TWO Thame youths have been formally charged today (30/10/09), with the alleged theft of a charity box from a shop counter in Buttermarket, Thame.
The two youths, both aged 16, will appear before Oxford Magistrates’ court on November 18, 2009.
PC Russell Hounslow said: “The theft of any charity collection is a selfish and callous act and I am pleased that in this case, we returned the box to the shop.”
THE Primary Care Trust for Thame Community Hospital promised a packed town hall last night that there were no plans to close the hospital.
Richard Mills, Buckinghamshire Primary Care Trust’s Director of Strategy and Planning, was speaking at a public meeting organised by the League of Friends of Thame Community Hospital, to demonstrate the strength of local feeling against the PCT’s slashing of 30 hours medical cover by local GPS, to just four hours by a private company based in Chalfont St Giles.
Many local residents feared that this cut, plus a reduction in the number of beds at the hospital from 12 to 8 recently, was “a slippery slope” to complete closure of the hospital.
When Sarah Taylor, Chair of The League of Friends, criticised the PCT for bad communication, lack of public consultation and “cuts by the back door,” she drew applause from the audience.
Replying, Richard Mills said: “I want to say sorry for the concerns we have caused. We want to engage with local people but even so, we have to balance competing demands. It is your hospital and we want to take you with us.”
He added that although there will be future financial uncertainties, the
THAME police chased and caught two thieves who stole a charity box in a Thame shop earlier today.
The owner of the Fuji Photo shop in Buttermarket chased after the two young thieves but was unable to catch them. The police responded quickly, caught one of the thieves and then persued the other over two gardens in the North Street/Wellington Street area.
Two young Thame men remain in custody this afternoon.
Around about the same time, police were called to a suspicious package in Upper High Street, Thame.
The package, which was emitting a beeping sound, was found to be a discarded smoke alarm.
Also today, a young Thame man was taken in custody on suspicion of shop-lifting in the Co-op store in the High Street.
THIS year’s Remembrance parade and service will take place on Sunday, November 8, 2009. The parade will assemble outside the Town Hall at 10.45am and proceed towards the War Memorial for the Last Post and 11.00am silence, followed by the laying of wreaths.
vehicles may not be parked in the area of the War Memorial on Sunday morning, between 9.30am and 11.30am.
HALLOWEEN and November 5th is almost here and Thames Valley Police is aiming to reduce anti-social behaviour with high visibility patrols in towns, including Thame.
As part of Operation Confidence everyone is being urged to help make Halloween and Bonfire Night as trouble free as possible, especially parents, who can play a major part by laying down strict guidelines over behaviour during the next few days.
Insp Martin Ford, based at Thame police station, said: “The neighbourhood policing team will be working to keep Halloween and Bonfire Night festivities peaceful and safe for residents. Any people found committing anti-social behaviour or crime, including under-age drinking, will be dealt with robustly and could face spending a night in custody and put before the courts.
“Shops and supermarkets are urged to think about those they are selling eggs and flour to during the Halloween festivities and not to sell them if they believe they could be used to cause anti-social behaviour or criminal damage.
“The aim of this operation is to reduce the impact of these celebrations on residents by providing dedicated, highly visible, uniformed patrols throughout the area to identify, deter and apprehend offenders where-ever and whenever possible. These patrols are also designed to provide reassurance to communities.
“We will be taking every opportunity to speak to groups of young people, obtain details and ensure that they are aware of the effect anti-social behaviour can have on others and that it is a crime and can result in a criminal record.
“We want people to have a safe and happy Halloween, however we are sending out a warning to the few who think Halloween is a time to scare residents and make them feel vulnerable in their own homes. This is not acceptable and officers will be doing everything in their power to make sure this does not happen.”
Thames Valley Police is distributing a poster and flyer to be displayed in windows or on front doors, which asks people who are trick or treating to respect householders? right to be left alone. The poster can be downloaded from www.thamesvalley.police.uk
There are also tips for parents on how to make Halloween evening as safe as possible for their children and general information on how to contact the police if necessary.
If you have young children never let them go trick or treating alone
Make sure you accompany them and only visit people you know
If you have teenagers make sure they don?t have access to fireworks, alcohol, eggs or flour
Explain why they must not play tricks on strangers
Tell them that if no body answers the door, or a no trick or treat sign is displayed, they must leave immediately
Remind them to stay with their friends and make sure they never enter the home of a stranger
PHOTO: Inspector Martin Ford, based at Thame police station.
A Shop Watch scheme, which aims to reduce disorder and crime by improving communication between shops and the police, has been introduced in Thame – and already has 85 members.
These include all the independent retailers in Swan Walk, Thame.
Shop watch works by linking all its members to each other and the police through the Ringmaster system and any reports of crimes or suspicious activity can quickly be circulated to all the members.
The members are made up of town centre shops and businesses and all display a Shop Watch sticker in their windows.
PC Russell Hounslow, from the Thame neighbourhood policing team, said: “I am really pleased that so many shops in Thame have agreed to take part in the scheme and am looking forward to having greater communication with the staff in an attempt to combat shoplifting and deter any possible thieves.
