Category: Thame news

The Thame Neighbourhood Policing Team carried out a drugs warrant at a property in Tiddington, near Thame, last Wednesday (16/9/09).

The warrant was carried out at 8am at an address in Fernhill Close.

Five people were arrested at the property on suspicion with intent to supply drugs. They have been released on police bail until December 03.

Insp Martin Ford, leading the investigation, said: “We seized a significant amount of drugs including cannabis plants and cannabis resin and a substantial amount of cash under the proceeds of crime act.
“These warrants were all carried out under the Misuse of Drugs Act and were based on intelligence we received from the community.
“Drugs are a huge priority for us and we will continue to crack down on those supplying and trading in them in the area.”

Anyone with any information about this incident and of drug dealing in the Thame area, should contact PC Goodenough on 0845 8 505 505 or, if you don?t want to talk to police or give your name, call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

The five people arrested were:
the five people arrested are listed below:
a 38-year-old woman
a 46-year-old man
a 17-year-old girl
a 19-year-old man
a 20-year-old man

THE highlights of this year?s annual exchange visit to Thame?s twin town near Paris, included vanishing bones, the return of a stolen heart, shark for dinner and a parking ticket – all just part of the experiencing of another culture that enriches the amicable and treasured relationship that has grown between Thame and Montesson over the past eight years.

A WARM WELCOME

A group of 38 Thamensians, including two families with young children going for the first time, left Thame early on Friday morning and headed for the Channel tunnel crossing to France, to spend the weekend with host families in Montesson. Leaving behind the chilly wind of England, the visitors arrived to find Autumn sunshine and a warm welcome from the Mayor of Montesson, Jean Francois Bel, and the President of the Montesson Twinning Committee, Sylvie Bruzet, before going off with their respective hosts for dinner and hopefully, a good night?s sleep in preparation for the weekend?s programme of activities ? and surprises.

SHARK FOR DINNER AND ? WHERE HAVE ALL THE BONES GONE?

Dinner, depending on the host, varied from traditional French cuisine, Vietnamese food and in one case, shark, selected from the surprising range of choices on offer from Montesson?s latest new shop, a proper Fishmonger!

Saturday, September 19, began with a short coach trip, in the capable hands of Motts Coaches? driver, Trevor, to one of the less sophisticated but vibrant Parisian suburbs, St Denis, and the famous Basilique Saint Denis, the burial place of the kings, queens and nobles of the various ruling dynasties of France, up to the last, the Bourbons. (ED. Why do they have a biscuit named after them? Answers on a postcard please, though an email would suffice)

Surprisingly however, most of the tombs are in fact empty these days, having been broken into and their contents taken away or thrown into a communal pit of quick lime and buried in a near-by cemetery by French revolutionaries in 1793. The remains of a few of the illustrious victims have been found elsewhere since and reinstated in their rightful burial places. These include the much maligned and unfortunate Queen of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, whose meagre remains, with those of her husband, were found, returned to the crypt of St Denis and re-consecrated in 1815.

The heart of the young Louise XVII, stolen by the doctor who carried out his autopsy and then lost for hundreds of years, turned up recently and after DNA testing confirmed it as 99% certain of being authentic, is now on display in a glass bottle in the crypt at St Denis.

IS IT TRUE THAT ONCE YOU?VE SEEN ONE TOMB??..?

from the surprising variety of the poses of the sculptured persons on the many tombs at the Basilique St Denis, it was clear to see that there?s a lot of fascinating symbolism portrayed there about the inhabitant; whether their feet rested on lions (monarchs), on a plain slab representing the ground or perhaps resting on dogs, representing faithfulness. Even what they hold in their hands (a staff, a sword) and what the other hand is doing, i.e. clasping their royal robes for instance, was intended to illustrate the ranking and perhaps even something of the nature of the once living body within.

PINTS, POUNDS, POINTY BALLS AND ROCKMUSIC

After a very welcome lunch in a near-by restaurant, the group strolled along an historic route along streets that certainly seemed to have seen better days, to the very modern Stade de France, the only stadium in the world to have hosted both a Football World Cup final and a Rugby World Cup final. The history of the area of St Denis was engraved on standing slabs along the way, each one with a perspex cut out section containing a relevant artifact, such as a medieveal shoe, or an historic letter. From one of these came the surprising discovery that the French used pints as a measure of liquid, long before they changed to litres, and learned from a guests later that they still do sometimes ? and pounds and half pounds!

As well as being able to be reconfigured to host track and field events, the Stade de France has held many of the world?s top rock bands who have played to the 80,000 capacity crowds here. These include U2 and The Rolling Stones and autographed guitars belonging to many rock legends are on display in the exhibition hall of the stadium.

A NASTY SURPRISE

On the group?s arrival back at the coach, which had been parked in all good faith in an apparent parking place alloted for coaches in St Denis, it was discovered that the an over-enthusiastic traffic gendarme or traffic warden had slapped a parking ticket on the windscreen. However, the intrepid and not-to-be-triffled-with President of Montesson Twinning, had already been in touch with the authorities on her mobile phone and told them in no uncertain terms that her guests from England had been unfairly treated and sorted the matter out.

That evening, after a Reception for the traditional eating of the p

THIS year, 2009, was the last one-day Oxfordshire County and Thame Show, traditionally held on the third Thursday in September. From next year, the show will be a two-day affair, with the first day given over to agriculture and the second based mainly around family entertainment. (July 31 & August 01, 2010).

For today’s show the weather remained dry, though with a chilly edge to the wind, for the 20,000 or so visitors who strolled around the many trade stands, charity organisations and wide choice of food and drink outlets, and were entertained in two arenas throughout the day.

In the Food Hall, cookery writer, Sophie Grigson, met the Mayor of Thame, Cllr Jeannette Matelot Green. Sophie signed copies of her books at the Local Flavours stand, promoting the various food and drink festivals taking place throughout the month, including the Thame Food Festival next Saturday, September 26.

Stars of the show were the stunningly disciplined and awe-inspiring members of the band of the Gurkha Regiment, with the various breeds of dogs being put through their paces earlier in the day, drawing a lot of attention too.

The show’s main raison d’etre is of course, the livestock and the horse events, which always draw crowds from both the country sports fraternity and admiring townspeople.

The ever popular Domestic classes once again attracted fearce but friendly rivalry among the fruit, vegetable and flower growers, knittters, cooks, pickle makers, photographers and handicraft competitors.

THE DOMESTIC CLASSES TROPHY WINNERS WERE:-

Thame Show Trophy – Veg – Best exhibit in Classes 104
Mrs Victoria Martin

National Veg Society Silver Medal & Merit Ribbon – Best single veg exhibit in show – Classes 5-28 –
J.W. Styles

Hedley Purser Perpetual Challenge Trophy – Most points in Veg open classes – J.W. Styles

Wyevale Trophy – Best Collection of Veg – Class 30
J.W. Styles

Thame Show Trophy – Fruit – Best exhibit in Fruit section – Classes 32-35 – Mr D G Elkins

Thame Show Challenge Cup with Oxfordshire & Thame Show Certificate – Best Dahlias in Classes FO50 to FO52 – Mr Kevin Bennetts

Steradent Award Poignard – Most points in Flower Section – Classes FO39-FO69- C Cypher

Thame Show Perpetual Challenge Trophy – Cookery – Most points scored by an exhibitor in Cookery Section Clases 67-76 – Mrs Beverly Reilly

Thame Show Diploma – Cookery – Best exhibit in cookery Section – Mrs Sarah Ayres

Thame Show Diploma – Preserves – Best exhibit in Preserves Section – Mrs Ellen Rixon

Wenman Perpetual Trophy – wine – Best sweet wine –
Mr William Jeffery

Thame Show Diploma – Wine – Best exhibit in wines section – Richard & Meg Boddy

Wright Perpetual Trophy – Wine – Best dry wine –
Richard & Meg Boddy

Thame Show Diploma – Handicrafts – Best exhibit in Handicrafts Section – Family & friends
Ayres/Bretherton/Hutson

Thame Show Trophy for Floral Arrangement – Best exhibit in classes 111-116 – Mrs Pat Collinson

More results will be published shortly on the Thame Show website: http://www.thameshow.co.uk/index.php

LOTS MORE PICTURES FROM THAME SHOW 2009 ON flickr

Feel free to comment on the pictures. (Click on the ones you like to see them BIG!

LOCAL doctors who successfully fought and won a review of new arrangements for medical cover at Thame hospital, say that the old arrangements should be reinstated “forthwith”.

