IT’s almost Pantomime time and Thame Players are planning this season’s production, Cinderella, a universally appealing story. With the pantomime addition of a faithful friend called Buttons, a fairy godmother, the traditional Pantomime Dames as the ugly sisters, a pantomime horse and singing and dancing, the festive fun is complete!
This year’s pantomime was written by Ben Crocker who comes from a theatrical family and is the son of actor and pantomime script writer, John Crocker. He saw his first pantomime at the age of three and has been hooked ever since!
Tickets: £9 (£8 concessions) Dates:
Friday, December 1, at 7:45pm
Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd at 2pm & 5.30pm
Wednesday 6th to Friday 8th at 7:45pm
Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th at 2pm & 5.30pm
NEWS that the September fair, which has been held in the town centre for generations, would not go ahead after all caused a social media storm, with harsh words being exchanged between fair supporters and those against the fair being held at all in the town centre. A town council officer even received threats of violence.
Thame Fair – Image copyright of Sonja Francis
According to a report discussed at last week’s Community, Leisure and Recreation Committee meeting at Thame Town Countil, representatives of the Showmen’s Guild later apologised ‘for the unjustified criticism of the Town Council via social media and their miscommunication within their organisation, which had resulted in the cancellation of the September fair’. This apology was publicly repeated on social media on the evening of Friday, September 22, 2017.
‘Members of the community should apologise’
Councillors called the social media response from both the Guild and some members of the community ‘appalling’ and ‘deplorable’ with one councillor, Cllr Mike Dyer, stating: “The Showmen have apologised but members of the community who bad-mouthed the council and spread misinformation, have not!”
An agreement was reached that the October Charter Fair would go ahead, which it did, and the Showmen involved have apparently reported that they are very satisfied with the turn-out for the fair, particularly on the Saturday.
‘Amalgamate the two fairs’
There was much discussion about one suggestion from Cllr Peter Lambert, that the two fairs should be amalgamated into one, as he felt the current situation meant that the town ‘is disrupted twice’. But other councillors were of the opinion that the two fairs were different, with the Charter fair offering smaller rides for younger children, whereas the bigger rides at the September fair attracted an older audience, and anyway, pointed out Cllr Nigel Champken Woods, the two fairs are operated by two different groups of Showmen. “I think we would have all sorts of problems with social media if we suggested that,” he added.
‘We should not be bullied by social media’
Cllr Mary Stiles said: “We should not allow ourselves to be bullied by social media and make a decision but I don’t think it is a good idea. The fair is disruptive but it is traditional and is something people look forward to.”
Council left out of pocket
As a result of the recent debacle over Thame’s annual, September fair, between The Showmen’s Guild and Thame Town Council, the council has stated that it now has a £1,600 hole in its budget.
The costs incurred by the town council were for security arrangements, first aid provision, street cleaning arrangements and the issuing of resident parking permits, all of which they paid upfront for on the expectation that a new three-year agreement up for renewal, would be signed by the Guild in time for the fair to go ahead. It was not, as the Showmen’s Guild decided that the terms of the new agreement were not acceptable to them.
Though discussions are underway, no agreement between Thame Town Council and the Showmen’s Guild has yet been signed but councillors say they are optimistic that the September fair will go ahead in September 2018.
You can read the full town council report discussed by the CLR committee HERE
THIS month’s Late Breakfast Thame meeting will be next Thursday, November 9, at The Spread Eagle Hotel, when the guest presenter will be Greg Lovett, of Fizz Accounting.
The first Late Breakfast Thame was nine years (and one month) ago. How has life changed for small businesses since then, and how might it change in the next nine years? Greg will discuss.
Thame is a dynamic town in Oxfordshire that has a lively business community. This meeting is an opportunity to meet some of these businesses in an informal networking atmosphere.
CHRISTMAS is fast approaching and the Town Council will once again be launching a treasure trail around the town centre for the young and young-at-heart, throughout November.
In the lead up to Christmas Lights Switch-On on Friday, December 1, 24 Snowflakes have been hidden in shop windows around Cornmarket, Upper High Street, North Street, Buttermarket, Swan Walk, Greyhound Walk and High Street. You can start hunting high and low from Wednesday, November 1. All of the Snowflakes are numbered you can also use #SnowflakeSearch on social media for clues.
