SINGER/Songwriter, Ramona Rose returns to her home town of Thame to take the Featured Artist spot at the next edition of the First Thursday Music Club at The Stables, on Thursday, February 1.
Ramona Rose, 22, an ex pupil at Lord Williams’s school, is now based in Leeds and, armed with nothing but a six-string and a loop pedal, delivers a compelling fusion of Americana, Rock and Pop-laced bluesy grit and Rock N’ Roll candour. After her appearance at The Towersey Festival last year, her 2018 winter tour follows the release of her latest single ‘Grand Canyon’ in November 2017. The track has featured on UK, US and Australian radio and she enjoys continued support from BBC Introducing in West Yorkshire.
In addition to Ramona Rose’s Feature Spot, Odette Mitchell, Roger and Wendy, 2am Blue and Ignition are already booked in to play to ensure a fabulously eclectic bill!
The First Thursday Music Club still offers the opportunity for artists to play live in front of a warm and appreciative audience, maintaining the ‘Open Mic’ section of the evening where slots will always be available in the first hour on a first come, first served basis with player sign-up by 7.30. The club has a full house PA system with keyboard, bass amp, guitar amp and jazz drum kit (bring breakables!) all set up on stage and ready to go.
Another eclectic evening is guaranteed and, don’t forget, it’s FREE entry!
THAME-based singer/songwriter, Samir Elshay, has recently been given the great opportunity to represent the UK in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Lisbon in May. His song, Crazy, which he composed alongside Iceland’s two-time representative, Greta Salóme has made the final six and has been entered into the BBC 2 show, You Decide, airing on February 7, 2018. (more…)
RACQUETS Fitness Centre in Thame, is inviting squash players to an exhibition match with some world class squash players, and offering them the opportunity to actually play against a pro!
Why not go along and see what squash really looks like! More information and to book to play a pro at £1 per minute, on the Racquets website HERE
THAMES Valley and Hampshire’s Joint Roads Policing Unit have begun a week of activity specifically targeting drivers using hand-held mobile phones, with the aim of drawing attention to the risks posed by being distracted while in control of a vehicle.
The enforcement activity will run until Sunday, January 28, 2018, in line with the National Police Chief Council’s campaign. On motorways in the area today, 16 drivers were caught using hand-held mobile phones.
You can read more about the affect of using a mobile phone while in charge of a vehicle, and the stories of families devastated by the tragic results of such actions (including from the family of one of two people killed by this lorry driver (pictured), who was using a mobile phone) HERE
RESIDENTS of Moreton, concerned about an increase in large lorries on an already ‘dangerous’ A329, Rycote Lane, packed the public gallery of Thame’s council chamber on Tuesaday (16/02).
Cattle auction at Thame Livestock market
Up for discussion during a meeting of Thame Town Council, was a planning application to relocate Thame Livestock Market, with buildings for agricultural sales, as well as offices, welfare facilities and other associated facilities.
Addressing councillors, Sarah Taylor, who lives at Rycote Manor, a mile from the proposed site in Rycote Lane, was concerned that a traffic survey had only covered a small area either side of the proposed site entrance and that more heavy lorries using a narrow and bendy stretch of road by the gates to her property, would add to the tally of previous accidents there. She was annoyed that she had not been officially notified about the proposal by the planning authority. Her main concerns about the plans were that they constituted ‘unplanned development on green fields, with no reference in the district council’s Local Plan, or the Thame Neighbourhood Plan. She was not convinced, she said, that the Rycote Lane site was the right one for the cattlemarket.
Foul drainage and light pollution
Mrs Taylor was also worried about how drainage of foul water and effluent would be dealt with; She was also unhappy with what she described as ‘a dramatic rise in light polution on the site from existing industrial buildings over the last 15 years, because they keep the lights on all night, presumably for security.”
Ken Burch, a resident of Moreton, said that he was broadly in support of the cattlemarket move, but sad that a previous proposal to move it to Thame Show Ground had not progressed. His view was that as the majority of the market’s users come from the Bucks side of Thame, a site East of Thame would have been better.
He explained how it was already difficult for traffic trying to pull out of Moreton Road onto Rycote Lane, the A329, with a vehicle passing every 4 seconds at present – a point he felt had not been considered by any of ‘the very limited traffic surveys’.
‘A death-trap’
“That road will become a death trap,” he said. “In fact, it already is! As a doctor, I had to deal with fatalities there”
Mr Birch’s other concern was the possibility of, what he called, ‘mission creep’ on the site – i.e. adding to the present two market days, as well as other uses besides livestock auctions, to help pay for the new site. All this, plus the activities – unknown at this time – that may go on in the two new, commercial buildings also being planned, would increase traffic and disruption, he asserted.
In conclusion, Mr Burch said that although broadly in support of the application, he hoped that the council would look at traffic issues and egress from Moreton Road in particular and secondly, look at usage in more detail and, if needs be, consider caveats.
Will Taylor, of Bidwell’s then spoke on behalf of the cattle market applicant. He said that the Thame Neighbourhood Plan did have a policy about movng the current cattle market, to make alternative use of the site, and that a previous application had failed because of problems over a ransom strip. Mr Taylor added that a Professional, specialist had put forward a proposal to deal with slurry, grey water etc, and that nothing ‘detrimental to the environment’ was proposed.
