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Henley Candidate Short Listed For Robin Cook’s Seat
KALEEM Saeed, who stood as the Labour Party Candidate for the Henley Constituency in the General Election, has been short-listed for the late Robin Cook’s seat.
Kaleem, who is in a short list of 10, from an original list of 40, will go before the selection panel tomorrow in a bid to win the candidature for Robin Cook’s constituency of Livingston.
Kaleem was often seen campaigning around the streets of Thame during the last election in May, but lost to the Conservative, Boris Johnson.
Unlike the Henley Constituency, Livingston is seen as a safe Labour seat. -
Thame toy shop gives up the fight
A THAME toy shop, that has been fighting against its demolition to make way for a new library, has today announced that it is to close.
The Pied Pedaller, in North Street, Thame, was granted an extension to its lease by Oxfordshire County Council until September 2008, whilst the council made plans for the building’s replacement by a new library.However, the Managing Director of the company that owns the Pied Pedaller, Ed Tilley, informed ThameNews.Net today:
“It is with great regret that I am informing you that J A Magson Ltd, the Company that owns and operates the Pied Pedaller toy shop in Thame, has decided to close the Pied Pedaller. The building of the library on the site appears inevitable and, as Xmas trading cannot be guaranteed, the decision has been made to pull out once all stock has been cleared.
“We will be commencing a closing down sale very shortly.”The shop’s owners, J A Magson,’s Finance Director. Neil Mason, added:
?It is a shame that we could not continue to trade from this location. We would like to thank everyone who held a view about the development plans and who supported the idea of shops still being located here.
?We will make the most of our closing weeks of trading with a closing-down sale, and ensure that the closure process is smooth and that the store team are given fair and full redundancy packages.? -
Refurbishment At Station
A SUBSTANTIAL make-over at Haddenham & Thame Parkway railway station began this week.
The refurbshment will include a new enclosed foyer, including a covered seating area, new retail outlet, new toilets with disabled access and an additional information screen.
The work is expected to take eight to nine weeks during which time the ticket office may be closed on occassions and extra staff on hand to assist passengers.Chiltern Railways Marketing Manager, David Whitley, said: ?Haddenham & Thame Parkway has become increasingly busy in recent years, and we recognise that the facilities have become inadequate. The planned refurbishment works will significantly improve the quality of the station for the thousands who use it each week.?
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Invitation To Sell Thame Goods In France
THAME businesses, craftspeople and organisations are being invited to sell their wares in Thame?s twin town of Montesson in France.
Members of Thame?s Twinning Association go over to Montesson every year for the town?s Christmas Market, and sell typically English goods such as tea, Christmas puddings and Christmas crackers over a week-end which also includes the sale of German wares from Montesson?s German twin town of Baesweiller.
This year they would like to entend their range and would like to hear from anyone who may have interesting products suitable for Christmas presents, decorations or festive eating.
Contact Rob Wheal via editor@thamenews.net for more information. -
Rise in A Level Passes At Lord Bill’s
THE level of students gaining A and B grades in their A Level exams at Lord Williams?s school, has risen once again.
A record number of 562 examination entries saw the proportion rise to 46% and the number of passes overall rise to 99.29% (98% in 2004). A total of 73% obtained A-C passes.Twenty students gained A grade passes in all their subject areas. Matthew Clark, Christopher Daniels, Elizabeth Parsons, Rosanna Ryan, Richard Thomas and Miriam Thorpe all achieved four A grades and the following students all achieved three A grades: Natalie Barnes, James Burnett, Sarah Evans, Edward Gillespie, Charlotte Goodwin, Ruth Hazard, Sian Jenkins, Lisa Merry, Jack Nicholson, Anthony Rochford, Victor Smith and Clare Stone.
Fiona Holden and Rachael Peddie both gained a Double A Award in their vocational studies.Acting Headteacher, David Wybron, said: ?Students should be congratulated on their considerable achievements. At a time when some quarters in the press are negative about A level achievement, this school recognises the hard work and dedication of students and their teachers and celebrates excellent results. We are now working hard to make sure that each student is able to move on to the next stage in his or her educational journey.?
Kate Sheelan, Head of Sixth Form at Lord Williams?, was equally pleased: ?We are so proud of all our students? achievements. We want to celebrate how, through their hard work, the support of their parents and the dedication of all staff in the Sixth Form, they have ensured they have a bright and exciting future ahead of them.?
