A person was hit by a train near Haddenham and Thame station at around 9am this morning. As a result there may be delays throughout the rest of the day, particularly for passengers travelling through Banbury and Bicester North, and Marylebone.
British Transport Police are at the scene carrying out an investigation though there appear to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident.
THE deadline to nominate for the Thame Town Awards is fast approaching! If you?ve not yet had the chance to make your nomination for this year?s Town Awards, then get moving ? the closing date is tomorrow – Friday, June 21!
You can vote online or pick up a form at the Information Centre at Thame town hall, Time Out cafe, LWS Lower School, Cross Keys pub, the Barns Centre, Thame Bowls Club, Brothers Hair Salon and Meadow View Park, Thame United’s HQ.
Nominations are sought in the following categories:
Person of Courage
Someone of any age who has overcome adversity.
Voluntary Individual/Organisation
An individual or group that has worked tirelessly for the good of our community.
Young Achiever
A young person up to the age of 18 who excels in a particular skill or discipline.
Sporting Achievement
Someone of any age who has shown great dedication to their sport.
Service with a Smile
A business or individual that consistently provides a faultless and friendly service.
Lifetime Achievement
Someone who has made a significant contribution to the community over an extended period of time (can be awarded posthumously).
LINK HERE for info and nomination form:
http://www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=2329&Itemid=243
SOME residents of Thame, concerned about a proposal included in Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan to build on a green space in the town, were surprised this week to see the arrival of bulldozers to Elms Field.
Park Street, resident, Richard Jeffries, has been particularly vocal in opposing the development of the field next to Elms Park. He noticed the arrival of the bulldozers and said: “Despite the comment by Cllr Dyer on BBC Radio Oxford recently, speaking to urge a ‘yes’ vote for the now adopted Town Plan, when he said: ‘the bulldozers won’t be moving in any time soon,’ they did move in on the precious, unimproved parkland meadow of Elms field this week. Soil excavations have started with drilling and inspection pits dug.
“Local residents are horrified that such an important remnant of ancient, unimproved parkland was recommended for allocation of 45 houses in the Thame Town Plan,” went on Mr Jeffries. “Contrary to as yet unretracted claims, by Barry Yates of the Yes for Thame group, that the parkland had not been grazed for many years, locals bear witness to the fact that it was grazed until the recent purchase of the Elms by local developer, Rectory Homes. Even the previous owners of the Elms have suggested they were duped into selling their family home when they were led to believe that the ancient parkland would not be developed (Thame Gazette May 3, 2013).”
Mr Jeffries said that those against proposals to merge the Elms development with the Municipal Elms Park area believe that an area of scenic beauty and an unique ‘island’ of remnant ancient parkland habitat sitting between the Parklands of Tythrope House, Rycote House and Thame Park, will be damaged.
“This piece of land represents a ‘stepping stone’ by which plant and animal species can move between these larger sites. In their naivety, planners have postulated that Thame will be improved by partially opening up this area to the public and by ‘landscaping it’; in so doing, irreplaceable habitats and species will be lost from the area. How this development was ever rubber stamped by The Thame Town Plan is contentious,” continued Mr Jeffries. “The Elms Field has now been nominated to The Prince of Wales’s Coronation Meadows Scheme, to celebrate the Queen’s 60 year reign – a very suitable candidate I would say.”
A petition of some 500 individuals opposed to any development of the Elms has been presented to Thame Town Council and SODC. More information can be obtained by emailing: elmspetition@hotmail.co.uk
Mr Jeffries concluded: “The only way this irreplaceable piece of land can be preserved will be if sufficient numbers of people make their opinions heard, and that means lodging concerns with Thame Town Councillors and I urge everyone concerned to email or write to as many Councillors as possible to lodge their concerns.”
IMAGE; The Elms from the air
THE first proposal on the table, following the adoption of Thame?s Neighbourhood Plan, passed the first hurdle on Tuesday (11/06) when Thame Town Council?s Planning committee recommended approval of a plan submitted by Rectory Homes for 18 new homes at Jane Morbey Road.
THAME museum is going to have to close throughout January and February next year, 2014, because the decrepit heating system is too expensive to run in very cold weather. The Museum Trust is looking into ways of raising money, and recently launched a ?100? club scheme. It costs
THIS Sunday (16/06) sees the return of Thame & District Round Table?s annual duck race, back in its usual slot on the morning after Thame Carnival.
