Category: Missed a ThameNews story?

A partially sighted, budding young squash player from Thame’s Racquets Fitness Centre, overcame his fear of a renowned opponent on Saturday (13/12), to make his mark in a one-day junior squash tournament for  juniors playing squash in and around Thame.

Playing in his first tournament, Alex Adams-Wright, 15, showed fantastic spirit taking on players with much more experience, winning through the round robin stage against three other regular and talented players, and then went on to play the club’s under 11, nationally ranked talent, 8 year old, Ollie Coulcher-Porter. Alex found that strength was a great help in this particular final and applied plenty of the new squash techniques from recent coaching, to win through.

Alex’s coach, Sue Martin-Downhill, said: “Alex has made great progress in his squash over the past two months and despite being partially sighted, he finds that this is a sport that he can really enjoy. His understanding of the game has improved such that he is able to compete against players who have been playing for much longer.”

The tournament was attended by 16 players, including one who had travelled from Sonning Common to join in. Luca Babb, who plays at Henley Squash Club, joined in with Roger Riddler’s Saturday morning squash coaching group and then followed that by winning the top grade. Although he won his matches in straight games, each of the games were very close.

Sue added: “All the players were extremely helpful throughout the tournament – all the matches were refereed by one of the other players with a few learning how to mark during the day. Learning how to mark is very good for helping children take charge of situations.

“In the beginners grade, Matthew Harper and Fionn Leaney had an exciting close game. Matthew just came through 3-2. Fionn started playing squash just six weeks ago and appears to be naturally talented with amazing hand- eye co-ordination. Matt, who has been playing a little longer, is a dedicated player who has shown that practice can really make a serious difference. Matt’s hand-eye co-ordination is now excellent and his coaches, Roger Ridler and myself, are looking forward to watching Matt grow into an exceptional player and to compete in more tournaments in the future.”

Sue concluded: “Racquets would like to thank Meritus International Hotels for their great prizes! The winners of each of the grades got Meritus Mobile device Battery packs and light pens, the Runners-up – battery packs and the others, light pens – the kids loves them!”

You can find out more about Racquets Squash coaching for all ages, by contacting Sue Martin-Downhill on 07860 328880, or emailing her via: sue@racquets-fitness-centre.com, or popping into Racquets Fitness Centre, North Street, Thame, OX9 3TH, phone: 01844 261754 and by visiting the website: www.racquets-fitness-centre.com

A planning application has been submitted for 203 new homes in Thame, opposite Lord Williams’s Upper School, on an area allocated in the Thame Neighbourhood Plan as Site F. The proposals include a range of starter and family homes, 81 affordable homes for below market rent or shared ownership schemes, new areas of public open space, a new site for allotments and a children’s play area.

Spokesman for Bloor Homes, Daniel Hayman, said: “The development of the proposals have been influenced and guided by the town’s Neighbourhood Plan, public consultation and a design guide looking at the characteristics of Thame and of the site itself. This has led to a development which will feature specifically designed homes reflecting local design and materials and Bloor Homes would expect to make contributions towards local services and infrastructure, where they are required, via a Section 106 legal agreement. “

Section 106 contributions can cover a wide variety of areas including education, transport improvements and health, as well as leisure and community facilities, depending on needs created by the development itself.

The plans will be reviewed and formally consulted upon by South Oxfordshire District Council over the next few months with statutory bodies and neighbouring properties, and trial archaeological investigations will be taking place in early January.

The full planning application can be read here: http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/ccm/support/Main.jsp?MODULE=ApplicationDetails&REF=P14/S3841/FUL and Bloor Homes is inviting anyone who would like any further information about the scheme to contact them on 0800 1488911 or to email: sitef@bloorhomesthame.co.uk

A new scheme to improve services to victims of domestic abuse, has been rolled out across Oxfordshire and Berkshire today, December 15.

Thames Valley Police, Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and victim agencies will work together to ensure cases of domestic abuse in Oxford, South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White House, Cherwell and West Oxfordshire, Bracknell Forest, West Berkshire, Slough, Reading, Windsor and Maidenhead and Wokingham are processed more quickly than they are currently.

In a statement, Thames Valley Police said: “Domestic abuse is a serious crime, so it is important that the time it takes to get cases to trial is kept as short as possible. The overall aim of the scheme is to improve the outcome at court for victims of domestic violence and speedier justice for those accused of such.”

Under the scheme, all domestic abuse cases will be listed for a first hearing at the local Specialist Domestic Violence Court. This hearing will be within 14 days from the date the suspect was charged. For cases which go on to trial, the aim will be to list for trial within two to three weeks of the first hearing rather than the current six to eight weeks.

Superintendent Rory Freeman, Head of TVP Criminal Justice, speaking on behalf of all the criminal justice agencies involved in the scheme said: “The evaluation of the pilot in Buckinghamshire, which launched last December, has proven it to be very successful. The enhanced file at the first hearing ensures that more guilty pleas are secured, meaning fewer cases are adjourned for trial. If we process cases more quickly, we do not risk victim disengagement and are able to bring more offenders to justice.

“It is anticipated that we will also see positive results across Oxfordshire and Berkshire and a reduction of domestic abuse cases which don’t make it to court because the victim has withdrawn their support. It is important to remember that everything we do is about supporting the victim and achieving the desired outcome for them. This scheme provides an improved service to victims of this insidious and often violent crime.”

Since the pilot began in Buckinghamshire, the overall conviction rate for domestic abuse cases has been 68 per cent, with 46 per cent of those coming from a guilty plea at the first hearing.

A man from Devon has been sentenced to a total of seven years’ imprisonment for sexual offences relating to child, that took place in Thame and High Wycombe, between 2004 and 2008.

Carl Crook, aged 45, of Pale Gate Close, Honiton, Devon, was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment at Oxford Crown Court on Friday (12/12) for a number of sexual offences relating to a single child.

Following a five day trial, a jury found Cook guilty of three sexual assaults of a child under 13, five counts of sexual activity with a child, assault of a child under 13 by penetration, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and two charges of making indecent photographs of children.

Crook had previously pleaded guilty to four counts of taking indecent photographs of a child.

Investigating officer, Det Con Maria Morrisey of the Thames Valley Police Paedophile Online Investigation Team said: “I am delighted with the sentence given to Crook, who has proved to be an extremely dangerous and predatory paedophile.

“The jury saw through Crook’s lies and concluded he groomed his victim before taking advantage of her for his own sexual gratification.

“I praise the victim for showing the courage to give her testament first to police and then to the court. I also praise the jury who did their duty with diligence and had to listen in detail about Crook’s depraved crimes. Finally, I praise all Thames Valley Police and Devon and Cornwall Police officers and staff who helped in this investigation, without them Crook’s conviction would not have been possible.”

A cycling club from Haddenham, whose members pedaled over three days and nights to Thame’s twin town, Montesson, presented a cheque for £12,377.90 to the Florence Nightingale Hospice during the Thame Christmas Lights event last Friday (05/12).

The Hillbillies raised the money through sponsorship of the ride which saw them battle through sun, rain and storms before arriving to the cheers of a welcoming crowd of dignitories and well-wishers during the regular, weekend visit to Montesson in September, organised by the Thame and District Twinning Association.

Montesson’s Maire-adjoint (equivalent to a deputy Mayor here in England), Huguette Fouche (standing left in the picture), took a break from making crepes on the Montesson produce stall at the event, to support Justin Shardlow and his team of cyclists present the cheque to Sue Jenkins, Executive Director of Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity.