Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Chief Officer Speaks Out In Support Of PCSOs

    OXFORDSHIRE’S top police officer has spoken out in support of Police Community Support Officers following a report in the Oxford Mail that PCSOs have not solved any crimes in Oxfordshire.
    Chief Supt. Morley said: “The article today (30/8), which reports that PCSOs do not solve crimes, is misleading and is based on a misunderstanding of the role and the work that PCSOs do.
    “Many people play a part in solving crime. Only the named police officer, who is the investigator, is formally credited with detecting that crime. It is like accusing forensic officers of not solving a crime, when in fact they play a vital part in the process.
    “PCSOs contribute significantly to crime detection through their community work. Only last week in Witney, a PCSO stopped a man for cycling on the footpath. Inquiries revealed the bicycle was stolen and that the man was already wanted for a recall to prison. The PCSO called in a police officer and the man was arrested. PCSOs do not have the power of arrest, so it follows that arrests they have instigated are attributed to the arresting officer.
    “I am extremely proud of the work that my PCSOs have done across Oxfordshire. Their community work is invaluable and cannot be quantified in crime detection figures.”

    See the Oxford Mail’s original article. Link

  • CORRECTION – Planning Meeting

    DUE to a diary error, we mistakenly reported that there was to be a meeting of Thame Town Council’s Planning meeting, last night, Tuesday, August 28.
    This meeting will take place NEXT Tuesday, September 4, at 6.30pm.
    We apologise for any misunderstanding or inconvenience caused by this error.

  • The Future Of Housing In The South East Under The Spotlight

    WITH the future of housing development in our region featuring in the national news today, following an review by Inspectors, read this comprehensive report from the Financial Times. Link

  • Thame Defeat Rayners Lane

    THAME United defeated Rayners Lane on Tuesday (21/08) evening, three goals to nil, in an entertaining game played at a fast pace. Manager Mark West donned the number nine shirt and played for the full 90 minutes.
    Whilst ?Westy? may not be as fast as the rest of the team, many of whom are half his age, he showed some beautiful touches of class and scored the opening goal.
    Thame started brightly and went ahead in the 14th minute when James Bloomfield played a through ball to West lurking just outside the six yard box. It looked as if a defender had the ball under control when West robbed him of the ball, dummied the goalkeeper, and fired home. Rayners Lane countered and the small crowd were treated to a period of attacking end-to-end football, with both teams creating good moves and both defences under pressure.
    Early in the second half, Paul reading, who had come on to partner West up front after Bloomfield was injured, dropped back to midfield and Stuart Braun moved forward as joint striker. This proved an inspirational swap when they both scored. Reading?s goal was a beauty. It came after 70 minutes when the Braun played the ball back to Reading who hit a 30 yard screamer which the keeper got a hand to, but could not stop. Thame were now in control and with nine minutes remaining, Ben Connelly made a brave run before squaring the ball to Braun who finished confidently from 12 yards.
    Overall it was a good performance from the Thame team who will be encouraged that this season they have scored more goals than they have conceded, a position Thame United have not been in for over two years.

    Thame United: Searl, Way, Graves, Hocking (Watkins), Ansell, Rhodes, Connelly, Braun (Leach), West, Bloomfield (Reading), Barr.

  • Amputee To Walk For Thame Charity

    AN AMPUTEE who lost an arm and a leg while clearing landmines in Mozambique, is currently cycling from the Thai border to Sihanoukville, Cambodia, to help raise funds and awareness for the Thame charity, The Cambodia Trust.
    Chris Moon MBE’s fundraising will help the Cambodia Trust to provide prosthetic (artificial) limbs, wheelchairs and the opportunity to go to school for many Cambodian children disabled by landmines, polio and other conditions.
    “In 1993 I was clearing landmines for a charity in Cambodia and I saw the terrible circumstances in which Cambodian disabled people struggle to survive,” explained Chris. “In 1995 I learned the importance of artificial limbs when I lost my lower right arm and leg walking in a supposedly clear area in a minefield in Mozambique.”
    Moon has undertaken a number of extreme challenges to raise funds for the Cambodia Trust, including a 300-mile run across Death Valley. “I?ve witnessed the work of the Cambodia Trust first hand for more than ten years. It?s a very worthy organisation doing excellent work,” he added.

    The Cambodia Trust is a UK Registered Charity, established in 1989 and runs rehabilitation centres, community-based rehabilitation projects, and Prosthetics and Orthotics education centres in Cambodia, Sri Lanka and East Timor.

