Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Monster Operation For Happy Halloween

    POLICE, crime reduction officers, and police Community Support Officers are working with schools and local shops to reduce nuisance and vandalism associated with Halloween.
    Trick or treating can raise the fear of crime, especially among the elderly and can lead to anti-social behaviour and damage to property when eggs and other things are thrown at cars and buildings. If damage is caused this is a criminal offence and the person responsible could be arrested.

    Shops are being contacted to ask them not to sell children flour, eggs, and other items which can sometimes be thrown at cars and buildings during Halloween. Shops will be given posters to display which say they reserve the right not to serve children with such items.

    Letters are being sent to parents of primary school children to explain the problem associated with trick or treating, with safety guidelines to ensure children stay safe if they do go trick or treating.

    The advice is as follows:
    Always take an adult with you.
    Never knock on a stranger?s door.
    Never go out on your own.
    If someone says ‘no’ or doesn?t open the door, they could be frightened. Walk away; don?t be a nuisance to them.
    Don?t disturb someone if they display a notice that says ?no trick or treat?.
    Never accept an invitation into someone?s house.
    Avoid dark and quiet places.

    Parents are advised to agree with neighbours in advance if they mind trick or treaters and to only let children knock on those doors. Parents are also asked to discourage older children to go trick or treating. As a rule if they are old enough to go on their own then they are too old for trick or treating.

    Officers will also be visiting schools in the area to explain this advice in more detail to children.

    Residents who do not want to be disturbed by trick or treaters can get a specially designed flyer free from police stations, or download it from the website at www.thamesvalley.police.uk
    Crime reduction adviser Lesley Nesbitt said: ?We want children to have fun at Halloween, but we also want to make sure they understand that some members of the community do not look forward to this time of year. Elderly residents, vulnerable members of the community and people who live alone can be intimidated by unexpected knocks on the door or loud noises outside.?

    Officers will be making extra patrols during Halloween evening to respond to calls from the public. Members of the public are advised to call the non emergency police number 0845 8 505 505. If it is an emergency dial 999.

  • Chairman Runs Line As Thame Thrashed

    MATCH REPORT – League game – Saturday, Octber 14; Thame United 0 Witney United 7
    Thame United suffered their heaviest loss this season when they were defeated 0-7 by Witney United last Saturday.
    Two of the visitors’ goals were scored from the penalty spot whilst another was the result of a goalkeeping fumble.
    Nevertheless this was a poor performance, which saw Thame defenders allowing the opposition far too much space, and although Thame created several good
    chances their strikers seemed incapable of finishing.

    Witney’s first came after nine minutes when Lee Keyes met a good through ball from the right, to fire home from 15 yards. Keys got his second from the spot in the 27th minute after Dave Hocking was judged to have fouled in the area.
    The confident Keys got his hat-trick three minutes later when he chipped Thame goalkeeper, Paul Searl, from 10 yards.
    On 35 minutes Johnson hit the post with a header and Mark Odum met the rebound to finish from five yards.

    As if 4-0 was not bad enough, with two minutes of the first half remaining, Searl dropped the ball
    when he went to collect a corner and Witney’s Ben Border was quick to tap home.

    At half time Thame Chairman, Jake Collinge, replaced a linesman who had pulled a leg muscle in the opening half. Despite banter from Witney supporters and
    encouragement from the Thame faithful to raise his flag whenever the visitors attacked, his decisions were fair.

    The Thame second half performance was better. Witney however increased their lead in the 67th minute when, against the run of play, Neil Maskell met a
    corner to head home from 10 yards. The visitors final goal came with 15 minutes remaining after Alex Cairns was harshly judged to have fouled in the box. Keyes
    scored his fourth with the resultant penalty.

    Thame United: Searl, Jackson, Watkins, Johnson, Hocking, Connelly, Gibson
    (Weaver), Cairns (Reading), Jack, Tripp, Da Silva.

  • Missing Chinnor Man Found

    MR Michael James Alan Kaye, 66, who went missing from his home at Glimbers Grove, Chinnor, has been found.
    Mr Kaye, went missing on Saturday, November 11, has been found safe and well.
    Paul Garbett, Missing Persons Coordinator for Thames Valley Police, said: “Media appeals are very effective in helping to find missing people and I would like to thank the media for their help in locating Michael.”

  • Keep 365 People Alive Over The Next 10 Years

    OXFORDSHIRE firefighters have launched a hard-hitting campaign to keep 365 more people alive in the county over the next 10 years.
    365 Alive is a 10-year strategy from the Fire and Rescue Service which focuses on preventing road accidents and fires before they happen. It aims to achieve the following by 2016:
    365 more people alive,

  • ‘Trigger Happy Cowboys’ Killed Reporter

    THE widow of a murdered television War Correspondant who lived near Thame, has accused American soldiers of acting like ‘trigger-happy cowboys’.
    Mrs Lynne Lloyd, whose husband Terry Lloyd was killed in Iraq three years ago during the early days of the Iraq war, made her accusation in a statement read out at the inquest into the death of her husband.
    The Assistant Coroner for Oxfordshire, Andrew Walker, found that Terry Lloyd was unlawfully killed by American forces when he was fatally shot in the head.

