Category: entertainment and leisure news

ARE you wondering how to keep the kids entertained over the next six weeks of the school holidays? The Chilterns Conservation Board has come to the rescue with a list of 50 fun things to do, across the whole of the Chilterns area. Many are free as well!

There is everything from swinging high up in the trees on the Go Ape adventure course at Wendover Woods to flying a kite on the top of Dunstable Downs, taking a row down the river Thames at Henley or hiring electric bikes in Great Missenden. Whatever your interests, location or budget there is something for everyone and every age.

“As the Chilterns is celebrating 50 years as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty this year, we thought it would be a great idea to come up with a list of 50 fun days out,” said Claire Forrest, Information Officer at the Chilterns Conservation Board. “We are so lucky to have miles of beautiful countryside on the doorstep, why not make the most of it this summer? There are lots of family attractions to discover, or you could just put together a picnic and head out to a green spot for a relaxing day in the fresh air.”

Should the weather be less than summery there are also ideas for undercover activities.

You can find the full list of 50 thing to do at www.chilternsaonb.org/50-things-to-do

AFTER thirteen years of use, Thame’s popular skate park is getting a much-needed revamp that will see the tired metal ramps transformed into a modern concrete park suitable for all ages and abilities.

On Monday, July 27, Bristol-based skate park builders Wheelscape Ltd will be moving in and beginning work on the £250,000 regeneration project. The build is expected to last up to 14 weeks and will see the land at Tythrop Way excavated and re-sculpted into a destination park that will include bowls, rhythm sections and a street scene; a skateboarders dream.

Skate park users young and old came together on Sunday, July 12, to say farewell, share fond memories and to skate the ramps one last time:

“So after finishing school 12ish years ago and going up the park every night for hours on end for most of our childhoods […] the time has come to take it down and build a new park. We have all had good memories of this park and all have pushed ourselves through blood, sweat and close to tears up here, we have it all to come again! It’s been awesome.” – Chris Chivers.

Speaking on the park’s Facebook page, local skateboarder, Adam Hinton, expressed his enthusiasm for the new park and gratitude to those who have been involved in fundraising:

“Great jam today […] Will be sad to see the park go but equally can’t wait for the new one to be complete. Top work from Olly, Harry and Corin on all their hard work on the new park! Obviously a huge thank you to Jeannette Matelot Green and all the support she has given to the cause. Brilliant to see so many there today and families enjoying it.”

The Town Council, the Skate Park Working Group and the wheeled-sports users themselves have been working hard over recent years to realise this exciting project, evidencing how valued the facility is within the community. Thanks are expressed to South Oxfordshire District Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Thame Rotary, Thame Carnival and those who have made donations towards the scheme.

We look forward to the official opening of the facility later in the year. To stay updated on the progress of the build, visit our website at www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk.

SOURCE: Thame Town Council

THIS year marks the centenary of the WI and members of Mikron Theatre are doing a nationwide tour with their play, Raising Agents, as a celebration of the anniversary.

The plays comes to The Players Theatre in Thame,  at 7.45pm on Saturday, August 1. Tickets (which are selling fast) cost £12 and are available from Spear Travels, in Greyhound Wal, Thame, 01844 217228 or from www.thameplayers.co.uk.

Bunnington WI is a bit down-at-heel. Dwindling membership means they can barely afford the hall, let alone a decent speaker. So when a PR guru becomes a member, the women are glad of new blood. Initially.

The milk of WI kindness begins to sour when she re-brands them the Bunnington Bunnies. They’re hopping. With stakes higher than a five tiered cake stand, a battle ensues for the very soul of Bunnington, perhaps the WI itself!

On the threshold of one century into the next, this tale of hobbyists and lobbyists asks how much we should know our past or how much we should let go of it.

Above all else, like the WI itself, Raising Agents is a story of friendship.

SOURCE: Contributed

TO celebrate the start of summer, the chefs at The Thatch in Thame have been on the hunt for the perfect British strawberry – deliciously sweet and full of flavour, blushingly red and juicy, with a perfect heart shape. And so that everyone can make the most of this superb summer produce, they have come up with a special way of serving it – Dip Your Own Strawberries.

