Category: More News

THE popular Swap Shop, held from time to time in Thame, is coming again on Saturday, March 7, to Thame town hall, between 10am and 12 noon.

No doubt in these times of financial strain for most people, this latest Swap Shop will be even better attended. Local people can either take along or take for free CDs, DVDs, Videos, Books, Clothes, Bric-a-brac, Toys and games and Household items.

Recycle stations will be available for the following items:

Inkjet cartridges
Mobile phones
Spectacles
Household batteries
Clean foil

Electrical items are not permitted.

For further information contact Alison Isherwood, 21st Century Thame Project Officer on 07944 175633 or e-mail ai@21stcenturythame.org.uk

LOVE was the theme of the winning speech at Thame Speakers Club’s annual speech competition last week, setting its deliverer off on road that could end with a World title.

Phil Rose’s speech, entitled What is love? included some moving and intriguing responses, scoring highly enough to defeat three other contestants, Ian Brearly, Richard Moore and Angus Galbraith. Phil will now move on as the Club?s representative in an area wide competition to be held in St Mary?s Centre, Haddenham, on March 30.

Thame Speakers Club is one of more than 10,500 Toastmasters Clubs throughout the world. Each Spring approximately 50,000 members around the world compete in Club level contests. Through eliminations in competitions at area, division and regional levels, nine contestants will gather in the US and vie for the title of World Champion of Public Speaking.

Phil Rose has taken the first step on what could be a long journey.

A man charged with rape and sexual assault following an incident at Cuttlebrook, Thame, has been bailed by Oxford Magistrates.

Arram Price, 19, from Cariff, must report to the police every day until his appearance before Oxford Crown Court on Monday (23/02).

AFTER a eight year, on-off fight with the local authorities, the current owners of The Royal Oak pub (formerlty Paddy McGinty’s) have won their battle to transform it into a house.

Since the pub closed around nin years, the current owners have lived up-stairs and removed the fixtures and fittings from the public areas downstairs. They have continually maintained that it would not be viable as a business, and submitted several planning applications for change of use to a residence.

Thame Town Council has persistantly opposed the conversion of this once very popular pub, stating that a proper marketing exercise had never been carried out to see if it could be run as a going concern again.

In giving its reasons for the approval, the local planning authority, South Oxfordshire District Council, stated that whilst the terms of the policy CF-1 have not been me in full, in as much as the Royal Oak had not been marketed, it was accepted that it is currently not a commercially viable proposition……not capable of reopening as a pub without costly and extensive refurbishment and re-equipping…lost its customer base, not on a through-route so unable to attract passing trade, local population too small to make it sustainable and because the current uncertain economic climate had “depressed confidence in the licensed trade.”

A MAN with connections in Wheatley is wanted by the police in connection with a dozen robberies around Oxford.

Jon Shirley, aged 23, is believed to have committed a robbery at the BP Garage in Marston on Friday, (06/02) where he threatened a member of staff with a gun and stole cash.

The police believe that this robbery is linked to a further 11 that have taken place in the Oxford area since December for which Shirley will be questioned about when brought into custody.

He is described as being white, 6ft, slim, with un-kept, very dark brown hair and thick eyebrows.

Oxford Commander, Supt Andy Murray, said: “I would like to reassure the public that we are carrying out extensive enquiries to identify Shirley and arrest him.
“This is the top priority for Oxford and a team of specially trained officers are working on the enquiry to identify his whereabouts.
“He is a dangerous man and could be armed. I urge the public not to approach him but to dial 999 immediately if you see him or know where he is.
“I would describe him as chaotic and desperate, whose motivation is cash.
“He is local to Oxford and we believe he has connections in Headington, Cowley and Wheatley.
“There is a possibility that when Shirley knows his photo has been circulated to the media he may attempt to leave the area or go into hiding.
“I ask the public to familiarise themselves with his photo ? Have you seen him? Do you know where he is?”

Anyone with information about Jon Shirley can contact the police immediately on 999, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

AN ever-changing programme of events and exhibitions continues at Thame museum, with an exhibition of Weddings and Wedding Dresses, currently running until May 13, and a Valentine’s event for the family on Saturday.

DETAILS:

Valentine?s Day Craft Morning – Come and make a Valentine card or gift inspired by our card collection
on Saturday, February 14 – 10am – 1pm in the Community Room, Thame Museum. No need to book, just drop in and have a go! All ages welcome
Under 8 year olds must be accompanied by an adult.
It’s FREE! but contributions towards materials would be welcome.

An Exhibition of Weddings and Wedding Dresses
from the 20th Century – now until May 13 – Admission FREE – Sunday 12-4pm, Saturday, Tuesday, Wednesday 10am-4pm

CHILDREN can use an art exhibition featuring sound, light and theatre as inspiration to build their own moving toy at The Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock this school half-term.

