Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Future Challenges For Thame After Town Meeting

    IN this election year for local councillors, the annual Town meeting yesterday (25/04), threw up some challenges for the community and highlighted some of the past year’s highlights.
    The Mayor, Nigel Champken-Woods, who chaired the meeting, presented the Mayor’s Report highlighting the town council’s successes.
    The first he said, was cutting the town council’s precept by over 2% without reducing services. Secondly, opening the refurbished Memorial Gardens which he described as ?a haven in the middle of the town.? Thirdly, the switching on of the CCTV cameras and fourthly Ken Bruce switching on the Christmas lights and despite the rain, managing, with Cllr Don Butler, to make it fun. The Mayor thanked the churches and the school children for their contributions and gave particular mention to the success of the design a Christmas card competition. Finally he mentioned the opening the town museum which he said was a prime example of how the town council is working with other groups to increase facilities for the town.
    The council?s priority for this year, he said, was to improve play areas in the town and added that it had made a start by securing

  • Kites, Camera, Action!

    IN the coming months, the Chilterns Conservation Board will be bringing you ?up close and personal? with a family of red kites.
    CCTV technology is being used to get an insight into the breeding behaviour of a pair of red kites as they build their nest, lay and incubate eggs and rear their chicks.

    A CCTV camera has been erected at a secret location in the Stokenchurch area and live pictures of the nest are now being beamed into the Studley Green Garden Store where volunteers will be on hand to explain what?s going on.

    “It?s a very exciting time!” said Cathy Rose, Activities and Education Officer. “The parents have been busy re-building the nest over the last few weeks and now two eggs have been laid. The chicks will hatch towards the end of May, and that?s when things will really get interesting!”

    You?ll be able to view the live ?Nest Watch? images at the Studley Green Garden Store coffee shop until late July and you can keep up to date with all the latest happenings on the nest by logging on to www.redkites.net

  • Events In Haddenham

    Fri 27th ‘Flashback’. You can turn back time at Haddenham library (6-7pm) when Haddenham Museum Trust chairman Alan Rose will be giving a free talk for parents and children on ‘Haddenham Museum and Victorian Childhood’. Linked with this talk, and another, about the RAF in World War II, by Guy Buckingham and Ron Doble on May 4 (details to follow), the museum will have a display at the library until the end of next week.

    Fri 27th Line Dance. The Pondarosa Line Dance Club’s next social dance is on Friday (not Saturday as it usually is) (8-11pm) at Haddenham Village Hall. Entry, on the door, is

  • CHILTERN RAILWAYS TRAVEL ADVISORY

    Extra trains will operate all weekend between Aylesbury and London Marylebone via High Wycombe.
    Normal service on Saturday between Birmingham Snow Hill/Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington Spa.

    On Sunday, a reduced service of one train per hour will operate between Aylesbury and Great Missenden.

    On Saturday, buses will operate between Aylesbury and Beaconsfield for connecting trains to/from London Marylebone. Buses will also operate between Aylesbury, Stoke Mandeville, Wendover, Great Missenden and Amersham.

    On Sunday, buses operate between Great Missenden and Beaconsfield for connecting trains to/from London Marylebone. Buses will also operate between Great Missenden, Amersham and Harrow-on-the-Hill.

    On Sunday, buses replace trains between Birmingham Snow Hill/Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington Spa until 12:30pm

    This weekend – Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 April – Chiltern Railways are running extra trains between Aylesbury and London Marylebone via High Wycombe.

    On Saturday, we are warning passengers that we will be operating buses between Aylesbury and Beaconsfield for connecting trains to/from London Marylebone. We will also be running buses between Aylesbury, Stoke Mandeville, Wendover, Great Missenden and Amersham.

    On Sunday, we will be operating buses between Great Missenden and Beaconsfield for connecting trains to/from London Marylebone. Buses will also operate between Great Missenden, Amersham and Harrow-on-the-Hill. Chiltern Railways are also running a reduced train service of one train per hour between Aylesbury and Great Missenden.

    Passengers should be aware that London Undergound buses will operate between Amersham and Harrow-on-the-Hill. London Underground trains also run between Harrow-on-the-Hill and London Baker Street.

    A normal service will be running on Saturday between Birmingham Snow Hill/Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington Spa. On Sunday, buses will replace trains between Birmingham Snow Hill/Stratford-Upon-Avon and Leamington Spa until 12.30pm. Birmingham passengers should use connecting Virgin Cross Country trains between Leamington Spa and Birmingham New Street until 12.30pm.

    Our service maybe more busier than usual on Saturday as England play Spain at Wembley National Stadium. Kick off is at 3pm, so be aware that our service could be busier than usual between the hours of 1.30pm and 3pm and 4.45pm and 6pm.

    If you are looking for inspiration to start your summer, why not check out our website? Our website -www.chilternrailways.co.uk – has loads of great ideas for weekend days out. In addition to local event listings, there is also a link for great savings on entry to a number of attractions, theatres and restaurants along the line.

    Enjoy a day out in London and take advantage of the 2 FOR 1 ENTRY offer. Pickup a leaflet from any staffed station, fill in the vouchers on the back and then make the most of discounted entry into some of London’s top attractions.