The first entry out of the hat with all the correct answers will get the chance to push the plunger on the town’s Christmas lights, plus there are prizes for the runners up. To enter the competition download an entry form from www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/christmas or pick one up from the Town Hall Information Centre, write down all the shops which have one of our numbered snowflakes in their window and return your entry form to the Town Hall Information Centre by 4pm on Thursday, November 30.
RESIDENTS in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse have been urged not to put batteries or other items which could cause a fire in their waste or recycling wheelie bin.
Last week two small fires started in rubbish while it was being transported in waste and recycling trucks. “Both were potentially very dangerous incidents to the crews, other road users and pedestrians”, said an SODC spokesperson. “They also caused delays to collections and could have resulted in significant damage.”
The fires were caused by items residents had put in their bins, most likely to have been standard lithium-ion batteries – like the ones found in most mobile phones.
The advise is that batteries should be put in a clear plastic bag and left on top of the green recycling bin, while small electrical items (that may also contain batteries), can be put out in a carrier bag alongside the grey refuse bin for separate collection.
THE fruits of the work of local school children as part of the tenth, Big Drawing Event, can be seen at Thame Museum on Saturday, October 28, 11am – 4pm.
“Our theme this year is the Phoenix Trail,” explained Christine Taq, of Sparksartists who run this annual event. “School children from Lord Williams’s School, St Andrews School, Chinnor and Cuddington, and Dinton Cof E School, drew bicycles used on the trail and imagined new sculptures. Recorded journeys also form part of Sparksartists’ latest exhibition on show at this event.
“On Saturday itself, we are inviting all ages to drop in to Thame Museum to add birds to a moving landscape, courtesy of a Crankie moving image machine. Guests sign in by adding their mark to our ‘Remember When’ shared sketchbook, extending a cut-out photograph.”
Sparksartists was formed in 2001 by a group individual visual artists who have a common commitment to the group’s work, to collaborate and share ideas and experiences with the community.
ACCORDING to a report in the Oxford Mail, a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Alexis Blumenthal, who lives in Thame, and is the sister of top chef Heston Blumenthal.
Ms Blumenthal, 48, of Park Street, Thame, was set to appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court yesterday to answer two charges of assault by beating her mother.
THE Thame Town Music Festival, that proved to be so popular when it was held, for the first time in the town centre back in June, may not be able to happen in 2018, unless the organisers are able to find a major sponsor.
Jon Littler, festival founder, announcing the launching of the first Thame Town Music Festival
It was revealed at Tuesday’s meeting of Thame Town Council’s Community, Leisure and Recreation Committee, that it cost £29,000 in total to run the festival, and that they had been informed by the organisers that, to date, the funding is not in place to definitely be able to say that the festival will go ahead this year. Four businesses have not paid up from last year, despite being invoiced.
Councillors were shown a video of this year’s festival and were hopeful that sponsorship would be found so that this extremely popular event will be able to go ahead in 2018.
CHINNOR Ladies FC faced Launton for the second time in three weeks on Sunday (Oct 22), this time, in the Oxfordshire County Cup.
Storm Brian was also involved in the game for both teams, and at times risked making it a total lottery. Chinnor managed to win the toss and played with the wind behind, but took a while to penetrate Launton’s defensive third, but neat passing and keeping it on the ground was a massive positive, and saw the team grow in confidence.
Nat LM found her stride and danced around a couple of the opposition players and fired the ball beyond the keeper to make it 1-0. Moments later, Katie Thorp made it 2-0, with Nat Philips playing well to hold up the play, and bringing in the midfielders. Thorp found herself one-on-one with the goal keeper, but rolled agonisingly wide of the goal mouth. Chinnor didn’t have it all their own way, with Launton pulling one back just before half time, to make it 2-1.
Confidence grew even with the wind in the ladies’ faces, with Jess Gradde and Jo Deverson linking together, supported by Chinnor’s defensive unit. Kayleigh Knight scored her first goal for the club after bundling the ball over the line from a corner.
Chinnor saw out the rest of the game to their best ability, with Launton pushing more and more players forward and at times, gambling with two at the back.
Chinnor now advance into the second round of the Cup, which will be drawn over the next couple of weeks.
THE consultation period for SODC’s draft, Local Plan has been extended to 5pm on Thursday, November30, 2017. This is to provide people with the opportunity to consider the new version of the stand-alone Local Plan policies map, and the Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA).
The SHELAA provides a technical assessment of the suitability, availability and achievability of land for development. It is an update to the Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (HELAA), which was published in March 2017. The updated document is available to view online.
All the relevant documents and the map are available HERE
