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  • New Shopping Guide Now Available

    THE first copies of the all-new,Thame Shopping Guide were distributed at Thame Show last week, and are available from all retailers in the town.
    The guide has been produced by Thame Chamber of Commerce, with support from 21st Century Thame, the town council and South Oxfordshire District Council. It is the first stage of a proposed promotional campaign to promote the town as a retail centre and to encourage local people to ‘Try Thame First’, before going out of town for their shopping needs.
    In a letter to retailers, the Chair of Thame’s Chamber of Commerce and Vice Chair of 21st Century Thame, Keith Slater, said: “We believe that it needs a sustained effort if we are to bring into the town the critical mass of shoppers needed for Thame to be the vibrant, commercial centre that it deserves to be.”
    Details of the full promotion plans will be presented for comment and discussion at an open meeting at the town hall on Friday, September 23, at 8am, 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4om and 6pm, to fit into anyone’s schedule.
    At the same time, the proposals for the town’s new CCTV scheme will be on display.
    Keith Slater added: “We think it is important that we all pull together in these tough retail times and so do hope that everyone will come along on Friday and add weight to the process.”

  • World?s Biggest Coffee Morning (Contributed)

    IT’S amazing what a cup of coffee can do to help people living with cancer.
    Every year money raised by large and small coffee events all over the UK helps to fund essential information and counselling centres, specialist Macmillan medical staff, buildings for cancer treatment and care, as well as grants for people with cancer who are in financial difficulty.

    Two Thame women are hosting a coffee morning at the Thame Barns Centre, on Friday, September 30, between 9am and 12pm, as part of the World?s Biggest Coffee Morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Relief. Earlier this year, a very dear friend of one of them, who lived in Thame, received amazing support and care from the Macmillan nurses during the last few months of her life.

    As well as tea, coffee and cakes, there will be a running a raffle with donations from local Thame companies as well as homemade cards and Traidcraft goods and Usborne books for sale, so you can stock up on Christmas gifts!

  • London Evacuation To South Oxfordshire Reviewed

    PLANS to evacuate London in the event of a major terrorist attack are being reviewed this week as emergency planners meet with professionals from other agencies across Oxfordshire.

    On Wednesday, September 21, Operation Sassoon, which is constantly under review, will be put under the microscope.
    The document outlines the evacuation from London, mainly by rail, to train stations throughout southern England with local authorities managing the arrival of evacuees and their repatriation to their home areas. The latest request from central government is to look at evacuation by road as well.

    County Councillor Ray Jelf, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said:”This type of planning and training is very relevant after the recent events in the capital and it is a useful vehicle for the very good multi-agency emergency planning work in Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley.

    “The cost of signage on the route into and out of London will be a cause for concern and I would expect such costs to be picked up by central Government.”

    John Kelly, the Emergency Planning Officer at Oxfordshire County Council said: “We have plans for our work in Oxfordshire as part of the Thames Valley plan and we have put in place an extra transport contract to deal with the expected demand – some 50,000 evacuees in 12 hours.
    “However, our advice to the London planners is to base any plan on a “stay put” policy. I am glad that such a policy was activated during the recent London bombings.”

    NOTE: It is understood that Thame & Haddenham Parkway station is not featured in the plan currently.

  • Steam Trains And Posh Cars!

    THE Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway will be holding it’s Autumn Gala On Sunday, September 25, when all available locomotives will be in operation.
    These will include a 1949 built Pannier tank No 9682, Aveling and Porter tram engine No 9449 ‘Blue Circle’ built in 1926, Brush Class 31 No D5581 built in 1960 and B.R. Class 08 No 13018 built at Derby in 1953.
    A special timetable will apply – telephone the talking timetable on 01844 353535 for details.

    During the day, CPRR we will be hosting a visit by the Rolls Royce Enthusiast Club who will be bringing approx 20 to 25 Rolls Royce and Bentley cars to Chinnor station.

  • Learning Matters In Oxfordshire

    DISCUSSION forums for parents and a question time education event are among the many activities planned across the county as part of a new ‘Learning Matters’ campaign in the county.
    Oxfordshire County Council?s Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement, Councillor Michael Waine, said:”Thanks to the hard work and efforts of pupils and teachers, the 2005 GCSE results are moving in the right direction. There is, of course, more work to be done to help young people across the county to achieve their potential.
    ?Learning Matters has a particular focus on GCSE but also recognises that learning starts at an early age. Supporting our children and young people is shared work and it is through everyone playing a part that we will raise aspirations and thereby achievement in Oxfordshire.”
    As part of the campaign, local people will be invited to pledge support to Learning Matters throughout the campaign. The authority says that the Learning Matters pledge is about people committing to play their part in making learning matter and that for young people this is about committing to try their hardest at school so that they can reach their full potential. For businesses, they say, it is about pledging to take part in supporting young people through work experience, enterprise schemes and ultimately as employers.
    The authority hopes that the general public of Oxfordshire will get involved by supporting young people through, for example, becoming a school governor, listening to readers, becoming a youth mentor,lending expertise for school productions and other creative projects.

    People can make a pledge to support Learning Matters at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/learningmatters and receive information about how to get involved in the campaign.

  • Soggy Start To Thame Show

    DESPITE a very wet and muddy start, thousands of visitors braved the weather for the 138th Thame and Oxfordshire County Show, and were rewarded with sunshine by the middle of the afternoon.
    The Knights of Arkley gave a truly spectacular display of swordmanship and jousting in the drizzle to an awestruck and very appreciative audience sheltering beneath their wax jackets, wellies and umbrellas; a display sure to be repeated in future years if the ?Ooooooo?s and Ahhhhh?s of the spectators are anything to go by.
    In one of the main-stays of the Thame Show, the Cattle sections, two local farmers were among the main winners. Rose and Son of Emmington, owned by Pam Rose, came 1st in Class 3, with their magnificent Holstein Fresian and A G Wright & Son, of Haddenham won Best Herefore Bull as well as the Gourleay Perpetual Challenge Cup for the Champion Hereford.
    The Domestic section, with its home-made cakes, outsize fruit and vegetables, flowers and the rest is very popular among local exhibitors and visitors alike and drew many admirers who if it were not for the rain, might not had ventured in that particular marquee. The main winners were:

    Best exhibit in Novice classes 1-4, T Seymoor
    Hedley Purser Perpetual Challenge Trophy for most points in Open classes, C&E Pullen
    Wyvale Trophy for best collection of veg Class 28, P Rooney
    Thame Show Trophy for Best exhibit in Fruit section, R A Price
    Steradent Award Poignard for most points in Flower section, J Cheers
    Thame Show Challenge Cup for Best Dahlias, J Norwood
    ?ditto????? Cookery section, Mrs B Greenway/Beverley Reilly
    Wenman Perpetual Trophy for Best Sweet Wine R. Davis
    Wright Perpetual Trophy for Best Dry Wine, David Quinn
    Thame Show Trophy for Floral Decoration, Cheryl Ward
    Thame Show Trophy for Honey, Ian James
    Thame Show Trophy ? Handicraft, Janice Carey

  • Putting On The Ritz

    WHAT does a girl from an Oxfordshire market town do when she gets an invitation to take tea at the Ritz?
    Find a classy hairdresser and a beauty specialist to give her a complete make-over, polish up her vowels and go for it!
    First call on the Monday morning of my trip, a visit to Louise Dockery at Eclipse, a new salon nestling in a tucked away corner of the Cornmarket, Thame, to get the unruly, red ?barnet? tamed and looking respectable.
    Walking through the door, I?m surprised to find myself in a deceptively spacious hair salon, obviously designed with customers in mind. The relaxing, vibrating shiatsu wash massage chairs have apparently have already sent several clients to asleep. Chatting to Lousie, I discover that the extensive choice of refreshments includes healthy herbal teas and de-caffeinated coffee but there is wine, or beer for the men or the less health conscious – I opted for a strong, black coffee.
    The characterful beams and charm of the old building somehow combine with a light and airy feel to give a totally contemporary and inviting ambience to the place; what an amazing start to a busy working week after a weekend of spiritual and bodily neglect!

    Louise has a wealth of experience in the industry but Eclipse Hair Design is her first very own salon. She prides herself on customer service and knows clients expect more than just a great haircut. She says: ?Having frequented many salons over the years, it can be intimidating at the best of times, so we at Eclipse like customers to feel relaxed when they come in, to enjoy the experience and looking forward to their next visit?.

    After a thorough hair wash and conditioning with the salon?s Redken products, while the shiatsu wash chair gently eased away the tension in my back and legs, Louise set to and lightened some of the heavier layers in my locks before setting it in a flattering and manageable style, helpfully explaining all the while how I could achieve similar results myself at home.

    Next, I was off to Karen Case?s beauty clinic, Monera, in North Street, Thame, for their challenge of the day ? to transform this ruddy-faced country girl into a glamorous girl-about-town in one hour.
    Using products from the ID range, Beautician, Laura Morris applied a granula foundation that toned down my rosy tones, softening some of the wear-and-tear that age and cycling have inflicted. Then she applied a clever combination of colours to my somewhat hooded eyelids that amazingly made my eyes seem larger and brighter. Wow – I was beginning to like this new me. The first manicure my chipped and gardening-damaged nails had ever had in their life (well, apparently nails are actually dead as my pedantic biologist friend tells me, but you know what I mean) completed the treatment.
    Had I more time to spare, I would have gone the whole hog and tried more of Monera?s specialities, which include facials, waxing (for men too!), pedicures and particularly, Stone massage. Go along to their Open Day on November 7, and experience some for yourself ? I can highly recommend the wonderful pampering and feel-good result on one?s confidence and ego that the whole beauty salon thing gives.
    All I had to do was to go home and change into my brown linen trousers and brown and cream lacy top, (which I had brought the week before from a charity shop), and the transformation was complete.

    After a relaxing bus ride to Marble Arch via the Oxford Tube from Lewknor, I strolled in the sunshine up Park Lane to my world-famous destination, with the words and melody of the old 1940?s number, Putting On The Ritz, buzzing around in my brain. (A friendly, cockney ?doing the knowledge? before qualifying as a London cabbie, had pointed me in the right direction).
    Then, just past Green Park Station, there it was ? the hotel of the rich and famous, opitimising style, sophistication and elegance, looking like a French chateau.

    Going in past the doorman with his gold-braided shoulders and top hat, I negotiated the large, wooden revolving door like a Ritz regular and, trying not to look too much like an awe-struck ?towny?, confidently strolled along the long, vaulted gallery hung with sumptuous chandeliers that runs the whole length of the building.
    Suddenly, the jacket that I was carrying over my shoulder bag, began to slip to the floor; my cover was blown; but almost before it had reached the ground, one of the uniformed attendants standing attentively at the ready, deftly stepped to my side and picked it up before handing it to me with a respectful: ?Madame?? and a slight bow.
    Having restored my composure, I found the Marie Antoinette suite, one of the elegant public rooms that lead off the gallery on either side, where I had been invited to a Press Launch of an intriguing new beauty treatment called Chromo-Science, currently all the rage in up-market beauty salons and spas throughout the UK.
    Collin UK claims to offer ?a one hour and 30 minute retreat from the hustle and bustle of your life and stresses, offering a complete rebalancing of your energy centres (Chakras)”. The treatment incorporates colour therapy, relaxation and meditation along with brand new active ingredients, promising a “re-programming session for your skin?s cells, to stimulate them to function in the way that they did in your younger years.??..hmmmm thought the sceptic in me.
    And yet, I pride myself on being open minded and so, with a wonderful plate of elegantly cut, crustless sandwiches in front of me, a silver pot of Green tea and a shiny three-tiered cake stand of little fancy cakes, I watched as the lights were lowered and a slim, toned and attractive 40 something (well, she might have been a 50 something that had received the Chromo-Science for herself for all I knew) began the demonstration. Gently she massaged seven different coloured serums to match each Chakra into the skin of a brave volunteer, each for a specific need of the skin, i.e. energy, oxygenation, protection or hydration, all of them smelling absolutely gorgeous. All the while a soothing voice-over CD drew us and the brave guinea pig from our ranks, into a world of Mediterranean villages of golden sunshine, blue waters and friendly church bells, culminating in the Fountain of Harmony serum.

    Interestingly, my favourite smell of all the samples brought round for the gathered journalists to sniff, was the green, Fountain of Tone for protection, green being my favourite colour.
    We were all given a goody bag containing the 28 day ?cell re-programming cure? and a voucher to have the 90 minute massage treatment at our nearest participating salon, which I shall certainly be using in the near future. (The nearest salons to us in Thame are The Orchid Rooms, in Olney, or The Beauty Studio at Appletrees, Chesham, both in Bucks).

