Category: Thame news

FOLLOWING the news that Thame Police Station is to be closed, Thame’s Mayor has said that the town council will monitor any consequences of the closure.

The Mayor, Nigel Champken Woods, told ThameNews.Net: “As I understand it we will see little difference in that there will continue to be a presence at the ?Front Desk? and it is only the ?Back Office? that will be moved.

“Obviously we at the Town Council will monitor the situation and if we see any decline in the quality of Policing in Thame, we will take it up with the relevant authorities.”

The police station, in Greyhound Lane, Thame, is to be re-developed as retirement apartments, and will close in March/April next year. MORE

PHOTO: The current Mayor of Thame, Nigel Champken Woods

CHILDREN from Thame are being asked throughout November, to jump on their garden trampolines as part of a nationwide Bounceathon in aid of Children in Need.

The ‘Get Britain Bouncing campaign’ is asking garden bouncers in the town to participate by trampolining in their back garden at any time from November 9 until 18.

Martin Schofield, Chief Executive Officer of Super Tramp, which is supporting Get Britain Bouncing, explained: ?We are hoping to get as many people bouncing as possible to raise money for Children in Need, every minute and every bounce counts.

?All garden bouncers need to do to join in is to get someone to film them bouncing on their trampoline in the week leading up to Children in Need, which takes place on Friday, November 16 and then send in their footage to us with a note of how long they bounced. All we ask is that people bounce safely.

?We want to add all the minutes together to see just how much time all the bouncers involved in Thame and nationwide have collectively managed to bounce.

?In order to help raise money for Children in Need it would be great if those taking part could donate some pocket money or ask family and friends for sponsorship in aid of the charity. We?re already hosting a Bounceathon with trampolining clubs nationwide and all the hours bounced by everyone will be added together to see just how many hours of bouncing we can do for Children in Need.?

Videos can be sent to info@getbritainbouncing.org.uk, tweeted to www.twitter.com/GBBouncing or uploaded on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GetBritainBouncing

SOURCE: Press release

Get Britain Bouncing is a campaign designed to promote the many benefits of trampolining.

The initiative is supported by the national trampoline manufacturer, supplier and retailer, Super Tramp, which is committed to helping the nation enjoy bouncing safely. The company helped found the organisation by bringing various bodies together and is sponsoring it.

Trampolinist, Laura Gallagher, who is a world and European medallist, will be helping with the campaign.

Martin added: ?This really is the essence of Get Britain Bouncing because lots of people are going to be taking part in the bounceathon country-wide, now including those at home.

PHOTO; Olympic tramolinist, Laura Gallagher

THOSE who have lost family members and friends in road collisions in the Thames Valley area will be able to commemorate their lives in a multi-faith service to be held in Thame.

The service, organised by Thames Valley Police, will be held on Sunday, November 18. at St Mary the Virgin Church in Thame at 3pm.

The memorial service is an opportunity for the emergency services to come together with members of the public who have lost loved ones to remember those that have died on the region?s roads, or in road collisions elsewhere.

Police officers, fire and rescue workers, paramedics, ambulance technicians and hospital staff will give readings and prayers from different religions during the service. Family members will be invited to take part in an act of commemoration during the service.

The service will be led by David Wilbraham, Force Chaplain of Thames Valley Police. Monsignor Anthony Wilcox, representing the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham, will lead the Act of Commemoration.

Chief Constable Sara Thornton said: ?The Road Death Memorial Service is always very moving but I know that it also provides a great comfort for those family and friends who have lost loved ones in road traffic collisions.

?We have always held the service in Thame Parish Church, which is a lovely old and peaceful building where the bereaved can spend some special time treasuring memories and finding the strength to move forward. The service brings together all the emergency services and many families from across the area and it is our way in the Thames Valley of marking the United Nations Day of Remembrance.?

Supt Chris Brown, head of Roads Policing, said: ?The Road Death Memorial Service is held on the third Sunday of November each year in recognition of the tragic loss of life on our roads as part of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

?In 2011 (Jan ? Dec), 73 people were killed on the roads of Thames Valley and the effect of these collisions is felt by many hundreds of people. We aim to offer support to the families of those who have been killed and we organise this service to mark this very important day.?

Force Chaplain, David Wilbraham, said: ?The third Sunday of November is set aside by the United Nations as a special day of remembrance for victims of road death.

?However, while clearly a global issue, the death of someone on the roads is intensely personal and impacts greatly on their families and friends. This service provides a safe, supportive place for those affected to come together to remember and commemorate their individual loss.

?For some, this service has become an annual event; we welcome them and extend the invitation to others whose lives have been affected by death on the roads to join us.?

This is the seventh year that the service has taken place, and it is believed to be the only service of its kind in the UK organised by a police force.

