IF you are a community or non-for-profit group working for the benefit of the people of Thame, you have just one week left to apply for a grant up to £2,400 from Thame Town Council.
If your project addresses the needs, aspirations and issues of the people in our community, then you are eligible to apply.
Applications must be received by 5pm on Tuesday, April 30, 2019. You can download an application form from www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/grant-aid or collect one from the Town Hall. Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their grant application at the end of June.
For further information or for assistance in completing your form, contact Town Council on 01844 212833 or email info@thametowncouncil.gov.uk
THE Rotary Club of Thame and District, together with Thame and District Round Table is asking the public to check their sheds and lofts and bring their old tools to the main car park of Thame, Montesson Square, near the Market House.
Sewing machines donated by Thame residents could help thousands of African workers like Umu to become more self reliant. Photo: courtesy of TFSR
The tool collection will take place on Saturday, May 11, from 9am to 1pm. At the same time, Rotary members will be displaying a ShelterBox tent in front of Thame Town Hall to raise awareness of the work done by ShelterBox to help people affected by natural disasters around the world.
Every year Thame Rotary runs a collection point for unwanted tools (not garden tools!). These are then taken to Tools for Self Reliance (TFSR) collection centre in Southampton. The latter is a charity which refurbishes the tools and sends them to NGOs in Africa. The NGOs then distribute them FREE to men and women which helps them obtain work.
All of the tools sent to Africa are used to provide training and equip trainees with their own start-up kits to set up their own businesses after completing training, not only in their chosen trade, but in business management as well as financial and life skills.
One such trainee is Umu Jalloh. Umu was living in Freetown, Sierra Leone, with her brother when she joined a Tools for Self Reliance course in partnership with Baptist Women’s Union. She had never been to school, and had left the family home aged 14, to escape an arranged marriage – her brother was looking after her; but Umu wanted to be able to earn a living, and contribute to their expenses.
She signed up for a course in tailoring and enjoyed learning so much that she often stayed after the end of classes to practice. The business training, which was part of the programme, meant that Umu felt confident enough to purchase the materials she needed for a job, how to cost and price her products, and planning her use of the income.
Umu said the biggest change was being economically empowered ‘…..so I do not have to be reliant on a man’.
Items that can be taken to the collection point include sewing machines, tools used for plumbing, carpentry, metalwork, building, bicycle repair, shoe repair and car repair. No garden tools are accepted.
THAME and District Rotary’s Business in the Community Scheme which involves volunteers from local businesses joining employees from other companies and undertaking community projects, is under way for 2019.
Enthusiastic volunteer decorators at Thomley – Photo by John Singer
The scheme was initiated last year when Kubota Ltd, Lightfoots Solicitors, Lucy Electric Ltd, The Oxfordshire Golf Hotel and Spa, Richardsons Chartered Accountants and Waitrose all agreed to participate. This year all these companies have agreed to participate once again. Additionally, Farol Ltd and Le Manoir joined the scheme this year.
The first project undertaken was at Thame Citizens Advice offices when its two reception rooms and an office were redecorated. The work was undertaken by an energetic team of eight employees from Farol Ltd, Lightfoot’s Solicitors, The Oxfordshire Golf Hotel and Spa, and Waitrose. This included preparation, emulsion painting of the walls and ceilings and gloss painting the wood work.
Liz Johnson, Manager Thame Citizens Advice, said: “We would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to the Rotary Club of Thame and the volunteers from local businesses who worked so hard on this project. They have transformed the reception areas and one of the client meeting rooms to make them bright, clean and welcoming for our visitors and for the volunteers who work here. We were delighted to be able to benefit from this initiative which enabled us to greatly improve our public areas without diverting funds away from client facing services.”
Ali Anning, HR Business Partner, Farol Ltd said “Farol are thrilled to have joined the ‘Business in the Community’ initiative this year – it is great to be involved in such a scheme. Our first volunteers really enjoyed the days they spent on their projects and we look forward to helping again soon.”
