Category: Thame news

THE daughter of a Thame war-time Resistance worker, decorated for his sabotage exploits behind enemy lines, has suggested that its time for him to stop talking about his experiences, at least for a while.

Anne Freeman, who helped her father, Arthur Staggs, celebrate his 100th birthday in Thame over the weekend, spoke to Thamenews.net this morning about her feelings following his interview with the BBC, and its broadcast last night.

“We all had a brilliant day on Saturday, but we are now shattered. Though dad put on a brave face at the beginning, he held up amazingly well and in the end, had a whale of time!

“Dad has an incredible history and his experiences during his time in France bring back some good but also, some bad memories for him, as it does for many old soldiers. So we have decided that we are going to give it rest and not talk about the war for a while.”

Around 70 invited friends and family celebrated Arthur’s centenary with him, including the Mayor of Thame, Nigel Champken Woods, who presented him with a fine bottle of Brandy as a birthday gift from the town council.

Pictured: Arthur Staggs with his daughter, Anne Freeman

A THAME pensioner who worked as a secret agent in German occupied France during World War II, celebrated his 100th birthday over the weekend, and this evening featured on BBC news talking about his extraordinary life. LINK

Arthur Staggs trained as a wireless operator at SOE (Special Operations Executive) based at Thame Park, and amongst his various expoits, destroyed Nazi supply lines in France. He was captured by the Gestapo but did not break under torture, and when released he fought with the French Resistance.

Arthur now lives at the Meadowcroft Care Home in Thame, where Arthur’s family and around 60 friends enjoyed an ‘at home’ get-together on Saturday (17/11) with a buffet and birthday cake.

Arthur’s daughter, Anne Freeman, who lives in Lancashire, came down to stay in Thame for the weekend. She told Thamenews.net: “Dad was in good form and was so looking forward to ‘making the ton’!”

LISTEN HERE to the late Arthur Staggs in a remarkable ‘oral history’ recording made by Thame Cinema (Arthur died shortly after his 100th birthday)

THAME Town Council are considering adding two more Blue Plaques to commemorate people who have lived in the town and achieved great things.

But to find out exactly which house to display a plaque in memory of one of them, is proving to be a challenge since it is unclear exactly where his house was.

Philip Burnard Chenery Ayres CMB, CMG MRCS Eng LRCP Edin. was born in Thame, on July 13, 1840, and later in life as Colonial Surgeon and Inspector of Hospitals, Hong Kong, was responsible for reforming the sanitary conditions of health care in the territory.

The mystery is that research into Ayres’ life, has been unable to pin down exactly where the house in which he was born, is.

Ayres was born at home in Priestend/High Street, Thame, to parents Philip Burnard (a surgeon) and Harriet Ayres and baptised at St Mary’s church, on August 26, 1840.

The Census of 1841 locates the family living in a cottage at Priestend, three houses away from the Six Bells public house, although the Census fails to say in which direction.

If anyone can throw any light on the mystery of where Ayre’s family home was exactly, they are asked to contact David Bretherton, via the museum.

The other Thame luminary being considered worthy of a Blue plaque is Francis Howard Kirby VC CBEDCM RAF, son of a Thame ironmonger, born in 1871. He was mentioned in despatches many times during his distinguished war career and was awarded the DCM for blowing up the Bloemfontein Railway in South Africa in 1900. He is believed to have been born at what is now 18 High Street, now known as Wavertree.

IMAGES: Left – P B C Ayres, Right – F H Kirby

COMMUNITY Christmas is dedicated to providing a Christmas Day lunch for the older members of the community who may be on their own or less able to provide for themselves.

It’s an enjoyable day, so do come along and join in. Community Christmas can bring the lunch to you if you are unable to get out.

If you would like to be a part of Community Christmas as a guest or a volunteer, please contact 0844 854 9251, email help@communitychristmas.co.uk, or visit the website www.communitychristmas.co.uk

SOURCE; Contributed

ANTHONY Stansfeld, a Conservative Party candidate, has been elected as the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, despite securing the vote of less than 5% of the electorate.

Mr Stansfield’s victory came after second preference votes had to be counted because he failed to secure the required 50% of votes. His nearest rival was Labour?s Tim Starkey.

Less than 13% of electors in the South Oxfordshire area, which includes Thame, voted. Mr Stansfield is reported to have blamed the time of year, the dark mornings and evenings, and the fact that there were ‘things’ on the TV, for the poor turn-out.

