Category: entertainment and leisure news

A band from Thame, made up of youngsters aged 13-16 years-old, will learn tomorrow if they are through to the finals of Talent Oxford.

Little Bill’s Big Band, who ‘wowed’ the audience at Thame Music In The Park back in May, will perform for the judges tomorrow, between 2.30-3pm at Templars Square, Cowley.

All the members of Little Bill’s Big Band are pupils at Lord Williams’s school in Thame, and rehearse every Tuesday after school. Jane Twyford, who is the mum of band member Ben, and who initiated and runs the band with her husband, told ThameNews.Net: “All of the band have worked really hard with attendance at rehearsals 100% every week. They’re very keen and getting better all the time. What is great to see is the real sense of teamwork and camaraderie that has developed between them. The TalentOxford audition has offered them another valuable opportunity to gain experience through live performance!”

The band has just made their first demo at Black Frog Studios, Thame. Find out more about Little Bill’s Big Band by visiting their website: www.littlebillsbigband.co.uk

WHAT? Quiz with David George for Dentistry in India; WHEN? Friday, June 29. 2012 – From 7.30pm –

WHAT? Quiz with David George for Dentistry in India; WHEN? Friday, June 29. 2012 – From 7.30pm –

THE long-standing Chairman of Thame Players was given a great send-off by over fifty supporters, members and friends of the group at the Players Theatre in Thame on Friday evening.

Tony Long, who has chaired the Thame amateur theatre group for 13 years, had no idea that behind the scenes new chairman, Pat Shepherd, had organised the event. He expressed his delight at seeing so many people turn out on a wet evening to thank him for all his hard work as Chairman. It was Tony who oversaw the major project, transforming the old theatre in 2002 from a converted church hall into a modern theatre, with new stage, auditorium and bar/foyer facilities, that theatre-goers enjoy today. Tony led the drive to get funding, through a mixture of sponsorship and grant funding from South Oxfordshire County Council and Thame Town Council, commissioning the work and seeing it through to completion.

Tony commented: “The refurbishment of the theatre back in 2002 was undoubtedly the highlight of my stint as Chairman. Now we are looking to make further improvements and it?s an ideal time for a new Chairman to be at the helm.?

Tony also played a leading role in improving the variety and frequency of programming that the theatre has to offer. These days, as well as five Thame Players? own productions each year, including a much-loved pantomime, the theatre hosts visiting productions by other theatre groups and a range of celebrity appearances, and it also hosts a thriving cinema club.

Tony will remain an active member of the committee as well as continuing to take part in plays, whether acting, directing, or helping with the production behind the scenes. He said: “I?ve thoroughly enjoyed being Chairman of such a vibrant drama group, but now I?m happy to hand the reins over to Pat Shepherd who will, I know, continue the development of the theatre for the enjoyment of future audiences.?

THE long-standing Chairman of Thame Players was given a great send-off by over fifty supporters, members and friends of the group at the Players Theatre in Thame on Friday evening.

Tony Long, who has chaired the Thame amateur theatre group for 13 years, had no idea that behind the scenes new chairman, Pat Shepherd, had organised the event. He expressed his delight at seeing so many people turn out on a wet evening to thank him for all his hard work as Chairman. It was Tony who oversaw the major project, transforming the old theatre in 2002 from a converted church hall into a modern theatre, with new stage, auditorium and bar/foyer facilities, that theatre-goers enjoy today. Tony led the drive to get funding, through a mixture of sponsorship and grant funding from South Oxfordshire County Council and Thame Town Council, commissioning the work and seeing it through to completion.

Tony commented: “The refurbishment of the theatre back in 2002 was undoubtedly the highlight of my stint as Chairman. Now we are looking to make further improvements and it?s an ideal time for a new Chairman to be at the helm.?

Tony also played a leading role in improving the variety and frequency of programming that the theatre has to offer. These days, as well as five Thame Players? own productions each year, including a much-loved pantomime, the theatre hosts visiting productions by other theatre groups and a range of celebrity appearances, and it also hosts a thriving cinema club.

Tony will remain an active member of the committee as well as continuing to take part in plays, whether acting, directing, or helping with the production behind the scenes. He said: “I?ve thoroughly enjoyed being Chairman of such a vibrant drama group, but now I?m happy to hand the reins over to Pat Shepherd who will, I know, continue the development of the theatre for the enjoyment of future audiences.?

WHEN: Sunday, June 24, from noon. WHERE: Held in the tiny hamlet of Kimblewick, near Princes Risborough at HP17 8TA – A really traditional country fair held each year for all the family.

Attractions include trade stalls, traditional country game stalls ? including bowling for a pig, plate smashing, archery, darts, shooting, tossing the bale etc, as well as a family dog show, car boot sale, displays of vintage vehicles, second hand books, pony rides and a have-a-go gun dog scurry.

There will be display in the main ring all afternoon, with hound parades, competitions, catch the egg (open to all), tug of war, falconry, and many other rural displays. A licenced bar will be open all afternoon together with a hog roast, sausages and burgers, plus tea and cakes (under cover) and other food stands and stalls.

The off road parking is free and entry is

TOWERSEY FETE – This Sunday – June 24 – Come and enjoy the beautiful gardens; Lunches, teas and childrens’ games.

WHEN: Sunday, June 24, from noon. WHERE: Held in the tiny hamlet of Kimblewick, near Princes Risborough at HP17 8TA – A really traditional country fair held each year for all the family.

Attractions include trade stalls, traditional country game stalls ? including bowling for a pig, plate smashing, archery, darts, shooting, tossing the bale etc, as well as a family dog show, car boot sale, displays of vintage vehicles, second hand books, pony rides and a have-a-go gun dog scurry.

There will be display in the main ring all afternoon, with hound parades, competitions, catch the egg (open to all), tug of war, falconry, and many other rural displays. A licenced bar will be open all afternoon together with a hog roast, sausages and burgers, plus tea and cakes (under cover) and other food stands and stalls.

The off road parking is free and entry is

TOWERSEY FETE – This Sunday – June 24 – Come and enjoy the beautiful gardens; Lunches, teas and childrens’ games.

AFTER forging a path through the regional live heats, Oxford Rock band, Lest We Forget, which includes Thame-born drummer, Fergus Taylor, will play at the Unsigned National Final at the O2 Arena.

Lest We Forget beat over 10,000 other acts to win their place in the finals on Saturday, July 14. READ MORE

Live and Unsigned is the biggest original music competition in the UK for unsigned bands and artists. Attracting over 40,000 musicians to enter this year, it has set itself apart from its predecessors by promoting originality. It?s established as the definitive music competition for original acts and it?s open to all genres of music from Heavy Rock to Rap.

The winners will be awarded the title of the UK?s best unsigned act in front of an anticipated capacity crowd on the main stage at Proud2 at The O2. A&R and celebrity judges involved in previous finals include former Slade front man Noddy Holder, The deceased legend Malcolm McLaren, Radio 1?s Annie Nightingale, Tom Deacon and Daniel P Carter. Already confirmed for this year?s Grand Final are Radio 1?s DJ Target and Kiss FM Breakfast presenter Charlie Hedges and Kerrang?s Alex Baker returning for his third year with many more to be revealed in the weeks leading up to the Grand Final.

The winning act of Live and Unsigned 2012 will embark on a remarkable festival tour this summer spanning 14 top festivals across the UK including; Relentless Energy Drink Boardmasters, Sundown, Strawberry Fields Festival, Cloud 9 Festival, Glass Butter Beach, Brownstock, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and seven other summer festivals. In addition to the Live and Unsigned festival tour the winning act will receive a