Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • 03/06/10…Town council sad at loss of ‘father of allotments’

    THAME Town Council has expressed its sadness at the death of the long-standing Chairman of the Stones Close Allotments committee, and former Thame store manager.

    In a statement today the town council said:

    “Thame Town Council is very sad to learn about the death of Ken Jones, following a battle with cancer.
    Before Ken retired, he was the Manager of the town?s Co-op store, and his management and diplomatic skills proved to be huge assets at Stones Close Allotments, where his commitment spanned decades.

    “As Chairman, he allocated plots sensitively and efficiently and in a way that illustrated his cooperative values and community spirit. Most days of the week Ken, together with his wife Gladys, could be found at the site. To spot his distinctive green and white van was to know that a cheerful, smiling face and friendly, practical advice were at hand. In his van were all the tools he could possibly need for the chores involved in looking after a large community garden, and he was very generous about letting folk borrow his machinery.

    “Last year the Town Council worked with Ken and his Management Committee to recreate allotments that had ?gone back?. The site now boasts 146 plots, making it the biggest allotment site in Oxfordshire – a huge achievement and one that would not have happened without Ken.

    “To be shown around the allotments by him was to witness first hand his pride and enthusiasm. As he watched them grow, Ken Jones truly was the father of Stones Close Allotments.”

  • Forged

    THIS is a Community Message from Thames Valley Police with a warning about forged

  • Roll up, roll up for Thame Carnival!

    WITH only nine days to go before Thame Carnival 2010, on June 12, the excitment is building with more and more local groups and businesses planning their floats and non-motorised entries.

    The line-up for this year?s procession, starting at 12 midday, includes floats for the Thame Football Partnership, Tanya?s School of Dance, displays from local schools, the Scooter club, unusual bicycles and rally cars, and loads more!

    Once the carnival procession reaches the Southern Road recreation area at around 1pm, the fete begins with over 40 stalls plus BBQ, and a Beer Tent for the grown-ups. Children can enjoy the funfair with roundabout rides for the tots, bouncy castle and trampolining. In the arena, visitors will be able to watch the parade judging, tug of war and circus acts and listen to music from Thame?s very own rock bands.

    Email thamecarnival@hotmail.com for further information about how to be involved!

    With the theme ?Greener Thame ? Greener Future?, the Carnival will mark the official launch of the Greening Thame campaign. To take part in the campaign, choose five Green challenges and then display the Greening Thame logo in your front window where it can be seen easily from the road.

    For more information about Greening Thame, email greeningthame@googlemail.com, or visit the Greening Campaign website at www.greening-campaign.co.uk

  • It pays to insulate with the council?s

    LOCAL homeowners could start pocketing savings within 12 months of taking up a new countywide home insulation offer.

    Under the deal, homeowners and private tenants can get cavity wall or loft insulation fitted for a standard price of

  • Anti social behaviour going down in Thame area

    THE latest Thame neighbourhood update from Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) Diane Jackson and PCSO Lucy Thorne, this month includes good news about the incidence of anti social behaviour.

    Here’s their full report:

    On Friday May 7, 2010, there was a distraction burglary in Great Milton, where a man posed as a police officer to steal from an elderly woman. The burglary occurred around 11.25am. If anybody was in the area and noticed anyone suspicious in the area, please call Thames Valley Police on 0845 80 505 505 with information.

    Crime mapping shows that the average number of anti-social behaviour incidents (ASB) have decreased from 27.3 to 19.4. We have continued to provide high-visibility patrols in areas where ASB has been a problem, and engage with members of the public of all ages on a daily basis. We challenge any ASB that we are faced with appropriately, and have a good rapport with the young people in the area which we hope has helped to deter/reduce the ASB.

    Anti-social behaviour (ASB) info:
    Throughout May, we have received reports of ASB relating to dog walking in the grass/park areas and on the Phoenix Trail, which we are paying attention to at the moment. We have also had reports of littering in Southern Road Rec. Can we please remind you all that bins are there for a reason, please use them for your litter once you have used the public areas. We are able to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice of

  • 02/06/10…Cold calls from bogus trading standards officer (Status: Press release)

    Oxfordshire County Council?s Trading Standards Service is warning businesses and consumers in the county to beware of a new scam, following reports of cold calling from a bogus trading standards officer.

