Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • County Championship For Thame Tennis Juniors (Contributed)

    A JUNIOR team from Thame Tennis Club has won the county Mini Red Tennis Championship, a competition for players of under 8 years of age.
    Sixteen clubs from throughout the county entered teams and after a league format, the finals were held at the Oxfordshire Lawn Tennis Association headquarters at Abingdon.
    All of their matches were played to a very high standard, with the Thame quartet, Lauren Knowler, Elle Northcott, Alfie Guard and Dan Patey,
    ultimately winning by the narrowest of margins.

    As well as this notable team success, Coach, Simon Langley, has ensured that the Club has retained its LTA Mini Tennis accreditation by developing a fully integrated and popular coaching programme for junior players at the Club and should you wish to find out more details, he will be present at the Club’s Open
    Day being held at its Queens Road courts on Sunday, April 15, commencing at 10.30am.

    The team members pictured are: Lauren Knowler, Elle Northcott, Alfie Guard and Dan Patey, with the club’s Head Coach, Simon Langley, who has recently been voted the Oxfordshire LTA Development Coach of the Year.

  • Chiltern Rail Advisory Today

    GOOD service running on the Birmingham Snow Hill/Stratford-upon-Avon to London Marylebone via High Wycombe line on Friday, April 6; Saturday, April 7; Sunday, April 8 and Monday, April 9. BUT…
    Engineering Works on the Aylesbury to London Marylebone via Amerhsam line on Friday 6 April, Saturday 7 April, Sunday 8 April and Monday 9 April.

    This Easter -Good Friday 6 April, Saturday 7 April, Easter Sunday 8 April and Bank Holiday Monday 9 April – Chiltern Railways are pleased to announce that there are no planned engineering works on the Stratford-upon-Avon/Birmingham Snow Hill to London Marylebone via the Banbury and High Wycombe line.

    Chiltern Railways will be the only Train Operator to be running between London and Birmingham during the Easter Holiday period. This is due to Virgin being unable to run a through service between the two cities due to major engineering works taking place on the Euston to Birmingham New Street line.

    Therefore, any passengers travelling between London and Birmingham should do so using Chiltern Railways over the Easter period. London Marylebone is a city centre terminus and is only about a 20 minute walk from Euston. Chiltern Railways run regular services to Birmingham Moor Street, which is a 5 minute walk from other National Rail services at Birmingham New Street.

    Chiltern Railways will be increasing the length of their Birmingham – London trains to cater for the increased demand expected and providing additional staff at stations to assist.

    There will also be later trains than normal running from London Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street on Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday.

    On Friday 6 April, Saturday 7 April, Sunday 8 April and Monday 9 April, engineering works affect services on the Aylesbury to London Marylebone via Amersham line. A reduced service of 1 train per hour will run between Aylesbury and Great Missenden. Buses will run between Great Missenden and Beaconsfield where train services to/from London Marylebone will resume. For local journeys, buses will replace trains between Great Missenden, Amersham and Northwood where London Underground trains will resume for stations to/from London Baker Street. On Saturday 7 April and Sunday 8 April, additional trains will run from Aylesbury to London Marylebone via High Wycombe.

    For full timetable details of Chiltern Railways services over the Easter period, visit www.chilternrailways.co.uk/easter.

    The Chiltern Railways website -www.chilternrailways.co.uk – has loads of great ideas of places to go by train during the Easter holiday. 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. Chiltern Railways has now launched their 2-for-1 offer that allows you a ‘buy one get one free’ to top London attractions when you travel by train. Details are at staffed stations.

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

  • End Of An Era For Thame Community Education

    AN ‘End of an Era’ party, marking 18 years of service for three Thame women who, between them had worked for what was originally Thame Adult Eduction and later evolved into Thame Community Education.
    The three have all had leaving parties with their county colleagues, but Robert Harding, who was a member of the old Thame Community Education Committee, (these committees ceased when the governance of the service was centralised) thought that the departure of Mary, Karen and Jackie deserved to be marked with a party in Thame. So, on Friday they were joined by tutors past and present, members of the former Management Committee, colleagues from Lord Williams’s school and members of the many community groups who meet at the centre, to eat drink, reminisce and say good-bye!

