Thame.net

Category: Thame news

  • Contract worker crushed by reversing lorry – inquest begins

    A groundworker, who was run over by a reversing lorry on a Thame building site, died ‘instantly’ a jury inquest heard today.


    Stephen Buck, who lived in Neath, North Wales, died whilst working on a housing development, owned by Bloor Homes, on April 18, 2017. Mr Buck’s wife, Kay, told the inquest that her husband had worked in the building trade for 40 years, and that he loved his job. A digger driver, Nick O’Brien, recalled how he saw Mr Buck under the rear of the reversing lorry, hanging on trying, unsuccessfully not to be pulled underneath.

    CCTV footage showing Mr Buck in a high vis jacket with his back to the moving lorry, was shown to the jury but was stopped at the point of impact. After describing Mr Buck’s ‘devastating’ injuries, the pathologist, Dr Nicholas Hunt, said that there was nothing anyone could have done to save his life.

    Stephen Buck, 58, was a subcontractor working for ECL Construction.

    The hearing is expected to last for three days.

    SOURCE: BBC www.bbc.co.uk/news/

     

  • Advertisement feature: Beautiful luxury new homes launched this weekend

    AWARD winning new homes builder, Dandara, is putting the finishing touches to their new homes launch event at The Grove, Stanbridge Road, Haddenham, Bucks, taking place this weekend October 6 & 7, 2018, featuring four beautifully prepared show homes.

    If you’re looking for a gorgeous new home built to the very highest standards and benefitting from excellent travel connections, set within an exquisite, much sought-after village with all the life enhancing qualities that the hills, open fields and clear skies offer, only 46 minutes by train from London – then you’ll find it at The Grove, Haddenham.

    There are many reasons for choosing to live at The Grove with ample amenities to cater for all tastes, including; countryside walks, local community social activities and sports clubs. For those with families there is a wide range of state, grammar, and independent schools to choose from, including one highly rated primary and two junior schools situated within a 10-minute walk of the development.

    Each of the new home designs and layouts has been carefully considered to appeal to a range of discerning home buyers: from first time purchasers, to young and growing families, downsizers and those that seek easy living bungalow style homes with spacious gardens.

    Individuality was a key consideration in the planning of the development with every opportunity taken to create attractive street scenes by blending a wide range of home styles together with subtle details and exterior finishes, ensuring that new homebuyers are spoilt for choice.

    The homes have been sensitively planned around the meandering natural landscape, featuring open spaces, hedgerows, small copses and a play area to make the best of the local environment with the Chiltern Hills taking centre stage.

    Save the date, come and see us – we’ll have four beautiful homes open for you to visit, and our team on hand to answer questions and take reservations. Find out how ‘Help to Buy’ can enable you to move to the beautifully new home of your dreams…

    We’ll also have coffee and snacks available, with games to keep the kids quiet too!

    For further information and to register your interest about any of the new homes at The Grove, visit the beautifully furnished show homes and sales and marketing suite, open seven days a week 10am – 5.00pm or call 0800 5875 171.

  • Campaigners take to the streets of Thame as part of National Day of Action

    GROUPS campaigning for a People’s Vote, including those from the Thame group, were out in force on Saturday, September 29, as part of a National Day of Action.

    Activists and supporters from the People’s Vote campaign took to the streets in Thame, as well as across the rest of the UK, to demand their right to a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal.

    Over 100 local groups, including thousands of activists and supporters, took part in events across the UK. They delivered 1 million leaflets, and ran street stalls in towns and cities the length and breadth of the country, including areas that voted both Remain and Leave.

    The People’s Vote National Day of Action followed on from the hugely successful People’s Vote Summer of Action, which saw mass rallies take place in Bristol, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Cambridge and Cardiff. The People’s Vote March for the Future takes place in London on October 20. It is expected to be the biggest Brexit-related march so far, larger than the previous People’s Vote march which was attended by over 100,000 people.

    Robin Storey of Open Britain Thame said: “Thousands of leaflets are being delivered locally by volunteers to advertise the London march for a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal on October 20. The group will be meeting to take the 09:38 train from Haddenham. Volunteers attended a march and visited the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham to highlight the growing Conservatives for a Peoples Vote group, that we believe John Howell MP should now support. People’s Vote stalls take place Saturday, October 6, at 11am in Henley and 2pm in Thame.

