Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • Thame Day centre settling into its new home

    THE Thame and District Day Centre has successfully moved to its new venue at the Thame Cricket Club pavilion.

    The centre’s manager, Gill Coleman said: “The Day Centre, having been at The Community Hospital for so many years has become synonymous to the local community. Moving to our new location at Thame Town Cricket Club will ensure our own identity. Myself, staff, volunteers and members were all apprehensive about moving, but we are excited to be able to spread our wings and welcome new members to the Day Centre.

    “Everyone is happy and our daily activities continue as before with more space to introduce new ideas and engage more with our local community. Please could I say ‘well done’ to our Trustees who have secured our future.”

    Chair of the Friends of Thame and District Day Centre, Alison Champken Woods, explained why the move was necessary.

    Alison told Thame.Net: “Over the last couple of years, it had become apparent to all the Trustees that the new Community Hub at the Community Hospital was working well and the need for services to be expanded on the site to ensure ‘care closer to home’.

    “The Board of Trustees therefore investigated other venues and had discussions with the cricket club around a potential move. The Thame & District Day Centre which runs on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, had been located on the Community Hub site, formerly Thame Cottage Hospital, since 1986 and it was recognised that a move would ensure the continuation of the Day Centre.

    “The Day Centre moved to the first floor of the new Cricket Pavilion at the end of March and whilst it’s very different the members, volunteers and staff appear to be settling in very well. Obviously this is a significant change for everyone and the Cricket Club has been very helpful in both facilitating the move and helping to access funding for lifts etc.

    “The new venue is situated next to St. Marys church and is much larger, much lighter, brighter with natural light, access to a veranda plus parking and access is also much easier on the new site. The room overlooks the cricket pitch and when the cricket season starts, it is envisaged that there will be some midweek matches which will give some members the opportunity to watch if they so wish.

    “The move has seen us lose a couple of volunteers but we have recruited some more and we now have two dinner ladies who deal with serving the two course hot meal to our members.”

    On the centre’s first day, the Mayor of Thame, Anne Midwinter, visited and was very impressed with the venue.

    Volunteers needed!

    The Day Centre is still in need of volunteers, and is especially seeking a volunteer driver for Tuesdays, using their own car to bring our members in and take them home again. Usual hours being 9:00am to 10:00 am and 2:30pm to 3:30pm. A mileage allowance is paid for this role.

    The centre also needs volunteers to help during the day to help Staff deliver activities, serve lunch, tea and coffee – but also to give time to listen and chat to the members, some of whom do not see or speak to anyone from week to week.

    If you could make a difference, give the Day Centre’s Manager Gill Coleman a ring on 01844 212080 a call at the Day Centre to just have an informal chat, see if it is something that you could do for a few hours a week.

    You can find out more about the life of Thame and District Day Centre by following them on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thame.and.district.day.centre/

  • Spate of thefts from cars in Lee Park, Thame

    THAMES Valley Police have received five separate reports of thefts from vehicles in Lea Park, Thame, between April 3 and 8.

    The neighbourhood team will be patrolling the area and ask local people to stay vigilant and look out for anything suspicious and review any CCTV they may have. Anyone with any information about these incidents is asked to call 101. If you witness a crime in progress, call 999.

    Alternatively, anyone with information who wishes to remain anonymous, can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online by visiting www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

    Advice:
    Always lock your car, wind up the windows and close the sunroof, even if you’re only leaving it for a few minutes. You should also double check it’s locked before leaving. It only takes a few seconds for your valuables to be stolen from an unlocked car.

    For extra security:
    •fit a car alarm
    •use a steering wheel lock
    •get an immobiliser, this stops the engine from starting if the car is being stolen
    •always park your car in well-lit areas in full public view
    •look for police approved car parks with the Park Mark logo
    •when in stationary in traffic, keep your doors locked and windows up
    •take your sat nav with you and wipe away any marks left by the suction pads
    •don’t leave items in the glove compartment
    •if you have a garage, use it!

    Never leave valuable possessions such as handbags, laptops, phones or sat navs on show inside a vehicle. This makes it much more likely to be targeted by thieves. Even items of little value, such as shopping bags and clothing, may tempt a potential thief to break into the vehicle to see whether they contain anything worth stealing. Keep your possessions out of view, or take them with you.

  • Full list of Local Elections 2019 candidates here:

    Follow the link for lots of information about the Local Elections on May 2, 2019, including details about all the candidates
    https://www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/2019/04/12/election-2019/

  • Police officers sneak up on young people in dark alley!

    BUT don’t worry; the kids were behaving themselves and it was all part of demonstration by local PCSOs of how to deal with such an event.