Everyone is welcome to attend the event, and can reserve a space by contacting Elizabeth Richardson on 01189 231802.

SOURCE: Press release

THIS year’s Remembrance Parade and Service will be held in Thame, on Sunday, November 11. The parade will assemble at 10.30am in front of Thame Town Hall and then proceed to the War Memorial.

After the ceremony, the parade will march back to the Upper High Street car park. Following the service, refreshments will be available at Christchurch.

Everyone is welcome.

A copy of the Order of Service can be downloaded from the Thame Town Council website HERE

THAMES Valley Police have confirmed that the police station in Greyhound Lane, Thame, is to close as part of a cost cutting exercise.

A small counter will be maintained somewhere on the site once it has been re-developed as apartments, to maintain a presence in the town centre, but the operational side of police work will transfer to a building somewhere on the Thame Business Park.

The current police station will close sometime in March or April, 2013.

MESSAGE from Dick Jennens, the Manager of Thame’s Oxfam Bookshop: “WE LEFT TWO IN THE SHOP AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED! IN NOVEMBER 2012 WE WILL CELEBRATE THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF WATERSHIP DOWN.

“THE CLASSIC CHILDREN?S BOOK HAS NEVER BEEN OUT OF PRINT SINCE ITS FIRST PUBLICATION IN NOVEMBER 1972.

REJECTED BY ALMOST A DOZEN PUBLISHERS, REX COLLINGS LTD AGREED TO THE FIRST PUBLICATION.

THIS ICONIC BOOK WAS LATER PUBLISHED BY PENGUIN BOOKS AND BECOME A BESTSELLER AND ONE OF THE ?BBC TOP ONE HUNDRED BOOKS?

The story featured as a film, TV series and was a chart hit for Art Garfunkal as a solo artist with ?Bright Eyes?

We left two copies of the book in the shop overnight, and now we have enough to mount a window display to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first publication.

Fiver, Hazel, Bigwig, Strawberry and Kehaar are waiting to meet a new audience”

May El-ahrairah be with you.”

Celebrate 40 years of Watership Down and buy a copy to reread this November.

HERE is the latest Thame neighbourhood update from Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), Lucy Rattenberry. The Thame Sector covers the neighbourhoods of Thame, Chinnor and Watlington.

Anti-social behaviour (ASB)

Thame town centre has experienced a slight increase in criminal damage as a result of eggs and stones being thrown at properties. In response the Neighbourhood Policing Team have completed the following:

liaised with local shops advising them not to sell eggs and flour to young people in the lead up to Halloween.
increased high visibility patrols in identified areas.
distributed awareness sheets to local primary schools and vulnerable people and locations.
The most common way we can deal with incidents of ASB is by issuing ASB warning letters, acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs), anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs), Section 27 orders ? direction to leave locality, and Section 59 orders – contracts issued for using a vehicle in an anti-social manner.

We have had reports of vehicle related ASB on the Lakeside Estate in Chinnor. The Neighbourhood Policing Team has worked with the local housing association to identify the people responsible and they are currently on warnings for their behaviour. Also, Section 59 notices have been issued and a vehicle has been seized.

We continue to tackle ASB issues in the Watlington area and continue to patrol in order deter ASB.

Halloween/Bonfire Night

The Neighbourhood Policing Team will be conducting high visibility patrols in vulnerable locations. If you are subject to any ASB issues during this period please contact us on 999 if it is an emergency or 101 for non-emergency. There will be extra dedicated resources working on both dates.

Traffic issues

Barley Hill School, Thame and Lord Williams Lower School are experiencing parking issues at both entrances as drivers are causing an obstruction for local residents and safety issues for the pupils. The team have conducted dedicated parking patrols at key times where they have offered advice to motorists in the first instance and issued Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for repeat offenders.

In response to reports of vehicles parking in restricted areas in Watlington Town Centre the team conducted a parking operation. Offending vehicles were issued with FPNs over a period of two weeks.

Winter burglary campaign

The aim of the campaign is to encourage people to invest in light timer switches so that houses are not left in darkness and therefore vulnerable to opportunist burglars. A video is available on the Thames Valley Police Facebook and Twitter pages to promote this. If we see a house we consider to be at risk of burglary, then a postcard entitled ?Here?s a bright idea? will be posted through the letterbox.

Planned activities

attendance at various Remembrance Events across the neighbourhood.
Community Action morning at Lord Williams Lower School.
Operation MANGER involves PCSOs patrolling Town Centre car parks to distribute crime reduction literature.
regular visits to sheltered accommodation coffee mornings to offer Crime Reduction advice and reassurance.
Offenders brought to justice

24 offenders have been brought to justice for a variety of offences, including the following:-

Fraud
Public Order
Drugs
Shoplifting
Assault
Crime Mapping

The Home Office national crime mapping website gives the public access to street-level crime information as well as information on their Neighbourhood Policing Teams, Neighbourhood Priorities and Events – details of Have Your Say and other neighbourhood activities. Log on to www.police.uk, type in your local postcode or neighbourhood name and then click on ?Find out more?.

Have Your Say online

You can now send non-emergency messages to us using the online form that is available on the Thames Valley Police website. A number of people have already sent their concerns using this method. For you to do that please follow the link: http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/yournh/yournh-about-nh-pol/yournh-tvp-pol-area-n153-hys. Please allow some time for us to get back to you as we do check our mail box only at certain times of the day.

There is also the opportunity to attend Have Your Say meetings in person. Upcoming Have Your Say meetings are:?

Friday 2 November, 2pm ? 4pm at the Co-Op caf

CORRECTION; We would like to point out that John Massey, mentioned below, was never Mayor of Thame but a long-standing Town Councillor during the 1980s. We apologise for any embarrassment caused to Mrs Massey over this misunderstanding.

A Thame resident, who worked as a secret agent in German occupied France during World War II, is to have a street in a new housing development named after him.

Arthur Staggs, who will be 100 years-old in November, lives at Meadowcroft Residential care home in Thame. He is the proud holder of the Legion D’Honneur from the French Government for his exploits during WWII, when he used his guile and knowledge of the French language to avoid discovery, despite being interrogated by the Gestapo.

Arthur is an Honoury Citizen of Thame, and his name will be reflected in one of the new roads currently being built on the old Memec site, near Jane Morbey Way.

Another Thame resident, the late John Massey, a past Mayor of Thame, will also have a street named after him on the new development.

photo: Arthur during a visit to a French market in Thame, with ex Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green

NEW powers to help deal with the potential risk of flooding in the district have been adopted by South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils.

Last month the two councils agreed to take on three key powers acting on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council. These powers are from the Flood and Water Management Act (2010) which was brought in following the floods in 2007.

As a result of this transfer, the two councils are now responsible for:

* giving consent to people who put in structures in
streams and ditches (like bridges or pipes),
* taking appropriate action to make sure landowners
carry out their duties to maintain water flows,
* investigating the cause of flooding events in their
respective districts and making recommendations to
alleviate future risk

Today, in a joint press release, the two councils stated: “This work is not totally new to the district councils as we already have more than 40 years experience in dealing with flooding events, investigation and enforcement, including during and after the widespread flooding in 2007. The new powers will guarantee the continuation of the good work that has happened in helping to identify and alleviate potential flood risks over the last few years, and will also help to provide a more local approach to granting permission for structures such as bridges and piping which are designed to minimise the risk of them causing or exacerbating flooding.”

The transfer of powers from OCC could also potentially save the two district councils a combined sum of around

SIR Ian McKellen, the esteemed RSC actor, star of The Lord of the Rings and the X-Men, and co-founder of Stonewall (a LGBT rights charity) visited Lord Williams?s School today, as part of a campaign to eradicate homophobic bullying in schools.

Lord Williams?s is a Stonewall School Champion and Sir Ian gave talks at both sites to excited and receptive audiences of students across the year-groups.

Sir Ian spoke eloquently about his early experiences of his sexuality in a society in which the only mention of homosexuality was by the derogatory term ?queer?. This lack of acceptance from the wider society of the time partly led him to the more tolerant and relaxed theatre industry, where he was able to flourish as an openly gay actor.

He emphasised the importance of being aware of the offence that can be taken from using the word ?gay? as a synonym for ?bad?, ?useless? or ?broken? ? particularly among teenagers at school. He implored the students to think before they spoke, and respect the feelings of their peers.

While admitting there were understandably differing views in society on controversial issues such as gay marriage, Sir Ian stressed the extreme importance of equality regardless of sexuality, speaking of how he co-founded Stonewall to achieve this both legally and in day-to-day life.

Students were then invited to ask questions about his life and work, and he was happy to tell stories of his experiences in different campaigns, recount how ‘coming out’ had allowed him to develop more confidently as an actor, and even wittily remind students that if they did not study hard, ?You shall not pass!? (a line from his famous role as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit series).

After rapturous applause following his extremely engaging and thought-provoking presentation, students surrounded him, anxious to meet such an eminent and highly-respected actor, having heard him discuss such a personal issue. Many students were impressed by his openness. Some admitted that their preconceptions regarding homosexuality had been changed after hearing such an honest account, and that they had previously been unaware of the hurtfulness of using ?gay? as a disparaging term.

Overall, Sir Ian?s visit appears to have made a big impact on the students and teachers at Lord Williams?s, and we are extremely grateful to him for coming to talk to us about this incredibly important issue.

SOURCE: Contributed by Meg Roberts, a Year 13 pupil at Lord Williams’s school