Category: entertainment and leisure news

THOMLEY, the centre at Worminghall for people of all abilities and disabilities, has an exciting summer of activities lined up, including golf and cricket workshops.

Upcoming workshops can be found here (including sports workshops) – particular note of Golf, Cricket and Ignite Sports (all inclusive): http://thomley.org.uk/whats-on/upcoming-workshops/

Thomley’s whole summer programme of activities can be found here: LINK HERE and to give you an idea of Thomley’s facilities, look here: http://thomley.org.uk/visit-us/facilities/

What does Thomley do?

Thomley brings disabled people, their families, carers and friends together with experienced and nurturing staff that understand their needs.

What does Thomley offer?

The centre’s site is spacious and secure, with an excellent range of fully-accessible facilities. Each day the friendly and experienced staff run fun and educational activities which cater for all ages and abilities.

Who can visit?

Thomley welcomes disabled people of all ages from babies to adults, and their families, carers or friends, supporting people at any stage of their diagnostic journey, whatever their additional needs. Regular days for disabled visitors and their families are held and ‘focus days’ for Pre-school children, adults, schools, respite groups and the wider community, when any family can join us to enjoy our facilities. For more information, or to book your visit call: 01844 338380.

When can you come?

Thomley is open 10 am to 3:30 pm, Tuesday to Saturday, and Mondays too in the school holidays, and also runs evening youth clubs for disabled teenagers, and takes bookings for birthday parties and disability events. Take a look at Thomley’s website to see when would be best to visit:
www.thomley.org.uk/visit-us .

What does it cost?

It is important to Thomley that anyone who needs its services can access them. Wherever possible the centre fundraises to subsidise costs but it is also recommended that visitors make a donation as a small contribution towards their visit.

Thomley is just outside the village of Worminghall between Oxford and Aylesbury.

WITH just over three weeks to go until the Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity’s sixth annual Midnight Walk sets off from Aylesbury College on Saturday, July 11, the countdown is well and truly on to get signed up!

Over 470 ladies have already registered to take on the six or 13-mile walking challenge across Aylesbury, including both teams and individuals – all taking on one united goal, in one fabulous night – to raise vital funds for the Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity, which needs to raise over £600,000 each year to ensure local Hospice services continue to run for many years to come.

You can still register for a place at this year’s event by visiting www.gemstonewalk.co.uk or simply call the Fundraising Team on 01296 429975. Entry costs £17 per person to include pint t-shirt, walk entry, refreshments on the night, a well-deserved breakfast on completion of the challenge and a souvenir medal. Organisers are encouraging walkers to add extra touches of neon to t-shirts this year, as part of the new ‘Glo4Flo’ theme.

If every walker taking part raises £100 in sponsorship by appealing to family, friends and work colleagues, the Charity will be well on its way to reaching its fundraising target of £50,000. Sponsorship pages can be set up online, and also shared easily via social media, plus downloadable sponsorship forms can be printed via the Gemstone Walk website.

The night is sure to be a colourful affair with fluorescent pink t-shirts and pink flashing bunny ears, so join us and let’s light up the night sky in aid of Florence Nightingale Hospice. Let’s make this the best year yet!

OVER the next few weeks, strange yellow/green neon lights will start to appear on the grassland of Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve, near Stokenchurch, but don’t worry, the aliens haven’t landed! These tiny lights are actually female glow worms trying to attract a mate.

From late June to late July, the Chilterns Conservation Board and Natural England will be giving you the opportunity to hunt for these fascinating creatures by night and learn more about them.

Two glow worm walks are taking place between 9.45pm and 11.30pm on Saturday, June 20,  and Saturday, July 11. Meet at the Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve car park.

The walks cost £3 for adults and £2 for children. Spaces are strictly limited and booking is essential. Call early to avoid disappointment on 01844 355 500.

Remember, it will be dark, so intrepid glow worm hunters should bring a torch, dress warmly and wear sturdy footwear. The event isn’t suitable for young children, but over 10’s are welcome with adult supervision.

TOWERSEY festival has some lovely big sign boards that they want to get up in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire so that passing traffic get an eyeful of Towersey magic. So that they don’t get into bother with land owners and highways they are looking for private sites for them.

These need to be peoples fences, gardens, fields on good busy roads ideally or at least somewhere with enough traffic to make it worthwhile.

The signs are about 1m sq. and festival folk will come and erect them and take them down (no fuss or bother).

They will be in the area doing this on July 1 and 2, so let Joe Heap, via joe@towerseyfestival.com know as soon as you can if you have a spot in mind. Do ask friends and neighbours, friendly local farmers, land and fence owners. In return there are some FREE Day tickets to give away for the use of the site. (Please note, the image here is NOT what the signs will look like !)

IT’S HERE! Thame Carnival day. And not forgetting the festival fete at Southern Road Recreation ground from 1pm onwards.  As the carnival procession wends its way through the town from mid-day, Thame Lions will be doing the official street collection so members of the public are invited to bring their small change for one of the eight bucket-carriers along the route.

All collectors will have official Thame Carnival buckets and will be wearing yellow tabbards.  All monies collected will go to the two nominated charities, Rosie’s Rainbow and Thame Skatepark Proect. Look out also for the Thame Lions float, LION KING.

Once down at the fete, there will be live music throughout the afternoon, Beer and Pimms tents, Classic Cars, Dog show, Food Stalls, Face painting, Bouncy castles, Doughnut stall, BBQ and adding some glamour to the occasion will be Miss Oxfordshire and some of the other Miss Great Britain finalists.

You can find all you need to know over on the Thame Carnival 2015 page – LINK HERE

JUST three days to go for the ever popular, Thame annual duck race that takes place this Sunday, June 14.  The race starts on the old town (Crendon) bridge, which is accessed from the bottom of Priest End, behind St Mary’s church. Gates open at 10.30am and the race will start at 11 am.

You’ll need to be ‘quack’ off the mark, say the organisers, Thame & District Round Table, if you don’t want to miss out! Tickets are on sale at The Falcon Pub, The Cross Keys pub and The Citizens Advise Bureau.

Tickets will also be available on Carnival day, Saturday, on the Thame Round Table’s stall at the Thame fete, Southern Road Rec, after the procession of floats through the town has arrived. There will also be some tickets on sale at the start line on the morning of the race, although in previous years the event has been known to sell out on the day, so it’s best to try and buy tickets in advance if you can.

More information in the Round Table’s website: http://www.thameroundtable.org/

As a precursor to Thame Players’ production of Taming of the Shrew, White Cobra Productions are coming to the theatre on Sunday, June 14,  at 7.45pm to perform The Shakespeare Revue.

The show is a light-hearted collection of sketches, songs and anecdotes inspired by the works and reputation of William Shakespeare. Originally created for the RSC in April 1993, it includes extracts from Alan Bennett, Bill Oddie, Cole Porter, Richmal Crompton, Victoria Wood and many others. The result is a sparkling entertainment in the revue tradition, performed by six versatile actors and their pianist.

You never knew Shakespeare could be so much fun. Tickets for the show cost just £10 (concessions £9) and are available from Spear Travels, telephone 01844 217228 or online from www.thameplayers.co.uk.

FOLLOWING its success in 2014, Beacon Festival promises to excel this year as the organisers bring together a very strong line up, including headliners on the Friday night, the amazing folk/Rock band, Rusty Shackle from Wales, who last year were so popular and played at all the top festivals including the legendary Glastonbury.

So what about Saturday night? “Well,” said Beacon Fest team member, Michele Pether: “How could we top Bon Jiovi, last years headliners? What better than one of the best Queen Tribute bands around, the amazing FLASH. Headlining the acoustic stage will be, non other than, local celebrity Megan Henwood, a singer/songwriter who is regularly seen on the circuit of all the big festivals.”

Supporting acts will include young indie band, Hidden Rivets and Who’s Alice, along with Band of Hope, MFU and Sultans on Swings, as well as tribute bands Chilli Rage, Prog Floyd, and U2Tribe. Beacon Fest prides itself on bringing a good selection of original and cover acts, local and national bands. Michele, who also runs Crash Records,added: “We were inundated with acts, bands and artists, not only from all over the UK, but the world – bands from as far away as Australia were applying on line. It took a long time for Selina, Jane and myself to listen and watch their youtube footage and make some very difficult decisions. The standard was exceptionally high.”

However, Beacon Festival is not just about music; there’s ‘glam camping’ in bell tents and tipis, real ales and ciders, cocktail bars, performing arts, a great kidz zone, literary and arts area, craft stalls, workshops, a feel good and healing space, plus of course, a great family atmosphere and one of the best sunsets for miles.

What better way to celebrate the summer solstice than to share it with family and friends at Beacon Festival over the weekend June 19 -20, 2015.

Full details on the website: www.beaconfestival.net