Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Chiltern Rail Advisory – Weekend May 5 -6 – Plus Treat For Steam Enthusiasts

    THIS weekend – Saturday 05 and Sunday 06 May – Chiltern Railways is pleased to announce that it is running a full service with no scheduled track improvement works on the Aylesbury to London Marylebone via Amersham line.
    On Saturday May 5, a normal service will operate on the Birmingham Snow Hill/Stratford-upon-Avon to London Marylebone via High Wycombe line.
    On both Saturday and Sunday, buses replace all trains between Princes Risborough and Aylesbury.

    CALLING ALL STEAM ENTHUSIASTS !!
    Don’t miss the steam engine GWR 4-6-0 Hall class 4965 “Rood Ashton Hall” which will pass through Thame & Haddenham station on Saturday around 10.52am and again in the evening around 18.15pm.
    It will pass through Princes Risborough station around 11.15am, and again around 17.57 pm when it will stop for just 8 minutes.

    On Sunday 06 May, buses replace trains between Birmingham Snow Hill/Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington Spa until 12.30. After 12.30, a normal Sunday service will resume. During the engineering works, passengers travelling to and from Birmingham should use connecting Virgin Cross Country trains between Leamington Spa and Birmingham New Street where applicable.

    On Bank Holiday Monday, 07 May, a slightly reduced Monday to Friday service will operate on the Birmingham Snow Hill/Stratford-upon-Avon to London Marylebone via High Wycombe line and a Saturday service will operate on the Aylesbury to London Marylebone via Amersham line.

    Look out for the Chiltern Steam Express this Saturday! Chiltern Railways is running a special charter steam train from Birmingham Moor Street (departing 08.23) to London Marylebone and back again (leaving London 17.03). Details available at www.chilternrailways.co.uk/steamtrain.

    A shuttle train will be running from Aylesbury to Quainton Road this Bank Holiday Monday for anyone wishing to travel to the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre. Trains leave Aylesbury 10 minutes past the hour between 10:10 and 17:10. More information available at www.bucksrailcentre.org.

    Chiltern Railways have a wide range of great value tickets available to suit everybody’s needs.

    Take advantage of our GroupSave offer which allows a group of either 3 or 4 people who are travelling together to travel for the price of 2! Up to 4 more 5-15 year olds can accompany the group and only pay

  • All Your Local Election Candidates Here!

    WITH only three days to go before the local elections for Thame Town and South Oxfordshire District Councillors, ThameNews.Net brings together information about all the candidates, in one place, to help you make up your mind who YOU would like to be represented by.
    Today we focus on the Liberal Democrats who are putting forward the following candidates:

    JEANETTE GREEN (Thame North District Candidate)
    Jeannette teaches information technology and business studies in Oxford and is the Assistant Principal Examiner for ICT with Edexcel.
    She has worked in developing countries on World Bank and United Nations projects.
    She studied architecture at university and worked in town planning and urban design for 25 years. She has worked as planning officer for a local authority.
    Locally, Jeannette is a member of the Thame Partnership, which brings together local businesses and community groups. She is chairperson of the Transport Working Group, which is looking at the problems of parking in the town centre.
    She is Secretary of the Thame Twinning Association, helping to organise events with our partners in Montesson, France. Jeannette is a member of a local Thame choir.
    JEANNETTE SAYS
    ?My interests include website design and photography. I also belong to a group which meets at the Oxford Union and the Friends Meeting House striving toward world peace.?
    ?With my background in town planning, I am particularly concerned with planning and environmental issues and I am keen to help preserve our historic market town and to promote its future as a vibrant and flourishing centre serving the whole community?.

    DAVE BRETHERTON (Thame North District Candidate)
    Dave is a down to earth Lancastrian who 23 years ago with his wife Margaret chose to make Thame his home. He has three children who attended local schools and now has grandchildren who also attend school in Thame.
    He has been successfully involved in the local community for many years, including the Scouts and Thame Festival. Dave has recently retired from the Civil Service and currently serves as:
    ? District Councillor for Thame North for 4
    years
    ? Thame Town Councillor and Deputy Mayor
    ? Chairman of Thame Museum Trust
    ? Governor at Barley Hill School

    DAVE SAYS
    “My reasons for being a Councillor are?:
    ? Lack of housing in the town that local people
    can afford. New housing development sites
    should be on “brownfield sites” but must be
    in keeping with the size of the town and
    local facilities. I want houses built that
    people can afford.
    ? Provision of community facilities on the
    cattle market site. I will press for the
    inclusion of an arts theatre in the plans.
    This will be a superb opportunity for a new
    civic and community centre that will serve
    the town for generations.
    ? Continued success of Thame Museum that will
    preserve and record our heritage and will
    attract visitors to the area.
    ? Continued support for the Citizens Advice
    Bureau.
    “I care about the local community and will continue to work hard to ensure that Thame gets the “value-for-money” services that it merits, whilst maintaining its historic and architectural integrity.”

