Category: Thame news

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for information after a robbery at an estate agents in Wheatley on Friday (26/3).

At around 12.30pm, two men wearing masks entered the business in the High Street. One of the offenders entered the shop, which is also a building society, and stole cash from the till and searched some drawers, while the other man remained in the doorway.

The robbers made off in a red transit van which was later found at the Kassam football stadium. A quantity of cash was also recovered.

Det Insp Kev Elkins, who is leading the investigation, said: “This was a frightening incident for the staff and I would appeal for anyone with information to come forward.”

Anyone with information should contact Det Insp Elkins via the Thames Valley Police 24-hour enquiry line on 0845 8 505 505, or alternatively contact the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Two men aged 24 and 25 have been arrested on suspicion on robbery and have been bailed until 6 May.

Now that Spring is here, why not get out your camera and submit your photographs to be displayed in the Gallery in the iphone application, ithame – the first iphone application dedicated to promoting a single town, in the world!

ithame’s 1/52 project aims to display a new photograph of Thame every single week throughout the year, as a pictorial history of a year in the life of Thame.

Every photograph chosen will be acknowledged as the Copyright of the contributor.

PHOTO: Would the reader who sent this fine picture of St Mary’s Church, Thame, during the recent snowy weather, please contact: editor@thame.net

THAME’s firefighters were out in force on Saturday (27/03) washing cars in the Upper High Street, to raise money for the Fire Fighters Charity.

They raised over

ELLIE-Mai Hill, aged 12, who went missing from her home address in Oxford on Wednesday (24/3/10) has been found safe and well.

Ellie-Mai was found at an address in St Albans late last night and returned to her home address in Pegasus Road, Blackbird Leys in the early hours of this morning (27/3).

Thames Valley Police would like to thank the public and press for their assistance.

THE police are warning owners of Land Rover Defenders to be extra vigilant as there have been five stolen in the South Oxfordshire area and three in the Vale area since the beginning of this year.

These vehicles do not normally have any standard immobilisers or alarms fitted, or if they do, they tend to be poorly equipped to prevent the theft of the vehicle. The vehicles are being stolen overnight and often from rural locations. If you see anything suspicious, please call the police on 08458 505 505 or 999 for a crime in progress.

Thames Valley Police are writing to all Land Rover owners to advise them of this problem and to offer some crime prevention advice. If anyone wants more information please contact your Crime Reduction Advisor on 08458 505 505.

WITH the clocks going forward one hour this weekend, 27/03/10, Oxfordshire County Council?s Fire and Rescue Service is reminding people of the need to regularly maintain their smoke alarms.

Don?t forget clocks spring forward by one hour this weekend, officially the start of British Summer Time. So set your clocks forward by one hour on Sunday 28 March 2010.

The change officially for the Start of British Summer Time takes place at 01.00 Greenwich Mean Time, so set your clocks forward before going out on Saturday night to avoid getting up late in the morning!

We may be losing an hour but with extra daylight in the evenings and a long summer ahead, there?s plenty to look forward to after the clocks change.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service attended 302 accidental house fires in 2009. 32 per cent of these did not have a smoke alarm fitted. Most of the injuries and destruction to property could have been easily avoided if smoke alarms had been regularly tested and therefore working.

Mike Bingham of Oxfordshire County Council?s Fire and Rescue Service said, ?We advise people to check their smoke alarms every six months and as the clocks change twice a year, we are encouraging people to make the link.

?As you change the clocks around your home, remember to check your smoke alarms too. It only takes a minute to check these small items, but it could save the lives of you and your loved ones.?

Peace of mind
Smoke alarms are inexpensive and available in DIY stores and at many supermarkets. They should be fitted on every level of your home in accordance with the manufacturer?s instructions provided.

For longer term protection and peace of mind, it is a good idea to fit 10-year smoke alarms.
Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue service offers free home fire risk checks to identify potential fire risks and advise what to do to reduce or prevent them. For more information, please contact the Community Fire Safety Team on 0800 325 999.

Councillor Judith Heathcoat, Oxfordshire County Council?s Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities said, ?We know that smoke alarms save lives, as they can give you and your family the necessary warning to get out in the early stages of a fire.

?We want to remind people to fit and maintain a working smoke alarm and buy themselves valuable time to get out, stay out and call 999.?

How Do I Look After My Smoke Alarm?

Once a week ? test the alarm by pressing the button.
Once a year ? change the battery (unless it’s a 10-year alarm).
Twice a year ? vacuum and wipe the smoke alarm casing to ensure dust isn?t blocking the sensor chamber.
Never – remove the battery to use it for other purposes.
365 Alive
Please visit Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service’s 365alive campaign at www.365alive.co.uk for safety information and pledge to:

– check your smoke alarm once a week
– wear a seat belt in a moving vehicle
– have a fire escape plan

A CAT found wandering in Thame almost two weeks ago, has been claimed by his owner, after a friend saw the cat’s picture on ThameNews.Net. But how Smokey, as we now know he is called, got from Long Crendon to Thame, around three miles away, remains a mystery. One possibility is that he climbed into a vehicle without the driver noticing and jump out in Thame.

Smokey’s owner, Kate Major, went along to Thame Vets, Sprintz and Nash on Monday to see if the cat, found in coombe Hill Crescent, Thame, by PCSO Diane Jackson, was indeed her missing Smokey.

Kate told Thamenews.net that 11 month-old Smokey seems a bit withdrawn at the moment, not interested in playing with his brother or wanting to be fussed, but she hopes he will soon settle down after his adventure.

A YOUNG Thame man is to be rewarded for his work with the local Neighbourhood Action group, by the High Sherrif of Oxfordshire.

These annual awards are presented to local people who have made an exceptional contribution to life in Oxfordshire, and whose actions go largely unrecognised.
This year’s focused on those who have helped young people in Oxfordshire or who have contributed to making our communities a safer place.

Among this year’s 14 winners was Alex Feuchtwanger who won is award for his involvement in the Neighbourhood Action group, and for setting up the Definition of Faith youth group in Thame.

Alex told ThameNews.Net: “”It was a great privilege to recieve the award and I really enjoyed hearing about other people from around Oxfordshire and all the amazing things they are doing. I just want to say a huge thank you to all the people I’ve worked with, since everything I have done has been part of a team effort!”

The event wwas hosted by Richard Dick, the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire and Nigel Strick, Head of Community Safety and Trading Standards for Oxfordshire County Council.

Nigel Strick commented: “I had the privilege to read the nomination forms for this year?s awards and they made humbling reading.

“It is a real honour to be involved in these awards and hear the stories of the exceptional individuals that work, often voluntarily, to make our county a safer, happier place to live.”

Members of the award winners? families joined them at the ceremony, as well as the people who nominated them. Guests also include the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Tim Stevenson; His Honour Judge Julian Hall; John Parry, Oxfordshire County Council?s Chief Fire Officer and Director of Community Safety and representatives of Thames Valley Police.

This is not the first award Alex has won. Two years ago he was presented with a St John Ambulance County Cadet of the Year award by HRH The Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace.

PLANNING permission for a new development, including new houses and apartments in Thame, has been approved.

The proposed development is at 17, Thame Park Road, on the old Memec site, next to Limmings Lane, and will include office accommodation and 40 dwellings and apartments together with accesses, parking (below and above ground), landscaping and open space.

The Developer will be responsible for providing the following: