THAMES Valley Police is appealing for information following the theft of a vehicle from Thame.
Between 9am and 11:45pm yesterday, Thursday, July 3, offender(s) smashed a window at a property in Pickenfield, reached in and stole car keys before stealing a blue Jaguar XF R V8 from the driveway.
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 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.
A Thame group petitioning against any development on land known as The Elms, is using a planned outdoor Shakespeare event to gain support for their cause.
The ‘Save the Elms’ banner on display during the Thame Carnival
The group is urging residents to go and see the site for themselves by attending the Thame Players production of Much Ado About Nothing, to be hosted in the grounds next week, and are asking all supporters to wear something yellow to show their support
The Elms Petition Group is giving its full support to the forthcoming outdoor production hoping that it will increase the awareness of exactly what the group fears will be lost, if The Elms is developed into a housing estate. It wants those attending to wear something yellow, such as a t-shirt, jumper, ribbon, socks or for the more adventurous, yellow trousers.
Speaking on behalf of the group, local resident Peter Webb said: “We are delighted to see The Elms is being used for a public performance such as this. We thoroughly commend the current custodian of The Elms, Simon Vickers for opening up the grounds of his retirement home to the people of Thame in the same spirit that previous custodians including Leonard Purser have done before.
“The Elms was previously owned by local entrepreneur Leonard Purser, whose family eventually sold The Elms to Simon Vickers, owner of development company, Rectory Homes, in 2010. For decades during the mid 1900, The Elms grounds, including the field was opened up to the residents of Thame for an annual Fete. The rest of the year, the field was used by local farmers as pastureland for grazing their livestock. This practice has now ceased.”
Mr Webb went on to say: “The groundswell of support opposing the development of The Elms has never been greater and this is an ideal opportunity for the town to see exactly what it is going to be lost if development goes ahead. We encourage all town residents and friends to support their local theatrical group by attending this production but we ask that you wear something yellow to show your support to save The Elms.”
Any member of the public can sign the Elms Petition by using the online petition at Change.org, by sending an email to: elmspetition@hotmail.co.uk, by signing in person at Petcare in Cornmarket, Thame, or by phoning the Elms Petition Hotline on 01844 555112.
Much Ado About Nothing is being performed in the grounds of The Elms from July 8-12. Tickets for the production are available online http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/56135 NB The Elms Petition Group has no official connection to Thame Players.
Elms Petition Group The Elms Petition group has stated that it has collected over 1200 signatures across a paper based petition, email petition and the online petition at change.org, 99% of which are Thame residents.
THAME & District Twinning Association’s annual garden party had a definite French feel to it last Sunday, when members and friends gathered in the beautiful garden of member Julie Fitzsimons, in Stone.
L – R Liz Barker, Linda Emery, Norma Laver and Julie Ftizsimons
The rain held off and it was a bright, sunny afternoon and with a background of French, popular music from the 1950s, guests enjoyed lashings of tea, fine home-made sandwiches and cakes – all served up on one of the members’ fine collection of bone china cups and plates.
One of the group’s major fund-raising events, the party raised £466, through tickets sales, a raffle of English & French items, including Champangne, and various stalls and games, including a quiz sheet of questions about France and French culture. The winning entry was submitted by Robert and Bridget Trueman.
The Chair of the Twinning Association, Linda Emery, administered the raffle draw and the youngest members of the association, Nick Barker and Erin Fitzsimons, helped pull the winning tickets.
At the end of a very convivial afternoon, Linda thanked Julie and her husband for allowing the use of their home, and their neighbours for providing extra tables and parasols. She also thanked James Green, the association’s Treasurer, for keeping control of the finances, Vic Watson for running the ‘rolla penny’ game which he made especially, and everyone who had helped on the day.
Guest were reminded that Thame Twinning Association have an exchange visit week-end arranged to Montesson, just outside Paris. Members, friends and new members, she explained, were welcome if they would like to head off to France for the customary warm welcome and culinary delights provided by the people of Montesson, for the week-end of September 19 to 21, 2014.
Contact Linda by email: lemery@btinternet.com for details and the cost. Closing date for the final numbers is July 12, 2014.
THIS August sees the return of Thame Youth Theatre’s annual Summer Project, with the musical Disney’s Aladdin Jr, written by Alen Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice.
After the success of last year’s performance of Peter Pan, Thame Youth Theatre hopes that this year’s production will be bigger and better than ever before.
“Our performance project has been running for five years now,” said Tom Mackriell, Youth Arts Development Manager for TYT, “and has seen some great shows like Guys and Dolls, Hairspray and Little Shop of Horrors performed. The TYT project is something that we are very proud of. It gives our members and the community alike, a chance to learn from professionals within the industry through singing, dancing and acting workshops, and gives the skills in which to work as a team to produce a full scale musical in five days.
“We believe that it is important for all our members and everyone involved that the performances are always full of fun and are enjoyed by all involved. The project runs from August 11-15, with the final performance on the 9th at 7.30pm. We still have a few places available; it is £85 for the week and we have a sibling discount of £160. We will be holding auditions on Wednesday, July 16, at the Phoenix performing arts studio at Lord Williams’s Lower School between 5pm – 8pm.”
