Category: Thame news

THAME’S Deputy Mayor, Jeannette Matelot Green, herself half French, visited the French market in Thame this weekend – and bumped into another French resident, Lionel Chan hau theng, a waiter at The Thatch restaurant in Thame.

Obviously for them the market was a chance to buy some familiar cheeses, crepes and patisserie to remind them of home.

For the English, an opportunity perhaps to rekindle memories of holidays in France or trips to Thame’s twin town of Montesson, near Paris.

A group of 59 people from Montesson will be staying for the weekend May 1 – 3, courtesy of Thame and District Twinning Association, of which Jeannette Matelot Green is the Chair.

The group still has to find accommodation for one family of four and two single ladies, so if anyone can help out they can contact Jeannette via the town hall.

Photo: Deputy Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green, ‘Chan’ hu Theng from The Thatch, and Monsieur Dominique Rioult of Salaison, a stall selling authentic French sausage and other preserved meats.

THAME is to get its own Children’s Centre, to support carers and families with young children.
From this month, PEEP (Peers Early Education Partnership) will be running the centre from various venues around the town, but hopes to have a permanent building in around 18 months time, possibly in the vacinity of a local primary school where discussions are on-going.

PEEPS is working with Oxfordshire County Council to delivery 17 new children’s centres across the county to support early learning, particularly of literacy and numeracy. The organisation will be working closely with health and education teams to inform parents, health visitors and new parents about the scheme which is linked to the Governments “Every child matters” initiative, a national framework to support the “joining up” of children?s services – education, culture, health, social care, and justice.

The funding will be used initially for weekly drop-in sessions in Thame. Chinnor already has its own Children’s Centre, based in Mill Lane.

News of the new Thame Children’s Centre came at last Friday’s annual Thame Community Groups lunch at the town hall, Chaired by Beatrice Dobie.

A THAME IT worker tied metal weights around his waist before throwing himself into the River Thames, an inquest heard today (02/04/09).

Keith Manger, who lived in Cavalier Road, in Thame, was apparently worried about a follow up meeting with his bosses following an appraisal when he failed to turn up for work, despite having been reassured that he had nothing to worry about.

The inquest heard how the 42-year-old father of two had emailed his wife and children claiming he was “world weary” and “tired of being a burden,” just moments before he was believed to have jumped from a bridge into the river Thames at Windsor.

The alarm was raised when Mr Manger sent emails to his wife and daughters after he failed to attend a meeting in Hemel Hempstead, on January 14.

After picking up a signal from his Blackberry, police found Mr Manger’s abandoned Ford Focus car in Windsor, near the spot where his body was discovered with a metal chain around the waist attached to a piece of lead flashing.

A post mortem examination found the cause of death was drowning.

Berkshire Coroner, Peter Bedford, was told that Mr Manger had a history of depression and had taken an overdose in 1986 and in 2000, and had spent a spell in a clinic after being pulled from the River Thames by police.

He concluded that Mr Manger took his own life whilst depressed.

A THAME man is to be tried following a fight in Thame High Street, back in December, last year.

Robert Newitt, 22, of Van Diemans Road, Thame, pleaded Not Guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, at Oxford Crown Court on March 23.

He was bailed to attend court on July 20, for trial.

During the fight, outside Thame Tandoori, a 31 year-old received a serious arm injury.

A Team GB Olympic Swimmer has become Patron of Thame’s new Swimming Club (TSC).

Simon Burnett, who grew up locally and went to Lord Williams’s school in Thame, visited Thame Swimming Club to meet the swimmers, coaching staff and committee members.

As the club’s new Patron, when he is in the UK, and training schedule permitting, Simon will visit TSC to assist the club in developing the children to their full potential.

Simon said: “I am very keen to be involved in the club; its great that there is a new local focus for swimmers in Thame.”

Simon’s presence caused great excitement as he signed autographs and had photos taken with the young members. He was also present when the new Club Captains, George Finch and Olivia Hawkes and Vice Captains, Jamie Goetz and Georgia Carhill, were voted in by the club swimmers.

As well as giving his time, Simon donated some Team GB kit from the Beijing Olympics which will be auctioned at the TSC launch party on April 18.

Simon is returning to the USA to train and prepare for the forthcoming World Championships later in 2009 and the swimmers, coaches and committee wished him every success and spoke of looking forward to meeting him again at TSC.

For more information on Thame Swimming Club, contact:

Mobile 07722 219361
email: communications@thameswimmingclub.co.uk
Web: www.thameswimmingclub.co.uk

Photo: Simon Burnett with club captains and vice captains

OXFORDSHIRE RESIDENTS with bus passes are being reassured that their free local travel will continue as normal.

Recent media coverage has suggested bus pass holders will no longer be able to travel on park and ride services free of charge. This is not the case in South Oxfordshire, where bus pass holders can still travel free on local journeys, including Thornhill park and ride.

The media coverage came in the light of an announcement from the Department of Transport, changing some of the rules covering which journeys would be eligible for free travel. This mainly covered park and ride schemes. However, although there may be changes in other areas of the country, South Oxfordshire is not affected.

Council leader, Ann Ducker, said: “Although nationally many areas are looking at introducing restrictions on the routes people can travel as part of the bus pass scheme, I am glad to be able to reassure our residents that will not be the case in South Oxfordshire, and in particular, they can still take advantage of free park and ride from Thornhill.

“We appreciate that the bus pass scheme offers many people a vital lifeline and are committed to supporting these bus users by providing free travel for the over 60s and disabled.”

A DOORSTEP conman who took payment of

THAME In Bloom, a local gardening volunteer group, needs help.

The organisation, which has been running for several years in the town, says that it needs some ‘new blood’ particularly younger volunteers who enjoy getting out in the fresh air to help keep Thame looking beautiful by planting daffodils along some of the main streets and flower beds around the town.

If you would like to find out more about this very worthwhile and fun activity, contact Chairman, David Laver, via the town hall.

THE RSPCA has launched an investigation after a second cat, belonging to a Chinnor woman, was wounded by air-rifle pellets.

Lisa Hawes’ 16-month-old black cat, Bobbi was shot in the back leg close to their home on either June 13 or 14, 2009.

Bobbi’s sister Roxy was shot in the leg near their home on New Year’s Eve and both cats had to be operated on.

Mrs Hawes said: “Someone may be trying to keep the cats away from their gardens, but there are better ways of doing this and they should realise that they are causing a great deal of pain and distress.”

RSPCA inspector, Martin Rivett, added: “We have seen cats suffer extremely serious injury and even death after being shot by air weapons and this needs to stop now.”

He added that anyone found guilty of causing unnecessary animal suffering could face a six-month prison sentence and be fined up to

THE RSPCA has launched an investigation after a second cat, belonging to a Chinnor woman, was wounded by air-rifle pellets.

Lisa Hawes’ 16-month-old black cat, Bobbi was shot in the back leg close to their home on either June 13 or 14, 2009.

Bobbi’s sister Roxy was shot in the leg near their home on New Year’s Eve and both cats had to be operated on.

Mrs Hawes said: “Someone may be trying to keep the cats away from their gardens, but there are better ways of doing this and they should realise that they are causing a great deal of pain and distress. I try and make sure they are in at night but if they’re not I laying in bed worrying about where they are and what is happening to them.
“I have lived in this house for 22 years and had other cats but nothing like this has ever happened round here before.”

RSPCA inspector, Martin Rivett, added: “We have seen cats suffer extremely serious injury and even death after being shot by air weapons and this needs to stop now.”

He added that anyone found guilty of causing unnecessary animal suffering could face a six-month prison sentence and be fined up to