Thame.net

Category: More News

  • Worker’s death promps call for review of ‘dangerous’ construction site practices

    AFTER a jury at the Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court decided that the death of Stephen Buck, 58, was an accident, the Coroner, Darren Salter, said that the case should prompt a review of ‘dangerous’ construction site practices.

    The late David Buck (image courtesy of bbc.co.uk/news

     

     

    Mr Buck died after being struck by a reversing truck on a housing development building site in Thame, in April 2017.

    The Coroner said that he would be writing to the two firms involved, ECL Construction, which employed Mr Buck, and David Einig Contracting, which employed the driver, about his concerns and to the Construction Industry Advisory Committee with a ‘prevention of future deaths report’.

    SOURCE: bbcnews.co.uk/             Related article HERE

  • Feeling SO inspired for my ‘ Conversation with the authors’ at TAL 2018

    HOW come? Because – I’ve just finished reading Lydia Syson’s book ‘Mr Peacock’s Possessions’ – one of the two books I’ll be talking about with their authors, as part of the fabulous TAL – Thame Arts & Literature festival. LINK HERE

    What can I say? Just WOW! The tantalizing description ‘An intimate, intense, beautifully realised novel of possession, power and the liberating loss of innocence’ really gives scant clue to the emotional, poetic, historically illuminating adventure that this book carries you into – with a climax so nerve-wracking and thrilling, that I had to stop and breathe before reading the final pages.

    Author: Lydia Syson

    Obviously I want you to buy a ticket and come along to Thame library on Friday, October 19, at 10.30am, but REALLY – you have 12 days to scoot along to the Book House in Thame, buy a copy and read Lydia Syson’s book ‘Mr Peacock’s Possessions’ for yourself and I can assure you, that once you’ve left the volcanic (in every sense of the word) ‘Monday Island’ in the middle of the Pacific, and your pulse has returned to it’s familiar rythm, you’ll be so glad you did.

    Frederica Bell, left, and some of the family (ancestors of Lydia’s husband whose story inspired the novel) outside a vegetable shed, Raoul Island. 1908. PHOTO: REF: PA1-Q-135-13-2. ALEXANDER TURNBULL LIBRARY

    And now, I’m about to start my second interviewee’s book, The Story Keeper, by Anna Mazzola, ‘…..a sizzling, period novel of folk tales, disappearances and injustice set on the Isle of Skye’ ( Hmmmm – another island; there’s a theme emerging here).  I’ll let you know how I get on. In the meantime, nip on over to the TAL website  where you’ll find a huge variety of books, talks and other arts and literature goodies to take part in. But hurry – many are sold out and tickets for others running out fast. But, you know, just go for something you might otherwise have chosen and you never know, you just might enjoy a new author, find a new interest or at the very least, experience something unexpected. Hence TAL’s motto: Participate – Enjoy – Inspire

    Can’t wait. See you there!

    Sonja Francis

  • Attempted burglary in Thame

    THAMES Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following an attempted burglary in Thame, Oxfordshire. Early this morning, October 4, 2018,  at 02:45, there was an attempted burglary at a property in East Street. No entry was gained.

     

     

    If you have seen any suspicious looking vehicles or people in the area or have any information relating to this message, please call the police via the 24 hour non- emergency telephone number 101.

    Alternatively, if you have any information but wish to remain anonymous, please call crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online via crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken; information is not traced or recorded and you will not be required to go to court.

  • Grape Success for Local Wine

    THAME based OxBuck Wine Collective began in 2017 from a small group of locals with garden vines in their gardens. Now, in year two, the group have finished their 2017 ‘Vintage’ – a tasty little Rose which was co produced with the Tooting group and this year they set their sights high for a vintage of their own.

    Unloading the juicy harvest!

    Founders Robin Butler and Ali Gray weighed in nearly 400Kg of local grapes from Thame and surrounding villages which were collected and weighed at Bucksum Farm Shop in Long Crendon. Bucksum then drove the grapes, with Robin, to Halfpenny vineyard near Dudley where they will be transformed into wine.