Please email: admin@thameyouththeatre.co.uk or phone 07805 88 58 46 to obtain an enrolment form.
THAME Town Councillor, Andy Gunn, who has represented the Labour Party in Thame North Ward, has resigned after 11 years of service to the town.
Andy Gunn
A former lecturer at the former Rycotewood College, an Associate Lecturer with the Open University and with the WEA for many years, Andy was first elected to Thame Town Council in 1995 and served until 2003. After an eight year interval, he returned in 2011, during which time he represented the council as an active member of 21st Century Thame, has been involved with the Lea Park Residents Association, represented the Council at Chinnor Rugby Club and been particularly involved with environmental matters including helping to organise regular Swap Shops for the local CAG (Community Action Group)
Andy is a keen walker and helped organise last year’s Mayor’s New Year’s day walk, and with Cllr Mary Stiles, organised Thame Tidy Day in 2013. Many people will know Andy for his many performances over the years, including at Towersey Festival, as part of the Appalachian dance group, the Haddenham Hoofers. He started the Boys’ Brigade in Thame in 1981. In 1985 the BB in Thame went to the Cook Islands via USA, New Zealand and Tahiti. They took Morris dancing, a marching band!
Andy has been a member of Christ Church in Thame for over 30 years and is a keen allotment holder.
In a statement on its website, the town council said: “We wish him (Andy) luck for the future and thank him for his dedication and hard work throughout his years of service.”
IT’S all change at the top as woman who dedicates her spare time to volunteering and fundraising in the local community takes up the reins as President of Thame Rotary club.
Peter Hook and Linda Emery
Linda Emery, who lives in Thame, was welcomed as the new President of Rotary Club of Thame on June 25, at the Spread Eagle Hotel in Thame. Linda is taking over as club’s president from Jeannette Matelot Green.
Rotary spokesperson, Marius Ciortan, said: “Linda has been a Rotarian for three years and her commitment to the club has earned the respect of fellow members who were only too pleased to vote her in as their new president for the forthcoming year. ” Linda will be supported in her role by Peter Hook, who became President Elect.
Linda Emery herself, said: “I am delighted to become the new president of our wonderful club. It’s going to be a very exciting year. We’re hoping to try out a lot of new things and are looking for inspired and enthusiastic men and women who are all welcome to join our club. We have a lot of fun and really enjoy ourselves, on top of all the fundraising we do, and would love to hear from anyone interested in joining us and making a real difference to their community.
“We are going to increase the visibility and awareness of Rotary in Thame by being represented at the September 2014 Food Festival, The Thame Show and the 2015 June Carnival. As well as fund raising at these events we will be distributing leaflets on our 2014-15 club programme which will be continuously updated on our website and our brand new Facebook page.”
“This year, we are planning to continue with our annual fundraising events, Thame Swimathon in October and Thame Art Show in December which I know will have the whole community joining in and having a great time. I am looking forward to meeting and working with local groups and really getting people involved with Rotary. There is so much to do and enjoy.”
Linda concluded: “Our chosen charities in Thame include TCC2, Thame Children’s Choir, the Thame Skate Park and Thame SAFARI, Self-Advocacy for Adults Requiring Independence.”
Linda is also a Thame Town Councillor and works in Finance for a London based software company.
Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity (FNHC) has been overwhelmed by the generosity of the local community in responding to its appeal for £20,000 to refurbish its Day Hospice since the campaign launch at the end of November last year.
Sir David Jason OBE
The appeal, supported by actor and local man Sir David Jason OBE, has received an amazing level of support, with the running total already standing at just over £15,000!
“Sir David, penned a personal appeal letter to officially launch the campaign earlier in the year, encouraging Hospice supporters to ‘dig deep’ to help fund the Day Hospice ‘makeover’ which will include new furniture, tables, chairs, cushions, fittings, curtains, flooring and general maintenance.”
Commenting on the Hospice, David wrote: “Florence Nightingale Hospice is a very special place – I think we all know someone who has been touched by the first-class care provided by the wonderful team of staff and volunteers here. With this in mind, I would like to encourage you to spare a few pennies to help raise funds to refurbish Day Hospice and further enhance the lives of patients and their families.”
Currently, the Day Hospice is open from Monday-Friday, 10am-3pm, and sees 40-60 patients from across Aylesbury Vale and surrounding areas, including Thame, each week.
“We would like to say a very big thank you to those people who have kindly donated to our Day Hospice appeal already,” said Sue Jenkins, FNHC Executive Director. “We’re nearly there which is great news, so please help us to reach our target of £20,000. Your donation (however small) will really make a difference to the lives of our Day Hospice patients, who need specialist care and support on a weekly basis.”
If you would like to support the Day Hospice ‘Home from Home’ appea,l visit the dedicated appeal fundraising page at www.make-a-donation.org/campaign/day-hospice-appeal. Donations can also be sent in the post addressed to ‘Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity’, Unit 2 Walton Lodge, Walton Street, Aylesbury, HP21 7qy or simply drop your donation in to the Florence Nightingale Hospice marked ‘Day Hospice Appeal’.
Between 9am and 11:45pm yesterday, Thursday, July 3, offender(s) smashed a window at a property in Pickenfield, reached in and stole car keys before stealing a blue Jaguar XF R V8 from the driveway.
