Category: Thame news

AS THAME runs out of fuel fast because of panic buying, the police have issued a statement to quell rumours that that themselves are closing petrol stations.

The statement reads: “Thames Valley Police would like members of the public to bear in mind that members of the UNITE union are still in talks with their employers, dedicated to finding a solution which will make strike action unnecessary.

“There is currently no problem with fuel supplies reaching petrol stations in Thames Valley and therefore we would urge all motorists to continue as normal with fuel purchases ? there is no need to stock up. Petrol stations in Thames Valley are not being closed by police.

“Misinformation that is being spread online and through word of mouth has the potential to cause panic buying which could result in petrol stations not being able to keep up with demand.

“Keep following the Thames Valley Police Facebook page and @thamesvp on Twitter for the latest accurate information which will be updated if and when it becomes necessary.”

Head of Force Joint Operations Unit, Chief Supt Chris Shead said: ?Communities within Thames Valley can be assured that we have full contingency plans prepared and are in a position to respond to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum if strike action takes place.

?We also have plans in hand to ensure that if strikes occur, police and other emergency services and other critical local agencies can maintain their normal response service across the Thames Valley.?

General advice for motorists:
? Don?t change your purchasing behaviour; refuel as
you normally would, planning ahead if you have a
long journey to go on;
? Stick to speed limits as this helps conserve fuel;
? Don?t queue at petrol forecourts, this causes
congestion and increases disruption;
? Check travel sites and latest news before
travelling.

PETROL SPILLAGE – Time: 17:40 – SOURCE: BBC Oxford

The M40 Oxfordshire, northbound between A361 [M40 junction 11] and B4451 [M40 junction 12]
is blocked and stationary traffic northbound between J11, A361 (Banbury) and J12, B4451 (Gaydon), because of a fuel spillage.

THAME could soon have its own Youth Cafe, similar to the one already open in Haddenham.

A group of Thame Town Councillors have put forward the idea after a site visit to Haddenham’s very successful Youth cafe.

Thame has not had a meeting place for young people since the Youth Centre in Towersey Road was closed because of funding cuts by Oxfordshire County Council over a year ago.

The town council is looking into the possibility of turning the old changing rooms building on the Southern Road Recreation area into a youth facility, and adding a refreshment hatch, similar to the one at Meadowview Park, Thame United’s new home ground. This could be used to sell refreshments to the public at weekends.

The old changing rooms have been unused since Thame football moved to the new ground on Church Farm.

The council is hoping that the old youth club building could be used temporarily while work to refurbish the old changing rooms, takes place.

IT has been reported today that Robin Gibb, who lives at The Prebendal in Thame, has undergone emergency surgery to remove a blood clot.

The following bulletin was posted on his official blog today:

“On Monday evening 26 March 2012, Robin Gibb underwent emergency surgery to remove a blood clot that caused perforation. This follows earlier surgery for a twisted intestine and is unrelated to Robin’s recent illness.

“Robin underwent the operation successfully, he is awake and has been talking to his doctors. He is currently being monitored and resting in hospital and his family are hoping for his full recovery.

“We ask that Robin and his family’s privacy be respected during this period. Robin’s promotional commitments for The Titanic Requiem album release have been cancelled for the time being but it remains Robin’s intention to attend the work’s live premiere in London on April 10th.

“An update on Robin’s progress will be released in due time. Once Robin resumes work any interviews and appearances will be posted here on his website as usual.”

IMAGE: Robin and Dwina Gibb, pictured at a charity event at the Spread Eagle hotel. Copyright https://www.thame.net

DOZENS of volunteers took to the highways and byways of Thame on Sunday (25/03) for Thame Tidy Day organized by the local council and supported by local community groups. A team from the Cornerstone Church too had different teams of all ages helping to clear areas along the Phoenix trail and around the Van Diemans estate.

Paddy Harris, Pastor at Cornerstone,said: ?People can?t understand why we are giving up our spare time to clear rubbish. While we were cleaning up we had members of the general public offering to get involved next year. We have also had loads of positive comments and encouragement from passersby. It is amazing what a few dozen people can do in such a short time.

“Our congregation is always encouraged and keen to help in community based projects. Thame Tidy Day is something close to our hearts and continues on from Love Thame, a community based project that we launched in 2008. It is great to do something in the local community, he concluded.

The church teams helped to clear rubbish that had been dumped along the Phoenix trail and in the estate, including beds, old toy houses and lots of other unwanted household items.

Former Thame Mayor, Adam Buckland, said: ?It is great to see a local church like Cornerstone and its members volunteering for events like Tidy Thame Day. Well done to all who took part on a fantastic achievement and a great community effort!?

Cornerstone is an independent Baptist, caf

THAMES Valley Police are investigating three reports of thefts in Thame, including two incidents of shoplifting.
Two of the incidents happened on Saturday, March 24 – one the theft of a mobile phone from a Thame pub and the other shoplifting of underwear. A previous offence, the theft of toiletries, happened on Wednesday, March 21.

The officer in charge of investigating these incidents, PC John Simpkins, believes that they are linked and is also investigating whether they are also linked to previous similar offences in the area.

PC Simpkins has given a description of the suspects who may be involved, although not necessarily all of them involved in every incident.

