THAME photographer, Mark Hewitson, of Mark Hewitson Photography, has today been awarded an Associateship with the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (SWPP), a national body overseeing excellence in professional photography.
Mark submitted a panel of 20 adorable dog portrait images to the SWPP which were then judged by a board of his peers to be suitable for the award. To achieve the Associate Qualification the images submitted must show above average skill and technique as well as sitting together as a body of work representative of the photographer’s unique style, creativity and skills.
Mark said: “To have my work recognised by my peers as being of excellent quality and creativity is a huge honour which makes me extremely proud. This award helps drive me to continue creating outstanding images for my clients and helps form part of our promise of excellence.”
Mark Hewitson Photography can be contacted on 01844 278015 or via the website at www.markhewitson.co.uk
THE Cabinet at South Oxfordshire District Council is set to consider a report regarding the progress of its Local Plan, which has been held up following a temporary direction issued by the Secretary of State, Robert Jenrick MP, in October last year.
Discussions have been ongoing between the district council and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government since last autumn regarding the Local Plan 2034, which is currently at Examination.
Cllr Sue Cooper, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “Stripping us of our plan-making powers would take the ability to influence the Local Plan out of the hands of those who were elected to do just that. It would mean putting it in the hands of a council that has no democratic mandate to make local plans in South Oxfordshire, nor any experience of making this type of plan.
“The district council has endeavoured to engage in constructive discussions with officials at the Ministry throughout, an approach reciprocated by MHCLG officials. Following the most recent discussions, officers believe that the Secretary of State may now be minded to withdraw the temporary direction so Cabinet Members and Council can consider the new report at their meetings on March 5.
The report explains the current context and sets out two options that Cabinet could recommend to councillors at their Council meeting – to allow the plan to continue through the examination or to withdraw the plan.
The report also explains that if Cabinet recommends that councillors should withdraw the plan, it’s highly likely the Secretary of State would impose a new direction to prevent its withdrawal. In such an instance it would be highly likely to direct the plan to continue through examination, but in the hands of a council not elected to prepare a local plan.”
Cllr Cooper added, “The new report sets out all of the risks and benefits of each of the options, and I am very sure my colleagues in the Cabinet will discuss them thoroughly and as always come to a recommendation that has the best interests of South Oxfordshire residents at its heart.”
LINK HERE for previous article relating to this topic and HERE for more related posts
TO add to Thame’s growing list of annual festivals, which already includes a Music Festival, a Literary Festival and a Food Festival, the town will soon be holding a History Festival.
Image courtesy of The John Hampden Society
The History Festival, which will be supported by Thame Museum though not run by it, will be held on Sunday, June 7, 2020. The event will celebrate the history of the town with a range of activities and guided tours of historical buildings, with the aim of increasing local engagement with the town’s history and its heritage.
Local organisations such as Thame Historical Society and other regional organisations including Haddenham Museum, the John Hampden Society, Lord Williams’s School, the Oxfordshire Local History Association, South Oxfordshire Archaeology Group, the Wheatley Archive and the Oxfordshire History Centre Library will also be involved.
The Upper Chamber of the town hall will be transformed for interactive, hands-on activities for children and adults to take part in and there will quizzes and a large map of the town where local visitors can pinpoint the location and age of their homes.
The Town Council has agreed to provide seed-funding of £1,000 and free use of the Town Hall for the event, similar to that provided by the Town Council for the first Thame Arts & Literature Festival and Thame Food Festival.
IN response to complaints about illegal parking in Thame Town Centre, Police Community Support Officers will now be carrying out more targeted enforcement.
This enforcement, supported by all the Town Councils in South Oxfordshire and South and Vale District Council, will begin imminently.
The message to the public is to please park legally or you may be subject to an initial fine of £30. Illegal parking is not only dangerous but diverts precious police resources from their core role.
In practice this means that some allotted PCSO time will be ring fenced to parking enforcement. Thame will be one area they will prioritise.
OXFORDSHIRE’S world profile is set to expand and grow in the coming decade and at Lord Williams’s School’s next business event, Richard Byard from OxLEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) will introduce the local industry strategy that aims to support business, apprenticeship programmes and education to grow Oxfordshire’s world class profile.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council will share their experience of developing an apprenticeship scheme that produces ‘best in class’ technicians.
Any businesses that have an interest in developing employee potential, young talent and business growth, will find this talk of interest.
Lord Williams’s School is inviting local business to join the event on March 9, between 8am – 9.30am. To book your place at the talk, contact NickyStallwood, Careers Lead at Lord Williams’s School: n.stallwood@lordwilliams.oxon.sch.uk
SINCE South Oxfordshire District Council’s Climate Emergency Advisory Committee made its recommendations to the Council, it has set ambitious targets to become carbon neutral within its own operations by 2025 and have committed to becoming a carbon neutral district by 2030.
SODC’s Climate Emergency Advisory Committee
The committee meetings happen regularly and everyone is invited to go along and to hear the discussions on how climate change is being tackled.
You can find out more information on the advisory committee and its work and what it’s doing to achieve its targets on the SODC website HERE
LORD Williams’s Festival Chorus will perform Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem on Saturday, March 14, at Thame Leisure Centre. Of the many choral settings of the Requiem, Fauré’s is probably the most widely loved.
In comparison with the large-scale masterpieces of Verdi, Brahms and Berlioz, Fauré’s setting seems gentle and unassuming, yet it is this very quality of understatement which contributes so eloquently to the work’s universal appeal.
Led by Musical Director Jeff Stewart, the choir will also perform another Fauré work, Cantique de Jean Racine, a short sacred piece that has captured the affections of choirs and audiences alike.
The evening’s programme will also include popular and much-loved Anthems by Sir Hubert Hastings Parry with Jerusalem and I Was Glad amongst them.
The concert starts at 7.30pm. Tickets £13 adult, £10 concession and £1 under 18s, available from choir members, on the door and online at Eventbrite via www.lordwilliamsfestivalchorus.org.uk
OXFORDSHIRE County Council is considering Moorend Farm, Thame (latterly the Einig extraction site) as a location for a new permanent plant for demolition and construction waste recycling.
The site is one of several preferred sites earmarked by the county council that are included in its draft Minerals and Waste Policy, currently out for public consultation. A second site is under consideration in the Thame area, a hectare of land off Rycote Lane, in Christmas Lane (close to the ASM car recycling centre).
Several Thame residents, including many from Lea Park close to the Moor End Lane site, oppose the council’s choice, on the grounds of dust in the air, noise, too many lorry movements, danger to walkers and cyclists using the bridle way where vehicle enter and leave the site, and degradation of wildlife habitats and water courses.
The consultation will be discussed at a Thame Town Council Planning Committee in the near future. Meanwhile local people with strong feelings about the proposed Thame sites, are invited to visit Oxfordshire County Council’s website and make their views known by taking part in the consultation.
THIS February CPRE invites everyone to join in with Star Count 2020, a fun and easy way to enjoy the wonders of the universe. By simply counting the number of stars they can see in the Orion constellation between 21 and 28 February, those taking part will help map the best and worst places to see the awesome sight of a star-filled night sky.
Throughout history people have gazed up at the magical starry night sky in wonder and used the cosmos to navigate. Looking at the stars we get a feeling of tranquillity rarely experienced in today’s frantic lives. Seeing dark skies full of stars is something we associate with the countryside, and part of reconnecting with the natural world. However, places to view these spellbinding sights are becoming harder to find, even in the countryside.
Last year’s Star Count results showed that light pollution, often caused by the glow and glare from street and outdoor household and sports lighting, is making beautiful starry skies a rare sight for many of us. Just 2% of people who took part in Star Count 2019 told us they were viewing a truly dark sky.
Helen Marshall, Director CPRE Oxfordshire said: ‘A starry night sky is one of the most magical sights the countryside can offer, connecting people to such an important part of our natural heritage. But many people don’t get to experience this beauty due to light pollution. We want to get people out counting the stars and helping to save them now and for future generations to enjoy!’
As well as preventing us from seeing the stars and wonders of our Milky Way galaxy, the Northern Lights, and meteors (shooting stars), light pollution has serious impacts. It disrupts the natural behaviour of wildlife and can be harmful for our health. It’s also a waste of energy, at a time when many people are trying to live more sustainably.
Using the results from the annual Star Count, CPRE will lobby Government and local authorities to tackle light pollution, and also highlight which ‘dark sky’ areas need to be protected and enhanced by strong policies.
CPRE’s Star Count is supported by the British Astronomical Association’s Commission for Dark Skies (CfDS).
Expert astronomer Bob Mizon from the CfDS said: ‘As well as being a wonderful opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the night sky, Star Count is starting to give us some really useful information. We’re hoping many more people will join in this year and give us the best map ever.’
To take part, star counters are asked to choose a clear night between Friday 21 and Friday 28 February. During this time the moon is less bright, making it easier to carry out a cosmic census, although CPRE will accept results from any nights in the second half of February. Without using a telescope of binoculars, people can then count the stars within the rectangle shape formed by Orion, except the four stars on the outer corners, then submit their results at cpre.org.uk/starcount
CHINA RFC’s EhizeEhizode, who scored Chinnor’s only try in the 7-0 win over Canterbury away on Saturday, has been commenting on the match, hailing his side’s gutsy and gritty display as they dug deep to leave Canterbury with an away win.
EHIZE Ehizode
The lock’s eighth-minute converted try proved enough as the Thame-based side battled their way to a 7-0 victory in the midst of Storm Dennis.
Chinnor’s latest triumph extended their winning streak in National League One, to five games, while they also stretched their unbeaten away run to seven matches.
It was never going to be an easy afternoon at Merton Lane and with the conditions only deteriorating, Canterbury chose to defend into the wind and uphill for the opening 40 minutes.
Chinnor were only able to score once in the first half, but followed it up with a superb, energy-sapping display after the break as the hosts never troubled the try-line.
Ehizode said: “When you talk about matches being a ‘forwards game’ that definitely epitomises it.
“Games like that you’ll remember not because the storm was taking place, but because you knew it was going to be a mental battle as a player – and a team – to get back on your feet and carry again and again.”
He added: “It was dark playing in those conditions. With the wind being so strong ten minutes into the first half, it was impossible to play with or against it because you never knew where the ball would end up if you were to kick or pass it.”
The majority of the second half was contested between the 22s, with Chinnor enjoying a good amount of territory despite playing into the wind and up the slope.
Canterbury had a hint of an opportunity late on with the visitors down to 14 men and defending a lineout ten metres out.
But Joe Dancer brilliantly won the battle and Jason Worrall kicked the ball into touch to end the contest.
Ehizode added: “We knew Canterbury would have the upper hand playing with the wind. Regardless of that, as a team we backed our defence which is now evident from not conceding a try in two games.
“We knew we would have to defend for numerous phases and we would have to buy in for as long as they made a mistake and reap the benefits when we got the ball back.”
He continued: “I felt ecstatic at the full-time whistle – I didn’t have to defend anymore.
“It was a great game to be a part of because I felt it brought us together as a team having to play in conditions like that.
“Coming down to Canterbury’s ground, only scoring a try and defending or pick and goes for the rest of the game is extremely tough, but it was all worth it.”
