DESPITE strong representations from Thame Town Council that employment land in Thame needs protecting in line with the Neighbourhood Plan, a huge housing estate and a care home could be build on the old DAF site.
Preliminary artist’s impression of the proposed Care Home on the old DAF site in Thame
In a statement today, the town council explains: “It is possible that the Planning Authority, SODC, will be approving the building of up to 129 dwellings, a 68 bed care home and 1511sqm of office space on the whole of the Kingsmead Business Park, the old DAF/Kubota site. The Town Council will be making further representations at the decisive SODC Planning Committee meeting in Wallingford at 6pm on Wednesday, February 20.
Public’s views wanted
“The meeting is open to the public and we encourage you to attend, whether you are for or against the proposals.”
You can view the full details of the planning application HERE
FOLLOWING three defeats in all competitions, Thame were on the hunt to get out of a bad run and continue pushing for the playoffs. Kempston started the weekend in 15th place and wanted not to get dragged into a relegation battle come March and April
In the early five minutes both teams were attempting to play long balls forward which were intercepted by the defence of both sides. Kempston began to look threatening from set pieces with Thame unable to head the ball away in corners. Kempston created half a chance from Hyde’s throw in towards the forward which was then hit over the bar for a goal kick.
Kempston continued this style of play for the first quarter of a hour which led to key moment in the match when a long ball down the middle towards Crawley led to a misjudged header by Carter allowing Crawley to gain possession and run towards goal. Carter sprinted back but was deemed to have pulled Crawley back. Therefore, a penalty was awarded and Carter was given a straight red card. After a quick pause in play, Joseph stepped up and powered the penalty kick to Hill’s right which was parried and only just went over the line to give Kempston an early lead. Thame would now face an uphill struggle to get anything from the game.
Thame then produced one of their best periods of the game due to their pressing and work rate. It took until the 23rd minute for Thame to be awarded their first corner from where Goss put it into the box and it was cleared out. Tack was able to get on the ball and put an excellently weighted through ball towards the running West who calmly controlled the ball before putting it past Martin along the ground. For the rest of the half the game proved to be more open and possession became evenly matched. Thame resorted to counter and when in possession breaking quickly with both Goss and Fasanmade out wide. This pressure perhaps did result in Kempston then giving the ball away for the rest of the first half.
A threatening attack down the left by Kempston resulted in a full stretch challenge by Tack to win the ball. He was then able to pass up the wing to Fasanmade who would travel with the ball 20 yards before being fouled. The free kick was put into the box with pace by Goss when unmarked Essex leapt up to head the ball narrowly wide of goal. The first half ended as a real physical battle with multiple fouls by both sides in midfield with very little created.
HT Score – KEMPSTON 1 – 1 THAME
Both side’s started the second half at a slower pace perhaps easing their way into the game, and there were very little long periods of possession to begin with. The first chance of the second half fell to Thame when Martin saved the first shot, resulting in the ball coming out to West who scuffed the follow up but still managed to find the target until Kempston could get back and clear the ball off the line. Thame’s West continued to hold the line and ball when possible to encourage Goss and Fasanmade to attack the wings. This was similar to Kempston’s approach having McLeod as a lone striker for much of the second half with very little coming here his way.
Kempston nearly took the lead again when a cross by Shepherd into a dangerous area had to be cleared away by Lynn which proved to be Kempston’s best chance in the second half. This did enhance the team’s confidence and did encourage them to get forward more. An example of this was when a long run up the left by Hyde led to him getting the ball on the touch line and crossing the ball across the face of goal. But Hill was able to collect the ball and stop the attack.
One of Thame’s final attacks was a cross by Peake-Pijnen with his left foot which did find the timed jump of West who could only head it towards Martin. Thame’s players were extremely tired in the last 15 minutes, with both Thame’s Ashworth and Sturgess in midfield still closing down and trying to make tackles to break up play which was a great defensive partnership by the two.
In the final five minutes the ref decided to not award Thame a penalty when Fasanmade appealed for being brought down in the box when he was running towards goal. Both teams seemed content with the draw at the final whistle and both teams were warmly applauded by sets of fans.
Following the result both teams will be satisfied with a point. Thame remain in fifth place following results elsewhere in the league and Kempston drop to 16th place but are now 11 points above relegation. Thame’s Fasanmade had a great debut with his defensive work rate and attacking runs and positional play.
