THE death of a Thame nurse who died after five treatments for cosmetic surgery, is ‘unexplained’ concluded a coroner.
Susannah Bone, who lived in Upper High Street, Thame, was found dead slumped in front of the TV by police, who broke into her flat when relatives became concerned for her welfare.
FULL STORY – www.telegraph.co.uk
IMAGE: Courtesy of www.telegraph.co.uk
WITH his distinctive beard and beret, Thame photographer, John Comino James, is a familiar sight around the town, often taking photographs of local characters and buildings with his trusty Lica 35mm.
Collections of John’s black and white photographs have been published in at least two books of local interest, including ‘Nearly Every Tuesday,’ a series of pictures taken of the characters of Thame market, between 1989 and 1994.
But, parochial he is not! For many years, John has been a regular visitor to Havana in Cuba and an exhibition of portraits of the people he has come to know and respect, in one particular neighbourhood off the tourist track, is currently the subject of an exhibition at Wolfson College, Linton Road, Oxford OX2 6UD.
The following, in John’s own words, explains the circumstances that led to this body of his work, and his attitude and approach to taking photographs in Havana:
I first visited Havana at the beginning of 2002: the photographs in this exhibition are selected from two independent bodies of work made during several visits over a seven-year period in two distinct areas of the city. Those made in the traditional 35mm format were made in Cayo Hueso, a part of Centro Habana, and those in panoramic format were all made in a single road, the Calzada del Diez de Octubre. Both are areas of historical significance although they are off the ?tourist beat? of Habana Vieja (Old Havana).
Havana has been described as a photographer?s paradise and from the very first I found much that was both unfamiliar and visually seductive: but it is precisely this initial novelty that must be, if not avoided, then at least worked through in order to gain a sense of the daily rhythms of life in the streets, to gain a sense of which are typical and which are unusual activities.
I have therefore been extremely fortunate in being able to return often to the city in the past seven years and continue my practice of photographing within defined and restricted areas. For without a developing sense of connection, of a relationship maturing beyond that first enchantment, without the opportunity to review my work in the months between visits, the photographs shown here and more particularly the books from which they are selected would not have come into existence.
I prefer to be open about the activity of photographing and, although I do make many candid photographs, I prefer to choose the rewards and take the risks of engagement rather than remaining at a distance. I have learnt that I feel more comfortable photographing where I am recognised and where something of what I am doing is known.
Each time I return I take not only extra copies of individual or group portraits to give away, but I also carry in my shoulder bag a sampler of my work; crude off-prints from scans printed three or four up on ordinary copy-paper, stapled into a cut-down manila folder. Because it seems to me only proper, a matter of courtesy to be able to show the way I photograph to anyone who asks, to show what I photograph, and to show how I represent to myself and thus to others a culture that is not my own. Often I have been unable to locate individuals who have entered my photographs, only to find that a person looking through my work has offered to pass the print on to someone they know or recognise. When this happens the picture leaves my hands and takes its chance entrusted to a stranger for the last part of its journey back to its source. More than once I have been stopped in the street and thanked for a photograph that has found its way home in this way.
Even before I knew that Cuba?s story would become part of my grandchildren?s cultural heritage, I became increasingly preoccupied with the need to learn something about the historical events that underpinned the life I was witnessing in the streets. I needed to establish a wider perspective in which to set the photographs for myself and to inform their presentation in books. More particularly, not to attempt this sort of understanding would, I felt, be disrespectful of the people I was meeting and the wider social context of my photographs.
I venture that it is not enough to regard the world as an orchard through which a photographer may pass picking freely the ripest visual fruit.
‘Fortunate Steps’ continues until February 24, and is open daily from 10am till 7pm, subject to College commitments.
Visitors are advised to ring the College Lodge beforehand 01865 274100.
John’s book, ‘Fortunate Steps’ is available from The Book House, Thame, price
SAINSBURY’S are to have their evidence of the retail impact of their proposed new Thame supermarket re-examined by the Planning authority.
South Oxfordshire District Council today confirmed that they have instructed consultants to review the Sainsbury application in terms of its retail impact.
The Planning Officer for the case told ThameNews.Net today: “The assessment of major retail proposals is a specialist field and the council are anxious to ensure that the planning application is given a thorough and rigorous appraisal.”
AFTER three years of fund raising and much work behind the scenes to come up with a concept and design, Thame Youth Memorial Trust will soon be revealing its plans to the public.
The project was launched three years ago at a public meeting which indicated overwhelming support to establish a permanent place of reflection and remembrance for those affected by the loss of young members of the local community.
Spokesperson, Mike Dyer, said: “Support across Thame and the surrounding area has been amazing, and local events and donations have ensured that most of the budget is already in place and, now that the project costs are being finalised, the Trust will be seeking further financial support through grant applications.
“Based on the themes of Infinity and Reflection, and entirely the work of local designers, the proposals have received enthusiastic support and approval from Thame Town Council. An experienced volunteer Project Manager has also now joined with the Trust to finalise the technical specifications, project timelines, and cost controls.”
The full design proposals will be presented at a public meeting at Thame Town Hall at 10am on Saturday, February 25. All are welcome.
PHOTO: Laurence Dyer performs at a special fund-raising event held last year by some of the young people of Thame to raise funds for the Thame Youth Memorial (Still taken from a video of the event filmed by Matt Evans)
THAMES Valley Police is urging people to be vigilant when using cash machines after skimming devices have been used in Oxfordshire.
The first incident took place at 2.05pm on Wednesday (1/2), at the Co-operative store in Old Marston Road, Oxford. The cash machine was targeted by offenders who placed a sticky silver/grey strip across the cash dispensing slot. This prevents the cash from being dispensed to the user after they have entered their details.
When the user walks away from the machine, the offender approaches it, removes the strip, and collects the money, which is now attached to the strip.
The second incident took place between 4.25pm and 4.45pm on Wednesday (1/2), when the cash machine at the Co-operative store in Lobstock Place, Didcot was targeted.
PC Martin Whaley, of Didcot police station, said: ?I appeal to anyone who has seen people acting suspiciously near to cash machine in Oxford and Didcot to contact police as you may be able to assist with our enquiries.
?I would also like to speak to anyone who thinks they may have been a victim of this to come forward and contact us. We believe the two incidents are linked.?
Anyone who witnessed the incident, saw anyone behaving suspiciously in the area, or has any other information which may assist police with their investigation is asked to contact PC Whaley 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.
To prevent cash point fraud, please follow this advice:
Check the machine you are using for evidence of tampering, particularly the card reader slot and PIN panel
Stand close to the cash machine screen and shield your keystrokes with your hand as you enter your PIN number
Check no-one is spying on you over your shoulder
If you suspect a cash machine is not working properly, press cancel and remove your card, then report the incident to your bank
Do not remove any suspicious device you find, as they are valuable to the criminal and they may use force to retrieve them
If you notice anything suspicious with a cash machine, report it to the bank or shop it is located at, or to the police
Note down your debit and credit card details, so that you can cancel them quickly if they?re stolen or lost
Never write down your PIN number in case thieves find it after stealing your purse or wallet.
SOURCE: Press release
Image: Courtesy of themissinglist.co.uk
ANYONE with an interest in South Oxfordshire?s Core Strategy, the document that will determine future development in Thame and the rest of South Oxfordshire, has an opportunity to have a final say.
In January, the inspector appointed to examine the strategy published his conclusions on changes he considers should be made to the strategy. He has also published revised conclusions on Thame. These can both be viewed at http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/news/2012/2012-02/core-strategy-changes-advertised-3-february-16-march-2012
SODC has now produced a list of the main proposed changes. This is being advertised for comment from February 3 to March 16, 2012, on the council?s website. Copies are also available to view at South Oxfordshire District Council’s offices, libraries and one-stop shops (Thame town hall) to enable local residents and other interested parties to have their say.
Some of the key changes now being advertised are:
The deferral of the strategic allocation at Thame to the Neighbourhood Plan
The exclusion of a Green Belt review at Wheatley
The acceptance of a housing allocation cap at Henley of 400 new homes, but with a suggestion that this cap could be eased by up to 50 homes if detailed work shows that this can be identified
The changing of the site for the housing allocation in Wallingford from Site B (west of the town) to Site E (south of the town)
DRIVERS were warned to slow down in the current freezing driving conditions, after a car left the road earlier today and hit a tree.