The second project was undertaken at Thomley, when another team of enthusiastic volunteers from Farol Ltd, Le Manoir, Lightfoots Solicitors, Richardsons Chartered Accountants, and Waitrose carried out work on the reception areas and offices. This also included preparation of walls and ceilings, emulsion painting and gloss painting of the woodwork.
Denise Kemp spent a day at Thomley. She said: “I was pleased to be able to help out as part of the volunteer programme by The Rotary Club. The facilities at Thomley are really fantastic and it was great to learn more about what they do. I was part of the team that helped in the decorating of some of the offices and general areas, the other volunteers were a great bunch of people and although we worked hard to get the job finished, we had a great day. It really was an absolute pleasure to have helped those that do so much.”
Jackie Slocombe, HR & L&D Manager added: “At Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, we have established important values that all of our employees aspire to on a daily basis, including Care, Confidence, Curiosity and Community. It is therefore important to us that we establish positive connections with our communities and give back what we can, when we can.
“The Rotary Club has given us an incredible opportunity to truly live out these values, and it enables our employees to take some time away from their busy working lives and make a difference in a very special way. We look forward to a continued partnership with The Rotary Club and our local communities.
“The financial value of these first two projects is estimated at approximately £3,000. The Rotary Club of Thame and District and the participating companies are extremely grateful to generosity of Brewers in Aylesbury for donating all of the paint materials and equipment required for the work in Citizens Advice and Thomley.”
John Singer of Thame and District Rotary added: “The programme seems to have appealed again to companies and employees alike and it’s clearly benefitting the community. The local businesses have been most generous by allowing their employees to participate in the scheme. I have found it remarkable how enthusiastic the volunteers have been to support this community work.”
John concluded:” This is another example of how Rotary and Businesses, working together, can make things happen and we intend that this will be a regular event.”
To find out on how to get involved with Rotary Club of Thame & District projects or to join the club, visitwww.thame.rotary1090.org and www.facebook.com/thamerotary
AT around 4.30pm on Sunday (21/4) an altercation broke out between two groups of men, who are believed to be known to each other, at a disused quarry in Chinnor. Weapons were used by both groups to threaten each other.
Chinnor quarry – Image courtesy of Paul Snook
The groups then left the scene. It is believed that members from one of the groups were driving a white Peugeot van that came off the road and hit a grass verge on Chinnor Hill at around 4.55pm. The occupants of the van then got into another vehicle which was driven away.
There have been no reports of injuries from these incidents.
Investigating officer PC Matthew Huard, based at Thame police station said: “We are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed this incident or saw anything suspicious in the area of the quarry and the Ridgeway between the hours of 4pm and 7pm on Easter Sunday to please come forward.
“In particular I would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident involving the white Peugeot at around 4.55pm on Chinnor Hill or has dash-cam footage of the incident to contact the 24-hour non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 43190119960.
“I would like to remind residents that the quarry is not open to the public and is very dangerous.”
Alternatively, you can call the non-emergency telephone number, 101, or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
THE River Thame Conservation Trust (RTCT) has announced that the River Thame flood meadows at Waterstock have received formal designation as a new Local Wildlife Site.
Curlew at Waterstock – Image by Julie Cuthbert
This designation acknowledges Waterstock’s exceptional variety of bird species, including the rare breeding curlew, and its importance as a habitat for otters, other mammals and endangered plants.
Local Wildlife Sites are special places, recognised for having high wildlife value or containing rare or threatened habitats and species of county or national importance. So, it is a serious accolade for the historic, Oxfordshire village of Waterstock’s flood meadows to receive this designation via the Oxfordshire Local Wildlife Sites Project, a partnership between the Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (TVERC) and Berkshire Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT).
Gaining Local Wildlife Site status after only three years of regular monthly surveys underlines the importance of the Waterstock flood meadows and other habitats as a safe haven for a rich variety of wildlife. For sites where value for birds is a determining factor designation can require five years’ worth of data, but the deciding panel of experts quickly recognised how valuable the flood meadows are, especially for the wide range of bird species that choose to breed, winter or use the flood meadows as a stop off and refueling point when migrating.