    PCSOs from Thame went along to the Oxford Fire Station over the past couple weeks to help with an event called Junior Citizens. This event was held for Year 6 students to go along and learn different scenarios to help when they come across something on the street.

    PCSO Davey helped out the most, his scenario being to sneak up on the students while they stood in a dark ally. This was to assess what would happen and see how the students reacted. At the end of each scenario the students had explained to them what they needed to do if this should happen to them, and how to call the emergency services.

    Knife crime

    In a separate event this week in support of a national programme to increase awareness of knife crime and to educate those who may be involved in knife crime, officers have been visiting schools with posters and leaflets about the dangers of knife crime.

    PCSOs Thomas Kelly, Maya Brien and Natalie White gave a presentation to the Year 8 students of Lord Williams’ Lower School, in Thame, on the dangers and consequences of knife crime.

    A spokesperson for the officers said: “It was great to see the students pay attention and take on board why they should stay away from knives.”

  • Thame company in Administration with job losses

    FOLLOWING the fire and theft of lorries at David Einig Contracting in Rycote Lane, Thame, recently, the company has now gone into administration, and the company has ceased trading.

    This has resulted in the loss of 105 members of staff. David Shambrook and Geoff Rowley, director and partner at specialist business advisory firm FRP Advisory LLP, were appointed Joint Administrators of David Einig Contracting Limited and David Einig Plant Limited (“the Companies”) on March 28, 2019.

    An FRP spokesperson said: “The business ceased trading with immediate effect, resulting in all 105 members of staff being made redundant. The Joint Administrators are working closely with the Redundancy Payments Service to ensure the best possible outcome for employees in this difficult period.”

    The whereabout of David Einig himself for comment is unknown at this time.

  • Friday’s news in-brief

    CONCERN has been expressed that the Victorian Cottage Hospital in East Street, Thame, does not appear to be a listed building.

    Thame Community Hospital

    Members of the Thame Conservation Area Committee noted in its most recent minutes: “This is a significant Victorian building, paid for by public subscription and is similar in importance as three other Victorian buildings in the Town paid for by subscription. i.e. The Town Hall. The old Magistrates Court, now the Town Museum and the Old Police Station, all listed. Is it possible to have this also listed? This building is still partly funded by the League of Friends of the Cottage Hospital.”

    The town council has agreed to look into how best to protect the hospital building, including listing.

    FOR the first time this year, two volunteer signers will be on stage at Music In The Park on May 5, interpreting song lyrics for hearing impaired people. Also, if neighbours agree, the use of the staging and marquees will be offered to community groups to use on the following day.

    Also it is hoped that the event, which will be celebrating its 10th anniversary, will run an hour later to 10pm.

    THAME Shed continue to look for a suitable location to base itself. Cllr Tom Wyse who has been instrumental in helping the members of Thame Shed fexplained: “The main problem is to get some land to put a shed on. I believe it would not be a great problem if it started off with something as small as a portacabin and then the Shed members could use their collective skills to construct a larger building. I know there have been approaches made to get a piece of land near the Rugby Club but for some reason this hasn’t been successful.”

    TOWN Cllr Peter Lambert, who will not be running for re-election to Thame Town Council on May 2, has congratulated the council’s maintenance team on behalf of the Youth Memorial Trustees for the recent cleaning of the Youth Memorial and garden.

    THE Town Council is continuing to look into the feasibility and costings to provide a Splash Pool on the Southern Road Rec. and are due to visit a similar facility in Hinskey Park, Oxford to further understand the operational and visitor requirements for such a pool. Watch this space!

    THAME is to get a brand new Christmas Lighting scheme for Christmas 2019. The town council is about to send out tenders for the scheme.

  • A new chapter for Thame baking supply shop

    A Piece of Cake, the baking supply shop in Thame, was today handed over to its new owner, by Norma Laver and Jenny Walker who are retiring from the business after 34 years.

    L to R – Jenny Walker, Pauline Carr and Norma Laver

    It was with mixed feelings that Norma and Jenny handed over the keys to the new proprietor, Pauline Carr. Many of the staff have been with Norma and Jenny for many years, including a young lady who wrote to them when she was only 13 years-old asking for a job; she’s now a grown and up working as cabin crew. She gave up her sleep today after working yesterday to share Norma and Jenny’s special day.

    Flowers and cards were arriving at the shop all afternoon – and there was a rumour that a very special cake was on its way. A Piece of Cake is Pauline’s first business though she has lectured in Business Studies and says that she is very excited about starting her very own hands-on business.

    Norma and Jenny’s baking supply shop attracts customers from all over the world ordering through the website, and many venture in person to the UK especially to take part in A Piece of Cake’s legendary Sugarpaste workshops which they regularly run in Thame.

    Pauline will have the support of all the staff who will be keeping their jobs, and Norma and Jenny will be on hand to help her with advise while she gets to know the business, which will eventually move to the other end of the High Street, where the Bell Kitchen Showroom was until recently.

    A Piece of Cake has been a very successful business with Norma and Jenny at the helm, keeping going through thick and thick, including during Norma’s illness nine years ago when she became very seriously ill with meningitis. Now, they will be taking a very well deserved rest. Norma hopes to start ticking off challenges on her ‘bucket list’ including learning to swim, and Jenny will be able to work more sociable hours working with her daughter in their cake-making business, Little Flower Cakes.

    Both of them admit to having mixed feelings about handing on the business: “We will be leaving the business in the very capable hands of its new owner Pauline Carr expertly assisted by our knowledgeable staff. The business will continue as before but Pauline will be bringing new life and new ideas to it. We wish her every success and hope all our faithful customers continue to support her. We will be on hand to help with the change over and be on call should any help be needed.

    “Thank you to all our customer over the last 34 years. We have made many friends and will miss you all but we are now looking forward to spending more precious time with our families.”

  • ‘Miss England’ hopeful wants to be a role model

    LORD Williams’s School in Thame has produced many alumni in recent years who have gone on to become famous, including Olympic swimmer Simon Burnett; Comedian Rob Deering; Internet personality Gavin Free; musician and television presenter Howard Goodall, and Paul Volley, rugby player.

    Florence Savage

    Soon, the name of an ex pupil from Sydenham may be added to that
    Hall of Fame, as a Miss England. Because Florence Savage has discovered, she says, that Miss England isn’t just a beauty pageant, but includes dedicating much of the contestant’s time to charity fund-raising and to becoming role models for young girls and other women. This year’s chosen charity is Papyus which helps young adults when they are in their darkest moments and is aimed at preventing suicide.

    Racing and baking

    Florence explained: “After doing some research into the competition after watching a movie about beauty pageants, I applied on-line as I’m very interested in helping charities and knew I would have a good time. I have applied to run the Great Manchester Run in support of Papyus and I’m also hosting a bake sale at University. I have also started a GoFundMe page called Saving Our Future.

    “I was put forward for a public vote, but didn’t win. However, the judges decided to take me through to the next round, and my work place, Cumnor Hill House, a care home in Oxfordshire, sponsored me. I am now a contestant for my university town, as Miss Birmingham!”

    Florence grew up in Sydenham and went to
    St.Andrew’s school in Chinnor and then on to Thame at Lord Williams’s.

    Finally, Florence explained her belief that: “Beauty is on the inside; it is the kindness we have and use that makes us beautiful.”

    About Papyrus

    PAPYRUS is the national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide in the UK. Suicide is the biggest killer of young people under the age of 35 in the UK. We believe that everyone can play a role in suicide prevention and we work towards a society which speaks openly about suicide and has the resources to save young lives.

  • New Foxtrot Serenaders bringing Trad Jazz giants to Thame

    THE New Foxtrot Serenaders will be making a welcome return to The Players Theatre, Thame, on Saturday, April 6, with what promises to be one of their best shows for years.

    The New Foxtrot Serenaders

    The much-revered Serenaders will be celebrating giants of the British traditional jazz scene from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Many of us remember growing up with legendary names like Chris Barber, Kenny Ball and Acker Bilk, and won’t want to miss ‘the hottest little big band in the south east’, when they bring their tribute to the very best of British Dixieland Jazz to Thame on Saturday! They’ll be performing some of the greatest songs of the era, such as Petite Fleur, Stranger on the Shore, Midnight in Moscow, At the Jazz Band’s Ball, Way Down Yonder in New Orleans, High Society, Hello Dolly and many more.

    The Serenaders promise a lively, foot-tapping show that has been selling out at venues across the south of England. So, if you haven’t seen this great band before, come to The Players Theatre on Saturday for a real treat!

    Tickets are £12 and available online from www.thameplayers.co.uk or from Spear Travels on 01844 217228.

    ‘The New Foxtrot Serenaders look and sound like the real thing. Their style is authentic and nostalgic, with a real feel-good factor. They’ve performed several times for the Big Band nights at the bandstand, and attracted large, enthusiastic audiences.’ Eastbourne Today

  • Police ask for information about Thame arson

    AN investigation into arson and the theft of lorries at the site of David Einig Contracting, in Rycote Lane, Thame, is on-going and so far no arrests have been made.

    The fire appears to have begun in a portacabin used as an office and then spread to a two-storey industrial unit. (Full story

    Anyone with information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 43190074016.