Category: entertainment and leisure news

THAME Chamber Choir’s 20th anniversary Choral Composition Competition has attracted more than 60 entries from as far afield as the USA, Canada and Australia.

Judges Bob Chilcott, James Burton, Duncan Aspden and Anna Markland now have the difficult task of picking a winner, whose piece, a setting of a poem by former Thame resident W.B. Yeats, will be given its world première at the choir’s concert in St Mary’s Church on Saturday, October 19, as part of the 2019, Thame Arts and Literature Festival.

This concert, Poetry in Motion, which marks the start of the choir’s 2019-2020 season, will be followed by its ever-popular Christmas concerts on December 21, in which it will be joined, not only by Thame Children’s Choir, TCC2, but also by local schoolchildren in the culmination of a project supported by a grant from the Midcounties Co-operative Community Fund.

Next March there will be a concert of music written in honour of St Mary – to be given in St Mary’s Church – and in June the choir returns to Exeter College, Oxford for a concert in celebration of flowers.

In the meantime, Thame awaits a puff of white smoke to indicate that the judges have selected their winner!

www.thamechamberchoir.org

SOURCE: Contributed

THE district council is offering drivers the chance to win a prize – if they leave their vehicle at home for a day.

Sunday, September 22, is the 25th World Car Free day, and South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils are encouraging towns and villages to take the opportunity to raise awareness of air pollution and air quality by encouraging people to leave their cars at home for the day and choose alternative forms of transport. World Car Free Day has been running for 25 years.

Since Clean Air Day on June 20, both South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have been urging drivers to turn off their engines if they are stopped for a minute or more as part of their joint anti-idling campaign called Turn It Off. Now the councils are suggesting that drivers turn off their engines for a day!

If drivers in the districts pledge not to use their cars on World Car Free Day on September 22, and then tell the councils how they got around instead – on the train? bus? cycling? walking? kayaking? they will be entered for a draw for travel vouchers worth £50.

Read more about World Car Free Day and how to enter the competition here: LINK

NB Don’t forget that Thame has its very own World Car Free Day event on September 22, the Community Pedalling Picnic – lots of opportunities there to take photographs and enter the district councils’ competition. LINK here for details and how to register for the Pedalling Picnic.

THERE’s a second chance to buy tickets for several, popular authors and speakers at Thame’s Art and Literature festival in October, as the organisers open the Box Office with extra tickets for sale.

Million copy bestseller Adam Kay, former doctor turned author, comedy writer and comedian; Andrew Lownie, top-selling literary agent and acclaimed biographer; Michael Rosen, one of Britain’s foremost children’s poets and writers and a regular presenter on BBC Radio 4, are among the illustrious visitors to this year’s TAL over the weekend of October 17-20, 2019.

Other speakes include Andrew Graham Dixon, famous art historian, broadcaster, novelist, journalist; Award-winning novelist and children’s author, Dame Penelope Lively and Angela Gallop, one of the world’s most eminentleading forensic scientists.

Visit the TAL website for the full weekend’s programme and line-up – there’s something for everyone.

TAL Box Office, Thame Town Hall.
Open each Tuesday 9.30am – 4.00pm.
Friday and Saturday 9.30am – 1.00pm
Closed during Thame Fair weekend

Over the Festival weekend –
Thursday and Friday 9.30am – 4.00pm
Saturday and Sunday 9.30am – 1.00pm

If you’re unable to get to the Box Office in person, just ring 07885 48 44 06.
Be aware the line may be very busy.

REPAIR work has now been completed on part of the roof at the Players Theatre in Thame, following the award of a £5,000 grant made by South Oxfordshire District Council earlier this year.

The grant was awarded to Thame Players Theatre Company, a registered charity run entirely by volunteers, as part of SODC’s Community Councillor Grant Scheme 2018/19, which allows each district councillor to award up to £5,000 for projects or services offering community benefits in their ward.

