Author: Sonja Francis

MEMBERS, staff, Trustees and volunteers of the Thame Day Centre, gathered to celebrate Christmas this afternoon with a seasonal lunch and entertainment at The Oxfordshire golf club.
The Chair of the Trustees, Brenda Prosser, spoke of the “winds of change” blowing for the future of the Day Centre, which, she said, “often feels like a sunami!”
“We will have to be on top of what we are going to meet with the exciting redevelopment of the hospital which is central to community care. We have a wish list which includes providing care for five days a week, computers so that our members can go on line and do things like shop on-line. We are looking towards a different aspect to day care including providing a drop-in centre. But we wait to see what is going to happen and look for support from the politicians and the people of Thame, and of course so much will depend on money.”

She spoke of the ‘icing on the cake’ that fund-raisers and volunteer helpers provide to the centre, so that entertainments like that enjoyed today could happen.
“We depend on these ‘back room boys’ she, said, who love what they door and give their time freely.”

The entertainment was provided by Maddie and Mo, a delightful duo, combining skiffle, folk tunes, Christmas carols and comedy rhymes, that left most people in the room smiling and humming as they prepared to be taken home by the wonderful volunteer drivers and day centre staff who provide such a necessary and wonderful service for the more senior and often socially isolated of Thame’s residents.

THAMES Valley police are linking two more armed robberies in Oxford, with the bus hold-ups at Wheatley, near Thame, and on the Oxford tube last week.

Police are appealing for witnesses following two armed robberies in Oxford at the weekend.

The first took place in the car park behind the Co-operative store, just off Banbury Road yesterday (14/12).

At around 9.44pm, a man was in the car park when another man threatened him with what is believed to be a handgun and demanded he hand over his belongings.

The man gave him his wallet and car keys and the robber stole the man?s car, a Seat Alhambra, which was later found abandoned in Thorncliffe Road.

At around 5pm on Saturday (13/12), a man holding a gun went into Ladbrokes in London Road, Headington and told a member of staff to hand over cash.

On both occasions the robber has been described as male and around 5ft 10ins to 6ft.

Det Insp Simon Morton, investigating the robberies, said: ?I appeal to anyone who might have any information about either of these robberies to contact me.

?Someone might have seen a man in Headington on Saturday night and Summertown on Sunday night acting suspiciously, before or after the robberies, and I urge anyone with any information to contact me.

?Although the descriptions of the robbers are slightly different, he has been described as either white, Asian or of Middle Eastern appearance, I believe these incidents at the weekend could be linked with the two robberies that happened on buses and on the taxi driver last week. I am keeping an open mind and investigating every possible avenue.

?I would like to reassure the public that I have a team of detectives working hard and doing everything possible to identify who is responsible for these violent crimes.?

Anyone with any information about any of these incidents is asked to contact Det Insp Morton at Oxford CID via 0845 8 505 505, or if you don?t want to talk to the police or give your name, call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

THAME Town Council are to considering Civic Awards for the town’s unsung heroes.

The council says that there are many local people who give their time and energy freely for the benefit of the town, and will discuss whether to officially recognise and applaud such people, nominated by residents living within the Parish of Thame and Moreton, with commemorative certificates.

Councillors will discuss the proposal at the last full council meeting of the year, tomorrow evening, at 6.30pm in the Council Chamber.

The council will also discuss setting the Precept for 2009-2010, that is the amount of money awarded them from the Community Charge to spend on running the town.

THE Police are appealing for witnesses following an armed robbery at the Esso Service Station in Thame early this morning (12/12).

At around 1am, two men went into the Esso Service Station on the A418 and demanded that the cashiers opene the tills, threatening them with what is believed to be a gun. They then statched a large sum of money from the tills and ran off towards the Travelodge.

The man with the gun is described as bing in his late teens or early twenties, 5ft 8-10ins and slim. He had a red scarf or bandana covering his face and wore a dark hooded top with the hood up, and possibly a cap underneath. He was also wearing dark gloves and a dark long-sleeved top with a white emblem on the chest.

The other robber is described as being of similar height and age and of medium build. He also wore a red bandana over his face, dark gloves and a dark tracksuit top with white sleeves.

Det Con Dave Evans, investigating the incident, said: “The cashier was not injured but was left very shaken by what happened.
“A silver Ford Ka with two people in it pulled up onto the forecourt at the station and the passenger door opened and then closed and the car drove on. I am keen to speak to the people in the car, or anyone who saw this car, as I believe they could help with my inquiries.
“There were a few motorists in the area at the time that might have seen the men before or after the robbery happened and I urge anyone with any information to contact me.
“I appeal to anyone who was in the area and who has not yet spoken to us and saw men of these descriptions acting suspiciously, to contact police immediately.”

Anyone with information should contact Det Sgt Alan Clements at Thame police station via Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. If you don?t want to speak to police and don?t want to leave your name contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

THAME’S MP, John Howell, joined the town’s pensioners this afternoon for their annual Christmas party at Thame town hall.
Co-ordinated for the town council by Cllr Beatrice Dobie with Cllr David Laver as MC, the afternoon’s festive fun included incidental music played by Cllr Jeannette Matelot Green and entertainment from Thame’s singing Mayor, Don Butler and his wife Elaine and John Thomas.

Councillors, Girl Guides, the Town Clerk and the council workmen all waited on their guests serving sandwiches and cakes, partly provided by local businesses, who, co-ordinated by Di Bone of Thame Trading, contributed things like napkins, soft drinks, crackers etc.

A very special Christmas cake was cut jointly by Audrey Manning, the ex Land Army girl honoured by the Queen earlier in the year, and John Howell MP.

THE driver of an Arriva 280 bus was held up by a man with a gun yesterday, and robbed of his takings.
The police say that at around 9.40pm yesterday (10/12)a white man boarded the bus in London Road, Wheatley, and threatened the driver with a gun and stole

A NEW notice board to help Thame shoppers find what they need in town, was inaugurated today by Thame’s Deputy Mayor.

Cllr Jeannette Matelot Green, seen here with the Manager of Waitrose, Graham Oakley, said: “This is a wonderful time to introduce this shopping guide as we now have the stunning new Christmas lights to attract more shoppers to the town. At a glance you can see the variety of shops and the key helps enormously to find a particular type of retailer, bank etc.
“Local facilities, like toilets, too are clearly keyed and I am so pleased to see details about when the market is on and what is sold on the various stalls.”

Standing beside the board, which is infront of Waitrose at the end of Greyhound Walk, Cllr Green praised the graphical presentation of the guide and pointed out that a paper version of the shopping guide is available in the Thame Information Centre in the town hall.

The board was initiated by the 21st Century Thame Partnership’s economic group, Thame First, and paid for by South Oxfordshire District Council from their Economic Development fund.

It was originally planned to be installed last Wednesday, but had to be taken back to the makers when a passer-by noticed that ‘guide’ had been mis-spelled as ‘giude’.