THAME’S First Thursday Music Club will start the build-up to the Towersey Festival, at The James Figg in Thame on Thursday, June 4, with a launch party.
Over the last five years the club has given the opportunity to thousands of acts to perform and be heard, in front of a large, warm and appreciative crowd. As a result of playing in the ‘Open Mic’ section, many acts have been invited to play the 10 o clock Feature Spot which gives them the opportunity to play a longer set as the centre piece of the evening.
Since 2013, The First Thursday Music Club has been given its own stage at Towersey Festival and a number of artists were invited to play on this significant stage in the very popular Beer Tent. This year however, The First Thursday Music Club, in addition to running the FTMC stage again, has announced that two of its Featured acts have been promoted, and asked to appear on the main stage at Towersey Festival over the August Bank Holiday.
The August List (featuring Kerraleigh and Martin) and Papa Truck with their British bluegrass, will be playing on the same stage as Joan Armatrading and Bellowhead!
FTMC is the biggest Open Mic night in the District with artists travelling from as far afield as London, Reading, Oxford and Northampton to come and play in front of a very large and appreciative audience. Entrance is FREE!
Anyone can play by signing up at the venue before 7.45pm. Check out the club on Facebook, The First Thursday Music Club
A GROUP opposed to a supermarket being built on the outskirts of Thame, has launched a petition calling on the local planning authority to reject the planning application, as it believes the proposal goes against the Thame Neighbourhood Plan.
Photo: Nick White Photography
The group, Thame Centre First, wants South Oxfordshire District Council to reject Tesco’s planning application for an edge-of-town superstore on the DAF site at Howland Road, Thame, a petrol station and office accommodation.
Thame Centre First states that its aim is to ensure that: “Thame town centre continues to thrive by resisting edge-of-town retail development,” and that close to thirty town centre retailers have signed up to support the campaign along with all five of Thame’s residents’ associations. Sue Gilbert, of Thame Centre First, said: “A key policy in Thame’s award-winning Neighbourhood Plan champions the town centre by requiring new retail development to be focused within the town centre boundaries. The Neighbourhood Plan also states that Thame’s retail needs within the next 12 years will not require development of more than 600sq m of convenience and food retail, whereas the Tesco development is planned to be 6.5 times this size.”
Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan received overwhelming local support in a 2013 referendum and attracted national recognition as the the winner in the Innovative Plan-Making category of the RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence in 2014.
Sue continued: “The majority of shop owners have grave concerns for their businesses as the planned superstore would draw shoppers away from the town centre and reduce footfall.”
Robert Stanley Opticians has a branch on Cornmarket and their managing director, John Edwards, added his voice: “Thame is one of the few thriving town centres because it has focused attention on the centre. This proposal would undermine the vitality and character of the town centre.”
The consultation period for the planning application is now open and runs until June 25, 2015. Anyone wishing to support the campaign can add their name to an e-petition on the SODC website LINK HERE. In addition, a paper petition is available for signing in a number of shops in the town centre who are supporting the campaign.
Alex Taylor, another member of Thame Centre First says: “Local residents should not stand by and allow this development to be approved, risking irrevocable changes to the character of Thame. If you genuinely care about living in a vibrant market town, please support this important petition and fight against edge-of-town retail development.”
Those local residents who support the Tesco proposal, disagree with the Thame Centre First group’s view that the proposed store would damage the High Street, and are of the view that it would attract people to Thame. Some are of the view that the proposed store would be convenient for particularly older people living at that end of town. Tesco itself has said that a survey it has conducted showed that such a store would prevent local people going out of Thame to Asda, Wheatley and other supermarkets, to do their weekly shopping.
You can view the FULL Planning application here LINK
CELEBRITY one-man – and occasionally one-woman shows, have become a regular feature of Thame’s gem of venue, the Players Theatre, in Nelson Street and the latest to visit is actor, writer, humourist and former Conservative MP, Gyles Brandreth.
He will be presenting an evening of extraordinary true stories, hilarious anecdotes and unexpected revelations inspired by his unlikely career in TV, politics and the theatre.
Gyles’ revealing and deliciously indiscreet tales feature a glittering cast of characters past and present and his recently published, latest book is aptly titled ‘Something Sensational to Read on the Train. Tickets for the show, on Sunday, May 31, at 7.45pm, cost £18 and are available from Spear Travels, Greyhound Walk, Thame, telephone 01844 217228, or from the Thame Players’ website: www.thameplayers.co.uk
CHILDREN who play squash are being invited to enter now for the one-day, graded junior tournament, at Racquets Squash Academy in Thame, on May 30, running from 10am to 4pm.
Racquets squash coaches, Will John (left0 and Sue Martin-Downhill (right) with the junior squash players
Also, book now for the half term Tuesday and Thursday squash courses. 10am to 4pm, and lunch is included.
Don’t forget there are ‘no strings’ squash sessions on Mondays and Saturdays at Racquets which are free to Junior Gold members, and new term-time squash courses starting straight after the half term holiday.
