Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 25/07/13…..Draw for Thame cricketers in ‘spirited’ match

    THAME Town Cricket Club Firsts put on a spirited display in their away game at Great Brickhill last weekend. The home side chose to bat first on their small ground, and managed to put on 279 for 5 in their 53 overs, thanks to an excellent 139 from their Overseas professional Gav Davson. For Thame, Will Rooney, who has returned to the club, took 3 for 72 and Sam Lachlan 2 for 36.

    When Thame batted, the top order kept up with the rate, but wickets began to fall at regular intervals, and only Deon Laubscher (48) and Will Sutcliffe progressed to significant scores. Sutcliffe hit fourteen boundaries including six sixes, and was eventually out for 105.

    Will Rooney kept Thame in the hunt with 25 but when he was out, they settled for the draw in an entertaining game, and their final points total of 7 did not do the team justice.

    The Seconds lost to Great Brickhill Seconds, whilst the Thirds gained a good victory away at Oxford and Bletchingdon Nondies.

    PHOTO: Will Rooney (Library picture)

  • 25/07/13….AMENDMENT: Thame family lost everything in house fire

    AMENDMENT 21.40 hrs: It has been clarified that three houses were damaged in the Chowns Close fire yesterday. No. 16 was the house where the fire is understood to have started and the most damaged; No. 18 was badly damaged and No. 14, less affected though the roof very badly damaged.

    A THAME family have lost everything a the house fire in Chowns Close, yesterday afternoon (24/07/13), and a neighbour, whose house was also badly damaged, has been speaking about her ordeal.

    Lorna Shepherd, who lives at No. 14, told ThameNews.Net: “As soon as I smelt the fire, I looked outside and saw smoke. I shouted at my neighbour at number 16, who had been dozing inside, and he asked me to dial 999.

    “Our roof has been severely damaged but my neighbours at No. 16 have lost everything. But I am just so glad that he came out of it unharmed, and their puppy too! His wife was out of their house at the time and their young daughter.”

    The house at number 16, gutted by the original fire is uninhabitable and Lorna has been told that her family cannot return to their home next door at No.14, until it has been thoroughly checked, because it may be structurally unsound.

    Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service were alerted to a house fire at 15.06 hrs by the neighbour at No. 14 Chowns Close, after she smelt smoke. Crews from Thame were on the scene within five minutes, supported by two fire crews from Oxford and one from Wheatley, a total of five fire engines.

    Twelve firefighters used breathing apparatus to enter the building (No.18) and bring the fire under control. Two adults were treated for the effects of breathing smoke by the South Central Ambulance Service at the scene. The cause of the fire is still being investigated by the specialist officers.

    VIDEO of Fire crew tackling the fires at Chowns Close, Thame. By Judy Rogers

  • 25/07/13…School’s out & hospice charity wants unwanted school uniforms

    IN the words of Alice Cooper ?School?s out for summer?, but it need not be the case for old items of school uniform as Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity (FNHC) shops are appealing for donations of unwanted school clothes, which can be dropped off at any of their local shops by Saturday, August 17.

    Perhaps your child is moving up to a new school in September or has simply outgrown their current school uniform? If this is the case then help is at hand as Florence Nightingale Hospice shops will be more than happy to give these items a new home.

    Simply pop into one of the Charity?s shops in Aylesbury, Wendover, Winslow, Chinnor or Leighton Buzzard and bring in your unwanted school uniform donations. Don?t worry if the garments are especially old, marked or tatty (white polo shirts are normally difficult to keep clean!), as the shops will accept even the most well-worn items, which can be used as rags for recycling and helps raise extra funds for the Hospice.

    From Monday, August 19, once uniform donations are in, all Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity shops will be setting up a special school uniform bargain rail in-store ? so Mums make sure you put this date in your diary as you won?t want to miss out on these much-needed items including school trousers, jumpers, pinafores and shirts!

    FNHC shops together raise over

  • 24/07/13…AMENDED: Major fire in Thame

    AMENDED: FIRE crew now seem to have put the fire out (5.20 PM) but remain at the scene to continue ‘dampening down’ in case the fire re-ignites from smouldering material.

    [PHOTO (Left): By Lorna Matthews – The house next door was also badly affected by the fire

    PHOTO (Right) By George Blewitt

    EMERGENCY SERVICE vehicles are currently attending a fire in Chowns Close, Thame. (15.20 PM)

    The road is currently blocked off to all traffic.

  • 24/07/13…Suspicious vehicle sought after bicycle thefts

    THAMES Valley Police is appealing for information following the theft of cycles today (24/7), at approximately 7.40am, from a shed in Van Diemans Road, Thame.

    A witness reported seeing a suspicious white panel van, registration number FD03 KWZ and three male suspects, aged in their 30?s at the time of the offence.

