Thame.net

Category: Thame news

  • Crime update from Neighbourhood Policing team

    THE latest neighbourhood update from PCSO Isobel Hignell, the newest member of the local Neighbourhood Policing team, is now available, covering incidents of note and operations in the Thame Sector. It includes advice about Halloween and reporting Anti Social Behaviour, and actions to take to prevent your shed from being broken into. Here’s an extract:

    PCSO Isobel Hignell
    PCSO Isobel Hignell

    Local events

    During the last month there have been lots of exciting events in the area including Thame Show, Thame Fair and the Food Festival. These events have brought thousands of new and local visitors to the town, all of who helped make the events a success. No significant crimes or issues were reported during the events. The local police officers and PCSOs used the mobile police station as a focus point and signed people up to the Thames Valley Alert scheme which notifies members of the public of crimes which have, or are being committed in their local town.

    Halloween

    With Halloween approaching fast, we would encourage you to report any incidents of anti-social behaviour (ASB) to us by calling the police non-emergency number 101. We will be conducting high visibility patrols on the night, and the days leading up to Halloween, and will ensure that we deal with any incidents of ASB robustly.

    Burglaries

    Please secure your sheds, outbuildings and equipment as burglaries have continued. We recommend that you fit a strong pad-bar or hasp and staple with a close shackle padlock. Also consider fitting an alarm. Inexpensive battery powered shed alarms are available and easy to fit. Please secure property inside your shed/outbuilding by chaining bicycles and machinery to an anchor point.

    Property marking

    We encourage property marking, both as a deterrent to thieves, and a means for us to return goods if they are recovered or handed in to us. Discovering marked property and identifying the owners can play a major part in a successful prosecution. One property marking option we advocate is SmartWater.

    You can see the whole of PCSO Hignell’s report here: http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/yournh/yournh-tvp-pol-area/yournh-tvp-pol-area-soxon-vowh/pub-pg-nh-upds-N380?id=292151 and don’t forget, she’s new to Thame and would love you stop and stay ‘hello’ and talk to her about any concerns you may have.

  • A Night at the Cinema – part of the TAL Festival

    AS part of the Thame Arts and Literature Festival, Thame Cinema 4 All will be showing several films, and tickets are still available for three of them.

    From the film: In Secret
    From the film: In Secret

    In Secret,  an adaptation of the Emile Zola classic Thérèse Raquin, directed by Charlie Stratton, will be shown on Saturday, October 18, at 8pm;  A Night at the Cinema in 1914,  – a new archival compilation of film from the British Film Institute, on Sunday, October 19, at 10.30am and The Grand Budapest Hotel will be shown on Sunday, October 19, at 7pm.

    Full details of these and other events in and around Thame came be found here: https://www.thame.net/events

     

     

  • Make a splash for charity

    MORE and more teams from organisations, clubs and groups are signing up for the third Thame Rotary Swimathon at Thame Leisure Centre, but there’s still time for more swimmers to get involved and help raise funds for their own causes and for other charities.

    Thame Swimathon volunteers from Rotary Club of Thame and Inner Wheel - Photo: Nick White
    Thame Swimathon volunteers from Rotary Club of Thame and Inner Wheel – Photo: Nick White

    The Thame Swimathon is organised by the Rotary Club of Thame which this year takes place on Sunday, October 12, between 10am and 2pm, and is being made possible by the support of local companies: Better (Thame Leisure Centre), Park Street Dental Clinic, Abbotts Office Solutions, Vale Life Magazine, Booker Tate, Haddenham Beer Festival, Silent View Windows and , Ignite Sport. The Rotary Club of Thame’s charity beneficiaries this year will be Thame SAFARI, TCC2 (Thame Children’s Choir) and the Thame Skatepark Project.

    Thame Rotary’s spokesman, Marius Ciortan, explained how the Swimathon will be organised: “Teams of six swim for 55 minutes. The numbers of lengths are counted by Rotarians, Inner Wheel – and their families’ volunteers. The number of lengths swum by the teams are then written in the certificates. But everyone has fun and raises funds for charity. Teams can now raise 50% for their preferred charity, the other half being allocated to local charities supported by the Rotary Club of Thame. In the past two years, this annual Thame event has raised almost £4,500 for local charities.”

    He added: “We are expecting 100 people over the age 8, to swim and have fun. Teams from Thame Town Council, Booker Tate, TCC2, Thame Swimming Club, Barley Hill School, Thame Players, Thame New Babies and other groups will participate. Each participant will receive a medal and certificate from Nichola Dixon, Deputy Mayor of Thame, and Linda Emery, President of the Rotary Club of Thame.”