    “Nobody voted to be poorer, but constituents’ jobs are at risk from a no deal or botched Brexit. BMW Mini in Cowley have warned publicly of the threat to their supply chain and have announced a shut down for a month from Brexit day. High tech businesses and the NHS around Oxford are losing qualified EU staff, who no longer feel welcome. ”

    More information about the People’s Vote Summer of Action can be read here: https://www.peoples-vote.uk/summer_of_action

    More information about the People’s Vote March for the Future can be read here: https://www.peoples-vote.uk/march

  • All ages can get creative with countryside photographic competition

    A photographic competition has been launched by the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) which aims to encourage people to get outside, get some fresh air, learn about and appreciate the beautiful landscape around them, and get their creative juices flowing.

     

    The theme of the competition is ‘What do the Chilterns mean to you?’ and the photograph could be anything – wildlife, flowers, buildings, villages, communities – anything that celebrates the beauty of the area.

    The competition is aimed at children and adults with a separate category for under 16s, and there are some fantastic prizes to be won, all donated by local businesses, including a framed copy of the winning image courtesy of Pretty Like Pictures Framing Studio in Thame. Other prizes include:

    o An exclusive 50-minute ride with the driver on a diesel engine train offering a unique photo opportunity courtesy of Chiltern and Princes Risborough Railway
    o 3 Course Sunday Lunch for two people at The Crown pub in Sydenham
    o Tree Top experience for four people at Go Ape
    o Family Ticket on the Chiltern & Princes Risborough Railway
    o Family veg box from local online organic grocery supplier Ten Mile Menu
    o Mama Dor’s Kitchen Spice Blend Gift Box worth £25

    The short-listed photos will be displayed on an online poll where the public will be invited to vote for their favourite.

    To enter, click on the link HERE

  • £145,000 available for local groups in South Oxfordshire

    WHETHER it’s money for a new sports hall, church bell or a village noticeboard South Oxfordshire District Council now has £145,000 available for local groups doing building work or making major improvements.

    Today (1/10) marks the opening of the council’s capital grants scheme. Local organisations in South Oxfordshire have just six weeks to apply to the council for money towards improving, creating or replacing community facilities. The deadline for applications is November 15.

    Grants range from £1,000 which could cover the replacement of a village noticeboard to £100,000 towards a project like a new recreation ground, but the improvements must benefit local residents.

    In the last 18 months the council has helped fund more than 35 projects with grants ranging from £1,799 up to £250,000, including sea scout equipment in Clifton Hampden, church bell replacement in Cuddesdon and a new cricket pavilion in Thame.

    Crowmarsh Parish Council Playground Action Team successfully applied for a grant of just over £99,000 towards the building of a playground and outdoor gym in Crowmarsh. A parish council spokeswoman said: “Recently we were granted the last of the funding needed for the project to go ahead. Subject to legal agreements, this means we’re aiming for an Easter 2019 opening date, which is great news for the community. Thank you.”

    Councillor Lynn Lloyd, the council’s cabinet member for community services, said: “We are lucky to have so many active community groups in the district delivering great projects that benefit our residents and we want to help them achieve their goals. We’ve already awarded more than £700,000 this year but we still have £145,000 available. Groups must get their applications in before 15 November so I urge any groups planning community improvements to get in touch with our grants team and start an application as soon as possible.”

    For more information and advice please visit the council’s website www.southoxon.gov.uk/grants, email the grants team at grants@southandvale.gov.uk or give them a call on 01235 422405.

  • One-Day Graded Squash Singles Tournament

    JUST two weeks to go to the next one-day graded squash singles tournament on October 13, at Racquets Fitness Centre in Thame.

    It’ll be graded so different standards will play in different draws. Always some top players – always well worth coming down to watch !

    Enter here :

    https://www.sportyhq.com/tournament/

    ALL standards welcome. You’ll only play others of the same standard !

    Guaranteed two competitive games of squash and entry fee includes lunchtime buffet and a beer !

  • Wherefore ART thou Thame? – Thame Art Crawl returns for 2018

    FOLLOWING the success of last year’s event, the Thame Arts and Literature Festival is once again increasing the spectrum of Arts on offer with the return of the Thame Art Crawl. Festival goers will have the chance to stroll around Thame between events, to explore 12 different venues hosting pop-up arts exhibitions around the town centre.

