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Category: Thame news

  • Exciting new Public Art Strategy for Thame

    A draft plan for a Public Art Strategy for Thame is on the agenda for a meeting of Thame Town Council’s Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Committee, which includes several ideas for public arts projects around the town.

    ‘Colour Spaces’ by Claude Heath (Cotmore Business Park)

    Overseen by a steering group, the local community will be included in the creation of Public Art, through voting on designs, taking part in community events to help celebrate and unveil the works of art, participating in activities with the selected artist/s or by just meeting and inspiring the artist with stories and local knowledge.

    Eight projects have so far been identified, which, if they go ahead, will be funded mostly by Section 106 agreements with Developers of new building developments around town. These are, in order of priority:

    1. Town-wide wayfinding project that both improves communication routes through the town as well as raising awareness of Thames Heritage. Included in this
    connecting all new estates into Thame, but also covering wayfinding throughout the rest of town (covering Lea Park).
    Involve the whole community possibly through resident associations. Look at involving other community groups in locations that are relevant to them.

    2. Co-op Alleyway to Dorchester Place Car Park: Boost the profile of this space by making it more inviting to walk through, not just a gap between buildings. Making the
    alleyway more of a threshold that helps people to anticipate what is beyond the Alleyway – especially as a gateway to the Phoenix Trail.

    3. Marking the gateways into the town centre using the roundabouts located at Chinnor Road, Kingsey Road, Aylesbury Road, Oxford Road, to celebrate Thame’s
    identity as a Market Town.

    4. Greyhound Lane: Create something that is beautiful in its own right, but also serves as a frame from which community groups and artists could hang a temporary art
    display. Create a sense of busy vibrant community. Allows for more arts in the street.

    5. Montesson Square: Meeting point of all directional signage boards in Thame: a place where these all come together and meet, in a central ‘meeting point’. Connect
    different elements of Thame together in one place to raise awareness of Thames Heritage and Thame today.

    6. Bridge on old Long Crendon Road: Make more of this area. Celebrate the connection of Tolkien’s short story to this location. Possibly improve access to the field for
    dog walkers.

    7. Information Boards: purpose built information boards on each new estate. Designed to link to Wayfinding project.

    8. The Elms: focus on artwork to educate about the Burgage plots in Thame. Potential to look at further piece of Art work in some of the gardens. To be followed up
    once progress has been made on the Sale of the land.

    The meeting is on Tuesday, September 25, in the council chamber, at 7.30pm and is open to the public.

  • Sport, Science, politics or crime – whatever your poison, TAL has it!

    WITH just over four weeks to go until TAL (Thame Arts and Literature festival) October 18-21, tickets are selling fast! This year’s festival is jam-packed, with over 35 events during four days offering the chance to ask authors questions or chip in with your thoughts and get your books signed. Other events include uplifting musical performances and workshops to inspire.

    Already a sell-out are Mary Robinson, Lucy Worsley, Johnny Johnson and Jasper Winn. Oxus and Opera Anywhere with The Music of Morse has now also sold out. But there are plenty more events still with some availability and they’re all listed in the FREE TAL Souvenir Brochure available from Thame Town Hall, The Book House and from most of the pubs and cafés around town. It’s full of all the Festival details you need, including who’s on where and when. So it’s definitely handy to carry with you when TAL begins.

    SPORT

    If Sport is your thing, hows about a riveting sporting mystery, Grahame Lloyd’s Howzat? The Six Sixes Ball Mystery, will make even a reader who’s no great cricket fan keep eagerly turning the pages. He gives a fascinating insight into a bizarre cricket tale.

    Its the 50th anniversary of Garry Sobers hitting Malcolm Nash for an historic 36 runs off six deliveries at Swansea in 1968. Cricket’s Everest was finally conquered.

    In 2006, the ball supposedly used in the over fetched a record £26,400 at Christie’s – but was it the right one? When it was put up for sale again in 2012, the plot thickened.
    Sunday 21st October 2pm Christchurch

    Once upon a time, Instead of the gleaming, expensive sports cars driven by today’s top players, football stars travelled to matches on public transport! Based on the first-hand accounts of players from a fast-disappearing generation, When Footballers Were Skint: A Journey in Search of the Soul of Football relates the fascinating story of a truly great sporting era, written by Jon Henderson. He will be interviewed by Roger Alton, former editor of the Observer.
    Sunday 21st October 3.30pm Barns Centre.