    Retiring Head of the Centre, Mary Stiles, told thamenews.net: “It was a lovely evening with lots of compliments, particularly about how welcome everyone feels in the centre. Norman Lilley spoke on behalf of the Visually Handicapped group who meet fortnightly at the centre and have done for many years and other guests included Cllr Beatrice Dobie, Sarah Hayes, representing the Thame Youth Theatre, which of course began its life in Thame Community Education and still runs here three evenings a week, and Robert Harding from the former Management Committee. Dawn Oliver spoke as a tutor and Christine Townsend as a former tutor, a learner and one of the PHAB Club’s organisers.
    “The three of us were very moved by everyone’s wonderful comments, both those above and what was said more privately. We just feel we’ve been doing our jobs as well as we can and it feels really good to be so appreciated and we would like to say a big thank you for the party, the beautiful flowers we all received and everyone’s good wishes for the future. Many thanks too to Alison Barrow-Williams and Karen’s family for taking the photos.”

    Jackie Hurst and Karen Clark were the administrators who worked very hard to make it a welcoming centre and they have taken on specialist roles too over the years; Jackie was one of the data specialists for the county and Karen specialised in finance and she also produced superb local publicity.
    “My role,” explained Mary, “also evolved over the years from Centre Head to Area Head and most recently Curriculum Manager for Languages, Humanities and Science for the county, but still based in Thame. It was with the last two roles that I had less day-to day responsibility for the Thame centre and Jackie and Karen took that on so well.”

    All three are taking voluntary redundancy as part of the latest restructuring of Adult Learning to save money, as they felt that there was no role for them in the new structure. But Mary added: “We do want to wish our colleagues continuing in the service all the best for the future, especially Jackie Ashkettle, Jill Austen, Jenny Richardson and Samantha Morgan, who are now staffing the centre.”

    Photo: Mary Stiles, retiring Head of Thame’s Community Education Centre.

  • Jazz At The Players Theatre, Thame

    GUITAR SUMMIT will be appearing in Thame, on Wednesday, April 11, at 8pm.
    This will be the third jazz event at The Players Theatre this spring, and will feature a real treat for all enthusiasts of the jazz guitar. Three top jazz guitarists ? Denny Ilett junior, Jez Cook and Terry Hutchins ? will be providing an evening of sublime jazz. They will be ably supported by Andy Crowdy on bass and Martin Hart on drums.

    Tickets for the event cost

  • Guilty Verdict For Thame Man’s Murderer

    THE estranged husband of a woman found dead with her Thame lover in a burned out bungalow, has been found guilty of their murders.
    Read full story

    Photo: Courtesey of The Evening Telegraph, Kettering
    http://www.northantset.co.uk

  • Top Reliability Award For Chiltern Rail

    ACCORDING to the Office of Rail Regulation, which has just released its National Rail Trends results for October to December, 2006, Chiltern Railways is the best daily performing train company on the main land.
    Overall, an average of 95.2% of Chiltern Railways train services ran on time. This means that Chiltern Railways annual average performance rate is 94%.

    Chiltern Railways Managing Director Cath Proctor said: “This result has been achieved primarily through getting the basics right. Our focus is to provide a safe, punctual and frequent service for our passengers.
    “It’s no coincidence that we also received 90% passenger satisfaction rate in the recent National Passenger Survey, the highest rate in the UK.
    “Even though we have received these results, this is no time for complacency. We will continue to focus our attention to improving our performance and increasing our passenger’s satisfaction.
    “Chiltern Railways passenger complaints are down by 60% to 50 per 10,000 passenger journey’s.
    “This year passengers can look forward to a large part of

  • Draw For Thame United

    League game:31/03/07 Highworth Town 1 Thame United 1
    THAME picked up another precious point in this dour battle against a competitive Highworth Town side. With leading scorer Nathen Jack having a subdued match, it was his strike partner, Darren Moore, who notched the vital goal only 4 minutes into the game. Highworth defender Andy Minturn made a hash of an attempted clearance leaving Moore through on goal and although keeper, Ian Gill, parried his initial shot, the Thame man followed up to slide the ball home.
    Thame had gone into the game without skipper Greg Boult (holiday) and Ben Connelly (injured) so new signing from Oxford City, Jon Steedman, came into the side to have an impressive debut and Jack Green, back home from university, also came into the squad.

    The home side equalised after 20 minutes when Matt Pratley netted from close range after good work and a fine cross from Paul Hunt down the right wing. But Thame were not finished and Moore brought a good save from the keeper ten minutes later but Highworth too had their chances and just before the break, Tom Dingle headed just wide when well placed.