Contact: info@racquets-fitness-centre.com for more information about junior squash at Racquets.
THE Tythe Barn, Haddenham, was the beautiful setting for the Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity’s local fundraising group’s popular afternoon tea event, which raised over £2,000 from cream tea sales, Grand Spring Draw tickets and a tombola on the day.
Home-made scones and assorted cakes to choose from were just some of the culinary delights on offer for afternoon tea-goers, along with music courtesy of France Ellul playing the Welsh harp and Steve Pinder on the clarinet.
Commenting on the fundraiser, Angela Hart, Haddenham Community Group leader, said: “We are very grateful to the people of Haddenham for coming along to support the Hospice. A huge thank you must go to the brilliant team of volunteers who put on the event.” Volunteers included members of the Haddenham Freemasons Lodge No.8944, who helped with the setting up of chairs and tables.
Tom Bucknell, owner of The Tythe Barn commented: “It was a very well organised event. The atmosphere was very good and the volunteers put a lot of hard work in.’’
Angela added: “The group’s next event is taking place on Wednesday, June 24 – a Fashion Show at Haddenham Community Junior School, 7.30pm, where attendees can come along and watch the show, then have an opportunity to try-on and buy clothes featured on the night.”
Tickets cost £6 per person and can be purchased by calling 01844 292070.
THAME Town Cricket Club’s 1st XI were denied on Saturday, as Twyford held onto a draw. On a cloudy day, Thame elected to bat and things started well as captain Higgs (47) and Nielsen (40) took Thame to 135 for 1 off 28 overs.
Capt Mike Higgs
With Thame being in a strong position, they tried to push on but wickets fell steadily. Youngster Harry Thomas led the later order with 25, to make sure that Thame ended on 231 all-out in their final over. In reply, Twyford started well with some big shots but the in-form Sam Lachlan produced another excellent spell taking fpir wickets, leaving Twyford 90 for 6.
With Thame In full control and Twyford batting for the draw, it was difficult to find the breakthrough and Twyford’s Sam Lyon scored 75 not-out as he steered his side to 190 for 7. Another good display and 18 points for Thame, who will be at home to top-of-the-table Tiddington, next Saturday, May 30.
THAME Town Council has elected a new Town Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the Civic Year 2015-16, and two local charities are set to benefit.
Rhame’s new Mayor, Nichola Dixon (R), and her deputy, Linda Emery
Cllr Nichola Dixon, who served as Deputy Mayor to Jeannette Matelot Green last year, has been elected as Town Mayor and will be supported in her role by the new Deputy Mayor, Cllr Linda Emery.
Nichlola’s two chosen local charites for her mayoral year are The Thame and District Day Centre, and Thame to Thame. which is supporting the people of Thame in Nepal, whose village was almost totally destroyed by the recent earthquake.
When she’s not chairing town council meetings or carrying out her duties as the Mayor of Thame, Nichola is the Office Manager for Unitline Sytems, a joinery firm in High Wycombe, and mum to three daughters. Nichola told Thame.Net a little more about herself:
“I have lived in Thame since arriving here with my parents as an eight year-old. There have been brief forays into living in other towns and countries but when I started my family, Thame is where I wanted them to grow up. I now have three daughters Jessica (17) Georgina (14) and Amelia (7), all of whom have grown up here and are all currently being schooled here.
“It was lovely walking Amelia in to school last Wednesday, where she proceeded to tell anyone who would listen at Barley Hill that I was now the Mayor. The girls have grown up with me on the council. When I first joined, Jess was only nine and Georgina seven, and Amelia came along when I was a serving member, the first serving councillor to give birth in something like 40 years! And they were one of the main reasons I decided to stand for council in the first place, to give a family perspective if I could.
“I first got elected to the town council in 2007, thanks to another current councillor, Nigel Champken-Woods, a long standing friend of our family who knew I enjoyed getting involved in the community and told me all about it so I decided to stand. At that point there was never a thought about being Mayor, just getting involved.
“So here we are, eight years later, going in to another four-year term, and I couldn’t be happier that I have been elected as Mayor of our lovely town. It is an honour and a privilege to be able to be Thame’s representative and it is a fantastic opportunity to get involved and give something back.
“Over the course of the year I will also be raising funds for two local groups, the Thame and District Day Centre and the Thame to Thame Nepal fund. It is at this point I regret ever having said that if ever I become Mayor I will jump out of a plane! – although I have been told it is a great way to raise funds.
“So watch this space; I am looking forward to an exciting, busy year and can’t wait to get started.”
LAST weekend, a team of fit and intrepid people set off from Thame to tackle the famous Three Peaks Challenge for a very special reason, and they did it, albeit just outside the target 24 hours. Team member Sue Martin-Downhill recalls the lows and the highs:
Nigel Pattison, Sue Martin-Downhill, Debbie Gray, Mary Hill, Ellen Gipp, Andrew Stansfield or John Maitland – not necessarily in that order!
What a weekend! 12,000 miles covered just to walk 25! But those 25 were serious mountain walking climbs. All in aid of Child Bereavement UK; a charity that supports families and educates professionals when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement.
On Friday, May 15, a team of people from Racquets Fitness Centre in Thame travelled up to Northern Scotland to Fort William, a drive of 10 hours. A false sense of wellbeing resulted from a wonderful Jacuzzi and swim, followed by a bite to eat and a very brief attempt at sleep. Up for breakfast at 4.20am and off to the foot of Ben Nevis and walking by 5am. No-one else to be seen.
After two hours the legs were tiring but we were reaching the top where it was -14 C. Stupidly I removed my gloves to get the camera out and immediately felt the full force of the icy cold. Hand warmers are a godsend !!! The brief hail storm was no picnic either.
On the journey down Mary was skipping lightly and I was starting to feel the burn in the knees. The descent was painful but a relief to finally reach the bottom.
On to the Lake District – a journey of 5 hours – to Scafell Pike. A near vertical ascent. The others in the team strode up as I slowed more and more; finally reaching the peak after two hours. Even more slowly down with the knees creaking – you simply can’t stop once you’ve started.
Jim Lythgoe, the challenge driver, had the kettle on when we reached the bottom – a welcome sight.
Back in the car for another five hours – reaching Snowdonia by 1.30am. Pitch dark. The team woke from their intermittent snoozing and dressed ready for the longest walk of the three. I gave in and decided that I’d like to be able to continue playing squash until I’m 70 so saving my knees at this point was important to me. I bedded down for the night in the van. Four hours later I was woken by Jon stating that the weather and the night darkness was horrendous and the walk had been successful but really uncomfortable.
We’d been looking forward to a cooked breakfast but as the team had completed Snowdon in record time, no cafés were open for another two hours. So we just started the drive home.
The three peaks, 24 hour challenge, is a really hard experience and for the team who completed all three in 24 hours and 28 minutes, this was a remarkable achievement. All of us have been walking a little bit awkwardly for the last few days, with the pain of stiff calves and thighs.
For team member, Nigel Pattison, this was the fourth challenge in four weeks, which started with the London Marathon, included a Coast-to-Coast bike ride and a 160 mile ride up and down the mountains of the Lake District. All this to raise a total in excess of £4,000 for Child Bereavement UK.
If anyone knows Nigel Pattison, Sue Martin-Downhill, Debbie Gray, Mary Hill, Ellen Gipp, Andrew Stansfield or John Maitland, and would like to donate to this cause please go to www.justgiving.com/nigel-pattison.
BELL Lane will be closed to traffic on June 10, 2015 for approximately 2 days in order to carry out essential structural carriageway works.
VEHICULAR access on the Eastern Bypass, Thame, will be temporarily prohibited on June 28, 2015, to accommodate the Thame 10K run.
between 9:30 and 10:30am on 28 June in the B4012 Thame Eastern Bypass between its junctions with the A4129 Kingsey Road roundabout and the B4445 Garden City; and
b) between approximately 9:30 and 9:40am in High Street eastwards to its junction with Southern Road, and in Oxford Road from High Street to the A418 roundabout.
Exemptions are included for police, fire and ambulance services, emergency works, and for vehicular access to adjacent premises which are only accessible from the closed section of road.
The alternative route for traffic affected by the B4012 closure is via Kingsey Road, East Street, Park Street, Chinnor Road and Garden City & vice versa. There is no alternative route for the Oxford Road and High Street closures.
AN ultra marathon runner was so moved by the plight of the people affected by the Nepal earthquake, that he is racing against a horse, and will be donating funds raised through his Justgiving page, to the ‘Thame to Thame’ group, who are raising money to help the villagers of Thame (pronounced Tham-ay) in the Solukhumbu region of Nepal badly hit by the earthquake on April 25.
Image for illustrative purposes only
The Man v Horse marathon in Wales was started in 1980, as a result of a pub bet, and has been an annual fixture ever since. On Saturday, June 13, John Dickin from Princes Risborough, will be outside the Neuadd Arms in Llanwrtyd Wells ready to join a record field of more than 600 runners and 50 horses and riders, for the 36th race of the species.
The course was changed in 1982 to provide a more even match between the man and the horse resulting year on year in very close finishes – sometimes with the horse winning by only a few seconds. It took 25 years before a man finally beat a horse; Huw Lobb won in 2hrs and 5mins beating the fastest horse by two minutes. His feat was repeated three years later by Florien Holtinger, but the horse has remained unbeaten for the seven years since.
To support John’s epic race against the horse, and help the people of Thame in Nepal rebuild their school, houses and their lives, visit his Justgiving page: LINK. The funds will be used by The Himalayan Trust UK who have people on the ground in Thame and the rest of the region, and the know-how to spend the money appropriately on Thame-to_Thame’s behalf.
To find out more about ‘Thame to Thame’ and keep up to date with fund-raising events, visit the facebook page. LINK