The grant, which was match-funded from Thame Players Theatre Company’s own resources, was necessary to repair the entire length of a flat section of roof, part of a 1980s extension made to the theatre, which had been requiring attention for some time. These essential repairs mean that the roof is now secure and there is no risk to passers-by beneath who are working or performing at the theatre. The completed work was inspected at the end of August by Councillor David Bretherton, Chair of South Oxfordshire District Council and also a Thame Town Councillor.

He commented: “It is very good to know that our grant scheme enables necessary practical work to be undertaken, improving the safety of members of our community and contributing to the future sustainability of community resources such as the Players Theatre, a valuable entertainment facility in the town. This is exactly the kind of project the scheme was designed to enable.”

Cllr Bretherton was taken up to the roof to inspect the work by Steve Lambell of Thame Players. Steve commented: “We’re delighted that the grant from South Oxfordshire District Council has enabled us to get this essential repair work done, ensuring the safety of those that work or perform in the space below, and removing concerns about the condition of the roof for the future. We look forward to maintaining our excellent relationship with the district council; they have assisted us with grant-funding on a number of previous occasions.”

WHERE? The Players Theatre, Thame
WHEN? 4th October 2019 at 7.45pm

THE Dolly Parton Story takes you on an incredible journey through the career of the ‘Queen of Country’.

Follow Dolly’s story in this groundbreaking “show-umentary” format taking you from her humble beginnings in the Smoky mountains to her arrival as Queen of Country.

Featuring passionate renditions of Jolene, 9 to 5, Islands In The Stream, Here You Come Again, Coat Of Many Colours, Joshua and many more, this show enjoyed sell out shows with standing ovations at Edinburgh Fringe in 2018 and had audiences dancing in the aisles.

“What a beautiful performance. Dolly’s Music comes alive in a contemporary way” Dominic King” The Dominic King Show’ BBC Radio Kent

“Hannah Richards performs beautifully …. is a talented singer song writer …. would have liked it to have gone on longer” **** ScotGay

Hannah Richards is superb as Dolly Parton – an evening not to miss. Book your tickets HERE now. Tickets are £15 each.

THE First Thursday Music Club resumes its monthly sessions on Thursday, September 5, at The Stables in Thame. Following its summer break (which incorporated the hugely brilliant Thame Town Music Festival), the organisers of FTMC are excited to welcome China Bears to take the 45 minute headline slot.

China Bears formed in Somerset in 2015 by twin brothers Ivan and Frazer. The line-up was completed after meeting James and Dean at university in Guildford later that year. Drawing influence from bands such as: The National, Dry The River, Frightened Rabbit and Snow Patrol, China Bears create misery anthemic indie combining ambient guitars, choral vocals and raw lyric writing. They’ve currently released 3 singles independently with airplay from Huw Stephens on BBC Radio 1, Steve Lamacq on BBC radio 6, John Kennedy on Radio X and Melita Dennett on BBC Introducing.

Now signed to Fierce Panda Records and about to start a two-month, 20 date tour of significant towns, cities and venues across the UK, China Bears have been tipped for greatness … and you can see them, for FREE at FTMC!

The First Thursday Music Club still offers the opportunity for artists to play live in front of a warm and appreciative audience, maintaining the ‘Open Mic’ section of the evening where slots will always be available in the first hour on a first-come, first-served basis with player sign-up by 7.30. The club has a full house PA system with keyboard, bass amp, guitar amp and jazz drum kit (bring breakables!) all set up on stage and ready to go.

Another eclectic evening is guaranteed and, don’t forget, it’s FREE entry!

China Bears links: https://www.facebook.com/ChinaBearsBand/

A series of outstanding performances, emotional celebrations, and record-breaking temperatures ensured the 55th Towersey Festival (Friday 23 to Monday 26 August 2019) was another huge success.

Highlights over the Bank Holiday weekend included appearances by soulful Dubliners, Hothouse Flowers, and 2-Tone legends The Selecter (Sunday), whose energetic appearance had the entire crowd on their feet.

Troubadour Newton Faulkner, and BBC Radio 2 Folk Award 2019 nominated Welsh/ African duo Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita (Sat) were other notable stand-outs.

(EDITOR: My personal favorites were Seth Lakeman, Fisherman’s Friends, Sam Kelly and the Lost Boys and on the last night on the bar stage, Phat – I’m a sucker for bit of brass! SF)

Monday afternoon saw an emotional celebration of the life and career of the late folk singer, activist and Towersey Patron Roy Bailey, who passed away in November. Having appeared at the very first Towersey in 1965, Roy’s regular afternoon shows were much-loved feature of the festival for many years. Among those paying tribute during a moving two-hour show were friends, family and colleagues, including his son-in-law guitarist Martin Simpson, and broadcaster and musician Tom Robinson.

The festival also marked the official retirement of Towersey Director Steve Heap; Steve attended the second festival before taking over the reins in 1975.

In the region of 8,000 revellers attended the four-day event in Oxfordshire, which also witnessed record-breaking Bank Holiday temperatures, hitting highs of 30 degrees.

Towersey Festival Director Joe Heap said: “We saw some incredible performances this year across our many stages. The first ever silent ceilidh, in particular, on Saturday (24 Aug 2019), was an absolute triumph and the talk of the festival.

“But the Roy Bailey concert was something quite special. The Big Club tent was filled to capacity, and we had many more outside to see people like Martin, Tom, Andy Cutting, The Wilson Family, John Kirkpatrick, and other major folk/ roots musicians. They all performed songs from Roy’s incredible back-catalogue, and recounted stories about him – there was barely a dry eye, it was very very moving, as Roy was so associated with us. An afternoon few will forget.

Discussing four uninterrupted days of hot sunny weather, Joe said: “We had plenty of taps, and everyone stayed well hydrated all over the site.”

The 56th Towerey Festival will run from Friday 28 to Monday 31 August 2020, at the new location, Claydon Park, Buckinghamshire. Click HERE for peek at the new site.

EDITOR: Tell us about YOUR stand-out performers.

TOWERSEY Festival is to be held on Thame Showground for the last time, this coming Bank Holiday weekend, 2019, and will move to the Claydon Estate in Buckingham next year, 2020.

Leaflets saying as much have been given out at Artists Reception and there is information about the move displayed in the Merchandise tent on the site.

The reason for the move is reported to be the instability about the long-term future of the show ground, which is currently owned by Thame Agricultural Association.

No one was available for comment from Towersey Show at the time of writing. https://www.towerseyfestival.com/

IT is with great sadness that we have to report the death of Nick Weir, in the early hours of Sunday morning (18/08).

He went into the JR on Friday last with a liver complaint. His kidneys then started to fail and he died early Sunday morning. So it was quick, and we hope relatively pain-free.

Nick was a stalwart of the Thame Players taking part in shows as diverse as Landmarks to Murder Afoot as well as the various Shakespeare shows we’ve performed over the years. His dry, quirky sense of humour will be missed by many of us. And when he wasn’t in shows then he was always first to step up for the Front of House rota selling programmes and chatting to audiences.

But not only did Nick take an active part in Thame Players but he also took on the role of Tour Guide for Midsomer Murder Tours around Thame, as well as helping out at the Oxfam Shop in Thame. He was known by an awful lot of people who will all remember him and miss him on a daily basis.

He left us too soon.

SOURCE: Pat Shepperd, on behalf of Thame Players Committee

THAME Market Traders annual Community Market Day yesterday, Tuesday, August 20, was a great success, with shoppers and visitors enjoying a full programme of activites including live music, face painting and the large bouncy slide.

Stalls representing the fantastic community spirit of Thame offered even more fun activities to entertain and engage families.

The stalls included Age UK, Florence Nightingale Hospice, Kimble K.N.I.T Club, Ox Bucks Wine, Parkinsons UK, Slimming world Thame, Sobell House Fundraiser and Thame Twinning Association, who raised aroun £90, selling second-hand books donated by members.