Category: More News

YEAR 12 students from Lord Williams’s school’s Ambassador Team recently ran a ‘Food Drive’ across the whole school, collecting food, Christmas items and toiletries to donate to The Trussell Trust, a charity which provides food and supply boxes for families in crisis.

The team collected donations between December 4-8, and delivered them to the warehouse on the afternoon December 15, and the combined donation total weighed in at over a ¼ tonne – an impressive 232.8KG. The volunteers were overwhelmed by the amount the school had collected and have written a letter to express their gratitude to all of those involved.

The Year 12 Ambassador team would also like to thank everyone for their generosity in helping us to make such a success of this event.

SOURCE: Contributed

INDIVIDUALS and businesses are being warned to watch out for cold calls and online contact from fraudsters who are offering victims the opportunity to apply for Government grants for an advance fee.

To make the grants look legitimate fraudsters have set up bogus companies and convincing looking websites that claim to be operating on behalf of the UK Government.

Fraudsters cold call businesses and individuals offering the grant and if they’re interested direct them to fill out an online application form with their personal information.
Once the fraudsters have that information they’ll contact back victims and congratulate them on being accepted onto the grant programme.

Pre-paid credit cards

Applicants are then asked to provide identification and are instructed to get a pre-paid credit card to deposit their own contribution to the fake Government grant scheme. Fraudsters will then contact victims on the phone or are emailed and asked for the details of their pre-paid credit card and copies of statements to in order for them to add the grant funds.

Of course the grant funds are never given by the fraudsters and the money that’s been loaded by the victim onto the card is stolen.

If you receive one of these calls, hang up immediately and report it to us. We’ve already taken down one website fraudsters have been using to commit this fraud and are working with Companies House to combat this issue.

How to protect yourself

Be wary of unsolicited callers implying that you can apply for grants. You should never have to pay to receive a government grant, and they definitely won’t instruct you to obtain a pre-paid credit card. The government should have all the information they need if a genuine grant application was submitted, therefore any requests for personal or banking information either over the phone or online should be refused.

What to do if you’re a victim

If you think your bank or personal details have been compromised or if you believe you have been defrauded contact your bank immediately.
Stop all communication with the ‘agency’ but make a note of their details and report it to Action Fraud.
If you have been affected by this, or any other type of fraud, report it to Action Fraud by visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

The information contained within this alert is based on information from gathered by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB). The purpose of this alert is to increase awareness of this type of fraud. The alert is aimed at members of the public, local police forces, businesses and governmental agencies.

THE first residents of four new social homes in Great Haseley, near Thame, could be moving in for Christmas. (more…)

WITH the exception of John Hampden Primary School, all the other schools in Thame were closed today because of the wintry conditions, so many children were able to enjoy a second ‘snow day’,  just like these youngsters enjoying one of the few slopes on Sunday, in Thame, near Lord Williams’s Upper School. (more…)

THE sister of Heston Blumenthal, who lives in Park Street, Thame, has admitted to Oxford Magistrates that she attacked their mother, Celia, aged 76, in East Street, Thame.

According the the Mail Online, the court heard how a witness, Mrs Lambert, who lives in Thame, reported hearing the defendant, scream: “You f*****g b***h; I’m going to kill you!” before going out onto the street and calling the police, at which point the altercation stopped and the younger woman left the scene.

It was revealed that Alexis Blumenthal, who had a problem with drink, had on one occasion, grabbed hold of her mother’s hair, repeatedly punched her and almost caused her mother to fall down the stairs, at the older woman’s home in Watlington. In the second attack in Thame, Alexis ‘slammed’ her mother’s head against a car.

Alexis was originally charged last October, with two counts of assault by beating on October 7 and September 9, but failed to show up for the court hearing.

The case has been adjourned for sentencing until January 11, and in the meantime, Alexis Blumenthal’s Bail conditions mean that she cannot contact her mother or call at her house unless accompanied by a police officer with the purpose to collect her own belongings from the property.

MEMBERS of the Thame and Sinaia Friendship Association were sad to learn of the death of King Michael of Romania who has passed away at the age of 96.

Marius Ciortan, the founder and Chair of the TSFG, who is himself from Romania, told Thame.net: “For me, King Michael was a symbol, a great personality and a great believer in Romania restoring its democratic values and the rule of law. He defied both the brutal fascist and communist dictatorships which succeeded in Romania in the 20th Century. He was in fact, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth ll.

“I remember His Majesty visiting Bucharest in 1992, and myself – in my early ’20s at that time – being among hundreds of thousands of people waving at him hoping that one day His Majesty would regain his throne, should the will of the people say so.”

