Category: Thame news

TWO of the most distinguished local eateries met this morning outside the Spread Eagle Thame, when Lotte Duncan, of the newly opened deli and cafe, Lotte’s Kitchen, passing by to visit the bank, stopped outside ‘the Spread’ to taste the wares of Richard, dressed in full tail-coat and top hat.

Richard, a familiar face at the Spread Eagle for many years, was offering passers-by a taste of chef’s chocolate brownies and shortbread biscuits, by way of promoting The Spread Eagles new Cream Teas and Special Set menu currently on offer.

Visit: www.thame.net (the green box advert) for more details.

A MAN from Dorset has been jaled and banned from driving following the theft of a vehicle in Thame, and for stealing a credit card.

Robert Kenny, 28, of Commercial Road, Weymouth, Dorset, admitted taking the vehicle from Counduit Hill Rise on March 12, without consent and driving without insurance and while disqualified in.

He also admitted the theft of a credit card on the same day in Thame. Kenny was jailed for 16 weeks and banned from driving for a year.

THAT’S the cry going out across Thame this morning, following the biggest gathering of local people in one place in the town’s living memory – Thame’s first Music In The Park event in Elms Park.

An estimated 3,500 people, many of them local but hundreds of friends and visitors from wider a field, sat, picniced, slept, played, danced, met up with old and new friends, enjoyed the sun and revelled in some of the best musicianship and entertainment you could ever hope to find this side of a TV screen.

Headlining in the Dome Stage was the truly awsome Ska and 2-Tone seven-piece, Skasouls UK, which, in a Jesus-like transformation of mind over matter, inspired arthritic, middle-aged men and women to actually leap up from the grass and, with clenched fists, pump their arms and legs in energetic rhythm to covers of such legends as Madness, The Specials and Bad Manners.

Paul Bacon, aka Ultimate Elton, set the standard when he launched the afternoon’s programme, actually becoming Sir Elton John in dress, demeanour and voice to the huge delight of a very appreciative audience singing along to every note and lyric.

Throughout the rest of the afternoon, local artists like Thame’s Got Talent winners, Rowan Carter, Yvette Judge, the very ‘tasty’, Milk, and other Thame and Oxfordshire performers like Ellie Ruddock, Hell’s Gazelles, We’re Not Mexicon, The Nerve, The Unchosen, Bootlegger and too many to list (Visit the website for the full line-up) proved that Thame really does punch above its weight when it comes to musical talent across the spectrum.

But it wasn’t all Rock, metal, pop and Blues. Music in the Park aimed to have something for everyone and the youngsters from John Hampden School and the ladies of the Greatest Hits Choir proved that the great English tradition of choral group singing is alive and flourishing in this corner of Oxfordshire.

Other great acts deserving of a big, big ‘shout out’ were Empty Vessels, The Peppermints, Nuttz Knuttz, one of my personal shining gems, Michael Lee and the Jiggawatts, Transit and the amazing street and break dance line-up of dancers from Talent Oxford.

A smaller, third stage, handily positioned by the mega beer tent, featured a more intimate musical experience though not necessarily quiet! The mixture of bands and solo acts featured here were: Huge Carrott (formerly known as Banned), Gemma Aguilar, Cassette Clinic, Lydia Pritchard, Vaultdwellers, 12 year-old Lewis Branch, The Bravados, Ben Cooper, 2AM Blue, Mike Carroll, 14Ten, HyndyJ8 MC Master, Samantha Hoare, Young at Heart and The Three Horseshoes.

Just like at a ‘real’ music festival, there were queues for the toilets but that was a minor inconvenience which will no doubt be rectified should the event be repeated next year! Such was the unexpected popularity of the event that the beer tent ran out of beer but a quick trot back to the Cross Keys by Landlord Pete and his staff, soon saw the bar replenished, albeit with canned lager and cider, which by that stage of the afternoon, most punters were mellow enough to tolerate – or moved to make a trip to the local garage in Park Street!(Don’t tell securty)

After their sterling efforts, Michele Pether, Steve Gunn, Cassie Purnell and the organising team were, understandably too knackered to talk to the likes of the press about how it went for them, but no doubt when all the litter bins have been emptied, the stages dismantled and Elms Park returned to its peaceful, green and pristine self, more local people will be aware of this wonderful but under-used oasis in their town, and Thame will never be the same again. Bring it on!

PHOTOS: For a flavour of the day,visit LINK

All pictures copyright of https://www.thame.net

ACTVE parents are being encouraged to think about getting their children to be more fit and healthy by taking part in the forthcoming Florrie?s Scootathlon event ? a scooter, cycle and run race challenge event for kids aged 4-11, raising money for the Florrie?s Children?s Team, which gives care and support to local children affected by life-limiting illness in their own home.

ALLF (Always Look & Listen First), event and Cycle Aylesbury mascot, is currently limbering up for a piece of the action and will be looking forward to greeting all the children taking part on the day, in this special event being held at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Guttmann Road, on Sunday May 8th, 10.00am-3.00pm.

Florrie?s Scootathlon is the first event of its kind for the Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity (FNHC), which helps provide over

LINK to see number of votes each candidate polled http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/ccm/support/Main.jsp?MODULE=ElectionResultsWard&NAME=Thame%20South

HERE is the latest Thame neighbourhood update from Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) Thorne and PCSO Jackson.

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.

