Author: Sonja Francis

THAME’S Memorial Gardens and the adjoining Upper High Street, were packed on Sunday, for the town’s annual Service of Remembrance to play homage to those men and women of the armed services, of all creeds, who lost their lives in wars and conflicts.

Hundreds of people of all ages gathered in the chilly but bright, autumn sunshine to pay there respects with a minute of silence and spoken dedications by local church leaders, Alan Garratt, Vicar of St Mary’s Church, Father David from St Joseph’s Catholic Church and Paddy Harris, Pastor of the Cornerstone Church. The Mayor of Thame opened the service with a moving reading from a poem, Remembrance Sunday by Maria Cassee (**see below), and laid a wreath on the steps of the War Memorial, one of many laid by representatives of local community groups, the emergency services and local authorities. Thame’s MP John Howell also layed a wreath.

During the minute’s silence, marked at the start by a lone bugler, barely a sound could be heard, just a gentle rustling from the few leaves left on the trees in the Memorial Gardens. During the service, two army helicopters flew low over the assembled crowd, reminding us all that there are men and women in our armed forces today, standing ready to put their lives on the line to protect the rest of us, in these uncertain times.

In his sermon, Rev Alan Garratt said: “Whichever way we remember, we should remember the courage, the ingenuity, the spirit of working together for a common cause, the planning together for a better world that would come with peace.” He spoke of ‘the colossal horror of war, adding: “We remember the widows of seventy years and more, the old men and who never knew their fathers and mothers. We remember the love, the wisdom wasted, the minds that are still pained by memories.”

As Rev Garratt concluded: “As we remember we must vow to do all we can to ensure that our children and grandchildren never have to face what has gone before.”

Father David ended his prayer with: “God of wisdom, we pray for all whose decisions this day will affect the lives of nations. We think especially of the leaders of countries threatened by war or torn by division. We ask that their hearts and minds may be guided by your spirit into resolving conflicts, and establishing peace with justice and mercy.”

To see more pictures from Sunday’s Remembrance Service, Click on the LINK HERE

**Poem: Remembrance Day

Remembrance Sunday

On a cold November Sunday morn, an old man sits a while
Looking through old photographs, he can’t help but smile
They’re all there, all the boys, with hair cut short and neat
Uniforms of khaki, strong black boots upon their feet.
They met as strangers but soon became like brothers to the end
Smiling at the camera, there could be no truer friends.
They all took the Queen’s shilling, went off to fight the hun,
Soon learnt the pain of loss once the fighting had begun.
So many never made it home, lost on foreign shores
Many more were injured and would be the same no more.
The old man’s eyes mist with tears as he remembers every face
Each of his fallen brothers and the killing which took place
He proudly dons his beret, his blazer and his tie
For today he will remember the ones who fell and died.
On his chest there is a poppy, a blaze of scarlet on the blue
He steps out into the cold, he has a duty he must do
Once at the Cenotaph he stands amongst the ranks
Of those who marched to war and those who manned the tanks,
He bows his head in reverence, as the last post begins to play
And he wonders what will happen at the ending of his days
Will anyone remember? Will anybody care?
About the lads so far from home whose life was ended there?
I wish that I could tell him, that he should fear not
For this soldier and his brothers will NEVER be forgot
We owe a debt of gratitude that we can never pay
And this country WILL remember them, on each Remembrance day.

Maria Cassee

FOLLOWING a public meeting to discuss problems caused by the re-routing of the 280/X8 but along Park Street, Thame, the bus company Arriva, has said that it will look at the route again.

At the meeting, which was attended by between 30-40 people, including town Cllrs Lambert, Dyer and Stiles, a representative from Oxfordshire County Council apologised for not consulting with the public before changing the route. The Arriva reprentatives said they would treat the new route as an experiment and re-evaluate it and would come back to the residents and the council.

Ever since the new route became operational a week ago, residents of Park Street have been reporting grid-locked traffic, particularly when bin lorries are operating in the street, and particularly when two buses meet each other coming from separate directions.

Cllr Mary Stiles, who is the Chair of the town council’s Transport Working Group, told members of the town council’s Neighbourhood Continuity Committee (NPCC) that she felt Arriva were listening and that there would be a positive outcome. She concluded: “Watch this space!”

It was pointed out at the NPCC meeting that the implementation of the new route had diverted some of the section 106 monies and provided some of the service that a hopper bus might provide. So, the council will now consider its next steps regarding providing of a hopper bus service,and has meeting arranged for November 17, 2017.

There is now a Park Street and Chinnor Road 280 bus group on Facebook for those who would like to follow progress this topic and share experiences and comment: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1893528164298533/

THE lives of those lost on the roads of the Thames Valley and Hampshire will be commemorated at special ceremonies later this month, one of which will be in Thame.

The Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit will be holding two memorial services to support the family and friends of those who have died as a result of collisions on our roads. The dedicated ceremonies will be held to mark the United Nations Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims and it is believed that TVP is unique in honouring the day in such a way. The services will take place on November 19, one in Winchester and one in Thame, giving families from across the Joint Operations Unit region the chance to remember their loved ones.

‘A beautiful service’

During the services local dignitaries, police officers and colleagues from the ambulance and fire services will join members of the public in an Act of Commemoration. Families who have attended previous services have found the event extremely comforting and described it as a “beautiful service”. One family wrote: “‘Thank you for an absolutely beautiful and respectful service for road traffic victims. All of the family found the service very humbling and uplifting.”

While another added: “The opportunity to join with all who are affected by death on the roads is most helpful in the slow process of re-balancing after violent bereavement.”

Last year 144 people were killed on the roads of Hampshire and Thames Valley. Dave Hardcastle, Assistant Chief Constable for the Joint Operations Unit, said: “We believe it is very important for us to come together with our emergency service colleagues and bereaved families to remember those tragically lost on our roads.

“In organising these annual services we hope to offer support to families and friends of those no longer with us, giving them an opportunity to come together and take comfort from each other. It is also very poignant for our officers and other emergency service personnel, who stand beside these families throughout the most difficult of times.

“We welcome anyone who has been affected by the loss of someone on our roads to join us for these very moving ceremonies.”

Contact details

Anyone wishing to attend is asked to contact the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit via the email addresses below, in advance of the ceremonies.

The service in Thame will take place from 3pm, at St Mary the Virgin Church, Church Road, Thame, Oxon, OX9 3AJ. To attend this service, email RDMS@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk.

The service in Winchester will take place from 2.30pm, at Christ Church, Christchurch Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9SR. To attend this service, email RDMS@hampshire.pnn.police.uk.

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following the theft of plant equipment and tools from Milton Common, Thame. (more…)