    To support the teams with their fundraising, visit https://mydonate.bt.com/events/thameswimathon2014
    To find out more: visit www.thame.rotaryweb.org or get in touch on www.facebook.com/thamerotary where there’s lots of information about the teams and their causes.
    or ring/text: 07764 85 49 49

  • Funding for community groups & young people

    COMMUNITY groups and young people in South Oxfordshire are being encouraged to make the most of two of South Oxfordshire District Council’s funding schemes.

    Last year's Young Achievers winners, with the late Council Leader, Anne Midwinter on the right
    2013’s Young Achievers winners, with Council Leader, Anne Midwinter on the left and Dorothy Brown on the right.

    There’s up to £15,000 per organisation available for improving community facilities like building refurbishment or new equipment, and groups can apply for this through SODC’s Communities Capital Grant scheme, up until December 10.

    Previous projects funded by the grants include play areas, skate parks, village halls, IT equipment, new websites and much more.

    In addition, the latest round of the council’s Young Achievers scheme opened yesterday, October 6. The scheme rewards young people for their excellent citizenship efforts, sporting achievements, and brilliance in the arts.

    For more information, visit the website: http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/news/2014/2014-10/community-groups-and-young-people-benefit-council-funding

    You can read about last year’s winners of the Young Achievers awards here: https://www.thame.net/archives/13253

  • REMINDER: Award winning play coming to Thame

    AN award winning production of an Oscar nominated classic is being staged at The Players Theatre in Thame on Friday, October 31, at 7.45pm.

    Photo courtesy of Joe Brown
    Photo courtesy of Joe Brown

    The one night only performance is part of a national tour by White Cobra Productions, after it scooped no less than eight awards earlier this year in two arts festivals.

    Days of Wine & Roses by Owen McCafferty is a modern reworking of the classic film by JP Miller, which starred Hollywood legends, Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick. The play is set in the 1960s and tells the story of couple moving from Belfast to London in search of a better life.

    One drink is all it takes to change the lives of Donal and Mona, and the play examines the way each of them deals with a relationship that becomes almost too powerful to bear.

    The play was a huge hit when first produced at the Donmar Warehouse in London and now White Cobra founders, Kate Billingham and Richard Jordan, play the central couple.

    Both have won best actor awards and the production has twice been voted best play in arts festivals.

    The play will run for one night only at The Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame. Curtain up is at 7.45pm and tickets cost £10 and £9 with £1 off for concessions, available from Tickets Anywhere, Greyhound Walk, Thame, Telephone 01844 217228 or online at www.thameplayers.co.uk.

    Photo courtesy of Joe Brown

  • Uncertainty in business – Turning chaos into opportunity

    THAT’S the theme of this month’s  The Late Breakfast event on Thursday, October 16, at The Spread Eagle hotel, in Cornmarket, Thame, from 9 – 10.30am in The Eden Suite.

    Jackie Fizgerald of Alchemy Business Coaching
    Jackie Fizgerald of Alchemy Business Coaching

    Jackie Fitzgerald of Alchemy Business Coaching, is this month’s speaker, and her presentation is entitled: Uncertainty: turning chaos into opportunity.

    More information, including booking details: http://www.thelatebreakfast.co.uk/thame.html

  • Kath will help steer the future conservation of the Chilterns

    KATH Daly, who lives in Thame, has been appointed as the Acting Chief Officer of the Chilterns Conservation Board. She will take up her new duties in January 2015 for a six month period following the retirement in December of Steve Rodrick, who has held the post since 1994.

    Kath Daly
    Kath Daly

    Ian Reay, the Chairman of the Board, said: “Kath has been the Board’s Countryside Officer since 2005 and we are delighted to announce that she will take over from Steve early next year. The next three months will provide a valuable opportunity to organise a smooth handover. In the first half of 2015 Kath will have a key role in working with the Board to review how we manage the organisation. We expect to make decisions about the long term next June.”

    Steve Rodrick welcomed the appointment: “Kath will do a great job and enjoys the full confidence of the staff, Board members and, importantly, our partners. Kath is well known to many of those we work with and the continuity she will provide will be a real bonus in what remain challenging and changeable times.”

    Kath has a degree in Environmental Science from Southampton University. After graduating she worked on wildlife projects in Central and South America followed by several years in South Wales as a Community Services Manager. Prior to joining the Conservation Board in 2005 she had been the manager of the Brecks Countryside Project in Suffolk.