    “We love growing things and hate food waste so this made perfect sense to us and with professional heavy duty scales, a van and some keen Buckinghamshire customers, we were glad to help,” said Tracy and David Newman.

    Robin and  Ali will go and taste the wine in January and the 400 or so bottles will be shared amongst the collective with any excess hopefully being sold locally at Deli No 5 in Thame, by Easter.

    SOURCE: Contributed

  • Contract worker crushed by reversing lorry – inquest begins

    A groundworker, who was run over by a reversing lorry on a Thame building site, died ‘instantly’ a jury inquest heard today.


    Stephen Buck, who lived in Neath, North Wales, died whilst working on a housing development, owned by Bloor Homes, on April 18, 2017. Mr Buck’s wife, Kay, told the inquest that her husband had worked in the building trade for 40 years, and that he loved his job. A digger driver, Nick O’Brien, recalled how he saw Mr Buck under the rear of the reversing lorry, hanging on trying, unsuccessfully not to be pulled underneath.

    CCTV footage showing Mr Buck in a high vis jacket with his back to the moving lorry, was shown to the jury but was stopped at the point of impact. After describing Mr Buck’s ‘devastating’ injuries, the pathologist, Dr Nicholas Hunt, said that there was nothing anyone could have done to save his life.

    Stephen Buck, 58, was a subcontractor working for ECL Construction.

    The hearing is expected to last for three days.

    SOURCE: BBC www.bbc.co.uk/news/

     

  • Advertisement feature: Beautiful luxury new homes launched this weekend

    AWARD winning new homes builder, Dandara, is putting the finishing touches to their new homes launch event at The Grove, Stanbridge Road, Haddenham, Bucks, taking place this weekend October 6 & 7, 2018, featuring four beautifully prepared show homes.

    If you’re looking for a gorgeous new home built to the very highest standards and benefitting from excellent travel connections, set within an exquisite, much sought-after village with all the life enhancing qualities that the hills, open fields and clear skies offer, only 46 minutes by train from London – then you’ll find it at The Grove, Haddenham.

    There are many reasons for choosing to live at The Grove with ample amenities to cater for all tastes, including; countryside walks, local community social activities and sports clubs. For those with families there is a wide range of state, grammar, and independent schools to choose from, including one highly rated primary and two junior schools situated within a 10-minute walk of the development.

    Each of the new home designs and layouts has been carefully considered to appeal to a range of discerning home buyers: from first time purchasers, to young and growing families, downsizers and those that seek easy living bungalow style homes with spacious gardens.

    Individuality was a key consideration in the planning of the development with every opportunity taken to create attractive street scenes by blending a wide range of home styles together with subtle details and exterior finishes, ensuring that new homebuyers are spoilt for choice.

    The homes have been sensitively planned around the meandering natural landscape, featuring open spaces, hedgerows, small copses and a play area to make the best of the local environment with the Chiltern Hills taking centre stage.

    Save the date, come and see us – we’ll have four beautiful homes open for you to visit, and our team on hand to answer questions and take reservations. Find out how ‘Help to Buy’ can enable you to move to the beautifully new home of your dreams…

    We’ll also have coffee and snacks available, with games to keep the kids quiet too!

    For further information and to register your interest about any of the new homes at The Grove, visit the beautifully furnished show homes and sales and marketing suite, open seven days a week 10am – 5.00pm or call 0800 5875 171.

  • Campaigners take to the streets of Thame as part of National Day of Action

    GROUPS campaigning for a People’s Vote, including those from the Thame group, were out in force on Saturday, September 29, as part of a National Day of Action.

    Activists and supporters from the People’s Vote campaign took to the streets in Thame, as well as across the rest of the UK, to demand their right to a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal.

    Over 100 local groups, including thousands of activists and supporters, took part in events across the UK. They delivered 1 million leaflets, and ran street stalls in towns and cities the length and breadth of the country, including areas that voted both Remain and Leave.