Thames Valley PCC election statistics:

Anthony Stansfeld (C) 76,011 (34.70%)

Tim Starkey (Lab) 56,631 (25.85%)

Geoff Howard (Ind) 31,716 (14.48%)

John Howson (LD) 20,511 (9.36%)

Barry Cooper (Ukip) 19,324 (8.82%)

Patience Tayo Awe (Ind) 14,878 (6.79%)

Eliminated: Patience Tayo Awe, Barry Cooper, Geoff Howard, John Howson

(Second Count)

Distribution of Awe’s, Cooper’s, Howard’s and Howson’s votes

Anthony Stansfeld (C) 94,238

Tim Starkey (Lab) 70,403

Elected: Anthony Stansfeld

Electorate 1,700,994; Turnout 219,071 (12.88%)

The national election cost

TV’s Russell Grant is predicted to be the star of the show at this year’s Thame Christmas event, when he turns on the town’s Christmas lights on November 30.

Russell will be dropping in with fellow cast members of the pantomime, Peter Pan, which will be showing at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury in December. Russell will be playing the part of Roger the cabin boy.

Russell hit our TV screens again last year in the BBC?s Strictly Come Dancing programme, where he learned to dance with world-champion Latin dancer, Flavia Cacace. He has just completed a season starring in London?s West End as the Wizard in Andrew Lloyd Webber?s, The Wizard of Oz, at the London Palladium.

The Christmas event programme:

This year?s Thame Christmas event will see the return of the popular skating rink (from 4pm), as well as newcomers, the Rodeo Reindeer and a snowboard simulator. The more adventurous will be able to showcase their skills on the mobile skating ramps.

The festive fun will kick off at 3.30pm with seasonal stalls, street entertainment and Santa?s grotto. An evening of entertainment will follow from 6pm with appearances by Thame Players, who will be highlighting their panto, Humpty Dumpty. The evening will also feature the Thame Concert band, carols from local schoolchildren, community singing supported by Thame Chamber Choir and dancing from young students who attend the stage school, Stagecoach, Thame.

Music from Little Bill?s Big Band and fireworks will round off the evening once Russell has officially thrown the switch to switch on the Christmas lights.

A number of Thame shops will remain open late in the evening so there?ll be plenty of opportunity to include a spot of Christmas shopping.

* Thame prepares for severe winter weather

THAME Town Council is encouraging everyone, including town centre businesses, to take responsible during severe winter weather, buy clear paths and pavements of snow and ice.

The Mayor of Thame, Nigel Champken Woods, said: “There is a misconception by the public that you shouldn?t clear snow or ice because you will get sued if anyone gets hurt. This is not the case. Sensibly clearing snow and ice just helps everyone. If we all work together we can keep Thame on the move?.

The Town Council has already purchased a hand spreader to spread grit in particular ?black spots? and areas of high footfall, and will be purchasing more equipment to enable it to grit minor roads and footpaths as well.

* Thame fair too noisy?

FOLLOWING several complaints to Environmental Health officers about noise levels at this year’s Thame fair in September, the town council is to meet with the Showmen’s Guild to tackle the problem.

* More bike racks

THAME Town Council is seeking funding to increase the number of bikes racks in the town and to provide electricity points outside the town hall for use during festivals and other outdoor events in the area.

* Five year plan for Elms Park

THAME Town Council is to embark on a five-year management plan for the under-used and under-resourced Elms Park, in Park Street, Thame. The plan includes updating play and sports equipment in the park and providing ‘more challenging’ play equipment for older children.

The council also wants to provide lighting in parts of the park, an important open-space in the town that was gifted to the people of Thame in 1949, by Leonard Purser, of The Elms, of which the area was part.

* Complaints about Thame Leisure Centre

COMPLAINTS have been to the management of Thame Leisure Centre about the length of time the air conditioning in the dance studio has been malfunctioning in the dance studio.

Cllr Mary Stiles, who represents the town council on the TLC Management committee, told fellow members of the Culture, Leisure and Recreation committee that she understood the centre was treating the matter as urgent.

* Continental fairs coming to Thame

TWO continental markets are planned for Thame during 2013. An Italian market will come to the town during March and a French market, in June. Dates to be confirmed.

