Category: More News

WHEN Victoria and Thomas Stibbs’s baby, Fearne, was stillborn in February they were supported by two amazing charities – Aching Arms and the Simpson’s Memory Box Appeal. Both charities gave Victoria and Tom the strength to pull though their tragedy.

Victoria and Thomas, together with her sister Penny, Penny’s partner Leon and two friends, entered the Tough Mudder race held near Henley, last Saturday and ran a 12 mile obstacle course which included an ice bath, greasy monkey bars and electric shocks. The race was designed by the Special Forces to be the ultimate test of stamina and determination.

Victoria’s mum, Catherine Jones, said after the raise: “ I am SO proud I am bursting!”

They finished it in under four hours and have now raised over £8000 via www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding

WITH a turnout of just 26% in the Thame and Chinnor Ward, the Conservative Party has secured two County Councillors in today’s Local Elections to represent the ward, Nick Carter with 2,959 votes, and Jeannette Matelot-Green with 2,791 votes. Jeannette is currently Deputy Chair of South Oxfordshire Distrct Council, and Nick has been Thame’s County Councillor for eight years.

Voting figures for the other Thame and Chinnor candidates were as follows:

Kate Michelle Gregory –    Liberal Democrats 1609
Gaby Oatway –                     Liberal Democrats 1461
David Matthew Bailey –     Labour Party 750
Simon Stone –                      Labour Party 597
Louisa Mary Wilkinson  –  Green Party 391
Ali Gordon-Creed –             Green Party 328

The Conservatives won 31 seats out of the 63 up for grabs, leaving them just one short for over-all control of Oxfordshire County Council – the same as in 2013. Deputy council leader, Rodney Rose, lost his seat to the Lib Dems.

This is Oxfordshire (see LINK)  has reported that opposition parties have ‘launched a charm offensive to try and woo independent councillors who could now hold the balance of power’. This is Oxfordshire further reports that both Labour and the Liberal Democrats have said they could consider a ‘rainbow coalition’, with talks expected to take place this weekend.

The overall turnout for yesterday’s election in Oxfordshire was 33%, up from 30% in 2013.

EQUINE dentist, Grant Chanter and Associates, based at Ford, near Thame, have been granted the Royal Warrant by appointment to Her Majesty The Queen, after 12 years looking after Her Majesty’s horses.

Grant Chanter told Thame.Net: “I am over the moon with being granted the Warrant. I have been working as an Equine Dental Technician for 17 years and provided my services to the Royal Household for 12 years. This is my proudest moment in this field of business.

THAME has been celebrating those in the community who give their time voluntarily for the benefit of others. The ninth Thame Town Awards, hosted by the Mayor of Thame, Linda Emery, were held in the Thame Barns Centre last night, one of her last official duties before her mayoral tenure ends next week.

After a presentation by the two members of 21st Century Thame, who steered Thame to two, Great British High Street Awards and four separate ‘Revive and Thrive’ prizes for town, the Mayor presented Helen Johns and Sonja Francis with a glass bowl, thanking them on behalf of the Town Council for ‘working tirelessly to promote Thame’.

Cllr David Dodds was presented with a very special award of a framed edition of the Thame Gazette, from 50 years-ago, annnouncing his election to, what was then, Thame Urban District Council, the youngest councillor in Oxfordshire. He has been Mayor of Thame eight times. David was also given a luxury two-night stay at The Billesley Hotel, as a thank you for his 50 years’ service to the Town Council, to share with his wife.

Other individuals who had been nominated by members of the public and selected by a panel of judges, received awards in five categories. The Director of Interchurch Productions and ex teacher at John Hampden School in Thame, Catherine Enticknap, received the Creative Arts Achievement Award in recognition of her having ‘motivated people of all ages to act, sing and  dance and perform, with many at a high level and going on to be professionals.

This year’s Sporting Achievement Award went to Ian Blyth, Head Coach of Thame Swimming Club. ‘His passion and enthusiasm for the club, and his relentless energy for inspiring the best in each and every swimmer is palpable’ said the Mayor. ‘The club now has more swimmers competing at County, Regional and National levels than ever before, and swimmers also take part in the Swim Camp in Spain, and Welsh Nationals in Swansea.’

Described as ‘Beacons of positivity’ and ‘always delivering a happy and friendly service to their customers and the community of Thame, Jason and Joshua Atalay received the Service with A Smile Award. “They serve some of the best kebabs in Thame, and received many nominations for their top-class service,” said the Mayor. “And because they are always smiling!” she added.

Barley Hill teacher, well-know for her ‘enjoyable and popular charity quizzes’, Sue Boyle was presented with the Volunteer Of The Year Award. Through her quizzes, Sue has raised thousands of pounds for local charities including Lord Williams’s Association, Thame Carnival, Thame and District Day Centre, Safari and Children In Need. Sue was described as ‘a true pillar of the community’.

Angus Lachlan, who recently stepped down as Chairman of Thame Town Cricket Club, after 25 years of service as a volunteer at the club, received this year’s Life Time Achievement Award. He was nominated for ‘ selflessly giving up huge amounts of his time, and for his amazing breadth of service – umpiring, coaching, barman and tractor-driving!’ – ‘an outstanding contribution to the life and success of the cricket club’.