    After meeting my eldest son, whose response at seeing his new-look mum was: ?You look sort of ???.different,? for a quick drink in the Portebello Road, only four tube stops away from the Ritz, I practically floated home on the Oxford Tube.

    Back in Thame, I went into the News Agents to top up my mobile phone, and thinking that I could get used to this ?Putting On Ritz? lark, I bought a lottery ticket.
    Oh well, a country girl can dream can?t she?

    FACT FILE:
    Eclipe Hair Design, 1a Cornmarket, Thame, OX9 3DX ? 01844 260062
    Monera, 62-63 North Street, Thame, OX9 3BH ?
    01844 260454
    Collin (UK), Beeston Grange, Sandy, SG19 1PG ?
    01767 682288 ? www.collin.ltd.uk

  • Thame Author’s Challenge Bonus

    DESPITE a sterling effort against an awesome team of Privy Councillors, Thame author, Catherine Jones?s team were unable to take the trophy at Monday evening?s final of University Challenge.
    After her team of Romantic Novelists beat a team from The Economist the previous week, ex-army officer Catherine said: ? Our main reason for entering was to strike a positive blow for romantic fiction. And we?ve done it!?

    The RNA team beat a team from Wisden in the first round and led the leader board for weeks with their high first-round score of 245 before coming face-to-face with the team from The Economist in the semi finals.
    ?From the very start we were considered outsiders,? said Catherine. ?When I first rang the production team at Granada to suggest we take part, you could hear the hoots of laughter in the background! Most people enjoy the romantic author in Little Britain, “Dame Sally Markham.” We wanted to disprove this hackneyed stereotype and we?ve proved our intelligence and that of our readers. We wanted to say to our readers, ?We?re not pink and fluffy ? and neither are you!?

    After Monday?s contest, Catherine told ThameNews.Net: ?I was so thrilled that we got through the audition for University Challenge and on to the show! I was beside myself with glee to get to the semi-finals. Everything else has been a bonus.
    ?An unexpected bonus has been the effect our success has had on the self-esteem of Romantic Novelists, which was very low; when people asked us what we did, we usually answered somewhat apologetically, but no longer will they pat us on the head; we can should out loudly and be proud of what we do.?
    Larry Finlay, Managing Director of publishers Transworld, agreed. ?The snobbery that exists in some quarters towards ‘romantic’ fiction could not be more misplaced. It includes the very best, the most challenging and the most rewarding writing there is, as it always has. It was fantastic to see the RNA team do so well but it was no more than I would have expected. I know the value of my romantic authors.?

  • Drugs Arrest At Local Restaurant

    FOUR people were arrested after police in Princes Risborough executed a drugs warrant last Thursday, September 8.
    At the Top Wok restaurant,in Princes Risborough’s High Street, a 27-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of Class C drugs with intent to supply and obtaining property by deception. He has been bailed pending further enquiries.
    A 29-year-old man was cautioned for possession of Class C drugs and was also arrested on suspicion of being an illegal immigrant.
    A 32-year-old man and a 27-year-old man were also arrested on suspicion of being illegal immigrants.

    A quantity of what is believed to be cannabis was seized from the premises.

    The three men arrested on suspicion of being illegal immigrants are now being dealt with by the immigration service.

  • Police Advice At Thame Show

    POLICE in Thame will be joining hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of visitors at the county show in Thame tomorrow (15/9).

    Crime reduction advisers and special constables will be on hand to provide people with crime prevention advice and information about how to join Thames Valley Police as an officer, police staff, special constable or volunteer.

    Thame?s crime reduction adviser, Lesley Nesbitt, will be attending the event. She said: ?The show always provides us with an excellent opportunity to reach the communities we serve and we do get a lot of interest from a wide range of people. We will be available all day at the Thames Valley Police information stand for the public to come and see us.

    ?Burglary is one of the top priorities for the Force so we will have a number of leaflets about home security and will be giving advice on how to prevent becoming a victim of this crime.

    ?People have a genuine interest in what we do and plenty of questions about the way the Force operates, so it is good to be able to be on hand to help with the answers. I?d encourage visitors to the show to stop and chat with us.?