Information about ?next step? advice for students who may not have got the results they hoped is available from the school and also on Oxfordshire County Council?s website at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk
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Chamber Chief’s Views On A Levels
ON the day that hundreds of Thame students received their A Level examination results, the Chair of Thame?s Chamber of Commerce says he does not agree with the criticism that A Levels are becoming easier to pass.
Responding to the views of many Education, Industry and Business Pundits who say that that there has been a ?dumbing down? of A levels, Keith Slater told ThameNews.Net: ?I do not necessarily agree with the view that A levels are becoming easier. When I looked at what my own children were doing at A level, I struggled to be able to do some of what they were being asked to do, and when I compared it with what I did, particularly in maths, they studied things that I didn?t do until I went to university.?
Keith, who is also a Director of Business Link, added: ?I am very encouraged by the calibre of people who are coming out with A levels.
?Academically we are producing some very, very, good people. But perhaps what we need to look at is how we actually apply their skills and get them coming out with the right attitudes and skills in other directions, to produce more rounded people.
?My concerns are more for those who have more vocational talents who come out of school with no qualifications and who need encouraging.
? I do understand though, some of the concerns of the universities about knowing who are the very best candidates so perhaps the grading system needs looking at.?What do YOU think about the A level system? May be you are a student, a parent, an employer or a teacher, and would like to share your views. Join ThameNews.Net?s
We want to hear from YOU. -
Chamber Chief’s Views On A Levels
ON the day that hundreds of Thame students received their A Level examination results, the Chair of Thame?s Chamber of Commerce says he does not agree with the criticism that A Levels are becoming easier to pass.
Responding to the views of many Education, Industry and Business Pundits who say that that there has been a ?dumbing down? of A levels, Keith Slater told ThameNews.Net: ?I do not necessarily agree with the view that A levels are becoming easier. When I looked at what my own children were doing at A level, I struggled to be able to do some of what they were being asked to do, and when I compared it with what I did, particularly in maths, they studied things that I didn?t do until I went to university.?
Keith, who is also a Director of Business Link, added: ?I am very encouraged by the calibre of people who are coming out with A levels.
?Academically we are producing some very, very, good people. But perhaps what we need to look at is how we actually apply their skills and get them coming out with the right attitudes and skills in other directions, to produce more rounded people.
?My concerns are more for those who have more vocational talents who come out of school with no qualifications and who need encouraging.
? I do understand though, some of the concerns of the universities about knowing who are the very best candidates so perhaps the grading system needs looking at.?What do YOU think about the A level system? May be you are a student, a parent, an employer or a teacher, and would like to share your views. Join ThameNews.Net?s forum
? We want to hear from YOU. -
Police Urge Oxon Parents To Be Vgilant
THE Police are urging parents to be vigilant following reports of a man approaching young girls in Oxfordshire.
The man, who has approached girls in Wallingford, Faringdon and Kidlington, in four separate incidents between 29 June and 3 August, made inappropriate remarks to the young teenage girls and asked them to go with him for money.
PC Leanne Pope, of Didcot CID, said: ?None of the girls have been touched or harmed in any way. But I appeal to parents to be vigilant and to advise their children if something like this happens to them to come straight home and tell someone.
?The man is white, aged between 30 and 40, between 5ft 5ins and 6ft, stocky or podgy, with balding hair and in most of the incidents he has been driving a white van or has been seen getting into one.
?I appeal to anyone who has seen a man of this description acting suspiciously in a white van to contact me, via 0845 8 505 505. If you don?t want to speak to police and don?t want to leave your name contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Thame United Announce AGM Date
THAME United Football Club’s AGM will be on Thursday, August 25, at 7pm, at Thame town hall. (Members Only)
The team drew 2 All, on Tuesday, at Aylesbury United, against Ashford Town. The scorers were Kitson and Goff.
Gateman, Jake Collinge, reported that among the 112 attendance were many new faces. (The average Thame United home gate used to be between 85-90 apparently)
Bernard Wakelin, Vice Chairman, told ThameNews.net that the team is looking forward to their next match against Solihull Borough on Saturday at Home (Aylesbury)- kick off 3pm.