Thame.net

Blog

  • Thame United Meet Oxford

    THAME United will meet Oxford United at 7.30pm next Tuesday, 31st January, in the quarter final of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup.
    The game will be played at Oxford City?s ground, Court Place Farm Stadium.

  • Quiz For ‘Gadget’

    THE friends of a young Thame man, seriously injured in a fall recently, have organised a quiz to help support him in his recovery.
    Martin Gadd, better known as Gadget,is a former pupil of Lord Williams’ School in Thame, and was away at university in Canterbury when his accident occurred.
    He is currently in the care of Kings College Hospital, in London.
    Anyone who would like to take part and book a table for teams of six or eight, can call 01844 215813.
    The Quiz Mistress will be Thame’s answer to Magnus Magnusson, Sue Boyle; Bring your own drinks and nibbles.

  • Crime Down In Thames Valley (Press Release)

    THAMES Valley Police has outperformed the national average in reducing crime statistics according to figures out today (26/1).

    The Force also bucked the national trend with the number of robberies staying static and gun crime falling.

    Home Office statistics for the three months from July 2005 to September 2005 show overall crime in the Thames Valley fell by three per cent compared to a national average of one per cent during the same period in 2004.

    Virtually all categories of crime fell:
    ? Sexual offences were down by ten per cent compared to three per cent nationally
    ? Domestic burglary was down by three per cent and other burglary fell by seven per cent
    ? Thefts of and from vehicles were down by 11 per cent and other thefts and handling stolen goods fell by eight per cent
    ? The number of robberies remained the same compared to an 11 per cent rise nationally. No Local Police Area in the Force area appears in the ranked top 40 areas for robbery in 2005.

    However, violence against the person in Thames Valley did increase by 11 per cent compared to a national average of four per cent during the three months.
    Acting Chief Constable Sara Thornton said: “Most of the rise can be attributed to harassment, which is recorded as a violent crime, and low-level public order offences like the inevitable tussles that take place after pubs and clubs close.
    “In Thames Valley, we have also been making increasing use of fixed penalty notices for disorder as a method of preventing minor disorders from escalating. Every time we issue one this is counted as a violent crime.”

    Since September the Force has also launched a major campaign called Safer Streets specifically aimed at tackling violent crime.

    Drugs offences in Thames Valley show a 25 per cent rise largely due to greater police activity in cracking down on drug dealing and drug possession, rather than because of any increased criminal activity.

    Firearms offences also fell steeply in the region. Between October 2004 and September 2005 firearms offences fell by 13 per cent.
    Those firearms offences resulting in injury fell by 27 per cent and the numbers of firearms offences due to serious injury or fatality fell by 50 per cent.

    Ms Thornton said: “Overall crime in Thames Valley was down as of last September, bucking the national trend, and I am particularly pleased that we have not seen any increase in robbery because not so long ago it was an issue for the Force.
    “We were already aware that we needed to do something about violent crime and have been working particularly hard to tackle this issue since the autumn.”

  • Neighbours Angry At Development Proposal

    NEIGHBOURS in Mitchell Close and Southern Road, Thame, have protested to Thame Town Council about a proposal to redevelop the site of the old Thame ambulance station.
    One resident of Mitchell Close, told the Planning committee that one of the two, three-bed houses proposed would face directly into his garden, from where, for ten years, he has enjoyed total privacy. In a letter, a resident in Southern Road said: “Both houses will overlook our garden and destroy our privacy.” Both men cited parking as already being a problem in the area, and considered that the proposal would make matters worse.
    Cllr David Dodds said that there had been some dispute over ownership of the plot and that because of its shape, he thought ‘cramming’ two houses into it would “cause great anxt.”
    The committee voted to recommend refusal of the plan on the grounds that:
    . It was out of character with the area
    . Would increase traffic generation
    . Would be unneighbourly

  • Council Object To Landmark Demolition

    A proposal to demolish a Thame landmark has been rejected by Thame Town Council.
    Described as ‘planning anarchy’ by one objector, a proposal to demolish the Essex House Hotel and replace it with two, new buildings comprising 12 appartments, illicited strong feelings at a meeting of the town council’s Planning committee last night (Tues, Jan 24).
    Several letters of objection were read out at the meeting, mostly from neighbours in Bridge Terrace and one from the Cionservation Area Committee Advisory Group who stated that the present building “forms a visual ‘stop’ to Chinnor Road, warning of a change in direction of the road.”

    The concerns of objectors included:
    . Uncertainty over ownership of some of the land
    included in the proposal.
    . Insufficient parking.
    . Demolition of ‘a sound and attractive landmark’.
    . That some of the Bay windows planned would look
    into neighbour’s garden.
    . That some bedroom windows would over-look
    neighbour’s garden.
    . That traffic generated would cause noise and
    pollution.
    . Loss of access to the lane.

    In another letter, Simon Gray of Park Street, stated: “This important building of Victorian heritage needs to be preserved.”

    Cllr David Dodds said: “This is a very substantially important site with an extremely difficult egress and one effect of this proposal would be to generate more traffic and cause problems where there is currently a bus stop.”

    The building was originally built as The Railway Hotel, at a time when Thame Railway Station was intended to be in Chinnor Road, and Bridge Terrace was constructed as cottages for the railway workers.

    The committee voted not to recommend approval of the plans and agreed to look into having both the hotel and Bridge Terrace listed with English Heritage.

  • Birthday Present For Thame Cinema

    THAME Cinema 4 All is now 5 years old and has been given a wonderful present!
    Screen South and Awards for All have given them grants of nearly

  • Bikes Stolen In Thame

    TWO bicycles were stolen from an address in Thame, on Friday, January 20.
    The bicycles were removed from a front garden in Queens Road between 7.45 – 8.30am.
    Please can anyone with information contact Lesley Nesbitt, crime reduction advisor at Thame Police Station, via: 08458 505 505.

  • Thame Badminton Take On Didcot (By Andy Scarlett)

    Friday night saw Thame Badminton Mens first team take on Didcot Power C for the top position in the division. Didcot Power is the only team to take more than 2 rubbers off Thame this season. Additionally, the Didcot 1st pair were the only pair to have beaten Thame?s 1st pair.

    Chris Charman and Chris Daniels had lost to the Mignanelli brothers in straight games last time the sides met and were out for revenge. Before the start of the match, Chris Daniels broke the strings in his racquet and had to change to his second racquet. This reduced the time that the pair had to warm up and this was reflected in the opening game. Nevertheless, the Thame pair tried hard to defeat the very good play of the brothers but the youngsters skills were too much, especially with Chris Daniels? smash ineffective. A quick team talk at the break, saw the Thame pair try to introduce some width to the game. Despite the smashes not firing properly, Chris Daniels tried to up the pace whilst Chris Charman started to win some of the net rallies. Their combined efforts saw Thame take the lead and also seemed to affect one of the brothers who started to lose his self control. Thame managed to reverse the score of the first game and tie the rubber. The deciding game saw the brothers take the lead and maintain it up to the change over. Unfortunately, the Didcot pair upped their game after the change and only allowed Thame one more point to win the last game and thus the rubber. This was the best rubber of badminton played by the Thame pair this season.

    This result put pressure on the other Thame pairs. The Thame 2nd pair was a new pairing with Gareth Allingham, returning after an absence of 3 months, and Neil Richards, whose manager at Amazon Business Communication released him for this important match. The Didcot pair played a fast game that caught the Thame pair out at the start. Allingham and Neil Richards started slowly but then showed their superiority over the Didcot 2nd pair. Having won the first game, the new Thame pairing lost only 2 further points to wrap up the second game and the rubber. Trevor Walker joined up with Keith Richards to take on the Didcot 3rd pair. The tactic of one of the Didcot pair to serve high all the time kept catching Keith Richards out but did not prevent the pairing winning the game. A team talk at the break allowed the pair to step up and concede fewer points in the second game to win the rubber. This saw Thame ahead after the first round of matches 2 ? 1.

    In the second round of rubbers saw the Allingham and Neil Richards pair take on the Dicot 3rd pair and easily win the first game. The opposition then improved their play but were unable to deny Thame the rubber. Walker and Keith Richards then took on the Didcot 2nd pair who knew they had to win the rubber to keep in the match. A hard fought game saw the Didcot pair just gain the upper hand to win. However, Walker and Richards raised their game and attacked to good effect to level the rubber. They could not maintain the pressure on the Didcot pair and lost the game and rubber. Charman and Daniels returned on court to play, determined not to lose. This determination soon saw the first game won and the pressure on the Didcot pair to win resulted in many mistakes. Unlike the last match, Charman and Daniels did not ease off and went to win the rubber. This left the result of the match still undecided at 4-2.

    Allingham and Neil Richards took on the Didcot 1st pair. The Thame pair, playing at a high tempo and with some excellent shots, found themselves at game point. However, the Mignanelli brothers played hard and concentrated on keeping in the rally until they could win the point. They were able to draw level and the Thame pair chose to set. The Didcot pair took advantage of having the serve at the start of setting and fought their way to victory. The effort of taking the opposition to such as close game rebounded on the Thame pair as they lost the second game quickly. With the match now at 4-3, The Thame 1st pair took on the weakest Didcot pairing knowing that by taking the rubber they would put Thame in a winning position. Wasting little time, the pair dominated the game to win and again kept the pressure on to win the second game, the rubber and give Thame a winning match score. Walker and Keith Richards took on the unbeaten Didcot pair at the same time as the Thame 1st pair was playing. Didcot quickly won the first game, but when they realised their team mates had lost seemed to ease off. The Thame pair was not aware of this and tried their best but were still unable to overcome the Didcot pair.

    Thame won the match 5 ? 4 to almost guarantee promotion. With the last 2 matches against teams Thame has already beaten, the team have it in their own hands to top the division. Thame Badminton Club is still looking for new members and welcome anyone interested on a Wednesday night at 8.00pm at the Thame Leisure Centre.

  • Chinnor Trounce Penryn

    Chinnor No 15, Full Back, James Hewitt in full flight during Saturday’s match against Penryn.
    Score: Chinnor 88 Penryn 10
    Report by Kenneth Vaughan

    Chinnor 88pts Penryn 10 pts.

    THIS 14 try romp keeps Chinnor there or thereabout in the hunt for a promotion spot.
    The scoreline hardly seemed likely as Penryn, playing with much fervour and vigour, took the game to Chinnor in the first 15 minutes in perfect conditions at Kingsey Road on Saturday. Prompted by half-backs
    Pascoe and Lovell, with No.8 Peseta running powerfully, Penryn enjoyed a surfeit of possession in these early stages. Their only reward for this
    pressure was a penalty goal in the 3rd minute from Cornwall scrum-half Pascoe. Chinnor opened their acount in the 15th minute when Eric Brown came
    onto the ball at speed. With his angle of running completely deceiving the Penryn defence, he scored under the posts. With Sam Soane hitting the line at
    pace to power over from 22metres out 3 minutes later and James Hewitt converting both tries, the game had turned on its head. Tries by Soane,Winpenny, Brown and Hennessy at regular intervals with three conversions from Hewitt brought a half-time score of 38 pts to 3.

    There was no let-up in the second half. Running the ball from all areas of the field Chinnor piled on the pressure.Chinnor were passing and taking the ball at speed and this, alied to good angles of running, carved holes in the Penryn defensive alignment. Morgan Thompson was first on the scoresheet when he supported a sweeping move to score under the posts. Two tries by substitute Jamie Hiscock followed within three minutes of taking the field.I ndeed it was almost a hat-trick if the referee had not adjudged a
    final pass forward shortly afterwards. With James Hewitt (2), Matt Buckley,Darren Oxley and Rewi Tolich getting in on the act it was a try fiest, with
    Hewitt adding three conversions. That Chinnor scored their last try with 15 minutes remaining was testamount to Penryn’s endeavour. They did not give up
    and indeed were last on the scoresheet with James Geraty going over near the posts and Pascoe adding the conversion.

  • Thame On The Radio

    RADIO Oxford was in Thame throughout this morning with their Outside Broadcast Unit, and interviewed several leading citizens about life in the town.
    Those interviewed by Presenter, Danny Cox, included the Mayor, Cllr David Laver, Cllr David Dodds, Kieth Slater, Spokesman for Thame Chamber of Commerce, Cathy Gaulter-Carter of TWAC, Thame Walking and Cycling Group, Traffic Warden, Peggy Long and the editor of ThameNews.Net!
    Keith Slater spoke about the Try Thame First campaign and continuing efforts to put Thame on the shopping and map. When asked what his one wish would be to change something about Thame, Keith said that he would move the Cattle market out of the town centre and build a much needed Community Arts Centre in its place.
    Cathy Gaulter-Carter spoke about the need for more cycle parking in the town and her aspirations for a cycle path between Thame and Haddenham station.
    Peggy Long spoke about the pleasure of receiving her MBE and about her hobby, belly dancing.
    CCTV was quite a hot topic among interviewees. Thame’s Crime Prevention Officer, Leslie Nesbitt, welcomed the current installation of CCTV in the town, expressing her view that it would reduce the fear of crime in the town. Keith Slater’s view was that it would help deter shoplifters from targeting the town.