* Music In The Park

THE date for next year’s Music In The Park is May 12. Already, organising team member, Michele Pethers, has secured a full programme of bands and other musicians. Watch this space!

The town council has agreed to underwrite the risks to the event, cancellation in case of bad weather etc.

* Thame Town Civic Awards – new category

THIS year’s Civic Awards, which are presented to local people nominated for their contribution to the community of Thame, will include a new category for Sporting Achievement.

The nominee can be either an individual, a team or organisation. Details of how to nominate people for an award will be announced at a later date.

* Thame Tidy day will carry on!

FOLLOWING the resignation of the Founder of Tidy Thame, Adam Buckland, as a town councillor, Cllrs Mary Stiles and Andy Gunn have ‘stepped up to the plate’ and will lead this year’s event.

Watch out for further details and a date for 2012.

THAME allotment holders, seeking reassurance about the security of their plots, applied to Thame Town Council under the Freedom of Information legislation, for clarification as to the legal status of the town’s allotments.

As a result, it has been confirmed that the allotments, which are owned by the town council, are in fact ‘statutory’. The designation of a local authority site as ‘temporary’ or ‘statutory’ is important since, under section 8 of the Allotments Act 1925, a local authority must seek permission from the Secretary of State before selling or changing the use of a ‘statutory’ site. The local authority must satisfy the Secretary of State that adequate provision has been made for allotment holders who are displaced by the sale of the site.

Some Thame allotment holders of the Stones Close plots, fear that the area could be swallowed up in any future housing development in the area.

The legislation is currently being reviewed and it is expected that allotment holders will in the future be consulted about any disposal plans.

The proposed Thame Neighbourhood plan designates the allotments as Open Space which the town council says should give them some protection.

Photo courtesy of Thame Town Council: Mr Chris Majkut digs his allotment at Stones Close, Thame.

RESIDENTS in the southern half of Oxfordshire have been named as the top recyclers in England in official government figures released this week.

The Vale of White Horse was top of the tables with a recycling rate of 68.7 per cent, closely followed by South Oxfordshire, which includes Thame, with a rate of 67.9 per cent.

Both districts leapfrogged last year’s lead authority Rochford, which came third with 67.4 per cent of their rubbish recycled.

The Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire district councils have been operating a joint waste collection service over the past two years, delivered by Biffa, which involves alternate weekly collections of waste and recycling and weekly food waste collections.

Prior to introducing the existing service, the Vale?s recycling rates were 36 per cent with South Oxfordshire?s standing at 42 per cent.

The official figures confirm the findings of an unofficial survey earlier in the year conducted by letsrecycle.com.

Cllr Reg Waite, cabinet member for waste at the Vale, said: ?We are absolutely delighted that our residents have been named the best recyclers in the country. Our joint waste service is designed to make it as easy as possible, but without the hard work of everybody at home, we couldn?t have achieved this remarkable accolade. We will not be resting on our laurels though ? we are always seeking ways of getting those numbers even higher!?

Thame Town Cllr David Dodds, who is also cabinet member for waste at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: ?We want to thank all of our residents for their exceptional dedication to recycling. What a success our joint waste service with the Vale has proven to be. Both districts coming first and second really highlights what an effective service it is. There are real practical benefits from such good recycling figures as it saves us significant sums of money in avoided landfill taxes.?

Recent additions to the councils? waste service include battery recycling collections, where residents can leave household batteries in a small, clear plastic bag on top of their green bin on recycling week. A number of pink recycling banks for small electrical items have also been recently introduced to some of the councils? recycling locations across the two districts.

SOURCE; Press release

CONCERNS have been raised about the possible impact of the current outbreak of ash die back disease on new tree planting at the Cuttlebrook Nature Reserve in Thame.

Town Cllr, David Laver, who is the council’s representative on the reserve’s Management committee, told fellow councillor this evening: “We are keeping a close eye on the ash trees recently planted at Cuttlebrook. We are planning to thin them out to make room for other trees in the future is necessary.”

The disease, which has destroyed almost all the ash trees in Denmark, and has reached parts of South East England, is caused by a fungus, Chalara fraxinea.

More information and advice about this serious disease can be found on the Forestry Commission’s website: LINK

Speaking at a meeting of the town council’s Culture, Leisure and Recreation committee, Cllr Laver all revealed that funding is being sought to rebuild the wooden bridge over the Cuttlebrook. If funds can be obtained, it is hoped that the work can be completed by next summer.