The Sharmanka Travelling Circus and Gothic Kinetic have used unusual mechanical objects and carved figures in the exhibition, which is performed at the Park Street museum from February 11 to March 29.

Children can inject a bit of creativity into their week off from school on Tuesday, February 17 by making their own toys at the museum from 2pm-4pm.

Sculptures that ‘speak’

The sculptures ‘speak’, each detailing personal and cultural stories of life, death, cruelty and beauty.

Meanwhile, mechanical objects which include bicycle wheels and old domestic machinery move to create unforgettable sequences of light and sound in 30-minutes performances that are repeated hourly throughout the day.

Exhibition’s Russian roots

Sharmanka – the Russian word for musical instrument the hurdy gurdy – is the brainchild of Russian-born artist Eduard Bersudky, theatre director Tatyana Jakovskya and light and sound designer Sergey Jakovsky.

Councillor Jim Couchman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Social and Community Services, said: “This exhibition is very unusual and a really good opportunity to see a different form of art at The Oxfordshire Museum.

“We always have a wide range of exhibitions at The Oxfordshire Museum on a whole host of subjects which prove to be popular with visitors.”

No booking is required for the toy-making session, which costs

A FORMER St Mary?s School, Haddenham, pupil has won a prestiguous photographic award.
Paul Dorrell was awarded Best Single Commercial Image of 2008 at the Irish Professional Photographers Association?s annual awards on January 18.
Like award winning Haddenham photographer Paul Wilkinson, Paul Dorrell has recently become a Licentiate of the Master Photographers Association (MPA) and he is already a Licentiate of the Irish Professional Photographers Association (IPPA).

Paul Dorrell also qualified for the finals in the Childrens Portraiture and Reportage Wedding categories of the competition.

For more information about his business – Paul Dorrell Photography ? at the Newtown Centre, Annacotty, Limerick, and to see examples of his photos (including his winning image), go to www.pauldorrellphotography.com

PROPER FOOD FOR SMALL PEOPLE @ THE LAMBERT ARMS

Half term is here, and as well as keeping the little ones entertained, this is an occasion for families to eat together more often and more leisurely, taking day trips and stopping en route. This month The Lambert Arms, at London Road, Aston Rowant, offers a half-term menu which is not only healthy and delicious, but which is also FREE between Sunday 15 February and Sunday 22 February 2009.

Called ?Proper Food for Small People?, one child eats for free from this menu for every adult eating from the a-la-carte, excluding set price and sandwich menus. The offer is valid lunchtime Monday to Thursday 12 noon to 2.30 pm and in the evening Sunday to Thursday 6.30 pm to 8.00 pm.

This rather special children?s menu, nutritionally balanced and conceived to help them to their ?five-a-day?, includes mouth-watering and healthy versions of dishes such as Pan fried chicken breast with green beans and mashed potatoes, Mini fish & chips with peas and tomato sauce, or Grilled sausages with broccoli and onion sauce. Two great favourites are Ham and cheese ciabatta pizza with mixed leaf salad, and Penne pasta with fresh tomato and basil sauce. Delicious puddings with a grown up taste include Sticky toffee pudding with caramel sauce as well as a selection of Ice creams and Fresh fruit salad.

With the children happily tucking into their delicious menus, adults can dine from The Lambert Arms? modern British menu, and choose Grilled fillet of Cornish mackerel, crushed new potatoes with white crab meat and basil dressing served as a starter for

THE Solar panels on the roof of the Chilterns Conservation Board office in Chinnor reached a milestone recently when the total CO2 emmission saved since their installation reached 1,000kg.

Eight solar panels were installed on the office roof in September 2007 as part of the Conservation Board?s plan to become carbon neutral by 2010. Since they were ‘launched’ by Boris Johnson, they have been generating electricity to be used by the lighting and equipment in the office. So far they have generated enough electricity to power the average household for five months.

“We?re delighted to reach this milestone,” said Steve Rodrick, Chief Officer at the Conservation Board. “The poor summer last year meant it took longer than planned but if we get more sunshine this year it won?t take as long to save the next tonne of
CO2.”

The Conservation Board is the public body responsible for protecting the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is trying to become a local role model for reducing carbon emissions and has removed unnecessary office lighting, put in more insulation and reduced staff car mileage. Together with other initiatives like the distribution of free energy-saving light bulbs to parish councils, it all means that the Board is well on the way to becoming carbon neutral.

Picture: Flash back to when Boris Johnson, who was then MP for the Henley Constituency, officially ‘turned on’ the metre to measure the CO2 saved by solar panels on the roof.