Category: Thame news

CAN’T remember when to put the bins out? Lost the council calendar with those key dates? Well now the iphone generation may never miss another collection with the launch of a new app for smartphones which reminds you when to leave out your bins.

The Binfo app is due to be launched by South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse District Councils. The app, which can hardly be described as rubbish, notifies users when there are changes to the service due to bank holidays or adverse weather.

Homeowners input their postcode or use the GPS feature on their smartphone to identify their location. Binfo can then tell the user when the next collection will be and which bins need to be collected.

The two neighbouring councils say the app will save them money as they will rely less and less on the text message notification service already in use.

Councillor David Dodds, a cabinet member for waste services at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: ?We are always seeking efficient and cost-effective methods of communicating information about our services to residents. More and more people are using on-the-go technologies like smartphones so it?s an ideal avenue for us to explore.?

SOURCE: www.energylivenews.com

A WARNING has been issued at 4pm this afternoon, for the River Thame and Chalgrove Brook: “Flooding is possible for the River Thame from Marsworth to Dorchester including, Long Marston, Rowsham, North Ayelsbury, Cuddington, Thame, Shabbington, Ickford, Waterperry, Cuddesdon, Wheatley, Quarrendon, Drayton St Leonard, Overy, the Chalgrove Brook at Chalgrove and Stadhampton.
Low lying land and roads will be affected first.

Over the weekend we had 20mm rain. Further rainfall is forecast for this evening, average of 14mm to maximum 28mm and for Tuesday average for 16mm to maximum 30mm.

“Communities are advised to check their flood response plans.” For further information see www.environment-agency.gov.uk or call the Floodline on: 0845 988 1188.
IMAGE: Courtesy of Alison Clayton via fickr

A HOUSE in Thame has been severely damaged by fire and smoke.

Oxfordshire County Council?s Fire and Rescue Service were called to a fire at around 7pm on Saturday evening (28/04) in Garden City, Thame.

A statement from the Fire and Rescue Service states: “Four fire appliances from Thame, Haddenham, Wheatley and Slade attended the incident, and upon arrival it was clear that there was an established fire in the living room and the property was heavily smoke logged. Fire Crews wearing Breathing apparatus entered the house and quickly extinguished the fire. Pressurised fans were then used to clear smoke from the premises. None of the occupants were at home at the time of the fire. The fire was discovered by neighbours hearing smoke alarms activating.

Incident Commander Steve Lockwood, from Thame Fire Station, said ? The fire could have been far worse if the neighbours had not heard the smoke alarms and call the Fire and Rescue Service, smoke had already started to spread into the adjoining house.?

?This incident highlights the importance of smoke alarms, not only as an early warning for evacuation but also for the early discovery of fire. We would also like to remind people of the importance of having a fire plan which includes the closing of internal doors, having doors closed not only slows fire spread but also greatly reduces the amount of smoke damage to other areas of the property.?

AS Thame and the rest of Oxfordshire is battered by torrential rain and high winds of speeds of more than 50mph, a flood warning has been issued for the River Thame from Marsworth to Dorchester including Thame, Shabbington, Ickford, Waterperry, Wheatley, and Drayton St Leonard.

Early this morning, a fallen tree halted early-morning trains on the Chiltern Line between Haddenham and Thame Parkway station and Princes Risborough. The tree has now been removed by Network Rail engineers and services are now running normally.

IT was all about style, glamour and the shades of jewels at a fashion show in Thame this week, in support of the valuable work of the town’s Citizens Advice Bureau.

The organisers, The Friends of Thame and District CAB, have hailed the show a tremendous success.

“The town and its businesses rallied round and they were very generous”, said Janet Styles, a trustee of the voluntary organisation, “and we would like to thank everyone in the town who supported us in this enterprise.” A final figure for the sum raised has yet to be calculated but Mrs Styles estimated that it would be at least

THE identity of the royal visitor to Thame, to attend the RAF Halton Freedom Parade, has been revealed.

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall will attend base’s Inaugural Freedom Parade through Thame on Wednesday, May 2. As their Honorary Air Commodore, The Duchess will receive the Freedom Scroll on behalf of RAF Halton.

Recently, on the seventh anniversary of her marriage to The Prince of Wales, The Duchess was appointed by The Queen to be a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO), for personal services.

The town council says: “RAF Halton, by marching through the streets of Thame with bayonets fixed, colours flying, drums beating and band playing, will demonstrate their right to bear arms in Thame. The parade will also allow them to thank the people of Thame for the support they show to themselves and the Armed Forces in general, at a time when they are deployed on operations across the globe.”

THE contact details for information has changed. SEE BELOW****

WITH the Diamond Jubilee celebrations rapidly approaching, the hunt is on for miles of missing Thame bunting!

Thame Town Council says that it is well ahead with preparations for the Jubilee weekend events which will include a Big Jubilee Quiz on the evening of Saturday, June 2, at St Mary’s Church, and the Big Jubilee Picnic in Elms Park on Sunday, June 3, from 1pm – 5pm.

The Big Picnic will include activities such as a Jubilee themed fancy dress competition, the crowning of a Thame Queen, Jubilee cake competition, tug o war, sprints, crafts and much more. But, one mystery dominates the discussion!

The Town Mayor, David Bretherton, who is heading the group making preparations for the diamond Jubilee explains: “Whilst we have bunting for the celebrations this year it would be a nice touch to be able to hang the bunting used at earlier royal celebrations. We believe there is bunting in a box somewhere which was taken home by someone after the last event and perhaps then forgotten about. If anyone has information about this bunting or has any other bunting please do get in touch with

**** St Mary’s Church Office at Thame Barns Centre either by dropping into the office or calling 01844 213491.****

“We hope the people of Thame can solve the mystery of the missing bunting! On the other hand if anyone has any spare bunting please can we borrow it.”

The Diamond Jubilee is a once in a lifetime national celebration and with the party centring on creating the biggest street party ever seen in Thame at the Picnic in Elms Park, there is much to look forward too! Come as a family or street, party as a town!

A woman is in hospital after a horse box became disconnected from the vehicle towing it, and fell on her as she was walking along the road in Chinnor.

Police were called at 3.06pm yesterday (Sunday) by the ambulance service reporting a collision outside Hempton Field Care Home on Lower Ickneild Way, Chinnor. A horse box had disconnected from the silver Ford Ranger that was towing it and fallen on a woman in her sixties, who was trapped.

The woman was freed by the fire service and taken to the JR for treatment for various injuries, including a fractured arm and broken ribs. She is today reported as being in a stable condition.

The road was closed until about 6pm to allow investigators to examine the scene. Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to contact PC Gary Froud via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 101.

Image: The B4009 Icknield Way, near where Sunday’s incident occured. Courtesy of Google maps:
LINK

IT has been reported today that, though he remains under intensive care, Robin Gibb is fully conscious and able to speak.

The ex Bee Gees’ doctor, Andrew Thillainayagam, has apparently stated: “Robin is “exhausted, extremely weak and malnourished.” The same report, on the website http://www.stltoday.com, says that Robin is breathing with the help of an oxygen mask and needs intravenous feeding and antibiotics.

“It is testament to Robin’s extraordinary courage, iron will and deep reserves of physical strength,” continues the report, “that he has overcome quite incredible odds to get where he is now.”

He added: “Robin’s wife, Dwina and son, Robin-John, his son Spencer and daughter Melissa have been at his bedside every day, talking to him and playing his favorite music to him. They have been tireless in their determination never to give up on him.”

The doctor is reported to have stated that Robin has advanced colorectal cancer and that he had recently caught pneumonia because he was weakened from chemotherapy and two operations.

The 62-year-old singer fell into a coma last week after contracting the pneumonia. Thillainayagam said that three days ago he had warned Gibb’s family that he may not wake up. Instead, Gibb is now fully conscious and able to speak.

Read more: website

PHOTO; Robin and Dwina Gibb (Copyright Sonja Francis)

SCHOOL children from across Thame heard this week that a Royal guest will be visiting the town when RAF Halton is awarded Freedom of Entry to Thame.

May 2, will see a large number of airmen and women from RAF Halton marching through Thame, to the War Memorial and back to the town hall, to the strains of a military band, whilst bearing arms – a sight never before seen in the town.

Hundred of local people and visitors, young and old, are expected to join in the celebrations and line the streets of Thame from the town hall and along Upper High Street, to see the spectacle.

Mum, Jana Hesford, who has two daughters at Barley Hill school, said: “We are all very excited to find out which Royal is lucky enough to visit our lovely little town. I?ll certainly be out there with my girls.

“They are hoping it will be Her Majesty herself as it is her special year, or if not, of course if it was Kate, that too would be wonderful!”

Which royal personage it will be on the day, is shrouded in secrecy for security reasons, but for sure, George the goat, or Aircraftman George as he is officially known, will make an appearance as the mascot of the Recruit Training Squadron at RAF Halton.

Deputy Station Commander at RAF Halton, Wing Commander Borthwick, told town councillors at a recent meeting: “It is a pleasure to have a formal link outside the county (RAF Halton is in Buckinghamshire)although we recruit from all of the UK, and an honour to receive such public recognition of the bond that exists between our two organisations.”

PHOTO: (Courtesy of Crown Copyright/MOD 2010] shows Aircraftman George, the latest in a long line of mascots at RAF Halton that dates back to World War Two.