Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • New home for Thame United a step closer

    A new stadium and facilities to take football in Thame into the next century, came closer last week when a

  • Over a tonne of tools collected for self-reliance charity

    WELL over a ton of unwanted tools was recently collected in Thame town centre, when local people people cleared out their attics and garages to promote self-reliance in Africa.

    The tools will be taken to the very well equipped depot at Netley Marsh where they will be refurbished by a group of retired engineers before being packed into containers for shipment to African countries.

    From the port of arrival they will be taken by members of the organisation to villages to help the people become more self reliant. Particularly valuable are hand sewing machines.

    If you find any more tools which you have no further use for (but not electrical or gardening) please contact 01844 215287 before 24th July and The Rotary Club of Thame, who organised the event, will arrange collection.

    Photo: Rotarians from left to right, Nigel Tonge, Erroll Bateman, Ross Dike and Tyrell Gillman

  • Thame teaching assistant murdered

    A teaching assistant at Lord Williams’s school in Thame, has been stabbed to death whilst walking her dog in a park in Aylesbury.

    The body of 34-year-old Sally Garwood, from Aylesbury, was found by passers-by in Quarrendon playing fields, near Meadowcroft, at about 3.40pm yesterday (11/7/09).

    A post-mortem examination has revealed that she died from stab wounds.

    Robert Cusworth, aged 24, from Aylesbury, was charged yesterday evening (12/7), and is expected to appear before Aylesbury Magistrate’s court later today.

    The police are reported to have stressed that Mrs Garwood and Robert Cusworth did not know each other.

  • Tribute from Sally Garwood’s family

    THE family of murdered Thame teaching assistant, Sally Garwood have released the following tribute this afternoon (13/07/09):

    “Our darling Sally was tragically taken away from us.

    “Sally was our extrovert in a family of introverts; she had so much love in her heart for her family and friends and always saw the good in other people. She had a huge heart for young people and helping other individuals who would benefit from her sensitive wise soul. Sally was a Christian and had such a deep love for God. Everything about Sally was caring and special and she was completely devoted to her family and friends.

    “She was a fun-loving, caring, wonderful and supportive wife, daughter, sister, aunt and friend.

    “There are no words to express how much Sally will be missed ? her loss is felt very deeply and has left us speechless. We can only describe our current state as total devastation. We are reeling from the shock of her sudden and tragic departure and will have to learn how to live without Sally in our lives everyday. Sally was looking forward to a future with her family and having her own children one day.”

    Her husband Simon added: “One of the hardest things to come terms with is learning to live without seeing Sally smile; she was such a kind amazingly happy person who even smiled in her sleep. I cannot believe I am spending the rest of my life without her.

    “Sally will be greatly missed by everyone who was fortunate enough to know her.”

    Robert Cusworth, 24, of Levings Close, Aylesbury, who has been charged with Sally’s murder, appeared at Aylesbury magistrates court this afternoon.

    He was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Reading Crown Court on July 27,2009.

  • Thame firefighters’ gritty road safety talk wins award

    FIREFIGHTERS based at Thame Fire Station have won an award for their efforts to educate local youngsters about the consequences of drink-driving and other poor decisions made on the road.

    Members of the crew received an Investor in Education award from the Oxfordshire Business Education Alliance (OBEA) for the success of their hard-hitting ‘Choices and Consequences’ presentation, which they have shown to hundreds of 15 to 16-year-olds at Lord Williams’s School over the past two years (2007-09).

    The programme features a no-nonsense talk from crew members and gritty video footage designed to show how poor decision-making such as drink-driving or getting in a car with someone who has been drinking can have a devastating impact on others.

    Staff at the school nominated the Thame crew for the award, which firefighters received at a ceremony on Friday (July 3), at the Peartree Travelodge Hotel.

    Profound effect

    Station Manager Gary Coupar said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been nominated for this award by Lord Williams’s School. We know from the feedback we get from youngsters who have seen the presentation, that it can have a profound effect on them.

    “It doesn’t make for easy viewing but so many of the students have told us that it would definitely make them think twice before getting in a car after a few drinks or allowing a friend who had been drinking to give them a lift.”

    Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities, Judith Heathcoat, added: “It’s really rewarding for our firefighters to know that their work has struck a chord with its intended audience. Taking these safety messages directly to children and young people gives us the best chance of influencing their future behaviour and decision-making in a positive way.”