The awards ceremony finished with the Mayor presenting her Mayor’s Cadet for the year, Oscar Earls, with a special certificate in recognition of his services to herself throughout her mayoral year.

This year’s Thame Town Awards was sponsored by Risborough Carers. Next year will be the tenth anniversary of the Thame Town Awards and the Mayor said that she hoped it would be the ‘biggest and best yet’! Nominations will open in February, 2018.

THAMES Valley Police are currently searching for a high risk missing person from the area of Chinnor in Oxfordshire. It is believed they have access to a blue BMW 325 convertible registration D*** VWM.

If you have seen this vehicle please contact Thames Valley police on 101 or 999 in an emergency quoting reference number 706 04/05

If you have any information relating to this case, please call 101 quoting reference ‘860 28/4’, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.

THE former head teacher of John Hampden School in Thame, Alan Haigh, was once more where he always loved to be – at the heart of an event bringing the community of Thame together for a good cause.

The event was Saturday’s Charity Football and Family Fun Day, held at the ASM stadium, home of Thame United, to raise much needed funds for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance in memory of four year-old Barnaby Cork who died last December after a tragic accident. Stuart Gibson, the man who came up with the idea for the event, told Thame.Net: “The day was an amazing success with an estimated 400 people attending during the course of the day. The overriding factor from the day was that everyone had such a great, fun day from the bouncy castle, face painting, soft play areas for the little ones, to Zorb football, the princess corner, an ice cream van, balloon artistry, cake stall, sweetie cones, strawberries’n’cream pots, kids lucky number, colouring table, Lego table, giant outdoor games and sumo suit wrestling!

“The highlights of the day were a luxury raffle from which one lucky person won themselves a week-long holiday in a Mallorca villa, and of course the football match where the TVAA XI, mainly made up of the dads of children attending John Hampden School, ran out 2-1 winners over the Iron Maiden XI.

“It was amazing to see former head teacher, Alan Haigh, compère the event,” added Stuart, “which he did with his usual good humour and wit! He said how much he had enjoyed being involved in a community event again!”

Stuart concluded: “The people of Thame yet again could not be surpassed in their support of this amazing charity, and as organisers we were extremely lucky to have such brilliant people on the committee in getting the event off the ground. There are already plans in the diary for 2018 as the Iron Maiden team are keen to be part of the event again next year!”

THIS May 4th is Star Wars Day and to celebrate, Thame’s Oxfam bookshop is having a special Star Wars-themed window. Feel free to swoop by and take on supplies, see the window, or explore new areas of domestic space by bringing in a donation of books, DVDs, records, sheet music, or CDs.

Looking ahead to the Town Music festival on July 8, the shop will have a musically-themed window, stalls and even a piper with bagpipes and kilt. So, mark your calendar, and in the meantime, …all together now…May the Fourth be with You!

THE Rotary Club of Thame is asking the local public to check their sheds and lofts and bring their old tools to the main car park near Montesson Square, near the Market House. The tool collection will take place on Saturday, May 20, from 9am to 1pm.

Every year the Rotary Club of Thame runs a collection point for unwanted tools. These are then taken to Tools for Self Reliance‘ s (TFSR) collection centre in Southampton. TFSR is a charity that refurbishes the tools and sends them to NGOs in Africa. All the tools sent to Africa are used to provide training and to equip trainees with their own start-up kits to set up their own businesses after completing training, not only in their chosen trade but in business management, financial, and life skills.

One such trainee is Mohammed Kanteh who lives in Sierra Leone. He has hearing difficulties and has never attended school, but wanted the opportunity to learn a trade and earn money to support his mother and five siblings. He took part in a Tools for Self Reliance training programme, in partnership with local organisation Mobility Sierra Leone, and learnt how to repair wheelchairs and bicycles. He is now part of a small business, along with some fellow graduates, and they are already planning how to use their profits to expand.

Items which can be collected include sewing machines, tools used for plumbing, carpentry, metalworking, building, bicycle repairs, shoe repairs and for repairing cars. Please note that no garden tools are accepted.

For more information visit www.thame.rotary1090.org or Thame Rotary’s facebook page: www.facebook.com/thamerotary

OXFORDSHIRE Fire and Rescue are warning lorry drivers and all road users to pay particular attention when driving long distances, to take regular rest breaks and to leave enough stopping distance between you and the vehicle in front, after they were called out to lorry that had left the road on the M40 earlier today.

The service reported this afternoon: ‘We were called to a lorry that had crashed off the M40 between Thame and Watlington at 11:40 am on Friday, April 28, 2017. Fire engines from Watlington, Thame, Wheatley and a specialist rescue vehicle from Reading attended the incident.

“On arrival the fire crews were met with an unstable lorry that had left the carriageway and gone down an embankment. Fire crews quickly assessed the situation, checking for injured people and checking the vehicle was not leaking fuel or carrying any hazardous loads.

“One person was removed from the vehicle on a stretcher by South Central Ambulance Service, working closely with Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Thames Valley Police.

“The cause of the incident is still under investigation.”

Incident Commander, Station Manager Paul Webster said: “It was a lucky escape for the driver of the lorry.”