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to a road traffic collision today on the A40 near Wheatley, where a car had left the road, rolled over and hit a tree. Fire Fighters from Oxford and Kidlington attended, and released two people from the vehicle using specialist cutting gear. They also had to use chainsaws to remove part of the hedgerow in order to get to the vehicle which had rolled down an embankment and come to rest on its side.
The occupants were released from the vehicle and treated at the scene by Paramedics. Station Manager Simon Belcher warned: “With the snow melting and the likelihood of freezing weather over night, we’d like to remind all drivers to slow down and take care in what will be dangerous conditions.” For more advice take a look at the Thames Valley Police web site –
http://thamesvalley.police.uk/rdsafe
and Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue 365alive website
FOLLOWING an extension to Thame Town Council’s response time for comments on the Sainsbury’s planning application for a new supermarket (LINK), the Planning Officer in charge of the case has clarified the time scale for everyone else.
Michael Moore told Thamenews.Net today: “I want to ensure that everyone who wishes to make representations both for and against the proposal has the opportunity so to do. Equally, it is useful for me and the council’s shopping consultants, to know local views sooner rather than later as they are easier to take on board.
“I have already advised the Town Council that their normal 21 day period for comments can be extended till March 19, and I see no reason why neighbours, businesses and other interested parties cannot have the same time frame.
“However, it is preferable that representations are made in advance of that date if at all possible.”
Mr Moore’s statement clarifies some confusion locally as to when comments from the public on the Planning application had to be received by South Oxfordshire District Council’s planning department. The application registration on SODC’s website says March 1, whereas letters received by local businesses, neighbours, parish councils etc states February 20.
Hopefully it is now clear that everyone has until March 19, though it would obviously be helpful to the planning authority to begin to get some idea of the support or otherwise of the application as soon as possible. In other words, don’t leave it until the last minute!
The quickest and easiest way to comment is to go the planning appplication HERE and click on the orange COMMENT NOW button.
THE children and staff of Barley Hill Primary School in Thame have been celebrating after receiving their Green Flag Award from the Mayor of Thame this morning.
The school has been recognised by ?Keep Britain Tidy? for their efforts to raise environmental awareness among pupils, and for making outstanding progress in reducing their carbon footprint.
The Assessor who visited the school said: ?The whole school is clearly enthusiastic about achieving the Green Flag. The Eco Committee members were all very dedicated and enthusiastic, as were the Eco teachers.”
Pupils at the school celebrated the occasion by raising their Green Flag on the school?s mast after a special school assembly, hosted by the children?s Eco Committee and attended by the Town Mayor, Cllr. David Bretherton and the Mayoress Margaret Bretherton.
Barley Hill?s Headteacher, Mrs Ann Stopforth, said: ?The children in our Eco Committee are really keen to make a difference and have been very successful in helping our school become more environmentally friendly. This is a very exciting award and well deserved.”
The day was a double celebration with the school also receiving funding for a new greenhouse from Frazer Sutherland, Manager of The Thatch restaurant in Thame. The Thatch raised
UPDATE: Since this report, a meeting has been arranged for 6.30pm on Tuesday, February 28, for Thame Residents Associations to meet with Tibbalds and Town Councillors to get an update on the Neighbourhood Plan. END
FOLLOWING a meeting with the Government Minister in charge of communities last week, the Chair of a Thame residents Association has asked for more of a say before the Draft plan is published.
Barry Yates, the Chair of the Oxford Road Residents Association, was one of the community representatives who spoke at the meeting last Wednesday (25/01), called to enable Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Minister of State for Communities and Local Government, the opportunity to see how Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan was progressing.
Speaking after the meeting, Barry Yates said: “Whilst we as Residents Associations fully embrace the Neighbourhood Plan, we have felt that there has been a slowness in the feedback from the consultation, a lack of publication of a timetable going forward and a general feeling of a certain opaqueness.
“We have therefore asked for a meeting with the town council and Tibbalds, the consultants who are leading on the formation of the Neighbourhood Plan, and all the representatives of the Residents Associations, as soon as possible, to make sure that our views are taken into consideration before the Draft Neighbourhood Plan is finally formulated.
“Yes, we were all NIMBYS initially but we have been working together for the good of the town, and as we represent a good chunk of the population of Thame, we have offered to help communication between the town council, the Consultants and the people of the town.
“Hopefully we will hear very soon when the meeting can take place.”