FT Score – KEMPSTON 1 – 1 THAME
*** STARTING LINE-UPS ***
Kempston Rovers – Martin (GK), Akubuine, Hyde, Wright, Powell, Boland, Joseph, Shepherd, Crawley, Bush (Cpt), Tshikuna
Subs Used – Riley, McLeod and Sambu
Thame United FC – Hill (GK), Tack, Lynn, Essex, Carter, Ashworth, Fasanmade, Sturgess (Cpt), Goss, West and Peake-Pijnen
Subs used –
*** MAN OF THE MATCH ***
As awarded by Kempston Rovers – #3 Cameron Hyde
THAME’S Music in the Park has donated £430 to Thame Youth Café for the purchase of a Nintendo Switch gaming console, a game and two additional controllers.
This grant comes shortly after the generous supporters of the Facebook page, Spotted:Thame, donated £834 to the Youth Café.
Chris Fram, Music in the Park Chair (right) presents the cheque to Nick Francis, Youth Café Manager (centre) and Linda Emery, Thame Youth Café Patron (left). In the background, visitors enjoy some of the equipment purchased with Music in the Park’s previous donation, made in 2016
The success of Thame Youth Café, which has an average of attendance of 55 young people and regularly attracts 70, meant that it was in need of the additional equipment to enable more of its visitors to participate in the fun. The Thame Youth Café is in Christchurch Methodist Church on Thame Upper High Street. Unlike traditional youth clubs, the Youth Café concept is not solely about entertaining young people but rather to provide a safe place for them to gather and, through leisure activities, bring about real transformation by promoting values and personal development to enable them to reach their full potential, both as individuals and within the community.
There are different activities each week from cooking and mindfulness drawing to a graffiti wall and science experiments. It runs two Youth Cafés: one for 11-14s and one for 14-16s.
Music in the Park Chair, Chris Fram, said: “Music in the Park is dedicated to supporting good causes in the local community. Thame Youth Café is a marvellous example of a charity that provides an invaluable service to the youth of Thame and we are delighted to support it again this year, following on from our previous donation in 2016. “
Youth Café Manager, Nick Francis, added: “The Youth Café is very popular, and we aim to provide every visitor with an absorbing and interesting experience. The new gaming equipment will help us serve more young people.”
THAME’s Red Kite Family Centre will be among charities to receive funding awards from the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, Richard Venables, at a special Awards event in Oxford on Tuesday, February 12, 2019.
Flash back to April 2017 when the Red Kite Family Centre was re-opened
Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF) has recently made £34,525 in grants to 12 different charities working to bring together people from different backgrounds – people who may not have culture, economic background or age in common, but can share friendship through shared interests and activities, of which the Red Kite centre is one.
The event will be held at the Tap Social Movement – a brewery and social enterprise in Oxford that employs ex-offenders, helping them back into society when they are released from prison. Guests from the charities receiving grants will have the chance to meet the generous donors who gave funds to OCF to make their projects possible and will speak about their work at the event.
The Red Kite centre will receive £2,100 towards their project, Growing Up Together, an intergenerational project in Thame where the youngest children learn together with the oldest residents. The project supports both generations to learn new skills with support from local artists. The project will also increase volunteers within both organisations to enable continued intergenerational community visits.
Other Oxfordshire charities to receive awards include:
• Sonning Common Green Gym, which draws volunteers from across the community, taking referrals from the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. Volunteers undertake practical nature conservation activities to help the local environment and to improve their physical and mental health and fitness.
• My Life My Choice, whose Gig Buddies project matches beneficiaries with a volunteer who loves the same kind of ‘gigs’ (eg football matches, the cinema, museum, concerts etc) so they can go to these gigs together.
• Oxford Hindu Temple, which has created a ‘Making Music Together’ project to harness linguistic, vocal, poetic and musical traditions. This will culminate in events for Indian Republic Day, Holi and Basant, and Eid.
NOMINATIONS are still open for the Community Policing Awards 2019. Now in its eighteenth year, the Community Policing Awards provide an opportunity to recognise the work of officers, staff and volunteers who have made an outstanding contribution to their community over the past year.
PCSO Diane Jackson serves tea to Thame’s senior citizens Christmas party in 2015, when Diane won an award.
Do you know someone in the Thame Community Policing team who has gone above and beyond in their role?
Someone who has made a difference to you or our community?
If you can answer the above questions, please nominate for the Community Policing Awards.
There are eight categories this year:
Community Police Officer 2019
Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) 2019
Special Constable 2019
Diversity Champion 2019
Cadet 2019
Volunteer 2019
Community Volunteer 2019
Problem Solving Award 2019
You have until Monday, February 25, to nominate your local hero. For more information, visit the Thames Valley Police website HERE
THIS fixture offered both sides a great opportunity for silverware this season and it was Thame United, eight times winners of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup, who hosted Ardley United FC in this knockout encounter on Tuesday (05/02/19).
