Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Raymond Blanc – Thames’s New Publican!

    WORLD CLASS CHEF, Raymond Blanc, told party guests at the opening of his new proteges’ restaurant, The Thatch, that he had always wanted to run an English pub, and that he would now have to grow a nice Belly!
    “It just shows that a Frenchman can be humbled!” he added.
    Raymond was speaking to 350 invited guests, including some of the other contestants, to celebrate with his TV programme competition winners, Jane and Jeremy Hooper.
    “The last three months on TV, I have spent much of my time closing down restaurants,” he said. “So, it is with immense pleasure that I am now opening Eight At The Thatch with Jeremy and Jane.
    “I will support and help them to achieve their dream of running their own restaurant. They are great people and with a great team around them, I am sure it will happen.”

    Jane told ThameNews.Net: “Tonight is all about ‘warming’ our restaurant and making it feel like home.”
    “We have been on a journey towards our dream that has not stopped since January. Tonight our dream has become a reality. We are still amateurs with a lot to learn and the journey is going to be long.
    “We want to settle in Thame and be open to everyone – not just celebrity, and like Raymond, we want to support local producers.”

    Speaking about the strains on him over the last few hectic months, Jeremy, who has kept his option to return to the Royal Marines after a year, said: “I got more sleep in the sand dunes of Iraq than I have since all this began. Now, after tonight, I can’t wait to just get on with it.”

    Among the guests from Thame were Butchers, Michael and Tom Newitt, who will supply much of the meat to the Thatch’s kitchen and who have been helping develop the menu. Also sharing the excitement was Hair dresser and Town Councillor, Adam Buckland, Jewelller, Matthew Cundy and Hadley Gallery owner, Bob Hadley, who presented the Hoopers with a picture for the restaurant.

    The interior of the 16th Century Grade 11, listed building has been completely redesigned to bring a freshness and warmth to the new restaurant. The designer, Jo Eames, who was at the party, said:”One of the main challenges was to create an instant link beteween the Tudor and modern part of the building, the new restaurant area, so that the two would sit harmoniously together. We achieved this by opening up the central bar area enabling diners to see right through to the other side, and by creating an inviting walkway into the new eatery.”

    The new restaurant is in a new extension to the original building, and the aim of blending the old and the new seems to work, though it was difficult to get a real feel for the place with so many people crammed into the building!
    There is a welcoming bar area just as you enter the building and Jane was very keen to point out that they want local people to feel that they can use the place as a pub and just come in and sit and have a drink. There are open fires in every section of the establishment maintaining a cosy feel, and yet extra light has been created by re-painting the previously red walls, with a very pale, matt cream finish.

    The ‘nibbles’which were taken round by several very polite young Thame teenagers lucky enough to get jobs at Thame’s newest restaurant, included pork pie and some wonderful, French oysters! All washed down with Cava.

    And what of the views of the locals as to the prospects for Jane and Jeremy in achieving their dream? ThameNews.Net quizzed a few of them:

    “What a transformation? – Amazing!”

    “A bit disappointed to be served Cava! (from a local wine importer). Also, I am not sure that Jane and Jeremy are the right couple for the type of clientelle the restaurant is aimed at.”

    “Just what Thame needs, and I wish them all the luck in the world.”

    “It all looks wonderful; let’s hope that when the honeymoon period is over, and the baby has arrived to bring them down to earth, Jane and Jeremy can keep the drive and energy needed in this industry to make a success of it. I hope so.”

    Photos: Jane and Jeremy in Party mood last night at the opening of their new restaurant, Eight At The Thatch, in Thame.

  • Cards For Good Causes

    MULTI-CHARITY Christmas card shop – Christchurch, Thame, Upper High Street; November 13-December 4.
    Open: Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm.
    All charities receive at least 80% in every

  • ‘Gutsy’ Performance By Thame

    OXFORDSHIRE Senior Cup; Thame United 0, Kidlington 2 -Tuesday, November 13.

    Thame United have a good record in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup. They reached the semi final in 2005 and won the trophy in both 2001 and 2002. In those days they joined the competition in the later rounds. As a result of the events following the loss of Windmill Stadium however, Thame now play in the qualifying round and they faced Kidlington in that round last night.
    Kidlington, of course, play in the Premier division of the Hellenic League, a higher league than Thame, so Kidlington were favourites to win. They won; but Thame put up such a gutsy performance that the game was goalless after 90 minutes. The deadlock was not broken until the 107th minute.

    The first 15 minutes were fairly even but then Thame started to control the game and created several good chances. Towards the end of the first half however Kidlington came back and put Thame under pressure. This continued into the second half with Thame ?on the Back foot? until around the 70th minute when Thame again had more of the play. During normal time both sides had good chances which they failed to convert into goals. Both goalkeepers were busy with Thame?s keeper, Paul Searl in particularly good form.

    The first period of extra time was fairly even but legs were tiring and mistakes were more numerous. Kidlington scored two minutes into the second period. A good through ball found Jimmy Deabill in space and he hit a strong shot from 15 yards, giving Searl no chance. Manager Mark West came on as Thame?s final substitute as his determined team searched for an equaliser. This inevitably left gaps at the back and in the final minute Kidlington broke out of defence scored their second through Lee Bolton.