Pim Young, Oxfordshire Local Wildlife Sites Project Officer explained: “Across Oxfordshire rough grazing marsh and floodplain habitat is a real rarity. It plays host to some of our most endangered breeding bird species such as curlew – and it also provides crucial wintering habitat for large numbers of birds. We’re delighted that the hard work of volunteer bird surveyors has led to the discovery of such an important new site. This ongoing collection of biological data helps the Oxfordshire Local Wildlife Sites Project build a more detailed picture of the richness of sites, such as this at Waterstock.”
RTCT Surveyor, Nick Marriner commented: “Given this month (April 21) we were celebrating World Curlew Day, it’s very exciting that in recent weeks we have recorded 12 curlews in the Waterstock area. Last year the RSPB estimated there were 10 breeding pairs in the Upper Thames area east of Oxford. To have the majority of them in this area, highlights how important Waterstock and its flood meadows are both locally and regionally and how vital its wild and undisturbed habitat is. The iconic curlew is the UKs largest wading bird species and has one of the most evocative calls of all birds. It adds a real sense of wildness to the area, an ever-rarer feature in the South East of England”
The curlew is one of the UK’s most rapidly declining breeding bird species showing a 46% decline across the UK from 1994-2010. The UK holds 28% of the European breeding population. Curlew has recently been listed by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee as globally near-threatened, one of the few British species on this list. Their decline can be attributed to destruction of habitat and high levels of disturbance.
In over three years of monthly bird surveys* by RTCT volunteer surveyors; 103 bird species were recorded of which 61 are on the protected species list.
Highlights include:
Wading birds – curlew, snipe, lapwing, jack snipe, green sandpiper and oystercatcher;
Wintering Wildfowl – wigeon, teal, shoveler, gadwall, teal and pintail;
Migrating birds – hawfinch, redstart, whinchat, wheatear, sand martin, yellow wagtail
Owls and Raptors – hobby, peregrine falcon, barn owl and tawny owl
Breeding passerines – spotted flycatcher, garden warbler, willow warbler, lesser whitethroat, kestrel, yellow wagtail
“We fairly quickly discovered that Waterstock is a hidden jewel in the crown of the River Thame”, said Sally Rowlands, Chair of the RTCT. “It forms one of the richest areas for wildlife on the river. So, it’s not surprising so many of our endangered wetland birds choose to call it home. It’s brilliant the area is now formally on the birding map of Oxfordshire and the efforts of local landowners recognised for the great work they are doing to provide fantastic habitat.”
And it’s not just birds. Waterstock enjoys regular sighting of otters and cubs using the river. It has 11 species of fish in the river and over 300 species of plants, including bee orchids and the rare great dodder.
Henry Manisty, Waterstock resident said: “I have lived in the village for over 20 years and have always enjoyed seeing kingfishers, grey wagtails and little egrets feeding along the river, and regularly captured otters and polecats on our wildlife cameras. However, it wasn’t until we started working with the RTCT and their volunteer bird surveyors that we were able to monitor professionally the exceptional variety of birdlife. It’s a real honour for my land and our neighbouring flood meadows to become a Local Wildlife Site and a privilege to wake up each morning in the spring hearing the sound of calling curlew.”
The designation and survey process are inspiring significant habitat improvement actions by Waterstock residents and landowners including 12 Owl boxes installed by Bucks Owl and Raptor Group, one barn owl taking up residence within three weeks of installation, plans for a network of ponds to support great crested newts in partnership with the South Midlands Newt Conservation Partnership, plans for a complex of wetland wader scrapes and reed bed habitat and the completion of a fish passage on the main river with RTCT and the Freshwater Habitats Trust.
Local Wildlife Sites are special places and alongside legally protected areas of land, such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), they form vital links across the county and beyond to create a national network of habitats that provide refuges for our country’s diverse flora and fauna.
THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following a burglary in Thame.
Image courtesy of Cornwall Live – for illustrative purposes only
At approximately 3am on Wednesday, April 17, unknown offenders broke into a property on Goffe Close, Thame. They broke in via patio doors. The house alarm was triggered and so the offenders left the scene.