    CRIME

    For lovers of Crime fiction, you’ll be gripped by the talk, Location, Location, Location, from the Oxford Chapter of the Crime Writers’ Association, revealing why it’s so important to set the scene of your crime novel both geographically and historically.

    Friday 19th October 12.30pm Christchurch

    For full details of what’s on during TAL 2018, go grab the FREE brochure or visit the TAL website HERE

  • Appeal for missing Brandon from Risborough

    THAMES Valley Police is appealing for the public’s help in tracing a boy who went missing from Princes Risborough yesterday afternoon, Wednesday.

    Brandon Malaure, aged 17, was last seen yesterday (19/9) at around 3.45pm at Aylesbury Railway Station.

    He is white, 5ft 10ins tall of slim build and has short dark brown hair. He was last seen wearing dark tracksuit trousers and a dark t-shirt.

    Investigating officer Inspector Tracey Benham based at Aylesbury police station, said: “I would like to hear from anyone who may have seen Brandon, or anyone who knows where he may be.

    “We just want to make sure that he is safe and well.

    “Brandon, if you see this, please get in touch and let us know you are safe.”

    If anyone has information about Brandon’s whereabouts, please contact Police on 101, quoting 43180287199 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

    You can also make a report online by clicking here.

  • UPDATED: Lord Bill’s Open Day for prospective pupils and parents

    AS the deadline for applications for 2019, Year Seven at Lord Williams’s School in Thame, draws nearer – it’s October, 31, 2018 – the school’s Open Evening will be on October 3, 2018.

    MORE details from the school:

    “Our Open Evening for prospective students and their parents/carers is taking place on Wednesday 3rd October 2018. This is an opportunity to hear from the Headteacher and current students, see the facilities of the school and talk with staff and students.

    “You are welcome to tour the school at your own pace, visiting any of the areas highlighted on the map (provided on the evening) between 5.30pm and 6.55pm. There will be a talk by the Headteacher, with contributions from current students, starting at 7.00pm in the Sports Hall. The evening will finish at approximately 7.30pm.

    “PLEASE NOTE: Parking is limited so we advise you to walk or car share where possible and ask that you please do not block neighbours’ driveways or park on the verges. Parking Marshals will be in operation, please ensure you follow their instructions for your safety and the safety of pedestrians on site.
    Additional parking will be available at Chinnor Rugby Club (Rectory Pavilion, Kingsey Road, Thame, OX9 3JL) which is approximately a 5-10 minute walk from the school.

    Lord Williams’s Lower School, Towersey Road, Thame OX9 3NW – www.lordwilliams.oxon.sch.uk

  • Entertainment guaranteed at ‘Humourous Speech’ contest

    AN entertaining evening is guaranteed for anyone who accepts an open invitation to Thame Speakers Club’s annual Humorous Speech Contest, next Wednesday (26/09) at the Thame Town Hall.

    George Anderson, demonstrating his public speaking skills

    A FREE welcome glass of wine awaits on arrival at the event that kicks off at 7:30 pm with an informal networking session – a great chance to meet new faces from the local area. The speaking start at 7:30 pm and run until 9:30 pm.

    Thame Speakers Club’s President, Dom Stanway Williams, said: “With speakers of all levels competing, the event is a great chance to gain insight into how anyone can develop there own public speaking skills, no matter how competent they feel!”

    Thame-based Well-being expert, George Anderson, who since joining Toastmasters in 2007 has developed a career in public speaking, added: “Toastmasters has helped me build my confidence in public speaking, as well as teaching me how to become a more effective communicator. At the open evening I’ll be sharing some of my experiences as a professional speaker, as well as some of my top tips for improving your presentation skills.”

    If you’re keen to know more, make sure you come along to the Town Hall on Wednesday.

    The club’s following meeting with be held at the new venue of the Thame Barns Centre (where the club have moved to from the Cross Keys Pub) from 19:45 – 21:30 on Wednesday, October 10. As always, guests will always be welcome for FREE, and not expected to speak! – Parking is available on site.

    For more information about Thame Speakers Club, visit the group’s website HERE

  • If you missed it, it was Oh! What A Lovely War

    SINCE joining Thame Players more than thirty five years ago, I have watched and been in, some wonderful productions and some not so wonderful, some financially successful, others not so much. Watching Steve Lambell’s production of ‘Oh! What A Lovely War’, last week I decided that it definitely belonged in the wonderful production category if not lacking just a little pace in parts.

