Category: Thame news

VALUED volunteers at the Thame and District Day Centre, who have been offering their time and energy to support the work of the centre for 10 years or more, were rewarded this evening at a special presentation event at the Three Horseshoes pub in Towersey.

The Chair of the Day Centre’s Officers, Tyrell Gillman, presented certificates of long service to five volunteers, including Owen Davies, who has been a volunteer driver for over 15 years and has since become a Trustee. Tyrell explained that Owen is always on hand to step in if another volunteer is ill or on holiday, and also helps out with trips.

The other recipients of Certificates were Margaret Robinson, for 11 years service. One of her main duties is to ensure that none of the centre’s members has the hassle of collecting their prescriptions from the pharmacy.

Wednesday volunteer, Marion Edwards, started giving her time back in 2005, and as well as volunteering at the Day Centre, ensures that every member, volunteer and staff member receives a birthday and a Christmas card from the centre.

Pat Draper has also been volunteering at the centre for 10 years, currently on Fridays and, Tyrell explained: “..is a master at baking beautiful cakes for special events at the Day Centre, mince pies at Christmas and is an awesome tea maker.”

Ron Clanfield started as a volunteer driver in 2004, bringing members to the centre every Tuesday morning, and, as Tyrell said: “…is also always happy to step into the breach for another volunteer who may be ill or away on holiday, and like Owen, also helps out with the regular trips the members are taken on.”

A special gift of his favourite whisky was presented to volunteer, Doug Hayes who, after eight years, is leaving to move on to pastures new..

Reflecting on the meaning of the word ‘volunteer’, Tyrell told the 40 or so assembled volunteers and friends that it had accured to him today that if all those in the country who ‘freely offer to work for no pay’ suddenly stopped volunteering: ‘….the country would probably resemble Greece!”

You can find out more about the work of the Thame and District Day Centre, and how to get involved in volunteering at the centre for a few hours a week, by visiting the centre’s website: http://www.thameanddistrictdaycentre.co.uk/whatwedo.html

OXFORD Road out of Thame was closed for a time around mid-day today, after a bus collided with some scaffolding near the turn at Priest End.

One passenger is believed to have received minor injuries from broken glass. The scaffolding has now been made safe and the road has since re-opened once crash investigations had been carried out by the police.

THAME Town Council will be observing the National One Minute’s Silence at 12 noon today (Friday) to remember the victims of the Tunisian beach attack.

Anyone wishing to observe the silence is invited to join the Town Mayor,Nichola Dixon,  Councillors and staff as they congregate outside the Town Hall.

Thirty of the 38 people killed by a gunman at the beach resort of Sousse on Friday (June 27) were British. Their bodies are being repatriated back to the UK via RAF Brize Norton, from today.

A care worker from Thame with a drugs problem, and who took an elderly resident’s bank card and used it to withdraw money, has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Abigail Smith, 35, of Thame Park Road, Thame, had pleaded guilty back on June 22, to fraud by abuse of position at Windmill Place care home for the elderly in Thame.

Oxford Crown Court heard on Monday (29/06) that Smith had made multiple cash withdrawals from the account of Margaret Surgey, an elderly resident who had suffered a stroke and was beginning to suffer dementia.

The fraud amounted to a total of £4,982.84 and was discovered after a Department for Work and Pensions direct debit for Ms Surgey was returned due to a lack of funds in the account.

Smith was apparently held in high esteem by colleagues but according to her Defence lawyer, had been fighting a cocaine habit and the effects of having had an abortion. She was given an 18 month sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered todo 100 hours of unpaid work. The judge also ordered that Smith attend a drug rehabilitation Centre and placed on a 12 month Supervision Order.

Confiscation proceedings to recover the stolen money have been put in place.

SOURCE: Oxford Mail

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for information following an attempted burglary in Thame.

Between 2.20pm and 4pm yesterday (1/7), an attempt was made to gain entry to a property in Onslow Drive.

It is believed offender(s) attempted to gain entry by forcing the front door handle. No entry was gained.

If you have seen any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area or have any information relating to this message, please call the police on the 24 hour non-emergency telephone number 101.

Alternatively if you have information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online @ crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

HUNDREDS of local people took advantage of the unexpected good weather for this year’s Thame Duck Race, after a torrential day at Thame Carnival the day before.

Lining the riverbank, they watched as around 2000 rubber ducks were launched from Thame Bridge to start the race. They were then able to follow the ducks down river to the finish, where duck numbers 447, 1327 and 101 were the first three across the line.

Captain Duck oversaw proceedings with his floating tribute to pallets, whilst Pirate Peter rigged beer barrels to a tin bath to try and stay dry – both failed to avoid the perils of the deep! The pirates helped the ducks along their way and entertained the crowd with a mixture of terrible jokes and collapsing watercraft!

Tim Lancaster, Chairman of Thame Round Table, commented: “The Duck Race is always a highlight of the year for our members to run. Numerous local groups sell the tickets and then receive proceeds to benefit their group or charity – over £3600 was raised this year.

“We nominated SeeSaw, a local charity which provides grief support to young people, to benefit from sales made by our members and on the race weekend, and are delighted to have passed them a donation of over £900. We owe them our thanks too, for the support they are giving the family of one of our members whose daughter Megan died this year – Megan was always in the centre of everything we did and we dedicated this year’s race to her and her family.

“We would also like to thank all the friends of Thame Round Table, including the Fire Service, Peach Pubs and Helpful Hirings, who helped us to stage this event.”