FROM Sunday, January 27, Thame’s Oxfam bookshop will be closing temporarily for a three-week refresh.
Donors of books, CDs, DVDs, maps, music, cameras or musical instruments are requested to donate to the Oxfam shops in Aylesbury, Headington and Princes Risborough in the meantime. These shops are better set up for these types of donations than the standard Oxfam shop in Thame, and will be open for donations and business as normal. Customers are also able to use the Oxfam website to shop online.
The bookshop staff and volunteers would like to say ‘thank you’ to donors and customers for supporting Oxfam and they are looking forward to welcoming them again following the reopening in February.
FOLLOWING on from the phenomenal success last year which saw tens of thousands of votes come flooding in for local businesses, this year’s Little Ankle Biters Awards 2019 for Oxfordshire is set to be even bigger and better. The awards are designed to help celebrate and promote local Oxfordshire businesses who provide an outstanding service for families across the county.
Kate Gregory, Co-Founder & Editor for Oxfordshire, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the diversity and scale of businesses offering fantastic services to families, including eating out, local attractions, theatres, soft plays, and more. We want to help celebrate these businesses and spread the word to families across Oxfordshire, showcasing the businesses that get a seal of approval from local parents and carers.”
Nominations, which open on Monday, January 21, 2019, can be registered on www.oxon.ankle-biters.co.uk. Nominations are open to the public to nominate their favourite Oxfordshire-based business across 10 categories. After this point a shortlist of finalists will be shared before voting commences for the winner in each category. Categories are:
Best family friendly place to eat
Best family friendly pub
Best local museum
Best children’s party entertainer
Best family attraction
Best local theatre
Best soft play
Best children’s party venue
Best children’s sports club or class
Best children’s activity class
The winners will be announced week commencing February 26, 2019.
A new ‘Growth Deal’ for Oxfordshire should see 1,300 new affordable homes being built in the next three years, including new social-rented housing, according to Suth Oxfordshire District Council Leader, Cllr Jane Murphy.
Cllr Murphy recently gave a speech and presentation at Westminster about the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal, the first of its kind which has secured for Oxfordshire £215 million in funding, as the initial down payment of investment to support new infrastructure, housing and jobs within the county.
A link to Cllr Murphy’s full presentation, can be found HERE
IN an article in The Guardian on Thursday (10/01/19), it was reported that the number of Independent Bookshops has grown for the second year in a row, after a 20 year decline, and Thame’s Book House has been named by the paper’s readers as one of the most loved bookshops around the world!
2013 Masterchef winner Natalie Coleman, with winners of the Thame Food Festival Childrens’ cookery competition in 2016, at The Book House, Thame
In response to the news, Co-owner, Brian Pattinson, told Thamenews.net: “We are delighted to be included in the Guardian’s shortlist of independent bookshops this week. The Guardian invited people to name their favourite independent bookshop and give reasons for their choice. We believe many people responded to this request, naming the Book House.
“Of these, the newsphaper chose to print a piece by someone who remembered her childhood visits to the Book House and now, though no longer living in the area, still enjoys returning to the shop. As well as praising the staff for their expertise in recommending books she added: “This shop is integral to the town and does so much for the community.”
‘Anonymous of Teddington’, actually wrote in full: “This shop is part of my life. I remember visiting all the time as a small child and loving the fact that the chairs were small, the tables low and you could read the books in the children’s section whilst your parent/s were in the rest of the shop. Then as I grew up, I continued to purchase books as the team were so good at recommendations and would order in specific books. I now live away from the area but every time I go home, I pay a visit to the Book House for old times’ sake. This shop is integral to the town and does so much for the community.”
So there is good news to be had in the High Street!
You can read the whole of the Guardian article HERE
YESTERDAY, January 12, the emergency services were called to a road traffic collision between a car and lorry at the junction to the Upper High Street car park in the centre of Thame.
Fire crews were quickly on the scene and found an elderly male trapped in the front seat of the car.
Firefighters, using specialist battery operated rescue equipment, removed the doors to enable access to the driver and enable medically trained fire fighters to administer first aid to the occupant until the arrival of paramedics and specialist doctors. Fire Crews continued to take the roof off the car to provide access to remove the man safely from the car and onto a stretcher and then to be taken to hospital by South Central Ambulance Service.