    The People’s Vote National Day of Action followed on from the hugely successful People’s Vote Summer of Action, which saw mass rallies take place in Bristol, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Cambridge and Cardiff. The People’s Vote March for the Future takes place in London on October 20. It is expected to be the biggest Brexit-related march so far, larger than the previous People’s Vote march which was attended by over 100,000 people.

    Robin Storey of Open Britain Thame said: “Thousands of leaflets are being delivered locally by volunteers to advertise the London march for a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal on October 20. The group will be meeting to take the 09:38 train from Haddenham. Volunteers attended a march and visited the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham to highlight the growing Conservatives for a Peoples Vote group, that we believe John Howell MP should now support. People’s Vote stalls take place Saturday, October 6, at 11am in Henley and 2pm in Thame.

    “Nobody voted to be poorer, but constituents’ jobs are at risk from a no deal or botched Brexit. BMW Mini in Cowley have warned publicly of the threat to their supply chain and have announced a shut down for a month from Brexit day. High tech businesses and the NHS around Oxford are losing qualified EU staff, who no longer feel welcome. ”

    More information about the People’s Vote Summer of Action can be read here: https://www.peoples-vote.uk/summer_of_action

    More information about the People’s Vote March for the Future can be read here: https://www.peoples-vote.uk/march

  • £145,000 available for local groups in South Oxfordshire

    WHETHER it’s money for a new sports hall, church bell or a village noticeboard South Oxfordshire District Council now has £145,000 available for local groups doing building work or making major improvements.

    Today (1/10) marks the opening of the council’s capital grants scheme. Local organisations in South Oxfordshire have just six weeks to apply to the council for money towards improving, creating or replacing community facilities. The deadline for applications is November 15.

    Grants range from £1,000 which could cover the replacement of a village noticeboard to £100,000 towards a project like a new recreation ground, but the improvements must benefit local residents.

    In the last 18 months the council has helped fund more than 35 projects with grants ranging from £1,799 up to £250,000, including sea scout equipment in Clifton Hampden, church bell replacement in Cuddesdon and a new cricket pavilion in Thame.

    Crowmarsh Parish Council Playground Action Team successfully applied for a grant of just over £99,000 towards the building of a playground and outdoor gym in Crowmarsh. A parish council spokeswoman said: “Recently we were granted the last of the funding needed for the project to go ahead. Subject to legal agreements, this means we’re aiming for an Easter 2019 opening date, which is great news for the community. Thank you.”

    Councillor Lynn Lloyd, the council’s cabinet member for community services, said: “We are lucky to have so many active community groups in the district delivering great projects that benefit our residents and we want to help them achieve their goals. We’ve already awarded more than £700,000 this year but we still have £145,000 available. Groups must get their applications in before 15 November so I urge any groups planning community improvements to get in touch with our grants team and start an application as soon as possible.”

    For more information and advice please visit the council’s website www.southoxon.gov.uk/grants, email the grants team at grants@southandvale.gov.uk or give them a call on 01235 422405.

  • Thame resident challenges MP in open letter

    MANY people from Thame and the surrounding villages would have read the constituency’s MP, John Howell’s article in the local press or read his latest news letter on his website, expressing his opposition to a People’s Vote. A Thame resident, himself a supporter of a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal, has now written an open letter to John Howell:

    Dear Dr Howell

    I have just read your InTouch Newsletter, and believe it needs an immediate and open response, since it will have been seen by a large number of your constituents who may be misled by it.

    I can understand, as a UK representative to it, you would hold a high opinion of the Council of Europe, but to dismiss the real role that the EU has had in supporting the democracies that replaced the dictatorships in Europe is surely incorrect. It was the EU (and its previous incarnations as the EEC & EC) that provided the prosperity that enabled the fledgling democracies of Greece, Portugal & Spain to flourish. Human Rights organisations such as the Council of Europe are worthwhile institutions, but they don’t hold much traction with dictators, and to claim that it is the Council of Europe that has enabled us to live in peace and prosperity is preposterous. While you might berate him for not mentioning the Council of Europe, to describe Guy Verhofstadt’s speech as “fundamentally incorrect” is not appropriate.

    Your section on Brexit is a perfect example of why 82% of respondents are fed up with politicians claiming to speak for everyone. You regularly cite occasional conversations in the street as signalling widespread support for your position on Brexit, without actually saying what was said. You now seem to be holding up this latest ORB poll as further support. This poll says that 35% of Leave voters hadn’t fully considered the complexity of what they voted for, while 30% would support a “no-deal” Brexit. This nearly 1 in 3 of respondents are still not considering the complexities (and costs) of what they are asking for.

    Roy Mottram

    Nearly 1 in 3 respondents being happy to crash out of the EU without a deal is an indictment of our press and politicians, yourself included. You have failed to highlight the lies that were told by the Leave campaign, pushing a (false) equivalence argument that “both sides lied” (without any evidence). Your latest newsletter does nothing to try to explain to that nearly 1 in 3 that the government “technical notices” are for real, and not just some extension of “Project Fear”. This government has had over two years to produce a realistic plan, and they have failed. There is now little “time & space” left – just what have they been doing? Perhaps their failure to produce a realistic plan is because as soon as it is written down it will be shown to deliver no benefits.

    You say “This is neither the time for rushing around crying betrayal or for trying to frustrate the decision of the referendum.” I agree. It’s the time to finalise the Withdrawal Agreement, and produce as detailed a plan as possible for the future relationship. Having done that, it will be the time to seek a mandate to continue with the process, because it’s clear that the 2016 referendum was unsafe and provides no such mandate.

    Anybody who believes that a Peoples Vote would undermine the result of the 2016 referendum must also believe that leaving the EU is no longer “the will of the people”. For any government to continue on such a course, believing that the electorate did not wish it to do so, would surely be undemocratic.

    As my MP, I would ask you to support any vote in Parliament that requires the Withdrawal Agreement and proposal for the future relationship with the EU to be put to a Peoples Vote for ratification. I note that there is the second reading of a private members bill to that effect on October 26, and I ask you to both contribute to the debate and vote for the bill.

    Sincerely
    Roy Motteram
    Thame
    (full address supplied)

  • Thank you Thame Carnival! from town’s schools

    THAME’S schools now have extra funds to spend on projects for their pupils, thanks to the generosity of the people of Thame who contributed to the money raised by 21st Century Thame’s biggest annual event, the Thame Carnival and fete.

    St Joseph’s school celebrating their Carnival entry win on stage at the Carnival fete

    The sum of £725 has now been paid into the bank accounts of John Hampden PTFA, Barley Hill PTFA and St Josephs PTFA. Lord Williams’s schools’s PTA also raised £1,151 on their Pimms stall independently.

    Sharon Smits, Chair of John Hampden School’s PTFA, said: “We are delighted with the money Thame Carnival has donated to John Hampden School. It formed part of the fund we used to buy a new Trim Trail for the children. The children loved taking part in the carnival as it enhances their learning experience whilst having fun.”

    The Trim Trail installed at John Hampden School, Thame

    The Deputy Principal of St Joseph’s school, Thame, Fiona Dyer, said: “St. Joseph’s had a wonderful time at this year’s Thame Carnival. It’s a wonderful community event – enjoyed by all. We were delighted to come first this year and thank everyone involved in making it a success – especially our fantastic School Orchestra.

    “‘The generous donation will go towards buying an electric piano to enhance the children’s musical learning at assemblies, collective worship and school performances.”

    A spokesperson for Barley Hill School, said: “Barley Hill would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to Thame Carnival for their very generous donation. We thoroughly enjoyed coming together with the other schools and community to celebrate Thame. The money will help us to buy more fiction books for our Library.”

    Barley Hill’s entry in Thame Carnival 2018

    Karen Shardlow, Chair of Lord Williams’s PTA, was delighted with the support they received at the fete. She said: “We are really pleased to be part of Thame Carnival; a fantastic community event which has given us the opportunity to fundraise for LWS. Pimms proved to be a huge success and monies raised will be used to buy outdoor sports equipment for our students. Well done to the organising committee and many thanks to everyone who visited our stall.”