Category: Thame news

TODAY, the wife of a man killed in a crash on the M40 last weekend (12/07), gave an emotional appeal for witnesses to the crash, from which the occupants of a white van involved, ran off before the emergency services arrived on the scene.
Leah Shears, the widow of the Ross Shears, said: “I would like to thank the motorists who stopped to help, especially the two off duty fire-fighters who did their best and administered first aid at the crash site.
“Also, the ambulance, fire service and especially the air ambulance personnel, all of whom fought to release Ross from the wreckage and save his life as I watched on helplessly.
“Tragically they were not successful and what was a lovely day ended in the death of my 28-year-old husband. Ross? mother remains in hospital with serious injuries.
“We had been married two and a half years and Ross? death has left a large void in our family.
“I appeal to anyone who witnessed this accident or have any information to please come forward and contact the police.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Thames Valley Police on 0845 8 505 505.

Incident details

At 5.30pm on Saturday (12/7), a blue Ford Fiesta and white, long wheel base, high top Ford Transit van, registration KN03 YRR, collided between junctions seven to six, between Milton Common and Lewknor. Both vehicles left the carriageway went down the embankment and into a field.

The Fiesta overturned, trapping the three people inside. A 63-year-old male driver, and a female passenger, aged 65, were both airlifted to the John Radcliffe Hospital. The man was released on Sunday while the woman remains in hospital with serious, but not life-threatening injuries.

Another passenger in the Ford Fiesta, a 29-year-old man from Crowborough, East Sussex, was also taken to hospital but pronounced dead at hospital.

The occupant or occupants of the van left the scene of the collision before emergency services arrived.

Insp Mary Chapman, from Bicester Roads Policing department, said: ?I am appealing for anyone to come forward who was driving along the M40 early Saturday evening and possibly witnessed the collision. Did you see it take place or perhaps events leading up to it? Your information could prove vital to our enquiries.?

Anyone who witnessed the collision or has any information can contact Insp Chapman or Sgt Jack Hawkins via the Thames Valley Police 24-hour non-emergency number, 0845 8 505 505.

If you do not want to talk to the police, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Two people were arrested near to the collision scene on Saturday (12/7).

A 24-year-old man, of no fixed address, who was arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving, drink driving, fail to stop, driving whilst disqualified and possession of Class A drugs, has been released on bail pending further investigation.

A 25-year-old woman, from Oxford, who was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, failing to stop and theft is currently in police custody.

ACCORDING to the Government?s proposed changes to the South East Plan published in Draft today (Thursday), Oxfordshire is set to get a substantial share of increased rates of housing development across the board for the South East region.
Overall, the new proposed targets mean that the County will get a minimum of 55,200 additional dwellings by 2026 (up from 47,200 allocated in the draft South East Plan), an annual average of 2,760 dwellings each year.

The increase, it seems, will be concentrated on Central Oxfordshire with its share going up by almost 20%, from 34,000 to 40,860. A ?selective review? of Oxford?s Green Belt will see an urban extension south of Grenoble Road of at least 4,000 houses.

The CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England)Oxfordshire, said today:
“Such high levels of housing development are not sustainable. The consequent pressures on the land, including the risk of losing large areas of valued countryside and Green Belt, would be intolerable.

“CPRE Oxfordshire recognises the need for new housing, and supports housing of the right kind in the right place. The alternative to an ever expanding Oxford is to share the growth with the other towns of Oxfordshire, such as Bicester and Didcot, as the County Council has sought to do. This would provide new housing (including affordable homes) and sustain the local economy, while protecting Oxfordshire?s countryside and Green Belt. CPRE Oxfordshire strongly opposes the recently floated Weston Otmoor eco-town for these reasons.

“CPRE Oxfordshire believes a review of the Oxford Green Belt is neither required, nor in the best interests of the City of Oxford and Oxfordshire as a whole. A recent CPRE poll indicates that 84% of people enthusiastically support the Green Belt.”

CPRE Oxfordshire Campaign Manager, Dr Helena Whall, said: “The Oxford Green Belt, now over fifty years old, plays a critical role in protecting the setting of the historic city of Oxford and creating a higher quality of life for those who live in the city and its surrounding villages. It protects the open character of the countryside on the edge of the city and stops sprawl, thereby encouraging urban regeneration. The Green Belt protects village communities from absorption into the city (this proposed extension threatens not only Sandford, but the Baldons, Garsington and even Horspath). It is a place where we can exercise, explore the countryside and enjoy much needed peace and quiet.”
She added: “Those determined to build on the Green Belt argue that developing small areas of the Green Belt is of no consequence ? they say who will notice the loss of a meagre 1%? But the cumulative effects would be devastating to the purpose of Green Belt policy.
“We note with some alarm that if the ?selective review? of the Green Belt proposed to provide an urban extension south of Grenoble Road cannot deliver a suitable solution, then the Government envisages that a ?wider review? will be required. The Government changes also require authorities to take account of the eco-town initiatives. For Oxford?s Green Belt this could simply open up a pandora?s box and lead to wholesale destruction of the Green Belt.”