    Thame United: Searl, Ansell (Cowan), Graves, Boult, Hocking, Catlin (West), Connelly, Rhodes (Jewell), Jack, Marshall, Ricketts.

  • Thame Fireman Lays Wreath For Dead Colleagues

    THAME fire officer, Lee Bransby, layed a wreath from the people of Thame, outside Stratford Fire Station last weekend.
    Station Officer, Andy Ford, said: “The wreath was very much appreciated by the Warwickshire crews who, understandably, are still devastated by their loss.”
    Andy added: ” We are still raising money for the families of the Warwickshire Firefighters who lost their lives in the tragic fire. Any donations can be made to Thame fire station or to any of the fire personnel and will be very gratefully received.”

    Four fire crew were killed in the recent warehouse fire in Warwickshire.

  • Thame Town Council – Planning Decisions

    PLANNING Applications Considered by Thame Town Council?s Planning Committee on Tuesday, November 13.

    8314
    P07/E0945 44 WYKEHAM PARK
    Single storey rear extension.
    Amendment No. 1
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

    8354
    P07/E1128 91 CHURCHILL CRESCENT
    Two-storey side extension.
    Amendment No. 1
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

    8357
    P07/E1185 3 & 4 HORSESHOES PLACE
    Single storey and part two storey rear and side extension.
    Amendment No. 1
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

    8358
    P07/E1258/RET
    WHIZZKIDZ (THAME) LTD, 2-6 JEFFERSON WAY
    Provision of ancillary outdoor play area (retrospective). Relaxation
    of condition 3 – childrens indoor adventure playground only) of
    planning permission P04/E1245.
    Amendment No. 1
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

    8360
    P07/E1272 5 CORNMARKET
    Alteratons to shop front.
    Amendment No. 2
    Correspondence was received and noted from the Thame Conservation
    Area Advisory Committee.
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

    8361
    P07/E1278/LB
    5 CORNMARKET
    New signage on front and side elevations, partition walls to be
    removed on ground floor and first floor. New partition walls to be
    erected and new doors
    on first floor.
    Amendment No. 2
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

    8362
    P07/E1282/A
    5 CORNMARKET
    3 externally illuminated advertisement signs to the front and side
    elevations.
    Amendment No. 1
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

    8369
    P07/E1324/LB 13 PRIEST END
    Demolition of out building. Conversion and extension of annex to
    dwelling. Conversion of barn to dwelling. Insertion of 3 skylights to
    rear of existing Plough House. Single storey extension to ground
    floor apartment. Alterations to garden wall.
    Correspondence was received and noted from the Thame Conservation
    Area Advisory Committee.
    RECOMMEND REFUSAL
    1. Over-development
    2. Traffic generation
    3. Unsympathetic to the character of the area

    8370
    P07/E1323 13 PRIEST END
    Demolition of out building. Conversion and extension of annex to
    dwelling. Conversion of barn to dwelling. Insertion of 3 skylights to
    rear of existing Plough House. Single storey extension to ground
    floor apartment. Alterations to garden wall.
    Correspondence was received and noted from the Thame Conservation
    Area Advisory Committee.
    RECOMMEND REFUSAL
    1. Over-development
    2. Traffic generation
    3. Unsympathetic to the character of the area

    8371
    S.21/07
    PIED PEDALLER, 3 NORTH STREET
    Demolition of existing building and erection of two-storey building
    on site to create new town library.
    RECOMMEND REFUSAL
    1. Not in keeping with character of area
    2. Design and materials
    Comment: Members considered the proposed building to be
    unsympathetic to its position.

    8372
    P07/E1271 17 ORMOND ROAD
    Front infill extension.
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL
    8373
    P07/E1381/RLB
    13 NORTH STREET
    Retention of replacement windows.
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

    8374
    P07/E1345/A
    16 HIGH STREET
    3 new signs. 1 projecting sign, a new fascia and 1 wall-mounted sign.
    Correspondence was received and noted from the Thame Conservation
    Area Advisory Committee.
    RECOMMEND REFUSAL
    1. Signs too large
    2. Lettering style not in keeping with building or character of
    area

    8376
    P07/E1290 14 SKIPPON WAY
    Garage extension.
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL
    8377
    P07/E1366 17a HIGH STREET
    Lateral conversion of one dwelling flat to create two dwelling flats.
    RECOMMEND APPROVAL

  • Chinnor Trounce Maidenhead- Match Report

    ANOTHER great win for Chinnor playing at home against Maidenhead on Saturday. MATCH REPORT
    Score: Chinnor 53, Maidenhead 6.
    Chinnor 53 pts Maidenhead 6 pts

    A chinnor/Maidenhead fixture always has an edge. In their promotion year, Chinnor lost just two games. One of these was at Maidenhead where they allowed a 25 pt. lead to fritter away and hand the spoils that day to Maidenhead. So, two years later and on a similar unbeaten run, this game could well have been a case of deja vu. A potential banana skin in other words.