    Turning Hare by Jeremy James

    This year the event features the work of British sculptor and printmaker Jeremy James, who ranks as one of the foremost ceramic sculptors of his generation. Boasting a First class Honours Degree in Fine Art, and a Masters Degree in Ceramics, Jeremy works mainly with clay, exploring his subject matter – be they hares, crows, pigs or cockerels – with a freedom that gives his work an extra edge, straddling the great divide between crafts and fine art. Jeremy will be holding talks and demonstrations in the Augustus John Room at The Spread Eagle hotel at 11.30am & 3pm, on Saturday, October 20, with an open exhibition in between.

    Over 23 other artists will be on show across 12 venues around the town centre. Between them these talented artists bring to Thame a remarkable collection including paintings, pottery, photography, fused glass, sculptures and more. Alongside this there are demonstrations and events throughout the weekend giving residents and visitors the opportunity to get the creative juices flowing and participate.

    Pablo Picasso said ‘The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls’, and who are we to argue? So pick up a Thame Art Crawl Map from participating venues or The Town Hall, and enjoy a weekend of soul-cleansing culture on your doorstep.

    Event dates: October 18 – 21. More information at www.thameartcrawl.com or follow on Facebook or Instagram at thameartcrawl.

  • Thame resident challenges MP in open letter

    MANY people from Thame and the surrounding villages would have read the constituency’s MP, John Howell’s article in the local press or read his latest news letter on his website, expressing his opposition to a People’s Vote. A Thame resident, himself a supporter of a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal, has now written an open letter to John Howell:

    Dear Dr Howell

    I have just read your InTouch Newsletter, and believe it needs an immediate and open response, since it will have been seen by a large number of your constituents who may be misled by it.

    I can understand, as a UK representative to it, you would hold a high opinion of the Council of Europe, but to dismiss the real role that the EU has had in supporting the democracies that replaced the dictatorships in Europe is surely incorrect. It was the EU (and its previous incarnations as the EEC & EC) that provided the prosperity that enabled the fledgling democracies of Greece, Portugal & Spain to flourish. Human Rights organisations such as the Council of Europe are worthwhile institutions, but they don’t hold much traction with dictators, and to claim that it is the Council of Europe that has enabled us to live in peace and prosperity is preposterous. While you might berate him for not mentioning the Council of Europe, to describe Guy Verhofstadt’s speech as “fundamentally incorrect” is not appropriate.

    Your section on Brexit is a perfect example of why 82% of respondents are fed up with politicians claiming to speak for everyone. You regularly cite occasional conversations in the street as signalling widespread support for your position on Brexit, without actually saying what was said. You now seem to be holding up this latest ORB poll as further support. This poll says that 35% of Leave voters hadn’t fully considered the complexity of what they voted for, while 30% would support a “no-deal” Brexit. This nearly 1 in 3 of respondents are still not considering the complexities (and costs) of what they are asking for.

    Roy Mottram

    Nearly 1 in 3 respondents being happy to crash out of the EU without a deal is an indictment of our press and politicians, yourself included. You have failed to highlight the lies that were told by the Leave campaign, pushing a (false) equivalence argument that “both sides lied” (without any evidence). Your latest newsletter does nothing to try to explain to that nearly 1 in 3 that the government “technical notices” are for real, and not just some extension of “Project Fear”. This government has had over two years to produce a realistic plan, and they have failed. There is now little “time & space” left – just what have they been doing? Perhaps their failure to produce a realistic plan is because as soon as it is written down it will be shown to deliver no benefits.

    You say “This is neither the time for rushing around crying betrayal or for trying to frustrate the decision of the referendum.” I agree. It’s the time to finalise the Withdrawal Agreement, and produce as detailed a plan as possible for the future relationship. Having done that, it will be the time to seek a mandate to continue with the process, because it’s clear that the 2016 referendum was unsafe and provides no such mandate.

    Anybody who believes that a Peoples Vote would undermine the result of the 2016 referendum must also believe that leaving the EU is no longer “the will of the people”. For any government to continue on such a course, believing that the electorate did not wish it to do so, would surely be undemocratic.

    As my MP, I would ask you to support any vote in Parliament that requires the Withdrawal Agreement and proposal for the future relationship with the EU to be put to a Peoples Vote for ratification. I note that there is the second reading of a private members bill to that effect on October 26, and I ask you to both contribute to the debate and vote for the bill.