    You could also take advantage of out free car parking, which will be available all weekend at Princes Risborough, High Wycombe, Beaconsfield, Seer Green, Gerrards Cross and Denham stations.

    The website has full timetable information, as well as a summary of Chiltern Railways’ great value fares, such as Just

  • Council Accused Over Roundabout Advertising

    SOUTH Oxfordshire District Council, which recently contracted out the maintenance of some of its roundabouts to a marketing company, has been criticised by the CPRE (Council for the Protection of Rural England).
    See Link
     to full story.

  • Thame Mayor Witnesses Death Of District Councillor

    THAME’s Mayor, Cllr Nigel Champken-Woods, was present at a St George’s Day dinner on Monday, when the Chairman of West Oxfordshire District Council collapsed and died after making a speech.
    Keith Stone, who was also a county and a town councillor for Witney, is understood to have suffered a heart attack.
    Cllr Champken-Woods’ wife, Alison, who is a nurse, assisted in one of several attempts to resuscitate Cllr Stone.
    The funeral for 65 year-old Keith Stone will be held on Monday in Carterton, and because of his death, local government elections for both West Oxfordshire District Council and Carterton Town Council, have been postponed to a date yet to be announced.

  • Mobile Life Education At Thame School

    A MOBILE classroom that offers young children information and decision-making skills to face life choices, visited St Joseph’s school, Thame, today.
    The Mayor or Thame, Cllr Nigel Champken-Woods, was introduced to ‘Harold’ the giraffe, a puppet that helps put messages about keeping healthy and how to tackle peer and other pressures around drugs, alcohol and smoking, when he visited the school with Des Wright from Thame Rotary Club which supports the Charity that provides Mobile life education classrooms.
    Thame Town Council recently made a grant of

  • ‘Fast & Entertaining’ Thame United

    MATCH REPORT – LEAGUE GAME 24/04/07 – Thame United 3, Fairford Town 2. By Bob Dixon
    Thame United, who are currently in 19th league position, defeated 13th placed Fairford Town on Tuesday evening in a fast and entertaining game.

    Thame took the lead with their first real attack when, after 4 minutes, they were awarded a free kick midway in the visitors half. Adam Rhodes hit a high ball to the far post which James Saulsbury met with a well placed header. In the 17th minute Fairford replied in spectacular fashion, when Ashley Edenborough struck a surprise 30 yard thunderbolt which hit the underside of the Thame crossbar on its way into the net. Thame had more possession than the visitors and created some good chances. On 37 minutes the hardworking Darren Moore struck a strong 18 yard shot which forced an outstanding save from the visiting goalkeeper. The Thame pressure was rewarded 3 minutes before the break when a diagonal pass found Adrian Smith 30 yards out. Smith outpaced one defender, and beat another before dribbling around the advancing keeper for a tap in.

    The second half was more even and the visitors almost equalized in the 53rd minute when Edenborough was put through for a 1 to 1 with Thame?s impressive keeper, Milan Barisic, but the courageous Barisic dived at his opponent?s feet to cleanly lift the ball clear. Fairford did however equalize in the 67th minute when Phil Corcoran hit home from close range during a goalmouth scramble. Thame?s winner came on 73 minutes when, following a good move, the ball was fed to Moore who finished well from close range.

    This was an encouraging performance from the young Thame side that are playing far better than their league position suggests.

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

    Thame United face the potential league champions on Saturday when Slimbridge visit Hithercroft Stadium in Thame?s final match of the season (KO 3.00)

  • Opening Season Victory For Thame Tennis Club (Contributed)

    THAME Tennis Club Men?s first team secured victory in their opening game of the Oxford League summer season, beating Witney B by five sets to four.
    At three-all, after the first two rounds, the result was in the balance, but Steve Bailey-Kennedy and team captain, Richard Bradley, won 2.5 from 3; Marc Ashworth and Lee Wright took 1.5 from 3 and Ian Catchpole and Tony Morris secured the vital set to ensure the win.
    Elsewhere in the same league, the Ladies 2 pair in Division 3 secured a draw of 4 sets all at home to Bicester. The team of Susie Thompson, Ann Gornall, Ann Green and Lynn Broadway (c), were unable to overcome the visitors? very strong first pair, but won both matches against the second pair. Meanwhile, the Mixed 2 pair in Division 5 had a good victory of 3.5 sets to 0.5 sets at home to Abingdon D. Team; C Macgregor, K Pinner; N Hutchinson and C Gray (c). Finally, the Mens C 2 pair was unfortunately wiped out on their opening fixture away to Bicester C. On a gloriously hot day they were unable to take a set from the hosts who have restructured their 3 pair teams into four 2 pairs. Team: J Ansell (c), P Bozier, B Fieldsend and D Still.

  • Flying Start For Thame Racing Driver

    THAME racing driver, Mark Webster, recently got his 2007 season off to a flying start with an eighth placing at the Snetterton circuit in Norfolk.
    Mark is competing in his third season in the National Stock Hatch series which promises to be the UK?s most popular with more than 120 drivers competing in near standard 1600cc saloons.
    Support from local companies Systech Instruments, In8 and Racquets Fitness Centre, along with British Gas and Sporting Index, will see Mark next compete in his Fiesta XR2 at Castle Combe on May 7, followed by events at Brands Hatch and Silverstone.
    Follow Mark?s season at his website