Category: More News

A THAME group, Bread and Roses for Refugees – Thame, has  invited CalAid volunteer mother and her son to talk about their first-hand experiences, at The James Figg, Thame, on Monday, November 21, at 8pm.

Mel and Ben Gow will tell their stories of what life is really like at the forefront of the refugee crisis. Ben currently volunteers at a camp in Turkey with the charity ReVi Family and has first hand experience of the day-to-day challenges facing people living there. His mother, Mel volunteers for CalAid, an organisation that takes donations of food and clothing etc and distributes to camps in Calais, Greece and Turkey.

“We have previously had a collection for CalAid and Mel will be telling us where our donations went and what more we can do to help,” explained Helen Flitton of Bread and Roses for Refugees – Thame.

“The event is free of charge and donations to ReVi and CalAid are welcome. Mel and Ben will talk for about 40 minutes and do a Q&A, and all are welcome to stay for a drink afterwards!”

CHRIS Hurdman, a popular Market Trader at Thame’s Tuesday market, has been shortlisted by the government as one of the top three market champions in Britain. He’s been doing well in the public vote so far but is in third place with just three days until the voting closes.

Now, to be crowned Champion Market Retailer, Chris needs your votes. The latest rankings released by the Great British High Street Competition revealed the current situation:

1. Nicola Martin, Ashton-under-Lyne

2. Beverley Milner Simmonds, Burnham-on-Sea

3. Chris Hurdman, Thame

There’s still time though for Chris to get those votes in and turn things around! Between now and Friday, November 18, you can cast your vote for Chris for free at http://thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk/finalist-retail-market-champion – and you can vote ONCE EVERY DAY!

When he first heard of his nomination and being placed in the final, Chris Hurdman said: “I was honored and humbled to have been nominated by the people of Thame for the Market Champion Award and feel like a real winner. I didn’t realise that the work I do on the market was so appreciated.”

After setting up two trader-operated markets in Bicester and Kidlington, Chris introduced new initiatives at Thame’s Tuesday Royal Charter Market like community stalls to raise money for local charities. Working closely with local shops and Thame Town Council to promote the high street, Chris also lays on events to bring visitors and shoppers into the town, such as an annual Market Fun Day and a celebration for the Queen’s 90th birthday.

If Chris wins, not only will he get a share of a £10,000 prize pot, but he’ll win expert training from Google’s digital taskforce for shops, bars and restaurants and a trip to Twitter UK’s London office to boost his social media skills.

High Streets Minister Andrew Percy said: “The buzz generated by this year’s competition has seen a record breaking 400,000 votes cast already.

“Chris has worked hard but this is the last push and there’s still everything to play for, so get online and vote now.” vote4chris.uk

The Great British High Street Competition 2016 celebrates the great work that is being done to revive, adapt and diversify the nation’s high streets. It is one of a number of initiatives to help champion high streets as the cornerstones of the community.

New to 2016, the competition is also looking for individuals to win a ‘high street hero’ award. With categories for store employees and market managers, the competition is recognising individuals who are making a difference to their local communities.

This year’s competition saw a record 900 entries across all 14 categories, including the new categories for individuals and shops. The 12 finalists in the four categories for high street heroes were announced on October 18, and the public given the chance to vote directly for the people working hard for their local high street.

Voting closes on Friday, November 18, and the winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony on Monday, December 12.

AFTER the Liberal Democrats secured over 11,000 votes in Witney with a 19% swing from the ruling Conservatives, and as they look to defeat Zac Goldsmith in the Richmond Park by-election in a few weeks time, in Thame the Liberal Democrats are also upping their ambitions.

This comes as the local party has increased its membership by 70 per cent since the EU Referendum, and the national party has doubled its membership since the general election. Since May, the Liberal Democrats have made 21 council gains up and down the country, compared with most other parties which made just one.

The party is now inviting potential candidates to put their names forward for the Thame & Chinnor County Council wards. The area includes over 16,000 voters and has historically been a battle between the Conservatives and Lib Dems. The county elections take place next May and local Lib Dems aim to reverse Conservative plans to close the Red Kite children’s centre in Thame.

The Liberal Democrats’ AGM takes place on Saturday, November 19, at Benson Parish Hall 19:00 – 21:30 and is open to anyone who wants to hear more, or visit the Lib Dems’ Facebook by searching for South East Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats or follow them on Twitter @SEOxonLibDems

SOURCE: Press Release (Editor: Not particular support for any one political party is intended by publishing this article)

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following a theft from vehicle in Thame.

