Category: Thame news

POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision on the A4129, Thame By-pass at the junction with the A418 roundabout.

At around 7.20pm last night,(30/9) a grey Saab was in collision with a pedestrian, a 14-year-old girl from Haddenham. She was air-lifted to the JRII hospital, oxford but later died from her injuries.

The road was closed until around 10.30pm while emergency services worked at the scene and collision investigators worked to establish the cause of the collision.

Anyone who witnessed the incident should contact PC Alison Brown at Aylesbury Roads Policing base via 0845 8 505 505.

The girl will not be formally identified until all her next of kin have been informed.

POLICE in Thame are launching a crime reduction initiative to reduce car crime in the area.
?Operation Magpie? involves crime reduction letters and leaflets about how to avoid becoming a victim of car crime being hand-delivered in roads where three or more vehicle crimes have been reported between January 1 and June 31, 2005.

A network, consisting of managers of local beauty spots and hotel and rural car parks, has been set up on the police ringmaster messaging system which will allow information to be sent to individuals about suspicious people and vehicles, keeping them up-to-date with any significant criminal activity in the area.

Crime Reduction Adviser, Lesley Nesbitt, said: ?Thame does have a higher rate of vehicle crime than other areas close by. Unfortunately the police can?t be everywhere, so the aim of this initiative is to give local residents as much information as possible about reducing the opportunity of becoming a victim of vehicle crime and to encourage the public to work with police and phone in any unusual or suspicious incidents.
?Research has shown that a large number of vehicle crimes occur because items of value have been left on display or that the vehicle has been left insecure. By removing items of value from your car, securing it and setting your alarm or immobiliser, you can dramatically reduce the chance of becoming a victim.?

The local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership have funded some large crime reduction signs that will be displayed in the area to raise people?s awareness to remove items of value from their vehicles.

Information from the public is essential to try and catch offenders. If you see anything suspicious please contact Thames Valley Police on 08458 505 505 or the anonymous Crimestoppers number on 0800 555 111.

THAME town council has rejected a request from the operators of the Jubilee pool, to install a four-person warm air drying room in the changing area, on the grounds that it would not be ?green?.
The council?s Culture, Leisure and Recreation committee discussed the request for a so-called ?Haystack? dryer, at their meeting lastTuesday, at which several councillors expressed the view that it would be: ?completely ludicrous?, ?an excessive waste of energy?, ?a gimmick that would only make the manufacturers a lot of money?.
The town clerk said in her view, the dryer would be just a novelty, adding: ?The management should address some of the other issues in the area like cleanliness and running the pool more effectively. I think we should look at spending money on the Poseiden, (anti-drowning system) first.?

FOLLOWING a distraction burgary in Wellington Street last Thursday, Thame police have issued some tips to avoid becoming a victim.
Lesley Nesbitt, the Crime Reduction Advisor for Thame, issued the following advice on how to prevent becoming a victim of distraction burglary:
“There are several simple rules that we must all remember to avoid becoming victims of distraction burglary,” she said.

“Never let anyone into your home if they have not made a prior arrangement, particularly with people claiming to be from utility companies. If they call and ask to come in, check with the company they claim to be from, if they are genuine they will understand.

“Avoid using people you do not know to do odd jobs for you, as in this case they could prove to be criminals.

“Fit a door chain and use it. Stop, Chain and then Check should be the routine you use when anyone calls at your door.

“If you have elderly friends, relatives or neighbours, help them by ensuring they understand the risks and that they have the proper security measures fitted.

“Finally, if you think you may have been a victim or a suspicious caller comes to your home, contact police immediately via 999. These criminals are often highly mobile and do not stick around in the same area for long. A prompt phone call with good descriptions of those involved and most importantly, any vehicles they may be using, will give police the best chance of catching them.”

THREE young people from the Thame area are to receive awards from South Oxfordshire District Council, to help them achieve their sporting and artistic aspirations.
The three are among 11 young people from the district who have shown great potential in their area of expertise.
The Chairman of the Council, Patrick Greene, will present the awards at a ceremony at the Council?s offices on Friday, September 30, at 3pm.

In a statement today, Patrick Greene said: “These awards acknowledge the young people?s commendable commitment and determination to succeed in their field. We hope the awards will encourage them to continue achieving such brilliant results.”

Jack Brooks, a 20 year old from Tiddington, has played County Cricket for Oxfordshire at all age groups, including the Full Senior Team and last year made his debut in the Minor Counties Championship against Wales. He recently visited Australia to enhance his knowledge of cricket and Jack?s coach was very pleased to support this application on behalf of the Oxfordshire Cricket Board. Jack was awarded

THAME Kart racer, Alun Rowe, lead the winning team in a close-run special memorial endurance race last week.
The Darren James Trophy race was the first to celebrate the memory of one of Klub Kart Racing, Aylesbury’s members who died earlier this year from cancer.

Darren James was a regular racer at Klub Kart Racing in Aylesbury, taking part in many race events and winning a host of medals and an army of friends.

Darren (37,) had bravely fought cancer for five months before he finally passed away on May 3, 2005. He left behind his partner of 14 years, Karen and three children, Gemma (18), Alex (18) and Anthony (11).

In honour of Darren?s memory, his friend Dave O?Connell organised The Darren James Trophy which he hopes to run annually. The event is an opportunity for family and friends to remember Darren through a sport that he was so passionate about.

“He was a great driver but karting events for Darren weren?t just the about racing but also for the social side, chatting with old friends or making new ones over a coffee,” recalls Dave.

The two- hour endurance race covered around 250 laps and turned out, as expected, to be a fiercely contested battle between nine competing teams.
The following is a race report from Dave himself:

It was the closest racing over 2hrs that klub kart and I have seen for a long time.
Team two took pole position with a time just 2 tenths in front of team one.
As the flag dropped to start the race, teams 2,1 and 10 roared away with what looked like three rockets taking off into the distance.

Team 1 were the first to pit after only 10 min with a strategy in mind which would turn out for the best later on.
Roy Craig of team 10 drove a stunning lap of 26.91 sec on lap 16 to which would became a bench mark.

With the first changeovers completed, the leaders were dropping down the places with great drives by the 2nd team members of teams 7, 5, 4 and my team, 3.

When I joined at the 20 min mark, we were fighting for 3rd place; some fantastic driving by Greg Bird for getting us to there.

I was staying out for 30 mins to try and keep us up with the lead pack and with other teams changing drivers we kept a good position until I got tangled up with an accident which lost us a lap.

Over the first hour the lead was changing hands with fantastic overtaking manoeuvres by all; there was nothing to separate the teams.

It was great to watch most teams at some stage of the race in the top three.

All teams were consistently driving laps in the 27 seconds which kept the racing close.

During the latter stages of the race most of the teams’ quickest drivers were on track and the battles for places were incredible; with nearly 200 laps done, the gap covering first to sixth place was only four laps.

The kart centre was amazed and excited with the racing.

Dave Larner of team 2 and Alun Rowe of team 1 were constantly trying to better the fastest lap of the race set earlier on by Roy. They were both so close when on lap 200, Dave produced his most stunning lap of the race. With a clear track in front of him and the bit between his teeth he drove 26.75.

Alun driving for team 1 was quietly going thru the field; his strategy had paid off and he was now leading the race but being hunted down by team 7.
With that in mind, on lap 221 Alun drove his fastest lap of the race with a 26.90. He held on the lead to win on lap 245.

Congratulations to Team 1 consisting of Alun Rowe, Gerald Ringsell and Thomas Lavita for winning the first Darren James Trophy.

I would like to thank all the drivers for a fantastic race and hope that you all come back next year.
I would also like to thank Klub Kart racing for holding this event and for their generous donation of

THAME POLICE are urging parents and school children in the town to be vigilant after a 15-year-old girl was approached by a man this morning (26/9).

At around 8.20am, a white man tried to grab the girl as she walked to school along a pathway between Brook Lane and Beech Road.
The man is aged in his late twenties, around 5ft 8ins with dark short hair and stubble. He was wearing blue jeans, a black hooded top and dark trainers with a white stripe.

PC Colin James said: “Anyone who has seen a man of this description acting suspiciously is urged to contact police via 0845 8 505 505. I advise all school children who are approached by anyone they do not know not to speak to them and tell a parent or an adult they know.”

Anyone with information that could assist police inquiries is urged to contact PC James, via 0845 8 505 505. If you don?t want to speak to police and don?t want to leave your name contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A SIX-MONTH crackdown on violent crime, code-named Safer Streets, gets underway today to tackle a surge in violent crime across Thames Valley.

In a statement today, Thames Valley Police say: “The Safer Streets drive is about making it safer to live in Thames Valley and enjoy the nightlife. Violent crime accounts for 21 per cent of total crime across the Force. The campaign will be aimed at 15 to 35 year-olds and focus on alcohol-related violent crime, robbery of young people and replica guns.

“Safer Streets will have a three-pronged attack. There will be an operation code-named ?Hangover?, which will tackle an 18 per cent increase in violence against the person.

“The focus will be on persistent offenders with high-visibility patrols in concentrated areas of violent activity. Officers will work closely with local authorities, related organisations and licensees to ensure appropriate crime reduction tips are getting through to potential victims and warnings through to potential offenders.

“The second strand of Safer Streets will tackle robberies of young people. This is a renewal of the campaign that targeted street robbers in 2002, and although personal robberies are continuing to drop across the Force (8 per cent decrease since April 2005), Thames Valley Police is determined to keep the pressure on persistent offenders. Information from crime reports and intelligence will be used to direct officer activity on a daily basis.”

Assistant Chief Constable Katherine Govier, said: ?We are committed to tackling the increase in alcohol-related violent crime and will be working closely with our partner organisations.

?Safer Streets will focus on making it safer and more enjoyable to go out in our towns and cities at night. We will put pressure on people who get drunk and violent and robbers who prey on young people, students and those who wish to enjoy a peaceful evening out?.

The statement goes on to say: “The third part of Safer Streets will tackle the rise in the number of young people with replica firearms, as well as raise awareness of new legislation which makes it illegal to carry imitation or air weapons in public, and the danger people put themselves in by carrying these weapons.

“Armed officers are attending an increasing number of incidents where replica guns are involved, and, because it is difficult to tell the difference between imitation and real firearms, there are concerns a young person will end up being shot by police.”

Full details of the Safer Streets campaign can be found at www.thamesvalley.police.uk/saferstreets

THE flourishing relationship between Thame and its twin town in France was strengthened when a group from Thame spent a most convivial weekend as guests of their friends in Montesson.
Despite the coach they travelled in running out of fuel on the French side of the ?Chunnel? on the way home, the weekend has been hailed a huge success by all those who rose early on Friday morning for the excursion, including the Mayor of Thame, Cllr David Laver, and his deputy, Cllr David Dodds.

The weekend was a very special one for Montesson?s relationship with its German twin, Baeswiler, with whom they were celebrating 15 years of twinning. During a special reception on the Friday evening, the Mayor of Montesson, Jean-Fran