    DAVID LAVER (Thame South District Candidate)
    David has lived in Thame for 32 years. He is married to Norma, a teaching assistant, who also co-owns ?A Piece Of Cake?. They have two daughters who attended Thame Schools.
    Now retired from his job as medical researcher at Oxford University, he has more time to devote to his interests, including local politics, nature conservation, walking, cycling and recycling. David?s record includes:
    ? Town Councillor for the last 8 years, serving
    as Mayor twice. Elected to County Council
    2004-2005.
    ? Chairperson of the Culture, Leisure and
    Recreation committee in Thame.
    ? Thame Museum Trustee, Leisure Centre
    Management and Town Twinning committees
    ? Governor of John Hampden School
    ? An active Cuttlebrook Volunteer
    ? Member 21st Century Thame Environment Group
    DAVID SAYS:
    ?My objectives as Councillor are to campaign for improvements to the environment, employment and business opportunities and also community facilities within Thame. I would like to see a sensitively designed development on the Cattle Market site which benefits the community as a whole.
    ?Present youth facilities are inadequate. I support provision of a central meeting space for young people.
    ?I am keen to preserve the present historic Market Town character of Thame which originally attracted me to come here. It needs, though, to remain a thriving community with opportunities for young people to live and work locally.
    ?I will campaign to retain our community hospital and for improved local health facilities. I am also passionate about road safety and would like to see safer cycle walking and cycling routes within and between the Town and surrounding villages.?

    PETER COCKAYNE (Thame South District Candidate)
    Peter has lived in Thame for 29 years. Married to Val with two grown-up children, who were both educated at John Hampden and Lord Williams? schools.
    ? Works for National Trust
    ? Thame Town Councillor since 1999
    ? Culture and Recreation committee 2003-2007
    (Chair and Vice Chair) and Policy and
    Resources Committee
    ? 21st Century Thame Partnership Committee
    ? SUSTRANS Supporter.
    ON COMMUNITY NEEDS, Peter says:
    ?I support the proposals for the popular Phoenix cycling trail to link up with the surrounding villages of Chinnor, Long Crendon and the train station at Haddenham.
    ?We need a decent size adaptable community building for the many voluntary groups that serve the town so well. The Thame Farmers that run the cattle market want to move to the Showground to allow them to expand; this would enable the old site to be redeveloped to include facilities for the young and not so young with more parking for the increasing number of visitors to the town.?
    ON HOUSING NEEDS, Peter says:
    ?MP?s receive more letters on housing needs than almost anything else.
    ?Thame needs realistic affordable housing to allow local young people to get on the property ladder and be able to stay in the area. More single young people in their 20?s and 30?s have to stay put in their parents? home because of the lack of real affordable accommodation.
    ?South Oxfordshire District Council has the resources to do so much more to help the local housing crisis.?

    PETE BARKER
    Pete has two young children who attend Barley Hill School and manages the computing department for a large financial company.
    PETE SAYS:
    ?My reasons for being a Town Councillor are to ensure that the youth centre is maintained in the town and that the new football partnership achieves its ambitions.?
    ?My wife Liz works in the Health Service and we are keen to protect our health services and maintain the status of Thame Community Hospital?.

    OWEN DAVIES
    Owen has lived in Thame since 1987, is married to Sally and has two children about to finish at University, following an excellent education at John Hampden and Lord Williams? schools. He trained originally as a chemical engineer but spent most of his working life in HR and is currently Personnel Adviser to the Zambesi Mission.
    ? before moving to Thame, he lived in North Kensington and was actively involved in the community including many years as a youth leader and helping start the first Notting Hill Carnival;
    ? is Treasurer of Thame Amnesty, drives for the Day Centre and has taken teams from St Mary?s to experience life in Calcutta;
    ? as Town Councillor for the past 4 years, he represents the Council on Age Concern, Citizens Advice Bureau, Leisure Centre and Welfare Trust, encouraging volunteering and youth facilities;
    ? wishes to play rugby for Wales.

    To read the Lib Dems’ manifesto, visit Link

    Photo: Top Left -Pete Barker, Peter Cockayne, Owen Davies; Bottom Left – Jeanette Green, David Laver, Dave Bretherton.