    To sponsor Chris Moon: www.justgiving.com/mooncyclecambodia.
    To make a donation to the Cambodia Trust: www.cambodiatrust.org.uk

    Chris Moon MBE : Biography
    CHRIS Moon studied Agriculture with a development bias, worked as a volunteer at a centre for the homeless and then joined the army. On leaving the army in 1993, he began work for British charity the HALO Trust, clearing landmines in Asia and Africa. Whilst working in Cambodia in 1993, he was abducted by Khmer Rouge guerrillas with two Cambodian colleagues. He is one of the few Westerners to have survived the experience, avoiding execution and negotiating their release from a remote jungle base, finally walking 50km overnight through patrolled and mined jungle.

    In 1995 in Mozambique he was blown up by a landmine while walking in a cleared area. He lost his lower right arm and leg, but does not consider himself a victim because he chose to work in mined areas, ?whereas people who live there have no choice?. Doctors say he survived against the odds because of his high level of fitness and his knowledge of first aid. After leaving hospital he did a Masters Degree in Security Management at the University of Leicester.

    In 1996 Chris was awarded the MBE from the Queen for services to the HALO Trust, clearing anti-personnel mines and received a bravery award from Diana, Princess of Wales. In 1998 he received the US Centre for Disability and PALM international leadership award. In March 1999 Lord Snowdon honoured Chris with the Snowdon Special Award for his leadership and support of disabled people. He has also been awarded honorary degrees and doctorates by the universities of Plymouth, Leicester and Exeter.

    Less than a year after leaving hospital, Chris completed the London Marathon to raise funds for land mine-injured people in Cambodia. In April 1997 he was the first leg amputee to complete the 250km Great Sahara Run, described as the toughest footrace on earth, raising

  • Thame Mayor Launches Christmas Photo Competition

    THE Mayor of Thame, David Bretherton, has launched a photographic competition today to find an image that reflects “Life In Thame”, for this year’s Mayor’s Christmas card.
    The closing date for the competition, which is open to people of all ages and levels of photographic skills, will close at 5pm on October, 2007. The judges will be the Mayor, Mayoress and Town Clerk, and they will make their decision at the town hall, on November 1, 2007.

    Photographs should be original work, printed in
    monochrome or colour, 7″ x 5″ or 6″ x 4″. They may be wet film or digital images (Digital images should be printed for judging but with digital format available).
    Photographer?s credits will be acknowledged.

    Please send or take all entries in a sealed envelope, clearly marked with your name, address and telephone number to:
    Christmas Card Competition, Thame Town Council, Town Hall, Thame OX9 3DP

  • News From Haddenham

    FRIDAY COFFEE. Please note that Age Concern’s Friday Coffee Stop has had to start its summer
    break earlier than intended as builders are currently installing a new disabled toilet in the Mabel Parkinson Room. It will reopen on August 31.

    ROTARY. After almost 20 years as Thame Witchert Rotary Club, the group has emerged from the
    shadows of Thame Rotary Club – its parent club – and, in order to raise its profile in the village which has been its home for many years, has now been renamed Haddenham and District Rotary Club. The club
    holds its weekly meetings at the Rose and Thistle, its original home, (after a period of meeting at the
    Seven Stars, Dinton) and would welcome prospective new members on any Monday (7.45 for 8pm).
    The club is celebrating its 20th anniversary in September and members have been looking back over the
    past 20 years. Since it was founded, the club has raised about

  • Turning Point For Thame United

    THAME United rounded of a good Bank Holiday weekend, which will probably be seen as a turning point in their fortunes, when they scored another four goals to add to the five they scored on Saturday (26) REPORT BELOW.
    It must be said that neither Prestwood nor Saturday?s opponents, Eton Wick, were particularly strong sides, but nevertheless Thame are beginning to get into the habit of convincingly winning their games. After the problems of the last two seasons, long may this continue!
    The first 20 minutes were fairly even but then Thame started to pressurise the Prestwood goal and, following a corner, Dave Hocking was unlucky to see his header hit the crossbar. Thame squandered several good chances but, just before half time Stuart Braun met a cross from the right with a well placed strike to finish confidently from 10 yards.
    Prestwood had no answer and Thame dominated the second half, with goalkeeper, Paul Searl, rarely troubled. The second goal came in the 75th minute when Nigel Swafford hit a beauty from 15 yards which struck the far post before nestling in the back of the Prestwood net. Eight minutes later Swafford crossed to the tenacious Stuart Barr who, beat his marker, and finished well from eight yards. Thame?s final goal was created by a spectacular run by Ben Connelly who picked the ball up just over the half way line and beat several defenders before reaching the left by-line when he passed back to Swafford who hit a strong shot to score from 18 Yards.

    Overall, it was a very satisfying performance from the young Thame team; however the real test will come when they meet the teams at the top of the table.

