Category: Thame news

FLOWERS have been layed at the cordoned off scene in Wheatley, near Thame, this afternoon, following the murder yesterday of a local woman.
More details have emerged following a press conference this afternoon, by Detective Insp Colin Seaton, who is leading the investigation into this incident.
D I Seaton revealed that the emergency services were contacted by local people who witnessed an altercation between a man and a woman outside a house in Bell Lane, Wheatley, at about 4.15pm yesterday, Bank Holiday Monday. The victim, 47 year-old Deborah Smith, was found inside the house with her throat cut by, what D I Seaton called, “a sharp implement” and was rushed to hospital but declared dead shortly afterwards.

The man, 49 year-old Russell Yeates, remains in a serious condition but his throat injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

A child and other family members are being supported by Family Liaison officer.

A detailed forensic examination of the scene is still underway and a Pathology report on M/s Smith’s body is expected to be released at around 6pm.

D I Seaton told ThameNews.Net that no one else is being sought in connection with this incident but that he expects an arrest to be made within the next few days. He was anxious to re-assure local people that although shocking, this is an isolated and unusual incident. He is appealing for anyone with any information they may help him with the investigation to contact Thames Valley Police on 0845 8 505 505, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Photo: Detective Inspector Colin Seaton, who is leading the investigation into the murder of Deborah Smith, from Wheatley.

TWO dates have been penciled in for a by-election in the Henley Constituency, following a land-slide win for the Conservatives in Crewe and Nantwich yesterday.
Both June 26 or July 3 have been talked about as likely dates for a contest following Boris Johnson’s promise to step down as the constituency’s MP, if he was elected Mayor of London.

A by-election in Thame, brought about by the resignation of Conservative Town Cllrs Richard Walker and his wife Claire, is already planned for Thursday, July 10, 2008.

The name of the Conservative party’s new candidate has not yet been decided, though it is know that Boris Johnson’s father, Sidney has put his hat in the ring.

THE Liberal Democrat’s Parliamentary Candidate for the Henley constituency that includes Thame, has travelled to Crewe to support Elizabeth Shelton, his party’s candidate in today’s by-election.
Stephen Kearney is the Liberal Democrat candidate for the expected Henley by-election which, according to the Times newspaper today, could be next month if the Conservatives win in Crewe and Nantwich.

The Lib Dems campaign headquarters for the duration of the campaign will be here in Thame, so presumably the town can expect a lot of attention from national journalists seeking the views of the town – which should be good for local hostelries!

The Lib Dem’s candidate, Stephen Kearney, 49, is Chief Executive of an international development charity that works in Africa and the UK. He has been a small business owner, a farmer and has also worked as a commodity broker.

He started his career in retail management with W H Smith and left to set up a pony trekking centre and mixed farm enterprise. After gaining a qualification in Agriculture from Harper Adams University College, Stephen worked in agricultural commodity trading and project management before deciding to make a move to the charity sector.

He lives with his partner, Julia, who shares his passion for sailing and boating. As well as his love of Britain’s waterways, Stephen says he is passionate about protecting England’s rural environment. His interests include music, drama and the arts, especially live performance.
He has pledged to make a permanent move to the constituency if he is elected as Henley Member of Parliament.

“I want to be a very energetic and local MP taking up the concerns of people across the whole of the area,” he has said.
“As the local MP, I will keep in touch with local people all year round and hold regular advice surgeries across the area. I will be a strong local champion for our local communities. I will speak out on the issues that matter to local people such as the loss of local Post Offices, policing and the environment. I will be a full-time MP for this area, living and working in its communities and fighting to safeguard local services.”

Photo: Stephen Kearney

DONALD Butler, described by a fellow councillor as ‘the cheeky chappie’ of Thame, has taken over as the town’s Mayor from his predecessor, Cllr David Bretherton.
Don, who has been the Mayor of Thame three times before, was handed the chain of office by Cllr Bretherton at last night’s Town Council AGM (20/05/08).

The outgoing Mayor spoke of the great pleasure and privilege he felt at having served as Thame’s Mayor, recalling that he had visited almost every town in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, including Aylesbury, saying that he felt it was important to carry on with the links to, what he called, ‘our major town.’ He was presented with a Past Mayor’s badge, the first to receive such a badge of office.