    It turned out not to be so. Playing with the wind is also a potential hazard in that a realistic lead is required to take into the second half and defend. Chinnor had no qualms here. They used the wind to good effect to patiently put space between them and their opponents. With Matthew Hutchins failing a late fitness check, Andy Millburn continued to debutise. Martyn O’Mahoney came in for the injured Jaike Carter and Joe Winpenny started in place of Joe Iosofo. James Cathcart got the scoreboard ticking for Chinnor with a well judged penalty eight minutes into the half. This was quickly neutralised with a Warren Abrahams penalty for Maidenhead some three minutes later.
    Tries by Craig Burrows via a rolling maul, Martyn O.Mahoney where he outpaced the cover defence top go over in the corner and Andy MIllburn from a forward drive put Chinnor in control especially with James Cathcart converting the last two with well judged kicks from wide-out. Another Cathcart penalty on the stroke of half- time , from a deliberate knock-on by Richie Craig, who was yellow cared in the process, gave Chinnor a 25 point cushion at the interval.

    An exchange of penalties between Abrahams and Cathcart got the second half underway. It was then all Chinnor with the pick-up and drive into the wind the order of the day. Owen Gustasfon in particular was calling the shots at this time where Chinnor probably played their best 20 minutes of rugby of the season to date. A fine break by Gustafson saw him feed the supporting Zane Winsade who outstripped the covering defence to score under the posts to give Cathcart an easy conversion. Another break by Gustafson put Cathcart in, and with further tries from Winslade and O’Mahoney, it was all over.

    For Chinnor the half- backs controlled the game in the second period, with the back row all over the place. Tom Whelan and Joe Winpenny were prominent with some driving runs in the loose. A mention also for Andy Millburn. He managed to make his presence felt with some driving runs as well as putting in a solid performance in the lineout as did his partner , acting skipper Craig Burrows.Huge game at Oxford in two weeks. Now there’s a local derby if ever there was one.

  • Motorist ‘Serious’ After Car Hits Tree Near Thame

    A MOTORIST was left with serious injuries today, after his car left the road and hit a tree.
    The male victim was driving a green convertible, Mazda MX5 at 9am this morning (13/11) on Thame Park Road when, as the vehicle approached a right hand bend, it left the road and hit a tree.
    The driver was taken to John Radcliffe Hospital with serious neck injuries.

    Officers would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the crash or saw the vehicle before it left the road.

    Witnesses should phone Abingdon Roads Policing Unit on 0845 8 505 505 or the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555111.

  • Thame United ‘Stung’ By League Leaders

    SATURDAY, October 10: LEAGUE MATCH REPORT – Chalfont Wasps 1, Thame United 0.
    LAST Saturday?s match was always going to be a difficult fixture for Thame. The ?Stingers? are top of the league, and are undefeated this season. Thame, were in sixth place when the game kicked off and, as a result of this defeat, have now dropped to ninth.

    The opening exchanges were fairly even but Thame could have gone ahead after 10 minutes. Nathan Jack beat his marker and hit a low cross from the left across the Chalfont goal mouth which was met at the far post by Ben Connelly, but the Chalfont keeper did well to push his volley wide.

    Thame seemed to be getting the upper hand when a defensive lapse allowed Chalfont to score. A through ball eluded the Thame defence and found Chalfont midfielder, Jonny Mason, in space with only Thame keeper, Paul Searl to beat. Mason did well to dribble around the advancing Searl and tap the ball into the Thame net. The visitors countered and created some good chances, with Jack, Nigel Swafford, and Greg Boult all going close. The teams went on for half time with Thame unlucky to be a goal down.

    Second half possession was fairly even but it was Chalfont who created the better chances and Thame rarely troubled the home keeper. On the other hand Searl was fairly busy. There was one frantic five second period when he made three outstanding saves as shots rained in from close range before the ball was eventually cleared off the goal line. Manager, Mark West, brought substitutes on and changed his formation to three strikers, but the home side defended well and did just enough to justify the points.

    Thame United: Searl, Thompson, Ansell (Graves), Higgs (Catlin), Hocking, Boult, Connelly, Rhodes, Swafford, Jack, Ricketts (Marshall).

    Next Saturday 17th, Thame entertain 2nd placed Kintbury Rovers at Hithercroft Stadium (Wallingford).

  • New Farmers Market At Tetsworth

    A NEW Farmers Market is to start in Tetsworth, near Thame, just in time for Christmas.
    Spokesperson, Rachel Stoakes, told ThameNews.Net: “We are organic beef and sheep farmers over at Tetsworth and have been trying to get a stall on Thame farmers market. But due to the limited space that is available, have been unsucessful. So we have decided to set up our own market in our village which will be held every other Saturday from 9.30am to 12.30 pm, at Tetsworth Village hall.
    “The first market will take place on the December 8.
    “We will be supported by various other local producers including Sandy Lane Farm (Organic Veg and Pork), traditional Poultry, Venison, Game, Locally produced Cakes, Bread, Preserves, Plants and Willow weaving to name but a few.”

  • What Future For Thame Hospital?

    DESPITE