate it costs between

  • Date for Thame by-election

    THE date of a by-election in Thame, brought about by the resignation of Conservative Town Cllrs Richard Walker and his wife Claire, has been announced.
    The election will be held on Thursday, July 10,2008.

  • Meet Peter Rabbit at Cogges Farm over the Bank Holiday weekend

    PETER Rabbit will be in residence at Cogges Manor Farm in West Oxfordshire over the May bank holiday weekend to welcome visitors and tell some of the tales made famous by Beatrix Potter.
    There will also be an opportunity to discover Mr McGregor?s Garden, decorate biscuits and meet the Cogges Farm bunnies, which come in all shapes and sizes.

    This is in addition to all the regular activities at the Oxfordshire County Council farm museum, including animal handling from 11am -12pm, pig feeding at 12.15pm and hand milking at 12.30pm and 4pm.

    ON Sunday, May 18, there is a programme of events at traditional butter making at 2pm and on Monday 26 the bread oven will be fired up.

    Half term programme

    Parents looking to keep their children occupied and entertained over half term will find a wide choice of activities on offer between 27 – 30 May. On Tuesday there will be a children?s recycling workshop, with rag rug making from 11.30am -12.30pm and 2.30pm – 3.30pm. Wednesday is baking day, with sessions in the Victorian kitchen between 11.30am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm – 3.30pm (advance booking is required as numbers are limited).

    On Thursday it?s farm fun, with animal-handling, animal bookmarks to make and story-telling at 11.30am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 3.30pm and on Friday there will be family crafts, with printing from 11.30am – 12.30pm and 2.30pm -3.30pm.

    On a different note, Cogges will be hosting a Music Weekend on 28 – 29 June and will be open in the evenings for a Victorian Music Hall performance on the Saturday and barn dance on the Sunday.

    Councillor Jim Couchman, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for social and community services, said: “Busy parents trying to find activities over the half term need look no further than Cogges Manor Farm.”

  • Second conference on Chiltrerns local history

    BOOKINGS are now being taken for the second Chilterns Local History Conference, on June 21.
    The one day event which will reveal the latest information on the fascinating history of the making of the Chilterns landscape.
    The Conference promises to be an interesting and informative day with a wide range of local and national experts giving audio-visual presentations.

    The programme covers topics from woodland archaeology and historic landscapes to current issues such as the impact of climate change and recreation pressures on sensitive sites. A look into the future from a senior officer at English Heritage should provide a thought-provoking national perspective.

    ?Anyone who?s ever wondered what those lumps and bumps in the local wood are, or would like to learn more about the history of Chiltern landscapes, will find lots of interest at this event,? says Claire Forrest, Information Officer at the Chilterns Conservation Board.

    The event is open to everyone. It is being held on June 21st at Buckinghamshire New University in Chalfont St Giles from 10am ? 3.30pm. Places cost

  • Thame premises fail under-age alcohol sales test

    A test purchasing operation in Thame has produced mixed results with five out of eleven premises being caught serving alcohol to under 18s.
    The operation on Friday, May 9, saw two 14-year-old teenage volunteers, accompanied by undercover licensing officers, enter licensed premises and off licences and attempt to buy alcohol.

    The Cross Keys, Sainsbury?s, The Nags Head, The Six Bells and Chao Baby all failed the test by serving or selling alcohol to the under 18s.

    On each occasion, the member of staff who served them was issued with an

  • New rail timetable from Sunday

    CHILTERN Railways has launched its new summer timetable which comes into effect next Sunday, May 18.
    Full copies of the new timetable are now available at all Chiltern Railways staffed stations and on the website at www.chilternrailways.co.uk.

    Adrian Shooter, Chairman of Chiltern Railways said: ?We listen to our passengers and work hard to give them the high quality service they demand. This means that we often have to adjust our timetable to meet the needs of our passengers and continue to deliver these landmark punctuality rates.?

    The main changes include:

  • New carton recycling banks

    SOUTH Oxfordshire District Council now has four new carton recycling banks in the district, including one at Thame Cattlemarket.
    This means that these notoriously difficult to recycle Tetra Pak Cartons, paper-based drinks and liquid food cartons such as milk, fruit juice and soup cartons, can now be recycled.

    The recycled material from the Tetra Pak Cartons is reused in products ranging from plasterboard liner to high-strength paper bags and envelopes.

    Tetra Pak Cartons are made from cardboard, as well as thin layers of aluminium and plastic and cannot currently be recycled in SODC’s green recycling boxes.

    For more information contact the Environmental Services Team at South Oxfordshire District Council on 01491 823416 or email: lowelle.bryan@southoxon.gov.uk

  • Thame is still a safe place to live and work say Police

    THE Police have assured the residents of Thame today that the town remains a safe place to live and work, following the rape of a 16 year-old local girl over the weekend.
    Insp Jim O?Ryan, based in Thame said: ?We are still appealing for help from the public to trace two men who were in the Cuttlebrook Nature Reserve in Thame on Saturday night (10/5) but are reassuring residents that this is a rare and isolated incident.
    ?I would like the public to remain conscious that this has happened but not alarmed, this type of incident is extremely rare. We have a team of detectives working on this case and are investigating every possibility to ensure that we catch the offender.
    ?Three 16-year-old girls were in the nature reserve, which is the land that adjoins Southern Road Recreation Ground in Thame, at around 9.30pm on Saturday night when they were approached by two men.
    ?They were engaged in conversation for about an hour before the assaults happened and I urge anyone who might have seen the girls with the men to contact us.?

    The offender is white and around 5ft 9ins. He is in his early twenties, had broad shoulders and well built arms with a fat waist. He has short, light brown hair which was jelled into spikes.

    The other man is white, around 6ft, and was slimmer than the first man and has dark jelled hair.

    Det Sgt Alan Clements, investigating the incident, said: ?We are urging the public to help us trace these men. I appeal to anyone who may have been in the park on Saturday evening as it was a nice, warm evening and there were plenty of people around at the time.?

    Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to contact Det Sgt Alan Clements at Thame police station via 0845 8 505 505, or if you don?t want to talk to the police or give your name, call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.