    The warning follows a number of enquiries to the service in the last few weeks from concerned consumers and one from an Oxfordshire trader. In all cases, the caller has falsely claimed to be from Trading Standards or the Office of Fair Trading.

    BANK CHARGES SCAM

    Oxfordshire Trading Standards has received reports of someone falsely claiming to be from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) alleging to be able to claim back money overcharged by banks on their behalf.

    In all reported cases, the caller has told the consumers that they would need to verify address and bank details to make the payment and that the bank charges could then be repaid electronically. Those who have stayed on the line have then been told that the OFT would require payment of

  • First Thursday music club tomorow – 03/06/10

    TOMORROW – First Thursday in June, so its First Thursday Music Club tomorrow, June 3, 2010, in The Old Stables, behind the James Figg in Cornmarket, Thame. So check your strings, both instrument and vocal, and get on down to the James Figg, or just go along and watch and let the vibes sink in while you enjoy a beer or two.

    Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the music kicks off at 8pm. The evening is generally divided into 15 minute slots with 2 categories:

    Walk ups:

    Come along on the night with your instrument and sign up onto the list for a slot between 8pm and 9:30 pm, allocated by the evening?s host. Sign up starts at 7:45 p.m. Depending on numbers of people wanting to play you can get 2/3 or 4 song slots.

    Pre-booked:

    The host is responsible for scheduling seven acts for the final section from 9:30 pm, who get 15 minutes each. These people may be ‘out of towners’, specially invited guests or an act who has proved popular previously at the club.

    SEE YOU THERE!

    Photo: First Monday Club regular, Rob Lowen (copyright Sonja Francis)

  • 01/06/10….Thame motorcylist dead after colliding with horse box

    A MAN from the Thame area has died after his motorcycle collided with a horse box on Bank holiday Monday.

    The Police are appealing for witnesses following the fatal collision on the B4035 near Swalcliffe on the Oxfordshire/Warwickshire border yesterday, Monday (31/5) afternoon.

    The collision, which involved a blue Suzuki motorcycle and a blue Mitsubishi Shogun towing a horse box with a horse, occurred at about 12.30pm.

    The motorcycle was travelling towards Banbury and the Mitsubishi in the direction of Brailles.

    The rider of the motor cycle, a man in his fifties from the Thame area, suffered serious injuries and subsequently died at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. He has not so far, been named. The occupants of the car were uninjured, as was the horse.

    Sgt Pete Jell, the officer investigating the crash, said: ?The cause of the collision is being investigated and I am keen to hear from anyone who witnessed it or saw any of the vehicles prior to the collision.?

    Anyone with information can contact Thames Valley Police on 0845 8 505 505. If you do not want to speak to the police, call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111. They don’t need to know your name, just what you know.

    You can also give information to the police in person by visiting any police station. Find the opening times of your local police station via our website or by phoning 0845 8 505 505.

  • John Lennon & Ian Drury at Thame Cinema – June 5, 2010

    AT Thame Cinema 4 All, Nelson Street, Thame – this Saturday, June 5, 2010 – Nowhere Boy and Sex and Drugs & Rock ‘n’ Roll – Both 15 cert.

    Nowhere Boy, the debut feature of Sam Taylor-Wood, tells the never seen before story of John Lennons childhood. Young John (Alex Ambrose) is a bright but sharp-tongued boy living in Liverpool during the 1950s with his aunt Mimi (Kristin Scott Thomas) and uncle George (David Threlfall). John’s father walked out on the family when he was four years old, and the boy was given to Mimi to raise, even though his mother, Julia (Anne-Marie Duff), was still alive. Julia’s personality is a much closer fit to John than Mimi, and she encourages his love for writing and music, teaching him to play the banjo. However, John’s renewed relationship with Julia brings up a number of unanswered questions, and causes new tensions between Mimi and John. It’s an affecting movie about coming of age and leaving home, and about the radical changes in British life since the Second World War.

    Sex and Drugs & Rock ‘n’ Roll features a barnstorming, passionate performance from Andy Serkis bringing 1970s

  • 01/06/10…Men charged with Lea Park burglaries

    FOLLOWING a series of burglaries recently on the Lea Park estate in Thame, Four men were arrested by Northamptonshire Police in an operation in connection with a series of offences on their police area.

    The men have since been charged with some of the Thame offences and took further offences into consideration.