    Kath herself told Thame.Net: “This is an important moment of change after 20 years of Steve’s leadership. I’m excited about working with Board members, partners and staff over the next few months to help shape the course for the future.”

    To find out more about the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Beauty, visit the website:  www.chilternsaonb.org

  • Is disability hate-crime a hidden menace?

    INSPECTOR James Willis, Head of Diversity at Thames Valley Police, believes it could be and throughout October, his force is raising awareness about disability hate crime and encouraging victims, friends, family and support workers to report any incident where they believe they, or another person is being targeted because of their disability.

    Hate_Crime_Logo (2) (399x400)Inspector Willis said: “Last year, just 106 disability hate crime incidents were reported to Thames Valley Police. While low crime figures may be seen as encouraging, in reality we think there are disability hate incidents and crimes which are going unreported.

    “This could be due to fear of repercussions after speaking to the police, not realising that what is happening to them is a crime in the first place or victims could believe nothing will be done to support them. Most astonishingly of all, I am aware that some people genuinely believe that being targeted because of their disability is just a way of life for them.

    “This is absolutely not the case and I want to encourage people to report any incident where they have been targeted and they believe it is because they have a disability.

    “Thames Valley Police will not tolerate any hate crime or incident and police are able to intervene in these incidents but it is important that the incidents are reported in the first place.

    “I want to encourage anyone who may be suffering as a victim or who may be witnessing this type of crime to please report it to police as soon as possible by calling 101.”

    If a victim or witness feels unable to report the crime to police for whatever reason, they can contact independent charities such as Stop Hate UK and True Vision in confidence.”

    There is more information about disability hate crime, how to spot the signs someone may be a victim, how to report disability hate crime and how to obtain support for victims and witnesses on the Thames Valley Police website:

     

    http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/aboutus/aboutus-ead/aboutus-ead-hate-crime/aboutus-ead-disability-hate-crime.htm

     

  • Will new junction cope with increased traffic?

    THAME Town Council is not happy with the new layout of the junction at Wenman Road with Thame Park Road, fearing that the existing road network will not be able to cope with the extra traffic generated from the new housing development coming soon close by.

    The junction at Wenman Road and Thame Park Road, Thame
    The junction at Wenman Road and Thame Park Road, Thame

    Though the council has said that it will continue to support the proposals for the site, known as Site C in the Neighbourhood Plan, it has asked the developer who will be building new houses in the fields close by, Taylor Wimpey, for ‘further clarification’ on how the roads around the area would be able to cope with the increased traffic movement.

    The council’s recommendation to approve the proposed development and amendments, with its additional comments, will now be sent to South Oxfordshire District Council for its Planning Committee’s decision.

  • Thame Rotary’s stall attracts a crowd at food show

    THE Rotary Club of Thamec’s stall at the Thame Food Festival last Saturday (27/09), attracted much interest in the group’s activities and raised some very useful funds for local charities too!

    The Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green, with members of Thame Rotary at their stall at the Thame Food Festival
    The Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green, with members of Thame Rotary at their stall at the Thame Food Festival

    A raffle for some great prizes, including hampers of fine foods and wines donated by Waitrose and The Co-Operative store in Thame, was manned by  Thame Rotarians and members of Thame’s Inner Wheel, and raised just under £500. The money will be shared between Thame-based Sharing Life Trust’s Foodbank and Thame Rotary’s own local charities of 2014-2015: Thame Skate Park Project,TCC2 and SAFARI.

    The public had the chance to find out about the main events organised by the Rotary Club such as the Thame Swimathon on Sunday, October 12, and the Thame Art Show between December 5 and 7.

    Marius Ciortan, spokesman for the Thame Rotary Club said: “The raffle prizes were the main attractions at our stall, but not the only ones. We also had a great interest in the Thame Swimathon when teams representing Thame Town Council, Barley Hill School, Thame Players, the Thame CAB and many others will swim at the event and raise money for charity. From this year the teams have got the option to request the Rotary Club of Thame to donate half of the money raised towards their local charity of their choice.”

    The Thame Food Festival was also an opportunity for the Rotary Club to launch another project which involves collecting any unused foreign currency – notes and coins. The profits from selling the collected foreign currency are to be donated to Rotary’s charities.

    For more information about the Rotary Club of Thame’s activities and membership opportunities,  visit: www.thame.rotaryweb.org or  facebook.com/thamerotary or ring/text: 07764 85 49 49