A church yard wall has been severely damaged, following two separate incidents in the village of Sydenham, near Thame, on Saturday (11/01).
Black ice on the road after severe flooding, followed by freezing weather, is thought to have been a contributory factor in both collisions, one involving a Sydenham resident’s car.
THAME United suffered their second successive defeat at the ASM Stadium on Saturday (11/01), when they were beaten 0-3 by Wantage Town. The visitors are favourites to win the league so this was always going to be a tough fixture.
Nevertheless Thame played well and the score line flattered their opponents. United, who have been hit by injury and suspensions, were forced to field a weakened line up which included new signing Alex Kedzierski and reserve player Adam Hazel.
Thame started brightly and had more of the early possession. After about 15 minutes Wantage settled, and created a good one- on-one chance which finished in the side netting. Possession was 50/50 for the remainder of the half with both Luke Ricketts and Dan West going close for Thame, whilst the visitors hit a goalpost just before half time.
Wantage came out fired up for the second half and went ahead 10 minutes after the break. A Thame corner was cleared allowing the visitors to break quickly and, two passes later, the ball was headed across the Thame goal where Richard Claydon headed in at the far post. Ricketts, who was a constant threat on Thame’s left, hit a good shot which forced an outstanding save from the visiting keeper.
Thame were pressing and both Ollie Lynch and Niall Hodgkins went close. Wantage increased their lead in the 79th minute when a ball from the right was cleverly flicked on to the unmarked Matt Pedder who beat Thame keeper, Josh Cockerill, from 15-yards, giving him no chance. With five minutes of normal time remaining, a defensive mix up allowed Harry Halls to score Wantage’s third goal. United continued to press to the end and a Ricketts’ shot was cleared off the line, but it was not Thame’s day and the visitors collected the points.
Thame United: Cockerill, I Pykett, Hall, Rhodes, Johnston, Lynch, Kedzierski, West, Hodgkins, Hazell, (Bonham), Ricketts.
Thame play at Abingdon United next Saturday. The next first team home game is on Saturday 25th January when United face Wokingham & Emmbrook in the Supplementary Cup.
ON Friday, January 10, between 6pm and 10pm, a property in Cheshire Road, Thame, was burgled. Offender(s) gained entry through an insecure rear door and stole an iPad.
Please be extra vigilant. 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.
DONATIONS by the generous people of Thame and the surrounding villages have raised £6,300 for local causes over the Christmas period. Assisted by Thame Round Table, Santa was out doing the rounds on his sleigh for 10 nights in the run up to Christmas, with further assistance provided by many of the groups to whom the money has now been donated.
With his sleigh fully refurbished for the 2013 season, Santa and his helpers even managed to avoid most of the bad weather of the last few weeks, as they worked they way round nearly every street in Thame, Haddenham and Long Crendon.
Tim Lancaster, Chairman of Thame Round Table, said: “Once again we have been humbled by the generosity of the people of Thame and the surrounding villages. In what continues to be a difficult time for many people, it is fantastic to be able to raise so much money for local causes. We’d like to thank everyone who donated and everyone who came out and helped us each night.”
The complete list of local causes who have received donations this year is: Thame Day Centre, Thame Gymnastics Club, Explorer Scouts, Thame Swimming Club, Thame Football Club, Girl Guides, Thame Skate Park, SAFARI, the Hockey Club, Thame Youth Memorial, The Jack O’Donnell Foundation and the Cricket Club.
A woman from Towersey who is going to run exercise classes in the village for older and/or disabled people during January, would like to know whether a similar scheme would be welcomed in Thame.
Barbara Jordan has been running these sessions in Princes Risborough at Churchill Court for over a year. “The people that take part seem to really enjoy themselves and, it helps to keep me fit as well!” said Barbara. Here are the details:
“Now is the time to make a new year’s resolution to improve your fitness. Extend tutors have been teaching exercise to music for older adults and people with disabilities for over 30 years. If you have any physical restrictions you just need to let us know. We are trained to ensure that you exercise within your limits. We can provide easier, alternative or seated exercises whenever appropriate. We help and encourage people of all shapes and sizes to improve their general health and maintain independence and mobility in an enjoyable atmosphere.
“Just look at these benefits of our Extend exercise classes –
· Improvement in quality of life through keeping active
· Improvement in balance and agility
· Greater movement and mobility
· Better posture and co-ordination
· Support from qualified exercise professionals
· Enjoyable and worthwhile social activity
· Fun and friendship
“Come and give us a try. EXTEND may be right up your street!
When? – Tuesday afternoon at 2.30 pm to 3.30 pm Where? – Towersey memorial Hall
To find out more visit the Extend website – www.extend.org.uk
Or ring Barbara on 01844 212195″
UPDATE: The Star and Garter Indian Restaurant has confirmed that it was their restaurant that this police alert applies to:
Message sent via Thames Valley Country Watch: YESTERDAY, Wednesday, January 8, between 12.30am and 11.30am a restaurant in Wellington Street, Thame, was broken into. Offender(s) jemmied open a rear window to gain access and stole the till draws including cash.
Please be extra vigilant. 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.
THE latest crop of offenders appearing before Oxford Magistrates include two from Thame and two from the Chinnor area.
Darren Constable, 31, of Hopton Road, Thame, admitted drink driving in Rycote Lane, Thame, on November 5, 2013. He had 135mg of alcohol in 100ml of urine, above the legal limit of 107mg and was given a 38-month driving ban and fined £600. He was also ordered to pay a £60 Victim Surcharge and £85 costs.
