Category: Missed a ThameNews story?

THE manager and deputy of a popular Thame restaurant and pub will this Saturday take their seats on a plane to Kenya to do their bit in a campaign to help save the frontiers of the Maasai Mara Reserve, one of the natural wonders of the world.

Evelin Rae will  join Serena Toh, who earned her place on the trip last year, by making it a fruitful 12 months for The Thatch, in Thame, both in trading and in picking up accolades, and both are looking forward to the challenge. As part of their trip, the girls will sleep under canvas whilst helping to plant a forest – 20,000 trees in a week –  in a new conservancy project on the Enonkishu Conservancy on the northern boundary of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.

Evelin and Serena will join other managers and chefs from The Peach Pub Company that owns other pubs as well as The Thatch, as well as the company’s co-founder, Hamish Stoddart, in this life-changing experience. Two of the company’s suppliers including its butcher, are also going to Kenya.

The Thatch has pitched in towards the company’s recent drive to raise money for the project, by donating a percentage of the takings from dishes on its menus and by doing activities such as sponsored cycle rides. In total, over £1 million Kenyan Shillings (around £7,000) has been raised for the conservancy which will be used to plant 20,000, two inch trees and to build a fence to protect the conservancy, helping to create what’s been termed the ‘Last Line of Defence’ for an area of land under growing threat.

As well as sleeping under canvas during their week-long stay, Eveline and Serena will also be taking part in activities to promote sustainable farming, forestry and tourism in this part of Africa. Some of these will be uniquely challenging, like digging ten fence holes in a day or building a game-viewing platform, as well as ear-tagging and milking cows and catching a catfish in the Mara River and then cooking and eating it.

“I know Serena and I are both ready for the challenge and can’t wait to get on the plane,” said Evelin. “We were both thrilled and honoured to be picked for the trip; Serena earned her place by coming top in a team challenge we ran in the company whilst I got mine by making it a good 12 months for the pub, both financially and in picking up various awards.

“We know it’s going to be tough and physically hard work, but we’re really ready for the hiking, the planting and all the tasks ahead of us. I’ve never been to anywhere like Kenya before so for me personally it’s going to be a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m all set to go. We know this is a cause close to the heart of the man who co-founded Peach, Hamish, and we’re both hoping what we’ll do will really count.”

“Africa, and in particular, the Maasai Mara are both passions of mine, and whilst we do lots close to home to support good causes, through healthy eating for kids, education and sports sponsorship, we chose the Last Line of Defence and the Enonkishu Conservancy as our priorities this year,” explained Hamish Stoddart, Peach co-founder. “That’s because, in the last few years, the change in the environment and land use has accelerated even more, and we now need to take real action to preserve the last great land migration in the world. This is our chance, with the help of our guests and the people who work with us, to make a real difference. Good luck to Evelin, Serena and everyone else on the trip.”

Locals and pub guests can sponsor the tree-planting effort and support the Last Line of Defence and the Enonkishu Conservancy by contributing via www.peachfoundation.co.uk  Alternatively, they can do their bit to support Evelin and Serena and the project by ordering the pub’s Caesar Salad when they visit The Thatch; for every salad ordered, the pub donates 25p to The Peach Foundation to help fund education, sport and conservation in Africa.

MONEY from an anonymous donor, notified just today, means that the Thame Youth Memorial’s outstanding costs can now be cleared.

Thame Youth Memorial Trust Chairman, Peter Butt, told supporters today on the TYMT Facebook page: “It is a privilege and a pleasure to inform you of a donation that has been notified to me this afternoon.

“As you may know, we entered 2014 with a target of £2500 to raise, to clear the balance of the costs to create the Memorial garden. The Trustees have been planning a number of events and making suitable approaches to achieve our goals.

“A private individual, who has requested to remain anonymous, has come forward to donate £2500 to clear the balance.
To say that I was stunned is an understatement, on behalf of everyone involved in this project, I have given our heartfelt thanks for their incredible support.

“This means that any fundraising we carry out now will cover ongoing maintenance and future dedications within the Memorial.”

Admitting to feeling quite emotional at the news, Peter concluded: “It’s a very proud moment for everyone that has given time, money, passion, tears and love to the project- on behalf of all the Trustees, we thank you for your commitment.”

THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses to a burglary at a property in Thame yesterday lunchtime (20/1).

At around 1pm, a home in Chowns Close, was burgled and Thames Valley Police is keen to speak to anyone who may have seen two men hanging around the area before 1pm or have seen them making off following the burglary.

The first offender is described as a white man, aged around 40, of large build and around 5ft 10ins, with dark hair. He was casually dressed in a light grey hooded top and jogging bottoms.

The second offender is described as a white man, aged around 18 to 20, of slim build and is around 5ft 10ins, wearing a dark woolly hat and dark clothes.

If you have any information about this incident please contact Det Con Stephen Knight via the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 101.

If you don’t want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

Join us on www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/ (opens new window) to receive local crime and safety messages.

THAMES Valley Police is currently investigating the distribution and use of illegal pesticides, including counterfeits, across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.

Illegal pesticides have been found in increasing amounts across the UK and Europe and Thames Valley Police has a particular interest in illegal pesticides not just because of the risks they pose to the rural communities but the links to organised crime gangs. There is growing evidence that the illicit activities of such gangs finance other serious crimes such as human trafficking and international terrorism.

It is not yet known to what extent, if any, illegal pesticides are being sold within our rural communities. Gathering intelligence and information is a vital part of the investigation, which is where you come in.

If you notice anything suspicious about pesticides you have either been offered or purchased, please call the 24 hour non-emergency number 101 and mention ‘Operation Silo’.

Things to look out for:

Does the product look or smell unusual?
Have you been offered a product which has been described as the same as another but at a discounted rate?
Have you been sold a product because your first choice was ‘out of stock’?
Do you have any feelings that a product you have bought isn’t quite right? Are there any unusual symptoms or irregularities?(clog spray jets / nozzles) etc
Is the packaging unusual or not what you would expect?
If you do not want to speak to the police, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

More information about illegal and counterfeit pesticides can be found on the Thames Valley Police website or read more about the national ‘Watch Out’ campaign.