The game started slowly with Thame attempting to keep the ball all over the pitch and Ardley easing into the game. It didn’t take long until West was adjudged to be fouled in the box and Thame were awarded an early penalty.
Ben Sturgess stepped up confidently and placed the ball to the GK right side. Thame had a half chance shortly afterwards to double their lead when a cross by Peake-Pijnen was headed by West but no one was able to put it into the net. Ardley began to fight back and Hill was forced into a reaction save following some great one touch passing inside the box by Ardley. They showed further threatening attacks down the right side attempting to hit early crosses into the box. Thame did respond when Lynn made numerous runs down the left and eventually was able to hit a powerful cross into the box which was headed wide by West.
In the 26th minute of this, the first half, a lapse in concentration led to an easy through ball, played behind Gledhill, being shot past Hill by Ardley’s Bryan. Ardley continued their dominance and Essex had to resort to a diving header from a long cross field ball to avoid a one-on-one with Hill. Ardley took the lead on 32 minutes when a deflected shot from inside the box from Gillett left a fully stretched Hill with no chance to save the shot. Ardley’s tactic of playing the ball behind the defence was evident and they continued playing this way through the first half which saw Smith make multiple runs and dribbles.
HT Score – THAME 1 – 2 ARDLEY
Thame did respond in the second half and nearly equalised shortly after kick off, following a ball over the top by Sturgess which was intercepted by Lawrence before an incoming Tack could get to the ball. Goss had been substituted at half time which led to Tack moving to a more attacking position. One excellent creative attack was when Thame’s Martin chipped a pass over the back line and West’s shot hit a defender and went out for a corner. There was a claim for a penalty by Ardley when Smith went down in the box but he was booked for diving by the referee.
At this point Thame’s defence began to appear more robust with players dealing with balls in the air comfortably and Ardley being limited to shots from outside the box. Half way through the second half, Thame’s Peake-Pijnen produced a drilled cross towards goal which was anticipated and dealt with by Lawrence. A Thame mistake at the back when a header towards Hill was short meant a gambling Bryan was able to get to the ball before Hill and head it over him to make it 3-1.
Thame finally pulled a goal back on 68 minutes when the ball was bouncing around the box. But a determined West got to the ball two yards out to make it 2-3. Thame continued to be awarded corners and free kicks in the last 15 minutes but were unable to find an equaliser. Ardley continued to slow the game down and defend in numbers and happy to attack on the counter and managed to hold out for a huge victory.
FT Score – THAME 2 – 3 ARDLEY
Ardley will be relishing the semi final cup draw in the hope of drawing one of Oxfordshire’s big clubs. Ardley defended with heart and determination in the second half and their forwards were threatening on the counter attack, proving they have quality finishing within the side. Thame on the other hand face a tough trip away to Kempston in the league on Saturday, February 9, and aim to stop the current run of three successive defeats.
*** STARTING LINE-UPS ***
Thame United FC – Hill (GK), Tack, Lynn, Essex, Gledhill, Tutton, Martin, Sturgess (Capt), Goss, West and Peake-Pijnen
Subs used – Ashworth and Murray
Ardley United FC – Lawrence (GK), Griffiths, Moore (Capt), Giles, West, Jenkins, Gillett, McKiernan, Smith, Bryan and Harris
Subs used – Woodall and Yusuf
*** MAN OF THE MATCH sponsored by Figaro’s Barber in Thame ***
The Thame United Man of the Match selected by Figaro’s Barber was #11 Matt Peake-Pijnen.
*** NEXT GAME *** AWAY @ Hillgrounds Leisure, MK42 8SZ Saturday 9/2/2019 Kick Off 15:00 – Kempston Rovers v Thame United EVO-STIK Southern Division One Central
LOCAL ELECTIONS, SNOW, KEBABS AND MORE…Want to become a Thame Town Councillor? Town Councillors will be making themselves available nearer May, 2019, when local elections will be taking place for Thame Town Council. The council wants ‘new blood’ and particularly younger people to stand for election as town councillors.
Publicity and leaflets will be available too, explaining what prospective councillors will be committing themselves to, and how to go about standing.
Cars struggle along the Chinnor Road in last week’s snow (Image courtesy of Tanya from Chinnor)
HEROES in the snow – Few of us realise just how magnificently the town council’s Maintenance team responded to last week’s snow fall. Despite clearing snow from Thame’s streets being the responsibility of Oxfordshire County Council, OCC Highways team only cleared the High Street. One member of TTC’s Maintenance team, realising from weather forecasts that the conditions in the town were likely to be seriously impacted by the snow, arrived at the council’s depot at 6am in the morning to prepare the council’s snow plough.