Vlad Oprea, the Mayor of Sinaia, who has visited Thame, wrote the following in the condolences book at Peles Castle December 6: “For me, as a resident of Sinaia, it was a great honour to meet in person His Majesty, King Michael of Romania, for the first time here at Peles Castle in June 2008.”

Marius recalled that during Sinaia’s Christmas Lights switch on in the evening of December 6, Vlad Oprea said: “His Majesty, King Michael is joining in Heaven those other personalities who watch over our town where they were born.”

Crown Princess Margareta’s words expressed the feelings of the Romanian people: “….A personal loss as well as a loss for the entire Nation. We mourn together, knowing that we are united in our sorrow. An example of unwavering devotion to his people, with a high sense of duty and strong principles, he wrote the most valuable page in the contemporary history of our nation. His kindness and compassion defeated all villainy of the past century. His wisdom insured the constancy of our identity, in times of serious deviation from the natural path of our State and Nation.”

You can read the Princess’s full statement here: LINK

You can read about the life of King Michael of Romania via the BBC: LINK

THERE’S no reason why anyone should be alone this Christmas because, for the sixth year running, Community Christmas Thame aims to provide a lunch on Christmas Day for the isolated and vulnerable elderly of the Thame area.

Previously, the events have been hosted in the The Birdcage pub, in Thame, but due to increasing demand, Founder, Kathy Thomas, has had to find a larger location so this year’s event will be held at the Masonic Hall, in Thame.

Kathy said: “We must also say a massive thanks to Sainsburys and the Thame Welfare Trust for supporting us these last couple of years. Without them, we would not have been able to provide this event.”

On Christmas Eve, Kathy and her band of volunteers we will be preparing the food and decorating the dining area. Volunteers will then collect the Christmas lunch guests on Christmas morning, and once at the Masonic Hall, they will all enjoy some entertainment and a traditional, freshly cooked lunch.

If you would like to join Kathy as either a volunteer or a guest, call 01844 217413.

THAMES Valley Police is asking members of the public to be vigilant in the run-up to Christmas, as there is often an increase in burglaries at this time of year.

The police want residents to think about what security they have in place, and what more they can do to deter burglars.

In recent months there has been a national increase in burglaries and break-ins with a 25 per cent rise in burglaries across the Thames Valley in the last six months.

Thames Valley Police stated today: “We have dedicated resources in place to disrupt and investigate burglaries, and bring offenders to justice. Officers in our Neighbourhood Policing Teams are also working to offer advice to residents and also disrupt burglars.

“On Wednesday (6/12) we will be holding a live webchat to offer the public advice on how to keep their homes safe. LINK HERE to join in.  This week too we have launched an online advent calendar with good advice on how to stay safe over the next month.

People can visit the Thames Valley Police’s Facebook page and TVP Twitter pages every day for advice which includes how to ensure your home is properly protected, how to plan your journey home after a night out, the consequences of drink driving and what to do if you are experiencing domestic abuse.

There is further information on how to protect your home on the Thames Valley Police website.

Detective Chief Superintendent Richard List, said: “We are only too aware of the serious impact that having your home broken into has on people in the Thames Valley. It is traumatic both psychologically and financially.

“Over recent months, like other forces across the country, we have been seeing an increase in burglaries. There are a number of reasons for this increase but it’s important that we all do everything we possibly can to prevent burglaries being committed in the first place.

“We are taking every action possible to tackle this by bringing offenders to justice, and also disrupting those who see fit to carry out these crimes.

“We would ask the public to think about what measures they can take to secure their homes.

“This could include securing doors and windows, having lights on timers and also not advertising on social media if you are going away for a holiday. My taking just a few simple measures, particularly at this time of year, you can significantly reduce your risk of being a victim of burglary.

“Additionally, we would ask members of the community to be vigilant and keep an eye on their neighbours’ properties if they are unoccupied and report any suspicious behaviour by calling 101 or speaking to one of the neighbourhood policing teams.”

HUNDREDS of families turned out in the cold and, at times very damp air on Friday (01/12), for the big, Thame Christmas Event with its switching-on-of-the-Christmas lights grand finale.

As little Ellen Sweet pushed the magic plunger with the help of her dad, Andrew and the Mayor Thame, Tom Wyse, at just after 7pm, a huge sigh of relief went round from all concerned. An emergency repair and replacement of some of the lights by a lighting engineer had to carried out earlier, after vandals snipped wires on the tree lights over-night on Wednesday.

A camera has now been installed by a public-spirited businessman in the area to monitor the tree 24 hours a day and the police CCTV operators are monitoring the area regularly.

LINK HERE for some of the best moments captured from the big, Thame Christmas Event, including the ever-popular Crêpe ladies from Montesson, Thame’s twin town in France.