It is believed that they were breaking in for the keys of the two BMWs on the driveway.
Did you see anything suspicious around this time? Do you live nearby and have CCTV that you can check on the night of the 16th/17th?
If you have any information about this incident please report it here or call 101.
WANT to try something new after Easter? Get into fencing! This exciting, dynamic and beautiful sport is easier than you think to learn, and suitable for all ages.
Thame Duellists Fencing Club is a friendly, mixed club open to beginners of any age from 7 years-old, as well as to more experienced fencers.
After the Easter break, starting on Thursday, April 25, we are running a beginners course for adults and over 11 years (separate session available at 6pm for school years 3-6) and places are available now. The course can lead (at participant’s choice) to a British Fencing Level 1 qualification.
Your first session is a free, no-obligation taster, and all the equipment you’ll need is provided throughout your course. If you’d like to book a place please let us know – email us at thameduellistsfencingclub@gmail.com
Fencing has history in Thame. James Figg (the local born champion boxer after whom the pub in town is named) was also a fencing master. Now, it’s a high-tech Olympic sport. Take up fencing – become part of the history and turn a swordfighting daydream into an exciting reality.
LOCAL people from Thame, Chinnor, Haddenham, Princes Risborough, and Long Crendon have been joining the action by Extinction Rebellion in London over the past three days, blocking major roads and bridges in the city, to demand government action on averting the worst effects of climate change.
Maureen Dyroff from Chinnor was at Marble Arch all day on Monday, along with three others from the AVDC area. She told Thame.Net: “It was a very peaceful protest with a lovely atmosphere and some very thought provoking and inspiring speakers.”
‘People are recognising the severity of the threat’
Florence Miller from Long Crendon went with her three children. She explained why she decided to join the Extinction Rebellion protest: “I took my children (9, 5 and 5) to the Extinction Rebellion protest at Marble Arch. I feel the time has finally come when people are recognising the severity of the threat we’re facing, collectively, and the huge effort we must put into addressing it.
The Miller family from Long Crendon
“It was uplifting to be there, surrounded by others who are willing to be arrested to make the point. I had no plans to be arrested given I was there with my kids; we did stand on the road for a bit (and the kids lay down on it, because how often can you lie down on the road at Marble Arch?), but we mostly stayed on the grass, there to add to the numbers and provide moral support. It was rather wonderful to experience central London with no cars — the streets were amazingly calm.
‘convivial, welcoming and very respectful ‘
“My elder daughter (9) has watched a few of Greta Thunberg’s speeches and is very taken with her message; the little ones didn’t quite get what it was all about but loved the atmosphere, which was convivial, welcoming and very respectful. We were there on the first day of the protests and there had not yet been any arrests; the (many) police present were friendly and letting people get on with it.
‘Evidence-based hope’
“It’s too late to ‘avoid’ climate change; it’s already here. But human beings are incredibly resourceful, innovative and resilient. I have total confidence that we can mitigate the worst effects of it and in so doing transform our relationship with the planet and with each other. My husband and I worked on a short film for the BBC Ideas platform that outlines some of the ideas behind this ‘evidence-based hope’, as the Rapid Transition Alliance puts it: https://www.bbc.com/ideas/videos/can-we-transform-the-world-in-12-years/p073j3z5. I was pleased to see it linked to in the BBC’s coverage of the protests today: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-47947775
‘They’ll be there until the Government agrees to meet’
Florence concluded: “My children didn’t want to leave and are desperate to go back! I highly recommend it to all for a fun and positive atmosphere. I was under the impression that they’ll be there until the government agrees to meet, which might be some time…the more people, the more effective it will be!”
Manning the barricades
John Francis from Thame, went along on Tuesday to the protest with members of the Oxford XR group. He found himself at Marble Arch, manning the barricades to block the surrounding roads. John explained what had driven him to become involved with the protest:
‘Government not taking matters seriously enough’
“Despite what our MP John Howell has said, I don’t think the government is taking climate crisis seriously enough, nor taking the necessary action quickly enough. If it was, all these new houses going up would be of higher spec. with maximum insulation and solar power etc. and developers being allowed to lower standards at the planning inspection stage because of so-called ‘viability’ concerns.”
