Category: Thame news

AS people all over Thame rang in the Olympics, including the bell ringers of St Mary’s Church, Thame, these two were quite happy to interrupt breakfast to join in the fun on Friday.

This UK wide project, to get as many bells of all and any kind ringing at the same time – 08:12 to be precise – was the brain child of Turner Prize-winning artist and musician, Martin Creed, and a London 2012 Festival commission called Work No. 1197: All the bells in the country to be rung as quickly and as loudly as possible for three minutes.

PHOTO: William (9 months) and Samuel (2 years) Schleising

28/07/12 – PHOTO: Taken at the scene by 13 year-old Aaron Sabin. Aaron told Thamenews.Net: “I live in the new Taylor wimpy housing developments. The fire was near my house. I heard a helicopter outside my house with the flash light shining and a warning message saying: ‘Hands on your head’ or something like that. I did hear the police helicopter say something but I don’t think the helicopter could see anyone. The helicopter then went away once one police car arrived, and then one fire engine arrived and they had to break the fence to get into the building site to reach the fire. Then loads off backup arrived just in case it exploded I suppose!”

27/07/12 – THAMES Valley Police is treating the destruction of a historic railway carriage earlier this morning as arson and is asking for witnesses to come forward to help them with their enquiries.

The coach, which was destroyed by the fire, was built in the 1930s and is known as a London Midland and Scottish Railway Observation Coach.

A statement issued earlier this evening says:

At about 2am today (26/7), the Thames Valley Police helicopter observed a fire near a private railway station belonging to the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway Association, which is a registered charity.

Police officers and the fire service attended and dealt with the incident. The fire destroyed an historic carriage which was on railway sidings some distance away from the station.

An investigation has been launched and officers are working closely with the charity to keep them fully informed.

Investigating officer PC Martin Davis, of Thame police station, is appealing for witnesses to come forward.

He said: ?This railway is run entirely by volunteers so this incident has caused a great deal of upset.

?We are currently treating the incident as arson and would like to appeal to anyone who saw people acting suspiciously in the area of the railway station in the early hours of this morning, to come forward. I would also like to speak to anyone who has any further information which could assist our inquiry.?

If you can help, please call PC Davis via the 24-hour Thames Valley 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.

PHOTO: Taken at the scene by Aaron Sabin

FIRE CREWS from eight stations, including Thame, were called to a serious fire at the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway in the early hours of this morning.

At just after 2am this morning, Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service supported by Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue, were called to reports of a train carriage on fire. On arrival crews from Thame Fire Station were faced with a fully developed fire in a train carriage.

Crews wearing breathing apparatus rapidly knocked down the fire using high and low pressure water jets and prevented the spread of the fire that was threating a nearby carriage and rolling stock.

A total 45 firefighters attended the incident from eight fire stations.

Incident commander, Station Manager Marcus Reay, said: “The teamwork and communication between Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire fire crews meant that the fire was prevented from spreading and causing further fires. Fire Investigators are working with Thames Valley Police to establish the cause of the fire, which is currently unknown.”

Anyone with any information about this incident 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.

LOCAL people who have contributed to the community of Thame, have been officially recognised by the town council.

At a recent awards ceremony at The Thame Barns Centre, Thame?s Mayor, Councillor Nigel Champken-Woods, presented trophies to deserving people who had been nominated and voted for by Thame people, including a posthumous award to the late Ben Guest, a local window cleaner and tireless fund-raiser for Help For Heroes and local charities too.

New categories in this year?s awards included Person of Courage and Best Working/Bravest Dog, and each of the awards was sponsored by local businesses.

The Young Achiever Award went to Beth Clarke. “Alongside her many sporting achievements this young person is a Whole School Council Representative – a fantastic role model for all students who are younger than her. She is always willing to help staff and students and is a key member of the Year Group,” said the Mayor.

SERVICE WITH A SMILE

The Service with a Smile Award, sponsored by DAF went to Autoparts. “This High Street shop impressed with how helpful, cheerful and knowledgeable the young staff are. They have been well trained in customer service and have even been known to install light bulbs in pensioners cars in the rain at no extra charge!” read their commendation.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR (Sponsored by: Kismet Jewellers)

The Volunteer of the Year Award went to Melanie Shannon
who has been a volunteer supporting learning in Barley Hill School for five years. “She comes into school every day to work individually with struggling readers, even though her own children moved on several years ago. She is a genuinely caring and patient person who has a real rapport with children and a determination to help those who find reading difficult. She has become a vital part of the team and all the teachers in the group are indebted to her for her unstinting support.”

BEST WORKING DOG (Sponsored by: Sprinz & Nash)

The Best Working Dog award was given posthumously to Guide Dog Faldo, and presented to his owner, Bob Gerhardt, with his new dog Coco. “This award goes to a Guide Dog who worked faithfully with his blind owner, Bob Gerhardt, for 9 years, and is very sadly missed,” remarked the Mayor.

VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION (Sponsored by: Kismet Jewellers)

The Voluntary Organisation of the Year award went to The Thame and District Day Centre. Owen Davies and Margaret Robinson received the award on behalf of the Day Care Centre.

Here are some of the comments from nominees:

?The volunteers are excellent. They work so hard to give us a lot of pleasure. I appreciate the fact that they give up their own time to enrich our lives.?

?I think this is a wonderful organisation. Everybody is friendly and welcoming; It is lovely to have something to look forward to. This would not be possible without all the volunteers, drivers, trustees and the lovely ladies who wait on us hand and foot!?