Their quest for the best British berry took them deep into the heart of rural Staffordshire to Lower Ruele Farm, where they met grower Charles Kidson and asked him what makes the best strawberry. Here they discovered that it’s all down to the variety, and how the plants are nurtured, that produces the pick of the crop.

“Walking into the poly tunnels we were met with a blaze of colour from the pops of red dotted along as far as the eye could see,” saID The Thatch’s head chef, Tom Upham. “We were just as struck by the way the strawberries are grown along rows of narrow table tops where the tender young fruits can gently ripen in the warm air before being picked from their delicate green stalks. Harvesting is done over several days, when each berry is deemed to be perfectly ripe, sweet and ready to eat.

“Unable to resist popping one of the beautiful berries into our mouths, we discovered that it is nature, as well as nurture, that plays a part in growing the finest fruit. Only Driscoll’s Amesti strawberries are grown here, a modern breed chosen because of the intensity of flavour, colour and shape of the strawberries it yields. Runners are produced in Holland from the high quality plant tips and lovingly tended here on the farm in ideal strawberry growing conditions. The result is simply the perfect strawberry,” he said.

After picking the perfect strawberries, the chefs went one better to bring the best of British summer to the pub, creating an irresistible dessert of Dip Your Own Strawberries.

Into one big pot goes a generous helping of large, juicy red strawberries; into another, a glug of gorgeous, velvety Valrhona chocolate sauce and one final pot a dollop of sweet Chantilly cream. The whole lot goes onto a board ready for you to dip yourself, with a pile of crumbly shortbread biscuits that are the perfect partner to the luscious fruit and dips.

“The best British strawberries we could find, rich chocolate sauce and unctuous cream with the crunch of biscuits on the side are the perfect ingredients for the perfect dish,” says Tom. “It’s the best of British all in one place, and the best summer dish. It’s simply delicious. But as with all good things, it won’t be around for long so catch it while you can!”

Dip Your Own Strawberries are being served at The Thatch in Thame from now until the end of July, priced £5.75. To book a table, go to www.thethatchthame.co.uk

The Thatch, 29-30 Lower High Street, Thame, Oxon, OX9 2AA. Tel: 01844 214340

To find out more about how the perfect strawberry is grown, visit http://www.peachpubs.com/blog/10-things-know-driscolls-amesti-strawberry-lower-ruele-farm/

THAME’s amateur dramatic company, Thame  Players were lucky enough recently to have staged a series of masterclasses on acting, tutored by Bruce Alexander, the well-known TV star and Royal Shakespeare Company actor who is also a patron of  Thame Players.

The masterclasses helped participants strengthen their basic theatrical skills focusing particularly on the demands posed by Shakespearean acting and how to get the most out of the interplay between word and movement – even how to get a good laugh.

The masterclasses were well-timed, as Thame Players began rehearsals during May and June for their new production of Shakespeare’s comedy, The Taming of Shrew, opening tomorrow (07/07). Amy Kerstein, who has the lead part of Kate in this production, said: “It was such a privilege to work with Bruce Alexander. He has a huge wealth of professional experience and his love of Shakespeare’s language was infectious. Working with him has helped all of us to raise our game, and hopefully that will show in our performances this week.”

Her co-star, Victor Gaultney, plays Petruchio, a swaggering adventurer who takes on the task of taming the shrew – alias Kate. He commented: “Bruce helped us get the most from Shakespeare’s text and to explore Kate and Petruchio’s unexpected transition from antagonism to love and respect. I’m very glad to have had the chance to be inspired by Bruce’s creativity and enthusiasm.”

The masterclasses were funded by local house-builder Rectory Homes, as part of its sponsorship programme with Thame Players. Rectory Homes is also the headline sponsor of this production of The Taming of the Shrew, which promises to be a masterclass of a production that will delight theatre-goers.

