AS the Towersey Playing fields become a hive of activity in preparation for the 50th Towersey Festival, the organisers have announced today that 2014 will be the last year that the festival will be held in the village of Towersey itself.
From next year, the Towersey Festival will be held on Thame Show Ground, just a stone’s throw away.
Joe Heap, whose grandfather, Dennis Manners, was a founder-member of the Towersey Festival
Joe Heap, whose family has been involved with organising the show since its inception, told Thame.Net: “We were warned by the farmer, David White, a couple of years ago that the show may have to leave his farm and now he has decided to retire and has sold some of his land. But the move will be a positive thing for the show, taking it into the next half century and enabling us to improve some things, like having less gates to Man and check, and to continue involving the people of Thame more by bringing more local Arts, theatre, music and culture etc to the show.”
THAME Town Council has once again rejected a developer’s detailed plans for a site designated for new housing in Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan.
Image courtesy of Croudace Homes Ltd
The main reasons for not recommending Croudace Homes Ltd’s detailed designs for the remaining 18 houses on the old Memec site, part of site D in the Thame Neighbourhood Plan, are vertually the same as the reasons for rejection of plans for site C, a month ago. (see report https://www.thame.net/archives/15470)
These are that there are not enough one and two bedroomed properties in the proposal – a need identified and included in the Thame Neighbourhood Plan, that the lay-out of this group of 18 homes does not co-ordinate with the overall lay-out of site D in that as a block, they would appear to ‘turn their backs’ on the rest of the development and leave the gardens that would back onto a roadway, vunerable to trespass.
Councillors also agreed that the overall design, choice of materials and scale of the some of the proposed houses, were not of a suitably high standard to reflect the character of the best parts of Thame, again another requirement of the Thame Neighbourhood Plan for any new homes.
Other concerns regarding amenities, storage, Open-space and landscaping, can be gleaned in full by reading the report and recommendations put to the council at yesterday’s (Tuesday’s) full council meeting, by its Planning Consultant, Jake Collinge. http://www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/images/10._Report_-_P14-S2001-RM.pdf
THERE are still some tickets left for a fabulous day at the Raymond Blanc Cookery School, generously donated by Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons to the Thame Food Festival, to help raise funds towards sustaining this great, annual event in the town.
Raymond Blanc takes some refreshment from signing his book at a previous Thame Food Festival, of which he is Patron
Thame Food Festival Patron, Lotte Duncan, explained: “Thame Food Festival is a CIC, set up as a platform for artisan producers and to support our beautiful market town. There are only 10 places available – so be quick if you want to come.
“I’ll be there on the day too – I’m doing a cookery demonstration for you all at some point which is an incredible treat for me, if a little bit scary!”
DETAILS; Exclusive event: A day at the Raymond Blanc Cookery School with Mark Peregine and Lotte Duncan; Monday, September 22, 2014.
Master effortless entertaining at the world famous cookery school at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons; Create the perfect autumn dinner party menu; Ideas for simple, seasonal dishes to impress your guests! Learn and practise new techniques with the chefs
Make your own pastry, pasta, soups and much more; Try some of Raymond Blanc’s favourite recipes; Discover the secrets of entertaining guests with minimal effort and maximum impact.
Book today for this special event in support of this year’s Thame Food Festival – September 27, 2014
A full day’s tuition, morning and afternoon tea, lunch and course certificate cost £365 per person. To book, please go to www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk and click on Events.
THAME Neighbourhood police officers will be holding two HAVE YOUR SAY MEETINGS in the coming weeks. They are
Saturday, August 9, at the Co-Op Cafe, High Street, Thame, between 11am and midday.
Thursday, August 28, at the Co-Op Cafe, High Street, Thame, between 3pm and 5pm.
These meetings are your opportunity to speak with your neighbourhood officers to discuss any local issues of concern you may have. If you are unable to attend but wish to speak with your neighbourhood officers, you can call 101.
BACK in January, Thame.Net carried a tribute to outstanding, local sporting legend, Ray Hawes, who died in the United States, where he had moved to, and about a tribute cricket match to be played in his memory, this summer.
The late Ray Hawes
The cricket match took place at the end of June, at Thame Town Cricket Club, watched by over 100 of Ray’s old friends, and the Hawes family have written to Barry Yates, who helped organise the match, thanking everyone who helped arrange it – a match also intended as a tribute to another well-known sportsman and friend of Ray’s, Nigel Cassidy.