Thames Valley Police are investigating the cause of the incident.
Incident Commander Andy Ford from Thame said: “This collision shows how even at slow speeds a collision can still cause significant damage to vehicles and result in potentially serious injuries. It’s a reminder to always wear a seatbelt even when driving slowly and to be aware of other road users at all times.”
THAME Show, which has run in various forms since 1855, has been held in the town for the last time .
A scene from Thame Show 2011
A post on social media today, from Co-organiser Karoline Thorpe, explained why the decision has had to be taken, for what sadly is an end of an era. In her statement Karoline wrote:
“Chris Parker and I had a meeting today and we have had to make the decision not to carry on running Thame Horse & Country Show on the Thame Showground anymore. It costs to much money and when we get let down with sponsors not paying up we end up pulling our hair out. This has been a hard decision as we wanted to keep the show going because it’s tradition, but having to always run the show on a Thursday in this day and age didn’t help; we tried but sorry – it’s had it’s day.
“The show will return in 2020 but from now on it will be held at Addington Manor Equestrian Centre. The name will be ‘Thame Horse & Country Show at Addington’. The other news is that the date from next year onwards will be the second Sunday in September, so that should bring in far more competitors, so from Chris and I, thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you in 2020.”
For many years recently the show has suffered from bad weather reducing visitor numbers on some years and has also been affected by the school children of Thame, who historically had the day off for Thame Show, no longer being giving that holiday.
ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour (ASB) is on the increase in and around Thame again according to Thame’s Community Policing team.
Image for illustrative purposes only
The Thame neighbourhood team have said that they will be conducting regular hi-vis patrols throughout Thame, focusing particularly on the town centre, Southern Road Recreation Ground and The Skate Park, where they have received regular reports of ASB taking place. Large amounts of litter and gas canisters have been found at the Skate Park, Southern Road Recreation Ground and St Mary’s church in Thame, and outside the village hall in Horspath.
Anyone with any information regarding this problem is asked to report via the police 101 telephone number.
FOLLOWING the appearance of a video that allegedly shows illegal activity by the Kimblewick Hunt, Thames Valley Police have issued the following statment to Thame.net:
“Thames Valley Police is aware of the footage which appears to show an incident of fox hunting, which took place near Moreton Field Farm, in Moreton, Thame on 1 January.
“An investigation is underway. No arrests have been made.
“Anyone with information is asked to call 101 and quote 43190006535.”
FOLLOWING alleged illegal activity by the Kimblewick Hunt, highlighted in a video released on social media, and broadcast on the BBC News programme, Thame Town Council have issued the following statement:
The moment a Terrierman is alleged to be dragging a fox out of a hole by its back legs
The statement reads: “Thame Town Council has been made aware of a potential serious incident relating to the Kimblewick Hunt which met in Thame on New Year’s Day. We understand that this is a matter for the police to investigate further. The Town Council has always been assured of the full legality of the New Year’s Day meet, which is organised entirely by the hunt itself, under their supervision and at their cost. We have in the past given permission for the hunt to meet in the Upper High Street Car Park which is under the Town Council’s control.
“The Town Council will review the outcome of any further investigations in due course.”
A spokesperson for the organisation, Hunt Sabateurs, Lee Moon, posted on twitter that he told BBC South Today; “…the Kimblewick
Hunt would have to be suspended by the Masters of Foxhounds Association and we would expect to see the hunt disbanded.”
It is claimed by the organisation that the video shows the Kimblewick Hunt’s Terriermen pull a fox out of an artificial earth and throw the animal in front of the pack of hounds at a New Year’s day meet, in woodland near the village of Moreton, close to Thame.
No one from the Kimblewick Hunt has been available for comment.
SUE and Byron Harvey, whose stunning Christmas lights lit up their front garden in Wellington Street, Thame, have expressed their heart-felt thanks to all the people who put money in the charity box they hung on their garden wall, helping to raise £180 for charity!
The two charities that will share the funds are Dogs for Good, and Florence Nightingale Hospice. Both Sue and Byron have an assistance dog each and are well-known faces in and around the town.