Helena Whall concluded: “Oxfordshire’s Green Belt is proving tempting for developers, but it is too precious for us to squander. We need continuing strong commitment by Ministers to uphold existing Green Belt policy, and a determination to improve the quality of its greenness”.

The South East Plan is a replacement of Regional Planning Guidance 9 (RPG9 – the current Regional Spatial Strategy for the South East) to cover the period to 2026. It covers Kent, East and West Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

The future of the South East will be re-opened by the Proposed Changes, which are subject to 12-weeks of public consultation. The initial draft Plan was subject to consultation by the Regional Assembly in 2005 and then submitted to be examined by an independent Panel. The Plan remains a draft and contains all the main elements, including housing numbers distributed to all districts to 2026. The final Plan is expected to be approved in spring 2009. The suite of documents can be viewed on the Regional Assembly website at www.southeast-ra.gov.uk.

THAME town centre should be more festive this Christmas, and be less of a drain on energy costs.
Following a new tendering process that takes value for money into consideration, the town council is to pay around

SEVERAL local voluntary groups in Thame, including the Citizens Advice Bureau, are to receive grant awards from the town council.
The successful applicants are as follows:

Thame in Bloom

A police officer from Thame today received a special Commendation from the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police.
Det Sgt Anthony Collingwood was commended for the commitment and professionalism he displayed during the investigation into an attempted murder of a man who was shot twice at close range in High Wycombe in June 2005.

The motive for this serious assault related to the supply of illicit Class A drugs. The investigation, which was described as “lengthy, complex and arduous,” resulted in both defendants receiving life sentences.

Det Sgt Collingwood was more recently involved in the enquiry into the murder 92 year-old Thea Zoudy, whose burnt remains were found in a field near Thame.

THAME’S museum, which has been open for less than two years, has been hailed as a model for other museums.
Phil Williams, who is the Museum Trust’s Treasurer, presented the Musuem Trustees Annual Report to Thame Town Council’s Policy and Resources committee last night (15/07)and reported that Simon Townsend, the Chairman of the Oxfordshire Museum Council, had said that the museum was a “phenominal achievement and a model for other museums to follow.”

Phil also reported that amongst its recent aquisitions was the old Thame town hall clock and the Towersey Chest, and the museum now has a community room which can be used by local groups.

For the future the museum aims to purchase audio visual equipment and two audio posts so that visitors can listen to the growing collection of oral testimonies by Thame citizens.

One of its mains aims is that every primary school child in Thame would visit the museum which has recently been granted Charity status. Official museum accreditation is expected later in the summer.

“We should all be very proud of what we have achieved,” said Phil.

Photo: Detail from the Thame wallpainting room where the Museum Trust hopes to add an audio visual installation, using lights to highlight selective areas.

IT is understood that the current national crime trend of stealing metals will continue for the foreseeable future. Church’s, schools, building sites have all been targeted by thieves engaged in these crimes.
Also being stolen are catalytic converters from cars. The catalytic converter contains an insert of platinum which has a high scrap value. Most modern cars are fitted with catalytic converters so please take precautions when leaving your car unattended. If you have to leave your vehicle in the street, try to park in areas of good street lighting.

If you see any suspicious persons or vehicles, or have any information relating to this message, please call the Police on 08458 505 505 and say you are responding to a Ringmaster Message. Message ends.

THE actress, Elizabeth Spriggs, who lived in Thame until her recent death, was buried in St Mary’s churchyard this morning.
The service was attended by some of the most illustrious ‘in the business’, including Jeremy Irons, Robert Hardy, and Peter Vaughan, who all paid tribute to their friend and fellow actor. Family and friends included Elizabeth’s daughter, Wendy Spriggs and Jeremy Irons’ wife, Sinead Cusack who, Jeremy revealed, was first introduced to him by Elizabeth 30 years ago, James Ellis (Sgt Lynch in Z cars)and Lesley Sharpe (Clocking Off and Dr Who).

A lone piper played ‘Amazing Grace’ as he led Elizabeth’s coffin, adorned with masses of beautiful lillies, along the tree-lined path, through the rear door of the church to its resting place for the service, in front of the altar.

