Author: Sonja Francis

FOLLOWING serious flooding back in June, when several householders had to move out of their homes in Cedar Crescent, Thame, Thame Town Council has begun work to try to ensure that any repeat flooding is less likely.
At a recent meeting the council received the following report, explaining the council’s actions so far and what it is intending to do:

“Close monitoring of the Cuttle Brook is ongoing. The work to date (Ed. which includes clearing away debris built-up under bridges) has improved the flow but we still have to do more. Meanwhile site visits and discussions with the riparian owners of the Brook north of the Oxford Road have either taken place or will be completed this week. This is so that the work the Council has done doesn’t just cause a problem further downstream and any blockage then backs back up into the Nature Reserve.

“An application to the Environment Agency to carry
out the work will then be completed and submitted for its approval this week. We have been told we will be fast tracked. Whilst that is being processed a final visit with the contractor to confirm the work
to be done will be undertaken next week and the final cost agreed.

“After a site visit with the Environment Agency and SODC ? Monson – we are going to do all the other work and clear out ditches running into Cuttle Brook before we look to fill this one in. The professional
opinion is that the clearing work should stop the flooding. This will be monitored very closely and if it doesn’t solve the problem all three parties will reconvene and assess the next action.

“The maintenance team undertakes regular site inspections as do the (Cuttlebrook)volunteers.

“No resident should be taking any action on the Nature
reserve but should use the Information Centre to report a problem and it will then be dealt with.”

Photo: Flood water between two of the bungalows in Cedar Crescent, adjacent to the Cuttlebrook nature reserve, during the flood last June.

THERE may be a ‘credit crunch’, but it seems that the people of Thame are still willing to spend money enjoying themselves.
Thousands flocked to the Oxfordshire and Thame Show today where business was brisk at most of the trade stands, and families were arriving earlier this afternoon for all the fun of the fair, which annually closes the town centre for three days.

The Deputy Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot-Green, joined leading members of the Showmen’s Guild, and rang the traditional bell to officially declare the fair open. She then took a ride on the Waltza and was given a tour of the fair before being presented with a giant bear.

Cllr Matelot-Green will join the Mayor, Don Butler, and 35 other Thame and district residents for the annual cultural exchange to Thame’s twin town in France, Montesson, tomorrow.

Originally the coach was to travel to France via the Channel tunnel but because of the lorry fire in the tunnel last weekend, they have had to change their plans and will cross by Ferry from Dover to Calais.

BEE GEE, Robin Gibb, who lives in Thame, opened his magnificent garden to friends and admirers on Sunday, when he and his wife, Dwina hosted an open-air charity tea party.
Celebrities from the world of screen and music, and others like Christine and Neil Hamilton, mingled with fans from all over the country, to help Robin raise money to commission a memorial to the thousands of air crew of Bomber Command, who gave their lives during World War II.

Robin, who takes a very keen interest in modern history, is the President of The Heritage Foundation 2008, which is leading the campaigning for the memorial.

Around 300 faces turned to the skies over Thame throughout the afternoon as low-level stunts by a Spitfire and a Hurricane aircraft and a parachute display by the RAF Falcons display team thrilled the guests.

Robin joined in with Vera Lyn sing-alike, Jill Daniels, she in full WRAF uniform, for a duet of the war-time favourites, ‘There’ll be blue over, the white cliffs of Dover’ and ‘We’ll meet again.’

Among the guests were Squadron Leader Tony Iverson DFC, took part in most of 617 Squadron’s high precision operations, including all three sorties against the German battleship TIRPITZ, and went on to become one of the most repected pilots in the Sqaudron.

As well as funds raised through ticket sales for the tea party, and a raffle, almost

Following an increase in purse thefts over the last year in South Oxfordshire, the police will be handing out free purse chains to elderly women, and advice on handbag security.
During the last year, purse thefts in South Oxfordshire have increased by a third to over 100 incidents. Most of the victims have been elderly ladies out shopping. Police say the thieves are taking advantage of the fact that they are distracted by doing their shopping and are grabbing purses out of their handbags when they are not looking, or have left their handbags in a shopping trolley and unattended. There have also been thefts from day centres and post offices.

Police neighbourhood teams will be outside Waitrose in Thame, between 10am and midday on Thursday, September 25.
The purse chain is designed to reduce thefts by securing a purse to a handbag or a belt.

A SPECIAL presentation was made this afternoon, to a market trader and his wife who have been selling their wears at Thame market for 36 years.
Peter Jones received a boxed bottle of wine, bottled in 1972, the year he and his wife Marina, started selling ladies’ clothes at Thame market. Marina, and their daughter, Sarah Jane, both received flowers. Sarah Jane was quite over-come by the occassion.

All three gifts were presented to the Jones family on behalf of all the other market traders at Thame market, from the Chair of Thame Market Traders, Mick Broon, who runs the egg stall.
Also there today to assist Mick, was Tony Hopcroft, the Vice Chair of Thame Market Traders.

When asked if she was now going to retire and ‘take it easy’, Marina replied: “People work even harder after they’ve retired, so I’ve heard.”

Photo: Left: Tony Hopcroft, Vice Chair Thame Market Traders, Centre ‘in the pink’ Peter Jones, stripey top: Sarah Jane Jones, blue top and sunglasses: Mick Broon – Chair of Thame Market Traders and in the front in white top, Marina Jones.

A MEETING to discuss the town’s priorities for its future and how they can best be addressed, has been instigated by Thame’s new MP, John Howell.
A number of groups have been invited to a workshop on September 22, in Thame Town Hall, which will bring
together town, district and county councillors for Thame, together with cabinet members from South Oxfordshire District Council and Oxfordshire County Council responsible for planning, transport and place, and other key stakeholders.

John Howell MP said: “Thame is a great town and we need to make sure it stays that way. I wanted to get round the table all the major organisations who need to work together to deliver on the town?s priorities.

?Much better to do this now before many of the proposed new developments such as the cattle market take place and to make sure that we are all singing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to planning the town?s future.?

Helen Stewart, the Clerk to the Town Council, added:

?I am grateful for John and Cllr Nick Carter for coming up with this suggestion. It fits in perfectly with work the town council has been doing about the strategy for the town over the next decade.

?We?ve a wide range of organisations attending the workshop so I am hopeful for some good joined-up thinking and planning.?

The event takes place on Monday 22nd September at Thame Town Hall, from 2pm-4.30pm.

Photo: John Howell MP