Author: Sonja Francis

To celebrate Mary Pritchard’s 45 years of teaching speech and drama at Downley Lodge school, pupils (aged 8-18) will be giving performances of award winning pieces (starting at 2.30pm) at Haddenham Community Junior School, on December 4. The pupils will be joined by two members of Mid-Bucks U3A. Among the performers will be Chris Webster (18) from Dinton, who appeared in the film ‘About a Boy’ and is in a current McDonalds’ advert. For the second year running, Chris won the overall trophy for best drama performer at the recent Buckingham Festival, as well as winning 4 individual class trophies. Tickets at the door (

1. Burglary – witness appeal – Cotmore Gdns, Thame – between 12.00 & 22.00 Monday, Nov 22 – computer equipment stolen – report any suspicious people around at that time.
2. Burglary – St Andrews Road, Chinnor – Sunday, 14/11 – between 00.45 & 01.00 (15 mins) – broken into garage – stole bike – Did anyone hear anything or saw person pushing bike around at that time of night?
3. Criminal damage at allottments – Kingsey Road, Thame –
between Fri & Sun, 12 & 14 Nov – between 13.00 on Fri, and 11.00 Sunday; Pulled up cuttings of vegetables. Several allotment holders effected
4. Overnight Sunday 12/13 Nov – Pearce Way, Thame -Criminal damage to car – two tyres slashed and air let out of a third
5. Overnight Fri/sat 121/13 Nov – criminal damage to several cars between 17.30 and 08.30 – Queens Road, Thame – deep scratches to panelling with sharp instrument.
6. 11th Nov – Kingsey Rd, between 17.00 and 18.00 – Thurs – goose shot while sitting in a barn. Air gun pellet found in wound in back of head.
7. WARNING for school kids – a silver mini bus was reported going around school pick up points around Wheatley telling kids that it was a replacement for their usual bus which had broken down. Fortunately no kids got in and so other incidents have been reported since but general warning gone out to all the schools in the area.
Anyone with any information about any of the above, contact either the Police Enquiry line 0845 8505505 or Crimestoppers (anonymously) on 0800 555111

AN ex resident of Thame, who lived in the town until 1983, wants to contact ex school and work mates. He sent the following to ThameNews.Net.
“I am an ex resident of Thame who lives in the US. I was born and raised in Thame from 1954 till leaving for the US in 1983. I would love to make contact with Neighbourhood childhood friends and the John Hampden Infants and Junior School, and Wenman Secondary Modern School friends. My names is David Stollery and I lived at 16 Queens Close in Thame.
My first employment was at R & E Potter Ltd, the Ironmongers in the town. A brief spell at the St Johns Pysciatric Hospital,( working there that is! ) Then for the rest of my time in the UK I worked for Watches of Switzerland in Aylesbury.

I lived for the entire 29 years at home at 16 Queens Close, OX9 3AZ. I was very active in the Thame Congregational Church for many of those years. In my 20’s I was a member of the Amersham Group of the 18 Plus Social Club.

I am especially linterested in catching up with anyone from those School years in Thame and anyone from the Amersham 18 Plus Group.”
Contact editor@thamenews.net if YOU knew David and would like us to put you in touch.

IF the thought of Christmas shopping is getting you down, why not come along to one of the Chilterns Conservation Board?s red kite events in December?

On Saturday 4th December, from 10am ?til 12.30pm, join a 4-mile guided walk and keep an eye out for red kites, buzzards and kestrels on the Ridgeway and deer in the woods. Meet at the Aston Rowant Nature Reserve car park (SU732967).

For something a little less active, come along to Charwood Garden Centre on the A40 near Stokenchurch on Thursday 9th December for a talk about red kites and a chance to see video footage from this year?s red kite CCTV ?Nest Watch? project. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30 start.

On Saturday 18th December, there?s another 4 mile guided walk at Watlington Hill. Meet at the National Trust car park at the top of the hill at 10am (SU710936).

All three events are free, though donations are appreciated. Spaces are limited and booking is essential on 01844 271 306.

SOLL leisure, which manages Thame Leisure Centre, has launched a brand new ?Fitech Total Health? and Cholesterol testing service at their SOLLutions Health & Fitness clubs theoughout Oxfordshire.

Soll says: “Cholesterol and Total Health checks are available for all users of the leisure facilities encouraging people to become more aware of their current heath levels. By using Fitech?s health & cholesterol system, it allows individuals to monitor and bench-mark their current fitness levels increasing knowledge and awareness of personal health and well-being. SOLLutions fitness qualified staff can then guide individuals through lifestyle advice on setting realistic targets to improve current fitness levels.”

As part of SOLLution?s ?Fitech Total Health Check week? cholesterol and total health checks are available for customers with a special 50% discount during the last week in November.

Contact your nearest SOLLutions for further details or visit http://www.soll-leisure.co.uk/fitech.asp

THANKS to the generosity of donors to Thame?s Oxfam Book shop in Cornmarket, and revenue from the shop?s customers, several massive water tanks are to be provided for displaced people in Sudan.
The Manager of the shop, Dick Jennens, told ThameNews: ?Thanks to the support of the people of Thame, we have raised sufficient funds this year to purchase 45 of these massive water tanks, just one of which will provide 3000 people with clean water for one day. With their support, we have been able to make a real contribution to work of Oxfam around the world finding lasting solutions to poverty and suffering. Since we opened the Bookshop, four years ago, our customers have purchased nearly 200,000 books, cards, videos, CDs and records.?
On its birthday weekend, Friday, December 3, and Saturday, December 4, the Oxfam Bookshop will be celebrating with a special promotion (Watch the window or ThameNews.Net). Don?t forget to visit the shop during the Late Night Shopping evening, as part of the Big Thame Christmas Event, on Friday 3rd, up to 8pm, and get a free mince pie.

LORD Williams’s students, Laura and Judith Merry, had a taste of fame recently when they appeared on a Channel Four programme about young British entrepreneurs.
The girls, who are 16 years-old and are both wheelchair users, made it through to the final eight of a competition to find Britain’s brightest up-and-coming business people.
The girls explained: “Our idea is to design clothes for teenagers in wheelchairs. At the moment we are focusing on girls, but we hope to then go onto designing clothes for boys,children and adults. We came up with the idea, because of our own experiences and having met other girls who have told us their problems with clothes.
“When we saw a clip of ourselves on TV, we felt pleased that we’ve manged to get this far and that we will be making others aware of our idea. It was quite exciting seeing ourselves on television; Many of friends said they saw us and the headteacher, Mr Spencer came up to us and offered his congratulations.”
As part of their prize, Laura and Judi have won a package from SEEDA (South East Economic Development Association), to help them set up a business, including Mentoring, and

THAME Leisure Centre will know soon whether its attempt to create a new world record has been successful.
On Friday night,(19/11), 22 people, including the Centre’s Fitness Suite Manager, began a low impact workout at 8.40pm, at the same time as 500 other clubs and fitness centres around the country, beginning with a “high five” and continuing with exactly the same moves at the same time. In the process they raised over