Between 4.30pm yesterday (14/11) and 06.30am today (15/11) unknown offender(s) broke into a Ford Transit on Webster Close, Thame and stole a windscreen glue gun.

If you have seen any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area or have any information relating to this message please call the Police via the 24 hour non-emergency telephone number 101.

Alternatively, if you have information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online by visiting www.crimestoppers-org.uk. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

DO you know someone who has made an outstanding contribution to your community? Applications are invited for nominations for High Sheriff’s Awards for the year 2016/2017. The purpose of these awards is to recognise people in Oxfordshire who have made outstanding contributions to the communities in which they live and work.

Nominees will usually have had a high impact on the lives of others over a sustained period of time and will be recognised by other people working in the nominee’s area as inspirational and as setting an example for others to follow.

High Sheriff’s Awards will not normally be made to people whose work and commitment has already been recognised by the award of a National Honour or by bodies such as the Police, the Fire and Rescue Service and Oxfordshire Charity and Voluntary Action.

Nominations can be made by anyone who lives or works in Oxfordshire or who is representing an organisation in the public, voluntary and charitable or private sectors. All nominations will be treated in the strictest confidence and nominees should not be informed that they have been nominated as it can be very disappointing to raise expectations which are then not met.

The Nomination Process

The application form sheriff_nomination-form should include the contact details of the nominee as well as the nominator, together with a brief summary (400 words max) of the reasons why the nominee merits a High Sheriff’s Award.

The deadline for nominations is Wednesday, January 11, 2017. Successful nominees will be contacted in early February and the awards will be conferred at a ceremony in Christ Church, Oxford on Monday, February 28, to which nominators, families and friends will also be invited.

Contributions to Community Life

Nominations will be welcome for people who have made outstanding contributions to any aspect of community life but in the current year nominations in the following areas will be particularly welcome;

* Individuals who have helped carers or organisations which support carers of any age.
* Students from the Oxford Universities or Oxfordshire schools who have made a particular contribution to the outer community;
* Individuals who are, or have been, involved in crime reduction projects, whether in prevention, rehabilitation or support for the vulnerable young.

Nominations should arrive with the High Sheriff BEFORE Wednesday, January 11, and sent via email to: ella@organisationunlimited.uk or by post to High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, c/o Organisation Unlimited, 25 Littleworth Road, Benson OX10 6LY

A ground-breaking deal between five councils, which are nearly 100 miles apart, has been short-listed for a prestigious public sector award.

The Five Councils Partnership is the first time local authorities have looked beyond their immediate neighbours to share services. The councils are South Oxfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council, Hart District Council, Havant Borough Council and Mendip District Council.  East Hampshire District Council is also involved through services already shared with Havant.

The deal, which should save the councils around £40m, has been nominated in the Most Innovative Service Delivery Model category of the LGC’s 2017 awards. The shared services are being provided by Capita, one of the UK’s leading business process and support companies, and VINCI Facilities, with experience across the UK and Europe, and its partners Arcadis and Indigo. The services are already live in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse.

Cllr John Cotton, leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “I am glad this pioneering partnership has been recognised and shortlisted for an LGC Award. The financial pressures facing the public sector are shared by every council in the country. If we are to carry on delivering the quality of services our residents expect it is vital we find novel solutions to these challenges.

“Councils that share services with neighbouring authorities are becoming more common but we have shown there is no reasoson why any group of councils that share similar values and common goals cannot join forces equally as effectively.

“This complex partnership of councils, ranged across such a large geographical area, is one of national significance.”

The partnership will present its model to a judging panel in January and will find out if it has won at a ceremony on March 8.

SOURCE: Press release

BARLEY HILL primary school in Thame, has been congratulated by the Minister for School Standards on achieving a very high standard of achievement its recent 2016 Phonics Screening Test.

Nick Gibb MP, in a letter to Mrs Anne Stopforth, the Headteacher at Barley Hill, said: “..I was delighted to see your results. With at least 95% of pupils reaching or exceeding the pass mark in the check, your school is in the top 8% of all primary schools in the country.

“I am pleased to hear that you have ensured your Year One children at Barley Hill Primary School have a firm foundation in reading, from which they can develop further and become increasingly fluent readers. this will help them develop a life-long love of reading.”