Thame Round Table has confirmed that housewives? favourite (housewives have long been his favourite) Captain Ducky, will be back again this year. Having survived the perils of the high seas, defied the vengeance of Her Majesty?s Navy and dodged a couple of restraining orders, Thame?s answer to Jack Sparrow will be there on the starting line to entertain the crowds once more.
The only question remaining is how long he can stay afloat this time? The Captain?s boat, the Christopher (so called because it is made of pallets and because of his admiration for the work of estate agents everywhere), is not known for its seaworthiness. Last year the front half of the boat finished the race about 10 minutes after the back half.
Tickets are selling well and Thame Round Table hope to raise a healthy sum for the causes it is supporting this year: Making Waves For Alex, Thame Safari, Barley Hill PTA, John Hampden Nursery, Oxford School of Gymnastics, Thame Day Centre, CAB, Explorer Scouts, Air Cadets and Thame Netball Club, as well as the Mayor?s nominated charities for his year in office.
You can still buy tickets at the Town Council Information Centre in the Town Hall and at the Cross Keys pub. They will also be on available on the Round Table stall at Thame fete this Saturday, immediately after the Carnival. There will also be some available to buy at the start line on the morning of the race.
The race starts on the old town bridge, accessed from the bottom of Priest End, behind St Mary?s church. Gates open at 10.45am and the race will start at 11am.
SOURCE: Contributed by Jonathan Gardner
PHOTO: By Nick While
THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following a two-vehicle collision in Haddenham Road, Kingsey, near Thame, last week.
At about 5.15pm on Wednesday, June 5,, a green Ford Focus and a DAF sewerage truck were in collision.
Investigating officer PC Claire Greene, of the Roads Policing Department based in Milton Keynes, said: ?We are looking for any witnesses to the collision to come forward.
?We have been given information that a Ford car, travelling from Kingsey towards Haddenham, was also seen at the time of the collision and we would like to speak to the driver of this car.
?A man who was driving the Ford Focus suffered minor injuries and was taken to Stoke Mandeville Hospital for treatment, but he has since been discharged.?
If you can help, please call PC Greene 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.
THE Thame Oxfam Boodshop, which last week offered a special prize to the customer that helped them achieve their goal of
POPULAR actor and TV Presenter, Lynda Bellingham, who went to school locally, has once again added her support for the Florence Nightingales Hospice charity’s Gemstone Midnight Walk.
With the event only six weeks away (July 13), Lynda has donned the famous pink bunny ears and brand new t-shirt for 2013.
Commenting on the Midnight Walk, she said: ?The Florence Nightingale Gemstone Midnight Walk is an event very close to my heart. I am encouraging ladies from across Aylesbury Vale and surrounding areas to get behind their local Hospice and help reach the
TONIGHT’S episode of Hoard Hunters, on the History Channel, will feature the so-called ‘Thame Hoard’, a collection of Medieval coins and rings, discovered by a lorry driver and his wife out walking their dog, in 1940.
The episode, called ‘Thame Of My Life’, will feature the Hoard Hunters, Gary and Gordon, searching for any remaining treasures on the river Thame.
A distinctive cross with two horizontal sections, similar to the Cross of Lorraine, was depicted on one of the rings is now part of the emblem of Thame Town Council.
You can read more about the Thame Hoard here
JUST in case anyone?s wondering ?waddle we do on the morning after Thame Carnival?? Thame Round Table are egg-cited to announce the return of the town?s annual duck race for another year. The event is a popular town fixture that has long had its beak wedged into the Thame calendar.
This year, it will be held on Sunday, June 16 ? back in its usual slot on the day after Thame Carnival, following several wet weather postponements last year.
The duck race involves tipping nearly 2,500 individually numbered yellow, rubber ducks into the River Thame from old Town Bridge and following them as they paddle downstream to the finish. The first three ducks over the line will win their lucky ticket holders a cash prize.
Thame Duck Race is organised every year by Thame & District Round Table and raises money for local causes. This year, the groups being supported are Making Waves For Alex, Thame Safari, Barley Hill PTA, John Hampden Nursery, Oxford School of Gymnastics, Thame Day Centre, CAB, Explorer Scouts, Air Cadets and Thame Netball Club.
Tickets are on sale now at the Town Council Information Centre, the Cross Keys pub and through the various groups who will benefit from the proceeds of the race. They will also be on sale during Thame Carnival, on the Round Table stall and also at the start line on the morning of the race.
Gates open at 10.45am and the race will start at 11am.