THAMES Valley Police has confirmed that one of the prisoners who absconded from Spring Hill Prison near Aylesbury at the weekend, has been found.
Lewis Hoare (Left) handed himself in lastnigh but Kenneth Simmonds (right) is still being hunted by police
Lewis Hoare and Kenneth Simmonds walked out of Spring Hill Open Prison at about 1pm on Sunday (26/10). Hoare handed himself in to British Transport Police at South Ruislip Station at approximately 11pm last night (27/10).
Simmonds is still being hunted by police. He is 43-years-old, medium build, with blue eyes, short brown hair, clean shaven, with a small scar under his left eye, a scar above his right eyebrow, a tattoo of a panther on his left forearm and a tattoo of a panther’s head on his right arm forearm.
FOR the second time in a week United scored in the first minute of their match against Newbury on October 18, to put them on the way to a comfortable win at Newbury and another three points. The final score was Newbury 0, Thame United 4.
Captain Adam Morris slid the ball through to Luke Ricketts who out-paced his marker before slamming a shot from 20 yards against the under-side of the bar and in to the back of the net. Shortly after, full back Dan Jones nearly extended the lead when his shot from an acute angle came back off the post. At this stage, the home side had rarely threatened, but Josh Cockerill was called in to action on 12 minutes to save comfortable.
The second goal arrived on 20 minutes when Andy Gledhill did well to win a corner that led to an Adam Morris cross which was powerfully met by the head of Ellis Hercules, who directed the ball beyond the grasp of Gee in the Newbury goal and in to the top corner. It was no less than Thame deserved and, whilst there was little meaningful action for the remainder of the half, Ricketts went close on 38 minutes, heading over from a Gledhill cross.
The match was over within 15 minutes of the second half as United scored two more goals. First, on 56 minutes, Morris floated a free kick in to the box where Ellis Hercules knocked the ball back across goal for substitute Adam Hazell to hit a left-foot volley on the half-turn that flew in to the far corner of the goal. Then, on 58 minutes, Ricketts went on a trademark run down the Thame left before delivering a low cross that evaded Gledhill, but Dan West was on hand at the far post to steer the ball home. As with the first half, the remainder of the game lacked significant action, with Newbury having the majority of the possession, but with Thame looking the more likely to extend their lead on the break.
The win, which maintains the unbeaten away start to the season in all competitions, sees United move up to sixth in the league.
THAMES Valley Police is appealing for information regarding the whereabouts of two men who have absconded from prison.
Lewis Hoare (Left) and Kenneth Simmonds (right) who absonded from Spring Hill Open prison this afternoon
Lewis Hoare (pictured) and Kenneth Simmonds walked out of Spring Hill Open Prison near Aylesbury at about 1pm yesterday (26/10).
Police believe that they left the prison together.
Hoare is 27-years-old, slim, with blue eyes, short brown hair, clean shaven, with a mole on his right cheek, protruding ears and a tattoo with the word ‘Pompy’ across his knuckles.
Kenneth SimmondsSimmonds is 43-years-old, of medium build, with blue eyes, short brown hair, clean shaven, with a small scar under his left eye, a scar above his right eyebrow, a tattoo of a panther on his left forearm and a tattoo of a panther’s head on his right arm forearm.
Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Joe Banfield said: “Thames Valley Police is working closely with the Prison Service to try and locate Hoare and Simmonds, who walked out of Spring Hill Open Prison at about 1pm yesterday.
“If any member of the public sees either Hoare or Simmonds do not approach them, instead call 999.
“Further, if you are reading this and have any information whatsoever about either Hoare’s or Simmond’s whereabouts then please call police via 101.
“If you don’t feel comfortable speak directly to the police then you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.”
ALTHOUGH Thame Carnival 2015 may be several months away, the committee organising the event, under the Co-ordination of Sue Martin Downhill, is already thinking ahead of ways of making it bigger and better in 2015, and is running a competition to find a great theme for next year’s carnival – with great prizes!
The committee has already contacted many local schools about the competition to find the best suggestion for Carnival 2015. So, every school is being asked to put a Carnival box in a prominent position, may be in the school’s Reception area, or may be on each teacher’s desk, for the children to put their suggestions into. The Carnival committee will supply the boxes and the forms for the children to fill out with their name, age, class and suggested theme title.
A prize will be awarded to the child whose theme is chosen, and presented to them on the stage at the Big Christmas Lights Switch On event in Thame, on December 5th, 2014, by the celebrity guest.
The Suggestion boxes will be collected after the cut-off date for the competition, on November 30th. A suggestion form can be downloaded here: 2015 Theme Competition form (1)
Sue Martin Downhill, who is co-ordinating the carnival once again, said: “We know that schools are very busy places but we hope that they would like to be involved in this great, fun event which helps brings the community of Thame and the surrounding area together, and raises much-needed funds for local charities.”
More information about the Carnival, and how schools – or anyone who would like to help – can get involved, is available from Sue Martin Downhill via: suedownhill@gmail.com.
A member of the Carnival committee is available to visit schools and talk to the children in assembly for instance, about the event and the competition.
THREE local venues are launching a Rural Comedy Circuit this autumn, presenting three shows. The first will be in Chinnor on November 1, followed by Chilton on November 20, and the annual, Xmas Xtravaganza in Ludgershall on December 18th. See https://www.facebook.com/newvariety.lives for more details and the information about the line ups for the three events.
The Rural Comedy Circuit when the landlady of Ludgershall’s Bull and Butcher pub, Pat Crisp, persuaded the resettled Hackney Empire director and producer, Roland and Claire Muldoon, both recognised for their pioneering role in the development of modern comedy, ‘..to stop talking about their experiences and put some shows on.’
Claire Muldoon herself explained: “For the last seven years the shows have sold out four times a year and the club has become a local legend, adding new status to this small village. We have won a reputation for presenting ‘Bills’ from the national comedy circuit and udiences from across Bucks and Oxon book early and regularly, to see such artists as Jo Brand, Barry Cryer & Ronnie Golden, Jenny Éclair, Mark Little, Rudi Lickwood, John Moloney, Felix Dexter and the fabulous Otiz Cannelloni, an audience favourite.”
Such has the demand been that they have now set up the fledgling Rural Comedy circuit in three Bucks and Oxon towns and villages; and possibly more.
The shows are set out in a cabaret format with a strong pa, atmospheric lighting, full technical support, a friendly bar, four professional, experienced comedy acts and compere, and the occasional special guest.
Claire concluded: “A fully professional evening, promising a great night out for those over 18.”
THAME’S Mayor, Jeannette Matelot Green, will be showing her artistic side when she exhibits alongside 100 other artists and craftspeople at this year’s Aylesbury Grammar School Art and Craft Fair, on November 21.
Jeannette Matelot Green with her tiger sculpture, at a previous exhibition
The school’s PTA has been staging its impressive display of local arts, raising funds for the school and providing an invaluable showcase for leadling local artists, professional and amateur alike since 1993.
As the promotional material states: “The Fair has gone from strength to strength and in the past few years, has also provided the venue for an innovative and tempting display of local crafts. This year we will also be showcasing the prodigious talent of the AGS sixth form in our special Student Expo.
Last year thousands of pounds were raised for the School as visitors enjoyed the creativity on display. This year, with your support, the event promises to be bigger and better than ever before.”
WITH Halloween fast approaching, the police are reminding people to make sure that they spend their time trick-or-treating responsibly.
Many residents enjoy Halloween and view it as harmless fun, but for others it can be distressing receiving visits from unexpected callers, particularly the elderly and those that live alone.
The neighbourhood police teams in the Thames Valley will be undertaking high-visibility patrols over the Halloween period to deal with any anti-social behaviour. They also work with schools and parents to reduce the incidents of nuisance and criminal damage that can happen at this time of year.
You can download and print a ‘No trick-or-treat’ flyer from the Thames Valley Police website and display it in a window or visit your local station to pick up a copy.
THAME was’ live’ on the radio tonight, when the BBC Radio 4, topical discussion programme, Any Questions? chaired by Jonathan Dimbleby, was broadcast from The Spread Eagle Hotel. The programme was invited by the organisers of the TAL (Thame Arts and Literature) Festival which is currently running until Sunday, October 19.
Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the TUC, with Town Cllr Mary Stiles after last night’s Any Questions? broadcast from Thame
The distinguished panel consisted of Lord Heseltine, former Conservative Deputy Prime Minister, Chuka Umunna, Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the TUC and James Delingpole, described as an author, journalist, broadcaster and critic.
The programme can be heard again repeated, tomorrow (Saturday, Oct 18) on BBC Radio 4, at 13:10, or listened to now or at any time here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04l3ly4
* A solution to Thame’s parking problems looks unlikely any time soon, as the county council and the district council wrangle over which parking areas will be run by whom. Very little parking enforcement has been carried out since parking was decriminilised three years-ago and is no longer the responsibility of the police. They can however, act if a vehicle is causing an obstruction. When the issue has been resolved, SODC will carry out the enforcement, probably using contractors, and the money will go to which ever council owns a particular car park. Thame Town Council has urged the county and district councils to consider parking for town centre residents when drawing up the new enforcement policy.
* IN the event of a major incident taking out the use of Thame fire station in Nelson Street, Thame Town Council has agreed to accommodate a fire engine at its maintenance depot. As part of the Fire and Rescue Service Business Continuity Plan for ensuring fire and safety cover is maintained in Thame, it is required to have a minimum of two reserve locations for such an event. The Thame company, CPM, has also agreed to provide space for a second vehicle.
* THAME Town Council has £1.9 million in the bank, a 4% rise in the value of its portfolio of investments, over the past year. Mr Andrew Hess, Investment Director at Rathbones, the council’s Investment Managers, warned that although markets had been fairly calm earlier in the year, they had begun to fall back recently with fears of a global economic slow-down, a possible double-dip recession in Germany, an end to the US printing money (quantitive easing), unrest in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as concerns over Ebola. Interest rates in the UK were unlikely to rise, he speculated, until after the general election. He recommended that the council continued with its ‘defensive’ portfolio of 50% invested in bonds, 10% in alternatives and 40% in equities.
* IN order to carry out essential carriageway repair works, Oxfordshire County Council will be closing Kingsey Road, Thame, for three days from October 27, 2014. A diversion will be put in place. Kingsey Road from Queens Rd to Kings Rd junctions EAST STREET THAME – For further information contact Highway and Transport at OCC on 0845 310 1111.
* RECENT requests for financial assistance from the Thame Welfare Trust (an amalgamation of several small charitable donations from Wills over many years) have come from families needing assistance to pay for school trips, and things like contributions to the cost of a new washing machine. Referrals to help those in need in the town are usually made by Social and Health Workers. More information about the TWT can be found at: http://tiny.cc/qfgwnx
* THE town council’s IT equipment, described by Cllr Peter Lambert as ‘so slow you can go away and make a coffee while it loads’, is to be replaced with the purchase of seven new computers, the upgrading of another PC plus the purchase of 11 Microsoft Office Licences 2013 at a cost of £7580. ipads which were given to each councillor two year’s ago, which the councils says has lead to an increase in efficiency and ‘a significant reduction in costs from the reduction in printing of reports, photocopying packs and delivery of Council papers to Members’, are to be replaced at the beginning of each new administration. The old ones will be offered to councillors to buy and if not wanted, will be sold off for the best price achievable.
* THE trombone player in the band playing at the 1940s night on Saturday, October 25, (See LINK) is being lead by the lead trombone player from the official Glen Miller band.
AFTER the recent death of its leader, Ann Ducker, South Oxfordshire District Council has a new leader. Cllr John Cotton is the new leader of South Oxfordshire District Council following a vote at the full council meeting on yesterday, October 16.
District Cllr John Cotton, the new Leader of the SODC Cabinet
Ann Ducker, who served as leader of the council for 11 years, passed away in September after a short illness.
Cllr Cotton has served on the council since 1999 and during that time has served on the Cabinet as the representative for Planning, IT and for Didcot. He was chosen by the ruling Conservative group as their candidate for the leadership on Tuesday, October 14.
He is the councillor for the Sandford ward, which includes Sandford on Thames, Clifton Hampden, Culham and Nuneham Courtenay.
Cllr Cotton said: “I am excited by the job ahead – it’s a real privilege to have been given this opportunity. Filling Ann’s shoes will be difficult, but I will give it my best and I hope – come May next year – that my colleagues in the new cabinet and I will have given everybody in the district cause to say a job well done.”
In recent years, the interests of Didcot were represented on the cabinet by Cllr Ducker, a position that Cllr Cotton also once held. Cllr Cotton has now introduced a cabinet representative for all of the market towns, as well as for parishes within the district.
The new Cabinet Committee for South Oxfordshire District Council is:
Cllr John Cotton – Leader of the Council and cabinet member for Corporate Strategy, Economic Development and Wallingford Cllr Angie Paterson – Deputy Leader of the Council and cabinet member for Planning Policy and Customer Services Cllr Anna Badcock – cabinet member for Housing Cllr David Dodds – cabinet member for Waste and Thame Cllr Will Hall – cabinet member for Finance and Henley Cllr Elizabeth Gillespie – cabinet member for Development Control, Building Control, Grants and Northern Parishes Cllr Bill Service – cabinet member for Leisure and Didcot Cllr Lynn Lloyd – IT, HR, Legal and Democratic Services Cllr Judith Nimmo-Smith – Health, Community Safety and Central Parishes Cllr Robert Simister – Property, Technical Services and Southern Parishes.
THAME Charities pre-Christmas Fair will be held this year on Saturday November, 8, 2014, at Thame Town Hall from 10am until 1.30pm.
Thame’s MP, John Howell, visiting the Thame Charities Fair in 2013
There will be sixteen stalls with offerings as diverse as gifts, cards, preserves, bottle stalls, Christmas decorations, books, cakes and other refreshments.
Organisations participating will include Inner Wheel, Thame Activity Group, BBOWT, Operation Christmas Child (shoe boxes), Thame Museum, League of Friends, Day Centre, Thame Amnesty Group, Thame Players, John Hampden Society, British Legion,Thame Guides and Scouts, WI and Dovecote.
New this year is a locally based charity raising funds for nurses for Africa.
If you would like to support these organisations or are interested in what they may have to offer, and do some Christmas shopping, then call in at the town hall on November, 8.
Simmonds is still being hunted by police. He is 43-years-old, medium build, with blue eyes, short brown hair, clean shaven, with a small scar under his left eye, a scar above his right eyebrow, a tattoo of a panther on his left forearm and a tattoo of a panther’s head on his right arm forearm.