    Thame United: Searl, Way, Graves, Boult (Higgs), Hocking, Ansell, Barr, Braun (West), Stafford, Reading (Cowan), Connelly.

    NB In a recently rearranged fixture, Thame are at home next Saturday, September 1, when Holyport are the visitors. (K.O.3.00)

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    MATCH REPORT – Eton Wick 1, Thame United 5 – League March 25/8/07

    IN Thame United?s second game in five days, on what must have been the hottest day of the season, they came up against Eton Wick, Third from bottom of the League, the game being played under the magnificent backdrop of Windsor Castle.
    Having been around since 1881, Eton Wick have an even longer history than Thame United.

    Thame made a good start with Ben Connelly driving the ball into the Wick net from a Stewart Barr cross after just 8 minutes. The game then settled down with both sides fairly even until, three minutes before the break, Ben Connelly made another of his magnificent runs and crossed the ball into the goal mouth where a scramble ensued until Adam Rhodes drove the ball into the net. With Thame now fired up, Paul Reading went on to hit the bar before scoring Thame?s third goal seconds before half time. Thame went in for the break three goals up.

    The second half showed a different story with Eton Wick starting strongly and after 15 minutes their Stuart Johnson scored a superb ?Beckham? type goal from a free kick thirty yards out. With 15 minutes remaining, Paul Reading worked well to get the ball into the Wick goal mouth for Matt Leach to score from close range. Wick battled bravely to pull back the deficit but four minutes later a collision left the Wick goalkeeper and Adam Rhodes writhing on the ground with the ball running free. Paul Redding quickly assessed the situation and coolly punted the ball into the net during the confusion, scoring his second and Thame?s fifth goal.

    Thame United: Searl, Way (Cowan), Watkins (West), Boult, Ansell, Graves (Captain), Connelly, Rhodes, Bloomfield (Leach), Redding, Barr

  • Thame Distraction Burglary Warning – RINGMASTER MESSAGE

    ON Saturday, August 25, at approximately 16:30hrs, a property in Lashlake Road, Thame, was the target of a Distraction burglary.
    The aggrieved was approached in his garden by persons unknown at approximately 15:00hrs, who stated that a tree in the garden was unsafe and likely to fall down. At 16:30hrs, a noise was heard in the house and it was discovered that offenders had entered the property and stolen cash.

    One suspect is described as a white male, aged 20-25yrs, thin build, short brown hair, wearing a green & brown striped pullover.

    If you have seen any suspicious people or vehicles in the area, or have any information relating to this message, please call the police on 08458 505 505 and quote URN 1240 of 25/08/07.

  • Haddenhan Events

    EDUCATIONAL GRANTS. Now that the A-level results are out and university/college places confirmed, prospective students (resident in Haddenham) are invited to apply to the Haddenham Educational Charity for a small grant towards the purchase of books and equipment for use on courses starting this autumn.
    Application forms are available from the parish office (open Tuesday and Thursday mornings) or you can leave a message on the parish council’s voicemail on 292411.

    RECYCLING. Don?t forget to put your glass box out on Wednesday (29th August) (collections are a day later than usual – after the Bank Holiday) as well as your paper, cans, plastic bottles and general rubbish.

    Tues 28th Give Blood. There is a blood donor session (1.30-3.25pm and 4.15-6.45pm) at Haddenham Village Hall. If you are a new donor, please arrive half-an-hour before the end of a session to allow time for registration.

    Wed 29th Skate Park. AVDC will be bringing its mobile skate park to Banks Park, Haddenham (10am-1.30pm).

    Sat 1st Sept Haddenham Horticultural Society’s Annual Autumn Show is on September 1 and there’s a chance to compete in a range of classes: horticultural, domestic, art, handicraft, photography or children’s. Those wishing to enter exhibits are reminded that the deadline for the return of entry forms is 8pm on Wed 29th. Non-members who still don’t have a schedule, can pick one up at Blooming Fruity, Haddenham library, Parminters (butchers), or call Gay Jordan (291490) or George Marshall (291739).
    There are some new classes this year – for a pair of cabbages, a Streptocarpus in a pot and an item of jewellery. All this year’s floral art classes have titles on the theme of dances and the Mystery Cake has an unusual ingredient – tomato soup! There’s still time to take a photo of rooftop(s) or of vegetable(s) for the photography classes (or of tree(s) for the children’s classes) and the digital class (where photos may be freely manipulated) is for any subject. The committee has, this year, reintroduced a class open to all ages of children – a collection of marzipan vegetables – and there are new classes for under-11s – for a painted stone and a glove puppet. In the classes for 11-15 year olds there is also a new puppet class – glove or string – and this year’s non-kit model is for an aeroplane.