The first suspect is a man with olive skin (possibly Mediterranean looking), approx 5ft 4ins to 5ft 8ins tall, with short black hair, approx 18-25 years old. He was described as wearing dark trousers and a distinctive dark leather jacket/body warmer.

The first female also is described as having olive skin (again possibly Mediterranean looking), approx 5ft 2ins to 5ft 6ins tall, with long dark hair and of very large build (may be described a heavily pregnant). She was also described as “grubby looking” and wearing a long dark skirt and a scarf in her hair, and carrying a bag on her shoulder.

A second female is described also as having olive complexion (Mediterranean looking), approx 5ft 4ins to 5ft 6ins tall, with long dark hair, of medium build, and wearing trousers.

All three are said to speak with broken English and their tactic is to distract shop staff by any means possible (this may be by booking appointments or asking to try specific clothes on etc). They tend to crowd the staff and fire questions at them to catch them off guard.

The police are currently examining CCTV footage recorded in one of Thame shops where an offence appears to have been committed.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Simpkins 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.

A RECORD number of Thame folk turned out in brilliant sunshine on Sunday morning (25/03) to take part in the this year’s Sport Relief Mile event, organised by Thame Lions.

Oganiser, Ken Bennell, told Thame news: “It was an amazing turn out. Last year we had 100 entrants but this year, the maximum of 250 people registered.”

Those who took part could either walk or run one mile, three miles or six miles along a route that included Cuttlebrook nature reserve and the Phoenix trail. Of the 250 entrants, 25 elected to do the six mile route, 75 did the three mile route and over 150 electing to do the one mile route.

So far, indications are that over

THE organisations of the Thame Food Festival have received some fantastic news which means that the event can now definitely go ahead for Saturday, September 29, 2012.

Here’s the official announcement: “We are delighted to announce that headline sponsor McCormick Schwartz has agreed a two year sponsorship deal with Thame Food Festival that guarantees its future. It is a fabulous endorsement for this wonderful regional celebration of artisan local food and drink produce, local food producers and local food retailers.

The exciting list of mouth watering events and star names is now being finalized. Those already confirmed include ?Adam? and Kush from the BBC?s Very Hungry Frenchman, festival supporter Le Manoir aux Quat?Saisons’ chefs, Adam Simmonds of Danesfield House and keen festival regulars, Giancarlo and Katie Caldesi.

All will be performing demos in the festival kitchen. Please look out for big star names that will make this year?s event even bigger and better than last year.

The 2011 festival saw over 60 stall holders and crowds of 10-15,000 people packed into the centre of this beautiful historic market town, enjoying a fantastic free fun packed family day of food.

It is hoped that stall numbers will rise to 100 this year and that festival ambassador, Raymond Blanc, will be there in person. Festival Patron Lotte Duncan will be running a stall, judging competitions, running a demo and appearing everywhere she can!

This is going to be an amazing day that no true foodie will want to miss so put the date in your diary now.”

?Fabulous food fun?
Lotte Duncan, TV Chef, Writer & Broadcaster and Patron of Thame Food Festival

Contact Details:
www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk

Social media:
Twitter: @thamefoodfest
facebook.com/ thamefoodfestival

A CHOIR from Florida, in the U.S. will be dropping in to St Joseph’s primary school in Thame, on Monday (March 26).

The 12 strong Junior choir is from the Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa, Florida is currently on a tour of schools and will perform to St Joseph’s schoolchildren. In return, St Joseph’s 20- strong school choir will be singing a selection of songs from ‘Zimbe’, a fusion of traditional African song and jazz.

The whole school will then perform ‘Blest be the Lord’, with the school choir in descant. The school is then hoping to put on an English Afternoon tea for the Thame choir performs at Birmingham Symphony Hall

This is the second time in two weeks that St Joseph?s Catholic Primary School in Thame have found themselves in the news. They were invited to perform at the Oxfordshire Music Service?s Grand Spring Concert at the Birmingham Symphony Hall last Monday, March 19.

Joining the Oxfordshire Primaries Massed Choir, St Joseph?s choral group took part in a performance of Oxonia – a choral work composed by John Traill, Director of Music, St Anne’s College, and Lecturer at St Catherine’s College, Oxford. The choir took part in the first performance of this piece at the Schools Prom at the Royal Albert Hall last November.

?This was an amazing opportunity for our pupils to perform at this venue, considered by many to be one of the finest concert halls in Europe,? said Claire Kerr, Headteacher, St Joseph?s Primary School.

The concert involved many Oxfordshire music groups including the Oxfordshire Youth Big Bands, The Oxfordshire Schools? Symphony Orchestra, The Oxfordshire Youth Chamber Choir and the Oxfordshire Youth Wind Band.

THE much anticipated (well, I was looking forward to it!) and promised public consultation about which flags and when should be flown from Thame town hall, has been postponed indefinitely by the council’s Flag Flying working group because it was agreed that ..”a consultation about flags at this time could deflect from the vitally important Neighbourhood plan.”

See the following links for the background to this story:

27/10/11…Town council to consult the public over flag controversy

27/10/11…Former Thame Mayor’s response to flag furore

03/11/11….Flag consultation ‘will not be a vote’ says council