The letter and match report from family members – Ray’s son Geoff played, together with his nephews Mike White, Steve & Simon Cooley. Nigel’s son Darren captained the opposition. Ray’s widow, Maureen had flown in from USA with her son and grandchildren. Two of Ray’s three daughters and their children there too:
“The Hawes family would like to thank Thame Cricket Club, everyone that helped arrange this cricket match and all those who came out to watch this memorial game to remember two great sportsman, Ray Hawes and Nigel Cassidy. A special thanks to Steve Cooley, Darren Cassidy, Mike Beaumont and Barry Yates.
“This was a great day. With many family and friends showing up at the Thame cricket ground, many of whom had not seen one another in years. Thanks to Richard Pineo (long time family friend) for a fine tea time speech.
L to R – Geoff Hawes, Mike Beaumont, Steve Cooley and Mervyn Ramsey
“It was fitting that this game was played in the town Ray Hawes started his cricketing career. Ray attended Lord Williams’s Grammar School breaking many cricketing records in Thame. He was married to Maureen King in Thame Church in 1958 (the Kings are a prominent Thame family. Maureen’s Father, Harold King, was a former Thame Mayor) and they remained married for 55 years and so, with the church in the background, it was an emotional return to this cricket ground. We all missed seeing the face of John Wrench behind the bar (Godfather to Geoff Hawes). The Wrench family, have done so much for Thame Cricket Club over the years.
“Peter Beard, Long time friend of Ray and former First Team Captain of Thame C C, told us that he would pick Ray up in Crendon as he was too young to drive at the time. Ray started as a middle order batsmen and fast bowler. Pete promoted Dad to open the batting with him in 1960. They opened the batting together for seven years, scored many runs and Pete talked of an unbelievable understanding they shared. He went on to tell us the same story that many people in future years found out, that Ray Hawes was not only an outstanding cricketer, but a true sportsman. Cricket to Ray was not just a game but a place to build life lasting friendships.
“This first memorial game was played on June 29th, 2014, and was won by the Cassidy XI thanks largely to a fine unbeaten 139 by Robbie Eason, with support from his brother Will Eason with 58 not out. Many of us remember their Granddad, who was the headmaster at Long Crendon Primary School for many years and their Father, Max Eason, who worked for Hawes Farm Buildings at Brill. Congratulations Robbie on a Ray Hawes-like winning innings.
“The Hawes XI batted first and started in fine style with a Century from Mike Beaumont, and 91 from Russell Hayes (both Mike & Russell played with Ray at Aylesbury for years).
“The Hawes XI captained by Steve Cooley (Cousin of Simon Cooley and former Aylesbury First Team Captain, who took over the captaincy from Ray). Steve declared on 254, but this proved to be not enough, although the batting effort of the Cassidy XI, was helped in part by some interesting fielding by an aged Hawes XI!
“This was a great day with many people showing up to watch a close game of cricket played in a fantastic sporting spirit. Thanks again to all involved in this event. We hope this will develop into an annual match to celebrate and remember the extraordinary lives of Ray Hawes and Nigel Cassidy. The Hawes family.”
THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a road traffic collision involving a car and a motorbike near Longwick, on Thursday, July 17.
At around 10.43pm on that date, a Honda CBR 100 motorbike was travelling towards Longwick and a Honda Civic car was travelling towards Princes Risborough, when the motorbike crossed into the opposite carriageway and was in collision with the car.
The two occupants of the motorbike then left the scene in either a Punto or Corsa. The driver of the car was not injured.
The motorcycle riders were described as both being white men between 30 and 35 years-old. The first man was around 6ft tall and spoke with a local accent. He was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a dark jacket. The second man was of of slim build.
Investigating officer, PC Jeremy Davies from Amersham police station, said: “We are looking to identify anyone who may have seen the Honda CBR motorcycle prior to the collision.
“If anyone has information about the car the two riders got into after the collision, please contact police.”
If you have any information please contact PC Davies via the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 101.
If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at Crimestoppers-uk.org (opens new window). No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
At 5 o’clock this morning, three of the landmark cooling towers of Didcot Power Station came tumbling to Earth.
The moment the Didcot cooling towers began to crumble to the ground. Image courtesy of Glen Harfield
Despite the antisocial time, many spectators came to Wittenham Clumps, just outside Didcot to witness the moment. From the top of the Clumps, an unrivalled view of the towers was visible across the countryside and hundreds of people had come out to view the spectacle. The diversity of the crowd – groups of young people, families and amateur photographers – gave the feel of a real community event. Some had pitched tents; others were armed with picnic hampers or long lensed cameras on tripods. A few even enjoyed glasses of champagne after the towers came down.
