Author: Sonja Francis

THAME Town Council’s Planning Committee has postponed making any comments on a plan application to move the town’s cattle market to the Thame Show Ground site.
Both Developer, Bob Williams, and Peter David from the Thame Show made representations to the committee at its meeting last Tuesday (19/09).
Mr Williams’s main points were that increased costs, including those for recent Health and Safety regulations, the need for more parking and penning space and the need for the cattle market to grow and develop if it was to survive, made the current site unsustainable. He said also that the Thame Show continued to struggle with increased costs and, that as the show is so dependent on the weather for one day of the year, two consecutive wet years could ruin the organisation.

The decreasing length of the current lease the cattle market has from South Oxfordshire District Council, means that the cattle market is a deminishing asset, he continued, and that therefore, it made sense to secure its future by moving and taking advantage of the synergie that exists between the two organisations for both their future securities and free up the cattle market site for what the town wants to do. (Paraphrased)

WITH very strong winds (the remains of Hurricane Gordon), and temperatures of 28 degress, thousands flocked to this year’s Thame Show today.
The man who oversees the organisation of the event, which must be the equivalent to a major, military operation, Mike Howes, said that preliminary indications are that visitor numbers were well up on last year, with people pouring in from before 8am this morning.
One team however did not make the show for their section of the equestrian competitions because of a major hold up following an accident on the motorway.
Early in the afternoon, a female competitor was taken to hospital by air ambulance after she fell from her horse.
Although the temperature soared, a hot air balloon belonging to the Thame-based Altitude Balloon Company, due to take off around 4pm, remained firmly tethered to the ground because of the high winds.

To judge by the carrier bags in the hands of shoppers as they strolled around the show ground, it seemed that most of the trade stands saw brisk activity. But one of the day’s most popular buys was undoubtedly pairs of gayly coloured wellies with a choice of either a spotty or a stripey pattern – a far cry from the traditional green wellies and ‘Derry boots’ usually worn by the country set.
Out-selling the wellies however, were, unsurprisingly, ice creams and cold drinks with wide-brimmed hats coming in close behind.
It was good to see a couple of Furniture Design graduates, from the now defunct Rycotewood college, exhibiting some of their very innovate, laminated furniture that they sell from their business premises at Rycote farm.

In the main ring, the parade of the immaculately turned out winners in the Cattle classes was spectacular, with one or two of the more rebelious beasts proving to be quite a handful to lead.
Throughout the day, crowds were entertained by a motor cycle stunt show, ferret racing, the amazing Axe men, demonstrations by the fire service and the ever popular dog show.
The birds of prey, which included a delightful, young snowy white owl that hopped from one childs arm to another, enthralled younger visitors especially, as did the Berkeley hunting hounds who these days apparently chase a smelly rag instead of a fox.

Standards were high in the Domestic tent which included preserves, wine making, handicrafts, floral arranging, Childrens’ art and cookery and a cookery section for men. (Results will be published on ThameNews.Net tomorrow.)
It seems that entries in the Domestic Classes, particularly the children’s section, were down this year and the organisers are already thinking of new ideas to attract younger competitors, including may be a guitar customising section.

Once again the organisers of The Oxfordshire County and Thame Show produced a programme of events that attracted visitors to the town from all over the country and beyond, earning the show its deserved title of the best one day show in the country.

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LINKS between Thame and France were further reinforced last weekend when a coach load of townspeople left in the early morning darkness of Friday, to begin Thame?s fifth twinning exchange.
Over 40 people of all ages, ranging from young adolescents to one lady in her ?eighties,? travelled to Montesson, Thame?s twin town near Paris, to stay with French families, some reuniting with their regular hosts and friends, others for the very first time.
The party enjoyed a very full weekend which included a trip to the house, gardens and lily ponds made famous by the painter, Monet. Others, including some of those who had made that particular trip two years ago en route for Montesson by bicycle from Thame, visited Paris instead.
Of particular interest this year was the Science and Industry Park or Parc de la Villette, a fascinating, modern campus of predominantly glass museums fronted by rectangular pools and a giant, Geodesic dome made entirely of mirrored glass. Looking like a single, giant bubble, it has a framd made entirely of triangles and is aproximately 12 meters (35 feet) in diameter. The inside, through the magic of Miramax technology, becomes a giant, 350 degree cinema screen that surrounds the viewer creating the amazing and tummy-churning allusion that you are actually flying along the river Nile, white-water rafting or looking up at the hieroglyphs of an Egyptian column soaring above you.
On Saturday afternoon, following the tasting of the traditional delicacy, p

THE Police have released an E-fit of a man they want to track down, following a distraction burglary.
The incident occurred on July 24 this year in Cotmore Close, Thame, when the 71-year-old victim found an intruder in his bedroom.
When he challenged the burglar, the man claimed to be from the waterboard and said he needed help checking a leak. The man made the elderly victim run taps around the house as he pretended to search for a leak. He then left the house saying he would be back in an hour.

After the intruder had left, the victim discovered that cash was missing from his wallet.

PC Carren Chesterman, of Thame CID, said: “It is always distressing for a victim when they fall victim to a crime such as this.
“He has been very helpful and shown great fortitude by helping us construct this E-fit. I am hoping someone may recognise this man and I would appeal for anyone who does to contact me.”

Anyone with information should contact PC Chesterman, of Thame CID, on 0845 8 505 505 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.