  • More Of Your Local Election Candidates Here!

    THAME Conservatives are fielding eight candidates for the Town Council elections on Thursday, May 3, four of them being current Town Councillors who are seeking re-election and four fresh faces.
    In the North Ward, the four Conservative candidates are:
    ? Don Butler, a local businessman who was first
    elected onto the Town Council in 1989 and has been
    Mayor three times since then. He is currently
    Chairman of the town?s Planning Committee and is
    active in several other bodies including Thame
    Barns Centre and Thame Housing Association. He is
    also President of Thame?s Evergreen Club.
    ? Nigel Champken-Woods, who has been a Town
    Councillor since 2003, and has served as the town?s
    Mayor during the past year. He is Chairman of the
    Open Spaces Group which was responsible for the
    implementation recently of improvements to the
    Memorial Gardens, and is currently Chair of
    the Traffic Advisory Committee.
    ? Nichola Dixon, a young mother of two daughters. She
    and her husband Simon live and work in Thame, and
    she hopes to represent, in particular, the
    interests of other young families in the town.
    ? Robert Parker, a local businessman who lives in the
    town with his wife Amanda and three young
    daughters. He is an active member of Thame &
    District Round Table, where he was Chairman in 2001.

    In the South Ward, the four Conservative candidates are:
    ? David Dodds, a retired headteacher who was first
    elected to the Thame Urban District Council in 1967
    and he has served in rhe town as a Councillor ever
    since. Last year he was made an ?Honoured Citizen?
    of Thame. He has been Mayor on five occasions, and
    four years ago he was elected as one of Thame?s
    District Councillors. David is also seeking re-
    election to that post on Thursday in Thame South
    Ward.
    ? Richard Walker, who was born and brought up in
    Thame, and his family have been involved in the
    town?s business community for more than 100 years.
    He is the landlord of the Star & Garter pub in
    Thame and has been a Town Councillor for three
    years since winning a by-election. Richard is also
    standing for District Council in Thame North Ward.
    ? Claire Walker, who is married to Richard, and runs
    the Star and Garter with him. Having supported her
    husband in his role as a Town Councillor for the
    last three years, she feels that her outlook as a
    young mother could be a beneficial influence on the
    Council?s affairs.
    ? Mike Dyer, whose interest in local government
    arises from his involvement with the community
    group, The 21st Century Thame Partnership, with
    whom he has been looking at potential solutions for
    the town?s parking problems. He is a local
    businessman and, with two sons at local schools, he
    has served as a parent-governor at John Hampden
    School.
    * District Cllr Mike Welply is standing for re-
    election in Thame North Ward. Resident of Thame
    since 1978. Thame Town Councillor 199-2003; elected
    to District Council, representing Thame North Ward
    in 2003; active member of Scrutiny, Audit;
    Planning; Licensing and General Purposes
    Committees, currently is Vice Chairman of the
    District Council.

    TOMORROW: Your Labour Party and Independent Candidates

  • Teenagers Targeted In Road Safety TV Ad

    TEENAGERS in Oxfordshire who have been involved in a car crash are being asked to come forward to take part in a television commercial that will focus on safety.
    The commercials will be used on MTV. Oxfordshire County Council is one of several authorities around the country helping the government to find teenagers to appear.
    Ideally the youngsters should have been aged between 14 and 16 when they were involved in the accident. Injuries sustained need not be long lasting. The team is particularly on the lookout for passengers who were involved in an accident due to the actions of a driver who had been drinking, taking drugs or driving dangerously.

    Any teenager who was involved in an accident in which a loved one was killed or sustained serious injury is asked to come forward.

    Empowering teenagers

    Oxfordshire County Council Road Safety Officer Julie Jones said: “We are only too pleased to help with this national campaign. Teenagers may not feel that they can tell a driver to slow down or stop mucking about if they feel at risk. We want to empower teens to take control of their lives before they get into a car in which a driver will put them at risk.”

    Anybody who is interested should contact Glyn Robinson on 020 7944 4341or email glyn.robinson@dft.gsi.gov.uk. The commercials are due to be filmed on 12/13 May so any likely candidates are asked to come forward quickly.

    BY THE WAY….
    KEEPING DEATH OFF THE ROAD OR?TAKE YOUR TIME, NOT YOUR LIFE!?
    By Nicholas Newman Editor Oxfordprospect.co.uk 28/04/2007

    Did you know 25,000 people died on Europe?s highways last year, and during the same period, there were 65 fatalities on the Oxfordshire?s highways? So far 9 people have been killed in motoring accidents on the county?s roads, this year alone. That?s one less than for the same period last year- which ultimately saw the highest fatality rate on local roads for 16 years.