The review followed concerns raised by the doctors, members of the public and the Buckinghamshire County Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, particularly about the number of hours for patient care in the new contract arrangements, and the links with local GP practices.

Ed Macalister-Smith, Chief Executive of Buckinghamshire Primary Care Trust will Chair the review, which will include a member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and medical representation.

In a statement today, Bucks PCT said that during the review period, which will start immediately, the new contract will continue to be implemented – a contract that allows for only four hours a week of medical cover at the hospital.

PROMISE OF MORE HOURS

However, a spokesperson for Bucks PCT later told ThameNews.Net that the new contractor, The Practice plc, have assured them that the four hours is “only a base line” and that they will “provide the number of hours required by patients in the hospital” during the review period.

CONTRACT IS “TAINTED” SAY DOCTORS

The Thame doctors however continue to question the legitimacy of the temporary arrangement because they say the new contract is “tainted” since it was agreed without the lawfully required public consultation.

Doctor Duncan Keeley said: “This statement fails to acknowledge the unanimous vote that a significant reduction in service, necessitating public consultation, had taken place, and re-stating the position of all the practices referring patients to Thame Hospital, that the temporary contract with Rycote and Wellington House practices should be reinstated forthwith.

“We do not think that preserving the new contract for any period is a practical way forward. In the events which have happened, the new contract is tainted by the irregularity in failing to take the necessary legal steps antecedent to its award.

FLAWED PROCEDURE

“For this reason we have legal, moral and administrative concerns regarding the continuation of a contract in existence only because of a flawed procedure. If a temporary arrangement is required, then it ought to revert to the previous arrangment for medical cover from local practices.”

CALL TO REOPEN CLOSED BEDS AT THAME

The local doctors are suggesting a return to the temporary arrangements THEY had to provide medical cover, from October 1, and for the four closed beds to be reopend at Thame hospital while the review is underway.

Richard Mills, Director of Strategy for the PCT, said: “Our community hospitals are an invaluable part of our healthcare system and greatly valued by local people. We want to build on their role in the community, not reduce it. There are clearly some concerns about the new arrangements. We have listened to those concerns, and the review will be an opportunity to look at how we should move forward with all of our partners in the community.”

The following message has been received from Sydenham Parish Council:
“Please be aware that a number of burglary/distraction incidents have been noted in and around the village over recent weeks, the latest being on Friday close to the Crown pub. In this instance, in order to catch those responsible we are advised to call the police on 999, they are just as eager to catch them as we are.

This is not a hoax………………..Please be aware, lock your doors, sheds, garages, cars and be alert……

Report anything suspicious.”

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save changes to medical cover at Thame hospital, have won an important victory.

The campaign by the Leagues of Friends and local GPs from the community hospitals in Thame, Buckingham and Marlow won the day on Friday, (11/09/09) when the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Buckinghamshire County Council ruled unanimously that the changes to medical cover proposed by the Primary Care Trusts were: “a significant change in service,” which must be subjected to public consultation first.

ANGRY PROTEST

Twenty campaigners from the League of Friends of Thame Community Hospital organised a bus to take them to the committee meeting in Wycombe where they were joined by angry protesters and GPs from Buckingham and Marlow community hospitals.

The meeting was addressed by Mr Richard Mills from the PCT defending the changes, and by Dr Duncan Keeley from the Rycote Practice, Thame, Sarah Taylor from the League of Friends of Thame Hospital and members of the Leagues of Friends of Buckingham and Marlow hospitals.

REDUCED SERVICE FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE

Dr Keeley spoke on behalf of the doctors of all the three hospitals. He called on the committee to reject the PCTs proposed changes to medical cover for the hospitals, arguing that they represented a significant reduction in both the quality and quantity of services provided for elderly people.

A copy of the petition calling on the PCT to allow the local practices to provide medical care at Thame ? which now carries 3,300 signatures ? was presented to the Committee.

KEEP LOCAL DOCTORS RUNNING LOCAL HOSPITALS

After the meeting Dr Keeley said: “This vote is a resounding endorsement by the County Council of our campaign to keep local doctors running local hospitals. The Primary Care Trust should now return responsibility for medical cover at Thame Hospital to the Rycote and Wellington House practices. We are sure that the private company who have taken over at the hospital will respect the legal requirement for public consultation and agree to temporarily suspend their contract in respect of Thame Hospital while the necessary consultation takes place.”