    Suspect one is described as a white male, wearing a black tracksuit, black trainers and a black sports jacket with a yellow strip across the top.

    Suspect two is described as being of Asian appearance, 6ft tall, slim build, wearing a red top and a baseball cap.

    Suspect three is described as being 6ft tall, medium build, wearing a blue vest and dark trousers.

    Police are keen to speak to the owner of the suspect van in relation to this offence. Please report any sightings of the vehicle or suspects to the police as soon as possible on 101 and quote URN 263 24/07.

    Please be extra vigilant. If you have any information relating to this message please call the police on 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 @ crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

  • 24/07/13….Thame Plant thieves strike again

    ONCE again, flowers planted in public places around Thame have been mindlessly vandalised over night.

    All the flowers in the circular Millennium Planter in the High Street have been ripped out or pulled apart, leaving nothing but empty soil and a lone cherry tree.

    In a statement today, the town council said: “This follows on from the two laurel thefts in Elms Park earlier in the month and the theft of flowers from the planter on Towersey Road.

    “The Council and its Maintenance Team takes pride in making the town look its best for both residents and visitors and takes great care in maintaining all the beds and floral standards around the town. We have received numerous compliments regarding the standard of our floral arrangements and so it is a great shame to have them destroyed in this fashion.

    “However, the Maintenance Team will be replanting the flowers shortly to keep up the high standard. We ask for your help in protecting these blooms by staying vigilant and reporting any relevant information or suspicious behaviour to the Town Hall on 01844 212833 or Thames Valley Police on 101.”

  • 24/07/13…Police enquiries begin after Thame house fire

    THE neighbours of a house damaged by fire in Thame this afternoon, and others, are currently giving statements to the police.

    The roof of the house next door to the one where the fire is thought to have begun in a downstairs room, in Chowns Close, Thame, has had to be removed. Luckily the residents of the next door house were out at the time – their children were at WhizKids with their grandfather.

    An investigation has begun into the fire which was attended by 20 fire crew in six vehicles.

    One casualty was offered treatment by an ambulance crew for smoke inhalation but refused.

    PHOTO: By Simon Munday

  • 24/07/13…’Happy coincidence’ that bells ring as baby prince presented

    AS the church bells of Thame rang out across the town last night, many people thought they where to celebrate the introduction to the world of the new baby prince last night.

    But the woman in charge of the bell ringers, Master of the Tower, at St Mary’s church, Thame, Rosalie Gibson, told ThameNews: “It was a happy coincidence as Monday is practice night and at the start of ringing the announcement had not been made.

    “It was only when we finished at nine o?clock that we learnt that the news of the baby being born had been broadcast about 8.30.p.m. The flag was put up soon afterwards on the Church tower and I came home and put mine out on the house, as I do for various special occasions- St George?s day, Jubilees etc.”

    Just an hour ago today (24/07/13) it was announced that the new prince is to be named George Alexander Louis.

    PHOTO: Flash back to 23/04/2010, when members of the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Bell ringers, with St Mary’s Church, Thame’s Master of the Tower, Rosalie Gibson (5th from the right) played 5056 changes, Bristol Surprise Major, in just under three hours! On St George’s Day

  • 23/07/13….’Dawn to Dusk’ football tournament & Fun day invitation

    A group of Thame people who want to raise awareness of Prostate cancer, are organising a Five-a-side, day-long football tournament and family fun day at Little Milton
    – and want more teams!

    Thame resident, Gary Stacey came up with the idea last year and this year has the support of Lorna Shepherd, whose father Peter Matthews was diagnosed with a rare form of prostate cancer a year ago. Peter is the well-know local press photographer of rugby, including at Chinnor Rugby Club.

    Lorna explained: “The idea is that there will be five-a-side teams who compete against each other, literally from dawn until dusk. From 10 am there will be a family fun day with stalls and attractions. Stalls are free to stall holders but they will be contributing to Prostate Cancer UK from their profits.

    “Last year there were pony rides, a hog roast and raffles etc. This year we are hoping for even bigger and better things including a Bird of Prey display, an all day DJ, a boxing exhibition by the South Moreton boxing club and a hair and beauty stall.”

    Last year, ex Chelsea player, Kerry Dixon, attended the event and met all the players and around

  • 23/07/13…Cowardly burglars target pensioner

    THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a burglary of an elderly victim?s flat in Abbot Ridge, Long Crendon, near Thame.

    On Sunday (21/7) between 8pm and 8:30pm two unknown male offenders wearing black gloves and travelling in a black VW vehicle, climbed over the wire fence at the rear of the property. They forced entry into the flat with an implement by prising open the bathroom window.

    Once in the property, the offenders conducted a messy search of the flat and stole