    Thames Valley Police is taking part in a European campaign to try to reduce this needless slaughter, led by the European Commission and coordinated by TISPOL ? the European Traffic Police Network.

    At a Thames Valley press conference to launch the campaign, spokesman, Sgt Chris Appleby, Road Safety Team declared: “It aims to be working to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on the roads in the region, particularly young people.”

    When asked why this campaign is focusing on young people, Sgt Appleby responded:”?Every year around 150 people are killed on the roads in the Thames Valley. Around nine of these fatalities are young people and a further 1,000 young people are injured each year. We are doing what we can to let young people know how they can keep themselves safe.”

    As to what causes of all these accidents, Sgt Chris Appleby observed:”Speeding is the biggest cause of fatal collisions, with people not wearing seatbelts in vehicles, a close second.”

  • Thame Concert Band’s ‘World Tour’

    THAME CONCERT BAND will be presenting “Music from Across the Globe” at St Mary’s Church, Thame, on Friday, May 18 at 7.30pm.
    Tickets from Sapphire Moon, Lower High Street, Thame
    Booking Line: 07976 586683

    For more details go to: Link

  • Marks & Spencer Store For Thame? (AMENDED FROM EARLIER REPORT REFERRING TO SAINSBURY)

    A SPOKESPERSON for the Woolworths store in High Street, Thame, today categorically denied that the store was closing and that Marks and Spencer were to open a new food store on the site.
    A rumour, that the up-market food store was planning to move in to premises currently occupied by Woolworths, has been circulating throughout the town for a couple of weeks.
    The Woolworth’s spokesperson told ThameNews.Net: “The rumour is definitely untrue. We suspect that, because Marks and Spencer are moving into the old Budgen store in Princes Risborough, and because our site used to be occupied by Budgens, people are getting confused.”

  • More Alan Ayckbourn From Thame Players (Contributed)

    THE second instalment of Thame Players’ Alan Ayckbourn season promises to be another highly entertaining evening to match the success of Absurd Person Singular, performed in March.
    Time of My Life is very different. It is not billed as a comedy, although Ayckbourn’s wit and humour is liberally sprinkled throughout the play. When the play was first performed in the West End in 1993, it was described by one critic as “?funny, very funny, and not funny at all: quintessentially Ayckbourn.”
    Alan Ayckbourn brilliantly exposes the frailty of human relations in Time of My Life and, as the title hints, treats the passage of time in a most ingenious way.
    The play is set in the Essa di Calvi Restaurant where Gerry Stratton has arranged a dinner party for his wife?s birthday. The occasion suggests a happy domestic scene, but gradually we are made aware of the family skeletons. Ayckbourn is often described as the country?s greatest living playwright and Time of My Life shows his talent at its very best.

    The play will be performed at The Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame at 7.45pm between 8th and 12th May and tickets are on sale now from Tickets Anywhere, Greyhound Walk, Thame, telephone 0871 2227232.

  • Disappointing Season’s End For Thame United But Reserves Triumph

    MATCH REPORT – League Game – 28/04 – Thame United 0, Slimbridge 4.
    THAME United brought their season to a close on Saturday, with a heavy defeat and a disappointing display against champions-elect, Slimbridge.
    Despite having games in hand over current leaders North Leigh, Slimbridge realised that a win against Thame was vital to maintaining the pressure on the current leaders and they started as though they meant business. Indeed, with their first attack of the match and with the game less than a minute old, the ball fell to John Meadows some 30 yards from the Thame goal. Meadows hit an unstoppable shot that beat keeper Milan Barisic low to his right.

    The following twenty minutes saw the best period of the game for Thame as they pressed for an equaliser. With James Saulsbury assured in midfield and the pace of Darren Moore and Adrian Smith causing the Slimbridge defence problems, Thame created in a number of half chances with both Saulsbury and Moore going close. However, as the half wore on Slimbridge searched for a second goal but, with the defence well marshalled by captain Dave Hocking, Barisic was largely untroubled.

    With the game delicately poised 1-0, Thame were forced to make a couple of changes, with leading scorer Nathan Jack, himself returning from injury, replacing the injured Adrian Smith, and John Steadman replacing Matt Ansell at the back. However, Thame were again caught cold early in the second half when, after a good passing move, John Cant found himself in plenty of space to coolly beat Barisic from 12 yards. With the warm conditions sapping the player?s energy and Thame searching for a way back in to the game, Slimbridge exposed the gaps in the Thame defence and scored two further goals late in the game through Edward Ward.