    Sincerely
    Roy Motteram
    Thame
    (full address supplied)

  • Singing, dancing and fun await you at the Forget Me Knot Café

    CHINNOR’S Forget Me Knot cafe’s bi-monthly meeting this coming Monday, October 1, promises to be a whole lot of fun when The Black Dog band visits the village centre, so there should be lots of singing, dancing, banging on drums and laughter!

    The Café provides information, peer support and fun activities which are aimed to help with co-ordination, brain stimulation, and general health and wellbeing, for people suffering with dementia, mental health issues, old age or isolation. It meets twice monthly 10.30 – 12.30pm at Chinnor Village Centre.

    Michele Pether who helps run the Forget Me Knot Café, said: “Everyone is welcome! Come with your Care; you’ll be welcomed with a cup of tea and biscuit. We start with fun seated exercises, followed by our visiting expert. At the end of the session, we play parachute games, juggling, throwing balls, flat football, floor netball, finishing the session with a poem, lyrical or a reading.”

    The coming programme:

    16 April    Spring Tea Dance Ian Engish and Co
    30 April    Music & Comedy Adrian Broadway
    14 May      Music & Entertainment Jinglers Band
    11 June      Folk Dancing & Singing Black Dog Band
    25 June     Singing and Guitars Julia Hollander and Roddie
    9 July        Singing and Dance Village Voices
    23 July     Music and Singing Banjovi Revival
    06 Aug     Music and Song Dorothy Howlett – Music for Health
    20 Aug     Singing & Guitar Andrea Yates
    03 Sept    Music and Singing Chiltern Songbirds
    17 Sept     Music Therapy Ellie Ruddock ChilternMusicTherapy
    01 Oct     Music Singing Black Dog Band
    15 Oct     Drumming Fun African Marimbas
    29 Oct    Autumn Tea Dance Ian English & Co
    12 Nov   Music Therapy Frances Vovillo ChilternMusicTherapy
    26 Nov   Warm up to Xmas Heddi – Kiddledivy
    10 Dec    Christmas Carols Mill Lane School Choir

    Forget Me Knot Café
    Chinnor Village Centre
    www.facebook.com/forgetmeknotcafe

  • Thank you Thame Carnival! from town’s schools

    THAME’S schools now have extra funds to spend on projects for their pupils, thanks to the generosity of the people of Thame who contributed to the money raised by 21st Century Thame’s biggest annual event, the Thame Carnival and fete.

    St Joseph’s school celebrating their Carnival entry win on stage at the Carnival fete

    The sum of £725 has now been paid into the bank accounts of John Hampden PTFA, Barley Hill PTFA and St Josephs PTFA. Lord Williams’s schools’s PTA also raised £1,151 on their Pimms stall independently.

    Sharon Smits, Chair of John Hampden School’s PTFA, said: “We are delighted with the money Thame Carnival has donated to John Hampden School. It formed part of the fund we used to buy a new Trim Trail for the children. The children loved taking part in the carnival as it enhances their learning experience whilst having fun.”

    The Trim Trail installed at John Hampden School, Thame

    The Deputy Principal of St Joseph’s school, Thame, Fiona Dyer, said: “St. Joseph’s had a wonderful time at this year’s Thame Carnival. It’s a wonderful community event – enjoyed by all. We were delighted to come first this year and thank everyone involved in making it a success – especially our fantastic School Orchestra.

    “‘The generous donation will go towards buying an electric piano to enhance the children’s musical learning at assemblies, collective worship and school performances.”

    A spokesperson for Barley Hill School, said: “Barley Hill would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to Thame Carnival for their very generous donation. We thoroughly enjoyed coming together with the other schools and community to celebrate Thame. The money will help us to buy more fiction books for our Library.”

    Barley Hill’s entry in Thame Carnival 2018

    Karen Shardlow, Chair of Lord Williams’s PTA, was delighted with the support they received at the fete. She said: “We are really pleased to be part of Thame Carnival; a fantastic community event which has given us the opportunity to fundraise for LWS. Pimms proved to be a huge success and monies raised will be used to buy outdoor sports equipment for our students. Well done to the organising committee and many thanks to everyone who visited our stall.”