Throughout the day, the mainenance team cleared as many of Thame’s residential roads as they could, allowing cars and people to exit and access many of the town’s streets to go about their daily lives. These unsung workers deserve our thanks and appreciation.
THAME’S Atalay’s Kebab Van is once again up for ‘kebab van of the year’ in the British Kebab Awards 2019.
Resul Atalay and his two sons, Jason and Joshua, whose state-of-the art kebab van is based in the Upper High Street, will be hoping to retain the coveted crown for the third time in a row! To vote for Atalay’s, visit the British Kebab Awards website HERE
HOT NEWS! Atalay’s Chicken Shop, in Swan Walk, Thame, will be opening soon – a new venture for the Atalay family and, if it’s run to the same exacting standards of produce and service as the kebab van is, it’s bound to be the best Chicken shop for miles around!
THE date for this year’s Thame Christmas Lights switch-on will revert to the first Friday in December, and will be held on December 6, 2019.
The town council has decided that the town’s Christmas lights need a fresh new look and will be going out to re-tender for a new set of lights.
TOWN Councillors are still waiting for a report from Thames Valley Police, following complaints and a video claiming to show illegal practices by the Kimblewick Hunt. The council says it will wait for the hunt to apply to the council to hold the hunt’s usual town centre meet on New Year’s Day, by which time it hopes to have enough information to make a decision.
THAME Town Council is to take in house the production of the official town guide, will which contain much more useful information for residents new and existing, funded by local advertising.
Previously the more limited town guide was produced by a publishing company who profited from its production, even though the town council had to spend time producing copy and finding pictures.
Thame’s Market Town Coordinator, Becky Reid, who will be responsible for producing the guid, said: “By having control over the lay out of the guide we will ensure that information (and where relevant adverts) will be placed next to relevant editorial, ensuring targeted exposure for business. By ensuring that customers find out about what is available in Thame, they are less likely to make their way to other destinations to meet their needs. If we can provide this information to them and encourage additional trips to Thame, then the town as a whole will benefit from the inevitable linked shopping trips that will occur, keeping our high street vibrant.”
THE VICTIMS of a fatal crash on the B4445 in Thame have been named, and the inquest into their deaths will be opened tomorrow, February 7th.
Coroner’s Court, Oxford
Ben Folley, 21, from Chinnor, and Jill Evans, 58, from Malvern, died following a crash between two cars on the Chinnor Road, between Thame and the Towersey turn, on January 26, 2019.
Ben was driving a black Mini when the crash occurred around 9.20am, and Jill Evans, as the police reported in their original appeal, was a passenger in the White Golf involved in the crash. There were two other adults in the Golf who were seriously hurt in the crash, and a young boy who suffered minor injuries.
DEBRA Granik’s last feature was the film that launched Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone, back in 2010. Her second film shares the earlier story’s concern with the experience of living on the margins, and the moral choices of those who live outside the codes and values and structures that constiute “civilised” society.
Will is a traumatised and profoundly disillusioned ex-military man, who lives with his teenage daughter, Tom, in a huge national park in Oregon. He has raised her in a manner that explicitly rejects what he sees as the intellectual and moral corruptions of state and society. They live undercover, with only a tent and the rudiments of equipment, reading books and treading lightly on their surroundings, attempting to ‘leave no trace’ on the environment. From time to time, they venture into the city, where Will sells some of his prescription meds for cash with which they get basic supplies.
Will has taught Tom how to remain invisible from the authorities, but one day she is seen by a hiker, and their cover is blown. The two of them are subjected to the ‘caring’ examinations and ministrations of social services bureaucracy, apparently acquiescent to the demands of child protection authories, all the while planning to escape once again. The tests they are subjected to, and the questions that are asked of them, serve only to prove that in so many ways they are not victims to the miseries that plague many regular lives – Tom is safe, well educated, well fed, she is loved. They sleep well and are content and happy. However, Tom finds that for the first time she has to wonder what it might be like to live like a regular child, to have a home and a pet rabbit, or the company of one’s peers. Might there be another way to live?
The two must examine their deeply held values and the way they have chosen to live, what is at stake and what is right. To her infinite credit, Granik manages to treat this story with restraint and a quiet introspection, when another story teller might have been tempted towards histrionics and more explicit jerking of tears. The result is all the more poignant and powerful.
Widely acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, this is one that will stay with you. View the trailer here. LINK
USA 2018, 108 minutes, PG certificate Directed by Debra Granik, Starring Ben Foster, Thomasin McKenzie, Jeff Kober, Dale Dickey, Isaiah Stone, Dana Millican
LEAVE NO TRACE This Friday, February 8, 8pm Film tickets are available on the door or online- Click HERE
