Category: Thame news

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses to a road traffic incident in which a cement lorry tipped over causing the driver serious head injuries.

At about 10.10am on Saturday (27/7), a cement lorry travelling from Aylesbury towards Thame tipped over on the A418, at the roundabout junction with Pegasus Way near Haddenham.

The driver of the cement lorry, a man in his thirties, suffered serious head injuries and was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford for treatment.

Investigating officer PC Michael Sapwell, of the Roads Policing Department based in Milton Keynes is appealing for witnesses to the incident to come forward.

If you can help, please call PC Sapwell via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 101.

If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

AFTER news of a driver obstructing an ambulance on its way to a medical emergency in Thame on Sunday, July 21, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) is urging road users to be Blue Light Aware and to watch a short video, produced on behalf of the emergency services.

In a statement, SCAS said: “Our crews rely on the help of other road users when they’re on a ‘blue light’ journey. By watching Blue Light Aware, you will be able to better understand our needs, reduce the risks you face, contribute to a safer road environment and maybe help to save a life!

“?Blue Light Aware? is a video by the GEM Motoring Assist Road Safety Charity that offers advice to members of the public on how best to help any emergency service driver on a ?blue light? run. It is based on the advice available in the Highway Code and addresses specific situations identified as causing confusion for motorists.

“The vast majority of road users want to help an emergency service driver en route to an emergency on ?blues and twos?, yet many remain confused about what they should do in order to provide the best help when they find themselves in such circumstances. As a result, too many members of the public are putting themselves in danger, breaking the law or risking damage to their cars while trying to assist an emergency vehicle on a ?blue light? run.

“Your local ambulance service would urge you to view the ?Blue Light Aware? video now at
http://www.scas.nhs.uk/campaigns/bluelightsinyourmirror.ashx

IT has been reported that the woman who died after the ambulance service was called to the Buttermarket in Thame on Sunday, was model, Claudia Schiffer’s mother-in-law.

Kathy Ceaton, 66, mother of the German model’s film director and producer husband, Matthew Vaughn, tragically died after she was found unconscious by her son, Pascha Saigol who called 999.

The Police have identified a car that on ambulance crew reported obstructed it’s way to the incident, and are carrying out an investigation that could lead to a prosecution.

PHOTO: The air ambulance landed in Elms Park in Thame after Kathy Ceaton’s son called 999

An ambulance spokesman has, however, said that the delay did not affect Miss Ceaton’s eventual out-come as other medical teams had already arrived at her home.

PHOTO: Frank Millar

THE team behind Thame’s blossoming Arts & Literature festival, TAL, has garnered yet again a line up that includes such cultural gems as Barry Norman, Nick Robinson, George Monbiot and Richard Baker, so that once again, there will be something for everyone at TAL 2013.

Add to this illustrious host of interesting people with something to say, an arctic explorer, a wildlife photographer, a collector of original record players, historians, artists, actors, singers AND a Sunday night ‘hoolie’ with Greg Butler?s wonderful big sound of the 1940s and 50s, and the inimitable Ian English Boodlum Band from Thame, and TAL4 is set to be the best yet.

The dates for TAL4 are October 18 – 20. More information is available on the website: http://www.talfestival.org/

AMENDMENT 21.40 hrs: It has been clarified that three houses were damaged in the Chowns Close fire yesterday. No. 16 was the house where the fire is understood to have started and the most damaged; No. 18 was badly damaged and No. 14, less affected though the roof very badly damaged.

A THAME family have lost everything a the house fire in Chowns Close, yesterday afternoon (24/07/13), and a neighbour, whose house was also badly damaged, has been speaking about her ordeal.

Lorna Shepherd, who lives at No. 14, told ThameNews.Net: “As soon as I smelt the fire, I looked outside and saw smoke. I shouted at my neighbour at number 16, who had been dozing inside, and he asked me to dial 999.

“Our roof has been severely damaged but my neighbours at No. 16 have lost everything. But I am just so glad that he came out of it unharmed, and their puppy too! His wife was out of their house at the time and their young daughter.”

The house at number 16, gutted by the original fire is uninhabitable and Lorna has been told that her family cannot return to their home next door at No.14, until it has been thoroughly checked, because it may be structurally unsound.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service were alerted to a house fire at 15.06 hrs by the neighbour at No. 14 Chowns Close, after she smelt smoke. Crews from Thame were on the scene within five minutes, supported by two fire crews from Oxford and one from Wheatley, a total of five fire engines.