Liam Strachan, 23, of Pearce Way, Thame, admitted shoplifting food worth £34.39 from Marks and Spencers in Thame on November 10, 2013 and stealing food worth £45.72 from the same company on October 9, 2013. He received a Community Order with a supervision requirement and ordered to pay £80.11 compensation.
James Bonwick, 21, of Crowell, Chinnor, admitted driving without due care and attention in Nettlebed on May 3, 2013. He was fined £200 and ordered to pay a £20 Victim Surcharge, £85 costs and received six points on his driving licence.
David Kingham-Cooper, 32, of Sydenham Road, Sydenham, Chinnor, admitted drink driving in Stert Road, Kingston Blount, Chinnor, on December 6, 2013. He had 72 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath, above the legal limit of 35 micrograms and was given a 20-month driving ban and fined £274. He was ordered to pay a £27 victim surcharge and £85 costs.
SOURCE: Oxford Mail
THAMES Valley Police is running more action days to combat rural crime across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse in January and February.
As part of these days PCSOs will be available to visit your farm or rural business and visibly mark your property with a CREMARK pen. This is a paint pen which is then sealed with lacquer and provides an overt visible deterrent to thieves. This is a free service.
The action days are:
Thame Saturday 25th January
Didcot Thursday 16th January
Abingdon Friday 17th January
Henley Thursday 30th January
Wantage Saturday 1st February
Faringdon Tuesday 4th February
Wallingford Saturday 8th February
To book an appointment in your area please contact Ali Smith, Crime Reduction Advisor on 01865 555129 or email her on Alison.smith4@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
THAME Bowls Club and Thame Tennis Club have joined forces to put forward a proposal to redevelop their shared, aged club house in Queen Road, Thame.
Ex BBC weatherman, Bill Giles, who is Chairman of the Thame Bowls Club, was one of three representatives of the two clubs who recently gave a presentation to Thame Town Council in an effort to gain some financial assistance with their £300,000 funding gap for the proposals.
One of the options put forward was to sell the land the current clubs occupy, to developers and to relocate to another site somewhere in the town.
The two clubs envisage that new, modern facilities will open up the possibility of indoor bowls and indoor tennis courts, and could attract other local community groups such as the hockey club, arts groups etc.
Neil Morgan told the town council that Thame Tennis Club is recognised as the best in the county for coaching youngsters, and the Bowls Club Secretary, Trevor Coply, explained that his club was the most successful in England, having increased its membership by 50% compared with a drop in membership nationally of 10%.
“We are a dynamic set up and expanding,” he said. “With an increasingly aging population, we stop them from sitting at home and vegetating. They keep fitter and are given a reason to live!” he said.
Concluding the presentation, Bill Giles, with a reference to his accepting responsibility for fellow weatherman, Michael Fish famous assurance to the nation that no hurricane was on the way in 1987, told the council: “I have been known to fail, but I am determined not to fail this time!” The strong contingent of supporters in the public gallery clapped when he said: “We are going to build something we can be proud of and we need to move it forward quickly.”
The town council intends to produce a ‘Sports Facility Strategy’, as part of the Thame Neighbourhood Plan, after assessing the needs of the town, which it says will be paid for by monies collected from future housing developments.
THE local community choir, Village Voices, is now over four years old and is thriving. Based in Towersey, the choir’s members come from all round the surrounding area including Chinnor, Thame, Princes Risborough, Monks Risborough, Haddenham and further afield. Village Voices meets on Friday evenings in term-time at Towersey Memorial Hall between 7.30 and 9.30 p.m. The weekly cost is £5, or £1 for students, and it doesn’t matter if you can’t come every week.
Choir Organiser, Ruth Ruddock explained: “We sing all types of songs from all over the world – traditional, folk, pop, ballads, gospel, jazz, blues…you name it, we try it! We learn these songs by listening and copying, from simple rounds and chants to glorious harmony singing, songs from a wide range of musical traditions.
“You don’t have to audition for our choir and you don’t need to read music – you just need to like singing, or want to have a go at singing even if you haven’t done so for a long time. There have been many reports recently about how good singing is for you, both mentally and physically, but basically community choirs are all about having fun – no-one is excluded, no-one is asked to sing solo, no-one is made to feel bad if they can’t quite get that note; everyone is welcome.
“Very occasionally we perform in public, with the emphasis being on having fun rather than being perfect! Over the last few years we’ve sung at the Towersey Festival, Towersey Village Fete, Music in the Park in Thame, Chinnor Village Centre Christmas Fayre and, most recently, at the St. Andrew’s Chinnor Christmas Tree Festival and at Thame Market. Some of our members also joined the Oxford Community Choir in the Christmas Light Festival Day of Song, singing in the Clarendon Centre, the Jam Factory and onstage in St. Giles – all great fun.
In October 2012 we organised the first Chiltern Community Choir Festival at Mill Lane School in Chinnor, when over 150 singers from various community choirs in the area joined us for a day of workshops and joyous massed singing, directed by renowned community choir leaders. Given an enormously enthusiastic response, the second CCCF took place – again at Mill Lane School – in October 2013 and we are now planning the third for October 2014.
New members are always welcome, so please do have a look at our website www.villagevoicestowersey.com for further information, call Madeleine on 01844 352468 or Ruth on 01844 352894, or email villagevoices.towersey@gmail.com. We start up again in the New Year on Friday 10 January, and look forward to hearing from you.