    Read the full story from CNN Link

  • Unclaimed Money For Sick Or Disabled Children

    ACORDING to a childrens’ charity, thousands of pounds are available to the parents or guardians of sick or disabled children who need to buy vital equipment.
    The childrens’ charity, BDF Newlife, can fund anything from special needs car seats to motorized wheelchairs, or even sensory equipment.
    The charity is now urging parents in Oxfordshire to make the most of the money because no one from the county as applied for cash since the scheme was launched two years ago.

    To find out if you can benefit, log on to: Link

  • Guide To Climate Bliss

    A 4ft high ice sculpture of the Prime Minister’s head encased around a first edition, was unveiled on Tuesday, to launch a book about climate change.
    The SCC’s, (Stop Climate Chaos coalition) book `I Count: Your step-by-step guide to climate bliss’, will be available in all major bookshops from Thursday, October 19.

    SCC also publicised an ‘I Count’ mass public event at London’s Trafalgar Square on Saturday, November 4, on the eve of global climate change talks in Nairobi when thousands are expected to turn out and `be counted’.

    SCC is a growing coalition on climate change, bringing together environment and development organisations, unions, faith, community and women’s groups. Members include Friends of the Earth, RSPB, Greenpeace, WWF, Oxfam, Tearfund, Christian Aid, the Women’s Institute and UNISON.

    I Count is designed to inspire personal and political action and counter the view that climate change is too big a problem to fix. The campaign has already gained support, from leading environmentalists to global poverty campaigners.

    “I Count because the world is facing its greatest man-made threat ever – climate change. Urgent action is needed – by individuals and most of all governments. Without political will, action on the scale required will not be possible.” Sir David Attenborough

    “I Count because I care about the millions of people living in poor countries that will be hit first and worst by climate change”. Annie Lennox

    The I Count pocket sized book, published by Penguin, outlines 16 essential steps that take you from The Power of Off and Rejecting the Ridiculous, to the Magic of Sharing. It provides practical and entertaining guidance on how people can reduce their personal carbon dioxide emissions, and encourages them to place pressure on politicians to take action too. The book costs

  • End To End Challenge In Oxfordshire

    THROUGHOUT this autumn, members of the eight, SOLLutions Health and Fitness Clubs in Oxfordshire (including Thame Leisure Centre) are taking part in a Land?s End to John O?Groats SOLLutions Fitness Challenge.

    The actual journey between Lands End and John O?Groats is one that extends from the south west in Cornwall to the north east in Caithness. The distance is around 875 miles.
    For the SOLLutions Fitness Challenge however, the epic journey has been divided into 30 stages or destinations along the route. Participants will progress between the stages with every 15 minutes of cardiovascular exercise completed in the gym. The challenge is open to all SOLLutions to all gym users regardless of fitness levels and is design to be fun and keep exercises motivated.
    All those who complete the challenge will be receive a special certificate of recognition.

    Gary Oleinik, game organiser, said ?Gym Challenges give customers short-term goals that are challenging and attainable. With the help of our fitness team we aim to give customers fun and rewarding experiences throughout the year which will help keep them motivated and achieve their fitness goals.?

    Visit www.soll-leisure.co.uk to find your nearest club or call: –

  • Special Service To Remember Those Who Have Died On Thames Valley’s Roads

    A multi-faith commemorative service is being held in Thame, for people who have lost members of their family in collisions on the roads in the Thames Valley.

    The service will be held at St Mary the Virgin church in Thame at 4pm on Sunday, November 19. It will mark a national memorial day for all those who have lost their lives in road collisions.

    Members of the emergency services, including police officers, fire and rescue workers, paramedics and ambulance technicians and hospital staff will lead readings and prayers from different religions during the service.

    Faith leaders from different traditions will be at the service, which will be led by the Bishop of Dorchester, the Rt Revd Colin Fletcher.

    Family members will be invited to take part in an act of commemoration during the service.

    Superintendent Mick Doyle, head of Roads Policing, said: ?We recognise that the pain of loss lasts for years beyond the time that our roads policing officers, together with other emergency service workers are in contact with families. We are keen to offer this opportunity for families to remember their loss in an appropriate setting.?

    Anyone who has lost a loved one in a road collision in Thames Valley is welcome to attend the service. Space is limited and people are asked to contact Elizabeth Richardson by email at elizabeth.richardson@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk to reserve a place. If you do not have access to email, call 01628 601521.

    Fore more information about the service and directions to the church, visit the roads policing website at www.thamesvalley.police.uk/roads/multi-faith

  • Thame Betjeman Connection

    Not many people realise that John Betjeman is known to have visited Thame in the company of Sir Harold Acton, and to have written some lines in the garden of the Spread Eagle Hotel(the garden is now the hotel’s car park).
    As a tribute to John Betjeman in his centenary year, Thame Players are planning to put on a special evening entertainment at the Players Theatre, in Nelson Street, on November 17.
    In conjunction with the event, pre theatre suppers will be available at The Spread Eagle’s Fothergills Braserie. Reservations can be made by calling 01844 213661.

    The lines of poem read:

    COUNTRY noises do not shake
    The surface of the silent lake,
    The silent lake through which I see
    Is life and death at one in me.

    Country noises have no power
    In this diversitv of flower.
    Drop by drop the footsteps fall
    Outside the sunny garden wall;
    The swooping of the chapel choir,
    The crackle of the garden fire
    And barking dogs where children play
    And windows flung across the way.
    These sounds are very much the same
    Each Sunday afternoon in Thame.