Twelve firefighters used breathing apparatus to enter the building (No.18) and bring the fire under control. Two adults were treated for the effects of breathing smoke by the South Central Ambulance Service at the scene. The cause of the fire is still being investigated by the specialist officers.

VIDEO of Fire crew tackling the fires at Chowns Close, Thame. By Judy Rogers

IN the words of Alice Cooper ?School?s out for summer?, but it need not be the case for old items of school uniform as Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity (FNHC) shops are appealing for donations of unwanted school clothes, which can be dropped off at any of their local shops by Saturday, August 17.

Perhaps your child is moving up to a new school in September or has simply outgrown their current school uniform? If this is the case then help is at hand as Florence Nightingale Hospice shops will be more than happy to give these items a new home.

Simply pop into one of the Charity?s shops in Aylesbury, Wendover, Winslow, Chinnor or Leighton Buzzard and bring in your unwanted school uniform donations. Don?t worry if the garments are especially old, marked or tatty (white polo shirts are normally difficult to keep clean!), as the shops will accept even the most well-worn items, which can be used as rags for recycling and helps raise extra funds for the Hospice.

From Monday, August 19, once uniform donations are in, all Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity shops will be setting up a special school uniform bargain rail in-store ? so Mums make sure you put this date in your diary as you won?t want to miss out on these much-needed items including school trousers, jumpers, pinafores and shirts!

FNHC shops together raise over

AMENDED: FIRE crew now seem to have put the fire out (5.20 PM) but remain at the scene to continue ‘dampening down’ in case the fire re-ignites from smouldering material.

[PHOTO (Left): By Lorna Matthews – The house next door was also badly affected by the fire

PHOTO (Right) By George Blewitt

EMERGENCY SERVICE vehicles are currently attending a fire in Chowns Close, Thame. (15.20 PM)

The road is currently blocked off to all traffic.

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for information following the theft of cycles today (24/7), at approximately 7.40am, from a shed in Van Diemans Road, Thame.

A witness reported seeing a suspicious white panel van, registration number FD03 KWZ and three male suspects, aged in their 30?s at the time of the offence.

Suspect one is described as a white male, wearing a black tracksuit, black trainers and a black sports jacket with a yellow strip across the top.

Suspect two is described as being of Asian appearance, 6ft tall, slim build, wearing a red top and a baseball cap.

Suspect three is described as being 6ft tall, medium build, wearing a blue vest and dark trousers.

Police are keen to speak to the owner of the suspect van in relation to this offence. Please report any sightings of the vehicle or suspects to the police as soon as possible on 101 and quote URN 263 24/07.

Please be extra vigilant. If you 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.

THE neighbours of a house damaged by fire in Thame this afternoon, and others, are currently giving statements to the police.

The roof of the house next door to the one where the fire is thought to have begun in a downstairs room, in Chowns Close, Thame, has had to be removed. Luckily the residents of the next door house were out at the time – their children were at WhizKids with their grandfather.

An investigation has begun into the fire which was attended by 20 fire crew in six vehicles.

One casualty was offered treatment by an ambulance crew for smoke inhalation but refused.

PHOTO: By Simon Munday

AS the church bells of Thame rang out across the town last night, many people thought they where to celebrate the introduction to the world of the new baby prince last night.

But the woman in charge of the bell ringers, Master of the Tower, at St Mary’s church, Thame, Rosalie Gibson, told ThameNews: “It was a happy coincidence as Monday is practice night and at the start of ringing the announcement had not been made.

“It was only when we finished at nine o?clock that we learnt that the news of the baby being born had been broadcast about 8.30.p.m. The flag was put up soon afterwards on the Church tower and I came home and put mine out on the house, as I do for various special occasions- St George?s day, Jubilees etc.”

Just an hour ago today (24/07/13) it was announced that the new prince is to be named George Alexander Louis.

PHOTO: Flash back to 23/04/2010, when members of the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Bell ringers, with St Mary’s Church, Thame’s Master of the Tower, Rosalie Gibson (5th from the right) played 5056 changes, Bristol Surprise Major, in just under three hours! On St George’s Day