Thame.net

Tag: news

  • Thame resident challenges MP in open letter

    MANY people from Thame and the surrounding villages would have read the constituency’s MP, John Howell’s article in the local press or read his latest news letter on his website, expressing his opposition to a People’s Vote. A Thame resident, himself a supporter of a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal, has now written an open letter to John Howell:

    Dear Dr Howell

    I have just read your InTouch Newsletter, and believe it needs an immediate and open response, since it will have been seen by a large number of your constituents who may be misled by it.

    I can understand, as a UK representative to it, you would hold a high opinion of the Council of Europe, but to dismiss the real role that the EU has had in supporting the democracies that replaced the dictatorships in Europe is surely incorrect. It was the EU (and its previous incarnations as the EEC & EC) that provided the prosperity that enabled the fledgling democracies of Greece, Portugal & Spain to flourish. Human Rights organisations such as the Council of Europe are worthwhile institutions, but they don’t hold much traction with dictators, and to claim that it is the Council of Europe that has enabled us to live in peace and prosperity is preposterous. While you might berate him for not mentioning the Council of Europe, to describe Guy Verhofstadt’s speech as “fundamentally incorrect” is not appropriate.

    Your section on Brexit is a perfect example of why 82% of respondents are fed up with politicians claiming to speak for everyone. You regularly cite occasional conversations in the street as signalling widespread support for your position on Brexit, without actually saying what was said. You now seem to be holding up this latest ORB poll as further support. This poll says that 35% of Leave voters hadn’t fully considered the complexity of what they voted for, while 30% would support a “no-deal” Brexit. This nearly 1 in 3 of respondents are still not considering the complexities (and costs) of what they are asking for.

    Roy Mottram

    Nearly 1 in 3 respondents being happy to crash out of the EU without a deal is an indictment of our press and politicians, yourself included. You have failed to highlight the lies that were told by the Leave campaign, pushing a (false) equivalence argument that “both sides lied” (without any evidence). Your latest newsletter does nothing to try to explain to that nearly 1 in 3 that the government “technical notices” are for real, and not just some extension of “Project Fear”. This government has had over two years to produce a realistic plan, and they have failed. There is now little “time & space” left – just what have they been doing? Perhaps their failure to produce a realistic plan is because as soon as it is written down it will be shown to deliver no benefits.

    You say “This is neither the time for rushing around crying betrayal or for trying to frustrate the decision of the referendum.” I agree. It’s the time to finalise the Withdrawal Agreement, and produce as detailed a plan as possible for the future relationship. Having done that, it will be the time to seek a mandate to continue with the process, because it’s clear that the 2016 referendum was unsafe and provides no such mandate.

    Anybody who believes that a Peoples Vote would undermine the result of the 2016 referendum must also believe that leaving the EU is no longer “the will of the people”. For any government to continue on such a course, believing that the electorate did not wish it to do so, would surely be undemocratic.

    As my MP, I would ask you to support any vote in Parliament that requires the Withdrawal Agreement and proposal for the future relationship with the EU to be put to a Peoples Vote for ratification. I note that there is the second reading of a private members bill to that effect on October 26, and I ask you to both contribute to the debate and vote for the bill.

    Sincerely
    Roy Motteram
    Thame
    (full address supplied)

  • Death of ‘Wild card’ Thame councillor

    THAME Town Council today paid tribute to long-standing Thame Councillor, who died on Sunday, February 15, after a battle with cancer.

    The late Cllr Mike Welply
    The late Cllr Mike Welply

    In a statement this afternoon, the town council described the Mike’s full and varied life and councillors who had known him, some for many years, paid their own, personal tributes.

    The statement read: “After enrolling in the Royal Air Force, was posted all around the world, including the jungles of Malaya and the Middle Eastern country of Oman. After thirty years in the service he became a civil servant at the Ministry of Defence and more recently a security consultant. He was Master of The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals from 2004-05.

    “Cllr Nigel Champken Woods said he thought he had probably known Mike for longer than anyone on the Council but had not realised until swopping stories about their time in the RAF. He recalled: “In the late 60’s Mike was an RAF Regiment Officer based in Bahrain in the Gulf and I was also based there working on RAF Argosy aircraft, providing a shuttle between Bahrain and all the forward operating bases in the Gulf. On one memorable occasion I was acting as temporary crew and we dropped an RAF Officer off at one of the forward operating bases but had to leave in a hurry for operational reasons, leaving him behind, without even a clean pair of underpants! It wasn’t until at a town council event when Mike and I were comparing notes that we discovered that he was that RAF Regiment Officer. He did forgive me, eventually! Mike was a larger than life character dedicated to the town and its people, I for one will certainly miss him. ‘Per ardua ad astra’ (Through adversity to the stars).”

    “Involved in town politics for over 15 years, Mike was the Town Mayor in 2002-03. He was always well prepared for meetings and took the issues before Council very seriously, yet he was always ready for a giggle or light hearted banter. Never afraid to be controversial or provocative, his cheerful can-do attitude saw him throw himself into projects and always with the best interests of the town in mind.

    “Town Mayor Cllr Jeannette Matelot Green, said: “Mike was intelligent, exuberant but above all a charming man. He was steadfast in his determination to attend council meetings no matter how poorly he felt – a role model councillor.”

    “Cllr Helena Fickling remembered Mike as having; “….strong views on many things and we enjoyed several very long conversations on Planning and the need for more modern architecture in South Oxfordshire. He was often dissatisfied with the decisions of Planning Officers due to this. He was a wild card and unpredictable while his views were often expressed very bombastically. I will miss him.”

    “Cllr Linda Emery said: “So sorry to hear the sad news about Mike. My recollection of the first time we met was at the Barns Centre with Jeannette when I was thinking about becoming a Councillor. He encouraged me to apply – Forthwith! He was mostly mischievously amusing in council chambers. He had a passion for preserving Thame’s historical cultural presence and retaining its wonderful community spirit. He had an amazing breadth of local historical knowledge.”

    “Whilst acknowledging Mike as a Councillor, he was also a friend as Cllr Mike Dyer remembered: “Larger than life with his military bearing and booming voice, he had no airs or graces, wore a permanent smile, and put everyone at their ease. His energy and enthusiasm were boundless, his love of life infectious, and he earned the respect of all who had the privilege to know him. Mike saw the best in people and always encouraged their endeavours. A true gent, he will be sadly missed as both a colleague and a friend.”

    The statement continued: “The town not only benefited from Mike’s experience as a Town Councillor but also as a District Councillor on South Oxfordshire District Council where he served as Vice Chairman in 2009 and Chairman in 2010. Ann Midwinter, Chairman of the District Council, said of Mike: “He was a very hard working Councillor who pursued projects to the end. He really put the interests of the people of Thame first.”

    “Helen Stewart, Town Clerk, added: “Cllr Welply was always full of energy, with a twinkle in his eye and brightened up any day when he called in to the Town Hall. He was very well liked and respected by all of the Town Council staff and we will sincerely miss him.”

    “Summing up the many thoughts and memories of Mike, it is perhaps the following words offered by Cllr Vaughan Humphries that many of us will relate to: “Mike had an infectious smile, hearty laugh and phenomenal vocabulary – I can honestly say even I learned a few new words! He had a flair to add a touch of drama to the most mundane subject. Most of all and regardless of political affiliation, he was well liked and admired by many, championing many causes. A committed Councillor at both Town and District level and most of all a fighter. A sad loss indeed, he will be sorely missed.”