    This was a disappointing display from a side that in the last three months of the season had put in improved performances and always been in with a chance of getting results out of games. Although the defeat ensures Thame will finish in a relegation position, their fate for next season remains unknown due to the withdrawal from the league of two sides during the season and relegation and promotion issues from feeder leagues still unresolved.

    Thame United: Barisic, Ansell (Steadman), Graves, Hocking, Higgs, Saulsbury, Rhodes, Connelly, Da Silva (Watkins), Moore, Smith (Jack).

    THAME UNITED RESERVES finished their league programme on a high, with a 3-0 away win at Englefield Green Rovers. The result followed an impressive end to the season which saw new manager Marcus Walker, appointed in early March, losing only one game in nine, winning five and picking up 18 of the total 24 points Thame secured all season.

    Thame United have their end of season awards ceremony at Racquets on the evening of 12th May 2007.

  • Nuts & Bolts Day For Children With Special Needs

    OXFORDSHIRE parents who have children with special educational needs and disabilities can get practical tips on the best ways to support their child?s learning at free workshops in May.
    The annual ?Nuts and Bolts? day run by Oxfordshire County Council aims to provide useful information, advice and guidance.

    This year?s event takes place on Saturday, May 12 at the Ormerod School and the Roundabout Centre on Wayneflete Road, Headington, Oxford between 9:30-13:00.

    Sign up for free workshops

    More than a hundred parents signed up for the free workshops last year. The workshops cover areas such as challenging behaviour, support for children with autism and asperger syndrome, helping your child to develop language through play and how to help your child with handwriting at home.

    There will be lots of activities for children and young people with special educational needs on the day including arts and crafts, dance, drama and music, a sensory bus, football and games.

    Supporting parents

    Oxfordshire County Council?s Parent Partnership Co-ordinator, Wendy Cliffe, said: ?The conference is an opportunity for parents to gain valuable information to help them in their vital role as parents of children with special educational needs.

    ?It?s also a great chance to talk to other parents who are in a similar position and share experiences.

    ?There?s been a really good turn out in the past and parents have given really positive feedback.

    ?The workshops in particular are really useful and provide parents with useful tips and new ideas to support their child?s learning, enabling them to enjoy and achieve more fully.?

    Parents who want to book a place at the conference need to call 01865 810516 by May 7 as booking is essential.

  • More Challenges For Thame From Annual Town Meeting (Includes town council’s precept, the fishing lake, Southern Road Rec, the museum funding and a motorcycle track)

    THAME FOOTBALL PARTNERSHIP – HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS – The FA (Football Association) is currently working with the newly formed Thame Football Partnership, to help secure the future of homeless, Thame United, one of the oldest football clubs in Oxfordshire.
    Speaking at the annual Thame Town Meeting on Tuesday(24/07), Nigel Hargreaves, the FA?s Head of Strategic Development, explained that Thame United lost its ground in July 2005 and now wants to work towards building a Community Football club and facilities modelled on those of other towns like Oxford City.
    He emphasised that a priority of the Partnership would be to build links with youth projects in the town. Nigel explained that as well as the senior team having to play ?home? games at Wallingford, the Girls and Boys teams had to play at Lewknor.

    THE ‘HEART BEAT OF ALL SPORTS’

    The vision, he said, was for the football partnership to become not only the hub for football in the town, but ?the heartbeat of all sports,? along the Holland/Germany model where all the town?s sports are in one place.
    ?As well as being financially sustainable,? he said, ?the priority of the new facility must be relevant to the community and we would like Thame to think about what other facilities could be there so that we can create a vibrant facility for the town.?

    Sharing the presentation with Nigel Hargreaves, Chairman of Thame United, Jake Collinge, explained that the partnership was looking for a 20 acre site on the edge of the town to build senior, junior and mini pitches (including a third generation all-weather pitch), lights, viewing areas and a community function room.

    Cllr David Laver asked about the suitability of the all-weather pitch up at Lord Williams?s school to which Nigel Hargreaves replied that it was fine for Hockey but unsuitable for high friction sports like football.

    A Concept Plan of the Church Farm Site was displayed and Jake explained that the town council was engaged in the project and that agreement in principle had been given by Oxfordshire County Council for the Partnership to acquire either the Freehold or the Leasehold of the site from the county council who own it and lease back part of it to the town council.