Following the opening prayer, led by the Rev Simon Baynes, and the singing of the first hymn, Morning has broken, Peter Vaughan stood up to pay the first of several moving, funning and poignant tributes to someone who was obviously very much loved as well as admired by all who rubbed shoulders with her.

Peter Vaughan (Harry Grout, in Porridge) described how Elizabeth could play anything “from Shakespeare to Harvey Moon, from Jacobean theatre to ‘Heartbeat!” whether it be for TV, the theatre or film, pointing out that she was also a supurb radio actress.

Having worked with her for over 30 years, Peter said: “Elizabeth didn’t just act characters, she inhabited them and became them!
“As a person she was warm and generous; she loved people and was completely without side or feelings of superiority. She treated everyone, including film crew as equals and she loved them all. But, if anyone failed to show total committment, Elizabeth was quick to let them know but in a most gracious way.
“She has enriched so many lives,” he concluded.

Actor, Robert Hardy (Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter and Siegfried Farnon in All Creatures Great and Small) spoke of his many acting partnerships with Elizabeth Spriggs, including their part in a drama about the raconteur, Fothergill who ran the Spread Eagle Hotel here in Thame – partnerships which often included, he said, a lot of “laughter, joy, kindness and fun.”

Robert Hardy ended his tribute with words from John Masefield’s poem:

Death opens unknown doors.
It is most grand to die.

The congregation then sang ‘Dance, dance wherever you may be’ which was followed by a tribute from Jeremy Irons. He revealed that, although he had never worked with Elizabeth Spriggs, she had castigated him as a young actor, saying, “You could be so good.”

“I realised,” he said, “that she didn’t want second best and cared enough to tell me straight out. As a result, “She is in bits of all of us, and in bits of me,” he added. “A lot of Elizabeth’s straight talking and passion is within me, because of her influence.”

Such eloquence as Jeremy Irons’ rendering of “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day…..But thy eternal summer shall not fade,” had rarely been heard in St Mary’s Church, Thame.

Alan Rickman, who played Severus Snape, in the Harry Potter films, was unable to be at the funeral but a tribute from him was read by David Fielder.

Alan Rickman spoke of the great influence on him of Elizabeth’s ‘Lady Gay Spanker’ during a school trip to see Shakespear.
“She knew where truth lurked,” he said, “and knew how to drag it into the sun.”
He described her great humanity both on stage and off it, and her “perceptive and twinkling eye.” concluding:

“God bless Elizabeth and all who sail with her. She was an inspiration to aspiration – the finest of Shakespear’s women.”

The Rev Baynes spoke of Elizabeth’s great love of creation, of animals, birds and gardens, recalling fondly how, just a few weeks ago she had visited the church’s Flower Festival.
She was, he said, obviously a person who ‘did you good,’ who made you happy and a wonderful friend.”

The final hymn, most fittingly therefore, was ‘Think of a world without any flowers..’

The final line, in an anonymous piece of prose at the end of the programme for this celebration of the life of Elizabeth Spriggs Manson, reads:

“You can remember her and only that she’s gone
Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn
turn your back
Or you can do what she’d want: smile, open your
eyes, love and go on.”

Observing the strength of the bond between the friends and family of Elizabeth Spriggs at this, their most vunerable, one felt sure that, because it is what their friend and loved-one would have wanted, they woud indeed:
‘smile, open their eyes, love and go on.’

THAME and District Day Centre held its annual garden party for about 60 members, their families, friends and helpers as well as trustees and staff.
Chinnor Silver Band entertained guests as it played in a marquee on the sunny lawns of Thame Community hospital where the Centre, a local charity, meets three days a week.

The principal guest was the mayor of Thame, Councillor, Don Butler.

The chairman of Trustees, Mrs Brenda Prosser, thanked the mayor for attending and paid tribute to the shops and businesses of Thame for their generous gifts of raffle prizes and donations. These helped clear more than

THAME’S Mayor, Don Butler, today helped launch the new, state-of-the-art air helicoptor for the Thames Valley and Chilterns Air Ambulance Trust.
Trustees, supporters and local dignitories met at the Oxfordshire Golf Club and watched the red and yellow liveried aircraft land in front of the club house to the click and flash of dozens of cameras.

Cllr Butler met Alan Sheppard, who has every reason to be grateful for the existance of the air ambulance.
Six weeks ago, Alan had his arm ripped off in an industrial accident at work and, because he was able to get to hospital so quickly, doctors were able to sew his elbow joint back on, though he lost the lower part of his arm and hand.

Amongst the crowd were representatives of ladies’ singing groups and other small local organisations who had raised money to help keep the air ambulance flying.

Recently, the authors of a book called ‘High Wycombe’s Contribution to Aviation,’ David Scott and Ian Simmons, donated all of their