RE-OPEN CLOSED BEDS

He added: “There need be no financial objection to this, since we have suggested ways in which any difference in cost to the PCT can be made up. We very much hope that our taking back the responsibility for medical care at the hospital will allow the PCT to re-open the four beds at the hospital which they have just closed, thus allowing Thame Hospital to play its full part in preventing unnecessary admissions to Stoke Mandeville and the John Radcliffe hospitals.

“We very much hope that the PCT will agree to this, but meanwhile we keep up the fight. We are still collecting signatures to our petition.”

Dr Richard Harrington and Dr Duncan Keeley will be attending a Board Meeting of the Primary Care Trust on September 29, to put their case again to the PCT.

A group is to be set up by the PCT and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to plan the way forward for medical cover for the community hospitals.

POINTS MADE BY GPS TO THE COMMITTEE

The resentation made by local general practices who wish to retain responsibility for medical over of their local community hospitals (Dr.Duncan Keeley, Dr Christopher North and Dr Jonathon Pryse, on behalf of practices in Thame, Marlow and Buckingham, made the following points:

1. The PCT is, by its changes in medical cover for the community hospitals substantially changing both the quality and the quantity of service to elderly patients provided by these hospitals.

2. There has been no public consultation about these changes. This ignores legal and Department of Health requirements and the principles for good commissioning set out in Lord Darzi?s NHS Next Stage Review.

3. Under new PCT arrangements with a large private company medical cover at the community hospitals is to be reduced from 30-40 hours per week to 4 hours per week in Thame, from 20 hours per week to 5 hours per week in Buckingham, and from 12 to 4 hours per week in Marlow.

4. The PCT Chief Executive, at a recent board meeting of the PCT, was unable to say where the company which has been given the contract is based. Our practices with large medical teams are situated right next to the hospitals that we have always taken pride in looking after.

5. These changes have been introduced without any medical professional advice and without any risk analysis being undertaken.

6. It is only because none of us could believe that the PCT could contemplate such drastic reductions in service that we have not come earlier to the Committee with our concerns.

7. The PCT has reduced the intended budget for medical cover for the Community hospitals from

An 18-year-old woman whose passenger was killed in a fatal road crash, has pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed limit of alcohol.

The plea is in relation to a collision on the A34 in Oxford on April 07, this year, in which school girl, Grace Hadman was killed and her friend, Joe Robinson from Thame, was seriously injured.

Gabriella Edmondson, from Beacon Hill in Penn, High Wycombe has been disqualified from driving and released on bail until October 09, 2009, when she will be sentenced.

Sgt Nick Perks, who led the investigation, said: “This investigation highlights the dangers of drinking and then driving and the potentially horrific consequences.”

PHOTO: Joe Robinson, who remained in a coma for three weeks with serious head injuries after the crash that killed his school friend, Grace Hadman.

MESSAGE RECEIVED TODAY – A telephone phone scam, threatening to cut off telephone lines unless an “unpaid” BT phone bill is paid, is currently doing the rounds.

Here is a message received from a ThameNews.Net visitor today: 12/09/09

I received a call from a ‘representative’ of BT, informing me that he was disconnecting me because of an unpaid bill. He demanded payment immediately of

THE Climate Rush road show arrived in Thame this morning, having plotted its way from Haddenhan where it spent the night on the green, in front of Haddenham Church and at near by Manor Farm.

Climate change activists, some walking, some riding bicycles, were lead by two horses and carts along the A418 between Haddenham and Thame, for a brief visit, to the astonishment of Thame shoppers.

The procession then went on its way to Oxford, holding up the traffic between Thame and the Shabbington turn, but after having made its point, pulled to one side to allow the build up of vehicles to pass on by.

There is however, a serious message behind the Climate Rush
tour of the South East of England; to spread the word about climate change and encourage more people to campaign for change in the lead up to the Copenhagen talks, and to get people involved in campaigning to reduce the harmful emissions effecting climate change.

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a burglary at a house in Chinnor, where three shotguns were stolen.

Between 8.15am and 4.30pm on Tuesday (8/9/09), thieves broke into the house in Hill Top Lane and removed a gun safe containing the three guns, as well as another safe which contained a substantial amount of cash.

The guns were a Lanber 124 over and under shotgun worth