Taming of the Shrew is showing at The Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame, on Tuesday, July 7 to Saturday, July 11, at 7.45pm – More information including ticket prices and availability here: LINK 

A ‘truly staggering’ £14,000 has been raised by this year’s Towersey Fete,  held in warm sunshine, on June 21, following a record gate of 1,300 visitors – and that was just the adults!

The majority of the money raised will go towards the £150,000 needed to repair the rapidly deteriorating stonework of Towersey’s church. Another 10% of the proceeds will be distributed later in the year to various village organisations.

The fete was held in the magnificent gardens of Towersey Manor, hosted by David and Pussy Barnett.

MORE pictures from Towersey Fete 2015 : LINK

THIS coming Saturday (July 4), Thame Leisure Centre is hosting a ‘Be Inspired’ family open day to encourage families and friends to try new sports.

The event kicks off with free activities from midday to 5pm and aims to encourage the whole family to stay healthy and learn news ways to exercise, with taster sessions available for all age groups and abilities.

Activities at the centre, which is run by GLL, the charitable social enterprise that runs leisure centres across the UK under its brand name Better, include the Mega class. The class offers participants the chance to try two studio classes that take place at the centre – body pump and body combat – rolled into one mega work out.

For those looking to enjoy a different high energy work out, there is the chance to try Studio Cycling for the first time, with a class starting at 1.30pm. Those looking for a low impact exercise option can enjoy the centre’s Pilates and Tai Chi sessions, also starting at 1.30pm.

The swimming pool will be open for all to use and there will be free swim school assessments for children aged 6 months and over. Little ones aged 6 months and over can also enjoy the free soft play area that will run from 12pm to 4pm.

For more information and to book a session contact Thame Leisure Centre on 01844 215607 or email Thame@gll.org. www.better.org.uk/leisure/thame-leisure-centre

THE band, Sin Fiction will officially launch their new singles ‘Ugly Baby’ and ‘Painted Memories’, on August 1. But before that, they’ll be previewing the official launch at the next edition of The First Thursday Music Club on Thursday, July 2, at the The Stables behind the James Figg in Thame.

The band raised over £7000 to record the singles, produced by Grammy winner, Matt Lawrence, at the AB2 studios and have already had airplay on BBC Introducing. Sin Fiction will be on at around 10pm at FTMC night

The First Thursday Music Club supplied many of the acts that played Oakfest last weekend, and ran the Sunset Stage at Beaconfest too. During the three days of the Towersey Festival, FTMC will be running the bar stage where many acts that have appeared at FTMC, will be moving up to play on the bigger stage.

At its heart though, FTMC is still an Open Mic night that gives the opportunity for artists of all genres and abilities to perform live in front of a large and appreciative crowd. Anyone can play by signing up at the venue before 7.30pm. Check out the club on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheFirstThursdayMusicClub

Links for Sin Fiction:

New single previews:
Painted Memories – https://soundcloud.com/sinfiction/painted-memories/s-Cj6i0 & Ugly Baby – https://soundcloud.com/sinfiction/ugly-baby/s-E5Lxy

Facebook – www.Facebook.com/sinfiction

ARE you Thame’s best baker? Oxfordshire’s cake king or queen? Thame Food Festival’s ‘The Big Thame Bake’ is now calling for entries, and they want local people to rise to the occasion for local good causes.

Whatever your baking skills or age, there’s a category to charge your imagination. There are prizes to be won plus the chance to meet some of the biggest names in the world of baking, including Great British Bake Off’s Frances Quinn, Louis Troyano, Miranda Gore-Brown and patisserie legend Benoit Blin from Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, to name a few.

Local businesses, from pubs to estate agents too are being encouraged to show just how competitive they really are!

Click here  to see the categories and how to enter.

On Thame Food Festival Day, Thame Belles WI will be transforming the Town Hall into The Town Hall Tea Room from 1.30pm, open for tea, cake and a quick rest from the hustle and bustle of the show, selling the cakes from the bake off, so if you’re more of an eater than a baker you can still play your part!