“Out of the 85 members, we identify the top 10 to 15 premises that are most likely to be targets for shoplifting and ask them to start a ring-around system, so that all of the shops and businesses can be kept informed of suspicious behaviour and incidents that happen.
“We will be monitoring the Shop Watch system to ensure we are quickly on scene to arrest any thieves. Other shops in the scheme can also be prepared by being kept informed of what is happening around the town.”
Sector Inspector Martin Ford added: “In the run up to Christmas, incidents of shoplifting generally tend to increase and I would like to warn any thieves that we will not tolerate this and we will be working closely with shop staff to make Thame a safer place to be.”
PHOTO: The proprietors of Ricochet, Arts Desire and Thame Audio, in Swan Walk, Thame, who are among those Thame shops signed up for the Shop Watch scheme.
THIS year’s visit to Thame’s twin town of Montesson, was such a success, that those who went in May (2009)met for a reunion recently.
Around 30 of the weekend trippers, of all ages, met in the town hall to share their experiences over a glass of French wine.
Thame and District Twinning Association are planning more social and fundraising events for the next few months, including a quiz.
Watch ThameNews.Net for more details.
THE responses to the district council’s Core Strategy consultation, which includes a proposal for 850 news homes to be build in Thame by 2026, have all now been submitted – and generally are not in favour.
The Cattlemarket Action Group (CMAG) has just submitted its response, a major part of which calls for priority to be given to the provision of community facilities.
CMAG states: “The draft core strategy focuses largely on retail needs and talks of Thame competing with nearby shopping centres, when considering redevelopment of the cattle market site. This is not the focus that the people of Thame want and is not supported by Thame CMAG.
“The priority for redevelopment of the cattle market must be to build a substantial community centre, that will be at the heart of the town. This will keep Thame residents here for their evenings and weekends and attract visitors, thus supporting the independent shops that we have, instead of trying to turn the town into the same old high street replicated around the country.”
In its response to the consultation, Thame Town Council has stated that here should be a more even distribution of housing between towns and larger villages, and that the allocation for Thame is too high.
A summary of all the responses about the Core Strategy proposals for Thame can be read on South Oxfordshire District Council’s website:
LINK HERE
Chinnor 2 XV 17 Pts. Vs Redingsians 17 Pts: MATCH REPORT – 24th October 2009.
CHINNOR seconds were away to Redingensians seconds in Reading this week. Despite a change of eight players from last week?s team, it was still a very good team.
The game started with the Chinnor boys playing into a very strong wind, and from the start they put a lot of pressure on the home team. Chinnor sadly lost a lot turnover ball illegally, this allowed Redingensians to use the wind to their advantage. A good clearance kick by them over the fullback?s head had Chinnor having to chase the ball back into their own twenty two, the ball bounced at 90 degrees, straight into the hands of the chasing players which gave them an easy run to score under the posts for a converted try.
But that was not the end of it, within five minutes a carbon copy of the first try occurred again and before Chinnor knew it they were 14 points to nil down having had most of the play.
The Redingensians forwards were a lot more aggressive than Chinnor?s and kept turning over a lot of ball when Chinnor were in their twenty two. Chinnor kept on pressing and were finally rewarded in the 15 minute, when James Serrano chased a grubber kick by Sam Angell, and picked it up and scored under the posts and it was converted by Sam Angel Chinnor kept up the pressure and were successful again when Francois Wait intercepted a pass and ran from the half way line to score under the posts, which was also converted and the score was now tied at 14 points each. Both sides competed well and it was only just before half time that Redingensians were awarded a dubious penalty that put them ahead by 17 points to 14.
Chinnor started the second half well and equalised within five minutes with a penalty. The refereeing appeared to be somewhat strange in that the game was not able flow. Chinnor appeared to be enjoying the best of the exchanges, but were unable to get any points on the board.
About ten minutes before the end Chinnor were awarded a penalty in front of the posts, but, for some inexplicable reason they decided to kick for the touch line endeavouring to get a try and five points when three were enough to win the game.
Sadly a very disappointing result for Chinnor.
Man of the match Sam Blewitt
Walter McGuicken
A ROMANTIC novellist from Thame is just about to have her 12th book published, and its guaranteed to “float the boat” of anyone who likes a good, romantic romp.
This will be the tenth novel, by Kate Lace, who lives in Thame, and its called The Love Boat.
Kate writes funny, contemporary stories for publisher, Little Black Dress, but under her own name, Catherine Jones, writes romantic novels.
A summary of The Love Boat’s plot, on the website, Fantasticfiction.co.uk, says: “Love is in the air…and on the water in this fabulous new romance from Kate Lace. Working as a chef on a luxurious holiday yacht, Poppy’s come a long way from her parents’ pub in Cornwall and enjoys a tranquil existence sailing around the Greek islands. Until the Garvie family show up that is. When their boisterous behaviour forces Poppy to pay a visit to a super-yacht docked nearby; she meets handsome deckhand Charlie and everything gets a lot more exciting. She wouldn’t mind getting cosy in her cabin with him! But why does Jake, the brooding skipper, keep rocking the boat? When it comes to falling in love, Poppy may be in danger of going overboard…
www.katelace.co.uk
The Chalet Girl – September 2007
The Movie Girl – March 2008
The Trophy Girl – November 2008
The Love Boat – October 2009