    If a person watches anything live in a theatre and then finds themselves singing the songs and going over certain scenes in their mind for some days afterwards, that surely means the production must have made an impact. Oh! sure, there were a few ‘moments’ shall we say, some members of the of the cast were stronger than others – but that is only to be expected in a piece which has a cast of thousands, (sic), and starts off being a complex entertainment to stage in the first place.

    The director, the crew, the technical team – all of the backroom personnel and not least of all the cast, made one hell of a fist of Joan Littlewood’s vision of the pathos, humour and futility that came with the ‘Great War’, the war to end all wars – we were told!

    This isn’t an easy Musical Entertainment to stage. With numerous entrances and exits, a massive number of costume changes, the same actors playing different parts, alarming sound effects, a complicated lighting plot and an intricate back projection storyboard, all of these pitfalls could have conspired to spell out a disastrous night at The Players Theatre in Thame.

    Instead, on the night I attended it seemed a seamless production. With the ringmaster, Tony Long weaving a thread through the narrative, keeping us informed as it were, (as well as following his calling as a believable Padre), with such wonderful vignettes being portrayed by accomplished actors like Bernadette Tildesley and Colleen Tudway, the sombre mood and high humour portrayed by soldiers Adam Hurst, Steve Batchelor, Josh Rush and John Fowler.

    The solo numbers projected confidently by Lucy Hardy, Juliet Kendall, Nicky Rochford, Julia Rush and John Poole. The adept tinkling of the ivories by Steve Bannister as Musical Director – all combined to make this a suitable testament to the Centenary Anniversary of the First World War. Added to this, who can forget the hilarious drill sergeant scene? A virtuoso performance by Andy Dale, the staring eyes and awesome presence of Adrian Vickers’ Field Marshall Lord Haig, the tongue twisting rendition given by the ‘Ladies’ of ‘Sister Susie Sowing Shirts…..’ lead by Carolyn Ross and the unforgettably haunting offering of Tom Mackriell’s ‘When This Bloody War Is Over’?

    Other names to be Mentioned In Dispatches and who more than ably supported their colleagues on the battlefield are Niamh Blane, Jane Burke, Janet Erskine, Gill Quartly and Charlotte Schuman, Oh! oh! oh! what A Lovely War – indeed.

    SOURCE: Contributed by Brian

  • ‘Peoples’ Vote’ campaigners to take the train to lobby MP

    ON Sunday, September 30, a group of normal people from Thame will gather at Haddenham and take a train. They won’t be going to their day jobs.

    Robin Storey

    Instead, cross party and no party Peoples Vote supporters will be heading to Birmingham on the 0900 to call on John Howell MP to join the campaign for a Peoples Vote at the Conservative Party Conference.

    Robin Storey, Founder member of the Open Britain Thame group, and campaigner for a Peoples’ Vote on the Government’s final Brexit deal, explained: “A botched no-deal or bad deal Brexit will leave the Constituency in a mess. We’re asking John Howell MP to take a lead and help find a way out from party infighting, along with other like-minded moderate Conservative MPs. It’s no longer good enough to say things are fine with Brexit, as we know so much more about the adverse effects on real people.”

    Nobody voted to be poorer

    “These national issues are also local issues – nobody in Oxfordshire voted to be poorer and all voters feel increasingly deceived, with livelihoods threatened by a Brexit that isn’t going well,” he added.

    “We’re conducting a survey of local business to add local data and views to the national picture. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/EU_Business_Survey

    “Every Saturday, Peoples Vote stalls are being held in Thame at 2pm to sign up supporters, and a national march will take place in London on October 20, calling for a Peoples Vote on the terms of the final Brexit deal. Over 100,000 attended the last march, including many from Thame.

    “We’d like to talk again with John Howell MP at one of these constituency events or in Birmingham. Specifically, we’d like to talk about jobs and weakening investment. BMW Mini in Cowley have warned publicly of the threat to their supply chain. Jaguar LandRover have also warned that many thousands of jobs are at risk by a no deal Brexit.

    “High tech business around Oxford wonder why they are losing qualified EU staff, who no longer feel welcome. Commuters who live in Thame are worried. JP Morgan and many other firms have recently announced jobs moving out of the City, taking with them key parts of our tax base and capability.