SERVICE TO THE TOWN (Sponsored by: Thame Town Council)

The Service to the Town Award was given to Alan Tipping
who cleans Thame?s streets. Alan received many nominations. Here are just a few of the comments from nominees:

?This guy is amazing. He works tirelessly to keep our streets clean and works in all weather.?

?A true unsung hero, who deserves some form of gratitude from the people of Thame.?

?We have never had such clean streets, He is always smiling and courteous.?

?He is out in all weather keeping Thame tidy and always has a cheerful word to say.?

?He frequently goes the extra mile and he has been known to give of his own time to help tidy up after local events.?

PERSON OF COURAGE (Sponsored by: Mobalpa Kitchens)

The Person of Courage award was given posthumously to Ben Guest, whose parents, Terry and Marie collected his award on behalf of their son who sadly passed away earlier this year. Ben’s award was in recognition of his countless efforts to raise money for charity and his kind and generous behaviour.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (Sponsored by: Christopher Pallet)

This year?s Lifetime Achievement Award went to Mike Kidley, Commanding Officer of 594 (Thame) Squadron of the Air Cadets.

Mike Kidley has devoted a huge part of his life, time and commitment to what has become one of the best squadrons in the Thames Valley. “Thanks to his leadership, said the Mayor, “the Squadron plays a visible and prominent part in many aspects of Thame life, including the annual Remembrance Service.

“In addition to teaching young people the values and advantages of discipline coupled with fun, the air cadets helps young people grow to become responsible individuals, to be aware of the needs of those around them, to rise to challenges and to be better all round citizens.

“As well as what he has been doing locally here in Thame, much of what he has done has drawn national attention to the town and helped promote Thame to a countrywide audience. For example, a Thame cadet was selected for the prestigious role of Lord Lieutenant?s Cadet for Oxfordshire in 2011, a Thame cadet recently took lunch with the Prime Minister, and a Thame cadet has also been nominated for the highest pilot award in the air cadets, the John Cunningham Trophy, named after the world famous fighter and test pilot.

“Mike Kidley?s many years of service to the young people of Thame and to the town itself, thoroughly deserve public recognition.”

Photo: The staff of Autoparts receive their award from the Mayor, Nigel Champken Woods, with Trevor Mitchell of DAF (right)

ST MARY’S Church in Thame will be ringing its bells ‘fast and furious’ on Friday morning, at precisely 8.12am, as part of the ‘All The Bells’ project to launch the Olympics.

At 08:12 on 27th July 2012, thousands of people across the UK will be joining together to ring in the first day of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Everyone across the country is invited to take part by ringing any sort of bell they can lay their hands on, be it bicycle bell, door bell or church bells.

Work No. 1197: All the bells in a country rung as quickly and as loudly as possible for three minutes by Turner Prize-winning artist and musician Martin Creed is a London 2012 Festival commission and will be performed by you! It’s all part of Martin Creed’s vision.CLICK HERE for the full low down!

And let’s get Thame ringing !!

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

A SEA of pink flashing bunny ears on 650 walkers? heads was the special scene at Aylesbury College on Saturday, July 21, as the Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity held its third Midnight Walk in aid of the local Hospice ? with an amazing

CHERYL’S cats, Monty and Oscar are back home in Wellington street this evening! Cheryl’s friend Susie, who previously owned them, went over this evening and the cats came to her call.

Cheryl told ThameNews: “Monty the tabby is very thin but okay, and Oscar, the ginger and white cat is fine.
“I would like to convey my thanks to the residents of East street, Thame, who helped me locate the cats.”

ORIGINAL STORY: A cat owner in Wellington Street, Thame, is asking for the help of local people to find her beloved, missing cats.

Cheryl Simms’s two cats, one tabby and one ginger, were last seen in Wellington Street almost two weeks ago, although we heard this morning that Monty the tabby, has been spotted in garden in East Street this morning.

PHOT: Monty (ginger and white) and Oscar (tabby) relaxing at home before they went missing in Thame, two weeks ago

THE identity of the woman whose body was found on the Phoenix Trail near Thame, last week, has been released by the Coroner.

The dead woman was Sheila McNicholas, aged 73, from Thame. Sheila’s body was found close to a bridge on the Phoenix Trail by a member of the public at around 6.45am last Wednesday (18/07).

At this time, her death is not being treated as suspicious by the police.

THAME residents may have noticed a lot of pavement digging activity recently – even in the rain workmen were seen cutting disc-shaped pieces out of paving slabs and inserting round, bronze coloured, engraved discs into the holes.

The mystery is solved. For the Waymarkers, all placed near an historic landmark, are all part of a project initiated by the 21st Century Thame Partnership’s, SEEDA projects, which included a series of historic Blue Plaques recently unveiled.

Each of the Waymarkers is numbered and corresponds to a place of historical interest in Thame, in an Historic Town Trail leaflet

THE Police are asking Land Rover owners to be extra vigilant following an increase in the theft of Land Rovers over the past week. Recent thefts in the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse area have occurred in Kingston Blount, Chinnor, Russells Water, Henley and Fernham, Faringdon. Four further thefts have been reported in the Swindon area.

Please click on the link below to obtain crime prevention advice on car security & information on security devices:

www.thamesvalley.police.uk

If you see any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area try to obtain descriptions and vehicle details, including make, model and registration number. If you have any information relating to this message, please call the police on the new national single non-emergency telephone number 101 and state you are responding to a Community message.

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.

SOURCE: Community message from Thames Valley Police