Officially ‘heading for a crisis’
“Several recognised bodies like the UN, the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Clinate Change and the World Wide Fund for Nature, have stated that we heading for crisis if we carry on the way we are. So, there have to be some massive changes; changes that may affect peoples lives. But if we do nothing, everyone’s life will be affected even more drastically.
Disappointment with Oxfordshire County Council
“Speaking more locally, I was disappointed that Oxfordshire County Council did not vote to declare a Climate Emergency and rather than stop the Express Way, by a narrow majority, voted to ask for more public consultation.
Fun, but a serious message
John concluded: “Although there was a jolly, party atmosphere among those at the rally, that didn’t deflect from the seriousness of the message Extinction Rebellion were trying to convey.”
FOLLOWING a question about Air Quality in Thame at the annual Town Meeting recently, Cllr Nigel Champken Woods has reported that currently, at the three monitoring points in Thame, the levels of NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) are below the ‘optimum’ of 40 micrograms per cubic meter.
An example of a Monitoring Passive diffusion tube similar to those used to monitor CO2 levels in Thame
Since 2015, levels of CO2 at the three Thame monitoring stations. Ludlow Drive, Park Street and Aylesbury Road, had steadily increased (See LINK for example https://oxfordshire.air-quality.info/diffusion_tube/162). Figures for 2018 are not available on the Oxfordshire Air Quality website.
The lower current figures so far this year could be influenced by the colder temperatures and lack of sunshine lately. It is the annual average figure that will show whether levels of CO2 are continuing to rise or not.
No monitoring in the town centre
Cllr Champken Woods pointed out at the final meeting of the current Thame Town Council on Tuesday (16/04) that no monitoring takes place in Thame town centre or the Oxford Road end of the High Street .
Part of SODC’s Air Quality Action Plan (AQMA) states: “Although the monitoring data suggests a downward NO2 concentration trend, this is only the case of Wallingford and Henley. Some other areas like Watlington’s AQMA, Thame, Chinnor and areas near the M40 have suffered significant increases in NO2 levels, suggesting the potential need for new AQMAs in the district.
Measures to reduce NO2 emissions
The main air quality measures South Oxfordshire has said that it would like to have progressed during 2018 aiming to reduce NO2 emissions are: • Further implementation of South Oxfordshire’s Low Emission Strategy (LES) • The installation of more electric vehicle (EV) charging points within some of the council owned car parks • Work towards some community engagement projects
‘May not gain political support’
But, the Plan then states: “The adoption of these measures, stated in the LES and described above, will progress and improve during 2018 and the next few years.
“However, the LES will face challenges since some of its measures are controversial and therefore may not gain political support.”
THAME Town Cricket Club welcomed a very special visitor after the club’s brand new pavilion was chosen to launch the new Home Counties Women’s Cricket League.
Claire Taylor was the first woman to win Wisden Cricketer of the Year and was capped 168 times for England including Ashes and World Cup wins. It is Claire’s aim to see opportunities for women’s cricket at all levels and in her inspiring speech, she stressed the importance of the enjoyment of the game, not just at competitive and elite levels but for all women who wish to play.
Representatives from the clubs in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire joined League and OCB officials to celebrate the new league as the 2019 season gets under way. The 24 clubs involved will play up to 15 fixtures over the season.
For League Chair, Tim Haworth of Moreton CC, it was the achievement of a long-held wish to provide a structure for women to play a range of cricket, having struggled to find a way to enable to his own three daughters to play. Neil Rider MD of League Sponsors, Serious Cricket, has a particular interest in the women’s game, having been manager and assistant coach of the England Women’s team between 2003 and 2007. T
The evening was rounded off by a delicious cricket tea and drinks from the new bar; and the next day, Thame’s women’s team won an indoor final versus Eynsham, so the women’s season has got off to a brilliant start!!