Cllr Butler said that he was looking forward enthusiastically to his new responsibilities and said that he felt positive the council could work together to carry on preserving the quality of the town and to sort out its problems, backed up by the town hall staff.

Pledge to help the elderly

In announcing his chosen charities for the year, the new Mayor said: “Although the young are very much deserving, and it is my aim that we do a lot for them, this year, Meadowcroft (residential home for the elderly) is half built and almost ready, they will need some of the ‘niceties’ like a fish tank and pictures of Thame.

New hospital for Thame?

“Also,” he continued, “Thame hospital has been working for five or six years to get a new hospital built in the grounds and hopefully, a lot of funding should be announced within the next couple of weeks. The dream is to include diagnostic facilities and a new health centre within the new development, so I think we should support the Hospital League of Friends.”

Cllr Beatrice Dobie, who is Vice Chair of the ‘League thanked the Mayor on its behalf.

Photo: The new Mayor of Thame, Don Butler, pins the Past Mayor’s badge on his predecessor, Cllr Dave Bretherton.

A THAME toy shop, that has been fighting against its demolition to make way for a new library, has today announced that it is to close.
The Pied Pedaller, in North Street, Thame, was granted an extension to its lease by Oxfordshire County Council until September 2008, whilst the council made plans for the building’s replacement by a new library.

However, the Managing Director of the company that owns the Pied Pedaller, Ed Tilley, informed ThameNews.Net today:

“It is with great regret that I am informing you that J A Magson Ltd, the Company that owns and operates the Pied Pedaller toy shop in Thame, has decided to close the Pied Pedaller. The building of the library on the site appears inevitable and, as Xmas trading cannot be guaranteed, the decision has been made to pull out once all stock has been cleared.
“We will be commencing a closing down sale very shortly.”

The shop’s owners, J A Magson,’s Finance Director. Neil Mason, added:

?It is a shame that we could not continue to trade from this location. We would like to thank everyone who held a view about the development plans and who supported the idea of shops still being located here.
?We will make the most of our closing weeks of trading with a closing-down sale, and ensure that the closure process is smooth and that the store team are given fair and full redundancy packages.?

A WOMAN who was very badly injured in a car crash in Thame, has been awarded

OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL which owns the Pied Pedaller building in North Street, Thame, has effectively given itself planning permission to demolish it and build a new, two storey library – despite the town council’s disapproval of the design.
The county council is able to circumnavigate the normal route for planning applications, via the district council, under the rules, known as “Deemed permission OCC, Regulation 3”.

Thame Town Council’s Planning committee has twice rejected the design, described by Cllr Nigel Champken-Woods as “horrendous” and as including too much glass in the frontage making it look out of keeping with the street scene.

He accused the applicant (OCC) of trying to fool the committee by submitting a pen and ink drawing, which he said, made it look as though the design had been softened.
“We want a library, not a greenhouse!” he said.

The full details of the planning decision can be seen here.

Photo: Artist’s impression of the new library, to be built on the site of the Pied Pedaller toy shop in North Street.

FIRE CREWS from Thame and Kidlington were called by walkers yesterday (18/05) to rescue a Fallow deer that had become trapped in a wire fence in the Aston Rowant nature reserve.
Unfortunately the deer had received cuts and bruising in its attempts to free itself. After cutting the deer free from the fence it became clear that this adult female deer was a mother to be which made her treatment even more urgent.

Crew Manager, Lee Bransby from Thame, said: “We were concerned about this lovely animal due to the injuries that it had sustained but thanks to Liz from Tiggywinkles, who arrived soon after she was called, is now in safe hands”.

The deer had to be tranquillized before it could be taken to the Tiggywinkles centre in Haddenham for further treatment.

Station Manager, Simon Belcher, said” “The crews from Thame did an excellent job. When I arrived they had cut the deer free and were caring for it?s wounds and trying to prevent it from harming itself anymore”.

Photo: Courtesy of www.ypte.org.uk – A female fallow deer similar to the one rescued by fire offices yester (Sunday) at Aston Rowant Nature Reserve.

THE proprietor of a Thame pub has been fined for breaches of hygience regulations after inspectors discovered mice in a bar and food store.
District council inspectors made the discovery during a routine inspection of The Abindon Arms pub and the TBA bar and diner adjoining it, last August.

Photo: The Abingdon Arms, Thame