Blog

  • ‘Thank You’ From Oxfam

    THE Managers of both the general Oxfam shop and the Oxfam Bookshop have thanked the people of Thame for their response to the Tsunami appeal.
    In a statement issued today, Dick Jennens, Manager of the Oxfam Bookshop in Cornmarket, Thame, and Jane Greig, Manager of the general Oxfam shop opposite, said: “The response was, at times, overewhelming and always humbling.
    “The appeal has been one of the most successful ever undertaken and consequently Oxfam will be able to undertake a full programme of work in the affected areas for the next four or five years. May we also say a big ‘Thank You’ to the volunteers in both shops who had anticipated a quiet January, but who have been working very hard to process all the donations be they cash or stock, since December 27.
    “Oxfam has now closed their Tsunami Appeal and it would not be right to continue to collect funds that we would be unable to guarantee a use.
    “However, Oxfam is still working world-wide in over 70 countries; in 30 of those countries we are handling some emergency that threatens life. Please may we seek your continued support, particularly with Red Nose Day on March 11, and throughout 2005 with the campaign ‘MAKE POVERTY HISTORY’.

  • Make Crime Pay

    A well-known local crime writer will be signing copies of her books in support of Oxfam’s ‘Make Crime Pay’ promotion of their range of crime fiction.
    Margaret Yorke will be at the Oxfam Bookshop, Thame, on Saturday, February 19, between 11am and 12 noon. The promotion will carry on until February 26.
    As part of this this special crime fiction week, visitors to the shop can enter a Crime Fiction Quiz and win a set of penquin porcelain mugs donated by Art Meets Matter.
    The shop’s 1000-odd crime fiction titles range from a

  • Boris Scoops Channel 4 Award

    THAME’s MP, Henley Boris Johnson Was presented with a Channel 4 award for the person who has made the biggest impression on British politics during last year.
    The Spectator editor topped a shortlist of six for the award held in association with the Hansard Society.
    He beat Fathers 4 Justice’s Jason Hatch, who scaled Buckingham Palace dressed as Batman, former Home Secretary David Blunkett, who resigned over allegations that he fast-tracked a visa application for former lover Kimberly Quinn, U2’s lead singer Bono, who campaigns against poverty in Africa and former UKIP, member Robert Kilroy-Silk.

    PICTURE: Boris chats with committee members during a visit to Thame & District Day Centre, based at the Community Hospital’s Day Centre last Friday, February 11.

  • Learn To Dance AND Keep fit

    HAVE fun and keep fit whilst learning to dance at Thame Barns centre, on thursday evenings 7.30pm to 9pm, starting March 3.
    Rock’n Roll, Salsa, Disco/Street dance and Jive, taught by a professional tuor. Bring your own refreshment; Ticket only

  • Three Burglaries in Longwick

    POLICE are appealing for witnesses following three burglaries in Longwick, Princes Risborough last Monday, February 7.
    A house in Red Lion Lane, and two in Thame Road were broken into between 3pm and 7pm. In each of the incidents offenders forced their way into the houses and made full searches of all the rooms, before stealing electrical equipment, jewellery and cash totalling more than

  • Thame Team Inspired By Calcutta

    A TEAM from St Mary?s and Barley Hill Churches, Thame, who went to Calcutta at the end of January, have returned excited, enthused and encouraged by what they experienced.
    Patsy Baker, Diane Eyre, Cynthia Jackson and Owen Davies spent time dressing ulcers in the Leprosy Hospital and washing and feeding the dying at Mother Theresa?s Home for the Destitute and Dying.
    Owen Davies, who is a Thame Town Councillor, said: ?The highlights of our trip, in many ways, turned out to be during our time with Emmanuel Ministries, an organisation that works with drug addicts, alcoholics, street children, prostitutes and rickshaw pullers amongst other marginalized folk. In some ways, it was a glimpse of Heaven to spend time at the homes run for those who had been addicts for many years and who had been through the detox and rehabilitation programmes, and for those young folk between eight and 20 years-old, who had been beggars or addicts , now living in communities bursting with love and joy for each other. Many had become Christians and just wanted to live useful lives in serving others.

    ?Much of the money entrusted to us by Thame friends who had given so generously was given to be used as seed money for projects that will bring self-sufficiency and empowerment to our Calcutta friends.?
    Owen summed up: ?Calcutta is known as the City of Joy but we also found it a City of Love where not only was love in all its fullness and richness witnessed but also received.?

  • Boris Scoops Channel 4 Award

    THAME’s MP, Boris Johnson was presented with a Channel 4 award for the person who made the biggest impression on British politics last year.
    The Spectator editor topped a shortlist of six for the award which is held in association with the Hansard Society.
    Boris beat ‘Fathers 4 Justice’s’ Jason Hatch, who scaled Buckingham Palace dressed as Batman, former Home Secretary David Blunkett, who resigned over allegations he fast-tracked a visa application for his former lover, Kimberly Quinn, U2’s lead singer Bono who campaigns against poverty in Africa and former UKIP member, Robert Kilroy-Silk.

    PICTURE: Boris in shares a cup of tea with staff and patients at the Thame Community Day Centre, last Friday, February 11.

  • William Tremayne – A Tribute

    AMONG the many tributes that have been paid to William Tremayne, of Great Milton, who died recently, is that of fellow Thame Classic Motor Club member and Thame?s Deputy Mayor, Nigel Champken-Woods.
    As a friend and fellow ?twinner?, I too would like to add my own thoughts. (Ed.)
    Writing in the Motor Club?s magazine, The Oily Rag, Nigel referred to William?s renowned sense of humour, when he turned up for a meeting in a bright red Lomax three-wheeler which he referred to as ?the Jammy Dodger?. Both this vehicle, which his wife Angela refused to travel in, and William?s Citroen Light 15, often carried him to Montesson, Thame?s twin town in France, where one or the other was proudly included in the town carnival procession every September.
    Indeed, William was a very active supporter of the Thame Twinning Association, where he was the accepted champion gleaner of raffle prizes, a role relished by few in any organisation, one which he however excelled at, using a mixture of friendly bluster, charm (especially if it was a middle-aged lady he was appealing to) or making one feel mean for not sharing his enthusiasm for the cause.
    William threw himself into everything he became involved in with great gusto and one of my greatest memories of him is himself dressed up for the part of Town Cryer, having lost one his home-made baco-foil buckles, striding around the town, ringing a bell, yelling in his most English of voices and with his somewhat militaristic bearing, gathering the shoppers to attend the official opening of Montesson Square.
    It was evident from the most moving speeches given by William?s two sons at his Humanist funeral service, that his relationship with them was an inspiring one(he build and flew his own hang glider!) and that the love between him and Angela, whom he met at Cambridge University, was the bedrock of this lovely family.
    As Nigel said, William was a strong character with definite views which he wasn?t averse to stating, but he was a great friend and committed supporter of both the Motor Club and the Twinning Association and we are all missing him very much.

  • Rates Relief For Small Businesses

    RATES relief for small business will be available from April 1, this year.
    Businesses with a rateable value below

  • Thame Festival 2005

    PLANS are now in place for this year’s Thame Festival, which will this year run for a full six days.
    The theme for the festival is ‘Fair Trade’- very appropriate in this year of the G8 summit, and the current ‘Make Povery History’ campaign.
    The fun and fund-raising begins on Monday, June 13, with a Fair Trade Fashion Show at Lord Williams’s Lower school, followed by a Scouts’ Gang Show at the Scout hut in Southern Road on Tuesday.
    There will be two quizes on the Wednesday (June 15), one for primary schools in the afternoon and the usual evening quiz for adults which this year will be held at Lord Williams’s Lower school. On Thursday, a Teddy bears’ Picnic is planned for very young children and on Friday (June 17), there will be Jazz night, again at Lower school.
    The grand carnival and fete will take place on Saturday, June 18, and following the success of last year’s event, the festival will conclude with a rock concert in the Upper High Street.
    St Mary’s Church, Thame, will be hold a Flower Festival from Thursday to Sunday.
    For the six weeks running up to the Festival, local pubs will be involved in an Inter-pub Game Challenge, between teams of 10 competing at a quiz, darts, pool and Aunt Sally. The pubs fielding a team so far are the Six Bells, the Nags Head, the Two Brewers, the Cross Keys, the Star & Garter and the Snooker Club.
    Thame’s Senior Citizens won’t be left out; a Tea Dance is planned for some time during the festival week. Watch this space for details nearer the time.
    The serious side of the festival is of course to raise money for a worthy cause and this year’s is a three-way split between Lord Williams’s World Challenge to Peru, Thomley Hall, Ickford and the Oxfordshire Air Ambulance.