    In the Retail sector,John Lewis have blamed Brexit as one reason for poor recent results.”

    NHS and public services

    Robin continued: “We’d like to talk about how this affects the NHS and funding for all our public services if the economy and tax base does less well, outside of the EU single market and customs union, with much less comprehensive and efficient trade arrangements than we currently have.

    “Staff shortages at the John Radcliffe are a problem already, as EU staff return home, leading to ward closures.

    “In future, the Treasury’s own figures show 7% less cumulative economic growth through to 2030 with no deal. How will these services be funded?

    “These are the sorts of issues we’re asking our MP to engage with at a time like this. That’s why we’ve been calling on John Howell MP to support the Peoples Vote on the terms of the final Brexit deal and why we’ll be in Birmingham.

    “See you on the 0900 from Haddenham on Sunday, September 30!” Robin concluded.

  • Thame offenders brought to justice

    THE Thames Valley Police Neighbourhood Team for Thame, has issued its monthly news update, which included the information that a 26 year-old male from Thame has been sentenced to prison for twelve weeks for possession of cocaine, failing to stop at a road traffic collision, having no insurance and driving without due care and attention. He was also disqualified from driving.

     

    A thirty eight year-old male, also from Thame, was arrested on 07/04/18 by the Thame neighbourhood team on suspicion of drug driving. The male was then arrested on 23/07/18 for driving with excess alcohol and no insurance. He was suspended from driving for four years and fined £150.

    What the neighbourhood team have been doing

    PCSOs Diane Jackson and Maya Brien gave a talk to the Thame day centre on 08/08/18 regarding door stop crime – how to avoid this crime and stay vigilant.

    Have Your Say meetings

    The Thame neighbourhood team will be having a number of Have Your Say meetings in and around Thame. Anyone is welcome to go along and discuss any local concerns:
    • Wheatley Merry Bells – 13/09/18 at 11am & 04/10/18 at 11am
    • Waitrose Thame – 24/09/18 at 3pm & 19/10/18 at 11am
    • Coop Thame – 14/09/18 at 3pm & 15/10/18 at 1.30pm

    More PCSOs for Thame

    This month the Neighbourhood team welcomed a brand new PCSO to Thame, PCSO Maciej Stempniowski. Also, PCSO Natalie White is now back from maternity leave and will be working from 9am – 6pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. From the 01/10/18,  PCSO Graham Davey will be back in Chinnor.

     

     

  • District council wants ‘more clarity’ on Expressway route

    FOLLOWING the government’s announcement that ‘Corridor B’ is its preferred option for the proposed Oxford Cambridge Expressway, South Oxfordshire District Council has issued its response.

    The A34 during a rare quiet period. Image courtesy of geograph.org.uk/

    The government has stated that this route would see a road pass either to the north-west or south-east of Oxford, then north to Bicester and beyond which would be designed to take up to 40 minutes off the journey between the A34 and the M1.

    Cllr Jane Murphy, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “It’s important that progress is now being made on the Oxford to Cambridge Corridor. Our residents have been waiting for an update on this issue, which will have a significant impact on life in Oxfordshire. We are disappointed the announcement doesn’t bring the clarity or certainty our residents need about the route around Oxford. We are now calling on the government to confirm their intentions as soon as possible, and we stand by our position that the route to the west of the city is the best outcome for our residents.”

  • All ‘Thame Remembers’ crosses delivered!

    THAME Remembers, set up in 2014 to commemorate every named person on the town’s War Memorials, with a special cross, has achieved its aim of remembering all 212 men from Thame who fell in World War One by placing a Thame Remembers Cross on their grave or memorial wherever in the world that may be, by the centenary of the end of WW1 in November this year.

    Troops leaving Thame railway station to fight in WW1

    To achieve this, Thame Remembers has calculated that over 300 volunteers have travelled more than 150,000 miles and visited; four continents, 23 countries, 31 memorials and 102 cemeteries, and the team behind the project have expressed their gratitude to the people of Thame for this fantastic achievement.

    For more information about Thame Remembers, go to www.thameremembers.org, where you can also find information about their upcoming Ten Tommies from Thame production on November 9 & 10 . Tickets are for sale from Spear Travels, in Greyhound Walk, Thame.