‘Enough traffic-calming’
With regard to the associated plan for two separate commercial units, and in response to Mr Burch’s concerns, Will Taylor said that the they were intended as a revenue stream, needed to fund the running of the livestock market. The intention was not to take business from the town but would be agriculturally connected. About the traffic and safety concerns regarding the A329, he said that the plans did provide ‘enough traffic calming measures to avoid tail-backs on the road’.
Planning consultant, Jake Collinge, told the meeting that ‘the site was deliverable and represented a logical extension to the existing industrial site’. It related well to the strategic highway network, he said, and that the traffic generated by the scheme ‘would be comfortably and safely accommodated’.
The town councillors agreed to council officers present collating the comments expressed at the meeting and forwarding them to the District Planning Officer.
Have your say!
Cllr Helena Fickling advised any one with concerns to comment on the applications – there references are P17/S4415/FUL and P17/S441/O on the district council’s website: LINK HERE
NOTE: You can read the full minutes of the council meeting, including further notes on this particular item (s) on the town council’s website HERE
THAME Town Council’s precept, its portion of the Council Tax, is set to go up this year, by 3.5%, that’s equivalent to 10p per week extra for a typical Band ‘D’ house, or around £5 extra per year.
Costs the council has to budget for include £5,000 to Thame Town Music Festival, £5,000 towards flood prevention measures for the Cuttle Brook, £10,000 for the Red Kite Family Centre and £10,000 for the Thame and District Day Centre. An additional £15,000 has been allocated towards funding a Youth Worker and funding for a bigger and better Remembrance Day and Town Awards events, which are both marking special anniversaries in 2018.
One of the biggest costs for the coming year will be £45,000 towards a new Neighbourhood Plan. Some funds will be covered by drawing down on TTC’s reserves and there are also grants / section 106 monies that will be applied for. Also an additional member of the council’s Grounds team will amount to around £5,000.
You can read the full Budget and Precept Report on the town council’s website HERE (scroll down to item 7)
BEFORE heading back to school after the Christmas holidays, 15 juniors took part in a One -day Tournament at Racquets Fitness Centre in Thame. The competition was split across three round robin events ranging from beginner to improver level juniors, each group playing best of three matches.
The C group was made up of beginner players from Racquets who demonstrated fantastic enthusiasm and competitive spirit, even with only a few months of playing experience under their belt. Each junior outshone their beginner status showing off high serves and fast-paced rallies. We were treated to an exciting final with youngster Jack Turner narrowly losing out to 8-year-old Myles Glover, who’s older brother also played in the competition in the A group. This was Myles’ first tournament win, definitely well deserved!
On the next court we witnessed close competition between our B group players. This was an impossible one to judge, with most games reaching 10-10 tie breakers. In this category we welcomed Adam Sims who made his tournament debut. Although less experienced then some of the other players, Adam held his own and won the award for most smiley player of the day, wearing a huge grin throughout every match. The eventual final was between regular players Allegra Michopoulou and Anthony West, who took part in a three-set battle and one of the longest matches of the day. Some tricky boasts and low drives gave Anthony the edge allowing him to come out on top with a 2-1 win.
The A grade competition is always a heated event and today’s tournament saw no exception. New to the competition, Harrison Maldonado caused early upset and worry within the group with his powerful serve and efficient movement around the court. Well done to Harrison on his first tournament at Racquets! Impressing Racquets coach Chloe Marshall was 10-year-old Dylan Gonzales, Chloe commented: “Dylan has been working hard at training and practicing regularly; it’s definitely paying off! He has shown some real creativity on court today – one to watch!”
Our two highest scoring players were Alex Glover and Noah James, who engaged in a deciding match. Although Alex was quick around the court, Noah’s length was better on the day seeing him go home with the gold.
Well done to all the juniors who took part in the competition!
THE hospital trust that runs Thame community Hospital, want local people to let them know how they feel the new way they are running services from The hospital are working for its users, services aimed at bringing healthcare closer to home.
In 2016, the Trust ran a programme of events asking the public what they wanted from healthcare closer to home. This, says Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, helped them shape and develop the community hubs now running at Marlow and Thame Community Hospitals. Community hubs are all about providing a range of services to help people stay healthy and independent and to avoid having to be admitted to hospital.
“We would now like to invite you to come and hear about how those community hubs are progressing. We also want to tell you our plans for bringing care closer to home and give you the opportunity to develop these plans further,” explained Amarjit Kau, Head of Engagement and Involvement at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.
“We are very keen to listen to local people to hear a range of ideas and suggestions about how we might best deliver care closer to home for the future,” Amarjit continued.
The programme of up-coming sessions is listed above. To book onto one of the events, or if you have any questions, contact Dee Irvin on 01494 734149 or email dee.irvin@buckshealthcare.nhs.uk
AN idea to bring a new event to the centre of Thame, has been proposed by a couple who run a Delicatessen and Lifestyle & Homeware shop in the town. (more…)
THE sister of chef Heston Blumenthal, who slammed their mother’s head against a car in a rage in Thame, was today sentenced by Oxford Magistrates.
Alexis Blumenthal (Image Courtesy of thisisoxfordshire
Alexis Blumenthal, of Park Street, Thame, admitted assaulting her mother Celia at Aston Park, Watlington, on September 9, 2017, and in East Street, Thame, on October 7. (Read previous report HERE)
The court heard in mitigation that the route problem of Alexis Blmenthal’s four-years of verbal and physical abuse towards her mother, was her, Alexis’s drunkeness but that she was remorseful.
She was given a 10-week prison term for the first assault and eight weeks for the second, each to run concurrently and suspended for 12 months. She must also ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation and to pay £615.