    In an evenly fought match it was Thame who started the second half as they had the first with Moore through on goal only to be thwarted with a good save from keeper Gill.

    The conditions, a very windy day on an exposed and bumpy sloping pitch, were making good football difficult for both sides and grit and determination were the required qualities to succeed. Thame were fortunate in having players on show who displayed these attributes in abundance. Centre backs Dave Hocking and Matt Higgs (who improves with every game) battled manfully to contain the Highworth strikers whilst in midfield James Saulsbury, now almost back to full fitness after an injury ravaged season, covered acres of ground in neutralising the skilful Highworth midfield.

    Chances were few and far between in the closing stages and although Matt Graves went close for Thame and Hunt missed with a diving header for Highworth, both sides were satisfied with the draw.

    Thame United: Barisic, Ansell, Steedman, Saulsbury, Matt Higgs, Hocking (captain) Graves (sub West), Rhodes, Jack, Moore, Da Silva (sub J Green). Sub not used Ricketts.

    Thame are without a game on Easter Saturday but are ‘away’ at Wallingford against Landlords, AFC Wallingford on Easter Monday k.o. 3pm. Two days later, on Wednesday 11 April, they are at home to high flying Hungerford Town k.o. 7.45pm.

    Bob Dickson

  • Beauty Spot Thieves Warning

    THAME police are urging car owners to remove valuables from their cars at beauty spot car parks after a spate of thefts.
    Since the beginning of March, 15 vehicles have been broken into at beauty spots at Christmas Common, Britwell Hill, and the B4009 Lewknor near Junction six of the M40.
    Peak times for the thefts are around lunchtime and most happen on Fridays and Sundays and financial documents, purses, wallets, cheque books as well as laptop computers, handbags, keys and mobile phones are being stolen.

    Crime Reduction Adviser, Lesley Nesbit, said:”With the lighter days and better weather, people go to these beauty spots to enjoy a long walk, and their unattended cars provide an opportunity for thieves to break in and steal property from them.
    “The message is to leave no valuables or papers in your vehicle.”

    Extra police patrols are in the area to catch and deter these thieves.

    If you have any information contact police on 08458 505 505. If you do not wish to speak to police contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

  • Speed Education Instead Of Points Scheme Expands

    A scheme that offers Speed Awareness Training instead of points on your driving licence, is to be expanded.
    Motorists will be given extra opportunities to assess and improve their driving after being caught speeding as part of an expansion of the Thames Valley Speed Awareness Scheme.
    From 1 April, Thames Valley Police will be adopting the full Association of Chief Police Officer (ACPO) guidelines for speed awareness schemes and broadening the programme. This means around 30 per cent more drivers and riders caught speeding will be given the option of attending the Thames Valley Speed Awareness Scheme instead of getting points on their licence. The four different workshops and courses aim to educate drivers about the dangers of speeding and change the public?s attitude towards speed, and are now being offered to more motorists than ever before.

    Malcolm Collis, Safety Manager for Thames Valley Police Roads Policing Operational Command Unit, said:”We recognise the benefits of educating drivers rather than just punishing them. We believe our education schemes have a major influence on driver attitudes and behaviour. By increasing the number of workshops and courses, we will be able to reach a greater number of speeders who are breaking the upper and lower speed limits on different types of roads.
    “We are determined to do everything we can to make the roads in the Thames Valley safer for all. Each year around 150 people are killed in the region. Many of these deaths may not have happened if people had not been speeding. Our Speed Awareness Scheme is very successful and we regularly receive feedback from sceptical drivers who say that it has changed the way they drive.”

    There are four education programmes including; Urban Roads, Faster Roads, Rider Improvement Workshops and Speed Awareness Course.
    The Urban Roads workshop is for those caught speeding in 30 and 40mph limits. This is for those detected in the speed range of 35-39mph in a 30mph limit or 46-50mph in a 40mph limit.
    The Faster Roads workshop is for those caught speeding in 50, 60 and 70mph limits. This is for those detected in the speed range of 57-61mph in a 50mph limit or 68-72 mph in a 60mph limit or 79-83mph in a 70mph limit.

    Both workshops last two-and-a-half hours and both cost

  • Council Faces

    OXFORDSHIRE County Council is to face