ASB Info:
The most common way we can deal with incidents of anti-social behaviour (ASB) is by issuing ASB warning letters, acceptable behaviour contracts (ABC?s), anti-social behaviour orders (ASBO?s), Section 27 orders ? direction to leave locality, and Section 59 orders – contracts issued for using a vehicle in an anti-social manner.

During April, two ASB warning letters have been issued to underage drinkers. The alcohol was confiscated by PCSO Jackson.

One Section 59 has been issued but no Section 27?s.

Yet again, we would like to remind all members of the public that the partly demolished Memec building situated on Jane Moreby Road is private property. Therefore any entry to the premises is classed as trespassing. Offenders will be dealt with accordingly. This is also a huge health and safety risk, due to it being partly pulled down.

Over the Easter period, with the sunny weather, the amount of litter and broken glass in Southern Road and in other communal areas around the town has increased. This is not only an offence, but it creates problems for others i.e. local football teams, who cannot play safely on a pitch containing bits of broken glass.

We have received reports of possible drug related offences at Priest End. This is an area which we include on our patrols and will continue to do so moving forward into the summer months.

Priorities:
Our priority for Thame is ASB. As stated above, we conduct high visibility patrols in and around the town, engaging with members of the public and listening to local people?s community concerns/issues. Where problems are brought to our attention, we conduct home visits with parents present, issue warning letters and work with offenders to encourage them to move forward.

Offenders brought to justice:
In April, 15 offenders have been brought to justice.
1 Criminal Damage, 1 Handling Stolen Goods, 1 Actual Bodily Harm, 2 Drug Possession (Cannabis), 5 Shoplifting Offences, 2 Making off without Payment, 1 Drug Supply, 1 False Accounting and 1 Theft in a Dwelling.

Partnership Activity:
We continue to work with our partners, ensuring that we liaise on a regular basis with the schools on our sector, who we have good rapports with. We conduct monthly site inspections with SOHA, South Vale Housing and Sovereign Housing, tackling low level neighbourhood disputes. We engage regularly with the local Town Council, picking up any local concerns people raise and events which are taking place over coming months.

Pubwatch meetings continue to be held every two months and Country Watch meetings are held quarterly.

Non Partnership Activity:
PCSO Jackson attended a bike exchange at Barley Hill School on 2 April, where approx. 50 bikes were coded.

Due to us providing a visible presence for the majority of our shifts, we engage with our local community daily, allowing us to talk with people and deal with any issues they have.

PCSO Jackson provided a presence in the town centre for the funeral procession of former Cllr Len Webb.

Planned Activity:
We have participated in the following operations during April:
? Maginot – this operation continues to run, tackling travelling criminals entering and leaving our area.
? Magpie – this operation involves checking parked vehicles in local car parks for valuables left on display.
? Mangrove – this is running initially for eight weeks as a result of fuel thefts from heavy goods vehicles over recent weeks in our local area. This operation involves us carrying out static patrols in key areas at key times in marked vehicles.

PCSO Jackson has arranged to deliver a talk to the local Cubs on 3 May.

Good News Stories:
Due to our local knowledge of our area, we were able to identify two offenders for a shoplifting incident, enabling the police officers to deal appropriately.

Community Messaging:
This free service provides information to subscribers about crime and police activity in their area via phone or email. It also includes information on what we and our partner services are doing to bring offenders to justice or combat anti-social behaviour, and information on opportunities for local residents to raise concerns with their local policing teams.
More information can be obtained via our website, and you can sign up here too:

http://www.tvpcommunitymessaging.org/rmwebportal/startup.aspx.

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 go to: http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/yournh/yournh-about-nh-pol/yournh-tvp-pol-area-n235-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:-

? Thursday 19 May 2011, 1pm-3pm, Thame Town Hall with PCSO Jackson

These meetings are an ideal opportunity for local residents to speak to their local police officers and PCSO?s about any local issues, no appointment is necessary just turn up and speak to your local officers. Further meetings will be publicised locally and on the force website at: LINK

If you want any advice or would like to contact the neighbourhood team you can call us on the police non emergency number 0845 8 505505 or email ThameNHPT@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk. Please note this email address cannot be used to contact Thames Valley Police to report crimes or for any urgent matters. Alternatively you can visit the force website at www.thamesvalley.police.uk to view information on your neighbourhood.

THAME NORTH – Mike Welply, Conservative and David Bretherton, Liberal Democrats.

THAME SOUTH – David Dodds, Conservative and Ann Midwinter, Independent.

For full details of the results for Thame, including number of votes cast for each candidate, go to:

http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/ccm/support/Main.jsp?MODULE=ElectionResultsWardList

THE results for Thame North are known as an election was unnecessary as the number of candidates standing did not exceed the number of seats to be contested. The councillors elected are therefore the following:

Donald George Butler – Conservative
Nigel Guy Champken-Woods – Conservative
Nichola Mary Dixon – Conservative
Andy Gunn – Labour (newly elected)
Mary Honora Stiles – Labour (newly elected)
David William Bretherton Liberal Democrats
Marius Sorin Ciortan – Liberal Democrats (newly elected)
Jeannette Ann Matelot Green – Liberal Democrats

THE results for Thame South are expectd soon – watch this space!

THE Conservatives continue to hold South Oxfordshire Disitrict Council after today’s election. The results are:

Conservatives 33 (was 35), 4 Lib Dem (7), 4 Lab (1), 5 independent (2), 2 Henley Res (1).