    Choices and Consequences

    Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service has been running the ‘Choices and Consequences’ presentation in schools and at public events across the county since 2005.

    The programme was developed as part of the fire service’s 365 Alive campaign to reduce the number of deaths on the county’s roads through education and community safety advice. In addition to Choices and Consequences, The Thame crew has also held a New Driver evening in the town hall.

    Further award

    Meanwhile Julie Jordan of the fire service’s Risk Reduction Team received an individual ‘Investor in Education’ award for her work with children from Gosford Hill, Marlborough and Wheatley Park schools. Julie helped organise team-building and problem solving exercises at fire stations including Headington’s Slade Park station and the Headquarters in Kidlington. The work included a project looking at how to make the fire service’s 365 Alive website more user-friendly.

    She said: “It’s great to be able to give children a taste of what goes on inside a fire station and to show them all the different roles carried out by staff. I’m sure all the children we have worked with have taken something positive from their time with us.”

    Oxfordshire Business Education Alliance
    The OBEA is a partnership of six schools and many businesses, which helps organise work experience and involvement of businesses in school courses. The organisation presented certificates to 47 local businesses in recognition of their high level of support for projects organised by the OBEA and high quality work with schools.

    Photo: A fire crew from Thame demonstrate cutting out a trapped driver from her crashed car – something they have had to do ‘for real’ too many times in accidents involving often young drivers.

  • Be a history detective at Thame Museum

    YOU CAN BE A HISTORY DETECTIVE! Go along to Thame Museum on Tuesday, July 28, and Wednesday July 29,
    Mornings: 10.30-12.30pm – Afternoons: 1.30-3pm

    Activities include a museum trail, a dressing-up box with historical costumes covering 400 years, identifying mystery objects, unearthing buried objects and brass rubbing.

    All children under 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

    There is a maximum of 20 allowed in any session, so please come into the Museum and reserve your place in advance. Admission Free!

  • Do you know anyone with an apple press?

    Dear Editor
    Do you know if there is a group in Thame who have bought an apple press and press fruit from the village? I have heard there might be pressing in Thame but don’t know where to start to find out about it.

    If you can help point me in the right direction I would be very happy.

    Regards,
    Alison Bloomfield

    Brightwell cum Sotwell

  • Regret at newsprint wordage thrown away

    Dear Editor, Unexpected consequences of the waste disposal changes ripple on in my household. For instance, who would have thought it might make me contribute to unemployment in the newspaper industry? I got my living from it.

    Under the old system I tipped my ?recycling? into a bag bought from the town hall and put it out for Grundons to pick up once a week. Now I keep it for two weeks. I have been forced to look at, perhaps weigh, the newsprint wordage that is thrown out.

    Colour supplements: unread (beachwear and fashion ?not me?); travel features (not unless it?s Sidmouth and not recently); food ?al fresco? (prefer to be comfortable, indoors); doing up old houses in Little Puddlecombe or Notting Hill (hate DIY and can?t afford it anyway); keep fit and diets (my conscience needs no more disturbance than it already gets); the doings of popular singers and film stars (mainly I?ve not heard of them). What is left? There?s a bit in the money pages about how savings aren?t growing at all; and some news and some sport, though the cricket scores could be printed in larger type and you can forget about 20/20 and its pyjama gear as far as I?m concerned.

    I felt guilty about throwing away so much wordage, so totally unread. So I cancelled my newspaper order, me, a journalist by trade!

    Norman Brand
    Fanshawe Road

  • Message from Team Mcqueen en route for Barcelona

    HAVING now completed three quarters of the rally (06/07/09), we’ve driven 1257 miles through five different countries in just about every conceivable weather condition!

    We’re having a great time – looking forward to the final day from Arles to Barcelona along the Costa Brava coastline.

    We’ve finally managed to get a wi-fi connection which means we’ve been able to update the website properly and also upload plenty of pictures.

    Take a look at www.teammcqueen.co.uk to read the full story of our adventure so far or visit www.flickr.com/teammcqueen to view some of our pictures from the past few days.

    Bye for now

    Justin & Adam

    Thank you for your support…
    A huge thank you to everyone who has donated – we’ve now exceeded our

  • Racquets summer squash camp for kids

    WELCOMING all juniors from beginners to elite from ages 7 – 15. All will recieve high quality coaching from our experienced coaches.

    each day includes coaching,competitions and training as well as use of the equipment in the gyms.

    Members