The demolition was given the scheduled time of between 3 and 5am. People began to arrive at around midnight, and kept coming into the early hours of the morning. Despite rumours of an air raid siren and a countdown to alert people to the imminent explosion, it occurred without warning to those on the Clumps, as the sun was rising over Oxfordshire. The controlled explosions brought down the structures in a matter of seconds. The towers first collapsed in on themselves, and were then reduced to a large dust cloud. It was followed by a rumbling explosion, heard a couple of moments after the explosion itself. Within a minute, it was all over.
The Oxfordshire sky-line, of which the silhouette of the Didcot power station chimneys had been so much a recognisable part, is now changed forever.
FIVE Weeks of Summer Holiday Courses now available at Meadow View Park, Thame. Book early to avoid disappointment
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Kick-Off is at 9.00am to 3.00pm – Weekly discounts and SAVE £30 with our Special Offer if you book 3 weeks.
THAME Town Council is to make is very clear to the local planning authority (SODC) that the town has already been allocated ‘its fair share’ of new homes for the future and will not take any more.
Image courtesy of http://www.nihe.gov.uk/
The decision to make Thame Town Council’s feelings known was made at Tuesday’s council meeting, when the SODC’s preferred options for building 5,900 more homes in the district, as part of the Consultation around the Local Plan 2031, were discussed. Thame has already been allocated 775 new houses in the Core Strategy and has accounted for these in the Thame Neighbourhood Plan. South Oxfordshire District Council has been told to find these additional homes following a recently published, government commissioned report, known as SHMAR (Strategic Housing Market Assessment Report) which concluded that the need for new homes in the district will be greater than originally estimated. (Read more HERE ) The report specifically identifies a need for 965 additional affordable homes per year in South Oxfordshire, throughout the period, 2011-2031.
The various options for providing the extra homes, laid out in the Consultation, can be seen HERE (though the public consultation ended on July 23)
The town council agreed to register its doubts about the validity of the way the new numbers were arrived at (a view shared by others, including CPRE – See LINK, to ask that so-called ‘Windfall sites’ – that is those not planned for but which come forward for planning permission during the period eg ‘in-fill’ on private land etc – be included as part of any of the options adopted, and that any developments should be sustainable in regard to jobs, communications and infrastructure.
In a statement today the town council has said that its preferred options are that additional housing should be dispersed among the smaller towns and villages or to be integrated into the ‘Science Vale’ located near Didcot and Abingdon.
WHAT THOSE AT THE MEETING SAID:
Cllr Vaughan Humphries: “It would make sense to start from scratch with a new settlement and a by-pass around Watlington.” (Option D – North of Benson, towards Thame)
Cllr Peter Lambert: “What are the chances that SHMAR will be thrown out? Everything keeps changing! How are we supposed to keep up?”
Jake Collinge, the town council’s Planning Consultant: “Councillors have to decide whether the proposals could deliver more infrastructure and affordable homes for Thame or whether the town has had enough.”
Cllr David Dodds: “The whole thing is absolutely wrong! The inexorable growth in the South East needs to be addressed nationally. We cannot keep growing, and growing in this rural area. What happens after 2031? I am afraid we will become ‘Greater Oxfordshire. Also, these houses are being planned for, but are not being built. It is a nonsense!”
Cllr Mike Dyer: “We know we have the community behind us.”
Cllr Vaughan Humphries: “At what point does saturation mean that a market town ceases to be a market town?”
THE Tour of Britain, one of the most important international cycle races, will be passing through several towns and villages close to Thame, including Chinnor and Princes Risborough during the Tour of Britain international bike race.
Sir Bradley Wiggins, winner of The Tour of Britain 2013 – Image of sportinglife.com
Local authorities are warning of Rolling road closures on the day, September 12, that will affect traffic through various parts of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, including Chinnor and Princes Risborough., during the race.
Rolling road closures will take place between 13:30 hours and 15:00 hours, during Stage six of the race, from Bath to Hemel Hempstead, on the day. The effect of the Order will be to temporarily close lengths of roads and junctions on a rolling basis under police motorcycle supervision and escort, to allow mass cyclists safe passage through the towns and villages affected.
